Whiskey. I kept going, stopping every third or fourth leap to pause and listen for the sounds of the visitors. Their footsteps slowed and eventually came to a stop. I could now see them, not too far ahead of me. It was a large group, I count twenty-two, six of which are human. I continued my approach, moving much slower and with far more caution. I made sure not to make a sound as I tiptoed across the branch through the treetops. The wolves were standing in a tight circle, growling and huffing at each other. As I made my way to the tree a few feet to their right, I was able to see the scene more clearly. One of the humans was tied to the back of one of the wolves. From a distance, I thought he was injured and just catching a ride. Now that I was on top of them and could see them all clearly, it was obvious that he was a captive. Ropes were tied to his ankles, with the length of it going under the wolfs belly and connecting to his other ankle. More ropes were around his hands, with the
Whiskey. I kept running until I could see the lights of the village through the trees. I slowed down and kept low as I got closer to the edge of the tree line. I can hear the commotion echoing around the area, the barking and the growling all coming from Gunner’s house. I kept my body behind a large tree trunk and peered around it into the clearing. Gunner’s warriors had the half-breed and his pack surrounded and were ushering them to the middle of the clearing. I haven’t picked a good vantage point to watch the chaos unfold. My view is obstructed by the little houses lining the centre of the village. They stopped and held the half-breed a safe distance from the house. Gunner’s large silver wolf stood in front of the group. I was too far away to hear anything, unfortunately. I could only just see the half-breed and three of his wolves, the rest of them were blocked from my line of sight by a cabin. The half-breed stepped forward and held his arms up. His arms and chest started to shri
Whiskey. I watched on as Gunner’s mother continued to converse with the man. My mind was running a million miles a minute. If he tells them that it was me that killed his pack, everything will be fucked. It will mess up all my plans of waiting and watching. I need to observe this place, and these idiots, for a longer period. I need to know more before I attack. I've already seen a small part of their defences when Doyle entered onto their land. I have no doubt that there would be more than just a couple of warriors hidden around the place. I need the time to work out what they are. I can’t go in blind this time. Especially seeing as Gunner has powers of his own. They're too strong and I can’t risk failing. That's a weird concept to swallow. Failure. It's not something I am used to. I don’t fail, I never have, and I don’t ever plan to. Which is why I have to plan this attack out, prepare for it properly. If this stupid beast spills his guts before then, I may not have that opportunity.
Whiskey. I waited another minute before jumping down from the branch. I landed with a soft thud and quickly looked around the forest. I could just see the lights from the village through the trees. I'd landed further away than I would have liked, but not too far thankfully. With one last quick look around, I darted off towards the village. I was quick and light on my feet, didn’t make a sound and didn’t stay in one spot long enough to be spotted. This is like second nature to me. Moving without being seen, without being heard. I am still the merchant of death, the ghost in the night, just like I was every time before. In no time at all, I was in view of the small cabin. The patrolling dogs were still out in the depths of the forest, probably didn’t expect me to get this close to the village again. Their mistake. It’s one of the top rules that was beaten into me, never assume. I approached the cabin from the back, keeping myself in the shadow of the building. I lifted my nose and br
Zelena. I laid on top of the bed, unable to sleep. The soft and steady breathing of the twins was enough to keep me calm, but not enough to soothe my racing mind. Too many questions and so much uncertainty. What happened to Tobias, why was he lying to me? Where did Whiskey go, and when will she be back? Who or what is behind Alpha Doyle’s visit? Why does everyone seem so afraid that he is a half-breed but not that Alyse is? Is it possible that nobody knows Alyse is a half-breed? No, that can’t be right. I saw her, which means others did too. Does Whiskey remember everything now, is that why she left? When will Gunner be finished with Doyle? What is up with Tobias? Now I'm just going in circles. I need to get up and do something, I can’t keep torturing myself like this. I pushed myself up and climbed out of the bed. I grabbed the baby monitor and went to the door. I swung it open slowly and looked over at the twins as I stepped out into the hallway, being careful not to wake them.
