Chapter Three

ANNALISE

Fuming, I sprint towards the training field. Not only am I angry, but I’m horny as well, and that is not a delightful combination of sensations to endure all at once. I seriously need to let some aggression out before I go crazy.

Jarek has been laying it on thick since Dante’s arrival. One would think he’s jealous of the newbie from Scotland. But when he chased me down on his dirt bike last night, that was the last straw for me. I’m done with playing nice and letting him run all over me. He’ll learn to steer clear of me from now on.

“You’re tardy, Annalise. Where is Jarek?” Dad yells, glaring past me.

“Oh, I…”

Smirking, I peer over at Xillon and Zane, the future beta and gamma of the pack. They harass me right alongside Jarek daily.

Xillon is to be Blood Moon Howler Pack’s beta in a couple of years once Jarek takes over as alpha. He’s the most handsome out of the three of them. Not to mention he’s always been the kindest towards me. Especially since gaining his wolf, Xavier. His bright grey eyes are enough to make any girl swoon. Sometimes I wish I could run my fingers through his short, curly, dirty-blond tresses. I love his smile and chiseled jawline. He’s model worthy for sure. My favorite part of training is when he gets all sweaty, takes his shirt off to wipe away all the sweat from his face, and discards it. His muscles are like… mmm… delicious, cut and chiseled to perfection. Not too lean and not too bulky. Having beta blood coursing through his system also makes him taller than most teenage shifters his age. He’s hum… around six foot seven, I would say, and still has a few years of growth left.

Then we have Zane. If it weren’t for the fact that he’s a complete jerk to me and the high school’s worst man whore, I’d think he was handsome too. What am I saying? The guys freaking hotter the hell itself. He will be the future Gamma of the pack and he is extremely strong. His impressive physique stands tall at almost seven feet and his tight, bulging muscles make me drool. He has a crew cut that fits his personality perfectly and his tresses are a dark chestnut like my own. He has the most beautiful green mixed with blue eyes I’ve ever seen. The Moon goddess seriously blessed him while he was being molded in the womb.

My heart flutters several times between shocks, which causes me to tremble, and my eyes focus back on dad. Damn deceitful soul of mine will be my ruin. Isn’t it terrible enough that I’m infatuated with my brother? Why do they have to be added to the equation?

“I fractured Jarek’s nose and challenged his masculinity. So he’s back at the pack house nursing his wounds.”

I cross my arms and throw Xillon and Zane a sinister stare.

“That’s my girl. Fall in line. Xillon, you’ll spar with Annalise until Jarek shows up.”

“Alpha, I don’t think that’s…..”

Dad’s eyes glow red, and his wolf shines through, and in a domineering tone commands, “Don’t question me! I am your alpha!”

Xillon crumples to his knees. He inclines his head to the side, exposing his neck in submission.

Extending my arms to stretch my muscles, I crack my neck. I’m eager to send him running for the hills. I spring into the air and swing some punches around. I’ve already caused one nose to bleed today. I’m looking forward to breaking another. Though I wish it were Zane, instead of Xillon. Dad grins and nods.

“On second thought. She gives off the impression that she’s out for blood. Zane, join them; two-on-one. Let’s offer her the challenge she’s wanting.”

“Hell, yes! Thank you, Alpha!”

Shrieking with joy, I hop on my feet some more. I’m going to make them wish they never messed with me.

“Impress me, Annalise. Don’t hold back boys. Everyone else pair up.”

He urges us to begin and strides to the sidelines.

I’m unsure how this will turn out without a wolf, but I’m dedicated to giving it my all. Vengeance has my blood pumping, and revenge is what I intend to gain.

“Hey there, killer? Put those ears away, won’t you? No shifting allowed.”

Xillon smirks and throws a roundhouse kick in my direction. I duck, grab his leg and send him flying backward. He plummets to the lush grass with a thud, groaning.

Zane catches me off guard by coming up behind me while I’m preoccupied and gets me in a chokehold. I take my thick, manicured nails and jab them into his neck. He releases me as blood trickles down his neck.

“What the fuck?!” He glares at the blood that stains his hand. “No weapons!” He snarls, springs at me, and I clobber him in the eye.

I glance at the two assholes who will be the next leaders of the pack and frown. I know they fight better than this. They have no problems ganging up on me when nobody else is around.

I groan in annoyance and walk away. Zane trips me, making me land face-first in the grass. I wince and scowl back at him, and Xillon chooses that moment to grab my ankles and flip me over. Zane clutches my arms in one hand while choking me with the other.

