I stared up at my grandmother as she pushed me back down to the ground. โHow do I find her? How do I find your cabin from here? Are we even close?โ My questions fly out of my mouth and she smiled as she settled next to me. She grabbed my hands. โCalm my girl. Focus on me.โ She breathed through her nose and out of her mouth. โFollow my lead. Match me, and once youโre settled, we can find your girl.โ My girl. The words seemed so foreign, but as I thought about it again, it settled in soul, and she was right. She was mine, almost as much as she was Carls. I focused on her eyes, matching my breathing with hers. She nodded. โGood. Now close your eyes. And picture that little girl.โOnce again I closed my eyes and remembered the bright giggling little girl I first met at Carlโs store. So little, yet so bright. Her blonde curls danced in the light. Carlโs protectiveness, her innocence, all came rushing back. And so did the panic I felt as I found her on the ground, white wide eyes and cold
I headed straight for the man on his knees with a vicious growl. As soon as I got close, I dove for the first rogue I was near. Everyone else joined the fight, I knew, but I was focused on saving Carl. It was too soon. I wasnโt ready. And I knew Carly wasnโt ready either. The rogues were pretty big, and as soon as we breeched the trees, they all squared up with us. We were the incoming threat. But what we hadnโt planned on, were there being so many. Even with Erubus, we were outnumbered five to one. The rouge was quick; he dove away from every attack and countered. Toya and the girls were fighting tooth and claw as well, but from the corner of my eye, I could see Carl trying to get up. Trying to help. โStay down Carl.โ I called to him and I could see the thought in his mind. โWe were fine. Stay alive. You have better things to worry about.โ I called again while nearly avoiding a second rogue diving for my back. That got through to him and he sagged onto his hands, the pain becoming
I watched his eyes widen. โDid you just command me?โ I got into his face, our whiskers bending against each otherโs face. โYou donโt get to give up in a fight. Not now, not ever, and if that takes me commanding you to do so, then so be it.โ I growled, but then a soft cough had me whirling. โAmy.โ Carlโs soft gasp had me sprinting to his side. I shifted, my graduation gown a stark contrast to the bloody field.โCarl.โ I grabbed him around his waist and tried to pull him to his feet, but the scream he let out stopped me. โCome on. Youโre fine.โ I tried to convince myself. I dropped next to him, cupping his face. โGet up.โโAmy.โ His eyes filled. "โNo, none of that.โ I leaned in. โItโs too soon. She isnโt ready to live without you.โโSheโs been trained.โI shook my head. โNo. Carl, Iโm telling you, itโs too soon.โHe gave a sad smile. โItโs always going to be toon soon.โ I felt my lips tremble. โPlease.โ I begged. I knew this was going to shatter his little girl. He shook his head a
I turned back to Carl, but he still shook his head. โItโs too late.โ I begged him with my eyes, but I saw the decision on his face. He was set on this outcome, but I wasnโt.I pushed. โI healed from the brink, so can you.โ I tried to pull back my hand, but he shook his head again. His face was turning gray, and the light was fading from his eyes. But he took a deep breath and rallied.โDaddy, let Amy help us.โ Carlyโs little voice was heart wrenching. โPlease.โ She tried to pull away from his chest, but he started coughing, and his eyes widened a little as blood poured from his lips. โDaddy!โ She screamed as she tried to pull away again. Blood coated her back, as Carl lost his grip on her as he choked on his lifeโs blood. He finally caught his breath, and he stared into Carlyโs eyes. I watched as his defeated eyes filled with all of his love for his daughter. โBaby girl. What is the first rule of our kind?โ His laboured breathing was starting to gurgle, fluid building in his chest. H
Carl looked up at her. โLeeway? How?โโWhatโs leeway?โ Carly sat up against Carl, still clinging to him, but grasping on to the tiny thread of hope she was being handed. โLeeway, my girl, means the goddess looks away when I nip down here to see my girl here.โ She leaned over and I felt the ghost of her lips on my forehead. โWhen something like this happens, Carl. The goddess looks the other way when, say, someone calls for you.โ โHow is this possible?โ Hanna looked at me, and then back at my grandmother. She smiled up at my friends. โYou know of her magic.โ The girls nodded, but Erubus stayed still. I saw the tiny smile that sprang to her lips as her eyes landed on him. โWell, Amy sacrifices a tiny amount of magic to call for me, and another to help me come to this plane.โ She waved her hands at me. โWhen she needs me, I come. Do you know what that means, little one?โ Carly shook her head as my grand mother dropped to her knees beside me. She raised her hands to hold Carlyโs face.
โAmyโฆโ Toya followed me into the house, but Carly pulled her head up. She pointed at the wall beside the door. โDaddy said your friends would need robes, so we have them up and waiting for them.โ Her little voice was barely above a whisper as I kept walking. They would figure it out. I headed directly upstairs. I wasnโt exactly sure where I was going, but I knew I didnโt want to deal with that man right this second. Anyone really. But I was in charge of this little girl now, and she needed me. I hit the landing and stared into each room. There were so many bedrooms up here. โWhat the hell.โโDaddy said we would need the rooms until everything settled down. Your friends are going to be here with us until you find your way.โ Until I find my way. My stomach clenched. Carl saw all of this. He knew exactly how he was going to die and he prepared for it all, fully knowing it would never be long enough with his daughter. โWhich room is your bathroom?โ I looked and found none in the hall.
