Melissa once told me that love is the strongest feeling that
exists, able to overcome barriers. True love was pure, genuine and
powerful. He can wipe out the strongest of men, one will do in
in the dark.
I walked away from Jackson the beating heart and out of his lap, me
stumbling away. He seemed to have been run over by a
truck, lost in the whirlwind of sensations that our
bodies produced by being together.
—Hayley...—My name slipped from his reddish lips, threatened
get up, but I kept pushing away from him, my blood still boiled
inside me.
The walls of that office began to suffocate me, the air fled
my lungs and my wolf was shaking inside me. I turned my back to
Jackson and I left his office, I needed to get away from him or not
I could think clearly.
I went into my room and threw myself on the bed, taking off my shoes and me
dragging until touching the head of the bed. I took a pillow and
I hugged him, the memories of my past came up in my mind
restless.
I smiled nostalgic to remember the day I thought I was in love, had
only fifteen years and totally terrified of that feeling
confused, after the rebellion, there were few times that I was not lost in
my own mind, recalling the day of the attack on my pack.
I’d gone into the woods, my safe haven and Peter followed me,
probably realizing something was wrong, he knew me
very well. I remember asking him about love, like
we knew how to truly love someone.
He smiled and looked at me in a tender, tender way. I knew Peter
loved us, he saw me as the daughter he never had to care for, pamper and
protect. Peter stroked my hair and replied:
—Love is light in the dark, is a shelter in the rain and a
safe haven in a storm, a home in the middle of land
unknown. Love is trust, affection and loyalty. Loving someone is
accept your faults, is to learn to live together despite the differences, is
know renounce and forgive. Love is strength, and if it is true, never
dies.
Clenched my teeth to feel my eyes burn, and tried to suppress the
tears. I rubbed my face and pulled the air hard, deflecting my
attention to the open window, could see the starry sky on the side of
outside the house.
My chest tightened with longing, I missed Melissa, Peter and Dylan.
We’ve been together for so many years, shared moments,
happy and miserable memories, but they’ve always been to mine
side.
Although Peter’s last actions were ridiculous and
despicable, did not erase all the sacrifices he made for me,
when you put the safety of your own family to protect my
brother and I.
That was the nature of love, sacrifice.
The grip on my throat became impossible to ignore, I breathed
trembling and closed my eyes tightly, tightly squeezing the
pillow against my chest.
I promised myself to fight what I felt for Jackson, I wouldn’t give
to him the strength to destroy me. I accepted his claim for his power,
a relationship without love. But my stupid heart beat fast
when your face appeared in my mind, or when I saw your beautiful
green eyes.
In a foreign land and among strangers, Jack brought me
comfort and safety.
Cold sweat ran down my forehead.
I tied my fingers so no one would notice the trembling in my
hands, could not show weakness before the various wolves
bullies in front of me, most were male oppressors who
were against training the females and I would have to convince them to
join our cause.
Jack was away, but close enough to defend me if
needed. He gave me space and freedom to talk to his
men, but he stayed close to make it clear what I meant to him.
The buzz of exalted voices made my head throb, the wolves
were irreducible. That sudden change took them by surprise,
and probably their egos would be hurt to have the females being
trained.
"They fear our strength, because they know we are better."
I spotted Aiden a few feet away, Rebecca was by his side
along with Clary and Madison, Isaac was closer to me, his arms
crusading and looking hard at the rebellious wolves.
—This can’t be serious, Alpha—said one of the males to Jack, he
remained impassive, showed no reaction.
—And why not? —I asked the wolf, receiving a look of contempt
as if I were even worthy of breathing the same air as him.
Stiffened at the same moment, biting his teeth.
—Females were not born to fight—replied in a grunt, it seemed
strive not to curse me, or worse, try to get me on my knees in
his front. A mocking giggle escaped from Rebecca’s lips.
—Are you going to tell me you’re afraid of us? —You raised an eyebrow.
—He never replied, outraged.
—So what is the reason for so much objection? —asked Aiden, his voice was
dark and fierce look. —Females are in constant danger, why
not teach them to defend themselves?
