*Jared*
If we were going to weaken Aries and get his supporters to turn against him, I knew I needed all the help I could get.
One morning, I went to et up with Archer with several ssages written and addressed to my closest allies across the realm.
“Can you dispatch these ssages?” I asked, handing the stack of envelopes over.
Archer sifted through the letters, looking at the nas on each envelope. He arched an eyebrow.
“I’m reaching out to all our allies, asking who is willing to stand against Aries and revealing all his deceptions,” I explained.
“You don’t want to deliver them yourself? I’m sure that would be more aningful.”
I grunted and tossed my hair out of my face.
“I would love to, but I’m sure you’ve noticed my wolf hasn’t been the most cooperative these past nights.”
Archer smirked. “I did notice....”
“Well, as you can imagine, I can’t exactly be out in the field delivering ssages and have him take over.”
“Alright, I will make sure these letters make it to their destinations.”
“Thank you, Archer.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m going to hang around the packhouse today. Send word if you hit a snag and reach out to with any responses you get.”
“Of course. I’ll check in once they are delivered.”
Archer bowed his head to and returned to his camp. He was one of the few I could trust to deliver those ssages.
I headed back to the village and my wolf was instantly soothed. I swear, he was getting more uncontrollable.
I needed to find a way to talk to Eliza and let her know what was going on. If things kept going like this, she really would hate soon.
If she didn’t already...
When I got back ho, I went straight to my office. If I was going to be hanging around the house, I needed to put my ti to good use.
Archer would keep in the loop.
I didn’t need to pace and worry. What I did need to do was figure out how to restore my mate bond to Eliza.
Just that morning, a whole new round of docuntation on the mate bond had been delivered. This batch ca from Moon Goddess temples and other places where the lore would be richer.
It didn’t even matter how crazy or far-fetched an idea sounded. I would try anything at this point.
I grabbed one of the books and flopped down on my couch, tucking my arm behind my head.
As I read, my ears twitched, hearing Eliza, Giselle, and Scarlett chattering. I couldn’t make out their words exactly, but I knew the three of them had been working on packhouse renovations.
I was glad Eliza had sothing to keep her busy and friends to keep her company.
My heart sank slightly and I lay the book across my chest. It still pained to think that she was hurting so much, which was why I needed to find a solution in these books.
Growling, I picked the book up again and started reading with more vigor.
I skipped to the end where there was a Chapter on restoring bonds. It wasn’t specific to mate bonds, but it was the closest I’d gotten to what I was actually looking for.
The Chapter was broken into subsections, each one covering a different bond.
I read about all the rituals used for restoring bonds.
Most of them involved flowers or plants of so kind and a ritual perford to the Moon Goddess.
“Huh... that’s sothing....”
I set the book aside and went back to my stack of books and scrolls. One of the ancient texts I’d read had ntioned a flower.
I sifted through the docunts until I found the one I was looking for. It was titled, “The First Mate Bond.”
It was all legend, of course, but couldn’t there be truth in the legends?
This was a legend for one sect of Moon Goddess priestesses that told of the first shifter pair that was mate bonded. It told of how a powerful Alpha King prayed to the Moon Goddess to find soone who was his equal and could rule as Luna beside him.
One day, he was out walking and saw the most beautiful female ever. He knew in his heart that she was his equal. To thank the Moon Goddess and honor the woman, he gave her a rare flower.
The Moon Goddess blessed their union on the flower, creating the first mate bond.
I’d read half a dozen mythologies about the first mate bond before. This was the only one that ntioned a flower, just like all the restoration rituals.
The na of the flower nearly popped out of the page at the bottom.
Lunalily.
There was a small sketch of the flower. I’d never seen anything so beautiful and unique before.
I grabbed a botany book off my shelf and flipped through it until I found what I was looking for. So, Lunalilies existed. That was a good sign.
I frowned when I saw where they grew. My eyes moved to the map hanging on the wall.
Lunalilies only grew in one place, one valley, and it was on the outskirts of the kingdom.
The sun was setting, but for the first ti in days, I was hopeful. There was a flower connected to the mate bond, I knew where it grew, and there was a potential ritual to help restore the bond.
