*Estelle* I watched Gabe run out onto the street, helpless to stop him. The prick of the needle in Lucky's hand brought me back to the moment. Val needed me right now. As soon as I was able, I would go after Gabe. I could hear shouting from outside. It was impossible to know what it was about. So much had just happened. I looked at Lucky. She was completely concentrated on what she was doing. Being able to help Val when he was in this state must have been comforting and terrifying. I couldn't imagine the fear and pressure she was feeling. "Val," she said. "Keep your eyes on me, sweetie." "Where else would they be?" he asked weakly. Lucky smiled at him, but I could tell it was forced. Val looked so weak. It was terrible to see him like this. "Thank you," I said softly. It probably wasn't appropriate given the situation, but I had to let him know that I was grateful for what he'd done. Val looked at me and nodded. "I'm glad that I was able to get some answers." He la
*Gabe* The smell of Estelle's blood filled the air, and it was all that I could sense. I was frozen in shock and fear as I watched her lift her head and stare at Charles. I'd only looked away for a moment. It was a novice mistake. I knew better than to take my eyes off an opponent in a fight. "You look just like your mother," Charles said. He was looking at Estelle like she was garbage, like it wasn't worth the time it was taking him to kill her. It filled me with a rage I'd never felt before. He yanked the dagger out and Estelle gasped softly and put her hand over the wound. "But you're going to die like your father!" He raised the dagger to strike her again. The world went still around me. My heart was hammering into my ribs. The taste of copper was stinging my tongue. Estelle's breathing was all that I could hear, and I could smell the fear that overtook her. I would not lose my mate. I jumped at Charles and sunk my teeth into his arm. His dagger clattered to the g
*Estelle* I had been struggling to remain conscious when Giles had rushed me to the examination table, so I didn't remember much of what happened. My heart was beating slowly and it felt like I couldn't get a full breath. Lucky had rushed to my side, and I'd felt the punch of a needle being administered to my chest. I know that it was adrenaline because Lucky told me later. It had burned, and the way my heart had sped up was alarming. I thought that I was going to die. Thanks to Lucky, I survived the poison. She was truly a miracle worker. The knife was going to leave me with a scar, but it was a small price to pay for protecting Gabe. I had to stay with the healers for a couple of days before I was allowed to go home with Gabe. It was a little surreal being stuck in the bed beside Charles. He'd been unconscious for the most part, but it was still uncomfortable. Giles had made the decision to amputate Charles's right arm above the elbow. Gabe had crushed and splintere
*Estelle* "Are you sure you're feeling better?" Lucky asked. She looked skeptical as she pulled the stethoscope away from my chest. It had been nearly two weeks since the day Charles was banished. It was strange to think of how much everything had changed in that time. I was finally feeling better and Gabe had brought me to Lucky for one more check-up. He was hesitant to believe that the danger had really passed. I didn't really blame him, but I couldn't help but tease him for the overprotective and doting way he'd cared for me. "I'm not at 100%," I said. "But I do feel much better." "Alright," she said with a sigh. "Then you're free to go with no further restrictions. If you notice any heart palpitations or weakness, you are to tell me right away," she said sternly. "Yes, ma'am," I said with a laugh. "Thank you, Lucky." I turned to Gabe and smiled. "You hear that?" "I heard," he said with an eye roll. "So you'll have to stop hovering over me like I'm some Vict
*Estelle* The scent of herbs and smoke was strong in the dimly lit room. Edwyna had left me alone in the small ritual room. I had flowers woven in my hair and I was dressed in an elaborate embroidered white gown. I was sitting cross-legged in the center of the room and staring at a candle as it flickered. I was supposed to pick a spot to look at and clear my mind. Edwyna assured me that a vision would come, but she wasn't able to tell me how long it would take. I had no idea how long I'd been sitting in here. I could hear that the feast in the town square was in full swing. The sound of music and laughter was muffled through the walls, but it was present. I loved hearing the pack celebrating. Their joy made me proud. It wasn't as though all of our problems were over. There were still mysteries that haunted us. There were fears that wouldn't be easy to assuage. Now that we knew the Bear Lake pack had survived in the form of the Bear Island settlement, many in the pack were u
*Estelle*It's frustrating, not being the person you want. I walked along with the rest of the group, touring a university I had thought about attending. I was only half-listening to the presentation, paying more attention to the conversations of others as we'd pass by.I knew that inside of me was a powerful, confident woman. When I was stuck in all the halfway houses or foster homes I was raised in, I would imagine myself that way. But now I was eighteen and out on my own. In theory, there should have been nothing holding me back. But I'd never been so filled with anxiety and self-doubt. Did I even want to go to college? I'd always thought that I did. But this was the third university I'd toured, and it just doesn't feel right.For one thing, it was too boisterous and crowded for me. It made me feel like I was in a cage. In addition to the unease of the crowds, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was imminent danger around, that something was lurking nearby and jus
*Estelle*I stumbled down the sidewalk and looked repeatedly over my shoulder at the chaos behind us. There were people cluttering the street and shouting at us to come back. Police sirens were blaring, and I could see the blue and red lights approaching quickly. People were crowded into doorways and windows, looking out to see what the commotion was. The blue-eyed man didn't react to any of it. He just kept walking, facing straight ahead. My head was buzzing with confusion and the insistent keening of my instinctual side. It was too much for me to process. I trailed after the man, not sure what else to do. "Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep up. "Who was that man? Why was he attacking me?" "You talk too much," he muttered. "Wha–" I stammered. I'd been criticized plenty of times for being too quiet, but never for talking too much. The man came to a stop so suddenly that I nearly walked right into his back. In my attempt to avoid hitting him, I stumbled and fell f
*Estelle*It was the middle of the night and the streets were silent. The scent of flower boxes and foliage filled the crisp, clean forest air as we continued down the cobblestone walk. We passed a butcher shop, a bakery, and a coffee shop. It was like something out of a romance movie. It was the kind of place I always dreamed of settling down in. Awestruck, I asked, "Home?" This cute little village was his home? It didn't seem possible for someone so cold to come from a place that seemed so warm. Then again, I knew better than to judge a book by its cover. Gabe's cover was undeniably alluring, but inside was a different story. "This is where our pack has settled," he said softly. "It's not much, but it's safe. I've worked hard to make sure that we have everything we need. You'll be staying here." "You can't just decide that for me," I said. The thought of staying was actually nice, but I definitely didn't belong here. A cute little village like this being run by an isola