Naomi
My fingers quivered as they wrapped around the metal bar, delicately pulling it open, hoping the hinges wouldn’t squeak and the metal wouldn’t drag along the floor. By some miracle, it swung open effortlessly. Letting out a breath ... okay so I can get out, but now what? I can’t exactly walk around the pack naked to make my escape. I looked around my 4x5 cell and even the scraps of clothes I had had been removed. Pools of wolfsbane still remain its burnt my knees and elbows as I drag myself to stand. There is barely and inch of skin left unharmed.
I take a tentative step out of my cell. It will be just my luck if there is a guard down the corridor waiting for me. My fingers still gripping the steel door for balance as I cautiously take a step out, ensuring the coast is clear. It can’t be this easy … is it a trap? If they know I have escaped will they increase my punishment? I’m halfway between my cell and the corridor, unsure what to do. My mind is cloudy as I blink, trying to make a plan. If I stay here, I’m toast, so I better make a run for it. I call on my wolf, but she doesn’t stir the wolfsbane, still taking it out of her. Ugh, the warm sticky dry blood on my back is driving me nuts, it's so uncomfortable. The wolfsbane is still invading my bloodstream.
I’m in desperate need of clothes, shoes ... anything to wear. Since I’ve never been down to this part of the castle before, there wasn’t any need, so I’m not exactly sure where anything is. I did see Kara lead her emaciated friend to the showers. Perhaps I should start there. I need to try to wash as much of the dried blood and wolfsbane out of me. My feet pad along the floor, careful not to make a sound, although as I look back there are wet bloody footprints in my wake. Shit, I need to be quick or I am going to leave them a trail to find me.
I see the open tiled showers, not holding out much hope as I turn on the dial and the water is freezing, but I don’t have time to wait for it to warm up. My body shivers as I wash my arms and legs, keeping the water off of my back for the time being. I find a small bite mark on my nipple as I glower at it, fucking Simon if I ever see that prick again … I bite down hard on my lip as the icy water hits my back. I can’t make a sound as I look down, seeing the water turn red as it washes everything away. Oh, holy hell! The pain is unbearable as I wince, gritting my teeth to stop the screams from escaping. I held my body in place by sheer will. Although every instinct was tlling me to get out of the water. Despite the agony I'm in I needed the wound to be clean with each spray of the water, the scent of wolfsbane faded until there was none at all. It would take longer to burn through my system, but at least it wasn’t lingering on my skin. Gingerly patting my shoulder, I could feel the charred flesh where it had burnt me on impact. It will heal and I should be grateful I survived.
Shutting the water off, I now scan the dark tiles for some kind of towel or cloth. Hopefully, I can find some clothes. There has to be a guard uniform or something stored down here?
In the room opposite the bathroom, I make my way over and come across a small, rusty cupboard with a dented door that had paint bubbling and chipping in the bottom corner. While testing it gently, I can feel the door hinges creak as it swings open. I can see why the paint has burnt through. At the bottom tied in string in bunches is fresh wolfsbane. Further up on the shelves, there are some rusty serrated tools clearly used for torture, if the dried blood is anything to go by. I see an assortment of whips and chains with spiked silver edges. Further up there are a few dusty cloths and what looks like an old shirt? I grab it, giving it a sniff. Its musty, sour scent irritates my nose; I do another quick scan to see if there is anything else, but I’ve already wasted too much time lingering here.
I hurriedly put on the shirt before I see another cupboard. This one is almost empty except for one scratchy towel and half drunk bottle of water and a pair of boots. I grab the water, giving it a quick sniff before I drink. It’s a little old, with a room temperature taste to it but it will do for now. I grab the boots their not my size, much bigger than my slender feet but as I tie the laces up super tight, they should help get me out of the pack without shredding my feet to pieces. Once I’m out I can shift to my wolf and make my escape.
There is another door on the far side. Is it too much to hope for? That is a back way out of the cells? I guess I can try. The alternative is to go out the front where they will certainly be guards stationed at every post. Don’t they have cameras down here? Maybe not, or someone would have arrived by now. An uneasy feeling knots in the pit of my stomach as I try to push the feeling aside. Even if it is a trap, I have to try ...
