Icing On His Mate (A Move Over Fate Novel)

by Michelle Ziegler

  Before he could figure out what kind of magic he was seeing, two massive wolves plowed through the undergrowth followed by several smaller ones.

  Through their mental link he sent them images of Olivia, the urgency evident in his panic. They assembled as more of the pack arrived.

  As alpha, they would come to him. They had to. Something Kurt envied.

  One by one each took their turn at the truck, their noses hitting the air to match her scent. Confusion was the common thread in each of his pack-mates. Grouping in smaller heats they started out to find her.

  Olivia shouldn’t be able to hide herself. He should have been able to find her no matter where she was. He should have been able to call out to her. No one was supposed to be able to deny his call, not even his mate. Yet, here she was. Gone.

  Ethan took off to where he’d last seen her and followed the thread of instinct deep within him. Where the fuck was she?

  He turned this way and that dodged treesand followed rogue prints that seemed to have lost their friends to heavy winds. A witch. Served him right. He knew somehow that if she didn’t want to be found, he wasn’t going to find her, but he sure as hell wouldn’t stop.

  Ethan whimpered as he came to a ravine.

  His wolf bayed his head back and forth, pawing at his muzzle. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  Had she crossed onto their land? He looked down the miles of the border and saw more of his pack. His feelings echoed through them. It had just gone from slightly complicated to a big pile of fuck in a goddamn shit lined gift-bag.

  Chapter 13

  Olivia sucked in air. Where was she? After leaving the truck there was very little clarity. She simply ran. She still didn’t really get how to be present when the wolf was there. Her wolf seemed to understand her, and yet Olivia didn’t realize what it meant to be an animal. Her soul seemed to whimper at the idea that she didn’t comprehend who she was.

  Looking around taking in the darkness, she shivered. Too dark for the forest, too cold. Her eyes tried to adjust. She felt around, the dense cold of dirt shifting as her fingers scratched it.

  Finally, her site grew used to the darkness. Stone surrounded her. Is this a cave?

  This hadn’t been expected, although at the moment her mind was a fog of hurt and betrayal and sadness.

  She sat up, her feet sliding on a gritty dirt like floor. Oh wolf, what did you do?

  The wolf snuffed at that. Fine. What did we do?

  She shivered. “No clothes. Right.”

  Taking in what she could with her new-found eye-sight, she saw absolutely nothing. Something told her to stay down as she crouched and crawled, remaining lower than rock height. As she carefully took each step to avoid the sharp floor jetting out, a voice broke the drip drop of water echoing deep within the cave.

  A flash of memory came to her. Foreign wolves chasing her flooded her mind and she suddenly remembered everything she’d seen. At first, she’d run from the hurt and the fear. Ethan’s words cut deep. He’d forgotten to tell her about another woman. That she remembered clearly. A tear pricked the corner of her eye as the stab of fear and anger and frustration surfaced. Finally, it had all made sense, she knew she loved him. Only it all didn’t matter now that she knew she wasn’t his first choice. Rubbing the heel of her hand across her face, she pushed at unwelcome tears. Could she be happy loving him even if he couldn’t ever love her the same?

  She sniffed knowing she’d been there once before. Maybe she’d never loved her ex, but she knew she’d spend a lifetime always being a letdown to him. Look at how that all ended up.

  Love sucked. True love really sucked. She suddenly missed the false love of her life. Fake love left you hurt but not broken.

  Slipping along the damp floor she tried to get her bearings. All she ever wanted was to be was loved. She’d always wanted a family that she could love and protect. But Ethan had one already.

  Why had his words hurt? The wolf within her seemed to know why. Because he was hers, and she was supposed to be the one to give him heirs.

  Wiping the back of her hand against her cheek she stopped. He loved her. He couldn’t lie. What was her purpose now?

  I really know how to pick them.

  Her foot slid along loose gravel. Inching forward to the cave entrance she tried to listen to the wolf. But the darn girl just grumbled at her wallowing.

  Yeah, well you don’t know what I’ve been through.

