“Wh-what if… wh-what if…” I stammer, feeling as though I have cotton in my mouth obstructing my words.
“What if what?” Ricky enquires, her eyes shimmering with optimism that I would abandon the notion of conflict.
“What if I mark you?”
Melina
I pace around my room, unable to believe John is here. After all these years, he came back and for what? To pull my dear Jadi into his dirty war?
It boils my blood to think Jadi paid the price for John and Noel’s crimes and now he may pay an even bigger price if he joins the fight. But how do I convince him to stay? How do I tell him to not protect his tiny family?
It’s all so annoying!
Not to mention the mixed emotions I felt when Quinn and Matt walked in for the first time. I had never seen Quinn while I was at Stonecold, John hiding her well with the masking spell but I knew who she was the instant she walked into the room. She was the woman from the picture in Jadi’s bag, the one Rocco asked me to pack when we were removed from Scarlett Haven. Jadi’s mother.
The sight of anguish in Jadi’s eyes when he realized his mother was not the same woman he knew all those years ago destroyed my heart. He had loved his mother so much and now he is facing a shell of the person he once knew.
Moreover, I couldn’t stop the twinge of jealousy that surged up in my chest when he agreed to see her for breakfast, angering me because her presence shouldn’t affect me at all. Jadi, more than anybody, deserves answers and he deserves to be happy.
Compounding my distress, I identified Matt the moment I detected his scent, my wolf becoming agitated in his presence. It was exceedingly difficult to restrain her as he regarded me, challenging to evade his gaze. Fortunately, he remained silent, for which I am thankful.
I need to flee, I tell myself as my feelings begin to cloud my heart… I need to feel the breeze rush through my fur… I need to get out of this house.
Having resolved my decision, I stealthily exit the home and proceed towards the woods, concealing my garments behind a tree before transforming into my diminutive brown wolf, Lizzy.
I sprint between the trees, seeking to out run my feelings. The cold night air feels like a blade slicing at my lungs, but I love the sensation, going faster into the dark nothingness.
Ultimately, my legs become fatigued as I arrive at a little stream, where I pause for a drink, reclining momentarily on the riverbank to observe my reflection in the water.
My little wolf tilts her head and wiggles her ears when the gentle breeze carries a familiar scent. I look up immediately to find Matt’s wolf standing on the other side of the stream, staring curiously at me, but remaining calm and stoic. Lizzy wants to run to him, but I have no interest in getting near the young wolf and slowly begin to back away. Matt’s wolf jumps across the stream and blocks my path to freedom, his wolf challenging me to escape.
As I remain still, the wolf transforms into his human shape, prompting me to avert my gaze from his unclothed physique, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
The young man touches my shoulder, causing a tingling sensation to course through my body. I become icy with fear of imminent rejection, yet he merely offers me a gentle grin.
“Mate,” he spells out in sign, my eyes widening in shock. He grins at my reaction and impresses me even further. “You did not expect me to know ASL, did you?” he asks.
I shake my head at him, his smile growing.
“My step-mother taught me,” he signs, a look of sadness in his eyes. “She used to have dreams of a little boy who could not talk. It made her sad to see him struggle to speak so when she became Luna, she convinced my father to implement ASL as an unofficial second language for the pack. Many pack members were taught ASL so that no pup or pack member, for that matter, would ever feel left out and voiceless like the boy in her dreams,” he adds with a slight smile.
I do not know what to make of this knowledge, afraid to trust another Stonecold wolf.
“I am certain you harbour reservations regarding my family,” he signs bashfully upon observing my reluctance. “However, if it is acceptable to you, I-”
No, that is not acceptable; I desire to yell at him while gradually retreating.
My wolf attempts to assert dominance upon witnessing the smile vanish from his face, yet I remain resolute and flee towards the trees. Tears cascade down my cheeks as I abandon my mate in the woods, but I persist in my flight until I reach home, shifting and seeking refuge in my room.
I already had a mate and he was more than enough for a lifetime. I don’t need another.
Apologies if you are unable to view the prior author’s notes or have not perused the blurb; this book is updated weekly, either Saturday or Sunday PST. I maintain a full-time job and am also writing The Earth Witch, hence this is the extent of my weekly output. Thank you for your understanding.
Laura
“Wh-what if… I mark you?” Jadi enquires hesitantly, his voice subdued and kind.
My heart feels as though it might pound out of my chest as a stillness descends between us.
He wants me to carry his mark? Now? I stare at him, wondering why he would bring up marking now of all times?
Jadi appears to grasp my perplexity and smiles sheepishly at me.
“This is war, Ta-Ricky,” he states softly, a warm sensation coursing down my spine as he utters my name. “And if something occurs to me, I wish to depart knowing my mate bears my mark with pride…”
“Thus…” I exhale wearily, squeezing the bridge of my nose and closing my eyes as I contemplate a response. “You are aware of my sentiments regarding marking.”
