Glaring at the older male in front of me, I felt a chill run down my spine. How did he know my name? More importantly, how did he know we were going to be here? Quickly glancing around the forest, I couldn't help but silently call for Gabriel. I was praying that he would somehow come out of the woods and help me. At least I hoped he would, but then again he probably thought I left him."I must say you are gorgeous." Licking his lips, the male took a step closer. Gripping my hand, Matthew held out his sword. "One more step and I will end your life."Laughing the intruder, raised his hands. "I wouldn't want that to happen... besides, I'm sure this lovely creature wouldn't like to see your end."Taking a step forward, the male stopped before his attention was taken by the sound of growls behind him. Following his gaze to the intruders, I spotted the black wolf with silver eyes I had grown to yearn for. Just at the sight of the wolf, I felt safe, as my body began to feel weak.A sudden mo
The sound of skin breaking open filled my ears as my stomach began to ache. Even with my eyes closed and the red and black picture behind my closed eyelids, I could still see the scene play out. The look on Matthew's face as he noticed what he had done. The way he lay on the ground, unconscious from the blow to his head. The dream felt so real that even as I breathed, I could feel pain.Eyes wide, I gazed up at the ceiling as I tried to steady my breaths. Turning my head slightly, I felt the soft silk fabric move with my actions. Covered in what looked like expensive white silk blankets, I felt all my aches and pains slowly disappear. I was laid in a comfortable four-poster bed, with the gold silk curtains pulled around me, shielding me from whatever waited beyond its wake.Taking a deep breath, I felt a small twinge in my stomach, causing a little whimper to leave my lips. Pushing the silk away from my body, I gazed down at my naked chest. Although I had on my undergarments, the clot
I couldn't believe my eyes. Standing in front of me was the one person I had wished to see for three years. She looked the same, almost as if time had not touched her. As she stood behind me, she looked happy. Sharlee smiled as if there was no care in the world. Standing in what looked like tight brown leather pants and a white top. A light sheen of sweat covered her forehead."Anna, I'm sure you remember Sharlee?" Came Gabriel's sudden voice.Nodding as I stared at Sharlee, I couldn't help but feel a mixed amount of feelings. I had never seen her this happy before. Back in the village, she had always seemed like she was missing something, but as I stood in front of her, she seemed more content."Anna, I want you to meet her chosen Tristan." Turning my head in the direction of Gabriel's outstretched arm, I couldn't help but frown. In one of the many training areas, Tristan seemed to be fighting someone of smaller stature. Swinging his fist towards the younger male, I watched as the yo
Sitting on the bed, I placed my head in my hands. My mind felt like it was racing with so much information. Everything I had grown to know now meant nothing. The people back in the village I had grown to love and some hate, had all been hiding something. None of them was who I thought they were, and it made me question if Matthew was one of them too. I knew Matthew had been taken back to the village, and I could only pray he wasn't planning to come to find me. If he did, I was worried my childhood friend would turn out to be like the rest of the people who filled this place.Thinking back to Gabriel's words, I wondered if my father knew my mother was or could be a werewolf. Just at the mere thought of my father, I felt my heart yearn to see him. I wondered if he knew I was safe or if he too was safe back at the village.As I continued to sit on the bed in Gabriel's room, I knew what I had to do. I needed to see my father and find out what he knew about my mother. I wasn't sure if he w
Dipping the white cloth into the warm bucket of water, I watched as the water rippled as I squeezed the fabric. After one of Gabriel's men had gotten the fire started, I did work of trying to lower father's temperature. I wasn't sure how he could've gotten sick from being drunk, and it scared me. I had never seen my father like this before. If I lost him, I'd lose a piece of myself too.Laying the damp cloth over his forehead, I watched as Father stirred in his sleep. A soft tap at the door had my attention moved to the warrior. "I have informed the Alpha on what is happening. If your father worsens, he has requested he be moved to the safety of the compound where we can watch over him."I couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips. Even with Gabriel far away from me, he was still trying to do his best for my family and me. I was grateful for that. Gabriel always had a soft spot in my heart, and the more I was around him, the more I felt the pull. Even when I first met him at the
My whole body trembled as I watched the village people come and go. They all glared at me and blamed me for the deaths of the girls. It wasn't my fault. If only they knew what was going on outside the border, would they then free me?I was scared. Truly scared. I didn't know where Gabriel's men were or how my father was. I worried about his health. Would he be at home shivering in the cold, or was Gabriel's warrior still keeping watch? Undoubtedly one of the men would be here soon looking for me.Sighing, I turned and watched the last villager walk away. She spat on the ground near the wooden door. I felt dirty, and the longer I stayed in here, the more I wondered if the deaths were my fault. Had I indeed caused such hate with the Cursed ones that they now wanted to attack my people?What scared me the most was the fact that most of the village was meant to be a part of Gabriel's pack. If they knew who my chosen was, I wondered if they would be treating me in such a way. Letting my mi
