Chapter 3
Clumsy Coincidence
Clarissa
Our journey was quite brief and by the time the skies were clear, we had arrived in Nightwalker territory. Emissaries came out to welcome us and so did Alpha Damian. The old Alpha was not as strong as he used to be, judging from the guards flanking around him to aid his movements.
“Gary,” he acknowledged my father, “it is indeed a joyous thing that you have honored my invitation. You are welcome to my territory and I wish you a very comfortable stay. I can assure you that you will find things to your liking. Other guests will be arriving soon.”
“Thank you for your hospitality, Alpha Damian. I hope to return the favor later in the future. I would like to have a word with you if that is possible. Oh, pardon my manners. I have not introduced you to my daughter.”
I cringed inwardly as I felt my father’s palm resting against my lower back. When he increased pressure, I understood that he wanted me to come forward. I obliged him obediently and curtsied before our host meekly. He nudged my jaw, permitting me to look at him in the face and a roguish smile played with his lips.
“What is your name, beautiful one?”
“Clarissa, my Lord. It is an honor to be one of your special guests. Your hospitality is legendary, I hear.”
Alpha Damian broke the ice with a deep chuckle, leaning against a muscled arm. “I am flattered by your praise, Clarissa. You have a diamond of the first waters on your hands, Gary. Beautiful and well-spoken, all the qualities of a promising Luna. I have sent a guard to fetch my son and he will be here soon. Ah, speak of the devil! Over here, son.”
I swept my gaze behind me in curiosity and my heart nearly stopped at the sight of the male approaching us. Casting my eyes down, I pulled on the reins of my emotions and listened for his footsteps instead. His feet walked past my area of view and I could swear I heard a sharp intake of breath. Kaira stood a step behind me as required, silent in the presence of her superiors.
“Father,” a deep tenor floated around and I fought to keep my eyes down.
“Carlin, we were just talking about you. This is Alpha Gary, the Alpha of our neighboring pack, Black Paw, and his amiable daughter, Clarissa.”
Carlin, I pondered on his name thoughtfully.
“Welcome to our pack, Alpha. Be rest assured that everything has been put together for your comfort.” He and my father shook hands like they had been friends forever and I literally wanted to disappear in a cloud of smoke.
“Clarissa, is it?” he uttered, coming into my line of sight. I could see his hands, masculine and hairy under my perusal.
“Yes,” I quipped shortly, letting him take my hand for the customary kiss. His lips lingered too long on my skin and the sensations troubling my spine was all too familiar. His eyes lifted to meet mine, a hot flicker of his lashes and my breath hitched.
“Pleasant to meet you, Clarissa,” he asserted, standing beside me instead of returning to his father. “Perhaps I can escort you to your chambers?”
It was not appropriate to refuse a host but just to be in the clear, I looked to my father for his permission. Kaira shifted from foot to foot, having trouble with our bags. Gently, Carlin took them from her and effortlessly hung them over his shoulder.
“Go along, dear. We could talk now, Damian, and give them some time to get to know each other,” Father opined, his eyes too bright and suspicious.
“Very well, then. A guard will take your bag, Gary and we shall proceed to my courtroom.” His line of guards took position behind him and Father followed them, relinquishing his bag to a guard. Soon, it was just me, Kaira, the guard, and Carlin. He led the way, gesturing that I walk beside him. Kaira followed immediately and the guard fell behind us. Carlin was constantly peeping at my face.
“Is something the problem, Carlin? You have been staring at me oddly.”
He averted his gaze last minute, barking out a short, humorless laugh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to act awkward. It’s just. . . it’s just that you. . . you remind me of someone.” Mm-hmm, typical.
“Do you have a sister, perhaps?” he added, tapping his lower lip with his index finger. The action was distracting and soon, I found myself wondering what his lips would taste like. They were shaped in a bow form that stretched upwards when he was smiling.
“No, just me, no siblings. You?” I deliberately shifted the topic from me.
“Yeah, a brother, Threshold. You will meet him soon and my apologies in advance.”
An unexpected laugh sneaked past my lips at his easy joke and he grinned cleverly, taking a final bend. The tent was made up of new and big branches and the scent of fresh wood reminded me of the similarities at home. Black Paw was home to many variances in trees and I had learned to climb much to my father’s dismay. Carlin bunched up the filmy material that served as a curtain in one hand, still holding our luggage over a shoulder, and moved it to a side.
