Ferrara"Ferrara?"At the sound of Bridget's voice, I turned to see Violetta stumble. With a grunt of pain, she fell. Everyone stopped and watched as she stood. Without a word to anyone, she started limping forward.Seeing her pain should have brought me joy, but instead, it just made my chest ache. We were close enough to the border. "Camp," I said quietly. "Shift and hunt for your dinner and get plenty of sleep. Tomorrow, the real work begins."We took a few minutes to set up a clearing, and then everyone except Saul, Violetta, and me shifted. My wolf also yearned to be out, to sidle up to her and comfort her, and for that reason alone, I stayed human.Saul went to Violetta's side and inflated the pillow for her knee. I settled just out of their sight and listened to them talk."When Cora first went missing, we had our witch try and track her. Irene is a powerful white witch, and she couldn't track my twin more than twenty feet from our boundary," Saul said quietly.Violetta inhaled
FerraraWe were outnumbered by three. Just as my wolf managed to get to his feet, another wolf threw himself on top of me. Around me, wolves roared, and I felt the pain of my shifters through their bonds.My claws ripped through flesh, but they had the advantage. I needed to get to my feet.Distantly, I heard Violetta scream again. There was a flash of orange, and fire seared my fur. Two of the wolves yelped and released their grip on me. I rose to see Violetta standing with a flaming log in her hand. Twisting, she picked up another log and swung it like a damn baseball bat.Rising, I gripped the one wolf still attached to me and snapped its neck. It fell, lifeless, to the ground, and I launched myself at the other two. One jerked away just in time, and the other one and I rumbled to the ground. It was smaller and leaner but scrappy. It got in a few good blows before I tore its throat open.Turning to search for the one who got away, I watched, in horror, as Violetta pulled out the fl
ViolettaI was in and out of consciousness, surfacing only to feel the racing panic of someone carrying me and then succumbing to my weakness. When I woke up, I was on the ground under a thick patch of evergreens. It was cool and shaded, but I could see the sun shining brightly through the openings of the branches.I'd lost an entire night."Don't panic. You're not alone," Ferrara said, crouching in front of me. "Or maybe that will make you panic. Hard to know, but it's just us."Letting out a small moan, I struggled to sit up. Leaning over, he grabbed me and gently propped me up next to a trunk. "Water. Food. Saul said it was imperative you replenish your energy reserve as quickly as possible. You lost too much blood."Eagerly, I accepted the water and energy bar. I drank so fast that I nearly coughed the water back up."Easy. There's no rush."Balefully, I glared at him. Yesterday, he was totally in a rush, and now he was acting like we had all the time in the world."Where are the
ViolettaVioletta slept until nightfall, and when she rose, there was more color in her cheeks. I watched carefully as she rose and stretched. Her steps were steady and confident, and her own relief was evident in her small smile."Do you think we're far enough from the boundary to shift and hunt?" I asked. I wasn't stupid enough to blindly trust her again, but after that last attack, I knew I needed her input. I'd only been to Wisteria Wood once when I was a kid. We barely survived the first two days before we had to turn back and take the long way around."Probably. I don't really know where we are, but I don't feel...I don't think we'll find trouble as long as we don't get any closer while it's still dark."Feel? Why would she stumble over that word?"We?" I asked as I stood. "You're not coming unless you shift."I hadn't meant to snarl at her. I'd never planned to leave her. Not because I thought she would run, but because she was a magnet for trouble. Still, giving her a challeng
ViolettaWhether it was exhaustion or lack of blood, I did manage to get a couple of hours of sleep. Just as the sun started to creep over the horizon, we headed out. Like I asked, Ferrara pulled his power in, and even I was fooled. He wasn't hiding his wolf. That wasn't possible, but when I focused on him, he just seemed like an average wolf shifter.That would make things easier. My injuries were mostly healed, so I moved faster and easier on foot. Ferrara was never more than an arm's length away from me, and I liked that even less.He was also in a chatty mood."You didn't respond to my order to shift," he said casually as we walked. "Care to explain how that's possible?""Maybe I'm stronger than you."His growl told me that it was the wrong thing to say. "As I'm sure you've already seen for yourself, my wolf is broken. It doesn't function.""Since when? Did something happen in my pack?"I snorted. "Worried that your edict to torment me has backfired? You can rest easy. I haven't s
FerraraShe wasn't telling outright lies, but she wasn't telling the truth either, and that meant that she couldn't be trusted. Still, we made it through most of the day without attracting any rogue wolf attention.Occasionally, she would stop and stare. I did the same, but I never could see what she saw, so eventually, I stopped and just studied her. Nothing about her motivation made sense. She could have told me how to release the traps and in return, I would have given her the freedom she wanted.Maybe.I could just as easily drag her back to my territory when this was done. Did she think herself safer from me the closer we got to the witch coven?There was nothing that would keep me from her if I decided to keep her.Deep within me, my wolf rumbled. It was not a warning of danger, but rather a warning for me. Ever since Violetta had come into my life, my wolf and I had been at odds with each other. He wanted his mate.I wanted to protect my clan. At the moment, we couldn't both ha
