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Chapter 17
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Echoes of the Pack Chapter 18
He is facing away from me, bent over a bloody body. His shoulders are hunched, and he screams as if breaking. I cover my ears, but his agony remains in my mind. "Save him." I turn to find a petite woman looking at me. She's covered in freckles, framed by white-blond hair, and has piercing blue eyes. Tears stream down her face as she gazes at the injured man. Her bottom lip trembles, and she breathes in sharply. "It's not his fault," she whispers, her hands resting on her swollen belly. I blink, and she vanishes. She reappears next to the man, who cradles a newborn in his arms, soothing the crying baby. A sandy-colored wolf emerges from the bushes, approaching the man without hesitation. She sniffs the baby before licking the man's hands and wagging her tail. Soft whines escape her, and he embraces her, placing the baby on the ground for her to see. The wolf lies down, curling around the swaddled infant, resting her head on the man's lap. He places a hand on her head, and they shar
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 19
We arrive at the Old Road Diner shortly after parking. It's located alongside a tree-lined road, next to a gas station, and serves as a popular stop for travelers along the Palawan coastline. I used to come here frequently to find Azura studying in the corner booth by the jukebox. Typically, we would end up having dinner here and chatting until the diner closed. Azura didn't express it, but I could tell she disliked being at home; it felt too empty with just the two of us in those echoing hallways. Lucien's voice, calling my name, interrupts my reminiscence. He gently guides me to the counter, but I pull away, suggesting we sit at one of the tables instead. I take a window booth, and he sits across from me, wearing an amused smile. He admits, "Sorry, I just wanted to talk to you in private." I respond, "It's okay." Lucien then orders coffee with two sugars and no cream, while I request hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows – Azura's favorite treat. The waitress, named Ke
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 20
"What was it about?" "Our history project was about researching our family's origins. We wanted to explore how long our families had been living in this town and trace it back as far as possible," he says, his gaze fixed on my hands. "I already knew about my family because it's impossible not to when you know you'll be shifting by the time you turn fourteen. But what I didn't know was that Azura's, and yours, was just as closely connected." He takes my hand and turns it over, saying, "Azura discovered that while your father's family came from South Carolina, there was a branch of them that settled here on the West Coast at the same time as my family. It was actually the same date. It seemed like they had moved together. Your father's grandfather later moved back to South Carolina-" "Yeah... my dad mentioned that was why he moved out here with my mom," I run my thumb over his wrist. His pulse is steady, and he's telling the truth. "The land my house is on has been in the family for a
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 21
His cries are all I can hear, and they are so painful that they wake me up with screams. My heart pounds, causing me severe pain, and I think I'm having a heart attack. Now, as I sit by the window in the living room, I'm convinced that whatever is causing his sorrow is tearing me apart from the inside. The tea tastes sweet in my mouth, despite my dark thoughts. It's the weekend, and I'm determined to find answers. Cassiel is coming over, thinking we're just hanging out for a girls' day, but I plan to question her about my dreams, the Wolves, and Lucien. Cassiel wants to talk to me; I'm sure of it ever since the library. Now is the perfect time to let her in. I can't forget how she looked at Azura's journal yesterday, as if she recognized it. She said she wants to help me. Maybe if she knows that Lucien has revealed things about himself to me, she'll be willing to share more information. My phone rings, and I set my tea down before answering, "Hello?" "Alora, hey." "Lucien?" My hea
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 22
"They're not just dreams. You need to talk to Lucien about this," she says. I sigh in frustration and reply, "I have. He told me only a fraction of the truth. It's apparently not his secret to share. But that's what you said too. So who is supposed to tell me?" "Lucien-" "Lucien won't, and I'm getting tired of being led in circles about this. What about Mallory? Can you take me to your Mallory friend? She seems to know all about the same things as my sister was looking into. Dreams. Herbs. The Moon!" "The Moon... No, I can't," she responds, her eyes widening as she shakes her head, "...I can't tell you. Lucien has to." "Really?" I slam my hand against the counter, "I'm tired of this. You all forced your way into my life, and now you can't tell me this!" Something in her eyes flashes as my voice rises and my hand makes contact with the table. She shrinks back, but her eyes glow like Lucien's. They are green and wary, watching me with a warning glare. "Your eyes," I gasp, "They're
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 23
I'm back at the piano once more, while my parents are away as usual. My father had the foresight to install an alarm system before they left, which eased some of my worries, but not all. I've expended a good deal of nervous energy by thoroughly searching the house. Azura's room has been my frequent haunt, and each time, I've come up empty-handed. I keep hoping to stumble upon hiding places I haven't considered, but so far, no luck. The piano, however, remains largely unexplored. I stumbled upon her journal here once, so I'm hopeful for another discovery. After removing the back panels, I uncover dried herbs and stones, much like in her room. As I reassemble the panels, a revelation strikes me. "The bench," I move toward it, tugging at the cushion until it finally pops off. And there it is! I can't contain my excitement—another notebook! I eagerly flip through it, realizing that this is what I've been searching for all along: a journal detailing her thoughts, not merely a catalog o
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 24
His neck feels incredibly smooth as my fingers graze it, triggering a sudden tremor that courses through his body, causing his muscles to tense. With closed eyes, it's as if I'm offering him a soothing massage, bringing him a sense of tranquility. "Stop," he murmurs softly, his eyes fluttering open. We recline in the open fields, bathed in the warmth of the sun. These days are a rarity in our elevated abode, so I relish the opportunity. Leaning down, I plant a gentle kiss on the sensitive spot on his neck, eliciting more shivers. He playfully responds by rolling us over, my fingers tracing a path along his neck. He displays defiance as our lips meet, his fingers trailing down my collarbone and tracing my body's contours. A gasp escapes my lips as his hand ventures beneath my skirt, and his name escapes my lips, met with a growl. The wind picks up, causing goosebumps to form on his skin. As he unzips his pants, I hear my name once more. I glance at Lucien, and he locks his lips with
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 25
Finding Lupinus Oreganus is a real challenge. It typically grows in prairies and forest outskirts, but I've yet to find it nearby. The only one I found was in the Siuslaw. I'm holding a travel map, comparing it to Azura's journal sketch, marking where she found the plant. Lupines are usually animal feed, but Azura used this poisonous herb for scrying, and its name, Lupinus, Lupine, intrigued me. I'm not sure what I'll do with it if I find it. Maybe use it for scrying, but I'm skeptical, especially since my boyfriend is a werewolf. If not for that, I might have given up on this quest. Then there's the man who broke into my house and bit me. I carry Azura's belongings with me and hide them around my property to keep him away. The troubling part is that I haven't seen him for weeks, except in my dreams. I can't understand why he's taking so long to return, given his desperation for Azura's possessions. For now, I'll focus on finding this elusive plant, which proves more challenging th
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