fanqie novel
Chapter 24
Chapter 24 AURORA 1/5 It was a long drive through the night to the home where Id grown up .
In the years since Dane had driven out the Reeds , several trees had fallen across the old gravel road .
About a mile away , I had to get out and walk .
I knew from my faded memories that the forest at night used to be a place I loved .
A place that familiar to me .
A place I called home .
When I had my wolf , I was one of the creatures that ruled the night .
Even so , there were places wolves didnt dare to go .
Places ruled by ancient , evil things .
Now that I didnt have a wolf the whole forest felt more like that .
There was only a sliver of a moon .
Even though I was on a road , the trees leaned over it , twining their branches together , making it so dark I couldnt see my feet , or the path .
I could have used a flashlight … but sometimes it was safer to move through the dark than to draw attention with a light .
There were noises in the forest , too .
People who arent used to the woods think of it as a quiet place , but it isnt .
There are always sounds .
Animals moving .
The wind blowing the leaves .
The sudden crack of old , dead branches Chapter 24 falling from trees .
I ignored them all , keeping my eyes forward as I made my way toward memories I wanted desperately to leave sleeping .
But I couldnt .
Not if I ever wanted to take charge of my own life .
Not if I ever wanted to create a world where my children and I and everyone else I loved could be safe .
I hadnt taken more than twenty steps when I realized where I was .
This road used to mark one of the borders between Reed and Montague land .
This was where the Reeds had dumped me the night theyd killed my wolf with silver .
The night Id met Dane .
I turned from the road like I was under a spell .
Yes , this was the flat place Id dragged myself through the ditch .
A few more steps , and I found the oak with gnarled roots that Id used like handholds to drag myself along .
A few more , and here were the half buried boulders that had cut into my hands and bruised my knees as I crawled .
The trees parted , and I stepped into the faint moonlight .
The wall was still there .
It was so old ; it had probably been built by a homesteader hundreds of years ago .
It was covered in vines and moss .
Chapter 24 There was something to this place .
A magic that lingered .
It tasted like destiny .
Like fate .
Aurora .
What the hell are you doing here ? Dane stood on the wall , the moon shining over his broad shoulders , his naked chest .
He must have run here as a wolf .
I gasped and tried to turn and run into the shadows .
But it was too late .
3/5 He caught me before I ran three steps .
His big hand wrapped around my wrist like a manacle of iron , and he jerked me back toward him .
You may be under my protection , he growled , And you may have been welcome at the gala .
But you of all people should know that trespassing on my land without permission means death .
DANE Of course , she was here .
Id told her to stay in her house .
For her own safety .
So , of course , shed have to prove she didnt have to obey me .
But as I looked down at her , her pale coloring making her practically glow in the light of the moon , I couldnt help Chapter 24 wondering why shed come here .
4/5 I came to this place when my dreams were troubled .
Like they had been tonight .
Because Id dreamed of her .
Of an alternate life , where she was never a Reed .
Or where there was peace , and she and I had been mated in a treaty instead of as the climax of a night of death .
Then Id dreamed of Evelyn , pregnant with my child .
Except when she gave birth to my son , he wasnt mine .
He was shrouded in shadow .
He cried , and when I tried to pick him up , he screamed for someone else .
Dane , please .
Let me go , Aurora whispered , snapping me back into the present .
There are things I need to do .
Things I need to face alone .
Anger rose in me .
Id thought we were finally finding common ground as something like business partners , but even after all this time , and with everything that was at stake , every word from her mouth was a lie .
I heard your car .
Youre headed for Reed land .noveldrama
Where are you going , Ann ? To join them ? To let them in on the secrets you shared with me ? Or have they been in on the secrets all along ? Maybe you called them to your house tonight , yourself , and the only reason it turned hostile is because my wolves were there .
Maybe youve been double crossing me all along .
No ! She tried to tug her wrist free , but I refused to let go .
She smacked an open palm against my chest .
My skin stung and Chapter 24 burned , but I didnt budge .
5/5 What am I supposed to believe , when youre prowling around out here by yourself ? I was going to the old pack house ! Those pages- I tugged her closer .
You said we didnt need them .
Now you claim you want to get them alone ? Were you just trying to throw me off ? Whats on those pages you dont want me to see ?