I clear my throat and turn back to the cottage. I don't have the energy to fight these stupid bitches, "I guess I'll tell your Alpha my side of the story."They are deadly quiet. For a moment I think that they might be about to pounce on me from behind. But Iphigenia doesn't deem it a necessary fear. She can take the both of them. Snap them in half like twigs. They are mere mutts. We are more in her mind. We would serve them that lesson brutally."Wait."I glance over my shoulder. They are shifting their weight, unsure and uncomfortable. Like a pair of puppies that have been caught doing something they aren't supposed to. I can only speak to them with a coy smile."Come inside then. I'll get the kettle boiling."…"Aviva and Gracie. The two are notorious for their territorial attitudes," Kiana huffs as we walk from the packhouse, "The two walk around like Lunas, especially when they're in Heat. Dumb bitches need to get Marked already.""I didn't realize how aggressive females were tow
"Foolish, fucking morons! What did you think was going t'happen if you went scampering about the packlands by yourself? And then cause a fight no less!"Mac has been rambling for about several minutes now, careful not to overstep Kennedy when he interjects. We all stand in Kennedy's office in the packhouse-Kiana, Mateo, Mac, Jayden, and I. After we outran the Sentries from the lake, it was only natural that we would run straight into Mac while he was heading back from patrol."And you!" He isn't the kind that jabs his finger in your face. No, Mac is up in my face in an instant, bending down to make sure my eyes are on him, "The head on you, woman, is anot'er t'ing! Haven't you been causing enough trouble? Why is it that whenever there's a brawl or a fight, you're the one in the middle of it!""Love, your accent's showing," Kiana tries to make light of the situation, but is quickly cut off by Mac's scowl."You have not'ing to say, do you?" He takes a step further in my space. I only st
I will kill you.Orion stands smugly in the corner of the room. His arms are crossed- his eyes calculatingly cast towards the ground. He refuses to look at Lara, who glances nervously between him and Alpha Kieran.The Palus Alpha draws in a tired sigh, "Abrego refuses any entry or visitations to us. But Ameku and Solari have shown us favourable conversation.""Good old Kennedy. He's so quick to forgive-"Orion begins but is quickly cut off by Kieran."I doubt he'd be quick to forgive you. Which is why it's important he doesn't know that you're staying here, Leon," He runs a hand through his hair. He's frustrated-trapped. I can almost feel his chest tightening in panic as he thinks of the repercussions of harboring a fugitive Alpha. "I would appreciate your obedience-just this once. I'm putting my neck out on the line for you-and risking my entire pack's wellbeing.""And I appreciate your loyalty, old friend," Orion stands up. Lara stiffens and I do too. Her fear...is she scared that he
The ground shakes beneath the feet of all Alphas. They are the ultimate authority of the pack. The Alphas are the only Werewolves that are perfectly in-sync with their Guides. Two halves fitting together-human and beast-like two oceans meeting. Equals but Separate.What separates the Alphas from the Wolves they rule over is this gift they receive by the hand of The Goddesses.Balance.The only ones to rival their strength are those who act as the presence of the Goddesses on Earth. The Priestesses.The Abregon packhouse looms over me. Mira and Ilya stand tall like statues of Roman warriors. Aidan and several Sentries are hunched forward, and I can't tell if it's from pain or a need to shift. Their expressions are all on guard as more Wolves gather around the silver cars that have pulled up to the house.The door opens and Sashi comes out. She moves more aggressively and abruptly than I have pictured her to. Her eyes are sharp and narrowed- and notably a dark copper rather the gold I h
Finally, we reach the house. It's secluded, tucked on an embankment of the lake. No trees and no blind spots. The only way out is the only way in.The only issue is that the driveway that connects the embankment to the main shoreline is consumed by female Wolves. They crowd around the house like ravenous beasts. All of them are flushed from their Heat and egging each other on. It's a brewing storm just waiting for the right motivation to be unleashed.I have stopped dead in my tracks, staring at them with wide eyes. There are at least thirty of them. I catch the scent of others approaching as the wind blows in my favour. With that in mind, I shift back."How did you get out of here?" I tug my shoes and cardigan on."There weren't as many as them when I had left," His voice is meek. He smiles at me like he realizes that leaving Kennedy's protection hadn't been such a bright idea. I suspect that the Unmarked females caught whiff of Eamonn and then gathered here.Sometimes, I feel like I
(Kennedy)Alora damn near topples the kitchen stool she's seated in when I come downstairs. Mac is back-I had heard him come in when I was on the phone with Abrego. He doesn't look too pleased with her in the lake house but knows better than to make a complaint."Everything's fine," My words draw a lengthy sigh from her lips, "The pack was outraged from what I gather, but Beta Aiden and Avianna managed to reign them in before they could challenge the Alphas. Mira and Ilya have made peace with them all.""There's no making peace with a pack that have been betrayed by their leaders," Kiana mutters into her teacup, "Betrayal, lies, murder. It's all weakness in the eyes of Wolves.""Aye, I wouldn't take too kindly to being lied to," Mac sets his mug down a little too eagerly.If Alora hears them, she doesn't bother to acknowledge their words. In fact, her eyes are still trained on me. She's waiting for me to tell her something-the news she was actually hoping for.It brings me no pleasure
