I groaned and rolled over, blinking so my eyes could adjust to the bright sunlight coming from the bedroom windows. I stretched in the empty bed and looked down once realizing I was still naked. I moved the blanket off me and looked down at the new mark on my skin, starting off at my hip bone and down my thigh, awfully close to my pelvis, in the dip where the hip meets the pelvis. I ran my hands over the mark and shivered as I could distantly feel Brodryn stir in his sleep from the light touch before pulling back and letting him stay sleeping. The mark was the night come to life on my skin, the stars and the glow of the moon and a beautiful black dragon hidden inside it. It was stunning and looked like an amazingly detailed tattoo on my thigh. There was a part of me that couldn’t wait to get back to Ravenfield so that I could see Blaze and he could finally mark me. I wanted to be covered in my men's marks. It was a distinctly primal feeling that had me shivering in anticipation bef
“Alpha, you’re needed at the -oh my god!” The door opened, Leo talking before yelling and turning around with his hands over his eyes and barely contained laughter in his voice as he spoke again. “If you’re gonna be doing things like that in you’re office you might want to consider locking the door.”I groaned in frustration and embarrassment at the intrusion and slumped into Kane’s hold while Magnus chuckled and Kane snarled at Leo for the interruption. “Learn how to knock.” He bit out angrily as he gripped me tight momentarily before moving off the couch and standing, facing Leo and Magnus sat and pulled me onto his lap, running his hand over my back softly. “There’s a bit of an emergency Alpha, knocking has no place in emergencies.” Leo said with a snarky smile as he sent me a wink before looking at Kane with a serious look, his expressive green eyes looking worried. “What’s happened?” Kane asked, his frustrations gone as he realized just how worried his Beta and friend actually
I sighed as I sat in my office, my hands curled around the warm mug of tea, the room dark the only light coming from the glow of the moon outside and a small soft lamp on the bookshelf opposite the window. I sipped my tea trying to keep myself calm as I stared out the window, determined not to let the worry I was feeling eat away at me. It had been hours since Kane and Magnus left to investigate the attack at the western border and I had yet to hear from either of them. I was reluctant to go up to Kane’s suite as it felt weird to be ther without them.A knock on the door had me jumping and cursing as I sloshed the hot tea over the rim of my cup and into my hands. I set it down as I felt Brodryn enter the room, taking napkins and wiping the mug and the front of my shirt before I looked up at him. He was shirtless and standing in the doorway, stepping in and closing it behind him while he watched me.I titled my head at him and bit my bottom lip as I felt the heat in his gaze but my att
It had been a couple of days since the attack on the western border and through the bonds I could feel Kane and Magnus’s frustrations. They were having no luck finding any leads and it was weighing on them both. Since that part of Kane’s pack was relatively remote he was staying there for a while to bring comfort to his pack members. I missed him but I understood his reasons. Magnus had been called back for some council business and it had me more nervous that he was alone this time. In their absence I had been doing what I could for the pack, it was just slightly overwhelming. There were a lot of people I met with throughout the day, and I had the sense that it was more curiosity about me and what I was like than anything. It was nice to meet his pack members but still it was overwhelming. I was doing my best to fulfill the role of Luna but it was still a strange role to take on. One I wasn’t sure I was any good at. I still doubted I was even a good Alpha. Self doubt was something I
I woke the next morning to the door of the suite being open and a voice calling out for me. I groaned and climbed out of the bed and went into the main room, nodding to the triplets who were standing there as I made my way into the kitchen for a glass of water. I was tired and a little grouchy but aware enough not to take it out on them. “What’s going on?” I asked through a yawn. “Sorry to wake you Luna, we just got back and the Alpha has asked us to help you get your things together for your ride back to your pack. He’s on his way and hoping to be here in time to say his goodbyes. The kitchen has prepared a special breakfast for you as well. We’re all sad to see you go.” Renley said as he ran a hand through his blonde hair. “I’m sad to leave, I do really like the pack, but I’m ready to go home. I miss my Gram and I need to be with my pack.” I admit with a small smile. “That’s fine, just abandon us Luna, that’s fine.” Ramsey said with a small playful grin. I looked at him in surp
“Ugh thank gods we’re home!” I groaned as I hopped out of the truck just as Echo came to a stop in front of the pack house. I stretched and groaned as the ache in my muscles protested the movements after being stationary for so long. “Thank gods is right. I desperately need a piss and to sleep. I’m heading home. Catch you later Kara.” Echo said as he grabbed his bag and headed to the house he shared with his brother and his mate. I waved him off before heading to the house and smiling at Gram as she came out of the house to give me a big squeeze, kissing my cheek and smoothing back my hair before leading me into the house.“You look tired my dear. Did you want something to eat before you go to bed?” Gram asked as she led me into the kitchen. I nodded and yawned as I sat on a stool at the island counter. “The truck is not a comfortable place to sleep. Echo was driving all the way through and didn’t stop unless for a bathroom break. I felt so bad I couldn’t help him by driving part of
