(Hilda) Percy stepped back, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Arlo, it's not what it looks like. We were just talking." "Talking?" Arlo spat, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "It didn't look like just talking to me." I stepped between them, my heart racing. "Arlo, please. Don't do this." Arlo's gaze shifted to me, his expression a mix of hurt and fury. "Hilda, I won't stand by and watch you grow closer to him. You belong to me." His words sent a shockwave through me, a stark reminder of the possessive nature that lay beneath his calm exterior. I reached out, my voice pleading. "Arlo, I chose you. But you have to trust me."I had to get him to believe me.He stared at me for a long moment, then turned and walked away, his shoulders tense with suppressed emotion. I watched him go, a heavy weight settling in my chest. Percy placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch gentle. "Are you okay?" I nodded, though I felt anything but. "I will be. This is just... a lot to handle." "W
(Soren)The camp was shrouded in the early morning mist when I awoke, the remnants of a restless night lingering in my mind. The fire from the previous night had long since died down, and a heavy sense of anticipation hung in the air. As I made my way through the camp, I found Cerelia waiting for me, her eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and worry. "We need to talk," she said, her voice low but firm. "Privately." I nodded, leading her to a secluded spot away from the main camp. Once we were alone, she turned to face me, her expression serious. "Soren, we need to discuss Hilda," she began, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We can't ignore the fact that she holds valuable information. If we're going to challenge King Arlo, we need every advantage we can get." I hesitated, the thought of involving Hilda stirring a mix of emotions within me. "Cerelia, I don't know if that's a good idea. Hilda's already caught in the middle of this mess. Dragging her deeper into our plan
(Hilda)The next morning, the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room. I lay next to Arlo, his arm draped possessively over me, his breathing steady and calm. Last night's intense emotions had given way to a quiet intimacy, and for a moment, I felt a sense of peace. But I knew I couldn't linger in bed forever; there was a whole new world outside these walls waiting for me. Carefully, I slipped out from under Arlo's arm, trying not to wake him. I dressed quickly and quietly, taking a moment to watch him sleep before stepping out into the hallway. The pack house was already bustling with activity. Members of Arlo's pack moved through the halls, their eyes widening in respect and curiosity as they saw me. I made my way to the main hall, where the smell of freshly baked bread and brewed coffee wafted through the air. A few pack members were seated at the long wooden tables, enjoying their breakfast. They greeted me warmly, their smiles genuine.
(Soren)I moved through the dense forest, each step careful and calculated. The early morning mist clung to the ground, adding an eerie quality to the already tense atmosphere. Cerelia's words from our conversation replayed in my mind, her insistence on involving Hilda leaving a bitter taste. Yet, as much as I hated to admit it, she had a point. I tried to mind link her but to no avail.We needed Hilda's inside knowledge. But that meant finding someone loyal to King Arlo, someone who could be bribed or convinced to carry a message to her. I didn't have to search long. The snap of a twig alerted me to the presence of another in the woods. I crouched low, moving stealthily towards the sound. As I peered through the underbrush, I saw him—one of King Arlo's men, a scout named Rolf. He was younger, probably not much older than Elias, and his nervous glances around the forest told me he was still green.I waited, watching as Rolf settled against a tree, his hand resting on the hilt of his
(Hilda) The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light across the garden where I found Nixie working among the flowers. The vibrant colors of the blooms seemed almost to mock the unease that gnawed at me. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation I was about to have. “Nixie,” I called gently, trying to keep my voice steady. She looked up, her surprise giving way to a warm smile. “Oh, Hilda! Good morning. What brings you here?” “I was hoping to talk to you about something,” I said, my heart racing a bit. “Is now a good time?” “Of course,” she replied, setting aside her gardening tools and brushing her hands on her apron. “What’s on your mind?” We walked to a shaded bench under an old oak tree. I could hear the faint buzz of bees and the distant sound of laughter from the pack house, but my focus was solely on Nixie. Once seated, I gathered my thoughts, trying to find the right words. “I overheard you talking yesterday,” I began, my voice trem
(Soren)The night was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth as I made my way through the forest, my steps muffled by the dense undergrowth. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting a silvery glow on the path ahead. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong, a gnawing unease that had only grown since Hilda’s departure.Her absence had left a void, a chasm of regret and unanswered questions. My betrayal had been a desperate act, driven by forces I could barely comprehend at the time. But now, as the truth began to unravel, I realized that my actions had set off a chain of events far more sinister than I could have imagined.It had started with whispers, rumors of disappearances that didn’t add up. I didn’t feel right about King Arlo from the beginning, and not just because of his claim over Hilda. It took some investigating, but I uncovered some real information. I decided to investigate further while I waited for Hilda’s response to my message. Mat
