by Haley Weir
“You had met Caleb before then. He told me you even slept in his arms.”
“I didn’t have a choice!”
“But you have one now,” he said firmly. There was a depth to his voice that was...unnatural. “You can either accept that this is your life now or you can be stubborn like Caleb and ignore the signs. But the truth is that times are changing—even for us. When I took Casey as my mate, it set forth a chain of events I’m helpless to stop. The bloodline is no longer pure, and many will see this as a weakness.”
“You’re talking nonsense, Giddeon. None of this is real!”
“It is!”
“It can’t be!”
“Why not? Why are you so against the possibility?”
“Because I don’t want it to be real!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. Rina fell to her knees and trembled, overwhelmed by all he had told her. “This isn’t my life...and Caleb isn’t my problem. Take the mark away. If what you say is true...if magic is real, then take the mark away. Prove that you aren’t lying.”
Giddeon stood up and removed his jacket before he rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows. He walked over to Rina. His steps were careful yet they lacked hesitation. Giddeon placed his hand on the back of her neck. Rina gasped as an otherworldly sensation scorched her flesh. Giddeon was catapulted across the throne room. He slid on the marble floor until his back hit the wall. Guards appeared from out of nowhere; they surrounded their king as they glared seethingly at Rina. She crawled away from them just as Giddeon told his men to stand down.
Her hand shook as she lifted it to her neck once again. But the mark was still there.
“It might be in poor taste to say this,” Giddeon began. “But welcome to Destiny. It is a land of bear shifters and magic, a place where fiction becomes reality. You better start getting used to it because I won’t explain this to you twice.” He was helped to his feet and escorted out of the room. Rina stared after him long after he took his leave. She pushed herself off of the floor and glanced around with uncertainty.
The door to the throne room opened, and Damien rushed towards her.
Rina lifted her hand and moved away from him. “Are you one of them?” she asked with tears glistening in her eyes. “Are you some sort of bear creature, too?”
His posture deflated. “No. I’m something much different.”
“What are you, then?”
“A wolf.”
She laughed but there was no humor. “A wolf? Are we talking Underworld or Animal Planet type of wolf?”
Damien shrugged his shoulders. “Neither. We’re a species of our own. Wolf is just easier for others to understand. I had hoped you wouldn’t find out like this.”
“Or at all.”
“Actually, I was going to tell you,” he admitted. “I was going to ask you to be my mate.”
“You get a choice? A moment ago, Giddeon made this sort of thing seem pretty unpredictable. Like consent wasn’t exactly needed to get the ball rolling.”
“Why would Giddeon...” Something strange flashed in Damien’s eyes as he sniffed the air. “You’re mated? To whom?” Damien leaped across the room and grabbed Rina by the arms. He held her so tight that she crumbled against his chest.
“You’re hurting me.”
“Tell me who it is!”
“Damien! Stop!”
“Who is it?”
“Caleb!” Rina shouted. When he took a step back, she wrenched her arms out of his hold. “Don’t you ever come near me again.” She turned her back to him quickly and stormed out of the door. Giddeon blocked her from leaving through the front entrance. “I need to leave.”
“What did he do?” Giddeon touched the place on her arm where Damien had grabbed her and snarled. He whispered something under his breath, and the light bruises faded with a lingering tingle. “Is that better?”
Magic...Giddeon had used magic to heal her.
Rina stumbled. She stared down at her arm with wide eyes. “How did you do that?” she asked even though she already knew the answer. Giddeon fell silent and held his hand out to Rina. Her head told her that going with him was dangerous, that she may never return to the world she loved. But it was Rina’s heart that caused her to accept his help.
Giddeon led her up the stairs and into a private bedchamber. “Take all the time you need. Casey will see you when she is finished nursing the baby.”
