HildaI feel like I’m strung out on joy, effervescing, bubbling over with it. After everything that’s happened, I’m happier than I’d known it’s possible to be. Arlo and I talk constantly. About Lilith, the girls, the way he’s run the pack, the tension amongst his warriors. He holds nothing back from me.My love for Soren was very real and the pain of losing him cut me to the core, but I can’t deny that it wasn’t comparable to the bliss I feel now. Body, mind, soul, heart, it’s all brimming over with completion. I feel whole in a way I’d never experienced before.Seeing the way Arlo is changing, opening up not only to me, but to his pack, is a revelation. I can see his warriors are still wary, not sure whether they can trust this more relaxed Alpha King, but I have no doubt that he’ll win them over in short order. He’s too incredible not to.There are moments of darkness and doubt, which will undoubtedly continue for a long time to come. Forgiving himself isn’t going to be as simple as
Hilda “Dammit, I was sure it’s this way!” Arlo’s frustration is obvious. We’ve been hiking for hours and he keeps having flashes of memory, certain that he’s on the right path and a particular part of the woods looks familiar, until he’d suddenly stop and look confused.“It’s okay, Arlo. We know your mother messed with your memories and probably planted all kinds of traps to lead you astray. We’ll keep trying. One thing every area you’ve led us to has in common, are very large yew trees. Most of the forest is made up of beech and rowan trees, the yews are scarce. Plus they’re associated with magic. I think if we can mark their locations on a map, we may find the place that keeps sliding out of your head.”Arlo pulled me in for a kiss, tilting my head all the way back so I could look up at his tall frame. “Gorgeous, sexy and a genius. I won the mating lottery,” he murmurs huskily, toying with the buttons of my shirt. “Oh dear, one of those seem to have slipped open,” he says in mock r
Cerelia I can’t say that studying magic has been drearier than I thought. It’s fascinating, eventful, exciting. Maelor is a good teacher and he warms to me very quickly. He’s not what I first expected. He seemed a bit sullen and reluctant, but he’s come out of his shell completely. Throwing himself into our lessons with great fervor.“How exactly did you do it? I understand the talisman was to ward off evil, but on its own it could never have defeated someone as great as Lilith. Did you feed power into it somehow?” He’s been questioning me about it since the first day I got here.“Maelor, if I knew, I’d tell you, I really would. I’m sorry, but it’s all a blur. I was sure I was going to die and I reached for the only weapon I had. I never expected what happened next and it was all so fraught with danger I was flooded with adrenaline. Everything in that moment was strange to me, I can’t remember what I felt like, only what I saw happening to Lilith.”He sighs and pouts for a while. “Wh
Hilda“You’re not coming along,” Arlo tells me forbiddingly. He makes sure to use a tone that brooks no argument, but I’m brooking anyway, because there’s no way in hell it’s a good idea for us to split up. The mating bond between us is so powerful, that we do everything better when we’re together.I’m a stronger fighter, we both heal faster, we can anticipate the others thoughts and I’m happier when I know Arlo’s within touching distance. What a difference a few days can make in your life when you stop running from what’s right in front of you.“I’m not staying behind either. You can let me travel with the rest of the pack or I’ll follow along behind on my own, the choice is yours,” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Hilda, this isn’t a game. Rolf all but admitted Soren’s focus on war is led by his desire to get you back. You’re not going anywhere near him. I’m going to challenge him to a one-on-one fight and we’ll put an end to this once and for all.”His face softens when
Arlo I’m traveling with a small group of my best warriors. Nixie because she’s as fast as the wind. If things go wrong and we need back-up she can outrun anyone. Percy is my Beta and it was another area of contention between me and Hilda. I wanted him to stay behind and guard her, she insisted I should have my strongest fighter by my side.If convincing her to stay hadn’t already been so tough, I would have kept arguing until she saw things my way, but I was terrified she’d change her mind and decide to follow us. She’s more than worthy of being a Luna. Not much can sway her from her course, not even a direct order from her Alpha, I think to myself with a rueful smile.There’s no doubt in my mind anymore that none of my previous ‘mates’ had ever truly been intended for me. The way I feel about Hilda is indescribable. Her presence both electrifies and calms me. The whole world looks different to me now. I never realized how bleak my general outlook was until she came along and splashe
HildaArlo’s only been gone for a day and I’m already driving myself nuts. It seems inconceivable that a few short weeks ago I still had doubts about our relationship. It’s as though the thought of losing him flipped a switch inside of me, lighting up all the dark, hidden places and showing me the truth.I still shudder in shame when I think about my night of illicit passion with Soren. It was such an awful thing to do, something I would never have believed either of us capable of, but if it hadn’t happened, would I still be vacillating between trusting in my new bond and hankering for what I lost?I hope Soren can find the same peace and happiness that I have. That Cerelia is back with him and she can convince him to let go of his ridiculous determination to depose Arlo. I wish there was something I could do to steer him on to a different course of action. I don’t want him to die. I want him to live his own life and to let Arlo and me live ours.Goosebumps pop out on my arm when I re
