When we made it back to the house, Gray was waiting for us. “I see you actually managed to bag something. Well done, Ian.”
We shifted back to my human skin, thankful once again for Morrigan’s gift of such an amazing dress. “It was a good kill. We had fun out there.” I did my best to hide my shaking hands. My nerves likely showed and I prayed anything Gray sensed, he would chalk up to adrenaline from the hunt and not the attack.
“Your other hunters successful?” I asked. Stella listened to the pack link, and we both smirked as Gray confirmed that the others were still tracking a small herd to the northwest. I wondered if their mange gave off enough stench to warn any deer in the area to run.
“You were lucky to find this one lame so close to the house.”
I glanced at Ian, who was starting the painful shift back. He writhed on the ground for a moment before covering himself. “Father?”
Gra
I sprawled on the bed in the plush robe, pulling a blanket up over me. It may be warmer in the room, but I was amazed at how much I already missed the god blessed dress that kept my whole body warm. The only time it had been off me since its gifting was… THAT night. Makya. What would he do to me now, in a bed like this seeing me in only a robe, so easy to undo.My eyes closed as I imagined his warm hands gently sliding under the robe to caress my body, slowly peeling the robe away from my naked form as his lips came close to kiss my breasts.A knock sounded at the door, jarring me from my dream. I sat bolt upright, quickly fixing my robe, as I went to the door to see who had decided to interrupt such a moment.I opened the door to find Kiara standing there with my dress and other clothes folded over her arm and the red poncho draped over it. “Luna? Is everything ok?” she asked, glancing at my hair.I looked at the back of the door where
“Thank you, Luna. But can I please not. Not yet anyway.”“Call me Eileen. At least when we are alone.” I sighed, realizing it likely would take longer than I had with her to get her to open up. And even if she did, I wasn’t sure what it would do. “Will you be safe if I let you leave now?”“Yes, Lu- hmm, Eileen.”“Are you sure?”“I believe so. Is there anything you need for the evening?”I looked around and decided I simply needed to be sure she was going to be ok. “Just a glass of water. If you can bring me that. I will be fine. And Kiara, if anyone does anything to you, open yourself to me. Call out. Understood?”“Yes, Luna.” She curtsied and backed out of the room.Gods above what was with this place. I swear it was like stepping back in time in some ways. These wolves had every modern amenity money could buy in Canada, yet they act
When Kiara finally got my hair tamed into a more reasonable order, she braided my hair in braids around each side of my head and down the back in a loose joint braid. “Done.” I looked in the mirror and was surprised. I never had the time nor the patience to make my hair look decent like this. “It looks amazing.” Kiara smiled, “Mr. Bodolf will be waiting. You should go.” I frowned at her. “Are you not coming to breakfast?” She shook her head seriously, “Oh, no. someone like me would never be allowed to heat with the Alpha and his staff. We are not to be seen at all if possible.” I stood and hugged Kiara. At first, she hesitated, clearly unfamiliar with such affection, but soon she melted into my embrace. “Kiara, you are welcome in my sight and in my presence. I wish I could find a way to take you with me. If I can find a way to get you back to Alaska, I will.” I whispered near her ear. I felt her shudder as she heard the words and she b
I made my way back to my room and called for Kaira. If I was going to be locked in the house, at least she could keep me company. The hours slipped by as I told Kiara stories of life in Alaska. She was so excited to hear about adventures I had been on with Makya, that I found it easy to talk to her and simply reminisce about the trips I had been on with him. we laughed and giggled the afternoon away and all too soon, the dusky twilight of evening began to fall across the room. Kiara became quiet and nervous as she stood. “They are coming.” “Who?” “Arvin and Gray. It’s time for the funeral. The whole pack is gathering.” I opened my mind to Stella and together we began to listen to the pack link once more. All at once, I could hear what sounded like distant base drums start to thrum out a steady cadence. “The warriors have begun the ceremony. They will hunt soon.” Kaira said, a shiver visible as she began to pace. As she did, I began strapping o
As the mourners continued their chants and dances, I began to count. I could make out Arvin and Gray, along with now three burly men I guessed with the lieutenants. Misty and an older lady, possibly her mom stood behind one of them. All in all, I could make out maybe twenty-five men in the area. The number surprised me because I knew that ten to fifteen had been with Arvin in Alaska. When we had arrived it had felt like there were men everywhere but now that I thought about it, I had seen the same six or seven men moving all over the house, constantly coming in and out of my view in a wave so I never saw the same one twice in a row. It gave the illusion that there had been a great deal more of them. I touched Kiara’s mind and asked ‘Kiara, where are all the women? I see misty and her mom, but that is it.’ Kiara was quiet for a minute, watching the dancers before her mental link answered me, ‘The unmarried women are few. Alpha Arvin says women are best at c
