Sight

The Price of Eyes – Amy Hodges-Laurenzo

Year 18…

Aurora’s eyes assisted the Stardust Pack in the capture of a dozen Ridge Pack spies over a two year period of time. This added some value to her place in the pack higher ups.

However, no gift came without it’s flawed moments.

Aurora’s perfect record became severed in the early fall, following her fifth birthday.

She missed one…one that noticed her.

Friday, October the 4th…

Aurora woke up early.

Something seemed to startle her awake, but she couldn’t recall the dream.

Instead, she headed to her closet and pulled out her clothes for the day. She clad herself in denim pants, a silver blouse, and a pair of hiking boots. Since she started school, flexibility seemed key.

As she got down the stairs, dad happened to be down there with coffee. “Morning, Daddy.”

Reedsy looked across the room to see her. “Morning, Aurora. What are you doing up this early?”

“I couldn’t sleep anymore.”

He half smiled and petted her head, “Breakfast?” He headed to the fridge.

“Yes, please.’ Aurora had a seat at the table in the dining room.

Reedsy made eggs, ham, and cheese for her and provided her with a glass of milk.

Aurora ate her breakfast.

Mia came down as she finished eating. “I see that daddy fed you.”

“Yeah, daddy fixed it.” She chewed on the last ham piece on the plate.

Reedsy wore work out attire now and kissed Mia, “I’m out to work out. I will message you on the link if anything comes up.”

“See you later.”

He petted Aurora again and headed out.

Mia returned back up stairs briefly.

When she came back down, she wore jeans and a green lady’s cut shirt with hiking boots.

Aurora sat at the table motionless, in a day dream.

“Aurora”, the child jumped and looked up at her mom, “Are you OK?”

“Yeah why?”

“You were day dreaming. Anyway, you need to get going or you are going to be late.”

“Kay”, she jumped out of the chair, hugged her mom, and headed out the front door.

The youngster walked to school, as others did. At the particular time of the morning, it was not unusual for the kids to be walking to the district school.

Aurora’s destination actually sat about five blocks from the residential area she lived in.

Several dozen kids ran along.

About a block from the school, tires squealed and an SUV stopped next to Aurora on the street. A guy busted out of the passenger side, grabbed her, and threw her into the second row seating area with a third guy.

As the passenger jumped back in and the driver peeled out again; the guy who Aurora got tossed to proceeded to tied her up.

Remembering the dream now, she screamed.

Such an action got her punched in the face, rendering her unconscious.

The SUV escaped the Stardust Village suburb and headed out to the desert, in the south.

Aurora had not learned the full on Pack Link yet. Most of the Kindergartners didn’t know yet.

Child witnesses ran to the place where the male adults spent their mornings, the Pack Training Grounds.

As they ran up on those Enforcer’s working out, the collective call rang out. “GAMMA!”

Reedsy dropped a barbell that he was about to start working with and stood up.

The Beta and Alpha came out of a weight barn.

One of the girls played the role of speaker, “Gamma, they took her!”

“They who”, he demanded.

“Guys in a black SUV! At least three, they grabbed Aurora and threw her in the back seat! Then they drove off south!”

Before Reedsy could say a word, a call went out to the city by way of the Alpha Santiago.

“Attention All Members Of The Stardust Pack! Aurora Sladen Has Been Kidnapped! Black SUV, Suspected Three Ridge Pack Members! Seek, Find, Retrieve! If You Spot Them, Report At Once!”

The entire training ground jumped.

Reedsy shifted without hesitation. In his dark brown wolf form, the father ran off to the south.

Behind him, another dark brown wolf followed…despite what happened in the past, Mathew didn’t want to let his dad act alone.

Voices made Aurora wake up.

“We made it out of their little berg.”

“Good, now head south to I-17. We need to make for Old Tucson town.”

She shivered in the corner by the door, behind the driver’s seat. Aurora had been mildly tied up and dumped there. A piece of tape had been placed on her mouth.

Her eyes took in all three men around her. They reeked of Wolf…but not friendly.

“Cub is awake”, commented the dark haired one next to her.

“Doesn’t matter”, answered the brown haired driver, “She’s still going to die.”

Die!

These men wanted to kill her. She had been told by her sire that the men she told them about were enemies to the Pack.

She whimpered.

The guy watching her commented, “Sorry kid. You’ve been a little too observant and seeing our Spies. Too bad, so sad.”

Aurora felt the handle with her right hand. If she pulled it and nothing, she would have to figure something else out. Taking a chance anyway, she pulled it as the vehicle started up the I-17 access ramp and threw herself against the door, thankful that he didn’t tie up her feet and legs.