  Voices echoed as two people came closer. Maybe it was Ethan. Her heart might have become Swiss cheese recently, but she knew deep within that he’d come for her. The wolf reared up, ready for the shift. Ready for the attack.

  Olivia faltered and felt for him through the connection they shared. Earlier she’d done everything she could to shut him out. Maybe that had been a bad choice.

  She shivered as fear crept in. Pushing out the invisible threads she discovered earlier, she searched. Anger. So much anger. Olivia sucked in her breath and threw up the mental shields. Holding her breath, she prayed that her instincts were wrong.

  Someone had chased her, and that someone was now aware she was here.

  Scanning the cave from ceiling to floor, she saw it through her wolf eyes. Scrambling from the entrance, she found the first crevice and pushed herself in.

  She remembered. Those wolves were why she’d come here. It had made the best fortress for hiding herself and her scent with magic. The scent of rain.

  She could remember that now. It was too late now. Someone was here, and this time she didn’t think masking her scent would deter them.

  She shivered. Please let them just keep going.

  Her ears perked up at the snap of a twig. Her fingers dug into the gold rock as she awaited the next move. Sniffing the air, she recognized the scent. The same wolf from earlier and another that she didn’t recognize. Olivia didn’t dare open the mental pathways again. This was the pack Ethan has been worried about. Her hackles raised as the nails of the predators tapped along the stone entrance.

  Ethan?

  Logic told her to stay where she was. Instinct told her to leave or be hurt. Here she was though, in a different danger. Her wolf could smell it.

  Ethan would come for her, but not soon enough.

  She took on a sprinter’s stance, her heels in the air, her fingers planted firmly in front of her. Her thighs tensed. She had to think about the shift this time. She needed to shift, right? Wolf against wolf seemed like a better idea.

  She tried to reach out to Ethan, knowing she had no idea how far she could connect to him. He was the only one that she’d heard clearly even in human form.

  Ethan? If you can hear me, I’m here. She tried to give him the mental image of the cave.

  A rock clattered somewhere to her right. Pushing back into the wall, a sharp prick of pain bit into her hip. Through the dark, she was able to make out the slow approach of the creature’s snout. His fur was dark, a contrast from the soft tan and brown of Ethan.

  She held her breath. The white of the wolf’s canines reflecting the sprinkling of light. She had to hide her scent. Moss. Soft beds of moss. She thought of the moss, and next it blanketed the floor opposite her, perhaps catching enough attention that she could escape.

  Her feet welcomed the warm contrast to the cold stone floor. She let out her breath as he passed her. Maybe it had worked? Ethan, if you can hear me, I’m sorry.

  Rational thought came back to her and she knew Ethan hadn’t lied to her. He’d given her no doubt that he was hers. She knew the truth. She felt it. If she got out of this mess, she’d listen to him.

  If she got out of this mess, she’d tell him yes. Not that he needed it, but he should have asked her to be his mate, his wife and at the very least she’d give him the answer he should have heard. Her family would never forgive her, and it didn’t really hurt to know that truth.

  Extending her leg around the corner of the crevice she remained low to the ground and tried to slink out. Slowly. Her back brushed against jagged rock
s, cold moisture sticking to her skin.

  As she reached the entrance, she squinted against the brightness of the setting sun.

  How long have I been in here?

  She shielded her eyes. Once she survived this, she’d get a handle on this shifter thing.

  A quick glance behind her and she darted out towards a grouping of trees. Sniffing the air, the clean soft scent of running water lay not far away. She’d head there. Pulling herself forward faster, Olivia tried to remain as close to the ground as possible. She should shift. She knew she should. But what if she was there to make sure the wolf kept them safe? She couldn’t risk not being present.

  Sniffing again the wolf nodded. There was no clear reason, but she knew if they followed the river it would lead to safety, to home.

  An unexpected jerk and her feet flew through the air. She screamed as something snagged her hair.

  “Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

  Peering up, nearly black eyes bared down on her. This was the wolf she sensed.

  “Don’t touch me,” she spat.

  Olivia rubbed at the sore spot on her head.

