I'm sorry for the late updates.
“It’s spreading.”My heart thunders in my chest at the fear that roars through me but the picture is clear as day.The mark has spread.After the fundraiser Roman had his specialist come in to help me get the extra area of the tattoo off. He feared that something might happen to it or new ones would appear around it.It hasn’t spread since then. It’s just been there, but now…. “It’s actually spreading.”The amount of shock in my voice scares me and strikes me as silly.I turn to find Roman wearing a grim expression and when I look at Danis, I can see he’s already aware of it.His eyes still gleam that neon green and I look to the path Priam just took as he left.“Is that why he left? Because it’s spread and he knows something?”Roman’s brow furrows just the slightest before a resolved look settles in his eyes.“It’s for the best if he doesn’t leave then.”Danis’s action suddenly makes sense but still it makes me feel an added layer of fear.If they’re trapping Priam in here, that mean
“The mark on your neck is the mark of the sisters three.Some will remember it as the Decree of the sisters.”Priam is almost silent as he speaks and his words are solemn as they leave his lips.“In my pack, we call it Selene’s decree. Each component of that mark means something special to the werewolf race. The moon signifies power. It is the source of our abilities and it is what prompts the dormant soul in us out. The moon is also the source of all gifts, even magic.”“The vines wrapped around the moon signify nature at its simplest. While the moon may grant gifts like speed, or healing, the vines signify everything that is yet to blossom. It signifies nature in its raw form and……. there’s no clear interpretation for that yet.” He sounds thoughtful as he continues.“It might signify control over the elements, or it might signify something much simpler..”“Like the power to control vines?”Priam’s eyes dart up to meet mine and I can almost see the near accusation in them already.
Roman's pov “What’s happening in there?” Danis doesn’t look at me. He barely acts like he noticed I spoke. The urge to get angry and annoyed at him surfaces but I push it down. I can’t force him to do anything unless I want to get violent and Scarlett is still in his barrier. I can keep calm till this ends. I can do it for her. “They’re on their way out.” The pulse of magic hums in the air immediately and Scarlett stumbles lightly on her feet as the spell casts her out. I move without thinking and only realize I used my Alpha speed when I'm at her side. Scarlett doesn’t flinch when I touch her. She only tries to regain her balance and I chuckle at how endearing that looks. I swayed on my feet too when I came out. Danis didn’t look like it affected him the slightest. Priam’s presence breaks the bubble I'm encased in with my mate the moment I notice him and though he looks slightly disoriented, he’s okay. He doesn’t sway on his feet and his skin seems to glow with a health
Maya is giggling.Not the kind of giggle that would have her stop after a few seconds but the type that has her repeating that giggle and increasing its intensity.Danis is passing her chocolates under the table and I believe my daughter considers it a highly scandalous situation. The minute I throw a glance their way, they both fall silent.Deathly still and picking their food kind of silent. I don’t need to ask Danis where he got so many chocolates from.Maya told me she saw a car driving into the compound when she came down from the car that takes her to school, a car and a driver I still haven’t thanked Roman for.I grit my teeth when I think of it. Maya says she hasn’t seen Fen today, and I know I have to talk to him about what I said… was it yesterday or today?I feel like shit when I think of it. I might have hurt his feelings in the worst way, and if what Danis told me is true I suspect I did. Roman’s beta lost his daughters to the Rogue attack. His daughters and his mate.Fu
Scarlett's pov Roman does not make any comment on what I have done and it scares me. There’s nothing worse than knowing you could be the cause of someone’s life going to hell, and having that person be Roman makes it feel like I have a thousand daggers in my chest. He stares at me, nods, and sips his drink. “What about the mark?” I swallow and relay everything Priam told me to him. I tell him of the symbolic significance the components of the mark hold, I tell him of how Priam said he wasn’t too clear on the meaning of the vines and the flowers but how he was certain of one thing. “He says the mark is Selene’s Decree. According to legend, it’s something that appears on the body of a werewolf when that werewolf’s pack is going to produce the next Alpha King. Not just any Alpha King…. But an actual Alpha King.” And then the panic sets in my mind once more as it goes wild. Roman glances at me and I can tell he’s having the same thoughts. If the mark had appeared on my body and th
Hunter's pov“Any news on Knoxx and the other warriors?”The fools I have for warriors shake their heads and anger blossoms in my heart. I extinguish it and walk past them, my feet taking me up to the rickety old house in front of us.Disgust makes my lips curl.I hate poor people.Their presence makes something in me revolt. When they’re werewolves is when it becomes a step worse, I feel like wiping them off the face of the earth.Weak packs are meant to bow to the strong ones.These packs shouldn’t be allowed to exist. They should be fair game for larger and stronger packs.But of course, the treaty won’t allow that to happen.I climb the wooden stairs and irritation makes my aura fluctuate. The wood creaks and….“Hunter?”My eyes flash at the sound of that voice and I turn to find her standing there.The old lady. An old wolf my mother used to know.“Is that really you Hunter?”When she attempts to draw near I raise a finger that stops her dead in her tracks.“That’s close enough,
“I can’t find her Alpha Hunter.”I nod because I didn't expect her to right away. Scarlett has managed to hide herself somewhere….. somewhere I cannot get to.Not by following our bond, not by trying to reach out to my daughter through our bond.Are those bonds weak?No one answers me when I think those thoughts so I shut them down and focus on the task ahead instead.Roman has been messing with my stuff. I clench my jaw when I think of it yet I keep the look on my face neutral.I have no beta. I am surrounded by fools, and there is not one capable person around me except for me. I feel like setting the world on fire and watching it burn to hell, but that would be foolish of me.Scarlett may think I only know how to inflict pain but she brought that upon herself. She had one job.“We’re here, Alpha Hunter.”I direct a side glare to the dolt I have for a driver and he looks away immediately, his jaw clenched and his eyes fixed on the road.The gates to my pack are opened and I look at
Roman’s councilwoman doesn’t look surprised to see us. The dungeons are as dark as I remember, and the fact that I was here only once doesn’t help too I guess. She sits up when she sees us and a smile lines her face when Danis comes in. She chuckles and I see her clench her fist. “You put me in a prison cell for practicing sorcery, but you bring an Alpha of the Shadowbane pack into your pack. A natural-born sorcerer. Don’t you think that’s hypocritical of you Alpha Roman?” I see Roman’s jaw clench and he steps forward but I grab his arm at the last minute. I don’t know what he’s going to do to her but I can tell that he and Myrtle are seeing different things right now. She sees how he’s being unfair and keeping her locked in a cage, but he sees the betrayal she dealt him and the pack. Roman told me of Myrtle's relationship with his parents. His father still finds it hard to believe she did such a thing and he’s had to send him on tasks just to distract the man. I haven’t been to