Violets and Ash novel Chapter 4

I rounded the corner and appeared in the dining hall just in time to spot Elijah and the woman who I’d only seen in photographs.

For half a second, they were wrapped up in their own world. One of his hands came to rest on hers as he said something that made them both laugh. Elijah had been right when he said the camera didn’t do her justice.

His phone couldn’t capture the bounciness of her glossy brown hair, or the beauty mark above her perfectly symmetrical lips. If it weren’t for the charcoal pants suit that fit her slender figure as though it had been tailored for it—which it probably had, I would’ve thought she were a model and not the Luna of an entire pack.

“Ah, there she is.” Elijah’s eyes lit up as he spotted me at the other end of the table, hovering just a few feet from the doorway. When Sylvia turned to face me, he gave me a look that said he knew exactly where I had been and what I’d been up to. “Sylvia this is Violet.”

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting the girl Elijah’s told me so much about, although—you’re not a girl anymore, are you?” Her eyes settled on my face, and while they were firm and assessing, I was surprised at the lack of intimidation I felt.

She approached me and took in everything from my pinned back curls and tattered jeans with a single look. It was instinct for me to notice how long her eyes lingered on my scars, and I couldn’t help but be taken aback when they flitted over them as though they weren’t even there.

“I suppose not.” I shook my head, hoping my manners weren’t too rusty from how much time I spent tucked away in the cabin. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Luna.”

“Oh, call me Sylvia. That title will be useless to me once Xavier remarries in the spring.” She waved a hand, gesturing to the table in a silent command. The diamond bracelet around her wrist twinkled from the movement. I took the seat to her right and Elijah her left, giving her my full attention as she spoke. “Has he told you much of what I do for a living, Violet?”

“Well, I didn’t know about the Luna part until today. Elijah has told me about your work with the hospitals in the area, and that you own a research center, but I’m afraid I don’t know much else.” I admitted somewhat reluctantly, already determined not to disappoint this woman.

“Oh, it’s perfectly fine. It just gives me an excuse to explain, and I always take an opportunity to go into my work.” She said with a proud smile.

I gave my undivided attention, nodding and making sounds of interest as she explained her life’s work and passion. The fervor in her voice made it impossible not to get sucked in. The title of Luna was just another achievement under her belt, one that came with her marriage to Alpha Xavier. Science and all things unknown were her true passions.

“If you don’t mind my asking, Violet. How much do you know about the rogue gene?” Sylvia’s hands were clasped together as she waited, and as I looked down at them I couldn’t help but notice the very obvious tan line where her wedding ring once was.

“I know some things…” I told her, swallowing back the sour taste that filled my mouth and threatened to ruin my appetite. “Like how it’s caused by wolves reproducing with someone other than their mate. There’s no way to test for it, and it can suddenly appear at any point during adolescence and make them go crazy. It’s impossible to prevent and can’t be stopped or slowed down. Well, not permanently anyway.”

Only wolfsbane, a potent and addictive substance to our kind, had some semblance of an affect on the gene that made werewolves across the globe turn feral.

Pride like golden fireworks filled her eyes, turning them a myriad of dazzling colors. Her lightly painted lips tilted up in a wry smile as she said, “Elijah told me you can keep a secret. Is that true, Violet?”

Thankfully, all she wanted was a nod because I wasn’t sure I could trust my voice.

Sylvia leaned forward in her seat, her voice taking on an excited tone. “The scientists I employ have found a way to test for the rogue gene…” For a split second my heart threatened to break free from my chest. Its rapid beat was deafening in my ears, but subsided when she said, “…but only after the patient has completed their first shift. We’re so much closer to coming up with a way to determine how strong the gene is before it’s activated.”

Lost in surprise, I hardly noticed Horace come through the kitchen doors, pushing a large metal serving cart full of steaming plates of food.

Only Alphas could reproduce with someone other than their mate, since they were required to have children that could take on the duties of the pack. Hundreds of years of history and research proved that an Alpha’s genetics were simply too strong to be affected by the rogue gene.

According to scientists like the ones Sylvia employs, the rogue gene had various levels of severity. The worst was what the warriors protected us from, the beasts no longer able to take form of a man, frothing at the mouth as they werewolf and human alike. A mild case might look like some severe anger issues and a disposition for trouble.

“Do you think it’s possible to erase the rogue gene?” I asked, flushing at how clueless I sounded.

The mountains that surrounded our town, the ones that provided endless snow and freezing winds, they were what protected us from the rogues who had lost their human forms.

“Erase? Unfortunately, no. Our goal is to eventually isolate and neutralize the rogue gene entirely.” Sylvia clasped her hands together. “It’s not that we want to encourage having children with another unmated wolf, but it’s an option our kind deserve. Even with the find your mate programs, there are thousands of werewolves whose mates have passed or who are in engagements of their own.”

“What is the find your mate program?” I tried and failed not to sound too curious, but I had never heard of such a thing.

“I knew you would be interested; everyone is.” Sylvia laughed. “We get together with packs around the country, and have our unmated citizens meet in a safe environment. Over time affordability has increased exponentially. Even our low-income citizens, students, and elderly, can apply for the program.” Her smile turned brittle and dry, “Ask Xavier who was responsible and he’ll tell you he backed my ‘little program’ for months. Only when he saw its success did he even care to turn his head.”

“That’s amazing.” I took care not to lie, because Sylvia seemed like the type of woman to see through that in a minute. “You’re going to change things for everyone.”

Finding my mate was an innocent fantasy fueled by the daydreams of an outcast who wanted more. It’s not that I’ve given up hope, but with years came the understanding that not everyone was destined to find their mate in this life.

What I now wanted was companionship, a partner that could see past the scars marring my body, even if it didn’t come with a mate-bond attached.

“That is the plan.” Sylvia nodded proudly, but then narrowed her eyes at the empty seat beside me. “Where is that boy…Horace, have you seen—”

“I’m here, mother!” A young voice shouted from down the hall, followed by the fast patter of small feet. A head of curly brown hair rounded the corner, followed by hazel eyes, and flushed cheeks. “I’m here!”