Rune.“Hmph, look at her, so dirty,” I knew that high-pitched voice anywhere. In my kneeling position, I froze, clutching the chipped wooden handle of the cleaning brush tighter.“It suits her so well,” I heard the second voice that affirmed I wasn’t hearing things, and I was, in fact, right that Rachael and Jummy, my ex-friends, were behind me.A bile rose in my throat as I shut my eyes and hoped they wouldn’t approach me. I looked down at my shabby grey dress, eyes locked on the streaks of dirt and dirt lines on it, all from the work I’d been subjected to just that morning.“She’s so pathetic. I can’t even believe we were once friends with her,” Jummy huffed.I imagined Rachael with a smirk so wicked only she could pull off as she said, “She was never my friend; I only let her hang around because you wouldn’t shut up about her,” I forced the bile down, willing myself not to cry, not to waste a single tear on them.I didn’t cry when the declaration of my family’s involvement in treas
Rune. A devilish smile marred Rachael’s face as she stared at me while the other wolves gasped, clearly immersed in the drama.“What would I want with you, a servant?” she pursed her lips with a slight tint of amusement. The tears did not stop spilling from my eyes, so I wiped my face with the back of my hands.“You don’t have to do this,” my voice was shaky, with fear dripping from every word I spoke. “Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?” Rachael smiled sweetly and let her hand land on Kimi’s face the second time, sending the poor wolf to the floor. I winced. The side of Kimi’s face was a bright red, and for a few seconds, Kimi looked around us like she didn’t know where she was or what she was doing. More tears spilled from my eyes.“She’s just a child,” I wanted to yell, but the words came out like a whisper. I hated how weak I sounded and felt. Rachael had let Kimi go, but that only meant her attention was now on me, and there would be no way out.“She’s just a
Rune.The crowd went silent and parted at the sound of the voice, and chills ran up and down my spine. Everyone knew who it was; we knew his voice by heart because he was our Alpha. I, along with everyone present, turned our heads to the parted space as Alpha Kane appeared. Tall and mighty, with his thick dark brows knotted as his eyes roamed around us, taking in the scene. Beads of sweat marred his golden tan skin, and I watched, mesmerized, as a streak of sweat ran from his neck to his collarbone, where it disappeared into the grey shirt he had on, which looked damp from the sweat, I suppose.The muscles rippling under his damp grey shirt quickened my pulse, and I sucked in a breath. I knew, just like everyone in the pack, that Alpha Kane had a ripped body, but seeing him up close was a rarity because he was almost always away for meetings and wars. It must’ve been the reason I kept my eyes on him, taking him in despite the pain I felt in every fiber of my being. Deep down, I knew i
“Thank you,” I licked my lower lips while I rubbed my left arm. Chris smiled and nodded. He parted his lips and took in a breath as though he wanted to say something and thought twice about it. I grabbed my dirty gown from the brown chair in the treatment room and headed to the small restroom to change. When I returned, Chris had cleared out the bloody cotton wool and apparatus he used to treat me and was sitting on the brown chair with worry lines evident on his forehead. “Don’t you think you should wait up for him?” He licked his lips. I blinked twice.“I’m not sure I should,” my hand flew to the back of my neck.“Alpha didn’t say I should,” I gulped. He had only ordered Chris to take care of me, and Chris did meticulously. I had no business lounging around in the medical house or the pack house when I had work to do. Chris had stitched my wounds and given me painkillers, to which he ordered that I get something to eat if I didn’t want to faint while walking. I quickly remembere
It was my second time at the pack house in six hours and my first time in Alpha Kane’s office since I was born. The room was spacious. A big mahogany desk sat proudly behind a mini library filled with old books. Two maps sat on the desk with markers on them; next to the maps sat a stack of six books on each end. The top book on the left side was open with the words PEARL CREST PACK written boldly on it. Two tall shelves sat on either side of the room, all filled with books. Despite the banging in my chest, I was awed that Alpha Kane read books. I figured he was smart due to the number of wars he’d won since he became Alpha, but in my head, he was someone who used his fists and violence to solve problems quickly insteadof critical thinking. I forced my attention on other things to distract myself from the fact that Alpha Kane and I were alone, and while he had his back to me, his anger was thick and suffocating. He had dragged me from the medical house to the pack house, with his quest
Kane.Tiny.I didn’t expect my mate to be her. The second my eyes locked on Rune’s, I knew she was my mate even before my wolf, Ky, growled and ached to claim her. There she was, sitting on the ground, her tempting curved lips slightly parted as she stared at me. She was the perfect image of a cry for help, one that I desperately wanted to respond to but couldn’t due to our surroundings. For a moment there, I thought she had figured out I was her mate when she didn’t take her innocent brown eyes off me to bow like everyone else. As a wave of disappointment hit me when she exited her trance and bowed, it was quickly replaced with a sweet sensation when I picked up her scent. She smelled of peaches, with a subtle hint of jasmine, like a fine summer afternoon in a garden. So sweet and aphrodisiacal. I wrestled with Ky for control. “MINE!” Ky barked uncontrollably while a flood of anger wrecked me at the situation she was in. I knew she would be subjected to mistreatment when I o
