“What…what is going on?” Winter looked between her Alpha and her father.Onan was sitting just behind my consciousness. He was ready to take over and fight both of these wolves. The fact that one of them was our brother didn’t matter at this point. None of that mattered. These two were trying to take our mate away. I didn’t think they would try to go this far. It didn’t even register that this was an option.“No.”It was a single word from me. However, between Onan and I, the growl and the power that came with it, it might as well have been a right hook to the face of both of them. I was still holding Winter against me, her hand holding my arm. What’s worse is that I could feel her shaking.“You want to break an alliance, Caspian? We need to keep our alliances if we are going to survive. We break this, and we lose their support. Support we count on often.” Damian was struggling still under my anger. “We need this.”“Not. Winter.” I struggled not to shift, the only thing keeping me grou
*** Winter’s POV *** “You doing okay?”This had to be the fifth or sixth time that Krista had asked that today. It made me wonder if I really looked that miserable. Or if it was just the fact that there was more of a presence of the pack warriors than normal at the school. They were here to make sure everyone was safe but Krista, myself, some of the teachers, and Principal Miles knew better.“Krista, stop asking, please. You’re just making it worse by asking.” I closed my locker, staring at the front of the blue metal door. “I don’t know if I can be.”There was a good part of me that regretted my decision. Stepping out of Caspian’s arms, hurt so much more than I thought it would. The looked on his face broke me. I couldn’t believe what Alpha and Caleb had done. I couldn’t believe they would go that far or that they would think it was okay.Of course we would fight that! I didn’t care what Caleb said, Caspian was my mate. I knew it. I felt it. There was no way that Caspian wasn’t my m
We pulled into the pack house driveway and I was surprised to see quite a few cars around. The pressure on my chest felt heavier when I realized not a single one of these cars was Caspian’s. Getting out, I left my backpack behind and Caleb even waited for me to walk with him to the door. Did he think I would run? Looking around, I wondered if it would be an option.“Inside, Winter.”Nodding, I walked into the house. What used to be a safe place for me now felt slimy. It felt like I didn’t belong here anymore. Nor did I feel welcome. Stepping into the kitchen, Luna Ember smiled and started to pull me into a hug, but I stepped back. Caleb growled but I didn’t care. Not after everything.“Winter…I know it may not seem like it now…but we really just want the best for you.” She stopped trying to hug me, at least. “I know it’s hard to see now, but trust us.”All I wanted to say was no. I didn’t want anything to do with any of this. This was wrong. Everyone knew it and I didn’t understand why
“Winter, do you know what you are asking for?”I stood in Mrs. St James’ office. She had stared at me a long time when I asked her to take me to speak to the Council of Elders. Luckily, she didn’t dismiss me immediately. Instead, she asked Krista to help me get dressed and then meet in her office. I expected that we would be alone, but Mr. St James was leaning against the wall behind her.“I do.”Mrs. St James leaned forward, her elbows on her desk as she rested her chin on her hands. “Winter, bringing the Council into this…it would get messy. It would also be leaving the decision in their hands. You might not like the outcome. They might not decide in your favor.”I looked down, clasping my own hands together. “I know. Thinking over this past week, I tried to think of what I could do. I felt, powerless, despite telling Caspian that we could figure it out. Leaving it all up to him, when the reason why I’m fighting so hard against this is purely selfish. It’s because I don’t want to le
I sat in the passenger seat of Mrs. St James giant black Wagoneer. We had left the pack territory a while ago as we drove north. Outside of telling me I looked lovely and asking me to buckle up, she didn’t say anything for the entire drive so far. There was some jazz playing lightly in the background and I looked out the window, everything outside being completely new to me.“Winter.”My head snapped to her. “Yes?”“You will be meeting with the entire Council. I will not be with you. You will be on your own and a few of them aren’t happy with an extra meeting today.”Nodding, I listened carefully to her. She wasn’t looking at me, her face serious as she watched the road. It was her in work-mode. A heaviness to her tone.“You cannot argue. You cannot treat them as you would your pack. While you might rebel against the Alpha, but you cannot do that to them. They would just as easily decide that you’re not worth it.”It wasn’t a matter of seeing me as a child wasting their time. She was
The door opened and I felt my stomach drop. Regis moved to the side to allow me to step in. He gave me a smile and nodded into the room. Stepping into the room, I kept my eyes on the floor for a moment. My mother’s locket was tight in my hand. The door shut quietly behind me and slowly, I lifted my head.I had to blink a couple times to comprehend what I was seeing. The room was nothing as I expected. There were windows along the entire wall I was facing, a gorgeous view of the forest and even the river that ran all the way down to the pack. Inside the room reminded me of my house before Hannah got her grubby paws on it.It was the warm comforting living room or den. The stone floor had been covered in a hodgepodge of large area rugs. About three different styles of antique couches, five in total, were all around the room. The wall to my right was floor to ceiling bookshelves. There were was one long table in front of it and then two desks, one facing the windows
