Since it was Sunday, Cass, Cristabell and I were meeting at Tranquility. It was quiet and I had a lot to fill them in on. I wonder if they got an invite to the coronation, too. I was still curious about that. Why me?
“Mom? Dad?”, I yelled up the stairs, “I’m headed to the lake with Cass and Crista!”
Mom headed down the stairs with a basket of laundry, her hair escaping her ponytail, looking a bit flushed.
“Ok, Sprite. Be back this afternoon by three and we’ll head out to find a dress.”
I leaned over and pecked her cheek as she rushed by. “Ok. Love you. Where’s Dad?”
Mom turned and glanced at me before quickly looking away. “Oh, something cam
I had one of my personal guards keeping an eye on Annalyse from a distance. With a large pack of rogues around the borders of her pack’s territory, I wasn’t willing to take any chances with her safety.Alec passed on to me this morning that she was meeting her friends today, and Havoc and I both needed to see her. He was restless not being near her and honestly, I was too. I decided to go to her lake and see her. If her friends knew who I was, so be it. She was going to find out anyway in just a few days.She seemed shocked when I delivered her the invitation yesterday, though she hid it well. I found it an adorable tell of her nerves, the way she blurted out her thoughts at high speed when she was flustered.I hurried through the forest, her scent on the wind telling me she was
I was shaken out of the bubble that was Chase and I when he asked me to introduce my friends to him. In truth, I almost forgot they were there. The way he looked me up and down had my treacherous body feeling all kinds of things. I felt like I had to be closer to him for some reason. It was a pull that I didn’t understand, like a string was tied to the very center of me inside being pulled by a string attached to him. Bella was thrilled to see him again.‘It’s HIM!’ she exclaimed, jumping around inside of me like she was on a pogo stick.‘Let me OUT Lyse! I want to meet his wolf!’, she all but demanded, pushing herself forward causing my eyes to flash violet.I paused at that. She has never been insistent to meet a male wolf before.
I jumped in the cool, clear water and surfaced with the water coming to just under my nose. Mostly to hide my smile. I heard every word they said. Now I just had to play it cool, which was no easy task given that it sounded like my girl has been talking about me to her friends.I almost laughed out loud at being called walking sex. I knew I was attractive and had my fair share of attention because of it throughout the years, but no one has ever been so open and frank in my presence. Great Lycan hearing can be a deterrent to casual remarks anywhere near me. It was refreshing in a lot of ways. Almost like I was a new friend in their group instead of a Lycan Prince surrounded by those who mostly said what I wanted or needed them to say out of fear or obligation. It was nice to hear real candor, even if they didn’t know that I heard it.
He was beautiful. I sighed watching from the edge as he slid through the water, the muscles in his arms flexing as he swam, his tattoo almost seeming to swim and move with him. He stopped and chuckled at something Crista said, their interaction causing a jolt of jealousy to run through me. I wasn’t normally a jealous person and Crista was my friend. If they like each other, I’ll have to figure out how to deal. It wouldn’t be pleasant, but it’s happened before.“Hey guys, I’ve got to get going, I told Mom I’d be home in time to head out shopping.”, I shouted across the lake, starting to swim closer to the edge so I could get out.“What are you shopping for, Lyse?”, Crista asked with a curious look on her face before continuing, “I thought you weren’t going to Jace’s
Leaving Lyse behind, reluctantly, I headed back toward the castle. I brought about my shift to allow Havoc to run. There was a niggling at the back of my mind, a feeling of danger, which Havoc reinforced as we ran. ‘Danger, Chase. It’s near. We need to go back. Our mate is in danger.’‘Go, Havoc. Quickly.’ I urged him on, no question that something evil out in the forest, lurking.I turned and ran, pushing my Lycan faster than I ever had before, even in battle.There was something in the air. The smell of sulfur and death. Of torture and turmoil and want.I skidded to a stop at the edge of the forest back near the lake, Havoc on high alert, the awful scent of destruction still curling through this part of the forest on the wind
“Thanks for the afternoon and the dress, Mom”, I said as we gathered our purchases and headed toward the house.“You’re going to look gorgeous, Lyse. Maybe you’ll even meet your mate there! It will be your birthday, you know.” She added the last part quietly.“Is everything okay, Mom?”, I asked.She glanced quickly up at me. “Yeah, hon. Just remembering you so little. I can hardly believe the years have gone by so fast.”“I know”, I said. Feeling an unexpected pand of sadness. “I wish my father was here for it. It’s a big day.”“He loved you more than anything in the world, Lyse. You were
ChaseI sat in the treetop near her house, keeping watch. Keeping her safe.Watching as she cracked open her second floor window, I was struck again by her beauty in the dim glow of the light she kept on as she climbed into bed.I wondered what she thought about that brought a small smile to her lips as she closed her eyes.I was working on a way to get her to the castle as quickly as possible so I could be certain that she’d be safe. Something was out there and I had a feeling she was its target, though I had no idea why. No one knew that she was mine.Hours had passed when Havoc spoke urgently, ‘Protect her. We have to protect her.’
