Did you guess who her mate was??
Mina POV - As soon as Blake finished carrying her back to the makeshift camp, he dumped her on the floor, and announced they were continuing on to the pack. The warriors already looked pissed, but she endured their glares with an easy smile. She had fooled them and they all knew it. Before anyone could comment, silver cuffs were slapped around her wrists, her chain passed to a random wolf, and they were off. Blake didn't even bother to look at her as he led the way.Each step was arduous. Though Mina was given some spare clothes, her feet were bare. They felt every stone and dip in the path, but it was the incessant pulling of the chain that pissed her off. For wolves that claimed that she was their Luna, they didn’t care to treat her like one. However, none stepped over the line. They kept their distance, content to throw her glares or ignore her entirely. She didn't know where the hostility came from, but she just wished they would leave her be. If they did she could go home. Her m
Mina POV - If Mina thought the packhouse was cold and hard, the rooms in its belly were worse. Two warriors guided her lower and lower into the mountain's depths through winding corridors that peeled off from the packhouse. She was lost after the second turn, the pain in her hand stealing her attention with every throb. She didn’t think it was completely broken, but it was red and swelling fast. She curled it into her chest, blinking back hot tears. She wouldn’t cry in front of these men; they didn’t deserve to see her pain. They stopped before a large set of double doors, taking a guard either side of them. Mina bristled; they were acting as if they were merely escorting her to her room, as if she was a welcomed guest and not a prisoner. She thought they were going to announce her to the room by the way they paused before it, but neither made a sound. Nor did they open the door for her, their role as her jailers fixed to the spot outside her cell. With nowhere to go but forward,
Roman POV - It had been two days since his mate had been taken, and Roman felt every hour weigh heavy on his shoulders. The urge to buckle beneath it, to crumple to the ground and let it swallow him whole, grew with the burden, but he stood strong against it. Breaking now wouldn’t save Mini. It wouldn’t support Allie, or his family. It would be accepting a situation he was raging against. It was that drive to save his mate and protect Allie that fuelled his ability to keep going, and he held onto it with both hands as they made their first move against Blood Mountain. There was no doubt in his mind that they were behind his mate’s abduction, but without proof there was no way any other wolf would stand beside them. Clear Blue was another dead end. After their meeting with the escort Sam sent, he was certain there were traitors among the pack, but who they were wasn’t clear. If the wrong wolves gave their aid, they could lure Roman and his family into a trap or, worse, their deaths.
Roman POV - The force of his kiss pushed Roman back against the tree, but his own desire surged to meet Allie’s. His hand tightened around his jaw, lips parting to get a first taste of his mate. Their tongues clashed, desperate to explore each other, to give and take exactly what they needed. A low rumble built in his chest, as Allie sucked his lip between his, nibbling on the flesh. Roman just knew if his mouth wasn’t busy, he’d be smirking at the response he’d elicited. But he wasn’t the only one who could play games. In a sharp, sudden turn, he swapped positions with his mate, bearing down on him as he took control. His tongue lolled wet and heavy around Allie’s, leaving a trail of spit joining them as he pulled back. The flush on Allie’s face was addictive and dipped far beneath the collar of his shirt. Roman ached to see if it tasted as sweet as it looked. With tongue, teeth and lips, he trailed a hot path over Allie’s jaw and down his neck. He nipped and sucked hot flesh, the
Mina POV - The slick red of her silk dress was uncomfortably tight. It clung to Mina like a second skin, bearing parts of herself she would usually cover. As a Luna, she often didn’t choose the clothes she would wear to formal events, however they were always tasteful, if a little old fashioned. She didn’t feel like herself in those clothes, but they did hold a regal air that helped solidify her presence. This dress was obnoxious, a pleasure for those perceiving her but entirely uncomfortable for herself. A shiver crawled her bare shoulders, the thin straps threatening to snap if she moved the wrong way. “Here.” Luna Evelyn pressed a thick black shawl over her shoulders. It hid her body from prying eyes, a barrier that was fixed in place with a brooch in the shape of an Acer leaf. It stood proud, a golden shield protecting her. Tears pricked her eyes, her thank you caught in her throat, but a knock rung through the room, stealing her words, settling a heavy dread in her gut. “No.
