One last assignment then I can finally find my mate. I have no idea why this alpha is so important but the committee has granted him with the best security in existence, me. I'm not your average wolf, in fact, my kind are often beaten and belittled, but by some divine intervention I had been raised from a lowly omega pup to the ultimate weapon and protection for the werewolf world. I protect the future, the strongest and only the most important of the wolves. I am the Alpha's Guardian. Of course on the day I am to receive a Guardian the rogues find a hole in our defenses. We have been spread thin and even though Guardians are reserved for the highest of Alphas I am being bequeathed one. What would normally be an honor feels like a slap in the face when she shows up, this woman who claims she was sent to protect me. Female warriors are heard of sure, but a female guardian? This must be a joke and I refuse to be laughed at.
*Ali POV*
A small breeze tickles through the trees leaving in its wake a chill and the scent of blood. Squatting down, I survey the leaf-littered ground searching for any sign of disturbance. Nothing looks out of place, no leaves turned over or dirt that looks freshly dug. I pop back up and walk deeper into the woods.
Using my enhanced hearing to listen for sounds that are out of place. Branches creak in the wind, the scratching of small paws skittering up the trees as squirrels go about their normal play. I close my eyes, focusing with more effort on my sense of smell. I can feel the breeze picking up as the air swirls around, tossing dead leaves through the forest with gusto.
There it is again, the scent of blood. My eyes pop open as I follow the smell cautiously. after a short period of time I find myself along a small embankment of rocks and a quaint babbling stream. Upon coming closer, I see dried drops of blood on the rock bed. This explains why the scent was so faint.
Someone had a meal here, probably of squirrel or mouse variety. I slowly spin, taking in the surrounding area. The little opening is lit by the midday sun, affording it a little more heat than the rest of the woods. It's peaceful, a small solitude from the dreariness of the dark, damp woods I will enter back into soon enough. But for now, I can afford a slight break to enjoy these fleeting moments of silence and peace.
I lower my hood and remove my blade from my back, placing it down next to a rock. I take out my canteen and slowly fill it up in the clear, cool stream. The water flows effortlessly over the rocks, casting small shadows from the sun's heavy gaze. I close my eyes, memorizing the sound, storing it away for a day when I need to center myself and escape the reality that is my life.
I carry the weight of life and death on my shoulders and often the weight feels as though it is too much to bear. For six years, I have worked my way to the top of the field I was destined for. Six years of death and security for the werewolf community that once spurned and hated me. Life has a funny way of changing people.
The sound of crashing brambles sets me on high alert as low growls echo through the woods no more than 25 feet from where I stand. A large Wolf of gray and black flies past me, leaving in its wake the smell of its fresh blood. Yipping, snarling sounds sound from behind this wolf as I run up the rocks propelling myself into the trees. I run along the branches, leaping and bounding from tree to tree, keeping speed with the wolves on the chase. The dull shine of their coats informs me they are rogues. Only those in a pack have the sheen of a shiny wolf's coat, a sort of luster that shows their wolf is at full strength and protected by a pack.
The chase stops abruptly when the gray wolf comes to a halt, spinning around to face his aggressors, shifting into his human form so he can communicate. He stands tall and strong, not an ounce of fear radiating from him as he speaks with his booming voice.
"I am Alpha Wade, of the Moon Shadow Pack. Your fight is with me and not my pack. What is it you want" His voice resonates through the whole of the forest with such authority even the trees get chills.
One by one, the lanky wolves shift into men and women standing and stepping forward. I hadn't noticed how many more had come until they stepped forward, their naked bodies looking creamy and pale against the shadows of the woods. One with a menacing scar across his chest and blood coming from his head steps closer to the alpha.
"We know who you are." He smiles wickedly as he tsks, looking the alpha up and down. "You wouldn't want to go down easily, would you?" The alpha steps forward.
His chest glistening with a mixture of sweat and blood that only serves to highlight his impeccable muscular stature that has even me raising a brow as I look him over. He is easily the fittest wolf I've had to guard in the past few years. it's admittedly a refreshing change of pace.
He chuckles a low gravelly sound. "Not a chance in hell." and with this, he shifts into his massive wolf lunging for the leader.
He is fast enough to sink his teeth into the rogue's front leg mid-shift and toss him against the tree I am in as if the rogue were a small toy. Within a moment, the sounds of howls erupt into the midday air and 8 wolves descend on the alpha at once. He jumps and dodges, nipping here and biting there.
I watch in awe, impressed with his agility and strength, though he appears to be slower and weaker on his left one side. Out of nowhere, a smaller brown wolf lunges from the shadows, clawing at his chest as he goes up on his hind legs to avoid her full force. His left leg seems to fold out from under him as he yelps and falls to the ground, the small wolf pulverizing his chest with bite after bite.
The rules state I am not to fight unless it is for the Alpha I am guarding, and I am not sworn in as the new Alpha's guardian until the ceremony of acceptance. But I can't really get 'accepted' if I let my new subject die while I watch. Standing, I take only a second to breathe deep and step off the branch, landing with a light thud on the ground.
