Rainn POV Running, running… always running through the forests. It seems like all we’ve ever been taught was how to run, how to hide and how to avoid those who are not like us, humans… witches and creatures exploding left, right and above the norm of our mythical legends. Let’s be realistic here, our reality wasn’t part of what was considered “normal,” but we knew that our pack, our people, our wolves, and our beasts were more humane than humans ever could be. I felt myself being pulled along the forest floor, like a wave of innocence being ripped away from a young child. Who cared? Not me, I didn’t care about the ones who got hurt, they were not my problem. I was the daughter of the alpha of tribe Arcane, of the children of Gaia. My father was alpha Edgar and my mother was luna Gabriella, we were, no- we are the stronghold of the children of Gaia and we are here to restore peace. *** “Don’t
Rainn POV As I sat at the kitchen table picking at the bagel still in my hands I was quickly pulled from my reverie as my dad cleared his throat, my eyes shot up to him as I began nodding, a smirk on my face as I thought of Kai. “I’m super excited, can’t wait for my birthday dad. I’ll finally be able to have Kai mark me, it’s all I’ve ever wanted." And as I spoke those words a weird spark shot through the place where Beau had held onto my arm just two days ago, my brows furrowed as I cupped my other hand over the spot, not understanding why I had felt it and why I was feeling it right now. My parents both gave each other a concerned look before facing me again, “Everything okay sweetheart?” nodding I merely pulled my headphones on over my ears and was about to cram up the volume to my tunes when mom came to pull them away from my ears, “Well, in preparation for your birthday and union with Kai. Your dad and I have a lot to d
Rainn POV After arriving back at our pack house mom and dad came out to meet Fala as they embraced her with hugs, with my brows knitted tightly together I quickly tried to shake off their closeness with her, I still couldn’t shake this strange feeling deep within the pit of my stomach. Kai gently shook me from my reverie as he touched my arm and gently pulled me towards him, looking up at his face I could pick up something was wrong but he quickly hid before pulling my lips against his as he snaked his hands around my waist. It was the first time that he had ever shown this type of public affection towards me in front of my parents, I guess with it being four days to go he didn’t really care anymore, or maybe it was also more that he wanted to make it abundantly clear to Fala that we were together, I don’t know- but I felt myself kissing him back vigorously even though my parents were only a few feet away. Suddenly my dad shouted fr
It was the following day already, two more days to our birthdays I thought as I sat at the kitchen table sipping on my cup of coffee. Mom entered as per usual to start breakfast and was clearly surprised to see me sitting at the table with my feet up on the chair, my knees pulled close to my chest just staring at the vacantly empty table, the look of being there in body but not in mind was probably the best way to describe me at this moment. But I guess what surprised mom more was that I was the first one in the kitchen this morning, I was never the first one up, not ever. “Good morning sweetheart, you’re up early. You sleep alright?” She asked clearly concerned by my absent minded appearance. I just nodded but didn’t meet her gaze, instead I kept my eyes fixed on my erratic thoughts dancing around the kitchen table like a demon possessed. I was losing my mind slowly, because even after Kai and I had had that talk yesterday morn
Beau I haven’t left my bedroom since I got back from the woods earlier, feigning illness when mom had asked me what the matter was. She had said that I looked flushed as I walked in through the door, I merely mumbled something about not feeling well as I darted for my room. And here I sit, on the floor, hunched over my knees with my back up against the wall. I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting like this, but it’s like I’m frozen in place, unable to do anything but stare out in front of me at my own mind imploding on itself. I kissed Rainn and Rainn kissed me back, she reacted to my kiss in a way I hadn’t expected. This whole time I thought that I was the only one who felt this way toward her, but now it was clear that she felt it too. The way that her wolf had reacted to mine, the way our bodies molded together so effortlessly like they had been made for one another. And the feelings that left goosebumps on my skin everywhere she to
Rainn The next morning I found myself out in the back open garden of the pack house, wearing my fitness tights and sports bra as I stood hammering my fists against the punching bag, which was hanging from the tree closest to the forest border. I swung at it delivering blow after blow as I kicked up high, the rage of my betrayal was driving me as the hurt of what I had done to Kai was searing right through me. Training always helped me to center myself somehow, and I needed it now more than anything. The sweat droplets were running down my face and all the way down my cleavage as I delivered blow after blow, all I wanted was to get his face out of my head right now. I wanted to forget about his scent, his touch and everything that drew me right into him. I wanted to forget about how my heart ached for him in a way I had never experienced before, the feeling that had begun to consume me so badly that all I wanted was for him to come march
