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“He?” I asked, frowning. “Who are we talking about? This thing had to cost a few million. Who the fuck has that kind of money?”August glanced at Kolton, and the two men shared a look. Kolton sighed. Oh, I wasn’t going to like the answer. I swore, if they told me Jayson Fell or Von Thornton paid for this fucking helicopter, I would jump out the door and drown myself in the ocean.“The wire transfer was from, uh, your dad. Lawrence Rivers,” Kolton said.The words slammed into me so hard, I took a step back. Confusion warred with disbelief. My father? The same man who’d barely blinked when I left our pack to become a lone wolf?“Hey,” Kolton said, hurrying on, “I know you left your pack for a good reason, and I’ve never pushed you to tell me what happened, but he really wanted to help save you. He told us he wanted you to contact him as soon as you got back…er, if you were alive, that is. Which you are…so that’s good.”My mouth moved, but no words came out. I put a hand on the wall to h
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“Yeah, yeah, we get it,” Kira said. “Let’s change the subject before you actually vomit. Can you give us more info on how the war is going? We need details.”Kolton looked relieved to get our attention off his obvious attraction to Eli. “Yeah, sure. The first skirmish, the one that started the whole war, was actually between our pack and the Ninth. It was right after they accused us of assassinating Jayson’s dad. There were lots of smaller engagements on the borderlands. The real issue, though, was that our fight set off a bomb among the other packs. There’s fighting happening around Fangmore City among the other packs. The city itself has locked down its borders to try and prevent rioting and fighting in the streets. That’s where all the top alphas and betas, along with the highest-ranking members of the Tranquility Council, have taken refuge. Right now, it’s the safest place.” Kolton growled.“There have even been reports of wolf shifters fighting in wiccan and human cities. Fae tow
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“But it was me,” I insisted.“You went on the show precisely to stop this,” Wyatt said. “You went on that show, knowing damn well you were gonna game the system and take Heline’s gift rather than a mate. You did that so you could stop a war and protect your pack. I know you carry some kind of guilt for that, but your reasoning was honorable. Stop trying to make yourself the villain when you aren’t.”His words rang hollow. The devastation and destruction going on all over the world were my fault. No amount of sugar-coating would make it not be true. I should have kept my mouth shut, played the game, and done things the right way. If I had, I might be in Fangmore right now, asking Heline for her favor and stopping this whole war before it could’ve started.But then, of course, I wouldn’t be with Wyatt. Could I really give that up?Gods, why was this so awful?Wyatt, seeing I still didn’t believe him, grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him. “You have inspired change, Kira. Lastin
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As soon as I was free, I jumped to my feet and sprinted down the ramp to the ground below. Outside, I hit my knees, running my fingers through the grass, inhaling the familiar scent of the field we’d landed in. Home. As much as I wanted to be here, at the back of my mind, I‘d convinced myself I’d never see it again. In the depths of the worst horrors on Bloodstone, I’d pushed away any real belief that I’d return. Now here I was. It was like a dream.“Kira? Baby?”I gasped, choking on the lump that formed in my throat as tears stung my eyes. “Momma?”I looked up to see my parents running toward me. My mother rushed forward ahead of my father, whose arm was in a sling. I stood and sprinted for them, grabbing my mom and collapsing into happy sobs as she hugged me. I was a child the last time I let her hold me like that.Dad joined us and wrapped his good arm around me. We stood like that for several long moments before I managed to get myself back under control.Releasing them, I eyed Da
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Wyatt had always been a secondary concern to them. Just a valuable ally, with his unofficial pack helping to improve our defenses. And he was Kolton’s best friend. They’d always liked Wyatt as a person, but that was very different from welcoming him as a mate for their daughter.I remembered Chelsey and Crew’s story. How silly it all was to think someone was below you and not worthy of mating, even if you loved them.The dejected look on Wyatt’s face didn’t last long. He shook it off and walked over to me, looking as carefree as ever. “I’m gonna go check on my pack,” he said. “August says they’re camped with your pack’s best fighters. They’re guarding the perimeter.”“I’ll stay here and help get everyone taken care of,” I said.“But first, there’s something I need to do.”Before I could ask what that was, he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulled me flush against his chest, and kissed me. Hard.The group of survivors hooted and cheered, and in my daze, I could make out Zoe, Chelsey, a
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“Depends on what it is,” Mika said with a grin.“Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to keep me safe on a trip to check on my family. To make sure they’re safe.”Mika’s grin widened. It was nice to see. He’d smiled so rarely on the island. He was handsome, and more than that, he was a kind and gentle man. All the things his pack wasn’t, and everything Zoe deserved.“I think I’m up for it,” he said.“Good! I’m sure my parents and grandparents will want to meet the hottest alpha from the final season of The Reject Project.”“Okay,” he said. For the first time since I first met him, he actually looked excited.Zoe turned to give me one last hug. “See you soon, bestie.” She jabbed a threatening finger into my nose. “No getting into danger while I’m gone.”“No promises,” I said, cracking a grin.“Ugh, you shifters. A real pain in my ass.” Zoe raised an eyebrow at Mika. “Though, sometimes a pain in the ass can feel really good, if you know what I mean.”Mika smiled, then frowne
