The next day went by fast. There seemed to be a bustle of activity even though it was only a conference. One they weren’t even hosting. I realized just how secluded these ranked members were from even those in their own pack. My thoughts strayed to the constant activity of the packhouse at Blood Moon, how it was open to all, and how you could always find something to do in the great hall. But here… besides some visitors and, of course, the upcoming trials, the ranked members isolated themselves from everyone. I didn’t understand it.I waited for him in the library, absentmindedly flipping through a book that told the heroic tales of the previous Alphas of Black River that guarded their stolen land against the evil intruders, even though they started as intruders. A conqueror's tale, I snorted, slamming it shut. I wondered how many of these books actually told an unbiased account, but I doubted many, at any of the packs, did. I felt him edge closer. I could hear his soft steps on the
The room quieted as I walked in. I wasn’t entirely sure why, but it was the desired effect. That’s why I came late. If I only had a few moments, I needed as many eyes on me as I could. But would they recognize me? I changed in the past four years as any child would, but everyone also thought I was dead. I wasn’t on anyone’s radar anymore. I didn’t look for them as I walked across the room. I didn’t take in the surroundings either. I focused on slipping into that place I used to go when I trained, where the only thing that mattered was my next move, where nerves had no place. I picked a point to stare at on the wall across from me. A large window with the stars twinkling beyond despite the warm glow of the party within. I learned early enough that if you walked somewhere with enough confidence, people would move out of your way. And they did. I smelled some food near enough and changed direction to give me something to do, an end goal, instead of just walking into a wall. Before I c
“Yes.” I looked up at him, but I couldn’t remember his name. “I’m sorry, you feel familiar, but I cannot place you.” “Samuel, now the Alpha of the Crescent Ridge Pack.”“Alpha.” I widened my eyes and bowed my head.“We would play kings and knights when my parents came for meetings. This was years ago.” The memory untucked something latched onto the back of my mind, where I tried to keep my thoughts blurry. “You wouldn’t let me play with your dragons, though.” He laughed. The memory surfaced, and it into something real and fucking painful. I clutched at my stomach and cursed myself for wincing. “Sam,” I breathed, pushing forward looking up at him. “I-I forgot.” “I thought you were dead.” He lowered his voice and looked around. “Where have you been?” “Black- er- Blood forest,” I started to explain, Sam’s face darkened. “They saved me,” I said innocently. “Simone,” he said again. “What happened? After the challenge, we heard everyone was dead once your father wouldn’t back down after
Ezra and I paused in front of Alpha Alpha Raymond and Luna Addison on the way out. “Thank you for arranging a ride home,” I said, “this evening has been lovely, but it is tiring.” My shoulders hunched inward.“Yes, yes,” The Luna waved me off. “And thank you for the invitation, Hunter,” I said to him over my shoulder. “It was too kind.” I half-wanted Ezra to stay here to assess and monitor the situation. To be my eyes and ears here. I was itching to know what would be said after I left. That would be the smart thing to do. But an overwhelming part of me, I couldn’t name, wanted the few minutes alone with him in the car. I needed a few moments to be myself, to drop the mask, and feel safe. I hoped I wasn’t risking everything for my own selfishness.Ezra guided me out of the room and lowered his voice, “You were right; that woman isn’t a wolf.”I wasn’t that surprised. I knew something was off. “What is she?”Ezra glanced around, making sure we were fully alone. “A werecat,” he whispe
“Here,” Ezra said, sliding something soft and familiar into my hands. My cheeks were flushed, and I forced myself to look at what he handed me. It was a dark leather book that was titled ‘The History of The Betas of Black River.”I recognized this book from the library; it never seemed important enough to even skim through, though. I raised a brow at him, waiting for him to explain.“I took out the text, horribly boring thing.” Half of his mouth tugged up through that faint scar I wanted to kiss. “I replaced it with blank pages. If we need to communicate, if something happens, and I won’t be able to see you.” He swallowed. “We can use this to correspond as a backup.”I nodded. I hated the thought that I wouldn’t be able to see him every day, even in passing. I grew to love seeing him in the library, and before I let myself fully realize, I craved that time spent with him, and replayed it at night when I fell asleep. But who knew what was to come after my stunt tonight? I wouldn’t be
I spent the day elated, replaying the conversations Ezra and I had. He affected me in ways I didn’t understand. He was the closest thing to a friend I had in years. But after that kiss… everything shifted. It was blatantly obvious to me now that everything I felt for him was attraction before after I got over the initial fear and anger toward him, but even then, I probably wanted him. I couldn’t describe it. It was past how beautiful he was in his imperfections, how stable he was; he was there, and he was flawed, and he, I think he would understand. I couldn’t put my finger on one thing, it was a culmination of everything, of who he was. It was an entirely new feeling for me, and I reveled in it. It chased away the anger; it kept it at bay more than I could, locking it away. This was raw and real and… Sparkly? - My wolf suggested, and I smiled.I wouldn’t put it like that, but….. Yes. I had to actively focus on even mundane tasks, or else I would have spent the entire day thinking
