The streets of the town looked eerie. Abnormal came to mind. Something felt so off about the place, but Demetria couldn't put her finger on it. The air seemed light and iridescent, and the other townspeople never spoke.They looked, but only for a few moments. Maybe they feared Jack or Ivory? Maybe they were under some kind of spell. She didn't know, but it didn't sit right with her. It made her feel as if they'd landed in a different universe. A different realm.Demetria didn't even know if that was possible. She wondered if Jane could figure out they held Jack’s power in their hands with that stupid pendant. Or find someone that could figure it out.His powers were normal-pathetic-without dark magic. If Demetria could find a way to tell them. It most likely wouldn't be easy to destroy it, but they could keep the pendant close, away from his grasp. Ike was normal, but not stupid, in fact, he was smart enough to live for decades. There had to be a way ...Demetria followed Jack and
Alpha Davis shut the conference room door behind him and walked over to sit across from Kerry. "The wolves caught Cynthia's scent. They're following it, but it seems to go a long way. It looks like she was a long way from home."Kerry nodded, knowing it was good they could still track her, but he hated all the trackers going so far away to find her. Either way, they needed her help. She owed them a favor, and she seemed level headed enough."I found some sand from where the warlock transported her, and I think she can help track the origins. Besides the book, we don't have much else to go on."He nodded. "I'm sure Cynthia can help when we find her. The wolves are touching base every hour. I'll let you know when we get word they've found her." He sat back in his chair, and tapped his fingertips along the table. Kerry knew the alpha well enough to know when something was bothering him. "What is it? Is there something else?"His dark gaze lifted up to meet Kerry's. "My mother used to ge
Jack and Ivory strolled several feet in front of Demetria out of the village and toward a field full of wildflowers and knee-high weeds.She felt Dom walking-more like stalking-behind her. She tried to focus on his heavy footsteps to calm her growing heartbeat, but tears still pulled at the corners of her eyes. She was tempted to turn and beg him for help, but she didn't know if the evil twins could hear. A breeze blew against her skin, and she inhaled deeply, sending up a prayer that the hellhounds wouldn't tear apart Kerry's pack and kill the only family she had left.Demetria stopped when Jack turned to look at Dom once they made it to the field? "Is this good?"Dom didn't answer but gave him a quick nod. He walked toward a random spot on the ground, bent down, and began pulling things out of his satchel. The growing wild tossed her blond hair around her face, causing goosebumps to form on her skin.The woods around them looked haunted, with billowy trees and a feeling of being wat
Demetria's eyes locked with Kerry's through the portal, and Kerry felt his restraint snap. He'd never seen her with so much fear on her face. She looked well enough, with no bruises or obvious damage. She was safe enough for the moment.She was alive.But the fear, the absolute dread at the sight of the huge beast jumping through the portal floored him.Her scream lingered even after the portal closed when the last beast made it through to them. Kerry's wolf mourned the distance of Demetria as what looked like a hellhound leaped at him.Kerry rolled onto his back, feeling his sharp teeth press against his shoulder and take out a chunk of his neck. He yelped, doing his best to push the beast from him, with only a little luck.Another hellhound snapped at Alex’s neck nearby, but Jane barreled through and took him out easily. Kerry barred his canines, his rage building with each second that passed, his vision turned red, and he couldn't focus on the fight. His wolf's heart broke into two
Demetria stared ahead as they had lunch as if nothing happened. Jack and Ivory chuckled over some nonchalant conversation about their childhood. The house felt calm and quiet, too quiet for Demetria's liking.What she would do to be in her bed with her cat curled up at her feet. A nice mug of hot chocolate in one hand and a murder mystery in the other.She hoped Kitty was okay, and hopefully, Kerry or Jane was feeding him. Maybe they'd find the will in her garden, or her important shoebox of things hidden under the floorboard.She figured none of it mattered. They were just things, things that wouldn't be taken with her to the next life. Things that she wasn't sure Jane or Kerry would even care about."Demetria, you've hardly touched yourfood," Jack said, gesturing toward her plate. "Do you not like shepherd's pie?"Demetria cringed. "I don't eat meat often."Ivory wrinkled her nose. "You're one of those new age witches, huh? Well, it sucks for you, because you're missing out." Ivory
Kerry watched Cynthia walk past him in the living room of his home, as if she wasn't the answer to all of his problems. She stopped at the door, a quizzical look on her face. "Are you coming?" she asked.He nodded. "Yeah, of course, I'm just shocked to see you. I'm glad you came."She smirked. "Of course. You all did release me when I was in need of saving. What would God do to me if I didn't return the favor?""Right. Well," he said, clearing his throat. "I shifted back there, and left it on the ground. "I'm sure one of the other wolves grabbed it.""Let's go then."Kerry walked Cynthia toward the pack house, where obvious chaos was happening inside.Numerous wolves yelled and screamed at one another, arguing about what Kerry assumed was the hellhounds.Alpha Davis voice broke through the chaos as Kerry stepped onto the front porch. "Everyone shut up. We're not going to do this today. We will find this witch so she can help us save Demetria and be done with this. I don't care about
Demetria pressed her ear against the wall of her room, and listened.Ivory and Jack had been in his room for hours. After Demetria heard his loud dramatic roar, after realizing the hellhounds didn't work, Demetria raced back upstairs, and sat on her bed.That was hours before. She figured, since she was trapped in some type of magic bubble, that he wouldn't care if she went downstairs and searched for something to eat.She needed to keep her strength up in case there was a chance of her escaping. The sun had descended, and she took pride in knowing Jane and the pack made it through another day.The pure joy she'd had laying on her bed, staring at the vaulted ceiling, knowing they defeated the hellhounds. She chuckled to herself, knowing it must have knocked Ike down a few pegs.His door, down the hallway, opened a few minutes later, and he jerked her door open. He looked distraught. His normally perfectly quaffed hair was down his shoulders, not brushed or tamed."Are you hungry?" he
“Knock on her door”, Kerry’s wolf insisted for the fifth time.Kerry groaned, and covered his eyes with his forearm. He'd been hoping to hear Cynthia get up, so he could ask her how everything was going, but the house had been quiet all morning.Not that his wolf hadn't demanded he get up for the past forty minutes. Slowly, Kerry got out of bed, and took a shower, giving her plenty of time to make an appearance. He walked out of his room, tugging on a t-shirt and jumped when he saw her sitting at the bar.He stopped. "How long have you been up?"She smiled, stirring what he assumed was coffee in one of his mugs. "Hours."He hissed beneath his breath. "I didn't hear you get up, so I took my time. I've been dying to know if you've come up with anything." Kerry walked around, and poured himself a cup of coffee, trying to keep his eagerness from turning pushy."Any luck on the sand?" he asked from across the bar.Cynthia's smile faltered, and she sighed heavily. "Yeah, and it's not good n
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