Brighton Pack's conference room was crammed with werewolves, who waited expectantly for their Alpha's arrival. The grieving families who had lost a loved one in the recent attacks were huddled in one corner at the left hand side of the long and wide triangular table situated at the center of the room with red, tear rimmed eyes, puffed and blotched faces. The right hand was reserved for high ranking wolves, like the Alpha's family, the Luna's family, the beta's family, the gamma's family, the pack advisors, the pack's highly decorated warriors and the pack highest professionals like doctors and lawyers etc. Collectively they were known as Brighton's stakeholders. At the apex of the triangular table, between the left and right sides were two throne-like chairs, reserved for the Alpha and his Luna, beside those chairs were seats for the beta and gamma. Other members of the pack clammored at the other end of the table.Everyone had arrived apart from the Alpha, his sons and the gamma. T
Douglas stifled a gasp and slumped on the bench closest to him, panting heavily. He tightened his fist then let out a deafening growl that swept through the pack. ****************Andrew woke up with a start, panting as he struggled to breath, goosebumps scattered over his skin and his wolf pandered restlessly in his subconscious. He sat up abruptly, throwing open the door to his truck and almost hitting his head on the roof as he bolted out.He shuddered, falling to the ground and taking lungfuls of fresh air. His eyes darted around for signs of danger but nothing seemed out of place. Yet his wolf continued fidgeting and his instincts screamed at him to run.Cautiously, he walked around his truck, listening carefully for sounds. When he didn't hear anything, he jumped into his truck and fled.***************After a long night of tossing and turning. The first rays of light finally broke through the dark sky.Douglas threw open the doors to his study, looking older than he did the d
Douglas snorted,"Have all the scouts, warriors and guards assemble before me tomorrow to explain how Andrew slipped back into my pack house unnoticed." Douglas instructed, stretching his arms and getting to his feet.Laura and Dominic nodded in affirmation."Where have you been?" Douglas asked in a clipped tone, pacing with his arms behind his back.Andrew shrugged then crossed his legs on the conference table, relaxing further into the chair.Douglas stopped and glared at him.Andrew smirked."I'm not your puppet father, I will go and come as I please." Andrew taunted.Douglas growl reverberated around the room, causing the others to whimper."You will answer me!" He barked."Where's Larry?" Andrew asked nonchalantly. Picking at his nails before replacing them at the back of his head.Douglas clenched his fists, barely containing the urge to hit something. "Leave us." He commanded, rolling up his sleeves, as golden slits flashed in his eyes.Mendez scurried out alongside Dominic, l
Douglas smirked as he walked out of the pack hospital, wondering why he had wasted his energy in the past, when the best way to catch a fish was by dangling what it wanted the most before it and giving it the hope that it would eat its cake and have it. Then reeling it in before it even realized that it was a trap.Andrew was going to become Brighton's Alpha, by hook or crook. Laura, Larry. He communicated. Meet with me immediately. Instantaneously they appeared by his side, following him until they were in the hallway leading to his study. He glanced around furtively and listened for signs of life. Confirming that nobody was close enough to hear what he was about to disclose to them."Andrew has agreed to become Alpha." He chirped,Larry's eyes widened, while Laura's brows furrowed for a split second. "I know, I myself am amazed at this sudden change, but let us not challenge or badger him with questions" He instructed, stopping and gazing into both of their eyes.Larry gulped, La
"What was that about?" Larry asked once he was released from the old Alpha's hold. Andrew quickly wiped the shock of his face and shrugged nonchalantly."Father wanted something." He quipped, staring out the window."Hmmm, what did his message say?" Larry pressured."He's asking too much from me, as always." Andrew muttered."I see," Larry harrumphed.For a few minutes they remained silent, staring daggers at each other."What did you want to tell me?" Andrew asked, suddenly.Larry huffed, then gave him a knowing look that said 'I know something's wrong, but I won't push it.'Andrew nodded, remaining mute. He was careful not to show the emotions that boiled within him, Larry was already suspicious of something. He stifled a growl, covering it with a cough. He'd expected the old alpha to demand difficult things from him and had even tried to mentally brace himself, but bringing down the walls he'd put up to protect himself was a step too far. Ordinarily, he felt overwhelmed by the p
A hiss slipped through Caleb's lips as he pressed an ice pack down on the massive bump his father had left on his forehead. He had been ruminating on his next line of action when his father busted into his house. He'd thought that the old alpha had finally understood how dangerous and useless Andrew was to the pack and had come to deliberate with him, but was shocked by the first punch to his bowels. His father bared his teeth at him, then inserted his claws into his left leg and tossed him about, beating him until he passed out. Tremors ran through Caleb's body as he relived the moment.It'd been two days already, but his wounds, even the slight ones, had yet to heal, which was abnormal even for werewolves that received no medication. Unless it was a major injury or sickness, werewolves had no need for hospitals or clinics. A cut or bump disappeared in minutes, leaving the affected area as good as new.Wincing, he grabbed a bottle of liquor and limped out of his kitchen to his bath
