NORA
As the song ends, Theo pulls away, a sad smile on his face. “Unfortunately, Nora darling, I have ignored my duties as Beta for too long. This must be our last dance.”
With a flourish, he grabs my hand, bringing it to his lips, as his eyes flick to the bar in a silent challenge, before returning to mine, a dashing smile covering his face.
Standing upright once again, “I hope to see you again, Nora Jones. Enjoy your night.” Sauntering away from me with a devil may care attitude, leaving me completely stunned. Regaining my composure, I head toward the table where our drinks sit, the opposite direction Theo walked.
Along the way, I pass the face of a demon I wasn’t expecting to see: Nia, Hazel’s cousin and the inspiration behind one of Macbeth’s witches.
“Crash any cars lately?” She sneers, the pettiness oozing like a deadly venom, “or are you too busy trying to steal other people’s mates?”
“Why? Are yours available?” I remark with a serious look, enjoying her scoff of derision. “I can take both if you’d like,” I comment nonchalantly, with a glance at the mate mark on her neck.
“Don’t worry,” she hisses, invading my space, “you’ll get yours, bitch.” She moves on quickly. Ignoring her baseless threats, I continue on my journey. Picking my glass up from the table, I wander aimlessly around the room.
The prickle of being watched tickles my skin once again. Allowing my senses to take control, I follow my instincts between the tables and guests on a mini adventure of my own.
Ignoring the delicious smell of the food, and that I haven’t eaten yet, approaching the patio with a sense that whatever I am looking for is there. I think Viola can sense it too, every ounce of her begging to be let free.
As I approach the doors, I hear a whispered argument that’s slowly becoming heated. A gruff, but slightly drunk voice I don’t recognize. “What’s going on between you two?”
"That’s none of your business, Drew!” Theo growls, his anger apparent while I wrongfully eavesdrop on their private conversation. I cannot control my werewolf hearing and their volume is increasing by the second.
Before I can stop myself, I am stepping onto the patio, taking a sip from the drink in my hand. “Nora,” Theo coughs, shoving his hands in his pockets while glancing at the man standing across from him.
I instantly recognize as the broody brunette from the bar earlier. I thought it was strange that he glared the entire time Theo and I danced together.
Before I have the chance to prepare myself, the man I am assuming is Drew spins around, a deadly glare on his face. As he sways slightly on his feet, “this is a private conversation. No one invited you, Nora.” The way he says my name makes it sound like the most disgusting word in the English language.
“Drew!” Theo scolds while I chug my drink, trying to distract myself enough to bite my tongue. “Stop being an idiot and go sleep it off!”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt you,” I say, glancing between the two men. One whose warm honey eyes hold the most sincere apologies. The other’s crisp blue eyes holding mine hostage with a burning and absolute hatred. I don’t even know this man, but Goddess, he is cursing my existence.
“Then go away,” Drew remarks, his voice dry, his eyes narrowing as he sizes me up.
“No, Drew,” I say, finding my voice, returning his stare and squaring my shoulders in defiance. “You’re having a drunken argument in the middle of the new Alpha couple’s reception.”
My words cut like knives offending him, as his demeanor darkens, his eyes pitch black. Without Theo realizing it, Drew steps forward, his face in mine, his fury nearly burning my skin.
“First off, it’s Andrew to you,” he snarls, while Theo tries to restrain him, while I take a timid step backwards. “Second, I am the Beta of New Moon. Don’t tell me what’s fucking best for my Alpha’s.”
Returning his attention to Theo, he growls a hint of sadness buried within. “If you’re going to like someone, at least pick someone with half a brain.”
His parting words shocking Theo, as Andrew heads back into the ballroom. As he passes by, his shoulder slams into me with a force that’ll definitely leave a bruise.
Theo watches Andrew storm off before turning his attention to me a looking me over with concern. “I am sorry about his behavior tonight. He’s usually much calmer. Are you okay?” Theo asks, tipping my chin upward so that I look him in the eye.
My back burning with the stare of a stranger in the woods, Viola whimpering to go on the hunt, but I ignore her desires, returning my gaze to the man standing in front of me.
“I am okay,” I respond, calming the waiver in my voice. “Are you?” I ask, touching his arm sympathetically.
“I’ll be fine,” he whispers, glancing behind his shoulder, a sad look on his face. Despite their current situation, I can tell they used to be friends.
Returning his attention to me, he tucks his hair behind my ear, giving me a sweet smile. I swear I hear the faint rumble of a growl in the distance, my heat racing with the sound. Theo doesn’t react, placing a gentle kiss on my cheek.
