Delaney Today. The explosion is today. I’ve been taut with nerves since I woke up, and I didn’t even sleep well to begin with. Everyone’s been looking around at each other, not saying a word, and waiting. I haven’t seen Matteo since I woke up, so maybe, he’s not around? It kind of feels surreal that it’s going to happen, and that he’s going to die. Nothing has sunk in yet. I’m walking around in this permanent state of disbelief, and it’s kind of terrifying. I think I’m not the only one who feels this way, and this is confirmed when Paola says, “I can’t believe it’s going to happen today.”I look at her from my position on the floor. She’s on the bed and staring at the door. Her eyes have a vacant look in them, and when she senses me staring, she turns her head to meet my gaze. Her expression is haunted as she says, “It’s almost impossible to believe, isn’t it?”I nod. “It is.”Matteo has asked a few of us to accompany him to the courthouse, where we’ll watch the explosion happen
Delaney"Cursey," I hear Trevor Whittle say in a sing-song voice. "Come out, come out wherever you are!"Laughter follows his words. I remain hidden behind the huge oak tree and desperately try to catch my breath without making a sound. I breathe shakily behind the hand I placed over my own mouth while my heart slams against my chest. I'll never understand why these elites don't leave me alone. I've done nothing but try to stay out of their way, even at school. But regardless of how much effort I put into being invisible, I can never hide from them. Maybe it's the fact that I'm the only person in the werewolf world who was born under the infamous Black Moon and got to live, or maybe it's my red hair that makes me stand out wherever I go. Nevertheless, these elites—the sons and daughters of the leaders of our pack—follow me and insist on reminding me about my pitiful existence every day, and today is yet another one of those days. Only, there are two things that set today apart from
DelaneyThe door of the interrogation room opens, and for once, I see a familiar face.My mother. I try to stand but the chains binding my legs to the chair make it impossible for me to do so. They've bound me to make sure I don't try to escape. According to them, I'm a dangerous criminal. For hours, the detective interrogated me on what happened in the forest, and he simply wrote things down as I explained. I told him the whole unfiltered truth in a shaky voice. I didn't leave a single detail out. After he left, nobody came for me. The plain clock on the wall indicates that three hours passed before my mother walked in here. I'm so glad to see her face, however, she appears grief-stricken and her lips are pressed together in a thin line. As she takes a seat directly across from me, she asks, "What have you done, Delaney? What have you done?"Tears gather in my eyes and cascade down my cheeks. Her accusation settles in the pit of my stomach and makes me feel physically sick. "I di
Delaney I'm sitting on the dirty floor my cell with my arms around my knees. Ten years. Ten. That's how long I'll be expected to stay imprisoned for the murder of Trevor. Due to the fact that he hurt me, I was given a lower sentence. That's the information I received afterward as I was being brought here to the prison. "Courtesy of the Alpha and the judge," the officer told me before spitting at my feet. "It's certainly more than an Omega like you deserves." Most police officers are Gammas, so they're higher in rank than us. Omegas are considered the weakest people in every pack, and I'm pretty sure we'd all be killed if they—the higher-ups— didn't need people to clean after them. I'm numb. My brutal reality hasn't sunk in yet, and so as a result, I have this feeling like all of this is temporary and I'll go home soon. I haven't quite accepted the fact that I'll be imprisoned for ten years. I couldn't say how many hours passed since I was shoved in my cell. The bottom bunk be
Delaney Seven Years Later An officer knocks on the metal bars with his bat and I look up from the book I'm reading. "Time to go," he simply tells me. "Where?" I ask. He doesn't answer me; he just unlocks the door. The metallic sound of it opening fills my ears. I put my book down and he shakes his head. "Bring everything you own with you," he informs me. "We've received a court order for your release."My eyes widen and for a moment, I lose the ability to breathe. This can't be. I'm being released? Today?"Hurry up, Waters," the officer grumbles. "I don't have all day."I gather my things in my arms quickly before deciding to use my pillowcase as a makeshift bag. I don't have much; just books, deodorant that I traded for a book, a pack of cigarettes that I've started smoking in here, and a lighter. There's also the piece of paper that Paola left for me on the day she was released, which was a month ago. It's states her address and a phone number I can reach her with. We became ve
DelaneyThe sight of Paola's brother leaves me light-headed, mostly because she told me so much about him over the years and I never knew that I'd already seen him before. The man standing before me gives me a once-over. Paola has cut her hair short and has gotten rid of all the black dye on her hair, and honestly, I think the color suits her more. Her hair is now the same dirty blonde as his, making them look very alike. Only, the big difference between them is that although Paola can be explosive at times, she has this soft look to her. Her eyes are big and kind. Her brother, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. His eyes are full of curiosity and disdain as he sizes me up while a sly smile curls at the edges his plump lips. When they land on mine after his assessment, I have the feeling that he's making fun of me in his head. I wonder if he recognizes me, too. The day of the trial was such a long time ago. "This is the friend you made in prison?" Pollux asks. His voice
Delaney"What do you think?" Paola asks in my ear. "Pretty cool, huh?"I have no words for the scene in front of me. When we were walking through the tunnel to get here, I had no idea what to expect. I certainly didn't know that we would be walking into a whole city built under the one I grew up in. No wonder they call it the Underworld. "How did we manage all this?" I ask her as we walk through a narrow passageway. Most of the streets are narrow, and it's just dirt beneath our feet. Still, I'm impressed by the gothic feel of the place and how, for some reason, I've never heard about a place like this. I didn't even know such a thing could be possible. Some of the buildings we come across have been carved into the bedrock itself. It's not like they transported bricks down here. I'm surprised our city hasn't collapsed yet. I just can't believe this place is real. "It's been in the works for centuries," she informs me. "Many people helped bring this place to life, you know? It's ju
AlecI’m sitting on the edge of my bed and a million things are running through my mind because today was quite an eventful day for me, and a few hours ago, I received the confirmation that it all worked out in my favor. I glance at Carla, who’s lying on her side fast asleep, and slowly get out of bed before walking toward the window of our bedroom. The moon is merely a crescent, but I’m drawn to her already. In a few days, the Full Moon Hunt will begin. For once, I actually feel excited about it, and that’s because this year, I’ve let go of the weight that’s been burdening me for close to seven years. My father’s death earlier this year has made me Alpha, and with that, came a heap of responsibilities. Leading the pack is more troublesome than I thought, and it’s incredibly difficult to make a decision because it has to be approved by the board of Alphas that rule our city. Carla moans in her sleep, and I tense up and turn my head to look at her. Thankfully, she doesn’t wake up.