My first night in the cell was a real awakening to the horror they had all been living through. There were points in the night that you could hear the desperate wails and sobs of women held in the other cells in the building, or the sounds of someone being dragged out by a guard, then thrown back in. Everyone would tense the moment the main door opened, and you’d hear the sounds of footsteps coming for any one of us. I had no idea what they were being dragged out for in the middle of the night, and I chose not to ask any of my new cell mates, as they kept as still and quiet as they could, hoping not to be picked.Our morning breakfast consisted of stale bread, and a cup of tepid water to share between all five of us. The four of them practically flung themselves across the floor the moment it was placed through the bars. They shoved their share of the bread into their mouths, and each took a sip of water like it was a rare delicacy, passing around the cup, then anxiously waiting for i
“What did they want?” Molly asked in a hushed tone as she crawled over to me the moment a guard had pushed me back into my prison.“I was taken to a room….”“Was it all made of metal?” Tyla quizzed, looking like she already knew the answer.“Yes”. I nodded in response. “Even the chair was rock hard steel”. “Well, that would be known as the torture room. The last place you want to be taken to”. “What do they do to you in there?” I pressed, as I looked around at them all. But apart from Tyla, they all remained quiet and sheepish.“Well, what happened to you? Though from what I can see, it doesn’t look like you have a scratch on you”. She observed with a suspicious squint in her eyes, like I had something to hide.“Marco came in. He didn’t hurt me, but he made it tremendously clear what he did want to do to me”. “What do you mean by that?” She shrugged, still holding her wary expression.“He was practically on top of me, breathing all over my face and told me that he’s going to consid
“Wow, who else is still starving?”. Tyra groaned as we finished nibbling at our bread. “I think we could all devour a feast right now”. Molly sighed as she licked her fingers. “If we do ever get out of here, the first thing we do is eat, and we don’t stop until our bellies are full”. Toby said dreamily. “Oi, you, get to your feet!”. A guard ordered as he pointed at Toby. He huffed as he stood up and the man unlocked the door, clasping the cuffs around Toby’s wrists as another guard supervised to make sure the rest of us didn’t attack. He was taken out of the cell and the door locked before they started pulling him away. He glanced back at us, and we all gave him an encouraging smile. He flashed us a wink to let us know that he’d start to put our plan in motion. With only us women left in the confinement, I took the opportunity to shamefully relieve myself in the waste hole that had been dug in the ground for us to use, with only a wooden flap to cover it back up. The girls were p
“So, what should we do now?” Toby asked as we glumly sat around the cell. It had been two days since any of us had been picked to work outside or in the palace, and the enthusiasm we had was starting to diminish.Toby had returned from his last chore telling us that he’d only been taken to the other end of our building to muck out the waste holes that were starting to block. He had the most furious look on his face when he came back. The only thing he could tell us was that there weren’t many guards inside the building, and they only seemed to enter when they were choosing their next workers.“What if one of you makes enough racket for them to come into the cell?” I said aloud as the risky plan came into my mind. “And I attack… there would be no more than two, as long as I’m quick enough, I think I can handle it”. “You’re going to take on two guards, and then
We woke up to another dreary day stuck in the prison, with only the tiniest crack in the wall to let us know whether it was day or night. We could tell the sun must be high In the sky today as we constantly wiped away the beads of sweat from our faces as we sat in the humidity of the building. One by one the guards came in and out, taking one or more prisoners each time, and to our confusion, Tyra, Toby and Zola had all been picked. “Something must be going on today, for them to take so many of us”. I said to Molly as we both took turns to breathe in what little air we could from the crack in the wall. “It’s never usually this empty down here”. She replied, as we could hear hardly any chatter or shuffling in the cells around us. “Hmm, perhaps he wants them to start building his ghastly statue!” “Perhaps..” Molly replied despondently as she sat back in her usual spot. “They’re going to be knackered workin
Since the news about the wall yesterday, we had all been rather quiet, lost in our own thoughts and doubts. When I was taken to the kitchen today to clean, I caught a glimpse of all the bricks and tools, and the captives that were starting the first layer, being watched closely by Marco’s men. I was seething inside at the wave of barriers between us and our freedom…. Prison bars, guards, the open field, the men patrolling those grounds and now that damn wall! Time would be ticking each day that wall got bigger and higher, not that I could really see us making it all the way there alive, with just me fighting our way through with the only few lessons of training I had, and although the Sun pack’s guards were skilled, I needed to be better! I needed to be able to floor them without breaking a sweat to then go against an alpha! But not once did I manage to take any of our guards down during our lessons. We solemnly ate our dinner, sitting on the floor in a circle, huddled over the small
