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Chapter 52
Last Updated:
2024-10-31 17:48:25
Celice WylderThank you for reading everyone. I know this was a bit of a wild ride, but I was hyper-focused on reaching this point. What happens next is intense, and I wanted to get up to here, the pivotal moment, before I stopped for the day. The next chapters need to be carefully planned out, and I don't want to mess it up, but I promise I won't keep you waiting too long. Anyway. I'll be back soon. Thank you for sticking with me. x
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MaraI go back to our spot. This is where I feel closest to Johnathan. It’s weird, and I can’t explain it, but here it’s almost as if he’s right next to me. I can feel his presence here, and all I have to do is reach out and touch him.I feel less lonely here.It’s dark, and I should be inside, but it was as if the walls of the mansion were closing in on me. It was too quiet, too empty, too lonely, without Johnathan and Gregory.Preston and Ally offered to stay with me, but I stupidly told them I’d be okay. I should have taken them up on their offer. I didn't think I'd notice, since I spent every nigth by myself up on the top floor, but I did. I could feel their absence.How many of these cold, long nights will I have to endure before Johnathan comes home? Days? Weeks? I make myself comfortable under the tree, and look up at the starry sky and the moon that’s slowly swelling. This month, for the first time in two years, I’ll be allowed to shift on the full moon. I won’t have to suffer
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MaraSomething about Kahn’s story still doesn’t make sense to me. Actually, a lot of it seems way too fantastical and unbelievable. I can poke holes the size of a log in his little story. “Explain Peggy,” I say."Who the hell is Peggy?" the vampire asks.“Peggy! Gregory’s mother.”“Penny,” Kahn says with a laugh.“Whatever. She was just a werewolf and she got pregnant with Johnathan’s baby. She gave birth to him and lived to talk about it.”“What makes you think she was a werewolf?”“Well… that’s what Johnathan told me.”“That’s what he believes she was, yeah. We did it that way on purpose. We were afraid he'd mark her simply because she was the only other Lycan he knew.”“We?” I ask, feeling anger and something akin to panic rising in my chest.“Yes, Gertie and me. She was my witch. She had been since I was a young boy. Back then, every Lycan prince had a witch. It was... a gift, of sorts.”I don't even want to know what that means. I do know that Gertie was extremely powerful. “She t
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JohnathanNow that Mara and I are mated, I am able to feel all her emotions. I can’t mind link with her, but the witch who put up the block wasn’t strong enough, or perhaps not skilled enough, to sever our emotional connection.It’s a one-way street. I can feel her, but she can’t feel me. The only times she’ll ever feel anything from me will be if I cheat or when I die. As I reach the grasslands, the vast open nothingness between me and Red Ridge, I can feel a flicker of frustration and curiosity from Mara. Preston already told me that she left the pack house and that Kahn is watching over her for the night.I don’t like that vampire. At all. In the nine years I’ve known him, he hasn’t spoken ten words to me. He goes out of his way to avoid me. All I know about him is that he’s the only Lycan in creation who was successfully turned. That was all Felicity would tell me about him. Every other question about the mysterious vampire was met with stony silence.The witch used Felicity’s blo
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JohnathanI lower my pack to the ground and take off my shoes before I step on the rickety wooden path that leads to the witch’s hovel.I’m right on the hunters’ trail, yet they remain blissfully unaware of my presence. But I’m about out of steam. I have minutes.Someone’s working a powerful spell. I can feel it. Like a brewing storm. My belly is rock hard and a low, irritating drone buzzes in my head like a faraway lawnmower.We walk past the small, rotting houses dotting the bog, and into a clearing where the coven are gathered around a little brown-haired witch while they’re chanting. The girl’s eyes are wide open, but rolled all the way back into her skull as if she’s trying to look at her own brain.She slowly sways back and forth while a steady stream of information flows from her mouth. Another witch is seated next to her, writing it all down.The girl in the middle of the circle can’t be older than sixteen, seventeen at a push. She’s brand new - so new that Mara doesn’t know sh
