Beth helped me hide the cloak in an unused room and forced me into the tub to scrub me clean of any scent. I swear my skin was almost ready to come off from how ridiculously hard she scrubbed at me.
By the the time she'd finished I had a light green turtleneck on and a pair of black skinny jeans. She'd brushed my short chocolate locks and parted them neatly.
"How are you eighteen and don't have your ears pierced?" Beth laughed to herself as she was about to let me borrow a pair. She closed the lid of her jewelry box.
I shrug, feeling self conscious suddenly. I didn't feel like ruining the mood and mentioning that my mother barely talked to me let alone let me have a luxury like a pair of earrings. It seemed that nobody other than Gerwulf and Julian were aware that I had been a servant before becoming their Luna.
Beth spun me around and forced me to look at myself in the mirror. I hadn't spent much ti
My body ached as I started morning stretches on the front lawn of the pack house. Gerwulf and I seemed to not be able to keep our hands off one another for the last week. Between that and the increase of how much I was pushing myself to exercise, my body definitely needed a break.He had finally agreed to schedule my Luna ceremony this weekend and the entire pack was ecstatic. Even though we were only a few hundred people at the moment the community seemed tight-knit. Gerwulf would be leaving soon to stage another attack and hopefully bring down Harvest Moon this time. Afterwards he planned on expanding more and taking down somebody who'd started a pack made of some of the most ruthless rogues.I got up and took a deep breath starting my early morning jog. Today I'd decided on a tight pair of leggings and a sports bra. The air was chilly but I knew by the end of the jog I'd be drenched in sweat if I wore anything more.I
I fucked up. I fucked up BAD. It's the constant thought that's been in my head for nearly two weeks now. I sighed and lay against the marble floor of my bedroom, staring at the ceiling. The food that had been given to me was still laying on the tray hours later. Any weight that I had gained from being here was now gone, easily I looked the way I had when I first arrived. No longer could I go anywhere outside of our bedroom. Gerwulf had placed metal rings around my ankles enchanted with some kind of magick that made it impossible to shift or leave the doorway. He'd forbidden any further interaction with Julian and threatened a war against the vampires if I decided to ever pull a stunt with him again. Currently I was bored out of my mind. Nothing interested me anymore q
"There's one really big problem with that," I sighed and Gerwulf looked confused," Praline said to reach my full potential I'd have to be marked by both mates. Kind of like with our fertility issue."Gerwulf's expression turned into a grimace," I don't like that the universe is trying it's best to push you two together. It's honestly starting to piss me the fuck off." He growled," but there's no reason I can't try and get you a shifter to practice with. Maybe I'll even let Simon start training you."The rest of the night was spent awkwardly trying to get as much information as I could out of my mate. Which in the end turned out to be very little. I spent the rest of that night and the weekend pestering Gerwulf until he agreed to just hire a shifter to help educate and placate me for the time being."I'm not going to eat a human," I tried my best to sound stern and put my foot down. It was only breakfast and I was already
"Like this?" I looked up at my mate and was met with a loving smile. We were sat on the floor in his lab. My back was to his chest as his legs were on both sides of my lap. Gerwulf had wanted to practice using my magickal aura to fuel his abilities."Just close your eyes and take a deep breath babydoll," Gerwulf whispered into my ear causing my body to goose bump and shiver. It was so hard to concentrate on anything with his scent flooding my senses. It was only made worse when I started to remind myself it had been over two months since we'd even kissed.The thoughts were intrusive, making me quickly spiral in my train of thoughts. Gerwulf cleared his throat making me jump a little. I sighed hard and closed my eyes letting my body relax. He'd said to think of times in my life when I felt truly happy or at peace. Anytime I'd been flooded with intense emotions.'That's easy,' Praline or whatever it was muttered.&n
"Alpha Ross?" I questioned, seeing those dark eyes fix on me. Beth cleared her throat to try getting back on subject," how do you all know one another?""He is here to help us with dividing Harvest Moon's territories," Vance spoke up putting an arm around her shoulders.Dietrich kissed her forehead," he's Alpha of the Mountain Crawler pack. Is this the guy you were talking about?"A grin bled onto Ross's features," oh? You were talking about me young Luna?""O-Oh um... no I wasn't," I stuttered as everybody looked at me. I hated being put on the spot, living life as unrecognized nobody was better."I was!" Beth chimed in annoyed sounding," why were you following us?!""Beth, show some respect for a guest," Gerwulf warned her."I wasn't actually following you. That mall is on my territory," Ross scratched his chin and shrugged," I just hap
