Raven didn’t want to strip. If they had sex, he’d know they were mates. Luckily, Alpha Jones hadn’t wanted to find her until now. She lucked out again when he had shown no interest in knowing her. Her name only padded his pack roster when a census happened, and it helped him keep his seat on the Toronto Council of Alphas. Here he was now, crowding her into the enormous shower, commanding her to stand exposed before him. Alpha Jones didn’t trust her. Nor did she trust him. He’d stripped her of more than her clothes and in a few hours, he’d make it known to everyone that he’d stripped her of her personhood, too. Then, she’d be no different from a dog or cat. The pack would have no use for. He’d controlled her every move, and she couldn’t say no to him. Or anyone he gave control of her to. So far, he’d insisted only he could touch her. But she’d heard stories of pets turned into sexual party favors by other Alphas. Used by the guests to pleasure themse
Raven awoke to the Pack’s Beta standing over them. He’d crossed his arms, a stern expression rested on his face, and one eyebrow raised in question. “One hour Alpha until the meeting begins. Would you like me to find something for your pet to wear?” He knew what Alpha Jonas planned. How many others knew already? Raven cringed at this realization. “Have someone burn what’s there. She won’t wear anything like that again. So, bring something simple but decent. I want to see what she brought with her before she wears it again. I won’t have her embarrassing us with wearing garbage.” Alpha Jones pointed to the pile of clothes Raven left at the entrance. The Beta picked up the body suit and sneered at it. The look of abject disgust when he found the shorts was comical. “You want me to style her?” His Beta asked. His disbelief was clear and present. They didn’t treat pets in a fair manner. Pets were the ones who did the tasks no one else would.
Dom sat at his seat looking out through the Grand Hall. All the seats were full now. Raven, he had sat on a stool beside his foot before him. Paul sat to his right, while Dom’s left sat vacant. His Luna would one day sit there, but he hadn’t decided if he’d announce that he knew who his fated mate was. He also needed to know she’d have the knowledge, skills, and manners to be his Luna. Dom couldn’t have her questioning him before everyone or insulting him. Nor could she countermand his decrees. Her brother was a problem of epic proportions he’d deal with right now. Dom wanted to curse out Paul for making him second guess his decision to make Raven his pet. He didn’t want her disappearing on him. Nor did he want someone like Alpha Klyne to get their claws into her. Skinny as she was, Raven was still a beautiful she-wolf in every aspect. She’d be a weakness if he didn’t keep her protected now. Liam’s mistake would be Dom’s benefit. He wouldn’t drag he
Dom, with his wolf-like hearing, heard the whispers in this crowded room. The consensus was that they’re not surprised it hadn’t happened earlier. They couldn’t comprehend why Raven didn’t proceed with the sale to eliminate the final Miller wolf. That last part irked Dom and his annoyance rose. He kept his anger in check, but he was sure that everyone in the room could sense it radiating off him. If they couldn’t scent it. He stroked Raven’s hair again as he composed himself again before he continued to speak. Dom’s hand found its way under her chin and raised it so he could study her serious face. “Now it’s your turn to learn your fated for the near future.” “It’s as the Alpha wills. As you say. You bought me, and now you own me. I dared you to catch me and you did. It was my mistake to tell you that you could do as you wished with me. Now I will live with my mistakes.” Raven sounded and looked resigned about this. Hilary obeyed Dom’s every command
Raven listened to Alpha Jones speak. This was not everyone in the Pack. Despite this, enough attendees made it official, and by day’s end, everyone else got Alpha Jones’ message. She couldn’t avoid it. He’d made her sit beside him before everyone. Raven didn’t dare raise her head; she was too embarrassed to do that. Sitting there like this was humiliating. Only the collar and leash were missing. That wasn’t all true. He allowed her to dress, even if she wasn’t used to dressing in clothing like this. Alpha Jones also ordered her to not put makeup on. So, every adult she-wolf but her wore make up here. She lacked the worth and effort of others. She’d remember this upon departure, and he’d grow weary of whatever this meant to him. The restrictions were so personal to him. Someone making her do their bidding without his permission would insult him. No one would do what he’d Dome and buy someone. That Raven could agree with. He didn’t allow her to speak with her only living rela
