I removed all other paintings and stared at the child's face and I knew that face because I saw her cry every time I looked in the mirror. The tears swelled in my eyes and a drop fell and hit the daisy that was painted in her tiny hand. ”What-” I breathed and turned around. Marie stood with her tear-stricken cheeks and smiled at me. She held something in her hands and as she walked closer I could see what it was. It was another pendant, the same as mine. ”When she was young, I got my daughter that pendant because I always called her my little-” ”-my little dove.” I said and stared at her. I felt the blood rush down my face. She grabbed the pendant around my neck and placed her close. Hers had a rose in its mouth and she clicked it into mine and they formed one necklace. Her breath hitched and she cupped my cheeks. ”We never gave you up…we never…we never gave you up.” She whispered. Without thinking or any hesitation I leaped forward and wrapped my arms around her. She sque
~Erin’s POV~I walked with Gabby out into the woods and over by the clearing to a lake where Aiden, Nick, Edmund, and Cole were waiting. Cassy came running up beside us and smiled. She was so cute and I couldn't handle how much she loved Gabby. Cassy was a golden friend, one of those rare ones you don't find too often.This conversation was about to be anything but lighthearted. Noah, Gabby’s brother was still gone and they needed to find out what happened to him. Aiden leaned down and kissed his mate, Nick watched me and I went to stand beside him but it didn't feel organic, it felt uncomfortable for both of us. ”Has anyone heard from him?” Gabby asked but everyone shook their heads. ”I can't believe it’s been two days already. How could I have waited with this?” She asked herself and shook her head. ”You were back with your mate for the first time in a long time and your wolves needed theirs,” I said and placed a comforting hand on her back. ”Do we have any ideas how this could
~Nick’s POV~I told the others to wait upstairs. We had been patiently sitting around for a fucking hour to see if the warriors could get anything out of Amanda but they hadn't so I was going to see if I could speed it up. ” She’s pretty beaten but maybe you'll be able to get something out of her,” the guard said on his way out. I wanted everyone gone, the only people left would be me and her.I walked up to the cellar and Amanda was sitting on the floor. Her arm was broken and half her body was covered in blood. Her right eye was swollen and there was a cut on her leg where it looked like someone had driven in a knife and still- she hadn't talked. ”What do you want?” She said in a raspy voice, barely able to look at me or move her lips. ”The truth.” I said and circled my fingers around the bars. She tried shaking her head but winced. The cellar leaked of wolfsbane and she wouldn't be healing anytime soon. ”I… I’ve told the truth. I didn't use magic on anyone so…just go,” she sai
Gabby’s eyes widened and she was staring in shock at our brother who had no recognition of her whatsoever. He twisted her arm and extended his claws. ”Get back!” Edmund pushed at his chest, I went around Gabby and grabbed his arm and we pinned him against the wall. ”What the hell is wrong with him?” Edmund growled. He turned his head and looked at me but this time I didn't have the answer and that pissed me off. He knew me and Edmund but how could he have forgotten about her? All her life it had been the three of us, working shit out together and protecting each other. He was the one alongside Edmund who would break necks and slit throats to keep her safe and now all of sudden she was a stranger to him. ”Easy,” Gabby said beside me. Everyone was silent for a minute, including Noah who was seething and trying to push us back. When I looked into his eyes I could see my brother but there was something more, something that wasn't him and it was eating him up. We needed to find the w
Aiden and I sat in silence for several minutes before I had the courage to speak. ”I don’t know yet. There’s just so much going on and things that have happened that I don't know if I can stay. I mean I just found out that I have this whole other family that I thought all my life gave me up. Now I have a mate as well and things just aren't working out as they’re supposed to,””Or maybe they’re working out exactly as they’re supposed to. You went through hell, Erin, but now you’re here, you’re home. Maybe this was your way back,””Or maybe I was just never meant to come back,” I whispered. The life I had been living for the past years had been that of a nightmare and the thought of it all being part of my faith was terrifying. ”Just don't do anything rash, take your time and think about it before deciding,” Aiden got up and left. His eyes were pleading with me but just like the rest of them, I knew he wouldn't try to stop me if I chose to leave. He’d respect my decision, as they all
”Sending a bunch of big men with big muscles may work for you wolves but when it comes to a witch, it’s better to send someone with respect.” She said as she stood in front of Aiden. ”You're Liliana,” ”And you must the Alpha,” she reached out her hand and Aiden shook it. Liliana's eyes suddenly furrowed and she looked past him. She walked up the stairs and looked around the entrance. Her eyes were searching for something and it looked like they found it when a door opened up upstairs and a girl walked out. She was pulling down her dress and giggling as she pulled Edmund closer and pressed her body against his. He smirked and nibbled on her ear but then stopped. He froze in his spot and slowly turned his head. His eyes locked with Lilianas and started glowing.”Mate,” was the only word that left his lips. The girl gasped and slapped him as she stormed off down the stairs and out of the house without making eye contact with anyone. Edmund was taking slow steps down the stairs and Lili
