:] Have any ideas? Who do you think Theodore is?
Lucy:I feel like I could suffocate from being stuck at this cabin.Can you say cabin fever? Literally."What's the deal with Seth?" Trish doesn't exactly beat around the bush. I loved this about her, though."What do you mean?" I play stupid. No one needs to know. Leon didn't say anything, but I could tell he had an inkling there was something under the surface.Not to mention, I felt like this entire thing was my fault. Seth had been through so much, and the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt him."I can understand you are worried about Seth, but you cried, Luce. I was born during the day, but not yesterday," she says, rolling her eyes.She's intuitive. I'll give her that.It's a warmer day than it has been. We're sitting in our classic spot on the porch.Trish is gently pushing the swing with her foot; the other was curled up on the cushion.My feet barely reach the ground, so I have both of my feet criss-cross on the swing."I already have a mate, Trish. Does it really matter
LUCY:I peeled my clothes off reluctantly once I got to the tree line. I shifted quickly, letting Nia come forward. She wasted no time before we were in our silver coat: white paws and white circles around our eyes.She grabbed our clothes in our mouth.'Don't worry, Lucy. We will do everything we can to find Seth,' Nia tries to reassure me.I'm not feeling confident, but I know we will do our best.We take off through the woods. I forgot how good the wind feels through our fur.'The lake first, yes?' Nia asks. She's in control. I'm shaking internally. I'm so nervous we will find Seth dead.I have to explain to her where to go. I'm not all that familiar with it.I remember being on the cliff and knowing the direction the cabin was from that point, but I can't say 100% that we are headed in the right direction once we are in the thick of the forest.'Leon is going to be furious,' Nia reminds me.'So will Jason, but they're not the boss of us, Nia. I'm tired of just sitting around and
LIAM:My mom quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me down to my dad's empty office. As we entered, she let go of my arm and plopped down on the couch.I watched as she put her face in her hands. Her body was trembling, but I could not see any tears falling."Mom, what is happening? Who is this man? Theodore?" I ask gently, sitting down next to her.I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, trying to peek at her face that was smooshed against her palms. She finally fixed her posture and removed her hands from her face. Her eyes were burning red as if holding back tears.She shook her head left and right before responding."He isn't supposed to be reaching out to you. What did he want?" she asks, now making eye contact with me.I turn to face her better. My eyes search her face for understanding, but I'm getting nothing."He wanted me to help Lucy. He said it was important for everyone's safety," I sigh.Her eyes go wide. I watch as she opens her mouth slightly before closing it and pursing h
LEON:We searched until the wee hours of the morning. I was beyond exhausted.Dad had mind-linked us to come home and speak to him. I was itching to go back and see Lucy, but I knew I had duties to take care of, and it was something we would often have to deal with."We should talk after this meeting with Dad," Liam said, catching up to me. We were now reaching the tree line that separated the settlement area and the forest."About what? Can it wait? I want to talk to Dad and head back to Lucy. I need to see her at least a few hours before we get back out on the search," I say.My shoulders are slumped, my body is sore, and I miss my mate terribly. "We can wait. In fact, I could even come with you. I should probably check on Lucy," he sighs.I whipped my head around with what I'm sure looked like confusion on my face."She is my mate. I can take care of her," I say.I know I'm just grumpy because of everything I'm feeling right now so I snapped a little more than necessary."I know y
LUCY:My head was pounding hard. I felt like I had been run over.'Shh, don't let them know you're awake,' Nia whispered.My eyes were barely fluttering open when she spoke and they snapped back closed so fast. It took everything I had to try and slow down my heart rate so they didn't catch on.'Where are we?' I respond.'I don't know, our eyes are shut remember?' she retorts.Shit my brain was foggy. I was clearly not in good condition.'Right,' I said.I could tell that I was slumped over someone's shoulder like a rag doll so I continued to let me body be as limp as I possibly could.Nia felt weak. The little bit of communication she had done with me was enough to nearly take her back out. This was bad.I was piecing together what happened. I wondered where my dad would take me."Lock her up in the cell across from her boy toy," my dad's voice said nearby making my stomach flip.Boy toy? My heart skipped a beat.I hear the man carrying me chuckle and the rattle of the keys unlocking
Leander:I turn around hesitantly. I had completely forgotten about Savina's existence when I came back.I was obviously going to have to have a conversation with her but right now was just not the time."Leon! Where have you been?" Savina snaps at me.I'm not sure how I didn't notice it about her before or maybe this was new but she left nothing for the imagination.She was wearing skin-tight black shorts even though the weather outside would scoff at her choice.Her bright pink crop top was creased through the middle from how tight it tugged around her breasts that were practically falling out of her shirt.Pink leather boots up to her knees. Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging her for her choice of appearance.I'd just rather see Lucy in something even more revealing in the confines of my bedroom.There was absolutely no attraction to Savina anymore. It made me feel like an asshole but at the same time, I made it clear to her what this was, which was nothing.Especially after she li
