Tori's Dad was really nice as far as Doctor's go. While I still hated hospitals, I felt a little more comfortable.
Tori's Dad had given me half of some little white pill. After about half an hour, the pain in my foot subsided to a dull throb."You have a fracture in your foot." Tori's Dad pursed his lips, obviously eyeing the bruise on my cheek. "Quite a fall you had.""Sure was." I nodded, fighting to keep my voice relaxed and even. "I'm pretty clumbsy though so it isn't a surprise.""Make sure to be careful next time." Tori's Dad nodded, seeming unconvinced."Will do." I murmured, "My folk's are renovating the house at the moment so it's been pretty cluttered at the moment."I was just burying myself in lies at this point. Lying about my relationship with my family. Lying about my house. Lying about my bruises. I reminded myself it'll all be worth it once I graduate and move the hell out. All of the lies would be woI somehow managed to sleep well into Friday and I was grateful for the few extra hours.Alec and Kade's words swam in my head like hungry sharks.They said I belonged to them, and for whatever reason the feeling was mutual. No matter how hard I resisted, some part of me felt they were mine. That the twins belonged to me.I kept to my room most of Friday, only dare venturing out when I knew Melissa was at work. Frank was the biggest risk. Shit would go downhill instantly if he was awake.It must've been my lucky day. As I tiptoed downstairs, Frank was snoring away in his recliner. I managed to grab another box of leftovers from the restaurant and creep back up to my bedroom. I couldn't wait until I managed to get out of this hell-hole. Sneaking around my own house was miserable. Constantly tiptoeing around, hoping I didn't step on a land-mine.My Friday was spent in complete solitude, and I was thoroughly enjoying it. Either Fran
"I got you." A familiar voice murmured, lifting me from the ground.I felt weightless in Carson's arms. My mind was swimming numbly, struggling to form any kind of coherent thoughts. All I knew was something was desperately wrong with me. My limbs refused to respond, and if they did it was incredibly delayed.Carson carried me somewhere. Sights and sounds I had experienced multiple times were now completely foreign.I was thrown on something soft. My mind couldn't comprehend what it was. My fingers twisted in the soft material slowly, winding and unwinding."She didn't even notice." Carson's voice rang out, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. I could hear the words clearly, but I couldn't understand the meanings.In the midst of the absolute cloudiness of my brain, something else was happening inside of me. At first it felt like little pinpricks. Like something hitting against a brick wall. The feeling was like an itch
I felt hands wrap around the tops of my arms, and a strangled scream left my throat.Fear was a powerful thing. I had never experienced it in it's fullest. Fear cripples the mind and clouds the senses. Fear brings out our most animalistic tendencies, forcing everything that makes us human from our minds in an attempt to escape, to survive.I didn't look into the eyes of the person that grabbed me, nor did I want to. A strangled scream tore through my throat as my hands lifted to defend myself. The strength I once had was waning, but I used what was left to its fullest. I kicked, punched, and clawed the person touching me.I only bothered to look up when the person's hands left my body and my bottom hit the sidewalk.Kade and Alec looked absolutely fucking horrified. Like I was a caged animal who had escaped and was now on a murderous rampage.I watched the emotion's shift in their eyes when they took in the state of my face. I h
I finally woke up around one in the afternoon.My sleep had been the most pleasant part of this entire weekend. The twin's had vanished from my mind and dreams. I forced any and all thoughts of them from my head. I was left with a dull and sometimes excruciatingly sharp pain in my chest. It honestly felt like a chunk of my soul was missing, but it doesn't help to dwell on what could've been.My plan to leave was officially set into motion. I would leave Friday night. That gave me an entire week to work, and pick up my check Friday morning. I had a little over twenty five grand in my bank account. While it wouldn't sustain me forever, it would be plenty until I found myself a job.I had everything planned out. Friday night I would catch a bus to Atlanta, Georgia. From there I'd get the soonest plane ticket. My destination didn't matter. I wanted to be far away from Georgia, somewhere no one would look. Once the plane landed, I'd find myself a job and
I somehow managed to get through an entire shift without once running into the twins.I finally emerged from the bathroom after pulling myself together and was pleased to find the twins had already left. My pitiful joy was short lived when Cameron handed me a note."They wanted me to give this to you." Cameron frowned, "They didn't hurt you did they?""No." I shook my head. That was all the answers I was willing to give."Good." Cameron nodded, "Just making sure. Men who hit women are scum.""Agreed." I nodded."Here." Cameron grunted, "Take my phone number in case you need anything."After getting over the initial shock of Cameron being nice to me, I looked down at the note in my hands. I waited until Cameron walked away to read the messy scrawl on the paper.'Quit avoiding us, Aurora. We need to talk. Alec & Kade'Of course the simple note had my heart thundering in my chest. Not a chance in hell would I risk
