the Moon Goddess Heiress

Chapter 11

Kylon POV

I felt like my heart was going to explode. My blood was boiling, rushing through my body as if I were a torch, a volcano on the verge of eruption. As soon as she walked on stage, I wanted to bite off the hand that was grabbing her so tightly, no, the arm, up to the shoulder, if not grazing the throat as a warning.

She looked like a delicate snowflake, one you capture in the palm of your hand, praying you are cool enough to keep the frail and exquisite form from disappearing. The one you want to change the whole world to protect hers. When she gazed at the crowd with a blank look, her soft lashes grazing her soft cheeks as she looked down almost immediately, I felt my stomach drop, disappointed she could not hold her stare longer. I wanted to look at these rubies shining in her iris. She looked so precious. She was so precious. I felt a punch in my gut, this time it was from Jasper, who was spying on me with a gleam in his eyes, as if he knew. His grin told me no good.

“She is so young, Jasp. Looking at her only makes you want to protect her.” All I got from my best friend for support was a slap behind my head, as he shook his head.

“And the drool there, what is it for?” He simply asked, returning his focus to the stage. I sighed. Was that what it was? Could she be my mate? Korwin was trying to come forward but was still hesitant.

‘We are too far… And she doesn’t have a smell. She does but it is not a ‘usual’ smell… I cannot put my paw on what it is.’ I lifted my nose and tried to get a whiff, but all I could smell was sweat, lust, despair, and impatience from the crowd. From the stage, a powerful and overwhelming scent of diverse herbs, oils, and… ‘Oh.’

I elbowed Jasper, gesturing to him to sniff the air toward the stage. Confused, he complied, and after a few seconds, he looked at me with wide eyes. “Wolfsbane.”

Sh**. That is what Korwin and I had been discerning coming from her. Wolfsbane could be used in many forms, but every form is dangerous for werewolves. As if he was reading my mind, Jasper patted my shoulder. “She looks like she is in need as if she is addicted. Weaning makes you weak. I wonder if she would be able to shift if that is her case. Wolfsbane can kill your wolf.”

I couldn’t speak. Words amassed up in my throat, making it hard to swallow, and even more to breathe. Fists clenched, teeth gritted, I couldn’t hold myself in place anymore as we watched in horror the light striking her small body. She was all alone as if she was some kind of sacrifice, an experiment. I began to make my way through the crowd, pushing, rushing. My Alpha was right behind, but I couldn’t care less about anybody else. I only had eyes for her. She looked on the verge of breaking, her bones beginning to snap, her body bending, changing. We were getting close to the stage, but we were stopped at some point by the guards.

Debating angrily with them, them not moving, I felt control slipping from me. Claws were peaking out, fur growing on my back, arms, and even on my expanding chest, almost shattering my shirt. A cry from the opposite side of the stage distracted Korwin, whose attention went back to the small wolf in the middle of the stage. Malia, one of the National treasures, had shifted and was running toward the cream fur ball, curled up on the ground, whimpering. Before I could think, I soared over the guards, roaring to not touch her as I saw her approaching what was, indeed, my mate.

No more confusion. She was mine and I was hers. Hovering over the wolf that came running, I snarled, getting in between them. A soft whimper was heard and I glanced over my shoulder, not letting my guard down. The National treasure was a new shifter, yes, but her wolf was almost as big as mine. And now, she wasn’t the only special one. Did she shift to help or to attack? Not knowing her true intentions, I couldn’t stand the thought of giving the benefit of the doubt and not intervening. And I wanted to be the only one to touch her, to protect her right now.

Korwin was also going mad crazy, pushing forward. ‘If you come out now, you are going to scare her away.’ Whining, he calmed down. I did too. Running my fingers through my hair, sliding down my face to try and gain back composure, I dropped my head and slightly bowed in front of Malia’s wolf, who was watching me, stunned, but suspicious.

