I was still pissed that Rider took his ex along but I knew he didn't do it on purpose. It's not like he could send her back. Besides the whole fact that I can't even think straight, Moi is dead and in the heat of things, Rider decides to admit that he loves me. Now, his pregnant ex tags along. I've been avoiding him for days now ever since we started the journey back to his pack. It's not that I dont love him, I do, but I'm confused as to where we go from here. If Gale hadn't rotted me out, I had agreed to leave Rider be. The guilt still gnaws at me, especially after what we shared last night and some part of me thinks it would be the right thing to do. Especially with a baby on the way. Sam would only continue to be petty and would likely require Rider for everything, even lifting a cup of water. I walk around checking on the pack members, smiling at the little kids. They were all so terrified. I had eavesdropped on some of their conversation a little earlier, hearing someone ment
RIDER I watched as Halie left, feeling the longing in her heart to stay. I wanted her to stay but she couldn't. With Jax gone, my father and the new Alpha would try to keep both her and Moi in holding. It had to be something special why an Alpha of all ranks chose a human for a mate. I haven't even divulged that she was my mate. But I wasn't gonna wait around for either secs to accept it. I only stayed to ensure there was no abuse of the Red Devil pack members. I was standing behind Halie's oath to give them safe passage. Which is what the argument between us is. "We rebuilt most of the destroyed buildings, men are working on the fences to get them up again. " Oliver explains. He is just as exhausted as I am at our Alpha's stubbornness. He might have been his father-in-law, but I swear Oliver rolls his eyes and mutters beneath his breath 'If it wasn't for Allison and the pup'. No one wants to deal with either of them. Neither my father or the current Alpha and the fact that I was
RIDER I hurried home, running through the living area and headed for my room grabbing my travel bag. I hadn't seen Halie since she left, haven't heard from her, wouldn't even know who to ask. But I had promised that we'd only be apart temporarily and I meant it. 'You're leaving!!' Quinn's voice screams in my head. 'When were you planning on telling me this?' 'Hopefully before you had the chance of screaming my ear off' I responded in the link. 'I give up my position too' Oliver says joining the conversation. I pause, grabbing a shirt and then two more. I wasn't sure how long I'd get to stay with her- not that I was hurrying, but I couldn't put off going to find Jax either. The asshole hadn't left a clue about his whereabouts and I pray to Selene that he hasn't gone Berserker either, but I'm almost sure he might have said something to Moi about where he might be. And that's what I'm counting on. 'No you can't' I reply to Oliver. 'What? You just walked away from yours'. 'I'm thi
Cascade Falls was where my best friend, that was busy searching her over run closet for a flashlight grew up, and our current place of residence for the next eight weeks. Current because this was NOT where I pictured spending the two best months, aka free days of summer three months ago. I had pictured a beach somewhere, hiding the sun, maybe skinny dipping, being harassed by some guy before turning him down -again. Instead, I got a mock up of what would be considered abandoned Texas only it has trees, people didn't hail each other with "howdy folks" or wore hats and cow boy boots, wheeling guns. But in my opinion maybe if they had, it'd have made this town plenty interesting. I sighed again. So much for a great summer! My body flipped back into the queen size bed with a thud, the mattress hugging my body with so much softnesss, I swore I fell in a cotton candy cloud. "Yes!" Shouted Moi waving the poor flashlight in her hand triumphantly. I instantly felt sad. I had hoped she would
The mutt-wolf-thing stared at me slobbering, water draining from his mouth like a water fall. Ewww! Why the hell was his mouth watering like that! Halie, focus! I reminded myself. It stared, his eyes still connected with mine tracking my every move. With every breath I took, I inched away, I couldn't be eaten tonight. I'd just gotten to Cascade Falls two day now, I wasn't that weak to not survive a dumb story. Pft, how the hell did I know that whatever it was, was actually real? Could be a disgusting guy in costume. Just saying, this world was filled with creeps with weird habits. My hand reached back, crunching a leaf behind me, causing the slobbering beast to charge forward, so close I thought there was no way he'd be able to brake in time before not slamming into me. Within those few minutes I saw my own death announcement headline. Girl found dead, squashed against a tree, perpetrator still at large. My eyes tightened close, bracing for the impending impact as I heard skidding
The music down stairs blasted, our bed shaking vigorously as if we were in the middle of an earthquake. Moi laid against the bed, pillows covering her head to keep the noise out. Her brother actually kept the party. It wasn't a surprise, but I knew she'd get pulled into his punishment. If anything Lorenzo never accepted being wrong. "Okay, that's it!" I exclaimed jumping from the bed fed up with the noise. Moi's blue head peaked from below the pillows. "Where you going?" "Downstairs to give that prick of your brother a piece of my mind!" I replied stomping towards the door. "He's absolutely inconsiderate. " "Wait, Halie, no! " I waved her off moving through the door into the sea of jirating young adults that were too busy partying the night away. Bodies moved seductively as I dug my feet into the ground desperate to get through the crowd and find the asshole. The kitchen was less packed but after glancing around a few times, I knew he wasn't there either. I rolled my eyes thinkin