Rainn Kai dropped me off after insisting he buy me that dress for tomorrow, I know I should be happy, ecstatic right… isn’t that what turning eighteen and marking your mate meant to be all about… But as I walked through the front door to the pack house I couldn’t help but feel like my feet had become as heavy as lead, even all the decorations I saw all around me, from a happy birthday banner with my name and Kai’s. To the streamers and decorated tables and crockery and cutlery already set out and awaiting the morning to come, the balloons were already in the process of being strung and the Dj booth was set up and ready for the party we had been anticipating excitedly as we had been planning this event and ceremony since we were fourteen. Everything was coming together as pack members worked around the clock to get things set up for tomorrow, I should be excited but I wasn’t, I just wanted to go upstairs and crawl into bed, throw t
Rainn I woke up the next morning to a racket from somewhere downstairs, the commotion was irritating my ears as I finally opened my eyes to wipe the sleep from them. What the hell was going on downstairs, I thought. And as I stumbled out of my bed I stared at the white dress that was gingerly draped over my desk chair, sighing I cringed at the realization that it was indeed the next morning, it was my birthday. I decided to go and have a shower; I felt like someone would feel who had a hangover. Because my eyes hurt, my head was pounding and my body ached. All in all, I felt like I had been run over by a bus, on my eighteenth birthday, cringe. After my shower I decided to get dressed in the white summer dress Kai had bought me, it was absolutely beautiful and hugged my tiny figure beautifully. I dried my hair and allowed it to hand down straight to my shoulders, the brown of it however looked so dull today
RAINN It's the next morning and I haven't seen Beau, he never came home last night after he stormed out of the pack house. I can't remember ever seeing him so upset, and yes, I know I messed up big time. Laying in bed I'm in no mood to even get up, I know I have a lot to do today, there's pack business to attend to, tribe rituals to adhere to, and in the mix of all the chaos, I'm weirding out over some guy I'm connected whom I don't even know. And on top of all of what's already so overwhelming, I had to find Beau's tipping point, kissing Kai... I'm so stupid, why would I even do something like that? I love Beau with all my heart and soul, kissing Kai was a stupid mistake, a moment in which I stumbled. And why? Closure for something I had with him since I was born, something I thought would always be ours. The moment I looked into his eyes and saw the gutwrenching pain in them, I instantly felt guilty for the happiness I had with Beau. I acted and he reacted, the only thing I felt w
Rainn The moment Kai and I barge into the packhouse I'm literally feeling like I can't breathe, I'm clutching on to the drawing we just dug up, a picture I drew when I was just a kid, the most startling part is the name attached to it, Groban. As if sensing my distress, Beau comes rushing out of the kitchen in an instant with Fala right behind him, she looks a mess, her perfect pixie-like complexion tells me that she's been crying, but I can't focus on that right now because it feels like I'm about to have an out of body experience at any second. You know the moment you realize that you've known about something far longer than you thought you had, but that somehow you had just forgotten about it, yeah it's like that except worse. I feel like puking as I fall into Beau's arms, not being able to even get out one single word. It's Kai who ends up speaking because as pissed off as he is right now about the whole Fala situation, I'm the one having the panic attack. "What the fuck is go
RainnI find Kai halfway down the dirt road and I start running to catch up to him, I call out to him but he doesn't stop, he's marching off towards his parents' house and I know I have to stop him, he can't go barging in there with his wolf ready to take someone's head off."Kai!" I'm shouting his name now as I pick up the pace, but he's still not stopping or answering me. My wolf feels annoyed and I suddenly start sprinting towards him, and as I'm about to crash into him he swings around to face me which causes me to do just that.My body collides against his hard chest with an oomph as he grips my shoulders to steady me from falling, my eyes fly up to meet his hardened stare on mine."Go home, Rainn, I need to be alone." His voice sounds cold and disconnected and it feels like being punched in the gut to see him in so much pain, "I can't do that, best friends don't leave each other when the other one is hurting." My words come out hopeful, hopeful that he would allow me to be ther