“I am sorry to leave you this way, Nora,” he whispers, his hand caressing my cheek, “but as the Beta of Silver Run, I need to make sure Drew isn’t acting drunk and stupid right now.”
The revelation of his identity has me stunned for the second time tonight. Of all the pack members Marcus warned me against, I had to get caught in the middle of two’s drama.
“Of course,” I cough, knowing I should feel timid in his presence, but I don’t. A hidden part of me knowing he would never hurt me, no matter how much my brother warns me away.
Kissing my cheek gently, Theo turns away from me in search of the drunk and angry Beta. However, the sensation of being watched intensifies a scent in the air I can’t quite explain.
Attempting to ignore it, I take another sip of the drink, but my curiosity gets the better of me. Viola no help, her whimpering becoming more intense.
My restraint getting weaker by the minute, every cell within my body aching for me to go on the search. Although logic tells me going into the woods where a stranger is creepily watching from a far is ridiculously stupid, my feet can’t help it.
Setting the glass along the railing of the raised patio, my eyes devour the forest, trying to find the mystery stalker. As if my eyes have magical abilities, I swear a shadow in the woods belongs to a person. Possibly whoever has been watching me since I stepped foot into this territory.
I can no longer feel the stranger’s presence. I don’t know why I am so desperate to seek it out, but a gut instinct I can’t calm demands I find it. Taking my last sip, I place the glass on the railing, finding the steps leading me to the lower levels of the raised patio.
The further I walk away from the party, the heavier my head gets. The world spins a little faster as I cross into the tree line. Lifting my nose to the air, I try to pick up any scent I can, but it’s like my senses are dulling by the second.
I try to call forth Viola, but it’s like she is no longer with in the depths of my mind, almost like she is hidden from me. I have been drunk many times, but this is…different. It’s my goal to keep from stumbling, but I remain unsuccessful as my unstable feet propel me forward.
My arms are outstretched as they look to balance against anything that I can find. A darkness closing around me while I use the last of my energy to fend it off.
A twig snaps to my right, pulling my attention in that direction, as a man hides in the shadows, just out of sight. His voice as smooth as silk, and husky in the way I imagine a bear would sound rings out through the air.
“Why are you out here, Wildflower?” the man asks, his voice sending a shiver down my spine while my knees turn to jelly. I attempt to answer, but the words fail me as the darkness wins.
“Shit, what happened to you?” the voice sounds panicked, as my world dims into pitch black darkness before my body avalanches to the forest floor with a thud.
NORA POV Freezing ice water washes over my skin, dragging me from the unconscious void with a ferocity. Bolting upright, my head fuzzy, the light in the room making it painful to open my eyes.Finally opening my eyes, I find Marcus standing above me, with Hakeem beside him. A bucket in his hand. “What the fuck, Hakeem?” I growl before reality sets in, and I realize I am back in Northern Lakes territory. “Wait…when did we get home?”Panic takes root as I look between the two men before me, trying to recall memories of the night before. “Thank you, Beta Hakeem,” Marcus growls, his voice deadly as he glares at me. “You can go now.”I will take the bucket of ice water over the chill in his voice any day as I scoot my frozen body away from him. My back smacking the headboard, trying desperately to get away. Sensations from the night before invade my waking thoughts, while I desperately grab for them, hoping to understand the situation.“What the fuck were you thinking?” Marcus seethes, my
NORA POV Placing my palms against his chest, I resist, my heart racing wildly while I try to get him off of me, but constantly aware of where the ledge is. I can feel the bruises already forming on my skin as his grip tightens, his claws piercing into my soft flesh.My throat closed, unable to work as I keep pushing against the bulky male I used to date, against a man I used to love. “I know you still love me. I’ll prove it to you,” he whispers. Without warning, his lips crash against mine forcefully.His tongue invading my mouth as he takes control, his free hand winding into my hair as he holds my head into place. Tears prickle my eyes as I gently guide us away from the ledge, where rocks sit below. Viola going wild, begging for control, but our location has our hands tied. She remainsWe are in human territory in the early morning. Wolfing out here would be dumb, and a sure way to get the council involved. My mind racing from the violation while I attempt to remain calm, moving us
NORA POV “I swear to the Goddess-” Marcus begins, but I stop him mid-sentence, not in the mood to deal with another scolding.“Chill, brother,” I say. “I am on my way to Silver Run already, but I forgot to get the address. So can you tell me where I am going, please?” As much as I want to avoid this mystery pack, Viola is desperate to return, despite what happened there, and I need to know why.Why do I want to return? What’s so special about this pack that I feel drawn to people I barely know? There are unending questions I desperately need answers for, and the only way to get them is to go back.“You left already?” He asks, slightly shocked with a twinge of sadness. “Didn’t you want to say goodbye?”“I figured it’d be better this way,” I lie, my heart leaving another crack as I attempt to contain the tears on the verge of breaking loose. “Send me the address, and I will let you know when I arrive. We can talk again when I am settled in. Okay?”I want this conversation to end, alrea
