Elise's POVHe dragged me into an infirmary-type room and plonked me on one of the beds. It was a small, thin bit of metal with a paper-thin mattress so worn and stained with blood and sweat and something else that I didn't want to think about. I could see the springs like they were veins on the skin. The springs dug against my body and I looked up at Fredrick in horror.What was he planning on doing to me here? It looked worse than the dungeon like a torture chamber made only so that Fredrick could patch his victims up and start all over again.I watched him carefully as he roamed around the room, and Melanie came closer and closer. Her fingertips glowed a cold blueish light as she smiled, her sadistic expression mirroring Fredrick’s as she stood in front of the bed.“Who’s protecting you, Elsie?” She asked darkly, the light in her hand beginning to fizzle and crack with each passing second.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mumbled stiffly, knowing there was nowhere left
Jackson’s POVWhilst the others were patrolling and caring for the injured, I gave Christian my title as an Alpha until I returned, if I returned… It wasn’t an easy decision to make, giving over that power, but I trusted Christian to do well with the job and it wasn’t much of a choice. Elise needed me and I wasn’t going to let her down, not when I already did.Christian had been by my side since we were children and when I became Alpha, I gave him the title of Beta. A Beta was someone an alpha could trust with everything and anything, and that's exactly what I was doing. I expected Christian to argue a bit, and insist I couldn't go, but he gave me a concerned look and nodded gravely."Get her back, Alpha. I'll hold down the fort but you better come back too."That night by the graves I should’ve held onto her, I never should’ve walked away. I should’ve taken her by the hand and asked her to come back with me so that I could make sure that she was alright and so that we could figure ou
Elise’s POVTrue to their word, they didn’t offer me any pain relief during their so-called ‘operation’. There was nothing to numb the pain or distract me as Melanie sliced into my back, searching for the last damned piece of silver.Many times I tried to get out of those restraints that held me, face down against the bed, but the second I would make a movement for one of the scalpels or even to break my own wrist to try to free myself, Marcus was there with his sadistic glance, smiling with a fearsome, toothy smile before knocking my head against the bedframe making me go dizzy.They wouldn’t let me pass out either, any time I looked like my eyes would flutter shut and give me some relief from my pain, they would splash me with icy water and do whatever they could to keep me awake and conscious.“I’m not done yet,” Melanie taunted in her soft, motherly voice, like she was a mother consoling a child, “Keep still before I hurt you more.”She sliced near the bone in my shoulder and I bi
By the time Melanie and Marcus returned, everything was numb, I could barely see ahead of me or feel my body. It was like I was looking through the eyes of someone else. Poppy had done a number on me, partly out of revenge, partly out of some sadistic streak she'd kept hidden and locked away in the Full Moon pack.“What have you done?” Marcus asked aghast as he looked at me, but I could barely hear him through the light ringing splitting through my skull.The fact that even Marcus was concerned made me smile slightly, at least that’s what I thought I was doing. The three of them were going to be absolutely fucked when Fredrick saw how far they let Poppy take her revenge. “She’s still alive, isn’t she?” Poppy shrugged as she used a cloth to clean her hands, the white material immediately turning bloody red.“Yes but-”“But what? As soon as that last piece of Blessed Silver is out of her body her wolf will heal her.”Marcus and Melanie stood silently, looking at the carnage Poppy had i
At first, I thought I was dead, for real this time considering what had just happened. I was floating around in a sea of nothingness when my eyes cracked open and I thought “Well, this must be death”, so I closed my eyes again as if I were going to sleep.Some people say that their lives flash before their eyes right before death, but mine didn't. Mine flashed by like a whirlwind the second I entered whatever world this was. Memories of my family, of my escape, of Jackson and the rest of the friends and loved ones I had.I never had a chance in the world of the living, I'd barely lived.It didn’t feel so bad, being in this weightless world. Everything was peaceful. Nothing hurt, nothing scared me. Maybe death was a good thing, maybe it should’ve happened a long time ago. If I’d have died long ago maybe none of this would’ve ever happened. My family would be alive, Fredrick wouldn't have his hands on the Blessed Silver and the Full Moon pack wouldn't have been attacked just so Fredrick
Jackson’s POVI shifted back to my human form as I got closer to the New Moon pack’s territory. I spied their routes and routines and when I thought it was safe enough, I slipped through, into the territory when I was sure the guards would be changing stations.True to Clarissa’s word, the guards didn’t seem to notice me either from sight or scent as I made my way past them. I was careful not to do anything that would bring attention to myself, even stepping on a twig or tripping over a rock felt too risky.I kept my head low and kept my senses sharp to avoid bumping into anyone and walked with my head bowed towards the centre of the pack territory.Every step I took I anticipated a fight because if even one person spotted me and knew who I was, I’d have the whole pack after me and nothing good would come from that. I needed to do this as quickly and quietly as I could. It helped that the pack members in this territory seemed content with keeping to themselves too, barely greeting or