“Never turn your back on the enemy,” he growls in my face as the grip on my neck tightens.

Now, this resurrects memories. Typically, it’s the three of them hassling me, though, so I could have a shot. Their grips tighten around my wrists and ankles as I do my best to wiggle free from their grasp, but to no avail.

“You aren’t going anywhere, Silver. Call mercy; it’s over,” Zane orders, holding me down.

Unexpectedly, a force sends them flying several meters away. I wince when the circulation suddenly rushes back to my limbs.

“No one touches her from this point forward unless I’m around,” Jarek roars.

I notice his orbs gleaming a dark gold and realize that Trex is at the surface.

“What possessed you to do that, Trex? I had them! I could have gotten free! You didn’t even give me a chance!” I scream.

I’m infuriated, so I bounce up from the ground and punch him square in the eye. His glistening eyes flash blue and he grumbles at me. Seizing my fist, he spins me around and puts me in a chokehold.

“You ungrateful bitch. There is no way in hell you could have gotten free. Tamper down, weakling.”

He grasps my wrists together so I can’t move them, wraps a leg around mine, and we collapse to the ground. With all of his weight on me, I am immobile. Everything seems to dim as I lose my grip on reality.

“You might have won earlier, but you won’t win now, Annalise,” he growls. I’m exhausted, so I succumb to the darkness.

JAREK

She goes lifeless below me, but I’m not foolish. She plays dead sometimes to escape predicaments like this. Then I end up getting my ass whooped. I will not let her have the upper hand again.

“Hey, man! Her lips are turning blue! She’s out, let her go,” Xillon commands as he grabs her foot; let’s go, and it falls to the ground.

I free my hold around her wrists and neck and check her pulse. I strain my ears and hear nothing. No heartbeat or air coming from her lungs. I fucking killed her! Rolling her over, I placed an ear to her lips that are open in an O, and confirmed there are no signs of respiration.

“Annalise! Fuck! Dad! She’s not breathing. She doesn’t have a heartbeat! Fuck!” I growl as I start compressions to her chest.

‘You fucking idiot. You better restore her,’ Trex growls as he strides around in my mind anxiously.

Dad runs over, and all the pack members gather around to watch.

“Shift and get the pack-doctor Xillon,” Dad commands, sits down, and embraces her head between his hands.

After thirty pushes to her sternum, I blow into her airways and monitor her heartbeat, but still detect nothing.

I compress her chest again until it’s time for another breath to her lungs and check for a more notable pulse.

“She’s burning up suddenly. But she still has no pulse.”

I furrow my brows, and dad places a hand over her forehead.

“What the hell are you doing? Don’t stop!” Dad barks, and I start compressions once more.

“Please don’t do this to me, Annalise! Wake up, damn it!” I growl as I pump into her chest. “I’m sorry, Annalise! I had no clue you were in such a state! Come back to us! I will never be a nuisance to you again! Return to me!”

Breathing to fill her lungs, I find her lips are scorching hot. Beads of sweat form on her forehead, but she still has no pulse. What the hell is happening? I separate my mouth from hers as the heat singe my mouth.

“Perhaps it’s her wolf. Do you think her wolf is trying to push through?” I ask dad as I pump her chest.

“If ever there were a time for her wolf to manifest, it would be now. Keep compressing her chest, son,” dad commands and goes into meditation.

I suppose he is attempting to mind link her wolf. My fists are now being burned from the scorching heat coming off her body, but I don’t stop pumping her chest.

‘Trex. Could you help me out here? Do you sense anything? Her wolf, maybe?’

‘No. Something else, though. I have no clue what it is. A light force, of some sort possibly?’

‘What are you going on about?’

Suddenly, a brilliant blue and silver luminescence shines around her body. A fierce gust of wind makes all of us surrounding her fly back, and she soars up into the heavens. Shielding my eyes from the luminous glow, I watch in wonder as her body slowly spins clockwise. Her arms that were once dangling loosely by her sides rise as though she were hanging from a cross.

‘Trex! What the hell is going on?’

‘Hell, if I know.’

‘You are useless.’

‘Likewise. I’m not the one that strangled her to death.’

Shielding my eyes with my balled fists, I watch in wonder. I don’t know what happened. How could I have been so careless? I should have relinquished my hold on her after she went limp. I can never forgive myself.

I squint my eyes as the brilliant blue and silver glow burns brighter, radiating so much heat that it singes the hairs on my arms.

“What the fuck is that?!”

Writers Note

Thank you for reading! 😘 How are you liking the book so far? Comment and vote 💎, to let me know. Have an amazing day! Sapphirian J ❤.