A U T H O R' S N O T E
Hey, my beautiful people! How's life treating you all? Je suis heureux! Did I mention I'm really exhausted right now? Haha well I fucking am 'cause I just attended a concert yesterday. (I skipped school even though I could have gotten expelled. Yes, my school's that strict). Like damn, the life of a fangirl is quite difficult sometimes. You don't know what to prioritize anymore haha. What type of music do you guys like? Tell me if you're like me haha...
Anyway, I updated another chapter again. [Yay! I hope you like/share it!]
If there are errors then please forgive it. Like I said before, English isn't my mother tongue.
Hope you guys like this chapter. I have been trying to find loop holes so I could update because I really want to finish this story. Though, my current situation is maddening. If you guys are a cheerleader, then I salute you haha. Cheerleading could be really hard and the schedule could be tight.
Anyway, enough of that crap. I'm so excited for this book! I really hope you guys stay tuned!
Thank you for supporting loves!
xoxo
-Hannah 💖
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➸ ➸ ➸
❝ Words are, in my opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of inflicting injury and remedying it.❞
-Albus Dumbledore
🐍 R.I.P. 🐍
Alan Rickman
1946 - 2016
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Chapter 12
Avalynn Johnson
I woke up when the blinding rays of sun hit me. I mumbled and remembered what had happened last night. It had given me the chills when recalling the moments of fear.
Trying to be fully awake, I opened my eyes and immediately, the bright light was straining it and giving me discomfort.
I looked to my side and saw that Nolan was nowhere to be found. I reminisce how he brought me here as an act of kindness.
I knew that he was real and sincere last night. I truly felt it.
Though I ask, why is he being kind to me? To think, he's being like this after our bond breaking! How ironic! Does he feel something for me like my wolf does for him? Or does he want something from me?
Now that I thought of it, it was absolutely going to be awkward now. How am I going to face him? Though, I am actually thankful he stayed with me last night. I didn't care if he was gone by the morning. His intention to comfort me was one of the best things he has ever done.
The only reason why I broke down last night was because I recalled a memory. A memory that haunted me for years.
A member from my pack was killed.
It had scared me back then.
Rogues had attacked our pack awhile back and then she was gone in an instant. We were quite young when that happened. It all started when they invaded the inside of our pack. They surrounded us and murdered her in front of me. While her blood splattered over the walls, I was so sad and guilty because it was supposed to happen to me! Not her.
She just stood in front of me and protected me.
I was the lucky one too. When the rogues turned to face me, I was saved by the Beta of my pack. He got there just on time, but it wasn't enough to save my best friend.
I'll never forgive myself for I could have done something to save her. It's all too late now.
It all had happened when I was a youngster. Since then, I trained hard and promised myself that I will do everything that I can to save my people.
Without Nolan, I don't know what I would do today. I don't think I could face the nightmares and memories of that attack. I am so thankful for him. Yes, call me weak or a loser but everyone has skeletons in their closet.
For the first time in my life, I thought he finally accepted me when he decided to cuddle with me. I remembered how he embraced me through the night. I knew it was nothing and that I was wrong but at least it showed me that he does care for people.
That he had a 'not-so-cold' yet beating heart too.
Though, I couldn't help but think that it would be a little a bit difficult now.
Sighing, I remembered that we had training today.
I can't believe I forgot about training!
Well, we were never here to relax; we were here to prepare for battle. I stood up and went to my door, but then stopped.
I recalled something.
I forgot that I wasn't in my room, and I also forgot that my bedroom walls was smeared with blood, and that a dead body was lying on the floor.
Should I check and see my room?
Well, that's what I did. I had no choice anyway so I decided to go inside my bedroom since we have training. My clothes were in there and I needed to shower.
Please don't be there. I kept chanting in my head. Praying to the goddess herself that I don't see thinks that will haunt me.
I twisted the door knob and pushed it open. With luck, my eyes had widened when I saw that there was neither a dead body on the ground nor red blood smeared on the walls.
Where is it?
Nolan must have ordered someone to clean the place up while I was sleeping.
Well damn, they sure do work fast!
