Moon Marked Trilogy by Aimee Easterling

Author:Aimee Easterling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: kitsune, werewolf, wolf shifter, shapeshifter, urban fantasy, paranormal
Publisher: Wetknee Books
Published: 2019-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

My oath. “I...” I cleared my throat, blinking furiously as I struggled to find a way out of the trap that had closed around me while my attention was focused inward. Somehow, when I’d told Gunner I was willing to swear myself to his brother, I’d assumed I’d think of some clever compromise during the intervening hours before I was forced to actually live up to my boast.

But Ransom’s eyebrows rose as he eyed me impatiently. And any ingenuity I might have once possessed refused to show itself upon command.

So, thinking of Mama’s recent bombshell and the precariousness of Kira’s hold on reality, I accepted the inevitable and took the only path I could see toward my destination. “I, Mai Fairchild, swear to protect and uphold the Atwood pack to the best of my ability....”

The words gushed forth as if they’d been waiting for an outlet for weeks on end rather than being forced awkwardly from my lips by a force greater than myself. I was willing to protect the Atwood pack, I realized...at least the portion of it I’d spent the last few months living amidst.

Because Gunner and Tank and Ransom and Allen and Elle and Liam had been more than mere companions. They’d hunted with me and trained me and protected my sister with their lives.

Pack mates. They were pack mates and I was glad to acknowledge that connection with an oath.

And as I spoke, the debt-bound tie that had clenched my gut for months gradually loosened. As if promising to be part of Gunner’s pack was all that had been required to allow my first full breath in several days.

For half a second, in fact, I could almost see the younger brother there beside me. Could sense Gunner’s delight as he accepted the binding I’d created and offered a similar oath of his own in return.

“I swear to protect you and yours also,” the alpha murmured, the warmth of his promise soothing skin pebbled by the morning chilliness. “I welcome you into our pack.”

Then I was back in the forest, one very unimpressed pack leader glowering down at me from the crest of the hill. While Gunner had taken my oath as a heart-felt promise aimed at a group he cared for, Ransom understood my verbal slipperiness to be a personal affront.

And that was the difference between the brothers, wasn’t it? Gunner had no need to make others feel smaller to increase his own stature...while Ransom had literally perched himself on the highest point in the forest in an effort to dominate his clan.

Means, motive, and opportunity. I shivered as the likelihood that Ransom really was the Master punched me in the gut.

But before I could follow that thought path any further, Ransom dismissed my evasion with a curt: “Enough of this.” His eyes flashed but his tone remained full and firm as if he’d gotten exactly what he desired when he continued. “We’ll meet back here to compare our kills at sunset. Ladies, I assume you want to hunt together.

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