My pillowcase was drenched in tears as I lay facedown on my bed. I could hear Grandma Ulfred in the kitchen banging pots and pans as she tidied up to keep herself busy while we waited for my father to return. My father would find Gwen and bring her home. He had to. We had already lost enough. Not having our mother here was a constant reminder of that.
"Pull yourself together", I mumbled through tears. I flipped over to my back, sitting up. Lying in bed feeling sorry for myself was not going to fix anything. Sliding both legs off the side of the bed, I stood up and made my way to the kitchen.
"Let's have a cup of tea," Grandma Ulfred said, giving me a sad smile, her face etched with worry.
Sniffling back tears, I nodded." Where is she, Grandma¨? "What if something has happened to her"?
Chapter Nineteen - Fenis POVI couldn’t believe my eyes when the door opened, and Kodessa Keneally was standing in front of me. She was shaken and upset but still as beautiful as ever. Uncle Jackson, Johnra, Fleki and I had been waiting under Adaś floor for hours. Then strangers had arrived at Ironside, delaying our departure. I strained to hear the muffled voices, faintly listening to the name Gwendolyn.Which meant nothing to me at the time. I had no idea who Gwendolyn was or why she had arrived at Ironside late at night.The sight of Tobias Keneally caught me off-guard. He was physically intimidating and had an aura of aut
Itś not fair, I thought to myself as my father shut the door, Grandma Ulfred and I had been dismissed back to the kitchen, excluded from the conversation of men. It had always been this way. Women never took part in the running of the pack, the big decisions. Men always held the leadership roles, and if I were a male, I would be automatically Alpha when my father was unable to perform his duties, but oh no, because I’m a girl, it is my husband that will be next in line.“It’s not fair, Grandma”, I moaned, slamming the dishes in the cupboard as we began to clean the kitchen.“Kodessa Keneally, stop slamming those dishes like a petulant child,” she said with a sigh of irritation.“It is your fathers’ decision as Alpha, whom he di
Leaving our families behind felt like a mistake, I could not help but think. If my father had discovered them at Adaś, they would have been tortured until they revealed our whereabouts. Alpha Tobias is sitting at his desk flanked with men I do not recognise, and they look like they have been bickering.“Jackson, Fenis, take a seat “, Tobias motioned to the vacant chairs. “I have filled the council in on the situation so far”.“Good to see you, Brother”. Christopher Ramsey smiles at Jackson and places his hand on his shoulder. “Tobias has told us the reason for your treason. I forgive you”.“As you all know, we have two positions that need to be filled on the council left empty by the departure of the Radleys”. Tobias
I woke up tired and alone. My body felt like it had been torn apart, I tried and sat up, but pain exploded through my body. Taking a deep breath, I gritted my teeth and shimmied up the bed. I am in one of Adaś bedrooms. A crackling fire warms the room. Lucian appeared at the doorway.“Lucian”, my voice was coarse and raspy. “Oh Lucian, don’t look at me”.” I must look dreadful”.“You look beautiful, Gwennie. You always look beautiful,” smiling. He handed me a mug of hot tea. Steam billowed from the top, filling my nostrils with a soothing earthy scent. Holding the cup between my hands, I carefully blew the top, waiting for it to be cool enough to drink.The warm tea soothed my tender throat.
Slipping into my silver dress, the silk felt cool on my warm skin. I kept reminiscing about the day's events. How Fenisś lips felt on mine, the tenderness of his touch, How hungry we were for each others embrace. My body felt different now, more womanly, more sensual. Biting my lip as the silk caressed my nipple, my body tingled.There was a gently rapt on the door, "Kodessa, itś time to go"? Grandma Ulfred said as she opened the door."I'm ready", my heart started racing, knowing that I was soon to see Fenis again."You look beautiful, Grandma", smiling she took my hand, and we started walking to the kitchen. "There is something different about you, Dessa? "I just cannot put my finger on it, but something has changed".
