Thorne’s POV Adrenaline blurred my vision as I stumbled into the woods. I looked around frantically, trying to make out the space between the trees in the dark. This was the direction I was told Ruelle had gone but there is no sign of her in these woods and to say I am filled to the brim with panic would be the understatement of the century. I had secretly hoped to the Gods that Ruelle would eventually decide not to attend this gathering but of course things couldn’t go my way. I sprinted in circles in the woods, peering around and behind the large trees in search of even a glint of white hair. That is as much help as I would get to make finding her easy in the thick darkness of these woods considering her dress is black. I come to a stop amidst the trees, my hands going up to rake through my hair and my knees falling to the grass. “Fuck!” I swatted at the grasses in front of me. There was no sign of her here. Guilt surged through me like venom, my mind already working up the
Ruelle’s POVThe hall was packed with people. Several Alphas of different clans along with their Lunas and their Luna’s younger siblings were here. But for the majority, most were yet to be mated. It was like an organized hunt for mates and as soon as I stepped my foot inside these halls and met the eyes of almost a hundred unmated male wolves, I instantly regretted coming here. I had to remind myself that I was here for one person only and when that person came, it will all be worth it. But that person was nowhere to be found. It was almost thirty minutes into the Gathering and most of the wolves who got an invite were present. The Ceremony had already begun, with several Honored wolves rendering their speeches and raising toasts to my Papa. There was no way you would find me in a place like this on a normal day. I feel restrained. But soon I wouldn’t. I even went as far as stylishly asking my Mama if she knew anything about the Iron Alpha and why he wasn’t here. She had no idea an
Thorne’s POV“He is still proving stubborn, Alpha Thorne”. Carlos calls behind me, jogging to match my stride with an annoyed edge to his voice. I don’t need to ask to know he is referring to the rogue we brought back from the south as a souvenir. He was meant to be dead by now according to the ruling against rogue wolves who attack Alphas, but we kept him to get more information and we’ve been at it for months. I tick my jaw, clenching and unclenching my fists. “Maybe I should take it from here”. I tell Carlos who immediately shakes his head. “I don’t think so, we have it under control we just need a little more time.”My patience runs thin with every passing day. I am terribly on edge about God knows what and Carlos feels it too. Anything that takes me into the room where the rogue is kept will no longer be an interrogation session, but a means to vent. No way I am walking out of that room with that rogue still breathing. Not after the scar left on my life by one of them. As
Ruelle’s POV “If only the Iron Alpha had been here to get a Luna…”. Thessa mused, pouting as though it saddened her. “I was almost sure he was going to ask me to leave with him. We had a moment, you see?” I rose my head from the book I was reading on werewolves superiority over vampires. I hadn’t gotten past the second page before my sisters waltzed into the room and since then, I have been staring at just one line, reading it over and over while I tried to listen in on their conversation. Of course I generally don’t care what my sisters are yapping about. It was either about a man or a new gown and it was usually only Thessa speaking. Valka and Seren cared very little for those type of things. My sisters were trained Protectors of the Keep, but they had their lives outside of it. For Thessa, it was obsessing over a new gown, or some fine wolf she made eye contact with that may be her mate. For Valka, it was obsessing over what the Chefs would cook next. She always straight-face
Ruelle’s POVI was in a daze. Everything happened so fast, I almost got a whiplash. But I came to one conclusion that both terrified me and awed me at the same time. This man was out of this world. It all went by in a blur, my hands latched onto his neck with my legs hanging on both sides of his body. As soon as I got on his back, Thorne’s ‘Hold on tight’ rumbled in my mind before he sprinted in the direction Carlos went. I was pulled back so hard I almost fell off before I caught myself and leaned into him, holding unto his neck. The fact that Thorne was practically sprinting into battle did nothing to soothe the whirlwind of emotions in my body, especially my lower body at the fact that I was still completely naked beneath his coat, his thick fur rubbing against the bare skin of my legs. What an unexpected turn of events. The wind blew my hair back as he swept past the trees in a sprint, running straight into the tussle between Carlos and a rogue. ‘Lower your head’. He grow
Ruelle’s POV You have to believe that you truly do no know yourself until you have experienced certain situations. Even if you don’t believe it. That’s a fact. You don’t know the extent to what you can do until you are given an opportunity or a reason to do it. My wolf was curious. That was my excuse for today. I wonder what the next one will be. Even I was looking forward to it. I wasn’t thinking. Wasn’t thinking when I stormed up to my room after breakfast and couldn’t get a hold of myself. I paced around the room with my hands on my waist as I plotted, mind you, I still wasn’t thinking. I wasn’t thinking when the thought flashed in my mind and without even letting it sit, I was already executing it. And now, I am here, my arms crossed over my bare chest, my bare bum perched on a branch a few feet away from the Black wolf. Thorne. I thought that I was okay with it. I managed to keep my head down and wild thoughts at bay all through breakfast, although it was complete torture