"Are you still eating?" Zed scoffs as he comes waltzing into the kitchen like he owns the place. "Are you still breathing?" I retort."Zed, leave her be for gods sake." Kage sighs, following behind him."I'm sick of seeing her stuff her face, no one eats that much!" He snaps, his tone irritated."Are you saying I'm fat?" I ask icily, placing the dish of chicken pasta down."Obviously!" Zed glares.My eyes brim with tears instantly as I glance down at my thighs, completely self-conscious. I have been eating a lot, I didn't think I was gaining that much weight."Fix this, now." Kage seethes through his teeth.Wiping away my tears, I slide off the chair and simply walk out of the kitchen. Why am I so upset by his comment?"That's right, waddle away." I hear Zed mumble.In a flash I shove Kage aside and grip the male by his balls, literally squeezing so hard that his entire body convulses as he cries out in agony."Say it again." I growl murderously, my eyes glowing red pits of rage."Le
"No! No, no come on...please!" My hysterical screams echo as agony grips my chest. Hands fumbling to help them, to fix their broken, twisted body's. Unmoving, completely still in time. It shatters something within me that I didn't know could be broken, such grief, such loss, that I could barely breath.The third faint heartbeat, the sound of it stopping all together is enough to have my entire soul freeze over. Every emotion jumbling together into one giant ball of suffering, and anger. Deep down my anger is towards only myself, because I'd made the mistake of choosing this birth, because I thought they'd be strong enough.I was so sure they'd survive."Kalli..." She didn't say anything more, she had no words to possibly comfort me right now.Still, the urge to protect my babies hits me, as if they're still alive and healthy. I cradle my pups into my arms, barely holding my sobs in, trembling like a leaf as I exit the den for the first time.Everyone waits, expecting to see the arriv
~ KAGE'S POV ~ "Has anyone seen Kalli? I need to talk to her." I ask, frowning at the group of wolves sat in the living area."Have you checked the office?" Zed raises his eyebrows, never particularly interested in anything Kalli does."Multiple times." I sigh."When was the last time anyone checked in on her?" I ask, slightly irritated that none of them know where she is."I saw her yesterday morning, she was in the woods." Again, Zed responds. In the woods? I thought, utterly confused as Kalli hasn't the left the house since she buried her pups.Beck and Lori share a fearful glance, one that doesn't go over my head."What is it?" I growl lowly. What are they hiding?"The Elders found Kades Gamma, mutilated." Lori says, exhaling shakily as she begins to pace."So?" I scrunch my face up, not caring for some wolf in my fathers pack."They found two more, but they haven't been identified yet. If they're from Kage's pack...the Elders think that Kalli is involved, she has every motive to
"You will train harder than you ever trained before...ten times harder...a hundred times harder...until you are stronger than even he." My voice is sharp, and clear, ringing perfectly over the large crowd of teens."If by he, you mean that mate of yours, then I think we already are." One of the newbie wolves snigger, earning a couple of laughs from his pack mates.My initial reaction comes from a place of anger, and merciless thirst for blood.It doesn't take a genius to figure out which wolf the voice came from, and the second I stand before him, the wolf is but a shell of the confident words he just emitted."Do you think I am a mere Luna?" Eerily calm, gazing boldly into the boys eyes, I let the blood curdling red sear through the green."No.." He whispers, turning his eyes away instead of lowering them. Still, the boy shows defiance, and I have no patience for such things."Run the border." I order stonily."What about rogues-" My knuckles collide with his abdomen, fast, and hard.
