DrakeAs he continued to stare at me, I felt a flush of heat rising in my cheeks and I looked away, unable to hold his gaze. I heard him and Lucas exchange a few words, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. The only thing I could hear clearly was Charles saying, “Are you sure he's the only one?” What were they talking about? Were they talking about me? I felt my heart pounding in my chest, and I knew I had to find out what was going on.After a few long, tense moments, they stopped talking and looked at me, their expressions serious and unreadable. I could feel my heart racing in my chest, but I forced a smile, trying to look calm and composed. I had no idea what was going on in their mind, and I was afraid of what they might say next. My mind was racing, trying to come up with possible explanations for what was happening, but I couldn't think of anything. I was just frozen, waiting for them to speak.“Since you are new here, and you have no friends in the pack,” Charles sa
DrakeHe stood there, his eyes fixed on us like a hawk, evaluating our every move. My mind was racing, trying to process what was happening. Had he heard our conversation? How long has he been standing there? I felt my heart pounding in my chest, and my palms began to sweat. I tried to keep my cool, but it was getting harder by the second. “Greyson,” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “What are you doing here?”He shot me a look, then his gaze moved towards Jake, he cleared his throat as he spoke. “Master summons all of us,” he said in a firm voice, and we nodded.As we followed Greyson out of the room, I could see that Jake was just as confused as I was. We walked in silence, the tension in the air palpable. I glanced at Greyson's profile, trying to gauge his mood, but his face was a mask of impassity. Finally, we reached the main hall of the estate, where a large group of people were gathered. I scanned the crowd, looking for the person who had summoned us.And then our master, T
DrakeThe door flung open, and I shifted my gaze towards the door and standing before me was Jake who was smiling, but his countenance changed to that of worry when he noticed the distress etched on my face.“What's going on?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern. I looked up at him, my eyes filling with pain. “I can't connect to Zelda,” I said, my voice cracking. “I'm afraid my pack and the Palace might be in danger.” He sat down next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I know it's hard, but try to relax,” he said gently. “Let's take a deep breath and try to figure this out, okay?” I nodded, trying to steady my breathing.I nodded, but I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in the pit of my stomach. My people... my pack... were family to me, and the thought of something happening to them made my heart ache. And Zelda - the thought of her being in danger made my blood run cold. I felt my hands trembling as I tried to take a deep breath, but it caught in my th
DrakeCharles stepped out of his chambers and looked straight at me. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “Go to your room,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Come back when all of us are asleep.” I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I would rather not leave, but I knew I had to. I had to follow Charles's orders. I forced myself to nod and leave the room, refusing to look back. I could feel his eyes on me as I left, and I knew he was watching me.Something about this whole situation had my suspicions rising. Charles's behavior and his order for me to leave, coupled with my inability to connect with Zelda, had my mind racing. I was sure there was something going on, and it was something I had to uncover. I had to act fast, before whatever it was got out of hand. I had to find a way to connect with Zelda, no matter what. I just hoped it wasn't too late.Just as I reached the door to my room, Jake grabbed my arm and pulled me into a corner. “What are you do
DrakeMy heart was pounding in my chest as I scrambled under the bed. I held my breath, praying that Charles wouldn't find me. Then, I heard his voice. “Who's there?” he demanded. I stayed perfectly still, not daring to breathe. But it was no use. I could hear his footsteps getting closer. “Guard! Guard!” he screamed. I closed my eyes, my heart racing. Any moment now, the guards would come running. I was trapped, and there was nothing I could do.“He went to use the bathroom and asked me to stay behind,” I heard a voice say and I knew it was Jake's voice Okay, watch out, I heard a sound,” Charles said, his voice quivering.“I mistakenly hit something,” Jake lied.“You can go,” Charles whispered, his voice hushed. Then I heard the door to the room open and close. I stayed frozen underneath the bed, not knowing what to do. I didn't know whether Charles was still awake or not. I could hear my heartbeat, echoing in my ears. Minutes passed, but it felt like hours. I was beginning to
DrakeIt was dawn when we reached my pack, and only a few people were awake. I ran straight to Zelda's chambers, ignoring the greetings of the few people I passed. But when I reached her chambers, she wasn't there. My heart sank. I searched the whole house, but there was no sign of her. I turned to Jake, panic rising in my chest.“Where is she?” I muttered aloud, my panic growing. Just then, the door to the room burst open, and Zelda was brought in by her mother. She was in obvious pain, her eyes swollen and red. It was clear that she had been crying for days. I rushed over to her side, trying to comfort her. “What happened?” I asked, my voice shaking. Zelda's mother started to speak, but her voice was choked with emotion. “She fell down in the bathroom.” She said as she helped her sit down on the bed, and I sat beside her, taking her hand in mine. “I'm so sorry,” I said, my voice trembling. “When you needed me the most, I wasn't there.” Zelda's eyes met mine, and she whispered,
