Olivia released Alfred and took a step back. Alfred looked at Olivia, a confused expression on his face. Olivia blushed deeply. “I’m not getting married,” she mumbled. She wished she had the courage to be more firm with her father, but truth be told, he scared the crap out of her. She shook her head and wrung her hands together. Amelia and Alfred could feel the tension between Olivia and her father. “Sorry, I don’t think I heard you right,” Davison said, anger evident in his voice. “I said,” Olivia repeated, lifting her head. “I’m not getting married.” She looked directly at her father this time, her eyes flooded with determination to set him straight. However, her face fell when she noticed Asher standing beside her father. The look on Asher’s face was enough to break her heart. She’d never seen that look before; it was hurt. Asher was hurt. But he only held that look for a split second before he coughed. Always stoic, Asher hid his feelin
Amelia was in a complete panic! She started spewing off a list of things that needed to be done. She’d been so busy prioritizing the resort’s immediate needs, like food supplies and staffing shortages, that she’s completely forgotten about the rainy season. And she now just realized how big of a problem it was. The town was on low ground so the rain would be heavier here. There was the risk of flooding. Plus, the soil on the mountain was already unstable. Rain would only destabilize it more. How would they ever build a hydroelectric power plant in these conditions? What if there was a landslide? “Whoa there, Amelia. Slow down. Take a breath,” Asher said. “There’s no time to breathe!” Amelia said, exasperated. “I forgot to tell Gabriel. He’s out marking terrain for the power plant as we speak. He isn’t taking the rain into account. I have to, I gotta…” But a loud clap of thunder in the distance interrupted her. They all looked up, above the t
Jonathan scurried into the hotel, the live recording machine cradled in his hands. The rain was coming down hard and he wanted to protect the equipment from the downpour. He saw Olivia, Gabriel, Asher, and Alfred all standing in the lobby, a worried look on their faces. His thoughts immediately went to Amelia. “Tell me she’s not out there? Alone?” he asked, pointing towards the window, panic in his voice. They all nodded. “In this storm?” Jonathan continued. “How could you let that happen?” His heart raced as his mind went to the worst case scenario. What if she was hurt? The thought of Amelia being in harm’s way shook him to the core. “She went to find Gabriel,” Olivia explained. “It was no one’s fault.” Jonathan set down his equipment. “Well, what are we waiting for?” he asked. “We have to go find her!” Gabriel gave Jonathan a quick nod. Jonathan wasn’t exactly his first choice as a partner in a rescue mission, but combining forces would g
Jonathan, Gabriel, and Asher would not give up. They searched through the night. They were wet and they were exhausted, but they scoured the mountain all night. They agreed that the best place to look was near the landslide where they’d seen the paw prints. But the torrential rain would not let up and it poured down the mountain, taking gravel, rocks, and even trees with it. This, of course, complicated their search. But they trekked on, scanning along the edge of the cliffs for any sign of Amelia. “I’m going to take my wolf form and go into the valley,” Asher called. “If she was hit by a rock, she could have fallen down, off the mountain.” The men didn’t respond. It was the worst case scenario, but since they hadn’t been able to find her, they all wondered if maybe that’s what happened. Asher shifted and took off into the night. The mountain was much easier to navigate in wolf form. “I’m going to change too,” Gabriel said. “You should as well. We can cover more
They looked towards the searchlight. It illuminated a pile of debris below the cliff where the slide had occurred. “Look! Paw prints,” Gabriel said. There was a pile of broken branches and claw marks in the thick mud. “If she was here, she was struggling,” he said with concern in her voice. “There’s probably a crevice behind that debris,” Jonathan mused. “Do you think she’s in there?” Olivia asked. The situation didn’t look good. The thick claw marks in the mud, the pile of boulders, the broken trees. If Amelia was in there, if she had managed to crawl her way into the crevice, it would be hard to get her out. The entrance was completely blocked by debris. And what if she was injured? They needed to act fast! They shouted orders to the helicopters, and the choppers tried to descend, but the area was two narrow. The helicopters couldn’t make it down safely. On the opposite side of the hill was an old power transmission facility. The helicopte
Amelia squinted as the light from a flashlight shone into her face. Her eyes adjusted to the light. What was happening? Then she saw it, the mud-covered faces of Gabriel and Jonathan. They’d found her! Somehow, against all odds, they’d found her and now she was being rescued. “Amelia,” Jonathan said, rushing towards her. She didn’t look so good. Her fur was matted with mud and blood oozed from various wounds. But her heart soared at the sight of Jonathan. She had been sure she was going to die in that cave, alone, in wolf form. But now that he was here, and Gabriel too, she knew was going to be okay. She summoned what strength she had left and shifted back into human form.She shyly tried to cover her nakedness but Jonathan turned around. “Here,” Jonathan said, removing his jacket and shirt. He passed them to her without looking at her naked body. She covered herself with his clothes and then tried to move. She was shivering uncontrollably and pain shot through
Amelia gasped and turned her body towards Jonathan. He wrapped his strong arms around her. She couldn’t bear to watch Gabriel being swept down the mountainside. Not Gabriel. Not like this. Her heart cracked down the centre.But Jonathan knew it was only a matter of time before the entire mountainside gave way. If they didn’t do something NOW, they would get swept away just like Gabriel. The helicopter’s blade whirled above them. It wobbled in the air, still trying to regain control. It started moving precariously close to the side of the mountain. “It’s going to crash,” Jonathan said. “Amelia, look at me.” Amelia shook her head. She was exhausted, injured, and now Gabriel was gone. Jonathan lifted her chin and forced her face upwards. “We need to jump.” Jump? Was he crazy? They’d be killed. Amelia’s eyes grew wide. She shook her head again. “No,” she said. Her body shook with fright. He looked into her eyes. His gaze was steady and reassuri
“Jonathan,” Amelia called out softly. Jonathan had shifted back to human form because he was sure they were safe. He was completely naked and his muscular, contoured chest shone from rain. He fixed his gaze on Amelia – those gorgeous green eyes stared at her, full of desire. Her breath caught in her throat. He walked towards her then and wrapped his arm firmly around her back. In one swift move, he pulled in close and their lips met. His lips on hers were electrifying. She felt a fire in her stomach and her senses ignited. The thin shirt she was wearing was the only thing between their naked bodies, and she felt the heat from his chest. She parted her lips and his tongue explored her mouth. She kissed him, with more intensity, hungrily. He wrapped his hands in her hair as she pressed her hips into his. More. She wanted more. His lips moved across her cheek, to her neck. He pulled her head back, exposing her throat. He kissed it a
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