I mentally stumbled, reeling from the sudden revelation as I spoke to Wynter in stunned inquiry. "What??! How?!" Wynter's response was a mirror of my own shock, her mental voice rising to a shriek. "I have no idea, Rayne!! Oh my god!" Before I could further process this bombshell, Raziel had closed the gap between us and swept me into his arms, his eyes blazing with exhilaration. "I knew it!" He exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion. "I fucking knew it, but I just had to be sure." My mind reeled as I struggled to comprehend the impossible. "How is this happening?! I thought my mate bond was gone?!" I exclaimed, my words tumbling out in a chaotic mix of confusion and awe. And then, as if summoned by the turmoil of emotions, The Shadows emerged for everywhere and nowhere. Their dark presence coalesced from the very air itself to envelop us in an icy, unsettling chill. The Shadows' emergence seemed to have a palpable, living quality to it, as if every Shadow that existe
My entire pack was here! Roman came in behind me yelling surprise and blowing into one of those little horns that made an obnoxious noise. You know, the ones with the streamers on the end. I couldn’t help but laugh at his childlike nature. I could smell the burgers and plethora of other grilled foods being prepared. Looking towards the mouthwatering smells I could see Wolves from the pack out cooking. Even though I swear we had just eaten, I definitely wanted to eat whatever it was they were making. There was an open bar on the other side of the arena that I spotted, which I was definitely going to partake in, and I noted that the whole arena was decorated in gold decorations. As I scanned the crowd, I noticed that every single person was adorned with some touch of gold, whether it was a subtle accent or a more elaborate display. The synchronicity was striking, and I felt a thrill of delight as I realized that everyone's attire perfectly complemented my own gold dress. It
(6 Months later)Things had been going well in the pack. I had been helping with training and doing other side jobs for Alpha Drake. Our relationship had really blossomed into something amazing. I was no longer afraid of him or disgusted by him. We were strictly professional, with an occasional flirty comment from him, that I mostly just ignored. Nothing too wild though. It was more fun than anything. I realized that he was only this way with me, and usually only without the presence of others. He still had an image to maintain and I understood that. Since moving in with Raziel, I'd learned that being part of my pack was an essential part of who I was. The brief period of separation had left me feeling restless and unfulfilled. But now that I'd settled back into a routine with the pack, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. I was grateful that Raziel understood and respected my need for balance in my life. He didn't mind that I was still deeply connected to the pack, and hi
Once we made it back to his room I sat him down on his bed and looked into his golden orbs. But before I could speak he took my face in his hands. “I am sorry I lied to you about Jae and what happened. I know this is what you refer to because this is the only thing I have ever hidden from you and regardless of my intent, I know it was wrong. I promise never to hide anything from you, ever again.” There wasn’t even a moment when I thought I wouldn’t forgive him, but this made it even more clear that I was willing to go through a lot for this man. “Thank you, for keeping it from me. Honestly, I wasn’t in the mindset to handle such a devastating loss. But I am now, and I’m ok.” I said. I figured I would tell him about Jae and Jordan, but not right now. I was exhausted. Dying, and then being reincarnated by The Shadows, really took its toll. As tired as I was, my mind was still racing. Although I was still upset at Raphael, the hatred I was feeling before was completely gone.
~(Rayne)I felt weightless, as if suspended in mid-air. It was disorienting, considering I could've sworn I was just being propelled through the earth at breakneck speed. But when I finally materialized, I found myself standing in a familiar yet unsettling landscape. The scenery around me seemed to match the area just outside the pack arena in Maine, but something was off. A gaping hole, which I was certain I had just emerged from, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, I stood amidst an eerie stillness, the sky above tinged with an ominous reddish hue that cast an unnatural glow over everything. There were many Wolves here training, and I could hear them being led by an unknown male voice. He sounded powerful, with conviction. I made my way to the arena and looked inside. I was right, a strong looking male figure was teaching about 25 Wolves. I leaned on the side of the arena bleachers and watched. Some of the Wolves training looked young, like children. Others were full
~(Raziel) This battle had been ruthless, and knowing that it was pointless to even try and intervene, I was somewhat enjoying the show. Things seemed as if they were coming to a head, but what would that outcome entail? These were the questions I wasn’t sure I wanted the answers to. I looked up at my brother and we locked eyes just as he sent multiple giant black fireballs hurtling my way. Beside me, Alpha Drake dodged to safety, and I instantly materialized to the side, narrowly avoiding the inferno. But Roman remained paralyzed, frozen in shock, utterly helpless. I knew I couldn't reach him in time. That's when I witnessed a selfless act that would haunt me forever. Rayne materialized directly in front of Roman, positioning herself to bear the full force of the attack. I watched in unspeakable horror as the twin fireballs struck her with unrelenting ferocity, the blast slamming into her chest with devastating precision. My heart plummeted, sinking like a stone into the