The Luna returned that night in a huff and called me to her office. She was annoyed she missed the other parties even though she was bored because of the meetings and blamed me for cutting her time short, claiming she was sent to ‘check on me’. I wasn’t sure if she just wanted someone to vent at, so I listened, nodded, and apologized profusely for my mistake. If they thought to send someone to watch over me, they chose the worst one. I really doubted she would pay me any interest at all, but they probably thought the idea of a ranked member here would instill fear in me. She poured a glass of vodka and trailed on about the Alpha Trials, but nothing of note until the lead Omega knocked on the door red-faced and frazzled, and I was dismissed. The next day, the Alpha and the brothers returned. I kept out of their way, only seeing them at dinner. Luna Natalie already seemed exhausted by the few decisions she had to make for the menus and guest arrangements, but that was all she had to
“I’m coming,” I called. I tucked the books away together on a shelf and opened the library door. A warrior stood outside, a different one than who escorted me. Interesting. “The Alpha is looking for you,” he stated. “Oh, of course, I lost track of time.” I smiled sheepishly, brushing off my skirts. The warrior seemed nervous, looking around and fidgeting even though he stood straight. He took me a backward way that led to the kitchens. I assumed he was under orders to have me not seen.Alpha Raymond stood outside the main doors; he looked surprised to see me. “Alpha,” I said, bowing my head. “Where have you been?” he demanded, glancing at the warrior. “The library.” I looked at him, confused. “I lost track of time. Is there somewhere I was supposed to be?” I grabbed the fabric of my dress. “I thought I was supposed to be making myself scare,” I repeated his words back to him. “Oh, yes, you are. I just wanted to ensure you were accounted for,” he said. “And okay,” he added as if
Nova and I unsealed the documents we found in the makeshift wall between our sacred areas. We uncovered what we expected, and a lot more—a whole lot more. It was the werecats history, written and drawn. Their history was passed through stories, word of mouth around campfires of temporary homes. Now, they had their homes restored and their true history remembered. “I feel as if so many have lived to come back here; it is a heavy burden to carry. That it is me who has led them back. Especially after so many have passed living an in-between life.” Nova’s lips pressed together, her golden eyes glassy. “I feel almost guilty, no, not guilt.” She pursed her lips. “Sad, mournful, I think.”“About?” “The fact we never settled elsewhere. I mean, we tried, but it felt wrong, something about being in one place for too long; it physically started to make my skin crawl, as if something was begging me, us, to move.” She looked to the ceiling and our lands above. “Here…this is the first time I hav
Ezra helped me meld the scattered pieces of myself. He gave me some new ones from himself that he would never ask back, and I forged some from who we were together.I had the hardest trouble sorting the pieces of what I used to be, what I was now, and what I could have been. I spent so much time trying to mold a persona, so much time perfecting it; when it was gone, it was both freeing and terrifying.Because I did not expect to have to learn who I was underneath it, the raw, confused, jumbled bits that were left of me.And I could not mesh them together.Was there a part of me that wanted to k.ill? It was an instinct now to start plotting the deaths of all the Alphas who said no to me during the challenge. I couldn’t understand if that was an instinct part of me or something I learned, that I created, or maybe someone else created in me.It was a jarring and difficult thing to try to piece yourself together from fragments, and I would only wish it on my enemies. Because it left me
Nova and I were working on rebuilding both of our respective packs. Which ended up being a lot of paperwork. So much paperwork. She was fine keeping this packhouse standing, and us to use it temporarily as she had no personal interest in it.As the days went on I could sense her anxiety.“It is time,” she stated, standing in the Alpha’s office across from me, her disdain and agitation from being here was palpable. “I cannot wait any longer.”I nodded. She glanced at Ezra sitting next to me who only replied, “I will be here if you need.” He nodded at us both.I followed Nova out of the packhouse, through the back lawn. Barely into the treeline stood a semi-cirlce of werecats.They eyed me, most with wariness, some with curiosity, and a few with possible gratefulness. Nova told me to expect as much, they did not know me or understand why I was standing at her side, the first wolf, well, the first wolf they knew of entering their sacred land before them. I knew they appreciated me restor
