Mated

Thirty-Seven

Sephiran shoved James aside as he countered his attack, sending James sliding backwards several feet and in a flash he stood behind me.

"You know what I smell?" He said in my ear. The English Rogue sending an unwelcomed chill down my spine as his body stood uncomfortably close to me. My mind had quieted and my breaths slowed. A sense of calm washed over me and I felt my emotions going numb. I hoped that these were the only side effects because if it became worse, I would be in trouble. "How can the members of this pack truly accept you when I smell a mated pair who haven't sealed the bond. It might be too late for you—"

James growled from where he stood but I knew he wouldn't risk attacking Sephiran while I was within Sephiran's reach. He wouldn't risk having me hurt.

He crept close but stayed a safe distance away, baring his teeth at the Rogue. His shoulders were square and ready to lunge for him at any moment. What are you doing, Malia? He asked me.

"You were right Sephiran," I started, ignoring my mate.

"Ohh, I love the way you say my name," Sephiran jeered, coming around so that I could see him. His hands were clasped behind his back.

I swallowed the bile in my mouth. "I am Diana in so many ways. Fate wanted us united and so here I am. Here she is. Reincarnated in the flesh of her greatest granddaughter. Lycaon knew we would be unbeatable together and I didn't realize until now what honor it would bring my great grandmother, your Maker, for us to finish what you planned for the Rogues."

The Rogue cocked his head to one side. "You would leave your mate and join me?"

I sauntered toward the coffin, giving him my back. "You said it yourself. We haven't sealed the bond. It might be too late for us."

Malia you know that's not true! There is no expiry on our bond! What are you—

I whirled back around and crossed my arms over my chest. The back of my legs hit the coffin.

"None of this is by accident. Clearly it is my purpose. Fate planted me in your path..." I hesitated, feeling the weight of all the eyes in the room focused on me. "My Lord."

It was as if the sun had finally showed its face again after a bout of rain the way Sephiran's face slowly lit with triumph.

"Well, I was prepared to drag her away kicking—"

James' growl turned into a vicious, rabid snarl. Wait, I warned a little too calmly, trying hard not to look in his direction and praying to a higher God that he trusted me.

"But this...is much more satisfying, my dear." Sephiran took slow strides toward me. His cold, rough hands grabbed the sides of my face and it took everything in me not to barf as I stared into his handsome face into the dark red pits for eyes of the one repulsive person responsible for many deaths. Deaths of werewolves, the death of my great ancestor. The shattering of a Treaty that could have helped keep balance between werewolves and Hunters.

I tried not to cringe as I said, "Not as satisfying as this." And then I leaned forward and crushed our lips together, hearing the gasp from Cort and the uncomfortable whines from the rest of the pack. I imagined the confusion on the Hunter's face, the mutual hurt my pack probably felt. Sephiran did exactly what I thought he would. He was so in love with Diana that he fell for the kiss, falling right into it because me looking exactly like his lost love had been enough for him to kiss me back. And he kissed me hard until he staggered away from me, wiping his mouth with his fingers and looking down at them.

"What did you do!" He bellowed, glowering at me. "What did you just try to do?"

"It's an elixir that will cure you from being a Rogue long enough to admit you into our pack, and then my Alpha will kill you."