Ferrara“Knox. You’ve got another chance to make this easy on you,” Jones said as he opened my cell door. His eyes burned with hatred as he stared at me. “If I were you, I’d make that confession today.”Another threat. Curiously, that was all Officer Jones had since Violetta had left. Threats and heated looks. Whatever she’d said to him had made an impact.So the detective wanted to speak to me again. Maybe it was to finally give up this charade and let me go.Nothing was ever that easy.Jones didn’t remove the handcuffs but instead attached them to the table before trying to push me into the seat. I didn’t budge and instead stared down at him. “Sit down,” he barked and pulled out the baton.“Officer,” Detective Warnos said as he entered the room. “That won’t be necessary. You can leave us.”“I’m thinking I should stay.”“This is an interrogation and not an arrest. Please leave.” The detective’s voice was soft but final. Jones snarled at him but left. Once the door was closed, I sat d
ViolettaI did not question why Kenzi had a miniskirt and a halter top, but I did roll my eyes when she handed it to me. It was the next night, and we were running out of time to free Ferrara and leave this side of the mountain.Tonight was the last night we had to confront the motel manager.Cindy had woken up to just cry and shiver. Finn and Saul were trying to comfort her and help her heal, which was fine. Amelia and Kenzi were both eager to help me with tonight’s errand.“When was the last time you brushed your hair?” Kenzi complained as she yanked her brush through it. “Sometimes I cannot believe he chose you over me.”“When you go from being a prisoner, to almost dying, to having your mate locked up in jail, you can tell me where haircare falls in your list of priorities,” I retorted as I winced. It felt like the damn woman was pulling my hair out of my head.After tying it back with a loose ponytail, I let her put a little bit of powder on my face and then she sent me on my way
Violetta“Blue is not a good color, Michael. Anyway, this really isn’t all that necessary, considering you confessed way more on camera. Killing those women. Setting up my husband. Trying to kidnap me. You’re a little lonely, aren’t you Michael? Just love to chat.”I found the little bag that Kenzi had brought with her. I placed the open water bottle in a travel cup and placed the travel cup in a large Ziploc bag.“I…wolves…”Amelia nudged against him, and he screamed. I turned my head. “Wolves? Don’t be ridiculous. These are my dogs. I realize we didn’t pay a pet deposit. I’ll rectify that. I wouldn’t go anywhere, Michael. They don’t like rapists.” Holding up the button camera, I recorded myself opening the cabinet and turned on the film feed. “Tsk, tsk, Michael. How long have you been raping girls? How long has your brother been covering for you?”“Um…”“You don’t have to answer that. I’m pretty sure you’ll just claim it was all under duress. That’s alright. Today, I got the detecti
FerraraThe sounds of violence reached me before the smell of blood. At the detective’s cry for help, I kicked at the jail cell. It took nearly five good kicks before I broke the bar open. Wrenching open the back door was nothing.Officer Jones had Detective Warnos on the ground and was about to kill him. The motel manager stood by helpless, his hands behind his back. As I broke into the room, Officer Jones turned and fired. I dodged the bullet and lunged at him.“What the fuck,” the officer screamed. He fired again, and a bullet tore into my shoulder.Ignoring it, I ripped the gun out of his hands and threw it across the room. Lifting him up, I slammed him into the desk.“Knox, don’t kill him,” Warnos shouted as he stood. Reaching under the desk, he grabbed a gun and turned to point it at me. I held Jones with one hand and looked at him expectantly.With a shout, the manager turned and tried to run. Warnos tripped him up easily and pointed the gun at him instead. “How did you get out
ViolettaMy wolf gave me exactly three seconds of warning, which was the only reason I’d managed to crouch down before the dark shadow bowled into me. We tumbled down the hill, and I landed with the wolf on top of me, claws slicing through my shoulder.Someone shouted my name, but it wasn’t any of my pack, despite being surrounded by them. They were all busy shifting as more wolves came out of the woods.Emerson.We’d followed the scent of chemicals straight to the densely wooded area between Emerson’s territory and the town.Even now, my nose told me that we still had a few miles to go before we found the explosive. As Emerson made his way down the hill, I doubted that someone was lagging with the explosive. It was a trap, set in motion by a witch who hadn’t betrayed Emerson after all.Damn. I was too trusting.“Enough,” Emerson called out, and the wolf moved off me. I caught a glimpse of their eyes in the moonlight.Elonso.He was one massive wolf.Following his alpha’s lead, he ste
FerraraIt was a miserable week on the merchant ship. Saul and Amelia were both seasick, and Violetta, Finn, and Kenzi struggled to keep their wolves from panicking and shifting. Violetta and Kenzi, I could control through the pack bond, but Finn was beyond my reach until we were back on neutral territory. I should have taken the bond back before loading the ship, but this wasn’t an issue that had occurred to me.Eventually, we just had to drug him.Cindy was too weak to shift, and Janelle had spent most of the trip clutching a small jar of dirt she’d smuggled on. By the time we reached London’s port, we were all exhausted.“Half of you look dead, and the other half of you smell as if you should be dead,” London greeted me with a wrinkled nose. He glanced at Finn. “Oh. That one is dead.”“You try being on a ship for a week and tell me how you feel,” I growled as I pulled Violetta close. The bunks were barely big enough for me, so I hadn’t been able to have my mate sleep in my arms for
