The Gift chronicles novel Chapter 1

Book 1 Chapter 26

He burrowed his head into my hair, inhaling the scent deeply for a few moments.

"Are you done? As interesting as this is, I'm hungry," Thane disinterestedly called out from across the room.

Alpha Cain withdrew himself from my hair, and looked me in the eyes. He seemed less frenzied, and like he reigned in his wolf somewhat, but not completely.

I unlocked my eyes from his gaze, feeling shame at being caught again, and oddly enough, I felt guilty for making him so frantic. The mate bond reverberated with happiness at us being so close in proximity, and I briefly wondered why I left.

He grabbed my jaw, forcing me to make eye contact with him. "Don't leave me again." Oh yeah, that's why I left. Dumb, domineering Alpha. I nodded, partially to pacify him and partially because I didn't think the mate bond would allow me to. I was enslaved by the bond now. Leaving and then coming back made it stronger than anything in the world. I wasn't even sure if I could block out my emotions from him anymore.

He picked me up and cradled me in his arms, more tightly than Thane had the day before. Alpha Cain sat in one of the dining room chairs, and when I struggled to get out of his grasp, and held on tighter to me.

Little mate, he spoke through our mindlink, not wanting Thane to hear, If you don't stay in my lap, my wolf will come out and kill every wolf within a 3 mile radius.

I looked into his onyx eyes and knew he spoke the truth.

So, I stopped struggling and sighed heavily. I looked over at Thane, who was watching the exchange in amusement, as if it were his favorite reality show.

I glared at him for ratting me out to Alpha Cain.

"Don't give me that look, Sarah," He said my pseudonym mockingly. "He's family. I could smell his scent on you the moment I saw you in the woods."

"Thank you, Thane." Alpha Cain nodded at him. "I apologize for how I entered. My wolf was crazed."

Thane waved his hand dismissively. "No harm, no foul. Except for the door of course." He looked over at what remained of the door. "I can see why you're so desperate to get your mate back. She sure is... something."

Cain looked down at me in adoration. His eyes softened as he looked at me, and it tugged on my heartstrings. "She's everything to me now."

"Enough of this mushy love stuff. It's almost making me wish I had a mate of my own," Thane grumbled and reached for the bread rolls.

Cain served himself food on his plate, and speared a piece of steak with his fork. He put the fork right by my mouth, which remained closed.

Open, he commanded via mindlink. The bond was too strong for me to resist his order, and I obliged as he fed me the steak. His eyes warmed at the act of feeding me, and I wondered why it was so important to him.

"Oh, the Blood Laws. Fickle, aren't they, Ares?" Thane smirked at me as he ate a piece of his own steak.

Alpha Cain growled at him in warning. It was interesting that around me in private, he talked a lot, but he was a man of few words around others. Maybe we have more in common than I thought.