Spencer touched the rock and the stone sealing Star’s home moved. I’d seen Sheila and Alec do that, but they had been visiting Star regularly. “Wait, how did you know how to do that?” I looked over at Star. “Did you teach him that?”“Nope, as far as I know, he’s the first to figure it out on his own. I taught Alec and Sheila when we started working together,” she said.“Well? How did you figure it out? And how did you find us in the first place?” They were probably questions I should have asked before, but they wouldn’t have changed anything. Plus, I’d been distracted by Alec’s injuries, my mating bond, and the fact that my father was a royal. My mind had been a little preoccupied.“I made a lot of friends with witches while I was living with the vampires. There wasn’t much to do, so I learned as much as I could. See this little mark here?” Spencer pointed to a divit in the stone that could have been anything. “The key to get in isn’t all that well hidden if you know what you’re looki
I wasn’t really listening because I couldn’t get the concept of dual marks out of my mind. Was it that same way for true mates for protectors too? Getting a mark from the goddess was rare, and so was finding your true mate. I wondered how often a mated pair like me and Alec happened. Plus, there was the mind-blowing fact that we’d both been fated to someone else when we got our marks. The fates really did work in strange ways.“My mom doesn’t have a mark,” I said, suddenly. “Do you or does your brother? Do kings get marks?”“Sometimes. I don’t, and neither does Chris. Our father had a mark, as did our mother. My grandfather didn’t and he ruled for sixty years. We aren’t chosen for the job by the Moon Goddess. It’s passed down to us and as long as nobody challenges us, we maintain it.”“Sounds like a weak system,” I said.“Perhaps. But shifters like tradition. Only a member of the royal bloodline can throw down an official challenge. It takes a lot more for another line to attempt to t
“Wow,” Star said. “Now I know where you got your cheesy shifter love fest from.”“I guess so,” I said. “I certainly didn’t learn it from my mom.”“Tell me about her,” Spencer said. “You said she’s not like she used to be.”“You don’t want to know,” I said.“That bad?” he asked.I hummed, not trusting myself to open my mouth and speak. My childhood had been miserable all around. Much of it could have been avoided had I been cared for by a parent.“Well, Malcom should be all set,” Star announced.“You’re sure?” Malcom asked.“Pretty sure,” she said.“Guess we’ll find out when I try to walk in the front door,” Malcom said.“I’m sure Star has you covered. Besides, she’ll be with you and I have a feeling she can handle herself and take care of you,” I said.“That’s the truth,” Star said.The drive felt less tense for a while as conversation turned in other directions. Star shared about her training as a witch, and Spencer shared about what vampires were really like.Both conversations were
Now, I was feeling the nerves. We were a step closer to the reason we were here. So far, it had been creeping around. Now, it was getting far more real.The tunnel beyond was pitch black. I took a deep breath as I followed Spencer inside. The door closed behind us. There was no turning back now.Hands extended in front of me, I inched forward, listening to Spencer’s near silent footfalls. My eyes adjusted a little, but it didn’t help much. I still couldn’t see my hands in front of me.“You sure you know where you’re going?” I asked. “Didn’t you say you only visited this place once?”“You’re fine, deep breaths,” he said.I rolled my eyes despite the fact that he couldn’t see my frustration. The longer we walked, the more it felt like the walls were closing in around me. Which was possible since I couldn’t actually see the walls.There was no way of knowing if Spencer was directly in front of me or if he’d taken off at a run. My only guide was that I could still hear him. As that though
The shifter king’s closet was no joke. I’d seen smaller houses. A row of drawers and shelves divided the space in half, creating two separate chambers. The walls on either side were lined with rows of suits and clothes on hangers. Two crystal chandeliers sparkled above me, one on each half of the space. At the rear of the closet, I saw an arched doorway leading to a dark space that wasn’t lit by the same switch I’d used to turn on the chandeliers. I had a feeling that was where I needed to be.I walked past the clothes toward the doorway. As soon as I passed through, lights flickered to life. My jaw dropped. I was staring at glass shelves lined with jewelry on black velvet cushions. Huge diamond necklaces, gold chains, rings with stones of every color. None of this should be so easily accessible. He seriously left a strange woman in his room with all this behind a simple door?Hubris did not begin to define it. This was plain stupid.In the center of the spread of gems and gold sat a
I was supposed to be in the throne room and this certainly wasn’t that room. There was no throne in sight. Shit, there weren’t even any chairs in here. Just high tables and a few bars where guests could grab a cocktail.A set of double doors caught my attention. Fogged glass was inset into dark wood and they looked expensive and formal. That had to be a good sign.I headed straight for the doors, hoping I was making the right choice. Just as I neared the doors, they opened, two huge males in tuxedos propped against each. A woman in a floor-length black sequined gown stepped between them. She clapped her hands. “Attention, everyone.”The music stopped and the chatter of conversation died down. I stood rooted to the spot, about ten feet from the doors. Slowly, I stepped closer to the wall, hoping to blend in more.“It is time to pay our respects to the king. The throne room is now open.” She gestured toward the open room behind her, then turned and walked inside. The males holding the d
