The last time I was at Blue Silver, my father was selling me off the Alpha of the Red Valley to foster peace and cooperation. He didn't care to know what was best for me, but only what was best for me by using his only daughter. Of course, Marelyn then didn't see the wrong in what he was doing because one look at Chase Erickson, and she was gone. This time, things are different. I've seen all that was behind Chase's mask. My father's true colours even. Coming back here does nothing to make me happy. I feel uneasy, and I want it over much sooner. "I hate her." "Mare, you can't let your former pack know the kind of relationship you had with your step mom," Chase says at my side. We are walking hand-in-hand, heading to Blue Silvers' throne room. Most wolves don't visit our territory for fear of being harmed by our blood. But we aren't here on a casual visit. My step mom assumes the Alpha's throne today. "Ava Sinclair is nothing but a bully. I was treated like an outcast in my home
I'm shocked to see Ava in here. She's fixing her makeup and looking nothing like the devastated mess she was back out there. I don't move further, at least until she notices my presence. When she tosses the wipes in the trash bin, she faces me and beams. "Marelyn. You've grown up so much in just a couple of months." Her hands touch my arms, and I arch my brow slightly. Did I miss something? "I faced enough to last me a lifetime. Congratulations on your coronation. Father would have wanted no one else but you to take after him." It was a lie. The tight smile on my face already gave me away, but Ava and I know we both hate each others' guts. We can fake it all we want, but the truth will always be at the back of our minds, so as the memories within these walls. "Oh, please. It's because your sister Ruby isn't with us. Ivan always told me I didn't know what it takes to lead." I walk over to the sink and turn on the faucet, washing my hands in earnest. "Then show my father in his gr
Bonus Chapter KYRA I'm at the tavern, drinking from a jug. The third one, for the record. Zeke always lost himself in alcohol when his thoughts were all over the place. I can say I'm facing the same, too. Everything's peaceful and quiet today at the tavern. It's because the numbers coming in are slow, but I don't miss coming here on Sundays. I picked this day out because I saw him for the first time on a Sunday. Maybe, just maybe, I'll see him again and get to have those exciting banters again. My wolf definitely missed him a lot. She's sulked over the past few days more than I did. Now that Zeke and I have left the fortress, there's no way for me to run into him. It's not that I'm interested. Zane's a good pass time. I close my eyes and rake a hand through my dark hair. A sigh falls from my lips because I keep thinking about it. His hands were not really touching me, but were touching me. I thought I hated those sessions, but it turned out I didn't. When I got to my bed that ni
We are standing inches apart when he says fuck it and kisses me. It's fast, but once I feel his hot lips on mine, everything falls into place, like it's natural. He holds my face as he kisses me. My hands grip his forearms for a second, but they fall away, and a sound I don't recognise escapes my lips. He deepens the kiss. It's not the first time I've kissed a guy. In New York, I visited clubs often and hooked up with guys I knew I would never see again. No one could guess my age when I really went out there, but kissing him, I feel like a novice. The way he handles me, so gently but abrupt. I pull away and hit my foot on the stool behind me. I yelp, and he's already bending to check it out. Zane says, "Are you hurt?" "I'll heal." I shake off his hold on my ankle while crossing my arms and looking away. "Let's continue with our previous plans." I walk away, but he grabs my wrist, stopping me. I'm forced to meet his gaze again, and it takes a lot of willpower not to run back int
****************I'm not sure I heard him right the first time, but he repeats himself, and his words scald me. I untangle myself from him and put some space between us. The silence that stretches between us has the weight of so many unsaid things that should be said right about now.But all my head is going is...what the fuck?It's not possible. I'm frowning in thought, and I don't even realise I'm frowning because I can hear her. She's agreeing to whatever Zane just said. He's mine. He's my mate. The Alpha of Moon Wood is my true mate, but he's been with so many women and mated with so many.Zane rubs a palm over his face. He knows the situation is messy, but it is what it is. Everything I've felt from the first day we met, he felt them, too, and now kissing him made it all clear. She's been trying to tell me that he's the one."You have so many mates. I believe in one fated mate for every wolf. There must be a mistake somewhere.""I've never found my mate.
My hand covers my mouth. I can't believe it, but that piece of my memory comes back to me. I just didn't know I had shared it with Zane. The flames show me the scene from my past, and as I see, I recall everything. I was walking down a cobblestone path. My parents were summoned to the throne room in the middle of the night. I was just seven, wondering around the Alpha's fortress with my flower in one hand. I remember stumbling on a rock and sitting with my arse on the ground, crying my eyes out. The thought elicits a brief laugh from me. Tears fill my eyes. I try fanning them away with my hands, but it isn't working. It escapes, and I turn my face away, catching the tears with the back of my palm. The memories roll forward. It's so vivid that it scares me, but I know his images have a hand in it. "Stop it." I mutter. "Why?" He looks away from the fiery motion images suspended in the air. "We haven't even gotten to the good part, Kyra." I sniffle. "I get your point." "No, you
MARE A week has gone by since any major event has happened in Carodia. I've not run into Zeke, and I consider that luck, but yet I'm still furious when I head to the common market and overhear females talking about snagging up the new legacy, who's widowed. It totally ruins my day because my mind has a way of conjuring up situations. I hear that and start to imagine it coming into fruition. The result makes me want to pluck my eyeballs out. The maids come every morning. They help me take a shower and choose a dress for the day. As Luna, I just have to show up at the throne room for the Alpha's daily council with his pack officials. After fitting me into a stunning silk dress that falls to my ankles, they leave my room. I'm going commando on a morning like this, but if you ask me, I don't know how this turned out to be my choice. Who do I really hope to impress? I fiddle with my fingernails as I walk down the hall, heading to the throne room that's not far away. I know it looks pre
My greatest fear becomes my reality. A situation when I won't be able to protect my child. It's happening now. I pray silently to Tuiren to save me. She's the one who blessed me with this now child. Now they are about to take it away. Séverin ambushes me, but I fight him off. I know I'm stronger, but I'm outnumbered. "Stop!" My voice makes him fall to his knees. I'm caught up in a battle with Red Valley wolves, fighting for the life of my child. I want to protect this baby with everything I've got. "She's a bloodline silver wolf. She's powerful! Don't underestimate her!" I bite off the skin of my wrist, bringing my blood into the mix. They fear me like a plague, backing up far away. Their numbers can't approach me. I'm tense, also backing up towards the entrance. I can see my freedom. Even taste it, but when I'm about to charge forward, a hand snatches my shoulder blade. Bone bracelets lock around my wrists. I scream in anguish. "No!" I struggle against the arm on my shoulder, b