[Hyacinth] Slate takes another big step backward, pushing open the door to the outside. As soon as the door closes, he collapses to the ground, screaming in pain and I am helpless to make it any better. "SLATE!" I push more power into him as I struggle to tease the spell apart. He cannot speak in response. He screams over and over again, barely gasping for air. "We need to hurry," Halcyon urges, howling in pain and frustration within my mind. "You are taking too long and he is screaming too loudly. There is no way the witches won't feel this. They'll come searching when they notice he is gone." "I'm so sorry," I weep as I kneel on the cold grass next to him. I can feel the illusions that Roderick cast upon me slipping away as my focus slips and as I try to burn the toxin of this curse from Slate's system. But the spell holds on to him tightly, refusing to let go, springing back into place each time I pull a strand of its infernal sickness from his soul. Like sucking poison from
[Hyacinth]Propelled forward by fear and adrenaline, I run down the hill, my blood creating an unfortunately convenient trail as I make my way into town. Thankfully, the streets are empty. Everyone is either at the Alpha Beta Ball, or they are sitting in their houses doing nothing--The nature of the witches' spell taking the will out of everyone to do more than exist. Wolves are patrolling the streets near the pack house. I am sure there will be more waiting for me inside the jail as well. But I need to get to Drew. "No," My wolf insists. "You need to rest. You need rest more than anything.""I can't rest," I argue with Halcyon. "Slate needs me, Bash needs...""Our pup will be fine," she assures me. "He's pretending to be a big strong alpha. And he has others helping him. McCoy won't let him get into any trouble. You are the one in the most danger now. We need to cover your scent."She's right. I smell like fear and blood. Most wolves, especially those who are out of control, would
[Hyacinth]I freeze. I recognize the woman holding the gun, even though the rifle in her arms obscures most of her face. "Lisa?" I call out to the tense redhead with pale skin and a shaky trigger finger, "It's me, Hyacinth. Hyacinth James." At the sound of my voice, the gun slowly lowers. "Dr. James!" she squeaks. "Oh thank the Goddess! I thought you might have been one of those wolf-bies" As she comes closer she crinkles her nose at the smell of the rank mud smeared all over my body. "Let's get you cleaned up.""Wolf-bie?""Wolf zombie," she clarifies. "Have you seen them out there 'patrolling' the town? They are more like the undead than the living the way they have no will of their own." I nod in agreement. Wolf Zombies feels fairly accurate. As we walk towards the showers, I wonder how long she has been holed up in this place. With food and supplies, a single person could survive here for months undisturbed. "So, they told us that you were a danger to the pack and that you are
[Ashlynd]The grand warlock is a tall man. I cannot see his face as it is shrouded in darkness to protect his identity, but I can tell that he is older, perhaps old enough to be my father. Looking across the room, I can see that Slate is safely tucked away, playing his part as instructed. To anyone who doesn't know better, he looks like all the other alphas in the room, mingling with one another, smiling and dancing. I don't have time for dancing tonight or pretending to be one of the wolves. Tonight, on the night before my wedding, I've been called to duty. "Grand Warlock," my mother holds up the edges of her skirt and curtsies. "This is my daughter, Ashlynd."The tight black dress I was instructed to wear does not allow for the same freedom of movement, so my curtsy is less graceful. I feel stiff and squeezed tight as a sausage in this revealing garment, every nook and cranny of my body on full display. My mother takes a step back, presenting me to him as little more than a gif
[Slate]For a few, shining moments I was free of the spell that Ashlynd forced upon me, keeping me from my mate. And for a brief moment, between taking one breath and the next, as the spell was pulled out of my veins I could feel her again. I could feel all of them.My pack.My son.My mate.And the very small speck of life that will grow into my daughter, Goddess willing.If I can feel them, all of them, that means my ties to them are not broken, or at least not completely, including my bond to my mate. As weak and tattered as it is, so frail and fragile only a spiderweb's thickness remains. A bond, no matter how weak, can be mended. With that small thread left to tether it, we just need time and love to heal and be connected as we were before. I want to tell her this, to let her know what I feel, but as I struggle to speak, the curse falls into me, digging its claws even deeper. "We're out of time," Sage grunts as he tries to keep my mind clear. "We need to go! Now!""RUN!" I gro
[Slate]I woke up two hours later, surrounded by trees and the smell of freshly spilled blood. Lying at my feet is the head of a deer. It was ripped off, torn from the body of the large stag that was lying only a few feet away.Dragging my body forward along a path, naked and covered in gore, I feel the call to return. Shifting easily, I run to my mistress, who looks impatient as she stands at the entrance to the Monrovia estate. "Where have you been, Slate?" She demands, her voice as hard and cold as the ice-blue dress that drapes from her shoulders. There is something different about her, something new. And then I realize what it is. She doesn't smell like a wolf anymore. Instead, the thin, acidic scent of witch burns my nostrils. She comes forward. Placing a finger on my chest she draws a line. Bringing her blood-covered finger to her lips she closes her eyes, concentrating. "Deer," she concludes, looking disappointed and disgusted. "You left the ball to find a snack? All you w
[Hyacinth] Blake looks tired. Not the tired of needing a bit more sleep or just waking up, but the bone tired of several nights without true rest mixed with heartache. "Cindy," she smiles as she recognizes me, her whole face brightening with relief, "Oh thank the goddess you are here!" And then she starts to cry. Rushing forward, I pull her into my arms. She holds me back, squeezing. I fight not to start crying myself, but fail as a tear rolls down my cheek. I am so happy to see her safe but upset seeing her so weak. Her pregnancy was already taxing her body, and now with whatever happened to her while I was gone, she is stuck in this bed for the remainder of it. I know it wasn't my fault that I was forced to leave, but it doesn't keep me from feeling like a terrible doctor and an even worse friend. Her husband should have been fleeing with her and their pup, not coming back to save me and mine. And yet she doesn't show the smallest sign of anger or jealousy. The only emotions
[Hyacinth]Adjusting the shotgun on her back, Lisa tells me to stay there while she checks on the door.Considering she feels a need to go to the door with a shotgun makes me want to come with her, but then I remember I am in no condition to fight anyone. My ability to heal and harm is practically useless now with my baby's life in the balance. I need rest. I need to heal. If I'm going to free Slate before he's stuck to my evil witch of a sister, chained to her with marriage and goddess knows what else, I need to listen to those around me who care enough to tell me the truth. I need to rest. As much as I hate to do so. It is in my nature as a mother, and now a Luna, to want to take care of those who are mine--and now the whole pack is mine. Thankfully, Lisa doesn't keep me waiting long. A few moments later she comes rushing in., her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Luna, come quick, you need to see this!"Carefully moving off of the hospital bed, I walk out into the lobby. Standing