The gathered shifters continued to laugh. Some of them yelled insults. A few even threw things at her. Internally, I was seething. My wolf paced, more unsettled and angry than I’d ever felt her. This wasn’t something we should have to endure. My mother shouldn’t be here. Her life, and my life should be so different than it was.What if she’d continued to shift? What if she’d taught me? Would Spencer have busted out and come for both of us? Or would I have never lived to see my nineteenth birthday?There were so many questions but none of them mattered. I couldn’t change the past. All I could do was be ready to offer the crown as soon as Spencer challenged the king.“There’s more, my friends!” The Shifter King lifted his hands in the air, effectively calming the jeering crowd. “I have two more surprises.”I held my breath, waiting for his words, terrified he was going to threaten to harm my mom. I wasn’t going to be able to stay hidden in the crowd much longer. If he threatened her and
“I’ll give you one chance to walk away from this,” the king said, his tone deadly.Spencer’s punishment already made my life forfeit. Even if they let me walk away tonight, I’d be hunted until they killed me. Aside from being ready to claim my true power, I wanted to live.That had been it my whole life. Everything I’d done, everything I’d survived, had been a battle to stay alive. I wasn’t about to lose now.I was going to defeat this asshole.I didn’t ask for it, but the burden fell on me.“Choose forms,” I demanded.He raised a brow. “You’re really going through with this?”“You really wanted to fuck your niece, you sick asshole,” I said.“I didn’t know you were my niece,” he said.“You didn’t know anything about me yet you were ready to engage in sex with me? Men like you give all men a bad name,” I said.“No, sweetheart. Men like me make the world go round. We get what we want when we want because that is our birthright.”“Are you going to accept the challenge or are you surrende
The entire household was buzzing as they finished preparations for the Solstice celebration. The longest night of the year happened to fall on a full moon, which meant one party of epic proportions.I took a deep breath as I prepared to greet the guests. While having the alphas of the packs for visits had almost become routine, this gathering was different.Alec took hold of my hand. “You’re going to be great. Nothing bad is going to happen. This is what you’ve been working so hard for the last year.”He was right, of course. And he’d been by my side for every step. I was truly grateful to have such a strong and supportive leader by my side. We’d found a balance in the last year, working together to improve pack relations and begin the process for positive change for all shifters.Tonight we took that a step further. While we’d been working to break down the years of animosity between us and the witches, our alliance was still in its infancy.Shifter and witches both held sacred conne
While my old pack was busy peppering Kyle with questions, I took Alec aside. “You doing okay?”“Yeah,” he said. “I know Kyle’s going to deal with this mess well.”“And you and I get to deal with the bigger mess,” I said. “If my uncle was authorizing Wolf Creek’s use of the toxin to take out their neighbors, what else don’t we know?”“I know Spencer said to give them a chance, but you sure you want a council that enabled that behavior to stick around?” Alec asked.He had a very good point. “I’m not sure I do want them around. But I do think we need to learn from them and find out what has been going on for the last few decades.”“You’re not out of the woods yet. You’re a walking target, you know that, right?” Alec asked.“I know. I wish I wasn’t used to it,” I said. “But at least I’m not alone this time. I’ve got you, Sheila and Malcom. And the four of us can work together to figure out who we can and can’t trust.”“They’re good shifters. Even before Malcom shared his story, I got the
“If it were me, I’d have a couple of guards escort him to his home and give him an hour to pack. Then, I’d kick his ass out.” Horace took a deep breath. “That toxin has been the black mark on my time of service. I would be honored if you’d allow me to help you destroy it.”“I’d like that,” I said.“Guards, escort him to his home. Check the roster for his inner circle, past and present. Kick them all out.” For once, the strict rules and lists for who was considered the alpha’s inner circle worked to my benefit. All packs had to keep records. As long as Ace has been in power, he’s kept track. The positions were valued but there were shifters who’d turned them down. Everyone knew working for Ace meant good things for your family, but it might cost you everything.A pair of my guards escorted Ace away. Several members of his inner circle followed him. Wolf Creek deserved a chance at peace.To my surprise, Viki, Ace’s wife approached me. She had yellow and purple bruises on her face, nearl
