Simone wrapped the last bandage around Kane's thigh. "All set," she said. He sighed and Kiera did the same. The whole cleaning was an intense moment and the smell of disinfectant tickled and burned her nostrils. She felt that she had been the one who was being cleaned and treated the entire time. His pain was palpable. Now that he was lying back in bed with his eyes closed and seemingly relaxed, she could be more at ease. "Tea?" Simone asked him. A chuckle left his lips. His forehead was beaded with sweat and his chest moved up and down as he breathed. "Please."Simone placed a hand on Kiera's shoulder and the two of them walked out of the bedroom together. She closed the door on their way out and they crowded the small kitchen. Simone was in charge of making the tea—she knew how Kane liked it—and Kiera watched while rubbing her hands together anxiously. "When do we leave?" she couldn't help but ask. "Kane will want to be stubborn about it," she said, placing a teabag in a small
"So what do you want to talk to me about?" Kiera asked as she neared the bed. Kane shifted a little to the side so that she could sit down. She was curious about what he had to say, especially because he didn’t want his mother to hear it. She groaned as he tried to lift his leg but she assured him that she had enough space to sit down. “I’m fine,” she told him. “It’s about Mikael,” he said. “There’s something about him that I have to tell you. About our last meeting.”Kiera gulped and nodded. “I didn’t realize that they had been following me but I did notice that there was a car behind me that would disappear and reappear occasionally. This was two hundred and twenty or more miles from here. I stopped at the nearest gas station and filled up the extra bottles I had and the car as well. They stopped as well. The windows were tinted so I couldn’t see who was inside but I could smell them. Or not smell but sense. It’s difficult to describe.”Kiera nodded. “It was Mikael?”“Yes,” he s
Kiera shook her head and said, "I'm done with this. Done."Kane sighed and slapped the bed in frustration. "Kiera. I'm just trying to help. Ki? Ki. Where are you going?"She slammed the door behind her. It felt like the whole cabin vibrated. She then remembered Simone but it was too late. She has already slammed the door and made it clear that she and Kane had been in some kind of argument. The worst part was that Simone was standing in the kitchen. Kiera didn't know what to say to her. She looked like she had heard the whole conversation but it could easily be the other way around. She hoped that Simone hadn't heard anything. It was clear that Kane didn't want her to know and explaining her reaction was difficult. There was no reason why she should be trying to defend Mikael, especially after what he did to her. She was pathetic and she hated that her true feelings gave her away. Simone said nothing. She only watched her. Kane called her name again but she ignored him. She really
It was the day of their departure. Kiera woke up feeling refreshed. She had managed to put Mikael aside in her mind and was eagerly looking forward to the move. Their plan was that they wouldn't return to the city but would rent a bungalow in a coastal town that neither of them had any connections to. That would make it harder for Mikael and his group to follow Kane, especially since he would have to buy a plane ticket to visit them if that was what he planned on doing. It would be safer and they'd be in a more sunny area. It would still be cold and swimming would be virtually impossible, but the view was allegedly lovely. Kane showed her the pamphlets.They had their last dinner. Calling it that was wrong but that was what it felt like. Simone made her favorite—beef tenderloin with rosemary roasted potatoes—and it was simply the most delicious meal that she had ever had. The glass of red wine calmed and warmed her. Kane was better and recuperating well. There wasn’t much to complai
Kiera took a moment to observe him.His face hadn't changed at all. She didn't know what she thought she'd see, but this wasn't it. She thought that he'd change in her eyes, that she'd see a different man standing before her. But he was the same Mikael that she fell desperately in love with. He was still handsome and attractive to her. It was pathetic but her heart was beating fast as she beheld him, just as it did all those weeks ago. She folded her arms to protect herself not just from him but from her heart. He took a step toward her and she took another back. She forgot about Kane and Simone sleeping peacefully and unaware inside. Only she and Mikael's existed in a cold and bleak world. He made a sound at the back of his throat. Not a growl but something similar. Something that expressed impatience. "The truth is that I fell in love with you and that shouldn’t have happened,” he began. As expected, her heart skipped a painful beat and her mouth dried up at his words. “I shouldn
Howling. It sounded like howling. While Kiera was trying to make sense of what she was hearing, Simone rushed out carrying an axe that Kiera had never seen before. Simone looked at her with wide eyes before opening her mouth. "Stand away from that door!"She did as she was told. "What's going on?"Kane's door opened. He limped out and glanced at both of them. There was sweat trickling down his face, which she found odd because it wasn't that hot inside the house. Was he feverish? "Ma, are you ready?""Ready as ever," Simone said, holding the handle of the axe with both hands. "Don't you dare try to shift. I can take them.""You haven't done this in a long time," he argued. "I don't want you to get hurt. I'm well. I can shift, nothing's going to happen.""Who're you trying to fool?" she asked. "Look at yourself. You're sweating all over the place. You're not ready. Don't force it, Kane. I mean it."He sniffed the air. "What's that smell?""They're close," Simone said. "Kiera, I want
