by G. K. DeRosa
But the bitter truth was that I’d forsaken them all for her. I was seconds away from completing our mate bond and running away from the role I’d spent my entire life training for. I’d make the same choice again and again. If it weren’t for Braxton’s untimely appearance, we’d be mated by now.
My wolf stalked inside me, his impatience rattling my core. He was tired of waiting to claim his mate. So was I.
The door to my father’s chamber creaked open, jerking me away from my internal musings. His overpowering presence filled the doorway. It used to be crushing, all-consuming, but now I only hated him more for trying to control me with his alpha power.
I threw my shoulders back and peered down at him, barely phased. It helped that I now stood half a head taller, too. “You called for me?”
He whipped the door open and moved aside for me to enter. I suppressed the urge to ram my shoulder into his as I passed. He was still after Sierra, somehow, I just knew. And I’d find a way to prove that he’d been the one behind her mother’s death.
Had he sent Braxton too? Created an elaborate plot to break us apart?
Tyrien motioned to the dark caramel leather chair, and I folded onto the end of the seat. “Where were you?”
“Today? I was just at the university dorms—”
“Not today!” he shouted. “Yesterday, when you missed the trials.”
Cracking my knuckles, I composed my nerves and slipped on a tranquil mask. “I had to run an urgent errand. A private one that I have no intention of discussing with you.”
“With the Mystic female?” he hissed.
“Sierra is her name. As I’m sure you know well.”
He grunted and waved a dismissive hand. “And today, I understand you didn’t even win the day’s events. You were disqualified for running off to save her.”
I leaned forward, bracing my hands on my knees. “There was no saving necessary, Father. Sierra did just fine on her own. Her Mystic powers are strengthening by the day.” A smug smile curled my lips before I could stop it. It was a risky move, and I knew it, but I couldn’t deny myself the pleasure of seeing his discomfort. “By the way, you aren’t encouraging the other Lunars to sabotage Sierra’s chances in the trials, are you?”
“Of course not. You know that’s against the rules, and I would never do anything to jeopardize your chance at winning.” He narrowed his eyes at me, and I could feel his alpha power squirming its way into my thoughts. He was trying to read me, figure out what I was up to. Lucky for me, Sierra wasn’t the only one getting stronger. The closer we got, the more my abilities developed. It wouldn’t be long now until I’d surpass my sire. “You do still want to win, don’t you, Aristaeus?”
“Of course, Tyrien.” Lie.
“Then I suggest removing your head from between your mate’s fine breasts and getting it back in the game.”
Heat singed my cheeks as fury roiled through my core. “Never speak of her in that manner again,” I snarled and leapt to my feet.
“Stop acting like a lovesick fool, and I won’t have to.”
“Lovesick?” I snorted on a laugh. “You certainly made sure that would never happen. Sometimes I think you decided not to dedicate more effort into breaking the curse because it served your purposes. Am I right, Father?” Jabbing my finger into his chest, I hissed, “A broken man is easier to manipulate than a whole one.”
“Well, you’re not wrong there, son. You’ve never given me so much grief as you have since that damned female appeared.”
“Get used to it,” I muttered over my shoulder as I turned for the door.
“I’m not done, Aristaeus.”
“I am.” I barreled through the door before his alpha power could reach me to command me back. With my abilities strengthening, his hold over me weakened by the day. He must have noticed it too.
A smile spread my lips as I marched past Grayson with my father’s threats echoing behind me.
Flexing my wings, I soared across the central valley to the outskirts where the other wolf packs resided. The hills were smaller, and the dens less impressive than those of the Lunars. Every Lunar alpha thought himself a king above the masses. I scoffed in disgust. I’d been just like them, until I met her and everything changed. The world tilted on its axis, and she became my center.
It had only been a few hours and already every part of me longed for her touch, her scent. We hadn’t even completed the bond yet, and I could barely focus when I wasn’t near her. What would it be like after? What would it be like if I were free to love her?