“Ace Grant, I strip you of your title and your role as alpha of Wolf Creek,” I said.“No, you can’t do that. You can’t. I earned this.” He stood, his hands balled into fists.For a moment, I thought he might charge me. My guards moved closer and Alec stood in front of me.Ace took a step back and Alec’s tension eased. He stepped aside, but stayed right next to me.“You stole the title,” I said. “You didn’t work for it. You didn’t earn it. You didn’t prove anything to gain it.”“He doesn’t even have a mark,” someone shouted from behind. The gathered shifters cheered in response.“Send him to the caves!” Another voice called. The cheers grew even wilder.I smirked, knowing I had been correct. I was never alone here, we were all prisoners.“Please no, have mercy,” Ace said. “I already lost my son. Isn’t that enough?”“You don’t want to be trapped in the caves?” I had no intention of sending him there, but I had to admit I was enjoying hearing him beg.“I didn’t betray anyone. It’s not a
Wolf Creek was ready to greet the royal family when we arrived. The entire pack turned out, everyone gathered in front of the barn as requested.I could see them waiting as we approached, careful to keep myself hidden from view behind the guards and accompanying council. I didn’t tell them why I wanted to return here, and I was certain they were expecting some kind of happy reunion.Alec was already seething with rage, the emotion far more intense than it should be. My wolf clawed at my chest, wanting to get out to comfort her mate. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just sensing Alec’s emotions, I was feeling his inner wolf. And he was pissed.My wolf was distracted by her mate. Her feelings toward Wolf Creek secondary to his discomfort. It was interesting that Alec’s hate toward Wolf Creek was two-fold. I could feel his personal vendetta against my old pack mixed with a need to protect and defend his mate. In a strange way, it was kind of sweet.“Let me take lead on this,” I said to hi
The four of us stepped through the double doors and the members of the council rose when they saw us. They had been seated at a long wood table, with a dozen chairs. At one end of the table there was a chair twice the size of the others. A crackling fire glowed in a wood fireplace behind it. The floor was dark wood and a red and gold rug sat under the long table. The chandeliers above the table were made of antlers, a very different aesthetic from the crystal I’d seen in the other parts of the home.“Thank you for waiting,” I said, trying to sound more calm and commanding than I felt in the moment.“Of course, your highness,” one of the men said.I walked to the larger chair and sat down. The gathered males took their seats. One side of the table was my family, on the other, the four males who made up my predecessor’s council. It was an odd arrangement, but if Spencer thought it was worth hearing what they had to say, I’d give it a chance.“We are honored that you’re willing to meet w
Breakfast with my friends felt familiar and safe. Sheila, Malcom, and Kyle had mostly waited to eat until we arrived. The guards stood outside the room, and at my instance, the staff was willing to leave the food and let us serve ourselves.To my friends’ credit, they all steered the topic of conversation toward random things that were unrelated to our current situation. It was as if they knew I needed a little break before I had to figure out how to do the job I’d committed to when I took down the old king.We ate till we were all stuffed and laughed at Malcom’s stories about trying to learn how to fix a car and accidentally setting it on fire. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I pictured Mario’s face. “I bet he never let you near his car again.”“Only if I’m trying to fix it. Driving I’m fine with. It’s when you give me tools that it causes an issue.”“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said.“Your highness,” a male voice said.I turned and saw one of my guards. Malaki, I think.He was holdin
I stretched out my hand and he took it. The two of us silently followed Spencer. I didn’t need to look behind me to know that my guards were following me. It was one of those things I was going to have to get used to, I supposed.“Have you seen her this morning?” I asked.“Not yet,” Spencer said.“You think Star can help her?” I asked Alec.“If anyone has a chance, it’s her,” Alec said. “She figured out an antidote to that toxin. And you’ve seen what else she can do.”That was part of my concern. What if Star hadn’t been able to help my mom? If she couldn’t, I wasn’t sure anyone else could.As we continued down hallways lined with doors, and up a few flights of stairs, I considered what I would even say to her. Everything in my mind about my mom was so full of conflict. I wanted to help her, but she was also such a source of pain for me. She might not have been in control, but why did she have to do that to herself in the first place? Why did she flee to Wolf Creek of all places? Why
I woke to the sound of knocking. My eyelids fluttered open as a warm pair of arms pulled me tighter. A smile spread on my lips as the events of last night came flooding into my mind.Of course, the good memories of three rounds of fucking fantastic sex with Alec were followed by the memory of the challenge. I sat up, nearly elbowing Alec in the process.“What’s wrong?” His voice was groggy.“I beat the shifter king last night,” I said.He chuckled. “Yeah, you’re the queen. We already knew that.”“Right, but that means there are people expecting things from me.” I had ideas. Big ideas. Things I wanted to change, but I wasn’t sure what the protocols were or what hoops I’d need to jump through. Spencer had said he’d help.I glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was ten in the morning.Holy shit.They must have ended the party without me and nobody bothered us all night.I guess there were perks to being the shifter queen.The knock sounded again and I scrambled off the bed, grabbin