Axel held my hands, guiding me, and this time when I took a shot, it landed right on its chest.“You’re dead stupid wood,” I said with a wide smile.“Your hands are steady; you can make the shot,” Axel says, and I swallow. I was going to do this on my own. “Picture someone you dislike... a lot,” Axel says.And so many images pass through my mind, Beatrix. But then I thought of someone I would hate even more. Barley, I hadn’t realized how much I disliked her. I hated her so much I was determined to get it right this time."Okay, I got it.”“Then fire,” Axel says, and I do just that, even without a single hesitation; it lands on the eyes of the mannequin, but I don’t stop there; I keep on shooting till the gun runs out of bullets. I tossed it to the floor.“Now I want to know who the person you pictured is,” Axel muttered to himself, amazed.“I hate elder Bailey a lot,” I admitted. “I think we could move on to archery now." "Yes, we can,” Axel says. He took the bow which hung on the wa
I was alone in Axel's room; there had been an emergency and Axel had to go. He did tell me he would be back soon, but it had been five hours already.Screw it.I took the envelope and walked out, heading to the room I had shared with Thane.I stopped before the door; maybe I should have waited for Axel's return before leaving, but it was too late to turn back now.I pushed the door open and walked in."Thane, we need to talk!" I called out; I knew someone was in the room, and just then I spotted Bailey seated on the couch, wrapped in a robe... Thane's robe.I swallowed."Elder Bailey, what are you doing here?" I asked, and my voice sounded shaky even to my own ears. She took a drag from the cigarettes she held."What does it look like?" She asks with a shrug; there was no smirk on her face, but I could see the victory in her eyes.I couldn't believe it. I suddenly felt suffocated; I couldn't breathe.How could he?That was the question I asked myself over and over again."Don't be ha
There was a knock on our door, and for some reasons I couldn’t explain, I knew who it was.Thane."I don't want to see him, Axel."Axel nodded before heading for the door."Alpha... I am not sure she wants to see you right now.""Axel, let me in. I need to speak to her.""I'm sorry, I can't. I might be your friend, but I would say it to you when you act like a jerk. Just stop hurting her already; make your decision and stand on it," Axel said, and though I couldn't see them, I felt the tension in the air even from here."You know I had to." He says "Not in the same room you share with her, that is disrespectful... Alpha.""You are right. Could you let me make adjustments at least?" Thane asks, and I knew he didn't exactly need Axel's permission to walk in, but still he waited.Finally, Axel let him in, and I couldn't blame him; Thane was his Alpha."Riley, can we talk?" Thane says to me, but I couldn't even look him in the eyes. I don't bother responding. He walks to me, standing rig
"The wind ‘hazard’ left thirty injured, five of them in severe conditions, but no lives were lost. The healers have their hands full," Axel reported back to Thane."What exactly caused a wind that strong, it was not at all natural," Thane wondered aloud."Were you thinking an elemental did this?" Axel questioned."Something close. Elementals had long gone extinct, of course, except one.""The elders" A female voice suggested, and of course it was Bailey approaching, joining in on the conversation ."You think the elders did this?" Axel questioned."Not just any elder... Nyaos did this; he was an elemental.""That should be the one elder who escaped," Thane added. His mask was back on, but I knew more than anything that he was furious; he hated anything that came against his pack."He was sending a warning..." Bailey began, but Axel cut her off."More like a threat.""I would end what I began," Thane declares."No, is too dangerous." Bailey says"For me?" Thane asked with a hint of amu
"Are you okay?" Thane asks"Why are you here?" I questioned randomly."You kept on screaming out my name and crying; Axel had to call my attention.""I'm so sorry I woke you up.""Riley, that is the least of my worries. What was the dream about?""It was about you and these elders... you were being stripped of your wolf with the cursed weapon, and then he said he was coming for me next. It was so scary.""I am fine, Riley.""You don't understand; it felt so real. Promise me that you will keep me out of danger," I pleaded."I would try," he says, and I knew he was only saying that to keep me calm, but still I took the false reassurance.Now that I was back to my senses, I felt so embarrassed, I wondered how Axel would feel being woken up by the weirdo who cries in her sleep."Oh gosh, I'm so sorry, where is Axel?""He went to call for a healer.""I'm fine!" I said, eyes wide. That would be very embarrassing if he did call the healer. "I can see that now, and he would be back soon. You
“I am surprised,” Axel says to me when he finds me still in his room.“What?”“From Thane’s emotions, I didn’t think you would still be here, I’d have thought you were back in his room being... banged.”I gasped. "Axel!” I call out, reddening.“He usually has no restraints, but I guess he is indeed trying,” Axel went on with a wide smile.Something piqued my curiosity.“So Thane was like... turned on?” I asked, trying to hide my smile and failing.“Yeah, I guess you did play him.”"I did,” I admitted, “and I enjoyed every bit of it.”“Tsk. That was a dangerous thing to do. He would be back.”“He would be back for me?”“You keep repeating what I’ve already said.” Axel’s say, clearly enjoying this more than he should.“He won’t get me, I would be here in your room; he wouldn’t get to me in here, right?”Axel’s smile wasn’t very innocent. “And who is going to stop him?”“I thought you were on my side.”“He is my Alpha; there is only little I can do and you started it.”“So... what do I d
