[Cole]Sleep didn't come. He wasn't sure how long he had been staring at the faint moonlight that had seeped through his window. Cole listened as his wife's soft breathing relaxed into the peaceful rhythm. He closed his eyes and caressed Dove's silky tresses. Her rhythm was getting to him and a wave of calmness overcame him. But his body was still wide awake. He resorted to sheep counting. "When I first saw you, you smelled of fresh mint and morning rain."Cole blinked. It was almost inaudible but he was sure he heard her. Is she awake?He waited for a sign from her, taking a cautious breath and not moving a muscle, in case the slightest movement would ruin the moment. After a brief silence, her small voice continued louder and clearer. "It was so comforting. I felt so relaxed, like I never had a worry at all." Cole smiled. "Then, you swore at me." Her arm went around his waist and pulled him closer. "I've been swearing a lot too lately."A chuckle escaped from Cole
[Cole]"Rough night?" Cole realized he had been staring at Owin who was now giving him an awkward smile. He blinked and returned a weak smile as Owin went on to describe his lonely breakfast because Jude was not at the training ground when he went. It was then Cole noticed that his Beta looked like sh*t. Rubbing his chin, Cole realized that Jude was not the only one who had forgotten to shave this morning. d*mn it! His mind was all about Dove's blushing. Her cheeks were bright pink when she heard Owin's voice and she was acting all shy around him. He didn't like it. His mind had been busy hiding his frustration at the spiky hair Gamma since the young man entered the room.Cole glanced at Jude, noted his unruly hair and grinned. The last time he received a warning glare from Jude was when they were fifteen and it was over a werewoman. Clearing his throat, a sign of a truce, Cole turned to Owin and asked about his latest report. "After he met Oscar, Wesley suddenly canceled
[Cole]He dropped her onto his bed and she started to scramble away. But he wouldn't allow it. He grabbed her ankle and pulled her back onto the sheets. Ignoring her sharp cry of surprise, he climbed over, flipped her onto her back and covered her entirely with his giant body. Grabbing her small hands that were pushing at his shoulders, he stretched them way above her head and pinned them onto the fluffy pillows with both his hands. She stopped struggling and shot him a burning glare. He swallowed hard at the memory when he first had her in the same position. He became aware of her heaving chest caressing his own and groaned silently. Without a second thought, he took her lips. She gasped with her eyes wide open. The corner of his mouth lifted as he nibbled the rosy plumpness. She was pressing them tightly together, refusing to respond and turning away from his lips. But he wasn't discouraged. She wants him. That was enough to fuel his desire and make him burn with passio
[Dove]"How would you know?" I sniffed and shot him a confused frown. A moment ago I was head over heels with him. Now, I wanted to clobber his ox-brain head again. Why does he still think that he could control everything? My powers are from the Goddess; not him. "I just do." He smirked. My eyes instantly switched to an unimpressed stare. I was suddenly aware that my blouse was hiked up to my breasts and they were half-exposed. Looking down, I saw the V-collar of his shirt opened, exposing his chest and blushed furiously. Abruptly, I pushed at him. Startled, he tumbled over the bed like a rolling log. As he landed on the floor with a loud dull thud, I scrambled to my knees, adjusted my clothes and composed myself. He quickly came to a stand at the end of the bed, looking stupefied. "What the hell, Dove. Did you just shove me? I told you that you won't be able to hurt me." I backed against the headboard and held up a hand. "You don't control everything, Cole. You don't know
[Dove]"What the hell, Dove!" His voice thundered through the forest air, shaking the spectator trees. I slowly straightened and turned to him, furious. "Stop yelling at me!" "I'll stop yelling if you start doing it properly." He stomped over with an exaggerated rage. "I'll do it properly if you start giving me clearer instructions, you ox!"This was a bad idea, I thought. Isn't he mighty and skillful? Why can't he give better instructions? Stamp here. Strike here. Punch here. How can anyone remember all that without explanations? He closed his eyes and drew in a large deep breath. Exhaling, he opened his eyes and stepped behind me. "Alright, listen." His voice was calmer. "I'm listening." "Stop talking back. Listen," he warned.I rolled my eyes at the tree I broke yesterday.His hand came on my shoulder and he said, "If someone sneaked up on you from behind." He paused to clear his throat and then continued, "First, you grab his hand." I grabbed his hand. "The
[Cole]The last time something like this happened was when his parents died. The cave had exploded and spewed flaming rocks all over the village, crushing everything that stood around it. Fire was everywhere, reducing everything meaningful to useless ashes - houses, trees and people. Those who survived death suffered harsh burns that took days to heal. Cole's memory of the explosion, before and after, had eroded with time until it became a blur. Today, it was revived. Owin was lying on his bed, twisting and grunting in excruciating pain. His entire exterior had been burned, revealing the raw, pink flesh, red veins and yellowish-white blotches underneath. There were no traces of Owin; the squirming body was completely unrecognizable. The air was thickened with the bitter smell of his burnt limbs and deafened with the dense silence of the audience. Cole watched silently as Aeson, the village doctor, tended swiftly to the urging wounds. He felt a squeeze in his hand, looked d
