SYLVIA
“What happened?” I asked, shocked to the core. Now I understood why Hunter was acting so out of control.
“The woman I spoke to said the whole house reeked of dark magic. It must have happened right after we left.” He laid his forehead against mine and I cupped his face in my hands, our eyes meeting.
“Have you spoken to Father? What did he say you should do?” King Lucien certainly would suggest something.
“Yeah, there’s the thing… I wanted to speak to him, but knowing Father, he would want me to put down Joffrey. Sylvia, I can’t do that.” He uttered a pained groan. “Either that or start a war in the witch community, wipe them all out. I know Father has a deep-seated hatred of their kind.”
“But Selena…?”
“Is a healer. I already told you.” Hunter answered me, tight-lipped.
I threw my hands up. “Fine! She is a healer.” Whatever. I turned away from him, shuffling papers around on my desk. Aldine previously put everything in meticulous order, there was no need for me to check on it.
Hunter turned on his heel to go but looked back at me over his shoulder. “You coming? I’m going to have a chat with Selena.”
***
Selena glanced up from perusing her charts as we entered her office, her reading glasses perched on the tip of her slightly turned-up nose. She lifted one immaculate eyebrow questioningly at us.
“Alpha, Luna, to what do I owe the pleasure? Are you both well?” she enquired, getting up from her chair.
“Aside from Luna’s hormones being all over the place, we’re great.” Hunter said.
I threw him a death-glare. He shared a knowing look with Selena which made me huff and cross my arms across my chest. This was not what I signed up for, to have my personal feelings discussed with… a healer. I have not forgotten how it felt when she delved around in my mind. Although she technically did save my life.
Selena chuckled. “I could give you something for that.”
Hunter pulled my stiff body into his side. “No need. I have my own medicine in mind.” He said with a wink, and I felt all the blood rush to my face. Gods, this man.
“We need your help about another matter, Selena. I understand if you refuse, I won’t hold it against you, because I know your history.” Hunter said while holding me close to him.
“I guess I’m not going to like this.” Selena grimaced. “We should go to my home. More privacy there.”
We followed her out of the clinic as she led the way to her tiny cottage at the back. I don’t what I expected to find, maybe herbs hanging from the rafters or dead snakes in bottles, but I was surprised to see the interior warm and welcoming. Very homey.
Colorful rugs on the wooden floor, two comfortable couches decorated with a variety of pillows. No crystal balls, just a large wooden chest serving as a coffee table on which an array of books was stacked.
“Please, take a seat. Can I offer you some herbal tea?” she asked as we sat down. Hunter’s large body looked out of place in the small space. I chuckled inwardly because I couldn't picture him with a teacup in hand.
As if he read my mind, he nudged me lightly in the ribs. “No but thank you. Could we…?”
“Of course, Alpha.” Selena sat down on the opposite couch, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles in her pants.
Hunter cleared his throat. “There’s been a death in the witch community. Madame Helen was murdered last night, possibly right after I left her.”
Selena’s hands gripped her knees and her face paled notably. “Hunter! Why would you go there?” Her voice rose sharply.
“I wanted information on a death witch named Madame Sophie.” He said, keeping his tone low.
Selena jumped up from the couch, closing her door and drawing the curtains. “Don’t you dare say that name in my house, Alpha Hunter.” She rounded on us, stopping inches from his legs. “Why in the name of the Goddess would you do that?” I saw small flickers of light in her eyes, like tiny stars exploding. Her red hair flew out of her ponytail as if they had a life of their own, framing her face.
“Calm down, Selena.” I warned her. There was not telling what Hunter would do if she got out of control.
Selena threw herself on the other couch, holding her head in her hands and mumbling something incoherent.
“I’m sorry, Selena. I wouldn’t come to you if I had a choice. But we need your help.” Hunter went to her, bending down beside her. “I know you’ve kept yourself hidden from them for a long time and I don’t want to endanger you or anyone else in our pack. But Joffrey took Marcelle’s body to her for resurrection.”
Her head came up sharply. “I see. So, what do you expect me to do, Hunter? Scry for her?” she laughed a harsh bitter sound. “Are you prepared to risk the consequences?”
“I thought you could do the same to him what you did to access my memories.” I offered.
Her eyes flashed to mine. “You know as well as I do those were false memories planted there by Drake. I couldn’t get through the block. Either you put it there or he did.”
She had me there. I still didn’t know what memories were real and what not. Maybe I didn’t want to know.
