The Gift chronicles

Book 1 Chapter 17

Ughhhhh , I thought in a somewhat conscious state. I tried to open my eyes, but found that they were too droopy. Confused, I tried remembering the last thing that happened. I was running from the Alpha, then he caught me, then...

It's not time for you to wake up yet, pup, Alpha Cain's voice penetrated my mind. The only way for him to be mindlinking me was if... he marked me.

Suddenly the memory came rushing back to me, and I suddenly was acutely aware of the soreness in my neck. I struggled to touch my neck as an automatic reflex, but found that I couldn't move.

My mind, still feeling fuzzy, struggled to piece together what was happening. I focused on what was happening around me, and I realized that I was being carried, due to the slight swaying motion I was experiencing.

Summoning all of my strength, I managed to pry my eyes open. I looked down and realized that I was once again wrapped in the pelt. I blushed, realizing that I was naked underneath, since I had destroyed my clothes while shifting out of them.

can't be mad at me for marking you, mate. I should have done it the second I caught you in the

my plan beautifully. You did everything according to plan, although I will admit, the kiss was a surprise," He continued, and spoke again when he noticed the confused look on my face. What plan? "I didn't bring the knife along just

had been playing me the way I thought I had been playing him the whole time. F***ing A**hole. "You aren't as clever as you think, pup. I'm 10 years older than you, I've seen it all. You thought I was weakened because of how I felt about you, but you couldn't have been more wrong. I knew you thought I was blinded because you are my mate, and thought I wouldn't notice all of the eye rolls, glares, and flinches anytime I would touch you. The problem was, I wanted to mark you sooner than in two weeks. So, I constructed a situation in which I knew you would violate the agreement, so

whole time. "You manipulated me first, little mate." Alpha Cain said aloud, shocking me. How could he hear what I was thinking? I

spoke, looking straight ahead into the forest. I could tell that it wouldn't be long until we would be back to his pack house. "And yes, I heard all of the names you've been calling

million more bad things to call him, and he laughed, a loud bellowing sound that shook every leaf in sight. I focused on our bond that had resulted from him marking me. I realized that I could feel his emotions,

thoughts. I growled, not liking that he could read my mind. I wondered if I could block him out, and instinctively imagined physically blocking him out of my mind with a huge barrier. As I did that, almost immediately, it felt like a pressure I didn't feel initially had been lifted from my brain. "How did you do that?"

"I won't hesitate to make you submit, pup." He snarled, his eyes getting darker. I smiled sweetly at him. He could try, but we both

at him through the mindlink. He looked shocked for a minute, and then quickly recovered. "It would do you well to remember