So I froze. His powerful bass voice echoed around the tall buildings. The only sound left was my heart thudding in my chest. In the dusky evening we were entirely alone in the small cobbled square. The scent of bonfire is already mixing in with the flowering pink trees around us. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” he snapped at me. Rooted to the spot, metres away from me, every muscle in his body was rigid. Shocked at the accusation, I couldn't help crying out "I haven't done anything wrong. It's just a nasty rumour!" shivering as the evening cool began to wispily around my bare legs and arms. Raising his arm, with jabbing his finger in my direction he hissed, “you have dragged my name into the mud right before this Conference!” “I haven’t done a thing! I never came to you for help or cheated in any way," trying to keep composed though my resentment at his attitude was rising. "Maybe Rhett is your little helper not me?" he snarled and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at t
I might have said I was going to happily get rid of Kate’s necklace but I guess I’m not in a rush. Not after seeing her face crumble when I told her the basics of the rumours. I didn’t even give her the full details. I didn’t mention Alpha Dex storming into to see the grey owl lookalike Professor Landin. Nor the fact that it’s not just a few people discussing her. I left her there thinking it was just maybe Martha and Sinead and a few others. She is front-page news all over Campus. I heard the last person accused of cheating was expelled from the pack. She’s lucky she’s not in Greenway, not with that humbling practice. Taking your eyes and ears, I wouldn’t dare inflict that on somebody. I don’t want that for her. I just want her to stay the fuck away from Dex. He will be mine. She isn’t what he needs or even wants. She’s still a virgin! I would absolutely rock his world and yet he hasn’t given me a second glance. What started out as practice for seducing the Alpha has turned into
I must be losing my mind. Following her scent to get to her room like a lost puppy. I’ve never done that in my life. Then again I’ve never been spoken to in such a manner before. If she didn’t drive me to distraction, if she could just…act like the rest and fall in line. I had her, I had a fistful of that honey hair, her fresh, grassy scent flooding my mind and my hand poised, ready to find that sweet, soaking centre and she pushes me away! Insulting me at the same time! Slamming the door as I head back inside the packhouse Rhett is waiting for me. His arms are folded and his eyebrows cocked. “Not now,” raising my hand as I ran past him up the stairs. He calmly followed, clearly not taking no for an answer. Since when has my word as an Alpha been so easily ignored? I spun around, my shoes loudly clicking on the tile floor as I came to an abrupt stop, glaring at my best friend and his ridiculous pom-pom hair. “Rhett I don’t know what the fuck you think you’re doing but I said n
I accidentally fell asleep on the roof. I guess looking at the stars soothed me. That and knowing there was no chance of running into anyone. Why did Beta Rhett believe in me and Dex not? How could he see through the lies so easily yet the man my wolf pines for doesn't care. Anger bubbles away because one word from him could silence this whole thing. One announcement at a party was confirming I never asked him for help and my test scores are far from successful and my reputation could be restored. My anger does not last, it is not in my nature to harbour resentment. Not when the only thing I can see is the dawning sun, rising over the olive groves and pink-flowered trees. I pull myself up to sit and hug my legs. The morning breeze is cool and refreshing, my hair whipping around pleasantly. I sigh and resolve to make this the best day I can. /We look after ourselves. To rely on a man such as Alpha Dex would be our downfall, not the rumours/ Raya warned. I nodded in agreement. Conti
I knew it couldn’t be this easy. Berlarot and our deal would have to be discovered eventually. Tottering next to Kate, wishing I didn’t have ankle-clattering wedge heels on compared to her easy, ballet-like walk in sneakers I felt an utter fool. How was I ever going to explain making a deal with a demon? The ultimate taboo of Dark Arts? “Hey, everything will be okay,” Kate said, giving my hand a quick squeeze, “it will be nothing,” and all I could do was nod. It was either that or vomit. The punishment for bonding with a demon, I hadn’t even dared to look up. I knew it was in the Dark Arts library, I’d even held the book but been too afraid to read it. So I had Kate’s opal pendant in my purse, but there was no tangible proof I had done anything to her. It would be my word against hers. It was only some rumours! /This is what happens, I warned you/ Bree scolded, my wolf forever frustrated at my choices. Pacing across the full length of the compound my heart was racing. If they as
How could I be the kind of friend to begrudge Roxie’s joy? Only someone with nothing can understand the unfillable gap in an orphaned soul. The one where all you learn about is a closeness, a happiness that you can never have for yourself. Every alphabet book, every play, every pretend world contained parents, aunts, uncles and happy gatherings. To learn that Roxie had a family out there, even though one branch had died, there might be more out there to discover was amazing. It almost made the fact I am nearly broke bearable. This was Roxie’s day. She practically skipped all the way back to the main Compound, her wedges dancing over the cobbles with no effort. “What were you so afraid of before?” I asked, “you seemed to think you were in trouble?” “Did I?” she asked, swinging her arms giddily and smiling. “You looked just like when you get caught taking food from the kitchen that time, remember when Mrs Rogging shouted and you froze with your hand in the fruit bowl?” “You were
I was right about the early bird catches the worm, I just never expected it to be the wizened, scary-ass old worm I never want to be alone with. As I sat on the bench, idly playing with some vine leaves I toyed over yesterday’s Conference meeting. Twirling the ring from my father absent-mindedly, its black opal revealing fiery folds of orange and red when examined closely. I should wear it all the time, instead father doles it out for official business only. I keep it when he officially recognises me. Like having a toy repeatedly taken away. Alpha Austin wanted something. The forestry of Luna Gwyneth's pack was too paltry to go to war over, but what if it was a cover for something bigger? Trying to make me look the other way and miss the bigger picture? I didn’t expect to see Kate running past. It was as though my imagination conjured her into life. Watching her move, with long slender limbs like a ballerina, I almost called her name. Then, with a pang I remember all my duties, my r
I keep hidden in our room until it is time for Warrior training. The training complex is on the outside of the compound, where the bonfire parties from previous weeks take place. Two dozen of us, including Roxie, Matt, Felix and Cherry are attending. The grass is marked in training circles, the aim being to fight within a smaller area each time. The first circle is the size of a basketball court, designed to reflect an open battlefield. The final one, three sizes down, is smaller than a double bed, deadly personal combat. I warm up, stretching and jumping like it might magically turn me into the kind of battle-hardened machine you need to be for a place in this squad. “Pair up!” Coach Grantley shouted as everyone quickly shuffled to the side. A rugged man in his mid-fifties, greying and covered in silvery scar lines he looked terrifying. His shaved mohawk hairstyle didn’t help settle my nerves. If Roxie had been standing anywhere near me I’d have suggested he looked like a psycho