Elise’s POVI held onto Stella like she was going to disappear once again. I’d spent so long without her, my memory of her had been taken from me. So when this overwhelming feeling of comfort shot through my body it took me by surprise. She was my wolf. She was real. She was here.There was nothing wrong with me after all.I had waited so long, year after year as I watched other kids my age begin to shift for the first time, and whilst I knew I was in a dream, I knew that Stella was real, I knew that she'd finally been freed from the Blessed Silver.I nuzzled my face against her fur and she was just as eager to touch me too as she licked my face and nuzzled me right back. Two halves of the same soul finally reunited.“You’ve been alone for so long,” I whispered to her. Whilst I had my family, Stella was trapped in the pockets of my mind, only able to watch as I grew, was hurt and on my own too after my family died.“But I’m not anymore,” She mumbled in response.I wished she had the c
Elise's POVHe wasn’t dead, not yet, but he was close to it. Blood trickled from his forehead and down the corners of his mouth. His breathing was short and shallow and he lifted his head, eyes pained as he slowly realised I was there with him. Jackson made some guttural sound that I’d never heard another person make before as he slowly began to crawl towards me, no matter how broken he was.I could hear his breathing, hoarse like something was blocking it, maybe as if someone had crushed his windpipe. "Elsmmm." Was another sound he made and I was horrified to think that that was my name and he was calling it out so desperately. My heart hurt.I took a step towards him, my body trembling as I took a step forward but no matter how hard I tried to reach him, it was like I was walking in sludge trying to trap me. He was trying so hard to reach me and I wanted to reach him so badly, but I could barely move.Jackson raised his hand, and I wanted nothing more than to grab it and bring him
Jackson’s POVNo. No that couldn’t be true. There was absolutely no way in hell he would’ve sent his head warrior and adored witch alone to my pack, not when I’d left it in Christian’s capable hands with Clarissa supporting him,I didn’t have to worry about that. I didn’t.I had faith in my friend. Christian had done more than enough to earn his place at my side as my beta. All the warriors had also earned their spot and even the healers were no strangers to a fight every now and again.That’s why I organised the weekly training so that everyone felt like they had a fair chance in a fight. The only people I was concerned about were the elders of my pack and the pups.I didn’t want Fredrick to know that he had me frazzled by his threat and whilst I tried to control my emotions I couldn’t help but keep thinking of everything that could go wrong back at the pack:Were Clarissa’s wards reinforced?Was Melanie stronger than Clarissa?Would Christian be able to stop Marcus if the two met in
How did he know we were here? We hadn’t been gone for very long, there was no way he could’ve organised all of this in that short time. I wouldn’t have been surprised if there had been a couple of wolves chasing us or a warning howl, but everything had been silent.“Did you really believe I’d leave you unsupervised whilst in recovery?” Frederick asked snarkily as he took a step forward.Jackson tensed, looking at all the wolves surrounding us, debating his odds. If he attacked first how many would he be able to take down before he was overwhelmed? I could see the cogs turning in his head before he turned to me slightly. Another problem, he’d be trying to protect me as well. His odds of winning would decrease rapidly if he had me to think about too.“You have your Blessed Silver,” Jackson spat, “Let her go.”Frederick tutted, “Yes, yes I do, but you see, Jackson,” It was a blatant insult not to use his alpha title in front of the rest of this pack, “there are two things that you fail
We crept out of the infirmary and Jackson held onto my hand tightly, keeping me behind him. He mentioned briefly that his bracelet from Clarissa protected him from being seen so long as his movements didn’t draw anyone’s attention.I had faith in Jackson and in Clarissa so I stood behind him and let him lead us out of the infirmary. I was glad that Clarissa had done what she did, because not only did it mean she was looking out for Jackson but she wanted me back too.Even though he’d explained this to me, I was still shocked when we weren’t immediately attacked by the multiple wolves patrolling the area. It looked like no one had even seen us and I let out a quiet sigh of relief as I stuck close to Jackson.Even when someone walked close to us, they didn't seem to notice us. It gave me more confidence in Clarissa's abilities (not that I had any doubt to begin with).Jackson glanced around too, watching for even the slightest of movements like the warrior he was before he took his fir
