Just as I started to think that I was safe, thundering footsteps tramped down the hall in my direction. Panic flooded my system, and I looked around desperately for something, anything that would keep my secret. I could not allow myself to be caught. My heart raced faster as the footsteps drew nearer. What could I do? With that thought, calm slid through me, and Silver took control of my body, letting me sink into the safe embrace of her pelt. “Worry not, Little One. I have you.” With that simple reassurance, Silver removed the clothes that I had been wearing and tucked them at the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper. Then, slipping back into the overly large t-shirt that I insisted on wearing as pajamas, she padded silently into the bathroom and closed the door just in time for the bedroom door to bang open. “Logan, get up.” The Alpha snapped. “Mmph… What time is it?” Logan asked groggily. I could hear him rolling over in the bed I assumed to face the door. “It's about a quarte
I can't do this! The moment I stepped through the door and saw the three burly strangers standing with the Alpha, my stomach flipped, and I wanted to bolt. They were totally unknown variables, and I had no idea how they would act. But I knew that I was valuable to Alpha Greyson and to Logan, so I could only hope that I would be somewhat protected if they chose to attack. The door closed behind me, and I felt trapped as three heads turned towards us. “Ah, here they are now!” Alpha Greyson proclaimed wearing a large smile. “Gentlemen, this is my son Logan and his lovely mate-to-be, Silver. Logan, these men are from the White Mountain Pack to the south.” I did my best to keep my chin up as befitting a Luna in training, but I couldn't bring myself to look any of them in the eye as I gave them all a timid smile. Instead, I followed Logan to the coffee table between two couches on the left-hand side of the room to set down the tray I held. Logan, now free of his burden, quickly turned
"It's a Kindness, really.” Tyler chirped, snapping my attention to the overly relaxed and cheerful male. “A mercy killing if you will.” He twirled a hand and shrugged with a small smile.This one, who seemed so warm and charming, was too flippant on the topic of death. He was too casual. This one…I blinked, trying to cover my revulsion as realization struck me like a lightning bolt. This one relished in the hunt. He enjoyed watching life slip away with every fading beat of the heart. This one was a killer.“While he may be callous, Tyler is correct.” Nick spoke then for the first time since introducing himself. “They are tortured souls suffering for their sins, often driven to violence by their pain. So don't go on any runs alone until we catch this beast, little miss. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you.”Logan's grip around me tightened slightly. Whether protective or possessive, I wasn't sure, but I spoke quickly to put everyone at ease.“Oh, I won't be going very far from
As promised, I was permitted to go back to sleep once the guests had left. I wasn't tired anymore, but if I was going to run tomorrow, I was going to need my rest to gather all of the strength that I possessed. I managed to nap a little, but mostly, I thought about how I would escape. Patrols would be doubled with the lykaon nearby, and those four males hunting it could also pose a problem. I either needed to get enough of a head start that they couldn't catch up or find a way to slow them down. Pondering my options, my mind drifted to a little plant that I had thought of using on myself, but Silver had never allowed it. Now, it might give me the time I needed. The little wolfsbane had grown considerably despite my best attempts to prune it back to keep it hidden. It looked lush and vibrant, tucked against the wall where it grew despite the late February chill. The small buds had barely begun to form, but when they opened in several months, they would open into beautiful purple b
Skye gestured for me to follow him from the office to a small adjoining room that held a sink in the corner. “Thanks.” I gave my hands a hasty scrub with the antibacterial soap under some very hot water. When a quick sniff check confirmed that I had gotten all of the plant juice off my fingers, I sighed and dried my hands on my shirt, leaving dark smudges on the gray fabric. “Okay, well, if we're going to be leaving soon, we should probably start making a plan and packing supplies.” Skye mused. He folded one arm across his chest, tucking that hand in the elbow of his adjacent arm while tapping his chin with the other hand. His hazel eyes sought the ceiling in thought. “Do you know how long we'll be traveling?” He asked, turning his gaze to meet mine briefly. I shook my head, and he hummed. “We won't need a tent or sleeping bags since we can sleep in our fur. I won't be able to run on four legs, so stealth will have to be our prerogative.” “My wolf should be big enough for you t
The Healer and I mirrored each other as our heads whipped to face the speaker, identical expressions of horror marring our features. There in the open doorway stood Alpha Greyson, and he was pissed. I could only imagine how much of our conversation he had overheard since I was so engrossed in storytelling that I hadn't heard, or even sensed, his approach. Dread settled in my stomach like a ball of iron and turned my knees to jelly. How could I have been so careless? I was usually so alert! “Fuck.” The word spilled from my mouth and cracked through the still air like a whip. This was exactly the kind of thing that I was hoping to avoid. Greyson growled low in his throat, expecting me to drop my gaze and show my belly like a good little submissive wolf, like the weak pathetic thing he had tried to make me. “No time to pack, Skye. We go, now.” I growled back at Greyson and shifted. I quickly realized that not taking my clothes off before shifting was a huge mistake as the fa
