Page 19 of Huntress and the Splintered Court
My father glanced at him over his shoulder. “It’s why it started. Some don’t even remember that it was the prophecy behind the cause. It’s become a taboo that anyone caught commingling is shamed. Now it’s my daughter, future ruler. Who will follow her now? A tryst we could hide, but mating the Alpha…and not just any Alpha.”
“Dad, it’s not what you think.”
“So you’re not mated?”
I ignored him. “Gideon wants to bring the pack out into the open. When he does, the hunter’s will be disbanded. Our job will fall to the humans. Those of us that wanted would fill their ranks, but you’d be the last leader of the Order. It was never my destiny to take up that mantel.”
He peered back at Gideon. “Is this true? You want to bring them out.”
“With your support.”
My dad looked back at me. “You won’t be coming home regardless, will you?”
I shook my head. “I want to be where he is.” I reached out for Gideon who took my hand. Coming up behind me, he snaked his arm around my hips.
“Did you know when you demanded her as your prisoner?” my father asked.
“I didn’t know until my wolf marked her.”
“Do we have your support?” I asked slipping into my new role as Gideon’s mate.
“You’re my daughter. I would never go against you. That being said, I wouldn’t be a good leader if I didn’t sit down with you and hear your plan.”
8
“You little minx,” Gideon growled shoving me against the wall pinning me there with his body. To an outsider it might have looked aggressive, but I saw the devilish glint in his eye. The door had barely closed behind my father before Gideon was on me.
I bit my lip feigning nervousness. I’d gone over his head by telling my father the plans to bring the wolves out. If I had been anyone else or if it hadn’t worked out so well, I’m sure I’d’ve seen a different reaction from the werewolf. “I told you he needed to know and you just hate that I was right.”
His green eyes narrowed and I stared right back at him refusing to break the connection first.
“I like seeing you take on the role of my mate and stepping into your place as Luna.”
“You’re not mad?”
“I’m furious,” he grinned.
“Then why are you smiling?” His mirth was making feel uneasy.
“Because I’m thinking just how I’m going to punish you. You’re not Luna yet and even if you were, you still went against my order.”
“You seem to think that I’m yours to command. I’m not.” When he did nothing more than stare at me, I began shifting nervously. “And it all worked out. My father is going to support you,” I babbled.
“But it might not have and then where would we be?” He leaned in, his mouth hovering over mine. When I tilted my head to close the distance he moved just out of reach before moving in again. By the third time of him pulling back, I growled in frustration.
“Is this how you’re going to punish me?”
“You want a kiss?”
I nodded. Gideon leaned in and kissed me just enough to cause desire to pool between my thighs then he withdrew. It wasn’t nearly enough.
“More,” I demanded.
He shook his head. “I think that’s enough for now.” He released me and I stumbled forward trying to swallow down my desire. “We have plans for today.”
Grabbing my hand, he led me from the throne room. I glanced back thinking how empowering it would have been to take him while he sat in that chair, a king on his throne.
My curiosity piqued when we headed outside and the sight of the wolves congregating mirrored what I thought the gathering for the full moon would look like, which was still days away, not to mention it was daylight.
