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Amy’s POVI came to hours later, disorientated and wondering why I was in such agonising pain. Clutching my nose, I was relieved to find it wasn’t broken. I’m not vain but it would be hard to admit I was no oil painting when I had been used to the opposite. Even Jake had acknowledged that much and without being pushed.It was disconcerting not to be in the medical room. This was a double bed I was occupying.Goddess, I was in the Alpha’s Suite.I remembered being hit and, dimly, who by. It was hard to believe at first. Something or someone must have fired up Chrissy. Was she acting under Kane’s orders?No, I doubted he would have sanctioned that kind of violence before I was inside his quarters. Our bedroom. Once. I swallowed. If I were honest with myself, I couldn’t blame the former Omega I’d helped raise to the status of cook before tempting her mate to be unfaithful.What had I been thinking?Hearing voices, one obviously masculine the other shrill, I ducked beneath the covers. I h
Amy’s POVI was confined to the room beyond the curtain all the next day, except for necessary bathroom visits and to wash. Food came just twice on a tray which wasn’t capable of holding much. I was grateful for the juice and water, though.Recalling how Kane had struggled to maintain his erection at the prospect of bedding an only too willing Chrissy made me want to laugh and cry. Him fitting the condom under those circumstances was a bit of a farce. I wasn’t insulted. All it told me was that, strangely enough, I was still in favour, despite everything.That night I was wearing lingerie beneath a transparent black wrap which was incapable of coming together no matter how I adjusted the loose belt.Alpha Kane was fully clothed and it seemed as if he intended to stay that way. Chrissy had obviously come up here straight from the kitchen.“Question or forfeit?” he demanded.I didn’t realise he was addressing me.“Just get it over with.”He misunderstood, asking Chrissy to pick a number.
Amy’s POVI was loving the floral tube top and miniskirt – very party animal! – which left my shoulders and midriff bare, right up until I heard the Alpha’s distinctive tread in the corridor. Kane was a stranger these days, an enemy I couldn’t afford to cross given that I was totally in his power and friendless.The Crescent Moon pack members were ranked solidly behind him. Like him, I had to take my medicine if I had any chance of being accepted once more. Though this was vastly different.I knew I must reach him and two could play the seduction game. Who needed diagrams and some stuffy manual?Chrissy’s presence wasn’t helping. She was the unknown factor preventing me from winning him over.Winning. That was a laugh. He was holding all the cards.Having given up on the idea of her siding with me, I resisted the very real temptation to fist pump when I saw that he was alone this evening, though I wanted to, badly. When he suggested his favourite board game I knew he was plotting some
Amy’s POVMy first thought was to run to the old Luna’s room. Surely Lisa would help me? But I couldn’t put her in such an awkward position, I didn’t want to scare little Kayleigh and then there was Noah. It might arouse her jealousy all over again.So I rejected the idea. It was the coward’s way out anyway. I had been ordered to run – to exercise, how dare he? – and that was what I must do.Where was my courage? Summoning it I rose, standing with my back to the wall and listening. No hubbub as yet. I needed to guess which floor was the least occupied and head for that. Or would that be against the rules? Kane hadn’t specified. He’d looked at me as if I were the most disgusting creature he’d ever seen.That hurt. A lot.I headed for the elevator. Floor 3 had a nice ring to it. Who was I kidding? The unmated ranking warriors had rooms there, as did the senior security guards. I was guessing Francis either wasn’t on duty or would be forced to watch the whole thing live on camera.Emergi
Kane’s POVThree pairs of eyes swivelled my way when I entered without knocking. Gamma Darius moved quickly to put the females behind him. He was well-trained and loyal, to Francis, to Amy – and he had looked out for my best interests, if only at the last minute, cutting short his run.Beta Francis told me he had assumed Amy would head for Lisa’s room and that Noah would keep her safe. He’d primed them to receive her, though no-one knew which night her ‘parade of shame’ was due to take place.Being the watchful man he was, once he saw on the monitor that it was “game on” – he uttered that phrase with distaste – Francis had relayed the message to my sister and her mate. On hearing that she never turned up he sent word out to the remaining ranking warrior who rushed to answer his call.I owed him more than mere words could convey. Better quarters, perhaps? I would have to ask him, no matter the outcome. Name it, and it’s yours.Anything it was within my power to bestow would be worth it
Amy’s POV You would not believe the Alpha’s gall in trying to blame his recent crass actions on his Lycan heritage. “CC rising to the fore. I don’t buy it,” I said, folding my arms across my chest. “Let’s discuss your pleasure room and its future, or lack of it.” “See sense, Luna,” he barked. “Omegas need disciplining. It’s all they know.” “Precisely. There are going to be some big changes around here.” “You’re no fun.” Kane sulked for at least an hour, but I managed to talk him round. It was agreed I would be the one to chastise the Omega females in future. Like Selene used to do for an all too brief time. Either that, or I wanted my own ‘pleasure’ room in order to punish the males. “It’s only fair.” I really hoped he wouldn't go for it. He didn't let me down. “Jake will love that,” he said. The Alpha had a point. It was the last thing I wanted anyway. So we reached a compromise. It would be used only sparingly and under my supervision. I neglected to mention the cupboard of