Drake“There's a rumor going around,” Jake said, his voice low. “Charles's people are coming for us.” My blood ran cold, and I jumped to my feet. “Lock the room,” I said to Zelda, my voice shaking. “Please, don't leave.” But she just sat there, frozen in fear. I knew we had to act quickly, but I couldn't do it alone. I felt the panic rising within me, but I forced myself to stay calm. We had to be smart about this, and stay one step ahead.The news about my child had left me numb, but now the reality of our situation hit me like a punch to the gut. Not only had I lost my baby, but now we were facing a fight for our lives. “I just can't believe it,” I said, shaking my head. “This is too much to handle.” I let out a weary sigh. I had never felt so exhausted, so overwhelmed. I felt like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I don't know how I am going to get through this.I made my way down to the basement, where my guards were waiting for me. I could tell they wer
Drake“Don't leave the room,” I pleaded, my voice trembling. She hesitated for a moment, and I could tell she was torn between her need to obey me and her desire to help. “Please,” I begged. “Don't leave. I don't know what's out there.” Finally, she nodded. I knew she wanted to argue, but she didn't have time. “I won't,” she said, her voice tight. I didn't waste another second. I ran out of the room and into the hallway. I had no idea what I would find, but I knew I had to be ready for anything.As I ran through the hallways, my heart pounding, I collided with someone. I gasped, but when I looked up, I saw it was Zelda's mother. “Thank the moon goddess, it's you,” I said, my relief evident in my voice. “Please stay with Zelda and make sure she doesn't leave.” She nodded, but I could see the fear in her eyes. I knew I was asking a lot of her, but I had no choice.A cry filled the air, the sound of a child in pain. My heart clenched, and I ran towards the source of the sound. Then
DrakeThree years later.I stood at the grave, my hands clutching the flowers I had brought. My kids stood beside me, their eyes fixed on the stone before them. I took a deep breath, clearing my throat. “Owen looks exactly like you,” I said, my voice quivering. “I know you're not here, but occasionally I believe you are.” I paused, my eyes hard as I looked at my kids. “He's as strong as you are. He's selfless, just like you. You would have loved him.” The words hung in the air, heavy with emotion.“Sometimes it's difficult to believe that you're not here with us, that I won't ever hear your voice again or feel your touch. Sometimes I think it's all a nightmare, that I'll wake up and everything will be like it was before. But I never do. The truth is, life without you is hard. I find it hard to trust anyone, to open up to anyone. “My kids ran off, giggling as they chased each other through the grass. I got up to follow them, making sure they didn't go too far. As I walked over to whe
ZeldaNine Months Later.I looked in the mirror, my eyes drawn to the slight bulge in my belly. I placed my hand on my stomach, feeling the life within. It was a strange sensation, one that filled me with both joy and fear. I was growing, my body changing, my life changing. But I was still me, still whole. And that was all that mattered to me. I traced my fingers over my cheeks, feeling the slight swelling of my nose. Drake said I looked beautiful, but I couldn't see it. All I saw was a monster. But he loved me anyway.He still wasn't happy that I was keeping the pregnancy, but I knew in my heart that this was the right decision. I wanted to have this child, to give Drake the heir he deserved. He might not have needed it, but the pack did. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the challenge ahead. I could do this. I could be strong for both myself and my child. I placed my hand on my stomach again, feeling the flutter of new life within. And I smiled.The door to my room burst o
ZeldaI couldn't tell how long I'd been unconscious, but when I opened my eyes, my head was pounding. I struggled to sit up, but someone helped me, supporting my weight. I looked up, and my heart sank. It was Drake. His expression was unreadable, and I was unable to remember the last time he had smiled. “Where's my family?” I asked, my voice breaking. I was afraid of the answer. “The doctor had asked that we give you some space,” he said. I nodded, my mind racing. He was staring at me with a strange look in his eyes, and I knew something was wrong. “What is it?” I asked, my heart in my throat. “Nothing,” he said, his voice monotone. I knew he was lying. We'd known each other for too long. He knew I could see right through him. I waited, the silence weighing on me like a heavy blanket. “Just tell me,” I said, my voice shaking. He let out a long sigh. “You're pregnant,” he said, his voice low and serious. My jaw dropped, and I looked down at my stomach. “I thought about what the
