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Click To Read on 👉River & Her Royal Mate

But she had managed with minimal trembling and only one minor stumble. It shouldn’t have been so hard. This was a good thing.

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“You gotta relax. Especially if we’re going to be seeing more of each other,” Clay Baldwin said smoothly.<br /> River nodded. She was nervous. This was her future mate, the Alpha&#039;s son. She wanted to make a good impression. This was the day of the mate announcement ceremony. <br /> Clay didn’t do a very good job of hiding his disdain of her.<br /> “I’ll see you inside, alright?” He trotted down to the side door and disappeared.<br /> The rest of the pack was seated when she slid into the double doors and quickly located her family. Thankfully, her seat was along the aisle. That would make it easier to get up when Clay announced her as his mate.<br /> River slunk into her seat as the handsome young man took the stage to thunderous applause. Clay’s dad held up his son’s hands proudly and egged the crowd on.<br /> Soon, the ruckus died down and Clay stepped up to the mic.<br /> “’Sup pack?” He said, smirking. A murmur of laughter and whistle rose up in response. “So I’ve given a lot of thought to who will stand by my side when I take over as Alpha someday. Think I’ve made the right choice.”<br /> More applause.<br /> River felt her heart swell with anticipation.<br /> She didn’t know him that well, but that’s just how these things went. The bond had been read and confirmed by Clay’s mother, the current Luna. River started to stand.<br /> “I know it’s breaking tradition,” he started slowly, raising his voice, “But I choose the love of my life: Victoria Pullman. Say hello to your new and future Luna!”<br /> The floor opened up a chasm beneath her.<br /> Oh, God. This wasn’t real.<br /> She had been looking forward to this day for months.<br /> Out of every possible scenario she could have imagined, this was beyond anything that had crossed her mind. <br /> Clay chose someone else.<br /> In front of the entire pack.<br /> And it was Victoria bane-of-her-existence Pullman.<br /> Years of compounded embarrassment piled up into a flood of choking shame.<br /> Where every eye should have been on the stage, hundreds of gazes veered back on River. Victoria glared triumphantly down from the stage right at her.<br /> Clay’s were the only eyes avoiding hers in the auditorium.<br /> River noticed the rush of blood in her ears dying down as the first whisper registered, followed by a snicker, then a loud comment. The mockery was met with covered mouths and laughter.<br /> “Of course an Alpha wouldn’t pick her.”<br /> “It’s for the best.”<br /> Idiot! Why would he pick you? Her own thoughts lashed out inside, bitter and sneering.<br /> The bond had been wrong.<br /> The piercing stab of grief and actual, physical pain that lanced through her guts revealed the truth. Something had shattered inside of her. She wanted to scream.<br /> That, and RUN.<br /> And she did.<br /> River burst through the doors and into the fading dusk.<br /> She ran until she stumbled, one of her flats tearing on the side. <br /> Her lungs felt raw. Her feet hurt.<br /> Slumping down onto a stump, she finally let the tears come. Silent sobs wracked her body, her hands wrapped around her arms for comfort.<br /> A crunch on the gravel path announced her Aunt Klara before she spoke.<br /> “Heya, Rapid.” There was an unusual hesitation in Klara’s crisp tone.<br /> “I’m so sorry, Aunt K.” It was all she could get out.<br /> “For what? You didn’t do anything wrong. Except maybe running all the way across town…” The wariness returned.<br /> “W-what do you mean?”<br /> Klara frowned and ignored her question.<br /> “C&#039;mon, sweetie. Grandma’s worried. Get in the car.”<br /> Getting her mate was supposed to be her turning point, where things changed for the better. She was hoping for signs of her wolf to show. Unlike other wolves, River never got hers when puberty hit. <br /> She held out a glimmer of hope that she would get her wolf when she got her mate. But now even that is lost. <br /> Grandma Lucy bustled about as soon as River came through the door with Aunt Klara close behind. The older woman was distraught, more than River had ever seen. <br /> “Let me make you some tea, Rivvy.” Grandma&#039;s hands were shaking.<br /> &quot;I’m fine, Grandma. Why don’t you go lay down. I’m sorry,” River muttered thickly. Grandma Lucy patted her hand and shuffled out of the room.