Gabriel made a beeline for Alfred. Alfred looked a little worse for wear. He had dark rings under his eyes and his hair was unbrushed. He clearly hadn’t shaved that morning and the stubble was showing on his chin. His dress shirt was untucked and his left shoe lace was untied. This was NOT the Alfred Gabriel knew. “Too much to drink last night?” Gabriel asked, eyeing Alfred. But Alfred shook his head.His disheveled appearance had nothing to do with alcohol. This was about Olivia. Well, it was about Asher, really. After the two women had interrupted his argument with Asher in the lobby last night, Alfred had gone back to the party. Asher and Olivia had gone outside to ‘talk’. This had tossed Alfred into quite the funk. He’d skulked around in the corner of the room, with his eyes fixed on the restaurant door. Where was she? Still outside with Asher? He’d waited, patiently (but grumpily) for Olivia to return to the party
Amelia and Jonathan had been barreling along the quiet country road, going a bit faster than the speed limit, but nothing too serious. They’d stayed the night at Sephora’s after all. No point in leaving in the middle of the night.The morning was perfect, sunny and bright. But suddenly, without warning, the steering wheel had locked. Jonathan was unable to move it, and there was a hair-pin turn up ahead. They missed the turn completely, crashing into the forest. The car slammed into a large tree. Amelia’s body had lurched forcefully against the seatbelt and then snapped back. Her neck was instantly sore from the impact and shards of glass from the windows were scattered all over her lap, but she was fine. Jonathan, on the other hand, wasn’t wearing his seatbelt. So there was nothing to stop him from being thrown from the car when it came to such an abrupt halt. He flew forward and right out the window. He slammed into the same tree that had stopped the car, and f
Mercy, Gabriel, Alfred, and Olivia were all waiting anxiously inside the lobby doors. Amelia had called to tell them they’d be back shortly. She’d hadn’t said much about Jonathan, but she’d asked Olivia to tell the front desk they needed another room. Apparently Jonathan and Amelia were bringing a guest. The car ride back was all right. They engaged in some pleasant small talk, Jonathan slept, and then they listened to a podcast about aliens. Turns out both Amelia and Sephora had a secret penchant for government alien conspiracies. They were back at the resort before Amelia knew it. The group rushed outside when they saw Amelia open the door. It was a flurry of ‘thank god you’re okay’, and ‘we were so worried’. Amelia hugged them all back. “Where’s Jonathan?” Mercy asked. “He’s in the car,” Amelia started. “But he needs…” “I’m right here, Mercy,” Jonathan called. Mercy ran to the other side of the car, but th
Amelia felt like her head was going to explode. The headache had started the moment she woke up. Normally, she liked to savor a cappuccino in her robe while she went over her to-do lists for the day. It helped her centre. But not today. There wasn’t enough time! Her to-do list was too long, and it kept growing. It felt like as soon as she crossed off one item, three more sprang up. She quickly pulled on her clothes, a black and white checkered dress with matching black Mary Jane shoes (comfort was key today). Then she ran a brush through her hair and darted out the door. Jonathan? Check. She dipped her head into his room. He sleepily opened his eyes. “Good morning, beautiful,” he smiled at her. “I can’t stay. I have a million things to do,” she said. “Whoa. Slow down. Take a minute. Come here.” He patted the bed. She shook her head. “I really can’t. But tell you what? Meet me for lunch? I’ll arrange something. Let’s eat outside,
“Another Pina Colada?” Vivenne asked. Sofia swirled her glass around and discovered it was empty. “Sure,” she said. She stretched her arms out over her head and relaxed into the lounge chair. They were sitting poolside, basking in the rare sunlight. It wasn’t quite warm enough to go swimming, even though the pool was heated. The morning air still had a bit of a bite to it, so Sofia had pants on over her bathing suit. Her skimpy bikini top was fully exposed though. Vivenne was wearing oversized sunglasses, a large brimmed sun hat, and a sundress. Even if the weather was warmer, there was NO WAY Vivenne was walking around in a bathing suit in front of all these other people. “I could get used to this,” Sofia yawned as Vivenne placed their drink order. “Maybe some nibblies, too? A couple of snacks?” Vivenne asked, perusing the poolside menu. “Bruschetta? Artichoke dip? Stuffed mushrooms? Crab cakes?” “That sounds good,” Sofia repli
The hard part of the plan was getting Jonathan to leave with Stella. But this part was crucial. That way, when the pictures were smeared all over the projector during the launch party, people would start whispering.‘You know what? I SAW this coming.’‘They were flirting.’‘They left the bar TOGETHER!’This would add a layer of credibility to the pictures. Amelia would hear the gossip. There would be too much proof to contest.But how could they be sure Jonathan would leave with Stella? What if he refused?That’s where Vivenne came in.Sephora was here. Everyone knew that Blackseed was selling contraband potions and poisons. It was a well-known secret. No one talked about it, though. It just happened to be a lucky coincidence that Sephora was at the resort. The right potion would make their plan even easier. There had to be a potion that would alter Jonathan’s sense of reason. Heighten his sexual urges? Make him powerless to resist Stella… Not a love potion – those were r