I lifted my hands in surrender, mumbling a few words. “I’m sorry for being wary of you, but she is my mate, and as rare as they are, please, don’t trigger our bond for now as it is very fresh and she is young and looks terrified. I have no bad intentions, I swear, I just want to take care of her.” On a whim, I dropped down on my knees. “I know that she might not be in a state to acknowledge me as her mate right now, but I want to make this work, within the circumstances we are and will rise from.”

I could swear I saw a smile curling the lips of the white wolf standing in front of me. She then took a few steps and stood just behind me as I turned around, staying low on the ground. Her wolf could make my mate feel safe as a fellow female, and I hoped the fated bond would help me, if not reach her heart, at least make her feel safe enough to not be scared of me.

“Hi… My name is Kylon Greer. I am from Eclipse Pack. I don’t know if you and your wolf can smell me, but Korwin, my wolf, and I are your fated mates. We are very happy to meet you.” I tried not to rush her, small-talking her slowly to prove that I didn’t want to pressure her. “I know all this is very sudden and very new; your wolf, your shift, your mate. But I can assure you everything will be fine. We will be together from now on but at your pace.”

I could feel the relief emanating from Malia, as well as a short sigh of release from the cream wolf in front of me, still curled up as if she would try to fusion with the ground. She raised her head slightly, one ear turning my way, her body shaking. My heart broke at that sight. All I wanted to do was take her in my arms, embrace her, and whisper the promises that were swelling in my heart.

“What a beautiful speech, Beta Kylon.” Elder Kodard said, walking toward us. My eyes squinted, a lip faintly raised by a growl I was trying to kill because of respect for hierarchy. I didn’t answer, moving millimeter by millimeter, trying to get closer to my mate who I saw flinch as soon as she heard him speak. “What beautiful things to say, indeed, very touching, but unfortunately, vain.”

“Would you care to explain?” My voice came out low, menacing, against my will. But how could he say that?

“Yes, unfortunately, that girl must enter the Claiming, despite being your mate. First, because the girl does not seem to respond to your bond, but also because she is in a peculiar and unique situation that makes her entry mandatory.”

I stood up slowly and erased the distance left between Elder Kodard and us, placing myself between him and the whimpering wolf I intended to claim. “Well, if it is mandatory then, I will make sure my victory is nothing but a guarantee. I do not intend to lose my mate because of your rules.” I let out through gritted teeth, my whole body fuming.

“I will enter too.” Jasper’s voice broke the silence hanging over us, interrupting the eye war I declared to the Packs Council.

“Future Alpha, you would have to go through the lottery, you cannot decide you can join like that.”

“If I am not too bad at reading the room, for you to do that kind of staging for a single wolf, she must be special. And as I recall, special wolves have open entries to make sure the strongest wolf can get the female, right?”

“Yes, you are correct.” He agreed forcibly, his jaws tightened so close it was almost impossible for the words to slip out.

“Well then, count me in. Now, can you please let the ladies shift back?” Elder Kodard’s head tilted to the side, submitting rather quickly and silently to Jasper and his aura, he walked back in line waving to the small group on the stage to proceed so that everything could keep going. “Kylon, take care of your mate, help her shift back. Malia, follow me. You ripped your clothing, you need new clothes.”

I watched as she followed him, trotting at his side, an eye glued on him, visibly curious. Then, I poured all my attention on the tiny wolf with ruby eyes, talking to her, reassuring her through the shifting, blocking her body to the view of the crowd, challenging every single wolf in attendance with my Beta aura, while offering my back as a screen shield so she could dress up. When done, Elder Cravyn came forward, and gestured to my mate, and me who refused to leave her side, to follow him in the opposite direction that took my Alpha, all the way to the other side of the stage.

In the shadows, a dark tent was standing, and under was a cage. A fu**ing cage. Determined to not scare even further the delicate woman in front of me, who without a fight entered the crate as if she committed something worth being locked up, I kept my rage inside, the best I could, though I was surprised my head hadn’t burst yet. A bright figure was waiting in the corner, a silhouette that I overlooked at first, but that left the shadows as soon as the elder was far enough and that the show was back on track.

The other national treasure? “Miss Sarabella? What are you doing here?”