ARIANNA’S POVIt was pitch black when I opened my eyes. I was sure I was gone. The pain in my leg had gone from soul crushing to just terrible. I tried moving and realized I was hogtied. I pulled on my restraints but it just dug deeper into my skin, making me wince. Where was I? The room was blacked out, there were no windows. I could not tell where I was or what time of the day it was. I took a deep breath and tried to listen. All I could hear was the echo of blood in my ears from the pain I was feeling. “We are moving.” I said out loud. My voice was lower than a whisper. I could barely talk, but I could feel the van moving and I could hear the hum of the engine. How long had we been moving? Where were they taking me? I tried pulling on my restraints again but it just dug deeper into my wrists and ankles.I lay still for what I assumed was hours. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I thought about how fast my life had fallen. And my baby. My baby was the only good thing I had right no
ARIANNA’S POV I was locked in a room. Not a room, it was basically a cage. They had moved me from the living room, down into the basement and further down. The farm house seemed to have been built on top of an ancient building. The walls were made of old brick and the door had clearly been replaced. It was strong thick metal. I knew because I tried kicking it and it sent shocks through my whole body. I sat there not knowing what time it was or how I would get out of here. Nobody knew where I was. Tess and her family would be so worried. The only good thing about being down here was that I was not tied up. Other than the spot where that bullet was dug out of me, my limbs had stopped hurting. I walked around the room multiple times, looking for loose bricks or space in the wall that would make it easy to break but all I found were hooks. Whoever fortified this room was thorough. The door finally opened and my tormentor walked in. His eyes were captivating. They were never dull, li
CARTER’S POVHe said they had taken her. Taken her where? He had no idea. She had asked him to run and he listened. They should have taken him instead. I drove slowly on the empty road trying to think. They would not head back into town and the roads were deserted this time of the night. I drove at full speed out of town, I kept an eye out for any vehicles out and about. I passed just one truck barrelling down the road but it was heading in the opposite direction, back into town,I kept going and was about throwing in the towel when I caught the tail lights of three vans, They were blacked out, there was no way to tell what or who was inside, or how many they were.Hunters usually travelled in groups of five, sometimes six. They would not need three vans for that. I slowed down and followed at a distance, contemplating what to do. I was sure that these were the hunters that took Arianna. But I could not pick a fight again this night. I would not have the element of surprise and this
CARTER’S POVWe finally made it to my truck and I drove off. We were about five minutes away before she finally spoke.“Carter?” Was she still confused?“Yes, it’s me. Were you expecting someone else?” I hoped she could hear the mockery in my voice. She had rejected me for Luciano and he had kicked her out. Talk about poetic justice.“It’s not that. Thank you for coming to get me.” at least she was grateful, she might want to hold on to her gratitude. I simply nodded without saying anything. After what just happened she should be grateful and just let me have her fur. It’ll grow back, with time. I only wanted fur, those hunters would have taken every last tooth. I tossed her a bag with some food in it. I watched her eat from the side of my eyes. She went through that burger really fast. I guess torture made you hungry. “How did you know I was here?” She asked as she wiped her mouth. “I followed you after they took you. I almost ran into a friend of yours, literally. He ran straigh
LUCIANO’S POVI had been on the road for days now. It was one dead end after the other. The last conversation I had left a bitter taste in my mouth. I was able to track Tess down, she recounted being attacked by someone strange and scary. She hadn’t seen Arianna since that night. She gave me directions to this roadside bar and grill. The manager said Arianna took off that night and nobody had seen her since. I knew finding her would be hard, but I didn’t think the identity of the rare wolf would get out so fast. Now she was out there or even captured. I could not stop playing back my conversation with Tess. “Strange how?” I asked her.She looked jumpy, scared. She didn’t know how to say what she wanted to say. “Tell me. Please, I think I may have had a similar experience. I still don’t know how to talk about it.” She took a deep breath before answering. “It must have been some kind of trick, and the light in the room wasn’t turned on. So it was just light from the passage.” Sh
LUCIANO’S POVI missed being like this. I had not turned since the last full moon. Mostly because I had been on the road.Right now, feeling the night breeze on my wet nose and the earth in my paws, it felt good. I walked slowly and quietly between the high crops on the farm. I was heading for the house. I needed to get as close as possible so I could listen in. It was strange, the closer I got to the house, the more quiet it got. I stood still and listened for any sound. I heard a bunch of chatter farther away from the house and far from where I stood. It sounded like a lot of people. As I walked towards the voices, a fire lit up, casting light around dark places. Fuck, I got as close as possible without stepping into the light. It was not a bonfire, it was a burial. They were burning a body, two bodies actually. I listened to a man with gray hair and a soft voice give a toast to the dead. “They died doing what they were born to do, sticking it to those four legged abominations
