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Bonus Chapter – The Cycle of Change
This chapter follows a young Elder Luke (Luke Hastings) 30/40 years prior to the main story. It was a very different time when things were not so accepting. This POV shows the beginning of how Elder Luke became the man he is today and why he holds the strong values he does - known by Aria as one of the deadliest men in the pack.
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Fifty-two. There were fifty-two books I needed to reshelve today. Several more than the day before, even more than the day before that. It meant I would need to work late today in order to finish this in time. At least I had the entire day to get through it.
With a sigh of resignation, I grabbed my trolley and began the journey to the back of the library where I would start the process, giving small smiles to those I made eye contact with along the way. This was the life of a librarian. Day in… day out…
Not to say I didn’t enjoy my work. On the contrary, I immensely loved what I did for a living. Bu
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“Do you want to get out of here?” I whispered intimately into his ear. The question was followed closely behind by my hand moving down his leg as he sat next to me, leaving no room for doubt in his mind over my intentions. There was only one conclusion to be made by my question. This was all it would take, I knew. A suggestion, a warm touch, a small smile from a pretty girl. Enough to convince them to come with me. And convince them I did as he eagerly stood up at my proposal. “Where did you have in mind?” he asked as he helped me to my feet. He moved in close, wrapping an arm around my waist, and tried to lean in for a kiss but I instantly moved back to pause him. “No, not here,” I said, my eyes darting around at the crowded bar. “But I think there is somewhere we can go out back.” He didn’t hesitate for even a second and immediately grabbed my hand, allowing me to lead him through the backdoor to the alleyway behind the establishment. An alleyway where many less than honest ac
A Gift from the Goddess Book Two - Ch.# 2
“Pretty name,” Miles said, sliding into the driver’s seat. “Where to?”“My apartment isn’t far. If you could drop me off there, I would appreciate it.”Miles promptly started the ignition of the car and began driving per the instructions I gave him. It wouldn’t be a very long journey but I used every second to think over all the little details in my head. Making sure there was absolutely no room for error.Because errors could mean death.However, the entire time I could feel the gaze of some of the men in the back, making my skin crawl uncomfortably. I knew what they were thinking about me. I could tell without even looking. A pretty, vulnerable girl alone in their car? Yeah, it didn’t take a genius. But interactions like this were just a part of the job. I was used to it.We arrived at the location I requested before too long had passed and I turned to Miles with a now more timid smile.“My place is just around the corner…,” I started, brushing some of my long black hair behind my e
A Gift from the Goddess Book Two - Ch.# 3
Darkness… Darkness, a damp surface and an overwhelming metallic taste greeted me.I knew what it was before I even opened my eyes, my last memories immediately reminding me to what had happened. Or, at least, what had happened before I’d lost consciousness.Shaking, I pulled my exhausted body upright to see the damage for myself.…To see the massacre.And it was a sight that made me want to throw up.Bodies laid everywhere around me. Throats torn, claw and bite marks riddling their skin.No one had survived.No one had survived *me*.I’d let it happen again, too weak to stop it. If I’d just regained control sooner, I could have gotten back up to my feet and finished them off, completing the mission per my instructions. But… no, I was a failure. A disappointment.A monster.The first time something like this had occurred was about four years ago, after my eighteenth birthday. I’d been in a training session with my former tutor, practising during an intense fighting session, when I sudd
A Gift from the Goddess Book Two - Ch.# 4
“Come in,” said a deep voice on the other side of the door. I’d only had to wait a few seconds for his response after knocking, but I wished there hadn’t been a reply at all. More than anything else, I just wanted to walk away. I wanted him to not be there waiting for me in his office. But that wasn’t the case. After leaving the construction site, I’d done only the bare minimum in fixing my appearance before coming here. Showering within a few minutes and changing into some more appropriate clothing as quickly as possible. After all, I wouldn’t be able to show myself in the state I’d been in after the accident. There was no backing out now. With one final deep breath, I pushed open the door and faced the man I knew would be there. Even in the dim light of his office, I could still make him out clearly as he sat behind his desk. His clean-cut dark hair and expensive suit only adding to his imposing presentation, his blue eyes having a way that made you want to squirm away under the
A Gift from the Goddess Book Two - Ch.# 5
“Raven, wake up. It’s midday already,” continued the voice I’d just heard. I pulled myself up and winced, touching my forehead gently. A loud thumping pulsed painfully inside as a headache immediately looked to greet me. It seemed this day was already off to a great start. “Raven!” the voice called again. “I’m awake!” I yelled back. Two minutes. That’s all I was asking for. Two minutes to wake up and process… whatever the hell *that* had been. I could still recall it vividly, witnessing what I could only assume was the form I took when I became the beast. Perhaps this was my consciousness manifesting it. Appearing inside my nightmare due to how prevalent it had been on my mind prior to sleeping. After all, they say that dreams hold significance to the things you are worried about when awake. Nonetheless, it was still surprising to see its appearance for the first time; if that depiction was even accurate at all. A coat of fur as dark as my hair with fearsome eyes. Was that truly
A Gift from the Goddess Book Two - Ch.# 6
With a thud, the dagger hit its mark perfectly. Only… it wasn’t a threat like I was expecting. No lurking assailant. …No, it was a tree. Shit. Truthfully, as I went to retrieve my weapon, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat relieved. This wasn’t the streets, nor was this a mission requiring deadly force. I was at a goddamn party. What the hell had gotten into me tonight? It was if rational thoughts and behaviours were absent. What if the sound I’d heard was simply an animal who wandered in from the forest nearby? But… that feeling of something being wrong. It was rare for my gut to be incorrect. And right now, my instincts were still screaming at me that something was happening, that something was approaching… that someone was…. Here. Another sound of movement behind me instantly made me react, only now it was significantly closer. In fact, it was right behind me. I knew if it were only a patron from the event, they would have called out to me or made their presence known befor
A Gift from the Goddess Book Two - Ch.# 7
Kieran Lycroft… Victor Lycroft, my target’s, very own son. How had I managed to screw things up this badly? Within twenty-four hours, it felt like my life had gone from being careful, structured… precise, into what I could only describe as complete erratic shambles. And worse still, it was as if I had no control. Control over my situation, over myself… and *especially* no control when it came to this man, Kieran. “Unfortunately, my father wasn’t able to make it tonight,” Kieran replied. “He had an important matter come up and sent me in his stead to extend our town’s support.” I could smell his scent so vividly, the wind now no longer masking it from me. So intoxicating yet inviting… I’d never come across anything like it before. “A shame. But nevertheless, I’m glad you could join us. I’ve heard that you’ll be taking his place upon his retirement. Is it common to elect representatives based on family in your town?” Kieran gave a half laugh and looked around for a second, almost
A Gift from the Goddess Book Two - Ch.# 8
“Alright, a little game sounds fun,” I finally replied. “But you’ll be disappointed to learn there is no ulterior motive in talking to you. You’ve just piqued my curiosity, is all.” I tried to laugh it off but Kieran didn’t seem to notice as he immediately set his drink down, his expression turning serious as he looked me over. Almost as if I could feel him scrutinising every little detail about me. But that confident look of his… It took all I had to just calm my heart down, the nervous thumping inside becoming so loud that I was worried he’d hear it. For a man who could seemingly read me so well… could he really pull this off? “Your eyes give you away a lot,” he started, leaning forward enough that I could still hear him as he spoke in a low voice. “Don’t get me wrong, they’re very pretty, but they also betray you.” At this proximity, his scent was beginning to overwhelm me. His compliment wasn’t helping either. I’d never been affected by small things like that before, but with
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