SarahThe days that follow are sad ones. We all have to come together as a pack to work through the loss of so many loved ones. “I really thought we were finding peace,” Dustin says, as we gather together three days later. “I hoped it would stay.”“We’ll find that now,” I tell him. “There are always going to be times of peace and times of conflict. I’ve learned we have to accept that as a way of life. That’s the downside of being in a wolf pack.“But the good days outnumber the bad. And we’re strong, we’re fierce. We’ll get through this and defeat any enemies that might come up next. We just have to trust in each other and have faith in the pack.”The words resonate with me as I say them. Despite all the hardships, I’m more devoted to this pack than I ever have been. I’ve learned to accept the ups and downs which are easier to manage now that things between Lucas and I don’t feel quite as fragile.“That’s why you’re a great leader,” Dustin says. “You inspire us all to do just
My heart is beating wildly as I stand next to the lake.I should be confident. But a part of me is terrified.There's still a few minutes left and I close my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. Opening my eyes, I gaze at my reflection in the water, "You can do this. It's in your blood. Once you transform, you and Hunter can be together.”Hunter Cage.The Alpha of Stone Wolves.My childhood friend and my fiancé.The thought of the man waiting back at the den for me gives me some courage. I'm usually quite brave but for some reason, I can feel my hands trembling. Everything depends on this moment.My eyes fall on my tense face. My vcs is a dull silver and my eyes a dark blue. Nobody in the pack resembles me, not even my own parents. I have always been an oddity in the back even though my parents tried their best to shower me with love.I curl my hands into fists, focusing on the reflection of the moon in the water. The minute it hits the small rock in th
I barely get a chance to say anything because a minute later, a few pack mates barge in, followed by a furious Hunter, as he roars, “What is going on here?!”He falls silent when he sees me and he whispers my name in a shocked voice, “Sarah?”I stare at him, shaken.When I don’t answer, he quickly steps towards me, “Why are you here? You're supposed to be at the lake!”I hear a sniffle and then turn my head to see Valerie crouched on the floor, holding her injured arm.”Me, Valerie, and Hunter grew up together, the best of friends, so the shock in his eyes at seeing Valerie’s state is not surprising.“Valerie?” He crouches down by her side. “Just what is going on here?” Out of all three of us, Valerie was always the weaker one, the one who needed protection. Both me and Hunter were fiercely protective of her. But now as I look at her, I can’t recognize the friend I had once cherished.Valerie leans into hunters chest, sobbing, “I didn’t know she would do this!
It’s the thrumming sound which I hear first.The comfortable or darkness, I was cocooned in, is disappearing and I can hear the sound of the forest around me. My whole body aches. My cheek burns.And there is a small warmth inside my chest, like a ball, buried deep inside. But I can barely feel it, the hollowness inside of me at the loss of my pack, numbing out every other sensation.I open my eyes, blearily, feeling so tired.The ceiling is wood. I blink, wondering if I’m seeing things.Turning my head to the side, I realize that I am in some sort of wooden cabin. I vaguely wonder if I should get up and explore my surroundings. But what would be the point?My smile is bitter as I turn my attention back to the ceiling. “I should’ve just died in the forest,” I mutter to myself, darkly. The words are barely out of my mouth when I hear a throaty growl. My eyes dark in the direction of the door and I see a man standing there. He’s tall with golden
My body feels numb as I stare at him and for some reason, the more I look at him, Hunter’s disgusted face overlaps with Lucas’s.I wrap the thick blanket tighter around myself, this feeling of emptiness eating at me. Hunter, my betrothed didn’t want me. Lucas, my true mate, doesn’t want me.Then, who wants me?I open my mouth but nothing comes out. The grief inside me is so thick that I just sink deeper into myself.Finally, I say, softly, “I see.”Lucas just stares at me as a bitter laugh bubbles out of my throat, “Of course. Of course, you wouldn’t want me too. Why am I not surprised?”He frowns, “That’s not what I meant.”I shrug, forcing down my feelings, “Doesn’t matter. So what are you going to do to me now?”“What are you doing?” His lip curls in anger. “I can’t feel you anymore.”I just keep retreating into myself, noty wanting to deal with anything. It’s all so much for me – this constant rejection, being pushed out of my home, the silent bon
I freeze.“So, they think I’m dead?”Lucas takes his sweet time answering, “I’ve not reached out to that Alpha pup to tell him anything. Like I said, my hands were filled with you.”I stare at him, not knowing what to say. There are so many questions in my head that I don’t even know how to put them into words.Finally, I ask, “Are you doing something to me? I can’t feel – I feel oddly calm.”He picks up the dishes and walks over to the sink, “You were too upset and you began to block me out.”“Wait, what?” I turn to look at him, feeling a hint of uneasiness. “Are you controlling me?”The thought almost makes me nauseous and he finally turns around to face me, “No. As your mate, I can help calm you down when your emotions are too high.”I look down at my hands which are shaking and then curl them into fists, “What is going to happen now? What about my family? Hunter has cut me off. I can’t feel the Alpha bond. I-“The panic is setting in and this time the wav
Lucas narrows his eyes, “Calm down.”But I am calm, the numb silence inside of me like a still lake, “You were with Hunter. Why? You didn’t bring him-?”“No!” He growls, darting forward till he’s in my face. “Of course not! I had to go and give him an update.”My mouth is dry, “What did you say to him? Did you tell him I was -?”“No,” Lucas narrows his eyes. “I asked him what you did and he said you tried to harm a packmate, his intended.”“His intended?” I feel dizzy at his words. “Who is – He has another mate?”Lucas studies me, “He’s announced an intended mate. She has yet to shift.”Valerie.The realization makes me want to throw up and when I reel, Lucas grabs me by the waist, steadying me, “What’s-?”“Hunter decided on an another mate?” The grief is suffocating.“Why do you care?” Lucas’s eyes turn to slits.I meet his gaze, “Because he was my betrothed. She poisoned me, Valerie.”“You were the Alpha pup’s intended?” Lucas looks taken aback.
“Sarah!”My father wraps me in his arms when I throw myself at him, sobbing, “Dad!”His familiar scent wraps around me and my knees turn weak. But my strong, dependable father holds up my weight, “Baby. Sarah, are you hurt? Are you okay?”Then I find myself being yanked back, out of his hold, before I can respond and Lucas shoves me behind him, snarling fiercely.“Lucas?” At first my father sounds confused and then his voice holds traces of anger. “Let my daughter go! She didn’t do anything wrong!”“No, Dad. Lucas, let me talk to him!”But Lucas doesn’t seem to be listening to me and I feel his aggression within me, our bond turning hot with anger and possessiveness. “It’s my father!” I scream when I realize that he’s going to attack my dad. “You can’t!”I push him and when he turns to me with a snarl, his teeth bared in warning, I feel a hint of fear and my wolf suddenly whimpers in confusion and terror. It’s my reaction that has the wolf in Lucas’s eyes f