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GABEThe open road gave me a sense of calmness. My inner wolf was quelled whenever I felt the humid air cooling on my face as we sped along the broken and cracked roads.I had always felt at peace on my bike. The usual thoughts that plagued my mind would take a backseat. Clarity would form as I enjoyed the ride. Like now, the tension slipped from my muscles as I relaxed and formed my body into the bike and listened to the rumbling hum of the engine that vibrated between my legs.Jamerson and I had decided not to stop overnight like I did last time, even if the Crimson pack was a little further.The afternoon blare of heat began to give way somewhat as the blazing sun started to retreat. Dusk fell quickly yet still we rode.As the last of the sun dipped behind the horizon the moon rose casting its yellow glow onto the empty road and over the open terrain. The stars twinkled above -- our map of the land -- though I knew where we were going.It was late when we reached the border of the C
STIX“What do you mean he has been arrested? On what grounds?” Beta Branston bellows at the two council guards, his face becoming a bright red with anger and frustration.Ruby’s hand grabs my arm, her grip almost painful. But I couldn’t think of that at this moment. I was sure my ears had deceived me. “Arrested?” I question loudly, my voice shaking in anticipation of the confirmation from the two men. “Why?”“Your Alpha has gone against the council and pack laws. He has been arrested and placed in a holding cell awaiting trial.” The shorter guard provides in a monotone voice and expressionless face.Beta Branston waives the paper that is securely gripped in his fist, again. “This is absurd!” He growls “He came to the council for help, and you arrest him. On what grounds? And don’t give me your bullshit answer! I want facts!”The two men offer no more insight as to what happened before they stepped back into their fancy car and drove back down our winding road, disappearing in the nigh
GABESleep evaded me. Though the luxurious bed was comfortable, I wasn’t used to such nice things. The pristine white sheets and the soft grey walls were too clean. I felt out of place lying in the bed, looking at the glass vase with silk flowers, the sheer drapes, and the marbled bathroom attached to my room.The only thing I had gathered was, this pack had serious money. I could only wonder where they got their funds from. What did the crimson pack produce to keep the main house in such pristine condition?Jamerson must have felt the same, because no sooner had I washed up and put on a clean shirt than he came knocking at my door like last night. His eyes rimmed with dark circles from lack of sleep.“Do you think anyone will come to escort us downstairs? Or are we meant to make our own way down?” I shrug at Jamerson’s question. We could clearly hear people up and about downstairs, plus there were numerous footsteps outside my door earlier once the sun had risen.“I guess we go down,”
GABECrane only showed us the main part of his pack. The part with the nice houses that were home to his top warriors. Where they stored their food and fresh water supply.He didn’t take us to the outskirts of the pack where we had witnessed from afar the atrocities of what really took place in this pack.As we made our way back to the main house, a large structure caught my attention. One that was equally as large as his dwelling. “Who lives there?” I question, pointing to the grand structure.“My beta,” Crane replies without skipping a beat.“Beta Al?” I ask curiously. It wasn’t normal for a beta to have a house as large as the main one. In other packs the beta and gamma families lived in one big house, though, it wasn’t unusual for them to have their own home they were usually much smaller and not as decked out as that one.“He must be some beta,” Jamerson says in a joking manner when what he is truly doing, is fishing for information. Crane offers nothing in return except a dubiou
STIXIt wasn’t long before Josh and I, with the help of his mother and Ruby, were sneaking out the back and the keys to one of the cars were being placed in my hand.I couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. I couldn’t wait to see if they released my father or wait for Crimson Moon to come decimate our pack. Or for Alpha Crane to come and declare his claim over me.“Thank you,” I say to Mary, giving her a hug.“Just come home safely. It will take a day to get there. If my husband or Beta Branston knew, they would try to stop you,” she says with tears in her eyes. “Take care of her Josh,” she adds, letting me go.Josh gets in and I open the passenger door to climb aboard when I stop. My wolf ears perked up at the familiar but distant sound.“It couldn’t be…?” I utter to myself as the noise draws closer to our border.I close the door, not getting in the car and Josh climbs out wondering why I’m delaying our departure when he too picks up on the sound.A broad grin breaks across his face,
STIXThe renegades moved their motorcycles into the back of the mill, before retiring to the rooms Mary assigned them. At this point, if there were any nosey shits on our pack territory, we didn’t want them finding out the renegades were here.The only problem was they would have heard them. There was no mistaking the sound of their large and loud bikes. Anyone would be able to hazard a guess as to who rolled in in the late hours of the night.The next morning Beta Branston and Gamma Elijah met with Killian and Nate again. And once more, they allowed me to be part of the discussion.“Last time I was here, Alpha Crane had given you a deadline of two weeks.” Killian pauses, thinking, “Four days?” He questions Beta Branston, who nods in agreement. “Have you heard anything from him since then?”“No.” I supply the answer. My gaze lingers on Killian for longer than it should, though he was pleasing to the eye, and I knew Ruby would drop her soaked pants if given just an ounce of his attentio
