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chapter 18
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Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 19
I turned away from her, not in the mood for more conversation, but I wasn’t sleepy. I’d just woken from a very long nap and I was surrounded by strange shifters I didn’t know.Soon, I heard the soft, deep breathing coming from Sheila and the snores from Malcom. I turned on my back and stared up at the sky. Stars were visible in the breaks from the trees and the moon was nearly full. If I had shifted, would I be able to do it again?Crickets chirped and the wind rustled the trees. The sounds of the forest were calming and peaceful, and I almost felt like I could let my guard down. I closed my eyes and tried to feel for my inner wolf. I felt the same as I always had. There was nothing else there. Just the pathetic girl with the smart mouth who always said the wrong thing.Disappointed, I opened my eyes and looked around. Alec was sitting on a log, staring into the dark woods. There was no way I was going to sleep while he was awake.I walked over to him and sat down on the log, careful
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 20
My foot was healed by the time we started for Alec’s camp. I tried to swallow back the excitement bubbling inside me. I’d healed from the injuries sustained before and during the cave, but I’d shifted. Until this moment, I wasn’t sure I’d retained the magic. I didn’t want to allow myself to believe that I could shift on my own, but maybe it was possible.Sheila, Malcom, and Alec each had a backpack on their backs. Their sleeping bags were rolled and attached to the bottom of the pack. I got the sense they did this often.“So you three were on patrol?” I asked.“We had some reports of talismans in the woods,” Sheila said.“She doesn’t need to know,” Alec said.“Witches?” I asked.“Not your business,” Alec said.“I would rather know what I’m getting into. Besides, who am I going to tell? You made it clear that trying to get through the woods to civilization on my own is a death sentence,” I reminded him.“Ignore him, he’s just pissed we didn’t find anything,” Sheila said.“Another wild-
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 21
My face and neck felt hot and I knew my cheeks were likely pink. Either these shifters were lying to me, or my pack had lied to me. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what was true.“She thinks we’re going to kill her and eat her or skin her alive or some bullshit,” Alec said.“You really think that?” Sheila asked, her tone pained.“I don’t think you’ll hurt me.” I really didn’t. They could have already if that was their plan. “They taught us a lot of things in Wolf Creek that don’t seem to be true. I thought all shifters needed a pack. That it was harder being on your own.”Even though that was my plan, I never considered that I counted into that theory since I couldn’t actually shift.“It is harder on your own,” Malcom agreed. “That’s why we live in a community. We have companionship but we don’t have the burden of a pack.”“We prefer to be around others like us. It makes things less complicated,” Sheila explained. “But packs have systems, rules, expectations.”“You don’t have rules?” I was li
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 22
A group of children ran past us, nearly colliding into Malcom. He jumped to the side and the kids shouted apologies as they continued on in their game.Under some of the trees, I caught sight of hammocks, lounge chairs, and more tables. Little groups were gathered all around. They were talking or playing with children or cooking food on grills.It was the complete opposite of the way Wolf Creek felt. I’d grown up with what could only be explained as forced community. This was different. It felt authentic, peaceful, welcoming.People waved to Sheila and Malcom and none of them seemed to care that someone new was with them. I wondered if that was due to Alec’s presence. Then I realized he wasn’t with us anymore. A little weight of disappointment dropped into the pit of my stomach. I should be thrilled that he was gone, but there was something intriguing about him. I told myself it was the safety he could provide, but that wasn’t true. Even my own fight or flight instincts seemed to be t
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 23
“Hello?” A voice I would now recognize anywhere called into the tent.I stood. “Alec?”He opened the flap. “I would ask if you’re decent, but it’s not like I didn’t carry you naked for three miles.”“Wait, what?” That was news to me. “You said I was a wolf when you found me.”“You were, as was I, but you shifted back as soon as I growled at you. You gotta work on your wolf’s ability to stand up for herself,” he said.“Well, that would have been helpful information when we first met,” I said.“Not really, you couldn’t do anything with it. I’m going to wager you still couldn’t. Sheila said she wanted to have you work with Greta.” He held up a pair of boots. “She also said you needed these.”The black combat boots in his hands were practical, sturdy, and looked like they could do some damage if I ever needed to kick someone while wearing them. Basically, they were my dream shoes. I crossed the tent and took the shoes from him. “Thanks.”A quick glance at the tag let me know they were exa
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 24
Taking a deep breath, I walked forward. “Hello?”I was greeted by the warm glow of flickering candles sitting on every hard surface. Unlike Sheila’s mostly temporary looking furniture, Greta’s tent had an actual bed, a solid wood dresser, and a little table with wood chairs. In the center of the floor was a red and gold rug. The whole place felt warm and inviting.An older woman was sitting on one of the chairs next to the table. She rose when she saw me. “You must be Lola.”“Yes, that’s me. You’re Greta?” I asked.She smiled, creating deep creases around her eyes and mouth. Her hair was white and tied up in a bun on top of her head. A few loose wisps framed her lined face.“Come in, please have a seat,” she said.I followed her to the small table and took the chair next to hers. Without warning, Greta grabbed my face, her paper-thin skin felt cool against my cheeks and my eyes widened in surprise.“I need to get a good look at you,” she said as she held a hand on each of my cheeks.M
