The unexpected ambush from my old pack didn’t sit well with Hycinth and the rest of the Gypsies. We decided to move again and this time, we sailed across the ocean to a territory not too far from the Highlands.It felt weird to be close to the place where I spent four years of my life as a slave. However, I was more than happy to be far away from Apex Woods where Darius and Damian couldn’t reach me anymore.Lola continued to get cheeky with me, talking in riddles and carrying on like the queen of the pack. Eventually, I was free from her disturbance when she fell sick and was confined to her tent for days.One evening, her parents came to our tent to speak with Hycinth regarding her health.“The pack physician has finally figured out what is wrong with Lola,” her father said. He was an elderly Beta who was well-respected in the pack for his wisdom.“She is about three months into the pregnancy,” her mother said. “We thought you should know.”“Why?” I asked curiously. “Do the rest of t
We reached the south the next day and docked at a small village. By then, I was very hungry and tired.This place was like a hub where different packs mingled and traded with each other.I had no money or any other valuable item on me to trade with anymore, so I had to swallow my pride and offer myself to a random rich stranger. I gave him head in exchange for ten silver coins.I bought some food and a bottle of strong wine with some of the money. When I was satisfied and full of energy again, I began my journey into the woods.It felt so freeing to be without a mate. I didn’t have to answer to anyone or be pressured to produce an heir. I could finally start my life over and live on my own terms.I walked through the woods all day until evening, but I never ran into the Lycan. I became worried. Where would I sleep tonight?Could I sleep in the open like some wild animal? What if someone sneaked up on me and attacked me in my sleep?I kept walking and then I began to hear the sound of
Living with Sasha was an exciting experience but as the days progressed, I became bored. I was tired of our daily routine; sex, food, sex, sleep, and more sex.I needed new exciting experiences and I thought about the Lycan a lot. Perhaps it was time for me to go out and search for him again.I also wondered if my former mates including Hycinth were searching for me too. I didn’t feel guilty about abandoning the Gypsy Pack but I sometimes wonder if I should have at least left a message behind to let them know that I was ok.As weeks slowly turned into months, Sasha began to notice my restlessness. I couldn’t tell her that I wanted to leave because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.“What is it?” She asked me one evening as we sat on the cabin porch, listening to the crickets and birds chirping.“What do you mean?” I asked, pretending not to understand her question.“You know I won’t stop you if you want to leave,” she said softly.I was sad because I could already hear the loneliness
I knew this showdown between these angry werewolves wouldn’t end well and I didn’t want to be held responsible for the outcome.Although I admired the Lycan for stepping in for me and trying to protect me, I didn’t want him to lose his life on my account.In the same way, I didn’t want Dominic to die either. I wanted him to return home safely to his brothers who probably thought he was dead.“Please, don’t do this,” I begged him.“What are you afraid that I will kill your boyfriend?”“He’s not my boyfriend and I don’t think you can kill him. Have you forgotten what he did to you the last time?”“How can I forget? That’s why we are here now, isn’t it?”He jumped at the Lycan, scratching and biting the tall werewolf in the face. In response, the Lycan dug his long sharp claws into Dominic’s back, tearing his skin. Blood oozed out of the wound and Dominic fought back.They landed on the ground eventually, rolling on grass and dirt. The Lycan punched Dominic mercilessly and he retaliated
“Wait, what’s going on here?” I asked Hazim. “Do you two know each other?”He sighed. “Yeah. Briefly.”“When?”“I need to sit down. My legs still hurt.”I helped him sit on the porch and then went back to knock on the cabin door to get Sasha’s attention.“Go away!” She yelled from inside.“Please, Sasha. He needs help. He saved my life again in the woods.”“Leave her alone,” he said. “I’ll be fine eventually.”“I’m not going to let you bleed to death out here,” I said to him. “What did you do to her anyway?”“I broke her heart,” he said and groaned in pain.“You wish you did,” said Sasha from inside.“You two were together before?” I asked.The cabin door swung open and Sasha came out. “This fool was the first person I ran into when I fled the Highlands. He got me a room in a village inn and paid for my food and care. We started to hang out and then we were practically living together.“We had plans of getting jobs and a proper house to live in. Everything seemed fine until he took of
“Hey, wake up.”My eyes fluttered open. I blinked but I saw nothing. Then suddenly, light!“Ouch!” I groaned and closed my eyes again.“I’m glad you finally woke up,” said the elderly man holding a lantern close to my face. “I was almost about to toss you back into the river.”I knew he didn’t mean that because I could hear the smile in his voice. I was on a boat and I was soaking wet. When I shivered from the cold, he grabbed a smelly wool blanket and covered me with it.He was probably expecting me to thank him for rescuing me from the river but I didn’t feel grateful. I was angry. Very angry.“Why did you bring me out of the river?” I asked him testily.The old man grinned. “And here I was, thinking I had done a good deed today.”He held the edge of his raggedy wool cap and said, “I apologize, my lady. I thought I was helping you.”“No, you weren’t,” I snapped at him. “I wanted to die. I don’t want to be in this world anymore. I have never been lucky and I can’t even be allowed to
“No!” Albert screamed. He jumped on my back and dragged me off Lattie.“What are you doing?” He shouted at me. He looked terrified and his fear melted my anger away.All Albert had ever done since he met me was be nice and friendly. Why was I paying back his kindness with such savage behaviour? The least I could do was control my temper and address the situation like a sane person.“I am sorry,” I apologized to him.“I knew bringing a stranger home was risky, but I didn’t expect this kind of extreme behaviour,” he said.I felt as if I was been scolded by my father and I was remorseful. Seeing Lattie again and remembering how she betrayed me in the Highlands unleashed a side of me that I wasn’t proud of.“It was not my intention to offend you,” I said to him. “I’ll leave now.”“Where would you go?” Lattie asked as Albert helped her back on her feet.“Don’t talk to me,” I replied to her and opened the door.I had to get out of the cottage quickly or else I might be tempted to pounce on
With Albert’s help, I got a ride from the village to the Highlands port for free. Lattie had gone out of her way to resize a few of her dresses for me. Then, at her husband’s insistence, she trimmed my hair and dyed it a bold strawberry blond colour.“You look stunning!” Albert had gushed when she was done with my makeover.“The red hair brings out the brightness in your green eyes,” she’d said.“I don’t want to draw anyone’s attention, Lattie,” I had complained. “I want to blend into the crowd.”“You were not created to blend in, Jade,” said Albert. “You were made to stand out.”I chuckled at his words. “How would you know?”“I just do,” he had said, grinning like a proud father.“Will come back this way and visit us again?” Lattie had asked hopefully.Sometime in the course of the night, I had buried my hatchet with her and decided to let bygone be bygone. Staying angry with her won’t bring Domarius back to life, so it was pointless.“Maybe,” I said. “But don’t hold your breath.”No