CORA
I let out a small breath as I stood just behind the pack house, in a small garden I trimmed after washing plates every morning. It was one of the aesthetics of the pack, and the only place I could even remotely let myself cry.I sat down on the grassy floor, folding my legs under me, barely able to keep the shirt from falling off my bloodied arm. I had to take all the money I had to pay for those plates, and still had some left to pay. That meant I would have no clothes for the coming of age, and also no money till I finished paying. I gave a small sigh as the tears started to trickle down my face, my eyes closing."Am I intruding?"I looked up, my eyes wide, and stood immediately. No one ever came here, so it came as a surprise that there was even anyone around.He stood tall, way above me, probably a little over six feet three. He looked different, way different. Hair so black it looked almost blue in the sunlight. He had brushed it back into a laid back style, a few strands coming up in front of his forehead, and eyes that toned the darkness in their light blue and green hue. When I looked closely however, his right eye was a dark red, one that even though lightened by the sun, still looked like the color of fresh blood. The left eye was a swirling blue centered around green, and I felt my breath stop in my throat.I swallowed and took a step back as he walked forward, then slowly removed the jacket he was wearing. His shirt under was sleeveless, and a long tattoo of a burning rose covered his right upper arm.I swallowed again as he moved further to me, then wrapped the jacket around me. He stood there for longer than he needed to, holding the jacket to close in front of me."Thank...thank you," I said, moving away from him.He removed his hand, then gave a small smile. He had dimples to the left of his cheek and they sunk in as his eyes quickly swept over me.I was smaller, and his eyes darkened as he let them sweep over my frame, almost as if he was thinking of how I would fit right in his arms.Probably just my own thoughts, but the way he looked at me...I have never seen something so delightfully impure."You belong to this pack, don't you?"His deep, beautiful voice brought me back to reality, and I nodded, stepping away. I had never seen him before, not even remotely. His voice was low, almost seductive, his eyes even more so.Suddenly, he sat on the floor where I had been, then stretched his legs. "Then I take it you wouldn't mind me sitting with you."I swallowed, feeling a sense of calm at his laid back disposition, then immediately sat beside him too, hugging the jacket to myself."How...did you find me?"I watched as he thought about it, and he gave a lazy shrug."Probably destiny trying to tell you that you are a bit too beautiful to cry like that."I burst into a smile, my cheeks reddening and I lowered her head. "Thank you."He said nothing as he suddenly turned to me, then leaned over me. I moved, my breath hitching, my eyes looking up to his. They swirled like pools I wouldn't mind drowning in, and my heart beat like it was racing against its own self.I looked down to his lips, my heart clenching. They were a pale pink heavily defined cupid's bow set, and seeing them sent sinful, wicked imaginations to my head. I wondered how it would feel to have them pressed against mine, on my neck, my hands, my...He brought his hand to my cheeks and slowly wiped the tears away, his fingers tracing the outline of my cheeks, then teasingly down to my lips. He let his thumb hover above it, and he smiled, then moved his hand away."Much better," he whispered, his breath teasing my skin.I gave a small nod as he tucked the strands of my hair behind my ears, then leaned down to whisper in my ear."How about... you make sure to return the jacket to me?"I knew what that meant. He wanted to see me again. I swallowed, blinking rapidly. He stood up, then dusted himself off, tucking his hands in to his pockets."You will, won't you?"I immediately nodded. "What...what is your name?"He smiled again, taking my breath with him as he did. His scent filled my nose, and I struggled not to close my eyes."Keanne. My name is Keanne.""Keanne," I said, then smiled, lowering my head a little.I loved how his name felt on my lips, and even more so, the satisfied look on his face, like he loved it too. He smiled, then gave a slow nod."Yes. Make sure to return it."I nodded immediately. Without another word, he turned away, his steps heavy.I watched his back, feeling my heart beat rapidly increase. His leaving was just as beautiful as the way he had come, and I found myself murmuring his name again, enjoying the feel of it on my lips."What happened to you, Cora? You are bleeding!" Ava yelled, removing the towel she had tied on her head to dry it off. Even though her family was rich, she did not live with them, and spent most of her time in the pack house with me.At first, I didn't like it. Now, I keep an extra toothbrush."I think I am okay. Even more than okay." I smiled, biting down on my lips a little.Ava scanned me suspiciously. "I am not quite sure what is wrong with you, but I think you should get out of t
My eyes widened, and I felt the surge of familiar heat to my legs and cheeks. It weakened my knees, and I held my breath as he stepped forward to me, his hand touching my shoulder, and he moved behind me.There was a mirror on the right, and he moved me slowly to it, leaning his face so it was right beside mine. He made sure his skin teased mine, and I closed my eyes a little, my lips parting."Imagine it," he said, bringing up the dress to my body, then holding down the waist, his thumb lightly grazing my waist.I swallowed. "I really can't...""Add this to my bill," he said. He wasn't talking to me anymore, but to the attendant who nodded immediately.He moved his face into my neck, so when he spoke, the movement of his lips teased my neck. I swallowed, feeling my chest heaving, and I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.His scent filled me as I hoped mine did him, and I made a mental note to find out if scent was a huge part of wolf attraction. I couldn't even remember the scent of
