2. Genevieve

Funeral complete, we solemnly return to the packhouse. It is a huge wooden structure that dominates the centre of Cragstone. The wood panelled dining room is full of angry men, plans and talks of vengeance against an enemy they have yet to identify.

The atmosphere is so tense it leaves me breathless.

I look for Nikolai, but again he has vanished. Instead it is Freya, his older sister who sweeps me into her arms with a sympathetic, “you did so well out there”. Her huge brown curls bounced around to her shoulders. 

My long blonde hair hangs straight down my back whilst my green eyes are tinged with red from crying. “Nikolai is with my father, are you happy to travel back to White Forest with me and Phillipe?”

“He’s…Nikolai isn’t waiting for me?” I stammer. How is this man going against everything I have heard about the bond? From across the room I spotted him. Stood close to his father, the equally dark and brooding Alpha Alexander, the two form a severe, aloof pair. 

“No sorry, he asked us to take you.”

“What if I wanted to stay here, with my brother for a few days? All my friends are here!”

Freya looked at Phillipe awkwardly. Despite his crazy shock of white hair and blue-purple eyes he seemed kind enough, “I believe Nikolai wants you back safe at White Forest.”

My heart quivers at the sudden sight of Nikolai across the room. My wolf demands we walk up to him and demand his affection. I crave his skin on mine, like a starving man I’ll take any morsel he will give me. 

However I will not be commanded like a servant. “He can come and tell me that himself then,” I tell Freya curtly, before heading through the crowded room to find my brother.

As I exit he meets my eyes. For the shortest second we share a connection and Priya, my wolf spins with joy. All those jet-black curls tumbling down to his jawline. Shoulders twice as wide as me. Gorgeous. Yet as I appreciate my mate’s form his mouth hardens and he looks away.

It stings like a slap across the face.

Cillian’s blue eyes meet mine and he nods to the side. I don’t know why he didn’t just mind link me. Winding my way up the wooden staircase to my parents' study, it still smells of them. 

Apple and berries. The study is stacked with notes on every topic imaginable for the pack. Cillian had a whole library to consult for every question. Except for the only ones that mattered, who killed them? Why kill them?

The heavy door thudded like a bank vault as it shut. Soundproofed. “Genevieve, I’m sorry you had to arrange all this on your own, I’ve not…I tried to work out who did it before the trail went cold. It’s all gone to shit. I've got nothing.”

We sat against the heavy mahogany desk. Our father’s correspondence piled high alongside Cillian’s new official wax seals and insignia. 

“You didn’t find anything? What have you been doing all this time then?”

Cillian gripped the edge of the desk, his knuckles turning white. "I need to get back out there but I can’t while the pack is desperate for blood. Some of the Beta’s are suggesting war already. We need answers first!”

“We do, who would we even be declaring war against right now,” I agreed softly, my eyes wandering around the room, taking in as many memories and scents as possible before having to leave.

Cillian sighed, pinching his brow between his fingers as if fighting a headache. “You said that night when…when I found them, that you had a vision?”

“I had the same dream, maybe four times before? They were just sleeping to me. I didn’t notice the red pin pricks on their necks from the wolfsbane injection.”

“That’s it? No other people, no clues? Nothing before or after?”

“No,” I said sadly. “If I knew anything at all I’d tell you.”

“Do you know where Nikolai was yet-”

“I’m working on that,” I snap back. “Don’t go there.” 

It’s hypocritical but only I can be pissed at my mate. Before anyone else I’ll defend him to the death. Priya surged forward with an anger I’d never felt before. 

I wanted to shift, extend my claws, and protect my mate. Even towards my own brother my eyes flashed with pink at the merest hint of an accusation.

I’m working on it, like I say.

Cillian raised his hands, “of course. The sooner the better. If it gets out he isn’t accounted for…they’re going to point fingers.”

“I know. You had better get back out there. I’ll write to you.”

“You’ve heard the rumours about him haven’t you?”