I flopped on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Trapped and abandoned. What had I gotten myself into?NO! what had Aunt Rhianna gotten me into!Nearly an hour passed as I wallowed in self-pity, trying to figure out what I was going to do next. The floor would likely have scuff marks warn into it from the pacing I was starting to do. This was going to be a long winter if Aunt Rhianna wasn’t expecting me back until at least spring, if ever…Foot stepped sounded in the hall nearly an hour later and the door opened as Ian walked in with Kiara gripped by the scruff of her neck. He flung her into the room and closed the door. Kiara tripped and fell to the floor, clutching a pillow and a blanket as her brown locks spilled around her face. I rushed over and helped her to her feet. She held a toothbrush in one hand and a small bag in the other. Her knuckles were white, as if these few items were all the worldly possessions she had and she would not let them go
Tribal village of Venetie, Alaska, Dec 28. (3 days after Eileen left Alaska) Makya POV “Snow is coming down hard,” Makya said, staring out the window of their cabin. Chief Eyota sat near the fire smoking a pipe with a large mug of steaming tea resting on a small table beside his chair. “Don’t worry, son. I am sure the coven likely weathered the storm in Canada. They will probably be back next week.” “Are you sure she will be safe with those men?” Makya asked. “She is with the better part of her entire coven. It is unlikely anyone would try anything. You need to be focusing on your studies, son. Your twentieth birthday is coming up quickly and our people expect you to step up. You are destined to be our next shaman.” Chief Eyota said. “I know, Father.” Makya sighed. He always took on a more formal tone with his dad when tribal matters came up. He knew he should focus on these things, especially after what he had seen with Eileen,
Canada – Dec 29 Maple Meadows Ranch I awoke to warm arms wrapped around me. A smile played across my face and I snuggled into the embrace, my back to the warm body. I laced my fingers in his- I froze as I felt the soft fingers that gripped mine. I looked down to see pale skin, not Makya’s tan. My heart fluttered as I wondered who was beside me but I realized this was a decidedly feminine hand. Kiara then. I let out a sigh and pulled her hand to my chest. She may not be Makya, but she was still warm. When the knock finally came at the door that signaled breakfast had been left for us, I forced myself to crawl out from under the covers. Any porridge they left would get cold fast if we didn’t eat it soon. I found two bowls waiting for us at the door. I guess the pack had decided I wasn’t worth serving the marvelous three-course meals for now that they were not trying to keep up illusions. I didn’t want to think about what that meant for the rest of my stay
My readers have spoken and I need to finish this tale and do it right. I will not be releasing new chapters for a while yet, but know that I have finished book one of Rejected Billionaire so now my goal is to FINISH this book before the end of 2022. it now has my undivided attention and I will be writing as often as I can. I have learned that it is better for me not to release chapters untill I am done, so I will be rough drafting for now, doing a hard edit and then working with some beta readers to make sure this ends up being the best tale I can offer. Again, you all are amazing. please keep holding on a bit longer and I hope to complete this tale for you with some great chapters. I will not be starting any other tales until this one is complete. I would LOVE to see in the comments anything you want to see happen, who you are shipping hard, and how much spice you want.
Back in my room, Kiara collapsed on the bed, “Everything I grew up knowing feels like a lie! You said he was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann? You mean he is like Morrigan, and the others?” I simply nodded. “You know I still have not wrapped my mind around all of that. I grew up thinking Ballar was like a god to our pack. There was some mention of Herne but we never learned about the rest. If I had not gone there myself and seen them face to face, I don’t know I would ever believe all of that.” Kiara said, holding her head in her hands. I realized just how much insanity had happened in the last few weeks. We both had enough life experience with things that were out of the ordinary that our minds were open enough to accept some of this but it was still massive. “I think it is a lot for both of us. I honestly didn’t believe in half the things my coven taught up until a few weeks ago. I guess I always believed in Morrigan, but it was more of a guardian angel
As we walked into the dining room, the aroma of roasting venison and hardy stew wafted from the kitchen. My appetite rushed back with a vengeance and I was eager to sample Caleb’s hard work. Then I noticed a man at the end of the table dressed in buckskin with long brown hair. I stopped dead in my tracks, staring at one of my patron gods, Cernunnos, horned lord of the hunt. “My lord, Cernunnos,” I said, curtsying and pulling Kaira down into a curtsy as well. The man snorted and stood, “I see you know my half-brother. While I like to think I have the better looks, he is still better known with the ladies. I am Herne.” I looked at him again, taking in his build and dress. He looked to be in his prime, perhaps mid-thirties, but his eyes held a timeless quality, full of deep knowledge. “Forgive me, I didn’t realize any of the Tuatha Dé Danann were here.” I said, trying to give Kaira as much studdle information as I dared. “That is a tale for after dinner.
