The deadly silence that fills the room at Hunter’s words is the most satisfying sound I’ve ever heard. Valerie looks shocked as does everyone else.“Hunter!” Valerie hisses, her face contorting with anger. He looks down at her and I don’t now what silent communication passes through them but he seems to become a little aware of where he’s standing.His tone is stiff, “I mean. The mating ceremony hasn’t happened yet.”“She has my mark,” Lucas snarls. “You put your hands on my mate. Are we supposed to protect our women from the Alpha now? Sarah is mine. She belongs to me. Not you. On one hand, you're going around calling her deformed and that you don’t want her but then nobody else can have her as well? Is that what you’re trying to say?”The pack mates look at each other, a little restless.“Lucas, you’re misunderstanding,” Valerie tries to touch his arm and he snatches it away, his face disgusted. “Don’t touch me,” He snaps at her and Valerie flinches.Hun
All eyes turn in my direction as Hunter picks her up, his eyes glowing fiercely at me. “You did this!”“Did what?” I demand. “I’ve been in my room since what happened this morning. How could I do anything to her?!”There’s a soft murmur around us and one of the female lieutenants, Debra, looks confused, “How is wolves attacking you, Sarah’s fault?”“Because she can control them!” Hunter snarls.“What?” Debra looks a little wary as she looks my way. “How is that possible? Is this true, Sarah?”I stare at Hunter and Valerie. I hadn’t really thought they would reveal my ability so quickly.I press my lips together and nod, “I recently found out. But I didn’t do anything to Valerie. Just because I can control wolves doesn’t mean I control all that exist. And I have to be physically present to control them.”I put in a white lie or two in my words. “I was in my room the whole time. Ask Tina,” I gesture towards the pack healer. “She came to check on me twice.”T
“They’ve shut me out,” My father says, his voice frustrated. “David passed a motion that since you are my daughter, I cannot be included in the decision making because I will be biased. They're not letting me into the meeting so I don't know what they're talking about.”I sit on couch, leaning against Lucas, “They want to tie me to the pack and produce children to use their ability. Aliya said that only one diluted generation has been able to retain this ability. What are the chances they’ll try to do something to me during the meeting?”“They won’t be able to,” Lucas assures me, his hands running over my back. “The meeting is going to be public. Some of the maternal women insisted on this as did the sentinels. Hunter is already in a precarious situation with the pack. He’ll let this meeting be public.”I’m scared.“He looked very confident,” I mutter and Lucas presses his lips against my forehead. “It doesn’t matter. I won't let anything happen to you.”However, whe
I stare at the pack elders in stunned silence.Whatever I had been expecting, this had not been it. I had not thought that they would be bold enough to pull this off. I had clearly underestimated how desperate they are to tie me to Hunter.I can hear the outcry behind me but I don’t register it, my eyes flicking over each face sitting before me. Hunter looks pleased, his eyes ruthless, and Valerie has a strange look in her own eyes. As a second mate, I would be subservient to her. That would make her happy.My lips curve in a smile and David frowns on seeing that.“I don’t accept this.”“Excuse me?” Some of the pack elders frown. I know my father wants to interfere but I just look at him from the corner of my eyes and give a discreet shake of the head.“I don’t agree because I haven’t done anything,” I continue. “once again, I am being punished for a crime there is no evidence for. It seems to me that you simply covet this ability of mine. It's no secret that
“What?” There are horrified whispers from behind us.I may have overplayed my hand but the fact that I just demanded a public execution rather than being forced into becoming Hunter’s second mate are strong points in my favor.“I never said anything like that!” David splutters.“Oh really?” I give him a cold look. “Fine, then. I want a public execution. If you deem me to be such a great that you feel that you are forced to ruin my life, then I would rather you kill me.”“This isn’t fair.”“There is no proof that Sarah was behind the attack on Valerie.”“Breaking a mating is painful. Why would they subject her to that?”“Pack breeders are outlawed.”“She must be really terrified to ask to be killed in public.”“Why are they targeting her like this?”I let a small smile play on my lips as I watch Hunter and the elders scramble to fix things.“Enough with your lies!” David roars at me. “When did I say something like that? Do you have any proof?”“Do
It’s fascinating to see even Hunter feel the pressure of Lucas’s raw power. David struggles to keep sitting and I feel a wave of satisfaction.“This has to be done for -““But it’s not necessary,” Joesph gasps, as he too feels the brunt of Lucas’s anger.“Lucas,” I touch his arm. When he looks at me I shake my head.Stop.I can feel the pressure ease up and Lucas glares at the group of old men sitting at the panel, along with Hunter and Valerie, “Is this what happens here?”His words are a snarl as the white faced elders watch him, clearly terrified.“You try to take away my woman to appease your selfish Alpha?” His eyes turn towards Hunter who is beginning to look both tense and angry. “I don’t have to tolerate this tyrant behaviour nd neither does my mate. We’re leaving.”He grabs my hand and David shouts, “You can’t take her with you! We’ve passed the ruling! She is -“The pack mates look startled and one of them speaks up, “Jospeh just clarified that
When I wake up, it’s to a delicious feeling within me. I feel complete. The bond between us which had been a presence within me, an awareness of Lucas’s feelings has expanded, and I know without opening my eyes that he is right next to me.When I do open my eyes, he is leaning on his elbow, watching me, a smirk on his face, “I know you’ve been awake for five minutes.”My face feels hot remembering what he did to me last night and I pull the sheets up to my chin, “Sorry.”He grins, leaning down to kiss me hard on the mouth, “The time for feeling shy has passed.”I sink into the kiss, and my arms come up to wrap themselves around his neck as I pull him closer.“Later,” He murmurs. “We still have things to do today.”“I wasn’t -“He grins again, “I know. I just like watching your face turn red.”He climbs out of bed, “Come on.”I watch him as he heads towards the bathroom, a part of me a little uncertain, “Lucas?”He pauses and then looks over his shoulder a
I watch Valerie leave and Lucas asks over to me, “What was that about?”I tell him and he frowns, “I don’t think you should underestimate her. The fact that she managed to get her hands on wolfsbane makes her very dangerous.”I purse my lips together, “You’re right. I think we’re going to have to take some precautions. We still need to figure out how she got her hands on wolfsbane and if she can get more if she needs.”Lucas studies me, “You talked to Aliya-?”“She said it had to be a through a witch. But if there are any witches, then they can only be found in human settlements. And we don’t really interact with humans.”“That’s not entirely true,” Lucas says, slowly. “We do interact to some extent. We buy a lot of electronic supplies from them once a month, don't we?”That’s true.Why didn’t I think of that?My eyes turn towards the soldiers training in the distance, “Valerie’s grandfather is one of the shifters who goes into town. He’s one of the pack elders