I’ll just test the door first if it’s locked, so be it. It opens straight away and that pit in my stomach drops further. I can’t help but feel like they want me to escape … is that why I was whipped so savagely? A set of uneven metal stairs appears before me, or maybe no one uses these, as it looks like it is about to buckle under its own weight, let alone mine. I hear voices in the distance and I guess my luck has run out … did I at least close my cell door when I left? I can’t be sure. Their footsteps are getting louder, their voices clearer. It’s Simon and someone else’s. Taking a leap, I swing onto the third step, landing softly so as not to make a sound. It’s one of my skills being light on my feet. My family used to hate it as I could always get the jump on them. The stairs shake, but otherwise they hold up pretty well. I lean down carefully, pulling the door closed. It doesn’t click shut as it’s rather stiff. I don’t want to slam it shut, as I don’t know how close they are.
Looking up at the stairs, there is a rust hinge right at the top and if I don’t land properly, the whole thing is going to collapse. Nothing like a rickety metal staircase collapsing to help with your escape???
I lift one foot to test the next step. The whole thing shakes as I do. Gently putting it back, I let out a sigh I can’t exactly waste any more time. “Where is she?” I hear one of them as I leap with all my might up to the top of the stairs. The hinge gives way as the wounds on my back tear open as I grip the ledge, holding myself up. Shit. The sound clatters and bangs so violently in the small stairwell. Theres no way they don’t know where I am. Hauling myself up, the stale dirty shirt sticking to my back as I raise up before scampering out the way. I make it two steps out of sight when the door is yanked open. “What the hell?” I hear them say as I hold my breath, gradually walking further up the dark narrow corridor before leading me out of the back of the castle.
Would they think it collapsed on its own? Probably not, as they would have passed my empty cell to get here, so it’s pretty obvious it’s me.
My back pulses as I feel a fever break out, my sweat and blood mixing together as I trudge around the back of the castle. I really need to sleep, but I can’t stay here. Against all odds, trucks can be seen at pulling up at the driverway out back, making a delivery. This is genuinely happening. I can get out of here!
My heart races as I scan the men loading the trucks. I have to time this perfectly so I won't be seen. Then I see it. Two of them leave to go and grab something from the back of the castle all the other drivers have either left or already locked up their trucks the engines on ready to drive away. I sprint as fast as I can, ignoring the shooting pain with every step. With utmost stealth, I enter and conceal myself behind the crate boxes, ensuring no one catches sight of me. I eavesdrop as they load the next box, then the door shuts and locks in place. Okay, not sure how I’ll get out, but I’ll think of something. “See you in Bloodmoon Bay,” one of the men declares as I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s several hours’ drive from here. I can think of a plan by then.
Naomi The drive is long and bumpy as I zone in and out, my eyes fluttering. It must be what, 3am now? Maybe later? My back is sticking to the shirt, but I can’t do anything about it. Once I get to Bloodmoon bay, I’ll be able to get some bandages or a herbal paste to help with the healing. My wolf still hasn’t come too, but I occasionally hear her still so I know she is just waiting for the effects of the wolfsbane to wear off. The driver pulls a sharp left as the boxes stacked high come hurtling towards me. Oh shit, I’ll be crushed! I brace my arms up, hoping to shield my back as much as possible as I brace for impact. It crushes me, but the lid cracks open, allowing me to see inside … not what I was expecting. There are some weapons and gold jewels. I grab a ring and a small dagger, where I rip the end of my shirt to wrap around the blade and tuck it in my boot. I slip two gold rings on my finger and conceal a gold chain into my shoe as a backup. At least I can hopefully trade thes
Naomi I follow Jasper up the narrow windy staircase as he leads me to the room the floorboards creak like a sinking ship as a draft whistles from the thin glass windows as we pass. The sun is rising a bright golden glow as my eyes itch from being so tired. I’m dead on my feet, but until Jasper leaves, I can’t relax yet. He seems harmless enough, but I can already feel my gashes on my back reopening. We stop at the end of the hall as he opens a small wooden door. “I’m afraid it’s not much but it will eh … just have a look at see what you think,” he mutters as we both step into the small room that may as well be a closet. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but it’s a roof over my head. There is a fireplace. Thank god an old stuffy arm chair that has seen better days. It matches the small single bed. There’s no wardrobe or chest or draws just a small window overlooking the bay without a curtain. “It’s perfect,” I thank him as he nods, looking a little surprised. “I’ll um see what other
