AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s something we can discuss. I have not officially announced my new status, princess. There has been far too much danger within the territories that I haven’t felt the need to test anyone yet. But if you want to show Evander attention, and it’s okay with Isaac, then I don’t mind. Keep it short, though. We have to go. The council waits on no one.”
I grin at his words and whip my attention to Evander only to have Isaac step between us and shake his head. What the fuck? That was the last thing I expected.
“I’m sorry. He’s already wound up enough. I need him to remain in line on this trip.” Isaac gives me a long once-over and then turns to Evander. “Come on, Van. The others are waiting. We will discuss whatever you want to, but you know we need to do what is best for our pack.”
I open and close my mouth in shock, but Evander doesn’t even give me a second look. He follows Isaac away and down the dock to the monstrous yacht, not unlike the one that brought us to the island.
I blink my eyes, forcing my oncoming tears to chill out. Once again, I feel betrayed. I feel as if Evander chooses someone else over me. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but I can’t help it. He chose someone else over the possibility of our pack. The hold his new alpha has on him is far stronger than I realized. Was I stupid to think this could ever work out? Maybe. It’s just...ugh.
“Come on, princess. Let’s go aboard and get this over with. I can’t stand feeling the hurt rolling through you over that pup. He’s not worth it. Look at the men surrounding you. You will never be lonely.”
I swallow, inhaling a breath to settle my nerves. He obviously doesn’t get it, thinking that just because I have a connection to several men that it makes up for Evander. It doesn’t. “Don’t be hard-headed, Ravi. We made promises, so either get used to my emotions or fix it.”
“Getting used to your emotions doesn’t make it better. As for fixing it? I won’t do it how you’d want. I know you expect me to demand we get the pup, but I’d prefer to make you forget him altogether.” Ravi’s mouth twitches and he darts his eyes to my lips. “Don’t underestimate my capabilities. One kiss to the most sensitive spots on your body will—”
“Do you want me to punch your balls or something?” I tighten my mouth and glower. “Because keep up your dirty mouth, and I will.”
Ravi chuckles, the sound surprisingly melodic. His face lights up with a smile, his amusement pouring from him to me as he lets me feel him on an emotional level. If I didn’t know any better, I think he wants me to try. And I just might.
“Your mouth says one thing, but your mind and body say another. You’re already thinking about my face buried between your thighs, princess. Your thoughts make it nearly impossible for me to want to take you anywhere, though I’m sure we can find somewhere secluded on the yacht. You can sit on my shoulders, and I’ll balance you against the wall. Just imagine...” He hums deep in his throat, the noise vibrating across my skin, his words soft and meant only for me.
I shiver. “You bastard.”
He rubs his hand down my spine. “You like it.”
“But I don’t like you.” I tighten my legs around him.
Brushing his mouth to my ear, he says, “You don’t have to. Attraction is good enough. Once we bond—”
“Eliana!” a familiar feminine voice shouts, cutting over the low bass of his words. “Looks like you found your alpha. I’ve been thinking about you. I went looking but then received a summons from the council.” Sloan stands next to the guardrail of the yacht, resting her palms on the metal rung.
I’d be lying if I said she looks good, because she looks like hell with a black eye, bruised jaw, split lip, and bite marks and scratches covering her body.
Ravi stiffens, tightening his hold on me. Adam and Kellan stroll past us, creating a protective wall around me with their bodies as Chase and Tristan saunter behind. Slater surprises me by cutting past all of us and strides toward Sloan. His fingers curl into a fist and he looks ready to fight her.
“It was your pack,” Slater says, growling. “I could smell them all over her when I found her in the frozen woods. Where is Sid? I know what he tried to do to her. I’ll kill him.”
Sloan takes a step back, positioning her legs into a fighting stance. Flaring her nostrils, she releases a little growl in warning. “Back up, Ice Meadow.”
Tension rises around us, and a few guys remark about wanting to see someone put the bitch in her place. Anger rushes through me. Sloan doesn’t deserve this. She helped me. Without her, I can’t even think about what would’ve happened.
I shove my palms against Ravi, forcing him to release me. If Kellan didn’t spin and catch me, steadying me on my feet, I’d have probably landed on top of him.
“Slater, stop. You will not fight her on my behalf. You don’t even know what fucking happened. Get yourself in control.” Damn. I kind of wish I didn’t speak to him like that, because I can feel at least a dozen gazes land on me. There’s a lot more men on this boat than I realized. I don’t know how many packs are here, but it’s enough to make me more aware of how I should act.
“Princess, watch your tongue or you’re going to get in trouble.” Ravi lifts me back up, his threat empty and just for show.
“I’m sorry. I just...Sloan helped me. She’s the reason I managed to escape.” I flick my attention to her, hoping she realizes what her actions truly mean to me. “She’s not an enemy.”
“She’s right. I’m taking the alpha position of my pack. Perhaps we can discuss an alliance after all of this bullshit is over.” Sloan offers her hand to Slater. “You could use it with the rumors flying around.”
Rumors? Obviously, by his expression, Slater has no idea either. A loud horn cuts through the air, stopping him from questioning Sloan, and someone pulls the ladder from the dock. Light glitters across the water, and I grip onto Ravi as the yacht lurches forward. And holy shit. Something’s wrong. My insides twist, and I feel as if I’m going to be sick. The yacht moves too quickly and the world spins. Everything blurs around me as sparkling light fogs the air. It’s similar to the strange barriers that separate the territories from each other.
“Magic,” Slater says, his voice echoing through my mind instead of out loud. “It’s what you’re feeling. Because you still cling to your humanity, it’ll repulse you until we cross through to Starrise Island. It’s a place where no humans have ever been. And because you’re human-born, it affects you differently.”
Why do I struggle to believe that magic is real even though I know I might be a bit magical with how I transform into a wolf? It’s easier to pretend otherwise. Because the more I learn, the more I adapt, and the easier it is to forget the human world. I refuse to do so. I know that my life among humans wasn’t always the best, but it’s what I know. Now I’m stronger. Smarter. I know I can have a better life there. It has to be easier than this. Not knowing what is coming scares me. I have all of these men asking me to trust them, but can I? I guess I’ll find out.
A cooling sensation crawls across my skin, and I exhale a deep breath as my body settles. I peer around at the crystalline ocean, spotting an obvious line in the water as if two oceans meet. And then I see the island. Starrise Island looms just ahead, appearing closer than what I thought. It’s as if the magic drew us to it quicker than my mind can comprehend. It’s probably why I felt like crap for a couple seconds. I know it was some sort of portal. It’s hard to process all of this.
