"I'm down in the basement, dad," Nigel said, and shortly after Eirika heard the door open and turned around. Her eyes widened with surprise when she saw it was her uncle's beta. He eyed her warily, darting his gaze from her to Nigel. "Dad…" "Good evening or should I say morning, Miss Aria," the older werewolf said. "Aria?" Nigel repeated. "Since when are you Aria?" Nigel said with a confused frown. "You know this young lady?" his father asked. "We went to school together," Nigel said and went to stand beside his dad. The two of them stood side by side and Eirika recalled why she had thought the older man looked familiar. They looked alike but their eyes were all wrong. "Why are your eyes dull green?" Eirika asked. Nigel arched an eyebrow at her. His father frowned, looking worried. "Maybe if you explain what's really going on with you, I will trust you with my answers," Nigel said, "because we both know you are not Aria. You are wearing contacts and that is not your real hai
Nigel knocked on Eirika's door at the crack of dawn. She answered the door in her training gear, ready to start the day. They went for a jog in the woods, sticking to the shoreline away from the town’s border where they might be sighted. They jogged side by side in companionable silence. Nigel's father had warned her to be careful what she and Nigel discussed in the open, reminding them they were in a werewolf's pack and nothing much was hidden. He told them not to let anyone know that they had a history. Otherwise, that would get Nigel in trouble. When they returned to Eirika's cottage, she offered to cook Nigel breakfast, joking–in dark humor–about taking advantage of the hospitality. Nigel agreed, holding her gaze. Eirika cooked them a hearty breakfast, and Nigel quickly devoured his. "Thanks for the breakfast, Eirika. It's… not bad," Nigel said. Eirika threw a napkin at him. He chuckled and she couldn’t help but stared at him, still in disbelief that she was with Nigel Hartwell
"First, you need to be quick on your feet. Use your agility to dodge their attacks and strike when they're off balance. "Remember, Eirika, always keep your guard up," Nigel reminded her. "Your opponent can strike at any moment."Eirika followed his instructions and began to practice her moves on a punching bag.After a few minutes, Nigel decided it was time for her to try them out on him again. He put on some protective gear and stepped into the ring with her. Eirika felt a surge of adrenaline as she faced off against him. They spent hours practicing different techniques, with Nigel emphasizing the importance of strategy and quick thinking.They sparred for what felt like hours, Eirika trying out different moves and Nigel giving her tips and feedback along the way. By the end of the session, Eirika was sweating and out of breath, but she felt more confident in her ability to defend herself.Next up was archery. Nigel set up a series of targets at varying distances and instructed Eirik
After six weeks in the Silvertooth Nightstalkers Pack, Eirika had formed a pattern, she trained with Nigel as often as they could and when Nigel was busy training the new members of the Pack, she went to help Brook in the bar. Jack, Hawk, and the other enforcers often showed up at the bar and although Jack kept his distance, she had seen him giving her a cold stare across the room. And in all that time, she only crossed paths with her uncle once when Brook asked her to make a delivery to an upscale establishment a few blocks away from her uncle's house. A young brunette had opened the door for her, wearing a robe over a sexy getup. The lady thanked and paid Eirika but before she shut the door, Eirika saw her uncle walk past the lady in nothing but boxers when he saw her his steps faltered but then he walked away without saying anything. Eirika simply nodded her thanks and turned to leave. Remembering the part her uncle played in her parents' death made fury burn inside her all over
"Hey!" One of them yelled. But before they could react. Beta Shadowclaw transformed into a massive Lycan, his fur bristling with fury. With lightning-fast speed, he attacked the guards, taking them down one by one.Eirika watched in awe as the older Lycan dispatched the guards with ease. When he was finished, he turned to her and snarled, "Run!"Eirika gave him a grateful nod and sprinted past the fallen guards, her heart racing with adrenaline.Weeks before: ArricArric crept through the forest surrounding his father's pack's territory, careful to avoid making any noise that might alert the guards patrolling the perimeter. He knew the layout of the castle-like structure that served as his father's home like the back of his hand.He moved stealthily across the courtyard, hugging the shadows in his black hooded cloak and ducking behind bushes whenever he saw a guard approach. His heightened senses allowed him to sense their presence even before they came into view, and he used his keen
After a day in the woods again, camping alone and sleeping on trees, Eirika's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the massive pack of black werewolves march by. She need not guess where they were coming from and she silently prayed that Nigel and his father and Brook with the rest of the Silvertooth Nightstalkers Pack are alright. She watched from her perch as the group of werewolves passed beneath her, their numbers milling massively in hordes. She waited until they had moved on before climbing down from the tree. Knowing they were heading back to the black wolves' territory, she started to trail them, unconsciously making a decision to find Roffe Barther. She moved silently through the woods, staying just far enough behind the group so as not to be noticed. They moved quickly, their massive forms blending seamlessly into the night. She had to use all her stealth and agility to keep up with them, but she managed to do so. She watched as they made their way deeper into the fo
After running for a few minutes, Eirika spotted a small cottage at the end of a quiet street. It was surrounded by overgrown vegetation, making it difficult to see from the road. She hurried towards it, trying to stay quiet in case anyone was nearby. As she slipped inside, she didn't turn on the lights. Instead, she tiptoed through the small living room, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. It was sparsely furnished, with a couch, a couple of chairs, and a small table in the corner. She could see the outlines of pictures on the walls, but she didn't get a good look at them. Eirika made her way to the bathroom, where she washed her face and hands to try and calm her nerves. She then sat down at the table and ate quickly, trying to replenish her energy. Feeling more refreshed, she decided to explore the rest of the house. She found the bedroom, which was similarly sparsely furnished. There was a dresser against one wall, and a bed with a plain white sheet on it. She wondered if the st
Eirika slowly opened her eyes, blinking in the dim light of the walled-up dungeon. Her head throbbed from where she had been knocked out, and she could feel the cold stone floor beneath her. She tried to get up, but her body was weak, and her muscles refused to cooperate. She shivered, feeling the cold seep into her bones. The walls of the dungeon were damp, and the air smelled musty and stale. She had no idea how long she had been here, but it felt like days since she had last eaten or drunk anything. A piteous sob escaped her lips and she shook with tears. She wished they had killed her outrightly. So she wouldn't have to face Arric. She figured he would have found out about her by now, and if no one had come for her, then she was right about her deductions. Arric hate her now and had indeed left her to her fate – to rot and starve to death. Because she was certain she would soon enough. Lack of food would make her waste away that is if the cold did not kill her first. She was e