"What?" I ask, taking great pains to wedge between our thrones a little distance as I push mine from his. I should know better. I end up looking stupid. I always do stupid things around Rune. That's the only explanation for trying to move a throne that is fixed to the ground. "You're a clown," he mutters, angling toward me and propping his head against his wrist. The glint in his green eyes is mischievous and a crafty smile teases his lips. "I quite like your aggressive side, Red." I blink. Heat creeps up my neck, spreading further until I'm pretty sure I have a full body flush going on. Does he call me Red to turn me Red? "Piss off," I say, settling in beside him awkwardly. Now I'm all self conscious. Touching my hair, twirling it around my fingers, rubbing my arms, peeling off the coat of my nail polish, all in a bid to ignore the fact that Rune's eyes are trained on me. Why in the three realms is he looking at me? Why is he even talking t

"I'm...ah... happy for you," I say, trying to force a smile to my face, but I fail, because I'm not. Even Sapphire sees past it because she gives me a wary look and says, "I'll leave you two to talk." To Thorne she says, "I'll be with the rest." And she kisses the corner of his mouth while her eyes are trained on me. It's a very clear message that I understand all too well. *Back off.* I look away, feeling stupid and angry for reasons that have nothing to do with jealousy. Or maybe it is. I don't know. I'm not angry that he's found his mate. I'm not angry that he has obviously moved on. It's just...it isn't me. I'm not the one. And it stings. There is a long pause in which Thorne stares at me with vulnerable eyes and I stare back at him, heart further sinking. "It happened on the first week." I fold my arms and look down at my boots. "You don't have to explain anything to me, Thorne. I understand." "It wasn't a matter of choice, Astrid."

My claws jut out, biting into my closed fists, tearing into the skin of my palms. The skin heals only a second later, but the wound in my heart is deeper. The skies have a tinge of orange in it as the sun disappears behind pinkish clouds. Dusk approaches and there are three more games to name a winner. Already, the scoreboards have figures that have wide contrasts against the other. LS has sixty points and WA has twenty. Not surprising, since we all knew it was never really going to be a fair game. I sit, watching the players for the 'Pack Hunt' form lines, each team facing off. My brows furrow when I see Maya at the end of the line, head bowed low and a ferocious grin on her face as she faces off a figure that seems oddly familiar... I start in my seat. Trinity? Not good. Not good at all. I am happy to see Tri, but seeing her stand against Maya, looking every bit as menacing as I know she is, I can't help but feel a sense of dread. For Maya, of cours

My parents left for Wolvendom yesterday. The goodbyes had been awkward and somewhat detached. With my parents, with Thorne, and with Trinity, everyone itching to get back to their lives and me. . .back to my misery. Frankly, the problem had been me. I couldn’t stand being around any of them. My lying parents. Thorne and his mate. Trinity who’s become Thorne’s best friend. Aria didn’t attend, choosing instead to remain in the Academy with her fourth year boyfriend who isn’t much for sports. I have been holed up in my room since then, brooding and thinking. Classes start again in a week, ensuring that all of the injured have recovered. Not nearly time to get over everything that happened, but we're all trying to set it aside. Having had two days to myself to think, I have decided to meet up with Rune and talk it out. After which I will check in on Darian. He was among the injured. Maya told me. Rather than go see him myself, I have had Maya take flowers to him on my behalf.

*Rune*It had begun with dreams.Once, I had been a child, trailing after my mother for sweets and running after my knights with a wooden sword with a battle cry that I would deem rather pathetic, looking back on it.I had been oblivious then.I had been normal.Until we met.Rather, until I saw her. It had been the first time I felt him within me.I have always thought the wolves to have the greater privileges of being granted beasts they can tame just as easily as they breathe. Lycans have it worse. I have it way worse.Her wolf to her is what Hekate is to me.A cruel joke. One would think I may have offended the Goddess in my past life--perhaps, I did. To be leashed for all eternity to him, constantly struggling for control, constantly struggling to survive.I don't ever win.When he takes over, I stop being. I lose time. I lose everything I am in those moments, and I do not return until he wishes to leave.Others pride in their true forms, but I, Rune Wilder, Heir of the Lyca