Share
Twenty-Nine
Marigold
Once I gathered my wits, I moved in again, checking my mother’s breathing. Another thorough glance around the small room told me that she had likely been here for a while.
I sighed aloud when I zeroed my keen eyes in on the pair of scissors laying nearby, strands of light blonde hair littering the peeling linoleum and making it clear what my parental figure had been up to before she’d succumbed to the effects of the alcohol.
Turning towards the sink, I scooped up a semi clean towel, determined to at least make her presentable, but my plans were foiled when I tried the tap and nothing came out. Of course, there wasn’t any water. That would be too easy.
Frustrated, I covered my face with my hands, squeezing my eyes shut tight as I did my damnedest to contain the scream bubbling up from within.
Wholly intent on my own misery, I didn’t notice the sounds of my mates’ arrival, but their presence was irrefutable as Asher ens
Kaugnay na kabanata
Mated to the Alpha of the East Thirty
Marigold Regardless of what Asher had advised before, I didn’t let Rias deter me from showing Maya and Iris to the last available guest rooms in the pack house after we made it back. Ash set off for the clinic with my mother in tow when we’d arrived a few minutes ago, and Rias and Jace carried in the luggage behind the girls and me. I had one foot poised on the steps, but Rias stopped me with his words, “I was planning to make something easy to eat. I can make enough for everyone if you girls are hungry.” My heart melted a little on the inside at my mate’s offer, adoring the way he was always taking care of others. He pressed a chaste kiss to my lips after Maya and Iris both voiced their need to freshen up after the journey, promising to venture from their rooms after they’d settled in some. As we strode through the hall, Jace shadowing us with the girls’ bags, Maya’s fidgety movements drew my notice, but I didn’t comment on h
Mated to the Alpha of the East Thirty-One
Zacharias I stuck close to Nicolai, not trusting him to remain in place while Maya received the information she needed, but, all the while, I couldn’t help but consider the insane pairings that had been being forged across species’ lines as of late. Ash took over for me, monitoring Nic, but I didn’t want to disturb the girls too soon, so I retreated to our room for now. I’d put off contacting Maverick and Finn earlier, seizing the opportunity to speak with Iris when it had arisen instead. She was much more forthcoming with information than her sister, and it was nice to get acquainted with the younger girl who meant the world to my mate. Iris was a breath of fresh air during all the turmoil, and my heart ached for all that her and Mari had been through. I didn’t want to pry, but I did need to know more about Mari’s past to understand how to help her. I’d seen her mother’s addiction problem firsthand for myself,
Mated to the Alpha of the East Thirty-Two
Asher I’d overheard where Mari and Rias were off too, and I was accordingly paying careful attention to my mate’s emotions as Jace and I drove a group of males towards the nearest mountains in my territory. Hence, my wolf was howling with envy when our mating bond burned hot through my veins, telling me the visit hadn’t lasted long and that Rias was a lucky bastard. It was with a great effort that I sealed off that part of my brain, making myself concentrate on my current mission as I considered why the rogues had been zeroing their attention in on my lands after the recent reports I’d received from the other alphas this morning. I knew who was responsible for all the heart ache caused in my lands and the other territories, and my wolf was slavering to taste the blood of the traitor who’d been family to me once upon a time. Although Jace wasn’t entirely sure where the rogues had set up their base camp, I didn’t
Mated to the Alpha of the East Thirty-Three
Asher I was thankful we weren’t setting off until after breakfast, but I was more than ready to eliminate the danger the rogues posed altogether. The brisk bursts of air created by Rias and his clan members’ flight throughout the rest of the morning and the ensuing afternoon was all I needed to keep my eyes wide open as we combed the land far below us. We started at the mountains and worked our way around the craggy peaks for the next several hours. Rias took care of guiding his males, and I observed them moving in fluid motions that covered a vast expanse of distance and simultaneously demonstrated the dragon shifter’s skill at leading his clan. My mind threatened to become a dangerous place as the minutes ticked by with us finding zilch, but it was helpful that I knew I could trust Jace to keep the home front safe in my absence, even if I knew I would never completely stop worrying. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t deny Mari’
Mated to the Alpha of the East Thirty-Four
Zacharias In spite of the urgency of the situation, we all slept in late the next morning. It was beyond necessary with the abundant miles I’d been putting on my wings, and I relished each second spent in bed with Mari resting in my arms. After throwing a few items together for the trip and devouring a pile of food, I was letting my dragon loose into the cool fall afternoon, and Asher and Mari were seated astride my back in no time at all. The flight was smooth for the beginning of the trip, and it gave me plenty of time to ponder what was going to happen once this final threat was removed. It would be nice to not have anything hanging over our heads for a change, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to lash out. Initially, it seemed weird to me that I hadn’t missed my home all that much, notwithstanding my mother and friends, of course. Still, there were too many bad memories ingrained in my mind, my father had seen to that.
