CLEO.I stand there, watching. My eyes simply skimmed at the already panicked crowd, I don’t run, I don't even try to move, everyone’s holding their breath and I wonder how long that will take.According to research, one can only hold one’s breath for thirty to ninety seconds, before they inhale again, and when they inhale again, the smoke will be going down their throat.The glass of mimosa feels cold against my grasp, even when people shove me aside, telling me to run. I simply ignore them, I am breathing freely, no doubt, because why else will I remain here and not join the panicked crowd? My eyes turn to look for the couple of the night, Zeke and Aastrid, but it seems like they have joined the running crowd. I see Juniper, she’s looking ravishing tonight, like me, and she’s breathing just fine.“We are going along with the plan.” I had told her this morning that even when her panicked eyes stretched wide, I always wondered how she was so innocent, not wanting to do any of this ba
ZEKE.Damn. I ran along the hall, my chest tightening with every breath, Astrid didn’t stop. And, I am worried. The smoke seems to have flushed away, the town people have already flooded out of the pack-house, to their respective houses.“Astrid.” I say finally to her when we reach the main hall. She stares around with a flushed face, damn, the moment she said she wanted to help, something swelled up in me. She wanted to help.For a while, I was worried, worried that she would do something, and now seeing her face made me glad.But, that traitor, Thane. How dare he do this to everyone? Logan appears from behind; he has already taken off his gray suit shirt, and is now tugging at the edge of his tie. His brown hair is splattered across his face from minutes of running.“Where’s Thane?” I grind my teeth together, feeling the urge to smash that old man’s face, why would he do such a thing?“I don’t know, probably somewhere hiding, Gus is looking for me, the pack members are already safe
ASTRID.One day later,‘One!’‘Two!’‘Three!’My sword slashes into the air, the metallic sound making contact with the cool breeze. I take a step forward, before turning the sword.I pant heavily when I drop it down on the cold grass.‘Just like that.’ I say to my wolf, wiping away the piece of sweat that looms over my forehead. My back feels heavy; I could use water right now. The hot sun rains on my face. I have been in the private courtyard for hours now, trying to increase my combat skills and my Luna powers.The smoke incident that happened just a day ago is still fresh in my mind, I have pulled out a list of possible suspects, and I feel like I shouldn’t get involved in all of this mess, it isn’t my problem. Right? But, still, I am dedicated to this pack. I gave my oath to protect it at all cost, even if it means laying down myself. I have got to keep practicing. I pick up the sword again, but then, it combusts through me.Another vision.An image plays in my eyes, making m
ZEKE.Council meeting going fine, Thane standing, serving his punishment, Logan and I already informed him his time was ticking by, he had one more day to come up with his possible suspect, else we are going to look through the books for his punishment.The woman named Diva, the Gamma’s daughter, won’t ever stop running her mouth about a new security system she thinks will boom, her father just staring at her in fascination. No wonder Preston has taken an interest in her.Everything moves on boringly, I want to slip away, then the door opens, and she walks in, squishing all the sanity I had left. Her confused brows met with mine, her sharp golden flecks staring at me boldly.It’s hard to concentrate whenever she’s around. They are talking, mostly yelling at her. Anger consumes me, she’s not an outsider at all, and she has fucking alpha bloodline running through her veins.She has every right to be here, to be in here. So I let her join the council, everyone’s surprised face meets mine
ASTRID.It happens in slow motion. Zeke yelled out my name frantically, the arrow touching me. Pain. Then pain, and more pain, I don’t know when I am falling, huge protective hands catch me before I fall.“Astrid, come on. You are fading, your wolf is getting weak.” He says hurriedly, I can hear the panic in his voice but it’s going distant, as though everything is jumbling, and I am sinking.Aya fights to hold on, I can feel every bit of her strength, but wolfsbane is traveling faster into my system. My eyes are growing dizzy, energy is zapping out of me.“Hold on. We are getting you to the hospital right now, just hold on, you are going to be okay.” I can barely make out the words he’s saying, I am fighting for survival, trying my best not to sink in, but it’s hard to hold on.I can barely see, my body is slumped against broad shoulders, they feel so warm, but my body feels cold, I know this because of the wolfsbane.I try to hold on, to crawl onto something, but darkness consumes m
LOGAN.Oh goddess, the wound fucking hurts, but when you are used to all the pain in the world, nothing fazes you anymore, the pain from the arrow blade still hurts, but it’s nothing compared to the pain of my darkness.The only thing that sinks me in, that makes me want to crawl somewhere and escape. I am stuck in this room- thank goddess, it’s not a freaking hospital room, those made me cringe, the smell of stale coffee, and syringes, never a fan of those white rooms.I am in my bedroom; it’s hard to think of what the time is because I am on the bed, not even moving for a bit, rain thunders outside, tiny drops biting at my bedroom window. The white glass from outside flushes with rain water, a bandage is strapped around my shoulder.I try to roll to the other side of the bed, but I winced, fuck that wolfs bane. The attack is still fresh in my mind, the way the arrow skidded into the forest and down into me, it would take a professional shooter to target that well, even I can’t targe
JUNIPER.Her hand smacks my face so roughly, the pain stings my cheek, and tears gathers at my eyes, but I don’t cry.Instead, I stand there, trembling. My hand still clutching my already swollen face, I muster my voice to say something, but it comes out tiny and weak. “I am sorry, mother.”“Nonsense!” She thunders heavily, she pulls at my hair, the pain at my scalp burns hot. “You kissed him. You kissed the Alpha, why did you betray us like that?” Her voice is a mixture of disdain, and tears threaten to fall out more.Because I like him! I kissed him because I like him so much!Everyone looks at me with pure hatred, ‘oh just look at her, she kissed that damn alpha and she liked it.’ I am standing in front of the house in the woods, the same place I came that day, chairs surrounding me. I await my judgment. Certain dark eyes follow mine, Cleo’s hands are placed on her laps, she’s seated like the others, not even saying a word, it’s hard to know what’s running through those eyes.Hatre
ZEKE.The coffee burns the tip of my tongue; I drop it on the table, and slam the paper works- which are not yet signed, my head banging with a headache. I could use some drugs, but I don’t seem in the mood to be shoving medicine down my throat. The work has been piling up and up these past few days.More letters from that unknown sender. Goddess, who is even doing this? My mind is drifting away even when I am in the room, the familiar interior of my office does not seem to faze me. Nothing does. I could go see Logan right now, but dude seems like he’s going to need all the rest he can get, Astrid’s figure pops into my mind. She’s making me go crazy, I see her every time I close my eyes, and I know that this does not have anything to do with us being mates. Some people might be mates, but they might not even be in love. Harsh reality of life. Damn, it’s hard to work whenever I am thinking about her. Inside, I am messed up, and outside, I am just trying to find a reason to be happy,