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“Thank you all for holding the fort down while I was gone,” I said. “It really means a lot. I can tell you the Eleventh Pack folks are appreciative. Not sure if they’ve told you that.”“Oh, they have,” Darius said. “First time since I became a lone wolf at fourteen that I’ve been this beloved.”A few of my pack mates had some significant injuries from silver weapons. The fighting must have been really intense. Part of me had hoped things weren’t as bad as everyone made it out to be, but the haunted looks in their eyes told me otherwise. These were people on the front line of a war. It was bound to change them.The fact that the official packs were willing to kill other wolf shifters to claim their territory was insane. All they cared about was clout, power, money, and prestige. Kira was right. We needed to tear down the pack hierarchy and build a new and better world in its place.“Level with me,” I said to none of them in particular. “How bad is it out there?”A younger woman named C
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I’d only been gone for a few hours, and already things were getting back to normal. As normal as it could be under the circumstances.When I stepped in the front door, the delicious aroma of cooking food slammed into my nostrils. Saliva poured into my mouth. When had I last eaten? A few potatoes prior to attacking Simon’s lab? That had been at least eighteen hours ago. I was starving.In the kitchen, I found a familiar scene. Kolton and his dad sat on one side of the table, Kira and her mother on the other. I’d seen it a million times over the years, but for some reason, this felt more real. In the past, I’d found them like this when I stopped by to see Kolton. Back then, I’d have found some way to irritate or needle Kira. Push her buttons to get a rise out of her. Anything to get her to give me attention. Now, as I walked through the threshold, she turned and smiled at me. No need to bug her—she wanted me here.Although, her parents didn’t seem to share the sentiment.“Wyatt.” Kira
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Who knew what the future held? Maybe things would look even more different in a few years. After all, look how much had changed in a few short months.I walked down to get a better view of everyone. So many familiar faces. Chelsey and Crew, of course. Mika, with Zoe snuggled right up against him. J.D. and Leif, holding hands. Leif’s body, face, and attitude were stronger and healthier than during our final days on Bloodstone Island. It had taken weeks of intensive work with spell casters, healers, and psychologists, but he’d fully recovered. No longer feral, he’d begun working with J.D. to form a nonprofit company to help shifters who were in danger of going feral or who had recently slipped over. He wanted to give everyone the same help he’d been given.Abel had come with his new girlfriend, the woman he’d always thought should have been his fated mate. My brother Kolton stood beside Eli, their hands clasped together. Eli was even more beautiful than before. After we’d revealed all t
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I needed to speak to Kira alone. Now that everything was wrapping up, I had to see how she was doing. Taking her hand, I led her back down the hallway to a private alcove. I kissed her, my lips lingering on hers for longer than necessary. All the stress of the last few days—hell, the last few weeks—finally felt like it was easing. Now we would have time to think and recover.“How are you?” I asked. “After what Simon did to you in there?”Watching her turn into a mindless animal had frightened me even more than when she’d attacked me. Seeing those soulless eyes glaring down at me while she snapped and growled had damn near broken my heart.Kira took a steadying breath and nodded. “For a minute or two there, I really thought I might kill you. I had no control. The idea of killing my own fated mate was horrifying. I don’t think I’ve ever been that terrified in my life. But it’s over.” That beautiful smile returned to her face. “Whatever Lucina did broke that spell. I don’t think I’ll eve
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The elevator trip was spent in silence, each of us basking in the other’s happiness and relief. Kira’s emotions bounced through my mind, and I was ecstatic that we hadn’t lost this deep, binding connection.At the ground floor, the doors slid open and we were met with two voices, one mewling and begging, the other pissed.“Told your ass not to run, didn’t I? And my name is fucking August, not Autumn!”What the hell was going on?“Please, you must let me go, you must. I have fans. Oh, gods, it hurts. What do you want? Money? I can get you girls. Boys, if that’s your speed? Whatever you want!”Von?I turned to look at Kira, and her eyes were as shocked as mine. We sprinted from the elevator and around the corner. Von was pinned to the wall with the broken leg of a chair. The makeshift stake pierced him in the shoulder rather than the heart. August stood before him, using a hand to hold the vampire’s head up. Seeing us coming down the hall, he let Von go, letting the host dangle six inch
