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Chapter 14 : Stay With Me
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2023-07-01 14:04:15Related chapters
The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 15 : Finality
*Estelle*It was nearly 3:00 a.m. when we finally made it back to the village. I was tired and I could tell that Gabe was too. We'd barely reached the cobblestone walkway before Val was running to greet us. The look of relief on his face made me feel guilty. "Thank the Goddess you found her," he said excitedly. "She was on her way back, actually," Gabe said. I might have imagined it, but he sounded pleased. Val smiled at me. "That's good to hear." "You can go home, Val. Get some rest. Tell Lucky I'm sorry for keeping you out all night again." Gabe reached his hand out and he and Val clasped arms. "She'll say the same thing she always does," Val said with a laugh. "She gets the bed to herself when I work late." Val nodded gratefully and smiled at me. "Welcome back, Estelle." I waved as he turned and hurried toward home. "Lucky is his mate?" I asked. "You haven't met her yet, have you?" Gabe asked. I shook my head. I hadn't met most of the pack yet. "I'll mak
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 16 : Humans
*Estelle* "What the hell is that?" Gabe's voice pulled me to consciousness. I could feel his arm around my waist as I blinked the sleep from my eyes. I looked over my shoulder at him. "What?" I asked groggily. When he didn't respond, I looked down at where his hand was resting on my side. In the morning light, Gabe could see the bruise on my ribs. The rage that had stolen over his face was truly frightening to behold. "It's not that bad," I said quickly. He looked like he was ready to kill someone. "When I get my hands on–" I rolled onto Gabe's chest and kissed him. The movement surprised him enough to derail his anger. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer. "I'm okay," I said softly. "It doesn't even hurt." He kissed me and ran his hand lightly over the bruise. "I will not allow something like this to happen again," he said firmly. I wanted to argue but decided against it. It was nice that he wanted to protect me. "Thank you," I said softl
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 17 : Red Coat
*Gabe* The relief of having Estelle back was short-lived. I was no closer to finding the person responsible for the rumors about her, and seeing the livid bruise on her side was at the forefront of my mind. It must've been painful. I didn't understand why she insisted that it wasn't. I didn't really understand Estelle at all. For someone who'd fought so hard to leave, she changed her mind so easily. Then again, if the pull she felt was anywhere near as strong as mine, I was impressed she'd resisted it at all. From the moment I caught her scent, I knew that I had to have her. The desire I felt to possess her was a weakness, and if I could overcome it, I would. It would be too easy for an enemy to use her against me. I knew that I was being irrational and that my rage would cause concerns in the pack. But, I still couldn't contain it. There was no going back now, not after last night. I understood now how irrational Val could be about Lucky. I wanted to find the boy that h
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 18 : Moon Goddess
*Estelle* I should have spoken up about Isolde a week ago. If I had, Gabe wouldn't have sent me off with her to learn about the responsibilities of being a Luna. I'd wanted to protest, but Gabe was so preoccupied with the upcoming feast that I hadn't wanted to upset him. Things had been strange between us. I'd moved into his room, but it still felt like we barely saw each other. We were still arguing. Gabe was driving me crazy with his insistence on always knowing where I was and who I was with. I'd made an attempt to go out more, as Lucky insisted it would help me feel better and calm the pack's fears about me. It seemed to be working. People waved to me on the streets and I hadn't caught anyone whispering about me recently. As happy as my wolf was to have Gabe nearby, I was finding it difficult. I couldn't completely blame him for his concern. A few nights ago, one of the men on patrol was attacked. Thankfully, he only suffered minor injuries. It seemed the rogue was still p
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 19 : Celebrations
*Estelle*I was right. He had called for me after, what I could only assume was, a very tense meeting with Charles, only he didn't look angry. He didn't look much of anything, truthfully."Explain to me why you hit Isolde yesterday," Gabe said, rubbing his temples like I was a child he was scolding for the hundredth time. "She said I couldn't be the Luna because I don't know what it means to be part of a family," I said bitterly. I was sitting in the parlor with Gabe. I couldn't look him in the eye. "You broke her nose." "I know," I said. I did not feel bad about hitting her, but I still shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have let her get under my skin and I certainly shouldn't have done it the day before the feast. Gabe and Val had put a lot of work into planning this party to introduce me to the pack and I ruined it by punching Isolde. "Charles is furious," he said. His expression was stony as he stared at me. I stood up and threw my hands in the air. "Then he sho
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 20 : Don't Hide From Me
*Estelle* I managed to hold my tears back until I reached the house. Just when I thought things were getting better, Charles had to go and say something awful like that. It must have been his way of getting revenge for Isolde's broken nose. Part of me wished that I'd punched him too. When I reached the bedroom I lay on the bed and pulled the pillow tightly to my chest. It smelled like Gabe and it helped to calm me a little. I couldn't help but wonder what truth there was to Charles's words. Maybe my mother was a rogue and that's why there'd been no pack to support her when I was born. Or maybe there was something wrong with me? I'd spent most of my life worrying that I was insane; that there was some genetic mental illness lurking inside of me. Maybe it was true. "That bastard." Gabe's voice rumbled in the darkness. I was crying so hard I hadn't even heard him come in. Before I could sit up or try to hide my tears, he sat beside me. "He'll answer for these tears," he said a
