THE NEXT NIGHT...
What should have been a straightforward retrieval mission quickly went awry, much to Mira's surprise.
As the daunting sounds of vicious sounds of snarling, teeth snapping and paws hitting the ground in a violent beat suffused the air. It urged Mira to keep running as fast as her legs would carry her without the desire to look over her shoulder.
She knew it was a bad idea to sneak back over the river after the Corbette twins had escorted her off their territory last night.
But she had to return and collect the ruby pendant her mother had left behind before she had been forced to return to Morzovia, after giving birth to Mira. It was the only sentiment she had of her mother and now, her father, for he always wore it around his neck before he went hunting.
And she still can not comprehend why her father did not wear the pendant last night. He always wore it without fail. As they both knew the pendant had a protection cloak placed inside the ruby stone. It was her mother's way of protecting them both since she couldn't physically be by their sides.
~JUMP!!!~ A voice cried out in her head. ~Make the jump over the river. They can not follow you once you step on Pack Moon Stone territory!~ The voice filled her head once more with urgency.
"What the..." Mira mumbled with confusion.
She shook her head as she started to believe she was experiencing signs of mild hallucinations once again.
Her steps faltered for all but a second, fortunately, she was quick to regain her composure and she picked up her speed.
For she now knew her chosen destination which was only a few feet away.
As she approached the river, she attempted to regain her breathing while observing the tree branches battling the turbulent currents. There was no way she was going to get to the other side unscathed unless she withdrew some of her Oracle energy from her inner core.
Suddenly, a howl resonated through the dark woods travelling with the wind as it grew dangerously close.
Followed by another, and then another.
She closed her eyes as she could sense the wolves approaching her from behind. But she refused to turn around and face them. She wanted them to believe that they had the upper hand, the element of surprise. And when the first wolf lunged at her, she lifted her hand in the air and then catapulted it downwards summoning her source of energy.
~Mira, drawing on your source of energy is too dangerous. I strongly advise against it...~
Her eyes opened as a niggling headache was making its way up her neck. "Yeah well... I don't find me being a snack for the wolves too appealing." She grumbled into the open air.
The sound of a tree's roots forcing it out of the earth as it fell filled the woods. The wolf behind her glanced up to see the tree slowly descending, cried out in mid-air with a high-pitched howl, and slid to the side before crashing into the river.
She watched with stunned, wide eyes as the wolf struggled to keep its head above water. Her breathing became shallow as the wolf was carried away in the rough waters.
The largest tree behind her had fallen, landing across the river as it created a bridge for her to cross over.
A vicious blood-curdling howl swept through the air. The guarding wolves were pissed and they sought blood for their fallen wolf.
Mira quickly became paralyzed with fear when the soft padding of paws snapping branches came from behind her. Her jaw clenched as the cold wind emanating from the river slammed into her.
~RUN CHILD, RUN!!!~ The feminine voice screamed in her head once again, breaking her paralyzed stance.
Mira ran across the thick tree trunk, setting it alight behind her so the wolves could not follow her across the river. The second her feet hit the ground, she bent over coughing and gasping for air as her stomach twisted in knots.
~Put the pendant on and follow the trail of mushrooms on your right.~
After Mira caught her breath and the pain in her stomach subsided, she took the pendant out of the back pocket of her jeans and held it out.
"Who are you and what do you want from me?" She said out loud as she continued to stare at the pendant.
~If I was to tell you, you wouldn't believe me.~ The voice said with an underlay of sadness and grief.
"No, you're absolutely right!" Mira snorted as she placed the pendant over her head. "This is all in my head. I'm fucking losing my mind..." She huffed, wiping the sweat that beaded across her brow line.
"Grieving... This is my way of grieving... by losing my damn mind!" She kicked the dirt and started to follow the trail of mushrooms.
Mira continued to walk for what seemed like an eternity. She savoured the stillness that engulfed her as she gazed up at the jet black heavens.
Which reminded her of spilt ink that coated the sky, reflecting across the atmosphere that enveloped her.
She was sure to be wary of where she stepped as Pack Moon Stone was a well-known pack for its strength and being active at night. Most of the wolves in the pack had thick black fur with eyes as dark as the devil's lost soul.
"Please Alpha Bastion, I swear my sons had nothing to do with the fire that happened at the bar."
Mira stopped walking, she held her breath as she tried to listen to the commotion rising between the trees in front of her.
"Do you truly believe that I would take whatever you have to say seriously you omega filth?" The velvet-like voice whom she could only assume belonged to Alpha Bastion growled bitterly. "Beta Daniel overheard your imbecile sons gloating about the fine art they unleashed for the whole town to enjoy in front of the mechanic shop. Now, are you telling me that Beta Daniel is bullshitting me?"
