"But we can't go off halfcocked," Xander said after Daphne finished. "We have to make a plan.""Agreed," Daphne replied. "Let's go back to the Compound, and you can plan. If you need me, I'll be in my quarters, resting." She smirked. "Magic takes a lot out of an old body."Xander chuckled, rubbing her back. "You're not old."She raised an eyebrow. "I'm older than you think." Actually, she didn't look a day over twenty-five.Elias took my hand. "Everyone, are you ready to go back?"I nodded, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Let's go." I reached for the grimoire, and Daphne handed it to me. I held it in my arm, and then Daphne wrapped her arm around my shoulder, and Xander held Daphne's other hand. Daphne leaned toward me and smiled. "Together?"I nodded. "Together.""Three, two, one....""Lacus!" we both yelled together. We rushed through the Space Time Continuum, through the transparent tunnel, as dark matter and the stars shone on the other side. Suddenly, we came to a stop in Daph
Pushing myself faster, I had never felt so free in my life. I kicked up dirt and the fresh lichen as I pushed myself harder, moving quickly through the trees, easily dodging them as I ran. "Are we leaving the Oasis?" Xander asked in the Pack Mind, laughing. "The edge is right up ahead, and then there's nothing but desert.""Stop," Elias said, stepping in front of me. "Smell the air."When I came to a stop, my muscles already felt better. I did as he said and caught the scent of something that smelled delicious. "Deer?"Elias nodded, smiling. "To the left.""Oh, you should have let her smell them out," Xander turned to me. "It's more fun that way. It satisfies the hunter in you."I nodded, smiling. "Well, either way, I'm starving, and they smell delicious." We stalked toward the left, and there was a small herd of mule deer. "How do I do this?""Why are you whispering?" Xander asked mentally, chuckling. I nudged his shoulder, and not gently. "Ow!" Xander laughed. "The deer can't hear
Waking in our shared bedroom, I looked over and Elias and Xander were still asleep. Feeling amorous, I rolled over on top of Xander and started kissing his neck, waking him up.He turned me over onto my back, deepening the kiss. "I like wakeup calls like this." He kissed down my neck, going straight to my sex, causing my breath to quicken. "I want you... now," I breathed, kissing his neck, his chest, virtually anywhere my lips could reach."Your wish is my command." He pushed into me slowly at first. "Let me know if I hurt you."I shook my head. "You won't." Then I turned him over and pushed myself onto him, over and again, going faster."Come here." He turned me over onto my stomach and pushed into me from behind, causing me to gasp with pleasure. He pushed faster and harder as I hugged the pillow, my buds rubbing against the pillowcase with every stroke until I gasped my orgasm. He followed shortly after, pulling my hips to him repeatedly.I lay face down on the bed, spent. And he
After saying goodbye to Cruz, I headed to the Clinic, eager to see if Bailey had received my message. But I was glad that I ran into Cruz. I didn't like the way we had left things, and I missed our friendship."Hi, Bailey! Anyone home?" I asked, stepping inside.Bailey came out from the back. "What are you doing here? I didn't think you'd be in today."I shrugged. "I finished early."Even though I trusted Bailey with my life, I didn't want it getting around that we knew where Nightshade was. The last thing we needed was for them to get tipped off and know we were coming. In fact, I had the feeling that when it was time to go, it would be at a moment's notice. We had a mole in the Diamond Pack, and it was the only way to make sure we kept the element of surprise on our side."So, have you had many patients?" I asked, looking around. "Man! You've been one busy lady! This place is immaculate!""Thanks," she said, smiling proudly. "I had just a few dislocated or broken fingers come in, alo
Later that night, after Bailey and I had sent the last of the shifters out the door, I still hadn't seen Xander and Elias."Don't worry." Bailey rubbed my arm, knowing what I was thinking. "I'm sure they're alright.""Thanks." I nodded, smiling. "I'm sure they are, but I can't help but worry."Bailey smirked. "Well, in this business, no news is good news."I nodded, knowing she was right. "Well, if I don't hear from them soon, I'll text them." I shrugged. "I just don't want to bother them in battle."A crease formed between Bailey's eyes. "Alphas are usually the first ones in and the last ones out.""Why?" I threw away some gauze and started cleaning up as we talked."Shifters respect leaders who go in first," Bailey said. "It shows them that the Alphas wouldn't expect their pack to do anything that they wouldn't do themselves."I nodded, letting out a deep breath. "Makes sense."Just then, the door opened, and Xander stepped in... alone. "Where's Elias?"Xander gave me a weak smile, l
"Do me a favor and get my grimoire from the table over there, Kalyssa." In her suite, Daphne quickly took candles from the shelf and placed them on the table, along with a ceramic bowl.I nodded, setting her grimoire gingerly on the table. "Now, take the hair out of his hairbrush." She started lighting the candles. I did as she asked and soon had a few strands of his hair. "What do I do with them?""Set them in the bowl." She nodded toward the center of the table and paged quickly through her grimoire."Does every witch have a grimoire?" I asked, watching.Daphne nodded. "Every witch worth her salt." She tilted her head to the side. "I'll get you a grimoire, and you can start your own. Of course, the one I gave you belongs to your people. But that doesn't mean you can't have one of your own."I nodded, knowing that time was of the essence. Xander was waiting for Cruz's location. And every moment we wasted was another moment that Cruz was captive.Daphne raised her hands over the bowl
