CANNON
Stepping out of my bathroom, I picked up my second towel on the bed’s side table and glanced at The Sleeping Beauty, Aurora. She was cuddling my pillow in place of a stuffed animal, with a little drool rolling down her slightly open mouth.I cleaned it off her with my least used napkin and dried the rest of my body, opening my closet to see what I could wear. My underwear was the only thing on when I heard a whistle come from the bedside and saw Aurora giggling.I turned back to the closet and picked a singlet. This thing that Aurora and I were doing was nice, and I wasn’t just ready to leave it. I guess they weren’t brats after all and it’d be lovely if we could spend the morning together before letting her go.Shadow loved her company too so why not extend it a bit?She got up from the bed, rubbing her tummy.“I’ll get Susanna to make us something.”“Yes!” she exclaimed, shining her not-so-perfect teeth. “I wanKATRINA“Perfect…” It was the voice of a woman, or what should be one. The tone was thin, weak, and fading more with every letter she pronounced. Icy cold fingers were poking my stomach and that was what initially brought me out of the temporary coma.Apart from her disturbing voice, I also heard the sound of thick liquid dropping into more liquid. It was quick, like a drop every two seconds and as my eyelashes slowly moved, I felt numbing pain around my wrists.My whole body hurt but that could be ignored, compared to how my wrists felt. My back wasn’t lying on a bed—unfortunately—I wasn’t even lying down. I forced my guttering eyes open and was punched with nausea.The cave I was in looked like it had been dyed red. There was no entrance and no exit that I knew of. I was only in my underwear and my nose couldn’t pick up any scent.My hands and legs were bound to the walls by chains in a crucifixion pose and icy fingers poking me stopped. I didn’t find the woman the eerie voice belo
CANNONWe made our own search teams and split to increase the chances of finding Kat. And also because we couldn't work together. Susanna was linking us once every hour for updates, but nothing so far.We combed Azonos, each taking a section of the forest to clues. The search has been on for half a day and neither search team took rest. In the end, if we didn’t find success here, we’d find it in Dorcha Azonos.I was giving Azonos three more hours before we moved to the darker regions. The mind-link between the three of us was always on, in case we got any lead, but so far there has been no success but giving up wasn’t an option.A river was up ahead and this one was a major water supply to animals in the day and rogues at night. Being one of the most popular water sources, there’s a high chance that the agmarbhs might drink from here.Unless they don’t have to drink.“Search everywhere! We must find something!” I announced for the millionth time and the Sigmas of my search team scour
KANE “They were the only ones willing to help. The rest didn’t seem to understand what we were saying.”I told my brothers as we looked at the two humans. Their hair was matted; they had sores and bruises, some of which had maggots crawling out of them. The little left of their clothing was covered in layers of dirt, blood, and sweat which piled up and turned their clothes black.They looked better now they had taken a wash in the river. The man didn’t have a good eye anymore and the woman had a deep cut on her hand that needed treatment. She also had a swollen mouth and there were eyesore heat rashes on his body.Most of their skin had reddened because of heat and the doctors I previously called had just arrived now, carrying out their duties. We sat opposite these humans while some of our Sigmas escorted the other humans and wolves to the packhouse.They tried to talk but even after drinking the whole river up, their voices were too ho
KATRINA ‘What next is how we get out of this sh*thole?’‘Right.’My poor kids. They’d be worried sick about me. ‘They’ll be fine, they have Susanna but the Alpha Triplets don’t and I’m sure they would’ve turned the whole pack and forest upside down.’She wasn’t lying. I know I said they’d come for me but I was barely conscious and a bit delusional, I wasn’t sure myself. This cave looked like nowhere in Azonos. Finding it in Dorcha Azonos might even be harder. ‘They’d have turned this into a race. First to get Katrina wins because those three cannot work together.’ I shrugged that off but was very uncomfortable in the underwear I was wearing. ‘You should be glad she didn’t strip you naked. Who was that crazy lady anyway?’‘A demon.’ I recollected her frosty hands and chilly voice. ‘Her hands were so cold and she was pale, too pale.’‘Vampire?’‘Vampires don’t exist, Mel.’‘Humans said the sam
KATRINA Don’t look down. Why the f*ck did I say that? The bridge was reasonably wide but that didn’t dim that there was still a high chance of someone falling over and Melora, as always, wasn’t making things any better.‘It’d hurt if you fell inside. Like really hurt. I can’t even imagine.’ Just ignore her. Ignore her. ‘The lava is super hot and we’ll melt. We’re right under this lava! Doesn’t that freaking scare you?!’ Ignore. Her. ‘If we slip and fall it’s over. The bridge isn’t wide enough!’ “MEL!”I stopped walking as my voice echoed in the caves. I froze, waiting for any movement, and didn’t walk further until I was sure I was safe. But who the f*ck, was I kidding? I was over boiling lava!And Mel almost blew my cover. Sometimes I wonder if I got the wrong spirit animal.‘Hey!’It got worse when I looked down. Mel’s words haunted my consciousness and partially affected my body. I looked ahead and was relieved when I saw that the end wasn’
