"If you start to feel sick, you will go to her right away. That is an order, Roel," Rosette said, turning her attention back to the dead man, her gaze fixed on the lifeless form.
She heard Roel's happy response in her mind, but her attention was now on the corpse before her. He absolutely reeked. It was like he had rolled through a cemetery to get here. She'd never been so displeased to have a wolf's sense of smell.
His arm flopped out when she touched it with her nose, and suddenly she understood. Track marks ran up and down his forearm, a grim testament to a life of addiction. She nudged his mouth open and saw the yellowed remains of his teeth, a further indication of his self-destructive habits.
"Can witches get addicted to the same things humans do?" Rosette asked Ethan, her curiosity insatiable.
"Any of us could," Ethan told her. "We all have a part of us that is human. With us, I know that such a thing would be possible, but the quantities needed wo
Rosette's conversation with Ethan was abruptly interrupted by a hair-raising howl that echoed from the depths of the den. She felt Kyle's presence push into her mind, a surge of concern and urgency as he quickly checked her for injuries. Despite his careful examination, she still jumped when his outraged voice boomed into her mind, demanding to be let out of his cell. He threatened to tear the door down, his frustration and anger palpable.Shifting into her hybrid form, Rosette grabbed the key from the table and bolted downstairs, Ethan hot on her heels. "Kyle, be patient, I'm coming," she called out to him, her voice a soothing counterpoint to his mounting rage.All she received in response was a torrent of anger. He was furious, frustrated by his sudden incapacitation and the subsequent sleep. His pack needed him, and he hadn't been able to protect them. The fact that the rogues had managed to do this to him was infuriating.As they reached the basement, Roset
"Oh, I've gotten plenty fast over the years. Although, having seen you move, I probably should have had Alpha Kyle hold you down. I doubt I'd manage to get out of your way quickly enough," Sarah said, a slight frown marring her features. "I would have stopped her, Sarah. I wouldn't let my mate hurt you," Kyle promised, his voice a low rumble, his gaze fixed on Rosette."Thank you, Alpha Kyle. You know, Madam Alpha, maybe next time you won't go running after the attackers yourself, but I doubt it," Sarah smiled, putting her tools away. She didn't notice the dark look on Kyle's face or she probably would have stopped talking. "The mothers downstairs all think you are their new hero. All the work to help poor Emily, going after Leidy and Sarah when you saw them with the rogues. They can't stop singing your praises," she laughed.Ethan approached cautiously from the side, correctly interpreting Kyle's body language."They are ready when you are, sir," Ethan said for
"Relax, my love, it's ok to make mistakes because you are learning," he said, his voice a low rumble against her hair, "and part of me is glad you did what you did. We may not have found the witch that was involved if you hadn't seen him. None of us would have been looking for a human. If we had found him on pack lands, we may have wrongly assumed he was a lost camper that just happened to be a witch."That made her feel better. She had helped a little bit. They stood holding each other for a moment before he spoke again."I cannot believe you outran five werewolves. If you hadn't stopped to attack, they never would have caught up to you. You are faster than any other wolf in this pack, I'm sure of that," he said, sounding a little awed, his voice filled with a mixture of admiration and amazement."I did need the help once they caught up to me," she said ruefully, a hint of humor in her voice, acknowledging her own limitations."You took down three before
Kyle looked clean, but his usual scent was completely gone. The absence was unsettling, a prickle of unease crawling up Rosette's spine. The primal instinct within her, the beast, eyed him warily, and she let out an involuntary growl when he came close."I apologize," Rosette said stiffly, "you smell different. It's really freaking me out. Whatever you showered with, don't use it again.""I bit one of the rogues several times, making him bleed quite a bit. I must have ingested some of the spell that way," Kyle explained carefully.Rosette inched closer, pressing her nose against his neck. Nothing. She searched everywhere, but couldn't detect a single scent. It was disconcerting, to say the least."I can still feel our bond, but the lack of scent is so strange," she told him, pressing her face against his chest.Ethan entered the room, his brow furrowed."Everyone says I don't smell right, and another Beta attacked Donavan because he didn't r
The next morning dawned far too quickly, and Rosette stretched, her muscles protesting the sudden awakening. She sensed a familiar presence before she opened her eyes, a comforting warmth that filled the small room. It wasn't a surprise to see Kyle leaning against the desk when she finally opened her eyes."Your scent is back," she told him groggily, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.Kyle came to lay beside her on the tiny bed, pulling her into his arms, her legs straddling his hips. He held her close, the familiar scent of him a balm to her senses."All the spells are worn off," he told her, his voice a soothing low rumble. "The girls are awake, Anthony is awake, and Roel's wound finally stopped enlarging."Rosette was wide awake all of a sudden, her grogginess replaced by a surge of concern. "What do you mean about Roel?""Ethan said you all saw him about an hour after the attack. The wound continued to enlarge until he went to see the
