The third official book in the Ashwood Family Saga will follow Rylie Bye and Alia Mac Cumhail. Here's a little introduction to their fated mate story.
Chapter 1: Kiss of Death An Jieun “Ugh. Another one is coming.” I smelled the distinct scent of a dirty dog approaching my cabin. “Maybe we can convince them to leave this time?” Kwan, my wolf, was too optimistic. These pests kept coming. I roll my eyes and don’t answer her. Honestly, it was annoying to share a being with her most days. I sat down at the table to drink the tea I had just prepared and waited for the door to open. It wasn’t this bad before, but now that I’m 18, some of the unmated males of the pack come to find out if I’m their mate. Of course, I’m not. Why would the goddess give a half-breed like me a fated mate? I have a wolf, but unlike my father, I do not have a human side; my over half is Gumiho, a nine-tailed fox god. Well, depending on who you ask, they might say that a Gumiho is a demoness, not a goddess. “An Jieun, I think you are my mate. I’m coming in.” My door opens, and a giant male steps over the threshold. I click my tongue when I see he doesn’t tak
Chapter 2: Hot SpringsJames“Thud” I toss my suitcase next to the bed.“Plop” I fall face-first onto the bed. Rylie does the same thing.“That was the longest flight of my life, and I really can’t sleep on a plane,” Rylie whined, but I could agree with him more.“I know we are way too big to try and sleep in those tiny seats. Why did we get stuck in coach, but all the Alphas were up in first class?” As I Complained, I stretched out my knees and back.“Don’t get wrong, I love our nieces, but they would not sleep! Even Rose was bouncing around singing a weird song about a fox.” Rylie sat up on his elbows. We got roped into babysitting the Flowers, as we call them, so Am and Gid could take of the Trees or the other set of twins.“I feel too big for everything. Like I’m going to break something or hit my head on the door frame.” I get up to check out the bathroom. The showerhead is really low. As I turned around, I forgot to duck. “Son of a! Damn it.”Rylie let out a sigh, “Why do I feel
Chapter 3: Escape JieunDid my father honestly think this little bit of metal and plastic would keep me from leaving? This was finally my chance to run away. My house is outfitted with a security system. Every window and door has a sensor. This security system was never meant to keep me safe. It was in place to keep me a prisoner. Every time I had tried to run away previously, my father was right there to drag me back.He knew as soon as someone other than he or my brother showed up with my meal that, I would know he was out of pack territory. That’s why he put this stupid tracker on me, but I have a plan. It’s risky, but what escape plan isn’t.I look out the window and find the position of the sun. “It’s almost time.”“Don’t kill them this time. If you do, we will be caught; the Luna will feel it.” Kwan was being surprisingly supportive of my plan.“Why are you cooperating?” Usually, her loyalty sways toward the pack. I planned to leave this hell hole, and she wa
Chapter 4: A New FriendJames AshwoodUgh, my face hurts from this fake ass smile I have plastered on it. These types of gatherings are the worst. If I have one more Alpha squeeze my hand as hard as they can while shaking it, I’m going to punch them in the face. Then after they have tried to break my hand, they throw their kids at Rylie and me.The males all try and befriend you in the oddest or most offensive ways. Like yeah, I get it. You’re an Alpha heir so am I. No, I don’t want to watch you degrade your pack and yourself. Dad always says an Alpha’s duty is to serve the pack; the pack doesn’t serve the Alpha. I guess not everyone is taught that. They’re not all like that, but enough of them that it makes me tense up as soon as they open their mouths. The cringe waiting to vomit out is exhausting. Rylie and I are used to weeding out the freaks and finding a few guys that we don’t mind being around. Currently, the only one we like is this heir Han Yang-rae. He speaks pretty good En
Chapter 5: This is My House Jieun The air is cooling as the moon rises higher in the ever-darkening sky. I feel Kwan surge with power as the moon rises higher. This feeling of freedom is addictive; the adrenaline rush as I get farther and farther away from my prison brings me true happiness for the first time in my life. I go deeper into the forest. I feel its energy all around me. This is my home. The home I have always known was waiting for me. I need the forest. I don’t need a pack or a family; what good have they ever done me? None. I will live on as my mother did before my father dragged her away. Kwan is zigzagging up the mountain. I feel something tugging my attention. Kwan feels it, too. She stops. “I feel it too. Be on guard.” I warn. Kwan doesn’t say a word, but she gets down as low as she can and slowly goes in the direction of the pull. Her fur is on end, and we are both ready to strike. She takes in a deep breath of air. “The sent of rain is strong.” “I spell some ty
Chapter 6: The Loudest SoundJamesI don’t know where I’m going, but I feel like I have to be somewhere. Rafe is surging forward, and I am not attempting to stop him. He’s reserved for an Alpha wolf spirit, the strong silent type. Most Alpha wolf spirits are rough, quick-tempered, possessive, and, let’s be real, violent. Rafe is claim and took in his surroundings and made calculated calls. We work in perfect harmony. I knew if he was pushing, it was important, whatever it was.As we are running, I keep picking up faint traces of spices. I recognize the spices from my sister Amelie’s baking. One of them is clove; she makes an awesome cinnamon and clove apple pie. I think the other one is cardamon. It stands out because she makes this chi spice coffee cake and the cardamon always smells so good. The two scents together are making me hungry. I don’t know if it’s the smell of the forest; for some reason, the scent makes me happy. There’re other scents mixed in something sickly sweet-smell
