~ Nikolai ~War!During my father's lifetime, war was a common thing.Clashes between different packs and factions tore at our pack time and time again.Our kind were hot-headed and extremely prideful. Those weren't great combinations when it came to co-existing peacefully.But ever since I took over the pack, the number of wars we fought have drastically reduced.In fact, we hardly interacted with other packs and factions at all.The pack was as self-sufficient as they come and I loved it like that.But even then I'd always known this day would come.This problem had been brewing long before my father even died. When one day, a young man suddenly showed up on our doorstep, claiming to be a Reese, I knew immediately that one day I would have to fight to protect my birthright and my people.Well, that day was today and he had the perfect ace in his hands, my mate.I couldn't afford to get distracted or I would mess things up and she'd end up dead.We had to move with precision. Thank
~ Bella ~The door crashed open.I whirled towards it. Nikolai! His familiar face filled the doorway.My heart soared with happiness. I jumped up and started to take a step towards him.I stopped immediately and took a step back. No! That wasn't Nikolai.These were the cold, dark eyes from earlier. It was Nicholas.He stormed towards me and grabbed me by the forearm."Shut the fuck up!" he snapped.I winced as the part of my arm where he was holding flushed with pain.That meant he'd heard me singing. Maybe Nikolai would have heard too?"You're coming with me," he snarled and dragged me out.We circled to the back of the barn room he'd put me in. He began to drag me towards the woods.Fear gripped me as we got closer and closer to the dark woods.Oh, gods. I'd just been raising my hopes that Nikolai would find me thanks to the singing.Would he be able to find me in the woods? What did Nicholas plan to do to me in the woods?"You don't have to do this," I said, my voice shaking slight
~ Bella ~At Nikolai's words, Nicholas whirled around, dragging me with him.My eyes widened in shock to see a fox, an actual full grown red fox, flying through the air towards us.This wasn't a normal kind of fox. It was huge! Just as big as me.It's teeth were barred and claws outstretched towards us.I screamed in fear at the frightening sight. I tried to duck down but I couldn't because of Nicholas' ironclad hold on my neck.My life flashed before my eyes for the umpteenth time.But the fox jumped clear over my head, grabbed the back of Nichola's shirt in it's teeth and dragged me away from me.In the next breath, there was a ripping sound and Nicholas transformed into a wolf too. His wolf was even bigger than the one that first attacked.Alone for the first time in hours, I was suddenly a loss as to what to do with myself.For a second, I stupidly stood blinking at the wolves.But teeth were snapping just a few feet in front of me. One snap came too close to taking my arm off.I
~ Bella ~"In the case of the Shelbys and Hamilton against the Deca General Hospital, this is the order of this court: that the defendants be liable to pay the sum of $1 million dollars to the plaintiffs for the emotional distress, mental torture and general irresponsibility they displayed in handling this matter! "Thank you, your Honor!" I said, beaming. I turned to my Dylan and gave him a hug. I hugged his wife next."Thank you! Thank you!" she whispered in my ears repeatedly.It'd been a long battle that had spanned over the last three months.The hospital put up a good fight but in the end, we managed to prove that not only were they negligent, but that they also tried to cover it up.The result? Dylan and his wife and the Hamilton's were richer had their rightful babies and were each now half a million dollars richer."Make sure you use that money to take good care of your girl," I said."You can bet we will!" Dylan cried.I waved goodbye to them and packed up my belongings.I m
~Bella~I slipped into the courtroom as the judge was coming in through his side door. Everyone was standing to recieve him. Good! I used that opportunity to slither down to the front and take my place without him noticing.I made it to my seat safely. My co-counsel raised his brow at me. I smiled apologetically and shook my head. He gave me a look that said we'd talk about it later.The judge sat. The whole room bowed and sat too then the judge began the proceedings. As customary, we were asked to introduce ourselves. When it came to my side's turn, my partner stood first, "Parker Smith, counsel for the prosecution," he announced in a clear, bold voice.His voice alone sent a tingle down my spine. I blushed. When would I ever get used to this?It was my turn so I stood too. "Bella Smith, co-counsel for the prosecution." After a few words from the judge, the opposing team stood and gave their opinion statement. Next, Parker stepped out to the front of the courtroom, cleared his
~Bella~The stranger continued to stare at me. It was the most disconcerting thing ever!He held my gaze squarely even when I caught him staring. He didn't seem to care!His eyes were like bottomless pits, black as Ravens. It sucked me in. It trapped me. It consumed me.I stared blankly like a prey hypnotized by the predator!That was it! That was exactly it! I was trapped in his eyes.I could almost swear I saw his eyes suddenly glow. But I blinked and it was gone. I must have imagined it.I shifted uncomfortably but somehow, for some reason, I felt a delicious shiver of fear and anticipation.My body actually shivered in response. What was happening to me! There was another man next to him watching me just as intently but I didn't get the same feeling from him looking at me.I looked back to the first man. He tilted his head slightly towards me and I heard him clearly say, "Carry on."I jumped. It felt like the words had been spoken directly into my ears, clear and audible. How wa
~Bella~He left? Just like that!The stranger who was staring at me as if he would consume was just gone like that!I felt a sharp feeling of pain as if a part of me had been cut off. It was a feeling of disappointment.I shook my head. 'Silly girl! Why is it any of your business that he left!'Of course, he would leave. He had no reason to stay. What would Parker think if he knew I was thinking such useless thoughts.It was good that the man was gone. Our encounter was too unnerving. Hopefully, we'd never see each other again."What's wrong? What are you staring so intently at?" Parker asked, following my gaze to the empty spot where my mystery man had been sitting. "There's nothing there."I jolted out of my reverie. "Oh, no. Sorry, it's nothing. I just... I remembered something, that's all. Let's go?" He nodded, giving me a worried look. I gave him a reassuring smile and tugged on his hand. "Come on. Let's go." I pulled him away but just before we went out the door, I couldn't h
~Nikolai~I was silent the entire ride home. Fuming...I was fuming!I finally found my mate but she was a married woman! A married woman! Of all the...! Blast that moon goddess! Her sense of humor was truly horrible. It wasn't enough that she kept me from finding my mate for so many years! Now my mate was married to another man.The thought made my jaw clenched tightly. My wolf surged to the surface, making my eyes glow. I needed to calm down. If I lost control, my wolf, Karl, would tear the car apart, race off to find her, snatch her and carry her away with me.I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, taking a deep breath. The heat dissipated from my eyes. My breathing became normal again.We pulled up to the giant gate that marked the start of my estate. An iron raven with glittering red rubies for eyes sat on top of it, the symbol of my park. At the sound of my car, several children came rushing out of the different homes to wave excitedly at my car.I rolled down the window