"No one has anything to say?" I question.Silence meets my ears for the second time, not a single word of argument. What did Beck say to them? Do I even care to know?"Good, line up!" I command.The newbies rush to do as they're told, I couldn't be bothered to wonder why they're suddenly obedient, so I didn't mention it."Today's lesson is about punching." I announce."Strike first, strike hard." I state, my tone frosty as I gaze over the youthful faces of the wolves.The glances they share tell me they're confused, because Hardin wasn't known for teaching lessons. While he was ruthless, he was also strategic and intelligent. I'm not him, I don't have it inside me to teach them mercy, when I no longer know the meaning of it.Instructing them on how to properly make a fist, I begin showing them correct feet placement and hip movement that comes with punching."Beck." I call, gesturing for him to join me from the side lines.Standing face to face, I make a fist and straighten out my arm
The fire crackles as it burns, the flames high and the pack circled around it. They mourn the man they've come to see as family, not understanding why I would brutally murder him, my own blood. They didn't understand, and they didn't need to.One by one, everyone leaves and goes inside. Everyone except myself, Jackson, and Zed."How long does it take to fully burn?" Jackson questions."A while." I state emotionless."I want to make sure he's not coming back." Zed mutters icily.Once upon a time I would have comforted him, but after everything we've both said and done, I couldn't. Zed was tricked, used, manipulated and betrayed by the one person that should only have ever loved him. Everyone knows what Kage did to me, I walked the path willingly, but he put it there, laying down every brick and stone.I didn't comfort Zed, I didn't even spare him a glance as I stand like a statue, watching the flames and ignoring the stench of a burning body.***The fire was almost out, a few final
"Alpha Kalli!" The familiar little girl calls my name with excitement."Tell her I'm busy." I mutter to Lori, heading off into the woods away from the child before she can reach me.Hearing Lori tell the pup to that I've got work to do, I shift into my wolf and head off to my place of peace. It's become the only place that I don't feel angry, or the need to kill. It makes me sad, but I feel more myself with my pups than I do anywhere else.Hardin is still healing, I've barely seen him for the last two weeks due to him working with physical therapists and doctors to help him heal quickly, and safely. Whenever we're in the same room, we just clash and I know that it's my fault for pushing him away, even if I'm not happy with how things are.It's better this way, he'll never have to know about me killing our pups. The pack know better than to open their mouths, I'm not exactly known for being gentle anymore.After a while of watching the sun, I head back to the house. But today, somethin
~ Hardin's POV ~"Being angry with her won't help, it'll only push her further away." Zed sighs, handing me a fresh t-shirt."Since when do you care about my mate?" I glare, yanking the shirt over my head.Zed exhales heavily, glancing away. "Kage was using multiple wolves with high status in the packs, he figured since Kalli was Alpha Female someone would eventually mention her. It was a lie from the beginning, and Kalli...she got it worse."Zed has always been honest with me, given he's been my friend longer than he's been my beta, I know him better than anyone. Something about the way he says Kalli got it worse, makes my gut wrench."Worse how?" I grit out. The fact that I took my frustration and anger out on my mate of all people, riddles me with guilt. I can feel the pain she's in, the agony that haunts her day and night. Not knowing why, or how, or even if I can fix it, is beyond irritating.It seems the pack that once pushed her out, now know more about her than I do."Kalli is
~ 3RD PERSON POV ~ Xander arrives on his sons land, the atmosphere lingering with death. The pack felt somewhat out of place, uncomfortable as Xander takes their Alphas place, temporarily.Beck and Zed greet Xander outside the house, welcoming him in front of the pack."Sorry I couldn't get here sooner." Xander tells the two men, shaking their hands as a token of respect. Even if they are below him, he can't deny how well they've managed the pack in the week it's been abandoned without an Alpha."You're here now." Zed's response is blunt, unable to put on a smile even for a man he's known years."Are they any closer to finding her?" Xander questions with hope, heading into the large, yet somewhat empty mansion.What is usually bursting with life, is now silent, and dull. The pack didn't just lose their future Alphas, but their Alpha female, and possibly their Alpha too.They felt that Hardin would surely return home, but the entire pack knew he would be returning alone.Kali was warn
~ Hardin's POV ~ "We expected to see Kali here, she was the one that convinced me into this and now she can't even show her face?" Maddox is the furthest thing from happy.Considering how many times I've dealt with him in the past, I know first hand how hard-headed he is. It makes me truly wonder how Kali convinced him into this alliance. Perhaps Maddox has a soft spot for my mate? I couldn't help but wonder."Kali is occupied with more pressing matters. If she could be here, she would, you know how much this means to her." I retort firmly.Maddox leans forwards, exhaling. He doesn't approve of Kali not being here, and I get the sense that he doesn't buy the excuse. However, the more Alphas that know about this pregnancy, the more painful it will be once it's over.Kali doesn't deserve to suffer, or be reminded about the loss every time someone calls, or visits."Fine. How many am I expected to take on?" Maddox grunts."For now anywhere between ten and thirty, see how it goes for a c
"You were in and out of consciousness for two days, there's no way you're not hungry." Jackson points his finger at me with a look of intensity."Can you even cook?" I ask with a furrowed look. Recalling the birthday cake he made me a while ago, It was a really nice gesture but...the guy can't cook.Jackson just scoffs, like he's utterly appalled by the accusation. "That's not the issue here, Kali."I couldn't help but smile a little, happy that he isn't walking on eggshells around me like everyone else. I hate being treated like I'm made of glass, Jackson has absolutely no filter and right now I'm beyond grateful for it."If the chef is cooking, I'll have a burger." I tell him, merely satisfying his need to feed me."Coming right up!" He beams, rushing from the bedroom to get me the burger.I shake my head a little and sigh, sitting up a little more on the bed.The depleted energy warning wasn't a joke. Despite feeling much better, I can barely walk due to having no energy. It's been
