Heart of Stone - Book 1: Fighting Fate

They had donned some loose-fitting shorts, as meeting outside pack members naked was considered rude and a display of dominance.

Stone last met with Colten, alpha of the North Fang werewolf pack north of Minneapolis, about six months ago and preferred to avoid him when possible. Not that Colten was a bad guy or leader, it was that two head-strong males created friction, especially when one was a lycan and near-immortal and the other was not.

The winter solstice was a time when lycans and werewolves came together in their respective states to worship the Moon Goddess. Lycans were more inclined to worship her at every solstice and equinox, whereas werewolves typically only attended the winter solstice, as that one required attendance. Perhaps they had their own ways of worshiping the Goddess the other times of the year, but that was none of his business as far as he was concerned.

Werewolves were different from lycans. A weaker sub-species, as it would seem. Sure, they transformed completely into wolves at will and had some heightened senses, mind-linking capabilities, and soulmates as well, but lycans were far superior in strength, agility, and healing capabilities. Werewolves could heal wounds within hours, whereas lycans could heal within minutes. Lycans could live until they were killed by dismemberment, whereas werewolves lived about a century. The oldest werewolf known to live was one hundred and fifty years. The oldest lycan, four millennia. There was only one such lycan left in existence, and she was revered like a queen. She belonged to what was once a small group called the Ancients, the first lycans ever created by the Moon Goddess, and in a sense, she was a mother to them all.

Amora moved from pack to pack, never staying too long in one place. She always said her soul was restless since her mate was killed at the fall of the Roman Empire two millennia ago. Stone believed she was more afraid of being targeted and putting her host pack in harm’s way. So she moved from pack to pack, never telling with whom she was going to stay with next.

He spent the first fifty years of his life with her and met her three times in his life after. The last time he saw her, she visited to offer her condolences after the murder of his mate.

She never changed. She always looked like a goddess.

Stone growled under his breath, looking up at the sun in the sky. What was taking Colten so long?

There was a particularly large rock left behind from the last ice age next to a small lake in a place they called Attala, where meetings were held with the werewolves when necessary.

Large oak and birch trees grew along the shore of the lake with bright green ferns sprouting from underneath. Spring was later than usual this year and the leaves on the trees had just unfurled a week ago.

Gunner was sitting on one of the large rocks along the lake’s shore, his feet cooling off in the shallows after running around for hours. The oldest in their group and a distant cousin of Stone’s, Gunner was leaning his elbows on his knees and watching the minnows swim around his toes.

His physical appearance resembled Stone in many ways. They both had square jawlines, blue eyes, and blond hair, although Gunner cropped his hair short and his nose was more sharp and hooked. He was three inches shorter than Stone and more built. He was Stone’s muscle. He trained Gwen and Gavin when they were pups, pushing them to their limits to strengthen and tone them. Gunner was so meaty that he intimidated humans. He looked like a bodybuilder on steroids, only he took none. He was also the quietest one in the group, ever since his mate was killed. Stone hadn’t even been born then, and she was killed shortly after they found each other. Apparently, Gunner had never been the same after that. He withdrew into himself, preferring to keep his thoughts and feelings hidden from others.

Alistair was a lot like his sister, Adelaide. His dark hair fell in his dark brown eyes in gentle wisps. Unlike Gunner, who preferred to be clean-shaven, Alistair supported a week old scruff along his jawline, which he now scratched at thoughtfully. His physique was slightly thicker than Stone’s, and although he would be fair competition for alpha, Alistair was content being beta and not having to take on the responsibilities of an alpha. He was much too carefree and down-to-earth for such a position, much like his sister had been. He would have been very disgruntled with the strain it would take to lead. He would if forced to should Stone be killed, but such a thought posed little threat to him and their reality.

“They should bring us lunch for making us wait so long,” Alistair said, leaning back against the ancient rock and closing his eyes. “I’m hungry.”

Standing a few feet away with his arms folded across his chest, Stone silently agreed as his stomach ached with hunger. “As soon as we’re done here, we can grab something to eat.”

A few more minutes passed before they picked up the gentle padding of paws moving across the forest floor. Colten had four other werewolves with him.

Rising to attention, Alistair and Gunner stood next to Stone in front of the huge rock.

When Colten appeared from the trees, Stone refrained from scowling. It would seem that the young alpha had been preoccupied with his mate prior to their meeting as her scent was still strong on him.

She had to be the reason for him neglecting his duties and being unable to ward off the bloodsuckers. She was clearly in heat and her lingering scent was making the three of the four males that accompanied Colten edgy.

Even Stone, Alistair, and Gunner picked up on it and they shifted their weight from foot to foot.

Unmated male werewolves and lycans alike were deeply affected by the pheromones released from a female werewolf or lycan in heat. They couldn’t help it. Her body called out to whoever would answer, mate or not, and she had no control over it.

Stone pushed the urge to wipe the grin from Colten’s smug face into his gut.

Colten had his usual dark brown, nearly black hair swept back, away from his face. His sharp jaw was clean-shaven and his steel-gray eyes locked on Stone’s with mockery.

[Someone’s awfully cocky.]

[Ja,] Alistair added to Gunner’s train of thought. [Just because he’s getting laid doesn’t mean he’s cock of the walk now.]

[Perhaps we should remind him who the stronger species is, hm?]

Stone interrupted their telepathic conversation when he cleared his throat and raised both his hands, palms up, in greeting to Colten and his pack. He tried to maintain a cool expression despite his anger. How dare Colten put everyone at risk with such behavior. Did he have no shame?

Colten returned the gesture, the grin still plastered all over his face.

[If he doesn’t wipe that smirk off soon, I will,] Alistair said. There was a hint of annoyance, but his façade and stance were cool, calm, and controlled.

“You’re looking well,” Stone said, despite the mental conversation taking place within his head.

The urge to glower was tough, but he persevered and maintained a firm tone that wasn’t dripping with disdain.

“Thank you. You as well, if not a bit ruffled,” Colten replied.

Stone’s jaw clenched, as did Alistair’s, neither one appreciating the disrespectful response. Gunner appeared to tune him out and maintained a strong soldier’s posture.

Alistair was mentally cursing the werewolf alpha out and would have matched Gunner’s stance if not for the clenched jaw and heated glare.

“We’ve been busy maintaining our borders prior to the vampire invasion,” Stone said. “Which, I’m sure, has nothing to do with your preoccupation with your mate. I only ask that you don’t keep us waiting next time she goes into heat.”

Colten continued to smirk as he shrugged his shoulders. “It is what it is. I can’t deny her what she needs.”

Stone thought Alistair would blow a gasket at that, but he held his tongue and instead allowed a slight hiss of air he’d been holding out of his lungs.

“I’m sure you know what I mean, having had a mate yourself before,” Colten added.

“Be that as it may,” Stone replied, crossing his arms over his broad chest, “I never put my pack at risk to bloodsuckers because my mate was burning up with primal desires.”

Alistair snorted and looked away. He was chomping at the bit, but he knew his place in these discussions. He stayed silent and pulled up his mental barrier in order to keep his thoughts to himself so Stone wouldn’t be distracted in his conversation with Colten.

Before the werewolf alpha could reply, Stone added, “And you’ll be happy to know that I’ve recently acquired a new mate myself, and I was still able to fulfill my duties as alpha of the Blauwald Pack.”