LOGINI knew from the moment we experienced our Moondream that I would reject Aislin Mundy, but I hadn’t expected it to cause such strife within me. As soon as she left the cabin, the wolf inside me raged against my decision. The connection we shared implored me to seek her presence. My magnetism toward her was inexplicable, but with the finality of my rejection, I hadn’t realized how persuasive that magnetism was until she was suddenly gone.Gavin’s tension released in a loud sigh. “Damnit, Everett.”Faint remorse prickled the skin on the back of my neck. I couldn’t help but leer at him. The way he spoke made me feel like I was the bad guy for my decision, but I was only being rational. “You know it couldn’t have worked between us.”“Fated mates are chosen for a reason,” he said. “I wouldn’t have expected it to work with Billie and I, but look at us now.”“That’s because you provide each other with something you need. I don’t need anything from Aislin.”“You don’t know that.”“I have eve
I knew from the moment we experienced our Moondream that I would reject Aislin Mundy, but I hadn’t expected it to cause such strife within me. As soon as she left the cabin, the wolf inside me raged against my decision. The connection we shared implored me to seek her presence. My magnetism toward her was inexplicable, but with the finality of my rejection, I hadn’t realized how persuasive that magnetism was until she was suddenly gone.Gavin’s tension released in a loud sigh. “Damnit, Everett.”Faint remorse prickled the skin on the back of my neck. I couldn’t help but leer at him. The way he spoke made me feel like I was the bad guy for my decision, but I was only being rational. “You know it couldn’t have worked between us.”“Fated mates are chosen for a reason,” he said. “I wouldn’t have expected it to work with Billie and I, but look at us now.”“That’s because you provide each other with something you need. I don’t need anything from Aislin.”“You don’t know that.”“I have eve
I didn’t want to brush him off like I did everyone else. As discreetly as I could, I tried to clear my throat, but I ended up rasping anyway. “I don’t know. Somebody hit me really hard when we were facing off against Dalesbloom and the Inkscales.”“In your ribs?” Gavin stepped closer, his face darkening with concern. I stepped back. “Yeah. It’s whatever.”“You can barely breathe,” said Everett.It was really fucking aggravating that Everett was suddenly privy to everything I could feel. I felt everything he felt, too, but apparently Everett felt nothing at all because the only thing I’d experienced since our shared Moondream was the pain in my chest. Well, except for all the damage he had taken just now—but on the emotional end of the spectrum? Nothing. I bared my teeth at him. “If people would get off my case about it, I’d be able to heal.”“If it’s that bad, Ais, you need to get it checked out,” said Gavin.“It’s not that bad.”“It is that bad,” argued Everett.“Is that what sto
Shame was not something I felt often, but in the aftermath of my fury against Sebastian, I hesitated to show my face to anyone. I had a sneaking suspicion that it wouldn’t be long before my fated mate found out, and if Sebastian had been telling the truth—that I really was a contender for joining the ranks of the Mythguard—then I didn’t think I could stomach the disappointment that would follow my outburst.The easiest thing was for me to sit quietly in my apartment away from everyone else and not put any extra strain on my lungs. Easiest… physically, I guess. Everybody knew me for my penchant to stick my nose in peoples’ business. I was usually involved in Grandbay’s affairs to some degree. They would find it strange, no doubt, that I was suddenly keeping to myself. I think that fact just made me want to hide even more. The instant I didn’t act like my usual self, everybody would know something was wrong, and I didn’t want to confess that it was.Muriel was supposed to stay at my pla
The Mythguard expects our best behavior then puts strikes on our record for aspects of ourselves we can’t help,” David shot back, speaking swiftly on my heels. “Wilderness is savage, that’s what we are. Not all of us are lucky enough to be marked by a fated mate so that we can be in control of our beasts. My son—if he were to lose control of his wolf and kill three deer instead of one, do you think he would deserve a penalty for overhunting? Your friend Gavin, had he lost control and raided a campsite for their food—does he deserve to be euthanized for it?”“If the actions of shifters endanger those around us, then yes. They deserve to be corrected,” I reasoned.David sneered at me. “This coming from a man who has never had the guts to give his wolf the reins.”“My wolf comes out only when I need it to,” I said harshly. “An Alpha should have control over his facilities in excess.”“And yet you align yourself with a juvenile prone to temper tantrums,” said David.“Gavin is marked. He’
By the time evening rolled around, I had heard of Aislin’s onslaught against Sebastian. He’d confessed with some measure of guilt that he had taken it upon himself to visit Grandbay and speak to Muriel on behalf of the Mythguard, leaving annoyance to fester quietly behind my lips. I didn’t dare express what I felt about this. Even though I was the Alpha of Eastpeak and a correspondent of the Mythguard, Sebastian still had superiority over me. The Mythguard could very well make decisions without consulting me if they felt that was best, and apparently, they had decided among themselves that it was worth attempting a visit to Grandbay without me giving approval of the idea. Sebastian had to learn the hard way exactly how unwelcome the Mythguard was. It didn’t surprise me that Aislin had lost her temper like that. She was too foolish and aggressive to ever be a legitimate candidate to work with the Mythguard. Despite all the attempts she’d made to join the Mythguard, I had never once vou







