“Ahem. Am I interrupting something here?” Alpha Gabriel and I both snap up to catch sight of Ajax staring the both of us down. Serena stands next to him with an annoyed look on her face. I awkwardly push my seal backwards till I’m sat on the floor. Alpha Gabriel gets up in one swift move before he places his hand out for me to take. I let him hoist me up but I can’t ignore the lingering stare Jax sends my way. “Not at all. Avery and I were training. My pack consists of the best of the best. Hence, we train every day to make sure we don’t lose our touch.” Alpha Gabriels words are tight and he sends Jax a certain look. It’s one I can’t decipher but my ex appears to be uncomfortable as he swiftly looks away. “Well, not to be a burden but our training starts in ten minutes. The warriors will join us shortly so I hope you’re prepared for the lesson.” Alpha Gabriel raises his eyebrow at Serena before looking around us. “Trust me, I’ve got it handled. It’s best to leave the trai
Focus.Take deep breaths. Gather all your emotions together. Don’t lose focus.Sitting with my legs crossed, I place my hands on my knees and take in a deep breath. I try to focus on my surroundings. The chirping of birds as they flutter their wings. The sounds of distant insects making different sounds. I can even hear the running of water from a stream a distance away.Popping one eye open, I stare at the book lying on the ground. It was something they popped into my mind after my training session. I had seen it countless times before on my father’s desk. This time it was placed in a far flung corner of the library.It must’ve been fate because I managed to find it. However, it doesn’t seem to be doing much.I’ve been sitting here for an hour and nothing has changed.The book details the nature of shifting. A complex history and how it translates into modern times now that we coexist with humans. The later chapters detail the biology behind it and how someone can shift properly. Th
“I shifted.” Alpha Gabriel looks confused. As if that wasn’t something out of the ordinary. “Yes and? Am I missing something here?” I sigh and hold out the book. The man doesn’t have to reach out far to get it. Our fingers graze over one another and tingles erupt in their place. I’ve never felt such a spark with Jax or anyone else. Is this what happens when you can’t have something that sometimes… well, I oftentimes have to hold myself back from letting my thoughts wander into dangerous territory. ‘The Shifter’s Guide: History and Transformation.’ Alpha Gabriel focuses on the book in his hand, clearing his throat to put all other thoughts at bay. “I don’t understand.” I take a step back to put distance between us. Something I desperately need in order to properly think and formulate sentences. “I haven’t been able to shift. Ever. Not when I turned 13. Not 16. Barely when I turned 18. Something that’s unheard of.” The man stills for a long while before he slowly l
Alpha Gabriel stares at me with an intensity I’ve never witnessed before.“Trust me. I have my reasons.”I watch as the man walks away. A mixture of anticipation and apprehensions swirls within me. The mere prospect of being trained by an Alpha, that too one of the most powerful, is incredibly daunting. However, a glimmer of hope shines through the cracks.I might be able to unlock the true potential that I know is deep down within me.Our training finally begins. Days turn to weeks but our routine stays the same. Bright and early, every morning, I meet Alpha Gabriel at the training fields. His training techniques are rigorous and push me beyond my limits. THe training isn’t only physical but also mental. Any and every method to test the latent power that courses through me. At first I thought it was all for naught, but slowly and surely, I feel Aurora stirring within me. A sign that points me in the right direction.Laying on my back, I stare at the clouds above me. Today was a part
Waking up after training is a sordid affair.My limbs hurt, bones ache and my heart doesn’t have any willpower to even think about going out to train. Today is a bit different, however. My thoughts have been tangled up with the events of the previous day.Not even the cool crisp of the morning air can help diffuse my thoughts. I step onto the training grounds just as the sun begins to peek over the horizon,Alpha Gabriel stands a distance away while my thoughts confound me.Alpha Gabriel’s comforting words, the intensity in his eyes… our kiss. It plagues my mind all while making my heart beat with anticipation and nerves.The edge of the forest is quiet and everyone in the pack is asleep. Other than those patrolling of course.The man’s posture is relaxed, calm as day as he admires his surroundings. I approach him quietly, something that he always picks up on but this time his eyes are fixed at a distance. No vision of trees and forest in his eyes as he most likely sees a memory or l
“Avery. Wake up!”My vivid dreams of running through the forest falters for a split second. The atmosphere around me is beckoning. The still and silent night, the forest alive with critters as the silver light of the moon bathes all of us animals in its warm comforting glow. Another disturbance and this time I’m yanked awake out of my dream. My heart pounds ferociously in my chest. I look around my room and hear an urgent knocking at my door.“Open the door.”Alpha Gabriel’s voice is low but urgent in its nature.I scramble my way out of my bed and rush to the door. When I fling it open, the Alpha stands there fully dressed. Odd for this hour of the night. His eyes are sharp and dart around; much too alert.It's a vibrant contrast to his otherwise calm demeanor that he always sports/“Alpha Gabriel. Is everything alright? What’s wrong?” My voice is heavy with sleep but the concern in my voice overrides it all.The man steps inside through the open door and closes it behind him. He lo
The rogue is met head on.Annihilated in seconds.A growl echoes throughout the pack. I’m on high alert and my eyes wander over the tree line, alert for any more signs of movement.A few rogues step out with one of them in their human form. He was protected by his members. They all smelt horrid but the man in the middle was the most intimidating. His eyes shine with malice as he stares at us, almost fixated. Serena takes a defence stance, firm and yet unyielding. She won’t take no for an answer.“We belong here. This is my territory. Either you leave right now or you face the consequences.”The man smirks in a sinister manner. The expression itself cusses me to falter. There was nothing but confidence radiating off of him.“Trust me. We’re not here to fight. We’re here for your sister. Avery.”Everything around me stops. My blood runs cold as all eyes land on me. My sister stares at me with suspicion. Our previous conversation is now clear in her eyes.“Why are they after you. Hmm?”
