Neither Ada nor I recognize his smell. In a second’s passing, I’ve tagged Ada in. She growls and launches herself at the man, sending him tumbling onto his back. She’s standing on his chest and then she freezes.“It’s me! Karin, it’s me.”Ethan.I shift back, shaking my head, pulling my body off of his.He stands and pulls a hand through his tousled hair, and then smooths the clothes I’ve helped dishevel.“Ethan,” I say. “What in heaven’s name?” Then I say the second thing that’s bothering me - and Ada. “You don’t smell right.”Ethan pulls a sachet of dried twigs out of his pocket. “Little gift from a witchdoctor who owes me. It’s a disguise.”Ethan swallows and then he rushes towards me. “Karin, I’ve been worried about you. Especially after everything that’s come out in the news, but even before. Prince Ansel severed our connection. I haven’t been able to check on you.”He puts his arms on my shoulders. “I shouldn’t have given you the ring. I’m well-aware of his reputation. I knew he
“Tell me how that makes you feel.”Ansel folded his arms across his chest. “Very funny. Which part, Aron? The part where I almost strangled Edwin to death? Where I lost all of my father’s support? Coughed up a lung on live television? Or threatened to maim multiple journalists?”“Yes, yes, yes, and yes.” Aron kicked his feet up onto his desk.“I’m going to need more than our hour together, then.”“Try me,” Aron said, putting his arms behind his head.“Okay.” Ansel sighed. He counted them out with his fingers. “Edwin - not sorry. My father - not sorry. The reporters - I also don’t give a shit.”“And the TV interview?”Ansel paused. “Humiliated. Beyond humiliated.”“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere,” Aron said. He looked down to scribble a note.Ansel leaned away to cough into his shoulder. Then he covered his face in his hands and groaned, exasperated.“You’re not going to get me sick, are you?” Aron eyed him suspiciously.“No,” Ansel said. “It’s my own fucked up lungs and immune syst
The door opens and Ethan and I jerk apart. My heart is racing. I turn to see it’s Ansel and my stomach lurches.He stares for a moment, like he can’t believe his own eyes, and then I see the strangled pain come over his face. In the next second, his face is twisted with rage.“Ansel - I - ” I fumble for words.Ethan is standing frozen next to me, like a deer caught in headlights.Ansel growls and his body shifts almost instantaneously to become his yellow wolf. He stares straight at Ethan and bares his fangs, snarling. His ears pointed up and his hackles are raised.“Wait,” I say. “Let me explain - “But Jeff tears towards Ethan, who braces for impact, shielding his head and face instinctively.Jeff lunges at Ethan, knocking him to the ground.“Stop,” I scream, but Jeff’s focus is on Ethan.The rest happens in a blur. I see Jeff make a move to attack and I rush to stop him. Ethan cries out as Jeff sinks his teeth into Ethan’s shoulder.I don’t know what to do. I find that I’m not able
“Before they could reach him, his car flew over a guardrail into the river. They’re searching for him now, but it doesn’t look good.”I’m hit with panic. “You’re talking about Ethan?”He looks from Ansel to me. He catches sight of my arm and pauses. Then he nods.Ansel watches me, almost helplessly, as I take off out of the room. I shove my way past Henry and race down the corridor.I fly into the chauffeur's office. By luck, he’s nowhere in sight. The light’s on and there’s a full mug of tea, like he just stepped out. I rummage in the drawer where he handed me the car key from for my trip into town. I grab a random one, and then run through the hall to one of the side doors.The gravel crunches under my feet as I make my way to the line-up of cars. I hit “unlock” and bolt to the one that lights up.I drive like a bat out of hell until I come to the road that runs along the river. My heart is in my stomach.Ada? Can you tell anything? Ansel may have severed my link with Ethan, but I
Ansel is in his office, talking with Henry and two of their men.I burst through the door. They all stand, reflexively - always on-guard. Save for a hole in the wall, everything else in the room has already been repaired and replaced. That’s why money gets you.I’m aware that my face is red and puffy from crying, but I don’t care. In fact, maybe an audience has some benefits.“Our deal is off,” I say.Ansel turns to his staff. “Get out,” he says, gruffly.They immediately exit, keeping their expressions flat and their eyes toward the floor.Ansel sits down at his desk. “Fine,” he says. He opens his desk drawer and pulls out a folder. “Here it is. The contract,” he says, handing it to me.“You’re - you’re just giving it to me?” I didn’t expect this reaction from him.“Here’s the shredder,” he says, pointing to his opposite side. I lean over to see it near his desk. “Or tear it up, if you’d rather. Set it on fire.”I open the folder and pull out our contract. My finger runs over the lar
