CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE - HIDDEN GAINPIXIEI could do nothing to hide the shock from my face.Asha watched me closely, and I barely noticed when Jared and WormWhick tactfully made themselves scarce, leaving me and Asha standing alone outside the packhouse.Asha took a long, tired breath before he spoke, and I clung to every single word he spoke.“About five years ago,” he said, looking nervous. “I was indirectly responsible for the death of my mate.”“How?” I whispered, hating the pain that flitted across his features and pinched his dark brows together.“I would prefer to show you in person,” he explained, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Once you return to my pack with me, I will explain everything, I promise. I know I should have explained a long time ago, but I didn’t think it would ever be something I could live with. But you changed that for me.”My lips parted and I looked up at him, staring deep into his eyes to see if I could find the hint of a lie.But there was only ra
ASHA I could feel the surge of rage inside me, pulsing and threatening to overflow. My wolf begged to be released, itching to get its claws and fangs buried around Dwight’s neck. There was a slight movement, and I watched as Dwight’s Delta walked forward, stepping between Dwight and I to observe the ancient rites before any Alpha match. I didn’t care to pay attention. My focus was fixed on Pixie, who looked so small between Jared and WormWhick that it was almost comical. Finally, the Delta nodded and stepped back, signaling for the Alphas to shift and begin the fight. In a heartbeat, I had shifted, shaking out my thick fur. I stood tall, even in my wolf form, and once Dwight shifted, I was actually a little surprised to see that Dwight’s wolf was just as large as I was, something I hadn’t expected at all. I had thought his wolf would be no larger than Pixies at best given the fact that he was more of a meager Alpha and had barely seen real combat. Dwight’s wolf was as plain as I
ASHAI couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so settled on a long trip.When we got back to the manor I hastily packed the things I had came with, Jared helping to stuff the things that needed to be carried into the boot before we left and I was finally happy to be out of Silvas lands and finally be going back to mine. Pixie had spoke to me about Amber and I knew that was the only thing she would be glum about but it couldn’t be helped, at least not at the moment.Pixie sat beside me, her small form looking a lot more at ease than it had been the time I saw her in her pack house, Jared drove at a steady speed, a small smile on his face while WormWhick, tired of all that had gone on so far, slouched on his seat in the front and slept away. I glanced back constantly behind us, making sure our tracks were covered and none of Dwight’s wolves followed after us.For the moment, it was just Pixie and I, and I felt a familiar ease creep into my chest. We didn’t communicate save for a subtl
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX - LAZY MORNINGPIXIEWaking up next to Asha put a smile on my tired face. I snuggled into his chest, hiding from the crisp morning air and seeking out his warmth. His skin was a furnace on mine, but I wasn’t complaining. I could have stayed like that for hours, just listening to his even breathing, his chest rising and falling with each smooth breath.The only discomfort was the warmth that had grown sticky between my thighs, a mixture of our arousal from a long night together.But I didn’t want to leave the comfort of his bed just yet. I could shower later, maybe Asha would join me again. The thought had a new wave of arousal heating my lower stomach, and I bit my bottom lip.I glanced up at him to make sure he was still sound asleep and had to suppress the sudden urge to giggle.He was completely passed out, his mouth hanging open slightly, soft snores slipping from the back of his throat. He really was so cute. I wondered how this man was the same wolf who made ot
“Is that how you greet people in the morning?” Jared joked, chuckling dryly bit I only wanted to find Asha and who else knew better on where to find him than his cousin. My eyes narrowed, and he quickly gave in. “Okay, Asha is talking to one of the pack members about training and shouldn’t be disturbed.”“So, what? You’re here to babysit me?” I scoffed, walking around Jared. I followed Asha’s scent down another hallway, one I’d never been down before.At the end of the hallway, a door opened, revealing Asha looking exceptionally pleased.And there was a female standing in the room behind him.Without meaning to, a deep, rumbling growl vibrated through my chest, almost startling me and definitely catching both Asha and the female behind him off guard.“Baby,” he murmured, his eyes finding me standing at the end of the hallway, my hands curled into loose fists at my sides. He walked towards me, the female following along behind him and making my blood boil. “Where’s Jared?”“Here,” Jare
ALPHA ASHAI had taken so much pride in watching Pixie settle into her new pack over the next couple of days.I’d slowly begun to notice her leaving my side to find her own food as she became more comfortable and familiar with the whereabouts of her favourite cup ramen in the kitchen. I started to feel a little more at ease, leaving her asleep in my bed while I went out for the early morning patrols.I did miss having her beside me all the time, but I knew it was important for her to establish her own place in our pack, especially considering she would soon be my Luna.The pack needed to meet her and see what I saw, because the role of a Luna was somehow so much more difficult than that of an Alpha.While an Alpha only had to rely on being physically stronger and smarter than my opponent, a Luna had to work to win over the members of the pack, regardless of how loyal they may be to her Alpha.I had slowly introduced her to my pack members, each of them practically beaming when they me
ALPHA ASHAWe raced through the woods, our wolves trilling and howling with joy. It was late, although it was probably early considering the light of dawn stained the horizon beyond the mountains. I chased after her with a brand new fire blazing in my lungs, something I never thought I’d ever get to feel again.I caught up to Pixie again and pounced on her, tackling her to the ground and loving the way she huffed in amusement as we both fell to the grass. Before I could do anything, I heard the telltale rumble of hunger coming from Pixie’s stomach. Without another thought, I hopped up and gently nudged her with the end of my snout, silently telling her to wait for me. She nipped my ear in agreement and slithered out from under me.I stalked off into the thicket of trees, hackles raised and nose low to the ground. I could faintly pick up the scent of deer not too far off. There must have been two, no, three of them just a few hundred feet away. They’d left behind traces of shorn leaves
PIXIEThe air wasn’t as heavy once we’d shifted back to our human forms. But it was still overpowering, and I couldn’t help the way my eyes stung.It seemed like nothing had changed since the last anyone had come into the house, it was abandoned and untouched, like he had totally forgotten about existence and yet now that I knew what it was, it felt all the more sinister.The house looked like it hadn’t been tended to in years rather some months. The grass in the yard out front was overgrown with wildflowers and weeds popping out of the ground and circling the larger shrubs. The porch was sun damaged; the wood looked brittle, and I briefly feared that one misstep would send both I and Asha crashing through the floor.The paint on the exterior was weatherworn, enough that I wasn’t sure what the original color had been. Maybe a deep sea green? I wasn’t sure; it had lightened to a sickly teal that looked unnatural in the vibrant woods surrounding it.The shutters had been destroyed by a