The Gift chronicles novel Chapter 1

Book 1 Chapter 48

 

Song: The Night We Met by Lord Huron

I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you, Take me back to the night we met.

*MUST LISTEN TO SONG WHILE READING*

Cain's POV

I narrowed my eyes. "Find her, as in find her body?"

Katrina looked me in my eyes, carefully choosing her words. "The thing is, I'm not entirely sure she's dead."

Snarling at her, I grabbed her neck with my hand and shoved her into the nearest wall, pinning her against it. She was incredibly fragile, and I remembered that not all she wolves are as strong as my Ares.

"Don't fucking joke about that ever again. She is dead. I felt the bond break. That can only be done through death." I growled at her, my eyes flashing dangerously.

Katrina gasped for air, clawing at my hands. I could only see red. How dare this female come into my home and disrespect my mate like this?

Suddenly, I heard Gwen gasp in the door way. "Fucking, hell, Cain, put her down!" Gwen yelled at me, snapping me out of my bloodlust.

"She is a lying charlatan! She says Ares is alive. It is impossible. I felt our bond break. You felt Jax's bond break," I released my grip from Katrina's neck, sending her crumpling to the ground.

Gwen's eyes widened. "But.. He wouldn't..."

"Tell him, Gwen," Katrina ordered her, standing up and rubbing her neck. I could see the mark from my hand.

"Jax, he can break bonds as his Gift. He's never used it before, and doesn't like talking about it. He wouldn't have..." She winced and her voice trailed off.

I turned to Katrina. "He wouldn't have broken my

mate bond and his. It makes no sense."

Katrina pensively rubbed her chin. "He would have if it meant throwing you off of his trail. You never would have suspected him if his bond was broken with his mate, and neither would she."

"He wouldn't do that!" Gwen defended her mate. "He wouldn't break our bond out of his own free will..."

Katrina looked at her in pity. "I only saw Ares in the cell. Not Jax. If he was forced to break their bonds, then he's either being held in another location, or..." Her voice trailed off, and we all knew the alternative.

"You said you might be able to find her. How?" I demanded, ready to spring into action.

Gwen smiled wisely. "Intuition."

"What the fuck does that mean, witch?" I growled at her.

"It means, we more or less venture into the woods, and I follow my gut on where to go," She explained, as if she didn't sound fucking crazy.

"I'm not crazy, Alpha. It's my Gift. You put so much faith in the Moon Goddess, but you don't trust in the abilities she has granted me?" She questioned, daring me to oppose her.

I sighed. "You are crazy, but you are also right. I will gather my men and we will begin our journey. I have faith in the Moon Goddess."

Katrina rolled her eyes. "Does it look like the Moon Goddess is here? No, but I am. Your faith needs to be in me, Blood Alpha."

"If we find my mate, I will give you anything you want," I promised her.

She shrugged. "I want for nothing. Your mate has done a great favor for many people by killing so

many rogues. Iron Claw has always been cursed with a rogue problem until her. I am doing this for her alone."

I nodded in understanding. "Regardless of your motives, thank you." I told her genuinely, extending my neck to her in submission. She was giving me the greatest gift.

Katrina looked at me appreciatively, nodding at me to release my submission. "Don't take too many men. Only one or two. We can't attract too much attention. The less people we have in our party, the easier it will be to travel through the woods, and I will be able to focus on my Gift better."

I nodded. "I will take Gamma Axel." I turned to Gwen. "You, stay here. As much as I feel like I'm going to regret this, you're in charge for now. Don't tell anyone that I'm gone, we don't want to incite fear and panic."

Gwen nodded, her eyes pleading. "Please bring my

mate back to me." I nodded stiffly, knowing that the odds were not good. He was either a traitor or dead, I was positive.

--

After informing Axel of the recent developments, we had begun trekking into the woods. Katrina still wore Ares' cloak and clutched the daggers, saying that it made her intuition stronger. She sounded absolutely bonkers to me, but I was already in too deep to go back.

Katrina led Axel and I, often turning at random points in the woods, sometimes mumbling random

words to herself.

Axel occasionally looked over at me and would mindlink me: Where did you find this nutcase? I just sighed and shrugged. A nutcase she is, but she also may save my mate.

After hours of this, we suddenly came upon an abandoned house. There were no lights on, nor any indication that anyone was around.

Katrina held up her hand, stopping Axel and I in our tracks. "They're here," She whispered.