I could see the path weaving through the trees, laid out before me like a silver glowing ribbon. The moon's pale light gave my tired body enough strength to dart beyond the jaws snapping in my wake.I ran as I had never run before, still breathing hard but no longer feeling faint.The pure terror that had gripped me lessened its chokehold as the fluttering of Hope began to unfurl in my chest, yearning to take flight. The Moon Mother was with us. She was guiding us to freedom. She was guiding us…To a chasm!The path before us clearly led to a wide yawning mouth in the earth from which the sound of rushing water assaulted my ears.But there! The path led over the rift by way of a decaying Fir tree. It would be extremely risky, but the Goddess was on my side. She had led us here. So we had to make it, right?“Oh fuck!” Skye whimpered, barely audible over the blood rushing in my ears and the river roaring from its bed. “No, no. Kendra, no!”But my paws had already hit the gertiatric log
I found myself cradled to Skye's warm chest instead of falling to my doom as he shuffled along the fallen giant. The Healer kept his weight balanced and low, moving with slow deliberation so as to not stress the fracture that I had made. “What…?” Was all I could manage through the tears as I looked up at the taller male. “You carried me this far. I can carry you across one stupid ravine.” Skye's jaw was set in pain, and I didn't need his gift to know that his left arm was causing him tremendous pain with every subtle movement. Over his shoulder, the three pursuing wolves were gaining on us, and more had begun to clamber up the gnarled exposed root ball of the old Fir. We weren't going to reach the other side. “You have to leave me, Skye.” I begged, tugging on the front of his shirt like a child. “You can make it out of here, but not like this. Not with me weighing you down.” “Shut up.” Skye growled and clutched me tighter. “I'm not leaving you.” “But-” “God dammit, Ken
I found myself cradled to Skye's warm chest instead of falling to my doom as he shuffled along the fallen giant. The Healer kept his weight balanced and low, moving with slow deliberation so as to not stress the fracture that I had made. “What…?” Was all I could manage through the tears as I looked up at the taller male. “You carried me this far. I can carry you across one stupid ravine.” Skye's jaw was set in pain, and I didn't need his gift to know that his left arm was causing him tremendous pain with every subtle movement. Over his shoulder, the three pursuing wolves were gaining on us, and more had begun to clamber up the gnarled exposed root ball of the old Fir. We weren't going to reach the other side. “You have to leave me, Skye.” I begged, tugging on the front of his shirt like a child. “You can make it out of here, but not like this. Not with me weighing you down.” “Shut up.” Skye growled and clutched me tighter. “I'm not leaving you.” “But-” “God dammit, Ken
I could see the path weaving through the trees, laid out before me like a silver glowing ribbon. The moon's pale light gave my tired body enough strength to dart beyond the jaws snapping in my wake.I ran as I had never run before, still breathing hard but no longer feeling faint.The pure terror that had gripped me lessened its chokehold as the fluttering of Hope began to unfurl in my chest, yearning to take flight. The Moon Mother was with us. She was guiding us to freedom. She was guiding us…To a chasm!The path before us clearly led to a wide yawning mouth in the earth from which the sound of rushing water assaulted my ears.But there! The path led over the rift by way of a decaying Fir tree. It would be extremely risky, but the Goddess was on my side. She had led us here. So we had to make it, right?“Oh fuck!” Skye whimpered, barely audible over the blood rushing in my ears and the river roaring from its bed. “No, no. Kendra, no!”But my paws had already hit the gertiatric log
The Healer and I mirrored each other as our heads whipped to face the speaker, identical expressions of horror marring our features. There in the open doorway stood Alpha Greyson, and he was pissed. I could only imagine how much of our conversation he had overheard since I was so engrossed in storytelling that I hadn't heard, or even sensed, his approach. Dread settled in my stomach like a ball of iron and turned my knees to jelly. How could I have been so careless? I was usually so alert! “Fuck.” The word spilled from my mouth and cracked through the still air like a whip. This was exactly the kind of thing that I was hoping to avoid. Greyson growled low in his throat, expecting me to drop my gaze and show my belly like a good little submissive wolf, like the weak pathetic thing he had tried to make me. “No time to pack, Skye. We go, now.” I growled back at Greyson and shifted. I quickly realized that not taking my clothes off before shifting was a huge mistake as the fa
