hapter 30
We arrive at the backyard, a thick and tangled forest stretching out before us.
“The entire area is protected by wards. You can roam freely,” Thalric informs me. I give a quick nod, excitement coursing through my veins. Without hesitation, I bolt forward, running as fast as my legs will take me. This is it–the freedom I’ve longed for. I can finally move like a true wolf.
After what feels like over an hour of non–stop running, I slow down, completely drained and breathless from the exhilaration.
I lie sprawled across the grass beside a narrow stream. I had always imagined that the moment I received my wolf, I’d be greeted by Nolie’s proud smile–but that vision is gone now. I will never look upon her face again; she will never witness my wolf, never see its color, never run her fingers through its fur to judge whether it’s soft or not.
A soft whimper escapes my throat as tears begin to fall.
I remain lost in my thoughts for a while longer. Then, sensing the weight of sorrow creeping in, I decide to rise and head indoors before it overwhelms me.
I begin retracing my steps toward the room where he had brought me earlier. Just as I reach the door, I pause, halted by voices coming from the other side.
“That’s nonsense and you know it!” a voice bellows, the force of it making the door tremble slightly open. Peering through the small opening, I see four figures inside. Two appear frightened, one is visibly furious–his rage so intense it seems like he might tear the place apart–while the last, Thalric, seems utterly indifferent. Amidst the tension, he calmly pours himself a drink, sipping as though nothing around him matters.
“You can’t just claim to have a mate! You know that makes us vulnerable!” the furious man snaps. “You need to reject it! It’s probably just someone casting an illusion to throw you off. I’ll verify it myself,” he says, advancing toward Thalric.
“I already did,” Thalric replies, his voice flat and uninterested. “She really is my mate.”
The angry man grows even more livid. “We don’t have mates! That’s never been our way! That’s what gives us our strength! Do you honestly believe the people will accept this? Accept being ruled by a mutt?”
“You’re beginning to test my patience, Mateo,” Thalric responds, his tone sharper now. “She is my mate. That’s the reality, and we can’t change it. The goddess made this choice.”
“When did you start following the goddess’s will?”
“Starting now. Leave.”
A sudden mist fills the room. Mateo glares at Thalric with deadly intent one last time, then vanishes. The others follow suit, disappearing in a blink.
As the door swings further open, it exposes me to view.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you that it’s rude to listen at doors?” Thalric says, looking directly at me.
I meet his eyes, unsure of how to reply.
10:45
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Chapter 30
“Come sit,” he says, rubbing at his eyes, his expression now weary. I take the seat facing him. “Before we go any further, I need to know a few things.”
I nod, preparing myself to absorb whatever he’s about to share.
“I’m a fae,” he begins, “a term you might know as male fairy. There are many different kinds of fae, as I’m sure you noticed during your last visit to the library.” I nod again. “I’m an Anoteros, one of the highest–ranking fae. I wield control over much of nature. But there’s a catch–we’re not designed for mates. This,” he says, gesturing between us, “is highly unusual. In all my nine hundred and twenty–four years, I’ve never encountered something like this.”
I work hard to keep the shock of his age from showing on my face.
“You understand that, and I hope you realize what it implies. I’m not made for love–I’m incapable of feeling or offering romantic affection. My duty is to you, and I’ll defend you as I would any subject under my care.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying hard not to let his words betray the hurt they cause me.
Once I notice he’s finished speaking, I break the silence. “I have something to ask,” I say quietly. “My mother–I want to search for her within the pack. Just to confirm if she’s truly…” The word won’t come. I swallow hard. “Gone,” I finally manage.
He gives a small nod. “I’ll have her brought here tomorrow.”
I nod back. He rises and starts to walk away.
“Thalric,” I call out, halting him. I meet his eyes, my mind swirling with questions.
Will you truly never see me that way?
Was your decision to take me in only out of pity?
Am I just another weight on your shoulders?
I shove those thoughts deep down and offer him a smile instead. “Thank you–for stepping in earlier and helping me through the shift.”
“You’re my mate. Of course I’d give you a hand,” he replies, and the way he says it tugs at something deep inside me. Still, I stay silent, reminding myself not to see him through the lens of hope–he’s already made it clear I’m not that person to him.
Joy’s POV (shortly after Callum’s fight with Theron)
“Are you alright?” I ask, my eyes fixed on Callum. The worry is hard to hide–he’s been unconscious for days, and this is the first time he’s even opened his eyes.
He stares at me in surprise for a moment. “I’m okay. It’s nothing serious,” he says, but the way he winces immediately after betrays the lie.
“You’re clearly not alright. You’re in pain.” I reach over and adjust his pillow, trying to help him sit up
with less discomfort.
“I don’t need your help,” he snaps, his tone cold.
“I don’t understand you,” I say, my voice rising in frustration. “One minute, you’re kind–fighting for me.
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The next, you act like I don’t exist! You keep switching between warmth and distance, and I don’t know how to handle it. If you don’t want me, just say it. I can take the truth. But stop playing with my emotions.”
I see the tension in his face ease, just a little.
“Joyce, I’m sorry,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “Hurting you wasn’t what I meant to do. It’s just… I don’t think I’m good enough to be your mate, to keep you safe.” Regret laces every word.
“Why would you say that?” I ask, my voice softening. “You saw what happened with Theron. You protected me–don’t you see that?”
But he shakes his head again.
“That was just luck. How can I claim to protect you when I couldn’t even keep my own girlfriend safe?”
I try to hide the pain that flashes through me, but it’s no use. He’s thinking about someone else- another woman. Right here, right in front of me.
