Kane's POVAfter swinging by the hotel to pick up our gear, we hit the road. An hour later, we leave the city behind and two hours later, we pass into werewolf territory. This used to be Vickus’s kingdom, and even though it belongs to Felan now, I still feel uncomfortable being here without the Alpha's permission.“Turn right up ahead,” I tell Phillip.“Why?” he asks. “We’re wasting time.”I growl softly. “Listen, I know you are eager to get to the queen, but don’t for one second think you can start questioning me.”Phillip mumbles an apology and switches on his indicator. Twenty minutes of bumpy dirt road later, we pull up to a smallish pack house. The guard gives me a questioning look. “Forgive me, your majesty, but why are we here?”“I need an army, Phillip, or do you propose we try to invade that stronghold with eight wolves?”While the wolves of the city pack was eager to take out The Templars in London, they were far less agreeable to come with us to the stronghold where I’m sur
Kane's POV “Do not come any closer,” Lester says. He’s nervous and on edge, and I don’t plan to test him. I’m no good to my family if I’m dead. “May I lower my hands at least?” He nods and jerks his gun to the right. “If you take one step, I’ll kill you.” “I have no doubt that you will.” Willow was wrong. He is not a wolfless wolf that much is clear. The man before me is a scarred and maimed werewolf. “Gladstone,” I say. “You wouldn’t happen to be related to Richard Gladstone of Silver Star, would you?” I noticed his surname back at the church, but it didn’t click with me until this moment. He looks like his father. Lester nods. “He’s my father,” he confirms. “What happened to your wolf, Lester?” “I was born wolfless,” he replies. “My mother sensed it when I was very young…that’s why she took me and ran.” “Don’t talk shit,” I say, trying my best to keep the bubbling and swirling anger at bay. “You may be able to fool Willow with that cock and bull story, but you can’t fool me.”
The whole day, or night I don’t even know anymore, I’m out of it. I slip in and out of consciousness, unable to hold on to my own sanity. I stare at a white ceiling, two unanswerable questions running through my head on repeat. Where am I? What is this place?“Willow?” someone asks in my ear. I don’t know the girl, but undoubtedly she’s one of my father’s victims. I can tell just by looking at her. In the distance, somewhere far away, I can hear a baby cry. “You have you to nurse Adare.”Who the hell is Adare, and why do I have to nurse him? “Find his mother.”“You are his mother.”I force myself to look into the eyes of someone I’m pretty sure is my friend. “Who are you again?”“Tully,” she says. “Here. Take him.”She places an adorable baby in my heavy arms. He has the most beautiful head of curly, gold-red hair and shocking blue eyes. “Who is he?”“Adare," she answers. "He’s your son.”The girl who called herself Tully reaches up and undoes the buttons of my nightdress. I let her,
I wake from a loud bang, and soon afterward the truck shakes under us, throwing us around the cargo hold like ragdolls. I cling to Adare, trying to shield his tiny body as much as I can. Seconds later, another explosion rips through the night, and before we can recover from the first one, we start rolling around again. Brakes screech, and the truck slams into something. Tully quickly drags me away from the backdoor where I ended up with Adare, and a second later, another truck slams into the back which sends me spinning head over ass back to the front. The little light in the corner flickers and goes out. Then everything goes quiet, and we're plunged in complete silence and darkness. Clutching the baby to my chest, I sit up, trying my best to hear what’s going on outside, but my ears are still ringing. Tully is crying and crawling around the cargo bed, looking for something. “I lost it,” she sobs. “Lost what?” I ask. “The key. The key that unlocks the collar. I can’t find it.” “Oh
Kane's POV: We can’t fight these fuckers. I don’t know what kind of weaponry they’re using, but it’s definitely magical. Amidst the chaos caused by the bombing, we had the upper hand for a while, but then the Templars regrouped and came back fighting. I’d admire their bravery if I weren’t so fucking pissed off at them. One of the trucks opened and roughly fifty Templars filed out, spreading out across the road, and using terrifying magic to drive us back. The bullets only need to graze one of my wolves to cause unbelievable damage to their bodies. The vampires tried attacking from the air, but after one of Zael’s vampires tumbled from the sky, dying on impact, they’ve been too afraid to come closer. My wolves are undeterred, fighting fearlessly as werewolves are prone to do, but after seeing another of them go down after nothing more than a flesh wound, I sound the retreat. “We are not surrendering,” one Alpha tells me. “We can’t let them win. Not again.” “I agree, Alpha,” I say.