The Alpha guided her into his study. It’s been over a year since she was here. Not since he’d called her up on the carpet about Liam’s actions. Raven didn’t understand how she, as an unranked wolf, led her family. When her brother had ranked as an Omega. “Sit on the sofa near the window.” Alpha Jones said in her ear as the Beta closed the door behind them. “Will we do this in front of her Alpha?” Paul asked, observing Raven’s meek posture contrasting with her annoyed glare. “Is there a reason for your desire to hide what you say from her?” He asked. His tone demanded an answer from his Beta. Raven didn’t understand what would make this matter to anyone, including herself. She was no longer considered worthy of consideration. She didn’t matter. “Alpha, you declared her your pet. She doesn’t have any business hearing what we have to say.” Raven was unsure of the Beta’s feelings towards her. He went from hating her to protecting her, but the
“Alpha what are you doing?” Raven tried to lean away from Alpha Jones. She’d struggled with his scent, so close to her and distracting her from her struggles with her wolf and her temper. He tightened his hold on her. “I’m enjoying my pet. What do you think I’m doing?” He found her resistance did nothing for his annoyance. “I thought you were supposed to like your Beta.” Raven said. She tried to move out of his arms, but he held her to his side a little tighter. “Why would you think I don’t like my Beta?” Her words made him stop and look at her a little closer. A frown returned to his face. “Because you’ve been horrible to him. What does it matter if he likes me or not? You’ve told everyone I’m a pet and nothing more.” Dom didn’t enjoy hearing her said that even though he’d said this himself. It hit with a different type of impact when she said it. “It doesn’t matter. The problem is he’s questioning my wishes and demands.” He
Raven advised him to get rid of her. Paul advised him to do the same. But she was his mate. His fated mate, a mate who wasn’t ready to take her place at his side without him losing everything he had. His happiness or the happiness of his Pack. Dom hesitated to select either option. Her presence should benefit the Pack. He’d hoped to have her behave in a manner that others would accept and ease the idea that the Pack’s disbelief in her was incorrect. Raise her up and change her reputation before installing her as the Luna of his Pack. All while forming a bond between them. But he couldn’t do that if she wasn’t beside him. If he sent her away, they’d never form the bond. He should have formed this bond sooner. But he’d given her the space to deal with her brother and the problems he made for everyone. What did her brother do? He used her to pay off his debts. Liam knew she couldn’t pay off his debts with money. He used her body to pay them off. The glass flew from
Raven stood beside Dominic as they waited for the Pack to arrive and find their places within the great room. She’d been pacing behind him for the last twenty minutes as they prepared for this meeting. They’d not told anyone what this meeting was about but had told them that this was a mandatory meeting. Raven wouldn’t tell anyone when they called her and tried to pry the information from her as if she would betray her mate.It was too hard to believe that she was so loyal to Alpha Dominic which had several wolves scratching their heads. But they were struggling even more because he seemed more devoted than even before. The Pack in general were left scratching their heads as Raven had earned the loyalty of the other Pack leadership as well.“I am glad to see you at least are smart enough to attend this meeting.” Dominic hadn’t liked hearing confirmation of the odd opinions and complaints. The wolves shouldn’t have been concerned. “I’ve had several mixed feelings these last few we
Raven had gone to the meeting with Dominic and they’d discussed the situation along with as many of the complications as they could predict. Gregory had expressed his appreciation that they’d brought this idea to him before they had put anything into play. It meant he and the Council of Alphas could make plans to counteract any negative fallout.She had to admit she wasn’t sure if they’d be welcome to bring their Pack into the Dream Realm. Or if they would leave this realm entirely. It’s too early to know how they would proceed with this plan.The Dreamers had spread out and had begun to use their training. Stabilizing the timelines, dealing with the more aggressive shadow creatures, and learning about the abandoned things within their area. They had to record everything and the state it was in. With their contact with the mages it wasn’t difficult to reach out to other species who possessed magic. Much of the lost magical items were responding to one kind of magic or another.
