Maggie was waiting for him when he came back and it was around late afternoon when he did. Cathy had stayed back to soak in the water for a bit. Usually, when they rendezvoused like this they would leisurely enjoy the water, letting the cool liquid wash the heat off their bodies. But there was no heat in him just a foreboding feeling.Maggie raised her brows as he approached. He was still naked from the waist up. He offered her a small smile and shrugged helplessly.Maggie raised her hands. “It’s none of my business.”“It isn’t. How is your bodyguard?”“Steph is taking care of him. She thinks he might have been stabbed with something called Mekai? I don’t know what that is.”He frowned. “Hmm, that’s not good for a wolf. Steph will take care of him.”Maggie nodded then she cocked her head toward the woods. “Do you think she has forgiven me for intruding in your home?”Asher smiled at her. “Cathy will come around.”“Hmm I don’t know, she seems to have it out for me. Are you both an item
“I may be wrong,” her voice was low but heavy with suspicion. “But he may have been stabbed with the Mekai.”“Mekai? What’s that?” Noah asked.“Do you Ptakkagaris know anything at all? The Mekai is a dangerous liquid that ends our immortally as descendants of the gods. The one thing that can kill all gods forever is theShe rushed to the cot and touched his hand, “Caleb! Caleb are you okay? Can you hear me?”He cracked an eye open. “Miss Storm…” his teeth nearly chattered as he spoke. “You need to go without me. Take Noah with you.”“Not a chance…”“You have delayed long enough. Three days is enough time for the pack to get over your reborn, if you delay any longer they will regroup and attack and attacking you a second time will be deadly.”“You have to much clarity for someone on death’s door,” Carl suddenly cut in.“Carl can you not?! Not now…”“Let him blab his mouth. It’s what dogs do when they are not barking.”If Chase had not stopped Carl with his steely gaze, Caleb would have
Maggie’s reaction was swift as she flew off the seat, the wind whipping through her hair. Her legs stretched out and came in contact with the bark of a tree. She bent her knee and launched herself off the ground into the air and dropped firmly on the ground on her feet. The brown wolf had run into the woods due to its momentum when it ran into her. Noah had come to a stop beside her and his huge rubbery nose sniffed the air. She did the same but the smell of the wolf was unfamiliar which was not surprising. Even if it was a member of the Dark Storm pack there was no way they would be able to distinguish who it was since she was basically no longer a member of the pack.“Who are you?!” she shouted into the thick woods. Noah suddenly growled as he circled her, his amber eyes searching the woods for movements. “Noah?”His growl grew louder and even more ferocious. Sure enough, a twig snapped from the direction he was growling at and Maggie turned to look. To her surprise, there wasn’t o
A wispy wind blew even though there were no windows. Upstairs where the railings edged the top floor 5 doors appeared and out of those doors came 5 hooded figures too tall to look human but their hands which were exposed and clasped in front of them holistically we're definitely the hands of humans. Because their feet were covered with their cloak their movements were almost like a float about the ground.“There are only five today? Hmm.” The messenger murmured to himself.“What?” Maggie asked.“There’s usually six. She’s not here.”The current in the room became icy. The hooded figures drifted toward the table and the chairs pulled themselves back for them to sit. As soon as they sat a thunder boom resounded.Maggie jumped. “Wouldn’t…”“Humans can’t hear us if that’s what you’re concerned about,” the messenger replied even before she asked.Maggie eyed him warily. She wasn’t sure she liked having an intrusion in her head and her thoughts read.But he shot her an apologetic smile and
“The Council has summoned her. They know she is still alive.”Lance looked back from the window. He was dressed in his suit and tie sans jacket, his chin held in between the thumb and index finger of his right hand which was propped on top of his left hand laying across his midsection. Vivian sat on one plush white leather sofa with her legs crossed, her blonde hair carefully combed over one shoulder leaving her ear exposed to display the huge diamond earring she wore.“Lance, did you hear what I said?” Ezekiel asked again. He was sitting across from Vivian.No, Lance thought to himself, I didn’t hear you. I was thinking about how I got myself entangled with a blonde bitch and how I let her get into my head with her maniac schemes.“I went to find her and found a messenger looking for her. According to him, the Council wants to see her. They know she’s alive. If she tells them her story do you know what that means?”“What does it mean?” Vivian asked with a hint of annoyance in her voi
After an hour of the public announcement of the transfer of control, the papers were signed and questions from the press were answered with very minimal words, Maggie sat back to enjoy the view of pinched faces.Veins stood out on necks, eyes popped and nostrils flared. The media were the first to leave but Maggie knew that nosy as they were they would hang around for juicy bits because, to everyone in the room, it was clear that the transfer of ownership was a hard pill to swallow for some, and the journalists wouldn't want to miss anything. The Board members knew this too that was why they weren’t attacking just yet.“What have you just done?” Axel asked, his voice low and deep, carrying the weight of danger that constantly surrounded him.“I have taken what is rightfully mine and as of this day, you all are fired.”“Fired?!” they exclaimed simultaneously.“You heard me right.” Maggie pushed her chair back, signaling an end to their meeting.“You can’t do that! We serve this pack! W
