The Gift chronicles

Chapter 26

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.

Apparently not only was carrying me a part of the Blood Laws, but so was feeding me in the presence

of others. Fickle indeed.

We continued to eat in silence for a few moments, until Thane spoke to Alpha Cain about various

different pack phenomenons. I was uninterested until I heard the name Red Crescent.

Alpha Cain was telling him about how Red Crescent wanted a meeting with him to try to get his alliance

so they could attack Blue Moon. "They didn't know I was your cousin," Thane mused. He seemed

rather unconcerned for someone on the brink of war with the third most powerful pack.

"I went to scope out their land and pack numbers. They are bigger than I remember. Going was

actually how I met Ares. She was their Gamma." Cain smiled down at me. A genuine, proud smile. I

wondered why he was so insistent on keeping me cooped up all day if he was so impressed by my

Gamma skills.

Thane appeared shocked. "The Red Crescent Gamma was the first female Gamma. She took power at

age 13." Alpha Cain looked surprised by the age, but quickly shook it off.

"What can I say, my mate is quite impressive. Rather violent, as I'm sure you've witnessed firsthand."

Alpha Cain knowingly smiled at me, tweaking my nose.

Thane laughed. "She tried taking off my head with a flail, and then kicked in my leg and broke my jaw.

I've never seen a Gamma that powerful. Why is she?"

Alpha Cain cleared his throat. "I'm unsure. I had her lineage looked into, but from the names of her

parents that Alpha Wilson provided, her family has a long history of being Gammas. There's no real

reason why she should be so strong."

I was surprised to hear Cain's admission. I didn't realize he was looking into my history.

"Interesting indeed. Perhaps when you claimed her, you shared some of your power with her." Thane

suggested, immersed in the conversation as if this affected him directly.

"Perhaps," Alpha Cain was pensive. "But she was strong before I met her. Perhaps the Moon Goddess

has taken a liking to her." I rolled my eyes. If anything, the Moon Goddess probably hated me. I

followed no rituals, and have killed many.

I stirred in Cain's lap, beginning to get tired. He had continued to give me bites of food until I refused.

He looked like he wanted to press the matter, but ultimately dropped it, probably not wanting me to

make a huge commotion in front of his cousin.

"Your mate appears to be exhausted. You may stay here the night if you wish," Thane offered.

"Thank you, cousin, but we will be heading back to Blood Lake tonight. The pack has been restless

without their Luna." Thane nodded his head in understanding at Cain's words, although I didn't quite

understand.

Cain and Thane stood, Cain not releasing his hold on me, and I imagined he wouldn't be for a long

while.

"Goodbye, Cain. Goodbye, Ares. You both are welcome to come by anytime." Thane smiled warmly at

us, and I felt saddened by leaving. Even though Thane had given me back to Alpha Cain, there was

something about him that was incredibly likable.

Alpha Cain nodded at him, as I said, a man of few words. "I owe you." He said, and I knew he was

referring to Thane returning me to him.

Thane smiled. "Take care of her, cousin. Though I have a feeling she can do most of it on her own."

With those words, Cain stepped through the empty doorframe and into the night. I could feel his

optimism through the bond.