We find Zael’s bride in the second to last truck. Like the Changeling, she’s alone and has been alone all this time. She’s riddled with bullet holes. It’s not the vampire-killing kind, but she’s not healing either. Magdalena whimpers softly when Zael lifts her out of the truck and gently lies her down next to it. He whispers in her ear in a language I don’t understand, but it’s easy to see that they’re both suffering. I am exhausted, and I nearly depleted my energy when I hit the Templars with the soundwave, but I can’t leave them like that. He helped me, rescued me, so the least I can do is return the favour. I kneel next to Zael and gently nudge him aside. “Let me see.” The bullets are magical, harnessing the power of the sun. It would definitely kill younger, weaker vampires. Magdalena must be very old. “Your first bride?” I ask. He shakes his head. “No. She's my most beloved bride. I made her a many years after I came into being.” “Okay.” “Can you heal her?” “No, but I can p
Kane’s POV We make it back to our cars just before sunrise. The wolves collapse where they stand. They’re exhausted, and I can't keep pushing them. We’ll need to camp here for the day, and pray to The Goddess that the Templars don’t come after us. I lay Adare on a soft patch of grass and limp around the back of the SUV to find some clothes. I drag out a thick coat for Willow and find a pair of jeans for myself. Some of the Alphas had the forethought to bring Omegas with them, and they are bustling around, preparing food and bringing clothes to their warriors. I fall next to Willow who is busy freeing Adare from his bindings, and fold my coat around her frail shoulders. She is turning blue and shaking from head to toe. “Come on,” I say softly, and help her into the coat. “You need to eat something and get some rest.” “Adare needs a clean nappy, and he has to nurse.” We have exactly zero supplies for the baby. I call an Omega over and explain the situation to her. She nods and takes
Kane is gone by the time I wake up. It’s mid-afternoon, and Adare is still sleeping soundly. I guess the last few days were too much excitement for him too. Regardless, I wake and nurse him, calling Justine over to help me with the makeshift nappy before I finally get out of the car. I like her and trusted her right away. It’s a shame she’s not part of our tribe. I need a bath and clean clothes. I stink to high heaven and I desperately need to pee. I stretch and yawn, looking around the campground. The wolves are recovering quickly, and getting ready for the day. We’ll need to move on soon. The only advantage we have over the humans right now is that we can easily move into territory they have difficulty accessing, but they’ll find their way to us sooner or later. Tully comes bouncing up to me, a huge smile on her face. “Hey,” she chirps and holds her arms out to take Adare. “Come, I’ll show you where you can pee and wash.” Like me, she just shakes the trauma off. When you’re used
Dear readers, I would like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read Willow and Kane's story. This has been one of the longest books I've ever written, and when I started out I did not expect it to turn into this epic saga, but I regret nothing. Nothing I tell you :). I fell in love with Willow and Kane, and I am genuinely sad to say goodbye to these two, but unfortunately all stories must come to an end. Thank you for your support througout this wild ride. It means the world to me. I hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until we meet again. All my love, Celice
Kane Madden, Lycan King of Felan, wakes up to an unearthly racket right outside his bedroom door. Slightly concerned, he glances at his heavily pregnant wife and smiles despite his annoyance at his oldest son’s shenanigans in the hallway. Willow Madden, his mate of fifteen years is heavily pregnant with their second set of twins, two boys this time, and Kane sincerely hopes this is the last time. Goddess knows he loves his children, all eight of them, and he’s sure he’ll love numbers nine and ten just as much, but it’s getting difficult to keep up with all the pups. They are exhausting. For a time, he was sure that they’d never have more children, but after one wild afternoon in the forest, Willow did get pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl, as their remarkable son predicted. She named the twins Josiah and Jocelyn, after the previous occupants of their home. Kane thought it was macabre, but Willow insisted, saying they had to honour their ancestors. That would be the same twins wh
It’s a beautiful summer’s day, and the drive up to the cabin is pleasant enough. Kane and I have found a peaceful kind of comfort in each other’s silence, and we rarely need to fill the quiet with inane background chatter. We are content, just being together. I inhale the lovely fresh air, remembering the first time I came here. The night Suri was born, the sheer exhilaration of feeling my wolf come to life...and that was all thanks to Agatha. Dear, sweet Agatha who never found a final resting place because we went to war and in the chaos, we forgot all about her. Our funeral home has since been bombed off the planet, and we just take care of our dead our own way as we'd done during the war. There aren’t that many of us left anyway. The few surviving wolves live here now, and those that refuse to come to safety are dying off – Templars bearing a lingering grudge either murder them, or the wolves yield to their unrelenting urge to join a good war. Kane once told me that wolves had be
