ROWAN.“Stop staring at me,” I tell the two witches as I take another spoonful of chicken broth.Damn, we hit the jackpot with our cook.“Not until you tell us what you are planning,” Lisa responds.“I am not planning anything.”“Liar. Dawn said you are going to let our dear Louis out of jail.”“First of all, he is not our dear anything, Secondly he is not in jail-”“-you were going to keep him locked up in the clinic-”“-and last but not the least, you were the one who told me to let him out. Let him out and supervise him.”“That wasn't me, that was Rina,” she responds.“Potato, po-tah-to. Still the same thing.”“That is offensive. I am offended. How can you say that we are the same? We are nothing alike!”“And thank the goddess for that!” Rina fires back. “Why anyone would delight in being such a tight ass is beyond me.”Lisa sticks out her tongue at her and Rina responds with the same.Like children.And I am the mother stuck with them.“I am trying to enjoy my delicious breakfast
VIKTOR .I know she is the one before the door opens.Her scent is already filling my head as well as the happy rumble my wolf gives at her approach.She is dressed in a light blue shirt that is partially tucked into a pair of stretchy black jeans, that just highlights her long legs. Her auburn hair flows down her back like stormy waves, swaying as she walks towards me and fixing me with a pair of emerald green eyes that reflects her stubborn nature and a strong spirit. Yeah, I have my hands full with her, alright..“How are you feeling today!” she asks as she walks up to me.“Better. I don't hurt as much as last night. Your healers are a delight.”“Hmm, they said as much. Any recollections whatsoever? Anything new?”“No, unfortunately not.”I thought about it last night, on whether I should carry on with my charade and stick to my story or confess.If I were any other Alpha, I would have confessed. But I am not. Any other Alpha. I am Viktor Thorn of the Vale pack, renowned to be ru
VIKTOR.“Where to first?”I ask, once I step out of the bathroom.“Training grounds!” Lisa answers with a chopper smile. “That is where everyone would be. You can get to meet various people with different backgrounds, and hey you might even meet people that you know.”Right.“About that,” I begin as she gets off the bed and heads to me, linking our arms together.“Were there any… people or… survivors from where you… Rowan, found me?” I ask as we walk out of the room.“No, none. At least, that I know of,” she answers. “I heard she found you a ways off from the actual clearing. Do you remember walking into the forest?” “No. Nothing.”“Hmm. Well, don't worry too much about that. I am sure your memories will come back in time. So, while we wait, let's familiarize you with the grounds. This is the clinic, obviously, a few meters down the path you will come across the…”She continues for a while, detailing the buildings and what it is for, giving really sensitive information.It is confusin
ROWAN “... so, the shipment will arrive latest by next week, unfailingly.”“That's good,” I say as I sign the documents before handing it back to our liaison with the human world. You have been most helpful.”“It has been a pleasure working with you,” the lady says as she heads for the door, leaving at the exact moment Rina and Alden show up.“Everything good with the shipment?” Rina asks as she settles into a seat.“Mmm. Just some technical delays, that is all.”“It better be. All these happenings have made me antsy lately,” she returns.“You? Antsy? What is the world coming to?” I tease her.“Haha. Very funny. You are hilarious,” she deadpans. “You know, just because I am an optimist doesn't mean I don't worry about stuff.”“True. And speaking of worrying occurrences, what do you have?”“We went out to the mainland, as well as sending some of the seasoned ones among us,” Alden speaks up. “There has been no talk about any failed attacks or missing wolves. It is like they are ghosts.
VIKTOR.“Mummy!”I watch as the little girl runs up to Rowan. There is a bright warm smile on Rowan’s face as she lifts the girl up into the air.“Why are you out, Jhenelle? You are supposed to be in class,” she says to the girl.“I finished my work first, so Mr. Tom let me out to play.”“Rally, now? It looks like I have a little genius in my hands.”“Genus? He called me that. What does it mean?”“Genius. Say it with me, genius.”“Geeenius.”“Good girl.”“What does it mean?”“It means… someone that is very good at a skill or subject. Better than others.”“Really? I am a genus?” the kid asks with wonder in her eyes and voice.“Yes, baby. You are.”“That is cool.”“It is. Have you seen our new guest,” she says as she changes the subject. “His name is Louis.”“Hello, Mr. Louis. I am Jhenelle. Mummy's baby girl.”The others laugh at her introduction and I can't help but smile.She is adorable.“Hello Jhenelle, it is a pleasure to meet you.”“Did they kick you out too?” she asks as she sta
DOMINIC OBSIDIAN PACK.“What do you mean you can't find them?!” I snap as I fling the placeholder at the wolf before me. “How do large numbers of wolves just up and vanish and no one has a clue?!”“They covered their tracks well,” he responds, his head bowed low. “Not well enough that we didn't find out about them. Have you figured out who was involved? What they were involved in?”“They were the Alphas of some of the packs in the west. We also discovered that they had a few meetings with Alpha Viktor -”“Viktor? They met up with Viktor?! What for?!”“We… we don't know, Alpha.”“Useless… you are all useless,” I snap. “Get out!”They all scramble out of my office like a bunch of spineless mutts.Viktor.Why is it always him?It was purely coincidence that I had found out that some of the Alphas were planning an attack.In none other Than the Winter Wolf Coalition.I had reached out to them, offering my assistance but they had brushed me off.“... there is no such plan, Alpha Dominic…
ROWAN Knock! Knock!“Come in,” I call out quietly, my head bowed over my desk, still preoccupied with the reports and maps before me.“Hi, mummy!” Jhenelle’s voice calls out, bringing me out of my thoughts. “We brought lunch!”We?I lift my head to see her as well as Louis walking with trays.What is going on here?“Why are you two together?” I ask.“Louis said he wanted to make you lunch and asked me to help. He wanted to make your favorite meal,”she answers as she waddles up to my desk to place her tiny tray. “Can we eat together?”“i-”“We made Pasta Amatriciana,” he says, the r’s rolling of his tongue in a smooth timbre. “I hope you don't mind.”He places the tray and removes the napkin over it to replace a wide set of plates with the steaming dish.The hot red sauce catches my attention first as it clings to each strand with bits of crispy guanciale bits peeking out. In the steam that rises from it I can smell the aroma of garlic and onion mixed with the cheese that is artfully
VIKTOR “I still don't get why I have to come with you,” I say as I get into one of the black trucks with her.It is a hilux truck, with a stunning, shining black paint coat, with sleek tires and a purring engine and there are three others ready to go.I know had seen it before but I am astounded by their wealth. No ordinary rogue settlement can be this well organized and well to do without a structure.It was foolish of us to look down on them and even more foolishly of those wolves to think they are easy to kill.Or subdued.“What is there not to get!”she asks as she closes the door after her. “Are you not curious to see if any of those wolves might recognize you?”Not particularly, no.Not if it jeopardizes my chance of getting my mate to look at me with something other than suspicion.“I am, but how sure are you that the wolves out there are from the same pack as the ones that you found?”“I am not. Which is why I am going with a company of twelve wolves.”Fair point.The ride to