VIVIAN'S POV I was in a literal jail cell, with bars and everything. They weren't kidding when they said they were going to place us under arrest. I didn't expect to be taken to a fancy room or anything but a jail cell. With a toilet? At least it was clean, I guess. They had separated us all, so I just sat on the cot in the corner, wondering if Chris had been right and if this had been a colossal mistake. What if this didn't give me any answers to how to help Chris? Blackmoon had magic, though. Which is something I'd never experienced and only thought was a fairy tale. I didn't know it truly existed. As a shifter, I'd be more open-minded, but we've never strayed outside our pack, and the outside world is unknown. And Greywood does not possess anyone who knows magic. How does Blackmoon? Can I find out the source? What can I learn while I'm here? Would asking questions put me in danger? My train of thought was interrupted by a harsh voice. "Girl, stand." I scramb
CHRIS'S POV Big Stick, aka Marcus, wasted no time in grabbing me to bring me back to my cell once Vivid agreed to be his Luna, sealing their deal with a kiss that felt worse than the blow he landed in my gut. I struggled against Marcus's hold, screaming for Vivid, who looked back, regret etched on her face. Killian jerked her forward, almost causing her to stumble. Then they were rounding the corner, and she was gone. Marcus laughed, pulling me back down the hall, his grip on my neck tightening. "Stand down. Even if you did get to her, Alpha Killian would tear you to shreds." I growled, Rock begging to be released. But they had something in the air here, stopping him. There would be no shifting. Fine. Bring me back to my cell. I was next to Zeke. I didn't get along with him, but after I told him, maybe he’d stop giving me the cold shoulder, and we could plan to save Vivid together. Coming to my cell, Marcus unlocked the door and shoved me inside. "I'll bring your dinne
VIVIAN'S POV "Are you taking me back to my room?" Killian didn't say a word, gripping my arm tighter as he led me away from Chris. He didn't seem pleased. I'd said what I thought he wanted to hear—I'd called this place my home. I hadn't sounded excited, of course not. He couldn't expect that much from me. Maybe that was his problem. "What did I do wrong?" He stopped, jerking me towards him. "I don't think it's best to see that mutt. Supervised or not." "What? Why? I didn't do anything wrong." He paused, his eyes darting between mine before crushing his lips to mine. I gasped in shock, and he used my gasp as a way to gain access to my mouth and deepen the kiss. I bit his tongue and shoved him away. And I bit hard, the taste of blood filling my mouth. He stumbled backward, grabbing his mouth while laughing. I saw the blood trickling down his chin and cringed. I just messed up. I'd made a little progress and then jus
VIVIAN'S POV "You're not going to tell me something like that and leave it at that. I'm tired of it. You want me to be your Luna, and you're dangling knowledge over my head like I'm an idiot. You either start telling me something, or I'm gone," I snapped. I was done with his games. I kept the look on my face stern, hoping Killian could see how serious I was. My thoughts went straight to Chris, but I hoped he wouldn't call my bluff. If he did, I'd fold. I couldn't risk Chris. But I needed answers. I couldn't be in the dark anymore. "Fine. Sit down. And I'll give you something." I continued glaring at him as I sat, keeping my eyes on him. I couldn't break and let him know how nervous I really was. Keep in check, Vi. "Go on." Killian sat, leaning forward on his fist, staring me down. "Blackmoon is dying; I wasn't lying about that." "How? Why?" "I'm not going into the nitty gritty, but you've realized we'r
VIVIAN'S POV Killian refused to tell me anything more and silently walked me to my room. I thought he tried to force a kiss good night on me, but he turned on his heel and stormed off. He was probably angry he couldn't. He had to share so much information with me tonight. Let him be mad. I lay in bed, trying to sleep, but I couldn't. My mind kept going back to the fact that I was part witch. I kept trying to think if I had ever felt some sort of magic in me but couldn't come up with any memory where an inkling of magic had been felt. Then I remembered Killian mentioning he was supposed to marry another daughter of my father's. I had a sister. A half-sister but a sister nonetheless. Where was she? What happened to her? Had she really run away to avoid marrying Killian? What did she know that I didn't? I turned over, squeezing my eyes shut. I needed to get to sleep. He could have told me what to do if Chris had been here. Chris
KILLIAN'S POV "What are you going to do?" Marcus asked. "Send a healer to...him. There's obviously something wrong with him, and she requested it." Marcus scoffed. "I say let him suffer and let whatever is eating him take him out. Then we don't have to let whatever is between him and my future Luna worry us anymore." I grabbed his shirt. "Because that's the sort of footing I want to start with her. Killing someone she cares about." Marcus squirmed in my hold, looking away. "I'm sorry, Alpha. You're right. I'll get a healer to look at him immediately." I released my grip. "It doesn't seem like an ordinary sickness. It came on too quickly. Make sure it's the right kind of healer. Whatever he has could spread like wildfire, and we don't have the magic to contain it." He nodded. "You're right. It's not just about him. We need to protect the pack, too." I slapped him on the back. "Now you're see
VIVIAN'S POV Knock. I heard a knock on my door. At least, I'm pretty sure I did. I pulled the pillow over my head and shut my eyes again, telling myself it was in my head. But then the knock came again. Okay, there was definitely a knock. Knock, knock. Who was knocking at like three in the morning? I got up and walked over to the door, pausing. Should I open the door or ask who was on the other side? Whoever it was must have heard me because they knocked again, this time a little softer. "Vivian." It was Killian. Damn him. He couldn't just leave me alone. I opened the door to see him in gray sweatpants and a black tank top. His arms were entirely exposed; I couldn't say I wasn't a little taken aback by just how broad his shoulders were and how muscular he really was. "What do you want?" I snapped. His eyes scanned mine. "Can I come in?" I stepped back, shoeing him inside. "Whatever." He slipped inside,
CHRIS'S POV "Get away from me," I snarled. Killian had sent me one of his supposed healers as if I was some sick pup that needed attention. But I was okay. I just needed to be released and allowed to return to where I belonged. Instead, I was stuck in a cage, being coaxed by some middle-aged female shifter to come closer so they could look at me in the eyes and see something. They didn't need to look in my eyes. They didn't need to look at anything. They just needed to get the fuck away from me and let me out of this cage so I can see Sam. Smart, beautiful Sam. Her name felt like a vice grip on my heart. I ran to the bars, gripping them and screaming at the healer, "Let me out of here before I tear your fucking head off!" She backed off, her eyes wide. She turned towards the guard who had stood neutral beside her until now but kicked at the bars. "Get the fuck back. You act like that, and I'll send her away, and you can die i