I put thoughts of murder aside. One day, Ben would get what was coming to him, but it couldn’t be today. Ben was at the top of a tower of corrupted alphas and people crawling around in the underbelly of the packs.
He would be the last person to deal with if I was going to get Renda her revenge and prove to her that I was worthy of her love.
I left the room and sent a group of other staff members to get them checked over and settled somewhere in the building before returning to the office, I pulled out paper and sketched out a crude map of North America and marked where the packs I knew were involved were.
Midnight was on the upper west coast of North America, just below where Skyfall was. Skyfall was just to the west of where a pack called Frost Pelt had once been. Luftmensch was just below Warhammer on the east coast. Blue Fire was in the Midwest. Dune was in the desert of the west coast.
A knock sounded on the door as I was looking over the
I walked towards Glenda, barely registering the young women floating around the room in cocktail dresses. How many of them were party favors? Where had they come from? Were they all like Grace and Renda or had they chosen to be party favors?As I neared her, she looked at me and my heart started to race. My palms grew sweaty like I was an awkward teen again.I felt a little ridiculous being so nervous, but as I reached my hand out to her, I felt like we’d been dropped into some fucked-up fairytale.Renda looked up at me then down at my hand with a curious lift of her eyebrow.“May I have this dance?”I half expected her to reject me since Andrew was around, but she placed her hand in mine and nodded, allowing me to pull her onto the dance floor. It was a bit ironic that they were playing a waltz at a poker party, but as she followed me through the dance, I was grateful. She was relaxed and graceful.There was a bit of happi
Grace’s POVWhen I found out that Matt Wallber would be buying Club Heaven, I didn’t know what to think. I was a bit afraid, but I had learned a long time ago that fear would just make it harder to make a good decision. The worst thing Matt could do was kill me, and I hadn’t been afraid of death in a long time.After the game was over, I helped put his chips into his assigned box and pondered the advice he’d given Justin. Caleb laughed and told him it was a good game and he couldn’t wait to see the new Club Heaven. The rest of the table dispersed, but I watched Justin slip out of the private room.With Matt’s chips gathered, I walked with him and Renda towards the cashier’s counter and scanned the tables. Mordecai was seated nearby, lounging in his seat as if he was king. He had kept his distance all night to my surprise. I expected him to try and talk to Matt, but maybe he was just biding his time.
Justin’s POVI was able to leave the party earlier than I’d expected. With Matt having taken the bait so easily, there was no reason to stick around. I had other things I could be doing and a report to make. I undressed on my way to the shower and scrubbed down humming in a good mood.I hadn’t ever thought it would be so easy to bait the illustrious Matt Wallber. Matt Wallber was nothing like his brother, Wade, and he didn’t pretend to be either. If anything, Wade felt like a cheap knockoff of Matt.I couldn’t place exactly what it was about Matt that gave him such presence, but it was different from being in Ben’s presence too. Maybe it was just my imagination, but my instincts weren’t wrong.I’d have to get him in the room with Chloe. Her instincts were always spot on.It had to be something about the wolves from her area of the continent.After my shower, I headed to my loun
Glenda’s POVIn the morning after the party, we returned to Club Heaven. Matt had procured a large, table-sized map of North America and started marking places and paths.I was charmed that he’d marked my path from Midnight to Warhammer in the same shade of blue-violet my hair was now.He had a running list of trafficked people including the five girls who had been brought by Victoria. Grace’s line had Frost Pelt on it and mine was blank. I wanted to tell him to put Fluorite next to my name, the way he’d placed it next to Emily’s, but I held my tongue.I'd told Emily to keep quiet about me and Alyssa for a reason. I couldn’t undo that now.Alyssa scoffed, He’s going to find out eventually. Why not tell him now?I rolled my eyes, Because I don’t trust him.Yet, she countered and went quiet.I sighed. She wasn’t wrong. It wa
