The Gift chronicles

Book 1 Chapter 48

Song: The Night We Met by Lord Huron

I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you, Take me back to the night we met.

*MUST LISTEN TO SONG WHILE READING*

Cain's POV

I narrowed my eyes. "Find her, as in find her body?"

Katrina looked me in my eyes, carefully choosing her words. "The thing is, I'm not entirely sure she's dead."

Snarling at her, I grabbed her neck with my hand and shoved her into the nearest wall, pinning her against it. She was incredibly fragile, and I remembered that not all she wolves are as strong as my Ares.

"Don't fucking joke about that ever again. She is dead. I felt the bond break. That can only be done through death." I growled at her, my eyes flashing dangerously.

Katrina gasped for air, clawing at my hands. I could only see red. How dare this female come into my home and disrespect my mate like this?

Suddenly, I heard Gwen gasp in the door way. "Fucking, hell, Cain, put her down!" Gwen yelled at me, snapping me out of my bloodlust.

"She is a lying charlatan! She says Ares is alive. It is impossible. I felt our bond break. You felt Jax's bond break," I released my grip from Katrina's neck, sending her crumpling to the ground.

Gwen's eyes widened. "But.. He wouldn't..."

"Tell him, Gwen," Katrina ordered her, standing up and rubbing her neck. I could see the mark from my hand.

"Jax, he can break bonds as his Gift. He's never used it before, and doesn't like talking about it. He wouldn't have..." She winced and her voice trailed off.

I turned to Katrina. "He wouldn't have broken my

mate bond and his. It makes no sense."

Katrina pensively rubbed her chin. "He would have if it meant throwing you off of his trail. You never would have suspected him if his bond was broken with his mate, and neither would she."

"He wouldn't do that!" Gwen defended her mate. "He wouldn't break our bond out of his own free will..."

Katrina looked at her in pity. "I only saw Ares in the cell. Not Jax. If he was forced to break their bonds, then he's either being held in another location, or..." Her voice trailed off, and we all knew the alternative.

"You said you might be able to find her. How?" I demanded, ready to spring into action.

Gwen smiled wisely. "Intuition."

mean, witch?" I growled at

my gut

so much faith in the Moon Goddess, but you don't

also right. I will gather my men and we will begin

her eyes. "Does it look like the Moon Goddess is here? No,

my mate, I will give you anything you want," I

mate has done a great

always been cursed with a rogue

motives, thank you." I told her genuinely, extending my

many men. Only one or two. We can't attract too much attention. The less people we have in our party, the easier it will be to travel through the woods, and

here. As much as I feel like I'm going to

eyes pleading. "Please bring

back to me." I nodded stiffly, knowing that the odds were not good. He was either a

--

clutched the daggers, saying that

led Axel and I, often turning at random points in

words to herself.

this nutcase? I

of this, we suddenly came upon an abandoned house. There were no lights

up her hand, stopping Axel and I

nobody in that house, Katrina. It looks like it's been abandoned

sense it. I can feel Ares' aura radiating from underneath the

aren't clinically insane," Axel rolled his

ignored his comment and continued walking

her quietly. "We need a game plan. We should sneak in

a weak, empty

--

Ares' POV

me up with a knife all over my skin, but for whatever reason, left my stomach alone. I was positive he would have

torture. He should have known that I had become

emotions.

of the mistakes that Cain had made all of the times he tried imprisoning me. Suddenly, Cain definitely seemed like the lesser of

Cain.

been incessantly vying for one as soon as he met me. Even though I

humanized again. Not like the monster I had always thought of myself as. Is this what being a parent is? All of those times Carter had told

Carter.

shot with an arrow. The man who relented to Gwen whenever she would beg him to let us get into trouble. The man who's eyes shone every time he