All I want is to be able to see what's going on outside. But I don't think it'll be that easy. The guards don't look like they’re willing to let me out of here. But I can at least try.“Excuse me,” I say, as politely as possible. “I'd like to leave my room. I have something I'd like to tell Gavin.”“I'm truly sorry,” a bulky, blonde guard says, fixing his blue eyes upon me with a stern gaze. “We’re supposed to keep you here. Especially right now. “I hope you understand that you're not a prisoner. You haven't done anything wrong. But we're just trying to keep you safe. It's essential that we keep you safe.”I'm so tired of everyone not telling me things. I'm so tired of people trying to keep me safe. I don't understand why. It's so frustrating. I don’t want any part of this. “Can you at least tell me what this is about?” I ask. “I know something's going on outside. I deserve to know what it is.”The two men look at each other with the uneasy gaze. At least uneasy means that mayb
His hesitation is all I need to know. It's a simple question. If he really were my biological father, he would tell me right away. If anyone asked me if I was his daughter, I would agree right away.But he hesitates. He hesitates and I know what Gavin told me is true. I'm not his daughter. They took me. They lied to me all this time.I just can't imagine why they did this to me. I don't know why anyone would want to take me, lie to me, or fight over me. But I do know I need to get away from him. I need to find Gavin.“Nicole, you don't understand,” my father calls after me.He's not my father though. He's never been my father. I don't know who my parents are. I don't know anything.So, I keep running. I run away from him before he can get to me. I run into the fighting.I don't stop running until I see Gavin fighting the alpha. I'm terrified for him. Their fight is the nastiest of the bunch, chunks torn out both of their flesh, gashes all along their sides.Is this really all be
I'm worried that people will follow me as I run to the woods. After whatever I have done so far, I'm exhausted. I may have been a good fighter when I blacked out. But that didn't make me indestructible. I sustained some pretty serious injuries that sap my strength more with each passing second.I won’t survive if someone comes after me now. I might be able to fight them off for a little while, but I won't be able to keep it up for long. I'm too exhausted. I'm in too much pain. For a while, I don't dare look back though. I'm too scared that someone could be following me, and I don’t want to face certain death. I know I'm dead anyway, so it doesn't even matter. Right now, all that matters is running.So, I keep running. I rely on the wind to carry me. The forest gives me strength. The trees hide me.It doesn't take me long to realize I don't have anyone to hide from though. No one is coming after me. I slow once I realize that. No one is coming after me. No enemy is coming after m
I wake up once more as he’s carrying me through the forest. It seems like he has been walking for ages, but we’re still in the woods and I’m not sure why. Where is he taking me? Is it far? Is it dangerous? Is he dangerous?Nothing looks familiar to me. Of course, there are the usual trees, stones, leaves, and small animals who don't know enough to run away from us.But as a wolf, I pick up on the small details that humans wouldn't notice. So, I can recognize the forest if I've been there before. Certain things change daily, but certain aspects are more enduring. I would know if we were close to where my pack usually roams.We're far away from all of that though. Which is probably a good thing. They won’t come after me here. We’re far away from everything I've ever known. I guess I really don't know that much at all though. I thought I knew more about my life, but apparently that's not true. Apparently I don't even know who my real parents are. I don't know anything about my past
She's my mate. I've known that since I first saw her. That's why I was drawn to her. That's why I had to help her. Because she's my mate.Of course, I try to help all injured people I come across. That's part of the way I find my purpose here in the woods by myself. It keeps the loneliness at bay for the most part.Still, I knew I had to help her. I knew she was different.“I can't tell you exactly where we are,” I tell her. “But I can tell you we're not near any other packs/ No one is going to harm you here. “You’re in my cabin in the woods. We're safe here. I took you here after I found you injured and helped heal you.“I brought you here just to heal you. And you're doing amazing job at it. So, now it's up to you what you do from here. I suggest you rest up awhile. But you can go back if you want, whenever you want.”I don't want her to leave. That's the last thing I want. I want her to stay with me always. But I know she can't.The problem is, I can't be around anyone for l
Walking with Caleb feels so nice, so natural, and right. Each moment I spend with him, I'm more convinced that we're mates. But I'm not sure he feels the same way as me.The forest calms me regardless. The trees soak up my anguish. Animals remind me of the life that still blooms around me. The flowers bring color and peace to my mind.“How did you learn to heal people?” I ask him, curious to know everything about him. “I was nearly dead. It must have taken some skill to bring me back. “So, how did you get so good at it? Why aren't I dead right now?”“I learned from my grandmother,” he tells me. “She passed away when I was still in my late teens, but she taught me a lot before then. She taught me the basics and instructed me on how to grow from there. And even when she passed away, I researched the topic even more so.“Being able to heal others is so important. So, since I've been living out here on my own, I've only furthered that study. I have plenty of time to learn about it, a