“And how do you suppose we get him to cooperate? If he is under her spell, she will know the second I tamper with his mind.” She jumped up again, going into the kitchen where she rummaged through drawers and extracted a bunch of strange looking herbs. She rolled them together tightly and lit them on fire. Then she blew out the flame and began walking through the house.
“What is she doing?” I whispered to Hunter.
Selena heard me. “I’m cleansing the negative energy you brought to me.” She approached us and waved the strange smelling smoking bunch over us.
“Are you going to help us or not?” I asked a bit sharply. I felt she was being overly dramatic. Hunter rolled his eyes in my direction, shaking his head slightly.
“I’m still considering it.” she called to us from her bedroom.
“I won’t force you.” Hunter said. “Think about it and let me know.” He indicated for me to leave, and he followed behind me.
“Well that went well…” I said, sighing.
Hunter smirked. “Better than I expected.”
***
King Lucien organized helpers to paint the baby’s room and I had to oversee the work as well as order the furniture and everything he could possibly need in the first year of his life. This all according to King Lucien’s instructions.
Aldine, Tasha and of course Nina came to help with tons of suggestions and preferences. Nina was displeased that her brother was not going to sleep in her room. To show us exactly how she felt about that little bit of information, she threw a huge tantrum which caused my head to throb close to bursting.
At the end of the day, I was exhausted. I went to bed earlier than Hunter and only woke when he slid under the covers next to me. Caressing my hip and thigh, he moved my hair out of the way to place hot kisses from my neck to my shoulder.
“You smell so fucking good I could eat you.” He groaned, moving me on my back so he could suck on my heavy breasts.
“Have you been drinking?” The heady odor of Absinthe wafted off him. It wasn’t unpleasant, the aniseed fragrance.
“Hmmm… I’m drunk with love and lust for you, Angel,” he purred against my stomach. His fingers moving downward to circle my mound and his thumb strummed the sensitive nub sending ripples of pleasant electric shocks through my body.
“I need you, Luna.” He looked up at me, his amber eyes shining like gold with his desire.
“Then take me, my Alpha, my love.”
***
“Please… please, Drake. You know I love you. Don’t do this to me.” I was hugging his legs, pleading for him not to leave me. “Don’t take away my baby.”
“You don’t want her, little mouse, and you don’t want me.” He snarled, kicking me away from him.
“What the fuck, Sylvia! Wake up!” Hunter shook me hard.
Heavy with sleep I turned around to face an aggravated Hunter.
“What?” I sat up quickly, “Is something wrong? Where is Nina?” I asked in a panic.
“She’s sleeping. You were dreaming. Saying how much you loved Drake.” He threw the sheets off him. “Drake. What the hell were you dreaming?” He bristled with anger.
“I-I don’t know, Hunter.” Mostly that was true, I only remembered bits and pieces. But I remembered how it made me feel. I felt extremely sad, as if I had lost something precious to me.
SYLVIA“Is he never going to leave us alone? Am I competing with a ghost now, Angel?” Hunter pushed me away from him, getting off the bed.“Hunter…” I reached for him. How do you have control over what you dream? I never loved Drake. I couldn’t have. If only I could remember.“No. No, Sylvia.” He turned around to leave.“Hunter, where are you going?” My heart sank, it was as if my nightmare was manifesting right here in our bedroom.“To sleep in the guest room.” He closed the door behind him, leaving me behind wondering what the hell was I supposed to do.I felt like screaming. If only I could let my wolf out and go for a run. This was frustrating.“Kira?”“He’s mad at us,” she whined.As if I don’t know. “Not helping.” I buried my face in my pillow. Drake haunted my dreams almost every night. But this was the first time I dreamt that I said I loved him. Was it real? It felt like a real memory. It horrified me to think I could have had loved him, the monster that hurt me, killed my l
SYLVIA “Who? Who found us?” I held on tight to Nina who clambered onto my lap in a panic. The white mist surrounded the vehicle making it impossible to see anything outside. Even the sounds of the waves along the shore fell silent. As if the mist swallowed everything.“The coven.” Selena whispered. “They’ve come for me.”Hunter let out a fierce growl. “They will have to go through us first.”“I told you this was a bad idea. Didn’t I tell you? We shouldn’t have come, Hunter. Now you’re all in danger. Just let me deal with them.” Selena’s hand reached for the handle, but Hunter prevented her from opening the door.“No!” he slammed his hand over hers. “I promised to protect you. Teo and Tasha, with me.” He locked eyes with me, and the message was clear: Stay put.The three of them got out of the limo. Out of the dissipating mist three figures appeared. Two men and a woman dressed in black robes their faces hidden by their hoods came closer and stopped in front of Hunter and the twins fl
