>I woke up to silence.It was an unfamiliar and unwelcome feeling. In recent months, I had gotten used to having Dahlia in my head and commenting on most of my thoughts. I liked her companionship even though we didn't always get along. But I guess that is how most shifters are with their animals.I tried to call out to her once more before giving up and getting ready for my morning run. My mother's letter was still swirling in my head. What could it all mean? Everything felt mysteriously important.As I stepped into the woods, the thought of the dehydrated Claire, starving in the cabin's basement made me stop. I glanced toward the hatch. She had been an awful person even before I knew what she was capable of. But was I the person who lets people get punished worse than animals? But then, I had my hands red with the compound mass-massacre. I had the blood of so many innocents on my hands. I wasn't any better.Just like that the pit in the bottom of my stomach returned. I s
>"Speculum magicae plenum excantatum, ostende mihi unum ex altera parte," I chanted after I had dropped a droplet of my blood on the back of the silver embossed hand mirror.Instantly the mirror started moving as if I had poured water on it and started rippling in circles. While it did its magic, I had a thought, "Dahlia?"'Uhuh,' She called out watching the mirror with more attention than me."How did the barrier break? I thought I'd feel something like that but I didn't. I mean I felt the silence when it was created." I mused.'Yes, you did. You were just so preoccupied that you didn't realize it immediately.' She confirmed and I was confused."How? When?"'When you were by the lake.' She answered as if it was obvious and then explained, 'Agitation creates barriers, tranquility breaks them down.'I realized then that when I had felt the wind blow through me, it was more in my head than in real life. My mind space was whole again."Wait a minute," I said to her, "If you
>Talking to MJ had not only brightened my mood and given me something to think about, it had also lightened the weight off of my heart. I was still troubled, but it had given me a morale boost that I desperately needed. Especially after having Dahlia locked up for a night.She had given me a new perspective on things. She was more courageous than me. After all, we were in similar predicaments, on the run, hiding from powerful, evil people. But she was stuck in a shabby, questionable place. In that sense, I was better off than her. And yet, she had the strength to laugh about everything like it was just a big joke that life was playing on us.Telling her about everything had rejuvenated me and the conversation had left me energized and ready to tackle my problems again. I had a lot of work to do. There was stuff left by Mom and Aunt Julie, not to mention, that mysterious journal we had retrieved from our Riverwoods torturers along with that weird key.Thus after my early m
>“So, where did you learn how to cook?” Lady Shaw asked as she stirred the boiling pot of soup I was making for dinner.“Mostly my Dad and Aunt Julie. She was Dad’s cousin, used to live with us. Some I learned from experimenting with MJ,” I was instinctively going to add that some I learned for my ex John because he preferred home-cooked meals, but that asshole did not deserve a mention.She took a small spoon and tasted the soup. Subconsciously, I held my breath waiting for her reaction. She took her time and the knife in my hand hovered over the fresh coriander that she had brought.“It’s good,” She smiled in affirmation, and I let out a tiny sigh of relief. Her approval was important to me for some reason. I didn’t know if she knew that I was Xavier’s mate or not, but this was the second time I was meeting her and I did not want to disappoint her. I did not have many special skills but I knew I could trust my cooking and self-defense.“It’s Dad’s recipe,” I couldn’t ke
RECAP of Book 1:Alpha Xavier's Relentless Pursuit of his mateZoe Simmons was the daughter of the pack Beta and used to believe that she was wolfless because she didn't get her wolf at puberty like everyone else in her pack. But when her boyfriend succeeded in her father's position in the pack, she found him nothing more than a cheating douchebag who wanted to have his cake and eat it too.When her boyfriend decided to imprison her father for an embezzlement case that he was responsible for, Zoe turned to take help from a powerful stranger with whom she felt a new connection. Alpha Councilor Xavier Shaw was still not over the disappearance of his chosen mate five years ago when the alluring omega from the neighboring pack sought his help. He agreed to a contract but ended up having his buried feelings awoken by Zoe.Before either of them could name their budding relationship, Claire, the one Xavier had been waiting for returned to reconcile and resume her relationship. Xavier feelin
>Zoe had been distant with me since we started the road trip. Who could blame her? I didn't. I blamed my bad decisions for putting such a wall between us that it was going to be hard to break it down and get to her. But I was nothing if I wasn't relentless. We had no idea what to expect in Kansas City. I would've asked someone to fly in and take a look before us just for Zoe's safety. But, I needed to stay out of touch for the sake of keeping my pack safe from the consequences of my actions. An Alpha was nothing without his pack. But, a wolf was nothing without his mate. To be a stronger Alpha and protect my people, I needed to be a better mate. And that meant doing everything I could to seek Zoe's forgiveness and hopefully take her back to my pack that had been without a leader for so long. I knew leaving Gramps in charge was as good as it could get. She was resourceful and wise but the world was changing. Awful things were going on. I was hoping that this road tr
