MagnoliaI hate to admit the fact that I liked Phoenixโs answer. He seems genuine, he seemsโฆ kind behind that mysterious mask he likes to hide behind. Even my wolf, Ada, murmurs her agreement with me.Thereโs 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, sheโs 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 theyโre lying. Phoenix and his black wolf surprised us that first night, but now, seeing him in person when Iโm not so shockedโฆ 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 Iโm 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.
VioletWe stay for hours talking to Phoenix and by the time itโs past midnight Magnolia says, โWe should head back home.โI notice the glimmer of disappointment in Phoenixโs eyes, but itโs quickly replaced with a blank stare. I need to prove to Magnolia and Charlie that we truly can trust him and thereโs only one way I can think to do that. I say, โYou two go on back. Iโm going to stay overnight with Phoenix.โI obviously caught him off guard because he looks at me, startled. Magnolia looks at me with furrowed eyebrows as she asks, โAre you sure?โI nod as I glance at Phoenix with a small smile and say, โYou two go on back. Iโll be home in the morning. He wonโt hurt me, Iโm safe here.โMagnoliaโs gaze roams over Phoenix as if sheโs trying to decide how much she trusts him right now. Charlie doesnโt care, itโs obvious that this night helped him because he seems to have trusted Phoenix from the moment he told him to do his worst if he ever hurt me.Charlie motions with his head for them
MagnoliaI pace back and forth in the dining room. Itโs well past breakfast time and Violet still hasnโt come back. Frustration fuels me, my nerves are shot as I wonder if he did something to her.Cora and Charlie walk back in from tending to the garden and Cora scolds me, โViolet, youโre going to burn a hole in my floor with all that pacing.โI force myself to sit as I murmur, โSorry.โCharlie chugs a bottle of water before putting the bottle in the sink and saying, โCome on, letโs go check on her.โCora looks at us silently, her eyebrows raised as she silently questions us. I huff as I push myself out of my seat, itโs the only way Iโll feel better. I have to see her.As I put my hand on the door knob Cora says, โMake sure you guys are home by dinner. Iโm pretty sure your parents will be here tonight and we donโt need anyone getting suspicious.โI nod my head and walk out with Charlie right behind me. It makes me tense to see my parents, I donโt like deceiving them and I know they wo
VioletThe door to my room creaks open and I yawn as I stretch and look over as Magnolia slips into my room. She puts a sundress on my bed and asks, โDo you mind if I get ready with you?โMy eyebrows furrow but I nod as I say, โYeah, thatโs fine.โI can feel the nervous energy rolling off of her in large waves. I try not to let it affect me. While sheโs planning to wear a baby pink sundress, I find a pastel yellow one to wear that has little bumble bees sewn onto it. I set my dress beside hers and sit beside her in front of the mirror as I start to put on some make up.Magnolia is quiet as she moves along, doing each step perfectly and looking utterly flawless, as always. I quietly ask her as I brush through my hair, โAre you okay, Mags?โShe huffs, but nods her head as she admits, โIโm fine, Iโm justโฆ Iโm nervous to see my parents.โThatโsโฆ odd. Magnoliaโs always been close with her parents. She has the relationship I used to have with mine, she has the relationship that honestly, Iโ
VioletUncle Maven and Aunt Amelia did not stay the night. Honestly, Iโm grateful for that. The longer weโre around them, the more nervous I am that somehow theyโll figure out whatโs going on. I know that the Renegade Pack is a decent size pack and would be good to have on our side. Butโฆ my mom is Ameliaโs sister. I get the feeling they wouldnโt let me join in this mission and would force me to sit on the sidelines and I canโt risk that.When they leave, we all disperse to bed, knowing that we need the rest. Because come tomorrow night weโll be traveling with Phoenix Black and headed to take the Black Night Pack down.All of us sleep in, allowing ourselves these comforts while we can because we donโt know how long this will take and we know for awhile weโll just be sleeping on the ground under the night sky.We decide to head to Phoenix after dinner. During the day while we rested, Cora worked her butt off getting things ready for us. There are so many elixirs and potions that she has
PhoenixIt surprises and scares me how much I enjoy being around Violet Moon Stone. Her middle name is one of the things I learned about the other night when she stayed with me overnight. She thought I would laugh at her, but I didnโt. I found that it actually fits her rather nicely and I think itโs nice that her parents chose to honor their pack in that way.Being away for a full 24 hours is awful. But seeing her come towards me with a smile on her face and knowing that weโll be around each other nonstop for the next few days fills me with so much happiness. I was about to suggest for us to begin our journey when Magnolia walks over and asks in a snippy voice, โHow much longer are we going to rest?โViolet isnโt phased by her attitude. I swear, I donโt know how she puts up with Magnolia all the time. But Violet says, โIf youโre ready to leave then letโs do it, MJ.โMagnolia nods and her icy gaze flickers to me and she asks, โAre you going to lead the way?โI push myself up and nod a
