Kayla's POV
Serena sobbed quietly in the corner of the cave. Her Grandfather paced the perimeter mumbling all the ways in which he would make Maddox Mason hurt before he slaughtered him and reclaimed dominion over our people.
I sat in silence on the warm, thick sleeping mat, with a heavy wool blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Izzy offered the odd comforting word, promising me it would all work out. That we'd find a new mate, one worthy of us.
"Mate?" I asked her.
"That's the connection you felt with Maddox Mason. That's what woke me. But if he's everything Casper says he is, I reject him. I want more. We deserve more."
I sighed, pulled the blanket over my head and sank back into the sleeping mat. My head throbbed and my heart ached. A million questions raced through my mind.
Why would the Moon Goddess match me with a monster? What connection could a Princess, a powerful White Wolf, have with me?
Maddox's POV "Lock it down," I sighed into the phone. "Lock it all down. Spread the word to other packs. Until the rogue is caught and brought to justice no wolf leaves their pack alone." "Got it," Blake said. I sank to the bed. I'd remained at Cedar Wood, refusing to leave until my mate was found. In the weeks that passed, the rogue grew bolder, upped his killing and stealing. Two of my pack were missing, presumed dead. Some smaller packs were decimated. Slaughtered while they slept and still, we were no closer to finding him. Patrick admitted nothing about his mistreatment of my mate or his pack and even with him locked away they were still too afraid to speak. Graham's testimony helped but the most he could be charged with was assaulting my mate. The elders sentenced him to five years in the dungeons and stripped him of his title. I pinched the bridge of my nose. My mate was missing. My peop
Kayla's POVBarefoot, I wriggled my toes in the soft, warm sand and inhaled letting my gaze roam over the turquoise ocean. Casper was out hunting wild boar. Serena was sleeping and I'd finally heard the words I'd waited all my life for."I'm ready."Izzie, my wolf, was ready.The sun warmed my face. All my life I wanted those words, none more so than when I turned 18 and she still didn't appear. When I was a pup, held prisoner by Alpha Patrick, forced into slavery I used to dream about my wolf rescuing me. The evening of my eighteenth birthday she would come to me. I'd let her out and she'd be the fastest, strongest, most majestic she-wolf to ever roam our lands. My pack would bow down before me in awe and together we would overthrow Alpha Patrick, rescue the missing Princess and I would live in Castle Rock, the whole Kingdom indebted to me. But it never happened. Izzy never showed and I wasn't the strongest wolf ever to liv
Maddox's POVShadow paused, lifted his snout and inhaled a huge lungful of fresh forest air. His pulse quickened. He tore through the trees at breakneck speed, following a scent only he could decipher. Branches snapped under his heavy paws, thorns tore into his skin but he didn't slow, not for a second.He came to a screeching halt at the top of a hill, the last place our mate was seen alive. I followed Shadow's gaze and my heart stopped.Before us, perched on a rock on the top of the hill, naked as the day she was born, was the most beautiful woman I'd ever laid eyes on. Her chocolate coloured hair hung in glossy waves down her back. Her body was lithe, muscular with just a hint of womanly curves. Rays of sunlight glittered off the gold specks swirling in her molten honey gaze."Mate," Shadow said inching forwards slowly."Um, Shadow, that's not Mouse," I said.He sniffed the air. "Mate." He repeat
Kayla's POVMaddox's wolf's pained yowling carried on the wind as Izzy raced through the woods, back to the safety of Casper and Serena. The howling stopped. The hammering of heavy black paws on soft, muddy ground echoed behind us."We can't go back," I begged Izzy. "He's following us. Casper will kill him.""Good," Izzy hissed. "He deserves it. We shouldn't have had to live as a slave.""But what if it wasn't him?""Wasn't him?" Izzy laughed, "he installed himself as royalty, lorded over us all like a King. Who else would it be?"I shrugged. It did kinda look like Maddox was responsible for the way we lived. I shuddered at the memory of my former. I lived in terror for as long as I could remember.Izzy careered into the cave. Casper jumped to his feet. Serena's blue eyes widened, her jaw dropped and she inhaled."Kayla," she breathed. "Your wolf...she's...beautiful."Maddox's wolf sn
Maddox's POV"Sir, a lone female is approaching our territory," Bryan, one of my warriors told me. Since the rogue increased his activity I'd had groups of scouts patrolling our land and reporting back anything strange."Show me," I demanded. Bryan handed over his phone. A photo of Mouse flickered to life. She huddled by a rock overlooking our packhouse. I ran my finger over the screen and smiled."You're sure she's alone?""Yes, sir.""Fine, watch her but do not approach her.""Yes, sir."The day carried on around me as normal but my mind, and Shadow, refused to focus on anything but Mouse. She was close. She was alone but why?"We need to go to her," Shadow demanded, fighting me for control."No, we'll frighten her."Shadow spent the day arguing with me, fighting for control and sulking. I was almost glad when supper rolled around giving me chance to focus on something else.
Kayla's POVMaddox led me back down to the office. His pack emerged from their rooms all smiling and nodding as they passed me."She's gorgeous," I heard one of them whisper."Nice to meet you, Luna," another chirped as she rushed by."Supper smells lush, Alpha, cheers," a younger male grinned running down the stairs. "I'm starving.""Amber," Maddox grabbed her arm as she skittered past, pulling her to one side. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention the war to anyone.""Of course, Sir," Amber nodded."I will do everything within my power to avoid war and if it does happen, I swear to you, I will keep you safe.""I trust you, Alpha Maddox," Amber smiled touching his arm.Maddox's pack seemed endless. They emerged from all corners of the packhouse, all smiling and laughing and all well fed and well dressed. After endless greetings we finally made it to the privacy of his office. Maddox pul
Maddox's POV"Shadow, dude" I snapped my head throbbing as he clawed at my skull, screaming and howling, "give it a break. I can't think straight.""That explains why you're trying to kill us," he growled still fighting me for control."Shadow," I sighed, "as a fighter you're amazing, you can take wolves twice your size and I'll forever bow down to expertise in battle but this stuff, this intricate human stuff. This is my domain and you need to trust me.""Why should I," he challenged, "when you don't trust yourself? You hate this stuff. You constantly question yourself.""I'm not questioning this," I snapped."Fine," Shadow huffed, "But if we get killed I'm never speaking to you again.""One can dream," I sighed.For the rest of the short, moonlit walk to the cave Shadow sulked in silence, occasionally sighing at the pounding of my racing heart. The closer we got, the faster my heartbeat. C
Maddox's POVCasper tore through the trees. I struggled to keep stride as I fought for Blake."If you hurt him..." I warned."If he's who you say he is I won't need to," Casper said with an annoying air of calm. For once, Shadow was quiet, simply watching from the depths of my mind."Shadow," I begged, "you know Blake, help me."He didn't reply.We reached Mountain Ridge in half the time it took for me to reach the cave. Casper threw open the heavy double door."Kayla," he bellowed.My pack came running, some already unleashing their wolves. Growling and gasping echoed off the walls. Lena stood in the front. Blake stayed in the back his arms stretched protectively in front of Kayla."Kayla," Casper held out his hand."King Casper," Lena whispered. The entrance hall fell into a deathly silence. My pack dropped to their knees, bowing their heads, all except Blake who still stood