Owen’s voice was calm, but I knew better. I imagined a pretty, six-year-old boy with Owen’s eyes and shuddered in disgust. Grime was the only way to describe the sick bastards who were responsible for all of this.“You have my word, Owen,” Matt said, evenly though he still looked a little queasy. “Mordecai is on the list.”Owen nodded and stood, “If you’ll excuse me, I’d… like to smoke in peace.”Matt nodded, “Eat something as well.”Owen chuckled, “I promise to eat three squares, alpha.”Matt’s eyes widened as Owen sauntered towards me. He flashed me a grin.“Lucky Cherry,” he said and left the room.I didn’t know how to take that, but I felt a bit embarrassed. Matt sat forward, covering his mouth and looking down at his notes. He sat back with a deep breath and looked at Grace and me.“Sit down, ladies,&rdq
After lunch, a bunch of people arrived dressed in paint-splattered jeans and t-shirts. I looked at the group in surprise as Matt looked up at them. He checked his watch.“Good to see you all back. You can start in the bar area for now.”They nodded and went towards the area, carrying long rolls of plastic.I looked at him strangely, “What’s going on?”He smirked, “Renovations.”The people stood around for a moment putting up long plastic sheets and putting up ladders beyond the curtain, but they didn’t seem to have any materials with them. The ladders were placed in a strange way that seemed to have nothing to do with where it would be most useful for them to be.It was as if they were staging the area to be seen not to be used.“What are you going to do with the bar?”Matt frowned, “Nothing.”“What?”Matt shrugged, “They&rsq
Matt’s POVI adjusted my cuffs and turned to Grace."Grace," I said. "Come with me."She nodded. I went to the office to grab the file and a few others filled with documents. I'd been preparing for Mordecai's visit and handed the stack to her."You won't have to do anything but observe and hand me the dark blue file when prompted. Play the scene as you feel it."Grace took the file and nodded, squaring her shoulders and putting on a demure smile.She'd been around Mordecai before, but the glimmer of fear in her eyes made me wonder if there was more to Mordecai's visit than Club Heaven.I led her to the front foyer where Mordecai was looking around as if he was curious. I knew better.He wanted information. He might not have told Ben about my actions here in Midnight, but he would soon.It would be good to start driving a wedge between them as soon as possible."Alpha Mordecai," I greet
Mordecai’s POV“Take me home,” I growled at the driver.The man pulled away from the curb easily as I glared down at the pages. Matt’s words echoed in my ears.Goodwill and all that.The little bastard was smart. Too smart. I’d told Ben a thousand times over not to waste his time with that dumbass, Wade. Matt was his mother’s child.My lips twitched; a new wave of fury washed through me. I was so furious I could barely read the pages in the folder. Felix was a smart bastard, conniving to take my offer only after he’d already sold Club Heaven. He’d saved his ass and still made it so I couldn’t have Cindy.His fucking debts were of my making. I had it all planned to have Club Heaven firmly in hand. Repossessing the pretty little catamite I’d sent to Club Heaven and finally getting my hands on Cindy were just added benefits.I was certain that Matt knew
My legs felt shaky and everything was bigger. I realized quickly that I had shifted. I stretched and twisted. The shiny saber coat of fur lifted my heart.I didn’t think I’d ever be able to shift. I felt Alyssa fully settled and solid in my mind as I turned to look at Matt. His eyes were wide as I went up to him and rubbed my face against his leg.“You’re beautiful,” he said, kneeling and stroking my head. “Can you shift back, so we can talk?”I whined. Alyssa panicked and he chuckled, hushing me. He cupped my jaw and rubbed at the spots of tension there. It felt so good. I didn’t know what else to do but practically purr at him.“Take it easy. You don’t have to turn back right now,” he said. “I know it can take some getting used to.”He shifted and Alyssa sat up in alarm as we looked at Lucas and Matt through her eyes. He was so much bigger than us, stronger. His eyes glowed with red light. He could break my neck with such ease. I should have been scared, but I knew he would never hu
Glenda’s POVMatt was different. His eyes were clear and his jaw was set, but he hadn’t said much of anything to me other than I needed to dress nicely.I got in the car in a nice dress and heels. He was in a three-piece suit. His hair was styled, and he looked as though he needed some space, yet he didn’t release my hand.“I’m giving a press conference,” he said. “About… everything.”He turned to look at me, “Do you want to speak about Fluorite?”I looked away and shook my head. I didn’t think I’d ever be ready to speak in such a public way about what happened.“Do you want me to talk about it?”I nodded.He squeezed my hand, “Will you stand with me?”I looked at him and squeezed his hand back, “Yes.”Some of the tension bled out of him and he pulled me close, “I have to tell you the basics before we get there so you aren’t surprised. I’m sorry I couldn’t talk about it. I just…”“It’s okay,” I said, turning into his arms. “I know it’s… been a lot. He’s dead.”“Mordecai was my real fa
