and the second one. The next chapter will be either Zev's or Raiden's pov, so you'll learn why they were back at school and what they were thinking.
Raiden’s pov‘Mate’, Atlas growled in my head.It had been his idea to shift and kill the traitor in front of me.‘You act like I’m savage for doing what I did, but you just broke both his legs and beat his face to a pulp.’ Atlas responded to my thoughts.He ate the guy’s face.‘I bit the guys face; I spit it out,’ Atlas countered. ‘But I am losing the scent of our mate.’ He was getting anxious, and so was I.We had decided together to end Archer first and then chase after our mate. We couldn’t let him live. Not after what he had done. There was no telling what he would do if he was able to meet up with the hunters.Atlas followed his nose, trying to chase after the scent of our mate. He found a tree where someone had thrown up. Scents were so much stronger right now, and I did not enjoy that scent.But there was another scent lingering, a familiar one.Could it be her? The first time the mate bond had kicked in, I had found her scent familiar, but I had been too busy with Archer to re
Zev's pov“She’s my mate.” I had to get it out. He needed to know. I felt too weak to say more, and I hoped he grasped what I was trying to say. What was going on.Rishi was no help, letting me feel most of it. He was angry. We didn’t give her a chance. We didn’t ask enough questions.We had hurt her.No. Not we.I had hurt her. Rishi had been angry when he found out Lana had been lying. But not as angry and hurt as I was.She had promised to tell me the truth, but everything she had told me was a lie.I had no clue who Lana really was. Her last name, her age. What was real?It felt like another betrayal by a person who I loved. Someone I had trusted had hurt me once again. Not physically like my dad, but it hurt none the less.If things were different, maybe I would have tried. Maybe I wouldn’t have rejected her on the spot. However, the anger I felt at her betrayal was overwhelming. It was proof of the darkness inside of me.In my anger, my claws appeared, and I made her bleed.And i
Atalanta’s pov“Do you have a death wish, or are you brave?”He must have not been talking to me. Nobody talks to me. They only yell insults at me or ignore me. But none of the soldiers have tried talking to me in a normal tone.“Seriously, Atalanta. Why do you keep doing this?”I wiped away the blood under my nose with the back of my hand. “Doing what?”“You keep fighting the biggest guys, even volunteering when they don’t pick you themselves.” Sergi explained.I looked over at the soldier I barely knew. I didn’t know many people here. A few faces were familiar because they used to be friends with Archer. They hated me the most.Well, that’s not true. My family hates me the most.I had been here for almost two weeks now.The first week was a time of mourning and celebration for the hunters. We mourned the loss of our future leader, the sole heir to succeed General Sweets.But before Archer's death, he had completed a successful mission. Archer had apparently put Belledona in everyone
Raiden’s pov“Come home,” mom pleaded.I've been away for several weeks now. Thankfully we had great allies that I could stay at in between my search for Atalanta.I was not giving up on my mate. I needed to know if she was okay.Those weren’t lies she told us. Those scars on her body were from real abuse. My timid little mouse wasn't that much of an actress. I could always see through her lies, even if I didn't know what the truth behind them was.But she really did love spending time with us. She didn’t get to leave her house before coming here, and she didn’t have any friends.Since they sent both her and her brother, it must mean she was the contingency, the backup.Mom had communicated that maybe Atalanta could be part of the whole poisoning at the school, but I refused to believe that.Suzie had been with her all night and morning. When would she have had the chance?She’s not a bad person. Atalanta might be brainwashed, but everything she’s learned we can unlearn.Dad had mindli
Zev’s pov “I’m worried,” Grace said as she helped me out of bed. I had been stuck in bed for two weeks, healing from my rejection. Can I call it my rejection since I rejected her? She didn’t accept or even feel any of it. Even if she didn't accept my rejection, she would have still felt it if she had a wolf. Her lies and her betrayal... In a sense, she rejected me first. She ran away, making it impossible for me to forgive her. Raiden thought the hunters had captured her. Why take someone that already belongs to you? Yes, she had a sad backstory, but how much of it was lies? And how much of it was deception meant to trick us. And the worst thing is... I can understand why she tricked Raiden, but me? I’m nobody. She didn’t have to start writing letters. Had she always known it was me? She didn’t have to let me open up. She didn’t have to get me to fall in love with her. Everything I taught Lana about werewolves she could have found out in a different way. By reading a book, atte
Raiden’s pov‘Come home.’ Dad said through our mindlink.‘I still haven’t found her, but I am close, dad. Just a week or a bit longer and,-‘Dad cut me off, ‘it wasn’t a question, Raiden. Come home.’I scoffed, annoyed at his reply. Didn’t he realize how important this was? Atalanta might be hurt! She’s my mate. The future Luna of our pack. She takes priority over, well, everything.‘No.’Dad growled through the mindlink, and I could only imagine the look on his face right now.Yesterday I interrogated and killed another hunter. This one wasn’t as easy to break, clearly scared of his leader. I had to respect his efforts to remain silent, even if it meant biting his own tongue off.But before he did, he managed to say one thing that drew my attention. He told me he wouldn’t talk because General Sweets would do much worse to him than I ever could.There was that name again, and I knew I was close. There had been others to mention this general’s name, but this hunter seemed to actually kn