  “Feisty aren’t you?” He knelt, and she was all too aware of his nakedness. Closing her eyes, she prayed he’d go away.

  “I see he’s finally found himself his beta. Unfortunate. You’re exactly what I need to break that little alpha of yours. Too bad he didn’t keep you safe. Careless.”

  A feral growl escaped her as her wolf fought to come out and rip the guy to shreds.

  “You don’t touch Ethan.”

  The guy eyed her. “You do have a little fight in you. Perhaps you’d prefer to mate with a real man after I free you from your current problem. That little cub won’t know what hit him.”

  She yanked away from him, springing to her feet. She rocked onto her heels, catching her balance. There was no time to be proud of herself. Not now.

  “Do not touch him. He’s mine.”

  She began to charge, the magic of the wolf tingling along her skin.

  Before she could complete the shift, her world shook and went sideways. Pain radiated from her chest, her limbs slowly went limp. Her last memory was of the itchy dryness of the forest floor.

  She blinked once, twice, and slowly the world darkened.

  Her head throbbed as she tried to focus. This wasn’t the cave. Her nose took in hundreds of scents, forest, dirt, musty, bitterness.

  Darkness. She knew darkness well. A blur in her vision couldn't make out if the ceiling moved or if her brain played a trick on her. She blinked again. Slowly the fog of her mind started to clear.

  A flap above her and she knew the ceiling did move. Dull ripples of fabric snapping in the wind caught her attention. It was a tent. She winced the movement of her head too much.

  Where the heck was she now?

  Closing her eyes, Olivia cleared her mind and tried to listen to the wolf inside. Her animal was a small comfort to the fact she was alone. Calling on her inner wolf seemed natural.

  Olivia wrapped her arms over her stomach and rolled to the side.

  A marching band stomped around in a circle behind her eyes as she lay there, listening trying to hold it together.

  Her eyes flew open at the sound of underbrush cracking.

  Should she play dead? No, that wasn’t a wolf thing. Should she shift? Deciding to fight instead of flight, she bolted up with instant regret. Olivia wasn’t sure if she could even focus enough to shift. Backpedaling, she pushed herself up and away as a metallic zip broke the silence of her thoughts.

  The darkness in the tent and behind the figuring enter said it was now night. Ethan had to be going insane.

  She sniffed the air. Most of the scents were the same, and she caught a glimpse of the outside.

  Okay. Still the same forest as before. Probably.

  “You’re awake. I’d apologize for that nasty bump on the head, but you tried to run from me.”

  A man crawled inside, he was noticeably smaller than Ethan. And his presence didn’t command attention like Ethan’s.

  “Who are you?” she asked, squaring her shoulders. Naked and exposed, she’d never felt more vulnerable than now. Quickly she pulled her arms closed and wrapped them around her chest. She crouched in the corner to hide what best she could.

  God, she really hoped Ethan was on his way.

  “I can see why he chose you. You’d look pretty amazing under me as I fucked you. How do you think your little alpha would like that? Would he take you back?”

  She shuddered. “You don’t get to touch me. I don’t want you.”

  “I wasn’t asking permission. You reek like that piece of shit mate of yours anyway.”

  She bared her teeth at him. No one messed with Ethan.

  “Relax,” he said, as he crawled closer. She had nowhere to go. He took up the remaining space of the pathetic excuse of shelter. The idea hit her that all she had to do was tear through the fabric and run.

  The yellow of his eyes glowed as he came closer. She couldn’t turn away. A predator never looked away from danger. She would face him head-on.

  “Go away or I’ll scream. This tent is ridiculous. Who puts someone they kidnapped into a tent?” she asked.

  He chuckled.

  “One, if you scream, no one will help you. Two it’s cheap, and three your scent is easier to find. We’ve been trying to find a way to rid ourselves of that damn pack and you, sweetheart, just gave us the answer. You're bait. He won’t be able to resist you.”

  She gasped.

  “Imagine my surprise that Ethan had mated someone outside the pack. How is it he didn’t tell you to stay off our land? Stupid fool.”

