I guess Ashlynd got more than she was expecting!
[Ashlynd]"Sebastian James," The Grand Warlock takes a step towards us, his knarled hands with fingers steepled and visible while the rest of him is still in shadow. My sister's son turns his head towards the voice. "I know you," he says with absolute confidence. "You're the bad man from the..." The small child falls to the ground silent, his eyes closed, his body still. "That is how you deal with a moon pup," he pushes the little boy's leg with the toe of his boot. "Don't worry, he'll still be useful later and none of the others should be a problem."I nod obediently, but what I want to do is ask him how he knew who this child is, and more importantly, how the child recognized him in return. That shouldn't be possible. Nobody can see past the Grand Warlock's shadow. It is a spell that is as ancient as our order, a way to protect his identity. And yet a small wolf pup of 5 years old knew his secret in a manner of minutes. But where would little Bash have encountered him? How does
[Hyacinth]I can smell my mate wrapped around me. His warmth and his love cover me with his gentle scent and in this moment I feel whole and safe. "Wake up, Hyacinth," he whispers in my ear. "Our son needs you."I feel a quick flash to my chest as if receiving an electric shock that moves from my toes to my head in a wave, only to leave me feeling drained and weak. "Now! Hyacinth! Save our boy!"______I startle awake. I have slept in so many different beds in the last week that it is no surprise that I am in yet another one. But where am I? And why does it smell like Slate?Then I remember. Our little group took back the packhouse last night and then Bash and I went to bed after battling against the witches who had kept Drew captive. Both Bash and I were so exhausted that we were encouraged to go to bed straight away. Drew tucked us into the Alpha suite, a room that is now by rights mine as well, as Slate's Luna. So that is how we got here. But why would I have such a strange dream
[Hyacinth]Arms grab me from behind. I need to go back. I need to find Bash. What if he is still in that house? What if he is burning alive looking for me right now? I claw and kick at my rescuers. "BASH!! I scream over and over again. Why isn't anyone listening to me? "We need to go back! We can't leave him to burn!""He's not there, Luna," someone tries to convince me. "We checked everywhere."I don't believe them. I won't believe them until I have checked every floor from the attic to the basement. I need to see with my own two eyes that my son is not there waiting for me, hiding in some corner. My world goes dark. _____I wake up to the sound of voices in the room next door. I don't know how long I've been out, but the sun has risen fully. "We're going to need to wake her up soon," a muffled voice says.Or I think it does. I focus closer trying to hear their words."They'll figure out where we are hiding soon enough," a female voice adds. It sounds like Beta Caroline Reed. "It
TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter includes scenes of abuse and attempted suicide. Read at your discretion. [Ashlynd]The Grand Warlock insisted that, as his new bride, I would be kept at his estate until the wedding begins. His estate, of course, is the Monrovia Estate, which my mother graciously handed to him after forcing her husband to live in the "pen" with the other "animals." For a woman who seemed so devoted to him only days ago, she has quickly bowed down to the will of the Warlock, not caring about any of her previous ties. She gladly accepted a position as one of his coven witches, donning her blue dress and smiling with the rest of them as they burned down the packhouse. "She wasn't there," My mother was angry as she opened the front door, throwing down her things and bowing at the feet of the Grand Warlock. "After the report of the attack at the prison, we were sure that she had gone there to rescue that Moon Wolf," she spat, refusing to call Drew by his name. "But when we
[Slate]The witches came last night to give Ash a message, and then a few moments later she was dressed in her blue dress and heading out the door. Alone. I am blissfully alone. And this time, she forgot to leave someone here with me to make sure I'm not trying to escape in any way. After the last incident, she removed all of the sharp items from the house. As a wolf, I heal supernaturally fast, but that doesn't mean I can't kill myself if I'm determined enough. But now that I've seen Cindy, and held her in my arms, I can not take the easy way out. I need to fight for her, for us, and our entire family. Our bond feels stronger today. I can sense her even now as she struggles through something. Something terrifying. But then, as I lay here in bed thinking of her, I feel when the terror leaves and she is filled with calm. I try to think of her, to send her all of my love. I hope somewhere, in her dreams, she feels it too. I miss her so much. Filled with thoughts of her, I let my bo
[Hyacinth]As the witches began searching for us again, we realized that it wasn't safe for us to stay on the surface. While we were camped out in the temple, the clinic was lost as the witches had taken it over as their new home base. Unfortunately, that means that the wolves that were too sick to be moved are now surviving at the mercy of those witches. After encountering the carnage in the basement of the packhouse, none of us have faith that any of those patients will survive the day if we cannot change our situation this morning. Thankfully the tunnels are expansive. We can all fit inside if we stretch ourselves out between locations. Unfortunately, none of the juncture points are large enough for any of us to stand in a cluster bigger than 10, which means giving instructions for the next phase of our plan feels a bit like playing telephone, where the message is changed and garbled by the time it reaches the person on the other end.Even with all of our challenges, we have come
[Hyacinth]The tunnel leading to my family home led to a set of tiles in the garden near the base of the fountain. To think I grew up here and never knew this existed. Probably because it took three full-grown werewolves several minutes to unlodge the extremely heavy stone. Whoever placed this here did not mean for it to be found easily. Cameron helps me out of the hole and I dust myself off, looking around to see if we have been noticed. Nobody is out here, everyone is focused on the ceremony out in the big field near the forest, the auditorium standing as a gloomy pillar casts an unusual shadow, one of wolves in cages and children standing on risers even though the building itself looks solid.It's an illusion. None of it is real. And among those children gathered on the risers is Bash. I can sense him.I nod towards the building "The shadow," I say to both Drew and Cameron. It takes them both a moment to see what I'm trying to show them, but when it becomes clear, Drew squeezes m
[Ashlynd]This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. The day I finally get to marry Slate after 7 long years of engagement. But this day is tainted now. The Grand Warlock made sure of that. Reaching for the nearby wastebasket I vomit for the third time this morning. I've been queasy since he performed that spell, draining some of the life energy from that room full of wolf pups. The surge of power felt amazing as it settled into my bones. Even today I still feel stronger than I ever have been.While also feeling the worst I ever have. This pregnancy is unnatural. I would rid myself of his spawn if I could. Why did I have to be born a witch? Why did my mother ever sew that patchwork soul to mine, giving me the powers and pleasures of a wolf? Did she know what she was doing to me when she made that choice? Did she realize that once it was gone I'd mourn the loss for the rest of my life? Because deep in my heart I am still a wolf. And Slate is my mate. We are meant to be tog