The door closed with a soft thud and Rina collapsed onto the bed. She kicked her shoes off and curled up on her side. Her life was ruined. There wasn’t a modeling agency in the plus-sized fashion world that would hire someone with a brand on their neck. Monsters existed. Fated mates were apparently the supernatural creature equivalent of soulmates. Rina was grateful that Giddeon offered for Casey to visit her, but she needed someone who was as much an outsider as she was. So, Rina picked up her phone and called Olivia.
"What's up?"
"What do you know about bear shifters?" she asked immediately.
"Woah. Way to ease your way into a conversation." Olivia chuckled for a moment but answered the question. "Berserkers, spirit animals, curses? What kind of bear shifters?"
"Umm...the kind that come from gods?"
"Now that's a whole other can of worms, my friend."
Rina rolled her eyes. "I'm serious, Liv. This is important."
"I'm serious too. Haven't you ever seen an episode of Supernatural? We've barely scratched the surface of what I know about shapeshifters and stuff."
"I'm not talking about a show...I'm talking about Caleb."
"Caleb's a bear shifter!"
Rina pulled the phone away from her ear and waited for her hearing to return. When she returned to the conversation, she caught the tail end of something pertaining to the apocalypse. "No! Don't go spouting off about zombies and stuff. I need you focused."
"You just told me Caleb is a bear shifter. I'd say zombies are the least of your worries."
"Why?"
"Well, depending on what god they descended from, you might have to deal with celestial backlash or something down the road. There’s usually some kind of laws in place that don’t allow humans to peek behind the veil, if you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t know what you mean,” she replied honestly. “Maybe I should have called Diana instead. At least she would have offered to call me a doctor.”
“Heavenly politics, Rina. Heavenly politics.”
“Did you see this on tv or something?”
“I read books. Something you should do more often.” Olivia banged around on the other end. “I hear Odin and Zeus can be real handfuls, so let’s hope you got one of the nice ones to deal with. Oh! Might want to ask if there’s an ancient prophecy or curse on the bloodline too.”
“Great! What else?”
“...it’s just...these things don’t always end well,” her friend whispered. “They usually end in war or someone getting hurt. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Does sneaking onto an island full of rebels count as careful?”
“No, but I want to come with you. That sounds awesome!”
~*~
Rebel Camp
Kodiak Island, Alaska
Frigid water sloshed over his bruised and battered body.
Caleb coughed and heaved as he tried to sit himself up. Tense muscles protested the movement, but he managed to prop himself against the wall of his cell. The Reckoning had stripped him bare and tossed him in a dark hole. Their facility was hidden beneath the guise of a hunting camp. Deep underground, in the bowels of the earth, was a kingdom of metal and technology. Machines whirred at all hours of the night and through the day, making it impossible for Caleb to sleep for more than a few seconds at a time.
There were claw marks along the walls from whatever poor creature had occupied the cell before him. Dark stains peppered the cold floor, leading to the rusted drain at the center of the room. Only the flickering of an industrial light above his head kept him company. Each mo
rning, the guards doused him in freezing water and left him to shiver in the corner. But Caleb had seen enough of this foul place to know that it was impenetrable.
Octavius and Madeu had made sure nothing could escape this hellish place. Caleb flexed his jaw and felt his way towards the large steel door that imprisoned him. He ran his fingers along the air-tight seams, trying to find a way out even though he knew it was hopeless. His ear pressed against the door, and Caleb listened to the eerie sound of screams on the other side. The door opened, and he launched himself at the guard. Metal prods shoved into his side and an electric current coursed through his body. Caleb writhed on the hard ground as a dark figure stood over him.
Octavius smirked down at him with a shake of his head. "We aren't trying to break you, Caleb. All we want is for you to listen to what Madeu has to say. The more you fight, the more pain we'll give you. Just take comfort in knowing that it could be much worse...after all, you could be in Seth's position."
Caleb's chest burned as he dragged musty air into his lungs. "Let him go and I'll do whatever you want," he said. "I'm older than Seth. I have more power."
"You're in no position to bargain. We rule this island. You aren't a prince here, Caleb, you're a prisoner of war."
