[Rosalie’s POV]I watch in horror as Diego begins to move with Geo in tow.“No!” I gasp, understanding what he is planning. “STOP!”As the words leave my lips, I’m moving, attempting to rush in the direction that Diego has disappeared, but strong arms stop me.Gasping, I let out a snarl and whirl around to find Oscar, Gil’s beta, holding me in place.“Let go.” I hiss, trying to keep my temper in check. “NOW!”“I have orders from Alpha to keep you here.” Oscar counters. “He will retrieve the boy.”Gil would retrieve the boy… That was exactly what I was worried about. If he and Diego went up against one another, I knew it wouldn’t turn out well. At least if it were me to approach Diego, things wouldn’t end in blood shed.“Geo is my son!” I snap, beginning to fight against his arms. “As his mother, it is my responsibility!”“I’m sorry.” Oscar drawls in his monotone. “I am to follow Alpha’s orders.”Cursing inwardly, I listen to the sounds of shouting in Geo’s room.“STOP FUCKING AROUND!”
[Rosalie’s POV]Panic rushes through me as I try to determine whether or not the darkness was randomly possessing Rio and Oscar or if... No. I couldn’t think like that, not after everything Gil did for me.Shaking off my unease, I continue to move in hopes of shaking off the two that are diligently chasing me.As we move, those around us work to get out of the way, while others yell and pull out their phones. Luckily, this was an area that was populated only by wolves; otherwise, there would be a lot of trouble to clean up later.Gil, I think inwardly, deciding that was the thing to focus on right now. I needed to find him. I was certain that once I did, I would find Diego and Geo as well.Picking up my pace, I extend my senses until I feel Gil.Bursting forward, I head in the direction his energy is coming from at full speed until, finally, I see him.‘Gil!’ I call, hoping that he can hear me. ‘I need some help here!’As the words leave me, Gil’s gaze comes to rest on me, and when it
[Diego’s POV]A slow smirk begins to spread across my face as I watch Kate’s cheeks turn from pink to bright red due to just how pissed she is over what Geo has said.“You…” She whispers, her voice shaking. “What did you just say?”As she speaks, her gaze comes to rest on me, and I simply nod.“It’s as he said.” I respond, moving to stand beside Geo so I can lift him into my arms, which he allows since we are currently going against the same person. “This is my child.”“Your child.” Kate sputters, clearly in disbelief. “YOUR CHILD WITH WHO?”Remaining silent, I watch as the gears begin to turn in Kate’s head, and when her eyes widen with both shock and outrage, I know that she understands.“Hey,” Geo whispers while Kate continues to malfunction. “Who is this crazy grandma?”“Did you just call me a grandma?” Kate growls, her gaze narrowing. “I’ll fucking…”“You’ll do nothing.” I snarl, grabbing her hand as she raises it to hit Geo. “Who the hell do you think you are to touch my child?”
[Rosalie’s POV]I reach down and pull Geo into my arms while Diego takes me in with an unreadable expression. However, when he opens his mouth in an attempt to say something in response to my words, Kate is leaping up and rushing toward me.“Don’t,” I warn, letting my aura explode from me so that it sends her skittering backward. “Don’t come any closer.”As I speak, her eyes grow wide, and outrage fills them, but I don’t care. I wasn’t the same woman from the past who continuously bowed down and let others walk all over her. Since having Geo, I knew that way of thinking and acting couldn’t continue. I now had a little life that was entrusted to me to protect, and I planned on doing that.“Whatever you plan on saying or doing, save it.” I continue, narrowing my gaze. “If you’re worried that I will barge in and ruin your perfect little family, you can save it. I have no intention of doing that. However, I would appreciate it if you could keep your man in line.”At my words, a growl of a
[Rosalie’s POV]Anger rolls through me as Diego’s words settle around us. I wasn’t a thing to be kept yet, but for most of my time in Moon Storm, I was a thing to be kept. It was only at the end that I was treated fairly, but even that was short-lived due to his mother's threat.“Don’t touch me.” I snap, pulling free of Diego’s hold and grabbing Gil’s arm. “Gil,” I continue, ignoring Diego as he stares at me with a look of hurt. “Let’s go.”Nodding, a slow smile begins to spread across Gil’s face as satisfaction and triumph flash in his eyes.“Alright.” He responds, turning his gaze to Diego. “I think my sister has made it clear that she doesn’t want you to hang around her. So, be a good man and just leave us alone.”Finished speaking, Gil begins to move, leading the way around Diego and toward a car that is waiting for us. As I allow myself to be led toward it, I don’t dare look back.It is only when I’m in the car that I finally dare a peek at Diego, who is watching on with an unrea
[Rosalie’s POV]I stare on, watching as Annemarie gets into the car in front of me. While she moves, she doesn’t dare look at me, and I’m not sure if it is because she truly doesn’t remember me or if it’s because of the man with her. Even if they were trying to come across as a loving couple, it was clear there was a power dynamic between the two.Frowning, I feel the sudden urge to kidnap Annemarie from that car, but before I can actually act, it begins to move, taking Annemarie away while I stay in place, being utterly useless.“Rosalie!” Gil calls as I continue to watch the disappearing car. “What are you doing?”“I thought I saw someone I knew.” I explain, fighting with whether or not it was actually Annemarie. “But I was mistaken.”“That’s too bad.” Gil murmurs, clapping my shoulder. “If that’s the case, then you should just forget about it.”Forget about it. That was easier said than done, especially given the circumstances surrounding Annemarie. Well, at least, the ones that we