Lucy:Flashback:"You manipulated me!" his voice hisses loudly, vibrating off of the walls.My mom is standing tall and proud. She isn't backing down from my father at all.I had just walked into the room. I wasn't supposed to be in this part of the pack house but I had thought my dad was gone.My mom's eyes flicker over in my direction for a brief moment before they move back to my Dad.'Hide,' Nia instructs me.I tuck myself beside the bookcase near the entryway. I'm hiding myself the best I can while continuing to listen."I didn't manipulate you Kragen. I'm your mate. That was never a lie." My mom's voice is calm and steady.The air feels stale and at the same time, it's suffocating me. I can sense that something is terribly wrong."What the hell is this?" my dad screams flinging around papers.They look worn out and used before he tosses them to the side. The papers fly across the room, falling down around the space next to them like confetti."Kragen, we can talk through this," m
Liam:Trigger Warning: Some depictions of certain events may make some readers uncomfortable at the beginning of this chapter."Holy shit Lucy! Are you okay?" I yell out to her, but she isn't moving.There's a pool of blood on the ground next to her and underneath her.From what I can tell, the only thing left on her body is a torn-up shirt.She has gashes and bruises all over her.I feel nauseous at the recognition of what's happened to her.'Where are we?' Bo asks.I'm running up to her, not considering my surroundings. She is lying on a cold, hard cement floor.I reach down to shake her, but my hand goes straight through her. I try again, the same thing. What the hell?I hear a chuckle on the other side of the room, making me whip my head over in the direction it's coming from."What the hell did you do to her?" I scream, but they aren't phased by the fact that I'm here.I watch as the man laughing walks over to Lucy, shaking his head."Your dear old dad warned you there would be co
LUCY:As I was thinking about what I had said to Liam at the waterfall, I realized that the truth had only become apparent to me after I said it out loud.This acknowledgment started to make me nervous.Tricia is fidgeting nervously next to Sybil. "Sybil, you didn't answer Lucy's previous question. Who do we say our truths to?" Trish pipes us again before Sybil can answer my second question.We were both eager to understand the rituals of this pack.I know I need to get Tricia alone so we can talk; something is definitely up with her.Tricia is looking at Sybil with desperate eyes, waiting for her to answer her question."There is no science to it all, sweetie," Sybil responds, making Tricia's face fall. She was clearly uncomfortable with the idea of sharing secrets, and I couldn't blame her; I had felt that way for so many years."It's like magic, really. It was how I was able to open my heart fully to Leander," Sybil says, in a dream-like state.She looks off into space for a whil
LUCY:"What was that about in the dungeon? You seemed scared after we left," Trish asks as we head back to the packhouse.I wasn't sure how to explain to her what I saw, so I shrugged it off. "Mom calls it Dragon Eyes," Trish responds at random.I stop in my tracks and look at her. What is she referring to? The way my eyes shift?"Your mom could never do that, or at least I had never seen her do it. I was curious, and when I mentioned it to my mom, she said it's been many years since a Fae was gifted with that kind of magic," Trish smiles, looping her arm through mine as we continue walking.We were walking back from visiting the hospital. The girls were in high spirits. They loved the clothes that Liam had picked out. He really had the best taste. I was glad he was there to finish up their shopping because it really wasn't my thing.Tricia was excited about their marks but hadn't said much, which didn't surprise me as the girls were present, and Trish was very kept to herself abou
LUCY:As we get to the dungeon doors, I can't help but smile once again.I look up at the guards, who, based on their expressions, know exactly who I am now.It's not their fault they dragged me here at one point. They were only following orders.Once they bow their heads at me, the bratty waitress finally realizes I'm behind her."Ugh! You!" Fern rolls her eyes at me before turning around to face the guards again."Why can't she have visitors!?" she screams at the guards, who look at me for help."You'll see her tomorrow, Fern," I say calmly.I had no idea why my magic was in a key, but once it was within me, I felt just a little bit more at home. A strength had settled in me that felt like it was always mine.It was familiar, and I welcomed it."She isn't Luna yet. She doesn't get special privileges," Fern says, glaring back at me."If Alpha doesn't want visitors, then I suggest you listen," I respond.She doesn't hear a word I say. She pouts at the guards like it will make a differe
