Bonded beyond lies, p.5
Bonded Beyond Lies, page 5
I stand up slowly, cradling my mate to my chest as my Beta, Mack, moves along the outside of the room until he’s at my side. I’m tempted to hand my mate over to him to hold so I can have my hands free, but I can’t force my body to actually do it. I’ve waited for this moment for far too fucking long.
The sparks traveling over my arms and chest as I hold her are distracting, but the rage I feel at the people in front of me is helping to keep me focused. Someone has been harming my mate and the sniveling, poor excuse for a she-wolf whose mate is helping her stand up as she rubs her neck is not the only one.
My voice is deadly calm and cold, “What the fuck has been going on in this pack? Why do I see evidence of abuse on my mate?”
Mack is stiff next to me, and I have no doubt that his eyes are just as cold and deadly as mine. He knows how long I’ve been waiting for this moment. He knows how much Serenity has meant to me and how hard it’s been to stop myself from coming back here to get her.
I had to wait.
I had no fucking choice.
She was only ten when I saw her the first time. I had just turned 18 and was getting ready to take over my pack, the Blood Rising Pack, from my father. I was yearning for my mate, wanting her to stand at my side as I transitioned into the position I was born to have, the one I had trained for my entire life.
Waning Moon was the last pack we visited. I was hoping to meet my mate along the way, but nothing could have prepared me for meeting her and finding out she was only ten. Part of me was devastated when I caught her scent and found myself staring at her across one of the rooms of the packhouse. She was engrossed in the book she was reading but must have felt my eyes on her because she looked up at me.
She might have only been ten, but there was so much intelligence and understanding in her eyes. I felt a piece of our bond snap into place, even though she wouldn’t be able to feel it. In that moment, I understood why I met her when I did and would need to wait for her.
Some might have cursed the Moon Goddess for putting them in the position I found myself in. I could have, but as my heart grew as I looked at her, I felt a peace settle over me. A knowing.
I was being given a chance others were rarely given. I was shown my mate, one I would have to wait for, and with it I was given an opportunity. With the knowledge of where my mate was and that she was safe with her family, I could focus on making Blood Rising even more powerful, even safer. I could work to make sure my pack, the one she would stand at my side to help me lead, was worthy of her.
A lesser wolf would have lied and not told his father the small girl in the window seat was his mate. I did no such thing.
I mind-linked my father, “The young brunette girl is my mate.”
“Are you sure?” When I gave a small nod, not wanting to break my gaze with the girl, he sighed, “What do you want to do?”
“I’m going to wait for her. She’s worth it. The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. I’ll wait for her and work my ass off to make sure that Blood Rising is worthy of her love and attention. When she turns 18, I’ll be back for her.”
I could feel my father’s pride for me, it rolled off him in waves. It felt like I had passed a test, but I also knew things would only get more difficult for me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to have any contact with her. The closer she came to maturity as she got older, the stronger the pull between us would become, but I would still be the only one to feel it until she turned 18. I wasn’t going to rob her of her childhood or all the experiences one should have in their teenage years.
I heard my father whispering with the girl’s parents. Later he told me they were informed of Serenity’s importance to me. They were surprised and worried that I would try and take her away. Considering Blood Rising has always been one of the strongest and largest packs in the country, I could have. But it would have been cruel to do and might make her resent me.
My father implored her parents to keep the identity of Serenity’s mate to themselves and to take care of her. They were informed I would be back for her on her 18th birthday. I know I’m a week late right now, but it couldn’t be helped.
In the last eight years, I have done what I set out to do. My territory is larger than it was, we’ve grown in both might and wealth. The pack is worthy of the precious female in my arms.
I never strayed. I never even looked at another she-wolf. I couldn’t do it. Even if I had wanted to, my wolf would have revolted. He has been just as devoted and smitten as I am when it comes to our mate.