“Brigid says she’ll be in touch soon with scheduling so we can have a rotation of sorts. That way we can have a consistent rebuilding going on inside the Dream Realm. So, how are we going to run this place around all that? I don’t even know what anyone thinks about all of this because no one’s dared to speak to me. It’s like they think I’ll unmake them or something.” Raven said to Dominic as she returned from the Dream Realm where she’d had a meeting with Brigid and the other Dreamers. Dominic had seen the changes in her and the Pack. He’d said nothing to anyone about his idea of taking the Pack into the Dream Realm and becoming part of the enforcement powers there. He could see their Pack as a foundation of a future power.He wanted to support Raven the best way possible and he didn’t think he could do it from here.“Raven, love. Everyone is in shock because nothing is how they thought it was. They’re trying to figure out where they and you now rest in the world. People have
“Dominic, don’t worry about it. I know you don’t have to explain to me. When you disconnect your call with me I received a message from someone that explained what was happening.” Lily said as soon as they returned and she made them sit down to eat a meal.“Then can you explain it to us?” Dominic practically begged Lily to explain what they had witnessed even though she hadn’t been there to witness So, he wouldn’t stop the stow for anything and allow her to explain what she’d pieced together through some of her very odd channels, not that any of this was straight forward.“Please tell me she isn’t doing the biggest mistake of all time.” Raven stepped in now and she was practically begging to know that they weren’t letting her do something foolish. It was something they’d all been questioning since Brigid first said she was going to investigate the situation and she didn’t want anyone else going with her, because she didn’t like the idea of the risk. She had Het’ Tur and she didn’
“Does this mean that the danger is over?” Raven asked Brigid as she looked over the woman’s shoulder to see the males in the golden armor.“My family is gone and they won’t be offering the Dream Realm to the Fae again as a travel hub. But there’s still other dangers that they and the Fae abandoned in my realm without my permission. Then there’s the instabilities within it created by their interference and war of Dreamers. Add in now I have the dimension version of surprise boarders complicating all of this.” Brigid glared at the male standing in the golden armor watching her explain this to them.He stood with his guards in eire silence. They hadn’t drawn a single weapon or removed a piece of armor including helmets.“You have got to be kidding. How exactly are they dead? Did he say how he killed them? I mean if he killed your father. How is he alive? Why was he in the prison and not on the throne?” Heather didn’t sound like she bought the story he’d given Brigid.Brigid blink
“What about my brothers? Or brother? What ideas do you have to deal with them?” Brigid didn’t blink, but her tone was her reminding him of the situation she faced rather then asking him for help with a solution.“When I got through with him. He knew I was your mate, but he couldn’t do anything about it and he’d not be the one to sit on your father’s throne.” Het’ Tur said. He was smiling and trying not to laugh. He’d been angry with the brothers. They’d been so focused with their plans and emotions. This was why her brother was going to kill her. She was alive to work for him, but when she escaped he acted like like she’d betrayed him. Or she’d tried to kill him. Het’ Tur knew Brigid had never done anything to betray or hurt any of her relatives.“Het’ Tur, how did he ever learn about where you were or that you were my Fated mate?” Brigid didn’t understand how her brothers would have discovered him among the masses. Or that he was connected to her. That’s what she was asking, but
“That? Is your reaction Lady Brigadetta?” Het’ Tur asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. Brigid winced at the name he used to her question before she looked at him in disbelief.“The woman no longer exists and you know that. She hasn’t existed for so long that I can’t tell you the last time I heard someone say her name. The noble house died ages ago and the few that didn’t have been fighting each other trying to finish the job of ending that noble house. I’ve been surviving in my own way doing my own thing until recently. But I will not answer to that name ever again.” Brigid stood up to him. She didn’t want to be that woman. Her past would stay there and she was determined of that.“Do you have a choice to do that? Really?” Het’ Tur asked in disbelief that she would believe she could believe change her life like this.“Welcome to the modern era and a new realm Het’ Tur. Here, I have the right to chose the way I lead my life. I choose how my life unfolds here.” Brigid s
Dominic didn’t know how to ask Brigid about Het’ Tur. If she didn’t know he was her mate. How would she react to his claim? She must help him get Raven back. First Dominic wanted to contact Lily. He wanted her thoughts on Het’ Tur. Did she know anything about him or what he was talking about? Could she tell if he was lying about anything? Any confirmation of facts he’d been giving out would be appreciated by him.Lily answered faster than he expected. “Lily, I don’t know where to start. Well, I do. Raven’s been kidnapped by a creature who says his name is Het’ Tur and is Brigid’s mate. He wants to exchange Raven for Brigid. Who is he? Do you know him? Do you know if he’s telling the truth?”“Oh, wow. I haven’t heard that name in a long time. A very long time. He was the Head of the Crystal Lord’s Guard. He disappeared when the Crystal Lord did. Mind you that time period is a historical mess. There’s a lot of deaths and missing persons. Missing treasures and all that. He’s ther
“We are stronger together than he can ever be. After all, the fool killed his mate and his offspring. He has nothing, but the fool believed that because he can’t die from old age that he’s all powerful.” Het’ Tur shrugged and acted like he found this entertaining as anything. “Wait, he’s immortal. But not eternal. Is that what you’re saying?” Dominic waved a hand momentarily distracted from his need for his mate by the discovery he’d learned. The big bad wasn’t as big and bad as he’d thought. “That is exactly what I have said. My mate understands this, but her brother appears to not understand it. I want to use it against him once and for all. He seems to use it easily enough against his relatives. I see no reason why I can’t use it against him before he uses it against my mate.” He seemed at ease with the knowledge that death was a lot easier and permanent than it was expected to be. Dominic wondered if he understood how permanent. Permanent was.