“…Clarissa… can you wake up now?” I asked, several hours later.The sun had set and risen again, but I still remained at her bedside.My head was feeling woozy, having not slept at all, and I was beginning to think that maybe this was it.…Maybe she really wouldn’t wake up.But as I tried to fight off sleep, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was my fault. I shouldn’t have yelled and pushed her past her limit when I knew she was already unwell. My anger and frustration had gotten the better of me, and it seemed I was now seeing the price of that.…Even saying things that I hadn’t entirely meant. Things I wished I could take back.‘*“Have you seen flowers like this before, Rheyna?”*’ I swore I then heard Clarissa ask.But when I sharply raised my head up to look at her, hoping to see her awake, I found myself somewhere else.…I was in a field.An incredibly young and energetic-looking Clarissa was seated on the ground before me, amongst thousands of overgrown white flowers. There was pin
I held my breath the entire time the phone rang, hoping that the plan would work. Everything was hinging on the next few steps being successful and I knew just how slim my chances were at pulling this off. With every ring that sounded, my heart clenched a little bit more. I waited... and waited... and waited... …And, to my immense relief, I seemed to be in luck. For now, at least. Because it seemed there actually had been some benefit in my abrupt escape from Ashwood, all those weeks earlier. In my haste to run away, I’d left all of my belongings behind in a suitcase. A suitcase conveniently located inside Kieran’s room. So, with no other way to contact him, it sure did seem like good fortune that my old burner phone just so happened to be left in that very pile of belongings. I’d assumed Kieran had stashed it somewhere close yet safe after I’d left. My hope was that it was now in his room or a place he’d still be able to hear it vibrate. …And I’d been right. However, whether
"It looks like everyone is here now," Aleric said, projecting into the crowd. "We are gathered here today to bear witness to the trial of Ariadne Chrysalis, former Luna to the Winter Mist pack." His eyes scanned over the faces of everyone around before finally landing on me. "Do you swear on the Goddess' name, Ariadne, that you will tell the whole truth during this trial?" Aleric asked. I met his piercing green eyes, a shiver going down my spine. How those eyes haunted me. "I do," I replied loudly and confidently. "And how do you plead?" I held my breath, my heart racing in my chest. "Not guilty." . ** Two weeks earlier ** "She's pregnant," Aleric told me. I stared at him in shock, my face paling. My destined mate, the love of my life, was telling me that he had gotten a girl pregnant. A girl who was not me.
She stood several inches taller than my five foot four, blonde hair and soft caramel brown eyes. Thea was stunning, anyone could tell. Her long slender legs were always visible, and her clothes always accentuated her best features in whatever outfit she wore. It was easy to see why Aleric had fallen for her. "Aria!" she yelled out to me. She was at the end of the hallway towards the community living room, looking as if she were waiting for me. But I didn't stop to talk with her. No, instead I choose to pretend I didn't hear her at all, and left towards my room. "Aria, wait!" she called out again. I could hear her begin to quickly chase after me. Thea was easily the last person I wanted to deal with right now. Why was she trying to pour salt into the wound before I’d even had time to fully process what had happened? But before I could make it to the stairs, her hand grasped around my wrist, forcing me to spin aroun
A shiver went down my spine. I knew this expression well. …He was furious at me. I immediately tried to back away from him but I knew it was too late. He strode up and quickly grabbed my neck in his hand, pinning me against the wall behind me. And, instantly, the pain shot down from my shoulder where it hit the wall roughly. "Aleric... Please...," I whimpered out against his choke, struggling to breathe. His hand loosened slightly but only to ensure I listened to him properly. It was crazy, but even in a moment like this, the mate bond was still making sparks erupt from where his hand touched my skin. It was sickening how a Goddess could do this to her child, make them feel these sensations even in a situation like this. "Do you think you're so important that you can treat Thea that way?" he roared into my face. "Aleric... she came to me first and𑁋." "Enough!" he cut me off. "I don't
An all-out fight broke loose causing mass panic to ensue inside the meeting room.Everyone quickly jumped to their feet to make as much distance as possible between themselves and the fight, but there wasn’t much space to work with. Before long, snarling and snapping were the only noises heard coming from my father's wolf as Aleric fought him off in his human form."Brayden!" Aleric yelled finally, huffing from the exertion of the fight.My father was strong, almost as strong as Aleric. It was true that Aleric would win in the end during a one-on-one fight, but my father would give him severe wounds on the way out. He would not be taken down easily.Brayden didn't hesitate even for a second before he grabbed at my father from behind and pushed him to the ground. Together with Aleric, they used their weight to pin the large wolf down."Get me silver cuffs and have him taken down to the cells immediately!" Aleric ordered furiously t
The cells were cold, damp and dingy, with little amenities. Only a bed, toilet and basin were given to me, a single blanket being the only thing to warm myself. There was minimal space, each cell having three stone walls and bars along the wall where the door was.Seven days had now passed and so today, finally, I was set to stand trial before the pack for my alleged murder. I knew the evidence was stacked against me. In fact, it would be almost impossible for me to win this. The only hope I had left was that Sophie was still alive. If she could testify saying she had witnessed firsthand how I’d been inside my chambers all week, therefore making it impossible to have poisoned Thea, then they would be forced to open the floor to the possibility I was not the culprit."Get up," a guard gruffly ordered from outside my cell.I recognised him. His name was James and I had visited his family on multiple occas
"Ariadne stands accused of murdering the named Alpha heir by use of poisonous herbs," Aleric continued. "In doing so, she also endangered the life of one of our fellow pack members, Thea Woods. The trial today will look at the evidence to determine whether she is guilty of these crimes." A cold sweat formed at the back of my neck as I discreetly scanned my eyes around, trying to see if I could spot Sophie. But I couldn't find her familiar face anywhere. It made me more nervous as every second ticked by. "Do you swear on the Goddess' name, Ariadne, that you will tell the whole truth during this trial?" Aleric asked, bringing my attention back to him. I met his piercing green eyes, a shiver going down my spine. How those eyes haunted me. "I do," I replied loudly and confidently. "And how do you plead?" I held my breath, my heart ra