My dream starts off innocently. There’s just me running through the woods. The wind rustles my fur and the mud scratches beneath my paws. I can feel Aurora within me.Her presence acts as a comforting guide.All of a sudden, the scene shifts. The trees that looked down upon me lovingly now warp and twist into something gruesome. It’s a labyrinth of shadows and whispers while the air grows thick with something I cant easily explain. My surroundings go hazy and before I can blink, I find myself in a dark room. Unfamiliar faces surround me. I can tell they’re rogues.Their eyes glint with hate but they surround a figure cloaked in darkness. The person radiates power but also menace.“The Alpha will fall, the pack will crumble. The mole has been planted and the Capitol will burn.”The man’s voice is cold and echoes through the room, cutting the silence in half. Cheers erupt and the rogues grow closer, almost as if they’re desperate to touch the person in front.Panic grips at my chest an
The feud between Gabriel and I lurks behind me like a bad taste in my mouth. What do I do when I’m severely pissed off and need some fresh air to relax my inner-although very much dormant- wolf and me? Of course, I take a long walk in the creepiest part of the forest imaginable. THe forest even resembles different parts of my drated mate. From the thick gnarled root that matched his twisted soul to the warm light that filtered through the trees which matched the bubbling warmth I feel whenever Gabriel looks at me. I need space. A place to breathe and clear my head without the weight of the world weighing down on my two shoulders. Walking amongst the trees, a semblance of peace moves through me and relaxes the core of my being. Stretching out, I sit down on the soft earthy floor and lean back against a tree. I close my eyes and merely focus on the breeze against my skin and the dirt underneath my palms. It’s amazing that now my ears can pick up on the tiny critters scuttling a
Waking up the next morning was nothing short of bliss. The first thing I notice is the warmth beside me. I let myself relax, savoring Gabriel’s presence. I close my eyes as the memories of last night run through my mind. The heat. The intensity of the bond and how he stayed with me.I shift slightly, feeling the weight of Gabrial’s arms frapped over me. His even breathing let me know that he’s still sleeping and this causes me to hesitate. I want to bask in this feeling and moment but the frustration of the entirety of our situation drags me down.How can he be so close but so so far away from me?I turn my head and catch sight of Gabriel’s sleeping face. He looks peaceful with his usual stoic expression softened by sleep. There was one part of me that wanted to trace his features and just to feel that everything was okay. Another part of me still hurt from the fact that he rejected and pushed me away so easily.I’m not sure how long I stay looking at him as Garbeil finally stirs.“
Pain.I wake up as I gasp for air. My body is in flames from the inside out. My skin is hot to the touch and my heart pounds away in my chest. An unbearable ache blooms through me.Heat.That’s all that reverberates in my brain.The realization hits me square in the face as an overwhelming need courses through me. One that is impossible to ignore. It stirs Aurora to life, an infrequent occurrence but one that brings her instincts to the surface. The undeniable truth hits me flat in the face.I need Gabriel.A soft whimper tears past my lips. I clamp down onto my mouth. I’ll be mortified if someone hears me. I can’t let anyone know. A searing pain runs through me and this time, a loud sob escapes me that rings through the hallways. It doesn't take a second before the door to my room swings open.Gabriel steps inside, his eyes wild and locking with mine. His gaze is filled with concern as he rushes over to me. Even through the pain, I notice the way his eyes flicker from his worried l
“I hate this.”That’s all that goes through my mind as I wake up every day. The thought of going with the motions as I have been… plague my being with each second.I follow my usual routine of getting dressed before I head on my walk. It helps as I don’t have to mix with people but instead, take some time to myself and admire everyone from afar.I wander through the heart of the settlement with rustic cottages setting on the edges. The pack members were already up and bustling even though it’s very early in the morning. I nod at a few people before I turn back towards the outskirts of the pack. It’s then that I catch an elegant woman walking towards me. Her eyes are focused on me and authority follows her everywhere. I feel as if I’ve seen her somewhere.My eyes widen as I realize that’s Gabriel’s mother. She had been briefly pointed out by Star but we had never made contact.What am I supposed to do? Walk away? Introduce myself?“You must be Avery,” The woman begins before I get a c
