Untamed - Book 1

We have been in the car for just over twelve hours and the sun is just cresting over the mountains, painting the sky with vibrant shades of pink, yellow and orange.

“So, how long have you been doing this? Helping my kind?” I look at the man beside me and offer a warm smile at his first attempt to talk to me since we got into the car.

“A very long time. My name is Coralie, by the way. You can call me Cora.” He gives me a confused look before a smile slowly forms on his face.

“My name is Daniel, but you can call me Danny. How long is a very long time?” I can’t help but laugh at his persistence.

“Longer than you have been alive, that much is certain.” He adjusts himself in his seat so that he is facing me, still keeping to his side of the car, but seeming less fearful of our forced close proximity.

“Somehow I doubt that. You do realize that I am 73 years old, right?” I sigh and fold my arms over my chest and give him a playful smile.

“So, you are just a young pup? I have definitely been doing this longer than you have been alive.” I can see the doubt swirling in his brown eyes and I know he wants to ask more, but is hesitant to do so.

“You are older than me?” I nod, my eyes studying his reaction and feeling amused by him.

“I am 182 years old. I have been separated from the council for 161 years and have been helping other races for just as long. So yes, I am older than you.” His eyes are wide and his lips are slightly parted as the shock of my confession renders him momentarily speechless.

“You look so young.” I shrug my shoulders, keeping my expression soft and playful.

“Well thank you! What, were you expecting a witch my age to look like an old crone?” He smiles nervously and scratches his neck nervously.

“A little. I also thought all practicing witches reported to the council.” I feel my smile falter, but do my best to cover it quickly.

“Our youth fades for a few different reasons. Losing touch with nature, practicing dark magic, or giving in to the lust for power. There are other things as well, but those are the most common. As for the council, those of my kind who separate ourselves from them, we do so for various reasons.” It intrigues me to see how intently he is listening to me as if he thirsts for the knowledge I am sharing.

“Why did you?” I close my eyes tightly and fight back the memories that threaten to flood my mind.

“The short answer? I have a hard time following orders.” He smirks and leans back against the door.

“And the long story?” I smile, but it is a gesture filled with sadness and pain, a well of agony that was created more than a century ago.

“That is a burden that I must bear alone.Why don’t you tell me about this alpha of yours. Why is he taking a chosen mate rather than seeking his fated mate?” he visibly winces, but my curiosity will not allow me to regret asking.

“Alpha Jordan has looked for his mate for nearly twenty years. He has literally travelled the world searching for her, but he is out of time. He needs to take a mate and produce an heir in order to appease the Were council. It is certainly not something he wants, but it is what is best for the pack.” I sit back and let his words sink in as the car slows to a stop. Danny climbs out of the car and walks around to my door, opening it and offering his hand to help me out. I place my hand in his and slowly exit the car, carefully scanning my surroundings.

“Welcome to Black Briar Pack. Let me take you inside and show you your room. After that, we can grab some lunch.” He releases my hand and I follow him into the large building. I make sure to keep my eyes down, knowing eye contact can often be perceived as a challenge, and follow him to the second floor where he leads me to the second door on the left and pushes the door open.

“This is easily the nicest room I have been offered by a pack. Thank you.” My eyes scan the well decorated, spacious room.

“You can explore the room later. Your growling stomach tells me you should get some food before it begins to eat itself.” He chuckles and I feel my cheeks become flush at the realization that he has heard my stomach’s angry reaction to skipping the last two meals. I follow him out of the room and down the stairs to the kitchen. I notice several wolves stopping to stare at me, but it is something I have gotten used to over the years.

“This is Coralie. She is a guest here and will be treated as such.” Danny’s voice thunders through the room and the others quickly offer a slight bow before returning to their tasks.

“Let me guess, you are the beta?” He bursts out laughing and I can’t help but look at him curiously.

“Good guess. We will meet the alpha after lunch.” I nod and watch as he grabs a plate and hands it to me. On the counter are several meat, cheese, vegetable and fruit trays. We both place bits of each onto our plates before I follow him out of the kitchen and into a large dining hall.

“This pack is quite large. I haven’t seen any pups.” I comment flatly as I fold a piece of cheese into a slice of ham and take a small bite.

“They are here, just in another building.” My eyes scan the room, noting the dozens of empty tables.

“They are not here because of me.” My comment is both a statement and a question, but my tone remains light.

“Well, it’s not…um..” I smile at his stumbling and decide to end his suffering.

“It’s okay, really. I get it. I have met plenty of my kind that would leave me reacting the exact same way. You have to protect what is yours.” He visibly relaxes at hearing that I am not bothered by this.

“The alpha didn’t want to take any chances. And to warn you, he is not thrilled about this whole situation, so I will ask that you forgive his attitude when we meet with him.” I nod as I push the last of the rolled up meat and cheese into my mouth.

“I wouldn’t be thrilled with being forced into a relationship with someone either.” He smirks and gets up from his chair.

“Why don’t we go find the alpha?” I slap my hands on my thighs dramatically and stand up.

“Lead the way, Danny.” He turns and exits the dining hall and through the foyer, out the front door then around the side of the large house.