Naomi I wake up my muscles sore, my throat is scratchy and I have no idea what time or day it is. I carefully lift myself off the pillow, my actions sluggish as I haven’t moved in a while. Feeling surprisingly good overall, I can’t help but groan as my back itches. I wipe my face a mix of ash and drool. Lovely. My fire has long gone out and the whistle of the wind rattling the small windows blows the ash around the room. I cough some more. I think I ate a log. As I sit up, there is actually a print of me on the bed as more ash settled around me as I slept. Oh, fuck my back. Please don’t have ash in it. When I stand, I experience a sense of unease as I struggle to find my bearings. I’ll just head to the bathroom to wash all of this off … did Jasper mention anything about a towel? I unlock the bedroom door, opening it slowly as my gaze travels down to the floor. I see a huge thick cut steak sandwich on doorstop bread. My stomach rumbles as my mouth water god I have eaten nothing this
Naomi “And that’s all there is to it, got it?” Jasmin asked as she handed the pint I had just poured to one of the patrons. I nodded. It was easy enough, not that I had really done anything like this before, but how hard could it be? After that, Jasmin flurried about behind the bar, pouring drinks as I watched. Whenever there was a spare moment, she would fix Calyx another drink. Neat whiskey. Every time. I poured pints for several customers, spilling it once or twice as I handed them to each one, taking the money and ringing it up in the till. The bar smelt of stale ale. The floor was sticky, as my boots constantly needed pulling to move around the small area. I was careful not to bend too low. The bar was full with mostly men loitering there sat on the stools. One wrong move and they would see everything. I think that was their plan. The glass I was holding suddenly shattered and fell to the floor. I immediately picked up the pieces, completely forgetting I wasn’t wearing any und
Naomi Calyx pushes me back against the door to my bedroom, his fierce body heat pressing up against me as his lips devour mine, leaving me breathless and wanting. My hands tug at his clothes, his thick thigh wedged between my legs as I grind against it. My body burns with pleasure, every touch and kiss leaving me hungry and begging for more. “I knew wolves were horny, but holy shit, you are on another level,” he says, in between kisses. My skirt has ridden up and nothing is between me and his thick thigh. I can already feel my wetness on his jeans. My fingers clutch at his shoulders as I struggle to hold back my climax. I tug his shirt off at the same time he tugs my top up, exposing my breasts to him. The chilly salty air causes them to harden before his huge calloused hands tightly grab them, making me moan in pleasure. The door bangs as my body withers against it. He nibbles my dark chocolate nipple as I arch in satisfaction. “Turn around,” he orders as he smacks my ass. My arms
Naomi I hadn’t seen Calyx for several days now. Each one of my shifts was just a blur of me staring at the corner he always sits in. The stool is empty. That corner of the bar was dark, void of any life. My fists ball as I pour another ale, slamming it down on the bar as I take the change, unable to force a smile as I move on to the next customer. I can see Jasper and Jasmin exchange looks between each other. Jasper has a frown, his lips pressed together as he watches me. “Eat something, Naomi, you're dead on your feet,” I hummed a response, continuing on with whatever I needed to do to get through the day. Jasmin, on the other hand, just scowls at me every chance she gets. “I told you to stay away from him. Cal hates wolves. I was just trying to help you. Now you have ruined everything.” It seems I scared off her best customer. I mumbled a fake apology to her as she huffed, grabbing dirty glasses from the bar as I poured more drinks. The anger burned inside the only thing keeping me
Naomi Calyx carried me over his shoulder like a giant sack of potatoes. I was torn between the mixture of relief at feeling his body against mine, even if it was just his shoulder digging in my ribs and my urge to claw him to pieces. Which would be significantly harder given the now absence of my claws. “Get off of me! I need to get back to work!” I pound my fists into his muscular back, gritting my teeth as he chuckles, barely noticing my actions. He probably thinks I’m giving him a massage without my shifter strength. “The only way you are getting off pet is on my thigh,” he laughs as his large palm smacks down onto my ass, the wet fabric of my clothes making it sound so much louder. I fight the urge to feel turned on by that. I hear him sniff the air, laughing as his hand smooths over my ass cheeks. Oh goddess, I can already feel the hit pooling in my belly, the ache between my legs. I should hate him, but my body seems to have other ideas. We walk the length of the beach, the i
