I stared at her for what felt like minutes, but it was probably only seconds. “Mom…”
She shook her head, and a new tear fell. “I knew then I could never mate Vince. So I left. And I spoke with my father, as you spoke with me, and he said he would never make me mate with a wolf that held females so low. Low enough to use them while they were at their weakest and then kill them when he was finished with them. So when ever Vince had come looking for his mate, my father would always send me back home.”“How did you meet daddy?”My mom blushed at her thoughts, but a more frantic howl ripped through the air and I watched him deflate. “We should go.” She put out the fire and quickly put everything away. “Morgan will go berserk if we don’t show up soon.” She lifted her lip in disgust.“Can you handle the next four years?”“Yeah. Baby, I have to.” She waved me to the fronMorgan backed up a little as he raised his hands up in surrender. “I was worried about you.”“Bullshit.” My mother spit back. “You wanted to control our run, or come with us, but you are not Amy’s father. You don’t get that right. You are her stepfather, and after today, that is even up in the air.”“Hey.” Morgan tried to push back, but my mother was having none of it.“Hey nothing. When Shannon shifted, what did you say to me?”“I can’t remember it was so long ago.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes, but I saw the anger there.“Don’t lie to me. It was less than three months ago. You were so proud, don’t you remember? You rubbed it in that Shannon shifted earlier than Amy. ‘Look at how fast and strong my daughter is. I wonder when Amy will get here.’ Yeah, that BS like we all don’t know that stronger wolves take longer to shift. Amy sur
“Say it.” I growled out one last time, already losing my patience.“You did this.” He crumpled to his knees, heaving. “It would have been perfect if you weren’t here.” He cried into his hands, and if he would have stopped there, I wouldn’t have suspected him. But he is Morgan, and he is an idiot. “Why couldn’t you have just died in the fucking attack?”I froze.How did he know about the attack? He continued to cry and scream, but I was focused on the words that seemed to flow like lava from his mouth. It was pure hatred. Hatred of my father and me. “If you would have just died when your dad was attacked years ago, I wouldn’t have had to raise you. Money that your mother would have inherited would have been mine, or Vinces. We would have been set. But no, you both survived. It wasn’t until you father was stupid enough to cheat on her that she moved here.” His voice tailed of
I closed the door and turned back to my mom. She was leaning against the door frame with a look on her face that I couldn’t read. We went back to the bathroom, and she leaned in. “How am I supposed to stay here for four years and deal with that man after finding everything out?”“I don’t know. But at least you have a good reason to be mad. You can hold this against him for a while.”She nodded and then shut the water off. “I have to go downstairs and clean up.”I grabbed her arm. “That can wait until tomorrow. Today has been a very long day.” I looked out the window, and the sun was starting to come up. “A very long day.” She nodded, and I noticed the bags under her eyes. “Lets catch some sleep on my brand new bed, and we can try to figure everything out later today.” We crawled into the new bed, and I am thankful it was delivered and we made it up with fresh sheets last night before t
“How dare you come here with your demon spawn? Look at what they did to my son. Just look at him.” The woman stood over her son and screamed at the goddess followed by wolves. The three faced goddess moved to the woman and held open her arms. The woman dove into them and started to sob. “Please save him, Mother. I have dedicated my life to you and I have never asked you for a boon. This is my ask. Save him. Please.” She pulled back and looked at the goddess, but her face was grim. “I’m sorry, my daughter, I can not.” The three faced goddess held the woman in her arms as she broke. Her legs failed her, and she crumpled down to her knees. “I will do anything, give anything, just save my son.” She wailed as the goddess held her. The goddess with the wolves moved closer to the young man, boy really, and she crouched over him. The wolves all moved closer and closer until they, too, were crouched over the boy. “Get away from him. Look at what you
I woke up with my grandmother’s words in the air. “The first werewolf and witch created the same night. The fates intertwined our lines, and both goddess blessing run through our veins.”I woke up groggy, as if what I dreamt of was something I actually did, instead of a dream I had. I rolled over and the bed was empty.I got off my bed and checked my phone. It was seven in the morning the next day. I slept over twenty-four hours. I stood and stretched. Then I went into my bathroom and took an actual shower.I walked to my closet and realized my clothes were clean and hung up. The descenting spray lingered in the air, and it was like the room was a vacuum of smells. Or lack of smells.I grabbed some clothes and got dressed. I did my morning routine and then walked down the stairs, not sure what to expect.I walked into the dining room to find Shannon and Morgan waiting at the table, but my mother was nowhere to be found. I looked