As Rosette watched Roel slowly heal from his injury, she was positive the menace could get much worse. Roel took weeks to improve, which was unusual for a wolf. She shuddered when she thought about what that spell could do. If it could be weaponized, it could tear the packs apart. Evidently, she wasn't the only one to see the promise in that evil design.Kyle received a call from Alpha Samuel Devoer early one morning. The spell that had glanced off of Roel had hit several of his highest-ranking Betas directly, albeit in an insignificant quantity. The wolves suffered hours of agony as their bodies were dissolved by the tonic. One wolf died when it destroyed his heart."Those spells can kill a werewolf?" Rosette asked Kyle, stunned, her voice barely a whisper.She didn't really realize much could kill them, besides another wolf. It was hard to process."Removing the head from the body or destroying the brain can kill a wolf. Enough injury to the heart can a
Kyle sat for a moment, his mind working, weighing her words. "No," he finally said, his voice hesitant. "Everyone seems to be clinging tightly together, not splintering apart. They seem closer than ever. No one wants to see harm come to the pack.""Who would be best to try to hack this system?" she asked quietly, her mind already formulating a plan."There is a group that everyone teases for their love of electronics. I've heard they are quite good at getting where they are not supposed to on the computer," he said, looking up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.He considered Rosette for a moment, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I enjoy having someone I can talk to," he said, breathing more normally, the tension easing from his shoulders. "It was just me for so long. I never felt I could open myself to anyone completely. I am afraid I have been considered too secretive by my pack. They just couldn't offer me solace and advice when I needed it.""You are t
"If you're sitting down again, Sarah, I'm assuming this is something complicated," Rosette remarked, her gaze fixed on the healer as she meticulously examined the vials of magic."A source is an ancient concept. The witches believe that with enough time and the application of sufficient magic, a wolf's body can be compelled to yield its secrets. They believed they could tap into the very essence of that werewolf's power," Sarah explained, her voice tinged with a hint of reverence for the ancient practice."Are they holding a wolf captive?" Rosette asked, a wave of horror washing over her. The thought of someone powerful enough to restrain a wolf filled her with a primal fear."No, no," Sarah shook her head, her expression a mixture of concern and frustration. "A source must be willing, completely willing. The witches believe that any restraint on the wolf's part would shatter the spell. There can be no coercion, no trickery involved when dealing with source magi
other girls slowly came to after Dee. April woke next, stretching like a cat, despite the pole lodged between her thighs. Juniper woke up last. She winced, moving her leg, and Rosette was concerned. "Where does it hurt?" Rosette asked her, touching over her previously injured leg. "My thigh, Luna," she said, pointing. "It's not the break. I think it's just a cramp." Lucas reached down with his big hands and started to massage the area she had gestured to. Once the area loosened, he sat her up like the other girls. All three sat facing out with their legs spread over their mates. The men whispered soothing words in their women's ears. All except Will, who kept telling his mate to stop twisting on his lap. 'Mate,' Kyle sent into Rosette's mind, 'we must greet Dee first and then the other two girls. Once we are done, the pack will go, but not before.' Rosette shifted the form of the wolf and approached Dee. She was being held with an arm across her chest by Will. Rosette approached
"Dom," Marybella chastised, "that is so inappropriate." At least the conversation had distracted Marybella from being afraid. Down in the circle, Will had finally moved between his mate's thighs. He knelt down and spread her lower lips wide with his fingers. He took one lick up her slit, and she moaned loudly. A second lick, and her legs were quivering on either side of his head. Will stood up briskly and stepped so he stood between her knees. He leaned over her body and spoke into her ear. Rosette saw her hand drift between her legs, but Will stopped her and spoke sharply. "No mate, you must come around my cock. The other girls are not ready. You cannot touch yourself, or this will start much too quickly," he said, probably louder than he meant to. "Bet she's got a hair trigger," Dominick laughed, and Kyle joined him. Two new figures settled in the grass beside them, and Rosette recognized the scent. Ethan and Shana had joined them. "I saw them in the gym when Dee finished tra
April is going to do it," Marybella pleaded, pointing. "I'm strong enough. I can do this too." "You are a fighter and a survivor," Dominick told her, "but no." "I love you, Dom," she said, looking at her friends and searching for one of them to support her. "I know it means a lot to do this in the circle. We can get through this together." "It's just a ceremony, Marybella, and it's not necessary for me," Dominick stated. Rosette was unsure of the situation. In her efforts to become a better Luna, she had been spending less time in the infirmary. If Marybella was facing difficulties, she was unaware. "Dominick," Rosette said. "Tell me why you are so opposed to this." Rosette had to admit, Dominick seemed annoyed by her question. He probably thought she was going to try to force him to participate in the ceremony with Marybella. However, the opposite was true; she wasn't sure it was a good idea for any of their human companions who had experienced trauma. A public changing ceremo
