Page 10 of Come for Me
“Well, I’ll let you get back to your meal. Alaina, let me know if you want someone to keep you company for your last night.”
“Barf,” Taya says.
I fucking love her.
Chapter Four
Alaina
Standing in the Hunter’s Quarters, the alpha and this year’s bachelors prepare for their journey to the royal castle for the Hunt. It’s the morning of, and I can’t stop picking at my cuticles.Am I making the right decision?
Alpha Jack stands in front of Caleb and shifts. Alpha Jack’s wolf—with deeper reddish-brown fur than Caleb’s—is graying. Caleb and the rest of the male suitors in the pack follow. Caleb’s wolf is larger than the others, his size intimidating.
His wolf looks at me and mindlinks,“I’ll see you soon.”
I nod at him.
My pulse quickens in anxious anticipation of the Hunt. Mating Caleb solidifies my future, erases the unknown, and opens the door to unravel the mystery of who I am. I take a breath, squaring my shoulders, nearly imperceivable, as I hold the gaze of Caleb’s wolf.
He notices the correction of stance with a flicker of a brighter gold in his eyes.
Alpha Jack howls and races off in the direction of the Crescent pack.
Caleb takes off after his father, his bounding strides creating distance between us. The other males follow him close.
Luna Kathy clears her throat and claps. “Everyone, while we wait for the men to reach the Crescent pack and get set up, please eat and enjoy yourselves. I will let you know when it’s time forthe ladies to start their journey.”
A few she-wolves indulge in the feast before us, gathering energy for their mating. Others graze, giddy with the prospect of a new life and adventure.
“Your mother would be so proud of the woman you have become,”Jemma says to me through the mindlink.
Her attempt to comfort me only solidifies my decision.
Caleb will be my mate.
* * *
The castle oozes with authority when we arrive in the Crescent pack’s territory. The grounds vibrate with energy. Its powerful aura emphasizes the medieval structure before us—thick stone walls defending the pack.The fortress warns any passerby with a silent threat of danger to any who dream of attacking.
The stone was carved from massive boulders that lay throughout the grounds. It was forged from the land and, therefore, appeared as if it arose from the whisper of the Goddess’s command to be centered beneath Her in the night sky. The strength and will needed to create such a masterpiece are evident in its masonry. Though built centuries ago, the building adorns lights, which illuminates the windows and torches guiding our path to our fated mates. My gaze travels up the castle walls and finds an arched balcony with French double doors I imagine overlooks the kingdom.
Our luna leads us through the castle gate to the front entrance, toward the oak doors adorned with iron sigils for protection and carved with wolf emblems. As we enter, she instructs us to line up, to parade past the caged wolves like lambs presented to the wolves for their devouring and through the royal courtyard before we’re released into the forest.
The witch, a tall and slender woman, floats into the courtyard. She carries wisdom, her forty-some years on this earth havingcarved lines above her brows and softened her smile. Her long, silver hair twists around her shoulders with such a design only achieved by enchantment. It moves as she greets and ushers each pack’s unmated she-wolves through the doors.
As is custom, our packs wait in anticipation.It’s our turn to be greeted by the witch. She approaches Luna Kathy with a smile, grasping her hand.
I stare into her piercing, electric eyes as they reach mine, their depths seeming to know unspoken truths.
The witch grasps my arm but jerks her hand away and rubs her palm, wide-eyed. “You burned me.”
What?
“I didn’t even touch you.”
Why bother defending myself? I shouldn’t be surprised; witches are quirky due to their lack of socialization. Although overall good-natured, dabbling in healing and balancing the elements, they’re more in-tune with their spiritual wellness than their social wellness. Witches also make up a small population compared to the vampire and werewolf kingdoms, so it isn’t often you run into one.
The witch holds her hand out, flipping it over to expose a raw pink patch on her brown complexion.
