Zena shifted awkwardly in the tree. The rain fell gently around us, pattering down on the leaves. War is coming. I’m going to end up in a war and see death and carnage brought to the place my whole life is meant to be about protecting.“Zena, what else did you see?”“I saw the same war, the very same battle but you are steel. Your face is twisted in hate. Your warriors are too afraid not to fight for you. Desertion is occurring. You’ve become cruel, bloodthirsty. Consumed by revenge and hatred into driving Shadowlands beyond a just war into something else.”“For what purpose though! If I don’t know who I’m fighting, how do I avoid turning into the second one?”“You’re seeing it wrong Cillian. War is inevitable. You cannot change that the same as you can't rearrange the stars.""How will I know I made the right choice, when it comes to this decision?""You have morals and principles don't yo"I growled lowly, "of course I do. I know right from wrong.""Then I'd keep doing things right

It is becoming harder and harder not to break. The small room Briss so kindly gave me feels like a prison. Especially when Tange spends hours of the day outside it. He insists he wants to get to know me. Yet he knows his scent is flooding the room. His wolf’s call to Nina is almost over-powering.That red pepper scent that reminds me so badly of Cillian, merged with a murky mossy tang, is everywhere. It means my dreams are now lust-fuelled assaults of my mind. I curse Nina each morning as I wake up with slick thighs and a hoarse throat.I have given the room key to Briss, making him promise not to unlock it during the night. I do not trust Nina one bit. She is so desperate to match with Tange’s wolf that I half expected her to make me sleepwalk straight into his bed. I have not spoken to her for several days. I know what games she is playing.The past two nights, I dreamt of unlocking the door, standing naked, and beckoning my mate forward. I offer my body to him like a sacrifice, sta

I despised myself all day. That dinner was the final straw. Even my mother, by the end, was holding my hand and checking I was okay. “I have never known you talk so much in your life! What has happened to my quiet girl,” she said with confusion in her soft blue eyes.My natural shyness comes from being one five. Some personalities rise to the top, like Naomi and Leona, and others are happy to be spectators like me. Yet tonight, it felt that if I didn’t keep talking that somehow the world beneath my feet would crumble.I am holding onto my sanity with the ragged edges of my fingertips. Sat next to me at the table was my mate. The silver haired lion of a man whose touch sends fireworks shivering down my spine. The person who Nina wailed for. Yet across from me was Cillian. The man I have loved for so long.As soon as everyone else retired, leaving us alone in the grey, miserable room, Tange took my hand and whispered, “now kitten, come and join me.”“Where?”“In our bed. I have been pat

I scuttled back to my room and almost threw myself into the shower. Dawn had risen and I had to meet my mother for breakfast with Tange. It was excruciating. Sipping orange juice and eating pancakes I knew I could prepare better myself. I had to nod politely at small talk.“Is Alpha Cillian not joining us?” Mama asked.“No he requested Briss take him and Franz out straight away this morning, after completing their inspection I believe the plan is to return and pick you up,” Briss replied disinterestedly. “Ah well, more opportunity for us to catch up!” she said with a wide smile and I wished with all my heart I could tell her what was going on. How in a few hours I would be severing the bond that still flickers between myself and the grey-haired man beside me. His hand rested on my back, toying with the ends of my hair. Nina purred, less enthusiastically than before knowing how much I hated her manipulations but she couldn't help basking in his touch. My skin goosepimpled as the spark

It has been just under a month since I chose to stay. The cells are cold and miserable yet every night I am grateful to not have Tange try and force himself on me. It would appear he doesn’t particularly want me for a mate either.It looks like I am just the unfortunate result of having stolen Cillian’s wolf, he didn’t bank on getting his mate too. Nina is inconsolable. Apologies and whining in the back of my mind for endless days. I haven’t really spoken to her. I have forgiven her but I don’t want to speak to her. She was following the call of the mate bond but the fact she would have happily had me sleep with Tange, give my heart and forget Cillian doesn’t sit well with me. I am uneasy around her voice, the trust is broken.I sit numbly. I eat and drink as required. I bathe, change my clothes as expected to prevent myself turning feral. Apart from that I sit and stare at the walls and wonder just how I have fallen into this trap.The shock of the revelations as they landed on me.