I see you I pull the coat hood above my head, holding my head down as I hurry though the halls keeping up with the servants, as they took the laundry out for the day. There's only one way I can make it from the Courts without being brought back by force, or within reasonable time before Herberus finds me missing. I'm itching to throw back the cloth from my face but I can't, just in case anyone around recognises me. I weave through the carts and crowd, take in the sights of the abused and dying. Find my old hiding spots that are now occupied by others and rightly so. Men shake down a child just meters from me, stealing the little he has, leaving him folded up and sobbing for himself. Everyone learns eventually that there isn't anyone that's coming to rescue us, no one to defend us. The war should have made us all equal, instead it only seemed to create more classes. "Hey, " I say kneeling next to the small child, when the men had left to seek their next victim. His clothes is tatter
Royal Bedwarmer "How is it possible that no one has seen a wolf that large moving around. It's a wolf, a damn wolf, " I whispher yelled at the people around me. I had gone back to the tavern hoping to get some answers about my nightmare, but I'm more frustrated and boggled than I was, attempting to figure out the question on my own. "Are you sure about what you saw love?" Cecil asks and I attempt to reign in my irritation. I swear these people think I'm probably going bonkers, but I know what I saw. "Yeah the shadows could be playing tricks on you or the light for that matter. " "To form an entire wolf?" I snickered. "Yeah, I don't think so. It's a husky, there's no way to mistake it. " "Sounds like you know something, I reckon, " One of the men says placing down his jug. His mouth is smeared with the froth of liquor, creating a white beard and I stifle a laugh. "Yeah I do. I lived in a werewolf camp for ten years, I think seeing anything remotely looking like a wolf would give
Wolf "What?!" I asked appalled that they'd ever think that. Where did they even get this ridiculous notion? "No, no, no, no. It's not a trap! " Claude's eyes narrowed on me, his strong arms gripping the front of my dress, pulling me into his person. Immediately the smell of liquor and cigars strangle my nose, forcing me to hold my breath. "And why should I believe a word you utter? You've already deceived us once, telling oh how you just pass through here. For all we know the King and his men could be waiting for us once we turn that corner, " He hissed pointing behind me. "Yeah, " His men replied in a unified chorus. Unbeknonst to them, Herberus liked very much to spend his days gloating away over his riches and the prosperity of his providence even through he doesn't lift a fingure to aid any of it. "Well good point, " I say attempting not to take in anymore of his stuffy fragrance. "But I can assure you no one's coming for us, well unless you don't put me down, very soon
WOLF I hate the dress I'm currently wearing, but I loathe the stares of the people around me even more. My body itches like crazy, the polyster sticking into my skin. Herberus' hand is wrapped around my waist tightly, the doll within his arms. People cheer around me left and right, others standing in gleaming appreciation of their selfish King and still others wondering who the f**k I am. Within that sphere, there are also women, aristocrats, nobles, servants who are all giving me the stink eye, as if I wouldn't give anything to trade places with them and have my freedom. There's so much people, young and old, all dressed up and shouting, guards flanking the crowd left and right. The fanfare doesn't entice me and as I glance around, I find others likewise who stand aside passively taking in the fanfare. The large heavy gate is suddenly shut, the last group of patrons coming through, heading towards the crowd at the center of the town. I suddenly get the impression that this wasn't
GRAYSON Two days prior The northern post was lacking almost in every sphere. We needed new wolves, slaves needed to be replenished and the cold was dragging down my mood further. I hadn't the faintest clue where Gerzi had ran off to and I was drained in every facet of my being. I should get up from the now cold bath water, put on some clothes and go motivate my men to do some work, but I can't even find the strength to do even that. Throwing a curse into the air, I lift my body, the water that had gathered around my abdominals, collasping into the dry ground of my quaters. I walk away grabbing another towel, wrapping it around my waist when one of my men walked in. "Gamma" I glanced at him over my shoulder, going to search for a shirt. "What, I can't take a damn bath in peace anymore?" "Ah no, its another bird" He says hesitantly. "From the Alpha King, again" I took a breath. Ofcourse. "Just leave it and go" The Alpha King has been a pain
GRAYSON She's gone. Leila is gone. And I don't mean she left to do her chores to return. Leila hasn't been seen for days. Not since the death of that human. A part of me knew maybe it would trigger something within her. I've seen enough of how humans react to anothers death to know how traumatizing it is to their psyche. Some have committed sucide in the name of their love. Others have decided to join the outpost and fight for the little happiness they've got left- which is warped in my opinion, and still others run away, only to die at our hands later. Everyone stays clear of me when I walk into the barracks, even the Head mistress and I follow my nose to the bunker that has been asigned to the small human. There are three beds, but only one is still in use, the owner walking in minutes later and I watch her from my perch from one of the beds. "Dear god" she exclaims in fright, a hand across her
