Anthem A Novels & Stories

The private chapel was tucked away on the grounds of a sprawling, centuries-old estate in the Cotswolds, hidden completely from the prying eyes of the world. It was a crisp, perfect autumn afternoon, the ancient stonework of the building draped in vibrant ivy that had turned a brilliant, fiery red. Inside, the air was thick with the sweet, heady scent of white lilies and the warm, golden glow of hundreds of flickering candles.

“Yes, you can.” He pulled her up, and then he pulled her close as the music went on. A slower song from the eighties that he would struggle with to remember as they all seemed to sound the same, but this would be something to him and hopefully her. He brought her closer to him and held her in the darkness of the surrounding night swaying to the song. When it was over, he looked down at her face as her eyes were closed, and she looked at peace for a moment.

turned around and went back to the front door to lock it. After he made sure that their home was secure he continued to run after his sister until he was right by her side. He looked ahead of them. In the not so far of distance he could see the line where trim country grass from the Farmers Open Fields met with wilderness. Such a difference between the two pieces of land. Almost like different worlds. There was a flimsy wooden gate between the farmland and Forest that seemed to be holding the later back from oozing into their village. They had entered the forest quite a few times before and they always entered in the same place right there. Where country meets wilderness at the flimsy gate.

JASMINE Before I knew it, it was halfway through September. I had found myself preoccupied with school and work, and temple choir had started up again. We were now rehearsing every night of the week as we would be performing during the alpha ceremony. At work, Lucy and Valerie were busy prepping for all of the desserts and the huge cake they’d have to prepare for the occasion. The whole pack was alive with excitement for something that hadn’t occurred for over forty years—the transition from one alpha to the next.

My name is Alexandria Rivers. I am 17 years old. I am the daughter of Joyce & Edward Rivers, Beta's to Alpha Brian Jackson of the Green Wood pack. My brother, Tyler Rivers, is best friends with the future Alpha Mason Jackson, and also next in line to become Beta. Alpha Brian and Luna Samantha have always been very kind to me. Mason and I began dating in middle school, and Luna Samantha has been teaching me how to be a Luna, in case Mason and I are mates. I finally get to shift and find my mate in 1 week. I'm really hoping Mason is my mate. My mother says that with the mate bond, you can feel what she described as "Sparks" when you touch your mate. Mason and I have both noticed a tingling sen

He broke free of the mirror image and went to the window. The view was that of the garden he had walked through to the bathhouse. Beneath him were broad beds of roses, sage, yellow daisies, and asters. Bees were busy collecting nectar from all of them. Humming birds chased each other guarding certain flowers. To the young prince, it appeared that trumpet vines were their favorite. Looking up he noticed that the sky was mostly clear except for a few clouds slowly marching toward the East. He thought he could hear the sound of ships’ bells off in the distance. He sat on the windowsill for a moment before going back to the mirror. He stood again looking at himself.

“The earth gives us form. And now, to the earth, we return her remains. Citra’s body will join the soil, but her spirit will continue on.” Arden steps forward, handing Hawk a bowl of water. Hawk sprinkles it over Citra. Then he takes a belladonna flower and lays it on her chest. “Hecate, Mother of us all, guide your daughter to the Summerland. May she find peace among our honored ancestors. Let our love carry her across the veil.” He walks to a torch and raises his hand. The flames leap higher. “Fire, we thank you for the passion she brought to life—the spark in her eyes, the energy in her step. May it return to you, to be born anew.”

“She … can … stop … time.” Caius’s brows rose higher and higher with each word. “She can stop time.” Knight slapped his phone down. On the screen was an internet search on various types of flowers. “Did you know there’s a type of chrysanthemum called chrysanthemum Anastasia?” I set the letter down and took another sip of whiskey. There wasn’t nearly enough to make me inebriated, but it did help take the edge off.

Each one radiates something different: Heartwood Emberroot hums with deep sorrow and embered hope. Ashbane carries the ache of betrayal, the weight of endings. Mireblossom pulses faintly, echoing my heartbeat. Lunacrown Thistle stings even from a distance, sharp, and proud, refusing to be tamed. Solstice Veinleaf is cold and impossibly bright, like moonlight on snow.

“I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.” — W. B. Yeats ~~~ [Xanthea Plath] I limped into the graveyard, clutching my broken arm with the other hand. Blood mixed in the rain trailed down from my shoulder to my elbow, down my wrists, making its way to my fingers that clutched the small bouquet of forget-me-not flowers. Every flower of the bouquet was crushed and marred with blood-stains. The blue ribbon that once tied the flowers together was long lost.