More than a week had passed since Peter's funeral and Rachel was preparing for her first day back at work. Buck had graciously given her some time off and she had to admit, she was excited to get back there. Sitting around the house wasn't her style. And now she had so much more to think about other than crossing over spirits. With Peter gone, she would have to clock up major overtime and double shifts, to make ends meet. He'd left her with nothing, not even an insurance policy to cover the tough times ahead. If only she never met him!
She considered selling some of the antiques her late Aunt Tilly had left her and there were a few nice pieces of jewellery she could pawn too. Her wedding ring was at the top of the list. Hell, she'd paid for it herself, so she could do whatever she wanted with it.
She even considered selling the house, but that would mean one of two things. Move in with Becca or move in with her mother and neither was a via
Galen wiped at his brow with the back of his hand, throwing the shovel to the ground and sat down in the shade of the nearest tree. Just barely after eight in the morning and already the sun was beating down like it was noon. He reached for the bottle of ice-cold water next to him, taking long, deep gulps to alleviate some of the burning discomfort in his parched throat.He'd cleaned up the garden pretty well, this last week. He'd also cleared most of the weeds, mowed the lawn and dug up a few very suspicious looking plants. He'd resolved that when he was finished cleaning up, he'd fix the beautiful angel fountain in the middle of the garden. He didn't know why, but it fascinated him.Almost as if he was drawn to it.He had to get the place in decent viewing order. Some of the investors would arrive in a month's time and the owners expected him to at least get the garden in a respectable state. He didn't mind the backbreaking work; they w
"And you're only telling me about this now?"Becca looked fit to be tied as they stood outside the diner while Rachel was on her break.Business was indeed slow. For the entire morning, they'd served three customers and the heaviness in her heart, at the prospect of possibly losing her job, just added to all the stress she was under. And now this."Becca, come on. You know as well as I do, that spirits aren’t always the most reliable source of information. And if there was indeed a Sister Evangeline, bent on coming after me, why hasn't she?"Becca scoffed, pouting and twirling her dark curls. A habit from childhood she never quite shook."We also know, that when they issue dire warnings, sometimes they come true. Have you been back to the asylum again?""No, "Rachel answered, averting her eyes. "I haven't had the time. "Which was a complete lie of course. Now that her work schedule
Rachel pulled her white sweater over her head, casting a quick glance at the clock. Just before eight and the night was already pitch dark. She really didn't feel like going up to the asylum, not after the way Galen called her out earlier, but for the sake of the little boy, she knew she had no choice.This was what she did, what she had been doing for most of her life. Helping those in need to find peace and that little boy was definitely due for some. Whoever this Sister Evangeline was, she had to find a way to stop her, before she hurt her or anyone else. And to do that, she would have to risk running into her wolf.My wolf, what a joke, she chided herself. As if he'd declared his undying love and not merely flirted with her.It was jarring, the way he crawled under her skin. It wasn't just that he was so damned sexy, but also the gentle way he had about him. A quiet strength, the outcome of a fragile and perhap
Rachel walked up the steps, leading to the asylum's front door. The screams were so much louder now. She walked through the door, people rushed past her, a nurse and a doctor. They were running toward the room opposite the nurse's station on the ground floor. Another piercing scream disturbed the silence and Rachel turned toward the room, opening the door when she reached it."Just one more push. . . that's right Allison. . . just one more!"she heard the doctor say. She looked toward the bed, at the young girl, no more than fourteen, with her legs raised, her face a mask of pain and terror."Such is the price of sin and a whore's ways. "Rachel searched the room, to see where the voice was coming from. Behind the door,a nun, her voice stern and authoritative.With an almighty scream, the girl pushed one last time and the sound of a baby, its f
In a flash she was against him. He pinned her arms behind her back, the firm yet gentle grip of his hands causing her breath to catch in her throat. She was pressed against him, feeling every delicious inch of his body against hers. He bent his head down, inhaling the scent of her hair, his lips gently nibbling on her ear.Rachel found herself quivering inside as she inhaled his freshly showered scent while his lips trailed wanton fire down her neck. She heard his raspy intake of breath as his eyes met hers. There was no turning back from this moment."I'd rather be cuffing you to my bed,"he said huskily. "But only of your own free will."His mouth came down on hers, the gentle pressure of his kiss opening her lips, allowing his tongue to probe her mouth in fast, snake like movements. She leaned in, until it seemed their bodies were one, surrendering to his kiss. Slowly, achingly, he pulled away from her, releasing her a