<br /> “You had Lucy worried to death, Riv.” Klara’s words were quiet, but cutting.<br /> “I know.”<br /> “You know better! You know what happened to your daddy. How he just went off.” Klara was trying to keep the reprimand out of her voice.<br /> “But I would never-”<br /> “Of course you wouldn’t, but Grandma’s poor heart assumed the worst. She can’t help but worry about you.”<br /> “Oh, no, no. You’re right. I feel terrible.”<br /> For so many reasons. Way to go River.<br /> “You have every right to be upset. What that boy did is not right.” The snap came back to Klara’s voice.<br /> “He’s a piece of !” River snarled, louder than she meant. “I can’t face him again, Klara. I can’t go to college in the fall and see him.”<br /> Klara flinched slightly at the outburst. She recovered and continued talking, “River, it’s a big campus. You probably won’t even see him.”<br /> “I can’t do it. I’m a…a coward!” Tears burned at the edges of her eyes. “I’m weak. Just like my mom.”<br /> Klara cut across the kitchen so fast that River slumped back into the plush couch. The angular woman’s features seemed to cut into sharper edges as she loomed over her raising one finger.<br /> “You. Are. Not. And neither was your mother. Audrie was the strongest female I’ve ever known next to your Grandma. I never want to hear you say that again.”<br /> “Fine. But I still feel weak.”<br /> A look of incredulity washed over Klara&#039;s face.<br /> “Weak, huh? I wouldn’t call anyone who sprinted four miles across town in ten minutes weak.”<br /> She must have been exaggerating.<br /> The next few nights, River struggled to sleep, and when she did, her dreams were filled with anxiety and vague scenarios of terrible embarrassment. Sometimes, she was back in the auditorium.<br /> Other times she was up on a stage, the crowd full of Clays and Victoria’s, all laughing at her. By the end of the week, she was feeling run down and exhausted.<br /> “River. It’s been a week. You haven’t left the house.” Grandma&#039;s gentle tone broke the mid-morning quiet.<br /> Lucy and Klara were determined to get her out of her rut. Eventually, with their insistence, they successfully got her out of the house. For the first time since the fiasco occurred, River felt a little like herself again. <br /> After a day of fun, shopping, and relaxation, they took the long route home around Lake Holm, singing loudly to the radio. Klara parked on the top of the reservoir wall so they could watch the sunset.<br /> “How do you feel now, Rapid?”<br /> “I feel…like I could do anything,&quot; River admitted.<br /> “Does that include facing Clay Baldwin and your first semester at college?”<br /> “It does. But only if you promise to use your new confidence, too,” River retorted, bumping her aunt with her hip as they leaned on the railing.<br /> “To do what, exactly?” Klara eyed her suspiciously.<br /> “To ask out Gus, of course!”<br /> ~~~<br /> All of the make overs, adventures, and prerequisite reading in the world couldn’t prepare River for the first day of college.<br /> Grandma Lucy and Klara had insisted on a tour some weeks before, so she knew exactly where she was going. <br /> But there were so. Many People.<br /> More people than she had ever had to hustle through in her life.<br /> River tried to act like she wasn’t looking around like a deer in the headlights. She checked her map and kept her head down as she walked.<br /> A passage mostly cleared out heading out toward the science building.<br /> Pausing for a breath and to grab a snack from the vending machine, she looked at herself in the reflection of the glass.<br /> She looked good. Better than she ever had.<br /> This summer really helped her find herself.<br /> Between rigorous exercise, finally letting Aunt Klara and Grandma Lucy teach her how to put on makeup, and finding a balance of comfy and fancy in her wardrobe, River felt…almost confident.<br /> The challenges she had given herself and been given had forced her to make some changes.<br /> Most importantly, they helped soothe the pain of the broken bond. The memory of the pain remained, but she had overcome it. The thought of seeing Clay no longer filled her with abject terror.<br /> Not that she was excited to run into him just a few minutes later in the grassy courtyard outside her first class. Of all the rotten luck.<br /> The blond, feathered hair and the once-dreamy brown eyes noted her before she could turn away. <br /> “Yo, Landon. I was wondering if I’d see you around.”<br /> “Had to happen eventually,” River snipped a little too tightly.