The tub finished draining as Carly stood there, and I nodded. โYeah. Yeah, he is.โ She shivered as I turned the warm water back on, allowing the tub to refill. But I doubt she felt any of it. I helped her back into the water and squeezed more shampoo into her hair, the water barely changing color this time. After I rinsed, I added the conditioner. I knew I was stalling. What do I say to a kid who just lost everything? โCarlyโฆโ She barely registered me, but her eyes finally met mine. โI wonโt lie to you and tell you that the pain, this hurt, will go away anytime soon.โ She whimpered, her little lip trembling as she turned to face me fully. โPain like this, loss like this. Itโs going to hurt for a very long time.โ How do you explain this kid of loss to a child?But she nodded. โI donโt think Iโll ever not miss my daddy.โI cupped her face. โAnd that is okay.โ I wiped her tears. โBut daddy wants you to be okay. And he wants you to be happy. Right?โ She nodded as she bit her bottom lip. โ
I opened the letter in my hands, and a wave of raw pain hit me in the chest. Carlโs neat handwriting met me. Amy, I know right this minute I am laying on the cold earth after doing everything to save my little girl. I know you just spent an hour taking care of her, and for that, I am eternally grateful. But if you allow her to stay awake, she will hurt herself. Iโve seen it. So I beg you to put her to sleep. Use your magic, and put her to sleep every night for the next few months. She is a child, but she is my child, and I know her. She is an old soul in a tiny body and she sees more than you think she does. But she doesnโt see the entire picture yet, and if you allow her to, she will put herself in danger. And with it, the world. I looked up from the letter to see Toya standing close. โWhatโs wrong?โ She came closer.โHe wants me to put her to sleep. For the next few months.โToya took the letter and read it. โHeโs seen it.โ She handed me back the letter. โI canโt blame the child
Morgan shrugged. โYou should have kept your pants on. You only had to keep it in your pants for a few years, and you canโt even do that.โ Morgan leveled him with a look. You can blame Shannon all you want, but letโs not pretend she is the only one youโre fucking.Brandon glared at him for a minute before laughing. โTrue.โ He sighed. โBut Shannon was the only one Amy had to deal with.โMorgan level him with another look. โAgain, it isnโt her fault you decided you wanted to drain Amy of her power. You could have chosen anyone else.โBrandon sighed. โTrue again, but she is so fucking strong.โ He grabbed his dick. โAnd she is so fucking stuck up. I was going to enjoy draining her.โ Rick laughed. Fucking laughed, but when he turned, I saw it. A flash of something in his eyes. He didnโt want to be here. What the fuck is going on here? Megan called back to us, but neither of us knew. โShut the fuck up.โ Vince called back and everyone quieted. โVerity. How fucking long now?โShe sighed as s
The world blurred past us. The trees became blurred sticks as we wove in between. Bushes became wider obstacles that we jumped over. The animals, the birds, they knew something was happening, and they stayed quiet and out of the way. Megan passed the borders of the pack lands, she weaved between the border patrols that were following their routes, and others that were just out for friendly hunts. We finally slowed to a stop to catch our breath and to figure out where to go. She looked around. Nix receding back beside me and collapsing. Are you okay? I hurried to her side. Yeah. She huffed and sagged against me. I pushed too hard, thatโs all.I cuddled her to my side, holding her up as she caught her breath, and I realized the sun had set. How long did it take us to run here? Nix huffed out a breath. Not long. Around two hours. Why?Why is the sun setting? I looked around and the woods were definitely darker. Megan looked up, and we saw it. She checked the sun, but there was nothi
I drove past the pack members that had lined the street. All of them were waving and bowing, giving my mother a farewell deserving of a luna, not just another pack member. But she has stepped up where Vinceโs mate failed. My mom helped with the pups. She made sure they were taught properly. She fought for the females of this pack. And wolves never forgot their debts. I drove down block after block of our pack, saluting to my mother, who wasnโt even here to see it. I waved as I drove past the guards at the beginning of the land, and then we were out. My motherโs body double disappeared, and I called for the jet to get ready to take a flight to the coast and come back. โWho are we taking?โI laughed. โNo one.โ There was silence on the other end. โTake you families for a vacation to the coast if you like, my gift to you.โ I looked at the dash. โIโll be there in about twenty minutes. Get everyone to the hangar to leave and Iโll transfer you twenty thousand to have a nice weekend. Make s
