Bound By Legend

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: INSTINCT

LEORIC

My heart was in my throat as I stared down at Reverie.

What am I doing? I need to step back, or I will devour her here and now…

Koda practically purred in my mind for me to claim our mate there and now. My mouth was ready, my body vibrated, my hands twitched, ready to close the distance.

Reverie’s hazel eyes gazed up at me. They burned with a sea of emotions I couldn’t quite place.

Curiosity?

Caution?

Pleasure?

All of the above?

“Well. Well. Well. Isn’t this cozy?” A voice called out from the doorway. My gaze cut to her, she was small, couldn’t have been more than eighteen. Black hair, blue eyes. Solvane family features. Frustration rose in my chest. Reality crashed into me like a bucket of ice water.

“What in the Moon Goddess are you doing?” Christine Solvane’s shrill voice came from behind her when she appeared over her shoulder. If either had been aged up or down 20 years, they’d be the same person. They looked so alike, it was eerie.

The younger Solvane smirked as she flipped her hair over her shoulder, her voice sultry. “Nova Solvane.”

“My daughter,” Christine added–as if it mattered? Then grinned as she latched onto what she thought was a great opportunity to throw her daughter at me. “I’ve never heard you’ve been in attendance at our humble springs. Perhaps my beautiful Nova could show you around?” She pushed her daughter forward. Nova stood taller, like the future Luna she’d been trained to be. A sweet smile spread across her lips as she put on her more graceful airs. The switch was so quick, I physically sat down.

My gaze shifted from Nova, to Christine, then to Reverie and Uma. Uma shrugged in confusion. Devoe at the surface level of one of her eyes, looked just as confused as I felt. My gaze landed back on Reverie, who just rolled her eyes and shook her head. I had never been immature enough to rate women, but if I had–Reverie would win every time. They shouldn’t even try to compete–not that it was ever a fair fight against my mate.

“Oh yes, I would love to.” Nova’s smile was bright as she reached for me. I raised a brow, Christine grinned. The entire scene was bizarre, it was as if they’d purged the image of the near kiss between Reverie and I from their brains.

“It’s like they can see right through you, I swear?” Uma looked at them in confusion. “Has it always been like this?”

Her words articulated my exact thoughts at that moment and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I am sure you’ve met Dr. Dawne?” I said facetiously as I motioned toward an amused Reverie in the chair beside me. We were so close, we could touch, I could feel her energy as it bounced from her skin to mine. A pleasant chill raced across my body.

Christine and Nova Solvane finally looked over at Reverie in confusion, as if they truly hadn’t seen her or realized it was her prior to that moment. I was puzzled, and then annoyed on her behalf. “Is Reverie not even a person? Let alone a member of your pack?”

Reverie chuckled as she climbed to her feet. “It isn’t just me, Leo, don’t worry. OT’s everyone. Christine’s love language is power, Nova’s is money. If you have been deemed to not have any, you don’t exist.” Reverie moved toward the door the Solvane women blocked but neither of them moved as they took stock of her appearance. Kamari appeared in Reverie’s eyes. “Unless your name is Delilah. Isn’t that right?”

Nova raised a brow, Christine all but snarled at her.

“Now move,” Kamari growled, her powerful aura slipping out. Christine and Nova had no choice but to respond and step backward. Uma was hot on Reverie’s heels, and I was shortly after.

Fully prepared to leave everyone behind, I focused on the path ahead.

Until, cold, delicate fingers closed around my bicep.

Koda immediately overrode every brain cell before I even knew what happened.

My body moved on its own and yanked it out of the hold. .” Don’t touch me.” Koda snapped.

Nova jumped back and Christine grabbed her protectively. “Reverie!”

Reverie stopped and turned around.

I finally got control of my Lycan. “Don’t blame Reverie, Your daughter touched me without my consent. I am the one who reacted. Reverie had nothing to do with it. Maybe instead of throwing your daughter at what you deem as eligible bachelors, you should spend more time teaching her manners.”

“Leave them alone.” Delilah’s voice came from behind us.

We looked over at the disruption. Reverie pinched the bridge of her nose. “Goddess. Where does a woman go to get away from you people, I swear?” she muttered.

“If you want to emulate Beetlejuice, at least wait until we say your name the other two times.” Uma muttered as she crossed her arms and stared at Delilah and Kieran.

“What is going on here?” Kieran snarled.

