All Chapters of Nightshade: Chapter 11 - Chapter 18

"All young wolves participating in today's ceremony please gather at the platform." My stomach dropped as the announcement echoed across the clearing. "This was it." Margaret appeared at my side pulling me into one fierce hug. "Remember, you're stronger than you know, and I love you, always." she whispered in my hair. "I love you too." I said, my voice breaking. i pulled away from her, forcing myself to walk toward the platform where seven other young wolves were already gathered. They looked confident, excited and ready. I looked like I was walking toward my own execution. Because maybe I was. The ceremony began with Alpha Magnus ascending the platform as his presence commanded immediate silence from the assembled pack. i could feel sweat trickling down my back despite the cool temperature. "Moonstone pack," Magnus began "we are gathered here today to witness the Coming of age ceremony, a sacred tradition passed down through generations. Eight young wolves stand before yo

Damien finally looked directly at me and the conflict in his eyes was painful to look at. Want and rejection, need and disgust. The bond pulled him towards me while everything else pushed him away. "I'm sorry." He said, and.he sounded like he actually meant it. "But yes, I can't." "Then reject her properly." Magnus said with satisfaction evident in his voice. "Do it now. Break the bond before it has a chance to fully form." "If he rejects her, the pain...." "I don't care about her pain!" Magnus' roar echoed. "I care about this pack! I care about my son's future. I care about maintaining the reputation of Moonstone! I don't care if rejecting her kills her! There words hung in the air, brutal and honest. "It won't kill her," Mara quietly said. "The bond is new. But it will hurt. Both of them." "I can handle the pain." Damien said, his voice hollow. "Can you?" Mara's voice was sharp. "The mate bond isn't just emotional, boy. It's spiritual. Physical. Rejection sickness can l

I woke up before dawn feeling like I hadn't slept at all.The bond pulled constantly now. A dull ache that I was starting to realize would be my companion for the next few months.I quickly showered and changed into clothes appropriate for travel. Worn jeans, a T shirt and my sturdiest boots.Margaret was waiting for us in the kitchen with three packed bags when I arrived."Food, water, basic medical supplies and this...." She pressed something into my hand. A vial of silver liquid that seemed to glow faintly in the predawn light. "It's wolfsbane extract. Diluted enough that it won't hurt you but strong enough to deter rogues. Don't use it unless absolutely necessary.""Where did you get this?" I asked staring at the vial."Beat you don't know." Margaret's expression was grim. "Just promise me you'll be careful. The neutral territories are extremely dangerous. They're not like pack lands.""I'll be careful, Maggie.""And Sera..." She pulled me into a fierce hug. "Come back safely."

Helga’s cottage was nothing like I expected. No bubbling cauldrons or jars with suspicious ingredients. No animal skulls or dark magic symbols carved on walls. Just…a home. A warm and inviting one with herbs drying from the ceiling beam, a crackling fireplace and shelves lined with old books. It looked more like a scholar’s library than a witch’s lair. “Sit,” she said, gesturing to a worn wooden table in the center of the room. Three chairs waited, almost like she’d known exactly how many of us would come.We sat, warily. Kade positioned himself closest to the door, in case we needed to run. Maya sat beside me, protectively close enough that are shoulders touched.Helga moved to a shelf and pulled down a leather bound book. One so old the cover had cracks on it. She set it on the table and finally looked directly at me.“That pendant, where did you get it?” she asked.My hand instinctively flew to my throat. “it’s the only thing I have from…. before.”“Before what?”“Before I was fo