Three males were present. An elderly man was bound to a tree, and a man with ash-blonde hair that obscured his eyes stood next to the suit-wearing man who held her gaze longer than she intended.
Though she could not see the face of the man that adorned the suit. She could sense that there was something alluring about him.
"I-uh..." The old man stammered as he was speechless to find out that his sons had gone up against the Alpha of their pack. And they were stupid enough to gloat about it on the streets.
"No, I didn't think so."
Mira slowly tiptoed to the tree across from her, giving her a front-row seat to what was occurring before her very eyes. She watched as the man who was still dressed in a suit removed a zip lighter from the pocket of his slacks.
He flipped the gold plated lighter open, and ran his thumb across the small serrated wheel, igniting a small flame that flickered in the dark.
"Now, I'm going to ask you something Mr Travis, and I will only ask you this one time. Where are your sons?"
"No..." The old man pleaded with a sob. "Please... Not my boys, they are all I have..."
"Don't say I didn't warn you." Alpha Bastion hissed as he tossed his lighter on top of the petrol soiled grass setting Mr Travis on fire.
Mr Travis began to fight against the rope that held him a prisoner against the tree, crying and pleading for the Alpha to show him and his two sons some mercy.
Mira gasped, "No..." She whimpered, stepping away from the tree.
She sucked in a razor-sharp breath and released it through a gusty breath that stamped out the fire.
~NO MY CHILD!!! You are forbidden to use your source of energy until you turn twenty-one.~ The voice in her head screamed with dismay.
Falling to her knees, Mira hunched over swallowing the pain that coursed through her trembling body. Her body felt like it was on fire and her stomach was twisting in knots.
ALPHA BASTIONS' head whipped to the side the second the fire died out by the unusual gust of wind that came out of nowhere in the still night with his hands curled at his sides.
He knew magic when he saw it, and if a witch was nearby he would not hesitate to rip its heart out of its chest.
For they are the reason why werewolves are savaged beasts.
Slowly, he turned around and faced the same direction where Mira was.
Thrusting his chin out, he sniffed the air.
It smelt like fresh mango doused in warm caramel sauce on a hot summer's day by the salty ocean.
It caused his heart to skip a beat and he suddenly forgot how to breathe until the sweet smell drifted from his senses.
~Mate...~ His inner wolf howled.
Bastion mindlessly took three steps forward, holding up his hand as Beta Daniel attempted to follow him.
"I know you are out there, and I highly suggest that you show yourself." His deep voice drifted through the darkness.
Miras' pulse spiked dangerously, but she refused to show herself.
She couldn't, no matter how strong his compelling voice warned her to.
"So be it, when I find you, you are mine..." He snarled in a threatening manner.
He was quickly becoming anxious to identify the source of the seductive odour that was causing his inner wolf to howl, and attempt to subjugate his free will.
Mira set out racing through the woods, dodging trees and leaping over jutting roots, while fervently hoping that Alpha Bastion wasn't chasing after her. The wind was cold against her bare face as it mercilessly swept through the atmosphere. The suffocating air smelt like burnt grass, and death. It was potent, and it stung the back of her throat thanks to her heightened senses from the Lycan blood that was coursing through her veins. Too afraid to turn back to check whether she was being followed, she pumped her legs faster despite the scorching sensation that was permeating her muscles. She chastised herself for having been born in June rather than April. Because there wouldn't be any reason for her to run. She could have Alpha Bastion and his Beta pinned against a tree with a simple sweep of her fingers. Nevertheless, she did not stop until she reached the edge of the woods that led to the town's outskirts. She looked first to her right and then to her left as her heart pounded s
Mira had always known that no one was meant to live forever. Even Immortals, those from the supernatural world. As a Blessed Hybrid, she knew that a day would come when all her worries, suffering and torment would be over. She imagined that it would all come down to losing control of her source of energy, or violence. Never did she ever believe that she had a shot at love. At finding her mate... Her fated one... And a big part of her didn't want to. She didn't want to be a burden to her mate, or those around her. So, for many years, she believed she was better off alone with her loving father at her side. Until she felt drawn to Alpha Bastion and she is yet to decide whether she wants to hang about and find out if they are mates or to venture out into a world she is yet to see. --- As the reddish-tinged moon rose in the sky, the temperature in the room dropped. Mira, who had been held hostage for two consecutive days in her mind, was gently roused from her slumber by a c
