Adam parked in the driveway of the packhouse, and before he could even turn the engine off, Alexander was out of the car and entering the packhouse. Adam sighed, turning the key to turn off the car, “Come with me, Isabella.” He climbed out of the car, and I followed, “What is he doing?” I asked. “He’s sending James, Apollo and Liam on an immediate perimeter check.” Adam spoke, guiding me toward the back side of the house. “Why?” I asked, but my question went unanswered. We rounded the house just in time to see Apollo, James, and Liam running in their shifted forms into the woods. Alexander was approaching us; I could see the anger heat rolling off him in waves. Adam kept walking, unfazed by Alexander. However, I cowered beside him as he led me to the concrete building I had been in a month before. Adam took me downstairs, “If you thought your life was complicated before, it definitely is now.” We walked straight past the holding rooms where Mary and I were held, walking deeper into t

Alexander and I lay intertwined, and his fingers danced along my spine. He hadn’t left; he stayed with me as we shared that comfortable silence between one another. “Will we… get into trouble?” I whispered, making him chuckle, “No. Frowned upon, but not in trouble.” He sighed, playing with the ends of my hair. “Are you sure?” “I wouldn’t have had sex with you if it would have meant you would have to face some sort of repercussion. Besides, if you think we’re the first ones to do this, you’re mistaken. It happens frequently.” He chuckled, making me feel better. “Besides, there isn’t a soul in this house that didn’t hear you.” My eyes bulged, and I sat up, staring at him. “What?” He let out a loud laugh, his eyes squinting as I stared at him. “You can’t possibly think you were quiet, by any means.” He teased, making me scoot to the edge of the bed and go to the bathroom. “Oh, don’t be like that, princess.” Alexander followed after me, “I enjoyed it.” He purred as I turned the shower on

I was swimming in this dark pool, the inky blackness calling to me like an old friend, asking me to follow it. But something was calling from behind. I twisted the ink water, feeling that tug from the front and the back. Behind me was a warmth, and in front of me was a calm peacefulness. I felt like something was calling me, making me turn to the warmth. What was that? It felt like home, happiness, my favorite food, my favorite novel, all things good, calling me, begging me to come back. A person… But who? They were begging me, pleading that I come back. Princess, listen to me. Please… Don’t leave me alone. That voice, I knew it. I blinked, feeling that pull in my chest. Who was that? I knew them, I did, but who were they? Please… Don’t make me do this alone. My heart began to ache for this man; he seemed to be in pain. So I swam toward him, feeling his pain as if it were my own. He was hurting in more ways than one. As I stirred closer to him, he began to get frantic. That’s it,

Eventually, we returned to the pack house, where Adam was waiting for us outside. I felt bad as I realized we probably were late coming back, meaning my class would be running into dinner tonight most likely. But instead, what Adam said shocked me. “We have a test today.” He waved me forward, “Gabe must stay here.” “A what?” I stuttered, glancing over at Gabe as we entered the hallway leading through the bottom floor of the house. “There is an Alpha here from a neighboring pack who is willing to help track down those who were responsible for attacking you. He’s the next biggest pack to ours, and is very respected throughout the other packs. He’s very wise, and he has direct links to the Council.” He explained, pausing a few feet away from the stairs that led to Maggie’s room. “Maggie asked to see Gabe, so I figured we could drop him off with her before joining Alexander in his office.” I turned to Gabe, who shrugged and bounced up the stairs, “Catch ya later,” He winked at me and left

I sat down at the wooden table, watching as he moved to the window, scanning the woods. Something of a habit I had found between both Alexander and James was they were always watching their surroundings.    “There’s a legend that there’s a ghost wolf in this part of the forest.” He began to say, pulling the chair out with his free hand, “It’s a story that we tell the younger kids at bonfires so that they stay near the packhouse, but there is some truth to the story. There have been sightings for years of a wolf that patrols the woods, one minute you see him, and the next he’s gone. Poof! Like a ghost.” He raised his eyebrows as he said ‘poof!’, before shaking his head, “It’s said that he’s searching for any with a ‘dark heart’. Cursed and can no longer return to his human form until he finds the one th