THREE YEARS PRIOR"That's not enough a reason to of a reason to release her to you," The arrogany bastard mutters. "Release her?" I scoffed at his choice of words. "Grayson left her here because he thought she would have been safer around her own. She isn't some cattle that you throw around when you want." "And you voice has no place here," He painfully reminds me. I stand taller, folding my arms across my chest. I wasn't moving an inch unless she told me to. "I demand to see Marie. I brought her here and if she wants me to leave, she has to tell me herself." "It's fine, Willoby," A voice calls, a young woman walking forward, her red hair caught in a bun. "Get back to work everyone, nothing to see here," Willoby calls to the surrounding occupants, gripping Marie by the arm before whisphering something in her ear. Another rile glare over his shoulder and the bully leaves us be. Seven years, I remind myself. She was a child then, terrified and shattered by a world that was too cr
REUNITED I pace back and forth, back and forth attempting to wrap my mind around it. I've chosen my office, mostly to get away from every bloody thing and Tyler.And Tyler because I'm his scapegoat when he has chores with his Nanny. He can nag Gerzi if he manages to find him.But at the moment I needed to place things in order. Over the last seven years, there's been a cease-fire of sorts between both companies, until some time ago when supposed Rogues have been creating havoc all over the lands. But I doubted these were just the normal Rogues from our band of misfits. Somewhere someone was making artificial rogues and passing them off as our doing. 'You are missing the fact that they hit our camps as well''No, I just haven't gotten around to that yet'Gerzi materializes when I settle in my seat and I run my hand through his soft fur. Why would I need a pet when he acted so much like a baby sometimes?'You could try at the black market, I'm sure something suspicious is bound to tur
A BITTER PILL Ever since daybreak my body hummed beneath a new vibration, as if there was a new moon. I chalk it up to anxiety of having to meet the petty Alpha's today and after Alpha King Xavier's late declaration of not joining his own meeting, I know that things could escalate fast.Will escalate as a matter of fact. Ugh, this was not what I signed up for when I joined forces with that pain in the ass demon. "Are you okay?" Marie asks as we walk through the barrcks, taking inventory of what everyone needs. The other two girls, Chelse and Mary were behind us passing us blankets and bread that were freshly made this morning.I scrub at the mark on my neck, wincing as fevent heat suddenly hums at the location. The growing pain and sweating was almost unbearable today. "Yes, just fine," I answer holding the area."Let me finish taking inventory and you rest up.""No, you both have training to finish up and I have to see to a few other things."I do breathing exercises continously
HATE HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU There's nothing more to say so I leave her quarters heading for mine. Leila was stubborn, always has been, and even more so now that she doesn't have to rely on anyone for protection. Which is the reason I couldn't leave room for her to make a decision. I repeat the evidence before my eyes to myself again, almost as if attempting to stir myself from my nightmarish dream. Leila's alive.Leila is alive.She's alive as Lyra? General Lyra?!I sort through my memories attempting to find one shred of evidence pointing to her post. There was nothing. It was always signed with my father's seal.But she was alive and leading a battalion of men to battle or safety, whatever her mind decided to do. My fists fold tighter as I march to my quarters the need to pummel something growing by the seconds. Leila deserted us, me, Tyler, her family. And for what leading a bloody group to freedom?!The door slams behind me with a boisterous bang and I march to the other side of th
WITHIN THE WALLS "You look defeated," Marie observes."I feel miserable," I respond.The moon was high in the blackened dome above, the wind like glacial waters after a fiery summer day."I take it, it didn't go well?""Going well is a bloody understatement. I was wiped clean on the floor," I explain to Marie. "Sounds like you need this more than me," She hands me a flask that she had been nursing for some time now. "Moonshine. Traded it for the duck meat I had today.""You traded food for drink?" I ask incredulously. "You do understand we might be out of meat for awhile?""That is what you should be negotiating with the Alpha's for,""You don't think our freedom is worth fighting for either?""If I didn't, I wouldn't be here," Marie reminds me flatly.I take her offering, swallowing down mouthful after mouthful, needing something to distract me from my thoughts. I knew it would be difficult convincing those rascals about joining forces, but I never thought they would slight the Alph
I return begrudgingly attempting to hide my mounting anxiety. I can't believe we'd have a traitor and here of all places. Who could we trust now?"This information should stay between the three of us. I don't think I need to explain the consequences that could ensue?" The Alpha King glares in my direction. "No, but keeping our men in the dark...""We don't know who can be trusted," Grayson explains which offends me to my core."Are you trying to say my men can't be trusted? Says the man who ruled against securing innocent lives!""Yes I'm saying no one can be trusted and I ruled against, because it was in the best interest of all of us. That's what happens when you have a democratic government .""Bullshit, you all know it's because I'm a woman,""Enough!" King Xavier orders having enough of us. "Not a peep will leave this room. Grayson, you have things to attend to."I turn away to the side needing more breathing space. I knew I was right. No one gave two nickels about the real probl
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE Kole was busy gathering the new coats I had commissioned for Tyler and myself, and I had thought of gifting one to Ginny as well. Diana had crossed my mind, a gift for all the hard work she has done over the years but I'm still indecisive over that fact. My feet takes me to a winding stairwell, an unknown force pulling me in the direction of the cellars, but not quite that low. No light illuminates the passage way and I grab a torch, lighting it at a burning ember before going down the darkened hallway. The wind whistles in from an open window, opening and slamming every time as it knocks and forces itself in. I pause my steps, studying the small fixture to stem the resounding pounding that echoed through the halls. The torches against the walls immediately light up, shadows fleeting at the sight of bright yellow rays. There's a loud rumble that sings from the end of the halls, the sound of rumbling waters that has burst from it's cage, forcing my eyebrows to f
EASY ON ME I make my way into the pack at nightfall. I can sense the lingering gazes, the unspoken questions. They're all wondering who I am, while speculating that I was only human. The marks on my skin don't make much difference. They question more along the lines of why I even have them than consider me now their own blood. That's good by me too, their more for me and anyone else who does know what each is for. The gate closes behind me, Grayson's Gamma going off with a nod of head as he leaves me be. We haven't spoken a word to each other, I dont know him enough to exchange conversation and he wasn't up to the task either. Gerzi walks alongside me, and I leave the horse at the stable, heading into the enormous house that was once my greatest dread and then my home. It's close to midnight now, my steps echoing back to myself as I tred through the vacant hallways, before coming in contact with a small figure at the top of the stairs.The child yawns, rubbing his eyes but stares at
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