AlysonI'm paraded in a short pink dress, one that hardly fits me at all. It's frustrating to keep the ends of the fabric down below my backside, something that amuses Olivera as I shift uneasily in my seat. He rests a hand under my leg at the table, the same dining room he had once chained me to the table pole before. I try to ignore our old squabbles as it appears our new ones are far more dire and wounding.The food is brought out, a handful of rogue wolves at the table picking over several plates of dashing, delicious food. I ignore my plate, wishing I could ignore the hand on my thigh as well. Olivera wants a docile little house pet, a kitten, and I refuse to be that for him.I shove his hand off my leg, ignoring his warning of a stare.He wipes at his mouth with a wet, white napkin, and looks over his table, proud but distracted with me by his side. "A toast to war," he exclaims proudly, everyone raising their glass. Everyone except for me, of course."Disrespectful whore," Matt
RyanNo matter her departure, I know my mate and I know what she had wanted from me. I cannot bare to mourn her much longer. It has been agonizing so far. For now I allow that pain to subside and instead, I force myself toward the Wilshire mountains, to the spot that Fritz described to me. He hadn't wanted to admit the atrocity, but the news of my mate had pushed him over the edge of the truth.I have to see it for myself, my wolf pressing me further and further through the valleys until my warriors beg for us to take a break. They plead through the link, exhausted and worn down from the run, but I have yet to break a concerning sweat.I allow them a moment to collect themselves, my eyes are stuck on the mountain in question, a gaping cave sat above it all, normally useless to the world but for now, it's the one spot I need to be in.Collecting my warriors, I force them back on their feet and we take off again, making a climb through the wintery conditions. My heart aches. I want to h
Alyson "Let me go," I plead, my breathing ragged. There's a harsh shake of my shoulder, Olivera straightening up and fidgeting with his cufflinks of a uniform. It makes him look professional, almost like a real Alpha, except he has his snide look of power and arrogance that drives me crazy. "Bad dream, blood pet?" he taunts, cocking his head down at the sight of me. I've elected to sleep on the floor the last few days, curled up on a blanket like a house-pet. It was that or stay struggling in his grasp all night in bed. He kissed my neck too much; I had to find a way around it for now even if I am just postponing the inevitable. I tuck my head back into my arms, as if I am my own pillow, and feel the numb pulse of my wrists in my silencer stone bracelets. "I feel sick," I say, albite a lie. I can tell by his attire we are going somewhere and I want no part of it. "I think I'm going to throw up, Alpha." "Stop trying to gain sympathy and get dressed," he
Alyson Olivera has to drag me out of the packhouse, stowed away underground and letting out into the wild woods of the forest. I aim to pull free of his hands, gripped tightly around my arms and my hips, trying to maneuver me in every single way he desires. He is frustrated with me, and I find solace in making him mad. It makes me feel like I've won a war, even if it is a small one. "Cut it out," the rogue Alpha barks. He yanks me forward, catching me when I trip over his back heel. "I'm sick of your persistence, blood pet." I fight to break my wrists free, tearing my arms backwards but he somehow keeps his grasp tight. It pisses me off. I snap finally, kicking at his knee, resulting in me landing back into the grass, my dress riding up far too much on my hips. The rogues all stare intently now, circled around the sight of the shameless Luna. I look aside, forcing my dress hem down. "Leave her behind, Alpha, I'll take good care of her,
Alyson "Please, Marshal," I beg, tears falling at a rapid pace down my cheeks. "Tell me you wouldn't allow it—you're suppose to be protecting all wolves, Marshal, the whole board of elders is there to—" "I know why we exist," he grumbles, his oak eyes pointed elsewhere. "We also exist to protect the major packs and clans from unforeseen problems, Alyson. That means we have to adjust to certain circumstances. More so, we have to start somewhere with testing and unfortunately the marginalized group for that would be rogues." I trade a panicked look between Olivera and Marshal, unsure what this truly means, and what the extent of this damage is. Olivera spoke of rogues being tortured and tested on. It was a worry of mine, a reason to help the rogue Alpha, but now I fear it may be bigger than I anticipated. It's got to be if I'm hearing it from Marshal. "So it's true?" I weep. "You're hurting wolves? Killing rogues?" "Not intentionally," he huffs. "There ar
Alyson Olivera practically shoves me into the bed, the sheets still messy from this morning and his exit to wake me up on the floor nearby. I want to erase the rest of this day from memory, but it's impossible to ignore. Everything has gone to hell today, even meeting with Marshal and hearing him admit the truth; he and the elders are no better than Jennifer and Jacob were to me. What's worse is that deep down, somewhere way deep in my conscious, is that I truly believed the elders were innocent, and I wanted Olivera to see that. In all reality, he was right. He said the elders were keeping captive rogues, testing on them and hurting them, and I didn't believe it. I should have; maybe this wouldn't hurt so much if I had. I sob quietly into the pillow, ashamed of my elder allies. "Lunch is served in the dining hall, Alpha," a lone warrior hums. Olivera ruffs a reply, sitting beside me on the edge of his warm, soft bed. His hand rests on t
