Four sets of eyes stared at me with varying emotions, Marcel looked impressed and Maria looked satisfied, Alpha Devin was concerned and Alpha Allison was livid.
“What were you thinking? You could have gotten hurt or worse- taken, I didn’t expect you to be so careless! If you wanted to go for a run you could have woken one of us or even joined the border patrol.” Alpha Allison paced from wall to wall in the expansive office but even it appeared too small to house her frustration.
“I needed to think, I was fine, I was at the clearing by the Northern border.” I flinched at my own attempt of getting out of trouble when she scoffed.
“Yeah, of cour
“Urg I am sore in places I didn’t even know I had.” I groaned as we walked towards the Alpha house, well Marcel walked, and I limped. My T-shirt was stuck to my body and darkened with sweat from the blistering Californian heat while Marcel hardly looked like he broke a sweat. “You’ll live.” He shrugged, throwing me a wink over his shoulder, “Your form isn’t bad, it could use a bit more finesse, but we’ll work on that.” He pointed out. “We?” I asked in confusion. “Yeah, I’m going to train you.” He stated casually and my feet halted. “Why?” I wondered if Alpha Devin or Allison put him up to it.
We circled each other, our contrasting features creating a mesmerising picture of yin and yang. With canines bared, our wolves growled threats at one another, both hungry for the title of the strongest female fighter in the world, but if only it were that easy. The blood that seeped from gashes and scratches on our bodies matted the soft fur of our most feral forms and spoke of the fierceness of the battle thus far. Growing tired of the game of cat and mouse I cut my footsteps short, to leap across the invisible ring we created aiming for her hind leg. My action caught her off guard and the split second that froze her features left her left thigh open to my attack as I sunk my teeth into her flesh. The metallic taste of blood on my tongue was one I would never get used to, but it came with a sense of satisfaction that only grew with the whimper that sounded from her. Letting go of her, I used my body weight to throw her off balance, nearly missing the razor-sharp teeth snapping at m
The cuts on my face burned as I swiped away the tears that fell, threatening to tear away the steri strips that held them together. I trekked through the forest angrily as I recalled my actions from the fight earlier, I was so caught up in winning that I didn’t consider Alpha Allison’s health and now she was lying unconscious in an infirmary bed with her mate posted worriedly at her side. Seeing Alpha Devin’s concern made my heart melt, unfortunately, it wasn’t in the way that made a person smile, it was more like acid tearing its way through me because all I could think about was how alone I was. Tears rushed faster till I gave up wiping them away at all, I was supposed to be going back home, but as I looked around the forest I couldn’t quite place my whereabouts through my blurry vision. The treeline I had grown acc
The door slamming in the distance snapped me from my restless slumber, snapping my head up, I caught a glimmer in the distance as they approached me. The knife glaring in the man’s hand was easy to identify once he was close enough and even though his face remained concealed the tattoo wrapped around his wrist was clearly visible.The eight phases of the moon. A symbol of enlightenment and darkness, immortality and eternity. It was beautiful, nature’s very own yin-yang.“Good Afternoon, Goddess Selene.” Dark greeted me with a sinister smirk on his face, to which I responded with a flat look.“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I mumbled through the gag, knowing full well it sounded more muffled than words.&nbs
I watched Alaster pace into the room with bated breath, the once-dark room was now lit up to reveal the white steel walls held together by silver beams. The dingy bulb hanging from the single beam now looked out of place in the unusually clean warehouse. Men stepped in behind him carrying various black crates that they placed along the wall closest to the large door. His hawk eyes watched closely as they completed their task, never once acknowledging my presence; not that I was complaining. “Stop! Stop! What are you doing? I explicitly told you not to touch the brown crates, yet here you are lugging it in here as if it belongs to you!” Alaster spat at the lanky man before him, literally bathing the man in his saliva as he got his point across. I had to give the man props for not flinching away from Alaster’s erratic behaviour, his hair was matted to his forehead, his suit was dishevelled and his eyes were bloodshot; he appeared completely unhinged. “Idiots! I’m surrounded by fu
The plane ride to California was short and when I stepped off the plane the humid air hit my face and a river of relief washed through me. Somehow it felt like I was back home and I wasn’t even at the pack yet.Counting the money Jasper gave me, I decided that I needed to make a few changes if I wanted to remain conspicuous so after a visit to Target which was convenient across the road from the airport, I exited the public bathroom sporting a blonde fringed wig and a change of clothes as well as a pair of eyeglasses.Looking at myself in the bus window as I boarded I started to understand why no one recognised Clark Kent, I looked like an entirely different person.A gruelling ten hours later I got off my step and looked around at the forest surround
Looking at the spread on the table made me realise how long it’s been since I ate a decent meal, the only thing Dark fed me was dry bread and chips when he did and on the bus all I ate were snacks.“Woah slow down, there’s plenty of food, it isn’t going anywhere.” Alpha Allison chuckled and my cheeks heated.“Sorry, I haven’t had a proper meal since-” I cut myself off suddenly remembering what happened the day I was last here, the reason I was in the forest in the first place.“It’s okay honey, you eat as much as you like, I’m so glad you’re home.” She hugged me from behind and placed a kiss on my head, not seeing the tears that pooled in my eyes.