Zelena. “You asked for this gathering, why are we here?” Gunner’s voice called, dripping with authority and roughness. Roe stood up and Lupus gently patted her hip in a show of support. “I’ve gotten the Russian Were to tell me some info about the attack on his pack” she said softly. Her eyes flicked over to mine briefly before she dropped them again. I didn’t miss the glimmer of fear she was hiding in there though. “And, what did he tell you?” Gunner asked, this time his voice sounding much more gentle. “He said a monster came, the Besomar, and it killed everyone” Roe said, still not lifting her eyes. “Besomar?” I asked, “That’s what he called me when Doyle brought him in”. “Yes” Roe nodded. “What is a Besomar?” Felix asked from across the table. “It’s like a demon” Roe choked a little on the word ‘demon’. “He thinks a demon attacked his home?” Gunner scoffed. “Besomar is an evil spirit. It is said that the person or animal that Besomar possesses, is no l
Zelena. The feeling of falling pulled me upright. I opened my eyes, and I was now standing on my human feet, in front of me was the ever beautiful Selene. “Hello, daughter of mine” she sang happily. “Mother” I smiled half heartedly, “You heard me” I said with a huff. “I am always listening” she said as she turned and wondered, more like glided, through the field of white flowers. “What can I do for you, my girl?” her melodic voice called. There is a lot I wanted to ask her, a lot that I was desperate to understand. But one question stood above the rest. “I need to know if you knew” I replied, stepping toward her. She didn’t answer right away, but I know she heard me, I know that she knows what I'm talking about. Could she have been behind this prophecy the entire time? Did she create us, Whiskey and I, only for us to die? Is this all her doing? “Yes” she said quietly as she turned back to face me. “How long?” I asked solemnly. Pain raked through my chest at her
Zelena. Back at the house, I found Roe in the kitchen. It's almost like she doesn’t like the other rooms of the house, besides maybe the library. She could have gone back to bed, no one would have thought any less of her for it. But no, even in the middle of the night, Roe will always find a way to busy herself with cooking. “Hi” I said as I sat on a stool at the bench, “Zelena, sweetheart, are you doing okay?” she asked while putting down the knife she was using to slice a giant watermelon. I pulled a slice off the cutting board and took a quick bite before smiling. “I’ll be alright” I answered her honestly. She narrowed her eyes and put her hand on her apron covered hip. She didn’t even need to say anything, she just looked at me with that motherly stare. “Really Roe, I know what needs to be done. I understand it now” I told her with a nod. She stood up straight, dropping her hand and looking at me with concern. “What do you mean?” she asked shakily. I put the rind o
Zelena. Gunner’s arms came around my stomach and he leaned his chin on my shoulder. “You okay?” he asked softly. “I’m good” I answered and reached up to tap his cheek. He turned his face and kissed the palm of my hand. “You were crying again” he said, like I hadn’t already known that. “Well, pregnant ladies cry, Mighty Alpha” I quipped and turned to face him with a smirk. He didn’t answer me right away, just gazed down at me. “You sure you’re alright?” he asked more gently. He cupped my cheek and I leaned into his touch. “I’m fine. Thinking of Cole and Tobias just makes me sad sometimes”. Gunner smiled sadly and ran his thumb over the corner of my mouth. “Me too” he said softly before leaning in to press a soft kiss to my waiting lips. “I love you” I said looking up into his beautiful blue eyes. “I love you more” he smiled back. “It’s not a competition” I grumbled and pinched his peck. He laughed and rubbed at the spot. “It’s not. There's just more of
Zelena. Grief is difficult. It's a hard feeling to navigate. With the addition of my bouts of guilt and regret, I wasn’t sure I was ever going to find my way through it. If I’m honest, I’m still working my way through it. Every new day is different from the last. It's strange really. One day I will be fine, filled with happiness and joy, enjoying my family and my life. The next, something as simple as hearing the term ‘Little One’ will set me off on hours of crying and wishing for things to be different. Grief is weird. It's true when people say that you never actually get over the pain, you just learn to live with it. Not being alone with my pain is a huge help. Gunner and I are both working through our grief. Everyone is really. Losing Cole, Tobias, and Aurora. Plus, Cleo and all the other fighters that sacrificed their lives. Those losses hit us all really hard. Even with all that loss, we’ve gained a lot as well. Thanks to Aurora, the hunters are basically extinct. A special t
Whiskey. “I know” Zelena whispered with a slight nod of her head. She pushed her other arm forward with her palm facing me. A wave of energy hit me, like a truck hitting a mountain at top speed. My entire body jolted with the force, down to the tiniest atom. The air was stolen from my lungs and my vision went black. I felt like a giant hand was inside my body, pulling it apart piece by piece. The pain was incredible. I could feel every part of myself being torn to shreds. I tried to scream, but no sound came. I tried to fight, but my body was no longer under my control. This must be what death feels like. I can’t imagine it being anything else. There was a pressure inside my chest, like something was pulling it open. It built and built, tearing and ripping at my essence. It was almost too much, I was ready to give in to it. After all that I have endured, and all the pain that has been inflicted on my body over my lifetime, I still kept fighting. I was never worn down to the point of
