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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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“Yup,” I agreed, pride in my voice. “Let’s hurry. Kira’s fast, and I don’t want her making fun of me for being slow.”Together, we shifted and bolted after Kira. Our speed allowed us to make it to the camp before sunset.Crew was moving through the camp, assisting his people as well as some of my packmates and Kira’s to prepare their defenses. He was a born leader. When he saw us approach, he raised a hand in greeting.“Welcome to the front lines,” he said.“You seem pretty chipper for someone who’s in a war,” I said, shaking his outstretched hand.“If I had to choose between fighting off angry ferals, wendigos, and thunderbirds versus pissy, spoiled assholes from the Ninth Pack, I’ll take spoiled assholes any day.”I chuckled. “How’s it going here?”“Pretty good.” Crew turned and gestured toward the rest of the camp. “August is over in that tent, said he was working on some leads. Not sure what that means. I’ve gotten the remainder of the camp organized into platoons. I made sure one
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Gavin deflated. He didn’t say anything, but I saw that she’d gotten through to him. He clearly hadn’t thought about that. His single-minded determination to destroy his brother had blinded him.Power blinded anyone at the top. It was the way of things. The ones in charge never thought about how their actions would affect those at the bottom.“What’s the plan, then?” I asked Kira. “You must have one. I know that look.”“A meeting,” Kira said. “We bring this info. We meet with Jayson in private and show him that we had nothing to do with his father’s murder. Once he sees the truth, he’ll turn his attention to the Seventh Pack.”“Kira,” Kolton said, looking exasperated, “how are we gonna get him to agree to that? He’ll assume it’s a trick.”She pointed at Gavin. “You use half of your plan. You’ll deliver the message that we want to meet.”Gavin gazed at her dumbly for a few seconds, then, like a lightbulb clicking on, he smiled. “He thinks I’m dead.”“Exactly,” Kira said. “Seeing you ali
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Chapter 17KiraI felt like I’d been kicked in the stomach. When Gavin sent us word that Jayson had agreed and told us the location to meet him, I’d almost called the whole thing off. Jayson wanted to meet on the mating grounds, where he’d rejected me weeks ago.Had it only been weeks? It was difficult to keep time in a normal frame of reference. I’d gone through more in those weeks than some people did their entire lifetime. I was not the same person who’d been rejected in front of her entire pack. That wasn’t hyperbole; I had completely changed since that day. Looking back on things, I’d built up all these walls and had kept almost everyone at arm’s length because I thought I was a monster. If I was completely and totally honest with myself, I’d been a bitch. Harsh, unfeeling, and driven to the point of obsession. Now, what really mattered and what didn’t were crystal-clear to me.The idea that Jayson had chosen the meeting location as a fuck you to me was probably incorrect. This p
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“Let him get it out, Dad,” I said, completely unperturbed. “Maybe being childish for a few minutes will clear his head.” I glanced back at Jayson. “Can we get down to business? This stroll down memory lane has been lovely, but we have things to discuss.”Jayson’s sneer turned into a grin. “Ah, yes. I should have known you’d come crawling back to me.”I wanted to be professional, to stay stoic, but those words broke me. I laughed so hard, I almost doubled over to catch my breath.Jayson’s smile morphed into a frown. Becoming pack alpha had somehow inflated his ego even more than it had already been.“What is so fucking funny?” he demanded.Wiping tears from my cheeks, I straightened, trying to regain my composure. “That was a good joke. You know, after everything I’ve been through, I can’t believe I ever shed a tear over you rejecting me. It’s kinda surreal to think I went on that show because of you. Ugh.” I shook my head. “I spent five years forcing myself to believe you were my actu
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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