There have been many she-wolves who have tried to capture my attention. Before I met Serenity on that fateful day, I might have taken them up on their offers, but after? There was no fucking way I was going to betray our bond.
Mack has been at my side for the last eight years, helping me to make Blood Rising stronger and fiercer. Serenity is a beauty; the kind others will covet. I could only ensure she would be safe by making sure others fear me and don’t doubt my abilities just because I’ve been leading without a Luna at my side. I ensured they knew I’m as formidable as my father.
Alpha Nathan, my father, ruled with a just heart and an iron fist when it came to those outside of Blood Rising. There are only a few people who know how much of a softie he is. On the list of those who get to see who he is behind the strength are his mate, my mother, Lucy, and my sister, Cora, who is also Mack’s mate.
I was more than a little pissed when my best friend and Beta mated my sister, but I got over it quickly. Cora is two years younger than me. I couldn’t pick a better person for her to be paired with. Mack adores her and treats her like a queen.
It was difficult to see them so happy for the last six years knowing I was waiting for Serenity. It made me cold, but I feel myself thawing the longer I hold my precious mate in my arms. As much as I want to be able to take down those who have wronged my mate, I know Mack will be just as vicious. He’s fiercely loyal to Blood Rising and his Luna.
The front door bangs open and Beta Darwin and his mate Stacy, my mate’s parents, rush into the packhouse. I’m growling from deep in my chest as their wide eyes meet mine. I see relief flash across their features as they go pale.
I would take satisfaction in that, but I can’t. Not when my mate is laying in my arms limp and unconscious.
My voice holds deadly intent, “What have you done to my mate?”
“She can’t be your mate. She’s my mate and I rejected her a week ago,” a voice comes from behind me, and I whirl around to see Todd, the next Alpha of Waning Moon, strutting down the stairs like he really has the balls to back it up.
He doesn’t.
“What the fuck did you just say about my mate?” Fur is sprouting up and down my arms as my wolf battles for control. My fingers are tipped in my deadly claws, but I make sure to hold Serenity gently. I won’t cause my beautiful mate pain. Not now, not ever. “You are not her mate. I’ve known Serenity is my mate for eight years.” I swing my gaze back around to the Beta couple who look like they’re on the verge of throwing up. “You were supposed to keep her safe for me,” my voice holds an accusation and a warning.
Darwin nods solemnly but doesn’t say anything. Alpha Thomas is glaring around the room, and I can see his mind whirling to try to come up with something. Anything. I know he won’t. He can’t.
“There’s no way. You’re lying,” Todd accuses me, the wavering in his voice giving away his anxiety as the scent of his fear wafts toward me.
I narrow my eyes at him and snarl, “She has always been mine and only mine. I don’t know what you think you felt, but it wasn’t the mate bond. She’s mine,” I roar the words.
Serenity makes a cooing sound but doesn’t open her eyes as she pats my chest. Her touch is the only thing keeping everyone in the room from having their blood splattered all over the packhouse. I’m right on the edge and she’s the only thing keeping me sane.
“She’s nothing but a piece of trash,” the woman who almost lost her life sneers and red coats my vision.
Mack takes a step forward, his voice oozing authority this little bitch could only hope to achieve, “You will watch your fucking tongue when speaking about the Luna of Blood Rising. She has more power unconscious and in my Alpha’s arms than you could ever have on your back with your legs splayed open for the entire werewolf world.”
The girl gasps and cowers behind her mate and soon to be Beta of Waning Moon, who must also be Serenity’s brother. The young man is looking at my mate in my arms with relief coloring his features. I don’t know what the fuck has happened in this pack in the last eight years or why Todd fuck-face Harrison thinks Serenity is his mate, but I need to get my Luna out of here.
Right fucking now.
“We need to move. She’s not safe here,” I link to Mack.
He looks back at me and gives me a small nod of understanding. We have spent our lives training and working together. No matter who stands in our way, we will be leaving, and Serenity will be coming with us.