>Zoe woke Xavier up early the next day and took breakfast to-go. She was eager to get to the coordinates left by her mother. She was desperate to find meaning in her life. She needed to find a purpose.They only stopped at a gas station to refuel and took lunch to-go before getting back on the road. Xavier was worried for Zoe but he was hoping that whatever was awaiting them in Kansas would help Zoe the way she needed. The journey was monotonous and silent. Spike was eager to converse with Dahlia but Dahlia had yet to accept his mind-link. Dahlia was eager to know more about her mate but she was loyal to her human and if Zoe was that upset with him, he must've hurt her quite badly. Which made me a little mad at him too. Mates are supposed to respect, love, and protect each other. They are supposed to have each other's back, but Zoe's mate had abandoned her and chosen someone else.Sun was about to set, sending orange and golden hues to dance across the sky. Flocks of bird
>"Are you okay?" Xavier asked for the nth time that night and received the same response, "Yes, I am fine. Stop asking that.""Just checking." He shrugged."Don't." Zoe rolled her eyes and huffed.He knew that for the first time on this journey, she was less mad at him and more mad at the weather.As they were stranded in the middle of nowhere with no idea how to call for help, the clear evening sky had turned cloudy and it had begun pouring in the matter of half an hour. Zoe and Xavier had taken refuge in the car. Zoe sat with crossed arms, occasionally sighing at the weather in the driver seat and Xavier burned the battery of his useless phone while playing offline games.They had no idea how long the weather was to continue and they couldn't go anywhere in that weather without being soaked to the bones. Which was why, they had no choice but to spend the night in the car.It had been a long day, eating on the road and driving non-stop. Zoe didn't know when she felt slee
>“So, where did you learn how to cook?” Lady Shaw asked as she stirred the boiling pot of soup I was making for dinner.“Mostly my Dad and Aunt Julie. She was Dad’s cousin, used to live with us. Some I learned from experimenting with MJ,” I was instinctively going to add that some I learned for my ex John because he preferred home-cooked meals, but that asshole did not deserve a mention.She took a small spoon and tasted the soup. Subconsciously, I held my breath waiting for her reaction. She took her time and the knife in my hand hovered over the fresh coriander that she had brought.“It’s good,” She smiled in affirmation, and I let out a tiny sigh of relief. Her approval was important to me for some reason. I didn’t know if she knew that I was Xavier’s mate or not, but this was the second time I was meeting her and I did not want to disappoint her. I did not have many special skills but I knew I could trust my cooking and self-defense.“It’s Dad’s recipe,” I couldn’t ke
>Talking to MJ had not only brightened my mood and given me something to think about, it had also lightened the weight off of my heart. I was still troubled, but it had given me a morale boost that I desperately needed. Especially after having Dahlia locked up for a night.She had given me a new perspective on things. She was more courageous than me. After all, we were in similar predicaments, on the run, hiding from powerful, evil people. But she was stuck in a shabby, questionable place. In that sense, I was better off than her. And yet, she had the strength to laugh about everything like it was just a big joke that life was playing on us.Telling her about everything had rejuvenated me and the conversation had left me energized and ready to tackle my problems again. I had a lot of work to do. There was stuff left by Mom and Aunt Julie, not to mention, that mysterious journal we had retrieved from our Riverwoods torturers along with that weird key.Thus after my early m
>"Speculum magicae plenum excantatum, ostende mihi unum ex altera parte," I chanted after I had dropped a droplet of my blood on the back of the silver embossed hand mirror.Instantly the mirror started moving as if I had poured water on it and started rippling in circles. While it did its magic, I had a thought, "Dahlia?"'Uhuh,' She called out watching the mirror with more attention than me."How did the barrier break? I thought I'd feel something like that but I didn't. I mean I felt the silence when it was created." I mused.'Yes, you did. You were just so preoccupied that you didn't realize it immediately.' She confirmed and I was confused."How? When?"'When you were by the lake.' She answered as if it was obvious and then explained, 'Agitation creates barriers, tranquility breaks them down.'I realized then that when I had felt the wind blow through me, it was more in my head than in real life. My mind space was whole again."Wait a minute," I said to her, "If you
