I saw tears shining in her eyes, her throat fluctuated. Clary
held my free hand and approached the stairs again.
She trembled as much as I did, I pulled the fresh air of the night, the natural scent of the forest into the
my lungs and closed my eyes, remembering all the reports of
torture and suffering caused in females. The image of Victoria emerged
in my mind, all that I spent in the hands of the strays, all
pain and every tear I shed.
A stream of icy winds shivered my skin. I could feel the
Jack’s presence behind me, along with Aiden and the rest of our
family.
So I opened my eyes slowly. A lonely tear ran down
my cheek. I opened my hand and let the burning branch fall on the
stairs and reach the gasoline thrown on the floor and walls of the lair.
Clary did the same to my side. Silence hovered through the air, a silence
full of grief, fury and relief.
It took only seconds for the fire to spread quickly
by the lair and when the cries and cries of despair of the strays
being consumed by the burning flames reached my ears,
I raised my head and looked at the bright moon in the sky.
Everyone who hurt my family was being burned like
punishment. No one hurts who I love and remains alive. No one.
HAYLEY BLAKE
It was dawn when we reached the town of Mark and Ayla. The sun
the blue sky free of clouds. The air seemed so pure
and take that morning. The river waters where Victoria was killed
shining in the sunlight, the place where I was taken by Nick, the stray.
And again that tightness in the chest bothered me.
The pack was awake, the wolves gathered in the center of the territory.
Seven logs of wood were erected right among the people, swallowed
dry to know what it meant. The Alphas of the pack had
arrived minutes before and were prepared by the wolves,
accompanied by four elders wearing dark robes with the
symbol of the pack embedded in the fabric.
A chill ran through me when the car stopped. I felt the look of my
brother sitting next to me, ignored him, kept my eyes on the logs
wooden. Did you know that Aiden was biting himself to ask questions,
but thanks to the Moon, he knew how to respect my space and silence. He should be
euphoric with the pregnancy of his companion, my brother deserved
that happiness of finally having a baby with the female she loved.
The judgment in our midst was seen as cruel by the others
species. I didn’t know exactly how it was done, it would be the first time
who witnessed one, but if the wolf were found guilty, it would be
tortured for days in public square by his brothers and sisters of race, and
at the end of the time decided by the Alpha, would be killed. Even the
death was chosen, slow or quick, short or lengthy. A torture or decapitation.
To the Moon! That I could pass for more that.
I cowered in the car seat when the door was opened. A wave of
panic made my head spin, swallowed a flustered breath,
shaking hands so no one would notice the tremor in mine
fingers. I could feel my heart beating wildly in my
chest, almost jumping out.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds, seeking to calm my
breath and my heart. I didn’t want to freak out or lose control in
middle of all, was not very safe for me. A slight tingling
spread through the sore muscles of my body, every movement
that I did result in more pain.
I didn’t even notice when everyone left the mini vain and Jack sat down to mine
side. I startled in place when he held my hands
trembling and sweaty. Open my eyes, my vision blurred
quickly, but soon I was able to focus on the male beside me, his face
writhing in worry. So different from the Alpha who found me
hours before in the lair.
You know you’re the main witness at the trial, right?
I nodded in agreement. Jack took my hands to his face and
kissed my fingers slowly. The feeling of your lips on my
skin resulted in a twist in my stomach. Couldn’t lie
and say you won’t miss him for the last two days.
— But I want you to know if you decide not to participate in the trial,
has all my support to leave. You need to rest, werewolf, and not watch this shitty show. I wanted to end them all with
my own hands.
My lips were shaking.
You can’t go over the law, Supreme.
He denied it with his head, squeezing my hands more.
— If you refuse to participate in the trial, no one will force you to anything,
Hayley. One day I told you’re a free wolf to take your
own decisions.
There was my Jack again, the wolf that would always put my
safety and my well— being as a priority, my wishes above
of yours. I’d hurt him more than I could ever imagine, and yet,
Jack kept treating me like I was a magnificent gift
of the moon in your life.
In the lair I had enough time to think, loneliness brought me
moments of reflection. I acted impulsively, selfishly and certainly
childish form. And it all resulted in hurting the person who would move heaven
and land to save me.
I was not able to continue admiring those eyes that shone in
an intense pine green shade. Jack sighed deeply and supported
his forehead in mine, closing his eyes and relaxing his shoulders. I allowed
that your presence, your warmth and your touch would calm that fear
rampant that
hammered into my heart mercilessly.
— You’re nervous and scared— he whispered to my face,
deciphering the reactions that my body produced. — I feel trapped in a nightmare, as if I would be taken
again by the strays and tortured. It’s hard to believe I’m
free.
Jack’s hand held my neck, fingers tangling in mine
messy hair.
Come here, little wolf.
He guided my head to his chest, leaned my face over his
heart, hearing your strong palpitations vibrating. I passed an arm
by his waist, snuggling me closer to him. Jack started a slow
caress in my hair, almost snored with touch.
— Listen to my heartbeat and calm yours.
I tried to take away the memories of what I spent in the last days of my
mind, all the pain, slander and torture. I expelled those images from my
head and focused on the calm beats of Jack’s heart, closed
my eyes and let that sound go through me. Jack deposited
kisses on my forehead and my hair, whispering sweet words and
encouraging.
Oh my Moon, things were getting more and more complicated
to my head on the brink of madness.
Tightened up Jack and his heat hit me, wrapped my whole body up
caress my bones. It was similar to a wave of energy that me
fortified. The Supreme was granting me his own power, his
vital energy, giving me the strength I needed to face that
trial.
I held my head high, holding my chin to his chest and watched his perfect face, he had lovely long black eyelashes. Jack by
complete was a tempting and irresistible piece of evil way.
— Why are you doing this? After all?
There was a slight hesitation on Jack’s part. I noticed his nostrils
inflating when he let out a deep breath, his shoulders
tense for quick seconds. He seemed in an internal battle
inside your own mind, as screwed up as mine.
— I care too much about you to ignore your pain. You are too
important to me, Hayley.
I hid my face in his chest, fleeing from his gaze. My breath
stuck in the throat with the sway of my own emotions and
mixed feelings.
There was no turning back in my decision. I was not able to change
the past, as much as it was my desire. I just had to deal with
the consequences of my attitude. Would not run away from what I caused as
a coward. No, I wasn’t a fucking coward who ran away from
clashes of life.
I gathered the strength that Jack gave me and filled the chest with air, pushing all the
fragility and sensitivity. Needed to deal with traitors, with
Camilla and the leaders of the bands of strays. Seven wolves would pass
for judgment for betraying his own people, the rest of the strays
were consumed to the ashes by the lair. Nothing remained of them for
be remembered, all are dust upon the earth.
— I can do that— I declared by stepping away from the Supreme.
Jack raised an eyebrow, resting his hands on his knees. He didn’t seem very convinced of my words, even myself
doubtful.
Are you sure about that?
I scratched my throat, clearing my voice.
— As you yourself said, Supreme, I am the main witness. No
I will let the guilty be cleared, I will not allow these
bastards get out of the trial alive.
Jack nodded in agreement, still hesitant, but didn’t try me
prevent. He slipped through the bank and left the vain, reaching out his hand to
help me. I looked at my destroyed dress and the leather jacket
Isaac on my shoulders.