I wondered, for a moment, who was walking Anna’s dog while I was gone. I should call Bella and ask her to cover for me, I thought with a small wince.“Just put it on the table,” Mrs. Sterling said, shuffling toward the kitchen.I did as she asked, placing the bag carefully on the worn oak table. As
Aria & DarrenAriaI paused just at the forest’s edge, straining my ears to listen. The forest was silent now, save for the sound of the wind rustling through the pine trees and the birds flitting across the path.It didn’t feel right to just walk away when someone was calling for help, but I knew b
Emerging from the trees were three wolves, large and dark, their eyes glinting under the pale morning light.…DarrenLucas’s giggles filled the air as I lifted him onto my shoulders, his mittened hands gripping the top of my head for balance.“Higher, Daddy!” he squealed, leaning forward so far I h
AriaAll my life, I always thought that if I found myself in a dangerous situation, my fight or flight instincts would kick in and I would somehow, one way or another, save myself. But the truth was, I was frozen in my place as the three wolves closed in on me.Like a mouse in a trap. Only instead o
But I didn’t make it far before the wolves closed in again, blocking my path. Every which way I turned, I was met with dripping fangs and gleaming eyes, and no matter how I tried to escape, I just couldn’t.The wolves won in the end. I found myself pushed back once again, and there was no way to get
AriaWendy pressed the steaming mug of hot tea into my free hand. She deftly massaged the balm into the small cuts and scrapes covering my other hand, but I hardly felt it. My mind was still on the edge of that cliff with Darren’s arms safely wrapped around me.“You’re lucky you didn’t come into con
I felt my heart sink a little. Nothing made me happier than the thought of spending the evening with my best friend, drinking wine and watching crappy television, but I couldn’t. “Actually, I’m not home,” I said.There was a pause before she answered. “Oh. You’re not working late, are you?”Even tho
AriaThe feeling of the warm sun hitting my cheek gently tugged me from sleep, but it wasn’t the most peaceful awakening in the world. Not with Bella’s voice still lingering in the back of my head.“You two should make it official,” she had said last night, her voice devoid of her usual teasing—she
It was exactly as I remembered it, and yet completely different.We wandered through the festival for a while, stopping to admire the crafts and sample the food. Lucas was in heaven, running ahead and pointing out treats and games he wanted to try. Darren and I followed behind him, our hands intertw
AriaAfter a few days spent in the pack lands, we returned home. The trip was much shorter now, since I could shift and run back through the forest with Darren and Lucas by my side. Freeing, too.But when we returned, I felt even more stifled than ever.At first, I figured I would just adjust like I
I felt a pang of guilt, knowing that our campaign had inadvertently put the pack at risk. Once, I might have felt offended by their fear of humans, but now with the protests… I couldn’t blame them anymore.I couldn’t blame anyone for being scared anymore.“I understand your concerns,” Darren said, p
AriaReturning to the pack lands felt like a breath of fresh air after a year spent underground.It had been barely a month since we had been here, but returning felt different now. When I had first set foot in Moonglow pack territory, I had been, for all intents and purposes, a human. I had entered
The man glared at me, but refused to say another word. He called out to the guards, saying he was done speaking without a lawyer present, and the guards entered and took him away.“Well, that was… frustrating,” I muttered under my breath once I was alone. “And useless.”My wolf growled once more in
DarrenThe station was cold, sterile, and reeked of stale coffee. I sat in the interrogation room, my fingers drumming against the metal table as I waited for the man to be brought in. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, already giving me a migraine. Or maybe that was just the sensation of my wo
We spent the rest of the evening watching movies, curled up on the couch with Lucas sandwiched between us. He fell asleep halfway through the second movie, his head resting on my shoulder. I glanced down at him, my heart throbbing just at the sight of him curled up against me.Countless nights were
AriaThe moment Lucas jumped out from behind the sofa, flashing me a wide grin with his party hat askew on top of his head, I felt my previous frustration melt away like snow under the warm morning sun.“Surprise!” Lucas shouted, running up to me and taking one of my hands in his. He gestured to the
I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Thank you, Anna. I’ll try to come visit once in a while.”But we both knew that wouldn’t happen. Not when her dog hated me. Not when she clearly was a little frightened of me, too.When I returned to my apartment, Darren was already waiting for me, leaning aga