LOGINLucas was pacing back and forth in his apartment. He debated on running away. He would be an outcast, but at least he'd be alive.
The challenge was going to be called any minute. He spent the week begging and pleading with people to back him, but could not find an eighth vote. Lucas wouldn't run though, he still had pride.
If he ran now his legacy would be that of a coward. Even if death came tonight at least there would be some dignity.
The snowy winter gave way to a wet spring and a temperate summer was now unfolding. Clara stood at the top of the hill, about twenty feet out from her home.She ignored the noises of the saws and hammers, focusing on the small building. She went back to behind her easel and added some detail to the roof of her painting.She had always focused on fixing other's artwork, it never occurred to her to try her own. The last few months David pushed her to try and she found herself enjoying the process.She stepped back out from behind her painting to see her partner approaching from the side of the house. His jeans hung low on his hips and the sweat glistened off his shirtless chest. Clara brought her hand to her mark as she stared at the matching one he wore.The experience was nothing short of magical. Clara didn't know she was capable of loving another person as much as she loved David.
The past two days felt like two years. When David parked the car it was well after midnight. Clara knew they should have stopped at a hotel, but she couldn't bare the idea of another night away from home."Let's walk," Clara said before David suggested another mode of transportation.She reached out and grabbed his hand as they strolled up the snow covered hill. A storm was in the air. The moonlight shinned off David's blond head and soon snowflakes began to settle in his tresses."So he's really dead?" Clara hated that she felt comfort in someone else' demise, but they spent most of the drive ignoring the topic. Clara was ready for some closure."Are you alright? It's okay if you're not. He was your mate and you bore his mark.""Lucas was no mate. He was an insane sociopath.""His mark though," David said. "When he died you should have felt it, blinding pain
The world around him was moving at supersonic speeds, but David was going in slow motion. The image of Clara curled up against the wall, a trail of her blood smeared across the floor. Everything David had done since then was on autopilot. He was numb with fear.A hand touched his shoulder. David turned to see Marilyn. He squinted at her, unsure why she was here."How are you holding up?" She asked. "Have you slept at all?""What are you doing here?" David asked.James walked in behind her. David scanned the room. They were at James' clinic. David rubbed his eyes."I sent someone for her as soon as I could," James said."That means, ten hours?"Ten long excruciating hours had passed since David found Clara."Do they need more blood? I can donate more." David looked to James.Before he could respond
Pain exploded all over Clara's body. Her head ached from being smashed into the bars, her back hurt from the kicks, and her side hurt from the knife sticking out of it.David's image was enough to keep her going. She bottled up the pain knowing survival was more important.Roxy leaned closer ready to pull out the knife. Clara brought her hand up with speed, she kept one finger extended and jabbed it into Roxy's eye.Roxy let out a scream and fell backwards. Clara caught her off guard."You bitch," Roxy yelled. "That really hurt."Clara backed herself up against a wall. She didn't look away from Roxy, but felt the knife handle sticking out of her. She had seen enough movies to know that if she pulled it out she risked bleeding to death.She forced herself to her feet as Roxy stood back up. The other woman started laughing. She looked at Clara, her eye was red
Clara's blood was almost alcoholic, Lucas ran his tongue over his mouth over and over, not wanting to waste a single drop. He had no desire to fight James tonight, but not everyone agreed with Clara being here and some believed James' claim about being drugged.That would mean a council member would be called and days waiting. It was clear James was still weak from the previous beating.Once Lucas took him out again the pack would see his true power and he would never risk being questioned again.Another drop of her blood touched his tongue and his heart pounded. She would give him the strength to beat James."Since there are no council members present the challenger and the Alpha have agreed on me to referee," Travis, a mid-level pack member, said. "There is no shifting allowed. Other than that, everything is fair. Start on my call.""Good luck old man." Lucas turned his attenti
Somehow Clara managed to pick herself off the floor. The pain in her neck was excruciating, but a tingle was spreading from Lucas' bite.She cried out as the tingle continued like a virus. If her neck didn't hurt so bad it would almost be pleasurable. Clara pulled her hand away and saw the blood. Her heart started to race.She wondered if Lucas' bite was too deep and the soft feeling was caused by the lack of blood. She collapsed on the wooden plank and reapplied pressure to her wound."Are you enjoying the sensation?"The voice startled Clara, she looked to see Roxy at the cell door. The keys in her hand jingled as she turned the lock. Relief, Roxy was here to let her free. Clara sat up and started to stand, but stumbled backwards."You hear stories about how receiving a mark is indescribable, pure ecstasy. Of course I've never heard of one being given outside of sex. What is it







