Mina POV - Jade sighed as she dropped into a chair and took her first sip of whiskey. She rolled the liquid around the glass and took another. It hadn’t taken long to set up the dining table and chairs in the packhouse hall, just enough time for the Red Spire Luna to give her explanation about the attack. After flushing out Castriel’s ally, and those involved in the coup, some had escaped detection and ran as soon as they could. Jade had pursued them, and had found them just in time to join the end of the already-won battle. It was a little convenient for Mina’s liking, but Jade had killed the last two intruders that could’ve corroborated the story.However, she took the explanation at face value, only asking a few questions. Whether she trusted the woman’s story or not didn’t matter, she still wanted to hear what she had to say. The distrust was more blatant on her mates’ features, but they too sat at the table to talk with the Red Spire Luna. Mina took a breath before taking her
Mina POV - After declining her wish to come to Mina’s Luna ceremony, Jade didn’t bother to stay at Blood Mountain for the night. Her own pack was only a short way from the mountain’s base, and she claimed to have the rest of Castriel’s mess to clean up. Mina was glad to have the Red Spire Luna off her territory. The woman hadn’t done or said anything too lay suspicion at her feet, but her motives didn’t seem entirely pure either. Not that any alliance between two packs ever had selfless intentions. Mina had heard her out, but delayed a decision on the alliance, formally at least. Jade was an unknown to her but could be of use at the Luna court. That was also what the woman wanted from the alliance. Despite no longer being a Clear Blue wolf, Jade was certain a connection to Mina would increase her influence, help her to be seen and heard. Not at the next court, of course, when they would have to keep distant and hostile, but the ones to come. It was well-known that the original t
Mina POV - There was a swagger to Owen’s step as the main Hayre family finally entered the hall. Mina smiled with lips still swollen from his kiss last night. As per tradition, she hadn’t seen him since, and the sweet flutter of her heart made the hours apart worth it. Now her family and his would witness the moment their mate bond formed, and then they'd spend the night claiming each other. Heat stirred in her belly. The moment they'd been waiting for for so long was finally coming. Owen was her personal warrior. The Hayres had chosen him to protect her when they were both just pups, but, today, the Moon Goddess would choose him to be her mate. It was the best twenty fifth birthday gift she could wish for. Jitters fanned from her fingertips down to her toes, but her composure was well practised and held strong. She even managed to muffle her smile when her mother’s scrutiny fell upon her. The Luna stood to her left, her older brother on her right, the last of her family. Sam ma
Mina POV - Mina flopped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. Gone was the party dress, make-up and accessories, but the largest weight off her was the day. Finally, her birthday had ended. The party, the tour of the pack, the silly events to congratulate her on finding her mate. The wrong mate, but still, a mate. Only one wolf didn't manage to see her to say the same. Owen. She hadn’t seen him since he stormed from the packhouse earlier and, no matter how hard she tried, he rejected her mindlinks. Sam had promised to keep an eye on him, and reassured her he was okay whenever she asked, but it was still hard. She had hurt him. She had no control over who the Moon Goddess mated her with, but blame fell as heavy on her shoulders as the atmosphere lingering around the pack. She felt eyes on her wherever she went, questioning, doubtful. It wasn’t a surprise. Not when she felt the same. However, there was one wolf who was oblivious to the tension. Mina had expected a lecture, a rep
Mina POV - The office door slammed open, feet thundering into the room, but one look at the scene had the warriors hanging back. Only three stepped forward, but their approach didn’t move Mina’s fixed stare. She looked at the intricate handle of the blade sticking out of her mother’s chest. Its pale blue shone proud in the candlelight, as it stole the Luna’s life. It was the ornamental blade she had often admired in the office, but she had never been allowed to remove it from its glass case on the wall. In fact, she had never seen it touched, but could see now how well it had been cared for. There wasn't a speck of dust on its surface, only flecks of red marring its perfect sheen. She was certain its silver blade would have been polished to perfection too. A warm hand cupped her cheek, gently guiding her focus away from the weapon. The noise around her grew quickly as her awareness spread. There was movement beside her brother’s body, another warrior opposite her at the Luna’s s
Mina POV - Dread pooled heavy in her gut. Mina turned to Owen, desperately taking a step towards her friend. He took a step back. “Owen?” Her voice cracked, her hand reaching for him, but he jerked away. He was pale, a sickly colour, his eyes flitting between her and his father. Oliver must’ve mindlinked him the contents of the letter while she read it. “It isn’t true. You have to believe me.” She went to take another step towards Owen, but his father blocked her path. “Yet the only wolves who could verify that are either dead or unconscious.” He stepped towards her. There weren’t many wolves that Mina would retreat from, but the head of the Hayre family was one of them. “You got here before everyone else.” He stated, stepping forward again. “I couldn’t sleep.” “You’re covered in the Luna’s blood.” At the mere mention, her fists clenched, her stomach turning at the sticky heat coating her palm. “I was trying to save her.” Mina’s voice shook. “She scream
Mina POV - She didn’t dare to stop at her room. Oliver would be listening to her every move as she fled the packhouse. If she paused, she didn’t know what he would do. She ran down the stairs, barely registering what was happening as she fisted the note into her pocket and spilled into the street. The cold night air hit her in a rush that tightened her chest. Her breaths were rapid and shallow. She hesitated on the cobbled street. The warriors stationed at the packhouse doors stared at her. Their gazes dropped to the blood on her hands, her tear-streaked face, the twist of red on her t-shirt echoing her mother’s wound. They frowned, piecing together their leader’s rejection of her and the image before them. Then, as if Oliver was punishing her for stopping, their eyes glazed over with a mindlink. She didn’t know what he told them, but their hands tightened on the daggers at their belts. Dread pooled within her as they refocused, the same hate twisting their features. Mina
Mina POV - As the mud cradled her, its chill seeping into her bones, preparing her for the sweet kiss of death at the warrior’s hands, Mina couldn’t help but wonder where everything had started to go wrong. The obvious answer was the moment she let her pheromones free at the choosing ceremony, exposing herself to doubts when Alastor became her mate, but she couldn’t help but feel like it went further back. For years she had been trained by her mother to be the perfect Luna. She couldn’t look in a mirror anymore without correcting her form as if her mother’s critiques always rang in her head. She kept a respectable distance from the pack and always did her duty, but Oliver was right. It didn’t come naturally to her. No matter how many times she was corrected, her posture would slip. No matter how many times she would be reminded, a carefree smile would slip past her composure when the sunlight warmed her face. No matter how much she practised, she didn’t have the grace of the oth