Marked by Fate (Star Moon Pack #1) Read Online J.L. Beck, Cassandra Hallman

Categories Genre: Dark, Erotic, Fantasy/Sci-fi, Paranormal, Romance Tags Authors: , Series: Cassandra Hallman
Series: Star Moon Pack Series by J.L. Beck
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Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 118781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
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“They’ll meet us at the banquet hall,” Thorne announces as we reach the doorway. Wilde’s mom is in there, and she offers a kind smile—but worry is etched across her forehead, between her brows.

“If they want peace, isn’t that a good thing?” I whisper to Wilde, who nods without saying a word. I feel his wolf, his uneasiness, and notice the way his jaw twitches.

“Do you think this is a good idea?” I wince at my father’s question, but he won’t back down. He’s used to talking to Daniel that way. That’s understandable, of course, being his beta. But Wilde’s dad doesn’t seem impressed.

Still, he doesn’t lash out. “What would you have me do? Turn them down?”

“What if the plan is to get everyone in the same place, then massacre all of us?”

“I’ll have guards both inside and outside the hall,” he assures Dad, holding up a hand when it seems like there’s more protest to come. “Honestly, I have other things on my mind. You don’t think I haven’t considered the possible dangers of this? Granted, it isn’t like I’ve had a lot of time to think it over, but my first thought is always of the pack. You should know that.”

Thorne steps up, arms folded. “Unless you have a better idea. Tell me how they do things in your pack, Benedict.”

“All right,” Wilde grunts, stepping in. “We’re wasting time. None of us wants to do this, but we still don’t know why they’re calling a meeting. This is the first time they’ve tried to reach out this way, and it might bode well for us. Let’s not shut the whole thing down before we know what this is all about.”

I can’t pretend I’m not proud of him. That’s my mate, and I’m practically glowing with pride while my wolf leaps around in my chest. She’s proud of him, too. He’s going to make an excellent alpha someday. And I’ll have the honor of standing at his side.

“We’d better go,” Forrest announces, checking the time. “They could be here any minute.”

Wilde holds my hand the entire way outside, across the courtyard and the wide lawn that sets the family home away from the sidewalk, then two blocks down. Night has fallen, and a crescent moon hangs in the sky. The warmth from earlier today has vanished, replaced by a chilly, damp sort of feeling that works its way into my bones. It doesn’t exactly help that I’m nervous as hell, even if I’m not quite sure what I’m so nervous about. This could end up being a good thing, couldn’t it? The witch army has lost every single battle they’ve begun. They have to know there’s no chance of winning this.

It’s sort of sweet the way Forrest walks on my other side, the two of them close enough that our shoulders brush. As much as I want to stand up for myself and be independent, there’s something nice about feeling protected. I think it says a lot about their relationship, too—Forrest wants to make sure his brother’s mate is safe.

We aren’t the first to arrive, and the crowd parts when they find their alpha striding into the hall. I’m sure it would be a cheerful, beautiful place under different circumstances. Right now, though all the lights are lit, a sense of doom hangs over the space. A long table sits in the center of the room with chairs around it, but that’s it. Everything else is pushed up against the walls, like what’s out on the floor was placed there especially for this. Who can plan when everything is so last-minute?

“You stand over here.” Wilde looks like he’s in pain when we come to a stop behind one end of the table.

“Wait, you’re leaving me here?”

“My place is with the alpha.” Yes, and Connor’s already taken his seat at the table, with Thorne at his right hand and an empty chair for Wilde at his left.

He looks to the men on either side of me, both of whom I recognize as guards from the house. The family’s personal security. “I’m trusting you.” That’s all he says, probably all he needs to say. The men nod, grunting their understanding. He gives me one last look, and I wish I could read his thoughts. He looks so conflicted, and I feel his wolf’s restlessness. I wish I could help him with that.

More and more of the pack stream in, and I recognize Thorne’s daughters immediately. The tall, dark-haired woman with them must be their mother. The girls point me out to her, and we exchange a smile and a wave.

Then her gaze shifts to her mate, and her expression becomes one of strain and concern. I can only hope this is over soon.

The entrance of another familiar wolf surprises me. I didn’t expect Agnes to show up at something like this. We didn’t have much time to talk in front of her hut, but the fact that she lives in a hut alone tells me she’s sort of an outsider. This is important, and it does involve the entire pack. Their future.


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