BFTA 28 Crazy was an understatement. He wasn’t in the right frame of mind. They sat around the bonfire, chanting prayers for the dead. Lino had freed Jessica’s mate for long enough to attend and collect her ashes. It was the rules. His father had ruled this way, and his grandfather before him. He would not break tradition because of a scowling woman. Jessica had touched the wolfsbane and fed it to Cassy. As such, she was a traitor. In his grandfather’s days, the priestess would be called upon to bestow a Small Death upon the traitor before an actual execution. The Small Death referred to the process of being stripped bare. The wolf would be taken apart from the body, and the two would live as separate entities. No one had ever survived it. They would either go insane, or they would kill themselves. It was a brutal punishment, admittedly, but his grandfather had seen it fitting for whoever dared to dabble with the sorcerers. It was believed that one could only obtain
BFTA 29 Cassy was beyond words. Lie after lie had been told, forged and she could do nothing to defend herself. It was true that she had flaunted power in the Grand Hall, before the members of the council, but it had been a strategy for her revenge plan. Someone wanted to get her in a tight spot, and she had a good idea who that was. Eleanor. The wench stood by Lino, watching the exchange while managing to fool everyone with silver-lined eyes and a sad face. But Jessica’s mate didn’t seem to be faking his grief. She needed to get through to him. To let him see the truth. That she knew Jessica didn’t act of her own free will. That he had been fed lies. “I did nothing of that sort. Jessica was—“ “You do not take her name! Leave! You are not welcome here!” The male howled and Cassy shifted uncomfortably, eyes darting to where Lino stood for help. She would appreciate any sort of help right now. She wanted to be here. She wanted to lay a hand on the head
BFTA 30 Eleanor beamed at the mirror as she pulled the last lock of hair into place. It had been too easy. She giggled, recalling the sound of Cassy’s crying and pleading. It had been music to her ears. The moved gleefully, twirling in her nightdress and humming a sound she’d picked up during a festival from not too long ago. Burn the witch. That was the name of the song. Cassy might have as well been the witch tonight. If she had given the right push, perhaps, they would have tied her to a stake and burned her as well. Eleanor giggled again as she picked up the scented oils and massaged her temples with them. Lino would come to her tonight. To take off the edge. She had to look good for him, smell good for him. Tonight had been a test for him. Duty over useless feelings. He had chosen duty like she knew he would. What a sight it had been to watch Cassy fall apart. Jessica had been collateral damage. When Cassy had come for Lino, she had known the w
BFTA 31 Cassy’s wounds had healed by morning but her broken spirit had not. No maid reached her chambers and she did not know what to feel about it. Alpha Zane had stuck with her the entire night. . .and morning. No. Not in that sense. He’d slept in the chair and she on the bed. He’d helped her deliver her breakfast and her lunch, never asking her questions that would make her feel uncomfortable or vulnerable again. She was extremely grateful for it, though she would not tell him that. He didn’t need to know. They would leave for the Hunt tomorrow and while Cassy still didn’t want to face the world, or anyone after what had happened last night, she knew she would have to leave the confines of her room eventually, to prepare for the trip. There was still that dilemma of how she was going to avoid being taken by force and mated with. She wanted to at least choose the male she would be with for the rest of her life. After last night, she wanted nothing to do wit
BFTA 32 The journey to the peaks would take roughly three days. Two if they were fast. It was only the first day and Cassy’s thighs felt sore from riding on the horse’s back. The beast had been calm for the entirety of the journey but she had never had to ride a horse before or travel away from home. She didn’t have a reason to do so before. “Here,” Zane said, extending a water skin to her and she smiled faintly as she took it from him, murmuring her gratitude. He had chosen to escort her all the way to the lands that marked his territory apart from Lino’s, but he would leave in a few to rendezvous with his pack. It was his duty to be there and arrive with them at the peaks. She would follow him as she had agreed to be his Luna last night but the traditions required that the ceremonies be completed first—those were Lino’s words when Zane had sought his permission to take Cassy home as his bride. The bastard had blatantly refused and spoken some horse shit ab
BTFA 33 Lino reeled in his emotions and fixed a smile on his face as he approached the couple. Zane drew away from Cassy upon noting his presence and Lino was more than happy to ruin whatever nonsensical moment they were having. He knew he was acting petty and childish but he couldn’t help it. He was mad, and angry—same thing—and jealous and he so desperately needed to hit something or someone to vent out the terrible energy that was suffocating him. “This is where we part, Alpha Zane,” Lino said, unable to keep the jealous bit out of his voice. Zane noticed and he grinned, turning to tuck a dark lock that had come free from Cassy’s braid behind her ear. “I find that I do not want to part from my mate yet.” Hades stirred again, growling. Lino growled too as his eyes narrowed to where Zane’s thumb caressed the base of Cassy’s neck. “She is not your mate.” Zane’s grin widened. “She will be after the Hunt.” Lino clenched his fist hard to hide his fing
