Chapter 118

Helen POV

I locked myself into the library, a place I have been many times before.

Justin and I came here last in high hopes of clearing my name against, well, everyone and everything. It didn’t work of course, but we loved each other more through the tribulations.

I sat back at the table and chairs in the corner of the library, shifting through the mess of books left on the floor and the ones still left on shelves that had been tipped against each other and crooked on the walls. I had pulled any book on old folklore and hoped it would mention the huntsman.

I shifted through the first few books in front of me, yawning in tire as they all came up empty on this mysterious figure mentioned by my mate. It was getting late and the ceremonial dinner for tonight would be happening soon.

Justin hadn’t ripped through the estate yet in search for me, thankfully, and I feared that he would find me and drag me out to dinner before I could even find out what they were talking about.

“Where are you?” I groaned, tired of reading about magical creatures I have already known existed, and the ones I haven’t even heard of before, but still, no huntsman.

I grabbed the next book, larger than the others and graced with a lock over the cover. My fingertips drug down the locked book, wondering why a book like this would be sealed in such a way. Turning it over, there was a small key taped to the back.

Upon pressing the key into the lock that graced the cover, I clicked the lock alive and the door into the library did the same and opened up.

“Mate, where are you?” Justin growled. “I can smell you, Helen. We have to get to the ceremonial dinner soon. I don’t have time to chase you and—”

The book rattled in a dim, blue shade of light before the book busted alive between my mate and I. his eyes widened in horror. He ran to my side, pulling me to my feet and away from the table.

The mysterious, glowing book threw itself wide open and the pages flittered through the air, turning themselves over one by one in a fluttering motion.

I gasped, clinging to Justin’s warm, muscular chest and we both watched on in horror.

“What have you done, mate?...” Justin whispered, the book abruptly stopping on a page in the middle. It laid wide open, displaying a bright, cyan hue through the air. “What the—”

“I AM THE HUNTSMAN!”

I flinched, holding onto my mate tighter and he did the same, brushing his hand down the back of my head. He kissed my temple, pulling me to the wall where we stood in fear, or at least I had, while Justin put on a brave face.

The voice coming from the book was joined by an illusion of a silhouette. It looked like a human, anything in mortal form I suppose, and was large and broad in stature.

“I am human,” the book snarled. “I am vengeance. The wolves took everything from me. They took my wife, my child, but they will not take me. I will enslave them all and kill them off one by one… the world will know my need for revenge is undying.”

I shuddered, blinking back petrified tears. “Close the book, Justin, please!”

My mate marched forward.

The blue aura spoke again and this time he said, “I am coming for the most rare wolf of all. The Lycan! They are extinct, but I know one still lives. I will find him and hold him accountable for his actions. His kind killed my family so all of his kind must die at last!”

I knew talking to a magic book was useless, but I snarled all the same, “No! You won’t hurt him.”

Though impossible, the figure of a silhouette turned to face me square. “The Lycan’s mate.”

I trembled harder and Justin halted. He didn’t care when the book mentioned killing him but the second it talked about me, he took a moment and paused, eyeing the blue magic light in pondering bewilderment.

“What about the Lycan’s mate?” Justin said in gruff exhale.

“The Lycan’s mate is the key to everything! To ensure this horrible breed is whipped out for good. The Lycan is hard to kill, but his mate will end the line of Lycan’s for all to come! She is the one who must die and—”

Justin slammed the book together and flicked the lock back into place. I whimpered, sinking to the floor as the light left with the heavy, rude voice that came with it.

“Never mind that fairytale,” Justin snorted, shaking in mild rage. “Come on, mate. We’re going to dinner.”

“I—I don’t think—think I can after—after that—”

“Here now,” Justin purred, coming to my side. He helped me stand and to my guttural surprise, he kissed my cheek before sliding his lips over mine. “Mate, your lips are amazing.”

He mauled my mouth with his, the tip of his tongue reaching all around my mouth and throat, trying to kiss me harder and further and more and more and more—

I began writhing against his chest needing more.

He smiled but stopped the kissing, his eyes darkening a shade or two. It eventually got quiet between us, but it was a comfortable silence. He took my hand and led me outside, the pack under a briskly cool sunset.

Orange light poured down the streets and walkways.

I kept my pace with Justin and made sure not to fall behind, looking around anxiously as though I was being followed by the huntsman himself! The magical book had sent fear stricken down into my bones.

“The Alpha and Luna of True Mates,” someone cheered. A short applause followed and we both smiled as walked hand and hand toward the outdoor table.

Justin sat down and stared at the moon still blushing in the sunset. It was almost full, and he was nervous about it. The full moon would be the true test of his leadership.

If this new half of our pack saw Alpha Justin rampaging and in fury with his Lycan, then they would reject us and our pack. We couldn’t let that happen.

I wouldn’t let it happen.

“No,” Justin gasped, yanking me from my chair beside him.

He placed me on his lap and I stifled a grin. Leaning into his chest, his hands methodically rubbing over my hips and ass, toying with me so gently and sensually.

I found myself facing him soon, his arousal brushing my ass through his jeans and my lips mauling at his neck. No one really paid us much attention and I liked that. We could be free and affectionate again without much harsh judgment.

My mate’s Lycan was still furious and fighting his every whim and caress. I could see his eyes growing darker, deepening in excitement and sexual need, while also taming the beast and devil inside of him to keep from punishing me more.

“I love you,” I purred, kissing Justin’s throat. He hummed, tipping his head back and giving me more access to kiss him all over his shoulders and neck. “I love you, Alpha.”

His lips curled with that dominating title. He was my Alpha, my mate, and he was always in charge of me. He needed to know that now, more than ever before.

I’d let him dominate me and my body every day if it meant he would trust me again.

“Helen, I lo—”

“I reject you!” a familiar voice sneered.

I went cold, curling into Justin’s lap more as his arms tensed behind me. “Relax, mate. It’s okay.”

I sniffled in familiar ache. “Was that—that—”

“It sounded like Scott…”