Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond
Chapter 0377

- Knox~

I can see the influence the Dark Phantom pack has had here, how much of his own pack's policies on security that Hector has brought over.

The borders almost seem impenetrable.

But having experienced a raid from human hunters, you can never take your eye off the ball. In this werewolf world, never say never.

I am up early, Ezra meeting me downstairs as we both walk to the borders in time for the night patrol clocking off. I'd managed a few hours sleep, my curiosity running through me like ten cups of coffee replacing the actual need for caffeine this early in the morning. Tired eyes greet me from everywhere, those that have been watching the borders all night and missed out on the party, and those now arriving that enjoyed the party and haven't slept. They have an entire day's shift ahead of them yet.

After this I planned to watch the morning's training session, I want to see what difference is between the warriors here and the warriors at the Dark Phantom pack in their methods.

"Did you have a good time last night?" Ezra makes small talk as we both gaze out on the vastness of surrounding land.

"A great way to be welcomed to a pack. Everyone seems so nice..." Except for the peacock prick but each pack has a black sheep.

"That's nice to hear." He responds, his eyes remaining locked on the view ahead.

"Almost too nice..." I say with scepticism.

"How can it be too nice?" He chuckles but his body shifts and for me is the telltale sign that there is something deeper to this pack.

Something that doesn't show on surface level, not unless you are willing to dig a little deeper.

"Almost like a mask...a façade. Especially the elders of the pack, they seemed to have smiles but their eyes tell a very different story. So do you want to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"Their story." I turn to him, my aura becoming heavy.

His eyes turn to me, before a I hear a small scoff come from his mouth.

"Hector was right, there's no fooling you."

"Why, what else has Hector said?"

"Nothing really, but he is concerned he can't dig up dirt on you."

"Dig up dirt?" Now it was my turn to scoff.

"Of course, you didn't think he would grant you full access to his pack without trying to research you. But he found nothing. Fate be it that you are his daughter's mate, and that he had already taken a liking to you."

I let Ezra's words settle on me for a moment. Yes I would do the same, which is why I went to great lengths to erase parts of my history.

"No, I have been careful in covering up my past." I murmur out.

"So you have a story?"

"Everyone has a story but I would tell it to Josie first, and right now...I'm not ready to share it." She would be the first person I would tell it to, and right now I'm not ready. We aren't ready.

"What I tell you remains in confidence...I mean it, you can't tell anybody...not even Josie or the alphas." Ezra gives me a defiant look.

"Of course."

"And I am only telling you because Hector trusts you." I nod at him in appreciation, yes I could be trusted.

"Alpha Kaia grew up here, this was her haven, her home. She grew up without a mother, her mother had died in childbirth."

Yes, that information I already knew but I didn't want to cut Ezra off, not when he was only starting the story.

"The pack was attacked, Kaia being forced to flee as her father gained word of the impending doom to fall upon this pack.

Alpha Beckett sent her away, and she went into hiding until she started college. Where she met Alpha Than."

"Alpha Than?" I turn to him, not able to stop my own shock at the mention of his name.

"Than and Kaia were mates."

"What?" I knew she had married him, but she didn't mention that they were mates.

"Kaia joined the Amber Desert pack, where she married him and prepared to take on her position of the rightful Luna to the pack. But...he rejected her as soon as he married her." A knowing pitiful smile lands upon Ezra's lips, he must be able to tell by my face that this is not the news I had expected.

Why marry her only to reject her.

"Continue." I croak out, clearing my throat.

"She fled, left the pack after discovering Than had been promised to another, his other mate. Her sister." Ezra's jaw tenses as he continues the story, and now I know why. "Alora?"

"She was in a coma, for reasons it wouldn't be right for me to share. The past is in the past."

""I understand."

"Kaia fled, rejecting the pack in search of the Dark Phantom pack. Where she met Hector, her second chance mate. She continued to search for her father where she found him located at the Nightshade Reformed pack, which he had set up as a refugee camp for rogues and displaced pack members. It promised to be the pack to change everything."

"What happened?"

"Greed, it always comes down to greed. The neighbouring packs didn't appreciate a new pack on their borders, a pack that was housed on disputed lands.