Arla woke, her head pounding, feeling weak and nauseous. She gingerly touched her hand to the side of her head and flinched. The pain radiated around her skull and she could feel the dried blood matted in her hair. She tried to remember what happened, but everything felt hazy.
She knew she was too weak to teleport, and trying to mind-link the Alpha exacerbated her headache, to the point she had to vomit into a bucket she’d located near the makeshift bed she was in on the hard floor. Exhausted and in pain, she lay back down and fell into slumber once again.
The next time Arla woke, the thumping in her head had subsided and she could think a little clearer, however the pain was still present. Why aren’t I healing? She thought.
He turned on his heel and strode out of the room and out of the cabin altogether, leaving Arla alone. Feeling numb, she collected the clean clothes and toiletries that had been provided and made her way to the bathroom in a daze. She showered and scrubbed herself, trying to wash the dirt, dried blood and smeared make-up from her face and body. Once she finally felt clean, she slid down the shower wall in a heap and finally allowed herself to break down and weep. She lost count of how long she’d been in the bathroom, but when she exited, Sadie was waiting for her in the room. Sadie wrapped her arms around Arla in a tight embrace, tears falling freely down her face as she cried into Arla’s neck. Arla returned the hug, stroking her long, honey coloured hair, trying her best to soothe her distraught friend. “I’
Two dark witches appeared from nowhere. They seemed to be the only people that were here of their own accord. They went from person to person, undoing the gold bracelets. As Arla’s was removed, she felt the welcome thrum and buzz of magic tingle her skin. She wished with all her might that she could end Alpha Anton, but the risk was too great. Alpha Anton left and moved downstairs as another familiar face joined the witches on the balcony. Natasha. She sneered at Arla as she approached. “Just when you thought you were somebody, you’re back here being a nobody.” Natasha had been her childhood best friend, but had turned against her after Arla’s dad tried to save Natasha’s mother, and failed. They both lost a parent that day, but Natasha’s grief came in the form of nastiness. She had rejected Arla’s friendship beca
Lorenzo sat on the bench seat overlooking Arla’s garden, with his head in his hands. The once vibrant and beautiful garden was now mostly shriveled and dying. Withering in the same manner he felt inside his chest. Felix came by every few days to tend it as best he could, and the packhouse gardeners helped, but without Arla’s magic touch, it failed to flourish as it once had. He felt her loss more and more each day, and now the day he’d been waiting for, five and a half years in the making, was finally here…and he was miserable. Her eighteenth birthday. She was supposed to be here with him. He’d had it planned out in his head for years. This was the day she would finally call him mate. Instead, he was alone, not knowing where she was. He didn’t know if she was safe, or if she was even alive. He f
Arla, Sadie and Victor were enjoying their morning walk outside together. It was the only time of day the witches were allowed outdoors, other than when they were being escorted to battle, and they all tried to make the most of it. “Do you think your mate is in this pack?” asked Sadie, looking around at the guard wolves. “Ugh, I seriously hope not,” replied Arla in disgust. “After we get out of here, I never want to see this place ever again.” “What if your mate is here, though?” she pressed. “My mate could be standing right next to me and I wouldn’t have a clue until I get my wolf back. I mean, I think I’d still feel the sparks if we touched and maybe feel a pull towards them, but I don’t have wolf senses at the moment, nor do I have my wolf to confirm it’s my
Back in the cabin, Arla could barely contain her nervous energy. Lewis had just given her the first real opportunity for escape since she’d been here, and she needed to think through every possibility before making a decision. This was her only chance and she couldn’t waste it. Sadie and Victor were sitting on her bed as she explained what had happened with Lewis in a whisper, not wanting any of the other witches to know. “What are you waiting for, Arla?” asked Sadie, whisper-squealing. “I can’t just take the bracelet off and shift,” she explained. “My wolf has been suppressed for so long now, it’s going to take her a while to gain her strength back.” She moved to sit with them on the bed. “There’s always the possibility that she won’t come back,” she added sa
“Arla! Oh Goddess! Are you ok?” Lorenzo knew he sounded pathetic and desperate, but he didn’t care. She was alive. Oh, how he’d missed her voice. Marcel jumped in his mind, turning frantic circles. “I’m ok. They put silver on me, I’ve only just got Maeve back.” “Who? Where are you? I’m coming to get you,” he demanded, rising from the floor and taking a seat on the end of his bed. “No, you can’t. It’s too dangerous. There are too many lives at stake here. I just need to know if I can come home, or if I need to go elsewhere–” He cut her off. “Home! It’s not even a question, Arla,” he said firmly. Why would she even ask that? He thought.
Maeve opened her eyes seconds later, finding herself in the packhouse foyer, and howled loudly, voicing her pleasure. Millie and Granny Elsie came rushing from the kitchen, overjoyed and shouting Arla’s name. Drew appeared next, hugging Maeve tightly and patting her fur. Maeve purred in delight. It had been so very long since she’d been touched, and to have Drew and Dusk so close helped forge their connection once again. Granny Elsie walked into the living room and returned holding a blanket. She held it in front of Maeve as she shifted back, and wrapped it around Arla’s naked body, leading her into the living room where Millie had rustled up some leggings and a t-shirt. She hugged and kissed them both, then flew out of the room at a rate of knots and straight into Drew’s waiting arms. He picked her u
Arla woke just before dinner, every thought and emotion flooding back as she was pulled from sleep and returned to consciousness. Alpha Lorenzo. Her mate. She needed to see him, needed to speak to him, needed to touch him. Needed to claim him. His scent was overpowering in the hallway, and she knew he had been here recently. She knocked on his door but received no response. Granny Elsie found her on the way downstairs and insisted she eat. She filled a plate for her and sat quietly while she satisfied her rumbling stomach. “Better?” Granny asked after Arla had polished off seconds. She nodded her head. Granny rose from her seat and hugged Arla from behind, kissing her cheek. “I’m so glad to have you back, dear. Please give him a chance to explain.”