The ride back to Harvest Moon territory had been excruciatingly silent. I had refused to acknowledge or look at Gerwulf all morning. No matter what he said or tried. Something inside me had finally snapped and I began to question my complacency and comfort when it came to my ability to submit and obey people. Finally I was thinking on my own and I was mad.Mad at myself for being so weak willed. Mad at my shitty start to life. Mad everything had been a lie. Mad my mate kept so many secrets from me. I was just plain mad.So in turn I decided I was going to use some anger and become momentarily spiteful. Despite the cold weather I had decided to wear one of the dresses Beth had picked out for me. It was a cream colored off shoulder lantern sleeve dress. The fit was tight, barely reaching halfway down my thigh as the bust dipped enough to show cleavage. I didn't have much to show in the chest area but my body was still very slim and had started
"Alpha... Luna ," Ross and Jade quickly addressed us they looked up. Robin gave him a nod, keeping it overly casual as usual."I'm glad you all made it safely, " Gerwulf wrapped an arm around my waist tightly as if afraid I'd disappear any minute," I trust Bel and the Betas have shown you to your rooms? I know it's not as good as you're probably used to, but hopefully it's okay for the duration of the Luna ceremony." He chuckled and I saw their father smile. Why wasn't I informed of a Luna ceremony? Nobody had prepared anything with me."It's not everyday you get invited to such events when you're a vampire," he spoke with a very thick French accent," I just hope your other guests are as open minded.""Forrest," the woman beside him tsked and shook her head. Her accent was just as thick but her voice was filled with kindness while she scolded him," even the Alpha knows better than to offend us. Don't you think we should
"I'm glad they at least taught their servants how to read. With as archaic as Harvest Moon seemed to be in some ways, I almost expected you to be illiterate," Beth snickered while handing me another book. She had thankfully arrived sometime during the night. We hadn't been as close lately but with my upcoming ceremony it was important that the relationship between me and the Beta female was strong.I rolled my eyes and laughed," of course I am. I did serve underneath our Alpha. That meant a lot of times I was in public having to converse and help him during events. It would've looked bad on both Finn and Hylda if a servant embarrassed them."A smirked crept onto Beth's face," oh? You served underneath him, huh? The boys told me he was as pure as it got. Didn't know you two were so... close." She drug out the word and I laughed."I was only 13 when he was exiled, no such thing happened," embarrassment filled me at the tho
"Quinn moved on already Gideon," his words stung. I looked up from the photos and straight into his eyes that were the same shade of amber as mine. He wore a pained look. I knew how he felt about the situation with Quinn and I. I knew he still blamed himself for me losing my mate. "I know," I couldn't hold back the growl that ripp
I want to give a big thank you to everybody who followed along with this story. It took a lot for me to upload it in the first place and it makes me incredibly happy to see that people were interested in it. :) This will be continued in my second book "Love Thy Hellhound"! I have already started uploading chapters on it but I will give a sneak peak into the book for those who might be interested. LTHH is going to be a lot darker and include some of the characters from this story. It starts off nine years from the time the last "Aftermath" chapter takes place. It is currently only available through the mobile site because it hasn't been signed yet. I've already uploaded nine chapters of it. Again a big thank you for anybody who gave this book a chance! I appreciate each and every one of you. -INSECT
GIDEON There are very few times I can ever remember my mother crying in front of us. After the birth of my other siblings and when dad said overly sweet things to her. Other than that were the times my father was involved. Whether it be he came home from one of the council's missions in ill health or they had one of their many arguments... she cried. "There has to be something you can do," my mother's broken voice filled our kitchen. As I stared into her red eyes my heart ached. I had been the one to make her cry this time. Was I just as bad as my father? Quinn's warm hand was placed onto my shoulder and I relaxed a bit. My father grabbed his glass of dark liquid again and downed it. He looked awful, having just come back from a mission days ago. Deep red hair a shaggy mess around his shoulders and dark bags beneath his eyes. He stood in front of me at the kitchen island, staring down at m
QUINNI just knew that leaving would be a bad idea. Everyday away for the last three months it's felt like I'm losing my mind. His smell, touch... all of it. I craved it so much. Slipping up and giving into my darkest desires during that party ruined everything. It completely broke all the rules my pack and his parents had given me.I wasn't allowed to make a move on Gideon until he had his first shift. It was forbidden amongst most werewolves and lycans to let a mate know you're theirs until they come of age.The moment he left my mother had confronted me. His thick scent of sandalwood was now intertwined with mine. Soaking up every bit of my being and making me dizzy.Being sent away for 'training' was her form of punishment. She was worried I was going to mess up everything they'd planned. Gerwulf had become unpredictable once the council started contracting him for work.
