"I'm from the Emerald Pack."
Bethan's voice was quiet and Eva nearly missed it.
The pack name rang a bell but Eva didn't really know much about packs beyond her own. It wasn't something they taught back at Silver Moon. What Eva did know was that the Emerald Pack was not close. It sat on the coast of Wales. Bethan was far away from home.
"Were you here for the singles event?" Eva asked and Bethan nodded. "We need to contact your Alpha and let them know what's happened. I'm sure your pack are extremely worried."
Bethan's face darkened for a moment, an emotion washed through her that almost looked like fear but Eva couldn't work out why she would be scared. Eva was convinced she was just seeing things. Perh
The day brought the promise of sunshine and spring-time warmth. The grey clouds that looked like ugly scars of the pale blue sky, spread off into the distance as a squally wind blew away the rain and coaxed the sun out from behind it’s cloudy prison. It seemed that overnight the land flourished, bugs appearing on naked trees and the grassing seeming just that little bit greener. Even the air smelt sweet with the scent of nature waking up again.Daniel waited on the porch of the packhouse as patiently as he could for Eva and Simone to bring their new guest over. Seeing the fragile looking creature sat in the wheelchair the healer was pushing, the Alpha narrowed his eyes, trying to recognise the doll-like features and pale complexion. It occurred to him that the victims had been left virtually unrecognisable after their attack. They had been nothing but a canvas of bruises and gashe
The air around the site of the attack sat heavy with damp and the fading scent of blood. The earth under Hades' paws and the trees hanging overhead seemed to mourn over the tragedy that occurred within it only days before. The Alpha's keen senses scoured for signs in the woodland trying to find something, anything that solidified or dispelled the growing fear in his mind.Scent wasn't enough. Plenty of wolves had been through here including Kade. Daniel needed more than suspicion and a statement from a girl who couldn't remember if she was attacked by one or more assailants.Reaching the centre of the site, Daniel shifted into his human form, tattooed fingers brushing over loose earth and moss as paws became hands and fur disappearing into inked skin and glowing amber eyes cooling to stormy blue. A cool wind rushed
Daniel was quiet as he walked back from the infirmary towards the pack house. Dusk had settled, casting cold blue light across the land, broken only by the warm light pouring out of the windows of homes and the few stores still open. No one was out though. It was just Daniel and his guilt."The DNA I found on the vial doesn't match the sample you gave me. There are no familial indicators either." Simon explained when the tests were in. "However, the traces of the contents are interesting. I've never seen a mixture like it before."Kade wasn't the culprit.If anything Kade had been right about a witch being involved. He had seen the clues before anyone else and Daniel had repaid him by suspecting him of attacking innocents.
It was closing in on midnight when Daniel and Eva finally got to be alone. The packhouse had been busy as usual but they also had been talking with Ethan and Bethan. Eva had noticed a vast difference between the siblings not only in age but also personality. Ethan was much more confident and outgoing. It was easy to see why he had a high ranking position in his pack. Bethan on the other hand was shy and quiet. She seemed to prefer blending into the background."What a day." Eva breathed as she shut the bedroom door."What a year more like." Daniel sighed.He sat on the edge of the bed, shoulders slumped and head down. His elbows rest on his thighs as tiredness and the pressures of being an Alpha caught up with him. He didn't regret taking over as Alpha, this was his destiny and he embraced it but the past few months had been a challenge and there seemed to be no end in sight.Eva moved quietly to kneel in front of Daniel, her hands cupping his face gently
The metallic scent of blood was so heavy that Daniel could almost taste it as he entered the infirmary. The sterile reception was empty save for a nurse at the reception desk and two warriors guarding the doors. The Alpha didn't need to ask for directions. He had been here a few times now since the attack but even then, the scent of blood worked as a perfect map.Turning the corner into the hall where the victims' room was situated, Daniel was greeted by nurses comforting each other, faces pale and haunted. Even the warriors standing around looked solemn and uneasy.Simone was waiting for him, her face pale and drawn with exhaustion. Smudges of blood decorated her scrubs but not much suggesting Simone hadn't been tending to the patient's long before determining there was nothing she could do.
