I felt a weight had lifted off my shoulders. Finally, tonight was the night Lucian and I would declare our love for each other to the rest of the pack. I was apprehensive and nervous at how the pack would receive the news. I know that Kodessa will be upset and feel betrayed. And my father will be furious, and he would be even more enraged if he found out that we had been intimate.
And I cannot wait until we are married and have children together. But, if we have to leave the pack, so be it ...
Pulling my dress out of the wardrobe, I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in". Kodessa sheepishly entered the room.
"Hi Gwen, thatś a pretty dress" "Is that what you are wearing tonight?"
My dress was a light blue that brought out the blue in my eyes. It had delicate white lace fringing on the collar and sleeves. It corseted tightly across the back and accentuated my waist and breasts.
I decided to cut Kodessa some slack, and
There was excitement in the air as we walked to the town square. The roadway was alight with hundreds of lanterns, and the flames danced in the night air. And people filled the street. Mouthwatering aromas tantalised as the food carts served up bowls of rich, hearty meals. My stomach rumbled as the scent hit my nostrils. Since I could not dance ... I might as well eat."Is anyone else hungry?"I could eat¨ my father replied."I'm not, father.""Nor am I, thanks for asking Kodessa".My Grandmother put her arms around Gwen's shoulder, "Come on, Gwen, let us have a look at the dancefloor"."Gwen seems in a better mood tonight, father"."Yes, But for how long"? He let out a loud laugh.I smiled and spooned another mouthful of lamb stew, and the meat was tender. Potatoes and vegetables floated around in the rich gravy. And it was the comfort food I needed to get through the evening
Chapter Eleven Fenis POVAs we walked into the kitchen, I saw my mother sitting at the table, her eyes red and puffy from the tears she had shed. She had a significant red mark on her cheek courtesy of my father and his never-ending savagery. On the other hand, Atticus was perched on her lap, his chubby hands holding half a scone each. Dripping with butter and strawberry jam, he took turns raising them to his mouth and licking the tops. The jam smeared across his mouth and nose in a sticky mess. He was oblivious to the sadness around him.Uncle Jackson stood up and gave us a weary smile."Come and see me out the back, boys". "After you have had a chat with your mother".I gave him a no
My head was reeling, and I felt the rage building up inside me. It was getting almost impossible to push it back down. I feared any day now, and I would reach my boiling point. Spending time with Martha would only add to that. I found her an obnoxious brat, and being in her service today will be a nightmare. I pity my brother doomed to spend a lifetime with such a hideous girl.When we arrived home, our housekeeper had prepared a feast for the picnic. Bertha placed fresh bread with ham, cheese and mothers homemade relish, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, and two bottles of lemonade inside the wicker basket, a red and white checkered blanket sat on top.Atticus was sleeping soundly on the chair next to our mother. She was sitting in her armchair sewing buttons on one of fathers shirts. There was a sadness
Oh no, I frantically started looking around for an exit, wondering how I would get out of this. Lucian looked nervous as he slowly made his way across the dancefloor. He looked nervous as he approached us. Grandma Ulfred squeezed my arm."Stay", she whispered," you need to hear this". She gave me a reassuring smile.I felt physically sick, and I do love Lucian. I am just not in love with him. After meeting Fenis, I knew I never was. How do you say to break the heart of someone you care so deeply about?Lucian looked striking in his navy blue suit, his fair hair slicked to one side. The blues in his suit brought out the blue in his eyes. He looked nervous as he approached my family. Looking at the faces of my family, I was confused to see that only Gwen was excited.
Running down the road as fast as my legs could carry me, I shivered. The night air was crisp, and the wind was starting to blow a gale. Panic began to set in, and I was struggling to breathe. The thought of Lucian leaving without me was too much even to consider. I knew I didn’t have much time before my father discovered me missing. My head was foggy, and my left eye was swollen shut. My face just ached, but not as much as my heart did.Seeing Kodessa realise the depths of my betrayal is something I will never forget. I hoped one day, in time, I could explain everything to her. Running from my family was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.Lucian slung a sizeable brown canvas bag across his shoulder. As he closed his front door behind him, his hunting knife sat in its sheath attached to hi
“MARTHA, COME BACK”,Oh great, I could only imagine the trouble I was going to be in over this. Usually, I could maintain my composure whilst dealing with Martha, but I could not deal with her childish behaviour after everything else that had happened over the last few days.“You need to fix this, Fenis. Beta James will murder you. Tell Martha that you will marry her”.“I cannot marry her, Leki” I hung my head in shame. “I would rather be banished”.“I will see Uncle Jackson and talk to him about Martha. You should go home and get some rest”.“My head is killing me. Stay away from the C
Uncle Jackson bit his lip and looked deep in thought as he slumped down into the worn leather seat, adjusted the cushion behind him and began to speak."Your father was not honest with you Fenis, he has twisted the past to make himself and his actions look better". Uncle Jackson bends his neck from side to side, the bones making a loud cracking sound."Yes, your Aunt and I were in love, but we were in love before Lillyarna Ulfred arrived in Briarwood". "Darius, Tobias and I were best friends growing up, Tobias and I had seen snippets of your father's cruel side but had no idea of the lengths he would go to to get his way"."Bonnie and I were saying goodbye when your father walked in and caught us", overcome with guilt, we could no longer betray Tobias". "If only we had waite
What in the hell was that idiot Viktor doing here? He was my one source of information in Briarwood. Although, on the plus side, he had brought none other than Tobias Keneallyś youngest daughters with him. For a moment, I thought I had seen a ghost. She was the spitting image of Lillyarna."Welcome to Ironside, of course. You have sanctuary Viktor".Victor nodded and smiled gratefully. He was such a simple idiot, easy to control. He had been relaying information about Briarwood for years. Lucian Radley has not said much., keeping his eyes firmly on Gwen. I could tell he was different from his father, and Lucian would not be so easily fooled.James takes Lucian and Gwendolyn to Ada's house so she can take care of all their injuries" "and then meet me at
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”