BFTA 34 Lino and Eleanor returned an hour later and Cassy picked up the smell of sex rolling off them. Eleanor’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright and—Cassy hated them. Both of them. Lino wouldn’t meet her gaze. He would not even gaze in her direction. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he felt guilty about whatever nonsense he and his mate had done in the forest—but somehow, Cassy understood why he had to do it. She hated that she did, but she understood. He mounted his horse without sparing them a glance and they resumed the journey after him. Eleanor winked at Cassy when no one else was looking and proceeded to lick the bottom of her lips in a way Cassy found beyond disgusting. Apparently, having sex with Lino was more than enough to change her mind about attending the procession. Perhaps, she’d thrown the tantrum just to make a point. A point that she had sway over Lino and the people. A point that she was Luna and Cassy would never be we
BFTA 35 Cassy stared after Lino for a while, feeling hot and cold at the same time. She hugged herself as the chilly wind whipped at her clothes and her hair. She finally noticed the world moving around them and the looks of contempt that kept being tossed her way. It didn’t hurt as much as Lino leaving her did. She felt cold and alone. She didn’t want to go into that tent alone, but she knew she had no choice. Shivering slightly from the cold and the enormity of what had just occurred with Lino, in front of the entire camp. She pushed through the flaps of the tents and went through. She paused upon seeing the bedroll and blankets neatly arranged for her. At the far end of it, there were wooden buckets and water for her to see to her needs. She had not noticed them arrange any of it, having been lost in her world of thoughts. However, when she sniffed in, she could only pick up on Lino’s scent. He had arranged this for her? Her heart did a strange flip but
Eleanor dashed through the woods, panting and cursing under her breath. It wasn't supposed to go this way, she thought. She was sure she had not been followed. But now, the guards were after her, hot on her tail and she could not seem to outrun them. Her parents would be disgust if they saw her now. What had become of her. Cassy and Lino would probably laugh their heads off if they saw her. She was a thief. She had been living from and to mouth for years, taking shelter in empty barns or cottages, stealing food from moving carriages or from travellers. She had walked and moved and tried to make something of herself for the past few years, but all anyone wanted from her was to bed her or turn her into a whore, and while she knew she was a despicable person, there were things she could not allow. From the ears of one of the travellers, she had heard of a castle in the North, with plenty or riches that were untouched by the Alpha who seemed to have no intere
Two years later... "No. Not that one. Do not put that in your mouth, Fenris," Cassy said, lifting her son off the ground and throwing the sand stained pebble he had been about to put in his mouth. "Where is your brother?" She questioned, and he smiled at her, pulling her hair instead and giggling. "Asher?" She called out, looking around the playground Lino had built just for his twin sons. She heard Asher's answering giggle emerge from the other end, and a smile graced her lips when she saw Lino holding him and tickling him. He loved them. There was no surprise there. Over the last two years, she had gotten to see sides to Lino that she had never thought she would again, after she'd lost their first child. He was kind, loving and stern when he needed to be. Maybe scratch the last part out. When it came to the boys, there was not a single stern bone in Lino's body. All they had to do was smile at him and he would lift them up and tickle them. Cassy
Cassy and Lino sat on the edge of the bed, hands clasped tightly together, awaiting Gerald as he gathered he shrugged out of his gloves. She began to fidget and Lino rubbed her knee to soothe her, even if he was also fidgeting. Cassy felt her stomach twist and tighten with nerves as she thought about it. She pressed her free hand against her stomach, trying to feel for something, anything at all that said that it was there. She hadn't felt funny in the past few days. Other than the need to sleep. Her last pregnancy had been somewhat hectic and she had been a horrible mess before she even found out she was pregnant. She supposed it should be the same. The nausea. The morning sickness. The cranky mood. The obtuse emotions. It was the only reason why she didn't think she was. That too and the fact that she looked absolutely normal. She hadn't gained extra weight or anything. She'd lost some. She stole a glance at Lino. His expression was calm but she could tell from
