The Hunted Wolf – Chapter 19

CAIN

I let a few days pass since I last saw Adira, not knowing how to approach her again. I understood why she wouldn’t want to come with me. She didn’t know me, and I didn’t know her, but she also didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. The council was not a force to be reckoned with. They were all of the most powerful sorcerers in existence, and when they wanted something, they got it. If they wanted Adira dead, they would make sure she was killed before she even had a chance to fight back.

I had to try to convince her to come with me again. Her life depended on it. But I didn’t know how to make her listen. She was in love with her mate, and he loved her. I could see it in the way they looked at each other. Love made a person do stupid things. I knew that first experience.

’t worth risking your life for.

couldn’t protect her from the council or worse.

vil that was after her.

ng we had tried to hide her from, and now she was in more danger than ever.

They say that ignorance is bliss, but what they don’t say is ignorance can also lead to death.

–

ADIRA

d he cared about Pack Sallow, to the point that he had been willing to give up his own mate at one point to protect those he cared about. He even went behind Jori’s back to make sure the pack was properly protected, and it backfired on him in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

d, but I wasn’t expecting him to kick me out,” Percy said. He was sitting in the living room with his he

showed up and broke your heart.”

shouldn’t talk to her like that.”

ld up my hand. “It’s okay.”

out his pack. I think some part of him still cared about Mark, too. He did help us save Mark’s life, and if Jori truly didn’t care about Mark, he wouldn’t be so angry about everything that had happened.

ut it wasn’t easy to let go of guilty feelings. “I don’t really know what to do in this situation. I’ve been thinking about it constantly, but none of the things I think of seem like they would work. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.”

re like he used to. I was the only one keeping the pack together, and without me, I’m worried about what will come of everyone else.”

was more to this Jori situation than I was seeing, but I didn’t know what it was.

my attention away from Percy. I stood up.

uched Percy’s shoulder before heading to the front door.

e completely unreadable.

ng was blocking my connection with him.

to be able to contact your mate right now,” Cain said. “I’m sorry to do this in this manner, but we need to talk.”

, touching my shoulder, and then he shifted us away.

world came together again, I didn’t recog

I demanded.

atching me without me realizing it?

n lifted his hands, trying to make him seem less threatening.

Cain said.

still didn’t feel like I could trust him. For all I knew, he wasn’t my real father. No. That wasn’t true. I could feel his magic, and I could feel the similarities with mine. He was definitely

sk your life, your mate’s life, your pack’s life over it? What about that dark magic that almost attacked you? Do you know what that is? Because I do. I can give you answers. You just need to give me time and agree to consider that I might be able to actually help you.”

ad been sitting in the back of my head for a while. But I already knew what he wanted me to do. He wanted me to leave Mark, and I knew that was not an option. Maybe there was some sort of compromise we could come

ng to make you any promises.”

d after you hear what I have to say.”

not alway enough to keep two people together.”

nning of his story.

rned that there were stronger forces out there than love.”

ling my mother had while she was married to the man I thought was my father?” When I had found

all smile found his lips. “We found each other by accident. She was on a trip to get a rare item, and I was investigating a strange appearance near my territory for my father. It was a neutral zone that wasn’t owned by werewolves or sorcerers. We bumped into each other by accident,

it was a reasonable match. It was arranged by their families, but it was never love for her. We had plans to run away together and start a new life, knowing we couldn’t go to either of our homes. It is taboo to mingle with other species, and we knew our relationship would never be accepted by either of our families.”

s always about following the rules and appearances. She hadn’t been the most loving mother either, but the woman in Cain’s story was a whimsical woman who was ready to give up everything to be with the man she loved.

appy ending for them.

t she was pregnant with you,” Cain said. “At first we were thrilled, but then I remembered a prophecy I had grown up being told about. ‘I the darkest hours of the darkest days, the Daughter of Moon and Magic and the Son of Blood and Magic would be fated together, creating the most powerful couple in existence. It was a bond no one could break and one that would end up breaking the world. Destruction would rain when the two became one, and the world as we know would be lost.’ I didn’t think anything of it at first. I didn’t want to think