Mack steps in front of me and we start to move toward the front door of the packhouse. I don’t make it more than three steps before a hand grabs my shoulder and tries to spin me around. I turn and let out a menacing growl. It has Serenity curling into me, but she doesn’t whimper.
She knows she’s safe which has my chest puffing up with pride while I look down at the pissant who thought it was a good idea to put his hand on me. The same male who thinks he has some sort of claim on my mate.
“She’s my mate,” he growls, but it sounds weak and pathetic to my ears.
“No,” Serenity mutters in her sleep, her fingers twisting into my shirt as she clings to me.
I look down at Todd and arch my eyebrow. My voice is a low rumble, “Do you want to challenge me, Todd? I can guarantee you that I’ll win. I’ve spent the last eight years waiting for my mate. I’ve been training, honing my skills and racking up victories.” I curl my lip up, flashing my teeth at him. “What have you done other than being spoiled?”
“He’s nothing to us,” my wolf grumbles. “We have everything we need in our arms.”
I couldn’t agree more. When Todd doesn’t say anything and takes a step back, I start moving again. I move with Mack to bypass everyone else in the room. The next Beta Female seems to have lost her ability to speak, which is for the best. The current Beta couple have tears in their eyes while their shoulders are slumped. Is it in defeat or relief?
It doesn’t matter. Serenity is mine now. They knew I would be back for her, and they didn’t protect her.
I’ll be dealing with that later, but right now I need to get Serenity back to Blood Rising and make sure she’s safe.
When I climb into the backseat of the SUV, cradling Serenity on my lap because I can’t seem to allow anything else, Mack slides into the front seat. He starts the car, and we start driving back home without a word.
“She’s perfect. I’ve missed her,” my wolf rumbles, sounding relieved, an emotion that flows through me as well.
I stare down at my beautiful mate and breathe in her scent, needing it to calm me. I growl, “They will pay for hurting you, my sweet mate.”
Mack growls as well, telling me he’ll be standing next to me as we make anyone suffer who caused our Luna pain. She’s a warrior. A survivor.
Now I’ll make sure she knows she’s also my Luna.
CHAPTER 7
SERENITY
My head is pounding as I start to wake up. That’s not the only thing that hurts though. My entire body feels like it’s been run through a meat grinder. It’s not a new sensation, but I hate it all the same. What the fuck happened?
I take a deep breath and freeze, my body screaming in protest at how much it hurts, but I can’t help it. I’m surrounded by the scent of cedar and berries. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside and has my wolf purring in my head. Yeah, purring like she’s a fucking cheetah and not the wolf she is.
“Mate smells wonderful,” she sighs dreamily.
“Mate?” I shout at her in my head, “What do you mean ‘mate’?”
We had a mate. Todd. He rejected us a week ago. It might be longer now since I’m not sure how long I’ve been asleep. It feels like it’s been a long time. Considering how my body is protesting every movement and how deep the ache is, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s been longer than a few hours.
My wolf continues to purr, content to bask in the scent of our alleged mate. I don’t understand it. Todd smelled like cinnamon and fresh rain. It wasn’t a bad combination, but I much prefer the berry-cedar scent I’m engulfed in at the moment.
Flashes of memory come back to me, slow at first and then picking up speed. I remember going to the Beta office and finding Samuel there. Kathy came in, mad as usual, and started to beat me. The Alpha stopped her and wanted to know what was going on?
The fierce growl and yelling from downstairs rings through my head and has goosebumps covering my skin. I remember that growl. I remember going downstairs and seeing the man responsible for it. I remember his deep green eyes.
Something started to snap and fall away inside of me the moment I saw his eyes.
He said something to me. He was defending me?
My memories start to get fuzzy right around that time. Did I pass out? I must have, Kathy’s beating was pretty brutal, and I still wasn’t fully recovered from Todd’s rejection and continued psychological abuse. Ever since he mind-linked me while fucking some she-wolf, he had been doing it every single night. It was almost more than I could take.