Sitting in the treetops watching her, three things hit me simultaneously:I knew for certain that she thought about me as much as I thought about her.I want her beyond madnessSomething within her called to something within me. I had to be with her.‘Holy Fuck, Havoc.’ I spoke to my lycan half, barely holding onto any frayed strands of control that I had remaining for this woman. Seeing her touch herself thinking of me had me rock hard and had pushed the hard line of my limits. The mate bond was screaming to go to her.‘I will not wait much longer, Chase.’, He responded, at the limits of his self control as well.
AnnalyseI sat there, ears straining to hear what was being said as I tried to reach out to Bella.‘Bells? Are you there? Please answer me.’, I pleaded.Still nothing. As I sat, I began to panic. What would happen if whatever they gave me killed her?I also felt sick again. And hot, like I was going into another heat. But it was way too soon for that.The talking stopped as the footsteps stalled outside the room we were in.I felt nervous and a little scared, especially without my wolf as the door opened slowly and a familiar scent hit my nose.“Well, look who we have here. A visitor for you, Annalyse.”I looked up, shocked to see what my brain already knew.Out of the shadows and into the light walked Cristabell. My other best friend.She looked at me, disgust written all over her face, jealousy blazing in her eyes.“Crista?! What are you doing here?”, I asked, genuinely confused at this point, hoping against hope that she wasn’t being held here too.“What am I doing here?”, she scof
AnnalyseI felt so groggy and I was worried. Really worried. I haven’t been able to talk to Bella since being taken.I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. I felt like I was underground, the walls around me made of stone that had long ago begun to crumble and mold from lack of upkeep.I was in a cell, lying on a dirty mattress that had been thrown down here. No sheet or blanket and despite the time of year, it was pretty cold down here. A single candle was the only light flickering through the darkened space outside of the cell.I sat up against the wall as I tried to reach out to Bella again.‘Bells? What happened? Where did you go? I’m worried.’Nothing. Not even a glimmer that she was there, though I could feel something stirring inside of me.I couldn’t seem to link Chase either.I wanted my mate. Surely he’d be coming for me.The last thing that I remembered was leaving him to go to the bathroom in the packhouse and hearing Asher crying for help.Then everything goes black.“
AnnalyseI came to with a terrible headache and filled with panic. Bella had gone quiet, almost as if she weren’t there at all.‘Bells?’, I reached out to her.Nothing. Not even a stirring.I tried to communicate through linking.Nothing there either.What had whoever grabbed me given me?I tried to clear the fog from my brain when I registered footsteps coming.I closed my eyes, still trying to gather my thoughts, but I didn’t want to hint to whoever was coming that I was awake.“Dammit, Zane! How much did you put on that cloth?”, I heard a deep voice demand. “Enough to knock her out and keep her from fighting me long enough to get her here.”, I heard another answer.“She should be awake by now. I need her alive.”, I heard the first say.“Everyone processes the mixture differently. It’s possible that her wolf is still working it out of her system.”, the second man answered.“That better be all that it is. We’re working on a minimal time frame at best here. He’s going to find her. Hi
ChaseI was beyond pissed. I had heard every word that that vile girl spoke to Lyse. Havoc was itching to get out and do some damage.As I walked through the trees, watching as the girl was about to hit my mate, fury surged through me. Ryker stepped in just in time, willing to allow it to go only so far.I knew that Lyse could handle herself, but it was my job to keep her safe.She was surprisingly calm and collected and handled the situation with as much poise and grace as one could while being called the King’s whore.I knew what she was doing when she said she’d have to think about a proper punishment. Normally, I would’ve just given one myself, but as much as I wanted to, it was her decision to make.The waiting alone would probably drive the girl a little nuts as it was, I thought with a small smile.Lyse confirmed it a moment later.“Waiting should be punishment enough.”, she said.I gave her a small chuckle. “I thought that’s what you were doing.”, I said.“Yeah, well. It proba