"It doesn't have to be this way...Giddeon isn't my father. He holds no prejudice against humans," Caleb explained. "Tell him about Madeu and we can set things right. You can leave this island and join us at Castle Black."
Laughter bounced off the walls of his cell as Octavius and guards circled around him. "We aren't going to be satisfied with second best anymore. When we return to Castle Black, we'll be the leaders. Not you. Not Giddeon. Not Madeu."
He stiffened and blinked up at Octavius, squinting against the florescent light. "I thought...he was your king?"
"Madeu is my king. And he will claim his birthright and sit on the throne as he was always destined to do."
Caleb shook his head and rolled onto his side. "This isn't about getting revenge or being shifters again, is it? You want Madeu on the throne so you can take it from him."
"My, aren't you a wise one?" Octavius snorted. "Did you really think I was going to sit by and take orders from some young half-blood punk? I was a general in your father's army. If anyone deserves the throne, it's me!"
"You say that, but what have you done to lead these men out of the darkness?" Caleb pushed himself onto his knees and stared up at Octavius. "You force them to live like humans and hide in the shadows. You would rather bring war upon them than to allow your people to join the Sleuth. Blame my father all you want, but it's you who is keeping them from reclaiming their form."
A punch landed against his cheek, causing his head to snap to the side. He rolled his neck and spit a mouthful of blood onto the floor. Caleb clenched his fists at his sides and glared around the cell. Once again, he was outnumbered. He hadn't expected a fair fight, but an all-out beatdown hadn't been on his list of possibilities either. Punches rained down upon him until he buckled under the force of his pain. Caleb slammed his fist into the knee of one of the guards and sent the man tumbling to the floor beside him. He tackled another to the ground only seconds before he was prodded again. Muscles spasmed until he had no choice but to give up the struggle. Madeu shoved Octavius out of the way and growled at the others.
"This is not what we planned! If the trials are to be successful, then we need him alive. Pumping him full of electricity could fry his brain or stop his heart."
"Listen to him, fellas," Caleb chuckled. "I'm starting to smell bacon." A foot collided with his head, and the world went dark again.
Chapter Eight
Kodiak Island
Alaska
"Where did you ladies say you were headed?" the kind elderly man asked as he steered the boat towards the docks. "It isn't exactly hunting season on the island. It might be dangerous for you to go too far alone." Rina was grateful for the man's concern, but she wasn't eager to tell a stranger that she was going to try and find her so-called mate that happened to be a bear shifter. She glanced over at Olivia and shrugged.
"I'm a model. We thought we would get a good photoshoot spot in the wilderness."
"You might want to hire a guide..." the man ran a hand over his beard. "My nephew knows these woods like the back of his hand. You can find him at the white house at the end of this road here. Good luck."
The boat stopped, and Rina climbed onto the wood dock. She turned around and helped Olivia get out of the boat. They paid the kind man and thanked him for the advice. When they were alone, Olivia stared at the vast expansion of trees beyond the island's rocky shoreline. "We shouldn't get any innocent people involved in this. If anyone stops us in the forest, we have a cover story, but I don't think risking anyone in town is a good idea."
"You're right. Do you have the stuff?" Rina asked. She eyed her friend suspiciously.
Olivia's grin made Rina uncomfortable as she dropped a large bag on the ground and opened the top. There was everything from wooden stakes to holy water. Rina rolled her eyes. "Who are you? Buffy the Freakin' Bear Hunter?"
"Hey, don't judge me for being prepared! I've seen enough episodes of—”
Rina placed her hand over Olivia's mouth and glared at her friend over the palm of her hand. "Mention another tv show and I'm going to tie you to the pier and go alone," she threatened. Olivia raised her hand in surrender and Rina removed her hand. They carried their bags through the small town on the coast, ignoring the pointed stares from several people. Rina led Olivia to the edge of the forest and took a deep breath before disappearing into the trees.
