Her scent lingered as Kerry was sucked from Demetria's arms and back into his bedroom. He gasped loudly, his palms slamming against the mattress and his head spinning. He leaned over the bed, trying to regain himself, but vomit pushed up his throat.He wasn't sure if it was from the hurt his wolf was experiencing or the aftermath of being tossed into a different dimension. It didn't make Kerry any difference. Either way, he hurt deep down.Seeing her, holding her, knowing she missed him and wanted him. It all avalanches down on his heart, bruising it even more than before, which seemed impossible. How could he possibly hurt any more than he already did? Could he go through any more torment before his wolf broke into a million pieces? He wasn't sure.Kerry fell to the floor, onto all fours, and let his head hang low as he coughed to catch his breath. Cynthia walked over and bent down beside him."You're going to be okay. It's just a little side effect."Kerry sat back on his knees and
Demetria ate with a smile on her face. The pasta Jack made tasted like Heaven after that dream with Kerry. At first, she assumed it was just that ... a dream.But she'd never dreamed so vividly. His dark eyes and blond hair. It felt like the first time she saw him on her porch again. The instant knowing of her mate being near. He'd tasted so masculine, and she loved the feeling of his arms around her.Everything about the dream, other than Jack ruining it, was perfect. She couldn't wait to go to sleep again. She prayed he would come back to her again. She'd never been so happy for Kerry to meet another witch in her life. Thankfully they'd saved Cynthia from the Lycan King because they needed her help desperately.Jack slammed his cup down loudly and knocked Demetria out of her daze."What's going on with you today?" he asked, bracing both palms on the counter between them.Demetria took a slow bite. "What do you mean? I'm just eating-""No," he said sharply. "I'm not talking about tha
Jane lifted a light brow toward her hairline and smirked. "You want me to climb the tree and capture the bird?"Cynthia smiled. "I do. Kerry seems to think that you deserve to take out the bird and wants the warlock to see you do it."Jane leaned against the railing of the porch and smiled up at the tree where the lyrebird watched. "I'm down for that. What's the plan?"Cynthia lifted a satchel and shook it. "I have everything to perform our spell, and once the bird is focused on us, you'll climb the tree and use this knapsack to capture it."Jane took the empty knapsack and looped the strap around her wrist. "Do we think this is going to work?" Jane asked. "As badly as I hate to admit it, I think the bird is smarter than we think."Cynthia shrugged. "It's worth a shot," she suggested. "Let's go ahead and head down there."Kerry fell in step behind the girls as they chatted. Cynthia had a way about her that made everyone seem special and important. Kerry didn't mind having her around
"Are you going outside? I need you to pick some cucumbers from the garden ?" Jack yelled up the stairs.Demetria jumped, knocking herself from her trance of staring at ...herself. What kind of sideshow circus had she fallen into? Ike had a picture of a woman that looked just like her. She couldn't understand why or what that meant.Hearing him sigh from downstairs, she shoved the picture into the depths of her pocket, put the satchel back into the closet, and walked down.Jack still sat with his book perched on his lap, an irritated look on his face. "Took you long enough. Those clothes look nice," he said, giving her a once-over.She stared at him, trying to decipher his intentions. He complimented her clothes but ultimately wanted to end her? Something was so messed up that she couldn't pinpoint it."What are you looking at?" he asked, slicking his hand over his silver-tinted hair. "I need you to gather the cucumbers. There is a basket on the kitchen table."Demetria turned her body
Kerry stared at the bird as he shifted forms while chills danced up and down his spine. Dead? Jack and Ivory were dead. Demetria was stuck in limbo.Kerry pressed his palm against the nearest chest of drawers and took a deep breath.Cynthia touched Kerry's shoulder. "It's okay, Kerry. We can still save her. We have something the warlock needs to see us, and she won't be able to follow us around." She turned Kerry to face her and braced both palms on his shoulders. "This doesn't mean anything but that they can't get to us as quickly as they would like. They most likely need the full moon to leave that plane. Everything is okay. Breathe."Kerry's wolf began to pace and run circles of confusion."What are we going to do now, Cynthia? How do you kill someone that is already dead?"Cynthia stepped back and gestured toward the door, away from the bird and its glowing red eyes. It shifted a few more times, different voices pouring out of it like a broken record. Cynthia shut the door and wal
Demetria scrutinized everything Ike did for the rest of the day. Every look. Every word. Nothing made sense, and yet, Demetria looked at everything in a brand new light. Jack was capable of love.It seemed so farfetched. The idea of him loving anyone other than himself. Or anyone loving him.Demetria watched him most of the evening until he seemed to become uncomfortable and excused himself to bed, which was what she wanted the entire time. To go to bed. To wait on Kerry because she needed to feel his touch.To feel real again.She showered, locked her door, though she didn't really see the point, and curled into the sheets of her bed. The minutes ticked by slowly, and her brain raced with thoughts that blocked her way to sleep. Sighing, she turned to her side and tried to count sheep, and slowly, after what felt like forever, she drifted off. Moments later, after her body relaxed and she began to fall into a deep sleep, Kerry zapped into the room.Like something from a children's mo
Jack came too soon. Demetria and Kerry spent what time they had tangled in each other's arms until Jack’s high-pitched voice sliced through what moment of Heaven they had to themselves.Kerry gasped for breath, much like the time before, but this time vomit climbed up his throat. Cynthia pulled over a trashcan from the corner of the room, and Kerry emptied his stomach inside. When he finished, he sat back and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand."You okay?" Cynthia asked.Kerry nodded. "Yeah."Cynthia squatted down beside him. "Did you see her?"Kerry closed his eyes, a smile resting on his face. "Yeah. I saw her. Touched her. It was magical. Until the warlock showed up."Kerry stood up with the help of the bed and sat down, scrubbing his face with his palms. Cynthia pulled the bag from the trashcan and tied it into a knot. "Did she have any news for us?""Yeah," he said, looking up at her with a grim expression. "Turns out Demetria is a reincarnation of Jack’s true love, and h
"Get. Up."Demetria opened her eyes begrudgingly, feeling flutters of butterflies in her stomach. She'd been determined to ignore Jack for as long as she could, but he didn't give up. She felt his ice cold hands shaking her, and she finally stirred awake.The skeptical look on his stonelike face made her skin crawl. It was the last thing she needed. "I'm up," she said, slinging the covers from her legs, but he stopped her with his hand on her wrist."What is going on with you?" he asked.His piercing eyes could have severed her soul in half."What do you mean—,"He squeezed his hand around her wrist. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You've been sleeping for many, many hours. What are you doing?"Demetria gave him a dumbfounded look."Seriously, Jack? Are their rules on how long I can sleep in my prison cell? I have nothing else to do. No book to read-""There are plenty of books here," he snapped. "In the library. I haven't stopped you from roaming. You have chosen to sit am
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