The bed beneath me is soft and I want to burrow deeper into it and rub the berry-cedar scent into my pores. That would probably be the wrong thing to do considering I don’t know the man who belongs to this amazing scent.
“I know you’re awake, sweet mate,” a man’s gruff voice, the same one I remember hearing yesterday in the deepest parts of my mind, has me sitting up suddenly.
I let out a small yelp of pain at moving so quickly, but it can’t be helped. I stare at the man sitting in the chair next to the bed. His shoulders are as broad as I remember them being. He’s imposing, but there’s something sweet and gentle in his eyes as he looks at me. It’s not pity, thankfully, I would hate to be pitied by this man. I want something else, something deeper, from him, but I’m not sure how to articulate it.
Wait.
I croak softly, “Mate?”
“Yes,” my wolf purrs, “isn’t he yummy? He will protect us now. We’re safe and no longer in that horrible pack.”
My wolf’s words have me blinking rapidly at this man. My wolf is telling me this is my mate. She’s telling me I’m no longer in Waning Moon. It’s a relief I’m no longer there, but then I have to ask—where am I?
What the fuck is going on?
“How can you be my mate? There’s no such thing as second chance mates? I recognized Todd as my mate on my 18th birthday.” The man’s jaw clenches, and his hands make fits so tight that his knuckles turn white. It has part of me wanting to recoil, but there aren’t any warning alarms going on in my head telling me this man is a danger to me. He relaxes slowly and it has me doing the same. “I don’t understand,” I whisper.
“There are no second chance mates, Serenity.” When he says my name, a shiver runs along my body as if he’s caressing me with just the tips of his fingers. I realize I don’t even know his name and it makes my heart ache. “I knew you were my mate eight years ago.”
He stares intently into my eyes and the memories of a day, a certain day, one I’ve tried to ignore and not examine, tumble through my mind. It was the day everything changed. Everything.
It was a painful memory and I locked it away to avoid the pain. I had enough of that to go around as it was. I didn’t need to remember the moment when everything shifted because I had no explanation for it.
“Tristan,” I whisper, his name floating back to me like the scent of rain on the wind right before the clouds open up.
Tristan smiles at me and it lights up his entire face. He moves toward me and sits on the bed next to me. Even though he’s huge, I’m not scared of him. I was only scared of the wolves in my pack because they showed me that I should be. They proved I couldn’t trust them, but Tristan is different. He saved me. I think.
“You remember, little wolf?” His voice is gruff and strained, “I only got to see you for a few moments, not nearly long enough. I knew the moment I scented and saw you. You are my mate, but you were so young. My father spoke with your parents and told them to keep your importance to me a secret and protect you. Because of the power my pack holds, we were afraid someone would try and use you against me while I couldn’t be with you until you came of age. They knew I would come back for you on your 18th birthday.”
I feel a tear slip down over my cheek and he’s quick to brush it away, the tingles from his touch make me gasp. They’re so much stronger than I thought they would be. It takes my breath away and gives me something I’ve been lacking for so long—hope.
“Tristan,” his name is a choked sob on my lips.
With one swift movement, he gently pulls me against his chest and cradles me in his lap. The way his body surrounds me, as if protecting me from anything and everything which has or could harm me, has more tears falling. I haven’t felt safe in so long.
My wolf is laying down in my mind, content with the feeling of being with our mate. Content. Safe. Loved.
So many things swirl around in my head. I don’t understand how this is possible, but it is.
Even though I’m scared of the answer, it needs to be asked. I whisper, “How did I feel the bond with Todd?”
“I don’t know, little wolf,” Tristan’s voice is thick with emotion. “I have a feeling that your parents didn’t or couldn’t keep the secret of who you are to me. Power hungry people would love to take advantage of any weakness Blood Rising has. While you were growing up and before I could bring you here, you would be a weakness.”