Davison was fully aware that a strange women was staring at him. He’d reached out to Alfred and asked to meet. Alfred had suggested the pool. Davison thought it was a little weird, meeting at the pool, but he needed to talk to Alfred, so he’d agreed. It was paramount that no one overheard them. Turns out, the pool was the perfect place. All the splashing – it covered up their conversation. “Thank you for meeting with me,” Davison said when he saw Alfred. They shook hands. Alfred’s palm was sweaty and he shifted from foot to foot nervously. Davison’s call had come completely out of the blue. Alfred had panicked for a moment. “It’s of the utmost importance that I speak with you as soon as possible,” Davison had said in a low voice over the phone. Oh shit oh shit oh shit, Alfred thought. This is about Olivia. It has to be! Davison knows! He knows I’m in love with her! Alfred had no idea what the conversation wou
Alfred was already waiting for Olivia in the forest. She scurried down the path towards the place in the forest that held ‘Olivia’s Garden.’ She knew the way by heart. Alfred didn’t know, but Olivia had been to her special art installation many, many times since he first showed her during Amelia’s failed surprise party.She liked seeing the Olivia figurines in all the different places in the world. It made her feel special. She broke through the forest and into the clearing. Alfred was standing in the centre of it. She stopped the moment she saw him.There was something different about him. His clothes were strange and flamboyant as always, so that wasn’t it. His hair was the same. He was holding a flask filled with whiskey, which was nothing out of the ordinary. Then Olivia saw it. She locked eyes with his.There was an intensity in his eyes that she’d never seen. Without breaking his gaze, he took a massive swig of his flask. Then he put it down, his eyes still on her. She felt her
A hush fell over the crowd. Jonathan stood strong. At once, he possessed the air of authority that only an Alpha had. “But you didn’t want it,” Lucas cried, shaking his finger at Jonathan. “You never wanted to be Alpha. You told me that. It’s MINE. I’m the new alpha. Not you.” “I changed my mind,” Jonathan said. Then he looked to Magnus. Magnus smiled at him and nodded. “Are you sure?” Magnus asked. “I am, your highness,” he replied. “Then it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you the new Alpha of Blackseed,” Magnus declared. The crowd burst into applause and Jonathan beamed. True, he had never wanted the role before, but things had changed. His people, his pack, they needed his help. “As the new alpha of Blackseed, you have my word that Blackseed will no longer be dealing with illegal potions. We will find a new enterprise, a new business. We will become a media conglomerate, under my rule.” Amelia s
“Everyone, gather around,” Magnus said, his Alpha King voice reverberating around the room. Everyone stopped and stared in his direction. Mercy’s news had been most shocking indeed. Magnus knew that Sephora was up to something but without tangible proof, there was no way to charge her. He had planned on launching an investigation into Sephora and her Blackseed Pack dealings, but now that Mercy had come forward, he didn’t need to. He had all the evidence he needed, and he knew where to collect more.The DJ cut the music. “I have an important announcement to make.” Magnus had wasted no time. He waited for the crowd to settle, some in wolf form, some still in human form. This was odd? What announcement? Right in the middle of the party? It must be very important if Magnus was announcing it in the middle of the party. “Something has recently come to my attention,” Magnus declared. “And it is something we MUST address immediately. There is a traitor amongst us.”
Gabriel pulled Mercy back to the party. He told her to wait here, he was going to talk to Jonathan. Mercy nodded. There was something about Gabriel that made her feel safe. She didn’t know him well, but he was an Alpha, and a strong one at that. So she did as she said. Gabriel made a bee-line for Jonathan. He pulled him aside and started talking to him. Jonathan’s eyes grew wide and he looked over at Mercy, shock on his face. Then Gabriel pulled him in closer and kept talking. Jonathan’s face changed and he started nodding along, obviously agreeing with whatever Gabriel was telling him. Then he smiled. The two of them came back to Mercy. “Mercy,” Jonathan said, reaching for her hands. “You could have told me. You SHOULD have told me. You can trust me. I’m one of your best friends.” Then he brought her in for a hug. It felt so good to be in Jonathan’s arms. He was her oldest friend. She had been terrified that he wouldn’t accept her when he found out sh
Gabriel and Mercy walked over to a quiet spot by the edge of the forest. “You know, don’t you?” Mercy asked, her eyes concerned as she searched his face. “Yes,” he said. “How did you find out?” she asked, already knowing the answer. “It was while you were playing. I realized, you were enchanting us. Mercy, you’re an enchantress?” Mercy looked away for a moment and he could see the pain on her face. “Not exactly,” she said. “Well, yes. But I didn’t know. I honestly didn’t know. It was Sephora. She kept my secret and then, at the warehouse, she…she told me.” “Your secret is safe with me, Mercy,” he told her. “Don’t worry about that. I won’t say anything.” She looked at him with gratitude on her face. “Is it..is witch blood then?” Mercy sighed. He already knew, so she might as well tell him. “Yes,” she said. “Sephora told me. I guess my mother was a witch. She fell in love with a wolf and they, they had me.”
