JUSTINWith an opponent hot on my heels, I ran across the pitch, the wind whipping over my hair. I didn't care that running had scorched my lungs and pushed my legs to the breaking point. There was only one thing on my mind- reaching the goal post. I focused, dodged an opponent and narrowed my eyes. And Immediately I got to the goal post, I swung the pusher against the ball straight into the net. The stadium exploded in cheers as soon as the ball got past the goalkeeper and into the net.Victory. I turned immediately to the stands, my eyes searching for the one face that made this whole moment worth it. Astrid was there, her eyes shining with pride and a big smile playing at the corners of her lips. I blew her a kiss, grinning like a fool. I could barely hear my teammates rushing towards me, to celebrate with me. The championship game had just started and this was our third win. I ran to where she was in the crowd in the stand as soon as the game ended. I immediately lifted her int
JUSTINI was torn between staying with Astrid to protect her and the baby and going over to where Hunter was to confront him. I felt that familiar feeling of fear and all my body became tense as my mind started racing, calculating the risks. Under no circumstances must Hunter find out about the baby. If he found out, his games could get dirtier, more dangerous, and I could not afford that. Not now. Not ever. I pressed a kiss to Astrid’s temple, she was too focused on her ice cream, completely unaware of anything happening while mine was melting in my hand, dripping down my fingers. So, I got to eating it and took my eyes back to where Hunter was, but he was gone like he had never been there. I turned Astrid and tried to get her walking so we could get out of there but she wasn’t budging. “I want another one,” she whined, holding out her empty cone. I forced a smile, trying to keep my fear out of my eyes and our link. “We have to leave sweetheart,” I said, my voice steady despite th
ASTRIDI was sure it was him- or at least, I thought I was. Maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me, spinning my fears into shadows outside the window. I didn’t feel safe. Not anywhere. Not anymore. The only place I felt safe was in Justin’s arms. But what are we going to do now?I was trembling and crying quietly into his chest as he held me tight, his hands rubbing my back up and down soothingly. The only thing that comforted me was his presence and the warmth of his body. Not even a minute later, the room was filled with everyone else. The door burst open, and my parents and Justin’s came inside. I could feel their eyes on me, I could see the worry in their eyes and I started feeling overwhelmed. “What happened?” Justin’s mother asked, her voice laced with concern. “The fucker was here,” Justin replied her, his voice was strained and I could tell he was trying to control his anger. “Astrid saw him.”They all let out a low gasp immediately the words came out of Justin’s m
JUSTINI knew something was off about that girl right from the start. And right here, she proved me right the moment she disappeared. Of course, she was a witch but why had she come here only to disappear? Why show herself now if it wasn’t a part of some plan?I turned around and saw Astrid with wide and startled eyes, a million thoughts were swirling in her head. I could hear her thoughts and she was back to thinking about her wolf, back to believing she needed a witch to fix whatever was wrong with her wolf. But not this witch. Raina, Sasha, or whatever she called herself. She was the wrong person for that. A very wrong one and I had this feeling she was dangerous too. It was clear too.I walked to Astrid and placed my hand on her arm, but her mind was too preoccupied with what she was thinking she knew about Raina. “Astrid,” I whispered through our link. “Look at me. She is not the witch you're looking for, snap out of it, baby. Raina is a liar and a friend of Hunter’s. She can’t
JUSTINMy heart was pounding against my chest widely and a strange feeling settled over me as my eyes drifted from my father to my mother . I had never seen my parents so- tense like that before, the seemed so bothered about something I couldn’t understand why it was. My father’s jaw was tight and my mother’s lips were pressed together in a tight line as if she was trying to hold back her words. For the first time in my entire life, it seemed like there was an unresolved issue lingering between them, something neither of them wanted to talk about.My mother sat down and my father sat beside her, he held her hands tightly as if to anchor him. Then with a small sigh, he started talking. “There’s something I haven’t told you before and I guess this is the time for you to know, Justin,” he let out, his voice firm but I could tell the tension underneath it. “Years before I met your mother or even began dating her… I used to date a witch.”I frowned at what he said, refusing to believe his
JUSTINI slumped onto the bench, my chest heaving and my lungs burning as I struggled to catch my breath. Sweat dripped down my forehead, stinging my eyes, but I could barely feel it. I wiped it away with a shaky hand, struggling to centre myself. The whistle would blow in five minutes and I would have to go back into the game but as it was I could barely feel myself. It was like I was operating my body from some remote island and I wasn't actually inside it. The different emotions I was sorting through were so confusing and annoying.I could hear Coach's voice booming over the din of the crowd, each word a sharp reprimand slicing through the noise. I was suddenly able to bring his voice into focus and I realised the entire team was gathered in a semi circle around my left side and Coach was shouting down on me from my right."You call that playing, Justin? Where's your head at? You need to get your act together!"My eyes moved to the stands where they found Astrid easily. She was sit
ASTRIDI stared at my reflection in the mirror. I looked and looked. Really looked. Every day since I'd returned from prison I looked at myself, trying to see if it really was me. If that innocent and almost care free girl was still there. Every day, I came up negatively.She was long gone. Gone like the blood of my best friend from the hardwood floor it'd been pooled on.That girl had been replaced by this abused husk. This unsmiling and constantly trembling husk.It constantly escaped me why I was the one living in fear. When I was the one who'd been framed. When I was the one who had served time, I had no business serving. I should have been let off the hook by now right?Wrong.It turns out death can't be forgiven at all. I'd thought knowing that I'd been more than punished for my ‘crimes’ would make things easier, but since I returned… I'd been treated worse than a pariah.There were days when I figured that ending things would be far better than living like this.Then I would re
JUSTINI don't know how long I'd been sitting and staring into space…I know I found my way back home and in here immediately the marriage rites were concluded. I couldn't have stayed there one second longer. I was sure of it. If I'd had to look at her pale doe eyed face for one more second, I was sure I wouldn't have been able to help myself from reaching out and grabbing her lithe, thin neck and snapping it in two.I'd shifted and run through the woods to get here. I'd needed the distraction and the feel of the wind in my fur at such high speed. I remember being scared. The kind of fear that startled you and made you tremble. The kind that had anger so potently mixed in, you couldn't tell where one started and the other ended. I'd been scared that I wouldn't be able to stand her presence long enough to torture her. Scared that I would deliver a swift death to the being that deserved the most excruciating end.I blinked, bringing my dazed vision back into focus. I had to find a way t