Alice looks nervous as we walk to the training ground. She's quiet and I can almost hear her teeth chattering."Hey, don't be nervous. There's nothing to be worried about" I link arms with her, pulling her towards me."I know. I've just not been in training before. Maybe I'm not ready?" she excuses."Everyone can do it. If a six year old me can do it, a seventeen year old you can do it" I reassure her. She scoffs. We walk towards the inside arena, where we've been doing training for the past week thanks to the snow, where one hundred and fifty fighters are spread out. There are too many fighters and not enough space to do training for all three hundred at the same time so we split it in two. "And the fighters won't mind. I'm your partner, okay?" she nods. She looks quite nice in exercising clothes; the material hugging all the right places. We both get approving looks thrown our way some redirected when Austin steps in ten minutes after us. He spies us out quickly.Rick and Ryan are i
Austin P.O.VShe was acting too calm. Why was she acting so calm? Go for a lie down? Bull. Even the guard's reassurance that she made it to the bedroom doesn't reassure me.But I listen to the conversation around me. They're discussing the attack on Silverstone."Why aren't they attacking? I mean, they're not even engaging in a fight" Clive says, frowning."It doesn't make sense" David agrees."Unless they are doing what Cecily said they do when they attack" Dad says thoughtfully."You think it's a diversion?" I ask and he nods."Red Blood might be after the other three kids" Clive offers. Of course, Red Blood want to take out the Alpha's family. They've killed the Luna now they're after the kids. "I mean, they drew him out and one of them got in the house""And then Lucius went back for them. That's four targets" Mom says and it makes a lot more sense now."They weren't expecting him to come back because they went with three to kill the Luna but one this time. They were only trying t
Austin P.O.VI should have known she would leave. She's stubborn and would do anything for her family. I'm so stupid. Damnit! I slam my hand on Dad's desk, hating how blind I was."Don't blame yourself, Austin. She did what she thought was right" it's not the first time Mom has told me that. She's been gone three days. She would have told us when she arrived at Silverstone despite how angry I would have been when she would. But no call came so we can only assume the worst. I've tried contacting her through mind-link but even with my mark my mind is blocked from hers."Does her family know?" I ask but before any of them can say anything, Dad comes through the doors followed by two men. One of them looks about the same age as Dad, the other around my age. Both of them look like my mate. The older one has bright green eyes and brown hair matching my mate's. The younger one has exactly the same colouring- clearly a strong trait. Dad had told them to come over to discuss the attack and to
Cecily's P.O.VThey leave me in the cell. The whip is gathered up, avoiding the end as they wind it up, leaving a small trail of blood behind them. They allow me to be unchained and the moment my wrists drop to the ground I groan in pain. My back sends a flare of agony through my body with every small movement I make. I don't know how I manage but I finally manage to crawl my way over to the corner. I collapse, uncaring at how unladylike I might look. I lie on my front for a moment, taking in deep breaths with my face buried in the musty cloth of the thin blanket they let me have. I lift myself up, shoving down the groan of pain as the torn muscles on my back protest at the movement. I drag myself to sit up, not liking feeling so exposed when I lie down.That's when I notice the man outside the cage. He's grinning at me wickedly and I'm fearful of what he's doing. He's just standing there, grinning. I look at his hands and I see a little red light. It's the camera. I've noticed him ho
Cecily P.O.VI know I'm in deep trouble the moment I hear him coming. I hear him shouting. He is raging. I'm still lying in the position his son left me in and my neck is still throbbing. Not long after the son did what he did someone came in. They wiped up the cut, muttering angrily. They roughly picked me up, did something to the back of my neck. Another torture device no doubt.My back still sends stabs of pain and the most recent wave caused me to feel like I couldn't breathe."Bring the stamps" I hear him shout. "I don't care what they're called! That bitch is going to learn a lesson about lying to me" he must be shouting really loud because a minute or two later, he barges into the cell. It's an understatement saying he's raging. He's a whole new level of furious. In his hand is a black metal bar and on the end are four interlocking circles, with a cross in the middle, the points touching where the circles cross. The end is sizzling. "Having a good little nap, Miss Turner? Becau
I wait in the seat beside her bed, scrolling through my phone. My dad's given me some Alpha stuff to do, per my request, to get my mind off killing Red Blood's Alpha. They are vulnerable; we know where they are. No one's come in to see her; they're not allowed. Only two people at a time, not including the doctor. Luke's been in and out constantly, Alpha Turner has come in every now and then too. I've given them time alone with her, not wanting to make them wait to see her. As much as I want to stay with her, I need to let her family get priority.She's been out for sixteen hours.Dwayne had done a physical scan on her, smothering her whole back in a cream to help draw out infection. If we had waited any longer to get her out of there, he fears that she wouldn't recover at all. She's lucky to be alive as it is. Due to being treated hours after the wounds were inflicted, it means it'll take longer to heal and she'll be left with horrendous scars. It'll be a constant reminder of what the
As soon as I pull the top over her head she stills. She then suddenly rockets towards the bathroom and I hear the sound of her throwing up. I jog to the bathroom to see her curled over the toilet seat, holding her hair back. I step up and hold it for her as she empties her stomach of silver.When she finishes, she sighs and stands up straighter. I hear a small whimper but it's cut off with the toilet flushing."You alright now?" I ask, releasing her hair so she can rinse out her mouth. She nods, holding her head higher. She takes a deep breath, calming herself down."I'm fine. Doc said I'd be throwing up, right?" she smirks at me before filling her mouth with a handful of water. She spits a few seconds later before straightening, covering her neck where the cut on her neck is. The edge of the gash is still visible no matter how she positons her hair. I watch her with one hip and shoulder braced against the door frame and arms crossed. "Let's go. I want to see my dad""He's in Dad's of
Cecily P.O.VI sit next to Austin at the top circle table. Everyone is talking and laughing around me but I don't feel it. Despite all the smiling faces I feel depressed. I feel empty, like I'm missing something. I am. I'm missing my wolf and my mate's mark. Austin nudges my arm lightly with his elbow. I snap into the present where he is looking at me with a concern that's matched on everyone else's face at our table. I blink, looking up at him."Are you okay?" he asks softly. I nod."I'm fine. I'm just not hungry" I look down at the plate that was put in front of me. Everyone else is nearly finished but I've not even picked up my cutlery."You need to eat, Cecily" Austin urges but I shake my head, slamming my lips together."Austin, I'm not hungry. I can't eat anything, not until I get the silver out my system" I've been throwing up all afternoon, little bits of silver coming out with my breakfast and lunch. Just like yesterday. It's been three days since Austin brought me back but m
"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