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Chapter 61 – The Wolves
“I closed my eyes, tried to get as far away from myself as I could.“–Catherine Lacey
Neron
Have you ever had to wrestle a bear to the ground? No? Consider yourself lucky, then.
Have you ever had to wrestle your feral mate to the ground? Wouldn’t recommend it.
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Never in my life would I’ve expected to be called through mind–link to restrain my mate from slaughtering her parents. The sudden urgency in Valerian’s voice as he took his son back to his room in his arms told me everything. Screams and shouts reverberated through the walls of the room, making a sudden commotion seem louder than stadium roars.
“I hate you! I HATE you! You never loved me at all!”
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Droplets of red stained the primeval tiled floors, seeping deep into the crevices. I’ve witnessed a smaller–than- average wolf use her fists to bash Steven’s face into a bloody pulp. She was like a machine on autopilot
without an off switch.
“You ruined my life! You’ll pay for everything you’ve done to me!*
Raina held her shaking mother in her arms as she screamed for her mate. Purple healed on her skin, but slowly. Steven didn’t fight back, the most he did was try to restrain Kiya’s vengeful hands but failed as she continued to deliver her fury through the assault.
“I want you to die! You took my light, and I will take your life!”
I couldn’t let Kiya do this! Her rage was enough to tear the earth to its core, but I couldn’t let her kill her parents. Once she crosses that line, there is no return. As much as her anger pulsates through her body, she’ll come to regret what she was done.
I cannot allow her to fall into the same darkness I had. She should’ve taken her rage out on my father and me. We’re the ones who hurt her the most.
When I tackled the woman to the ground, fear struck my heart. Not because I might have hurt her, but I’d realize how terrifying she could be. Eyes glowing, piercing javelins into my soul–the color blue frightened me. Kiya’s strength was inhuman, different from a wolf’s strength. Fighting to restrain her was like holding down at rapid, all–powerful Alpha with nothing to lose. Jaws snapping, nostrils flaring, and claws marking deep red lines in my forearm.
Was I like this? Was this how she saw me back then?
“Let me go! I will kill them! I will kill everyone that has ever hurt me!”
A grave threat like that earns a stay in our ‘hospital‘ dungeons. But this was different. Kiya was not speaking
from a place of genuine hatred.
“She’s in pain…” Onyx whimpered at the sight of our mate. “I can’t reach her wolf! She’s blocked her off completely! Comfort her, goddamnit!”
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Chapter 61–The Wolves
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That explains it. Without her wolf, Kiya couldn’t manage her emotions. Her other half couldn’t reason with or tame her. She was worse than a rogue. “Kiya, snap out of it! This isn’t you! Come back to your senses!” 01:31
A whole slew of vile words flew out of her mouth as she struggled in my grip, threatening to kill me. She truly was the mate of an Alpha, only a Luna could overpower my strength like this. Kiya’s out for blood, and I was scared it wouldn’t stop with her family. She’ll slay this entire pack if she wanted to.
What happened next was a blur. Her friends came barreling in, surrounding, and doing their best to comfort her. A twinge of jealousy entered my heart as I watched Kiya slowly, yet steadily, descend from her high. I wanted to be the one to calm her down. I was her damn mate!
Vindictive blue vanished to deep brown, a tsunami of deep sadness varnishing over her face. Kiya couldn’t speak. She shook like a powerful earthquake as tears bucketed down from her eyes. My heart shattered. I’ve wondered how deep Kiya’s pain went, and I underestimated its depth.
I wanted nothing more but to take her into my arms and soak up all her agony, so she didn’t have to feel it amore. Her suffering made me suffer. Onyx, though, deep within me, howled in sorrow as he felt it all. He
too, wanted to comfort Kiya.
But we have a long road ahead of us before that happens..
Before any of us could blink, Kiya sprang onto her feet and bolted out of the hall. Out of the packhouse. Out of our sight. An arm forced me back, halting me from going after my pained mate.
“That’s not a good idea.” Beta Jacqueline remarked. “She needs to be alone.”
Fuck that! With security issues around the pack border and the impending doom of another rogue attack, 1 was not leaving Kiya alone and vulnerable. I yanked my arm out of the woman’s grip and marched towards the
door.
“Alpha Neron, wait!” The human, Abigail, used her body to shield the door. “Listen. Kiya should be alone right
now.”
