Chapter 39 (Roman) I had been racking my brain to try and figure this shit out for over a month now. I had been losing time, or so I thought. It wasn't like I was blacking out or anything, but just when I woke up it was like a week had passed rather than just a day. But how is that even possible? I know it sounded crazy, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. Something wasn’t right, not adding up. The weirdest thing was it seemed like no one else even noticed. I had asked a few of the other Wolves at training and on patrol if they noticed anything weird, but they all thought I was just crazy. I swear only a few days had passed and yet Rayne’s birthday was now in a couple of weeks? Wasn't she just 19? How is she almost 21 now? You can't tell me we lost an entire year or more? Trust me, I paid attention to everything Rayne related, and I would not have missed this. An entire year? Not fucking possible. I thought I had 2 years left of my obligation to watch ov
Chapter 40 (Raziel) I materialized in front of Alpha Drake. He was sitting at the bar in his pack house. To say I was upset, was an extreme understatement. I was fucking furious. Knowing how much Alpha Drake cared for Rayne, even possibly loved her, I couldn't believe he would be a part of this goddamn shit. Our deal was for him to protect her, not give her to the god damn enemy. He was sitting alone at the bar, drinking brandy on the rocks. It seemed as if he expected me, but how could he not? Even despite knowing I was right behind him, he didn't turn around or say a word. He just kept drinking his brandy. "What the fuck did you do?!" I exclaimed as I slammed my hand down on the bar next to him making the liquid in his glass ripple. Much to my surprise he didn't even flinch. He just picked up his glass, took another long drink of brandy, and set it back down. He turned to me, and we locked eyes. While his face was solemn and void of emotion, I could see the emotions swimming in
Chapter 41 (Rayne) I tried to run as Raphael walked back towards me, but I wasn’t able to move a muscle. As hard as I tried, my legs didn't even budge. It was like I was frozen in place just waiting for his next command. This pissed me off to no end. He strolled up to me and took me in his arms. My mark exploded in approval, sending unwanted chills down my spine. It was like my body wasn’t my body. I tried to mind link Raziel and wasn’t able to. It was blocked, somehow. That sent a panic flooding through me. I have never not been able to reach him. I felt like I had been here with Raphael for weeks, but I know we just got here. Raphael laid his lips onto mine with a soft sort of hunger. I reciprocated easily, as if it was what I wanted. But I didn’t, I didn't want this. I didn't want him. He pulled away none the wiser. “What would you like to do, beautiful?” He purred. I want to leave, actually. My mind was perfectly intact right now, but my body was fuzzy. It was the opposite fe
Chapter 42 (Raziel) I was pacing in my brother's room trying to figure out what the hell to do. I was trying to figure out how I could find the gate and stop my devious brother from completing the mating ritual with the woman I loved, when suddenly, I felt it... Rayne was using magic! That meant the barrier was down, she was no longer hidden! I materialized to her in an instant, just in time to hear her ask The Shadows to remove the mark. I knew the price. It was a bond for a bond. A price that was too steep, especially if I were her intended mate. Even though the chances were so slim, it was a possibility I wasn't willing to give up. “No!!” I shouted, as I reached for her arm. But it was too late. “I accept.” She snarled. And before I could get to her, she was engulfed in Shadows. They were only on her for a second, but that was all it took before they took something from her that she could never get back... and then they started disappearing into nothing, and everything. I mater
Chapter 43 I placed my hand on the right side of Raynes face, she closed her eyes and let me do my work. Within seconds her beautiful face was marked. I stood back to admire my work. Fuck, she was so goddamn beautiful. Even an angry, dark, empty mess. My mark glittering along the side of her face just made her that much more beautiful. And she was all mine now. My mark was a gold crescent moon, adorned in filigree and vines that flowed around the crescent and down her neck. It was large on her face, much like Raphael’s mark, but different in many ways. It was glittering as she moved around in the sunlight, and I couldn't help but fall more in love with her knowing that someday that mark would be permanent. “Your will is done, darling.” I purred to her. I thought I saw a sparkle in her eye for a second, but it quickly returned to the darkness that I was starting to grow accustomed to. I knew what the mark did to her and how it affected her. Especially when I was around, so it didn'
Chapter 44 When Raphael marked me, it was as if he was just touching my face. I didn’t feel anything for him, I didn’t feel anything at all, really, except a slight tingling. Which was still there in the morning, and that is why I checked the mirror. That must be what happens when you are marked and there are no feelings there prior. The feelings take a little time to manifest. When Raziel marked me, it was as if every fiber of my being exploded into ecstasy! It was a feeling that I can't even explain. Something more, something deep down to my core. It felt like his mark ran straight through me, invading every inch of my soul. Like it touched my every nerve ending, every fiber of my entire being, linking me to him for eternity. I watched him step back after he was done and admire me. I had no idea what his mark actually looked like, but I was assuming it was similar to the crescent moon on his golden gate at his house. Raphael’s was the same as his silver gate, so I was just guessi
Chapter 45 Once morning came, my mind was reeling with my newfound abilities. I was going over all the practices in my head and I was ready to start the day training. I threw on a gold sports bra and black shorts with my gold combat boots. Then I headed to the bathroom and threw my hair into a high pony. Raziel, of course, was matching, with his black and gold suit. I loved that we always matched. It made me feel like we were actually a couple. I mean, we were actually a couple... but I don’t know, I just loved it. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me before we left, which made my mark explode with pleasure. It was literally everything I had to just walk out of this room with him, hand in hand, and all of our clothes intact. But I had other things on my mind as well. The Darkness. I hadn’t forgotten the meeting we had... or my dream, or whatever that was last night. I knew there would be a price, there had to be. But The Darkness was literally the only thing keeping me together
Chapter 46 (Raziel) I couldn’t help but worry about Rayne. Something was different about her ever since she lost her mate bond. There were times when she was perfectly fine. When she seemed normal, like her old self. Those were the times when nothing seemed different, and everything was ok. Then there were times when I could feel something, something dark. Like a darker energy trying to push its way through her. I didn’t know what it was. I had never encountered this before, but when making deals with The Shadows you never know what you will really get. I could only assume it had something to do with her losing her mate bond. That was my best guess, if I had to guess, of course. I tried my best to conceal my worry, but every time it threatened to take over, I could see it in her platinum eyes. She didn’t know, but they had black smoke looming in them when it was near. It flooded through her platinum orbs, slow and snake-like until it overwhelmed them. The sight always worried me.