Title - Damaged Mate By Nikita Slater (Immortal Shifters Book 1)
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Young Adult (18-35)Accents
North American (General)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
Damaged mate. The immortal wolf shifters book one by Nikita Slater, the human Shifter war 700 years ago. Luck. I watch from the ridge above the battlefield as the human army retreats having conceded victory to the Shifters. It was our final battle before a truce was brokered between the humans and Shifters ending the wars. 32 years of war. I wasn't very old when it started only 34. Practically a pup and immortal shifter years through persistence and prowess. I rose through the ranks of my brethren to achieve the posting of general to the wolfs shifter army. We're only a few 100 strong miniscule compared to what the humans had thrown at us. But our numbers were more than enough to put up a fierce resistance. When the humans decided to purge the world of shifters. We're only a few 100 strong miniscule compared to what the humans had thrown at us. But our numbers were more than enough to put a fierce resistance when the humans decided to purge the world of Shifters. Unfortunately, for the humans, we were unwilling to roll over and give up. Thus kicking off a three decade long war there were losses on both sides but the human losses were far greater. They outnumbered us 50 to 1 but they didn't have our strength or longevity for every sister taken out in battle. Humans lost dozens as their losses piled up their determination to win the war waned. Some would argue the war ended years ago, but the humans were unwilling to negotiate. Instead throwing live bodies at a shifters as fodder for their twisted beliefs. Now the day of reckoning has arrived, I feel my brother Fallon approached long before he arrives. Our familia telepathic bond is strong. I turn to watch the big black wolf loping towards me, shifting to human as he takes the last few steps that brings him to my side. General Fallon says, halting beside me to watch the retreating army. I see you've received the news of our victory. Hardly a victory. I replied grimly, we lost too many lives to this pointless war. We remained silent for a moment as our thoughts turning to our greatest losses. Our parents, they were killed at the beginning of the war when humans overran shifter populations surprising them and killing them before the shifters could even organize themselves. Once we realized what was happening, we retaliated, striking back hard and often at the beginning of the war, I fought alongside my four brothers seeking vengeance for the death of our parents. I had achieved the rank of general through my bloody persistence in pushing the enemy back and making sure we paid back every loss on our side through the blood of the mortals. But as the bodies piled up and the war dragged on, I lost sight of my reason for fighting. I became another soldier in a war. None of us understand the end to the war is a relief. I'm through seeking vengeance. I'm weary and I want nothing more to retreat to the wolf shift or territory of wolf haven for some much needed rest. Wolf Haven is one place where only worshipers are welcome. It consists of a castle which is surrounded by the gated city of Wolf Haven, which in turn is surrounded by the countryside and territory of Wolf Haven which all rests on the continent of La Pena. We're being summoned to the Capitol to celebrate. Fallon says giving the reason for his presence on my battlefield as the child of a well-known and powerful alpha s shifter family. He had taken on the role of diplomat, working to live with the humans to negotiate a cease fire. All five of us I asked assuming he means all my brothers while I became a military general and Fallon, a diplomat. Keenan and Lennox remained behind shoring up the defenses of our capital city. Our fifth brother Rush is a lone wolf. He's never played well with others though he's closer to Fallon than the rest of us in order to do his part in the war rush became a runner. He took on a dangerous job of passing messages between the shifter factions sometimes infiltrating the humans when it was necessary to pass messages onto our spies entrenched in enemy territory. Yes, they want all of us. The Wolf Haven council of elders has a proposal for our family. Fallon confirmed were to go to the Capitol immediately. We'll hear the proposal then join in the victory celebration. A give me a half an hour and I'll join you for the trip home. Fallon waits for me as I search out my second in command, Django and transfer the might of our military into his capable hands. Once this is accomplished, I make my way back to Fallon who's speaking with a few of my soldiers and eating a bowl of innocence too. I strip and together we shift, taking off at a run in this form. We can cover ground much faster than we could as humans. We raced towards Wolf Haven, which is situated in a mountainous region to the northeast of our continent. The battlefront I'd been overseeing is closer to the lowlands but not so far from Wolf Haven that a pair of shifters in prime condition can't run. We cover the ground in two days, arriving in the city in time for a parade being done in our honor. I snigger while still in my wool form as I catch sight of shifters in their human forms screaming our names and wearing mask of our faces. It's an odd feeling seeing in this happened version of my big black wolf face staring back at me as I pass through the crowd, eventually we're recognized and the crowd presses in on us as people attempt to touch our fur and pass on their well wishes and accolades. We shift our human and accept the handshakes and backstops until the castle guards come to ****** us the rest of the way. I look up at the massive stone structures as we're taken inside a fortified seat of power built on top of a mountain, imposing and difficult to penetrate. When attacked, I'd spent my formative years in the city of wolf haven though my family hadn't lived in the castle. They were alphas tar pack and my parents often entered through these massive gates to speak with the council on behalf of the city sprawled out in the valley below. It feels strange entering a building, especially one as important as the castle. I barely remember the rules of the polite society having spent the better part of my three decades in the muck with my shifter army. You'll do fine. Fallon says, reading my anxiety, pour to and into the castle's courtyard. He slaps me on the back and encouragement as we enter through the portico and into the castle's courtyard. Shifters in both their wolf and human forms in state of dress and nakedness around us. Fallon, the man in the Court finally approaches us. His hand out, fallen shakes it. Then the man turns to me. General, I nod and take his proffered hand shaking it. Once before dropping it, your brothers are inside the three of us. Head towards the nearest store. Rush. Fallon asked the man shakes. His head. Rush was too far. A field to pull in. A