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Chapter 118
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Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 119
Deidre“What exactly happened to make me this way?”It’s a careful question. One so carefully considered that there’s no option to deny it simply and move on. His eyes don’t leave me as he waits. But I stare back at him, compelled to tell the truth this time, despite the tears and mournful Luna cover I gave him before.No, the truth is all I have right now.And he’s going to hear it.**Years beforeA knock sounded at the door. “May I come in?” Said a soft, melodic voice.“Luna?” I rose reflexively. “You shouldn’t be out of bed–”She waved a dismissive, gentle hand at me, making her way slowly into the room, one hand clutched to the mobile IV drip machine behind her; its wheels squeaking slightly as it rolled. Her hospital gown was clean and oversized, tied in the pack with dignity, its long string trailing behind her on the floor. Her hair was tied back and out of her face, a rare sight for the Luna who left her hair long and flowing and untamed as the morning wind, yet somehow alw
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 120
DeidreAn eerie silence filled the large apartment after I finished.Sirius had sat still the entire time, transfixed; face unchanged. The only sign he had heard me was that the steady rhythm of the monitor hiccuped, indicating the erratic climb of his heartbeat. “Sirius?” I said after several long moments.His head merely twitched, cocking to the side, studying me.“Is all of this true?” His voice was an echo of its normal low tones, hollow in apparent disbelief.My beeps were normal. Predictable. Steady. “Yes.”“Does my father know?”“No.”“Who else?”“No one. Just your mother and you.”His eyes closed, the gold intensity disappearing as he channeled the building emotion within. “Why?”“That’s a rather vague question.”His hands grab his knees, white knuckles gripping his pants. “Why haven’t you told anyone?”“I was sworn to secrecy.”“How do you explain telling me?”I cross my arms. “Your mother made an exception in case you asked one day.”“She thought I would meet you?” I shrug
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 121
KiraI’ve never had a hangover like this. My head feels like it’s going to explode, and my body feels sluggish, even more so than usual.The lights in my room are bright. Obnoxiously bright. I can see the streaming light bulbs through the seams of my eyelids. An audible groan escapes and I try to roll over and shove my head under the pillow, but my arms gets tugged back as I try to move. What the–A blanket is pulled over me by a warm hand, blocking out the sun. “Hey there.”Grateful for the sudden darkness of my new cocoon, I stay beneath. “Perrin?” My voice is strangely hoarse.“The one and only.” I can hear the smile in his voice. No, not a smile. Relief. I open my eyes, confused and blinking in the glowing gray ambience of my makeshift blanket fort. The sheets below me are white, linen, and ironed to perfection. This isn’t my bed.“Where am I?”“Don’t remember much, do you?”Thinking makes my head hurt and my mouth feels full of cotton. “Can I have some water?” A moment later, a
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 122
Kira“I’m going to stay awhile,” Perrin says, as Mark and the Alpha begin to leave. Deidre gives him a pained expression, then, as if understanding something I don’t, nods curtly and leaves. When they’re gone, Perrin sits back down and eyes me from across the bed. “You seriously don’t remember saving yourself?”I hold up a hand. “Before we do that, I want to make myself perfectly clear.”“About what?”“Don’t you dare drag Ben here. I’m not interested in some type of pity visit–”But the moron only smiles at me. “I doubt it would be a ‘pity visit,’ Kira. He’s genuinely worried about you.”“You heard what I said,” I snap. “I don’t want him here.”“You honestly wouldn’t see him if he comes?”“I’m not interested in anyone forced to check in on me,” I snarl. “Where is that food, anyway?”Perrin laughs and sits back in his chair. “Ok, fine. I’ll merely suggest it to him–don’t look at me like that, I’m not disobeying a direct order from the Alpha–that he come, but I won’t demand it, ok?”“F
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 123
BenIt takes Lo and I several hours to get through the volume of books she’s donating. It’s ridiculous, but I enjoy her company. And the ability to stave off the writer’s block I can’t get over.At least it’s putting me in a better mood.I’ve tried the past few days to throw myself into my work, knowing Dean Aref is scheduled to be here in less than two weeks. I’ve exhausted the material that I copied and was wasting precious time. And with the Luna gone for the last few weeks, I had been hard-pressed to scour every inch of the library looking for the third book that I hadn’t had a chance to copy. No luck.For the last several weeks, I’d been cursing myself for not just taking pictures of the third book while I had the chance. I was so distracting trying to hunt it down that I hadn’t even figured out how I would explain to Dean Aref that I had found them in the first place. He had nearly mocked my chances when I told him I was trying to find the primary sources; to find books that had
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 124
Lo“You’re going to do great!” Perrin gives my hand a squeeze, then brings it to his mouth and kisses the back of my palm.“I wish I didn’t have to do this,” I say, trying not to hop from foot to foot with nerves.Cynthia and Deidre picked out a lavender, form-fitting dress that emphasizes the bump that’s been forming steadily for the past few weeks. I try not to rest my hand on my stomach, as I’ve been taken to doing lately. Not that the press hasn’t already guessed why we’re here.Alpha Jason rounds the corner with Deidre on his arm. She’s dressed in a beige business suit, not a hair out of place on her head. But despite her pristine makeup, she looks like she hasn’t slept in weeks. Alpha Jason stands strong in an immaculate suit, his tie a tan brown to match his wife.I look at Perrin, noting that we don’t match or have any visual link between us. Perrin doesn’t miss a beat. “We have years to figure that out,” he murmurs against my ear, before stepping forward and shaking his fathe
