Axel and Ellen's 18th birthday is next week. Ellen and Lucy are planning an epic camping trip up in the mountains. Axel has been so stressed about Lucy's training and keeping Astrid in check, especially after seeing that rogue stuck in wolf form. The girls thought a fun weekend away would be just what the dr ordered. Lucy was busy baking away when Axel came in for his usual coffee and scone before his shift. He popped his head into the back, looking for Lucy. It was Thursday, and they were set to leave tomorrow, so she was baking extra goodies for their weekend.
"Ax! Hey! Is it almost four already? Geez, time flies when you're birthday baking!" Lucy always made ridiculous jokes when she was hiding something.
"Why are you acting weird?"
"Oh, you know I'm funny naturally. So you got Sunday off for your birthday."Lucy reminded him.
"Yes, Luc, I'm all yours for the weekend!"
"Haha, good" Lucy laughed at him.
"It will be a weekend to
Axel was so surprised and happy they decided to go camping for his big birthday surprise. He needed a break and to be with his two favourite girls. He never thought he would have a sister, let alone a twin. They set up the tent and were sitting out watching the stars. It was a clear night. You could hear the rustling of small animals running through the forest and the river rushing in the distance. They laughed and talked about what their mates would be like if they found them right away or if they would be waiting months or years. It was common for wolves to pick a mate if they didn't find theirs in the first few years. They were getting ready for bed when Ellen froze. She didn't know what to do. She felt so strange, like something big was about to happen. One of her gifts as a wolf-witch hybrid, even though she didn't have a wolf yet, was the sense of danger, smell and weather. She never really understood the weather, But Aunt Bonnie said it would come in time.Axel sud
Axel, Maddox, Ellen and Lucy were going to Portland to find out the truth about Ellens wolf. Ellen was quiet the whole way. She had a sneaking suspicion that Aunt Bonnie put her wolf to sleep. But why? What is she hiding? What does she not want Ellen to know. Aunt Bonnie had told Ellen that her mother died giving birth to her and Axel and that Axel went to foster care because he was a wolf and Ellen was a witch. Aunt Bonnie could help Ellen, but she didn't know the first thing about raising a wolf. What didn't make sense about her story was, why didn't she find a wolf family for Axel? Why send him to a human family 4 hours away. There was a Portland pack, and she was sure the Alpha would have helped find Axel an adoptive family. Something was not adding up, and Ellen would get to the bottom of it. A few hours later, they arrived at Aunt Bonnie's house. It was a large White House with a deck that wrapped all the way around. There sat a perfect porch swing and a
Lucy POV I could feel the control slipping. Astrid was coming forward. I could feel my canines coming forward and my nails turning to claws. I was trying so hard to keep all my happiness that my sister was alive, anxiety that she was in a healing facility and anger that I thought I was all alone for so long in check. Astrid was screaming in my mind to find Lanie when Axel's voice came through the darkness. "Breathe, Luc, don't let her win. You are in control. You are in charge. No one takes your choice from you!" he whispered. I could feel myself begin to breathe normally and my canines retracted, and my nails were my own again. I had to keep it together. Now was not the time to lose control! No pity parties today! I turned to Axel, and when I went to say thank you, I noticed the look on Bonnie's face. She was shocked like she had just seen a ghost. I tried to apologize, but the words were so quiet I couldn't get them out. I thought Bonnie was staring at me, but she
Lucy was a nervous wreck. What if Lanie didn't forgive her for not finding her sooner. What if she blamed her for their parent's death. Axel could feel Lucy’s anxiety radiating like hot wind hitting his skin. He leaned over in the back seat of the car and ran the back of his finger along the inside of Lucy's arm; this always calmed her when she was sliding into one of her panic fits. Lucy was always grateful for Axel's ability to manage her insane emotions. It was like they were connected somehow. She just figured that's what happens when you spend your whole life together. The facility was excellent, the walls were painted mint with chocolate trim, and warm paintings hung on the halls. It was a calming atmosphere. Lucy took a deep breath before she walked into the room. The others stayed in the waiting area while the girls got reacquainted. “Lannie? Ummmm... Hi, my name is....." "Lucy, I know I've been waiting for you, little sister."
Aunt Bonnie was right. It wasn't good. Lanie had been in that facility for years, being poisoned. She went there first for just a wolf relaxation retreat, thinking that would help her wolf calm down and deal with the trauma of losing her parents watching them die. That's when her wolf started losing control and had to be sedated until she found her mate, Lanie, turned 18 two years ago, and her mate never came. This could mean a few things: they aren't born yet, very unusual, aren't of age yet, or are dead. Only time will tell where her mate is. The only way to heal the wolf is to wake her and chain in her silver so she can't hurt anyone. Lucy was against this. She thought maybe Axel could help Lanie as he helped her. Axel agreed to try.Aunt Bonnie began mixing the herbs to wake and heal Lanie's wolf. Lanie was anxious to talk with Anna again. Would she be mad, would she blame her for everything, would she lose control and kill a bunch of innocent people again? 
