XADEN“Hmmm. Surprising. News like this should reach you first before it is even posted,” Mike mused. I could already anticipate that the contents of this…so called news would infuriate me.“Spill, Mike. Don’t edge me on,” I growled.“Okay…so basically, news about you and Celeste’s divorce is out.”Not the worst of news…even if I didn’t expect the public to be aware of it until I had my real Luna on the throne with me.“Is that it?”“Oh, ho-ho, Xaden…that is far from it. See…the same news article that published you and Celeste’s divorce, also sought to paint a certain someone in a certain light.”I waited for a couple of seconds, and when nothing came from the speaker, I growled. “Oh come on, Mike…you’re riling me on purpose!”“Okay…okay…I’ll stop fucking with you…” Mike chuckled nervously, “but only because I’m slightly concerned about your temper to say this next part.”“Just get on with it. I won’t kill you.”“So…the article suggested…well practically theorized that Soraya…whom y
SORAYAIt stung, you know.Weak. Young. Inexperienced and unable to lead. Not of noble blood and has not formal training that would enable her stand by the side of the ruler.Not a member of the pack.All those demeaned my esteem and brought it to the ground.But seductress?Seductress? The implication that I’m here out of desperation and I’m lucrative enough to wield sexual energy and use it as a tool to grant me passage?It felt like I was taken from the ground I previously was, and kept under foot.And it wasn’t the good kind, either. I felt like the muck stuck underneath boots, that you would scratch against the pavement to get rid of. I felt unwanted, even as trash.But somehow, there was a slight smile on my face.What more is there? What more damage can they do? I looked at all the members of the council, their eyes displaying lackluster apologies. None of them were sorry. In fact, I was willing to bet that Elder Maren wasn’t the only one on this ploy, and she just had to take
SORAYAThe grand rooms in the pack house were one of the reasons I still hadn’t left the pack. The ceiling was too high for me to touch, even if I jumped with the assisted power of my wolf.On them were decorations and paintings. On this one particularly, lay what looked to be a wolf and its mate, nursing their cubs. It was magnificent and nostalgic, making me remember my days as a cub, under the nursery of my mother and father.Hanging, still much higher than I could jump, was a very intricately designed chandelier. When I focused well enough, I could see holes where it would’ve been otherwise impossible to see them, and the whole thing glowed an aura of gold so shiny, I struggled to recognize whether or not the thing was really on, or just reflecting the sun’s light.“Ow!” I hissed when Kaylee slammed into me, seemingly unaware, in her childish spirit, of my condition.“Woah, there baby…” Xaden swooped in and snatched her off my body. I’d been playing for her for a while, as the nu
SORAYA“Soraya. You don’t have to go anywhere if you don’t want to,” Xaden’s calm voice was forced. I could see it even more clearly when I turned to look at him and saw the veins on his forehead threatening to pop.He was explosively angry, but was trying to keep his cool, probably because Kaylee was in the room with us.“I have to, Xaden. I have to prove that I can fight and die for this pack…and if proving it means that I actually die now, then so be it,” I took his hand in mine and gave them a reassuring squeeze.He didn’t look at me…not even when I placed a kiss on his forehead. His eyes were on the cocky council members.“You…” he growled. “If anything happens to Soraya. I’ll kill you and every single person on that damned table,” he grit his teeth so hard, sparks could have flown out of them. “I’ll kill you all and leave the pack. It doesn’t matter to me. Nothing matters to me after Soraya. Am I clear?”Kira rolled her eyes and turned around to start walking out of the room. “C
SORAYA“Oh Sora? She’s a fool! You can tell!” A familiar voice boomed from behind the door and it stopped me from knocking as all the insecurities started flooding back.That was Liam’s voice alright.“Oh, please,” someone laughed and I didn’t need a seer to tall me who it was. The high pitched laughter paired with the obnoxious voice told me all I needed to know about the voice.“Fucking Sally,” I snarled, more to myself than out loud. There was no way I was entering that room now. Or maybe I should simply get in there and have their heads…now that I know I can hold my own in a proper fight…“Soraya?” A voice called out to me from behind and when I turned to inspect the voice, my heart sank. It was Xaden. I tried to turn and face the voice, but I couldn’t move.That’s when I realized that I was paralyzed and in heavy tears. Maybe not tears of grief, but tears of pure, unadulterated rage.When I tried to move again, I was finally unstuck, but even that didn’t last. As soon as I tried
SORAYA“Xaden!” I screamed again, moving as fast as my legs could carry me. My wolf gave me speed. My nose could always catch a whiff of where he was, but his scent was scattered. The clinic had many halls too.That made it almost impossible to follow his scent with singularity, as it felt like every corner I turned, he was there as well.Impossible. The sterile whiteness of the corridors taunted me. The clean, spotless walls laughed at my confusion, but I pushed through. My eyes blurred with tears, so everyone I pushed out of the way was unseen to me.I used my nose to see, and I would not advise it. I kept bumping into things I couldn’t sense. Things that blended into the general landscape of the place. A protrusion in the wall, that is of the same dry wall material caused me to stumble.I picked myself up without hesitation. Now was not the time to stumble and wallow in my pathetic-ness. I needed Xaden to understand things from my point of view.After a while, I quit trying to pin