After Cruz and Xander were patched up and the rest of the shifters were gone, Bailey and I closed the Clinic."I'll take Cruz to his room," Xander said, kissing my forehead.I shook my head. "No, we need some rooms down here on the first floor to keep patients so we can monitor them. Kind of like a hospital. We can't leave Cruz alone overnight."Xander nodded, pulling me in for a kiss. "I'll stay with him."I shook my head. "I hate for you to do that.""No, I will." Bailey gave me a smile, looking over at me, lifting an eyebrow. "It'll give us a chance to get to know one another better."I chuckled, knowing that she was referring to me wanting to set her up with Cruz. "Sounds good. Xander, she'll do it.""Well, I couldn't ask you to do that." Cruz gave her a knowing smile."You're not asking." She shrugged. "I'm offering."Cruz lifted his shoulders. "Well, I guess she's staying the night then."Bailey hit him playfully on the arm. "Not like that!""Ow!" Cruz chuckled. "Watch the arm. A
Xander shook his head. "I doubt if the guilty one would flash that piece of paper around, but it may help to make them nervous." He let out a deep breath, talking about the note I had sent to the spy. "Go take your shower. I'll call someone to check on things."I nodded. "Thanks."A moment later, I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water run over my body, loosening my muscles. I hated the thought of not being able to spend any time alone for a while. Not that I needed a lot of time to myself, but it was just the principle of the thing. Having my freedom taken from me like this was crazy. I just hoped we found Rush Balista and the spy in our pack soon.When I finished my shower, I dried off, hitched a towel around my breasts, and walked through my suite and into my dressing room. Xander nodded as I passed. He was on the phone talking to someone.I dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, a long sweater, and boots, and then ran a brush through my wet hair. Then I pulled it back into a ponyta
Over the next few days, we prepared for our Pledging Ceremony and Eve and Dannan's wedding. Their wedding had been a few days before our Pledging Ceremony and had been nothing short of an event—the complete opposite of Cruz and Eve's Wedding. But it suited them well. After all, Dannan and Eve were much more flamboyant than Cruz and Bailey. Also, nearly every member of Dannan's pack had arrived for their Wedding, adding to their numbers. But it was a lot of fun.Xander had performed the ceremony, and we had danced into the night. Eve and Dannan looked happy, too. Since they had found each other, both of them seemed to be less grumpy and easier to get along with. And with the trial behind her, Eve was able to concentrate on the wedding and enjoy it. She had surprised me by asking me to be her Maid of Honor, and I had graciously accepted. After what we had been through together, we had continued to grow closer. Even though she was still Eve, she was a better version of herself than she h
The next day, Sasha was found guilty of treason and sentenced to fifty years in the Alpha Supreme's prison. Eve and Dannan were in attendance, along with Xander, Elias, and me. Seven, her brother, was there, too."I'm so sorry, Seven," I said, patting his arm after the trial. "But the evidence was overwhelming."Seven nodded, a crease forming between his eyes. "Yes, I know. Who knows? Maybe the next fifty years will give her time to think. She should be punished for siding with Nightshade against the wolves." He let out a deep breath. "But I'll visit her in prison and will try to help her in any way I can."I gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "You're a good brother."He shook his head. "Thanks, but I don't feel like it.""Seven, this wasn't your fault." I let out a deep breath. "You had no idea what she was up to."He nodded. "I know. I had a feeling she was up to something, but I had no idea what it was." He smiled, looking at Xander, Elias, and me. "Thank you all for everything you've d
When we walked into the Main Dining Hall, Gray was already at the table, talking to Dannan and Eve. Cruz and Bailey were sitting at their usual table, but I stopped, scrunching up my nose as I took them in."What are you two doing here?" I chuckled. "You're supposed to be up there with us!"Cruz smirked as he looked over at Bailey, arching an eyebrow. "Well? What do you think?"Bailey looked up at me and shrugged. "With the Alpha Supreme here, we didn't want to intrude.""Get up here!" I teased. "You're never intruding! Besides, I'd like to introduce you two to him."Bailey looked at me sheepishly. "Are you sure there's enough room?""Absolutely!" I glanced over at Xander. "We could always have another table brought up. Couldn't we?""Yes, of course!" Xander smirked, holding Bailey's chair. "You two are part of the family now."Cruz chuckled. "You go ahead. We're right behind you."I pulled Bailey in for a quick hug, smiling sweetly. "If you don't come up there, then I'll come back for
