**Jarin**
It was the day that Thea had asked to do some research with Asher. I decided to join them, seeing as I had spent hardly any time with Thea. I realised it was no good spending more time with Viola. Clearly, I was attracted to her. But I hadn’t really given Thea a chance.
The library where we were to be was one of my favourite rooms in the entire castle, although I didn’t get to spend as much time in it as I would like. As Alpha, it was not my job to do the research. It was my job to decide who else was going to do it while I took care of other things. Asher was our main point of call for the task. He loved books as much as I did, and he had an excellent memory.
As I stepped through the doors, I allowed myself to take a deep breath in, enjoying the wonderful and comforting smell of old books. Like many grand libraries, the dark wood shelves reached right up to the ceiling
**Atlas**I was still reeling from Gurtar’s kill. The only thing I was thankful for was that Doran had not made any more attempts to talk to me about it. What also helped was that I had barely seen Jarin. He was so busy with the council that our paths didn’t normally cross. He wasn’t spending a lot of time with Thea either. I had mixed feelings about this. On one hand I loved the fact they didn’t appear to be getting close. On the other, what would this mean for our collective future? It was also strange he was doing so much of the council work himself. It was something he would usually delegate to me. I guessed he wanted me to focus on Thea’s training. Because of the training, I had now spent far more time with Thea than he had. For the past few days, we had been experimenting with Thea’s abilities. After she had heard about the wolf
**Thea**Atlas had barely spoken to me since I had shifted for the first time. We only talked about my training. The night in the garden seemed like 100 years ago. I hadn’t seen him smile since. I didn’t understand it. He also wouldn’t shift into his wolf form around me, instead instructing Asher through their mind link on how to show me how to fight as a wolf. I could sense even Asher thought this was odd, but because Atlas was his Beta, he said nothing.When I tried to talk to Bessie about it, she just changed the subject or gave me strange excuses. I knew her well enough now to know she was hiding something from me.The truth was, I had begun to develop feelings for Atlas. Feelings I couldn’t explain. When I had become angry at training, Atlas had had this strange ability to relax me instantly. Surely that wasn’t normal?
**Atlas**After letting Thea go, I decided to head back to my chambers. I needed a drink. A big one. I pushed the door open, heading straight for my cabinet where I kept the alcohol. Suddenly, someone cleared their throat. I turned and saw the last woman I had slept with before finding Thea, barely clothed and lying on my bed.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”“Temper temper. You seem like you could do with releasing some frustration,” she purred.I couldn’t believe the audacity, I opened my mouth to tell her to leave, then something dawned on me.“How long have you been here?” I demanded.“Too long…an hour maybe.”I began to tremble. Fearing that I was going to be able to predict her answer to my next question. &ldquo
**Thea**I waited for the others to leave before I let go of the breath I felt I had been holding in since this man, my father, had entered the room. I got up slowly, making sure the weight of my hurt would not make my legs buckle from underneath me, and moved to the side of my fathers’ chair. His head was still in his hands, but as I sat down, he looked at me.“Thea, I am so sorry, even after all these years whenever I speak of your mothers passing the old wound is ripped open once more.”I placed my hand on his. It was damp from tears. “I understand, I just…I need more answers, why was I abandoned?”He took a deep breath to compose himself. “As I said earlier, if my people had found out about you, you would have been killed instantly. Taking you back wasn’t an option. But neither was running away with you. They would
**Jarin**I blinked at her dumbly. Not really knowing what to say.“Oh…right…I mean that’s…excellent news!”Was it excellent? For my species it was. But for me? I looked at her as if for the first time. This is to be my wife. She’s wonderful but she isn’t who I want. I shook myself. I couldn’t have any thoughts like that now.“Can I ask what about meeting your father has helped you come to that decision?”Her eyes looked cold and she wasn’t smiling. “I believe what my father is saying is true. There will be an attack from the mages. He explained how the pendant I was wearing was hiding me from them as well as supressing my powers. Now it’s gone they will be able to detect me. If what the seer said is true, then we should unite as soon as possible.”
