Just like the previous times, coming back to reality was like plummeting from some great height into the depth of stormy seas. The surface swallowed her up like the mouth of a giant fish, sucking her down into the maelstrom of freezing cold darkness. It rolled her like a washing machine until she couldn't tell up from down or dark from light. But just as quickly as she had plummeted into that strange void between reality she knew and the reality she had come from, Chloe felt herself being pulled out of the depths. As she broke the surface, Chloe opened her eyes to be met with dim light and something soft and light covering her face. It took a few moments of sleepy confusion to work out that it was her hair that was blocking her vision and making her nose and cheeks tickle. It took a few more moments to realise that the light pouring in was from the morning sun.Pushing her hair from her face, Chloe froze when her blue eyes landed on the face of her male. It only t
Just as Lucas had said, Bobby was waiting for Chloe when she stepped out of her room a short time later.The blonde was beginning to get used to the vampire's presence. They seemed to share the same level of shyness as Chloe struggled with, meaning that both were happy to avoid awkward small talk and simply walk in silence. It was just as well because Chloe's mind was focused on something else.The strange dream from the previous evening still occupied Chloe's thoughts. It had differed from the previous dreams and yet there had been enough similarities to lead Chloe to believe that this dream had something to do with the others. She just couldn't figure out what exactly. It felt as real as the others to the point that Chloe could still smell the perfumed air that had filled the den and the heat from the fire. There was cl
851 ADThe first snow of the winter was building on the horizon, casting out its tendrils of freezing winds to clear the way. Harvest was well and truly over and the men had returned from their hunting trips to now help with the final touches in securing the Pack's dens for the winter. The season could be cruel here but the wolves had learnt how to fare against the harsh conditions without the aid of the human settlement some fifteen kilometres to the south.But that was because the Northern Star pack had something that other packs didn't; their Luna was a witch.The fated union between a werewolf and a witch hadn’t gone down smoothly with puritans but sixteen years on, Ulf and Estrid had defied all odds and united their pack. Their love for each other inspired unity and peace amongst
The pale glow of the moon cast a haunting blue light across the snow as Chloe shivered against the bitter wind. She had no doubt the winter landscape would be a beautiful sight if it weren't for the fact she had been out in the freezing cold for hours. The tense silence around her was broken by the chatter of her own teeth and the rhythmic crunch of boots in the snow as the guards prowled around her and the fourteen other girls currently stood in the snow in nothing more than their underwear.Casting her blue eyes up to the moon, Chloe silently prayed this round of punishment would be over soon. She wasn't even entirely sure what had warranted them being pulled from their beds in the basement of the club, forced to strip and made to stand in the freezing cold outside of the Alpha's residence in the dead of night. The frigid air that bit painfully at her fingers and nose made the depress
The pale morning light crept through the letterbox sized windows of the den slowly, casting a stark glow over the rows of beds before crawling up the back wall. The scent of blood mingled with the musty scent of damp and cheap perfume as the girls silently let the night pass them by.It had been five hours since the Alpha had let them go back to their prison and while the chill that had settled into their muscles and bones had long since faded away, they had been unable to sleep. Everyone of them was haunted by Chloe's flogging every time they closed their red and puffy eyes. The twenty lashes seemed to go on for hours and yet it was probably only a few minutes. The Alpha had been swift and merciless whilst the small blonde had screamed and sobbed in agony until she had passed out from the excruciating torture. By the end her back had been a mess of blood and torn flesh. Rivulets had poured d
Soft pinks, purples and vanilla light bounced across the insides of the near empty club as closing time crept in slowly. It had been a long night and surprisingly busy since it was only Wednesday night but, both humans and werewolves had been looking to blow off steam and spend their hard earned cash on drugs, alcohol and young women skimpily dressed and dancing. Even their drinks were brought to them by young females for the lusty men to paw at whenever they pleased.Luckily for Chloe, she was still on bar duty until her back was fully healed. The Alpha didn't want anyone seeing her injuries because it was bad for business but Chloe was aware that as soon as she was back to full health, she'd be back dancing like a performing monkey or serving drinks while greasy old men groped her.Sighing tiredly, she placed another cl
Saturday came around too quickly.By then Chloe was feeling a lot better although the healer had not been around to check on her again which Chloe hoped meant that the Alpha had forgotten all about their arrangement and she was off the hook. However those hopes were dashed thoroughly when the girls came back from their mandatory workout.Chloe had been allowed to attend this time even if she didn't care much for the routines she was forced to do to make sure her body had the right amount of muscle without looking bulky. Being allowed outside for longer than a few minutes had felt good and even the freezing cold biting at her cheeks until they were a soft pink colour hadn't dampened her mood. They were werewolves after all. Being outside was in their nature even if they weren't able to shift because they were low ranking.
