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Chapter 7: Tea Leaves
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Six weeks after the arrival of the first grain and the Nightingale pack had been restored to what it once was. With food in their bellies and a steady supply more, the people were happy again and although we had the knowledge of Alpha Rivers' mysterious enemy looming over us, there was no sign of them yet and we let ourselves relax in the moment of peace.
Every week Alpha Rivers came with more grain. I usually did my best to avoid him by staying in my room and watching him out the window or tactically going to hunt at times I thought he was most likely to appear. But he gave no indication of when he was going to come and followed no identifiable pattern so there were still occasions where I got caught out and I fell victim of his invasive stares and snide comments.
On one afternoon when Rose and Tobias had gone for a run, I heard the distinct sound of his cart rolling towards the house.
After putting my book down and getting up from my bed, I sidled up to my win
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"Your form is wrong," a voice said.I was in the forest, as I was nearly every afternoon, training. I was halfway through my fifty push-ups and as soon as I recognised the voice I just rolled my eyes."It's not," I replied bluntly.Alpha Rivers seemed to spend more time on our territory these days than he spent on his own. He was constantly delivering grain and vegetables - one day he came with a single sack of turnips and spent three hours in our kitchen talking to Tobias and getting in my way as I was trying to cook.He also had this irritating habit of following me into the woods. I was a woman who valued my time alone and I used to find the forest a peaceful escape. But now it was just another place I had to keep an eye out for him and put up with his condescending, sexist, annoying comments."You're making it harder for yourself without any benefit," he sung, an amused smile on his lips."I'm not," I repeated."Straighten your ba
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We kept walking along the lake in quiet until we reached a break in the reeds and vegetation where there was a small beach. He stopped and stepped onto the sand, taking another deep breath of the fresh air.By now the sun had nearly dropped below the horizon, giving the air a wintery chill."Tomorrow at noon, when the sun is at its warmest, come swimming with me here," he said, turning to me.He didn't phrase it as an offer but I folded my arms and raised an eyebrow."Why?" I asked."Why not?" he said in a bored tone, "Live a little, Esme."I sighed and stepped down off the path to join him on the sand. Standing so close next to him, his scent drifted into my nose, undiluted by the other smells of wood and animals around us. I took a deep breath, my muscles easing as I followed his gaze out to the beauty of the lake."I warn you, it's freezing at this time of year," I replied.His lips curled into
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I 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
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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
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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
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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
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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?"
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