I woke to the sensation of someone climbing into bed with me, their body warm and wrapping around me from behind, feather light kisses being placed on my neck. I stirred and looked over my shoulder, smiling sleepily as I saw Blaze in the dark. “Welcome home, Little Mouse. I missed you.” He whispered as he tightened his arms around me, pulling my back flush to his chest as he kissed my cheek. “I missed you too Blaze.” I sighed as I relaxed in his hold, his scent enveloping me and making me feel safe and relaxed. “I’m glad you’re still here.”“I’m the baby among my brothers. Therefore I do not have their responsibilities. Works in my favour seeing as I get to stay with you as long as I please.” He gloated before nipping the back of my shoulder. “Sneaky Blaze.” I teased as I turned in his arms so I could face him, kissing him softly, my eyes still closed as I nuzzled into his arms. “Tired?”“Mhm. It’s still night time. Not everyone is a night owl….dragon? Like you and Brodryn. I actu
“Hello, Alpha Einar? This is Alpha Kara Ravenfield, I’m returning your call now that I’m back home.” I said as I fiddled with my pen while I spoke to him. “Ah yes! Alpha Kara, it's nice to hear from you again. Your Beta informed me that you were staying with your mate. Did you have a good time?” He asked conversationally, the sounds of muffled shouts and laughter coming from the background. “I did have a good time yeah, it was interesting to see his pack and how much it differs from mine.” I admit with a small smile as I swivel my chair side to side. “But I’m happy to be home and back with my pack.”“It’s always the best feeling to come home to your own after a journey.” Einar admits with a soft chuckle. “That is the truth. So what do I owe the call in the first place?” I ask, the curiosity eating at me. “Well I had a thought after our first chat and I went back through all of our old records. I found correspondence between your first Alpha and his family here. It goes on through
Blaze What. The. Fuck. This had to be some sort of sick fucking joke. How was it even possible? Why would he even do something like this? What was he after? I wracked my brain for answers but no matter how hard I tried, I could not make sense of his actions. I thought back to when I got home, tending to a few things with my various business ventures, things that others ran for me, I was very hands-off but still checked in from time to time. I was really only there to check in and then have dinner with my mother. Thinking back she was awfully concerned with me getting back to Kara in good time and not staying the night, telling me that I should enjoy my time with my mate, not waste my time on the island if there was nothing pressing going on. At the time I didn’t think anything of it, but that wasn’t like her. She never tried to rush me off before. Could she have known that Cadmus couldn’t be trusted? Brodryn was being kept on the island, I didn’t know it at the time but she must h
Stienn I stood in the doorway of the room and watched Kara in her sleep state, her mate Blaze laying beside her. It was strange to see her so still and void. Her fur and scales were still showing through her skin periodically and it made my wolf restless and angry to see her in such a state. He wanted nothing more than to call his young pretty mate back from wherever she was but she was beyond my reach. Only someone far stronger could call her back, all of us might have managed it without Malik but no one wanted to take that risk. So now we were waiting for Malik to get here. We all knew it was only a matter of time before he got here. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair, shaking my head as I realized I had left it all unbraided and hanging loose around my shoulders. I had a quick and cold wash in the river, cleaning my hair and I had intended to rebraid it but I came into the room and stared at her for so long that I forgot about it. None of us were doing ok with Kara being in
Cadmus “What do you mean they’re gone?” I bit out angrily as I stared at the guard in front of me. He was young and spindly for a dragon. New to the guard and so far I was very underwhelmed with his skill level. Why would Brodyn boast of his soldiers if this was the type he had in his ranks? “The Captain is no longer at the palace and the young prince is no longer confined to his room Your Majesty. We can not find either of them and our trackers have been unable to locate them.” He reports before swallowing nervously, his eyes shifting as he avoids looking at me directly. “You can not find them.” I state with a scoff, running a hand through my hair and sighing heavily. “You wouldn’t be lying to me under some misguided notion of loyalty to the Captain would you?” I asked as I watched his face go pale and heard his heart beat erratically. “Just as I thought. Leave me and send in your Commander.” I dismissed as I turned to face the lit fireplace in my office, scoffing as the youngling
