Mating the Lycan King

Chapter 20: Bonfire

Nathan’s POV:

We were literally just watching Hannah and my brother completed the bond while Jorden made her way back to the trail when they started to walk closer to me. Turning on the balls of my feet, I lift one foot before I’m tackled to the ground.

I couldn’t figure out what the f**k was happening but I didn’t have time to react or defend myself. She had elongated her witchy nails and hovered them about my throat and heart.

I may be an alpha but I’m no i***t. Making any move right now would mean my death.

Jorden approaches us quickly, squatting beside us with her hands reaching but not touching Hannah’s.

“Tell me why you want to hurt Nate, Hannah.” The Luna in her commands more aggressively than her demeanor appears.

The witch doesn’t move an inch, “It’s him,” she leans forward into me a bit, “He’s the traitor!”

Scoffing at the ridiculous accusation, I drop my head into the grass and relax. Not worried that I’ll die by her hand since I’m certainly not guilty.

“I don’t understand, what do you mean?” My brother rumbles to both Hannah and I.

The witch turns her head toward Trevor, “What I mean is, I smell my mate all over him!” She seethes, “I smelt the scent faintly earlier but I couldn’t pinpoint it until I was closer to him!” She turns her red eyes back to me.

“Look, lady. I wouldn’t kill a member of my pack, nonetheless one I,” I emphasize the I, “made sure was safely tucked away.” I argue back.

Jorden touches Hannah’s hands, but Hannah lunges at her and they tumble about until finally Jorden is on top. Lifting Hannah by her shoulders, Jorden slams her into the ground. Hard.

“Look, I get why you’re upset but threatening my mate does you no good,” her canines present as she warns the witch.

Trev helps me up and stands beside me.

“There has to be an explanation,” My brother directs his gaze at me.

I raise my hands in defense, “Hey, I swear by the moon goddess I didn’t harm Stephen.”

Hannah shrieks, Jorden holds her into the ground but not in anger, more so in a way to help control Hannah’s hurt.

“Hannah, let’s head back and we can figure this out together. I promise,” Jorden reasons.

After a minute, Hannah nods. Both ladies stand and dust themselves off.

The witch turns to me with her bony finger waving my direction, “If I find out you were involved…” she leaves her threat at that before storming towards the pack house.

———

Jorden’s POV:

To say I’m confused would be an understatement. What in the f**k is happening?

“Han, I need to know the scent you’re looking for. Can you describe it to me?” I gently push.

Giving a painful grunt, “I get a mixture of honey and cinnamon. I think those two scents go to two different wolves.”

Nodding, I mind link the twins, “We need to identify those scents immediately. Who smells of honey or cinnamon?” I ask them.

Trevor: “There are a few wolves who share similar scents but we can’t forget that we’re a pack, we train together, we live together—“

Nate cuts in: “We’ll have to be strategic in sniffing out the moles.”

Me: “Noted. But that doesn’t change that we need to figure it out before Hannah. She may be apart of us now but her instincts will be to slaughter the traitors. Which I don’t blame her,” I rub her back gently as we approach the opening to our pack land.

Nate: “I’ll go get Cass and get a report of how training went.”

Trevor: “And I’ll gather the ranks and assemble a bonfire tonight. We’ll play it off as a welcoming for Hannah. In order to literally sniff out the rats, we need to all be able to mingle and make it so we don’t appear suspicious.”

Jorden: “Agreed, baby. Nathan, do NOT tell anyone, even your mate, about this. We need her to seem genuinely involved in the bonfire planning to make this look like a true gathering. Not us searching for the persons responsible.”

I cut the link off and take Hannah’s hand leading her to the gazebo. The boys walk past us and into the pack house.

“Can I link you?” I inquire, eyeing her carefully.

Quirking her head to the side, she locks eyes with me, “I don’t know, try it.”

My eyes nearly pop out of my head as I quickly throw my arms around her in a bear hug.

“You know you didn’t say that aloud, right?” I link her back.

She grins, surprise written on her face.

Linking her the conversation I shared with the twins. I let her know of our plan about the bonfire, that we’re not using it as a mourning for her mate, much less letting the pack know he’s been murdered. It is to be a celebration of her joining the pack.

Her eyes shake slightly, radiating a blind red, “I got it, Luna Jorden.”