My eyes widened, my fingers clenching into the shards of already broken glass settled in my palm. "Don't be a hypocrite, dad. Have you forgotten about the mate bonds?"He laughed. "I definitely haven't, and that is part of it, really. She is an omega. Not just any omega, but the Crawford's omega." He gave a small, dark chuckle as his eyes fell on her again. She had her back to us, and she was talking to someone, her tone low.I swallowed as I followed my father's line of sight, feeling bile rise up my throat. I didn't think I was possessive about her, or we even had anything I ought to feel possessive about.But for some reason, reasons I didn't want to acknowledge or think about right now, I found the vile throes of anger clenching on my heart. It wasn't near as feral as when I had caught Kiara cheating on me, but right now all I wanted was to see blood. On the floor, in my hands. I wanted to paint the pack with blood and it didn't matter whose. It would be great if it is the blood
KEANNEI watched the flowers as they lit up under the moonlight and the combined lights of the pack. My hand bled, but I still held a cup of whiskey wrapped in my fingers, the glass stained with long lines of my blood. I watched the flowers, anger brewing at the back of my mind, my body running cold. I hated what this anger was doing to me.She was just a girl. One of so many I had to choose from. Normally, if I didn't get a girl, which happened very, very rarely, I wouldn't even remember her face within twenty minutes.But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Cora in that dress, her body fitting the silk like it was made with her in mind, her hair tumbling down in those gorgeous waves....I bit down hard on my lips, closing my eyes. And to think she would belong to my father, and occupy the space my mother wanted till she took her last breath. The space that giving birth to me had taken away from her because my father simply could not accept me. To think that it had to be Cora.Sudden
I closed my eyes as the Whiskey burned down my throat, my chest feeling slightly constricted. My heart felt on fire, and the Whiskey seemed to only add to it. I cussed under my breath, my eyes closing again. I needed to forget her now. And push my father to the back of my mind.This is what he wants, and I was dead set on not giving it to him.After a few minutes, however, I found my eyes opening again, the agitation filling me up. I grabbed the cup of Whiskey, flinging it across the room to the wall where it shattered with an ungraceful sound, the pieces bouncing off the wall and landing everywhere.I swallowed hard, bringing my hands to cover my face. It was a foul attempt, as her dress was still tightly clasped around my hand.I swallowed hard, watching it for a moment, her eyes under that moonlight, ladden with tears and looking up to me that helplessly...weirldy it haunted me. It haunted my soul and I hated her for that too.I unwrapped the dress, then let it fall to the ground.
KEANNEI put a hand on the right sode of my neck, my chest slightly heaving from the exertion. The punching bag in front of me was still swinging around from the last punch, the one where I had chaneled all of the anger I felt inside into it.It did feel much better now.Pushing my shirt, a black vest more precisely, to peel it away from my skin, I walked back to the small table to grab the bottle of water I had set there earlier.I would need the relief to go about the rest of my day. Just before I reached out however, someone else grabbed, then pulled it away from my reach.I gave a small sigh, then extended my hand to my father, urging him to give it back."Someone doesn't seem too happy."I grabbed the water, then opened the cap, pouring some over my hair. I shook my head to get rod of the extra, then pushed my fingers through the strands to peel it back."The childish antic does not look good on you."He chuckled, adjusting his sitting position on the table I started to walk back
CORAI kept my head low as Alpha Blake walked away, then brought back a bottle of wine and two glasses."Here. It's a toast."I swallowed, meeting his eyes. He looked happy, but I needed no soothsayer to see the wicked glint behind his eyes, the darkness behind his smile. I felt a cold chill run down my spine as I watched him, then bit down on my lips as he gave me a cup.He had filled it halfway, and he let his gaze hold mine in place, urging me to drink.His right hand held his own glass while the bottle dangled loosely from his right hand. I slowly moved the glass, then clinked it with his like he obviously wanted me to.His smile grew wider, and I closed my eyes, gulpimg the entire thing."Easy, Cora. There will be a lot to celebrate and a lot to toast to."I nodded. "Y..yes."He smiled again, then droppeed the bottle and glass away before he walked back to me. "I will walk you around my humble abode. I would have loved for you to meet my son, but oh well."I swallowed. "Too bad."
CORAI stared into his eyes, my breath slightly hitching. His eyes were lightly clouded with hate, his eyes thin, and I raked my fingers through my hair, my lips sucked in."But, Alpha....""There are no buts, Cora. If indeed you want to marry me, then you will have to stay from him."I swallowed as he suddenly moved closer, his eyes finding mine. He was beautiful, and nothing about his face could indicate that he could have a child as old as Keanne.But he was an alpha, on second thought, and if he so wanted, he could be immortal.He brought his right hand to softly cup my face, his thumb running along my cheek, his eyes fixed on mine."I do not mean to come off as scary, but I think everything will slowly come to light on its own. For now, just obey me.."I nodded rapidly, swallowing hard. Slowly, he leaned forward, and I closed my eyes tight. He leaned, then left a small kiss on the right corner of my lips.It was not as euphoric as when Keanne cupped my face, or even the anticipat