Jim POV Resting my head on the bed, I couldn't get off the thoughts in my head. 'Won't I have to escape this vicinity? But if I do, won't they still find me?" That thought, I have it buried within me.I don't know what to do even in that bed of mine. Confused me have my head hanged within my sleeves with numerous thoughts dangling in my heart.I close my eyes while my thoughts wander off. 'Should I call Darius?" I asked myself again.I closed my eyes within my head and have my heart think things through. I need to make an urgent decision, but, now, it seems I am clouded.I am just buried on what decision to make at the moment. At a moment I have to stand from where I laid. I need to thinkโฆ really think things through.Banging my leg throughout the room, I just have to think. 'Okay, I think I know what to do,' now, I have come to a conclusion after rubbing my heart on different thoughts.'I will call Darius immediately,' picking up my phone I dialled his number right away.Waiting
Darius POV'What could be wrong? What actually happened?' That question is the only thing I could ask myself. I couldn't figure out the reason behind his sudden attack.'Does having a package to delivered link to โฆ.' he hasn't completed that thought when another thought had stormed his mind. Laying my hand in my head, I just couldn't picture things really well. Thank goodness I brought him to my domain, 'i guess its time I call my mole.'That thought have it's strong pull on my mind. I know calling a mole would be perfect, but I can't call her using my phone. I think the enemy is everywhere now.Now, I hate the fact that I lost my memories. That sense hold a lot of my pain in my heart. Closing my eyes like an infant, i kinda pause my thought for minute which is a bit tough.'Dariusโฆ you know what to do.' That voice came immediately I paused my thought.I know it's my wolf and I am kinda happy to hear his voice. 'Wait! I know what to do? What kind of wolf is this?' my mind continued
SHARED TRAUMA.RONNTwilight has never looked so inauspicious as it does now. The camp is quiet, the most quiet Iโve heard in years as I head for the one hut behind the plateau. Itโs all very absurd. That we would slink back in the face of those cursed wolves. We have the advantage. And it ought to be used. I skirt the slope of the tableland carefully, and when I circle to the other side, I find Gylen in front of the hut. He sits cross-legged on the grass next to Laen, Allos and Farden, a small fire between them, with meat roasting on a spit. I consider my options. Sure they wonโt buy my idea, at least if I donโt sell it properly. My second option, and the most agreeable, is to attack them. Take them out before they react, and then take the wolves. They could sniff me out on time, but the wind is in my favor; itโs blowing north, against me. I flex my fingers as I tense for action. Before I move though, Allos asks, โWhat is Ronn doing here?โ. I pause. Iโd certainly underestimated
TWILIGHT.CYRANItโs very disorienting, not to mention unusual and bad manners, the way they all stare at me. Argell and Caivan both have askant looks, Jenna, beside me, peers like sheโs seen me for the first time (or maybe she is, she had her eyes only for Saelyna when Veesa had introduced us), Veesa has worn that calculative frown, and SaelynaโฆWell, sheโs staring as well. I just wish theyโd all stop. Haron sits up; heโs the only one whoโs not been gaping, even though heโs opposite me; and he leans forward. โI suspect you havenโt had theseโฆvisions for a very long time. Otherwise, Saelyna here would have noticedโ, he says gently, holding me with feeble eyes. โUhโฆโ Iโm not comfortable talking about stuff like this, not here, not now. I have just come out of a trance, Iโm sure what I had said was horrible, maybe, but right now I just want to get out of this dark place. โAnd you see usโฆlosing. Againโ, Caivan says. I donโt reply him. Iโm still figuring out his deal. โJust another th
ATTACK ON ELDAD. RONNIt all happens in blinks; it moves like lightening, a flash of white fur and fangs, and its jaws clap down on Pedranโs shoulder. I hear a sickening crunch, followed by his scream. Someone yells a curse, Edril leaps at the wolf, two others leap into the circle, their eyes glowing like sapphires in the dark as they attack Allos and Farden.I donโt wait before letting my wolf out. Transformation hurts sometimes, but not when its swift, not when adrenaline takes over, when all I feel is the primal urge to attack. I flip the curtain in the back of my mind, letting go of all control.It's harder to rein the change this time, given itโs the full moon. The sight around me lowers inch by inch as my calf stretches, my night view grows brighter, and it becomes hard to think. When my fangs rip out of their gums completely, I act on impulse, and I donโt think at all. CAIVANThis was not what I had envisioned when I was on the road back from Qarax. Sure, there was bound to
LACERATIONSSAELYNAI donโt trust myself to speak. Iโm too jittery at the moment (actually Iโve been so for a very long while now, since the โmeetingโ had been called). It's Halden all over again. Itโs like a sickness, this fear, this haunting memory that follows me everywhere I go, that emerges like a pest at the first jolt. It hadnโt been there before, not until that night with the mages. Not until I was almost certain death was near. We reach the hospice and I lock the door with shaky hands as Cyran drops Caivan on a bed. I blink thrice to adjust my view in the darkness but Cyran is already ahead of me; he finds a jar of fireflies and shakes them awake. โWhereโs Haron?โ he asks, casting quick glances around the empty hall. I hadnโt noticed the old man slip away when we got to the hall. Neither had I noticed the pair of eyes peeking out at me from under the bed to my left. Blue eyes.โFuck!โ I curse aloud, and hold up my hands, ready to draw on the iden, ready to fire at will whe
