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Chapter 53
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In Service of the Alpha Chapter 54
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
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 55
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 bl
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 56
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
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 57
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 anyt
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 58
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 a 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
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 59
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 limi
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 60
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 wou
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 61
JohnathanI lie under familiar skies for the first time in days. We're almost home. I'd keep going, but Rose is exhausted and needs to rest.I was in Red Ridge for only a few hours. The human army was already there, taking control of the town. The wolves who didn't leave when I did are already dead or would die soon.Going back home is taking far longer than I thought it would, and of course all hell broke loose while I was away. But with a young she-wolf basically glued to my side, and no vampire helper in sight this time, things are progressing slowly. I considered taking a car from Red Ridge or Douglas’s home, but cars are too easy for humans to track, and no matter where I go, I draw attention.I miss Mara in ways I didn’t know were possible. My arms feel empty, and there’s a black pit in my chest I know only she can fill. I try to mind link with her, but she doesn't answer. The last time we spoke, she said something about training with Kahn, but wouldn't elaborate.I'm really sta
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In Service of the Alpha Chapter 70
JohnathanI get up and massage the soft spot below my thumb. Mara’s vision lasted a long time, but I did not expect it to be so detailed. I’ve seen seers go into trances for hours, only to come out of it and give me a useless little vision that couldn't have lasted more than five minutes. Half the time, the biggest challenge for a seer is to come out of the trance.“You did well for your first time,” I say and return to my desk to get my notebook. I tried to write everything down exactly as she told it. I want to keep a record of her visions so I can remind myself from time to time. I used to record seers’ accounts on my cellphone, but I have a tendency to lose my phones. I lock the notebook in the top drawer of my desk, then return to the thick file Douglas sent. I hold the file up for Mara to see. “From your father. Money.”“What?” Mara asks. “The humans didn’t just take it?”“No. Your father was clever. He hid his tracks well. On paper, every penny belongs to a human.”“What huma
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 69
MaraI stop talking. I’ve reached the difficult part. The part where Johnathan dies. I don’t want to talk about it, much less think about it.But the image is there, forever etched into my brain like a brand.“Mara?” Johnathan asks and looks up from his notebook. “Is that it? Are you done?”I shake my head. “Remember? I told you… I told you that I saw you dead.”He nods and picks up his wine glass. He doesn’t look nearly as worried or afraid as he should be. “We can stop for now. Pick it up tomorrow.”I hesitate, gripping the stem of my wine glass like it’s a live preserver. The premonition plays itself out in my head again, vivid and unbearable, but I force myself to forge ahead. "No. I want to get this over and done with.""Okay," my mate agrees. "Go ahead."“After Rick took me-” I clear my throat in an attempt to get rid of the frog that caught there -“he took me into the mansion. To my father. They had him locked up in the wine cellar.” I let out a mirthless little laugh. “You sa
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 68
MaraWhile I spoke, Johnathan wrote everything down. There’s a small frown between his eyes as he reads back. “What did Rose do?”I shrug. “I don’t know.”“But you told Kahn things with her didn’t work out.”“Yes, but I don’t know what she did. I suppose it still has to happen.”He puffs his cheeks up and slowly blows the air out of his lungs. “Fucking premonitions. I now kind of want to kick her out, but I don’t have a reason.”“That’s what you’re worried about?”“Yeah. We can stop Donovan. Now that we know she’s coming, I can go get Haley before she comes here, make sure she’s safe.” He keeps reading, the frown between his eyes deepening. “This doesn't make sense to me... I'm not the kind who'll just discard a pregnant she-wolf like that.”I shrug. “I guess a lot of shit’s gonna happen between now and then.”He nods and pours a glass of the spiced wine for himself. “Can- can the future be changed?” I ask.“Yes, that’s the whole reason the Goddess sends premonitions, so we can alter
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 67