Her flashlight cast a solitary glow in the darkness as she pushed open the front door to the asylum. Everything was quiet and literally not a soul was in sight. The nurses' station, the one she'd seen in her vision, stood as a grim reminder of the past. How long had the asylum been out of commission?For as long as she could remember, at least.As teenagers, her mother brought her and Becca up here, countless times to hone their craft. Both of them had crossed over their first spirits in this very building, under Liz Banning's watchful eye.Her mother told them back then, that the asylum was not merely used for the mentally disturbed, but at times for the homeless and destitute as well, specifically orphans. Perhaps the souls of those very orphans were the ones being used by Sister Evangeline, in her quest to return to this reality.But why would she want to do that?What kept her restless spirit bound to
"Rachel?"For a moment, Galen felt alarmed. Perhaps she'd fled after their tryst, but then he noticed her purse and cellphone were still on the nightstand. He breathed deeply in relief. She didn't buck and run. Which could mean only one thing. This was more than a one-night stand and she felt the same way about him, as he did about her.He sat up in bed, looking around the cabin. She must have gone up to the asylum. Crossing over the dead was her thing, as being a shifter was his.Galen smiled in the darkness, reliving their encounter in his mind. Of all the women he'd known in his life, none of them affected him as much as Rachel. The sheets were still drenched with the evidence of their passion, but it was so much more than sex. Something about her, brought out a side of him he never knew he had. He would gladly give up his life to protect her and it would all be worthwhile. This must be how Jax felt about M
Two males, one female. The air of hostility surrounding them, was suffocating. They were here to fight, circling all his ways of escape. Female center, the two males angling towards the edges of the porch. All three were grey, with the same distinct black markings on their muzzles. Siblings, no less. Galen centered his concentration as the female shifted into her human form, his muscles tense with the urgency to shift. He could feel his incisors lengthening and his spinal cord straining against his flesh. His every instinct was to attack, before being attacked.The girl before him now, couldn't have been more than twenty. She observed him at an angle, in a crouching position, ready to shift if need be. Her body was covered in tattoos, or as Gustav would have said, her tramp stamps, Galen reflected grimly."What do you want?"Galen asked, his gaze darting towards the snarling wolves on either side of him. They were
“There’s a large number of witches entering Colby’s Cove, but we’re on it. I’ve sent an emissary to the Bellingham compound, reminding them that our treaty will be respected at all costs. It seems the old witch, Collette Bellingham, is throwing a ball for her birthday. Why, she alone knows. She's older than dirt."Sophia smiled, listening to Stefano update her on the goings on in town, but truth be told, her mind was on everything but the party the witches were planning. For 25 years, an uneasy peace had lingered between her pack and the Bellingham coven, ever since she made sure that every supernatural faction in town, knew that she and she alone reigned supreme.She'd wiped out Vivianne's coven and anything and anyone else who supported her diabolical ideals. The Bellinghams, although witches, had not supported Vivianne, and a treaty had been signed, in blood, under the full moon, ensuring peace.Younger members on both sides, still tried to stoke discord every now and then, but the
After finishing their cereal, Rachel and Becca headed out to the porch with their coffee. The thunderstorm was abating, and had changed to a soft and comforting drizzle. The smell of the rain warmed her heart and as they sat down on the swinging lounger, Rachel inhaled deeply, savoring the sensation it awakened in her.Becca playfully shoulder bumped her.“Since we were kids, this was always your favorite kind of weather. I remember how you used to open every window and door, to Mom's chagrin."“It gives me peace,” Rachel smiled. “And the forecast looks like rain for the whole week, so I am in my element.”“Dad loved it too…”Becca’s voice trailed off in sadness at the mention of their dad. Rachel scooted closer, pulling Becca into an embrace. The memory of their father's death, was still so raw for them. He died, doing what he loved though. Saving lives.After his death, the city even honored him posthumously, with a medal of valor. That was the day, when it really sunk in, that he w
When Rachel came downstairs, Becca had already started a fresh pot of coffee. The smell of it lingered in the air, and Rachel realized she hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since the previous day. Her stomach rumbled, and she reached for the cereal, as Becca prepared their cups.“You look so much better today,” Becca teased. “A good night’s sleep and a hot wolf can do wonders.”Rachel smiled. She couldn’t disagree with Becca on that point. Even while asleep, she was aware that Galen had held her in his arms all night long.She was always aware when he did that. Him holding her, provided her with a sense of safety, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. The contrast to what they had, and what she had with Peter in their ill-fated marriage, was almost blinding in hindsight. For Peter she had never been enough, but for Galen, she was his world.Their talk the night before had also helped in easing her mind. Now that Galen knew everything, it would be so much better to face