Gerzi was right, I didn't like what I was seeing or hearing for that matter. It wasn't difficult not to find Leila. In fact, it was more difficult forcing myself not to follow her when all my instincts said to grab her, throw her over my shoulder and walk through those f**king gates with her like that. She's like food, no like a drug invading my veins and very being. I follow her scent anywhere and since of late she's able to sense me too. Her gait is chaotic as she rushes into that prision of a castle leaving me without the gates and irritation floods me that I didn't stop her.It isn't long before the sounds of horns and cheering meets our ears in the dingy tavern that I had found as a refuge. There are rascals, maybe murders, mercenaries inside, each finding other things to keep them occupied, until the commmotion grabs everyone attention again. My blood boils seeing Leila with him, seeing him smiling while that forced smile is on her face. She's not happy, though I
WOODEN HORSEEver since coming face to face with Grayson that night, I've been terrified of bumping into him again. It's as if I knew he was the one in the shadow, that somehow he'd find me. There are other things as well, like the fact that being anywhere close to this man I'll pool in a puddle and do the most ridiculous things. I hate that he thinks he has free reign over my body. That he can just touch me and pull me away like he did the other night- even if he was keeping both of us out of trouble. There's just something too scary about him, this undefined law of attraction that's utterly ridiculous. Where my heart sees an attractive, strong savior my brain screams a murderous beast and that leaves me confused and conflicted. Especially when I didn't ask for these thoughts in the first place. Claude is willing to help me catch him, at a cost to me because I haven't told him about Herberus' insistence of having me caught and brought back to the Court. I'm i
BONDS TRIUMPH ANY TRIAL The worst thing about starting a revolution is that you have to see it through. I'm starting not to like that idea. Mostly because I'm stuck inside alone- well not necessarily all by myself but those that support me, cannot attend to my needs.And by needs, you know what I mean.No, not sex. Get your head out of the gutters.I meant conversation, cuddles, and late-night plays.I was part of the front line too, but then I was physically and forcefully removed without choice or option; because we found out an important matter. Only I knew first this time but kept it hidden. For good reason.This eventuality.I sigh once more palming my stomach. Grayson has been gone for three weeks. He's taken my women, his men, frankly anything that would remind me of what's going on outside those gates. So many more humans have joined our cause to live freely and have freedom. And we have spread like a wildfire, expanding our borders in even spaces I didn't think possible. We
HE'S NOT THE ALPHA Darnick is compliant with his decision to return, which only leaves Rasmus and me as the only jittery pawns on his chess board. This uninformed selfish decision of my father will run everything we've worked for into the ground and when Leila gets wind of this, it will be nothing short of a fuse explosion. "When are we leaving?" "At a convenient time for all of us," Xavier answers as if we're talking about abandoning cattle. That these weren't people with lives. Lives that were depending on us to protect them. "When was this decision made? ""Does it matter when it was made? My decision is final.""We're leaving them to die. It's a suicide mission. " I clarify just in case he was too blind to the reality of the situation at hand. "Commander Lyra has the know-how to navigate even the toughest of circumstances. ""The capability but not the equipment she needs. She hasn't had that for a while now. Or was that the reason why you've decided to save half her battalion
IMPOSSIBLE CIRCUMSTANCESGRAYSON "You've made a grave mistake confronting him before everyone else, " I told my little mate when we had returned to her quarters."I know, I know, " Leila nods. "You allowed your emotions to get the best of you and now he's out for blood. ""I know. He'll want my head for this." She paces around her room rubbing her arms as if exposed to the cold. "I just, it felt too much. After I thought we lost them all. I mourned them, Grayson." Leila's dark eyes meet mine confusion swirling in the midst as she gazes up at me. "How are they still alive, it's not possible? Why wasn't everyone else saved? If he's so strong why isn't everyone still alive? Marie, Louis, and his family. "Leila's body trembles as she breaks into tears once more, her emotions overriding the restraint she had built up now bursting at the seams. "It doesn't matter. They're here and alive. ""Except it does. How can I tell the part of me that's been hollow for months now that it was all a
