Wolf Bound (The White Wolf Prophecy Book 1)

by Kayleigh King

  “I don’t understand why we have to tell them now. Can’t we wait another month or so?”

  “He doesn’t want the pack to think we’re keeping secrets from them.”

  “Okay, but correct me if I’m wrong; isn’t my existence supposed to be kept a secret, so Nicolai doesn’t know I’m here?” I don’t understand how telling all those people I’m alive is keeping it on the down-low.

  “The pack is family,” Ryker stops walking and looks down at me. “These people mourned the death of your family, just like I did. They would protect you with their lives, like they would have all those years ago if they had been given the chance.”

  “Okay, if you trust them…”

  “One day, you will too. They’re your pack too.” Ryker reaches for my hair and gives it a slight tug. “Your mom used to put your hair into braids like this when you were a kid.”

  “Really? I didn’t know.” It’s always been my go-to hairstyle, mainly because it was the only one I knew how to do. I had thrown it into a quick messy side braid tonight before we left the house.

  “I used to pull on them because I knew it would make you mad.” He chuckles.

  “So, you were literally the kid pulling little girls' hair because you had a crush on them.” I roll my eyes at him, but can’t help grinning at the thought of a young Ryker chasing me around and pulling my pigtails.

  “No, I was just desperate for your attention. I didn’t care if it was bad or good attention, just that I had it from you.”

  “Well, you’ve got it now.” I reach for his hand. “Now come on, your Dad is waiting.”

  We walk side by side in silence for a little bit longer. I’m sure this path is an easy one for real shifters to take, but I’ve needed Ryker’s help climbing over boulders and large trees along the way. I’m not sure how long we’ve been walking or how far away from the house we are now, but it feels like miles.

  As we enter a large clearing, and I see what’s waiting for us, I wish we hadn’t come. At least forty people turn and look at us when we walk through the treeline. Some are still clothed, but the majority are naked.

  How am I ever going to get used to this?

  Elias and Margot are the first to walk over to us, thankfully they both still have their clothes on.

  “Thank you for joining us.” Elias nods his head. “Hopefully, the walk wasn’t too hard for you.”

  “It was fine, Ryker only had to carry me half the way down here,” I joke, my voice shaky with nerves. I can feel eyes on me, and I know they’re probably wondering what a human is doing here.

  “I told you,” Margot says, slapping Elias’ arm with the back of her hand. “We should have had everyone meet at the house.”

  “No, please, it’s okay.” I shake my head. “I’m sure the way back will be easier,” I lie to myself because I know for a fact that the way back is uphill.

  Goddammit.

  “Elias…” A middle-aged man with graying hair and goatee walks up to us with a wary look on his face. “I don’t mean to speak out of turn, Alpha, but why is a human here?”

  “She isn’t human,” Ryker snaps at the poor man, stepping slightly in front of me.

  “Ryker…” I hiss at him under my breath. “Relax.”

  “I’ll explain everything in a minute, Kody. Please return to the group.” Elias quickly ushers the man away then looks down at me once he’s gone. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” Um, hell no, I’m not.

  Elias turns to face the pack as Ryker moves us to stand at his father’s left side. I gulp when I look out and see every pair of eyes in the clearing are on us. On me.

  “I have exciting news. It may be confusing to understand, but know what I’m about to tell you is very much true.” Elias pauses, taking a breath. “When Archer and Genevieve’s bodies were found, we believed their daughter Grey was among them. That information was false. For the safety of Grey and the safety of this pack, we were lead to believe Grey was dead, but she was actually being kept safe far away from here. But now she is back.” There is a loud collective gasp and then silence when Elias gestures to me.

  “How are you sure it’s really her?” someone in the crowd calls out after a few seconds.

  “I would recognize my mate anywhere.” Ryker steps forward. “Even if she didn’t have the mating aura around her like she does now, I would still recognize Grey Thorne.”

  “How was keeping her away from the pack keeping us safe?” Kody asks.