Mated to the Alpha of the East Thirty-Five
Marigold My heart had virtually leapt out of my chest when the torrent of fire whipped out towards Asher and I when we fled to the nearby trees before, but the fright was nothing to the absolute terror suffusing my being when Rias had sheltered us from harm to his own detriment. I’d known in that moment that he’d been hurt, the agony flashing across his face had been unmistakable for a split second, even while in his dragon form, but I hadn’t comprehended the true extent of the damage until Maverick intervened. Regardless, I hadn’t been prepared for the grotesque image his wound turned out to be. Truth be told, I wasn’t great around blood while in my human form, but I was extremely grateful for Mav’s knowledge in this area as he took charge of the situation. It was long past dinner time when we made it back to Rias’s home at last, but food was the least of my worries then. I was a tangled ball of emotions with the combination
Mated to the Alpha of the East Thirty-Six
Asher Rias and I walked in on the tail end of Annie’s announcement, and the sly look she’d aimed our way before making her excuses to leave told me it had been intentional. Still, the question remained, how the hell did she know what Marigold hadn’t even been aware of with her own body? Nothing made sense, but Mari’s ensuing flood of queries succeeded in answering most of my own. It didn’t shock me when she began with the most obvious, directing her inquiries at Rias as she asked, “How does she know that I’m pregnant? I hadn’t even considered the idea until she brought it up. If I am, then it has to be very early on.” I had my arms secure around Mari’s waist as she continued eating, but the other male wasted no time in busying himself as I watched him as closely as a hawk. He fixed two overflowing plates of food as he dawdled on the other side of the room, doing his best to hide the lingering pain I sensed in his stiff posture
Mated to the Alpha of the East Thirty-Seven
Asher Mari’s bombshell left the room speechless initially, no one expecting this turn of events, but Maverick and Finn were springing into action once it became clear there were issues buried deeper beneath the surface here, issues that were better settled in private. Their shock was plain to see, but then Rias and I were closing in on our other half in sync, cocooning her in our strength as everything but her distress disappeared in the moment. All the same, Mari collected herself before long, focusing on her breathing until she had her body under control. Disbelief was the emotion emanating above all else through our mating bond, but I was able to trust this turn of events more easily than Mari was after the intel Rias had shared previously about what he’d learned from Iris. I’d had Jace digging around for information since then, but I would be able to tell him to call off his search now, at least, even if I’d
Pinakabagong kabanata
- Mated to the Alpha of the East Thank you!!
- Mated to the Alpha of the East Epilogue Two
- Mated to the Alpha of the East Epilogue One
- Mated to the Alpha of the East Fifty
- Mated to the Alpha of the East Forty-Nine
- Mated to the Alpha of the East Forty-Eight
- Mated to the Alpha of the East Forty-Seven
- Mated to the Alpha of the East Forty-Six
- Mated to the Alpha of the East Forty-Five
