Liberty’s POVTingles erupted up and down my arms and legs and everyone around me sounded like they were under water. It’s the weirdest feeling, like Justice is just beneath the surface but not in control, more like she becomes part of me in my human form, I can’t explain it properly.The edge of the table comes rushing towards my face and there is nothing I can do to stop my head smashing right into it. One sickening thud followed by another draws everybody’s attention to me and a flurry of blurred faces hover above me before it’s lights out.I know I’m unconscious, I’m fully aware of the burning sting coming from above my eyebrow, and the heavy weight of my limp body being carried. I don’t have any visions or see anything really, apart from the occasional flash of faces from my past. I have a feeling though. Like a voice inside my head, telling me to follow my gut, I know what needs to be done, but it won’t be easy.My gut is telling me there is more happening here than meets the ey
Christian’s POVIt’s hard, fighting the urge to be out on the front line. I should be overseeing the fortification at the border, ensuring weapons and men are properly distributed. With over fifty miles of dense forest at the border of our pack, a two mile wide ribbon of no man’s land, then Kendrick’s territory, it’s a lot of land to cover. We need to occupy the neutral territory before Kendrick’s men, if we are to have the upper hand. I know Zander is more than capable, but it's what I have always done. The only thing that has kept me in this bed is the weight of Liberty’s arm and leg slung across me. Since her arrival in my life, she has a somewhat disturbing ability to quench the constant fire burning inside me. I say quench in the loosest sense of the word. It's more like the darkness and hunger for vengeance has been replaced with a longing or need to feel her, protect her and always keep her close. A therapist would probably call it transference, and they might be right.“How a
Liberty’s POVThis tender side of Christian isn’t one I expected. I know him to be more complex than he portrays, he wears his reputation like armour and I’m sure very few people truly understand what goes on beneath the steely surface.I don’t know if the thoughts of the future originated with him or myself. I have never thought too far ahead. Always wondering which day would be my last, or rather hoping each day would be the end. He changed that, they both did. Now I have a home, a place where I belong, and I will not have another family taken from me.‘Let’s go for a run. If we see more of the territory it might help put our visions in perspective, make them less abstract if it is ground we have trodden.’ Justice seems very keen to get out, I don’t blame her, most wolves run at least once a day. But Justice isn’t most wolves. She is more antsy than usual though, probably from giving me time and space to digest everything.“Christian. Justice seems to think it would be beneficial fo
Hunter’s POVChristian and Zander told us all how unique Justice is but hearing it and seeing it are worlds apart. I have seen more wolves than I could put a number on, travelled far and wide, passed through countless packs, but I have never seen a wolf as magnificent as Justice. Only one other ever came anywhere near close to her unique colouring and sheer size.I haven’t seen Esme since I joined the pack and I only knew her for a few short months all those years ago. She was unlike any wolf I had ever met. She knew more than she should, like she could read my soul or something. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but I swear that woman had my number before I even opened my mouth. She was easy to get along with and didn’t question me about my past or how I ended up roaming the mountains in the middle of winter, she accepted me as I was and we kept each other company until spring, when we went our separate ways. Her size wasn’t quite as extraordinary as Justice, but her colouring was remark
Liberty’s POV That was not meant to slip out, not now anyway. I had been so careful to watch what I said, making sure I didn’t say anything to lead him to my conclusion without further evidence. I never intended to tell anyone about the two bodies that stood out above the rest on the blood drenched battlefield. Saying it out loud would only breathe life into it, and it isn’t something I particularly want to relive. It’s crystal clear in my memory. Every time I think about it, my blood turns to slush in my veins. I’m just standing there in shock and horror, watching as the blue halo surrounding them begins to dim, the snow on the ground around their bodies turns deep red and that all too familiar coppery smell begins to engulf me. Kendrick lays motionless only a few feet away, his head a short distance from the rest of him. No doubt Christian’s last act in my defense If I don’t find a way to change the events between now and then, my mates will be stolen from me, forever. As far as I
Zander’s POV “They did WHAT!” I feel myself cringe as Christian’s voice bounces off the concrete walls of the Interrogation room. Hunter is in for it, because I know only something to do with Liberty could elicit such an extreme reaction from him. A few weeks ago it would have been a different story, but since finding her, she is the only thing he really loses his temper over. “Who is in trouble now? Liberty or Hunter?” I smirk in his direction and dodge the severed Beta head that comes hurtling my way. “Fuck Christian, that was over the top, even for you.” Of all the things to throw at me, he had to go for the head. “They have left the route they both agreed to stick to and are wandering around the lake looking for the seer. The seer Zand. Don’t they think if she wanted to be found she would make her presence known. Oh, and to top that, our little mate seems to think this woman is some sort of long lost relative. I’m telling you, this stinks of Kendrick, and his bullshit antics. T
Hunters POV “Esme, it’s true.” My chest squeezes the words out and my mind dare not believe my eyes. It must be… fifteen years, no, sixteen, at least, since I watched her walk away from me. I have spent every single day of each of those years convincing myself it hurts just a little less every time I think of her. It’s all total bull shit. I distract myself from the pain, go hunting with Christian, take my frustrations out on the rogues we find in the search for his parents’ killers. I tell myself it’s in their name that I commit such depraved acts against the scum we encounter, and it is true, in part. It’s mostly to remind myself how to feel something other than numb, emptiness. I know it comes across like I am no better than the rogues, after all I was one from the very day I came of age. But it’s not like that. I stumble through each day, numb and aimless, with no real sense of purpose or belonging. I don’t want to feel the pain of love or rejection, so I sought out the exact opp
Christian’s POVDon’t judge me. But in my fucked up head something almost snapped when I saw her in his arms, soaking wet and wearing nothing but a flimsy cloak. It’s Hunter for fucks sake, he would never be inappropriate with her, my rational mind knows we can trust him, but I’m not in a rational mindset right now.Every head turns away as I march up the stairs towards our room. I’m not sure if they are avoiding my eye or seeing their barely clad Luna. Either way I’m glad to reach the door without interruption.“What are you doing?” Liberty’s laugh pulls me out of my destructive thoughts. She tries to take hold of my hands as I fiddle with the wet, swollen cord tied at her neck.“You are soaked, I don’t want you to catch a chill.” I explain as I work to strip the sodden cloak from her shivering body. It’s not a complete lie, but I have other motives to relieve her of the saturated garment. She only has to look down to get a glimpse at my primary motivation.No matter how much I have