"Aah, I'm drowning!"
I sat up straight and wiped the dripping water off my face before noticing my glaring mother at the foot of my bed with her favourite signature "wake up Annabelle" red jar. I groaned and internally gagged at the after-smell of alcohol in my mouth and the way I literally smelled like a liquor shop. I looked over at my mother who looked more angry than usual when she woke me up in the morning.
"Drowning won't be the only thing you're doing if don't get out of bed and help with the chores." She yelled at me with a scrutinizing look that always managed to make me feel guilty but I get over it quickly since we always did this every morning.
"I wouldn't be going back to sleep when my Sheets are now wet," I replied and ungracefully got out of bed.
"God, get your bathroom to use." My mother ordered and pointed at the door to the bathroom. She scrunched her nose and glared at me.
I shrugged and walked to the room right after my mother uttered her last words before exiting my room. "You really have to find your mate soon."
I turned on the water and calmly waited for the bathtub to fill up, I would normally get in because I easily got impatient but right now my mind was flooding with different thoughts. My mate is really taking his precious time especially since most of the werewolves around my age have found their mates. Being twenty-one and mateless is really not so wonderful especially since most of the males in my age range have probably found their mates and most of them stay away from any girl who is not their mate so it is very hard to get laid around here unless you call Lucas the Jerk.
I sighed when the bathtub was finally filled and stripped from my clothes that were covered with the horrid stench of alcohol and sweat. I got in and shuddered when my skin made contact with the cold water; I took hold of my shampoo and washed my hair before grabbing the pomegranate-scented soap and washing the horrible scent off of me. I finally stepped out of the bath when I was done and wrapped the huge white towel around my body and walked to the little sink to brush my teeth. I took the last spit and was about to walk out of the bathroom when my mother's voice rang through the walls and pierced my ears.
"I swear if you don't get out of there Anna, I am going to open the door!" she screamed.
I rolled my eyes, her threat only motivated me to stay in the bathroom longer and take my time but I am not a daredevil and would rather not have her screaming in my ears so early in the morning and give her another chance to add something to Annabelle's list of mistakes actually a book by now. I opened the door and walked out of the bathroom and gave my mother a look that would decipher between, "did you have to terrorize my room" and "I was already done when you decided to knock my eardrums dead".
She scanned me from head to toe and shook her head. "Wear something presentable, Alpha Colton is downstairs." She informed me and walked out of the room.
Unlike Lucas, I had great immense respect for his father because he was respectable and upright totally controversial to his son. The man always had this smile that also made me smile when I saw him and he just had something about him that made me see fuzzy bunnies.
I quickly wore a teal knee-length dress and wore my black flats before running a brush through my hair and going downstairs. There were silent muffled voices as I stepped down the stairs coming from the living room and thanks to my hearing I could sure as hell hear each word. I stepped down on the last stair and smiled when I saw Alpha Colton seated on one of the seats. I went over and greeted him before giving my father a lopsided smile and he smiled back.
My father and I always understand each other when it comes to mother, when mother did something to me I would always complain to my father and then we would badmouth her over some ice cream and hide the can so that she would not find out; ah, those wonderful father-daughter moments at the expense of your mother.
"Ah, you get taller and prettier each time I see you." Alpha Colton commented and I could not help but smile and blush a little; curse me and my inability to take a compliment without looking ripe.
"That's probably because she's finishing all the food in my house." My father commented and I glared at him before retracting my glare because of my mother's glare.
Alpha Colton chuckled. "Haven't you found your mate yet, Anna?" he asked and I shook my head. "Well that's a pity and I would have really loved it if you were my son's mate." He added and I almost spit out the water I had just drunk.
The entire thought of even having Lucas close to me grossed me out but luckily his father did not know that. I smiled at him and joined my mother who was now in the kitchen.
"I'm going over to the Kamden's," I informed my mother and grabbed a strip of bacon on one of the plates which earned me a scolding look from my mother.
"Is Vera's mother still as bitter?" she asked even though she knew the answer.
It was not just a father and daughter ride in the house; believe it or not my mother and I also had something in common which was despising the Kamdens except their daughter of course because she was sweet and a wonderful melon to be around. Mrs Kamden could definitely qualify for the most hayed Kamden because she was very boastful and thought she was better than most of the people around her.
"That woman won't grow sweet even if a full truck of candy fell on her," I replied.
My mother shook her head and smiled. We both walked back into the living room and found Alpha Colton about to leave.
"Thank you, Maxwell." Alpha Colton said and shook hands with my father. "I have to visit a few more families and you know the rest of the alpha duties." They both chuckled and I shook my head. I did not get what was funny, he literally said he has duties and how is that supposed to be funny?
"It was wonderful having you, Alpha." My mother voiced out with a smile and he smiled back.
"And it's always wonderful to give your family a visit." He replied.
I was standing awkwardly in the middle of the room as they exchanged polite replies until the last part of their goodbyes caught my ear.
"He's a very persistent man and please do make it for your own good." Alpha Colton said and walked out of the door.
Who is the persistent man and why did his statement seem more of a threat or a warning? It could not be Lucas since he is more of a joke and a jerk than a persistent man that would carry out a threat and sure as hell could not be any of the elders of the pack of the Alpha himself. Our pack was known as one of the most peaceful packs in the east and I do not have any idea of a person who would carry out a threat in our pack.
I looked at both my parents with a "what was that about" look and they both looked at each other and they were probably sharing a conversation through their bond sadly I could not join in since they were mates so I kept on staring at them and what looked like they were having a heated conversation on what to do.
"Are you guys done yet?" I asked when I got tired of waiting and being ignored.
