Read Online Taken: True Mates Book 2 (BBW Wolf Shifter Romance) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) by Olivia Arran - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Olivia Arran
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happened.
Luis continued, his intelligent eyes taking everything in. “We can’t go by car, though — no roads lead to where we’re going. And, I can’t go in with you, not without an invitation.” His face creased up with disgust. “Tradition dictates that visiting Alphas, and their successors, have to either be invited or announced in advance.”
“Yeah, your sister mentioned that little nugget — about you being the next Alpha.” I said, snapping out of it and heading for the door. Catching his exasperated look I added, “What? You don’t want it?” I broke into a jog, taking the stairs three at a time and bursting out through the door and into the night.
“It’s not that I don’t want it, more like, will I get it?”
I raised my brows in unasked question, indicating that he take the lead across the meadow. Best not to shift, clothes would probably be an asset when confronting Lisa’s mate.
“Well, let’s just say — I’m not everything that Dad expected, or wanted, in a son.”
Ah, right. “Well, he’s an idiot, then.”
Luis silently nodded his appreciation and then sped up, setting a punishing pace deep into the forest.
Damn it, Lisa. What have you gone and done now?
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lisa
I entered the village from the far side, dust from the trail kicking up in my wake, as I walked down the deserted path. Small, hut-like dwellings were dotted haphazardly around the clearing. Clean and well maintained — they looked empty, but I knew better. Tools were scattered in the dirt, washing abandoned, and toys strewn around. The pride was shunning me — still.
I waited for the familiar ache to start, the clenching around my heart, but it was strangely absent. Maybe I’d finally moved on, started to believe the lies that I had been telling myself — that I didn’t care, that it didn’t matter.
Keeping my back straight and chin up, I marched through the village, toward the main house. This was going to end, once and for all.
At the end of the path stood a larger hut, one I knew well. One I had once, for a short while, called home. The walls were carved out of wood, the roof woven with twigs and straw. I knew that inside the walls were smooth, the wood emitting a comforting warmth, and the floor was laid with colorful, lovingly made, hand woven mats. I knew this, because I had woven at least two of them myself.
The door swung open, a lithe figure stepping out onto the path. He stood tall, nearly 6’, naked except for a pair of shorts that hung off his hips. Lean and muscled, his body rippled with an understated strength.
I stopped a few feet away. “Ian,” I said, tilting my head slightly. I was not going to cower. He was not my alpha — not anymore.
A movement behind him, and Jasmine appeared at his back. She smiled at me, warmth and compassion in her gaze. Maybe even…understanding?
Ian focused on an empty spot above my head. “Luisa. What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk.” I moved a step closer.
Ian’s eyes flicked to mine, and shock rolled through me. He was scared. Of me? He stayed stubbornly silent.
I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to march up there and force him to see me. “We can talk out here in the open, or privately, inside. Up to you.”
Jasmine laid a small hand on his arm, the gesture one of support, but also prompting him. For what? I didn’t know.
“Luisa—” she started.
“You can’t speak to her, Jas,” Ian muttered under his breath, not turning around. “Not while she is still shunned.”
“Oh, Ian. This has to stop,” Jasmine shot back. “She has a right—”
“No, Jas. We can’t — I can’t.”
Confused, I watched the exchange. What was Ian playing at? Whatever it was, I didn’t have time for it.
I took a deep breath. “Outside, then. Works for me. I want you to release me from the mating.” The words came out fast, tumbling over each other in a rush. This would destroy my name, undo the truce between prides,
Luis continued, his intelligent eyes taking everything in. “We can’t go by car, though — no roads lead to where we’re going. And, I can’t go in with you, not without an invitation.” His face creased up with disgust. “Tradition dictates that visiting Alphas, and their successors, have to either be invited or announced in advance.”
“Yeah, your sister mentioned that little nugget — about you being the next Alpha.” I said, snapping out of it and heading for the door. Catching his exasperated look I added, “What? You don’t want it?” I broke into a jog, taking the stairs three at a time and bursting out through the door and into the night.
“It’s not that I don’t want it, more like, will I get it?”
I raised my brows in unasked question, indicating that he take the lead across the meadow. Best not to shift, clothes would probably be an asset when confronting Lisa’s mate.
“Well, let’s just say — I’m not everything that Dad expected, or wanted, in a son.”
Ah, right. “Well, he’s an idiot, then.”
Luis silently nodded his appreciation and then sped up, setting a punishing pace deep into the forest.
Damn it, Lisa. What have you gone and done now?
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lisa
I entered the village from the far side, dust from the trail kicking up in my wake, as I walked down the deserted path. Small, hut-like dwellings were dotted haphazardly around the clearing. Clean and well maintained — they looked empty, but I knew better. Tools were scattered in the dirt, washing abandoned, and toys strewn around. The pride was shunning me — still.
I waited for the familiar ache to start, the clenching around my heart, but it was strangely absent. Maybe I’d finally moved on, started to believe the lies that I had been telling myself — that I didn’t care, that it didn’t matter.
Keeping my back straight and chin up, I marched through the village, toward the main house. This was going to end, once and for all.
At the end of the path stood a larger hut, one I knew well. One I had once, for a short while, called home. The walls were carved out of wood, the roof woven with twigs and straw. I knew that inside the walls were smooth, the wood emitting a comforting warmth, and the floor was laid with colorful, lovingly made, hand woven mats. I knew this, because I had woven at least two of them myself.
The door swung open, a lithe figure stepping out onto the path. He stood tall, nearly 6’, naked except for a pair of shorts that hung off his hips. Lean and muscled, his body rippled with an understated strength.
I stopped a few feet away. “Ian,” I said, tilting my head slightly. I was not going to cower. He was not my alpha — not anymore.
A movement behind him, and Jasmine appeared at his back. She smiled at me, warmth and compassion in her gaze. Maybe even…understanding?
Ian focused on an empty spot above my head. “Luisa. What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk.” I moved a step closer.
Ian’s eyes flicked to mine, and shock rolled through me. He was scared. Of me? He stayed stubbornly silent.
I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to march up there and force him to see me. “We can talk out here in the open, or privately, inside. Up to you.”
Jasmine laid a small hand on his arm, the gesture one of support, but also prompting him. For what? I didn’t know.
“Luisa—” she started.
“You can’t speak to her, Jas,” Ian muttered under his breath, not turning around. “Not while she is still shunned.”
“Oh, Ian. This has to stop,” Jasmine shot back. “She has a right—”
“No, Jas. We can’t — I can’t.”
Confused, I watched the exchange. What was Ian playing at? Whatever it was, I didn’t have time for it.
I took a deep breath. “Outside, then. Works for me. I want you to release me from the mating.” The words came out fast, tumbling over each other in a rush. This would destroy my name, undo the truce between prides,
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