Everest I sank to my knees in the dewy grass, the mate bonds power still radiating around me. My heart was shattered. I felt like a shell full of pain and hurt. My mate had left me, and I didn’t know if I’d ever see him again. He hadn’t even formally rejected me, he’d simply shifted and ran, leaving me caught in a stalemate of anguish. I sat in the grass crying for hours. I’d hoped he would come back to me here. I’d hoped he’d feel the pain I was feeling and return to me and make it right. One way or another… I curled up and must have drifted off at some point. I woke up to voices laughing. It was still dark out, but it must have been near three in the morning. I sat up and a fresh wave of misery rolled over me. I just had to make it to my bed. I pulled myself upright and somehow found the strength to get upstairs. But I didn’t go to my room. I followed the scent to Finn’s room. The smell of sandalwood and cedar comforted me and broke my heart at the same time. I was so unprepared f
EverestI won’t lie, it had been rough. Finn’s dismissal of the mate bond had crushed me. I had barely begun to explore my feelings for him when they were ripped away from me. I’d questioned everything with him before, for sure…but when I felt that bond snap into place, I knew that everything I had needed was right in front of me. Seeing him walk away had been agony of the deepest level. I’d spent a week curled up in bed, too “sick” to go to training. My parents knew something was up, but they didn’t question it. They had no idea. Kali and Cas on the other hand had been by my side throughout the whole ordeal. They had searched for me the morning after to wish me a happy birthday and found me buried in the guest bed that Finn had stayed in, tear stained and exhausted. I didn’t have to say what happened, they both knew, and they didn’t make me re-live it. They’d taken turns bringing me food and water, keeping me company, bringing over movies…real sister stuff. After a week of mourning,
Finn Caleb had left yesterday afternoon for Aurora moon, but I’d buried myself in my office all week since I let it slip to Lupin that I’d found my mate. She hadn’t been able to let it go. Each time she’d seen me, she had pestered me with a million questions about who, what, where etc. I hadn’t elaborated on anything, instead ignoring her completely every time the subject was brought up, which, to my annoyance, was every time she saw me. I’d refused to go back to Aurora moon. I had good reasons with the attacks happening, but the truth was that I wasn’t ready to face Everest. I needed more space from her to get myself prepared for the rejection. The memory of her sweet vanilla and rose scent, and her liquid gold eyes was still too fresh; it still brought up an insatiable hunger for her. I wanted to see her, but I knew how dangerous that would be. The mate bond was strongest between an alpha and his luna, and I couldn’t risk it. The door to my office suddenly swung open and bounced
EverestI went to bed that night with my mind racing. How would he feel when he found out I was coming? Would he be mad at his sister for talking to Caleb? Probably…the man seemed to be able to find anything to get angry about. I curled up in a ball and tossed and turned until I finally feel asleep.My dreams were filled with faces of Wendigos and Rougarou’s and other nameless monsters. I ran from witches and would catch glimpses of my golden wolf dead on the ground, a pale, winged beast chewing on my flesh. I fled from one nightmare to the next, calling out for help, calling out for anyone…but the darkness was swallowing me, and I couldn’t breathe. I was gasping for air but there was no air to breathe. Black smoke was choking me, and I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed, gagging on thick tar when a pair of icy hands grasped either side of my head. I tried to scream but I couldn’t. I felt 10 spear-like claws pierce my skull and then I woke up.I was gasping for air and my heart was racin
Finn My paws thundered against the forest floor as I ran point on a security patrol. So far nothing out of the ordinary had caught my eye, but I was determined to be thorough. I slowed to a stop, feeling my breath heavy in my chest. The sun was shining on Onyx today. It broke through the canopy in a spatter of dappled light that lit up patches of the soft green moss. The old growth forest was peacefully silent aside from a few birds chirping here and there. I inhaled deeply, breathing in the clean, damp air. Life was simpler in this form…more legs, less problems. ‘Finn?’ Lupins voice cut across the mind link.‘What?’ I replied, annoyed at the intrusion. ‘Just wondering what time you’ll be back from patrol?’ she asked sharply. We hadn’t really spoken since the whole mate bond discussion. It was clear that we were not back on regular speaking terms quite yet… ‘Probably an hour, why?’ I quipped back. ‘Just curious.’ She shut the link off. She was probably planning to ambush me about
Finn I set the table for three and poured some wine. I had prepared to eat in the smaller dining room so that we were less likely to be overheard should the conversation turn to Everest. It was light sandy wood, with a black table and six black plush chairs. It had a view of the forest out of the floor to ceiling windows, which slid open to allow fresh air in. I’d changed into a fresh light blue shirt, since I’d spilled on the white one while cooking. I’d made a slow-cooked braised beef with roast potatoes and carrots with Yorkshire puddings and a caprese salad to start. I was no iron chef, but cooking was something mom and I used to do together, and it always calmed me down. It was an escape for me and something I’d hoped to do with Lupin as she grew up…however the girl could burn water, so it didn’t exactly pan out. But she loved what I’d made, so we would sit in the kitchen together while I cooked, and she would eat her body weight in food. Food was a ritual for both of us, me mak
Finn It was messy now…no doubt about it. I mean, it was messy before…but now it was worse. I couldn’t deny my feelings for her. Everything about her drew me in, and everything in me needed to resist it. I would have to figure out some way to stay away from her until I rejected her. I knew it was what I had to do, but every time I looked into those molten gold eyes, I just couldn’t say no to her. I didn’t want to hurt her, and I knew that every minute I delayed, the mate bond grew stronger. I’d gone there with the intention to reject the bond and she had pulled me back in with just her simple touch. I was pissed off at the whole situation. But the was right, she did have the right to decide for herself. She was young, and she deserved the chance to get to know own feelings. Who knows, maybe we could be friends one day? Walking back to my room I was getting angrier and angrier. At the end of the day, it wasn’t Everests fault at all. This was entirely one person’s fault and I planned o
FinnIt surprised me how intent she was on visiting the attack victim. She would have made an excellent Luna. She was compassionate and caring, but more so, she was strong. Her energy was powerful and bold, and she knew how to command herself with integrity and strength…yet she was sweet and silly. I can’t say I’d ever met anyone like her. We walked to the hospital, and she talked about her research with an intensity that impressed me. She was determined to figure out what was going on and she wasn’t to be underestimated. “…there’s just so much to go through. It could be from anywhere. If the girl can tell us more about it hopefully, we can narrow it down at least. Thank goodness you arrived there in time though…Its so strange that it doesn’t have a scent.” “I know, I was confused at first when I only smelled the blood…maybe it’s got natural defences against us…if its venom can stop us from healing, maybe it can prevent itself from being smelled? There are so many possibilities, but