Lost

AVA

I’m struggling to wrap my head around his proposition. It’s a gamble, a big one. As an alpha wolf, this could potentially dilute my lineage. Or at the very least, weaken it.

Dominic scrutinizes me, his gaze intense as my mind whirls with thoughts and worries.

“Let’s go, I need to keep you hidden from your pack—they’ll be here any moment. Abel is on his way, so remember what I told you,” he instructs gently.

“I’ll consider it. Can we talk after your meeting?” As I rise from the couch, a potent scent hits me, triggering a wave of panic.

“What’s wrong?” Dominic inquires, his hand resting on my side as he guides me through a side door into a small room.

“My mate is here! It’s not just my father. If they’re both here, it’s because of me. They want assistance in locating me.” Fear grips me. My heart pounds, and I can feel Lyra asserting herself.

“Relax, I won’t let them find you,” he assures me confidently. “Why don’t you try to rest while they’re here? They won’t be able to sense you in this room.

“You’ll be masked by Abel’s scent and mine. If anything, they’ll assume I have a lover in here.”

With that, he exits, leaving me alone in the room. A small couch sits next to a metal table adorned with a few photographs. A tiny shelf on the wall holds a few books, which I decide to explore.

Most are historical texts or books about ancient creature mythology. I select one and skim through the pages before returning to the couch with it.

I can sense Abel nearby. He must be discussing my old pack with Dominic.

“No! You can’t do that!” Abel’s voice echoes through the walls. “You’re risking everything for this!”

His anger is palpable. I can feel his heart pounding. But there’s nothing I can do. I can’t even decipher the rest of their conversation.

After a few minutes, I hear the doors to Dominic’s office swing open.

I lie down, using Abel’s jacket as a pillow, and pull a blanket from under the small metal table to cover myself. Nervously, I open the book and begin to leaf through it.

I pause when I stumble upon a page about the original wolves. A series of small sketches depicting their ancient appearance catches my eye. They bear a striking resemblance to ~my~ wolf.

According to the text, the original wolves varied in color—they weren’t just white, brown, or black like today—and they had moon-like markings on their paws.

The book claims the original wolves possessed powers that modern wolves lack, including some who could manipulate the elements.

The first wolf could control earth, the second fire, and the third water, but the fourth had the most impressive power—he controlled the weather.

He had dominion over the sun and moon. This led to a lot of conflict and rebellion as he plunged the world into darkness for days on end.

After centuries under his rule, the other elements conspired to kill him, unaware that he had a mate and a child. The fourth wolf sacrificed himself to protect his offspring, who was whisked away before the attack.

The others remained oblivious to the child’s existence until it had its own lineage. But none of them ever possessed the weather-controlling power of their ancestor.

The fate of the lineage remains a mystery, but it’s widely believed that they were all wiped out in the wars between creatures.

This gets me thinking… Why does my wolf resemble them? I have the same mark on my heel. No one else in my pack has it, not even my parents. All of our wolves look identical.

But when I first shifted at the age of seven, my wolf was red like my hair. Her eyes were a mix of lilac and gold. She was small even then, before we discovered my wolf was a runt.

“Lyra, why do you look like them?” I ponder, opening up my mind-link so she can respond.

“I don’t know. I’ve always looked this way. In every life I’ve lived, I was killed before I could shift. I knew I was a wolf, but I never knew we were different.” Her voice is faint.

I read the passage again, hoping to find some sort of explanation. But there’s nothing more on the original wolves, just this single page.

I’m just about to drift off when I hear shouting from the other room. I sit up, trying to ignore the noise, and remove the blanket. I place Abel’s jacket onto the table.

My father’s angry shouts and Abel’s raised voice echo through the house. I’m not sure what’s going on, but it can’t be anything good.

“Ava, be ready to bolt at any moment,” Abel’s voice echoes in my mind.

I quickly stand, tucking my book away, my eyes glued to the door. My breath catches in my throat.

“What’s going on?” I mentally reach out to Abel as the noise from the other room intensifies.

“They’ve found out you’re here, but we won’t let them take you. Those wolves must have tipped off their alpha about your escape or asked around about a new rogue. Your mate seems pretty desperate to get you back.”

His voice is hushed—I can tell he’s trying to avoid drawing attention. If they see he’s mind-linking, they’ll know it’s with me.

“Abel,” I respond hastily, “I’m strong enough now to fight this battle. They frighten me, but I won’t put everyone else in danger for my sake. You all have done more than enough.”

“Dominic is on his way to you. Stay behind him, and whatever you do, don’t move until we give you the go-ahead,” he instructs.

I brush myself off and fix my hair, feeling the tension radiating from the other room. I position myself by the couch, waiting for Dominic to come for me. After a few tense minutes, Dominic enters the room, his eyes dark with fury.

He shuts the door behind him and turns to me. I take a moment to really look at him. His skin is a warm golden hue and his hair is a mix of light brown and auburn. His face is broad and timeless, with dimples in his cheeks.

