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Back to Square One

Author: Elizra Down
last update Last Updated: 2024-03-22 23:27:26

“Why isn’t she improving?!”

“It’s not that simple, Rafael... Her injuries... when you brought her to us, she was half dead!”

“It’s been two weeks, Juniper. Wolves in far worse conditions have bounced back in half as much time!”

I know this furious voice. My mate. He sounds so far away, but it’s no doubt his warmth beside me, radiating through my body.

“Did someone dare sabotage her recovery?! Is that why she ran into the woods in this condition?!”

I can tell he’s fighting hard to control himself; every word is growled through grit teeth. His aura is staggering, and it’s hard to breathe even while I’m unconscious and not on the receiving end. I don’t know how Dr. Juniper is still standing, let alone speaking back to him.

“Rafael, please. No one has been allowed into her room besides me, the nurses, Christobel, Thane, and you,” Dr. Juniper sighs. “Let’s think rationally for just a moment. I know she’s your mate. I know you love her and are concerned. But the truth of the matter is, your
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  • Forsaken Mate   Clingy

    My mate, Rafael Crane, is a madman. That is the sad, ugly truth.I don’t know if he was always insane or if it is the result of our mate bond. But what I do know is this man is unwell psychologically. Well, that’s a bit of an unfair exaggeration. But what else am I supposed to think?He hasn’t left my side for two days. I can’t even go to the bathroom without him tailing me and standing outside the door. He watches my every move like he’s studying some mystifying, unknown creature. And when he’s here in the hospital room with me, he refuses to be further than six inches away from me. That’s if I can get him to let me go.I know it’s my fault he’s behaving like this.All of the running and pushing away has probably driven him crazy. One minute, I’m in his arms, feeling nothing short of the grace of the Goddess and the light of eternity. The next minute, I’m telling him we can’t work or outright pushing him back. I’d be insane, too, if my mate was acting like me.Still, this is too far.

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  • Forsaken Mate   Crisis Averted

    Thane stands firm, unfazed by Rafael’s objection to being forcefully removed from my side. The growl that shook me to my core, he simply shrugs off as he shoves Rafe toward the door. That’s the last upper hand Thane gets.Rafe plants his feet and roots himself in place, refusing to budge even as Thane shoves his shoulder roughly.“Come on, kid. Move it,” Thane grunts, toe-to-toe with the younger man.Rafe’s scent shifts, and I smell Reign rising to the surface. His golden eyes flicker for a moment, and the hair on the back of my neck bristles. Milla wants to surge forward and wrap around him. As hard as I’m wrestling to control and contain her, I can’t imagine how difficult it is for Rafe to keep his wolf in check.“I know you’re worried about her, and I can understand you don’t want to leave her side—”“You understand nothing, Thane,” Reign growls, taking over Rafe’s voice. “You have no mate. You know nothing.”“Reign, calm yourself,” Thane sighs. I don’t understand how he can keep a

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  • Forsaken Mate   Taking A Walk

    Christobel’s question comes out of nowhere. A walk? Me? Am I even allowed to leave the hospital room after the stunt I pulled? I’m sure Rafe had a pointed conversation with Dr. Juniper. No doubt, I’m under constant surveillance now. I’ll be lucky to get two steps out of the door before guards are on my ass. And she’s asking me if I want to go for a walk?I almost laugh at the suggestion until I see she is dead serious.“A walk?”“Mmhm.” Christobel beams, pulling me up to my feet. “I think a little fresh air is just the thing to help you recover.”“I don’t know if I—”“Don’t worry about Rafe. I’ll let him know what’s happening through the mind link. He’ll have no problem as long as I’m your chaperone.”Did she just read my mind? And chaperone? It really is like I’m under house arrest. Now, I have to have a chaperone to walk around. The whole situation is crazy enough to be comical.To think, Makayla Pride, the outcast of River Crest, is so highly valued and protected that she’s not eve

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  • Forsaken Mate   Acceptance