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 21 : Red
*Estelle* The next morning I lay on my side, listening to the water pour out of the shower in the adjoining bathroom. I looked through the window down at the packmates beginning their daily routine when I saw Charles pass by. The water stopped running, and soon after, Gabe opened the door to begin getting dressed. Once again, he had to get an early start. I had no doubt that it was at least partly due to dealing with Charles's outburst from last night. I couldn't work out exactly why those two were a constant presence around Gabe. They seemed to feel entitled to his time and attention. "Why do you put up with Charles and Isolde?" I asked. At first, I thought that he wasn't going to answer me. I would have accepted that. It was a nosey question for me to ask. Gabe buttoned his shirt and sighed. "I owe them a debt," he said. He sat behind me and pulled me into his arms. I relaxed against his chest and held onto his hands. "My father was an Alpha too," he said softly. "O
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 22 : A Gift
*Val* I'd been out at the main checkpoint of our territory for hours already. The men had gone over every second of last night's patrol with me numerous times. No one noticed any odd scents or movements during the feast. It wasn't until morning that they discovered anything was off.We'd doubled the patrol since one of the guards was injured, so there shouldn't have been any gaps in security and no way for someone to sneak anywhere near our land. I couldn't make sense of what I was looking at. Blocking the trail we used to drive in and out of town, was a line of newly planted saplings. It would have taken time to plant them and it would have been loud. That wasn't the strangest part. Placed neatly beside the central tree was a large bouquet of white, five-petaled flowers wrapped in a silver, silky material. It looked like an offering of some kind. It was starting to feel like some kind of conspiracy was unfolding. I didn't want to entertain the idea that one of our own could
Last Updated : 2023-07-01
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The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 50 : Together
*Estelle* The scent of herbs and smoke was strong in the dimly lit room. Edwyna had left me alone in the small ritual room. I had flowers woven in my hair and I was dressed in an elaborate embroidered white gown. I was sitting cross-legged in the center of the room and staring at a candle as it flickered. I was supposed to pick a spot to look at and clear my mind. Edwyna assured me that a vision would come, but she wasn't able to tell me how long it would take. I had no idea how long I'd been sitting in here. I could hear that the feast in the town square was in full swing. The sound of music and laughter was muffled through the walls, but it was present. I loved hearing the pack celebrating. Their joy made me proud. It wasn't as though all of our problems were over. There were still mysteries that haunted us. There were fears that wouldn't be easy to assuage. Now that we knew the Bear Lake pack had survived in the form of the Bear Island settlement, many in the pack were u
The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 49 : Marry Me
*Estelle* "Are you sure you're feeling better?" Lucky asked. She looked skeptical as she pulled the stethoscope away from my chest. It had been nearly two weeks since the day Charles was banished. It was strange to think of how much everything had changed in that time. I was finally feeling better and Gabe had brought me to Lucky for one more check-up. He was hesitant to believe that the danger had really passed. I didn't really blame him, but I couldn't help but tease him for the overprotective and doting way he'd cared for me. "I'm not at 100%," I said. "But I do feel much better." "Alright," she said with a sigh. "Then you're free to go with no further restrictions. If you notice any heart palpitations or weakness, you are to tell me right away," she said sternly. "Yes, ma'am," I said with a laugh. "Thank you, Lucky." I turned to Gabe and smiled. "You hear that?" "I heard," he said with an eye roll. "So you'll have to stop hovering over me like I'm some Vict
The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 48 : Trial for the Ages
*Estelle* I had been struggling to remain conscious when Giles had rushed me to the examination table, so I didn't remember much of what happened. My heart was beating slowly and it felt like I couldn't get a full breath. Lucky had rushed to my side, and I'd felt the punch of a needle being administered to my chest. I know that it was adrenaline because Lucky told me later. It had burned, and the way my heart had sped up was alarming. I thought that I was going to die. Thanks to Lucky, I survived the poison. She was truly a miracle worker. The knife was going to leave me with a scar, but it was a small price to pay for protecting Gabe. I had to stay with the healers for a couple of days before I was allowed to go home with Gabe. It was a little surreal being stuck in the bed beside Charles. He'd been unconscious for the most part, but it was still uncomfortable. Giles had made the decision to amputate Charles's right arm above the elbow. Gabe had crushed and splintere
The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 47 : Killer Instincts