  “There is a man who believes he is entitled to Grey. He wishes to use her to produce a strong lineage,” Elias answers. “And he was willing to go to war over it, so instead of causing destruction between the packs, Grey’s death was faked. But she has returned to us and returned to my son.”

  “Is this man still looking for her?” An older woman is the one who speaks up next.

  “We have to believe so,” Margot answers her. “But we won’t let anything happen to her. We lost Archer and Gen, but we don’t have to lose their daughter too.”

  I watch as the group nods and agrees with Margot’s words, and I can’t help but feel guilty these people may need to one day put their lives on the line to protect me. Shaking my head, I step forward.

  “You guys were my parents’ pack, but you don’t remember me or know me.” I clear my throat, trying to find the right words. “My parents tried to leave so they could spare you from getting hurt. I can’t stand here and ask you to protect me from Nicolai. It’s not fair to any of you.”

  “Archer and Genevieve were our alphas,” Kody says, stepping forward, “and as far as I’m concerned, you’re the rightful leader of this pack. I would be honored to defend you if the time comes.” Kody falls to one knee and places his right fist over his heart. He looks at me once more before dropping his head.

  “What the fu…” I start but quickly trail off. Instead, I watch in horror as one by one the people follow Kody’s lead and all fall to a knee. They move as one as they put their fists over their hearts and drop their gaze. “Oh my God, what is happening? Make them stop,” I plead, turning to look at Margot and Elias.

  But instead, I find them both on their knees, heads bowed. “Wha–what? Why?” I stammer. I look to Ryker, who is thankfully still standing on two feet. “Why are they doing this?”

  “You are the rightful alpha of this pack.” Ryker reaches for my hand, his thumb lightly caressing my knuckles as he speaks. “Just like you were born to be my mate, you were born to be the alpha of this pack.”

  “Oh, like hell, I was!”

  20

  Ryker

  “Pru…” I try to get her attention, but she continues to stare at the kneeling pack. She doesn’t understand it yet, but what they just did was accept her as part of the pack, and also they acknowledged she’s their rightful alpha. When pack members kneel for their alpha, it’s a sign of submission and respect. She should be very flattered, but instead, she’s absolutely freaking out.

  “Pruitt,” I repeat a little louder, so she’ll look at me.

  “Why won’t they get up?” she asks, her panicked face finally turning to look at me. “I can’t be the alpha, I can’t even shift yet, and I don’t understand pack laws…” She pauses, her gaze sliding over them then back to me. “I can’t even look them in the eye yet because they’re all rocking their birthday suits!”

  “All of that will come.” I try to calm her, keeping my voice low and steady. “One day, you’re going to be able to shift, and one day you’re going to understand the wolf shifter ways. And eventually, you won’t pay any attention to the fact they’re all naked.”

  “Well, I don’t see how that’s possible,” she says under her breath. “Why won’t they stand up?” she repeats, her eyes pleading at me for answers.

  “They’re waiting for their alpha to tell them to rise,” I tell her.

  “But Elias is kneeling too…” She gestures at my father. “Oh. Oh!” She shakes her head back and forth in refusal. “You mean me, don
’t you? Please tell me I don’t have to be in charge of these people now? I’m…I’m not ready for any of this.”

  “Pru, you don’t understand how amazing you’re going to be as our alpha.” I wave my hand at the pack. “Everyone here just accepted you into the pack and as their leader.”

  “I’m not ready,” she repeats quietly before turning to the crowd of people. “I’m not ready for this,” she repeats louder so they can hear her. She pushes her hair off her forehead with a shaky hand as she speaks. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to be your alpha. And you all need a leader who’s prepared for the job and has already been leading you for fourteen years. Elias…” She walks over to my dad and grabs his arm, urging him to stand. “Elias is your alpha and will continue to be until I’m ready. If I’m ever ready,” Pru adds.

  Dad, now on his feet, faces the pack. “You may stand.”

