Amelia and Richard whipped their heads towards the door just as it broke down.It’s Jonathan, Amelia thought. He’s come to save me. Just like he did at the bar that night. But Amelia was shocked to see Gabriel. He stood in the doorway, breathing hard. The strong scent of wine wafted into the small room. Clearly, he’d broken a ton of wine bottles to make his way inside here, some of which were probably really expensive.Amelia gasped. Richard instantly let go of her, panic written all over his face.“How – how did you get in here?” Richard stammered. But then his fear and shock shifted to anger as he recognized Gabriel. “What are you doing?” Richard demanded. “You’re supposed to be my business partner? And you just barge in here? Breaking God knows how many bottles of wine?” Gabriel was breathing heavily. He’d seen how close Richard had been to Amelia. “Just bill Stormfang Incorporated. My company will pay for the wine.” Then he fixed his eyes on Amelia. “Come,” he said,
Back in her room, Amelia flopped down onto her bed. Her head was buzzing from the night’s events. Thoughts of Gabriel, Richard, and Jonathan all jumbled together. But one thought separated itself from the others – her mom. She went to her bottom dresser drawer and took out a small, velvet pouch. She had retrieved this when she’d gone back to the Eclipse Packhouse after Gabriel had rejected her. She hadn’t cared about anything else – clothes, gifts, pictures. She only cared about the contents of this pouch. She pulled out the first one. A necklace - pearls. It had belonged to her mom – a gift from her father. He’d given it to after her mom had passed. She set it aside and reached back into the pouch. The pull-tab from a pop can. Amelia smiled to herself, letting the memory wash over her. It was a warm summer afternoon, and the air was thick and still. They were sitting under a willow tree, their backs up against the trunk, relaxing in the sh
Where the hell did that come from? Amaya thought to herself, shocked at the letter. She opened and closed her mouth a few times to speak, but she didn’t know what to say. So instead, she looked like a fish out of water trying to breathe. “I told you,” Jonathan said smugly. “It’s a personal invitation from Mandrake.” Amaya looked to Amelia. “Doesn’t mean anything,” she shrugged, forcing nonchalance. “Just because you have a meeting, doesn’t mean you’ll seal the deal.” “We’ll see,” Amelia said in a challenging tone. Amaya decided not to say anything further. Amelia still had to prove her worth at the company; she still had to prove that she could make the company better. If she couldn’t, the board of directors would surely initiate a vote to get her out of there. It was just a meeting. So what? Amaya excused herself and strut out of the office Amelia turned to Jonathan then. Truth be told, she was just as shocked as Amaya. And a little suspi
“I’m sorry, M’am,” the familiar sweet voice on the other side of the phone said. “We don’t have an appointment anywhere under that name.”Amelia sighed heavily. This was the third time she’d called Mandrake Enterprises this week and every time the answer was the same – no appointment. She was beginning to wonder if there would be a meeting at all.“I called Mandrake again,” Amelia told Jonathan over their lunch break. They were sharing Chinese food, the little cardboard boxes spread out on her desk. “There’s still no appointment.”“Right,” Jonathan replied, helping himself to more chow mein noodles. “My friend is on holidays. Went to Greece for a few days, for a quick vacation.”Amelia eyed Jonathan suspiciously. There was nothing in his body language to suggest he was lying. It seemed strange though. Since when do company executives just leave for a holiday in Greece during the week? Amelia was beginning to wonder about this so-called ‘friend’. But she couldn’t admit that to Jonathan
Could her father be right about Jonathan? It did make sense. He was a gentleman, that much was true. But he never really made extra conversation. In fact, come to think of it, he was surprisingly quiet most of the time. Even when he was blind drunk! Amelia had assumed it was just because he had an introverted, measured demeanor. But maybe there was more to it. Why was there no information about him? Why couldn’t her father pin down his background? Who was helping him with this? Was it possible? Perhaps Jonathan wasn’t as innocent as he seemed?Maybe he really was hiding something? Magnus left and Amelia sat and thought for a bit. She wanted to trust Jonthan, she really did, but her dad had warned her not to. And Amelia trusted her father above all else. She decided to go see Olivia, but when she got to Olivia’s office, she found Asher inside. It sounded like he was scolding her. Amelia watched without making her presence known. “
Amelia stepped out of the cab donning box store brand shorts, a plain blouse, and medium-end accessories. She looked like any other young, single person at Serendipity Resort and Spa, there to enjoy a weekend at the resort with all its amenities. She checked in, found her room, and then decided to do a once over of the resort. After all, she was there to get a better idea of how the resort operated. She flicked on a pair of sunglasses (not name brand) and a sun hat, with a mental list in her head. As she walked through the lobby, the concierge nodded at her, knowingly. She nodded back. Werewolf, she said to herself, picking up the distinctive scent that only a werewolf emits. Serendipity Resort and Spa was located on the very outskirts of the human community, but still within the human borders. Therefore, most of the staff were human. But regardless of how many humans were around, the scent of a werewolf always rose to the top. And since Amelia’s return to her fa
“What, in the Moon Goddess’s name, are you wearing? Rags?” Sophia scoffed. “As the daughter of an Alpha King, I thought you’d be able to afford nice things. Looks like I was wrong! Ha!” Seriously? Amelia thought, taking a deep breath. Sophia? What is she doing here? Desiree excused herself. “I have nothing to say to you,” Amelia said firmly, throwing daggers at Sophia with her eyes. “I mean, it was bad enough being a useless Luna, purely a decoration, in the Stormfang Pack. Looks like you should have stayed. At least you had nice clothes when you were Luna.” Sophia smirked and then saw that there was only one place setting at the table. “And you’re alone!” She laughed condescendingly. Without anyone there to defend Amelia, it was ‘game on’ as far as Sophia was concerned. “Look at you. Sitting all alone. In crappy clothes. Why, you’re no better than a maid! You may have gained your status back, but what good has it done you? You’re still pathetic!”
Amelia knew before she got to her hotel room that something was wrong. Her vision had gone blurry in the elevator; she almost hadn’t been able to find her room number. The hallway lilted as she walked down it and it took her several tries to activate her room key. She walked to her bedroom, her hand against the wall for guidance. “What the hell?” she asked, as she stumbled forward, landing on her bed. She felt drunk but she couldn’t possibly be. Just then, she heard the sound of her door opening. ‘Who’s there?’ she tried to ask, but the words won’t leave her mouth. She turned to see a dark figure looming in the doorway. “The drugs are quick,” he replied. She recognized the voice even though it seemed distant. The man from downstairs – Lucas. Amelia realized with horror what was happening. It was the wine. He drugged her wine. The asshole! He walked towards the bed. She sat up and scooted backwards
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