Salara’s POV
Nerves wrack my body as we make the long trek to where Derrick’s pack lives in the hidden woods of Kansas. The trip is a four hour drive, and every second of it spent trapped in the car with Henry was like a thousand tortures.
Henry reminded me repeatedly that the only reason that I am coming along on this trip is to tell Derrick that I am not interested in being his mate. That I love my husband and will not leave him for another man.
My heart breaks at the thought of saying any of those things to Derrick. Even though I hardly know him, it is like I have known him all of my life. My soul has been calling out to his since the moment that he stepped through my kitchen doorway.
Could this be the mate bond that I have read so much about in my books?
Whatever it is, it is not something that I want to give up on. But I have no choice but to go along with what Henry demands of me because if I don’t then he will alert the media about werewolves and show them where Derrick’s pack is living.
I can’t let that happen! Especially when the only reason that Derrick revealed himself in front of Henry is because of me. I can’t let his pack suffer because of me.
After another ten minutes of driving pass by within the car, we finally reach our turn off and are greeted by two men standing beside a jeep. Henry pulls up beside them and rolls down his window.
“Are you our escort into the pack?” Henry asks, flashing a brilliant smile to the two men. The men ignore his display of charm, nodding their head in agreement. The smile slowly begins to fade on Henry’s face as he studies the two muscular men standing silently outside of the car window.
“Follow us.” One of the men says before they both turn around and walk back to their jeep.
Henry frowns, but says nothing. We follow the two men in silence for around ten minutes before the trees around us start to lessen and a large city is revealed at the end of the path. My eyes widen in aww as we drive past houses and businesses, much like you would see in a small town.
“Don’t get too attached.” Henry sneers at me. “You won’t be staying if you know what’s good for everyone.”
I cast my eyes downward to avoid looking at the people and buildings we pass along the way. After a few tense moments, I feel the car begin to slow and risk looking up to see where we have ended.
A mansion stands before me, beautiful in its old colonial style look and feel. White columns grace the front of the building, holding up a roof that covers the front porch as well as the multiple balconies that can be seen from the front.
Windows cover the entire front side of the mansion, letting in natural light to all of the rooms that can be seen from outside. The building was breathtaking to look at and must have cost a fortune to build.
My heart begins to thump loudly in my chest, making me wonder if Henry can hear the thump thump thump of it from his place in the driver’s seat. My eyes flash to his quickly to see if he caught on to my nervousness.
A frown appears on Henry’s face as he stares, not at me, but at the large mansion I was just admiring. When I turn my gaze back to the beautiful building, my eyes are graced with the sight of the gorgeous werewolf that has invaded all of my thoughts since yesterday.
My heart starts racing inside of my chest, louder than it was before, and this time I am sure that Henry can hear it from beside me. Derrick looks just as gorgeous as I remembered him to be. His dark curls styled atop his head in a way that appears accidental.
His clothing today looks as if he carefully picked them out in order to impress someone. My heart flutters within my chest at the thought. Could he have dressed to impress me? His black slacks mold to his body perfectly while his light blue button up shirt accents the tanned color of his skin flawlessly.
The top two buttons of his silk shirt is lefted unbuttoned, revealing patches of dark chest hair hiding beneath. My fingers itch to run through the hair before moving along his body to feel the strength that I know resides beneath the surface.
Heat pools between my thighs, soaking my panties and making me thankful that Henry isn’t a werewolf as well so he won’t be able to smell it.
My eyes widen.
But Derrick IS a werewolf and he WILL be able to smell my arousal. That would only make things ten times more difficult when I have no choice but to reject him in order to protect him and his pack. Something I desperately don’t want to do as I sit here transfixed by the sight of him.
“Close your mouth Salara. You’re such an embarrassment.” Henry snaps from beside me, opening the car door and slamming it shut in his anger.
My mouth snaps shut with a loud click, sending pain radiating throughout my jaw from the impact. Keeping my eyes downcast, I slowly undo my seatbelt and follow Henry out of the car. Moving to the backseat, I open the door to get my daughter Hayden out of her seat.