<br /> “Whoa, summer sure did you a lot of favors.”<br /> She wondered if he meant her bold tone or her new look until he eyeballed her up and down appreciatively.<br /> Gross.<br /> River cleared her throat pointedly.<br /> “Are you…in this class?” She finally forced out to fill the awkward silence.<br /> “Yeah, we got Mason’s class together Monday and Wednesday.” He thumbed over his shoulder at the double classroom door.<br /> “That’s what you meant when you said we’d be seeing a lot more of each other.” The realization clicked in her head. Stupid girl. She pushed the embarrassment away.<br /> “Yeah. I thought you had seen the class roster, too.” His half grin used to make her nervous in a good way. Now it just made her want to slap it off his face.<br /> Slap it off?! Who was she turning into, exactly?<br /> “So, no hard feelings, right? Just pack business, you know?” He tried to fall into step beside her as River shrugged past him into the classroom.<br /> “Yeah, sure. I certainly didn’t lose any sleep over it,” she lied. River wouldn’t have bought her own fib if she hadn’t noticed the flash of hurt that passed across Clay’s face. Score one for River.<br /> The surge of satisfaction at his reaction that followed took her off guard.<br /> Clay fell a step behind as she entered the big, lab-style room. <br /> River quickly swept off toward the side near the back and slipped into an open seat next to a hunched over student. His head was buried in the folds of his hoodie-swathed arms across the desk.<br /> The last thing she needed was to get stuck next to Clay. Or as lab partners if the seating arrangement was permanent.<br /> Unfortunately, the seat across the aisle was open and captain-cocky tried to act nonchalant, making a show of looking around before he “noticed” the seat and took it.<br /> River had made a point of arriving early, but now she was regretting it.<br /> “You know, my mom was pissed,” Clay started, clearly wanting her to engage with him and ask why.<br /> “Why would she be pissed about you picking your girlfriend?” River tried to keep her voice from sounding bitter or the least bit interested.<br /> “Because of the rules, tradition. She said I really messed it up passing you over. Maybe she was right about the mating bond. Can’t argue with how the way you look is makin’ me feel…” He rubbed his chin between his finger and thumb like he was choosing what flavor of ice cream he wanted.<br /> River could feel his eyes crawling over her again. Something reared up deep inside her and almost had her slinging a textbook into his stupid face before she could stop it.<br /> The urge sent a thrill of shock along her spine. It also kind of make her feel sick.<br /> Confrontation always did.<br /> Instead, she took a long, hopefully bored-looking breath, before she turned to glance at him. “What mating bond, Claybourne?”<br /> She may as well have punched him in the balls.<br /> All he managed in response was a shoulder-bouncing huff.<br /> The young would-be Alpha’s jaw worked a couple of times before he closed his mouth, his face flushing beet red as he breathed hard through his nose.<br /> After a few seconds, he stood upright, grabbed his bag and shuffled off, attempting to look casual about it. He rolled his shoulders and only glanced back once.<br /> River fought back a smile.<br /> There were benefits to being ignored in high school and at pack community events. And short of the times when certain stuck-up demon girls singled her out for torture, River was virtually invisible outside of passing remarks about her family.<br /> When no one knew or cared that you were standing nearby, or listening, they said all sorts of fun little facts about each other. For example, Clay detested his full name and did everything in his power to keep anyone from finding out about it.<br /> He was also known for being able to get any girl he wanted.<br /> Rumor had it, even while dating Victoria.<br /> The icing on the cake was honestly being able to blow him off in return. Now that she was face-to-face with him, she barely even felt the wound he had inflicted on her three months ago.<br /> A little vindication and righteous anger helped soothe any residual hurt.<br /> Still, she couldn’t believe how bold and outright she had just been to him.<br /> Was this the new River?<br /> She would have to be careful just how sassy she would let herself get, at the risk of becoming just like Victoria Pullman.<br /> At least she wasn’t in this class.