The waves of pleasure crashed through me. My limp body shook long after I landed from my jump off that impossibly high peak. The phantom of his fangs haunted me in the most amazing way, my neck throbbed with something between pain and pleasure. I felt Garreth in every part of me, not just because he laid so close and had touched me like no one ever had, but his being felt like one with my own.
His emotions poured into me and I was overtaken by his lust and worry. The intensity made the breath catch in my throat. My mate felt things so deeply and that fact endeared him to me even more. I was sure that my life force was tethered to his, it no longer faded into nothingness but anchored to the only person left in this world that loved me.
My strength still suffered, that would not be restored unless my wings were returned to me, but the bond served th
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Garreth Indescribable joy filled me at finally being bonded with my mate after all the years I'd spent searching for her. What I didn't expect was the sickening feeling of sharing my magic through our bond. Werewolves aren't magic users, we just are magic. Our blood is gifted with the same magic that hangs the moon in the sky, our ability to shift tied to its ever-changing nature. We were right in assuming that completing the bond would strengthen her, but I never anticipated the sickening effect it would have on me. I didn't mind though, as long as she was alive, gifting me with her smiles and gentle touch. This bought us a little more time to figure out a way to save her, save us both. It was obvious from the way I felt that this was no permanent solution. The madness was cleansed from my mind, the only evidence that remained was a scar on my soul. We slept in each other's arms that night, too tired to even move to clean ourselves up. When the sun rose we t
Hazel Garreth left me alone in his room, even with the separation between us I could still feel his emotions through our bond. It would take me a long time to adjust to the sensation, but it was a comfort to always know if he was okay. Except that it didn’t feel like he was okay at the moment. I heard the door to the packhouse slam open and shouting. A woman was screaming her head off like someone was killing her. “Mama Grace, someone get Mama Grace now!” My mate called. I rushed out of the room, unable to help myself. His room was on the third floor, and since I was unconscious when I came here this was my first time seeing the place. Garreth stood in the entryway with a big blonde wolf, and in his arms was a very pregnant she-wolf. She was screaming and clutching her belly. I was a healer, at least I was when I still had magic. Before my parents died I had assisted in many nymph births. The process was mostly the same for all mammals and my desire to help h
Hazel After the baby was born, I went back to our bedroom, as Garreth called it. I opened the window for Gera. The cold night air poured in, and I could just make out her glowing yellow eyes perched in the tree nearest the packhouse. She watched me wave to her but remained outside eyeing the place with blatant distrust. Even with the weakened state of our connection, I could feel the displeasure rippling off her feathers. I wasn’t sure when she started watching and hovering, but I sincerely hoped it wasn’t while we mated. My cheeks burned at the thought of her seeing what we’d done. Even if she was only an owl she was still my familiar, and that wasn’t a side of myself I felt comfortable sharing with her. I cannot say the thought of her peeping was enough to keep me from him. The night passed with many
I stared at the creature who pretended to be my familiar, who laid with me when I slept, supported me while I mourned my parent's death, and endured the rejection of my people beside me. My safe harbor laid on the ground before me, leaving nothing truly safe left in my life. The wolf I loved, and bound my life and soul to, was fated to me, but still more or less a stranger. We didn't know anything about each other other than the impossible love between us. I had no doubt the connection of knowing each other well would come in time, but we didn't have it yet. I realized with a painful stab in my heart that the same was true for her. As much as I thought we were the best of friends, the closest two beings could be, I knew nothing about her. There was no one left in this world I truly knew. It made me wonder if I even knew my parents. Gera was certainly Fae, long-limbed, with pointed ears, and a touch of magic glowing in her, but it was darker than I was accusto
Garreth Rage, searing hot rage, and pain exploded within me. My wolf burst forth as she ran away from us, we watched her slender form darting away, she was quite fast. He wanted to chase her, and that speed only increased his desire to chase, to conquer. With strength I didn’t know I had, I managed to stop him. I battled with him, but now that I was in the back of his mind I didn’t know how. I knew if I was upset enough, he could use that weakness to force his way out, but my weakness was his strength, how did I fight that when my pain consumed me? I gave up on taking back my body and focused on controlling his. His growls poured out of him in a constant stream as I managed to keep him from hunting her. He didn’t want to hurt her, but I didn’t trust him, not in this state. If she needed space, I could understand that, I could come to terms with it. If she planned to leave me that was another matter, the pain of
Hazel The man I loved continued to lay in my lap until the sun slunk low in the sky. Well, that was a waste of a day I thought dryly, and a hysterical laugh burst free from my lips. He turned to face me for the first time since we'd been this way. My legs fell asleep hours ago but I didn't dare to move him. He peered up at me with his lovely amber eyes, red-rimmed and exhausted. "What's funny?" His voice was thick from the screaming, crying, howling, and not talking. I rolled my eyes, unable to help myself. “We didn’t get much done today.” “I suppose not.” The sadness in his voice nearly swallowed me whole. “We should head back to the packhouse, we’ll get cleaned up, have dinner, we can talk, and start again tomorrow.” “Okay.” I agreed, and he stood taking me with him. It made me a little sick to be covered in deer blood, but until this moment I didn’t think much of it. “I’ll carry you.
