Hide Little Wolf
The Aurora Marlup Series Book One
Serenity Rayne
Copyright © 2019 by Serenity Rayne
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Special Thanks
Darcy Ray for the mention of her book Mafia's Kiss
Serena Akeroyd and Rowan Thalia for inspiring me to write the book I wanted to read.
My PA Andi Jeffree for keeping me sane.
To my family,
Thank you for being supportive of all my insanity
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Stay Connected
Moldavia, Romania
Night of the Wolf
November 30, 1791
Festivities were underway within the Lycan compound. Wolves and other shifters from surrounding clans were gathered for the celebrations. Queen Anca sat upon her dais, hand resting on her heavily pregnant belly. She carries the heir to the Lycan empire. Her gunmetal grey eyes follow the movements of her mates throughout the hall, as they mingled with the various creatures gathered. Soft contractions had begun almost a half hour ago. It was still too soon to alert anyone to the impending birth. This child would be the first one born, in almost one hundred years. How fitting that the pup chose tonight to make its appearance. Dimitri, a local great bear shifter, was tasked with the protection of the Queen and Heir. His hazel eyes shot back to stare at the Queen and her stomach, something had changed. His eyes churned, turning golden as his bear came to the surface.
"My Queen, is it time?" He canted his head to the side, eyes focused and muscles tensed ready to spring into action. The Queen slowly turned her head to face him.
"Soon my friend, send Andre to gather the Elder Dame to my chambers. We will follow shortly". Dimitri stood slowly and locked eyes with Andre, a simple short nod of the head sent Andre off to do his Queen’s bidding. Dimitri then watched for the Queen’s mates to look towards the dais, one by one they were given the signal. Only the Alpha King Vladimir approached the dais.
"Is it time my love?" He spoke reverently to his mate, his eyes soft only for her, a gentle smile upon his lips as he offered her his hand. Anca returned his smile with a gentle nod, carefully and slowly she stood. Dimitri and Vlad flanked Anca as they escorted her to the birthing chambers. Several stops were made as the contractions increased in power. Poised and proper to a fault, Anca refused to show pain or weakness. She clenched her jaw and lightly growled through the pain. Her eyes bled to the liquid mercury of her she-wolf, both of them anxious to meet their pup. Once within the chambers, the elder dame led Anca to the bed and prepared her for birthing. Vladimir is pacing the chambers anxiously waiting for the arrival of his first born child. Dimitri moved and took his post just outside of the chamber, but close enough he could get back quickly. The Queen’s agonizing screams during labor made even the big bear cringe.
A sudden pounding on the door startled Dimitri, making him turn and rip the door open. Where he found the Queen’s second mate Mikhail, his face and clothes covered with blood. "The Strigoi are attacking, we must evacuate Anca and the pup now!" Dimitri whipped his head around looking back towards the birthing chambers, the cries of the pup were loud and clear.
"I'll see to it myself my lord, send Andre, worse case he can fly off with the pup while we move your mate." Dimitri hoped his words were what Mikhail wanted to hear. A swift nod was all that was given before Mikhail took off. Dimitri double bolted and barricaded the door before running to update his charges. Andre's golden eagle sat on the windowsill before dropping into the room to join the evacuation. Dimitri stopped short watching the Alpha pace back and forth next to the bed. Vlad was deep in thought as the elder dame slowly covered Anca’s lifeless body, gently he rocked the tiny package in his arms humming softly.
The Elder Dame brought forth the family crest, the blackened brand that all Marelup descendants were marked with. Dimitri and Andre stood shoulder to shoulder watching the little bundle get marked. A shrill scream came from the pup as the silver burned its flesh. Vlad looked to his guards, his unusually disheveled appearance was shocking. After several moments the Alpha acknowledged the guardians presence. Vladimir’s back suddenly straightened and his presence became commanding. "Take Aurora! Please protect her with your lives!"
The Elder Dame came forth with a magical potion and a very sharp dagger. "I must bind her to one of you otherwise without a pack she will be among the lost ones, insane from the lack of pack." Her eyes darted between the two guardians and then settled on Dimitri. "You're a predator like she is, you will be the best candidate! Give me your arm!" Such authority from a little old woman almost frightened the great bear. He held out his left arm to her, she dipped the blade then made a swift cut.
Her eyes turned to the pup still in Vlad's arms, and pulled out her left arm and repeated the process. Instantly Dimitri felt her like she was a part of him, his eyes held such wonder as he was handed the pup. She looked like a mini version of her mother right down to the gunmetal grey eyes. Hands gripped his shoulder and turned him. "You must go!" The Elder Dame shouted at him then pulled out a twisted stick from her robe and flourished it in the air. Energy exploded into the room as a rip in the air widened. "Go! My sister Elena will shelter you in the new world. Go now!" As soon as she finished imploring them the door began to splinter, something was breaking through. Without a second thought Dimitri, Andre and the pup ventured into the unknown.
Wood splinters flew everywhere as a dozen Strigoi broke into the room. Remnants of door littering the floor. The metallic tang of blood, and the scent of spilled birthing fluid mixed with magic, laid heavy in the air. Vlad and the Elder Dame remained in the room looking without fear at the monsters within the room.