<br /> But, man, this semester was going to be something. No more Clay pestering her. A comfortable spot near the back with a quiet, likely stoner kid that she might not even have to talk to much…<br /> A growling groan and movement to her left drew her attention as more students rushed in to fill the seats. The professor shuffled in, flopping down a stack of papers and clicking on the remote for the projector.<br /> The huddled hoodie-headed guy stretched all the way up with his arms over his head, yawning.<br /> River was met with an eye full of sun kissed skin and chiseled abs peeking out from under the upraised red hoodie and white tee beneath.<br /> Oh, sweet wolf-mother.<br /> She couldn’t stop her eyes from trailing up, dragged along for the ride as big, strong hands clasped around the bottom of the garment and drew the hoodie up and over. This movement showcased long, deliciously defined arms laced with cable-like muscles beneath supple skin.<br /> His chest pressed through the plain, soft white cotton, a perfect ridge cut right between two even more perfect slabs of-<br /> Look away. Look away now.<br /> Or keep looking forever.<br /> No!<br /> Clawing at her self-control, River tore her gaze away just as his messy, honey-brown locks flipped down, only catching a glimpse of his smooth cheeks above a notably bold, but still intriguingly boyish jawline.<br /> River forced her vision forward, fumbling with her notebook and dropping her entire case of pencils and pens out across the desk.<br /> “Thanks, I forgot to bring one of my own.” The voice was like melted butter, infused with just a hint of laughter and knee-buckling baritone.<br /> Like it held a secret only he wanted her to know about.<br /> Time seemed to collapse. River tried to think of a response and was cognizant that these silent seconds felt like minutes.<br /> Words. Laugh. Anything. Just say something!<br /> “Pencil. Notes. Yeah. For writing,” River heard someone say in her voice.<br /> Well. You had a good run, River.<br /> Pun intended.<br /> The angelic apparition next to her tapped the butt of the pencil on the table and nodded slowly, leaning over the desk to peer into her face. “I could not have put it any better myself. I’m Kai.”<br /> The crumpled constraints of the horrible frozen moment unfurled all at once and time caught up, moving too fast. She couldn’t process what had just happened.<br /> What. The. Hell did she just say to him?<br /> Instinct took over at the same moment the professor raised his voice to call the class to order. River saw Kai’s offered hand and took it, gave it a polite shake without looking him in the face and immediately fell into the issued instructions from the front of the class to open their textbooks to page seventy-five.<br /> The rest of the hour-and-something class flashed by in a blur of cell division and biological jargon and River was up and rushing out the door before Professor Mason could say “see you next class-period.”<br /> Slam-bam, right into Victoria Pullman.<br /> “Watch where you’re going, Creepy-Creek!”<br /> The shrill voice combined with a version of Victoria’s oh-so-not-creative nomenclature for River sent chills of dread through her entire body.<br /> “I thought I saw you slinking in at the back of class. Surprised you’d even show your face after this last summer. Nice hair.” Despite the derisive tone of the rest, Victoria’s final comment sounded more like a compliment.<br /> Victoria was genuinely obsessed with fashion, to be fair.<br /> Maybe she could smooth things out?<br /> “Thanks. Good to see you too, Vitchy,” River grumbled sarcastically, before she knew what she was saying.<br /> “Oh! The mongrel thinks she’s got teeth now because she figured out how to put on eye-liner?” Victoria pursued her as she tried to walk away.<br /> So much for smoothing things out.<br /> Other students were watching as they passed. It was becoming a scene.<br /> “And don’t think I didn’t see you talking to my man in there! He’s not into strays, alright? Stay away from him.”<br /> “Maybe you should tell him to stop trying to hump my leg and there won’t be an issue!” River swerved abruptly, feeling her cheeks flush, boiling hot, as she glared right into the shorter girl’s blue eyes.<br /> “What did you just say?” Victoria hissed.<br /> “I said that I can’t decide which one of you needs the leash and which one needs the muzzle!” River was shouting and she didn&#039;t know why.<br /> River’s stomach sank in immediate regret.<br /> Victoria’s posture changed and her hand came out of nowhere, right at River’s face.