When we entered the dungeon, we saw no one. All of the cells were empty. I stopped to look at the walls, looking for another room, something hidden. When the guard approached, I took a peek inside his head and found what I was looking for. I moved towards a tall bookcase and, feeling around the edge, found the switch. It swung forward, revealing a set of stairs leading down.“Is this where the dangerous criminals are kept?” Matthew sarcastically asked Zoe. I stifled a laugh. That guy wasn’t half bad.We descended into the rest of the dungeon and the smell got stronger. Leigh daintily kept her hand over her nose. The first cell had who I was looking for. Her red hair gave her away, but the rest of her was unrecognizable. She had been recently beaten again. “Jess?” I called over softly. “I’m Addie’s mate. I’m here to take you somewhere safe.”“You can’t! She’s a traitor to the pack. We have the right to punish her as we see fit!” Zoe threw herself at me. Matthew step
ADDIE’S POVI thought I would have three days to keep my promise to Bryan. I hadn’t moved out of the cot since I crawled into it, thirty-six hours ago. I slept fitfully, waking myself up screaming over my bad dreams. I had already had four meals delivered, all of which I had ignored. I was still dressed in the clothing I wore into the cell and I had not showered at all. I just didn’t feel like it. I was dozing off, blanket still over my head, when I heard the cell door open. I thought I had possibly gotten the days wrong; there was no way three days had passed. I was counting the meal deliveries to determine what time it was and I know they wouldn’t have skipped over me, even though I wasn’t eating.I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder and someone slowly peeled the blanket off from over my head. There was a woman who was standing there with a towel and some clean clothes I recognized as mine.“Luna, they want you upstairs in an hour. Let’s get you ready, shall we?”I shook m
James POVI looked at Addie and was worried. She seemed beaten. I haven’t known her very long, but she’s never acted like this, even when she was in the hospital after her escape. She had woken up and made a plan to get out, even in her weakened state. I wasn’t sure what to think.One of the guards sidled up to me. “Alpha, I just want you to know that your mate didn’t eat the at all while she was down here. She spent the entire time on her cot with the blanket over her head. She would fall asleep and wake herself up screaming.”I nodded my thanks at him, touched that he was concerned for my mate.I caught up to Addie and Matthew and helped Addie into the car. She felt thinner in my arms, even though it had only been thirty-six hours. I didn’t like it at all.“Do you want to stop for something to eat?” I offered as the car pulled out. “I know a restaurant that serves really good food and it’s on the way.” Matthew had caught my glance and he could tell I was worried.Addie sm
ADDIE POVI dozed off in the car, James’ hand providing relief for my splitting headache. I was barely coherent when he helped me out of the car and into the elevator of the hotel. I leaned against him, not paying attention until the bell dinged.When he opened the door to the room, I gasped. It was over the top ornate. There was even a piano in the middle of the room. James grinned at me and then picked me up and carried me into the room. I squealed. He sat me on the bed, and I turned towards him, lifting my arms for him to take off my sweater. I saw his eyes turn liquid black and I knew that Scout was barely below the surface. I licked my lips, looking deep into his eyes, teasing him. With a roar, Scout took over.I heard the sweater rip, and I felt a moment of regret; I really liked this sweater. My bra was unbuckled and tossed to the floor before he fumbled with the button on my jeans. I giggled a little; Scout wasn’t very dexterous with the small details like James wa
ADDIE POVI woke up feeling really good. The memory was still there, but it didn’t hurt as bad, if that makes any sense. I looked at James, sprawled on his back still asleep on the bed. He had dark circles under his eyes. I slipped out and let him sleep.I blasted myself with the hottest water the hotel had, scrubbing myself down with the sample sized scented soap that was provided in the bathroom. I used the entire bottle of the shampoo, carefully washing my hair, and then putting a dollop of conditioner on the ends when I got out of the shower. I finger combed my hair, hoping it would look okay. I then wrapped myself in one of the complimentary robes and went out to survey my shredded clothing.I literally had nothing to wear that wouldn’t overtly show something I didn’t want shown. Scout had shredded my jeans and panties and my sweater was ripped down the front. I tried piecing them back together to see if I could do something makeshift with them, but it wasn’t working. I
JAMES POVI woke up that morning, completely exhausted. Sometimes that happens when I use my gift for a long time. That, and Addie’s memories were exhausting. I couldn’t believe she had gone through all of that, and my heart ached for my mate.I woke up to piano playing. It was soft and beautiful, and I could feel the peace in Addie through our mate bond. I smiled and stretched. It was so worth my exhaustion if it could make her feel good.After breakfast we found ourselves lounging in bed again, her in her new tank top and a pair of undies. She looked so good I considered postponing my plans so I could see how good she tasted.“When are we going back?” she asked, idly twirling one of my hair strands around her finger. I pushed myself back so I could see her whole face.“A or B?” I asked.“What?” she was confused.“A or B? Or one or two, if you prefer numbers.” I couldn’t keep the sneaky grin off my face. “Ummm, B.” Addie decided and then raised one eyebrow at me. It was
