Dean knew he was asleep in the main lobby of the Healing Centre and dreaming. None of that made sense to him. He wasn’t tired, and it normally took him forever to fall asleep. The knowing he was dreaming was another odd thing. He’d not had that happen to him since before the Dream Realm literally blew up and became useless to everyone. Well, it was useful to a few supernatural creatures. They could spy on each other, but unlike the Fae who used it to travel from one location in reality to another. Shifters could only use it to prevent others from spying on them, or an occasional meeting that could easily happen over the phone these days. Dragons and mages were the few that could travel in the past like the Fae. They carefully controlled mage portals for other reasons, but this was a recent issue. Dean though recognized the Dream Realm for what it was, even though it seemed more fractured than before. It’s sky still boasted stars but no moon. The lig
Kiera could hear the enforcers standing outside her door talking to each other. Both found Dean’s words confusing, and she had to admit Dean talking about the Moon Goddess and the Dream Realm sounded a little farfetched after recent events of the last two or three years. Everyone knew to avoid entering the Dream Realm at all costs. The oracles and seers were finding it impossible to contact the Moon Goddess. So, everything the two enforcers spoke of made little to no sense to Kiera or them. Lycan was under the protection of the Moon Goddess just like wolf shifters. That seemed like wishful thinking on Dean’s part. He had that crazy idea that Lycan was a revised or updated version of wolf shifters. He must have dreamt it to validate his wish to mate with her and continue leading the pack. Dean didn’t get it. Even though he’s the alpha. He won’t be much of an alpha with no pack. Kiera listened as the two enforcers conversed. “I hope he’s not
“Well, old man. What do you have to say to yourself? How did this happen to you?” Oli stood at the end of the bed Elder Evans lay in. He frowned at him in disapproval. “I don’t just mean how you came to be injured, either. I want to know how you ended up with Lycan blood in your system as well. Wait, you know what? Why don’t you just start talking and tell me about everything from the beginning? How does that sound?” “You can go shove it. Lycan lover.” Elder Evan’s voice sounded raw and scratchy. Scratches and gashes twisted on his face when he grimaced in disapproval at Oli. “I’m afraid I’m no one’s lover at the moment and I’m just here to get the facts. So you have the floor. Please tell me how this all started and what your reasoning was for everything.” Oli had his phone recording the conversation, but Elder Evans wasn’t talking to him. “Fine, why did you take the Lycan blood?” “I’m not telling you anything. You weak-willed bumpkin.”
“Dean, it took longer than expected because of what Dr. Graves found out from some tests he did.” Oli finally called Dean back and boy did he have several bombshells to drop into his Alpha’s lap. This wasn’t going to be a fun report. “What did he find out, Oli? I need to know I have to take this to the Council of Elders, along with several other things.” “First off, Elder Evans has been partaking of the Lycan blood. Before you say anything, Dr. Graves has a lot to say about this. He’s writing a report of you so that you can find out about mating with a Lycan. So before you do anything, read the report and follow it.” “Fine. But what do I tell Kiera about all of this? Or the Pack and the Elders?” “He must have received the Lycan blood off the black market and used it without knowing there could be problems. The worst thing is the problems aren’t because of it being Lycan blood, but that it was blood. The blood type or RH-factor in the blood
Dean found he couldn’t stay away from Kiera any longer. He needed to check in on her. It felt imperative, not just poke his head in to see how she was doing. No, he needed to see her, talk to her, and touch her. His mind was going back to her every time he tried to deal with anything. It wasn’t until he was stroking her long hair that he realized, that what he’d thought was his need to mate with her wasn’t the be all, it was only the slow starting burn. Now he stood there stroking her soft blonde hair with his cock throbbing in his pants painfully. Dean’s instinct to seal the deal with her was harder to resist now. It must have to do with her injuries’ healing. No need to hold off normally, but right now with this Lycan issue looming over them. He had to stay in control. To compensate for not sealing the deal, Dean risked getting his face clawed by his mate, by leaning in close to her bared throat so he could truly have her scent committed to memory
Dean stood over her, panting. They’d not bitten each other. Small mercy, that was, but still locked within her core. And he was riding a high he’d never felt before. “We need to build a plan. What I was told about changing you back to a wolf shifter was wrong. It’s not possible. A doctor at the Black River Hospital, he’s actually the head of the facility. Dr. Graves, he’s sent over information on what we need to do to make sure we don’t die after we mate. It’s a simple blood test, and he’s willing to do it. But this tells me we can’t play around or ignore it anymore. The pull I could resist before, but now. This time it took me by surprise by how much stronger it was.” “Dean, it’s so much more than just us. We can’t just jump into this lightly. What were the guards you placed talking about? They said you spoke to the Moon Goddess, and she said we’re to mate? Are you losing it now mentally? No one’s been able to contact her with the Dream Realm destroyed.” Ki
“How do you plan to go about this? With the Council of Elders and the pack itself? Elder Evans has pretty much made me look like a monster to everyone. I’m not sure how to change that. Don’t even tell me you’ll talk about this fever dream you had. No one is going to believe you. Why would the Moon Goddess contact you when the oracles and seers can’t?” Dean finally got comfortable beside his mate on the small bed. He was more than happy to suffer the small space for a little while. He rode the high of not only having finally received the proof he needed to know that Kiera belonged with him, and she couldn’t deny it. When he knotted within his mate, that was the final telltale clue of a fated pairing. “That’s the thing. She sounded distracted, like she was trying to keep track of something or someone. Like she was talking to me, but she knew she wasn’t supposed to. It’s more of an impression I got. Do you remember any images or stories of her wearing one of those old-f
Dean left Kiera’s room and avoided looking at either of the enforcers stationed there. It didn’t help that one of them sniffed the air as he passed them. Ugh, they knew very well what happened in there. At least, they had the decency to not comment on it. He was sure between registering Kiera as his mate at the Healing Centre and the gossip those two were sure to spread. It wouldn’t be long before someone else would be up in arms about their mating. Downstairs, he left the healing centre to return to the packhouse. He needed to arrange a meeting with the Council of Elders, then he needs to speak with his pack, and ensure they knew this was part and parcel of the future. They needed to know that Lycans were considered a form of wolf shifter. A bigger, stronger version of wolf. Sure, they had a third form, one that would I still fear in anyone that would oppose them. That meant alphas like himself needed to care for the Lycan they could get into their packs so that the