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Chapter 140
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Echoes of the Pack Chapter 141
"Congrats," I wave as the couple walks out of the clinic."Thanks, Alora," The pregnant female smiles back at me before taking her mate's hand."Hey Alora!" Addison comes running up beside me. Kiana and Eamonn are next to her.Eamonn sprints into me and wraps his arms around my legs, "Alora! Hey, nene."Addison looks at me with hopeful eyes, "Can you play with us?""What are you playing?""I was going to show Addison how to throw a rugby ball!" Eamonn bounces up and down, "Please come! I want to show you too!""He's really good," Kiana squeezes him tightly in her arms, "Taught by the best, obviously.""Yeah, Mac," Eamonn teases her."You little shite! Who do you think taught Mac, huh?" She grows quiet and glances up at me. I don't smile back at her and she cringes."I have a couple more things I need to do. But when I'm done, I'll come out for a little," I smile at the two pups. They cheer and run off together, but Kiana lingers, "Kiana...'m not angry with you so please stop looking”
Echoes of the Pack Epilogue
She has his gaze. Orion's gaze. That same, sickening yellow pierces me as I meet her eyes. But she simply watches me. This woman who stands above me seems so familiar...yet I don't know her at all.All I know is her name. Kaltain.She and I look nothing alike, so I know that she isn't a reincarnation of Iphigenia's soul. She is one of Cecily's daughters. She is also one of Orion's.She extends her hand and they're webbed with black veins, like her skin is rotting or crumbling away like ashes of a burnt log. Flames dance off her fingertips like her nails are candlewicks. I flinch away and she tilts her head."You're newer than I thought," Her voice is deep and wispy. Those sharp eyes scrape over me in mild interest. And finally, a twisted, crooked grin takes over her face, "You and I will have much to talk about, Alora. Much to work on in the coming years.""Alora," I whisper, "You know who I am-""Of course. I have known about you long before you knew of me. We share more than just bl
Echoes of the Pack Prologue
The atmosphere feels thick with an unsettling presence, like a tightening noose constricting her skin. Her body is there, my sister's body. I stand in silence, waiting for her to blink, hoping she'll step down from the railing and dismiss this as a mere joke or prank. But she doesn't. Our eyes lock in a continuous state of panic. My hand moves from my chest to my mouth, then extends toward her. She swings back and forth, each swing diminishing, mirroring the growing intensity of my breaths. I shut my eyes and collapse onto the ground, releasing a scream that drains all the air from my lungs. "Azura!" ... Four hours earlier... "Can you and Alora give Ahren a ride home, Azura?" Ahren's mom disconnects her phone from the car's audio system, creating a loud pop sound. She smiles as she observes them standing together. My sister and Ahren make a striking couple. He looks like a high school football star, while she is tall and blonde, as if she's been taken from the pages of Vogue
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 1
I'm waiting outside the police station for my parents to come out. I have a small packet of tissues in my pocket, the kind you carry when you're not feeling well. There's also a big tissue box in Dad's car on Azura's seat. Our family SUV is the only vehicle in the small parking lot. You'd expect a busy police station, but in our peaceful hometown of Palawan, crime is rare. Then my sister passed away. The police are looking into her death, even though it seems like she took her own life. They're following the rules, so they called my parents to get more details before releasing her body. When the glass door opens, my mother rushes out of the station. I go to get the tissue box. She takes my hands and dabs her eyes. My father is talking to the detective in charge of Azura's case. "Mom," I start to say, but she hugs me and stops me from talking. Her tears wet my t-shirt. I try not to cry. She lets go, cups my cheek, and whispers, "It's over." She smiles, but I'm not sure why. We all
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 2
El Nido, on the Palawan coast, is a small town about 180 miles south of Portland. It's technically part of Palawan, but the residents here consider themselves a unique community, which sometimes confuses census and tax collectors. My hometown is less crowded than Palawan, with houses scattered along the coast or near the forest, like mine. It's not the type of small town where everyone knows each other's second cousins, but it's hard to avoid running into familiar faces. The families deep in the forest that wasn't taken by the government when national parks were established are an exception. My dad called them hillbillies living off the grid, but I couldn't confirm his claims. The people living in that remote part of El Nido are a mystery because few venture there, as the ocean is our main source of life. "Thanks, Greg," my dad says on the phone with a client. "I appreciate your understanding... I'll call you when we're done. Goodbye." We're going to the boatyard to check the boats
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 3
I put on Azura's old black dress because I don't have any black clothes of my own. Black was always her choice, reflecting her rebellious grunge style. The dress is a vintage 1950s pencil design that used to fit her perfectly and accentuate her curves. It's a bit snug on me and falls a few inches below my knees, but it still looks good. My mom, from the doorway, smiles at me and suggests, "She'd want you to wear it with her favorite shoes." I glance at the black ballet flats on my feet and reply, "Yeah, she'd love to see me trip and fall at her own funeral." My mom chuckles, but there's a strange tension in her expression. I've seen that look on my parents' faces too often, and I fear they'll bury themselves in work before Azura's coffin is even lowered into the ground. I hope they don't make me go along with them. If I'm lucky, they'll leave me at the dock to keep watch. The place already has a manager who could use extra help. I'd gladly quit my current job if it means staying. M
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 4
Walking through groups of students in the hallway, the silence becomes deafening, drowning out my thoughts. Their hushed whispers and furtive glances follow me as I pass by. Each step to my locker feels like a march towards my own execution. Ahren is waiting for me at my locker. He opens his arms, and I gratefully embrace him, needing a moment to collect myself and find solace. "I wish they wouldn't stare," I mutter to him as I retrieve my belongings. My gaze lands on a cherished photo of Azura and me hanging on my locker door. The picture was taken during our second year when we went hiking in a national park and encountered a bear. Azura, in her "genius" moment, insisted we climb a tree for safety. I had warned her that bears could climb too, but she brushed it off. We ended up perched in that tree for quite a while, where we snapped the photo. A copy of it now resides in her locker. "I have to clean out her locker," I say, shutting it with a heavy heart and walking away. "How a
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 5
After my encounter with Laurel, I decided to skip the library. Most lunch breaks were spent eating in my car. Eventually, Ahren discovered my hiding spot, and he started joining me there from time to time. He's a good friend, but sometimes, I yearn for solitude. I just wish he'd give me some space. Zaven walks into the room and comments, "Alora, you're early," as he places his bag against the wall. "Yeah, since I haven't been doing much at home, I thought I'd start stretching early." He approaches the ballet barre and begins preparing. I reach down one more time to touch my toes before lifting my leg and resting it against the barre. I mentally count before bending forward and resting against my thigh. I'm relieved that I haven't run into Lucien again. He remains a mystery, and I'm still trying to decipher his connection to Detective Dristan. Lucien doesn't appear to have many problems, so Detective Dristan must know him well. Lucien mentioned they might be family. Zaven places a
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