Out the SUV door, she fell. The tires missed her and Aurora struck the ground hard, but she also rolled with it. She managed to avoid hitting her head.

As she got up, the SUV pulled off on the Interstate.

Aurora turned and ran toward the gas station that sat back on the corner of the underpass and the access road.

A cop noted it and got out of his cruiser.

Three wolves chased after a tied up child. He drew his service revolver and shot to the girl’s left. The front leading wolf took the hit and rolled.

The other two wolves pulled back for a moment.

The girl ran to his partner, who had gotten out as well. He pulled the tape off her mouth.

“HELP! Three guys are trying to kidnap me! They said that they are going to feed me to their dogs as food! Please help!”

The partner drew his gun too.

The dark brown wolf stood back up from the gun shot. Aurora still had trouble.

Shifters had a silver vulnerability, these cops didn’t have any silver bullets.

A bystander woman ran up and untied Aurora, the kid dashed behind her.

“MOM!”

Cubs and their mothers seemed to have infant links that phased into the Pack Link as the cub grew older.

Mia had just stepped into the kitchen when she heard the call from the Alpha about

Aurora and started to panic.

As she reentered the living room, Mia froze.

“MOM!”

Aurora sounded in distress. Then images rushed through Mia’s mind. She saw the three wolves. She saw the cops at a gas station on I-17 trying to protect her daughter.

She touched her daughter’s mind. “Aurora, get in that cop car and lock those doors. Make it as hard for them as you can. Help is coming!”

The last thing that Mia saw, Aurora doing as she got told.

The mother stripped naked and stepped out her front door. She shifted and ran toward that distant gas station location.

She sent out a communication to the Pack. “I-17, Stripes Gas Station! Aurora is there! There are three Ridge Pack after her! Hurry!” Mia’s light brown she-wolf had been known to be fast on her paws in the speed department. With the fear for her cub, she broke her own speed records as she moved.

Out in town, Reedsy changed course on his mate’s word. Others joined him in the direction of I-17.

The gas station sat at the closest access point.

Other pack members, including the Alpha and Beta, headed that way by way of vehicles.

Back at the station, the first cop that tried to help had been mauled. The second cop had been injured fatally about the throat. The bystander, her throat had been ripped open as well.

Aurora had locked the cop car with herself only inside. She tucked herself down in the passenger floor board, trying to hide.

The Ridge Pack trio walked around the cop car.

The big red wolf jumped on the hood of the cop car. The pressure caused it to dent in a little.

The man, who grabbed her originally and back in human form, looked in the driver’s side window at her. The man had dirty blond hair and like most who shift…naked. “Yup, she is on that side of the car.”

The one on the hood, also the driver, snarled at her as he threw his weight into the windshield, making is spiderweb.

Aurora screamed.

The third man, that was in the back with her in the other vehicle, smashed the passenger side window.

She tried to pull back further out of his reach, but he reached in and grabbed hold of her shirt.

The man ripped her from the cop car and looked her in the eye. “Sorry runt. You would have had a few more hours if you would have just behaved yourself.”

He threw her to the ground hard.

She tried to crawl.

The man stomped on the back of her left leg, breaking it.

Aurora screamed.

Then the three Ridge Pack Wolves fell on her, tearing her little body to bloody pieces.

Screams echoed around her, but no one came to help.

Finally, they pulled back and retreated back to their vehicle on the Interstate.

Aurora laid in a pool of blood, staring straight up.

Barely breathing…

“AURORA!”

She couldn’t move. She didn’t dare try. Her whole body felt wet. Everything hurt.

Three women had gathered around her suddenly.

“Mom”, she whispered.

Mia looked both shocked and emotional. Her baby still lived. A mess…but Aurora lived. “I’m here baby.”

The one beside Mia kept her from touching a moment. Aurora recognized the woman a moment…the Beta’s Mate.

The third woman, the one on Aurora’s right, had white hair and looked older…Elder Alda. She rubbed her hands over the five year old’s body. White-green energy came from those hands and poured into the little girl’s body. “Breathe, Aurora. Just keep breathing”, the Elder lady whispered to her.

Near the Highway, two out of three Ridge Pack Wolf Kidnappers now laid dead.

The third man laid back in human form. His throat in the mouth of the dark brow Gamma Wolf. The Sire and his son, along with a few Enforcers, butchered the other two.

“Please…”

Reedsy’s wolf tightened his grip with a growl.