—It’s our role to protect our females—replied the same wolf, my
hand scratched to hit your face. —And theirs is to serve and satisfy.
I closed my hands in fists, my blood was starting to heat up.
—I’m sorry to inform you, but then you failed in your only mission—my
voice came out in a growl. —Because more and more females are being
abducted, abused and killed. You failed them.
I felt the look of every wolf there stuck in me, males
furious at my boldness, and hopeful females at the chance to
change my life. I lifted my chin and faced each one firmly, left
that they would see the truth in my face, my determination and
courage.
—What happened to us? —My voice wavered when I asked. —We were
a people united, faithful, we protected each other, and now we went
broken after the rebellion.
Touching that subject opened scarred wounds for years, controlled
my breath.
—Our hierarchy is inadequate, has been transformed into something unfair and
cruel... I was cut off by Oliver, one of Jackson’s babies.
—Must agree that females are going extinct—I waved with
the chin. —They’re worth gold in our midst, why would we leave it
unprotected?
I contained the irritation that bubbled inside me.
—And how you wish the females to trust you, when you
males who have been tasked with protecting them, are the
killing? The attacks are real, the kidnappings are real and the danger
only increases.
—They can’t take away our right to defend ourselves—it was Clary who
murmured hard, the wolves stared at her with anger and contempt.
—You are not a wolf, have no right to intrude—replied a
of males.
—I can do whatever I want, mostly being one of
survivors who escaped a kidnapping—said between teeth, the
eyes transformed into fireballs. —Almost was taken by the
if it wasn’t for Hayley and Kimberly, I wouldn’t be here,
arguing with a bunch of stupid males.
I took a quick look at the approaching redhead,
two other wolves accompanied her. I opened my hands and took a deep breath,
Back to staring at the wolves.
—Times have changed—my voice caught the eye. —We have no more
security in our own homes, desperate situations require
quick measures.
—Turn females into soldiers? —grunted one of the males. —That’s
ridiculous.
—It’s us who are in danger—Kimberly stopped by my side. —
I believe that the choice to learn to defend yourself should also be
our.
—The decision has already been made—declared Isaac aloud, more denials and
objections of the wolves were heard.
Knew that Jack’s gaze was stuck in me, he could easily
shut the mouths of those bastards, but had granted me the chance to
convince them to fight with us, for our sake and not strength.
—We do not accept this! —Brandished one of the males and took a step forward,
in my direction. —Can’t come here and break our traditions,
wolf.
—It’s time for changes—for him, another step in my
direction and Isaac low growling on alert, the male stopped.
Take care of yourself, Liam.
—You’re not an Alpha to boss us around—Liam said, rigidly: —
Being a Pure does not make you superior.
It was my turn to take a step towards you, getting face to face
with the wolf. His dark eyes were filled with restrained wrath,
indignation and wounded pride.
—Being a Pure puts an unwanted target on my back—uttered
those bitter words. —Being a Pure brought me to a world of
dangers, dominated by cruel males and I had to fight to survive.
He opened his mouth to protest, but Aiden’s grunting made him shut up.
—Many know me, know my history, but not all know
the truth—branded aloud so that they would hear me in clear tone.
—I was an innocent child when my pack was attacked and my
parents brutally murdered in front of me—stepped to drive away the
tears from my eyes. I was only eight years old, and had to learn to
kill so as not to be killed.
They were silent, just listening to me and watching. I swallowed in
dry and kept my chin up.
—Being just a child, I needed to be turned into a soldier
merciless to survive, and wouldn’t have gotten it without my brother
and our family—looked at Aiden, her throat fluctuated. —Needed me
adapt my new reality, and ask you, what was my fault
of belonging to a powerful line of Pure Bloods?
I pushed my pain to the bottom of my being.
—The rebellion broke us, but we are still alive. The Moon granted us
a new chance to get us back on our feet, and how do we do that if you
step on us simply because we are female? While the wolves
despise their females, it diminishes our strength and makes us
vulnerable to our enemies. This is how you want to be
remembered by our descendants? Like a bunch of cowards
losers who were killed, all for refusing to adapt to ours
new reality?