I could hear it. The screaming. The pain. I wanted to open my eyes to see where it was coming from, but I couldn't move. I was locked in my body, trapped like a caged animal. Hot liquid pooled around me as if I were getting pulled under a thick current. There was no point in fighting the rising levels as my body worked against me, weighing me down to the bottom. It was thick, almost black. And then, I was pulled back. Back to the surface of the crimson river. It swirled around me like a drain, splashing onto my face and temporarily suffocating me until it was suddenly gone. My lungs convulsed in my chest as I heaved, trying to clear them of the residual liquid. The need to hit my chest to assist in the upheaval of the foreign invader to my airways was pushed aside when I couldn't move my limbs. Strong leather bands wrapped around my wrists, holding them to the arms of the chair. The skin beneath them rubbed raw as I squirmed and yanked
The light coming in through the miniature window grew brighter as the morning passed by. Kaylee had gone to the cafeteria with the rest of our block for breakfast, but I stayed behind, still unable to move on my own. I had spent the entire night scraping the plastic end of the toothbrush back and forth along the edge of the bed frame. The lack of sleep mixed with my battered body left me unable to lift myself, let alone walk all the way to get food. At least the restrooms were closer. My eyes had closed, desperate to get some sleep, but my mind was unable to turn off. Even though my body had shut down, I was still able to hear every noise in the otherwise empty block. I was aware of my surroundings, just not a part of them. I was like a comatose patient listening to their loved ones speak but not being able to move or talk back to them. The state of unconsciousness continued until I heard footsteps in the previously empty hallway, and I was awakened by the sound of knuckles connectin
There are very few things in life that make you question everything. I'm not just talking about questioning the college you chose to go to, dating that guy your parents hated, or the job you spontaneously quit. The 'everything' in question... is literally everything. Should I have turned and run inside when a wolf pup came out of the woods and started talking to me? Probably. That should have been my first warning that I wasn't normal. I should have put a stop to it right then and there. No obsessively researching werewolves or tracking them for the next ten years. Definitely no falling in love with a man who shifts into a giant, furry creature… no matter how sweet and caring he is. If I had done that, I sure as hell wouldn't be where I am today. I might have actually had friends, gone off to college in some big city, away from my parents. There would be a dead-end 9-5 job waiting for me that didn't pay me nearly as m
I felt like I was floating as he pulled me into his arms. The blissful feeling of having no pain and no emotions was glorious. For a second, I understood why people chased a high. It was not something I would do or recommend for anyone else to do, but after being in such agony, it felt like a well-deserved win. My head was pressed against Gabriel's warm chest as he held me in a ball tight against him. His heartbeat was music to my ears, like a rhythmic chant for me to give in to the darkness that was creeping in on my mind. I fought against it, not wanting to succumb to the haze. If I did, who was to say I wouldn't wake up right back on my cot, waiting for those sadistic bastards to let us out of our room for breakfast. Maybe they drugged my dinner, finally figuring out I had been purging myself of my pills as soon as I walked away from the nurse's station. This could be a dream, but I'm pretty sure you can't smell people in a dream. So, it either had to be a hallucination from the
Waking up back in Gabriel's room was surreal. I had been drifting in and out of consciousness throughout the night. My mind was still battling with the drugs that had been pumped into the building, and my body struggled to find a comfortable position. In addition to the body aches, I seemed to have been lucky enough to have a hangover. A dim light was cast on the room from the window, steadily getting brighter. My head had its own heartbeat as it throbbed. "Turn it off," I mumbled as I rolled to place my back toward the window and my face into a warm chest. I felt Gabriel move but kept his hands to himself. I snuggled closer, rubbing my cheek against his soft skin, seeking comfort. His arm gently draped over me in a way that made me feel like he was touching me out of obligation and not want. I pulled my head back, my chest and legs still pressed against him, to meet his gaze. The hazel eyes had red surrounding them due to exhaustion, and his shoulders were stiff. He looked uncomfo
The muffled sound of guests stirred me from my sleep later that day. I let out a groan before rolling over to my side and pulling the blanket up and over my head. After breakfast in bed, Gabriel gave me a couple of pain pills and turned on a movie. I barely made it through the opening credits before I passed back out. Not too much time had passed, or else it would hurt a lot more to be on my side since the medicine would have worn off. A bright light beamed in from the opening above my head. The talking grew louder, but I tried to block them out. I wasn't ready to wake up and join reality again. Elena was still out there, hopefully not locked in her room by my parents, but I knew Athena would have taken care of her. There was nothing to stop Elena from leaving unless they resorted to physical restraints. If that were the case, I imagined Athena would have obliterated my parents. "I have ordered you to leave! She needs to rest." Gabriel's voice carried down the hallway and into our
