I watched Susanna calmly walk back inside, and turned to Haden, "What did she mean, about not being what she expected?" I asked, and he just shrugged again, though there was a hint of amusement on his face. "Haden?" I prodded again, as he took my hand and began to lead me around the enormous building, and he sighed softly. "Susanna is.." he began, seeming to consider his words thoughtfully, "well.. she doesn't miss much. And she doesn't let on even a fraction of what she's noticed. She understands more about the people and happenings in this pack than anyone could ever know." I frowned, thinking of my first impression of her, and wondered how many others saw her perfectly preened appearance, and dismissive, haughty kind of attitude, and saw little else beyond it. Haden glanced at me, then gave a soft laugh, "You'll find a lot of people aren't quite what they first seem here," he said gently, "Like Saxon, and his reputation. Hell, even his demeanor with most people.. it's not who he r
The pack house was much calmer when we returned, and Haden led me straight upstairs, seeming to understand that I didn't want to be around people right now. Especially those from Silver Waters. I had no doubt that Abigail would retaliate, for being dressed down by both Saxon, then Haden and Susanna. I could only imagine her fury at being stripped of any rank and demoted to Omega, and I had to admit, it was a little bit satisfying to think of. I wondered briefly what she had expected, coming here. Did she think she would take Byron as a chosen mate, to keep some kind of rank and privilege? Or even Saxon? Somehow, thinking of the latter made me feel angry. Jealous, even, and Haden noticed the sudden change in my demeanor, giving me a questioning look as we reached the third floor landing. I kept walking though, heading straight for Saxon's suite. Pushing open the door and walking straight in, I suddenly froze, seeing him and Serana standing in his living area, her hand on her chest
I woke up a few hours later, snuggled tightly between them, with one of each of their arms draped over me, and realised I must have fallen asleep almost immediately. It wasn't all that surprising, really, given how thorough they seemed to like being when it came to giving me pleasure. And how skilled they were at it. I sighed softly, trying to gently wiggle my way out from between their sleeping forms, to head to the bathroom. Haden stirred sleepily, his arm curling around me tighter, holding me against him, and I sighed again, trying to move it. He lifted his head then, frowning at me, until I hissed at him to stop and let me get up. "Where are you going?" he mumbled, still half asleep, then reluctantly released me when I told him. Saxon's arm was easier to move, though he still stirred slightly as I pulled away and climbed off the end of the bed. Slipping away while they slept might not be all that easy, I thought to myself as I used the bathroom, pausing to wash my hands and face
Haden and I finished drying and dressing, managing to both keep our hands to ourselves, and headed downstairs to eat. Marta seemed to give us both a knowing kind of smile as we reached the kitchen window, telling us she'd have some food out for us soon, and I gave Haden a questioning look as he led me over to the seperate, higher table again. I took the seat beside his this time, and he smiled, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. I blushed, looking up at him, "I thought you and Saxon wanted to keep this all a secret for now," I said gently, and he shrugged, smiling. "I think people are noticing the way you keep touching me, holding my hand.." I continued, thinking of the way Mitch had noticed at the hospital yesterday. Haden's smile widened, a hint of mischief in his eyes, "The mate part we'll keep to ourselves a while longer," he said quietly, "but that doesn't mean I can't let people know that you're off limits." I raised an eyebrow at him, and he laughed softly, "
"No," I whimpered, shaking my head again as tears began flowing freely from my eyes. He nodded sadly, "I'm sorry, Ava, if there was anything we could do.." he trailed off as I broke down into sobs, burying my face into his strong chest, clinging to him as he wrapped his arms tightly around me. He held me for what seemed like forever, his head rested lightly on mine. When my sobs finally ceased, and I lifted my head, wiping my red, swollen eyes, he dropped his arms, nodding towards the bed and Mama's sleeping, frail form. "Would you like to stay, until.." he asked, and I frowned up at him. "H..how long?" I asked him, not realising it would come so quickly now, and he gave me another sympathetic look, "Not long now, I think." I nodded, and he pulled a large armchair closer to the bed, and I sat in it, taking Mama's hand again, while he grabbed a chair for himself, bringing it in and sitting himself next to me. He placed a hand on my back, rubbing it soothingly as we sat for most of t
Saxon did as he'd said, escorting me up to his rooms, and leaving me with another reminder to stay there and only let him or Haden inside. I nodded my agreement, thanking him again, though I struggled to meet his eyes. I hoped he put that down to grief, or embarrassment over what he'd seen downstairs. Either way, I was finally alone, and I immediately headed for the walk-in wardrobe, searching for some kind of bag or pack I could throw some clothes into. I didn't have anything else much to take with me, and I couldn't bring myself to steal anything else, so it would have to make do, because I sure as hell couldn't stay here. I didn't dare wait around a second longer than I had to, not knowing how long Saxon and Haden would be, and began throwing as many of the clothes they gave me that would fit, into the first backpack I found, stashed right at the back of Saxon's wardrobe. I slung it over my shoulders, and headed for the suite doors, but hesitated, glancing towards the window.It
