Deja vu. Or was it? The question sent a chill of grim awareness down Beth's spine, but she had never been asked the question before. So maybe it wasn't deja vu so much as the dread of inevitability.In the other life, Daniel Heether and Matthew Catii had worked together for a time too, until it devolved into a mess of bloodshed and carnage that no one could stop once it gained momentum.Was this something that had to pass no matter what? Was Beth powerless to stop it? She had all the knowledge of the future but every time she tried to steer the present away from what it would become, it only reared up harder."Why do you want to work with Matthew Catii?" she asked casually, affecting general skepticism to cover over the instant bristling that raised her every hair. "I thought you didn't get along with him. If he's already riding your nerves as just acquaintances, you might have a hard time tolerating him when you're working more closely together.""I don't like him, but I was hoping I
Things should have been more awkward between them after that conversation loaded with lies, half-lies, and reluctant truths, but somehow, Beth thought the distance between Daniel and herself shrank dangerously as they stood next to each other, breathing in the cool spring night. And was it her imagination, or did he think the same way? He smiled at her even more easily now, and his eyes remained fixed on her for longer than before whenever she spoke. They never strayed, and neither did hers. Or maybe that was just the good atmosphere that settled around them from the party and the general merriness. Now that Anna and her theatrical mess-making had made themselves scarce, it was...peaceful. Nice.They filed back inside along with the other guests on the rear lawn when an announcement went out that Noah's father, Orion White, would soon be making his appearance now that the time was approaching. Custom demanded that everyone invited congratulate him personally, so getting in line firs
Everyone assembled in the grand dome of the main hall, watching on and chattering in good spirits as they applauded the older man presently making his way down the magnificent central steps leading down toward the center of the hall. Orion White took his time with the assistance of his son and a Delta attendant, limping and leaning heavily on one side but otherwise seeming in positive spirits. Tired, though, Beth noted with a shrewd eye. Orion White had been injured long ago, and rumor said he suffered from mild gout or something else that afflicted his leg, but he had far too many white hairs and weathered lines on his face for someone who wasn't even sixty. He had been a strong Beta warrior with good genes, and those from the prosperous Gold Nation were supposed to enjoy the fruits of longevity more than werewolves of the other three nations. Yet, he looked a decade older than he was and couldn't even make it down the steps on his own."Happy birthday, Orion White!" everyone shou
The Alpha King of Iron Nation was now the second most powerful leader out of the four werewolf nations. That used to be Alpha Mal of the Heether pack, but after the terrible tragedy that had befallen them, that crown now fell heavily upon Alpha William's head.Maybe too heavily. Beth abandoned Daniel and Jim to wade through the crowd that parted for her - she was a female Alpha, after all, even if she needed to disguise that she knew perfectly well how to exploit her aura thanks to a decade of experience she shouldn't have. The closer she came to her father, the more clearly she saw the evidence of age and stress lining his face. He didn't appear as worn down and fragile as the broken Alpha Mal of the Heether pack did, but it was all too obvious he had gone through his own share of tribulations in the past few months.Her poor father. Luna Dahlia had cried her heart out begging her daughter to come home, showing her weakness with great fanfare to try to change Beth's mind, but her fa
THE LIFE BEFORE - 3 YEARS HENCE* * *"Noah," Annalise scolded. "You're one of the top generals in the entire Gold Nation army, and you can't even manage this much? They're stupid rogues. They have no battle plans, no real leaders, no brains. You should have been able to wipe them out on your own to secure this area of the border.""Anna, they're nothing like what you say. They're dangerous, and you should respect that. I've been fighting them all my life."Her demeanor immediately transformed, and she was almost mewling like a kitten as she clambered into Noah's lap. They were in the General's lodgings and had the place to themselves, the guards remaining outside. She knew too well how to exploit that when the need arose, like now. "Oh, I'm sorry, love," she murmured in his ear. "You know I only say those things because I know you're capable of so much more than the others. I don't understand what Alpha Wyatt sees in them. You should be his right-hand man, the lead general. He's was
Jim gave her a long look. "You know...I could ask you the same question," he said, each word dragging slightly. "I know you've both grown up since we last played together, and I'd be stupid to assume you're the same person you were when we were still playing sword fighting with each other. But you used to adore her. Wouldn't let anyone say a single bad thing about her or you would fly off the handle."Beth stilled. That was true, wasn't it? Her most recent memories were the bitter, painful ones of her past life, years spent in the shadow of betrayal but unable to retaliate against Annalise. But in this life, in this time, she should still be an adoring elder sister utterly unaware of the truth. That she had hit her head one day and decided not only to spontaneously agree to an engagement she had protested for over a year, but also to start holding Annalise at arm's reach instead of embracing her fully the way she always used to - that must have confused a lot of people. And Jim...we
