“Go back?” My injured feelings forgotten, I turn around to give Lucas an astounded look. “Have you lost your mind?! I'm not letting you go back there! Hunter tried to kill you and the moment I stepped back into the den, they’ll lock me up!”“You think I’m going to let then do anything to you?” Lucas pushes my hair over my shoulder, exposing my neck and his mouth lowers to the vulnerable skin.I shiver as an unexplained emotion passes through me at the contact, “W-What do you mean?”“First of all,” He murmurs, his breath hot against my skin. “I’m going to take the weeks of vacation days I have piled up.”My eyes flutter shut as all I can think and feel is Lucas and his mouth hovering over my neck. His tongue darts out to give a small lick and I press my lips together, not trusting my voice.“You and I will walk in there, as a mated couple. We’ll stay together. Newly mated couples aren’t expected to part from each other anyway so if Hunter tries to separate us, the pac
“Mate?”This time Ted looks at me, visibly shaken before looking back at Lucas, “You took Sarah as your mate? Don’t you know she can’t shift?”His words are deliberately cruel but they hurt none the less as if the fact that my wolf is trapped within my body makes me less of a human.“I know,” Lucas says, steadily and I can feel a thread of cold anger in him as he adds. “It doesn’t matter to me. Sarah is smart, resourceful and kind. Why wouldn’t I want someone like that to be the mother of my pups?”Ted flinches at his words and casts a guilty look towards me which I just ignore. Rejection and disdain from my own pack mates, who once loved me, is something I have to now live with. When I was brought back the first time, I had avoided everyone unless I absolutely couldn’t avoid it and hence, I had only interacted with a handful of the pack.My gaze wanders over to two of the soldiers and I recognise them as being the ones who had grabbed me when Hunter had banished me. The
I freeze at Lucas’s words as does everyone else but it is Valerie and Hunter’s reactions which are the most noteworthy.Valerie's face turns white as a sheet and I’ve known Hunter long enough to recognize the guilty look in his eyes.It is Lucas’s hold on me which keeps my mouth shut.After everything that had happened and Hunter’s terrifying threats, not once had I thought that the reason he didn't want Lucas to have me was because he didn't want to give me to anyone. Hunter is silent for far too long, enough for everyone to realise that Lucas might be right, including Valerie. It is only when Valerie spits out, her voice almost venomous, “Don’t be ridiculous! Why would Hunter be interested in someone as deformed as Sarah? Tell them, Hunter!”I don’t think she’s realised that for a moment there she just allowed everybody to see her true face, even if it is a glimpse.When Hunter doesn’t say anything, she turns around and glares at him, “Tell him he’s wrong!”It
It doesn’t take long to fill in my father on everything that has happened ever since he brought me back to the pack. However, I expected him to be angry on hearing what Hunter’s plans were for me.However, he shows no signs of anger.“I’m not surprised,” He says, coldly. He looks at me and his voice is regretful, “There is something I have never told you, Sarah. We didn’t want to tell you because it didn’t matter to us. When your mother was pregnant, we decided to go roaming. At the time, we didn't know she was expecting. It is only during your travels and we found out and I thought I was too late to go back to the back so we decided to find a place and stay there till our child arrived. I built a hut for us and we stayed there. One of those nights, a few months after we started living there, your mother was caught int he crosshairs of an attack. Some shifters were pursuing a pregnant shifter and they mistook your mother for her. I managed to save Laila but we lost the child.