I had been on my way back to Axel’s room when I suddenly felt firm hands clamped around my mouth, restraining me from screaming.“Got you,” Thane whispered into my ears.The shiver had nothing to do with the cold.He led me into the closest room that turned out to be ‘unoccupied’. This was, of course, planned by him.Finally, he let me go.“What are you doing?” I asked, planning to act clueless. I was panicking in here.“What does it look like?” he asks, and I could see his fangs; the glow of his eyes seems too otherworldly to be natural.“It looks like you are kidnapping me; would you let me go?” I asked."Well, the door is right there.”“So you would actually let me go?” I questioned, not really trusting his words.“Only if you could get there faster than me,” he says.Maybe I could do that if I caught him unaware. I zipped off, heading for the door. I was so close, and just then, Thane who had been leaning against the wall a good distance behind me, was right before the door and me
Thane watched me as if etching every feature into memory.“That is very creepy you know” I say“I didn't realize how much I missed you. So… What do you say bout' returning back to our room?” Thane asked. “I don't know if I am ready for that yet,” I said to him, yet my heart and body yearned to be close to him. I missed having him so close; I hated the distance between us."Well, maybe we could make a... deal.”“I'm listening,” I say with a smile. I was giving in; it shouldn't be this easy, but after what he had done earlier today, I doubt I would be able to stay away from him any longer.“You would get to see me completely naked on my knees once more.”“Leave it up to you to create very enticing offers, but unfortunately I selfishly want more.”"Anything,” he promises. “I would only agree to your deal if there would be more touching involved... I want to be in control this time,” I say, already aroused by the thought of Thane naked, on his knees, and me in charge.“You are not very
I sat in front of Thane's door the whole night, pleading and begging, but he never did come, and finally I rose.I had lost him, and it took me this long to see that. I hadn't only lost Axel; I had lost Thane's love too.How did my life turn into this? One moment it all felt like a fairy tale, one I didn't want to wake up from, and now it was a complete nightmare.Some days I questioned the point of my own existence; I had no use remaining here, and yet, I didn't want to leave, maybe because I still had hope that one day Thane would forgive me.I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, ignoring the knock on the door. I didn't want to see anyone right now, and I knew for a fact that it wasn't Thane. Whoever was behind the door persisted and it got annoying. I rose from the bead, heading for the door. I pulled it open, the frown on my face that disappeared the moment I saw my mother.She hugged me, knowing exactly what I needed. I couldn't help but be a child again and cry in her arms. "
I stared at the mirror; I looked like a mess. I sprayed some cold water on my face; a knock drew my attention.It was a maid."Can I help you?" I questioned."The Alpha sent me to pick up a file he left here. It must be that one." She said, pointing to the file on the table. She walked in, picking it up."You know what? I'll hand it to him." I said, taking the file from her hand. She seemed unsure."As you wish Luna," she said."Uhmm, where is he now?""The third room on the fifth floor," she said, and I nodded."Got it.".I knocked on the door to his ‘new’ room, and after a minute the door was pulled opened. Thane stared at me."What are you doing here?" He asked like I was some complete stranger, an intruder, but I couldn't blame him."I brought your files."He collected it, about to slam the door, but I placed a foot in the threshold. I pushed the door open and walked in."You've been avoiding me lately." I said to him, but he gave no response. He took a seat, opening the file and
The next few days I spent them with Thane; he was still in coma. The healers had to extract all of the toxin the elders had passed into his bloodstream; only then would the healing process begin, and from their report, he was doing well, but he still had a few more days to recover.I wiped his face with a wet towel; next, I gently brushed through his hair. I placed a kiss on his forehead and then his lips. I knew that when he awoke, things wouldn't be like they used to. I returned back to my room to take a bath before joining him once again.I couldn't bear the solitude of my room; I always ended up breaking into tears. I hadn't realized I was sleeping until the sharp intake of breathe jolted me awake. Thane was awake.The healers had said he would be down for a few more days, but he woke earlier than they had predicted; my heart pounded for the first time in excitement; I was so scared, I couldn't lose him too. "Thane!" I cried out, running to him to embrace him, but his cold star
A rock fell inches away from me, and I only managed to dodge it. Axel was losing a lot of blood. I knew what was about to happen, but I didn't want to think about it. It just couldn't."Riley, please listen to me." he said, and I turned to him; sweat coated his face and his breathing was laboured. "I can't make it, Riley. You know that, but if you go, you can save yourself and save Thane.""Please, Axel, we can make it alive, the both of us.""Look at me, Riley," he pleaded, and I did. "Kiss me."Tears rolled down my eyes as I leaned to him and kissed him. I wouldn't let him go; I just can't. "I love you, from the very first time I met..." he took a long breath. "But you were never mine, and yet that didn't stop me from wanting you. Don't blame yourself for this; you, Riley, were the best thing that had ever happened to me.""But Thane... he hates me.""No, he doesn't; reason with him; make him... make him understand." Axel coughed out blood. "Go now, get him, and leave this place.""
