Bound By Legend

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: I JUST WANT TO LIVE

REVERIE

Devoe’s warmth engulfed me, I only knew it was him when he nudged me and licked my cheek. My eyes fluttered open to meet his glowing green ones, and I wasn’t sure where we were for a moment. Then voices floated into my ears, though I couldn’t make out what was being said.

Devoe stared at me intently, I raised a brow. “What?”

He rolled his eyes in response and let out a huff as he looked over to the other side of the room, the energy shifted with annoyance. Then there it was. The unmistakable undercurrent I hated more than anything in this world.

Overbearing.

Trembling….

Testosterone.

My gaze followed Devoe’s to see the three Alphas still at each other’s throats. “Seriously? You woke me up for this? No, thank you.”

I snuggled back into the warm, midnight, soft fur and closed my eyes. Devoe nudged me again and motioned towards the Alphas once more, as if he were at a loss for what to do with them. I rolled my eyes, “What do you want me to do about them?”

“Kieran, just let her go. It isn’t that serious, right?” Seth muttered.

“Interesting. You keep avoiding the question. Why is Dr. Dawne not allowed to leave?” Leoric asked.

“She is needed here,” Kieran replied. “That is final.”

“Is no one going to ask her what she would like?” Seth offered.

I smirked. Leoric is well aware of what I want. I thought to myself.

“It doesn’t matter what she wants. She is a member of my pack, and I am not releasing her.”

“So it is a control thing for you? A kink, maybe?” I opened an eye and looked at Leoric’s cold expression while he took stock of Kieran. “Regardless of her pack status, shouldn’t she have her own goals and thoughts?”

Kieran thought he was ten steps ahead, he had no idea Leoric was just pushing his buttons because he could. Leoric rarely asked a question he didn’t already know the answer to. So the performance that Kieran was putting on–was just that–a performance.

“Why are you so desperate to have her leave?” Kieran challenged. His fist clenched. “Are you in fact claiming Reverie as your mate?”

“I am not sure how that is any of your business?” Leoric’s expression changed from cold to predatory.

“If Reverie wants to leave, she can,” Seth said simply.

“You are not the Alpha anymore, Grandfather,” Kieran growled.

“A true Alpha would not stop their pack members from their future. If Reverie has outgrown Solvane Frost, she should be able to admit it without fear.”

“If she wants to leave and find a new pack, she can tell me herself.”

Finally, I let out a groan of frustration. “For a bunch of Alphas that are supposed to be in charge, you are wasting a lot of time measuring dicks.”

Seth smirked, Leoric looked impressed, and Kieran was somehow further enraged.

“The only place I am going is a spa!!!” I jumped to my feet. “Uma! Let’s go!”

Devoe purred and stretched before his body popped and folded into himself. Then Uma emerged with a stretch and a yawn. “Thought you’d never ask.”

The Solvane Alphas stared at her in shock and confusion. Leoric chuckled at the absurdity. Uma raised a brow, completely in the nude as she grabbed a cheese stick off a nearby table I hadn’t noticed earlier. “What? Never seen a b***h naked before?”

“You’re a……cat?” Seth asked.

“Devoe is a fierce Shadowpanther, actually. Don’t be rude,” She chided.

“This whole f*****g time?” Kieran snarled.

Uma rolled her eyes. “Me being a cat in your pack is the least of your problems, Kieran.”

“I am still your Alpha–”

“Here’s the thing about cats,” Uma said as she walked over to him. “Cats don’t have Alphas.”

She patted him on the back and then walked away.

“Then who do you answer to?” Kieran asked, completely dumbfounded.

“The women.” She purred.

“Stop torturing them, Uma, we have a spa to book.” I warned as I tossed her some clothes from the nearby closet.

“Already booked. Alpha Solvane, we are leaving,” Leoric announced. He pocketed his phone and ushered us out the door.

“Why you chose to marry a loser over this well-organized Adonis, in the first place, I'll never understand?” she muttered as she lifted her hands up to the sky.

Kieran tried to yell after us, but we all ignored him. Shouts erupted between the Solvane Alphas in the background, but we had already moved on with our lives by that time.

I rolled my eyes. “I have found the error of my ways.”

“What exactly does that mean?” Leoric teased as he escorted us out of the building once Uma was dressed.

“I don’t remember inviting you on this adventure?” I teased back.

“If you think I am going to trust these people enough to leave you alone with them after everything that has transpired just since I have arrived, let alone everything I know? You are more ticklish in the brain than we thought.”

“Ticklish? Me?” I feigned offense. “The audacity.”

“You did make the biggest mistake of your life seven years ago….”

“One of many.” I groaned.

“At least you know….” Leoric muttered.

“That’s enough out of you.” I instructed.

Uma laughed. “Well, unfortunately, for you. I invited him. So let’s go!”

We arrived and were immediately served our favorite cocktails while we changed into comfortable silk robes and fuzzy slippers.

“Luna Reverie, Gamma Uma…” An attending Omega fussed over us.

“Um, we’re not–” I started, but Uma stopped me.

“Who cares? They’re just words. You wolves and your labels. Yeesh. I can’t wait to return to Lycan land where none of this matters anymore.”

I sighed. “It will matter even more there Umie.” I replied.

“Ugh, Yep, I still hate it when you call me that.” She groaned and tilted her head back.

I laughed and took a sip. Leoric stared at me intently. The energy between us was palpable. I wasn’t sure what the energy was, but it was enough to make everyone aware. It prickled at the edges of my consciousness. Kamari settled comfortably inside of me.

“My point still stands,” I whispered. “Besides, you love it when I call you that. We both know it.”

She swung her legs over to the side and sat her drink down. Then stared at me for a moment. I felt like prey in the center of their gazes.

“In Lycan Land, you will be treated like a Queen. No one will need to say it. Everyone will feel it. They will just know. They will act accordingly. Like you deserve. No more eggshells. No more shadows. Just you, all out in the open, every, single, piece of you. You will get to live.”

‘You like the shadows though?”

“Yeah, for me? You? You are bigger than that. You are…..”

“You are the moon.” Leoric said simply.

“That doesn’t make any sense to me. I am not a Queen. I am just a woman who wants to live.”

Uma smirked. “If Reverie is the Moon, then you are the Mountain, Leoric.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“I am made of stone. I will never crumble. Never falter. I will prop you up and protect you and everything you love. At all costs. I am unshakable. Unbreakable. You are worth it Rev.”

I didn’t even realize he was closing in on me, until his hands were on the arms of the chair. I tilted up to stare into those caramel eyes. They were warm, and melted every single part of me from the inside out. The smell of sunshine after rain, cinnamon, and apples came over me. Comfort, home, and peace washed over me. I swallowed hard, “Leoric…”

“Reverie…” he whispered. His voice was gentle, deep, like a song I’d known my entire life.

“Well. Well. Well. Isn’t this cozy?” A voice called out from the doorway.