Trying not to freak out, I immediately strode to my closet to get some sports attire. I was really willing to train to forget everything that happened and to possibly strengthen myself as well. I put it on as quickly as possible before going out.
To be honest, I feel like my temporary room is going to haunt me forever.
Walking out of the door, I marched to the kitchen to get my daily fix, which was by the way, coffee and pancakes.
Looks like a lot of pack members were ready for a day of training. I see the kids being brought to the pack house's day care.
We just can't risk any of them getting hurt in training.
After I was done eating, I sauntered over to the training grounds. My brother and the group were already there. They were quite early if you ask me.
"I guess we better start now." Mason said. Indeed. The earlier we start, the earlier we could end the training. It hasn't even started yet but I wanted to rest already. Surely I'm not the only one who's feeling this way.
"Okay everyone, listen up! You are all to do some warm up exercises. We will start again with jogging, conditioning the body, and then we will do fighting drills. Am I clear?" Nolan spoke, looking at everyone.
And when we made eye contact, and I couldn't help but shudder and squirm under his intense gaze.
No words, just gazes from each other.
When he stares at me, he doesn't give away any emotion. Well, I couldn't decipher it anyway. To me, he has mastered his blank expression so well. But I knew there was something off.
There were still things that are unfinished. It is like I know he knows somethings and that the information itself has to come out to the light.
Shaking away the deep thoughts, I broke eye contact and did my stretches before running the laps given.
Anyway, this will do to break the tension.
+ + +
When I was done, I came back to the training grounds since I did all the laps through the forest. Running is something I really enjoy doing especially when you're in the forest. I felt truly free when I run like the wind. Hell, even my wolf pushes forward and gets excited to run fast with me.
Back to basics, it's conditioning time.
Despot being a werewolf, nobody wants to have an unhealthy body. For example, we all did push ups, sit ups, and squats. It's just a preparation to tone the body. Anyway, no wonder Nolan has a nice body. With lovely back muscles, toned body, and not to mention his well defined abs.
Hell, his and my female pack members were always staring at him. I know it was suppose to anger me, well, some part did, especially my wolf but it was a true observation so I don't blame other unmated females for gazing at him.
I saw Evangeline coming my way.
"Hello Evangeline! How are you?"
"I'm great!" She beamed.
"You look happier. So, how's my ugly brother treating you?" I asked, playfully.
She just gave me one of her own little smirks then tilted her head.
What is she doing?
My eyes fell from her face to her neck.
There was a mark.
My jaw dropped open. What the-
"My brother has marked you already?"
She nodded eagerly and she wore her mark proudly like a badge.
"When will the ceremony or the induction be?" I asked her because before a rogue or a member of a different pack joins my pack, we always held an induction for the new pack member. Especially if there was a new Beta, Beta female, or a person promoted to a different rank in tow the we will have a ceremony. So when is their set date?
"We will have it after all this fiasco is solved. Though, he already did introduce me to some of your pack members." Evangeline stated.
"That was quick. Damn, he works fast." I mumbled. She just chuckled.
"You might make me an auntie in a few days. I'll just be waiting for the news since you guys work fast." I said, teasingly. Evangeline blushed at this.
"No! We're taking it slow. He just marked me because he wanted to 'stake a claim' on me. Like, he is so possessive and it's irritating sometimes."
"He's an Alpha. What can I say?" They are sensitive beings. Alphas could easily get either jealous or so violent that they'll blow a fuse.
"Speaking of Alpha, how are you and your mate? I've heard that he comforted you when you saw the dead body."
"Ex-mate. He doesn't talk to me that much. Wait- how do you know about this?" I was confused.
"Duh. Everybody in the pack are talking about it. News spreads so fast here in our pack. Though, I thank those gossipers because what they said was true. I am not confused anymore."
Wow, updates travels on so quickly. Why can't other people just mind their own fucking business, right?
"Yeah, whatever. I'm going to Nolan." I said as I walked over to his place. He was at the other side of the training grounds, quite far from me, but I could see what he was doing. He was teaching a few new fighting drills to the smaller groups. To say, I'm quite impressed with his skills.
I watch as he went back to his original position, leaning back against the tree and observing the pack members fight. I guess it's time to talk to him.