~Erin’s POV~ I walked out, ready to say goodbye to everyone but as I got to the foyer, I saw them all standing there with big smiles on their faces. ”There you are, come on, we’re going for a run!” Gabby said and came to grab my hand. ”Gabby, no. I have something-” ”Don’t. Not yet,” she whispered and the sadness in her eyes was just heartbreaking. ”Sure, let’s go for a run,” I said and squeezed her hand. We didn't shift at first, we took off our shoes and ran on the ground, through the grass, and down into the woods. I closed my eyes and allowed my other senses to take the stirring wheel as the wind embraced me. We all shifted and ran between the trees and tried catching up with each other. Nick’s wolf slowed a little beside me and we stopped behind everyone else as they continued. He came up and started nuzzling me. He leaned his head over my wolves and they rubbed against abasing each other, both as pleased as they could ever be. Somehow this made me feel worse because now I r
”I just…I don't feel like I belong here,” I said and looked down, too ashamed to look into his eyes. I felt his finger under my chin and he tilted my head back. My eyes flickered between his lips and his eyes. ”You do,” he said and leaned down, he placed a soft kiss on the side of my mouth. ”You belong here,” he said and kissed my jaw. He raised his head, his eyes locking me down and he stepped closer, brushing his body against mine. ”You belong with me.” He said and kissed my lips, I drew a sharp breath and released it heavily, feeling my chest and my shoulders sink. He continued placing soft kisses on my lips and his other hand rested on my waist. I leaned forward, pressing myself against him and my mind and my thoughts ceased to exist. I pressed my lips harder onto his and grabbed onto the back of his head. His tongue slipped in and he held me so hard as if begging me to stay. Worried that if he let go, I’ll be gone. He gently lifted me and placed me on the bed. ”I’m beggi
Aiden saw, his eyes met his mother's and like the flick of a finger, the time sped up and Asher's head flew back. He clawed out Asher’s other eye, completely blinding his wolf before jumping up and digging his teeth into his neck. Asher’s wolf fell to the ground, trying with all his might to get back up but Aiden sunk his teeth in deeper and I saw that he was making it hurt as much as possible. As his last breath was drawn, Aiden finally pulled back and rose his head. He looked behind him and took off, running to his mother's side. Everyone else kept fighting and were going ferociously at Asher’s men. Their leader was dead but they weren't stopping. I turned back and saw Liliana, her eyes were turning red as she looked out over all the men fighting. She screamed and raised her hands, and with her hands rose fire and burnt the werewolves alive. Our own men were backing away and pulling at each other to run back. Just as the others were about to run, a wall of fire rose behind them, t
~Edmund’s POV~ Liliana was looking at me, her lips slightly parted and her mind seemed deep in thought. I held on to my cup to keep from showing how shaky my hands were. Talking feelings and being exposed like this wasn't my thing, I never had to do it. I'd wink at a girl and they’d come to me but this wasn't a one-night thing and I wanted to do it right. The question was if she’d let me. ”I know that you’re more than that, it’s just,” her voice was so low and fragile and nothing at all like we had seen her be. Her eyes flickered and she rolled her head. ”You don't understand,” she sighed and closed her eyes. Her head fell and her hand let go of the fork she was holding. ”Don’t understand what?” I asked her and pinched my brows together. Liliana slowly opened her eyes, so slow that I could see every littlest emotion that swirled around in there. Her shoulder slumped and she exhaled. ”The fight isn't over,” she whispered as though it was a secret. ”What-what do you mean?” T
~Gabby’s POV~ Liliana was sitting next to Edmund, the two seemed to have similar scowls on their faces. Neither said a word, they just ate and completely ignored everyone, including each other. ” How did you sleep?” I asked them and squirmed in my seat. Edmund looked up at me through hooded eyes and then back at his plate. ”Fine,” Liliana said and offered at least a strained smile. She had more manners than my brother, who would've thought. The stale tension only rose but I couldn't be too upset about it. Every time I saw the heart-shaped ring on my finger a swarm of butterflies erupted in my stomach and I got all giddy. Aiden saw where I was looking and grabbed my hand, he lifted it to his lips and placed a kiss on it. I saw Marie’s and Clark’s pleased expressions. They looked just as happy as we were. But of course, I wanted to see all of my brothers happy as well. Noah was happy with Cassy and now Nick had Erin, that only left Edmund who was mated to the woman who put a h