The Strogoi were a vile bunch, ashen skin, long pointed bat-like ears and dozens of needle like teeth filled their mouths. Their noses were the most disturbing part of them. Their nose was a larger version of a bats flaired and rippled nose. On the tips of their long boney fingers, sharp hooked claws glistened with blood. These horrid creatures reeked of death and decay and looked as if they had freshly risen from the grave. They stood there as Tomas moved through the gathered horde to stand before the Alpha and Elder Dame.
"You shouldn't have tried to exile us forever Vladimir, we are many, your kind is dying off." Vladimir faced off with the Strigoi Alpha showing no fear. Tomas’s needle like fangs glistened in the candlelight, fresh blood stained his chin and chest. "Once our pets, now our wardens.... Wardens no more! Now you are food for the horde." Tomas stepped forward, slender clawed hands flexing, as he baited the Alpha. "Your kin lay dead at the feet of my kind. Your allies run in fear and die before me. You are king no more."
The Strigoi's black eyes drifted to the sheet covered body on the bed and smiled. "Shame, I wanted to dine on the blood of your pup."
That made Vlad’s blood boil, that creature wanted his daughter, his only heir. He had lost his Anca, he would not let anythi
ng happen to alert the Strigoi that the pup had lived. "You want the crown come for it... I have nothing left to live for. I’ve lost everything." He knew this fight would mean his death; his eyes drifted to the Elder Dame, a slight nod told him his precious cargo was safe. His last thoughts were of the daughter he would never get to know, as he charged into his final battle.
On the far side of the castle Nicodemus fell from the sky the moment his mate died. His dragon bellowed its grief into the night. Slowly the dragon released its hold and allowed Nico to return to his human form. He ran for all he was worth, in complete disbelief that his mate was gone. Nico felt the pulse of the hatchling and needed to get to it before it met the fate of its mother. The battle waged on throughout the castle as he barreled through Strigoi and Dires alike. There was a traitor in their midst, and he was damn sure he was going to figure out who it was.There was no way those leeches found the hidden escape tunnels without help. Everyone that was involved in the construction of the tunnels, were put to death the minute it was finished.The list of beings with knowledge of the tunnels was short, only the Alphas of the clans were privy, and of course the royal family. He reached the demolished birthing chamber to find the Elder Dame in a magical sphere, while a lone Strigoi attempted to attack her. Without a second thought, Nico shifted his hand and used his draconic talons to rip the Strigoi’s head free from his shoulders. A satisfying wet thud resounded through the room when the body hit the floor.
Nico’s eyes drifted to the blood covered sheet. His heart sank further as he began to mourn the death of not only his mate but his hatchling too. He turned slowly looking at the destruction around him. The Elder Dame approached and squeezed Nico’s shoulder. “I couldn’t do anything for her Milord. Your daughter ripped her way out of her mother in a partially shifted state. She’s a powerful one, the first of her kind.”
The Elder Dame lowered her head and sighed. “I sent your daughter to my sister where she will be safe. The Strigoi have yet to cross the ocean so she will have time to grow strong. They won’t be able to find her until she ascends.” She lifted her eyes to lock with his, hoping to comfort him.
Nico nodded and walked to the bed where his dead mate lay. The body of the Alpha lay prone at the side of the bed, closest to Anca. Nico lowered the blanket to look at Anca one last time. “Leave now, I will cremate my love and send her to the great beyond.” Nico waited for the Elder Dame to leave before he breathed his blue flames upon his love. The bed went up quickly, burning white hot. The stone and mortar began to give way to the flames. Once he was sure his job was done Nico backed into the hallway.
That was his fatal mistake, a broadsword came down and lobbed off his left arm. Nico’s remaining hand shot up, burning white hot to stop the bleeding and cauterize the wound. His head whipped around quickly to find the dire’s beta Lucian holding the point of the sword to his throat. “Surrender and live, fight and I’ll take your head where you stand.”
Nico’s dragon protested fiercely in his mind, unwilling to submit. The man had to reason with the beast, they had to live for their hatchling. In time, the link would form, and he could start teaching her all he knows while she slept. He would pass on his centuries of knowledge, when her mind is most susceptible to learning. For now, he had to bide his time and make sure to live long enough for his child to find him. For now, he would surrender so he could live to fight another day.
Present Day
Heavy tones ring out from my amplifier as I jam out on my guitar. The main riffs from Avenged Sevenfold's Hail to the King fill my room and probably most of the house and yard. The song speaks to me about things to come, about things that could have been. Playing music is how I work through the vast span of time that I’ve lived through. For the last two hundred and twenty-eight years, we’ve always been on the move. Constantly keeping me isolated from most of the world because of who I was born to be. I am the last Lycan Princess destined to reclaim my mother’s throne from the Strigoi. No pressure right? Music has always helped me work through all the anger that has built up over the past decades. Why am I so angry one may wonder? Well let’s see here. An ancient evil murdered my family, took over my kingdom and because of all that I'm stuck in some fucked up witness protection program.
