When that first Hybrid tackled me to the floor, I assumed that I was dead meat. I could hear the others approaching. Which one would be first to rip my neck out? It takes two or three regular men to take on a hybrid wolf. But despite the odds, I kept going. If I made myself difficult to kill, it all bought seconds of time for Zena to put more metres between us. Merged alongside the terror of dying was the tightening of my heart, the clamping of my ribcage as she got away. I had to take that as a good thing. If she had turned round, coming back for me in some deranged attempt to save the day, the pain would lessen. So I got back on four paws and bared my teeth, jumping at the huge ashy blonde wolf who had taken me down. We rolled together, down a slight hillside, crashing into a fallen tree. The wolf yelped in agony as I used my claws to grip onto its back. In a crazed rodeo, Shi hung on and tore out huge chunks of flesh. Blood spurted everywhere, soaking my fur, fouling my taste b
I didn’t sleep a wink. Looking in the mirror, I am a shadow of my former self. Dark grey bags have aged my face ten years. I look miserable. This is what White Forest life is doing to me, I tell myself. This is how low Zena has dragged me. The fact that I keep being sick doesn’t help. I’m pretty certain it's Mani’s way of silently protesting my choices. Tonight is the full moon, and it’s time to pick a side. I want the winning one. Even though my stomach lurches with nausea each time I consider it, I choke it back. Betraying an Alpha, abandoning the pack that raised you is not as simple as handing in a resignation letter. It just means I’ve got to get the job done and get up to the North before the full moon rises. Which also means I’m on a bit of a deadline. I head to take breakfast in the large dining hall early, trying to find anything I can hold down. This place used to be full of Warrior students, staff, and guards. Bustling with energy and gossip. Now, every sound echoes. I
The gathering at the head of the mountain pass was impressive. Nearing a hundred of the largest, most powerful men all gathered at the last flat clearing before the mountain peaks. The bulk of Shadowlands might, and a large chunk of White Forest. Alpha Nikolai strode over, his black cloak swirling behind him. “I hope your quick change in plans works out. You fetched your best men?” “And nearly all our best women,” nodding at a two dozen green-clad, masked figures waiting with wolfsbane-tipped bow and arrows. Focused, checking over their equipment, ready to spill some blood. I like to think had I been able to follow a path away from the visions and Fate I might have been a badass fighter like them. Nikolai firmly gripped his hand. "So. You sure Zeke can kill Phillipe?" "He has a reduced team but I have no doubt Phillipe will die tonight," the fiery-haired Alpha replied crisply. The two have powerful, dominating auras. Sybil and every other wolf in a ten metre radius is immediatel
“Make this worth doing,” Cillian growled as I gripped my bow and arrow and fell into line with the other girls. Mask down, my breath hot on my face. I tried to be the same as everyone else. Letting Ansley set off, following my detailed instructions, I wasn’t surprised when Cillian confirmed to us all, “she can see the cabins.” Padgett’s magic has failed. “The light is fading. It’s now or never. We sneak into the fields whilst they are drawn towards Zena.” So whilst Ansely meandered her way, skittering around boulders, ducking into the cornfields, trying to avoid inevitable detection, the White Forest and Shadowlands groups split into two. Heading east and west, the aim was to take them by surprise, charging at them from two sides when the moment finally came. In the carnage of battle, they wouldn’t know I was there. I can get to Padgett. Or maybe even Briss. Working through the corn, I kept my head low. My instinct to check on Ansley would not help us right now. I need to blend. S
Jasmine. I can smell jasmine again. I shift and remember my leg is completely fucked. And what is this? Wooden planks and branches are pressing down on every major organ. A funeral pyre? Am I dead? Before my heart rate can race off the charts, Shi jumps in. /I couldn’t let them take me from you. One of the Fate’s covered us up. I’m so sorry your leg is still broken./ Shit, how close to death is my wolf having to skirt in order to keep us together? My leg pain is more bearable at least. Struggling against the immovable weight of the wood I mutter curses whilst inhaling that perfect jasmine scent. /She’s close. The jasmine is hers./ I’m thrilled and devastated at the same time. What is she doing here, putting herself in danger? I shrug my shoulders only to feel the branches and sticks shift around me ripping new wounds. A small gap opens up and I can just see the glinting full moon with its ominous red tint. I can smell fire. I can feel the heat too, I need to get out of this wood p
When I wake up again, I am half tempted to severely reprimand Shi for making me fade out of the most perfect moment of my life. I was in Zena’s arms, surrounded by jasmine and love, and now…well where the hell am I? “You’re awake!” Zena cries, and I do my best not to cry out in pain at feeling her roll into my arms, planting fierce kisses on my cheeks. “We’re still in the north, up at the coven?” I murmur after allowing myself to be spoiled with rough, greedy affection for a minute. I have just enough strength to lift my arm, trailing my fingers over her bare neck. I close my eyes again, overpowered by the sensation of feeling her perfectly soft skin under my fingertips. “Yes but not for long. Then do you know what-” “Zena let me treat him,” a stern voice reprimanded. I squinted at the sun over my head. “He’s seriously weak.” I might be mistaken, but I’m almost certain I heard Zena growl under her breath at the request. With a dozen more soft kisses, she lifted herself away but k
I cannot wait to get out of this dusty, blood-stained patch of dirt. Not a single cabin remains standing. Just black, charred skeletons. While Briss first slept I held his hand and stared at them. Trying to make sense in my own mind of just what my life should become now. I didn’t want to look too closely at the bodies. Padgett had described me as a river, always heading towards what I want. But this place was never what I wanted. Unlike Jane, it never felt like home. It taught me so much, how to use my gift but then the image of sweet little Phoebe Kharkov comes into my head. What if a thoughtful, gentle girl like her ended up in this lonely wasteland? Too many women have had their gift manipulated and forced into use. Look at Luna Genevieve and Helena. Mated to Alpha’s yet blighted with glimpses of pain and disaster, distorting their potential joy. What if the Moon Goddess and her plans should just be left the fuck alone? Then they could be free. I could be free. Ideas rattle a
Zena is as good as her word. We have a truck to ourselves, stacked with food and other goods. Without revealing a single detail she triumphantly set us up in as much comfort as possible.Every other truck was overflowing with men, stuffed together like sardines. On a passenger bench big enough for three I sat stretched out, my wounded leg supported with a makeshift pillow-thing she had built out of all the discarded and ripped shifter clothes. Zena next to me driving, continuously catching my eye with a proud little smile on her face.She hasn’t stopped for a second. I can only watch as her mind works overtime. I know better than to question whatever scheme she has going on. Eventually, the whole convoy starts up and we are away. Zena drives steadily, making sure we end up at the very back of the Shadowlands convoy. She doesn't give her burned out coven a second glance. There was no special pyre or ceremony for Padgett either. Her body has been lost to the cabin fires. A woman who ha