Dementia’s finger throbbed in pain. She stared down at the red dot on the end of her bandage, and imagined Kerry opening the package. He'd be hurt, hopefully not too irrational. It was just a finger. It hurt like hell, but she could possibly save it if she made it out.She didn't pretend to know much about the other realms. Demetria knew Jack and Ivory were dead…their real bodies, so they couldn't hurt them or kill them. Since her real body was still linked to her spirit, he was able to chop off her finger, she assumed. She never imagined he would do it, but obviously, Jack wasn't that attached to his lover's finger.She groaned, and turned over in her bed, staring at the stained-glass window in her room. Jack had taken care of her finger, doctored it, and had almost been kind.She knew the only reason was that he needed her body. Part of her wanted to use that to her advantage, but this afternoon proved nothing she did would help. Jack was going to do everything he could to resurrec
The wolves left hours ago, in a hurry to sniff out Demetria's body. Kerry felt himself slipping into worry with each passing moment. Would Jack cut off another finger? A toe? What could he live without?Because Kerry knew he couldn't live without Demetria, and he didn't care what she looked like, but didn't want her in pain. He wasn't sure how much pain she felt being in that realm, and he didn't want to find out.He wasn't even receiving pleasure in Jane and Alex beating the crap out of the bird. At one point, it would have been the highlight of his day, but now he couldn't get Demetria's pain out of his head.Kerry watched the sun, waiting on it to sink down, his fingers tapping against his knees.He wanted to check on her, make sure she was okay, but the day was taking too long. He stood up and walked inside of his house, determined to pass the time to get to Demetria quickly.His wolf begged to be let free, but Kerry needed to be close and in charge. When it was time to travel, h
Dom carried Demetria from the bedroom while she grabbed tightly to every door jamb and kicked her feet. Dom hardly seemed to notice. Pure panic coursed through her, lighting a fire inside.She'd never had a more obvious need for fight or flight in her life.This was it. She had to beat Dom, this big man carrying her around like a caveman. It felt like an impossible task, but she had to try for her life.He carried her toward the kitchen, and she heard him slinging things out of his way. When she heard the utensil drawer open, her body went into panic mode. Was he grabbing a knife to slaughter her with? It hardly seemed like a quick, non-painful death that he'd promised.Demetria swung her legs wildly, kicking andscreaming. Dom shifted to get a better grip, and Demetria noticed a pot sitting on the counter. She gripped the handle and brought it up to Dom's face.He hissed, dropped her and the knife in his hand, she grabbed it, slicing it across the back of his leg. He howled, leaning
Kerry blinked several times, trying to make sure he hadn't fallen into a mean dream, that the universe wasn't going to snatch her from his grip, or turn her into smoke in his arms.He hadn't been able to look away from her since he noticed her sitting in the corner of that room, quivering in fear of Jack finding her. It'd fill him with pride to see the rage on Jack’s face.Knowing he was without his little bird, and without his source of a soul, Kerry didn't even care that Jack would come back for Demetria, because he wouldn't let her out of his sight for a moment. Jack had missed his chance. When he came back for her, Kerry would send him right to Hell where he belonged.Kerry tightened his arm around Demetria's waist as Cynthia gathered everyone into a circle to make the trip back home.Demetria turned and looked up at him. The scent of her flesh melted over him like butter. Her pretty eyes smiled back at him. "You saved me," she whispered.He shook his head and cupped her cheek wi
Demetria’s body ached from traveling through the portal, and though Kerry tried his best to keep his weight off her, she felt it. But as badly as her muscles screamed from being sore, she couldn't have cared any less at that moment. She'd longed to be touched by him in this realm.She told herself that if she made it back, she would put her entire heart into this relationship with Kerry. He'd gone through Hell to save her, and she planned to prove to him she was worth it.Kerry's mouth traveled down her neck, leaving hot kisses against her skin, driving her eyes back into her head, and lighting her on fire. Even with Kitty staring at them from the counter like a creep. None of it mattered but Kerry.He stalled against her neck, and she felt his heartbeat racing against his chest. The tips of his canines pressed against the pulsation of her vein."Everything okay?" she whispered.He nodded. "Everything is perfect."But she didn't believe him. She pushed him into a sitting position and
She looked perfect. Lying on her back, the sheets wrapped around her waist, Kerry's mark displayed on her neck. They'd spent the better part of twelve hours breaking in his bed, and their new mate bond.When he left the room, his wolf cried out in pain on leaving his mate. It was his wolf's deep-seated fear of losing their second mate, even though Kerry reassured him that he would do anything to save Demetria.Kerry walked into the kitchen the next morning, starting a pot of coffee for Demetria when she woke up, and then walked outside on the front porch. He half expected to see the evil twins standing in the yard, ready for a fight. The silence settled like nails on a chalkboard. Something wasn't right about it all.It was quiet before the storm, he was sure of it. "Busy night?"Kerry jumped backward, stumbling against the doorway. "Crap on a cracker, Cynthia. I'm a wolf, it's supposed to be impossible to sneak up on me, yet, here you are," he said, settling back against the railing.
Demetria sat on the front porch with Sabrina's diary resting on her lap, while Kerry went on his morning perimeter run with some of the pack members. She'd spent thirty minutes staring at herself in the bathroom mirror, after everyone left that morning, loving the look of his mark on her skin.She never imagined a mark would make her feel so fulfilled, and whole. Boy, how she'd been wrong.Jane’s silhouette came running down the small trail connecting Kerry's house to the pack house. She was giddy, and Demetria was not only happy to see her, but happy that she was happy. She went to reach down and grab her mug, but realized she needed to use her other hand. It would take her time to get used to not having a finger.Jane stopped in front of her and tossed herarms around Demetria. "I'm so happy you're back."She chuckled and palmed the back of Jane’s head. "Sweetie, I've been back."Janepulled away, her pretty blue eyes vibrant. "I know, but you're here with Kerry. On pack grounds. I'm
"What's it like to have your mark on a woman again?" Alpha Davis asked.Kerry smiled, while stripping out of his clothes. It was different having a mark on Demetria and him not having hers on him. His last mate was a she wolf, and she marked him also. He smirked at the thought of letting Demetria bite him, or better yet, pick out a tattoo for him.Something that would tell everyone he was hers. It was only fair, since his mark littered her neck; it looked beautiful against her porcelain skin, the tips of her blond hair vaguely hiding it when she wore it down.But Kerry noticed how she wore her hair back, showcasing the mark as if she was excited, which made him all the more proud. "Yoo-hoo," Alex said, elbowing Kerry. "Dad asked you a question. You zoned out over there."Kerry glanced between the two wolves. "My bad. It feels amazing to have her here, and to know she's mine. It took long enough."Alpha Davis chuckled and took off his shirt. "Have you talked to her about pups?"Alex
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