Hunter’s POVAfter the damn horror show of watching Jane feed her sons her own blood, I went to visit Carl in his hospital room. Unlike Jane, he didn’t have any personal belongings on the nightstand, and he was staring with empty, dazed eyes out of the window even when I rapped my knuckles on the open door.A wide bandage was wound around his neck, keeping him propped up at an awkward angle. The nurses had fluffed up the pillows at his back and tucked the sheets around his lap, atop which his arm rested with an IV sticking out of his wrist. He’d lost a lot of blood yesterday, but I knew his injuries weren’t as bad as they seemed. Wolves healed fast, and I’d been controlling my strength yesterday. I’d meant to teach him a lesson, not kill my own Beta.Carl drew his gaze up to me, his throat bobbing and his mouth opening and closing uselessly. I must’ve really hurt his throat yesterday. Then he dropped his eyes to the starchy white bed sheets. He didn’t know how to face me and, as I ho
Hunter’s POVWhen we arrived, Reg panting and demanding his subscriptions before I’d even checked the perimeter, it looked like nobody was there. I sent the Shadows to check the grounds, and to give Reg his subscriptions back; then I shifted out, dressed in a fresh shirt and trousers, and went to look in every corner of the house. When I was certain nobody was home, I took a beer from the fridge, relishing in the cold bite of the condensation dripping down the glass against my palm. With my gaze fixed on the door I sipped it slowly.‘Hunter…’ Reg danced from paw to paw. ‘Why do I get the feeling that you’re unhappy? You think that’s Jane’s wolf, don’t you?’I made a noncommittal noise and took another sip.‘Isn’t that a good thing? She can protect herself now.’S mindlinked me to let me know that the last of Reg’s subscriptions had been restored – just as Reg started cheering. But he quietened quickly, and I was silently stunned that he’d learnt to care about my emotions. He was willi
Hunter’s POV I dropped slowly to the ground, wincing as shards of glass and debris from the fight dug into my back. Focusing on my own plan, I mindlinked S. ‘Come here and wait on the porch. And, S, don’t forget, you must agree to every demand she makes.’‘Yes, Alpha.’ As my eyes became heavy, my lids drooping shut, I heard the near-silent brush of S’s feet over the grass. I could sense his nearness, my whole body tingling with it.Then I drew my attention to my breathing, adjusting it until it came evenly and slowly. My chest hollowed and filled, hollowed and filled… I was getting so sleepy…My ears pricked at the sound of Jane getting dressed, the fabric sliding up her long, lean legs and pulling taut at her waist. Even that had me salivating. There was a soft jingle, one that I attributed to the poison bottles latched onto her belt, followed by a beat of silence. Then she called out to S. “S! Come here. I know you’re outside. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”My eye
Jane’s POVI glanced in the rearview mirror at my sleeping sons, nibbling at my bottom lip as I worried over this choice. They’d suffered through so much upheaval over the last couple of months, but I had to keep going. I’d never wanted to live a life on the run with my beautiful boys, although as I looked back at them, their hands loosely clasped on the middle seat, I knew I’d run forever if only it meant they were safe.But we’d been living this way for a little over a month now, and I wanted to find somewhere we could settle down. It was exhausting, never knowing where we’d be from one day to the next, waking up in beds that weren’t our own and, sometimes, waking up cramped on the backseat of my car. I picked each place with the roll of a dice across a map, not wanting anyone to guess the logic behind each decision I made and find us there.My boys needed more, deserved better. So I drove on, hoping that when we arrived we’d find somewhere far away from Hunter and his packs that
Jane’s POVThree days sounded like an age until they passed in a blur. I was kept in the cell, given food through the gaps in the bars and a bucket to accommodate my other needs. Every time a guard brought me food or water I asked them to see my sons, but they just laughed in my face and spilled my rations on me.I was no stranger to such humiliation, and it didn’t bother me. I was worried about my sons, but since they thought they were useless pups, I hoped they wouldn't bother to do horrible things to them… right? I kept reassuring myself. But it didn’t ease the panic I felt.I ate only because Ina prompted me to, telling me I needed energy to be able to rescue my boys when the time came.Knowing my sons were out there somewhere gave me purpose. So I’d listened carefully and asked questions, gathering as much information as I could before my time was up. Ina filled in some of the gaps, too, though she didn’t know much more about the Sand Wolves than I did.There were two Alphas of
Jane’s POVMy eyes widened. “What?” I breathed.‘Aha! I told you, Jane, I’m a lucky girl. My good fortune will help you. See! Here it comes! Am I a life saver or what?’ Ina wagged her tail, her tongue lolling out of her mouth happily.‘But why? Why is he doing this–’‘Why ask! Take it and run, girl!’Alpha Colin shrugged off his coat, draping it over my shoulders and covering up my pitiful lack of clothing. I shivered as his warmth brushed over me, heating me to my core. He lifted me into his arms bridal style, carrying me down the steps.I struggled against his familiar embrace. I didn’t want to be touched by this stranger, even if he had just saved my ass. I got a glimpse of brown eyes, which looked strangely familiar, and a shock of dark red hair, but I didn’t focus on his face as I bucked and writhed in his grip.A hand clamped around his bicep, yanking us to a halt. “Wait a minute, brother,” said Alpha David, his tone frosty. “You haven’t paid for her.”Colin scoffed. “Have you e
Jane’s POVWhen I next opened my eyes, I was lying on a shabby bed and the air around me was filled with dust. I watched through a bleary gaze as the motes spun lazily through the slants of sunlight spilling across the small room. There was another bed beside me, on which both of my sons lay, tangled together under a thin sheet. Owen clutched at Ares, who looked back at me with the calm, assessing gaze of an Alpha heir.My heart snagged in my throat. Had the Moon Goddess really saved us?The door groaned open. I ran my dry tongue over the roof of my mouth; my head spun as I sat up, making me close my eyes for just a second –“Fucking hell,” the man grunted, and a string of colourful swearwords left him. I leapt up to cover my sons’ ears, but my whole body trembled like a leaf. I couldn’t stand, so I rested my back against the hard acacia backrest and assessed the man. Was he our saviour? Or was he our kidnapper?He was odd looking, clearly elderly, his body worn by a long life; his ha
Jane’s POVIna shook her head at me. ‘God, I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist coming to his rescue!’‘I’m sorry, Ina, but you know I can’t just watch someone die like this in front of me. I’m a doctor – and Alpha Colin did save us. I can’t just…’‘Stop, stop! I don’t want to hear your explanations, Jane; I know all of that. I want to know what you’re going to do with him now! Save him? He won’t die if you don’t save him – he’s an Alpha, his body is strong, he’ll heal himself. I promise you he won’t die. Do you understand? He’s dangerous. Do you hear me, Jane? This man is dangerous. He will cause you nothing but trouble.’ She sighed, resigned. ‘But, even then, you’re going to save him?’ She stared me dead in the eye and waited for my confirmation.I stayed silent for a moment. ‘What if he doesn’t heal, though? He’ll die. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.’ I straightened my shoulders. ‘Yes. I’m going to save him.’‘Gosh, I knew it!’ Ina turned her back on me.I managed to lift Co