Kas's POV An hour later, we are standing at the gates to the coven's realm. Henri is there with blacked-out SUVs to transport us. We don't stop at Lune D'or, but we do stop at a small café in the quaint little human town where the airport is while we wait for our flight time. I am not very hungry, so I only have a small plate of cheeses and meats. At first, Bronx insists I sit on his lap, but he keeps getting pulled away by phone calls, so I sit next to Delilah. I watch my mate pacing on the sidewalk and smoking outside the big window, which reminds me that Marco has my phone. I don't expect any calls or messages. Everyone who has the number knew I was unavailable. I power up the phone and wait a minute as it connects with wifi. Notifications start to ping… dozens of them. Soon my phone is flooded with notifications. I open my texts to find that Bronx messaged me every day. Things to the effect of how much he cares about me and misses me, updates on things going on with the pack, a
After a long day of catching up with everyone, Bronx and I finally get back to our apartment. I'm exhausted, but I need a shower. The problem is, my back is still sore, and not completely healed. I let Bronx lift my shirt to check my wounds. He agrees that the water pressure is probably a bad idea for another day or so. “How about I run a bath for us, Baby?" He offers. He gives me a gentle hug and goes to run the water. When I get into the bathroom, Bronx helps me undress. “I got this, Baby. Let me take care of you." He insists. I blush at the gesture as he carefully removes my clothes for me. With every piece of clothing he removes, he places innocent little kisses on my skin, setting off little sparks with each one. He helps me into the tub, then removes his clothes and joins me. Bronx lets me look at his back first. His wounds are mostly healed, except for the ones that were the deepest. There are scars starting to form across his whole back. Most of his tattoos are ruined. Wh
"Bronx?" I say shyly. I hope he is sleepy enough that he will just say yes to my request. "Yeah, Baby?" He responds sleepily. His voice is almost a whisper. "I want to do something for you, but I need your permission and I'm afraid you'll say no." I try to sound casual and calm. The light of the moon shining through the window is the only light allowing me to see his reaction. He opens his eye, and looks at me with concern, but his voice sounds suspicious of my motives. "Why would I ever tell you no? More importantly, why would you need permission?" "I-I want to heal you." I sit up, facing him. "I don't want you to end up with scars like mine. I know in Blood River having scars is a badge of honor, but this is different." "You're right. I'm going to say no." He rolls gingerly on his back away from me and stares at the ceiling. "It isn't your burden to bear. I don't want you to waste your precious strength on something like that. You're healing yourself. You don't need to heal me,
It makes me nervous how tired Kas is the next day. She's still pale and her eyes don't have their usual sparkle. She insists on getting out of bed, but she falls asleep at the kitchenette table before I can finish toasting a bagel for her. I carry her over to the sofa and bring her some pillows and her gray and green blanket. I wrap her up in a little cocoon and turn on the cooking channel she likes. Before I can even turn around, she is already asleep on the couch. I call James and request Delilah to come check on her to make sure what she is going through is normal. Once Delilah arrives, she looks Kas over. She agrees that what Kas did to heal me should be well within her power, but since she isn't anywhere close to her full power with her injuries, it just gassed her. She just needs rest. Delilah lets me know she will brew up something for Kas to drink that will help, but it will take a few hours for it to kick in. “I will stay here with her. I'm sorry, Alpha Bronx, but you need t
We talk more about the additional responsibilities I need Milo to cover if he is going to be acting Alpha. Obviously, I will be here to support him, but I am going to trust him to do what he believes is right. As we are talking, James sends me a mind link. "Alpha! Delilah just texted me, she needs us back at the apartment. She said it's important. I'm on my way there right now.” My heart jumps. "Milo, it's Kas. I gotta go." I sprint out of the room before he has a chance to answer, but I feel him on my heels as I run down the hall. James gets to the top of the stairs as we are running past and joins us. “What's happening, Alpha?" Tyree, Kas's substitute guard asks as I skid to a halt at the apartment door. “Wait here, Tyree. No one else comes in." I growl as I push open the door. “Kas! Delilah!" They aren't in the living room. “We're in here, Alpha Bronx." I hear Delilah's voice from the bedroom. I rush into the bedroom, throwing the door open. Kas is standing next to Delilah.