Before I returned to Sierra’s den, I needed to speak to Vander. I’d sent him to investigate Braxton’s adoptive parents as soon as he’d appeared yesterday. My friend had finally returned from the human world, and I hoped he had good news.
Like something along the lines of the male was a complete fraud. I half-expected my father to bring him up during the conversation, but he hadn’t uttered a word. If my father hadn’t sent him, maybe Lucien? A way to get back at us for Sonia, perhaps.
I didn’t want to face the truth, that he could really be the only other Mystic wolf, and therefore be tied to my mate forever. Even if Sierra rejected the arrangement her father had made, they’d always be linked, part of the same pack. Once I helped him shift, we’d discover if the pack link clicked into place. If it did, there’d be no denying it. I doubted any kind of magic could fabricate that bond.
I angled my wings toward the rolling hills below, to the one in the center, dotted with small dens. Crescent Hill was nowhere near as luxurious as the ones in the central valley, but there was something so much more warm and quaint about Vander’s home.
My friend sat atop the highest point of the hill and waved at my approach. Folding my wings, I alighted beside him, the soft grass cushioning my landing.
“What did you discover?”
“Well, nice to see you, too, brother.” Vander smirked and leaned back on the dewy grass. “Not even an exchange of pleasantries before business? You didn’t even ask about Vessa.”
“I’m sure your sister is doing well. Now, don’t make me drag out of you. I’m in no mood after a disturbing chat with my father.”
Vander quirked a curious brow.
“Nothing bad. Just the usual alpha garbage.”
He nodded slowly. “I wish I had better news for you then.”
A curse slid from my clenched teeth before I could stop it. “Braxton is legit, then?”
“I’m afraid so. I did some digging and everything seems legitimate. What he told us about his biological parents and his adoptive ones. From what I can tell, Braxton really is a Mystic male, possibly the last.”
My wolf growled his anger, his complaints resonating across my chest. Don’t worry, she’s still ours, old friend. As my wolf settled, Vander’s last words resonated. “Wait, possibly?”
“There is one thing I learned, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up because it could be nothing.”
“What’s that?”
“In my research, I found that Alaric had three best friends, one Hanson, Braxton’s father, and two other wolves who served on his council by the names of Richter and Zade. According to birth records that I found, Richter had twin girls around the same age as Sierra, and Zade had a son, a few years younger. Now, if you were one of my best friends, and I had a plan to protect my child, wouldn’t I share it with you?”
The hair on the back of my neck rose. “I’d hope you would. So you think there are others?”
“Could be.”
“How are we going to find them?”
He loosed a breath and shook his head. “If they’re as well-hidden as Braxton was, it’s going to be difficult.”
A twinge of hope ignited despite his reluctance. “But it could be the answer to our problems.”
“Or the beginning of more.”
Chapter Fifteen
Sierra
* * *
Another day, another trial. I limped into my apartment and col
lapsed onto the couch. Luckily, today’s events hadn’t been nearly as bad as the day before. No magical quicksand monster and no evil faery wolf attack. Just an epic battle of fire and ice. I winced at the burn marks that had made their way through my supposedly impermeable suit.
“Cass?” I called out into the quiet apartment. “Cass, are you home?”
A light seeped through the cracks in the bathroom door, and the rush of water reached my sensitive ears. Must’ve been Braxton since Hunter had repeatedly warned him to stay put before we left this morning.
I hadn’t had a chance to ask him much about his first shift. Hunter had said it had gone well but had been pretty tight-lipped about their nocturnal adventure. My mate had made it clear that he wasn’t a fan of Braxton staying with me, but it wasn’t like he could stay at Silverstalker Lair either. Vander had offered his place, but I felt oddly protective over my first packmate and insisted he remained with me.
After a whole bunch of cursing and arguing, Hunter had relented. I wasn’t backing down on this one. Braxton was my responsibility whether I liked it or not.
