AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I did.”
“It took me two years to tell Jimmy…” she trails off wistfully. And her pain. Her pain becomes a tangible thing between us, as if my mind is desperate to help share the burden. All of that grief and loss swirls between us. Forcing my eyes closed.
“What the hell?” Dominic mutters.
My eyes snap open to see light curling between us. A sort of bright orb bouncing between my sister and I. “Uhm, Tasha?” my voice cracks nervously.
“I see it,” she whispers, already staring at the strange energy crackling between us.
My sister has always been the braver of us. Maybe only because she was forced to be, but it’s true nonetheless. As I lean away, desperate to not touch whatever the hell is happening between the two of us, she sticks her hand right into the middle of it. Her fingers glow as the energy starts to mold itself around her intruding hand. She stares down in wonder then looks up and our eyes meet.
I reach for it too, curious to know what that beam of light feels like. My fingers barely graze the edge of it, and I cry out, “Ah, shit!” I jerk my hand back, fingertips feeling as if they’ve been scorched. I stare baffled at my sister as I cradle my hand, wondering how the hell she doesn’t feel that. Whatever this energy is, it seems to have a clear preference for her.
Dominic finally reaches for me like he wanted all along, tugging me away from Tasha as the light starts to spread down her arm. She looks at us helplessly, confusion written all over her face as I’m sure it’s reflected in ours.
“Stop,” Tasha mutters, closing her eyes with a frustrated noise. The light goes out like a bonfire at the end of a long night, extinguishing slowly first, then all at once. When she opens her eyes again, she studies her hands in awe. I don’t speak. But I’m pretty sure she just absorbed that energy into herself.
Dominic clears his throat.
“I’ll make the arrangements today. We’ll all go to the Luna Sovereign’s house in the morning.”
Chapter Thirty
Dominic
"Dom?" Tess's quiet voice makes me reach for her in the dark. I was trying to leave her alone if she was sleeping—neither of us has spoken for a while. It's been a long, stressful day after breaking the news to her of the Luna's death.
"I'm awake," I tell her. I've been lying here for hours trying not to stir and bother her. I only just got her into my bed, the last thing I want to do is drive her out of it with my restless, sleepless night. I made us come back to the pack house tonight despite her protests. I feel better with the security here. I'll have to make adjustments at the house if Tess intends to spend more time there.
"What happens now that the Luna…" she trails off, clearly not knowing how to say the words.
"The fates will choose a new Luna Sovereign. No one knows exactly how it works, only that a new Luna will take her place when the fates are ready. It's all very secretive."
"What about family? Does she have anyone? Where will they bury her?" Her questions are rapid fire.
"I'm not sure. She'll be buried in the gardens like the Luna always is, but I don't know who she's leaving behind. When a shifter becomes the Luna Sovereign, all wolves become their family."
"I would hate that."
I pull Tess closer to me, tucking her head under my chin and breathing her scent in deeply. It's hard to believe I marked her twenty-four hours ago. She's mine now. Mine to protect. And all I've done since marking her is disappoint her. Leaving the bed this morning. Sharing the news about the Luna. We're not off to a great start. When we come back from the Luna's house, I need to show her what life will really look like as my partner.
I also need to formally introduce her to the pack. I'm reluctant to leave the little bubble we've constructed for ourselves, but I can sense the unease growing the longer I keep Tess closed away. I rarely allow outsiders on our land, so I know the pack must have its suspicions. But I can only imagine what's been said since I’ve sent members of our pack off in search of her twice.
Packs don't keep secrets. Not strong packs, anyway.
“I feel like I don’t know myself,” Tess whispers.
I’m not sure if she really means for me to hear it, but it makes me wish I could fix all of this for her. I wish I had the answers she wants. I should have pressed harder for answers from the Luna while I had the chance. Now, there’s no telling how long it will take for the new Luna Sovereign to get up to speed.
“We’re going to figure it out,” I reassure her.
She tilts her head to look at me, just enough light trickling in from the moon that we can vaguely make each other out in the dark. I can feel her studying me, maybe trying to figure out how sincere I am. I want her to trust me, but marking her didn’t make that instantly change. Things are better, but she still needs time. All I can think is that it only makes me want to push her harder. It’s working out well for me so far, I think smugly. She’s still here, after all.
“I can’t believe I let you mark me.” There’s an equal amount of pride and disdain in her voice, making me self-conscious for a moment that maybe she’s reading my mind and picking out all the dark things I want to do to her to make sure she can’t ever leave me.
Tying her to the bed is high on that list. The bed here is no good though since the headboard is one solid piece. But the metal bed frame back at the family house would be perfect. Plenty of places to tie her to, and I could make it very much worth her while. I still have to work and care for the pack, but maybe spending hours tied up, forced to wait around thinking of me, would do her some good.
I move my arm so I can trail my hand up her arm, reveling in the goosebumps that pop up. I graze my fingers over her smooth skin until I reach her mark. It’s still dark right now because it’s fresh, but it will lighten over time. Just enough to still be visible to anyone who dares entertain the idea of being interested in my mate.
