The She-Wolf’s Mate (Book 2 She-Wolf Series)

Ivar

My mood severely soured after my conversation with Liam and Duncan. Something or someone had threatened my mate, and I couldn’t be sure what.

The last thing I wanted to be doing was putting on a suit, but there I stood finishing up with my tie. I hated the restricting fabric and frowned in the mirror.

“Can you help me fix this?” Logan came walking in holding his own crumpled tie.

“Dude what did you do to it?” Liam asked.

“The internet was not helpful,” Logan grumbled.

Trinity walked in behind him wearing a simple black cocktail dress. Even so, she looked stunning.

“Come here Lo Lo,” she said. “I’ll help you.”

“Thanks, Trin,” he looked relieved.

I stared at her as I watched her help the youngest and arguably goofiest of my “roommates” as they referred to themselves. It was hard to put a name to our relationship, but I was realizing they were probably the closest thing I had to friends.

They definitely viewed Trinity as a little sister even though she was hundreds of years older. They all referred to her as such and she seemed to soak it in. It was hard to remember I was in a room with the deadliest warriors the world had known as they joked and laughed together.

I broke through their conversation.

“I need a word with Trinity,” I told them.

The men all knew of the situation that was unfolding at headquarters, but none wanted to be the one to tell our resident witch. Aidan asked me to hold off until after the ceremony, but I had a feeling something was coming. With wolves flying in from all over the world, I needed her to be apprised.

The men shuffled out with stoic expressions.

“Sounds serious, big bro,” Trinity commented as she watched them.

“Trinity, the investigation is finishing up at the Moon Valley Pack,” I started. “I need to ask you a couple questions.”

“Okay,” she said, hesitantly taking a seat on the arm of one of the chairs.

“Dark magic was used to bewitch the pack,” I told her.

“That’s not possible,” she said, setting her jaw.

“Trinity,” I tried to keep my tone gentle. “It happened. I need to know who would be capable.”

“Who investigated it?” She questioned.

“The light witches sent a team in when we couldn’t get answers from the remaining pack advisors,” I explained.

“How do you know they’re telling the truth?” She snapped.

“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” I said, growing impatient. “There’s no other explanation to how Spurnwood even came into power, let alone convinced his pack to attack Sam and their king. This isn’t possible using light magic is it?”

“No,” she admitted, begrudgingly. Her eyes turned pleading and her voice softened at the realization. “I didn’t do this, Ivar.”

I knelt before her, once again seeing the scared girl who the light witches called a monster. Her chin dropped as she stared at her hands.

“Trin, nobody thinks you had anything to do with this. Least of all Sam and I,” I told her, and she met my gaze. Her eyes held unshed tears. “I’m asking you because I trust your judgment above all others. I need to know how this would be possible.”

She shook her head and cleared her throat.

“As far as I know, it wouldn’t be,” she explained. “Every dark witch was dealt with and is long gone at this point. Besides, few of them even held the ability or the knowledge of how to do something like this. I’ve felt the birth of every one since, and I’ve bound each of their powers. They are all living human lives.”

I nodded. “What about The Others?”

She shook her head again. “The gate is secure. We would know if someone got through.”

It was the same conclusions I had come to earlier.

“So who then?” I asked her.

She stayed quiet for a moment. When she did speak her voice was hushed.

“Ivar, there’s only one witch I’ve ever known to be capable of bewitching an alpha. Let alone his ranking pack members and other wolves at the same time,” she met my gaze, her stone eyes earnest.

“I took her head, Trinity,” I argued. “I watched as she burned.”

“I helped you scatter her ashes, Ivar,” she shook her head again. “It’s not possible, but if you’re asking who it could be, she’s the only one I know of.”

I swore as Rankor growled in my mind.

“I need to speak to the Moon Valley wolves,” Trinity said, standing. “Unfortunately, it’s going to have to wait. It’s time for you to be mated.”

Part of me wanted to argue, but the memory of the hurt in Sam’s eyes had me rising to follow Trinity out the door. She was right. Sam was waiting for me, and I was done disappointing her.

“Thank you, Trinity,” I told her.

She offered me a smile. “I’m proud of you.”

