My brain scrambles to keep up with this whole mess that’s unfolded around me. The mess I’ve rectified. Right?
“Yes,” Athena breathes.
It’s too late to question my moves. I did what I had to. It’s done.
You’re in Poulsbo.
Aiden's words flashed through my mind. I’m not too far from home. I just need to travel south. I wouldn’t be able to make it on foot but I don’t know if I have the strength to shift and run home.
My muscles ache in agreement as I think about shifting. A kind stranger. I take one last look at him. When I leave here today, I’ll put everything that’s happened behind me but I won’t forget him. Turning my head from him, I make my way towards the woods.
I flinch at the soreness I feel with each step. Pain rips through my body as Athena
KacieRealization set in and the shock I expected minutes ago finally lit his features. Shock melts into desperation and relief as he stares down at me. I blinked and strong arms wrap around me, pulling me in until I’m being crushed against his chest.His chest is pushing against mine, his breathing causing his chest to heave, his heart slamming against mine. His eyes stay locked on my face and I watch as he tries to make sense of how this was possible.Breathing in his scent, I’m too enthralled with his warmth to care that his grip is crushing. Shock melts into desperation before finally turning to relief as he leans down and presses his forehead to mine.I stay under his spell as we share the same breath. Goddess, I missed him.“Forgive me,” He begs, his voice cracked. I pulled my hands from his hair, I watched as he strained to reel in th
Unknown POVMourning. The entire pack felt his loss last night. Even though he wasn’t the greatest person and he failed many times as Alpha. He was my father and I mourned his death.With his passing, the responsibilities of Alpha fell on my shoulders. I’ve only just begun training with my mate and the pack warriors. I begged him to take me on the mission currently keeping him from being home. Because I haven’t been doing well he made me stay home.I never had ridiculous thoughts of being King, it wasn’t supposed to be given to me. He was supposed to appoint someone. I became ill after my mate left and went to see the pack doctor. He told me I should avoid stress and broke the news.I stopped my thoughts before they went down the dark road it liked to trail. I couldn’t be Luna because women aren’t supposed to lead. It’s not the way things are done
KacieHe knew I was home but he needed more, needed to feel me, touch me. I needed the same. I missed him, my body missed him. It felt like I hadn’t seen him in months and I needed him more than the oxygen that filled my lungs.I fumbled with his clothes until he quickly shot up to his feet and stripped them off and they dropped to the floor. My heart thrummed against my chest as I watched him. My eyes drank in the contours and dips of his muscles, the sharp jawline, the ruffled hair before he took a step closer and climbed on the bed.My legs parted for him, his eyes dipped to my core and he sucked in a breath. He leaned down to press a kiss on my cheek as I wrapped my legs around him. I dug my heels into his backside and his hands came to either side of my head. His muscles moved sensually underneath my fingers as they slide up his back.A tear escaped and slid down my cheek and h
When I was a kid I used to love watching the waves as the tide came in. It’s one of the only things I remember from the life before Blood Moon. The way it would withdraw just to push forward, farther than it had been the last time just to withdraw again and rush forward.Every time my life was going to shit, it would get worse and worse. I was scared out of my mind when I was brought to the Eclipse pack. I didn’t expect life to get better, I expected it to get a lot worse before it got better.And yet, every time something bad would happen it always got better after. Yes, my life wasn’t a fairy tale and I wasn’t expecting a big happily ever after. With Viktor by my side, it would only continue to get better.Day by day.Little by little.I felt like a different person. Today, I not only have a relationship but a happy one. My outlook on life
As if on cue, the double doors swung open and my heart fell into the pit of my stomach as all heads slowly turned towards me. I visibly gulped. The glass ceiling was an invisible barrier and the stars sparkled brightly in the night sky. The music thumped in my ears and set off tingles of electricity through my body as I took in the incredible view. The aisle was adorned with long wooden benches that looked to be woven with magic and lights. Tables sat at the far edge of the courtyard and were piled high with gifts. The floor was lined with beautiful flowers I couldn’t name. The walls were covered in vines that spread out and covered the room with upended roots. It was beautiful, captivating, and held me and Athena in awe and wonder. All the faces smiled my way but my eyes made their way down the aisle and locked on Viktor. His body was dressed in a black suit that molded perfectly to
