Wolf Shifter Diaries: Lies Tamed (Sweet Paranormal Wolf & Fae Fantasy Romance Series Book 2) by E. Hall (books for men to read TXT) 📗

“Then you saw the whole thing?”

She nods.

“What happened to Melchior? Clove? Greyson?”

She gives me a brief recap. The fae king disappeared into the woods. Greyson faded.

“The scepter?”

“Clove tried to use it against the fae king, but then Melchior attacked Kenna. I don’t know what happened after that.”

“The scepter is meant to bring harmony but in the wrong hands it’s dangerous,” I say. “Sounds like that’s the case.”

My mate’s eyes remain closed. She’s completely still.

All is lost. My wolf has remained quiet when all I want to do is shift and howl mournfully. I deceived her. I didn’t protect her.

The betas approach cautiously as the moon drifts behind the clouds, casting an eerie glow over the scene.

Had I not deceived her could things have turned out differently? I was doing my duty as an Alpha, turning her into the Council when I wanted to be with her. I’d do anything now, even lose my status for that to be true. I suddenly understand the sacrifices Isa and Greyson made for love no matter that it was forbidden.

My life caves in around me. There’s nothing left.

The betas get closer.

My wolf tears loose. I’ve never wanted to run so badly in my life, but my instincts tell me to remain here, with my beloved. I won’t leave her again, especially not like this.

Her mother holds her hand tight.

I lift my muzzle to the night sky and release a mournful howl.

The betas must hear my call because soon they’re surrounding Kenna, her mom, and me in the clearing. The rest of the pack fills in. As one, we howl into the night.

When I fall silent, I rest my whiskered chin on her and give her one last nuzzle in this form. She’s warmer than I expect. My heart creaks. My Alpha whimpers, communicating in the wolf-way, begging her to wake up.

Jackie mutters something nonsensical as Pack Hjalmor continues to cry over this loss. Even Avril is among them.

I shift to physical form and move her inside the house as my betas continue to keen outside.

From within, my wolf stirs, moved by their loyalty. But then my heart stirs with something that feels like hope. I glance at my beloved, wondering how that’s possible when her lashes flutter slightly.

Jackie meets my gaze.

From her spot on the silk sofa, Kenna’s eyes blink open. She flashes her stunning smile. “Alister, what smells so good?”

I didn’t see or sense the stuck ghost appear. “I made you doughnuts, dear.”

Kenna presses onto her elbows. “You really know how to bring a girl back from the dead. You’re my superhero. This is fantastic. Actually, I mean phantastic, with a ph, like a ghost.”

Her mother claps her hand over her mouth to stop from laughing.

“What happened?” I ask.

Jackie’s eyes are wide. “I think Melchior must’ve killed the vampire in her, but—”

“My wolf and fae are intact. Does that moves me down from Magical’s Most Wanted to a person of interest?” Her smile could compete with the sun.

I wrap my arms around her in a tight embrace. “Are you okay?” I say into her hair, breathing deep.

When we pull apart, Kenna listens. “Is the werewolf dead?” she asks. “I thought I’d taken care of the problem. Then the fae king had to go and stab me.”

I nod and send a message to the betas to shift and come inside.

Before I’m distracted by my Alpha role, I press my forehead to Kenna’s. “I realize now that I was scared of doing the wrong thing. But I discovered something greater than fear. Love. Truth. I’m sorry for what I did. I want you to know how important you are to me.”

She cups my cheek. I lean in, ready to put my mouth on hers, but she says, “I know.” Then she plants her lips on mine, lingering there as chatter fills the house. Her skin is smooth under my own. She’s warm, alive, magical.

When we part, the scent of wood smoke blazes from the hearth. Alister scuttles around, serving tea to my pack. Kenna remains on the sofa beside her mom while I fill the pack in on everything that transpired.

“So the werewolf is dead?” Trigg asks.

I nod, keeping the part about how she was Logan’s mate to myself. That wound still hurts.

“And the fae, Jana, too?”

Kenna tells them she was Clove’s mother. I do my best to shake the sound of her song out of my head. Wolves used to be the biggest danger to fae, but their song, at least when in physical form, can really mess with the mind. I focus on Kenna as she explains about her father being a hollow ghost.

“But he faded?” Inga asks.

Jackie pats Kenna on the leg and turns her attention to the group. “Greyson Slade was misunderstood. He was a good man, but after we went into hiding, he distanced himself to keep us safe. During that time, Jana ensorcelled him, compelling him to do terrible things. Had I known, I would’ve done everything in my power to stop him. We were fated mates. I sensed him return from the otherside and found out the truth about the fae’s deception.”

“As it turns out, he had a son with her. My brother, Clove,” I say.

A few members of the pack nod in recognition, likely having come across him before.

“He betrayed us and now has the scepter,” Kenna adds with disdain.

“And what became of the fae king?” Claude asks.

I shift from foot to foot, uncertain about his status. “Fae are notoriously tricky, and I don’t trust him any more than I trust Clove, but he is a member of the Council. He’d have to be playing a masterful game of manipulation to have