CereliaI’m just getting started on dinner when someone starts hammering on the door of Maelor’s cottage. We take turns cooking, which I appreciate, even if the food he prepares is barely edible. It’s nice to feel that he sees me as an equal and not his temporary maid.Nobody else has come here since my arrival and he’s a recluse as far as I know. Maybe it’s a lost traveler. Whoever it is certainly seems to be in a panic, judging by the severity of the knocking. Maelor’s gone out to forage for herbs. Many of the ingredients needed for potions only bloom at night, or need to be picked at specific times of the day.“We have a problem-“ the woman snarls, snapping her mouth shut when she takes me in. “Who the hell are you?” she asks angrily. She’s older than I am, appearing to be in her mid-30’s. She’s flawlessly beautiful, with porcelain skin, glossy ebony hair, emerald eyes, ruby lips and an hourglass figure. She should take my breath away with her perfection but it seems too unnatural
SorenArlo’s message infuriates me on every level. I’ve made no headway in my search for Cerelia and I’m terrified of what could be happening to her. My hope was to avoid facing him in battle until I had her back by my side.I also have no intention of facing him one on one. The outcome is too uncertain. This is exactly why I would be a better leader than him, I don’t believe brute force should determine who leads the Alphas. I can’t frame it that way for the others though, werewolves respect physical strength far too much.“So this can all be over really fast and then you can enlist the help of all the packs to find our Luna,” Lewis says excitedly. He’s young and naïve. “I’m not dueling King Arlo,” I tell him flatly, “I have to find Cerelia first.”Lewis looks confused, “But it will be over quickly. If you don’t go through with it, what will our allies think?” Damon smiles at me coldly, running a whetstone across the edge of his dagger, “Yes Soren, what will the other wolves think? T
AshTara won’t look at me. It must sicken her to see me in such a dishevelled state with Isadora. I tried to convince her we should bathe and get dressed first, but I suspect she wants Tara to know what we’ve been up to.I’ve never had any trouble sexually pleasing my partners. I’m an inventive, attentive and insatiable lover under normal circumstances. Last night was the first time since becoming human that I had to close my eyes and pretend.I imagined Tara was the one in bed with me. The one I kissed. The one who sucked my cock with such exuberance. The one I fucked until she was exhausted and passed out in my arms.I didn’t offer Isadora pleasure with my tongue this time. Exceptionally talented as I am at cunnilingus, I know she was hoping I would. I haven’t had the pleasure of tasting Tara, but I know she would burst on my tongue like some exotic fruit. Intoxicating my senses. I couldn’t suckle Isadora’s clit and keep lying to myself about who I was with.“Tell me how to break th
TaraI feel violated and ill when I wake up the following morning. Ash certainly doesn’t have human stamina, based on the information gleaned from the books I’ve read. Human males apparently require a period of recovery between one bout of mating and the next.“Thank you for the books,” I tell the serving girl when she brings my breakfast. She glances at the bedside table and her eyes briefly meet mine before darting to the floor again. “That one’s good, but the other one is better,” she says quietly.So these aren’t from Redgrave at all. “I’ll make sure to hide them when I have visitors,” I promise her quietly. She lowers her head, “I don’t think she’ll know. She doesn’t pay much attention to the house. You can just say you found them in a drawer.”“My name is Tara,” I tell her gently. She looks at me again with a faint smile, “I know. The mistress cursed your name repeatedly when you took Sir Ash from her before.” Right. I wonder how Redgrave believes I managed that. It’s all to t
TaraAsh seems to have accelerated healing abilities like we do. He told me he’s never been sick and he doesn’t think he ages, but he has no idea if that’s pure luck or if he’s not as human as he seems.The black eye took a bit longer to heal than the lacerations from the whipping, but it was still much faster than a human would have mended.I wish I could see him. Just for a minute. Just to be sure he’s in the same shape physically that I am. Logically I know he has to be, but I need to see with my own eyes that he’s fine. Or at least as fine as it’s possible to be while pretending to be enchanted by a completely delusional woman.If Isadora Redgrave hadn’t shown up when she did, I know exactly what would have happened to me next in that cage and I despise having to feel grateful to her, but I can’t deny that I am. I’d rather be beaten for hours on end than sexually violated by Malcolm.I know the only reason I’m being kept in this beautiful room and fed like royalty is because
