"What's on the menu for dinner?" Alice asks, dropping next to me. It's the first night of winter; the night when the King introduces me to the rest of Black Shadow. We're currently in the pack house, everyone under one roof. They say it's a way to keep the pack together during the snow storms and the bitter cold that's bound to come our way. In some packs, the pack moves into the Alpha's house but it seems that the King and Queen have decided to do things a little differently."We used to do it the other way around but when the pack had a population over three hundred, we had to do something else" Trish explained as we moved to the pack house, taking a small bag over to the pack house with me. I didn't expect to spend too long but I'm beginning to realise that I might be here a while."Think of it as a massive sleepover. A two month long sleepover" Alice said, skipping next to me. "Our house is locked up, power switched off and everyone bunkers in here" we've been here for two nights
The noise should be unbearable but it's surprisingly quite for four hundred people. Alice leads me to the table at the very top, directly opposite the doors and on the farthest side of the room. It's circular so large enough for up to twelve people. The others are around the same size.All of the men are wearing shirts and dark trousers, looking smart casual. The girls are all wearing dresses some short some long. As we make our way to the top table, I catch people whispering and glancing at me. I've never felt so self-conscious in my whole life. Do I look horrible in this dress? I feel suddenly ridiculous, my cheeks filling with colour. Who made me do this in the first place?Austin and his friends, who I've learned to call Rick and Ryan, are standing there, chatting away. When Austin catches sight of me, he stops talking. And he stares. Blood fills my cheeks and Alice hip bumps me as we stand up to them."Hey, guys" Alice says cheerfully. Austin is wearing a white shirt, which is op
When Clyde said he was having a celebration he wasn't kidding. After dinner is served some of the pack members set up a sound system and the music is so loud, I can barely hear myself think. Alice drags me to the dance floor where we dance for Goddess knows how long.We spin each other around some crazy form of waltzing and even do a bit of salsa. We get major applaud for that one. It seems that fighting makes dancing a little easier. The music somehow makes my body do stuff on its own. My hips sway side to side, rolling forward occasionally. It's the most fun I've had a in a long time. Alice spins me around, making me bash into someone's chest. Arms cross over my front, steadying me while I still feel my insides spin. "Maybe you should take a break" Austin says in my ear as I giggle. I've not had anything to drink and even if I did, alcohol doesn't affect werewolves but I still feel like my body is pumped with energy. I lean back against him, letting the tingles run through me. My wo
Austin takes me out on a run. I've not let my wolf out in a long time so I feel like she deserves a stretch."We'll go along the front and then go in a circle around the side" he explains, leading me into the forest. After breakfast, I locked myself in the bathroom of Austin's room to get changed. I put on a loose shirt and high waist jeans. I put ankle boots on and I blush at the way Austin looks at me when he thinks I can't see him. We strip behind separate trees, much to Austin's disappointment.It's amazing how his outer shell that he used to have is gone, replaced by someone who smiles and actually has a twinkle to his eye. He used to want to stay away from me as much as possible but now all he wants to do is mark me and mate with me.Of course, my wolf wants to as well but I don't feel ready yet. I don't feel ready to be marked as someone else's property, even if it is Austin. I don't want to lose my innocence until me and my wolf both feel ready. I know that if it comes to it,
After talking with my dad, I feel a lot happier. I walk with a little bounce, I always feel like my face holds a smile and I even go to bed humming softly under my breath.But there's one thing that worries me. Red Blood are attacking them frequently. I don't know how much longer they'll last. I lie on my side, staring at the wall. I've been in bed alone for at least an hour, Austin saying that he needs to run around the perimeter to check the guards. When he finally comes in, he climbs in behind me without even having to turn the lights on. I hear his belt buckle jingle as he undoes it. He brings with him the smell of fresh air.When he huddles close to my back, I know he can sense that I'm awake."Why aren't you sleeping yet?" he whispers, his lips right next to my ear. "Is your wolf still worrying about her annoying mate?" it brings a quick smile to my face but it vanishes quickly."Not just that. I'm scared for Silverstone. Dad's not himself; I think being without a mate has final
"Did you seriously just call me 'Princess'?" I decide to ask instead. I feel him chuckle. I try to get out of Austin's grip but he isn't having any of it. He is half way up the stairs when I do the only thing I can think of. "Clyde! Your son's threatening to torture me!" I call out in a childish voice. Austin freezes on the steps as Clyde steps out of his office, followed by Clive and David. The three of them stand at the base of the steps, smiles plastered to their faces."Austin, put her down" Clyde says calmly and Austin does as he's told. He slowly puts me on the ground but keeps me pressed against him. I try to get away from him but he growls playfully and presses me into his side. "What's going on?""I insulted his sex appeal" I answer proudly and Clive begins to cough while trying not to laugh."In that case, we're not getting involved" David laughs when Austin grins. I gape and cry out when I am thrown over his shoulder again. Austin grips me tightly around the waist, giving t
He's not in the bed when I wake up nor is he on the couch. I sigh unhappily. Last night was a long hard night. I couldn't get to sleep; my wolf was restless and just wanted her mate. But he has to learn that he can't do this to me and expect me to forgive him straight away. He has to earn it. Clyde gives me a questioning look when I come for breakfast still wearing my running gear and I smile tiredly at him. No one really passes comment on my clothes; they're all used to me wearing them."He wasn't speaking much in the meeting. What did you say?" he whispers to me when the others get engaged in a conversation. We're eating in the large dining ballroom. Breakfast is always served at nine in the pack house, if you want some you have to be here. The phrase 'you snooze, you lose' is taken very seriously here."That if he slept in the bed with me, I wouldn't go out with him today" I shrug and Clyde exits with a smile. Alice then frowns at me when I turn my head to side, my hair still up."