  The pack hesitates, looking between each other to figure out what they should do. Kody is the first to rise. The people around him follow suit, and soon, everyone is on their feet. I hear the hushed conversations as they talk amongst each other.

  Kody walks over to us with Logan, another enforcer, close on his heels. “Grey, I don’t understand why you don’t want to be alpha. You’re the rightful leader of this pack.”

  “Your father would have wanted you to take your place,” Logan adds.

  “That’s just it.” Pru shakes her head at the men. “I’m not the Grey Thorne that you guys remember. I don’t remember being part of a pack or being raised by alphas. I just learned the truth to all this two days ago, and I need to figure out who I am before I can lead a pack.”

  “I can respect that, but know the pack will struggle to accept Elias’ authority knowing that he isn’t our true alpha.” Logan's voice is stiff as he speaks. I remember him being the most reserved of the enforcers. He observes and usually stays quiet, to hear him speak up like this…

  Pru is taken aback by this and jerks at his words. “Okay, fine.” Her face turns serious as she addresses the enforcer. “If that’s how you see it, then, as your possible future alpha, I command you follow Elias until further notice, and you treat him with the respect he deserves.”

  Both Kody and Logan straighten their backs and nod their head in respect at my mate. My chest fills with pride as I watch her. She’ll be a natural when the day arises for her to take over the pack as alpha, and I’ll be right there at her side when she does.

  “Yes, Grey,” Logan answers.

  “It’s Pruitt now,” she corrects him before giving each of the enforcers one more look then turning to me. “Okay, I believe we have something else we need to do.”

  “Esme was of some help then?” Dad asks.

  “She suggested we try summoning my wolf under the full moon while I stand in a circle of moonstone.” Pru shrugs. “The idea is the moonstone will absorb the light from the moon, amplifying its power. Since wolf shifters are most powerful during full moons and other lunar events, she believes the moonstone will give my wolf the extra kick she needs to come through.”

  “She also has to drink this foul looking concoction that’s supposed to weaken the barrier between Pru and her wolf,” I add. The expression on Pruitt’s face when Esme was mixing up the drink was priceless. The complete look of disgust was something I wish I could have taken a picture of.

  “Oh, yeah, forgot about that part.” Pru wrinkles her nose.

  “We’ll meet you guys back at the house. Have a good run,” I tell my parents. The pack members behind them have started shifting into their wolf forms. My wolf nudges me to join them, but I have to push him down. As much as I wish I could go run with my pack, there’s something more important I need to do.

  “Soon, you’ll be out here running with us, Pru.” My mom reaches for Pru and gives her a tight hug. “Everything will be okay.”

  Pru was quiet as we made our way to the lake. We decided we would do the ritual next to the water. Esme had mentioned the moonlight reflecting off the water could possibly help, and right now, we’ll take all the help we can get.

  As we set the moonstones in a perfect circle and the same space apart, Pru is still quiet. “I know you’re scared,” I say, “but I’ll be here the whole time.”

  She sighs from her crouched position as she digs in the bag for another stone. “The shift isn’t what I’m afraid of. Which is surprising since the idea of shifting into a freaking wolf should terrify me.” She dusts her hands off on her jeans as she stands. “I’m afraid this isn’t going to work, and if it doesn’t, then I don’t know what we’re going to do. You need—”

  “No, don’t worry about me right now,” I say, cutting her off. “I already feel much lighter knowing you’re alive and breathing. Just knowing that has bought me some time. And Esme said there’s still a chance of your wolf coming through on her own.”

  “Yes, but she said it’d have to be in a very emotionally charged moment,” Pru reminds me, “and I think it’s fair to say the most intense moments of my life have happened in the last couple of days, and I still didn’t shift.”

  Esme had explained to us since Pruitt’s wolf is so sensitive to emotion and has come through during upsetting times, there’s still a chance she could shift during another intense moment. It would probably have to be during a severely emotional moment, but it could still happen.