Leaving Caleb is surprisingly difficult. I spend a couple of days with him, and we start to bond even more than before. It feels like we're meant to be. We get along so well. I found my peace here. It seems crazy that I would leave it or him.As the days go on though, it doesn't seem like he changes his mind at all. It seems like he's still insisting on us not being together. And it's difficult to be around him when he feels that way. It's difficult when I feel like he's my mate but clearly he doesn't agree. I don’t know what I can do or say to make him see the obvious.So, I have to leave. It’s easier to leave than to stay with him here like this. It gives me something to think about, something to do.It gives me something to distract myself from the fact that I can’t stay with my mate. He doesn’t want me to stay with him. I just don’t know why.“I’m going to miss you,” I say, on the morning that I plan to depart.Secretly, I’m still hoping that he’ll ask me to stay with him. He’
When I'm when I come to, I'm covered in blood. My whole body hurts. Every breath is pain. Every movement is agony. And I can barely move at all.They did something right though. Because this time when I resurface from the darkness, the blood on me is my own. I haven't been able to attack or kill anyone else. I'm the only one suffering here. My superhero powers as they'd like to put them, have been disabled, leaving me on the verge of death.But I'm not alone. I look over and realize that I've woken because someone is next to me. Their hands are shaking as they fiddle with the silver lock.“I think this is the key,” she says, as her words blur. “I found it on the ground over here. If it's not, then I'll go to them. I'll find someone who will free you. I’ll make them do it. But I hope this will work.”“Shelby?” I ask. “What are you doing here?”“I was on a run when I heard a strange noise,” she answers. She still can't look me in the eyes though. She is still ashamed over what she
I look down at the Alpha as I’m awash with conflicting emotions. I want to get revenge on the person who imprisoned my love. I know I have enough strength to kill him, and after everything, I’m mad at everyone in a way I never have been before.Confidence assures me that I don’t need his help. I can lead a pack without him. I can be the best Alpha without him.And yet, I suspect his help wouldn’t hurt. It could be good to have a guide, a mentor. And it would be great if the pack just accepted me without me having to use a lot of force. I certainly don’t want to get on their bad side.I want this transition to go smoothly. I want peace. I want to be with the one I love freely.As I question what I should do, I notice that the wolf pack has gathered around us. They all saw the fight. They’ll see what I choose. This will shape their opinion on me forever.“Okay,” I say, slowly releasing the Alpha. “I’ll let you go because it’s beneficial and wise to show mercy sometimes. But know tha
I know Nicole is close by, so I follow that sense. And slowly, I make my way around the pack’s territory. Wolves are patrolling the area. Everyone seems on edge. I know something has already happened here, so it’s going to be more difficult to infiltrate it. Still, I get the sense that Nicole needs me. I have this feeling that she’s not safe. And I have to trust that instinct. I have to do what I can to keep her safe.A wolf walks by me and I freeze in the shadows. He’s so close that he could reach out and engage me in a fight easily. But I don’t want to fight. I just want to find her. So, I hide and he disappears into the night. Then, I keep looking until finally, I come across a silver cage. My heart breaks as I see Nicole crying in it.I want to go right to her. I want to reassure her that everything will be okay; I will get her out of this mess. But I have to be careful. I have to be cunning.Instead of going right to her, I scan the area. She’s locked in this cage, and th
I never thought I’d be doing this, but I know I have to do it. I have to keep Nicole safe. I have to get revenge.This isn’t the kind of person I am, but it’s the kind of person I have to be for her. I’ll be anything I need to be for her. I’ll be anything she needs.It’s not always easy navigating the forest while blind. But I’ve learned how to adjust. My sense of smell, touch, and hearing have become stronger since they’re exclusively what I use to navigate this world with.So, I rely on them as I run. I tear through the trees, using Nicole as my inspiration. I can do this. I can fix this for her.I suspect the next place Lizzie will go is to Nicole. But I’m not too sure where Nicole is. Though I have my guesses.The thing is, I don’t think I exactly need to know where she is. There’s something between us that’s stronger than all other barriers. It helps us. It drives me forward.It’s a strange connection. And I’m not sure if I’m making this up or not. But it’s all I have to hel
