[warning: violence and gore]IsaacWatching Kathryn slowly collapse and her pain lancing through my body is the last straw. Why did I not take a stance before Zephyr harmed my mate? Why did I stand still, like an imbecile, when I should have protected them? I should have taken charge beforehand. But I let the guilt take a backseat as searing pain and anger courses through my body. I lunge towards her, a pained growl ripping through my lips. She collapses in my arms, a dead weight. I don’t dare to remove the dagger, but seeing her so pale and her lips turning blue, I carefully lay her on the floor and then shift my angry gaze towards Zephyr. ‘She deserves to die.’ Clement and Dyson snarl together. They take rein together, combining their powers. Zephyr smirks and steps away from Isleen. “Ah, so you can even transform into both of your wolves now.”It’s a struggle to keep them both in charge. I pounce at her but she teleports to another place. “I am here,” she calls from behind. D
[Kathryn]‘Kathy, wake up,’ Astrid’s voice fills my mind but it sounds distant still. ‘You need to wake up,’ she says again. Why does she sound so…hurt?I want to open my eyes but it feels as if I can’t. ‘We are mostly healed. Try and wake up. Please,’ her voice sounds so urgent. I try as she suggested and after some time, my eyes blink open. I am familiar with the white walls, and the sterile smell, but what gnaws at me is the pain and a certain emptiness. My heart stutters as a horrible thought engulfs my mind. “Isaac…” I croak out. “Thank the fucking Goddess,” I hear a familiar voice. I turn towards the source and spot Caius walking up to my bedside, looking tired. “Where’s..?”“Oh stop taking that moron’s name,” he interjects, annoyed, but I don’t miss the worry lines that form at the edges of his lips. I stare at my stomach and notice that it has been bandaged. “What?...” I feel confused because why am I…Oh….The memories gush back as if a floodgate has been opened. Isl
[Isaac]When I woke up, the first thing I felt was a deep, yawning, and painful emptiness, and Dyson’s mourning silence. For a moment, I had thought that I was back in the past where one of my wolves was subdued, so much so that I had initially thought that he was gone for good, but then I remembered the events, of me killing that witch, of her revealing the deadly curse breaker that she had formulated, and then Clement….Kathryn….Her and Isleen’s thoughts made me stumble out of bed, rip the IV off my arm and stagger out of the unfamiliar room into an even more unfamiliar corridor. When I managed to find my mate’s room-“What the fuck are you doing out here? Go back and take a rest,” I heard the voice of the man I did not want to at the moment.Caius Tenebris.It was when I saw Caius, my restraint almost snapped. I almost pounced on him, and would have probably fought at the sight of him in my mate’s room, had Harmony and the doctor not intervened. “Calm down, Isaac. You are injured
[Kathryn]I watch, bewildered, as Isleen begins the healing process. Isaac tries to move his hand, but her grip only tightens. “Honey-” I try to protest because she is still so weak. She can barely keep her eyes open. Isaac glances at me, panicked. What if we lose her in the process? Astrid whines woefully, “Can’t…” Isleen mumbles as she places her free hand on top of Isaac’s.“I am sure Clement will hold out till you get well, sweetheart,” Isaac says softly, but I can hear the desperation in his tone. I need to think fast because Isleen is hellbent on saving Clement. “Honey… I.. I am like you. Mom can heal as well. Let me heal papa for the while and when you get better, you can do the rest,” I babble, hoping she will give in. I can heal him, but Isleen is already stronger as a healer. She can sense wolves, and locate injuries better than I did at her age. Hell, I didn’t even know I was a white wolf. Isleen is far more mature for her age, smarter and wiser, and I am not even being
[Kathryn]“Do not exert yourself. Keep letting Isleen heal you a little every day,” Ayeshna says sternly as the three of us sit in her small chamber. She briefly smiles at Isleen before flickering her gaze at Isaac. “And Alpha Isaac, since you have more than one wolf and one of them is severely weak, try to get into fewer fights and don’t even try to transform into either wolf for at least a month. As the Shadow Pack’s doctor and Kathryn’s former colleague, I wouldn’t want you to bring my name down.” Although the last words were said in jest, Isaac nods somberly. He has been like that, a lot milder than he used to be. “He will, doc,” Isleen chirps from where she perches on her father’s lap. Although she was big enough now, to Isaac, she was his pup whom he wanted to spoil and indulge, giving her whatever he couldn’t for the past five years. Isaac lightly tickles her before pecking at the top of her head. Isleen giggles delightfully, but doesn’t squirm out of his hold. My lips tip u
The atmosphere inside the car was heavy. I resolutely kept my gaze out of the window, not wishing to talk to my father, not that he had anything to say. My eyes burned as I tried my best to hold back tears. The huge high rises and concrete houses had long disappeared. Trees and uneven roads had replaced that. My chest tightened at the thought of what awaited me."At least be useful for once," mother had hissed, unmoved by my tears."Kiara, please," father had said. His request sounded more like a reproach, as if he wanted me to stop being a nuisance. I surreptitiously glanced at father. His eyes were straight ahead. A frown had marred his brow, as if he would be anywhere but here in this car.I let out an inaudible sigh, gazing at the white gown that I had been forced to wear. I envied everyone in my pack at the moment. They didn't have to go through this...this heartless and idiotic ritual. Why