Jayden tries to hide her grin as I frantically pace the room. She's enjoying watching me struggle through my Heat as it peaks. I'm desperate to just end it all."Stop it," I growl as I hunch over. My insides are cramping up, like someone has turned on a jackhammer or an industrial-sized mixer."Sorry," She raises her hands up, "Do you want me to get you anything?"I laugh through the pain, "A cliff to jump off of?"Truthfully, I want to get Hendrick. I just really need him by my side. I've gone through the cramps and Heat before but not without him. It seems so much harder now that he isn't with me. There's no distraction.I haven't slept at all in the past two days. It was too hot. I feel like I'm in a sweltering sandstorm. Not even the cold showers or dumping ice over my body is helping anymore.In my sleep deprivation and hormonal desperation, my mind has begun to rationalize Hendrick's actions. Part of me is appalled by this need to be close to him right now-part of me doesn't car
"So you don't know what she looks like?""No.""Do you know her name?""Uh-no."I stop in my tracks and tug on Jayden's sleeve, "Do you know anything about her, Jayden?"She blushes bright pink, "Well...she smells like almonds and baking." I nearly slap my hand over my face. We've been walking all around the cabins by the lake in hopes of finding Jayden's mate. But after thirty minutes, the only Wolves we found were Addison and Eamonn."It's hard to find your mate when you don't know anything about them!" Addison tells me like I don't know this myself, "Your mate could be standing right beside you and you wouldn't know unless your Wolf is completely awakened.""Well hers is," I scruff up her blond hair, "What I want to know is this other girl's Wolf is. I mean how old are you usually when you first Shift? If you're not Alpha-born then usually somewhere between thirteen and fifteen," Jayden won't stop scanning the crowd, "But I know she's older than that. I walked right past her, Alora
She has his gaze. Orion's gaze. That same, sickening yellow pierces me as I meet her eyes. But she simply watches me. This woman who stands above me seems so familiar...yet I don't know her at all.All I know is her name. Kaltain.She and I look nothing alike, so I know that she isn't a reincarnation of Iphigenia's soul. She is one of Cecily's daughters. She is also one of Orion's.She extends her hand and they're webbed with black veins, like her skin is rotting or crumbling away like ashes of a burnt log. Flames dance off her fingertips like her nails are candlewicks. I flinch away and she tilts her head."You're newer than I thought," Her voice is deep and wispy. Those sharp eyes scrape over me in mild interest. And finally, a twisted, crooked grin takes over her face, "You and I will have much to talk about, Alora. Much to work on in the coming years.""Alora," I whisper, "You know who I am-""Of course. I have known about you long before you knew of me. We share more than just bl
"Congrats," I wave as the couple walks out of the clinic."Thanks, Alora," The pregnant female smiles back at me before taking her mate's hand."Hey Alora!" Addison comes running up beside me. Kiana and Eamonn are next to her.Eamonn sprints into me and wraps his arms around my legs, "Alora! Hey, nene."Addison looks at me with hopeful eyes, "Can you play with us?""What are you playing?""I was going to show Addison how to throw a rugby ball!" Eamonn bounces up and down, "Please come! I want to show you too!""He's really good," Kiana squeezes him tightly in her arms, "Taught by the best, obviously.""Yeah, Mac," Eamonn teases her."You little shite! Who do you think taught Mac, huh?" She grows quiet and glances up at me. I don't smile back at her and she cringes."I have a couple more things I need to do. But when I'm done, I'll come out for a little," I smile at the two pups. They cheer and run off together, but Kiana lingers, "Kiana...'m not angry with you so please stop looking”
Maybe I'm a lot more like Zemira than I have ever been willing to admit. It's a thought that crosses my mind as I watch Hendrick sleeping quietly in front of me. He's here...but I feel nothing. I'm callous, just like she was. The difference is that she craved Orion's love... only crave Hendrick in the most basic and primal ways. The Heat has completely lifted any fog or doubts I had over my feelings for him. I care for him deeply but not in the ways I had before.My trust and faith in what we had has been completely shattered.Which is why this can't go on.I crawl over him, rousing him from his sleep, and brush my fingers through his hair. He grins lazily and encircles my waist with his hands. Our kiss is slow and easy. But it doesn't feel right...out of place like a piano key that was tuned incorrectly."I need to go," I whisper against his lips and tug lightly on the ends of his spiky hair.He blinks, "Where?""I need to check on Kiana-she texted me just now and asked for me to go
