LOGINShare
Chapter 11: The Storm
Last Updated:
2020-07-09 07:19:42I sat on my bed for hours, staring despairingly at the wooden floorboards. Rose and Tobias were downstairs busy making dinner meaning I was free to wallow alone, just as I wanted to, and process what the hell had just happened in that forest.
After overcoming the initial shock, my predominant emotion was anger.
How could the Goddesses give me Alpha Rivers as a mate? For years, I'd watched Rose and Tobias love each other, dreaming of one day meeting someone who would make me as happy as they were.
But with a man like Alpha Rivers as a mate, it could never be like that. I could never experience that kind of happiness and that disappointment was crushing me.
But I felt ashamed for it.
I shouldn't need a mate to be happy.
I am a leader of this pack. I have duties and a purpose. I am fulfilled.
I don't need a mate and I certainly don't need Alpha Rivers. I was disgusted to have enjoyed the kiss with such a vil
Related chapters
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 12: Her Disguise
With my boots sodden and squelching, the leather rubbing on my damp softened skin, I ran as fast as I could for as far as I could.But my clothes were heavy with water and my legs soon grew clumsy, tripping and stumbling over the roots and branches.Half an hour of battling through the forest later, I tripped once more. This time so overcome with exhaustion that I couldn't save myself from falling and I dropped to the floor, catching my foot under the root. I whimpered, pressing my nails into the muddy floor as pain surged through my ankle. It already throbbed and when I hauled my self to my feet, I could barely put weight on it.The storm was still raging on, refusing to have mercy even as I limped, dragging my injured foot behind me.My eyes welled up and soon the rain-diluted tears dripped down my face."Are you trying to die out here, Esme?" a voice said from behind me.I flinched and spun around only to see Alpha Rivers emerging f
Last Updated : 2020-07-09All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 13: The Negotiaion
The next morning I awoke groggy-eyed and tired. Thankfully, the storm had passed but grey clouds still lingered in the sky, refusing to allow the sun to dry off the waterlogged ground and sodden leaves.I lifted the covers off me and sat forward, staring into the burnt-out ash in the fireplace."How are you feeling?" Rose's voice asked as she came into the doorway.She leant against the wall and smiled sympathetically but all I could do was put my head in my hands and sigh."How about a mug of hot cocoa?" she asked.I smiled and nodded, "Thank you."I then wrapped the blanket around me again and just sat listening to the clatters and rustling of Rose in the kitchen."Tobias thinks we should hold a meeting with Alpha Rivers about this," she said as she heated the milk on the stove, "Find a way to come to an agreement that everyone can be happy with."I shook my head, "Have you met Alpha Rivers?" I asked, "He knows what he
Last Updated : 2020-07-17All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 14: When Blossom Falls
After he had left the Nightingale territory in a fit of rage, we didn't see Alpha Rivers for weeks and for most of the pack, life slipped back to normal. We had now saved up enough grain to feed ourselves until the next harvest, the threat to the pack that Alpha Rivers warned us of was nowhere to be seen and everybody seemed to just forget about him.Well...everybody but me.He still lingered in my mind.When I passed the lake, I thought of the time spent there together. When I went to sleep, his face was in my dreams. When I ventured out into the woods, I couldn't help but how my life would change if I stumbled across him.But I was relieved to see the back of him.This is what I wanted - to live freely and stay with my family. To lead this pack and watch it flourish. None of that would have been possible with Alpha Rivers so this is the way it had to be.But even though my routine had returned to normal, something had changed inside me. Th
Last Updated : 2020-07-21All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 15: His Way
The first sign of enemy soldiers on the Southern border came after only half an hour of crouching in the bushes.It only took the crunch of a twig across the border for me to release an arrow from my bow and send a body straight to the floor."Stay in position," I whispered to the surrounding Nightingales as I peered around the tree I was hiding behind to see the man I'd shot.He was large with a gaunt ugly face and bushy rugged hair. His eyes, which stared frozen up at the night sky, were black and beady as the life faded from him. His skin was weathered and scarred and he held a foul smell, like that of a rogue.I grimaced before glancing around at my soldiers who stayed still in their positions, ready to fight.My orders were simple: do whatever it takes to protect the pack.I didn't know what else to suggest. We had no idea what we were up against or what tactics and numbers to expect but I couldn't help but wonder what Tobia
Last Updated : 2020-07-21All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 16: Playing Nice
I ran in silence towards the village with Alpha Rivers beside me."It's been weeks," I said eventually, breaking the quiet, "Where did you go?"He looked down at me, a sly smile creeping onto his lips, "Why? Did you miss me?""No," I said sharply, "But how could you just vanish like that? It's unsettling.""I had things to do," he replied shortly before the silence resumed until we reached the edge of the village."How many of them are there?" he asked."Forty. There are two villages and a few lone houses around the territory," I said.He nodded, "My men will round them up."I clenched my jaw, "Pheonix men," I said, "The same ones who have killed their friends and family members? There are kids in those houses who are orphans because of them.""We can leave them to die if you'd prefer?" he asked, "Or you can round them up yourself and have your most vulnerable pack members wondering through a warzone unprotected."