Garreth I could hardly believe what was happening, she was in my arms, telling me we needed to find a way forward, together. Together, she still wanted to be with me, and even more amazing I could smell her desire perfuming the air between us when she mentioned trying things she’d read about. The emotions coming through our bond had been so calm, so sure. The only reasonable interpretation I could come up with was that she was leaving me, and felt justified in that decision. I never imagined she could just accept me as damaged as I was. I didn’t deserve this incredible creature in my arms. Guilt swelled within me for feeling relieved she would stay beside me. She shouldn’t, not when I’d come so close to hurting her. I didn’t even remember what my wolf did, it was like I wasn’t even there. From the scene I returned to, and the intensity of his guilt, I knew it had to be something awful. The thought that
Hazel His words hit me like a wrecking ball. I couldn’t speak, I could barely breathe. “Do you want to know what happened?” He offered as he felt the tension in my body and the fear through our bond. I nodded my head against his chest. “Do you want a little space?” I shook my head as scared as I was, I was exactly where I belonged. He took a deep breath. "This isn't easy for me to talk about for a lot of reasons, but you must understand. I know you've bonded yourself to me because we needed to save your life, but once we get your wings back you can leave me if you choose. It's important for you to know you have options, I won't hold you prisoner." He ran his hand roughly through his hair. "I guess I'll start at the beginning." “My father’s name was Mason and my mother’s name was Claire. He was a typical headstrong, explosive, young alpha and she was the prettiest she-wolf you’d ever see.” The warmth in his voic
Garreth Pain, bursting explosive pain, shattered through my mind. My skull felt like it was split down the middle. I reached my hand out to touch the spot I was sure would be broken and was amazed to find the healed skin over the top of it. Oh, right, werewolf healing. I had been hit so hard I forgot I was a werewolf for a minute. Beneath the healed skin was a raised ridge where the bone beneath it had broken. I couldn't open my eyes, and trudging through the darkness behind my eyelids was near impossible. What happened and where was I? Smells and sounds filled my senses. Home. I was in the packhouse. Hazel. Her sweet delicious scent wrapped around me and for a moment I felt peaceful. Our Luna was here. I was alive. Everything was okay. Then the memories came. Marica, Gera, my hands wrapped so tightly around the throat of the one person I never wanted to hurt, the same person I seemed to keep hurting despite my better intentions. I wanted to bl
I followed after my aunts wondering how exactly my life had gotten so screwed up. I mean, it was always bad, but this was something different. The one person I’d loved and trusted more than anyone else had betrayed me in more ways than I could count. My throat ached from my mate attempting to choke me to death, a gift from my other aunt. She was as evil as they came and much like her sister pretended to be there for me, to help me to achieve her wicked ends. I thought of my kind and beautiful mother and wondered how similar she was to her wicked sisters. The forest floor was icy cold beneath my feet and yet it was the warmest part of this moment. I followed Gera and Marica for so long my magic slowly puttered and then gave out. Garreth fell from my grip and landed hard against the ground. I dropped beside him, running my hands over his face. I needed him to open those beautiful golden amber eyes and make everything in my life right again. “Hazel, I have to lo
3rd Person POV Marica woke just in time to see the effects of her dark magic at play. Garreth's hands tightened around Hazel's throat, her life moments from leaving her. At first, she wanted to laugh and relish the moment. Blood vessels burst in her eyes and the utter look of fear on her face was a wonderful sight to wake up to. She lifted her hands to call off the assault. When Garreth met her eyes she placed a spell on him that would cause him to attack the ones he loved most. It was a fancy trick she'd picked up from an Unseelie fae she'd murdered and drained of her powers. It was no easy feat to take the powers of a fae with no wings, but Marica found a way once she had enough stolen power. Panic sparked in Marica’s eyes as Garreth continued to wring the life out of the sweet little nymph that had saved him from himself. Marica screamed as she looked at the cage around her, she’d seen and made many of these cages but this was the first one strong enough t
3rd Person Point of View “It’s been such a long time sister, I thought you’d never try to come home. Did your darling niece finally tire of you and send you on your way?” Marica taunted Gera as she paced the space in front of the portal, trying to block Gera from entering. “It wasn’t that so much as I missed my family, you know how well I love my mother and my eldest sister, besides, the nymph is your niece as well.” Gera gave her a taunting look, doing her best not to glance toward the trees she knew Hazel and Garreth were hiding in. "Don't remind me, how pathetic it is to be related to a nymph." She gave her a calculating look. "I cannot tell which is worse, having a wood nymph for a sister, or a shifter. Oh god, you even stink like her and her wolf, which is somehow worse than your natural aroma. I'd hoped that would fade by now." Gera focused on breathing normally, when had she stolen a heightened sense of smell? She shouldn't be able to sm