ELVEN HEALERS.CYRANโWhy arenโt you doing the healing?โ I curse loudly, as I leap at the sound of Gylenโs voice. Or itโs his breath on my neck, I donโt know which. โWould you all stop doing that?โ He raises a brow. โDoing what?โ โSneaking up on people like that, itโs not healthyโ. He smirks. โSo youโre scaredโ. โWho wouldnโt be, winter wolves just attacked the villageโ. The habitual frown replaces his smile as he folds his arms. โYes, I suppose soโ. I follow his glance back to the bed in the middle of the hall, where Saelyna has her hands on Pedranโs shoulder. Blue light glows now and then when she moves, and the girls are in a sort of huddle around them. Save for Keilen, and the one called Charlin. They both sit opposite each other on the far side of the room, totally ignoring the other. Just then, the door bursts open and Veesa strolls in, the older wolvens following behind her. Her white hair streams behind her, soiled here and there with blood that Iโm sure isnโt her
HOWL IN THE NIGHT.CAIVANIโve never felt more grateful for the blast of cool air on my face when I step outside, though I might have to worry about the clouds gathering overhead. There is no wolf around, no immediate threat. So I head for the one place I might actually get more solitude.I donโt remain alone for long. Someone approaches, out of sight and as quiet as wolven can be. I donโt need to smell him to know itโs Gylen. A sight for sore eyes. He pauses at the mouth of the โcaveโ, squinting into the darkness. โIโm not a Leftyde wight, if thatโs what bothers youโ, I call out and he grins. โI suppose notโ, he says and climbs over a rock to get to where I sit in the corner, โI hope to hide out here awhile, if itโs okay with you. I canโt go on a bloody hunt with Argell tonightโ. He's bare, save for a knicker that looks like it came off anyone, and looks way too tight on him. Claw marks line his torso here and there, but I can tell theyโre already healing as he sits next to me, h
โWhat am I going to do?โ she silently mumbled to herself as she frantically tried to come up with a plan to avoid facing her own wrath. All of a sudden, she felt a firm grasp upon her arm, pulling her back behind the safety of a pillar near a nearby window, away from prying eyes. She felt relieved and surprised โ until she realized who exactly had grabbed her and whom she recognized.. Her heart sank slightly. Of course. Why wouldnโt it? It was Rachel. She had heard rumors that there was a consummated marriage between Darius and Rachel after her mating ritual to Darius. Apparently sheโd had no intention of marrying either of them, much less Darius, but Rachel had always loved Darius anyway. Now, it seemed like they were having problems reconciling their differences over Darius. That didnโt matter anymore though, she supposed. Rachel hadnโt shown herself to be happy or supportive during Dariusโ mating ritual, which was why sheโd refused to speak to him when sheโd returned
For the longest time, she hadnโt even thought about whether or not her feelings were reciprocated. To hear such heartfelt reassurances was definitely overwhelmingโฆbut what was she supposed to tell him? That she wasnโt interested in anyone right now, even though he was the one person she most desired to spend time with? How could she possibly confess something like that without sounding like she was lying to him? And yetโฆhow could she convince him otherwise? Couldnโt he tell she was just playing along? Hadnโt she been doing the exact same thing? Before she could respond, a knock came to her door, effectively cutting short their discussion. Both of them turned to find a servant standing outside her chamber door. โExcuse me Your Highness, but your chambers are ready,โ the servant informed her politely. โPlease follow me.โ Darius glanced in her direction briefly before nodding his consent. Once the servant had withdrawn, he released Rileyโs hand and made his way inside his room w
Dariusโs expression hardened once again, and he motioned towards the door. โGo to your chambers,โ he instructed, his voice distant. โWeโll talk more later. But for now, I suggest you start by apologizing to the guard at the door for your behavior.โ Feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension, Riley nodded and stood up, her legs feeling weak beneath her. She made her way towards the door, aware of the lingering gazes from the pack members around her. Whispers filled the air as she passed by, and she couldnโt help but feel the weight of their judgment. As Riley approached the guard at the door, she noticed the hesitance in his eyes. He seemed wary, as if unsure of how to react to her presence. She mustered up a small smile and spoke softly, trying to convey her sincerity. โIโm sorry for my actions,โ she said, her voice filled with remorse. โI didnโt mean to cause any trouble.โ The guardโs gaze softened slightly, but there was still a hint of caution. โJust donโt let it happen
