My mind couldn’t comprehend anything.
It was only when my mother and father rushed out that I realized what was happening. It was all too much too fast.With a gasp, I rushed out the front door and was taken aback.No. No. No!What the hell is happening?It was as if the wolves were coming straight to our main house. The Alpha and Luna’s house was towards the back with the other buildings scattered on either side. It had been designed that way so that the warriors were the first to engage in battle and keep the rest of the pack protected. However, somehow the attackers had infiltrated our land and came to us directly.I watched on in alarm as my father shifted into his large wolf, acting the wolves head on.The sharp smell of rotting flesh and blood attacked my senses.They were rogues.Other pack members shifted and attacked and I stayed rooted in my spot.“Avery. Hide! You’re defenseless. Your father has more to worry about than his daughter that can’t even shift.”I wince at the harsh words and nod. I don’t know where I’m going but I stumble on shaky legs. My breathing is harsh and ragged and I’m trying not to take in the sight of all the blood and guts being ripped apart.“Dad!” I cry out in alarm as I rush to the back of the house, only now realizing my father is squaring off with a wolf.I decide to stay quiet and shuffle backwards, hiding in some bushes where I’ll be best protected.Taking my phone out of my pocket, it takes me a few tries to get my fingers to work to my command.Dialing a number I haven’t dialed in ages, I put the ear to my phone.“Serena! Where are you? Please, you have to come quickly.”I hated the fact that I had to resort to calling my sister. Unfortunately, I had no other choice. The woman was a great warrior. Even at an early age, she outranked a lot of our pack members and beat them without so much as breaking a sweat.“What’s up, stupid?” I ignore the snarky words and breathe into the mic.“You need to come back, Serena. Please. We’re in danger. I ca-”“You’re always so dramatic, Avery. Give it a rest.”“No. You don’t understand. Mom and dad are fighting for their lives right now. You need-”I take my phone away from my ear and peer down at my screen. Sure enough, my sister had hung up on me without another word.“Heath!”My mom’s voice snapped me out of my reverie as I watched her rush towards my father in human form. There were a multitude of rogues circling my father and my mother didn’t like those chances. She shifted into her gray wolf at the last second and ripped out a rogue's throat in mere seconds.I winced at the squelching sound but everything stopped in place when I heard a loud sound.Alarm went off in my head and I tried to place the sound. At first, I couldn’t understand what had happened but then it hit me.My father, surrounded by four rogues, slowly stumbled back. His hind legs give way as blood pours out of his chest. A rogue in human form cackles as he cocks his gun back and shoots him once more.No!Without giving anyone any more regard, I run straight to my father. Tears well in my eyes and my heart beats frantically in my chest. I don’t even realize the rogues turning away, heading into the tree line where they came from.Their task had been completed.I just manage to dive onto the ground as my father stumbles back. His wolf phases out and he’s left naked in his human form. Cradling his chest, I try to wipe the tears that drip down onto his face. His usually glowing tan skin is now a sickly pale. The color in his cheeks quickly left through the huge gunshot in his chest. The tell tale sounds of sizzling silver bullets cause the flesh to bubble away.“Avery. Please. Take good care of your sister.”“No. Listen to me. You can’t die like this.”“Dad!”There’s no point. No amount of words would bring my father back. I watch as his chest slows down and the last breath escapes his lungs.Tears cloud my eyes but a soft groan from my side has me acting quick.Gently laying my father down, I call for help and rush to my mother. The woman was bleeding profusely but I cou;dn’t tell if it was deep or not.“Help! Please. Someone!”******Sitting outside my mother’s room, I watch as the doctor steps out with a clipboard in hand. The man’s eyes are puffy and I can tell he’s holding back his own tears.“Your mother is resting. Luckily her wounds weren’t very deep. She’ll be awake soon but…”A sharp pang cuts through my chest.