ViolettaI slept for sixteen hours. Hungry and confused, I rose from the bed. One side of it dipped, and I spun on my hands and knees and growled.Ferrara grinned. “I do love you in that position, but I imagine you might have other things on your mind right now.”“God.” Relaxing, I ran my hand along my face and tried to brush aside some of the confusion. The bed had been heavenly. And stable. It was nice to not be tossed and turned all night long, wondering if your dinner was going to come up or if your wolf was going to come out. “You’re dressed.”“I’ve been up since this morning to check on the others. I felt you waking up, and I didn’t want you to be alone. I assume you’re hungry. If you want, I can bring you up a tray of food while you get your bearings.”I considered the offer but shook my head. “I really want to stretch my legs and maybe let my wolf out.”“Are you sure?”I understood his concern. There was a time when I wouldn’t let my wolf out for anyone, and now when I let her
Violetta“He broke out of his window,” Saul said in a low and tight voice as we walked into the guest room where Finn was staying. “He woke up, and I was ready with a soother, but before I could get him to drink it, he shifted. I was between him and the door.”“He chose to break through the window rather than hurt you. That’s a good sign,” I said as I stared at the broken glass. “Is Amelia feeling better? She can track him.”“What makes you say that?” Ferrara grunted.“Really? I know there’s been a lot going on, but surely, you’ve got eyes.”Ferrara looked even more puzzled, and Saul smiled quietly. “As it happens, she’s already gone after him. Kenzi and I can look after Violetta while you follow her and make sure Finn is all right. I will alert London about his window.”Ferrara looked at me, but I waved him away. With a short nod, he turned and left. Kenzi jumped up on the bed and sighed. “So, it’s true? He really does belong to Amelia? That’s a shame. He’s a cutie.”I rolled my eyes
ViolettaAnother night without Ferrara. I wasn't sleeping well, and as I trudged up to my room after a late night dinner in the mess hall, I considered calling Jenson and asking some more questions about the operations that were not day-to-day. Pulling out my phone, I remembered that he was planning to spend the night with Irene. So far, Maeve had not made another appearance, but I knew Irene was scared.She needed Jenson more than I did.Pocketing my phone, I turned down the hall and stopped short. There were noises coming from my bedroom.Loud noises.Squealing?Laughter. It abated, and I opened the door cautiously. Amelia, Kenzi, Cindy, Janelle, and Ava had piled onto my bed. There was a huge spread of food on the table, and music playing from a speaker somewhere."Hi," I said dumbly. "What is happening here?""Girl's night!" Janelle called out. When I stared at her, she frowned. "You've never had a girl's night, have you?""Did Jenson put this together because he was tired of me c
ViolettaOne by one, I bonded with the others. Lucy, Raven, and Carla. I was desperate not to show it, but bonding the four women in quick succession drained me. Finn and Kenzi left to shower and rest, and Jenson escorted me back to my room."When was the last time you've eaten?" he asked in a low voice."I had a box of crackers on the way here," I claimed proudly. Okay, a box was stretching the truth. I'd had maybe five or six crackers."Rest. I'm going to have food sent up to you," he ordered.I was tired, but that didn't mean I was going to shirk my duties. "As soon as Finn and Kenzi have showered, I need to talk with them," I protested."They've been pushing themselves for days. They're going to need more than a shower. They're going to rest, and we can all have dinner together."He stopped at my bedroom, and I narrowed my eyes at him. "You are not supposed to order me around.""Uh-huh. I liked it better when you were a submissive," he sighed. "Rest. Eat. There will be plenty for
Violetta"I don't understand. You accessed your magic in human form before, when your wolf forced you to use it. Do I need to fatally wound someone to let that happen?" Evalina snarled in frustration at my recent failure.Today's assignment? Offensive magic. All I had to do was move a stick.One lousy stick.Instead, I was covered in sweat, and the stick just sat in its original place in the grass, mocking me."I wouldn't risk it. I don't think me moving this stick is going to save anyone today," I panted and sat down in the grass. This was a better workout than any cardio. Muscles I didn't even know I had ached at the strain of trying to move that damn branch.I expected the Crone to force me up, but she just went unnaturally still, and her eyes grew vacant. Worried it was Maeve, I jumped to my feet, but she held out her hand. "It's Lunessa. They've made it to the compound. She and your mate are fine."Blowing out my breath, I relaxed. I knew Ferrara was fine. I could still feel him
