“Get some sleep,” He whispers, closing the space between us after I pull my top back on. My arms wrap around my stomach, hugging myself closely to keep from reaching out to hug him, to try to take away the pain I continually seem to cause him.Maverick reaches out, his hand sliding against my cheek as he grips my head. His thumb rubs up and down the smooth skin at my ear, sparks following his touch. Then he sighs, tugs me into his chest, and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m not tired.” I mumble, and he chuckles.“Yeah, well, I’m not feeling all that sleepy either, but with the bond doing what it wants, we need as much sleep and strength as we can muster to fight against it.”“That is what you want?” I ask, taking a step away from him, trying to shake the hold the bond has on me. “To spend the rest of our lives fighting it and pretending it’s not there?”“No.” He admits with a deflated huff of air. “But what we want and what will be will never be the same, So I will gladly t
*Maverick*Tatum seems withdrawn at breakfast, not saying much to the girls and actively avoiding looking in my direction. If she were trying to avoid suspicion from me, she is failing miserably, but I won’t be able to interrogate her until we are back in the room, whenever that is.I allow my eyes to linger on her more than usual, unable to keep from watching her plush lips that I have craved since the moment they left mine. I will spend the rest of my life longing for them.“I was thinking a walk would be nice?” She says talking to Clem who frowns and tucks a hair behind her ear, “Honestly, I’m afraid to take you anywhere, Tate. Everyone here thinks I was luring you into the woods to steal you away because I couldn’t handle the competition.” Clem sounds genuinely upset.“Well, they are wrong and I know it and you know it. That is all that matters.” Tatum shrugs. I’m glad Tatum thinks she is right about Tatum. Someone has to believe her because it sure as shit isn’t me. At this rate
Shock gives way to anger as my wolf paces and growls in my mind, only adding to my unease. I feel cornered, like Artemis was planning to keep me from Tatum. He can’t possibly know that Tatum and I are second chance mates, can he?I shake my head and look at River as she watches me, waiting for something and I realize I can’t waste a minute, but I also can’t leave without getting permission from Artemis. “Come with me,” I growl, blazing past River, my legs carrying me closer and closer, my mind whirling trying to come up with a logical way to handle the situation. Shit, it’s whirling with how to explain my need to go after them to Artemis without revealing the truth of what Tate means to me. “Where are we going?” River asks, ambling behind me as she struggles to catch up.“To the Alpha’s office.” I tell her, my eyes forward, focused on getting to Artemis so I can inform him of what is happening. He has to know something is off, doesn’t he? Unless these assholes have really done a gre
*Tatum*Rose whimpers next to me, huddled close as we sit in a dark, cold room. The last thing I remember was looking out the window to see River show up at the pack house, then a sharp pain in my neck before everything went dark. That was however long ago now, and all I can assume is that I am with the ghost wolves who took both Rose and I.“Are you okay?” I whisper, reaching out and taking Rose’s hand in mine after searching for it for a moment. She cries hard, her body moving closer to mine as I sigh and blink, hoping to get my eyes to focus. “Are you hurt?”“Only a little,” Rose says, and I frown to myself. These assholes really are abrasive as shit. Is it so hard to present yourself to Alpha Artemis and have a civil conversation?“Do you know where we are?” I ask her.“A building?” she responds in a question and I chuckle to myself. How fucking helpful.“Right,” I mutter, feeling around with my free hand. The door slams open, making us both jump as Rose whines and clings to me h
*Maverick*“You can not trade Clem.” Artemis tells me like I hadn’t heard him the first four times he protested my plan. “Clem can speak for herself,” River argues. “She is unconscious at the healers. Explain to me how you think she can speak for herself,” Artemis growls, moving toward River, who scrunches her nose in distaste. “She is probably awake by now.” She argues back. Artemis tilts his head to the side. “Why do you want her gone so badly?” He questions. River furrows her brow, peeking over at me, looking for the answer. I shrug. “No offense, Alpha Artemis, but I’m beginning to think you have brain damage. I WANT MY BEST FRIEND BACK. Have I not made my motives clear enough?” She raises her voice and Artemis’ nose twitches, his body tense as he scowls at her. “No offense, huh?” He snorts in anger, pacing away. “Are you always this infuriating?” He asks, and she rolls her eyes. “Yes,” I answer for him. “Yes, she is.”“It’s true,” she admits. “I don’t bend easily, so you m
“Alpha, we need to move. The rogues are close.” I remind him, my eyes scanning the trees to put faces to the stench that grows stronger with every passing second. Artemis clears his throat behind me. “Yes,” He says “We just need to make it to the border then we will be safe.”“Until the ghost wolves find out we are there,” River reminds us. “We will be fine.” I mutter, knowing exactly what is going through Artemis’ mind.“How can you be so sure?” Clem asks and I glance at her. The poor woman is scared shitless, but I get the inkling the rogues aren’t her cause for concern. “We have you,” I remind her, and she frowns. “If you are the Alpha’s mate, then you are more than enough to keep us safe. We have what he wants. Keep that in mind. Now, let’s move.”I break into a run, the rest of the warriors surrounding us to keep our Alpha protected from the rogues as we all move in unison. Clem struggles, her injuries slowing her down as I reach out and grab her, tossing her onto my back. She