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JohnathanIt’s as if I just dropped a bomb. Pandemonium breaks loose. Wolves and witches scatter, screaming and stumbling, falling over their own feet as they try to get away from the blast.The only one who isn’t shocked or seeking shelter is the brunette. She stands there, swaying in the breeze with a serene smile on her face, short white dress flapping around her legs.I slide out of the tree going to one knee, my hand resting flat on the ground as I land. I slowly raise my head and allow Dante to surface - just enough to put the fear of God in them. I growl softly - my eyes burn and my mouth aches as I actively fight to keep Dante under control. “Stop!” I order and push my aura out at the wolves.All of them come to a complete standstill. Their confusion and fear is palpable. I just commanded wolves that aren’t mine. I commanded Alphas. “Stay where you are,” I say and get to my feet. “Turn around and face me.”As one, the wolves turn. They are too scared, too confused, to do anythi
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MaraI wake under the tree to the smell of a fire, brewing coffee, and the sound of bacon sizzling on a pan.Groaning softly, I sit upright and stretch, looking at the wolf who is kneeling next to the fire, turning the bacon over. “Good morning, Luna,” Chad says in a cheerful voice. "Did you sleep well?"He’s always happy. No one is that happy all the time. It makes me deeply uncomfortable. Rhoda is the same, although I can see sadness in her, hidden under the surface of cheer. Chad has no such sorrow He’s just permanently happy.It’s bizarre.Still half asleep, I slowly blink at the butler. “You came out here to cook me breakfast?”“Of course I did. It’s my job to serve the Alpha, and by extension his Luna.”“Right,” I mutter. “Well, thanks, I guess.”“I have juice here,” he says and gets up to rummage in a cooler box. “It’s nice and cold.”Today, for the first time since I got here, I think I’d prefer the coffee. I was up most of the night, hoping to hear from Johnathan again, but he
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Mara“You can go,” Kahn says to Preston and Chad. “Thank you for your help.”The two wolves nod and take off, disappearing over the horizon in record time.“You command wolves?” I ask.“I can,” Kahn replies. “I choose not to.”I want to argue with the vampire, but I remember what Chad told me about him. “Are you lonely, Kahn?”“Chad shouldn’t have told you anything about me,” he snarls and bares his fangs. “He had no right.”“Okay, grumpy.” I hold my hands up. “Settle down. I just want to help.”“Yeah, I am grumpy. You wanna know why, Mara? Because I’ve been stuck between two worlds for over six-hundred-fucking-years. I’m tired. I want to go home.”“I mean-” I sit down and pick my plate back up -“you don’t have to stay here.”“It’s really not that simple. I have a duty. I was chosen to be here. We all have a path we must walk. You are no exception.”“Who chose you? The gods?”“No.” Kahn sighs and blinks at the sun. “God, I hate the daytime.”“Then go to ground.”“Our time is very limit
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MaraShame burns through me like a hot flame. “Well, I’m sorry I didn't turn out to be the woman you wanted me to be.” I plant my hands in my hips. “Why don’t you go to war with my sister if I’m so useless then?”“That’s not-”“Leave me alone, Kahn,” I say and turn my back on the vampire.He blocks my way again, his light blue eyes flashing red in the bright sun. “I told you-”“Listen, vampire, I know you are eager to see the world burn, but unlike you bloodsuckers, most of us don’t have centuries of living behind us. Forgive me if I’m not eager to jump on your war machine.”I’ve never seen a vampire go red in the face with rage. “Do you know what I gave up for you?”“Do you know that I don’t care?” I ask and push my way past him.It’s like a game of hopscotch, every time I get past him, he flies over my head and blocks my path. I try to dodge him, but he grabs me around the waist, pulling me tightly against him. “Don’t walk away from me.”He won’t kill me. If he wanted me dead, I woul
