LOGINTwo Years LaterSenna’s POVThe scent of barbeque was thick in the air. Miranda plopped down a massive bowl of salad right in the center of the table.“Do you think it’s enough?” she asked, eyeing the table of food. I laughed out loud. There were more bowls and plates of food than our entire pack could possibly eat. Pasta and salads and raw meat waiting to be cooked. There was fruit and veggies, and sweets for the kids. It was a veritable feast.But that’s always the way it was at these celebrations.Even so, I fussed a little more with the plates, arranging them so that all the food was accessible for everyone.“You look great, by the way,” she said.I smoothed my yellow dress. Then I spun in a little circle and smiled. “Thanks,” I said. “I’ve been told I clean up nicely.”Alpha Shaun peeked his head into the packhouse dining room. “Sorry if I’m interrupting the food preparation. But if you’re ready,” he said to me. “We can start.”“Ready?” Miranda asked, turning to me. I gave the fo
One year laterSenna’s POV“Are you coming in for breakfast?” I was bent over the carrots in the garden, weeding them. I wiped the sweat from my brow. It was already hot, even though it was still early in the morning.I turned to see Kalev smiling down at me. Shielding my face from the sun, I smiled back up at him.“Depends,” I teased. “What did you make.”He held out his hand to me and pulled me up from the ground.“Waffles,” he said, pulling me in for a kiss. His lips tasted like coffee.“Then yes, I’ll be right in.”I pulled off my gardening gloves and stood for a moment to admire my garden. Our house in the Seabreeze pack was modest, but it was perfect for us. The scent of the ocean swept over me, salty and thick. I looked out over the ocean. The waves lapped gently on the shore.We’d found the Seabreeze pack two months after we left our home. They had welcomed us in. They were a traditional pack, with a lovely Luna and a soft-spoken, kind Alpha. The pack was small, with only abou
Senna’s POVThe next morning, we woke up at dawn.I stretched one last time in my bed, the bed that I’d grown up in. I made coffee one last time, in the kitchen where I’d made coffee a thousand times.I thought I would feel more sad. I didn’t though. Instead, I felt ready. That was the best way to describe it.I just felt ready to take on whatever came next. Wherever we ended up, I was ready for it.Kalev had a quick shower. We ate eggs together one last time at the kitchen table. Then we grabbed our bags and headed out the door.The sun was just rising. The air smelled fresh and sweet.Junie was already waiting for us outside, a sobbing mess. I took one look at her and my heart clenched. I would miss her most of all, I thought to myself. But she was in good hands. Mira was doing really well, and she had Thistle. Plus she had Korrigan and Isolde, who had promised to look after her as well.She rushed towards me and flung herself into my arm. I held her, stroking her hair, and inhaling
Senna’s POVTwo Weeks Later“Can you grab the drinks?” I asked Kalev. I was putting the final touches on the decorations outside in our small lawn. I’d hung lights all around the small space. The scent of hamburgers on the barbeque filled the air.“Of course,” Kalev smiled at me. Then he went into the house to grab the jugs of sangria I’d made.I stood back and admired the lawn. Then a wave of nostalgia washed over me. As of tomorrow morning, this house would no longer be mine. I’d signed it over to Mira. She was going to move in with Thistle and Junie.“Wow.”I turned around to face Isolde. She and Korrigan had just arrived. She was wearing a cute floral print dress, her hair done up in curls. It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had once shot an arrow right into Kalev’s leg. The ‘island’ Isolde was a far cry from this Isolde.Korrigan stood beside her, in khaki pants and a crisp white t-shirt. They were both working at the orphanage in their village. They ran it, and t
Senna’s POVI did my best to comfort Kalev on the walk back. I knew firsthand what it felt like to lose a wolf. He was holding up well, but both our hearts hurt over the loss of Orrin.It had been so bitter sweet. It was sad to watch Kalev say good bye to his wolf. But he was right. He was offering Orrin mercy. Orrin’s suffering was so profound and so deep, we couldn’t even come close to understanding it. At least this way, he didn’t have to suffer anymore.As soon as we approached our village though, we knew something was wrong. We heard the cheers and shouts before we’d even stepped onto the main road.“What is that?” Kalev asked.A large group had gathered in the village grassy area. They were yelling and hollering, pumping their fists in the air.We rushed towards the group. We found Junie and Thistle in the crowd. Thistle’s eyes were locked onto the crowd. Junie was chewing her lip nervously.“What’s going on?” I asked Junie.She looked at me, fear in her eyes.“It’s an alpha fig
Kalev’s POVWe stood on the edge of the cliff. The facility stood behind us. The wind was strong, as though it knew what I was about to do. The waves swelled with white crescents then crashed down onto the shore.I don’t know why I’d chosen this spot. I hated the facility. But somehow, it had seemed right. So many wolves had been siphoned here. It seemed like a fitting place, since Orrin would be the last wolf to ever be siphoned.The sky was overcast and gray. A slight drizzle of rain had started. Just like the wind, the weather seemed fitting. It would have been strange if the sun had been shining. I much preferred the drab weather. Besides, Orrin had always like the rain.And in my hand, I clutched the siphon.Senna and I hadn’t even talked about it again. But over the past few days, the decision had been clearer and clearer. Keeping Orrin was cruel. He was unhappy. He would never get better. Doing this was showing him mercy.All he wanted was to be with Verity. Neither of us knew
Kalev’s POVViktor chose the location.The hunting grounds stretched along the northern edge of the Capital’s territory. They were a carefully maintained wilderness designed to feel dangerous without really being so. The trees stood tall and evenly spaced, while preserving the illusion of untouched
Kalev’s POVShe was in the west wing when I found her. I was furious that no one had told me she’d woken up. I had wanted to be there when she did. Apparently, she’d been awake for a while.Walking into the library, my eyes landed on her and I gasped.The servants had done a good job. She looked li
Kalev’s POVI hated that they sedated her. They did it before I could interject. They just shoved a needle into her neck and within seconds, she collapsed.“She was hysterical,” one of the medics on the helicopter said. It was true. She had been. She’d been hyperventilating. They’d acted on instinc
Senna’s POVThe iron bars were colder than I expected.Leaning my forehead against them anyway, I let the chill sink in. When Kalen asked to see me last night, I assumed he was going to propose. But instead, I was tossed into this iron cage with no explanation.The contract mark on my wrist throbbe







