Second chapter of a four chapter update - enjoy! Ellie xo
Stan POV I race through the forest, sensing that Elizabeth and Carter are not far behind me. I know everyone is exhausted, but I have to find Kinsley. She is my world and I need to know that she knows that. I cannot have her believe anything else. Carter and Elizabeth catch up with me, having not been far behind when Kinsley called for help. There were other patrols also out searching for Kinsley. I followed her scent as best I could. Suddenly her scent is mixed with the sour scent of rogues. I stop running and pace the area looking for signs that she may be hiding. Elizabeth and Carter also look around when Elizabeth stops and calls Carter over. He paces towards her, and I move in her direction as well. I stumble when I see a pool of blood on the ground. Before approaching it, I know it is Kinsley’s. I can scent it already. “What the hell happened?” I ask Elizabeth and Carter. “I would say she fought before she was taken,” Ca
Elizabeth POV “What about me finding my mate?” I ask confused at how that could happen. How could anyone expect someone to give up their mate? “There was not to be a chance to find your mate. If your mate was found, he was to be destroyed,” my father shares with me. “Well, I will not give up Carter,” I reply quickly. “We would not expect you to, Elizabeth. But the legacy will be pushed. This man will fight to the death for you,” my mother replies. “Well, he will have to fight. I will not give up my mate,” Carter says as he moves closer to me. His presence is bringing me peace at a time where peace is the furthest thing from us. “Who is it?” Carter asks impatiently. I know we need to try and get to Kinsley before they realize they have the wrong person. “His name is King Steven. He is known to work closely with those in the underbelly of our society,” my father shares. “He works with rogues, having them do his dirty work. They will not b
Kinsley POV “What? Wait!” I scream. I am not ready to die. I know Stan will find me. Somehow. Some way he will find me. He slows and turns slightly. “What?” he asks me waiting for me to reply. “Who were you expecting?” I ask trying to come up with something of value to share with him. “Elizabeth. My Queen,” he replies. I hesitate chewing my lip, “She is not your Queen,” I reply cautiously. He whips around and is suddenly in my face, “How dare you!” he yells grabbing my throat. I cannot move as I am still bound to the bed, but he is tightening his grip on me. I will die before I can blink my eyes. My hands move to his trying to loosen them. “I only meant she has a mate,” I squeak out. It registers on his face, and he loosens his grip on me. I cough trying to get air into my lungs. “That means nothing,” he replies as he stands up and moves away from me. “She was promised to me. I will have her,” he murmurs softly. “Who pr
Elizabeth POV “We do the obvious, trade her for me,” I say calmly. The last thing I feel is calm. It terrifies me but I know I have the best chance at fighting for my freedom. Kinsley does not. I cannot let her die trying to protect me. I cannot let any of them die trying to protect me. “Absolutely not,” Carter replies angrily. Stan looks at me with surprise, “Elizabeth. She will lead him to us, and we can destroy him when he arrives,” Stan promises me. “I cannot have anyone die trying to save me,” I say to them softly. “Nobody is going to die,” Carter says putting his hands on my face and kissing my forehead. “Promise?” I ask him. “I promise,” he replies. I can sense a bit of trepidation. He cannot make such a promise. We do not know what the future holds. We can only live for today, for this moment. We stood in the lounge area of the Palace talking about strategy when a familiar scent caught my nose. I look up in surprise
Alpha Carter POV “Stan, wait!” I yell as he tries to run out of the room ahead of us. “I need to go to her!” he yells back. “We need to be smart about this. You running out there before we are ready could get her killed,” I remind him as he pauses and looks at me. “What are we going to do?” he asks ready to listen. We quickly strategize how we can approach the wolf, without jeopardizing Kinsley. I look to Elizabeth, “I am ready,” she says as she moves towards the door. Her parents intercept her, “We are going with you,” they say. “You just got out of the hospital,” she reminds them. “We are both healed and will not let you fight on your own,” her father says. She nods as she looks to me, “You stay near me at all times,” I remind her. She looks away from me, as if indicating she may not listen. “I mean it Elizabeth. We do this together or you stay here,” I tell her. We both know I have no command that will leave her here, but I hope and tr
Elizabeth POV I watch as Kinsley runs away from us leaving me with the wolf standing in front of me. I feel pity for this man. This individual who believed we were meant to be together. “Come closer,” he says softly. “You know I cannot do that,” I reply cautiously. I do not want to cause him further distress or encouragement. “We can be together. I will fight your mate for you,” he says to me. “I do not want a fight. I want you to leave peacefully,” I say calmly to him. He looks at me with those red eyes and I feel them burning into my soul. I feel his pain and the anguish he has struggled with all these years waiting and hoping for me to return. “You are meant to be mine,” he says aggressively as he takes another step closer to me. “The Moon Goddess believes otherwise,” I remind him. “She gave me my mate. And she will give you your mate as well,” I say to him trying to assure him there is a fated mate out there for him. “You are the on
Elizabeth POV I watch as the unhinged wolf leaps towards me with his claws extended. I prepare for the impact of his hit. I take a deep breath and I wait for him. Anticipating his blow, I move slightly to force his body back. Only he never hits me. I watch in what feels like slow motion as I see Max, Carter’s wolf, leap in front of me tackling the wolf to the ground. Max is already bleeding from the wounds he received fighting off the two rogues. I watch the pair tumble to the ground, fierce growls and whimpers as their wolves are attacking and being wounded. Both wolves stand apart from one another panting deciding on their next move. Blood is dripping from Max’s leg and his side from a shallow cut. It is taking Max longer to heal. I look around at the wolves fighting and realize they are all avoiding me. The wolf has told them not to touch me. Knowing I could be a distraction for the wolves, I move across the field and start
Alpha Carter POV I can feel the poison take over my body and realize this will be the last time I see my beautiful mate. I cannot move and I cannot communicate with them. They played dirty and it looks like they will win. Before my eyes, I see Ashley leap across the air and take the black wolf off me rolling in a ball of fur. My eyes try to follow their movements, but I am quickly losing consciousness. Or perhaps I am dying. Everything feels like it is shutting down. The paralysis drug is stopping me from moving. Will it also stop my organs from working? I can do nothing but watch as things unfold. The last I see is Ashley and the black wolf fighting when I feel myself lose consciousness. I try to fight it, but I cannot. I want to know my mate survived. That Elizabeth will have a long and happy life. It is too late. I can feel nothing, and suddenly I can no longer hear anything. My eyes are opening and closing. I can see Stan standing