Alastor POV - Alastor jerked awake, his hand flying to his mark. Searing pain built under his skin, fiery and cutting. He was on his feet in moments, racing out of the tent without bothering to stop for clothes. He slammed into a hard body and reflexively grabbed it. “Mina.” It was all he could say. Roman nodded, his eyes blown, wild. They darted to the mountain, his lips curling into a snarl.As one, they both moved.Desperation fuelled them. Mina's fear raking hot and heavy across his chest. It was all he could think about, all he could focus on. He had to save her. They left the makeshift camp behind without a word and charged forward, their only goal to get to their mate. Alastor shifted mid step, his four paws launching him forward. Roman followed his lead, their fur brushing with each step, a small comfort that didn't stand a chance against the panic gripping him.Without a plan, without back up, they bolted to the base of the mountain and didn’t stop there. They took the pat
Blake POV - The shadows cloaked him as he watched the Hayre and Lynn wolf retreat. Blake was impressed they had managed to take down one of the creatures so quickly. They were strong wolves, reacting quickly to the danger. Though he couldn’t decipher their strategy to get up the mountain. It had merely seemed like brute force and ignorance. Surely, they had thought it through before they tried to infiltrate Blood Mountain. Their movements had been easy to predict, his warriors stationed on the path long before they made a move, and yet they hadn’t even made it past their first line of defence. He huffed his disappointment. If this was the calibre of wolf the Moon Goddess thought was appropriate to support the Luna of an original three pack, he wasn’t surprised his Alpha saw fit to correct it. Deity or not, their behaviour was rash and undeserving of their mate. She should've chosen better.Blake pushed away another mindlink as the other creatures closed in. Alpha Castriel called th
Mina POV - It was a sizzling ache that woke Mina. She jerked from a sleep that was anything but restful, her eyes flying wide, her hands launching to her neck. They were smacked away as easily as a fly. “Stop it, you’ll ruin all my hard work.” The woman standing over her huffed. Mina relaxed as gentle hazel eyes fell to her, narrowing with suspicion, but calm. They were a similar colour to Alastor's, but didn't hold the same sharpness. Instead, they were paler hazel, a unique softness to them that boasted a strong presence beneath the surface. She pushed her glasses up her nose, sending a spark of recognition through Mina. “Haven’t we met before?” “So, you remember me?” The woman grinned. “I must say, I was surprised to see Clear Blue’s next Luna in my home. Or, I suppose you’ve taken the title now, right? You’re what, a year older than me?” Mina’s head throbbed as she tried to place the woman. She absentmindedly reached for the ache in her neck again, just to have her ha
Mina POV - The room was a rush of excitement, everyone moving around, getting ready, beaming with joy. Mina watched them all from the nest, pillows carrying her mates’ scents propped all around her. She inhaled it, letting the familiarity wash though her, soothing any lingering nerves for the day ahead. Two new scents mingled with her unit’s. They were fresh and clear like the morning air after a night of rain, but crisp and warm like a dry heat in the middle of summer. They warmed her with a love she didn’t know she could feel, one that was buried deep inside her, unlocked the moment she realised she was pregnant. It had been three days since her daughters were born. Three days to recover and bond. Three days for her love for them to grow so unbearable strong that she didn’t think she could contain it all. Small faces peaked out from yellow blankets, staring up at her with inquisitive eyes like they knew there was something different about that day. For young pups, intelligence
Mina POV - Concern for Blake swamped any grief that Mina had for Sam the moment he died. She raced to her mate, her eyes widening at the gash that carried the length of his body. She had seen him twist away from Sam’s blow, likely knowing he’d be the one targeted out of the three of them, but to see the amount of damage that had still been done made her feel sick. The cut was shallow but carried from his shoulder to his rump, in one straight slice that threatened to be so much worse. If he hadn’t anticipated Sam’s response, if he hadn’t twisted enough, if he hadn’t... A wet nose pressed to her cheek. ‘I’m fine.’ Then he rumbled a chuckle and gently pushed her to make her turn. ‘Though maybe the others need some attention.’ Mina spun on the spot, panic slicing through her, but it eased the moment she saw Roman and Alastor’s pout. She’d expect it from Alastor, but Roman’s bottom lip was firmly popped, eyes averted. They had shifted back into their human forms, leaning on each other
Roman POV - Given the look on Blake’s face, the wound was bad. It hurt like hell, but Roman had held a slim hope that his body was exaggerating the pain. The iron tang of blood and the wet heat coating his shoulder told him otherwise, but it was the worry etched into his mate’s features that convinced him. Not that it mattered. He could’ve lost his entire front leg, or been knocked unconscious, but would still get back on his paws and keep fighting. He did that now, forcing his legs beneath him, letting his unharmed three take the majority of his weight. A searing heat sliced from his shoulder to his front paw when he attempted to put any weight on it. He whined, but Blake was there, giving him a solid form to lean against, helping him to stand. Roman appreciated his lack of arguing, but it would’ve been hypocritical. If the unit had demanded the others to rest every time they were injured, Blake would still be in the packhouse cells and Allie would’ve clocked out after Derren’s hit
