LOGINShare
60. Doing Something Is Better Than Nothing
Last Updated:
2025-03-15 01:00:29I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It hurt to breathe normally today. I could take a full breath but it was like someone was squeezing my lungs as I did. Or I was being sat on. It had been like that all night and into this morning.
It hadn’t helped my stress level when I went to drop off Krista, her house looked like makeshift army camp. Krista tried to get me to stay but Mr. St James pulled her away and told me to go straight home.
However, no one was in the house when I woke up this morning. It was Saturday so usually at least Hannah and Rebecca were mulling about. Caleb and Rebecca’s car were still gone. Rebecca must have been staying over somewhere else but Caleb and Hannah missing was weird.
At least there was no one stopping me from getting breakfast and eating it at the table. My phone buzzed as I took a bit of my cereal.
K: Something is going on in town.
Related chapters
Winter 61. Taking A Chance
I pried my arm out of his grasp and shook my head. “He might listen to me. It’s stupid. I know. But I can use myself as leverage. If you’re so worried about my chastity, then come with me.”Turning again, I made my way into the party. There were different groups that were filling the main center. Some were around music, dancing and drinking without a care. Some were starting fights and what looked like gambling. It looked like a movie set. I wondered if Galen promised them that they wouldn’t get in trouble for anything as long as they stuck with him.As I maneuvered through the sea of drunk assholes, I hit the inner ring. It was a weight ring around both the bonfire and the gazebo. They were just talking and laughing, drinking, dancing and watching the chaos of the surrounding groups.I couldn’t understand why Rebecca was sitting in the gazebo with Galen. She always said that he gave her the ick too. It might have been the onl
Last Updated : 2025-03-15Winter 62. A Losing Bet
“How about it, Little Winter? Want to try and change the world?”“The world? No. But if it gets your ass out of town, then I’m all for it.”I didn’t like how close he was now. He had stepped down and up to me. Crossing my arms over my chest, I forced him to lean back a little if he wasn’t going to touch me. He did, smirking at me as his eyes looked me up and down.“How about this? If you can touch me, simply just touch me, in five minutes, then I will leave. I’ll pack up everyone and go.”My eyes narrowed. “I don’t want you just gone from town. Whatever the hell you’ve been trying to do this week, I want it to stop. Stop trying to take over. It’s not going to work and this little display just proves it.”His chest rose and fell. Galen was annoyed and I could see him having a real hard time holding back his anger. Still, with a final wrinkle of his nose, he nod
Last Updated : 2025-03-16Winter 63. A Flash of Brilliance
I let out a long and slow breath as I pushed my hair back. Despite his magic, I hadn’t given up. I picked up my speed and I pushed myself as hard as I could. My eyes glanced at the timer in Kenneth’s hands. It hit fifty-nine seconds left and I looked back at Galen. He was standing completely unbothered, smirking at me.He’d been using magic to teleport just out of my reach. Usually, it was just before I hit him and he would appear behind me. I didn’t know if there were any limitations on it, but I didn’t have the time to figure it out. Part of me wanted to cry. To just fall to my knees and give up.Originally, I thought I might have been able to get in a lucky hit. That maybe I had a chance. Not overconfidence but at least a little confidence. No. I was just being stupid to think Galen would doing something dirty like this. Dee was right. I’d never hear the end of this. I’d hear ‘I told you so’ from him until the day I died. With magic involved, I didn’t stand a chance.‘Stoop to his l
Last Updated : 2025-03-17Winter 64. Chastised Again
Dee and I stood in front on Alpha Damian’s desk. Hank Addison, Risa Addison’s grandfather and Principal Miles’ father, was sitting behind it. He hadn’t been leadership, but under Alpha Damian’s father he was a well respected Elder. The only reason he hadn’t been leadership was because he had a bad fight with a rogue which left him unable to move faster than a slow walk. He had a cane he used, but that was leaning against the bookshelf behind the chair.On either side of him was Mrs. St James and Mr. St James. When we got to the pack house, Mr. Addison brought us in, gave us some hot chocolate and told us to wait until Dee’s parents got back. It took them about forty minutes but they came storming in and took us to the office.They had gotten some of what had happened from the warriors nearby but apparently, none of them were close enough to hear what was happening in the park. So, Dee and I went through what happened. From start to finish. The problem was, I had hoped
Last Updated : 2025-03-17Winter 65. Just Breathe Too
A searing pain rippled through. It invaded my dream and I screamed, thrashing until I felt myself back in my body. I continued to scream though, realizing that I was being pinned down to the bed. My eyes flung open and my heart sunk deep into my stomach.“And here I thought I would managed to at least get my dick in you before you woke up.”Galen was looking down at me, parts of his face sprouting fur as his wolf seemed to be taking over. He looked absolutely manic. His chest was bare and his arms were pinning mine up against the bed just above my shoulders. I couldn’t rotate my shoulders and so there was no way for my hands to reach him.“You know…you embarrassed me, in front of everyone!” He yelled at me, spit spraying from his mouth.The blankets had been pulled off the bed and he was sitting on my hips. I did everything I could to try and get him off. Twisting my body, hitting him in the back with my legs, twisting my arms. I did everything I could bu