“Unfortunately your father’s passing might send her into a critical state.”I nod and clear my throat through the dryness of it.“Please do not tell anyone about the Alpha. We’re reeling from the attack as it is. If the pack finds out, chaos could ensue.”The doctor heeds my words and gently pats me.“You should go get some rest.”Rest is the last thing on my mind. I won’t be able to sleep even if I desperately want to.Getting up, I head towards the south. Jax’s house isn’t too far from the hospital and I reach it within a few minutes. I can’t even think clearly but my heart knows what’s best for me.He always soothes me and manages to calm me down.Unlocking the door, I wrap my arms around myself and try my best to keep my composure. Tears threaten to spill over but I hold them back.Entering the living room, I smile at a sleeping Jax. The man is passed out on the couch but I stop when I see he isn’t alone.Another woman is on top of him, half naked and dead asleep.“What the hell? Why are you sleeping with someone else?”My sharp voice causes Jax to jerk in his sleep. The man sits up with his arm half wrapped around the woman. She squints and turns to me but the anger grows even deeper in my stomach.Jax looked at me with soft and sad eyes. He appeared to be remorseful but something tells me he doesn’t regret it one bit.“I’m so sorry, Ave. I finally found her. She’s my soulmate?”I watch the woman staring back at me, brown eyes comprehending everything as smug satisfaction gathers in her eyes. “Did you mark her?” My voice breaks at the end and it takes everything in me to hold back my tears.I feel like a fool.Jax lowered his head, not being able to answer. My eyes seek out their own answer and I get it when the woman turns her hair to the side. The mark is bright red and healing pleasantly. My boyfriend’s teeth make a perfect crescent. My heart broke into shattered pieces. Pieces too small I don’t think I’d ever be able to put myself back t
My body is shaking with the pain that courses through my body. I can’t stay out here. Someone could come and get me.A tremor makes its way down my body but this one wasn’t out of pain but fear.If someone comes across me like this in such a state…Hoisting myself up, I stagger on my feet. Intense heat and spasms throw my body into contortions. I’m a mess both inside and outside. I’m finally turning into a werewolf and yet I can’t even rejoice over the fact. Teras blur my eyes and sobs make their way through my chest. I’m innocent but everyone is blaming me. I tried. If my body had listened to me, I would have shifted then and there to attack all those rogues.Did I kill my father? Was it my fault?Maybe if I was stronger… better.“I killed him.”Sniffling, I go to wipe my tears away from my cheeks but stop when massive claws nearly tear my skin to shreds.Looking around, I realized my legs had carried me to a clearing with a lake located on the farthest side. Stumbling, I go to w
“Are you alright?”His deep voice sends a shiver through my spine and I have to shake my head to get the lingering effects out of my brain.I’m not sure if it’s the traumatic ordeal that I’ve been put through or the man himself that is taking over my mind, body and soul.He was absolutely stunning. His aura was one of a strong and powerful wolf. He stood tall over me which was a feat since I wasn't that short myself. His body was jacked but not overly muscular in an off putting way. The man had jet black hair and piercing blue eyes that were like the sea on a cloudy day. His jaw was sharp and cheekbones chiseled as long lashes fanned over them.It takes me a few seconds to realize I’m merely gawping at the man but I’m not responding in any way.Clearing my throat, I tug at the shirt which I now release belongs to the half naked man in front of me.“Yes. Sorry about that. This must be yours?”Lifting the shirt, I pause at the intoxicating scent that envelops me. It smelt divine and had
*Three Hours Prior*The elders were stern as they locked eyes with me.It was the same old crap that I’d heard ever since I had taken over the Alpha position a few years ago.Every single one of them were worried about the big bad Alpha not finding his mate yet.“Alpha. You need to understand, you’re well above the age of finding a mate. You’re twenty three and you should have found your mate before you were eighteen. The pack needs a Luna.”My wolf howls at the thought of having no mate. The elders do nothing but piss me off every time they open their mouths.They’ve caused me nothing but pain and now here they are, trying to dig up some more problems for me.Does no one think that I don’t wish to have a mate? My wolf feels empty. As if half of his soul is missing. It’s not even far-fetched because that is truly what a mate is.The better half of your soul.Baring my fangs at the elders, I thud my hands on the table and watch as they jump in their seats.I’m not the most feared wolf