As I wandered down the street, towards the shop Kaira had mentioned, I noticed the few people that were about eyeing me suspiciously. It was blatant, and consistent, enough that I quickly began to feel uncomfortable here, out in the open, and couldn't help but start walking more hunched over, with my head down, trying to draw less attention. I found the shop, though it looked dark inside, and had a closed sign on the front. Looking at the displayed business hours, I couldn't help but find them odd, with only a few days and short hours that they were open. Had they been short-staffed for so long that they'd had to reduce their opening times, I thought to myself, and wondered if it implied anything about how well they treated their workers. Yet, it seemed like a small town, so maybe there were just too many jobs, and too few people, I told myself, trying to remain optimistic. I turned away from the shop, and found myself face to face with an older man, looking quite unimpressed as he
"Miss! Excuse me, Miss!" the friendly librarian's voice was saying, as I opened my eyes, slowly getting my bearings again. "I'm sorry, Miss," she continued, as I sat up straighter, "It's well past closing time, I'm going to need to ask you to leave." I sighed, rubbing my eyes, feeling guilty that I'd made her stay late. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" I blurted out sleepily, "I didn't mean to fall asleep." I stood up, reaching for my bag, and the small t-shirt-wrapped bundle I'd left on top of it. "Oh, no, it's okay," the librarian said, "We just need to close up. You're welcome to come back tomorrow," she smiled, and I thanked her as I reached for the maps. "I can put those back for you," she said, holding out her hand and seeming eager for me to get going already. I passed them to her and thanked her again, before heading straight for the door, which she locked immediately behind me. She gave me a quick farewell wave through the window, then tugged the cord to close the blinds, and I turned t
Haden and I shared a shocked glance, as Saxon tried to find the words to respond to Laila's suggestion. Nightfall had not had an official ally for decades, even I knew that. They had isolated themselves since the war with the Royals, shunning almost all outside contact, only becoming more and more insulated as the years passed. To say it was unexpected for them to not only be willing now, but actually suggest it themselves, was an enormous understatement. Laila and her Betas waited patiently for Saxon's response, and after a long moment collecting himself, he dipped his head graciously. "We would be honoured," he said humbly, and Laila beamed in response. "Wonderful. I think our packs could truly flourish together," she said brightly, with a glance in my direction. "And learn a great deal from each other," she added, and I couldn't help but think of the former Royal witches she'd mentioned.A part of me couldn't resist the pull of the past, yearning to learn more of where I'd come
I swallowed, the realisation that my existence was the catalyst for so much atrocity making me feel suddenly ill. Laila gently squeezed my hand again, quickly burying her feelings of anger and disgust, "It's not your fault," she said gently, "You had no part in this, and from what I'm told, you've fought their vile plans just as hard as we have."I nodded, though her reassurance barely scratched the surface of the guilt that I felt. "I'm sorry," I said quietly, "I would never have wished for any of this, not even on my worse enemy. Certainly not on my mates.. or on yours," I added, as a further pang of guilt hit with the recollection that one of her mates had been gravely injured too. "Thane.." I began uncertainly, "Our Elders, they'd heard.." she nodded, saving me from trying to find the words that could never even begin to express the depth of the guilt that I felt. "He's.. healing," she said with a sad smile, "Elyanna, and Dorian - our lead Doctor - are both helping him as best
I stared back at her, not quite able to find the words to respond. The nurse keeping an eye on me seemed equally uncertain, glancing nervously between us, and where Saxon was checking in on Haden. The Luna gave a soft, casual laugh as she noticed. "Relax, I'm not about to bite her head off," she said to the nurse playfully, before turning back to me, "But I did think it was past time we properly met. We are apparently related, after all." The nurse gave her a sharp look, but gave us a little more space, physically at least, though he continued to watch us like a hawk. Laila smiled warmly, as she noticed, "They seem as protective of you, as mine are of me," she said quietly, and though I frowned doubtfully, her words brought a warming kind of comfort. They did seem to care about me, certainly far more than Silver Waters ever had. She watched me patiently, and my mind was drawn back to her previous comment. "Oh.. I suppose we are related, aren't we?" I said awkwardly, and she respond
