**Amber's POVOne of the guards pulls me by the arm."You're coming with me," he says sharply.I feel disoriented and dizzy, so I can't respond. I don't even know how long it's been since I last saw Dora.All I know is that I have spent too much time in this place. I wish Levi could find me, I wish I could get out of here.At least the Goddess seems to have heard one of my prayers. The guard leads me into the room and sits me in one of the high-backed chairs. At first I am slow to recognize the tall figure in front of me, but gradually it becomes more coherent.It is his voice that makes me understand who it is."What have you done to her?" Levi says, with a tone of restrained anger in his voice."She's fine" answers Dora, very close to me. She speaks with antipathy and annoyance. "A little drugged, that's all.""My son...""The child is also fine," Dora says with annoyance. "I've done my part. Now, do as I say."As they talk, the scene becomes clearer. I look up
Without knowing how, the stained glass windows that adorn the back wall of Dora's house explode. The instant is so heartbreaking that it takes me a moment to comprehend what is happening. I scream and the wolves at my sides turn in fright to see what is going on. That precise instant of bewilderment is enough for Levi to jump the distances and shift. With an atrocious roar he runs at an impossible speed and pounces on one of the wolves.Another of the wolves is attacked by a large black beast that lunges at him. The fight breaks out around me as screams leave my mouth. I try to get up, but I feel pain racking every one of my senses from Levi's attempt to break our bond and it stops me from moving for a while.Then a figure approaches me. It is smaller than the rest. I immediately recognize the dark gray fur of Sophie's wolf.She looks at me in anguish. I immediately understand what is happening. I cling to her fur as she helps me onto her back, then takes off running, to get me a
The sun hasn't risen when I open my eyes, but I know it must be close to doing so.Levi sleeps next to me. He has one arm outstretched for me to use as a pillow and with the other he holds me around the waist. His breathing is slow and rhythmic. His body, which is tilted in my direction, emanates a warm current that fills my skin with a delicious sensation.Unable to help myself, I linger for a while, watching his sleeping figure. The way the muscles relax in the immediacy of sleep. The tattoos that run across his skin are now a familiar path for me. My fingers glide over them, gently caressing the ink-covered surface.Levi sighs then and slowly awakens. His gaze focuses on me and lingers on my face. The hand that settles against my waist closes softly and he pulls me to himself.We are naked, snuggled under the blankets. As his body brushes against mine, deliciously, I feel his erection, which insinuates itself pleasurably against my sex.The anxiety of him possessing me beg
Chapter 51: Beyond my control **Amber’s POV“What do you think of this dress? Do you think Elliot will like it?” Sophie twirls in the shop mirror as I regard the pale blue dress that goes wonderfully well with Sophie’s azure eyes and blonde hair. The contours of the dress emphasize her tiny waist, and the length is demure yet stylish at just above the knee. She is incandescent. “I think he will love whatever you wear, but I KNOW you look absolutely stunning. The question is, do YOU like it? I mean, Elliot isn’t going to be the one wearing it. Unless of course, that’s the plan. And if so, I take it back. The cut is fine, but he can’t pull off that color. Maybe something in black would be more appropriate for the occasion.” I’m joking about the dress, but not about the rest of the sentiment. I just want Sophie to be comfortable at her own engagement party. She is always putting the needs of others before herself, and in my opinion, her own engagement party is not
**Levi’s POV My Luna is looking particularly stunning today. I am well aware that I need to keep my head in the game, as we need to rescue Elliot. But I can’t help noticing how shapely her legs look in that dress. Or any dress, for that matter. “My love? What are we going to do? What’s the plan for the meeting with the Kellerton pack?” She pulls my attention.“We need to be careful. I’ll have security and snipers posted around the perimeter, just in case we need backup. We can make no assumptions about their motivations. August and I will go in with you and Sophie. We stick together no matter what. I will not have you injured at this thing. Either of you.” I would far prefer that Amber and Sophie remain at a secure location while I take care of this. If that were an option, I would gladly take it. But for whatever reason, they’ve made it clear that I will not see Elliot again unless I do as they say. I swore an oath to protect my Beta, and I will honor it.