I give a soft smile and rise from the bench, “Time to introduce you to the pack!”

We make our way into the dining area where most ranks meet when having general meetings. Trevor and Nathan sit at the head of the table while Cassidy has her hands draped over Nate’s shoulder. Asher, the beta who accompanied Nathan to my original pack for Nick and Karen’s ceremony, was sitting right beside Nate. The rest of the ranks were here; John, Levi, Chris and Ryan. Liam was also here since he’s considered one of our best warriors. Some of their mates were sitting beside them or on their laps.

“Luna,” everyone welcomes me with a respectful head bow.

I smile in return to the crowd, “So, I assume the twins told you all of our newest member, Hannah.” I look at her with a kind smile.

“Witch,” Asher greets her with a rude tone, causing my to snap my head back at him and growl.

Slamming my hands on the table, I eye him then slowly move my way to the others at the table, “There will be none of that,” referring to the rudeness the beta just showed, “Hannah is a kind soul, no matter her species. We will accept her since she’s officially apart of the pack. Is that understood?”

I’m met with silence, which I take as an understanding. Dragging my hands against the table, I stand tall beside Hannah again.

Composing myself, I continue on, “As I was saying, Hannah is our newest member and tonight we’re going to celebrate with a bonfire and a cookout!” I clap my hands together in happiness. Hopefully I’m not overselling this. f**k me and my inability to lie.

Liam asks, “Can we put like hella red food coloring in the pit so the fire glows red??” He says much to excited.

Making Hannah chuckle, “I can make that happen without us having to raid every store in a 50 mile radius of their food coloring.”

He laughs along with a few others, “Alright, cool!” He exclaims.

“So, everyone knows their tasks: Ryan, Chris and Liam will gather the wood and set up the benches. Nathan, Cassidy, Levi and Jasmine (his mate), will prepare the grills and get to cookin’, Jorden, Hannah, myself and some of the pups will decorate! Everyone else is to tuck in their littles and prepare for a night of celebration!” Trevor explains the breakdown one last time before rising and coming to my side.

“Let’s get to it!” I clap happily.

Hannah tugs my arm, her eyes lock with mine, “The scents are in this room, Luna.”

Her face is composed but I can feel her anger, “Does it feel stronger or the same as when we were in the meadow?” I question. Worry is consuming me. What if one of the ranks is a traitor? What if it’s one of their mates?

“I can’t be sure until I’m not surrounded by all of them but it smells like Nathan did,” she explains.

Nodding, I link the boys and tell them what Hannah said. Trevor must’ve sensed my worry because he told me to take Hannah to get cleaned up and dolled up for tonight.

I peck his lips gently before pulling Hannah up the stairs to mine and Trev’s room.

-4 hours later-

“You look so good, Han!” I eye her in the little red dress I loaned her. It hugs her waist nicely, but the cleavage is what’s really popping! Her hair is pin straight and parted in the middle.

She rolls her eyes, “Thank you, Jordie but have you seen yourself?” She points to me.

I’m in a short sleeve yellow blouse with a few buttons undone, a mini high waisted skirt and some black knee high boots. I’ve pulled my curls back with a few bobby-pins, allowing some curls to fall and frame my face.

“Oh, hush! I look ordinary standing beside you!” I tell her honestly, pushing my glasses up my nose and back into place.

She just rolls her eyes and checks herself out in the mirror again. Standing there, I watch her. She seems fine but I’m sure her insides are in turmoil.

“Hey, you know that I’m here for you, don’t you?” I ask her while I slide onto my dresser, swinging my legs.

She looks at me through the mirror and links me, “I know and I appreciate you more than I can say…wolf,” she teases lightly with a playful smirk.

I giggle and watch her continue to check herself out. She’s a tough one. To have witnessed the aftermath of her mates slaughter, a mate she wasn’t able to love properly. Poor woman.

“I felt something funny when we were in the dining area earlier, Jorden. It confused me a bit but I can’t quite describe what I was feeling…” she links me.

Thinking for a second before responding, “Let’s not focus on that right now, okay? I’m not pushing it off but we have enough right now that we need to handle. Avenge Stephen, protect the pack, sell this facade of a bonfire. Okay?” I urge her kindly to push her confusion aside.

Nodding, she turns on her heals, “Okay! I’m ready! Let’s go!”