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22. The weight of leadership
Lena WindsorThank you for reading! Please give Holden a gem <3
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The Way You Taste 23. Whispers in the Barracks
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW In wolf form, Jamie and I are more connected to nature and to the Goddess. We’re even more connected to each other, and sharing our feelings and thoughts feels both terrifying and comforting. I don’t know what I would do without her to lean on. The horrible sight of the defaced Altar of Selene hurts even worse this way. I don’t want to face it, to face reality. I don’t want to face the thoughts of what this means for my pack, for wolfkind as a whole. Every step, every breath feels heavier with the weight of the thoughts racing through my mind, so I try to outrun them. The cool earth underneath feels soothing against my paws, almost like the earth is trying to absorb some of the chaos within me, some of the grief. The wind rushes past me, brushing against my fur as I sprint through the forest. The trees blur around me as we remember the gut-wrenching sight of the Shell. The sacred place of our ancestors, violated. I hear distant howls and feel how heavy th
The Way You Taste 24. Strength amidst despair
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW Well, this has to be the most depressing Tuesday ever. It’s like there’s a dark cloud looming over the pack, making the mood desolate, somber. But, like Alpha Michael said, we can’t afford to falter, we must push through. And so, the air is also filled with resolve. The Cadets gather at the indoors gym, a sea of sad faces, in stark contrast to the usual vibrant energy. Gamma Rhys leads us and does his best to show strength, but I can see the strain in his eyes. He guides us through cardio, weightlifting, and sparring. As my legs pump and my lungs burn, I feel a sense of release. Each pounding footstep seems to drive away a little of the darkness that has taken over me. Then, I do my best to get distracted by Gamma Rhys’ and Olivier’s history lesson. They go over a historical battle, analyzing the terrain, the different strategies, possible alternatives, and what they could’ve resulted in. I’m sure it would be a very interesting lesson if my mind was fully
The Way You Taste 25. Bittersweet
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW Holden pulls back and stares into my eyes so intensely that I’m sure he can see into the very depths of my soul, he can see my innermost dreams and desires. His eyes are filled with adoration and a heat that makes my heart race. Yet, despite that, I see a glimmer of vulnerability in his gaze, like he’s on the edge of a precipice, grappling with feelings he’s yet to fully understand. “I was wrong,” he whispers huskily. “What do you mean?” I ask confusedly. “The Goddess is real. You’re it. And I’m going to worship you now.” A shiver of anticipation runs down my spine at his words, and my eyes flutter shut as his hand tenderly caresses my cheek. Our lips meet in a fervent kiss, the world fading away as we lose ourselves in each other. The connection between us deepens, and I can feel the walls he built around himself starting to crumble. I hear his heartbeat thundering, matching the tempo of my own, and I know desire is coursing through his veins just as
The Way You Taste 26. Wrestling with fate
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW As I shower, I do my best to wash off the thoughts flooding my mind. Thoughts of last night, of my moment with Willow, thoughts that leave me both exhilarated and terrified. It’s like a whirlwind of emotions crashing through me, and I can’t quite make sense of it all. My morning routine should help, right? Cardio, weights, sparring with Nick – each move is supposed to bring clarity, but it’s like I’m going through the motions while my mind is still lost in a haze. And half of me is trying to push me off the edge. “I’m not the only one trying to make you give in. You know there’s more to this than instincts. It’s real. Don’t try to deny it, that’s not a good look on you,” Hendrix says, just as I deliver a solid punch on Nick. Hendrix keeps going in my head, but as I spar with Nick, I find myself drifting into thoughts of Willow once again, into the memories of last night. Her smile, her touch. It’s all there, carved into my mind. A misplaced step and Nick’
The Way You Taste 27. A "date" with the supernatural
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW A chill runs down my spine as I stare at my reflection. Dressed in casual jeans and a dark shirt, I can’t help but feel nervous about the upcoming evening with Willow. I had the entire morning in class to daydream about every single possible outcome, and I can’t tell which ones I like most, and which ones I dread most. This is the first time I’m going unguarded to a meeting with her since the welcoming dinner. Last night, she beat me at my own game. Her argument struck a chord with me. I’m starting to entertain the thought that giving in to the bond and joining forces with her might be the most sound, rational idea. “You’re learning,” Hendrix says, pacing around in my head in anticipation. I never expected to find myself on a date, especially not with Willow. She’s the antithesis of everything I am – mystical where I’m logical, fiery where I’m cold. Or where I try to be cold. “You didn’t use quotation marks,” I ignore Hendrix’s banter. Yet, here we
The Way You Taste 28. Leap of faith
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW We then reach a park, and my feet don’t need a guide to take me towards an ancient tree that stands out from the rest. It calls to me. The Eternal Tree. It's huge, with branches stretching out like wise old arms, and its leaves are perpetually green. As we approach it, a warm, calming energy envelopes us, and I take a glance at Willow. She looks so… Peaceful. “Do you feel that?” she asks, her voice soft, almost reverent. “It’s like… Like the tree is alive. More than just a plant. It’s… sentient.” “It’s a portal, Willow,” I smile. “A crossing between worlds. It leads to the fae realm.” I turn my eyes to my mate, taking in her true self. She’s like an open book, with welcoming arms. She’s never been anything but honest and open with me, inviting me in, no pretenses, just pure, inviting honesty. The need to share, to unload, takes over me and, for once, I just give in. “You know,” I start, the words tumbling out in a rush. “All my life, I’ve tried to under
The Way You Taste 29. The morning after
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW I wake up to a sweet ache in my body, reminding me of how hard my mate fucked me last night, marking every part of me as his. Well, except for ACTUALLY marking me. But I’m more convinced than ever that we’re on the right path to fully becoming mates, to fully accepting our bond—step by uncertain step. Last night, everything changed. I could see it in the way Holden acted throughout our date, I could hear it in his words as he opened up to me about things I’m not sure he had even admitted to himself, and I could feel it in the way we fucked passionately. “It was a wild ride, huh?” Jamie nudges me cheekily. “Oh, I hope I get to ride that cock soon…” I muse. As I go through my morning routine, I look back on everything that happened with a smile on my lips. Every gesture, every kiss, is an echo of our deepened connection. Yet, amidst all the warm fuzzy feelings, a shadow of doubt creeps in. I have to hold on to the belief that things changed so much that not
The Way You Taste 30. Crossroads
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW “HOLDENNNN!” Father’s voice invades my head, piercing the bubble of post-sex bliss I was in. Shit. “My office, now,” he says in a homicidal tone. Realization washes over me, and a pit forms in my stomach, like a black hole consuming all the thrill I was reveling in just seconds ago. What in the heat of the moment felt so natural, so right, now mixes with the sharp pang of embarrassment and shame. I curse my recklessness, my impulsivity. As I enter Father’s office, I’m greeted by the wall lined with portraits of previous Alphas and their Lunas, going all the way back to the 1800s. Their silent eyes judge me, like they’re Harry Potter portraits about to chew me off. Under their stares, I feel vulnerable, exposed. It’s suffocating. Right now, I feel like I’m four inches tall. Father looks beyond pissed. Before I can find the right words to explain myself, he speaks. “Holden,” his voice is laced with a mix of disappointment and anger, “having sex in public
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