“Do you need any help?” A small voice says from behind me. I turn to look at Miguel, giving him a warm smile at the offer.
“I’ll have her out in just a moment, but thank you. You are too sweet.” I tell him before turning back to release the carseat straps from around my daughter. Hayden immediately pushes out of her carseat and shoves me aside so she can get out.
She lets out an excited squeal before introducing herself. “Hi. I Hayden.” She says, giving Miguel a toothy grin.
A huge smile spreads across Miguel’s face. “I’m Miguel.” He says, reaching out a hand for Hayden to grab ahold of. Without Hesitation Hayden places her hand in his and allows him to lead her towards the front of the beautiful mansion.
“Pretty.” Hayden says, her eyes going wide as she looks up at the huge house. “You live there?” She asks, stopping to stare, her finger pointing in front of her as she glances over at Miguel.
Miguel lets out a chuckle. “This is our packhouse.” Miguel explains. “Lots of people live here.” With that he starts moving again, leading the way at Hayden’s pace.
He would make such a great big brother. I wish I was lucky enough to have him as a son.
That thought stops me in my tracks. I can’t allow myself to think like that. I am here to tell his father that I can not accept being his mate and that he should move on with someone else. Even if the thought of him being with someone other than me kills me inside.
Squaring my shoulders, I walk towards the front porch where Henry and Derrick stand talking with determination.
It is time to get this rejection over with and go back to my miserable existence.
Salara’s POVI keep my eyes casted down towards the dirt path that leads to the beautifully built mansion as I make my way towards my husband. I can feel eyes on me the whole way up the front path and towards the house, the intensity of the stare making my heart flip in my chest. Glancing up when I catch the sight of stairs in front of me, my eyes instinctively seek out Derrick’s as he watches my approach to his home. Butterflies take flight in my stomach as I stare into Derrick’s deep green eyes, the longing I can see nearly making me stumble up the stairs. Derrick’s hand reaches out to steady me before I can fall face first towards the top step. The feel of his hand on my exposed upper arm sends sparks to dance along my skin, pulling a gasp of surprise from my lips. We stand like that for who knows how long, both of our eyes transfixed on the spot where our bodies touch lightly. The sound of someone clearing their throat pulls me back to reality and the reason that I am here. “Th
Derrick’s POV“Would you like a tour of the pack grounds?” I address my question to Henry, but really I am more interested in whether Salara wants to look around or not. She was quiet all throughout lunch, barely eating and mostly staring down at her hands in her lap. Henry grabs ahold of Salara’s hand, pulling her close to his side. “We drove all of this way, it would be a shame not to take a look around.” He says, placing a kiss on Salara's forehead. ‘Let me out Human.’ Hunter growls in my mind. ‘I will tear out his tongue and shove it down his throat until he chokes. I will rip his throat out with my jaws and bath in the blood that spurts from the open wound. I will-” I immediately cut him off, feeling his murderous emotions begin to seep into me. ‘Calm down Hunter.’ I tell him. ‘We will not be ripping out anyone’s throat.’ Despite how much I really want to. ‘I heard that last thought.’ Hunter says, chuckling. Realizing that I have been just standing there on the porch staring
Salara’s POVI turn to look at Henry in disbelief. He has been pushing for me to reject Derrick, but now that he is presented with a mate, he is considering keeping her… How could he?Henry rises from his seat on the bench and walks over towards Savannah, his eyes not once looking in my direction. Apparently he is serious about finding a way to work this out. My eyes widen as I watch him make his way closer to Savannah. Does this mean that he will let me go be with Derrick? When I glance in Derrick’s direction, I notice his eyes are on me, conflict raging behind his eyes. “I’m going for a walk.” I say suddenly, needing to get away from Henry and his apparent mate and be by myself for a little bit. After taking a couple of steps away from the pair currently staring into each other's eyes, I stop in my tracks. I have no idea where I am headed or how to get back if I go for a walk.Letting out a resigned sigh, I turn to head back to the others when I feel a hand on my elbow. Sparks zip