Mathew had grown into an Enforcer under his dad’s command and appeared like a younger version of his dad too. A descent lad, he stood at six feet and four inches. His hair darkened down and matched his dad’s in color. He bulked up and at the moment, stood naked. “Allow me to translate for my sire, you had no mercy for Aurora…his daughter…my kid sister.”

“Please…”

The Alpha stood in human form, his eyes sat on the parking lot. He knew of Elder Alda’s healing magick. That was why he brought her out in his sky blue McLaren 720S. Other vehicles came out too, but he drove her here as he feared the worst for Aurora. He knew that if she survived, they would have to guard that child better than they have.

Now he waited for some indication that they made it in time. “If Aurora lives, he does as well, Reedsy. We will need to send someone back to that bitch Alpha Tatum with MY war declaration.”

The Beta Theodore nodded, “Aurora’s blossoming Seer Powers aside, we can not have enemies targeting our cubs.”

“I agree.” Santiago still watched intently for signs.

Elder Alda stood on the parking lot and held a hand high. Then she pulled it down quickly. A gesture of Yes.

At the same time, the Beta’s Lady and Gamma’s mate stripped Aurora out of her bloody clothes and wrapped her in a blanket. The five year old clearly hugged her mom.

Santiago breathed a sigh of relief and looked back on the scene close by. “Let him go, Reedsy. Your daughter Aurora is alive.”

The Gamma released the throat of the enemy only to grab the enemy’s thigh with fangs and tore it open and deeply.

On cue, Mathew dumped a small vial of Colloidal silver in the new leg wound on the enemy. Due to the silver particles in it, the wound inflamed, crippling the enemy wolf.

“Gamma!” It was all the Alpha could say in this action. It, of course, wasn’t his son on that parking lot with the women and in truth, he couldn’t blame Reedsy for being this angry.

Santiago glared at the wolf with the sever leg infection. “You Get Back In That SUV. You Go Home To Ridge Pack Lands. You Tell Your Alpha…Alpha Santiago Of The Stardust Pack Declares War On The Ridge Pack And Will Not Stop Until His Pack Is Dead!”

“She is just a pup”, he said as he found himself climbing to his feet under the influence of the Alpha Voice of the Stardust Alpha.

“A gifted pup. She has Seer eyes and is the Gamma’s Daughter.”

The man’s eyes widened. A Seer, protected by any pack, would be a valuable tool.

They almost killed her because they didn’t know that detail. He would have to make sure that his Alpha was made aware. “I will take the message.”

The SUV got driven back to where they stood by an Enforcer. The two corpses got tossed in the back. The survivor got in and floored it to get away from the scene.

The Stardust Pack collected their own vehicles they brought to head for home with the rescued cub.

The Gas station got destroyed to cover up what went on out here.

© 2025 – Tomorrow’s Light * Coming Soon…*

The Relationship Vortex – KA Stefana

Closing the door, Aileen cringed, knowing she’d never get the images out of her head for as long as she lived. Covering her eyes with the palms of her hands, she tried to block the black-and-white images haunting her mind. From behind the door, the headboard banged into the wall as cries of ecstasy escaped the room.

Walking slowly back to her room, Aileen jumped under the covers and picked up her phone, hoping that doom-scrolling would free her from the unwanted events haunting her and invading her dreams.

Ten reels in, she aimlessly flicked past the tiny home videos and tried to watch a foodie show off their latest recipe. She never understood how a cake could taste good by dumping the dry ingredients into the dish without mixing the wet ingredients.

Wet? Oh, no! The images were back!

Groaning, she fell back on her pillow and muttered, “Who the hell needs Valentine’s Day? It’s so stupid! I hate it all. Guys! The Candy! The dresses and the ruby red lipstick! It all sucks!

Refusing to admit that she was jealous of Nia and Luka, she let her feelings impact her decisions. As she drifted to sleep, she whispered, “I wish Luka loved me instead of Nia. If I had him, I’d treat him like a prince and Nia as my maid. Stupid bitch!”

Wild images of Luka haunted her dreams as she slept, tossing and turning throughout the night. When she woke, her sheets were a tangled mess. Rolling over, she screamed and jumped out of bed, staring at the naked man sound asleep in her bed.

Luka!

Her bedroom door slammed open, and a frantic Nia asked, “Ma’am, are you alright?”

What was happening? Did her nasty wish come true?

Before she could rationalize what was happening, Luka’s sleepy voice said, “Nia, she’s fine. Leave us!”

Panic rising. Heart racing.

