Alex sensed him first. That sensation that climbed his spine, forming pricks of fear and raising his hair on end. Alex felt they were being watched, so he turned in a circle, noticing nothing at first.Jane’s heartbeat raced, and he felt it in his own body. The mate bond strengthened the more time they spent together. The moonlight cast down over the willowy branches of the trees in the courtyard, making shadows that danced in the swaying wind.He glanced around again, this time hearing Jane gasp and cover her mouth. There he stood. Cash stared at them from underneath one of the many trees, his form tight and unnerving. He hadn't made one move, which told Alex that something wasn't right. And from the distance, he noticed the red gleam in his eyes, striking the stake into the coffin. Cash was a lycan."He's a lycan," he whispered so low he wasn't even sure it'd left his mouth. It's always been a possibility that the missing students were being turned, but to see it in front of him fe
The ride to the pack house felt like a blur. Jane didn't remember pulling out of the parking lot or the sharp turn into their driveway. The lycan was so close. She could see the spit flying from his mouth, and his red eyes reminded her of a demon.She rubbed her eyes as they parked in the front yard of the pack house and noticed Alex’s mother standing on the porch. When Alex stepped out, she raced down the steps and met him on the walkway. She cupped her palms around his face and examined him.He'd already healed for the most part, which Jane learned was a normal werewolf ability. Grace's gaze shifted toward Jane, and she examined her as well. "Are you two okay?""We're fine, Mom," Alex said.Jane watched the caring, loving look on her face and felt sad for a brief moment. She didn't have that growing up, and knowing Grace would be her future mother-in-law warmed her heart."When Kerry called, I was worried sick," she said, curling her arm around Jane’s shoulder and ushering her into
Alex walked across the hallway and shut his door. The bruises on his ribs had healed, and the only evidence of a busted lip was the dried blood he hadn't washed away yet.He'd been blindsided when he realized Cash had been a decoy for the other lycan. The lycan that turned him. He wasn't any closer to figuring out who he was, and it burned him up on the inside. Almost as much as knowing Jane was lying in his bed across the hallway.‘Go to her. Screw your mom’, his wolf said."She's still our Luna," Alex said. "Don't be an ass. Plus, she's right. It's tradition not to sleep with your luna until you mark her. It's a sign of respect. You know that."His wolf huffed and mumbled something,but Alex shoved it away. He didn't need any commentary on how bad his wolf wanted to see Jane. Alex was aware of both of their need to be near her.He stripped out of his clothes and took a quick shower. They had a long day with classes, and then went to see Jane’s Aunt. He hoped to get information out o
"Jane?" Grace asked as she opened the door and peeked her head inside. "Are you okay, dear?"Jane wrung her hands together but stood up to greet her. Her bare feet had gone cold from the cool wooden floor, which was a nice contrast from the clammy feeling of her palms. "I'm fine, Grace. Is everything okay?"She walked inside and relocked the door, tying her bathrobe around her tightly. "Everything will be fine. Sit back down, relax."Jane sat back down, Grace taking a seat beside her. "They found a lycan on our property."Jane’s spine stiffened. What were the odds of a lycan showing up after what happened earlier in the night? She hoped it wasn't the same one. His nasty teeth and deep black eyes had played a part in her dreams for the night. She was shocked she didn't wake up screaming. "Is everyone alright? Do they know who the lycan is?"She shrugged. "Not sure yet. They took him to the cell, and I'm sure Alex will tell me once he gets back. Are you hungry? Do you need some water?