[Alassandra’s POV]A chill races through me, starting from my heart and traveling throughout my entire body, freezing me in place as the familiar surroundings of the Netherealm start to appear. Feeling my heart begin to beat rapidly, I try to make sense of why I’m back here.Looking around, I try to find the one who would have summoned me. However, she is nowhere to be found.“Hana!” I call, fighting against the icy tendrils that hold me in place. “HANA!”‘I’m here.’ Hana’s familiar voice murmurs, but she’s in my head and not in the world in front of me. ‘This isn’t my doing.’Her words are like ice-cold water slapping me in the face as a terrifying realization hits me. My five years of peace with no dark beasts or creatures were over.First, it was the possession of the members of Gil’s pack, and now this, but who was the one who brought me here if it wasn’t Hana?‘Just ahead.’ Hana whispers.Bracing myself, I let my gaze trail forward until it came to rest on the shadowy form of a h
[Diego’s POV]My eyes grow wide as shock rushes through me over what Chanel has just told me. After so many years of searching for Annemarie with no luck here, she was in the same fucking city as Rosalie. What were the fucking chances?"Diego, are you still there?” Chanel asks when the silence drags on too long. “Or have you already run off to search?”“No, I’m still here.” I say. “Thanks for the information.” I continue. “If you get to know anything else, be sure to tell me.”“Roger that.” Chanel chirps. “But do me a favor and bring my friend home.”For a moment, I don’t speak as her words make my heart squeeze painfully.“I’m trying.” I sigh. “Anyway, I’ll talk to you later. There’s something I need to do.”Hanging up, I head out of the room and then into the living room, where Kate and Landon sit watching cartoons. Or rather, Landon watches cartoons while Kate stakes out my room like a hawk.“Diego!” She chirps, jumping up and knocking Landon to the floor. When he hits his face fir
[Chanel’s POV]I stare on, watching as Anthrose and the rest of his group surge forward, attacking the guards who were just sneering at me, and I can’t help but laugh at the difference in their demeanors.“Cowards,” I spit, sitting up and snapping my thumbs back into place. “Acting all high and mighty until actual danger appears.”As I speak, I grab the chains that are holding my ankles and begin to pull while ignoring the pain that shoots through me. Fuck, they were strong, but I was stronger. Soon enough, they begin to crack and then break apart, allowing me to finally get up and move to Gil’s side.“Just hang in there a bit longer, alright?” I tell him, clutching his cuff and starting to fight with it. “Then we will get you out of here and…”“No!” Gil gasps before breaking into a coughing fit. “We can’t just leave!”Frowning, I take in his words, trying to make sense of what it is that he is saying, but I don’t get to question him further before pain shoots through me and my body a
[Anthrose’s POV]The next morning we move out the minute the warm sun begins to paint the ground that we sleep on. After a quick breakfast, we head out with me leading the way since I’m the only one who can get a feel for the location that we are searching for.Together, we silently move across the island while keeping our senses alert in case of a surprise attack. However, the expected never happens, and by the time we are close to our destination, I can’t help but feel like all of this is too easy, and by the tension I feel from my companions, I know that they’re feeling the same.“Up ahead,” Sam murmurs, coming to my side. “I can see it.”Nodding, I take in the shining figure that I’m certain is the temple, noting the dark aura that radiates around it. Even from here I could tell that the things residing within were something the normal wolf wouldn’t want to approach, but given what we were fighting for, I wasn’t going to let it stop me.“Prepare yourselves.” I announce, letting my
[Anthrose’s POV]For the rest of the day, I search the island for a sign of where Chanel and Gil may be, but come up empty. And when my group can’t seem to move anymore, I have to call the search to a halt. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t continue to keep my connection with the earth, searching while dinner is made.It’s a silent ordeal, as I’m certain that the entire group is feeling the weight of what is at hand and what we may encounter when we find the ones we are searching for. I could only assume that a fight was waiting for us, and it was because of that that I even agreed to res.Sighing, I close my eyes and let myself slip deeper into a trance, searching until I feel something press against my consciousness that snaps me to alertness as hope flares through me along with a longing that I’ve never felt before.‘Chanel,’ I whisper, not daring to truly believe that I’m feeling what I am. ‘Is that you?’For a moment, all I’m met with is silence, causing me to believe that