TRICIA: [Days Prior - Part 2]I've been walking around, following my mom as she grabs items she wants to take.I'm trying to be helpful, but she is being meticulous with everything she wants to bring.She sets a stack of books on the table and finally makes eye contact with me again after I had pressed her about the Aphirages. I place my hands on her shoulders, searching her face for answers."Mom, I have never questioned anything you've asked me to do or say. Why won't you explain what the deal is with the Aphirages?" I say, continuing to push her into giving me answers.She's never been protective of something the way that she is with the flowers; aside from a book, she's never let me get anywhere near it.Even as a sneaky child, she always somehow knew when I was trying to break into the lock that held it shut."I also have other questions, such as why you said Seth would certainly change the course of events for Lucy!" I added, feeling as frustrated as ever.She looked around the
LUCY:Leander made all of the warriors leave.They have a few of their elite guarding Gatheo's home to ensure he doesn't go anywhere.I specifically asked that he not be let down to see Savina, to which Leander stated he didn't plan on allowing that anyway.I felt awful for the disruption I caused during the meeting. It was clear that these meetings were typically much more productive.Leander looked somewhat defeated and didn't hold much eye contact with me during the process of everyone leaving."Alpha, I'm sorry for causing such a scene," I say as Leon holds me from behind.Liam is being nosey, rummaging through the box, trying to figure out what's mine.I can feel it in my heart each time he grabs it or touches it."What have I told you about formalities, Lucy?" he smiles at me before grabbing me from Leon's grip and hugging me.The hug didn't last long before Leon grabbed me back and pulled me to my seat, which he decided would be his lap."Alpha lineages typically have a gift. O
TRICIA: [Days prior]I snuck through the secret passageway my people had made hundreds of years ago to prepare for the transition. That's what they called it: the transition. To me, it was the separation of myself from my heritage.We were like prisoners of our truth and power. Hiding among the werewolf communities as simple shifters.Being at the Cresent Moon Pack felt like removing the bars to the cell that my mom had kept me in.I know she had only been trying to protect me my whole life while we worked to guide Lucy the best we could."Trish! What are you doing here?!" My mom's voice comes from her room as I enter the house."Mom! Things changed. The visions we had discussed are not all aligning as we hoped," I explain to her as she rushes to hug me.I look around our comfortable little home—the home I was raised in on the edge of the Silver Moon Pack.The majority of our neighboring cabins were also Fae. All of us are waiting to live free again."Sit, child, let me get you someth
LUCY:I'm not trying to be disrespectful. My questions were genuine even though everyone in the room looks like they disagree; except for Seth who holds the same smirk throughout my questioning.It's clear that I haven't been raised to believe in the process they're used to and clearly respectI wasn't taught the way everyone was in this room. No one want's to answer my question or make it seem as if they agree with where I'm headed in this conversation."Let me guess. The first son of each member takes their father's spot?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.Leander sighs. He doesn't like my line of questioning, either.Maybe I was bitter for Kragen rejecting me simply because I was a girl or maybe it's because what is taught as normal to them, never felt normal to me."Are you questioning the order of things, Lucy? It's no different than the first born of an Alpha taking over the pack. This is how we've done it for thousands of years. It has always worked," Leander says, with a half frown,
LUCY:"I thought you were mad at me!" I fake frown at Trish.She looks nervous. Her normal casual demeanor shifted after I pointed out Saul staring at her.She blew it off like it was nothing."You had a lot going on, Luce. I just wanted to get there and back. I knew you'd insist on coming with me, but I couldn't wait any longer," she responds, justifying her off-behavior. "I'll meet you at the conference room," Liam announces before kissing the top of my head and taking off with all the bags.I wondered if Seth would be there, which made me feel guilty. He was the Beta, so surely he would be there.It wasn't a terrible thing that I wondered, right? I think to myself, realizing I'm chewing the crap out of my nail.'You know what I keep saying,' Nia giggles.'Shush it,' I quip."I wish I had a wolf to talk out my thoughts with," Trish comments at random as we head to the conference room."I'll be your wolf," I say, trying to make Trish smile."A girl's night after this?" she asks.Her
LEON:Lucy was uncomfortable at every store we went to, and even though she didn't say as much, it was apparent.She clung to me the entire time.She didn't know her sizes very well and didn't like to ask for anything, so Liam ended up staying behind to grab things he thought she would like.We were both trying not to push anything nor did we want to embarrass her by asking personal questions. We already figured that if she hadn't been out to eat, she likely had little to no experience in a shopping mall or outlet.'You're going to love what I found at the last store,' Liam links me.We were still getting used to sharing a link with Lucy. We were able to separate the two, but I knew we would have to be careful to make sure we were linking the way we intended.'Oh yeah?' I ask him as Lucy clings to my arm.She was right. Everyone was staring at her—more than even I had expected, but no one had done or said anything disrespectful yet.Liam stayed at the last clothing store we were at w