By the time I got to bed after my shower, Ben was already fast asleep. The poor guy must have gotten tired of waiting for me to scrub off a week’s worth of sweat and dirt from my body, but instead of taking the space he left for me on the bed, I made my way back to the door, feeling too restless to sleep. The house was dark apart from the hallway light, but I could see Jasper’s figure seated on the grass in the backyard through the kitchen window without much hassle. “Couldn’t sleep?” I asked when I stepped up behind him. “Yeah, you?” He mumbled without looking at me. “You’d think after a week of sitting on a cold floor and running through the desert I’d be more tired, but the thought
Jasper dragged me through the forest in the direction of the clearing. “Jas, slow down!” I cried as I giggled uncontrollably, hopping over fallen branches and dodging low branches. “We have to get there before the sun sets!” He proclaimed and all I could do was shake my head. The sun was still quite high in the sky since it was only three in the afternoon. Arriving at the clearing I gasped when my eyes landed on the checkered picnic blanket set up at the base of the large rock. “We’re a bit too big to fit up there anymore.” He pointed to the rock with a grin. “You did all this for me?” My heart melted into a puddle and tears pooled in my eyes. “Of course I did- Baby, why are you crying?” Don’t you like it, we can go somewhere else. I’m sorry, please don’t cry. I’m sorry.” Jasper gathered me in his arms and stroked my hair as I tried to get my emotions under control. “No! No, I love it, I’m just a little emotional, that’s it.” I hiccupped, taking a step back s he could see the sm
I stood awkwardly beside the tiny sofa where Jasper’s large form took up most of the space. Halle and Nathan had welcomed us in when we arrived at their door, but I the tension in our presence was palpable. “How do you feel?” Nathan asked suddenly. “Fine, I guess,” Jasper answered curtly, accepting the cup of coffee Halle offered him. “Have your memories returned?” Nathan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. “Some of them. Why are you holed up in this tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere when you have a whole pack house and several guest houses nearby everything? Surely it isn’t easy getting around the forest with that thing.” Jasper motioned to the wheelchair. Nathan’s eyes turned to me with confusion, I could see the question in his eyes. “He doesn’t know,” I stated, not looking at Jasper when his eyes turned to me. “Doesn’t know what?” Jasper narrowed his eyes as he glanced between us. “The pack wants nothing to do with me.” N
“What?” I asked shakily. “I remember your voice.” He stared at me with startled eyes, “I heard you, Sophia.” He scrambled off the bed and shuffled towards me. Jasper took my hands in his, “I heard you asking me to fight.” Jasper ran a hand through his hair while I just stood there, shell-shocked. “Ho- How? You were unconscious.” I croaked, my throat felt like it was closing up. “I don’t know. I don’t know how.” He shook his head gravely. “Do you remember anything else?” I asked hesitantly and Jasper’s eyebrows knitted in concentration. “I- I think I saw you, but it feels like a dream. You were walking towards me- dressed in a purple vest that hugged your figure, and you had a duffle bag over your shoulder. You smiled at me.” He had a faraway look in his eyes and his hands squeezed mine as he recalled the memory. “That was just before-” “-I was stabbed in the back.” He completed my sentence and looked at me with startled eyes. “Do you-?” I couldn't even get the words out,
Jasper sucked in a deep breath when we entered the pack house. It was still early which meant the grounds were practically empty when we made our way over there, but inside, pack members hustled and bustled around getting ready for the day.“I’m right here. Just tell me when you want to leave and we’re out of here.” I squeezed his hand in mine.Jasper had taken the news of his true identity quite well, I knew it was because he hardly understood what his position meant or what he meant to the pack. It’s been a week since he crashed my inauguration ceremony and we’ve made good progress, today was the first day he’d be around so many pack members at once and so far he was doing great as he greeted everyone we passed with a kind smile.
