Erin’s POV On the way to the next pack, I couldn’t help but notice how much room there was in the back seat. I noticed that I could comfortably rest my hand where Isabelle used to be. I looked out of the window and shed a tear. We only left a few hours ago, but it felt so much longer. Is this how it is going to be when Lacie and Kris find their mates? Our foursome will be disbanded throughout the Wolf Kingdom? Lacie takes hold of my hand and squeezes it. I glanced at her. She gave me a half-grin while holding back the tears that had filled her eyes. As we pulled up to the entrance of the Blue Valley Pack. Rylee handed over Kris’s invitation to him. The guard looked at it. “Welcome Alpha Kristen,” he said to me. I guess he assumed I was Kris, seeing as I was sitting in the back of the SUV. “It’s not far to the pack house. I will let the Alpha know you’re on your way.” He informed me. I play along. That’s why we’re here. “Would it be possible to wa
Kris’s POV When I find Jordan in the woods, he is hiding behind a tree, kissing a woman. Maybe this was who Alpha Denver was threatening to ‘take care of’. I coughed to gain Jordan’s attention. He had the look of a frightened man on his face. He maneuvered the girl behind him for protection. “Don’t tell my dad. Don’t tell your Alpha. Please.” Jordan pleaded. “What’s going on?” I asked them both. He looked at the girl and put his arm around her. She sobs into his chest. “Lucy is my mate. But my dad keeps threatening to kill her if I don’t do as I am told.” He looks at me and strokes her hair. “Every day, I fear for her life.” I now understand the hold he had over Jordan and why he’s so scared. No one should live in that much fear. Not because of love. “Lucy, are you tied to this pack? Family perhaps?” “Only Jordan. I’m an orphan.” “She isn’t of rank and an orphan. Dad despises everything about her. But I love her. She’s mine.” Jordan said, tightening
Lucy’s POV “Let’s just go together.” I plead with Jordan. “I have things I have to do first. If you’re not here, he can’t threaten me.” Jordan tells me as he looks into my eyes. It’s going to be torture leaving Jordan, but he is right. I cry as he kisses me. “Don’t cry, Lucy. All I need to hear is that you’re safe. You are my life. My future. Lucy, we have a future out in the daylight, not in the shadows.” He says excitedly. I nodded my head and watched him leave. I told myself he’s not walking away from me, he’s making sure I get out safely. My heart didn’t understand that though and ached like I would never see him again. Jordan told me to wait for Alpha Kristen just inside the pack’s border. He gave me a description of what Alpha Kristen looked like, so I knew it was her. As I met Alpha Kristen’s assistant last night, I already knew what she looked like. But did she convince her Alpha to take me with her? As I am a member of the Blue Valley Pack, Alph
Rylee’s POV I couldn’t stay focused and eventually agreed to let Kris drive. I felt dizzy and nauseous. “You look pale Rylee. Kris, we need to skip the next pack and get him somewhere where he can lie down.” Erin tells Kris. I think it’s Erin anyway, I wanted to say no. We have to stay on point. We have missed so many packs already. Then I felt sweat running down my face. But what I said was “Pull over.” The vehicle stopped just in time for me to open the door and fall to the ground, where I vomited. “You’re not okay,” Kris says sympathetically. I can’t move my head to look at her. I stay where I am, on all fours on the ground, looking at the contents of my stomach. “Kris. There is a motel a few miles away,” Lacie says. “Do you think you can make it, Rylee?” Kris asks me. I nodded my head. Breathing feels hard enough, never mind speaking. The lump in my throat makes me feel like I want to throw up again. The girls helped me to the motel room on the first
Kris’s POV “Your friends are welcome to join us, or they can join in the festivities. We’re celebrating, you know,” Harrison, a guard, said to Lacie and Rylee. He must be a mind reader, as that is exactly what I wanted to do. Me, Erin, and Lucy then walked off. I can’t help but smile. This pack has been nothing but welcoming and inviting since we got here. I feel relaxed and safe. Lucy clung to my arm as we walked towards the town center. It was easy to locate. We simply followed the music. “What is that heavenly smell?” Erin said to me as we turned a corner. “It smells amazing. I can practically taste the spices,” Erin proclaims. Erin absolutely loves spicy foods. But she has to make do with her mum’s bland foods. I think her mom’s cooking is great, but I love a home-cooked roast dinner. It makes me feel all warm inside. “Beautiful Señorita’s. Welcome.” One vendor said to us, as we approached his stall. He hands us all a basket of nachos. “Thank you. How much do we o
Nathan’s POV I held my little sister when I found out what had happened on her last road trip. Being given a second chance mate is a blessing. But I fully understood why she rejected him. As I stroked her hair, I couldn’t help but admire the strong woman in my arms. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be related to a woman who stuck to her morals. A woman who valued love and family, just like our mom did. I am so proud of Kris. She is just like our mom in so many ways. “They loved each other so much, Nathan. You could tell within minutes of meeting them. That they belonged together. Damn, the mate bond.” Kris says to me as she pulls away from me. It would have been wrong. I agree with her, it would have been wrong to break up a family. “Ezra wants to know if Siren wants to go for a run. Let off any pent-up frustrations she has. She was, after all, rejected as well.” Kris smiles at me. “Siren agreed with the rejection. But she wouldn’t turn down a run with her
Kris’s POV “Kris, don’t you think it’s time to go out again? If you plan on being Alpha after your 21st, it’s important to keep searching for a mate.” Rylee asks me. Ever since Emily entered her third trimester, I’ve been avoiding leaving the pack. I was worried about the pack being attacked. I was worried about whether anything should happen while I was away. What if Nathan and Emily need me? This baby is so important to me, and I am her aunt. It’s my responsibility as her Alpha to ensure her protection. I can’t leave. When Rylee mentioned going out searching for a mate again, it made me question whether I was doing the right thing by staying here. “The best way we can protect our niece is to remain as Alpha.” Siren tells me. She reminds me I need to make allies if I want to challenge the Wolf Council. Make sure my niece never experiences the discrimination I have received based on her gender. It’s not just about my niece, it’s for every female in the wolf king
Kris’s POV “What was that show Nathan used to watch about the Borg assimilating people into their collective?” I ask anyone who is listening. “Star Trek,” Rylee answers me before he starts laughing. “You have to remember, Kris. The pack follows the Alpha’s rules, regardless of how absurd they are. They’ve got to do it, or they can be banished.” Rylee reminds me. “Surely their Council Member can see what is happening. Shouldn’t he be supporting every member of the pack and reporting any concerns upwards?” “Maybe he is seeing it and choosing to ignore it. Or maybe the higher-ups are not doing anything about it.” Erin chimes in. “Yet I get a douche Council Member getting too involved in mine. Bloody typical.” I looked at Rylee, who seemed to be distracted and looking in the rearview mirror. “What’s wrong?” I asked him. “Not sure, but that car has been behind us for a while,” he said. I know if I turned around in my seat, I wouldn’t be able to see anything.