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 125
LoI’m amazed at how well Perrin handles the crowd of reporters, his manner congenial and natural, as if he’s done this for years. I suppose he has. And get it from Deidre, apparently.He tosses questions between us, not making it obvious that I’m still gun-shy from my last interview with Lester to really take the reigns. But he holds my hand as we sit, answering questions as if he’s talking just to me. Eventually I felt comfortable bending the microphones towards me and answering questions on my own.I told the press how I’d be spending peaceful afternoons volunteering at the Archives and shadowing the Luna at various tasks of her professional role. I shared that I was excited for motherhood but not naive enough to believe it wouldn’t be challenging. I acknowledged that it would take a village–and the pack–to help me raise this child. That answer was met with a fervor of happy sighs and approval from the crowd.Perrin doted on me the whole time, talking about our newly furnished nurs
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 126
Deidre“You’re quiet.”“Was the press conference not enough for you?” I can feel the words land with unnecessary force, but I’m preoccupied right now. “I thought it went well,” he said neutrally.“I agree,” chimes in Mark. He’s up front with Charlie, watching the roads. “By the way, when we get there I’m going to stop and speak with our pilot. Make sure everything is set for our departure next week.”I turn to Mark, momentarily forgetting about our trip to Texas. “Are we flying together?”“Perrin will fly separately. You know we never put two Alphas in the air at the same time.” He speaks as if this is something I should know. I do, but counter.“I think we need to arrive at the Welcome Ceremony as a united front, though.”“We can do that. I’ll ensure our car services pick us both up upon arrival.”“Good.”We pull up to a private hangar. Mistra is waiting for us, her luggage to the side. “I thought she was flying first-class?” I asked, recalling our agreement that night in my office.
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Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 160
Deidre“How about this?”Mistra shakes her head, the pink dress I’m holding not doing it for her. Of course it wouldn’t. Mistra only wears dark and… darker. Except for the day she came back from vacation. From ‘visiting her son.’ Here. In Texas.“How about this?” This dress is darker, with a slit up to the thigh that should make any she-wolf her age think twice.“Too revealing,” she dismisses it. The hangers clank loudly on the rack as she disapproves of yet another rack of options.“Mistra?” The clacking plastic stills in response. “You wore pink when you came back from Texas. You think I didn’t notice?”A considering pause follows, then, “I was in a different mood, then.”“Oh?”“Yes. It was… the fresh air.”“So logic would dictate the color would suit you now as well, wouldn’t it?”Another pause. “I suppose.”I thrust my arms around the corner of the clothing rack, holding the original pink once again. She grabs it reluctantly and holds it up to her chin in front of a full-length mi
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 159
Perrin The sound of my camera phone clicks and I don’t bother checking it before sending it to Lo. Then I switch shirts, and send another. PERRIN: Blue or green? LO: Either. They each bring out one of your eyes. LO: Goddess you look good. Before I can type a response, a video call from Lo pops up on the screen. I can tell based on the angle of the camera that she’s propped me up against a glass on Dina’s counter in the kitchen. “Hey there, beautiful.” Beautiful doesn’t do her justice, even mid-meal. Her eyes are bright and full of laughter, as if she’d just been joking with Dina. She munches on a carrot stick, grinning. “You know it’s not fair for you to just send me pictures like that.” She lowers her voice. “When you know I really want the other kind of picture.” I laugh, angling the camera so she can see my bare chest. “Gross,” I hear a mutter somewhere off-camera. “I’m not going to be attacked while I’m having lunch, Jack. You can be excused for ten.” “Thank Goddess.” Ja
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 158
Deidre “Fontaine?” I flick through my mental list of scholars. Nothing registers. “Well, if he’s not a medical scientist or researcher, I probably wouldn’t have heard of him.” Mark grunts, throwing his phone down next to his lunch plate. “I’ve got nothing. The internet is supposed to be helpful. All I have are a bunch of university papers and a bunch of research I can’t make heads or tales of.” “Ah yes. My husband’s Beta, ever the academic,” I smile over the brim of my cup. “Quit it,” Jason growls, absorbed in his own phone screen. “Janas is keeping tabs on him, but other than going back to the infirmary, he hasn’t done much apart from call a taxi to take him to a restaurant.” Mark blinks. “A restaurant?” “Yes,” I quip. “The social environment in which people elect to eat and enjoy one another’s company–not that you’ve been to one in the last ten years.” “Seriously?” Jason snaps, head swiveling between Mark and I. “This is the last thing we need.” “A restaurant is not a securit
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 157