I had slept all through the night after I was taken back to my cell, and when I woke up in the morning, I was surprised to see that my legs were wrapped in bandages and I had gauges plastered all over my back, covering all the wounds. All four of my cell mates were already awake and had kept aside my share of the breakfast along with a container with extra food.“Why do we have that?” I asked them in a croaky, dry voice.“I don’t know”. Tyra shrugged as she gave me the cup of water and steadied it in my hands. “The guards threw it in with the bandages when they brought you back”. She told me, as I sipped the water and let it soak my raspy, sore throat.“You should eat it, you’re going to need it to help you heal”. Toby encouraged as he opened the container. A big chunk of fresh bread, potatoes and fruit were inside, and I didn’t miss the hungry and envious looks on all their faces.“I’m not hungry yet”. I said truthfully. “Share it out evenly and I’ll have my share later”. I suggested,
I had been left in the room for some hours, noticing the dryness of my mouth and the increasing hunger in my stomach. With the cloth still covering my eyes, and no windows in the room, I had no idea if it was day or night, morning or afternoon. I had no clue as to how long I’d been sitting here, dozing in and out of sleep, but the numbness of my bottom and my bladder full to the brim, I sensed it had been some time. I chortled to myself as I reminisced attacking the guards, tearing at their skin just the way they had done to me. I don’t know if I attacked in hopes we’d actually make it out of the pack lands, or if it was more about revenge. The way they subjected me to such wretched punishment, over one plate! I still couldn’t grasp the absurdity of it…. Knowing they had the power to subject us to whatever they wanted and abusing it. Was it not enough that they made us live like criminals, and barely gave us enough food to sustain our hunger? They ripped our homes away, treated us lik
Epilogue. Three years later:I felt as though I could hear the forest sing, as if it was feeling just as joyful and happy as I was. The sun shone along the green leaves as the wildflowers bloomed along the forest floor. Colours of blue, yellow and purple flower buds as far as the eye could see in the tall grass.I laughed again feeling like the luckiest person alive as I watched Roman playfully chasing our two year old son, Conan. They ran through the trees and Conan giggled and squealed every time Roman pretended to catch him. I’ve seen Roman smile or laugh a million times, but I never knew he could smile with his whole soul and being until he first held Conan.Every day we’re either with the earth wolves in their territory or with the sun wolves, and to Conan, both lands are his home. Both of our packs welcomed him with celebration and have adored him right from the start. They’re all so protective of him and I had noticed that my guards as well as Roman’s had become even more vigi
“Thank you for coming”. I smiled with a respectful bow as more shadow wolves walked into the ball room.Me and Roman stood at the entrance witnessing all four clans coming together for a celebration I had decided to arrange. The ball room and entrance hall was already filled with all the different pack members dressed in their gowns and suits as bubbling champagne and delicately decorated food was being passed around on silver trays. I didn’t let go of Roman’s hand as a giddiness kept weaving through my stomach and wanting to burst with excitement. What was even more breath-taking was that as soon as people walked inside, they began mingling with one another straight away. There was no wariness, no one looking uncomfortable or uneasy, it was just as sight to see, a sight I was unbelievably proud of.The idea to do this came to me a month after Henrick had spoken to each of the other three clans face to face and once we had returned to s
“I see he’s here again”. I sighed to Richard and Roman as we stepped out of the palace together.I’d been back for a week since mine and Roman’s getaway and every morning I came outside, I’d always see Henrick sitting under the trees just outside our border. All day every day he’d be there, just sitting and waiting. Any time I walked across my land, or in and out of the palace, at the corner of my eye, or in the back of my mind, I knew he was there. It didn’t concern or scare me, and I definitely didn’t see him as a threat, as far as I was concerned, being my father or not, if he stepped a foot against me, I’d kill him!“Yep! Still here”. Richard responded as he shook his head with exasperation. “Unfortunately, unless he’s on our land, we can’t do anything about it. The forest is free reign to anyone who lives there”. “I know, and I don’t think he’s planning on leaving any time soon”. I said in agreement.“Have you given any more thought about what you want to do?” Roman asked as he
