Kati Gardner의 작품

Eli's wolf, Hermes, ran through the forest at top speed. Eli had just received his wolf. The full moon sat high in the sky. Arden had asked if Eli wanted him to run with him, but Eli had kindly rejected the offer. Eli wanted to get to know his wolf on his own. He was currently sixteen years old and was doing well in school. Eli trained everyday with Arden in order to make sure that he was in the best shape before getting his wolf. Hermes’ voice had run through Eli's mind as soon as the clock had struck twelve. Aurora smiled as her son waved to his mother and father before running into the woods to shift for the first time. His father had been right. It hurt like a son of bitch, but it ended quickly, and Eli’s wolf stood tall and howled deeply. Alerting Arden that everything was alright. "Have a good run son," Arden mind linked with Eli. Eli laughed and let his wolf run free. As Hermes rounded the bend in the trees, he suddenly caught a scent. It was the tastiest scent ever. Almost

Charles Brown stood at the front door of the pack house once again. He knocked lightly and when the door opened her was met by Eli. A broad smile appeared on his face. "Charlie Brown!" he exclaimed as he hugged Charles around the waist. Charles had been surprised at the child's actions but patted his back none the less. "Hello, Elijah. It is nice to see you again. Where are your parents?" Charles asked the boy. Eli stepped back and pointed upstairs. Charles's brows knitted together as he walked through the foyer of the pack house. "Hello, Charles. I will see you to the Alpha office while we wait for the Alpha and Luna," Rich, Arden's Beta said as he extended his hand in the direction of the Alpha office. Charles nodded and followed the Beta. As soon as Charles sat down in the large chair on the other side of the desk, the door opened, and Arden and Aurora walked through the doorway. "Apologies for the delay, Charles," Arden said. He glanced back at Aurora quickly and then back at

Aurora walked back into the pack house. She never imagined that she would be able to have another child again after what Lila had done to her. Aurora walked through the pack house in a daze until she got to Eli's room where Arden and Eli were currently playing with Eli's action figures. Arden noticed Aurora's demeanor and stood up. "Are you alright?" Arden asked concerned. Aurora finally looked up at him. A smile spread across her face and tears began to cascade down her face. Arden was unsure how to proceed. Was she okay, was she in denial, what had happened out there with the witches? "Sweetheart, are you okay?" Arden asked again. "I am better than okay. I am wonderful. The witches, they helped us. They said that it was a show of good faith between their coven and our pack and to show how grateful they were for letting them into our territory and taking care of Veronica," Aurora said. "What was?" Arden asked. "They gave me back the ability to have children," Aurora said qui

Aurora woke the next morning. Eli was cuddled to her side. They had fallen asleep to the movie that Eli had put on after they had eaten their dinner. Aurora's hand fell behind her, but Arden was not in bed with them. He must have already woken for the day. Aurora assumed that he had several things to do after yesterday. Aurora's mind went to Lila once more. What a turn of events? Aurora looked down at Eli. His breathing was still even. She slowly and gently pulled her arm out from under his head. She quietly tiptoed towards the bathroom to do her morning rituals. When she opened the door to the bedroom was more, she smiled when she saw that Eli was still sound asleep. She grabbed her long robe and went to the door. She was sure that he would be up soon enough. She would let him stay home from school today, she would be lying if she said it was just so he could rest. She wanted him around as well. Aurora made her way down to the kitchen. It looked as though breakfast had just ended.

Lila woke to a lovely aroma coming from Mason's kitchen. She sat up and let the blanket fall to her waist. She remembered that Mason had offered to let her sleep on the couch. After teleporting so much her body was screaming for rest and Mason must have noticed. She sniffed the air again and followed the smell into the kitchen where she saw Mason standing at the stove cooking dinner. Mason had heard her moving around in the living room. He knew that she would not stay asleep much longer without eating. "Rested?" Mason asked without turning around to look at her. "Yes, thank you," Lila said. She felt unsure what to do with herself. Mason did not exactly make her feel welcomed, but he was not kicking her out either. "Dinner is almost ready if you would like to take a seat," Mason said as if reading her conflicted mind. Lila walked over to the small table and noticed that it as set. "Since when did you cook?" Lila asked Mason to make conversation. "There is actually quite a bit you

Lila had seen Arden take Aurora upstairs. She wasted no time teleporting back to Mason's cabin. She did not want to be around Rich and Roger more than was necessary. As Lila appeared in the center of the room, Mason had a question look on his face, but he also remembered his grandson sitting on the couch next to him. Mason refrained from asking. Lila bent down and looked at Eli. What she saw surprised her. His eyes shone brightly like a wolf. Lila looked up at Mason who did not seem to notice it. Lila looked back and just as clearly, she could see hiseyes, they were back to their usual color. Lila thought maybe she had imagined it. She thought about the curse that had been lifted from him with the death of Veronica. Perhaps that is what she had just witnessed. Suddenly a large man barged through the cabin door. Jack gave Mason an apologetic look, "Sorry but the Alpha would like me to get Eli home," he tried to explain. Mason shook his head and stood up from the couch. "Understoo