ViolettaI may have said it in passing before, but it was the first time I'd ever introduced Ferrara as my mate.To his credit, he didn't blink an eye. Not at the fake name or the confession of our relationship. Not even to the revelation that Marsh was a friend of my father's.A good friend."A mate! Look at you! Shane's sweet little girl all grown up," Marsh said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "A mate of Violetta's is definitely a friend of mine. I'm sure you have her well in hand. My little Violetta used to be such a hellion."My stomach turned, but I just laughed with him. To show even a little hint of distress would only give him more ammunition, and it was too late to signal to Ferrara to kill him so we could be on our way. There was something about Marsh I didn't like. Why was he so at ease chatting out in the open?"She's under control," Ferrara said mildly."I have no doubt. Why don't you join me at my place, and we'll catch up?"I tried to look regretful as I shook my
FerraraThe lies had slipped so easily out of her mouth, but while Marsh invited Finn to stay for dinner, Violetta started to shake. I knew what she was thinking. My wolves hadn't made it back.Interesting that she would worry for them so.I knew that my wolves were fine. I would feel if they were dead. Finn had lied. I couldn't tell Violetta that. I also didn't know why.We spent the next two hours as guests while Marsh happily relayed stories of little Violetta that set my teeth on edge and tested me in every way possible.Violetta, meanwhile, never blinked an eye.Afterward, I quickly shut down Marsh's suggestion that we sleep in the cabin. When he mentioned we could all shift and sleep together, I felt the first sign of Violetta's fear and panic."Violetta's wolf does not come out unless we're home," I said, playing the role of the controlling mate.Marsh was clearly frustrated, but I didn't budge. It was obvious he wanted Violetta. Did he really think I would share her?Had someo
ViolettaI did as much good at Indigo Peak as I could while I was there, but few of the wolves were happy to see me, so I spent most of my time in my room reviewing Maeve's books in an attempt to help Finn get organized. I ignored all the massive journals the crazed woman had collected. I was no longer the ternary, and they had nothing to do with me.Lunessa, Irene, and the other witches helped identify the small faction of witches who'd been working against Maeve. Most of them were imprisoned. Some were in the field when Lunessa stole their magic. And some were dead. There were enough that, in a few months, the land might be healed enough to start growing again, just in time for spring.At least, that was the hope.Leaving Finn was difficult. I didn't know where he was mentally, but I knew Indigo Peak needed his help, and he would provide it.And when Amelia returned with us, tears in her eyes, I tried not to get involved. Finn was making a mistake, but he would realize that. In due
ViolettaImmediately, I stepped inside the circle and felt the magic drain away. "I don't have magic anymore, but even if I did, none of this is for me. It was for a deranged woman to hold on to a memory of when she thought she was in control. She's dead now, and I don't need this place to know that I had a happy family once. And I don't need to bring any of that up. I have enough happiness in my immediate past."Finn stared at the home as the flowers started to wither and the wood started to break down. Its age was catching up to it. "I could burn it to the ground," he said darkly."I think you should. I love that you wanted to give me a choice, but this place doesn't mean anything to me, and it's a symbol of Indigo Peak's troubled past. Burn it and make way for the future. You're going to be an amazing alpha, and if you'll let me, I'll come visit often to check in on you. I'm going to miss you and Amelia.""You're more than welcome, Violetta. I'll demand your visits, seeing as how I
ViolettaI woke up alone. For a moment, I thought I was back in Maeve's grip, chained to the wall, listening to Finn's cries as they tormented him. Tears pricked my eyes until I heard a voice in the room."Violetta."The hoarse whisper calmed me, and I took a deep breath. I was not alone. Maeve was dead. I'd been certain that Ferrara had been in the room with me at one point, but he was gone now. Sitting up, I looked over at the other bed. Lunessa looked only marginally better than she did before as she smiled at me. "You did it."When she started to cough, I rolled out of bed and made my way to her. Snuggling up next to her, I grabbed her water and held it up to her. "So did you. Lunessa, the amount of magic you displayed was insane. How are you?""Depleted," she admitted as she sipped her water. "And scared that I might not bounce back.""How did you do it?"She sipped the water more and leaned against me. Less than a year ago, she was the Maiden, a witch who'd saved my life once, e
