Her head was swirling with so many thoughts and emotions that she hadn’t even closed the door all the way when she changed her mind and marched right back out her door again. She needed to shift. She hadn’t shifted in so long and she felt like her wolf has been half asleep since she got here. It was a strange feeling and Ember didn’t like it. She now knew the dangers and her grandparents had forbidden her to leave the property, but if she just ran the perimeter she would be in view of the patrol the entire time. With her mind made up, she walked out the kitchen entrance quietly and made her way to the small side gate. She quickly took her clothes off in the shadows and left them in a neatly folded pile by the gate for when she got back. She stretched out her muscles and rolled her neck as she felt her bones snap and crack as they shifted into her wolf. She shook out her fur and finally felt whole once more. Her wolf let out an annoyed grumble when a scent caught her nose, she trotted
Ember felt like she was floating in some deep dark space. She couldn’t feel her body, she couldn’t feel anything. I wonder if I am in some sort of Coma. She thought to herself sighing in her mind. She heard a soft noise, but it felt like it was coming from far away and it sounded like a giggle. Well, that’s great, now I think I am going crazy. This time the giggle sounded closer, it was soft and sweet. Hello? Am I not alone in here? Where ever here is… This time she tried saying it but it still felt like a thought. You are never truly alone. You are a special werewolf. This time the voice she heard sounded different from the giggle as if it was from a different person. This voice was powerful, yet quiet and soothing. A soft glow appeared in front of her and seemed to get closer and closer growing in size, Ember started to see an image forming as it grew until all of a sudden, Ember was surrounded by it, she was in it. She was back in her body and turned to look at her surroundings, s
She had no idea how long she had been out, but she could feel herself starting to wake up in her physical form. As Ember gained consciousness she listened for a moment to make sure she couldn’t hear anyone close by before slowly opening her eyes. It took a moment to adjust her sight to the dim surroundings, her eyes felt fuzzy and she had to blink a few times to help clear them faster. Carefully she felt around her trying not to make any obvious movements, she wasn't ready to alert her captors that she was awake just yet. She could feel a threadbare blanket underneath her, it was the only thing between her and the wood floor. The wall behind her seemed to be wood as well. Her hands and feet were bound but there was enough slack that she could move around a little. Her captors were either lazy or expected her to be there for a while. Someone had thrown a thin worn blanket over her to cover her nakedness. There must have been enough wolfsbane in the darts they used that it forced her t
Torin woke up with a start feeling restless. He had this sinking feeling in his stomach that something bad had happened and the overwhelming need to check on Ember hit him hard. He got out of bed and dressed as fast as he could back into the casual clothes he had gotten from the pack’s stores. He stuffed his feet in his boots and almost ran out the door. Every second the need to see her felt more urgent, his heart was pounding, threatening to burst. He tried to keep calm as he made his way through the castle, his pace quickened as he noticed a commotion coming from the Alpha’s wing. Almost running now Torin flew past people gathered and whispering, he heard bits and pieces of their conversations. “She’s missing.” He heard from one group of she-wolves. “She was last seen sneaking off into the woods.” Another whispered. Dread filled his mind. No, they can’t be talking about Ember, I just saw her. Kissed her goodnight. Torin barely finished the thought as he arrived in her hallway an
Torin had to fight the urge to flee the entire walk down through the castle, the groups had grown in both size and number and each went silent as he walked past just for the whispers to explode behind him. What was he going to do? He had been in some awkward situations before but he had never gotten himself into this kind of trouble, and this time he actually was innocent. By the time they made it to the cells, he knew the entire castle would believe he was behind Ember's disappearance. They marched him right to the first cell and one threw open the door while the other shoved him inside with a low growl. “You will pay for whatever happens to the future Luna. You have no idea what you have wrought upon yourself.” The one who growled spat out in disgust. The other guard simply nodded in agreement and slammed the door shut. Blinking a little to adjust his eyes to the dim lighting, Torin looked around at his surroundings. There were no lights or windows in his cell except for the smal
Albwin woke suddenly to the sounds of commotion outside his room. He jumped out of bed glad that he always slept fully dressed when he was away, call it professional awareness, or just thinking ahead. He made his way to the door and listened carefully trying to figure out the cause of the amount of noise in the hallway. He got a bad feeling as he pressed his ear against the hardwood. “That’s the scout's room, collect him and bring him to me.” He heard a gruff and angry voice call out. Albwin double-checked the door’s locks and backed away quietly. He snatched up his pack which he always kept ready and threw it over his shoulder as he made his way to the window. He paused only a moment as he listened. The wolves banged on his door loudly calling for him to answer. He knew they wouldn’t wait long before getting the keys to unlock it, or simply just breaking it down. He opened the window quietly and slipped out. He had already scouted a quick exit when he first got assigned his room a