LUCIANO’S POVAlright we both know what I want. So why don’t you save both of us the trouble and start talking. He spat angrily at my feet. I guessed that was all he could do. I had him tied to a tree. Short of kicking the ground like a toddler, spitting was all he had. “Okay then. I’m going to break a lot of bones. Tell me when you change your mind.” I snapped his achilles, making his feet drop in a weird angle. The sight of it made him scream and curse. I was just getting started. I stepped on the broken foot, causing even more pain. “Fuck you! Abomination!” He cursed as he screamed.“Tell me where the girl is.” I asked again. “I have no idea but I hope she is rotting away in some ditch.” He spat angrily.“That is no way to talk about a lady. Watch your mouth.” That actually gave me an idea. “Have you ever had a tooth pulled?” I asked him, extending a claw so he could see. “Don’t. I told you I don’t know anything!” he was frantic, must be attached to his smile.“You will forg
ARIANNA’S POVWe had stopped in this warehouse in the middle of nowhere. I assumed we would stay the night and leave but it didn’t look like Carter had any plans to leave.“When do we get out of here?” I finally asked him after a whole day had passed.“You have somewhere to be?” He asked me. The question made me pause. He was right. I had allowed him drive me around the last few days but I had no intention of going to the mystic moon with him. I needed to find a bus or a train, Tess would be so worried. “Thank you for coming to get me Carter. I really appreciate it. But I think I should be heading back now.” I told him calmly while watching his face for a reaction. “Back where?” He asked.“I’ve been staying with some friends. They are probably worried I haven’t come home.” “If it’s those truckers then you should move on.” “What do you mean? How did you know I was with truckers?” I was alarmed now, what had he done?“That’s not your home anyway, why do you want to go back there?”
ARIANNA’S POVAlex walked in and the sea of people standing around parted for her. She looked gracious and I couldn’t wait to tell her that her dress captured the light of the moon like she wanted. The crowd of people parted and converged around her. It was like a maze that opened up in front and shut behind you as you walked. They were leading her to the center. To her minotaur. But this time, it was no scary monster, it was the love of her life. She finally got to the center of the crowd and stood opposite Dave. Luciano stood with them to perform the ceremony. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. His robe, fortunately for me, left a lot of his chest bare. There was a lot left to the imagination but just enough was open that I couldn’t help but stare. I stepped up when I was called. It was time for best friend duties. I handed over the stone. It was white but a little see through. It was supposed to represent the moon. Luciano took it and placed it in Dave’s hand, he then covered it
LUCIANO’S POV“And what’s wrong with that?” She asked me. Fuck! That question tugged at the beast in me that just wanted to take her, with zero regard. I took a deep slow breath to calm myself. We both needed this, but she needed it more. Her body needed to remember that there was a lot more than the pain she had endured. “Shhh” I whispered back to her.I traced kisses all over her body, slowly, and holding on to her hips. Those hips. I would let them move, in time. I made my way down her body till I got between her legs. I buried my face in there and took a deep breath. The smell of her arousal drove me nuts and I could feel my erection grow in my pants. My tongue immediately went to work. Licking and sucking at her mound. I could feel her shaking beneath me and it made me happy. I slipped one finger into her opening and heard her let out a loud moan, I slipped in the second finger and let go of her hips. She was thrusting against my fingers now, my thumb once again found her c
ARIANNA’S POV “Alex, you did it! It’s beautiful.” I told her as we stood in the clearing. “You should see it at night, with the lights lit.” She said. “Two days away now. How are you freeling?” The smile that covered her face was infectious. I didn’t realize I was smiling too. “It feels like a lucid dream. A good one.” She explained.“Well, it’s not a dream.” I told her. “There you two are. Your parents have arrived.” Dave announced as he walked into the clearing. I watched Alex subconsciously gravitate into his arms. There was no thought behind it. Her body just moved. I loved that they had found each other. In the midst of all the crazy, something beautiful came out of it. “Where are they?” Alex asked Dave.“Luciano is keeping them busy in the big house. They came with the mystic moon’s new Alpha, Dylan.” Dave explained. “That still feels weird to hear. Alpha Dylan and the mystic moon. Thank the goddess for that.” I shuddered. Alex squeezed my hand for a brief second befor