Kas's POV The next few days begin to form into a comfortable schedule for us. Bronx goes to his office at MasonCo most days. Just like he promised when I first moved into the apartment, he wakes me every morning up to let me know he’s leaving. And every morning he gives me a passionate kiss that leaves me missing him until he gets home. Somehow, he seems to have an endless supply of flowers, too. I don’t know where he gets them from, but he brings a few for me every evening and places them in a vase on my nightstand. He takes out the ones that are starting to wilt, so I always have a fresh bouquet to look at. I start to focus on searching my mind for Lex. I load some calming music onto my phone and spend my mornings meditating. I feel her deep within the farthest corners of my mind, but the harder I try, the more difficult it is to reach her. The closest way I can describe it is that I feel like she is trapped in a cage in a dark room in my mind. The problem is, I can’t find the room
I rush over and turn on the bedside lamp before I crawl onto the bed. “Bronx, Sweetheart! Wake up! You're having a nightmare." I grasp his shoulders, his face is covered in sweat. He easily pushes me off, cursing deeply at whoever he is fighting in his dream. "Bronx! Wake up, please!” Very suddenly, he becomes deathly still. “B-Bronx? A-are you okay?" I lean forward to look at him closer. His eye shoots open, wider than I have ever seen before and he sits straight up in bed. Fear and anger roll off of him as every muscle in his body tenses. His skin stretches tight over his tensed muscles. He balls his hands into fists and lets out a roar so loud the entire room reverberates. He is breathing roughly through his nostrils, reminding me of a charging bull as his body shakes, the anger building. “Bronx? You're scaring me." I gently touch his arm. He snaps his head toward me, seeing me for the first time since he woke up. There is no recognition on his face, as if I'm a complete stran
“What? No, Kas. That's not possible. You know that's not possible. Saint would never harm a hair on your head. He loves you. I love you." I say desperately, taking a step forward, praying she doesn't take a step back. My heart clenches at the thought that she could ever be scared I would hurt her. What am I talking about? I just slapped her in the hallway in front of all those people. She just had a vision that my wolf killed her. How could she not be scared of me? A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. I find James and Delilah standing there. “Please, come in." I gesture with my arm. “Thank you, Alpha Bronx." Delilah says with a bow and walks past me. “If it's alright, Alpha, I'm going to stay in the hall with Tyree. Make sure things are... under control." James gives me a knowing look. I trust him to convince Tyree to keep quiet about this incident. “Thanks, James." I look at Tyree, who still looks very uncomfortable with what he just witnessed. Even with the sensitivity an
I sit on the edge of the bed in the silent room. So this is what twenty-five feels like. I wonder if a hundred and twenty-five will feel just as good. What about two hundred and twenty-five? I laugh to myself at the thought as I head into the bathroom. I look in the mirror and run a brush through my white hair. None of the sparkly gray came back when it grew in four and a half years ago. I examine the mirror closer. It looks like there are some more violet flecks in the light gray of my irises, but maybe that’s just me being hopeful. I still don’t have any abilities other than being able to shift and mind linking other pack members. I splash water on my face and brush my teeth. There will be time to shower later before the pack Summer Solstice party and pack run. I pick up some toys that made their way into the closet room and find a dark blue sundress to wear. Once I am changed, I look at myself in the full-length mirror and smile. When I get into the living room, Marco comes up an
The smell of pine needles and lavender fills the room. I keep my eyes closed and hide my smile as the giggles get closer. “Mommy? Are you awake?” Maya’s little voice whispers loudly. I can feel her weight climbing onto the bed. “Shhh, Maya, Mommy gets to sleep, because it’s her birfday,” Andreas giggles at her while he climbs onto the bed as well. I roll over and pretend to yawn with a big growl and stretch my arms out wide, grabbing them both and bringing them toward me. Their happy squeals fill my heart with joy. “Hello, darlings,” I squeeze them tightly in my arms. “Mommy, happy birfday!” Andreas says happily and gives me a wet kiss on the cheek. “Mommy, Auntie Delilah said she’s made a cake for you,” Maya says with big gray eyes. She lays in my arms and plays with my white hair. She gives a sly little smile, “I think she made chocolate.” “Oh, she did, did she?” I smile back. The twins talk excitedly at the same time, telling me about all the things they want to do with me to
Kas’s POV I sit in front of him, even though he doesn’t know I’m there. I’m afraid if I look away, I may never see him again. Elexis’s black snout pushes under my elbow so I will put my arm around her while she sits next to me. I let myself lean heavily against her while we watch our mate realize that my spirit has left my body. “He broke the mate bond, Kas. Our spirits’ journeys are finished,” Lex says quietly, “There are no more lifetimes for us.” “I understand,” I nod slowly as I run my fingers through her silky onyx fur, “Lex, through everything, I forgive him. I’m sure it seems foolish, but I don’t have the desire to hold on to hate or malice when I move on. So, I forgive him.” “Of course you do. You have a good heart, Kas. I know how much you loved him over the centuries.” “I’ve made my peace, and I died knowing I did everything I could do to save my sisters and keep my pups alive. There is nothing else I need to fulfill me.” “It has been a pleasure being your wolf, Kas. I