Rosette sat with Kyle in a pack meeting, reflecting on the past couple of weeks. It had taken her a long time, but she was finally embracing her role as Luna. Meetings were a routine part of her responsibilities, so she attended them diligently. When necessary, she knew when and how to administer punishment. Overall, she was becoming more adept at this way of life. Despite the adjustments, life remained chaotic. Rick and April had just returned from visiting the rescued humans in every pack. The reports they brought back indicated a significant positive impact. Juniper had completed Roel's healing process, and there was no longer any trace of the loner he had once been. She refused to let him dwell on the past and kept him busy by keeping up with her. They had become dynamic and active members of the pack. Marybella had returned to her profession of forensic accounting, but with a twist. The pack accumulated a substantial amount of wealth and held onto it for too long. It needed to
didn't seem possible. Marybella was soft with generous curves. She didn't seem like a rough and tumble type of girl. Tracking was grueling work and only attracted the toughest in the pack. Rosette would have thought the same for the human equivalent."I am...I mean I was a forensic accountant," she told Dom, pushing her glasses up her nose slightly. "People try to hide their money, it was my job to know where it went. I was the best in my department."Dom took her hand and led her to a small sofa off to the side. "Tell me how you did that," he said, very interested.Luckily, the rest of the afternoon was boring. Rosette didn't think she could stand another scene like Dom nearly caused. When the meeting was over, she was thrilled.Walking with Kyle toward the circle later that night, Rosette spoke to him about new concerns she'd realized.'Cedric's pack members were picking on Rick. It's not safe to send him around, they may try to hurt him,' she sent to Kyle thr
"If you're good," he whispered when she stopped for a breath, "I'll give you back the knife I took from your room."That did it. Marybella lashed out at his larger frame, seeking to drag her nails down his cheeks. Chuckling, Dom quickly restrained her arms behind her back and hauled her body against his in one swift motion.The Betas in the room started to close in, and Rosette waved them off. Dom's reputation was as a lethal fighter. To try to take Marybella from him would lead to a giant brawl. She wanted this done peacefully.Dom's eyes never left the face of the woman he held. He seemed oblivious to the commotion he was causing in the room as he spoke to her."When I heard about the unfortunate death, I feared for your safety, sweet. I removed anything from your room that could be harmful," he said softly."You had no right," she said, struggling against him and pressing her chest into his. "It is mine, for my protection. I can't sleep without it.""You s
The Betas who had witnessed the scene remained motionless, simply staring at Rosette. She politely excused herself and calmly walked out of the room.Kyle and Cedric were watching from one side as the Beta dusted himself off. His eyes glowed fiercely as he stood up. The wall behind him was destroyed, the small decorative table he'd landed on demolished. He eyed Rosette warily.Rosette came to a stop in front of him and addressed him as coolly as she could. "I believe we have a difference of opinion. How far you would like to take this difference of opinion is up to you."The man straightened his outfit and bowed his head slightly to her. "Luna, I apologize if I offended you. I will watch my tongue when talking with your pack in the future.""Lovely," Rosette said, turning to Cedric and Kyle. "Cedric, please educate your pack members. I don't tolerate disrespect in my home, and I'd hate to have to replace any more wallboard."Kyle looked at Rosette appreciatively. They'd have to talk a
Rosette smiled, her eyes sparkling as she read the new social security card and driver's license Kyle had pulled from his desk. "Rosette Anne Luther?" she questioned.Of course, he'd changed her name to match his."I believe," Kyle explained, "that it is appropriate in human society for the woman to take her mate's name. I'm sorry you can't keep your own name in the middle as women usually do. It would be too obvious.""Thank you, Kyle," Rosette said, hugging him tightly. She kissed his mouth tenderly, holding his jaw."You taste like candy," he marveled, dipping down to capture her lips again. "I like it."They curled up in the bed, cuddling for the afternoon. Feeling guilty about simply lying in bed with her mate, Rosette offered him sex, but he declined."This is not about me wanting to bed you," Kyle whispered into her ear. "This is about comfort. While your presence arouses me, your sadness sobers it. Let us just be here together for a little while."As they lay there, Rosette ta
One woman had been pacing quietly by the window; Rosette feared she would jump if the window was open. Kyle told her the Betas outside the door would not let her get that far. If they heard it open, they would enter, or Rick would stop her."Are vampires real?" she asked quietly."Does it matter?" Rick asked. "Did you know about werewolves? In five minutes, won't another mythical creature permeate your senses, and you will be terrified of that one? I beg you to accept your lives have changed. The only way to deal with it is to stay with us; we can help you, protect you, and guide you."It continued for hours. The women went round and round with Rick until they each came to the same conclusion. They were not the same; their worlds had changed, and they could never go back to the way it was.The women sat around the room in huddled piles. Some clung to each other; some sat by themselves. Rick circulated the room and touched each of them. When none of them recoiled from him, he went to t