Orion
After hours of staring at various maps of the surrounding mountains, we had come up with about a dozen areas that would be a suitable place for Kroll to be hiding with Iris and Matt. When I examined Iris’ ear, I knew that there was no way they would be in Silver Crescent. By the time her ear would have been cut off, packaged, smuggled into my territory, and delivered, it would become much more rigid if it was from as far away as Silver Crescent. I also knew Kroll was smart enough to not linger in my territory. He was a sociopath, but even in the twisted recesses of his mind, he was more intelligent than that. I sent out groups of warriors to only scout the areas. They were not to engage or put themselves in any danger. They were to report back as soon as they found anything.Damian had fallen asleep in one of the chairs by my fireplace, but Alastor was bursting with frantic energy as he paced my office deep in his own thoughts. I leaned back in my chair; exhaustiBrigidAt an early age, I knew I was different. It always seemed like I knew a little bit too much for my own good. I would hear these faint whispers that no one else could hear. The whispers always seemed to get me in trouble. Children in the town would refer to me as creepy and torment me whenever they could. Their parents never stopped them because, deep down, I knew that they thought I was bizarre as well. There were very few people who accepted me for me. I took comfort in my sister, my Papa, and my Mama. It was us against the world, a world that found me weird and unnatural.My Mama had light brown hair that she kept cropped right below her ears but always had beautiful finger waves gracing it no matter what her day held. My Papa had tanned skin and rich black hair. My little sister, Aisling, was my little defender, even though she was three years younger than me. She was so sweet, but her personality would flip as soon as someone was cruel to me. We lived on a s
Orion"I need your help, though. I need you to help me find Iris and Matt." I nearly whispered, but I knew she heard me. "I know it's been….""Don't you even think about saying decades." Brigid cut me off with a look that could kill me."I know it's been a while. I just need you to try...please. For Iris? For Alastor? For me?" I looked down at the ground as I finished my plea.The seconds felt like an eternity as I waited for her to respond to me. I focused on the soft roar of the rain falling on the roof, but instead of soothing me, it only made me more anxious than she would reject my request. I knew that Brigid stopped using magic before I was even born. I wasn't sure how her magic worked or even if she could do anything since she started blocking out the whispers so long ago. Anything she could do would be helpful. Knowing we were doing everything we could do was better than knowing we didn't try every avenue."You know, I can't make any promis
MattPain radiated throughout my head. I tried to open my eyes, but the world was fuzzy and began to spin uncontrollably. I blinked, trying to clear my vision, but if anything, it made my sight worse. Thud, thud, thud. My head pounded away. I was lying face down; something damp was pressed against my body. I splayed my fingers out, feeling around me. I wasn’t in my cell. Where were my shackles? Pan was still dormant, though. If the silver was gone, where was Pan? Why wasn’t he back? I inhaled deeply; the overpowering smell of damp soil and leaves invaded my senses, causing me to wince as the thudding in my head struck again. Pain ran down my spine, like a wildfire, as I tried to push myself up, but I groaned as I clasped my neck, falling back to the soil. What had Kroll done to me?“Iris…” I murmured as I tried to sit up again. My whole body felt as heavy as lead, and every slight movement sent my head spinning. Nauseous washed over me from the tip of my toes all the w
Orion“The shadows whisper about someone who will be on the edge of death.” Brigid’s voice haunted me even though I was no longer even in Black Moon Territory. Her talk with the whispers wasn’t as specific as I had hoped for, but I was grateful for anything I could get. The thundering sound of paws echoed throughout the forest. The sun had vanished behind the mountain, casting shadows over the land.“Matt and Iris are playing a deadly game with Kroll. Follow the river North to save a life.” Brigid’s voice would not leave me alone.Alastor and Damian flanked me. Their black fur almost caused them to vanish in the dwindling twilight. Twigs snapped as we slowed for a moment, sniffing the air and ground. Where was it? I needed a scent, anything to tell me where to go.***This way.*** Damian darted out from behind me, heading towards the west. His tail threatened to disappear into the trees without Alastor or me. Both Alastor and I hastily ran after him.