Last Updated : 2020-07-22All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 17: Blind Faith
We walked on for hours more. I continued to help the woman and hold her child but she weakened more with every step as the child weighed down my arm. She was small and light but it had so long that my arm was beginning to ache as she kept slipping down.Alpha Rivers men still walked silently around us and although I knew they were for our protection, I couldn't help but feel unsettled by them. They didn't speak or smile or show even the slightest sign of humanity. So I held the child closer to me and just focussed on getting my people through the forest, across the border and away from these men as soon as possible.But when we finally crossed into Pheonix territory, Alpha Rivers lead us on further."Where exactly are you taking us?" I asked half an hour later."To the centre of my territory. A guarded camp has been set up for all of the Pheonix women, children and elderly. There are well-stocked caves to shelter in that will serve to keep them hidden too
Last Updated : 2020-07-24All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 18: Stray
As we walked, I could see the light of dawn growing brighter through the blindfold. The dewy smell of the forest came alive and the birds above us began to tweet again. It was a relief to escape what had been a dreadful night but I was under no illusion of safety. My shoulders were tense and with no vision, every sound and brush of a branch on my arm put me on edge."Relax," Alpha Rivers said after I had flinched with his hands resting on my shoulders, "I'm taking your blindfold off."He pulled the tie and it soon slipped down, allowing me to rub my eyes and reinstate a comfortable distance from him.At long last, I caught sight of Tobias."Finally!" I said marching towards my brother and hugging him.I looked over his shoulder to see the rest of the Nightingale army behind him. They all looked tired but thankfully, we hadn't lost too many and morale still seemed okay.Rose smiled warmly and squeezed my hand before she glanced over to Alpha
Last Updated : 2020-07-24All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 19: The Weak One
I sat with Tobias in a silence that was just beginning to become awkward when it was shattered by shouts and cries from across the camp.Tobias got straight to his feet and I quickly followed him as he began marching towards it."Alpha Brynn, a group of soldiers broke through the Pheonix Southern border," one of the Nightingale soldiers said as she ran up to us, "They've attacked the camp and Alpha Rivers has ordered the patrols to disperse. He says we're too targetable here."Tobias nodded, "Any fatalities?""No Nightingales," she said."Good. Find your patrol and follow Alpha Rivers' orders," he said to her and she ran off again.Tobias then turned to me."Stick with me, Esme," he said, "We need to find Rose and then help fight off these enemy soldiers. Then I'll come with you to find Alpha Rivers."I nodded and followed him through the camp until we reached the source of the fighting.A small battlefield had cropped u
Last Updated : 2020-07-26
Latest chapter
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 45: Thank You Theodore
The next few years weren't easy. I was Alpha of not one but two united packs and I didn't have my Brother and Rose, who the pain of losing still crippled me, beside me to help.But perhaps even more shockingly, a few weeks after Theodore Rivers' death, I discovered I was pregnant.At first, it nearly destroyed me to be carrying his child after everything he did.But eight months later, when I gave birth to my son, I couldn't have felt more the opposite. When he first opened his eyes, I couldn't help recognise their hazel-brown colour and when chocolate brown curls began to sprout from his head, they felt all too familiar but he was my little bundle of joy and when I looked at his sweet little face I didn't feel any of the pain of the past. Only happiness and motivation to carry on even when things got tough. He filled the hole that Theodore had left and without him, things could have been very different.Lou was there for me and my son, who we named
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 44: Freedom
Half an hour later I was in the hallway of the Pheonix packhouse tying my boots as I sat on the bottom step of the stair. Theodore had just shrugged on his jacket and was now reaching for the coat stand.He plucked the jacket off the top and thrust it in my direction.It was mine. The one I left on Tobias's body.I took it and stared down at it."What did you do with their bodies?" I asked, clutching the brown leather between my fingers."Burnt them," he replied. "The ashes are in the pocket of your jacket."I reached into the pocket to find a glass vial filled with what looked like just the grey soot of a fire. I wrapped my fist tight around it and held it close to my chest."Can I sprinkle them on Nightingale territory?" I asked.He paused for a second before nodding, "Lou will escort you to wherever you want before I claim the pack."I reached for my bow but Theodore's hand got to it before me."You don't need
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 43: His Diguise
The rain of earlier had returned as a raging storm by the time Lou got me to the doorstep of a large house. We were wet through but he soon sat me down and lit a warm fire before finding some dry clothes and making me a soothing mug of hot cocoa."How are you feeling?" he asked, sitting down on the end of the bed he had made up for me."I've been better," I said hoarsely.He sighed and squeezed my hand."I've had word from some of the men," he said, "Alpha Rivers won't be here until the morning.""And what horrors will the morning bring?" I asked."He's taking you to the Nightingale territory where he will announce Alpha Brynn's death and declare himself your people's new Alpha. The Nightingale citizens are being escorted home tonight and ordered to gather at the waterfall at 10 am tomorrow."I hugged my knees tighter to my chest, "Just in case he hasn't taken enough from me. Now he's taking my pack.""I'm sorry, Esme," he said