ViktorI tried to stand still, fought the urge to fidget and pace, as I waited for my girl to come through those doors. I hoped she’d like the decorations, hoped she wasn’t doubting if she was making the right choice.The doors opened in almost slow motion, revealing her, and all my doubts scattered like whispers in the wind. She took my breath away. My body responds immediately, my body hardening as a fierce need to claim her spread in my chest.“Goddess,” I groan, my voice low but not quiet. The elders shoot me not so discreet side glances. When she walked down the aisle, with her head held high, and our people turned to her.She was devastatingly beautiful. When her eyes turned to me, I forgot to breathe. Her lips spread gently in a small, warm smile.As soon as I had her in my hands, I couldn’t let her go. The reception was filled
KacieI woke up to loud noise. I found two men standing over me and I was disoriented as they dragged me out of bed. What the hell is going on? I look behind me to find Viktor isn’t in bed. What is happening?Think, Kacie, think.They’re quick and I don’t have time to react as they lunge at me on the bed. I fight and kick against them but they shackle me with a rope around my neck before they drag me from the bed.I scream as the wolf’s bane sears my skin and I grab at it with my fingers. It burns and I hold onto it so it doesn’t sear my neck. This has to be a dream.Where are the guards? Where’s Jake?Where’s Viktor?I fall to my knees and glare up at them. T
Kacie“Let’s wait till we see Viktor,” I murmur. My hands burn against the wolf’s bane but I can’t let go and I don’t cry out. I don’t deserve relief. I deserve to feel this. My people have experienced worse while I lay in bed sleeping peacefully.I can feel their eyes on my back as we walk through the territory. It doesn’t take long before we see two figures. Viktor standing in front of Diana.Diana?Why would Diana be here?"Ath?” I called to her in hopes she would be able to make sense of this.“I don’t understand what’s going on either,” Athena murmurs.“Alpha,” the men who dragged me here responded in unison.Alpha?This whole situation is getting wei
My heat aches as the thoughts flit through my mind one after the other. Tears prick the corners of my eyes before filling them. My chest pangs with the need to be wrapped up in his arms. I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jake would do all of those things. He would care for me as he had before. He would look after me as my Beta, my partner, and the father of our child.My soul wept for him, my heart broke for him, and my mind went mad for him. I curled into a ball on the bed and grasped at the sheets as the pain poured from my body. I screamed as it became unbearable and my vision went white. I cried out, my cry turning into a scream, as the door burst open. It slammed against the wall, but still my vision remained impaired.I couldn’t see anyone, but I heard voices. I felt the rush of people around me and hands checking me and prodding my belly. I froze when I felt the warmth of a hand on my shoulder and a familiar scent I didn’t think I would ever smell again. I threw my head ba
Kacie I want to bury my head into his chest but I can’t. I can’t bring myself to look away. I continue staring at him as Viktor lays down by his side. He props himself up and stares down at him. The love and sadness in his eyes blend into one. His gaze darts back and forth between the two of us. A sad smile pulling at the corners of his lips. “I love you,” I whisper. “I love you,” Viktor says quietly. We shared stories, we cried, we laughed. I told him about one of the mornings after my Luna Ceremony when I woke up and found Jake naked across from me. He flexed and tried to show off. Viktor chuckled and shared a precious memory from when they first kissed. It was sweet and I wished I could have seen the look in Jake’s eyes if he had heard Viktor tell the story. The next memory Viktor shared with me was the look on Jake’s face when I walked out that first day in Ken’s house. When he smelled me and knew I was his mate, he only trusted Jake to be alone with me. That’s why he let him
Kacie“I have one request,” I said.“Anything my love,” Viktor said.“I don’t want him in the lobby. I want him in our room. Can we do that?” I asked.“We can do whatever we want Kacie,” Viktor answered.In the olden days, it was common for our kind to spend the dead’s last night with them. It was like a ritual, we clean their bodies with a cloth, wash their hair, and clothe them in something loose. After the ritual the body is placed in the living room or the pack lobby if the dead was an alpha. The family would then bring their blankets and pillows to sleep in the front on the couch or the floor. It’s the last night you get with the dead. It’s a form of closure and was done away with one hundred years ago, or at least that’s what Viktor told me. When he told me about it I clung to the knowledge and asked him if we could do it too. He admitted that he mentioned it to gouge my reaction. We looked into each others eyes and knew without a doubt that we needed to do it.It may have been
Kacie “I’ve failed. I failed and lost him,” Viktor said. The weight on his shoulders was large enough to make anyone crumble beneath it. Still, my mate stood firm. My heart broke for the mate we’d lost, but it soared knowing that he was safe. Instead of keeping my thoughts to myself I would make sure he knew. I would make sure he knew every day how much I loved him, how much I needed him in my life. I would make sure he knew how loved he was, but first, he needed to face Jake. He needed to come to grips with it as I have. He needs to make peace with it, so he can move forward. We both needed this. “Come here,” I said. I watched as he mentally drew back, away from me as if he would hurt me. As if he thought he’d lose me too if he touched me. I reached for him, my outstretched hand open in offering for him to take it. He had to take it. Viktor stared at my hand for a moment before his eyes darted to Jake on the ground between us. Desperation clear in his eyes when he looked back at m