Lanie was spelled into her room. Bonnie wasn't going to risk anything! Luckily they had a lunar moon which gave Aunt Bonnie some extra power, so Lanie was not chained in silver. She was bored, Anna hadn't woken up yet, and she had read all of the books Bonnie left for her. Ellen was supposed to bring her dinner soon. Aunt Bonnies cooking wasn't great, but Axel had been cooking lately, and he was terrific in the kitchen. Anna started to wake up! "Mmmm, what's that smell?” “Anna? Is that you? Are you awake? Are you mad? Do you hate me?” “Slow down, sugar. I'm still a little loopy. I could never hate you. It's my job to love and protect you.” “Oh, Anna, I am so relieved. I've missed you so much!!” “Shhhh, what's that smell? Fresh cut grass and coffee?” “Knock, knock, Lanie, are you awake?” “Axel! That food smells great!” Axel dropped the tray of food and pinned Lanie to the wall. MATE! S
A lot had been happening the last few weeks. Axel and Liam had been working hard to train Anna and Lanie. They had come so far in just a few short weeks. Anna was already more trustworthy. Lanie felt much more assertive with the training and the poison out of their system. Maddox was returning today, and Ellen was ecstatic but terrified because they'd be going back to her pack very soon. Aunt Bonnie was preparing Ellen for what would happen once Maddox Marked her. She wouldn't be able to shift until the next full moon, but her wolf would come alive in her mind. Her wolf was currently dormant. Aunt Bonnie was also explaining to Ellen that she is now she is 18, she will start to feel her magic intensify, which will make her a target for dark witches. They will feel her power grow, and she will need to be wise not to overuse her magic and wear herself out. She will need to practice every day to get stronger. She is all good things. She gets her magic from the earth, life and love. Dark
Alpha Killian I watched as Lucy walked, basically ran from me when she figured out who I was. I never thought I made women that afraid of me. I never thought I would find someone as beautiful as Lucy, and that was my karma for being so ruthless. I had to be cruel to protect my pack. My parents had been murdered when I was only 15. I had to be fierce, evil, ruthless to ensure my pack's survival. I only targeted bad Alphas to absorb their packs, Alphas who were greedy or slept with Omegas and hurt their mates, or Alphas who challenged me not knowing what a warrior I was. I followed her to the training ground because I wanted to see what kind of Luna she would be. If she accepted me, I know she wants to, but she is afraid. She was incredible. I'd never seen a female warrior so tenacious in human form. She never gave up. Her sparring partner was easily twice her weight and a foot taller. But she was fast and smart and knew her strengths and weaknesses. It was magical watch
Axel grew up in a small town adopted by human parents when his mother died during childbirth. He never needed to look for his birth father because his foster parents were all he needed. Kade and Laurel treated Axel like the son they always wanted. He was given everything a boy could want. When Axel shifted for the first time, he had no idea what was happing to him. His body got really hot and itchy. He had this pounding headache for days. They lived on the forest side of town, so he decided to take a walk and get some fresh air, maybe take a swim in the river if that helped cool his aching itchy body.He stumbled over rocks and tree roots, the smell of the trees becoming stronger, and he could hear everything. The wind in the trees, the heartbeats of rabbits running and the rushing river seemed to be so loud he covered his ears. He did his best to breathe through the pain he felt all over his body. He laid on the ground next to the river, waiting for the pain to s
LUCY I sat on the terrace of our bedroom, waiting for Killian to wake up. I knew he'd be up soon for training. Axel and I had stayed out so late. Killian had been asleep when I came in. I was lost in thought, looking at the building I had destroyed with my outburst only a few months earlier. Almost rebuilt, but never the same. My mind wandered to everything that has happened in the last few months—snuggled up in a blanket with my coffee. I felt a strange sensation overwhelming my body. Was my heat coming on? KILLIAN I woke up choking on smoke. I rolled over to see if Lucy had come back. She wasn't in bed. I stumbled through the smoke, wondering what time it was. I tried mind-linking Lucy to see if she was still with Axel. She didn't answer me. I thought for a minute maybe she was in the shower. Where was this smoke coming from? I looked up to see her coffee cup on the ground outside, her blanket wrapped around her tightly. She was on the deck trapped. I
LUCY Having my mother in my pack was weird. My memories of her are so different from the women before me. We are sitting in the gardening drinking coffee and talking about our lives. I can feel her trauma in her emotions. The things she hides and pretends didn't happen. I searched her mind when we first found her to see what she had experienced. They tried to recreate Astrid. She had so many children taken from her, experimented on and killed when they were not blessed wolves. How she hides all that pain, ill never know. She keeps the wall up high. Hidden from Lanie, for being an older sister is very oblivious to real life. The struggles we have faced and the hardships ahead. All she sees is Axel and her family. That's all she has ever wanted. I, on the other hand, have never felt more alone. Killian is great. I do love him, but he can't fill the void I feel. The never-ending emptiness. He does complete me in some ways, but in other ways, I don't know if I will ever be able