<br /> She flinched as she braced for impact. But the slap didn’t land.<br /> At least not on her face.<br /> The hallway was dead silent in the wake of the sharp smack.<br /> River followed Victoria’s shocked - but still rage-filled gaze - to the victim of her strike, who somehow appeared out of nowhere just between them. He was wearing a bright red hoodie and was rubbing his cheek thoughtfully.<br /> Victoria and River both slowly looked up at the unreasonably stunning face, right to the equally bright-red hand print marring its smooth, statuesque perfection.<br /> “Wow. You hit people pretty often? Cause you really pack a punch,” Kai said, clear disdain dripping off his quiet, chuckling comment.<br /> ~<br /> Kai.<br /> She didn’t even know his last name.<br /> Her imagination filled it in as Kai Redhood, heroic, shining knight for hire. The start of a dozen fantasies tried to take flight.<br /> She had definitely read way too many novels over the summer.<br /> Still, he stepped in to take the hit for her.<br /> In the wake of the altercation, no less than half a dozen she wolves swarmed to Kai’s aid. <br /> Ravenous dogs every one of them.<br /> River frowned at herself. Grandma Lucy would be immeasurably disappointed in her for insulting her own kind that way.<br /> But the fact remained. She couldn’t hold a candle to all of the other she-wolves at her school or anywhere else. She couldn’t even shift yet. <br /> What did she have to offer a wolf like Kai?<br /> And a wolf he was.<br /> That, and he had all the trimmings of “the new kid in town.”<br /> Lone wolf.<br /> Returning home, River put her thoughts behind her. She helped her grandmother in the kitchen. <br /> “Are you going to tell me anything, or do I have to pry it out of you?” Grandmother Lucy asked.<br /> “Oh! Right. School. Good. It was good.”<br /> “And?”<br /> “And…I saw Clay. And Victoria.”<br /> There was a long pause. Another voice coughed lightly near the stairs. Klara leaned against the door frame. Both women waited, a bit tense.<br /> “It didn’t even bother me. I have a class with both of them.” River shrugged and went back to chopping. She noted Klara’s pointed glance at her grandmother.<br /> “Well..that’s good.”<br /> “Oh yeah, great.” River deflected. “The professor in that class is super interesting.”<br /> Oof. She was a terrible liar.<br /> “I am relieved to hear you kids are getting along,” Klara played along.<br /> Grandma Lucy may or may not have grimaced and rolled her eyes. She tapped the ladle against the pot rim a bit aggressively.<br /> Klara was supposed to be telling her something.<br /> Something she wouldn’t like to hear.<br /> “Because…?”<br /> “Because Clay’s Alpha ceremony was announced for next weekend. The whole pack is invited. Obligated to go, really.”<br /> “What?!” It came out way louder than River had intended. “I mean, fine. But why? He’s so young. Alpha Baldwin is still in his prime, right?”<br /> “At times Alpha’s will let their successor take charge on a probationary basis. Or they might step down because of...” Grandma’s words trailed off.<br /> “Stuff,” Klara finished for her.<br /> “River. I know you were spurned...”<br /> “Spurned? It’s not like I ever had anything to do with Clay before the Announcement. Not really.” She really tried to sound like she didn’t care, but there were too many warring emotions. Everything was happening too soon.<br /> Her life was just supposed to be getting good. Now her enemies would be in charge. She’d have to watch her back. All the time.<br /> “Regardless. It is our duty to go. Especially since the Lycans will be there.”<br /> “Wait…like, those Lycans? Aren’t they like were-royalty?”<br /> “Exactly. Like Alpha of Alphas. Rumor has it that the King wolf might make an appearance himself,” Klara rapped the table with her knuckles. “Even if it weren’t an issue of pack obligation, or propriety, you would really do well to mingle with anyone from the Lycan family, River.”<br /> “If they are so almighty and powerful, why do they allow worthless Alphas to rule over us and treat members like they treat us?” River blurted out. <br /> “River! Do not speak about our leaders like that,” Grandma Lucy snapped. <br /> “They do know what they are doing. Lycans keep the whole were-wolf world a secret, and put the right people in the right places to keep us safe.”<br /> Maybe it was the idea of going to another big gathering. Tons of people. The pack that had just ridiculed her only a few months before.<br /> Either way, it looked like she didn’t have a choice.