Destiny Disgraced

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  Dawn frowned and took a step toward the nervous woman before she’d even thought about it, her wolf needing to ease. Mitchell gripped her forearm, stopping her.

  “What’s wrong?” Brie asked softly. “You can just tell us what’s on your mind, Audrey. Nothing should be so serious that it makes you feel this way.”

  Audrey ran her hand over her face, making her look much younger than she had before. “I’m sorry. I’ve never actually done this before, and it’s hard to do something that’s so against what’s ingrained in me.” The other woman blew out another breath and rolled her shoulders back. “You’ve probably noticed something different about my scent. There’s a reason for that. I’m not a wolf.”

  Dawn froze, and she swore she could have heard a pin drop within the room—everyone was utterly silent.

  “What are you saying?” Gideon asked. “Wolves were the only shifters in existence when the moon goddess changed the first hunter.”

  Audrey shook her head. “They were the only ones in known existence. Did you really think wolves were the only animal she changed? After all this time? Well, of course, you did. Because that’s what we’ve led people to believe.”

  “Prove it,” Mitchell said softly. “I knew something was off with your scent. So prove it. Then shift back and tell us what it means.”

  Audrey nodded. “I can tell you what it means right now. It means that Blade has kept this secret for years for reasons only he knows. Reasons I don’t understand. But the man doesn’t like change, and that means he’s not ready for the society we’re facing. He’s becoming more and more aggressive. More and more secretive. I don’t know what it means in the long run for any of us, but you need to be aware of things you don’t know. Especially now. There are rogues on the loose, wolves still suddenly vanishing, and humans are still afraid of us. You and the Redwood Alpha seem to care. Blade does not. And that worries me.”

  And with that, she stripped out of her clothes and began to shift. If they’d been human, the sight of a woman stripping naked in front of a group of others might have been unusual, but they had been born into this world.

  Only Dawn wasn’t sure she knew what world this was anymore.

  Especially when a large, golden lioness prowled out from behind the desk.

  She heard Brie’s intake of breath, and felt Mitchell’s grip on her arm tighten. But all she could do was stare at the shifter before her, knowing everything had changed…and yet…she had no idea what might come next.

  None of them did.

  Chapter Eleven

  Mitchell stared at the lioness in front of him and tried not to let the shock rocking his system show on his face. Considering he’d spent most of his life hiding his emotions from others, he hoped he was doing a decent job of it. Touching Dawn calmed him more than he thought possible, though, especially considering that every time he was near her, he was usually on the other end of serene.

  “Oh my God,” Brie muttered under her breath.

  Dawn sucked in a breath beside him, and Mitchell couldn’t help but agree with both of them. His amazement of the shifter in front of them was just as great.

  Wolves weren’t alone in this world.

  And it sounded as if this wasn’t a new thing.

  Well…damn.

  He hadn’t been aware that he’d said that aloud until Kameron snorted beside him. He’d forgotten his cousin was even in the room, but considering his attention was on Dawn and the potential danger in front of them, he wasn’t all that surprised. For such a dominant wolf, Kameron could hide in the shadows damn easily.

  “Well, damn indeed,” Gideon whispered, though since they were all shifters, it wasn’t much of a whisper.

  Audrey sat down and blinked up at them before opening her mouth wide in a yawn. If Mitchell hadn’t scented the determined nervousness coming from her, he’d have thought she was bored. As if she showed off her cat self while alone in a room with an Alpha of a wolf Pack, his mate, two other dominants, and a maternal dominant that wanted to calm the jittery lion all the time.

  A lion.

  It seemed that no matter how long he lived, fate wanted to surprise him as much as possible.

  “I have questions…” Gideon trailed off before shaking his head with a gruff laugh. “Lots of questions.”

  The lion gave them a nod before going back behind the desk, presumably to shift back.