As if the pack didn't have enough to worry about, now Alex had to worry about a bunch of students trying to hunt down the lycan, which put the wolves at risk too, especially since they were currently trying to track him.Jane’s nervous gaze shifted toward Alex.He rolled his eyes and clutched his desk. "You need to be careful. Jane is right-it's not a good idea."Cat sighed and flipped her pink hair over her shoulder. "You two are meant for each other."Jane shrugged her shoulders when Alex gave her an annoyed gaze. If Cat didn't get on his nerves before, she did now. Instead of begging her to stay out of the hunt, he thought of ways to stop it all together. He could inform the chancellor or make a call to the security office on campus. Either way, no one was hunting any animal for the sake of having parties.Alex tried to relax for the remainder of the day. Jane seemed tense but taking the fact that a lycan wanted to make her his queen well, considering. When Jane exited her last cl
So, the cat was out of the bag...or the wolf, so to speak.Aunt Demetria didn't seem phased by the fact Alex was a wolf at all. But after really looking at her belongings, Jane realized all the herbs and weirdo cookbooks weren't exactly normal.In her defense, she didn't know supernaturals existed until a beast tried to kill her a few weeks before. Jane turned around to see Alex staring at Kerry and her aunt's interaction. It was ... strange.She'd never witnessed Aunt Demetria so quiet before, or dare she say, taken by a man? That's what Jane assumed her look meant. But as soon as it landed on her face, it was gone, and she locked the door behind her."I hate your dad's impromptu visits, but I'm super glad to have you both over." She walked toward Jane, pushed back her golden locks, and looked at her neck. "Mark free," she said, turning to pat Alex’s cheek. "Good boy. You wait until she's ready."Alex’s face flamed red as Jane felt someone cover her in flames. "Seriously?" Jane asked
‘Great. Way to go, Alex. You mess everything up’, Alex’s wolf growled.He hurried to stuff the last mozzarella bite into his mouth to buy himself some time. He hadn't known that her dad knew anything about the bullying. Jane didn't seem the type to run home and tell her dad, but somehow, he knew.Jane made a soft sound beneath her breath and nudged her knee against Alex’s. "Dad, where did you hear that—"He dug something from the waistband of his shorts and tossed onto the table. It looked like a diary or journal, but Jane immediately recognized it. She gasped. "You read my diary, Dad?""Not cool," Aunt Demetria mumbled, taking a bite of her food. "And the bad dad award goes to ..." "Can it, Demetria," her dad hissed. He shifted his gaze toward Alex and narrowed his eyes to slits. "I want to know why you're suddenly interested in my daughter and why she thinks dating the boy that tormented her for years is a good idea. There are tons of boys on campus to consider."‘Kill him’, his wo
Jane watched as Alex walked out of the back door, and she waited a few seconds to turn toward Aunt Demetria, who poured herself a glass of wine and stood by Jane as she washed the dishes.She lifted a light brow at her. "You look like you need one of these," she said, offering over her glass.Jane pursed her lips. "I'm only eighteen. You're a bad influence."She chuckled. "Seriously? You're the only eighteen- year-old I know that would turn down liquor."Jane placed a plate on the drainer and turned to grab another one. "Doubt it. Now, are you going to tell me what's going on with you and Kerry? Or are you going to act like nothing is going on?"Demetria sighed and leaned her hip against the countertop. "I'm a phenomenal actress, so obviously, I'm going with the latter.""Come on. I know you want to talk about it," Jane said.She huffed. "Since Alex already told you, I'm supposedly his second chance mate or something." She made a face and took another sip.Jane finished the last dish
EpilogueThe smell of freshly cleaned hardwood floors and bittersweet excitement lingered in the air as Kerry stepped into the banquet hall with Demetria.They'd spent the last week alone in his house, healing from the guilt that Demetria held inside.It'd taken Kerry days to convince her to go shopping for a dress for the coronation.It'd taken him even longer to convince her that none of this was her fault. He wasn't sure she really believed him, but she believed him enough to attend the coronation. It was her niece being announced as Luna. She had to be there.Kerry tucked Demetria into the crook of his arm and admired the way she twisted her hair into a braid on top of her head, and the way it exposed her slender neck. He'd made her pick out an expensive dress, one that curved to her body, and showcased just enough, but not too much because Kerry's wolf wasn't having any of that.Kerry caught a glimpse of Dan and Cynthia sitting at a round table in the midst of the main floor. The
Demetria walked with Cynthia from the pack house to Kerry's with nervous butterflies in her stomach. Dan and Kerry stayed back at the pack house to deal with some pack-related issues surrounding the upcoming funerals.She was glad to have something to do other than stick around for that. She felt bad enough, and dealing with funeral arrangements made her skin crawl. Grace had been kind, but she didn't miss the absent look in Alex’s eyes. She worried about him the most. That was his father, and he looked up to him."You're thinking about it, aren't you?" Cynthia asked.Demetria glanced over at her pretty face, and the way her smile warmed Demetria's heart."Yeah. I can't help it. It's just ... engraved into my thoughts, ya know."She nodded. "I do. It will fade with time, but in the meantime, we'll focus our energy on Sabrina. I'm sure she's ready to get out of that thing. I don't get it. Of all things to put her in, ya know. Why not something you can actually cuddle with?"Demetria sm
Demetria followed quietly beside Kerry on their way to the pack house. It'd taken over an hour for her to gain the courage to leave the room. Even with Jane reassuring Demetria, and Kerry on her side, Demetria was hurting.The guilt felt like it would eat her alive.It showed she had a soft heart, but it made Kerry fear that it would weigh her down just after she freed herself. He interlaced his fingers with hers. He hadn't been to the pack house since the night before, but he figured it would be doom and gloom. He sensed the pack's heartache well into the night, until hefinally had to block his mind from any mind link so that he could sleep.The closer they walked to the pack house, the harder Demetria's heart pounded."There is no need to be nervous, D."She pressed her mouth into a hard line. "I don't know if I can face them right now. Grace, Alex…all the pack..."Kerry turned her to face her. "We need to see them now. Waiting will look like we don't care." He tipped her chin upwa