A PACK LOST A PACK GAINED I was on the outside surveying our space to plant more food and possibly rear a few animals. It's been a rough couple of months and my arm heals at snails pace. The wolves are still gathered around the periphery of the fortress, steadfast and unmoving since Grayson hasn't lifted his command. Hadn't we had them, perhaps Phineas' attempts to destroy us would have succeeded at his first crack.A hand reaches around, blocking my view and I attempt to back away, ducking beneath in the process, only to be enclosed in hard flesh and bones. "Morning," He growls at my ear ."It's afternoon," I correct."Still early," he rasps at my ear, back pedaling both of us in the process."Where are you taking me?" I question the oaf."You'll see soon enough.""I have work to do," I argue."You're always working," His reply comes, feet still walking blindly and his breath warm a constant against my cheek."Do you even know where you're going?" I enquire not liking the fact that
STRONGERDaina runs away while I sit in open contemplation. My chest and cheeks hurt like fudge sticks, my shoulders are sore, but my head felt as if I'd hit it against the column, knocking myself out for half my lifetime. My body was heavy as lead, even though I was only seated upright."I wouldn't advise moving as yet, Luna. You took quite a nasty beating and the medicine still needs time to circulate.""Impeccable timing," I told him, my voice croaking as that of a hoarse frog, my eyes quickly sweeping the room. It wasn't mine, but from the nonexistent accolades, I knew this was Grayson's plain room. I could almost chuckle thinking of how filled this room will easily become with Tyler's drawings over the years.That is if he intended on staying here. Fear seized my chest and I clutched at it, telling myself I'm only overreacting. Where else would he seek to go?"Where's Grayson?""The Alpha is currently being looked after." Gamma Kole answers.My brain dissects the funny way he dec
DAINA ALL MEN MUST SERVE Inside was just boring and mourful. All everyone bickered about was the war and how things should have been different. They lamented about losing people and about not being prepared more. All it did was agitate me. It was the past, it was said and done and cannot be changed. I desperately wanted to scream at them to just shut up and move on with their lives. Focus on freaking surviving. What else could we do at this point?Glancing around the blackened room and finding the newly acquired Alphas only made my mouth more sour. Six people from two entire packs survived that freaking attack. What kind of monster army did Alpha Phineas have to have subdued them like that? His Luna had been such a simple girl when we met last. I supoose that's the reason behind her apparent simpleton behavior. Her Alpha was terrifying.I push to leave the suffocating atmosphere of the dead and dying, a human warrior shifting into my path and blocking my way."Sorry," He says voice
GRAYSON ALPHA COMMAND That bastard Phineas, I bet he had timed Leila just right to have cornered her inside her room. I had every intent on ripping his head from his shoulders, but the damned ass had escaped rolling over the window and scampering down the wall with his tail between his legs.I huff, watching as he scurried away, a f*king cheeky smile on his face, echoing the words of his return. I can't stay furious, turning to find Leila unmoving, my worst fears manifesting seeing how beaten up she was.My teeth screech on edge, Phineas now making himself my number one enemy. Known to him, I promised death to whoever touched Leila and my wrath knew no bounds or creed. My body bows with stress, kneeling before the blood that heats my veins. Leila cries out from pain that strikes my soul, her entire being trembling as I took her into my arms. Her lips bleed, bruises lining her forehead and arms. That son of a bitch!"I'm going to die, I'm going to die," Leila whispers, her words mir
SACRIFICES ***WARNING: May contain triggers.Our walk to the fortress takes days when in reality it should've only been a few hours. With the massive injuries that our group had sustained, we were left to creep as old men, creating shelters and entertaining others from dwelling on the reality of our condition. Tyler sticks on my heels aiding me to gather as much fruits as possible. A few murmur about having only that to eat, but I turn my ears and bite my tongue. What did they want me to do, hunt a boar? They weren't Tyler and I was never asking Grayson to go find one either. Everyone had to learn to live within their means and accept the case for what it is. If we send enough abled out people out and they were attacked, any hopes of us rebuilding would be smashed against the rocks. I glance at the sky a little perturbed about the overcast weather, but think better of it when I glanced back at the ailing pack. Maybe it was best that we didn't rush them. Tyler tightly grips my arm u
BLEEDING HEART "Leila, you cant afford to have your emotions control you," Gerzi scolds or maybe it's sturdy advice. My entire body trembles at the thoughts of the many people we've lost. The glossy eyes that stare back at me- us by extension. The many children lost, the parents that are beside themselves in agony. Too traumatized to even utter a word. The carnage of Trish's body flashing before my eyes forcing me into a mental hell I wanted not. I paused my steps, closing my eyes as I grit my teeth through the pain. I didn't want to loose anymore people to this. I couldn't!War has places us all on the same ranking. We were all vulnerable and helpless. Dependent on each other for growth, stability and strength. We were as weak as the smallest one among us. It shed light on our shortcomings. The distrust and lingering desparities between us. There were no lines today in that attack. We were all preys."There's a large cave nestled in some rocks ay the edge," Gerzi directs. "Just ke