Alisha:“We have to keep going,” I said to Hilda, Mark and Mischa, as the forest was filled with red-orange hues from the setting sun.We had started off on a torturous pace, that even my legs became numb. On top of that, the first two days we pushed on without sleep and made sure we had put a lot of distance between us and the pack before we could finally rest.It had been three days since we escaped the Silver Moon Pack, and i felt free of the thoughts that the warriors could catch us. With how far we had gone, it would be nearly impossible for them to find us now.“We should make camp this evening, don’t you think?” Mark started to disagree with my idea.I pressed my hand against my large bump that was making it increasingly harder to move.“I think that the more distance we put between us and the Silver Moon Pack, the better,” I stated. “It’s only been three days since we left. The chances he’s out there looking for us, at least for ME, is very high. I want us to keep going.““I a
Alisha:“Alisha?!” Mischa yelled my name, as I must have let out pained groan.“My babies…” it began to dawn on me that I was now in labour, just like Simon’s book had said. “They’re coming.”I don’t know much of what happened after that. I recall moments when the tent was filled with women trying to coax me to push. I felt the sweat on my brow being wiped my Mischa’s steady hand. I felt pain coursing through my body as I kept on pushing, following the primal instinct I had within me. I thought of Derek; I thought of the family I always wanted. I longed to hold the two babies I was blessed with and see them with my own two eyes. I wanted to care for them and make their lives a lot better than mine had been.At some point I must have blacked out, because the next thing I knew was the cry of my babies. Two of them.My vision focused as soon as I heard Mischa saying, “Ssh. Your mom is asleep.”“Misch,” it felt like there was a lump in my throat as I reached for her.She smiled at me wit
Alisha:The night was quiet and I enjoyed the feeling of being one of the only ones awake in the camp. Keenan was snoring beside me, in a separate sleeping bag, and I was facing the other side, watching over my two babies who were also fast asleep.I gently reached out and caressed Aria’s hair, which seemed to curl in on itself as I touched the soft strands.I didn’t realize that Keenan wasn’t snoring anymore until I heard him say, “You’re a good mother,” to me.I stiffened and turned to glance at him. He was sitting up on his sleeping bag and looked to be brooding for some reason.“Thanks,” I said in a low tone so as not to wake my children up. “I always hoped I would be one. I want them to have a good life.”“That’s what every parent wants for their children,” he huffed. “Unfortunately, not everyone gets to be there to see their kids grow up.”“I get the idea that you’re speaking from experience,” I remarked as gently as I could. He fell silent and our eyes met. It was then that rea
Alisha:“Momma, look! A bee!” Aria chubby toothed smile made me smile as well. She was in Hilda’s arms, pointing at everything she could see.“Yes, Ari,” I singsonged, walking beside her with Ares in me arms, snoring gently. “I see them.”It had already been over two years since Keenan’s death. Spring has come after the long winter, and I enjoyed the sights and sounds of birds and feeling the cool breeze after a small rain shower.I turned to Hilda, who was visibly pregnant. She and Mark and gotten together after a while, and they seemed happy with each other.“Are you okay?” I gently asked her, looking for any signs of discomfort. “If you need to rest, please let me know.”She smiled and shook her head, pointing to Aria who was awing at everything in her arms. I smiled back, and nodded.Mischa moved to stand beside me as we continued traveling.“Hey,” i greeted her. “How’s my favorite warrior?”She snorted, shaking her head. Her hazel eyes still shone with humor even now. Over time s
Benjamin:I groaned to myself after I finished training.“That’s enough,” I said to the trainees - five of them rather - who all looked winded and like a small breeze could bowl them over.“Thanks, sir,” one of the trainees said.I smirked at them, having barely broken a sweat, and walked off from the training grounds.The way to Derek’s home was filled with me being stopped here and there by pack members, for one thing or another. Derek had once joked that I was capable enough to be the Beta of the pack if I so wished.That is, once we managed to get rid of Gerard.My mood soured a bit upon thinking of that damned man. He was fast becoming a thorn not just in Derek’s side but in mine as well. He didn’t seem to like that I had become more popular and well liked by the members of our pack.Entering the mansion I headed towards Derek’s study, hoping he was in.I heard a responding groan and a “What?!” from the other side of the door when I knocked.Rolling my eyes I opened the door and
Benjamin:“Thank you,” Zane, the Alpha of the Grey pack looked thankful. The streaks of grey in his hair despite him being my age, was what marked the bloodline of Alphas of the aptly named pack. “Let Alpha Derek know of my thanks as well. Should he need it, I will render help to him.”A week had passed since we left the Red Wolf Pack for the scouting mission and to answer the distress calls to the Grey Pack. Luckily the warriors attacking them had not been prepared for the night of my team. I cut through all of them within the night and helped Alpha Zane to strengthen their defenses. Leaving behind a handful of trusted warriors, I was ready to set back towards the direction of home.Finally, as the sun rose over the horizon we set off, our pace more leisurely than when we had left our pack.The air was cool as the sounds and scents of spring made for a peaceful trip.I began to think about how a lot had changed in the last two years as my thoughts turned once more, to my best friend
Mischa:Damn it, I thought in my head.This was supposed to just be about getting supplies and yet… and yet I had been forced by the hands of fate to meet my mate here.The man held out his hand and it took me a moment for me to realize I hadn’t said anything.I didn’t trust him; I wanted to leave. But I couldn’t handle my team getting attacked again. They all looked weary and exhausted.“Fine,” I muttered and finally took his hand. As we locked eyes with each other, I could feel a tingle own my spine. This man was strong and I didn’t know why but it made me feel safe with him.Was this the mate bond in action? I didn’t know.I hadn’t thought much about the prospect of meeting my mate before. Alisha’s stories of her two mates that had hurt her had been enough for me to swear off romance for a long while. But Hilda had bonded with Mark and they were a happy tale.I shook my head minutely and let go of his hand. I didn’t want to think about it right now.“I think it’s time we move,” I c
DerekI groaned to myself as I stood up from my bed. I had barely slept last night, what between working in paperwork, dealing with interrogating another of Gerard’s spies in the secret dungeon beneath the mansion and drinking away those unpleasant memories… i was very exhausted to say the least.I walked over to the door and flung it open. Upon seeing my best friend’s face I shut it again with a loud slam.“Go the fuck away,” i snarled, even though I felt glad to see he had returned from the mission safely.I put on my shirt over my naked torso as he opened the door and walked in, chuckling.“Come on, Derek,”he teased me. “Don’t act like you aren’t leased to see me, brother.“I sneered at him, wondering idly why he looked so happy. Usually on a mission he would return exhausted and relieved but not this happy.Something has happened.And I had to find out what.“Alright,” l gestured to the chair for him to sit while I slipped onto the armchair. “Talk.”“Whatever do you mean, Derek?”