Chapter 7: CaughtJieunDamn it, damn it, damn it. Why is he so fast? No matter which way I dart, he is still close behind or finds a way to get to me. I never wanted to go back there, but I don’t feel I have a choice. Maybe he will leave if I cross into pack lands. Why didn’t me shifting into my fox form scare him off?I’m fighting Kwan the whole time I’m running. She keeps fighting me for control, wanting to shift from fox to wolf, but I know I’ll never get away if that happens. I don’t want to be locked up like my mother. I want to experience the world firsthand and not just through the knowledge from the fox marble. He saw me shift. He knows I’m not a normal wolf. Yong-rae even called me a monster.I’m at the border. That disgusting scent of pack land makes me gage. The smell of the coming rain is mixed in the humid air enhancing the dirt dog smell. The incoming rain clouds chock out the little light the night sky was giving. The pitch-black night heightens my desperation to save
Chapter 8: Something's Off James “She’s my mate. There is no way around it. Take me to your packhouse. Now. Call your father. I’m sure mine will be coming along as well.” What is wrong with them? Why would they treat their family member like this? I have never had to use my Alpha aura before. I’ve only seen dad use his maybe a handful of times growing up, and here I am, not even a full Alpha using my aura to intimidate another pack and Alpha family, which my mate is a part of. What a damn mess. I don’t understand what’s going on right now. Yong-rae stands up and glares at my mate again. I feel my mate tense up and cling to me. This is driving me nuts because we are both naked, and I’m using all of my willpower to stop from getting a giant boner in front of everyone. The goddess is punishing me. That’s the only explanation. I slacked off on my heir duties, and now the goddess is torturing me. Yong-rae says something to his mother in Koran. The woman gets up and snarls at my mate, th
Chapter 20JamesThis was only supposed to be a meeting about the Night of Raids and the New Moon Alliance. Why does it feel more like a trial? Parading us out one by one, interrogating us, trying to trip us up. Dad, Gideon, and Logan have already given their statements and sat through this, so now it’s my turn. I have to relive the horror of that night; I almost got killed that night; if it weren’t for Marco, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.Rylie is up next, and then today’s session will be over. Tomorrow, the Lunas and the survivors will give their statements. They better not treat my sister like a criminal. She had no choice but to kill Tate; he was going to kill the flowers. Then there are the survivors; I feel the worst for them; they don’t have to relive one night but years of nightmares. I can’t believe they are so insensitive that they are going to question survivors like this. They are the victims. They had their whole childhoods ripped away and were treated like disposa
Chapter 19An Jiuen“Click.” The sound of the bathroom door locking was so freeing. I slumped down with my back to the door and exhaled my irritation.Is it irritation, or is it overwhelm? I’m not used to being around other beings, let alone young pups and babies. Even as a child, I didn’t act like a child nor was I around any. I was always on guard, and my father wouldn’t let me around the pups of the pack. He always made up a lie about how much he loved me and didn’t want me to get even a scratch. In reality, he didn’t want his secret discovered. I was never exposed to the pack publicly, so weird rumors about me and my mother spread.The Luna hated it because the prominent rumor that stuck, which my father never refuted, was that my mother was his fated mate, and his Luna was his second chance mate, making her hatred for me even greater. She would find ways to make me suffer or hurt me when she would fight with my father. I would never scar, so she would be merciless when she was u
Chapter 18: Keeping it Chill James “Umma, Umma.” Before I can even open my eyes, Rafe has us up on our feet in a defensive stance. I’m facing the door; I can hear my heartbeat in my head. What’s going on? Why is Jieun yelling? Who’s here? “What is it? Are you Ok? What happened?” I hear her take a deep breath with a huff, “What are you doing?” “Ummm… You were yelling Oh My. I thought someone was coming into the room.” My adrenaline is still pumping, and I’m frozen in place. “No. Why you in my room?” I drop my hands. That kinda hurts. She’s my mate and doesn’t want me in the same room. “Remember what Gideon said. We have to help her grow new roots. Don’t be hurt just be calm.” Rafe being the ever-wise wolf always keeps me level. I take a second and put my words together carefully. “I didn’t think it would be safe to leave you in a room alone with all that’s going on.” I turn to face her. When I do I take a step back. “Whoa, never seen that before?” “What?” Jieun tilts her head,