    If I had known what I would face when I returned to the hospital, I wouldn’t have left in the first place. The second Christobel and I open the door to my room, Rafe charges over and wraps me up tight in his arms. His heartbeat thumps wildly in my ears, and I can hardly hear what he’s muttering in my hair over the sound of it.“I was so worried,” he grumbles against the side of my head. “Christobel didn’t check in with me for fifteen minutes, and I thought—”“Rafael Crane, you unhand that girl this instant.” Christobel’s stern, maternal voice rings clear from behind, and Rafe obeys immediately, squeezing me tight before releasing me.“I swear on the moon above, you’ve become a clingy pup all over again!” she sighs, stepping between me and my mate with her arms crossed over her chest. Seeing her stare down a man who’s easily a foot and a half taller than her is almost comical. Almost.Because I still hear Rafe’s heart pounding in his chest, the sickly sweet scent of his fear and panic l

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  • Forsaken Mate   I Am Yours

    The room falls silent the moment the declaration leaves my lips. Time slows to a crawl, and I see everything with intense clarity. It’s subtle, but there’s a soft glow radiating off Rafe’s skin—a faint halo. His dark lashes are thick and shiny. There’s a single silver-white hair growing from his temple. And there are flecks of green and gold in his blue eyes that I’ve never seen before.I always believed him to be the most beautiful person on the planet. Now, even those words are inadequate.“Makayla…” His voice trails off as he says my name, but I know what he thinks and wants. Heat radiates from his body, rippling through me in warm waves.I kiss those perfect lips and run my fingers through his luscious locks, and he growls softly, deepening the kiss. The door closes in the distance, and Christobel’s presence is gone. Nothing is stopping him now.“Makayla,” he says as he breaks the kiss, his gaze burning through me. “You mean it?”“Do you want me to say it again?” I ask, draping my

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  • Forsaken Mate   Home Sweet Home

    The next few hours are a blur.Rafe left the room after my declaration and returned fifteen minutes later with the doctor. They bickered for a while about my discharge and the stage of my recovery. Much to Dr. Juniper’s surprise, I was at 95% recovery. I’ll never forget the proud look on Rafe’s face as he stood tall behind the doctor, announcing that I accepted the mate bond.Dr. Juniper wasn’t so easily impressed or swayed and refused to discharge me before running more tests and keeping me for observation until the evening, just to be certain. I thought Rafe was going to tear the poor man apart, but Dr. Juniper must be used to his moods. The young doctor didn’t bat a lash at all of Rafe’s fuming and grumbling.By the end of all the bloodwork, vitals, and scans, the sun had long since set. In just that short amount of time, my condition improved even more, and there was no further pretense for Dr. Juniper to deny Rafe’s demands. If I hadn’t heard the doctor’s admissions myself, I wou

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  • Forsaken Mate   Dodging the Question

    Light really does make all the difference. For instance, when we were rolling around in the dark, I had no idea that Rafe and I were frolicking on a king-size mattress in a massive room that dwarfed Alpha Nolan’s study. I was also blissfully unaware of how beautifully decorated the space was. In fact, beautiful is an understatement.As I scan the area, now bathed in sunlight, I’m gagged.This is his home? How can it be?This room looks like something out of a palatial tour pamphlet. I’ve only seen places like this in magazines and picture books at the library, and that was nearly two decades ago.“It’s a bit much, isn’t it?” Rafe laughs, snuggling against me from behind. His arms trap me against him, so I can’t get a full view of just how decadent the room is. But the parts I can see are enough to confirm a few things for me while raising countless other questions.“A bit much?” I scoff, pursing my lips at him and his underwhelming comment. “I think the word you’re looking for is opul

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  • Forsaken Mate   More Lies?

    My mate is insatiable. And his audacity, ugh.To claim that he wants me to rest and recuperate, and then to spend all morning doing his best to leave me breathless and exhausted. I lost count of how many times we did it. All I know is, by the time he was finally satisfied, I was a mess. My back is sore, my legs are like jelly, and I have no idea what time it is.I manage to get to my feet and wash off in the on suite bathroom, which, again, is larger than any bathroom I’ve ever seen.Must everything be gilded in golden scrollwork? Must every surface reflect impeccable skill and craftsmanship? Must even the toilet call me poor?I’m not actually bothered by how nice everything is. Especially considering Rafe declared, in no uncertain terms, that this is just as much my home as it is his. I’m just pissy because he dodged my questions earlier and had his way with me for most of the day. Not that I mind that much either.Warm water cascades down my body, soothing my aching muscles and stre