GABEWhen Jamerson and I pull up to the Raven Knights' main house, disappointment hits me as I don’t see the alpha or his daughter standing outside. More because of the lack of the latter's presence.I push those feelings to the side, burying them deep down. I didn’t like it. I couldn’t understand why I had such a hang-up about the spitfire daughter of Alpha James.Maybe because I wasn’t used to someone challenging me or having a lack of fear, even Alpha Crane, as bold as he was, showed some sign of fear standing behind his wall of guards.Of course, we had come to help the Alpha and his pack, more so now that we knew Crane intended to screw us over from the beginning. However, something inside me stirred against the disappointment as my eyes wandered looking for Hope Jordan.I wanted to see her and that wasn’t like me at all.I wasn’t used to these emotions so when she wasn’t there waiting for me, the despondency caused by trampled hope made my anger rise. I suddenly, without reason,
STIXStomping my way through the house, I found myself outside trekking down the path to the greenhouses. I pulled the door open to the last large glass structure, the one Ruby and I would always meet in, and pumped my fist in the air as soon as I knew I was alone. “That man is insufferable!” I yell at no one, letting out my frustrations.After pacing back and forth trying to calm my inner anger, stomping my feet some more, and punching the air pretending it was that alpha asshole's face, I finally flopped down on a bench at the back of the greenhouse, hidden by the orange trees.The indoor grove was silent, save for the humongous fans that hung down, their blades causing a low murmur as they spun.Rubbing my forehead with my fingers I attempt to calm down before I head back to the pack house. I still had a class to conduct and my shift at the mill. Though those things seemed mundane and pointless as the day, until creepy Crane came to claim me, drew closer.Three days. Three days unt
STIXGroggily my eyes open and I snuggle against Gabriel, enjoying his warmth and the feel of his hard muscles under my head and fingers as I curled around him tighter. Careful not to lean on his wound.We arrived back at Ravens Knights in the early hours of the morning, happy to say that Seffy and Ruby were safe.The council did come looking for Seffy, but our pack had enough sense to send them packing. Ruby had hidden Seffy in the walls when they demanded to search the pack house and grounds.Gabriel stirs, his long arm reaching over and pulling me on top of him. He smiles, big brown eyes focusing on mine. “Good morning,” he says leaning up to kiss me, wincing when his other arm snakes around my waist.He stops and looks at my bandaged stomach with concern. “It’s fine,” I tell him, looking down and seeing a small amount of blood that had seeped through the bandage. I didn’t have the heart to tell him to be gentle when he took me earlier this morning. I liked his rough hands and the
GABEWe searched the grounds for the beta, councilman, or whatever the fuck Aldric was. Sent scouts to search the territory, even Crimson Moon warriors volunteered to help, stating that he was worse than Crane and was the one who really controlled the pack. He and his division of special council warriors. Unfortunately, there was no sign of him.That was okay because I knew where he was going. Running back to the Abby with his tail tucked between his legs. Either karma or I would catch up with him one day soon.As that thought departed, another entered my mind. The last words he said to me. “We need to go back to the Raven Knights!” I suddenly blurted out, practically issuing an order, thinking of Seffy and what the beta had said.In my fury-driven state to find Hope, his admission had slipped my mind. Panic now rose, fully taking over and I became angry at myself thinking how could I have almost forgotten his threat that Seffy was in danger. I was the worst brother ever.I didn’t wai
STIXKillian’s eyes were wide, a vein ticked in his neck, and he tongued the side of his cheek. I could see how pissed he was that Crane had a hold of me, and he couldn’t do anything to help me. “It’s okay Killian,” I tell him, feeling his frustration and trying to think of a way out of my current situation.Drawing in a deep breath, letting it out slowly and steadily, I thought, this was how I was going to die.After everything I had been through, everything my pack and the renegades had been put through, it was going to end with sadness.A tear fell from my eye at the thought of never seeing Ruby or Josh again. Rolling down my cheek, off the edge of my jaw, and onto Crane’s grimy hand. Another fell because I would never have the chance to be held by Gabriel Grayson again, to feel his touch, or get to know the real werewolf behind his brooding personality.I had fallen in love with the Renegade Alpha without even realizing it. I shudder as I recall the way he made love to me. Those s