Rune. I never did too well with change. I hated it more than anything, especially the type of change that came without a warning. Change was overwhelming, and the idea that I would no longer be where I used to be kept me up for as long as it could—which wasn’t much because when my eyes fluttered open to rays of sun slipping into the room, I felt well rested. It felt like I had slept for days when it was just mere hours. I was convinced more than anything that the reason I was able to sleep so soundly was because of a certain musky, masculine scent that spread warmth throughout my entire body, touching me lightly with a promise that everything would be fine soon. “Everything will be fine soon,” Zarah muttered, and a little bud of hope sprouted in the pit of my mind. I didn’t want to pay any mind to the part of me that warned about false hope because even though I didn’t know what being the Alpha’s mate entailed for me, I felt a little free. I could finally sleep in a well-roofed ro
I fought the tears, threatening to fall like I was fighting for my life. I should’ve felt good, happy even, that Alpha Kane defended me, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile, knowing very well that at the end of it all, a time would come when he’d defend Rachael over me. Not that I would ever yank her hair for simply existing, but where I’d claim I was his mate, and he’d shut me down. I saw the vision clearly, and it was all I could think about as he grabbed my arm and dragged me to the living room, where I sat opposite him, watching him as he went over a book he’d picked from the other side of the couch he sat on with an air of nonchalance about him. None of us said a word. There were so many things I wanted to say and so many questions I wanted to ask, but for fear of my life, I folded my lips and swallowed the words. We were fated mates, and he didn’t want me, so I had no right to talk about my feelings. He didn’t care. Rachael and her father left shortly after the incident. More
Rune. I stilled as I watched Kane fall to his knees, covered in his blood and others, and more flashes of my dream engulfed me.But things were supposed to be different. We changed our fate, he was supposed to save me and take me back with him to our territory, so why?I looked up to the sky, and the full moon stared back at me, but the more I stared at it, the more I felt as though it was coming to me. Suddenly I felt a sharp pain all over my body, and cracks as though my bones were breaking. “Zarah! What is happening?” I yelled out, but Zarah remained silent. I didn’t know what was happening until my claws began to lengthen, and white fur emerged from my skin, coating my entire body. “We are shifting,” Zarah finally said, “and I will end this!” She added and I watched as she lunged at Black, growling dangerously at him. “Rune!” He called out, but Zarah wasted no time in biting off one of his limbs, giving him no choice but to shift. We ran around the pack in search of my fathe
Rune. Black had arrived shortly after to show me to my room, claiming I’d have more time to talk with my father at dinner because he wanted me to rest since I was pregnant.I didn’t want to leave my father, but I was grateful for the solitude the room provided because I could finally think. I replayed everything my father said to me, picking out the most. My father was innocent, and he knew where my mother and sister were kept, which meant we had to be careful if we didn’t want to be caught. When my father said Black planned to kill him and force me to stay with him, I believed him instantly, because a person who could conceal his real identity to carry out various plans was dangerous and was capable of doing plenty of damage. Before we parted, my father had told me to find a way to contact Kane because he was the only one who could save us, but I doubted I had such skill. I had never initiated a mind link with Kane when we were in the same territory, talk more of doing so while
Rune. Black had suggested we visit my father, claiming that it would help me make a better decision; the decision to go to him. I was so confused, and numb that I couldn’t even cry or scream, instead, I sat stiffly on Black’s back, laying out my thoughts and thinking about what my next course of action would be. It was then I recalled my dream. My dream had some truths to it, like how I’d seen my father with Black, and some Elders, while the entire Shadow Moon pack was wiped away. “I know you’ve missed your father, so I knew this would warm your heart,” I heard Black say, but I was not bothered by him. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew I couldn’t do anything until I heard all the sides of the story, the most important side being my father’s.Black ran for a while and stopped at the border of territory nearly thirty minutes later. My brows knitted in confusion as I recalled that the nearest pack to Shadow Moon pack was Pearl Crest, and if I was right then that meant Bla