“For what?” I asked, confused.

“I don’t know. For finally admitting you have feelings, I guess,” she teased.

“Well don’t tell anyone,” I gave her a smirk.

She laughed and took my arm as we made our way downstairs.

I saw Sam talking with her sister. Kate gestured and she turned towards me. When our eyes met, I felt a grin split my face.

She was stunning, as always. Her long sleeved dress hugged her frame, landing just above her knee. The back was open, exposing her smooth skin.

“Ready?” She asked, reaching up to peck my cheek.

“For you?” I asked. “Always.”

Aidan walked around the corner and took Trinity’s arm.

“Damn, baby,” he whistled. “You look good.”

She smirked. “You don’t look too shabby yourself.” Then she wrinkled her nose. “Still reek of faerie dust, though.”

She turned and strode from him as he scrambled to catch up.

“Trin, I told you I didn’t have anything to do with it,” he pleaded.

“Hmm, I dunno,” she said, but I caught the teasing tone of her voice.

Sam and I watched as they disappeared around the corner. Kate followed them giggling.

“Is she actually mad?” Sam asked.

“No,” I snorted. “She just likes to watch him squirm a little bit. It’s a weird, little game they play.”

Sam looked after them with an expression I couldn’t place. After a moment she looked back at me with a soft smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“We should probably get to our party,” she said and turned to walk away.

“Hey,” I caught her arm. “I’m sorry about earlier.”

“It’s fine,” she said, but didn’t meet my eyes.

“Sam…”

She shook her head. “Really it’s fine. It’s just… I know there’s things you can’t tell me and there’s not much either of us can do about it, but I feel like I’m second to you. For the last year, I’ve been the alpha of my pack. Everyone has looked to me for guidance and answers. I’ve been the leader.

“Now, Luke will be Alpha here and you’re going to keep being King. I’m not sure where that leaves me.”

“You’ll be Queen,” I said, thinking it should be obvious

“Right,” she said, slowly. “But there’s never been a queen. No one is looking to me to actually do anything.”

“You’re worried about not having anything to do?” I still wasn’t understanding.

She sighed. “I don’t know what I’m worried about, honestly,” she explained. “It was just hard, standing in that room with you and your men and instead of answering my questions, they looked to you for permission first. I felt like…”

Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right word.

“They just weren’t sure how much you know or what information I was sharing with you,” I reasoned.

“That’s the problem, though,” she said, firmly. “Why would we have secrets? I’m going to be your wife. Shouldn’t we share things like that?”

“You’re going to be my mate,” I snapped. “That’s more than being a wife.”

“That wasn’t the point,” she said, exasperated. “Nevermind. Let’s just go. Everyone’s waiting.”

I tightened my grip as she tried to pull away.

“I’m trying to understand, but there are things that I can’t tell you yet. You know that it’s not my choice.”

“Sure,” she said, shortly. “But when we are mates, am I still going to be treated as an outsider?”

“What do you mean?” I frowned.

“It’s like,” she searched for her words, “like I answer to you.”

“All wolves answer to me,” I said.

She threw up her hands. “I don’t want to be your subordinate, Ivar. I want you to treat me like your equal. Like I’m just as worthy of knowing what’s going on in our world as you are. I don’t want people to ask you permission before speaking to me.”

There it was. She was a dominant wolf, used to being in command. As the king, I couldn’t blame her.

It was just as much my fault as anyone else’s. I had held supreme power for as long as anyone could remember, and I was so focused on making her mine that I hadn’t thought about what having a partner might look like. I still wasn't completely sure.

“You are their Queen,” I said, finally, wrapping my arms around her and spreading my hands across her bare skin. “I promise you, you will stand at my side, always.”

I could tell she wanted to argue further. Instead, she nodded and looked down the hall.

“We really should go. It is our rehearsal dinner.”

“Okay,” I said. “This conversation isn’t over.”

I put my hand on her lower back as we turned to head outside, reveling at the soft heat of her skin. The casual contact was a reminder of how close I had come to losing her.

Still, the nagging feeling I’d had since the news from Moon Valley came to light would not leave me. Something was coming, and I only hoped I was prepared for it when it arrived.