My ears were ringing.My mother’s video had answered a lot of questions, but not enough. My mother and Mordecai were mates. Due to some political issues on the west coast and Ben’s military force around Warhammer territory, Sharon had to make a decision: the people of Warhammer or her mate.Sharon hadn’t rejected Mordecai, but the distance and the ruse of pretending to be Ben’s mate wore on them both. Mordecai had been dying long before Sharon died, and if Ben had waited just a few more years, he wouldn’t have had to have her killed.Sharon and Mordecai had shared one night together after Sharon and Ben were married. That was the night she conceived Joel and I. She had me and Joel registered in Midnight when we were three, just after Ben came home with Sonia to protect us because she figured that Ben would realize they were mates and start to suspect that we weren’t his sons. That was the same time that Mordecai found out that we were his sons.Soon after, Ben sent her to the mental h
Matt shifted and pulled the door open. Ben was just on the other side, kicking Mordecai’s body aside. He was still breathing. I could hear his breath rattling out of him as I fumbled for my phone to call the paramedics.Matt said that Warhammer Guard was no more than five minutes away.Mordecai had to have five minutes.Matt looked like he didn’t know what to do as ben approached him. He was staring at Mordecai, shocked pale as Ben pointed a gun at him.“You’ve caused me nothing but trouble your entire fucking life,” Ben said.“You…” Matt breathed. “He… You… can’t… I…”Ben laughed again, “I didn’t think you were Mordecai’s type.”Matt turned, his eyes flashing brilliant red and I heard Lucas in his voice, “Shut your mouth, you sick fuck.”Ben stumbled back and his gun lowered just enough not to be aimed at Matt any longer. Alyssa pushed to the forefront of my mind. I felt her reaching for the dagger beneath my shirt. I heard Tzipporah’s voice in the back of my hand and knew what was a
Matt’s POV The restaurant Ben chose was an upscale little place away from a main city. The entire building had been emptied out. Uriel warned us that Ben had armed people waiting around the area, but just outside their area of operation, I had stationed Warhammer Guard. If anyone wasn’t making it out of this alive it was Ben, Sonia, and Wade. “Matt, it’s so nice to see you,” Sonia said. “You should really come see your stepmother more.” I didn’t respond to her, “Odd that you’d bring her.” “I wanted it to be clear.” It was a ruse. He was hoping to keep the gunfire down from our side because she was here. “I figure the women can stay here and get acquainted,” Ben nodded upstairs, “I’ve had our table set up upstairs.” I turned to Glenda and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Don’t eat anything,” I whispered, drawing back. I ushered her to her seat and pushed her up to the table before following Mordecai and Ben who were putting on airs about how close they were. Wade glared at me wit
Matt’s POVI collapsed into my seat and listened to Mordecai pour us drinks as the captain got ready to take off. If I didn’t have to stand in front of a news reporter again in life it would be too soon, but I was glad for it.Mordecai sputtered and laughed, “What a fucking dumbass!”I looked at him, “What’s going on?”He offered his phone, “Ben’s a dumber son of a bitch than I thought! Oh, moon. I didn’t think it was possible.”I sat up and took the
Ben’s POVSonia whimpered, clutching at my leg and rubbing her face against my leg, trying to restrain and convince me to spare the ungrateful little whelp on the ground. I should have listened to Mordecai years ago about Matt. While he was headstrong, had I kept a hold on him he would have never crossed me like this.At the least, he wouldn’t have been caught and cost me so much. Wade’s ambition overrode his sense.“Have you anything to say for yourself, you little shit? Huh?”He choked and curled up. His injuries from
He shrieked in agony and rolled off me. The sticky heat of his blood coated my hand. The metallic stench of it filled the air and I turned, screaming, driving my knife into whatever part of him I could reach. He choked and cried out. The scent of the dungeon filled my nose. Blood and more blood came spurting out and I remembered the sight of my blood pooled beneath me, spreading across the ground.Two, three, four, five…He choked and thrashed. His body wiggled and jiggled, but I kept going, counting each thrust of my dagger as I heard his voice in my memories offering me candy, taunting me, ordering me to serve him. I heard Armina screaming in pain and fear. I heard Angelia whimpering. I heard the last breath rattling out of a young girl whose face I could no longer remembe