Finding Clyde.Jason:Clarissaโs resilience was the strongest I had ever come across, to apologize for an offense she had it committed, to hold back her anger and pain as though she too did not need to be taken care of. She was in so much by the conversation concerning Clydeโs pack, It worse obvious that we were digging up old wounds that had clearly not healed. Maybe that was why she was distant from me, and ask why she channeled her pain into trying to build a family for the lost ones like her. She inspired me so much, and I felt her pains so much that I wanted to pull her into my arms and ease all the pain away with my warm embrace, but I knew I could not do that, so I just watched.Apart from the stories they told, I was also very concerned about the whereabouts of Clyde. Thereโs no how he would have survived the dungeon for that long alone, without food, water. We had brought back all the war prisoners with us and we were slowly planning to begin a plan for a bigger and better p
Darius blushed furiously, averting his gaze. โUh, yeah. Well, um,โ he stumbled and cleared his throat nervously. โYou see, I justโฆuh,โ he struggled to find words as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. โWhat I mean to say isโฆumโฆโ he muttered, glancing back up at her. His pale cheeks flushed even deeper red as his eyes met hers. โWell, um, Iโm justโฆhmmโฆI guess I like talking to you.โ His face grew impossibly more crimson as he spoke, his blush becoming nearly unbearable as he attempted to justify himself. Riley giggled, enjoying the way he floundered. โWell, Dai, how come you never spend time with me?โ I asked. โ Iโm busyโ he abruptly replied her. โBesides, why do you care anyway?โ Rileyโs eyes narrowed as she gazed sternly at him. โI know what kind of life you lead,โ she told him bluntly. โWeโre not really friends, are we? You never ask for my advice or my help. In fact, your attitude towards me has always been completely hostile.โ A frown m
She was no stranger to the hurt she felt after each rejection. Her heart ached as she realized that Darius didnโt feel the same. She smiled as she gazed at Dariusโs beautiful blue eyes, a smile so tender that Darius felt his heart tighten. โNo, it isnโt you.โ She thought with a bitter laugh. โHow could he possibly return my love if he cannot bear the burden of keeping secrets?โ She glanced away. โPerhaps I should just leave him and live out the rest of my life alone.โ Her voice cracked slightly, as though her resolve was crumbling. As tears brimmed in her eyes, she fought the urge to cry out, โIโve lost everything! Why should he care? What does he see in me? A sudden, sharp pain erupted in her chest, as if a dagger had pierced it. She gasped sharply as she doubled over in agony, clutching her injured heart. It felt as though someone had stabbed her repeatedly, rendering her unable to breathe or move. Pain shot through her entire torso, threatening to ri
โDarius, I have received some distressing news,โ the elder began, his voice laced with concern. โYour fatherโs sudden withdrawal has put our community in a precarious position. We have made commitments to Rachelโs family, and we cannot afford to break them.โ Dariusโs eyebrows furrowed in confusion. โWhat do you mean, commitments? I thought my marriage to Rachel was already arranged.โ The elder sighed, his gaze fixed on Darius. โYes, it was. But your fatherโs decision has created a complicated situation. We need to salvage the agreements and ensure the stability of our community. There is an alternative plan we have devised.โ Darius leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. โWhat is this alternative plan?โ The elderโs voice dropped to a hushed tone. โWe can arrange a consummated marriage for you with Rachel, in secret. This way, we fulfill our obligations to her family while maintaining the appearance of your marriage with Riley, as was originally planned.โ
She needed someone who would guide her. Someone who would help her. Her head snapped upright suddenly as a loud, deafening sound filled the air. The noise pierced her ears, making her wince. The sound continued to grow louder and louder, shaking her whole being, until it became impossible for her to hear anything else except for the terrible shrieking noise that was echoing around her and reverberating inside of her skull. Suddenly it stopped, leaving a painful emptiness in its wake, as she lay on her side, panting heavily. She opened her eyes wide and stared blankly into space, her hands covering her ears. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she struggled to breathe. She looked up, searching blindly for the source of the sounds; the sudden silence made her panic and she screamed for help. She waited for several minutes, trying to make sense of the events surrounding her, trying to grasp what was happening. Suddenly she realised that a door had creaked open somewh
She pressed a soft kiss against his lips. โMe too.โ She whispered. He turned his body so they were lying on their sides facing each other, mirroring each otherโs position. He gazed down at her with pure adoration in his deep brown eyes. โI love you,โ he whispered. She raised herself up on her elbow, reaching out and stroking his stubbly chin with her finger. โI love you, too.โ Their gaze locked into each other, feeling the same overwhelming emotion. They both leaned forward until their lips were only millimetres apart. Rachelโ eyes widened as he began to lean towards her, pressing their bodies together. Their lips met in slow motion as their tongues mingled together in an intense, sensual embrace. As their lips parted they remained connected as they savoured the moment, breathing heavily. He moved his arms underneath her bottom and picked her up, carrying her over to the bed and laying her down gently. She s