Elise's POVI thought I was still in my dream when I opened my eyes. One moment I saw his body, bloody and broken on the floor, the next he was in front of me, touching me so tenderly and looking like he was about to cry. I relished in his touch. It was so warm and gentle and my whole body tingled. I wanted to move and hold him and cry all at the same time, but I couldn’t move, my back was still so sore.But I knew the second I opened my eyes that he was my mate. Jackson was my mate. And I had fallen in love with him all on my own even before that.“I’ve always been yours,” He said to me with a smile that made my heart jump, even as tears began to fall down his face.I pulled one of my hands away from his and stroked that stray tear away, “And I’m yours,” I said, proudly and clearly.Jackson’s smile grew wider and despite the situation we were in, no matter how horrifying or painful, he leaned closer towards me, and kissed me.He was careful not to move me too much, but I kissed him
Jackson's POV I followed Elise’s scent, my mate’s scent. I could hardly believe it; she was my mate. Maybe it was because her wolf had been suppressed before, but even still, the longing and connection I felt for her must’ve been our mating bond trying to slip through the Blessed Silver’s defences.And I had hurt her when we first met. I’d imprisoned her and tried to keep her isolated out of fear of what a rogue could do to my pack.If I knew she was my mate back then would it have made much of a difference? I tried not to think about that. Those mistakes were in the past and I was here for now, I would do anything in my power to protect her.Gradually I made my way through the pack to a dingy-looking building that had a small cross on it, one you’d see at hospitals or on ambulances. I wondered if this was their version of an infirmary. Quietly, I stepped inside, checking to see if anyone was in the room. If they were ‘d have to take them out nice and swiftly otherwise they’d aler
Elise's POVHe wasn’t dead, not yet, but he was close to it. Blood trickled from his forehead and down the corners of his mouth. His breathing was short and shallow and he lifted his head, eyes pained as he slowly realised I was there with him. Jackson made some guttural sound that I’d never heard another person make before as he slowly began to crawl towards me, no matter how broken he was.I could hear his breathing, hoarse like something was blocking it, maybe as if someone had crushed his windpipe. "Elsmmm." Was another sound he made and I was horrified to think that that was my name and he was calling it out so desperately. My heart hurt.I took a step towards him, my body trembling as I took a step forward but no matter how hard I tried to reach him, it was like I was walking in sludge trying to trap me. He was trying so hard to reach me and I wanted to reach him so badly, but I could barely move.Jackson raised his hand, and I wanted nothing more than to grab it and bring him
Elise’s POVI held onto Stella like she was going to disappear once again. I’d spent so long without her, my memory of her had been taken from me. So when this overwhelming feeling of comfort shot through my body it took me by surprise. She was my wolf. She was real. She was here.There was nothing wrong with me after all.I had waited so long, year after year as I watched other kids my age begin to shift for the first time, and whilst I knew I was in a dream, I knew that Stella was real, I knew that she'd finally been freed from the Blessed Silver.I nuzzled my face against her fur and she was just as eager to touch me too as she licked my face and nuzzled me right back. Two halves of the same soul finally reunited.“You’ve been alone for so long,” I whispered to her. Whilst I had my family, Stella was trapped in the pockets of my mind, only able to watch as I grew, was hurt and on my own too after my family died.“But I’m not anymore,” She mumbled in response.I wished she had the c
Jackson’s POVI shifted back to my human form as I got closer to the New Moon pack’s territory. I spied their routes and routines and when I thought it was safe enough, I slipped through, into the territory when I was sure the guards would be changing stations.True to Clarissa’s word, the guards didn’t seem to notice me either from sight or scent as I made my way past them. I was careful not to do anything that would bring attention to myself, even stepping on a twig or tripping over a rock felt too risky.I kept my head low and kept my senses sharp to avoid bumping into anyone and walked with my head bowed towards the centre of the pack territory.Every step I took I anticipated a fight because if even one person spotted me and knew who I was, I’d have the whole pack after me and nothing good would come from that. I needed to do this as quickly and quietly as I could. It helped that the pack members in this territory seemed content with keeping to themselves too, barely greeting or
At first, I thought I was dead, for real this time considering what had just happened. I was floating around in a sea of nothingness when my eyes cracked open and I thought “Well, this must be death”, so I closed my eyes again as if I were going to sleep.Some people say that their lives flash before their eyes right before death, but mine didn't. Mine flashed by like a whirlwind the second I entered whatever world this was. Memories of my family, of my escape, of Jackson and the rest of the friends and loved ones I had.I never had a chance in the world of the living, I'd barely lived.It didn’t feel so bad, being in this weightless world. Everything was peaceful. Nothing hurt, nothing scared me. Maybe death was a good thing, maybe it should’ve happened a long time ago. If I’d have died long ago maybe none of this would’ve ever happened. My family would be alive, Fredrick wouldn't have his hands on the Blessed Silver and the Full Moon pack wouldn't have been attacked just so Fredrick