“Oh.” I shudder in ecstasy and close my eyes.I stay flattened against the wall as the wave of pleasure continues to roil through me.Ansel is watching me.“What do you feel?” His blue eyes are sharp, but his voice and facial expression are dulled.“What are you asking me,” I say, breathless. My mind returns to our first interaction after he brought me here from the auction block. Is he hoping for nostalgia? Because that was sexual pleasure wrapped up in a fear sandwich. I don’t have exactly warm feelings about it.“Without Ada.”“Ansel, I felt the physical aspect of it. It felt good.”“And nothing else?”“Nothing else. And even if there was still something, I’d already made up my mind to leave, for all the same reasons I told you before. None of that’s changed.”“I guess there’s nothing left to salvage.” No emotion registers on his face.“No.”“Just so you we’re clear on my end, baby or no baby, Ada or no Ada. I’m done with you, too.”“Fine,” I say.“Let one of my staff know where to
In the multiverse of space and time, there was a parallel universe where Ansel ordered for Ethan Wood’s arrest immediately, upon first sight. In that world, Ansel would avoid the terrible cascade of events set into motion by the doctor’s violent abrupt death.But the only universe Ansel wanted was the one in which he and Karin were still okay.“I asked the kitchen to make you something a little special,” Charles said, carrying in a tray of food. His voice was wrapped in gentle cheer, trying to smooth over some of Ansel’s pain.Ansel’s stomach soured at the thought of food, but Charles looked desperate to please him in however small a way. He sat up in bed, so Charles could hand him the tray.“Chocolate French toast. My mother’s recipe. She used to make this for me whenever I was feeling blue.” He gave Ansel a sheepish grin. “I may have helped them out a little, in the kitchen.”Ansel managed a smile. “It looks good. Thank you, Charles.”“Certainly, sir. Do you need anything else?”“Ca
Ansel tore through the first wolf. Then the second. He left both dead in pools of blood. He made his way toward the kitchen, where he saw the light on, and could make out the smell of fear. The hostage. A growl came from behind him. Before he could react, a large wolf lunged onto his back, and began biting at his neck. Ansel struggled to get him off. From the kitchen, he could hear Henry’s wolf growling, the sound of claws scraping, and of furniture upturned, and then came Henry’s loud whimper.Rage poured through him. Ansel threw the wolf off. The big, silver wolf lunged again, but this time, Ansel was ready. He darted just enough to the side to avoid the full brunt of force as the wolf came at him. He reached for him with his teeth, caught him by the neck, and in one movement, shook him so hard that his neck snapped.Ansel raced into the kitchen where he found Queen Mia’s advisor tied to a chair. A werewolf in human form was nervously holding a knife against the advisor’s neck.Wor
#Ansel’s Epilogue: A New Tomorrow Ansel and Karin waited together on the wings of the stage, listening to the cheers and booming voice over the microphone. Edwin had been removed from the election ballot. The next in-line for the throne, a cousin, replaced him. Ansel won in a landslide. Ansel looked at Karin. She was leaning against her crutches. Her raven hair fell down over her shoulders. Her brown eyes were warm and flecked with gold. “Did I ever tell you,” he said, “How proud I am of you?” A blush came over her cheeks. She raised her eyebrow. “What for?” “You llean into your confidence more and more everyday,” he said. “I always knew you were feisty as shit, but until the day of the attack, when I really saw you in action, I didn’t fully recognize just how courageous and strong you are.” Karin looked down at her feet, hiding a smile. “I was always scared of Ada’s power,” she said. She looked back up at Ansel. “I held her back constantly, but I think I’ve finally learned to
“Do not leave,” Ansel whispers. “Got it?” His voice is a command. I shake my head. Ansel opens his mouth to argue when we hear a cry. The hair stands up on the back of my neck and my stomach lurches. It’s Charles. Without another second, he is out of the room. Ada’s pacing, urging me to go. She pushes against me with such a force, I can’t ignore it. Quietly as I can, I slip out the door and begin to slink down the stairs. As I do, I pick up on the scents of multiple Weres. The alarm bells are ringing, but Ada keeps edging me closer. I hear Ansel’s voice as I continue creeping down the stairway. “Go on,” he shouts. “Give me the ‘bad guy’ exposition, Edwin.” As I tiptoe around the corner, I see Charles, lying still on the ground. Where I would have panicked, Ada is an intense calm. Ansel’s eyes dart over, likely picking up my scent. We make eye contact before he whips his eyes back, so as not to give me away. Then, he mindlinks with me. “Go upstairs.” I don’t argue back. Ho
Ansel Ansel’s eyes flew open and chaos ensued. Filled with adrenaline, he sprang up in the bed, grabbing a masked stranger by the neck. “Lorazepam!” Ansel could not place where he was or what was happening. The lights were blinding and painful. Blue gloves, blue masks, and eyes of strangers encroached him, swirled over him and around him. He felt overwhelmed and attacked. Hands pried Ansel’s hand from the neck. A dozen arms held Ansel back from flinging himself off the bed or doing further damage. Ansel felt something cold in his arm and it spread through his body. A voice chuckled. “I think the atro-corticoid worked a little too well.” Ansel’s fight instinct abated. His body relaxed. The glaring light dissipated and his eyes adjusted. He registered for the first time where he was. A hospital room, with whirs and beeps, white tile floor, the sound of footsteps outside in the hall, and the smell of sickness, chemical cleaners, and grief in the air. Ansel was surrounded by a conce