***Twigger warning: This chapter is a little graphic and DOES have an assualt of the sexual nature (there is no rape or penetration of any kind****Tatum*Alpha Kit watches me from the other side of the room, his eyes trained on me like I might make a run for it. While I have every desire to leave, I have zero to get myself killed.So instead I will just bide my time wandering the massive room. Everything feels darker here, no modern touches, it’s as if they have been suspended in time with no modern technology. Where Artemis’ pack house is more of a modern mansion, this one is castle-esque. Large bricks line the walls outside and in incredibly high ceilings and candelabras. They have electricity. They aren’t living in the dark ages, but they have clearly been in the family home since the very beginning. Alpha Kit’s desk is a sanded slab of beautiful cherry wood, with its raw edges showcased in the clear varnish that preserves its constitution.“Has this place been here all along?” I
*Maverick*My body shakes with pure violence. Feral alpha or not, this fucking asshole doesn’t stand a chance against me. Not in this state, not when murder is the only thing on my mind. He has touched what is mine, a pain that is a thousand times worse than any pain imaginable. Tatum lays limp in his arms, her eyes red rimmed and her face smeared with blood.“Mav, it wasn’t him. Alpha Kit helped me.” she forces out, like she is in pain.Her hand reaches out, and the Alpha male steps closer, offering her to me. Without hesitation, I fold her into me, my wolf whining at having her safely in our arms. I can’t help but press my head into her neck, her scent marred by that of blood and someone else. I growl, looking up and scanning the room, only to find a limp body to my right. “Was it him?” I ask her, locking my eyes with her and she frowns, a small nod verifying the body was her assailant.“He is dead.” Alpha Kit says when I notice the head on the floor, eyes wide with surprise. Good.
Hey!! SO this is ending differently than my usual they are happy for 5-10 chapters! why? Becuase I felt their relationship was developed along the way, showing them over that many chapters again would have felt like filler which i promise never to give you. I have also left a few things open for specultion. There is a reason for that. There is potential for a Clem and Kit story, a shorter one but that won't happen until I get the second book in the Rebel Rising series up and completed.Clem and Kit's story would pick up from the moment she is traded to him for Tatum so we would also get alot of Mav and Tatum in their story as they are important characters in their lives. As always, THANK YOU, for hanging in there with me. This was a fun one to write. I will be doing some editing and such and may add more to give us more details about River and Artemis but they also may have a small novella coming if I feel like their story needs to be told from their POV. Basically, everything
Tatum sits sobbing in the bed, her eyes locked on mine as I hold the little screaming bundle in my arms. I look down at my sweet, perfect, and very loud son, Maxwell Mason. Tatum rubs her eyes, her chest heaving up and down, and I can’t help but laugh. I know it’s an awful thing to do, especially considering the circumstances, but I can’t help it. Tatum looks beautiful and exhausted. “Babe, go to sleep.” I insist and she shakes her head no.“Why won’t he sleep?” she blubbers. “I am so tired,”“Tater tot.” I say firmly, “Then go to sleep. I’ve got him. He is okay. He just needs a change and a bottle.”“But I should be able to nurse him,” she sobs, looking at her hands in her lap.“Ah.” I sigh. So that’s the actual issue. Tatum’s milk supply has yet to come in and it is the third week. My poor sweet mate wanted nothing more than to be a mother and be a perfect one. And now that she has a baby, she feels like she isn’t enough because she can’t breastfeed him. “Look at me,” I say, walki
*Maverick*The healer walks around me, a look of concentration on her face before she looks at me and clicks her tongue. My heart falls. Clearly, this physical evaluation is going fucking poorly. And here I thought I was going to be giving the go ahead to make Tate mine tonight. It has been two fucking weeks of not being able to make her mine.No strain on my body, no marking and no fucking sex. Worst fucking rules ever, and here Tatum is all happily complying. I have been a patient man all my life waiting for the day I can fuck my mate whenever I damn well please and yet here I am dying to sink my teeth into her neck and make sure every damn single male in this pack knows she is mine.“Janelle,” I growl at the healer who Artemis sent with us to ensure my healthcare was consistent for optimal healing. She shoots me a glower that says to shut up and wait. “I think your healing has expedited with your new title.” She says, finally standing upright and giving me a satisfied smile. “Your