  The rough skin of his fingers brushed against her ankle, slowly snaking around her calf.

  She kicked out at him. “Don’t touch me.”

  Recoiling from the sneer on his lips, she glared at him.

  “Perhaps you say that now, but once your little mate is dead, you’ll be begging. I know women like you. You like the power, I can taste it in the air. I don’t know what you are exactly, but you like the power.”

  “You can’t beat him. He’s too strong.”

  Kurt growled. “I can beat him if he isn’t expecting it. If he’s protecting someone else.”

  “So you’re weak then. You can’t beat him fair and square. What a wimp.”

  She squeaked as his hand pressed against her throat.

  “Listen here, bitch. I am not weak. I’m smart. And you my sweet smelling little thing are going to be his undoing. I suggest you decide if you want to die with him or not.”

  She cringed as he ran his tongue over her cheek.

  He let go as a female voice broke his rage.

  “Kurt?” A female voice easily came through the thin tent.

  “Kurt, is he coming?”

  “Damn it, Gianna. I told you I would come get you when it was time.” His fist slammed the floor and he pulled away.

  A young woman, maybe around Olivia’s age, appeared in the opening. Beautiful golden hair lighter than the darkness around them. As she sank into the opening, Olivia found herself envious of the girl’s beauty.

  “Kurt? For shit’s sake. Get her some damn clothes. I swear to God, you're a huge asshole.”

  He scowled. “Yeah. And you’re a fucking buzz kill.”

  The woman, Gianna, gave him a stern look. “She’s innocent. Well, I’ll assume she is for the moment.”

  Olivia didn’t like the scrutiny. She wasn’t comfortable in her own body, now wasn’t any different. The woman turned her attention back to Olivia.

  “Kurt, get out.” She didn’t bother paying him any more attention. “So, you’re the one Ethan chose then?” Gianna rolled her eyes as he started out the flap in the tent.

  Olivia’s eyes followed Kurt as he threw a tantrum, kicking the dirt once he’d stood up.“You’re a bitch,” he said under his breath as he walked away.

  “Ignore him. He’s still pissed my sister chose Ethan o
ver him.” The stern look on her face said she’d pretty much had it with everything. “Chose might be the wrong word. My sister is a master user. I do find it fascinating that after my sister though, you should be the one to tame the alpha.”

  User? The newly possessive side of her faltered giving way to the fiercely protective instinct she hadn’t seen yet. A twinge deep within her brought regret to the surface. What the heck had to been thinking? She ran from him and why?”

  Olivia’s wolf seem to settle or maybe lie in wait. Her head on paws waiting for the shit show to start. The human side of Olivia didn’t share the sentiment. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest.

  One side of her was pissed she was naked, another side sick at the fact she’d been kidnapped, and the sprinkles on the cupcake were the fact she got to hear all about the woman who came before her.

  Olivia didn’t have a long history of anything exciting. She’d been the reliable one.

  If her mom saw her now, the woman would die of a heart attack.

  “Okay. Well, where is your sister then? I’d like to confront her. You don’t treat people like they are trash. Didn’t anyone teach you guys manners?”

  Olivia shrunk back at the hardening of Gianna’s features.

  “He didn’t tell you yet? Figures. One more asshole man screwing shit up. The packs would be better off with a woman.” Gianna cocked her head. “I don’t think you’re much of a leader though either.” She smirked. “If you want to know about my sister, be my guest and try to find her. She left right after the baby was born. Haven’t seen her since. The baby for her freedom.”

  Olivia opened and closed her mouth. “What kind of mom abandons her own child? Who gives the baby to some crazy person like that guy out there?”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake. I don’t know, you stupid beta. I don’t think you understand the gravity of this at all.”

  “Ethan, the pretty boy he is, is also the peacekeeper. So he shacks up with Heather thinking if they mated it would bring the clans together and our fathers would get over whatever the hell they were still fighting about. By the time Ethan figured out what the hell Heather was up to, my dad had already challenged his father. Are you following me? Both were the alphas for each pack. I can’t spell this out any clearer.”