The drive was long.I could barely keep my eyes open as I watched the canopy of trees on either side of the road simply blurring by.I don’t know why I’m so tired. Maybe it was the shift that took a severe toll on me? But then again, I had knocked out afterwards for who knows how long. The sun was starting to peek over the edge of the skyline so I know it must have been a good few hours. The car ride itself was quiet but I used that as a means to contact my wolf.‘Aurora? Can you hear me?’This had been the umpteenth time but again, I got no response. I had to blanket my disappointment and pretend as if I didn’t notice anything had happened. I should have the energy to run around in wolf form and switch back into my usual form without beating an eye. Aurora truly was weak and it was all my fault.I couldn’t even shift properly in time. If I had, the both of us would have had a strong bond.“We’re here.”So consumed in my thoughts, I jerk up at the man’s voice. I hadn’t even bothered
My first instinct was to run.Alpha Gabriel’s was to laugh at the look on my face.“I see my reputation precedes me.”The mug in my hand starts to shake and the ripples in the tea almost absorb me into a trance. Unfortunately, even pretty swirls won’t distract me this time around. Dread fills into the crevices of my stomach and the tea settles uneasily in my gut.“W-what? Ho-ow?”I try to think back to any alarming instances that could possibly give away his identity but I come up blank. Sure, he has a big house and lives an hour or so away but that doesn’t mean anything.There are a lot of rogue wolves that aren’t necessarily bad. They simply enjoy not being surrounded by pack politics.Of course then there are those types that join into cults and come after people like my father.The image that has been plaguing my mood momentarily distracts me. My father…“You seem a bit disturbed. Is it because of me or…?”The inclination in his tone has me stiffening up and I automatically stand
“Yes.”His answering smirk had me already regretting my notion of impulse.“Yes. What?”“I agree. To whatever it may be.”See? I really should just super glue my mouth shut.“Perfect. Let’s get going then.”Alpha Gabriel slaps his palms against his thighs. He places my mug out of harm's way and turns around. I barely get a chance to protest before he’s already out the door.“What? Where are we going?”I follow him out of the main door and trail after him. He’s already making a direct beeline for the car.“You agreed to what I asked.”I falter before I pounce on him. Grabbing the man by the arm, I hold my ground and stare him straight in the eye.“You didn’t ask me anything. Well, not in the actual sense of the word. I don’t even know what I’ve agreed to. Where are we going?”Alpha Gabriel stares down at my hand clinging onto his arm as if in some pesky fly that needs to be dealt with.The man sits in the car and I have no choice but to follow him. It’s not like I can stay behind.This
“I’m sorry, what?!”Jax’s voice nearly breaks on the spot as he takes a step forward.Alpha Gabriel doesn’t take to this lightly and a loud growl rips from his throat. The harsh sound is guttural and shakes the ground beneath our feet. Everyone is taken by surprise and Jax falters in his steps. Serena bares her neck in a sign of submission. I hate the feeling coursing through me but I can’t help feeling smug at the sight of my sister being put in her place.“I do NOT repeat myself.”My legs feel shaky on the spot and I’m stunned when Alpha Gabriel grabs a hold of my shoulder to steady myself.“My apologies, Alpha Gabriel,” I can tell Jax is speaking through his teeth but he maintains eye contact with the ground.No one dares look him in the eye. Not even Serena.“There are a few ground rules we must go through. Each and every one of them must be followed if you want my help, Alpha Serena.”“Understood,” My sister speaks out through a shaky breath.“I’m glad that is sorted. I’ll be s
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