**Amber’s POV “We need to act now. Our men are in position. We don’t want to use force unless absolutely necessary. The goal here is to get Elliot out alive with minimal bloodshed.” “Minimal bloodshed?” Sophie pales at the mention of shedding blood. We have been friends for so long that I can feel her fear. I hug her to steady her.“Yes, minimal. Hopefully none at all. But we can’t count on that. We don’t know this pack. I thought I did, but clearly I was mistaken if they were willing to abduct my Beta, matter what the purpose. We need to be prepared.” “I’ll go in first. Amber and Sophie, you follow me. August you come in last. There will be four of us, which is good. But we don’t know how many we’re facing. Or why we’re facing them, for that matter.” “Let’s do this,” I tell them, heading up to the door and giving the knocker three hard raps. The knocker is surprisingly whimsical. It’s carved in the shape of a wolf’s head with a ring through its nose
**Levi’s POV“I have a friend. A shifter who has knowledge of how to cure what ails our kind. It was she who has given me what I need to care for my mother during her illness. It is the reason she still lives. Modern medicine had failed us, and I truly feared she would pass until I met this woman.” I hope that I am not making a mistake by revealing this information. It is not against her rules, but I need to be certain that I am leading only those who truly need help, and would not harm her. This is a leap of faith that I do not take lightly. There are very few that I trust in this world. “Who is she? How do we find her?” Grant is understandably eager to begin. However, I need to explain the conditions of her assistance before I introduce his pack. “She lives deep within the forest. Although she has helped me for many years, I only know her by the name, ‘Hope’. I very much doubt that is her real name.” My wife holds my hand, and her touch is electric. Eve
**Amber’s POV “Did you have a restful night’s sleep?” Grant is so kind that I don’t want to potentially shock him by telling him exactly how I spent my evening. Which mostly entailed worshiping the love of my life in that wonderful clawfoot bathtub. So I just smile and tell him the truth. Most of the truth.“Yes, it was absolutely lovely, thank you so very much! I love your guest quarters!” He is wise and does not ask for more. Instead, we focus on the road and we continue our way to Hope.As we pull up to the cottage, I recognize the flower beds out front. They appear to be exactly the same as when I was a little girl. Pink, purple and yellow blossoms cascade in a riot of color by the white picket fence. And the little white, fluffy dog running around in the front yard looks familiar to me. “Argus! By the Goddess that’s Argus!” Apparently, the little guy can hear his name even from my position in the car, and he looks toward us. Before I even th
Chapter 100: Ranger **Levi’s POV Hope and I look at each other in shock. I was definitely not expecting that. “If you let me out, then I will kill him,” he says, eerily blankly, “If I escape, I will kill him. I can’t help it. So you will need to kill me to ensure his safety.” “I don’t, I mean, I can’t do that,” Hope tells this strange creature in revulsion at the idea, “I will turn you over to the authorities. That is the only thing I can do. The only thing I will do.” “Very well,” it says, “They will probably kill me then. It is for the best.” Then the man begins his terrible shift back to the beast it was when he was captured. In a matter of moments, the man inside him is gone forever. I shiver at the thought of it. And at the howls that start up again the moment the shift is complete. “Dan is safe,” Hope tells me, her voice unsteady, “It worked. Thank the Goddess.” “You did excellent work,” I tell her, “You were the only one who could
Chapter 99: A different type of beast ***Levi’s POV “Dan, we’re going to play this safe,” Hope tells him seriously, “Amber and the twins definitely healed you. There’s no question of that. But just to be extra careful, the doctor and I want you to follow up with the medicine that you would have been prescribed if you hadn’t been healed. Antibiotics and doses of anti-venom. Every twelve hours for the next week.” I’m still shocked by this turn of events, but Dan seems to be handling all of this incredibly well. Ah, to be young again. “No problem,” he says with a smile, “I’ve got my life back! I’ll take whatever you think is best.” “And even though I know you feel great,” Hope continues with a smile, “Just do me a favor and humor me on this. Get some rest for the next week. You don’t actually have to remain in bed, that would be silly given how well you’ve already healed. You can still see friends, and I know that you’re going to meet with the school lat
Chapter 98: Grievously injured ***Amber’s POV “We’re on our way,” I tell him, “Where are you now?” “I brought him to Hope’s place,” August says sadly, “You need to hurry.” I look to my husband, who is sleeping so peacefully that it saddens me to wake him up. But Dan has been hurt, and if August has brought him to Hope’s place, he must be grievously injured. There is no time to waste. “My love,” I tell him softly, ‘I’m so sorry, but you need to wake up.” My husband stirs, and he looks so perfect lying there in bed that I want to make love all over again. But we need to go. “What is it, my love,” he asks, raising an eyebrow, “Are you ready to try the handcuffs on you this time?” “I am,” I tell him, “But unfortunately, that’s not why I woke you up. There’s been an accident. It’s Dan, and he needs our help.’ “What,” he asks, instantly alert, “What’s happened? Is he ok?” “August said he’s alive, but it’s bad,” I tell him sadly,
