Chapter 14
The floor shook underneath my feet, the power pushing from my body and into the ground, but even with my blood fritzing, King Jovian didn’t tear his gaze from Raffe.
Strain and fear, both my own and Raffe’s, constricted my chest, and with my magic this strong, I could feel King Jovian’s anger, determination, and fear as he stared down my mate.
This had to be what alpha-willing was, and burning acid inched up my throat. Forcing someone to do something against their will was sick. At least my bullies had excluded me from things; they hadn’t forced me to do something that would break me. What sort of father did this to his child? Even when my parents had encouraged me to go out and make friends, they’d never forced my hand. And this was way worse than them wanting me to have a chance at being happy. King Jovian didn’t care about his son’s wants or needs.
The ground shook harder in tandem with my rising emotions—guilt for not being there for Raffe when he needed me the most and driving distance between us.
My head screamed that I needed to calm down, but I also knew that any attempt would be futile. It would be the equivalent of trying to get a dog not to play with a squeaky toy.
Pointless.
The immediate threat was King Jovian and his determination to come between Raffe and me. I couldn’t calm down with that threat imminent.
I could think of one positive—if things got bad enough, King Jovian would have to break thisstandoff and handle the repercussions of my blood. Not that it would make things better between us and him. He’d eventually try to alpha-will Raffe again.
Sweat beaded on Raffe’s forehead as he fought the command of his alpha. I can’t lose her. I can’t let him win this battle.
His words echoed in my head, faint but clear. I had to be imagining them and reading into the emotions that clung to him.
“Sky, you need to lock your magic down,” Raffe rasped, but I could read and feel the concern pouring off him. “Fighting him will be pointless if you wind up killing yourself.”
I snorted humorlessly. He was right—I ran the risk of dying—but the thought of him being with someone else hurt too damn bad, especially with our relationship under threat. “Sorry, but I can’t control it, not when he’s risking us.”
“That’s my point,” King Jovian gritted out. “She’s not only human but untrained and volatile. She can’t stand next to you, and I have no other heir as an option. I need to do this for our people, and you will see it clearly in time.”
My breathing quickened. Once again, I was unworthy in someone else’s eyes, which shouldn’t have been surprising. After coming to EEU and feeling a sense of belonging, this felt like Lizzie in kindergarten all over again. The pain was worse because the price would be Raffe.
I knew of one way to calm myself, and maybe if I touched Raffe, he’d realize I was there for him.
I took his hand, wanting to simultaneously stomp and yell because I couldn’t think of a damn thing I could do to help him. I felt powerless despite the ground quaking, the family picture behind the desk crashing to the floor, the huge desk shaking as if it was about to splinter, and the wooden planks curling upward from the floor.
When my hand touched Raffe’s, a shock sprang between us, stronger than any buzz from before. Raffe’s discomfort ebbed as surprise took over, but he didn’t avert his eyes from his dad. If anything, my touch increased his determination tenfold, which was what I wanted.
With all my animal facts and the classes I’d taken, I understood why. Wolves were all about strength and dominance, which revolved around fights, stare-offs, and hunting.
The ground shook harder, and the wooden floor cracked and popped. The desk broke apart. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the odd presence inside me that was becoming more and more of a hindrance grew hotter. Strength pushed into my arm, easing my blood a bit, but not enough to keep the ground from quaking.
A door that led into the house opened, and two male shifters ran into the room. The taller one’s eyes widened when he took in Raffe and King Jovian glaring at one another while the shorter one hurried to turn off the lights in the room.
Then I heard the creak, and I glanced up to find the chandelier in the middle of the room dropping a few inches before something caught it. But it wouldn’t stay that way for long.
I jerked on Raffe’s arm, knowing we needed to step back. Not only might I implode, but there was no telling how many people I might kill along with me. One being Raffe, which was unacceptable.
“I won’t leave her,” Raffe snarled, not fighting me and taking a few steps back. “Your alpha will won’t work on me.”
King Jovian marched toward us, either not noticing or caring about the chandelier swaying precariously over him.
“Leave,” King Jovian barked and pointed at the doors the guards had gone through. “I need to talk to my son and Skylar alone.”
“But sir, there’s an earthquake happening only in this room. You should—” the taller one started.
King Jovian shouted, “Leave now.”
The two guards listened, not hesitating, and my blood calmed to a hum, which was ironic, given the situation. How my blood had increased to more than that without leaving me on the ground dying was beyond me, but the power swirling through me was still too strong.
As if some higher being had a morbid sense of humor, the desk splintered like the coffee table had in Lucy’s and my apartment months ago.
Still, the king remained focused on Raffe.
“You heard me,” he rasped. “You will leave her. Now.”
My heart sputtered. This was it. Raffe was going to leave me, and I’d never be able to apologize and beg for his forgiveness.