I didn’t know what to say. This all was so overwhelming. I sat there, staring into the coffee table. My mind was going a million directions and unable to settle. The mug of hot chocolate was placed back in my hands and I instinctively took a sip. It was the taste of home. The same feeling when I smelled the herbs drying or damp soil from a garden. The same feeling I had stepping into this room.Taking a breath, I finally spoke. “Before…I ask anything else. The reason I came here was because Alpha Damian and my father were trying to mate me off to another pack. They said that y-you signed off on it. I wanted to state my case. At the very least that I should be allowed to meet with Caspian when I turn eighteen. To know…before I’m mated off to someone…”“You have no need to worry about that.” Councilor Augustine growled. “You will not be going anywhere. Not unless by your choice.”“We also didn’t sign off on it, for what it’s worth. They never came to us.” Councilo
“Poisoning?” My knees started to give, but Councilor Daeva went from hanging on to me to holding me up. “They poisoned my mother? Is that how she died?”Councilor Erissa got up and got another glass. This time, it was filled with water and she handed it to me. I took a couple sips, still feeling like I wanted to pass out.“To answer your question, yes and no.” Councilor Daeva chimed in again. “Sorry, I’m not reading the room again, am I?”“No, you aren’t. You’re being overly touchy and the poor girl looks like she is going to faint.” Councilor Morel spoke again, shaking his head.He was right. I wanted to faint. Councilor Erissa helped me with the next couple of sips of water while Councilor Daeva left my back to go bicker with Councilor Morel. My mother…I always thought that she died from a broken heart. That the bond that my father refused to acknowledge had ki
‘Your mate thinks you’re mad at her.’Ignoring Onan, I stormed into the store. Grabbing a few things here and there, I tossed everything into my cart. Wrinkling my nose, I grabbed pasta and some chicken thighs. I knew Winter’s tomatoes were ripe, so she could use them and make a full pasta dish with this. We also already had spinach so that would be fine.“Alpha!”My eyes shut for a moment before I turned around. “Beta.”“You doing alright? You like a little…” I waited to see if he wouldn’t finish his sentence. “…pissed?”Running my hands through my hair, I smiled a little too wide. “I’m fine, Dee. Is there something you needed?”“No. Just wondering…” He glanced at my cart. “…when you were coming back to training. Luna has been coming three times a week lately and I feel like it might be a bit much. You guys seemed to swap schedules. Everything okay?”“Yeah. Good. You’ll have to ask Winter what’s going on.”Dee pursed his lips. “I tried to get Krista to talk to her. She and Jackson ar
*** Caspian’s POV *** I winced as I heard a bottle shatter in the kitchen. Standing up from my lean, I looked out through the glass door. Shaking my head, I slipped the parchment paper in between the pages of the book I was currently translating. Walking around my desk, I opened up the door, the seal breaking as the door opened.It really was amazing how soundproof Winter had made my office. Castiel was standing in the kitchen next to his sister, crying. Shyla was about to cry, her hands holding onto her dress tightly. The whole house now smelled like cherries and a hint of vodka. Winter was kneeled down, quickly wiping up the glass from the floor.My mate looked up at me and I could see a smile playing on her lips. It wasn’t serious and it looked like no one had been hurt. Clearing my throat, the two of the turned and I raised my eyebrow. That’s all it took. Shyla dissolved into tears and Castiel held onto her dress, crying with her.‘He’s crying in solidarity.’ Kamari added and I w
Caspian chuckled, grabbing another chocolate donut from the box. “I have to meet with Alpha Bitters while you’re gone. What did you want me to say?”“That’s rude, Alpha.” Dee spoke with his mouth out. “Calling the wolf bitter.”“Dee!” Both Caspian and I called him out. “That’s his last name!”I turned back to Caspian, pinching the bridge of my nose and trying to ignore Dee’s sassier attitude since becoming Beta. “I would say, for now, that we have a potential mating option for his youngest. If that would be something he is open to. Rebecca doesn’t turn eighteen until next month. She’s also already set for remedial classes after school is done. So, it’s going to be a few months. I don’t want to set expectations, but I would like the option there.”The room quieted for a moment. Hannah and Caleb were found guilty. Their sentences were being served. However, it wasn’t something that the Council would tell us. Only that, they would not be coming back to pack. Rebecca was actually under Ca
“There would need to conditions.”I nodded.“You need to get your diploma. GED or graduate high school. That comes first.”I nodded again.“I will need to know how long you are leaving for, where you will be, who will be with you, as well as you calling me every night.”I nodded again.“We need to make sure that the pack is transitioned and that we are covered in case something did happen. I don’t want their Luna not being on territory making the pack feel uneasy.”Pressing my lips together, I fought to keep the smile taking over my face as I continued to nod.“One more thing, Winter. Before I agree to any this, you need to agree to this.”“What is it?” My heart pounded in my chest.He stared at me for a minute before a wicked grin filled his face. “You choose our Beta and Gamma.”My mouth dropped open. Onan roared in laughter and Kamari even snickered. Blinking at Caspian, he was smirking as his head cocked to the side. His eyebrow rose as he looked at me.“Agreed?” He held out his h
‘‘Winter…’I hummed and shook my head.‘Winter, you need to wake up. You’re worrying our mate.’‘Five more minutes, Mom.’The voice laughed. ‘Oh, Winter. I am not your mother.’My eyes flung open and I sat up. The head rush made me press my palm to my temple. Blinking, I looked around my room. Outside was completely dark and I didn’t see Caspian. The blankets had been pulled over me and I was tucked in. Groaning, I leaned forward and rubbed my eyes. Did I really pass out after sex? Was that a thing?‘It is. Especially when you do something like breaking a magical seal.’I sucked in my breath. Tears filled my eyes and covered my mouth. Choking out a sob, I squeezed my eyes shut.‘You…you are my wolf.’‘I am, Winter. I am Kamari.’Barking out laughing, I shook my head but I couldn’t stop the tears. Caspian threw open the door and took my head in my hands. He forced me to look at him as he searched my face. Tears continued to fall but I smiled.“She…she’s there.”Caspian’s eyes widened.