The last hundred years has been the most difficult. Not only do I have dreams of battles I’ve never fought in, but I’ve also started dreaming of a man that looks like a Viking, who has been teaching me in my dreams how to fight. To top it all off I have a major crush on one of my guardians. Though honestly, I’m not sure if it’s just the mystical bond that makes me think I love him. But then again it’s probably because I’m always so lonely. I sigh deeply and switch songs to something a little sad to fit my heartache.
I look down at the scar on my left forearm. I find myself staring at this mystical lo-jack. What male in his right mind would want to be bound to a baby. He's kind of stuck with me because of the Elder Dame's magic that bound us. Dimitri’s and Andre’s lives are directly tied to mine. Andre I had found out was bound to Dimitri because of their jobs for my parents, so when Dimitri was bound to me Andre had been roped in to a lesser extent. How fucked up is that?
I just wonder what will happen to them when I choose my first mate and the bond is broken. Will they instantly die? Or will they slowly age like normal people? I can feel Dimitri coming closer before I can see him. He must be feeling the turmoil within me at the moment. I can’t stand to look into his eyes sometimes. I know he sneaks into town to take care of his needs, I FEEL it... probably the cruelest part of this binding. He gets to share my lifespan and I get eternal pain knowing when he gets laid.
Speaking of the bear, there he is in the doorway looking at me, trying to discern my mood. "Aurora, are you ok love? You feel like a maelstrom of emotions." He tilts his head to the left and studies me more, his bear flairs to the surface, I can see his eyes glowing gold. To be honest, lately I’ve enjoyed the bears company more than Dimitri's. Dimitri is a rather large man. Think of the guys from the strongman competitions and that’s D. His honey brown hair and matching hazel eyes make him appear as if he’s very approachable. His current expression betrays his concern because of my mood. The air shifts slightly and a new scent is blown my way. Instantly my beast is a raging mess, it’s another female in her territory. I sit my guitar down and stand up. Slowly, I stalk towards him sniffing the air. Panic streaks across his face, he knows what I’m smelling, a deep guttural growl escapes my lips.
My wolf makes her presence known, I feel my canines lengthen as I assess Dimitri. Over his shoulder I see Andre coming, running towards us before he skids to a stop halfway down the hallway. Slowly, I turn my attention back to Dimitri, I’m not even a foot away from him anymore, my nostrils are flared.
"How dare you! How dare you enter my den smelling of some whore!" I bare my canines at him and growl. I am literally shaking, trying to keep from ripping him apart. "It's bad enough I fucking FEEL every time you get off. I don’t need to smell her too. My wolf wants her head and her blood on our talons. You may have signed that slut’s death warrant just ‘cause you wanted to get your dick wet." My words are growls, I feel my hands shift and lengthen into talons. His face visibly pales, and he takes several steps back with his hands up in a placating manner.
"I didn’t know Aurora... I didn’t know you could feel that?" He looks honestly horrified, and remorseful at his actions. Is that a tear on his cheek?
I look closer, yes, it is. Hmm… I’ve never seen a sign of weakness from the big guy. Hell, he's 6'5 and over 300lbs of solid muscle. I never in a million years expected to see him cry. "I'd love to say its fine but it’s not. I've been dealing with this for the last hundred years." I took a deep breath and pushed my wolf to the back of my mind as I turned and walked to the other side of my room. "Please leave... go shower, burn those clothes... Fuck... just please leave... I can’t deal with this right now."
Fuck, I was ready to cry. I hate fucking crying. I wipe my eyes trying to
hide my pain. How many times can my heart get broken before my damned wolf will give up on the bear, that honestly doesn’t want us. After a few moments I hear a sniffled “sorry” and listen to Dimitri walk off. A softer set of footsteps enter my den and slowly approach. I know its Andre and I lower my head in defeat. "Hi Andre."
"Baby girl. I’m so sorry this is hurting you so badly. Why didn’t you say anything to him? Or to me? I would have talked to him and let him know what you’re going through." Andre was truly worried, he’s the best friend I could ever ask for. Andre slowly approached me, his movements were careful and calculated making sure not to set my wolf off. His lithe hand gently rested on my shoulder and rubbed softly trying to comfort me.
"Why would I take away his freedom and his choice? I’m the one that must wait for my first heat to come into my full power. I’m the one who must wait until then to start choosing my mates and gaining power. No one needs to share my hell with me. No one needs to suffer like I do." I slowly turn my head to look into his eyes, he looks just as sad as I feel.
"Baby girl, we are here for you. I am here for you." Andre says with so much conviction. "I'll talk to the big guy. Why don’t you go hunting? You know that will make you feel better."
As usual Andre is right. Hunting will clear my head and I can take my aggression out on my dinner. "Ok, I'll be back by nightfall." Slowly I stand and kiss him on his forehead. "You have been a wonderful father Andre." I had to let him know how much I appreciate him. I smile weakly at him before moving off to get ready to hunt.
Hide Little Wolf: The Aurora Marelup Series Page 1