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JohnathanStaring at Thrax’s disembodied head is quite disconcerting. I hold him up by his hair, looking into his slack-jawed face. His mouth is open in a silent scream, and his eyes keep blinking at me. “How do we keep this thing alive without blood?” I ask Kahn.“A vampire as old as him can go several months, if not years, without blood. He will be fine.”Donovan holds a canvas bag out to me, and I drop the head into it, rubbing my bloody hands on my jeans. Not that it helps much, but it makes me feel better.That was absolutely revolting, and probably one of the worst things I have ever done in my life. “Do not beat yourself up, Warlord,” Oberon tries to comfort me. “He deserved it.”Maybe he did. But it still feels so, so wrong. The floor is slick with blood, we’re all covered in it, and my office smells like death. “I need a shower.” And about twenty bottles of rotgut whiskey to forget this night. I'll take the cheap moonshine the rogues used to distill - it's a hundred perce
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 136
JohnathanI wish I could say that drinking Kahn’s blood was one of the more disgusting things I’ve ever done in my life, but that would be a lie. I have had far worse things in my mouth than a little vampire blood over the years.And it did work. Not only did it sober me up, I am wide away, and I feel stronger than usual. No wonder the vampires don't share their blood.When Thrax showed up, Kahn whispered four little words in my ear. “Careful. Don't trust him.”While Thrax went on and on and on, I managed to put up a wall, blocking him, and I could contact Preston, who went straight to work - he found Oberon, he rallied the troops.I am still not sure if I changed my mind about our future. But what I have to worry about now is this new threat. There will be no future if Thrax kills us all. Or worse, hands us over to the humans. I knew the vampires, especially Thrax’s younger children, wouldn’t be able to resist the nymphs. Much like Lycan blood, theirs is considered to be a rare deli
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 135
MaraJohnathan doesn’t budge. His face is passive, his expression stern. I can tell that he doesn’t believe Thrax. I have seen many sides of Johnathan, but this is a new one.He's really starting to show his true colours... and I like it.I glance at Kahn. He just stands there, his mouth slightly agape. Thrax has some kind of effect on him. It must be some vampire thing - my friend has never been this quiet.I have to admit that I did not see that coming either. I thought for sure the ancient vampire was here for some other reason. Not that I have any kind of idea what that reason was - not to kill us, I know that. But that’s about all I know.“You better start talking,” Johnathan says.“Or what?” Thrax challenges him. “What will you do, puppy?”Johnathan’s eyes flash and he growls, the dangerous rumble vibrating deep in his chest. I have no doubt that my mate will attack the vampire. He might lose the fight, but he’d still try.Kahn is the one who comes to his senses first. “Perhaps
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 134
Mara“Quick,” Kahn’s voice is barely above a whisper when he turns back to my mate. the vampire bites into his wrist and holds his bleeding arm out to Johnathan. He whispers something in my mate’s ear, speaking so softly that I can’t even hear him.Johnathan nods, and with a grimace brings Kahn’s arm to his mouth, sucking on the vampire's wrist. I gag and turn away from the sight.“Now, now, Kahn,” the dangerous voice from the window says. “You know it’s illegal to share our blood with mortals. The blood is sacred.”The vampire’s eyes widen and Johnathan jerks.How the hell did he know what the two of them were doing? They were so quiet about it, if I weren't looking right at them, I wouldn't even have known it was happening. I know vampires can see very well, but surely even this one, Thrax Kahn called him, can’t see what’s going on behind the closed drapes.And they talked so softly, that I was sure no one would be able to hear them - not even a vampire with their super senses.“T
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 133
JohnathanI stumble up to my bedroom, completely oblivious to the world around me. My head is spinning, my mind trying to work out my next steps as fast as my alcohol-addled brain will allow. The vampires can’t cross into Oberon’s realm, I know that much. My son will be safe, at least. I don’t have such high hopes for myself. I will die. Probably soon. But I'll take some of those bastards with me.Tomorrow, as soon as the sun comes up, I’ll take Mara to Oberon too. She can live with Gregory. Safe. Happy. With her child by her side. They will miss me at first, but then that, too, will fade. Mara can take another mate, have more children, be happy.My heart clenches at the thought of my mate finding someone else, but I ignore it. I won't deny her love. I can't do that to her.Rhoda comes out of my bedroom as I approach. “King?” she asks, her voice faltering when she looks at me. “Uh- the Queen- we were just- are you alright, King?”“Don’t call me that,” I growl and push past her, slamm
