Page 7 of Destined to the Lycan (The Shadow Realms #3)

Remus

G ently tugging on my horse’s reins, I stopped my carriage in front of the inn.

A proud smile stretched my lips as I glanced at the impressive haul I was bringing to Misty.

While meat supplies were never an issue in Wolfmoon Mountain, the rare meats I’d managed to procure were in high demand and hard to come by.

You needed to hunt in the type of dangerous territories wise people avoided.

It wasn’t arrogance, stupidity, or greed that drove me to venture into those perilous areas to hunt.

But monsters recognized each other. They feared me more than I feared them.

Or rather, they dreaded my tainted blood.

Biting me would cause more harm to them than to me, giving me a free pass pretty much anywhere I went.

It was the only blessing of the curse that plagued my entire existence.

I deftly hopped down my carriage and pulled two of the large beasts from the wagon, plopping one over each of my shoulders.

I grabbed two smaller beasts—though still the size of a big dog— and carried them in my hands.

For a reason I couldn’t explain, it wasn’t so much to reduce the number of trips it would take to bring everything inside.

I just wanted to make an impressive entrance.

It made no sense as I’d never been the braggart type.

As this haul would bring me a pretty penny, I could take an extensive break if no interesting hunting or guided escort contracts came my way.

I’d never been particularly hungry for money.

With my skills, I could rake in massive wealth.

However, a comfortable roof over my head, a full belly, and the ability to pay all my bills without worry were more than enough for me.

But my heart sank as soon as I approached the large doors of the inn.

Judging by the sound of multiple voices inside—too many of which I recognized—the place was packed.

I’d hoped most of them would be off hunting or guiding customers through the mountain or neighboring forests.

I truly wasn’t in the mood for the passive-aggressive remarks and semi-veiled bullying from my detractors.

Over the years, it had gotten better, with a majority of the packs leaving me alone.

Even the most obnoxious haters weren’t as aggressive and relentless as when I’d been younger.

The massive size and strength I’d developed growing up undoubtedly played a significant part in their newfound restraint.

Still, silent but hostile looks often stung as much—if not more—than openly snide and derogatory comments.

Despite being heavily burdened, I effortlessly opened the inn’s heavy doors.

The loud sound of conversations shrunk by half.

It shouldn’t have shocked me. While my presence often caused that type of reaction, it was never to this extent.

A few conversations would pause or slow as they watched me enter before dismissing me from their thoughts and resuming right where they left off.

This time, it was almost a deafening silence that hailed my entrance, and it had nothing to do with the impressive catch I was carrying. But my brain couldn’t focus on this odd behavior.

As soon as the doors parted, the most enticing scent slapped my nose. My mouth watered, my skin heated as my blood boiled, and my steps faltered as a wave of dizziness washed over me.

Impossible!

And yet, this physiological response couldn’t be denied. Something—or rather someone—had whipped my mating heat into a frenzy.

My Twin Flame was here.

My nostrils flared as I inhaled deeply, my head jerking this way and that as I sought the source of this divine aroma. It took half a second that felt like an eternity before my gaze zeroed in on the beautiful stranger sitting in the far corner of the dining hall of the inn.

By Ferazan, she was breathtaking!

The tight, black curls of her lustrous mane framed her stunning face, with obsidian eyes, a noble nose, and generous lips that beckoned me.

She was lost in thought, her slightly pointy chin resting in her palm.

My mouth watered further as my gaze roamed over her flawless skin, the dark color of kalena stones when they granted a wish.

Is she my impossible wish come true?

In the split second it took me to register all these details about the enthralling stranger, the silence around me had grown even more deafening.

Tearing my gaze away from her, I forced myself to head towards the counter where Misty was busy pouring some drinks.

But the pristine sleeveless top of my Twin Flame and her long, fiery orange skirt shouted at me to reclaim my attention.

Although the conversations gradually resumed, countless stares weighed heavily on me.

“Remus! There you are, love!” Misty exclaimed, her face taking on that maternal expression that always made me melt from the inside out.

“I am!” I replied with sincere enthusiasm despite still being utterly distracted by the stranger. “And I come bearing gifts!”

