Stronger

Annette POV:

I couldn’t sleep at all the night before my mind raced with the idea of being reunited with Seraphine. Of having the no comfort of her being back, by my side our hands conjoined forever again.

We had waited until the full moon when our connection would be at its peak. My memories flooded in from the last time I was in the moon pool. I had laid in it before my wedding, and my husband ever impatient had watched me the whole night staring at me hungry.

This time I wouldn’t be alone everyone would be watching they would wait with bated breath for me to return to normal. What would happen if I did not like other wolves, my blood was pure alpha blood. Things have been put in place to protect those around me.

I didn’t want Christian to watch this if this was successful, it would be a pretty sight. I turned

over at my husband’s restful face. What would he think when he saw me like that?

Grayson was only one generation of pure alpha blood. He was strong that much was true, but

there was a hunger, a drive inside me and my siblings. There was a third beast that we all

caged up, that we kept hidden beneath the floorboards of our minds.

It had been the easiest for me, but now I had to come face–to–face and hope I came out on top. For my sake, I had to. He had already been without me long enough.

I watched Grayson breathe in and out softly for hours. Then his eyes flitted open as the

sunset, turned to look at me, not a word spoken between us. I’m sure Enzo prowled inside of

him. I felt so horrible for him to be without his mate for so long to not know what had happened to her.

We got dressed in silence. Once again I only wore a small, thin, nightgown. Charlotte came in

to watch our son as he slept. He was blind to the turmoil outside of his world of dreams. I

wanted it that way to let him sleep hopefully when he woke up all would be right in the

world.

.077% 11:10

“It’s time,” Grayson told me, softly, pulling me away from my son’s crib side. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

We went downstairs my family waiting watching me like like an animal in a cage. They were aware of the battle I faced.

I walked through the forest the dirt leaves, and pine needles crunching under my feet. The cold air swirled around me as we moved closer.

Amaria stood in front of the pool, her eyes dark with certainty. She believed this would work. She knew it in her bones and for some reason that made me think it might too.

I gave one last look to my husband as I stepped into the cold water it nipped and bit at my skin but I submerged myself all the same. I thought of my wolf of the pain she must be enduring. I pictured her blonde fur and golden eyes.

1

Amaria started some sort of chant and I closed my eyes tightly. I pictured my wolf I focused on her. I honed in on what small bits I had of her. I lay there trying to reach for her cold and shaking, eyes all over me.

Just When I started to doubt, the forest entered my mind. The one I had wandered all those months every time I had been drugged. The gray mist was much less thick and the trees poked out into the frame.

“Seraphine!” I shouted. “Seraphine!”

I used all the volume my voice could muster. Calling out into the great void for her to hear, for her to find me.

I looked all around me trees looming over waiting to grab me and keep me here forever. My heart started racing that feeling I’d had returned tenfold. That haziness my mind swirl instead of focused.

“No, don’t do that. Don’t let it win.

I fought it for a moment falling to the ground. The fogginess encircling me and pinning me down. I pushed back against it picturing her and trying to stand.

Emergency calls only M

077% 11:10

My son’s little fingers entered my mind, and I started walking through the swampy ground, and I called for her again and again.

No matter where I went, I couldn’t see her. I reached for her through the mist. Trying to sense her to connect to her again. I felt her, but there was still all this bramble in the way. Tangled vines and toppled trees kept us apart.

“Seraphine,” I called again screeching through the endless wood for her to hear.

I kept walking, not stopping my legs from wandering. I closed my eyes remembering the way she felt my voice, my constant companion.

“Seraphine,” I whispered.

A howl pierced the air.

I spun in its direction and ran for her. It was a weak and whiny howl. One of pain and fear, she was still hurt. I would find her and get her better.

I stumbled through the trees as I lunged forward, searching for her.

“Seraphine!” I screamed again, desperation permeating my voice.

Again a howl came pointing me in the right direction. I ran faster, my hands now scraping direction. I ran faster, my hands now scraping past the bark and pushing me closer to her. Another howl called me to her guiding me on.

Eventually, I heard her whimpers and subtle sighs. I stopped in my tracks and intently listened, following the quiet sounds.

There she lay under a fallen tree. Her fur was matted, her paws bloody, branches stuck to her.

my poor girl,” I crouched down to see her.” I’m here now. I’m so sorry I lost you,”

As I went to reach for her, my docile companion lunged at me I felt her jaws around my throat.

Emergency calls only MO

077% 11:10

I shot up in the moon pool my eyes focused on the threat around me my claws extended into the rock. Hands tried to push me down and keep me still.

Voices called to us, trying to calm us down.

*What did they know?

*Who were they to call us?

Specks of meat, in a world of flesh and blood. They didn’t know what we could do, they had

no idea what we could accomplish and we’d never be caged again.

r

You don’t deserve to stand in my presence,” We growled.

We yanked our arm free and grabbed the small one tearing him off his feet and throwing him into the others.

We jumped onto our feet and clawed at the woman who tried to wrap her arms around us begging us to still.

*why should we

He entered our graze and tackled us, we were about to sink our claws into his belly when his eyes met ours black like the sky on a new moon.

She gave me back the reins and retreated her body going down four sizes and returning to normal. I felt my claws retreat and my gaze turned back to normal.

“What did I do?” I looked over at my brother James unconscious and bleeding on the ground Charlie and Theo holding themselves in different places. My mother, her arms drenched in blood as my father carried her away.

“It’s alright,” Grayson gently pushed my face to look at him. “She’s back, that’s all that

matters,“.