When the door creaked open on its hinges, the air escaped my lips.
It was beautiful.
Everywhere I looked there were lush green leaves, beds of bright flowers, and wooden cottages that lined the area outside the prison. It was a large area with tall wooden fences, the grass high enough to sweep at my ankles. A bird chirped happily amongst the branches, and then a squirrel skittered up the bark of a large willow tree.
It was naturalistic and glowing with life.
I fought against the urge to smile, not even realizing when I had stepped past the Alpha. The grass tickled my toes while the sun beamed down on my face. I lifted my neck toward it, bathing in it. My wolf, which I could finally feel again, was practically prancing beneath my skin.
It was an odd sensation.
My wolf didn't have a voice, it wasn't a separate entity or being within us. It was like... an arm or a limb, you could just feel it. Like it was a part of
"Is this my new cabin?" I asked in awe, stepping into the door that finally gave way to the key. The planks that made up the floor were sturdy beneath my feet as I made my way inside. The creak of the wood echoing inside my ears.The cool brown interior looked polished and it glistened in the sunlight that poured in from the doorway. The little twists and swirls of the aged woods playing with my vision. It was like I was staring at a kaleidoscope of the previous trees lives. The little lines waving at me as I stepped over them. It was still hard to adjust to all the details when I'd spent over a week in the darkness. Nonetheless, it was beautiful and I admired the view. "Wow, it's ‘a huge!" Timmy all but jumped in excitement, and I found myself slowly nodding in agreement. I was surprised, too. The cabin was way more accommodating than I was expecting, like I was a new resident rather than a lowly prisoner playing at f
"UP, UP, UP, RISE AND SHINE EVERYBODY!" The chorus of groans were a clear reflection of how everyone in the field felt right about now, and for once, I almost felt like I could forget I wasn't part of this clan. The faces of strangers bound together and relatable when I saw my own feelings reflected back in them. We all stood, somber in rows as the light barely breached the chilly skies.I watched as a bird landed on a tree branch, its little beak just now beginning to chirp.It was so early. We had beaten them to their songs of dawn.I frowned.Fatigue was heavy in my bones, and I felt brittle and tired despite my young age. I tried hard not to let a yawn escape me, my body begging me to go back to sleep. Getting to sleep had been hard, especially in my new cabin. All I had been able to think about was Elijah. I couldn’t help but wonder where he was and worry if Morax had even kept his word. My mind had played tricks on
"I understand you're upset, Morax. But I'm your best friend, don't you trust me?" I watched as the Alpha of the Aconite clan sized up his beta, their stare down intense as some of the younger pups whispered amongst themselves. Everyone in the training group looked lost. A young pup that had bright red fur tripped over a hurdle, too focused on the tension between the two males. It was funny to see.But I couldn’t say I was fairing any better. I was wondering what the tension was about too, and I was surprised to feel a boiling sensation well up inside me. I felt angry, I realized, on Brandon's behalf. The man had stepped in and broke it up—what else could his impossible Alpha expect?"I won't say anything here, but we both know why I can't take your word right now." Morax practically sneered.I frowned. His amber orbs were glowing in the morning light, and Brandon's face was scrunched into a sullen look. I wasn't used to the expression. Without using my brain, I stepped in front o
It was like all I could see was white suddenly. There was the white of those fangs, the startling white of bubbling foam against blackened lips, and then the stark white of panic. I knew I wouldn't have a chance to move. "Don't--" I barely managed to gasp the words before I was being covered by a heavy body, and the white disappeared. My mouth was agape. My tongue was heavy with confusion as pain failed to blossom against my skin. I was still standing there, waiting to feel the harsh shred of teeth.But it never came.Instead, I realized I was almost bent backward, a strong shield of muscle rippling against my back. My eyes met high cheekbones, and Alpha Morax's furrowed brows. Those piercing gold eyes weren't looking back at me though, my hands resting uneasily on his chest as he held me up. I followed his line of sight, and my breath caught in my throat. Fraudian was dangling from his other hand, snarling and foaming aggressively. Those eyes from before were now a startingly sh
I had to know the truth.Without giving any more of the merchandise a once over, I selected my weapon. Quickly I tugged the bundle of arrows tight to my shoulder and marched back into that room like I was on a mission.Yet when I passed the threshold of the archway, it felt like my mind was playing tricks on me. My feet paused just beyond the door.The two were standing there, innocently chatting about the different flavors of tea. Their forms were relaxed and idle, in a way I wasn't used to seeing the foreboding Alpha.He was leaning back against the table, one leg crossed. Mrs. Pearl looked just as flippant, her animated hands carrying her abundance of teabags.Nowhere in between their passing conversation did the name 'Fraudian' emerge.Was I losing my mind?I fumbled, my palms wrapped securely against my arrow holster. My eyes flickered back and forth between the two adults, but only Mrs. Pearl turned to acknowledge me. I watched as her gaze drifted up to the gleam of rainbow sha
Listening to his casual disregard for my life perturbed me. As if meeting me was a simple thorn in his side, like I was easy to forget. Although I had already admitted to myself that when it came to Morax, I probably was. It didn't make it any less warped to me though. It didn't hurt or anything, per se, since I knew I was just a spiteful wolf from another clan.The sister of the boy who killed one of his pack. But it was sometimes hard to remember my place in his presence. It was as if his fleeting moments of humanity were a harsh splash of embers across my face. Once again, I found myself comparing him to poison. Morax made you want to believe in him, but then he'd burned you. He'd say just the right thing to make you feel nauseous. Afraid. I turned away. "Well, you've already established I'm not fit to lead this outing, so go on. Show me where to find the faux crag. There should be minerals there, right?" I heard the Alpha move a few steps past me, left of the direction I'd
"So, how many rocks do you think I should bring?" I asked despite my pride as I chiseled away at the rockscape. It felt like it had been hours since Morax first introduced dread into my system, and the space between us had been filled to the brim with awkward silences. But now, as I sat back into the beaming sunlight, it was getting more difficult to keep my mouth shut. The sides of my hands burned from their rough exertion. It was more strenuous than I thought to break through the rubble with just the tip of my arrow, but still, I focused on any pieces that looked significant to me. If it had any sort of sheen or was just slightly off in color, I noticed. Or hell it didn't even matter if it was just the slightest difference in texture, I snagged it. The work was grueling and by the time twenty minutes had passed, the sun was baking me through my jacket. I wiped my arm across my brow, breathing in the dry air around us. It was different than the moisture in the forest. It seeme
My dreams were strange. It felt like every time I closed my eyes, a piece of my conscience stayed behind to trample among the leaves. It was like I could still feel the chilly night air. Like I could still see that lone silhouette laid bare beside the willow tree. It felt as if I had been standing right there, watching that person weep. But I hadn't been able to make out their face. It was so strange. I had been able to see my own white paws clearly, inching closer. But I would awaken every time their face went to lift upwards. Why are you crying? I had wanted to ask, but I was back in my room before I knew it. The blankets had formed a rumple around my waist as I reached out to nothing. My fingers splayed out to the air. There wasn't another soul in sight. It really was...so strange. I sat in bed, my fingers closed in a fist over my chest. I took a deep breath, shaking off my weird state of mind. There wasn't any time. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, f