Page 61 of The Hidden Guardian
The surge of anger causes me to rise to my feet, “Are you insinuating that Awe-tum should belong to you?” I seethe.
“Or another member of the Warriors who require one,” he remarks before meeting my eyes and adding, “Especially one so beautiful.”
My eyes widen and I leap for him. A heavy body slams me into the cave wall. I rise, baring my teeth for another attack, when Zev steps into my line of view. The Alpha. I growl, collecting myself again.
“We’ll be having none of that today. This is a trial, let’s act accordingly,” he states loud enough for all to hear. A warning. He will not show favor for me in public any longer. Zev, my closest friend no longer. Now, he’s only Alpha Zev.
I nod in submission to the Alpha and retake my seat on the stump beside the throne.
“Thank you, Leland, for your statement. Would anyone else like to speak?” Zev demands.
A few more wolves raise their hand. I groan in frustration. How long is this going to take?
We all know how this is going to end.
“As an unmated male, I would also like the chance to find my mate. If we can all just ignore Alpha orders, then how can we have any order?”
Another male holds up the newspaper article. “The demons are looking for her … it’s only a matter of time before they find her. She should leave.”
“But she can’t leave, she knows where we are. No, the best option is for her to be mated.”
“We’ve been hidden for centuries. Renall walks out on an Alpha order and brings the whole world down upon us.” That was Trefaun. I’m starting to regret allowing him into my cave.
Hearing my shortcomings and reliving all the problems I’ve ever caused anyone is draining. It’s like being in front of the Goddess herself on judgment day. Only Zev and Lupe know the truth, only they understand the things I’ve done in my past. But we can’t explain that to anyone. After hearing my entire life splayed before the clan, I doubt they’d even believe me.
“I would like to speak.” One of the twin Guardians rises from her spot beside her sister. I can never tell them apart, but I believe this one is Cana. “As a Guardian who grew up on the outside, I was frightened and scared, and if it weren’t for my twin, I would have been alone. I can’t imagine if I was also being hunted while grieving the loss of my sibling. I know what Renall did was disobeying an order, but Autumn would not be here if he had not. Renall just would have been another Leland, and we all know how miserable he is to deal with.” She finishes and sinks back into her chair.
I swallow back the emotion swelling in my throat. I would’ve been like Leland. Miserable and desperate. Awe-tum would not be here, I’d feel her age and eventually die. That’s if the hunters didn’t get to her first. Then I would have to feel that tragedy as much as she felt her brother’s bond break. Ice slithers down my spine at the thought. The truth is, I would make the same decision as the Guardian did today if it came to it. I’d rather die than be subjected to a fate without Awe-tum. The way this ‘trial’ is going, I have some serious decisions to make.
ChapterThirty-One
AUTUMN
Three red roses bloom from the cave floor and widen until they crumble to ash and fall in particles to the floor.
“Good! That was great control.” A soft pat on the back is all Onai gives me. She has been careful to separate her training persona from her friendly one. It helps me focus as well, and I’ll never be able to repay her for everything she has done for me.
“I had a great trainer.” I wink over at her.
“The best.” She shrugs. “You don’t seem to be as distracted today.”
“Well, there is a lot less sexual tension now. Maybe I’ve learned to adapt to the emotions the bond brings. They don’t affect me as much.”
“And have you thought any more about the Joining?”
“I let Renall mark me, but I still have my reservations about the Joining or what it will mean for me. Do you have any doubts about yours someday?”
“No, this is all I know. This is what is expected of me.” She shrugs again, looking into the distance. “Sometimes I worry that I won’t find a wolf that could ever compare to my father. I worry that he won’t see anyone as good enough unless a mating bond confirms it.”
“How will you know if Trefaun is your true mate?”
“Well, I won’t know until I turn eighteen and see if a bond forms. But if nothing does click, I can make my own choice.”
“What if your mating bond forms later? Then what?”
“I mean, what are the odds, Autumn? All the wolves I know are here in this cave. If my mate is not here, I will never find him. So if no mating bonds form when I turn eighteen next year, I will mate with Trefaun.”
“Renall said I was his true Guardian. He said speaking telepathically before the Joining is a good sign that we have a strong bond.”