Chapter 97: Too powerful to be denied ** Amber’s POV “The first thing we need to do is figure out where you’re going to live,” I tell Dan, “Where have you been staying so far?” “I’m embarrassed about it, but lately I’ve been staying at that motel on Route 9,” he tells me, blushing, “The Black Swan. It’s terrible, and I absolutely hate it. But with my current financial situation, it’s the best that I can afford. Believe me, I’ve looked around.” I am horrified at the thought of a sixteen year old boy staying at that place. It is not a good place for anyone to stay. But anyone under eighteen staying there turns my stomach. Especially Dan, who is innocent despite what he has been forced to live through. Unacceptable. “Then tonight you’re staying with us,” I tell him firmly, “August, you take him out there to that terrible place to get his stuff, and bring him back as fast as you can.” “Are you sure,” Dan asks me, tentatively, “I mean, it’s so kind of
Chapter 96: Creative writing assignment ***Lev’s POV “Dan, you could have come to me,” I tell him sadly, “You could have come to me and told me what happened. I would have protected you. I would have found a place for you. Why did you think that you had to do all of that?” I remember how I felt when my father died. How terrified I was. How my grandmother preyed on that fear within me. Now as I try to envision what it would have been like if everyone I knew and loved was gone, I can’t help shivering. “With all due respect sir, I didn’t know you,” he tells me, and I can see the tears in his eyes that he wipes away quickly, “I didn’t know what to do. I was out of money, and out of options. My entire family, everyone I ever knew, was dead. I wanted to stay alive, and I did the only thing I could think of.” “And what did you think of,” I ask him, concerned for his response “How did you stay alive?” “Well, the thing is, I’m only sixteen,” he replies sa
Chapter 95: A little kinder *** Amber’s POV “Don’t look so surprised guys,” I tell everyone, “Look at it from my perspective. I’m sick of being in fear. Sebastian gave me nightmares, and it turns out that he was hearing voices in his head. Granted, that makes him scary for a completely different reason, but he didn’t know anything. He was useless. I don’t know what this guy’s deal is, but I’m going to see what I can find out about this nonsense, because I’ve had it.” My husband looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind. I know he only wants to protect me, but maybe it’s time that I started protecting myself. “My love,” he says to me, “I just don’t want you to have to deal with this. This is awful business. I’m supposed to protect you, and it feels strange to me to allow you to confront this man. We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet. I consider what my husband has said to me, and while I don’t agree with him, I appreciate his desire to keep me safe. I dec
Chapter 94: Best man for the job *** Levi’s POV “But I tried, I tried,” Sebastian is screaming, “I tried to deliver her to you! They got me first! I thought you would understand!” Elliot and I burst into the room together to see what’s going on. And we find no one. No one but Sebastian, screaming at someone who doesn’t appear to be there. “I did what you told me to do,” he continues, sobbing, and staring at something that neither Elliot nor I can see, “I have been your humble servant. Surely that counts for something!” “Sebastian,” I say, carefully, “Who are you talking to? What’s going on?” “Oh, don’t play with me Levi,” he says, crying uncontrollably, “Don’t pretend you don’t know. Say hello to Dr. Sherman. It’s over now. It’s OVER!” Elliot and I look at each other, and come to the same horrible realization: there is no boss. No Dr. Sherman. Sebastian has been taking orders from no one. All of this time, we thought he was the shifter wo
Chapter 93: Strike a deal ***Elliot’s POV “You know,” I tell Sebastian, leaning closer to really sell what I’m saying to him, “You don’t need to worry about Levi. Not really. He doesn’t have the stomach for what we know needs to be done. You and I, we’re different, you know?” It sickens me to say these things, but I need to find out who’s really behind the scenes here. And Levi can’t play this particular card. Sebastian knows where his interests lie. He may be crazy, but he’s not stupid. Not at all. So I’ll play the rogue shifter trying to get his payday if it means that Amber and the twins remain safe. Although I’m going to need to shower after this. Probably several times. Sebastian sickens me. I just hope I can hide my feelings long enough to figure out who he’s reporting to. “Yes, we are,” Sebastian says, and I can’t believe that he’s buying it, “But I think that the boss would prefer to reveal himself in person. You won’t have to wait long. He’s coming,
Chapter 92: As merciless as necessary ***Levi’s POV “Boss, we’ve got him,” Elliot exclaims, “We have Sebastian. We’ve finally got that bastard!” “Are you serious,” I ask him, whispering so as not to wake my wife, “Where is he? How did you find him?” I’m impressed. I knew we would get him eventually, but I had never even hoped that it would be this fast. It’s four o’clock in the morning, but only twenty four hours after I asked for help in his capture. Not bad at all. “He was wandering the streets,” he tells me, “My team found him in the park, muttering to himself. It was bizarre, actually. I thought he would be more stealthy than that.” “Yeah, so did I,” I tell him, thinking, “Where do you have him?” “We brought him directly to the place you said,” he responds, “That really was the best move.” The place he refers to is a facility I had my men create specifically to hold Sebastian. It is modeled on the facility he will ultimately reside