VioletWe leave our site after breakfast in the morning. Iโm grateful that itโs fall now, not too hot or too cold, a nice breeze making us feel comfortable in our long journey.The atmosphere between me and Phoenix is different today. I couldnโt resist asking, I want to touch him, but I know if I try that heโll move away from me. I respect his boundaries, I will not touch him, specifically his hands, without his permission. Normally, we avoided those conversations, not wanting to cause discord right now. Butโฆ I couldnโt help it.I still walked beside him, leading Magnolia and Charlie closer to the Black Night Pack with each step we take. Phoenix walks slower today and I match his speed, just like I did yesterday. The whole day felt like it was dragging. I know we canโt be too far from the Black Night Pack ands the sooner we get there, the better. It gives us more of a chance to spy and make sure that we saw when Xavier left for the auction.As we continue to drag our feet, each of u
PhoenixMagnolia and Charlie fell asleep fast. Violet tossed and turned for a while before eventually getting up and walking over to the lake. I watch her, debating whether or not to join her. She paces around the body of water and I push myself to my feet to be with her. If she wants to talk, Iโll be here. If she doesnโtโฆ thatโs okay too. I just want her to know that she's not alone and whatever is troubling her... I can help her through it.Iโm concerned to be the first one to speak. Iโm scared that Iโll somehow make things worse. I think sheโs still upset with me since I refuse to let her touch me or for me to touch her.She looks at me, her blue eyes shining from the light from the moon. Her face contorts in confusion and she clenches her jaw before pacing again. I take a seat on the ground, stretching my legs out and leaning back with my palms on the ground. She continues to walk, every once in awhile her eyes would meet mine. I think she was contemplating whether or not she sh
Five Months Later.QuirinaBryce and I officially became the Alpha and Female Alpha of the Moon Stone Pack three months ago. Annabelle and Franklin became our Beta couple, Hiro and Hazel became our Gamma couple, and Rowan and Winnie are enjoying not having as many responsibilities.All the issues we previously had with Hazel completely disappeared when she finally accepted Hiro as her mate. Because when he marked her, he was able to take away her gift. He holds her power and give it back to her if she ever wants it, but she seems thrilled about no longer seeing when people will die.Mom and dad still live at the pack house, but they are enjoying no longer being in charge and getting to fully focus on Felicity. I donโt know if theyโll ever go anywhere without her again because she has struggled with separation anxiety ever since they returned home.My biological parents have come to visit me and to meet the rest of my family. I talk with them at least 3 times a week, they are perfectly
QuirinaBryce, Charlie, and Harper and I headed home after only two days after the fight. There werenโt many survivors left that were a part of the trafficking ring, but there were tons of kids in the school. My parents along with Magnolia and Hendrix are meeting up with other pack leaders and trying to split up the rest of the people appropriately. There will be no more Supernatural Academy and no more trafficking.I mean, we know itโs impossible to completely abolish all trafficking, but we have done our part and this has helped to take down a huge contributor. Iโm ready to be back home, the desire to be some place familiar and to unwind after all the recent events. Bryce had marked me, but I still havenโt marked him, it hasnโt felt right. Heโs practically buzzing and glowing with some energy he has now. I donโt know exactly what it is, but I know he received some of the powers that I absorbed.I havenโt even discovered everything I absorbed in that moment. I was so desperate to be
BryceThe door opened and we had been expecting more guards or for more prisoners. But now, Phoenix Stone walks into the room.All the guards that had been sitting without a care in the world suddenly stand at attention. I watch in fascination as dark black swirls crawl up Phoenixโs arms and he smirks, โIf I were you, I would lock yourself in one of the cages. Or else Iโll make you crumble like the rest of them.โMost of the guards seemed concerned as soon as he said that. Everyone has heard of what Alpha Stone is capable of, and everyone knows that he would do anything for his family and for the legacy he had created. But thereโs a couple of guards who doubt him. And one asks, โWhat do you mean by the rest of them?โPhoenix gives the most wicked smile Iโve ever seen, itโs almost bone-chilling in itโs ruthlessness as he says, โYou would not be my first death of day. Now, I will count to five and whoever is out of the cells, wellโฆ weโll get to have some fun.โAfter that announcement p