  “Will changing back and forth so quickly tire you?” Dawn asked, then seemed to regret her question. “Sorry,” she said with a wince. “I just know I’d be exhausted. I’m nowhere near Audrey’s strength, but I don’t know if I’d be comfortable doing that alone in a Pack that isn’t mine.” She looked up at Mitchell. “Sort of how I am now…actually.”

  Audrey gave her a look before shaking her head and beginning her shift. Mitchell turned away since he knew shifting in front of others wasn’t always the easiest thing to do—especially after doing it so close to another shift.

  “Are we finishing our talk here?” he asked Gideon.

  His Alpha shook his head. “Let’s go next door.” He kissed Brie’s hair and ran his hand down her back. “It’s a little more comfortable in there.” He winked at Dawn, though Mitchell knew everyone was a little off-kilter.

  “I’ll get some food for all of us,” Mitchell said next. He turned toward Audrey, who was almost done with her shift. “You’ll need the energy I would assume, and we’ll eat the same as you if you’re worried about poison or something.”

  Kameron snorted again, and Mitchell held back a laugh. Apparently, one night with Dawn, and he was rambling as much as she did. Add in the fact that his whole world had just been rocked a few moments ago, and he was surprised he could even string two words together.

  Cats.

  There were shifter cats.

  And one of them was the Beta of the freaking Aspen Pack.

  The ramifications of what was just revealed hadn’t even hit him yet, and all he could think about was the fact that Dawn stood right next to him, the softness of her skin brushing along his.

  He knew it had been a mistake to give in to his attraction. Knew he’d make more mistakes with that one temptation. Yet he couldn’t help himself. Not now…maybe not for a long time.

  Dawn leaned into him for a moment before moving away and going to where Audrey had left her clothing. She and Brie gathered up everything and handed them over to the other woman, essentially blocking her from view. He liked how quickly Dawn went into maternal mode and worked alongside Brie. He wasn’t even sure she realized she was doing it. Once the Centrals found their hierarchy, he knew Dawn would flourish. What she needed was a Pack. And the fact that he was focusing on her and not on the thousand other things he should be concentrating on just told him he was off his normal path and he had to get his act together.

  Soon, he found himself sitting next to Dawn as the rest of the Brentwoods filled the room, and everyone began to eat. Not all of the Brentwoods, though, Mitchell noticed. Max hadn’t come, and neither had Ryder’s mate, Leah. Mitchell understood that she had a sick baby at home. And, Max, according to Gideon, was with the elders. Mitchell only hoped that his brother was taking in all he could from Xavior and the others because he needed to find something to hope for.

  Anything to cling to.

  When they entered the room, Audrey had looked a bit nervous at first, but as Brie and Dawn talked to her, the Beta’s shoulders relaxed. That was what the other two women were good at—putting others at ease—and Mitchell was grateful for it.

  “Are there more of you?” Gideon asked, a frown on his face.

  “I can’t answer that,” Audrey said simply before raising her hand. “I came here to tell you of my existence and the fact that I think Blade is either planning something or on the way to doing so.” A pained look crossed her face, and Mitchell understood. She’d betrayed her Alpha to possibly protect her Pack. He’d have done it with his uncle if he’d been able to, but other events had forced him to hold back until
the right time. “I can’t believe I just said that aloud.” Audrey stood up and began to pace. Her beast’s agitation spoke to his own, and he knew it only served to increase the tension in the room, but she needed to move around, and the Brentwoods needed to let her.

  “We’re not going to tell Blade you mentioned it,” Gideon said wryly. “And don’t tell us any more if you’re going to break your bonds to your Pack in order to do so. We’ll figure it out.”

  Audrey let out a breath and looked around at the room. “There are things I can’t say. Things that aren’t mine to share. And I can’t even tell you that I’ll help you more than revealing what I just did. I just…” Audrey’s eyes went gold for a moment before she blanked her face. “The moon goddess spoke to me. Told me I needed to do this. I don’t know what it all means, but I can’t turn my back on her…even though I feel like I just turned my back on my Alpha.”

