“Come back. You can't go after them yourself.”“Alex, Mark is dead. We need to get answers out of Delia.”“Kerry is taking Aunt D back to her house to work on the bloodline.”Alex barreled in-between trees and branches, sweat clung to his fur, his adrenaline out of control. There were too many wolves trying to reach him, and his wolf shook his head to knock them out, which didn't work, but it calmed him down. Someone had Jane. Why would he wait? He couldn't wait.His wolf dug harder and faster the more he envisioned Jane in the arms of the lycan king, and the worst part was he had no idea where she was or who had her. The trail he followed led him miles and miles away. He figured he was well into the next town, or the middle of nowhere, all he sensed was woods and more woods.Trees. No actual trail in sight.The lengths he'd taken to grab her astonished Alex. If they knew what she had in her bloodline, they could determine the lycan king's next move. Why did he want sweet Jane? Alex d
Jane was frightened to move. His suavenonchalance scared her. It seemed like one wrong move, and he'd snap, and she didn't know what he was capable of doing to her.That maniac smile rubbed her every way but the right one.She couldn't get her mouth to open, all her words ran into each other like a nasty game of bumper cars. When she didn't speak, he chuckled and reached forward to pinch the tip of her chin.Jane stepped away from his touch. He slowly retracted his hand and shoved it into the pocket of his pants. "We'll work on that. I understand your reluctance. I'm sure you're upset because I didn't come get you myself—"Suddenly Jane’s words found their way out. "Seriously? You think I'm upset about your lack of manners? I'm upset because you plucked me from my mate and have put us through hell. Not to mention turning and traumatizing the students. Can you not see the multiple problems here?"Tristan's light blue eyes twinkled in the lighting. "You must think I'm a monster," he s
When Kerry didn't answer the phone, Alex became impatient. He wasn't going to wait around for a phone call and for Delia to draw out a map. He left the conference room, stripping from his shirt in a mad dash toward the woods. He needed to get to Demetria and find out what she knew."Son!" his dad called from the front porch. "Where are you going, Alex? You're not thinking clearly."Alex turned back, looking at his father's worried face. "I have to find out, Dad. I'm going to Demetria's house. Call me when Delia gets the map drawn out. I'll be with Kerry and Demetria. Please, let me go. I can't sit around right now."He leaned against the pillar of the pack house and placed his other fist on his hip. "Please let me know when you make it. You need to take a deep breath. You're going to get yourself hurt if you don't stop and think things through."Alex was already hurt. His heart had broken into two pieces and shattered on the floor. The Lycan King had his mate, and Alex had no idea why
The woods seemed to go on for miles on every side. Jane had no sense of direction, and the deeper she ran into the trees, the denser the brush became. Her entire body screamed for rest, but she was scared to stop.She was sure Tristan was close by, watching or chasing her-she didn't know. He could have caught her easily. Maybe he liked to stalk his prey. Either way, she had to try to get away. Part of her wanted to give-up, to lay down on the leaf- covered ground and curl into a ball.The other part thought of Alex. She knew he would come after her. Save her. But at what cost? His entire pack? And how long would she be trapped with Tristan while he tried to remove her mark with magic. She didn't even know that was a thing.What if it made her feelings for Alex vanish? She couldn't even think about it.The last part of her screamed run. So that's what she decided to do.The gown Tristan had her wear was torn to shreds at the bottom, dirt covered her from the knee down. She was glad. Ma
"So, are we going to ignore how messed up it is that Jane’s dad is a lycan and didn't tell her anything about it?" Kerry asked thirty minutes into the drive.Alex sighed and rested his head back against the headrest of Kerry's truck.Demetria laughed. "I always thought he was some crazy ole' grump-turns out he's a crazy ole' lycan. I mean... I don't understand how my sister and he kept this from me. She was older, but I always thought we had a close relationship."Kerry reached over and patted Demetria's knee, and Alex noticed she didn't pull away. ‘Baby steps, Kerry.’"You think he's taking us somewhere to kill us?" Alex asked.Demetria cracked her knuckles. "I'd like to see him try. He's already on my poo list. If he even thinks about trying to hurt any of us, I'm going to knock him into the next universe."Kerry glanced over at Alex, and then down at Demetria. "Could you really do that? I'm sure I can find someone I'd like to knock into the next universe. What about the multiverse?
‘Stop it’, Jane’s wolf begged. ‘We'll figure out any other way out of here.’Jane wanted to believe that, but she also knew that her strength without her wolf was nonexistent. Tristan's light eyes shifted toward Jane, and a sly smile curled at his mouth."Are we finally coming around, Jane?" he asked, plucking a strawberry from the tray and offering it to her.‘Bite his finger’, her wolf insisted.Jane nibbled at the end and took a dainty bite, even though she was truly hungry and wanted to devour the chicken on the plate underneath that tin pan. She knew exactly what was on it, without looking. Her senses were growing stronger because of Amaris."Yum," she said half-heartedly.Tristan grabbed another one and dipped it into a white dip to the side. Jane held in her gag and snagged it from him and took a bite. "I'd really like some chicken. Can you get it for me? My wolf is hungry. These chains are making her relentless."Tristan pulled the plate of food out from underneath the tin to
Jaxton shoved Alex toward the staircase, one hand wrapped around the back of his neck, guiding him down each step. His wolf became so irate that Alex couldn't focus on his own thoughts. When he gave his dad the signal to proceed into the kingdom, he could hardly hear his father's reply. Everything blurred red. The entitlement this family held boiled his blood into lava. The sheer lack of respect for the goddess that blessed them with a mate.It all rolled over his skin like nails. Not to mention the fact his own roommate and Jane’s friend knew everything. They had been in on it all along. Which made sense to why Cat wanted Jane to attend that party, and the hunt. To capture her.Alex wolf sensed Jane’s and became more frustrated that he couldn't save her, wreaking havoc inside of him, building a fury that he could hardly control without shifting."Stop it," he mumbled, shaking his head to calm himself."Keep going," Jaxton said, pushing him off the last step. Jaxton led him into what
‘Look how scared he is’, Jane’s wolf laughed. ‘I can feel it.’Jane could feel it, too. Even through the hatred of his evil red glare, she felt the fear leaking into the air like a pierced balloon. His lycan was larger than the others, but not near as big as hers.His claws protruded from his hands, his posture hulking as she paced back and forth, stalking him around the parlor. All the crap he'd pulled her into over the course of her first semester swirled in her head. The audacity and entitlement he held for himself.He tried to take her mark from her, tried to take her mate from her, without any care that he'd ruin her life. Ruin what was meant to happen... all for some army he wanted to build?Well, the joke was on him because she planned to tear down every lycan in this place until he had no army, no kingdom, and no chance of concocting another evil plan.The other wolves had left the parlor; she sensed they were alone, and it felt good knowing they trusted her enough to take dow
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