AnnalyseThe man at the back of the crowd watched the proceedings with interest, and quietly.No one noticed that he didn’t belong, or even that he was there for that matter. The following celebrations added to the distraction of the already confused crowd and gave him the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.I was walking around the celebration, smiling and nodding while also paying attention to the whispers that surrounded me when no one thought I was there. “The King sure seems awful close to Lyse. What’s going on?”, one girl asked another.“I don’t know, but were you there when he kissed her on his way up to the pack house before?”, the other asked back.I recognized them both from school. Mean girls who had nothing better to do than gossip and well, be mean. Bianca and Eloise.“I knew she was nothing but a little slut. First Jace, now the Lycan King.”, the first said.We had opted not to tell many about the fact that we’re fated mates yet. Mostly because the situation with the O
Annalyse“You are aware that by giving him your blood, you may also transfer some of your Astrydian ability to him as well?”, KIng Arvand asked.“Yes.”, I answered. “And what better man to give them to? He served my father faithfully, has loved my mother and kept me safe and protected all of these years. He should have been a born Astrydian as far as I’m concerned.” I said.My dad pulled me to him in a quick hug. “Thank you, Lyse. It’s been my honor and privilege.”, he said quietly.Chase and King Arvand looked on, Chase turning to his father.“They are both remarkable.”, he said with a small smile.“Yes. They are.”, King Arvand answered.“Alright then. Now that that’s settled, let’s get this show on the road!”, Chase said.“How do you feel, Dad? Are you ready?”, I asked my dad.“Fine and yes.”, he said with a wink as we headed out the door toward the back grounds of the pack house to begin the ceremony.Outside, the night was warm. It seemed as though everyone from the territory was
ChaseThis bastard was really pissing me off. How dare he speak to my mate the way he was. Kudos to her though; she was handling it all beautifully. Grace and dignity befitting the queen that she is was oozing out of her. Watching the confident woman in front of me with the calm demeanor and glowy eyes, I was beyond proud. She was going to be the perfect queen to our packs.When she flipped her hair back to reveal her mark, the shock in his eyes was worth the price of admission.“I… I”, he stuttered.“You what?”, Lyse asked him. “You were just going to apologize? Well, go ahead then.”, she finished, a hand on her hip, waiting.I looked at him, my Lycan command clearly causing him pain. “She’s waiting.”, I said.“I’m sorry.”, he said, hatred and disbelief flaring in his wolf’s brown depths as he worked to fight the command of another Alpha.“I’ve come not only as a guest tonight.”, I started, easing up on the command to make sure he wasn’t too uncomfortable to listen to my words.He s
AnnalyseI smiled as Chase winked and closed the office door behind him. I was trying to calm my anxiety, nervous for what I knew would be a pretty big confrontation.“I’m going to run to the bathroom real quick”, I said to my parents as I turned to head toward one of the packhouse bathrooms.“Are you alright? You look a little pale, Sweets.”, Dad said with concern.“I’m okay. I think it’s just the anxiety of everything that’s happening. I think it’s catching up with me. That’s all.”, I said, knowing that that had to be it. It’s been a whirlwind of the last few weeks.“I’ll be right back.”“Should I come with you?”, Mom asked, starting to stand.“No, don’t worry. I’m just going down the hall.”, I assured her, knowing that Chase wanted me safe, but figuring that I’d only be a couple of hundred feet away.I walked down the hall in a hurry. I could feel my stomach getting ready to revolt any second and I had to get there before it did.I closed the door and locked it just in time to turn
ChaseI gave Lyse a quick wink as Ryker entered and I closed the door behind us and stepped next to my father, giving him a nod.“Everything is ready, Your Majesties.”, Collin said, a smile of pride on his face. One that was about to come crashing down.“It is.”, I started. “However, I’m afraid that it’s not Jace who’s to become Alpha today.”, I finished, letting my words register.The office was silent as my words died away. I would wait for as long as it took him to grasp my meaning. He who speaks first loses, after all.Collin looked from me to my father and then back again, his face beginning to pale.“What are you saying?”, he asked slowly, as though waiting for the confirmation of his thoughts.I was happy to oblige. I tossed a file down onto his desk. All of the damning evidence against his son now available for him to see.He picked it up and began to thumb through it. My guys had been busy gathering statements of the girls he had been rough with, and in some cases forced unde