Lucas stops in his tracks and watches them and I hear a warning rumble leave his throat. The soldiers stop at a distance. One of them is Ted.“Uh, listen, man, a bunch of us were wondering if you want to help train the new recruits,” Ted scratches the back of his head.“I’m busy,” Lucas says, abruptly, and I kick him in the shin, making him growl at me.“He’ll do it,” I get to my feet, exhausted. “As long as you're not kicking my ass, I’ll happily sign you up for anything at this point.”A few of the soldiers grin at my comment and one of them throws in, “He wiped the floor with your ass.”“Like you can do any better,” I retort, without thinking.The soldier, Mathew shrugs, “I can take Lucas. Want to bet on it?”This is the camaraderie that I was missing ever since I was kicked out. My chest throbs almost painfully is difficult to maintain my smile, "Sure. Why don't you kick his ass first, Lucas?” “If you say so,” Lucas shrugs, unbothered.There are a few ch
The common room is where all the wolves hang out. It is the only room I feel safe when Lucas isn't around. So far, Lucas has made it a point never to leave me by myself which is why both Valerie and Hunter have not been able to approach me.But it seems they have just been watching and waiting, biding their time to get me alone.I barely glance at Hunter, my tone dismissive, “So talk.”“In private,” He says his tone, gritty.I give him an incredulous look, “What could you possibly have to say to me in private?"I deliberately keep my voice loud and I can see some of the sentinels look over from where they’re standing.Hunter’s brow snaps together, “Just come with me.”“I don’t think so,” I say, my voice calm. “I don't feel comfortable having a conversation with another male without my mate present.”“This has nothing to do with Lucas,” Hunter hisses. “Come here before I drag you out.”I study his face. There is no doubt that Hunter is a very handsome man
The deadly silence that fills the room at Hunter’s words is the most satisfying sound I’ve ever heard. Valerie looks shocked as does everyone else.“Hunter!” Valerie hisses, her face contorting with anger. He looks down at her and I don’t now what silent communication passes through them but he seems to become a little aware of where he’s standing.His tone is stiff, “I mean. The mating ceremony hasn’t happened yet.”“She has my mark,” Lucas snarls. “You put your hands on my mate. Are we supposed to protect our women from the Alpha now? Sarah is mine. She belongs to me. Not you. On one hand, you're going around calling her deformed and that you don’t want her but then nobody else can have her as well? Is that what you’re trying to say?”The pack mates look at each other, a little restless.“Lucas, you’re misunderstanding,” Valerie tries to touch his arm and he snatches it away, his face disgusted. “Don’t touch me,” He snaps at her and Valerie flinches.Hun
All eyes turn in my direction as Hunter picks her up, his eyes glowing fiercely at me. “You did this!”“Did what?” I demand. “I’ve been in my room since what happened this morning. How could I do anything to her?!”There’s a soft murmur around us and one of the female lieutenants, Debra, looks confused, “How is wolves attacking you, Sarah’s fault?”“Because she can control them!” Hunter snarls.“What?” Debra looks a little wary as she looks my way. “How is that possible? Is this true, Sarah?”I stare at Hunter and Valerie. I hadn’t really thought they would reveal my ability so quickly.I press my lips together and nod, “I recently found out. But I didn’t do anything to Valerie. Just because I can control wolves doesn’t mean I control all that exist. And I have to be physically present to control them.”I put in a white lie or two in my words. “I was in my room the whole time. Ask Tina,” I gesture towards the pack healer. “She came to check on me twice.”T
SarahThe days that follow are sad ones. We all have to come together as a pack to work through the loss of so many loved ones. “I really thought we were finding peace,” Dustin says, as we gather together three days later. “I hoped it would stay.”“We’ll find that now,” I tell him. “There are always going to be times of peace and times of conflict. I’ve learned we have to accept that as a way of life. That’s the downside of being in a wolf pack.“But the good days outnumber the bad. And we’re strong, we’re fierce. We’ll get through this and defeat any enemies that might come up next. We just have to trust in each other and have faith in the pack.”The words resonate with me as I say them. Despite all the hardships, I’m more devoted to this pack than I ever have been. I’ve learned to accept the ups and downs which are easier to manage now that things between Lucas and I don’t feel quite as fragile.“That’s why you’re a great leader,” Dustin says. “You inspire us all to do just
LucasAs I watch my baby in Sarah’s arms, I’m happier than I ever thought I’d be. A son and a daughter. It feels like now our family is complete. Though I’m open to more children in the future. Right now, I’m just content.Sarah and I tend to be rough sleepers though. So, as Sarah dozes off, I take Evelyn from her arms and place her in the bassinet. Then, I join Sarah on the bed.“She’s beautiful,” I say, cuddling my sleepy mate. “You’re beautiful. I’m so grateful to you for bringing our children into our life like you have. “I know it’s never easy. I won’t even pretend to understand what you go through. But you give up so much for our family. I appreciate that more than I can express.”“And I appreciate you,” she says. “You’re a wonderful father and a fantastic husband. I’m so glad to share all of this with you. I’m so grateful to be building a family with you.”I kiss her and the warmth of having my true mate in my life envelopes me. It just feels so natural and right when y
Sarah“That is an incredible offer,” I say, my eyes staring right into Azar’s. “You’ve promised so much, and I know we’d both prosper within a formed alliance. However, we can’t promise our daughter’s hand in marriage.”My words prompt a hearty response. Some are mere whispers while others are outright defiant. Many can’t believe that we would turn away from this. But we have to do what’s right for our daughter.“Now, I’m not shutting down the idea of a future marriage completely,” I clarify. “Maybe our daughter will end up with your son. Maybe they will be mates.“But we’ll have to wait and see once she’s old enough to decide. Since we’ll be allies regardless, they’ll know each other. They can spend time together.“If our daughter decides that your son is her mate and they both love each other, then they can get married. We’re going to leave that up to her though. We don’t want to make such a big decision for her before she can even consent to it.”Azar’s demeanor falls. It re
