“I’m okay, and you’re right…I’ll eat later. I just need some quiet time to think.” I play it off coolly but inside so many warring emotions are kicking me in the ass, ripping my heart to shreds at the realization I have a chance of a real pack family with these people, and I’m leaving them behind. It’s hard to swallow, words sticking like glue in my throat, and my face aches with the effort of keeping my expression neutral. “Are you coming to the com room after chores?” Cesar startles me with this one, and I blink at him, completely non-plussed. Panic starting to set in that we might have some sort of meeting I have to show face for, or Colton will suspect. “Yeah, we decided we needed some pack hang time, a few beers, movie… all chillin together.” Radar finishes it for him, all eyes on me, standing awkwardly, poised, and I hesitate. Struggling to think up an instant refusal, while dying insid
The tears mist my eyes, my throat swelling so I almost can’t breathe as ache hits me low in the gut and threatens to make me crumble. I push the note back inside quickly, trying to combat it and flick through the cash, mentally counting almost two hundred dollars and it breaks the wall that’s been holding in the tears. I slump down onto the floor, like a disheveled sack and begin to cry, holding it close to my chest and completely break down. It’s not just for this, but for everything.Why now did I find my pack, at a time when I thought I had no other option? Why would the fates give me something closer to a real home, only to make it unreachable by the tiniest stretch?I have to pull myself together and stop being weak. None of this matters, and it doesn’t change things. I have to get my crap together and stick to what I decided. I have to stay strong and determined. I can’t break, because if I do, I won’t be able to put myself back to
I deserve that. I don’t know what to say to you. I’ve been a coward for days because I can’t face you. I guess we both know what’s going to happen in a week’s time. I don’t know how to say the words to you, or how to say sorry for what I’m going to do. In that one little statement he confirms my worst fears and solidifies my decision. Ripping what’s left of my shredded mutilated heart out, and stomping on it all over the floor until there’s nothing left but mess. He’s chosen to go through with marking her and this is his goodbye. His confirmation.Then don’t. Maybe just leave me alone until it’s done, and then we’ll see what happens from there. I need to go. I have to go do chores. I lie, trying to sound tough. Mentally scathing in tone, even if my body is starting to shake with the buildup of sobbing coming my way. Trembling as I try to hold it in, breathing fast and shallow. Throwing cold and snappy
I can’t see him… I can’t let him sway me, or touch me, or get close. My heart will betray me if I do.It’s followed by the squeak of one of the cleaning carts and I exhale in relief when it rolls right on by my room and fades into the distance. My body weak with relief, and I sprawl out star shaped on my bed, exhaling so heavily I let out a whoosh noise and then moan at my own stupid despair. Stop freaking out, Alora. You’re going to get yourself in such a mess and not be able to follow through. Relax, breathe, count. I put everything into doing just that, remember the techniques I used to use when I stayed in the home and couldn’t relax or sleep on nights when everything got to me too much. I picture a meadow, a sweet-scented field full of pretty flowers, and one by one as I walk through them, I count the heads, picking them out, touching them as I go. I visualize the colors, the feel of their softy silky petals on my fingers, a
It’s been around eleven days since I left the valley, and I can honestly say, it’s finally beginning to get easier in some ways, but not all. I was a fool to believe it wouldn’t be hard, on so many levels, and I still can’t get my head around my own naivety. Knowing then what I do now, I don’t think I would have left at all.It’s not just the survival factor that gets to you, it’s the isolation, the loneliness, the living in constant high alert as you have to be aware of all that is around you, and the gnawing fear that sits in your gut hour after hour. I’m on edge, hyper-aware at all times, and mentally exhausted with it. Unable to ever really stop watching my back, and surroundings, always listening to make sure I’m safe, and afraid of even the tiniest of noises or movement near me. There are so many enemies in nature that I was oblivious to when living in the mountain bubble.I rarely sleep, so tuned into the noises