Eva sighed before pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, the salty taste of her sweat meeting the tip of her tongue. She had been training with the warriors and hunters for several hours now, looking for something to take her mind off of things. Last night was still fresh in her mind but was overshadowed by the events that took place in the infirmary.By now, everyone knew what had happened but only a select few knew of the true extent of the damage done. Eva was silently thankful that she hadn't witnessed what Daniel had. Just hearing it described had been sickening.Wiping perspiration from her forehead with the back of her hand, Eva forced the thoughts out of her mind as she readied to tackle the obstacle course again, muscles and lungs not burning enough for her liking even if her palms were blistered
“So you think a witch is trying to start a war with werewolves by attacking your pack?” Eva broke the unsettling silence, her hazel eyes curious as she regarded Kade. “No.” Kade replied, twisting one of the large silver rings that adorned his fingers. “What I’m saying is this witch did something that was so severe that their coven expelled them. Their actions could reflect badly on the already shitty relationship we and the witches have with each other.” “But it could be a witch that’s behind this.” Someone asked, a few others murmuring to agree with this theory. “If a witch wanted us dead, we’d be dead.” Kade replied, granite eyes seeking out Daniel. “I’ve already told our Alpha here that I don’t think it’s a witch that’s behind this and my theory has been confirmed. This witch helped someone they shouldn’t have.” “Who?” Ethan spoke up this time. “I don’t know.” Kade shrugged. “But I’m going to find out.” “How come you know so much ab
'your enemy hides in plain sight' Those words had been running around in Eva's mind since Bethan uttered them. She had heard words very similar to these a few months before from someone close. Eva hadn't spoken to Eshe since they had both left Silver Moon but she had heard that the former Alpha had reunited with her family and was enjoying retirement. Eva missed her and thought of her often with fondness but this time it was Eshe's last words to her that now preoccupied the she-wolf's thoughts. She had struggled to sleep even after she and Daniel had made love in the shower. The intimacy with Daniel had thankfully distracted her for a few hours but the thoughts had eventually turned back to the warning.
<<Five years later>>The soft sound of fussing roused Eva from her peaceful slumber, the tired she-wolf opening her hazel eyes to take in the setting of the master bedroom. Outside, an Indian Summer was in full swing with golden vanilla light pouring in playfully from the french doors across the room from the large bed Eva was currently sprawled in, her body aching dully on the soft white sheets.The fussing sound started again and Eva lifted her body carefully from the bed, auburn locks spilling over her shoulders and milk-heavy breasts. In her mind Kalla rose from the darkness to see through Eva’s eyes as she approached the cot, peering at the tiny bundle wrapped up in a soft blue onesie and blanket.“Hello you,” Eva cooed to the newborn as he kicked his covered legs, tiny button nose wrinkling. “Oh my little warrior, are you hungry? Hush now, mummy’s here.”She lifted the infant gently, cradling him as sh
They made love over and over until the sun finally came up painting the sky in buttery vanillas and neon oranges. They were exhausted and hurt all over but they couldn't stop smiling.They let Hades and Kalla out to race back home, letting their natural navigation system lead them to where they belonged. The two wolves enjoyed the freedom, chasing each other and rolling around as they played. Their paws thundered across the earth as they yipped like two juveniles until finally they made it close to the township. Their howls were replied to by a chorus of howls, the song filling the air as wolves of all ages came to greet Kalla and Hades, the sense of relief and joy washing through the pack like cleansing waters. News of the Alpha's return and their victory over the forces working against them spread quickly but there were still so many questions in need of answering. Kade was sitting on the steps of the pack house when Daniel and Eva approached after shifting back and pulling on some
‘This is it. This is how we are going to complete the mating processing.’ Eva thought bleakly, her eyes wide as she watched her mate let out a deafening howl, his eyes glowing like pools of melted gold. In that moment Daniel looked demonic, his hair pitch black and skin an unearthly paleness under the moonlight that poured in from broken windows and holes in the crumbling roof. The earth seemed to shudder in submission as the alpha roared and Eva thought her eardrums would burst from the sound. Then, Daniel moved at what felt like faster than the speed of light, lifting Eva off of her feet and speeding off into the darkness with his prize. A small scream escaped from Eva as Daniel burst out into the clear night air, sprinting across sprawling fields and under the thick canopy of the forest effortlessly. Eva had no idea what was happening
The sound of someone else surprised both Ethan and Eva before the metal pole Ethan had abandoned earlier smashed into Ethan's skull with a dull crack. The force threw the blonde male off of the female under him with a grunt, air suddenly rushed into Eva's burning lungs causing her to cough and roll on to her side in time to see Maria drop the pole with a metallic bang and a small dark brown wolf charge at Ethan, pouncing on him in a series of snarls and growls. The size of the beast made Eva think it was a juvenile and while there seemed to be no grace to its attack, the bared white teeth and pink gums and angry copper eyes showed spirit as the lithe wolf dodged any attempts Ethan made to strike it."Eva!" Maria crouched next to her friend, breaking Eva’s dazed attention on the fight scene in front of her. "Oh goddess are you hurt?"