**Atlas**I hadn’t slept all night. I could still taste her on my lips. My hands could still feel the cool skin of her bare thigh. And my heart was breaking over and over as I replayed in my mind how I told her our love wasn’t important.In truth, it was important. Before the revelation of Thea’s father, I was going to tell her we were mates. I would have told Jarin. But, after hearing of the impending mage attack, I knew I had to push her away. Jarin was the best person to protect her as Alpha. I would rather she live and hate me, than love me and die.When Jarin had sent the mind link to me, any last remaining happiness had been sucked out of me. I chastised myself. This is what I wanted. This is why I had so willingly crushed my mates’ heart. I decided if I couldn’t feel love, I just wanted to feel nothing. I willed myself to go cold. I rose out of my bed and
**Thea**Tomorrow. I was getting married. Tomorrow.I stood in my chambers, staring out of the window, but not really looking at anything. It had been an hour since Jarin’s announcement. While he’d been speaking, I’d made sure to keep my eyes fully focused in front of me. I knew if I looked at Atlas, even once, I may cry.I didn’t want to cry anymore. I’d had enough of it. I reminded myself that although the one I loved had rejected me, I was also incredibly lucky.I had been pulled from a terrible life in order to discover who I truly was. For the first time since infancy, I had been cared for by the people here. I had even been reunited with the father that I never thought I had. For this part, I was truly thankful.A soft knock at the door told me that Bessie was here to do my dress fitting for the wedding. I
**Atlas**The Red Moon pack was only an hour’s journey in wolf form. I hardly noticed where I was going. All I could do was focus on putting one paw in front of the other at high speed. Part of me wanted to keep running and running until I collapsed. Hoping that pure exhaustion may make me pass out and forget her. But I reminded myself that my duty wasn’t over yet. I just needed to get through tomorrow. Once Jarin had marked Thea there was no going back. I could return the pendant and leave.I arrived at the edge of the Red Moon pack’s territory. I shifted and dressed in the clothes I’d carried in my mouth. I knew by now their scouts should have already seen me. I moved out from the trees in order to be completely visible.Shortly after a man and a woman appeared, clearly dressed hurriedly to greet me.They both had the same light chestnut hai
**Atlas**I became aware of a burning sensation down the entirety of my right-hand side. The pain tore through me and I winced as I tried to focus my mind on what was happening. Then the sound of the battle reached my ears. Everything came rushing back to me, and I immediately looked around for Robert. I could see him a few paces away from me on the ground. I crawled over to him and managed to gauge that he was unconscious but breathing.I began to look around me properly, and noticed that we were no longer attacking our own allies. My eyes snapped to the general who’d been performing the charm, and then I saw her. My Queen. Her attention was completely focused on the general who seemed to be infuriated. He looked as if he was trapped without anything physically trapping him. I watched as Thea stalked towards him slowly, and I realised she was going in for the kill.I made myself move
**Thea**“Thea! Thea! You need to wake up!”I blinked against the candle light.“What…what’s…” I began hazily.I could sense Atlas was pulling on his clothes hastily.“Thea we need to go. The mages are on their way!”I didn’t need anymore information. I sprung out of bed looking for my own clothes. They were all loose fitting to make it easier to shift. We hurried to the great hall to meet all of the others. People were coming out of every door along the passages, hurrying to the destination they needed. I briefly saw Bessie ushering a woman and her young children towards the hidden chamber Atlas had shown her yesterday. We shared a quick knowing look and continued on.When we got to the great hall, some of the Alpha’s were al
**Atlas**I followed after Thea. I knew that no matter how angry she was with me at the moment, we had to focus on what was happening right now.Jarin and Viola were waiting in the courtyard for us. It occurred to me that she didn’t have a horse. Vampires were no where near as quick as us, and I mused at how they had managed to arrive together.“Back so soon old friend.” I commented, pulling him into an embrace.“Yes. Had to check up on you of course.” He winked at me.“If you two have finished cuddling up to each other, maybe we should get started on the preparation for this attack.” I blinked at the vampire’s audacity, but Jarin merely gave a shy smile.