GIDEON My foot pressed down harder as I started to speed carelessly through the traffic. Who was he to tell me what to do?! My anger was flaring as Otto was fighting against me to stay calmed down. If I got too pissed I'd shift and being this publicly exposed would be bad. Humans frequented this town as much as the supernaturals. "Yes we are!" I swerved recklessly, pulling into the first parking spot at the mall. I went to jump out of the car, but Quinn pulled me back in hard. His nostrils were flaring with his canines elongated. He wasn't trying to hide just how absolutely pissed off he was in this moment. "We. Are. Not. Going," he pronounced each words hard. His grip on my wrist tightening. "Stop treating me like a child!" I was yelling at this point. "You ARE a child! Maybe you aren't five, but if you want me to treat you li
GIDEON'You should really cut your hair,' Otto, my shifter spirit hissed at me.I rolled my eyes, staring into the mirror. I'd just gotten out of the shower after morning training with the pack. Did I really look that bad? My large hands twisted through my long brown locks. Maybe? Demeter said she liked guys with longer hair.'Yes you do. Don't listen to that girl,' he grew more impatient.Otto had been a constant source of annoyance my entire life. He'd been awake in my mind since childhood. Something that I never told my parents about. Mom doesn't know about the deal that my father made with the council. It's better if neither of them know about this.When both of my sides awaken then I have to start my service. Five years, no exceptions. It was a thought that had haunted me for a long time. Father told me about it on my thirteenth bi
7 years later..."Please please try not to break anything this time!" Gerwulf was in full on dad mode as we all piled out of the car. Gideon was the first to jump out of the vehicle with the big bag of cookies he'd made for dinner. His younger brothers followed behind him quickly.Our family had grown rapidly since everything went down. Since things had become calm. Things had changed drastically for the pack. Some for the better... some for the worst possible. Wolves were being born with abilities beyond what should be possible. Ash Walker was now on a gag order from Gerwulf. People weren't to talk about our family and I was strictly banned from attending anything with him. Both Julian and Gerwulf were too afraid of another rebellion happening.Aldric Stoll's pack was now under close watch while we waited for his grandson to come of age. Mason, the pack Beta was left alive and tasked w
"Alright alright. Give him back," Julian was pouting like a child as he watched his parents take turns holding Max. Forrest laughed at his son while Colette hissed lightly and hugged her grandson tighter. "You'll get him back when we're ready to give him back," she snapped. I couldn't hold in the laughter watching Julian deflate and sulk back over to our bed. My head pounded as my muscles tensed up with laughter. "It's not fair. All of you guys have had hours to be with him and I've only had minutes," he lay his head into my lap and puffed out his bottom lip. "Guess we'll just have to make another so you always have a baby to hold," I used my free hand to pet at his hair. The other was currently occupied with Gideon who slept soundly curled against my chest. He'd cried so hard when Gerwulf put him down that it felt like my ear drums were ready to burst. Thankfully some milk had fixed that problem. Jack from the cou
Aldric. Fucking. Stoll.Bane of my goddess given existence.Julian's warnings of Robin had sent me into a panic, but never did I think that it would be this bad. I had been on my way back from breaking up the fight between Ross and Simon when I heard her getting sick. One look at her features and the puddle of blood on the floor let me know she had been poisoned. What I hadn't expected was what I saw when my mother lifted her shirt. Whatever had entered her system was working fast.I hated myself for leaving her alone to finish decorating the houses. If I hadn't left...Julian's cries were echoing in the hollowed out chamber that was my mother's apothecary area. He hadn't stopped sobbing and exhausting himself trying to move since he'd been tossed down here with the rest of us. Dietrich, Vance, my mother, my father, and Robin were all out cold. Twenty minutes after tossing us down here they threw dow