RoseA faint buzzing echoed through the hospital room as tufts of black and rainbow hair showered down over the white sheet as I ran a pair of hair clippers over Iris’s head. Iris had closed her eyes and seemed to zone out. It seemed like she was enjoying it, but I didn’t want to pry her about her feelings on it. Maybe it was like getting rid of the remainder of her time with Kroll that she enjoyed the most about it. The door to Iris’s room crashed open as her brothers entered. The curtain by the door fluttered in the air as Alastor threw it out of their way. Both of them were in talking over each other until they saw what I was doing. It was like they became frozen entirely. The curtain came back and hit Alastor in the side of the face, reminding him that the world wasn’t freezing with them.“What are you doing?” Alastor asked. Horror was written all over his face as he stomped over to snatch the clippers from my hands.“Get your head out of your ass. I
RoseHarriet and I walked out of the cold, sterile pack hospital with our arms linked. We were greeted with a shower of leaves drifting down from the tree branches in the breeze. Alastor, Brigid, Damian, and Orion stayed in Iris’s hospital room. I think that the boys just need to be around her while she was conscious since they found her in such a rough state in the river. I wanted to check in with Iris about how she felt about Matt finding his mate, but that was a conversation without her brothers or my mate present in the room. I made a mental note to check in with her later on the subject.“You look pooped.” Harriet broke the silence first. I turned to her and scrunched my nose with my tongue sticking out. Not a glamorous face, but it felt right in the moment. A pregnant pack member passed and gave a small chuckle causing a blush to erupt on my cheeks.“Doesn’t everybody look pooped these days?” I half yawned and stretched, trying to hide my slight em
Matt“Well, well, well.” Kroll’s voice sang out from a nearby tree. “Should I slice your throat or maybe take inspiration from Alastor and just throw you off a cliff?”“I thought you were supposed to be good at this? It’s been hours, old man.” I breathed heavily.“Why do you have such a death wish?” Kroll leaped down from his perch and stalked towards me. I began to back away from him until I felt the edge of the ground disappear beneath my heel. Kroll’s hand found its way around my neck, his eyes threatening to recreate Alastor’s accident. “Kroll.” A familiar voice called from behind Kroll. “Release him before I return the favor.” A deep rumbling growl echoed throughout the forest.I kept replaying the scene in my mind over and over again as I sat on an uncomfortable old wooden chair at a table with a silver shackle wrapped around my wrist, chaining me to the wall. I rapped my fingers on the table, listening to echoes that bounced off of the wall
OrionI sat in my office drumming my pen on my desk. Sprawled across the desk before me were maps of the surrounding mountains and towns. I had yet to figure out where Kroll was keeping Matt. After we recovered, Iris, I had been hoping that she would have been a little more helpful. It was unfortunate that Kroll was covering his tracks so well. If only he hadn’t drugged her, maybe she would have been able to give me any hints at all would have made a world of difference. I would never hold it against her. It’s not like she decided to be kidnapped.I groaned as I dropped the pen onto the desk and roughly ran my hands across my face. It felt like I was running in a traffic circle, but I had no idea which path was my exit. I pushed back in my chair away from my desk and walked to the balcony throwing open the doors. I stepped out in the crisp Autumn air. My eyes wandered over my pack; every building represented my pack members. All of those people were relying on
RoseOne moment I was floating in my bathtub daydreaming about Orion, and then the next thing I knew, I was lying on a bed of damp earth, twigs, and fallen leaves on the forest floor. The sweet aroma of honeysuckle and moss tickled my nose.
RosePru sat across from me at the breakfast nook table. She gently shook her leg as she wrapped her fingernails on the table. We had been sitting like this for an hour. I was scared her leg was going to fall off.“What time is it?” Pru broke the silence.“Only a quarter past five.” I sighed. “You are going to be fine.”Pru wasn’t precisely scared to join the pack, but she was a ball of nerves. She was so calm that night with the Fallen Moon rogues. I found her fascinating; she was almost the complete opposite of Harriet.“I know, I know.” Pru offered a halfhearted smile. Matt was in a meeting with Orion, Alastor, and Damian. Orion had told me I could join in, but my heart told me to keep Pru company.“I think you are overthinking it.” I reached across the table and placed my hand on top of hers. I hope I was able to offer her some shred of comfort.“I know.” I heard that response way too many times in the past hour. She was just focu
RoseBeams of late morning sun danced across the hardwood floors. I snuggled deep into Orion's chest as if he could make the morning go away.Last night after the 'bonfire,' Orion had carried me on his back to the packhouse. I never thought I would get used to being carried around on someone's back so much. Now it was second nature.I pulled the duvet up over my shoulder, trying to fight off the slight chill in our room. I guess it was time to either start wearing more clothes to bed or either crank up the heat more."I suggest the heat. I would hate for Orion to have to wear more clothes. I prefer him naked myself." A voice echoed in my head. She was there; Delilah was back. I felt my breath catch in my throat."You are back!" I squealed at my wolf."I am.""I missed you." I really had. I was lonely without her. Everyone else had been trying to prevent it, but it couldn't be helped. I saw through the movie afternoon with my girls. No
