Theon.As soon as I saw the robed man raise the dagger over Callista’s heart, I lost it.The anger that had been building up in me exploded as my wolf commanded me to protect my mate, and there was nothing I could do to keep my instincts from taking over. There was no way I could deny the way my heart seized at the sight, fear unlike any other rising in me.Because Callista is under that knife.The stealer who escaped me made me search half the country for her because I didn’t even think she would be brave enough to do what she did is finally here and had somehow gotten herself tangled with a mess of a situation.How did this even come to be? The morning I realized that she wasn’t in the castle, my wolf had gone into a frenzy. I’d gone to my office to get started on some paperwork when Kellin had come bursting in to tell me, “Callista’s gone!”The sewers. Of all the things she could’ve done, she’d taken the damned sewers. When I’d arrived at the washing room, the other maids were gath
Theon.The coming-of-age ceremony of the werebears forbids anyone except the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and the young ones from stepping into the ritual grounds. It is a tradition that is commonplace for every werebear pack out here, and I’ve learned of it from the special lesson I’d gotten on diplomacy back when I was a child, the spare to the heir who was my brother. Even though I hadn’t thought that I’d ever get to exercise that knowledge back then, I’d listened to every lesson diligently, wanting to know more about the society that we inhabited.After I became Alpha King, I knew that I’d have to deal with other were-species when the time came, but never did I think my first encounter with werebears would be like this.Upon seeing their Alpha fall, the Beta and Gamma of the Brekett pack round up the young bears to retreat. They don’t look all that keen to leave, rather, they are all brimming with the need to fight, I can tell. But they listen to their superiors, who are obviously aware th
Theon.“Magic.” Dr. Haeger says as I rush towards him at the hospital. He closes the door to the ICU gently behind him, wiping his hands with a clean towel.Kellin and Haden stand next to me. Callista was directly taken to the ICU upon entering, and Dr. Haeger and his team had been treating her for three hours now. We’d immediately evacuated the ritual grounds before the Gamma could rally more pack members to attack us. A full-on pack war meant bad news, and we wanted to avoid that. Werewolves and Werebears were sworn enemies, and there was a reason we always avoided one another.My mind flashes to Callista, laying on the stone slab soaked in her own blood.Why’d they taken her as a sacrifice? Kidnapping a wolf by bears was a crime punishable by death.And I’d killed their Alpha. I only hoped they didn’t recognize which pack we were from. Having a random wolf pack attack them is one thing, but having the royal pack attack them? That could escalate to a fricking war between the wolves
Theon. I sit next to Callista with a heart heavier than a ton of iron, watching her chest rise and fall slowly. Various wires are hooked onto her, reading her vitals, her blood pressure, and other things I don't know. She looks more like a machine than a woman, except for all the uncovered, abused skin peeking out from her hospital gown. The carvings on her body are still bright red, but I know those scars will fade soon, leaving her skin as pristine as before. We are werewolves, and we only get scars if the weapons are laced with hefty amounts of silver, or other poisonous materials. I feel guilty for wanting her to heal quickly, because every time I look at her injuries, all I can think of is how much I failed her. My mind flashes back to the time I found her on the slab. At first, when I saw her open, unmoving eyes, I’d thought that was it. I’d been too late to save yet another woman in my life. But this time, it was a woman, a girl, who I condemned to her fate. I don’t know how
Theon.Time goes on, one day, two more days, and Callista lays abed. The marks on her skin fade by the day, but I can still see them as bright as the day they were inflicted on her.The more Callista lies unconscious, the more I loathe myself. I take to neglecting my own health as a way of punishing myself subconsciously, and only realize this when my Beta and Gamma come storming into the hospital room to inform me that I’d missed more than four meals and had not gotten any sleep.“You can keep doing this to yourself, Theon.” Kellin chides as he manhandles me out of the hospital room into the hospital cafeteria. “Don’t think we don’t see what you’re doing here. I understand how painful this much be for you, but it’s no reason to treat yourself like shit.”“I deserve worse. She’s there on that bed because of me. I put her there.”“Punishing yourself is the worst way to do that.” Kellin’s tone is fatherly, like he’s talking to one of his kids more than his Alpha. “I know you’re tempted
Callista.At first, there is nothing.I float in empty space, trying to make sense of it all. There’s darkness all around me, although it’s not the oppressive kind I’m used to in my nightmares. No, but there is serenity in it. Something tells me that the moment darkness disappears to give way to light, my little resting time would be over.And I don’t want that. My memories are hazy, and I have no idea where I am at the moment, but one thing is certain, I am tired. I’ve been feeling tired for so long, and needed a rest. But more than that, I have been craving safety. Now, in the darkness where I am weightless, I have both.But of course, like all good things, it had to come to an end.I don’t know how it starts, but one moment I am happy and floating, but the next I’m being dragged down by a force strong enough to rival gravity. I scream my reluctance into the void, but there is nothing to help me.As I get dragged down, I start to gain a semblance of self, along with memories. I lear
Callista.“Who?”“I met a little girl in the city. Well, not really little but, she was a kid. She was human and I left her when…” My own stupidity comes to mind. I’ve left her there, vulnerable. If I hadn’t associated with her…I’d pretended I was human, thinking it was the safest way. But it wasn’t. It was the stupidest thing I could’ve done at the moment.The wind starts to pick up speed.“Please don’t blame yourself for that, Callista. You did not leave on your own accord, did you? Besides, it’s not like you could’ve searched for her afterward given what happened to you.”“What happened to me? You’re both being so vague, it’s got to be bad. I just don’t remember.” I shove my fingers into my hair in frustration. “Why am I in the hospital?”“You were banged up pretty badly, Callista.” Finally, Dr. Haeger says in a consoling tone, focusing our attention back on the case at hand. “Multiple cuts on your body, deeper slashes on your wrists,” He lowers his voice, “And you were mentally v
Callista.The dark-haired man smells so nice. Like sea breeze and pinecones, mixed with hints of smoke. I remember the sea that I’d seen on my way out of the first city, how fresh it felt, how liberating. Now, he’s got his arms around me, and they are so nice. Strong. He’s tall and muscular, and so very warm around me. Something inside me sighs in relief upon seeing him. I feel happy.Outside the room, rain pours. It’s so loud, and thunder and lightning flash. Involuntarily, I flinch. Something whines in my mind, but I can’t make sense of it. Instead, I turn to the safety of the man who is holding me.But I can’t ignore it, not really. My mind is a mess. I can feel it. I can’t focus, my attention keeps darting. I can’t remember much; my memory is spotty.I don’t know the man who’s holding me.“Who are you?” I ask, voice polite and timid, because he’s nice. I really want to know who he is. He feels so familiar.“What do you mean who I am?” The dark-haired man’s face scrunches, incredul