***
“Deloris, is it possible to do a location spell?” The alpha of all alphas asked the powerful warlock.“Piece of cake.” The warlock grinned as she leaned in to rub Gloria on the back. “I’ll need your blood, Alpha Jeremy.” She addressed the Alpha of Alphas. “And yours too, Gloria. Ryan, why don’t you go get some sleep?” Deloris asked with a frown. “You look sleepy. Amazing but sleepy.”“Well, there’s a reason for that,” Jeremy said with a cocky grin, looking at the faces around the table. “Mum, you might want to brace yourself for this one…” He watched as Gloria pulled out of Joel’s embrace and locked curious eyes on his. “Ryan is pregnant.”The collective gasp that went up said it all. Everyone in the room, except a grinning Deloris, looked shocked.“Impossible!” The High Priestess exclaimed, her eyes wide in shock.“How?” Paige screeched.“Err… you mean lesbians don’t know how babies are…”“Shut up, Stan.” Paige snapped as she turned shocked eyes on Ryan, who considered her his best friend. “What the fuck!” She stared at Ryan.Philip heard Gloria crying softly and turned to find her with her arms tightly around Ryan. He wasn’t surprised at all that one of the strongest…if not the strongest warriors that the Stanwood Pack had ever had, was crying. He could imagine how Gloria felt that very moment. Not only had she found out that her son, who had been presumed dead for sixteen years, was alive, but her son-in-law was pregnant…PREGNANT! Philip started to chuckle but the sound turned into a groan when he felt his eyes shifting.“Congratulations, Jer.” Philip slapped his friend on his back. “I’m damn happy for you. But right now, I need to go for a run.” Even his voice didn’t sound human. “But before I go, there’s something I need all of you to do for me.” Philip addressed the people gathered. “Let’s keep the fact that I’ve found my mate, between us.” He said grimly. “The last thing I want is to bring Travis into the middle of a war or an ambush by my exes.” He glanced from one face to the other, the warning in his eyes clear.“Of course we won’t tell, boss,” Stan responded quickly with an amused smirk. “But I must admit I can’t wait to see your numerous women togeth…”“Shut up, Stanislav,” Jeremy muttered as he tried to stifle his own grin.Since Philip was an alpha, his lovers and former lovers were bound to attack his mate as soon as they got any hint that he’d found his mate. That happened whenever an alpha found his mate. Werewolves he’d ever been with would have an uncontrollable urge to show exactly why they would be more suitable as the alpha’s partner than his mate. Since an alpha needed a strong mate to help him rule, his lovers instinctively tried to prove that they were stronger than the mate and must be taken instead, by attacking the mate and defeating them. It was a wolf thing. Only individuals with extreme self-control could curb that urge.“Those bitches of yours had better not touch my son.” Gloria Stanton’s voice was low but lethal. “If they so much as attempt, they won’t live to tell their story.”“That’s what I’m talking about.” Paige gave a fist pump as Stan gave a piercing whistle.“I suggest the mating ceremony between you two take place immediately after you bring Travis home.” The High Priestess said. “That should take care of all those silly attacks.”“That’s a great idea.” Philip nodded.“Oooh somebody wants some…” Stan drawled, earning himself a finger from Philip.“Deloris, is Cami going to be a problem?” Philip asked quietly. He and Deloris’ daughter, Camille, had hooked up once under very…uncontrollable circumstances, thanks to Jeremy and Ryan. The last thing Philip wanted was to have problems with the warlock’s daughter.“You have nothing to worry about, Alpha.” Deloris chuckled. “Apart from the fact that she had to learn her lesson the hard way, what happened between the two of you was a mistake.”“Good. Now, about finding Travis…”“I’m on it, Alpha.” The warlock got to her feet. “We leave tomorrow…at ten a.m.”“Good. See you later.” With that, Philip made a beeline for the balcony even as he stripped out of his jeans. Then the alpha of Stanwood Pack jumped from the eleventh floor, where the meeting was being held. By the time he got to the ground below, he was not human but a huge grey wolf.