Brodryn I flew nonstop, my wings aching with the punishing pace. I was accustomed to flying longer and farther than this but the stress of needing to get to Kara, the iron blood cuffs being so close, carrying Blaze’s dead weight and the fear and Corey I was still feeling and experiencing was enough to fatigue me far earlier than I would have liked. I ached with the need to get to Kara as fast as possible. My dragon was a snarling worried mess with the worry he felt for his little mate. As I came close to her pack land I picked up her scent along with Magnus and Kanes’s and noticed it wasn’t coming from the pack house but from farther into the forest surrounding her land. I dipped my wings and glided low in that direction, finding an empty space in front of a large wooden building, and landed, shifting almost immediately and collapsing beside Blaze’s unconscious body. I stood there breathing heavily and taking note of all the unfamiliar faces that watched with curiosity and apprehensi
Magnus I stirred in my sleep, my dragon coiling inside me and pushing against my consciousness. He was worried. Something was very wrong to have him pushing at me so insistently, the wolf pacing beside him in agitation. I stirred and felt consciousness chasing away the fog of sleep as they pushed me to wake and find the source of their agitation. I sat up and wiped the sleep from my eyes, jumping in surprise as Kara shot up in bed and started screaming. I immediately reached for her as she started to flail, Kane waking and grabbing for her a moment later, confusion and worry plain on his face. “What the hell is going on?” Kane asked, his eyes liquid silver as his wolf fought for control. “Kara, I need you to wake up Darling. We’re right here. Kara!” I called as I tried to soothe her, my wolf and dragon trying to push forward and calling to her, rumbling and trill sounds coming from my chest and throat as they called to her, trying to find her in what felt like unadulterated fear thr
I looked at him and remembered the dream I had of him, the first time I saw him, his wolf bathed in moonlight, and knowing with every fiber of my being that he was my mate. How different my life became after those dreams. All the trials and tribulations. But still, I wouldn’t change how things went down, everything happens for a reason and the past was the past. It was the present I was focused on. Specifically my present moment with Kane. “I couldn't see your face in the dream, the one where you were you and not the wolf. I knew who you were to me, I just couldn’t see your face. I was so angry when I woke up without seeing you. I wanted to find you.” I admitted as I kissed him softly. “You found me eventually and that’s all that matters. Everything happened the way it was supposed to I guess.” He murmured as he sat me on the counter and ran his hands up and down my sides. “I guess so.” I said softly as I kissed along his neck, nipping the skin softly, my legs still around his waist
Sitting in the room with Laris, Echo, and Ellis was an interesting experience. Laris watched us all with a critical but amused eye, no doubt thinking it was amusing to see a young Alpha try to help a couple navigate a mate bond when I myself had made a mess of mate bonds in the past and in the present if I was being honest. I did try my best to help Ellis and Echo but it seemed to me their problem was more that they were both stubborn and reactive and blew up before any conversation and comprehension happened. “Ok, the yelling and arguing are needless you two. Just stop, take a breath and then I want you both to tell me what you want out of a mate bond. No judgment or expectations, just say what it is that you want out of a bond as an individual. Ellis, you go first.” Laris said calmly, sitting back in the chair with her legs crossed, looking unbothered and utterly calm. Oh, how I envied her that. Ellis sighed and ran a hand over the shaved part of her head, the stubble making a small
“To adjust.” I said simply, not wanting to explain all my feelings on the matter yet. Though what Einar said about their bonds being different got me thinking. “So this is how mate bonds feel for your kind, which was originally my kind as well. We believe that it’s Mani who does this, not the Moon Goddess that the other wolves believe in. My mate bond with both Silas and then Kane felt more like a compulsion, but my bonds with my dragon mates, and Malik….and now Stienn are more slow burn and instinctual, more primal. I wonder if that’s because our belief systems are more similar. The belief in the sun and the moon. Whereas the wolves here are all about the Moon Goddess.” “That is a loaded question now, isn’t it? I guess the argument could be made that yes, essentially what you are saying is correct. Your experience thus far backs up the theory that’s for sure. But I highly doubt we will ever really know for sure. Not unless the Gods themselves come forward and speak.” Einar said with
“Cadmus.” I whispered as his arms tightened around me, his nose skimming along the curve of my neck.“I missed you Dear One. Did you miss me?” He asked as he placed a chaste kiss on my cheek. I moved out of his arms and turned to face him, taking in his appearance. His hair was a tad longer than when I saw him last, he had more scruff to his jaw as well. His jeans were old and worn with use and sat low on his hips. He was just as handsome as ever but there was something about his eyes that made me hesitate. They were darker, swimming with more emotion, something deeper than I had seen from him before.“Is that all you have to say to me, Cadmus? Asking me if I missed you when you owe me answers.” I scoff and shake my head, crossing my arms over my chest in annoyance.“Why would I owe you answers? What is it you think I’ve done?” I glared at him and shook my head.“You lied to me multiple times when it came to the black wolves. Pretended like you had no idea who he was. All the while kno