The door to the bathroom whipped open, drawing my eyes to the hallway and to the very naked male blotting out my vision. I stared for a second longer before the shock immobilizing my senses dissipated, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you were home,” Braxton called out as he darted back into the bathroom.
Heat spilled over my face as I shifted on the couch, trying to diffuse the warmth surely tingeing my cheeks a bright crimson.
He emerged a moment later with a towel hastily wrapped across his narrow hips. As he approached, I couldn’t help my eyes from appraising his sculpted torso. Like all shifters, he’d been blessed with a strong, lean physique. With broad shoulders, sharply cut abs and muscled pecs, he was a sight to be admired. At least my dad had good taste when it came to males. I could’ve done much worse with this arranged mating.
The stray thought snapped me from my ogling, and I forced my gaze to the floor. Braxton smirked as he sat down beside me, and I wanted to disappear into the couch and become one with the worn leather. He’d obviously seen my blatant gawking—and enjoyed it.
“How’d it go last night?” I blurted to cut the uneasy tension.
“It hurt like hell, but at least I shifted. So I guess that’s something, right?”
“Definitely.”
“How come no one tells you that you literally have to break every bone in your body for the change?”
“Because no one would do it otherwise.” I shrugged. “It gets better pretty quickly.” I paused, wondering if Braxton would be able to insta-shift like I could. Was it a Mystic thing or a sparkly purple wolf thing?
“It felt weirdly amazing being in fur though. Hunter took me out to run at the edge of pack lands, and it was the most free I’ve ever felt in my life. I wanted to run forever. It was all brand new and yet not. Like I knew my wolf all along, just had never been able to access him before.” His lips curled, and he tossed his head from side to side. “I must sound crazy, right?”
“No, you don’t.” I could totally relate. I’d experienced the same the first few times I’d been in wolf form. Hell, I still felt it. “It’s pretty awesome and completely indescribable.”
We sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, my thoughts on my wolf and everything I’d been through since my arrival in shifter territory. I imagined he was doing the same. Braxton had been kept in the dark longer and more profoundly than I had. At least I’d known about my witchy side when I was younger.
My thoughts turned to my grandmother. Where was she? Was she even worried about me? Had she even considered what her disappearance would do to me? I wanted to hate her, to erase her from my mind, but I couldn’t. I just couldn’t believe she’d be so cruel. I wanted there to be an explanation, but I desperately feared there wasn’t.
Invisible bands tightened around my ribcage and breathing became difficult. Grams betrayed me. She was gone forever. My wolf clawed beneath my skin, anxious to be free. She whined, the longing echo reverberating through my core. I felt an odd pull toward my new packmate, as if she were tugging me in his direction. Weird. I longed to release her, to lose myself in the beast and put rational thought aside.
“Do you want to run?” The words popped out before I could stop them. Hunter would be pissed. We were supposed to keep Braxton hidden, but I needed this bad. My wolf needed it.
Braxton’s eyes widened, a flash of excitement streaking through the light hazel. “Absolutely.” He stood and his towel unraveled, crumpling around his feet.
My eyes automatically followed the oversized washcloth, once again skimming over his completely exposed manly parts. Son of a shifter!
He didn’t even bat an eye as the towel pooled at his feet. This guy was going to fit right in with the whole naked shifter lifestyle. “Should I shift now or wait till we get outside?”
My eyes bugged out of my head. “This isn’t a nudist colony. You can’t just go traipsing around campus butt naked.” Shaking my head, I darted into my bedroom and called out behind me, “Be out in a second.” This guy may have been my packmate, but I was in no hurry to shed my clothes and skin in front of him.
Stripping down, I contemplated shooting a quick message to Hunter, but thought better of it. Easier to act now and apologize later, right? The shift came instantly. The lavender sparkle had barely appeared when I dropped down on all fours. Now in wolf form, an odd feeling consumed me. I was too hot and yet an icy chill surged up my spine. I anxiously pawed at the carpet, and a sharp whine slid through my wolfy lips. The strange urge that had suddenly come over me was completely new and not entirely pleasant. My wolf felt like a bull lassoed by the horns being dragged toward Braxton.