*Gabe* The smell of Estelle's blood filled the air, and it was all that I could sense. I was frozen in shock and fear as I watched her lift her head and stare at Charles. I'd only looked away for a moment. It was a novice mistake. I knew better than to take my eyes off an opponent in a fight. "You look just like your mother," Charles said. He was looking at Estelle like she was garbage, like it wasn't worth the time it was taking him to kill her. It filled me with a rage I'd never felt before. He yanked the dagger out and Estelle gasped softly and put her hand over the wound. "But you're going to die like your father!" He raised the dagger to strike her again. The world went still around me. My heart was hammering into my ribs. The taste of copper was stinging my tongue. Estelle's breathing was all that I could hear, and I could smell the fear that overtook her. I would not lose my mate. I jumped at Charles and sunk my teeth into his arm. His dagger clattered to the g
The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 46 : A Luna is Born
*Estelle* I watched Gabe run out onto the street, helpless to stop him. The prick of the needle in Lucky's hand brought me back to the moment. Val needed me right now. As soon as I was able, I would go after Gabe. I could hear shouting from outside. It was impossible to know what it was about. So much had just happened. I looked at Lucky. She was completely concentrated on what she was doing. Being able to help Val when he was in this state must have been comforting and terrifying. I couldn't imagine the fear and pressure she was feeling. "Val," she said. "Keep your eyes on me, sweetie." "Where else would they be?" he asked weakly. Lucky smiled at him, but I could tell it was forced. Val looked so weak. It was terrible to see him like this. "Thank you," I said softly. It probably wasn't appropriate given the situation, but I had to let him know that I was grateful for what he'd done. Val looked at me and nodded. "I'm glad that I was able to get some answers." He la
The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 45 : Answers for the Past
*Val* After going over more details and documentation with Astra, I had a much clearer picture of the tragedy that had unfolded. I had left Bear Island with a promise to return. I had left Astra with the few documents I'd brought with me and promised to bring more. As I'd thought, they had very few records remaining. She'd asked me not to pass through the old village on my way out. It was treated as a memorial for those who had died in the battle. The same men rowed me back across the water. They seemed much less tense this time, and the taller man shook my hand when I disembarked. I secured my bag around my shoulders and shifted. It was a long run home, but I needed to get there soon. Lucky was going to be furious with me for being late to meet her parents. Despite the fact that I hadn't slept, I was making good time. The sun was still low in the sky and I was halfway home already. I considered taking a break, but I decided against it. The forest had been calm all morning,
The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 44 : Gone Rogue
*Gabe* Estelle had trouble getting back to sleep after her conversation with Edwyna. We managed a couple of hours before I had to be up for feast preparations. The children at the school were entertaining our guests for now. I was fielding questions and finalizing the plan for tonight, but I was having a hard time focusing. Val still hadn't returned and neither had Charles. I tried not to think about the worst that could happen to them. I regretted not going after Val myself every second that he was gone. Lucky was holding up incredibly well. She was a strong woman, but I knew that she was scared. She'd told her parents that Val had to take care of a last-minute issue. Being the Beta is a big responsibility; I think her father was impressed, though he tried to hide it. Estelle was with Edwyna, discussing her vision in detail now that she was calmer. I didn't know if she would be able to identify the traitor. Nearly twenty years had passed since the night her visions took pl
The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 43 : With the Help of the Goddess
*Estelle* The concrete had injured my paws, but I couldn't stop running. He was still following me. The city wasn't far now; my only hope was to lose him there. My body was seized by a muscle spasm and I stumbled. I lay on my side, shocked by the bizarre sensation that had hit me. Realization came over me slowly and with it, came horror. The sensation hit again and I knew; I was going into labor. I got to my feet and ran. The contractions were sporadic and slowed me down each time they hit, but I pushed through them and kept running. I would not let him catch me. I would not let my baby be hurt. There were houses around me, but I didn't stop moving. I shifted to my human form as I continued to run forward. I could only pray that someone would see me and intervene. My hands and feet were bloody and I held my stomach as I ran. I was off-balance in this form, but I was so afraid a human would shoot me if they saw a wolf in their neighborhood. I could feel my baby kicking a
The Alpha's Orphaned Mate Chapter 42 : Stella's Baby
*Val* Surprisingly, I made better time than I expected on my run to Bear Lake. It was most likely because of the sense of urgency that took a hold of me, but I still couldn't help but be impressed with myself. When I knew that I was close to the old village, I shifted out of my wolf form. I took the canvas bag from around my shoulders and quickly dressed. I didn't smell anyone nearby, but there were so many wildflowers around that I didn't trust my sense of smell. I took a moment to steel my nerves and then continued into the village. It certainly seemed to be abandoned. The houses were overgrown with moss and vines, and most of the wooden features, like roofs and windows, were beginning to rot. It was eerie, like stepping into a ghost town. I didn't remember the layout of the village very well, since I had only visited a few times when I was a kid. I headed in the direction that I thought the pack house was in. I didn't have high hopes that I would find many intact records, b