Amy’s POVI really hoped no-one was eavesdropping as I used every choice expletive I could think of to tell the asshole what I thought of him. When he admitted it was Lisa who had come up with the idea, I finally realised I’d made an enemy there. That was such a pity.It wouldn’t stop me seeing Kayleigh, though.Glancing up, I saw a figure dodge behind a billowing white curtain. Always the purist, our Lisa. I couldn’t work out how things had turned so sour between us, or when.That explained the ‘picnic’ with heater on the largest balcony in the pack, which led off one of the bigger meeting rooms. The sugary treats were a bonus; I reckoned I’d earned them.The Alpha was sweating and I knew why. I was the one with a strange inability to warm up quickly after being exposed to cold temperatures. This was a concession too far for him. He must want me to agree to this very badly.Still shaking, though not from the cold, I bit into a muffin. The taste of it took away some of my shock. Perha
Amy’s POV I didn’t realise how prolonged proceedings were going to be, how uncertain my own position in the interim. So I contented myself with spending more time in the nursery. I had a responsibility to Selene’s pups, as well. Dan still hated me, I felt sure. Yet, asking around discreetly, I discovered he was no better with the pack’s nursemaids. Did he have a down on anyone lower in rank, even at this tender age? Maybe it was a Lycan thing. If so, I would have to keep an eye on Dora. It was Lisa who broke the news to me. Lycan Faro was coming for the “festivities” – her word, not mine. I watched Kayleigh interacting with the pups and couldn’t fault Kane’s sister for bringing her here regularly. Lisa probably had an ulterior motive. I saw how often her eyes were fixed on Dan. Lycan blood. Would it affect Dora like this when she came of age? Her twin seemed to be an exception. What if she developed his tendencies; what if he wanted her to? I shuddered. My own pups might be at ris
Kane’s POV It soon became clear that Miss McGregor wasn’t a rogue she-wolf. She explained that she’d been heading back to her pack above the border in Canada when her car got a flat. Jake had offered her a lift when he spotted her hitchhiking. She said he’d been on his own and never mentioned another female. I would question him later. Expecting my Luna to burst through the door and start what the humans called a cat fight, I can’t say I was disappointed when she didn’t. After a brief lecture on how lucky Miss McGregor was not to be considered guilty by association, I stood up and looked her in the eye. “You can go,” I announced. She cocked her head on one side, regarding me critically, and I knew it wouldn’t be quite so easy to dismiss someone like her. Not without proceeding to formally reject her. Faith Isla McGregor beat me to it, not even hesitating over my surname and the name of my pack. I couldn’t believe the nerve of that she-wolf. It didn’t seem to cause her much pain,
Lisa’s POVI was pleased to see my brother so happy and even unbent enough to invite Amy to tea. Kayleigh was there, moping a little, but she brightened up when she saw the Luna. Noah was supervising the border guards. Again. I’d pouted a lot until he told me Kane was thinking of appointing another Delta.He swore me to secrecy afterwards, but Amy knew. Of course, she would.“Does this mean there will be two Alphas again?” I asked, when my daughter was paying a visit to the bathroom.“No chance,” she said. “But it’s cool. Kay looks much better.”“Do you think so? I wish she would cheer up.”“She’s been through a lot.”Did the Luna think I didn’t know that?“Have a scone. Fresh from Ray’s bakery.” My visitor hesitated. “Go on. Take one at random. I haven’t poisoned them all,” I joked. To prove that, I selected one with blueberry jam inside and took a small bite. “Mm, delicious. I don’t know why I didn’t think of commissioning your stepfather to bake my daughter’s special cake.”“He’s n
Kane’s POV“If I’ve won, I want you to … ”Amy whispered the rest.“What? No way,” I said, and went on to issue a stern warning.Just for a second there I was tempted to cheat, claim she'd lost. Until –“Be nice,” she hissed, putting emphasis on the second word and fiddling with the knot on her blindfold.I watched her struggle for a while – why didn’t she just lift the whole thing over her head? – before going across to the monitor and calling up the incriminating evidence.“You won’t like it,” I warned her, again.That had been a part of my reply when she said, “Show me the footage of you and Omega Sharon. All of it.”As if there had been other encounters in the past.The truth was laid bare, making her huff with contempt.“Satisfied, Luna?”“I thought as much. She was faking it. On your orders?”“Yeah,” I managed, feeling like I’d just crawled out from under a rock and couldn’t find my way back there.Exposed, just like Amy, yet in a very different way.“She must have told everyone