Killing people affects me more than before. I guess that’s the tradeoff for having such power. When I’m in tune with the life around me, I mourn that life when it’s gone. I see beyond monsters and see the souls within.They were going to kill me though. And if they’re going to kill me I have every right to kill them. Even Zade didn’t disagree with that.So, I make sure nature wasn’t impacted too greatly. Then, I take time to bury the bodies. It makes me lose some progress. I know I’m losing at least a day over this fight, but I can’t just leave their corpses lying in the forest like this. Maybe that’s what I would do before, but not now. Now, I dig a hole for each of them. I bury them near each other. Then, I continue on my journey.Though it has taken me extra time, I do feel good about my decision. It seems more natural this way. I get to keep a bit of my soul too.By the time I near my old pack, I feel like maybe I can get the answers I need without all the bloodshed. That’s w
I wait at the temple for a few days for Zade to return. He doesn’t though. I think I knew once I saw he was gone that he wasn’t coming back. That’s a little terrifying. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. I feel like I’ve come far. But I know there’s so much more to learn. I learned that from Zade. There’s always more to learn. I want him to teach me forever.But my time here is over. I can probably rest here for as long as I want. I could probably wait for another person to come along and be their mentor.Maybe I’ll do that someday. I can foresee Caleb and I coming back here, leaving in peace, mentoring people and dealing with the upkeep of the temple.For now though, I have a mission. I need to get answers. I need to figure out where I’m from, who I am, and where I’m supposed to go from here.I do feel like I have important things to do. I have these power for a reason. I’m supposed to use it. I’m supposed to wield it wisely. I think there’s something I must change.I need to
In the end, it comes down to what I think Nicole would want. I respect her so much as a person, that I know I’d have to let her decide. Would she rather be safe? Or would she rather have the chance to be with me? As her mate, I have to know the right answer. We naturally know each other better than anyone else could. I can think with her mind. She’s within my heart.Furthermore, I spent enough time with her to know her. I know how strong she is, feisty, passionate, and loving. I know how much she wants to be with me. I know how much I want to be with her.“I’m sorry,” I say. “I would do anything to keep the people I love safe. Almost anything anyway. But I won’t give up my mate.“I just hope that you see that this isn’t the right way to be with someone. You should want someone to be with you just because you blackmailed them into doing so. You shouldn’t wield your magic over someone you claim to love.“You should want to be with someone who is with you of their own freewill. So
I think of Nicole every single day. I haven’t stopped thinking about her since the day we met. But finding Lizzie’s mate has been impossible. I guess I just can’t do it since I’m not here. There’s no way of knowing who he is. There’s no way to get her to release me.So, I stay on my own. I do still have family I could go to. I have aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents who I miss. But it’s too dangerous to go to them, so I found a new hut on the countryside and I stay here.As I start a fire for the night, I’m reminded of my old cabin and all the memories Nicole and I made in it. I miss the cabin. I miss the memories. It had become my home and I loved it. But mostly, I miss her.Nicole. I want to see her again more than anything. But I know that if I go to her, I’ll be putting her at risk. So, I can’t. I must stay away from her and hope she’s doing well. I hope she’s making progress on her quest.If only I could make more progress on mine. I’m sure she’s doing amazing, and tha
It seems like everything else comes easier to me. I have block, attack, use magic, I can do all the things. But working through my anger is more difficult. Getting past the hurt of what happened with Gavin is tougher.“I don’t understand why I have to do this before I get my shield,” I say, slumped on the ground in the rock garden. “It’s not fair.”“What about it isn’t fair?” Zade asks, never one to just accept what I say.“Well, I’ll never have to face the alpha,” I reply. “Not ever again. He’s dead. So, my anger over that doesn’t matter. I can desire revenge against him. I’ll never get it.”“But what about your anger towards others?” Zade reminds me. “There are other people you wish to get revenge on, is there not?”My cheeks turn red under this accusation. It’s true, but how does he know it’s true? I tried to keep that side from him. He was never supposed to know that I still desire revenge like that. I know he wouldn’t approve of it if he did know.“You can’t keep things from
I walk up each morning as the sun rises now. I don’t need an alarm clock. It happens naturally. I leave my shades open, the sun touches me, and I feel refreshed.In the past few months, I’ve rarely felt sleepy because I listen to my body. I eat when I’m hungry, drink when I’m thirsty, sleep when I’m tired, and I’ve fallen into a sort of rhythm. I’m naturally in tune with the world around me, and it’s the best feeling.“I feel like my power has really grown here,” I say, as I join Zade in the garden. Work in the garden started for me a few days after I got here. Zade told me that if I wanted to eat, I needed to help grow and catch the food. So, now I stand in the rich dirt. I pick the plump produce, feel it weigh heavy in my hands.“I think there’s something about truly being one with the world that has given it the space to grow,” I continue. “And I mean my body as well as my magic. Everything about me feels better, more alive, and more useful.”“I’ve noticed the change in you as