Chapter 13 Lorna POV Something was happening, but I can't place it. I feel like I'm weightless yet I'm moving. Slowly my memories come to me. "Mate" Is that who this wolf is? Is he my mate? Am I to endure more pain and torture from some else who is supposed to love and care for me. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Findnøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Has he hurt you so far Lorna?" Athena coax's inside my mind. She is right of course but how could I trust him. After what I have been through, I have no trust left to risk. "Give him a chance, please Lorna, he is not just your mate. He is mine as well. His wolf is called Xavier and he is ......" a dreamy sigh breaks Athena's mooning ".. .. I trust him Lorna" Thinking on that, I notice that I'm actually being carried. I'm being held, a to such a solid chest. Like warm marble. Taking the smallest sniff I try to work out who it is, without them knowing i am awake. Mmm he smells divine, so masculine and yet it makes me feel safe. How odd, I feel safe laid in a man's arms. "How long do you plan on pretending to be asleep, my lovely mate?" A deep gravelly voice asks, followed by a small snigger and a gentle nuzzle to my nose. So sweet. Perhaps he is hoping that will encourage my eyes to open. They do, sleepily, only because I want to see where I am. Not because I want to look at his strong jaw and beautiful eyes. Nope, not that at all. Looking around I see we are almost back at the pack house. My heart rate rapidly speeds up as fear grips me. I'm never out in the open like this. It's not safe, I'm not safe. I reach to stand up. "Let me down, quickly, I need to return.. er you can't be seen with me" I stutter as I catch myself before telling him where I live, where I hide. His grip on me only tightens. "I plan on having you in my arms at every chance i can get, and do not worry yourself about us being seen together. They would not do anything in my presence, and you will not be without me. You are safe" I take a moment to take all that information on board. "Also, I already know about the cellar. We will talk at length about that later, but you will be in my rooms for as long as we are here" My heart sinks, of course, he is part of a visiting pack contingent. They leave the morning after the ball. He leaves tomorrow. My eyes lower. I'm such an i***t. I can't believe I got so swept up in him. After everything. Disappointment blooms in me, not at him, but at myself. "What is that look for sweetheart?" He lifts my face so I'm looking into his eyes. I am ashamed to say, I was desperately trying to hold back tears. "I don't like that look on your face Lorna, where did your head just go? I promise, being in my rooms doesn't mean we are doing anything more than what we are doing right now. I will never, ever, force myself on you" Rather surprised, considering that part never even occurred to me, I venture to tell him what I was thinking. "You are from one of the visiting packs?" He nods, encouraging me to continue. "You are only here one more night, then you will return to your pack. It would be too cruel to spend a night in one of those beds only to return to my world in the cellar. Please, I should just return to where I belong now and we should say goodbye now" His paces stop. Looking at his face, confusion and shock flash across his features. Though I'm not sure why. I must have a similar look on my face. "You want to say goodbye?" A sad look overtakes his features and his voice is soft and quiet. Confusion still mar's my features as I hear a subtle cough from behind Drake. "if I may, I believe Lorna is under the impression that when we leave tomorrow, that she will be remaining here" this man, who I am shocked to admit, I wasn't aware of until this moment, looks to me for confirmation. I make a small nod, becoming increasingly confused. How could I be thinking anything else? "Lorna.... come, this talk requires privacy" Drake continues on, into the pack house, and upstairs to the guest floor. It's not until we reach the suite that I realise which suite it is. My cheeks alight with fire at the memory. The follower continues to the suite next door as Drake sits in the lounge area, by a large lit fire, holding me close on his knee. He brushes my overgrown fringe from my face and stokes my cheek. Hand staying there, he leans forward and touches the tip of his nose to mine and begins to speak. "Listen to what I am saying Lorna, please, just listen. Let me get it all out. You, Lorna, formally resident of the pack house cellar, are my fated mate. My one true love, created by the moon goddess herself, as my equal, my match, my future. Just as I am yours. I have been searching for you for so long, now that I have found you I'm afraid I have done everything in the wrong order" he takes a breath as I remain quiet, aware that he has not finished and unable to form a coherent thought even if I could speak. "Where ever you are, that's where I will be. You are correct in that we will return to my pack tomorrow, but what you haven't realised is that you, my darling, are coming with me" My mouth drops open, closes and drops open again. "I.... I'm ...... don't you need to ask your alpha before inviting random shewolves home with you" "My alpha? Oh dear.. .. .. I really am doing this all wrong" I have another puzzled look on my face. "I'm sorry Lorna, I told you my name but I never really introduced myself did I? I am Alpha Drake Hendrix of the Dark Night Pack, the man earlier was my beta Jacob. He is very excited that we have found you. When I can't be with you, he will be. His primary duty, after all, is to protect his Luna" A long pause exists as I try and wrap my head around what he just said. On a whispered gasp. "Luna.." Title: Mystic Herb Powers: Unveiling Pharmaceutical Conspiracies In "After Awakening, Falling for My Sis-in-Law" by CrushReel, widowed Peach finds herself entangled in a dangerous web of gangsters pushing her into marriage to settle debts. Enter Johnny, her brother-in-law, who unexpectedly unlocks ancient mystic herb powers, embarking on a perilous journey to expose sinister pharmaceutical conspiracies. As they navigate treacherous waters together, uncovering family secrets and facing imminent threats, their bond strengthens amidst the chaos. This modern drama delves into themes of resilience, familial loyalty, and the pursuit of justice in the face of adversity. 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