The drive home is quick, but the silence is loud. Now that I'm not consumed by the volume of the music, my thoughts come to me in a rush. Thoughts of Orion-the maniac who has been strongly implicated in the death of my sister and responsible for countless others. Thoughts of the Goddesses and the fact that I am one of their messengers-a High Prophet of The Order of The Huntress. The fact that I have two mates...one being Orion, the man who wants nothing more than to destroy the world that has become my own.The other mate being Hendrick, who is waiting on the edge of the forest that borders my house. He isn't happy, but that doesn't come as a surprise to me. Since we had met, I've barely met up to specs. But after dating one another for several months now, I can confirm that I am flat out failing at this point."Hey," I hop out of the car and shut the door with my hip, "How-""You reek of alcohol," He marches up to me. His nostrils flare as he steps up to me, "Alora, did you drive dru
There is a stark contrast between the Old Diner at night versus the day. During the night, the teens and young adults and dancers take it over. Most of the time, it seems something straight out of a Grease musical-with people dancing on counters and tables, and girls being thrown up and around by boys. There's a jukebox that plays records but also can be plugged up to an auxiliary chord for people to play the hot tracks of today.Though, during the daytime it's tamer. The cool, white light of the Pacific Northwest bled through the windows. It's filled with mellow jazz and blues, the sounds of the milkshake machine and eggs sizzling on a pan, and students working on homework.As I walk in with my parents, my gaze dances over to the corner booth that I know all too well. I can almost see the memory of Ariella sitting there, waiting for me to join her for a hot chocolate. This diner used to be filled with our laughs and bickering."I'm so hungry," My mom wraps her arm around me, "You loo
Kennedy's words echo in my head every time I see her now. Do you know why there isn't a successor to Abrego? Mira and Ilya got rid of her-their own daughter-they shipped her off to Prometheus. All because her Wolf was stronger than Mira's..."Alpha," Claude nods as I look down at my feet. With her shoulders drawn back and her eyes set on me so intensely, Mira always manages to intimidate me with her presence. She's the queen of these packlands-there is no dispute.Kennedy stirred doubt in my mind about my own allies. Is it possible to trust someone who had betrayed their own child, in order to stay in power? If what he said is true then what is to say Mira won't throw me under the bus-how can I confidently believe that she isn't manipulating me either?There's no question that my problems not only lie with Orion and The Order, but with the hidden agendas of all the pack leadership. They all have secret motives that can potentially be catastrophic.I look up at her and smile as she spo
"Hey Alora." I wrap my arms tightly around my sister, "Hey Ariella. How've you been?" "Good. It's been quiet. Hekate is very busy so there hasn't been much for me to do from what I've heard through the grapevine, she's and the other Goddesses are fighting." She smiles at me and swings our arms around like a pre-schooler, "So why did you call on me?" "Well, I was talking to Dorothy the other day-you know, the nursery keeper. And I was reminded of something she said to me earlier this year," I look up at Ariella and point toward the forest, "I want you to show me where your secret garden is." She rolls her eyes, "It honestly isn't anything, Alora. Nothing like that Healer of yours. But if you want to see it," She sighed and pulled me towards the forest path, "I'll show you." She leads me down the familiar path we take towards the meadow and lake by our house. But as we're a half-mile in, she takes a left and into a bush of holly berries. It's beside the large puddle that I had run t
Alora. Alora.They reach out to me. Waves of their blood sweep against my ankles. Their cries and pleas come at me like gusts of wind. Not all are sad or bereaved, but all of them want me to notice them. They want me to see them. To hear them.Alora.Their Wolves howl and snarl. So many eyes. So many blank stares.Fingers brush aside my hair and a woman's mouth presses against my ear. Alora.I'm compelled to hear her. Soft...chimes of bells move with her every breath. She speaks to me again, as quiet as the night.Prophet. She says. Come and see."Alora," Jayden grabs my arm, "Stop zoning out-we're lining up." Come and see, Prophet of Death.I turn to face her. Sashi. Her golden eyes pierce me to the core. They hold so many secrets, so much to say...so much to see.She touches my cheek gently, like a siren coaxing a sailor into the depths of the sea. Child of Cecily. Blood of Kaltain. You are in danger.She disappears as Kaizer sweeps me up into his arms, spinning me in circles with a
My mother has me constricted against her. I can feel her tears seep through my hair and clothes, but I don't care. My dad hugs me too, enveloping me in their pride and love. We all are happy, but we all feel somewhat off. All these years we have spent planning both Ariella and I graduating, and now there is only one.When they pull back, I notice Aiden standing beside them. The man who uses to always been so sullen and intimidating to me now is one of my biggest allies. He grins widely at me and opens his arms up. I don't hesitate."Bien, bien," He kisses the top of my head, "I'm very proud of you girls."Jayden drags me back just then, holding her phone up, "Selfie time!"I quickly smile as she presses the button to capture the photo. Skyler and Kaizer, and Cam and Dom quickly join us. The next few minutes is enveloped in photos, hugs, and congratulations."There's going to be a party at the beach later tonight," Cam whispers to me when her mother isn't looking at us."What time?"Sh
"Don't worry, we'll behave ourselves."Cam, charming as always, practically wraps herself around Claude. He doesn't react, though the poor rookie beside him is clearly taken by Camilla. He looks ready to faint when she gives him a wink.Claude slips from her hold, "No swimming this time, okay?""Jeez, what are you-my mother?" She rolls her eyes, "Or are you giving us such a hard time 'cause you want us to invite you? You're more than welcome to-be sure to bring the cutie who's riding with you."Again, the rookie's consciousness is questionable."Whatever, just don't complain when you wake up with a hell of a hangover again. I'm tired of hearing Auntie Nic bitch me out for it.""You two are actually cousins?" I look between them as Claude goes back to his car."Yup," She sighs, "Don't know how. He's too straight-laced.""Let's go set up," Hendrick begins to pull me towards the beach but I break away."Claude!" He turns around when I run up to him, "Can I talk to you quickly?"He looks
After a couple more hours of drinking and dancing, my dark mood has been put aside. I spend the entire night dancing with Skyler and Jayden, slowly sinking into a haze of alcohol and celebration.At some point, Hendrick slinks his way into my good graces again. I want to push him away...but my entire soul is crippled by the mere thought of it."I'm sorry," His voice is low and smooth, like the rhythmic strumming of a guitar."You keep pinching my neck when I'm doing something you don't like-stop that," I jerk away from his fingers as they sweep through my hair, "I'm not your dog, Hendrick.""I'm sorry," His hands creep along my shoulders and I make no move to brush them aside, "My old man does it sometimes with the younger Wolves when they don't listen. It's just a force of habit-""I know you all have your messed up ways of disciplining-but I'm not going to put up with you manhandling me like that. It's not right. We've talked about this before."He nods but I can see that he doesn't