I awoke with a start, sitting bolt upright. I was alone in a large bed, in a decent size room with a big bay window. Sunlight was streaming in as I glanced down to find I was dressed in a large shirt and little else. I scanned the room and found my green dress draped over a chair. Next to it was a red dress in the same fashion and what looked like the black one Morrigan had given us. I briefly wondered where they might have come from, but dismissed it, realizing if Morrigan wanted us to have them, she would have found a way.I stood up, and grunted at the pain that rocked my body. As I dragged my body out of its sleepy stupor, I realized my arms and legs were covered with bruises and nearly healed cuts. If my experience a few weeks ago with the wolf bite was anything to judge by, I must have been in a serious state not long ago to still be seeing this much damage to my body. My stomach made itself known then, the pangs of hunger gurgling forth. I quickly pulled on the red dre
The brief nap in the tub gripped my body, my eyes begging for more rest. It had been too long since we had been able to sleep in a comfortable and secure place. The large bed called to me, and I laid down, my hair still wrapped in a towel. Kiara joined me a moment later, sliding under the sheets as I made room for her. I opened my arms, and she snuggled in close against my robe. As I held her tight, I thought of Mayka, and what he might do to me, the pleasure he could inflict upon my body if he could join me in this luxurious room.The next morning I awoke to the early morning light. Being east of the mountains for the first time in my life, the sun streamed through the windows far earlier that I was used to. Kiara was cuddled against my chest, her cheek pressed to my bare breast. Sometime in the night, she had snuggled into my robe and we were now pressed together. I wasn’t about to wake her, enjoying her warmth, when a loud pounding sounded on our door, startling the
Kiara leaned against the door as I began to explore the room and I heard a small snick as she bolted the door and added the chain and deadbolt for good measure. “That one was a bit bold.”I smirked, the tension slowly seeping from my shoulders as I took in the grand room we had been put up in. a huge king size four-poster bed took up a good bit of the room, but there was also a couch, a desk, a small table, and a large widow with thick curtains that looked out over the town. “You interested in what he is offering? He may be a few years older than us but I bet he could show you a good time if you wanted.”“No.” she said plainly, not a hint of interest. Her voice almost sounded revolted at the idea.“Is there someone special you are hoping for?” I asked, sitting on the edge of the plush bed and flopping back onto its luxurious comforter.“There is… someone,” She said carefully.&ldquo
The run down the far side of the mountain was swift and at times a harrowing experience as we plunged down steep cliff sides, sliding through thick snow drifts. Stella and Sierra’s thick fur was all that kept us from being torn to pieces as branches and brambles flicked overhead. As the sun began its decent in the afternoon, we finally crashed out of the woods and onto a well traveled road. Tucker in his wolf form led us to the rear of town to a small barn where his wolf crashed into his chest.Tucker had been sitting cross legged in the barn atop a pile of straw and suddenly opened his eyes as Kiara and I shifted back into our human forms.“Ah, ladies. Good to see you whole.” He smiled at us both as he rose to his feet and pulled on his shirt. My gaze lingered on those rippling aps as his shirt slid into place, hiding them from view. I then noticed his gaze locked on my feet. “Have you two been without shoes this whole time? Come, there is a sh
A dainty arm wrapped around me and I gripped the hand, hugging it close to my chest as morning light streamed through the canvas of the tent. The warm body pressed against my back and I longed for a warm bed so Makya could press me into it. I kissed the fingers gently, wishing for so much more, but the hard floor of a tent, in the cold of winter was not my idea of a good time. And soon enough we would be back home and we could find his bed and enjoy the warmth of his cabin.“Eileen?” a soft groggy voice asked, the hand pulling away from me slightly. A feminine voice. NOT Makya.I froze, a sense of horror and shock gripping me as I slowly opened my eyes and glanced down at the hand I held. Definitely female, and not Makya’s native tan. I did my best to pretend nothing had happened, “Morning Kiara.”“Where are we?” she asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes, apparently unperturbed by anything I had done.“I ho
Out of the dense forest, wolves began appearing. We pulled up short as they surrounded us.‘Follow us if you want to live.’ We heard over the mental tether. It was a strange dialect, clearly not the same as that of the Clearwater pack. These must be members of the glacier pack Arvin had yelled about.‘Why should we trust you?’One of the larger wolves stepped forward. He had a gray coat, not the black I had seen in Arvin’s wolves. ‘For now, don’t. simply trust that we are more interested in causing the Clearwater pack issues that we care about you. Removing you from their care is simply the easiest way to piss them off.’We glanced at Sierra/Kiara and made our decision. We all needed time to recover, and so long as this other pack didn’t try anything right off, perhaps we would get the day or two we needed to be at full strength. The fact these wolves were not the solid