“I quite agree…Lady Viola is it? It’s good to meet you at last. I’m Thea.” Thea extend
**Thea**Despite the impending threat, I was feeling the happiest I had ever felt in my entire life. Being with Atlas was completely magical. If we didn’t have to prepare the pack for the mage attack, we wouldn’t have left our bedroom. Still, I knew that once this part was over, we’d be able to have more time together.Yesterday had been the first day of training for the pack. It hadn’t been as productive as we’d hoped, but people were trying to control something they still didn’t truly understand.It was just after dawn, and my father and I had decided to meet before the rest of the pack came down. I knew I was close to being able to use my mage powers in wolf form, I just hadn’t cracked it yet.Asher and Bessie were coming with me. I’d grown close to them, although Asher was a bit more of a surprise. When I saw my fat
**Jarin**I looked out of the window. My view from this chamber was of the newly laid vegetable patches and cleared land for a planned orchard next year. Since I’d arrived yesterday, I found new and amazing things that Viola had achieved with our people. There was something of her spirit here, and that was something that I loved.After I’d said what I had last night she’d not reacted in the way I’d hoped, although not in the worst way either. She’d told me she needed time to think about what I’d said, and what it would mean for her. What her people would think. Of course, I understood.But I couldn’t pretend I’d hoped that she would run into my arms telling me she loved me back. I went out of the chamber in search of some breakfast. I hadn’t seen the kitchen yet, so it would be worth going if only for that.There
**Atlas**I wasn’t sure how long we stayed in the cave. To me it was just a glorious blur of making love and holding her while we slept. Now that we had marked each other and mated, the bond between us was insanely powerful. It was as if we now shared the same heart, each of us taking care to look after it for the sake of the other.I was lying beside her, looking into her eyes as we allowed our breathing to regulate back to normal.I knew she’d been a virgin, and I was worried she may now be sore.“Are you okay?”She sighed happily. “I am the most content I have ever been.”I stroked her cheek gently and kissed the corner of her mouth.“We should try mind linking.”She raised her eyebrow. “I can do that now?”
**Thea**We’d come out into the garden. The same one we’d walked in some weeks ago. It was quieter here than inside the castle, and it meant something to the both of us. We stood in front of each other, him holding my hands in his. The fact we could do this and not feel guilty or ashamed was such an incredible happiness.“I feel as if I am dreaming.” I whispered.“If this is a dream, then I hope I never wake up.” He replied. He moved closer to me, and placed a gentle kiss upon my lips.I wanted so much more of him, but I didn’t know how to tell him. I was so unused to being this close to him, I didn’t know how to explain that I was tired of waiting. I wanted us to have each other. Then I remembered something from the first few days of being here.“Atlas?&rdq
**Jarin**I knew my words were going to cause one of two reactions. Dead silence, or absolute uproar.It ended up being the latter. The emotions ranged from shocked, angry and confused. People were shouting questions at me so quickly I had no idea who was asking them.“This is outrageous, how can you step down at a time like this!?”“Is Atlas even capable of being our King?”“Will you still be part of the pack?”“What if the seer is wrong and you give up your throne for nothing?!”Atlas came up behind and whispered hurriedly in my ear, “Alpha what are you doing?”I raised my hand for silence, but there was not an instant quiet like there normally would have been. I guessed that they were beginning to disregard
**Atlas**The whole hall was silent. I was panting as adrenaline coursed through my body. The only sound I could hear was my heart thumping against my chest.I couldn’t believe what I had just done. I was shocked by my own action. It was as if something had taken over my body. It had happened as soon as she’d looked at me. I wondered if she hadn’t done that, I would have allowed her to place the ring on Jarin’s finger. I realised it could only be my wolf that was responsible. Seeing her in a wedding dress but it not being me who she was marrying was horrific. It felt so unbelievably wrong.I stood, frozen to the spot. Staring into Thea’s eyes, I could not tell what she was thinking. I knew now the pendant was off, she would truly know who I was.Jarin was the first person to break the silence. He whispered something in Thea’s ear,