30 MINUTES EARLIER…HENRY “I’ve done everything you wanted me to, Lilith. It’s your turn now.”She came closer, smirking as her fingers played with each other. Her presence choked me and I wanted to strangle her to death but that would be instant death for me. I must think.“The deal is broken. We are detached,” she said.“You didn’t acknowledge my first statement,” I reminded.“Why so keen, Hen? She’ll arrive.”“I need her now,” I roared with a tied tongue, pinching myself so I wouldn’t do something stupid.She stopped at a small table at the center, and sitting on this same table was a bowl of white powder. Her fingers encircled in this white powder, and as she did, it made her paler and she seemed to be getting addicted to it… until she pulled away.“Someone is deep in love. Deep deep in love. I know how you feel.”I scoffed. “I’ll hardly call that love,” I muttered to myself. “And I’ve been patient enough. If you know how I feel then bring her back to me.”Her red eyes rolled and
KATRINA While I watched what was happening, I tried to break the silver bracelets that the demon had cursed on my hands and legs, but the more I tried, the more it got worse and it annoyed the hell out of me.“Where is Katrina?!” Kane’s prevailing voice echoed in the cave and he was a different wolf from the partly comedic and frisky Kane I had gotten to know. He was unnerved and I could feel his angry aura all the way here.Cannon had a gun pointed at the demon but Ian held a sword with another one behind his back while Kane directed a different-looking sword at her.She raised her hands in the air, trying to take a step back but shook when Cannon shot a bullet next to her ear.“Move and this goes into your head!” I could feel his fuming aura too, but there was something personal and choking about it. A crowd of Sigmas swarmed out of the entrance and stayed behind them, each aiming a deadly weapon at Lilith. I though
KATRINA“Where was she when you came begging to me, asking for help, and ready to do anything!”“Lilith…” he whispered, lowering the gun but she still kept her sword at him.“Don’t call my name backstabber! I should kill her right now!” She turned to me but I was already on my feet, my bullet claws ready to attack her. The gun clicked and Lilith hissed, turning back to Cannon. “You wouldn’t dare shoot me.”Cannon’s gaze was fixed on her forehead and his fingers fiddled with the trigger of the gun. “If you don’t dare touch her.”Lilith laughed and dropped the sword, raising her hands in the air in the same bothersome way she did last time. “Wow, I had no idea that a little mate bond could have this much effect on you.”Cannon scoffed, holding the gun tight as I watched them suspiciously. I had so many questions and a bad feeling that Cannon had something to do with all this.‘Ya think?’Cannon took slow steps tow
He listened to the darkness that spun around his ears, a low screeching noise releasing from it. It danced around him and sang the song of death as he walked mindlessly to where he had to be.This meeting could happen only once in ten years. He wasn’t sure he had made the wisest decision or that the others were smart to join but what he knew was that he needed answers. And he would do anything to get them.Heart-burning answers about his mate and all happening on the surface above, things he needed to know. If only he could stretch his hand out of the looming darkness and rejoin them…The darkness continued to swirl like a body of smoke in the dead of the night. He was walking but he wasn’t feeling the ground. He was moving but he felt like he had been in the same place the whole time. His eyes were open but it wouldn’t make a difference if he were blind… in a place as dark and sad as this.Not too long after his wailing thoughts, Cannon saw what looked like a dull red orb of dim light
KATRINA‘It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?’My knees were on the new little shoots of grass that were growing… The wind was very friendly ‘cause it circled me in a gentle whirlwind. The sun was madly bright, hoping to roast everyone with its stinging rays but that didn’t bother me because of the greater pain weighing my heart down. Little stones prickled my knees and I removed my sunglasses, setting them aside.Windy and Sunny didn’t go well together. Father said there was nothing in the world that couldn’t go together. It all depended on how you were doing it. But in this case, the wind is like Dash and the sun is like Hilda so…The pain of looking down at father’s grave was sharp and hit me right in the heart.There was nothing like it and I had been fighting tears all the time I was here. I could barely hear the voices of the playing kids that Kane was trying to control. I smiled a bit… they wouldn’t take him seriously, especially when he’s been spoiling them too much.Surprisingly m
KATRINAFreedom. It was all I could think about.Kane ushered me into a room, checking to make sure no one followed us here. Our duration at the ball was mostly spent attending to guests, dancing, and having conversations with the Beta and Gamma until nine o’clock. We needed time to ourselves and I was annoyed that two Alphas, one of the Jayrus pack and the other of the Skyfall pack, were eager on discussing business with the Alpha. There were so eager that they couldn’t even respect the party. I couldn’t blame them. The partnership would be hugely beneficial if they succeeded.But if they think that because Kane’s a new Alpha, he’d be easily convinced with a partnership that he’d only gain access to a few diamond mines and good weather, then they were twice dumber than I thought. Kane knew what he was doing. His words, “Today’s a celebration. Let’s not spoil the mood with business talk, the time for that will come.” We also met Alpha Hades and I didn’t care if it was inappropriat