Like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar, I thought of doing the one thing we all do. Deny everything. Only my bestfriend was much smarter than I gave her credit for and well, she'd never drop the subject after this. So in lieu of denying everything, I did the next best thing. I took her along. I mean, if I'm embarking on a probably one way trip to the grim reapers personal backyard, why not have company. No one wants to die alone. "Why are we going through the forest again?" Asked Moi for what was the millionth time since we left the house. Leaves crunched beneath my feet, at every step, though I wondered where they came from since most of the trees this low barely had leaves. Each an even more horrid version of a scarecrow. Going further the forest took on another form. Everything that wasn't tall and luscious was broad and bulky. As if the bare trees lining the outskirts were there to dissuade people from ever entering. "I can't believe I'm actually out here right now
The night sky was enveloped in darkness, only moments ago the blood moon shone in all its glory. The memoir that nights were not always the same. This was the last we'll have of it until the next couple of months. I led the pawful of wolves down the slope keeping in the shadows, moving steadily towards where we had heard piercing screams only moments ago. We had to be vigilant. The hunters were here, and though we were curious as to what caused the scream, safety came first. My body tensed once more, an annoying feeling that had been bothering me for days on end. My skin prickled under all the fur and my groans came out in low growls. I stopped placing my nose against the wind and sniffed, a low snarl rumbling through my body picking up the scent of a hunter just meters ahead. The others had become restless too finally picking up the scent as I had. We ran ahead quietly, the forest now a crypt of silence, as higher predators roamed, namely us. Owls stood on high branches nestled in
RIDER I hurried home, running through the living area and headed for my room grabbing my travel bag. I hadn't seen Halie since she left, haven't heard from her, wouldn't even know who to ask. But I had promised that we'd only be apart temporarily and I meant it. 'You're leaving!!' Quinn's voice screams in my head. 'When were you planning on telling me this?' 'Hopefully before you had the chance of screaming my ear off' I responded in the link. 'I give up my position too' Oliver says joining the conversation. I pause, grabbing a shirt and then two more. I wasn't sure how long I'd get to stay with her- not that I was hurrying, but I couldn't put off going to find Jax either. The asshole hadn't left a clue about his whereabouts and I pray to Selene that he hasn't gone Berserker either, but I'm almost sure he might have said something to Moi about where he might be. And that's what I'm counting on. 'No you can't' I reply to Oliver. 'What? You just walked away from yours'. 'I'm thi
RIDER I watched as Halie left, feeling the longing in her heart to stay. I wanted her to stay but she couldn't. With Jax gone, my father and the new Alpha would try to keep both her and Moi in holding. It had to be something special why an Alpha of all ranks chose a human for a mate. I haven't even divulged that she was my mate. But I wasn't gonna wait around for either secs to accept it. I only stayed to ensure there was no abuse of the Red Devil pack members. I was standing behind Halie's oath to give them safe passage. Which is what the argument between us is. "We rebuilt most of the destroyed buildings, men are working on the fences to get them up again. " Oliver explains. He is just as exhausted as I am at our Alpha's stubbornness. He might have been his father-in-law, but I swear Oliver rolls his eyes and mutters beneath his breath 'If it wasn't for Allison and the pup'. No one wants to deal with either of them. Neither my father or the current Alpha and the fact that I was
I was still pissed that Rider took his ex along but I knew he didn't do it on purpose. It's not like he could send her back. Besides the whole fact that I can't even think straight, Moi is dead and in the heat of things, Rider decides to admit that he loves me. Now, his pregnant ex tags along. I've been avoiding him for days now ever since we started the journey back to his pack. It's not that I dont love him, I do, but I'm confused as to where we go from here. If Gale hadn't rotted me out, I had agreed to leave Rider be. The guilt still gnaws at me, especially after what we shared last night and some part of me thinks it would be the right thing to do. Especially with a baby on the way. Sam would only continue to be petty and would likely require Rider for everything, even lifting a cup of water. I walk around checking on the pack members, smiling at the little kids. They were all so terrified. I had eavesdropped on some of their conversation a little earlier, hearing someone ment