Pulling back his fists, Tristan snarled. "No!" I screamed."Stop now!" Tristan stopped mid-movement at my order. I could hear his growls as he struggled against my words. It was as if someone had a hold of his body, commanding him to stop. That's when I realised I had just done what Gabriel had done to others before. His orders now applied to me since I was his chosen.Turning to me with a growl, Tristan tried to move but again was unable to. "Let the order go, Luna. He deserves to be torn to shreds." Tristan continued to growl against the invisible restraints on him, as Gabriel moved towards his beta."Calm down!" Gabriel's snarl sent shivers through my spine. Even a few of the men behind the chief cowered at the order.Walking towards the chief and Matthew, Gabriel's shoulders flexed. His muscles almost seemed as if they were shaking with every step he took. "Your title of the chief is now revoked for imprisoning your Luna, and questioning my ruling."Turning to Matthew, Gabriel's l
Watching Father collect all of his weapons, my heart began to pound wildly within my chest. It had been doing this since early this morning, and the more it continued, the more I started to wonder if it was trying to tell me something. Since the Choosing I've continued to have this feeling, almost like something terrible was coming that I wouldn't be able to control.A lot had happened since that day. Gabriel let me come home giving me a choice to follow him or not. The women in the town that attended the choosing began to die from the cursed ones, causing the village to go into a panic. I was labelled a traitor for not going with Gabriel and thrown into a cell. Thinking back to all these things, I did not realise I never really fit in here. If what Gabriel said about the majority of the town being wolves was right, I truly felt everything was a lie.The sound of metal hitting the floor had me jumping out of my thoughts. Snapping my eyes to Father's still prone figure, I watched his h
Sorry for the short chapter!Gabriel’s words rang through my head. Let’s hope not, yet I knew the answer to it. They had to have something to do with the man I had been seeing in my dreams. Why else would they suddenly be showing up around here? Regardless of this notion, I knew I would need to demand answers the next time I saw the man. If he could speak to me in my dreams, surely, I could communicate with him… but at what cost?Pressing my hands tighter to my flat stomach I wondered if I'd ever be safe enough to have a child. Yes, I was young but the urge to start a family was starting to pound within me. It was as if an unknown source within my soul was driving me.“What’s the matter?” Came Gabriel’s concerned voice.Glancing up at him, I tried to choose my words carefully. I still was unsure of Gabriel’s views on children, and the last thing I wanted to do was scare him with my urging thoughts. “I was just pondering over something,” I stated.Taking my hand, Gabriel led me towards
It had been a few days since Ailee left, and everything around the pack seemed to be going smoothly. The members were starting to go outdoors more as a harvest was soon to take place, and the preparations for the Luna announcement were well underway. Walking through the valley towards the market stalls, people seemed to be in high spirits, although, I couldn't help but notice some of the members refused to look my way. had I done something to upset them? or was it because they still didn't trust me after everything that had happened? I could understand their anger with our choices but, I only hoped that they would soon begin to see the reasoning behind them. "Excuse me miss." Came a soft voice. Turning my attention to where the voice came from, I noticed a small girl standing before me. Wearing a soft yellow dress that fell to her knees, a small smile graced my lips at her cute little freckles. "Hello there." I softly said. Bending to her height, I made a mental note of all the peo
“Annabelle is my chosen.” Growled Gabriel, “So I suggest you treat her with the respect she deserves.”Scoffing, the council member took a small step back. “With all respect, Alpha, she is yet to be crowned as Luna for our people.”“Is that so?” Growling, Gabriel’s eyes began to glow. If someone didn’t step in soon, I knew things were going to escalate to a place we wouldn’t be able to control. Clearing my throat I took Gabriel’s hand in mine. Feeling the tingles run up my arm and his hand relax within my grasp; I knew my plan had worked.“you're right, councilor.” I said, “I agree that I am yet to be crowned, but as Gabriel’s chosen mate I do expect respect from every one of you.” Releasing Gabriel’s hand, I took a step closer to the man in front of me. “Unless you wish to make an enemy of me, Councilor Grover.” I knew using his name would get my message across. After all, I assumed these men thought I had no clue who they were.Frowning, Grover took a step back with a small bow of h