WARNING: this chapter contains descriptions of sexual assault===The room instantly felt too hot and Chloe tried to swallow, her mouth feeling dry. A hand on her naked arm made her jump and she looked up to find Nathaniel towering over her, his eyes lasciviously roaming over her body.“You know, I never found my mate?” Nathaniel suddenly spoke, his voice low. “I searched and searched but after years of disappointment I finally gave up. For a while I was okay with not having a mate, not having a family but as I get older I realise that I can’t run this pack alone and certainly not forever. The pack needs a Luna. We need hope that there is a future…”Chloe knew what Nathaniel really meant. He needed an heir to continue his family’s dynasty and he had chosen her to be
Just as Lucas had said, Bobby was waiting for Chloe when she stepped out of her room a short time later.The blonde was beginning to get used to the vampire's presence. They seemed to share the same level of shyness as Chloe struggled with, meaning that both were happy to avoid awkward small talk and simply walk in silence. It was just as well because Chloe's mind was focused on something else.The strange dream from the previous evening still occupied Chloe's thoughts. It had differed from the previous dreams and yet there had been enough similarities to lead Chloe to believe that this dream had something to do with the others. She just couldn't figure out what exactly. It felt as real as the others to the point that Chloe could still smell the perfumed air that had filled the den and the heat from the fire. There was cl
Just like the previous times, coming back to reality was like plummeting from some great height into the depth of stormy seas. The surface swallowed her up like the mouth of a giant fish, sucking her down into the maelstrom of freezing cold darkness. It rolled her like a washing machine until she couldn't tell up from down or dark from light. But just as quickly as she had plummeted into that strange void between reality she knew and the reality she had come from, Chloe felt herself being pulled out of the depths. As she broke the surface, Chloe opened her eyes to be met with dim light and something soft and light covering her face. It took a few moments of sleepy confusion to work out that it was her hair that was blocking her vision and making her nose and cheeks tickle. It took a few more moments to realise that the light pouring in was from the morning sun.Pushing her hair from her face, Chloe froze when her blue eyes landed on the face of her male. It only t
The light from a fire jerked and writhed against the heavy stone walls that surrounded the small space. The smooth rock face went up some ten feet before curving inwards to create a ceiling that was painted inky black by the shadows.The naturally formed den was big enough for a small family to congregate. Mats and piles of furs were bundled tidily in one corner while primitive cushions littered the floor strategically. Treated hides had been stitched and then hung over the several exits that stopped this place from being a tomb to being a safe space. A home. The air was warm thanks to the fire in the middle of the room and the smoke lazily floated upwards into the only void of shadows. The scent of herbs and dried flowers fragranced the air, adding to the warmth until it felt like a thick blanket was wrapping around everything. The shadows pooled wherever the light of the fire couldn't get. They bubbled and boiled high above like a canopy of stormy seas. The life force in them puls
"Hm…" "Hm?""Yes, hm."Chloe shifted uncomfortably in her seat, the urge to get up to run and hide squirming inside of her and pawing at her willpower. She felt her muscles tense in order to spring into action freezing only when hazel eyes landed on her, pinning her to her seat. It wasn't malice or disapproval that Lucas conveyed across their strengthening bond but assurance that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. She was safe, even if the old crone currently scrutinising her looked like she had the power to turn them all into dust. Dagmar was silent for a few more seconds before breathing in heavily and muttering a few foreign words. She finally limped over to an overstuffed armchair and collapsed into it, pulling a packet of cigarettes from the pocket of her cardigan. "Well?" Ursula's was as sharp as the eyebrow she raised on her blue eyes, her irritation for the other witch far from subtle and souring the air. "Well, what?" Dagmar challenged. "The girl is healthy. The moon
