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8. Ayr
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His Unlovable Mate 9. Cassie
The clunking sound of Beta Cesar unlocking the door made me stir from the pillow. “This is early, even for you,” I groaned, arching my back under the covers and stretching. Quickly checking, my hands had pretty much healed from last night's injuries. “Came to give you a heads up, actually,” my eternally grumpy guard replied, shutting the door silently behind him. Heading towards me, his jade eyes were as serious as the grave. This is bad. He’s never done this before, swiftly confirmed by my wolf sending an icy shiver up my spine. Fuck. In times like this, when the world seems to rush a little too quickly, I try to remember my father. There are so many of his teachings about leadership and strength trying to barge their way into my swirling head. Totally lost on my once naive teenage ears. I’ve had time to think since. All my tiredness evaporated, and I scampered myself into a sitting position in my small bed. Drowning in grey and black blankets, I wore a simple, black silk slip.
His Unlovable Mate 10. Cassie
Stubble greets my chin, making it blindingly clear this isn’t a crazed fever dream. Roughly seizing him, braced for his resistance, my chest presses against him. My hardened nipples rub against the roughness of his chainmail. It is like I’ve thrown myself onto the rocks at the sea-facing end of the cliffs. Hard and brutal, the metal chainmail is cold to the touch as is the stone cold floor on my bare feet. But his lips. The feel of my hands upon his jaw, his blonde hair just brushing through my fingertips. That’s the kind of soft warmth I could bask in forever and never wake up. He murmured with surprise but I held on, determined to make this scene stick. This kiss isn’t for me. It’s for my bitch of a sister to discover. To ruin Ayr’s attempt to win her. No marriage, no alliance. It will give Kallio a chance to sort itself out. Who knows what might happen if I get rid of Ayr as an option? The people could one day make up their own minds about Elle. I thought I’d have to hold
His Unlovable Mate 11. Ayr
I swore to my father, to my pack, that I would always put them first, no matter what. So, although my world exploded into blinding sunlight when the mate bond kicked in, my head was immediately resisting. She can’t be my Luna. Not a murdering liar and schemer. She has nothing to give. I shatter my own reputation, my packs faith, and still be vulnerable to slaughter from other packs.Plus, we could face potential war if Luna Elle is outraged enough to want vengeance for her humiliation. But fuck it felt so good. Better than good. Otherworldly. Enough to make me wonder why I hadn’t spent my entire life chasing long, shapely legs like Marcus has. Duty doesn’t reduce your spine to jelly. Responsibility doesn’t leave you breathless, hungry to know just how much of her touch I could withstand before declaring myself insane as I split in two. Every inch of self-preserving fiber, the very steel in my bones melted away to nothing. For a woman I can never have by my side.I knew her game
His Unlovable Mate 12. Ayr
Waiting for me in an extravagant golden carriage like a fairytale queen, Elle beamed at me. Her orange silk gown, corseted tightly with golden ribbons and long chestnut hair caught the sun perfectly. Orange velvet clad servants bowed with respect, all of pretending nothing catastrophic had occurred. “You look like a vision, Luna Elle,” I offer, and she places her hand to her cleavage in mock modesty. A vision for anyone else but me. She’s not an idiot. She knows the kiss she interrupted wasn't some one-sided assault. I had Cassandra pressed as closely to my body as I could by the time her voice rang out. “Alpha Ayr! I have instructed the staff to remove the roof so you can see everything!” and patted the orange cushion next to her. She means so everyone can see me. With her. Divert the attention from Cassie’s prison drama.Elle is working to adjust the perspective. Like a Luna should. Except it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. She's on the hop. I'm splayed like a boxer after a
His Unlovable Mate 13. Cassie
Roughly depoaited in my cell, Elder Brent and Gunner lingered. I had hoped they’d simply throw me in the squalid, windowless room and walk away. Then I could try and piece together what the hell I am meant to do with the rest of my life. No doubt Elle intends for it to only last a few days. Maybe less.Nobody lasts for long down here. Kallio does enforce life imprisonment. It’s just that your life is pretty much over a few days after getting down here. The Elders make sure of it. They aren’t just there for advice. They take care of the dirty work, too. Elder Gunner in particular. The way his musty green eyes linger on my bare flesh is sending my wolf into overdrive. My mantra for the last few years rises in my chest. I am not low, only lowered. “I think you can leave now” I mutter, grabbing a foul-smelling blanket to cover my legs. “I don’t think you have any say in that now,” Elder Gunner smirked. Younger, thicker built than Elder Brent, I knew underneath his brown robe he was s
His Unlovable Mate 14. Ayr
I don’t have a clue where she is except that Marcus swears she is alive, galloping away on his horse. Which I believe.At the same time, her sister swears she is dead. That first night, Elle wept against my chest. Tears flooded as she wailed. “My big sister, why!” Elder Brent, a constant, lurking presence in the back of the room, nodded, “To think she killed again, Elder Gunner was a gentle soul. He did not deserve such an end.” /Fucking prick had his knee on her neck. I killed him gladly/ Marcus chimed in my head. /Don’t believe a word any of these dusty bastard say./ /Done/ I agree.When my irises flare into green at the thought of anyone hurting my mate Elle grips me tighter. I'm giving her the wrong impression, but this is no time to correct her.The hours rolled on. Arrangements were decided, obituaries presented and approved, her beast of a mother provided with more wine. Sighing, resting her chin on her upturned, manicured hand Elle sighed wistfully. “I know Cassandra had h
His Unlovable Mate 15. Cassie
That very first night, after allowing my horse to refresh itself, I headed straight to Elder Gunner’s residence. He had a cave in the cliffs, but like all the elites, he had a woody summer residence gifted to him by my father. Years languishing in the library, I had forced myself to memorize so many pointless facts to keep my mind sharp, a fact now paying dividends. It was a chance to admire the curve of my fathers penmanship to see how he managed affairs right down to those he knew he could not trust. Kicking in the wooden door, I raided it under the dim light of the moon. Ruthlessly and quickly, I took anything that could be of use. This would be a one-time visit. As soon as news got out, others would get the same idea anyway and come rooting. As it happened, Gunner had so much gold stashed away under his bed I had to steal a wooden, ramshackle cart to transport it. By the time dawn rose, I had picked a small cave by the sea to store everything, the offending cart broken into
His Unlovable Mate 16. Cassie
Dressed in huge riding boots, poorly fitting pants, and a heavy man's leather jacket, I hate that my first reaction is how unattractive I look right now. It’s completely pathetic, I’m better than that, but I can’t help my cheeks burning up.I’ve dressed to disguise, not entice. But he doesn’t get to see me crumble again. Planted against the floor, screeching and defenceless with my nightgown failing to cover me is the lowest I’ll let Ayr see me fall.“Cassandra?” he adds with the rustle of grass suggesting he’s stepping forward, edging closer to me. It’s all my wolf wants, pressing and urging me to listen to the way my heart is racing. Instead, I turn to face him, using every bit of pride left to stand tall. He’s stunning. His blonde hair falls about his face in loose waves, his eyes swirling with blue and green. Wearing jet black, it is only his chainmail that glints in the light of the moon. He is every inch the Alpha. I am every inch the criminal. A rat scurrying away into the
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