Aileen clung to the nightstand, frozen in indecision. How did she end up in this alternative universe? What if she accepted Luka? Would he be taken from her without a moment’s notice? What if she grows old with him, and their entire world is ripped away?

She couldn’t handle losing him.

Refusing to give this alternative a chance, she growled, “Why are you in my bed?”

Luka tossed the covers aside and jumped out of bed. Walking to Aileen, he placed his hands on her hips and asked, “What’s going on? You look so scared.”

“You,…” She stuttered his name several times before the tears started to form in the corners of her eyes. His love would fade. Her heart would break. She needed to destroy this false reality now, or she’d be destroyed by a broken heart when she woke from this madness.

“Aileen, you’re starting to scare me. What’s going on?”

Stepping backward, she held out her hand and said, “You’re not real. None of this is real. I need to wake up now.”

“Sweetheart, I can assure you, I am real. We are real. Look at your hand. you’re wearing your wedding rings.” Holding up his hand, he showed her his band. “You must have had a dreadful dream. Come, my love, let me show you how real I am.”

A nagging feeling continued to gnaw at the remaining reality that Aileen was trying to hold onto, but she relaxed in Luka’s arms and fell back to sleep.

Waking up, she was freezing. Luka must have stolen all of the blankets during the night. As consciousness took hold, she looked around the room and didn’t recognize the dark prison cell she was in. Sitting up, she screamed Luka’s name before grasping the bars. Luka stood on the other side of the dungeon bars, looking forlorn. Nia stood behind him, her clothes tattered and torn, with a ruby-red scar across her face.

“When will this vicious cycle end, Aileen?”

Tightening her hands around the bars, she asked, “I can’t stop what I don’t understand. Every time I fall asleep, I wake up as your lover or your enemy.” Tears started to form in the corners of her eyes, but the weight of the unknown bore down on her chest.

“You started this with your magic! Only you can stop it!” Nia screamed from the shadows, avoiding Aileen’s eyes.

“Magic? I don’t know any magic!” Aileen could barely breathe as she searched the recesses of her mind. Perhaps she was a witch. Could that explain everything?

Before she could grasp the tendrils of magic remaining, a flash of light exploded, and her body flew back, slamming into the dungeon wall. Hours later, Aileen woke up alone in her bed and stared at her fingers, wearing her wedding rings. Perhaps she’d been sick, and the memories over the last few hours were from a fever. Tentatively placing her feet on the floor, she walked across the room and opened the door, peering out into the grand hallway.

Luka stood at the base of the stairs with a young child in his arms. Looking up, he smiled when their eyes met. “How was your nap?”

“Strange dreams,” she said before closing the door and whispering the magic spell to release her from Nia’s curse. Once dressed, she raced downstairs and found Luka. “My sister cursed me again, that stupid bitch. She wants you for herself.”

Pulling Aileen into his arms, he whispered, “Leave her to me. In the meantime, go and put on your red dress and ruby-red lipstick. I made reservations at your favorite place for dinner.”

Kissing him on the lips, Aileen felt tethered to this reality as she walked up the stairs and entered the bedroom. Once she closed the door, she felt the magic slam into her. Looking up, she saw Nia standing in the center of her bedroom, wearing her red dress and ruby-red lipstick. With a visceral laugh, Nia said, “Sister, I see you didn’t lose your sanity in the time loop, so I’ll have to destroy you another way.” With the wave of her hand, Nia’s magic slammed into Aileen, who watched her body disappear into the netherworld.

Twenty minutes later, Nia walked out of the room, looking identical to her sister, and kissed Luka, saying, “What do you have in store for us tonight, my love?”

“You’re demise, my dear.”

Nia was confused. How could Luka have discovered her treachery?

“What are you talking about, Luka? I thought you loved me more than my sister?”

A crooked smile fell across his face. Luka replied, “I do love your sister more than you. Fortunately for me, I had placed spells of protection on Aileen, so your magic didn’t work. However, you shall fade away forever.”

An hour later, after he’d destroyed Nia, he wrapped his arm around Aileen and said, “Tonight, my love, I have something special planned. Follow me.”

They faded together, holding hands, and appeared in an alleyway in downtown Manhattan. Walking out of the shadows, they entered their favorite restaurant, holding hands.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” Luka said.

“What a way to shower me with love after destroying my sister.”

“Shall I bring her back from the depths of despair to torture you again?”

Laughing, Aileen said, “No! Let her rot there until next year. Perhaps then we can find a nice boy for her to love.”

© 2025 – KA Stefana