"He hurt you," Kane remarked when he touched her bleeding upper arm. "You need to get this cleaned. Ma."Simone said, "Let's go back inside."Kiera didn't feel the pain intensely, not yet, but she suspected that it would hurt. Perhaps the pain in her heart was overpowering everything else. There was no other explanation for it. Her heart was in agony, and the more she thought about Mikael and his lies, the worst she felt. She was entirely responsible for what had happened and deserved the injury. "You shouldn't have come outside," Simone said scoldingly. "You should have stayed inside as I told you to!""If I had, both of you could have been killed," she said. "I started this mess, so I can sure as hell help you clean it up. It would help if you stopped treating me like I'm defenseless. I can help.""You didn't die because you got lucky," Kane stated. "He could have bitten your head off. You could have died tonight.""But I didn't," she snarled. She was still dizzy with everything tha
The silence in the cabin was so thick it could be cut with a knife. They were waiting for something, perhaps for Kiera to change her mind. She wouldn't. She swore to herself that she would see it through and that was what she intended to do. She would keep her word. It was ridiculous how they always underestimated her. She hated that she couldn't be taken seriously for once. Kane had his hands on his hips and was staring at the floor. Simone was still in the kitchen. Her tears had dried on her cheeks. Her face felt dry. Nobody wanted to be the first to break the silence. She knew that they would never accept what she said but something had to be done. She couldn't let everyone dictate her life. When did she take control? It was her life and she had to decide what she wanted or didn't want to do. What harm was there in wanting to learn how to defend herself? She was already a part of their world whether she wanted to be in it or not. After they killed Mikael's group, what guaranteed
Kiera sat back in her chair and sighed. The sun was warm, a little too warm, but the one thing she loved about the sun was how it had the capacity of making her forget the cold days. It was almost as if the horrors she endured never even happened. The only reminder that they did was the empty space in her heart that belonged to Kane, and that would forever remain vacant. It took her a long time to feel normal again, even after finding out that Simone and Mikael hadn’t died that day. It was all a big shock to her, and although she had every reason to feel normal, she didn’t. She couldn’t get the image of Celia’s body out of her mind, and it was strange that that was the scene that haunted her the most, apart from the two of them cutting her neck with a knife and leaving behind a scar that she would bear forever. With Simone and Mikael’s help, though, she began feeling better. Leaving town helped. In fact, the change of atmosphere and the drastic improvement of the weather was enough
The hours passed. Kiera was growing more uncomfortable than ever. She didn't know what they wanted from her, not anymore. At first, she thought that they were going to kill her. Now, it felt like they wanted to torture her with the sight of Celia. He kept insisting that it was her fault that the whole thing happened. He didn't do much apart from repeating the same words over and over again. It was torturous. They sky was getting much darker, and soon, she wouldn't be able to see. The sky was moonless and heavy with clouds. The rain stopped, but the night was cool. She knew it would rain again. She could smell it in the air. What were they waiting for?What did they want from her? It was harder not knowing what would happen, she realized that now. If they had told her what the intended to do with her—explicitly—she would know what to expect. But it seemed like they were all crazy. She was surprised that two men managed to cause so much damage. Celia hadn't lifted a finger. She cou
Kiera was in the dark for a long time.Her eyes were hot and heavy with tears. It was bizarre how much things had changed in the space of five minutes. One minute, they were all there; alive and well. The other, they were gone. Simone was gone. She didn't know what happened to her, or where they took the car. She should have acted quicker when she found the man in the shop suspicious. Her own inability to act condemned her. She should have checked Mikael to see if he was alive. She shouldn't have panicked the way she did. Now, it was too late. She didn't know what to think anymore. She was being driven to a place far away without anyone around her that could possibly save her. She thought about it, but her thoughts were as hollow as her. She couldn't hold onto them and attach importance to them. They were just flowing through her like water. She would be at their mercy, and she didn't even know who they were. She suspected that it had to do with the pack Simone destroyed, the DarkWa
It was time to go. They left the next day. Simone was far from recovered, but she insisted that they didn’t have much time left. They had to go. Kiera packed what she could with Mikael’s help, and it was harder to say goodbye to the house she grew up in. She didn’t know how long she would be gone for, but it was unlikely that she would be back anytime soon. The house had traces of Kane wherever she looked, and that was the hardest part. It felt like she was leaving a part of him behind. She didn’t know if Simone felt the same way. If she did, she didn’t show. Her determination to leave overpowered everything else. She looked around, at the pictures and paintings on the wall, and the holes that he made the other night when he put the boards up that were never filled. Her father’s office was impossible to look at. It was no longer her father’s, not in her heart. It belonged to Kane. There was nothing that she could bring with her that would fill the hole of leaving everything behind.
