I don’t remember how Rafe and I got back to my trailer, but here we are. I’m only now realizing how exposed I am as I lie shirtless on my beaten-up mattress. A water-stained ceiling above me, Rafe’s careful hands remove the rest of my clothes, his mouth placing tender kisses along my collarbones. “Beautiful.” Rafe’s breath heats my skin as he mutters the word over and over between kisses. I don’t think he’s even speaking to me as much as he’s repeating a fervent prayer. His hand slides down my thigh, pushing my pants and underwear down with it. Strange and instinctual, I lift my leg from my garments, and he does the rest, pulling them from me completely without ever lifting his lips. “You smell incredible,” he sighs, pressing his face against my bare shoulder. He draws in a deep breath, and a low growl follows. “Even when it’s muddied by the scent of that bastard. I can’t get enough of you.” “I should shower first.” Embarrassed, I shift away from under him and move to get up. But h
I’m warm. Heavy and warm. And a little sore. My muscles ache like they did when I trained for the guard position for twelve hours a day. I didn’t know I could feel like this because of…Light cuts through my sleepy haze, refracting through the broken windows. Rainbow slivers splinter across my ceiling. It’s pretty. The colors, the light, the warm. Has my bed always been so comfortable?No.I can’t remember a single time in my life when I woke feeling content and safe and warm like this. There is only one reason this dawn is better than all the rest. And his steady breathing heats my shoulder even now.Rafe’s face rests against my shoulder blade, his arm hugging me tightly around my waist. Stubble scratches at my skin, but even that feels amazing. I never want to move again. Can’t we stay like this forever, legs entangled, nestled beneath these blankets?The room smells like us, our scents perfectly combined and balanced. It’s wonderful. He’s wonderful.“Do you accept him?”Milla perks
It’s a conspiracy.A damn conspiracy, I tell you. No sooner than I turn on the shower and it warms above freezing, I step in and the stream fades to a drizzle. I thought I refilled my water reserves earlier this week.But no.The night I was supposed to take my tanks to the river to refill, Deadrick stopped by. I was so busy trying to avoid him that I completely forgot everything else that had happened. It’s my fault, but I feel better blaming Rafe, Milla, Alpha Thane, and everyone else that bothered me.If they had just left me be, I would have full water reserves to bathe in and wouldn’t be slightly damp, sticky, and sweaty. Unfortunately, pawning off responsibility on someone else doesn’t change the fact. My shower is useless, and I’ll have to bathe in the river.Frustrated and soggy, I slide an old set of clothes on and grab a change of clothes, my bathing supplies, and one of my water containers. Ignoring Rafe’s offer to help and his attempts to coax me back into bed, I race out
I’m not this pathetic. To wait for someone else to rescue me from Alpha Nolan. I’ve never waited to be saved before. Because of one simple truth: No one is coming to help. Not me. Not ever.Despite Rafe being my mate and Alpha Thane having a strange attachment to me, I am alone. I have always been alone. And I will always be the only one reliable and capable enough to look out for myself. So think, Makayla. Think.“Alpha Nolan, sir,” I start, ignoring the sour turn in Alpha Nolan’s expression when I address him formally. “I ask you to reconsider welcoming me into your harem.”Quickly, I add, “Not because I am not deeply appreciative and grateful for the offer. It is truly an honor for you to consider elevating one as unworthy as I am to such an important and cherished position.”“Then why, pray tell, should I reconsider, hm?” Alpha Nolan grabs my throat swiftly, squeezing until my heartbeat pounds in my ears louder than the roar of the river. “You recognize your inferiority, and what
Yes, sir. You don’t have to tell me twice.I don’t think. I just obey. Grabbing up my clothes, I slip my shirt on and jump into my pants and shoes with lightning speed. It only took a few seconds for me to go from half-naked to fully dressed, a personal record. I’m halfway through gathering the rest of my supplies before Alpha Nolan can react.“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Pride?!” he snarls, snatching me to him by the arm. “How dare you follow the orders of another Alpha in front of me! Like I’m not even here!”Alpha Nolan shakes me roughly and shoves me to the ground, kicking my water container and bathing tools out of reach. He laces his fingers into the waistband of my pants and starts pulling them off me.“I didn’t give you permission to get up! I didn’t tell you to get dressed!” My pants rip as he furiously tugs against the fabric, clawing like a wild beast. “You don’t move unless I say so. I am your Alpha. You are mine!”He roars the last word, but it sounds small
“Makayla?”Just a little longer. I want to stay like this a little longer. Please. Don’t ask me why I smell like another wolf. Don’t ask me why I’m clinging so tightly to you as if I’ll become submerged and drown without you. Please.Rafael strokes my hair, planting gentle kisses on top of my head. And he doesn’t ask me anything. He doesn’t question my disheveled state or why my body won’t stop trembling.He lifts me into his arms, cradling me like a new bride, and carries me into the trailer. And we sit on my mattress, entwined in silence. No words or tiresome placating quips. No threats to destroy River Crest and Alpha Nolan for daring to touch me. Nothing but his steady heartbeat and incredible scent, the warm pressure of his arms around me.This is all I need, and he knows. How does he know? Is it the bond? Is Milla whispering my secrets to Reign even now? If she is, I’ll have to remember to thank her later.I don’t know how long we’ve been in this position, me tucked in on myself
Rafe didn’t let me in on his and Alpha Thane’s plans. Even when I whined and begged, he just kissed my temple and told me to rest while he got his hands dirty. Does he even realize how frightening that is for me?All my life, I’ve done whatever I could to keep the heat off my back. I flew under the radar, bent and broke myself in half to please others and keep the peace. And now… now I have no idea what’s going to happen. I know it will undo all that work and make me an even bigger target.Then again, Nolan and Wesley already have it out for me. There’s no telling what Quinn will do when she’s off of house arrest. My father has all but sold me to Nolan and will no doubt find some other way to punish me for simply being alive and “causing all this trouble” with Io. I doubt Rafe and Alpha Thane could do anything to make matters that much worse.That’s what I honestly believed. It’s what I hoped for beyond hope.I am, of course, completely wrong. And the new rumors circulating around the
Deadrick and I aren’t three feet into the packhouse gardens before Alpha Nolan comes strolling up to us. Blessedly, he looks and smells like himself and not a cheap imposter. Shadows linger beneath his eyes, even as the sun shines boldly on his face. And red tinges at the outer corners. With his golden halo of hair glittering like a crown in the light, he indeed looks the part of a mad king. Alpha Nolan smiles, approaching me and my father with his arms stretched wide. The silk of his robe slips open, revealing his bare chest. “Ah, my dutiful Beta has come to fulfill his orders. What a prize he’s brought me.” I was wrong. Nolan isn’t himself at all. He’s worse. “Thank you, Deadrick.” He wraps my father in a tight embrace as if they were brothers to be separated by war. Even his expression is pained when the hug ends. “I’ll take her from here.” “Am I not joining you and Makayla inside?” Confusion arcs Deadrick’s brow as he studies Alpha Nolan’s face. Nolan grasps my father by h
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.
“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
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
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
“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
“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
“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
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
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