The She-Wolf’s Mate (Book 2 She-Wolf Series)
Chapter 17

Ivar

I held my mate as she slept. The reassurance of her heartbeat and steady breathing kept me from spiraling. The stress of the last few days felt stifling.

Heavy is the head… Trinity’s teasing words pricked my thoughts.

This was about more than the responsibility that came with leading an entire species and protecting several more. I had almost lost something - someone - more important than all of it.

The realization that I would do whatever was required of me to keep her safe was swift. I had never thought to put anything before my duty, but if abandoning the crown meant I could protect her from ever being in danger again, I would do it.

I sighed and ran a hand over my face.

Unfortunately, it didn’t. Vacating the throne meant there would be turmoil, chaos, and inevitably war. Even if I was still the most powerful werewolf, others would come to challenge me and, by consequence, her.

I held the balance. I protected the world.

It was simpler before I found her.

‘And lonelier. Devoid of meaning. An endless timeline without purpose,’ Rankor argued.

‘That’s quite dramatic,’ I told him.

He huffed but didn’t speak further.

We had been at odds ever since I left the Sam’s Alpha Ceremony, and he only stayed quiet as much as he did now that I was with her. I knew if I tried to leave again, I would probably lose him if I didn’t lose myself first.

Once again, I faced the dilemma of how to convince the little she-wolf to upend her life for me. Despite my arguing with her, I knew it wasn’t a simple ask. I could never understand being a parent when I was not one myself, but I knew what it was to want to protect those you love. Now more than ever.

I stared down at Sam’s beautiful face. The small lamp on her nightstand cast a soft glow over her features. Her bottom lip still protruded where it was swollen, but the cut had finally sealed. Dark bruising marred her cheek under her right eye, although Trinity had assured me she healed the broken bone that accompanied it.

An involuntary growl escaped me at the thought. When Sam stirred, I took a deep breath to calm my anger. I gently rubbed her back until I felt her settle into a deep sleep once again.

Tuning into the house beyond the bedroom door, it seemed all the occupants were also still asleep. Outside, I could hear soldiers talking on their comms while wolves gently padded across the gravel driveway and into the landscape surrounding the Alpha’s Residence.

When Elias and I had returned, the entire pack was prepared for war. Humvees lined the streets while hundreds of men loaded the vehicles with weapons. Large wolves had paced among them restlessly.

Luke was the one to call off the attack as soon as he arrived. He and Michael were arguing loudly in front of the house when Elias and I broke the tree line. Even with his alpha safe, her beta felt compelled to seek retribution. I couldn’t blame him.

I itched to confirm Sam’s safety, but I knew she wouldn’t want her pack risking their lives on an all out war when the threat had already been taken care of. My team was currently enroute to clean up the mess that was left of the Moon Valley Pack. Elias, Trinity, and I had ensured those directly culpable had been eliminated. I explained all of this quickly before making my way to my mate’s side.

Dr. Martin had already arrived and was working to assess her condition. Her mother, Serena Redding, and Cassandra Stevens all stood close by, murmuring to Sam and helping where they could to tend to her and clean her up.

As I took in the extent of her injuries, I was again filled with rage. If I could’ve ripped out the piece-of-shit-alpha’s throat again, I would’ve made him suffer longer.

Dr. Martin met my furious gaze.

“If you can’t control yourself, you need to go. You can ask Mr. Stone what happens to bystanders who can’t control their wolf around my patients.”

She nodded towards the kitchen. I could smell the former beta in that direction. It seemed like a good enough place to focus my anger.

I walked in to find him leaning against the counter, talking with a man I didn’t recognize. As soon as he caught sight of me, he stood up straight.

“King Ivar,” he and his companion said in unison, bowing their heads.

I didn’t miss the hard glare in Emerick’s eye despite his show of respect.

“I need a word with Stone,” I told the man I didn’t know, not taking my eyes off my target.

The male quickly excused himself, leaving me to stare down the perceived threat.

“You wanted a word, Your Majesty?” Emerick asked, tightly.

“How dare you let her put herself in danger,” I accused.

“If you haven’t noticed, Sam generally does what she wants,” he crossed his arms over his chest. “Doesn’t seem like you have a whole lot of control over her either.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I growled.

He shrugged.

“Despite your leaving a year ago, she’s been here continuing on with her life,” he said, slowly. “Without you.”

I was on him in an instant. My fists bunched in his shirt collar as I slammed him into the cabinets behind me. It was high time I ended this little prick who followed my mate around like a lost puppy.

“She’s not going to be happy if she wakes up and you killed her best friend,” I heard Trinity speak, casually.

I turned, still holding the former beta, to see her dressed in an oversized T-shirt and yoga pants, calmly pouring a cup of coffee. Her eyes sported dark circles and her hair was still damp from an apparent shower.

“He’s not her best friend,” I told her.

Trinity cocked her head and leaned back, holding her mug in both hands.

“Yeah, he is, or she wouldn’t have called him when you didn’t answer.”

I growled at the memory.

“Don’t get all male,” Trinity continued. “You know the mating bond trumps anything romantic she might feel for him. It’s not about her loving him.”

“He still loves her,” I ground out, turning my attention back to the man in my grasp who glared back, stupidly unafraid.

“Of course he does,” Trinity said, throwing up her hand to emphasize her point. “Have you met her? She’s amazing. Like damn, I’m in love with her. Do you want to kill me too?”

“Who are you in love with?” Aidan interjected, walking into the kitchen, before I could answer.

He took in the scene of Emerick and I and rolled his eyes.

“Alpha Paulson,” Trinity chirped.

“Oh. Yeah, that makes sense,” Aidan agreed. “I would leave me for her too.”

Their banter had taken the edge off of my rage, which was probably the point. I took a deep breath and roughly released the beta.

He straightened his shirt before speaking, “I will always do as my alpha commands, King. Whether I agree or not. I care for her and her son deeply.”

I glared at him, but kept silent.

“Why aren’t you with her?” Trinity asked.

My anger once again flared at her question. I spun on my heel to confront her.

“Why haven’t you healed her?” I demanded.

Trinity was unfazed, but I saw Aidan tense beside her. I narrowed my eyes at him in warning.

“I did, Ivar,” she said, more gently. “I healed her major injuries, but I told you, I’m out of juice. Her main issue now is the wolfsbane in her system, and there’s nothing I can do about that. They gave her a shit ton, probably anticipating how strong she is. Unfortunately, her tolerance is not as high as it should be.”

Because we hadn’t mated.

She didn’t say it, and she didn’t have to. Guilt again weighed me down heavily.

“Ivar,” Trinity pulled me from my thoughts. “You can’t change the past, but you can influence your future.”

I gave her a curt nod before leaving the room and going to Samantha’s side.

That was where I had been since. The rest, I realized, didn’t matter. Nothing mattered if anything happened to her.

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