RoseAfter a couple of hours of blanket forts and cuddles, a knock on the door sounded, reminded us that there was a world outside of this room. I peaked over the top of the couch to see Orion and Alastor lingering in the doorway.“Okay, ladies, you have stolen my mate for long enough. It’s time to get ready to go.” Orion walked over and gently poked my nose. I stuck my tongue out at Orion as I crawled out from under my blanket.“We did not even have her that long!” Harriet whined, and she dramatically clutched my blanket to her chest.“You are going to see her again in ten minutes,” Alastor mumbled as he leaned up against the back of the couch and ruffled Harriet’s curls.I gently stretched my arms up and out as I stood up. My muscles ached, and I silently prayed that Delilah came back soon. I hadn’t felt this bad since I had the premonition when I was Pru ran in the woods.I let my fingers intertwine with Or
Rose“Anyways, we have gathered to discuss Alaric and Pru.” Orion cleared his throat.“What’s there to discuss?” I almost jumped to my feet; my heart frantically hammered in my chest. I couldn’t live with myself if they were punished or turned away from our pack. I turned to look at Alaric, Pru, and Matt. Pru and Matt had their fingers interlocked. Alaric had his head tilted to the side; his curiosity had been tantalized. I could see the cogs turning behind those gray eyes. Why were they so calm?“Luna,” Alastor spoke up. I whipped my head to face him. The sudden movement made my neck muscles scream in pain. I winced but tried my best to hold my composure.“Pru saved me. Pru saved Matt. It’s not like Pru asked to be there. They kidnapped her, too! She was taken; they stole her life and her grimoire. Alaric undermined his Uncle, his Father, and all those rogues whenever he could! He put his neck on the line for us when he didn’t have to. If it wasn’t for P
RoseOrion and I didn’t get back to Black Moon until past sunrise. Orion wanted to stay and help dispose of the bodies, but Alastor and Harriet wouldn’t have it. They took care of the bodies and the fire, erasing the presence of the war the best they could. I rode on Orion’s back during the journey home. Clutching Pru’s jacket for warmth and some sense of modesty. I didn’t really want to have a Lady Godiva moment after the night I had.I honestly didn’t remember much of the trip back home. Once I was on Orion’s back, I knew I was safe and didn’t have to worry about anything. I do remember my parents smothering me, though. My father checked me over at least twice, and my mom almost threw me into the bathroom. After they were satisfied I was clean and not going to die, they went home. I knew that they would be back as soon as they had a catnap.Orion had asked me if I wanted to stay in the guest room, but it was time to go back to our room. Kroll couldn’t touch us
Rose Greta’s hands wrapped around my neck, trying to squeeze the life out of me. If she was trying to scare me, it wouldn’t work because I had already seen the darkness that waited to consume anyone it could. Compared to that, she was nothing.Her fingers dug into the flesh of my neck, a small stream of blood escaping. Greta was desperate; air bubbles escaped from her mouth.I elongated my claws and slashed through her jacket to her forearm. Greta let go of me and clutched her arm in pain. I grabbed her hair in my hand and violently yanked it.In the water, I had the advantage. Greta was dressed for the Autumn weather; her boots and jacket would do nothing but weigh her down in the water. The best part, though, was that she couldn’t use her fire.I may have been naked, but I would rather be exposed to the cold water than to have anything on me slowing me down.Greta threw a punch at me, causing me to lose my
Orion“Oh, hello, little puppy, have you seen the pathetic Alpha of Black Moon? I was thinking his head would be a delightful souvenir of this battle.” Kroll’s voice rang through the air as clear as a bell. Every word was peppered with cruel satisfaction.I shifted back to my human form and stood tall in front of the disgusting excuse of a wolf. “Is that what my mate was? Just a souvenir?”“Oh, of course not. Your little flower? That’s what you call her, right?” Kroll’s lips curled up into a disgusting grin. “Well, she is the crown jewel in my little collection.”I let out an earth-shaking growl. My mate was a Luna, not a cheap tchotchke for a lunatic’s shelf.“Down, boy,” Kroll smirked; he knew he struck a nerve. “Is that how you treat your superiors?”“The only thing about you that is superior is that distorted God complex of yours.” I casually ran my fingers through my hair. “It’s a shame you are such a sociopath.”“I am not a soci
RoseWith every stride my paws made, I could feel the demonic warmth of Greta's rage encroaching on me."You can't run forever, little girl!" Greta cackled from behind me. A crack of her whip cut through the woods coming after me. Just a little bit further. I skidded out of the woods onto the road I had been on in a different time. Its course seemed unchanged, thank Goddess. The path from my premonition was the same except for a layer of asphalt.I ran down the road as fast as I could. The asphalt gnawing on the pads of my paws. If I wasn't in a life or death situation, I would probably love to wander through the area.My back left paw was ripped out from under me as Greta's fire scorched my fur. My jaw crashed into the street. The taste of metallic blood rushed into my mouth; I had bitten my tongue on impact. I jerked my leg away from Greta's fire, scrambling to get away."Just give up. You will never win against me." Greta taunted me. Her