[What Are We Fighting For?]MALIKI could feel it in my bones. Something wasn’t right. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, like an angry dog straining against his chains. In my stomach, I could feel the tension of a storm brewing, with the feeling that any second it would unleash a fury of terror upon the world.It was deeply unsettling. I tried fighting off the feeling, but no matter what I did, it didn’t go away. Possible explanations for this sense of foreboding raced through my mind. Each one seemed somehow inadequate or off-base.Every sound made my heart jump—a sudden door slamming shut, footsteps on the creaky floorboards outside my door, and each time, it seemed stronger than before.Perhaps my fear and paranoia had to do with that strange occurrence in the woods. That voice. The warning. What did it all mean? How would they make me suffer?I tossed and turned, trapped in my skin with the sense of dread that seemed to have a chokehold on me, which I couldn’t shake. E
[Friends] AMBERSKY PACK Multiple grenades exploded at the borders surrounding the pack house, spraying silver nitrate in the air. More howls of pain rang out as the hunters used this unfair advantage to move in on the wolves guarding their posts. One by one, the wolves fell, their plaintive cries echoing in the early morning air. The other wolves scattered in all directions, trying to escape the searing pain that was consuming them. Smoke rose from their fur as they ran, and the acrid smell of burning flesh permeated the air. A handful of wolves made it to safety, but many were caught by the hunters and killed. This was a massacre, a slaughter of innocents that would be remembered for years to come. “Connor, what’s your status?” Alpha Sebastian asked through the mind-link. Sebastian could make out shadows heading toward the pack house through the fog. He had to resist the impulse to pounce, despite his carnal inclinations, for there was silver and wolfsbane in the air. “We’ve l
[Revelations] AMBERSKY PACK Abby neither questioned nor hesitated to follow her future Alpha’s commands. Instead, she sat up, wrapped her arms around Bryce’s neck, and let him lift her into his arms. The sudden contact of skin on skin jolted Abby’s head upward. She stared at him, dumbfounded, and lost for words. She could see the adoration and affection sparking in his eyes as she glanced at him and he at her. Abby wanted more than anything to believe what she felt wasn’t in her head but real. With that came an overpowering sense of joy and longing. “You’re my mate, aren’t you?” she whispered, her eyes filled with unshed tears of contentment. Bryce could only nod, unable to find the words to express what he felt at that moment. All he knew was that he loved Abby with every fiber of his being and would do anything to keep her safe. With a sweet smile, Abby reached up and brushed her thumb over Bryce’s bottom lip. “I love you,” she whispered, then pressed her lips to his in a soft
[Betrayal] MALIK I took the western route when Ariella and her companion were out of sight, heading toward the location where I knew the hunters would camp. I needed answers for this betrayal, despite the existence of a treaty between the two species. Trekking over fallen logs and broken twigs, I drew in a deep breath, filling my lungs with fresh air. I quickened my pace as I drew closer to the location, scanning the forest around me for any signs of movement. My heart thumped as I finally spotted the camp, its tents distinguishable among the trees. Owen emerged from the tent. He dialed something on his cell and pressed it to his ears. “Gil, it’s Owen. Bruno reported he saw four wolves heading your way. He said Malik killed Titus to protect a she-wolf and another wolf.” He said, frowning. “Yeah, I believe it’s her,” Owen answered after a minute, his voice slightly hushed. I froze, my stomach dropping to the ground. He paused, his frown deepening. “I’ll handle it,” he said. “
[Waiting Impatiently] DECLAN I set my jaw and drummed my fingers against my leg. You could hear the tension in the air. Over the last twenty minutes, my troops and I had been waiting in my parents’ old cabin for the hunters. I recall my parents taking me here as a child. When things were quiet on the pack lands in the summer, we’d come up here, and I’d spend hours in the lake five clicks north of here. Though I didn’t want to sully those fond memories of them by utilizing the cabin as a hideout during the war, it was the only accessible spot where we would be safe and keep an eye out for the hunters closing in on the pack. Hopefully, my parents wouldn’t be angry at me for using it other than as a vacation home. As the minutes ticked by, I felt my anxiety rise. I felt out of control, waiting for something awful to happen to my pack. I tried to tamp down my fear and focus on what we needed to do. All this panicking had me wondering if this was my last day alive. Since Jasper to
[Is This The End?] DECLAN We marched further into the woods, where we came across a small camp. From where I stood, ten clicks away, I could smell the faint scent of death. As I approached, I noticed the bodies of several wolves, burned and bloody, lying in the dirt. I pulled out my bow and approached with caution, trailing behind the group. I held my breath as we stepped over the dead bodies. In an instant, my body grew tense as I scanned the area, trying to discern what had taken place at the camp. My fingers tightened around my bow out of reflex. “Are they all dead?” someone murmured in a low voice. “It looks that way,” I replied, my tone grim. “We have to be careful; whatever or whoever did this could still be out there.” My men nodded and followed me through the camp, their guns drawn. They found the bodies of several hunters, but no sign of what had killed them. A stillness hovered in the air, as if all life had been sucked out of this place. I peered into a nearby tent,
[Not A Threat] ARIELLA I placed my hand on his chest and willed him to wake up. His skin was warm to the touch, but he didn’t stir. I glanced around frantically, trying to find something to help him. My eyes landed on a large tree branch lying on the ground a few feet away. On my feet in seconds, I grabbed it and ran back to his side. I placed the branch under his arm and tried to apply pressure to the wound, but it was gushing blood. I had to do something, and fast. Or he would bleed out. Ripping off a piece of my shirt, I tied it around the branch, hoping it would stem the flow of blood. Thank the goddess, it had the desired effect. The blood slowed to a trickle. “El!” Abby screamed behind me, her heavy footfall letting me know she was running towards me. “Over here.” I shouted, never taking my eyes off my mate. I stripped off my belt and wrapped it around his arm, compressing the wound. “Oh, thank goodness!” she said as she knelt down next to me. “What the hell happened?”
[Not A Threat II] MALIK The moment I saw her face when I awoke after blacking out earlier, I realized how grateful I was to still be alive, even as a werewolf. Not just that. I also understood the severity of this werewolf bond Owen had told me about. The bond was more than just a physical connection. It was also both emotional and spiritual. It sure would take some getting used to. The love and concern in Ariella’s eyes, despite her efforts to hide it, told me she was also thankful I was alive. She was worried about me and hoped I would be okay. Little did she know how much effort it took not to kiss her then and there. Then, suddenly, the world got quiet. The wind rustling trees, the birds tweeting, and the insects chirping all stopped. Her breath was in my ear. I could feel her heartbeat, fast and steady. For a split second, my body froze, and my heart stopped beating. Just for a second, but once my body registered what was happening, it was everything and nothing like I imag