“All the comforts of home, hopefully,” he added, his grin now lopsided. “I really hope you like it here.”
Kaira stood stupidly in awe of the temporary booth that looked so small on the outside but was in fact roomy on the interior. Strips of clothes hung off the wall and the decor was simple but homey.
“Well?” he probed, almost panting behind me in expectation.
“It’s not what I thought,” I admitted at first but when I saw the slump in his expression, I gathered that he had misunderstood my words. “No, I meant, it’s so much different from the outside. I like it.” I spun around in my own circle to reassure him and he nodded, taking note. I stabbed a nasty look at Kaira and she jumped, suddenly remembering her place. She took the luggage from Carlin apologetically and wobbling like an injured duck, she stepped around him.
“Take it easy,” Carlin cautioned. He had made the luggage seem so light that poor Kaira had forgotten how truly heavy it was and just for a few days. Managing to settle at the end of the room, she, unfortunately, tugged too hard at the bag and it spilled its contents onto the floor. Simultaneously, Carlin and I moved to the floor, trying to salvage the delicate bottles from smashing due to the impact. Kaira muttered her apologies over and over again but I was not ready to think about her punishment just yet.
Suddenly, Carlin’s hand touched mine in the bag and we both held up my wooden portrait. My grip was possessive though he was stronger. His forehead furrowed in curiosity and then flattened in disbelief.
“Clarissa, why do you have an unfinished portrait of me in your bag?”
Chapter 4 Naked Evidence Clarissa His question was startling and he asked so quietly yet I heard it in the depths of my soul. I was unaware of the moment I let go but my portrait was in his hands now and he was frowning down at it. “Kaira, make yourself scarce,” I ordered, putting enough hauteur in my voice to leave no room for questions. Already feeling chastised by her own stupidity, she curtsied and exited the room gracefully. Carlin’s back was to me and the curve of his shoulders reminded me of the rocky hills surrounding their pack—solid and dependable. He was a mountain of a male, the youthful version of the warrior his father had once been. “How is this possible?” he seemed to be murmuring to himself as he moved away from me with the image still in his possession. I followed him, not knowing what to say to him. He stopped and dug his feet into the damp flooring. “Can you please explain this?” he fired at me, a hint of suspicion underlying his words. I came to a stop bes
Chapter 5 Bigger Than Us Carlin Clarissa stood transfixed like a graven image and it took gripping her shoulders before she came to. Her eyes were wide with unbelief, and her lips slackened by fear. “How... how did you know?” she stuttered, putting some distance between us. I chose to respect her decision by remaining where I was but my wolf disagreed, nipping at me. He did not like her shying away from us. “I have been having daydreams too just as you have been having dreams. Although I am not always a participant, a version of me seeks to be with a female he calls Amaya. It's so complex, really and. . .” Suddenly, I wanted her closer in agreement with my wolf. “Come to me, Clarissa. I will not hurt you.” I extended a hand to her and her gaze flickered tentatively over the offer. Her mind was strong and she was a confident she-wolf but sometimes, the heart won in such situations. She took the needed steps and placed her hand in mine. A sensation of accomplishment seized me
Chapter 6 Piece Of The Puzzle Clarissa “Please let him go, Elias! This is all my fault; punish me instead,” I pleaded, following the long line of people heading to the execution. The morning sun was shy, merely peeping out of a dark cloud as if feeling sorry for me. It was a still new morning, no winds pushing the trees, all of nature sympathizing with me. It was all my fault. Elias tugged my grip off his arm and shoved me hard away from him. “Guards, keep her at bay! No one should know about her participation in this crime. I shall cleanse the pack of this abomination. You, Amaya, shall have your punishment later,” Elias threatened, baring his teeth at me, his lips curled in jealousy. He was the Alpha and my mate but I felt nothing for him. My heart broke as I saw my lover tied up at a stake to be burnt alive. “Go, Amaya!” he screamed from on high. “I will be fine. Don’t watch me die, please. I love you.” His final words to me suddenly made me realize my loss. How would I go