The tidal wave of shock was quickly followed by anger before a maelstrom of confusion, grief, disbelief and rage cut through the pack bond like a punch to the chest.Chloe felt like the air had been knocked from her lungs and it took everything she had not to be dragged down by the riptide. Hecate’s hold on their body released like a rope snapping under pressure and Chloe was quick to take the reins and shift into her human form. She ignored the biting wind on her naked flesh as her blue eyes focusing on the scene below them. Around her, wolves shifted into humans as everyone let Emily’s words sink in. “Are you sure?” Chloe finally asked Emily, turning away from the gravesite. “I’m positive.” Emily replied quietly, her tone as solemn as the silence that surrounded them. “Don’t you feel it?” The blonde frowned in confusion, shaking her head softly. “Feel what?” “The bond with this place.” Freya spoke up from behind the pair. “It’s difficult to explain. It feels like...” “Coming ho
“You need to move them outside!”Lucas had been trying to help a nurse with one of the girls thrashing violently on a infirmary bed when the rushed voice of his mate rose up above the cacophony of noise. He looked up to see Chloe entering the infirmary, blue eyes wide and lips parted in shock. The noise they had all heard from the small examination room didn’t prepare any of them for what they wound when they entered the infirmary. Even Lucas had found himself shocked and he had seen his fair share of carnage during his time as a police officer and now an agent. However, the look was only there for a moment though before Chloe’s lips pursed together and her eyes darkened with determination.“I thought I told you to stay where you were.” Lucas replied roughly. “If you haven’t noticed, it’s a little chaotic in here!”Chaotic didn’t seem to aptly describe what was currently happening. Lucas was grateful that they didn’t have to also deal with the women and children that had been found in
Despite the pressure of having thirteen werewolves about to go through their first shift and another werewolf critically injured, Ursula looked as calm and composed as a statue. Her cool demeanour when the witch spotted Lucas and Chloe felt like a blast of arctic wind had just barrelled through the infirmary. It was obvious that the frigid welcome was solely for Lucas’ benefit as the towering male’s presence filled the small examination room like an overpowering wave of dominance and strength. Chloe had only seen the pair interact once before but she could already tell that some bad blood ran between them. It was the type that formed between family members or those one might consider family. Their presence was never outwardly welcome by the other but their history, bond and loyalty to each other was what kept the peace. It just didn’t stop the verbal jabs whenever the opportunity arose. “I need you to check Chloe over.” Lucas was straight to the point. “I’m a bit busy here, Lucas.”
Mate. The word reverberated in every ounce of Chloe’s being. Every synapse, every cell, every ounce of her body seemed to light up and sing the word like it was the only thing she knew and understood. Even the golden wolf locked in her mind had joined in the chorus until Chloe’s ears felt like they were ringing from the calamity within her. It felt like hours passed as the shocking revelation knocked the blonde for six, her heart skipping a beat when Lucas raised a rakish eyebrow questioningly at her as if he could hear every thought (or rather, the one single thought) on Chloe’s mind. The world seemed to fall back into place with that. Reality reappeared with a thud and what had felt like hours had only been a few seconds. Those few seconds were enough for Alvaro to depart, leaving Chloe alone with the black-haired, intimidatingly handsome male that now towered over her with eyes that reminded her of the forest and the ocean colliding. It was conditioned instinct for Chloe to run
The inky depths seemed to go on forever with no end in sight. Chloe couldn’t tell up from down. She felt like she was sinking and any attempts to try and swim in the opposite direction simply had Chloe falling further and further into the watery void. Then, without warning, the void disappeared and the world around the blonde morphed into snowy ground and frozen trees. She could feel the snow under her naked feet and the cold wet air caress her skin like the fingers of the dead. Someone had cleared the pavement of snow and under the night sky, the asphalt looked like a river cutting neatly through the white blanket of snow. Orange Street lights illuminated the bellies of the grey clouds that hung above and in the distance were the lit signs of stores and restaurants. Chloe didn’t recognise the place but something in the back of her mind told her this was a human settlement of some kind. It wasn’t in the same state but was also close enough to share the same kind of weather. The shad