Alpha Bastion watched as Mira fell to the ground at his bare feet. Her red hair blew in the wind assaulting his sense of smell and he could see the flickering shadows from the fire as it danced across the dark green grass. His wolf clawed at his chest with a snarl hanging off the tips of his protruding canines. ~Mate!!!~ His wolf, Shadow howled. ~I will tear Enzo apart!!~ He snarled viciously meaning every word. The Alpha closed his eyes, trying to keep his wolf at bay. ~You will do no such thing. Enzo is our Beta, our most loyal and trusted comrade.~ Shadow replied with a vicious snarl before he stepped back into the shadows. The breathless silence from the assembled circle didn't go unnoticed. A soft murmur swept through the air beside the crackling sound of the fire popping. Alpha Bastion looked down at Mira, his hands curled into tight balls as he willed himself to stay rooted in his place. Mira stood up, coming face to face with the Alpha. "You took something from me that
"The Travis brothers will be banished from the pack now that they have fled. Is anyone courageous enough to contest my decision?" Alpha Bastion announced plainly as he peered out into the circle and noticed Mr Travis turning away, with his head lowered, retreating from the circle. There was no remorse felt for the elderly man. As his boys grew up, he was repeatedly cautioned that he needed to maintain a tight leash on them before they did the unimaginable and injured a human on purpose for sport. When the figure of Mr Travis's body faded into the darkness of the night, the Alpha glanced briefly in the direction of where Mira remained to stand with her back to him. She was still engaged in a lengthy discussion with the old woman who revealed who Mira genuinely was. He was still unsure what that meant or what she was capable of. Regardless of whether he chose to accept her as his mate or reject her, he was aware that she was powerful and could be a great addition to their pack. ~Re
"Well, my love, shall we?" The elderly lady asked Mira once again if they should be on their way. "Yes, It's getting late." The Alpha absentmindedly rubbed the side of his arm as a light breeze blew past him, and it carried Miras' scent along with it. As he stood at her side, his body felt like it was on fire, his flesh searing till it scorched with yearning. He watched through panicked stricken eyes as she and the elderly lady took a few steps away from him, in the direction of her residence. ~She's leaving. Don't let her leave without speaking to you. I knew you were going to fuck this up. Didn't I warn you that you would fuck this up and-~ The Alpha rolled his eyes heavenward and opened his mouth. "I'd like to have a word with you, rogue." He blurted out and turned to face them. Mira came to an abrupt halt, her shoulders sagged as she sighed, and shook her head, "My name is Mira and in the near future if you want to have a conversation with me, I suggest you learn my name
The cool air that encompassed the Alpha and his feisty rogue, grew thin with sexual tension wafting between them. With the Alpha close to her, touching her, and only a whisper away from her lips. Mira felt a hunger that was completely foreign to her. The Alpha's breath was hot against her bare skin, but it also felt soothing, like he was a remedy for the inferno that he had ignited within her. Solely from the sound of his dominant voice. It was consuming, intoxicating and as the Alpha pulled back, gazing into her eyes, he stole her breath away. His eyes glowed with crimson rings, and before her mind could catch up with her body, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. She felt a ripple of sparks searing through her thrumming veins, and she snaked her arms around the Alpha's neck, drawing him in closer... Deeper... ALPHA BASTION could hear Mira's heart pounding against her rib cage, it was creating a beautiful beat, matching the rhythm of his, syncing together a
"Run Clohe! You still have six laps before you need to join the others at the obstacle course!" The Alphas voice boomed through the mid-morning air. He knew he was taking his frustration out on Clohe, punishing her for last night. No matter how many times he told himself; convinced himself it was for her benefit. It wasn't. His lack of discipline was equally attributable to those who behaved behind his back without his awareness. He didn't like his pack members sacrificing themselves for a cause none of them didn't fully understand just yet. He also intended to sit down and have a word with Mave and question her. He wanted to know what was going through her mind when she told her daughter to allow Mira to draw from her energy. It was reckless and they put everyone in danger. His eyes left Clohe and they drifted towards the woods. He still had no idea why they were attacked or who attacked them. It was making him feel on edge, a little paranoid and certainly angry within hims
Mira stood in front of the mirror, looking back at herself. Her breath caught in her throat as she didn't recognise the young, attractive woman staring back at her with shiny hair flowing in waves down her back. The small black dress that Clohe had lent her enhanced her curves, which she had no idea were beneath her usual sweater and jeans. Clohe strolled in with a set of ruby earrings that complemented her ruby pendant as she turned to her side. "I think these will look great on you," She cooed as she stood behind Mira and held the earrings against Miras' earlobes. Mira nibbled on her lower lip. "You don't think they will be a bit of an overkill? I mean... I'm not going to the ball to find my mate, and I don't know how I'm going to run in these heels if trouble should find us." She giggled as she peered down at the pumps that encased her feet. "Gods, no!" Clohe beamed. "You look stunning, plus I doubt Alpha Bastion will let any of the males attending tonight get within two feet o