Naya is standing just at the mouth of the cave, the abbot and his followers exit before us, then Lily and I follow, Noah and Tate behind us. I see her giving Tate a questioning look and he shakes his head. “It's done, we will return now,” he says instead. With my eyes, I scan the trees not seeing him anywhere Tate had said he was just outside Damn it. “Come child, I’m sure you have questions” with one hand extended, I fall in step beside the Abbot. We begin the long trek back to the pack territory two male acolytes in front of us, then the ladies before two other guards, I know Lily, Tate, and the others are not too far behind. “What was that we did with the stone? I didn’t feel anything, maybe a little dizzy but that’s about it” “The ritual can only be done once, it is sure evidence that you are indeed goddess touched, and it shows an indication of how powerful the one in question is, it has been done five times in our history” “Only five? I thought there’s being at lea
ZAYNE Tate fills me in on what I missed during the ritual when the faint scent of rot permeated the air, uncomfortable with its close proximity I circled around to dispatch the feral beings swiftly. Without shifting, it was slightly challenging to pinpoint the location, usually, I can sense trespassers with uncanny accuracy, but tonight, my instinct is already on alert, it would have been impossible to sense additional threats were it not for the rotten scent that clung to rogue wolves, as there were already strangers on my territory in white garb and white dyed hair, the same threats I’ve been tolerating for the past week. I’m going to take my time gutting them just for the mental stress alone, shouldn’t be long now… I fall in beside Tate, having already washed the blood off my hands in the lake I sniff my shirt one last time, the faint smell of rot and blood clings to me and will stay there until I shower it off. “That was fast,” he comments without turning to me, “How many
ALINA I climb the stairs, debating if I should have brought a glass of water with me, might get thirsty again, I’m still considering it when pick up my folded blanket, shaking it open as I to off my sneakers, I just want to get in bed and sleep. Today was a weird day, I think as I strip, I unbutton my jeans then throw off my hoodie, I make short work of the rest of my clothes, then pick out the oversize grey sweater that I still haven’t returned to Zayne. What? It makes for good pajamas. Throwing it over my head I pick up my brush and begin to run it through my hair. At least it’s over. Do I feel bad for refusing the Abbot’s invitation? Yes. Will my choice come back to bite me in the ass? That is left to be seen, though, with my luck? Very, very likely. With a scoff, I toss the brush and get in bed pulling the warm blanket over my legs up to my neck until only my head is left uncovered. Do I regret it? No. I want to be here. So, whatever comes, I w
A loud howl sounds and my eyes snapped open. I’m tensed as I take in my surroundings, the walls and the bed I’m lying on and the sheets that covers me. Scent so familiar. And I can't do anything but breath, in and out as the night before runs through my mind. A deep sigh leaves me. I wasn’t a dream. One hand slip from the cover to come rest on my chest my eyes closed. But I’m here, I’m fine. The door opens “You’re awake” A little surprised at who came in I look at the door then back to him, “Hi, good morning, were you standing on the other side of the door?” How did he know I was up. “Zayne made sure I kept an ear out, we’ve being worried” Noah closes the door behind him. Oh? “Where is he…?” I question slowly. “Taking care of a few things” Probably making sure the other acolytes don’t become a problem. Last night he had killed three accolyte guards, Isaac included. I don't know why I had felt so betrayed at what he did to me, he wasn't my friend, I didn't trus
*** It’s when I get to the lodge that I realize I’m barefoot and parts of my sweater are stained with blood from the night before, I don’t look at my room when I step inside, not the unmade bed or anything else, I don’t try to register what the faint unknown smell in the air could be. I just march to my small closet and pick up the first training attire I see, then I hurry to the bathroom. I don’t want to be here, I can't be here a second longer, my shower is fast, I towel dry my hair as best as I can then braid it back, still wet before shrugging on my clothes then I am out the door. I hear banging and laughter as I hurry down the stairs to the kitchen, I silently pray no one decides to come down right now, I drink a lot of water and snatch two fresh apples from the fruit basket. Turns out Sky has a big mouth because by the end of training, a couple of the guys came to ask me how I was feeling and if I really almost got kidnapped last night after hearing from him. I think t
From the looks of it, seems everyone heard about the attempt, a few people came to ask me how I was feeling and to come to see them if I need to talk the day after. Though from the looks I get from Tiana, she probably wished the attempt succeeded, I don’t even have the strength to be annoyed at Sky for letting the wolf out of the bag. I’m too fired up; besides, I shouldn't only be concerned about my discomfort. They deserve to know that someone slipped into the lodge while we all slept. I put as much effort into training as I can. Naya pitted me against two opponents so I can try to get a hang of fending off more than one opponent at a time. And they weren’t mincing punches. It was all claws and fangs. And just what I needed, we are bloody, spotting cuts and bruises by the time training was over. I fall straight into bed the moment I get back. *** I’m a prisoner in my own body, I can’t move, I can’t scream, I can hardly breathe, Isaac’s arm tightens around me as he carries me
Training is brutal in the morning, Naya and I go over some defense moves, and I’m still somewhat annoyed at her about the day before. If she notices she doesn’t show just keep our sparing session as normal. So I try to put it behind me.“You’re focused today, good,” Naya comments at the end of our session, like she didn’t rat me out to our alpha hence his visit last night. “No running today you guys, we continue tomorrow,” Colin announces with a clapped as he stands at the side watching.While a few others wonder and ask why, I’m just happy we don’t get to run today. After Zayne left last night, I slept for a while but woke up a few hours after, my heart pounding with the same nightmare. I bid Oliver bye as I hurry back to the lodge, opting for a shower, after rolling on the ground I certainly need one. Maybe I should eat first? I'm hungry as well, I think as I stroll into the kitchen contemplating only to jerk to a stop, blinking a few times. I yelped at the sight in front of me. Ke
I’m not one of those females that enjoys admiring themselves in front of a mirror, I tend to avoid mirrors actually, probably because I didn’t want to be greeted with the sight of what everyone saw when they look at me, what it represented.Even mom always put me in front of a mirror while she brushed my hair, I think she was just pleased the goddess choose her to birth her special chosen one.I wish I felt the same.I used to be on the curvier side, but now my body shows evidence of physical activities since I got here, in the weeks of my training, my muscles have gotten firmer, and my stomach which used to be soft is now flat from killer sit-ups, my thighs now toned from running.All in all, my form has never looked better.I… like it, I think with a smile as I turn from side to side to get a better look.While I would never have the sleek warrior physic like Naya or Jida or even that other female Mercy as I’m on the shorter side, this is nice too.Today, I’m wearing my special dress