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He tenses before he relaxes again, there is shame in his voice as his fingers run through my hair, “I’m sorry it took me a week to get to you.”
I look up at him, feeling like there’s more to the story. I don’t blame him for not being there on the day of my birthday, but it does make me wonder what happened. “I’m not mad at you for not being there,” I tell him firmly. “What happened? You don’t strike me as the kind of male to not be where you say you’re going to be when you say you’re going to be there.”
Tristan smiles at me, it’s melancholy and wrenches at my heart. “There were some rogue attacks here and at Crew’s pack.” I must give him a confused look because he gently explains, “He’s the Alpha of Golden Summit. We grew up together and have each other’s back.”
I nod slowly, pondering what it means. Would they go that far? It’s almost too sinister for me to consider. Then again, if there’s witchcraft in the mix here and the plan was for Todd to mark me, it would make sense that Alpha Thomas would do anything in his power to prevent Tristan from being at Waning Moon for my birthday.
“I can see your mind working through all the pieces.” I look up into Tristan’s eyes and the adoration there has my breath catching. “I have no doubt that Alpha Thomas is, somehow, behind the attacks. It would make sense.”
“He seemed upset when I was called to his office a few days after Todd rejected me. Luna Lori was there as well and they, very clearly, expressed disappointment about the rejection,” I muse.
Tristan nods and kisses my forehead. The sparks from that simple contact has my pussy fluttering. It’s a totally new sensation. I’ve never really been attracted to anyone before, and it wasn’t just because I was afraid of the males in my pack. None of them did anything for me.
It made it easy to wait for my mate. I was always about the fairy tale anyway. My mate would love me. We would fall in love in an instant. He would be my other half, the part that completes me. I wanted to make sure that I could give all of myself to him.
The fact that the rest of the pack treated me horribly made it easy.
I make a humming sound as Tristan’s large hand moves up and down my back, soothing the ache in my body and making me feel like I can conquer the world, even while I’m covered in bruises. It’s kind of strange and something I didn’t even think about at the time, but when I found out Todd was my mate, I didn’t feel some overwhelming attraction to him.
“Because he wasn’t really our mate,” my wolf pipes up.
Maybe it is that simple. Or maybe it’s because I know that he’s a horrible wolf and male. I feel sorry for whoever his true mate is. She’s going to have a horrible time.
It’s not my problem, not really. I push those thoughts aside.
“Come on, little wolf,” Tristan’s voice is deep and husky, “Let me feed you breakfast and then I have someone coming to see you to find out what has been done. If we’re right, then she’ll try to undo the spell. We also need to get you inducted into the pack.”
My eyes snap up to meet his gaze and I almost get lost in the deep green there. I used to love to spend hours looking up at the canopy of the forest, trying to find peace. It was difficult to do then but looking into Tristan’s eyes it’s easy.
My voice is tentative, “A witch?”
He nods slowly. “Yes. We have one in our pack.” I let out a small gasp. That’s not the norm, from what I understand. Tristan flashes a devastating smile, one that would make me weak in the knees if I wasn’t cradled in his lap. “She’s mated to one of the top warriors here. The Blood Rising Pack values the mate bond, and we would never turn away someone’s goddess-given mate.”
“She doesn’t make mistakes,” I sass, and he throws his head back and laughs.
It completely transforms his face and I become wet. Like embarrassingly wet. I’ve never seen a more attractive male. The knowledge that he is mine, all mine, settles deep in my soul.
I’m not sure if I deserve him, but I’m not going to turn my back on the gift the Moon Goddess has given me. I’ll cherish him and his pack. I’ll do my best to stand beside him as he continues to lead Blood Rising.
When he leads me into the bathroom, he kisses my forehead again and lets me know he’s going to find me some clothes along with the promise to take me shopping later. I don’t need much. I never have, even before everything changed in my life. I’ve always valued people over things, but it did me no good at Waning Moon.
The shower feels wonderful, and I take as long as I dare to allow the hot water to sluice over my skin. It feels like I’m washing away so much more than just the events of yesterday. It feels like the last eight years swirl around my toes to be dragged down the drain.
They tried to change the course of my life, knowing it would be an affront to the Moon Goddess. They tried to break me in the process. I won’t let them win. I will move forward and embrace this new life I’ve been granted.
“It was always our destiny, my human,” my wolf hums gently. “We were always meant to be with Tristan. I feel it. His wolf is powerful, and I can feel the love they have for us. They have been waiting for us. All we need to do is embrace what they are offering.”
“We need to put the past behind us,” I murmur.
“After we allow Tristan to get some justice. Those in power at Waning Moon tried to mess up the plans of the goddess. Tristan will right those wrongs in our name. We have a very powerful male to worship us,” the smug note in my wolf’s voice has me giggling as I get out of the shower.
When I step into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around my body, I feel a little self-conscious because I know my bruises are on display. Tristan immediately stands up from where he’s perched on the bed and pulls me against his chest. I’m a little disappointed to find him already dressed for the day, but I push it down.
I had been pressed against the bare skin of his torso earlier since he was only wearing a pair of light sweatpants. I can’t let my mind linger on my mate’s sexy chest too much. I’ll devolve into a panting, horn-wolf.
Tristan chuckles like he can hear my thoughts and I let out a huff. He pulls me back to the bed where undergarments, with the tags still attached, along with a maxi dress are waiting for me. I arch my eyebrow while looking at the clothes. It shouldn’t make jealousy flare inside of me. I know packs have a lot of extra clothes around. It’s a requirement with all the shifting going on.
“Don’t worry, little mate,” there’s amusement coloring his words, “I went to my sister, Cora, for your outfit. She’s about your size.”
