~ 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
"Have you made breakfast?" Those words are spoken with warning, bitter loathing that immediately makes my bruised skin prickle."Yes ma'am." I say softly, lowering my gaze from the sharp green eyes glaring at me. If looks could kill, I'd have been dead a thousand times over. "Leave." She commands.Not needing to be told twice, I high tail it out of the house immediately, as if hell is on my heels. I didn't care for a thank you, being able to walk out unharmed says more than a mere word ever will.With the school just down the road, I pull my hood over my head and quickly shimmy my way through the other students. They didn't shove me or give me abuse, most of them leave me be, they've seen the bruises covering my flesh, bruises that our Alpha and Luna have given to me without shame. It's no secret, the entire pack knows what they do to me, and they can do nothing even if they wished too. A mere wolf barely in his adulthood is no match for the Alpha."Kali! Hold up!" A familiar voice s
"You've always been our greatest shame!" Mother spits, slapping me hard across my already bruised face.My hands snap to the side, throbbing with pain. My eyes water slightly, but I refuse to cradle my cheek. I may be silent but I will never allow them the satisfaction of submission."Honey, we're going to be late for our meeting." My father checks his watch, not a flicker of remorse for my bust lip or purple cheek bone."Go to fucking school." Mother growls at me, cheeks red with irritation."Yes Luna." I whisper, averting my eyes as I scramble away from the wall. As quick as my feet will carry me, I sprint down the stairs, snatching my bag from the bottom on my way out.Not wanting to deal with anyone today, I pull up my hood and keep my head down, burying my hands into the pockets as I move quickly through the other wolves, unnoticed. I didn't bump into Jackson, so that was a plus.After my brother left again last week, my parents as usual are taking their loss out on me, like it's
"This pink would look great on you."The fabric is fitted, sequins designed to have eyeson every aspect of my body, exposing my flesh to the hounds. I didn't like the idea, nor do I like the pink. Of course the wolf girl assumes I'm interested in whatever 'costume' I'll have to wear in the morning, like I actually care about this forced marriage."Maybe yellow? I think the lemon yellow will suit you perfectly!" Triss gushes, holding yet another shred of fabric against my exposed bra.I remain a statue, allowing her to measure and work without flinching. Fighting will onlymakethis so much worse, and I've been humiliated enough."I'd like to wear white." I finally speak up after a while of silence.Triss stares at me, briefly before nodding."That's fine, what about this?"She holds up a piece of her flimsy fabric, like the few centimetres are going to cover all of me. Blankly, I shake my head."It's tradition for every bride to dress this way. Every wolf will want you, and every female
I expected noise to consume the huge pack house, and yet it was eerily silent as I begin to descend from the bedroom. It gave me chills, finding it strange that everything is so quiet on such a rare day for their Alpha.With no even a full day to plan, I thought it would be chaos. Apparently this pack exceed as wedding planners too. I thought with slight bitterness, hating that nothing is going to postpone today.Triss remains a step behind me, guiding me from the mansion and out into the woods. At first I didn't feel much of anything, until we got further into the barely lit trees, far enough that Alpha Hardins begin to show through the space in the distance.My legs falter."Stand tall, chin up, shoulders back." Triss whispers to me, adjusting my rigged posture.Nodding faintly, I quickly do as she says knowing first impressions are everything. If this pack doesn't see me fit, I'll be walked all over and Hardin won't be able to stop it.For my benefit, I keep my eyes forwards and s
" The union has been accepted." Those words burn into my memory like poison, awakening me from the darkness. I wasn't certain on how long I'd been out, but I knew the pain had knocked me unconscious. It's not the first time it's happened, despite this being the first time my brain hurt instead of my body. Blinking as I strain to open my heavy eyelids, I quickly realise there's a rather sharp ache still pulsing within my skull. Bearable, enough so that I push myself up off the stone slab, slowly. The last thing I want is to go dizzy right now. "Do you have any idea what you just did?" Alpha Hardin questions me, his tone clipped with anger. Lowering my aching eyes, I give a small shake of my head as I brush tiny stones off of my palms gently. Even if I don't get what the big deal is on his end, I know I have to give some response that shows a flicker of remorse, or guilt. My father never liked it when I didn't take the blame, it made him feel like it was his fault, which it was. "I
He was right, once he started touching me, my body didn't resist. Now knowing that there's no denying him, I feel more trapped, more humiliated and used than I ever have.Slowly I cover myself in the thin fabric, after spending all night nude outside on the grass, clothes feel great even with so little coverage. It wasn't long before Hardin woke too, silence surrounding us as he dresses himself. The fact that I'm keeping my back to him clearly speaks louder than words,I don't wish to converse with him, I'm glad he doesn't attempt to do SO. "Come, lets get you cleaned up." He says after minutes, expecting no response. I could feel his warmth behind me, his hand that he outstretches for me to take. Did he hit his head? I side glance his hand with bitterness, a glare he didn't see. Without a word, I turn on my heel and walk straight past him, blanking his very existence. I wanted to storm off, but given that every step only adds to the uncomfortable feeling between my thighs, I don't
"It's been almost a week since anyone saw you, Luna." Lacys concerned voice isn't surprising.Staring blankly at the closed curtains, I give no sign of response. I'd stopped responding a few days back, after giving the same answer time and time again, I didn't see the point in talking.Three weeks.Three weeks since I arrived here, and it feels like a lifetime ago. At first I carried on smiling, I talked with the pack and held up the act of the gentle Luna that I know they all believe. I tried so hard to keep them happy, I tried to pretend like I wasn't stuck here, I tried so hard to just be happy. But I couldn't do it, every minute it got harder, every day my smile began to fade and after a week ... I considered ending it all.The pack expected perfection through the day, and by night Hardin comes in and does as he pleases with me. The past two nights he hasn't been back, I tried to deny him, which resulted in me slapping him. I assume he's still enraged, and I'm still frightened of
~ 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