Defining Love - Chapter 2 by Missy De Graff

He already knows about the bond. I whimper, but control my emotions. I look down and see Caiden gripping the coffee table, his knuckles turning white and the wood cracking under his pressure.

"Hey, it's okay." I say, placing my hands on his. I gently rub circular motions on the top of his hands. "Caiden, calm down." His pupils dilate and begin to swirl black. Calm down." I say as I pry his hands off the coffee table and place them against my cheek. I coo, leaning into his palm. I watch his eyes close and when he opens them again they're blue. My smile deepens and the butterflies are back. It's early spring, but the nights are still pretty cool.

"Comfy?" I've never talked about it before." I catch myself rambling. "Okay well, we're originally from the Dark Ravens Pack. I pause because Caiden's eyes narrow in question. I nod. "When he turned 17?"

"Yes, I was 14 when he turned 17, the bond struck both of us at the same time." His eyebrows rise.

"The bond must be very strong. That is a very young age for the bond to spark.”

"Yeah, well, you can imagine what it was like to be 14 and have to watch your mate, knowing he's your mate, go through almost every other eligible female in the pack." Caiden shakes his head.

"Yes, when you find your mate the urgency to mate is strong and powerful. But you only get satisfaction from your mate. Why? Caiden asks. My voice softens. Caiden brushes away a single tear from my cheek. "The Beta told him that he would accept me or be cast out. I close my eyes remembering the day as if it were yesterday. More tears stream down my face. Caiden reaches over and pulls me to his chest, rubbing my back.

"Why would the Alpha and Beta do that?" He asks, sounding confused.

"We were to be the future Alpha and Luna of the pack. When he rejected me, he rejected the pack."

"The Alpha gave Dylan too much credit. I nod into his chest. "What did your parents do?"

"My dad's the Alpha." I don't answer. Caiden's grip tightened around my arm and waist. I look up and his eyes are solid black and his upper fangs are protruding over his lower lip.

"CAIDEN! Stop! Calm down." I yell grabbing his face between my hands, forcing him to look into my eyes. We're only inches apart, I feel his sweet, warm breath on my face. My heart flutters.

"Caiden, you're scaring me. Please calm down." Watching my eyes, he finally calms down. When he does he crushes his body into mine, pulling me into a tight embrace.

"I'm so sorry Lucinda. I'd never hurt you." He whispers into my ear. Caiden leans back, trying to relax.

"So, what happened with the group of rogues?" I say as I turn to lie down on the couch, curled in a tight ball. I watch the flames dance in the fire before drifting off to sleep.

I wake up purring. Looking around the dark unfamiliar room, I find myself lying in bed. Then I become aware of a warm body stirring behind me and an arm draped around my waist. I blush as panic sets in. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath and then another. Her constant purr calming my heightened nerves and I finally feel my body relax. He'd never hurt me. Caiden asks, his breath tickling my ear. I respond truthfully. Before I realize it I'm snuggling closer into him, and he responds by tightening his grip around my waist. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep again.

This time when I open my eyes, I wake to a bright room and cold bed. Rolling over I see the door of the room slightly ajar, slowly I sit up and stretch my arms above my head. Swinging my legs over the bed I ready to stand as Caiden walks in.

"Hey sleepy head, good morning." I sheepishly grin, diverting my gaze from his haunting stare. "What time is it?"

"Midmorning.

"It'll be fine. I see a small smile cross his face and my heart warms. We clean up from the prior night and ensure the coals of the fire are extinguished. I know it's the Alpha in Caiden that calms my nerves and keeps the relentless craving for my mate at bay.

"How long is the ride?" I feel my forehead tighten and my eyes widen in question.

"We're on the far outskirts, opposite side of the pack house." My eyes wide with wonder and a slight chuckles escapes him. While I’m awake we engaged in small conversation. He tells me about his pack and territory, which includes several small human towns and a few large cities.

"Where will I stay?" I ask as we near the pack house. "You'll stay at the pack house." "You're an unmarked, unclaimed rogue. I also have many young men that aren't in full control of their wolf yet." I nod in understanding. Then I sense it, the pit of my stomach flutters then a stabbing pain courses through my body and I stiffen as I turn around.

Dylan says as he walks down the porch steps. Hey says, shifting his attention to Caiden. My voice rings of outrage. "Seriously! You think I'd attack an Alpha? You’re crazy!”

“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time…” He says, eyeing me warily.

“I would never attack a fellow wolf, unprovoked.” My words are clipped as I speak through a clenched jaw. He smirks. The words are free flowing, laced with anger and resentment. I reach up and slap him hard across the face. A girl walks past him down the steps. 

Heading straight for Dylan she drapes her arms over his shoulders and eyes me curiously. Dylan says keeping eye contact with me. My fists clench and unclench several times before I feel Caiden's hand on my arm leading me toward the front door of the house.

Walking into the pack house, for the second time, sends my emotions into high alert. Fear of rejection, humiliation, a sense of mockery, and labeled a social outcaste come to my forethought. I need to get a grip on these emotions - wolves smell fear and pray on those weaker. Fear makes us weak. I stand taller, roll back my shoulders, and hold my chin high. I am an Alpha's daughter and I was to be the future Luna of our pack, time to act dignified. 

Caiden slightly squeezes my hand giving me more confidence. One man says walking toward us with a big grin on his face. He has sandy blonde hair, cut short and beautiful emerald green eyes. I hear a high pitched female voice call out from the back. Oh wait, my mate does that daily. My stomach's twisted in knots.

Chapter One Hare
Chapter Two  Next here 
Chapter Three next here  
Chapter Four next  here
Capter Five next here  

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