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 25
Greta was on her feet and out of the tent faster than I expected for someone of her age. I followed, chasing the child and Greta down the pathways, past the clusters of tents, until we reached the woods near where I’d entered when I’d arrived.A male with sandy-blonde hair was laying on the ground, blood pouring from his nose and mouth. His clothes were torn and his shirt was bloody. He was moaning in pain, his hands gripping for the ground and finding no purchase.“What happened to him?” Had someone attacked him in the camp?“Why isn’t he healing?” The child asked. “He should be healing. Shift, Daddy. You need to heal.”She ran forward and Greta caught her, then passed her to me. On instinct, I reached for the girl and pulled her into my arms.“Get the child out of here and keep her away,” Greta ordered.I looked down at the kid. The little girl had the same blonde hair as the fallen man. She was trying to stay strong but I could almost feel her fear.“Go, now,” Greta barked.I grabb
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 26
We resumed our walk, away from the cabin. There was a part of me that was a little disappointed. I sort of wanted to go knock on his door. But that was ridiculous.It didn’t take long before I could feel the air getting cooler and damper. The ground was a little softer, and the shrubs around us were greener. We were getting closer to water.A few cheers and some yelling sent birds flying. I looked up and watched them fleeing the noise and caught a glimpse of the sun through the trees. It was closer to midday than I realized. I wondered how long we’d been walking.I heard splashes, followed by more playful screams just as the lake came into view. It stopped me in my tracks.This was not a swimming hole. This was a full on, huge lake. There was a little island in the center of it and it stretched for what had to be a mile across. I’d never seen a lake this size in real life.“It’s beautiful,” I said.“And freezing. Don’t let them fool you,” Megan said, lifting her chin toward the group
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Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate Epilogue
The entire household was buzzing as they finished preparations for the Solstice celebration. The longest night of the year happened to fall on a full moon, which meant one party of epic proportions.I took a deep breath as I prepared to greet the guests. While having the alphas of the packs for visits had almost become routine, this gathering was different.Alec took hold of my hand. “You’re going to be great. Nothing bad is going to happen. This is what you’ve been working so hard for the last year.”He was right, of course. And he’d been by my side for every step. I was truly grateful to have such a strong and supportive leader by my side. We’d found a balance in the last year, working together to improve pack relations and begin the process for positive change for all shifters.Tonight we took that a step further. While we’d been working to break down the years of animosity between us and the witches, our alliance was still in its infancy.Shifter and witches both held sacred conne
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 149
While my old pack was busy peppering Kyle with questions, I took Alec aside. “You doing okay?”“Yeah,” he said. “I know Kyle’s going to deal with this mess well.”“And you and I get to deal with the bigger mess,” I said. “If my uncle was authorizing Wolf Creek’s use of the toxin to take out their neighbors, what else don’t we know?”“I know Spencer said to give them a chance, but you sure you want a council that enabled that behavior to stick around?” Alec asked.He had a very good point. “I’m not sure I do want them around. But I do think we need to learn from them and find out what has been going on for the last few decades.”“You’re not out of the woods yet. You’re a walking target, you know that, right?” Alec asked.“I know. I wish I wasn’t used to it,” I said. “But at least I’m not alone this time. I’ve got you, Sheila and Malcom. And the four of us can work together to figure out who we can and can’t trust.”“They’re good shifters. Even before Malcom shared his story, I got the
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 148
“If it were me, I’d have a couple of guards escort him to his home and give him an hour to pack. Then, I’d kick his ass out.” Horace took a deep breath. “That toxin has been the black mark on my time of service. I would be honored if you’d allow me to help you destroy it.”“I’d like that,” I said.“Guards, escort him to his home. Check the roster for his inner circle, past and present. Kick them all out.” For once, the strict rules and lists for who was considered the alpha’s inner circle worked to my benefit. All packs had to keep records. As long as Ace has been in power, he’s kept track. The positions were valued but there were shifters who’d turned them down. Everyone knew working for Ace meant good things for your family, but it might cost you everything.A pair of my guards escorted Ace away. Several members of his inner circle followed him. Wolf Creek deserved a chance at peace.To my surprise, Viki, Ace’s wife approached me. She had yellow and purple bruises on her face, nearl
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 147
