Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

So I thought I would save her the time and wait for her here.

Closing my eyes, I tilt my head up to let the morning sun beam upon my face. I would never get used to the way the sun feels stronger here...maybe because the land is slightly of higher altitude.

Even the floral smell this pack seems to have...so many flowers. So much nature here, I felt as if I had found my calling, found the pack for me.

Don't get me wrong, I was a Red Thorn alpha's daughter through and through, but the Amber Desert pack seemed to call to me, as if I was meant to be here all along.

Maybe it's the family connection, maybe my blood can just recognise lineage...family history.

A connection.

My eyes open when I hear the sound of cutting coming to the side of me in the front garden. Opening my eyes I find the elderly relative cutting white roses with pruning shears, her head turning to me as those unworldly eyes stare back at me.

"You know she'll go mental at you." I snicker out, taking steps closer to her as she continues to feel each white rose before deciding which one to cut.

"It's fun to get her worked up, she's far too on her high horse."

"Careful, she's your family.."

"My family? In no way am I related to them...thank the goddess." She pauses, handing me the shears to hold for her as she moves to her jacket chest pocket... pulling out a hip flask.

So the batty guest was senile as well as a drunk.

She takes a sip on the hip flask, to my horror...pain radiates through her face as she grimaces out...a silent scream escaping her.

to her, determined to pull the hip flask out of her hand but she was too

She grunts out,

know I

else would you

"Well I.."

safety to raise your child." I'm not sure I like the tone to her voice. "Well as a matter of

She barks out before seemingly regathering herself, placing the hip flask

"You know my Dad?"

"No...I don't know him."

do you mean fool?" My eyes scowl at

me, only stares

at, my own eyes struggling to keep eye contact due to how uncomfortable they make

hold them for just that little bit too long, the sensation disappearing as

you are,

myself and the woman. A tut escapes her mouth as she regards the female before her hand pulls me by the arm, pulling

away from the garden.

with her Luna, she's crazy.""Crazy?" I'm not

"She's not a relative?"

Alpha found her in the middle of the woods miles from here. Brought her back

can't deny there

I speak

my own benefit. Something was nagging at me, something I couldn't quite put a