VioletPhoenix’s eyes flicker around as if he’s trying to figure out where we are and if he’s ever been here before. His eyes meet mine and he asks, “Where are we?”I can’t risk giving away our location. He can’t know about Cora, not yet. I answer simply, “Somewhere safe.”He snorts in response and says, “Thanks Sherlock.”The corner of my lip tugs up into a smirk. I like being around Phoenix, we always have good banter. I open my mouth to say something until I hear the crunch of leaves. I turn and see Magnolia stalking toward us. She now wears a simple sundress and she carries clothes in her hands. There’s a small pout on her face and she tosses a pair of shorts to Phoenix and hands me a giant shirt and she glances back at Phoenix as she questions, “I assume this is your mate.”There’s hatred burning in her eyes and I know she is not at all pleased with this turn of events. I’m sure she never expected that my mate would be Xavier Black’s son. I never expected it either.My eyes wide
VioletPhoenix stares at me for a long time after I told him that he is not his curse. It’s true, he’s not, he’s so much more than that, but he can’t see it. All he can see is the destruction he’s capable of if he allows his temper to go too far.I stare back into his hazel eyes, focusing on the bright green circle around the pupil. He clears his throat, his eyes breaking away from mine before they roam down my body. His eyes flicker back to mine and I can feel heat rushing to my cheeks after seeing the way he looks at me with such longing, such… lust. Then, he breaks the ice by asking, “Was that a tattoo I saw on your hip?”My cheeks turn a deeper red, knowing how intimately he saw me. I slowly nod my head and say, “Yeah, it was.”His head tilts to the side, his eyes looking at my hip that’s now covered by a black t-shirt. He asks, “Does it mean anything? All I really saw was a glimpse of black.”It feels like there’s cotton in my mouth and I don’t know how to tell him what it is he
VioletIt takes me an hour to get back to Cora’s house. At some point I thought Phoenix would chase after me. I try to ignore the pain in my heart knowing that he didn’t try harder for me. Knowing that his feelings don’t run as deep as mine do.Stupid mate bond. Selene whimpers from my thoughts but I don’t care. There was a time… before I turned 18 that I thought maybe once Xavier was dead then I would be able to find my mate and live a happy life.But knowing now who my mate is… it’s a lost cause.That thought alone is enough to make me want to fall to my knees and weep. Weep over the life I will not be able to have.But, I pushed through, forcing myself to keep heading back to Cora’s home.I hoped that the walk would help me feel better, but it doesn’t. I feel guilty for not going back to Phoenix whenever he had called for me. But… if he had cared enough then he would’ve followed, wouldn’t he?And he didn’t.With a heavy sigh, I walk inside, everything is dark and I assume everyone
VioletThe next morning comes way too fast. I’m dreading being around Magnolia after last night. Guilt still resides inside me and it’s so heavy that it makes me feel nauseous.I took things too far, that was my fault, but she was ignoring me and pushing both me and my wolf. I needed her to stop and… I regret it.I walk out of my room to the dining room and the moment my eyes meet Magnolia I can feel the tension in the room. She stares at me for a moment before putting her dishes in the sink and walking out the door without saying anything. Cora looks up at me with confusion shining in her eyes and Charlie asks, “What just happened?”Cora murmurs, “I’m wondering the same thing.”I breathe out through my nose as I walk over and scoop myself some oatmeal and pour myself a cup of tea. Cora’s questioning voice says my name, “Violet?”I turn back to her and she asks, “What’s going on?”My eyes flicker between her and Charlie and I shake my head and say, “It’s nothing, really. We got into
VioletIt’s going to take me hours to get to Phoenix tonight.After mine and Magnolia’s fight and make up, Cora let us back inside. There we ate and talked and laughed with Cora and Charlie. Charlie suggested we watch a movie. Magnolia met my eyes and told him she was happy to but she thought that I had something else to do.She’s not wrong. It’ll take me a couple hours to get to Phoenix, maybe longer just because I’m dreading seeing him after last night.So, I leave and shift into my wolf, carrying a dress with me as I run out to find Phoenix.He’s closer than he normally is. He knew what direction I was in so he tried to set up camp closer. He’s an hour closer to me than he should’ve been.I appreciate the effort, but it makes me feel nauseous. I’m sure he can smell my scent by now so I can’t postpone seeing him.I shift and throw on my dress before walking through the bushes and seeing him. He sits by the fire and his head lifts up to look at me. His hazel eyes practically glowing
MagnoliaOnce Violet left us to go see her mate, Charlie, Cora, and I watched a movie. Once it was done, Charlie was looking at playing a video game or watching another movie and Cora went to the kitchen. I follow her, taking advantage of this rare moment I have that I can talk to her alone.She’s washing dishes and I stand beside her drying them. My eyes flicker up to the clock, Violet’s been gone for almost three hours. I wonder how long she’ll be out for. I ask Cora, “What do you think of this whole thing with Violet and Phoenix?”Cora shakes her head softly and responds, “Personally, I don’t think it’s a good idea to question the moon goddess. She must’ve made them be destined for some reason. We might not understand it or agree with it, but that’s what she ordained.”The thought of the moon goddess makes my stomach churn with frustration. Cora seems to pick up on my frustration and asks, “What are you feeling, dearie?”She stops what she’s doing and turns to me, concern in her ey
VioletThe next morning both Magnolia and Charlie look tired. He’s now giving her the silent treatment, angry that she would even consider not taking the Female Alpha position. I understand why he’s mad, but it’s making things difficult.Surprisingly, Cora didn’t make them fight it out. After Magnolia and Charlie went their separate ways after lunch I asked her why and she told me, “The issues you and Magnolia were having were personal and needed to be worked through together. Magnolia and Charlie aren’t having those issues. He’s not going to understand her thoughts and she needs to be able to decide for herself whether or not to take the Alpha position. Even if it hurts his feelings, she needs to do what’s best for her.”I nod in understanding and tell her, “I’m going to have them come with me to meet Phoenix tonight.”She looks at me skeptically and I say, “We need to make a bond if this is going to work. Charlie and Magnolia both need to trust him at least a little bit.”“Good luck
MagnoliaI hate to admit the fact that I liked Phoenix’s answer. He seems genuine, he seems… kind behind that mysterious mask he likes to hide behind. Even my wolf, Ada, murmurs her agreement with me.There’s more to Ada than what the eye sees. I know everyone will think of her as a giant monstrosity that is powerful and capable of barreling through in battle. And she is capable, she’s well aware of it. I can feel the power within her, the pride that she has knowing what she can accomplish if she wanted to.But I believe she also has an intuition on who we can trust and whether or not they’re lying. Phoenix and his black wolf surprised us that first night, but now, seeing him in person when I’m not so shocked… his words ring true. Ada is trusting him, Violet trusts in him, I think Charlie does too. I think that my initial reaction was wrong.But I’m scared of falling into a false sense of security. I have to know, without a doubt that I can trust in him. So, I ask him more questions.