The first of a double chapter update. Enjoy! Ellie xo
Elizabeth POV The man calls me to him. I reluctantly release the hand of my mother and move to my father taking his hand. I can see him trying to smile around his swollen face. “Is it really you?” he asks uncertain whether to believe or not. I step closer and touch the hair on his head as I lean a bit closer. “It is me. Elizabeth,” I confirm for him. I see happy tears roll down his cheeks as he tries to wipe them away, embarrassed at showing his emotions. “I cannot believe it. We hoped for so long. We begged the Moon Goddess to bring you back to us. We believed you were still alive,” he mutters as if talking to himself as much as talking to me. “What happened to you?” he asks. Carter had pulled up a chair for me to sit between the two beds. I reached over taking my mother’s hand again as she wrapped my hand in both of hers. “My memory of what happened was blocked until I touched you both. My aunt Mary and uncle Fred took me,” I share wi
Alpha Carter POV I watched as Elizabeth processed what was happening around her. I wondered what we would do now that she had found her parents. I would need to get back to the Crescent Moon Pack to ensure all was fine there. I could stay a week at best. I would send Stan and Kinsley home while I stayed with Elizabeth and let her adjust to her newfound life. “What about my brother?” Elizabeth asks. Her parents try to look at one another; “He was injured in a rogue attack,” her father replies. “I wonder if that is true,” I consider. “What do you mean?” the father asks angrily. “With the efforts of the uncle, is it possible the attack was set up to make it look like rogues attacked him?” I ask. The father pauses for a moment while the mother sits back in her bed. “It is possible,” Elizabeth’s father mutters. “How could this man have infiltrated us so strongly? He had our trust all these years. He grieved with us when we lost Elizabeth; when
Stan POV Guilt. Pure guilt is what I feel. I should have been able to make the sacrifice for Elizabeth. Instead, I lost my first love. The woman I expected to spend the rest of my life with. The woman I had expected would have my pups. To learn that she was telling the truth and had been blackmailed to leave me was a hard pill to swallow. I knew I had Kinsley, but I felt like I was grieving Candi all over again. She had been mine. I had promised to always protect her. I had failed miserably. Where had she been all this time? What had she been doing? Had she struggled the way I had struggled when she left? All these questions are consuming me. I know it is wrong. I have Kinsley to think about. But I cannot stop this rollercoaster of emotions churning inside of me. I see Kinsley walk past me and slam the front door to the Palace. I know I should go after her, but I am not ready to have this discussion with her. It does not change my
Stan POV I race through the forest, sensing that Elizabeth and Carter are not far behind me. I know everyone is exhausted, but I have to find Kinsley. She is my world and I need to know that she knows that. I cannot have her believe anything else. Carter and Elizabeth catch up with me, having not been far behind when Kinsley called for help. There were other patrols also out searching for Kinsley. I followed her scent as best I could. Suddenly her scent is mixed with the sour scent of rogues. I stop running and pace the area looking for signs that she may be hiding. Elizabeth and Carter also look around when Elizabeth stops and calls Carter over. He paces towards her, and I move in her direction as well. I stumble when I see a pool of blood on the ground. Before approaching it, I know it is Kinsley’s. I can scent it already. “What the hell happened?” I ask Elizabeth and Carter. “I would say she fought before she was taken,” Ca
Elizabeth POV “What about me finding my mate?” I ask confused at how that could happen. How could anyone expect someone to give up their mate? “There was not to be a chance to find your mate. If your mate was found, he was to be destroyed,” my father shares with me. “Well, I will not give up Carter,” I reply quickly. “We would not expect you to, Elizabeth. But the legacy will be pushed. This man will fight to the death for you,” my mother replies. “Well, he will have to fight. I will not give up my mate,” Carter says as he moves closer to me. His presence is bringing me peace at a time where peace is the furthest thing from us. “Who is it?” Carter asks impatiently. I know we need to try and get to Kinsley before they realize they have the wrong person. “His name is King Steven. He is known to work closely with those in the underbelly of our society,” my father shares. “He works with rogues, having them do his dirty work. They will not b
Kinsley POV “What? Wait!” I scream. I am not ready to die. I know Stan will find me. Somehow. Some way he will find me. He slows and turns slightly. “What?” he asks me waiting for me to reply. “Who were you expecting?” I ask trying to come up with something of value to share with him. “Elizabeth. My Queen,” he replies. I hesitate chewing my lip, “She is not your Queen,” I reply cautiously. He whips around and is suddenly in my face, “How dare you!” he yells grabbing my throat. I cannot move as I am still bound to the bed, but he is tightening his grip on me. I will die before I can blink my eyes. My hands move to his trying to loosen them. “I only meant she has a mate,” I squeak out. It registers on his face, and he loosens his grip on me. I cough trying to get air into my lungs. “That means nothing,” he replies as he stands up and moves away from me. “She was promised to me. I will have her,” he murmurs softly. “Who pr
Elizabeth POV “We do the obvious, trade her for me,” I say calmly. The last thing I feel is calm. It terrifies me but I know I have the best chance at fighting for my freedom. Kinsley does not. I cannot let her die trying to protect me. I cannot let any of them die trying to protect me. “Absolutely not,” Carter replies angrily. Stan looks at me with surprise, “Elizabeth. She will lead him to us, and we can destroy him when he arrives,” Stan promises me. “I cannot have anyone die trying to save me,” I say to them softly. “Nobody is going to die,” Carter says putting his hands on my face and kissing my forehead. “Promise?” I ask him. “I promise,” he replies. I can sense a bit of trepidation. He cannot make such a promise. We do not know what the future holds. We can only live for today, for this moment. We stood in the lounge area of the Palace talking about strategy when a familiar scent caught my nose. I look up in surprise
Alpha Carter POV “Stan, wait!” I yell as he tries to run out of the room ahead of us. “I need to go to her!” he yells back. “We need to be smart about this. You running out there before we are ready could get her killed,” I remind him as he pauses and looks at me. “What are we going to do?” he asks ready to listen. We quickly strategize how we can approach the wolf, without jeopardizing Kinsley. I look to Elizabeth, “I am ready,” she says as she moves towards the door. Her parents intercept her, “We are going with you,” they say. “You just got out of the hospital,” she reminds them. “We are both healed and will not let you fight on your own,” her father says. She nods as she looks to me, “You stay near me at all times,” I remind her. She looks away from me, as if indicating she may not listen. “I mean it Elizabeth. We do this together or you stay here,” I tell her. We both know I have no command that will leave her here, but I hope and tr