Slipping between the crack in the door, I crept into the living room. Braxton filled the small space, his giant gray and white wolf nearly the size of Hunter’s. He flashed me his fangs, and his tail whipped back and forth.
I led the way down the narrow earthen corridor, not directly to the exit of my den but rather deeper into the mouth of the hill. There was a back entrance that would open straight into the forest. I might be a little reckless going out before dusk, but I wasn’t crazy. Parading Braxton through the center of campus would’ve attracted way more attention than necessary.
A glimmer of light appeared at the end of the passageway, and the tantalizing scents of the forest reached my sensitive nose. My nostrils flared as I took them all in. The fresh dew, moist earth, variety of musky creatures. I darted through the opening, and the forest enveloped me in its lush arms.
Braxton let out a howl, and I couldn’t keep my wolf from joining him. I started to run, my claws sinking into the fertile soil, crushing leaves and leaping over fallen debris. I was free. My packmate followed behind me, his unwieldy footfalls disrupting the tranquility of the quiet woods. He was like a pygmy giant in a magic shop. His excitement drifted off him in rolling waves.
I knew what he was feeling. A wolf trapped for so many years and finally freed was an incredible thing. As difficult as the past few months had been, I thanked the goddess every day for discovering the truth, for being free to be myself.
Braxton’s hot breath wafted over my fur as he lunged forward to catch up with me. He nudged me as we ran, his big wolf bumping into mine playfully. That odd pull returned. A feeling of longing consumed my chest. What the hell?
My wolfy companion stopped short, his amber eyes wide and glowing like two full moons. He cocked his head at me. Did you just talk in my head? His thoughts ricocheted through my mind.
You can hear me? I shot back.
He whined and shook his head out. Yeah, like in stereo.
Holy, shift. It’s the pack link!
Oh, yeah, Hunter mentioned that, but he said it wouldn’t kick in until we exchanged blood. He said we’d do it later today so we could communicate.
I shifted uncomfortably. I’d been used to having Hunter in my head, but
a total stranger? I guess it’s because I’m your alpha. It happens automatically, I think. I concentrated on closing our connection before my random thoughts spilled out. Had that been the weird pull I felt? Maybe shifting together triggered the pack link? Dammit. I should’ve waited for Hunter to get some answers. This alpha stuff was all new to me.
Braxton-Wolf whined and poked me with his long snout.
What?
I was talking to you, and you weren’t answering.
Oh, right. Phew, at least I’d figured out how to block him. I have to open our pack link so we can communicate.
Interesting. What if I get in trouble and need you or something?
My furry brows knitted. I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask Hunter how it works exactly. I huffed out a breath, antsy again with all the unknowns Braxton’s appearance brought. Ready to keep running?
Let’s do it, alpha girl. The big gray and white wolf smiled, and I couldn’t help my lupine lips from curling.
Alpha. I could definitely get used to that.
Chapter Sixteen
Sprawled out on the couch with the scent of the forest still lingering in my nostrils, I let out a contented sigh. No matter what was going on in my crazy world, running in my wolf form chased it all away. My muscles burned, and sweat and dirt coated my human skin, but I felt incredible. Sure, I’d feel even better after a shower, but Braxon-Wolf had decided to roll in the mud so he’d won first dibs in the bathroom, which left me forced to throw on some sweats over my not-so-clean naked body while I waited.
That odd pull I’d felt earlier still lingered, like an invisible string entwined around my heart. The strangest thing was that I found Braxton on the other side of the tether. It had to be an alpha thing, but I dreaded asking Hunter about it. It was a tiny fraction of what I felt for my mate, but it was something nonetheless, and with everything so up in the air between us, I didn’t want to further fracture our precarious relationship.