CHRIS'S POV "Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty." Cold water splashed over me, and Marcus's voice registered as the one mocking me. I sprung to, ready to tear him a new one, but remembered I was in a cell. I glared at his grinning face through the bars, him holding a bucket, a shit-eating grin on his face. Behind him, leaning against the wall, was Killian, looking disinterested in Marcus's mockery. When I turned to him, his eyes bore into mine. " Are you just going to let your lap dog have all the fun?" He shrugged. "He's just making sure you're awake." "Right. What do you want anyway? Ready to let me go back home?" Footsteps, and then a tiny figure in a cloak joined us. Pulling back the hood, I saw a female beneath the cloak, long brown hair pulled back in a loose bun. She kept her eyes on the ground. Killian kept his on me. "This is Divinity. She came to help you." "Help me? I don't need help."
VIVIAN'S POV I was warm. But not too warm. My head felt dizzy, but other than that, I felt okay. Opening my eyes slowly, the sun hurt but was a welcome sight. Looking around, I saw Killian slumped in a chair beside my bed, fast asleep. Slowly sitting up, I pressed my hand to my head, willing the groggy feeling to disappear. How long was I out? Killian stirred. I wasn't sure what time it was, but it couldn't be too early based on the sun. But sleeping in a chair, he was probably tired, and I should have let him sleep a little bit longer. Pulling back the covers, I looked down and saw I wore nothing but panties and a shirt. So much for getting out of bed. I muttered to myself, "Wonder who took the liberty to undress me." "It was definitely me." I jumped at the sound of Killian's voice. "You're awake." "So are you. How are you feeling?" "Fine," I said, watching as he stretched, his shirt pulling up and sh
CALEB'S POV "You'll find her?" Mrs. Locke said, staring out the door as if waiting for someone to come barging in. "Of course. I'll ensure she's safe and then return before you know it. I really think you should come with me though. It's only a matter of time before Zeke turns on you two for being her parents," I said, gripping the glass of water Mrs. Locke had offered me when I'd come to visit. She kept her eyes on the door, waving a hand. "Nonsense. I've known Zeke since he was a boy. He'd never hurt Phil or me." "Did you ever think he'd hurt Vivian?" Her eyes shot to mine. "Well, no. But...no. We're fine." "I really think that I need to get you two to safety. If I find Vivian safe, she will ask about you two and be angry I didn't bring you with me." Mrs. Locke's eyes searched mine. "Where would we go?" "She's with Blackmoon. We know that much. Blackmoon would take you in, too.
VIVIAN'S POV "I need to talk to you, Vivian." I stared at Killian, the grim look on his face telling me that whatever he was about to say to me wouldn't be something I wanted to hear. "If this is about Clarence, I don't want to hear it." "It's not. It's about your parents.” My breath caught in my throat. "What happened to them? Where are they?" Killian looked away, not wanting to meet my gaze. "My scout returned, and he told me he couldn't find a word on them. They're not with Greywood anymore. We're unsure if they're imprisoned, hurt, or...worse..." I crumpled to my knees. "No...Zeke wouldn't do that. He wouldn't." He kneeled next to me. "I'm sure it's not that. Maybe they left. Came to find you." Tears blurred my vision. "I'm sure that's it." But in my heart, I knew that wasn't the case. My parents were rule-followers. They were pack-minded. They weren't the ones to rebel and
KILLIAN'S POV "And you put her parents in a cell?" I asked, gripping my glass in my hand. Marcus rubbed his jaw. "Yeah. I wasn't quite sure where else to put them, to be honest." "Not in a damn cell!" I yelled, almost shattering the glass in my hand. "Well, aren't you concerned about Vivian's mom...she's not really supposed to be here." I paused. "I hadn't considered that. But she was banned before our time. My father has nothing to do with the pack now. He putters around his garden. I can undo her banishment. I'm sure Vivian would expect that regardless." "It's not that easy. I didn't think you'd be aware, but back when they used to do banishments, they cursed those they banished." "Cursed?" Marcus waved his hands. "To sum it up in the nicest way possible, a shifter who returned on banished grounds would eventually lose their wolf. And become...wolfless." I ran a hand over my f
VIVIAN'S POV "So first, you tell me my parents are possibly dead, and now you're telling me my parents are here?" I stared at Killian with a blank face. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Surprise?" I crossed my arms. "Are you sure it's actually my parents? You've never met or seen them. Maybe this is one of Sarah's tricks." "I...no. I didn't..." I waved my hands. "Come on. Hopefully, you were smart enough to keep them locked up until I could see who these people were." I started towards the jail, but Killian grabbed my arm. "I didn't lock up your parents, Vivian. They're in rooms down the hall." I rolled my eyes. "If they're my parents." He flinched. "Come on." I let him lead, following closely behind. I hoped it was my parents, but I didn't want to get my hopes up that they were actually safe and sound in Blackmoon territory, away from Sarah and Zeke. When we reached their presu
KILLIAN’S POV“You just going to watch her fall on her ass over and over?” Marcus asked, coming up behind me where I hid, watching Vivian training with Clarence.“She’s getting better,” I grumbled.Vivian was off in the distance, trying to block Clarence, sending waves of energy he shot at her. On their first day, he was already going hardcore at her. He knew she had no magic experience but wouldn’t hold back. He knew she needed to train fast. Sarah wouldn’t hold back either and wouldn’t stay away for long.“Have you decided what you’re going to do about Caleb?”“What about him?”“He’s obviously here with ulterior motives.”I shrugged. “He has a schoolboy crush on Vivian. Good luck with that. She hasn’t seemed too anxious to visit him. I’m not concerned about him.”Marcus scratched his chin. “Something doesn’t feel right about him. I think there’s more to it.”I slapped him on the shoulder. “That’s why you’re my Beta. It’s your job to keep an eye on things. So if something is amiss, f
VIVIAN'S POV "Mate," fell from Caleb's lips in a hushed whisper. I rushed over and shoved a hand over his mouth, glancing toward Chris's cell, begging the Moon Goddess that he didn't just hear Caleb. No movement, nothing. Good. I looked back at Caleb. Had he always been so handsome? Not the time. I could feel him grinning beneath my hand. I whispered, "I'm going to uncover your mouth, but you need to be really quiet. Got it?" He nodded. I slowly removed my hand. "We're mates. We're actually mates. Can you believe it?" I stared at him, shocked at how excited he was. Did he not realize how shitty this timing was? "Caleb, something isn't right. I'm a rogue. I shouldn't be able to mate with you." He paused. "The Moon Goddess blessed you with a second-chance mate, and she just chose to overlook that you're a rogue. That's all. Stranger things have happened." I shook my head. "No, Caleb. Something isn't righ