I jolt upright at the sound of a loud bang. Immediately, I scramble for my athame and sprint towards the bedroom door. A large, black silhouette in the hallway has me snarling lowly."Alora, it's me!" Hendrick whispers before I can lob it at him."Wha-Hendrick, what the hell are you doing?" I lower the knife and tiptoe past Jayden's room. I can hear neither her nor Olivia breathing softly. They must be sleeping at Olivia's tonight. "I could have hurt you.”"Sorry-I just needed to go for a run," He slips out of his boots and sets them out on the porch. He gives my thigh a pat as he walks by me, "Sometimes, I feel like this apartment is going to suffocate me."I understand how he feels....ever since my Heat had come into full swing, being near him was almost unbearable. We could barely be in the same room alone for more than a few minutes without one of us having to stop the other from doing something stupid."We're nearly done," I lean against the sliding door and watch the Moon hang a
I keel over for a moment, hands on my knees and breathing deep. Nancy lays a hand on my back but she lets go when I smile at her. Throughout the day, my body periodically has cramped up like most of the females.The time for the pack's seasonal Heat has begun, and so have the fights between females too. Avianna has gone back to help Abrego with its Heat, which means that Nancy and I are left to deal with the waves of injuries and fights.After a long day, I sprawl out on the couch in the apartment and kick off my shoes. Jayden is out for the evening to meet Olivia's family- something I know she's really nervous about. I send her a quick text of encouragement.As I set my phone down, the door opens. Hendrick walks inside but doesn't make it a foot inside before he freezes. Our eyes lock onto one another. "Mi reina," His voice is deeper nowadays, and I can't believe how much he has changed in just a short amount of time. It makes me hope that he actually has changed....but I can't belie
"You can't go in there-”I push the meeting room doors with both hands. It's only Mac and Kiana inside, leaning over the center table and setting up a computer. Gracie is behind me with her eyes popping out of here skull."Lass? What is it?""Where's Kennedy?" I look around the room but he's not here. He was though-his scent is fresh here!""Right behind you."I turn around. He's not smiling but he's not unfriendly either. But Hendrick's words haunt me almost as much as the spirits that stalk my every move. Packs like Solari and Ameku take advantage of their connections to The Order to gain advantage over everyone else.Are you using me?I want to believe that he isn't. I've never felt that Kennedy has ulterior motives for helping me. But he also hid Orion's attacks on this pack from me. And he neglected to tell me the tension that existed between the Lycans and the Werewolves. He never lied...he just never told me the truth.His head tilts so innocently when I look away from him. Both
"I don't think this is a good idea, Alora."Jayden sets up a pillow for me as I set up my scrying bowl. We're in the backroom of Nancy's clinic, who was kind enough to not ask any questions. I, however, have plenty of questions to ask-all of which are in desperate need of answering."I have to find him, Jayden," I crush the last of the lupine I brought with me from Palawan. "Remind me to ask Avianna to bring some Kinkaid's Lupine next time she's-""Okay, but Alora-""You're not going to talk me out of it," I understand her concerns. Truth be told, I'm trembling in fear. Nothing good ever came out of seeking him...but I don't have much of a choice. Every other lead or clue I've had isn't panning out right now. "Stand outside the door. Make sure no one comes in...""Fine, but I don't think we should be doing this-I don't care if Kennedy knows-""What does Kennedy know about?" Hendrick walks into the backroom but stops the moment he takes in the scene in the room. Jayden holding a chest
What am I doing?I mix the two potions together in the scrying bowl. To my pleasure, they light up in a green mixture the moment they mix together. I yip in delight and clap my hands. At least I'm not messing up entirely on thisThe same cannot be said in regard to how I'm dealing with the personal feelings towards two certain men in my life. Again, I ask, what am I doing?Quickly, I pop a couple of the crystals I have been using lately into the green potion. It's supposed to help cleanse crystals and other tools quicker than just placing them in the sunlight, moonlight, and running water.Lying back on the wooden floor, I stare at the white, wooden paneling on the ceiling above. Today has been quiet and left me a lot of time to focus on practicing all that I had learnt from Avianna and Nancy.It's also given me a lot of time to reflect on my own feelings. I still can't forget the way Jayden glared at me when she saw Kennedy and I together in the hospital...and I can't get either Hend
"I can do it," I say as Hendrick tries pick me up from the car. Despite the mending ribs, I'm not tired. I feel strong and have to keep reminding myself to take it slowly."Just be careful," He steps back to give me some room, but not much. His eyes keep darting around at the Solari Wolves that have come over to see how I'm doing.He doesn't expect me to put my hand on his arm, "Hendrick, it's alright..."Just as I took him by surprise, he returns the favor by pushing me up against the car. I'm wide-eyed and stiff as a board when he cups my face. He searches my face but I'm not sure for what. Maybe he's still paranoid about any injuries I have, or maybe it's the fact I'm alive and breathing. Whatever his reasons, I can't fill my lungs up with a sufficient amount of air to keep from becoming lightheaded.His face is so close to my own. His lips brush against the corner of my mouth...and just when I think he's going to kiss me, he pulls away. My mind is buzzing while he pushes my hair f