A dagger of ice pierced my chest with fear. “What rumours?”

“Well we knew nothing about him when we went to that ball. I’ve done some digging. He’s not like us Gen, sounds like he’s missing his fucking heart to be honest.”

“What do you mean by that? He’s my mate!”

“I mean I’ve heard he’s been responsible for deaths in the past. So, the sooner he can prove where he was the better. You can’t keep saying he was with you. It’s going to get out that he wasn’t.”

Despite resenting his words we shared a parting hug. I whispered, “you will be an amazing Alpha. Father prepared you well,” and I was surprised to see his blue eyes brim with tears for the first time today. 

Inhaling deeply, he kissed the top of my head. “A lot has changed but I am always here for you. Maybe we all just need to get to know Nikolai...”

The temptation to sarcastically reply with “I’d like to get to know him too,” was overwhelming. Instead I smile softly and leave. That’s the best thing I can do for him right now. If he thinks I’m happy and in love at White Forest that’s one less worry for Cillian. The fact he has dropped a bombshell of information on me is something to think about later.

Leaving his study I walk straight into a solid wall of black fabric. Dark, soulful eyes peer down at me from within a tousled mop of black hair. Priya whirls and my heart races. Is that a hint of ruby that glints at me as he swiftly steps backwards?

Mate she screams in my head, realising we are close enough to inhale his spiced scent.

“Nikolai, can we talk?”

“I need you to head back with Freya. Do not argue about it. You are safer at White Forest.” His tone was commanding, even though I despise being told what to do, it sounded delicious in his voice.

“Why are you not coming with us?” aware that I sounded like a whining brat. “Why even bother coming today!”

“It is not your concern right now Genevieve,” as his eyes broke contact with me I felt a shiver of cold. Being with him was to stand in the sunlight, even though he didn’t want to be there with me.

He moved to leave, halfway down the stairs before I cried out, my voice an embarrassingly high-pitched panic. “Wait! When will I see you again then? We’re mates in case you don't remember!”

He sighed, rolling his shoulders in annoyance, his back still turned to me. As if the question was silly. It wasn’t foolish to me. Less than a week ago I handed over my soul and received part of his in return.

I am starting to hate the fact that even though he is being so cold, desperate heat is pooling between my legs, my skin burning for his touch. Even now, on such a day I want him to hold me. No, I want him to screw me and make me forget this is one of the worst days of my life.

Upsetting as it is to consider…why was he lurking outside the study? Was he trying to eavesdrop? He’s only a year older than me, what darkness can he possibly be hiding?

/Outrageous! Trust our mate!/ Priya screeched into my mind but it's hard when he's a complete stranger to me.

As if sensing my suspicion he forced himself to speak.

“I will see you soon. I cannot say exactly when, but I will not be coming here. If you want to see me, again get in the car with Freya.”

“Fine,” releasing a sigh of my own. I doubted my parents’ blissful relationship started with such miserable resistance.

The car journey back to White Forest was one of utter boredom. Freya is a nice girl but she could only sustain sadness about my parents for the first hour.

Idly twirling long brown ringlets as the scenery scrambled by, she moved onto the topic of her commitment ceremony. Only two months away, she and Phillipe were to be the future rulers of the Rising Star pack.

His bright white spiked hair, tall and lean body was such a contrast to her short, curvaceous frame and warm brown eyes. The commitment ceremony. The huge castle. The hundreds of guests, the trivial dancing and fucking flower arrangements.

The hours of driving did not fly by.

"Will your mother be fit to attend by then?" I ask her, a hint of malice in my question. as Phillipe glares across at me. His eyes flash green then purple.

"I don't know," she whispered, clearly wounded.

"Two months is a long time my sweet," Phillipe said softly clasping his hand in hers. "Luna Helena may recover her mind yet." 

I look out of the window wondering why the Luna who had hardly anything to do with my parents for twenty years, was suddenly incapaciated by their deaths.