AllFreeNovel
Share Us
For the first time since I’d met him, a small smile lifted his lips. “Why didn’t you escape?”
I blinked in surprise. “How did you—?” And then it hit me.He knew.He knew I’d see the rocky shelf leading around the mountain, and that I’d try to escape. “If you knew I’d see a chance to escape, why send me up there?”
Kade started forward again, taking me with him. “I’ve never agreed with the trials. None of us do.”
I didn’t need to ask to know he was talking about Locke and the others. My brows slammed down.What the actual hell?Everything I thought I knew about these monsters was turned on its head, and my mind was left spinning, not sure what was truth and what was reality. “But if you don’t agree, why were you guys the ones to take me and the other villagers from my island?”
“We have our reasons. This world is complicated.”
I wanted to punch him for not answering my question, but I figured that would be a shitty thing to do considering his current state. After a moment of silence, I said, “I saw the reports and the invitation.”
Kade’s body tensed, and his steps slowed. “We’ve only played the part that we had to. Having newbloods every ten years helps to add fresh blood to the houses and some use it as an opportunity to find mates. We’re immortal. You’d be surprised how the Week of Orash increases morale. A large portion of Katakin shows up to watch the fights, including the alphas from each of the houses.”
My anger from earlier, when I’d found the papers, rose back to the surface. Even if he didn’t agree with what was happening to us humans, he was still a part of it. “Mates? So you let them use us?”
A growl rumbled from Kade’s chest. “It’s not like that. The humans change when they become monsters. Most of them want to be chosen by the higher houses. I’ve heard some are even grateful they were taken from your island. They’re treated like goddesses by the members of the house, given everything they could possibly want. And they don’t have to accept a mate if they don’t want to.”
“Grateful?” I scoffed, struggling to process what I was hearing. But then I imagined Lana. From everything I’d learned, the reason she hadn’t emerged from the black water when we’d first arrived here wasn’t because she’d died. It was because she’dchanged.I could imagine her thriving while she was doted upon, treated like royalty. “And what about the ones who don’t want to join a house?” I asked, my voice quieter as I thought of my sweet sister, Cara.
“All newbloods must join a house,” Kade admitted. “But they have a say in which house they go with. The Week of Orash is a time for the newbloods to showcase their new skills and also for members of the houses to assess who might be a good fit for them. Every newblood has the right to refuse an offer from any house. If a newblood is presented with an offer from their respective high house but they don’t want to accept it, they can choose one of the respective lower houses. The newbloods always find their place.”
I frowned, but the tension that had been pulling at me eased. Cara hadn’t chosen to come here, but at least she’d had a choice with what house she went to live with.I still had no clue where she was, but this knowledge helped ease my worries. “Are you, Locke, and the others from your respective high houses?”
Kade’s eyes darkened. “We’re not a part of any house. Not anymore. I’m sure you’ll find a house that suits you.”
It was then that I realized he thought I was worried about where I was going to end up. I didn’t care about that. I had no intention of joining any house. I just wanted to find Cara.
“Break the bond between us and bond to the members of the house you choose. If you find a mate, bond to them instead. I can’t protect you.”
I glared at him. “Like I said, I didn’t bond to you. I don’t know what this is between us. And you don’t have to worry. I can take care of myself.”
His voice was quiet, but his eyes glowed brighter as we staggered along. “That you can, Mahare.”
CHAPTER 22
~ Kade ~
IstaredintoRaine’samber eyes, the color only a shade darker than my own, with small flecks of red mixing with the orange, like fires burned within them.Mahare.That was what I’d called her. A fitting name for the human who was starting to burn her way through my defenses.
She was strong, willful, and loyal...To me?I’d done nothing to deserve her loyalty. With how she’d been treated since coming here, I hadn’t been surprised to wake up finding her about to stab me with that letter opener.
I knew the role I played in bringing her here, away from that island. But she’d come back for me. Had tried toprotectme against Zacal. A human, standing up to monsters. This female was fierce, even without monster abilities.
Since that dark night my family and the other wolves had been slaughtered, I’d let Zacal take over the pack, and he’d used every opportunity to beat me down in front of the other wolves.
They knew I was stronger, but when Zacal constantly forced me to submit, it was easier for them to accept him as their leader. It wouldn’t have taken much for me to put him back in his place and to reclaim what had been mine, but I never did. I welcomed the pain he inflicted on me. I’d failed the wolves, and I deserved the punishment.
But today had been different becauseshehad been there. The outrageously beautiful human with the sassy mouth. The human who’d tried to kill me while I’d slept. It wasn’t just the bond that was between us, the magic that urged me to protect her. There was a fire in her that reminded me of who I’d used to be. Reminded me of a life that had once been mine. I couldn’t let them kill her.
I hadn’t even been thinking about the bond and the fact that her death would have meant my own and those of my brothers. I saw those wide amber eyes staring at Roren, still fierce even when staring at the face of death, and I’d instantly relinquished control, letting my wolf take over our body. She’d needed him, and I wouldn’t let her be torn apart.
My wolf had been all too happy to join the fray. I’d forced his dominance down for so long that our blood had sung as I’d released him. And now, with Raine’s skin burning against mine, I could feel him just under the surface. Sated by the action in the training cavern but desperate to be with her. To claim her. Protect her. He didn’t care if she turned into a wolf shifter or not.
We couldn’t have her, and my wolf roared at the thought of her choosing to be with another, but for now, we’d do our best to protect her like the bond wanted us to. We couldn’t save our family, but we could protect her until she chose a house.
My mouth dried out at the thought of the little human going to live with one of the houses. My arm threatened to slide from her shoulders, but her hand held me firmly, her body keeping me upright. My gaze slid to where her breasts were almost popping out of Lyr’s outfit, and her dry chuckle met my ears.
“Eyes are up here,” she said with a smirk, and I moved my gaze back to her face. Blood was splattered over her tan skin, and sweat had plastered her red hair to her forehead.