I wake again, except this time my eyelids feel somewhat lighter. Allowing me to ease them open gently without too much strain, despite still feeling bruised.I felt disorientated, confused as to what happened, and what's wrong with me. I remember pain, so much of it while half freezing to death and shivering. The headache as I open my eyes is more or less instant, even if the room is shaded.As I turn my head side to side, looking around the bedroom with the utter confusion, I notice the tube leading towards me. Despite the weight of my own head right now, I manage to lift it just enough to see the thin tube is inserted into the back of my hand."Stay calm." Hardin's voice is a gentle whisper, his hands gently taking one of mine. The relief in his voice and eyes is so loud, it worries me."What are you doing?" My voice is raspy, my throat feeling like sandpaper. I couldn't help but notice where the other end of the blood pipe leads, straight int the back of Hardin's hand.I couldn't g
"Yeah, Zed, can you show Elder Luther the map of the extension? Hardin put it somewhere and I can't find it-...are you kidding me?" I whine, turning around to see Zed holding up the map which has been staring at me for the last ten minutes."Maybe Doc should check your eyes." Zed muses."If my head wasn't screwed on I'd lose that too." I scoff, taking the map and storming out the office and back outside."Sorry for the wait, it's been a little hectic here." I admit to the Elder standing in front of me."Understandable. Has the rogue recovered?" Luther asks me, attempting to be somewhat caring."She's doing great. Winter just started training with Beck and Zed actually, she's going back to school next week so she's begun training for graduation." I say with a proud smile."Isn't she only fifteen?" Luther arches his eyebrow.I nod my head. "Winter is training to be a protector, she did want to try for warrior but given this law against rogues, protector is the closest thing to it." I ex
A couple of days passed, and my fever got worse before it got better. Doc said it would last a matter of days, and he was right. Four days drag by before it finally clears up, with the help of some homemade herbal soup that Hardin's mom cooked up. It was the first thing I'd kept down during the four days of the fever. Hardin had me on complete bed rest, practically escorting me to the toilet and bath. It's safe to say I was up and gone the day Doc gave me the all clear. Hardin didn't like it, he wants to see the results from the blood, but it's not yet back from the Elders."I feel better than I have all week, Hardin. Please, stop worrying, I'll let you know the results the second they come back." I say with a low groan, trying to push the big oaf out of the door and into his car."I hate leaving you, especially right now." Hardin growls in frustration, not budging in the slightest."I'll take good care of her Hardin, I promise." Lori promises.Hardin is hesitant, glancing between us
"How did it go?" Hardin greets me the second I exit the car, wrapping me in his arms like I've been gone days.Truth be told, hugging him is all I need right now. The whole drive back I barely spoke five words to Jackson, I felt a little numb, and confused, irritated, a little angry."He signed." Jackson announces as he rounds the car towards us."He did? That's great." Hardin is a tad surprised, but happy none the less."Yeah." I force a slight smile.Pulling away from him I brush past Hardin and Jackson, heading into the house as I pull out my phone. Dialling a number that I've literally waited an entire month to call.It rings three times, before he answers."I knew I should have said two weeks." Elder Luthers voice comes through the speaker, his tone disgruntled."I have worked my ass off to get everyone on board, don't even think about backing out now because I am in no mood-""We're not backing out of anything, we made a deal. Email me copies of the contracts and I'll start maki
"Anymore dizzy spells?" Hardin worries like a mother hen, hovering over me as I stand up. "Not in the ten minutes since your last check in." I muse, separating the delivery boxes by names."I'm worried about you, Kal. Maybe we should call the Elders?" Hardin exhales, helping me organise the large heavy boxes."So they can tell me I'm stressed, exhausted and need rest? I'll sleep and rest when this is all over." I state firmly with a small grunt as I lift a box that is far heavier than the others."I've got it." Hardin murmurs, gently budging me aside and moving the box for me."I really do feel fine, Hardin. I promise that if it gets worse I'll see Doc, alright?" I offer a small smile, wrapping my arms around him, placing my hands on his chest and my chin on his back.Hardin places his hands over mine, squeezing gently as he exhales."You realise we only need one more signature for the alliance, right?" Hardin tells me after a minute of peaceful silence."Mhm." I hum, not pleased in
"Hi! Oh, sweetie it's so good to see you again!" Lori gushes as she pulls me into a warm hug, half squeezing me to death.I just smile and awkwardly pat her back. "You too, I'm sorry about the mess...we've been a little run off our feet lately.""Oh no, hunny don't even worry about it." Lori scoffs, waving off my words as she sits next to me on the couch.The pups run riot around me, and today I just didn't have the energy to get up and play games."You look exhausted, why don't you get some sleep? I'll watch the little wolves." Lori smiles warmly, concern in her eyes as she takes me in."No, no I'm fine. Besides, you just got here." I say, sitting up a little so I look more awake."What you're doing for this girl, it's truly amazing. Is it just me or is there a lot more she-wolves here?" Lori asks with a slight frown, uncertain if she's just going crazy."Thank you, and yeah, there's a lot more actually but I don't feel like going into details." I say softly, glancing at the pups as