We reached the southern forests just before sundown. We were going to camp there for the night and enter the Scarlet Valley Pack's territory at dawn. The vans were carefully masked, and the whole group marched deep into the forest, carrying our backpacks.
This was the first time I had to set the tent, and thank God, Ian was there to help me, saving me from embarrassment. At that time, Draven was busy securing the area and talking about the details of the attack over the phone with other group leaders. Coordinating so many people spread across the huge southern territory must have been difficult, yet Draven seemed composed and strict the entire time. His commands were firm and unquestionable. I had to admit that he looked sexy as hell with his leader's demeanor. As soon as he finished the hundredth phone call, he walked towards Ian, me, and my almost-set tent, and pulled me into a surprising, warm hug.
"All that talking exhausted me. I need to recharge." He placed his f
I saved Sariel's phone number. I did it automatically, and then I stared at the screen, debating whether I should contact him on my own or not. It quickly turned the night into a sleepless one. I was torn. I wasn't sure if I could forgive Sariel for what he did, but my heart beat faster hearing that he hadn't given up on us. On the other hand, Draven started doing a lot of tiny things that worked on me. He was drawing me into his zone, and his captivation was almost irresistible.I got up long before the alarm clock rang. Fortunately, I was running on adrenaline, my blood richer in it than ever. Hormones sufficed for the lack of sleep. I got dressed and then walked out of my tent to stretch. As I was standing in the middle of the still dark forest, wearing a pair of combat boots, combat pants, and a black fitted top with short sleeves, I saw a pair of red pupils aiming at me. I turned my head, facing those eyes, and saw Draven appear from the shadows by his tent. He stepped c
Our group temporarily split into two. The twenty of us went straight from the casino's area to Alpha Marcus's mansion while the rest of us took care of the casino's workers. I hardly noticed Jetta was with us. I was so committed to the fight that, for me, she became yet another fighter on our team. I wouldn't allow her to become my distraction, no matter how hard she tried. Only when she appeared right beside me, I could see her absolutely focused on the goal, her body overfilled with adrenaline like mine. Well, I was relieved to see she didn't want to pick up a fight with me in such an absurd and extreme situation.Jetta and I walked almost shoulder to shoulder, heading to the wire fence guarding the Alpha's mansion. While we were walking, I scanned her body. She had a few bruises already surfacing on her right shoulder, one around her collarbone, and one on her cheek. Her lip was torn and slightly bleeding, and yet her face was unmovedas if she didn't feel any pain at
My world started spinning. Something heavy slammed into my chest, forcing the air out of my lungs and harassing my vocal cords with a painful growl. Hot, furious tears flooded my cheeks and burned my eyes while my heart ached for the mother I had hardly known. But from Ezra, I knew that she loved me even though she had to leave me. I hoped to see her again. I hoped to reconcile with her. I hoped to take her out of the Southern Woods Pack. Why even she had been taken away from me?!"Oh… You didn't know she was dead?" Derek snorted viciously, rubbing salt in my wounds, "This is hilarious! All those years you didn't even know she was dead!" he burst out, nearly stumbling from laughter.I gritted my teeth, desperately trying to hold my body in a fighting stance. Tears kept falling from my eyes, no matter how hard I tried to stop them. I needed to see clearly. I had to focus. I was already exhausted, and I had just received a huge mental blow, yet I forced myself not
The world around me was spinning, and I could hardly walk by myself. I might have been more exhausted mentally than physically. The pain in my chest was dredged up by the guilt of my first kill. I knew I could rationalize what I did, and I knew that Derek deserved to die, but that didn't change how I felt about it deep in my heart. I kept staring at my hands, dirty with blood, and at the knife, which I held tightly.Ian wrapped my arm around his shoulder and walked with me, supporting me at each step. I noticed that the majority of my wounds had mostly regenerated already, but the deep cuts on Ian's neck and chest were still far from healed."Are you ok?" I asked softly."I've been through worse." He gave me a wry grin. "It's you that I'm worried about. You look like a bloody mess. You won't die on me, will you?""It's not my blood, mostly," I sighed, then my lips curved into a faint grimace. "My body is going to be fine. It is my mind that is missing a p
I might have entered some kind of magical bubble. With each stroke of Draven's tongue in my mouth, I felt more blissful, more into it. I was sinking in pleasure, ignoring everyone's shouts and joyful screams. Draven's arms were wrapped around me. He was pulling me closer with every abrupt breath he took, his chest muscles flexing against my body. As the chants around us increased, I became more aware of my surroundings. A flush of embarrassment flooded my face, sending a rapid wave of strength to push Draven away from me. With the impulse I gave him, he broke our kiss and leaned back to watch my blushing face while wearing a huge grin."You make me want you even more," he whispered against my lips and gave me a quick peck before releasing me from his embrace.I took a long exhale, trying to control my emotions. The inside of my mind was distorted. The pain, the guilt, the satisfaction of winning; it all mixed together. I needed a break, a moment to be alone and process
The rest of the ceremony went smoothly… I think. My mind was elsewhere most of the time. I captured the sight of those standing at the foot of the hill and couldn't think of anything other than my father's unimaginable cruelty. He had sold a part of his own pack. He got rid of those who had come to the Southern Woods Pack with my mother. I bet that he had done it once when he killed her. What could be more disrespectful than selling members of her old pack as slaves? I couldn't bear the thought that I had that monster's blood running through my veins, but I figured that I should at least make good use of the genes he gave me: use them against him and against every wrong he had ever done.Draven held my hand through the whole formal part, as if he was marking me as his, and I let him, not completely consciously, but I did. I stood still with my eyes numbly registering everyone and no one at the same time. My bewilderment successfully took away my attention from any kind
Taking a cautious step back, I said, "Mind telling me what are you doing in my room?""You didn't answer my question," Draven hissed, glancing at my phone, lying on the bedside table.I clenched my fist. "I have no obligation to explain my private conversation. Now I'll ask you again: what are you doing here?"Draven left out an angry sigh, "Your door wasn't locked.""It wasn't open either." I glared at him.I observed Draven taking a deep breath, putting out the fire within his eyes. "I wanted to check on you to know that you are fine after everything that happened today." His harsh tone turned warmer and more composed."You should have knocked first," I stated firmly."I did, but you were too busy flirting with that vampire over the phone." An annoyed smirk flashed across his face."I wasn't flirting with him!" I snapped, "And why the hell do I need to explain myself to you?! You know that we were in a relationship and-"
I was looking at the crowd kneeling before me as if I was a goddess. It was overwhelming. The pressure was getting to me from all sides, squeezing my chest. I glanced at Draven. He stood a few steps away from me, wearing a sly grin on his face. When he met my pleading, help-me-out gaze, he let out a brief chuckle and tilted his head, pointing at the crowd. He dared me to step forward and speak, but how could I? He was a natural-born leader, and I always chose to fight in the second or third row, yet currently, those people had their eyes solely on me! I forcefully pulled a breath into my lungs."I am not a Princess, and I am not at Alpha like my mother was!" I called out, trying to amplify the sound of my voice.I saw the people in front of me raising their heads and looking at me.I swallowed and continued, "I didn't know what happened to my mother's pack, and I used to be too weak to even try to find out. But I became stronger, and I am willing to use that str