Kacie In an attempt to feel whatever warmth Jake had left I pushed my body as close as I could to his. I ignored the unevenness of his body, the difference between it now and what I remembered. Everything in me came flowing out as my hair flowed out all around me. My hands grasped at his muddy shirt and my heart broke for the second time today. Jake’s body was hard and the finality of it pulled the sheet from beneath my feet. I was no longer able to deny the crushing reality. The warmth was seeping out of him as quickly as the clouds had formed above us. Footsteps squelched behind me announcing Viktor’s presence. My pain vibrated in his chest as he stopped behind me. It was enough to pull him away from mourning his sister. The curiosity outweighing the fear led him to me. I could feel his pain as he felt mine. I knew when he saw who lay beneath me because he made an unintelligible sound behind me. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to lift my head. I couldn’t look back at him. I couldn’
KacieI’ll hurt you.I don’t want to hurt you.I don’t want to hurt him. I wouldn’t hurt him. The urge, no, the need to make sure I don’t hurt him runs through my veins as the idea of burning him strikes me hard in the chest. It’s like an ice cold bucket of water and I feel like I’ve jolted awake from a dream. The flames protest against my will as my mind refuses to hurt the man in front of me. For the first time since becoming aware I look at him. My eyes wander over black hair, a sharp jaw, and full lips. Dark tired eyes filled with worry stared down at me. My mate reaches for me a second time and this time I extinguish the flames with the flick of my wrist as realization dawned on me.My mate.He’s okay.He’s alive.If my mate is here than why am I so hurt?My does my heart bleed?I lean in toward him and his hand gently grazes over my cheek, his shoulders relaxed, and relief stared back at me. I was safe. I was in one piece. I had survived. If he hadn’t gotten my attention things
Kacie My father’s breathing is haggard and strained beneath me. At my words he roars angrily. He’s weak, useless below me, unable to get away. When I straighten my back, lift myself up, and stare down at him. I take a moment to look over the expression of fear and regret in his eyes. I don’t bother with emotion because right now, I feel nothing. There’s only a high, a haze of bliss from his acceptance. It’s settled over me as I hover over him. The power of taking what I want, getting the revenge I sent out for. I’m hurting him, torturing him, killing him. I focus on this as he stares up at me. “All of this will do nothing. You may have killed my friends and you may have won the fight between you and I, but there’s one you haven’t and can’t win. You can’t win against death,” Charles chokes. I don’t want to hear anymore. I don’t want to hear the truth drip from his lips like poisoned honey. I won’t let him win and I won’t let his words get to me. I won’t change my mind and I won’t hea
Charles yanked his arm back but I didn’t let go. I did the opposite, I dug my nails in as he pulled, my claws dug into his skin and ripped. Blood pooled and burned, he yanked again this time, ignoring the bite of my nails as they pierced deeper. He wrenched his arm free, or what was left of it. I could feel his skin under my claws, chunks of meat between my fingers, as he cried out in pain. I take a moment to enjoy my work. His once scorched pink skin had turned black, blood ran down his arm and dripped to the floor. Charles turned to glare at me, and for the first time since meeting him, fear stares back at me. He clutched his injured arm and I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows nervously. Sweat pools on his temple and slides down his brow. I chuckle at this small victory. He must have thought that I would be an easy kill. The young girl he once knew died a long time ago. Did he think that his words would have weakened me? Did he think that his words would have an affect
KacieNow that I knew Viktor would be okay, I could give in to what I’ve wanted since seeing the devastation the Elders caused. Now that I knew that Clara would have Viktor, I felt the opposite of what I’ve before at the thought of them together alone. I felt relief. She would make sure he was safe. I turned from Clara and focused on that man I once called father.Answering to the call of my growing flames I dashed forward. I promised to give them what they wished soon. The need for blood, for sliced skin, and the smell of burning flesh drove me forward. I would have what I desired, I would have my vengeance, my revenge. My anger fanned the flames and they grew hotter than they ever have before. I screamed out in anguish as I rushed toward the man who should have been the father I deserved. He was nothing but a disappointment.Tears run down my cheeks before they dry up and evaporate. I don’t cry for him or what I’m going to do, no, I’ll revel in my father’s death. The tears continue