Maverick stares at me, the haziness finally completely gone as he just observes me silently. I reach out to touch him, my heart pounding. I have been touching him, helping him with the bond the whole time he has been injured and out of it.But now…he is coherent enough to realize I am actually here. He flinches as I come close and my heart aches at his fear, who would have thought he was easier to work within when he was fighting during his treatment than he is right now after a solid 4 days of healing sleep.“Maverick,” I keep my tone light and assuring. Even after explaining to him it will no longer hurt him, he is still hesitant and I understand now just how much the oath was tormenting him. The very sight of me seems to cause him pain and confusion. The fucking oath’s attempt to ruin us is still so damn raw. “Y-you’re sure?” He asks, swallowing roughly and licking his lips “I’m positive.” I nod. “The oath is gone,”“How can you be so sure? I don’t understand,” he mutters, lookin
Maverick tries to reach up to touch me back, his eyes distant but happy, as if he is moving in a fog. My tears run unchecked down my cheeks as I try like hell to calm myself. There is so much happening all at once. In my mind and around me, I feel overwhelmed, completely lost in what to do with all of it. “I need you to keep him from moving.” The healer tells me, touching my shoulder gently. “We have to get his arm bandaged before infection sets in and he loses it.”I lower my head, pressing my cheek to his as he turns into me, a satisfied hum on his lips.“Mav, stay still. You have to stay still, otherwise it will hurt,” I whisper in his ear.“I want to touch you,” he says back, his words sounding slurred as he tries to turn toward me.“No, no,” I rush out, splaying my hand over his chest to still him. My stomach boils when I touch his open wound, but I keep my eyes closed, my face pressed to his as I breathe through it. “You need to heal. ““I don’t want to.” He mutters, and I sigh
*Tatum*I fly out of the car before Jackson even has it in park, sprinting up the heavily decorated stairs as the doors whip open. River throws herself into my arms, holding me as my chest beats and all the terrible thoughts one can imagine flit through my mind. I haven’t been able to catch my breath since she told us to hurry. I can only think the worst. It has to be terrible if she won’t tell me over the phone. “Riv…” my voice quivers as I pull away trying to force her to look at me, but she avoids eye contact. Jackson places his hand on my back to comfort me.“That’s enough waiting. You have to tell her, River. She needs to not be in the dark anymore.” He tells her and she looks over at him, biting her lips. “We found him.” She swallows, rubbing my arms in a soothing manner. “But it’s not good, he is—”I move her aside, rushing into the pack house, my eyes trying to locate where he is. IS he in our old room? Or did it cause him so much hurt that he has now moved to another room?
*Maverick*I know I won’t be able to see Tatum tonight, not without the pain that will overtake me like it does every fucking time she comes to my mind. With the way the oath is going, it is trying to burn her from my memory, punish me for the bond that was divined for me.If I had any other option, I would take it. I have searched for two months alongside Artemis and Milo and at times, even River would pull an all nighter looking for something. Anything that would relieve me of my suffering, and Tatum’s as well. There is nothing, just as there wasn’t two months ago. The only way I can think to end the suffering, truly be rid of the pain, is to end it. No, I’m not the type of man to kill himself. That’s not how I plan to go out. I have respect for the life I was given, the talents I have. What I don’t have respect for are the rogues that started this all. The callous, soulless assholes who only wish to maim and murder for fucking entertainment.Their attack is the one that led me dow
The waves tickle my bare feet, the warmth of the sun seeping into my shoulders as I stand side by side with my mom. I couldn’t NOT bring her with me. I wasn’t in a good enough place to go anywhere alone and with Clem and River both busy living their own lives…well. Mom wanted to be with me. I guess she was worried I would wander off and never come home. But this ending with Maverick feels less…I don’t know. It’s different. My heart is in tatters, but it’s different from the first time. Back then there was an ache, feeling like he didn’t love me, or I wasn’t enough. This time…this time I get it. Maverick loves me, and he loves me as much as I love him. Which is why I have traveled the last two months like he asked me to in his letter. I knew deep down if he thought there was a way out of his oath, a way we could be together, I know he would utilize it. “How are you, my sweet girl?” My mom asks softly and I smile, lifting my chin for the sun to kiss my bare cheeks. “Hmm, I’m good to
It’s bitter out. The cold air is relentless as it whips around, the wisps of little snowflakes blowing in my face as I stare at my parents’ grave. Their grave is massive, no doubt costing thousands, and I tilt my head, wondering how Tatum of all people paid for it. The thought of her creates an ache throughout me, my heart exhausted and battered from all the back and forth for the past two days waiting to see her.I couldn’t bring myself to text her back or even attempt to answer her calls, as I hid like a coward. If I would have answered I would have told her, There is no hiding the truth from her and she deserves to be told in person. I deserve to witness her heartbreaking so I can never forget what I have done to her time and time again. “You’ve been avoiding me,” her sweet voice calls out behind me and my eyes slide shut, relishing how she sounds, the happiness that laces her teasing words. I want to hold on to this, fucking cling to it like a baby clings to its mother, but I’m