Ferrara"Ferrara," London said in a low voice. "You are growling at the kitchen staff."Immediately, I pulled myself back. A dozen wolves stared at us, frightened. "My apologies. My thoughts are elsewhere," I told Finn. "Please continue."The staff cleared their throats. "We have access to large herds here, and we used to use the witches to magic the land to provide for the wild game so we could eat fresh all year. With the magic repurposed," one wolf said carefully, "much of the game fell ill. We tried to preserve meat, but our previous alpha believed in eating fresh and shut us down."Finn frowned. "I believe in eating fresh but also storing when prepping for leaner months. I'll speak to the witches about healing the land once more, but I won't know how long that will take. Do you have the supplies to cure the meat?"One wolf nodded. Finn looked over at us. "Do I have your permission to use some of your soldiers for an immediately hunt before you leave?"We all nodded, and the staff
FerraraFinn's eyes were red, and his wolf's power still spilled out of him as he sat stock still in the chair at a large conference table. Food was spread over the table, but it didn't look like he'd eaten any of it. Blood was still dried on his skin, and his clothes barely fit him.Two submissive wolves hovered uncertainly at the table, and as soon as we walked in, he dismissed them. They'd scurried out of the room like they'd been shot, and the doors slammed shut behind us."I cannot be alpha," Finn growled. "Not of this pack."I met his gaze head on and lifted an eyebrow. "It's a little late for that. You killed the previous alpha and slaughtered anyone who challenged, which, from what I can tell, included her second, third, and at least ten of her top guards.""I didn't realize that they were challenging me," he said tightly. "Do I have to die to relinquish my new position?"London, Elonso, and I exchanged looks and pulled out chairs at the table. I sniffed at the food. "Doesn't
FerraraPulling free from our captors, London and I raced up the hill. He got to Lunessa and yanked her from the stone before I could reach Violetta. A large, mutated wolf pounced at Violetta, and I dove into him. Teeth and claws raked into the flesh of my human form, but I ignored it. There was only one truth. If I didn't get to Violetta, she would be torn limb from limb.Shifting faster than I'd ever shifted in my life, I turned and raced back to her. With a roar, I pulled her chains from the rocks with my paws and turned back to her."Ferrara," she whispered and sank into the ground. "I'm sorry. I don't think I can walk, let alone shift. Help Finn."Finn didn't need my help. He was ripping through wolves at an alarming rate. I wasn't even sure he knew what he was doing.Violetta flinched, and I turned as another wolf tried to pounce. Ripping my claws into their flank, we tumbled, but as soon as I found my footing, I returned to her side.If she couldn't shift, she would be vulnerab
ViolettaThe outer ring of rocks on the hill were etched with symbols and held offerings to the elements. Water from the largest river on the mountain. A feather willingly given from a bird. Earth enriched and blessed. And fire sparked from the kindling of the land.Words from the spell rose up in my head as I was marched through the circle. Below me, an enormous audience had gathered. Most of the wolves were grotesque and foaming at the mouth. It seemed to take all of their energy to be still. Those who weren't mutated seemed so small, but there was nothing innocent in their gaze as they watched.In the silence, I heard someone roar Lunessa's name and then mine. Turning my head, I watched in horror as Ferrara and London were hauled to the front of the audience and forced to their knees. My gaze locked on to his, but there was nothing either of us could do.My chains were attached to one of the inner rocks, and on the other side, Lunessa, also dressed in white, was chained to the same
ViolettaI hadn't seen Finn all night, not since they dragged me away. I was taken to a completely different part of the building, three floors up, and chained to a different wall with a bed.Cozy.Instead of resting for the ritual, I pulled myself as close to the window as I could possibly get and stared outside. It was the same side of the building, the same view of the ritual circle. No new information presented itself, but while I was trying to find an escape, I was also searching for Ferrara.I could feel through the bond that he was close. Alive. Getting stronger every hour that passed. Hope flared inside of me.When the sun rose, the door opened. Three wolves and three witches stood before me. "Time to prepare," one of them said, her voice laced with excitement. She put a white dress on the bed.I glanced at it and snorted. "If you're hoping this is some kind of virginal sacrifice, I have bad news for you. I have been well-loved and well-fucked.""Don't be ridiculous. The magic
FerraraThere were at least fifteen dead wolves at our feet. Adrenaline surged through me, but I was losing too much blood. London could barely stand. A familiar male werewolf loomed over us."Ferrara. London." He spoke with a harsh rasp that further identified him. Dolan. Maeve's second-in-command. We never interacted much because Dolan rarely left the territory. Normally, her third traveled with her, something most alphas practiced, but Dolan was a different breed of wolf. Apparently, he enjoyed disciplining. There were rumors that Maeve had wolves in confinement for lifetime prison sentences, and Dolan liked to make them bleed, wait for the heal, and then rip them open all over again."I see you left your whipping station," I said hoarsely as I stood. My legs shook so badly that I nearly fell over again. "Just how many wolves did you bring to take us?""I have twenty more rogues on their way here," he said in a bored tone. "My alpha has commanded me to give you a choice. Continue t