Whiskey.It was a fucking dragon. The glowing light dimmed, just enough for me to find a small human frame within the dragon's glow. It was Zelena. The dragon was with Zelena. How could this be possible? “Whiskey” a voice called out. I took a step back as I looked up at the beast. Dragons aren’t real, I told myself. Plus, this dragon was odd. It wasn’t a physical being. Its face, its wings, its body, it was all made out of light. I could see the electrical currents tethering all the pieces together. Almost like it was made of pure energy. “Whiskey” the voice called again. It came from both Zelena and the dragon, almost like they spoke at the same time, in the same voice. I stumbled back a few more steps, but Zelena and the dragon just kept coming. “You’re reign of death is over” the dragon called. This is unexpected. But I’ve never quit before, and I sure as shit won’t be starting today. I steadied my feet and squared my shoulders. I summoned another icicle sword, now holding
Whiskey. I swung my arm towards Zelena, letting fly the spear of black ice. It got her in the upper right side of her chest, sending her flying back to the ground. A proud smile filled my face as another weapon materialized in my grip. I was about to hit her again when I was sent flying back through the air. I dropped the shard of ice and used my own power to cushion the landing. Gunner was poised and ready to attack. Zelena was still laying on the ground, I knew she was going to be easy to be rid of, just one hit and she was out. I pulled on that dark feeling inside me, tugging on the string of power that was in me now. Another icy shard appeared in my hand, and I hurled it toward Gunner. He dodged to the side, missing the spear, and then charged toward me. I didn’t even need to think about it now, the weapons just came to my hands as I thought of them. I leaned on my back foot and steadied my feet, then I hurled dagger after dagger at Gunner. One hit his shoulder, but it didn’t
Whiskey. Tobias hit the deck like a sack of shit. A pulling sensation tugged at my heart. Like the shriveled piece of brown beef thumping in my chest was going to suddenly come to life and feel something for the big dumb oaf. Yeah right. Once he was down, the fighters that he waved away all charged at me in unison. Some shifted into their beasts, others tempted fate on their human legs. It didn’t really matter either way. They were all going to die by my hand one way or the other. I cut each of them down easily, and all the others that tried their luck with me. It appears these animals are just as dumb as all the other stupid dogs that I’ve fought. Never learning where they lay on the food chain. Never realising that they’re doomed from the moment they decide to fight against me. They’re all the same. Single minded, foolish animals. The fight had us slowly moving through the village, leaving a breadcrumb trail of bodies along the way. They just kept coming, one after the other. I
Zelena. I flew off to the side with so much speed. The force at which I hit Gunner’s shield made my brain wobble inside my skull. My hold dropped and Whiskey landed back on the ground on her feet. Keeping the shield in place, Gunner growled and stepped toward Whiskey with his claws ready. I quickly stood up and raced to stop him, but I was sent flying back into the shield once again. When I went to get back up again, a sharp pain shot through my chest, and I yelped out in pain. I looked down to the source of the irritation and froze. Shit. A long black jagged piece of ice was protruding from my chest. It’s the darkness. I produced the same type of weapon once. The sting of ice in my veins intensified and the cold emptiness of the darkness filled my chest. I snapped my head to Whiskey who was about to launch another in my direction. Before the fresh shard of black ice left her hand, Gunner swung his arm out in her direction. The shield around us dropped and Gunner retrained all of his
Zelena. Gunner took my hand and I turned to follow behind him. Lupus was marching at his side, the two of them whispering harshly. I couldn’t focus on what they were saying, I was too taken aback by the bodies we passed. My eyes caught on a woman lying face down on the ground with a gaping wound in her back. Another with his neck broken at an ungodly angle. Three or four wolf bodies followed quickly after. How could one person do so much damage? A rush of magic tickled across my skin and the air around us felt thinner and light. Gunner stopped walking and turned to look at me. “Do you feel it?” he asked. I nodded and lifted my head higher. “She’s literally sucking the air out of the village” I answered. “How are you supposed to fight against that?” Lupus grunted angrily. “I have powers too” I said as I lifted my hands and erected a shield around the three of us. The air immediately felt normal again, further proven by the sigh and deep breath Lupus took. “Let’s go” I c
Zelena. I swallowed the pain in my chest and stood up slowly on shaking legs. Gunner grabbed my arm, half to help me stand, and I expect half to stop me from bolting right for the door. Smith and Felix followed my movements, both of them also rising slowly. Smith’s growl rumbled lowly through the room, quickly followed by Felix, then Lupus. The symphony of growls rolled around the room, all blending into one angry song. I hadn’t realised it at first, but my own growl joined the angry tune. All of us rumbled out how worried, angry, and ready to fight we were. I pulled my arm from Gunner’s hold and stepped toward the door. My claws extended and my bones ached through my anger and the desire the change. I pulled the Goddess power into my body. It tingled across my skin, fed my soul, and filled me with energy. “Let’s get to it then” I snarled. My anger was palpable. Family be damned, if my own sister has hurt Tobias, MY Tobias, I will finish her where she stands. I will reign the pain