Thea It’s been a whole week since Knox and the others left to hunt those foul fleabags. The packhouse now feels as lonely as the one in Golden Claw did. Tracy has taken over group training for Travis, while Harlow is helping me in the evening with extra sparring. Either Travis has to be taking it easy on me, or Harlow is just a savage. I have more bruises and sore muscles now than when I first started. I feel like I am bothering the girls enough though, so I keep my night runs to myself. The pack is familiar with my wolf now, so there isn’t any danger of not being recognized. It also serves as the perfect opportunity to be alone with my thoughts. After Bennet told me about the night I was brought here, the strange pull to Knox has intensified. I feel like a real jerk knowing I’m going to have to completely break Bennet’s heart. I really did feel something for him, but whatever I’m feeling for Knox is stronger. Bennet has been nothing but kind to me, and I hope he’ll still be my fri
Knox We’ve just stopped for the night on the outer edges of Crimson Valley pack lands. The Alpha and those on patrol know we are here but that’s it. We can’t afford for just anyone to know where and when we stop. The rogues have led us all across the south. We followed them past Golden Claw, and then they doubled back near Onyx ridge before returning back to Golden Claw. Finally, they are heading North, like we initially expected them too. It seems like the primary group we started following has been meeting up with the other groups before sending them North. I’m worried for Bria’s pack. I don’t know if they are strictly after royals or what but with the Luna to be of Golden Claw being killed, it’s safe to assume that Bria is in trouble. We took out a few of the smaller groups after the main group went through. With just a dozen of us out here, it's too risky to try to eliminate the large groups by ourselves. I know we are all eager to kill them off, to end this and get home but,
Bennet “Maybe she left on her own?” Harlow shrugs, “She did feel guilty about hurting you, with Dana challenging her and not to mention the snarky comments…” There’s a gnawing pain in my stomach as I hear more details about what happened while we were gone. I send the girls to check around Thea’s room for any clue as to where she is. I don’t think she’d go anywhere off territory, but I don’t like that people have been giving her a hard time. I’ll see what my dad knows, and we can address the pack about it later. Right now, I need to go find Knox. As I’m walking into the kitchen, a patio chair comes crashing through the glass of the patio door. Found him. I sigh as I step through the shards of glass and out onto the patio. The crunching of the glass beneath my boots makes Knox turn to face me. His eyes flicker from green to gold as he fights his wolf for control. “She was out for a run,” he grits out through clenched teeth as he holds up a pair of yellow cotton shorts and a whit
Thea I groan as I work to open my eyes. My body feels heavy, and it tingles like it’s flooded with static. My head throbs as I blink repeatedly to clear my vision. I can barely hear the blurry figure that hovers above me, shaking me by the shoulders as they whisper. “Princess? Princess, please wake up already.” I try to lift my hand but am met with resistance. I hiss out in pain as a severe burning sensation circles my wrist. “Oh Princess, thank the Goddess! Don’t move. They have you in silver chains.” My vision clears enough that I can see the panicked face of Gamma Niko staring down at me. Wait, Gamma Niko? Why is he here? Where is here? My mouth feels so dry, cotton mouth almost seems like an understatement. I swallow harshly, trying to get the slightest bit of moisture to clear the way. “Ga, Gamma…wh…where….” I finally manage. “Shhhhh,” Niko says with wide eyes as he glances around. “You are at Golden Claw in the dungeon. A rogue brought you here at-” “My order.” A
Knox The dust kicks up behind me as my paws smack down harshly against the forest floor. My legs scream as I push myself to keep going. My legs are tired, hell, my whole body is tired, as I finally cross back into Onyx Ridge territory. I’ve been running this loop so much that I’ve worn in my own trail. My wolf is restless and I can’t sleep. Every time I walk up to my room, I pass Thea’s door, and it's just a reminder of how my security failed, how I failed to protect another she-wolf. Another she-wolf I care about. ‘I need you to come back to me.’ Her last words replay in my head constantly, fighting any other thought for dominance. Her light eyes, contagious smile, and soft features are there, staring back at me every time I close my eyes. I came back for her. Damnit, I came back! I owned up to my fucking feelings, and this is what I get? This is why I didn’t want a relationship. When I open myself up and let others in, I always get hurt. I can’t break what I don’t share.
Bria “What do you want to do with him, Alpha?” Griffin tips his head back toward the cell holding the fingerless rogue. “Keep him alive but restrained. He’s been the only one willing to talk.” I point over to the other two mangy mutts in the cell, “Those two can be executed for trespassing and malicious intentions to hunt and harm she-wolves.” The walking garbage cans snarl the best they can at me without their tongues while thrashing around in the chairs they are restrained to. I sigh as I step over in front of them, bending down with my hands on my knees. “Oh, are you all tongue-tied now that I have to leave? Did you want to hug me goodbye? How sweet of you shit cans.” Looks of pain flicker across their eyes from what I’m sure is the silver chains burning their skin. One of their faces twists into a scowl as he puckers his lips and spits on my face. “Cute,” I say, closing my eyes as I slide a hand over my face and wipe it off across the top of my tactical leggings. “Too bad t
Knox “Is that all you got ob-knox-ious?” Bria taunts as she catches another one of my kicks. I grunt out as she tosses my leg away. “Stop holding back alpha, we’re cross training packs for a reason. Make it worth it.” She’s right. But I’m not gonna fucking tell her that. She’s cocky enough as it is. I let out a sigh as I shake out my arms and resume my stance. “You going to keep talking or are you going to throw a punch?” A devious smile spreads across her face as she narrows her eyes at me and she closes the distance between us. “Bring it.” After going round after round with Bria, I’m ready for a coffee and a shower. Anyone who discounts her abilities as a warrior or an alpha because shes a woman is in for a world of hurt. I blow the whistle signaling for training to end. I swipe the back of my hand across my nose, wiping away a trickle of blood from the last hook Bria landed on me and turn to face the group. “Good work everyone. Breakfast will be served in the community cent
Thea My head throbs in a steady beat and my eyes feel heavy as I struggle to blink them open. The only difference between the dreamless void I was in and the eerie silence of the dungeon is the harsh line of fluorescent light that snakes under the door to the hall. I stretch my arms up above my head and groan out as awareness seeps back into my body. Goddess, it feels so good to stretch, my muscles are tight from lack of use. Wait. How am I stretching? The grogginess disappears in an instant as I snap my wrists down in front of my face. The silver chains that have bound me for who knows how long are gone. Raised pink and raw markings circle both of my wrists as a reminder they were there. But the dry patches of blood tell me they haven’t been off long. I feel out for my wolf, hoping that she’s there. It would be so much easier to get out of here with the ability to shift. I push for the connection, trying to call her forward but find nothing. Fuck. I press myself up on the gro