All Chapters of HIS MUTE MATE: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Lily PendletonTraining got real.Thorne didn't mess around. He had me in the yard at dawn, surrounded by his best wolves. This time, there were no jokes. No smirks. They were ready to push me."Today," Thorne said, "we test your voice. Not just volume—control. I want you to make one of my wolves submit. Without touching them. Without fighting. Just your voice."I stared at him. "That's impossible.""Is it?" He gestured to a massive wolf—built like a tank, scars covering his arms. "This is Gregor. He's been an Alpha for twenty years. He's never submitted to anyone. But he's going to bow to you. Today."Gregor stepped forward, his eyes cold. "This is a waste of time.""Prove it," Thorne said.I took a breath. My throat tightened. The fear was there—the old fear, the one that had kept me silent for three years.But then I saw Kael. He was standing on the sidelines, arms crossed, but his eyes were soft. You can do this, he mouthed.I turned to Gregor."I'm not going to fight you," I said

Lily PendletonWe thought we'd gotten away with it.We slipped back into Silvermoon territory before dawn, quiet as shadows. Kael carried me to our room, laid me in bed, and kissed my forehead."See?" he whispered. "Easy."I smiled. "You jinxed it.""What?"The door slammed open.Thorne stood in the doorway—his face thunderous, his eyes blazing gold. Behind him, Damon, looking guilty as hell."Out," Thorne said. "Both of you. My office. Now."Kael tensed. "Thorne—""Now."---The office was cold.Thorne sat behind his desk, his fingers steepled. Damon stood in the corner, not meeting my eyes. Kael stood beside me, his body a shield."Explain," Thorne said quietly. "Explain why you left my territory without permission. And don't lie."I opened my mouth—but Kael spoke first."She wanted to learn. She found someone who could help her.""Someone.""A witch."Thorne's eyes narrowed. "You went to a witch?""Her name is Elara," I said. "She's been helping me understand my power. I didn't mea

Lily PendletonDawn broke gray and cold.The hunting grounds stretched before us—open fields, scattered trees, a river cutting through the center. It was beautiful in a brutal way. The kind of place where blood would soak into the earth and no one would remember.I stood at the front of our line. Kael was on my right, Damon on my left. Jake and Thorne's wolves fanned out behind us.Marcus's army appeared at the edge of the field.They were massive—hundreds of wolves, eyes glowing, teeth bared. At the center, Marcus sat on a dark horse, his face cold and triumphant."Lily," he called out. "Come home. And I'll spare them."I stepped forward."No," I said.Marcus's eyes narrowed. "No?""I'm done being your weapon. I'm done being your pawn. I'm not coming home."He laughed—cold, cruel. "Then they die. All of them."He raised his hand.The army charged.---Chaos exploded.Wolves clashed, teeth and claws and blood. The air filled with growls and screams. Kael was a blur of motion beside me

Lily PendletonWe didn't have a honeymoon.Not a real one—no beach, no tropical island, no fancy resort. But Thorne gave us three days off from training, and Kael made sure every second counted.We stayed in our cabin. We didn't leave. We didn't want to.The first morning, I woke up to Kael's lips on my neck."Again?" I mumbled."Always."He made love to me slow and lazy, like we had all the time in the world. And for once, we did."You're insatiable," I said afterward."You make me insatiable."I laughed and kissed him.---The second day, we cooked together.Well, Kael tried to cook. I tried to stop him from burning the kitchen down."You're terrible at this," I said."I'm learning.""You've burned toast, eggs, and now pancakes. What's next?"He grinned. "You."I threw a towel at him. He caught it and pulled me into his arms."I love you," he said."I love you too.""Even though I burn toast?""Even then."He kissed me, tasting like burnt sugar and happiness.---The third day, we j

Lily PendletonThe celebration ended at dawn.Kael and I stumbled to our cabin, drunk on mead and happiness. We collapsed into bed, tangled and laughing."Best night ever," he mumbled."Best night."He kissed my shoulder. "I love you.""I love you too."We fell asleep in each other's arms.---I woke up to a knock at the door.Damon's voice: "Lily. Kael. Get up. We have a problem."I groaned. Kael pulled the blanket over his head."Tell them we're dead," he said."Damon, we're dead.""Lily."Something in his voice made me sit up.I pulled on clothes and opened the door. Damon stood there, pale, holding a letter."What is it?""Read it."I took the letter. The handwriting was elegant, sharp—familiar."Lily,I know you think you're free. But you're not. You've never been. Because everything you know—your family, your past, your power—it's all a lie.You are not a Pendleton.Your mother was not a wolf. She was a witch—one of the most powerful witches who ever lived. She gave you to the P