You mustn't tell anyone about being the Prophet. Not even Hendrick. Not even Mira or Ilya. Avianna's words echo in my head even as I sit beside Jayden. We're watching a movie, but I haven't done much but stare at the screen. All I can think about is the vast amount of information I have suddenly find myself in. I'm a member of the Abregon Pack. So is Hendrick, Skyler, Claude, and Jayden. Avianna is their pack healer. Mira and Ilya are the ones in charge-the Alphas. Hendrick's father, Aiden, is their Beta. There are two kinds of Wolves-the werewolves and the lycans. That splits up even further; some lycans go onto joining The Order of the Huntress. And apparently I'm some oracle. At least it explains the dreams, think with an anxious laugh. It's good to know that I haven't completely lost it. "You good?" Jayden glances over at me. The credits are rolling on the T.V. and she laughs, "I don't think I've ever seen someone be so quiet while watching Monty Python." "Sorry," I smile, "
His lips are warm against my forehead, and I so badly want to tilt my head up and catch his mouth with my own. I shut my eyes and breathe him in. All the built up anxiety is pushed back to the background, and I feel myself relax. He's all I can think of in that moment. "You're talking to me now?" I whisper, pulling back and fixing him a stern look. He nods quietly and I sigh, "At the risk of sounding like a possessive girlfriend-" "No risk. You sound like a possessive girlfriend," He chuckles but not even his good looks are going to save him from that remark. "Great. Then I guess since we're just putting it out there--you've been an asshole. If you were going to break things off, that's fine. But I think I deserve at least a goodbye. Or an explanation." "I'm not breaking things off..I can't." "I've tried to give you space, Hendrick, but I need you! I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing," I rub circles into the temples of my forehead, "I'm used to being independent and being abl
She doesn't move initially, and I almost yelp in surprise as she slinks down on her knees. He watches her as she crawls up to him like a fox, sliding between his legs with a sly glint in her eyes. She looks at him for the longest time, breathing deep as her hands creep to the zips on his pants. He watches her tiredly but with mild interest, and she takes this as encouragement. However, as she leans forward to kiss him, he stops her, "Lara. Go to sleep." "You're in a mood tonight," She growls in frustration, her chest puffing out another irritated sound. I can almost see her hackles raising as she snatches her hands away from his pants, "What's your problem? Is this about her-" "Right now. You are," He speaks bluntly, his gaze dull and bored. Waving half-heartedly at the door, he finishes their conversation, "Leave." The door slams shut, and I can hear her angry heels clonking down the hallway. There's the sound of an elevator door pinging and then absolute silence. The phone is no
Kaizer throws me an exaggerated yawn as our teacher speaks. I hide my grin behind my hand, stifling a laugh as he continues to make gestures while her back is turned. The rest of the class is almost asleep, staring at the clock with hungry eyes. After what seems like a torturously long class period, the bell rings and we all spring from our seats. "Finally," Kaizer drawls as we walk towards the cafeteria, "I have been waiting for lunch since breakfast!" I burst out laughing, "You better watch it-that fast metabolism only lasts for so long." "Which is why I'm going to enjoy it as long as I can," He wags his eyebrows at me. We've patched up since my birthday. There are still moments of discomfort because it's clear that Kaizer still has feelings for me. But he knows how crazy I am for Hendrick and after we had set some clear boundaries, I've begun to hang out with him a bit again. Not much, since Hendrick is still wary of Kaizer, but enough to escape the madness of the Wolves for a m
I choke on my own scream as she kicks me again. The floor feels cool against the side of my face. Blood and the disgusting smell of the bathroom floods through my nose. Faint sounds of thuds and thumps and screaming. I can feel her kicking and stomping on me with full-blown rage. She growls like a savage-like a wolf-and I curl up but it does little to protect me from Ashenia's fury. What is happening here? It's an echo. The sound of her fists and feet connecting with my flesh cease. It takes me a moment to pick my head up and see a teacher standing at the door. "What's happening here?" I fall back down, and Ashenia sneers at me. Camilla and Dominique are shaking in the corner, staring at me with terror. The teacher growls lowly, but I'm not sure if it's a Wolf growl or them being really pissed off. I don't really quite feel right. My head spins and my body floats. Laughing. It's all that escapes my lips. So this is what it means to be in the center stage. I would have preferred to s
The door slams so hard that I swear that entire building shakes. Wolves around us scatter, some keeling over as they feel Mira's rage through the walls. Wide-eyed and clammy, it's amazing to see how quickly the packhouse has emptied. Ashenia storms off, down the stairs, and out the door. I note that she's careful not to slam the front door. She may be furious for getting skinned a new one, but she won't dare lose her temper around Mira. A Wolf who prefers self-preservation over revenge. I limp towards the stairs at a much slower pace than Ashenia. Mira's fury clings to my skin like razor blades, and I feel ill just recalling the way she unleashed her lecture on us. But the pounding and aching of my entire body is far more nauseating, and I can't fully focus on anything but breathing. I've been given ice to press against my face, but it's useless. Every part of me is swollen or bruised, and unless they have a tub full of ice, it's pointless pressing a piddly ice bag against one secti
"Lilac." "Exorcisms and love," I fix Avianna a look, "Do Wolves get possessed?" "It can happen but we're mostly vulnerable to our Guides overtaking our bodies. Sometimes lilac is used in a ritual to help strengthen our skin side. I've heard of spirits possessing Prophets and Healers but never personally witnessed it. Dandelions?" "Calling upon spirits, wishing...seeing the future?" I search for the term for a moment, smiling when I recall it, "Divination." "Good. What about smudging?" "Smudging is cleansing aura of oneself or an object using herbs," My eyes are shut as I regurgitate what I've studied the past weeks, "The most common herbs used are sage, lavender, rosemary, and bay leaves." "Any other herbs you can use?" "Cloves. Cinnamon...Dill and..." After a moment, I come blank and look at her for help. "Ginger," She answers, "You forgot that one last time as well-so be sure to write it on your forehead or something. But other than that, you did a fantastic job." I stretch
"Very good," Avianna's voice is soft, as if she doesn't want to break my concentration, "Now for some scrying. I want you to find someone. Let's start with your mate." I stare into the wolf's eyes, and she begins to growl. She doesn't want to look for Hendrick-she wants to get out of the cage. My hands fist up as I try to will her to do what I want her to, but she turns her head away. The wolf huffs like she's just as frustrated as I am. Meeting my gaze briefly, she flattens her ears against her head. A whine scrapes out of her throat and my breath hitches. She paws at the gate of the cage and whines again. It's okay. My whisper ceases her movements for a second before she begins to frantically claw at the gate again. I reach out and open the gate but block the entrance when she tries to fly out. Her snout wrinkles, hackles rising like she's trying to threaten me. I stare at her with wide eyes, overwhelmed with emotion. She...is me… Alora. She's calm again. Our eyes meet again and
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