He sat there frozen as I stared at him. I could see the anger in his eyes, but I just stared at him. “That isn’t fair.” I turned to face Shannon. “What isn’t fair? How you treated my mother like an omega? Or that she refuses to bow down to your pathetic demands any longer?” She glared at me but I just tilted my head. “Neither one of you can give me a reason why I should step in and ask her to move on. So no. I refuse to help the two of you.” I picked up my phone and my coffee. I took another sip and went back to my scrolling as Shannon fumed next to me. “Then fucking leave.” Shannon slammed back into her chair, toppling it to the floor. Her chest was heaving as she panted in her anger. “Take your whore mother and fucking get out of our house.” Shannon glared at me and I put down my coffee again, then turned to Morgan. I smiled, and I saw him pale. “Now why would I leave the home I own?” Shannon screeched. “This is my house! My father w
I walked through the front door of the university and to the admissions office. I pushed in through the door and waited at the desk. “Hi can I help you?” The lady behind the desk was a tiny old woman with curly hair. She walked over, surprisingly spry in her old age.“I hope so.” I smiled over at her as my mom pushed through the door.“There you are.” She smiled over the counter at the woman. “Hi. I hope you can help us. We are here to get my daughter registered for her classes this semester.”“Oh my. She is starting a little late. Hopefully, the course she wants is still open.” She hustled over to the swinging half door and pushed it open. “Come here, you two. We will get you settled.” We followed her back to her desk, and she pointed to the two chairs and settled behind her computer. “Now. Why the late start?”I sat in the chair and my mom settled next to me. “
“Usually you would get your key when you were assigned, but since you’re late, I’ll just give it to you now.” She pulled a key on a wristlet and handed it to me. “The dorms are open to move into this weekend and class starts on Monday morning.” I looked at my mom, and she shook her head. “You waited to the last minute, didn’t you, baby?” I just grinned. “I informed the university I was spending the summer at another pack out of their territory.”“That you did. I saw your note on the file. You were actually the next thing on my to do list. So you saved me the hassle.”“Next on your to do list?” I laughed. “Why?”“The dean wanted me to follow up on all alphas that have registered this year to ensure that each got the classes they wanted.”I nodded along, but my mom frowned. “What happens if a beta or gamma wolf picked their classes before the alphas and were accepted into the program, only for an alpha to ask for the same spot?”Mrs. Sandlewood frowned. “Unfortunately, with the newest
My mom reeled back and spat next to him on the ground. “I never want to see you again.” Then she spun around and stomped halfway back up the stairs. “Remember, divorce, tomorrow.”Morgan rallied the fool. “And what if I say no?”My mom ran back into the room. Her finger poked straight into his chest. “You fucking bastard. You swore to the goddess.”“And what if I changed my mind?” He smirked. “What if I decided I would rather keep you than let you go?”My mom screamed, but it was my quiet words that caught everyone’s attention. “Then you die.”Everyone froze. A pin could drop, a leaf could blow a block away, and we would all hear it. Shannon chuckled awkwardly. “What?”Brandon furrowed his brows. “Amy, you can’t mean that.”But my eyes were focused on Morgan, and only him. Morgan stepped back a step. “What did you say?” He looked at my mom, but she was stepping closer to me. “You can’t mean that, Amy.”I sighed, as if this was all too much. “You swore to the goddess Morgan, in front
She slammed her phone onto the table where everyone could see. We all leaned in and in perfect color, there was Morgan, balls deep inside his secretary.Morgan paled. “Where…where did you get this?” He tried to grab the phone, but my mom pulled it away.She laughed, but it was filled with a sharpness I had never heard before. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” She tilted her head. “Did you think that I would have really turned this cold over a run? A fucking run?” She slammed her hands down onto the table, causing them to jump. Morgan’s mouth bobbed up and down. “I-”“Shut the fuck up.” My mom screamed and then she almost deflated. “I think you have done enough talking for a long time, don’t you think? Ainsley, it was just a run. Ainsley, I love you and only you. Ainsley, sleep in the same bed as me or else Amy will be in danger.” Her eyes filled with disgust. “I know.”Morgan sank into her chair. “You know…”“I’ve known since last year.” She clicked the text chain before she got t
I stared at her for a second too long, and I saw sweat spring to her forehead. Then I smiled. “Of course I believe you. Brandon wouldn’t cheat on me…right?” I turned to him and he swallowed loud enough that I heard it across the table. “You wouldn’t do that to me after what my dad did to my mom, right?”He jumped, like I surprised him. “Of course I wouldn’t.” But even from here, I could see the guilt eating at him. “I know your dad has different views about mating than I do. And if that is what you want, we can still cancel the mating ceremony.” I let hurt enter my eyes. “I just refuse to share my mate with anyone.”He swallowed again. “I know. And I agree with you. I promise I would never do that to you.”I smiled. “Okay.” I turned to my mom. “I believe him.” She turned to glare at him for a minute and then I watched her crumple. “I’m sorry, baby.” She turned to Shannon. “I didn’t mean to accuse you. I’m just on edge.”Shannon nodded and turned to look at her dad. “It’s okay. Let’s
