The Kyriakis Redemption

by Eve Vaughn

  Up until now, a mate had been the furthest thing from his mind, in fact, it was the last thing he wanted. He’d seen first-hand what the burden of having a mate caused. It made one lose focus, made them make stupid decisions—it destroyed packs. Seeing his Alpha pine for a woman who had been gone for well over a hundred years didn’t exactly endear Aries to the idea of having a mate. His cousins Constantine and Persephone were both different people since finding their mates and Aries didn’t want that change to happen to him. But there was a deeper darker reason he wanted to remain mateless: one he couldn’t admit even to himself. However, even as he tried to resist, the call of the mate bond was too strong to ignore.

  Aries circled the island several more times. The horizon was now orange with the break of dawn, yet he wasn’t tired. Once he returned to the spot he’d left his clothing, Aries shifted back to his human form. As he got dressed, Aries caught the scent of a female approaching.

  He’d just managed to pull his pants up when she came into sight. It was Calliope, a park member he’d often had romps with. She was always good for a quick fuck and pillow talk. She was also a friend he could talk to outside of his immediate family who didn’t place any expectations on him. Many members of their pack had assumed that the two of them would eventually mate as neither had found that one true bond mate, but neither was looking to be held down by the confines of a relationship. It was probably one of the reasons their arrangement had lasted as long. Neither of them made demands of the other and was free to be with other people. Aries had taken other lovers as had Calliope.

  “Out for an early run?” Hazel eyes racked his body with an appreciative gleam. She licked berry red lips as if sending him an invitation to taste them. She was a beautiful woman with long brown hair, heart-shaped face and a body curved liked an hour-glass. Though Calliope’s looks were delicate, she was deadly beyond that lovely appearance. Like him, she had lost her parents when the pack was stricken by a wave of Malum that had wiped out a chunk of their group. Since then, she’d trained to be one of the pack’s fiercest defenders. She could have her choice of any unmated males in the pack but she chose to remain unattached.

  “Just coming back from one.” He zipped his jeans. “What brings you out this time of morning?”

  “I couldn’t sleep. I had one of my premonitions.”

  Aries raised a brow. When Calliope got one of her ‘premonitions’, people listened because they usually came true. It was said that she had witch blood somewhere in her direct family line. “Oh? What about?”

  Calliope frowned as if she was trying to figure it out herself. “I’m not quite sure but it was more of a feeling. I keep seeing a vision of an onyx colored wolf. I could tell she was one of us because of the eyes.

  “An all-black? I didn’t realize there were any of those left.”

  “I didn’t think so either but this image won’t go away. And now that I’m out here, that feeling is even stronger. It’s coming from that direction.” She pointed east, which was the direction of his uncle’s house.

  The only new arrival to Circe within the past week was Pet, but her fur was brown. All blacks or as some called them skinwalkers were the rarest of breeds as they could take the form of other wolves and sometimes humans although that took a considerable amount of effort. “These instincts of yours have never failed us before. But are you absolutely certain this wolf in your vision had all black fur? No patches of white or grey anywhere else on its body?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’ve seen it in my mind enough to be certain. What do you think this means? Those shifters are said to be very powerful and from my understanding they’re trouble.”

  “I’ve personally never seen one myself but from what I’ve heard, I’d have to agree. Perhaps I’ll mention it to the Alpha and get his thoughts. In the meantime, I think I’m going back to my place to shower.

  She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and looked look at him with a spark of desire in her eyes. “Would you like me to join you?”

  He rarely turned down a chance to fuck, especially a sexy bitch like Calliope but knowing his mate was on the island, despite not wanting one, just didn’t feel right. “Maybe some other time, beautiful.”

  “She pouted. I supposed I’ll have to settle for a raincheck then. It seems you haven’t been interested in a while.”

  He sighed racking his fingers through his hair. “I’ve just had a lot on my plate lately, with these latest attacks from Gage and helping to run the family business. There doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be taken care of.”

  “Sometimes I wonder if you’re aware that this pack already has an Alpha and an Alpha-in-Waiting, not to mention other high ranking members who can lighten your load.”

  He wasn’t sure if he should be offended by her statement or not. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that I see you take on more than the average person would.”

  “Maybe I’m not the average person. I’m the pack’s Beta and it’s my responsibility to see to the safety and security of its members.”

  “But you’re not the only one. As I already stated, there’s a whole team to support you. I’ve watched you for years, taking on more than any reasonable person would, not only do you travel extensively to handle your Uncle’s business affairs, you do these secret side missions with those vampires and let’s not forget the many times you’ve had to cover for your cousin’s fuck-ups.”

  While Calliope wasn’t wrong about his cousin being on the wild side, at least before he found his mate, Constantine was still family and Aries didn’t care to hear anyone speak ill of him. “Is that how you speak of your Alpha-in-waiting? I suggest you watch your tongue because talk like that could get you exiled from the pack.”

  She raised both brows before narrowing her eyes into a glare. “Are you pulling rank on me? Never thought you were into such formalities… Beta.” She bowed her head as if mocking him.