messenger was sent but neither has returned. I hope Rush hasn't killed the messenger. It's entirely possible. His perpetual bad mood and is legendary and from all the accounts hasn't improved with the war rush was born a loner quite literally Fallon and I are firstborn twins. Only minutes apart. Rush was born in the middle, Keenan and Lennox. Also, twins were born in a few years after him. It's not unusual for wolf shift or females to have multiples when they birth. As we walk, we're greeted by our younger brothers. The four of us stop in the entryway to the great hall, embracing and catching up with each other except for Fallon who occasionally travels to the battlefront. I haven't seen my brothers in a decade. They look bigger, stronger, more serious. I can read the stress of the war on their faces. But the jubilation of our greeting erases the years there is if you'll follow me, the castled steward says, bowing his head, the council of elders will see you. Now, the four of us are led into the great hall and lined up before the council, a group of elder wolves all handpicked to represent the different wolf packs living within the territorial borders surround wolf haven. There used to be only a trio of council members but as the war progressed, shifter pacs from all over the world poured into the territory. Clashes between different pacs became common and the council was expanded to keep the peace between the pacs. As I half expected, we're congratulated on our success in protecting our kind. The wolf shift to brethren, we accept their praise. But I sent an underlying reason for our summons. After several long minutes of speech from the elders, we finally get the reason. An elder steps forward. You four and your brother are in large part. The reason this war is coming to its conclusion, you have proved yourself both fierce, his gaze meets mine then shifts to Fallon and fair Fallon. Your tireless diplomacy has led to the end of the war that has cost many lives. General luck. You kept the humans from Exterminating our kind and taking what is rightfully ours sacrificing much in the process. He's gaz just to Keenan Leni, you two are responsible for the security of wolf haven. You've kept the enemy at bay and reassured our people that the strength of our defenses will never again fail them. Another elder stands and approaches us climbing carefully down from his throne, his frail body moving slowly. I recognize him as the representative of the no bed pack if years back with many wars in my army. I nod respectfully as he stops in front of me. He's one of the oldest of our kind. Many in the human world believe since we're immortal, we cannot age, which is close to the truth, but we can age. If we so choose, life can get long and some shifters choose the path of aging, especially if they've never found their fate in mate. Through the peace brokering, we will incite a series of laws that all wolf scripts must abide. He explained looking at each of us. I figured this would be the case but wonder what it has to do with me and my brothers. He appeased the fear that drove humans to attack us in the first place. We have agreed to several concessions. First, we must never shift in front of humans. I let out a snort but quickly swallowed it when Fallon gives me a shut the **** up. Look. Second, we cannot mate with humans. Third, we register with the nearest human town council if we choose to live among or near them. I'm not surprised by the new laws but I am disappointed they show a fundamental lack of understanding of our kind. I feel keenan beside me, shaking his head in annoyance. A few years ago, he was told by a witch who'd had a vision that his future bride was human as is usual with their kind. His plan was to wait for her birth, then watch over her until she grew old enough to claim he didn't choose a human as his mate, but he can't come to accept that one day. She'll be part of his future as always. Fallon, the diplomat speaks on Keenan's behalf. We can't choose with who our fated mates will be. If a mate is human, then the human must accept our claim. It's the natural order, the highest law for our kind. We're driven by an instinct which is dictated by the natural order. They refused to accept any Stifter claims on their kind. The elder says, though his gaze is compassionate, they have seen the brutality of a claiming and has seen some of their people disappear to our traditions and they now fear us. This was something they refused to compromise on. We're no longer allowed to mate with humans. But Keenan shakes his head in disbelief. We're supposed to just ignore the mating bond. Many of our brethren me included, find our fated mates among the humans. It'll be agony if we're forced to know they exist and we can't claim them. It'll lead to the deaths of many good shifters. Lennox places his hand on Koenig's shoulder and squeezes. I understand. The elder says, stopping in front of kin to speak in a low voice. But these are the concessions we've had to make to stop this war and all the carnage that has come with it perhaps one day the humans will come around to understanding our way of life and our need for the f in mates no matter where we find them. Unfortunately, today is not that day. The steps back from Keenan and looks at all of us as you four and your brother rush have emerged heroes in this war and you descend from a long line of alphas. We wish to put forth a proposal. We want you to continue your work as protectors of our kind. He lifts his arms and waves it around the room. This castle will be turned over to you as well as the security of the city in the countryside of wolf haven. All that we ask is that you continue to advocate for our kind as you have done for the past 32 years. He looks at Fallon and says, Fallon, we're asking you with your brothers at your bat to lead the wolf haven pack in our Postwar time of need. Do you accept? It seems to take Fallon several seconds to find his voice. But when he does, he says I'm honored to accept this responsibility. Then he looks at the three of us expectantly, Lennox and Keenan nod their agreement, but I hold his gaze silently communicating my reservations through our brotherly bond. Finally, I accept his plea to take on the role of leader with me at his back, the military at my command. Ayan, he looks at the elder and says we all accept. I will also take on the responsibility of accepting for Rush. I hide a snort of humor. No way, Rush is going to want any part of this. He'll turn up eventually find out about his new role. Then run for a solitary stretch to the mountains. Rush is a lone wolf. Always has been, always will be within the next weeks. Our role are made official in the castle. The city of Wolf Haven and the surrounding territory of Wolf Haven are handed over into our care. A heavy responsibility but a noble one, the council is dissolved and the elder was return to their individual packs within the largest pack of our kind. We, the five alphas of wolf haven will serve our people until the end of our immortality.