I'm sorry for missing posting yesterday. Time got a bit away from me. I hope you enjoy the double upload for today. Again, thank you so much for reading, commenting, the gems, votes, and every other way you support this story!
I was a fool. I believed I could escape from the packhouse and run away with Rafe that day. I should have known better than to think Nolan would let me go so easily. Not after all he confessed and his plans to block my mate bond with Rafe. The threat of that alone infuriates me more than what happened after Thane escorted me from the room. Three steps. I didn’t make it three steps before Nolan’s personal guards descended on me like I was a criminal. No questions asked, no directions given, and the guards dragged me down to the basement. They threw me into one of the holding cells for interrogations. And here I remain. Hungry, cold, tired, and sore from being tossed around like a ragdoll by the guards. I’m confident they took extra care to make the trip to the dungeon as painful for me as possible. I run my hand along the cold bars of the cell, rust, and dust collecting on my fingertips. The scent of blood lingers, rising from a nearby cell that shows signs of recent… and frequent
Like father like son, the Wrest’s insanity knows no end.At the bonfire, I believed Wesley was toying with me, playing some game that would eventually end with everyone slinking out of the shadows to laugh at me while beating me senseless. That was more believable than his proposal to make me Luna being genuine and sincere.But here he stands, spewing the same nonsense, and there’s no one around but us. And whoever else is loudly whimpering and locked in this prison. His brown eyes catch the light of the bulb, warmth spreading across his features. Again, just like before. Does Wesley actually like me? This isn’t a power play to humiliate me; he truly wants me to be his Luna?!Steadying my nerves, I asked, “What does Quinn think about this?”The prisoner beside me sniffles loudly, and Wesley’s expression grows dark. He snatches their cell door open and slams their head into the hallway’s cement floor until they stop moving. Satisfied by the silence, he stands in front of me, blood spla
A few seconds of silence pass before the smoke clears and the hazy figure is revealed. Alpha Nolan stands panting furiously in the doorway, his blond hair a jostled mess across his head and a fresh gash oozing blood down his cheek. Whatever happened between him and Alpha Thane, I have a feeling he wasn’t the victor. But I can’t count anything out. If Nolan did contend with Thane, how is he standing here if he didn’t win? Then does that mean Thane lost? Did he slay our ally’s Alpha? Are River Crest and Io at war? I have too many questions and enough sense not to ask. Alpha Nolan limps as he enters the prison hallway; the scent of his blood mixes with the already thick air and chokes in my throat. He’s more injured than he appears, but he’s still holding his head high while glaring at his son. “So,” he snarls, his voice deep and rough. “You think you’ve got the balls to overthrow me? You and your ragtag group of mouth-breathing idiots are going to stage a coup and remove me as Al
Two days. I spent two days locked away in those cells. Io vacated the territory during that time after Alpha Thane was pried away from Nolan’s unconscious body. Alpha Nolan had only just regained consciousness when he came storming into the cellar looking for me. The pack doctors and healers did their best to help him recover, but he still looked half-dead when I last saw him. I’m surprised he still had the energy to go after Wesley after Thane almost sent him to the Moon Goddess, express shipping. But he was apparently sound enough to strip Wesley of all authority over the pack warriors, guards, and militia. Quinn was removed from the packhouse and forced to return home to her parents. And all talks of my entering the harem have been halted while Alpha Nolan finishes recovering. It’s been three days since Nolan released me, and I returned to my empty trailer. I’ve been hiding here since then with no news of what’s happening or why. My only aim is to stay out of sight and pray that N
They’re actually going through with it.After Io pulled out of the alliance, the delegation and the accompanying guards left the territory immediately. Talks of war spread through the packs despite the remaining conscious leadership doing their best to foster peace. Apparently, my father met with the Io delegation just outside of River Crest’s territory to discuss negotiations and peace talks.I don’t know all the details and can only catch pieces as Marc and Arlo grumble and hiss about the situation. Meanwhile, Remy remains brutally silent on the matter. But I do know that Deadrick Pride returned to River Crest looking like a man who lost everything. He was seen storming off from the packhouse a few hours before Nolan released me.No one has heard from him since.Or if they have, they aren’t telling me. Why would they? As far as they’re concerned, I am responsible for the state of things.According to the rumors and insults spewing continuously out of Marc, I seduced Alpha Thane and
How did my absolute last resort become the only option I had left?I did everything right. Or I tried to, at least.I accepted beatings, insults, mistreatment, lies, scandal, ridicule, harassment, and assault. I took every lick and kept on bowing and thanking them for it. I learned the laws, the customs, the proper way to show appreciation for being told to lick their boots, and for what?Had I known I was going to end up like this, running through the woods with blood on my fur, the wind in my hair, and a laugh tickling in my throat, I wouldn’t have wasted time with any of it.Why did I try so hard? Why did I bother being anything else?I feel so free with Milla taking the lead; she charges effortlessly through the trees and carries us to the river. Leaping into the cool waters, we rinse the blood of the warriors from our fur, paws, and mouth. I catch sight of my reflection in the water, mentally tallying the ways we’ve changed since the last time I was allowed to shift.Our eyes are
As I near my mother’s burial mound, I hear my father’s muffled voice. It takes me a few seconds to understand what he’s saying, but I’m not surprised when it’s a string of vile insults against her and me. Whore, traitor, disgusting, worthless. I’ve heard these words time and again. They mean nothing to me now.But his voice.It lacks a particular venom that I’ve grown accustomed to. There’s no punch to his slurred hatred this time. But the pungent smell of liquor lingers heavy in the air surrounding him. At least that’s consistent. This wouldn’t be a Deadrick Pride rampage without the whiskey. Though I must admit, I don’t appreciate the venue change.I didn’t think he’d remembered where she was buried. Then again, he hated her so much it would be impossible for him to forget. If it were Wesley or Quinn, I’d forever have their grave site ingrained in my memory. I’d visit every week, just to make sure they’re right where I left them.“I hate you so much,” Deadrick groans into the soil, p
And there it is. The grand scheme.Regardless of Io’s demands during the alliance talks, River Crest never intended to honor them. Alpha Nolan and the rest of the pack leaders were going to take the resources from Io, use them to strengthen our military force, and then suppress Io and any other pack they could. That was their real plan and why Nolan tolerated Alpha Thane’s brazen disrespect and disregard.Disgusting isn’t a strong enough word for these cowards. But now Deadrick is trying to rope me into their plans as a pawn. This, I cannot excuse.“You want to sell me to Io to swindle them?” I ask, sneering.The blow came hard and fast, sending me to the ground. The smack echoes through the trees, followed by my father’s panting breaths. Every exhale sends a cloud of alcohol breath down on me. Familiar. This is the Deadrick Pride I know, not that smiling, hugging bastard from before.“You should be thankful for the opportunity!” he shouts. “You can finally be useful for once and not