“That’s not a cat,” Theron whispered, not taking his eyes off the creature lying lazily on me. I looked down and realized Orion was staring at Theron now, too.
“What are you talking about?” I looked down at Orion.
He’s right, you know. I heard a voice in my head. I jolted at the invasion. Orion jumped off my lap and sat next to me.
Hello, Kamari. It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance officially. Orion dipped his head as if in a nod. I stared at the creature speaking into my mind wide-eyed.
“H-he-hello?” I spoke to him. Theron slowly inched closer to me as if the small white cat was a threat.
“How… who?” I didn’t even know what to ask first.
My name is Moriko; I am a shifter. But I assure you, I am not a threat…to you. The priestess sent me to watch over you and be your protector.
I didn’t know what to say, so I stared
TheronI watched my mate as she sparred with Naya in the rain. A sense of pride filled my chest as I watched the squad and team work with reckless abandon, putting everything into their training even with it pouring outside. Kamari had come so far in the little time she had started training with the squad. You’d think she had been training her whole life just by watching her. It made more sense now, knowing who her father was. Alpha warrior was in her blood, and it sang in combat.It took me less time than expected to join Kamari in the rain after our heated make out session in the car. I was so worked up that I thought I might have to please myself before getting out. Then she reminded me of the cat shifter lying lazily on her lap this morning as if it wasn’t a deadly killer. His words still rang in my head.I am showing myself to you only because you are her mate, which is necessary for her protection. I am here at a request from the high pries
IzabeleI dove into my magic all day to prepare for the inevitable tonight. Conserving and building it to almost exploding was where I needed it, and I hadn’t done it in twenty years. My mind reeled at the thoughts about Kamari and what would happen after she was unbound. I wish the high priestess were here to conduct the spell, but with the hovering sense of war over the town, we didn’t have time for her to travel here. I wouldn’t leave Kamari powerless, even if it meant I would be left vulnerable. I tested the wards around the house and put up extra protections all day while I dove into myself, ensuring I took the proper precautions. I knew Zander would be on these pack lands tomorrow; I could feel it in my bones. I needed to ensure he wouldn’t be allowed to enter the house.Kamari entered the house around midday with Naya, Dani, and Lana in tow. They were excited about something; I could tell by their high-pitched voices entering the kitchen.
KamariI had never been to the attic before. When I first arrived, I had seen the dusted-over window but never thought twice about the room above the house. When we entered through a staircase that fell from the second floor’s ceiling, all that met us was the distinct smell of dust and the smell of an old house. There was nothing up here except a few boxes and space. The walls weren’t finished, and the giant circle window that took up most of the entire wall was dusted so severely that you couldn’t see outside.My mom made her way to a podium off the side while we all climbed in. My mom said nothing as she put a giant book on the podium. With her back turned to us, she raised her delicate hand and snapped her fingers, the sound ringing in the silence of the attic. In an instant, everything changed. I had to rub my eyes to make sure I was seeing clearly. The room was still empty, but the dust was gone, with a lingering lavender scent. Unlit white candl
KamariWhen the ceremony began, I was nervous but found strength in Theron's eyes - my mate's eyes. My heart leaped at the notion. While everyone drew closer and my mom began her chants, all I could think about was every look we stole from each other these past few months. The brushing of fingers, the little stolen moments under the moon or in his car, feeling his eyes on me from behind a tree by the farm, our reoccurring dreams showing us the future, the ache in his absence. Our connection and the pull that drove us despite our pushback all made sense now.I held his eyes, seeing all his love for me in them, as I sensed a familiar sensation rising to meet me. Our bond was my rock and what I held to now. I knew it would hurt so much more than yesterday; I didn't know how to react. For my loved ones, I would bear the pain and not show it for as long as possible. I didn't want them to know how much I was hurting.The pain of the whirling smoke around me was a welc
TheronThe minute Kamari screamed, something in me broke. The blinding light blew us all away, breaking the circle and throwing us to the sides of the room. When I finally adjusted my eyes, Kamari was suspended in the air, screaming and withering against the invisible force holding her. A sudden sharp pain ripped into me, and I knew it was Kamari's pain. It was so much worse than I thought it would be. She was being pulled apart; I could feel it in my soul."She's an elemental," I heard Ms. Ostyn whisper to herself, eyes wide in a surprised and awe-filled expression. I didn't know what an elemental was, but I didn't see the awe of it, only the terror. She couldn't feel the pain like I could; it was consuming her. I ran towards her; I had to get to her to stop it from destroying her. Ms. Ostyn bellowed something behind me, but I didn't hear it. I suddenly froze in place, unable to work my limbs. I couldn't move; the Ostyn witch had thrown a containment spell on me.
ari...mari....kamari...Kamari...It was a whisper, something fuzzy in the back of my mind. I was dreaming. The voice in my head was female, raspy yet soft. It was familiar yet not.H...hello...Who’s there? I whispered back into the abyss of my mind.Thank the goddess. I thought I had lost you, Kamari. The female voice huffed into my mind. My eyes were closed, and I Couldn’t feel my body. I must have been sleeping, and this was a dream. It felt more real than a dream, though.Who are you? I asked again, more forceful this time.I needed to know who was invading my mind before I spoke more.I’m not invading your mind, Kamari; it’s where I live. My name is Tala; I am your wolf. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt you. You can read my thoughts?Yes, your thoughts are my thoughts, just as you can hear mine, too. We are one, you
He grabbed the back of my head and tugged on my hair to lift my face, barring my throat to him. He kissed my throat, nibbling it and licking up my neck to my ear, nipping my earlobe. I shuddered under his touch. I yanked at his pants, ripping the button off with strength I didn’t know I had, pulling his pants down, then his underwear. His arousal sprang out, slapping his stomach. My mouth watered at seeing it. He tore my clothes off; claws had formed on his hands as he ripped my clothes to shreds. Fully naked, he grabbed my leg and lifted it over one of his arms before climbing in between my legs.He released my throat from his mouth and looked down at me, stalling before going any further. He looked deeply into my eyes, and I saw Hoku through them. It was the final strand between us, the last piece between mates, and a question. Tala and I knew we wanted him before he even had to voice it."Please, Theron, we need you." we whispered into his ear before nibbling
NayaI picked up Lana last for the game since her house was closest to campus. Dani sat in the passenger seat of my jeep, looking out the window. We were all silent, staring out in deep thought. None of us knew what to say; I knew I was at a loss for words. What we witnessed last night was...scary. I had never felt so much magic in one place before. The way Kamari screamed...I knew she had died. I could hear her heart stop. There was such a defining silence by the whole room when that happened. The goddess must have heard my plea because her heart began beating again after a strike hit her from inside.I had never heard of a witch-werewolf hybrid, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was scared for Kamari, but an instinctual piece of me also became scared of her. She had the strength of a wolf, a powerful wolf if I could feel her right, plus the added power of her witch magic made her unstoppable. Her two powers were at war, each trying to dominate the other. When