Sephora grabbed Lucas by the arm and hauled him away.“I’m very sorry, Jonathan,” Olivia said. “This must be a bit shocking.”Jonathan nodded then he shrugged. “Not really,” he replied. “I think I’ve always known, deep down, that Lucas wasn’t her real son. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything. It does explain why he was so awful to me all those years, though. I guess he knew, too, in his heart of hearts. He was afraid I would take the Alpha role away from him. I still don’t want it though. He can have it. He’s still the son of a previous Alpha, right?”“Uh, I just thought of something,” Olivia said then, her face pale. “Lucas is my half-brother.” Everyone let that sink in. Then Alfred broke the silence.“Tough break, kid.” He laughed. “But you know what they say? You can’t choose your family.”“No, I guess not,” Olivia laughed. “But you can choose your friends.” Amelia and Jonathan smiled at Olivia.“I feel like I should go,” Agatha said. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”
Sephora recognized Agatha the moment she walked in. That bitch! That human that stole her husband’s heart with her seduction? What was she doing here? Sephora’s mind flashed back to the day she found her husband was cheating on her was a human! Sure, Agatha claimed that he was keeping her there against her will, but she was lying. Sephora knew it. She was perfectly content in her little love nest. The cottage her husband gave her! And now she was pregnant? If the pack found out, Sephora would be the laughing stock of the entire pack! So she had quickly devised a plan. She would keep the baby and raise it as her own. Her husband could keep his pretty little human. Whatever. It didn’t matter. As long as NO ONE KNEW! But then she’d run away and people had found out. She’d gone straight to the Alpha King himself. Sephora had rejected it all, called Agatha a liar. Why would her husband, the Alpha of Blackseed, love a lowly human. It was preposterous! Most people had b
“Davison,” Agatha smiled. “Come, sit with us.” “Oh no, I can’t stay long. And neither can you. Olivia’s friends are waiting for her at the gala. I just thought I’d check in to see how the little reunion is going.”“Reunion? Dad, did you…did you know about this? That she was coming here tonight?” “Of course. I’m the one who invited her.” “What?”“She looks just like the pictures,” Agatha said, stroking Olivia’s hair.“Pictures? What pictures?” Olivia asked. Something wasn’t making sense here. Agatha told her she had left when Olivia was little. But these two were talking like old friends? “He’s kept in the loop,” Agatha smiled. “Over the years.” “Really?” Olivia asked. This was all news to her. “Yes,” Davison confirmed. “I’ve been in contact with Agatha over the years. She made a huge sacrifice, leaving you. So I made it my mission to keep her updated on you and your life.” “He sends me pictures. And tells me about what you’re u
Lucas. Of course. Olivia nodded. There had been rumors that Lucas wasn’t Sephora’s son by birth, which is why Lucas has been so mean to Jonathan over the years. Jonathan had told Amelia that his brother had even tried to kill him once. That’s why Jonathan had left the pack. It was ironic, because Jonathan didn’t even care about being Alpha. He didn’t want it. But it made sense now as to why Lucas was so aggressive and hated Jonathan so much. Deep down, Lucas must have known that Sephora was not his birth mother. Which meant he wasn’t the rightful heir to the pack, Jonathan was. So Lucas had tried to force Jonathan to leave, to get him out of the way, so Jonathan wouldn’t be a threat. This was all starting to make sense now. “It was a secret, one that I swore to keep.” “What happened after Lucas was born?” “I stayed. For a bit. I didn’t know what else to do. But he…he got worse. Meaner. More forceful. I told him I wanted to leave, and he threatened me.
Olivia stumbled backwards, shocked. “Mmmm, mother?” she stammered. Amelia grabbed Olivia’s arm to steady her. “That can’t be.” The woman looked uneasily at everyone in the wings. “Can I talk to you?” she asked, stepping towards Olivia. “Will you walk with me? So I can explain?” the woman asked. Olivia shook her head in disbelief and turned to Alfred. He smiled gently at her and nodded his head. “Give her a chance to explain,” he told her. “Trust me, I’m just as shocked as you are, love. But she deserves a chance to explain herself.” Amelia and Jonathan agreed.“I don’t know what’s going on, but I agree with Alfred. You should talk to her.” So Olivia left the wings of the stage and followed the woman to the bench overlooking the lake.The gala was in full swing inside and they could hear the music and the people laughing. It was a calm evening, and the water was so calm it looked like glass under the light of the moon. “I know this must be quite the