[Slate]As I was walking over to the meeting hall, I got an urgent text from Ash. She wanted me to meet in the Alpha suite immediately. She had some upsetting and important news to share, but she didn’t want it to be over the phone or by text. I only agree to her demand because I feel guilty. I hate how things ended between us and feel she deserves a chance at a proper farewell. So I walk straight up the stairs, not paying attention to the hubbub around me. The Alpha Beta Ball is happening at the end of next week. That day was also supposed to be mine and Ashlynd's wedding, so the party planners have been working overtime making all the preparations ready for both events. Every major Alpha and Beta on the West Coast has been invited to attend with us hosting them as a way to apologize for missing the summit at the end of last month. When I pull out my key to unlock the door, I notice that it is already open and not even completely latched, so when I place my key in the lock, it push
[Hyacinth]It was hard waiting for Slate to return. So Bash and I tried to keep ourselves entertained and busy. First, we cleaned the entire house. Bash even put away all of his toys that were strewn all over the house. I moved things in my bedroom, including making space in my dresser drawers for him and placing a new toothbrush in the bathroom in the cup next to mine. I wanted something pretty and lacy to wear for him, but nothing I owned was fancy in that way. So instead I picked my silky pajama top, leaving the bottoms in the drawer. Smiling, I thought of how it would feel to have his hands sliding around on the silk cloth. By the time we were done, there was still no sign of Slate, so Bash and I worked hard to make a special dinner and dessert to welcome him home. We settled on lasagna, a family favorite, with a salad. I pulled out a nice bottle of wine to celebrate along with a bottle of sparkling apple juice for Bash. I sent Bash outside and sent a quick text to Drew asking
[Hyacinth]"Off-road? In a Toyota Corolla? Are you kidding me?!" I shout as he makes a sharp left turn and begins to follow the river. "There is a hidden road not too far from here. We used to use it all the time during the Witch Wars." He explains. But none of what he is saying makes any sense. "Witch Wars?"My voice is starting to become scratchy from all the screaming. "Damn it, Drew! What aren't you telling me?"He doesn't answer. He is too busy controlling his car which is rolling over bumps and twigs like it was a new truck designed for offroading rather than being a simple family car that is almost 40 years old. He is going to have a lot of explaining to do when he gets back home, especially if he has to keep this trip a secret.Something big must have happened at that party last night for him to be acting this strangely. Something terrifying. Drew isn't the type of wolf to go into dramatics over nothing. If he feels that Bash and I are no longer safe in Gold River, then there
[Hyacinth] “Close your eyes, Bash,” a voice from inside me speaks, a voice that is not quite me. “I don’t want you to see this.” I wait until I see his eyes are closed before I focus my attention on the wolf man breaking his way through. Closing my eyes, I feel his flesh beneath my hand and I sense the power bubbling underneath the surface of his skin. It feels unnatural. He was never meant to be a wolf. He is in pain. “You can help him,” the voice inside me confirms. “You can heal him.” “How?” I no don’t waste time asking the voice who they are or where they come from. I know now that she is my wolf and I welcome her assistance. “What do I need to do?” "Do you sense the wrongness, the thing that doesn't belong?" she asks. "Feel with your mind, grab it with your thoughts, and pull it into you. Your body was designed for this. Trust me." Imagining a hand reaching from my mind through the connection I have with the wolf man in front of me, I grasp the wrongness with invisible
[Hyacinth] Their breath is hot and smells of rank, rotting meat as they circle close enough for me to feel their fur brush against my arms. The ground is damp beneath my knees as I kneel, trying to think of what to do next. If I run, they will chase me, and with them this close they will likely tear me apart this time. If I stay still, they will still likely kill me, but without the bloodlust of the chase, they may just play with me a bit, injuring me, but leaving me with a chance of survival. Either way, if they are here focused on me, at least I know that Bash is safe. Or at least, I hope he is safe. The woods at night are still full of danger. He could get lost. He could fall into a hole or get swept downstream. Sitting as still as I can I keep my eyes closed, waiting for the wolfmen to pounce or strike. A cold nose touches my leg and I struggle not to jump. So far they haven't done more than circle and sniff, savoring the scent of my fear. A claw grazes my neck. Swallowing
[Drew]The car is dark and smells of wet earth. Glass is strewn everywhere. My head is pounding and for a moment I forget where I am and how I got here but then it all comes back in a rush of emotion. My eyes snap open. We were attacked and there was an accident. Rogues. Rogues that Cindy said were not real rogues but transformed humans. An impossible truth unless you know that witches are real and never fully died out in the wars. “Cindy?” I call out into the dark. “Bash?” A woman in the distance screams in defiance and pain, followed shortly by another scream of anguish and heartbreak. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I wiggle out of one of the broken windows and into the cold night air. Without thinking I shift into my wolf form and sprint into the forest toward the source of the sound. On four legs I bound forward with the speed and grace of a true alpha wolf. I am larger than most, a true apex predator. My wolf, Drake, moves through the trees like night itself, our black fur blendin
[Drew] I make a sharp turn and head back towards the sound of the howling wolves. Seeing me the pack rushes to follow me and I laugh as the car is airborne, propelled over a log. Sometimes you need to laugh at your situation to keep from crying and my odds are so impossible right now as I look at the dozens of red glowing eyes in my rearview mirror, that I know I might not survive the next five minutes, never mind the rest of the night. As the pack cuts me off, I stop when I notice the wall of wolves is not budging. I don't want to hurt any of them. These wolves are not in their right mind and cannot be blamed for their actions. They are acting other the orders of another, orders that I cannot resist without my training. I have no intention of hurting any of them. I merely wanted to get Cindy to safety. As the wolves circle, I take a deep breath and begin praying. "Moon Goddess above, hear the plea of this humble servant. Keep them safe, keep them well." As the wolves surround m
[Hyacinth]Bash was looking back over his shoulder at where Drew disappeared. “Is he going to be okay,” he wonders aloud as he stumbles across the bridge. His small limbs are exhausted from all the running he has done so far and his steps falter. Fighting back my own exhaustion I scoop him up into my arms. “I don’t know, sweetheart,” I admit honestly. “But he told us to run to his friend, that he will find us somewhere safe.” His little arms wrap tightly around my neck. “Drew wanted us safe, so we are going to do that. For him,” I insist. I feel his little head nod against my neck and I give him a little pat on the back as I hurry to the other side. My brave little wolf. He is trying so hard to be strong, but I know that he is still worried. I’m worried for Drew too, but I don’t want his sacrifice to be wasted. Seeing the rogues and the behavior of Slate and the rest of the pack, I can understand why he is worried for our safety. Something is going on at Gold River Pack. Something t