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Chapter 10: As the Sky Turned Grey
We kept walking along the lake in quiet until we reached a break in the reeds and vegetation where there was a small beach. He stopped and stepped onto the sand, taking another deep breath of the fresh air.
By now the sun had nearly dropped below the horizon, giving the air a wintery chill.
"Tomorrow at noon, when the sun is at its warmest, come swimming with me here," he said, turning to me.
He didn't phrase it as an offer but I folded my arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" I asked.
"Why not?" he said in a bored tone, "Live a little, Esme."
I sighed and stepped down off the path to join him on the sand. Standing so close next to him, his scent drifted into my nose, undiluted by the other smells of wood and animals around us. I took a deep breath, my muscles easing as I followed his gaze out to the beauty of the lake.
"I warn you, it's freezing at this time of year," I replied.
His lips curled into
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All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 11: The Storm
I sat on my bed for hours, staring despairingly at the wooden floorboards. Rose and Tobias were downstairs busy making dinner meaning I was free to wallow alone, just as I wanted to, and process what the hell had just happened in that forest.After overcoming the initial shock, my predominant emotion was anger.How could the Goddesses give me Alpha Rivers as a mate? For years, I'd watched Rose and Tobias love each other, dreaming of one day meeting someone who would make me as happy as they were.But with a man like Alpha Rivers as a mate, it could never be like that. I could never experience that kind of happiness and that disappointment was crushing me.But I felt ashamed for it.I shouldn't need a mate to be happy.I am a leader of this pack. I have duties and a purpose. I am fulfilled.I don't need a mate and I certainly don't need Alpha Rivers. I was disgusted to have enjoyed the kiss with such a vil
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 12: Her Disguise
With my boots sodden and squelching, the leather rubbing on my damp softened skin, I ran as fast as I could for as far as I could.But my clothes were heavy with water and my legs soon grew clumsy, tripping and stumbling over the roots and branches.Half an hour of battling through the forest later, I tripped once more. This time so overcome with exhaustion that I couldn't save myself from falling and I dropped to the floor, catching my foot under the root. I whimpered, pressing my nails into the muddy floor as pain surged through my ankle. It already throbbed and when I hauled my self to my feet, I could barely put weight on it.The storm was still raging on, refusing to have mercy even as I limped, dragging my injured foot behind me.My eyes welled up and soon the rain-diluted tears dripped down my face."Are you trying to die out here, Esme?" a voice said from behind me.I flinched and spun around only to see Alpha Rivers emerging f
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 13: The Negotiaion
The next morning I awoke groggy-eyed and tired. Thankfully, the storm had passed but grey clouds still lingered in the sky, refusing to allow the sun to dry off the waterlogged ground and sodden leaves.I lifted the covers off me and sat forward, staring into the burnt-out ash in the fireplace."How are you feeling?" Rose's voice asked as she came into the doorway.She leant against the wall and smiled sympathetically but all I could do was put my head in my hands and sigh."How about a mug of hot cocoa?" she asked.I smiled and nodded, "Thank you."I then wrapped the blanket around me again and just sat listening to the clatters and rustling of Rose in the kitchen."Tobias thinks we should hold a meeting with Alpha Rivers about this," she said as she heated the milk on the stove, "Find a way to come to an agreement that everyone can be happy with."I shook my head, "Have you met Alpha Rivers?" I asked, "He knows what he
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 14: When Blossom Falls
After he had left the Nightingale territory in a fit of rage, we didn't see Alpha Rivers for weeks and for most of the pack, life slipped back to normal. We had now saved up enough grain to feed ourselves until the next harvest, the threat to the pack that Alpha Rivers warned us of was nowhere to be seen and everybody seemed to just forget about him.Well...everybody but me.He still lingered in my mind.When I passed the lake, I thought of the time spent there together. When I went to sleep, his face was in my dreams. When I ventured out into the woods, I couldn't help but how my life would change if I stumbled across him.But I was relieved to see the back of him.This is what I wanted - to live freely and stay with my family. To lead this pack and watch it flourish. None of that would have been possible with Alpha Rivers so this is the way it had to be.But even though my routine had returned to normal, something had changed inside me. Th
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 15: His Way
The first sign of enemy soldiers on the Southern border came after only half an hour of crouching in the bushes.It only took the crunch of a twig across the border for me to release an arrow from my bow and send a body straight to the floor."Stay in position," I whispered to the surrounding Nightingales as I peered around the tree I was hiding behind to see the man I'd shot.He was large with a gaunt ugly face and bushy rugged hair. His eyes, which stared frozen up at the night sky, were black and beady as the life faded from him. His skin was weathered and scarred and he held a foul smell, like that of a rogue.I grimaced before glancing around at my soldiers who stayed still in their positions, ready to fight.My orders were simple: do whatever it takes to protect the pack.I didn't know what else to suggest. We had no idea what we were up against or what tactics and numbers to expect but I couldn't help but wonder what Tobia
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 16: Playing Nice
I ran in silence towards the village with Alpha Rivers beside me."It's been weeks," I said eventually, breaking the quiet, "Where did you go?"He looked down at me, a sly smile creeping onto his lips, "Why? Did you miss me?""No," I said sharply, "But how could you just vanish like that? It's unsettling.""I had things to do," he replied shortly before the silence resumed until we reached the edge of the village."How many of them are there?" he asked."Forty. There are two villages and a few lone houses around the territory," I said.He nodded, "My men will round them up."I clenched my jaw, "Pheonix men," I said, "The same ones who have killed their friends and family members? There are kids in those houses who are orphans because of them.""We can leave them to die if you'd prefer?" he asked, "Or you can round them up yourself and have your most vulnerable pack members wondering through a warzone unprotected."
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 17: Blind Faith
We walked on for hours more. I continued to help the woman and hold her child but she weakened more with every step as the child weighed down my arm. She was small and light but it had so long that my arm was beginning to ache as she kept slipping down.Alpha Rivers men still walked silently around us and although I knew they were for our protection, I couldn't help but feel unsettled by them. They didn't speak or smile or show even the slightest sign of humanity. So I held the child closer to me and just focussed on getting my people through the forest, across the border and away from these men as soon as possible.But when we finally crossed into Pheonix territory, Alpha Rivers lead us on further."Where exactly are you taking us?" I asked half an hour later."To the centre of my territory. A guarded camp has been set up for all of the Pheonix women, children and elderly. There are well-stocked caves to shelter in that will serve to keep them hidden too
All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 18: Stray
As we walked, I could see the light of dawn growing brighter through the blindfold. The dewy smell of the forest came alive and the birds above us began to tweet again. It was a relief to escape what had been a dreadful night but I was under no illusion of safety. My shoulders were tense and with no vision, every sound and brush of a branch on my arm put me on edge."Relax," Alpha Rivers said after I had flinched with his hands resting on my shoulders, "I'm taking your blindfold off."He pulled the tie and it soon slipped down, allowing me to rub my eyes and reinstate a comfortable distance from him.At long last, I caught sight of Tobias."Finally!" I said marching towards my brother and hugging him.I looked over his shoulder to see the rest of the Nightingale army behind him. They all looked tired but thankfully, we hadn't lost too many and morale still seemed okay.Rose smiled warmly and squeezed my hand before she glanced over to Alpha
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