FerraraIt was Saris who put her hand out. "Please. I have told Broderick many times that his enthusiasm is enough to send anyone screaming into the forest. Eat your dinner. Stay the night. You will no longer be pestered with questions.""She is right," Broderick sighed. "I would never forgive myself if I scared you straight into the arms of danger."I let my gaze linger on Saris for a bit longer. She was pretty, almost in an ethereal way, and maybe that's why I sensed something odd about her. I'd certainly never met a human like her.Was she Broderick's mate? I didn't sense a mating bond, but she had some sort of control over him.Glancing back at Lunessa, I sighed and took my seat once again. "One night for your hospitality, we will try to answer a few of your questions in the morning. I will answer them," I amended. "And then we will be on our way."They seemed pleased with that, and we finished our dinner with light conversation. There were no more questions about Emerson. At the
FerraraRelief swept through me when I didn't recognize the grizzled man at the head of the table. Not that he would recognize me, with this face, but it still helped. Lunessa clutched my arm as we were escorted to the table, and I pulled the chair out for her."Thank you for your kindness," I said quietly. "My mate and I have had a difficult journey. My name is Kenrys, and this is Luana.""To be true to ourselves, we must extend our hand to those who need it," the wolf said in a gravelly voice. "I am Broderick. The man to my left is Henry, and the lovely lady to my right is Saris."Broderick's wolf was powerful, and he didn't hesitate to unleash that power at the dinner table. I bowed my head and avoided meeting his eyes as I took the chair. My wolf, hidden behind Lunessa's magic, grumbled unhappily, but he didn't try to break free. He knew what we were doing here and what he needed to do.Henry was a witch. I could sense the magic in him, but Saris seemed completely human. Not a dro
FerraraLunessa was exhausted. We were within several miles of the coordinates given to us, and she already looked the part in the role that we were about to play. Dirt streaked her face and clothes, and dark circles hung under her eyes, and I knew it wasn't the glamour she'd donned. I'd seen her shimmer from her dark hair to blonde, from her dark eyes to blue, adjusting the structure of her body and even shortening her height and giving herself more curves.There'd been no dirt on her then. We'd moved as fast as we could, and the witch had lied about being all right with the pace we were making.Now she winced from the blisters I knew had to be on her feet. I could smell her blood, and the quiet whimpers she thought she was hiding were built from rock-solid determination.She had a stake in this fight. I didn't know if it was just about protecting the witches or her friends, and I had started to think of her as a friend, or something else entirely. Now that we were so close to the co
ViolettaMindy was dead. I'd met her for the first time just a few days ago, crossing her path after one of my failed magic attempts. She'd smiled shyly at me and told me that I was glowing. The thought of that soft and sweet voice made my heart ache. She'd been on the guard for less than six months.But I couldn't focus on that now. There were rogue wolves pouring out of the woods, and they'd broken the first line of defense. Jenson and I met up with a wolf barreling our way before we could even reach the skirmish. I shifted instantly, launching myself at him. He was easily twice my size, but I didn't have to worry. While he pinned me down, Jenson slit his throat.Ruthless and efficient. I'd always known, but it was a little terrifying to see the second in action. Jenson shifted afterward and caught up with me. Together, we took down another rogue wolf before we happened upon Mindy's body.Rage filled me, and I ripped into the fray. Whatever the rogue's plan, these wolves were nothin
ViolettaI had questions. Why was she asking? Who was she asking for? Amelia refused to tell me, and I hoped it wasn't for her. Whatever she and Finn were going through, she didn't deserve to miss out on the chance of having a mate. Especially when they were both so great.Ferrara and I had dinner alone. I peppered him with questions about the day-to-day operations of the pack, and he answered all of them patiently while reminding me that Jenson would also be here to help me.Not the other way around, which I strongly suggested.After getting settled in the bed, he pulled me across his lap and wrapped his arms around me. "We can drive for eight hours of the trip, but then we'll have to travel for a day and a half on foot. Lunessa will be hiding much of her magic so she just seems like an ordinary witch, and I'll be pulling in my power as well. Evalina is also providing us with glamour bags so no one will recognize us.""A witch might see the glamour bag," I said with a frown."It does
ViolettaIt did not take me long to find Amelia. She was at her usual desk, hunched over her computer. Her eyes were rimmed red. I knew Ferrara was forcing her to take breaks, eat healthier, and sleep at night, so I had a feeling her red eyes weren't just from screen fatigue."How's it going," I asked casually as I hopped up on the desk.She didn't answer."So Ferrara is taking Lunessa to go after the cult. Weird that they didn't want to involve me, given that I'm the subject of the day and his mate. Instead, he thinks it's best to leave me here to run the pack with Jenson. You know, I don't think Jenson and I have had a single conversation out of the you don't belong here, you're not worthy of him crap he used to tell me before this. Now we're going to run a pack together. Are you worried, because I am totally not worried. Okay, I'm a little worried. Do you miss Finn? If you're worried that he and Kenzi are getting it on, I wouldn't. Finn's not an idiot, and only an idiot would get i