AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Looking down and away, I shove my hands in my pockets. “Unfortunately…” I draw in a deep breath, knowing what I say next may destroy everything.“Being what I am and a dominant she-wolf. They glow constantly.” I can’t bring myself to look anyone in the eyes at this point.My eyes are my shame. It marks me as a death walker.
Ari, my little angel, swoops in and hugs me tightly and starts yelling at her brothers. Apparently, before I had arrived, she told them not to mention my eyes. That it was a painful and touchy subject for me. This tiny sprite in my arms is trying to protect me. I kiss the top of her head, then finally look back at her brothers and their friends. The one that had questioned me looks remorseful, the other three look more curious than anything else. Gaia played a nasty trick on female wolves. We know our mate by touch; the males know by sight and scent. Ari leads me into the castle and to where she likes to sit at the formal dining table. Let’s see what fun dinner brings.
Chapter3
Belladonna
I’d loveto say that dinner was awesome, but it wasn’t. Uncomfortable pretty much sums up the entire meal. Ari and her parents keep trying to keep conversation light and directed in a positive direction. Kaedyn and his best friend Alec have a staring problem. It makes me uneasy. Ari senses how tense I’m getting during this dinner from hell.
“Bella, I know one of your gifts is kind of cool. Want to show off your disappearing act?” Ari gives me a chance to escape, even if it is just for a little while.
“Shadow walking is more Ryker’s thing…” I say and get choked up saying my twin’s name. Clearing my throat, I force myself to smile.
“I have control of darkness, which is similar.” There’s a dark corner in the room and I walk over and step backward into the shadows and vanish from their sight.
Kaedyn and Alec rush to the corner that I vanished from and start searching the area. “Dad, we’ve got to find her!” Pain is evident in Kaedyn’s tone as he looks frantically around the corner. By their reaction, I can only assume one of them is my mate. Then again, I could be very wrong, and they just feel bad about what happened to my twin.
Pulling my gloves out of my back pocket, I slip them back on. The minute Kaedyn turns his back to the shadowed corner, I manifest and place my hands over his eyes. “Shhh… Any louder and you’ll wake the dead,” I say softly near his right ear. My voice hits a low, raspy tone with the slight growl of my wolf. The hairs on the back of Kaedyn’s neck stand on end when he hears my voice.
Kaedyn spins, almost knocking me off balance. His thick, powerful arms wrap around my waist and his hand goes to my upper back to support me. Fear and shock take turns ruling his expression. What I thought was a funny prank visibly upset him. “I’m sorry I scared you, Kaedyn. I won’t do it again.” Gently, I caress his cheek and look up into his glowing blue eyes. He nods stiffly, then sets me to stand on my own two feet again. He releases me so quick as if my body is made of fire and has burned him. Mixed emotions play upon his angelic visage. Most of them are ones I have never seen before.
Perhaps longing, or wonder, I’m honestly not sure. Queen Lani wears a look of shock on her face as her eyes dart between me and her eldest child. Without hesitation, she moves to my side and loops her arm around mine, and leads me out onto the balcony. Ari, being the curious creature she is, follows us. Once outside, Queen Lani releases me and paces. She keeps looking back into the dining hall, watching the guys in a modified huddle looking in our direction periodically. Suddenly Queen Lani rushes me and hugs me, crying. “I believe you are my baby’s mate! Isn’t this excellent news, Bella?” She nuzzles my cheek several times, then presses her nose against my throat and rests her forehead against the side of my neck.
Several words come to mind that sum up what I’m feeling… Aghast… Shocked… Terrified… Yeah, that about sums it up. My breathing becomes rapid to the point of hyperventilation. I can’t seem to slow it down. My heart thunders in my chest as the gravity of my situation hits home. I have a mate. He’s my best friend’s brother and next in line for the throne. Gasping for air, I become lightheaded and dizzy. Spots dance before my eyes as I try to regain control. The balcony spins out of control till everything goes black.