  “Let’s not go that far,” Gideon said slowly. “Did he order you not to tell us?”

  Audrey shook her head. “It’s understood.”

  “But not an order,” Mitchell repeated. “You didn’t betray your Alpha. You listened to the moon goddess.”

  “Technicality.” Audrey rubbed her fingers over her temple. “I need to go. I have a meeting with my elders soon, and I can’t be late. I figured you should at least know there are others in play.” She turned to Dawn and Mitchell. “Blade isn’t happy with the Centrals, even though your former Pack never hurt him. So be on alert.”

  “Are you threatening the Centrals?” Mitchell asked, his voice a growl.

  “No.” Audrey’s eyes went cat. Well, hell, a cat. That was something new he would have to work into his thinking. “I’m saying Blade doesn’t like change, and things keep changing quickly.”

  Gideon and Kameron led Audrey out, continuing their conversation, and most of the others started their way out of the room, as well. He knew they would talk about what they’d just learned and the possible ramifications, as well as the fact that every single one of his family had noticed the way he touched Dawn, but for now, he was alone with her as they walked back to her car. And he had no idea what to do.

  “Were you expecting something like that?” Dawn asked, her voice a little breathy.

  He looked down at her briefly before tearing his gaze away. “I don’t think anyone expected something like that.”

  “But Gideon wanted me there…”

  Mitchell frowned, nodding at one of his fellow Packmates as they passed, a curious look on his face when he looked at Dawn at Mitchell’s side. There would be no hiding the rampant rumors after this, and yet Mitchell wasn’t sure what he was going to do about that. It wasn’t fair to Dawn, but he didn’t know if he could walk away right then. He was a damn bastard through and through.

  “Gideon might have wanted you there because you’re a representative of the Centrals. I just don’t know at the moment.”

  They reached the front entry, and Dawn paused, blowing out a soft breath. “I should go back to the den. I promised my mom I’d help with the rebuilding.” She turned and looked up at him, and his wolf bucked, wanting to touch the softness of her skin even as it ached with the loss that would never go away.

  “Be alert on the way home.” If he’d been any other man, he’d have offered to drive her home, to make sure she was safe after Audrey’s dire warning, but he wasn’t that man. He needed to step away from Dawn, to breathe without her scent in the air because with each passing moment, the sense of betrayal coated his skin like sweat more and more.

  Dawn was not his mate. He’d had his mate and lost her. He couldn’t do this again. No matter how much he and his wolf fought both sides of the coin.

  “You don’t really think that Blade will come after me, do you? I know Audrey warned us about the unknown, but I don’t think he’s planning to come after a barista with no true Pack.”

  Mitchell held back a growl. “You were a barista when that rogue attacked you.”

  Dawn’s eyes widened. “He wasn’t Aspen, Mitchell. He was just a wolf that got too close to his animal. It happens. It’s horrific, and I’m grateful you were there, but we have no evidence that it was Blade. And thinking that might enrage your wolf enough to where you’ll make a mistake.” She reached out and pressed her hand to his chest. “You have more to worry about than just me. You have an entire Pack that relies on you. Don’t forget that.”

  “We don’t know anything at this point, and you need to watch your back regardless.” His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he cursed before taking it out and reading the screen. “I need to go.”

  “So do I.” She licked her lips. “We need to talk eventually, Mitchell.” The last part was a whisper. “We didn’t get a chance to before.”

  He clenched his jaw and gave her a tight nod. “I agree.”

  She gave him a wobbly smile and stepped back. “Okay, then.”

  “Shit,” he mumbled under his breath, at a loss for what to say or do next. Instead, he lowered his head and kissed her softly on the lips. His wolf immediately backed off, the contact just enough to soothe and entice at the same time. “I’ll come to you tomorrow. We’ll talk.” What he would say, he didn’t know, but he knew that he couldn’t stay away, even if that would be the best thing for both of them.

  His heart had already chosen once and broke because of it. His soul was now a tattered remnant of what he knew he could never have again.