“Ardere…” I reached out shakily, glancing between his troubled eyes and reddened fingers. Ardere’s eyes met mine and for a moment he just stared as I took hesitant steps closer while I felt like my heart would beat out of my chest. “Stop! What are you doing, you could get hurt!” Nathan’s voice travelled through the crowd and Ardere’s eyes widened. He went to pull away, but before his hand was out of reach, I threaded my fingers through his and held on tight. “He wouldn’t hurt me,” I whispered, squeezing his hand in mine as pleasurable tingles spread up my arm from his touch. “My Jasper wouldn’t hurt me.” My vision swam with tears as the truth hit me square in the face. It was him, if there was any doubt before, there wasn’t now. “Jasper?” He questioned shakily. “Yes, it’s you, it’s really you.” I choked on a sob, the relief that spread through my body warmed my heart and for the first time in three months, I smiled a genuine smile, watery but genuine. “I- uh…” He trailed off an
The pack buzzed with excitement as the three of us climbed the stairs, everyone was whispering about the bulky man who walked behind me with confidence radiating from his being.Marcel and Jason took their places behind me as I stood at the podium, “Good evening High Tiders.” I grinned widely. “First, I’d like to thank you all for taking the time to be here tonight. We’ve faced some tough times as a pack, but I’d like to think this is the beginning of a new era.” I looked around at the hopeful faces that stared back at me, pausing a little when I caught sight of Nathan and Halle seated right at the back.“With that, I’d like you all to meet Marcel Miller.” I motioned to him when he stepped up beside me and nodded at the crowd before him, “Marcel was a warri
“Okay, I’ve made sure no one will come back here to clean or look for me today. You can watch TV and play around with my tablet while I’m gone, use the time to try and figure out some of the things you don’t remember, but don’t make a lot of noise please, I don’t want anyone poking around here.” I motioned around the house.“I’ll be back late today, there’s food in the fridge, you can heat it up in the microwave.” I pointed to the appliance behind me and turned back to look him dead in the eye, “You have to stay here, okay? Under no circumstances can anyone find out you’re here, so please just stay hidden and if you hear anything, hide. You can use the tablet to call me on this number if you need something, my number is stored on there.” I tapped the screen where I’d typed out instructions on how to make
“You can wear these for now.” My jaw clenched as I handed him some of Jasper’s clothes.“Thank you.” He took them from me, his fingers brushing mine in the process and without thinking I snatched away my hand like he burned me and his eyes flashed with hurt.“I’m sorry.” I looked down, holding my hand to my chest.“It’s okay.” He flashed me a tight smile and for a moment an awkward silence fell between us.“I’ve uh- been thinking, we need to find you a name, at least till we figure out who you are.” I cringed a little at my own word, hoping he didn’t see how awkward I felt.
My heart thudded wildly in my chest as Selene’s utterance registered in my mind.“Wh- who are you?” I swallowed thickly, reaching behind me to steady myself on the boulder.“I’m sorry for following you, I didn’t mean to scare you.” His soothing baritone voice sent shivers down my spine and tears gathered in my eyes without warning.“No, this can’t be real, I must be dreaming.” I shook my head vigorously and stumbled back into the rock before I spun around and took off in the direction of the High Tide pack.‘This can’t be happening. It’s just a dream.’ I repeated