*Meadow*"What happened to her and your dad?" I asked, a little unsure if he would like to talk about it. But he didn't seem to mind, he just took a deep breath and continued."Someone wanted revenge on my father's business actions and took it on her. For a long time I was mad at him for this, but finally realized it was not his fault. I didn't talk to him for five years, then we got together when we had leads about the responsible for her death, and we wanted revenge. That brought us closer, and I apologized to him many times. Once it was all over, he told me how proud he was of me, and he put me in charge of the family business. A few days later he was found dead in his bed. He simply let himself die, no pain, no suffering. I just knew he wanted to leave this world to reunite with Ma." He said with a little sadness but nothing more than that, he came to accept it a long time ago and I felt he was at peace with himself towards it, which caused a great relief in me. He then tilted hi
*Meadow*"Meadow, I am what our ancestors called a shapeshifter, specifically a werewolf. And although many ideas and conceptions are popular, not all of them are true," He started to unbutton his dark jeans, and I was entranced. A werewolf? A fairy tale creature? I knew he was not joking, by the looks of his face and the way he spoke, he believed what he was saying. The possibility of him being crazy faintly crossed my mind, but everything in me felt at peace and relaxed. How was it possible that my body was not attuned to my mind? I had a million thoughts and doubts, and I saw him walk a few more steps back before he finally removed his underwear, standing naked. He looked at me, and his eyes were pleading. I could not part my eyes from his as his body started to tremble. "Remember, I won't hurt you... please Meadow, don't run..." were his last words as he bent over and started to shake. I gasped and tensed, a tight grip on the blanket as I heard him grunt."Caleb...?" I asked whil
*Meadow*At some point, I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I almost thought it was all a dream. But he was there, resting his head on his paws, guarding me while I slept. I felt so tiny next to him.I looked around and saw the sunset approached. I slowly started to get up and he turned around to help me, gently pushing me up with his head. I smiled at him and whispered "Thank you."Once I was up, he lifted himself next to me. Standing on his all fours he was as tall as me, his head at my own level. I reached to brush his mane with my fingers, and he nuzzled me making me giggle. He then licked my face and I smiled. "Stop it! I don't have any way to clean myself!" He kept licking me a few more times and then finally stopped. I hugged his neck tight and buried my head in his fur; he was so warm and soft, he felt safe.Then he pulled back a few steps, so I understood he was going to change back. I turned around and gave him my back, kneeling on the blanket while I gave him privacy, alt
*Caleb*She accepted us, and both my wolf and I were happy. My wolf was howling at the moon and wanted to tear some enemies apart so we could go back to her fast. I was driving from the airport towards the Smithson's land, and I was dying to sink my teeth into some rogue's flesh.I left her with Cara at my hotel, I wasn't going to take any chances with Gideon on the loose, and I was personally going to take that matter into my own hands once I returned. When we said goodbye, she struggled to let me go, and it made it so much difficult to turn and leave. She needed time to see what the pack life was, and I couldn't bring her to battle right after I showed her the truth. No, we still needed time, to get to know each other better and hope she will choose us.As I opened the window, the smell of battle and blood filled me. I hit the accelerator and drove straight to the residence. Alex was in wolf form alert as he kept looking around worried. When I got down, he mind linked me the updat
*Meadow*Next morning I woke up hitting my phone's alarm clock and when I sat on the bed, I rubbed my eyes trying to remember how I got there. The moment I did, I felt such sadness as I missed him. I took a shower and put my outfit on, thankful that I had my mind in the right place when I accepted to come there and went to pick up a change of clothes first. If I were going to be staying there, I needed to pick up more things from my apartment. It would be easier for me to stay there, but I was aware of Gideon's state of mind, and I was going to be causing stress on Caleb if I did. I didn't want to add to his worries.The morning was easy back at work, and my nemesis was nowhere to be seen. At our morning meeting, my boss asked me how I was feeling and I said I was much better. He asked me what plans I had to put my strategy into motion and I was caught by surprise. I hadn't been preparing for a fast application, so I asked him for time, and he gave me one more week to finish the inse
*Meadow*My boss looked at me with curiosity when both Cara and I entered his office, and he gestured us to take a seat. "Well, Miss Gasklow, you wanted an urgent meeting with us. May I know the nature of this urgency?" He started as soon as we sat, a small look of annoyance flashed on his face as he wasn't pleased to be requested for an audience with such short notice. I looked at Cara, and she seemed in full confidence."Sir Carter" she started, and he almost broke his pen as he tightened his grip on it, Cara was defiant. "My name is Cara, and I am head of the Tech Tracking and Surveillance Department of Rowen International Security and Associates, have you heard of us?" She asked already knowing the answer. There was no one in the high ranks of any company or business who wasn't aware where the best technological options on security were from. Caleb's company was legendary in the industry; well established and renowned, something that never crossed my mind until now. My boss nodde