Chapter 17: The One I’ve Longed forAn JieunIs someone playing a gayageum? I open my eyes and look around and I’m in a dark forest, how did I get here? I feel drawn to the sound of the slow plucking of the silk strings. My feet are moving on their own to somewhere yet unknown. The forest feels vaguely familiar. As my body moves forward with the melody of the strings my mother’s Hanko comes into view. The music is coming from the inner courtyard. I enter the house, it’s strange, it’s like it was when Mother was alive.I’m quickly standing in front of the door to the inner courtyard and the music stops and a voice I’ve never heard but longed for shakes me to my core. “Jieun, come and sit with me. I’ve called for you, my daughter.”I slid the door open and there she was. I’ve had similar dreams all my life, but this feels so real. I sat at her feet as I have so many times but, her eyes were looking me up and down like she had never seen me before.“I see my daughter has grown into a gre
Chapter 16: Growing New RootsJamesWhen will everyone stop treating me like a kid? Maybe it’s my own fault, I can’t help but start acting like a kid when my family is around me. I’m so pathetic, how am I ever going to run the Ashwood pack? Hell at this point how do I expect to keep An Jieun by my side?“Uncle Jameeesss! Mommy said you would play with us.” Daisy tugs on my arm and pushes out her bottom lip. I love my nieces, but I am exhausted and so is Rafe.“Girls why don’t you play with your uncle Rylie? Daddy needs to talk with James.” Gideon and Rylie pop around the corner like my saviors. I do feel bad about passing the flowers off to Rylie. I know he’s tired too.“Don’t worry about it. I can take this much.” It’s always been like that. Like Rylie could read my thoughts or maybe I’m just that easy to read. Rylie takes Rose out of my arms, and she quickly wraps her arms around his neck.I caught her whisper into Rylie’s ear. “Secrets don’t make friends.”“Mind your business.” The
Chapter 15: Fate is CruelAn JieunWhy. It’s the only word I’m screaming in my head. Why is my kind being hunted? Why am I the unlucky one? Why? I just want to roam the forest; I don’t want any of this. I don’t want to be a Luna. I don’t want to fight witches. Why do I have to have two hearts?All I could do to stop myself from screaming was focus on my clenched fist in my lap. The harder I tightened the more my nails dug in and that little bit of pain kept me from losing it.“Grandmother, could we meet later this afternoon or evening to finish working out a plan? We haven’t slept all night and I’m not sure I can give you my best.” Alpha Gideon seemed awkward calling Ithildin grandmother. I thanked him in my head. All I wanted was to leave this room.“Yes, my dear child.” Ithildin stood up then everyone else did. “Amelie I’d like to examine the boys if you don’t mind.”“Sure grandmother.” Amelie picked up one of the babies from the floor.I was frozen. I just watched as this family fa
Chapter 14: RevelationsJamesShe looks so peaceful, sleeping with the morning sun dancing on her cheeks. It almost feels like a crime to wake her. She must be tired because I feel like I’m going to drop. “An Jieun, wake up we’re here.” She slowly opens her copper-colored eyes. She’s definitely a fox. I help An Jieun out of the car. She seems OK with holding my hand now.“You all should come with me.” I know that voice. I turn around and my oldest sister is standing in front of the hotel doors. I see her eyes go directly to An Jieun. I hid her behind me.“Am, it’s been a long night we need to sleep.” I don’t know what it is, but the way Am is looking at An Jieun is just unsettling.“This is more important than sleep. Dad, Gideon, and Logan, you need to come along as well.” Am’s face was so stiff. Was she mad? I haven’t even introduced her to my mate yet.“Am, what’s going on?” Gideon grabs my sister’s hand.With a clenched jaw she says, “Your grandmother is here.”Gideon looked shocke
Chapter 13: Freedom is Only a Dream Jieun As I follow James and the scary looking one, Rylie, I try to sort through all my feelings. Kwan’s emotions are mixing with mine, and it’s making everything even more confusing. I think we are both relieved to be leaving, and Father cannot do anything about it. The feeling of excitement to go to this new pack and be a Luna is all Kwan’s. It feels like a new prison, and James Ashwood is taking the place of my father as my jailer. Wolves make packs; everyone knows this. Even the word for a group of wolves, “A Wolf Pack,” is a common term. It’s so simple a pack, it’s so natural for them to group together. They are strong on their own, but a pack can be deadly. They are sociable and trust each other. A lone wolf is an insult and is considered unnatural. A pack of wolves strikes fear and adoration in the hearts of man. So many cultures have folklore around the wise strong wolf and the pack that follows. I mean look at them they are in human form
Chapter 12: The Death of a FoxJames“Death” Alpha Han’s cold expression made me want to tear his arms off. He’s talking about taking something from his daughter and her dying. What kind of father does that?“What happened after you brought Hyun Ara back here?” Father was great at integration because he and Kaan could control their anger. I still had a lot to learn.“I kept her alive so she could give birth to the half-breed. I tried negotiating with her to give me the marble once the child was born, but she refused. A Gumiho needs living hearts and life forces to maintain their strength.” It’s well known that if a god accepts an offering, they are forced by natural law to grant the wish of the being giving the offering. This must have been hard for Hyun Ara. “I would bring her humans and Omegas to temp her since all her strength and life force went into her pregnancy. But she would not agree. She stayed that way for 16 months. I guess pregnancy takes longer for gods. She ate human fo