Page 27

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

GRACE

N adège offers me ointment as alphas clean the murder scene.

We trek back in stony silence. And that night, once again, I’m certain.

I’m not surprised in the morning after the incident I still can’t wrap my head around, Nakoa wakes me up early in the morning for supervised visitation outside of the cave to see the scenery.

Leo and Raphael are gone, together, an oddity.

Probably some plan they communicated over their mental link.

And I go, because now I have so many things I need to know.

I need Nakoa to tell me the truth of why we aren’t bonded before I’m driven crazy.

Because after what I witnessed, I know our deal isn’t off, it was never sealed.

“Careful,” he says, as he helps me over a rotten log on the ground.

I can put my full weight on my ankle, and close my hand into a full fist. And once we get to a clearing, I figure out why we’re here. Nakoa’s decided I’m healed up enough that it’s time for me to learn to hunt. I don’t ask him if it’s to hunt animal or men.

I know now our exhibition to the North is moving up, all thanks to the brutal interrogation of Serge. I hate the ridiculous rabbit mask they now force on me whenever we leave, but I prefer it to the collar, and it’s my ticket out of perpetual boredom.

He’s set up targets along the trees, high and low, big and small, some dangling from strings like cans I’m meant to strike not pierce. But first, snares.

They’re the bane of my existence with the first minute of trying to loop the string on the sticks. Trigger bars, nooses, and locating the right sapling. All of it goes over my head, and I know for a fake we won’t catch anything by evening.

But once he gives me a bow, one I didn’t know he was fahsining for me, I’m in my element.

I hit most of my marks, and though he doesn’t show it, he’s impressed.

Good. For a man that can destory a person’s mind, I hope to strike a little respect into his heart.

Maybe he’ll think twice about turning that awesome power onto me.

“Here, like this. You’re a quick shot and a quicker learner, my omega.”

“Are you an archer?” he asks as the sun begins to set and we call it day. I’m not surprised when the third trap we check on the way back to base camp is empty.

“No, but I continued practicing. Horseback riding, archer, gymnastics. Any sport or leisure activity deemed ‘omega-ly’ I dabbled in when I was part of the royal court. But archery was my favorite. I do it still, from time to time, but nothing like this,” I say, and realize this might be the first civil conversation we’ve had since we all went to the beach.

No horses but they’re hogs and hens.

He nods, dabbing at his nose. It’s been bleeding on and off since…

I block it out and offer him a torn piece of my dress. He raises an eyebrow as he takes it.

“We have other clothing for you, omega. The tailor can make you more if you don’t like what we’ve gather,” he says.

I shake my head, “I know but…”

He reaches over and slips his hand into mind, whistling. I’m learning all types of new things about this superpowered psychopath.

“Leo gathered what he could but it was all junk. But soon, once we locate Blue Fox, we can build a proper nest. I never wanted to put down roots like Pack Delta. Never wanted to accept living here forever. Now I have hope, because of you.”

“I’ve been called a diva, sassy, and a bitch,” I say pointedly, and he whinces at that, “But there’s no point in being humble when you know your worth.”

Nakoa grins, and I jump when he slaps my ass.

“Exactly. But next time, lower your shoulders. Your aim is decent, but your technique is rusty. normalcy thoroughly corrupted by this bullying bastard ruptured

He stops near the mouth of the cave as I peel my faded black dress off to wash it. It’s falling apart.

“What is it.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not being afraid of me.”

but beneath his charming smile is an alpha with dangerous secrets. They fear him, and that scares me. On this island, power is everything. So how powerful of an alpha is he to lead this pack?

“Why? Should I be afraid?” I ask.

“Never,” he says, and there’s no trace of hesitation.

“Hmm, I’ll take it. You may not be my mate, but for now, we’re a pack. Just don’t mind control me ever again. My head still aches bit,” I attempt a joke, but it doesn’t hit. He snarls. Oh shit.

Nakoa looks pointedly at my exposed neck, “You are my mate. I knew it the first time I laid eyes on you, all those years ago.”

What?

I pull away, and look at it him. Really look at him while I brush away the blood pooling near his nose again.

She was kind and a little scared. We just played with her dolls, and to her croutiers rushed her out:

Sounds like Faith, alright.

But all I kept thinking about and staring at was you.

“Hm…”

“What?”

“Maybe you should prove it.”

I’m coming in.

I sit at the edge of the pool created by the water fall, then I scrub the dirt and grime from my dress the best I can, but it’s useless. It’s ruined. I’m ruined, too, claimed by some savage alpha. A savage alpha who holds immense power I fear he can barely control inside him.

The thought makes me laugh as I glance back at him.

Water glistens from his toned body, lithe and lethal.

He’s far from a savage. The only savages are the bastards who exiled me here.

He turns to me then, exiting the underground lake gracefully.

My legs wobble, and I fall to my knees.

We’re naked. Laid bare for each other. And from the twinkle in my alpha’s eyes, he likes what he sees.

Heat prickles my skin. Another wave of arousal courses through me.

Usually, I’d damn my omega nature.

But I’m grateful as he lifts me into his arms, only to lay me down on a nest of scavenged pillows.

I only wish we’d met somewhere other than hell disguised as paradise.

Nakoa is the most gentle lover of the three, and that’s not saying much as he knots me, clinging to my ass.

He’s rough but he doesn’t seem to like it rough.

He prefers I find my pleasure first before he claims his.

It’s a welcome change of pace, and he even seems to be whipping Leo into shape.

Raphael? Well, the man would’ve shoved his fangs into my neck while knotting my ass, before ripping my throat out by now if not for him.

So, I’d say Nakoa is doing an excellent job with Raphael as well.

I run my fingertips across the base of my neck, wondering why I allowed Nakoa to mark me as his true mate? Allow is a strong word when I was drooling over his dick, begging for more. But he had asked, and that had struck me as the kindest thing an alpha has ever done.

What a depressing though. Nevertheless, it was true. So, I allowed him to. It helped stop my heat spiral, and made sure the other alphas of South Shore left me alone for the most part.

But it felt deeper than that.

Nakoa rubs small circles into my hips, nudging me closer until my body is engulfed by his, his long, jet black hair eclipsing the moonlight.

I lean back into his chest, holding myself as I rock back and forth.

“Trust? Who needs it when I can offer them power.”

“Why the pocket watch?”

“It’s a memento.”

With a sigh he whispers against my neck, “Nakoa Hokulani.”