Cassy peered around, in the familiar darkness and she immediately knew where she was. It had been a while since she had been summoned by Selene and she had quite a lot of words to say to the wolf when she graced her with her presence. "Selene?" Cassy called out, turning in a spin, searching for the familiar figure, but she couldn't find the wolf. "I see all is finally in order," a voice that sounded both ancient and young said, and Cassy turned to find the big wolf approaching her. "Yes. No thanks to you. You left me with nothing but scattered clues here and there. I didn't understand a single thing." "But you have come out victorious," the wolf said drily. Cassy scowled. "Again, with no thanks to you. Julian's the only reason why we won. You picked me up and then abandoned me--" "And who do you think sent the sorcerer your way?" Cassy's lips pursed and she kept quiet, listening to Selene and her 'explanation'. "The Goddess's interfere
Lino sat in his throne, head leaning against his fist. The day had only just begun and he was already exhausted. He always hated the aftermaths of squabbles and war. Deaths and meetings and hard decisions had to be taken. It didn't make it any better that Cassy was not with him today. His mate had slept the entire day away yesterday and she was today as well. He understood that she needed the rest, especially after the ordeals they had gone through. It was absolutely normal for females to fall into deep sleep after a weight like war had been lifted off their shoulders. He had been telling himself that the entire day, just so he could get his mind off the possibility of Cassy being pregnant. He was excited and extremely anxious as well. He had known the joy of expecting a child once before, but this was different. Perhaps, it was because she was his mate and he was in love now. He couldn't stop fidgeting and thinking about it. Truth be told, he wanted nothing m
Julian strode over to where Sasha laid on the ground, head severed from her body. He had not thought it would be so easy to end her life. He had not wanted it to be easy. He had wanted her to suffer for it. Every day. For everything she had done to him. For every atrocity she had committed. For all the wrong she had caused him. He had wanted her to suffer. But he had killed her too quickly. And...saved the day. His unusual eyes overlooked the battle field and what little of the sorcerers that were left and we're still being killed. His eyes wandered over to the Luna and Alpha seated off to the side, holding each other and crying. His eyes then wandered back to Sasha's unseeing eyes. He let it truly sink in that she was dead and gone. Slowly, it sank in, like a stone would in the middle of an ocean. It settled within him. Standing in the middle of a battle field with his armour coated in blood and his fingers wrapped around the sheath of his sword, J
Cassy panted, peering down at the blade and the minute distance it was away from her heart. No no. The woman was not bluffing. The back of her head hurt terribly, no thanks to Sasha's blow, and the tiniest movement had her wincing in pain. It was nothing though, compared to the obvious panic in Lino's eyes. A burden in her chest lightened a little. He was fine. He was covered in blood and gore, but he was fine. Taller, hairier and scary. He was in between this wolf form and the other. His red hair made him look all the more stunning. She gave him a sharp look that all but said, "You should not have left me inside." Lino ignored her, baring his teeth instead at Sasha. "Touch her, I'll end you." The woman had the audacity to chuckle and Cassy marvelled at her boldness and lack of fear. "Before you move, she'd already be dead. You're at my mercy, Alpha," Sasha said, piercing Cassy's skin with the dagger for effect. Not the other way around. I suggest you w
"Think we might make it back?" Lino asked asked Kayden as he jammed the rock into the sharp edge of the sword. Kayden shrugged, staring up at the sky. "I have no choice. Ayla will throttle me out of the afterlife if I do not." Lino smiled. He could think of a couple of things Cassy would also do to him for leaving without her. He had better make it back home. He had no other option. Night had fallen and they had chosen to make camp. It was more like...laying in wait and resting while the enemies rode toward them. Lino wasn't the type of Alpha to move things in a rush. He would wait for her. Sasha. And by the spies he had dispatched a few moments back, he knew that they weren't far off any more. And leading them his way was the hybrid, Julian. Whether or not he would fight on their side when it mattered, Lino couldn't tell, but he had seen the hybrid and looked in his eye. He had seen the hatred for Sasha and even if he trusted nothing else, he trusted in those
Cassy placed outside the yard, trailing the line of defense the guards had formed, laying in wait for their enemies. Just in case. She had no doubt that it was Lino's instruction too. The man always thought and prepared ahead for the worst case scenario. There were more than a hundred scattered about in various defense formations and Cassy marvelled on how they blocked every entrance into the castle. But... wasn't a hundred too many to guide the amount of women inside? Perhaps it was because of her or it could be the fact that they were the weaker and more vulnerable sex. A sudden shout came from the front, by the towering gates of the castle and Cassy believed it to be, "Close the gates!" The shouts increased and Cassy ran up to the gates where the guards were frantically trying to lock them. There were still people trying to get through. Late arrivals from the houses around the castle. If the gates were suddenly locked, they would have no where else to