RainnBeau and I made our way downstairs twenty minutes later after we had gone for a quick shower and changed into some fresh clothes, the looks we got from Fala were enough to make me feel completely self-conscious. If not for the fact that my mate was standing right beside me I know I would have completely turned beetroot red."Um, so who wants coffee?"Honestly, I didn't know what else to say, the fact that both Kai and Fala had walked in on Beau and me having sex was more than I could take, not so much Fala but Kai... ah man that was one moment in my life I wanted to erase right there and then."So you guys ready to discuss the reason we're here?" Kai seemed slightly annoyed, more than he was before."Of course, let's get something to drink, coffee, tea?" Beau asked before I even could.It felt really strange having Beau waiting on anyone in the packhouse, but especially his own brother. How things had cha
RainnMy eyes flew up to meet Kai's as my mouth went completely slack, I was trying to read him right now but he seemed so calm, what did he mean that he knows, and are we even talking about the same thing right now. We surely couldn't be talking about the same thing because if we were then he wouldn't be this calm. He would be shouting and screaming at Fala, surely right?"What do you mean, you know?"Kai looked down at me as he smirked, wiping stray tears from my cheek he gently placed a peck against my nose,"Your face goes all puffy when you cry, but you're still the most beautiful girl, you know that?""Stop changing the subject, Kai, what do you know?" My brows furrowed as I pulled my face back to show my point of irritation, sighing he furrowed his brow in response,"I know about the deal Fala made, I know what her mom did, I overheard them talking about it just the other day.""And yet you'
Rainn The moment we got back to the packhouse, as we laughed and jokingly made our way in through the front doors we were instantly met with curious eyes, the eyes of- "Kai, Fala... what are you two doing here, aren't you meant to be looking for..." My eyes immediately widened in horror as I stared at Fala wide-eyed, "You're dad, he isn't... is he?" Grimacing she shook her head, "No, I mean we still haven't found him, not even a trace. It's like he just vanished somehow." Sensing her anguish I nodded as I gestured for us all to go in toward the kitchen, "Come on, I'll make us all some coffee and tea." Everyone including Beau followed behind me as I led the way, and the moment that I reached up to get the cups off the shelf Beau was right there leaning up further to reach them for me. Huffing I shook my head as I smirked, "Sucks to be short, I swear I keep wanting to move
Rainn It was ridiculous to feel nervous about something like this, I mean Beau and I were already mated right, we had already given ourselves to one another right. So then why did I have a hundred butterflies swirling around in my belly at the very thought of us allowing our wolves to mate with one another, was it because of their animalistic attributes that I suddenly had reservations about the whole thing. Again that was just daft right? So Beau had told me to go ahead into the woods, he wanted his wolf River to come and find Kala because River was all hunter when it came to tracking something down that he really wanted. I decided to not make it easy on River, so I masked my scent splashing droplets of scented lavender and citrus all around the area before finally making my way further and much deeper into the thickest part of the woods. If River was going to find me I wanted it to be based on him working
Rainn I woke up to find Beau missing from my bed, furrowing my brow I sit upbringing the blanket up to cover my breasts. Wiping the sleep from my eyes I wonder where he could be, I must have passed out cold after last night. The thought of how amazing he was and how connected I felt with him instantly heated up the clenching knot of excitement deep within my core, I love everything about Beau... His smell. His scent. His eyes, nose, lips... his body, tattoos... I felt the fluttering of excitement dance across my skin and immediately needed him, but where was he? At that very moment, the door slowly opened and the man of my dreams suddenly appeared holding a tray with what smelt like- "Pancakes," I breathed as shimmers of gold began floating across the irises of my eyes. A massive grin spread across his face as he took in my form on the bed, "Hey, sleepyhead, I thought I'
Beau My eyes shoot open to the loud panting beside me in bed, still feeling slightly disorientated I sit up with a start as my eyes land on Rainn, she's sitting upright in bed with her hands wrapped around herself, her eyes wide open and gazing ahead as if she's left the present and replaced it with a reality I can't see. Protectively I stretch out my hand to touch her shoulder, but the moment that she flinches away from me my brows furrow with concern. "Baby, what's wrong?" I exclaim as I stare at the faraway look in her eyes. She isn't there, not really. As her face turns away from me she stretches her hands out in front of her as she begins to mumble something in a language I can't place, not until I lean in closer and realize that the language she's mumbling is Gaian. Immediately grabbing for my phone beside me I begin to record what she's saying, she keeps repeating this one sentence over and over again as she seems t