SYLVIA“What have you been hiding from us, Selena?” Janus shoved at Hunter’s broad shoulders to get to Selena but received a warning look from him.Rowan uttered a bitter laugh, “Now that I’ve seen your ugly mug everything is wonderfully clear to me,” he said. “Arno, come and meet your… parents.”“Rowan…” Selena reached out to Rowan, but he lifted up a hand to stop her.“Save it, Selena.”A tall, slender young man dressed all in black approached the group. He had long flowing hair, dark as night and eyes the color of storm clouds.I took Nina by the hand, and we left the limo together, curious to see their reactions. The man called Arno could have been a carbon copy of Janus.“Oh, shit!” Teo laughed, clapping a hand on his thigh. Tasha aimed another blow at his head which he dodged.“Well, I’ll be damned.” Hunter muttered.It took a few moments for Janus to collect himself. He was speechless.“I’m sorry, Rowan. I would rather you to have been his father. You must believe me.”Rowan ig
SYLVIA Henri turned around in his seat and we saw his face. His eye sockets were deep black holes filled with black fluid that seeped out and over his cheeks. Nina screamed and hid her face in Anro’s shoulder. All of us were frozen in shock and horror, watching speechless while his mouth opened, and a black smoke emitted from it.“Elementals!” the sound seemed to come from everywhere in the vehicle. I grabbed Hunter’s arm in a panic. He pulled me into his embrace, a low rumbling growl rose in his throat. How do we protect ourselves from an unseen enemy?“Elementals, heed my warning,” the ominous voice droned on, “you won’t rob me from my prize. It will not end well for you.” Shrill laughter echoed through the limo. Henri’s neck bent back in an unnatural position. “Consider your fate.”An awful snapping sound followed, and the driver slumped in his seat. The black smoke disappeared.We sat like statues for a few second. Then Teo and Tasha scrambled out of the vehicle to get at the unf
HUNTER My father had the ability to make me feel like a ten-year old. He went on and on about how witches were not to be trusted. As if I didn’t know. Apparently, Selena didn’t fall into that category. I’m sure Janus would disagree with him. As much as I disliked the witch, I couldn’t blame him for being angry at Selena for what she did.But what do we really know about their relationship? I believe there were always three sides to a story: My version, your version and the truth. As long as they behave themselves and keep their promise to help us with this Madame Sophie, I don’t really give a fuck.I need to keep my family safe. That was priority.Of course, as expected, Father browbeat me into revealing all the facts about Joffrey and the death witch. That was when the shit really hit the fan.“Are you out of your mind, Hunter Slater?!” He slammed his fist against his desk it split the wood in two. Not again. We were running out of antique desks to replace the ones he’s destroyed ov
SYLVIAGathering my clothes to regain some composure while my body still pulsated from our lovemaking, I watched my Alpha lying back in my desk chair his arms folded at the back of his head. His shirtless torso on display before my ravishing eyes. Goddess, the man was perfect! I could stare at him all day and not get enough.“You want to go for another round, Angel? I can feel your eyes on me.” His eyes were closed, and a playful smirk hovered on his lips.The blood rushed to my face. He needed to get out of here. We’d never get anything done.“Umm… No, no, I need to check on Nina and look at this mess.” All my paperwork lay strewn on the carpet. I bent down to pick some of it up. The office reeked of sex, and I needed a shower.I shrieked being suddenly lifted and turned around to collide with his hot chest. His nose was in my hair, inhaling my scent.“I love the way you smell. All mine.” He told me in his husky voice that made my insides melt. “I could have you all day and it still
HUNTERBefore going to train with the warriors I decided to see what the witches were up to. They’d better be close to finding some way to stop the death witch. I knocked at Selena’s cottage and Arno opened the door. Of all of them, except for Selena, he was the least strange of the bunch. Him, I could stand.“Come in, Alpha Hunter.” He said, motioning for me to step inside. In truth, I never liked to be inside Selena’s cottage. It felt too cramped and now with the others here it was even worse.Janus and the two others were seated in the living room with an array of weird looking stones, gems and other items I would rather not even guess at what they were laid out before them. Janus had a large book in his hand. I sniffed, the air smelled stale and I felt uneasy.“Alpha Hunter, to what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?” Janus lifted one eyebrow and smiled without it reaching his eyes.“Where’s Selena?”“Mother is in the clinic.” Arno explained, “Some problem she’s attending to
