RIDER My ears flicker picking up the flapping of bird's wings in the trees above us, before my eyes slide open. I'm fully aware of my surroundings and more so the little human mate that's clinging to my fur for dear life. She's sleeping. I stay still, relishing the moment of having her in my paws, to know I don't have to hide myself from her anymore. Of course knowing Halie, this could probably be the calm before the storm. She might not be so accepting once she's fully awake again. Still, it felt f***ing great to have her in my arms. I glanced into the horizon of the trees, seeing complete darkness left and right, before changing her position to rest against the trunk of the tree, then shifted. There's no hell of a way I was having her on my back completely unconscious. 'What's the status?' I asked mind linking the men on duty 'No problem so far Beta 'Parker, how is it on the fence? ''Clear so far sir. Everything's fine. 'Good,' I responded, taking Halie in my arms watching as
RIDER "My parents- well I grew a bit unorthodox. I have parents but really don't" she explains fumbling with her hands in her lap. "I always had caretakers, my parents were too busy to be..well parents" she chuckles, it's light and airy but slightly pained. "We um, we used to get together around holidays but it's been years honestly. My parents could be spies and who'd ever know? " Halie's eyes lingered on her hands as she twirled them in her lap, avoiding my eyes. That whole statement alone leaves me confused and bewildered. What? "My mom's kinda over protective in a sense. She's.....well, I ended up with numerous caretakers because as soon as one got close to me, she fired them. I guess she felt threatened, but I always knew who my mother was so..." She shrugged. "Dad just bought me gifts to make up for his absence. " Halie glanced up meeting my eyes, tears making them glossy but they never fell. "Guess you're thinking I'm spoilt aren't you? Everyone thought I was growing up. I
Jaxon The walk back from Rider's cabin was f***ing dreadful. He finally looked a little more of the man I knew, having Halie at his side. Halie, his spit fire human mate that was also a hazard to herself and our species. Humans were our enemies, we learnt many lessons over the years, too much that had cost us more than necks and paws. I sighed internally, neither Moi nor Halie poised any threat to us- well not yet. This f**ing mate thing was a damn disaster and with Ragna now involved I'm not enthusiastic about the outcome. Halie was safer with Rider and Moi would definitely be safe at the pack house, I doubt the mad man would try anything stupid there- then again I'm talking about a rapid dog that has lost his sanity. "Are you okay? You've been silent the whole walk back. " Moi asked, pausing her steps. "Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, running my hand through my hair. "You should get inside and lock the door, no one should be coming to bother you for the night. " "Is Halie going to b
The last place I visit before heading to the office is the holding cell. In less than a minute my presence was registered by the occupant and he shuffled backwards attempting to hide without my reach. Veron's head is lowered in submission but also shame. He shouldn't be here. "Alpha. " I just stare at him, hands folded, leaning against the cells. "You're an idiot. If she was my mate, there would've been nothing stopping me from tearing your throat out. Trust me. " Fear and remorse crosses his face as he hangs his head. "I didn't know she was his mate. " "It's not a matter of whether or not she is. It's the fact that she was already under our protection from his order. The only reason you're in one piece currently is because he's more distracted with keeping her safe and the rest of the pack. That and the fact that her injury wasn't life threatening. " "He trusted you, Veron. Your actions are disappointing. When you're out carrying out your own agendas, how do you expect the res
When I awake from slumber, Rider is gone and the spot where he fell asleep beside me cold against the sheets. I'm not even sure when he switched our sleeping spot. I was probably too high on the warmth of him to probably give a damn anyway. I've got a soul mate. Rider is my soulmate. The thought still stirs as ridiculous in my head. That something so predestined actually existed. It's completely inhuman. He's a wolf, my mind reminds me. "God I'm mated to an animal, " I mumbled running a hand across my face. The fact sounds even more ridiculous out loud. How am I supposed to explain my new relationship to my parents? Oh hey dad, mom, uh this is my mate and we'll both be living in the woods happily ever after. "What could seriously be worse than this?" I muse. He could've been a vampire, my mind responds and I bite my lip. Oh, right. That probably would be creepy. Having your boyfriend drinking your blood to keep him alive. That was a walking oxymoron. Bright side is that Rider
RIDER We walked together, Halie glancing about curiously as we headed back to my cabin. Her fingers clenched tightly around mine and I could see the tension between her shoulders. "Do you want to go rabbit hunting with me?" Her feet pauses as she turns slowly to regard me, her expression twisted into both confusion and alarm. "What?" "Rabbit hunting, " I reply. "It's fun. " Halie tugs her hands from mine folding them across her chest. "I know what you said. I'm just appalled that you'd have the gall to ask. " "They're just rabbits. " I say shrugging. "They're also very cute Rider, " She shot back. "I can't believe you'd ask me to murder innocent fluffy animals. " "You eat chicken don't you? What's the difference? They'restill innocent. " "They're only cute when their chicks. " she responds as if that should make it more acceptable. My eyes sweep the forest floor before floating baçk to my mate, a smile immediately falling to my lips as I pull her into my arms. Her cheeks ins
RIDER I conceded. Really I was left with no choice. Halie's idea of making it up to me was singing. Not a nightmare I'd like to relive anytime soon. As I walk towards the saloon, I wonder if this was how my father felt, being wrapped around my mother's finger. A man that's bent on discipline and a creature of habit. He seldom leaned towards anything that wasn't issued by our Alpha. I was still weary of the idea of having Halie without my reach especially given Jax's warning. I sigh. Halie's right, I have to trust her. The door to the saloon swings open with a squeak revealing men all getting shit faced, pining away their misery in drunkenness. My heart went out, subdued by the darkness that loomed over the room. I shouldn't be here, but hell, the least I could do was not ostracize myself from them. I found Oliver drowning himself likewise- not even sure why I'm not surprised at this point. "Joining the piss party?" He asked after taking another swing of his drink. "Not that I ca
I know what I did, leaving Rider and disregarding what he said was stupid, but he'll get over it. He has to, he was not going to let me stay here and have anxiety attacks about whether he was fearing well or not. Especially not after the last time he went out and got shot! And Jax was with him last time- just saying. I caught up to Quinn just as the last set of wolves shifted and disappeared into the forest. Damn they moved fast. "You're not gonna shift too?" "How will you keep up if I shift?" "Good point" "You know if you keep disregarding him like that he'll eat you one day. " "What?" I exclaimed alarmed. "You guys eat people?" Quinn shrugged nonchalantly as if this shouldn't be a bother to me. "Sure. But only on full moons. " he says grinning. I took a large step back, contemplating whether I really wanted to step foot into a forest crawling with carnivorous animals. I mean sure wolves are carnivores but I didn't expect that human flesh was a delicacy. Quinn takes in my pa