Novel & Cerita Stan Pines Young

The car slowed as the trees thickened. Elara sat upright in the back seat, hands folded over her knees, posture perfect despite the fatigue crawling along her spine. Her mother had reminded her: First impressions matter most. So she did not slouch. Did not look out the window like a child. Did not fidget. She stared straight ahead. The iron gates loomed up like jaws, black and ancient, set into stone pillars veined with moss. The driver didn’t speak. Just pressed a button. The gates groaned open, reluctantly, like something old and angry was being disturbed.

Nyx, her wolf, stirred restlessly inside her. Almost time, she whispered from deep within, her voice wild and smooth like smoke. Elena exhaled and tilted her head back to watch the stars blink awake above the treetops. She’d grown up surrounded by those trees — raised in the heart of Ashfang territory where the pines stood ancient and close and full of secrets. Some days she loved it. Other days, it felt like the forest was swallowing her whole. Tomorrow she’d turn eighteen. And tomorrow… she might finally meet her mate.

Damn, I hope so. Okay, I need to get my mind out of the gutter and stop thinking about eating ice cream off those luscious round mounds and those perfect erect nipples of hers and concentrate on driving. Or none of us will make it back to the fire pit. Another two hours' drive, and we're finally pulling onto the road that leads up to the pit, God I've missed this place and my boys. I can see big Stan standing in the doorway alongside Dylan, the newest member of the clan; he's looking well. Much better than the last time that I saw him.

That’s where we were headed. Many of the pack members stared at us as we drove by, before turning down the side street to the pack house. It unnerved me. I wondered how much some of them might remember of my parent’s death and how many of them knew exactly who I was. ‘We can take them if they give us problems,’ Stella growled in my mind. ‘Calm down, Stel. I don’t really want to fight anybody on my first day back.’ I bit back in response.