ADDIE POVThe next few days were a whirlwind for me. There was so much I have never seen and never experienced before. I was trying to be as elegant and sophisticated as a Luna should be, but I couldn’t help squealing over the soft sand, the vast ocean, the palm trees, the tiny monkeys that ran right up to me; the list was endless.The Fiji Islands was a place that a lot of werewolves travel for vacation. Unlike the USA where werewolves live in secret and pretty much stay in their packs, the Fiji Islands celebrates shifters. The humans are the ones regulated to a few islands and the shifters run most of the territory. Our plane landed and we were immediately put on a little boat and taken to another island.“That is the human island,” the boat captain said, lip curling, looking at the island we just left. I looked at James for explanation and he just smiled at me.“Most of the Fiji Islands are predominately werewolves and shifters. They keep the humans regulated to just a coupl
JAMES POVI smiled at Lexi and headed into the bathroom, grabbing my phone without her seeing me. I turned on the shower and sat on the closed lid of the toilet and put in a call to Toby.“Yo! You having a good time? Does Lolly still work at that bar? Tell her Toby says hi.”I smiled wryly, my brother’s enthusiasm overwhelming, as per usual. “I had a vision and I need your help,” I stated, no preamble.“Okay, tell me.” He sounded serious. I loved that about him. He knew when to be serious he knew when to cut loose a little.“It was Addie. She was in the back of a car. The backdoor opened and someone took her out of the car. She was screaming and kicking.” I took a deep breath, nausea threatening to overcome me.Toby could hear the anguish in my voice. “Calm down, bro. Let’s talk this out. What kind of car?”I gulped air. “A town car. Like what I usually use for service when I go into the city.”“Okay. Was there anyone with her in the backseat?”I thought back. “No,
ADDIETwo months later, on the day of the full moon and summer solstice, I was dressed in a sapphire blue gown that was fitted on the top and billowed to the ground in shimmery waves. A laughing Emily was trying to help me with my makeup. Her growing belly was in the way, and Gracie was crawling around getting underfoot. Undeterred, Emily tried to add another swipe of mascara to my already heavy lashes. “Come on, Addie! It will make your eyes pop!”I laughed back at her. “My eyes will look like spiders if you put another coat on my lashes!” Tonight was the night of my Luna ceremony. Wolves from many of our cooperating packs were in attendance as well as all of the pack members from our pack. We had invited the Council members and were surprised when most of them accepted. Matthew and Jessie were also going to be there bringing their newborn pup with them. I knew that James had already spent time snuggling their baby boy and getting his fill of the newborn smells. I had bee
ADDIEAfter the excitement of everything, the next few months felt almost boring by comparison. We were busy, that was for sure. My Luna Ceremony had been postponed and we were beginning the planning again. We were also actively involved in helping Matt and Jessie build a new Packhouse before their pup arrived. The old packhouse was being turned into a youth center and dormitory for the continuing education prospects that Jessie wanted to bring to her Pack. In the days of Alpha Cole, it was decreed by the Alpha what the profession of the wolves coming of age would be. Jessie wanted to give them choices and equal opportunities. I was excited to be a part of that.Three weeks after we returned from our latest mishap in the city, Emily asked if we could have lunch in the village. I agreed, knowing something was up.“Do you want me to bring James?” I asked. “No,” she said, a sly look on her face. I agreed, letting her keep her secret for now. I would know soon enough.I met Jam
ADDIE I got into the car and looked James over, satisfied that he only had a few bumps and bruises but nothing was seriously hurt. I could smell the wolfsbane on his breath and knew he had been dosed but I could tell that it was slowly leaving his body. How is he? I asked Talia. Scout is weak but recovering. He will be fine, she answered. I gave a sigh of relief. Toby got into the driver’s seat and turned the SUV over, backing out of the drive. “Where to, Luna?” he asked. “Aren’t we waiting for the other warriors?” I asked, turning back to look at the house. He shook his head. “No, they need to do some cleanup. They are going to need to call the council for help. Vanessa went rogue and there is a lot that will have to be done to minimize exposure to the human world.” He had a look of disgust on his face. "First and foremost, they will have to figure out what to do about two human bodies. Old man and woman. They didn't even have a chance against her." I nodded, suddenl
ADDIE POVI walked out of the conference room with Roman and the other guard chasing after me, pulling along a reluctant Brad. Toby came, too, lips pressed together. I recognized the look. He hated the idea and wanted to set up a counterattack at the park at midnight, but he also recognized that my plan might work. It was fueled by pure rage on my part, but I was positive I would get James back.Alice had called ahead and worked her magic so by the time I made it to the front doors, a valet was there with a set of keys and an SUV was sitting in the drive up. I caught the keys as they were tossed to me and the warriors dove into the back seat, shoving Brad between them. Toby jumped into the passenger seat, buckling up as I started driving away.“What’s the plan, Luna?” Roman asked tentatively from the back seat. Toby glanced back at him but said nothing. “I know the area. It’s estates. I’ll find a spot to pull over and drop you and Brad off. We’ll meet up at the house, but I
ADDIE POV I was pissed. I’ve absolutely had it with Vanessa and Zoe and everyone else who felt like they had a right to mess with James and my happiness. I was going to end this and I was going to end this today. I commandeered an empty conference room and started organizing and planning. The first person to arrive was Alice who came through the door at a dead run. “How can I help?” she panted. I slid a computer over to her. “Figure out where Vanessa is. And, if you can, figure out how I can contact her.” Alice took the laptop from me and started tapping away, accessing the company files to find a current address. "She's moved around a few times. I don't think she's still at the address we have on file, but I'll have one of our security drive by and check." She picked up her cell phone and dialed. I started pacing, wanting things to move faster. Matthew came in to give me an update on Bryon. I listened and said all the appropriate things, but I honestly didn’t care.
