Torn between Wolves & Myths (Book 2)

“Here we go.”

Liv took a deep breath as Malik’s words ran through the link and her packmembers scattered to mingle at the feast that was already in full sway. She was wearing a floor length, silk, black dress which had off shoulder long sleeves and a split in the middle which revealed a layer of gray silk as she walked. Her hair was tied in a braid that went down her back, but her feet were bare this time. She needed the feel of soil to ground her for the shitstorm that was about to come.

Why the feast was so fancy when the wolves were acting anything but, was beyond her. But she didn’t care about it right now. No, she needed to keep her focus.

Making her way to the table where Caden and Ben already resides she took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before releasing it.

She hadn’t seen Caden for the rest of the afternoon after their weird encounter, but he knew that both of them hadn’t forgotten a single thing about what happened. The tension that had come off her had also been noticeable to everyone as she met them to go over the plan for tonight, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was the here and now as that was the only thing she allowed herself to think about.

Malik walked up with her to the table as a beta should and barred his neck in respect to Rafe as they stopped in front of it.

Rafe placed his cup on the table as he looked at them. “Congratulations with your new beta, Alpha Livana.”

“Thank you, Regent.” She spoke as she clasped her hands together in front of her. She had wanted to name Fare the moment they got back, but he had stopped her and told her that it could wait until tonight was over. Naming two betas was rare.

Naming two beta’s who didn’t have an ounce of second generation blood in them was even more so.

“I never knew you had second generation blood inside of you.” Stef said as he eyed Malik who didn’t back down from the Alpha’s stare. “He doesn’t.” A new voice joined in, making her clench her jaw as she met the gaze of Augo. The exchange between them was anything but kind and it was noticed by everyone around them.

“Having second generation blood doesn’t mean that you automatically deserve the role of beta. Even if you are basically born as one.” Augo clenched his jaw as he averted his eyes at her words. “He may not be beta in blood but he earned it by his own right.” She added.

“And yet he will never have the true power a beta has.” Rafe interjected. “You named him, which does give him a little bit more dominance and power, but he will be beta in nothing more than name as only a second generation born can truly be beta. He will wear the badge but nothing more.”

“And yet I named him anyway and allowed him a position next to me, not because of his blood, but because of his earnings.” She countered instandly as she moved her hands and clasped them behind her back this time. A show of not cowering down and making sure they have a challenge ahead of them if they continue.

Rafe narrowed his eyes at her briefly before he gave her a small nod. “A fine choice then.” She lifted her chin a bit in acknowledgement and to make him known that it wasn’t the only thing she wanted to talk about. Rafe moved in his chair as he sat backwards and waited for her to speak.

Here goes nothing.

“I want to help you win this war.” A grin spread out over Rafe’s face. “But to do that I need to train.” It disappeared a bit as he held her gaze. “It’s no secret that I am untrained and weaker than a normal Moonblood my age should be. I never learned more than what King taught me and that is basically nothing. To help you win, I need to learn everything I have been denied.”

“We have no one to teach you.” Pyry spoke up for the first time tonight. She met his gaze as he was watching her already. “Only a Moonblood can teach a Moonblood and since you and Psophis are the last, there is no one to teach you.” He added.

“That is not entirely true.” Caden spoke up. Making her tense a bit before forcing herself to relax. The slight motion wasn’t noticeable by any around her, except Malik who watched her as he felt the tenseness come off her briefly.

“My mother grew up in my pack. She was the only Moonblood in our pack and she had to learn how to control her powers as well. In order to teach her, Frode,” Brief surprise came over her as she heard Doc’s name for the first time. He had always been Doc to her. He had never told her his name and she had never asked. “Learned everything he could about the ways and powers of a Moonblood for years, before she was ready to be trained. He taught her everything and he can teach Livana as well.”

Caden met her gaze for a brief second before he looked at Rafe again. She swallowed as she looked back at the Regent as well.

“And I am guessing you already knew that.” Rafe spoke up, slightly annoyed, as he looked back at her. Liv gave him a nod.

“I have already discussed with him how to go at it, but there is one problem.”

“I’m sure there is.” Rafe said as his gaze turned hard towards her.

“If I train here, there is a high risk of me killing everyone around.” Her voice was hard enough to make Rafe’s eyebrows shoot up. “I’m sorry, what?” Stef asked.

“I blocked the wolf for eight years and after everything it hasn’t become feral and I helped Caden kill King by taking control of his blood which no other Moonblood, including my mother, has ever been able to do. Those two things alone tell a story of my strength and thanks to that, we cannot be sure where my powerrange is at.” A muscle ticked in Rafe’s jaw as his gaze turned darker towards her.