That attraction, that pull, snapped together and became a tangible thing tying us together—binding and unyielding.I looked down as if I could see it, and Ezra did the same. He reached for my hand, and sparks jolted through me. His scent was consuming, powerful, a drug. I blinked at him, the sensations overwhelming. “Mates?” I asked both him and Aksala.Did you know? - I asked only my wolf.No - she responded - I felt connected to his wolf, I felt as if I could trust them, I knew I could immediately. But I did not know they were our mates. Ezra held a hand up, and I placed my palm against his. Those sparks and tingles danced around them and through me. “You are my undoing, Simone," Ezra Rumbled, his mismatched eyes looking at our hands. "Tied forever together.”Forever suddenly felt like not long enough.He pulled me against his warm chest and encircled me in his arms. I hovered between sleep and wake in a state made of pure buttery golden contentedness, a state I wish I could stay
His hand came to the nape of neck, fisting my hair as he pulled me to him. I gasped into his mouth, our lips tangled with each other as I was led to the bed, until I fell back onto it. He did not remove his lips from mine as his hands untucked my shirt and roamed up my body. There was a rip and a rush of air against my heated skin, alerting me that I was bare under him, my shirt and bra torn. That thought was ripped away as his palm caressed my breasts, his callused thumb running over my nipples.He groaned into my mouth and settled himself between my legs; heat radiated through both our pants.“Is this okay?” he asked, his breath short.“I am yours,” I told him. “Touch me,” I demanded.And he did. His touches were claiming yet soft, searching yet hungry. There was a carnal need wrapped in innate affection. I was addicted to it. I thrust my hips against him, grinding against his hardness as warmth and desire pooled between my legs. His lips were ripped from mine. My mouth opened in
Nolan stood on the other side of the door looking apologetic. “The remaining Alpha and Lunas are set to take off soon,” he told me. “Thank you, give me a minute?” I asked and he nodded rubbing the back of his neck. “Nolan,” I explained to Ezra, who was propped on an arm his muscles tense. “I need to get ready the others are leaving.”Ezra nodded and followed me in. We took a bit longer than I originally planned. He joined me in the shower and although we did not touch each other with our fingers, we took turns helping each other bathe. It felt strange at first, in a way that was unfamiliar but not unwelcome. Then, it turned into something more accepting. BLAH BLAHNolan was still waiting in the hallway when we returned and we followed him us all in a tense sort of way. He felt very… formal. Professional - Aksala added.That - I agreed.When we got nearer to the front Nolan whispered back at us, “I told them you would see them off, there were a lot of questions. Some wanted to stay
I awoke to a sky that was turning to dusk. I felt depleted, but in a way that I could live with. My muscles ached, and I could not cry anymore if I tried. Putting them to rest was heartwrenching but incredibly healing, more than I could have thought. It was an honor I did not know I would get to bestow on them. After they were buried, a few words were exchanged between us all; it was a harrowing experience even for those who did not know them personally. A few other Alpha and Lunas had shown, probably to satiate their curiosity. Some stayed, but I did not know who. I could not fault those who could not stomach or accept what they saw.I had no words to express my gratitude to those who stayed, and I was too tired to try. I would always be indebted to them, and one day I would start to repay that. Ezra pulled me against him and I settled against his chest, burying my face into it. It was so strange being able to spend time with him and not hiding; it did not feel real. I wondered if i
When we emerged, I was expecting it to be deep in the night. I was surprised to find it was still afternoon, I felt as if we were there for days. I didn’t know if it were me or if the lands truly seemed brighter, more vivid as if their life was slowly being restored to them. Nova insisted we return after we found some of her lost history, saying it was enough to know that something was waiting for her pack, her own hope reignited. I did have a few things to deal with, things that were, for once, easy to forget. When we returned to my packhouse, Ezra locked eyes with me, standing over his brothers. He made his way to me, searching my eyes and body before he relaxed. “We have not buried anyone, just started to lay them together, to prepare them. I hope that is okay.” I nodded, tears filling my eyes as I saw the bones beyond, together as one pack, honored instead of left as they died, strewn about and ignored as if they were part of the furniture. “They have not gone. They refuse to
I felt entirely spent but renewed. As the powers drained from me, the heaviness lifted, and now, as I lay there depleted, the rush of magic settled around the place, warming me from within. I lay down on the cool stone and let it wash over me.It was a sense of calm I could not ever remember feeling.After a while Nova spoke, “It was said our lands were connected between the pools.” She was speaking to me as much as she was speaking life into the caverns. I glanced at her to see she was lying near me, staring at the ceiling where the muted blue lights danced across, making waves in their wake.I looked around the space—my eyes snagged on a bit of mortar that seemed different, a cracked brick, a stone slightly off in color—but nothing stood out to indicate that this place ever connected elsewhere. But there was magic I had seen today I had never thought true, so I wouldn’t debase what she said off logic alone. I looked back up,“I-I—” she choked, seeming to shed something herself. I