“So I see! Although gifts are normally free,” she added teasingly. “These ones will ravage my purse, but it’s an expense I’ll gladly make. You couldn’t have brought me this abundance of dusk boars at a better time!”

“Oh? Something big is happening?” I asked as I circled around the counter and plopped the two river goats on a large cart Misty pointed to.

She nodded with a broad grin. “I have a big group of human hunters coming this week from overseas. They want to sample some of the more exotic game and fish to be found in the region,” she explained.

“Please tell me they’re not planning on hunting dusk boars themselves?” I asked, horrified.

She chuckled. “Relax, son. They’re not that insane. They just want to sample what is too dangerous for them to catch themselves. But they will want to hunt.”

“Good,” I said, tension bleeding out of my shoulders. “Any other interesting customers looking for a guide?”

Although I spoke the words nonchalantly, the look Misty gave me hinted she wasn’t fooled in the least. The glances I kept stealing in the direction of the beautiful stranger didn’t help my cause.

“There’s been quite a few visitors over the past couple of days. All of them have secured a guide, except for one. A very special case,” she added in a strange tone as she took the dusk boar off my left shoulder.

“A special case?” I repeated, curious.

She nodded. However, the way her happy demeanor dimmed set all my senses on high alert.

“Yes. She’s a client specifically for you.”

My brow shot up. “For me? Why?”

Although I instinctively knew she was speaking of the beautiful stranger, that she would say she was specifically for me made no sense.

Unless you were a Seer, you couldn’t guess that a person was someone else’s Twin Flame.

Sure, witnessing their physiological responses in that person’s presence would give it away.

But Misty had not seen me near that woman yet. So what could prompt such a statement?

“Nobody else will take it,” Misty said, matter-of-factly. “Her mission is not just a tough one, it could qualify as suicidal.”

I stiffened, a sense of dread washing over me.

Of course, the day I find my Twin Flame, there would be some kind of drama pushing her to self-harm.

To my dismay, despite the worry settling in the pit of my stomach, my mouth watered some more, and the fire burning in my veins cranked up another notch.

I swallowed hard and willed my gaze back onto Misty.

My cheeks heated with embarrassment when I found the elder woman staring at me in shock, her nostrils flaring.

“By Ferazan! Remus, you’re in heat?!”

I flinched and averted my eyes, feeling mortified.

There was no reason for me to feel ashamed that I should have found my Twin Flame.

And yet, a lifetime of being told I was an abomination that should have been put down at birth left indelible scars.

The packs always made it clear I had to stay away from our females not to harm or taint them.

To this day, any involvement I ever got with a woman—or even merely considering it—had me feeling like a criminal.

“I’m not in heat,” I muttered, wishing I could disappear.

“So why are you…?”

Misty’s voice trailed off as understanding slowly dawned on her.

A flurry of emotions flitted over her wizened features: shock, disbelief, and finally elation.

In that final instant, I realized I’d been holding my breath, bracing for the inevitable air of disgust and outrage that one such as I would dare think I could possibly be someone’s fated mate.

My heart filled with love for the older woman when her face lit up with pure joy for me.

“Your Twin Flame! That sweet child is your soulmate!” she whispered with a thrill in her voice. Before I could answer, her eyes flicked from side to side as she seemed lost in intense reflections. “How the stars align. It all makes sense now. It was fated.”

“What? What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

She frowned, gave me a critical once over then, visibly displeased with my appearance, the innkeeper dragged me into the back kitchen.

“Misty, what are you doing?!” I exclaimed when she grabbed a clean cloth, wet it, and started scrubbing me as a mother would clean a rambunctious child who had smeared dirt all over himself from playing too roughly outside.

“You have to speak to your mate. But I must prepare you first,” Misty replied absentmindedly while still scrubbing me.

I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or be outraged. She didn’t even seem to realize what she was doing. I wasn’t actually dirty . At best, I had maybe a tiny streak of dried blood and the random strands of fur from carrying the beasts over my shoulders.

“Her name is Amara, and she’s dying,” Misty brutally dropped.

I froze, all fussing forgotten as my blood turned to ice. “What?” I breathed out.