THEO POVI have done my best to remain calm, but a flaming hot coil of indignation sits in my stomach at the sight of Nora’s face. Walking back to the room, my cellphone blares with a ringtone reserved for one person. He is also the last person I want to talk to right now. Unfortunately, avoiding him seems impossible with our packs so intertwined now.Excusing myself from the others, I press the phone to my ear, his name escaping my lips with a growl. “What, Drew?” Turning away from the door, preventing Nora from hearing our impending argument. “This better be pack related. I am busy.”“The Alphas wanted me to check on you,” he comments easily, and every cell in my body aches while Cerberus whines in my head. “Has Nora arrived yet?” He asks casually, but I see through his antics.“Yes,” I snap, our unresolved issues getting the better of me as the next phrase tumbles out of my mouth. “Tell Elle I will call her with an update later. Now, if that’s all you needed, Andrew, I have respons
NORA POV The entire car ride, we sit in this comfortable silence. I might talk more if I wasn’t preoccupied with other things. My gaze remains out the window. Observing the different men wandering around wearing the combat uniforms. The same uniform the man was wearing in my room…he has to be a warrior, right? Glancing at Theo, I notice his knuckles are as whiter than Casper as he grips the wheel. Despite barely knowing the man next to me, I cannot deny the comfortableness I feel around him. Viola feels it too, but she still has said nothing since this morning during the altercation with Dillon. ‘You cannot block me out forever,’ I say into the void, but I can sense her perking up to listen to what is being said. ‘Maybe back home, when things were certain, but not here. There are too many unknown variables here for us to be at odds.’ ‘Stay sober enough,’ Viola comments dryly and completely unbothered, ‘and then we will have something to talk about.’ Her statements ending abruptly
NORA POV Even with the blinds closed, I cannot stop the prickle and paranoia being watched. Needing extra reassurance, I check all the spots typically used for listening devices, turning the entire room upside down. While a gut instinct wants me to trust this house, this pack, and these people, the logical side of my brain wants me to survive. The only way to do that is to be smart in my decisions. I may not be the most well-trained Northern Lakes pack member, my combat skills may have been sorely lacking, but I have watched enough tv know where these things are usually hidden. Once every light, picture frame, clock, vent, and outlet has been checked, finding nothing. The tension in my stomach finally dissipating my muscles relaxing. At least I know I am safe within this space…maybe it’s just out there that I have to worry about. Now that everything is returned to its original place, along with my things, I grab a fresh pair of clothes from the drawer. Taking the towel off the hoo
NORA POV “No,” I say, studying over the brunette male in front of me, “Thank you.” Based on his size and aura, he has to be the Beta of New Moon…it makes sense why he is here so freely. Packs typically allow outside members in their territory so freely. A burning familiarity rings in my brain the longer I look at him. The only question is, did I meet him at the mating ceremony or was he in my hospital room earlier today? “Of course not,” Andrew sneers. “We don’t want you crashing another car, right?” His question taking me aback, a hot poker to the gut. Stepping away from the large man, putting distance between us. A retort sitting on my tongue when the slam of the door and the stomp of boots comes storming from the back room. Simon following behind him, a victorious smile on his face. “I guess you’re staying,” Theo growls, the Andrew I was talking to two seconds ago gone, and in its place a charming Beta. “Perfect,” Andrew preens, throwing me a smug look when Theo is too busy g
ANDREW POV That dinner was an utter disaster and everything I hoped to accomplish backfired in my face. How can Simon think they’d be mates? Has he gone fucking insane? ‘You should have been nicer,’ Demitri, my wolf, comments from the corner of my mind. Scolding me for the millionth time tonight for my behavior. ‘Meh, meh, meh, meh, meh’ I mutter back with the roll of my eyes, not really wanting to listen to his supreme wolf judgement. ‘You’ve become a real dick lately, you know that?’ Demitri shoots back with a growl. Walking across the lawn, I climb the front porch steps, walking into the Alpha’s residence, finding my way to the kitchen. “Back so soon?” Matt drawls from the bar stool, where he currently sits eating a bowl of cereal. “Your master plan didn’t work? Shocker!” He taunts, as he crunches on another spoonful. “And how’s your plan for Charity working out?” I snarl back, each syllable like the lash of a whip. “I wonder if Fletcher’s plan is any better? We can call him a