The wind hit hard when they emerged.Cold, clean, and real.Amara blinked up at the sky, the dull gray of pre-dawn fading into soft golds. The first rays of sunlight spilled across the mountains, brushing her skin with warmth that didn’t burn, but reminded.She was still here.And the world hadn't ended.Yet.Behind her, the massive stone doors of the chamber groaned shut. No locks. No spells. Just finality. Aiyana would sleep, for now. But not forever.Damascus’s arm came around her waist. She leaned into him, not for support—but for grounding.They were free, but not safe.Not yet.“How long before someone tries to kill us again?” Jax asked dryly, stepping into the clearing behind them and shaking dust from his coat.Cain rolled his shoulders, scanning the tree line, “I’d say before lunch.”“That’s generous of you.”Amara didn’t laugh, but her lips twitched. These two—wary, scarred, stubborn—they were hers now, too. Not by blood, but by choice. And maybe that mattered more.Damascus

Silence gripped the chamber like a vice.Even the runes had gone still.Amara’s heartbeat thundered in her ears.A gold dragon.Her child would be a creature no world had ever seen. Born of two bloodlines. But destined to rule completely over one species.Together, unquestionable dominance.But she didn’t feel powerful.She felt trapped.“Fate,” Amara said quietly, “always sounds like someone else’s decision.”Aiyana didn’t flinch. “It is not fate. It is design. And the child you carry is the final piece.”Amara’s mother stepped forward at last, her voice shaky but clear, “And what of free will? Of choosing who we are, not being born into chains?”Aiyana turned toward her, “You knew somewhat of the truth, even if you could not carry the bloodline forward. Your silence kept her alive. So did your love for her father. I do not question your loyalty to our bloodline. But you mistake destiny for a cage. This is not punishment. It is restoration.”Jax muttered under his breath, “Sounds lik

The crystal pulsed.The sound was not loud, but felt, like thunder beneath the skin.Damascus stepped forward, ready to intercept whatever rose from the tomb, but Amara lifted a hand. Her expression was unreadable. Not afraid. Not quite reverent anymore either.Something else.The woman inside the crystal slowly rose.Not sat up, but rose from the tomb she had been locked in.The coffin’s lid evaporated into mist the moment her fingertips brushed against it. Golden runes sparked into the air and vanished, as though granting her permission to return.Her eyes locked with Amara’s.Identical.Not just in color, but in weight. In a memory centuries old.And not just their eye color was identical. It was as if Amara was looking into a mirror. The First was an identical match to Amar’s own complexion and build.“I dreamed of you,” the woman said, her voice layered with something old and wild, “Not as you are but as you will soon be.”Damascus shifted protectively beside Amara, “Who are you?

The stairwell spiraled downward into shadow, each step colder than the last.There was no natural light here. No torches. No moon. And yet, the deeper they went, the more the walls began to glow. Soft pulses of gold and violet etched into the stone, forming patterns that moved subtly as if breathing.Damascus kept Amara close, his body between her and the unknown. Cain and Jax followed silently. This wasn’t a battlefield yet.But it felt like a tomb.Amara’s mother lingered at the top, hesitant, “This place was sealed for a reason.”Damascus looked back, “And she’s the reason it’s opening.”The staircase ended in a vast chamber, circular, domed, lined with stone arches that curved into impossible angles. The walls were carved with symbols older than any language Damascus had seen, glowing faintly with the same runes that had lit beneath Amara’s feet.In the center of the chamber stood someone’s tomb.But it wasn’t made of stone.It was made of crystal. A deep violet, nearly black, wit

Gabriel stood at the window of his office. The night sky was beginning to break as the sun started to rise. The world outside held a magical mist that enveloped everything, a shimmer in the air that didn’t belong.It had appeared hours ago.Now it draped the city like a veil.He couldn’t place it exactly, but something didn’t feel right. His instincts, honed by war, sharpened by betrayal, were ringing like a bell.Damascus had not checked in for far too long.Gabriel had been clear with his orders: recon only.But he also knew his second.There was no universe in which Damascus would sit on the sidelines while Amara was in danger.Especially not now.“Anything?” Leslie asked, stepping quietly into the office.She looked exhausted. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her posture drawn tight with worry. Gabriel had ordered one of the healers to give her something mild, hoping it might allow her a few hours of sleep.It hadn’t worked.“No,” he said quietly.She came to stand beside him, her eyes d

The forest was too quiet.Damascus turned in a slow circle, breath shallow. Moonlight cut through the trees in thin ribbons, silver and cold, but the shadows between the branches moved.Or maybe the forest was breathing.Jax lowered his voice, “Where the hell are we?”Cain sniffed the air and narrowed his eyes, “Not on the map. Not even close. I don’t recognize any of this.”Amara leaned against Damascus, her body still trembling from the seal’s backlash. Her skin burned with the imprint of raw magic, but her heartbeat was steady.“I’ve never been here,” she said quietly, “But it feels like something’s waiting.”Her mother staggered to a nearby stump and sat, cradling her side. “This is Old Land,” she said, “Hidden by blood wards. No one enters without the bloodline.”Damascus stepped between Amara and the darkness, instincts still high. “What kind of land?” He had so many questions about everything that had occurred since she was taken, but he also knew now was not the time to explor