<br /> “Fine. I’ll go. I really need a run. Be back for dinner.”<br /> Without another word, she stood and stalked to her room, changed, and headed for the door. The streets flew by and quickly gave way to gravel, then dirt and stone.<br /> River took the steep side of the trail with a growl, pushing herself into a full run.<br /> Her body rose to the challenge, her anger and frustration fueling her muscles. So maybe she was still a little pent up. <br /> One summer of personal growth was not quite enough to erase a lifetime of insecurities. She wished she could just will them away.<br /> But she was still worried. All the time.<br /> She was sick of running away.<br /> This was different.<br /> She needed this run. Her breath felt ragged and her lungs burned, but she kept going.<br /> The heat of the late afternoon only served to bolster her aggression.<br /> Sweat cascaded down her back, trickled from her brow and into her eyes, but she ignored it.<br /> Thick evergreen trees lining the path thinned ahead and she finally slowed, emerging onto a dusty, red stone flat top, one sharp point sticking out right over the glittering green lake below.<br /> Getty Lake looked spectacularly cool and refreshing after her run.<br /> No one was around for miles to see her in her underwear. No one was around to see her jump. Nothing to worry about.<br /> It was just her and her fears. Just like so many times before.<br /> Only this time she would do it.<br /> She was still catching her breath, her hands raised to rest on her head, as she stepped up to the lip and gauged the drop. It still looked as high as it ever had.<br /> A pang of fear shivered up her spine as she wheeled, throwing a hand out to the side to block any attack or to strike out at a would-be assailant. The move caused her to slip sideways. Her foot found nothing but empty air next to her. <br /> Long, sturdy arms wrapped around her and pulled her into a tight grip.<br /> Gasping, she squirmed for a second, trapped against a warm, firm body behind her.<br /> Her nostrils flared for a second at the faint hint of cologne.<br /> Slowly she turned her head and a pair of familiar amber eyes gazing back at her.<br /> And felt every inch of his hot, bare skin pressed tightly against her back.<br /> It was Kai.<br /> ~<br /> River was lost somewhere between a glare and a gawk.<br /> She could still feel his skin pressing against her back. It sent a euphoric rush along her thighs that reminded her of a runner’s high.<br /> Kai released River as soon as he felt her tense.<br /> Then he simply smiled, and tossed himself off the cliff with an obnoxious, casual little wave. Like he jumped off forty foot drops all the time. It made her irrationally annoyed for some reason.<br /> Now she stood there with her fists clenched, fighting with herself. Having an audience for her face off with fear was not what she had in mind when she came out here.<br /> On the other hand, who cares? And she couldn&#039;t just back down now that he had already done it.<br /> She should just jump.<br /> So jump.<br /> She should just put her clothes back on and go home.<br /> So go home.<br /> She should flip him off.<br /> From this distance she couldn’t quite be sure of the smirk that passed over Kai’s incredible lips. Was he laughing at her?<br /> Her toes curled over the roughhewn lip of rock and she caught a shuddering inhale. She didn’t remember stepping up to the edge. River cast one last glance down to make sure he was watching.<br /> Kai definitely made a face. River definitely gave him the finger.<br /> Then she was airborne.<br /> For a second, it was nothing. There was no fear, no sensation, just a sort of horrified realization that she had finally done it and had to live with the consequences.<br /> The rush tightened every muscle in her body, which was good because one instinct was to flail and somewhere in between the high pitched squeal that followed her down she knew flailing would get her hurt when she hit the water.<br /> Forty feet lasted an eternity but was over in a split second.<br /> She forced herself to catch a tiny breath and clamped her eyes shut right before she hit.<br /> Ice cold water surged up around her, enveloping her.<br /> It felt…incredible. Every inch of her skin sang with the impact and the jolt of delicious cold.<br /> Adrenaline coursed through her, heightening her senses. Every nerve felt electric.<br /> Water warbled the sounds of her movements in the water. Much to her surprise, none of the water had gone up her nose.