A cocky smirk spread across Raffe’s face. “No.”
I blinked, startled enough that my blood dropped to a high fizz. The floor quieted.
“What?” King Jovian croaked and blinked. “That’s impossible. You have to bend to your alpha.”
Raffe shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you, Dad, but it’s not working.”
My eyes burned as relieved tears flooded them. I’d been so certain his dad would win, and a bitter taste filled my mouth. Once again, I’d doubted Raffe. What the hell was wrong with me? He was amazing.
Mouth opening and closing, King Jovian reminded me of a fish out of water.
“What’s wrong?” Raffe tilted his head, his face slipping into the mask of indifference he wore on campus and around almost everybody. The look screamed don’t mess with me, which was an amazing attribute on the football field. “Giving up?”
I loved his confidence, but I didn’t want to antagonize Jovian into trying again and succeeding. “Raffe—”
“Stop,” King Jovian snarled. He jabbed a finger at me. “You’ve done enough. I knew something was strange when Raffe avoided my questions about you, but I assumed he was focused on football and finishing his degree. Little did I know you were entrancing him.”
I laughed then tried to cover it with a cough. But from the way his eyes narrowed, he wasn’t buying it.
Fair enough.
Raffe moved forward, attempting to edge me out of the way again, but I moved with him. I wouldn’t hide.
“You just accused me of being untrained and volatile, and now you’re claiming I’m skilled enough to entrance him?” My voice rose higher than I wanted, but dammit, this whole visit had gone worse than I could’ve imagined. What if I hadn’t been here to support Raffe when his dad had tried to alpha-will him? He might not have been able to push through on his own. “Is it even possible to entrance someone?”
“Centuries ago, witches had potions that could give them control over humans and supernaturals.” King Jovian wrinkled his nose.
I didn’t like what he was insinuating, and my blood neared a hum again. “From what Slade says, wolf shifters banned those documents, so please tell me, how would I get a hold of one to even know what to do? And don’t forget, I’m not a witch. I’m a mere human.” I threw what he considered a slur back at him.
King Jovian lifted his head. “I should’ve run you off campus on that first day. Raffe and Aldric talked me out of it, saying it would make the witches pay more attention to you. I’m not sure that’s possible, given how close you are to them. Your mere presence—”
“If you finish that sentence, it will ruin our relationship forever.” Raffe’s hands tightened, and his jaw twitched. “You demanded that I come here, which I did even though it was the last thing I wantedto do. I knew you wouldn’t be thrilled about Skylar and me and our relationship, but I never dreamed you would try to force me to leave my fated mate, especially in such a disrespectful way.”
My heart ached for him, and I hated that I hadn’t been more understanding about his situation and why he had been so hesitant to come out about our relationship. Now I understood where he’d been coming from. His dad was determined to get his way even if he had to force his son to do what he wanted.
“You’re a prince.” King Jovian huffed, enhancing the sound of his lungs filling and emptying. “You don’t get the luxury of choosing the way other shifters do. There are certain expectations—”
“Maybe I should leave the pack.” Raffe inhaled so deeply that his chest puffed out. “Then none of this will be an issue.”
“None of it will be an issue for me?” King Jovian yanked on the ends of his hair. “You’re my only heir. Something I used to be proud of.”
“For doing what you told him to instead of following his heart and fighting for his happiness?” I asked, wanting the man to wake up and realize how selfish he sounded. “He wants to be with me.”
King Jovian cut the air with his arm. “A royal doesn’t get to do what he desires. He does what is required of him to keep his people strong and in line. Marrying the Atlanta alpha’s daughter is the best way to do this.” He stared Raffe down. “A year ago, you wouldn’t have hesitated.”
“I have chosen my mate.” Raffe intertwined our fingers and walked backward, guiding us to the doorway leading outside. “I won’t marry anyone but Skylar, and if leaving the pack is what it takes for you to listen to me, so be it.” He turned on his heels and opened the door.
I swallowed. I hated leaving like this, but staying would only escalate the matter. The king would likely try to alpha-will his son again. I couldn’t live with myself if I tried to get Raffe to stay and it worked.
Still, wolves were pack animals. They weren’t meant to be on their own, and I wasn’t sure what the consequences of Raffe leaving his pack would be.
Outside, the cool afternoon air circled us, and the misty rain hit my face, cooling my blood. Luckily, that presence in my chest eased too, and I breathed a little easier.
“Raffe, come back.” King Jovian’s heavy footsteps followed us. He said louder, “We aren’t done here.”
“We are. I have nothing left to say. You can figure out another way to get the Eastern wolves back in line.” Raffe opened the passenger door of the SUV. “In fact, why don’t you alpha-will them into remaining in the pack? You seem to be really good at that.”
