JESS POV I slipped back into the room, horrified over what I just heard. Addie was a strong, stubborn woman and she had been screaming like she was being ripped apart. She didn’t even scream when she was being whipped so I was scared to go in there and see what had been done to make her scream like that. It was horrible. She was laying half on and half off the bed, blood everywhere. The comforter was covered in it. Her eyes were swollen shut and there were long scratches all over her body, probably from Bane. I knew her wolf wouldn’t be able to heal her because of the silver. I sighed and mindlinked Angus, asking him to come over and bring some things to help. I approached her and tugged on her legs, trying to get them up on the bed like my Alpha commanded. She groaned and kicked out at me. “Shhh, it’s me, Jess. I’m gonna get you cleaned up, okay?” She didn’t respond but she also quit kicking at me so I took it as an affirmative. There was a light knock at the door and
ADDIE’S POVI’m pregnant. I don’t have to fake my numbness. Dr. Angus gave Cole the results and he stood up and howled and then mind linked his Luna. This baby is my death sentence. I am going to carry this baby until its birth, then I will be killed and my child will be given my gift, to be manipulated and exploited by Alpha Cole and his pack. There will be no one to protect my child and no one to protect me. Dr. Angus tried talking to Cole about my silver collar, telling him that my pregnancy would be easier if I wasn’t wearing it. Cole told him that I could wear the collar or loose my tongue. Dr. Angus shut up and I was glad. I was kind of partial to my tongue.Five months. That’s how long I have left to live.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ALPHA COLE’S POVI watched the Omega remove an untouched plate of food from Addie’s room. I marched over and grabbed it from the shaking girl’s hand. “She ate none of it?” I roared.The girl shook like a leaf. “No, Alpha.” She b
ADDIE’S POVI wasn’t sure if it was night or day in this cell. I didn’t have much of a plan when I started my hunger strike other than to be removed from my room. Being put into a cell in the dungeon was not something I considered. I thought I’d be given a cushy bed in the infirmary with an IV. Misjudged that.It was also cold and damp in here and I’ve started coughing. I’m not really sick but hoping the guards get nervous and suggest that the dungeon isn’t good for the Alpha’s baby. I just have to remember to keep coughing. When the plate of food comes, I barely look at it. I’ve lived on little to no food before so it’s easy for me to ignore the hunger pains. Unfortunately, I seemed to underestimate the Alpha’s stubbornness. It surpasses mine, that’s for sure.++++++++++++++++++COLE POVI got word that Addie was still not eating and now she was coughing. Damn that girl. Damn her. I need her to be healthy and have a healthy baby. My mate heard the news and is bothering
JAMES POV“Alpha, we got her.” The message came over the mind link from Bruce. I had almost gone with the patrol this morning but had gotten sidelined with another vision so the boys went without me. I regretted not being there to meet my mate.“How is she?” I asked, hoping for good news. “Not great. She banged herself up pretty good and she’s unconscious right now. She vomited up a lot of blood. And, Alpha? You’re not going to like this. Someone’s been beating on her. She has half healed whip marks all over her body and broken bones. She was definitely someone’s prisoner. They put a silver collar on her. I think the collar stopped her wolf from healing her.” Bruce paused, letting me get control over my wolf who was howling in agony. “Alpha, I’m taking her straight to our hospital. You need to get all the doctors over there. I’m pretty sure she’s also having a miscarriage.”My breath caught in my throat. Miscarriage? Was my mate mated to someone else? I took anothe
ADDIE'S POV“I am going to leave right now and you are going to let me go. You are not going to tell anyone.” I spoke firmly, pulling my gift. I could tell it was weak but it should have enough power to work. James’ eyes widened as he looked at me. I grabbed at my head; the headache was intense and immediate and I took a few seconds to breathe through the pain before swinging my feet on to the floor. I pushed off the bed and my legs held, for about five seconds. Then I sank to the floor, weak as a kitten. James looked down at me with amusement.“Oh, Little Pup,” he shook his head. “You need to learn to trust me. We’re mates after all.”“Don’t call me that,” I growled. Why do people call me Little Pup? I’m damn near six feet tall. He looked confused. “Call you mate? But you are. Can’t you feel it or is your wolf still too weak?”Wait, what? I missed that. I was so irritated about being called my childhood nickname by a complete stranger that I missed the mate part.
JAMES POVI watched Addie fall asleep and then I mind linked my brother. “How’s she doing?” Toby asked. “Okay. She woke up today. Took the news of the baby hard at first but I think it’s okay now. She’s sleeping again.”“Sorry, bro.” He paused a second before asking “You still in scrubs?”I laughed. “Yeah. Just going to ask if you could send someone over with clothes for me.”“I’ll send a toothbrush and some deodorant, too. Guessing you smell like a wild animal at this point.” I laughed again. “Yeah. Scout tried to make a few appearances but I was able to control him. He’s head over heels in love and can’t wait to meet her wolf.”I could hear Toby’s smile over the mind link. “I’ve never heard you laugh as much as you’ve done the past few days. I can’t wait to see how much happier you are after you get her home and established as your Luna.”“Thanks, bro. I can’t wait.”Twenty minutes later one of the Omegas from the Packhouse knocked on the door to the room. I opened
ADDIE'S POV The next morning I woke and felt peaceful for the first time since I was a small child. I felt safe and content and my mind was not moving in a million different directions like it usually does. I suspected James had something to do with it but he had said he wouldn't be able to read my mind unless I let him. I never wanted him in my mind. I had too many awful things in there. He would never look at me the same way again and I was starting to like this guy. A lot. James ate breakfast with me. Actually, he ate breakfast and I drank mine. It was pretty bland but I was desperate for liquids so I sucked it down. It initially burned a little but then the pain stopped. I think my wolf had something to do with that because I could feel her stirring more than I have in the past month. I was happy. I had missed her and felt very alone. James and I ate in an easy silence and I tried to not be resentful of him for chowing down on the sausage links that were causing me t
JAMES POVAddie came out of the bathroom looking beautiful. Her long blonde hair shimmered in the light like golden threads had been woven through it. Her clothes hung on her a little but we would fix that with some good food cooked by my favorite chef, Malenda. Her lasagna was to die for.I reached out my hand with a smile and she took it, causing my wolf to preen. “She likes us!” I hushed him. I led her to the car and talked non-stop all the way to the Packhouse. I asked the driver to take the long way around and prattled on like an excited child, showing her where different things were and pointing out some of my favorite wolves as we encountered them on my drive. She was quiet, taking it all in, I hoped. I was kind of afraid she was bored.When we pulled up to the Packhouse the sun was setting right behind it. Addie gasped. It was really picturesque and I knew it was beautiful.“Dark comes early in the mountains in the fall and winter,” I said by means of explanation.
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