3rd Person Point of View Marica stood atop the mountains looking over the world she hated. It wasn’t anything special, she hated all the worlds and realms she visited. She positively buzzed with the power she had taken from others, particularly the wretched creature that was technically her niece. Her power was so intense, and the pathetic girl had no idea how to use it. She looked out over the landscape lamenting the fact she did not have more of it. She felt the interruption in the air as someone materialized beside her. “You’re here.” She complained with no feeling. “I am.” His voice sounded odd, but she supposed that was natural when it was pushed through the filter of someone else's body. She looked over at him, agitated that she needed to pay him any attention at all. Her mother told her she must work with him, but she resented the deal from the moment it began. She may peel the wings off the lowly fae but to step inside another person's body an
Gera Hazel curled into a ball, and let the tears have her. It had been years since I’d seen her this way. My heart ached as I thought back to when I first came to protect her. This was how I found her more often than not. I guess losing your family is hard when they’re a family worth losing. I couldn’t relate to the love she had for her parents, but I could certainly understand the pain. “Hazel, sweetheart, let's talk. Please sit up.” I gently coaxed her, stroking my hand along her back. I couldn’t believe she slapped me, she’d always been such a gentle creature. So much so, that even with all the power inside of her I feared she would not be able to protect herself. Maybe she had more backbone than I gave her credit for. A little thrill of pride went through me. I was unsurprised that I slapped her back, retaliation was a perfectly normal and acceptable part of life for me. I still regretted the decision. She was lashing out because she was in pain, if I wer
HazelMy phantom hands reached out to touch the words my mother left for me. I wondered why she would leave it here, did she plan to deliver it to me and get interrupted, or was this the only safe option.I tried to take a settling breath, but a breath can only settle a body, at the moment I didn't have one. It was now or never, I could feel the connection to my body strengthening. I would be back in my skin before long.*Hazel,I am so sorry for everything I should have done differently, my love. I should have known you were strong enough to learn the truth about our family, and because of my fears, I will not be the one to give the truth to you.The things you have to learn are numerous and frightening, I do not know half of them myself, but if you have made it here you must have learned some of them on your own. I can only hope you found an ally in all of this.As you may already know, we are not exactly as we seem. There is darkn
Garreth My heart filled with joy as the magic sealed her in as my Luna. The pack stood by watching in awe as our marks glowed, then the twine, then her tree. It was magic unlike any of us had ever seen. They were stunned silent, but I was just amused. She was a beacon of light, goodness, and power, of course, her Luna Ceremony was special. I felt the force of her magic surging within me, intense and healing, it cleansed my mind and soul and left me desperate to take her. I reached out to her ready to slip my tongue into her sweet mouth and taste her without a care for who watched. Instead, I watched in shock as she dropped, losing consciousness. Before she could hit the ground I swept her into my arms. I checked her breathing and her pulse and all seemed okay. Rumblings broke out through the pack, some sounded concerned, some expectant, like they thought something would go wrong here. "Silence, and nobody leaves," I commanded them in my alpha to
Hazel The pack was congregated outside waiting for me to become their luna under the half-moon. They didn't know that we would be changing the location at the last moment. To say I was scared was an understatement. I didn't have any idea at all how to lead them and there was so much stacked against us already. Gera and Garreth had agreed to a temporary ceasefire pending the rest of her story. They both agreed the story could wait until after the ceremony was completed. I wanted to know what happened to my parents and Gera’s history but I was so afraid of what she had to say I was willing to wait. I invited Gera back to the packhouse to sleep for the night, and Garreth grudgingly agreed but she declined the offer saying she was more comfortable as an owl sleeping in the trees. I supposed it made sense she had spent years exclusively that way. Evette the housekeeper spent the entire day working over me, covering me in powders and polishes, curling and s