RedgraveAs much as I despise Tara, seeing her spread-eagled, bloody and whimpering in pain doesn’t bring me any pleasure. I’m not a cat, who needs to play with my food before I deal the final blow.“Do you no longer need her to get you across the border?” I ask with a raised brow. Malcolm frowns as though the question makes no sense. “I do. She’s not dead,” he responds sullenly.“I gather she attacked you?” His jaw clenches, “What are you getting at, Isadora?” he asks irritably. “I’m trying to understand why you’re torturing her. What’s the point?”“She came here to spy on us before. My men only caught her this time because she was chasing down your precious Ash. She may have important information that could impact the mission,” he informs me dryly. Like I’m a silly child asking stupid questions. I wonder whether he knows that the thin layer of ice that he’s standing on has already started to crack.“Have you asked her?” I enquire. I can hear his teeth grinding together before he
MalcolmEither I was incredibly unlucky with the first werewolf I captured, or this one is very weak for some reason. Maybe because she’s linked to the human.I need to know whether most of them are more like Arlo, or like her. It’s going to make a huge difference in the size of the force I need. Arlo bent steel bars and wouldn’t go down until he was peppered with tranquillizer darts.I wouldn’t have stepped into Arlo’s cage for all the money in the world. Not even when he’d just been knocked out. This little female is completely different. One shot puts her down and she hasn’t attempted to shift once.Maybe I don’t even need to keep putting up with Redgrave. I’ve acquired an arsenal of weapons because Arlo refused to bloody die. Something tells me if I shoot this one in the head, she’ll expire immediately.As tempted as I am to test out my theory, I need her to get me into the werewolves’ territory. Her screams are like the most beautiful symphony. Ringing out loudly with each e
TaraArlo’s advice definitely helped. I’ve been drifting in and out of consciousness from the one dart that hit me, but I never fully went under. I’m abruptly pulled from my dreamy state when pain explodes in my head and my left eye starts throbbing.Ash. What are they doing to him? I want to hurl myself at the bars of the cage surrounding me and demand that they set him free, but we have to maintain our cover.“What the hell are you yipping about?” one of the guards stationed around my prison asks. I hadn’t realized I was making small sounds of distress.Based on the sheer volume of armed guards surrounding me, it’s clear King Arlo gave them a lot of trouble. Pride swells in my chest. He truly is a worthy leader for our pack.“Did she just hit herself?” one of the others asked, gaping at what must be significant bruising around my eye.“Crazy bitch,” the first guy mutters. “I’ve been watching her, she didn’t do it to herself. Her head rocked back and then the bruise was there.
AshFuck. This is not supposed to be happening. What the hell do I do now? I’ve never met Malcolm, but by all accounts he’s the scum of the earth and has no conscience. And he knows I’m not a mythical hero. He planted the bullshit that made Redgrave believe I was some kind of Messiah.He may just decide to kill us for the hell of it. No. I can’t think like that. He needs Tara to get across the border. That doesn’t mean he won’t hurt her though. Or kill me, if he doesn’t believe we’re linked. The problem is, we actually are.Cerelia cast a spell before we left, binding our life forces together. I’ll suffer any harm done to Tara, and she’ll die if they kill me.It was meant to keep Tara safe from Redgrave, and provide further proof that she controls me. I would happily offer my own life if it would save Tara, but it’s currently impossible.The men who grabbed me pulled a thick burlap sack over my head. I can’t see anything and even hearing is problematic. I know they put Tara in
TaraAsh is being extremely huffy as we walk toward the border. “I could have done this on my own. There’s absolutely no reason for you to be putting yourself in danger.”“Aside from the multitude of reasons already discussed in the war council?” I ask, matching his level of peevishness without any trouble. “And don’t suggest again that you could have steered them towards a specific area to cross the border, because it would have been too suspicious and risky.”He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, like I’m the one giving him a headache, instead of the other way around.“Look, I know you want to leave the forest and get back to Raventon as soon as possible. This is the best way for us to speed up the timeline of Malcolm’s attack and control the outcome. I’m sure this is why Scarlett called you here and you can leave as soon as the threat is neutralized.”“Dammit, Tara! This isn’t about me getting back to my life in the city, it’s about your safety. I don’t want you to be hurt. I
Arlo“I don’t like it,” I say, shaking my head.“For once we agree on something,” Ash huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re not going out there like some lamb to the slaughter,” he tells Tara with finality.“I don’t remember asking for your permission,” Tara tells him softly and Ash’s head jerks back like she just slapped him.“Nobody likes it, but we have to act first,” she continues in her quiet, but determined tone. “We have no idea what Malcolm is up to. If we can control when they cross the border, Cerelia can do her thing. Humans don’t know about our ability to mind link.”“We weren’t able to use the mind link while you were in the city,” I point out grimly. Tara nods, “I know. I’ve spoken to Cerelia and she agrees that it’s probably because of the magical barrier at the border. The moment we come across, I can warn you, so you’ll have at least a 30 minute headstart.”“I could communicate with Arlo when Malcolm had him,” Hilda says, a shiver of distaste running down