* * *
~ Kaedyn~
From the dining room, I watch my mate hit the balcony floor. My heart seizes in my chest, thinking we’ve lost her before she even knew what we were to her. Ignoring my father’s shouts, I race out onto the balcony to find my sister cradling
Belladonna’s head in her lap. Tears stream down my sister’s cheeks as she looks at her friend. “What happened to her?” I ask quickly, scared that something horrible happened to my mate.
“You have to understand, big brother, she was raised with the notion that she’s an abomination. For being as powerful in the dark arts as she is. I think her dad said one night which ever male was stuck with her would be cursed with death made flesh.” Ari’s tears flow faster as she strokes Bella’s face.
“Why would a father say that to his child?” Mother asks Ari before I have the chance to.
Ari shakes her head as she blots the tears from her eyes. “Bella is stronger than both of her parents and her twin. Her father has said more than once that they gave the twins the wrong gender as far as he was concerned.” My heart aches listening to what my mate has endured before today.
“Things will be different for her from now on. Mates are meant to be treasured.” Bella looks like a dark angel that fell to earth. Raven locks frame her pale skin, and her lips are painted black as pitch. She has that walking death persona so ingrained into her it will take a lot of time and understanding for her to see herself as anything else.
Amun comes out onto the balcony with one of the large tablecloths and offers it to me. Looking at him puzzled, he motions to Bella. “Wrap your mate up so you can carry her, you idiot!” Amun practically growls out as he heads back inside.
“Mom, will you permit it?” I ask as I fumble with the tablecloth.
“Of course. Put her in Ari’s bedroom here in the castle. I wish to keep her close so the nurse can check on her,” mom says softly before moving to stand before me. She kisses both of my cheeks, then moves to hold the door open for when I’m ready.
Ari helps me bundle her friend up in the tablecloth. Once Bella’s wrapped tighter than a burrito, I slip my arms under her legs and by her shoulders and lift her up off the cold ground. The scent of fresh-baked cookies besieges me, evoking happy childhood memories. Silently, I follow my sister through the house, carrying my most precious cargo. We make it up to Ari’s room and she opens her door wide. She races ahead of me and pulls down the covers on her bed and makes sure the pillows are just right.
“I’m glad it’s you, big brother. Anyone else, well I’d be afraid of Bella killing a lesser wolf.” The look on my baby sister’s face tells me she’s not joking. Forcing a smile, I deposit my mate in my sister’s bed. We carefully remove the tablecloth from around her, making sure I don’t touch any of her flesh. Mother returns quickly and hands me a pair of simple soft cotton gloves. “I know you want to adjust her, at least with these on…” Mom leaves it hanging in the air, sadness crosses over her face.
Protocol dictates I cannot claim her as mine until the betrothal ball in two days. Never in my life have I broken with tradition. Right now I want to say rules be damned. I slip the cotton gloves on and gently tuck her jet-black hair behind her ear. My eyes follow every curve of her face and the plumpness of her lips. They look so soft and kissable; I can’t wait till they are wet and swollen from our shared kisses. Carefully, I remove her shoes and position her so that she’s comfortable.
“What’s she like?” I whisper as I look over at my sister.
Ari’s gaze softens as she stares at Belladonna. “She’s absolutely the best. She’s fierce and protective and loving.” Her expression drops, and she pales at whatever thought crosses her mind. “She doesn’t want a mate. She feels she doesn’t deserve one because of what she is.” Several tears escape my baby sister’s eyes and I’m torn. I want to watch over my mate and yet I want to take care of my sister.
“Don’t look at me like that, Kaedyn. Bella has the deadliest traits from both of her parents.” Ari shakes her head as she pulls the covers up. “I can’t go into them with you, girl code and all. But as my brother, I can tell you she can kill with a touch or her will alone. She can drive someone to madness with just a thought.” Ari wraps her arms around me tightly and rests her head on my chest. “Don’t hurt my friend,” she pleads softly as she looks up at me.