I smiled internally as the door behind me ripped open. “Deal.” My mother stepped out and shut the door behind her, moving everyone back a step. “But I want you to swear it to the goddess.”Morgan shook his head. “I shouldn’t have to swear my words are truthful to the goddess.”She scoffed. “I think that right there shows your sincerity, Morgan. But not what I meant. If you can prove to me you weren’t cheating or lying, then I will believe you, and I will have your pups. I want you to swear on the goddess that if I have proof your lying, that you will grant me a fast divorce.”Shannon once again jumped in. “Deal.” She pushed her father forward. “Come on, daddy make the deal.”Morgan hesitated again before he nodded to himself. I think he has to work up the nerve to make the vow. “I, Morgan Bain, swear that if you have reasonable proof that I was lying or cheating, then I will grant you a divorce.”My mother growled. “A fast divorce.”Morgan sighed, but corrected himself. “I, Morgan Bai
Shannon shrieked, surprised. Morgan jumped and Brandon, stupid Brandon, tucked the lock picks down by his side. “I’ll ask you again. What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” This time, I let a snarl leave my mouth.Brandon stood with Shannon and Morgan at my door. Morgan and Shannon took a step back, realizing the danger, but Brandon took a step closer to me, trying to force my door wider. “We are here to discuss something with you and your mother.” He tried to be sweet and leaned in to kiss my cheek as once again he tried to push past, but I held the door tightly tucked to my side. I looked over at Morgan and Shannon. “I asked you two to leave for a couple of days. I asked you to give her some space.”“Amy-” Brandon tried to interrupt, but I stepped out of my room, pushing him back with a stumbling step and closing my door. “Why are you back here?” I left my face show my anger, my annoyance. “This is my house, too.” Morgan tried to stick out his chest. “I shouldn’t have to leave.
Everyone turned in horror as Carly stood in the grass, white eyes blind to the world, voice too deep for a freshly seven-year-old child. Rick turned back to me, because the goddess left my body, and we were once again alone. “Is that who I think it is?”Carly chuckled in a voice that sounded like she was grown. “If you are asking if I am the Shaman, I am indeed.” She turned to me. “High above us, where the stars can reach, the secret you are searching for has taken root.” Something in my chest loosened. Something my soul has figured out, but my brain was still trying to catch up. “What do you mean?”“You know.” She smiled, and then I watched her start to fall. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and before she could slam into the ground, I caught her. “Holy shit, you have the shaman here?” Rick paced.“Abby is playing with the shaman?” Shelly looked confused.Ternen, sweet Ternen, just looked at us. “Who or what is the shaman?”Everyone froze for a second and then everyone, in
I nodded. “There is still so much you don’t know, and we don’t have time to explain it all today.” I turned in a slow circle. “I honestly wish we could. But every time you come over. We can come here, allow the girls to play, and we can talk in more detail. But…” I crouched down, trying to figure out how to make out here more protected. “Yes, there will be a war.”“How are you so certain?” She looked terrified. I could see her twist her fingers. “Because I know how the king feels. He wants to rip all the rot out at once. The rogues. The alphas. The men and women that turned their backs on their kind for power.” “But you could be wrong.” She tried again. I closed my eyes and I felt the shift. I was no longer alone. “No, my dear girl. She isn’t.” I felt my body turn, almost as if Nix was in control. But I looked beside me and my two wolves were watching with me. I heard a few gasps, and I turned back to watch.“Who are you?” Rick stepped in front of his mate, but the person sharing m
“The closet is the escape plan?” Ternen looked about as confused as Rick did.I laughed. “Just follow me.” I walked into the closet and they all followed. “Close the door behind us, Ternen, please.”“Okay.” I heard the door shut before I opened the next door, and then the one on the other side.“You have a door that leads to a door?” Abby giggled.“I do. Do you want to know why?” I asked, still using the other door to block their view.“Why?” Abby came up behind me, and I opened both doors wide. “Because this is a magic closet. Follow me.” I waved them forward, and we walked through my bedroom, down the hall, and down the stairs.“You have another house in your closet?” Shelly’s words were filled with awe. She turned to Rick. She elbowed him. “We can barely afford the one and she has a huge house in a closet.” I laughed and winked down at Abby. “Come on, I have someone I want you to meet.” I held out my hands and she lifted her arms.“Sorry.” She whispered as we started down the ste
We all stood, and I turned to Shelly. “Are you ready to take the vow?”She took a breath and then nodded. “I am.” “Good. Repeat after me.” I walked her through the vow. “Are you ready?”She nodded. “I, Shelly Clark, vow to keep your words from everyone excerpt the goddess. I swear that nothing you say that could be used against you to cause harm will leave my mouth. Only the goddess will know our secrets and I beg her to keep them for us.” We all watched as her eyes widened. She turned to Rick. “That’s what you meant.” I lifted a brow. But she just laughed. “When he came home, he said that when you were out for lunch, you had a moment that filled him with an amazing sense of belonging.” She blushed as she rubbed her chest. “I was a little jealous, as I thought he meant you, but he meant the vow, the acceptance from the goddess.”Rick smiled and nodded. “Amy is great, but nothing came close to that feeling.” He turned to Shelly. “Except the day I mated you.” Then he turned to Abby. “A