Derrick’s POVHearing a curse word coming out of Salara’s mouth with that much venom was not something that I was expecting. Salara has been nothing but timid and obedient when it comes to her husband and I must admit that the fire I see in her eyes as she glares at her husband has my cock twitching in my jeans. Henry jumps from his seat on the bench, his angry eyes meeting Salara’s angry orbs, disapproval clear in his features. “There is no need for such language Salara.” He says, his lips thinning into a line. I watch in aww as more anger begins to burn in Salara’s eyes, causing them to sparkle in the daylight. Pink flushes her cheeks as she takes in deep breaths to calm her growing anger. This side of Salara is widely more appealing than the meek little miss that is at her husband’s beck and call. This fire inside of Salara must be why the Moon Goddess felt that she was the right mate for me, and here I was stupidly questioning why the Moon Goddess would saddle me with such a ti
Salara’s POVAn angry growl fills the silence around us. My eyes snap in Henry’s direction just in time to see the woman he was kissing moments ago launch herself at his back, wrapping her legs around his slim waist. Her hands move up to pull his head to the side, much in the same way a vampire would do in the movies. A horrified scream leaves me as I watch the woman bite down into Henry’s collar, the sound of his bones crunching beneath her bite reverberating within my mind. Bile rises in my throat, threatening to come out and spill on the Earth at my feet. Strong arms wrap around me in an instant, shielding me from the site of my husband being mauled by a woman with large canines. I bury my face into Derrick’s muscular chest, taking comfort in the warmth that radiates from him and seeps into my body. A moan suddenly sounds from behind Derrick. The sound familiar as one that Henry lets out when he is taking pleasure in my body during our weekly sex. How can he be feeling pleasure
Derrick’s POV“If a werewolf finds their mate within a human, then that wolf can change their mate through the mate brand.” I allow my words to hang between us for a heartbeat, before continuing on with explaining the situation we have found ourselves in. “Each werewolf is born with a wolf inside of their head that emerges between the age of sixteen and eighteen, it depends on the wolf.”Salara nods her head indicating that she is following along so far. “Our wolf is like a second identity that lives inside of us, talking to us- and sometimes taking control of us.” I shift on my feet, hoping that I don’t scare her away with my news. Salara looks at me for a moment, a look of concentration on her face before she indicates for me to continue. It is nice to have someone that is willing to just listen to me while I talk and not ask a thousand questions in between. Though I do see the many questions that are swirling around in her brain right now, she is patiently waiting for me to finish
**Trigger warning** Some scenes in this chapter display signs of physical and sexual abuse.Salara’s POVI know my husband enough to know that he will never let me go to Derrick. It doesn’t matter that he has found a mate, and clearly already accepted her, he will still keep me tied to him in order to make my life miserable. So as I watch him say goodbye to his mate right in front of me, a tear falls down my face in mourning of the future that I will not have with the man standing beside me. I will be forced to live everyday in this pack, so close and yet so far from the man that makes my heart flutter with just a look. But what that means for mine and Henry’s relationship… I am not sure. Will he expect me to fulfill my duties as his wife, while he has another woman as well? Or will I merely be a slave to the both of them while I try to shield my daughter from her father’s selfishness?My mind goes numb as we walk the rest of the way to the beautiful packhouse. My eyes never once le
**Trigger warning** Some scenes in this chapter depict physical and sexual abuse and might be triggering to some.Salara’s POVTomorrow is the day that we head back to the Evergreen Pack and move in with Henry’s mate Savannah. Ever since the night that we came back from Derrick’s pack almost a week ago, Henry has made sure not to hit me anywhere that would be visible. The bruise on my cheek has slowly healed during that time and is now a dull yellow color on the side of my face, thankfully easily coverable with a little bit of makeup. The last thing that I want is to have the added embarrassment of being physically abused broadcasted to the people of our new pack. It is bad enough that I have no choice but to live with Henry and his mate when I have a mate waiting for me living in the pack as well. I have been dreading having to speak with Derrick about my decision to live with Henry and Savannah instead of divorcing my husband and allowing him to lead his life with his mate. My hea