NaomiCalyx stares at me, his expression void of any emotion, as if my questioning any of this is completely unreasonable. I go to scoff and he grabs my chin with his fingers painfully hard, his dark eyes burning as he closes the distance between us. “I’ll do whatever the fuck I want with you, got it!” he spat and despite his anger, I felt a wave wash through me, making me feel calm as I nodded.The engine roared as he cut me another few looks before putting the car in gear. He then leaned across the middle, planting one final kiss on my lips. His taste lingered on my tongue as we started the drive out of Bloodmoon Bay. I gazed out the window, seeing the scenery change as I tugged the clothes I had closer, feeling a chill. Cal’s hand landed on my thigh, his large rough warm palm heating my skin beneath it. “It’s a long drive. You should relax,” his voice was like a melody as I nodded, sinking back into my chair as his thumb placed circles on my skin.I zoned in and out hearing him sing
First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to all of my lovely readers who have stuck with me until the end of this book. This novel has taken a darker turn than I had initially planned, and I apologize for not providing enough trigger warnings. My intention was never to cause distress to any of my readers with the content in some of the chapters. I truly believe that Naomi's journey needed this darkness for her to grow and fight for her own future. I am aware that there are still several unanswered questions at the end of this book, and it was always meant to be a shorter novel. However, it also serves as a set-up for the rest of the Mated Series books. If you continue reading, you will find answers to these questions. For those who wish to know more about Naomi and a few details about Addison, they can be found in "Mated To My Promised Alpha." Naomi's journey has been a challenging one, and while she may not fit into the classic hero or "good" character mold, I was hesita
Naomi 2 years later The smoke of burnt herbs billowed in the small corner of the library in Greyclaw Ridge, where I had holed myself up. I rocked baby Addison in my arms, watching as she slept, taking in each one of her perfect features. A single tear rolled down my cheek as I cradled her, my little angel. The herbs burned like grains in an hourglass, signaling that I didn’t have much time left. I kissed her soft cheeks and delicate forehead. “My baby, if only you knew how much I love you.” Her little eyes fluttered open, and she smiled—a big, bright smile that tugged at my heart. I smiled back, even as tears blurred my vision. I heard her sweet gurgle, but when I blinked the tears away, she was gone. I looked at the herbs, now reduced to nothing but ash. I didn’t have any more. I’d have to wait until I could go to the store to buy some. A throb began to pulse at my temples, the telltale sign of an oncoming headache. I really needed to stop doing this, but the thought of never seei
NaomiOn the journey home to the manor, Cal drove his car, the bay disappearing in the rearview mirror. I finally felt like I was coming home.“I found something out, by the way. My old alpha… he has a son now,” I added casually after Hilda told me the reason Elio was so pissed was because his mate had just given birth to their first child a few days prior. I tried not to think about it, but the painful memory was already surfacing, squeezing at my chest.“I know. I already sent him our gift,” Cal replied just as casually, driving around a bend as my breath caught in my throat.“What do you mean you already know?” I asked, and he gave me one of his winning smiles.“I wanted to keep busy while you were away, so I put a lot of thought into his gift. Tobin helped me,” he explained, making my blood run cold. Fuck, that isn’t good.I tried to act casual, feeling anything but, as the car picked up speed, pushing me back into my seat. “Well, after how he treated you, I wanted to get even with
NaomiA Few Weeks LaterAddison was gone, and I found myself drifting down to the beach. I had been unable to eat or sleep much, feeling her absence like a missing limb. I knew she was safe—the small spell I cast told me she was—but that was my only connection to her. It was better than nothing. My body had returned to its pre-pregnant self, and somehow, that made things worse. Was she even real?I should go home. I need Cal now. I needed him to help fill the void, and I was tired of fighting it—the pull of the bond. I found myself walking back toward the Mermaid Claw Inn. It had been my refuge so many times since coming here. I stood outside the wooden door, watching the sign flap in the wind.I headed inside, unsure why I had come. Maybe I just needed to get out from under Hilda’s watchful eye. The place still had that same woodsy, salt smell with hints of malt from the ale. Jasper had a new barmaid. She was a wolf and seemed eager to learn as he showed her how to pour a pint. She o