Snapping branches tore me from my thoughts and my heart nearly stopped as two wolves walked into the clearing. I had never seen wolves in person before, only in pictures and movies. I was sure wolves weren't naturally this big. The two were nearly identical, both the color of midnight. Their fur was shiny and glistening. I had expected wolves to look much dirtier, living in the woods and all. While I wasn't sure the geographical placement of wolves, I was also fairly sure wolves did not live in Georgia. What troubled me even more was that I wasn't afraid. It was though my mind and body had simply accepted my death as inevitable.My mind played through the scenario. Aurora eaten by wolves. Grace would probably dance with joy while Tori and the twins wondered what happened to me. Would Melissa even notice when I failed to come home? Did wolves leave any scraps?I was so lost in my thoughts I hadn't noticed the two wolves were sitting only twenty feet away, simply staring
"Your father is here." Melissa rushed the words from her mouth and my heart nearly stopped.What she was saying made no sense in my mind. My father- I didn't have a father. I had Frank and a sperm donor. A Father was a foreign concept only lucky kids were able to fully experience. I was not one of those lucky kids."Father?" I found myself repeating the word, confusion soaking each letter."Your father." Melissa spat, anger forming in her crystal eyes. "The social worker managed to track him down.""The social worker." I nodded, not fully processing the conversation.I still couldn't get passed the word 'father'. It simply wasn't possible, wasn't fathomable."Get down here." Melissa snapped, "He wants to speak with you."Was that jealousy in her tone? Why would Melissa be jealous?I trudged downstairs, completely ignoring the fact that I was still in my pajama's. My busted and swollen face hadn't even registered in
I was torn between my miraculously appearing sperm-donor and the twins stationed at the front door. Each looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to make the first move."This is too much." I snapped under my breath, feeling much too exhausted for just waking up.There was no way I planned on letting the twins inside, or entertaining my sperm donor for any longer. I'd simply retreat back into my bedroom and pretend this entire day never happened. Garrett and the twins would hopefully be long gone.'Let them in.' The voice in my head rang out clear as day. The voice was so close, I looked around the room wondering if someone else had came into the house.'I know you can here me.' The voice called out again, sounding exasperated."I'm going crazy." I mumbled under my breath, turning my back on Garrett and the twins as I bounded up the stairs.It was all too easy to listen in on their conversation. The house was old and the walls th
The humid summer air, with it’s traces of fresh water and wildflowers, had always been my favorite. It was especially fragrant here, in the field of golden grass I often visited. Even as I sat on the thick quilt I had brought along, I longed for the feel of the grass beneath my feet. Rummaging through my bag, I pulled out a cherry-almond croissant I had saved from my bakery. After all the years, it was still up and running. The new management was a feisty girl named Kiara, whose pastry experiments often turned out incredible. This place had once been secret, but as I watched the children laugh and play, I couldn’t bring myself to regret sharing this place with them. A piece of the purest happiness I had ever experienced, countless memories full of it—all of which were made here. There were six of them, three boys and three girls, darting through the grass with earsplitting grins on their faces. Some were missing a few baby teeth; others were c
Three Years LaterMy back arched and eyes rolled back as molten pleasure coiled between my legs, increasing with every desperate stroke of Kade’s tongue. My hands were tangled in his hair, tugging him closer while also pushing him away. His snarls vibrated against my slick folds, coaxing unfathomable sounds from my lips. The man ate like he was starving, devouring every inch of my swollen flesh with his lips, tongue, and teeth.Alec lay beside me, the heavy length of him pressed against my hip as he stroked and played with my tender nipples. Lavishing kisses down my neck and shoulder. Goosebumps erupted where his light caresses fell, even though the air around us was humid and warm.Both he and Kade were entranced, feasting on me as they had countless times, only this time—their attention would stray down to my stomach, to the swell of life hidden within my womb.They were achingly gentle with me. To the point where my core throbbed, begging t
One Year LaterI glanced down at the old article I had saved, snickering at my name in such a bold font. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to it, having every werewolf in the world know my name.A photo of the twin’s and I sat below the headline, my odd colored eyes bright and vibrant. I was glowing with happiness as I stood between the twins, like a light had been switched on deep within. Kade stood behind me, his arms wound around my waist as I grinned and stared into Alec’s eyes. None of us were expecting a hidden reporter to snap the photograph. Even after an entire year, my love for my mates hadn’t dimmed. If anything, it had grown stronger. It was my favorite picture of the three of us.The reporters had a field day when the twin’s and I were finally married.The ceremony was mostly for show, an excuse to throw an extravagant party that would lighten spirits and spread some happiness. The public were invited, along
