Chapter 9 - Disposition Colette I knew what was happening, what happened when one of my kind found their mate. My mother explained the process of how the magic would set in once I was close to them. I squeezed my eyes shut, clamping my jaw shut, fighting the urge to shift.Not yet. I needed more time. "She's burning up," Someone whispered from beside me. When did they get here?Did I pass out? "What's happening?" A deep voice demanded. My pulse increased, and I squeezed my eyes tightly together, willing it to stop and pleading to Selene that it would pass. I pushed the feeling further and further down. I felt a slight pinch in my neck, and my entire body felt heavy. The burning subsided as I was pulled into the darkness. ~~~"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away," "Stop it, mama. I'm getting too big for nighttime snuggles." I giggled as my mother pecked ki
Chapter 10 - WickedZane "Zane," Hayden shouted after me as I stormed down the hallway. I ignored him as I continued; Clay was on the brink of shifting. I needed to find an outlet before I completely snapped.Why the fuck had I gone to see her? Why did I even care about her?Her words were playing a constant loop in my mind. 'All we are to each other is a contract. You don't want me here as much as I want to be here,' I let out a snarl as I punched the wall. She was right, so why was I so angry? "Zane," Hayden shouted his footsteps right behind me. I didn't even hesitate as I lunged for him. My patience had vanished, Colette stripping it from me in a matter of seconds. Hayden didn't see it coming, my hand aiming right for his throat. In a flash, he was pinned up against the wall. His grey eyes were wide with shock. My canines were elongated, a snarl echoing down the hall. Clay was toeing the line of complete chaos, and he was about to pull me into it with him. "I don't have time
Chapter 11 - GuiltColette Doctor Peterson had me stay for the night again. Not wanting to risk sending me back to my room in case Zane came back. She apologized profusely for his behaviour, and I was starting to notice that was the ongoing theme around here. Everyone else seemed to apologize for their Alpha's outbursts as if it was their fault he was so angry and arrogant. I didn't get a good night's rest last night—the fear of the nightmares returning filled me with anxiety. Zane's threats also put me on edge. When the sun started to rise, nurses came in to remove my IV and heart monitors. Doctor Peterson was doing a final check-over to ensure I was good to go. I was on a strict diet of high carbs and high-fat foods. Plus, I had to eat at least six times a day for the next week. I could already see that the meals and medication, coupled with my wolf trying to push through, had started to help me fill out again. I was no longer skin and bone, my cheeks weren't sunken, and the dar
Chapter 12 - Secrets ZaneToday Colette and I were getting married, and I couldn't remember a time when I felt more resentful than I do now.I pulled on my black Armani jacket, smoothing out the front after doing up the button. Today would be the first time I saw her since the medical ward blowup that had me wanting to break her until she submitted to me. I had managed to avoid Colette for the rest of the week. More rogues showed up at our border, helping me stay away from the pack house and allowing me an outlet for the rage that seemed never-ending as of late. It almost seemed fitting that she would be the cause of so much of my anger. But today, I had to push past the resentment I felt for the contract that brought her into my life—marrying her and making her Luna of the Redmoon pack would help with my plan of playing, oblivious to the fact that she wasn't actually Alpha Carter's daughter. A broken contract meant a broken treaty which ultimately meant I would have the right to
Chapter 13 - RibbonsColetteZane left the ceremony before we had to kiss, and I counted my blessings because even though I hated him, I knew that if we did kiss, the ice around my heart would melt. Any further contact would already be hard enough, as it was. I thought he would have noticed that I healed his palm during the ceremony, but I guess the moon goddess had blessed me with another moment of secrecy. He didn't pull me aside or put me in front of his pack, or I guess it was our pack now.My heart still felt heavy with the overwhelming presence of all the pack members welcoming me through the link. It was a strange feeling hearing voices in my head from other wolves again. I hadn't been able to link since I was a child. I had felt every connection with my pack slowly disappear as each member was killed, and I never thought I would ever feel that again.After I was brought to the Silvermoon pack Alpha Carter never officially welcomed me into his pack, so I never got to link wit
Chapter 14 - Shutout Colette Everything hurt as my wolf ripped away at the mental barrier I had spent years building to keep her contained. I felt as if my bones were melting. I let out a cry of pain as she destroyed the last tether of mental strength I had left. "Let me out," She snarled again as she trashed against my hold. I clenched my jaw so tightly that I was sure I might crack some of my teeth. I struggled to breathe as my heart pounded against my chest. I put every last ounce of my will into keeping her contained. Not letting her gain control of my body. "Not here," I cried out as I forced myself to my feet. I clung to the wall, trying to find my balance as the room started to spin. My skin itched with the need to shift. But the first shift was always the worst, and having it forced could kill me. We always had someone to help us shift when we turned eighteen. But by then, we had already established a bond with our wolf.I was in a heap of trouble; not only had my wolf be
Chapter 15 - CapturedZane I was livid, anger consuming me as I tried to calm my nerves by leaning on the railing and looking down at the water. No woman had ever gotten so far under my skin as Colette did. Everything about her pissed me off. Maybe it was because I was forced to be with her before I was even born. Or perhaps it was because it wasn't even her I was supposed to marry. I couldn't decide whether that was a blessing or a curse.The fact that fucking Carter thought I was too stupid not to notice the differences only added fuel to the flame. But either way, she pissed me off, something wasn't right about her, and maybe Carter was the dumb one for being too cocky not to fucking notice how strange she really was, but I was going to get to the bottom of it.When I returned from the mountains, my head finally clear once again. I made my way back to the celebration. I had to make an appearance, and as much as I wanted to avoid the little wolf for the rest of the night, I didn't
