Amy
The full moon hangs high in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow through the window of my apartment. Elias and I stand together, the anticipation building as midnight approaches.
"I've always wondered if this is when you turn into a wolf," I say, half-jokingly, but there's something in my wrds that hints at a truth beneath the surface.
Elias chuckles, his eyes gleaming with understanding. "Not quite, but the urge is stronger around the full moon. Don't worry, though. I'm in control."
"I wouldn't be scared even if you did," I reply, reaching up to touch his cheek. "I trust you."
He leans in, capturing my lips in a tender kiss. "Good, because you might have to see me turn tonight if things go south with our plan."
"Even if things go well..." I admit, leaving the rest onspoken. We both know the risks of tonight's endeavour.
Elias nods, acknowledging the reality of our situation.
"Let's just hope thi
Elias I can feel my father's eyes still boring into my back as I wait for Damien to begin the ceremony, and it takes everything I have not to turn around and confront him right then and there. But I know this needs to be approached methodically. Instead, I concentrate on Damien as he begins the ritual. The pack are all doing the same now, anticipation hanging in the air. As Damian begins the true mate ceremony, his eyes meet mine with an almost imperceptible nod. It's a nod of approval and for a moment I feel sorry for what I'm about to do. "This is the completion of the ritual that has bound our clan for centuries," Damian announces, his gaze lingering on me for a moment, as if to drive the point home. "The five men who will partake in tonight's ritual have already offered their human sides to their future mates. Tonight, they will offer their wolf sides as well." I give him a look that I hope includes an apology as I follow Seth, Max, Adrian, and Sebastian toward the altar. My h
Amy I watch from afar as the crowd in front of me begins to react to the series of photos I just sent from Elias' phone. The shots of his father and the rival alpha are having just the effect Elias and I hoped. This isn't the scariest part though. I take a deep breath, my trembling fingers still clasped tight around Elias' phone. I take a step forward just outside the cover of trees and Elias and I exchange a quick glance. I might not be a part of this world, but I understand enough now to know this revelation could reshape the future of the Thorntree pack. Elias is the only one that's noticed me so far, as the rest of the wolves react to the incriminating images. But soon I feel a set of familiar steely eyes set on me. "You!" comes the growl from Elias' father. He takes a step toward me, but Elias blocks his path. By now, the whole pack is watching, their eyes darting between Elias, his father, and me. "Don't take another step," I hear Elias whisper to his dad before he turns an
EliasMy father snarls, the black and silver coat of his wolf standing up as he faces me with vioelnce in his eyes. It's not the first time I've seen my father turn against a family member -- this sort of display was rife throughout my childhood. But it's the first time he's turned on me."Dad, what are you doing?" I ask, but it's more a warning than a question.Even through mindlink though, he remains silent, the only answer is the growl that emanates from the back of his throat.I can feel my own wolf beginning to rise in me, the instincive need to protect myself, my pack, and my mate. And there's something else in me. A lifelong anger, a resentment against the man who raised me at the same time as trying to break me. This has been a long time coming."You think you can scare me?" I ask, taking a step forward to shield Amy from the wolf that is my father."It's too late dad. It's over."Again, my father doesn't respond with words, but his growl reaches a higher pitch, a sound I know
AmyI pull away from the warm hands that have kept me safe so far - Elias' mother gripping my hand on one side, Damian clasping my shoulder protectively on the other.I know it's probably a terrible idea but the moment I heard Elias' father's voice ringing in my head, it was like something propelled me forward and the next thing I knew I was hurtling through the clearing toward the pair of wolves before me.My hands connect roughly with the black and silver fur of Elias' father and although his enormous lycan frame dwarfs me, I'm somehow not afraid. That is, until he spins around and I see his teeth shine blue-white in the moonlight.He's still got Elias pinned down, but I see a cruel smile spread over his snout as he looks at me."You're dumber than I thought," he snarls, but the words don't come from his mouth. Instead, I hear them hard and sharp in my own thoughts, like an unwelcome intrusion."And you're uglier," I quip back.At this I hear a gasp from the crowd, and it takes me a
Elias "Okay, okay," I say, laughing as Amy pulls me by the hand. We've been talking about her art show for weeks and now that the day has finally come, she's like an excited little girl. "Come on!" she jokes, but I'm just as excited as she is to see the culmination of her semester's work displayed in a real gallery. Just before we go in, I stop her, pulling her toward me. "I just want you to know how proud of you I am," I tell her, tucking a stray lock of auburn hair behind her ear. "You haven't even seen the exhibition yet," she replies, a grin spreading across her face. "I already know it's going to be amazing. That much is obvious," I reply with a grin. She smiles, and then, on impulse, I bend down and swoop her up, my hands catching her under her knees and her shoulders. "Elias!" she squeals as I carry her inside, much to her surprise and delight. The moment I step into the gallery t
PART 2: Damian, Sophie, and DesireeDamianThe gallery hums with the murmur of conversations, but the only thing I hear is Sophie's lilting voice as we fall deeper and deeper into conversation. There's an inexplicable connection, a magnetic pull that draws me toward her that, try as I might, I can't escape."You've got a lovely laugh," I say before I even think about how my words must sound.It's the kind of thing I would have said to Desiree when we were first mated and which, admittedly, I still do tell her all the time. But in the seven years we've been mated, I've never felt drawn to flirt so openly with another woman. It's both exciting and terrifying, especially since I can't seem to stop myself.In the back of my mind, I'm urging tmyself to just walk away. But who could walk away from a woman like this? Her bright blue eyes practically sparkle, while her blonde hair, brushing her cheeks and shoulders, is like spun gold. The freckles across her nose hint at the mischief I can al
Desiree The gallery is already bustling by the time I arrive, plenty of familiar faces greeting me as I make my way into the space. There are so many people there it takes me a while to spot Damian, but when I finally do, I pause. He's chatting animatedly with a young blonde woman I don't know and as I watch them, I'm struck by something all too familiar. The half-cocked smile, the sparkle in his dark eyes, the way he leans in a little too close... I'd know that stance anywhere, not least of all because it's usually directed at me. But as I observe him interact with the gorgeous woman in front of him, an unexpected thrill courses through me. Surprising even myself, I find a certain excitement in watching them flirt. The notion takes me aback momentarily. There's an undeniable curiosity sparked by watching the two of them and as I observe their easy rapport, a part of me wonders about the uncharted territories of my desires. The traditional mating rituals of the Thorntree pack means
Sophie I'm supposed to be writing an essay on light theory for my Photography In Practice class, but instead of flying across my keyboard, by fingers are employed in twirling a strand of hair. It's a habit I've had all my life - one that I can't seem to shake, even though I know it makes me look ditsy.Here in the library though, it's only Amy beside me, and she knows me well enough to get that that's not the case at all. Still, if I keep daydreaming like this, I might very well end up at the bottom of our class. I pull my finger away from the now-curled blond lock at my shoulder, and try my best to buckle down. But no matter how hard I try to concentrate, my mind keeps wandering back to him, to Damian.I have to hold myself back from giggling out loud when I think of our connection. There was something electric there, I could feel it, and even though he didn't ask for my number, I have a feeling I'll be hearing from him. At least, I hope I will. He could find me through Amy easily