My Luna Ceremony commenced the following weekend, making Carrie even more frazzled as she planned last minute details. Day by day, her buns became just a tad messier. Flower arrangements, guest lists, and food. She had even gone as far to search for entertainment. I had all but forbade her to make an event out of it, but the twin’s ordered her not to listen.Streamers of cobalt and powder blue wrapped around the light posts in town, hanging brightly decorated wreaths. Storefronts hung lights, and laughter trickled in through the cracks of devastation.The crowd of guests that cheered when I walked under the pavilion erected in the park made my face flush. The positive emotions made me giddy as I passed from guest to guest, riding the high of happiness and celebration.As the ceremony commenced, the joy in my stomach turned to worry. Self-doubt lingered at the corners of my mind, fleeing only when the twins came into sight.Alec had trimmed his hair
Two Months LaterOne deep breath, and then another.“Relax, Aurora.” Zayne’s flat voice sounded from a few feet in front of me, icy eyes pivoting across the lounge to meet my own. Ever since his father’s death, there were moments where he seemed carved from ice. The only one able to thaw him was currently waiting along with the rest of the crowd. “Whether they know it or not, they’re looking for a leader, someone better to replace Marcus. Speak with confidence and they’ll listen.”“He isn’t wrong.” Brandon Fox shrugged. The only similarities between Jaspar and his eldest son were the piercing eyes and lazy grin. Everything else, including the golden hair, came from his mother.“Still, she is not wrong to be worried. There are some that won’t be happy with this decision.” Isaiah chimed in, the voice of reason as he stood second in line.“What do you think?&rdqu
The sound of muffled arguing emerged from the kitchen, most of which held the noticeable soprano of Tori’s voice. Every few seconds, I could hear Kady’s mom snap back in a venomous tone. Even Garrett was perfectly content with letting them argue, considering he was still processing all that I had told him. He hadn’t moved from his position on the couch, his chin resting in the palm of his hand. The same rush of emotion had once washed through me and even now, it was hard to believe that things were changing. Julian sat at his side, unable to conceal the wide grin that stole his face. The exact opposite of his brooding and severe brother. It made him look younger, even though the lines etched into his smooth face were a testament to his age. He leaned forward on his haunches, eyes sparkling. There had always been something feral about Julian. Still, he was more approachable than Garrett. “How’d you kill him, kid? Did he beg?” My stomach soured
I turned on my heel, a hand clasped over where my own bullet wound should have been. My mind was reeling, but my body understood what to do as I stumbled over to where Kade lay on the cement floor. Alec was hunched over him tearing the clothes from one of the dead inner circle members, a middle-aged man with greying hair and a scar just above his lip. The thousand-dollar suit jacket was shining with Kade’s blood, even as Alec held it tightly against his chest. I could feel the blood pumping out with each ragged heartbeat. A small clump of silver metal sat beside Alec’s knelt form, the bullet he had fished from Kade’s chest. Kade shifted into his human form after the bullet had been removed, his skin translucent and pale. There was a thin sheen of sweat that covered him, even though he was cold to the touch. Alec’s eyes met mine, unending darkness that seemed surprisingly calm despite the earthquake of emotions shattering what strength he had. I glance
Kade’s rage became him, heating his blood until it boiled as it pumped throughout his form. The violent emotion overtook him completely, giving his increased strength a savage edge. Alec’s head was a different story, the same book but in another format. He could see and breathe through his rage, using it to propel not himself, but his thoughts forward. Strategies and plans flitted through his head, disorienting and at rapid-fire. Many of them looked like football plays, marking where Ariana, the Hound, and the two guards stood. I tried not to give into the sinking feeling that overtook me, when even Alec couldn’t produce a plan of action. We were outnumbered, exceptionally considering I couldn’t use my magic while Ariana was in the room, and my combat training was strictly lodged in the beginner stage. Still, I hadn’t come this far by giving up. Through pain and blood, I’d give everything I had. With my mates at my side, both identical and different in every
“It is within all of your best interests to stand down.” Jaspar Fox’s voice rang throughout the crowd, strong and very much alive. The wolves he had brought with him twitched their tails in irritation, we were evenly matched now. I could see shimmering eyes deep within the forest, watching and waiting from the outside. “Defy your Alpha and take your own life into your hands, because soon Marcus Novak will be dead.”Jaspar looked towards me and somehow, I was able to decipher the words within his pale colored eyes. He was asking me a question, a simple yes or no. It took only a few seconds, reaching out with my magic before I had the answer.Disappointment and acceptance flashed in his eyes as I shook my head ‘no’.Many of the warriors here were loyal to Marcus, and radiated waves of hostility as they barely managed to keep themselves still. I could feel that so many of them were desperate for a way out, but the fear that