I walked closer and stood in front of him whilst he rolled his eyes at the sight of me.
"What do you want?" He blew out a breath, looking extremely displeased in front of me.
"A hello would be nice." I huffed. It wouldn't kill him to be kind for once, right?
"We're not exactly close so get to the point before I send you to the pack house." Nolan scowled. I sighed at his temper. His attitude towards me will never change.
"I just wanted to know what happened to the body and the bloody walls. Where's the body? How come it's gone? Did you investigate it?" Questions were spilling out of my mouth uncontrollably.
"I asked some of my pack members to clean your room and they took the body. Now are you happy with the answer?" I knew it! I knew it was him who ordered the people to fix it!
"Who killed the person?"
"Who do you think?" He snapped once again.
"Rogues. Who else? Benjamin and I were never on good terms. So of course he'll find a way to rile me up."
I nodded.
"Thank you also for bringing me to your room and comforting me. It means a lot by the way." I said. I can't express how thankful I am.
"Don't think things would change between us just because I did that. It was nothing." He emphasizes on the word.
Here we go, I knew it.
"Yes, I know. I didn't expect anything from you."
Lies.
"I just wanted to thank you honestly."
"Well you shouldn't. Now go back, train, and don't bother me again." Nolan spoke, looking at me intently.
Rude. I sighed, but nodded my head.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a fast object coming out of a forest bush.
When my werewolf sight caught a view of it, it immediately focused on the object. The faster it came near us the more I realized what it is.
It was a silver arrow approaching our direction.
Looking intently at its way, the bow was aimed for Nolan.
My eyes widened in surprise.
With good reflexes, I am able to swiftly move.
"Watch out!" I warned him and pushed him down with all my strength.
Nolan fell on the ground with a thud but it's a good thing he didn't get hit by the arrow.
He was safe.
I ran to the bush to see who shot the arrow but like a ghost, nobody's there. It's like the enemy was gone, disappearing through thin air.
Something felt wrong.
Looking down on the spot, I saw that behind the forest bush, left a black dusty mark. I touched the giant black sand to examine it; the mark itself was black and glittery with a few sparkles.
And with that said, I concluded something.
It was black magic.
Everybody stopped what they were doing and looked at us. I guess they were also shocked when they realized what had happened a few moments ago. They look a little bit frightened by the scene that played before them.
I went by Nolan's side.
Thanking the moon goddess he wasn't hurt. As much as I want to hate him or see him in pain, I can't. I don't want him to get hurt or fall because his pack will be affected. I can't let my petty selfishness reduce our packs the chance of peace. If he was weak, so will his pack be.
Though, I saw that he was focusing his gaze at the arrow that was attached to the tree trunk.
Following his stare,
I just noticed that a note was stuck to it.
He stormed to it, ripping the note from the silver arrow and read it inaudibly.
Everyone was quiet and yet silence felt deafening to me.
What caught my eye was the fact that Nolan's facial expression seemed to change through out reading the note. Whatever was in that letter had made him explode with anger and rage. He threw the note to the ground and a deep but powerful growl erupted from his chest.
It was so loud that I almost cowered in fear. He growled with complete rage and fury that I just wanted to go to him and calm him down like what he did for me last night.
But I hesitated and didn't complete the action for I knew he would just release his wrathful self at me. I don't need that bullshit happening.
I picked up the note from the ground and read it. It said,
I become greater when I eat
and weaker when I drink
you cannot touch me for I hurt
but you can watch me as I sway.
What is it with rogues and riddles? Why do they always do this shit? Goodness, it irritates me so much!
Is it a clue of what's to come? This might mean something and be connected to all of the strange things that are happening to both of the packs.
What's this conundrum supposed to mean? How do we solve it? I then hear Nolan's booming voice in the background,
"Everyone! Get back to your rooms and houses! We must keep you all safe! Disperse now!"
Uh oh.
I need to find out the meaning of this puzzle for we are all in red alert as of this moment.
I need to keep people safe as I had vowed it. I will forever prove myself and protect the people that I love. I just hope it does not get much worse than this.
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L.E. 1.31.16 • 8:54 pm