ZeldaI heard footsteps approaching, and my heart leapt into my throat. A guard appeared, a limp body slung over his shoulder. He dropped the body on the floor, and I held my breath, dreading what I would see. The guard stood back, his face pale. “He's dead,” he said, his voice flat. I forced myself to take a step forward, my knees shaking. I knelt beside the body, my hands trembling as I reached out to touch it. I pulled back the blood-stained cloak, revealing the face of Jake.“Jake, the Fierce,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Don't do this. You can't leave like this.” I reached out to touch his cold cheek, my hands shaking. I looked down at him, my heartbreaking as I took in his broken body. “Please… please don't go.” I cradled his body in my arms, my tears falling like rain.My mother rushed to my side, her arms wrapping around me. “Shh, my dear. Be strong,” she murmured. Drake stood in front of me, his eyes hard and unyielding. His arms were crossed behind his back, hi
ZeldaI felt Jake's hand slip from my grasp, and I heard a sickening thud as he hit the rocks below. I wanted to believe he was still alive, but I knew it was a futile hope. I sank to my knees, my eyes fixated on the jagged cliff that loomed before me. “Jake! Jake! Jake!” I heard Drake’s voice as he called out, but the only response was the echo of his own voice. Desperately, Drake yelled again, his voice hoarse and cracking. But there was no reply, only a heavy silence. I turned to Drake, his expression unreadable. “Let's go,” he said quietly, his voice heavy with grief. “No!” I cried, shaking my head. “We have to find him! We have to save him!” I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I couldn't accept that he was gone. Drake took my face in his hands, his eyes filled with sadness. “He's dead, Zelda,” he said softly, his voice cracking. “I'm so sorry.” I shook my head, refusing to accept that Jake was gone, and then I freed myself from hi
Zelda“Help!” I screamed, my voice hoarse with fear. My claws were digging into the wall, my muscles straining as I fought to stay in place. But I could feel myself slipping, and I knew I couldn't hold on much longer. My eyes darted to the ground below, my heart racing as I thought of the fate that awaited me if I fell. I heard the guards. Drake and Jake were shouting, but I was unable to make out what they were saying. I closed my eyes, my mind spinning as I tried to find a way out of this.I howled in desperation, the sound tearing from my throat. “Zelda!” I heard Drake call, his voice echoing through the cavernous space. I opened my eyes, straining to see him through the darkness. He was standing on the edge of the cliff, his arms outstretched toward me. But it was no use. I was too far away, the space between us was too great. “I can't reach you, Drake,” I cried, my voice cracking. He took a step closer, his eyes pleading. “Just try, Zelda,” he said, his voice shaking.I strugg
ZeldaDesperate, I reached out with my mind, trying to connect with Drake. To my relief, I felt him there, his mind close and receptive. I tried to send him to our location, hoping he could understand my message. Suddenly, I felt his presence grow stronger. He was coming, and he was coming fast. I sent him another message, pleading with him to hurry. He responded, his mind filled with a sense of urgency and determination.Cindy's wolf was impossibly fast, making it difficult for me to shift into my wolf form. I heard a loud growl in the distance, and my heart leapt. I knew that growl, that deep, angry sound. It was Drake, coming to save me. I just had to hold on until he got here. But I could feel my strength waning, and I knew I wouldn't last much longer. I had to find a way to keep myself safe, and quickly.Suddenly, Cindy's wolf stopped, her ears perked up and her body tensed. I could tell she had heard Drake, too. She turned to face him, her tail low and her eyes blazing with hat
ZeldaThe cold water stung my face, jolting me into consciousness. I squinted against the bright light, my eyes taking a moment to adjust. I could feel my wrists and ankles bound, my body aching with the strain of being tied up. My head pounded, a dull ache spreading from the base of my skull. As I took stock of my surroundings, I noticed that I was in a small stone room, the only light coming from a small window high above my head. The room was bare, save for a single wooden chair in the corner.The last thing I remembered was a sudden, blinding pain as something hit me on the head. Now, here I was, tied up and at the mercy of Cindy, a woman who had always been a pest in my life.“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice cracking with fear. Cindy's smirk only widened, her dark eyes glittering with malice. “Oh, you know what you did,” she said, her voice dripping with venom. I tried to think of what I could have done to make her so angry, but my mind was blank.“We were friends, C
Zelda“My lady,” a voice called from behind me, making me jump. I turned around to see a maid standing there, her gaze fixed firmly on the floor. “Your room is ready,” she said, her tone deferential. “How many miles is it from here to Cindy's grandmother's house?” I asked, my voice betraying my anxiety. The maid hesitated, then said, “I do not know, my lady.” I felt a wave of frustration, but I bit my tongue. “Thank you,” I said, my tone cool.I pulled the curtains closed, blocking out the moonlight. With a weary sigh, I let my shoulders slump. “My lady,” the maid said, “I hope you find the room to your liking.” I nodded my thanks, too tired to speak. She left me alone, and I entered the room, closing the door behind me. I sank onto the bed, its softness enveloping me. The silence was broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall. I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me, and I closed my eyes, my thoughts swirling.I felt my blood boil as I thought of what that woman had d