“You’re crazy you know that?” Carter kisses her passionately then turns to Seth. “If things go badly get her out of here and don't stop running. I'll find you.”
“That's right, give me the hard job.” Seth chuckles, but his smile doesn't reach his eyes.
“I always do brother.” Carter jumps down the steps and starts taking off his clothes. As did half the pack. With one last look at his wife he falls forward and lands on four paws then runs into the woods with his pack behind him.
Gwen turns once again to the forest and closes her eyes. The power of nature starts surging through her. Responding to her emotions and focusing its rage on the intruders. Trees begin pulling closer together barring the way to the house. She touches the minds of the wild bears, wolves and bison in the area and they begin to come to their aid. Growling and stampeding through the woodland heading toward the enemy.
Soon the screams can be heard a mile away, but also the cries of agony from man and beast. Opening her eyes, she looks out over the forest. Sweat beads on her forehead from the effort of using her powers and she wipes it away with the back of her hand.
Something brushes against her side, but without looking she knows it was Seth. He's shifted and now stands next to her in wolf form. Light grey with dark grey around his face and down his back. His head the same level as hers. His ears are twitching this way and that listening intently to the battle going on around them. The rest of the pack that has stayed behind has also shifted and are standing in a semi-circle in front of the house. They stand slightly crouched ready to leap on any Vampires that get through.
The cries are getting closer and Gwen can make out small fires amongst the trees. She can feel the fear of the wild animals and she reassures them to keep fighting, but the fires are spreading quickly and it won't be long before they get out of control. Smoke is rising above the trees as the flames begin burning the forest.
Fear for her husband consumes her. He's never the kind of man to stay behind. He always wants to be the one to lead the pack into danger. Whatever threat or risk his pack faced he would as well. Although he was their alpha he was never above them. She admired him for that. His compassion and strength won him the packs loyalty. Although at times like this Gwen wished he'd let Seth be on the front lines. It's selfish, but she can't bear to lose him. He's her world and the father of their unborn child. He needs to be alive to see him or her grow up. Tears threaten her eyes at the thought of never seeing him again. He's strong though and she had to be strong for him as well.
Seth let out a low growl as he stared at the growing flames. The pack are getting restless from hearing the sounds oftheir family's cries but no one had got through yet. Carter and his team were still holding them back.
Looking up at the sky, Gwen focuses all the power she had on the clouds. Willing them to come together. Her nails dug into her palms and she gritted her teeth with the effort. The clouds start swirling above them and the already dark night gets darker as the moon is masked behind the great black cloud. Sweat was dripping down her face and her knees were growing weak. The power surging within her mimicking the gathered black cloud and with a scream she released it all completely. A torrential downpour plummets from the sky and within seconds everywhere was drenched. The flames sputter out and the wolves howl in celebration.
Dots swam in Gwen's vision with light-headedness. She blinked a few times trying to clear it to see what was happening around her but she felt herself begin to fall. She took a step back to steady herself but then felt a solid wall behind her. Instinctively she reached back and her hands came in contact with wet fur. She took a deep breath and felt her mind slowly clear and looked round to see Seth standing behind her holding her up.
She placed a hand on his huge head and smiled. “Thanks.”
He rumbled low in his chest in acknowledgement then slowly pulled away. Satisfied she's OK he walked to the top off the steps and stared intently at the forest. His fur was soaked and his ears were angled down against the rain.
Seth's Carters Beta and life-long friend. They were like brothers and there was no-one more suited to being Carters right hand man. He doesn't hesitate to let Carter know if some of his choices were not the best and always gave good council. Seeing him looking out over the forest made Gwen certain that he was just as worried about Carter and the pack as she was.
The sounds of fighting were getting further away which meant Carter and the pack must have been winning. Hades and his army seemed to be retreating with the pack hot on their heels. Gwen almost let herself relax a little at the chance of it being over when the entire sky was lit up by a catastrophic explosion.
The line of trees she had created were blown apart and splinters of wood come slicing through the air. The force throws Gwen back and her ears were ringing. She can barely make out the agonising screams of the pack as they were ravaged by the flames and splintered wood. All she saw was the burning forest before her head span and everything went black.
18 Years Later
Chapter 1
A Pair of pale grey eyes flash in my mind. They're wreathed in smoke and shadow. Chilling and ominous but also darkly intriguing. This isn't the first time this vision has invaded my thoughts. It's like they're waiting or assessing. I feel exposedand I try to pull away but something about those eyes is pulling me back in. They're familiar somehow but I've never seen anyone with eyes that startling grey, almost silver shade.
I'm snapped back to reality when my phone vibrates in my pocket. Glancing at the teacher Doreen who is at the front of the class scribbling on the white board, I deem it safe to slip my phone out and hold it under the table. It's a message from my best friend Cassey who's sitting opposite me.
'Nick is staring at you. Want me to flick a pencil at him?'
I frown at her and she raises her perfectly plucked eye brows at me, daring me to look to prove she isn't winding me up.
Nick and I dated for a few months last year but I cut things off. He was controlling and narcissistic. Our first date was great and he seemed fine at first but then the red flags started popping up. He'd pick apart what I chose to wear and make digs about what I ate. Then when I told him I wasn't in the mood for sex he tried manipulation. Making me feel guilty then just being flat out rude. No one should have to live on egg shells like that. I deserve better and the second he started making me second guess myself I knew he'd drown me if I didn't leave him.
I spoke to Cassey about it. I told her everything and he hated that. She never liked him and for good reason. She helped me maintain my sense of self instead of falling into the trap of thinking I'm the one in the wrong. I'm so lucky to have her.
I quickly type back.
'Let him look. I couldn't care less.'
She gives me a proud smile with a hint of 'sure I can't throw the pencil anyway?' look. I smile and focus back on the lesson.
Half an hour later the class is emptying out and Cassey and I walk out the class room door and into the packed hallway. When I round the door I smash straight into a hard chest.
“What the f-” I gasp as I step back.
Nick is smirking as he leans his hand against the wall.
