Chapter 14: Returning North

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• The Mark of Betrayal   Chapter 46: Unsettled

  RomanAll night I’ve been holding on to Samara tighter and tighter, mentally and physically. With all the planning I did to make sure that I didn’t kill Sawyer right away, that we were ready to kill him when the time came, that we didn’t give ourselves away, I didn’t take into account how overwhelming it would be for Samara to return to her family's pack. EVERYTHING she sees is sending her back to that day when she was nine years old, helpless and alone, hearing and seeing her loved ones die around her.I’ve watched the memories flash in her mind, felt the pain, the sorrow, the loss all over again. So, when we get to our room that night, I’m not surprised that it all comes pouring out of her.I scoop her into my arms, locking the door to our room before carrying her to the bed. I’ve watched Sawyer watching her all night long. His first question to her about how she got out let me know that he was nervous about what she might have seen before she left. Since her being overwhelmed by he

• The Mark of Betrayal   Chapter 45: The Pack

  SamaraI’m struggling to stop crying. Roman is helping me, but it’s been so long since I’ve seen any of my family members, that all my emotions are bubbling up inside me.Althea leads us to the office that used to be my father’s. Even walking up to his door, the door that I came to at least once every day to see him, brings back a flood of memories. I reach out mentally, grasping for Roman. He mentally wraps himself around me, steady and strong, helping to keep me grounded.“Oh, Samara, I’m so sorry. All of this must be so overwhelming for you,” Althea says.“It is,” I whisper, just as Roman wraps an arm around my waist.“I’m right here,” he whispers in my ear. I notice a flicker of a frown on Althea’s face before it’s gone.“Maybe it would be better for her right now if she’s with you. I’m sure this is a lot,” Althea says to Roman.“Yes, I agree. The mate bond will help keep her steady.”When we step into the office, it’s surreal. Nothing is the same, not the smell, not the furniture,

• The Mark of Betrayal   Chapter 44: The Viper's Den

  Roman“Tell me again what the plan is, Samara,” I say as we leave our pack. It’s only a couple hours’ drive to Sawyer’s pack, and I need to know that she’s ready to face Sawyer and not give everything away today. My father will be mobilizing the warriors today and tonight, but I know that once they realize that Samara is back, they’ll want to have a party for her.I’m guessing that Sawyer will try to figure out what Samara saw or heard that night. It will be tricky to keep from showing how much we know, but Samara wants a chance to speak to her sister alone. Since I doubt she’ll have that time today, I made sure that we had a plan in place so we don’t show our hand too soon.“I never leave your side,” she says.“Rule number one, and the most important rule. We have the mind link, and we have our warriors with us, but I will feel safer with you by my side in case something goes wrong, or Sawyer figures out that you saw him that night. What else?” I ask.She stiffens beside me. “I let Sa

• The Mark of Betrayal   Chapter 43: Executing the Plan

  SamaraOver the next two weeks, Ayla and I push hard to get stronger and smarter in our fighting strategy. The pack is stronger since my Luna ceremony. All of us can feel it and the energy in the air as we prepare for war is so thick you can almost taste it on your tongue.While Roman says that my blood strengthened the pack, I feel stronger since my Luna ceremony as well. Accepting him freely, drinking his blood as I said the words to accept him as my mate and Alpha has made me stronger. Feeling my mate’s increased strength and energy buzzing through our bond is also making me feel stronger. It’s like our energy feeds off the other’s but only intensifies rather than burning out.At night, I can’t get enough of my mate. After spending most of the day sparring in one form or another, you’d think that I’d be exhausted, but I’m not. After dinner, we spend time talking war strategy with Alpha Sterling, Beta Austin, and Gamma Adrian. Then Ayla and Pierce run together, strengthening their bo

• The Mark of Betrayal   Chapter 42: Luna Ceremony

  RomanI wore my mate out yesterday on the sparring field. To her credit, she has stopped whining and is working extra hard to get stronger faster. Ayla is also pushing herself and I know it won’t be long before we’re ready to go to war.Thankfully, being mated seems to have given my mate extra stamina because when we went to bed last night, sleep was the last thing on her mind. Being the good mate that I am, I made my mate come until she truly was exhausted, then I curled up around her and fell into the same deep sleep that she did.Today, we’re having her private Luna ceremony. When everything is settled with Sawyer and Dylan, I intend to invite every pack in the country to watch my mate take her place at my side and as the Luna of this pack. But for now, having her accept me of her own free will, having her accept her place in the pack, is enough.My mother, goddess bless her, went and got my mate a dress appropriate for today. It’s white symbolizing who she is, a white wolf. Her bro

• The Mark of Betrayal   Chapter 41: Understanding

  SamaraI didn’t realize how much it would hurt and also feel good to hear Althea’s voice again. It’s been nine years since I heard the voice of anyone in my family. There was no way to stop the tears that started to fall and I wasn’t even going to try.Roman held my gaze the entire time. As if his eyes were my anchor, I didn’t look away. I should have realized that Roman wouldn’t lie to me or exaggerate Sawyer’s love for Althea. What I heard through the phone was love on both sides. It’s going to break her when she finds out the truth. I hate that I have to be the one to do that to her, but hopefully, someday, she’ll realize that I did it because I love her. She deserves to know the truth.“What do you think of this plan, Samara?” Roman asks me. I love that he’s asking me. He knows I’m not a warrior, not the strong fighter that he is, not yet. But he’s still asking me my opinion because this is important to me and that matters to him.“I think that if we can end this, end Sawyer withou