HUNTER“Where is she?” I rushed into the clinic having pulled some shorts on which Teo brought for me. He followed behind me.I heard her scream, and it froze the blood in my veins. “Angel!” I ran, pushing everyone and everything out of my way to get to my mate.Selena stood at her bedside in her small consultation room, she moved out of the way for me.Sylvia’s eyes were closed but her face contorted in pain. I gripped her hand firmly in mine. She writhed on the narrow bed, her heels digging into the mattress. She didn’t seem to notice my presence.“I’m here, Angel.” I wiped the perspiration from her brow. “What is wrong, Selena? Why is it happening now?”Selena frowned deeply. “This is not natural. There is nothing wrong with the pup. His heartrate is normal, he’s not in distress.”“Then what the fuck is wrong?!” I shouted. I couldn’t bear to see my love in so much pain. The strangest thing was I didn’t feel it, which meant I couldn’t share her pain to help her through it.“She’s be
SYLVIA Home at last. Safe in my own bed with my handsome mate and my pups. All four of us cuddling together. Magnus held onto Hunter’s finger while sleeping at my breast and Nina lay in my free arm, snoring softly like a cat.“This is heaven.” Hunter smiled at me, his amber eyes glowing with a soft light. “I couldn’t ask for anything more than this, my Angel.”I couldn’t agree with him more, this was more than I ever wanted, my own family with the one I loved. I felt complete. He kissed me gently, careful not to disturb his sleeping son.“Don’t ever leave me again, Love.” I whispered to him. “I couldn’t live without you, you know. Promise me we would die together.” I thought about Marcelle and how Joffrey’s life ended. The horrible sight was never far from my mind.Hunter tapped me on the nose. “Stop it. We’re going to grow old together and fill this castle with our offspring.” He winked, “And we do have a lot of rooms.”I laughed softly. “That’s what you say now. Remember how much t
SYLVIA“Let’s go.” I said, running toward the open mausoleum. Hunter grabbed my arm and pulled me back.“I go first.” He was taking no arguments.“Wait!” Selena snapped. “You need protection.”Rebecca held her hands out in front of her and a shimmering light shot out from her fingertips and surrounded Hunter and me. It formed a bubble around us. I touched it and it moved with my hand without bursting. It was cold to the touch.“That ought to last a while. It will hide you from them. Be quick.” Rebecca urged us on.“She probably knows we’re here already. Do you have the wand?” I heard him ask Selena as we moved towards the gate.“Yes.” Selena said.I didn’t look back. Hunter held my hand, and we went inside. The stench of death and decay made me gag. We walked in silence down the narrow passage. Debris and old broken coffins lay strewn about, the bones long gone. A large stone sarcophagus stood in the middle of the crypt.“Look there’s something underneath it.” Hunter said and he moved
SYLVIAHis crib was empty. I could still smell his newborn scent. I ran from the room down the passage, colliding with Tasha.“Luna Sylvia, what is it? You shouldn’t be running around like this.”I grabbed her by the shoulders. “She took Magnus! She took my baby!”“Who?”“Aldine! We must find them, Tasha. She’s taken him to Joffrey.” I was in such a state I couldn’t think properly.“I’ll alert the castle guards.” I watched Tasha’s eyes turn opaque while she sent a mind link to the guards.I rushed to King Lucien’s rooms, not caring that I wasn’t properly dressed, and it was not proper for me to go to another male’s room in the middle of the night.King Lucien opened the door to my insistent hammering. I fell into his arms, babbling incoherently and crying.“Gods, Sylvia! Whatever has gotten you into such a state?” He pulled me away from him and held me at arm’s length. I didn’t even notice Tasha had followed me. She stood in the doorway.“She took him, Father. They took my son to the
HUNTER As soon as the alpha wolf submitted, the whole pack followed. It was not my intention to take over the pack, but I had no choice. They accepted us, welcoming us into the pack with whines, displays of submissions and licking our faces.“This is so gross, but so awesome.” Teo said through our mind link.“There’s no telling how they would react if we should return to our human form.” I was worried about the young alpha. He would have to take his pack back when we leave, and it won’t be easy for him.“What would King Thorin do when we arrive at his village with a real wolf pack?” Teo laughed.I didn’t think the wolves would go that far though it may be out of their territory. The pack moved higher up the mountain and we followed. They led us to their den, a large opening between two rocks – it could hardly be called a cave. There were a few cubs and omegas, the lower ranks looked after the pups. At first, they were wary of us, but soon welcomed us and the pups sniffed at us, being