Simone was discharged in the morning, as she expected. A large potion the forest had caught fire. It was all over the news, and all everyone talked about. Kiera felt bad. Of course, she did. They were responsible for the forest fire, which claimed a few innocent lives of the people trying to put it out. To know that they were the ones who caused the whole mess was disheartening, and her heart weighed with guilt. There was a small chance that Celia had escaped. They couldn’t be sure about the others. Mikael mentioned that there was no chance that she escaped, and that was a relief for Kiera. She was finally out of their lives, and the worst was behind them. Having Simone and Mikael in the same house was strange. They hadn’t talked to each other when Kiera first brought her, and that was the part that made her grind her teeth. She didn’t know what she thought would happen but the silence was unsettling. They didn’t have to talk, and even if they did, what would they say to each other
They got out safely. All three of them. Simone was hurt, though. Celia had managed to scratch her with her talons before they got out. She was bleeding heavily, so Kiera drove her to the nearest hospital as soon as they reached the car. Mikael was collapsed beside her, but he wasn’t hurt. He was so weak he could barely sit up. Behind them, the fire raged. Simone would be alright. She had been injured and needed stitches and bed rest. Mikael refused to go to the hospital. He insisted that all he needed was a decent meal and some sleep, far away from a hospital. He didn’t have documents, so he couldn’t even be admitted in one. So, once Kiera was sure that Simone would be safe, she drove him to their house. They didn’t speak to each other. There was nothing to say for the time being. Kiera had a lot on her mind. She wanted to fetch Simone as soon as she could. The next morning, preferably. The hospital was too close to the pack house. She wasn’t all that safe there. Once they reache
"Mikael, is that you?" Kiera said. He was silent for a few seconds, and then he answered, "It's me."The first thing she noticed was how weak he sounded, and then she concluded why. He was hanging from the roof. She suddenly remembered what she had been told about him. He would be killed for trying to protect her, and he was being kept as a prisoner and awaited execution in the home of some werewolves. These guys. She never thought about it. It slipped from her mind completely. Her first instinct was to rush to him to help him. He had to get down, that wasn't up for debate. In the dark, she was practically blind. Even if there was a light switch in the barn, they couldn't use it. They would grab unwanted attention. She would have to work in the dark. "What do I do?" she asked him. "Cut me loose.""Simone, I need a knife," she said, trying to reach the rope above his head. She couldn't reach for it even when she stood on the tips of her toes. It was making her desperate. "I'll do
The day went by slowly, too slowly. Kiera was stiff from having to sit in the car for so many hours. Simone was adamant. She didn't want to leave, and Kiera wouldn't waste her time in trying to convince her to leave the front of the building. They were running out of time, and they didn't have a better plan. So they were forced to stay. When the day was over, Kiera could hardly move. Her anxiety was making matters worse, but she managed to sit up when people started trickling out of the building. Their eyes were wide and searching every face that walked out. They were looking for the man responsible for Kane's death. They couldn't lose him, or all their efforts would have been for nothing. That was worse to Kiera than having to fight the man. "There," Simone said, breaking the silence. It was the first word that she said in hours. Her voice was surprisingly clear.He began crossing the street, and in a few steps, he would disappear around the bend. Where was he going? They had to k
Simone was thoughtful for the rest of the day. Kiera had no choice but to wait for what she was going to say. A decision had to be made, and quickly, or they'd lose their advantage. News about the dead werewolf would spread soon, and then they'd all know that Simone was after the wolves who had been involved in Kane's death. If that happened, they would go into hiding, and finding them would be a lot more difficult. Simone remained silent, so Kiera couldn't do anything else but wait. Long periods of silence made her think about Kane all of the time. She didn’t know what else to do. The current situation was impeding her from doing anything else, and it was hard to imagine that a few months prior, she was concerned about not finishing her work. She forgot all about being an editor. If they placed a manuscript in front of her, she wouldn’t know what to do. But she wasn’t the only one who changed drastically. She couldn’t recognize Simone on most days. The sweet but tough woman was r