Naomi2 weeks laterI had been feeling uncomfortable all day. Every step felt like a balloon about to burst as I paced back and forth in my room, hands gripping the swollen curve of my belly. I was certain the baby was going to arrive. I had kept to my room for fear of my water breaking in Hilda’s house. Her words of chucking me out on the street still ringing in my ears.I hoped the information I had found was enough. If I told him what I needed to cure our curse, I could persuade the coven not to make any more silver bullets or other weapons that would harm the packs. I had also found out a few of their regular customers and that Tobin had been working on a few new products. It was enough … I was sure of it.It didn’t matter what happened to me as long as my baby was safe, that was all that mattered. I had also been crying far too much, thinking about all the things I would miss out on as she grows up. Suffice to say, my eyes were puffy, and I was already sleep deprived. Hilda had to
NaomiElio grabs my hand and pulls me down narrow, dimly lit alleys before pushing me through the heavy wooden door of a dingy bar. The pungent scent of old beer and unwashed bodies hits me like a wave as I step inside. The patrons are a mix of rowdy drunks and slumped over figures, eyeing us warily. I know with a sinking feeling that we’re back at the same place Cal had dragged me to before.The bartender looks at us as we walk in, but one snarl from Elio has everyone going silent, looking away. They don’t care that he is dragging in a heavily pregnant lady with him. He kicks through the back door until we reach a dimly lit corner. The table he finds is small and wobbly, tucked away where the flickering lightbulb casts an eerie glow. “Sit,” he commands, and I quickly sink into the rickety chair. As I watch him he wants to know about the chaos of the coven. A sly smirk forms on my lips - perhaps I can use his reputation to my advantage.I clear my throat and ask nonchalantly, “So, how
Naomi4 months laterThe wind whipped through my layers of clothing, bringing a slight chill as I trudged down the narrow streets of Bloodmoon Bay. The search for the moon goddess and any clues about Richard’s son had been fruitless. My belly bulged with a baby that would be arriving in a few short weeks, and I still hadn’t figured out how to get the child safely to my sister, who had agreed to take it in. My mind raced with worry as I walked, hoping for some sort of solution before it was too late.A sharp gust of salty wind stung my face, whipping through my tightly braided hair and bringing a strangled gasp to my lips. I paused to stretch out the knots in my spine, only to freeze as I caught sight of a menacing figure looming ahead. My blood turned to ice as I realised who it was. Shit.Pure terror grips me as I sprint down the street, my fat feet pounding against the pavement in a desperate attempt to escape. My hands desperately drop my bags in order to clutch my tummy, the weigh
Naomi*** Trigger Warnings Apply ***It had been weeks later, and despite my persistent efforts, I still couldn’t reach the moon goddess. In desperation, I sought out a seance in Bloodmoon Bay, but was met with confusion and disbelief. They claimed the moon goddess was already among us, but I couldn’t sense her presence at all. It seemed like a ridiculous excuse to avoid helping me. Surely, if the goddess truly walked among us, we would feel her divine power radiating from her very being. But instead, I was left with nothing but frustration and unanswered questions.I had trudged back to Hilda’s failing to find answers yet again. I didn’t want to delve into the dark blood magic if I could help it. If things got worse, I figured I knew where to start for looking for a rogue that might actually help as part of this cure.I took back to sitting on my bed with a spell book reading through it trying to learn different techniques. The pages were worn, and I was careful not to tear them, or
NaomiI catch the sickly scent of Odette’s perfume as I follow her around the manor as she rifles through her wardrobe, packing a bag. Ataz stands on the other side of the room with his arms folded over his chest and a death glare on his face. “We have been through this. If you don’t want the others to get suspicious of you, I need to leave,” she whispers, but even with the softness of her voice, I don’t miss the harshness of her words.“You’re supposed to want to stay here with me,” he grumbles, like a petulant child who can’t get what he wants. Odette sighs as if this conversation is actually draining her energy. I don’t know how many times they have had this conversation. Odette is changed out of her robes. She looks fresh as a daisy and a glow to her skin that wasn’t there when she was first freed from the figurine. She slowly walks towards him, her hips swaying sensually as she crosses the distance. It’s a practiced art form, but it seems to do the trick.“Ataz,” she purrs, her v