**Now, it was time to go and bring his mate from wherever he was. And like every other person who knew what they were about to do, Philip couldn’t contain the overwhelming emotions inside. It almost felt as if they were restoring something very important. Not only was Travis his mate, but he was also like an heir to a ‘throne’ because like Jeremy, his father used to be the alpha of Stanwood Pack. Although Philip was still getting used to the fact that his mate was a male, he had no intention of making a fuss over it. He remembered what had happened to Jeremy when he had objected to Luna’s choice of a mate for him. His friend had ended up in purgatory to serve time as punishment. Philip sure as hell didn’t want any such problem. Who wanted to end up in purgatory?Philip, Deloris, Jeremy, and Gloria disappeared from the packhouse to a shout of ‘happy hunting’ from Paige. The Alpha of Stanwood Pack smiled despite himself.It was time to find and bring home their long-lost pack member, brother, son, and Alpha’s mate.***“You must be kidding me.” Troy couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice as he stared at the guns pointing at his and Paul’s heads. “I thought we had an agreement.”“Well, consider it canceled.” Blaze grinned as he relaxed in his seat and lit a joint. He already looked high. And from the traces of white power on the table and the rolled-up dollar bill beside the substance, Troy could hazard a good guess what the gang leader was high on. He’d watched enough TV. “This is a lot of cash.” Blaze pointed his joint at the sacks of cash as he watched the two boys from beneath his lashes. “I don’t want any of this getting out so we have to shut you up…permanently.”“But we helped you get…”“What did you do?” The leader of the gang scoffed as he took a long drag. “Your work was to stop the police if they showed up. They didn’t.”“That was because I changed their course.” Troy was literally shaking with disbelief and anger. He was, however, more concerned about Paul who was trembling and plea
***A shocked Jeremy tore his eyes off his now stiff fireball-wielding brother when he felt a familiar warmth against him. His eyes widened in shock when his gaze landed on his sleepy mate. He was still in the sweats and t-shirt he’d left him sleeping in back at home. He couldn’t even seem to keep his eyes open.“Baby?” Jeremy ran his fingers through Ryan’s disheveled hair. He thought his mate looked absolutely gorgeous with that sexy bedhead. “How…”“Not me,” Ryan mumbled sleepily as he wrapped his arms around Jeremy’s waist and laid the side of his face against his broad chest. “The baby thought you were in danger. It brought me here.” He yawned. “As you can see, I was sleeping.”“What?” Jeremy gasped as he wrapped his arms around Ryan too. “It can do that?” He looked stunned.“It’s your kid.” Ryan chuckled. “What’s going on here?” He looked at a fireball-wielding gorgeous young man and smiled. “Your brother looks pissed,” Ryan murmured.“Oh, he is.” Jeremy chuckled. “At Lip.”“Oh b
***The story of the bank robbers who were mysteriously found with their loot and weapons in a locked police cell was to later become a hot debate in media houses and on social media. Blaze of course sang like a canary, talking about a magician called Troy and his team. Of course the story of the flabbergasted police team who found themselves in another state just as they got to the bank that was being robbed by Blaze and his team, only fueled the story. The story of the Vigilante Magicians was to trend for weeks.Magicians were urged to help the police do their jobs like the selfless group who had, according to the story of the robbers themselves, given up Blaze and his gang. Among the speculations that were rife on media was the possibility of an alien invasion.Meanwhile, in a quiet farmhouse, where unbeknownst to the public, the nine original residents had been murdered in cold blood with the help of magic, five warlocks watched the news with grim faces. They knew for a fact that
***“Paul?” Troy breathed when he heard his friend’s voice on the other end. “Are you at the police station?” He listened for a moment. “Okay, I’ll come and get you…don’t think because she looks like a nice person, she is.” He said urgently. “These people are murder…” Deloris snatched the phone away.“Alright, that’s enough.” She cut the line. “At least you know I didn’t lie to you.”“What do you want from me?” Troy asked quietly. “You’ve already taken everything that I have. My family…”“We are your family.” Gloria finally said softly as she started towards Troy, who looked at her closely for the first time.