  In no mood to argue with her, Aries turned away and headed toward his house.

  “Wait!” She placed her hand on his shoulder.

  Aries halted but didn’t turn around as he waited for her to continue.

  “You’re right. I was out of line to speak so disrespectfully about our Alpha-in-waiting. It’s just, you seem to be running yourself ragged and I’m worried about you. You’re a very worthy Beta and you have nothing to prove to anyone.”

  Aries flexed his jaw. Calliope had no idea how close she was to the truth, but he couldn’t express how he felt because he didn’t think she’d understand. He barely comprehended his own feelings. He inhaled deeply and released a huge breath. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to be so heavy-handed. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately.”

  Calliope circled Aries until she faced him again. “It’s okay if you take some time to yourself every now and then. This pack won’t fall apart if you take a break.”

  “And just how long do you suppose this break of mine should last considering the Hunters have made repeated attacks on this pack of late? Not only are they after Constantine’s mate, there’s this—” he broke off before he could reveal too much. Most of the pack members on the island were aware of the mysterious she-wolf’s presence but not all of them knew of her circumstances. He was certain that if it got out that Pet had been held in captivity by Gage for what could have been years, some would object to her being here. Then there was the fact that she couldn’t shift. That would create panic because of what they understood of the wolf illness Malum. Once one of their kind contracted it, they were unable to shift to human form. Losing that duality within themselves caused shifters to literally go insane without that connection to their humanity. It made the victim feral.

  But Pet was different. Even though she’d seemed to have lost her ability to shift, she didn’t seem wild at all. In fact, he sensed a deep sadness within her, almost as if she’d given up her will to live. Just thinking about it at this very moment sent a sear
ing pain in his chest that he couldn’t explain.

  “Aries?” Calliope placed her hand on his chest.

  He shook his head, realizing that he’d slipped deep into his thoughts. “Sorry. Like I said, I have a lot on my mind.”

  She sighed in what seemed to be resignation. “I’m going to go for a run. I’d ask you to join me but you just came back from one. Just take care of yourself, okay? And if you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.” She stood on the tip of her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  He watched her walk into the wood. She really was a gorgeous woman. Under different circumstances, he could see himself settling down with her, but that was no longer an option, not while Pet was still around.

  How were things possibly going to work between the two of them when she couldn’t shift? Aries then remembered only days before when his cousin Persephone had recently returned to the island in her wolf form, stricken by Malum. Eric, her mate had remained in his wolf form in solidarity for Persephone, a touching gesture to all who’d witnessed the act of love.

  The only cure for the disease as far as anyone knew before then was to have the wolf put down for eternal rest. Everyone thought for sure that his cousin would gradually lose her sanity. That was until Sarah, Constantine’s mate had…

  Though Sarah was only a half-breed, they’d all learned there was more to her than met the eye. She had healed Persephone of a sickness that everyone thought there was no cure for. Whatever was wrong with Pet, it was quite possible that Sarah could help her as well. And then once she was back in human form, they could have answers, perhaps even find out where Gage was hiding out.

  With that knowledge in hand, Aries raced toward his Cousin’s house.

  Chapter Two

  “Mama, how much farther do we have to go? I’m tired. Can we rest?” Micco communicated through their mind link as he nudged her in the side with his muzzle.

  “We shouldn’t have much farther to go. Once we reach the sanctuary, I promise you’ll get to rest as much as you’d like.

  The little wolf at her side let out a little whimper but otherwise made no further sound as they continued on. Her young cub was only eight moons old and had barely gotten a full grasp of his shifting abilities yet he’d managed to hold his wolf form for the past several days. She was so proud of her little one. She just hoped when they reached their destination they’d be safe.

  Her entire pack was gone. Decimated by a group of Hunters who shouldn’t have been able to infiltrate their territory. Her mate Kuruk was also dead, his head now resting on a pike so that all would know the power of their attackers. It was hard to believe that her pack’s peaceful, idyllic life had been shattered and all because of her. Now all that she had left was her son and she was determined to protect him with everything that she had.

  They continued to run, but she could see that Micco could barely keep up. When the little pup stumbled, she halted. Maybe they could rest for a little while. She was certain that they had put some distance between themselves and their pursuers.

  “We’ll rest for a bit.”

  Micco panted heavily from the exertion of running for several miles. He laid down on his belly, resting his head on the cool earth. “You must be hungry.” They hadn’t eaten since yesterday’s sunrise when they’d been blissfully ignorant of the destruction that was upon them.

  “Yes, Mama,” her little one answered stoically.

  There were plenty of woodland creatures lurking in the distance. It wouldn’t take long for her to hunt one down for them to feast on. The meat would provide them the energy they needed to keep going.

  “Wait here. Don’t move and I’ll bring back something to eat. If you see anything suspicious, call out to me. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Mama.” She nuzzled his beautiful reddish-brown fur with her snout before taking off in the direction she’d heard the sound of deer trampling through the bushes.