Clearly, he wasn’t happy that she actually was powerful.

Liv had to supress a smirk as she continued. “I haven’t mastered any other abilities than the three I learned, which is only a fraction of what Moonblood pups learn. There is a reason why Moonbloods are pups when they learn that and the fact that I need to learn it now is also cause for caution as we don’t know how my power will lash out. It’s not safe for me to train here.” She finished.

“And I am guessing you already got a plan on where you want to train.” Rafe spoke with a dark voice, before she could say yes, Caden got up from his chair. He walked around the table until he was standing next to her. His eyes briefly met hers before he went down on one knee. His claws appeared before he made a circle on his palm, drawing blood, and placed the wounded hand on the soil.

“I, Alpha Caden Thorsen, claim the territory of my ancestors as my own.” Rafe immediately got up from his chair as he looked like he was ready to rip appart Caden. “As it has not been claimed by any other I will relocate my pack there immediately. In the name of the Sisters I will pledge to their Royal Bloodline to take care of the land with dignity and come to aid when the Bloodline calls for it.” Everyone had quieted around them as Caden had made te claim and took the oath.

“You little-”

“Caden’s territory.” Liv immediately interjected, making his eyes snap to her. “It’s not his territory anymore. That claim doesn’t mean a thing without the consent of a royal.” He snarled.

“Actually it is.” She said as she held up her hand and revealed the same circle she had carved in her own flesh the same time Caden had. “Don’t-”

“He has my consent.” As the words left her a pulse went through the air, making some wolves gasp.

She circle on her palm immediately closed and disappeared, just like Doc had said would happen when he explained that the moment Caden drew blood, was also the moment she had to do the same for the claim to be strenghtened even more so Rafe couldn’t nullify it after she had given her consent.

Rafe’s eyes foretold her death as she held them with her own.

“The territoy has been unclaimed since they left it at the order of King. It’s only natural for him to claim it back as it is his. Frode will help me train and we will do so in Caden’s territory, far from any who might get hurt by my powers. We will keep reporting to you on a daily bases and keep you informed.” His breathing was as loud as the breathing of a horse who had run a marathon. “This isn’t meant as an attack to you.” It so was. “This is to keep everyone out of harms way and for a pack to settle where their parents had lived before them.” She spoke as she dropped her hand and Caden got up from next to her.

“I will not allow this.” He snarled as his green eyes were now trying to burn wholes through her own. “You and I both know that you don’t have a choice.” Meaning she could simply command them to accept it and move on. Rafe growled as he placed his hands on the table. His claws out, primed to kill.

“You have no say in this. I am the Regent.”

Something snapped at his words as she took a step forward and allowed the wolf to come to the surface, filling the air with her dominance. “And I am my fathers heir.” She snarled back, making Pyry and Stef tense as they also got ready to attack if need be. “I do not mean to overtrow you, but this is in the best interest of you and the wolves here.”

“Be very careful, Kerra.” Malik and her pack immediately growled behind her at the sound of her first name. “That’s what I am trying to be to keep your subjects out of harms way.” She snarled. “This will happen, wether you like it or not. I want to help, but I am not going to be held prisoner once more.” Rafe growled again as his nails scraped over the table.

“If you try anything, I will know.” Meaning he was backing down and allowing them to move to Caden’s territory. Her heart made a little jump at the relieve, but she didn’t show it.

“And what reason would I have to try anything? You’re not my enemy, are you?” His jaw clenched again, before her wolf retreated and she turned to walk away. Malik shot one last glare to Rafe before he turned and followed her. Almost every wolf she passed made way for her and had a look of awe on their face, while others looked at her with distrust, but those we’re less than the ones who obviously admired her bravery to put the Regent in his place. From the crowd her pack fell into pace behind her one by one, besides Andrew, Gerard and Brandon as they were still at Caden’s. She had believed that it was best for them and she couldn’t be more glad to have made that decision. If Rafe had found out that she had three Lycanthropes in her pack, she wouldn’t be walking away like she did right now.

“Gather whatever you need from the cabin and meet me at Caden’s territory.” She ordered through the link. “Liv?” She looked at Malik over her shoulder and gave a slight shake of her head. “Go. I need a minute.”

Malik bowed his head towards her as he walked past her. Her eyes landed on Rafe once more who was still glaring at her. She held her head high before she turned and walked out of the courtyard and into the forest.