Rising, I pull my hood over my head and raise my mask to cover my face to protect my identity from the rogues. I reach back for my blade and shock floods through me when I don't find it. The wolves stop and turn to face me. Their hunger and desire to kill is their defining personality trait as they leave the limp and barely conscious wolf and stalk me.
Sighing heavily at my rookie mistake of taking off my main weapon, I reach down to either side of my thighs and grab hold of my wide-bladed daggers. These will have to do until I can retrieve my blade. Alpha Wade shifts to his human shape, crawling to a tree stump to right himself. I will grant to him he is brave and doesn't give up, but this man is one with a death wish.
"Leave her!" He shouts to the wolves, who know he will no longer be fun to fight. They can't fight the pull of excitement of whole new prey. I laugh at the Alphas' cute attempt to protect me. He has no idea how unnecessary it is.
"Well, are we going to dance all day, or are you filthy dogs going to actually try to take down the tiny weak woman?"I taunt, the two wolves at the front growl angrily and lunge for me. I smile excitedly.
I swiftly spin to the right, easily missing the first wolf's lunge as I bury my blade into its spine and drag it down the length of its back. Without so much as a yelp, it falls to the dirt with a wet thud. The other wolf soars over me as I reach up grabbing its hind leg with the dagger as I plant it deep into its leg. Grunting with the effort I whip it around to change its current course to that of a collision course with two wolves who watch in horror. There's a growl from behind my right side as an angry wolf leaps for me. I extend my leg, landing a powerful kick on the wolf's chest cavity with such force the cracks resound through the trees. Three wolves stalk me and I can't help but smile. Rogues seem to never learn.
"Oh, come on then. I have places I need to be boys"
A massive howl sounds out through the woods, followed by many more. The rogue's ears perk up spinning to gauge how far away the pack warriors are from us, no doubt frantically trying to get to and save their beloved Alpha.
"Sorry boys," I smirk at them. "Looks like we will have to have a rematch another time."
The rogues turn running off into the woods with no proper direction in mind. I can hear the steady sound of Alpha wades men closing in. Smiling and offering a wave to the Alpha, I break into a dead sprint, heading back towards the stream bank to grab my sword. I have only a certain amount of time to get cleaned up and prepared. After all, I have a meeting with The Alpha.
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
On her wedding night, Natalie's stepmother set her up to marry Jarvis, a disfigured and disabled man. Fortunately, she managed to escape, but little did she know that later she would fall for the man she was betrothed to.Jarvis pretended to be a poor man, but he didn't think that he'd fall head over heels for this woman.Their life went on until one day, Natalie found out her boyfriend's little secret."Huh? How could you have billions of dollars' worth of assets?" she asked in disbelief.Jarvis didn’t know how to respond.Being met with silence, she gritted her teeth angrily. "They said that you couldn't walk, but as far as I can see, you're strong enough to run a marathon."Still, he remained silent.Natalie continued, "They even said that you only have a few years to live. What about now?"Finally, Jarvis opened his mouth to explain. "Honey, this is all just a misunderstanding. Please calm down. Think about the baby.""Jarvis Braxton!"The man knelt down immediately.
'His words weren't mere rules, but the laws.' Julia Sanchez wants to be a drama writer. But life took a strange turn for her when she was told to marry the most influential businessman, Marimo Martinez. However, there exists a problem. Marimo Martinez has been in a vegetative state for four years. His chances of survival are limited, yet Julia is forced to marry him. On the wedding day, Julia waited for Marimo to come on a wheelchair. To her surprise, Marimo came in a black tuxedo and was on the aisle, waiting for her. His features were breathtaking and stole her heart in a second. ****** "Wifey, let's make this night beautiful," Marimo said as he advanced to her. Julia gulped and slowly took backward steps. Her breath hitched when her back hit the pillar of the poster bed. Before she could run away, her petite figure landed on the soft mattress and those icy blue orbs fell onto hers. "Mr. Martinez, we don't know each other yet. Could you please—" she paused when she felt his cold fingers on her leg. The next second, she kicked him and Marimo fell to the floor with a loud bang.
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
I ran after I died. The moon goddess gave me another chance to live. Married to a ruthless Lycan that was rumored to be cursed by the moon goddess herself. But I was killed by his minion... behind the bars of her torment... A new story began and he battled with his demons, in a world where truth was far fetched. I was his pawn, his toy, his game...until I discovered one night, when I was soaked in blood that I regretted the day I met him. I'd given up the Lycan beast, to marry a monster. I fled from the Alpha of Bloodmoon Park, the gruesome Lycan that every person feared, to be with this man that seemed soft at first glance. It made me wonder, what if I had stayed? The gruesome Lycan might be fearsome but I never heard him pierce a woman's heart with his claw. In a world where wolves howled at the moon and the lines between man and beast are blurred, danger lurked through the shadows, after the day I married the beast that visited my bed every night. Caught in a web of betrayal and deceit, the man I had fallen in love with had become the monster I wished I could flee from. A deadly threat to my life especially when I realized he was getting married to my step sister, the same girl that made my life hell when I was an omega. I wished I could get my revenge, but how could I, when I was lying in a pool of my own blood, dead? Will the goddess grant me another chance?