Kira The tour was incredibly boring. Ben was professional and polite, wandering at a pace that Lo could keep up with, without getting breathless and being able to contribute to the conversation. It annoyed me how courteous he was. Jack spent most of the tour looking around inconspicuously for all of the cameras, finding their hidden reflective lenses in the niches of wood and leather around the Archives. From what I could tell, he’d found twenty-six of thirty. A flashing, toothy smile catches on another camera. Fine. Twenty-seven. They were just making the far side of the stacks, near the stairway that led down to the pack Archives, when Sirius became incredibly more interested. “And what are these?” He asked pointedly, looking at the stairs and the ropes that separated them off from prying visitors. “Ah. The Royal Archives of the Aperture Pack,” Ben said admiringly. “Home of our pack lineage, royal birth and marriage documents, copies of temple ceremony proceedings, and histori
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 156
Kira I watched through the screen as Lo’s baby bump proceeded the rest of her into the frame, extending her hand to greet Ben’s. It was more formal than I’d ever seen either of them interact; but I recognized the show. It was all about appearances. Impressing this scholar. A moment later Sirius eased into the frame, his height nearly blocking out all of Lo except her belly, his own graceful hand extending to capture Ben’s as they exchanged greetings. “Good morning, Professor–?” Ben opened warmly. Smooth. And good. Since I still had no idea what this guy’s last name has to do a thorough background check. I looked at my legal pad, tapping my pen on the blank page. Mark was clear with his instructions, and so far I wasn’t doing very well. “Oh! Just Sirius, please. No need for formalities.” Lo stepped out from behind Sirius, her face beaming with that pregnant glow of hers, despite the gray-scale of the monitor. “Sirius, this is Benjamin, the scholar and historian I was telling you
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 155
Kira Janas walked me through my controls. Eight screens, two keyboards, something that looked like an old-school joystick, and enough cords and plugs to cover the majority of the Luna’s office. I wondered what she’d think of it now; it’s usually pristine surfaces now covered in a jungle of electrical equipment. “Got that?” Janas said for nearly the seventh time. “Yes,” I muttered, sitting down in the seat behind the Luna’s desk. It was the last place I ever thought I’d sit, and shifted uneasily as I put down my crutches. The ruse was still necessary in case anyone came in here with Cynthia while I was working. I had felt the glances as Janas wheeled me in this afternoon, crutches across my lap as we passed the busy lobby of the pack house. Many offered greetings and wishes for a speedy recovery, all genuine. It made my back stiffen at the deception. I made a mental note to talk to Perrin about just how different his legacy was going to be from his father’s… and despite my own sel
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 154
BenMy alarm goes off, and I don’t even want to reach for my phone.It’d be great to stop the two-day hangover that plagues me. But something else entirely when I’ll look at my screen and realize Kira hasn’t called me back. Or texted.Not like she would.I roll over, swatting blindly at my bedside table until my phone drops onto the floor, vibrating and jittering across the cheap carpet like some strange bug.I test my eyes, flickering them open against my ceiling.Well. At least my hangover is gone today. I exhale. I’d rather have the pain of that hangover instead of the anger I feel at myself. Not just anger.Shame. Annoyance.And the worst part? The self-pity.I’ve drowned in the feelings of the last few days, addicted to the self-sabotage of not eating, not consuming anything and not trusting myself. I’ve been sober for years. And doing this now? Giving into temptation? I want to blame my thesis. My stupid failed research. I want to just burn all of it to Hell and back. But gnawi
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 153
Perrin“Holy shit.”Mark softly whistles behind me, unnerved at the site of it as we drive in. The Chiyad training facilities is enormous. No. gigantic. Whichever one is bigger.“This is where Ethan’s been training,” I say unnecessarily, awed at the outside of it. I wondered if Ethan could escape being the favorite for the Beta championship by just having access to state-of-the-art facilities. Mark doesn’t answer, but drives to a series of parking spots on the side of the building. “I know Ethan’s been working hard,” I go on as we get out of the car. “And Justin had only mentioned they were working on getting their facility renovation underway. Is this the before or after? They couldn’t have done all of this in just a few months.”Mark’s neck cranes to look up the side of the building. “I don’t know.”We walk into the large side entrance, automatic doors whooshing in around us with crisp, air-conditioned coolness. I blink twice as a discreet whirring sounds, a scanning of our bodies
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 152
KiraI set the phone down on the bedside table, pulling my blankets over me at the chill that had nothing to do with the temperature of my room.What the hell?But I couldn’t help but smirk. My gut instinct about the visiting wolf hadn’t been totally off. Something hadn’t been right about Sirius. Not wrong, per se… but definitely not normal. Were all European wolves that way? And how Mark had discovered our pack had a visitor less than twelve hours after they’d left? I didn’t know. Some type of Beta secret perhaps. He’d tell me in time. I was beginning to realize just how much I had to learn.I frowned, knowing Royhill would likely come pick me up in the morning. I stared at the clock. It was way past my bedtime. Not that I cared. I scratched at the stupid fake brace on my leg.On the positive side, apparently hiding away in the Luna’s office was going to be exactly what I was up to, the joke made earlier to Jesamine in jest or not. And sooner than I had anticipated; Naineeve was her
