A few towns over, there was a small gathering in the woods. They were spread out in a circle around a large fire that burned into the cold night. Each person grabbed the hand of the person beside them, and when the circle was closed, they began to chant. The fire grew as the chant got louder, it changed colors and displayed images into the night.
An older woman emerged from a small wooden house that was not far from the circle. As the chant came to an end, the people dropped their hands as they turned to look at the woman.
“Welcome, my brothers and sisters of the coven. It’s good to be back together once again.”
The people clapped as they agreed with the woman.
“The Lycan King has fallen, and we are able to live in our community once again. But I’m afraid that I have disturbing news.”
The crowd grew silent.
“There is talk of a hybrid. A girl, part wolf, and part witch, she is who brought the Lycan King to his end.”
There was talk amongst the crowd.
“Please, I know that this has been unheard of, and we need to keep our eyes and ears open. We do not know what kind of power this hybrid has or what she is able to do. We need to learn everything about her so that we can protect ourselves. The wolves cannot be trusted, and therefore, she cannot be trusted. We need to do everything we can to destroy the hybrid, showing all the covens and the packs that we cannot live in harmony.”
The crowd clapped and cheered for their mentor.
In the back, Vita watched in silence, bewildered by what she had just heard. She needed to get out of there. She just wanted to feel included amongst her people once again, but this wasn’t what she was looking for.
Vita started to turn to make her way out of the circle without drawing attention to herself.
“Vita, you came.” She heard someone call out to her.
She stopped in her steps and turned around.
“Yes, I was just passing through and thought I would check in.” She told the older woman.
“It’s been a long time, what three years since we last saw you?”
Vita nodded, “Yes, about that much. I left shortly after I had found out about the death of my family.”
“Yes, I do remember. I had hoped you would have come back to us after settling your affairs.”
Vita sighed.
“I needed some time to myself to mourn.”
“So, will we are seeing you again?”
“Most likely,” Vita lied.
The older woman came and hugged Vita before she allowed her to leave.
Vita pulled away from the woman slowly.
The woman looked at her, “Vita, you have a wonderful gift, I’d hate to see it wasted on the wrong people.”
The woman turned and walked away, headed back to the people that were gathered around the fire.
Vita let out a breath.
This was a mistake. She shouldn’t have come back. Persephone was a strong witch and could sense things about people without their knowledge of her doing it. She needed to get out of there. Before, Persephone learned anything more from her.
Knock, knock.
Amanda went to the door and opened it.
She suck in a breath when she looked at Hudson as he stood there leaning up against her door frame.
“Hi,” She said softly.
Hudson stood upright, leaned over, and kissed Amanda on the cheek.
“You look beautiful.” He told her as he pulled out a single rose from behind him and handed it to her.
“Thank you.” She said with a smile.
She took the rose from him and smelled it.
Marco pushed passed the two lovebirds and made his way over to his mate. He pulled her up into his arms and hugged her.
“I’ve missed you.” He whispered to her.
Tabitha giggled.
Amanda looked at them and smiled.
“Are you ready?” Hudson asked her.
She turned back and looked at him. She could hear the annoyance in his tone. She placed her hand on his arm.
“Everything okay?” She asked him.
Hudson closed his eyes as he felt the warmth of his mate’s touch. He didn’t know why he was still bugged about the whole situation. All he wanted was a nice night with his mate, to show her how much she meant to him.
“Yeah, everything’s fine.” He breathed out and gave her a crooked smile.
Amanda nodded.
“Let’s go,” Hudson called out.
They followed Hudson out of the hall and walked up to the SUV, where Stan was waiting for them with the door already open.
“Luna.” He said to Amanda as she walked up.
Amanda shook her head.
“I’m not the Luna.”
“Yet,” Hudson answered from behind. “But you are my Luna, and as long as we are together, that’s what Stan will always call you. No matter what you tell him.”
Amanda scrunched her nose and narrowed her eyes at her mate.
Hudson chuckled.
“Come on, little mate. I’ve made reservations for us.”
Amanda’s heart fluttered. He was actually trying to woo her.
Once everyone was in, they headed to the restaurant that was just over in the next town.
“So, do you know what kind of food they have at this restaurant?” She asked.
“I thought Italian would be nice and romantic.” He said as he pulled his mate closer to him.
Amanda sighed and purred as she felt the touch of her mate. Her feelings for him were growing stronger and stronger. But yet so were her insecurities. There was something still holding her back from completely loving him and accepting him. She couldn’t figure out what it was. Hudson had proved time and again that he loved her. He nearly died trying to rescue her. Why wasn’t that enough?
Hudson could feel the tension building in his mate. He leaned and tucked his finger under her chin and lifted her head to look at him.
“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”
Amanda sat there and looked into Hudson’s blue eyes. She could see the love he had for her in them and started to calm down.
“Nothing, I’m just glad to be here with you.” She said as she laid her head on his shoulder.
Hudson kissed her forehead.
He knew there was something that bothered her, and he wished that she would feel comfortable enough to talk to him about it.
Hudson looked over at his two friends, that were cuddling as well. He let out a sigh as he continued to hold his mate.
He wished he could help her with her insecurities and reassure her that he wasn’t going anywhere, but how many times or ways was he going to have to prove himself to her?
He looked out at the road ahead of them for a moment and then froze.
Something was wrong.
“Look out!” Hudson yelled.
Another vehicle came barreling up beside them and slammed into them on the left side.
“Hold on,” Stan yelled before the vehicle was pushed again and over the side of a ravine.
Mated to my Bully