Bonus episode. What do you think of Clint leaving Anders to help Lily?
I almost lost my shit when I saw Andra pinned to the ground by one wolf with another wolf coming to attack her. My Guardian’s need to protect Anders was over-ruled by my mate bond's need to protect Andra. Thankfully, I didn’t have to chose one over the other. Anders wasn’t in any danger and Lily needed my help. When we get inside, Patrick tells us that we’re going after the rogues. He has trackers hunting them now, but he wants to take them out. It was a large group that attacked, and Beta Calvin will stay behind to interrogate the rogues that were captured and find out why they decided to attack us. Patrick tells us to plan to be gone for the weekend and I’m not thrilled. Something is off with Aaron taking Lily to the Blue River Pack. I know that Alpha is looking for a mate, and Lily is more than worthy of being mated to an Alpha. But there’s got to be more to it than that. Lily is still underage and wouldn’t be able to recognize her mate. I should know, since I AM her mate. I aske
When I realized I’d gotten out of my date with Lucas because he was going on the hunt for the rogues, I decided to stay in and relax. The bite mark on my leg was sore and the doctor said it would take a day or two to heal completely. I have to admit, Clint texting me and checking on me is really sweet. I had a restless night’s sleep, my leg causing me pain every time I turn over, but I smile at my text from Clint in the morning. I didn’t realize he could be this sweet, it’s nice. ‘Yes, it is.’ My sleepy wolf says, yawning and stretching in my head. I get ready, grab my overnight bag and meet my father downstairs. We grab some coffee before heading out. Since it’s a long drive, I close my eyes and sleep for the first couple of hours before waking up and watching the changing landscape. When we get to the pack borders, my father gives our names, and we are allowed entrance. He seems to know exactly where he is going and we pull up to a lavish packhouse, bustling with activity. I step
We are escorted to an empty room, with a table next to the glass overlooking a lake. There are fairy lights all around the lake, giving it a romantic feel. Not the feeling I want to have with this Alpha. Without asking me, Alpha Mahli orders for both of us. When the waiter is gone, he shifts his attention to me. “What do you know about me, Lily?” “Well, I really only know what you’ve told me today.” And that you are a terrible decorator and possibly have a small dick. But I don’t say that out loud. He reaches over and takes my hands in his. “I’m looking for a mate, someone that can be by my side, helping me to manage the day-to-day operations of the packhouse. I don’t need a strong Luna, merely one that is competent and one that can give me an heir.” He pulls my hands to his lips, kissing them, then sucking on my knuckles. I have to swallow the bile in my throat. “Your father thinks that we would be a good match. I would care for you, and you would want for nothing. You are young
Lily is a Guardian. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. When I take her in my arms, she breaks down. I’m not sure what happened while I was away, but I intend to find out. I hold her for a moment while she cries before picking her up and carrying her to a chair. Sitting down, I settle her in my lap and let her cry until she cries herself out. I can tell the moment she realizes that I’m wearing nothing but a towel, and I’m holding her in my lap. Her body tenses and I relax my arms, letting her pull back. I rub my thumbs over her cheeks and wipe her tears away. “Better?” She nods. “I’ve been waiting for you to get home all day. I didn’t….” “Shhh, I’m here now. We can figure this out together.” I was so worried about her. It encompassed all my thoughts for the last day and a half. Now, I can’t help but touch her. I tuck her hair behind her ear, sliding my fingers down her cheek. She leans into my hand. “Why don’t you start from the beginning.” I say. It’s everything I
While I’m mortified that Alpha Anders saw me sitting in Clint’s lap, even though nothing was happening, I’m more concerned about what is going to happen next. Now, not just one but two Alphas will know I’m a Guardian. If I had any idea where to go, I’d run. As if sensing my discomfort, Clint comes up behind me, his hands rubbing up and down my arms. “You said you trusted me, right?” He asks, turning me around to face him. “Yes.” I say quietly. “Then trust me that I won’t let anything happen to you. I won’t let Anders or Patrick force you into any kind of mate bond. Not that I think either of them will, but if it helps you feel safe, then know that I would never let that happen.” He leans in, kissing my forehead. He’s entirely too close. I can feel the heat from his chest through my clothes. I don’t know if it’s because he just had a shower, but he smells like warm apple pie, fresh from the oven. He smells like home, like my own personal happy place, and it’s making my mouth water.
Donovan is thrashing around in my head so loudly that I can barely hear the conversation going on around me. The only reason he hasn’t forced the shift was Alpha Patrick’s warning that he’d send us out of the room. I’m not leaving Lily, not now that I’ve heard the entire story and know that Alpha Mahli touched what is mine. I’m disappointed that she didn’t trust me enough to tell me what was happening. I only feel slightly better knowing she waited for me to get home and came to me immediately, knowing I would help her. I turn to Patrick. “So, what do we do now? Lily is in danger, not only from this Alpha Mahli, but also from every other Alpha that finds out she is a Guardian.” He turns to Lily. “Lily, do you feel that your father will keep you safe and trust that he will take your feelings into consideration around taking a mate?” I can see Lily struggle. I’m sure she wants to say that she believes that he would keep her safe, but he’s given her trust in him quite a blow over the
I follow Beta Calvin to a room on his floor. It’s nice, but I feel like a stranger in this room. I go sit on the bed with nothing else to do. Nothing in this room is mine. I have no clothes, no toiletries, nothing. The reality of my situation comes crashing down on me. My father was going to sell me to an Alpha to pay his gambling debts. I’ve never felt so lost or scared. I’m nervous for how my father will react when Alpha Patrick speaks to him. Will he yell at me? Most likely. Based on how he responded earlier, he will be furious and try to make this about me being ungrateful. I don’t know how my mother will feel. I can’t believe she knew anything about this. But she does what my father tells her to do. She has always been a good mother, but she never goes against my father. Now that her being a good mother and a good mate are at odds, I’m pretty sure that the mate bond will win. Will she be angry with me as well? Will she blame me for whatever punishment my father receives from Alph
As Lily closes the door, I immediately hear her sniffles and soft sobs. I clench my fists and go in search of Patrick. I’m furious that they didn’t throw her father in the cells or at least make sure he returned home. I find him in his office. I walk in without knocking. He looks up and when he sees it’s me, he sits back in his chair, folding his hands together on his desk. “Clint? Something on your mind?” I should sit down, but my temper won’t let me settle. “I took Lily for a run tonight to get her out after everything that happened.” I look up to see if he’s going to make some smart comment, but he remains quiet, watching me. “Her father was laying in wait for us when we returned.” That got his attention. He sits up, leaning forward. “Where?” “Outside the packhouse. Called her slut, ungrateful and basically blamed her for everything. Then he said something about it all being a misunderstanding and Lily will be moving back home when it’s figured out.” I turn to look at him, my