  As she got closer they came into eyesight, a family of deer. Her eye was on the buck with his majestic antlers. His meat would sustain them for days. Slowly she approached before pouncing in his direction. They didn’t have a chance because she was much swifter than them in this form. Her sharp teeth clamped on the buck’s neck, cutting through tendon and muscle before the others in the herd could react. They all scattered in different directions when they noticed her presence.

  She made sure to make the buck’s death as quick and painless as possible before dragging its carcass to where she’d left Micco. When she arrived at the spot, she dropped their meal but her son was nowhere to be seen. She lifted her nose into the air to catch his scent but she couldn’t pick it up. It was almost as if he’d disappeared into thin air.

  She raised her head and howled, signaling him to come out from wherever he was hiding. Micco! She attempted to mind link with him. But there was nothing. She couldn’t feel his presence. It was almost as if he no longer existed. She ran around the forest looking for traces of her son but found no one.

  And then it happened. A tall man cloaked in black, with silvery blond hair appeared. She recognized him as one of the men who’d attacked her pack. They’d made the mistake of thinking they were ordinary humans, but they had powers beyond the likes that no one she knew understood. They were like the magic men and women who labeled themselves warlocks and witches. These people were different. She didn’t feel the common bond of immortality flowing through his life force but she sensed his power and it was terrifying.

  But still, if this human had anything to do with her missing son, she wouldn’t back down. Baring her teeth, she growled at him preparing to fight with everything she had left within her.

  The black-cloaked stranger smirked. “Your little one put up a fight for one so young.”

  The implication of his words was like a bolt of lightning to her heart. She jumped in his direction but he held up his hand and she found herself suspended in midair unable to move. She couldn’t even open her jaws to bark at him.

  “There, there mutt. I didn’t say I killed your little puppy although he’s no used to me. All I said was that he put up a good fight. I didn’t hurt him. Much. Anyway, your kind heals quickly anyway. But if you want him to remain alive, I suggest you stand down and listen to what I have to say.”

  All she heard was that her son was still alive and this monster or whatever he was, had him. The rage coursing through her veins caused her to focus all of her energy on the form she’d been told to suppress from the moment the elders knew of her abilities. With a mighty howl, she broke the hold the man held on her as she shifted to a bigger, more feral beast, nearly as tall as the trees.

  Her opponent, however, didn’t seem the least bit phased. In fact, he watched her transformation with glee. Perhaps if she wasn’t so focused on ripping him limb from limb she would have taken note of this but instead, she attacked.

  And as she charged toward him, he held up his hands and her son appeared in what looked like some type of translucent spear. He was bleeding and clearly unconscious.

  “Bow down dog!” He commanded with so much contempt in his voice that her inner fighter wanted to rebel, but seeing her pup so helpless in this monster’s grasp, she had no choice but to do as she was told even though it pained her with every depth of her being.

  When she lay her body on the ground, head down, she fought every instinct within her to rebel. But she couldn’t risk her son’s life.

  The white-haired fiend chuckled with malevolent glee. “And now you belong to me. Every creature like you will eventually serve me or they’ll die. And it will be all because of you.”

  Pet opened her eyes and released a howl of agony before curling herself up as tightly as she could. This was why she didn’t sleep. The nightmares taunted her, reminding her of the crimes she’d committed against her own kind. So many times she wished she could take it back but there was no redemption from the harm she’d caused, the devastation she’d wrecked, the packs she’d been responsible for destroying
. It was poetic justice of some sort that she’d end up in the predicament she was in. Unable to shift, trapped in a form that did not belong to her and all the while, whenever she closed her eyes to sleep, she was punished for her crimes tenfold.

  The mental and physical torture at Gage’s hands over the past few centuries was nothing compared to the personal pain she suffered through every day. She’d paid the ultimate price for her crime and all she longed for was the sweet embrace of death. But even that alluded her. She wished that the young pup named Persephone had left her to die instead of rescuing her and bringing her back to this place where she felt an unfamiliar stirring. There was a presence on this island that she hadn’t expected. At first, she thought she’d imagined it but the feeling grew stronger with each night she stayed in this place that had become her sanctuary. Perhaps she’d imagined it but it was a sensation she couldn’t quite shake.

  She felt the mate pull and even as she tried to ignore it, it seemed to get stronger. How was it possible that she would be granted a mate when she was trapped in a form that didn’t belong to her? Or when she was so riddled with memories of the past that she was completely broken beyond repair. She could barely remember her original given name. She’d spent most of her life in the servitude of Hunters, and one in particular who hungered for ultimate power.

  No, she couldn’t have a mate. Nor did she want one because to have that bond with anyone would mean that she would have to care. Losing everything once in her lifetime was enough for her to suffer through.

  There was a gentle tap on her door. She didn’t bother to acknowledge it. It was probably one of the guards bringing her food. They usually dropped the tray in front of her before leaving. Once Persephone, her former cellmate had visited but Pet had ignored her not wanting to communicate with anyone. What was the use? As soon as she could figure out a way off this island she would leave. Her presence brought danger to those surrounding her so it was best that she put distance between herself and any other being.