VIKTOR.She really, really wasn't kidding when she said her wolf was huge.At the very same height as me, with power rolling off those muscles, she might actually stand a chance against me.Okay.Maybe this would be fun.Lisa then walks into the middle of the field, taking her position between us as she addresses the crowd and us.“Okay, listen up!” she starts. “This is a friendly match. It ends when the other opponent taps out or in this case, yields. No drawing of blood. No kill move. Are we clear?”I make a movement with my head while Rowan wags her tail in agreement.“Okay, then. Let the match begin!”Before I can even blink, I see Rowan’s wolf charging at me, the ground trembling with the force of her paws.I get out of the way a split second before she runs into me.Whirling around, I see her wolf skid to a stop, gathering dust before turning back to me.This time, when she charges, I meet her head on.We collide into a mess of limbs, snarling at each other as we try to get a fi
ROWAN “What was that?!” I mutter to myself as I speed walk into my study. “What the hell was that?!”The image replays in my head again.Me leaning over to lick his face.“That was practically a kiss!”I whine out. “Why couldn't you just control yourself?!”My wolf remains quiet, but I can sense a satisfied, smug hum coming from her.Is there a way to beat up your wolf without hurting yourself? I really need to know.Louis’s look of delighted surprise flashes through my eyes again and I practically collapse to the floor In a petulant whine.He would think he has a chance now!“Why do you keep getting me in trouble you-”I don't get to finish the sentence because the door opens at that moment to let in both Rina and Lisa.“Hey,”Rina’s concerned voice calls out. “Are you okay?” she asks as she comes to kneel before me.She is still the kind, pure hearted woman that had pulled me out of the river all those years ago.“Yeah, are you?” Lisa adds. “We need to know before we can mock you for
ROWAN “Hi,” he says with a shy smile as his eyes move between the three of us. “You are busy, I will come back later,” he adds as he turns to leave.“No!” Rina exclaims as she hips from my table and grabs Lisa. “You can stay, we were leaving anyway.”“Are you sure? I can come back later?”“Nah, we are done here,” she insists as she walks out of the door. For a few seconds, we just stare at each other,neither of us saying a word before he blinks and clears his throat.“I uh… that was a… a good fight. I am impressed,” he comments.“Hmm, same here. I am convinced that you are an Alpha. Which means you have to get your memories as soon as possible.”“Hmm? Why?”“Because you have a pack who might be going out of their mind searching for you. The last thing the Coalition needs is an attack from one of you guys.”“Right, that makes sense,” he says quietly before approaching the desk. “I am actually here to… apologize?”Apologize?“Why? You didn't do anything. Instead, I was the one who… di
VIKTOR “NO!” “No! No! Stay away from me! Don't touch me! Stop!”“Please, please, don't.”“Please, please, please.”The memory keeps replaying in my head as I storm out of the mansion and break it into a run round the perimeter. Terror.That is what I saw in her face.Terror.Rowan, strong, smart, witty, Rowan…Who was it?Who was the bastard that hurt her?Who would dare hurt a wonderful woman like her?Just what sort of spineless, unfortunate coward would hurt her?It can't be anyone from the settlement.From what I have observed and heard, everyone loves her or at the very least respects her.And they are also very protective towards her, so no.It can't be from hereHer pack, then?“Some of us… some of us were made that way. By our packs. By those we trusted. Abused. Tormented. Left for dead. It takes a while for us to begin to trust again, even longer for the trauma to fade.”Who made her that way?So panicked?I want to kill them?Slowly choke the life out of them until they t
ROWAN NB: Conversations between characters and their wolves are made internally.“Now, what do you have for me?”“I gave him the note as you requested,” Alden says as he walks towards me to hand me a disk. “It took a while for him to get what you wanted but he got it.”I take the disk for him before placing it into my laptop. A few clicks later and a series of moving images play before me.Different, unfamiliar wolves can be seen moving around the city in one video, on another we can see two different sets fighting with each other, while a few others watch from the sidelines.“They are not together,” I mutter quietly. “No, they are not.”“This is a mess,” I mutter on a sigh. “What was their aim? Did they come together to attack us and have a falling out? If so, then their packs should not be fighting with each other now. Or did they just meet coincidentally in that field?”“That seems unlikely.”“We need to capture one of them and question them,” I say.“While I can see the reason f
ROWAN“Yes. Yes, I do.”What?Why… what is… why would he tell her that?!Jhenelle, since she had been able to understand that a kid normally has two parents, has been trying to get me shacked up with people she deems acceptable.None of them ever gave in to her whims, but now…She is going to be unbelievable.“Mummy!” she calls in excitement as she catches sight of me and runs towards me. I watch as Louis flashes bright red as he sees me, probably figuring out that I heard him and Lisa has a cheeky smile on her face.Yeah, I am not going to hear the last of it tonight.“Mummy” Jhenelle cries as she crashes into my legs. “Did you hear what Louis said? He likes you mummy!”Sure, scream it out loud. Why don't you?“Did I not ground you today, lady? Why are you not in bed?* I demand “Uh oh,” she whispers as she instantly calms down before flicking her eyes to the people behind her. They don't make a move to help her so she turns to me with a puppy dog face, her lips protruding in a down
ROWAN We stand there for a few seconds, just staring at each other and it gives me a sense of deja vu.Haven't we been in a similar situation before?“Hey,” he says quietly.“Hi. What are you doing here?” I ask, my hand still on the door frame.He is silent for a few seconds, just watching me and making me nervous before he answers.“I can lie and say I came to check up on Jhenelle but I just don't feel like it. I came to see you.”“Me?”“Yes, you.”Oh boy.“Is there a problem?” I ask as I let go of the door and begin walking away, very aware of his body heat at my side.“How are you feeling!” he asks.So we are getting right into that, are we now?I consider playing dumb and asking him why he would ask that but I decide against it.I am feeling way to wra2 to keep up any pretense and besides, my wolf’s words are still ringing in my ears.Coward.Disrespectful.I am neither of those things.So with a steadying breath I plow ahead and answer. “I am better, I think. Sometimes, when I
.ROWAN “Tell me the truth, Rowan. Nothing but the truth. Were you… were you assaulted?”He really hit the nail on the head with that one.“Why? Does it matter now?”“Of course it does! Damn it Rowan,” he says as he gets to his feet. “Just tell me the truth. Will you?!”“yes. Yes I was. Happy now?!” I snap back as I get to my feet. “Is that what you wanted to know? Yes, I was raped!”“Who?”“Louis…”“Who was it?”I stare into his eyes, trying to cow him into giving up, but he doesn't.He meets my glare head on, not wavering, not blinking.Insistent.Daring.Demanding.Any other person, and I would have them thrown out of my office.But I can't seem to do that with him.When did he get under my skin?When did I begin to accept his presence by my side?To crave it?“It was a man from my pack,” I finally answer, giving in as I look away. “And don't even bother asking for a name, I won't tell you. He is dead to me. And I would very much like to move on.”“Is he Jhenelle’s father?” He ask