“She’s pregnant?” I ask out loud, no one in particular. “Twins,” Reggie says dully. “Based on how big she is and comparing her to when Musu was pregnant, we think she’s due any day. Since she hasn’t eaten, her babies are basically using her body for nutrition. For lack of a better term, they’re eating her alive,” Milo says, as he brushes his hand against her cheek. He sits back on his heels and looks at her with tears in his eyes, “We don’t know what happened to Lex. She hasn’t been able to heal her for over three weeks now.” “What did the doctor say?” I gulp hard. I plant my feet to the ground, afraid to move. “You said no fucking doctors,” Reggie hisses at me through gritted teeth, “or have you forgotten?” “LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO HER YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Saint’s first words in weeks are pure rage against me. He tries to claw his way forward to take control and get to Kas, still protective of her. I take a step forward. A small piece of me, a deep down part that has been hidden awa
Bronx’s POV “Come on, man. It’s been a month. We’re sick of this shit. If this is your order, if this is truly what you want, then man the fuck up and come to the dungeon so you can see your damn handy work,” Milo’s steel-gray eyes bore into me, “Like you said, you don’t give a fuck anymore, so prove it. Come see what you’re doing.” “Watch your tone, Milo,” I stand up, growling at him. “Look, Bronx, you can come with us right now or you can find Blood River another Beta. I have plenty of packs who have already said they would give me asylum. Fuck being a Beta. I’ll take a job as a front gate guard and call it a fucking day. I’ll pack my shit, take Codi, and leave today if that’s how you really want this to go down. Your choice,” he crosses his arms and stares me down. Behind him, Reggie has his hands on his hips, looking at the floor. “What about you, Reggie? You're awfully quiet. Are you part of this ultimatum, too?” I lean forward against the desk, giving him a chance to speak u
Milo’s POV Marco had told us to find her binder before Bronx ordered us to lock him in solitary confinement. He said Kas kept note cards and binders for everything. We just had to find the correct binder to figure out what she was up to. He couldn’t tell us anymore because of some sort of potion he had swallowed. He was right. We rifled through dozens of binders in her office until we found one in her desk drawer that had a sticker labeled ‘Manae Notes’. It detailed everything, complete with cute pictures of rooms and furniture she wanted to use magic to create so her sisters would be comfortable in the home she was building for them. Some of the note cards were actually thin sheets of parchment that looked like they were hundreds of years old. Others were thick handmade papers that were crumbling on the edges. There were at least six different languages among the cards. Musu helped us translate most of them, but a few she said were in dead languages she wasn’t familiar with. Regardl
Kas’s POV I wake up in the morning feeling stiff and sore. I slide out of bed with a groan and look in the mirror. Even more than yesterday, I don’t recognize the reflection I see. Pale skin with dark bags below my eyes. All the violet from my irises is gone, replaced by a gray so light, it could be mistaken for white. I gently run a brush through my brittle, thinning hair. It is no longer gray and glittery. It’s turned into a dull shade of white that matches my eyes. I put on a loose dress and a heavy long cardigan to hide the joints protruding from all my angles before I go out to address my sisters for one last time before escorting them to Kardiá tou Manae. When I first met Lenora, bruises from my nose being broken upset her. What she would think now at my self-imposed deterioration. I turn to the side and admire my growing belly. I let myself smile when I feel the impatient little kicks coming from inside. I spend time with each team of sisters and make sure they are still on
Bronx’s POV Halloween comes and goes. Thanksgiving comes and goes. Winter Solstice is only a couple of weeks away. The frigid Montana winter trudges on. The world keeps turning as if Kas never existed. Last week, I heard Katherine Santoro’s abandoned estate in Greece burned down to the ground. No fatalities and no signs of the other residents and staff who lived there several days prior. A few days later, hunters found Katherine’s naked body, along with an unidentified woman, both mauled by wild animals in a wooded area of Mongolia. The artist's sketch of the other woman is clearly Cora. As soon as they confirmed Katherine was dead, I had my people get to work on acquiring Santoro Enterprises. Within several months, I will be the CEO, absorb the company into MasonCo and create a logistics division. If there are any Manae hiding among Santoro Enterprises staff, I will flush them out and throw them into the dungeon to rot. It’s what they deserve. If Kas ever dares show her face aga
Katherine’s POV The estate is unusually quiet when I get home from work. I don’t notice the usual hustle and bustle, but I chalk it up to coming home later than I normally do. I push open the door to my darkened office, pour myself a glass of scotch, and make my way over to the desk. I turn on the desk lamp and sit down, taking a deep sip of my drink. “Hello, Iokaste,” I lean back in my chair, addressing the woman in the tall wingback seat across the desk, “You look like shit.” “Hello, Katherine. Thank you for the compliment,” she snarks at me and leans forward from the shadow, letting me see her pale skin and sunken eyes be more clearly. Her spindly hand supports her chin. The longer I look at her, the more I realize she is way too thin. “K-Kas. Are-are you alright?” I stammer when I see her true condition. “Don’t worry about me, darling. You never have before. I’m here because I need you to do something for me. I’m going to give you a choice on how you do it,” she says, steepl