My heart pounded in my chest as the manor or rather the foreboding castle came into view. It’s huge iron gates opened with a whine, as if a monster was opening its mouth, ready to devour its prey. There was nothing beautiful about this castle. Even the trees looked dull and grey, contributing to the general eerie atmosphere. Despite the sun shining in its full glory, the castle seemed to ward off that brightness or warmth.My heart lurched as the car came to a stop in front of the wide stone staircase leading to the huge entrance of the castle.“Can I have a moment with you, Father?” I asked quietly before my father could wrench the door open and get out of the car. I saw his sombre expression turn sour. He nodded tightly. The driver glanced at us through the rearview mirror before saying, “Alright. 10 minutes.” Then he and the other man in the passenger seat got out of the car.&nbs
My fingers clenched around the bunched fabric before I reluctantly let go, the hem once again brushing the floor. I ducked my chin as the woman kept walking, leading the way to what I assume as the alpha Isaac’s room. The tight bun and her light blue midi reminded me of Ms. Hannah, our housekeeper. A whirlwind of emotions was swirling inside my chest, a thousand questions circling my mind. But I did not dare to voice them. Astrid lay dormant, as she had been for the past couple of days. The woman walked gracefully, and I wondered if he was in charge of the other house helps.The corridor was long and seemed never-ending, lined with portraits adorning either side which I could see from the corner of my eyes, occasionally there were a few vases, large ones and albeit expensive or ancient. It had branched into different directions on the left, but I couldn’t see anyone in these
[Kathryn]“Do not exert yourself. Keep letting Isleen heal you a little every day,” Ayeshna says sternly as the three of us sit in her small chamber. She briefly smiles at Isleen before flickering her gaze at Isaac. “And Alpha Isaac, since you have more than one wolf and one of them is severely weak, try to get into fewer fights and don’t even try to transform into either wolf for at least a month. As the Shadow Pack’s doctor and Kathryn’s former colleague, I wouldn’t want you to bring my name down.” Although the last words were said in jest, Isaac nods somberly. He has been like that, a lot milder than he used to be. “He will, doc,” Isleen chirps from where she perches on her father’s lap. Although she was big enough now, to Isaac, she was his pup whom he wanted to spoil and indulge, giving her whatever he couldn’t for the past five years. Isaac lightly tickles her before pecking at the top of her head. Isleen giggles delightfully, but doesn’t squirm out of his hold. My lips tip u
[Kathryn]I watch, bewildered, as Isleen begins the healing process. Isaac tries to move his hand, but her grip only tightens. “Honey-” I try to protest because she is still so weak. She can barely keep her eyes open. Isaac glances at me, panicked. What if we lose her in the process? Astrid whines woefully, “Can’t…” Isleen mumbles as she places her free hand on top of Isaac’s.“I am sure Clement will hold out till you get well, sweetheart,” Isaac says softly, but I can hear the desperation in his tone. I need to think fast because Isleen is hellbent on saving Clement. “Honey… I.. I am like you. Mom can heal as well. Let me heal papa for the while and when you get better, you can do the rest,” I babble, hoping she will give in. I can heal him, but Isleen is already stronger as a healer. She can sense wolves, and locate injuries better than I did at her age. Hell, I didn’t even know I was a white wolf. Isleen is far more mature for her age, smarter and wiser, and I am not even being
[Isaac]When I woke up, the first thing I felt was a deep, yawning, and painful emptiness, and Dyson’s mourning silence. For a moment, I had thought that I was back in the past where one of my wolves was subdued, so much so that I had initially thought that he was gone for good, but then I remembered the events, of me killing that witch, of her revealing the deadly curse breaker that she had formulated, and then Clement….Kathryn….Her and Isleen’s thoughts made me stumble out of bed, rip the IV off my arm and stagger out of the unfamiliar room into an even more unfamiliar corridor. When I managed to find my mate’s room-“What the fuck are you doing out here? Go back and take a rest,” I heard the voice of the man I did not want to at the moment.Caius Tenebris.It was when I saw Caius, my restraint almost snapped. I almost pounced on him, and would have probably fought at the sight of him in my mate’s room, had Harmony and the doctor not intervened. “Calm down, Isaac. You are injured
