The haunting sound that ripped its way out of her throat seemed to bounce off the walls and back again, echoing into the day. Her howl of absolute terror tore into the hearts of all the werewolves present as if it were knives, shredding at their emotions as they listened to the cries of a tortured soul. Aiden had abandoned his post at the door, allowing it to swing open and exposing the horror on his father’s face. He used his superior speed to rush back to the blackwood canopy bed in an effort to comfort his wailing mate. Instead, he was met with arms full of Griffon’s mate. Jayden had been sitting vigil at her cousin’s side while the hurt girl slumbered peacefully, or what they believed was peaceful, which had been disturbed by her night terror. The redhead began flailing, slapping violently at whatever haunted her dreams, and with strength that had come out of nowhere, the girl had shoved her cousin so hard she flew right off the mattress. Had it not been for Aiden’s presence sh
Back in that torn-apart building, where the pack had left him to die an agonizing death, Julian lay, waiting for death to claim him. The pain and agony exploded from every part of his broken body. He could hardly breathe without that very action stroking the flames of pain that consumed him like gasoline. Devoured by the screams of his suffering Julian lay bleeding and shattered on the floor of his own home. The torment engulfing his very being was so overwhelming that it left no room for the man to feel anger, rage, or even fear for what he was sure was his own death. Julian could barely feel the trickles of blood pouring from every open crevice in his body like rivers of crimson. His heart stuttered as it struggled to beat against fractured ribs. His intruders who had imposed upon him in his own home had broken him just as they had the front door. Julian was sure they were inhuman and felt that their very existence went against all that he knew to be true. Their unnatural abilit
He writhed in agony as lava consumed him through his veins, the pain originating from the bite mark on his pale wrist. His gums ached and his throat burned as if scorched by the desert sand. God, he was so thirsty. It was a thirst unlike any other he had ever experienced in his short conniving life, and it tore through his pain. Suddenly overcome with the immediate urge to purge his stomach of its contents, Julian found himself leaning over the bed, knuckles white with the strength he was slowly regaining. Although the impulse was present the man only managed to heave dry air as if his insides had been as completely empty as the desert that raged on in his throat. The pain of each bone snapping back into place was staggering, to say the least, as if there was molten lava in his veins instead of the blood that had once coursed through their confines. He watched in a sick fascination as the broken skin knitted itself back together and its sickly raisin color faded to the deathly whit
After being meticulously cleaned from head to toe Alexa was moved from the shower where her mother dried her with a quick spell, and she was given new clothes. She took the time to stare at her reflection, even though there were no longer any visible blemishes on her ivory skin she could still see the wounds that were no longer there. She moved as if she were a member of the undead, at a slow pace, her sneaker-clad feet shuffled on the wooden floors as if they were made of lead. Although she moved through the hallways her mind was not present with her body and so she remained silent as they made their way through the unknown mansion that she had awoken in. She walked with a stoic expression and a dead, blank look in her once vibrant blue eyes. Her skin was pale, but it was covered by the new clothes she now wore. She was adjourned with a simple dark green, long-sleeved sweater and faded blue jeans, and her hair remained free from binds as it curled in flaming ringlets around her fa
"“What does that mean?” “Werewolves are powerful beings, but the strongest of them all are the Primordial werewolves. It was long since believed that the Primordial bloodline was destroyed many centuries ago. Without the rightful heir to the Primordial throne, a Lycan claimed it for his own. But unlike the other werewolves, Lycans are vicious creatures who consort with Vampires. Obsessed with power the Lycans stole the throne and placed their leader upon it. He is known as the Old King for he has rained for over 5 centuries.” “How is that possible?” “Werewolves and witches don’t age the way humans do, many of us can live for many more centuries than just five,” “Silas, the Old King, systematically hunted down anyone claiming to be of the Primordial bloodline and destroyed them. We knew it was only a matter of time before he came for you.” “I panicked after what Madeline had seen and tried to grab you from your crib. I must have startled you because you cried. But it wasn’t just a
Anger licked at her insides like the flames flickering in the hearth by her side. It smoldered within her burning away both the emptiness that had settled in her heart and the lead coal that occupied her stomach. And for the first time that night, or was it day? She couldn’t be sure. But for the first time, she felt something other than the brokenness that had consumed her, and so she clung to it with both hands. Alexa glowered at the door, the retreating black-haired werewolf had disappeared out of. She’d seen the flickers of anger in his own gaze and felt put off by it. What right did he have to be angry at her? Sure she had stormed out of the room, but she had stopped just outside of it. And it wasn’t if she’d be the one to take away his choices. She wasn’t the one who had the audacity to waltz into a room and demand that he be with her simply because she said so. He couldn’t really expect her to be okay with this, could he? Why was it so wrong to want some semblance of control
Deep cobalt irises shimmered with unshed tears as they peered back into the room from which they had just escaped. Those words settled like lead rocks into her stomach and weighed heavily on her heart. Alexa stared back at the man who expected so much from her and said nothing in return. He watched on with dark eyes, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Like father, like son, as alike as they were in looks, they were in their expectations of her, both expecting more than she could give. What could she say to that anyway? He was so sure she’d be ready to take her father’s place, but she was far from it. She’d never known his world, never know his customs, and was now being thrust into a position of power for which she was never prepared. And to top it all off she had his son badgering her from her other side to accept his demand for her to be his mate. The assault on both fronts drained her of her energy more than anything else she had faced that day. She had learned that it had b
The hours passed by quickly after that for the teenage girl and soon the sun gave way to its lunar counterpart. The moon rose in all her shimmering glory bringing peace to the world around her. Alexa had spent the past hours just staring out of the window as the last rays of daytime transformed into the first glittering rays of the night. She’d not said a word to the other occupant in the room as she mourned the last of her freedom. Aiden sat behind her watching her his stomach twisted in knots and her words rang in his ears. Could she really view his home, which had now become her home, as a prison in which she was caged? Jayden had not stayed for too long after that, her own guilt clear as day on her face. She soon left the two feuding mates alone in the room, but before she did she sent another pointed look at the man. Aiden had tried to sort through his mate’s emotions and found that his stomach continued its somersaults when he felt how unhappy she was, Jayden had been right,