KarinThe dream flickers away, like a candle blown out. For a moment, I’m filled with terror, afraid that I’ve lost Ansel, but I feel his presence even if I can’t see or hear him. Still, the control and the energy I’m trying to hold on to is quickly fading. It’s twilight. I’m standing outside the sanitorium. I fight it, but I feel myself slipping into a nightmare redux.“My son tells me good things about you.” Sir David looks nothing like Ansel. His hair is gray, his body is imposingly muscular, and his face is weathered and scarred from fights, but it’s the menacing look in his eyes and the hardened expression on his face that’s the real difference.For once, Ada and are in complete agreement on something - we don’t like him. Sir David’s eyeing me. I pull my hair around, making sure to hide Ansel’s bite mark on my neck. I nod my head. “He’s very serious about you,” he says. “Did you know?”I hesitate. A swallow chirps nearby. There’s no one in sight and he scares me. Ada jumps i
Karin“Tick tick tick…” The jet of a sprinkler shoots water across the green lawn, painting a rainbow in the shimmer of water droplets against the morning sun. Henry wakes up to the sound of his wife crying against the closed bathroom door. “Mags?” Silence. Apathy. Untouched plates of food.Henry sits on the porch, wearing a faded Hawaiian shirt with a surfboard print. Maggie’s in a chair across from him, almost unrecognizable with greasy, unwashed hair and wrinkled clothes. He’s made her iced tea. “With a dash of mint,” he says, his tone gentle. Maggie stares ahead. There’s a dead look to her eyes.Leaves crunching. Greased palm. Black car. Maggie’s hollow eyes torment him. He misses when her eyes were alive, when they sparkled with joy, and even when they sizzled in anger at whatever dumb things he did. It’s her eyes that flicker in his mind when he’s approached. ‘I can be a rat,’ he thinks. He says “yes,” without asking the obvious: “Why me?” Later, he will ask himself
The sea is outside. We’re in the bedroom of a small cottage. The door’s open and I can see his mom’s old piano is tucked into the corner of the living room. My ballet shoes sit near the bench.He looks beautiful in the dim light.Everything about Ansel is strong - from the tenor of his voice, his height and broad shoulders, to the muscular lines of his body and the chiseled features of his face.It’s all there - the power of him, the hard lines I resented because he had changed, but his defenses are stripped away, revealing the totality of him and the gentle warmth inside.We’re shoulder-to-shoulder. He tilts his head over to me and smiles, and I like the way his eyes crinkle when he does. I let my head fall against his shoulder. He hums in my ear and loops his index finger around mine.“Is that a new song?”“Just a bit of a melody that popped in,” he says, shr
I stay frozen in my spot. The dream version of Ansel sweeps back a flyaway strand of hair from Zara’s face. My stomach knots itself into a pretzel when she leans in to kiss him. His arms are around her. Her hand is in his hair.My Ansel is as awkward as I’ve ever seen him. He’s looking down, and seems to be holding his breath.Dream Ansel puts on the brakes, pulling back.“What’s wrong,” Zara asks. “Did I… do something?”“No.” He looks frustrated and runs his hands through his hair. “Not at all.” He clears his throat. “I think we need to stay focused,” he says, standing, “On the task at hand.”“That was the extent of it, mostly,” Ansel says next to me, wearing a guilty expression. “This was as close as it got to a rebound.”“I don’t have room to talk,” I say, thinking ashamedly about kissing Ethan. “And, we were broken up.”I blush. “We are broken
“Really?” My heart kicks up a notch. “Why… Why do you want to take me on a date?”“Because you wanted me to,” he says. “Remember?”There’s a lump in my throat as we walk down the sidewalk together.We stop at a cafe. He holds the door for me. I pause just inside, marveling, wide-eyed at the very 1970’s Americana-style diner.I’m in a fringed, suede miniskirt and blouse. Ansel seems to appreciate the skirt. He raises his eyebrows and smiles.He’s wearing an orange, short-sleeve shirt and mustard-colored pants with flared legs.“Think I can pull this off?” He looks down at his clothes.I think he could pull off a flour-sack, but I’m not going to tell him that.We sit down at a table. The booth is vinyl green and the table is
“Final boarding call for Pioneer-Blue, flight 105.”Shit.The gate check-in counter is in sight. I dash to it like I’m in an Olympic relay, ticket in hand. With the other hand, I clutch the duffel bag slung over my shoulder to keep it from clobbering me as I run.I weave my way around other passengers, milling about during their layovers or filing to their own gates, and I race past emergency workers trying to revive Ethan. He’s lying on the floor of the airport, muddied and limp.Ahead, and just to my left, a little boy is watching. He looks small and scared. There are grass stains on his jeans. A bike is laying on the ground next to him.“Last call for flight 105.”“I’m here,” I say, shoving the ticket in front of the worker.She radios to the flight crew and sends me down the jetway