The growl rumbled through the dilapidated building like thunder, the ground and walls seemingly vibrating with the intensity of it. Eva didn’t need to turn around to know who was responsible for the sound. They way the vibrations ran through her, scorching her blood told her that Daniel was awake. Her body reacted instantly; chills ran across her skin and the familiar ache in her core nearly took her breath away. Her heat had been forgotten whilst trying to take down Ethan but now it roared into life, her skin sizzling with electricity as the scent of her arousal flooded the space around her.Now she had two males to worry about.Another growl erupted from Daniel, nostrils flaring as he instinctively breathed in the heady scent of Eva’s heat. Male wolves were prone to losing their cool around unmated females i
The moment Ethan stepped towards Eva with the syringe with the milky substance in it, Eva let out a warning growl, her eyes flashing a predatory yellow as Kalla pushed to try and take over. Eva knew Kalla was the stronger form but the wolfsbane still hadn’t cleared her system fully and there was no chance she'd be able to take on three full-strength males in either form. That didn’t stop Eva from kicking out when Ethan got close, the heel of her boot slamming into his knee with a sickening snap.Ethan howled in pain, his leg bent at an angle as he staggered back from the force, his eyes flashing at the female in rage, baring his teeth as he seemed to struggle to keep control of his wolf. Breathing in deeply, Ethan stilled, his eyes closing as he calmed himself down as if flipping a switch inside of him. After a moment, he pushed his leg back into place with another sickening crack before it healed at the wrong angle. The sound was enough to mak
The remnants of the tranquilizer and wolfsbane in Eva’s system made her limbs feel like jelly and her head spun with any sudden movement. Ethan didn’t seem to care though as he dragged the female onto her feet before pulling her after him with an iron grip on her bicep. Eva had no choice but to follow despite stumbling over her own feet and the uneven ground. Even with heightened senses, Eva struggled to make out where they were. She could tell they were no longer on pack land as she wasn’t able to connect with anyone via the mind-link but even then, the wolfsbane would make it difficult to create a link with anyone.Eva couldn’t help but wince when she was suddenly shoved through a door roughly and found herself in another room that looked like an abandoned garage lit by a couple of camping lanterns that cast long shadows across the walls and ground. She didn&rs
When Eva came to speak with Bethan about the night of the attack for a second time, Bethan knew time was running out. Her question about the Mad Alpha had sent Bethan down memory lane so dark and jaded even though she denied having heard the title before. She had been lying of course. While Michael had pretty much ignored Bethan to the point that she believed he didn't know she existed, Bethan had heard the old man's stories whenever he was drunk.He had earned his title in the same way Ethan intended to earn his; with misery, fear and murder.There was some irony in the situation. Ethan had hated Michael with a burning passion for as long as Bethan could remember. Ethan believed he was nothing like their father and everything he had stood for. He believed he was stronger and smarter and in many ways this was in fact true. But
“What the hell!” Eva yelped, instantly retaliating with a fist to the male’s nose.Ethan grunted as he doubled over, hands covering his nose as dark red rivulets of blood began seeping between his fingers and dripping onto the forest floor. Eva didn’t hang around to see the flash of black eyes as she ripped the needle from her arm and darted back towards the pack.She barely made it two steps before Ethan was on her, tackling Eva to the floor. She hissed from the impact of hitting the earth, struggling against the male while he tried to restrain her. Growling, she brought her knee up sharply between Ethan's legs, the wolf above her grunting in pain. It was enough of a distraction to allow Eva to push Ethan off of her and scramble to her feet.