“Move out of my way,” I snarled. Humans were unaffected by the Alpha’s command, but it’ll be a snowy day in
hell before I’d let one stop me.
“I
“Neron, please.” I turn my head to see Raina walking over. Ashley gathered the table napkins to clean the blood off her husband. “It’s our fault she’s like this. I…we’ve pushed her too far.”
“What happened?” I demanded, this time with my innate Alpha authority. Her head bowed as she spilled everything from beginning to end. The urge to tear this family apart had never been greater. I swallowed my frustration and looked at my Beta Female dead in her eyes.
“Did you think, after all that happened, it would be easy for her to forgive and forget?”
“At least there’s someone with some brains in this pack,” Sapphire mumbled. “It took Kiya months to trust any of us, and we aren’t the ones who hurt her! What makes you think she’ll trust any of you in a few weeks?”
The Lanes bowed their heads in shame, the gravity of their mistake settling. I sigh in frustration, angry with them but also worried for Kiya, Just how far had she run off? Would she come back?
Regardless of what anyone says, I was going after her.
Chapter $1–The Wolves
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Ignoring their pleas and cries, I took off after her fragrant scent. The house was silent. How odd we didn’t gain an audience given how loud the commotion was. I tracked her scent of honeyed strawberries into a deep, 01:32 darkened part of the woods north of the packhouse. Already, I didn’t want to be here.
It was the place where my mother and sister took their last breaths. The one place I vowed to never come back
to.
But why did Kiya come here?
Through the barks of the trees, the strong vibe of anger faded into silent serenity. Kiya was on her knees near the edge of the large pond, running her fingers through the clear liquid. The half–moon in the sky shone its ethereal light upon her, giving her an enchanting, otherworldly look. Ripples danced through the waters, putting on a display.
Such a drastic change. One moment she was ready to tear the world apart and the next, she was peaceful. Yet, I could feel this wasn’t Kiya.
This was someone else.
“I know you’re there, Neron.” The voice coming from my woman was not her own. It was slightly deeper, solemn, and unwavering. There was the edge of authority not normally heard from Kiya, and I admit, it scared. me a little. “Are you going to keep looking at me like a creep, or are you going to speak?”
“It’s her wolf!” Onyx yipped in excitement. “My mate! Mine!”
Artemis
I rose to my feet, turning to face the Alpha, Preferably, he shouldn’t be here. Kiya, deep in her pain and horrifically triggered, retreated into the recesses of her mind. Thus, I was now in full control of her body. It was nothing new but needed if my human cannot hold the reins of the reality that loved to torment her daily. This had happened more times than I could count.
After she retreated to the forest, she begged me to take control. Unfortunately, I knew that meant Kiya wouldn’t show herself for some time. Even the strongest humans need a break from time to time.
My eyes track Neron’s movements as he slowly approaches, hesitant at my sudden change. I could hear Onyx within him, eager to come out and claim me. It made me sick. I growled, low enough for that blackened wolf to hear and to delete the fantasy of our mating from his horny mind.
“Are you Kiya’s wolf?” Neron asked uncertainly.
I smirk. “Did the blue eyes give it away? Yes, I am.”
“Why did Kiya relinquish control?”
“Disappointed?” I arched an eyebrow.
H
“N–No, I didn’t mean it like that.” Neron shut his eyes and took in a deep breath. “I want to know if Kiya’s.
okay.”
“She isn’t,” I replied, crossing my arms. “She’s taking a break.” I found a boulder protruding from the earth
Chapter 61 – The Moles
and took a seat. “When a werewolf goes through stress beyond what they could handle, they forcibly could give their wolves control over their bodies. A forced switch, one might say. The wolf takes control, and the human rests.”
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“Yes, I’m aware of that phenomenon.” Neron leaned against a tree, hands stuffed in his pant pockets. “If you don’t mind me asking, what is your name?” I arch an eyebrow. “After all this time, I realize that neither Onyx nor I knew who you are.”
“Artemis,” I answered. “Named after our moon goddess‘ distant twin.”
“Artemis…” He savored my name on his tongue as he’d finally found an oasis after a long journey through a desert. “It fits you.”
I gave a curt nod before turning my eyes to the majestic moon above. I felt my goddess‘ presence, although not as strong as if it were on a full moon. “Kiya is in a lot of pain, Neron. Deeper than anyone could imagine.”