JAMES POVWhen Bryon and I stepped into the elevator he remained stoic until the doors shut, then he punched me on the arm. “Your mate is one of a kind, you know,” he said, wistfully, with a smile.I grinned at him. “I know. You’ll get your mate, hopefully soon. And she’ll be pretty amazing, too.”He punched me again. “But not as amazing as Addie?” I laughed out loud. “As you said, she’s one of a kind.”He turned to face the door of the elevator again and he had his serious Gamma face on by the time the doors opened. One of the amazing things about Bryon is that he knew when to cut up and he knew when to be serious.I waved to the security guard at the gate. “Until next time, Alpha,” he shouted at me. “Hopefully never again,” I shouted back. “No offense, Jeff.”“None taken, Alpha,” he said, laughing. The double doors to the outside opened, and I heard a loud pop. Byron fell over beside me.It took me a second for my brain to register what was happening. When Bryon fell,
ADDIEThe trial was over for the witnesses. We were dismissed by the Council and the prisoners were taken back to their cells. The Council still had to work out some details, but they were taking a quick break.“I want to talk to Matthew for a second,” I whispered to James. He smiled at me. “Bryon and I will go get the car,” he said. “It takes a little bit of time to get it back from the valet so you have a few minutes.”I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and watched him step into the elevator with Bryon. I had to wait a few minutes; many were congratulating Matthew on the acquisition of the Hellroaring River Pack. He finally was able to break away and he came to me.“Addie!” He gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “I don’t know what to say. What a gift!”I grinned back at him. “Are you sure? I wanted to make sure you aren’t mad at me.”He shrugged. “I will probably step down from the council, much to the delight of some of our Junior members,” he smiled over my shoulder w
ADDIE POVI don’t much remember my hearing when I was being tried for killing Alpha Cole. I think I was pretty much in shock and willing to play the victim. It was one of the few times in my life that I left the fight to others and didn’t much care about my future.I felt no empathy for Zoe or Jackson as they sat in their chairs, glaring balefully at the others. The other Councilmembers were really good with their poker faces; however, most would have a flicker of disgust when their gaze would fall upon Jackson. Exploiting another Pack for their wealth was not unheard of, but it wasn’t something that a prim, proper, upstanding Councilmember would do under any circumstances. Jackson broke that law, and they would be forced to deal with him harshly.I wasn’t surprised, nor was I dismayed when I found that Jackson’s punishment was death. For the werewolf population to trust their leadership, it had to be above reproach. They had to show a unified front and discipline harshly.Matt
ADDIEI looked over at James. I didn’t know Dr. Joanna as well as he did, and I wasn’t as trusting as he was. It scared me that she knew about my gift, and it scared me that she had a gift of her own.“How does that work for you and for us?” I asked. Both of them looked at me with confusion.“James is unaffected by my gift unless he wants to be,” I explained. “He has to literally want to be controlled by my gift. Same in reverse. I have to want him to read my mind. You figured out my gift because you somehow recognized what I was trying to do during the battle. Can you use your gift against me?”Dr. Joanna grinned. “Don’t know. I haven’t ever tried. As you know, there’s not many of us out there.” I nodded, acknowledging that point. “I’ll try. Be prepared to duck.”She pointed to a paperweight on her bookcase and it came flying at me. I ducked but I didn’t have to. The paperweight struck an invisible barrier and dropped to the ground. I sucked in my breath. “That is s