Mentally, as I wore on over the next days, I became numb and my will to run far from the mountain died a death. The reason I was going was primarily to outrun him and what he had to do. To try and not let it get to me, to distance myself from the pain and leave him to walk his own path without me. And yet the fates they delivered a blow that almost stopped me in my tracks completely, killing my will to find my future at all. They left me with the heavy sadness that consumes everything and just won’t lift. There’s nothing to run from anymore, it’s done. He did it.I’m just going through the motions now, without really engaging any kind of effort under this black cloud, my new constant companion. I walk, I find something to hunt and eat, I wash in rivers, I find shelter, and I sporadically sleep through the dark. The noises, the movement of nature all should bring me peace as a natural wolf, but it just serves to remind me how very alone I am, and th
It never used to make me think, or dwell, but now knowing I have red eyes and a strangely rare gift, it makes me wonder what I actually knew about my mother. Memories are mostly her in human form, and the few occasions I glimpsed her as a wolf, I don’t recall ever seeing her eyes. There isn’t much need for a pup to see their parents in wolf form when you live on a peaceful settled farm growing vegetables and raising cattle. Turning used to be a personal thing when there was no need. Like a recreational time to yourself activity among the peaceful dwellers who didn’t have to fight, or defend, or lord over anyone. The Whyte pack leader was equally stable, and calm, and I never saw him turn at all in the time I knew him.My father never mentioned it, no one did, so I doubt they were red. I mean, she was a snow-white wolf, and that was mentioned enough over the years as though it was a bad thing. I knew it meant she was different. I’m sure her eyes would hav
It must smell me or what I’m cooking and probably followed either scent out to investigate. It doesn’t look inquisitive, it looks mad as hell, with raging eyes and bared teeth and I can tell with the way it rears on its back legs and wails at me, that it’s probably my scent ticking it off and not here to say hello.Bears don’t like my kind, it’s a well-known, and documented fact, they deem us a threat and we never wander into bear territory alone. Those monsters are strong, relentless, huge, and weirdly capable of taking one of us on as long as it’s a smaller femme like me, with little to no combat skills.I get up and start backing away fast, knowing that this is some bad shit to be in right now, eyes darting around for a weapon, or escape route, as it wades towards me through underbrush, kicking rocks aside with its clumpy massive paws. I swallow hard, pull my wits about me, and start pulling off my clothes slowly, keeping my eyes trai
Book 2 is on this app now and named Awakening Following FateBefore you carry on with the next book, join us on the new Awakening Instagram where we will post ways to get involved with future giveaways to win Paperbacks and merchhttps://www.instagram.com/awakeningseriesThank you for supporting me xxChapter 1 preview of book 2The branches and low hanging boughs skim my face, clawing my fur as I race through the forest, ducking low to avoid overhanging sticks that pull harshly as I follow Colton into the darkness. My heart's racing, blood rushing through my head and I can barely keep up with the swift pace of my mate before me. Focused intensely on the darting black slice of shadow that moves so sleekly to lead the way. The zipping noise of foliage passing my ears at speed and yet I don't slow my
“Such threats should be punished, Mr. Santo. I might just go to sleep.” I smile as wickedly as I can at him and cast him a raised eyebrow smirk. Warm and cozy in the security that this is real, and he’s mine.“Go ahead, I’m kinda beat. I could use the sleep.” He folds his arms behind his head casually, as though he really doesn’t care at all, and closes his eyes. It riles me enough to slap him on the peck with impulsive anger. Sudden fury that he might not be joking, and it ignites an internal minor temper tantrum.“Hey!!” It’s real outrage, and that chuckle he expels is an instant dampening tool. Colton opens his eyes and grins at me, chasing away any doubt that he was not playing, and he strokes his thumbs over my thighs. Cooling my fire and bringing me back to heel with a taming touch.“Stop messing and make me your bitch already. You know I love you, and this…… it’s holding up ev
Colton laughs at me, but my insane need must be waving at him and overwhelming him too, as he only stops to put on his condom and gets on top of me right away, no hesitation. Abandoning this slow and steady, for instant gratification.“So maybe next time foreplay will be lengthier. You’re wet enough already that it shouldn’t hurt much, so maybe we should just get this done, and then the second time we can go slower… enjoy it without the tension.” He braces himself over the top of me, leaning in to nuzzle his nose against mine and I open my eyes to be faced with glowing amber eyes. The most gorgeous male I have ever known, nestling his body back onto mine. He doesn’t say anything, just a kiss on the end of my nose as he catches me unawares with a little smooth slide of his pelvis and completely enters me. It doesn’t give me time to tense up or expect it, just boom, he’s inside of me and I’m thankful it’s how he did it.
