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2024-10-29 19:42:56Rhodes' towering body took up most of the small motel bed, and I shimmied myself far over to the side to give him as much room as possible. Night had fully set in, and the effects of the long day we'd endured began to really set in. I felt my body relax despite the less than comfortable motel bed beneath me, but my mind was swimming with conflicting thoughts about the man now resting next to me. I could tell he wasn't asleep, though he lay still on his back a few inches away. He was likely tuned in to the link, hearing the reports from his people back home. I tried to focus on my breathing, quieting my mind and relaxing myself to beckon sleep. Deep down I knew it was useless, my whole body was lit like a live wire, mixed signals bouncing off all throughout my body. Rhodes shifted next to me, rolling over to his side and slowing his breathing. His back was to me, the haunches of his shoulders visible in the full light coming through the waxy motel curtains. I marveled at how fit he w
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I woke up to the sound of the shower starting, the bed empty beside me where Rhodes had once slept. My heart hammered in my chest. My dream couldn't have lasted all night, could it? The image of those haunting, unsafe eyes burned into the backs of my eyelids. I worried they were a warning, an omen to not wander further into the cage. The other half of me saw it as a sign of the danger to come, that only our answers lie beyond the mouth of that cave.I stood, gathering my change of clothes and pacing in circles around the room as I struggled to gather some semblance of what to do next. I battled within myself whether or not to tell Alpha Rhodes about my ominous dream, let him play dream weaver and decipher its meaning. Before long he emerged from the steaming bathroom, and I ducked in after him, shakily brushing my teeth and pulling on my clothes. I wrestled with my own mind as I stared at myself in the mirror, rolling my bottom lip between my teeth as I jumped between t
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I woke up the next morning in my own bed, the sun streaming in through the windows. It took only a moment for me to register my surroundings, gather my head enough to shake me to consciousness. I leapt from bed, showering in record time and hastily throwing on the nearest clean clothes to my touch. Alpha Rhodes hadn't expressly said he'd wait for me to open the box, but he had hinted that should I make myself known during the proceedings he would include me in the process. I sped out of the house, car keys in hand and my hair still sopping wet. In mere minutes I had pulled up at the pack house, my hands wrapped around the heavy iron doorknocker. I stood on the stoop, the autumn breeze whipping around me. The chill of the air made itself known as my wet hair dampened my thin shirt. I shivered as the cold set into my bones, knocking once more.The door swung open and an exhausted Alpha stood before me, eyes thick with sleep."Did I wake you?" I asked, stepping into t
Ablaze Next
Author's Note: When it rains it pours! So sorry for the lack of uploads the past few weeks. From a lost job to a business closure to a flood in my home- it's been one thing after the other, and everything in between! I promise I'll be back to regular updates very soon! I'm writing when I can to get a few chapters ready for posting and I'll try to update every day in April! Here's a shorter chapter for now-- things are about to get serious in Stay's Landing!____________________________________________________________________________I stumbled back, words swirling in my mouth, thick and acidic. My stomach churned as the page before me blurred. I stole a glance at Alpha Rhodes' stone hard stare, his face had paled and his jaw was taut as he stirred over his next move internally. I ached to say something, to bring comfort to the room swelling in silence, but noting surfaced aside from pure fear and bile."Theo
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"I believe there's more to what Jonas has to say, little wolf." The Alpha said, "then we can move on to next steps."Jonas shifted in his seat, turning his deep black eyes to me once more and clearing his throat. He began his story much easier this time, no longer marinating in the fear of judgement."My blood has run synonymously with the Blood pack for centuries, my uncles all upheld the Alpha seat, carrying out reckless brutality and unforgiving violence at the whim of tradition. My uncle never mated, never produced an heir, so the keys to the trade were passed on to his most direct family member - my older brother Lucian. He is ruthless, cold hearted and calculated. He will not stop until every drop of blood has been shed, man woman and child.""Your...your brother?" I stammered in response, feeling my eyes widen as I connected the dots."Yes, my very own. After about a year under his rule I stepped away from the pack. I became a drifter and liv
Ablaze Comfort
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Ablaze Fire
My paws connected harshly with the earth as I bolted from the packhouse, dirt flying up behind me as I pummeled towards home. My heart was in my throat, fear and guilt and worry swarming my insides like angry bees. The early light of dawn painted the landscape in periwinkle hues, and had I not been all consumed with the taste of ash on my tongue I would have marveled at what a beautiful morning it was.Thick, black billows of smoke engulfed the sky the closer we got to my cabin, the angry twisting flames scorching the trees on the horizon. They were steadfast approaching, and I ran a full perimeter around the untouched ground surrounding my forever home. If someone had attempted to clock my speed, they'd have broken the radar as I darted along the burnt treeline. My home remained untouched, but not for long. Volunteers were already out in droves, no doubt having been summoned by the warriors when the Alpha was alerted. They aimed bails of water at the approaching flames
Ablaze Settle