Daniel had no opinion on James - or Jim, as he preferred to be called - but that was likely because he had been biased against Beth's cousin from the moment of introduction. Scheming didn't come naturally to Daniel; the Heether pack had always ruled by clear-cut authority, experience, wisdom passed down for generations. But his view and opinion of the Rokley pack was far more skeptical, now that he knew Annalise was a snake of a girl who sought always to be the center of attention and chased every opportunity to subtly cut down Beth, and also that Luna Dahlia was trying to take Beth away from him. Away from the Heether pack, that is. She was also high-strung, bursting into tears just like her younger daughter to try to get her way and displaying none of the power and composure the ruling Luna of a nation should.So Daniel could only be suspicious that a cousin Beth hadn't seen in supposed years would suddenly show up to a birthday celebration out of the blue. Yet another Rokley to
Full morning came swiftly on the heels of the dark, gray dawn, and although Daniel went straightaway back to Beth's room, it was too late to discuss things with her. The rooms on either side of hers were already occupied, and the risk of being overheard through the walls was too high if their neighbors were nosy enough to put their ears to them. He signaled to her with a nod that he would find an opportunity to speak discreetly about what he had learned, and they both retired for the morning. There was still another afternoon and evening left of festivities. They should keep up appearances.More annoying was how everyone seemed to want to swarm around Beth. Wasn't Orion White supposed to be the star of the party? The White pack should be the ones bothered every minute, not Beth, but Alphas and female Alphas alike constantly surrounded Beth, separating her from Daniel on occasion when the group became too thick and pushy. More than a few times, he nearly lashed out, and was conta
The rogues won.Andrew smiled as he placed the tattered letter inside his stylish jacket for safekeeping. It would make for a good memento once he did the deed and ended the war for good, branding Daniel as a power-mad despot who had tried to rally the greedy Alpha Kings against the honorable Gold Nation.The rogue leader Karthen had even mentioned it might be possible to frame it as Daniel attacking the combined forces of Iron and Bronze, with Gold Nation coming to the rescue. After all, Alpha Matthew Catii was the only survivor, and he was so weak it would be no trouble bending him to his will.Now all Andrew had to do was meet with Karthen, collect the heads, and this stupid pretend war would be over."I think I'll go in ceremony," he announced to his Beta. "Gather the troops just in case since we might be stabbed in the back by the rogues... Well, either way we would have turned on them next. It's almost over, friend. You've served me well.""It's an honor to be with you at the mo
This was never going to go to Union Court. It was going to go straight to war, and Beth was ready to fight. Andrew Troy had manipulated his way to victory every time but now, he would get what was coming to him.No one knew where his father was so he was all but Alpha King of Gold Nation now, which made him the most influential party in Union Court. Like hell Beth was going to bother bringing up a grievance against the most powerful member there. That was going to be open and shut and he was just going to find a way to punish everyone involved, and with legal backing.Better to just take the fight to his face and show him what was what. Beth already had her sleeves up and claws out.... Except Daniel and everyone else forbid her from leaving the Heether pack house. Completely."I am not an invalid!" she shouted. "I can still fight!""Beth... Please. You're going to stress out the baby.""The baby is stressed out because you're leaving me behind!"Daniel held her tight, stifling her st
Daniel wasted no time in telling his mother the truth that day. That is, that he and Beth had secretly been in a relationship for weeks now, technically months since they had definitely been tip-toeing around each other in poor, secret denial long before they truly pledged themselves to each other.Beth was not ready. She was still adjusting to being back in the Heether territory, still adjusting to the relief and anger and determination to take Andrew down even though she was undoubtedly pregnant. She had only just confessed to Anna about that, and Luna Margaretta already knew? Before Beth had had a chance to ready herself?"It'll be all right. She'll come around." Daniel placed his hands on her belly, which had not yet begun to grow but would soon swell with the life of their growing baby. "It's important that everyone's on alert, keeping them in the dark will only make things more dangerous."She swallowed hard. Daniel was right, but that didn't mean it make it any easier. Anna had
