I still don't give in. The thunder sounds in the sky grow louder. A storm is coming. The gathering will meet an abrupt end in a short while. I wonder if whatever Alexis and Zeke have going on will end as soon as it does. Zeke growls. "I said, look at me, Marelyn." I don't. He grabs me from behind and forces me to look at him. His hands grip my elbows tightly and I feel him bruising my skin. The look in his green eyes tells me he didn't expect me to look like I do now. Scared and crying my eyes out. He doesn't know he's hurting me, but the look on my face has him thrown off balance. Zeke lets go, pacing and raking a hand through his brown hair twice. His behaviour is never as erratic as it is now. I can't tell what's wrong with him. "Marelyn, do I scare you?" He asks, turning spot on to glimpse the bruises he left in his wake as they fade away. "No." I whisper. "I'm sorry." He sighs, raking a hand through his hair again. "I didn't mean to hurt you." "I can manage, remember?
I've thought about this moment many times than one. How it will be when I finally see him again. It's too soon, but I guess that doesn't matter to anyone. I can't even catch my breath. Jai-Blynn's enjoying watching me getting flustered because of his presence. Zeke stands before me, blocking me away from the enemy. He shifts, still human. Clawed hands grace his sides as he readies himself to defend me. Jai-Blynn will never come to a place as fortified as Moon Grove without backup. I have a hunch this fight won't be easy. "Long time no see, Zeke." "Actually, Jai. It's too short a time. You should have disappeared for ten—twenty years tops." "Sorry to disappoint." He glances at me and I can see what he's telling me. He wants me to remember our time together. A time when I trusted him with my being, but the past is the past. "What do you want? My patience is as thin as a thread now," Zeke says. Jai-Blynn walks from one end of the patio to the other end. There's a duffel bag slun
ZEKEKyra and Aiden join us on the patio. Drusila just dropped a bombshell and Marelyn's still trembling behind me. I've assured her I'll do everything in my power to protect her, which means no one can harm her. My son will be safe from Chase and Marelyn, from the witches and Jai-Blynn.Kyra walks over to Marelyn's side and places a hand over her shoulder. She acts like a hard nut to crack all the time, but beneath the facade, Kyra has a heart, and she cares for Mare in her own way."Take her to her room, Kyra. Stay put until I say so."She nods and pulls Marelyn by the elbow. They climb the stairs and disappear into the next turn. I'm left standing with my beta and pack Marshall.Aiden states the obvious. "Someone on the inside helped him. It's the only way he could have gone in unannounced. Someone who knows the nooks and crannies of Moon Grove is his accomplice."I'm in thought as I cross my arms. "Lock the gates, Aiden. No one goes in or out."Aiden leaves me standing with Drusila
Two years ago...She called. Her voice sounded scared. It's the only thing I can hear as I rush back from the movie set. I place a call to Drusila, but the old woman has deemed today fit for ignoring my calls. I try to calm myself, but I swear on my mother's grave if there's even a scratch on her skin, hell will break loose. Whoever needs to pay will pay.I leave the engine idle and dart into the building, looking for Scarlett. There are no signs of a break in or a fight. Since the pack moved to New York, things have been peaceful. The cleaning girl put up a slippery floor sign ahead of her, but I don't pay it any heed. I'm about to race up the stairs with my wolf's speed when Drusila flashes in front of me. She's crossing her arms and glaring at the wet floor behind me."I don't have time for this." I step around her, continuing the climb."How many times do I have to tell you and Jai-Blynn not to wear your shoes in the house after a run in the woods? It rained a few hours ago!" She s
MARE:I don't know how to place my emotions, but Zeke once told me he's not afraid of the Diamond witches when it comes to me. He said they don't stand a chance and that he believes in me. I wonder if his thoughts are still the same. I trace my lips with my thumb, smiling like a loon.Kyra snorts. "Pathetic, Marelyn. Death is near, yet all you can think about is kissing a man that's not yours?"I roll my eyes and turn away. It's been an hour since Jai-Blynn showed up and ruined everything. Midnight has come and gone, but the whole of Moon Grove is still trapped in here. On my desk, Zeke's journal is there. I trace the edges of the hardcover, remembering what those nights felt like. Chicken wings. The thought makes me smile."You'll be the last person he goes for. The Alpha's strong. Someone as small and weak as you won't make it on his list of types." She takes the journal from me, scathing my self-confidence with her words. It gets to me, but it also makes me so angry. What have I don
ZEKE"We can't overlook the gravity of this news. If they've found another way, then we must kill Zane's pregnant mate."Silence spreads in the room after Orson shares his thoughts. We are holed up in my study. Drusila sits on the chair before me. Orson's at her side while Aiden stands with his hands folded against his chest behind them. Kass Rodin is on his feet next to the door while Kyra rests against an adjacent wall with her ankles crossed.Marelyn's with Frida in the dungeons. It's dangerous, but I let her because I know she needs the closure. Kyra reported the hour's attack to me. Jai-Blynn didn't come to play. I'm aware time is not on our side. Drusila's bent on the scowl on her face. She doesn't like that Kass is with us, but he's a significant part of Moon Grove, even though he lost to Aiden a few hours ago."I was taught not to harm innocent women and children, Orson." I break the ice in a sharp tone.The pack Zeta reads the room and clears his throat. He squirms in his seat
I'm seated in the backseat of a black Ford Fiesta. At least, that's what Kyra calls it. The car is hers and she's behind the wheels. Aiden's in the passenger seat, drumming his fingers on the dashboard at intervals. There's a traffic light ahead. We stop, waiting for the red-light to change.The second we informed Jai-Blynn Moon Grove will cooperate, the attacks stopped. We've been on the road for over three hours. It's daybreak now. People are on the sidewalks catering to their daily activities. We are in Boston City, and the mood in the car is awkward. It lasts until Kyra breaks the silence streak."When are you planning on telling her, Aiden?" She asks, hands firm on the steering wheel.Aiden pinches his gaze on her. Her question shocked him. He didn't see it coming. I can see it also makes him uncomfortable. Whatever he's supposed to tell me, it's clear he planned to take that secret to his grave."Tell me what?" I look between them.Aiden sighs, leaning into his seat and staring o
I can tell many hours have gone by. I'm in a dark room, but I can't see anything else except the void. Jai-Blynn tied me to a chair with silver chains. I'm dressed in a tank top and shorts, sans my coat. The chilly weather is biting. There's blood all over my wrist and ankles. His traps are too tight. There's also wolf's bane is in my system. I can feel it. After meeting him at the hospital, I can't remember how I got here.There's someone in the room with me, though. My sense of smell is poor because of the effect of the Wolf's bane, but I can feel a presence in here. Where am I? I shut my eyes, trying to force the memories back, but I get nothing. It frustrates me.The door to the room opens. It disturbs the silence as it scrapes on the tiles beneath it. Someone flips the switch and light pours into the room. It's Jai-Blynn. He's still dressed in that all-black suit I saw him in. I scan the space. We are in a warehouse, but there are no windows in here. I glimpse the view outside the