What a morning! You’d think someone spiked the water or the juice because the little ones have been bouncing off the walls. I must admit, it’s been a nice distraction though. I don’t want to think about what happened yesterday, and it’s eating at me to feel how horrible Landry feels about it. Landry tends to carry everyone’s guilt and his own. Goddess Morrtemis herself could show up and grant him eternal forgiveness and he still probably wouldn’t forgive himself and it saddens me greatly. 'We could try recommending he visit Beta Eric again. I’m no clinical expert, but even I can tell our Lan is dealing with some trauma thanks to his jerk of a father’s emotional abuse and neglect,' Beatrix says heartbrokenly. Bee is a tough cookie, far tougher than I, but even she has her sweet side. I know she loves and cares for Landry as much as I do. She’s always the one giving him a firm push, which I don’t always agree with. I don’t like being forceful with him or anyone – probably why I prefer
The rest of the day went by very smoothly. I spent most of it focusing on Bai while the other carers tended to the other kids. It was the most Bai had interacted with anyone, so they didn’t pull me away. He really seemed to relax and open up while we played chess, and I’m hoping in time I can maybe get him to play with one of the other children, maybe one even willing to let him teach them to play chess. He’s such a sweet boy, I’d love to see him making friends. I’m just in the kitchen doing the dishes after lunch when I hear footsteps approaching carrying the scent of rose and chamomile. A smile breaks across my face, and I spin around and leap at the tall figure entering the kitchen. They catch me effortlessly as I breathe in their floral scent. “Pappa!” I cheer as I feel my dad’s arms wrap around me and swing me around with ease. “How are you, Cupcake?” He asks joyfully while kissing my cheeks and setting me on my feet. “I’m wonderful,” I smile up at him, “What brings you by? T
As I start to sit back in my seat, sharp pain strikes my side knocking the wind out of me. I cling to the table, trying to process the pain that makes it hard to breathe as Beatrix's howls echo around my mind. “Jennifer!” My mum cries, leaping from her chair to come to my side, “Jennifer what’s wrong?” “I don’t… know,” I pant. Beatrix begins to whimper, 'Landry’s hurt.' 'What?! What’s happening?!' I shout at her but quickly focus more on my bond with Landry and Matthan, 'Lan? Matthan? What’s happening?' I ask in a panic. 'Everything is fine, I promise,' says Matthan, but I don’t believe that. How can anything be fine when my ribs feel like I got hit by a tank? Is it his dad? Did Landry’s dad come back and is now hurting him? Fear and panic rush through me and without a second thought, I’m up on my feet and sprinting across the street while I faintly hear my parents calling my name behind me. I don’t have time to think, I just keep running. I know I’m not that fast, but I’m still
Jennifer and I spent all of last night discussing my decision to get private training lessons and once we had everything out on the table, she asked if today I would accompany her to pack training, so we could at least experience it together. She’s not asking me to attend every training session with the pack, just this one, and as much as the thought of training gives me flashbacks of trying to get out of P.E. the thought of spending more time with Jennifer was a huge incentive. I’ve already cleared my day with Maggie, whose only response was ‘It’s about time’, so it's safe to say I won’t get any argument from her. I managed to scrounge up some workout clothes I brought from home. I don’t know why I packed them, but I guess I’m glad I did. The clothes still feel and smell brand new, so that tells you how little I wore them. They’re nothing special, just a grey long-sleeved workout shirt, black workout leggings and black workout shorts over those and black sneakers. The shorts might be
They continue their demonstrations and now Matthan is paying closer attention. After they’ve gone through it a few more times, Mei shifts back into her human form, and I now understand why she was wearing a summer dress. She never has to change her clothes this way. Luna Marcus shifts back but has to put his shorts back on. With all the magic in the world, I wish there was a makkari who could cast a spell that would allow us to not have to strip off our clothes when we shifted, to avoid shredding them to pieces. Surely they can do that. “Since we have limited nagatas at our disposal, we’ll be going a few at a time. So, Nare, CJ, Natalia, Gary and Dwain, you go first, and you’ll be paired with Hua, Xīn yí, Fú, Yìchén and Jùn Jié.” He then turns to look at Mei, “Did I say those right?” He asks, and she smiles up at him nodding happily, and he smiles with relief turning his attention back to us. “The rest of the wolves will wait for their turn and the rest of the nagatas will step to th
“Someone looks entertained,” suddenly announces Nare, yanking me back into the here and now. “Huh?” I ask, focusing my attention on her as she sits down in front of me in the packhouse dining hall. “You’re sitting here giggling with scrambled egg just hanging from your fork,” she chuckles, “So, spill. What’s so funny?” She asks while digging into her eggs benedict. “Maggie called Landry into work early this morning to help with cleaning the guest house. Poor Landry is trying not to be sick because it seems some people were very intimate and very messy in one of the rooms, and Landry has to clean it and the smell is making him ill. I feel sorry for him, but feeling and seeing how grossed out he is, is making me laugh,” I say with a giggle. “That’s because it’s hilarious,” Beatrix says with a tired chuckle. “All that rolling around and laughing took it out of you,” I tease. “It was worth it,” she says with a yawn. I can’t help but be a bit concerned. I’ve never seen Beatrix so low
Just then the sound of a crash fills the dining hall, and Nare and I both look over as pack members around the room begin to laugh. I see Jane over towards the buffet, red-faced, hair up in a ponytail with strands falling loose around her face as she looks down at the shattered plates scattered around her. Sympathy washes over me as I watch her grab a tub and begin picking up the broken pieces while trying to hide her embarrassment. I feel sad and disgusted as I look around at all the people who are just laughing at her, instead of helping her, including Nare. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer person,” Nare sniggers. I frown, “That’s not very nice.” Nare’s eyes glow brightly for a split second as she looks up at me, “That bitch doesn’t deserve kindness, not after what she did to me, or you for that matter. Have you forgotten her relentless bullying? Have you forgotten the things she did to you?” She says with strong contempt. I sigh, “Of course, I haven’t forgotten. I’m not asking you t
'LANDRY!' I jolt awake, looking around in disorientation for the source of the voice screaming my name, but I don’t see anyone. It’s just me and Jennifer. Jennifer! I look down and relax as I see Jennifer sleeping peacefully with her arm still draped over my lap. I smile down at my breathtaking animai whose scent is still overwhelming my senses and setting the bunker ablaze with its frangipani notes. Her body against me feels like a sweet, delectable fire that has me feeling excited and jittery at the same time. Her curls are a wild nest of hair scattered around her face and her usual cream-coloured skin is flushed a bright scarlet like she’s been doused with boiling water, and that’s not unreasonable given her beautiful skin is coated in sweat. Her breathing is slightly laboured, and her heart is beating a little faster than normal, but thankfully all I can sense from her is a peaceful deep sleep. Same for Beatrix. Beatrix has been in hibernation since Jennifer’s heat hit. It’s no