*Caleb*I opened my jaw and dropped the lifeless body of yet another rogue. All our allies howled the victory, while Alex and I were still hunting. We both smelled them, we knew they were there. We must have taken down over ninety of them, and that meant we reduced their numbers greatly. For as far as we knew, their numbers didn't exceed a hundred and forty, an already huge and challenging threat.'I sense someone else, not too far from here,' Alex sent me as he darted towards the north.'Alex, don't go alone... you idiot, we need to stick together!' I growled at him as I started to run behind him. I saw him jump a few logs and rocks then push someone down. I heard whimpers and struggle. When I reached him a couple of seconds later, he had in his jaws the neck of Bryan, who was Cornelius and Agape's beta, and happened to be also Agape's brother.'Alex, what are you going to do?' I asked him, but I already knew his answer.'A life for a life. Is the way of the Wolf.' He sent back a
*Meadow*I yawned as I stretched my arms then suddenly I hit something. My eyes opened wide, and I looked to my left where I saw Caleb smiling. "Morning, my princess," He whispered, leaning down to kiss my lips softly. Was I still dreaming? I rubbed my eyes a little too hard and then looked again. No, he wasn't a dream, his lips felt real. "Yes, it's me," He said and I jumped to him."You are back!" I almost screamed, and he wrapped his arms around me chuckling. All this while I tried to digest the fact he called me his princess."Would you like some breakfast? I brought you some juice and a few salty things, but if you prefer sweets I can arrange that," He said as he nuzzled my neck and took a deep breath from my hair.I felt goosebumps all around and squeezed him tightly. "Juice is fine, thank you."After we finally released each other, I sat on the bed, and he rested his head on my lap, sighing and closing his eyes. I felt that, since we spoke on the phone yesterday, something
*Meadow*The sun casts a warm golden glow, as if trying to heal the scarred landscape left by the war. Fields, once lush and green, lie ravaged, but sprouts of new life fight their way through the wreckage. The earth seems to be slowly stitching itself back together, just as we are.I sit anxiously as I wait for Sol to walk down the flowered aisle. She chose this place as the setting for her wedding, and when I asked her why, she said she wanted to honor those people who fell during our battle."Look at that," Xavier says, pointing to a small group of deer grazing in the distance. "Life always finds a way.""Indeed," I reply, my voice catching in my throat. The sight is both beautiful and heartbreaking. It's hard not to think of those who never got to see this moment of renewal.Right after the battle, we spent our days rebuilding the world around us, not only the physical structures, but also the hearts and minds of those left behind. It's a slow and arduous process, but with each bri
*Solveigh*My consciousness returns slowly, as if emerging from the depths of a murky abyss. The voices around me are hushed and indistinct, like echoes in a fog. I strain to understand them, but they remain elusive.‘Sol,’ Seth's voice resonates within my mind, warm and reassuring. ‘You're going to be okay. You need more rest before your body can fully recover.’I want to respond, to tell him how tired I am, but my limbs are heavy and unresponsive. My eyelids feel weighed down, as if encased in stone. It's frustrating, this inability to move or communicate.‘Mom... Dad…’ I try to call for them in my thoughts, hoping Seth will relay my message.Footsteps approach, and I sense their familiar presence even before I hear dad's deep, calming voice. "Seth, how is she?""Her body is still too weak to talk or open her eyes or move yet," Seth explains gently. "But she can hear us."My heart swells with gratitude. They came, just as I knew they would. I wish I could see their faces or embrace t
*Caliope*I watch Amral crumple to the ground, his eyes rolling back as he loses consciousness. Panic surges through me like a tidal wave, drowning out all other emotions. The dark creatures circle him, preparing to tear him apart, and something inside me snaps."Amral!" I scream, my voice cracking under the weight of my fear and desperation. He can't die; not now, not like this. My love for him, my need to protect him, fuels my anger and pain. I have more to fight for than ever before."Get away from him!" I roar, focusing all my dark powers into a singular force. Shadows stretch out from my fingertips, wrapping around the monstrous beings that threaten his life. I tug at the darkness, sending the creatures flying away from his motionless body."Please, you can't leave me," I whisper, tears streaming down my face. Desperation echoes through my voice, and I feel it deep within my soul. "You can't die."The creatures recover quickly, turning their attention towards me. But I'm not afrai
