008~ HOME WITH MY MATE

Raze

My spine arches as bone begins to shift under my skin.

White fur ripples down my arms, spreading across my body as muscles reshape themselves with a series of wet, cracking sounds.

I drop to my hands as my knees bend backwards, my fingers curling into claws that dig into the dirt. My jaw elongates, fangs pushing through my gums.

Every scent, every heartbeat, every movement in the surrounding forest becomes sharper as Khaos takes full control.

A thunderous howl tears from his throat. The sound rolls through the forest, powerful enough to send birds bursting from the trees.

Every wolf around us immediately lowers its head.

Khaos stands enormous beneath the moonlight, his white fur almost glowing against the darkness.

Her warmth presses into his fur, and her scent settles over him like it belongs there.

And it fucking does.

The excitement of finally holding our mate practically vibrates through me.

'She's on my back.'

Yes, Khaos. I'm the one who put her there.

He launches forward, and the pack follows.

Slow down. She'll fall.

He slows immediately.

For all his madness, Khaos would tear apart the world before allowing her to fall.

We run through the night past forests, streams, and mountains until the dirt under our paws gives way to snow that blankets the ground in an endless white sheet.

The sun rises slowly over the frozen lake, a thin line of gold cracking the horizon before spilling across the ice making the surface look lit from beneath.

Blood Moon territory.

Khaos slows to a walk, lifting his head and drawing deeply from the cold Northern air.

Then, he releases a deep, satisfied growl. 'Home.'

I feel his contentment settle through me.

Yes, we're home.

And with our mate.

Khaos reluctantly gives me control.

My body shifts back, and I catch Vaelra before she can slip from my back.

I wrap my cloak tighter around her, making sure every inch of her is covered before lifting her into my arms.

I don't want more eyes on my mate, so I take the private path reserved only for the Alpha and Luna.

It winds through snow-covered pines, curves around a lake, and eventually opens onto the Alpha's estate.

I step through the massive wooden doors of the estate, Vaelra cradled against my chest.

"Welcome back, Alpha."

London, my Beta is already standing waiting for me.

"I wasn't expecting you back this early."

His gaze drops to Vaelra. "And definitely not with an unconscious shewolf."

"Surely our Alpha hasn't taken up kidnapping shewolves as a hobby."

"She's my mate."

He nods absently. "Right. Your mate."

Then his eyes widen. "Your what?"

"Did I fucking stutter?"

I continue toward the stairs as he stands dumbfounded for a moment before hurrying after me.

"How?"

I stop halfway up the first step and look over my shoulder. "The fuck do you mean how?"

He gestures helplessly toward Vaelra. "How did you find her?"

I raise an eyebrow. "How every wolf finds their mate?"

"That's not what I—"

He cuts himself off, his expression suddenly becoming more serious.

"What about Rhonna?"

My jaw clenches.

'Who gives a fuck about Rhonna?'

"And what about her?"

"She's been acting as Luna for years." He lowers his voice. "She was supposed to be officially crowned after the moon festival."

"That was before I found my mate."

"But—"

I turn fully toward him.

"Do you expect me to reject my mate because Rhonna has been acting as a Luna for years?"

London says nothing.

Better for him.

Turning, I continue up the stairs.

"I've spent years waiting for her." I reach my door. "And now that I've found her, I'm not letting go."

'Never.'

Kicking the door open, I step inside and close it behind me.

I lower her onto tge bed and pull the blankets over her, tucking them around her.

Then I sit down beside her watching her sleep.

'When do you think she would wake up?' Khaos asks.

I don't know. But I'm sure of one thing, all hell is going to break loose when she does.

Khaos purrs already looking forward to it.

I had barely settled her in when a knock comes on my door.

I ignore it thinking whoever it is will eventually realise I'm not in the mood.

But the knock comes again and third time makes my patience snap.

I mind linked London. 'I thought I made it clear I didn't want to be disturbed.'

'I'm sorry, Alpha,' he says quickly. 'But the priestess is here.'

My brows draw together.

The senile old woman?

I thought she swore she'd never set foot inside the Alpha estate until the day I died.

It's funny how she was going to die before me.

Closing my eyes, I rub my forehead. I don't want to deal with her right now.

'Send her away.'

'About that...'

His hesitation only irritates me further.

'What?'

'I don't think it's going to be that easy. She's prepared to make a scene.'

'Then let her.' Khaos snorts.

I could ignore her and have London deal with her, but something tells me she wouldn't be standing downstairs unless she had a damn good reason.

It better be worth it.

'I doubt she came with any good news,' Khaos says.

Reluctantly, I push myself off the bed and head downstairs.

She is standing just outside the estate doors.

Grey hair falls around her wrinkled face, and both hands are wrapped around an old wooden staff.

The moment she sees me, her hands begin to tremble around the staff.

"You fool." Her voice shakes as she raises one trembling hand and points at me.

Still irritating as fuck I see.

"Do you have any idea what you've brought back?"

"Yes," I say flatly. "My mate."

Her face loses what little colour it had left. She staggers back clutching her chest.

"Oh moon goddess. How far do you plan on punishing our pack?"

Then she turns to me, fury replacing her fear. "She is no mate. She is a disaster. You have doomed—"

A low growl rumbles from my chest and Khaos snarls. "Choose your next words wisely, old hag."

She shudders, quickly shutting her mouth. For a moment the only sound is the kind outside, then she speak again, quieter this time. "Take her back."

I step forward, forcing her to tip her head all the way back to meet my eyes.

"You came all the way to my estate to tell me to get rid of my mate?"

Her fingers tighten around her staff. "She cannot stay here." Her voice rises with every word. "You are enough punishment for this pack!"

Why am I even standing here and listening to this bullshit?

I slam the door in her face, the wood rattling in its frame. Almost immediately she starts pounding on it, voice rising into a shrill, unbroken stream of warnings and curses.

"Have someone escort tge priestess back to her shrine," I order London who has been standing nearbg. "And make sure she stays there."

"Maybe we should hear—" He cuts himself off when I glance in his direction.

"Yes, Alpha."

Outside, her fists keep striking the door, the sound growing more frantic for a few seconds before finally fading as she is dragged away.

When I return to the bedroom, I find her where I left her. The only thing that has changed is tge faint crease between her brows.

"Zane..." she whispers, turning her head restlessly against the pillow.

"Zane..."

I dig my nails into my palm until blood wells under them.

Reaching down, I take her jaw in my hand and turn her face toward me.

"No one," I murmur, voice low and dark.

"And I mean no one, little wolf, is taking you from me."

My eyes darken.

"Not your pack." I lean closer.

"Not you." My grip tightens.

"Not even the fucking moon goddess."