Rose was out of the picture, leaving just the three of us. Friends since boyhood yet it felt as though I was meeting Glenn for the first time. This was the guy who had been there when my mother died. He physically picked me up, and with Rhett carried me outside the packhouse into this orchard. I screamed myself hoarse that day, such emotions forbidden by my father in his presence. Now grown men, he stood as surly and miserable as a teenager, hands shoved into his green hoodie front pocket and eyes studying the floor. “Glenn, what do you have to say?” “Nothing. You heard Rose. That’s what happened. I followed the Luna Princesses orders.” “Glenn, you’ve been my best friend for so long…don’t make me do this.” “Do what?” /Here we go/ Alba said, as I took another plunge, let’s destroy another relationship tonight. Sighing I pushed my black hair from my forehead and simply said. “Why did you tell Kate to head to Greenway? Why would you send her to Austin!” This time Rhett lost contro

In the reflection of the mirror I tried to use my free hand to touch the wound, to check if I could just wipe it away. He had nicked my neck with his silver blade, something no shifter can heal. Alpha Austin instead raised his knife, pointing it towards my fingers, that were blocking his view of my injury. Slowly I lifted my hand away, watching his moves in the mirror instead of looking directly at his face. Like a dance, I was his prey trying not to get caught yet he wanted me scared enough to thrill him. His blue eyes were racing with purple, his wolf loving every second. He sniffed, the metallic scent of my blood now in the air. With my hand removed he took away the knife and used the same hand to push my face into his. Forcing his tongue into my mouth for a couple of seconds as I squirmed, he pushed my face away. Roughly licking the blood from my neck like a rabid dog I fought against his touch, trying not to cry at the sensation of his tongue on my skin. In struggling I accide

The day after the orchard showdown I had to visit my father. He had no idea the ground he thought secure was turning to quicksand around him. He hardly left his office these days anyway. He left the touring and inspections of towns to his Beta’s. They were too lazy to report any real issues, so our decline was picking up pace. He was slowing down, an aging, battle worn shifter, yet he was fighting it every step of the way. “Father, we need to talk,” stepping into his cool white office where he sat imperiously, a crisp white shirt hinting at the jet black web of tattoos underneath. “Dex,” gesturing to the chair. Before I could speak, he started. “Look, I know this Conference was tough for you, seeing…her again, but you did good."I decided to wait it out before adding any opinion of my own. I’m learning slowly, listening is better than charging. “Anyway, after you left the second night, Eduardo and I had a chat. He believes Austin is very serious about attacking Highton. Luna Gwyn

I had to wait until the morning for my formal audience with Luna Gwyneth. She was adamant that a doctor saw me. What I had to ask her would take less than five minutes yet she was insistent. Fussing over me like a mother hen, I was suffocated by boredom. The blonde twins surrounded Glenn and Rhett in a cloud of tea, coffees and cake until the night grew dark and they finally retired for the night. I felt like a prisoner, restrained by infernal politeness by the time the flaccid doctor arrived and took my blood pressure. He was a bumbling older man with glasses and a limp. Probing me with his instruments and muttering under his breath he took forever. It took all of my patience not to snap at him. One good thing came from the delay. Rhett snuck up and informed me that the twins had mentioned rogue attacks. The disputed forest land was being tested. That doesn’t happen by accident. I doubted they were rogues either, probably some of Austin’s weaker warriors that he was happy to lose i

Felix and I are okay. I have been trying with Matt and Cherry but everything I say seems to land the wrong way. A few weeks ago I could crack a joke and have a dozen people laugh at it, but now I get side-eye and reluctant smiles. Maybe I’m trying too hard. Kate always warned me about pushing. She would always swoop in, change the topic, and bring me back into the conversation. Without her I am flailing, making myself look an idiot to get back into their good books. I may have laughed at Cherry and her red lipstick with Sinead, I complained Matt was a poor fighter compared to Felix to whoever would listen. All these things have a way of getting back to the source. I was reaping the karma of my overconfident bragging. Sinead had taken up with some other friends now, since breaking her nose in warrior training. Rose was in some sort of depressive funk and not leaving her room. I had to make this Assessment work, but it was exhausting. With another joke failing we sat on our usual pi