Vivian threw her arms wide open like a vulture, her face a contortion of worry and concern as she half ran half walked toward Maggie.“Oh my God, Maggie! I didn’t believe it but you are alive!”Noah stood in her path before she could hug her. Vivian fell back a few steps as she stared quizzically with fury in her eyes at Noah. “What is going on here? Maggie, I was worried about you. Imagine my shock when I saw you on TV…”“Oh, you were shocked?” Maggie’s voice was heavy with sarcasm. “When exactly? Was it when you saw me at the club or when you planned to have me killed?” she asked as she moved out from behind Noah with a pat on his back.She feigned shock at Maggie’s words. “What are you talking about? I have been so worried about you…”“Oh really? And was that why you almost tore out my bodyguard’s throat?”Maggie didn’t need to mention Caleb’s name for Vivian to know who she was talking about but her face betrayed nothing.“Didn’t you send those warriors to kill me?“I was trying t
The car came to a stop at the edge of the woods and could go no further because of the thick trees closely packed together. From there she and Noah went on foot with Noah in wolf form and the motorbikes from the Council strung together on his back.Maggie was not surprised to find Asher, Cathy, and Chase at the edge of the clearing that was their home waiting for her, the expression on their faces ranging from pleasant welcome to suspicion and open friendliness respectively. Asher’s expression soon change to one of open perplexity when Noah walked into the clearing with the motorbikes.“What…?”Maggie offered a light smile. “A little peace offering for destroying the other one on our way out.”“I bet you can afford those given how much money you have now,” came Cathy’s bitter remark as she uncrossed her arms. “I honestly thought you wouldn’t come back. Imagine my disappointment now that you are here,” she added as she walked away from them.Chase shook his head at her and came forward
“You are lucky Anthony was right, you know?” Maggie looked up from her wine glass with a smile. Cathy was holding a wine glass of her own. They were celebrating life after the goddess’ curse. Luckily, Ezekiel’s army hadn’t done much damage to their house and what had been destroyed was rebuilt, partially with Ginny’s help. “I know that. If that blood offering hadn’t worked we’ll not be enjoying this nice bottle of wine right now.” Maggie raised her brow at the woman. “Do you still think challenging the goddess to a fight was a stupid idea?” Cathy’s lips stretched into a reluctant smile. “Well maybe you’re not as foolish as I thought, Dark Storm.” “You are a Dark Storm too.” “Yeah yeah.” Cathy raised her glass as she turned and left. She had to go to be club. Business was booming faster than she could manage. As she started to leave she looked back at Maggie. “Thank you, Maggie.” As soon as she left Asher came in carrying another bottle of wine and he raised his brow. “Did Cathy j
Everything went still. Phoenix hovered in the air, a stricken look on her face as she looked around as if searching for something to fall as if the sky would come falling on her head at any second.Maggie waited.Asher waited.Lance waited.Ezekiel waited.Then Phoenix started to laugh. A peal of nervous laughter spurted out of her. She looked even crazier than before as she opened her mouth unnaturally wide to laugh at Maggie’s foolishness.“It failed!” She laughed. “Nothing happened.”She spun in the air laughing as she tossed her hair about. “Oh, mortal. Foolish, foolish mortal! You have failed. You have brought an end to your kind!”Without warning she snatched the sword from a dazed Maggie’s hands. It was coated with her blood.“Oh, look,” Phoenix taunted her. “I win!” she chuckled.Maggie didn’t know what to do. She lost. She lost and now…She looked back at Asher and Lance. Would they start disintegrating or would the goddess kill them after she was dead?“I’m sorry,” she sighe
Maggie put her feet on the gold armor, feeling the cold metal beneath her feet and grunting, she kicked the goddess off her, put her hands behind her head, and pushed herself off the ground. In a flash, she transformed into her wolf.Vapor escaped her nostrils. She looked down at her paws noting that the proximity of Asher and Lance reduced the bleeding to a nonexistent point. She sighed gratefully and glared at the goddess who was on her feet smiling at Maggie.“You sure took your time showing up,” Maggie told her.“I wanted to see what your pathetic uncle would do. Shall I leave him or shall I kill him?”“He’s mine for me to kill.”“Are you sure?” Phoenix asked with a lopsided grin.“He is mine to kill!”“Hmm, then I should let the men fight to keep them busy. That way Asher and Lance will have their hands full to protect you.” With a snap of her fingers, she summoned 3 more wolves and sent them at the men. “Ezekiel Dark Storm, take these wolves, they are yours. That makes things eq