Rune. I woke to the gentle warmth of sunlight filtering through the small window of the cabin. Blinking away sleep, I stretched and sat up, realizing I was still in Black's cabin. The events of last night came rushing back to me—the unexpected reunion with Black, the cozy cabin, the little talk we had. However, when I noticed the sun shining brightly, I realized I had slept in and Black did not bother to wake me.Frowning, I slipped out of bed and padded to the door, intending to find Black and ask him to let me leave. To my surprise, he was nowhere to be found. A sense of unease settled in my chest as I searched the cabin, finding only silence and emptiness.Resigned, I located a pen and paper on a nearby table and hastily scribbled a note:Black,I appreciate your hospitality, if you’re reading this it means I’ve gone. I’ll see you some other time.Rune.I folded the note and placed it on the kitchen counter, intending to leave immediately. But as I approached the door, I realized
Kane. The night air was thick with tension as I returned to Shadow Moon Pack after my secret mission. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale silver glow over the familiar grounds that now felt haunted by the feeling that something was wrong, but I deduced that it was my finding that made me feel that way. My mind raced with the revelations from my short trip to Pearl Crest, where I found they were the ones behind the charms and wolfsbane plaguing my territory. On my way home, I had made plans of what I would do and how to go about ending that pack and everyone in it for good, but upon entering the pack house, I found Soph, Jett, and Kimi gathered in the living room, their expressions somber and troubled. My eyes swept over them, dread pooling in my stomach. “What is going on?” I demanded, my voice low and urgent.No one spoke for a tense moment, their silence deafening. "Where is Rune?" I repeated, my voice rising with each word.Jett shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze
Rune. “Black?”The cool evening air whispered through the dense trees as I stared at Black, my senses on high alert. Scanty rays of sunlight filtered through the branches, casting shadows on the forest floor. It was unusual to find anyone out here, let alone Black. He stood before me, tall and imposing, a smile in his eyes. "What are you doing here?"His smile widened, his eyes a mixture of relief and uncertainty. "I wanted to see you, Rune. I... I wasn't sure how, but then you appeared, as though the goddess herself guided you to me.""In Shadow Moon territory?" I raised an eyebrow, eyeing him warily.He nodded solemnly. "Yes. I had to see you."“What are you doing here though?” he asked, his eyes traveling up and down my body. I shifted uncomfortably in my tank top and black shorts. I ran out of the pack house without thinking and ended up leaving in such little clothing."I... I came out for some air," I stammered, feeling foolish.His gaze lingered on me, his expression unreada
Rune. A sigh escaped my lips when I no longer felt Kane’s presence in the pack; a dreadful feeling of emptiness settled in immediately, as though it was waiting for his departure. However, I had to wipe the sadness from my face when I headed downstairs nearly two hours later, taking note of the omega’s cleaning the pack house instead. Kane was away on a mission and I had a mission of my own; to track down the wolf sending those notes to me, and to make sure no one could tell Kane was gone.“Good morning,” An Omega greeted, making her way up the stairs.“Are you going up to clean my room?” I asked her, and she turned, long black hair swaying behind her before she nodded.“Don’t bother. Alpha is still sleeping,” I told her, pulling off the best nonchalant attitude I could muster so she wouldn’t suspect me, and thankfully she didn’t.Everything was going well, and no one came to ask if they could clean the room again, but it seemed our luck ran out when a group of elders came to seek K
Kane. “I hate to say it but her dreams bother me,” I said with a deep breath, “Especially when it shouldn’t,” I added, running my fingers through my hair.“Does it bother you because you think it could happen or because she’s the one who had those dreams?” Jett asked with a raised brow, and I frowned at him. We were lodged in his house, an hour after I had put my mate to bed. He had opted to drink, but I was more worried about the pack and Rune’s dream to indulge him, and now he was just trying to get on my nerves.“Are you crazy?” “Not quite,” he replied with a little laugh and I shook my head before I turned serious.“On a more serious note, I think I’ll have to visit the Fay soon, to hear more about this dream my mate had. I think we’re missing something very important here,” A sigh escaped my lips at the same time Jett nodded, taking a sip out of his alcohol right after.“If you’re making plans to see her, then that means you accept her? I thought you’d turn to your precious pri
Rune. “Talk to me,” Kane inched closer, staring intently at me. “I don’t know how accurate I am, or if this will mean anything to you, but I had a bad dream that the pack was set on fire, and a lot of wolves died.”My words were met with silence and Kane’s head hung low.“Did you hear me?” I tilted my head to search his face. “Fire you say?”I nodded. “I’m sure Soph has told you about the charms we found in the pack?” I nodded, patiently waiting for him to explain to me the relationship between the two things. “I’m forced to believe there’s a new pack targeting us, and they work closely with witches.”The seriousness of his words settled in and I found myself sitting up straight, my hands in his.“But what do you believe?”“I believe Pearlcrest is behind it. I mean it makes no sense that it’s a new pack because all the leads are somehow connected to Pearlcrest but yet, I’m being told something entirely different.”“Soph told me they are the ones with sightings of more charms?”H