KATRINAI don’t want to sound proud but since no one’s here to tell me, I say this dress looks so much better when I’m wearing it.‘You do sound proud and… that’s how it’s meant to be.’‘Ever heard of what you wanted versus what you got?’I couldn’t recognize my former self as I gazed at myself in the mirror. It must be a crime to look this pretty.‘Cut it out already! It’s annoying.’‘Sounds like jealousy to me. Too bad you can’t wear a dress.’‘Says who?’I pushed her aside for a moment and thought about the kids. I wasn’t happy that they would have to sleep through the most important morning of my life but it was best. They wouldn’t understand what was happening and would ask just too many questions.Hilda would’ve been so pleased to see me wear a crown. She would think we were in a castle all this time and tick herself as a princess. Also, I don’t think they know that the wolves here can actually shift into one. It’s hard to imagine the looks on their faces when they realize they
KATRINA Thankfully, Kendra left me off because Susanna caught us when she came to momentarily check up on me. She was furious when she discovered I wasn’t sleeping and it made me wish I had locked the door.So that was how she sent Kendra away at ten pm and tried to put me to sleep. Of course, I couldn’t so I pretended. She bought it and left the room. I don’t know what the time is but I’m still awake and I was laying on my side on the bed, staring at my dress.The last time a dress had been folded for me like this was when I was being sold. Today, this was for a coronation that will change my life. It’s crazy because the sale felt like yesterday.If someone told me I’d end up like this, I would have never believed it. It’s amazing but some strange force was pulling me down. I couldn’t force a smile even with all the amazing things happening around me.There were still unsettled things between Kane and me, and I was afraid to bring it up. I’m not sure if he has ever thought about it.
KATRINA“Why are you here?”My right hand kept the door partially open, prepared for when they’d say something irritating so I could slam it in their faces, and the part of me that wasn’t inside, rested on the hinges.Kane was close… close enough for me to feel his warm heavy breaths on the weak points of my neck and his crotch unnoticeably grinding my a*s, excitement sizzling through me. If only Susanna wasn’t in…Madeline and Fraser were not present, thank goodness for that, but any of the council members is enough to put me in a bad mood. “You haven’t said anything?” Kane inquired, opening the door a bit more so that his menacing figure would get a better view.Penelope’s eyes were sizing Kane up and that made me more insecure than it normally should’ve been.Elder Sesan had gone strict and that small smile he once had, had gone. “We must inform you, of course, about the coronation that will occur in the grand hall tomorrow.”“Coronation?” I asked, easing and tensing up at the sam
KATRINAFor a second there, I felt complete emptiness. What was I saying? I couldn’t even feel myself. I went numb and it didn’t ‘feel like’ because something had definitely been pulled out of me. It came like eternal peace but I began to worry when I got my senses back and still couldn’t move.Thankfully, Kane caught me and the world was colorful again. My nerves were working again. I was still recovering but Kane helped me to my feet and his touch brought me back to life.His aura was stronger than ever and the one thing that was once shared among three, then two… all belonged to him. It was a pulling attraction, which I could barely control.Was this how it felt to have one mate? The one you truly deserved. “What did you do, Kat?” Kane asked, and he seemed to have turned slightly pale as well.I muttered silently, smiling, “What I should have done a long time ago.”Ian wasn’t taking this well. He screamed like he was burn
KANE I didn’t understand a f*cking thing that was happening but the way my life changed from ‘waiting for death’ to ‘becoming Alpha’ left me in shock. I was not expecting it and what I loved most right now was how Katrina held my hand bossily.Dragging me along with her… with serious a*s movements that drove me nuts.‘I see empty rooms all around us?’‘Not a f*cking word from you.’But as much as I enjoyed this moment and didn’t want it to end, I had to know what the hell was happening. The excitement, sex drive, and curiosity were killing me.“You have to tell me what’s going on? Can you hear how hard my heart is beating?”I sensed her rolling her eyes because her back was to me, and I admired her beautiful and lengthier caramel blonde hair. “Be patient, would you?”I didn’t want to stop her because she was so anxious but I had to do something.“Explain while we’re going. If you don’t, I might die before we reach there.”She turned to me, a glare locked on her face before she shook
KATRINAWho will be the chosen one?It was a simple question but there’d be grave consequences if a mistake occurred. Not only would my kids and I suffer for it, but the pack as a whole. A worthy wolf would also be hanged to death.“You’ve had plenty of time to think before now, Katrina. We don’t want to waste any more time now, do we?” Madeline snapped at me, seeming greatly impatient.Penelope talked before Elder Sesan could say a word. “This is a very delicate decision. Even at the last second, it needs proper thinking. You shouldn’t rush…”“And who asked you to speak?” Fraser turned to her while I watched them with grazing eyes. “You never have anything sensible to say.”“She is right, Fraser.” All attention returned to Sesan when his words came out. “A decision made in haste would yield frightening results. We must not hasten her.”Fraser sneered while Penelope glared at Madeline for some time before catching me loo