Last Updated : 2025-03-18Winter 66. Shock and Awe
The doctor looked at the paper and then turned it to show the three standing at the far wall. It was odd because all three of them had very different reactions. Mr. St James smiled and then bit his lip, turning away from his mate and Luna. I didn’t expect Mrs. St James to ever roll her eyes but she did as she shook her head. Luna Ember was the most odd. She had a deep frown on her face as her brow pinched together.“Winter, please answer the doctor’s question.” Her tone was sharp.My eyebrows knit together. That was not the reaction I was expecting. The doctor handed me back the paper, but all I did was circle the question I wrote. Turning it back on the three, I gave them a look like I was waiting for an answer.“He’s on the territory, Winter. I don’t know what he’s doing now. Answer the damn doctor.” Luna Ember snapped at me again. “You don’t and I won’t allow Krista to visit again.”Krista’s head popped up and she looked from me to Luna Ember, the same
Last Updated : 2025-03-19Winter 67. A Few Answers
Again, the feeling of being overwhelmed rushed through me. My hands shook as I couldn’t imagine keeping up with the thoughts wanting to rush out of my head. It didn’t help that Caspian was looking at me like he was about to make a run for it. His worry was written all over his face as he tried to understand what I was thinking.“Winter…”Looking around, I spied the clipboard with the paper I had used earlier that day. I grabbed it and fumbled with the pen before finally writing.How? When? When did you know? How do we know? What do we do now? What is going to happen? What…His hand grabbed mine and I felt my heart leap into my chest. Tearing my eyes away from the paper, I looked back up at him.“Winter, relax. Not everything needs to come out now.” M
Last Updated : 2025-03-20Winter 68. A Gaggle of Gossiping Girls
I was woken up early by a nurse. She gave me some breakfast and some medicine to try and help my throat. After about fifteen minutes, she helped me go through some vocal exercises. Midway through, there was a knock on the door. Gamma Maddox poked his head in and he smiled at me when he saw me sitting up.“I’m sorry, am I interrupting? I can come back.”The nurse shook her head and smiled. “No, Gamma. I think we are done for now.” She patted my leg. “Try not to strain yourself too much, but keep your voice soft and quiet. It will help you build up your muscles again.”Nodding, I watched Gamma Maddox open the door for her before slipping in. He placed a gift bag that was blue and sparkly on the table. Pulling up a chair, he sat down and leaned back, closing his eyes.“Are you using me as an escape?” I whispered, keeping my voice soft like the nurse practiced with me.“I brought a gift.&rdquo
Last Updated : 2025-03-21
Latest chapter
Winter 90. Battle Ready
“You have got to be kidding me.”Krista smiled wide. “What are you talking about? I saw this and it screamed you.”“Krista.”“Winter.”“Kris.”“Winny.”I slammed my palm into my forehead. “We don’t have time to get something else, do we?”“How dare you! This is perfect! You will look like you’re going to go into battle! Complete with battle ready shoes. I thought you would be happy with them. They aren’t even that high and they are the thick heel.”Throwing my hands up, I gestured to the dress she had set out. “The boots are the least of my worries at this point! Krista! This is over the top!”She took my hands bringing them down and holding them together. “I promise you, it’s not. You could be like me.”My eyes side over to her dress. She was right about that. Bo
Winter 89. Spa Day
It felt like something was pressing down on my chest. I couldn’t catch my breath and I opened my eyes, hoping I wasn’t having a panic attack. Instead, Krista was sitting on my chest, looking down at me with a huge smile on her face. Rolling my eye, I closed them and burrow back into her pillow.“Absolutely not! Get up!”“Five more minutes.”She started to jump on me and I groaned. “You might have been sleeping in for the last two weeks, but some of us have normal sleep schedules. We need to get ready for tonight. You turn eighteen! It’s tonight, Winter!”I turned over, Krista falling off me and onto the other side of her bed. “Five more minutes. Why do I need to get up early if my birthday is tonight?”“Because beauty takes time. Come on, girl. Get up!”Sighing, I debated throwing the blankets over my head, but that would just end up with water getting dum
Winter 88. Plan G
“Well, sweets, that’s up to you, isn’t it?” Councilor Daeva came over, brushing her fingers through my hair. “What do you want to do? The two of you, because you are fated mates. You have to decide on what you want to do.”“Maybe not tonight? Maybe tonight we let them talk it out here?” Councilor Estella chuckled. “The poor dears are exhausted. Winter’s been through enough today.”“I already sent back Brittany. It’s why I was late coming back. She was hesitant, but I told her we were making sure Caspian was here and she was more amiable to the idea.” Councilor Daeva giggled, sounding like chimes every time she did. “And are we having them sleep together in the same room? Scandalous.”“Daeva, you’re the one who can see their mate bond. You’re the last one who should be saying that.” Councilor Augustine chuckled.
