Zared pov Ever since that damned dragon has burned my back I don’t feel like myself. The scars hurt like hell and Gunther is still working on them. I’ve not called upon the twins or Aurum. I’ve taken to hand jobs to prevent anyone from seeing my back. Though I suppose I could fuck the mouth of my girls or any whore for that matter. But somehow I’ve lost interest. I wrestle with all kinds of feelings, feelings I’ve never had before. I worry about my secret coming out. If other alphas now I’m not only werewolf but also part fae and vampire they’ll have more weapons to utilise against me. Making me vulnerable and weak. “With your more than usual whining you’re already weak,” Gunther yawns, clearly demonstrating his frustration with me. “Don’t you have some scars to heal?” I snap back. “Zee, I don’t recognise you. Where has the cunning ferocious Alpha gone? The Alpha Zared I know would have climbed on his horse and galloped of to the dragon border. Ordered an audience with som
Nomia pov Ever since Alpha Zared drank from me he has left me alone. To my relief he also hasn’t called for Ruby and Garnet. So we’re all pretty happy and relaxed. We laugh and make jokes. Emerald and Amethyst have rested and recovered from their work in the brothel. They won’t say much about it. But after that one night with Jared in the Black Swann I have a pretty good idea about the horrors those girls face. Aminta and I hashed things out. We agreed that Zareds behaviour is inexcusable. When we get the chance we leave with Janus, taking Ruby and Garnet with us. I grin at the idea that Janus will have his own little harem, not that he would make a move on one of us. He’s too respectful and sweet for that. I stare out of the carriage window. We’re nearly at Red Star. I’m not looking forward to being back there. Alpha Zared however, is looking forward to the chaos we will cause when Alpha Ahriman sniffs me out and I get to publicly reject him. “That's tomorrow. First there’s to
Zared pov Somehow I’d hoped for more drama. Ahriman on his knees begging Aurum to not reject him or maybe even a full blown tantrum with threats. But it was all quite civilised, and therefore a bit disappointing. We’re now on our way back to Golden Calw. The Aurum is silently crying, leant against the carriage window. Most likely it’s her wolf mourning the broken mate bond. I wish women would just say what’s the matter instead of crying. “No you don’t. You don’t want to hear what’s up. You want them silent or gagging on your dick” Gunther decides to honour me with his insights. I must admit he isn’t wrong, I just hate people crying. Learning that the dragon in my dreams is most likely Einarr was interesting to say the least. Dragons rarely have a mate outside their own species and rarely have more than one kid. This means that when Aurum accepts my proposal I’ll eventually be king of the dragons too. I might want to speed things up by eliminating Einarr as I don’t think I’ll live
Nomia pov Since alpha Zared and I returned from Red Star I’ve been angry with him. He now knows my given name but ignores it. Still calling me ‘Aurum’. “He never asked you if you had a name. You know it’s part of his way of letting you know you’re his,” Aminta patient explains. “I know but it still frustrates me.” Though I still feel good about rejecting Ahriman, it felt good, it felt empowering. Also for a first time it was something I wanted to do. It has awoken a fire in me. I want to take control of my life, I want to be free and make my own choices. “Though it’s inconvenient that the didn’t accept the rejection. Now we’re still his mate.” Aminta grumbles. Freedom. Every day the urge to be free becomes stronger. As much as I love Janus I don't want to wait much longer for him to hear back from the dragons or find another option. I want to go rogue with him and see where we end. If it’s with my father, fine. If it’s as a band of rogues always on the run also fine. Ev
Janus pov Things are off. Alpha Zared killed Malachite but gave her a proper service. He’s never before given any of his girls a proper farewell service. He even tried to give her a proper eulogy, it was awkward and very unlike Zared. Alpha Zared is not only acting different, he also seems to be in pain. He is wearing loose shirts and has not joined any training. But he’s like a ghost, slinking around but mainly in his office. I feel like I’m running the place. But the most remarkable thing is that he hasn’t called for any of his girls. As far as my knowledge goes he also hasn’t left the packhouse to visit a brothel. While Zared and Aurum leave for Alpha Ahriman's wedding I have the time to study other places to take Aurum and the twins to and build a new life. I’ve nog given up on the dragons and have sent them another letter requesting permission to live on their side of the border. In the meantime I gather things we could need on our trip. The girls only have their workout
Zared pov Dammit! When Janus mind linked me with the information that the attack we were dealing with is a diversion I immediately ran down the tower stairs to follow him. It all made sense, but I hadn’t connected the dots. As soon as I leave the tower Ahriman’s men flock around me. Not actively trying to engage me but definitely slowing me down so the bastard Ahriman can find Aurum and get out. “Kill them! He can’t have Aurum,” Gunther growls, eager to shift. /Warriors! Get those pesky Red Star fleas off of me! I need to go to the packhouse and find Ahriman./ Immediately warriors come over to free me. /Zared! Zared Please answer! The attackers they're here! They’re breaking down the door. It won't hold much longer!/ Amethyst sounds frantic./Janus and I are on our way! It is Ahriman, he is coming for Aurum/ I run faster. Janus is a good warrior but no match for Ahriman. I just hope he can keep him busy until I get there to end things. As I enter the quarters where the girls liv
Nomia pov The moment Amethyst and Emerald tell us Golden Claw is under attack a paralysing sense of dread takes over. Somehow I know it’s Ahriman coming to find me, I feel it in my bones. Maybe it’s the matebond sensing my mate is near. As he didn’t accept my rejection I can only assume he’s here to take me back to Red Star for I don’t know what. As much as I despise Alpha Zared his ways and motives I despise Ahriman more. I decide that this is the moment to share that Ahriman is my mate. That he, on discovering that I was his mate, had me brought to the auction. The others frown when they hear Alpha Zared took me to Red Star knowing Ahriman is my mate. And anger is visible when they hear that Ahriman didn’t accept my rejection. Ruby and Garnet move close to me and promise to protect me. A promise we all know can’t be kept. The three of us have been trained in defence not offence and Ahriman is a vicious and strong fighter. I can not verbally respond, but I nod. Determined to go do
The pyres holding the five fallen pack members are now reduced to a heap of smouldering ashes. The smell of burnt flesh and wood heavy in the air, reminding everyone that we have lost people. The smell will be noticeable for a couple of days. Which is why I prefer to bury those who didn’t die honourably. It’s cleaner and quicker. I need to get to work. Without a gamma and beta everything is my responsibility. I want to kill Ahriman, which can be done in a few seconds. But then I would still need to travel to Red Star to claim his pack. Without a beta and gamma I can’t travel for days, I can’t leave Golden Claw without anyone in charge. A frustrated growl escapes me. Gunther is pacing restlessly in my head, making it even harder to think clearly. I groan and get up from my chair. Janus was making a list of possible gamma’s. He was precise so I should be able to find it. “Someone has to clean his house,” Gunther adds another item to the todo list. “The girls can do it, it will keep th