Frowning at Gabriel I couldn’t help but notice his eyes were trained behind me. Glancing over my shoulder I spotted one of Gabriel’s warriors standing there with his head down. His stance was stiff as if he was waiting for an attack at any minute, and the longer I gazed at him the more I noticed something familiar with him. Turning my attention to Gabriel I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t need to be watched.” Gabriel sighed as he moved towards me. “I need to know you’ll be safe, Annabelle.” “I am safe.” I insisted but I knew he could see right through me. Of course, he could, how couldn’t he? Since mating with him everything I felt he could too, and that meant he knew that I was hiding something from him. As if sensing my realisation, Gabriel nodded at the young warrior before the sound of the door closing filled my ears. We were alone and I knew exactly what was coming. “Tell me what happened last night.” There was, a question I didn’t want to answer. I wasn’t sure exactly what
Listening to his heartbeat calmed my racing mind. Who was the man in my dreams, and why was he calling out to me? There seemed to be this strange pull, and if I was being honest with myself, it scared me. The only person I felt this way with was Gabriel. Closing my eyes I thought back to the man I had seen. He seemed so familiar to me yet he seemed to have some sort of danger about him. “Come to me, my red rose.” Whispered a voice. Startled by the sudden voice, I gazed around the room as if the young man would appear from within the darkness. “What has you so distracted, my love?” Came Gabriel’s husky voice. Glancing up at him, I couldn’t help but become in awe of him. Even with his sleep-tousled hair, he was handsome. Smiling, I shook my head. “Just a bad dream,” I whispered, loud enough for him to hear. Wrapping an arm around my waist, Gabriel tugged me closer. “If it helps, you can talk about it?” Rubbing my back, Gabriel moved closer till there was no space left between us. Coul
Staring at Gabriel in shock, I couldn’t help but wonder if he had lost his mind. I understood we had to do something about Ailee, but to banish her was not something I thought he would do. To banish his blood and watch her walk off into the forest, would be sentencing her to death regardless. Taking a deep breath, I mulled over his words. “If you do this Gabriel, there’s no turning back. The council members won’t allow you to bring her back.” Nodding Gabriel walked towards me. “I have no other choice, Annabelle.” As if someone had set off a fire within me, a small idea popped into my head. “Maybe we do have another, choice,” I whispered. Frowning, Gabriel gazed down at me. “What do you mean?” “What if we say we’re banishing her, but find somewhere safe for her to live? Have her set up in an area where no council member would look for her. If we don’t, she will die out there and I don’t want you to have that on your shoulders.” I said. As if understanding the pain he would go throu
The lights from the candles flickered off the temple walls, casting shadows along the dented coble stone. It was as if the shadows were dancing a dance for the devil, calling to him in song. As humming began to fill the hall, a strong smell of blood filled the air almost causing the shadows to dance faster. On their hands and knees, men in red hooded robes lined the aisle that led to a coffin. Each one of the men was slowly bobbing their heads up and down, as the chanting became louder. Laid carefully down the aisle, sat a blood-red carpet with gold trimmings, and as the light hit it at the right angle it looked as if it was flowing. Walking into the large hall, a smirk graced the older male's face. With each step he took down the aisle, the men who knelt along its edges trembled. They feared him. They feared the power he possessed and the reputation he held. His was Satan himself, powerful and full of evil. His blood-red eyes were solely fixated on the coffin at the end of the aisl
Days had passed since my father's death. Each day, I found the anger building and the want for revenge seeped deeper into my veins. I found myself lashing out at the servants, and the lack of having Gabriel around only seemed to heighten my anger.I missed him and yearned to be near him, to touch him, but as quick as the thoughts broke in my mind, anger took over its place almost instantly.Standing in front of the large floor-to-ceiling windows in Gabriel's room, I watched the sun break over the horizon. Its soft pinks and yellows almost thawed out my frozen veins, as a rare small smile graced my lips. Opening the window, the soft breeze gently brushed against the silk of the silver dress I was wearing.I had found it on the bed this morning, a small note in its place. The dress was picked by Gabriel. Why he couldn't give it to me in person, had my veins filling with anger once more. Shaking the thoughts from my mind, I decided to leave the room for the first time since my father's d
The further I walked into the forest, the more I noticed a foul smell emitting from the trees and the soil the roots connected to. Every tree I passed smelt of rotting flesh and mould. It was a smell I had only ever smelt once in Matthew's father's shop and when my mother had shown up in front of me. It was as if the area was filled with dead animals, the bodies waiting to decompose back into the earth. With each step I took, I felt bile rise into my throat, as swallowing slowly became harder."You've made it easy for me, Anna." Came Ailee's comment. "I thought I'd have to kidnap you..." She said. Her voice was low, as her head moved from side to side as if her eyes were watching the forest around us. "The cursed ones were willing to crash your little ceremony to take you away... so thank you for making it easier for us."Glaring at the back of her head, I wanted nothing more than to hit her. The urge to cause her harm outweighed the want to run back to Gabriel. Lifting my head higher