Maddox's POV
"Sir, a lone female is approaching our territory," Bryan, one of my warriors told me. Since the rogue increased his activity I'd had groups of scouts patrolling our land and reporting back anything strange.
"Show me," I demanded. Bryan handed over his phone. A photo of Mouse flickered to life. She huddled by a rock overlooking our packhouse. I ran my finger over the screen and smiled.
"You're sure she's alone?"
"Yes, sir."
"Fine, watch her but do not approach her."
"Yes, sir."
The day carried on around me as normal but my mind, and Shadow, refused to focus on anything but Mouse. She was close. She was alone but why?
"We need to go to her," Shadow demanded, fighting me for control.
"No, we'll frighten her."
Shadow spent the day arguing with me, fighting for control and sulking. I was almost glad when supper rolled around giving me chance to focus on something else.
Kayla's POVMaddox led me back down to the office. His pack emerged from their rooms all smiling and nodding as they passed me."She's gorgeous," I heard one of them whisper."Nice to meet you, Luna," another chirped as she rushed by."Supper smells lush, Alpha, cheers," a younger male grinned running down the stairs. "I'm starving.""Amber," Maddox grabbed her arm as she skittered past, pulling her to one side. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention the war to anyone.""Of course, Sir," Amber nodded."I will do everything within my power to avoid war and if it does happen, I swear to you, I will keep you safe.""I trust you, Alpha Maddox," Amber smiled touching his arm.Maddox's pack seemed endless. They emerged from all corners of the packhouse, all smiling and laughing and all well fed and well dressed. After endless greetings we finally made it to the privacy of his office. Maddox pul
Maddox's POV"Shadow, dude" I snapped my head throbbing as he clawed at my skull, screaming and howling, "give it a break. I can't think straight.""That explains why you're trying to kill us," he growled still fighting me for control."Shadow," I sighed, "as a fighter you're amazing, you can take wolves twice your size and I'll forever bow down to expertise in battle but this stuff, this intricate human stuff. This is my domain and you need to trust me.""Why should I," he challenged, "when you don't trust yourself? You hate this stuff. You constantly question yourself.""I'm not questioning this," I snapped."Fine," Shadow huffed, "But if we get killed I'm never speaking to you again.""One can dream," I sighed.For the rest of the short, moonlit walk to the cave Shadow sulked in silence, occasionally sighing at the pounding of my racing heart. The closer we got, the faster my heartbeat. C
Maddox's POVCasper tore through the trees. I struggled to keep stride as I fought for Blake."If you hurt him..." I warned."If he's who you say he is I won't need to," Casper said with an annoying air of calm. For once, Shadow was quiet, simply watching from the depths of my mind."Shadow," I begged, "you know Blake, help me."He didn't reply.We reached Mountain Ridge in half the time it took for me to reach the cave. Casper threw open the heavy double door."Kayla," he bellowed.My pack came running, some already unleashing their wolves. Growling and gasping echoed off the walls. Lena stood in the front. Blake stayed in the back his arms stretched protectively in front of Kayla."Kayla," Casper held out his hand."King Casper," Lena whispered. The entrance hall fell into a deathly silence. My pack dropped to their knees, bowing their heads, all except Blake who still stood
Kayla's POVLena walked by my side-firing awkward, polite questions at me."So, you've been living with Royalty, huh?" she smiled."Yeah," I shrugged."And you're a white wolf?""Yeah.""I bet you'd love to go back to Cedar Wood and show them what you've become?""No.""Oh."After that, we walked in stifling silence under the moonlight. Lena side-eyed me every few minutes as if checking I hadn't vanished into a puff of smoke. A million questions raced through my mind. Lena grew up with Maddox. There wasn't a thing she didn't know about him. He was my soul mate and I knew is that he smelled of coffee and cigarettes, was sexy as sin and made me feel safe. Questions lingered on my lips but my brain refused to let me ask them. What if Lena thought I was stupid or laughed at me? What if she told Maddox I was a freak?"Through there," I whispered, my heart pounding, as I pointed to t
Kayla's POVThe room felt smaller by the second. My heart pounded so hard in my chest it was hard to breathe. Maddox gripped my leg tighter.I'm not a warrior. I'm not a leader. I can't win your war.My throat was so dry the words refused to leave my mouth. Maddox grabbed my clammy hands in his and pressed his forehead to mine."Breathe," he whispered. I obeyed as much as the lump in my throat allowed gulping in shallow breaths.Serena and Casper yelled at each other. Their words blurred into a loud cacophony of terrifying nonsense in my head."She will learn to lead Serena because it's in her blood. You think they were just born like Alaya? No, they were trained.""We don't have time. She can fight. She can win Alaya alone. I'm the one connected to her, not you.""And I am the rightful ruler of this Kingdom not you! She will lead an army.""They're insane, actually insane," Blake
Kayla's POV I didn't realise how hungry I was until I started eating. The soup was an explosion of flavour. Casper did what he could with the tools he had but we mostly ate roasted rabbit and deer with whatever veg he could forage or steal, all cooked over a roaring fire and served on a hand-carved wooden plate to be eaten with our fingers. And before Casper, I lived off whatever cold scraps Alpha Patrick and his family left me. "What's in this?" I asked pouring the final spoon into my mouth trying to guess what the unfamiliar flavors could be. "Beef and vegetables," Maddox shrugged, scraping his crispy bread roll off the side of his bowl and mopping up the final dregs of soup. "But what veg?" I tried again. "Carrots, onions, celery, potato, garlic and um, whatever I found in the fridge really." "It's amazing." "It's soup," he frowned. "I've been distracted lately so when it was my tu
Maddox's POVKayla's breathing slowed as she drifted off in my arms, her face full of peace, possibly the first peace she'd ever felt in her life. I wanted to promise her more but I knew I couldn't. Whether she liked it or not a war was coming and Princess Serena and King Casper were determined she would pay an integral part of it. I knew my history. I knew about the Guardian, about their powers and strengths."Why aren't you content?" Shadow mused. "Our mate is where she belongs. She's accepted you. She gave you her innocence and yet you're still in turmoil.""Her entire life has been a war," I sighed. "And now we're bringing her into a real war, one she's not ready for and one she doesn't want.""Izelle is capable," Shadow promised me. "I sensed it when we met in the woods. She's strong, stronger than a normal White Wolf, stronger than Casper even.""I hope so," I sighed, "because she needs to be."Dawn
Kayla's POVMaddox wrapped me a thick, fluffy white towel and lifted me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders resting my head on his smooth, tanned chest as he carried me into his bedroom. A pile of lotions and potions littered his bedroom floor. I raised my brows, questioning."Oh, shower things," he grinned, "from Lena, but I guess it's too late for some of them. I think some of them are for after the shower."He dropped me onto his bed and gathered the pile of tools and bottles, dropping them to rumpled bedsheets at my side. My heart sank.All my possessions until now were hand-me-downs and the only hand-me-downs I got were necessities. Of course, I knew what cosmetics were. I wasn't stupid. I cleaned Luna Lucy's bathroom every day and wiped down all her bottles of lotions and potions but I'd never dared use them. I once plucked up the courage to open one and take a deep sniff. Whatever it was it smelled o