Maddie kept her eyes closed as consciousness roused like a lazy cat in the back of her mind. Her body tensed, waiting for the onslaught of aches and pains, but they were dulled. In fact, everything was. A thick fog wrapped around her mind, making each thought sluggish as she tried to pull out of its grip. It was more than the sweet temptation of a deep sleep. Stronger, more forceful. It was probably some drug still in her system. It would wear off eventually. In the meantime, she stopped fighting its pull and allowed her body to sink into the relief of its waiting arms, while she kept her focus alive. It was a struggle, but it was easier than forcing her eyes open. A smooth surface was beneath her body, cradling it while it rested, but she knew it wasn’t the comfort of her own bed. The pillow smelled unfamiliar, musty and unused. It was the only thing she could smell in the room despite trying to focus. Rather than catching any other wolf’s presence or any nearby food, the air was t
“Easy there.” Daniel placed a hand on Maddie’s shoulder, keeping her sat on the bed. “You’ve only just woken from such a long sleep.” From the way he drawled, his smirk sickly sweet, she knew they had given her something. Though she was begrudgingly grateful she was no longer overwhelmed by pain, she snatched her arm out of his hold, and glared. Or, at least, she tried to. Her eyelids were still protesting being open, drooping every few seconds, and she only managed to lean away from him, almost causing her to flop back down. Daniel chuckled as he guided her to lean back against the wall. Maddie got her first good look of the room. It wasn’t a cell like she had expected, though only the open door and bed took away that impression. The grey stone walls looked wet and, as she slowly woke up, she could make out the lapping of waves through them. No wonder she could smell the sea. She could almost feel its presence on the other side of the wall. Where the hell had they taken her? Red
“Lewis?” Maddie gasped, hope fluttering in her chest to hear his voice, but it died just as quick as it rose as she shuffled towards him. The sharp tang of blood surrounded her Beta, cutting through the thick, salty air. There was a sizzle of flesh as she moved closer, turning her stomach but she swallowed against the bile that threatened to rise. She could only see his silhouette shadowed against the stone wall but kept her eyes on him, waiting for them to adjust to the dim lighting. She edged closer. Finally, her foot nudged against something. She crouched down and touched his foot, almost yanking her hand back at the ice-cold chill of his skin. Maddie had to bite back a growl at the extra punishment he was facing sitting on the cold stone. In a t-shirt, joggers, socks and shoes, she should have been grateful that they hadn’t stripped her as bare as him but only anger grew within her. Making quick work, she pulled off her socks and yanked them onto Lewis’ feet. They were too sh
There was no mistaking the venom in the Wild Shore wolf’s eyes. Maddie had last seen it the day of the weapons trial. If having a barely trained Luna-to-be beat him in a one-on-one spar wasn’t enough to make Jason hate her, then kicking him off her territory while he snivelled on his knees did the trick. It was his own fault for attacking her after she won the match, but she had relished feeling the strength of standing above his cowered kneeling form, Silver Moon warriors at his side ready to act on her wishes. It twisted the knife that beating him had already thrust into his gut and was worth it at the time. Now, that same look had contorted into a burning hatred. The unusual glow of green in his blue eyes reminded her of the darkening sea as a storm rolled in, but she now wondered if the storm had already arrived. Her body stiffened as she angled it to stand between Lewis and Jason, her defensive stance strong, but there was no flicker of concern in the Wild Shore wolf’s expressio
Before Maddie could find her words, Jason appeared at the door, a slumped Lewis in tow. All her thoughts of arguing left her as her friend was thrown to the floor. She was moving before she realised, cupping Lewis’ purpling face in her hands. Only one of his eyes was open, the other swollen shut, his breathing haggard, but he was alive. She pressed a gentle hand to his forehead and then his chest. The thin film of sweat on him did nothing to show the heat of his skin. He was feverish to the touch, but she hoped the cold cell would help calm its intensity. “Here’s your dinner.” Jason looked displeased to be serving them, as he held out two trays, refusing to venture past the door. The smell of the soup made Maddie’s stomach clench. She didn’t know how long it had been since she last ate, and her lips were parched for a drop of fresh water the bottle on each tray boasted. “Come on, Darling, I don’t have all day.” Her feet were unsteady as she pushed herself to stand. Though a lot
Michael POV - Despite his fur clad body, Michael felt the chill nipping at him. Night had fallen, stealing the day’s heat and leaving him with nothing but his own body to defend him against the cold. Laying down, keeping his form tight as he watched over the pack before him, he thanked the small bunch of trees that kept the harsh sea wind from brushing against him. His focus was already not as strong as it should’ve been, half his mind constantly on his mate and the steady thrum of her mark, but the cold seeped more of his concentration as he tried to stay warm. Though he had utilised his wolf form all day, he knew he’d had to switch to his smaller human form if he was to sneak into the pack’s territory unseen. He had never been to the Wild Shore pack before, but he had now spent many hours running its border and forming a layout in his mind. Michael still hadn’t decided if the whole pack were guilty of harbouring Daniel or if only a select few had chosen to aid Red Dawn in thei
Michael POV - The harsh floors and narrow stone walls made silencing his footsteps almost impossible. Michael was a master of stealth but in the damp hallways, the slightest scuff of his shoes would echo in every direction. He kept his breathing shallow and ears pricked for any movement beside his own. If he couldn't move silently, he doubted anyone else would be able to. It was the only good thing about the situation; like he had an early warning system for any approaching enemy. However, no one came. Despite the many warriors he knew were stationed at the front of the packhouse, he had come across no one inside. Maybe it was because he was on one of the lower levels, but there was a prickle on his nape that suggested otherwise. Even though unease was his constant companion, Michael pushed forward. He followed the corridors, finding the paths of the building formed a spiral around its edge rather than having stairs between the different floors. His instincts drew him down, and
With a grunt, Michael twisted the key in the lock and opened the door to her cell. Maddie immediately charged out of it and flew into him, wrapping her arms tight around his waist. It took a few moments before he reciprocated, but once his unharmed arm wrapped around her and he tucked his head against hers, she felt right for the first time in too long. Given that the last time she saw him, she had been standing against him, at Daniel and Lewis’ side, she couldn’t blame his hesitation. She had doubted him then, convinced his lies went beyond protecting his own pack into harming hers. She had been wrong, and it had cost them so much. “I’m so sorry.” She whispered into his chest. Even in the cold, his presence warmed her. Just being in his arms felt like safety, like home, and she never wanted to let go again. “I should’ve trusted you.” Michael drew her back, just enough to meet her gaze. The furrow of his brow, the pain in those dark eyes, they cut Maddie deep. She was the cause o