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 42: Alone At Last
We were soon back at the camp where Rose and Tobias still sat. Theodore still gripped my arm tightly and as he looked down at Tobias with cold eyes, he instantly knew something was up."It's been settled. Esme will be living with me," Theodore told him, "As my Luna."Tobias looked from Theodore to me and my tear-stained cheeks and the way I depended on Theodore's arm for support, my legs still weak and shaking, maybe from the shock, maybe the pain, maybe the betrayal.Tobias got straight to his feet."What has happened?" he questioned, "Esme?"Saying nothing, I just kept my eyes on the floor, completely unable to face either of them.I was ashamed of my weakness. Ashamed that I had let him do this to me."What the fuck have you done to her?" Tobias growled a few seconds later."None of your business, Alpha Brynn. All you need to know is that she has changed her mind," Theodore replied, "And you will need to manage w
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 41: The Betrayal
After hours of walking around Pheonix land, hunting down Alpha Kane's men and loading up the bodies of our soldiers and friends onto carts to return home wrapped in a sheet, we were all drained and exhausted.We still had miles of territory to scour but we hadn't had a moments rest in far too long so we decided to make camp for the night."So it's over," I said finally breaking the silence around the campfire, "We can go back to normal.""Finally," Tobias said with a sigh."But now what?" I asked, looking up to my brother."We reclaim our territory and rebuild our pack. There may not be many of us left but it's something," Tobias said.I nodded, "Although it will be a quarter of its original size, it's still our duty to be there for the Nightingale pack.""It's not your duty, Esme," Theodore said, speaking up for the first time since we made camp.He'd been sitting on the opposite side of the fire, his fingers firmly entwined a
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 40: Scars and Role Models
Sometime later, Theodore came over to me. I was sat with Rose and Tobias and had just finished stitching up a nasty wound on the shoulder of one of our soldiers."Alpha Brynn, everything here is sorted. I'm sending my men out to search the rest of the territory for escapees and to recover the bodies of our lost soldiers. I'd appreciate if you did the same. The sooner the place is cleared, the sooner we can let the citizens out," he said.Tobias nodded.As he spoke I'd been trying to avoid looking behind him at the spiralling flames of the 'crematorium' his men had made to burn the bodies of hundreds of Alpha Kane's men. But the smoke billowed and itched our lungs, refusing to be ignored."We've lost a lot of soldiers so we will be searching the territory for their bodies," Rose said."Fine," Theodore replied, "Esme, you are coming with me though."I looked up at him."I was actually hoping to go with Tobias and Rose. The least I can d
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 39: Losing Battle
I looked into Theodore's eyes. They were wide and frozen as he kept looking down at his hands."Klaus," I said to the soldier who now cowered in the corner, "Tell all your fellow soldiers that their leader is dead and that if they surrender immediately, we can end this with no more bloodshed."Klaus nodded and scrambled out of the room, not taking his eyes off Theodore for a second."Are you okay?" I asked, stepping closer to my mate.He suddenly snapped out of his trance and his eyes locked on me."Why the fuck are you here?" he growled, striding forward and grabbing my wrist."I'm sorry I-" I stuttered as he dragged me at high speed from the room, "I had to help.""And how to fuck is getting yourself captured and put in extreme danger helping, Esme?" he hissed."If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had the opportunity to challenge Alpha Kane and he would have killed you on your knees," I replied.With that, he
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 38: Flesh and Blood
I was taken through a large pair of wooden doors into a large room. I stumbled forward as the men holding me shoved me forwards to where a middle-aged man sat comfortably on an ornate chair."Well, well, well. What do we have here?" he asked, looking me up and down.His voice was deep and patronising. His features were sharp and oddly familiar. I even knew those brown eyes. It felt like I'd experienced their piercing stare many times before.Klaus stepped forward and brushed my hair off my neck.The man's eyes lit up and he instantly got to his feet. He smiled warmly yet his eyes remained dark and beady as he strode over to me and held out his hand."Alpha Kane, a pleasure to meet you, Luna Rivers," he said.I looked down at his hand and scoffed."You expect me to shake your hand? After everything?" I asked.He continued to look down at me."Yes," he said sharply, "Has Theodore not taught you how to show respect yet?"
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 37: The Wall
I next woke on a dark stone floor. The bustle and hustle of the camp had gone and now all I could hear was the echoing drips of water droplets and the pacing footsteps of one man.My every muscle felt tired and useless and I could hardly even sit myself up."How are you feeling?" someone asked.Upon glancing up, I saw Lou looking down at me."Exhausted," I replied.I glanced around. It was dark but I could just about see damp stone walls."Well, that's expected," he replied, "You'll be okay soon."I diverted my glance back to Lou."Expected? Why?" I questioned.Lou furrowed his eyebrow, "Because Alpha Rivers marked you.""...So? And where the fuck are we?"It was then that Lou's face dropped and his jaw tightened, "You don't know, do you? He didn't warn you?""Warn me of what?" I asked.Lou sighed and sat down beside me, "When a female wolf is marked she goes into a deep sleep. It's the natura