Torin had no idea what time it was, but he guessed it was early morning. He still sat in the same position on his bunk staring into the wall. He knew wolves shared a mental connection with their mates and he had been trying all night to connect with Ember. He knew it was a long shot since they had barely had a chance to grow their bond let alone mate. He knew Ember would have to bite him and the thought sent delicious tingles through his body. He had never in his wildest dreams thought he would find the idea of being bitten so sexy, erotic even, but the idea of Ember's lips on his skin and her teeth piercing the crook of his neck to forever claim and mark him as her own, to create a connection stronger and deeper than any other was enough to fulfil his every desire. His thoughts never strayed far from her. His heart was aching at the wild thoughts that would run through his head, where was she? What were they doing to her? This was how his mind had been running all night his thoughts
Ember growled in frustration as she broke another nail, biting back a curse she stuck her finger in her mouth. Ember had spent the last few hours scouring over every nook and cranny in this goddess-forsaken hut. All she had been able to find out is that she was stuck in a one-room shack since she could hear forest noises outside every wall. She started trying to find a loose floorboard or a nail anything she could use to help her escape. Artemis had been pacing and growling in her head trying to burn through the wolfsbane. Ember had finally found a nail sticking up just a tiny bit and was slowly trying to work it out of the floorboard. If she could get it out she was hoping she could use it to break the lock or use it to loosen up a floorboard, or even just as something sharp to stab an enemy with, but even after an hour she had only managed to lift it the tiniest bit and she had broken two nails and made the tips of her fingers bruised and bloody for the effort. Scowling she gave up,
Albwin led their rag-tag group back out into the woods as they helped one another to move as fast as they possibly could toward safety. Some of the rescued were crying in disbelief as they stumbled their way through the forest clinging to each other. Torin suddenly stopped as he muffled a yell, a sharp pain in his hip had him gasping for breath, the girl he was helping gave him a concerned look. Ember!“I have to go back. Ember’s been hurt!” Torin gave Albwin a conflicted look but he simply nodded in understanding as he doubled back and took the girl's arm from Torin’s shoulder helping her to reposition.“Go, we got them.” Lettie motioned with her free arm toward herself, Albwin, and the two trackers who flanked them.“Don’t stop, get them as far away as possible.” Torin hesitated torn between finishing his task or going to Ember.“Come, they can handle this group. Let’s go join the fight.” Archie grinned evilly and headed back in the direction they had come from. They hadn’t been tr
Ember’s mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan. She knew if she tried to take him out now his coven would open fire, but what could she do to buy more time? Quinten watched her with a slight grin on his face as if he could read her mind and found it amusing, yet his eyes swirled with hunger. She suppressed the shiver she felt at his gaze. “What are you thinking my Darling? Have you finally come to the realization that there is only one way out of this?” His grin grew as he held out his hand beckoning her to go to him as his tongue slid across his bottom lip. “It will be much more pleasant for everyone if you come of your own free will Darling. Only a few will get hurt. Eventually, everyone will adjust to our new world.” Quinten’s tone made him sound like a fanatic as his eyes grew bright. What if we pretend to go with him and then attack when his guard is down? Artemis suggested. No, I think he will expect something like that. We need to outthink him, I’m just afraid I don
It wasn’t long before they both slipped around the corner, breathing heavily. Lettie had a small cut on her cheek but she didn’t seem to notice, her eyes were bright with excitement as they both nodded, confirming their side was cleared. Albwin and Lettie took up position guarding the door so they could keep it clear for their escape. With a last look around Archie eased the door open just enough for them to squeeze through. Torin had to blink a couple of times to adjust his sight, they were in a long dark hallway barely lit by small pocket lights placed every few feet down the wall. Torin could just make out the sounds of a whizzing hum and the beeping of machines coming from somewhere deeper in the building. It didn’t look much like a stable anymore from the inside, the vampires had converted it into some sort of facility. The hallway had three doors, two along one side and one at the very end which seemed to be where the beeping was coming from. Archie walked to the first door and
