Untamed - Book 1

. I stop when I see the long flowing black strands of her hair shifting in the breeze just beyond the brush, but it is the figure in front of her who holds my attention. A man with paled features and cold eyes, his entire being seems ethereal and ghost-like, hovers several inches off the ground in front of her.

“Cora, would you just listen to me?!”

“I am listening to you, but you aren’t listening to me!”

“He is coming for you. He knows and he is out for blood, your blood.”

“I promise you, Luca, when I am done here, I will run. Please don’t worry about me.”

“What the hell is so important about this job that you can’t just walk away?!”

“I don’t know. I can’t explain it, but it is like I need to be here. I tried to walk away, but I just couldn’t. Please, Luca, I need you to trust me.”

“Yeah, because that worked out so well last time.”

“You’re right, things went to complete shit last time. I have a friend working on ways to fix this, Luca. You would think that with your newfound abilities that you could give me some clue of where to start my search.”

“I would be more than happy to, but as some cruel twist of fate, I am bound to you! I can only go where you go. I am stuck with your ridiculous, though sometimes comical ass. I can’t give you information that I don’t have, Cora.”

“Luca, I will come for you.”

“I know you will…and that is what scares me most. My mind is growing weak, Cora. I need to rest.”

“Rest well, Luca.”

She kneels down and grabs something off the ground before taking a few steps in the direction of the cabin, but she stops.

“I told you I could find my way, alpha.” I step out of the cover of the brush and trees, but her back remains facing me.

“I wanted to make sure you didn’t get lost.” She turns her head to the side, her hair blocking my view like a curtain.

“No need to spare my feelings, alpha. You don’t trust me, it isn’t exactly a well kept secret. Your people are terrified of my kind, but do they even know why?” I stop for a moment, her question leaving me feeling as though I was blindsided.

“Well, we were attacked by a coven. It was nearly a century ago, but it is something that can’t be shrugged off and forgotten.” I continue my steady steps until I am standing beside her. Looking down at her now, I can see the glistening streaks on her cheeks. She had been crying?

“Perhaps your people should learn more of the history and evil of their own kind. We are all surrounded by a chaotic storm of good and evil. The actions of one do not speak to the hearts of the many.” She tries to wipe her tears away without letting me see, but the image is already ingrained in my memory. I watch as she lower her head and continues walking. We remain silent until reaching the cabin, a small building that once served as a quiet safe haven for my mother, but now it is covered in flowering vines, untamed rose bushes and lilacs growing freely all around it. I cringe at the unruly state of the property, but my eyes quickly fall on the little witch, a look of complete awe gripping her delicate features. She brushes her fingertips gently across the petals of a fully bloomed rose then leans in to inhale its fragrance. There is a light dancing in her eyes as she tried to take in every small detail at once.

“I know it isn’t much, but I can have the pack groundskeeper come out and clean things up.” She turns to me with her brow furrowed and her head slightly tilted.

“Clean things up? This is perfect, just as it is. It is beautiful chaos, nature at its finest. Please, do not send anyone. Are you sure it is ok if I stay here?” I study her features, not exactly sure what I am hoping to find.

“I’m sure. This was my mother’s. She used to sneak out here when she needed to get away.” I open the door and motion for her to enter. She steps inside cautiously, her eyes slowly scanning the small space.

“This is perfect. Thank you, alpha.” She walks over to the small round dining table and turns to face me.

“I am glad you like it.” She leans back on the table and I can see a flash of emotion pooling in her eyes before she quickly blinks it away.

“So, when will I be meeting your future luna?” I feel my entire being revolt to the thought of Lady Laurent.

“I will let you get settled tonight and we can introduce you in the morning.” I hope I succeed at disguising the disgust in my voice, but judging by her expression, I fell short.

“Give her the amulet and keep your focus on your intentions.” She cautions as I turn to walk out the door. I make the trip back to the pack house with my mind reeling from everything that has happened and everything that is supposed to happen, but one question is becoming clearer by the minute. What are my true intentions?