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Movement caught my eye, and I glanced at our friends. August was talking hurriedly to Crew, who nodded and took over control of the camera. August then rushed over to take a seat at the table while Crew zoomed the camera in close to August’s face.“Good afternoon, world. I hope you enjoyed the latest episode of the new show, What the Fuck? I’m your host, August Evander.“Now that I have a captive audience, I have some cats—er, dogs—to let out of the bag. I’m sure you’ll all enjoy this. We all love dirt. Let’s spill the tea, shall we?”August rambled off the information he’d dug up, starting with Crew’s parents. He proceeded to discuss the Tranquility Council’s corruption, the assassinations carried out by Tranquility operatives, pay-offs, embezzling, blackmailing, paid-off judges, murders, and more. Nearly every alpha and beta from the upper packs were named in some dirty dealing or another.At first, we stood transfixed by August’s rapid-fire delivery, but eventually, the board membe
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Heline turned and registered the camera. A mix of emotions flashed across her face--confusion, understanding, shock, anger, fear, rage. Her face was even paler than before as she took in the truth. Millions had seen and listened to her admit to all she’d done.Behind me, Wyatt chuckled. “After all this, I can’t believe I’m happy to see a camera.”Heline’s eyes widened, and I thought she was going to unleash a tirade on us. But instead, she grinned and laughed along with Wyatt.“Yes, yes, yes, so funny,” she chuckled. “Of course I knew that camera was there. Do you really think the great Heline would let anything happen to her acolytes? I care deeply for them. I would never allow harm to come to them for something I allegedly did.”“Really?” I asked dryly.“I fully intended to make the fated mate pairings right again. I always did, my dear girl,” Heline added.The way she called me dear girl made my guts go watery and cold. The smile on her lips was no longer jovial. It looked like the
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Stop! Please no, don’t hurt him. Gods, please stop, I screamed out at myself from deep in my mental prison, but through my internal screams, I watched as the jaws that had once belonged to me snapped and bit at Wyatt. He managed to hold me back, his hands under my jaw, but I was strong and he’d been caught unaware. I couldn’t even hear his thoughts or emotions now. All I could see was the terror in his eyes as my teeth drew nearer his neck.“Enough!” a shout erupted from behind me.Even in the manic feral state of my body, whatever controlled me turned to see the mousy woman standing. She lifted her arms and a flash of magic shot forward, surrounding me in a net of darkness, the strands of it digging painfully into me. With a jerk of her hand, I was hauled away from Wyatt, leaving him blessedly safe.Inside the strange magical net, Simon’s influence melted away, the weird connection between us shattering. Suddenly, I was free. Freer than I’d felt since that night all those years ago.
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“I can’t die like this,” he gasped. “My fans. They’re watching. If I die on air, it will be appalling.”Ignoring Von’s pleas, Wyatt said, “Call for Heline, Von.”Von’s murmured begging ceased. “Excuse me?”“Of every person on this show, you’ve been around the longest. If anyone knows the moon goddess, it’s you. You see her at the end of every damned season. Call her. Tell her to get her ass down here. Now.”“But…but…but,” Von stammered. “My boy, I can’t simply call to a goddess—aah!” Von’s words cut off in a shriek as Wyatt dug the pencil in deeper.“Von,” Wyat said with a sad shake of his head, “I am not a fan of yours. Please don’t piss me off. I’ve staked enough vamps in my day to know exactly how scared you are of this pencil.”I couldn’t take my eyes off Von’s face. The sheer terror I saw there was both sad and cathartic. He’d put us through so much shit, had giggled, laughed, and applauded over it. Now he was getting a taste of the danger he loved—and it seemed he wasn’t a fan.
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Every time I tried to open my mouth, nothing came out. I must have looked guilty beyond belief. Wyatt turned toward me and saw the look of horror in my eyes. The fingers of his mind drifted into mine, and an instant later, he spun in his chair, angry eyes leveling on Simon.“He’s doing something to her,” Wyatt snapped.Simon adjusted his glasses and laughed. “Me? I’m doing nothing. Perhaps Ms. Durst is simply speechless with guilt for her crimes. Have you thought about that, Mr. Rivers?”Veins bulged at my neck as I tried to force words from my mouth, but it was like a brick wall had been built between my voice box and my mouth. I stared down at the table, at the pad of paper and sharpened pencil I had before me, trying to make sense of what was happening. Around the room, the other guests and board members glared at me with dark, accusing eyes.A hand touched my leg. Firm yet gentle, gripping my thigh. The fingers cool even through my pants. Von’s assistant. Surprised, I glanced down
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Chapter 25 Kira The hesitancy I felt as we walked toward the table nearly made me freeze in place, but I pushed forward. I would not let these assholes see me weak.Before each seat was a legal pad and pencil, as if they expected us to take notes or something. Wyatt took his seat, and I sat beside him, the mousy little assistant on my other side. The woman still hadn’t said a word, which didn’t surprise me. If I had to be around Von Thornton all day, I’d keep my mouth shut, too. The guy never seemed to stop talking. The poor woman had probably given up on speaking while at work.Simon’s eyes were still on me. Even without looking in his direction, I could feel them boring into me. In the deepest recesses of my mind, I could still catch small hints and whispers of his voice, calling to me. It was less like the connection Wyatt and I shared and more like a faint memory. Any hope I’d had that I’d imagi