My heart felt so much lighter, and I wanted to catch Eliza and have a real word with her before my wolf took over. I hurried to her room, but it was empty.
Frowning, I looked around. There was no sign she’d been there in a while. I could see the sun sinking fast.
Dammit, I didn’t have ti to run around looking for her. I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and sat down at her table, scribbling a quick letter. It was all I could do if she didn’t show up in the next couple of minutes.
***
*Eliza*
Shortly after the contractors left for the day, I said goodnight to Giselle and Scarlett. They wanted to hang out longer and relax with them, but I wasn’t in the mood.
As nice as it was to have a distraction from the constant pain in my chest, I still got so exhausted by the end of the day from carrying that emotional burden around, and I needed to be by myself.
I got to my room and paused in the doorway.
Jared sat at the table. He was writing sothing and didn’t notice for a mont.
My heart raced in my chest. I rubbed my hands on my thighs as I tried to think of sothing to say.
What could I say? I could ask him why he was avoiding . I could ask him why he rejected . But would any of those answers satisfy ?
Suddenly, Jared saw . He stood up and put his pen down. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to mine. He cleared his throat into his fist and opened his mouth.
Before a sound ca out, the air around him quivered and Jared shifted into his wolf form.
I put my hands on my hips and scoffed. “Really? One look at and you hide?”
Jared’s wolf whined and turned around, then hopped on his front paws.
Sighing, I went to the table and picked up the paper he was writing on. It was a letter.
I glanced at Jared’s wolf and he nodded, nosing the letter in my hands.
“Alright, I’ll read it. But we’re not okay, got it?”
His wolf whimpered and went to the bed. He sat down and patiently waited for .
“My Dearest Eliza,
I know that I have hurt you deeply with my rejection, and for that, I am truly sorry. But I need you to understand that I did it to protect our child, to make sure that they wouldn’t be cursed from birth as I was. I love you more than anything in this world. You are my mate, my wife, and my Luna. I cannot bear the thought of losing you again, though I know you’ll never forgive .
I’ve been wanting to tell you this face to face, but my wolf wants to be with you and protect you from ... so, he takes control every night to watch over you.
It isn’t much, but I have been researching a way to restore our mate bond, and I believe I have found a solution. Please know that I will do anything to take your pain away and then I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, even if you never feel the sa about .
I love you always,
Jared”
Tears pricked my eyes and I blinked them back. I could tell it was rushed, based on the sloppiness of Jared’s handwriting, but he had definitely made his point. It was everything I’d been wanting to hear from him.
The letter fully conveyed his depth of love and feelings for . And as I suspected, his sacrifice had not been to hurt . It had been to protect our child.
Knowing the truth softened to him.
I folded the letter up and tucked it into the bedside table.
Dropping to my knees, I wrapped my arms around his wolf neck.
“Thank you for sharing that with .”
I grabbed a fresh piece of paper and wrote Jared a loving reply, filled with hope. It was the hope that I felt in my chest now, that we could still be together.
While the pain from the rejection was still there, underneath, I understood the sacrifice. If our places had been exchanged, I would have done the sa thing for our baby.
I told Jared in my reply that I welcod his wolf’s protection and comfort. I left it on the table for him to find in the morning.
I turned back to his wolf and quickly stripped out of my clothes. I shifted too. My wolf was just as eager to be in his wolf’s presence.
For the past few nights, she had retreated deeper inside of , confused about why Jared was never there but his wolf was.
She sensed the change in , understood why it had been that way, and her happiness took over.
We went right up to Jared’s wolf and nuzzled him under the chin.
He replied happily.
My wolf and I hopped up onto the bed and yipped playfully at Jared’s wolf. He jumped up and spun in several circles before lying down on the bed. My wolf did the sa, cuddling close to Jared.
His wolf lay his head across my wolf’s back, and soon the two of them were wrapped around each other.
A peacefulness settled over , followed by intense drowsiness. I fell asleep quickly, feeling warm and protected against his wolf.
But I wondered how many more nights could I endure without being in Jared’s arms.
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