(Hilda)The early morning sun cast long shadows over the garden as I tended to the flowers. The simple act of nurturing life provided a small respite from the constant worry that had settled in my heart ever since hearing Nixie's ominous conversation. Each petal, each bloom, was a reminder of the fragile beauty of life, and a much-needed distraction from the uncertainties surrounding Arlo and his past mates.My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. I turned to see Rolf, one of Arlo’s scouts, making his way toward me. His usually confident stride seemed hesitant, his eyes darting around nervously. My heart quickened, sensing something was amiss.“Hilda,” Rolf greeted, his voice unusually tight. “I have a message for you.”“A message?” I asked, wiping my hands on my apron and straightening up. “From whom?”Rolf glanced around again before leaning in closer. “It’s from Alpha Soren. He wants to meet you. Says it’s important.”The mention of Soren’s name sent a j
(Hilda)Soren's words echoed in my mind as I hurried back to the pack house, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and anger. His warning reverberated within me, the implications too horrifying to fully grasp. As I approached the grand building, the reality of my situation began to sink in, and panic clawed at my chest.I needed answers, and I needed them now. My thoughts raced as I made my way through the corridors, each step a battle against the rising tide of dread. I had to confront Arlo, to see if there was any truth to Soren’s allegations. If he was involved in something as dark and twisted as Soren claimed, then I needed to know.As I neared Arlo’s study, I heard voices. His voice and another, unfamiliar but dripping with the same sinister undertones. I stopped, pressing myself against the wall, straining to hear their conversation.“She’s proving to be quite the challenge,” Arlo was saying, his tone devoid of the warmth he usually reserved for me. “But it’s only a matter of tim
Arlo“I’m just dying to know what those plans were, Damon,” I say silkily. Feeling great satisfaction when he flinches away in fear. I can smell his agitation and it makes me want to attack so badly. He’s weaker than I am and he’s a threat to my mate, I should eliminate him right here and now. It would be over in a second.Unfortunately I promised Hilda I wouldn’t. She got impatient with how long Soren and Cerelia were taking and convinced me that time was of the essence and I had to control my inner beast for the sake of everyone’s lives. I’m not sure at this moment if it’s worth it.Hilda wraps both her hands around one of mine. “Save your energy for a real challenge, baby. He’s nothing but a distraction.” Damon wants to snarl at her, but his survival instinct seems to override his bad judgment and he settles for pretending not to have heard Hilda.I have to stop thinking about him putting his hands on her or I’m going to lose it. “Soren, is it okay if Arlo and I go to your cottage
DamonI don’t know what the hell is going on here, but I definitely don’t like it. They’ve infected my sister with magic and turned her into one of those harpies who think they should act like one of the boys. I won’t turn my back on her. We’ll find a way to get her back to normal.“What happened to you?” I ask in a low voice, trying to pull her away from Soren. “Did he have you enchanted in some way? Don’t worry, we’ll find a way to fix…whatever this is,” I say, gesturing at the glowing orb.“Damon, please, there’s no time,” Cerelia begs, her big blue eyes staring up at me. I’ve never been able to resist that pleading look.After my mother died, my dad kind of disappeared from our lives too. There was always food in the house, but someone had to prepare it. I was 10 and Cerelia 3 when I made her a sandwich and a cup of milk for the first time and she looked at me like I hung the moon.Nothing else in the world has ever come close to the way I felt that day. Like a hero. Someone to be
CereliaThe closer we get to our pack house, the more out of control my nerves get. Damon is unpredictable at the best of times and I don’t know what his reaction will be to seeing Hilda and King Arlo.He accepted Soren as my mate only because he knew the mating bond had snapped into place and he didn’t want to hurt me by denying me close proximity to my mate. Our pack members believed he was also tired of the constant losses caused by the war with Soren’s pack, but Damon likes war.I love my brother. He looked out for me all our lives and protected me like I’m some fragile treasure. My father wasn’t around much after my mother died, as though being at home with his children was some kind of terrible burden. Damon stepped into the void left by my parents, loving and caring for me all through my childhood.I adored him growing up and it was only at around 16 or so that I became aware that our relationship wasn’t completely normal. He didn’t like other boys looking at me and the way he
