I try to stand up, but Mom and Dad pull me down. Mom hisses at me. “Keller, wait until you get permission.”
“Let me go! I need to get to Zara. She needs me.” I try to escape their grasp when I see her shivering under the table. I can feel her fear and it’s overwhelming. What is it doing to her? “She can’t do this anymore. It’s too much! I need to get to her. Zara, hold on, Pocket. I’m coming.”
The Luna Regent stands up and nods to the guards, who Rocky believes are the ranked wolves in disguise. She motions with her hand to the other guards, who all move without being given direction in a well-rehearsed maneuver. Two of them remain in front of the Regents, facing the audience, while the rest position themselves around Zara and Mike’s table.
“Keller Joseph Marshall,” I hear the Luna Regent’s voice say my name, “you may collect your mate. Based on what we’ve seen so far, we can proceed without her. Someone will advise you when it’s time to bring her back for ou
I give Zara a gentle kiss, then take her hand and knock on the door so the guard will escort us to the front. Three angry looking girls are sitting at the table with Alpha Williams and his legal team. Mike is on the other side, furiously making notes. He holds up a paper that says ‘We’ve got this!’ in large scribbled letters as we walk in. “No need to stop to see your lawyer, Miss Wilson. You and your mate can come up to the witness stand.” The Luna Regent gestures to the witness seat up front. “Mister Marshall, we ask that you please refrain from speaking while Zara is on the stand. Unless it is necessary, of course. You are just here to give her support so she can complete her part of the trial.” “Yes, Luna Regent. Thank you so much for making this concession for us.” Zara and I both bow deeply and make our way to the chair. Zara grips my hand tightly while I sit in the chair next to her. Mike lets the pack lawyer question Zara first. “Zara, are you feeling
From behind us, I hear Mom and Dad approaching. I turn and see them hand in hand, smiling. “Well? What did they say?” I can’t help but be impatient. “Sorry, my boy. You heard the Luna Regent.” Dad shrugs and tilts his head toward Zara. “Zara, get in the car, please. I need to speak to my parents.” I open the door and help her in, not giving her a chance to argue, and close the door. “Okay? Spill.” Mom pulls me away from the car to make sure Zara won't hear. “They are being banished. They have tonight to collect their things. Mark said will go with them so he can stay with Sylvie. The Regents are providing names of other packs that may accept them for a probationary period. None of them are ever allowed to come into contact with Zara again or they will go to prison.” “We never have to worry about them again.” My heart skips a beat at the news. “I think the Luna Regent didn’t want Zara to feel guilty for the fate of those girls.” Mom fro
I send a mind link to Zara. “Pocket, I need you to take Estelle to your room and lock the door. Right now.” “Why? Who’s here, Keller?” Even through the link, Zara sounds like she is panicking. “I think its the Regent guards. Lock the door behind you. Wait for me and stay quiet.” I say with a firmer tone. There is another knock on the door. Behind me, I hear Zara and Estelle running down the hall. “Just a moment!” I try to control the snarl in my voice. When I hear the door to Zara’s bedroom close and lock, I crack the front door open. “Can I help you?” Three large werewolves who were part of the Regents’ security team during the trials are standing in the anteroom. “Mister Marshall. The Luna Regent would like to speak with your mate.” “Those are my friends!” Rocky relaxes when he sees the men. “Be nice to them.” “I’m sorry?” I stand straight, surprised at the guard’s statement. “The Luna Regent. She would like to speak with Mis
Estelle looks at me from the sofa, clearly confused and a little annoyed. “Kell, what’s he talking about? Zara can’t have two mates, can she?” “I don’t think he’s talking about Zara.” I think about it for a moment, then look back at Tyree. “That’s impossible, bro. She’s human. Humans have chosen mates.” He stares at Estelle for an uncomfortably long time, forcing himself to not move from the spot. He finally pulls his eyes away from Estelle and looks at the Luna Regent. “What do I do?” “What’s with you guys finding your mates in every corner of the earth except for our pack?” The Luna rolls her eyes in an exaggerated, playful manner, not seeming to be concerned that her werewolf guard found a human mate. “Reggie, can you please get the Alpha up here to help with this? Milo, take Tyree to the anteroom and calm him down. Estelle Renee Barker, if you wouldn’t mind, find a place to sit that will reduce your scent, please. A bedroom or office, maybe? Just until we can
Zara’s POV The Luna Regent takes me by the elbow and leads me into the living room. I feel a popping sound in my ears and look back. There is a giant piece of glass blocking the door to the hallway. “What is that?” I stop in my tracks. I can see Keller and the guard on the other side. Keller is pushing on the wall and saying something, but I can’t hear him. “Think of it as a privacy screen. I will make it go away when we’re done.” The Luna Regent sits on the sofa and pats a space next to her. “Luna… I…” I look around, suddenly hyper aware that I am in a t-shirt and pajama shorts in front of my Luna Regent. Why didn’t I change my clothes? I realize the scar on my arm where Lavender wasn’t able to heal me is visible. I cross my arms across myself to hide it. “Zara, please sit.” She tilts her head slightly and gives me a soft smile. “I just want to talk.” I sit down and look her in the eye as much as I can. “Sorry, I get nervous.” “It’s okay, dar
Keller’s POV“If I hadn’t seen a glass wall appear in my living room an hour ago, I wouldn’t believe any of that.” I shake my head at the Beta and Gamma.“Dude, if we hadn’t been there, we wouldn’t believe it either.” Milo nods and raises his eyebrows, taking a drink of his water. A cell phone chimes, he pats his hands over his pockets, and pulls out his phone. “Ah. That’s my daughter. Excuse me.”“So, why exactly are you guys here? And by here, I mean, my condo.” I turn my attention to Reggie as Milo walks out of the room.“We have a sigma pup in our pack. Once the Luna found out what that could mean for her future, she immediately searched for a solution. Short story… she found Zara.” He looks down at the counter and picks at imaginary crumbs. “It’s not my place to go into my Luna’s upbringing, but it was bad. O
I’m just about to ask who’s daughter the pup is when the Alpha Regent comes out of my office by himself. “Wh-where’s Estelle?” I jump away from the counter and try to get past him. He puts his massive hand out and stops me. “Calm down. They’re just talking. Estelle agreed to go on one date with Tyree when he has a day off. They will take it from there. Give them a few minutes to work out the details and they will be right out.” He sounds tired as he rubs his face, then sets his hands heavily on the counter. “You wanna hear the kicker?” “There’s a kicker?” I stare at him wide eyed. “Heh. You’re funny, kid.” He slaps me on the back, making me stumble forward. “Your friend is Tyree’s second chance mate.” “S-second chance mate? What happened to his first mate?” Getting a second chance mate is really rare. I have only heard of a few other wolves having one. Usually something tragic happens with your first mate for a second one to be granted by the
“Estelle, a-are you okay?” Zara takes her hand and gives her a worried look. “You look a little… spacey.” “Is it my imagination or is Tyree the finest looking man on this planet? Like, we were just sitting here talking about chemical compounds, and a god unexpectedly walks in wanting to sweep me off my feet?” Her eyes dart from Zara to me as she fans herself with her hand. “Is it warm in here?” Zara giggles at Estelle, then clears her throat, trying to sound serious, but she’s too happy to manage that. “He’s good looking, but not a god, Estelle. That’s the pull of the mate bond. I thought from your initial reaction that you didn’t feel it, but then I saw you two talking before he left. So something must be happening to your heart. What does he smell like to you?” “You mean his cologne? It was like blackberries and vanilla but a little bit of amber too.” She closes her eyes, blows a deep breath out with a smile on her face, thinking about it. “Th