With Elijah's hand protectively locked around mine, we race towards the manor as it burst into a terrified uproar. While my feet collide against the cobbled ground, I feel my heartbeat quicken erratically as a wave of vulnerability washes over me. As the severity of the situation begins to settle in, the atmosphere quickly darkens as if it were mimicking the very sky just above. Feeling the alarm within my being, my wolf begins to liven up, suddenly invigorated by her burning determination that has been set alight by the calling sirens screaming in the distance. In a blind panic, we storm through the door and find ourselves crashing into a fear-stricken Raven as she gasps out of fright. Her eyes bulge wide as she stumbles backwards, a look of panic dancing across her face as she crashes into Isaac while he stands closely behind, searching the hallway with a restless stare. His eyes snap forward with shock, catching his sister by the shoulders and steadying her before turning

Hesitantly, I look back towards the lifeless wolf with tear-filled eyes as Aubrey’s body lies on the ground, my own paralysed with guilt while I stand frozen to my spot as my mouth opens and closes without making the faintest of a sound – almost as if my voice had been immobilised, horror-stricken and preventing me from making a noise. Remaining stuck within my blameful thoughts, I try to make sense of what had just transpired while I struggle to comprehend the bitter reality that I have just taken someone’s life. Did that really just happen? I stumble backwards unsteadily; my stomach twisting into knots as I hold down the rising bile crawling its way up my throat, burning my neck as I repress the urge to vomit and purge all the bad energy I harbour inside. With my vision beginning to blur, I feel my weight go from beneath me as I become unbalanced, crashing down heavily while I clamber onto the earthy ground trying to find my bearings. My breathing grows erratic; my exhales

As if bright starlight were attempting to pulsate through the graphite sky hanging above us, scattered lightning strikes come in grand networking forks as they ripple above - illuminating those beneath for no more than a heartbeat before we continue our battle in the darkness, being consumed by the returning shadows while they nurture the evening street. My eye’s flicker downwards as I catch sight of the nefarious creature lunging forward; his claws outstretch while he propels his unnatural frame through the air towards me as if he were a sharp throwing dagger, and I were the waiting target. With a heavy spike of adrenaline pulsating through my veins and a driving determination instilling within me, I leap into the air without any thoughts holding me back. Acting out of instinct, I hurtle myself in the Nightcrawlers direction in turn while I brace myself for impact, my mouth hanging open as I aim for his exposed flesh. In a brutal collision of opposing forces, our bo

As shame begins to rot away at me from the inside out like a festering disease, I sit and contemplate the result of my thoughtless actions that led me to this very moment while the silence gathers around me unbearably. The resonating medley of reactions from the departed pack continues to replay hauntingly within my spinning mind as if their ghosts of the past were still here, making me relive those unsettling few seconds on an endless loop. Unwillingly recalling the fleeting moment to my dismay, I shudder as I consider either variation of the emotional spectrum displayed as equally unpleasant as the other—neither cheerful, leaving me to feel only worse than I had before if that were somehow possible. Expecting to feel better after having the truth peeled away from my burdened chest, the darkened cloud hanging above my head remains as my unwanted companion, lingering above me heavily as if foreshadowing my personal downpour. I silently wonder what the pack must think of me w

Despite being shown the very utmost respect upon their anticipated arrival, the Council return no pleasantries towards us while they storm through the manor's doors as if the place was their very own – ignoring to greet us in turn while demanding to be immediately taken somewhere more private instead, as if they were somehow under the impression that we would uncaringly hold the confidential meeting right there on the doorstep. The Councillors take off their coats; overspilling Mato with the lumbering weight of the garments while they walk past him with little to no acknowledgement, mistaking his outward hand as coat hanger - leaving him to pout and scowl while he only intended to shake theirs politely. Once seated opposite us inside the study, the Councillors settle themselves down while glancing around the room in discomfort – still adjusting to stepping outside the barriers of their protected comfort zone and venturing into our own. Blackwood assumes the centre seat oppos