The next day I was feeling great. My sister had come to visit me the night before and ended up staying for dinner. She had been living with the pack since the incident with our parents and had cut them out of her life. Her phone was left behind with a note explaining that she was leaving, and she hoped they got the help they needed. The irony of that gave me a good laugh. Picturing them going to therapy was a thought I would hold onto for a bad day when I needed something to make me smile. I knew it was healthy for couples to see a counselor throughout their relationship, even if it was only a few times, but the thought of Gabriel and I sitting in that familiar position again made me tighten with unease. I could only pray that he and I would be able to work out our differences and keep an open channel of communication between us. Besides the day before, when Gabriel wrapped his arms around me and held me close, he hadn't touched me. I knew being injured may h
Gabriel's P.O.V.She was being so difficult.As she glanced over my chair, I watched her chest expand further than before, her breasts fighting against the restraints of her bra, her pulse increased in pace, and her smell… Oh sweet Goddess, her smell!As soon as she asked me if I would sit with her, the room filled with the sweet and addictive scent of her desire. If she didn't look so damn good, just leaning against my desk, I wouldn't be having such a hard time controlling myself. Flashes of her spread out on the surface and then bent over it with her perfectly round ass in the air flickered through my memory, and I stepped back to put some space between the two of us.She wasn't ready for that, no matter how much I wanted it. Since we found her in that hospital, my wolf had been pushing, trying to take control so I could mark her. I wanted to make sure that my claim to her, and hers to me, would never again keep us apart.
Hello Beautiful Readers! I hope you enjoyed Kaylee and Parker's love story. If you did, please don't forget to comment and vote! I read every comment and really appreciate you voting to get my book noticed by others. Which story did you like more: Olivia and Gabriel's? (The Alpha's Girl) Or Kaylee and Parker's? (The Warrior's Woman) I was considering doing Oliver's story. If I did, It would take place after this one. If you are interested in reading Oliver's story, please let me know by leaving a comment! Don't forget to share this book with your friends! I appreciate you all and hope you have an amazing day! UPDATE: Oliver's Story is now out! I will update as often as possible. 'The Wolf's Claim' After Oliver felt the excruciating pain of his mate's death, almost killing him in the process, he left his pack to travel and clear his head. He never expected that he would come across the one person who had caused him so much pain, to begin with, alive and well. Seeing that hi
Five Months Later Kaylee's P.O.V. I let out a groan as I was thrown onto my back for the tenth time today. Parker had been so proud of how quickly I moved up through the training groups, learning how to fight and defend myself. It wasn't until I was up against him that I got to experience firsthand just how incredibly skilled and fluid Parker was. I knew that from other aspects of our relationship, but seeing him fight and sparring against him myself was a different level. 'You need to focus, love,' Parker taunted as he nipped at my butt playfully. I flinched, my wolf rolling back onto her stomach as I glared at him. Part of it wasn't even my fault. How was I supposed to not get distracted by my incredibly attractive mate touching me? 'Let's call it a day,' I said as I shook my fur free of the loose grass. My attempt to saunter up to him failed as my sore muscles made it appear more like a drunken stumble. Parker choked out a laugh before rubbing the side of his wolf up against me
Parker's P.O.V. She made me promise not to drug her again, and while I wasn't wanting to use it, I still had an injection tucked away in my pocket. Her mother was excited to see Kaylee's wolf, but it was obvious that her over-excitement was an attempt to hide her nerves and anxiety about the outcome of the change. Kaylee was a buddle of sore and delicate excitement as she bounced and stumbled into the forest earlier than she needed to. I followed behind her, my arms ready to catch her if she fell, but she would just dance out of reach and laugh before moving deeper into the trees and underbrush. "You know you're going to be a wolf and not a woodland fairy, right?" I laughed as she ran her hand across the trunk of a tree. "I know!" She glared back at me with an adorable smile. "But that's just it. I am going to be a wolf with you." I dashed forward, scooping her up into my arms as she giggled. "I can't wait to see you, run with you, and feel you. I bet you have the softest fur pos
