Chapter 42 - Gift Colette I watched out the window as the land beneath us started to shrink, my heart racing in my chest as the plane lifted off of the ground. My eardrums already wanted to burst from the elevated pressure. I hadn't realized I was squeezing Zane's hand in a death grip until his warm touch grazed the back of my palm, sending sparks through my veins. "Breathe. We will be there in four hours. Maybe try to get some rest." Zane said, his voice low so only I could hear him. Paige already had headphones on and was busy flipping through the stations to find a movie to watch. I forced my nerves to calm as I eased my grip on Zane's hand. My eyes never straying from the window. I had been on cloud nine after Zane, and I admitted what we wanted. Both of us wanting a life together and to accept the mating bond. I was finally getting the life I dreamed of, but it was missing one thing, Thomas. And as we arrived at the airport, all my giddy feelings vanished as nerves set in, n
Chapter 43 - BeastThomasFor twelve years, I endured the dark. I took the torment, the feeling of constantly being on edge, stuck between man and beast. For twelve years, I was an obedient pet. I contemplated ending it all on more than one occasion. But for some reason, my wolf would stop me when I tried to end it. Despite the torment and cruel punishment those bastards inflicted on me, my wolf forced me to hold on. Maybe it was because he knew one day we would be free. Or perhaps it was because fate really did exist, and it brought me the last piece of my past back to me fifteen years after I thought everyone I loved was gone.But as I wrapped Colette in my arms and squeezed her tight enough to ensure she was real, I did not care how or why I survived all those years of hell. But instead, I started to ask myself why I had never tried harder to find her. I believed the fuckers, who kidnapped me and wanted to groom me into their perfect weapon. When they told me that my entire family
Chapter 44 - Forever Zane I stared at the ceiling of my office; the flight back had been full of silence, the drive home from the airport no better. Colette didn't say what happened with her brother, but from the shift in her mood when she returned from his garage, I knew it wasn't what she was expecting. It hadn't gone as she had hoped it would, but I hadn't expected it to, people changed, and a lot had happened to Colette and Thomas that I knew wouldn't fade with time. They were different people now, and the memories they once shared were of people who no longer existed.And when I tried to ask her what had happened, she shut me out. I knew she needed time to process it all, but I couldn't help but want to try and pry it out of her. That was why I was here instead of in her room. I told her I needed to organize things for Paige now that she would take over as my Beta. It hadn't been a lie. I did have things to organize, but they weren't that pressing, especially when it came to fi
Chapter 45 - Selfish Colette A week had passed since we went to visit Thomas. A whole week and I hadn't heard anything back. I wasn't sure what I expected, really, but I had hoped we would have been able to start over. But that was the problem with hope; it only disappointed you when you were already down. But I was thankful I had the Redmoon pack, Zane, and Paige to keep me busy. I got my own office in the castle and started to receive duties as the official Luna. Ever since Zane and I marked each other, it seemed to set everything into motion. The world felt lighter, along with the weight of the pack. I even started training with the warriors of the pack and learning how to fight and have better control of my wolf. Visha loved being free, and I loved that I could be free too. When I wasn't training or in my office, I was in the medical wing helping Doctor Peterson and the medical team heal patients with severe injuries and underlying illnesses. I couldn't cure cancer or help sto
Chapter 46 - Extravaganza Colette The bright lights of the Ferris wheel were the first thing I spotted as we approached the Carnival. The next thing I noticed was the smell of popcorn, candied apples, and cotton candy. My teeth were already starting to hurt from just the thought of sinking them into all the delicious treats. I was at a loss for words as the sounds of children's laughter and music filled the air. Families, couples old and young, children, teenagers. Everyone of all ages was out enjoying the first warm night of many to come as summer finally settled in for the year. I couldn't fight the smile that graced my lips, and honestly, for the first time in forever, I didn't want to hide it. I turned my attention to Zane, who was watching me with careful eyes. His head slightly tilted as he took me in. I fought off the heat that threatened to spread to my cheeks. But I knew he could feel everything I was feeling through the bond just as I could feel him. "What?" I asked. He
Chapter 47 - Potential ThreatZaneIf there was one thing that ruined an amazing night with the woman you loved, it was this. Seeing the worry and uncertainty in Colette's eyes as she stared up at me was enough to piss me off. Her sage green eyes were wide, and her plush lips parted in shock. The Carnival forgot. "What do you mean he's on his way here?" Colette asked; her voice was calm, but I could sense the mixed emotions she was burying deep down through the bond. I looked around at the crowd of people, the nearby pack members not so subtly listening in on our conversation. "First, we must get to the car, away from prying ears." My voice came out sharper than I intended, but it got the pack's attention; they immediately dipped their heads and turned their attention back to the Carnival around us. Colette seemed to snap out of her shock long enough to realize this wasn't a conversation to be having here. Not when we didn't know why Thomas was coming back. Yes, Colette was here,
Chapter 48 - Scared Thomas The nightmares never started the same.No.Not when the torturing was left to Leon. My nightmares always varied, just as my punishments always did. Leon was a cruel bastard; the way the fuckers eyes lit up with pleasure when he made me bleed was enough to make me sick. I swore I could still see how he looked at me when I closed my eyes. I could still see the sweat dripping off his meaty face and his tongue licking away the blood from his lips that had splattered against his face from whatever tool used on me.Ivan Killian was a peach compared to that sociopath. But the truly sick and twisted mind that was behind all the death and bloodshed I had been forced to inflict on innocent people was that woman—the one who never looked quite right. She always looked like she was fading in and out, her features always slightly shifting, but the humans never noticed. So easily convinced by her magic. They followed the one thing they feared and hated more than anythin
Chapter 49 - Healing Colette When Zane returned from picking up Thomas, I had hounded him with questions from how he was to what he had said. All to which Zane answered without argument. I could sense the anxious mood through the bond; while he was gone, it had matched my own, and after a restless night of sleep, I got up with the sun and tried to keep my mind busy. I had started the day off in the medical wing working closely with Drew, healing what patients I could. And then, I headed to my office and worked on answering emails and letters pack members had sent me. We were working on throwing a gala to honour our warriors and allow everyone to have a stress-free night. It was the perfect distraction to lose myself in; it kept me busy until Zane linked me, ripping away the false calm I had conjured up throughout the day to keep my mind from Thomas. But now, as I sat in the gardens watching the falls cascade into the rocks below, I was slowly becoming a nervous wreck again. I ha