>I woke up to silence.It was an unfamiliar and unwelcome feeling. In recent months, I had gotten used to having Dahlia in my head and commenting on most of my thoughts. I liked her companionship even though we didn't always get along. But I guess that is how most shifters are with their animals.I tried to call out to her once more before giving up and getting ready for my morning run. My mother's letter was still swirling in my head. What could it all mean? Everything felt mysteriously important.As I stepped into the woods, the thought of the dehydrated Claire, starving in the cabin's basement made me stop. I glanced toward the hatch. She had been an awful person even before I knew what she was capable of. But was I the person who lets people get punished worse than animals? But then, I had my hands red with the compound mass-massacre. I had the blood of so many innocents on my hands. I wasn't any better.Just like that the pit in the bottom of my stomach returned. I s
>All I wanted since I was a little girl, was to have my wolf. I just wanted to be included at school and be treated like normal werewolf cubs.But the more I waited the worse it felt when I didn't receive my wolf. I became more and more desperate and impatient. I started losing friends until there was none but Maisie.And when I had accepted the fact that even though I was a beta's daughter, I was a wolfless omega but social hierarchy, Dad died. That triggered my dormant animal whom I found out to be more than a regular wolf. I had a hybrid of a Lycan and a werewolf.After having accepted that I would spend my life alone because wolfless meant mateless as well, I was finally complete. I had an animal and she was powerful and magnificent. Yes, I struggled with her. I was unable to transform at will. I was also finding it impossible to create a mental barrier between our shared mental space to give each other some much-needed privacy from each other. Because even though we
>There was blood everywhere and I was so angry. I could see the corpse of my father laying in the pool of his blood, motionless. It was heartbreaking. But it only made me upset. I had left my home pack. I had tried to build a new life, gotten a new job, tried to make new friends, and hoped to lay low. But then, Xavier Shaw had returned and he had kidnapped me. I know he meant well by showing me what a rotten man Richard Peterson was. But, that had only gotten my father to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.And it had gotten him killed. Richard had killed my dad. Emptied his gun in my Dad's chest. I felt movement behind me and whirled around, only to see that Richard had gotten another gun and was pointing it at me.I saw him through Dahlia's vision, looking down on him. His hands were trembling. But he was ready to kill me to save himself. Just as he had killed my Dad to protect his illegal and villanious business. I took a step toward him and he shot at me in pani
>'We should leave now, Zoe.' Dahlia said firmly.I turned to face Claire once more. She was skinnier than I remembered and had dried blood all over her body. Her nails were broken but her smirk was still there."Ask. You know you are dying to know." She said like she knew what was going on in my head.'Zoe, walk away. We cannot trust a word coming from her.' Dahlia kept telling me. If I knew how to block her, I might've."Xavier loved you. Why did you betray him?" I finally asked."She speaks," Claire mocked.'Zoe,' Dahlia warned."Answer me," I tried to ask firmly."You haven't done this before, have you? Interrogation is an art. You should learn it from your beloved. Xavier knows how to paint a body red." She mused but ended up coughing probably due to her dry throat."He wouldn't have to if you hadn't betrayed him," I replied. She didn't know how much I knew and I intended to keep it that way. But I was barely thinking straight."Oh look at the little fawn defending th
>I ran through the woods, trying to clear my head as always. For the first time in my life, it wasn't working.The feeling of Xavier's lips on my neck, his hands on my body, his presence around me. It was all overwhelming my senses. I could still smell his cologne. When had I started to get so horny for him to start having such dreams?I ran faster and took a U-turn to return to the cabin. Jacob had been very adamant about me staying close to the cabin as much as possible. He had wanted me to stay indoors at all times, but that was not going to be an option for me. So, I was granted a few liberties. I was not going to misuse those.While returning, I decided to take one last lap around the cabin before going in to shower and getting to read my hard work from yesterday, finally.That was when I noticed something different. A certain part of the ground was covered by the bushes more thickly than the rest. If I didn't know any better I would say it looked like an attempt to
>I woke up to knocking on the door. I looked around, I was still in Xavier's cabin. I grew worried. Xavier had been explicit about knocking. Both he and Jacob had keys to the cabin which meant, it wasn't them and thus shouldn't be trusted.I quickly slipped on Xavier's shirt and called on Dahlia to help if it came to that. 'I'm right here, though it would've been better if you could hand me control willingly, rather than me having to take it from you every time things get too much for you.' Dahlia yawned. She had been resting as well.I rolled my eyes, "Yes, how simple it is, isn't it?"'You don't even try,' Dahlia retorted."I am not having this conversation with you when there is possibly a hostile intruder here," I replied and got ready to defend Xavier's cabin.The door unlocked and swung open slowly. My heart was in my throat as I raised the frying pan in my hand to attack the intruder, when I got still in shock."Zoe, what are you doing?" Xavier walked in, dressed