Blake POV - The brutality of Sam’s actions made Blake jerk. If how he treated Chloe, his own mate, wasn’t bad enough, he was trying to bond with another wolf just after she lost her own mate. Whether it was an act of desperation or pure cruelty, it was wrong. The anguish contorting Chelsea’s face twisted further as pain ripped through her. A forced marking was unpleasant, but it must’ve felt a lot worse coming from someone she had trusted. Blake knew it did from the way she struggled, the way she screamed. She tried to pull free of Sam’s hold, but his arms locked around her, holding her in place. Even the Diamond Ridge wolves around them, those who had ignored their Luna’s pleas to help Derren, looked uncomfortable. Finally, Sam pulled back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, matching the red line that slid across the Luna’s throat. “Accept it.” He snarled. “You promised me this, now’s the time to pay up.” Tears were already streaming down Chelsea’s cheeks, cries tur
Chapter 103 – I’ll do it myself Roman POV - The tightness in Allie’s jaw worried him. Derren’s blow had been hard and, if they were right about his ability, the hardest punch Allie had ever received. Roman was certain he had heard a crack, yet his mate was back on his feet again, walking into formation. He wanted to tell him to him to go back to Mini, to protect their Luna, but Taylor was already there, keeping an eye on her, Oliver and a still whimpering Owen. Besides, against a foe they didn’t know much about and already were struggling to face, the full force of their unit would be needed to kill him. With the cuts and bites on his own body, Blake still being weighed down after the poisoning, and Allie’s jaw, Roman wasn’t sure they could muster their full strength, but they had to try. Their packmates were fighting around them, keeping the bulk of the enemy away while they took on the leaders. They couldn’t let them down. They had to try and end this fighting before any more unn
Alastor POV - “Isn’t this sweet? A little family reunion. Two Hayres close to dead, and one soon to be.” Sam’s voice grated on Alastor as his attention flickered between his father and the bastard responsible for this mess. He avoided looking at Owen, his brother’s screams lessening to whimpers as the silver took root in his body. The knife Taylor used wasn’t pure silver like the blade that Owen had stabbed their father with. His brother would be able to bare the pain for a few hours before the poison would kill him. Alastor intended to leave it until the last possible second, so Owen would feel a small amount of the pain he’d caused Mina. “Your mother is going to be utterly heartbroken about the death of you three, and that’s before I let slip about the infidelity.” Sam laughed, the sound cruel and haunting. Alastor was sure he didn't care about the Hayre head cheating on his mate, but there was still some satisfaction to the words that let him know he relished every ounce of ang
Mina POV - Lover? Mina was struck immobile with the urge to recoil and surge a protest all at once. Her brow furrowed as she tried to picture her mother on Oliver’s arm, but she couldn’t do it. Not just because it was Oliver, but because it was anyone. Not once had her mother discussed having a partner, nor had she ever had a date. In all the years she had spent with her mother, Mina hadn’t even seen the woman look twice at another wolf. Not unless they had said something rude and she had to make sure they felt the full wraith of her glare. Surely, Mina would know if her own mother was keeping the company of another wolf under the packhouse roof? Yet, Sam seemed to know, and he had lived there just like her. But what about Oliver’s mate? Alastor’s mother? Did she know he was cheating on her, did she care? Mina was pulled from the questions flooding her mind at Oliver’s wheezes. Before he had cast her out of the pack, she had considered him something of a father figure. Despit
Mina POV - As Sam and Chelsea whipped around to face the oncoming threat, her unit pounced. As one, they charged forward in a blink, hitting the front line of the enemy wolves. They moved so fast, no one reacted before three throats were torn out, the first blood of this battle splattering across the floor. Mina winced. Two of those wolves were Clear Blue, but she hardened against the discomfort, knowing they were choosing to side with Sam. If they hadn’t known the truth her guilt would’ve eaten her alive, but she couldn’t feel bad with her unit protecting themselves. These wolves would kill them if given the chance and she knew her mates would give them the same consideration. However, they were trained wolves and wouldn’t go down easily. Alastor, Roman and Blake only took out one wolf each before the others reacted. They pulled around the closest member of her unit and battle ensued. The clash of warriors was a grating sound, the stench of blood slicing through the air immediat
Blake POV - Though a heavy weight riddled his body, Blake stood tall behind Willi. His canines were bared and he stared out at the mixture of Clear Blue and Diamond Ridge wolves that came to do Chelsea and Sam’s bidding. Though their presence was a threat, he was more concerned about Willi. She was still standing strong, challenging the enemy, but he could feel her through their bond. A deep, welling ache was growing beneath her composure as she faced the betrayal of her brother. Blake hadn’t known her when she had been close to Sam, but he knew how it felt to be discarded and used by family. He hadn’t even liked his, yet their betrayal cut deep. He couldn’t imagine the pain she was forcing herself not to feel in that moment. “So, you want to cut me off? You’re doing all this, so I won’t rely on you?” Willi called out. “Rely on me? You did more than that. I was your support for everything and what did I get for it? A whiny sister who didn’t know how good she had it and no credit