RIDER I can't move. I think I might have broken every bone in my body, plus the additional ones that were broken prior to embarking on this adventure. Now that I had the time, I felt every radiation of f**king pain soaring through my body. "Hey, " Halie whispers, her face contorted in concern as he held onto me. "You're going to be okay. There's so much blood" She chuckles nervously. "So much blood but you're going to be okay, I promise. " 'Okay' I told her, even if she couldn't hear me. But I trusted her. I can hear Veron, thank goddess he was still breathing, Quinn still in enough shape to make jokes. I can almost smile at the thought. I can't believe we actually won a f**king war, killed Ragna. I killed a Red Devil. Yeah I was never going to live this one down. Something cold slips into my veins, my eyes opening momentarily finding Halie still beside me. She glances up with a smile, her eyes moving back to whatever she was doing. Her small hands skim my fur, chest relaxing as sh
RIDER It's a small jerk, then another and then the sound of sputtering that pulls me from my reverie and to her side. I lift my mate, helping her to sit forward as she coughs up water swallowed from having gone under. Halie immediately wraps her arms around my neck, shivering, pressing her mouth to mine and I return her kiss in fervor. Maybe she didn't think I'd make it while I was losing hope that she'll remain alive. Halie pulled back, staring into my face for a while, tears streamed down her cheeks, lips trembling and I pulled her closer, squeezing her against my chest. She didn't need to say anything. I already knew and understood. "You actually came," she whispers. "For me. " "I promised I'll always find you, didn't I?" "That's so corny. " Halie chuckles against me and I soak everything up, determined not to let these memories slip. I decided here and then that I was going to do better, be better for her. Believe in her. "Erhem, " Someone coughs from behind me, and Halie pe
RIDER Ragna was dead. I wanted him dead and unidentifiable beneath me. Halie was mine and now she was his. He stole her from me, ripped her from my arms and now from my soul. Apart of me doesn't feel any different, I don't feel as if the bond I have with Halie has broken, but I'm so apprehensive at the thought that it makes me giddy and irrational. Ragna roars with anguish as he rips me from his hand that I had latched unto, taking a chunk of flesh with me as I roll, before hurrying back to my four paws. That molten feeling spreads through me once more, shoulders tense and pain radiates through every limb. Soon I wouldn't be able to control my actions anymore, but I don't want to. Not with this bastard. He walks around me going in circles and I watch him, my tail wagging excitedly. I've never felt this excited over a prey, not since the last time I had training with my father. The alarm that registered in his eyes when I tackled him to the ground, when I had only missed his main v
My body feels heavy, like lead, my mouth dry and when I open my eyes, everything is suddenly too bright. I lifted my hand to my eyes, feeling my body suddenly spilling over and I fought to catch myself, hands pulling me backwards instead. When I finally open my eyes, it's almost noon, and I'm strapped to a chair, a cream-colored lace grown attached to my person while women placed the remaining decorations in my hair. My feet are bare, my shoes confiscated and if I run away by some weird chance, I wouldn't be able to get far. Flower petals and blossoms line the way to some final destination, children running around happily as if sealing my fate with a monster was a royal decree. Eventually someone releases the bands that keep my body and feet hostage and I hold onto the chair, standing up. "How was your sleep?" Ragna asks, his unexpected presence making me jump. "What did you do to me?" "Nothing that you didn't cause on yourself, " He says looking me over. His eyes slid down my body
I glance up and down the hall ensuring that no one sees me before slipping into the room, hearing a groaning wolf toss and turn in her bed. Gale had given me monkshood a few days ago and I've managed to get a little of it into the she-wolf's water. I know it poisons, but just enough will render her powerless for me to do what I need. The door slips shut with a click and I hurry over when she moves to sit up groaning and clutching his stomach. "What the hell are you doing in my room?!" Celene hisses at me. "Careful, you're already in a bad state, don't want to worsen your situation do you?" Celene grits her teeth at me from her position against her bed, glaring at me. "You're the runt that poisoned my water?!" "I'm the runt that could potentially cure you should you heed my instructions. " Celene laughs, throwing her head back against the headboard. "Oh you've got some balls on you, waltzing into my bedroom with ultimatums. Who says I can't just rip your head off and do the ceremo
RIDER "Are we gonna talk about last night?" "No", I brushed Oliver's question to the side and kept walking, a scowl on my face. "Wait, " he grips my upper arm but I yank it away refusing to stand and talk. I already said no, he should just let it go. "Hey! " Oliver runs up blocking my path. "I get it okay. You don't know what to do about your mate, you don't know if you'll be able to save her. I get that. " "Really?" "Yeah, " he answers, either oblivious to the sarcasm in my voice or he chose to ignore it "No, no you don't get it. " "I'm a brother too, you know. I'm a part of the family. I get it. I'm the outsider between you and Jax. We all know you both grew up together. The only other reason I'm here is because Allison is my mate. So I get how you feel. It's the same way I felt when Jax took his sister away without even consulting me first. It made me feel insufficient, makes me question my role as the pack's Gamma. I wondered if he didn't trust me enough. But most of all, I