VioletI hate admitting that I need help from Phoenix Black.I hate how freaking attractive that he is.I hate that I want to trust him.I hate that Selene wants me to trust him because of the damn mate bond.Do you know how hard it is to figure out the best course of action for my future when I’m working with the enemy and the damn mate bond causes a blind spot?Phoenix looks at me, his dark brown hair has loose strands that fall over his eyebrows and make it hard to see his eyes. He has a cheeky grin as he asks me, “How can I assist you?”My eyes flicker around the glen, I don’t want to just stare at him it makes things feel too intimate, too real. If I was honest with myself then I’d admit that it terrified me. Being in his presence unnerves me lik
VioletI run as fast as I can back to the Renegade Pack and try to be mindful of my surroundings. I’m sure Phoenix pieced together that I’m staying at the Renegade Pack and although I think I can trust him, I can’t help but be mindful of anyone who might follow me.I sneak back to the pack house, careful to make sure no guards noticed me. The last thing I need is for them to report back to my Uncle saying that I’m being suspicious. I get to my room and although all I want to do is lay down, I know that I’m probably covered in dirt and I should shower before doing anything else. I also don’t want to risk anyone catching Phoenix’s faint scent that might be on me.The thought of his scent being on me sends butterflies swarming through my stomach. Selene is excited by the thought of me finally opening up to our mate. I still have a lot of reservations, but I don’t have the heart to shoot her down so fast. I rush through my shower so that I can lie in bed to get some rest. I doubt anyone
VioletBy the time I finally get back to my room the sun is already setting. I turn on an alarm so I can get a small nap before I sneak out to meet up with Phoenix again.Today was just completely and totally draining. Magnolia hardly spoke to me outside of criticizing my form during training and telling me that I still have a lot of work to do. Honestly, I didn’t realize how much she knew. She’s always seemed so… prissy that I never really thought about her being a good fighter.But she is and on a day like today when all she’s trying to do is distract herself, she zeroed her attention in on me and made me work hard. Thankfully, no one suspected anything about me being out last night, so I must not have looked or acted as exhausted as I felt.When my alarm goes off I grab a couple of water bottles and a candy bar to bring to Phoenix. I quickly sneak out of my room and start on my search to find him again. I assume that he’s still in the same spot, but I’m more cautious this time as I
VioletMy ears are ringing and I can’t tear my eyes away from Phoenix’s gaze. His eyes move over my face, waiting for my reaction. He’s worried and I am too, because this feels like a trap.I lick over my chapped lips before I ask in a feather-soft voice, “What do you mean my mother is alive?”“Your mom and my mom are hidden in the Black Night Pack. I wasn’t supposed to know about either of them. My dad told us that our mother ran away, but it turns out he kept her hidden from us just to torment her. Your mom… she was or well is, his best kept secret. The only reason I know she’s alive is because Beatrix got attacked. The attackers were after my dad, but when they found his precious little girl that was so vulnerable…” He swallows the lump forming in his throat as he continues, “She was on the verge of death, I remember running behind him as he rushed through the series of locked doors because I refused to let my sister be without me when she was in so much pain. We got where you mom
VioletI get back to the Renegade Pack and it’s still night. It’s hours before the sun will rise, but I know there’s no way that I’ll be able to get any sleep. My mom is alive.The words still go through my head on repeat and I still feel like I’m in disbelief over the realization. She’s alive and doing well, or as well as she can be in captivity. Taking Xavier down is more crucial than ever, but I need to make sure my mom remains safe. I need to make sure nothing will happen to her if I kill him. Like… what if he has some way that would kill her if he died?Even thinking that sounds like I’m insane, but it’s one of the many fears I have running through my veins. Lying on my bed doing nothing just makes me feel worse. My body is itching to move, to come up with a plan and to get my mom out of the Black Night Pack, now. But in order to get there I’m going to need some help.I want to talk to Magnolia, but depending on her mood that might not go over well. The only other person I could
VioletIt doesn’t take too long to get to Cora’s house. For the most part, the drive was spent in silence, or well not silence, we listened to Charlie’s choice of music the whole drive there. I didn’t mind, he has good taste as we primarily listened to rock, punk rock, and the very occasional country. Honestly, I would’ve listened to songs meant for toddlers if it meant seeing him smile. By the time we get to Cora’s house it’s after lunch time and neither of us have eaten. Cora is out in her garden like she always is at this time and she stands up with a furrowed brow as she watches our car approach. Cora doesn’t get visitors often, and it’s even more rare for them to be in a vehicle. A small part of me feels bad for scaring her, but I was in such a rush to get here I forgot to tell her I was coming. She wipes the dirt from her hands as we park and she asks, “Why’d you come in a car, Vi?”Charlie gets out of the passenger side and she raises an eyebrow in a questioning manner at me
VioletCora looks over at us and suggests, “Why don’t the two of you get some rest and I’ll get started on dinner and finish the rest of the potions that you’ll need tonight? I’m going to have to do a lot to make sure you’re fully covered, especially since Charlie is joining on your journey and he doesn’t have a wolf yet.”I notice Charlie scrunches up his nose in annoyance. He doesn’t like being babied and wants to be treated the same way as everyone else. But, Cora is right, we’ll need more stuff to help us in order to keep him safe.Cora noticed the annoyed face that he made and she puts her hand on his shoulder as she looks him in the eyes and says, “I know you are a strong and capable young man. But it would be irresponsible of me to know you’re heading into one helluva battle and not provide you with the proper tools to protect yourself.”He gives a half hearted smile and she says, “Go on and get some rest now. I’ll let you know when that chicken pot pie is done cooking.”We bot
VioletWe had chicken pot pie and brownies that night. The smile on Charlie’s face during dinner and after was perfect. Cora spent so much time giving him one-on-one attention, playing games with him, learning about his interests, and I realize this is exactly how she treated me when my parents were taken and I thought they were dead.She tried to keep my mind busy, focused on the things that made me happy, and was always ready to be there as my shoulder to cry one. I appreciate her more than she’ll ever know.But today is a different day. Today, she is focusing on making as many potions as she can for us that she thinks will come in handy and making different elixirs and things that we’ll be able to keep hidden on us.I find it fascinating, but I notice Charlie has trouble keeping up with what she’s doing. Cora seems to notice this as well so she begins to talk to us while she works. She says, “Do the two of you know much about Xavier Black?”Charlie shakes his head no, “I know he’s