ARIANNA’S POVLuciano was in my bed when I woke up in the middle of the night. He had been sleeping here for about a week now. I never asked him to stay, but I did not make him leave either. It was a cool night and he walked me to my room after dinner and just didn’t leave.I looked at him, sleeping peacefully. I almost never had the chance to see him sleep. He always went to bed later than I did. And was always up before me. This was a rarity that I wanted to savor, but my full bladder would not let me.I was washing my hand in the sink when I caught my reflection in the mirror. My sunken eyes were starting to find the light again. It was good to see. I was about to look away when I saw Carter standing behind me. I squeaked, terrified of what I was seeing in the mirror. My heart rate jumped and the hairs on my skin stood in fear. I closed my eyes and shook my head. It was not real. It was not real. I was safe now. I had repeated this mantra in my head so many times since I got bac
ARIANNA’S POVWe were driving down a long stretch of highway, it was bordered on both sides by woods and trees. It felt scenic and chilling, but in a good way.I pressed the button to roll my window down. I wanted to feel the air on my face. I needed to know what the trees smelled like here. The way the sunlight bounced off the trees was beautiful.“Do you want to stop for something to eat?” Luciano asked.I wasn’t hungry, we had stopped about an hour ago. But I would not mind stopping and walking through here. “Can we stop here?” I asked. His face creased in a confused scowl but he slowed the car down and pulled up to the side of the road. “Do you need something?” he asked. I shook my head and got down from the car. I walked out to the middle of the road and looked up with my hands spread wide.It felt good to be out here. I inhaled deeply smelling the trees, it was loud with the chirping of multiple birds. I looked back to find Luciano watching me. I shrugged and walked back to
LUCIANO’S POVThe day was uneventful. Our bed and breakfast was mostly deserted. We seemed to be the only occupants. Arianna had been coming out of her shell a lot more this past week. I had finally started to relax. I did not realize how worried I was until she asked me to hold her. The flash backs were mostly gone. And the constant calls from the Alphas had stopped. I didn’t tell her about it because I did not want to add to her worries.I knew greed was a thing but I had never witnessed a manifestation like this before. They all seemed ready to strip her for parts.The news of her blood healing the mystic moon did not help either. One of them even boldly suggested we study her to know what more she could do.I took care of Carter for Arianna. I would have beat him to a pulp and killed him off without feeling anything but I needed to make a statement.The calls had stopped. Collin was sour about it but he didn’t say much. His beta sent a passive message about wishing us well and t
LUCIANO’S POVI sat in my car and watched. Waiting for them to come out of the mini mart. They were taking their sweet time. They were a group of four men. They were burly men but I could take them. Anytime. I watched them walk out of the mart and walk out into the darkness. “Perfect” I got out of my car and walked after them. They were too engrossed in their conversation to notice someone following them. Loud miserable men. Hunting down wolves to make themselves feel better. When I was finally out of the light from the gas station and in the darkness of night. I took off my shirt and threw it on the side of the road. My pants followed after and I let my bones shift. I shook my head and wet my nose with my tongue. It always felt good to be on all fours. This was going to be quick. There were two men walking behind and two in front. I didn’t care if they screamed. They loved listening to Arianna scream. I would enjoy listening to them tremble in fear, not knowing where I was comi
ARIANNA’S POVI stayed watching from the bushes. Luciano had beaten him down and he was on his knees. I watched Luciano kick his gun away and grab him from the back of his neck and toss him to the floor. It occured to me at that moment that I never heard his name. He was simply their boss. “There is someone I would like you to meet.” Luciano told him.I took that as my queue and walked into the clearing. I could see his eyes widen in shock when he saw me. This is what I wanted. I needed him to see what he couldn’t have, standing right in front of him.I walked up to where he was flung on the ground, leaning by his elbows and trying not to completely fall. I looked him straight in the eyes and barred my fangs. He jerked up and tried to shuffle back but he bumped right into Luciano. The action made me happy. Now he was the one running scared.It was easy when he had his goons and his many silver weapons. Now, it was just me and him. Well me him, Luciano and a raging fire.“We need to
ARIANNA’S POVWe drove past a mob of people running towards the farm. How nice of them, ready to help. Good thing they had not shown up earlier. These were good, helpful neighbors. Those hunters did not deserve them.We were about ten minutes out when we heard sirens. That actually took long. I guess that’s what happens when you live in the middle of nowhere,“Are you okay?” Luciano asked. This had to be the tenth time he had asked me that question since we got into the car.“Are you?” I asked back, tired of telling him that I was okay.“I’m fine. And it’s not the same thing.” he said.“Why? Because I made you force me to turn?” I asked him.“Well, that is one thing.”“What’s the other thing?” I was getting irritated now.“You killed someone tonight. At the farm, when we were picking them off one at a time. You did a lot of damage, but you let me get rid of them.” he explained.I realized earlier tonight that one of the reasons he didn’t want to make me shift; other than the obvious p
CARTER’S POV“Fuck!” I exclaimed and threw the bottle of bourbon at the wall. It hit the wall with a thud and fell to the ground where it started to pour out. “Did you see that?” I asked Ciara “It didn’t even break.” She looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. “I’m in so much pain, I can’t even throw hard enough.” I explained angrily. “If you are in so much pain, maybe stop trying to throw things.” she suggested.“And where does that leave me? Unable to function!” I answered my own question as she seemed to not understand.“What’s on your neck?” Ciara asked with a shocked look on her face.“What’s on my neck?” I walked slowly to the standing mirror on the landing of the staircase.I had to move slowly, my joints hurt if I tried to move at a normal pace. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes had sunk into my skull. I was emaciating in real time. I looked closely at my neck in the mirror. There were green, web-like lines running up my neck. I walked back to
CIARA’S POVHow dare he say that. I did not live my life to spite Arianna. She was of no consequence. And I did not start a relationship with him because of Arianna. Granted, it was funny watching him renounce her and it was basically the moon goddess dropping a blessing at my feet. I mean he had rejected her already, I didn’t make him do that. If he had accepted her then I would have gone about my business. I approached him because he was the Alpha and he clearly hated Arianna. It was a good thing to bond over. “So because of Arianna?” a stupid voice in my head asked. “O shut it” I responded in my head. My life did not revolve around my sister. So why are you mad?” That stupid voice again. I was staring down at Carter. He was sitting in his chair looking weak and pathetic. He did not have the power to tell me to be quiet. “Or what, Carter? What will you do? Take me on the hood of your truck again?” I asked him. “I remember it worked quite well. I didn’t hear your voice for days