Zev’s povI dropped to the floor and quickly got back up.He’s not the same man he was when he left. It’s not just the way he looks, and he looks like a dirty rogue. His skin was covered in dirt and blood, and goddess knows what.He didn’t smell dirty; he smelled like blood and death.There were scars, bullet wounds, scratches, bite marks... Did he encounter hunters? Rogues? How many did he have to kill to stay alive, or did he start to enjoy it?Before this, Raiden hadn’t killed anyone. Archer was his first.The risk of bloodthirst was always strong in alphas. They’re the strongest of us, the most lethal. But as long as this is used to protect their pack, it’s fine. It becomes a problem when Alphas start killing for no reason. When they go in search of that feeling you get when you kill someone.To kill out of self-preservation or when you’re attacked is different. The Crescent Moon pack had never been the pack to attack first.We pride ourselves on our ways of resolving conflicts wit
Atalanta’s pov Uncle Sweets asked me to write a journal. He decided that instead of me continuing on the serum, he was upping the dose just a bit to see what the effects were. I knew I was being used to experiment on, but like many of my feelings lately, I pushed the reality of what that meant down. It was getting harder and harder to ignore everything that felt wrong about this place. But it wasn't just this place; it was me. I had changed, and I had grown used to being able to speak freely and plan my schedule with my friends. But now, my days were set in stone. My daily routine consisted of training, eating, taking a pill, going to sleep, taking a shower, and then training again. The days were becoming monotone, and I wasn't sure how long I had been here or which day it was. The journal might be helpful. It’s not the reason the general wanted me to keep it, though. He wanted me to write down how I felt and if there were other side effects than before. “You’re the only one tak
Raiden’s povAlthough we don’t celebrate Christmas, because you know, we don’t believe in Jesus or God, we do have our own celebration. Our celebration is rooted in pagan holidays such as Saturnalia, the winter solstice, and Yule, which also serve as the basis for Christmas, but we won't delve into that.The lights, the tree, the gifts—it's all there. Just no Santa and definitely no nativity stable and stuff.But I was working to a point… My point is, we have watched a few Christmas movies, and I am familiar with some of the songs.And the one that keeps repeating in my head is, “he’s making a list. He’s checking it twice.”I have a list as well. It’s sort of like a naughty or nice list, but it only contains those who have been bad. Those that need punishment.And I am not talking about some coal in their stocking. No… Just some good old-fashioned murder.First on my list is, of course, that fucking dickhead General Sweets. Not far behind are mommy dearest and stepdaddy. I’ve already
Atalanta’s povI looked around me, trying to hear and see if anyone noticed me. I had run here quickly, and with my size, I wasn’t as noticeable as Raiden or Zev. But I am still a wolf in a hunter's village.Everyone around me seemed too busy with the wolves near the borders of the village. People were either hiding or going out to fight, none of them expecting one of the wolves had already gotten through.I could run back. I could stick to the plan. But this is probably where the scout is being held. This could be a chance to free him.While I had my eyes closed during the night the General took me down to his laboratory, I could still hear and smell. And the only other person who was there was the doctor. Most of the people here weren’t even aware of the experiments the General performed.There could be a chance he was hiding him elsewhere, a place prisoners usually are kept. But I had this feeling in my gut. General Sweets would want more than information if he found a strong male w
Atalanta’s povTo say I was freaking out was an understatement. The only thing holding me together was reminding myself why we were doing this.It was for our future. Raiden, Zev, and I together, having our own family.And a safe place to raise that family with people that we cared about.I don’t know when the idea of having a family, of having a baby, popped up in my head. It might have been because of Zev’s letter.Even now that we’re marked, he continues to write me little notes or letters on the days I’m scheduled to work alongside Raiden or Odin.In one of them he shared how Suzie made him see sense by showing him what he could have. He described this family, with us as parents. There was no intent behind it, no pressure for me to have a baby. He was just saying that in a perfect world, one day that could be us.And it made sense. Zev and I both wanted a loving family more than anything. Raiden already has a loving family, so he’s in less of a hurry.‘And he wants you all to hims
Zev’s pov“Do you think Odin remembers what I told him about hunters using the bow and arrow first? because it makes less noise?” Lana asked while Raiden kissed her neck.She moaned softly as I unbuttoned her shirt, as instructed by Raiden during the meeting.‘We’re going to distract our mate as much as possible while enjoying each other to the fullest.’ Raiden had mindlinked me earlier. ‘I need your help, because I’m pretty sure she’s freaking the fuck out.’He had used his stupid alpha voice when he asked me. I’m not even sure he realizes he uses a different voice for some things. It’s like more authoritarian, lower somehow?To me it just sounds stupid, because I’ve grown up with the man. Honestly, it sounds like a little boy's version of how a big, strong man should sound.But if it makes him feel good, who cares, right?I removed one sleeve, and then the next, while Raiden’s kisses went lower. “He knows, little mouse.”Lana looked at me, “first bows, then guns, then knives for clos
hi, I'm sorry for the lack of updates. Last Friday I had a meeting about my oldest and the school informed me he is doing so well, they think he can transfer to a different type of school. so, from special education to a school that still has smaller classes, but the kids there need less help. he's currently going to a school with kids who are on the autism spectrum, have adhd or behavior issues. it would be a chance for him to be in a classroom that isn't as loud or disruptive. Anyway, I've been busy contacting schools and visited two today. also my husband got a vasectomy today, so I'm his nurse lol. tomorrow I should be able to write. but I wanted to explain why it's been a bit hard to find time. I'm fine, just busy.
