“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
This was wrong. Cody was right. Treating her like this was wrong. I couldn’t damn her if she didn’t do anything wrong. Hadn’t even shown any signs of it. I laid my head back on the couch and stared at the ceiling. I was a fucking idiot. A stupid, ignorant, self-centered mongrel. So, as I stood up, I grasped at the remnants of the mating bond and held on tightly. Grabbing my blanket off the bed, I went to the west wing. RIEKA’S POV I awoke the following day feeling refreshed and rested for the first time in a week. I stretched and breathed deeply, only to inhale a familiar scent. I looked down to see a blanket over the top of me, and I grabbed it, bringing it up to my nose. I sniffed and snarled at the citrus scent of Conri. It was a vicious snarl that was typically heard from a rabid animal. Quickly, I tossed it to the floor. I didn’t want his scent. I had just gotten rid of it. I rose from the bed and stood up to notice that Connor was no longer at the foot of it. I ran my hands u
Did that mean that I was born in the Hunters Pack? Was that another reason they hated me and thought I was a traitor? I raised my head and stared into the trees as if I could see the Hunters border. I abruptly stood to my feet, looking frantically around. I was dead if the Guardians found out I had Hunter's blood. If I returned to the Hunters' pack, would they kill me? Why didn’t I remember that they were my pack? How did I end up here? Eighteen years and nowhere to call home? I ran my hands through my hair as I looked between the trees and my bedroom. Dropping my hands to my sides, I made my decision. I looked back to the manor. This place wasn’t my home, and I was no longer under the Guardians' Protection, according to Conri. The King didn’t want me. The agony in my heart was beginning to return from him leaving me every morning. I barely survived the first time he tossed me to the wolves, and I didn’t think I could make it through it if he did it again. This wasn’t a life. This w
“Do not fight me, Rieka,” Conri growled. “I can assure you that you will not win.” “I’m not going back,” I growled at him. “That place is no longer my home.” He flattened his ears against his head. “And you think being with the Hunters is your home?” “Anywhere will be better than here.” “You can’t leave me, Rieka. As your King, alpha, and mate, I order you to stay here.” “Order denied.” I launched myself forward and barreled into his chest, clamping my teeth around his neck fur. It didn’t phase him when I tore through his skin. He turned his head, grabbed me by the scruff of my neck with his teeth, and pulled me off him. Flipping me over into my back, he slammed me into the ground, and pain radiated through my spine. “I don’t want to hurt you.” Using my back paws, I kicked out as hard as possible, and he stumbled back a step giving me enough room to scramble to my paws. We began to circle each other, Keeping our heads low and calculating each other’s next move. “You call
Did he honestly lock me up? I panted heavily, tears brimming my eyes as my panic grew, clutching all the oxygen in my lungs. My wrist protested as I continued to pull and pull and pull, but it wouldn’t budge. The headboard didn’t even groan under the pull. My growling turned into a pleading whimper. My whimper quickly turned into a snarl as my bedroom door opened, and Conri stepped in, closing the door behind him. I glowered at him as he looked from my wrist to me. “Let. Me. Out.” I snarled lowly through clenched teeth, the panic I felt moments before turning into impotent rage. “No.” He said simply as he moved to the window seat on the other side of the bed, my eyes following his movements like he was my prey. He would be my prey soon if I got out of these handcuffs and clawed out his eyes. “You ran, Rieka. You were going back to the Hunters. I couldn’t have that.” “Let me out.” “No. You’re my mate, Rieka, and you’re also the Malikah. I know I had mixed feelings about that be
“Don’t even think about it,” Conri growled lowly, and my head snapped in his direction as I blinked at him. “You wouldn’t make it two steps out that door before I had you chained back to the bed.” I glowered at him as a snarl rumbled through my chest. He looked back out the window without another word. I pushed my food away, no longer wanting to attempt to eat. Turning my back to him, I laid back down on the pillows, curling into a ball and wrapping my arms around myself. I started sinking back into that darkness I thought I had just escaped, and Conri was forcing me back down. My head was still throbbing, making it nearly impossible to fall asleep. A purring sounded behind me, and as my body began to relax at the noise and ease the pain in my head, I fought against the sound, not wanting to be subdued by him. Acting on instincts, I shifted into my wolf form and rounded on Conri, snarling as anger boiled inside me. The anger fought against the peace and serenity that the purring bro
There could only be two reasons. Maybe they thought I could help them take over the packs, or they wanted revenge on me for leaving their group and turning against them. I mean, I still didn’t know what side I was on. Connor told me that the fate of the Malikah was decided after her first shift, but I’ve shifted several times, and I still didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I had so much hatred towards Conri that I would be lying if I said that I didn’t fantasize about his death. He’s trying to force the bond on me, use whatever power he has over me, and cage me like a rabid animal. But on the other hand, something was beginning to form inside my soul as I remembered how happy he used to make me feel, how he made me feel safe and secure—worshipping and protecting me. A part of me still wanted that back. I didn’t voice my thoughts to Conri as he continued to watch me. I moved away from the window, slowly walked to the open door of the study, and stared down the empty hallway. I j
My muscles came to life, pumping with blood and waking up from lying around for days. Joy burst through my chest as the grass brushed against my fur and tickled my pads. My lungs heaved for oxygen, and my mouth opened to pant. Blood roared in my ears as I pushed myself to my potential speed. I hadn’t been this happy in weeks, and I never wanted to give it up. I was breathless and panting when I reached the ridge's top. I stopped and looked back down the hill towards the manor that seemed so far away. To the other side of the hill was a pond with the setting sun glistening on the rippling water. I slowly made my way down to the shore and bent down to lap up some of the water, a cooling sensation coursing through my throat as I swallowed. Licking my chops, I straightened and looked around. It was so peaceful away from the manor and so calm. I didn’t have Conri hovering over me. I didn’t think about the Hunters or being the Malikah. At that current moment, it was just me and the persua