It felt good to let loose and feel like a pup once again. My carefree puppy days seemed like ages ago. Cody had a knack for pulling my playful side out of dormant. It was well before evening when we arrived at the pack's border, which was a tie. We both panted heavily as we paced the perimeter, playfully shoving each other. It wasn’t until I heard leaves rustling and branches snapping that I grew serious and straightened. Cody presumed the same posture as me, his carefree side locked away for now. Wolves appeared out of the thicket, and like the Wolfsbane Pack, they all bowed in our presence. A magnificent golden wolf stepped forward, Keeping his eyes cast down. “The Alpha Devil sent word that you might be stopping by.” The young Shifter spoke. “My name is Yukon, Gamma to the Blood Moon Pack. Allow me to take you to our camp.” I grunted my response and allowed him to lead us across the border. I would have been tense with any other pack that wolves surrounded us, but the Blood Moon
“Conri, before you jump to any conclusions, listen to what else Navajo has to say.” I snarled at him, rage coursing through me. “I don’t have time to listen, Cody.” I snarled viciously at my beta. “There’s a traitor living in my manor.” I rounded on my paws and raced out of the camp without saying goodbye to Navajo or waiting for Cody. My paws grew numb as they pounded over and over the earth. My lungs ached as I panted heavily, the trees a blur around me. My mate—why did it have to be my mate? I cursed the Luna Goddess under my breath at the cruel and wicked joke she played. She gave me my mate only to have her kill me and take over my pack. I could barely make out Cody’s paw steps behind me as he struggled to catch up to me. I wasn’t stopping. Whatever feelings I had for Rieka were null and void at this point. She was a traitor, and she must be dealt with. RIEKA’S POV I spent the day wandering the property, enjoying the outdoors without having to be running for my life. As the
“She’s the Malikah. A traitor. Born to do one thing. Kill me and take over my pack, my throne.” I was sure that my heart had stopped at his words. I had no intention of killing him. Why would he think that? Even if I wanted to, I didn’t know I could bring myself to do it. There was something in my gut, in my soul, that pulled me to him. I couldn’t go an hour without thinking about him. I craved his touch. My entire essence revolved around him—and then the realization hit me. Was the King of Guardians, the Alpha King, my mate? Did he honestly think that his mate would kill him? Cody took a cautious step forward. “Conri, she’s your mate.” He reminded him. The King stared at me for a long moment as he bared his teeth. He looked like he was deciding whether to kill me on the spot. “I don’t care.” Conri finally breathed. “Get her out of my sight. She’s no longer welcome in my home or under the Guardians’ Protection.” “But, my king, she’s your mate,” Cody repeated. “She’s the future q
Connor had brought me to a little room in the west wing on the other side of the manor from Conri. I curled under the bed, the only place I felt safe. I curled into a ball with my back pressed against the wall. It was secluded under the bed; no one could hurt me there. Or hurt me more than I was right now. I laid my head on the cold wood floor and stared into the darkness as Connor left, promising he would return. Silent tears streamed down my cheeks as my chest tightened with sorrow. He just tossed me aside like it was the easiest thing he ever had to do. I was so stupid. So incredibly stupid and naïve to think that this would last. Whether we were mates or not, it didn’t matter. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. The bedroom door opened again, and Connor’s scent flooded the room. His face appeared on the side of the bed, but I continued to stare past him, slowly disconnecting from this world. “What did I do wrong?” My question came out hoarsely, but Connor heard m
“She never shifted.” He finally said. I tilted my head back and sighed in thought. That was impossible. She was eighteen, and it was a full moon; she should have shifted. “Probably because she was too busy trying to figure out why she was tossed away like a stray when she had done nothing wrong. Or maybe it’s the fact that her idiotic, stupid, self-centered—” “Watch it.” I snarled at him, growing slightly irritated at how he spoke to his king and alpha. Cody continued speaking as if I hadn’t said anything. “—mongrel of a mate is trying to break the mating bond, which will destroy her. I can guarantee you, Conri, that you messing around with this mating bond is what is delaying Rieka’s shift.” I snorted. “Unlikely. She’s eighteen, and it was the full moon last night. It’s probably because she’s the Malikah. Maybe their shifts are different.” Cody ran both hands down his face. “There are those half-ass thoughts and what’s ifs again.” He moved to my bed and grabbed my comforter a
It felt like my very soul was dying inside my chest. Connor didn’t talk much, but his presence brought me little comfort, knowing I still had one friend. I felt sick to my stomach, and I knew I would drown myself in this sorrow and defeat. Bile burned my throat, and I thought I would throw up. I whimpered at this sick feeling in my gut. No matter what I felt, Conri never appeared to comfort me. Pain rippled my chest as I struggled to shift and cope with Conri’s rejection. If this heartache got any worse, I was sure death would have been a mercy, and hours dragged on as I prayed to the Luna Goddess that death would come and take me. Soon. CONRI’S POV I was in a piss poor mood as I took a scolding hot shower and changed clothes. Rieka’s sorrow and hunger through the bond drove me insane to the point where I wanted to roar with irritation. Being on the fence like this would be the end of me. It had been three days since I rejected her, but I still longed for her. I missed her fresh,
A low, warning growl echoed through her. I had rejected the mating bond, but she was still clinging to it, turning her into a feral animal. Pain ripped through me as I took her in. I did this to her. I tossed her aside and turned her into this. I could see it in her eyes; she was slowly turning from the light. I pushed the food to her, which caused her to snarl and lunge, but she never went past her barrier of blankets. She cautiously sniffed the food, never taking her eyes off me. I inched it closer to her, and her teeth clicked as she snapped at my hand. I purred, hoping it still worked on her, and calmed her down enough to eat something. She snarled at the sound like she was trying to fight its effects, but reluctantly, she lowered her head back on the blankets and stared at me. “Come here,” I ordered as coolly as I could. She shimmied her way out of her nest and army crawled towards me, her eyes pleading for affection. “Stop,” I ordered once she had reached the plate of food bef
“I don’t see why not.” Cody opened a side door by the bay windows that led to a small patio before blending into the grass. I stepped into the grass, the blades cool and soft against my bare feet. The warmth of the sun felt peaceful and good upon my face. I closed my eyes and smiled as another breeze rush by. And the pain, sorrow, and despair eating at my soul were gone, chased away by the wind. I could do this. I could survive this. I have survived much worse. If Conri wanted to toss me aside, then let him. The only one I could count on was myself. As I bent down to feel the grass between my fingers, I felt like someone was watching me. I looked up to a ridge on the other side of the yard and saw a black form. I instantly recognized that wolf. A more petite grey and black marble wolf stood next to Conri. The King stared at me momentarily before continuing his walk down the ridge back toward the manor. I didn’t care. Let him ignore me. It was me who made a mistake, not him. I made