Reverie sighed. “I am here to relax. Alpha Kieran, I would appreciate it if you would get control of your dysfunctional family enough to keep them away from me.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Nova says. “It’s not every day we stumble across you draped in silks and a man while sipping wine and sitting on your ass.”

“You’re f*****g doing what?!” Kieran stepped forward aggressively.

Instinct took over again as Koda stepped in front of Reverie. His hand hit my chest and bounced back. “I am not sure what you were trying to accomplish here, but you will not lay hands on Dr. Dawne in my presence–least of all in front of your pack members and other civilians.”

“She’s mine…” He growled just low enough for only me to hear him.

My smirk transformed into a sneer. “Oh? I am sorry. What did you say Alpha Kieran? I couldn’t quite hear you.”

He opened his mouth to reply, and the door burst open on the left. “Alpha!!!! Your brother!”

“Oh no! Please don’t tell me he’s dead!!” Delilah cried dramatically as she fell to her knees. Kieran caught her before she hit the ground.

“He’s…..stabilizing!!!” The Warrior answered.

“....Stabilizing?! He’s…. Stablilzing….?” Delilah looked genuinely confused and shocked. I raised a brow and took in the brown wolf beneath her surface.

I raised a brow.

Something is wrong.

Koda picked up on Kamari’s energy before I did. Reverie’s fingers twitched, her brow furrowed. She wants to help… My breathtaking, bleeding heart, selfless goddess of a mate. NO matter how these people wronged her….

“They’re asking for Dr. Dawne immediately!” The Warrior cried. Something flickered in his eyes as he said the words. Something I couldn’t quite place. Is this a trap?

Reverie stepped forward, my gaze cut back to Delilah’s. I have to stop Reverie. Delilah and her wolf are both dripping with malicious intent–but Reverie can’t see it.

Nova gasped and looked over at Reverie. Christine was stunned. “My son? He’s….waking up?” Tears formed in her eyes. Delilah sneered before she schooled her features back into the grieving and worried wife before she rushed over to Reverie. She placed her hands on Reverie’s arm so tightly, my mate grimaced.

“Please Reverie! I don’t trust anyone else but you to care for him!” Delilah pleaded.

Reverie narrowed her gaze at her and pulled her hand out of Delilah’s hold.

“Don’t do it Rev. It’s obviously a trap,” Uma said plainly. Devoe in one eye as he studied everyone in attendance.

Delilah tried to reach for my mate again but she turned to the warrior. “What does he seem like? Is he moving? Are his eyes opening? Is he trying to breathe on his own?”

“I—I don’t know—I…” The Warrior stammered as he looked between Delilah and Kieran.

“Uma’s right.” I said simply. Kamari and Koda growled their approval in my mind.

“Please Reverie!” Delilah begged. "You are the only one that I trust with Draven’s life!”

“Remember what happened the last time she said that to you?”

“I am a Doctor. If someone needs my help–”

“Absolutely not,” I said, and walked over to lean down and whisper just so she could hear. “Normally. I let you do what you need to. I never interfere. This is a trap.”

“They wouldn’t lie about this, Leoric.” She whispered back.

“I absolutely believe he is waking up. That doesn't mean he will stay that way. You already have the evidence yourself. If you don’t want to listen to me, listen to Kamari and Uma.”

Kamari let Koda and I in as she whispered into Reverie’s mind, “Draven is going to die. Whether you help him or not. You and I both know, you will be blamed for it.”

Reverie mentally linked with her, “You really think they’d kill him…?”

“They have to. He is not only a liability, but he is in the way,” Kamari replied logically. In our mental sanctuary, Koda nudged her to offer his support.

Uma studied us for a moment as if she knew exactly where my mind was at with Kamari. “You couldn’t go help if you wanted to Rev. You no longer have legal access to do so regardless. You no longer work there,” Uma stated simply.

Realization dawned on her face as she stood up tall. “There are plenty of doctors there. I no longer have access.”

Just like that, we all turned to leave. We ignored the Solvane family as they yelled after us, the spa was no longer relaxing.

“I just need a moment. Pardon me,” Reverie expressed as she disappeared to the restroom.

Silence fell.

My body tightened like a rope.

My breath caught, my heart thundered, I placed my hand on my chest. What..is…..?

Then suddenly, I felt like my bones would jump out of my skin.

“Get in there NOW!” Koda screamed in my mind as he took over and all but kicked the door down.

Reverie was gone…

The only trace of her was a small hint of her vanilla cream scent–mixed with the disgusting citrusy orange of Kieran Solvane.