*Meadow*The sun casts a warm golden glow, as if trying to heal the scarred landscape left by the war. Fields, once lush and green, lie ravaged, but sprouts of new life fight their way through the wreckage. The earth seems to be slowly stitching itself back together, just as we are.I sit anxiously as I wait for Sol to walk down the flowered aisle. She chose this place as the setting for her wedding, and when I asked her why, she said she wanted to honor those people who fell during our battle."Look at that," Xavier says, pointing to a small group of deer grazing in the distance. "Life always finds a way.""Indeed," I reply, my voice catching in my throat. The sight is both beautiful and heartbreaking. It's hard not to think of those who never got to see this moment of renewal.Right after the battle, we spent our days rebuilding the world around us, not only the physical structures, but also the hearts and minds of those left behind. It's a slow and arduous process, but with each bri
*Meadow*I opened the door of my loyal 20-year-old truck and picked up a bouquet of flowers from the back seat. There are many flower vendors near the cemetery, but I always purchase from a little old store near my mother's old home.The owner was my mother's friend, and she knew that every 2 weeks I was coming to visit her so she would put extra effort into making a nice bouquet for Mom, with her favorite flowers. I always offer to pay the full price, but in the same way, she always refuses, only allowing me to pay half of it. I wasn't going to argue, she was one of my mom's best friends, and still had those watery eyes when she saw me walk in to get the usual arrangement."Morning sweetheart, I got your special package waiting for you, just give me a minute, and I will go get it from the back." She was just adorable; her daughter was so young, barely 17 and was already inserted in the family business. She smiled at me and waved from her corner where she cut and removed the base th
*Caleb*I shifted myself in the car; every bump in the road making one or another of the injuries sting or bring back the pain. I was tired, the drugs they gave me to help cope the healing process worked well, but they made me feel like I could sleep for days."Alpha, we've arrived. The guards at the front say there is no one, except a human far on the other side.""Let's just get this over with," I said as I frown.Peyton was Alexei's son; or Alex as I call him, and he was the most painful loss in last night's battle. The stubborn pup wanted to help, but he should have listened to his father when he told him to stay back with the rest of the pack. When Agape, the wife of the rogue's alpha, found him barking at them, she smirked an evil soulless smile just before she snarled at him and in a matter of seconds, broke his neck with her maw. That bitch was going to get what was coming to her and her pack.Alex hadn't say a word since we heard that last quick cry, just before his life
*Meadow*Everything was dark at first, but I slowly started to open my eyes and felt them heavy. Where was I?I heard a man grunt and focused my sight towards the origin of the sound. Now I could see better; I was in a room, a library of some sort, and huge walls of books were the only thing I could see everywhere the light made contact. The fireplace crackled, and I heard another grunt."I am finishing Alpha, just one more round." A female voice brought my attention. I tilted my head and noticed I was laying on a big couch. Scratch that, a huge couch; I was sure four more of me could fit in without effort. I looked towards the fireplace and saw the silhouette of a man leaning against a shelf of books next to the fire. A woman was wrapping something around his torso. I blinked a few times and noticed the bandages.He stiffened and moved his head slightly towards the woman. She finished her attention to his wound then picked his shirt to help him put it back on. Who was He? Why was
*Meadow*He was silent for a moment before he started to get up, then he lost balance and fell to the floor, I jumped up and rushed to his side, my head was spinning, but I didn't care. I rested my hand on his back, and he shuddered. "Maybe I should call the nurse again? Are you ok?" I said, and he lifted his eyes to meet mine. Under the flames of the fire, I felt trapped in his deep dark gaze."I... I will be ok. You don't have to worry about me." He hesitated.I sat next to him and started to look around his bandage for any trace of blood that might indicate an open wound. The truth was, I really needed a distraction from his gaze, or I would lose my mind and breathe. I didn't notice he leaned closer to me and had his eyes closed. When I looked up at him, he was breathing heavy. "I should really call the nurse," I said, getting up to head to the door, but he held my wrist, and his eyes burned me. "I will be ok. I will call one of my men to take you back. I am sorry," Men? he had
*Meadow*I don't remember when exactly I fell asleep, I just remember him holding me close in silence while I fought my dizziness and his closeness. Yes, I was really losing my mind, how could I be so lost in this stranger's presence? I needed to know more about him, or at least try to find out who he was apart from a mysterious knight. My mysterious knight.I sat on the queen sized bed and felt a strong pain that almost blinded me. Ah yes, this was something I was familiar with. I was having a migraine, and I had to find my medicine. The problem was, I left it at home.A gentle knock on the door brought my attention, I had my eyes squeezed tight, so I was only able to see halfways as the pain subsided a few moments, a new sting would strike soon."Meadow? Are you awake?" I heard his dark voice while he opened the door. I didn't want him to see me like this, but he was inside already before I could reply. "What is wrong? Are you ok?" I barely opened my eyes and saw he had a plate w
*Meadow*He walked to the coffee table and picked up his plate, then brought it to me. He sat on the end of the bed and laid himself against the back post. He lifted both hands and locked them together at the back of his head taking a relaxed stance. His muscles were toned and perfect. He had a black shirt and dark gray sweatpants."I thought you might be hungry, since you refused to eat last night," His words brought my attention back to his eyes. Only then I looked at the plate on my lap and saw a neatly cut sandwich with a glass of juice.My tummy growled. I was starving. "Thank you, I guess I am hungry."He chuckled and waited for me to take a few bites, I was really nervous to have him watching me eat, but my hunger won.After a few more bites, he cleared his throat. "Do you mind if I let my curiosity speak for me?"I almost choked and took a long sip of the delicious juice before I got the courage to look at him again. I say this because I could really get lost in those poo
*Meadow*So there I was, loving that simple and comfortable dress. A sexy lingerie which made me feel hot and bothered inside. As I was about to knock on the door of his study, I heard a loud thump and something being cracked or broken, perhaps both. I knocked on the door and opened it before I got an answer. "Caleb? Are you ok?"I saw him crush a phone with his hand while a vase laid broken in pieces on the floor. He turned around to face me, and I saw the anger in his gaze that slowly turned into sadness. What was troubling him I didn't know, but I wanted to erase the sadness from his eyes. "Meadow..." He whispered, and I saw small drops of blood coming from his tight grip on the now broken cell phone. I rushed to him and took his hand, trying to make him release its tight grip.At first, he looked at me in shock, his dark eyes distracting me for a second but then I looked around and saw an open door that led to a bathroom. I pulled him with me, and he followed me in silence. Once