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 132
Johnathan“Johnathan?” Kahn asks softly. Oh God no. I can’t. I’m too tired for this shit. “What?” I ask without lifting my head off the desk.My Betas have long since left to get some rest. I didn't even bother to get up. I've been sat here all night, trying my best to get wasted, steadily working my way through the second bottle of whiskey.“Are you drunk?”“Trying my best to get there,” I answer with a soft, sarcastic little chuckle. I finally manage to lift my head and look at the vampire. “Do you ever sleep?”He shakes his head. “A few hours in the middle of the day, but mostly no. It's a curse.”I slowly blink at him, trying to focus on the fussy figure in front of my desk. “Why are you here?”Kahn looks over his shoulder at my open door, he closes it, and rushes to my side. He bites into his wrist, holding the bleeding appendage to my lips. “It’s against the rules, but… drink some of my blood. It will sober you up.”I laugh at the mere thought of his suggestion. I push his arm
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 131
JohnathanMara sits by the window, staring out at the rain. She’s quiet - scarily so. The last time she got this quiet, I lost her for a while. “Don’t do that,” I remind her. “Don’t shut down like you did last time.”She doesn’t look at me, just wipe at the tears that keep streaming down her face. She's is exhausted, heartbroken. Her ability to see connections also made her feel the mutations' pain. My mate is very close to reaching her breaking point.It worries me that she’s not talking, but at least she didn’t put her walls back up. She’s allowing me to feel it all, and it’s devastating. We found three more of those creatures before nightfall. Mara killed two, Oberon killed the third one. We dragged the slimy brain corpse thing in under a ledge, and set it on fire. It was revolting.Our method wasn’t as effective as Mara’s magic, we couldn't seem to burn the whole thing, but she wasn't able to release another one. By that point she had already reached her limits - emotionally, phy
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 130
MaraMy heart fills with pity for the poor human who gave his life for the humans' misguided cause. I am not even sure he volunteered. He probably didn’t even know what he came up here to do.I can feel him. All his emotions. He's so very scared.Although, I am still wondering how the fuck he made it up here. Even Johnathan couldn’t do it, and if Oberon and Kahn are to believe, Johnathan can climb up trees and mountains like a cat.I kneel next to the human, and hover my hand over him, trying to find the energy he’s emanating, but it’s something new and foreign. It’s partly supernatural, but it has all been manipulated by human hands. “What do we do with it?” Kalypso asks. “Do we kill it or…” she shrugs, letting her words hang in the air.“I think we should attempt to disable it, and bring it with us. Study it,” Johnathan throws his two cents in the hat. “We do have scientists in town. Maybe we can find out what kind of… thing it is. What makes it tick. We can… dissect it, I suppose.
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 129
MaraThe trek to the foot of the mountain is relatively easy, if a bit difficult due to the rain. The neat footpaths have turned into little rivers that stream past our feet, dragging mud, leaves, and other mountain debris with it.The paths are as slippery as snot, and we fall down often, landing face or butt first in a mud pie or a puddle of water. Everytime it happens, we laugh until we can’t breathe. It’s not funny, considering where we’re going, but the laughter helps to ease our growing tension.The closer we get to the mountain though, the more I expect Johnathan to call off our search and retrieve mission, but it looks like he’s actually having fun. And as a result, so am I. It's a stark reminder of how much our respective moods wrap off on one another.I burn with guilt when I remember how I behaved. How hard it must have been for him to pretend nothing was wrong, while he basically had to walk on eggshells around me.Never, ever again, will I do that to him if I can help it.