Torin had to fight his own self-conscious over and over again as he walked away from Ember, each step felt like he was ripping himself in two and he couldn’t help glancing back in the direction they had come from. He had a bad feeling about leaving Ember’s side. He had only just gotten her back and now they were both walking into a very dangerous situation—again. Separated from each other—again. It took everything Torin had not to turn around, march back to her, take her in his arms and never let her go. Ever. He caught himself gently rubbing his new mating mark as he thought, gentle sparks tickling his skin, it was both soothing and calming knowing it meant he was forever connected to Ember. He thought it was going to hurt a lot more to be bit by her, but after the initial sting, it was almost erotic. It was the most intense feeling he had ever experienced and if they hadn’t been in the middle of the forest surrounded by wolves with very sensitive hearing he would have taken her rig
Torin and Albwin’s group left first, silent as shadows melting into the trees. They needed to be in place before Ember’s group got there. Ember felt her heart wrench as she watched Torin slip away with a last glance back at her, she felt a swell of love as he blew her a kiss before disappearing out of sight. She knew this was how it had to be but it didn't make it any easier. Ember closed her eyes and took a deep breath getting her emotions under control before she turned back to her group and nodded, it was almost time for them to move out. Ember sighed and tried not to glare as four warriors approached her with Caleb and Derrick in their firm grip. Thankfully someone had given Caleb and Derrick shorts so they wouldn't be trekking through the woods naked, Ember had had to put her Alpha command over them forcing their cooperation. She didn’t like doing it, she felt like she was abusing her power but Callum told her that's what made her a strong leader. She shouldn’t like it, but she'
Half an hour later, Ember’s group along with Lettie and Angus, the wolf who stood up to talk for the warriors, huddled around a small campfire with a map laid out beside them as they finalized their plans. Torin stayed as close to Ember as possible as they kept absently reaching for one another, craving each other's touch. The more they touched the more it was driving Ember mad. She wished she could take him somewhere and finally have some time with him, but now was not the time or place. They both knew it, Artemis sulked in Ember’s mind. “Ok, so if we send the main group to attack the front like he’s expecting then we send a second group to attack the back on the other side to make it look like we are trying to surround him.” Archie drew x’s on the map to show the spots he was talking about. “That should distract them enough to turn their attention away from this barn. Are you sure this is where he's keeping them?” Archie looked to Ember. “I’m almost positive, I could smell wolf whe
“Shit, you guys run. If I stay with Lettie I can try to talk down the warriors—reveal the truth.” Ember looked at the others, she didn’t want them hurt because of her. This was turning into a bigger mess than she ever imagined. “No, we won't leave you, Luna.” Archie growled out first, followed closely by the others.“I second that.” Callum raised an eyebrow as if to say how could she think it, as Albwin just crossed his arms. Torin didn’t even shift a muscle still standing strong with his arm holding her close. “Love, we won't leave you to face this alone. Perhaps Lettie can link the pack though, telling them to wait and listen?” Torin suggested. Lettie gasped and looked like she was about to face-palm herself as her eyes glazed slightly. After a moment she focused back on them again. “I don’t know how many listened. Caleb tried to cut me off, but I am sure I piqued some interest.” Lettie sighed as she turned and bowed in front of Ember and Torin as well. “I’ll stand with you, my L
Ember was following Albwin through the forest talking with Artemis about how they were going to save the supers when the wind shifted. She stopped in her tracks lifting her nose to the air and letting the most amazing and comforting scent wash over her. Mate—Torin. Ember and Artemis both thought together and before she even realized it, her feet were moving again launching her towards the one person in the world she needed to see right that minute. She burst into a small clearing surrounded by bushes and saw him, the moon's glow illuminating his soft features. His head shot up and turned towards her their eyes meeting seconds before she threw herself in his arms knocking him over. “Ember…” Torin’s voice came out as a cracked whisper, that one word was filled with so much emotion she felt something click into place deep inside of her. Torin sat up pulling her onto his lap as she shifted so her knee’s where on either side of him straddling him, their eyes met once again, Torin smiled
“Well hello, Luna.” Albwin was engulfed in a hug and pulled inside the room quickly. Ember glanced outside and pulled the curtains shut most of the way.“You shouldn’t be here!” She whispered as her eyes darted to the door leading into the castle. “Where’s Torin?” Albwin rolled his eyes. -Luna? Did I just hear you say— Hello, Luna?— Did you find Ember, is she okay? Is she hurt?- Torin’s voice sounded off inside Albwin’s ear. That was one of the flaws of the speech spell. You couldn’t pick and choose what the other person hears when you speak, and Torin talked a lot. “Torin is ok Luna, he’s with the Gamma Twi—” Ember held her finger to her mouth and pointed to the door, indicating someone was on the other side. He nodded and leaned in closer whispering next to her ear. “They are just out of range of the vampires on patrol. What’s going on here, why are they so heavily armed, are they expecting the wolves? — Yes Torin I found her she seems to be in decent shape.” Ember gave him a weir