Parker's P.O.V. Over the next week, I watched as Kaylee did her best to stand strong and smile through the discomfort, but I could feel how much pain she was in as her body prepared for the full moon. It was so much worse than last time, and while I didn't like that she was hurting, I also took it as a good thing. To me, it was a sign that her wolf was stronger this time, that she was fighting to get out and ready to meet her human. It had taken less than a week for the Blood Moon Pack to come to their verdict under their pack laws, and all five wolves, the Luna included, were sentenced to death. We stood tall in the crowd as the wolves were brought forward and placed on their knees before their pack as their crimes were read. Alpha Blake had given Kaylee a quick squeeze on one shoulder before moving forward to stand in front of the accused. The smell of silver and wolfs-bane was strong in his system, and I admired that he was strong enough to dose himself to maintain control. A wo
Kaylee's P.O.V. The trip back to the Midnight Pack was bittersweet. Everyone was tense, knowing that Alpha Gabriel would not be happy that we all went on this rescue mission without his permission. Parker made me ride on his back the way home, and his excitement was pouring from his body. I held on tightly as he dipped and dodged around trees, bucking his back up higher than he needed to when he jumped over things. He was like a puppy playing. Every time I made a noise or tightened my grip on him, he would look back at me with his tongue hanging out to the side, and a large wolfish smile stretched across his face. It was adorable, and while my heart was hurting from having to be separated from my mother again after all this time, I couldn't help but smile back at him. Anytime I had seen his wolf out, he was angry or fighting someone. But this time, he was genuinely happy. I was half tempted to tell him to just keep going past our old pack and take me far into the sunset to live a p
Kaylee's P.O.V. The sound of a throat clearing had me reluctantly pulling away from Parker. My eyes glanced over the tensely reuniting Jack and Kate, who were standing close but weren't touching, to see my father standing in the doorway. His bright green eyes and dark brown hair were so similar to the younger man standing next to him, and I sighed in relief at the sight of Oliver standing tall and unharmed. "Don't worry about me. Just focus on your mate." Oliver said as he moved toward us and dropped into one of the leather chairs to my side with the back of one of his hands across his forehead. "Your little brother was just held captive, but whatever." I rolled my eyes with a smile as I shoved his shoulder with my hand. The burn marks were gone from his neck, and the bruising had disappeared from his face. There was a small twinkle in his eye as he sent a wink my way, and I knew he was happy that everything worked out. "Kaylee?" A small voice asked from the door, and my stomach ti
Kaylee's P.O.V. When we walked through the pack land, it was extremely noticeable how different the two packs were. The Earth thrived around the Blood Moon Pack. The grass and moss on the trees were a darker green than what I had been used to seeing at the Midnight Pack, and I couldn't help but take in a deep breath of the clean air. The pack had moved so silently on the moist, plant-rich ground that, had I not seen them, I would not have realized they were even walking with us. I expected to feel some sense of panic as they surrounded us and led us through the collection of houses, but instead, I felt peace. It was something that I hadn't felt in a very long time. I eyed the large house before us with wonder as we were led inside the stone and wood-decorated building. Although, one could argue this was a castle. Surrounded by mountains on both sides, the pack house was a large three-story building where all of the offices, communal kitchen, and game rooms were, as had been expla
Parker's P.O.V. I eyed the two wolves on patrol outside of their dungeons from a distance, watching and waiting to see if they had a pattern in the way they moved and if they were alone. So far, they seemed fairly well trained. While that wasn't an issue for four of us to take on two of them, it would become an issue if they saw us. All it took was one call in their pack link, and their entire fighting force would rain down on us. We wouldn't have the time to get downstairs and unlock Oliver before their reinforcements arrived. It was a huge risk, but we had no choice. 'Scarlett, Hudson, the two of you have the guard on the south side of the entrance. Jack and I will take the one on the north. We need to stay silent and approach from behind. If they get the chance to alert the pack that we're here, it'll all be over.' I said through the pack link, making sure all three of them could hear me as I waited for each one of them to acknowledge my instructions. With confirmation that we w
Kaylee's P.O.V. It only took a minute for a large brown and silver wolf to come barreling through the crowd. He slid to a halt, sending dirt flying as his wolf reached the border. My hands shook as I finally saw my father in front of me. I had heard about him when I was little, but not often. My mother didn't like talking about him too much. She would normally excuse herself after a few minutes and go cry in her bedroom, thinking I didn't notice or hear her. He had left her pregnant with me and then ripped her heart out to go start a family with his true mate. "You're the Alpha?" I questioned, knowing the answer at the way his wolf let out a small whine in my direction. His large paw lifted from the ground before he stomped it back down as if he were trying to tell me to walk over to him. "Your son, Oliver, is currently being held by your Luna. He was collected by your wolves two hours ago at the border. We ask that you demand his release and stop the war against my people in the M