We made it back to the house and my mother was ecstatic, dancing her way to my room. We shut the door, and she twirled. โWhere do I go?โ She turned to me and I just gave her a look. โI know Iโm going to the cabin. I just mean how? Wonโt the pack notice if I donโt leave?โI waved my hand. โIโll use magic to pretend to drive you away and Iโll leave your car at the airport and run back. Just pack your essentials and we will go over.โ I kissed her temple. โBut letโs be quick.โโWhy?โ She sat on my bed and I pulled out black clothes. She just lifted her eyebrows. โWhat are you going to do? Rob a bank?โ I laughed. โI need a shower and descenting spray.โ I rummaged through my bathroom, but my mom stood and went into my closet. โWhat are you doing?โโI put the extra spray in here, foolish girl.โ She came out with a bottle. โNow tell me why.โโRick.โ She just twirled her finger. โRick what?โ She handed me the bottle, and I put it on my counter. โWhen he told me to go home for the day. He to
Vince looked at me, then he turned to Morgan with a raised brow. โWell, thenโฆโ He sat back. โThere isnโt much of a choice, is there?โMorgan turned to me. โAmy, you canโt be serious. I raised you. I was your dad.โ My eyes flashed and Nix was in front in a second. โRepeat those words and I will call the Cath Bรกis for pure arrogance from you. You barely looked at us when we were a pup. You did everything and anything to take our motherโs time and attention from us. And when I finally shifted, you stole our bonding night.โ Nix chuffed a warning call. โSo think before you open your mouth again, beta. If you step on my fatherโs legacy and my motherโs hard work, then I will not hold back. I will rip you to shreds and reunite you with your mate.โMorgan paled. โNixโฆI didnโt mean-โโYou dodnโt mean to take credit for work you had no hand in. You didnโt raise me. You didnโt pay my way. You didnโt even house me. Amy bought the house. Amyโs money paid for everything for her and her mother. You
The room remained silent for a second, before Vince grabbed the phone and slammed it into the desk, shattering it. But my mom just smirked. โOh, donโt worry Vince. I have backups.โ She crossed her arms. โNowโฆabout my divorce.โ The smirk on her face was amazing. But I had to play both sides. โMom. You canโt let that photo get out. Itโs obviously fake. Morgan might do that, but Alpha Vince would never do that.โ I pleaded with my mom, but she just patted my hand. โDonโt worry, baby. Whether the photo is real, itโs your concern.โ My mom turned back to Vince. โIs it?โVince looked at me and I could see the relief. He thought I was stupid enough to believe it was real. He still had some standing with me. Brandon stood back up, wincing from the pain. โSheโs right. I donโt know what Morgan does in his spare time, but my father would never do something like that.โ Brandon crossed over to me and tried to grab my hand. โI will stand up for your dad, because he is my alpha and that photo is ma
Brandon struggled on the ground, but he wiped the blood from his lip. โI donโt even know what Shannon said. How can I tell you if she is lying?โMy mother snarled and tried to attack him again. โYou fucking son of a bitch.โ She swiped at him but I puled her back and just shook my head.I sniffled as I wiped my face on the neck of my shirt, then I turned to face him. โI told Shannon I was stepping back and canceling our mating ceremony because you guys are obviously in love. She was very excited and said that she loved you. That you loved her.โ I let a sob out. โThat she was pregnant with your pup.โ I slapped my hand over my mouth and I turned. I put my face on my motherโs chest and silently laughed. The shaking thankfully looked like sobs. โWhat?โ Brandon looked at Shannon. โYouโre pregnant?โShe looked down. โI think so.โ โIt isnโt mine.โ Brandon scoffed. โWhy are you lying?โ He stood. Morgan and Shannon turned their head to look at Brandon and so did my mom. Nixโs words were soft
There was silence in the room as Brandonโs steps faded away. Then Vince looked at me. โBrandon doesnโt want to get between his mate and her sister. So he respectfully stepped away from deciding. So as to not hurt either of you.โ I wanted to lift my lip in disgust. Heโs fucking pathetic. Meganโs voice was vicious. He canโt even stand by his fucking whore when she needs him. What a worthless male.Nix rubbed her side against Megan. We got away from him this time around. We donโt have to worry about this pup after all of this is over. I tuned back into the office as my two wolves comforted each other. โWhat?โ Shannon looked back at me. โHe left because of you?โ I could see she wanted to scream, to pout. I shook my head. โI already told Brandon, so I might as well tell you here.โ I swallowed and forced more tears into my eyes. Dramatic. Nix scoffed, and I grinned back at her. โI told Brandon today that I realized he was still in love with you, Shannon. Obviously, he still wants to be
We walked into Vinceโs office a few minutes later, and everyone was already waiting. Morgan and Shannon were on the left. One chair was empty to the right, and Brandon was standing next to Vince, who was already seated behind the desk, looking stern. โAlpha Vince.โ I nodded once and stood behind my mother who took the chair. โVince.โ My mom looked to the left. โI assume you know why we are here.โHe nodded. โI did here. But why donโt you tell me?โMy mom rolled her eyes. โIm here for a quick divorce and a transfer. I already submitted my request to the King.โ Everyone stopped breathing. โYou did what?โ Vinceโs voice was barely a whisper. But my mom smiled. โDid you think I would stick around here?โ She chuckled. โMy request to transfer has already been approved, my new pack has accepted, and I just have to finalize everything here.โ She looked down at her nails. โYou had no right.โ Morgan screamed. But my mom just swung her head towards him. โAre you stupid?โ Morgan blinked slo