<br /> River opened her eyes to look around. The lake was crystal clear. Rippling light reached the sandy bottom a few feet below her. Details jumped out at her, each and every colorful pebble and boulder littering the bottom of the small lake.<br /> Her hands splayed, dragging along to feel the liquid between her fingers.<br /> Pushing upward, she realized how deep she was and had a mini panic attack. She forced it down, stroked her arms, and kicked up and broke the surface.<br /> She couldn’t resist the grin that pulled so hard at her mouth that her cheeks hurt. A soft chuckle to her right matched her own sputtering laugh.<br /> Kai was hovering nearby, his amber eyes sparkling. Water matted his honey-colored hair to his head, not darkening it much, but accenting the golden highlights. A few short curls still fought free, playfully bobbing around his cheeks.<br /> Without a thought, she drifted to him, breathing heavily, but not labored.<br /> In the shallows, shadowed by an overhanging branch, he met her gaze. His tongue flicked over his lips.<br /> Was he nervous? No way.<br /> “You did it,” he stated, not sounding particularly surprised, but maybe a little impressed.<br /> “I did.” She didn’t bother trying to hide her pride in herself. Excitement still hopped and skipped through her limbs from the rush.<br /> Kai moved forward a bit, his shoulders poking above the surface of the water. He looked beyond enticing.<br /> “What’s your name?” He sounded almost hesitant.<br /> “River. My name’s River.”<br /> ~<br /> Class felt distant and vague.<br /> And no Kai.<br /> Days zipped by and trudged along.<br /> Still no sign of Kai. <br /> She couldn&#039;t keep her mind off him, but she didn&#039;t know where he was either. She could even imagine more intensely, Kai’s full, sensuous lips brushing down her neck, her collarbone…<br /> Whoa there, River.<br /> Every sense was on fire.<br /> On the other hand, River wondered if she would ever get a sign of her wolf. The changes that came with becoming a wolf usually started after your first shift into your new form, and those even longer after the inner wolf’s voice made itself known in puberty.<br /> River hadn’t heard a peep.<br /> No wolf. Nothing.<br /> Additionally, the mate bond breaking between her and Clay should have had lasting effects on her, but there was none of that either.<br /> Of course, her and Clay had not mutually accepted the bond and consummated it.<br /> Thank goodness.<br /> The thought of anything remotely intimate with Clay made her want to puke.<br /> She had only crossed his path again a few times in the halls on the university campus. Each time he was evasive, but stared openly at her.<br /> Almost desperately.<br /> It sort of felt like a role reversal.<br /> He looked at her from afar with a look in his eye that made her skin crawl. <br /> The day of the ascension ceremony dawned and River found herself up with the sunrise, feeling almost anxious about the proceedings. She couldn’t for the life of her think of why…<br /> Not because she would get to see Kai.<br /> The entire town must have turned out -- plus the Calders from Edmondson a few miles over -- to see so many wolves. This Lycan family really must be something to attract such a crowd.<br /> As if in answer to her thoughts and wide-eyed stare, Klara said, “The Calder pack has finally conceded and agreed to join up with us if they are happy with the ascension proceedings today.”<br /> “Hard to believe. Jebediah’s clan always swore they’d never merge with another pack,” Grandma Lucy shook her head. “Resources really must be thin if they finally gave in to the Baldwins.”<br /> “They may back out when they meet Clay,” Klara snickered.<br /> Grandma and Klara never did like the ruling Alpha’s family much, thought they typically kept those thoughts to themselves. Especially at a pack gathering.<br /> River started to ask a question when a faint scent caught her attention.<br /> Her skin pebbled with goosebumps.<br /> Cedar…<br /> Crisp, cold mountain air…<br /> “Um, I want to go walk around the lake before it starts,” she offered as she veered away from her family.<br /> The scent trail of cedar and moss drew her off around the lake to the far side.<br /> Rich pine and wood soon overpowered the faint guiding lure and she grunted in frustration. He had to be off this way somewhere…<br /> River tilted her head to the sound of a snapping twig off in the dimness of the forest.<br /> “Kai?” She crept around a towering trunk, her heart pounding. Strong hands snatched out and pulled her forward into the shadows.