We had gotten out safely. The only wolves harmed were the two I had let collapse to the ground. Neither had stirred as we stepped over them and ran for the trees. Adrenaline had ravaged my body. I may have rebelled against my father in the past, but this was on a whole different level. There was no going back from here. Father would have my blood for breakfast if he ever found me. Treason. That's what I had committed and would most likely pay with my blood, or life. Whichever came quickest to him. By now the pack would be up in arms, searching for us in every little corner they could think of. To face them now would break me completely. After all the torment they had put me through, they were still my pack. The people I had grown up with. Some part of me, however deep down, still wanted to be a part of them. A part of a family.
Morning rays slowly crept up the sky as we finally reached the town skirts. Julian refused that I turn, in case of someone spotting us on their early
Hours had flitted by in the blink of an eye. Our drive had been filled with music and off key singing. Julian pointed out several of his favourite places along the way. Vineyards with the best wine. Ranches with the prettiest horses. Some of the best beaches, with sand whiter than my teeth. We had driven alongside the ocean for most of our trip. In our pack, we rarely had the luxury of visiting a beach, even when we stayed a few kilometres from the closest one. Our elders believed wolves were made for forests, not waves, but Jasper had taken Sophie and I once, just when he had gotten his license. It felt like a life time ago. Julian and I had dropped into something resembling normalcy. The cruel night had almost been completely forgotten. I would show him the songs I loved and he would tell me about his musical talents. I hadn't mentioned that Richard had also informed me of his painting habits.We were just inside the borders to the Western Cape when Julian pulled off to the
Even with exhaustion numbing my brain, I could barely sleep. I had tossed and turned the entire night. The soft mattress curved under my weight, fitting my body perfectly. No penny was spared when they had decorated this place for me. Even the pillows grooved into my neck. I still couldn't sleep. So many thoughts ran through my mind. None of them were even remotely comforting. Mikaela was a pressing problem. If my father had decided to take his angry out on her because he couldn't punish me, I would never forgive myself. She didn't need any more problems in her life. She couldn't handle any more problems. I turned again in bed, the cool satin grazing my skin. Moonlight fluttered onto the carpet through the slits in my curtains. It would have been a beautiful night to go for a run. Scarping the urge to go outside, I groaned and covered my head with an arm. It was always like this. I could rarely ever sleep comfortably when so many issues w
Julian had run into a store on the outskirts of town. After giving him my sizes and a vague description of what I would wear, he headed off on his little mission. I was still in my clothes from yesterday, blood stains now dried. His solution to the problem? Buy me something to wear for the day and head out to a mall for some actual shopping. I had protested at the idea of walking around looking as if I had painted with someone's blood. Julian had agreed and off we were. I hadn't allowed myself to think of the situation we were in. There was no news from my pack, not that Julian would tell me if something had happened. All he wanted was for us to have a normal day. Get to know each other. Whether we were mates or not, I would be stuck around him from this point on. Julian had promised that my future would change, regardless of the status of our pendants.I waited for close to an hour, getting restless. Julian couldn't possibly take that long to find me some jeans and a shirt.
We had walked around for a good few minutes before we stumbled upon the food court. People ambled around from fast food restaurant to fast food restaurant. Julian had settled on a nice looking café in the far back of all the take-out places, pressing his hand into my lower back to herd me towards it. Women of all shapes, sizes and colours watched us closely. Some undressed Julian, their gazes stripping off what he wore. I hadn't missed the sneers or whispers as they watched me, either. None of them hid their disdain about who hung on his arm.All of that didn't matter, as the realization that I was starving hit me. My stomach rumbled a bit too loudly, but Julian kept walking. He either chose to ignore it, or hadn't heard. Food was delicious. Ever since I was a child, I had loved to cook and eat. Mother would then throw me onto crash diets like the gospel. Food had been a comfort when I couldn't find Mikaela for comfort. When I wasn't allowed even the smallest freedom b
I had slept peacefully that night. No dreams tormented me. No faces drifted in front of my eyes. Julian had brought us home and we had parted ways. I had gotten myself a new phone on the way back, explaining that I might not have wanted to be found, but that I wasn't going to live in the dark ages. My room was already cleaned, the clothes we brought standing on my dresser. Maids would come and pack those away, Julian had informed me and headed to somewhere in the house. I had set up the new phone and quickly drifted off to sleep. So much excitement had happened during the last few days. My body finally realized I would crash if it hadn't succumbed to the deep tendrils of sleep. The house was silent when I had woken up just before dawn. My footsteps echoed across the floors as I padded towards the kitchen. More food had been brought in for me yesterday, cupboards over flowing with snacks of all variety. Lillian had most probably stocked everything, as no one else knew what so
A servant, who I hadn't bothered to learn the name of, brought a car for me to use. True to his word, Julian let me go. I had taken some of the clothes we had bought yesterday. It seemed a life time ago, those happy few hours spent with Julian. All it had been was a way for me to lower my guard. Accept what was coming my way without putting up much resistance. He had known who I was. What I was tohim, but kept it hidden. Kept it a secret even from his grandmother. All of this had happened too fast for me to comprehend. One moment I was home and in hell, the next I was half way to a heaven I hadn't believed in. Now I was going back to the hell where all my demons still lurked. How would any of them react upon my arrival? Would father throw me to the literal wolves?I stole one last glance at the room that was supposed to be mine. A sanctuary that I so desperately wanted to make my home. I looked towards Julian's room, the door still so eerily similar to my neckl
The hand gripping my arm was warm, almost inviting, but I knew I couldn't stay here long. I needed to find Mikaela before my father decided to end his somewhat peaceful countenance towards me. On instinct I spun around, palm flat and open, as I jabbed towards the elbow connected to my arm. The joint gave way, releasing me from the intruder's grip. A soft hiss of pain flourished the air. Who faced me made my day much better, but guilt gnawed at the injury I had just caused."I told you not to do anything stupid!" Mikaela yelled at me, her voice quivering at the end. Her hair was plastered to her forehead, a sheen coating her skin. She must have run here, to get to me. My heart warmed at the thought. Somewhere within her mind, I was still hers, as I had always been."Rescuing you is also considered stupid, especially after my first grand act of stupidity." I replied and pulled the speck of a girl in for a hug. Sunflowers and dew drops clung to my nose, a familiar and com
=When I woke up again, I was in Sebastian's lap. No fur coated my skin. So I was human again. Naked. On a mated vampire's lap. Trying my best not to squirm, I looked towards Mikaela. Her eyes were keenly focussed on the road. Music softly played in the background. One of my favourite tracks. The brooding man finally noticed that I had woken up and looked down at me. Smiling slightly, he pulled his jacket over my shoulder. He had covered me sometime during the drive. How thoughtful."I'm glad you could join us." He mused and ruffled my hair. I grimaced at him. We had never formally met. Never gotten the chance to in these short days that had passed. Somehow he reminded me of a model, with his up turned nose and full lashes. Mikaela let out a tingle of a giggle. Trying to sit up a bit more, I winced. Stabbing pains went through my side and spread all over my body. Something warm trickled down my skin. Pangs of iron stuffed itself up my nose."Careful sweety. You