Demetria let the warm water rain down on her back, her face pressed into Kerry's chest as she sobbed. She cried because of Alpha Davis. She cried for the pack and Alex. She cried because she felt guilty. Though deep down, she felt so much relief that it came out in tears.She'd held it in for so long. The pain. The agony. Now they spilled from her like a broken damn. It was finished-mostly. She still had to make a decision about Ivory and Dom, and free Sabrina's spirit from her tortured life inside a bird. What had Jack been thinking?Kerry smoothed his palms down her back.He didn't ask questions about her tears or even try to cheer her up, he just held her. She appreciated it. She needed silence and comfort.They stood there under the waterfall until it turned cold. Demetria hardly noticed.Finally, Kerry picked her up and carried her to his room, where he carefully dried her hair and helped her into some sweats and a t-shirt."I need to go check on everyone, and see what I can do a
Watching Demetria make her way toward the portal sent vomit up Kerry's throat. As if the sound of the wolves tearing into the dragon behind him wasn't stressful enough, and the death of his alpha, now his mate was risking her life... again.The inky blackness crawled upward from the ground and molded into Jack’s form.When he blinked, realizing everything that happened, what little resolve he had leftevaporated. Dan still cradled Cynthia to his chest, daring Jack to make a move and touch his mate again.Jack’s deep chuckle melted into a low hum, and then a roar like he was the animal, not the pack. Putting his arms outward, his body shook, and he began to seethe. It reminded Kerry of a deranged 'Dragon Ball Z' character, and he fought his laugh.Demetria made eye contact with him from across the yard and nodded. Stepping closer to the portal, Kerry curled his fingers into a fist. He could see the heat licking at her body, forming sweat against her skin. He went to step toward her, t
Demetria's body went numb, any idea ofmovement vanquished from her being, Ikerendering her helpless. The hope she had slowly leaked out like a pierced balloon, and her air went along with it. They should have never let their guard down, not even for a second.Cynthia put her hands outward, and Demetria knew it wouldn't work. He was using her to get what he wanted, the pendant. Because Jack would die trying to fight for Sabrina. If he wasn't so hateful and selfish, it would have been romantic."Don't even think about it," Jack said. "That dragon will set this entire yard on fire in seconds, and Demetria will be tossed into the portal forever."Kerry shifted, quickly, and stepped toward Cynthia. "He's not going to toss her in there," he whispered to Cynthia. "He needs her to bring Sabrina back, and she is his vessel."There was a twinkle in Jack’s eye. "You're right,” he said, tossing Demetria to the ground and lifting Cynthia up. Cynthia screamed, but invisible hands wrapped around
The ground broke open beneath Kerry's paws. Frantically, he searched the grounds for Demetria, seeing Jane beside her,while Jack wreaked havoc around them.‘The hellhounds are almost gone’, Alpha Davis said through the mind link.Kerry glanced around at the wolves fighting the last two, while Roan fought Dom like he'd been waiting his entire life for it. Kerry would have unleashed hell on the siblings too if one of them turned him into a cat. Of all things to be turned into.“We need to bring Jack down”, Alpha Davis said.Kerry nodded. Walking over the cracks in the earth, his wolf stumbled to stay upright. What Kerry would do to have the balance of a cat right about now. Jane protected Demetria, but Kerry sensed Demetria's anger growing by the second.Cynthia clung to the porch railing of the pack house as the earth moved beneath them. If they didn't get them away from the house, it'd collapse, and he was sure an earthquake caused by a deranged warlock wasn't covered by insurance.Al
Demetria's senses kicked into overdrive.Everything, everyone, around her shifted in one second, the wolves transitioned into their wolf forms, while Cynthia and Demetria braced themselves for impact.Kerry's wolf landed before Demetria, blocking her from harm. She knew he meant well, but she needed to see to use her magic. The beast the evil twins brought with them roared, and it sent a shiver down Demetria's spine.She knew better than to radiate any fear because creatures like that fed off it. Though, while peering around Kerry's hulking wolf, she noticed several wolves attacking the beast in teams of three and four, tearing him down inch by inch.Ivory cowered down against the base of the tree where Kitty had been hiding. Ike had her trapped there because of her betrayal. Demetria wasn't sure if he would let her go or not, but she looked terrified that he knew the truth.Kitty, who was a very attractive alpha, was helping fight two hellhounds at once."We have to move," Demetria s
Kerry's wolf skimmed the surface, begging to be let free from his chains at the sight of them. The tension that formed in the air crawled over his skin. As if his wolf needed another reason to hate Jack, he eyed Demetria like he'd missed her.It sent anger up his spine and into his throat like fire. His wolf growled lowly, howling in the midst of him, making Kerry's body shake with a need to shift. Demetria reached over and grabbed Kerry's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.It wasn't just the siblings that had his wolf on edge, it was the hellhounds crouched and ready to fight beside them. Then the creature lurking in the back. His coat was so black that it nearly blended into the darkness around them. His ghoulish red eyes were vibrant and shifty. Kerry couldn't be sure, but he thought the creature smiled. He'd never seen anything like it before. He stood nearly eight feet tall, burly like a bear but cunning like a person. He looked plucked from Hell, right along with the hellhou