  “She said if the ritual doesn’t make you shift right away, it should still help break down the wall she put between you and your wolf. So maybe she’s wrong, and it won’t have to be some epic event that makes you shift.” I’m not usually the optimistic one. I’ve always been the one brooding in the corner. But this is a nice change.

  “I don’t want you to be disappointed if this doesn’t work.” She wipes her face and looks away from me.

  Careful not to step on any of the stones, I walk over to her, lift her chin, so she’s looking at me, and give her a reassuring smile. “You could never disappoint me,” I promise her. “Please, don’t ever think that.”

  I kiss her forehead before pulling her in tight against my chest and holding her close, then she wraps her arms around me, and I place my chin on top of her blonde head. I close my eyes and savor the moment. It’s simple moments like these I always thought about when I would picture our life together. These are the moments I mourned, and now they’re the moments that make my heart swell with emotion.

  “Okay, I’m ready,” she whispers after a couple of minutes.

  “You have to drink that stuff first,” I tell her as I release her.

  “Can’t be any worse than the cheap tequila I was drinking last night,” she chuckles.

  “What?” I exclaim. “Did you see that sludge? It’s going to be disgusting.” I shake my head at her.

  She slaps my arm. “You’re not supposed to say that. You’re supposed to say it’s going to be fine.”

  I pull the bottle out of the bag and hold it up. Even in the moonlight, the brown muck still looks vile. “I’m sorry, but I can’t lie about this.” I pop the lid off and take a quick sniff of the liquid. “Oh, yeah, that’s going to suck… Bottoms up!”

  Pru rolls her eyes at me before taking the bottle from my hand. “You’re lucky I like you,” she snaps at me, a smirk on her face.

  “You more than like me, and you know it, baby.” I wink at her.

  “No one likes a know-it-all.” Her eyes narrow at me.

  “But I’m not wrong.”

  “No, you’re not wrong.” She shakes her head at me, an amused look on her face.

  “I’ve more than liked you for most of my life,” I tell her. “You’ve got some catching up to do.”

  21

  Pruitt

  Ryker wasn’t wrong. Esme’s drink was absolutely disgusting. He had to hold my hair back when I thought I was going to throw it up. It was a struggle, but I was able to keep it down, thank God.

  I’m standing in the circle with my arms crossed and eyes closed as I wait for something to happen. “D
o you feel anything yet?” Ryker whispers from his spot outside of the moonstone circle. Esme left explicit instructions that once the ritual begins, no one is allowed to cross the moonstones.

  “Nope,” I sigh. “Did she write in her notes how long it’s supposed to be before I feel—” I suck in a breath as a wave a pain washes over me. It starts at my scalp before spreading down to my toes.

  Every single part of my body feels like it’s on fire, and I fall to my knees, no longer able to keep myself upright. The pain in my limbs and torso is terrible, but the agony that wracks my skull is horrifying. I grab my head and clench my teeth, trying desperately not to scream out in pain.

  “Pruitt!” Ryker rushes forward.

  “No!” I gasp, throwing my hand out to stop him from crossing into the circle. “Don’t!”

  “What can I do to help?” I don’t have to look at him to know he’s panicking. I hear it in his voice.

  I shake my head at him, no longer able to use my words.

  Another intense wave of pain washes over me, and I’m no longer able to hold back the howl of pain that escapes me. I hear Ryker speaking to me, but I can no longer understand what he’s saying. My brain is too occupied by the pain to comprehend his words. My hands reach down and dig deep into the dirt, searching for something to hold on to.

  That’s when I feel it, a wall of sorts starts to shatter in my brain. A rush of power drapes over me, making my chest vibrate and my skin sting. I sense another presence in my head, one I now know has always been there, but locked away. I also sense the delight it feels being freed and the nudging it makes at my mind, asking for control.

  “Ryker!” I gasp as even talking hurts at this point. “I think… I think something worked. My wolf… I think she’s free. I can feel something inside my mind…”

  I hope he can understand what I’m saying because I don’t know how else to explain it.