The instant I left Robyn at Mrs Berrybrow’s Inn, I knew I had to get to work. Lucas was busy galloping after Marcus, so I roped in some Beta Warriors. Hoisting and heaving huge tree trunks into position. Hammering metal spokes in until the sweat soaked through their shirt. “Come on, this has to be ready to go up by nightfall!” I bellow, the sound of chopping and sawing filling the air. “Yes Raph!” they shout back in perfect unison. While they chopped, dug, and hammered, I was running around, sending links, sorting endless shit out. I needed rope, fittings, wheels, anything I could repurpose. Men are running around like ants on my command. For her. Nobody else. I’m being selfish for the first time in my life. I almost allow myself to say ‘my mate’ but even my wolf stops me. She’s not ours yet. I’ve already stumbled when she described herself as broken. I didn’t mean she hadn’t been through things. I only meant I see her whole. No flaws. Fuck I need to get better at talking to he
My mate is unnervingly quiet, however I’m slowly learning it’s not because he doesn’t care. Watching through the inn window, the sheen of sweat on his brow at the top of his chest did something inexplicable to me. My ribs tightened, brain short-circuited to the point I flung the door open before he had a chance to knock. Jet black tousled hair, face filled with worry. He must have been working hard. The sweet scent of fresh cut wood merging with rum left me so churned up that I ended up being the quiet one. A day spent with Mrs Berrybrow was no cure for the guilt I felt about Marcus either. She was kindness personified, but she knows I’m not Volare. What if I’m just the bitch who broke her favourite customer's heart? Then we met Ayr which meant another jump into the whirlpool of confusion. My blatant curiosity drank in the messy, chalky handprints on his shirt. Barely had his shirt tucked back in. Messy, roughed up. Deep down, I felt jealousy. Ayr looks like he barely knows what d
I didn’t stick around to hear Robyn’s rejection. I knew she would do a good job of it. Out of everything we agreed that night, the rejection was the riskiest. Had I been in earshot, what were the odds of the Goddess taking the vows as real? To make sure that wasn’t an option, the instant those lift doors shifted my small brown wolf spinted out unseen, straight towards the river.. The freezing water took my breath awa. Next time I cross, it will be over the bridge. On horseback. Luna of Kallio. Dry and dignified.Alternatively, the next time could be my body being dumped in a sack, like Lucas heard she did with Elder Brent.He was blamed for the forest fire, lack of management, time for a change. She hadn’t addressed the grain sale. Or the inevitably furious Locksley response she must have received. She did her usual spin and rewrite. The fire was an accident. The grain distribution to all the struggling villages by her supposedly-dead sister…didn’t happen.My wolf’s frantic paws h
I don’t like how useless this plan makes me. Cass insisted it would be good to know how the other Alpha’s attending the Council better. Gauge if Elle secured further devious allegiances like she had with Fenton. It was an excellent idea in principle. In reality I’m receiving a crash course in just how fast and viciously gossip can spread. Together with Lucas, we rode on horseback far and wide. No rain fell, yet the dark skies resembled the end of the world. By the time dawn broke, we were approaching Fenton’s packhouse.. Their new leader waiting.Around thirty, her jet-black hair hung in straight, lifeless locks. A large jade necklace covered her chest, and a simple brown gown with a white fur cape completed the ensemble. Her nose up high, no doubt mindlinking the guards to let us through in peace. “You have rather spoiled my surprise,” she remarked. “I know everyone is wanting to see which man got the Alpha title. Well, now you have Luna Jacintha of Fenton.” “An excellent move f
If I ever see Lucas again, I’m going to remind him, very strongly, of the fact his mate is a top-tier bastard. How can the Goddess see those two as something worth pairing together? It’s just a waste of my best friend's heart. Without sunlight, I have no idea how long it’s been. It’s been so kind of Captain Fuckbag, as I’ve renamed calling Cesar, to ensure I get to sleep with a freshly cracked skull every time I recover from the last whack. I don’t know what he’s trying to achieve. It’s not like I’m going to suddenly beg to join Kallio. Not with the promise of concussion and a dungeon view. All jokes aside, I don’t know how many times I can be knocked unconscious and keep waking up. Everyone has a limit. I wince to think of this happening to Cass, idly wondering if Elder Cesar hits as hard as that old mole Elder Brent. Yet she’s turning down a life by Ayr’s side for dire cliff-face of crumbling power. I know where I’d rather be, and I don’t even want Ayr to smash any doors down f
Robyn somehow found me, naked and curled up on the outskirts of the village. My wolf was exhausted with nothing left to give. I smiled weakly as Robyn silently fussed and checked over me. There is a wolf waiting, every generation for a chance to finally descend, created through the bond between mine and Ayr’s wolves. Instead of seeing the Goddess as cruel for pairing Elle and I so closely, I think the Goddess is tiring of this twisted cycle. Not that I can tell Robyn any of this just yet. In silence, she began to dress me in long woollen pyjamas. Gently, she whispered. “we need to leave now. Can you stand?" Her pale blue eyes are alive, every move is more decisive. Something has definitely happened with Raphael. Guided back to her horse, I her mate strides over, green eyes glued to her. I get merely a nod. He is utterly sunk for her, I wonder if she realises.Corbin appears, his grey eyes always so serious and calm. He opens his arm, offering me a hug before freezing in uncertain
The outskirts of my packhouse found itself transformed into the unofficial Kallio waiting room for a full morning. Over a dozen idiotic Alpha’s and their entourages left waiting for the bridge. A gaggle of carriages, velvet, furs, capes, and jewels. All ready to make an impression on Elle. All waiting for the bridge to drop. Seated on Pepper, worrying about my cannonball and her schemes, I had minor Beta’s mindlinking all the overheard insults as different packs passed through. Declaring Volare deserves razing to the ground. A shame they have a degenerate Alpha in charge. Well they are all in for a shock. Men like the aged, grey, Alpha Silas quivering under ten layers of blankets openly scowled, refusing to meet my gaze. Alpha Ricardo had not fetched any of his teenage daughters. Luna Jacintha sat tall on her white horse, inviting stares and surprise with triumph, long silk sleeves trailing down her horses shoulders. She did not acknowledge me, turning her nose up. Enjoying th
/Don’t ask me if I’m okay again, I swear to the fucking Goddess/ Lucas growled, leaping up the stairs like a seriously pissed off panther. The white stone atrium had been polished to perfection. Every white section of stone would have shone had the slate clouds above allowed it. Instead, despite the flowers, the garlands, everything had a grimy, grubby feel. Every white surface is dreary, the flowers listless. Elle’s carefully curated image is finally starting to crack. Climbing up the eight flights of stairs, I can feel the amber daggers of Elle’s eyes burning into the nape of my neck. I link Lucas. /Did he say anything to you?/ /He said he missed me, okay? Right before he tried to punch me in the cock. Now fuck off and let’s do this/ Lucas snapped back. His eyes remained emerald green, but I have no idea how long he will control them for. /He misses you!/ I start, but Lucas only accelerates away. We finally emerge to the same cliff top I originally tangled with Cass. Being the