Lahat ng Kabanata ng Blind and Bound: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

I run through the trees, squealing with delight as my older brother Kai and our friends Starling and Juniper give chase after me. A game of tag after a long day of chores in our family orchards. It’s mid-spring, with birds singing, the sun shining brightly, my tenth birthday two nights away when I will get my wolf. “You’ll never catch me!! I’m too fast for you!”My voice sings as I keep running. Despite my teasing, I know Kai will have absolutely no trouble catching me soon. I can hear his feet pounding faster. Our laughter fills the air, breathless with the joys of being young. In a quick move, I find myself tackled, Kai’s “Ha!” in my ear. “Careful sister, don’t let yourself get too cocky!” I shove him off, laughing as I do. Starling and Juniper join in, falling onto us with their own giggling. With my brother being 12 and having his wolf for two years, he has already started gaining the interests of most young ladies in our territory. So it isn’t a surprise when Juniper blushes

The hunt went well, we managed to take down several boars and some deer throughout the night. The next night was a feast of our hunt and a celebratory send off of the food and supplies put together to spread across my kingdom to those in need.And yet… it feels hollow. It feels like I’m sending these things out and going through the motions, but does any of if really matter? Is it enough?I sigh and look at myself in the tall mirror. My mahogany hair has already been ruffled from running my fingers through my hair. An act of frustration I hardly notice I’m doing. My amber eyes gleaming golden in the sunlight filtering through my bedchamber windows. It’s in these quiet moments of facing myself that my cold, emotionless expression isn’t there. Over the last couple of years, I’ve felt my lycan growing hungrier and hungrier, pacing and snarling, needing to mate. My rage becoming harder and harder to control. I’ve tried keeping him appeased by carefully taking lovers, but I’m never quite

I can hear the sounds of our boots on the floor inside the castle as Jasper guides me. Arius’ claws tap the ground as we walk, he is always at my side. I can smell flowers, different werewolves of different statuses, cleaning products, and food. My vision is black, though I do see light from the people I focus on. Jasper is giving off a bluish tint, telling me he is calm. I can tell his muscles are large and well defined because of how solid and thick his arm is. He smells of cedar and lemons. “Lady Odessa, it is a pleasure to meet you. We heard news of how you’ve protected a couple of our packs and we have been trying to meet you.”His voice is calm and there’s a warmth there that surprises me. I can tell that he isn’t speaking to me out of attraction, but genuinely thankful. “Yes, I had heard I was being looked for, but I could not come right away. There is too much going on that it is difficult to find time to step away. It seems as though the Goddess had other plans by bringing

Dinner was quite a dance, if I say so myself. The tension between Levantus and I was intense. It took everything in me to be able to eat my meal. It was easier when only I was aware of the connection. I could focus on my own reaction, but now that he is aware, it’s harder to breathe. Dinner passes quickly after the king arrives. He spends time speaking with Beta Jasper, leaving me to my thoughts. Every so often, his arm brushes mine or he reaches out to touch my arm. These actions are not done consciously, it’s like he has to remind himself I’m there with him. Now, we are seated within his council room. Guards have been stationed outside the doors, ensuring no eavesdropping can happen and that no one enters without permission. From what Arius tells me, the table is u-shaped and I am sat at a table in its center to face the king and look myself to be seen and heard by his men and women. Arius says the king isn’t particularly comfortable putting me on display, but this allows

Arius lifts his head and I know he’s looking at me as I stroke his cheek now. I can feel his pride at becoming my brother. I smile a little and tilt my head back toward the king. My mate is strong and the light I see from him is golden. I’ve never seen gold like this before. It’s bright and pulses with a warmth that calls to me. My instincts tell me to keep going and to, maybe, let him in. “Not long after joining together, during our travels we were attacked by five rogues. We could scent them at first, but my instincts alerted both of us of the danger before the attack. Using my training and daggers, I fought as best as I could, but we only took two of the five down and were starting to lose. I heard Arius cry out and something inside me bubbled up. An energy from within me, abilities of my protector side came out, and it was like an electric shock. Suddenly, Arius was blessed and I could feel energy surge through him. Next thing I knew, the last three rogues were dead and we were