As an Alpha, Beth could throw off sedatives without lasting damage. Whatever Andrew had drugged her with, it wasn't doing permanent physical harm, and the effects were reversing already. Her regenerative ability had only improved over the last year with the constant strain she had put her body through, and she thanked it now as they rolled through the streets past the growing chaos of soldiers searching the streets for their missing prisoner. With any luck, within a few days of having untainted food and drink, she and the baby would be right as rain.Andrew had discovered her absence far sooner than she had hoped, but it couldn't be helped. Someone must have checked in with breakfast earlier than usual. But for the bad luck to strand them all in the city and get them caught up in the manhunt...Matt had prepared everything, at least. She still had misgivings about him that would never go away for as long as she lived -- sounds wounds ran far too deep to ever forgive -- but he had done
The first thing Beth saw when she came to was Daniel's blurred face. Even though her head pounded so fiercely she could hardly breathe, the sight of his face swimming in her swirling vision sent such sheer joy and pleasure through her that tears sprang to her eyes."Daniel...""Shhh, Beth, don't try to get up. Rest. I just brought you to the place where I'm staying, and it's a decent place to hide for now, but we don't have a doctor here yet. You need to be seen, something's wrong." He lifted his head, looked at someone over his shoulder. "Go! Find a--""Wait!" She grasped at his shirt, fingers digging weakly into the fabric. "Wait, don't. Andrew doesn't know I've escaped. When he finds out, he'll start a search and hunt me down, and anyone would figure out that it was me if they see me like this. I'm a mess."Daniel leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Maybe, but I'll get you out of here anyway. But something's not right and we have to fix that first. Did Andrew hurt you? What did h
The Troy pack house ran on routine. Everyone had been careful to keep their mouths shut about even potentially important information around Beth, which made sense since everyone knew she was a prisoner, not a mere guest. But what Andrew Troy had so carelessly forgotten was that she had already stayed here before her imprisonment.When he had entertained her as an actual guest in the span of time she had spent waiting for Daniel to arrive here, back before Andrew requested she go to Tahoe Village to help with the fake 'espionage' mission, she had already been housed here for quite a while. Long enough to learn several important details, and details that she couldn't imagine would have changed since then.Andrew's political wheeling and dealing were unpredictable, but his home life was anything but. That enormous cart of food she always saw wheeled in every morning at four in the dark of night came in every day without fail, and she was willing to stake her escape on the guess that that
They were still talking, but they had moved off the stone path and deeper into the shadows. They were on the other side of the stone half-wall, so close that it took another five steps this way, they would find Beth and she would be discovered. She placed a hand over her mouth and nose to stifle what little sound she might betray, but there was nothing else she could do. Her only choice was to wait and hope they didn't notice her, and as soon as they left, she could make a break for it.But to her chagrin, Andrew's voice became louder -- closer. Oh, Moon Goddess. They were now standing almost on top of her, just on the other side of the wall, and if they leaned over, they would see the top of her head no matter how she tried to squash herself against the stone. Was this it? Had she been too hasty?How could her luck be like this! If she had waited only one more night, Andrew Troy might not be walking the grounds. She could deal with avoiding a measly patrol; most of the time, walkabo
The shift change came every day at nine o' clock in the morning and nine o' clock at night. Morning escape was impossible, because even if she slipped past the changing guard, it would be daylight outside and everyone from here to the outlands would see her running across the estate's grounds. She had to make it a night getaway.The good news was with the frigid weather and the frequent sleet and rough snowfall, her tracks would be covered easily, and her scent hard to follow. She was used to traveling in harsh conditions from the life before, and hadn't she managed that journey to Pandemonium City and back? It had been grueling, but she had done it. And, she thought grimly, she had already conceived by then.Proof her child was already strong. Took after its father, and its mother, too. Beth smiled at the mirror, but it was razor-sharp and vindictive, not sweet.She had no more sweetness left for the enemy. She and her child would get out of here no matter what.***One week of obser
The days were short yet passed in slow misery. Trapped in the Troy pack manor on the third floor with guards posted everywhere to keep her from escaping, Beth was a canary imprisoned in a gilded cage, never allowed a moment alone even to bathe. Andrew Troy pretended it was to pamper her by assigning her female attendants to attend to her every need, but she knew better. Much better.He even had the gal to visit her as if she were just some guest being entertained in his home. How dare he have the fucking nerve? She was a prisoner, and yet when he knocked on her door and let himself in, he was all charming smiles and gentlemanly manners. Except how he never explicitly waited until she gave him permission to enter, but maybe that was because she flatly refused to give it. After five seconds of waiting, he came in, ready or not, and it made her want to punch him in the gut for it all the more.She was fed and well-taken care of, granted, like a captured exotic animal kept for private vie