Amy’s POVIt soon became apparent that Jake was lost to us. I missed Ingrid, too. Was he treating her right? I hoped so.Mom was inconsolable for a whole week and then, in typical Velma fashion, she moved on. That must have been something to do with Ray. One for the homilies, he was. She kept twittering on about my brother making his own way in the world.As far as I was concerned, he’d always been rogue material.I was biding my time to catch Kane off guard and then I would strike. In the nicest possible way, of course.It wasn’t long before we were back to sharing the same bed again. His hands kept straying to my tummy. So much for emergency contraception.I’d been feeling really sick in the mornings, something I’d not experienced much the last time around. Making him wait fit in well with my plan.Coaxing him back to our quarters that afternoon, I had a surprise in store in the form of a new game.This time, my intention was to win, though I allowed him a say in the ‘rules’ we were
Lisa’s POVSomething was off about the atmosphere in the nursery. Dan usually got the blame but this seemed different. Even more unwholesome, if that was the right word to use about my only nephew.I didn’t visit the pups with my daughter any more. She was sensitive and tended to kick off if she knew we were going there.Noah and Kayleigh were closer than ever. I tried not to resent their easy relationship while I had to work at it. Maybe she sensed my annoyance and that was why she clung to the Delta when he came home to us. Or could it be that because I was always around she missed him more?I told myself that was it even though it bugged me. A lot.Picking up Dan’s rattle one day, I felt a surge of power. Static electricity, I thought. It didn’t plug in, that was for sure.He went ape until I gave it back to him.Dora wasn’t like that. She didn’t seem to mind when he took her toys off her. Maybe she was in awe of him – or frightened. I couldn’t be sure and knew better than to menti
Amy’s POV The pups were hard work but I became engrossed in what was mainly pandering to their needs. It gave me time to think. I didn’t miss the decisions I had to make, the daily squabbles which had to be sorted between maids and Omegas. They were trivial in the scheme of things. It made me smile to think of the Alpha dealing with petty rows about dirty looks and the more serious allegations of slacking, which tended to be unfounded for the most part. Some of the older servants had heart conditions and they needed more regular breaks. If he reinstated punishment in what had been CC’s room I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night in that same bed. Yet I couldn’t stop him. I had no say and wouldn’t be aware of anything like that given that I was stuck here for the most part, even for meals. He deserves to know. Misha, now’s not a good time. Do it. Or Rhett will tell him. Are you threatening me? My wolf didn’t answer, retreating to sulk, presumably. I knew she was right. The
Amy’s POVSomething was going on. Something I didn’t understand. People were murmuring to each other and occasionally gazing at me. Was I paranoid? This had happened to a human at school, all because she had a fondness for snacks between meals.Suzie’s a renowned pie maker these days. At least she was.They’re not sniggering any more.Someone asked Chrissy in a loud voice if there was any Sharon fruit, to general titters. I didn’t get the joke. At least not until later when she knocked on the door to our Suite.I was tossing and turning in what had been the pleasure room.“You sent for me, Alpha Kane. And here I am.”“Give me a twirl,” I heard him say.What? I wanted to jam the pillow over my head, but I was curious.“Do you like it? I sewed it myself in my spare time.”“Very fetching.”There he went again with those old-fashioned words. Was I the catalyst, being around Mina and not ‘suffering’ myself. Still, I was proud of my extensive vocabulary so perhaps it was less noticeable wit
Kane’s POVCC told me more than once that a good whipping would convince anyone not to re-offend. I didn’t subscribe to that notion. My belief was that discipline should be relative.Amy had failed as a Luna when she allowed the rogue she-wolf to abduct her without a fight. I intended to pit her against Lori, an up and coming female warrior, who had once shot her by mistake. That should serve to punish both of them.Maybe I would sell tickets, for charity of course.My Luna had betrayed me by succumbing to my former Beta’s kiss. At the same event, maybe I could have my pack members – men and women – line up to claim her lips. Standing up for hours, hungry and thirsty, her mouth swollen and parched. That would teach her.And now I had found the blister pack containing something which fuelled my fury yet further.A public whipping seemed highly appropriate.I knew I would put her through none of the above. She had always been mine to ruin.If it wouldn’t hurt our twin girls I would have
Kane’s POVIf I had to absorb Blaylock, surely Garrett would help me control him? I could only hope. Asking Rhett would just depress me, because I already knew the answer.My priority was to rescue my cousin’s girl. We had a date to watch a movie for fuck’s sake. And Noah would surely not survive a prolonged invasion even though he’d been doing better recently. I needed my Delta and Kayleigh needed her stepdaddy.As for Lisa, words failed me. Her scream had alerted us and yet she must have been the one to lure the mage upstairs. My guess was she’d visited the lab and seen him.I was hoping to save him, too, if only by hosting the Lycan wolf once more. Though the mage was way down the pecking order. Probably last.In fairness, it didn’t seem as if Amy and Jarvis were lovers or even planning to be. Yet the crisis had elevated a level. Maybe they were just biding their time.I knew I couldn’t afford to think like that once Blaylock was in situ. The ancient Lycan would probably pounce on