** TRIGGER WARNING: Infant death. **MaraSix months after Donovan joined Haven’s Crest, Haley showed up here alone. I saw her when she entered town, coming over the mountains. She was haggard, her clothes torn, and clearly starving. She was at the end of her pregnancy and could barely walk.I was surprised that she hadn’t given birth yet.My first instinct was to attack her. She had taken my mate. Caused my banishment. But then I saw it for what it really was. My pride. She wasn’t a danger to me. If anything, the tables had turned, and I was now a threat to her. She did me a favour, really, and the least I could do in return was to make sure she was okay.I had forgotten all about the threat Donovan made all those months ago. He had become a part of Haven’s Crest, and Johnathan paired him with a new Alpha called Luther. They were always off in the forests somewhere, training with their new squad. Johnathan wasn’t with me when Haley showed up. Like everyone else, he was preparing for
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 66
Johnathan“You’re probably just having a premonition. Focus on what you're feeling,” I say.Mara shakes her head and starts to hyperventilate while trying to cry at the same time. “Can’t… breathe,” she gasps. "Dying."“No, no, no,” I say and grab her face, forcing her to look at me. “You are having a panic attack.”She violently shakes her head.“Yes. Listen to me. The more you fight it, the worse it will be. It will happen whether you want it to or not. Just let go. It’s like falling asleep.”“No… scared.”“I know, baby,” I say gently. “It is very scary, but I’ll stay right here with you. I won’t let you go. It's just... it's a dream. It can't harm you.”Mara lets out a long sigh. Her eyes roll back in her head and she goes limp, falling forward and into my arms.I pull her off the chair and sit flat on the floor with her on my lap, cradling her like a baby while I wait for her to come out of her trance. As I watch, a tear rolls down her cheek. The warm droplet falls on my hand, sen
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 65
JohnathanGregory's mouth runs like a freight train on our way back to the mansion. The kid barely stops to breathe wihle he excitedly tells me about his week at Zach's house. We popped into one of the many diners in town for a burger and a milkshake, and the kid is in a fantastic mood. God, I missed my boy. I smile and adjust my wristwatch. I promised Mara that I wouldn’t be long, but it turned into a three-hour-long exercise, starting with Kelly who insisted that I stay for coffee and cake.I glance at my chattering son in the rearview mirror. “And I told Zach he can come play at owe house, ‘cause he don’t have a pool o' nothing.”"They have a big pool in town," I say. "Didn't Kelly take you?""No. She doesn't twust the men thewe."Oh-kay. “All right kiddo,” I say as we pull up to the house. “Settle down a little, will you? My ears need a break.”Gregory undoes the buckles on his carseat by himself and patiently waits for me to open the door. Grabbing his backpack, he hops out and
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 64
MaraJohnathan grabs me as I walk past him to the door, curling his long fingers around my upper arm to keep me in place. His grip is strong, firm, but he holds me in such a way that he doesn’t hurt me.“Is that what you think?” he asks. “That I’ll protect you to death?”I falter a little. “Well… yes. I’m sorry, but I kinda do.”“Have I been coddling you like you’re a child?”I quickly shake my head. “But you didn’t want to tell me about my father.”“Yes,” he admits and slides his hand down my arm to take my hand in his. “When I spoke to you dad, we had just met. You had so much going on. You were so… vulnerable. What should I have done? Should I have piled on and made it worse? Would you have done anything different if you were me?”I don’t have to give it much thought. He’s right. When I came here, I was on the brink of death, and so much happened all at once that he didn’t really have the time to sit down and talk to me about my father and everything that’s been going on at Red Rid
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 63
MaraI stare blankly at Johnathan, not sure how to answer him. I knew he’d ask me sooner or later to spend the night with him, but I thought it would be later. What’s more surprising is that I’m not afraid by the prospect of sharing his bed - I’m enraptured by it.“Why do you want me to stay?” I ask nonetheless.He shrugs and steps into his linen trousers. “I missed you.”“You did?”“Of course. You are my mate.”“You barely even know me.”“Didn’t make me miss you any less.”I smile. I’ve been smiling a lot lately. If I'm not careful, I'd go so far as to say that I'm happy. “Okay,” I agree at last, “but I train with Kahn at night.”“Not tonight you don’t.”“He’s not going to like that.”“He can go fuck himself,” Johnathan says with a soft little snarl that sends a weird little rocket of exhilaration down my spine. "I am in charge here, not Kahn."My mate doesn’t bother to put his shirt on. Instead, he sits next to me, but keeps a healthy distance between us. “Why do you trust Kahn?” h
In Service of the Alpha Chapter 62
JohnathanI sigh as I close my bedroom door behind me and drop my pack on the floor. The last leg of our journey was by far the worst. I kept as low a profile as I could with Rose by my side, which meant we had to take a lot of detours so we could dodge the rogues that are always circling Haven’s Crest, searching for a way in, The girl kept running off to find a male she could breed with.Several Alphas are closing in on Haven's Crest. Wolves that had been displaced by humans. These are the good Alphas I’ve been waiting for. I still outrank them by orders of magnitude, so I’m not too worried about their presence. If they can make it into Haven's Crest, they will join my pack, although I’m not quite sure in what capacity yet. Maybe as advisors or some kind of council. Eventually, order will be restored. They’ll be able to go back to their own lives and rebuild their packs.I hope.I handed Rose over to Ally, instructing the Beta’s mate to feed her, bathe her, and to keep her away from
