"Do you, Austin Black, swear to fulfil the duties as the Alpha of Black Shadow, abide by the Law of leadership and to serve justice in the name of the well-being of Black Shadow pack members?" Clyde asks, rather long-winded. His voice is loud so the whole garden can hear him. My eyes flick to Austin, who is still holding my hand."I do" Austin answers, looking rather serious."Do you swear to serve and protect this pack to the best of your ability, put this pack before you and your own when necessary and do everything in the best interest of the pack?""I do"Oh my God it sounds like a wedding. It technically is a wedding; a wedding between us and the pack."Do you swear to always provide and protect the Luna with the necessities of her role, show loyalty towards her and provide an heir for Black Shadow to look up to in future years?" I choke on my own spit at the last one and it causes everyone behind me to chuckle. It's a bit early for that, isn't it? Clyde winks at me playfully and
Austin's P.O.VThat little minx is by far the most annoying she-wolf I have ever met. Why does she have to wake up so damn early every damn morning? Six o'clock every morning, just to go for a run. Who does that? She's lucky I love her.Unable to get back to sleep, I pull myself up in a sit-up. It's now half seven so I guess I manged to sleep a little once she woke me up. I can still feel her hands on my back. Why does she have to do that to me? I'm sitting downstairs at the kitchen stool by eight and Cecily isn't back yet. I can't get worried, not really, at least not yet. She'll be going slower so I'll give it until half past before beginning to worry about her.Alpha, our spies have returned, along with the messengers we sent out. I hear Rick's voice in my head. It does feel weird having my best friends call me 'Alpha' but it comes with the role of being Beta and Delta.We've assembled in your office. I've already told Cecily. Ryan adds and it's just a reminder that I no longer hav
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
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
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 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
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
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
"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