"Let me get this straight," Andrew blurted out, rubbing his temples. "The pack draws strength from each other through the bond."Larry nodded, "Sometimes it's like a warm, fuzzy blanket that comforts you when you're down." Larry explained.Andrew grimaced."Blanket really?" He asked, recoiling at the thought."You'd have to think positively about Brighton's bond to reestablish it." Larry groaned, his shoulders slumping in defeat.After Andrew had been declared fit enough to be discharged from the pack's hospital, they had been trying to reestablish Andrew's bond to the pack. All attempts had failed disastrously. Larry was still pestering him now, as they carried in personal items he'd purchased at the mall into his new house in the pack."There's nothing positive about Brighton." Andrew declared.Larry huffed, "What about me and Laura, aren't we positive? How did you restore your connection to both of us? He asked exasperatedly.Andrew shrugged, saying nothing. He didn't understand
"Let me clarify things a little darling. Have everything delivered to the address I dropped with you before noon tomorrow or lose your job, it's simple," Nicole threatened into her phone, stepping out of her car. She stood for a while listening with her hands folded to her chest."Of course, I expect your products to be of high quality, nothing less." She finished, ending the call."Humans," she scoffed, rolling her eyes as she slid her phone into her purse. She then scrutinized the house before her."Ugh, his house is so much better than that building given to Andrew." She grumbled sashaying towards the front door.As she approached, the door swung open, revealing Caleb, who welcomed her with a wolfish grin. She eyed him skeptically, if she hadn't been too busy picking out new furniture, she would have pondered on why Caleb of all people summoned her."Don't smile at me Caleb, my mate's enemies are my enemies. " she remarked."Come in, please." Andrew gestured politely, ignoring her
"Did he agree?" Emily asked as soon as her mother reappeared. "Yeah, after a lot of persuasion."Emily released a shaky breath. Her body was burning like she'd been bathed with acid. "Let's get into position then." She said, lifting herself up. The pain was too much had she found herself unable to stand. She staggered backward and fell to the bed. "Emily! What's wrong?" "It's like my body is on fire." Emily hissed,Vanessa came to her and inspected her body."It's the mark from hell. He's suffering from the mark from hell. Are you sure you can do this? I can tell Andrew the plan, I'm sure he'd be happy to do it in your place.""No." Emily said forcefully. The truth was that no one could execute the plan effectively apart from her. Even if they collected the totem from Caleb, she was the only one powerful enough to destroy it. Andrew's strength couldn't break it, and neither could her mother's magic. But her body burned and she wanted to crawl into bed and cry. She'd have to make
Emily purposely ignored Andrew.She also purposely ignored the nudges her mother was giving her, as she narrated her experience to everyone. She also tried to ignore the sparks that were ignited in her body when he pecked her and whispered that he had to go but he'll be back.But when her mother, who'd been attentively listening to her, rose up, dragged him by the side, and hugged him. Envy, heavily laced with anger as she'd never felt before, coursed through her body. It felt as if her mother was betraying her. Jacqueline was the first to notice the change in her countenance.She smirked,"Girl, that's what you get for ignoring your man. Now he's in the arms of another woman." Emily growled and Jacqueline burst into laughter."When did you start behaving like a she-wolf? Hold your horses Em, it's only your mother. It makes me wonder what you'd have done if it was another female."Amelia laughed,"She would have probably hexed her entire generation." She said,"Nah, Em's feeling m
Emily had given up on trying to escape her imprisonment before she realized that it wasn't real. It had been days, yet she'd not felt hungry and she woke up the exact way every time. The sun didn't set, her clothes didn't change, she didn't want to use the bathroom and everything was still and lifeless.The only thing that changed each time she awoke was her strength. It was as if something was sucking out her energy. On the second day of her entrapment, she remembered wandering around the sheet/film that locked her in search of a weak spot or way out until she got bored and forced herself to sleep.Now she could hardly move a limb. Anger at Andrew and his Kingdom burned within her chest. She allowed it to blind her reasoning and she began to blame him for everything that happened.She promised herself that she would hunt Andrew if she died there.She'd been making such plans when she noticed the potted gardenia again.With a lot of effort, she stood up, walked to it, and lifted it of
