Finally, after what feels like weeks we are back in Fyrestone. The whole campus turns out to greet our return. Matt and Felix are treated like living gods, one blonde girl with red lipstick, Cherry I think, particularly clinging onto Matt as the student feted two of their own winning a war.The cars that arrived to fetch us from Foxton were gratefully received. The men were tired and ready to recuperate. Of course, it was only what was expected of them. To be classed as a Warrior meant to risk your lives and battle for the pack. Fyrestone had lost several men as well. A lot of them nearer my fathers generation, men he was reluctant to let out to pasture. My selection of younger, sleeker warrior students and recent graduates had all survived. My father and Rose were waiting at the Packhouse for us, alongside a scarily-slimmed down Rhett. His ashy blonde hair tied in a topknot and a smile brimming on his ridiculously bushy beard. If he had looked almost feral before, he certainly did
Just for a while we switched off. There was a whole world of shit to deal with back at the packhouse. Dex hadn’t yet mentioned the gigantic black opal ring of his fathers that was now on his hand either. The drunken bonfire blowout tonight sounded absolutely perfect to be honest, it wasn’t even something I usually enjoyed doing. So much had happened it sounded amazing to just relax for a few hours.I knew he was stressed about Rhett being so weakened, the fact there was no way Glenn and Ariel would be able to live happily under the scorching sun of Fyrestone. However right now, tearing along the red dust ground at a dangerously fast speed it didn’t matter for a while.He took the bends with rough, sharp leans that made me hold my breath and cling onto his chest for dear life as we raced across the desert plains. His leather jacket smelt so delicious, the bonfire scent that first captured my heart fast becoming a permanent part of me. I wondered if he found himself smelling of grass e
###ONE YEAR LATER###KATESo I’m Luna Kate now. We had a big, outdoor ceremony that everyone appeared to see. Dex wore all black, looking absolutely unreal. I wore a long fitted red gown, in keeping with the ruby in his eyes and the colours of Fyrestone. Almost everybody was there, of course Roxie was not.Dex and I have taken the bike to Verna a few times since that first outing. I think it’s his favourite thing to do when life gets a bit much. We also haven’t made it back once without having stopped mid-way home. Something about the adrenalin of the tattoo gun I guess.I did get a tattoo added for Roxie in the end. It took me a while to think about what I wanted but in the end I had a twisting, mixed up lightning bolt. Not a cheesy, pointy outline, but the crackling, thin shards that splinter across a dark sky. It is on the side of my ribs, surrounded by the constellations of the Fyrestone compound.It stood for all the lightning and thunderstorms we sheltered in together as children
Our meagre belongings packed into battered leather suitcases, we said goodbye to our so-called home. For the last time we stood together in the run-down town square. The desolate orphanage that had housed us for the past eighteen years was soon to be a distant memory. Grey, remorseless granite, swirling with red dust everywhere. Orphanage 8 had always looked like a gateway to somewhere evil even when they tried to smarten it up. “You going to miss the place?” Roxie asked, her red-lipped face set in a sour grimace, kicking at a pebble with her kitten heel. “No, because I’m taking the best bit with me,” slipping my arm into hers with a smile. Both our parents had died fighting for the Fyrestone Pack, leaving us stranded in this backward town. A childhood constantly coughing on red dust and swatting away flies. The ancient bus finally spluttered through the compound gates. Enclosed within a white-walled paradise the scent of lemons and citrus fruits was overwhelming. Green olive trees
Trapped by the downpour, the small white porch meant he was just inches away from me, the smoky, bonfire scent of his wolf lingering. I hugged my waist, keeping my face forward. Pretend I didn't look like a desperate wet tshirt contestant. I wondered if I could just sprint across the path but the wet cobbles looked tricky. “Don’t run, you might fall," he grinned.“I think it’s more dangerous for me to stay here,” my voice a dropping to a whisper as I studied his side-profile. “Take your chance, see what happens," his voice husky and tempting as I tried to work out exactly what he meant. His voice, his manner, the way his eyes were blatantly looking me made a dark desire curl in my stomach. How easy would it be to just lose myself in this tango? Raya, my wolf gave me an idea instead. I turned around, connecting once more with those devastatingly dark eyes, the darkest espresso and mahogany combined, and smiled. “Could I borrow your jacket?” though I wasn’t able to help my eyes fli
Today has been a good day. Dozens of perky, tanned, long-limbed and eager new students arriving. They’re always so eager and ready to start their Assessment. They’re always so keen to get to know me too. Like her this evening, the one tucked under the archway, she played a good game. Soaked to the skin I could see her pink bra clearly through her top. A very nice introduction, certainly memorable. Making her blush gave me a little thrill of victory, but then she went and stole my leather jacket. She even rolled her eyes at me but when I got close enough I heard her breath catch. So I'll give round one to the wet girl, the phrase making me grin all over again. I head back upstairs to my top floor penthouse chuckling at how she tricked me. Perhaps I'll see her again, perhaps someone else will. Since turning eighteen five years ago, I have done as I please, the privilege of being the Alpha Prince. The Compound, where our best and brightest reside and learn, remains my playground. Per
The next morning came with blinding sunshine and the realisation I needed to return the leather jacket. Return it without willingly falling into his bed to be more precise. . Yet here I am, dreaming of smoky bonfires and what grabbing a fistful of that curly black hair towards my face would feel like. What was that black edged tattoo an image of? "You ready to go?" Roxie called over from the bathroom, wearing neon cut-out sportswear. Shorts and sneakers sufficed for me. It wasn't a fashion show; the first day was going to be our first exam followed by a midday hike through somewhere hellish. “How are you feeling about the exam?” I called out. “It’s about your morals not intelligence isn’t it? I’m worried they’re going to find out I’m a massive bitch!” she joked, making me howl. “Can you imagine if the scores came back and we are like just awful, appalling people,” I giggled, then groaned “and then there’s the team hike to survive. I’d rather do exams.” "You know the hike is a tea
I don’t know how she does it. Every time! Even in a rainstorm I am the one who falls over, nearly breaking an ankle, whilst Kate gets the hottest man on earth drooling over her. She’s playing it down, but Cherry and I could see enough from the window. Huddled together on the window seat we squinted through the curtain of rain as he approached. When he got closer, clearly whispering into her ear I was deafened by Cherry squealing “Oh my god I think he’s going to kiss her!” I didn’t squeal. I watched silently, knowing exactly what I would have done. Kate merely played it cute, taking his jacket. I’d have suggested heading inside to take my wet clothes off. The way she insisted she had no interest in him was infuriating. Of course she does! I know I’m attractive, my eyes are a stunning blue-grey paired with luscious long black hair. We’re a similar shape, both having curves in the right places and wide friendly smiles so why not me? When I finally got a proper look at him in the b