SYLVIANo, this can’t be happening now. The baby was coming, and Hunter wasn’t here. I was not ready!“Just breathe, Sylvia. Breathe.” Selena grabbed hold of my hands.“I can’t… give birth now…” I panted and cried out when the contractions racked my body.“You have no choice! This pup wants out. Work with me, Sylvia. Breathe.” Selena turned to Arno. “Call the King. Now.”Arno rushed from the room.“Why?” I asked. Why did she call for King Lucien. I needed my mate. Then I remembered the horrible vision. He was in danger far from here.“Be strong, Sylvia. For your child’s sake. Now push!” she demanded.I howled in pain as another contraction made me bend backwards. The door burst open, and I sensed King Lucien, followed closely by Tasha and Aldine.King Lucien grabbed my hand. “You’re doing fine, my child. We’re here for you.”Pressing down on his strong hand I looked up into his blazing blue eyes. He smiled down at me, wiping my sweat drenched hair from my face.“Father, Hunter is in d
HUNTERI was bored out of my mind. Will this day never end? Gods! Some of these Alpha’s were like old women, carrying on and on about things and not coming to a point. Teo fell asleep at some stage, head thrown back and mouth agape, snoring softly. He had partied himself to exhaustion with the unmated she-wolves. Lucky bastard.Feeling spiteful, I kicked the chair from under him and he crashed to ground amidst raucous laughter. Blushing a deep red, he picked himself up, righted the chair and mumbled an apology.King Thorin chuckled. “Looks like our she-wolves kept you up all night, young Teo. I thought the Blood Fang pack’s warriors had more stamina?”Teo for once was tongue-tied.“He needs more practice.” I said, winking at the king.Teo smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck with one hand.***The meeting went well, new alliances were formed, and some old issues were resolved. Kane pulled me to the side while the others went back to the feast.“I hope you don’t mind, Hun
SYLVIA I received countless messages and photos from Hunter, saying he was so bored, but it looked like he was having a great time. The photos he sent were of people dancing, tables laden with all sorts of food and drink. They were busy wrapping up the Alpha Meeting, but the party was still going on until the end of December.My phone rang in the middle of the night. It was him.“Hunter?” I breathed, half asleep.“I miss you.” His voice slurred.“Are you drunk?” I asked laughing.“Maybe.”Werewolves don’t get drunk easily.“They have no end. These people are in party mood, and they don’t take prisoners,” he groaned.I giggled; I can’t imagine him being drunk. I’ve seen him slightly tipsy when he drank too much Absinthe and then he was horny as hell.“Are you alone?” I asked, a little apprehensively. There better not be another she-wolf after him.He laughed softly, “Of course, Angel. Teo is having a blast here. He’s proving to be a huge hit with the she-wolves here. So funny.” His
HUNTERGetting on that plane was one of the hardest things I had to do. This annual Alpha meeting couldn’t have come at the worst time. At least I get to see Kane. But leaving my angel behind especially with everything we went through drove a knife in my heart.I will make it up to her, I promised myself. At least Father was there, and I had more confidence in the witches to protect her. Selena assured me the castle grounds were well protected that no supernatural force was going to break through. I believed her because I saw how powerful they were. It helped assuage the guilt I felt for leaving.Teo babbled non-stop on about the gods knew what. I tuned him out, lost in my own thoughts. Thinking about Sylvia clinging to me and crying like she was never going to see me again. I was worried about her. Could be the effects of what happened, I tried to reason her behavior away. Or maybe just the pregnancy hormones affecting her. I sent a text to Selena to keep an eye on her and maybe give
SYLVIAWinter was upon us. The days were colder and grey as December drew near. Not that cold ever bothered us. I watched from my windows as the clouds rolled in low over the grounds. Winter always made me restless, and I longed to be out there with the wind in my hair and the scents of forest around me.“Will it snow, Mama?” Nina danced around the room. She spent a lot of time with me here in the castle as Hunter refused to let me go out.“I don’t know, Nina.” I smiled at my little princess who seemed to be growing up way too fast. She was turning into a formidable little fighter as well, according to Tasha who trained her diligently. Tasha adored Nina and Nina adored her right back.“I hope it will. I love snow.” She announced, spinning dizzyingly around and around until she fell at my feet, giggling and out of breath.“Oh, you do? Well, let’s hope it does so we can build a snowman.” I knew it probably won’t snow, but you never know…Hunter came to check up on me. He kissed me deepl