Andrew and the Compliant narrowed their eyes at Vanessa."Do you understand it? Can you see how clear the prophecy has become?" Vanessa asked,The Compliant and Andrew glanced at themselves and then back at Vanessa."You," She pointed at Andrew, "became the enemy, you were the destroyer. He used your body to commit all these atrocities. Right now your people do not trust you. You'll need to do a lot to regain their trust. The second prophecy has come to pass. Can't you see it? You aligned with the enemies, you brought harm to your people and if I didn't save you, you would have perished.""Oh." Andrew agreed, nodding. "Now I'm very curious about the 3rd and 4th ones. I wasn't one to believe in those prophecies. My husband did and I often mocked it for it. I didn't think the prophecy concerned us witches and hoped you didn't find the key. I even hexed you."Andrew shrugged, he didn't understand where she was going or what she was trying to say.Vanessa chuckled mirthlessly, "And afte
"Where am I?" Andrew growled. His eyes were still shut and he wasn't fully awake.Vanessa, who had been standing behind her kitchen counter from the moment she dropped him, shivered. He's not going to rip you apart. You saved him, remember? She repeated in her head."Where am I?" Andrew asked again, propping his eyes open, then shielding his face with his arms.His wolf prowled around restlessly in his head. It wanted blood and it wanted it now.Vanessa steadied herself by gripping her kitchen counter. Her knuckles turned white and the bones in her fingers threatened to snap.Andrew jolted up."Where the fuck am I?"A shudder ran through her body and she swallowed involuntarily."My home." She said, her voice sounding more confident than she'd expected.Andrew's head snapped in her direction and he growled. Vanessa could see the malice in his eyes and feel the anger rolling out from his pores. Gathering as much courage as could muster she stepped forward. "I've been waiting for
The first thing Shirley did when the bodies exchanged was to try to get hold of Caleb before he fell to the ground.Later on, she would regret it deeply and ask herself why she didn't disappear like she normally did. Maybe it had something to do with the mark from hell that she'd seen reappearing on Caleb's body.Shirley's illusion flickered and she could feel her powers waning out as she bent to check on Caleb and wondered why. After confirming that he hadn't been knocked dead, she vented out her frustration on him and tried to wake him up. After trying several spells that didn't work she shook him roughly and punched and kicked him but he remained unresponsive. She'd also said another couple of spells that were supposed to be potent and yet the effect remained the same."Coma!" She yelled, "You're in an induced Coma you son of a bitch! Motherfucker, you get to sleep while I think of a way to save us!"If she had stopped screaming then and paused to do the actual thinking, she would
The next morning Vanessa snuck into Brighton and stood amidst the crowd of werewolves standing before the platform in the form of a man. She had to dig up her husband's old spell books and read and practice them throughout the night before she was able to perfect the spell. She stood within wolves knowing that any mistake she made meant death. She trembled, her hands were balmy and her forehead was clouded with sweat. Although she was terrified about being exposed, she was more terrified about failing. It seemed like the fate of the whole world weighed on her shoulders and that was enough to make her shake. Before leaving Andrew, she'd given him a sleeping potion and was glad that it was still in effect when they dragged him out of the dungeon that morning."Who are you and what have you done with Vanessa?" She muttered under her breath. Never in a million years could she imagine that she, Vanessa, would dare to do what she'd been doing in the past few hours. It was very out of char
It was the time of reckoning. Caleb thought, trying as much as he could to keep a grim expression on his face when he was bouncing with excitement inside him. The platform had once again been set and the pack members gathered beneath it chatting away as they awaited the death of Brighton's number one enemy. The gates of the dungeon creaked open, shushing the crowd of onlookers. The advisors and some stakeholders, followed by a barrage of guards and warriors who dragged Caleb's unconscious body processed solemnly to the platform and ascended it. Caleb had never felt so powerful in his entire life and he loved it. Thrills of victory ran down his spine and he clasped his eyes shut and struggled to keep at bay, the smile that had been threatening to break out from his lips. "I still don't understand why we are hurrying his death." Someone murmured dispassionately.Caleb scowled as his head snapped toward the direction of the sound. It had come from one of the stakeholders.He sneered
A thrum of energy buzzed in Shirley's brain signifying that some of her spells had been activated. And she knew the exact ones, it was those she'd said to trap the moon witch.A slow smirk spread across her face and she ignored Vanessa's righteous rant. She'd come on her own with the idea of threatening her into submission. But the once pale woman had suddenly developed a backbone of her own and was now shooting back and matching Shirley word to word.Of course, Shirley was irritated and had started thinking that maybe it was time to slice her throat. Shirley's threats were like water on a rock to Vanessa and it amazed Shirley to see her fired up like that.Unexpectedly, the new members of the circle swooped in, grabbed her, and secured her. They'd been hunting for a few days now. Yet, instead of Vanessa cowering like she normally would, she screamed some more and accused Shirley of doing everything under the sun. It had started grating Shirley's nerves when her spells suddenly activa