[Anthrose’s POV]My body screams at me, begging me to stop, to take a break, but I can’t stop moving. Behind me, I can hear noises of complaint and exhaustion escaping my companions, making it clear that they’re feeling the same thing as me. However, I can’t stop moving; I won’t stop moving; just the thought of stopping makes me so damn anxious I want to fucking destroy something. I can’t stop the feeling that if I stop looking even for a second, Chanel will vanish completely.Shivering, I try not to think of a world where she doesn’t exist somewhere. Sure, it was one thing to keep my distance and allow her to live the life that she deserves, but to even think of her not being somewhere alive and happy damn near kills me.‘Chanel.’ I call to the darkness, hoping and praying that by some miracle she will respond to me. ‘Where are you? Why aren’t you answering me?’“Anthrose.”I immediately freeze as the voice reaches me, but I realize a moment too late that it wasn’t Chanel’s voice, it
[Chanel’s POV]I look around me, taking in the stone walls around me, noting how they’re cracking, allowing vines to grow through them while my intrusive thoughts try to get the better of me. They’re screaming things like what if this place were to collapse. What if you find yourself at a dead end? What if you run out of air? It’s irritating as fuck, and even though I keep telling them to shut up, they just won’t.“Hey,” I call to Tyson, who leads the way in hopes of distracting myself. “Are you certain that we are going in the right direction?”Since he was the one to choose our path and take the lead, I could only hope that he somehow could track the way out of this place, but what if he was just leading us deeper into this underground labyrinth?“Hey,” I repeat when he doesn’t respond to me. “I’m talking to you.”Frustration growing, I move forward and grab his shoulder, forcing him to turn and look at me, but I’m not met with the same gaze that I was used to. Instead, I’m met with
[Anthrose’s POV]We spend the rest of the day searching for any sign of Chanel or Tyson, but all we come up with is nothing. It’s almost like neither of them existed or were somehow spirited away from earth.“We should rest.” Henry, one of Ulrick’s warriors, suggests later that evening. “We will be useless in helping them if we are exhausted.”“Are you saying that this little bit of action exhausts you?” I demand. “If that's the case, you are more than welcome to rest, but I’m going to keep searching.”“But, sir…”“I said I was going to keep searching!” I growl, not giving two fucks if I came across as argumentative or defiant. “There’s no fucking way that I’m going to stop until I find her.”Even though only a couple of hours had passed, I couldn’t help but feel like days, even weeks, had already gone by without Chanel’s presence. It was fucking maddening, and I was beginning to feel like a crazy man. How the hell did I manage to stay away from her for so many years in the past?No.
[Chanel’s POV]I watch as the crevice above me grows farther and farther away until my body is hitting the wolf beneath me, who takes most of the impact. Together, we lay there, watching as the ground slowly begins to close once more, eliminating the little bit of light around us until we are plunged into darkness.Snapping out of it, I jump up and then look to the wolf beside me, taking him in while wondering what exactly he was thinking. And once I shift back into my human form, I wait as he stares at me.“What?” I demand, my annoyance flaring. “Don’t look at me like that.”Letting out what sounds almost like a huff of annoyance, he begins to shift until Tyson is lying on the ground in the wolf’s place.“What?” He asks as I narrow my gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”Why? Because he was the reason we were here right now. He wasn’t paying attention to where he was going when he saved me.“Do I really need to answer that?” I sigh, beginning to look around, taking in the tun
[Chanel’s POV]“Right.”I give Anthrose one last look before turning my gaze toward the creatures that are slowly making their way toward us. They’re different from the beasts that we’ve encountered until this point, but they’re also the same.These look almost like worms, but they have legs and buglike faces. I guess if I had to compare them to anything, it would be centipedes. Just watching them move gave me the heebie jeebies, but I wasn’t about to let them stop me from getting to what I wanted.Giving Anthrose one last look, I begin to shift, and once I’m in my wolf form, I move, surging forward and attacking the creepy crawly closest to me. When we clash, it immediately attempts to roll its body around me, but I leap out of the way.Landing on top of it, I watch as the rest of our group joins in the fray, beginning our first official battle since arriving on the island.‘Don’t get yourself killed.’Anthrose's voice reverberates in my mind, causing my heart to race and giving me t
[Anthrose’s POV]I don’t speak as Chanel’s question flows over me, settling into the deepest pits of my soul along with the loathing and disgust that I’ve felt since the day the thing she is asking about happened, and as much as I would like to say, I know that I can’t.“The plague.” I respond instead, deciding that was a good enough explanation. “It affected my eyes.”“You’re lying.”Chanel’s response is firm, and I know that due to our bond, there was just no way that I would be able to get away with lying to her.“How did it really happen?”How? That was an easy fucking response, but again, I knew that if I were to speak it out loud, then there was a good chance it would dig out the skeletons that I was trying so hard to not think about anymore.“Anthrose,” Chanel’s voice drifts through my muddled thoughts. “You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”I did. But this was something that didn’t only involve me. It also involved her, and I knew if I were to open up about it, then