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Chapter 124
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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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.
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 127
DeidreThe meal goes unconsumed. Mistra and I each manage to push food around our plates much to Jason’s dissatisfaction, while he and Mark both eat as though they haven’t in days. Jason even tries ordering a bottle of wine to lighten the mood, but to no avail.Finally, he gets up to use the restroom and Mark follows. The room is emptier and yet filled with more tension in their absence.“How is Sirius?” Mistra finally asks, throwing her napkin down in surrender of our unspoken charade.“Why didn’t you ask when Jason was in the room?”“Because it’s clear something is going on between the two of you.”I wouldn’t doubt Mark noticed either. “Since when did you care about our relationship?”Mistra reaches for the first sip of wine. “I know better when to try and pry my way into a relationship.”“That’s rich, coming from you.”Mistra sets the wine glass down, refusing to take the bait. “How is he?”“He’s fine. He got out.” I try to say it nonchalantly, only to watch her eyes bulge.“What?
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 128
KiraIrene seems to think I’m well enough to attend the AA meeting two days after I’ve woken up. “Nothing like returning to our scheduled programming,” I mutter as she checks my vitals and we prepare to leave. Jennivah stops by as we’re about to exit the room, handing me a pair of sunglasses.“Won’t this just make me look hungover?” I ask, inspecting the pair but not putting them on. “Not really the vibe I’m going for.”“Consider this a soft rollout of the real you,” Jennivah says. “A statement is coming out this morning regarding your attack. It didn’t go unnoticed that the Alpha and Beta took a meeting with our northern neighbors. It’s best we ease into your new… look, with care.”I scowl at her, looking at Irene for permission not to wear them. But Irene gives me a stern look in return. “AA is based on anonymity. If the group sees what you look like, the rumor mill will start flying. Our members are happy to keep their own identities a secret, but let’s not tempt them with having t
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 129
Kira Satisfied with the sputtering and utterly confused Gowan that leaves me at my room, I haul myself up and back onto my bed. So, Gowan really didn’t know. Looks like he and Jesamine aren’t that close after all. But what’s up with Jack? Since when are him and Jesamine… friendly? Friends? But I have bigger fish to try right now. I pull out my phone, grateful that Perrin brought it with him earlier. KIRA: Um, when were you going to tell me what day it was? PERRIN: You are holding a phone right now, aren’t you? KIRA: Shut up. KIRA: I mean, shut up, sir. PERRIN: Cut your crap. KIRA: Fine, sir. KIRA: I mean, why the hell didn’t you tell me I was out for so long? PERRIN: I did. PERRIN: It’s not my fault you can’t count days ;) The winky face does nothing to soften the blow I know is coming. KIRA: Did you tell my brother yet? PERRIN: Nope. That’s your job, remember? KIRA: Fine. PERRIN: That means you actually have to call him. KIRA: Or I could tell him in person. You kn
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 130
Kira The morning passes slowly after my mother’s visit. Then the afternoon, too, only punctuated by a few brief visits from various members of the patrol guard. They don’t seem to have cared about whatever statement Alpha Jason put out. They came to see for themselves that I’m quite alright. Which was kind of adorable, really. Seeing grown men trudge in and out of my room. They didn’t bring flowers. Or words, for that matter. Only the occasional approving grunt and nod. As much as I appreciate them coming to see me, I don’t think they have much they want to say. They just want to see. Galpin physically gasped when he saw my eyes. He came by himself, and didn’t stay long. Just a few awkward fist-bumps from a man old enough to be my father and trying to relate. Tenzin and Royhill followed an hour later, visibly relieved that I was still breathing. Had they walked in wearing their wolf-form, they would have had their tails between their legs. But once I reassured them it was no way in
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 131
Deidre“Can you really be so foolish?”What had happened in the Archives had sobered me, but my breath still felt like cotton and stale whiskey. “It’s fine, Jason. Nothing happened.”“Like you would do anything with the boy!” Jason scoffed, pacing his office. My space on the small sofa couldn’t be further away, and yet still wasn’t far enough. “That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.”“Afraid I’m going to be seen by someone?” I poked. I knew it wasn’t what he was talking about, but it didn’t matter.“You know damn well that’s not what this is about.”“That what is it about?”He turned on his wheel, face furious. “It’s about protecting you!”“I don’t need protecting! Besides, Mark and the crew didn’t find anything. We probably just forgot to lock the door–”“Ben never forgets to lock the door.”“There wasn’t anything–” but I stop short. “What did you say?”Jason puts his hand on his hands, impatient now. “You really think I didn’t know where you were going each night? Of cou
Chosen Mates, Stolen Fates Chapter 132
BenI was shaking. Nearly consumed.There was at least one. Two?Goddess, could there be all four?I wait, distracted on the sidewalk and wave stiffly as Lo gets into the back of Charlie’s SUV. Oh my Goddess. All four? How could any of them, let alone all four, just be casually dumped into a box of old books? There’s no way Lo’s mother even knew what they were. Lo had been complaining these weren’t even her books. But Salindra wouldn’t have carelessly sent these–Stay calm. Charlie pulls away from the curb, his turn signal blinking.But there’s no way. How could these books out of the millions across the werewolf Archives and across the country end up here?My brain is moving at lightning speed, moving through a series of possibilities and posits and cogently sorting through options. It was as if my mind was finally stimulated after two weeks of disuse. I was practically buzzing now. This was better than any type of buzz that bottle upstairs could give me.How did the Chiyad Archivist
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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
