***Surprise!*** I decided to post an extra chapter this week because we're stuck inside due to a snowstorm! Please show your appreciation by continuing to use your gems to vote for this book! (Somehow this chapter was accidentally published twice, so I'm working to delete the second one. Don't spend coins to unlock it. You'll be disappointed.) Much Love, Anja <3
ALEKSANDR “So, you’re telling me that everything I feel for you is because of this mate bond?” She questioned skeptically. Rieka and I are sitting next to each other on a couch in a private room back at my packhouse. The kids were fine. The rogues didn’t come anywhere near the packhouse, and they were well protected with my mom, Dustin, and Drea all here. We needed some privacy from everyone so we could talk, and I could attempt to explain. I had just finished telling her about the supernatural world, and I spent extra time explaining werewolves and the mate bond. Rieka calmly listened to all my descriptions, and never once appeared to be scared or creeped out by any of it. Although, I couldn’t read her at all. She was basically emotionless. “Wait, does this mean that Dustin and Drea are werewolves too?” She continued. I nod my head and take a deep breath before attempting to explain the mate bond better. “Your feelings for me are real, the mate bond just helps to intensif
ALEKSANDR As soon as Rieka left with the kids I grabbed an extra pair of shorts, shifted, and ran as fast as I could back toward her house. When I got close, I shifted back into my human form, put my shorts on, and ran straight to her house. I didn’t want to freak her out by telling her that the rogues had her shoes and therefore her scent, and we don’t know what they intend to do with it. However, I wanted to personally make sure her home was safe before she and the children returned. I didn’t see, hear, or scent any rogues in the area, and I didn’t want Rieka to be upset with me for staking out her house, so I took off before she would ever know I was there. While I was running back home, I mind-linked Dustin, Emmett, and Ian and asked them to meet me in my office. They were all waiting for me when I walk in, and from the looks on their faces, they had a pretty good idea what this was about. “Alright, the rogues have Rieka’s shoes, and can now track her location. It might ta
RIEKA When I woke up this morning it almost felt like everything that happened with Aleksandr was just a bad dream, and as much as I tried to convince myself that it was, I knew the truth. Twenty-four hours ago, I was excited about my second date with a man who I was quickly falling head over heels for, and today I’m wrestling with the idea that he’s part animal, literally, and now I’m being watched by his enemies who are also part animal. Surprisingly, I’m still not all that freaked out about the whole werewolf thing. I guess my love of reading and the fact that I read so much fantasy has mentally prepared me to deal with something this outrageous. However, I can’t seem to get over the whole mate bond and the idea of me being his “second chance” mate. I know it’s ridiculous, but I’m really hung up on it. I don’t trust my own mind or emotions. Although, this does explain a lot of my recent behaviors that were out of character for me. Reminiscing about the first time I met Drea
RIEKA It has been two days since I spoke with Drea, and over a week since I have seen or spoken to Aleksandr. The mate bond keeps tempting me to call Aleksandr or go to him. I want to desperately, but I’m stubborn and I hold out. I thought the distance would help, but the more I’m away from him the more stressed I feel. I haven’t slept well, I have been more easily irritated with my kids, and I have started to feel a bit depressed. I hate how much power this has over me. I wonder if he’s feeling it the same as I am, or if it’s even worse for him since he’s a werewolf. I have no more clarity than I did the last time I saw Aleksandr and now I’m wondering if Drea really was right. Maybe I do need to talk to Aleksandr to work through all of this. He has done such a good job of giving me space and respecting my wishes. He only texted me once to ask if I was doing okay. I answered with “yes” and didn’t say anything else. I was surprised that he didn’t follow up with additional messages but
RIEKA The constant darkness makes it really difficult to figure out how much time has passed, and my internal clock has never worked very well to begin with, but it feels like it has been at least 5 hours. I haven’t heard a single sound, and the quiet is starting to affect my mental state. Every time I think I hear something I jump, but then when I listen for more sounds there’s nothing. Either I’m losing my mind, or someone is playing games with me. I’m also shivering, and the dampness doesn’t help. The more time that passes the more time I have to think. Gina and Silas must be werewolves. They are both tall and beautiful, and it's the only thing that would explain why she reminded me of Drea, but I can't figure out what they want or why they would take me. I also feel sick with worry about my kids. They’ve already lost their dad. They shouldn’t have to go through this too. As my headache slowly subsided, I tried the door again, but it was obviously locked or blocked from
ALEKSANDR Sebastian and Asher look at Jericho with disgust and then their eyes slide over my direction. I’m sure they want to question what I’m waiting for, but they know better than to openly question me in front of a rogue. They wait patiently as I just stare at Jericho, but Jericho keeps his eyes on the ground in front of him. While I appreciate his submissive posture, I want answers. “Jericho,” His name comes out of my mouth sounding more like a growl, “explain yourself.” Asher’s jaw drops open, while Sebastian does a better job of maintaining his composure. Jericho takes a deep breath and I watch his shoulders rise and fall, but he doesn’t speak. I let out a low rumbling growl in warning. Jericho takes another deep breath, “They have Giovanna.” He whispers. I don’t need to ask who Giovanna is. The only way a wolf would go to the lengths that he has, is for a mate. They must be using his mate to get him to do their bidding. “Have you seen Rieka? Do you know where she
RIEKA The group standing before me looked rough. They were coated in layers of dirt and sweat. They either just finished some intense training, or they don’t have access to showers around here. I was certain they were warriors because most of them were covered in scars, but they were all lean and muscular. Not overly bulky like bodybuilders, but not scrawny by any means. As I continued to scan the room, I noticed it was mostly men, but there were a few women mixed in as well. Gina was by far the most glamorous looking of the women, but when I looked closer, under the layers of dirt and sweat, they all had a quality of otherworldly beauty. Even the men, with their scars and messy hair, possessed a level of attractiveness that isn’t common among humans. The more time I spend around werewolves the move obvious it is who they are. Pretty much all of them are tall, muscular, and attractive is some special way. Even the two men I referred to as cave men has excellent bone structur
RIEKA Silas seemed pretty upset about his group of rogues being forced to relocated because of Aleksandr’s expansion plans, but I was sure that Aleksandr wasn’t doing it to intentionally force them to move. I was confident that he didn’t even realize there was a group this large in the area. I still don’t trust Silas either, so I want to proceed with caution. I watched as Silas’ eyes glazed over in what I recognized as a mindlink. I thought rogues couldn’t mindlink without a pack. A minute later I saw Gina walk back into the room followed by the two cavemen who were following us earlier. In this room with brighter light, I realized that they didn’t look as much like cavemen as I initially thought, and they were just as attractive as the other werewolves. It must have just been the poor lighting in the hallway, but I find it ridiculously unfair that all of these people get to be so flawlessly attractive. Gina walks over to the table as Silas stands. He looks down at her and sa