Ludovic's POV"Shut that damn thing off, werewolf. Are you trying to scare me or what?" I snickered."I know I'm no match for you..." He reached for a hose, attached to a gas cylinder, and slipped out a lighter from his pocket. "But let's see if your supernatural body can withstand ordinary flames."Damn! I'm not the silver type. I'm not immune to fire.He clicked on the lighter, pointing the hose at me. The yellow and blue flames whistled over me, as I shielded my face with my arm, falling on one knee with my eyes tight shut. I waited for the fire to scorch me to crisp, but it was as if a barrier was built between me and the fire.I parted one eye open, and saw Iris in front of me, her back against me, hair floating like wings in the cloud. She raised her right hand against the flames, feet parted shoulder-width. Only the heat brushed past my face, while she withstood the flames without a singe on her hair.What is this girl,anyway? What other surprises does she have under her bushe
Iris POVAmber's head tumbled to the ground, blood spurting out of her oesophagus. Ludovic stood speechless. I didn't know him so well, at least, not so much in person, but the last memory I had of him was behind the counter at Amber's motel. He and Amber were inseparable. The way Amber enthusiastically stretched his cheeks, and his dramatic protest flooded my mind.One would have thought they were related, because they never stopped showing how much they cared for each other. I remembered that was when I started liking him. Her motherly warmth, was the first thing about her that endeared me to her. She never saw me as a stranger- the first person in a long time who was human to me the supernatural way.Just like Ludovic, I was lost for the right words to say. I couldn't save her. I felt useless owning such godlike abilities, and yet, I was unable to protect the people I love with it. Lois died because of me- I couldn't heal her, and right in front of me, I watched Monica decapitate
Iris' POVLudovic and I zoomed out of the mansion in Amber's station wagon early the following morning, after I got him a change of clothing from Gustav's wardrobe. A pair of royal blue sweatpants and sweatshirt, over a pair of black Nike sneakers to match. He looked just as delectable in it, with his long brown hair packed being his head. It was a good thing no one accosted me in the mansion. The last thing I wanted was an interrogation that'd slow me down. I wasn't ready to indulge myself in lengthy explanations.Before I exited his room, I took one last glance around, sniffing in the mixture of our scents that lingered on the bed, walls and the bathroom, as the good and unsavoury memories I had of Gustav flooded my mind. The mansion, without mincing words, was a turning point for me. But leaving was necessary. I was not welcome there anymore.Gusav had made sure of that when he accepted Monica as mate.At the back seat of the truck was Amber's remains, wrapped with the blanket from
Iris' POVIt wasn't until after mid afternoon that we got to the Crescent pack. Ludovic and I did all we possibly could to resurrect the station wagon coughing out black smoke in a bid to remain dead. The sky was a vast sheet of clear blue, rid of any drift of cloud. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I'd not eaten a decent meal for days.Three days in the dungeon with no water or food, my saliva was the only passenger that went down my throat. It didn't take too long to know Ludovic was close to being famished himself. He tried all he could, pushing up the hood of the truck, hitting and inspecting the maze of engine and batteries, greasy with oil. I did my part in retrieving a number of tools from the tool box we gratefully found, sited at the back of the trunk.The sun emerged in its full glow, peeling our skins off with it's blazing heat. Beads of perspiration from Ludovic's face rolled down his face and neck, soaking up the sweatshirt around the neckline and underneath his armp
Ludovic's POVThe funeral took place around a lawn beside the royal grave yard, two kilometers east of the castle. Foldable plastic chairs were arranged in two rows of five columns each behind an open coffin. I couldn't bear to look into the coffin. With shivering hands, I sat between father and Iris, fighting the tears burning my socket as the blond violinist with red blazing lips, dressed in a simple white tee and a tight fitting black jeans, played a soft music that reminded me of her. She played mother's favorite song, China Roses, by Enya. Father must have chosen that piece, and I knew why.I remember the way her smile lights up her summer skin whenever she played the violin; she was good at a lot things. She knew just the right tune to string to lull me to sleep when I fell ill with recurring migraines. Before I shifted for the first time at fifteen, before Odin growled for the first time inside me, I used to come down with blithing migraine.Some nights, it would seem as thoug
Gustav's POVThe last seven days of my life was like a joke to me. Nothing made sense to me the way they used to. Mother was gone, and Iris had chosen the bastard over me. If she thought they had the upper hand over me, she can eat my shit right out of my fucking butt. Fuck the Lycans! Fuck her clans! Fuck everybody! "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" I smashed the glass of Bourbon against the wall in my office, growling in a spit of rage.Iris was laughing at me. Ludovic was laughing at me. They were probably fucking each other by now, telling each other how they made a fool out of me. My hands knotted into white fists, grey furs sprouting out of my arms, canines lengthening. Blood was in a fit of rage, and so was I. The revenge was mutual. "I'll wipe that smirk off your fucking faces," I said aloud. "Both of you should watch your fucking backs from now henceforth."The door flung open. "I heard the sound of something breaking. Thought I should check to see if you needed my help with something."
Monica's POV"They're here?" I jumped at the shirt lying a feet away from me, hauling it over me, wiping the remnants of cum and spittle splattered around my chin. The rap came again, louder than the first. "Just a moment." Gustav answered, keeping his tone casual, as he pulled up his pants, buckling the belt. I ran my fingers over my hair, moving closer to the vent pouring down cool air. The air dried up the glitters of sweat on my face, y heart pounding beneath my chest."Keep your fucking heart beat calm," Gustav whispered with a furrow. "They'll know something is off, if your heart keeps grinding like a mill.""You know it's not easy," I mouthed, returning the furrow with a scowl of my own. "Wipe the sweat on your head quickly, and mind the mole on your nose before pointing at mine."He fished out the handkerchief in his back pocket, swiping at his forehead and neck hastily. He sauntered behind the desk, tampering with the well arranged files on the red oak. "Sit." He pointed at
Ludovic's POVI was aware that Iris had been through the thickest of hell; the gloomiest of the flames. I couldn't help but notice the negative energy flowing out of her, despite my assurance to her that I'd protect her. Her wolf was strong, stronger than mine, I knew that too; yet, her mind was frail with paranoia.All through the rest of the sunset, I couldn't concentrate on the funeral. I locked my fingers in hers, giving her the strength to trust me. She leaned her head on my shoulder, tightening the grip on my hand, brushing her thumb on the back of my palm. My wolf yearned to wrap his arms around his mate; to assure her that we were ever ready to lay out lives for her. Father and I, together with Iris and Klein, as well as the rest of the mourners, circled round the grave, as we watched the coffin dipped into the grave. A few tears were shed, while most had a frown of pity on them, shaking their heads. I made up my mind to announce the mating ceremony to the pack and make her