Doesn't seem like the peace talks are off to a good start. What do you think? Will there be peace or will Kalen and Alyssa be cast out?
The cold seemed to seep into my soul, but the surprise of Kalen tossing that woman into the lake and scaring off Lena filled me with a strange warmth. I hugged myself, shivering, and walked back to our room, when I gasped in surprise when Kalen picked me up in his arms. “I can walk.”“It’s cold out here and you’re soaked,” he said, not letting me go.“Fine,” I replied, instead of arguing because his body heat felt good against my chilled body and I also was feeling a little weak and dizzy.Kalen didn’t set me down until we were in the bathroom of our room. Once he set me down, he hurried to give me a change of clothes. “You need to get out of those wet clothes. Can you do it or do you…” he paused, and the air between us became awkward and charged.“I can do it,” I said in a rush, taking the clothes. He was being a lot kinder, but I didn’t want to complicate things more than they already were. Once Kalen closed the door, I peeled the damp clothes from my skin and dressed in the warm, dr
Kalen kept his expression stoic as Lena claimed he was hurting her. When the lycan king looked at him, Kalen told him, keeping his tone as emotionless as his expression, “She did it herself to atone for mistreating a member of my group.”“He’s lying,” Lena demandedAt the same time, Carl snapped, “You’re lying! My king, you can’t trust rogues! They’re all liars and--”The king held up his hand, but didn’t take his eyes off of Kalen, who met his gaze boldly. “We all saw her pour the water on herself with no force by the rogue or his party.”“But….” Carl said as Lena’s face twisted in anger, realizing that her attempt to garner sympathy had failed.She shot Kalen a venomous look before addressing the king again. “No, you’re wrong! That rogue forced me to do it. He manipulated me,” she insisted, her voice trembling with false indignation. “I was afraid for my safety. He--”The king’s expression shifted slightly, something dark and calculating flickering in his eyes as he observed her. “Al
***Trigger Warning - This story deals with child loss ***My little one has left. I was so lucky to be his mother, yet so tragically only for a month.I hummed a soft lullaby as I rocked back and forth in the rocking chair while I held the necklace in my hands. This would be the closest I’d ever get to holding my baby ever again. Oh, goddess, why did you give him to me only to take him away so soon?My fingers brushed over the glass that sealed the ashes of my son, as I stared at the one that contained a small snip of his dark blonde hair. Hair just like his father, Kalen. This damned war! It had taken both of them from me.Six months ago, out of nowhere, rogues began attacking several packs, including ours. They were slipping past defenses and taking out key strategic spots with astonishing precision. Everywhere they went, towns burned and fields trampled, turning the whole place into a living hell.“Alyssa, take care of yourself. I will be back soon.” My father kissed me and left to
They forced me into a chair before the elders, with all the prominent figures of the pack behind us. Lena crossed her arms under her chest, smirking at me with menacing glee. “What is the meaning of this? How could you handcuff Alyssa?” an elder said, looking over at me with concern. I tried to speak, to tell them what Carl was planning, but still I couldn’t utter a sound. He motioned to the guards. “Free her now.”“Wait, you’re about to know the truth,” Carl looked serious, and the guard ignored the elder’s signal. “We are at war with the rogues. Yesterday, I received the information from the lycan king. He has found proof of a traitor in our pack. Through my own investigation, I found Alyssa has betrayed us,” Carl demanded. Again, I tried to deny it, but no sound came out of me.Was that his plan? To make me his traitor and replace me with his mistress? I struggled furiously to get out of the handcuffs.Carl looked at me dead in the eye. “Are you our traitor, Alyssa?”I stared at hi
I turned so I could see the man. Joy and horror filled me in equal measure. It was him. It was Kalen. He was really alive and here now. Yet I had to admit he wasn’t quite how I remembered. His once smiling, warm face was now hardened and cold. His blue eyes were dark and stormy, promising violence and death.“Well, well, what a surprise. Kalen, you have a knack for survival.” Carl let out a derisive laugh. “How dare you, a lowly rogue, come to my territory?” his voice was loud, but I felt the tip of the knife quiver against my neck.“You know why I’m here,” Kalen demanded. His voice rang out through the room and everyone fell silent. Most of the pack pressed themselves to the walls of the room, barely breathing as if they didn’t dare make a noise unless he’d strike them down.“I hope not,” Carl said with a laugh that made Kalen snarl at him.A hint of uncertainty filled Carl’s eyes at the sound of it. He held up his hand, lifting his chin.“That’s far enough. This doesn’t need to get p
I tried to open my eyes, but it hurt, so I closed them again. Actually, everything hurt. The smell of disinfectant and medicine filled my nose. So I wasn’t dead? That fact disappointed part of me somewhat.“Yes, her throat is healed,” someone with a muffled voice said in my ears.As my head cleared, the voice or well voices became clearer. Once more, I tried to open my eyes. After a moment, I adjusted to the lighting. I was in an unfamiliar rectangular room with several empty beds. Where was I?I turned my head to the other side and saw an unfamiliar man next to me and behind him was Kalen. So many nights I had dreams like this. I couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t a hallucination. Kalen was alive! He came back! I knew it. Tears ran down my face and I struggled to get up from the bed. I didn’t care about anything else but him being alive. I rushed to him, throwing my arms around him.“Kalen, You’re alive! You’re really alive,” I said, hugging him. My voice was hoarse and shaking from whate
Kalen dragged me out of the small building and towards another, even smaller one. He pointed to a woman. “You come here and stand here till she comes out. When she’s dressed, bring her to the bonfire.”The woman’s eyes narrowed as she saw me. Distrust and wariness were easy to read in them.“Yes, alpha,” she said, ducking her head and shoved me inside.The door slammed shut behind me with a loud bang. The sudden sound startled me. Instantly, I turned and tried to open it again. I vigorously beat against the closed door, my voice with urgency and entreaty: “Please, let me out!” However, no one answered me.I slipped slowly, like losing support, and I sat slumped on the ground against the door. I looked up and around the room. All sorts of clothes piled up in a mess, if one could call the scraps of cloth clothing. Looking at this, I felt a force in my heart. No way was I going to ‘entertain’ anyone. I looked around the room and saw my salvation, a window. It was small, but I was sure I c
The woman pulled me to my feet and took me into the room, refusing to leave until I got dressed in what Kalen had picked out for me. I gritted my teeth, reminding myself he had my necklace. I undressed and put on the clothes that Kalen chose and tried not to think of how I might look in them. When I finished, the woman led me out of the room; her face was a stoic mask. I had no way of telling if it bothered her I was going to be the ‘entertainment’ or if it was just another day for her.She walked me up to Kalen. “She’s here alpha.”Much like Carl had at my trial, Kalen sat looking like a roman emperor, ready to decide the fates of those beneath him. Four women sat or stood around him, each breathtakingly beautiful. They pawed at him, eagerly awaiting whatever command he would give them.My chest ached with a spark of jealousy that was swallowed by grief. This was just more evidence that the Kalen I knew. The Kalen I loved never existed. This was who he was for real. A rogue. A cruel,