Rising Within

Whispers

Craig

“… I thought you had “fixed” this, Craig. You said it wouldn’t be our undoing, I had complete faith in you!”

Santi’s frame stiffened in the doorway, his shadow rolling out to fill the space further. His chest kept steady despite the seriousness they faced. I watched a crinkled brow form over his hard face at the memories he had secured in the deepest part of his brain, and then softened as his heart relived his choices.

I had been entrusted to keep the mission sealed, no sloppy loose ends. But now, how could we keep her safe? If we knew about her, the other pacts would not be far off. It would only be months if not weeks before someone sniffed out the truth and everything would have been for nothing.

“s**t! How am I supposed to think of a way out of this one? It’s going to be one massive war.” Santi paced out of the shadow to his desk, slamming his scotch glass on the black butt frame.

Yes it was, I knew the risks, it was why it had to be done in the first place. But how did we get here? Someone must have known… We all had as much invested in this; Seb, David and Leonie. There’s no way they sold out? I guess it was now my job now to find the missing link, even if it meant breaking them. So many missions together, so much trust! We kept the peace for so long and now I knew the end was near.

“Brother, I will do what I must. I will make this right, even if it kills me!”

He knew that was the truth, I would die to keep her safe. Above all, it was honor that kept me going, and I’d be damned if this all went to s**t on my shoulders. Straightening up from the leather couch I sat crunched on, I reached for my gun in her concealed wall unit. I held her in my hands, remembering her touch and the last time I had used her. With ease, I slid her into my holster under my leather jacket. It was just in case, I told myself, just in case this got messier than it needed to be.

Santi’s eyes raised from the desk to meet mine and I knew the pain all too well. I just hoped we could come back from this, secretly keep the peace once again. I was a lone wolf now. No team to draw from. I only had one thing as my advantage; the element of surprise. It was just the right tool for this situation. They had no time to orchestrate any plans and I was dead set on keeping this under the radar once again.

People do the oddest things when they are surprised!

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Flash back POV Craig

"Don't look at me like that!" Leonie flashed her fiery hazel eyes at me dangerously.

"Like what, Le? How exactly am I looking at you?" I teased, cockily, whilst trying to hold my composure.

"You can be a real jerk sometimes Craig, do I really have to say it?" She pouted, crossing her arms tightly over her chest trying to hide herself away from me, feeling vulnerable under my gaze.

I let out a growl. I hated it when she did that.

Le was mine and she didn't know it. But, I did! I had known even before I got my wolf. Every fiber of my being buzzed to life around anything that concerned her. She was the last thing I thought of before I tried to force myself to sleep, and the first to pop into my head the moment I woke. I couldn't wait to see the shock on her face when she finally got her wolf and she would finally know why I look at her like this.

How in the world did I manage to land my sister-in-law's sister as my mate, I would never know. But I swear to the moon, I had to bite back every desire to have her. I shadowed her constantly, fighting off any bastard that so much as looked her way. My wolf was just as mad for her. To be mated to one of the strongest female warriors in our pack was a blessing. Her spirit was constantly lit ablaze, heating everything around her... burning me in a way I never believed possible. My best friend will never know what hit her in a month's time.

"You're such a perv, Craig!" F**k, I must have lingered too long on her.

Cracking it, she walked passing me and punched me square in the arm. Yeah, that's my tough girl. She can have that for now, but when she's mine, we'll see how tough she is when she's under me and I take my time devouring her. Yeah, that had me smiling and my wolf chasing his tail.

"Ouch baby, that hurt!" I called to her as she stormed off with a huff, and I swallowed my chuckle.

As Le made it back to the pack house, I saw three figures approach the boundary. One appeared to be heavily injured. Cautiously, I made my way over to stop them proceeding any further onto our lands without knowing what was happening. The stench from the injured wolf burnt my nose hairs, sending me momentarily in a head spin. I didn't even get a second to take in his features.

"Please... He's been poisoned! Allow us safe passage to the King... h, help him...please!" The female pleaded as the other male collapsed under the weight of the injured man that he was solely assisting.

How long have they been traveling for? And where the f**K are our warriors?