Winter 87. All Heroes Inevitably Fall
“Poisoning?” My knees started to give, but Councilor Daeva went from hanging on to me to holding me up. “They poisoned my mother? Is that how she died?”Councilor Erissa got up and got another glass. This time, it was filled with water and she handed it to me. I took a couple sips, still feeling like I wanted to pass out.“To answer your question, yes and no.” Councilor Daeva chimed in again. “Sorry, I’m not reading the room again, am I?”“No, you aren’t. You’re being overly touchy and the poor girl looks like she is going to faint.” Councilor Morel spoke again, shaking his head.He was right. I wanted to faint. Councilor Erissa helped me with the next couple of sips of water while Councilor Daeva left my back to go bicker with Councilor Morel. My mother…I always thought that she died from a broken heart. That the bond that my father refused to acknowledge had ki
Winter 86. Exposed
I didn’t know what to say. This all was so overwhelming. I sat there, staring into the coffee table. My mind was going a million directions and unable to settle. The mug of hot chocolate was placed back in my hands and I instinctively took a sip. It was the taste of home. The same feeling when I smelled the herbs drying or damp soil from a garden. The same feeling I had stepping into this room.Taking a breath, I finally spoke. “Before…I ask anything else. The reason I came here was because Alpha Damian and my father were trying to mate me off to another pack. They said that y-you signed off on it. I wanted to state my case. At the very least that I should be allowed to meet with Caspian when I turn eighteen. To know…before I’m mated off to someone…”“You have no need to worry about that.” Councilor Augustine growled. “You will not be going anywhere. Not unless by your choice.”“We also didn’t sign off on it, for what it’s worth. They never came to us.” Councilo
Winter 85. Into the Fire
The door opened and I felt my stomach drop. Regis moved to the side to allow me to step in. He gave me a smile and nodded into the room. Stepping into the room, I kept my eyes on the floor for a moment. My mother’s locket was tight in my hand. The door shut quietly behind me and slowly, I lifted my head.I had to blink a couple times to comprehend what I was seeing. The room was nothing as I expected. There were windows along the entire wall I was facing, a gorgeous view of the forest and even the river that ran all the way down to the pack. Inside the room reminded me of my house before Hannah got her grubby paws on it.It was the warm comforting living room or den. The stone floor had been covered in a hodgepodge of large area rugs. About three different styles of antique couches, five in total, were all around the room. The wall to my right was floor to ceiling bookshelves. There were was one long table in front of it and then two desks, one facing the windows
Winter 84. Out of the Frying Pan
I sat in the passenger seat of Mrs. St James giant black Wagoneer. We had left the pack territory a while ago as we drove north. Outside of telling me I looked lovely and asking me to buckle up, she didn’t say anything for the entire drive so far. There was some jazz playing lightly in the background and I looked out the window, everything outside being completely new to me.“Winter.”My head snapped to her. “Yes?”“You will be meeting with the entire Council. I will not be with you. You will be on your own and a few of them aren’t happy with an extra meeting today.”Nodding, I listened carefully to her. She wasn’t looking at me, her face serious as she watched the road. It was her in work-mode. A heaviness to her tone.“You cannot argue. You cannot treat them as you would your pack. While you might rebel against the Alpha, but you cannot do that to them. They would just as easily decide that you’re not worth it.”It wasn’t a matter of seeing me as a child wasting their time. She was
Winter 83. Step One
“Winter, do you know what you are asking for?”I stood in Mrs. St James’ office. She had stared at me a long time when I asked her to take me to speak to the Council of Elders. Luckily, she didn’t dismiss me immediately. Instead, she asked Krista to help me get dressed and then meet in her office. I expected that we would be alone, but Mr. St James was leaning against the wall behind her.“I do.”Mrs. St James leaned forward, her elbows on her desk as she rested her chin on her hands. “Winter, bringing the Council into this…it would get messy. It would also be leaving the decision in their hands. You might not like the outcome. They might not decide in your favor.”I looked down, clasping my own hands together. “I know. Thinking over this past week, I tried to think of what I could do. I felt, powerless, despite telling Caspian that we could figure it out. Leaving it all up to him, when the reason why I’m fighting so hard against this is purely selfish. It’s because I don’t want to le
Winter 82. Plan F
We pulled into the pack house driveway and I was surprised to see quite a few cars around. The pressure on my chest felt heavier when I realized not a single one of these cars was Caspian’s. Getting out, I left my backpack behind and Caleb even waited for me to walk with him to the door. Did he think I would run? Looking around, I wondered if it would be an option.“Inside, Winter.”Nodding, I walked into the house. What used to be a safe place for me now felt slimy. It felt like I didn’t belong here anymore. Nor did I feel welcome. Stepping into the kitchen, Luna Ember smiled and started to pull me into a hug, but I stepped back. Caleb growled but I didn’t care. Not after everything.“Winter…I know it may not seem like it now…but we really just want the best for you.” She stopped trying to hug me, at least. “I know it’s hard to see now, but trust us.”All I wanted to say was no. I didn’t want anything to do with any of this. This was wrong. Everyone knew it and I didn’t understand why