QuirinaI think most people would find it odd if I told them that I actually thrive off of chaos. But the moment that I zapped the cameras and everything went down, I took off running. I could hear the whole mansion as it descended into chaos. Everyone complaining, trying to keep guard of their current prisoners, and trying too figure out what the hell happened to me.I canโt help but smirk to myself as I run. I donโt know where Iโm going or what exactly Iโm doing, but Iโve caused enough chaos that I have time to search without instantly getting caught. I find a stairwell and run down it as fast as my legs can carry me. The first door I see on my right, I open to turn into only to be instantly met by a group of five warriors. I close the door back and take off running back down the stairs, I hear them behind me. Fear is gripping my heart now as I am more panicked than before.I enjoy chaos, but I donโt enjoy the adrenaline that comes with it. It makes me struggle to think clearly and
QuirinaI have to get out. I have to find help. I donโt know what Iโm going to doโฆ theyโll figure it out as soon as I leave the mansion and then Iโll be captured before I get anywhere close to the pack borders.My mind is reeling as I rush from one room to the next hopefully getting further from the danger but honestly who knows? Iโm running on instinct here.I need to find my family, all of them. Because regardless if weโre blood related or not, we are all family. I try to reach out through the mind link but I huff in frustration as I realize no one is connecting with me.I let out a low grumble and then focus on my surroundings. I havenโt found a single room with a window for me to look outside, I havenโt run into anyone. This is a little too suspicious, wouldnโt there be a lot of people looking for me? My eyes flicker around the room, trying to uncover some answer that I havenโt been able to figure out yet. And my body tenses when I figure out the reason. Thereโs a camera, itโs sm
QuirinaThe room is too quiet, too cold, tooโฆ unnerving.The headmaster looks at me, Iโm currently cursing myself for not asking his name. The fact that he knows mine but I donโt know his makes me uneasy. He smiles at me and says, โI donโt know where your parents are, Ms. Stone.โI narrow my eyes at him and spit out, โLiar.โThe corner of his mouth twitches up in an amused smirk, like he is enjoying knowing that he is able to get a rise out of me. I want to punch him in the face for it.He gestures towards the chair and says, โPlease, take a seat, let us talk like adults.โ The way he speaks to me is patronizing, my hands ball up into fists out of frustration. His hazel eyes flicker down to my hands before looking up at me and he says, โI assume you would want to do things properly considering you are about to take the Alpha position. You donโt want to start off with a bad reputation.โI snap at him, โI think you and I both know that my reputation doesnโt matter. It already isnโt in st
BryceI follow behind everyone as we go into the mysterious Supernatural Academy. Iโve heard so much about this place and yetโฆ I donโt know what to think now that Iโm here.Quirina is obviously tense and on high alert. Sheโs towards the front of the group and a small part of me feels uncomfortable with how far apart we are, but I know itโs for the best for her to be towards the front.We come across a mansion like building and Beta Charlie breathes out, โWelcome to the Academy headquarters.โQuirina look to him and looks around, โThe headquarters? Not the building where all the students are kept?โHe shakes his head no and explains, โThis is for staff to live at when they donโt have a rotation at the school. Gives them a chance to be away from the students.โShe nods her head, but I notice her deep furrowed brow, something isnโt sitting right with her. Itโs moments like these that I wish we had already marked and mated one another because I would love to know what sheโs thinking about
QuirinaThe plane ride was quiet, neither Bryce nor I spoke as we flew to my parents. The entire time he held my hand, letting me know that he is here for me if and when I choose to talk.I donโt want to talk. I want to get there now and make sure that theyโre okay. When the plane lands Bryce just gives me a tight-lipped smile. I thank the pilot and we get off. Bryce asks me, โSo, how do we get there?โI smile softly, โLeave that to me.โAt that moment a car pulls up and an older man comes out and says, โA pleasure to see you, Ms. Stone, Mr. Lake.โI nod at the valet and both Bryce and I get in the car and it takes off in the direction I need it to. I know that we will have to walk a bit later, but for now I just lean my head on Bryceโs shoulder and enjoy the ride. He looks out the window, watching as the world passes on around us. I sit up when the valet asks, โAre you here to meet up with the rest of them?โI frown, โWho?โThis causes him to frown and he remarks, โThe other ones fro
VioletWeโve been at the Academy for just over a month now.I was right, there was something fishy going on here.They never quit with their antics. All this time, all these years, I thought we had gotten control of the human trafficking, I thought we had ended it! Only to find out that for the most part we did, but for the kids who show potential to be strong they are never put as available for adoption.Quirina was an exception because they couldnโt figure out to control her, but because she was so powerful they thought her brother would be to. So, they kept her brotherโs identity from us so that way if he showed potential they would be able to sell him. My fists ball in frustration, I shouldโve known. It was too good to be true. But because we found out about it and they found out we found out, now weโre trapped. Weโve been separated for two weeks now, I have no idea what theyโve done to Phoenix, but it makes me worried. Ever since we met, weโve never been separated for this long.