He'd been at the hospital when Mama had been brought in, I realised. Or, the woman I'd known as Mama, anyway, though it seemed like a lifetime ago, with all that had happened since. He smiled sympathetically, asking questions as he examined my leg, which I answered in something of a daze as all the memories came flooding back at once. So much, in such a short time, it was all too easy to get lost in it all. Saxon squeezed my hand as he sat beside me, bringing me back to the moment, as the nurse turned to report to a not so familiar pack doctor, who immediately began grabbing things from the largest med satchel I'd ever seen. He handed them to the nurse without a word, quickly moving on to help another nurse, then another. Far too many injuries, I realised, my stomach twisting in knots. I looked up at Saxon, barely managing to find my voice through the gut wrenching guilt and sadness. "I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice turning to a whimper as the nurse began tightly bandaging my
I stepped backwards as one reached a thickly-muscled arm towards me, crying out as I put weight on my momentarily-forgotten injured leg. His hand only gripped my shoulder reassuringly though, then my waist as his expression turned to one of concern. His eyes went blank for a moment, presumably communicating with the two who had climbed through after him, their weapons already drawn as they moved towards Haden and Reagan. I attempted to struggle as he lifted me easily, shaking my head, but he was exceptionally strong, even for a Lycan, and gave a soft laugh in response. "Relax, Princess," he said, sounding half-mocking, yet somehow warm, "We're friends, you're safe now." He carried me towards the window, but stood aside to allow two more to climb through, before calling out to one on the other side. "Marcus! Take her, carefully.. she's hurt," he said, and another huge Lycan came over to the outside of the window, waiting to gently grab my legs as the first passed them through, desp
It was beautiful. Terrifying, no doubt, yet truly beautiful. Like thousands of tiny fireflies, aligned in pairs, blinking in the darkness.In a vibrant shade of royal purple. 'Saxon?'' I called to him, through the mindlink, and immediately felt his warmth. He was close, I could tell.'We're here, love,' he repeated, and I felt an enormous surge of relief, though it quickly changed to horror as Reagan stopped his pacing, slowly turning to Haden with a wildly savage look on his face. Then he grinned, a grin of complete, malevolent, insanity, that made my stomach turn, and lunged for him, daggers in each hand. "NO!" I screamed, shoving myself up and towards him, with all of the strength I had remaining. It wasn't enough. He was too far, and I was too weak.. but I had to try. I screamed again, as pain filled me, a fleeting thought wondered if I'd broken a limb, or several, but I ignored it. Reaching Haden was the only thing that mattered. Haden moved even quicker though, suddenly k
Reagan looked confused, caught off guard for a moment by Haden's expression. He looked between the two of us and his six men, seeming uncertain, before he looked at Haden again, drawing another of his hidden silver daggers. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, staring down into Haden's eyes, as he turned the dagger around and around between his long, slender fingers. "Is the poison affecting your wits, boy?" he continued, with a laugh that sounded a little forced. Reagan's head snapped around to his six men, "Look! The poor, pathetic Lycan boy's going mad!" he said with another bout of laughter, this time chorused by his men. Haden smiled wider, and it seemed to bother Reagan even further. "Well, come on," he said, gesturing grandly and raising his voice, clearly mocking, "Enlighten us with this joy you've found, at the end of your miserable life!"Haden muttered something, barely audible to my ears, and entirely imperceptible to theirs. My eyes widened, but I barely managed to swall
A dismissive grunt was followed by the sound of someone being roughly shoved aside, then heavy footsteps coming closer. Lifting my eyelids as much as I could without being noticed, I could see only one pair of worn, bedraggled, yet impracticably ornate boots on the floor in front of us. They had to be Reagan's. He was silent for a long moment, as though watching us, thinking, as the rest of the footsteps followed. They were much more hesitant, yet still fell in behind their madman leader. I wondered what he had promised them. For the twins, it seemed obvious, they only really wanted one thing. And the werewolves of course had their own reasons. But the rest?Why would the rest of the Silver Waters Lycans follow a werewolf Royal, hellbent on revenge against their kind? I was pulled from my thoughts by Reagan's uncomfortably cold fingers suddenly gripping my cheeks, lifting my head and roughly turning it back and forth. "Wakey, wakey, my sweet Princess," he cooed in a sing-song ki
I woke slowly, my hearing returning first, before I'd even regained the strength to open my eyes. As my mind slowly cleared of the heavy foginess, I kept them closed, listening to the voices around me. My heart sank as I desperately tried to hear Haden, but Ceridwen's voice in the back of my mind was soothing. "He's close," she murmured groggily, "I can feel him." Her words brought some relief, and I focused on assessing the situation we now found ourselves in. Listening for a long moment, it was clear there were guards around us, yet I couldn't hear any signs of Reagan himself close by. I was grateful for that, but a new rush of fear swept through me, as I thought of Saxon. Had they warned him? Was Reagan hunting him now? Or worse, I wondered, with a deep feeling of dread. Ceridwen made her frustration clear, though, and I turned to gently testing the binds I felt around my wrists, feet, and chest, instead. They felt strong, and tight, and I dared not test them too much, in case