AdeaThe fire in the fireplace flickered, but I felt cold as I waited to hear what the doctor had to say. He placed my hand on my lap and released me. I took a shaky breath as I looked up into his unseeing eyes. I wanted, no needed to know as much as I didn’t.“Please,” I whisper.“You are not with child,” Doctor James announced.“Thank the Goddess,” I sighed.I curled my hands into balls and slumped where I sat. I knew the chances of hearing that I was with child were high. A wave of relief washed over me and I took a deep breath and exhaled, thankful for the lack of news. I doubt I could stomach having to carry Ethan’s child. I glance over to Beta Odis to find his eyes glazed over. I wanted to laugh, instead, I settled for smirking.Good. I’m glad he’s telling his alpha the good news.I watched Odis’ face to see if I could see his features change with his alpha’s reaction to the good news. While he was distracted, Doctor James leaned close, feeling his warmth I turned back to face h
AdeaThe shoes Gabriel gifted me clacked against the floor as I followed Odis toward the dining hall. My eyes darted to the glass-stained windows and outside to where the moon peeked through the windows. Since I had come of age I haven’t shifted. I don’t know why I haven’t and I don’t know how not shifting will affect my wolf. What I do know is that the thought of losing her completely haunts my thoughts.The fun I’d had this morning felt like a distant memory as dread seeped into my bones. Happiness was a forbidden fruit and I’d had a small nibble. I swallowed down the lump in my throat as we came to a stop in front of the doors.The warriors posted outside bowed and pulled the doors open. Beta Odis stepped aside and I bit down on my bottom lip to stop it from trembling. I took a deep breath and grasped at the mask that was my savior when I faced my captor.I refused to call him by name because the more I said it, the more it floated through my mind, the more I allowed myself to beco
AdeaOlivia’s words didn’t make sense and she didn’t say much more. When she did speak she talked in riddles. How could I remember someone I had never met before? She was a mystery and I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her. I’m not sure what it was. I glanced at Odis but he avoided looking at me. He was quiet and his attention remained on the plate in front of him. Olivia looked upon Odis with interest. The sound of a fist slamming on the table caused me to jump.“I grow tired of waiting for your attention to drift my way,” Alpha growled.My mouth dried and I dragged my gaze from Odis and Olivia and instead, focused on him. You would think that he would be at ease, or at least relaxed with Ava here, but that isn’t the case. Alpha is upset and on edge, I can feel the animosity in the air. I recognize that look in his eyes—he hungers for me. Every nerve in my body itches to run and my brain screams at me to listen. I fight the urge to avert my gaze.“I didn’t know I was supposed to bow
AdeaAlpha did not address me for the remainder of the dinner. He spoke to Beta Odis and Olivia about his plans for tomorrow. Ava didn’t eat I remained quiet as to not draw any unwanted attention to myself and pushed the food around on my plate. I wasn’t sure if I believed Alpha when he said that he would be there tomorrow. I didn’t believe that I would be able to see him tomorrow. I’d waited so long for new from him and prayed to the Moon Goddess to no avail.A cup was placed in front of me and I lifted my chin, only to realize that the room was quiet and the only people left in the dining hall were me and Alpha. When had they left and how long have we been here? I had to be exhausted from today’s events to not have noticed. As much as I told myself that I knew that something was amiss.I looked back and forth between him and the goblet of the red liquid that could help me through the rest of this miserable night. Without a second thought, I picked up the cup and brought it to my lip
ShaneThe first weekThe sagging flesh on my back should have hurt, the open wounds that still had blood squirting from it. I should have felt the pain in my legs from all of the running we’d been doing. So why was it that I felt none of that? Why was it that despite knowing I’d made the right choice, all I wanted to do was turn around and rush back to her side? Why was it that dropping to my knees and begging for her to forgive me and take me back all that was on my mind?I had left my heart behind and I didn’t know how I was going to keep functioning without her. I ran fast, imagining the warriors hot on our heels. Two days had passed since I ran from her and grabbed my sister. The look of betrayal in her eyes haunted me and when she told me to leave, her words felt like a knife in the chest.I wanted to say that I didn’t regret my decision because i made it for her, for me, for us, but I did regret it. I regretted it the moment I turned my back on her. The more steps I took away fr
ShaneThat night my dreams were filled with desperation, sadness, and flashes of a life, lives together that ended painfully. I don’t know what it meant, I couldn’t piece what I remembered together. The more I tried to grasp onto it, the more it became more and more vague. I know know how long I slept, I woke up with sweat all over my body. I groan and forced my eyes open. I’d felt like I had lived a thousand lives from the time I had closed my eyes and opened them. I was unsure of where I was, who I was, and what I was supposed to be doing.A cave.The rushing water was the first thing I heard and saw. I was in the cave, I’d run away with my sister, and left her behind. I still lay on my stomach, my arms below me to hold up my head. I pulled myself to a sitting position and the walls of the cave swayed. I gasped out in pain as I felt everything all at once. It was the first time I’d felt the physical pain since that night.It was crippling.I took a deep breath to try and steady myse
ShaneWiser?I couldn’t help but laugh. The hole in my heart grew by the second, but my sister could always move me. Mave glared at me and I know had I not been injured she would have attempted to give me a thump on the head. Instead, she crossed her arms and pouted. Her actions reminded me of a younger version of her. I’d had my fun.“Okay okay, oh wise one. What did you eat? I don’t see you living off of fruits. You love your meat,” I said. I thought back to all of the times I had brought leftovers from work that I had been permitted to take home. Mave loved food with substance.“I had to for awhile. It was terrible,” she said. I laughed. “It took some time to get tools ready for hunting,” she said.“Hunting? You?” I asked.“Yes, me,” she said sarcastically.“What have you been doing then? It’s been a week,” I said.“I’ve surveyed the surrounding area for the last week. I haven’t noted any suspicious behavior and it seems safe,” she said.“Mave,” I started.“That wasn’t safe! I thin
ShaneWas she eating?Was she warm?Was he…I couldn’t bring myself to say, nor think the words. I closed my eyes and my breaths came out haggard. I couldn’t do this right now. If I thought about what she was doing, what she could be going through right now, I don’t think I could stop myself from turning around and back for her. I couldn’t do that right now. The reasoning for what I was doing was enough to keep me grounded. I was weak. I knew it, my sister knew it, my wolf knew it. There was nothing I could do for her right now, not as I am. I needed more, I needed power, I needed numbers if I wanted to take her back. Still, it wrecked me, it tore me up. How could I continue on like normal when I had no idea what she was going through? Despite the smell that wafted through the air and teased me, my stomach churned. How could I eat when I didn’t know if she was?“You must eat brother,” Mave said.I lifted my chin, my eyes setting on my sister as she stared back at me. My little sister