[Dove]We left after visiting Owin. Aeson said that Owin's healing had started at daybreak. It usually takes five days for a full recovery so Owin would be three days late. This was good news. Jude seemed to be breathing properly again. When he learned that silver might be in the flammable liquid, he requested to be in charge of the investigation. Cole agreed on a condition that he let Megan assist him and Jude obliged. "Why did you insist on Megan's involvement?" I sipped the water from my hands and sighed happily. My mind felt more refreshed. I stepped away from the stream and sat on a large moss-covered rock nearby."She knows a lot about the human chemicals. We need to learn about them. For the battle. And it would help us if Jude learned it fast." Cole took his sip of water and sat beside me. "Besides, she's a great teacher." The corner of his lip lifted mischievously. The morning mist was clearing as I quietly admired my husband's quick wits. "I have one last questi
[Cole]"I'm surprised that you brought her along. I thought Owin had told you," Jave leaned over and whispered when Dove was out of earshot. Cole kept a straight face and watched Dove as she went about the room, admiring the rich tapestry. He knew that she was really trying to listen and hoped she didn't hear this d*mn conversation. Jave continued in a quick whisper. "I hope you haven't mated with her. That cursed thing."Cole felt his fist tighten. He had to hold his anger in. As much as he wanted to shove a fist in that large round face, he knew that Jave was merely a blind follower of the rumor. But he didn't like what he heard. Worst, he wanted to take Dove to bed then and there, but something in his mind held him back. Cole glared at the weak moonlight that had found its way into the room and managed a calm voice. "That thing's still my Luna." He forced himself to turn to the wide-eyed hulk and smiled, "I appreciate all your help, Jave. Your next month's supply is on
[Dove]Where he had bitten stung furiously the next morning. I had to ice the area whilst Cole kissed me whenever he got the chance. I knew he was trying to comfort my pain, but I still glared at him in the swooning effects of his kiss. Then, as my pain subsided slightly, he broke the news to me:Claire had left the pack at dawn with Abe. She would bring Abe back, then find my father and convince him to leave the Moon Paw Pack. "It could take a while," her hand-written note explained. "But I will succeed.' I read the note again then folded it. She had left the note on the kitchen counter and Cole found it when he was getting the ice. "When will she be back?" Cole muttered. I shrugged, feeling hopeful. "She didn't say specifically." Cole dropped his head and shook it with a chuckle. "I have to review the rules. People are leaving the village freely without my consent." Seeing that I wasn't in the mood for a laugh, he sat closer and I rested my head on his shoulder. *
[Dove]My eyes grew misty again. Before I made a crying mess of myself, I leaned forward and captured his lips as his arms circled around my waist and pulled me close. When we broke away, Patrick and his band played a fast piece and I laughed out at the memory of the feast and my complaints. Scanning the faces that had long become familiar, their smiles bore new meaning for me - their acceptance of me as a member of their pack. I had wanted to be a priestess of the Moon Goddess because I thought I would be accepted without judgement at the house of the Goddess. She cares for and protects us so I would feel accepted. But it turns out that I was welcomed and accepted unconditionally in a place where I should feel the least kinship. Tears welled up in my eyes once more as Cole hugged my shoulder, faced the villagers and thanked them. Once their applause faded, they dispersed to the trays of steaming food.Cole returned to me. "I have many witnesses now." He wiped away the wet
[Dove]"Come on, Dove!" Megan's voice crashed into my dreams. Visions in my slumbering mind burst like bubbles. I felt my body's weight once more and groaned quietly. "Wake up. We got a long day ahead." My covers were rudely torn from me and a cold gust washed over me. I shivered slightly. "What long day do we have? Stop it, Megan," I grumbled. A hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me to a sitting position. Then, two hands cradled my cheeks and squashed them hard, like a soft toy. My eyes flared open at the pain and I looked soberly at the annoyed face. "You. You have a long day. Let's go." Megan took my wrist again and pulled me off the bed. She tried to push me towards the bathroom when I stepped aside and gave her a solemn expression. Throwing her arms down, she shot me an exasperated look. "Okay, what? Come on, say."Cole's tone in her voice brought a surge of tears to my eyes. "Oh no, no, no, no." She grabbed my shoulders and shook me hard. "You're not doing this t
