I'm surprised when I open my eyes and find myself in Hendrick's bedroom. It's dark outside now. I must have been in my vision for hours. Sitting up, I grab the glass of water beside the bed and gulp it down. My stomach growls and my muscles are stiff from laying still for so long. A glance at Hendrick's alarm clock tells me that it's just before midnight. I have been asleep for over eight hours... Hushed whispers catch my attention, and I crawl to the edge of the bed to listen. It's Hendrick, Jayden, and Avianna. "I just don't understand how she's been out of it for so long," Jayden murmurs quietly. "It happens," Avianna says simply, "Tapping into that kind of spiritual energy is tiring. I get like this too-" "I've never seen you lie around like a vegetable for the whole day and night, Avianna," Hendrick snaps. "I'm not a lycanthrope. Alora's body will react differently to mine." "What did you really do?" He asks but there's no response. He sighs loudly. I can imagine the muscle
The pain in my chest only strengthens, to the point that I kneel under the force of the immense sadness. Loss. Rage. It churns and twists my heart like butter. "Avianna didn't tell me..." "Why is she sending you? She wouldn't have left that out unless you didn't have a choice." Though I'm crippled by his pain, I remember what Avianna told me-and what Hendrick reminded me weeks ago. No one can know what I am. "Because she's not sending me to The Order...not if I don't want to..." "But then why..." He regards me carefully, "Alora, don't lie to me." Even Hekate has now emphasized the importance of me not telling anyone. Not until the time is right. I need to know more before anything. I'm also becoming increasingly aware that there's something more between Hendrick and Ashenia than just an old relationship. They have a history that seems to not be entirely in the past. Despite everything, he refuses to push her away. She isn't his mate, but he feels connected to her. That has to say
Moron. Iphigenia's whisper fills my head. I tut and she growls annoyedly. Brat. I chuckle, "Old bat." "Who is?" I spin around, not expecting Hendrick to be standing right behind me. His lips are tilted up in the most delicious way, hair messy and in his eyes. I grip the sleeves of my flannel to keep from brushing those thick, black strands out of his face. "You can talk to her in your mind," He chuckles and tap my forehead, "She'll hear you." "I know," The kettle clicks, and I turn around. I'm tear between tapping that smirk off his face with my palm and tasting it. "I...It just takes some time to adjust to." "I'm just teasing," His hands are braced against the counter, caging me in between his body and the counter. "Well don't," I quip, "Only an idiot makes fun of his angry girlfriend. You don't get out of the doghouse by being an ass." "Was that a dog pun, Alora?" "You're impossible!" "My bad," He is quiet as I pour hot water into the mugs. The only sounds between us is the
All the air in my lungs escapes as I connect with the ground. I get up quickly, but not before Aiden's leg shoots out and into my chest. I'm down again, landing on my back with a loud umph. "You're still leaving yourself wide open when you get to your feet! No Wolf is going to let an opportunity like that slide-they're not going to let you recover!" He barks out as I pull myself to my feet again. "We don't fight fair, Alora." "How's she doing?" We both look up at Mira. She's walking into the ring with an easy smile, looking at the blood and dirt that covers me approvingly. "She's a good fighter. Good endurance and agility," He nods my way, "But she plays fair. Assumes everyone else does too." "Aiden's right-you don't have the brute strength of a werewolf, or even alycanthrope of your age that's grown up as a Wolf," Mira crosses her arms and regards me carefully, "You need to use every advantage you can get." I nod, wiping my mouth, "I can go again." Aiden shakes his head, "You'r
Just as I gather the courage to ask him, his gaze meets mine. I falter and my knees go weak as he flashes me a charming smile. My cheeks flush and I quickly look away."Is there something bothering you, little wolf?" He asks. Kiana and Mac shoot him a look to which his grin only widens to. "You look a little flushed.""Just hot... from my run.""Ah, I see," He looks forward again, and quietly adds, "I thought that you might be in your Heat.""You filthy, mutt," Mac pinches his nose, "You were just dying to point that out, weren't you?""I just think it's interesting since last we were here the Beta's son was a miracle-case. What with having a human mate," Kennedy studies me with that same, cocky and crooked grin, "But that doesn't seem to be the case anymore, is it?""Get over yourself, Mac," Kiana laughs, "This isn't the sixteenth century. Besides, I don't see you complaining when my Heat rolls around!"He lets out a nasty snarl, and Kiana bravely plants a kiss on his cheek. Kennedy
The beach where the bonfire is happening is only several minutes away from the docks. I've packed a change of clothes and change in the back of my car after my shift. Denim shorts and a fluffy, white sweater. In the back are also some blankets, just in case it's cold. Growing up by the water, I'm almost immune to the icy bite of the sea breeze, but sometimes the night winds can be rough.When I pull into the parking lot, there are already several cars there. Young Wolves from the pack are gathered in the parking lot, chatting and laughing, while others lug things down to where a group of boys are building a massive bonfire. Hendrick is with them, a wide grin plastered along his face as he and his packmates mess around."Hey, you!" Jayden hugs me as I approach her and Camilla, "I was so excited when I found out you were coming.""Yeah, thanks for having me," I grin at Camilla as I wrap an arm around Jayden's waist.Camilla opens up the trunk of her car with a smile, "Of course! I thoug
I push her away and run up to Hendrick. No one seems to care that he's about to kill someone and are more surprised when I tug on his shoulder. His fist is cocked back as he prepares to hit him again, but hold it back with all my strength."Hendrick!" I finally reach him, and the golden, fiery gaze of his Wolf flickers over to me. I hold his gaze for a long time, repeating, "He's had enough."He looks back down at the guy before standing up abruptly. Some of his buddies drag the guy to the cars, chiding him for being an idiot. The guy seems to have come to as well, and is apologizing profusely to us both.Looking around, I realize that everyone but Jayden has returned back to partying. It has me wonder how often this kind of thing happens.Hendrick's fingers are pressing into the skin above my collarbone, his eyes boring into the bruised flesh, "Did he break the skin?""No," I murmur quietly. I'd have known-I know exactly what it felt like to have a male Mark me."I knew this wasn't a
I re-tie the rest of the lines and make a mental note to tell my dad to send Old Man T a reminder to secure his lines better. We'd be in big trouble if his boat comes loose and damages one of the others.As I wipe my forehead, I notice that Kennedy hasn't said anything in the past few minutes. I look up at him and find him watching me quietly, a faint shimmer in his gaze. I try to hide the blush of my cheeks as I grin, "Yeah? What is it?""I'm wandering what else you can do with those crafty hands of yours," He murmurs in a low, husky voice. His lips curving up in a cheeky smirk, "You're quite talented with ropes.""I have a mate," I raise an eyebrow at him, "Just saying."His lips only curve into a crooked grin, "And I was complimenting your ability to tie knots. Just saying..." He hooks his finger under my chin, but the simple touch sends waves of heat through me, "What did you think! was saying, love?""..." There are flecks of blue in the forest of his green eyes. They become more