The Wolves of Arnoux Manor- Volume 1

by Kiana

  “Lying will get you nowhere. Your pride will only make it worse. Talk to me.”

  “Did you have to bite me?”

  “I had no choice. You have to recognize me not only as your mate but as your Alpha. You challenged me. My response would have been the same to any wolf that challenged me.”

  I didn’t respond. He placed his forehead against mine. I held on to my tears, and it made my eyes sting. I did not want him to see me cry.

  “Please speak to me, Cara.”

  “I am not any wolf, Ozni. I’m your mate. This can never happen again.”

  “It never will.” He embraced me. When his lips met my forehead, I broke down.

  “There is too much going on right now. I feel idle. I want to help,” I begged.

  “I know you do, and I love you for that. Right, now the best thing you can do to help is to bring the pack peace. You are their queen now. Let them know that all is alright and that Lystra will come home safe. Do you believe that I can bring her home safely?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let me.” I nodded in agreement.

  “You need rest and food.”

  He ran my bath water, and I soaked for a while. The hot water was refreshing. Shifting can leave you very sore. Once I was done, I dried off and rubbed myself down in shea butter. I tried to find a sleep shirt but thanks to rapid grown they were all tight and uncomfortable. My breast ached because they were growing too. So for tonight, my birthday suit would do. I then dragged myself into the bedroom ready to fall right asleep. I pulled back the blankets, and just as I laid down, O appeared with a large tray. T-Bone steaks stacked up like pancakes lay before me with a few veggies on the side.

  I was suddenly reminded of my appetite. He barely got the tray to the bed before I snatched off the top steak. I bit in and ripped it apart. I almost came on myself. This was the best steak I’d ever eaten.

  “Sweet Baby Jesus!” I muttered as I ate. They were perfect, juicy, and pup approved. I devoured it in seconds. By the third devoured steak, O spoke up.

  “I think I'll just fix my own later.”

  “Hmm?”

  “Nothing. Eat up then sleep.” He kissed my forehead and got prepared to leave.

  “You’re leaving?” I asked with steak juice dripping from my chin.

  “I need to meet up with the pack to go over things again, for clarity sake.”

  “Ok.” He looked at me like he wanted to say something but thought better of it. He simply closed the bedroom door.

  The minute the door closed I felt different. Mind you I was still smashing the steaks he brought me. I didn’t know if it was my female intuition or my wolf’s, but I knew something was wrong.

  Something had shifted in our dynamic. From my day one of being at the manor, I was clear. I said I wouldn’t leave without my friend. I don’t understand why he wants me to sit back and not help. We've always had each other’s backs. It wasn’t something that needed to change just because we had mates. What kind of pack mentality is that anyway?

  I’d messed it up the first time by including Ozni. Now, I’d just have to do without him.

  To be continued!