SORAYAThe mumbling was still the most prevalent thing, even after a few minutes, and we just stood there, letting the elders and other council members take it all in.The fact that Xaden chose a completely different interpretation from what they had all imagined, took them by storm, and I wasn’t surprised. Not a single bit.They never wanted me to be a part of them and it’d be stupidity to thing that all of a sudden, in the twinkle of an eye, one fight and a simulation would convince them. I knew it was a losing game right from the very start, and I still decided to play.And this wasn’t even over yet.There was no telling the horrors that awaited me, and I frankly didn’t want to even think about it as I was nestled in Xaden’s arms. Right now, his approval was all that mattered.“You really don’t know what you’re doing,” I could hear Lancelot mutter a little louder than the others, but Xaden still paid him no heed and just kept rocking me.Essentially, despite the choice of my mate…d
SORAYA“When a person tries to force something on you, it’s clearly a glow stick spelling the word ‘danger’, right? If you’re being forced to take a drink, it’s probably poisoned. When you’re unnecessarily coerced to go somewhere against your will, you can’t help but feel like it’s a set up for you, no?”I felt like screaming.What if that person was your mother, forcing you to leave the house and touch some grass?Unnecessary, but you wouldn’t think it to have any malicious intent!The people of the pack didn’t seem to think about it like that, though and seemed to completely resonate with Lancelot.“That’s the same way we have Soraya in our midst, believe it or not,” he nodded emphatically, his spectacles gleaming from the ray that hit it from certain angles. “Whether you would like it or not, she’s is a stranger. And accepting her as Luna is the moral equivalent of getting into the van of strangers, no matter how loyal she tries to prove. She snuck unto us…seduced our Alpha while
SORAYAI tried to make a stance and defend myself to the best of my abilities. I wished with more than anything in me that Xaden would find me right now. I could really use the help. I watched as the Rogue continued to run at me, preparing to pounce. He came at me, claws first as he dove over a vehicle that separated us. I closed my eyes out of instinct as I waited for the killing blow. It never came. All I heard was a sharp wince that seemed to come from the Rogue as it collided with something—or someone.I opened my eyes, promptly locating the rogue on the pavement. He was been pounced on by someone. I couldn’t make out who exactly but I silently thanked them—feeling extremely lucky for their timely intervention.I moved slowly towards them and I noticed that it was a woman. She continued to beat the Rogue savagely. Clawing and biting at it with every intention of killing him. When the Rogue stopped struggling, probably from passing out or dying, I tried to thank her for coming to
SORAYAI quickly located the car in Xaden’s parking spot after a brief glance around the lot. It was a little corner spot that overlooked the faculty and I made my way to it before unlocking the trunk. I retrieved two large picnic baskets and set them down gently on the floor beside the car.It was really nice being out of the house again. Kaylee definitely needed it but I may have needed it more. The poor kid, it’s unfortunate she has to grow up in such less than ideal conditions. But at least for today, she could be happy playing in the sun and feeling the wind on her face. The atmosphere was clear and the sky was blue with very few clouds, it was perfect for a little family day out. The morning sun shone brightly, it’s golden rays sparkled with radiance. I felt renewed and content. Life couldn’t be better. Our enemies seem to have all been defeated and the pack finally accepted me as their Luna—I couldn’t explain the feeling I felt. Celeste had been banished, along with her father
MALCOLM“Can I see some Identification?”“Definitely. Uhh...let me check...” I stumbled through my jacket pocket and retrieved my business card. It still had the dark moon insignia from our previous business together.Thank the blessed goddess.She picked up the card and glossed over it intently, resigning only when she found no faults with it.“Well, it seems authentic to me Mr Malcolm. Being affiliated with a pack, especially one as influential as the Dark moon pack, gives you certain privileges.” She started as she folded her arms across her chest. “One of those privileges is free passage to and from the borderlands as long as you don’t plan to stir up any troubles there. However, it is my job to keep you informed on how dangerous a place it can be.” She said, looking up again. “Everyday, we are swarmed with reports of many going in, and only very few returning. Do you understand what I’m saying Mr. Malcolm?” She inquired as she made eye contact with me. I remained silent. I knew t
MALCOLMI mustn’t fail her. I must not fail Celeste again. I thought to myself as I made my way to the corner closet. I had to get her the yellow wolf’s bane even if it meant breaking the rules and crossing the border.Failing her would basically spell doom for me. Money was drying up fast and the business was basically dead in the water. Those spineless cowards! The community Pack leaders and the Alphas. Refusing to do business with me because they were afraid of him. Afraid of that bastard Xaden! I sighed at my impossible situation, knowing it was all my doing. This was all by my design. They would however be sorry in the end. Those spineless fools! When Xaden was finally back on my side. They would then understand the true meaning of pain.I drew out a large suitcase out of the closet. I didn’t know how long I was going to be gone. It was going to be dangerous. But I needed this. Desperate times required that I suck it up and get my ass across the border.What had I been thinking?