”I just…I don't feel like I belong here,” I said and looked down, too ashamed to look into his eyes. I felt his finger under my chin and he tilted my head back. My eyes flickered between his lips and his eyes. ”You do,” he said and leaned down, he placed a soft kiss on the side of my mouth. ”You belong here,” he said and kissed my jaw. He raised his head, his eyes locking me down and he stepped closer, brushing his body against mine. ”You belong with me.” He said and kissed my lips, I drew a sharp breath and released it heavily, feeling my chest and my shoulders sink. He continued placing soft kisses on my lips and his other hand rested on my waist. I leaned forward, pressing myself against him and my mind and my thoughts ceased to exist. I pressed my lips harder onto his and grabbed onto the back of his head. His tongue slipped in and he held me so hard as if begging me to stay. Worried that if he let go, I’ll be gone. He gently lifted me and placed me on the bed. ”I’m beggi
~Erin’s POV~ I walked out, ready to say goodbye to everyone but as I got to the foyer, I saw them all standing there with big smiles on their faces. ”There you are, come on, we’re going for a run!” Gabby said and came to grab my hand. ”Gabby, no. I have something-” ”Don’t. Not yet,” she whispered and the sadness in her eyes was just heartbreaking. ”Sure, let’s go for a run,” I said and squeezed her hand. We didn't shift at first, we took off our shoes and ran on the ground, through the grass, and down into the woods. I closed my eyes and allowed my other senses to take the stirring wheel as the wind embraced me. We all shifted and ran between the trees and tried catching up with each other. Nick’s wolf slowed a little beside me and we stopped behind everyone else as they continued. He came up and started nuzzling me. He leaned his head over my wolves and they rubbed against abasing each other, both as pleased as they could ever be. Somehow this made me feel worse because now I r
”Sending a bunch of big men with big muscles may work for you wolves but when it comes to a witch, it’s better to send someone with respect.” She said as she stood in front of Aiden. ”You're Liliana,” ”And you must the Alpha,” she reached out her hand and Aiden shook it. Liliana's eyes suddenly furrowed and she looked past him. She walked up the stairs and looked around the entrance. Her eyes were searching for something and it looked like they found it when a door opened up upstairs and a girl walked out. She was pulling down her dress and giggling as she pulled Edmund closer and pressed her body against his. He smirked and nibbled on her ear but then stopped. He froze in his spot and slowly turned his head. His eyes locked with Lilianas and started glowing.”Mate,” was the only word that left his lips. The girl gasped and slapped him as she stormed off down the stairs and out of the house without making eye contact with anyone. Edmund was taking slow steps down the stairs and Lili
Aiden and I sat in silence for several minutes before I had the courage to speak. ”I don’t know yet. There’s just so much going on and things that have happened that I don't know if I can stay. I mean I just found out that I have this whole other family that I thought all my life gave me up. Now I have a mate as well and things just aren't working out as they’re supposed to,””Or maybe they’re working out exactly as they’re supposed to. You went through hell, Erin, but now you’re here, you’re home. Maybe this was your way back,””Or maybe I was just never meant to come back,” I whispered. The life I had been living for the past years had been that of a nightmare and the thought of it all being part of my faith was terrifying. ”Just don't do anything rash, take your time and think about it before deciding,” Aiden got up and left. His eyes were pleading with me but just like the rest of them, I knew he wouldn't try to stop me if I chose to leave. He’d respect my decision, as they all
Gabby’s eyes widened and she was staring in shock at our brother who had no recognition of her whatsoever. He twisted her arm and extended his claws. ”Get back!” Edmund pushed at his chest, I went around Gabby and grabbed his arm and we pinned him against the wall. ”What the hell is wrong with him?” Edmund growled. He turned his head and looked at me but this time I didn't have the answer and that pissed me off. He knew me and Edmund but how could he have forgotten about her? All her life it had been the three of us, working shit out together and protecting each other. He was the one alongside Edmund who would break necks and slit throats to keep her safe and now all of sudden she was a stranger to him. ”Easy,” Gabby said beside me. Everyone was silent for a minute, including Noah who was seething and trying to push us back. When I looked into his eyes I could see my brother but there was something more, something that wasn't him and it was eating him up. We needed to find the w
~Nick’s POV~I told the others to wait upstairs. We had been patiently sitting around for a fucking hour to see if the warriors could get anything out of Amanda but they hadn't so I was going to see if I could speed it up. ” She’s pretty beaten but maybe you'll be able to get something out of her,” the guard said on his way out. I wanted everyone gone, the only people left would be me and her.I walked up to the cellar and Amanda was sitting on the floor. Her arm was broken and half her body was covered in blood. Her right eye was swollen and there was a cut on her leg where it looked like someone had driven in a knife and still- she hadn't talked. ”What do you want?” She said in a raspy voice, barely able to look at me or move her lips. ”The truth.” I said and circled my fingers around the bars. She tried shaking her head but winced. The cellar leaked of wolfsbane and she wouldn't be healing anytime soon. ”I… I’ve told the truth. I didn't use magic on anyone so…just go,” she sai