Page 25 of The Alpha's Rejected Mate

I smothered a smile and turned to Everett as she came over. “You remember Aislin Mundy, my Betas’ daughter?”

“Of course. It’s nice to see you again,” Everett said, engulfing Aislin’s hand in his as they shook hands.

Aislin smiled. “You too, Everett.” I noticed my friend was wearing a completely plain T-shirt. Something that hardly ever happened. I tucked this away to tease her about later. Clearly, she was dressing to impress.

As I showed Everett into the living room, Aislin went and got us all some coffee.

“Will Muriel be joining us?” Everett asked as he sat down on the leather couch.

I shook my head. “She’s more of a night owl. If she’s up later, I’ll be sure to introduce you.”

He nodded. “I quite understand. It’s quite common for unicorns to be of nocturnal disposition.”

When Aislin returned with mugs of coffee, she and I settled into the chairs by the fire, our attention quickly claimed by the Eastpeak Alpha.

I’d phoned him the day after we’d recovered Muriel from the dragons. I’d relayed what Muriel had told me about the Inkscale Clan and how she’d been on the run from them for a while and had come into our area in the hope of finding protection from Mythguard. I’d broached that I’d heard a rumor that Everett was the man who’d know how to get in touch with the organization.

He hadn’t confirmed on the phone whether the rumors we’d heard that he was connected to the secret organization were true. But neither had he denied them. Instead, he’d suggested meeting in person.

Aislin had jumped to her usual conclusions and told me that he’d clearly been worried about relaying classified information over an insecure line. I noticed that my friend’s knuckles were white as she clutched her mug with a tight grip as she tried to contain her excitement about one of the mysterious Mythguards sitting amongst us.

“I wanted to meet in person,” Everett began, “as what I’m about to tell you is sensitive information.”

“You mean classified?” Aislin piped up.

Everett’s gray eyes skipped over her, making my usually bold friend flush. As he continued to hold her gaze as if they were having a staring conversation, she said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

After taking a sip of coffee, Everett continued. “From what you said, Gavin, Muriel reckons that these Inkscales are after herbecause her horn makes her a valuable commodity to have for her healing magic. But the fact of the matter is, there are other more diabolical uses that can be achieved through harvesting a unicorn’s horn.”

Sickness roiled through my stomach at his words. “By harvesting, you mean killing?” I clarified.

“Yes,” he affirmed. “To harness the power I’m talking about, one would kill the unicorn.”

Aislin’s expression tautened, and I knew, like me, she was thinking of the kind-hearted woman who’d become a welcome addition to our pack over the last few days. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and had sat with the young pups of the pack each night, telling stories.

“There are books that tell of how shifters can achieve another Lycan form by using a unicorn horn in a ritual,” Everett explained.

“Another lycan form?” I asked. “But a shifter already has their beast form. Why would they need another?”

“This other Lycan form is more something that is between human and beast, monstrous in nature and capable of great destruction and magic. Much more than one’s human or beast form could individually achieve,” Everett explained.

His gray eyes assessed each of us. “I believe that that is what the Inkscale Clan is seeking to achieve by hunting Muriel.”

I gritted my jaw, more determined than ever to keep Muriel safe and the dragons safely out of Grandbay lands.

When I asked him, “If Muriel and my pack should need Mythguard help, do you know how we’d contact them?” I asked Everett, my hazel eyes locking with his pale stare.

“Yes, I’ve already informed them,” he said. “I’ll be keeping them apprised of the situation. So, if she or you require more protection, all you have to do is contact me.”

That was as good a confirmation that he was a part of the secret organization that we were ever going to hear. I thought Aislin might pee herself with excitement, but as I looked at her, I saw that she was too shocked to react.

Shortly after, I thanked Everett for his information, and I saw him out. Aislin managed to murmur a goodbye to him as he took his leave. I supposed speechlessness was better than the squealing I’d half expected she’d be afflicted by at the discovery that Everett was linked to Mythguard.

As I got back to her, I said, “I thought you were going to have an aneurysm.”

She ignored me and said, “I was right.” Her big brown eyes were as huge as an owl’s. “Mythguard exists.” I knew I was never going to hear the end of this.

Later that day, I had another meeting, one I was looking forward to even less. You’d think that a meeting in which you heard about unicorns being murdered to create human-beast monstrosities would be the downer of the day but … I had to meet Catrina.

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