Rune. I sat with my head hung low, and hands pressed between my thighs, my heart beating loudly with Soph’s, who sat beside me, with her lips pressed tightly, while Kane paced around the room, a frown on his face.I raised my head slightly, turning to Kimi, who looked like she was about to cry. I understood her completely; she had never witnessed Kane’s anger firsthand, and his red glowing eyes were just as terrifying as his silence.Soph had received intel from Rodney that wolves were on their way to the dungeon with trays in their hands, and it would be best if we left before they arrived. With what little strength I could muster with Soph’s help, we were able to get out of the dungeon, but we couldn't leave the area yet because we weren’t fast enough. Aaron helped us hide just outside a pile of rubbish at the side of the first gate, where I almost died from the stench of the place, but I had no choice. It wasn’t until the guards arrived that I realized that we were so lucky we pl
Rune. Neither I nor Kane spoke about the situation. We didn’t bring it up or reference it in any way, making it seem as though it was just a fraction of my imagination. It wasn’t, of course, because I remembered vividly what I felt when I was met with the empty cells, and those prisoners’ words before I was pulled away, but in the two days since it happened, Kane hadn’t said a word to me and likewise; although I was curious to know how he’d salvage the matter, or when he would come to me with the truth. In the meantime though, I focused all my attention on the recent happenings of the pack, that is the full moon and the event that would follow. Caden’s punishment.On that account, I tried not to seem too disturbed by it for the sake of Soph, Kimi, and everyone who had been of help to me in some way concerning my meeting with Caden; for them, I put up an unbothered front, but I was bothered. I was worried sick about the outcome of my meeting with Caden and how it would play out. I
Rune. “We’ll take our leave then, Alpha.” Jett bowed, with a little motion of his hands, urging Soph, Kimi, and Marian to leave the living room with him. Now alone with Kane, I let out a deep sigh, my eyes never leaving his tall frame.“Why are you acting like this?” I motioned towards him, and he responded with a furrow of his thick brows.“Like what?” He asked dryly.“The way you’re acting, ignoring me,” I paused, “If this is because of that night, you know I didn’t do it because I thought it would be fun to sneak in and sneak out of the dungeon, right?” Kane released a sigh at my words, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger.“You think I’m like this because you went there?” He raised a brow and I pouted my lips in confusion.If it wasn’t because I met with Caden, then what was my offense?As if hearing my thoughts, Kane took in a breath and closed the distance between us, looking down at me intently.“I’m not avoiding you because I want to, but because you
Rune. Upon my arrival to the field, Soph, Kimi, and I were well informed of our lateness from the death glares and overall horrible stares we got, everyone, staring at me instead of the wolf who was speaking.I didn’t let it bother me though, because I knew the wolves were hating simply because I was pregnant and they couldn’t punish me for Caden’s confession.The field had been prepared into an execution ground, with a small round elevated podium that looked like it could fit five people, and wooden spears around it serving as a fence to demarcate the criminal from the masses.We all stood around the wooden spears, forming a huge circle as we eagerly waited for Caden to be brought out.“Well, if all goes according to plan today, your name will be cleared and we’ll have to gear up for the next rumor,” Soph said, fanning her face as a drop of sweat rolled down her face, her voice drowning out other sounds around me.Kimi nodded with eyes so hopeful if anyone saw her they would think s
Rune. With the full moon in sight, and yellow burning torches coexisting to brighten up the rather night, the proceeding began and was in full swing with wolves hollering at Caden, who had a blank expression on his face, and Elder Tristan speaking despite the noise. While I paid attention to everything that was being said, I couldn’t help but take note of the group of elders standing a little distance away from me.Amelie’s father, Elder Martin was surrounded by Elders Greyson, Greg, Henry, and Jordan, all leaning towards each other without their lips moving, but it was obvious they were communicating through mindlink. They all had smug expressions on their faces as though everything was set in stone for them. It made me wonder if Caden’s future confession would have anything to do with it.Of course, more guards were added to the dungeon and Kane devised stricter methods of gaining entrance through the gates since the incident, but who’s to say whoever influenced Caden couldn’t fin
Rune. T W/ BLOOD“It was wrong of me to desire this position with malicious intents, but that is my truth,” I felt the weight on my shoulders disintegrate, leaving nothing but pure happiness. It was the first time I fought for myself and won. Nothing felt better, sweeter, than seeing the disgruntled expressions on Elder Martin and his group’s faces. There was nothing they could do to me with the case and I bet they hated it. I closed the case. “What? Why did you suddenly change your testimony?” Elder Grayson asked, with one of his brows in a fine arch indicating this annoyance. “I decided to tell my truth. I’m dying anyway.” I saw the exact time the light in Caden’s eyes went off. “You’re a liar! That wasn’t what you told us a week ago, and now we should believe that lie?” Elder Grayson snapped. “Unfortunately, he has answered two questions already,” Jett cleared his throat, earning himself confused glares. But Jett didn’t care, he never feared the elders or cared about what an
Rune. Everyone stood still, even as Caden’s body was ruthlessly dragged away from the podium. Not one word was said, even as I hurled out my guts on the floor without warning.If it wasn’t for the gentle hand on my back, rubbing and urging me to let everything out of my system, I would’ve thought I was alone.I wiped my lips, the sour nauseous taste on my tongue threatening me to another round, but thankfully, I had nothing else in my system.“Are you alright?” I was getting sick and tired of hearing that question, but I guess due to my history of being in danger, it couldn't be helped.Regardless, I was so hung up on the question that I hadn’t realized it was Kane who spoke. I couldn’t tell when he got beside me, or when he started rubbing my back–an action I thought had been done by either Kimi or Soph.I raised my head to meet his worried ones staring down at me, and nodded my head, refusing to speak while my mouth smelled like a drainage pipe.“Come.” Kane pulled me towards him a
Kane. I held Rune tightly in my arms, refusing to let go, even as we arrived in our bedroom. I sat at the edge of the bed in the dimly lit room, with her body on mine, just holding her close because I knew she needed the support, and because I just needed her close to me. I gently rocked her back and forth, none of us saying a thing, just sitting in silence with the multitudes of things we had to say to each other hovering above our heads.“Kane?” Rune broke the silence.“Hm?”“What if I miscarry this child?”My body stiffened at the question as I wasn’t expecting it. I imagined Rune would be having a hard time with Caden’s death, witnessing it firsthand even though I tried to cover the view, but I didn’t think it’d be bad to the extent she was having thoughts of our unborn child dying.“I told you to do away with those thoughts, did I not?”She said nothing until a few minutes had passed before she spoke up again, angling her face a little to my side.“Kane?” The poor lighting o
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