Promised: True Mates Book 1 (BBW Paranormal Wolf Shifter Romance) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) by Olivia Arran Page A
Authors: Olivia Arran
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that the Alpha decides on a proxy to lead in his stead, until he can organize trials to pick a new Alpha. Unless he is challenged of course?” The wolf Council Member looked around at the surrounding packs. One by one everyone shook their heads or looked away. “I see that you have some supporters, Alpha of the Colstone and Smithrock Packs. That’s good, there is a lot of work to be done at the Smithrock Pack. Corruption to unearth. Sickness to be weeded out. You will need to choose a good proxy, someone who is willing to put in the work, someone you can trust.”
James stared into the distance for a few moments, seemingly deep in thought. His mouth quirked up at the corners, as a grin spread over his face.
“Amanda,” he declared.
“Wha—what?” Amanda stuttered from the audience.
“You will be my proxy. You have shown loyalty, trustworthiness, and kindness. You have the capabilities to be an Alpha, therefore I know you can lead the pack. You’re strong and tough.” James rose to his feet, pulling me with him. “Most of all, you have a connection to the Smithrock Pack. You want it to get better. You want it to thrive. I will organize the trials, if need be, once the pack is good and whole again. What do you say, Amanda?”
Squaring her shoulders, the young woman in question looked over at the neighboring pack, the pack her grandfather’s brother had lead. “I’ll do it,” she replied, her mouth set in a determined line.
Tarq stepped up to her side. “She’ll need help,” he said in an easygoing drawl, cocking an eyebrow at Amanda’s scowl and flexing his thick biceps. “Babe, you should never pass up the opportunity to have some muscle on your side.” Winking at her outraged expression, he turned to James, waiting for his approval.
Chuckling, James whispered under his breath to me, “Didn’t see that one coming! She’ll eat him for breakfast!”
To the waiting crowd he replied, “Sure, sounds good to me. Amanda, as my Alpha-proxy and Tarq as her Beta.”
Heckles and catcalls fill the air and, surprisingly, Amanda blushed to the roots of her hair before shouting them down. “Okay, agreed.”
The bear Council Member lumbered to his feet, stretching his thick arms and cracking his knuckles. “I think our time here is nearly done. All that is left to decide is where you want to be, young Kara? Colstone Pack? Smithrock Pack? Lone wolf? Choose James as your mate? Choose yourself?” His deep, growly voice gently pushed me for a decision.
“I will find Lisa, no matter what you choose, Kara. I promise you that,” James said taking my hand. “I love you, my true mate. If you still want to be free, to find yourself, then you shall have that — I will wait for you. I would wait for you forever. I just want you to be happy.”
“It doesn’t matter to you? That I’m broken? That I’m scared half the time, scared of not knowing where I come from or who I am?”
“You’re not broken, my love, you are healing. Eric was a bad man, an evil man, one who should never have been allowed near you. You’re strong, stronger than most people I know, because you survived what he did to you. And as for not knowing who you are or where you come from? You are you, Kara. Wonderfully unique, compassionate, caring, kind, funny, intelligent and—” he ticked the list off on my fingers, lowering his next words to a growl, “—so sexy I can’t see straight. I can’t see any other woman - you’re it for me.”
Looking into his handsome, earnest face, his nose a little bloody still but starting to heal, face scraped and dirty, everything just fell into place. This man would let me be me — because he loved me for myself. He wouldn’t try to change me, or tell me what to do. He would protect me, like I would him. My blood burned for him, and my wolf howled for him. She had trusted him long before I had, and she was right - he was the other half to my soul.
“I choose you, James,” my words rang out,
James stared into the distance for a few moments, seemingly deep in thought. His mouth quirked up at the corners, as a grin spread over his face.
“Amanda,” he declared.
“Wha—what?” Amanda stuttered from the audience.
“You will be my proxy. You have shown loyalty, trustworthiness, and kindness. You have the capabilities to be an Alpha, therefore I know you can lead the pack. You’re strong and tough.” James rose to his feet, pulling me with him. “Most of all, you have a connection to the Smithrock Pack. You want it to get better. You want it to thrive. I will organize the trials, if need be, once the pack is good and whole again. What do you say, Amanda?”
Squaring her shoulders, the young woman in question looked over at the neighboring pack, the pack her grandfather’s brother had lead. “I’ll do it,” she replied, her mouth set in a determined line.
Tarq stepped up to her side. “She’ll need help,” he said in an easygoing drawl, cocking an eyebrow at Amanda’s scowl and flexing his thick biceps. “Babe, you should never pass up the opportunity to have some muscle on your side.” Winking at her outraged expression, he turned to James, waiting for his approval.
Chuckling, James whispered under his breath to me, “Didn’t see that one coming! She’ll eat him for breakfast!”
To the waiting crowd he replied, “Sure, sounds good to me. Amanda, as my Alpha-proxy and Tarq as her Beta.”
Heckles and catcalls fill the air and, surprisingly, Amanda blushed to the roots of her hair before shouting them down. “Okay, agreed.”
The bear Council Member lumbered to his feet, stretching his thick arms and cracking his knuckles. “I think our time here is nearly done. All that is left to decide is where you want to be, young Kara? Colstone Pack? Smithrock Pack? Lone wolf? Choose James as your mate? Choose yourself?” His deep, growly voice gently pushed me for a decision.
“I will find Lisa, no matter what you choose, Kara. I promise you that,” James said taking my hand. “I love you, my true mate. If you still want to be free, to find yourself, then you shall have that — I will wait for you. I would wait for you forever. I just want you to be happy.”
“It doesn’t matter to you? That I’m broken? That I’m scared half the time, scared of not knowing where I come from or who I am?”
“You’re not broken, my love, you are healing. Eric was a bad man, an evil man, one who should never have been allowed near you. You’re strong, stronger than most people I know, because you survived what he did to you. And as for not knowing who you are or where you come from? You are you, Kara. Wonderfully unique, compassionate, caring, kind, funny, intelligent and—” he ticked the list off on my fingers, lowering his next words to a growl, “—so sexy I can’t see straight. I can’t see any other woman - you’re it for me.”
Looking into his handsome, earnest face, his nose a little bloody still but starting to heal, face scraped and dirty, everything just fell into place. This man would let me be me — because he loved me for myself. He wouldn’t try to change me, or tell me what to do. He would protect me, like I would him. My blood burned for him, and my wolf howled for him. She had trusted him long before I had, and she was right - he was the other half to my soul.
“I choose you, James,” my words rang out,
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