I mashed my lips together to hide my smile as I slid into the vehicle. Raffe made a good point. Why hadn’t King Jovian done that?
When Raffe opened the driver’s side door, King Jovian said, “If you leave, things will change between us.”
“That already happened in your study.” Raffe shook his head and frowned. “I hope losing me is worth it.” He climbed in and slammed the door, then started the car and backed out.
I glanced in the rearview mirror and watched King Jovian’s face turn bloodred. I could only hope his anger was mixed with regret.
Raffe placed a hand on my thigh, and for the next several miles, we rode in silence. I didn’t want to push him. He needed to process everything that had happened. What his dad had done was shitty, but that didn’t make it easier. I couldn’t imagine having biological parents who wanted me, and I’d always tried to keep my adoptive ones happy.
“Babe, I’m so sorry about that.” Raffe hung his head slightly while keeping his eyes on the road. “The stuff my dad did and said—”
“Hey.” I placed a hand over his and squeezed gently. “You have nothing to apologize for. You did nothing wrong. Your father’s actions aren’t your fault. He’s his own person, and you stood up for us and our relationship. I’m sorry you had to go through that. And I’m sorry that I wasn’t understanding before when you didn’t jump all in to be with me immediately.”
He cut his gaze to me, the warm cobalt that made me feel like mush returning to his eyes.
“You had every right to be upset over that.” He licked his bottom lip. “You’re worth the risk, and I was foolish to hesitate. Don’t feel bad about that. I needed a good kick in the nuts.”
I snorted. “Nuts? Most would go with the ass.”
“Maybe.” He tilted his head with a half shrug. “But watching you walk out that door was worse than that. It felt like I’d been neutered.”
“When an animal is neutered, they’re under anesthesia, so the pain is minimal when combined with medication and rest.” I rolled my eyes. “A kick in the ass would hurt worse.”
“This was a neutering done at one of those cheap places where they don’t knock the animal out. They just cut off their balls.” He removed his hand from my leg and booped my nose. “That’s how painful it was.”
“Maybe if you lived on a ranch, but fortunately for you, you live in a bougie mansion.” I turned my body toward him and arched a brow.
He chuckled. “Fine. Let’s say you ripped my heart out, but fortunately, you gave it back to me before I officially stopped breathing.”
I placed my hands together and pressed one side against my cheek, batting my eyes. “You’re such a romantic.”
“I can be. Eventually, you’ll see.” The corners of his lips tipped downward. “If people can fucking leave us alone for a minute.”
Like that, our reprieve from reality was gone. “So, did you just leave your pack for me?” I had no clue how it worked.
“Not officially, but I think I’ll have to.” Raffe chewed on his bottom lip. “I couldn’t stay there. I didn’t want my father to use alpha will on me again. I’m not sure how I resisted it. He’s done it before, and I had to obey. The only difference between then and today was that I’ve claimed you as my mate.”
“I doubt it was that, but I’m glad you fought him off. I can’t imagine—” I stopped, unable to continue; thinking about him with someone else was horrible. But to say the words … I couldn’t.
Raffe took my hand again. “Babe, I swear I’ll leave the pack before I’m forced to do anything like that. You’re it for me. No matter what. I understood the risks when I bit you.”
The weight of his decision sat heavily on me. I asked, “Why doesn’t he alpha-will the Eastern pack like you said?”
“Doing that would guarantee that the Eastern wolf shifters would split off from us. If it would work, trust me, he’d have already done it.”
“Now we’re facing threats from Eastern wolf shifters and a secret society that wants to use me.” Being invisible did have its merits, but if I’d stayed invisible, I would’ve never met Raffe.
“The Eastern wolf shifters are Dad’s issue. The only thing I’m concerned with is keeping my mate safe, which means taking down the secret society. We just need to figure out who the members are.”
He was right. Dave had vanished, and I doubted Glinda, Warin, and the other vampires would be easy to find. We needed help to figure out who was involved. “Some of the wolves searching with you work for the Veiled Circle. I’m not sure how many, but that’s a place to start.”
“That’s all we’ve got.” Raffe pursed his lips. “I’ll start working on it via pack link before we get back.”
That was more than okay with me. Even though I wasn’t as exhausted as I should’ve been, I laid my head against the seat to rest.
“Fuck,”Raffe almost shouted, startling me. I opened my eyes and blinked, trying to determine where we were. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep.
My head cleared, and my eyes focused on a group of people standing at the edge of the parking lot.
Keith, Adam, Slade, Supreme Priestess Olwyn, Lafayette, Zella, and Hecate, in that exact order.
Raffe pulled into his spot, body tense. “Skylar, stay in the car.”
Yeah, that wasn’t happening.
When he opened his door and got out, I followed suit.
Supreme Priestess Olwyn hissed, “Have you lost your mind?”