ARIANNA’S POVLuciano took my hand in his and we walked off into the field. I had no idea where we were but I wondered who owned this place. No way, It was just a wild field. Someone definitely took care of it. There were wild flowers around, two trees apart from each other. But the grass was not wild. From the beginning to the end of the field the grass was cut to the same length. It had this feel of a wild place but at the same time, I could see the intentionality behind it. I watched Luciano spread a blanket on the grass and place the basket to the side. He stretched out his hand for me. I took it and he led me to sit on the blanket. I had never seen this blanket before, so I wondered where he got it. “So, what did the Chef pack us?” I asked. “Chef didn’t pack it.” He answered a little annoyed. “I was just teasing.” I told him. “I know. And I told Estell what to pack. So it was partly me.” He said, sulking. I giggled at his face. He reminded me of a toddler who wasn’t gett
LUCIANO’S POV“Good for Dylan.” I muttered. “Good for the mystic moon. Good for us.” Dave replied. I nodded at him. “Would you mind inviting him to the ceremony? Some of the pack is going to be here anyway.” I asked.“Of course. I was only trying to keep Carter out. Dylan is good. I think he and Alex used to be friends before he left the pack.” “Sounds good. Anything from the other Alphas?” “Just the usual. Nothing about us or Arianna though…” he looked like he had something else to say but could not decide. “What is it?” “Collin was trying to stir some of the others but they shut him down.” Dave explained.“Can someone do the rest of us a favour and challenge him already? By the moon! It’s always something with him.” I said, frustrated.“He’ll be out soon. Without an external factor to distract his pack, they will start to realise what a terrible Alpha he is.” “That may be true, but I doubt it’ll be that easy. He lets them get away with a lot of truancy. This year alone, more
ARIANNA’S POV“Did you know that Ciara was changing the natural state of your forest?” I asked Luciano.We were sitting by the kitchen Island, eating a bowl of microwaved lasagna. I was eating anyway, Luciano was just keeping me company. He had a confused look on his face that told me he had no idea that Alex was planting flowers in his forest. I giggled before explaining to him. “She says its too green and needs other colors to pop.” I explained. “Of course it needs other colors.” We both laughed at the way he said that. It was so playful and almost like saying why didn’t he think of it. “How was your fitting. Can I see your dress?” He asked. “Sure. It’s up in my room.” I said. I could see the very minute flicker in his eyes. If I had blinked I would have missed it. And if I had not noticed it a few times before I would have sworn I imagined it. “What’s wrong?” I finally asked him. “What do you mean?” “Just now. When I said you could see my dress. There was this … I can’t exp
CIARA’S POVHow would I explain to Dylan that I wasn’t welcome at the Ice claw pack? The last thing I wanted was him associating me with Carter’s tyranny. It was bad enough that everyone knew we were together. We were together. The thought took me by surprise. I knew we were done but I had not said it out loud. He was sick and dying. The last thing I wanted was to become his nurse and in extension, the punching bag for all his pain. I would make up an excuse to not go. He had his beta. From what he said, it would be no more than two days. Just a formality. There was actually no need for me to be there. The environment around the pack had been light and welcoming. Everyone who left with Dylan during the plague was back. Families were happy and no one even spoke of Carter. It was almost like he didn’t exist. But he did.I walked by his house for what seemed like the hundredth time in as many days. I knocked but there was no answer. He had locked his door days ago. His door was never
CIARA’S POVI knew Carter was weak but I at least expected a fight. Watching him writhing on the floor with drool running out of his mouth was just embarrassing.He could not even get through his change let alone fight. Everyone who gathered to watch didn’t seem to understand what was happening. “Is that part of it? “What the fuck is happening?”“Can he stand?” I heard these questions randomly from the crowd. This was beyond bad for Carter. If he couldn’t even turn, how did he plan to survive? It actually explained why he was absent during the full moon. Dylan walked up to Carter’s shivering body and placed one leg on top of him, signaling that the fight was done. If we could call it a fight. Dylan standing with Carter beneath his feet was the signal everyone needed to stop feeling sorry for Carter. The screams of joy were deafening. It was like years of pent up frustration could finally be let out. I ran inside Carter’s house to grab blankets. When I got back outside, old man M
CARTER’S POVI looked at my reflection in the full length mirror. I looked like I was hexed. Considering I had no idea what Luciano stabbed me with, I guess I could be hexed. Hexes were the worst, it was also George’s best guess. If he was right then there was no way out of this for me. I would walk a slow pain filled journey to my death. Curse Nadia. What did I ever do to her for her to do this to me? Not only did she tell other witches not to help me, if this was really a hex then it would not matter who wanted to help. Only the witch who places the hex can remove it. I had been in so much pain lately, I actually tried calling her. All my calls went straight to voicemail.In hindsight, leaving threats on her voicemail may not have been the best approach. I did leave an apology, but she still has not called back. I would find a way, I was not going to go down like this. “Max!” I called out. He ran in seconds later. “Any idea where Ciara has been since yesterday?” I asked him.