“I want to hear that multiple times a day, for the rest of my life. I’m crazy in love with you. I’ll never let you down again, ever, I swear. You’re my priority. The Luna the people need, the Luna I need. I’ll never doubt us or put you second again. I needed to lose you to realize how stupid that was, how fucked up my priorities were, because your mate should always come first. You will always come first.” Colton kisses me on the forehead, a grazing light tenderness that makes me feel delicate, and special, igniting the butterflies inside of me, and the softer side that is not consumed by lust.“Unless you turn into a power crazed psychopath!” I point out in quiet humor and get a white flash of gorgeous smile for my efforts, even if it was a tongue in cheek remark that might upset him. A lightness of the intense heavy moment.“In that case I give you permission to taser my ass and keep me shackled to the bed, for your p
I break free, dropping my legs down again, and push his face sideways with my hand on his jaw, to lean down to kiss his neck, licking over the pulse in his jugular, tracing from jawline to Adam’s apple as he slowly puts me back on my feet. His skin is slightly salty, yet delicious, with that unique smell and taste that is only his, and it pushes the need higher inside of me. Blood hitting boiling point, and all I want is to experience his mouth on every inch of my skin. Body heating from inside, and my core is almost pulsating with a strong need to feel him within me. I want to be joined to him, in intimate ways, that are only meant for us. I want to taste his blood and mark my mate.As soon as my feet hit the floor, I shove him hard backwards with a newfound strength, away from me with a giggle. Biting on my bottom lip to curb this insane horniness that’s threatening to overtake me, so he hits the bed and topples over with a manly chuckle. Colton smiles, rights him
“Fine…. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t that, but what I felt was real. You obviously just screwed her then. Either way… this will never happen; the bond is marred, and damaged, and you did this to us.” I cross my arms across my chest, my fight dying because I was so sure, and yet I’m wrong. My heart pounding like a war drum within and my body, is beginning to tremble with the excessive amount of pain, and energy, coursing through me. Colton looks like he might explode, standing menacingly close, a new rage ignited in that angular face as he tenses his jaw and grits his teeth.“I DID NOT fuck her!! What is wrong with you? All this cryptic bullshit since I came for you…. The refusal to let me touch you, all this. You think I cheated on you? That’s what all of this was about? Because…. You felt it? No, Lorey, what you felt around four days after the mess hall conversation was me finding you gone. Was me coming back from fou
I gasp, inhaling a deep almost vicious breath as reality crashes back in on me, shuddering my brain around my head and I’m startled awake, back where I began, in the infirmary, gripping onto Colton’s leg for dear life, and so disoriented as my vision returns to normal. I can hardly breathe for a moment and have to drag air into my lungs while I get my bearings and shake my head to clear my blurry vision.“What the hell?” It’s an automatic response, tartly said, as I try to catch my breath and Colton’s arm around my waist loosen as he lets me go a little. He was holding me up, I guess, and I flop as I’m released, using my hands on my knees to bend forward, and finally pull myself together. It all starts to fade, and the noises, and smells of reality fully bring me back to clarity.“That was a memory… I saw it too.” Colton’s voice is gravelly, as though he’s just as shaken as me and I untangle myself fr
I sigh heavily, letting out a tiny noise, but Sierra is making sure I keep my eyes closed and I picture such a pretty girl with white hair, saddened with little pangs in my heart, that she was ended in such a cruel way. In wonder that a wolf can be both like me, and one of those creatures out there, mommy is fighting. I wonder if this story could be a little bit true and wouldn’t it be sad that all these wars were because a bad man killed a little girl, because he was afraid she would take his crown away. What a silly man.“Stories told are a funny thing, as they change and grow, and details are forgotten, or exaggerated, and soon that story of years gone by are lost among the wolves, visionaries too afraid to correct the tellers. We witches became enemies, because we held truth and sight, as alphas removed traces from our history and beheaded witches who spoke out. The wars raged on, decade after decade, for hundreds of years, until no wolf or vampire knew anymore
I lie still, watching her, frozen, breath raspy to match my elevated heart rate, but my fears begin to calm and fade as she slides down her hood with a slow even movement, and illuminates the room with a magical blue glow of both her hands. Like a mesmerizing smoky orb around each, that follows and traces with every movement. Hypnotic in nature.Sierra Santo is a very beautiful woman, with almost milky skin, despite looking exotic. Her dark hair frames a delicate bone structure, and her eyes, although electrifying blue right now, are almond shaped under straight thick dark brows, so perfectly symmetrical. She has pouty lips, and an ever-present youthful charm that completely warms her to you. A face that says, ‘I can be trusted’ to match the surrounding atmosphere of serene she always carries.I sit up, gasping in wonderment at the light show, and reaching out to touch what I can see as she moves in and sits on the side of my bed with grace. She allows my hand