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Latest chapter

  • Forsaken Mate   Wedding Bells - Finale

    If looks could kill, Erick and Marco would be dead right now. The hideous glare on Wesley’s face paints a stunning portrait of the man I know him to be. Now, everyone else finally gets to see him for the hateful, lying, psychopath that he truly is.His façade of innocence melts away and all that’s left is a shaking, contemptable man with nothing to lose and a singular goal. I can feel his wicked intentions vibrating in the air. It’s obvious. And pathetic. Anyone else would have slumped and begged for mercy. But not Wesley Wrest. Never Wesley Wrest.Through grit teeth, Wesley growls. “You traitorous little shits don’t know what you’re doing. You think I’m gonna let you get away with ratting? You think you’re gonna make it out of here alive after the shit you just pulled?!”Before King Helios can grab and detain him, Wesley slips out of reach and charges the altar. I step forward, pulling the two pups behind me and standing him down. As I figured, the mate bond wouldn’t let him hurt me.

  • Forsaken Mate   Wedding Bells - 2

    “The Goddess did no such foul thing,” Rafe growls, stomping down near Wesley. “Your schemes end here, worm.”“Alpha Rafael, Makayla, explain,” King Helios roars, no longer passively sitting to the side.“Through nefarious means, Alpha Wesley Wrest severed the mate bond between Makayla and myself. We are true fated mates, marked, and promised to one another for some time,” Rafe states. With his head held high, he looks just as regal and commanding as the king. My heart races just watching hmi address the room with confidence.“Liar! You stole her from me when Io came for diplomatic meetings!” Wesley shouts. “She is mine and has always been. Only mine!”“There was never any mate bond between us. How dare you try to claim otherwise over five years after we both came of age!” I snap. “King Helios, I humbly submit testimony from one Quinn Iverson, the former Luna candidate of River Crest.”Wesley’s eyes grow wide and the whispers around the temple hall grow into full blown outrage as a scre

  • Forsaken Mate   Wedding Bells - 1

    I’m nervous.My heart’s pounding and I can barely think straight. Every breath feels too big for my lungs, like I might pop any second. The dress wasn’t this tight yesterday. The shoes didn’t pinch like this. Am I growing? Will I end up filling the entire temple hall with my massive, bulbous feet and wide back? Is Rafe going to see his bloated bride and run away in fear.“Makayla, breathe.” Thane’s warm hand covers mine. He pulls me into a gentle hug, squeezing with just the right amount of pressure to calm me down and stop my thoughts from spiraling.“I’m okay,” I lie, my fib muffled by his suit jacket.“Your heart’s racing like a running rabbit,” he chuckles, pulling away. He brushes a strand of my long, curled hair from my face, kissing me on my forehead. “I know it’s scary, but there’s nothing for you to worry about. Everything’s in place. And you, my

  • Forsaken Mate   Unwelcome Intruder

    I’m exhausted.Between preparing for the Luna Ceremony, the wedding, and all the pack celebrations these last three days, I’ve been swamped with engagements and work. And if that isn’t bad enough, Rafe has been insatiable.I haven’t been able to go to his office for lessons since we’ve had a change of plans. I’ve been working with Thane, Christobel, Elder Raimey, and countless event hires from caterers to dress makers. More than once, I didn’t see Rafe all day until we both showed up separately to the pack celebrations late in the evenings.We would both be drained from these long days, but the second he sees me, he’s on me. His hands don’t leave my body, his gaze never wanders from my face. It’s like he’s desperately clinging to me to prove that his love hasn’t wavered with the removal of our bond. I don’t know what to do or say to show him that I feel the same about him.So, I just let him do whatever he wants and try to keep up.These last three days, he’s dragged me from the celeb