LucasSarah looks at me with an expectant look on her face, and I’m just not sure what I should say. The kiss still bothers me. It hurts me. As her mate, I have reason to be upset.The guilt still haunts me though. It reminds me of how I hurt her. It whispers that I deserve this. I know that I deserve this.“It’s nothing,” I insist.“Lucas, please open up to me,” she says. She takes my hand in hers and looks at me with those eyes I never can resist. “I saw you and Azar last night,” I confess. “I saw the kiss.”Sarah looks at me with shock and guilt written upon her face. I hate that. It’s proof that what I saw was true. They did kiss. She betrayed me.“I know I betrayed you horribly,” I continue. “So, I understand that I deserve that. But it still hurts, Sarah. “I thought we had moved past all of that. I thought we were solid. I thought we weren’t ever going to let anyone get between us again. But I guess I was wrong.”Jealous tears through me as the kiss replays in my min
LucasI’m surprised then when I wake, Sarah isn’t beside me. I panic. After everything that’s happened, I simply can’t help it. There are too many ways things can go wrong.I need her near me. I need to always know that she’s okay.After a deep breath, I realize that something feels wrong. Something seems off. I walk to Fergus’ room and see him sleeping peacefully. I tuck the baby monitor in my pocket and step outside. I won’t go far, I can’t go far without Fergus, so hopefully she’s close by.It doesn’t seem like she is at first. I look all around our home and don’t see her. Then, I go towards the back yard and I stop.Sarah is there, but the tree line, but she’s not alone. He’s with her. The anger from earlier boils within me again.I know I shouldn’t be jealous, especially not after what I did to Sarah. I have no right to worry about that after all I put her through. And nothing truly awful has happened between them. I don’t have a solid reason to be upset.Besides, I tru
Lucas“You don’t have to give an answer right now,” he rushes in to say. “I’m not expecting you to be sure of anything right now. It’s just something to think about.”I’m so taken off guard by this that I don’t know a single word to say in response. I have tried to push aside my fears that he wants to seduce Sarah and getting to know them all a little better has helped me to do so.My daughter though… I never thought he’d be after my daughter. Arranged marriage? “That’s a big topic,” Sarah says slowly. “We’d definitely need time to think about it further. We’d have to talk through this amongst ourselves.”“Of course,” Azar replies with a pleasant smile. “I’m not trying to force your hand or anything. Take as much time as you need. It is a big decision but I think it’s the right one.”We don’t stay out much longer than that. We circle back to the gathering for a little while. But everyone is tired, so we all head back home soon after.It’s only once we’re back home that every
SarahI take a moment to give Lucas a hug and another kiss before we step into the area where the feast is being hosted. I can sense that he’s still a little insecure about things, but he had no reason to worry. I’m going to be true to him always.I’ll admit though, I am intrigued by this new pack. I wonder about the kinds of magic they can do. I’m curious about all they have to offer.As we walk towards their Alpha, the pack starts to congregate together, which is a little strange. Before this, they were mingling with everyone else. There seems to be a shift though as we approach them.“We’re so grateful you’ve accepted us,” Azar says, flashing that friendly smile. Is there anything flirtatious about it? I don’t really think so.“To show our gratitude, we would like to show you something,” he continues. “A little show before dinner.”I hesitate. What if this is something malicious? I don’t know anything about this pack. Is it a trap?They’re already here though. They could tr
LucasAfter everything else that’s happened, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about this new pack joining us. It’s not like it’s uncommon for packs to approach each other, especially if they think a mutually beneficial alliance can be formed.The fact that packs are now approaching us like this shows our growth. I’m proud of Sarah for bringing this pack to greatness like this. I’m happy to welcome newcomers in.It’s just that there’s been a lot going on lately. And it still seems like a risk to allow anyone new to come into this peaceful place we created.Then, I realize that I’m sounding a bit like how Liza sounded when we brought Brandon in. It gives me more empathy towards her but also makes me realize that maybe I’m being a bit paranoid.It will be good to have another alliance. This could ultimately be beneficial to us. So, I help answer questions as the pack follows us. I remain as engaging as possible as I get to know them.“You’ve truly created something impres
SarahChills run down my spine as I listen to this prophecy about our daughter. I always knew our children would be great. But I never expected something like this.Could it be true?I assume it is considering the way this prophecy has been delivered. What does it mean though? How do we deal with something like this?Before we can ask any questions, the bubble floats off into the sky which grows lighter again. The lights turn back on. The candles are re-lit.Lucas and I look to each other as everyone looks to us for answers. Yet I’m stumped. Usually I know what to say, but not this time.“I have no idea where that came from,” I admit. I’ve found that when it comes to being Alpha, the best way to approach these sorts of things is from a place of honesty. “However, I can say that I feel blessed.“It’s clear our daughter will be special. I don’t know exactly what that means yet, but we will take care of her to the best of our ability. We’ll cherish her just as we do Fergus. We’ll