STIXWhen I saw the man holding a big silver weapon, I knew what it was. I had been told what guns were but had never seen one until then.My heart plummeted as the ring of a shot rang out, hitting Gabriel. To my surprise and relief, Gabriel didn’t go down. I thought for sure it would have killed him.Then I saw the man aim again and something inside me snapped. Not like the fury or rage I felt towards Alpha Crane, but something more horrified, scared, and desperate. Without even thinking about it, like another being had taken over my body and mind, I shifted into my wolf form, pouncing towards the assailant.My wolves’ teeth latched onto the man's shoulder, gnawing and shaking. Another loud bang sounded, and I felt a burning sensation start in the belly of my wolf. I whimpered as the pain registered, falling on top of the man and then not remembering anything else that happened until now.Gripping the side of my stomach, I sit up looking around. I was in a small hut-like house, other
GABEFacing the five guards, I now stand on the same side of the gate as I quickly and effectively knock them out. Though they didn’t put up much of a fight.A small battalion of fighters appeared as if they had been waiting for us. Some brandished knives and a sword or two, most were prepared to face us using hand-to-hand combat.This was an all-and-out brawl, a fight I had been needing for a long time. I was in my essence, punching, kicking, and clotheslining anyone who came near as I headed towards the main house in search of Hope.Adrenaline pumped through me, the feral wild inside waking and demanding to come out and play. I was hyper-sensitive and aware of my surroundings, my eyes were sharp as the wolves,’ my ears keen and listening, focusing on the shadows and adjusting to any bright lights.I tore at my shirt feeling restrained, discarding the fabric to the floor. I could see Crane in the distance, and I homed in on his location, making a beeline for the revolting alpha. Leav
STIXThe sound of a howl, loud, deep, threatening, eerie, and full of the promise of death, sends a shiver down my spine.I rise from the cold floor, wrapping my hands around the bars of my cell. I don’t know how, but I knew that howl was Gabriel. One after another, several more howls could be heard. I recognized my pack, the others I did not but I knew they had come for me.I relished the thought that Gabriel was here, and maybe he was here to rescue me, I used the emotions that came with it to ignite my determination.Despite my current situation and condition, a wave of arousal rolled over me as I thought of the renegade alpha.It was time for me to get out of here and join them. I use the hairpin, shoving it in the lock and wiggling it around, trying to find the latch. A few seconds and a little more wiggling and the joyful sound of the latch clicking open, filled my ears.Slowly pushing the barred door open, I looked around, making sure no one was there. But they had left me down
GABEImpatiently, I gave Crane his ten minutes. I paced in front of the gates, my eyes flicking between the worn asphalt and the other side of the iron gate as I waited for the weak alpha to show himself.The evening had turned darker, and the heat of the day was turning humid. Jamerson and Killian stood silently waiting.I was testy at best, wild, and livid. My nostrils flared with each heavy step as I anticipated Crane showing himself. The vein in my neck twitches and pulses. My stomach began to ache as if I had been punched, and a flare of anxiety wracked through me suddenly.Beneath my own heated feelings, I felt something else. More like someone else’s. I knew it was Hope. It was as if she was right there and I could feel her, smell her.Just as I had had enough of waiting, my patience running out—feeling that time had run out for Hope, I growled out menacingly, ready to lead an attack on the Crimson Moon pack—I see the shadowed figure of Crane come strolling down the road.He st
STIXFeeling better after drinking the water and biting into the orange—sucking all the juices, I left the soup untouched—It didn’t smell right, and I wasn’t about to let myself be drugged once more. I sat at the end of the bed and waited.It feels like hours, and it probably was, by the way the light shining through the slats shifted and the room became darker when the clunking of the locks could be heard again.Jumping to my feet, I’m not quick enough before Alpha Crane and the same woman who brought the food come into the room, followed by two guards. I’m not sure what I was going to do but I bolted for the door, only to be stopped.Crane’s hands fly out grabbing my upper arms and holding me back. “You are more resourceful than I gave you credit for.” He says, pulling my body against his and making me cringe as I feel his arousal press against my leg.“You idiot!” I scald the older alpha. “You know you’re going to pay for this. My pack and the renegades will come for me!”Pinching
GABEI got Jamerson on the radio. He and Dynamite Al had been patiently waiting for any movement from the Crimson Pack. “I sent out a scout, but nothing. The patrol guards are in position, they seem to be taking extra care in watching their borders today. Otherwise, there’s no movement, the only suspicious thing is that they aren’t or haven’t appeared to prepare to launch an attack on Raven Knights.”I mull over his words, more than sure that Crane had Hope now. I couldn’t think of any other reason why Crane wouldn’t be making his play.Beta Branston and Gamma Elijah agreed with my theory. There was no one else, any of us could think of who would kidnap Hope. And after what the Crimson Moon beta had pulled in my hometown, it wasn’t a so far-fetched theory.That simmering rage that sat just below the surface began to boil again, rising to the surface as I thought of them taking Hope and what they had done to Cassidy. They had taken women from our town, abused them, and now Hope.I wasn