The next day, I go to visit Delilah who is, thankfully, feeling much better. James brings us tea while we are snuggled into blankets on the sofa in their living room. “Kas, Lady Camille would like to come here to speak with Beta Milo and Beta Lenora to help with the premonition... umm... situation." She says the last part quietly with her tea cup held close to her mouth. Her breath makes steam billow off the top of her cup. I think for a moment about what Delilah just said. "She doesn't want to speak with Bronx?” “Kas, we mean no disrespect to Alpha Bronx, but think that Beta Lenora will be the best person to explain the premonition to him. Specifically because of their relationship. He will accept it better from her." She pauses, then sighs. "We also think it is best if we dont tell either of you when it is supposed to happen, so neither of you tries to change it. The people who surround you two, the ones who truly love and care about you the most, will be the ones to protect you
Winter solstice is seriously my favorite holiday. I mean, this will be the first time I get to celebrate it. In the past, I was responsible for wrapping all the gifts for the Silver Moon pack Winter Solstice party. One year, there was an extra gift left over, so Beta Tate let me have it after everyone had left. It was a box of chocolate truffles. There were eight in the box. Each one had a different flavor filling, and I savored every bite. I knew I would never get another gift again, but that one meant the world to me. It didn't matter to ten-year-old Kas that it was just a forgotten box. It was special to me. Even if I haven't been an active participant before, I still love all the decorations, watching people exchange gifts, the music, the games, the special foods I get to bake, all of it. It is the feeling in the air. It is just so wonderful. Speaking of which, I want to give gifts this year, but I feel awkward asking Bronx for money. I don't want him to think I'm taking advanta
It's odd to say I feel more like myself than I ever have before. Almost like, this is the person I was always meant to be. For the most part, I feel more self-confident and I find I'm usually pretty happy. Bronx says he notices a difference and he loves seeing me in such good spirits. The only thing missing is Lex. Not having her around to share in my new happy life sucks, but I know she will be back soon. I can just feel it. Bronx and I meditate after dinner and try to connect with Lex and Saint. It's frustrating though. It's like when you're sitting down, and you need a pen and you see one on the other side of the table so you stretch to reach for it, but no matter how far you stretch you are just barely not able to grasp it. Just like that pen, I'm certain I am so close to reaching her. I can feel it. Sometimes I hear the distant howl like she is looking for me too. Bronx says Saint is stirring more and it seems like he is paying attention to what Bronx is saying, but still seems
He pulls out a little blue velvet ring box and opens it. Inside is a beautiful ring. The giant purple, sparkly stone in the center is square with rounded edges, down the sides of the band are little white diamonds. I gasp and put both hands up to my mouth. I feel my eyes getting wider. I look from the ring to Bronx and back again. A purple aura starts to glow brightly around me. Bronx puts his hand on my knee and starts to glow too. “I... Bronx, where... I... you..." I feel so flustered, I can't form a sentence. Tears start pooling in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I manage to pull one hand away from my mouth enough to point to the ring and whimper. "Where did you get that?” “I stopped in Paris after my first visit with you at the coven and had it custom made. It's a purple diamond. Like, it's a real diamond that's purple. Something to do with minerals in the earth. I had no idea diamonds came in colors." He chuckles a little. "The sales guy at Harry Winston told me they're supe
We have planned a little brunch gathering in our apartment, before the hustle and bustle of the day begins. We just want to make sure we remember what is important. And to Bronx and me, that is family. Lenora and Milo come over and I finally get to meet Bronx's parents.The first thing his mom, Sandy, does is give me a crushing hug and call me her son's saviour. A little extreme, but she's excited, so you know, whatever. I will take hugs whenever I can get them. I feel a familiar warmth coming from my hands. I quickly let go of her, feeling a little embarrassed. “Oh! Honey, it's alright. Bronx already warned me that your energy goes into overdrive when you're happy. I take it as a compliment." She smiles warmly at me. “Thank you, Sandy." I smile shyly. “No no no. You call me Mom, young lady." She gives me a faux stern look. “A-alright, Mom." I test the word in my mouth. It is going to take some getting used to. I have never called anyone Mom before. Not even my real mother. I hope
I look around and see the orange glow of fire in the living room. I run to the bedroom door and look around to find the room is engulfed in flames. The fake tree Ashley had set up for Winter Solstice looks like it's melting, causing noxious fumes amid the rest of the smoke. Some of the branches are starting to catch fire. I can hear people in the hallway screaming. Oh my Goddess. We have to get out of here! I run back into the room yelling and coughing. "Bronx! Wake up! We have to get out!" I shake him as hard as I can, but he doesn't budge. His skin is cold and he looks pale, even though the room is getting hotter by the second. I focus past the smell of fire. He smells like whiskey and wolfsbane. He's been poisoned! “Oh shit, oh shit. What should I do?” "Don't panic, Kas. You're a healer, you can save him. We learned about this. Come on!" I hear Lex call out. “Lex, are you strong enough? Can you help me?” “I can try, Kas. Go ahead. Let's save our mate. But hurry, we have to ge
Bronx’s POV I find the fire chief in front of the packhouse. “Chief Prost, any idea what happened here?” “Well, we have to investigate further, but it looks like arson. The areas that were damaged the most are way too isolated for it to have been faulty wiring or a candle. As soon as we have more info, I will let you know, Alpha.” “Thank you, Sir.” I pat him on the shoulder and move on. Reggie and I go around checking on everyone still milling around. Most people are scared but not hurt. A few people have minor burns. We send them to the medical tent so Kas and the doctors can heal them. I look over to see Milo and Lenora sitting on the back ledge of a fire truck, they are giving Lenora oxygen to be on the safe side. Whatever Kas did to heal Milo seems to have done the trick, because he isn’t even coughing like everyone else. We watch as people make their way down the road to the old packhouse. The firefighters finally start wrapping up hoses and putting equipment away. When I'm s
Kas's POV Things have been so uncomfortable since the fire. At first I thought it had to do with being in a different packhouse and everyone being in closer quarters than we are used to, but I think it's more than that. Bronx is like a man possessed. He has moments where he is very sweet like he always has been, but it's few and far between. He’s generally grumpy and rude to everyone, even me. That's if I even see him. People scurry away when they see him coming, hoping to avoid his wrath. He spends long hours at MasonCo and when he isn't there, he spends his time with Milo locked in the conference room. Most nights he doesn't get back to our apartment until the early hours of the morning. I pretend to be asleep, but I can feel the bed sag when he gets in. He always wraps his arms around me and deeply breathes in my scent. I hear him whisper how much he loves me and how much he misses me. The gross smell of cigarettes mixes in with his coffee and dark chocolate scent more and more ev
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