<br /> A yelp escaped her mouth as a heavier body twirled her around and slammed her back against rough bark. Hot breath heaved along her neck as the body pressed close and a sickening snarl curled around her left ear, making her want to scream.<br /> “You’d think you could at least pronounce my name right,” The words were a guttural grumble.<br /> “Clay?!” She stammered out.<br /> “Relax, Landon. This was always meant to be. My bad for not seeing it sooner…” Lust graveled his whining voice.<br /> “G-get off-”<br /> “Oh I plan to…bonus points if you do, too, but like my dad always said, &#039;If she can’t learn to like it, that’s her problem!&#039;”<br /> River suppressed a gag of fear and revulsion.<br /> No.<br /> No way he was going to do this.<br /> Something deep in her gut quaked violently. Her hands started to shake with the pulse of adrenaline.<br /> It felt good.<br /> Not ‘good’ like she could ever like what Clay Baldwin had to offer or any sort of sick concession to what he was trying to do. But the kind of good that makes you want to slam your fist into a punching bag.<br /> The kind of good that made her jump off a forty foot cliff.<br /> It overpowered the anxious and terrified sob that tried to erupt from another part of her mind. She wasn’t a helpless little kid.<br /> Clay moved to throw her down to the leave strewn forest floor, yanking her forward. She used the momentum to drive her knee into his crotch.<br /> “You got some spirit after all, huh?” He grasped at his inner thigh where her blow had narrowly missed.<br /> “Stay. Away. From. Me,” River hissed, her breath coming in gasps.<br /> “Or. What?” He taunted, leering at her chest.<br /> River took a step forward aggressively, her eyes boring into him. Clay took a small step back.<br /> Was he intimidated?<br /> He lunged again, but this time River was ready and snatched his wrist, easily twisting and shoving him into the trunk of a thick oak. Clay caught himself and grunted in frustration, hiding it with a chuckle.<br /> River was stronger than him. She could feel it.<br /> Clay matched her forceful steps toward each other and they faced off, both of their fists clenching.<br /> “Oh. My. God!” Victoria’s voice shrieked between them.<br /> River turned, losing the momentum of her anger in shock. “What? He was trying to-”<br /> “Explain that I don’t want her to keep trying to hit on me at school,” Clay prattled off quickly, glaring accusingly at River. Victoria nodded, her suspicions confirmed.<br /> “That’s not-”<br /> “Home wrecker. Creepy Creek just can’t let it go, huh? Don’t you get it? You lost. You always lost. Because you’re a loser.” Victoria closed in. Clay joined her, pressing River back a step, then several. “We may just have to tell everyone how River Landon tried to throw herself at Clay Baldwin on the day of his ascension.”<br /> “Pathetic,” Clay agreed, his lip twitching vindictively.<br /> Irrational panic rose up inside River.<br /> She was back in high school.<br /> She was back at the mating ceremony.<br /> And once again, she ran, the other two hot on her heels.<br /> Rounding the lake, River aimed toward the steps that would take her back down the road, to the car, to the compound, to home.<br /> Anywhere but here.<br /> Just shy of the first step, she threw a glance over one shoulder, spotting Clay and Victoria striding through the crowd toward her. The rest of the wolves hardly seemed to notice, their focus up on the natural platform the Alpha would ascend.<br /> Suddenly, every single wolf present dropped to their belly, every pack member in human form dropped to one knee and forced into wolf form. Victoria and Clay fell mid step, as if thrown to the ground by an unseen force, both of them yelping in shock as they shifted against their will.<br /> Eerie silence settled over the gathering.<br /> River looked around, confused. She scanned the crowd for any sign of her family or of Kai.<br /> And she found him.<br /> An enormous wolf prowled off the edge of the dais, glided through the wolves and shifted mid step back into the gloriously glistening form of Kai a few yards from her.<br /> His amber eyes passed over every bowed head before settling on River. His head tilted to the side and he looked her up and down. Every eye was on her. She was the only other person standing.<br /> “Kai,” River blurted out.<br /> “It’s Malachi, actually. Prince Malachi Lycan,” he said silkily, his full lips curling on one side.

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