“Oh no, no, no I’m no kin of you people,” Troy said with a shake of his head.“You are, son,” Gloria said quietly as she stopped in front of her youngest son, her cheeks wet with tears.Troy stared at the woman and felt a strong wave of emotion he couldn’t understand but which made him want to comfort her, sweep over him. The feeling was so powerful he took an involuntary step cl
***“Paul is not here,” Troy said quietly immediately after they materialized in Gloria’s living room. They’d all decided that the best place to break Troy in was in his mother’s house.“He will come over as soon as you and your mother are done talking,” Philip muttered as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and began to type, sizing Troy up intermittently.“I won’t say anything until I see him.” Troy insisted, a dark scowl in place. But he added after a moment; “Please.”“How about we call so that you talk to…” Jeremy began to say but trailed off when his brother began to vigorously shake his head.“How about I see him first?” Troy didn’t sound as if he was going to accept anything else. “I’ve been around warlocks long enough to know the tricks that can be played.” He glared at Jeremy. “For all I know, the voice I heard on the phone in the warehouse was not really his. I just want to see that he’s okay.” He added quietly. “Is that too much to ask?”“And what makes you think th
***Troy’s worried eyes followed Philip until he disappeared through the door. He was surprised at the sudden feeling of guilt and unease that washed over him. He wanted to call Philip back but he stifled the urge. What was wrong with him, Troy combed his fingers through his hair in frustration. He was convinced the so-called werewolves he was in the room with had cast a spell on him. Even if they couldn’t do it themselves because they were werewolves, the Deloris woman could do it for them.“Can I get some water please?” Troy asked quietly.“I’ll get it,” Jeremy said as he turned towards the dining area. He came back in no time with a bottle of water.“Thank you,” Troy said as he took the water from Jeremy. By the time the bottle came away from his lips, it was empty.“Want another?” Jeremy asked.“No, thanks.” Troy shook his head slowly, looking at the bottle in his hands.“Are you okay?” Gloria asked softly but Troy didn’t respond. He kept staring down at the bottle in his hand. Af
***Back in the dining area, Camille was laughing uncontrollably. “Philip is not a bad person, Trav…Troy. He will only take a life if it’s for a good cause.”“And you think taking Paul’s life is for a good cause?” Troy looked and sounded incredulous.“I didn’t say that.” Camille tried to compose herself. “Listen, you said yourself that your mother said no harm will befall Paul, right?”“She promised,” Troy responded.“Her word is gold.” Camille smiled. “Trust me on that. I’ll take good care of Paul. Don’t worry about him, okay?” At Troy’s nod, she added; “And remember, Philip is the most kind-hearted and amazing man. It would be great if you tried to get to know him.”“Not on your life.” Troy breathed, ignoring Camille’s gasp. “I don’t trust the guy. I know the woman meant…”“Gloria.” Camille interrupted. “That’s her name.”“Glori…”“Don’t call her that.” Camille interrupted again.“But you just said that’s her name.” Troy groaned, looking confused.“Yes but she’s your mother.” She sa
***In his room, on the tenth floor of the magnificent Stanwood building which stood proudly in the middle of the vast land of the Stanwood Pack, a naked Alpha Philip Harrington paced. He’d had a fierce run but still felt restless. He didn’t understand why Travis…or Troy or whatever he called himself, made him so angry. Maybe it was because they were close to having a full moon. That would understandably intensify his emotions. But that notwithstanding, no one had managed to get him so angry so quickly in his thirty-three years of existence. The boy knew the exact buttons to push to get him into furyland.Philip prided himself on being a very understanding person. He’d always had to be because his best friend, Jeremy, had been a handful right from their childhood because of his Ojah power. He’d had to assume the role of the voice of reason which had had a calming effect on Jeremy. Philip had therefore never had the luxury of giving in to anger like a typical male werewolf would.As an