Semua Bab The Mate Hunt: Bab 121 - Bab 130

RonanThere should have been a scent. There was always a fucking scent. Wolf. Human. Blood. Sweat. Leather. Smoke. The oils used on weapons. The soap someone washed with that morning. Every body left something behind.This bastard had left almost nothing.Ruan crouched beside the edge of Nessa's porch with two fingers pressed against the dirt. Cassian stood several feet away, staring toward the tree line. Torin had taken the western side of the house with four warriors, while another six spread through the woods in widening circles.I stayed near Ruan. He was the best tracker in Caine territory. Possibly the best tracker I'd ever known. And he'd been kneeling in the same patch of dirt for nearly five minutes. That bothered me."Well?"Ruan didn't look up. "Give me a second.""I've given you five minutes."Cassian sighed. "Very supportive.""I didn't bring him here for emotional encouragement."Ruan lifted one hand. Both of us shut up. He leaned closer to the ground. His nostrils flare

MaeveApparently getting me dressed had only been half the battle. Now it was Ronan's turn. Which meant I was expected to somehow remain in the Alpha chambers while he showered and changed without becoming distracted by the fact that I could feel entirely too much of what went on inside his head."I'm leaving."Ronan looked over his shoulder as he crossed toward the bathing chamber. "You just got here.""I was dragged here.""Still counts.""No, it doesn't."His mouth curved. He had already pulled the dirty shirt from the search over his head, revealing healing bruises from Torin's challenge and several angry red lines across his shoulder where claws had broken skin. Most were already closing. Werewolf healing was fucking unfair.My gaze lingered. Ronan stopped. The bond warmed. I immediately pointed toward the bathing chamber. "Go.""You're staring again.""I was assessing your injuries.""Of course.""I am Luna. Apparently welfare is one of my responsibilities."His amusement floode

MaeveRonan didn't look at me. "He was two."My blood turned to ice.Mara gave a tiny shrug. "Approximately."I understood. Oh, gods.I turned back toward her. "You threatened him?"Mara smiled. Not broad. Not dramatic. Just enough. "Yes."Ronan's wolf slammed against the bond again. "You threatened a two year old cub.""He survived."Cassian stepped toward the bars. "You fucking—"Elowen caught his sleeve. Mara barely glanced at him. I couldn't move.Nessa's voice replayed inside my head. There's something wrong with me. I haven't been the same. I thought about giving him away. Someone who could show him what a family is supposed to look like.Fuck. Fuck."What did you tell her?" I asked.Mara's eyes returned to me. "The truth.""Your version of it.""I told her that if she wanted Eli alive by morning, she would open the eastern gate at the time I gave her."My stomach rolled. "Did she know why?""No."The answer came immediately. Silver remained quiet beneath my skin. Truth."Did sh

MaeveMy stomach tightened. "When?""A few days after she came." Her voice shook. "She was around the house all the time by then. Your—" She stopped. "Ronan's mother liked her.""I know.""Elara did too."Of course they did. Mara had known exactly what she was doing."She helped with things. Carried food. Folded linens. Sat with some of the older wolves. She acted like she was grateful just to be somewhere safe." Nessa wiped her cheek. "I felt sorry for her."I said nothing."So did everyone." Her eyes went distant. "I didn't think anything of it when she spoke to Eli."My wolf went cold. "She touched him?"Nessa nodded. "Once." Her fingers tightened around mine. "She crouched beside him while he was playing outside and told me he had beautiful eyes."I wanted to vomit."She asked how old he was. Two. Twenty six months."Of course Nessa remembered exactly."She said he was small." Her voice broke. "I laughed. Told her he made up for it by never shutting up." A tiny smile appeared. Gon

MaeveThirty minutes disappeared much faster when I was actively hoping they wouldn't.By the time Theron's delegation reached the final road leading toward the pack house, the entire front courtyard had been cleared and prepared. Nothing ridiculous. Thank the gods. No flowers. No banners. No ceremonial horn players hiding in the bushes. Just Caine.Warriors stood in two orderly lines along the stone path. Torin had returned from the search and taken his place with several senior fighters near the steps. Maris stood farther back with Elowen. Cassian waited behind Ronan's right shoulder. Soren stood behind mine. That felt strange. Not wrong. Just new.I glanced down at myself one last time. Black. Silver. A flash of Caine red beneath my jacket. My Luna mark sat fully exposed on the back of my hand.Ronan's fingers brushed mine. "Nervous?""No."The lie warmed my mark. His mouth twitched. His amusement slid through the bond.Then my wolf lifted her head. Four foreign presences moved clo