JEREMY“Where are you?” I asked, speaking into my phone and attempting to dust off my shoes as I entered the building. It was futile. I disposed of them and put on some hiking boots that had been left by some of the other groundskeepers. He was holed up in the basement. I found a small flashlight and went down the flight of stairs. “Cyrus..” I called out, peering in the dark and reaching for a light switch. Turning it on, the dark and dingy basement came to full view, completely lighting up. I spotted Cyrus sitting in a corner of the basement, clutching tightly to a steel black box. He was bruised and bloodied badly, looking quite roughed up.“Boss..” He managed to call out to me as he fumbled to get to his feet. He placed the box on a wooden slab, turning it to face me.“What the fuck happened, Cyrus?” I looked him over. He seemed to be healing but not quite fast enough. His jacket was completely shredded and he seemed to have lost an eye. I looked over at the box. I picked it up a
JEREMY“Take me back to the compound!” I said to the driver as I walked out the cemetery gate. I had been quiet in my arrival, slowly creeping up on him, startling him. He was leaning over the bonnet, probably smoking.“Arrgh...yes Sir...right away sir.” He said, dusting off the ashes and crushing the cigarette butt.It had such a rancid smell.“You were gone for quite sometime sir. I was beginning to worry but you’ve warned me never to interrupt you when you visited, no matter what.” He said looking at me and gesturing me into the car as he pulled the door open.“Yes I was and you were right not to disturb me.” I said, looking up at him. “I took sometime because I needed to take sometime and that’s the end of it.” I said, making my way into the car and pulling my phone out from my pocket as he locked the door.“Yes sir.” He said and made his way to the driver seat. I had indeed taken quite some time. The sun had set already and we slowly approached twilight. The autumn falls made e
CELESTEThe things I had done for him. He drove me so crazy and what was crazier still, was that I would do it all over again without missing a beat. That was how much I wanted to be with him.My train of thought were completely cut off by movements in the front porch. I heard someone stumbling against the door. It was probably my father again. He had been a loose cannon of recent, drinking himself rotten, only able to feel a little buzz with each binge. He was taking it hard. Business had basically grinded to a stop as he could no longer namedrop Xaden to the surrounding communal packs. He had become a disgrace, a pariah, almost executed even had it not been for the benevolence of Xaden and my own naïvety. The packs didn’t want to work with him for fear of Xaden and the humans would not work with him for fear of the packs. He was lost.It was his fault. I thought callously as I finished the last bit of scotch in my glass. He was a stupid man and the architect of his own misfortune. W
CELESTEThings had begun to fall pleasantly into place and it seemed like for once, the fates were finally on my side. I thought to myself as I took a swig of scotch before setting the glass on the counter. The bottle was almost empty and I let out a low growl—father couldn’t even afford to replace our liquor anymore.I poured myself another cup and made my way to the couch, kicking off my shoes and reclining into the sofa.The moon goddess was however very gracious to me. Even from the point of despair and sadness, a ray of hope seemed to burst through, casting away the shadows and banishing my worries.Jeremy. I thought to myself trying to remember the series of events that had led up to today’s meeting.I had been so down and bad, almost depressed to an inch of my life—how had things gotten so bad, so fast? I had it all. Everything I could have ever wanted lay in my hands and I lost it. I still could hardly believe it. Where had it gone oh so wrong?Soraya. I bit my lip at the thou
XADEN“Well hello Mr. Professor.” Soraya said, fondling the threads on my robe and wearing a mischievous grin. She drew me closer for another passionate kiss. “Lupine would be perfect for a little picnic and Kaylee could play with other kids.” She said as she hugged me tight. She had needed this. “Thank you Xaden. I’ll go get dressed.” And like that, she was gone. Hurriedly making her way upstairs.“And I’ll get the car ready!” I managed to call out after her before looking over to Kaylee. She was playing with her spork, messing up her leftovers.“And as for you little lady...” I begun, picking her up. She giggled loudly.“...we’re going to get you in a nice little dress.” She was on my shoulders again and we headed for the nursery. I could only stare blankly, in total awe, as Soraya made her way down the stairs. She was wearing a bright yellow maiden gown and a sky blue cashmere scarf. Both colors looked marvelous on her and she was radiant. I could fall in love with her all over aga