His eyes are deep-set and feline, framed by thick, dark lashes. They’re not the typical red of most vampires; they’re a darker, more burgundy shade. His nose is slender and slightly hooked. His lips are a soft pink and downturned.

“What do you need me to do?” I ask, my eyes filled with sorrow.

“Nothing. I know you don’t want to go with them. But I think it would be best if you stayed out of sight.” He places his hand on my bare shoulder.

“I can’t let you all risk yourselves for me. I’ll face my own demons. I can handle this,” I say, a small smile playing on my lips.

“Did you think about what I suggested?”

“I did, and if it will keep me safe, I’m in. But, I found something interesting while you were with my family...I just don’t understand what it means…” I look into his eyes.

“Can we talk about it later?”

“Absolutely, but we need to discuss it before I’m turned,” I say, extending my arm to him.

“Are you sure about this?” Dominic asks, confirming my belief that this is something I need to do.

“Yes. I want to see my mate and family,” I say with conviction.

He wraps his arms around my waist and rubs his scent onto me. After a moment, he lets go and places a hand on my back, leading me out of the room.

With my head held high, I position myself between Abel and Dominic, both of whom hold me around my waist. My mate looks on in disgust, while my brother and father’s eyes blaze with anger.

Dominic releases my waist and takes my arm, while Abel steps in front of me. Making sure everyone can see us, Abel tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, then gently lifts my chin.

With Dominic chuckling beside us, Abel’s lips hover over mine.

“You’re mine. They can’t have you,” he murmurs, his voice thick with desire. I blush as I look at him. Abel moves back to my side and wraps his arm around me.

Dominic clears his throat. “As you can see, she’s happy here. I’m sorry, but we can’t let her go. It seems she and my second-in-command have grown quite fond of each other.” He shrugs. “Who am I to deny his wishes?”

“She is my ~mate~,” Alpha Black growls. “She belongs with me and my pack. I may have let her go, but she needs to be by my side. I’ve let her do as she pleases for far too long.” He crosses his arms.

Dominic turns to me, barely suppressing a smile. “Ms. Ava, didn’t you reject him? Or is he just refusing to accept it?”

“I made it clear he was no longer my mate the day he stood by and let my pack abuse me. As I told him then, I reject him as my mate.

“No mate of mine would allow his luna to be beaten out of jealousy for a man who raped her,” I say, my teeth clenched.

“Stay out of this, vampire. She belongs to me,” Alpha Black declares.

He then shifts his menacing gaze to me. “Did you honestly believe I’d let you sleep with anyone else? Have you become the vampire’s plaything?”

His words sting, but I break free from Abel’s hold and move closer to my mate. “Are you hurt? Is that why you’re searching for me? Did I wound the mighty Alpha Black?”

Abel looks on, concern etched on his face, while Dominic readies himself to intervene if necessary.

“You don’t intimidate me, ~mate~. I discovered something about you after I fled. Does your beta know you’re bedding his mate, my sister?” I smirk. “The mighty alpha, sharing his woman with his beta and half my pack.”

I can’t help but laugh at this pitiful wolf, but Dominic quickly pulls me back to his side as Alpha Black and his beta start to argue.

“Ava!” my brother yells, causing Abel and Dominic’s fangs to extend. “You must be delusional to think these creatures actually desire you. We put up with you despite you being a runt, but what use are you to them?

“Or is it as your mate suggested? Are you too preoccupied sleeping with them to realize they despise you?”

I meet his brown gaze. “Brother, why do you care what happens between my legs?

“And so ~what~ if they hate me? How is that any different from our pack? Or is it because I’d rather let a vampire have me than the man you want me to be with?”

I jump onto the desk behind me, cross my legs, and watch the chaos ensue.

“So you ~did~ sleep with my second,” Dominic murmurs in my ear. I glance at him and chuckle.

“Not quite. We might have had some fun, but we never had sex.” I reach up to adjust his collar as he grins down at me.

“Ava, enough!” Black bellows, using his alpha command. “You’re a wolf and you belong with us. You can renounce your blood and your pack, but I won’t let you reject ~me~!

“The Moon Goddess paired us. You’re mine. I can have as many women as I want, but you can’t have a lover!”

I remain silent, stunned, then look at Dominic. He scrutinizes my face, then turns to Alpha Black.

“I apologize, Alpha, but I can’t let you continue this behavior on my territory. The girl has made her choices clear. She might be a wolf, but she’s no longer part of a pack.”

“I’ve offered her a place in my coven, which she has accepted.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “Now if that’s all, please leave my office.”

“Grand Elder Dominic,” Black retorts, seething. “She’s not a vampire, and she can’t join your coven. I won’t let my mate be promiscuous. She’s to bear my pups and give my children the alpha blood necessary to maintain my lineage.”

“And Ava?” He sizes me up and smirks. “Just so you’re aware, your sister’s the one I desire. You’re just a means to an end and a source of healing. You’re nothing but a runt, and I’ll never love you.”

~“Abel, don’t try to stop me,”~ I communicate through our mind-link. Abel whispers my words to Dominic, who looks at me and nods.