Getting used to life at the packhouse was easy, seamless. Alpha Rhodes had set me up in one of the guest suites, a bedroom and bathroom all to myself. Jonas had volunteered to bring my stuff over from Mains and the warriors had even delved through the wreckage of my home to salvage anything that the fire hadn't touched. For a while I worried Mom would feel I abandoned her, that I was condemning her to live through another loss and suffer alone, but that wasn't the case. My mother had understood. She knew that my heart had splintered differently than hers, that memories haunting every corner of my life wouldn't help to mend it. She was healing living amongst the memory of Mains, amongst old charred phototgraphs from the fire and the hallowed walls of the cottage passed down generations. I, however, needed a fresh outlook, a change of scenery, in order to step back and appreciate what I'd once had and what it had given me. Besides all of that, I think part of her felt better knowing I
Ablaze Tactile
The pack was alive and ferocious, with training sessions happening at all hours of the day and all across the town. The usual grounds were still reserved for the recruits, who were training at double time to make sure they were ready for battle. Clarice had taken the reigns from Beta Gideon, seamlessly transitioning to head trainer. The Beta, meanwhile, had begun training the warriors in being ruthless."The Blood pack will not fight fair, so you won't either. When it's life or death, I know what I'll pick," he said, pacing back and forth in front of the group of us.We'd divided into two teams, half of us holding the border and the other half learning to fight dirty. We'd almost hoped for another rogue attack so we wouldn't have to risk practicing on one another, but the injuries would act as lessons on how to improve. Our research showed we would have enough time to heal, and Dr Kip was on standby to offer medical assistance should anything get out of han
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The rest of the day milled on, dry and aching as I felt out in the space for my mate. I wanted nothing more than to be with him, surrounded by him and the electric heat that closed the space between us. I so longed for him, but the turmoil of my body and mind were not in harmony. Inwardly my thoughts were muddled, painful. Normally I would turn to my mom in times like these. I would spill my fears over her perfectly cooked eggs at the counter in our little cottage, the hot coffee and morning sunbeams washing away my dread. I thought now to the charred walls and burnt memories, our cottage another ruin in the wasteland my land has become. Even my beloved dock, steadfast and strong as it was, had become much to dangerous for me to sit alone and work through my maze of thoughts. I felt so alone under the weight of my life. What a way to spend your birthday. I thought of my friends, how I so desperately wanted to let them in and to celebrate. I had found my mate! He loved me too! I
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As the strategy meeting came to a close and we all retreated to our preparation points I felt the calloused hand of Jonas meet my elbow, his low whisper in my ear."Alpha's chambers, now."His voice was gruff and bone chilling, the fear lingered on the back of my neck as I swallowed it down. Funny how I was not afraid of the battle ahead, but the scolding tone of my own packmate sent my senses into a fight or flight frenzy.As we walked through the wooden corridor towards the office I could pick up the residual hints of my mate's scent wafting in the air. Somehow that reminder of him, that hint of his once-before closeness worked magic in calming my nerves. Seeing his towering, chiseled frame as we broke the threshhold of his office even more so. His back was turned, he'd clearly been pacing, but the crease of his furrowed brow softened as our eyes met.This miniscule act of intimacy was enough to send Jonas back into a rage. His low, ne
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The next two weeks were here and gone in a blur, between training and studying and battening down the hatches I began to know myself in a whole new level of exhaustion. Muscles I didn't even know existed ached, I loaded up on more carbs than I even thought possible, I pushed myself past the limit and past the next one too. Even Sage, deep within me, panted for a rest.The promised week of rest could not come faster, I yearned for the days of easy patrol runs and light agility training. I hadn't run for leisure in weeks, and the feeling was sorely missed. I felt a lot of myself slipping. I hadn't been back to my pier since the day my mother left. I hadn't run for myself, I hadn't read a piece of broken poetry or breathed in the calming sense of nature. It felt like an eternity since I paused and felt the earth under my feet, since I felt the swimming thoughts in my mind clear. I felt like I was but a blur.Rhodes had pulled away, too, the pressure of the imp
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I was no stranger to the falsified sense of peace that had graced our dinner table the evening before. Everything and everyone I loved shared in the final meal, my mother to my right and Alpha Rhodes seated at the head of the table to my left. Torrance and her newfound mate were cuddled up, sharing in hushed whispers as they got to know one another. Her parents looked on adoringly, and laughter and warmth radiated across the room. I was all but haunted by my conversation with Clarice, the promise of a new and unfamiliar future on the horizon. When morning came, everything would change.As the dawning light crept in the Alpha and I sighed. Neither of us had slept a wink, but we hadn’t shared a word either. It was as if we were both in denial of what was to come. As the frost settled and the cold winter air whipped around the pack house, the haunting whistles made soundtrack to our somber morning. We worked in tandem, handing each other
Ablaze Jack
"Mate."Torrance replied, stepping out from behind me, her breathing heavy. They drifted towards each other weightlessly, almost as if on autopilot, They glided into one another's arms, holding each other at the elbows. Their conversation was hushed, in whispers, as the familiarity of their souls called out to their mate.Leona sighed, and I looked back at her beaming smile, her eyes brimming with tears and pride as she watched her daughter meeting her other half. I beamed, squeezing the Alpha's hand in excitement as I watched my best friend accept her new role. The daughter of a Beta now the mate of another. A Goddess perfect pairing.Moments passed, no one dare interrupt the fate's meeting. The duo seemed to hold the same regard for public forum, however, and they pulled apart to let the official meeting commence. Torrance stood nervously close to her new mate, their arms touching as she let the Alpha speak."Well! Even more now than b