Skye gestured for me to follow him from the office to a small adjoining room that held a sink in the corner. “Thanks.” I gave my hands a hasty scrub with the antibacterial soap under some very hot water. When a quick sniff check confirmed that I had gotten all of the plant juice off my fingers, I sighed and dried my hands on my shirt, leaving dark smudges on the gray fabric. “Okay, well, if we're going to be leaving soon, we should probably start making a plan and packing supplies.” Skye mused. He folded one arm across his chest, tucking that hand in the elbow of his adjacent arm while tapping his chin with the other hand. His hazel eyes sought the ceiling in thought. “Do you know how long we'll be traveling?” He asked, turning his gaze to meet mine briefly. I shook my head, and he hummed. “We won't need a tent or sleeping bags since we can sleep in our fur. I won't be able to run on four legs, so stealth will have to be our prerogative.” “My wolf should be big enough for you t
As promised, I was permitted to go back to sleep once the guests had left. I wasn't tired anymore, but if I was going to run tomorrow, I was going to need my rest to gather all of the strength that I possessed. I managed to nap a little, but mostly, I thought about how I would escape. Patrols would be doubled with the lykaon nearby, and those four males hunting it could also pose a problem. I either needed to get enough of a head start that they couldn't catch up or find a way to slow them down. Pondering my options, my mind drifted to a little plant that I had thought of using on myself, but Silver had never allowed it. Now, it might give me the time I needed. The little wolfsbane had grown considerably despite my best attempts to prune it back to keep it hidden. It looked lush and vibrant, tucked against the wall where it grew despite the late February chill. The small buds had barely begun to form, but when they opened in several months, they would open into beautiful purple b
"It's a Kindness, really.” Tyler chirped, snapping my attention to the overly relaxed and cheerful male. “A mercy killing if you will.” He twirled a hand and shrugged with a small smile.This one, who seemed so warm and charming, was too flippant on the topic of death. He was too casual. This one…I blinked, trying to cover my revulsion as realization struck me like a lightning bolt. This one relished in the hunt. He enjoyed watching life slip away with every fading beat of the heart. This one was a killer.“While he may be callous, Tyler is correct.” Nick spoke then for the first time since introducing himself. “They are tortured souls suffering for their sins, often driven to violence by their pain. So don't go on any runs alone until we catch this beast, little miss. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you.”Logan's grip around me tightened slightly. Whether protective or possessive, I wasn't sure, but I spoke quickly to put everyone at ease.“Oh, I won't be going very far from
I can't do this! The moment I stepped through the door and saw the three burly strangers standing with the Alpha, my stomach flipped, and I wanted to bolt. They were totally unknown variables, and I had no idea how they would act. But I knew that I was valuable to Alpha Greyson and to Logan, so I could only hope that I would be somewhat protected if they chose to attack. The door closed behind me, and I felt trapped as three heads turned towards us. “Ah, here they are now!” Alpha Greyson proclaimed wearing a large smile. “Gentlemen, this is my son Logan and his lovely mate-to-be, Silver. Logan, these men are from the White Mountain Pack to the south.” I did my best to keep my chin up as befitting a Luna in training, but I couldn't bring myself to look any of them in the eye as I gave them all a timid smile. Instead, I followed Logan to the coffee table between two couches on the left-hand side of the room to set down the tray I held. Logan, now free of his burden, quickly turned
Just as I started to think that I was safe, thundering footsteps tramped down the hall in my direction. Panic flooded my system, and I looked around desperately for something, anything that would keep my secret. I could not allow myself to be caught. My heart raced faster as the footsteps drew nearer. What could I do? With that thought, calm slid through me, and Silver took control of my body, letting me sink into the safe embrace of her pelt. “Worry not, Little One. I have you.” With that simple reassurance, Silver removed the clothes that I had been wearing and tucked them at the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper. Then, slipping back into the overly large t-shirt that I insisted on wearing as pajamas, she padded silently into the bathroom and closed the door just in time for the bedroom door to bang open. “Logan, get up.” The Alpha snapped. “Mmph… What time is it?” Logan asked groggily. I could hear him rolling over in the bed I assumed to face the door. “It's about a quarte
It was another quiet, misty morning when, in the chill of the predawn air, I crept from the warmth of blankets beside Logan, intending to go for a run. I pried myself from the alpha's son's grasp and dropped lightly off the side of the bed, scuttling around to collect my discarded clothes like a thief in the night. He didn't stir, too exhausted from trying to put a pup in me. I was grateful that he slept so soundly. As swiftly as I could, I stripped out of my pj's and into a faded sweatshirt with matching pants and a pair of Silently, I crept from the room, avoiding the creaky floorboards that refused to be fixed. It was still dark out, but I had excellent night vision, so the thick surrounding blanket of shadow didn’t bother me. Making sure not to wake anyone, I snuck downstairs and outside, easing the door closed behind me. I had nearly an hour before the dawn patrol ran circuit. Plenty of time. Breathing in the cool air, I felt full of life and energy. The scent of rain that had