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 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
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 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
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 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
"Nicole, did you hear?" Shelby asks me."Hear what?" I ask."About the new alpha," she says. I stare at her, confused."What do you mean 'new alpha'?" I ask."There's a new alpha coming to visit," Shelby says. "One from a neighboring pack.""That's odd," I say. I'm not sure we've ever had a visit from another pack's alpha."I don't know what to make of it," Shelby says."Me either," I reply."I have to go help my mom," Shelby says. "See you tonight?""Of course," I say."I'll let you know if I hear anything else," she says, and then she turns and walks down the path toward her house.I stare after her. I'm not sure why, but this news about the new alphas visit makes me feel very uneasy. I don't have to be anywhere for hours, so I decide to go for a walk to clear my head. I walk through the woods behind my house, admiring the tall, strong trees. It's a sunny day, so the sun shines through the trees, making the leaves sparkle with life.I reach the clearing near the o
I feel dizzy. I don't know what to think. I don't know what to feel.This wolf just appeared out of nowhere and told me a bunch of stuff that makes no sense. I don't know if I believe him.But at the same time, something about it feels so real. I can't explain it. I just... I get the feeling that he's telling the truth.I feel like I'm missing something, but I have no idea what.I decide to go home and try to forget about it for now. I'm sure that I'll figure it out eventually.I walk home and cross my fingers that my mom is done with her preparations for the evening ahead.I walk into the kitchen and see my mom is cutting up vegetables for a salad.I go to the refrigerator and grab a bottle of water, then go to the table to sit down.Mom sits the knife down on the cutting board and turns to me."Where were you?" she asks."I went for a walk," I say."I've been looking all over for you," she says."You should really let me know where you are," she says.She picks her knife