Momentarily, Galen was at a loss for words. Did Sophia just say their own father wanted them dead? What nightmare was he trapped in? A long lost mother and now a murderous father. It seemed almost absurd, but the earnest look on Sophia’s face, assured him, it was anything but.“Your father was an Alpha too. I believed he loved me and our family, but everything had been a lie. He was power hungry, and planned to subjugate The Daughters Of The Moon. He wanted to eradicate our matriarchal line, and meld our pack into his. We fought many battles once the truth came out. He was even in league with witches, to help him destroy us. When he realized he was weaker than I was, he tried to hurt me the only way he knew how. Through my babies.”Her voice drifted off. Galen could see how much the memory of the betrayal hurt her. She must have loved him deeply. He softened a bit, and when he spoke, his tone was much kinder.“He tried to kill us?”“Yes, he did. The compound was fortified, so he used
“My son?”Repeating the words Sophia had just spoken, Galen felt a sense of dread, and cold shivers running up and down his spine. What game was the Alpha playing? Why would she make such a ludicrous statement?“Yes,” Sophia softly replied. “I am your mother, Galen. As well as the mother of Jax and Gustav. I can only imagine how this news must sound to you.”Galen snorted, pulling back from her. He ran his fingers through his hair as his mind tried to comprehend what the Alpha had just told him. It was a lie, it had to be. How could she be their mother? Had their whole lives been some convoluted plot?If this were true, so many things would make sense. His parents’ coldness towards them. The way they treated them as if they were strangers at times, and not their own flesh and blood.Could this be true? Were they not the sons of Brian and Anna Munroe?The quickening of his pulse alerted him to the fact that he had to calm down. His body, tense and taut, was trying to shift, as a way
It was raining, when Galen arrived at the Bruce Compound, the following morning. He zipped up his jacket as he made his way to the front door. In light of Enid's death, Sophia Bruce had sent him a text the previous evening, requesting to see him. Inwardly, he wondered if the Alpha had plans to fire him, but he remembered Enid saying she was a good person. Perhaps this meeting was just a formality for them to officially meet? Other than that night, when she'd saved his life, he'd never had any contact with her again.The door was opened before he could even knock. From the looks of the man, who introduced himself as Stefano, Galen surmised he had to be of high rank, within the pack. The fading scars on the left side of his face and the deeper scars in his neck, surely from a wolf bite, indicated he was either a warrior wolf, or perhaps even a Beta."I am her second in command and her highest ranking general," Stefano said. "Guard your mind, Mr Munroe. I can read your thoughts."Galen c
Waking up, Rachel smiled contentedly, knowing she was in her own bed. She rubbed her eyes and stretched , trying to remember the dream she had. Why did it seem so fuzzy? She recalled falling asleep while everyone was in the room, and then she remembered speaking to someone in her dream, but for the life of her, she couldn’t think who it could be. Turning, she found Galen asleep beside her. His chest rose with each breath and she gently placed her hand over his heart, his closeness giving her comfort. His eyes opened and when he saw her, he pulled her into a tender embrace, kissing her and holding her close to him. She rested her head on his bare chest, the sound of his heartbeat in her ear. Was this man, this wonderful man, really the target of a dark faction, all because of her? How could anyone even dream of hurting him? “You scared me,” he whispered into the darkness. “I would not make it in this world without you. Do you know that?” She inhaled his scent, and held him tigh
Their voices, sounding slightly disorientated, came through to her as if from the depths of a cold fog, sweeping some desolate countryside. Odd, but comforting. “Fucking hell, how did this happen? And why isn’t she waking up?”Galen …“I had no idea leaving her there would lead to this.”Becca…“The spirit wanted her life. It wanted my baby’s life…”Her mother…Rachel wanted to open her eyes, wanted to see them, but her eyelids felt heavy, as if opening them would be the most monumental of achievements. What happened? Why was she feeling so powerless?Slowly, her fragmented memories became whole while listening to them. The dark spirit attacked her, trapped her in some vile illusion, using her father’s memory as a weapon to attack her and make her lose her mind. She heard the heaviness of her breathing, felt the heightened racing of her heart as she recalled every moment of its demented plan. What did it want? Why torment her in this way?“How did you know Liz?” Galen asked, the angu
Black widow… Rachel braced herself against the accusing tone in the spirit’s voice as she pulled her gaze away from Galen’s animated corpse. This was a trick, nothing more, designed to throw her off guard. “I know none of this is real,” Rachel said, trying to keep her voice as steady as possible. “I grow tired of your games.” Her words were met with a bitter peal of laughter as the doll looked at Galen and reached out its fingerless, stitched hand, to smear the bloody tears across his face. “Perhaps,” it answered, “or maybe a foretaste of what’s to come. Watching your life fall apart is almost more pleasurable than killing the wolf.” Enraged, Rachel reached out to grab it, but it was lightening fast. It was out of her reach in a split second. “Twisted bitch! What do you want from us?” Rachel spun around at the sound of its almost maniacal laughter. It was sitting in the front pew, intently gazing at her. When its laughter final