[Dove]Cole wanted to stroll back to the village. I wondered what came over him as his fingers weaved through mine, and he clasped my hand, palm to palm, keeping me close while we walked away from the waterfall. He glanced at me and chuckled softly. "What's wrong?""You're unusually cheerful," I noted to him. He answered with that sunshine smile of his that I loved and I was mesmerized. Quickly, he looked ahead with a frown. "Stop looking at me like that." His voice was gruff again. I blinked. Realizing what he meant, I stared ahead as my cheeks betrayed me again. The forest felt suddenly alive with the leaves crunching under our feet and the distant chirping of birds. Winter's coming, I thought, while admiring the bald trees. For some reason, Patrick's bowl-shaped hair came into my mind and I laughed. Cole smiled with furrowed brows. Then, his eyes widened and he glared down at me. "I hope you're not thinking of another man." He halted his footsteps, pulled up our t
[Cole]That d*mn woman was at it again. Cole was expecting his wife to be all cheery when he reminded her about their promise of forever. Jude said that women love it when men remember such things.Well, not his wife, apparently, Cole cursed silently.She shot him a frown and said with an innocent shrug, "What did I promise? I can't remember."But then her cheeks flamed up. Cole's eyes widened slightly. Under daylight, her blushing cheeks appeared sunburnt, her smooth, fair skin glowed like silk, and her silver hair sparkled like stars in the darkest night. She looked ravishing, he thought and swallowed hard. Looking down with a chuckle, he returned to her face with a similarly innocent smile. "You look like you need to cool off."She flinched. "No, I'm fine." And then, her fingers pressed on her warm cheeks as if to cool them down. "I think you do." Were his last words before he took her by the wrist and pulled her towards the lake. Dove used her small body's weight to t
[Cole]Forever - was what she had promised him. He won't let her go this easily. She hadn't woken up or returned to her human form since the battle. And it had been three days. Cole stared at the white wolf on his bed, sensing Dove's fragility and growing more despair. He focused on her tiny breathing, fearing that it would go away. Claire quietly appeared at his side. "Thank you for keeping my secret."The giant Alpha didn't respond. Cole had figured out Claire's identity when she first saved Dove from the rogue wolves. It wasn't hard as long as you look at the facts close enough - aside from Jude, Megan, and himself, Claire was the last of the first to know when Dove left the village, so she would be able to get to her in time. When Claire saved Dove again, Cole had realized Claire's special power - hypnotism. Jude had been right about the ancient rumors - wolves with special powers do exist. They are rare, but they live amongst them. But Cole didn't know everythi
[Dove]A hand pressed on my shoulder. Claire - my mother, Alisa - stared at me with her usual stony expression. Then, her arms went around me and she hugged me gently. "My baby," she whispered softly in my ears. "Your power is what you make of it. It's your choice." "But I don't know what it is! How do I use it?" I wailed anxiously. She pulled back and stared at me with a keen look. "You know what it is."I sniffed. Studying her face, a wave of calmness overtook me, then a series of flashbacks screened in my mind like a human movie. One thing stood out clearly and it was something that I had been trying my best to achieve, all this while. I want to protect the people I loved. Instantly, my hair burst into a glorious white silver light. It grew stronger and brighter, and my eyelids grew heavier. I closed my eyes and all the smiles that I wanted to protect flashed before me. My body exploded with warm energy.******[Cole]There was silver in the veil of smoke weaving
[Dove]The villagers and I were standing on guard at the gate, facing the bluish-grey mountains when Connie came up behind us. "A force is coming. Seven odd." This was unexpected, I thought. Who could it be? I wanted to ask when Abe's face barged into my view. My heart seized for a moment. An unknown fear crept into my mind. What is he doing here? Shouldn't he be at the battle?"Dove," Abe said calmly. His mask was completely off, showing his raw emotions and darkest desires. "I didn't expect you to be here." He raised his head to the blackening sky and inhaled deeply, then returned to us with an evil grin on his face. "I wasn't expecting the village to be guarded." Realizing that he was up to his old sneaky ways, I straightened. "You never change."An eerie cackle escaped his grinning lips. "Aren't you bolder now?" His smiling eyes fell into a death stare. "You think that marrying an Alpha changes your status, don't you? Did you tell them, Dove? About your special gift."I
[Dove]I awoke to an empty bed. Feeling the dent on my bed, Cole's warmth kissed my fingers. I realized that he had only just left. Probably to catch up on the preparations for tomorrow, I thought, feeling lonely without his presence. Instinctively, I reached to the back of my neck and felt - nothing. A comforting smile spread across my lips. I managed to stop him. Then, I pulled my knees up, covered my face in them and broke down into tears. I want him to mark me. I want him as my mate. He's my mate, my mind screamed desperately. Why do I have such a sad life? I keep forming dreams only to have them shattered by my own hands. Someone knocked softly at my door. Hastily, I sniffed hard and wiped away anything that would betray my vulnerability, then I answered the second knocking. Claire entered with my breakfast. She raised her hand to above her head, placed the tray on the bed and then pointed at the steaming beef broth. Cole told me to cook this for you, she signed.