Denied by Destiny Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond novel Chapter 246

Hector POV

6 years later

“What about these ones Daddy?”

“Yes Josie, Mummy will love those. What else did you find?” I ask Josephina as we are picking wild flowers in the meadow for Kaia.

Tomorrow is our anniversary of when Kaia marked me and each year, I ask her to marry me. She hasn’t said yes yet, but now the children are older they can aid me with my yearly ritual.

She can’t say no to the children, surely.

“Jaxon and Jace, if I can’t see you, you can’t see me!” I growl out to the boys as they have run off, hiding in the overgrown meadow.

My concern for their whereabouts is as their Father, not as their Alpha. If the border’s hadn’t been untouched for the past six years, I would have thrown my alpha command on them.

The shifter community has been the safest it has ever been but I know better than to get comfortable, to get complacent.

I know the White Moon pack is still out there…still planning on taking my mate. The stillness of the past 6 years isn’t a sign it has debanded, it is a sign they are planning something new…the white wolf has been in existence for centuries, as has the White Moon pack.

To them 6 years is nothing…no time at all.

The main concern now is that the white wolf has children…my children. Each border patrol I organise, each pack meeting I plan…it is with the desire to keep my mate and children safe.

“How about this daisy…Mummy like’s daisies.”

I hear giggling close by, the boys as always looking to jump out at their sister to try and scare her. But there isn’t a lot that scares Josie.

“I can hear you..” She tuts, scowling at the long grass behind me…pinpointing their location easily. More giggles ensue before they start wrestling playfully with one another.

“Alpha Orpheus and Rosa have just entered the gates.” Riley mind-links me to inform me of some guests. Rosa had been Luna of the Red Thorn pack for some time, but even now, my beta, Riley struggles to call her by her title. I suppose she will always be his little sister.

“We are coming back.” I respond before cutting the mind-link and picking up the bunch of flowers.

“Jaxon.” I warn out only for him to now come out of hiding, head hung low.

“It really hurts.” Jace blows on his knee, Jaxon rolling his eyes at his brother’s reaction.

“Here, I have a plaster in my bag.” Josie reaches for her small unicorn bag before pulling out a plaster and placing it on her brother’s knee.

“That will help for now, but we will need to clean it when we get to the house.” She orders before placing her hand within mine as she always does.

As soon as we enter the house Josie cries out to Kaia, informing her that Jaxon hurt Jace as per usual. With a clicked tongue Kaia comes running into the hallway before rolling her eyes at the bunch of flowers in my hand. She had been avoiding me all day, like she does, every year on this exact date.