[Kathryn]‘Kathy, wake up,’ Astrid’s voice fills my mind but it sounds distant still. ‘You need to wake up,’ she says again. Why does she sound so…hurt?I want to open my eyes but it feels as if I can’t. ‘We are mostly healed. Try and wake up. Please,’ her voice sounds so urgent. I try as she suggested and after some time, my eyes blink open. I am familiar with the white walls, and the sterile smell, but what gnaws at me is the pain and a certain emptiness. My heart stutters as a horrible thought engulfs my mind. “Isaac…” I croak out. “Thank the fucking Goddess,” I hear a familiar voice. I turn towards the source and spot Caius walking up to my bedside, looking tired. “Where’s..?”“Oh stop taking that moron’s name,” he interjects, annoyed, but I don’t miss the worry lines that form at the edges of his lips. I stare at my stomach and notice that it has been bandaged. “What?...” I feel confused because why am I…Oh….The memories gush back as if a floodgate has been opened. Isl
[warning: violence and gore]IsaacWatching Kathryn slowly collapse and her pain lancing through my body is the last straw. Why did I not take a stance before Zephyr harmed my mate? Why did I stand still, like an imbecile, when I should have protected them? I should have taken charge beforehand. But I let the guilt take a backseat as searing pain and anger courses through my body. I lunge towards her, a pained growl ripping through my lips. She collapses in my arms, a dead weight. I don’t dare to remove the dagger, but seeing her so pale and her lips turning blue, I carefully lay her on the floor and then shift my angry gaze towards Zephyr. ‘She deserves to die.’ Clement and Dyson snarl together. They take rein together, combining their powers. Zephyr smirks and steps away from Isleen. “Ah, so you can even transform into both of your wolves now.”It’s a struggle to keep them both in charge. I pounce at her but she teleports to another place. “I am here,” she calls from behind. D
KathrynMy blood is pounding in my ears as Felice continues to unravel her true self. When I met the woman, I had never thought that the woman who made Isaac believe that she was a well-wisher scares me. I glance at my mate’s ashened face. Then my gaze flickers to Felice… no Zephyr's lips curve up further. My attention shifts to my daughter, blissfully oblivious to the chaos. Only if Isleen had her wolf. Astrid could communicate. Astrid would find a way, but she is only a child. A gullible child. I blink back the tears that threaten to fall. I can’t show my weakness in front of this witch. I glower at her as she pleasantly looks back, no doubt taking a sadistic pleasure from watching us suffer. Isaac has put up his mental block again so that I can neither feel nor hear his thoughts. I don’t have the capability to keep up mine, not at this time. But I am sure that he is tearing himself apart inwardly and that makes me want to kill this woman this instant.When my gaze flickers back t
IsaacMarcus’ urgent call through mind-link floods in just as I am about to start patrolling. There have been some disconcerting things around the south of the pack and I don’t want my half-brother and step-mother or the former luna to jeopardize anything. ‘Alpha…’Marcus’ distressed tone is enough to alert me. ‘What? Are Kathryn and Isleen alright?’ I ask and I get my answer when I let my mental block down. Kathryn’s turmoil and distress wash over me like an unpleasant sensation. I am already turning and sprinting towards the pack house. “Keep patrolling,” I holler and get a chorus of ‘Yes, alpha’ from behind. ‘Julianne reported that Isleen is missing,’ Marcus informs and I screech to a halt. ‘What?’ I jog towards the residence. I can’t transform into either wolf now because both of them want to take the lead. Kathryn’s distress is transforming into anger slowly and I am sure that if I don’t reach in time then she will wreck havoc. Heck, I want to do the same. But one of us has
KathrynWhen I finally managed to put Isleen to sleep, after promising her a tour of the place the next morning, I slowly closed the door behind me and returned to our room.I halt at the sight of Isaac, changing clothes in the middle of the room. My gaze traces every scar and muscle of his broad back. My heartbeat notches up. This… feels so unfamiliar. “Will you be standing there all night or come to me?” he murmurs. My cheeks feel warm as I lower my gaze and cross the room until I am behind him. I wrap my arms around his midriff as soon as he is done wearing the t-shirt. “What did you want to say?” I murmur against his back. His hands come to join mine. He then turns around without breaking the hold and looks at me. His hands encircle my waist. “I didn’t want to say anything. You were the one who stood a few feet away from me and admired me while I changed for the night.” There’s a smugness in his tone and I am unable to decide whether to be mad or just be happy with the develop
Kathryn I stiffen on hearing the words, spewed out like venom. I stare at Helen, dumbfounded. She looks furious, eyes burning with hatred and disgust. White wolf. The word sounds so dirty that it makes me flinch. “What did you say?” Isaac says, his voice barely audible, but he looks livid. His fingers flex around my waist. The warm and welcoming atmosphere has changed into something frigid and tense. “You will question your mother for her?” Helen points an accusing finger at me. “She is a white wolf and that is a cause of disgust to you? Why? Her wolf’s color is white, mine is black, Marcus' is brown. What does color have to do with how that person or their wolf is?” Isaac bellows. I, on my part, stare at him. My heart seems to be pounding in my ears and my legs feel wobbly. When have I ever hoped or imagined that he, of all people, would defend me/ That he would accept me the way I am. Never. I never expected this from him, I still remember him threatening me for being a