The first thing Alice does when we step back into the house is fly towards me. The moment her eyes catch sight of the mark on my neck, she's already standing in front of me. It's a lot like she did with the hickey. She squeals as she steps away, clapping her hands excitedly."OhmyGodOhmyGodOhMyGod! By the Goddess you marked her" she seems overly pleased because she keeps repeating it. Austin holds me near him, his arm slung around my waist as we laugh at his sister's theatrics."Alice, chill" I put my hands on my friend's shoulders and she lets out a quick breath. "You good?""I'm good" she nods and we walk towards Clyde's office where nearly everyone else in the pack is standing. Well, all the high ranking fighters. As they look to me and Austin walking in, Alice announces his marking. "Austin marked her!""I thought you said you were good" I protest, flicking her ear. She chuckles."I'm never good" she snipes, winking at me. I roll my eyes, letting Austin tighten his arm a little, a
"Cecily Turner, you are in so much trouble!" I hear Austin's voice shout from the doorway. The whole pack freezes at the sound of his Alpha voice and I can't help but giggle. Ryan and Rick give me looks that mean I've done something stupid."Am I now, Alpha Black?" I call back to him playfully. Suddenly a rush of kids come into the hall, smiling giddily and laughing."We caught him, Luna! We pushed him over and tackled him down!" the small boy from before comes over to me, jumping up and down with excitement. I laugh and lean forward until my face is level with his."Did you tickle him? The Alpha's very ticklish" I ask and the boy shakes his head. But he grins at me knowingly. "Get the water guns from the garden and we'll get the Alpha" the boy rounds up the others and they disappear through the doors again. They are only gone a minute before Austin enters and the pack goes quiet again. His trousers are matted with mud here and there, on his bare chest as well and he looks annoyed. I
Fortunately for me, no one comes into the office. Austin and I sit in our own little worlds of work relating to safeguarding of Black Shadow. Looking at us, you'd think we'd had an argument but there is no tension in the room and we keep stealing glances at each other. I can't tell you how long we sit in opposite ends of the room but eventually Rick comes knocking."Hey guys, if you're making out then warn me now" he calls and gets two hearty laughs. Taking that as a signal, he comes into the room and almost hits me with the door. "Jeez- sorry, C. What are you doing behind the door?" he asks, eyeing me up from my comfortable position."It helps me work" I shrug."Aus, your mate is weird" he says breezily, looking to Austin casually. I scoff and roll my eyes."Tell me something I don't know" Austin mutters and I growl at him. Rude bastard. "Training starting?" Rick nods and Austin stands. "I'll be right there" Rick leaves the door slightly ajar and Austin comes over to me, crouching do
Cecily's POV"My mom was from Silver Moon" I think out loud, trying to join the dots. "Dad's going to flip" I put a hand to my head, almost as if it'll help the thought surface. Surprisingly it does. I freeze, eyes closing as I sigh. "He's my mom's youngest brother. Alex Jones is my uncle""What?" at least five say it at the same time."I didn't see that one coming" David is the only male that didn't say 'what'."How?" Trish asks, shaking her head disbelieving."My mom was the daughter of Silver Moon's Alpha when my Dad became Alpha of Silverstone or one of two. When her older brother became Alpha, Dad had been Alpha for two years. They'd known each other since they were pups but Dad had never met Mom while they were growing up. Silver Moon held a party to celebrate him being Alpha and Dad met Mom. She moved to Silverstone and lived there for two years. Her older brother found his mate but she was killed by Red Blood in an attack, along with their unborn child" I explain, the whole si
Cecily's P.O.VI wake up feeling the best I have in a long time. The only pain I feel is between my legs but that's expected. Not even my back or burn hurts. But we didn't put cream on my back so why does it feel fine?Memories of last night fill my head as I stare at the ceiling. Heated moments of passion make my cheeks blush, thinly controlled desire makes me smile a little and the feeling of being mated to Austin fills me with joy. I don't know where the primal instincts came from but I had a feeling it had something to do with my wolf needing her mate. I look to Austin but he's still sleeping soundlessly, arm lightly draped over my side while the other is underneath my head. It's the morning now; we slept through the whole afternoon and night. We had both been struggling to sleep without each other. I get up, slowly untangling his limbs from mine. I make it to the bathroom, taking my underwear with me. I look in the mirror and I find a surprise staring back at me. My back has clea