Hilda“I get where you’re coming from, but waiting here will waste time. I don’t know where the glade is, but my family belonged to the same pack for many generations. In all likelihood it’ll be on those lands.” I tell Arlo softly.“Hilda, you were pierced with several arrows and just about dead when I found you. Not to mention that you were skin and bones. Clearly too weak to be running or fighting. That asshole used you for sport.”“I know, but he drove me straight to you, so there’s a silver lining,” I say with a smile, trying to dispel his brooding expression. “I would have found you even if you were on the opposite side of the world,” he growls. “I definitely didn’t need him to try and kill you so I could find you.”“Baby, I love that you’re protective and furious about what he did. If our roles were reversed, I’d feel exactly the same way, but this is more important than that. I’m still alive and happier than anybody has any right to be. We’ll ask Soren to make sure he stays hid
HildaI go to find Cerelia first. I’m pretty sure there’s no lingering resentment or jealousy about my and Soren’s past, but just in case it upsets her to know I still have stuff in Soren’s attic, I’d like to give her advance warning to deal with it.“Hilda, that’s incredible! We have to go and look through your stuff immediately,” she says excitedly, nearly vibrating with elation. “Combined with what I’ve just learned, I think we’ll have an edge Maelor will never see coming!”I’m cautiously optimistic that the artifact will help, but there are no guarantees we’ll even find it. I also don’t want to deflate Cerelia’s optimism with my doubts.“So you have more control now?” I ask with a smile. Perhaps her power alone will be enough to beat back Maelor now that her latent powers are being unleashed. Cerelia smacks her forehead, “I haven’t told you!” she practically crows with delight.“Told me what?” I’m becoming a little concerned that there may be too much magic flowing through her vei
Hilda I’ve been uncomfortable in Tara’s presence since the day we met and she blew a hole in my near-perfect life, but I’m glad Cerelia came to me to accompany her to the small cottage we’d allocated to Tara.“I just need a second pair of eyes to help me make sure she’s not lying,” Cerelia explains. Clutching the piece of obsidian in her hand like it’s tethering her to the world.“Very wise and I’m happy to lend you my deception detection capabilities,” I tell her grandiloquently. She’s apologized twice for bothering me and since nothing else seems to convince her, I’ll tease her instead. Cerelia grins at me, “Okay, fine, I get it,” she retorts.Tara looks surprised to see us and I have to suppress the urge to ask whether she didn’t see us coming. Despite my best efforts, I can’t quite keep myself from resenting her. I do my damnedest to hide it though.After a few quick pleasantries to make sure she’s settling in well, I turn the conversation over to Cerelia.Tara’s eyes grow wide w
CereliaAfter a day of rest, I’m back to normal. As quickly as my power drains, at least it regenerates just as fast. Yesterday had gone well, but there’d been a moment where it was touch and go and my blood runs cold every time I think about what could have happened if I lost control and the mages got their powers back.“What’s wrong?” Soren finally asks with a small frown. I’ve been pacing like a caged tiger and he’s been very patiently trying to ignore me while attempting to read. Hilda found the book in the huge library Arlo’s pack has tucked away in an underground fortress and tasked him with checking whether it contains anything useful.Apparently we’re not the first werewolves to have a run-in with mages. The book is titled: Illusions and How to Dispel them. So far it hasn’t offered up anything of practical value.“I’m sick of having such inconsistent control over my abilities,” I tell him. “Yesterday very nearly went badly wrong. What if I got all of you killed?” Soren puts th
Cerelia“You’re sure about this?” I murmur, glancing at Hilda where she stands near the edge of the ley line, her arms crossed over her chest. She’s radiating confidence, but I know her well enough by now to see the tension in her clenched jaw and the way her fingers subtly flex.Hilda glances at me, her lips quirking in a faint smile. “I have to be, don’t I? Besides, we’ve got a solid plan and I trust you, Cerelia.”“Let’s hope your faith isn’t misplaced,” I say, exhaling to calm my racing heart. Soren steps closer, placing a comforting hand on my back. I can feel the warmth seeping into me, grounding my emotions. “She’s right. You’ve practiced for this. You’re ready,” he tells me with unflappable certainty.Before I can respond, King Arlo’s voice cuts through the quiet. “We won’t have much time before they get here. Everyone, to your positions.” His tone is sharp, but I catch the way his eyes linger on Hilda.We scatter to our designated spots. Percy and Nixie flank me, their stance
HildaTalking to Cerelia helps solidify what I want, but Arlo gets to have a say in this too and I’ll discuss it with him when the time is right. For now, I’m taking the potion. If he agrees, and we decide to take the risk, it will be the last time though. Which means I’m more motivated than ever to eradicate the mages.“I have an idea, but the final say has to rest with Cerelia,” I tell the war council that evening. The inner circle consists of Arlo, me, Cerelia, Soren, Percy and Nixie. Soren glances at me heavily, already unhappy with whatever I’m planning to propose.“I’ve seen a glimpse of what Cerelia is capable of now and that brought me the idea.” Turning to face her I say, “If this is going to place you in danger of burning out, or it seems like more than you can handle yet, you say no.”“I won’t know until you tell me what it is,” she responds when I keep staring at her. “I’m serious Cerelia,” I say emphatically. “If you’re not sure, we wait until you’re ready.” She nods, but