Selena POV:
Icy cold winds surrounded me as I ran along a dark path. It was lined with tall, skeletal trees on both sides. Branches that looked like long, pale, spindly arms with clawed hands reached forward with the intent of capturing me as I tried to escape their grasp. I yelled for help, but my voice came out as a strangled, warbling noise that was quickly drowned out by the howling voices of the trees.
All I could do was run.
I thought that if I stayed on the path and did not allow the branches to touch me, I would make it to safety.
Up ahead, along the path, a saw a tall figure with its back to me. It stood perfectly still as the trees thrashed in the wind, waving their arms around it, not even acknowledging the figure standing stoically. The light was so dim that it took me a moment to realize that it was Duncan.
A glimmer of hope moved through me as I knew that if I reached him, I would be safe.
“Duncan!” I attempted
Selena POV:He had been quiet in this meeting until that moment. His simple but firm answer sent another chill down my spine. I could feel Duncan’s worry as well, making my stomach turn with unease. “The Magic Eater will not be satisfied until it has devoured all the element energy that exists. It may be attacking more powerful packs now but it will keep going until everything is gone,” Argon continued. Murmurs of apprehension broke the silence following Argon’s explanation. My nerves kept rising, spurring on my fear for this Magic Eater. Would I have been sitting duck if I were still wandering? Or would my blocked magic have kept me safe? “What plan do you have in mind?” Duncan asked to explain. The talking stopped as Lamont and Argon turned their heads in our direction. “Our plan will need the wolves and the witches to work together,” Lamont started, exchanging the map of the world with
Selena POV:After we went back to the house, the weekend felt like someone pushed the fast-forward button. Bed. Breakfast. Repeating the lessons with the wolf cubs. Reading. Another lesson in shifting with Duncan. Reading. Dinner. Bed. Even Sunday’s dinner with Meredith and Argon felt like I was watching it on television rather than actually partaking in the meal. There were moments when things moved so slowly and others where the scene sped up to double-time. All that I perceived of that meal was that it was tense the entire time. Silverware clanked against dishes, the food was hot, and the conversation was cold. It was with great relief that Meredith and Argon left shortly after dinner. None of us were comfortable during the meal, even though everyone wore amiable masks that said otherwise. The whole meal felt false from the start. There was too much history between everyone. I was certain that everyone’s thoughts were foc
Selena POV:After practicing with the wolves that morning, Duncan informed me that my identification was ready. It had been fast-tracked and I needed to sign the release forms and get them together. Returning to civilization was something I had pushed to the back of my mind during the past few weeks. I hadn’t thought about what it would mean to go back to that office mated after vehemently saying that we were not mated. To integrate myself back to the system that Duncan had prepared for me in advance It was with a bit of a shock that, as Duncan pulled his car into the parking lot of the diner, I realized that exactly I would be facing. People seemed to stare as we paced. Fingers pointed and heads leaned together in private conversation. Conversation that I was certain was about what happened between Duncan and me.I had dealt with so much in the past week and was facing things that could mean destruction for the whole residing population, but this l
Selena POV:Lamont looked between us in amusement then turned his head to speak to Meredith, who was standing a few steps behind him. “Excellent, their bond is moving along faster than expected,” he commented, satisfied. Test after test.“I will be in the study if you need my assistance,” Meredith said, giving both Duncan and me a nod before leaving us with Lamont. “So,” Lamont began, clasping his hand together as she addressed us with an excited smile.“Alpha Duncan, will you be joining us today?” he asked. “Yes,” Duncan responded contritely. “I will be overseeing the training today. I will see the progress for a few days before I return to pack business.”“Understood. Alpha, I suggest you take a seat and watch as I work with Selena.”I gave Duncan a reassuring look that I would be okay. He walked over to the small table on the side of the p
Selena POV:“I am so sorry. Here, let me take a look,” I asked him. “I know Ed has some burn cream in the kit. Maybe it can help.”“Selena, I am fine. I will just run it under cold water,” Duncan grumbled as he stood in front of the kitchen sink in the house, with his arm under the water. I tried to get a look at the damage that I had inflicted on him during the lesson, but he was being the strong alpha male and kept maneuvering his body to block my sight. His pain was fading but his irritation grew with each second. I knew without a doubt that I deserved it. He had warned me of the type of lesson that I was facing. I should have tried harder to keep my cool. “I am so sorry,” I said again. “Elemental power caused the burn, you need to get it checked out by Ed quickly. Please.”When I felt his pain during the lesson, it had scared me. Lamont had indeed continued his subtle twist of words
Selena POV:The surrounding area was completely shrouded in a gloomy mist as the sun decided to hide behind the masses of grey clouds the next day. It was as if the weather was privy to my thoughts and mimicked them for the world to see. I had felt unease after the phone conversation Duncan had telling us to meet at the location of the trap. The feeling had followed me through the rest of the evening and throughout the day as I trained. Along with the uneasiness, an odd certainty had taken up space within me. I suddenly knew my purpose of being in this place, being mated to Duncan. It seemed like I was living a strange destiny with people I have known for a very short but crucial period of time. I was connected to them by some twist of fate or the plans of a higher power, in their opinion. But this knowledge was making my head spin, making me wish I was elsewhere. Was it wrong of me to wish this and want to be removed from the responsibility? The expecta
Selena POV:Entering through the narrow opening of the cave was treacherous. The ground was slick with wet rocks and plant life and the lighting was extremely poor. The ranger was a few steps in front of me with the flashlight that gave off just enough light to guide us along the dark passageway, but it didn’t show every nuance that could be a potential concussion risk. I put my hands on either side of me as I moved along the tunnel. I felt tingles of charged Earth energy along my fingertips as they grazed the damp, smooth texture of the rock walls. It was getting stronger with each step I took. I could hear voices talking up ahead. Coming through the bend in the path, a crevice of light appeared a few steps ahead of us. Seconds later, we passed through another opening to our right and stepped into a huge cave. I stopped in amazement a few feet inside the doorway. I was conscious of the others standing at the center of the room, but my eyes were drawn to
Selena POV:“Let’s go out,” Argon said finally to the group, giving no apology for the private conversation, and turned towards the exit. Lamont gave me a quick look that showed that he was displeased. Some of the others had the same expression but there was no malice behind theirs, more of perplexity. Yes, I had made a mess. Duncan wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him. I placed my cheek against his chest, stiffening myself against letting his emotions, most likely expressing disappointment in my actions. I was disappointed in my actions. Could I not get anything right these days? Should I even be counted on to work with magic?“Shit,” I whispered against Duncan’s jacket, fisting the material in my hands. “Stop it. Stop thinking like that,” he said smoothly, gently rubbing his hand up and down my back. “I messed it up again,” I muttered.&ld