“Ace Grant, I strip you of your title and your role as alpha of Wolf Creek,” I said.“No, you can’t do that. You can’t. I earned this.” He stood, his hands balled into fists.For a moment, I thought he might charge me. My guards moved closer and Alec stood in front of me.Ace took a step back and Alec’s tension eased. He stepped aside, but stayed right next to me.“You stole the title,” I said. “You didn’t work for it. You didn’t earn it. You didn’t prove anything to gain it.”“He doesn’t even have a mark,” someone shouted from behind. The gathered shifters cheered in response.“Send him to the caves!” Another voice called. The cheers grew even wilder.I smirked, knowing I had been correct. I was never alone here, we were all prisoners.“Please no, have mercy,” Ace said. “I already lost my son. Isn’t that enough?”“You don’t want to be trapped in the caves?” I had no intention of sending him there, but I had to admit I was enjoying hearing him beg.“I didn’t betray anyone. It’s not a
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 146
Wolf Creek was ready to greet the royal family when we arrived. The entire pack turned out, everyone gathered in front of the barn as requested.I could see them waiting as we approached, careful to keep myself hidden from view behind the guards and accompanying council. I didn’t tell them why I wanted to return here, and I was certain they were expecting some kind of happy reunion.Alec was already seething with rage, the emotion far more intense than it should be. My wolf clawed at my chest, wanting to get out to comfort her mate. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just sensing Alec’s emotions, I was feeling his inner wolf. And he was pissed.My wolf was distracted by her mate. Her feelings toward Wolf Creek secondary to his discomfort. It was interesting that Alec’s hate toward Wolf Creek was two-fold. I could feel his personal vendetta against my old pack mixed with a need to protect and defend his mate. In a strange way, it was kind of sweet.“Let me take lead on this,” I said to hi
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 145
The four of us stepped through the double doors and the members of the council rose when they saw us. They had been seated at a long wood table, with a dozen chairs. At one end of the table there was a chair twice the size of the others. A crackling fire glowed in a wood fireplace behind it. The floor was dark wood and a red and gold rug sat under the long table. The chandeliers above the table were made of antlers, a very different aesthetic from the crystal I’d seen in the other parts of the home.“Thank you for waiting,” I said, trying to sound more calm and commanding than I felt in the moment.“Of course, your highness,” one of the men said.I walked to the larger chair and sat down. The gathered males took their seats. One side of the table was my family, on the other, the four males who made up my predecessor’s council. It was an odd arrangement, but if Spencer thought it was worth hearing what they had to say, I’d give it a chance.“We are honored that you’re willing to meet w
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 144
Breakfast with my friends felt familiar and safe. Sheila, Malcom, and Kyle had mostly waited to eat until we arrived. The guards stood outside the room, and at my instance, the staff was willing to leave the food and let us serve ourselves.To my friends’ credit, they all steered the topic of conversation toward random things that were unrelated to our current situation. It was as if they knew I needed a little break before I had to figure out how to do the job I’d committed to when I took down the old king.We ate till we were all stuffed and laughed at Malcom’s stories about trying to learn how to fix a car and accidentally setting it on fire. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I pictured Mario’s face. “I bet he never let you near his car again.”“Only if I’m trying to fix it. Driving I’m fine with. It’s when you give me tools that it causes an issue.”“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said.“Your highness,” a male voice said.I turned and saw one of my guards. Malaki, I think.He was holdin
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 143
I stretched out my hand and he took it. The two of us silently followed Spencer. I didn’t need to look behind me to know that my guards were following me. It was one of those things I was going to have to get used to, I supposed.“Have you seen her this morning?” I asked.“Not yet,” Spencer said.“You think Star can help her?” I asked Alec.“If anyone has a chance, it’s her,” Alec said. “She figured out an antidote to that toxin. And you’ve seen what else she can do.”That was part of my concern. What if Star hadn’t been able to help my mom? If she couldn’t, I wasn’t sure anyone else could.As we continued down hallways lined with doors, and up a few flights of stairs, I considered what I would even say to her. Everything in my mind about my mom was so full of conflict. I wanted to help her, but she was also such a source of pain for me. She might not have been in control, but why did she have to do that to herself in the first place? Why did she flee to Wolf Creek of all places? Why
Alpha's Cursed And Broken Mate chapter 142
I woke to the sound of knocking. My eyelids fluttered open as a warm pair of arms pulled me tighter. A smile spread on my lips as the events of last night came flooding into my mind.Of course, the good memories of three rounds of fucking fantastic sex with Alec were followed by the memory of the challenge. I sat up, nearly elbowing Alec in the process.“What’s wrong?” His voice was groggy.“I beat the shifter king last night,” I said.He chuckled. “Yeah, you’re the queen. We already knew that.”“Right, but that means there are people expecting things from me.” I had ideas. Big ideas. Things I wanted to change, but I wasn’t sure what the protocols were or what hoops I’d need to jump through. Spencer had said he’d help.I glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was ten in the morning.Holy shit.They must have ended the party without me and nobody bothered us all night.I guess there were perks to being the shifter queen.The knock sounded again and I scrambled off the bed, grabbin