Kane's POV I wasn’t sure what would happen in the months and years that followed after we signed the peace treaty, so we went with the tried and tested 'go with the flow' method. For a time, everything went back to normal. Drake and Patrick ran the business, and more and more my little brother took over my duties in the company. Proof, Willow liked to remind me, that Omegas are just as competent as any other wolf. The overseas wolves went home, and as soon as they were sure the threat had really passed, the European wolves followed suit. The only ones that stayed were the humans. I claimed the human town as part of my territory during the peace talks, and the residents now affectionately call it Wolftonia. Leif left, taking his strange sister with him. Only later did we learn that Silke’s time on earth was limited and that she had foreseen her own death long before she ever came here. Unbeknownst to all of us, including Willow, a völva’s dying energy projects outwards, and what we m
Adare runs around the garden with Roland. The two boys growl and stalk each other like prey. My motherly instinct is to jump up and stop them before one of them gets seriously hurt, but Rosie quickly grabs me and pulls me back to my chair. “No Queen,” she says. “That’s how they learn. They won’t hurt each other.” “Are you sure?” “I’ve seen them play this game a hundred times. I’m sure.” Dammit. My throat burns and I have to fight against the tears. I’m so happy that my son is home, but I’ve missed so much. He is the size of an average three-year-old and when I talk to him, I sometimes forget that he’s not even two yet. I choose not the think about it. I choose to focus on the here and now. My family is whole and complete and that's what matters “Mama! Look!” Adare squeals and tackles Roland to the ground. “Good job, buddy,” Kane says behind me. I look over my shoulder at my mate. “You’re back early.” “Yes. Peace talks broke down.” “Why?” “Clement wants my humans.” “I thought
Kane rolls over to my side and pulls me into his embrace. I don’t even bother to open my eyes. It’s been a wild few days. “Oh Goddess, no,” I complain. “Haven’t you had enough?” He laughs breezily in my ear. “Never…but for now, yes.” He flutters kisses over my jaw and neck. “How do you feel?” “Like I got run over by a penis-shaped bulldozer.” “Hey, you wanted it.” I finally manage to drag my eyelids apart. “I did.” I smile at my impressive mate. “The first two days were great.” “I know.” He rolls away and swings his legs off the bed. “The last day always feels more like a punishment than pleasure.” I turn over onto my side and stare at his broad back, the strong muscles flexing under his skin. “No regrets though, right?” He looks over his shoulder at me. “None.” He gets up and stretches, scratching his ass as he walks to the bathroom. A minute later, I hear him open the tap. We don’t have electricity yet, but I’m not so sure I miss it. Life is kind of peaceful without the cons
Kane’s POV I sit on the couch in the dark living room, watching the glowing embers in the fireplace, trying to ignore the call of Willow’s heat and the fever that's trying to consume me. I'd go to her, but she's still asleep. t’s not time, she can’t feel it yet, but she will in another few hours. I should be sleeping, prepare myself properly this time, but I can’t switch my milling thoughts tumbling through my head off long enough so I can go to sleep. I’ve already sent orders out to bring the power stations back online and ordered our army to stand its ground. There’s nothing else to do now but wait for Clement to come back so we can finish up the peace agreement. In the absence of entertainment or imminent danger, the only thing I have to keep myself occupied is my own thoughts, and all I can think about is the possibility that Willow will get pregnant. Here, in the quiet of the night, all by myself, I have to admit the truth. I never want her to get pregnant again – not becaus
Kane’s POV For the next few hours, we talk about the meeting with Clement, the future, and a whole lot of nothing. There’s something comforting in it, just friends having a chat about life, love, and everything in between. I glance at my watch, surprised to see that it was well past midday. “That’s it,” I say and get up, stretching my too-tight muscles. “We’re taking the week off. I don't know about you, but I've had enough of war to last me a lifetime.” “Shall I collect Adare?” Zael asks on our way out. “Not yet. I don’t…Willow thinks he’ll be safe here, but I want to make sure.” “If what she said about The Goddess is true, she’s probably right. She hasn’t been wrong so far, has she?” I scrunch up my face and rub my forehead. “I don’t know. I can’t think straight anymore.” Zael nods. “I know the feeling.” “Did you get any retaliation over the Raymond thing?” “Of course I did.” “And?” “And nothing. I handled it...it won't come back to you.” “Do you think this war is over?”
Kane's POVIt had been weeks since we slept comfortably, and even though we both sort of hinted at passing the night making love, neither of us could actually gather the energy to do more than snuggle down in each other’s arms.For the first time in weeks, perhaps months, I wake with a smile on my face, completely relaxed and almost happy. The only thing I need to complete my joy is my son, and he'll be here soon enough.I stretch languidly, and slip out from under Willow and go to the bathroom to get ready for my meeting with Clement. I hope against all hope that Willow misunderstood The Goddess and that there would be no human war. I hope, and I pray, that Clement would listen to my advice and stop it before it even starts.The castle is freezing, and I’m shivering so much that I cut myself several times while I shave. Rattling like an excited dog, I run back to the bedroom, pull an extra blanket over Willow, then rush to the closet so I can dress in one of my suits and my long, thi