EARLIERBailey was still in here somewhere. I walked cautiously down the passage ways and I spotted yet another room. I pushed open the door and walked in. The room was similar to the one I had been kept in earlier, but she wasn't in here either.I needed a weapon; the sword alone wouldn't do to kill an elder as powerful as she was so I searched through the room. I pulled open a cabinet, and there I found more syringes filled with black serum, the very same ones used on Thane. I was almost certain of it. I would have to take a gamble with this. From what Bailey told me, this was created by the elders as a bane for Lycans, I could only hope it had some effect on her too, if it didn't work on her, then I was doomed.I strode out of the room, and there she was, standing at the very end of the passageway."So you've come to kill me." Bailey said with a smile on her face. "You know, Nyaos has been killed by your mate" She said to me.I couldn't exactly say I felt bad for that.I chose to r
THANE'S POVThe door opened, and Caleb walked in, his hands up as if in surrender. My beta, Axel followed, a gun pointed to his head."Free him," Axel said.Caleb walked to me, taking out the pipes. "The chains too." Axel said, and I could tell Caleb was not going to do that.Axel shot at his leg, but Caleb was strong—maybe even the strongest of all the elders. In the next second, Axel's gun was in his hands, and the table turned."Let him go, Caleb; it's me you want." I warned."You are right." Caleb says, "But I want him dead too."He shot at Axel. I growled, pulling at the chains; they burned my skin. He aimed for me next, pulling the trigger, but the gun was empty of bullets, and he tossed it to the ground."In every single room, I had planted a bomb; all I need to do is press the button, and everything would go 'boom'; everyone in this building would die, and I alone would be left. After a while, you will be forgotten, but for me, I'll take over from you; I will be known and fea
Axel unsheathed his sword before striding towards Nick.Nick let out his wing, flying right over us, but Axel leaped into the air, bringing him down by his wing. Axel pinned Nick down, holding both wings. I watched in amazement as Axel sliced them off, and Nick roared in pain, the bones where his wings had been attached prodded out of his back.Axel passed the blood stained sword to me. I limped to where Nick lay groaning in agony."Didn't I tell you, I will kill you?" Now kneel." I said, and he rose, falling on his knees. "Riley I..."I didn't let him say more; in a clean swipe, I incapacitated his head from the rest of his body.Axel took off his leather jacket and helped me put it on."I know a way out." Axel says, leading me out of the room, we walked down the hallways to an open space."Going somewhere?" A voice called from behind us. Bailey.She held a crossbow in her hands. "Nyaos is dead. Thane killed him. I guess this means our deal is… off."She shot the crossbow at me, bu
RILEY"It's girls time, Nick; you should leave." Bailey said to him, and he gave me a long look before leaving both of us alone. "I didn't remember telling you to stop with the dagger," she said."It fell." I lied.I didn't know if she bought that, but she spoke no more about it, taking a seat beside me."I'm going to tell you a story, one I had never told anyone before. Well, you would die in the end, so it makes no difference.I was in love once. I don't mean the casual crushes and those little feelings girls have. I was in love with Nyaos; he had always been there for me when I needed him; he helped me so many times; I can't even count the number of times he had saved my life. But Nyaos loved another; I was the ‘other woman’, and I knew that. Katara believed we were good friends; she trusted me; she trusted the both of us, and I knew what we did behind her back was very wrong, but I couldn't help myself. Nyaos said he loved us both, and though I always wanted more, I could settle
CAUTION: THERE WOULD BE VIOLENT SCENES IN THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS; PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION.THANE.I could do it; I knew I could break through the chains. Rage is one powerful thing. I pulled hard, and the chains broke off. I ripped out the pipes that had been used to pass the fluids into my bloodstream, and I staggered to my feet. I heard footsteps approaching, and I positioned myself beside the door. Nyaos walked in; he noticed the empty chair, I could smell his fear; he should be afraid. I shut the door behind him, and only then did he notice me; he turned, his eyes widening in terror as I plunged my hand into his chest, past the crunch of his ribcage, and deep into his heart. His mouth opened, frozen in a silent scream."The cursed weapon isn't the only way to kill an elder." I whispered before I pulled his heart out. The sight of blood was so intoxicating it ignited a lust for blood in me, I wanted to spill more blood. An elder had been brought to nothing in a matter of minutes