Chapter 16 - TruthColetteI gasped as cold water was dumped over me. Sending a shock through my whole body, ripping me from the darkness that had consumed me after my wolf had locked me out. Bright fluorescent lights blinded me as I opened my eyes. The world looked hazy as I tried to understand where I was. My body hurt, and my throat felt like I had swallowed some sand. I closed my eyes again, my head ringing. A panic set in as I tried to remember what the hell had happened. All I remembered was being locked out of my mind, my wolf stripping me of the control of my body. A muffled voice nagged at me, but my eyes felt too heavy to open, and I didn't want them to burn from the bright lights. Another downpour of cold water assaulted me, and this time, I cried out in shock. My eyes darted open, spotting the culprit. Zane stood before me, no longer in his suit but in a black shirt that hugged his toned body nicely. His tattoed arms were on full display as he crossed them over his chest
Epilogue Colette Three months later "You sure you're ready for this?" Zane asked me as I adjusted my helmet for the third time. I curled my fingers around the handlebars of his motorcycle. The thought of being out there, speeding down the open road, made my heart race and my blood fill with adrenaline. "I'm ready," I said, flicking down my visor. Zane's eyes racked over my body as he drank me in. I was dressed in a leather jacket, a black Cami, and leather pants. I even surprised him with a shorter haircut, needing a change, a way to move past my past. That change came in the form of a bob haircut, new clothes, and a better, fearless attitude. I could tell the anticipation of getting to the mountain to show me how much he appreciated this new look was killing him. Which only made the thrill of this ride all the more exhilarating. I turned the key, and Zane sat behind me. His body pressed against mine as he pressed a couple of buttons. "This is the brake, and when taking off, go
Chapter 53 - Family ColetteI stared down at the box in my hand. It was amazing how something so tiny could hold so much power within it. Inside was a ring that would give my brother the freedom he had yearned for, for over fifteen years—a chance to live again, free from fear and worry. But it also meant more than that. It meant that Thomas and I could be a family again. The reality of my dreams finally coming true had me in shambles. I was nervous beyond words. I sometimes thought this was some cruel dream and that I would wake up soon and still be locked away in that small room, bone thin and still under the torment of Carter Silver. Although small, the seed of doubt in my mind was still loud enough to make me second-guess myself. "Look at me, Little wolf," Zane whispered; his voice was soft but still as commanding as ever. I bit my lower lip, trying to will my heart to calm the hell down and for my mind to shut up. This was real, and everything would be okay from here on out.
Chapter 52 - Binding ZaneIt was like we were stuck inside some dream, in a strange world with magic and magical beings. Everyone talked so casually as if this wasn't some crazy concept, and maybe it wasn't to them, but I knew I was on edge.I watched everyone carefully as they debated why they were all here. It was for some academy that Balor wanted to build, allowing beings from all walks of life to join and train. It sounded like a crazy idea, but I was only half listening as I assessed every individual here. The one I kept finding myself returning to was a beast of a male. His dirty blonde hair, grey eyes, and a mean scar across his left eye were among the few things that made him intimidating. He had furs draped over his shoulders and a warrior look about him. But what really set me on edge was how unpredictable he looked. And not the Balor kind of unpredictable but the type who would mark you as an enemy without your knowledge and kill you in your sleep kind of unpredictable.
Chapter 51 - MagicColette "Do you ever look up at the stars and wonder if our parents are up there watching over us?" I asked, sitting beside Zane on the wooden piano bench. Zane stopped pressing the keys we had been fooling around with and looked up at me. "I would like to believe they can still see us, that life isn't over after we pass." I hummed in agreement as I looked up at the night sky. I had some work done on the gardens and got a sizeable glass sunroof put over where the piano sat. I wanted to let more natural light into the place and give Zane's last memory with his mother a chance to have its own spotlight. I thought it also allowed her to watch him play again from where ever she was now like she once did before she was taken from this world."I think that if fae and dragons and the king of the underworld are real, then Valhalla and the veil are real too," I murmured. Zane didn't say anything as he turned his attention back to the piano. The sounds the keys made became
Chapter 50 - Haunting Past Zane A week had passed since Thomas had shown up at Redmoon. He and Colette spent a lot of time together catching up, and healing. I could feel her happiness radiating through our mate bond. I could tell the pack could feel it, too, the joy. The weight of whatever sadness from her past that had Colette feeling down was now gone. But now it was my turn to have a chat with Thomas and figure out what he planned to do now. Because despite Colette trying her hardest to hide it, I knew the longer he stayed, the higher her hopes got that he would never leave again. I had arranged for Thomas and me to go out for lunch. Somewhere far enough away from prying ears but also something that didn't raise Colette's suspicions. I knew it was me just being a protective asshole, but I didn't want to tell her about the real reason why I wanted to talk to her brother in case she insisted on coming. So as we sat in Vicki's Diner, making small talk over some burgers and fries,
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
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 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 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