*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*Caleb was a perfect gentleman, as always. I keep telling myself he was just a dream come true. He shook Mr. McLane's hand and smartly flattered his business and investments. They both joked and got along fine, making me smile as I watched their interactions. Towards the end of the conversation, Caleb finally addressed Gideon's subject. "I've heard you fired the man. I am glad you did. We put charges against him and will let the police handle it.""Ah yes, I wanted to choke the life out of him when I showed him the tape, and he just shrugged! He put my daughter's life at risk, and also Meadow's. No sane person would do something like that."Caleb nodded. "Police procedure is slow, but we are following it by the book. If we all could handle things as we wanted to, well... the world would become more primitive than it already is."McLane chuckled and nodded. "I will give you that, Rowen.""Caleb, you can call me Caleb," He smiled at him, another ace under his sleeve.McLane
*Meadow*I managed to make myself look decent enough; I was wearing a below the knee silver dress with dark brown flowers manually sewed in it, it was loose and so comfortable. Together with a simple pair of brown pumps with a similar shade of brown purse that made the perfect combination. I ruffled my hair into soft waves and allowed it to fall from the sides, my final touch was a simple eyeliner, no more than that. I loved to be simple, even though something told me Caleb had more elegant plans.When I walked out of the room, He was resting on the couch, talking with Alex. I had his back at me while Alex stopped talking as his eyes laid on mine, he bowed his head and became silent, while Caleb tilted his head slightly."There you are, ready to go out?" He said calmly. I felt the situation to be odd. Alex looked different, gloomier.I walked to Caleb, and he smiled as he looked up from the chair, he took my hand and pulled me gently to sit on his lap. "Hi, Alex," I managed to say.
*Meadow*He opened the door for me and then guided me into a quiet and elegant restaurant. It was different from the other ones, and I felt much more comfortable in it. It had several private booths in a very sober design; wood panels decorated the walls, and two vintage sofas faced one to the other, a table of the same style in between. He allowed me to slide in and get comfortable, turning around to pull a cord that made a pair of curtains drop. He looked at me with a smile, and I saw some uncertainty in his eyes, he didn't know where he would seat. I lifted my hand to him invitingly, so he sat next to me and took my hand squeezing it. "What would you like to have as an appetizer?" His voice smooth as silk echoed in my ear.I half closed my eyes and heard the blues in the background moving me closer to him, I took his hand in mine and rested it on my knee. "I want many things, but I will be fine with a drink and anything you advise," I replied half teasingly.He ordered fried garl
*Meadow*The mixed sensations of the delicious food added to our favorite wine paled in comparison to the feelings my own body felt as we ate slowly in silence. The music seemed to conspire against me, revealing my thoughts. "You get the fever... you get the itch... and you forget about the mess you were in..." sang Keb Mo while I tried to convince myself it wasn't a mistake; and that was all it took for me to get cold and uncomfortable.He spread his legs a little wider, and I felt lower in between them. I could feel his intentions hard against me, and I couldn't concentrate on anything but the basics. Breath and eat. I ate slowly and finally, once full, I kept quiet as I drank the last content inside the wine bottle, only to look at its emptiness disappointed.He chuckled and leaned against me enough to feel his breath on my neck. "Would you like me to order more?"I half closed my eyes and felt intoxicated. "I think I have had enough..." I whispered. Why was I suddenly so nervou
*Meadow*I slowly rubbed my eyes after feeling a slight heat against them. I didn't know what it was, I just knew it was waking me up. When I finally opened my eyes half way I could see the thick curtains left a small line uncovered where each side met in the center, and through that little space, the sunlight peeked in and was stealing my sleep.I was still trapped in between worlds; half asleep and half awake, when I felt something around me move. My eyes shot wide open, and I found myself caught in Caleb's arms. I blushed profoundly, feeling his left arm tighten around my stomach; I smiled as I remembered the night before.I remembered he held me tightly in his arms until I finally stopped feeling like I didn't deserve him, we kissed with passion and laid on the couch of my dreams, the same one I was waking up in. I was ready for more that night, but he stopped me; he said I needed to rest and recharge energies since I had a long and emotional day. We laid together cuddling, and
*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