I felt myself reach out, but it was also being controlled by someone else. Together, we reached our arms out for Caspian. He surged forward, climbing onto the bed and into our arms. Wrapping around him, I pulled him into a kiss.“I love you.”He hummed, but it sounded more like a growl. After I leaned back to breathe, his lips pressed against my skin everywhere. My head crushed the pillow and I nearly screamed as his mouth found my nipple. I wasn’t new to touching my nipples for sexual pleasure, but nothing could prepare me for how it felt when he did. His tongue swirled around before Caspian took the stiff peak between his teeth.Spots fulled my vision and I shook, my chest rapidly rising and falling. Caspian’s head cocked to the side for a moment before he smiled. I was mortified. He’d simply touched my nipple and I’d climaxed.“Winter…did you…?”“Shut up. Please…don’t make this worse…”I squeaked when Caspian kissed down my stomach and nuzzled between my legs. My hands reached down
I walked up behind Caspian. He was staring at the pile that had been left after the fire. We decided to wait until we ordered a dumpster for the remodel to get rid of all of it. It felt weird to just leave the scorched remnants of all the painful memories out the back door. Still, it would be taken care of soon.There were a few people who decided to go out to dinner, but after everything, I took Caspian home. Mrs. St James brought over some food for us. I thanked her while I served us both a plate, Caspian didn’t touch it. I’d taken a shower, only to find him out here.“Cas?”He hummed, turning to me. His put his glasses back on, but not even the thick lenses could hide his pain. Reaching out, I laced my fingers between his. Lifting our hands, Caspian kissed the back of mine.“I’m sorry. I know I should be happy.”Shaking my head, I leaned it against his shoulder. “We won the war, but the cost was high. If you were dancing around, I think I would be more worried.”“I just…don’t under
Both of them were breathing heavily as they continued to match each other. The fight was dragging on and I winced when Damian landed his first real hit on Caspian. It was to the side of the head with his fist. Caspian had been expecting a kick, but at the last minute, Damian switched it up and his fist flew at an incredible speed. There were times that I could barely keep up with their movements.Caspian stumbled back, having to set his hand down on the ground for a moment as to not fall back. I felt myself coil up as Damian smirked. He didn’t say anything and there was barely a second taken before he launched into another attack. This didn’t throw Caspian off at all. Instead, when Damian got close enough, Caspian shifted into his wolf.Smiling, I was happy to see the sweet wolf who protected me against Galen a few months ago. I’d never realized it was him until much later. Until one of the times he left a note and raced off in wolf form.He didn’t stay a wolf long though. As Damian o
Over the next half hour, more and more of the pack filled the seats. I thought that Damian’s side would be packed to the brim but it was surprisingly more evenly split. I didn’t stand with the Councilors too long, instead, making my way back to everyone. As the arena got louder, I got quieter. Krista shot me smiles when she caught my gaze. Dee came over and put his hand on my head, keeping it there.Everyone hushed again and I thought maybe more of the other Councilors showed up. I was partially right. Councilor Morel and Councilor Dommik stepped in, followed by Damian, Ember, Caleb, Hannah, and Rebecca. We watched as Hannah and Rebecca headed up and took seats in the front row. Neither of them looked good. Dark circles, disheveled hair, and wrinkled clothes; it was my first time seeing either of them like so unkept.Damian, Ember and Caleb stayed down, walking over to the seats that were against the wall at ground level. All of them exuded anger. Councilor Morel and Councilor Dommik