It was a gloomy day. At least for the newly formed Dark Storm members. Even though the sky was bright and sunny, the occupants of the car moving Eastward were silent and dull.Maggie tightened her hand on the wheel. Asher had opted to drive but Maggie wanted to be behind the wheel. Staying still and doing nothing would make her go crazy and she didn’t want to think about what the outcome of the day would be like. It was time to face the goddess, time to decide the fate of her kind. Did she have what it took?Her hands were shaking on the wheel. So much training but it would all be for nothing if she couldn’t win.She had more than the fight with the goddess to worry about. She also worried about the others remaining in the mansion. So far they hadn’t heard anything about Ezekiel. Since his last attack, he had not attempted attacking again. But she knew trouble with him wasn’t over yet. He wouldn’t rest until she was dead. A second time.For that reason she had Greg and his team stay b
“What do you know about my mother…”They were in the study. Asher, Lance, and Noah stood behind Maggie ready to battle if their visitors pulled any silly games.None of the External Threat unit members sat. Maggie didn’t offer them seats either. They weren’t friends nor foes and depending on their actions, she would decide whether or not she could accept them as part of her new family.For now, however…“I know that your father was in love with her,” Greg answered.Maggie waited but when he didn’t continue she held out her hand. “But?”“But your mother…she used to love your father until his brother, Ezekiel, came along and swept her off her feet.”Maggie couldn’t believe it. She didn’t know her mother but she always dreamed of her as the perfect mother who would have been there for her if death hadn’t snatched her so far out of her reach. She liked to imagine that her parents were so in love that her father was devastated after her mother’s death. She imagined he was so devastated and
Lance was standing outside the balcony where the sun was high and bright. The golden rays glistened off his dark hair and on his face. He squinted his eyes as he gazed off into the woods surrounding the Dark Storm property and could clearly see Jennifer’s red head bobbing as she encouraged Maggie to continue to work with her breath.Maggie was scantily dressed in a pair of shorts and a thin shirt. Even though the sun was out the weather was a bit drafty but Jennifer, whom Maggie had invited earlier that morning before the doctor came, wanted Maggie to practice in harsh conditions.According to her, the goddess was crafty, and who knew what kind of tricks she would play. Maggie had to be prepared for anything.So with goosebumps on her flesh, she practiced holding her breath to build her endurance while fighting the various enemies Jennifer created with her powers. After all, she had only three days left to train before facing her opponent, an ageless goddess with a penchant for murder
It was precisely 12 when he arrived and Ginny was the first to see him.“What the hell…?! It’s you!”His smile was cocky as he wagged his brows upward. “Cathy’s waiting?”“Waiting and ready to shred your ass most likely. Why are you here?” The teen asked defensively crossing her arms in front of her chest as she eyed him derisively.“To see Cathy. Give us some privacy will you?”Ginny exchanged a glance with Darren. “Cathy’s gonna be mad.”“Do you know him?” Darren asked.“Let’s just say yes and leave it at that.” She turned to the man and tilted her chin upward toward the office. “She’s in there. She’s in a mood and seeing you is not going to make her calm. Knowing you’re the one offering to buy the club, she’ll probably bare her teeth at you again.”“I don’t mind Cathy’s teeth.”Ginny couldn’t hold her laugh. She slapped her hand over her mouth. “I hear you, sir, up you go. Try not to get eaten.”Theodore left Ginny and Darren to continue with their jobs and he made his way up the s
Maggie stood back while Anthony examined Caleb. She had sent Asher back to take care of other things so that she could help Anthony if he needed any help. Carl was in the room with her watching Anthony through narrowed eyes. He didn’t trust anyone but he trusted the vampire doctor even less.Anthony took one look at Caleb’s weak form. “How has he managed to stay alive?”He was pale as death, his skin held a very translucent look. His shirt had been taken off to reveal his emaciated body, his ribs very clear through his pale skin. The gap in his neck and side had crusted over and were showing no further signs of healing. Through the gap in his neck, Caleb’s pulse beat an unsteady rhythm. His lung rose and fell, visible from the side where he was stabbed. His bronze wolf heart beat unsteadily.“Steph and I did the best we could.”“I’m amazed,” Anthony said genuinely impressed. “But I am afraid that cannot keep him alive.”“You think I don’t know that?” Carl said annoyed. “We couldn’t ge
The doctor came two days later. Tall and pale as always. He wore a polite smile like Asher remembered from the last time.Asher still couldn’t shake his distrust for the man. He was a vampire! Why would Ezra Dark Storm employ a vampire in his service? He couldn’t help but wonder.“Miss Dark Storm sent for me,” Anthony said in his lilting accent, his golden eyes bright as ever. It was a cloudy day, perfect weather for bloodsuckers.“Yes, she did.”He stepped inside the mansion and took off his coat. “I am glad she is doing a lot better. I told you not to worry,” his gaze was direct. “Asher.”“You know my name.”“Your name and that of the others have been included in Miss Dark Storm’s health insurance. Her father did the same thing for every member of his pack while he was still alive. She’s filling his shoes nicely.”Asher didn’t know what to say when the man was being openly friendly. Too friendly.Anthony grinned and held his hand out. “I am harmless.”His hand was icy cold in Asher’