Alyson I don't have a choice but to run. My feet slip on the river rocks as I try to cross over the rapids, failing so quickly and falling into the swift waves. I spot the rogues running nearby on the banks, ready for me to crawl out so they can snap my neck in half. I have to pursue another option to shake these guys off my trail. Thankfully the water will muddle my scent enough for me to hide and loose their tracks. Pushing myself under the water, I swim under the heavy white bubbles of the river and watch the wolves continue on running down the river's edge, passing me up as I pin my back against a heavy boulder under the waves, thankfully blocking the current from sweeping me down further. Holding my breath for as long as I can, I dare to breach the surface, cut off when four massive paws jump into the river and stand directly in front of where I am hiding out. It's Maddox, I can tell, his wolf dunking his head underwater and snapping out toward me. I
Alyson Ryan holds me at last. It feels just like I had recalled, just as I had dreamed about for so long, and I groan when he shifts, praying he isn't intending on getting up. His arms pull me back up into his lap, curled up on the couch in our suite, laid out under a heavy, furry blanket that feels more like a shield than anything else right now. The fire burns nearby in the fireplace and the smell of burnt cedar swarms the room. It reminds me of the woods where I was assaulted a few days back. "Stop it," Ryan hums, his wolf growling through his voice gently, his mind heavy on my thoughts. I have missed him in my mind-link. It feels comfortable having him back in my head. "Please, think of positive things, darling. You're back here with me." "And what of—" I cough slightly, choking on my inhale. "—Olivera?" "He's in the barracks," he says simply. He hasn't spoken of the rogue Alpha yet. I have heard murmurs though
Alyson The pain is insurmountable. I fight through it, thinking of the pups that need me, that are clinging to the hope that I will always fight for them, and I won't disappoint them now. I turn over, laid out on the floor of the bathroom, the healer working at the cramps in my spine. I grab the towels, grab my own shirt, desperate to get through this sooner than later. My wolf whines and my heart hurts. "RYAN!" I need him, I want him, and I fear I can't do this ordeal without him beside me. I lay out, exhausted from the agony, crying inconsolably until I hear heavy steps parading through the bedroom. Soon, they find the healer and I in the bathroom, my eyes dizzy as I spot Ryan, naked and drenched in rainwater. My breath catches, curious if I am dreaming. "Right here, Alpha, come help me with this," the healer grunts. I feel my mate hold my head, pushing deep into my spine as I straighten my back out in reflex, feeling th
Ryan "Damn this weather," I mutter. The storm has yet to let up and in fact, I believe it's started pouring down harder, with more vigor, and still shows no signs of slowing for my benefit. "Have you tried linking to the healer?" Olivera asks, his antsy attitude not helping my worried state right now. "I mean, if you can't reach through the link to her, she might just be asleep and everything is okay—that could be possible, right? I mean, if you think about—" "Hush," I beg. "You're rambling again." "I'm sorry that I'm flustered," he grovels. "I'm just trying to keep calm." I raise my brow, trying to stay focused on my mate but I can't seem to shake this infatuation Olivera has had for my mate. I should ignore it, as I have in the past weeks, but something about being stuck in this small cave with him has my mind tethering off too many emotions at once. "Enlighten me, please," I sigh, shaking my head out at the storm. "What is this weirdly possessive, sympathetic binding you thi
Ryan I fight through the winds, the rain cascading over my warriors and me. It wasn't the best idea coming out during this type of storm but we lacked one natural ingredient that grows just south of the waterfall trail and then the cure would be complete for the last facility of rogues. I have healed slowly in my weeks of developing the cure, but I could use a dose myself. Thankfully it hasn't affected my poorly mate, spending most of her days passed out in bed until I force her to get up and move around a bit. It's been exhausting for her, but she is the patriarchy of a new family, the strongest she-wolf I know who is capable of carrying these pups. "Dammit, lover boy! Where are you?!" I barge out of the mouth of the cave where my warriors have been taking shelter from the monsoon outside. I see that rogue alpha in the distance, throwing his hands up in a small fit of rage. It's almost amusing if he didn't also sport a petrified look of angst as well. "Over here," I call out. H