  • Forsaken Mate   Bond Broken

    “This changes nothing!” Rafe roars.His shouts pull me from my numb sleep into aching consciousness. My body feels like it was tossed off a cliff and rolled over by a semi. I blink the world into focus and find the familiar ceiling of Io’s hospital above me.“She is my mate. We know this. So whatever is happening is of no concern to me,” Rafe snarls. “Makayla is my Luna. She is going to be my wife. This changes nothing.”“What’s happening?”I push onto my elbows and find the room filled with concerned warriors: Dr. Juniper, Christobel, Thane, and an elderly woman I’ve never seen before. Her round, wrinkled face turns toward me, though her milky white eyes don’t seem to see anything.“My child, give me your hand.” Her withered fingers reach for me, and I pull away on instinct. Rafe pulls me into his side, kissing my hair.“It’s okay. Let Elder Raim

  • Forsaken Mate   Wesley's Plans

    “Yes! Please! Please save me.” Real tears fall from Quinn’s eyes as she begs me for her life. How many times have I imagined this scenario? Quinn crawling at my feet, completely humiliated. Beyond humiliated. Hopeless. Alone. Scared. Everything I was. Everything she inflicted on me.And just like her, I will show no mercy.I stomp on her hand, grinding it under my heel and ignoring her cries of pain.“Listen carefully, Quinn,” I mutter. “Because I won’t be repeating myself. Do you understand?”She nods, stifling her cries.“You’re going to tell us everything that you told Wesley about Io. Everything. You’re not going to conveniently leave a single detail out, do you hear me?”She nods again.“And you are going to tell us everything that Welsey has done since taking control of River Crest. The rogues, the attacks, everything.”Another nod.“And when you’re done spilling your guts about that, you’re going to tell us his plans and why he’s doing all of this.”A different reaction. She gl

  • Forsaken Mate   Head on a Spike

    “Makayla! Makayla slow down!” Christobel shouts after me.I won’t. I can’t.My legs carry me swiftly back to the packhouse and through the gated doors that lead down to the dungeons. I’ve only been once, but this trip is decidedly faster than the first. I take the stairs four or five at a time, ripping my lovely party dress and ruining all the hard work Christobel and the attendants did to make me look presentable.I can’t care about that right now. I can’t even stop my thoughts from scrambling madly, spiraling to a single point. Quinn Iverson must die. Today. At my hands.How dare she? How dare they?! River Crest wasn’t content with mercilessly tormenting me for years. No, they couldn’t be satisfied now that I am gone and no longer an eyesore to their perfect little pack. They had to go and mess with my new family.She’s not getting away with that. And once I’m through with her, I’m taking Wesley’s head with my bare hands!I bottom out at the end of the stairs, huffing furiously and

  • Forsaken Mate   Rebecca

    The downside to being all dolled up for a celebration is limited range of motion and the inability to run full speed when you need to.Trying to keep up with Thane and Christobel is a challenge in four inch heels and this flowing dress. I’ve given up on keeping my hair looking pristine and neat, the curls flow wildly behind me as we surge toward the west gate.Appearances don’t matter. All that matters is getting to whoever is waiting before Rafe does. Not that I care what he does to them, I just don’t want to beg him for permission to see them in the dungeon again. And I’m not overly fond of the idea of going back down there anyway.Plus, if Quinn’s sudden arrival is any indication, calming him down for hours and days after will wear me out. My legs are shaking as is and my lower back is killing me. As much as I love him and our time together, I would rather not have a body cast on for my Luna ceremony.Please, Goddess, don’t let it be Wesley or Deadrick.My silent prayer is answered

  • Forsaken Mate   The Morning After

    I don’t recall falling asleep. But I’m awoken by Christobel and a number of attendants rushing in to tend to me. The sun casts the room in a warm, golden glow. Rafe’s scent lingers in the air, but is slowly fading, much to my heartbreak. He must have slipped out earlier and left me to sleep in.“We’ve prepared a bath for you, Luna,” one of the attendants announces, head bowed. I don’t recognize her. I don’t recognize any of the women clamoring around me, eagerly pushing to be ahead of the group. Christobel’s kind eyes shine with pride as she stands at attention in front of all the rest.“Now ladies, I only agreed to let you assist me today because you were all so eager to serve our new Luna,” she declares, silencing the commotion. “If you continue to behave in such an immature fashion in front of Luna Makayla, I will dismiss all of you and serve her myself as I’ve always done.”Ah, I see.She’s showing off our close relationship. I struggle to conceal a smile. I’ve never seen this sid

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