“…How deep?”
“Imagine yourself walking through a valley of endless darkness.” I began. “The darkness is a living, breathing entity with claws and jaws, pulling you deeper into their abysmal world. It embraces you tightly, dragging you down quicker than you imagine. It is persistent, cruel, and torments your body, heart, and soul on the way down. It reminds you you’re weak, a failure, and that death is a better solace than life. It warms you, yet it brings a mind–numbing chill.”
“Occasionally, there was that spec of light. Of hope. You run to it, grasping it as tight as you can. But every so often, the darkness comes back and pulls you into a keyless prison. You scream, but no one hears you. It takes, and takes, and takes…until there is nothing left.”
I rose from my rock, inching closer to the Alpha who dared to look at me in pity. That is what I see every single day in Kiya’s mind. Some days are better than others. The darkness…the depression…it is a silent killer. It has taken so much, and Kiya had to fight to get those things back.”
“You felt everything…” Neron’s shame forced him to bow his head, unable to look me in the eye. “Everything that I did.”
“Not just you.” I huffed. “Your father and everyone else too. When my human hurts, I hurt. I feel her pain. Your father didn’t just beat her. He beat me too, commanding me to shift and from there, either he or Angelo would hurt me. I don’t know who’s worse, the man or the beast.”
“I didn’t know Dad hurt you too.”
“You’d be surprised. He’s the only one who ever saw me in my true form.” I shrugged, stretching my neck to rid some kinks.
“Artemis.” Neron stood up straight. “You’re Onyx’s mate.”
“It is rather unfortunate, but true.”
“I won’t stop until I earn back forgiveness from both you and Kiya. But, please, don’t deprive this chance for Onyx to meet you. He’s waited for years, through my foolishness.”
“Ah.” I rolled my eyes. “Onyx is not exempt from my anger. He didn’t do a damn thing to stop you from hurting my human and me.”
Chapter 61 – The Wolven
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“Because he couldn’t,” Neron admitted. “I didn’t want him to. I knew he’d stop me, and I didn’t want him to interfere in my twisted sense of vengeance.”
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“He’s an Alpha. He had the strength. He didn’t have the courage. The first time we spoke was that fateful day in your ceremony when we touched and confirmed our mate bond.”
“Why didn’t we feel the bond before?” He inquired.
“As love drives out hate, hate drives out love. Your violence clouded the bond and thus, when you struck, the sparks weren’t there. That night during your ceremony, when we touched, it was the first time that it wasn’t out of anger. Does that answer your question? I walked around him, already having my fill of his presence. I was tired and want to go to sleep. However, a hand stopped me. Sparks rocketed through my arm and forearm, involuntarily making me shudder. I turned to be met with striking gold, no longer sapphire blue.
Great. It was fucking Onyx.
“Don’t walk away from me. Please.” Onyx’s voice was rougher, deeper, and more commanding. Once upon a time, that voice would have made me go weak in the knees. “I want to explain myself to you, angel.”
“We aren’t at the threshold for pet names,” I yanked my arm from his grasp.
“L…I apologize.” Onyx bowed his head. An Alpha never bows his head, unless it was someone, he respects like a pack elder. Or his mate. Ugh. “You’re right, Artemis. I was too weak to stop my human. I should have been stronger to protect you and Kiya.”
“It’s too late now, Onyx.” I retorted. “Apologies don’t and won’t erase the years of abuse. I bet, deep down, you believed that Kiya is responsible for the death of Ashia and Angelika.”
“Angelika…?”
“Nuria’s wolf,” I replied. “Our Moon Goddess told me after I died. I’m sorry you never got to meet your sister wolf. But that doesn’t deter us from the fact that you did not protect us. It only got worse after I awakened. You were nowhere to be found. Even if the mate bond wasn’t established you knew that abusing a fellow pack
member was a crime.”
“Yes, I know that,” Molten gold gazed into my electric blue, his side of the bond reaching out to mine. “What can I do so you don’t look at me with such hatred? I can’t stand it, Artemis.”
“Prove it.” He gave me a questioning look, but I continued. “Prove to me you are remorseful. I believe in action. Neron needs to prove himself to Kiya, and you to me. Don’t give me soft promises, mean what you say and change. You’re on a time constraint.”
“What?”
“I’m only here for the summer. You have until the end of summer. Afterward, we’re not coming back. Ever.”