Chapter 117: Time Alone"You don't think Rolph would do anything, do you?" All we needed right now was for Rolph to find out that we're being Pledged and then do something to stop it. Xander shook his head as we headed toward the elevator. We had just taken the Alpha Supreme to his room to rest before dinner and had a few minutes alone. Xander shook his head, looking toward Gray's room, and his door was closed.We stepped into the elevator before Xander spoke. "No, I don't think so. If he hadn't done anything by now, then I don't think he will."I nodded. "I hope you're right."Once the doors closed, Xander backed me against the wall, placing his hands on either side of me. "Kalyssa, the only thing I want you to think about right now is the Pledging Ceremony." He brushed a strand of hair back away from my face, looking into my eyes, causing my heart to quicken. With him so close like this, it made it difficult to concentrate."Okay," I breathed, lacing my fingers through his light br
We spent the next few days getting everything ready. We had our work cut out for us, helping Dannan and Eve plan their wedding as well as planning our Pledging Ceremony.Come to find out, a Pledging Ceremony is just as much work as a wedding. The only difference is that the couple is bound to one another instead of married. In the shifter world, it's usually common as an engagement ceremony, during which time either party may choose not to marry the other without fault. But it's okay to use as a semi-marriage ceremony, too. Legally, I couldn't marry two men, so this was the next best thing. But in our eyes, we will be bound to one another, whether we're technically married in the eyes of the law or not."So, what kind of flowers would you like?" I asked Eve as we planned with Bailey at the Clinic. Since Sasha ended up being the one who betrayed our pack to Nightwatch, it left Eve with very few, if any, close friends. So, Bailey and I had offered to help her plan since we were planning
"So, I see that my brother and Elias finally put a ring on your finger." Dannan smiled as he took my hand to admire the engagement ring Elias and Xander gave to me. "So, when's the big day?"I shrugged as Xander took my hand and kissed it. "I'm not sure. We haven't set one yet.""Well, why don't you do it while Dannan's here?" Eve suggested, slipping her arm through his."Hey! That's a great idea!" Dannan looked between Xander and Elias. "Why not? I could help you get everything in order while I'm here."Elias smiled, taking my hand as he looked between Xander and me. "Well, what do you think?"A broad smile spread across Xander's lips. "I'm game if you two are."I nodded, smiling. "Let's do it! What day?"Xander shrugged. "A week from today?""That won't give us much time to prepare." Elias suddenly looked lost in thought. and then glanced over at me, arching an eyebrow. "Will that be okay with you?"I nodded. "We can do it if we keep it small. It doesn't have to be an elaborate affai
"Well, hello, brother."When we walked in, I nearly fell over, for standing a short distance away was Dannan Reed, Xander's brother."It's good to see you, Dannan." Xander gave him a manly handshake, pulling him in for a hug, and then released him. "So, what brings you here?"He shrugged, arching an eyebrow. "So, I need a reason to come see my brother?""Usually." Xander burst out laughing, giving him a friendly slap on the back. "Come. Join us. We just held a Celebration of Making and was just about to celebrate with a feast.""So, has the she-wolf Eve been claimed yet?" Dannan asked, looking around. I smiled, biting my lower lip, knowing that was the real reason why he had come. "Why? Has the love bug bitten you?"Dannan scoffed. "Please." He shrugged. "Just wanted to check on her while I was here." His expression turned serious as his eyes met Xander's. "So, has she been claimed?"Xander chuckled, shaking his head. "No. Not yet. She and Kalyssa got into a bit of trouble--"Dannan g
The next day, I woke in the arms of my Alphas, sure, for the first time since we had been together, that I belonged."Good morning," Xander rolled over on me and brushed back the hair from my face and kissed my neck. Then he kissed my cheeks as he slowly pushed into me, moving his lips down as he kissed my breast, his pulls soft and slow, arching his back as he went deep. Then he moved slowly in and out, holding me as he pushed into me.I pulled him to me and kissed his broad shoulders, enjoying the feel of this powerful man in my arms and my bed. Then I pulled his lips to mine and deepened the kiss. When I pulled back, I pushed the hair away from his face to look into his eyes, matching him thrust for thrust.Soon, want and desire overtook us as his pulls became harder, more forceful. He held himself up with one hand and caressed my pleasure spot with the other, while never breaking his stride. His kiss was filled with want and desire as he looked deeply into my eyes. Then he slid my
"That's enough, everyone," Xander said, holding everyone back so I could walk through the garage.When Bailey and I got back, everyone wanted a ride, but Elias and Xander had something else planned for this evening, and I didn't want to disappoint them. Surely, the last thing they wanted was to have me spend the rest of the evening giving members of the pack rides in my new sports car.Bailey pulled me in for a hug. "Thanks for taking me." She arched an eyebrow when she pulled back. "See you at the Clinic Monday?"I nodded, knowing it would give me a few days to rest since this was Friday. "I'll be there."She crossed the room to stand by Cruz, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and nodded toward me, giving me his usual mischievous grin. "You know, you're going to let me give it a whirl. Right?"I scoffed. "Yeah, right," I teased as everyone laughed. Even though I was kidding around, I would probably let him drive it at least once anyway.Elias placed his hand on the small of