Sitting in the corner of the room on the pile of filthy blankets, I rubbed my eyes with my dirty hands. My hands and fingernails were caked with dirt. Sleep did not come as I lay in fear of Darius or James Coopers return. Deathly afraid of what was to become of Lucian, I had called out to him all night but to no avail. The silence was soul-destroying. The cell was freezing as the nighttime temperature plummeted—water running down the walls causing moss to grow in patches.The door handle turned. Cowering in the corner, I closed my eyes tightly, not game enough to look.“Good Morning Gwendolyn, How did you sleep?” Darius’s word sent chills down my spine. Mustering all the courage I could, I responded sweetly.“I slept like a bab
The cool night air hit my face as I followed Alpha Tobias into the forest. Twigs scraped my coat as I weaved through the trees. Howls echoed through the darkness as the wolves branched off to hunt. Sniffing the air, a familiar scent drifted through the air, stopping me dead in my tracks. “Darius”, I said to myself as the smell became stronger. We are well inside Crimson Shadow territory. What is Darius up to? Did he follow Fenis and my scent?Alpha Tobiasś nose was high in the air, “Darius”, he growled immediately recognising the scent of his old friend. The heckles on the back of his neck bristled up as he followed the scent. Trailing behind Alpha Tobias, I noticed a second scent, “James,” I snarled, exposing my teeth.“We need to bring the plan forward, Jackson” Tobias shook his head.
I was slowly going insane, trapped in Adaś secret underground room, it was ample space, but with Aunt Bonnie, Johnra, my mother and Atticus, the walls felt like they were closing in around me. “Leki come play “ Atticus held out his chubby hand. Rolling his yellow ball across the floor until it stopped suddenly as it hit my feet. Gently rolling it back and forth, Atticus squealed with delight every time the ball was sent back to him. My mum and Aunt Bonnie spent their time whispering and trying to hide their concern. As hard as they tried, there was no way to hide from the torment of not knowing if Fenis and Uncle Jackson were safe or the constant fear of my father discovering our whereabouts. Beckoning Johnra over with my finger, we needed to make a plan. J
Pain radiated throughout my body as I slowly sat up, keeping my eyes firmly on Kodessa until she disappeared. Johnra groaned as he tried to sit up, his shirt soaked as blood seeped from his wounds. His face went white as the blood left his body."Don't move, Johnra. ", I crawled over to him, and my left leg hung limply. Using my forearms, I inched forward. Sticks and rocks dug into my arms, tearing the skin as I kept moving. Time was of the essence, and I needed to help Johnra and return to Briarwood to alert the pack of Kodessa's kidnapping.The image of Fleki's eyes kept flashing in my mind. They were eyes I was very familiar with, our father's evil, vicious eyes. But, deep down, I knew Fleki was way worse than our father, and if we did not stop him, he would destroy anyone in his path.Johnra stirred as I reached out my hand to touch his shoulder, "Hang in there, Johnra", I whispered into his ear. Then, lifting the tattered remains of his shirt, I gasped as I saw the deep gashes
“I am coming with you, Fenis. I just need to get my boots”. I ran down the hallway and pushed open the door, grabbing my boots off the floor. Johnra and Fenis were waiting for me in the front garden.“Us poor men Fenis, always waiting for a woman”, Johnra teased with a grin. Then, slapping him on the arm, he laughed as we headed through the town until we reached the edge of the river.“And what would you know about women Johnra Thompson”? Rolling my eyes, I flicked him behind his ears.“Ouch,” he cried, clutching his ear with his large hand.“Men”, I giggled “, nothing but babies”.
My days were full of caring for Lucian, who didn’t remember who I was and helping Ada with her Carmentis duties. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had a purpose.Stepping out the front door, I shielded my eyes from the glare of the midday sun. Lucian was working in the garden. His brown skin glistened with sweat as he swung the hoe into the earth. Jagged raised scabs covered his back, deep red ridges where the wounds had started to heal. If only the wounds we could not see were healing as quickly. He was happiest doing simple tasks, most comfortable when he was alone. We spent very little time together, and I feared that our love would always be lost.“Good Morning Lucian” smiling through the pain. “It’s a beautiful day. Would you like to go for a stroll”?
