Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

Stepping out of the alpha house into the main courtyard area, we find two warriors remaining, the rest no doubt already racing to the borders. "Shouldn't you be at the borders?" Josie demands of them.

"We were told to escort you miss."

"Unbelievable...very well." She nods at them before turning and whistling, Lobo seconds later, running out of the front door to be by her side. "Which direction miss?"

"The Meadow, I know that area like the back of my hand. I'll know if something is abnormal." She orders before breaking out into a run, Lobo by her side.

We reach the meadow, the uncut grass and long wildflowers the perfect location to hide ourselves whilst keeping an eye on the woods that lead to the borders. There will be guards already on the border, but if they have been ambushed by an enemy, us remaining here will be the best option to take them out.

The two warriors take the lead, both in their wolf form, as they hide in the meadow Lobo by Josie's side but keen to join them. She's even hushed him a few times when his growling became too loud.

"You can shift, I don't mind." She whispers, her eyes not leaving the woods in front.

"We can both shift...I told you, you don't need a gun." I respond with a smirk as she freezes when my shoulder gently presses against hers.

"I head up training with weapons, this is me being war ready. Don't worry Knox, I'll keep you safe." She returns my smirk, her attitude too humorous for my liking.

"I promised Jaxon I would remain by your side."

"I'm quite capable..."

"I don't doubt that, but I gave my word. And my word is final." One of the warrior's wolves look back in our direction, his snout sniffing the air before a low growl leaves him.

"I don't need babysitting." She chides, angling her body away from me, giving me a good view of her ass in her leggings.

"Who else is going to watch that fine ass of yours."

"Shh, they'll hear you." She shakes her head as my eyes roam the length of her. Her intoxicating presence temporarily blinding me from our mission.

Stay low, and stay quiet.

We remain like this for at least an hour, watching all angles, keeping low and quiet. I can hear her heartbeat, hear it beat faster with each noise from the woods. With each branch movement in the soft evening's breeze, each nocturnal animal's fight for it's dinner, each deafening moment of silence...her heart beats, adrenaline preparing her to fight. Preparing her to shoot that gun, but not shift into her wolf.

Why doesn't she shift, the need for our wolves to shift constantly is always there, like the need to drink and eat. So why does she fight it, why does she deny it.

Movement in front jerks my head away from her. One of the warrior's shifts...his human frame standing up and walking back over to us.

"The Alpha has called it off, whoever was there... is long gone."

"Fine, back to your stations." She acknowledges the message. But again, why was it necessary. Why did a warrior wolf have to shift to deliver her a message in person, rather than her hear it herself through the pack link. From the mind-link of her own father. Why rather than shift and help lead the warriors was she allowed to remain in her human form and carry a gun full with silver bullets.

I had questions, questions I knew that I would have to dig for the answers. This entire pack was hiding something and from what I've already witnessed it all circles around the alpha's daughter, the fiery red head.