They both turned to me with half-smiles. "The Alpha came to invite us to an event that the pack is holding." My dad said but I knew that was not all of it. "Every werewolf in this pack is expected to be there." He added.
My mother just had to comment, "So no sneaking out for parties."
I rolled my eyes and looked at my father and told him to go on. "Most of the Alpha's from neighbouring packs are gonna be there." He said.
I still did not get the whole essence of holding this event. Was it some sort of peace treaty and if so why would the whole pack have to endure a ton of alphas in one place trying to show who is the most dominant?
"Why are they even holding this "event"?" I asked.
"Alpha business probably and all those treaties." My mother replied quickly and I narrowed my eyes at why her voice seemed panicked.
"Then who is "HE"?" I asked and put on a large and husky voice.
My mother and father shared a look before turning to me. "Alpha Jaxon Ryker."
Cue one of those horrible thunder noises in movies when something horrifying is mentioned because I just wet my purple undies.
EPILOGUEAnabelle had Jaxon's arm around her, it was the comfort that she needed at that moment. His scent was what she needed more than anything. Everything around her was dull and dark just like the clothes that she was wearing including the weather. Jaxon tightened his hold around her waist and looked down at her because he could feel every emotion that she was feeling. She looked at the graves of the fallen members and guilt and pain swallowed her. How did the loved ones of all these people feel? "It's okay, my love" Jaxon whispered to her and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him and gave him a sad smile before walking away and going towards Adam's grave. She could not believe that he was gone just like that. He was so young and had not even experienced the joy of having a mate but Anabelle was glad that he had not found his mate because if he had they would have been disappointed and in pain over losing their mate. She remembered how hurt Micah looked and she wished
EIGHTYTAYLOR'S POVIt was like the sky knew of our loss, it was completely dark and the rain was heavily pouring down and hitting the roof. I could hear the strong wind blowing on the leaves of the plants as I looked outside through the window of my and Danielle's room. The turmoil in all our hearts was almost the same as the gloomy weather that swept everything away. I looked down at my fingers and curled them up, trying to keep warm. If only things had turned out differently. My heart clenched with every memory that rang through my head. Her laugh, and those shiny green eyes, haunted my dreams every time...when I slept and when I was awake. Every thought of mine always trailed back to her. Whenever I cooked something I thought about what she would think about it. When I said something I wondered if she would agree with my words. If she were here with me, would she wake me up and tell me that I was having a horrible nightmare because it sure felt like one?The rain poured and swept
SEVENTY-NINEAnabelle could not comprehend what she was looking at. Bodies were lying everywhere, it was a terrible massacre. She could tell that Amaris was no longer holding back and was indeed doing what she promised to do, to wipe off werewolves. The smell of blood was heavy in the air and the number of bodies only seemed to increase as they drove to the pack house. Amaris had attacked the pack's centre and killed anyone she spotted. Guilt ate at Anabelle as she looked at the cadavers of people that were once so alive. 'Ana, where are you? I've tried to evacuate as many people from the pack house as I can but Amaris is killing the warriors that are trying to hold her off like they are mosquitoes.' 'We are almost there,'Cora's words haunted her mind, Amaris was on a killing spree and she would not stop until she killed the last werewolf. Her leg started moving and she constantly chewed on her bottom lip as they drew closer to the pack house. Anabelle gasped when the house came in
SEVENTY-EIGHT"We lost three men, and if we include the library caretaker, Mr Cray...then we have lost four pack members." Alec gave the report to Jaxon and sank back into his seat. "We were able to retrieve the bodies of the warriors, they were horribly scorched because of the fire but hopefully we can give them proper burials.""And the witch, Mr Cray's sister?" Anabelle asked."Well, that is none of our concern. She was banished from the pack for practising dark magic and we are not responsible for her as a pack, we have certain customs to follow as a pack." Alec replied and shrugged at the end.Anabelle wanted to argue with that decision, surely the woman deserved a proper burial too. Despite being a witch she had also been killed by the person that killed the men of Blazepelt. Anabelle wanted to speak out on what she thought but Jaxon held her hand and when she turned to look at him he shook his head. She understood from the look in his eyes that she should not argue, his eyes pl
SEVENTY-SEVEN"Are they actually having sex?" Adam whispered horribly next to Danielle's ear. Danielle turned to look at him and hit his arm."What do you want them to do? It's a man and a woman in the same room and they are mates by the way." Taylor looked up at Adam from the pan. "This day has been quite eventful and despite the time no one knows how long it is going to be night," she added and continued stirring the food that she was preparing. With the Alpha and the Luna in the pack house, she had to include them too in the meal plans, not to forget she had hungry warriors waiting to be fed. "They've been going at it for quite some time now," Adam commented and looked up at the stairs. "You will not be able to get enough of your mate when you find her and then maybe you will understand." Micah joined in the conversation and took out a seat around the kitchen counter. He was finally in clean clothes and had washed off what had happened earlier. "Thank you," Taylor smiled up at M
SEVENTY-SIXAnabelle was crying hysterically and kept on shaking Jaxon's body to get a response from him. Even a twitch of his fingers would have been enough for her. The temperature was getting higher as more trees caught the fire that Amaris had started and the fire circled around them. She could see the others trying to fight against the flames, trying to find a way to get everyone out safely. Two men had come to her and told her that they hard to get out of the place, they wanted to carry Jaxon but she could not let go of his body. She kept crying and wailing because she felt empty without him, if this was how Jaxon had felt when she was unconscious then he was strong. She already felt like she could not live anymore but he had dealt with her going into and out of unconsciousness. She pulled him closer to her and hugged him to her body, his head on her chest. She could hear the beating of his heart but she was so worried because Amaris had cast a spell on him. What if she had don