  But he couldn’t stay away from Dawn.

  And that might just break them both in the end.

  The next morning, he ran a towel over his wet head before chugging back the rest of his cooling coffee. He’d slept like hell again, and needed all the caffeine he could get. He stood in his bathroom, wearing only his jeans and a sleepy expression. His wolf was passed out, probably exhausted from pacing back and forth under Mitchell’s skin all night. The damn thing hadn’t let him sleep or keep his mind on the myriad of other things he should have been focusing on.

  Instead, he’d only thought of Dawn and the fact that if she hadn’t texted him when she got home, he’d have found himself at her door, needing to make sure she was safe.

  I’m home.

  Two little words had calmed his wolf when nothing else could—other than possibly hearing her voice.

  He didn’t understand why he was reacting this strongly, other than the fact that she was his potential mate. He shouldn’t be feeling the mating urge like this, not when he’d done this before, but he was a damn shifter and didn’t have a choice.

  If he were any other man, he’d have been able to let go and drown in her scent. He’d be able to wrap her strength around him and learn the woman she was. He’d be able to fully appreciate her kindness and willingness to do anything for her family.

  “Damn it,” he growled under his breath, leaning forward so his hands gripped the edge of the sink. He had to get his wolf and needs under control. It wasn’t easy, however, when his mind kept going in a thousand different directions and he couldn’t make a damn decision.

  “Mitchell?”

  He stood straight at the sound of Walker’s voice and cursed again. He was running pretty late if Walker was already in his house asking where he was. Usually, it was the other way around since his cousin was generally at the clinic or with another Packmate at all times. Mitchell was typically the one pulling the other man in the right direction.

  “Back here,” he called. “I’m almost ready.” He splashed cold water on his face, dried off once again, and pulled on a cotton T-shirt that was beginning to get threadbare. He was just pulling on his shoes when Walker strolled into his bedroom, a brow raised.

  “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you be late to anything,” Walker said with false awe in his voice. “I should write this down somewhere, shouldn’t I?” He held up his hands and smiled. “Or maybe you need a Healer? I mean, it’s sort of what I do.”

  Walker flipped off his cousin, a smile playing on his lips. For so long, his family had been under
so much pressure that they rarely made light of anything. Though it was still odd for Mitchell to not feel constantly on edge, he couldn’t help but feel relieved that they could joke around—even poorly made jokes such as that one.

  “I slept for shit,” Mitchell grumbled. “Sorry I’m running behind.”

  Walker stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets and leaned against the open doorway. “No problem. We’re just going for a run around the perimeter on the neutral zone side. It’s not like we’re on shift.”

  That much was true. Even though they weren’t on sentry or watch duty, he and his family liked to make sure they were still seen out and about as a show of support to the rest of the Pack. He personally liked being in the loop with many of the different positions around the den since it made it easier for him to see what was lacking or what needed fine-tuning. Reports he received from others were invaluable, but seeing things with his own eyes made him a better Beta.

  “Human form, right?” Mitchell asked, and Walker nodded when he glanced over. They did their runs together in either form depending on their mood. Today, however, Mitchell wanted to be able to talk to anyone who needed him since he knew the atmosphere around the den was a little anxious. Rumor had spread that Audrey had shown up at the den, as well as Dawn, but no one knew exactly why Audrey had been there. Dawn was easy since they knew she was training to be a true maternal female. Why the Beta of the Aspen Pack was there was harder to explain, especially since Gideon and the rest of them didn’t want the secret that had been revealed yesterday out in the Pack.

  Mitchell wasn’t sure what Gideon or any of them was doing to do with this new information, but maybe on his run with Walker, he’d be able to order his thoughts better. Of course, with Dawn on his brain and her scent still in his system, he wasn’t quite as sure about that as he probably should be.

  Mitchell grabbed his phone and headed out of his bedroom, following Walker through his house. “Did you want coffee?” he asked.