"Haunt? As in you are a ghost?" I could not believe the words that were coming out of my mouth. I should probably get checked into a hospital at this point. "Correct. I died in the forties and have been stuck here since. However, you are the first one who has been able to see me." Jesse said. He looked relieved as he said this. I could only imagine how lonely of a feeling it was. They exist but no one be able to see you. What was I saying? I was trying to sympathize with a ghost. "So... Are you looking to pass on?" I was unsure how to proceed. The only thing I had to go off of was movies or shows that I had seen, and they usually mention finding the light. Was that a real thing? "I have been trying to find out what I need to do to pass over, but up until now, no such luck I am afraid." Jesse held up his hands and shrugged. We stood there, in the small room staring at one another. Jesse watched me with concern, and I stood there trying not to completely lose my mind. "I need a dr

I sat down on the couch that now sat in the center of the room. I ran my hand along the microfiber cushion. I laid my head against the back of the couch and let my eyes close for a moment. I felt a breeze once more. I brought my head back up and sighed. I really hoped that there was not some sort of draft in the house. It would make heating this old house almost impossible. I took out my phone from my pocket and decided to check in with Charlie. "Hey, Chica!" Charlie said on the other side of the phone as she answered. "How is everything going?" "Fine, I guess. There is a lot more to renovating an old Victorian home than I thought." I wasn't complaining. Although it might have sounded that way to Charlie. "You are fixing it up like your life, my dear. You just need a little more time." Always the optimist. Charlie and I chatted for a little while before she had to get off the phone. We said our goodbyes, and I laid my hand back on the couch with my phone still in it. The breeze was

I walked back into the hardware store. The older man was up at the register again. He greeted me as I came through the front door. "Back again? What can I help you with today?" he asked nicely. I gave him a warm smile. "New door locks?" The man pointed down the third aisle. I thanked him and headed in that direction. I looked through the various choices and decided that I would rather spend a little more money on one that offered more protection against a break-in. I grabbed the package that contained the new door locks and walked to the front of the store. The old man lifted an eyebrow at me as he scanned my purchase. "Have a burglar issue?" He asked. He sounded like he was trying at conversation. I only nodded. It was better than explaining what had happened. Knowing my luck, the topic of ghosts would get brought up again. He told me my cost and I pulled my card out and paid for the new lock. I thanked the man and headed back towards the house. As I stood on the pavement and pe

I stood at the top of a basement door. It almost resembled the basement door of the new home that I just purchased. I could hear two people arguing at the bottom of the stairs. They were just around the corner from the landing, and I was unable to see the people. Why were two men arguing in my basement? The thought crossed my mind. As I stood at the top of the stairs suddenly, a loud shot rang out. It was so loud it seemed to vibrate the kitchen windows where the basement door was located. Someone had fired a gun at the bottom of the stairs. After the shot rang out, I could hear heavy footfalls running from the basement and headed for the stairs. I quickly ducked into the closet that was next to the basement door. I could hear the person reaching the top of the steps. When I peeked through the door, the person was already gone. The voices had not sounded familiar to me. Was someone dead in my basement? My heart rate began to thunder in my ears. I slowly made my way to the basement.

Cleaning the house from top to bottom was a bit more of an undertaking than I had expected. The house was large, and I needed to start with the first floor before moving onto the bedrooms upstairs. I decided the best thing to do was to begin in the kitchen. I started clearing the counters off and getting rid of all unwanted garbage. I also had to start a donation pile. There was some room in the closet under the stairs to store things until I could take them to the local drop bin. As I was wiping down the counters and removing any unwanted spider friends from the kitchen, I noticed that where I thought I dropped something, it seemed to move to the other side of the kitchen. It was starting to irritate me. I chided myself about not being able to keep track of anything. The good part of my day was spent cleaning the kitchen and making it at least usable so that I could get some groceries. I was not the biggest fan of constantly having to order out. I much preferred making my own meals.

I decided that I needed to check the water situation as well as the kitchen. If need be, I could sleep in the living room for the night. I walked through the living area and through a rounded arch doorway into the kitchen. The appliances seemed to also be from the 70s. I went straight over to the sink and lifted the faucet. A breath of relief left my lips as clear water began to run from the faucet. The metal of the faucet was a beautiful interact design. I made a mental note that I would polish it but keep that as it looked to be an original with the home. I was not trying to tear everything out and modernize it. To be honest, I wanted to keep as much of the original beauty as possible. However, the kitchen could do with a fresh coat of paint. I was thankful that most of the rooms had wallpaper rather than wood paneling. I turned my attention to the stove and checked to see if it worked. I was thankful again. I saw that it was electric rather than gas. The last thing I wanted to wor