"I left a letter for Casey and Giddeon in case they came to the cabin looking for us," Olivia mentioned. "You know...for someone who isn't interested in Caleb, you sure are going out of your way to find him."
"It's the right thing to do."
"So, the whole mate thing has nothing to do with it?" Olivia questioned sarcastically. "Diana would kill to be in your position. You and Casey are ridiculous. Do you have any idea how many women dream of finding their perfect man? And you lucky whores have bear shifters!"
"I want freewill."
"News flash, honey, there's no such thing." Olivia opened her arms wide and spun around. The camera around her neck jostled slightly. "This is as close to freedom as we'll ever get."
"I don't believe that."
"Then you're just as brainwashed as the rest of this world." Olivia fixed the hood on her jacket and continued down a worn-down path. There were strange markings carved into some of the trees. But what caught Rina's attention were the claw marks on the trunks.
"Bears?" she guessed.
"Caleb kind of bears or bear bears? You know, the kind that fight forest fires?"
Rina touched the claw marks and shook her head. "I don't think it's Caleb..." There was something dark in the forest. Rina swallowed thickly and reached out for Olivia. "We need to stay close to each other."
"Total spooky vibes."
"Exactly," she responded. They walked arm in arm for what felt like hours. A gentle flutter of snow drifted towards the ground each time the wind blew. Rina shivered and stopped in her tracks. "Do you smell that?"
"Campfire?" Olivia whispered. A twig snapped, and Rina's heart pounded ravenously. Olivia's grip on her arm tightened, and a...gorgeous man stepped out of the foliage. He cocked his hip, and a lopsided grin slid across his lips.
"You two must be lost."
"We're just taking some pictures for a photoshoot," Rina replied nervously. "It shouldn't take long."
"This forest is dangerous. No one should have let you out here on your own." The man stepped closer. He sniffed the air, and his brow furrowed. Rina's mind screamed for her to run. She gave him a thin-lipped smile and turned back towards the trail.
"I guess we got caught up in the scenery. This really is a beautiful place." The path was blocked by several men that towered over them. "We'll just be on our way...we don't want any trouble." Olivia was ripped away from her, and
the handsome stranger pressed against her back.
His tongue slid across the mark on the back of her neck, and Rina felt nauseous. She was spun around and forced against the man's chest. He kissed her roughly. Rina shoved against the wall of muscle in front of her, but he didn't budge. "I can taste the lies on your tongue," he growled.
"P-please, let us go."
"I won't be doing that. You are far too valuable to just let go." He licked his lips and gestured to his men. Olivia was slammed onto the ground. "Check her for a mark."
Rina blinked away tears as her friend screamed. She fought against the arms that held her tight, trying to get to Olivia. Her friend was stripped naked in the snow and checked for a mate mark. "She's unclaimed," one of them announced.
Olivia kicked him backward and scrambled for her bag. She turned and used some sort of dagger to stab the man closest to her. He howled in pain and pulled the blade out of his chest. Olivia ran as fast as she could, but Rina was dragged into darkness by the devil with the beautiful face.
~*~
Rebel Camp
Kodiak Island, Alaska
Caleb heard a commotion in the corridor. Madeu had him moved to a different cell that was attached to the upper gallery of the main hall. He peered between the bars and watched as a group of Reckoning rebels dragged a limp figure out of the large elevator. A familiar scent took him by surprise, and Caleb roared through the bars of his cage. Rina. Confusion warred with concern as he wondered how she had gotten captured. There would be no hiding who and what he was now. Caleb cursed and banged against the metal enclosure that kept him from reaching the unconscious woman.
Rina was tossed into the cell beside his, and Caleb tried to reach her through the gaps. She stirred at the sound of his voice and the sight of her beautiful eyes hit him like a ton of bricks. "I'm sorry," he croaked. The sound barely escaped from between his cracked lips. "I never wanted you involved in this. We...we tried to keep all of it hidden."
Rina sat up slowly and shook her head. "I came after you."