*Solveigh’s*I step through the black hole portal, and my breath catches in my throat. The darkness enveloping me is thick, almost tangible, and I feel like I'm choking on it. Panic rises within me as I sense the presence of the creatures, born from the shadows and chaos that surround us."Sol," Seth's voice rings out, startling me. He's right beside me, his strong hand gripping mine. He steadies myself emotionally. My panic begins to subside a little, replaced by a sense of calm that only Seth can provide. "We'll get through this," he whispers, his eyes filled with determination."Where are they? Amrafel, Caliope," I call out, searching for our companions. Within seconds, they materialize before us, their powerful auras cutting through the darkness. Amrafel's eyes are like twin flames, lighting up his face, while Caliope's gaze is as sharp as obsidian."Ready to fight these dark creatures?" Amrafel asks, his voice low and steady. Caliope nods, her face set in grim resolve. I feel conf
*Solveigh*I feel like I am in a new state of existence, and every inch of my body is running with electricity; something else has replaced my blood, and the adrenaline is addictive. Seth’s hand presses on my back and I know the reason why I haven't fainted is that of him.A large creature falls close to me and I jump, but quickly regain my focus, not wanting to be distracted, but the smell that comes from its corpse is making me nauseous. I shiver slightly but lock my eyes on my brother Ian, and then I feel ready to try more.It is not the first time; I have done this before, transferring my abilities, affecting them in a way that helped them, enhancing them. I know I can do this, and so, I feel myself reach to Xavier and he shudders slightly, then his voice booms, and it starts to affect the lesser creatures that screech in what now has become a battlefield.I can’t erase the smile on my face; we are making things happen, they are stepping away, so many of them are on the floor alrea
*Xavier*‘They are here,’ are Ian’s words. Words that reach me just as I finish kissing my mates.I rush outside and I see Ian in the middle of the large field, he is looking up to the sky and my eyes follow his. A black pool of nothingness is starting to grow, and I see the elementals panicking as they whisper things in different languages and I know my brother feels them more than me.This angers me; it is not like we weren’t expecting them. Sure, we didn’t know specifically when they were going to attack again, but we had been preparing for them.I focus on the fire elementals and I let my command voice do its job. “Gather up! Get ready! Distraction is needed very fast! Chop chop!”Uncle Aen is quickly joining them, keeping his calm as he looks at me and nods, he knows the time has come. I turn to look at my mates and I feel caught up in the same panic; my mates need to be safe.“Don’t you stand there, you need to get over there and help take them down,” Dana pulls me out from the s
*Meadow*I rush into the cabin, and I find a small gathering in the living room. I don’t understand why everyone is here and not inside helping my Sol. Caleb quickly reaches me and we both walk straight towards her bedroom door.Until Xavier stops us.“Son?” I ask, confused and angry at the same time. “What is happening?”“Mother, wait… Sol is actually ok, she was taken to Caliope’s father to help.”His words feel almost like a foreign language to me. “I can’t feel her mind, what do you mean with all this?”I look at Caly and she actually looks back at me with a face filled with confusion and fear. It is Lucifer who speaks for her. “I have been many eons in my own prison, so I know what he is doing. He has felt a connection to Sol, so he has used her to send a message to us. He can’t hold it for long, so she should be back very soon.”Her words make some sense, and I understand why Caly is a bit shaken by this. I look at her and nod, trying to contain myself as well, showing her that
*Solveigh*I walk through a path of tall and untamed grass. Wild dandelions fly as I walk by them, and the sun shines at its peak, yet its heat is soothing, not overwhelming. The wind blows on my face, and there is pure peace embracing me.Am I dreaming?No, this is not a dream, it is so real. I feel the grass at the tip of my fingers and I sense the texture of them. I see a cabin, a very old one, and a scarecrow that is standing in the middle of the empty land. I frown as I notice that there are no crows nor any animals around us.Everything seems so eery and quiet. Too quiet.As the seconds pass and I keep walking, I get worried, something is about to happen or is happening. I am not sure what it is, even though I keep looking all around me, but something doesn’t fit. Is like I am inside a painting, a living painting.It is when I open my mouth to talk, that I realize that I have no voice as well, and now, I know this must be a nightmare.‘Seth, can you feel me?’ I try to reach for
*Caleb*I watch as Aen handles the elementals calmly. It is not an easy task, yet his experience in battle allows to use his command voice with every one of them. It is something out of an epic story, and yet we find ourselves helpless while we wait.Ebony and Ivory are having a small talk with Sol, the angels like her a lot, which ensures her protection. Is not like she would need so much of it, she is her own worst enemy. But to know they are fond of my daughter just makes me happy.“Where are your thoughts?” Amra asks me as I keep staring at my daughter and the angels.“My thoughts are a bit drifting, I don’t like the idea of coming to a war unprepared,” I admit to him. I know he is also worried, although he shows himself much more calm and collected.“I understand that, and it does bring me worries. I like to be in control of the situation, but nothing that is happening is under our control… in fact, I think the only thing under our control is the lack of actions.”I sigh and shak