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Twenty-Three
Zacharias
I was kicking myself for bringing up what would happen once we reached the wolves’ territories, but on the other hand, I was also grateful I’d had the forethought to ask what my true mate was comfortable with.
My dragon was sulking in the back of my head as I held my mate’s small figure tight against my chest, and I couldn’t say I didn’t feel the same as my inner animal. The twin sounds of even breathing told me both of the other members of my triad were out cold.
Although this wasn’t how I was imagining the night would end after Mari had requested for me to join her and Ash, I rejoiced in the chance to pass the night with her in my arms, all the same.
Her intoxicating smell of rainfall lulled me closer to dreamland as the seconds ticked by, dulling the discomfort of my aching dick until blackness consumed my awareness.
The morning came too fast, and we were setting off for our first stop before the sun had peered ov
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Marigold I spent the next couple of days avoiding the real world while Rias was gone, living vicariously through the characters in my latest novel, “Rebel Rising: The Lost Alpha’s Mate.” Asher checked in with me frequently, bringing me food and taking the time to put a smile on my face before he left each morning. He’d been in and out during the daytime hours, busy helping Reese out in preparation for the impending clash between species, and I think he even mentioned something about speaking with the bear shifter about the serum he’d created for detecting the wolves or bears who were utilizing the scent blocking technology. It made me concerned about the situation back home, but I knew Asher wouldn’t leave the safety of our pack to chance. Be that as it may, I did feel like shit when it dawned on me that I hadn’t thought about checking in with Nicolai when we’d made the layover in the East. I was certain Ash had looke
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Asher There was nothing sexual about the way I was curled up to Mari’s back as she rested in the cradle of Rias’s arms, the tiny bed we’d been forced to make do with ensuring we remained almost on top of one another. I wasn’t complaining about the closeness to my other half, but I was missing the luxurious bed back home in the East as we fell asleep, nonetheless. At any rate, what seemed like only minutes later, Reese’s deep baritone was invading my head, forewarning about the arrival of the bear shifters. A few minutes later, I’d barely been able to rouse the others before someone was beating on the door. Knock, knock, knock! Reese’s familiar voice sounded again, but this time, it came from the other side of the bedroom door as it rang out in a tense tone, saying, “Asher.” Groaning, I rolled out of bed, careful not to dump Mari on the ground from where she’d cuddled up to me while we slept. I was even
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Asher The reason for Rias’s reluctance was rapidly becoming clear as Mari began to freak out, halting any forward progress we’d been making as she queried, “When? I need to get to Iris. I can’t lea-” My wolf’s instinctive need to protect our mate was kicking in with the clear picture of alarm she presented as she paced back and forth on the walkway before she brusquely cut off her sentence. Rias was as baffled as I was, but he also didn’t have the added benefit of having more time observing our soulmate in her comfort zone like I had, so he didn’t know as much about her troubled home life as me, either. She’d been secretive, regardless, but the love for her sister had always shone through brilliantly any time she had spoken her name in the past. This moment was the exception, and I intercepted her frenzied marching, tugging her into my embrace before she drove herself mad. Rias followed my lead, closing in on her on the other
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Marigold Altogether, Chase’s presence just pissed me off, but the information he’d shared about my lousy mother incensed me further. He’d been a constant thorn in my side while growing up, but I hadn’t given the male a single thought since I’d left this place behind. Ramming aside any memory of him de novo, I did my best to keep from outright sprinting through the streets in the direction of my sister. While I wasn’t positive that she was in the same place, I was counting on Maya’s promise to keep my sister safe in my absence. We were managing to fly under the radar so far, most people around this part of the town knowing to mind their own business with the shady deals that occurred on the regular, but I was aware our good fortune would only last for so long. It didn’t take long for us to make it to the rundown trailer park I’d called home for years before escaping to the wolves’ territories with my father, but I pulled up sho
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Marigold Once I gathered my wits, I moved in again, checking my mother’s breathing. Another thorough glance around the small room told me that she had likely been here for a while. I sighed aloud when I zeroed my keen eyes in on the pair of scissors laying nearby, strands of light blonde hair littering the peeling linoleum and making it clear what my parental figure had been up to before she’d succumbed to the effects of the alcohol. Turning towards the sink, I scooped up a semi clean towel, determined to at least make her presentable, but my plans were foiled when I tried the tap and nothing came out. Of course, there wasn’t any water. That would be too easy. Frustrated, I covered my face with my hands, squeezing my eyes shut tight as I did my damnedest to contain the scream bubbling up from within. Wholly intent on my own misery, I didn’t notice the sounds of my mates’ arrival, but their presence was irrefutable as Asher ens
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Marigold Regardless of what Asher had advised before, I didn’t let Rias deter me from showing Maya and Iris to the last available guest rooms in the pack house after we made it back. Ash set off for the clinic with my mother in tow when we’d arrived a few minutes ago, and Rias and Jace carried in the luggage behind the girls and me. I had one foot poised on the steps, but Rias stopped me with his words, “I was planning to make something easy to eat. I can make enough for everyone if you girls are hungry.” My heart melted a little on the inside at my mate’s offer, adoring the way he was always taking care of others. He pressed a chaste kiss to my lips after Maya and Iris both voiced their need to freshen up after the journey, promising to venture from their rooms after they’d settled in some. As we strode through the hall, Jace shadowing us with the girls’ bags, Maya’s fidgety movements drew my notice, but I didn’t comment on h
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Zacharias I stuck close to Nicolai, not trusting him to remain in place while Maya received the information she needed, but, all the while, I couldn’t help but consider the insane pairings that had been being forged across species’ lines as of late. Ash took over for me, monitoring Nic, but I didn’t want to disturb the girls too soon, so I retreated to our room for now. I’d put off contacting Maverick and Finn earlier, seizing the opportunity to speak with Iris when it had arisen instead. She was much more forthcoming with information than her sister, and it was nice to get acquainted with the younger girl who meant the world to my mate. Iris was a breath of fresh air during all the turmoil, and my heart ached for all that her and Mari had been through. I didn’t want to pry, but I did need to know more about Mari’s past to understand how to help her. I’d seen her mother’s addiction problem firsthand for myself,
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