Raiden’s povBeing the alpha is fucking awesome. Especially when you have many people around to do all the parts of the job you don’t want to do. I’m the alpha of delegating.I don’t like numbers, so, Zev, why don’t you and Stephen handle it?I’d rather hang out with my mate instead of speaking to a girl I used to hook up with once, because she has a complaint. Suzie, you’ve got this. Go speak to someone who's probably going to be pissed because I don't remember anything past her name.I need to talk to some alphas who are supposed to be our allies. You know what, Dad… Aah, fuck, that is actually something only an alpha can do.To send someone else would look like I was disrespecting them. Not that I respect most of these dickheads; they’ve been working against me and my mate behind our backs.But it’s been a few weeks now since we took over, and I think it’s time to start hunting these hunters. And I’d rather do it with more people than less.Which means I need other packs to support
Atalanta’s pov“Are you getting your period or something?” Raiden asked before Zev hit him against his arm.“You can’t just ask a woman that!”Raiden rolled his eyes, “as if you would know when she’s about to have her period; you have only been back in this relationship for a little over a week.”“That’s not the point!” Zev argued back, while I stayed quiet, watching them fight over nothing.“What is the fucking point then?” Raiden asked. “Atalanta has been more quiet than usual and a bit grumpy,” he looked at me. “Sorry, little mouse, but you are a bit moody.” Then went back to Zev, “it’s just a question.”Zev sighed, “it could be many things, and to blame it on hormones is so immature.”“Besides,” Suzie added. “Lana was probably never allowed to behave differently during her periods back home, so who knows how differently she acts around that time? I mean, I never noticed anything, and we shared a room.”Raiden looked at her while shaking his head in disbelief, “you do know we share
Atalanta’s pov“Today was perfect, everything… Just, thank you, Lana. The breakfast, my surprise, the party. I’ll thank the rest later, but I knew you had a hand in most of it.” Suzie said, as we walked to the woods together.“Not the car; I had no idea Raiden was doing that.” I replied.“Yeah, that’s crazy.” Suzie laughed nervously.“Are you sure you want me there and not him?” I knew it might be better if her future alpha was here, instead of someone who had only shifted once.She shook her head, “no. I want you there. Besides, if Stephen and Raiden were both there, they would end up bickering, and I would be too busy telling them to shut up to shift.”I giggled, “probably.”“Besides, your first shift was so different. With the being knocked out and everything. I think you need a do-over. And I like the idea of doing this together with someone for the first time. I don’t need someone telling me what to do; I have my wolf for that. I just need people around me who have my back. Who wi
Raiden’s pov‘It was so beautiful to see, and I just can’t believe how well the shift went.’ Atalanta said this as we ran back to the packhouse, still in our wolf shape.‘Uh-huh,’ I replied.She giggled, ‘you don’t want to talk right now?’‘No,’ I answered truthfully, until Zev loudly scoffed in our shared mindlink.‘Raiden! You can’t just say that!’‘Little mouse, normally I would love to hear all about how you supported your friend and how well your second time shifting went. I would love nothing more than to hear every single detail about tonight, but after. Not now.’Our mate giggled, while Zev growled. ‘You’re such an ass.’I sighed, ‘Zev… You know me better than anyone. Do you honestly think I possess the patience to listen to a story mere minutes after our mate informed us she wants to mark me?’‘Us.’“Yeah, whatever us. Do you think I’d actually be able to listen to anything she has to say? It would be a disservice to our sweet mate to let her tell her story about tonight, beca