Kane froze, his hands tight around the axe. He looked around cautiously, scanning the surrounding forest. "What the hell was that?" He muttered. The roar came again, accompanied with a heavy pounding on the earth. The earth shook with each pound, and cracks began to appear. The Wildings and werewolves started to retreat slowly, muttering within themselves. The atmosphere turned tense with fear and dread. Kane looked towards Thorak, and he saw the trepidation in the latter's eyes. The roar was unmistakable, but they found it hard to believe. [Is that the Alpha?] Kane asked through the mind link, his voice laced with panic. [It can't be. Zeke saw him leave. We're wasting time. Kill the lycan.] Thorak snarled back. Kane started to lift the axe again when Kieran's voice thundered through the forest. "ZEKE!"A ball of flame followed and struck the pack. Hell broke loose as the Wildings and werewolves broke into a state of panic, diving for cover. Flaming balls of fire fell from t
The moment Gwendolyn felt the axe cut into her skin, the world spun. It literally spun around. The earth opened beneath her and she was pulled into a dark abyss. She hit the bottom of the abyss with a heavy thud. Pain shot through her body, making her cry out. Total darkness surrounded her. Unseen voices began to whisper. Loud, eerie whispers from all around her. She couldn't make out the words, but they were terrifying and unnerving. Her heart pounded heavily as terror crawled up her lungs. She couldn't move. She was pinned to the ground with unknown forces, surrounded with total darkness, and the eerie whispers were getting closer. Suddenly black fog seeped out from the ground, slowly engulfing her. From the midst of the black fog, a figure emerged. It was cloaked in darkness, and the black fog swirled around it. It lifted its hand and pointed a jagged bony finger at her, and suddenly, everything changed again. She felt something heavy slam into her, like a torrent of wind, a
Ryder placed himself in front of Gwendolyn, shielding her from Kane. "Kane, whatever it is you're doing, stop it!" He snapped. "Get out of my way, Ryder!" Kane snarled. "The mutt dies today.""I won't let you hurt her. She's the future Luna. She bears Kieran's mark.""A murderer cannot be the Luna." Kane growled."She isn't a murderer. She had no control over what happened. It's why we can't let the Immortals know about this.""And the Immortals will never know, because she will be dead soon."Ryder frowned. "What are you talking about?"Kane grinned triumphantly. "You surprise me, Ryder. How gullible you are. Zeke never left the pack.""You told me he left!" Ryder yelled. "You said he was taking a message to the Immortals. You urged me to let the Alpha know."Kane laughed suddenly, cold and cruel. "I lied." He grinned. "It was a ploy to get the Alpha out of the pack, to target the enemy." He pointed at Gwendolyn who hadn't spoke a word since he came in. "Her!" "You lied to me! Yo
The expression on Kieran's face was one of disbelief, and a hint of fear. "Are we back to this?" He asked. "Back to rejecting me?""We agreed to go our separate ways when you find my mother." Gwendolyn retorted. "And now that I have an inkling of where she might be, I'll find her myself. I don't need your help anymore.""And how do you plan to do that?" Kieran walked closer until he was bearing down on her. "Where do you intend to start the search for my father? Do you know where he is?"Gwendolyn paused. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. Where exactly would she search? Khal Anubis could be anywhere in the realm. But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing that. "I'll find him. I'm not safe here anyway. The best thing is to leave before I get into more danger."Kieran didn't try arguing with her. He slowly lifted his hand and touched her cheek. "Go on, then." He said. "Reject me. Look me in the eye and reject me, if that's what you really want. I'll accept
"Cordelia is dead."The words struck Gwendolyn in the heart. All eyes turned towards her, and she suddenly felt self-conscious underneath Kieran's shirt she had on. She looked around the pack, searching for the young maid who always cleaned Kieran's room. She couldn't find her. And she couldn't find Cae. Her heart started to pound faster as realization dawned on her. Kieran, on the other hand, didn't take the news kindly. "What do you mean dead?" He snapped. "She's dead, Alpha." Talon repeated. "Killed by your mate.""Gwen was with me all night. How dare you accuse her of murder?""The black fog." Thorak muttered. "When she shifted yesterday, the black fog affected Cordelia. This morning, we found her dead.""Cae told me she was okay." Kieran retorted. "How did she suddenly end up dead? The way I see it, you're all looking for a way to pin the blame on Gwendolyn. You all hate her. Just because I haven't addressed it doesn't mean I don't see it.""This is beyond hating her, Alph
Gwendolyn slowly opened her eyes the next morning. It was daylight already. She was curled up beside Kieran, warm and snug, his arm wrapped posessively around her waist. She smiled, remembering the steamy moment they shared last night. The memory brought a blush to her cheeks. Kieran had taken her over and over again. In the waterfall, beneath the blankets, in the forest. Everywhere possible. Then he had carried her with him as he flew over the tall mountains. And right there, surrounded by the forest and the full moon, he claimed her again. It had been magical. Suddenly her smile disappeared. She remembered Cae's words. Cae told her once Kieran claimed her, she would be bound to him forever. She would never be able to leave him. But did she want to leave Kieran? If everything went well and they found her mother, would she have the heart to reject him? She wasn't so sure anymore. Moving softly so she won't wake him, she slipped out of the bed. He was fast asleep, and he loo