“Should you go after him, Fenis?” Kodessa touched my arm, and her eyes were wide with concern. “Not this time”, I smiled gently “we have way too much going on here for me to go and chase Fleki after another one of his tantrums”. “I don’t know, I think you should,” she pleaded.” Please, Fenis, he is hurting”. Taking her in my arms, I held on tightly, my face nestled into her soft hair “stop worrying, Des”. “I cannot help it. I have a bad feeling about it” Kodessa’s pretty face wrinkled as she was deep in thought. “If it eases your worries, I will head out tomorrow and drag him back.”
The hunger, curling up on the bed, I clutched my sides as pain racked my body. A burning primal hunger that needed to be quenched. Sweat coated my body, as it spasmed uncontrollably.“Are you ready to drink yet, Fleki”?Lenore entered the room, dragging a petite blonde girl by her hair, her tanned legs flying around in sheer terror. Blood trickled down her slender neck before I could draw a breath, her lifeless body lay in my arms, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand I let out an ear-piercing howl. Tears rolled down my face as I looked at the damage I had inflicted, her head hanging on by a thread, a chunk of skin and muscle missing, Dark red blood covered the tops of her shoulders, her long blonde hair tinged pink. A strange feeling came over me as I felt her blood coursing through me.&nbs
Atticus screams echoed through my head as I slammed the door and left the house, I don’t belong here I thought to myself as I headed towards the forest, picking up my pace as the rage inside me started to boil over. Whilst I had been locked away in Ada’s basement, Fenis had been having the time of his life with Kodessa Keneally. He had found his home, easily and looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world, which was typical. How easy it was for Fenis to forget me, to move on. Well now it’s my time to move on, the question is where do I move on to? Kicking a clump of grass, the constant battle raging inside me was becoming exhausting. And then with a moment of clarity, I knew exactly where I belonged. It was time to go home and take my place at my father’s side. It was time to stop fighting and embrace the evil that lurked inside me. The blood pumped through my legs as I quickened my pac
Rubbing my eyes, I was woken up by loud noises and crying coming from the kitchen. Voices that I had not heard before, nervously I picked my robe up off the floor, the silk glided over my naked skin, the cool material leaving goosebumps. Quickly checking my appearance in the mirror, I tucked my hair behind my ears and headed to the kitchen. Opening the door I was shocked by what I saw, the room was full of people, A young child cried in the corner in a beautiful woman’s arms, Grandma Winifred was running around handing out blankets. The kettle on the stove began to whistle as steam poured out of the spout. Mugs lined the bench with various teas in them, waiting for the water to help release their aromas. Looking at the sea of faces, I spotted one that was familiar to me, Fleki. What was Fenis’s brother doing here? And where was Gwen?. “Kodessa, come and help me with the tea please”? Grandma
“Kodessa, wake up” I traced around her face with my fingertips, carefully moving a strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek. Sound asleep her eyes remained firmly shut. Gently shaking her arm, “Kodessa, wake up”. Her chest moved up and down steadily as she remained sound asleep, kissing her tenderly on the cheek and lifting the covers I slid out of the bed and quickly retrieved my clothes off the floor.Hastily getting dressed, I turn for one last look and close the door behind me. The house is quiet as I made my way down the hall and into the kitchen, muffled voices can be heard in the kitchen, pushing open the door, Uncle Jackson and Alpha Tobias are sitting at the table with a map of Ironside spread out in front of them. They both quickly look up as I enter the room. “What’s going on”, I asked as Uncle Jackson folded the map in h
The street was deserted as we made our way through the town, keeping our heads down and our backs to the wall trying to blend into the darkness. Aunt Bonnie led the way, followed by my mother and Johnra who had Atticus perched on his shoulders thoroughly enjoying the ride. I was at the rear constant looking behind me and making sure we were hitting a steady pace. There was a coldness in the air and a slight breeze which would make our scent so much easier to track. The ritual would be over soon, we did not have much time. Atticus bobbed up and down on Johnraś broad shoulders, giggling in delight oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Excited to be outside for the first time in a while, he grinned and waved as we rushed down the road. “Shh Addy” Johnra hushed,” Remember we must be really quiet to win the game”