ELLEN I watched as Lanie and her mother reconnected after 15 years. Lanie had been through so much. I secretly hoped maybe my mother wasn't dead but just captured as well. However, I knew better. Axel was recovering well. Maddox had joined me at some point in the night and was sleeping on my lap, both of my legs were asleep, and I really had to pee when Lucy came to visit. I waited by his bedside for him to wake up so Lanie and her mother could have more time together and Axel wouldn't wake up alone. The brother I had always wanted. He was better than I dreamed of funny, kind, fierce. I hated the thought of him leaving to be the Alpha of the Mountain Moon pack, but I knew it was his destiny, and he would make an incredible Alpha. "Hey, how's he doing?" Lucy asked as she slumped into the chair beside me. "No change, but the doc said that's normal, and the poison is out of his system. It was just such a large amount. Liam is still asleep and can't h
ASTRID When I saw the vile creature cut Killains throat, to say I was pissed was an understatement. I shoved Lucy back and took control of this rescue and murder, whichever I decided came first. Mad ox put the coward who ordered Killian's death into the cell next to us while I healed Killian. Lucy was too sweet to witness this, so I blocked her out. What I was about to do, I didn't want her living with it for the rest of her life. "Ah, Alpha Silver, or should I say spinless serpent, I don't know how the mood Goddess gave you paws instead of scales." "Who are you? a hybrid? a witch? how do you move so fast, and how did you heal that mutt?" I reached my hand out with my claws extended and dug them into his neck, drawing blood. " I am Astrid Bennet. You kidnapped my mother and tried to kill my mate normally; my human is sweet, loving and forgiving; however, she is grieving the loss of her mate, so I had to shove her out—I am not sweet,
AXEL I could not keep Astrid back any longer. Before I could tighten my grip, she had ripped both vamps hearts out and busted open the cellar doors. She grabbed the beta both hands on either side of his face. I couldn't see what was happening because Astrid had her back to me, but then I heard the blood curtailing scream come from the betas mouth. His eyes turned white, and he started shaking. She threw him to the side and ran to Killian placing her hands on his neck. There was a flash of light, and Alpha silver tried to escape, but Maddox grabbed him and broke both his legs and wrists. He wouldn't be going anywhere. "Throw him in the other cell. I want to have some alone time with this monster." Astrid's voice was eerily calm and so creepy. Lucy was defiantly locked out. "Yes, Luna!" Maddox complied "Axel! Ellen! Find my mother." She screamed. After a few minutes, Killian's neck was healed completely. He was still covered in b
Maddox had returned with Ellen and warriors were ready. Killian wanted to kill Alpha Sandy Silver he exploited children and his mistress was no better. Astrid was on the verge of taking control but Axel stayed close to Lucy to help her stay calm while Killian commanded the troops. Treena had returned from university to stay with Lanie. The packhouse would be very quiet except for a few omegas and two warriors. It was about a two-day drive and a few hours in wolf form to the howler pack which is where the Academy was located deep in the woods of Louisiana. According to Bonnie, they had vampires and Dark witches helping conceal everything. Ellen would need to take down the barrier to get them through. Bonnie had given Ellen the spells she would need to get them in and out safely. Ellen was far stronger than Bonnie ever let her know giving her dampening herbs her whole life so she would never know her full power. Bonnie did grow to love Ellen even if she was power-hungry. She was just
ELLEN I woke up alone in Maddox condo in Death Valley. I tried mind linking Maddox and got nothing. What was he really up to? I know we got what we needed from Bonnie, so we planned on leaving Devon alone. So, where could he be? I wandered around the condo snooping through drawers and looking at bookshelves. The apartment was so different from his room at the packhouse. Everything was on display like his secret hideaway. I went to reach for the door handle at the end of the hall when I heard the front door open, and I could smell coffee and donuts. I went running to the smell. Ever since Star surfaced, I can smell everything. I reach for my coffee and a giant powdered donut. "Where have you been all morning?" I scolded him as I shoved a huge bite of donut in my mouth. "WOAH, slow down their killer. I had no idea you could fit that much anything in that tiny mouth." He winked and laughed at me, which earned him a smack on the arm. "It's not that I cant
Killian had been torturing Aunt Bonnie for weeks. She was a tough old broad. She wasn't going to crack. Ellen and Maddox had Searched through her home, looking for anything they could use. There was nothing except an old picture of Bonnie and a baby. Ellen couldn't remember her ever having a baby, so who was this? She decided to look up any babies born to the Gilbert family around that time. She looked about two years old, so she had a rough time frame.Maddox and Ellen decided to go out for a break while waiting for the registry office to get back to them. Ellen lied and said Bonnie was quite I'll and wanted to notify next of kin.Maddox wanted to take Ellen's mind off of everything that had been going on lately. They pulled into a gocart track."Seriously, Maddox?""You need some fun, and I wanna race! win-win!" He laughed and grabbed Ellen's hand, dragging her in. They stopped at the food truck outside the track before they raced. Chi