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
Kennedy's words echo through my head, and I wince. You know just as well as I do that he's a ticking time bomb."I love you so much. I'm trying so hard to make this work..." I whisper, "Why can't you see that?""I do.""Then why isn't it enough for you," I pull away from him. Tears are building up in my eyes, and I don't want him to see. "For months, I've been putting aside my own things so I can learn more about your world. I just...I feel like we don't talk like we used to. I don't feel like we're as connected as we used to be.""Because we're not connected. We're not on the same page because you're too busy chasing your tail about your sister's death and doing whatever Avianna has you doing. While I'm focusing on being a better Beta for our pack." His words are quiet but the volume of them rung loudly in my ears, "I need you to be what you were born to be, Alora. You're not a Healer and you're not some Rogue-you were born as my mate. Another Beta. But right now, you can't lead your
I'm surprised that the light is on in the kitchen when I get home. The silhouette of my father is blurry from the frosted glass windows. He's at the kitchen counter, reading. A cup of coffee is beside him, and he wears a thick, knitted sweater and his spectacles.He looks up when I shut the front door behind me, "Hey, kiddo.""Hey," I slip my shoes off and take them upstairs to my bedroom. I change quickly and go to the bathroom to assess the damage.The only thing about having my parents home constantly now is that I have to do a better job hiding my bruises. Which is fine, since most of them I get from sparring or patrols...but this isn't that.I'm hiding bruises that my boyfriend gave me because he snapped.I tug down my sleeves and cover my wrists. My lip is a larger problem. It's bruised and split open, and I'm not sure how I'm going to cover that up. There really isn't a way...but I can't tell my parents how I got it. They won't understand.To be honest, I don't understand eithe
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