Chapter 7 Lies and Misunderstanding Carlin She-wolves littered the grounds, some poking fun at their fellows who could not seem to get the dance steps right while some had frowns of concentration, trying with all their might to remember all the instructions. Their teacher, Delilah stood at my side, watching while Greg flanked my right side, surreptitiously staring at the spirited Delilah. “They are doing well, much better than before, I suppose,” I suggested calming her displeasure. She was not one to conceal her emotions and it was obvious that her students were not up to her standard yet. “Not good enough,” she retorted without sparing me a glance. “The Bonfire is almost upon us and they keep joining, knowing that I cannot send them away. I guess word has spread that the Alpha’s son now attends dance practice.” “And whose fault is that?” I immediately attacked her. Her only response was a cunning smile and a careless shrug. It was her idea that my presence would motivate
Chapter 8Heated ProximityClarissa I was a fool, a fool indeed. I kept berating myself as I speed-walked into the woods, spitting fire. I had long since lost Kaira and for her own sake, she’d better avoid me. Rough tree barks scratched at my skin but I did not feel their sting. I was far off in my head, too angry to feel physical pain. Carlin had a mate, a beautiful and talented dancer and he had been toying with my emotions, stringing me along like a puppet. Blinded by his magnificent masculinity and gentle hands, I had forgotten the very thing I had come to his pack to avoid– finding a mate. I thought we had bonded besides the shocking coincidence in the similarities of our dreams but it was all an ugly lie. Trampling through the forest angrily, I did not care to look around until I stopped to catch my breath. My surroundings were strange and for the first time, a trickle of fear watered down my raging anger. How far into the woods had I gone? If I was in my wolf form, I could
Chapter 9End Of The BeginningClarissa Carlin’s reply resounded in my ears and for the first time, the possibility that the she-wolf might have lied came to my mind. Without waiting for his side of the story, I had stormed off, not giving him the benefit of doubt. He wore a wry smile, unaware of the turmoil raging within me. “So, you don’t have a mate?” I wanted to be reassured before deciding on the next step to take. “I don’t. Whoever told you I have a mate clearly wanted to throw you off-balance—” “And they almost succeeded, almost,” I repeated, a bit to myself. Admitting I was wrong was not my best suit. Besides, Carlin might be lying too to cover up his crime and I would be none the wiser. I peered into his eyes for the truth and found steady golden orbs, never flicking, at rapt attention. I became uneasy all of a sudden. “We need to talk and I can’t have this conversation with you carrying me. I won’t run,” I added when he lifted a suspicious brow. Running would solve not
Chapter 10Confirmed Fears Clarissa His eyes were dark with hate and the she-wolf in his grasp was limp, probably using up her last breath. The male who had introduced himself as Greg earlier was unable to help in any way and he stood a few distances away, watching. “Carlin, please put her down. Let her go. Trust me, you do not want to kill her. We can talk about this without being violent.” He seemed to be listening, his ears perked at the sound of my voice. After a minimal moment, he chucked Delilah aside and came to me. Delilah scrambled away from reach, Greg running to her to make sure she was okay. Carlin’s body was slick with sweat and slowly, the darkness drifted away from me. Lance was gone and Carlin was in charge again. “I am so sorry about everything, Clarissa. Delilah. . . has some misguided notions and ambitions towards me. However, I want to make it known here and now that there is nothing between Delilah and me, not even friends anymore.” Massaging her bruised ne
Chapter 11 • An Unknown EmotionCarlin “Blood? What are you talking about, Healer?” I paced the room, aware of the panicked look on Clarissa’s face. We had just met and were getting to know each other. This was too much to comprehend. It was true that something odd was between us but bloodshed was the last thing I wanted. “It is, as I said child. A story has been retold in your generation and it involves the both of you. A love story, not allowed to be by two star crossed lovers. I have dreaded this day.” Adele raised her eyes to the ceiling, seeing far more than my eyes could. Clarissa beckoned on me silently and I returned to my place beside her. Without thinking about it, my fingers went behind her neck, kneading the stress away and occasionally combing her hair lightly with my fingers. “Healer… can you tell us this story? I have been having some nightmares and Carlin some daydreams, both of a similar nature.” “Why didn’t you let me know?” Adele accused me, pointing a wrinkl