"I can't lose you," That is all that rings through my head. He isn't mad that I am Royal. He is upset that he didn't know to keep me safe. I don't speak right away. Instead, I make my way over to him and place my hand on his shoulder. He turns, and our eyes meet. I can see the truth and hurt in his eyes. I feel my heart knot at the thought that I hurt him by not telling him. I place my hand on the side of his face.
"I have been told since the day I shifted not to tell anyone and not to show my wolf to anyone. I had to wait and see the type of person you were first. I had to know I could trust you." "Why did you look scared of me?" He asks, and I see the hurt in his eyes. "I was startled, not scared. I didn't want you to be mad at me. I have had to keep this secret to stay safe. The only people that know who I am are Juliana and Shawn. They have helped me keep it a secret. I don't knowAlexander She is the most amazing woman I have ever seen. I have been lying here watching her sleep for a while, but I can't take my eyes off her. I don't want to wake her. She looks peaceful, and I know she has a hard time sleeping. "Our mate is perfect," Max says as a purr leaves him. "Did you just purr like a cat?" I say as I laugh to myself. "I can't help it. She is so purfect..." We both laugh at his corky humor. But, all joking aside, he is right. She is perfect in all ways. "We have to develop a plan to keep her safe," Max says, and I know he is right. "I know, and the first thing is keeping who she is a secret until the Luna ritual. We need to have it as soon as possible, and now that we are both marked, there should be no delay." "We also need to investigate who is responsible for the death of her parents and her people," Max says with a hostile growl. I feel the same way he does because whoever is responsible for the death of the Royals will come looking for her.
I see the shock on Juliana and Shawn's faces, but then I notice the look on Alex's face, which makes me question if I should have said it like that. But then, when I look at Champ, I see why the look was on Alex's face. He is staring at me like I have three heads. Does he not remember? "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have yelled it out like that." I am not sure if I am telling him that or me. He sets his cup on the bar and turns back to me, but the look on his face is different. He walks toward me, and I see Alex tense up. When he is in front of me, he grabs me, hugging me and lifting me off the floor. The tears break loose and roll down my face as I wrap my hands around his neck. "Don't be sorry. I didn't know what you knew and didn't know. I didn't want to ask you in front of everyone. It's good to have you back, Lil sister." "So now I'm in third place. This sucks." Juliana says, but I hear the humor in her voice even though I can also hear she is crying by the sound of her voice. W
We finished up eating and chatted some more about what had been going on back at the Fullmoon pack. Chris is a true psycho. He plans on kidnapping me and making me mate his son so that he will receive the powers that I grant my mate. I would die before mating Liam. Juliana and Shawn are going to the training grounds to help Alex control his new abilities, and I am meeting Jax in the woods behind the house to learn to change Ember's color. "I wish we could have changed color before I could have run more." "I know, Ember. I am sorry that I didn't know we could do that. Now you will be able to run whenever we want without worrying about anyone seeing you." "Yes, and I can't wait. I wish I had known it was Chris. I would have killed him for what he did to our family." "I guess it wasn't time to find out. I know the Goddess has plans for us. But, first, we will avenge everyone in our pack." Ember agrees with a growl as I come upon Jax standing at the edge of the woods. I give him
Alexander I don't like Ivy and me separating right now, but I know she needs to learn to mask her wolf, and I need to learn to control this new power and skills. "We can go to the training grounds. There is no one using them right now." I tell Juliana as we make our way out of the house. "That's fine. You lead the way." "Did you notice any other changes other than your strength?" Shawn asked me. "No, I didn't even notice the strength till I hit the table," I tell him, and it's the truth I didn't feel any different. "You should be a hell of a lot faster now," Shawn says with a smirk. "Oh yeah?" "Yeah, Ivy is the fastest wolf I have ever seen. If she doesn't want to be caught, she won't be." Juliana tells me with a shit-eating grin. Now I know why Ivy was so fast the night we found Champ. We make it to the training grounds, and it is empty, like I said. "Let us start by seeing how fast you are in human form," Juliana says as she and Shawn both take a coach's stance. I c
I want to ask them what the hell they mean that it is Alex, But I don't because I already know. The pain I am feeling is his, but I feel it like it's mine. It feels like someone has sliced through my shoulder with a hot iron. "I have to get to Alex," I say as I try to get to my feet. "It is not safe out there, and you are not in a position to go," Jax says, and I know he is correct, but nothing can keep me from my mate. "If he dies, she dies... we need to get there and protect him in order to protect her," Juliana says, which gets both of our attention. "Royals that are mated and marked die with each other," Shawn says, getting us all moving. The pain is still sharp in my shoulder, but I do the best I can to block it out as I make it through the front doors. I can hear the others behind me, but Ember has taken the lead, my shift has taken over, and we are running faster than I think we ever have. I feel another pain in my front leg, but it doesn't burn like my shoulder. I hear
The sound of glass shattering and screams reach my ears first. I rush to find my mother, but when I get to my door, it won't open. I pull and beat on it, trying to get it to budge, but nothing happens. I hear the howls from outside and some inside the house. I smell smoke but not close. I scream out to my mother and then my father. I can hear someone in the hallway. Then I hear it,"Ivy, are you in here?""I'm in here. The door won't open. I can't get out."Go to the other side of the room, Ivy, and stay there so I can get the door open." I don't say anything else and run for the other side of the bed. I drop down beside the bed, and as I do, I hear the wood of the door splinter and pieces crash to the floor. Before I can get up and look, my brother comes around the bed, grabbing my hand and pulling me."We have to go and now. Mom and dad want us in a safe place.""Are they ok?""Yes, but
The diner is packed this morning. I rush to get my apron on and fill the cups of coffee for the customers sitting around the counter. Most of the customers here are regulars. They come to get their coffee and breakfast before work. They say we have the best french toast and cinnamon buns around. I am more of a meat and eggs girl. Give me a plate full of bacon and two eggs. Just thinking about the bacon makes me want some. I put an order in for a side of bacon along with table three's order of french toast and sausage. A group of pack members just came in and sat at table five, and they are the high-ranked snobby people that get under my skin. I am sure they are only eighteen or nineteen at the most. I am twenty-two and still not mated. That is unusual for our kind. I figure my mate is dead or not from this pack, and I really don't need a mate. I still plan to find out what happened to my parents and brother and get revenge for them."Good morning. What can I get you
I am finally off and almost home. My feet are killing me. We got slammed at lunchtime and could barely keep up with everyone. When I finally reach my door, I am so happy that I almost didn't notice the paper stuck to it. I pull it off and on the front is the Alpha seal. Ugh, please don't be what I think this is. I am not that lucky. Every unmated pack member must be at the mating ball tomorrow night, no exceptions. Why me? I say as I enter my house and plop down on the couch. Then my phone starts ringing. I pull it out of my pocket and see that it is the diner. I answer, praying they don't need me to return for anything."Hello.""Ivy, We are going to close the diner tomorrow. Everyone will be too excited about the ball. Two of the girls that work the afternoon, and you will all have to be there, so I am going to shut down tomorrow.""Yes, sir," I tell him, then he hangs up. So I will lose money and have to go to a ball that will not bene