Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
Magnus clenches his teeth at the concept, ‘No,’ he says.
‘Take a moment to consider what you are doing to Alec. He is Nina’s, second mate. Whatever you do to him will also cause Nina pain, and anything he does to hurt you will cause Nina pain.
‘What are you saying? I should be mutual with Alec and share Nina with him?’ Magnus laughs.
‘Well, if you want what is best for your mate, then yes,’ Ryker says.
‘Has it not sunk in at this point that Nina’s second mate isn’t even a werewolf? He is a vampire, and he is the king of the vampires!’ Magnus argues.
‘Nina’s extremely lucky, an alpha and a king,’ Amelia says, a smile on her face as Nina blushes in response.
‘I’m out of here,’ Magnus says as he rises from his seat at the table and proceeds toward the packhouse door.
‘So, sweetheart, you didn’t respond to my queries,’ my mother says with a smile.
‘He is quite sweet and gentle towards me, mum. He is as equally attractive as Magnus is.’
‘Don’t worry about Magnus. He will come around. I forget with fewer packs now. It has become more uncommon over time to see anyone with two mates. He wouldn’t be taking it so hard if he had known earlier how common and natural it was back when we were young,’ Ryker says.
‘Do you all really think that Alec and Magnus would become mutual one day?’ I ask. Everyone smiles and nods their heads.
‘The fact that Magnus is opposed to releasing Alec from the dungeon means that it is unlikely to happen for a long time,’ I explain.
Magnus returns to the table, w here he silently continues his meal.
‘Back so soon?’ I smile.
‘Well, I didn’t have much of a choice. Reaper kept trying to swoop me,’ he grumbles.
I bust out laughing and lean over to embrace him with my arms around his waist.
We complete our dinner without saying anything about Alec, and then we escort our parents out of the packhouse together.
‘I’m going to tell Reaper off for swooping you,’ I say.
‘I’ll meet you upstairs for bed,’ Magnus replies and places a kiss on my temple.
As I walk closer to the moon tree, I call out, ‘Reaper.’ He flies down and lands on my shoulder. ‘Can you tell me why you were swooping Magnus?’
‘Because I could sense he was upsetting you during supper,’ he explained.
‘I have the ability to fight my own battles, Reaper. Please don’t swoop him anymore, okay?’
‘I’m your familiar Luna, and we work as a team. It’s my responsibility to watch out for you,’ he says with a squawk. ‘However, I’ll make an effort not to swoop him the next time he offends you,’
‘You know, you never ended up telling me how you and Alec know each other?’
‘I haven’t lived my entire life in Silverfay forest. I enjoy venturing out into the world to explore what has changed since I was last there. I was resting in the woods one night when I was roused by Alec sprinting past the tree in front of me. He cornered a deer and buried his teeth into its neck to bring it down. I stood there and watched as he drank the blood till he finally fell to his knees, looking relieved. He looked around, sensing that something was wrong, and realised he was being watched. He stood up, turned around, and looked right at me perched on the branch. If you can cast me the vision spell, I will show you the rest,’
‘Visionous Memorias,’ I say, a large clear circle of magic appears, and I see Alec staring at Reaper in the tree.
‘You aren’t an ordinary raven,’ Alec says through a mind-link. ‘I was surprised because it was the first time anyone had been able to mind-link me. Usually, the only person capable of accomplishing this is the witch, mage, or warlock with whom a familiar has formed a link.’ Reaper explains to me.
‘No, I’m not,’ Reaper replies to Alec.
‘What is a familiar doing roaming the world? Shouldn’t you be in Shadowfay forest with the rest of your kind?’ Alec asks.
‘I’m not like the other familiars. I’m the only Shadow Raven to exist. I’m more powerful than any other familiar, and I was bored,’ Reaper says.
‘The most powerful familiar, bored?’ Alec laughs.
‘Watching pixies and elves prance around, tossing magic dust all over the place, all day,’ Reaper admits, ‘Can be a little boring,’
Alec continues to laugh, ‘I suppose it would be. What’s your name, bird?’ Alec asks.
‘Reaper, and yours?’
‘Alec, Vampire King,’ he proclaims with pride.
‘What is a vampire king doing in these desolate woods?’ Reaper inquires.
‘I was on the verge of going mad. I needed to get some nourishment quickly before I lost my senses. These woodlands are lifeless and devoid of any form of life. With the exception of you, this deer is the first living creature I have seen in several days.’ Alec explains.
Reaper descends from the tree, a dark cloud of mist enveloping him as he falls on Alec’s shoulder. ‘That was a brave move, my little friend. Are you not afraid I will sink my teeth into you and take your life?’ Alec asks.
Reaper caws and stretches his wings, ‘No, you just drained the blood from an entire deer. I’m confident you are quite full,’ he says. ‘So, Alec, Vampire King. Now that you have your senses back, where are we off to?’
‘My home, the Realm of Shadows,’ he says as he and Reaper flash through the woods together.
The magical circle fades.
‘Did you spend a lot of time with Alec?’ I ask Reaper.
‘A few hundred years till the witches imprisoned him in that dungeon.’ Juniper was murdered in front of my eyes. I saw everything.’ In a sorrowful tone, he says. ‘Because I wasn’t his familiar, I couldn’t pass on my powers to him. I couldn’t follow him through the portal to Pandora’s Box. The witches kept repelling me back with magic. It closed before I reached it. After years of searching for Alec, I returned to Shadowfay forest and remained there until you arrived.’
‘I’m so sorry, Reaper. ‘That’s a lot for anyone to go through,’ I grimace.
I smile and say, ‘When we visit Alec tomorrow, I’ll give you two some alone time to talk and catch up.’
‘I’d like that,’ says Reaper. For a while, we sit and gaze at the moon. ‘Goodnight, Reaper,’ I reply, kissing his beak.
‘Night, Luna,’ he caws as he flies up into his moon tree.
I walk to the lake, not quite ready to retire to bed, tucking my wand into my back pocket, half poking out. I lie on my back, hands tucked behind my head, and gaze up at the stars in the clear night sky.
Something flitters through the air. It appeared to be a little stone. I sit up, perplexed, as someone sneaks up behind me and grabs the wand from my pack pocket. A hand grabs my arm and pulls it behind my back as I turn around. A knee digs into my back, causing me to fall to my knees, then on my stomach. I scream, but whoever it is, has straddled themselves onto my back, and I hear a man’s voice ‘Dreamus Sleepous,’ he says, and I fall asleep.
As I open my eyes, everything appears fuzzy. My tied wrists and the hard brick wall against my back are the first things I notice. I’m seated on a cold stone floor that’s cold to the touch. Then, as my vision sharpens, I realise I’m in an old jail-like cell. I try to mind-link Magnus right away, but nothing happens. The mind-link connection has been severed. I try to untangle my hands, but the rope tightens.
Take a deep breath, Nina, and stay calm. Let us examine the situation. I’ve obviously been kidnapped and am now imprisoned in a cell. My wand has been stolen, so I can’t utilise my magic and can’t mind-link anyone, not even Magnus. I don’t believe I’ve sustained any injuries.
I wiggle around to see if I can feel any pain or injuries; nope, no pain, no injuries other than from the rope burn around my wrists.
Now the question is, who would kidnap me, and why would they do so? I can’t conceive of anyone who would want to do this to me, so I concentrate on chewing the rope around my wrists and spitting out the tiny prickly fibres.
Footsteps are approaching. I gaze up to see the wolf council and Hank looking at me with smug expressions. Someone else is lurking behind them, a hooded figure.