We had spent the rest of the night and morning making love all over the cabin. Any time we attempted to make something to eat or drink, we’d always become distracted by one another again and I’d be against the wall with my legs around his waist, or on the bed or the floor. I knew that now I’d had a taste of what sex with a bonded mate felt like, I was now addicted to his smell, his touch and the ecstasy he gave me every time he was inside me.He smiled joyfully as he took my hand, and we headed outside and walked toward the river. We sat on the grass and dangled our legs in the water as I nestled into his side with his arm wrapped around me. The autumn sun peaked through the clouds glistening along the water as we looked out onto the horizon, savouring the peace and quiet we had alone together.He lowered himself into the water then turned to face me as he ran his hands up my thighs until they held my waist. With ease, as if I weighed no more than a feather, he lifted me from the gras
Nine days later: I bit my bottom lip to keep myself from bursting with the excited nerves that were rushing through my body. Emma smiled at me as she pinned a green and yellow flower she had made herself into my hair as my curls cascaded down my back.She had set up an awning with the help of other sun and earth she-wolves for me to get ready in for my ceremony. She’d even had a long mirror placed inside so I could see how I looked in my white lace dress with a heart shaped neckline and hugging my waist, all the way down to my feet. I looked at my reflection and I was instantly reminded of when I was last standing in another bridal dress with a different man waiting to become my mate. I let out a quiet exhale as I remembered how I had felt that day, how scared, alone and lost I was, feeling as though I had no control over my own fate. But now…. Here I was! It was only then that I really let myself think of how drastically things had changed and how everything led me to this moment. N
I walked out of the palace entrance and my lips widened into a joyful smile when I saw Roman running across our border, on his way to see me. I started walking toward him, excited for the day ahead. We had decided that together we’ll announce to both of our packs that we would be bonding ourselves together. But my gaze momentarily glanced just behind his shoulder and my smile vanished when I noticed my father standing by the treeline. He was watching me, and my people just a few yards away from our territory.“What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy to see me”. Roman spoke as he reached me and took my hand in his.“Oh, I am”. I quickly replied, looking at him for only a second before turning my attention back onto my father.“Then what do you look so worried about?” “You see that man…” I said as I nodded toward the trees.I looked over his shoulder until his eyes fell onto who I was looking at, then looked back at me with a confused expression. “I see him. But he doesn’t look like a r
“Brooke, sweetheart, Richard said you wanted to speak with me urgently. Is everything ok?” Emma rambled as she rushed into my newly refurbished study.“Everything is fine, Aunty Emma, you don’t need to look so worried”. I smiled to ease the anxious frown on her face.“Oh, what a relief”. She smiled in return as she took a seat opposite my desk. “But what was so important you needed to talk about”. “Well, I have some news to tell you… it’s good news though”. I said as I bit my lip with excitement to tell her.“Well, you look happy about something, so please tell me. I’m intrigued”. “Ok, so as you know, me and Roman have been…. Well, getting closer and we have now decided we want to officially bond ourselves as mates”. I blurted out, bracing myself for her reaction.Her jaw instantly dropped, and her eyes widened. “Wow! This is huge, Brooke”. She stated as she flung her hands to her mouth in astonishment. “My niece has actually found her mate! I never thought I’d see the day consideri
“I know you’re out there, but do you have the guts to face me like a man?” My voice echoed around me as I stood still in the forest, subtly scanning along the trees. “Come out, come out wherever you are”. I chimed and within a flash his body was pressed against my back as he gently brushed my hair away from my shoulder and moved his mouth along the side of my neck. I instantly groaned as I tilted my head back against him, giving him more access to trail those lips exactly where I wanted them.“I’ve missed you”. Roman murmured between kisses as I bit my lip with pleasure, not just from his touch but from the joy of hearing those words.“It’s only been a day”. I grinned as I ran my hand down his thigh then around to his buttocks, giving it a light squeeze.“A day, an hour… I always miss you when you’re not around”. He said as his
One week later:“The soil is looking much better”. I commented to Mr Ansell, one of our dedicated field workers.All morning me and Richard had been assisting with replenishing the crop fields, hydrating them and nourishing them after the fire had burned most of it to the ground.I stood back and just watched everyone, letting myself savour what we fought for. I could see how cheery everyone was now, no longer working themselves to the bone, or until they could barely keep their eyes open. For the first time, in a long time, they were all smiling as they worked, laughing and talking to one another. I felt my heart warm with gratitude that we were all finally here together on our own land and in our own homes, but still, every time I felt a sense of happiness or joy, Lacey’s face would always flash into my mind with a disheartened feeling that she wasn’t here to enjoy it with us.“You look as though you’re a million miles away, Luna. Everything ok?” Richard asked as he came to stand ne