Alyson It's hard to feel not included in the cure development, but I watch Ryan and Olivera get along for many consecutive weeks. At least I have that peaceful energy around, watching them work with the palace pack healers to help the rogues locked up in the facilities, still sick. Thankfully there wasn't an enormous outbreak and everything seems to have worked out. I can't help the feeling of doom, though, thinking about every time things were perfect, something horrible happened. I thought once we defeated Jacob and sent away Jennifer, everything would have worked out forever. I was wrong, but if none of that bad stuff happened, I wouldn't be pregnant. I fear these pups won't be okay, the healer making a daily visit, sometimes twice a day, at least to check on my progress. I worry everyday he will say something bad has happened and they're hurt, or worse. I would give my life for these two pups but I hope I don't have to. "Morning, sweeth
Alyson "Relax," Ryan coos, brushing my hair back. He has finally come to my side, forcing my eyes to stay on his, even as he paces his attention back and forth between me and the healer. I squeeze my mate's hand, feeling pressure build in my abdomen. "There you go, he's done." The healer removes his gloves, my eyes catching a glimpse of Olivera in the hall, seeing him pace frantically fast back and forth in the hallway. I look at my mate now, glimmering with sadness as he peers down at me. I know he feels like I've grown feelings for the rogue Alpha, and I haven't, but I can be sympathetic to the wolf who lost everything; just like I had. "Are the pups okay?" I breathe. Ryan flinches. "More than—more than one?" He watches the healer as though waiting to hear so magical, good news. "What is going on? Are they okay? How many are there? I—" The healer settles his hands together before his body, like a man with bad news. "It's hard to tell
Alyson Whatever causes the fight, I'm not exactly sure, but it breaks out anyways. Every single wolf in the courtyard has shifted, the movements so fast that I don't even release that I've been thrown out of the hecticness, my side slamming against the brick wall and my head smacking right up against it until I feel the blood flow from a cut on my temple. I curl into a ball, my hands instinctively curling to my stomach, so dazed that instead of being able to see what has caused this fight to break out, I only spot wolves tearing into one another, biting into flesh and blood being poured. Ryan, I reach through the mind link, not capable of spotting him through the haze in my eyesight. What the hell is going on? Rouges came from the pack lands; they must have been waiting to ambush. Where are you, mate? Get out of here! Go inside, now! I aim to sit up, my head so discombobulated that I can't even dictate which direction would take me bac
Alyson It only takes a moment for me to catch my breath, and another for me to sprint across the hall, watching Olivera struggle to stand, instead melting to the floor where he slams his fist against the tile floor—it cracks instantly under his bold knuckles. I dare flinch, seeing him so angry almost a warning for me to be careful, but I instead charge forward anyways. I grab his cheek, forcing him to meet my eyes, and he relaxes ever so slightly. When he does, I drag my palm across his face in a single, sharp slap. He jolts upright, standing suddenly and staring me down with a pure look of surprise written across his face. "What the hell was that for?" "That's for doing something so stupid," I growl, my fists trembling at my sides. "You could have died from that cure, Olivera, how dare you try something that risky in my palace?" "You might be the Luna, but you're not my Luna," he says, snide. "I am free to make any decision I want if
Alyson I find myself sitting in the hallway between office and bedroom. In one, my mate suffers with an ill mark on his shoulder and back, and in the other sits an enigma of a wolf. He has kissed me, he has fondled me, and unknown to us both, he has poisoned me while I was newly pregnant. If anything, I should hate the rogue Alpha, but I don't have it in me to leave him completely. So I sit in the hall between them both, curled up with my hands resting on my stomach as if I have already blossomed outward, waiting for one of my favorite Alpha's to wake up. If I leave here to be with one, and the other wakes, I'll feel guilty forever. For now, I wait, hearing steps breach my silent mediation between Alphas. "My Luna, why are you out of bed?" I hear Fritz hum, my eyes watered and wide, shocked to see him here of all places. We didn't exactly part on the most amicable of terms. "You're still looking pale." I wave off his words and
Alyson I try to fight Olivera from going into the office, but he easily grabs my wrist, twists it, and nudges me out the doorway. He's too smart and too strong for me right now, my head blotted with the sleepiness that I can't seem to shake. I grab at his arm, at his shirt sleeve, and dig my heals against the ground. He drags me a few paces before finally stopping. "You're a persistent little bug," he snaps, releasing my hands off of his shirt and giving me a stern look. "We have to find out what this cure does to an Alpha and as it stands, I'm the one best capable here of verbalizing the aftermath of taking this cure. If it makes things worse, so be it." I feel my heart patter to a screeching halt. "What does worse contain?" He looks to the healer, the vial on the desk nearby, and then back to meet my eyes. "I could die, of course, or I could only loose my wolf. I'm happy to put both on the line to see if this stuff is worthy of fixing Ryan, fi