*Gabriel’s P. O. V*I stand at the foot of the training grounds, entirely divided on Avery. The woman moved with a grace that compared to none. She was only a beginner but so talented, it took my breath away. Her eyes were sharp but determined and she made sure to take in every one else’s movements.I can’t help the regret that pangs through me every time I see her. She’s everything I need but our circumstances tear us apart. The bond between us is like a magnetic pull that only grows stronger with each touch.Stella flashes through my mind before I get carried away.It’s as if I had uttered the woman’s name out loud but a soft knock echoes from my door followed by the woman herself. She wore a bright smile but that only caused me to wince in pain.I can’t stand her.“Gabriel! I’ve been looking for you. I was wondering when I’d get some alone time with you,” her voice is sultry and full of familiarity.I force a polite smile and gesture for her to enter although she’s made herself co
There’s pin drop silence. The air in the room is thick with tension. Gabriel and his beta work tirelessly to finalise a plan. One thing is certainly clear. I was not being delivered to the rogues, no matter what. There’s an urgency regarding the threat but I still couldn’t get rid of the way Gabriel held rage in his eyes.It was due to the mate bond. That’s all. But then why is the intensity of the bond shading ever more?There wasn’t much to discuss. Or maybe I couldn’t focus on any of the information that was being discussed. We soon leave the room and I followed after the beta and Gabriel. Although this wasn’t my pack that I had been born in, this was my pack now.I’d do anything to protect it.As the two made their rounds around the darkening pack grounds, I couldn’t help to notice the way my mate’s eyes kept hovering over me. We couldn’t ignore it, no matter how much we tried.Unfortunately, we just had to.The stars hung high in the sky and I just wish Gabriel and I could esc
My mind aches from the events of last night.My heart is resolute, unfortunately, and I know there’s much to do. Regardless of the turmoil coursing through me.I make my way to the main hall where I was informed that the pack usually gathered for their daily briefings. The air is thick with tension and it serves to remind me that the rogue attack had been averted albeit narrowly.Walking through the camp, I ignore the wary glances that follow me. As I approach the main hall, a familiar face pops out and grins back at me. A faint smile makes its way across my face, something that takes me by surprise.“Good morning,” She chirps while waving me over.I walk up to her, feeling relief at seeing such a friendly face. The woman from yesterday stands perched up against the door. A few pack members linger around her before dispersing.“Good morning. I just realized I never asked for your name last night.”The woman laughs and waves her hand.“Don’t worry about it. I go by Star. That’s what th
Walking back to camp is no easy feat.My mind is a whirlwind of emotions. So hung up on Gabriel, I realized I never even asked that woman’s name.I doubt I’ll see her again. She belongs to this pack and I’m not sure what to do here now. Do I go back to my old pack? I don’t think Serena would appreciate that. I now belong to Alpha Gabriel’s pack. After the recent turn of events, that doesn’t seem as endearing as it did in the first place.The omission of her name now feels like a missed opportunity. It was a fleeting connection that might have helped me.It never hurts to have a friend in such times. Times like your heart being ripped out by your own soulmate.Oh well….I stumble my way back to the camp. The reality of the entire situation weighs heavy over me. Heavier than anything did before. The pressure from the impending rogue attack and my complex emotions makes each step heavier than the last.“Avery. Wait! Please.”The sudden sound has me stopping in my tracks.Turning around
The air in Gabriel’s office feels stifling. The office is packed with tension and unspoken words. Gabriel himself walks back and forth, his face heavy with a frown and brows furrowed together. My heart pounds in my chest as I wait for him to speak. The mate bond is very new but it’s still very raw. Every fibre within me is attuned to his emotions and attitude. “There’s something I really need to tell you, Avery.” The man stops in front of me. His eyes serious but sorrow filling them. “What is it?” My voice is hesitant and I brace myself for whatever he’s about to drop on me. Gabriel takes a deep breath, pausing before he drops the truth on me. “I’m betrothed. To someone else,” he adds as if that’s not clear enough. I nearly double over from the pain that radiates throughout me. It hurts like a physical blow, knocking all the air from my lungs. “I’m sorry, what?” I manage to get out. “It’s not what you think, Avery. I know it sounds wrong but it’s just a business th