I wake up with my arms empty and the bed cold. She's not been there for a while. I sigh, rubbing my eyes as I turn to my back. I slowly sit up and find Cecily curled up on the couch with only her clothes to cover her. I shake my head with a deep sigh, not sure whether to admire her stubbornness or feel annoyed that she'd managed to trick me.She only stayed long enough for me to sleep before moving away. It was smart on her part but annoying all the same.This continues for the remainder of the week. Eight days in total Cecily remains mute and distant. I try so hard to stay awake enough to stop her moving away but I can never do it. I am mentally drained and having her near only makes me succumb easier and quicker. We spend the day in the bedroom- me trying to get her to talk and eat the food that someone keeps leaving at the doorway. But she refuses every time.She gets a little skinnier, her skin paler and her eyes lose their glow. I beg, plead and ask her to give me something- a sm
I wake up to sound of whimpering. Instantly on the alert, I shoot up and look around the whole room. There's nothing around suggesting a danger, the sun flickering through the blinds. I'd slept the whole night on the couch.Cecily is whimpering on the bed, her hand rubbing the mark on her neck in her sleep. I rush over and grasp her wrist to stop her hurting herself. The mark makes my blood boil but it has purple lines extending out from it, the black lines of the eye dark and taunting at me. The second I touch her, she gasps and pulls away with her eyes wide."Hey, it's just me" I calm her quietly as she shuffles away from me. "I was just stopping you from hurting yourself" Cecily's eyes dart around the room frantically before landing on me again. She frowns at me and bites her lip. I sigh and drop my hands. "Are you feeling better?"All I get is a shrug."Please, Cecily. Give me something. A smile or a simple yes" I plead with her but I can see the self-hatred she is feeling. It sud
Austin's P.O.VI stare incredulously at Dwayne; Caleb tries to process the information while I stare helpless at the doctor."What?" I demand and he seems to expect my reaction."She thinks everyone hates her, especially you. She's blaming herself for what that bastard did" he answers. My shock and anger multiply, making me crumple. It's just me and Dwayne. I didn't want the others coming with me to Dwayne, wanting to hear what he had to say about Cecily alone."Why?" I whisper to myself as I let myself sink helplessly into the chair. Dwayne is one of the four people I would break down in front of because I don't fear what they would think. "Why her?""She's strong, the mate of the Prince, the only one to be able to notice the pattern of their attacks" Dwayne offers and I know each one is a likely reason. He approaches me cautiously as my fingers dig into my scalp. I had practically run all night, trying to find the bastard and release Caleb's rage. It only led to me being angrier and
I wake up again on my bed. I'm lying on my side, staring at the bathroom door. My right arm is numb with pins and needles on my neck. I sit there a moment, pulling my hair back from my face. Everything comes crashing back and tears pool in my eyes. I'm now connected to Red Blood's next in line. He's got access to my mind, if I let him. I can put a block between our minds for a long time but eventually I will get mentally tired and the block will drop because of it.I get up and go to the bathroom. Austin isn't here; his scent doesn't even drift into my nose. He hasn't been in here for the night. He's probably too ashamed to stay in a room with me. I'm still wearing his shirt though, which has blood on the neck and back and sides.I look in the mirror and the mark is even worse than last night. The purple vines have spread and the mark has a bluish bruise beneath it. The blue is turning black. But my main concern is the fact I can't even feel my arm. I have to go to Dwayne.He must be
The rain remains light as I sit in the cave. I don't exactly know how long I've been sitting here but I know it's more than a couple of hours. The wind begins to pick up, sweeping the light rain into the mouth of the cave. I retreat further in and my stomach begins to ache with hunger. I know I've probably missed lunch.My dad used to always tell me to stay put if I ever got lost in the forest, that way it's easier to find me instead of me moving about and probably getting further away from where I should be. So I do. He used to use the mind-link to comfort me when I- the mind-link!How could I forget I have a mind-link to every werewolf in Black Shadow?I feel my mind open up like a book and I can sense nearly four hundred people inside my head. Alice? I call out tentatively. The answer is immediate.Cecily! I wince as she screams though the link. Where have you been?! We've been so worried; Austin is close to destroying the office. She tells me and I feel a pang of regret but I shak