“What is what?” I looked around, trying to see what she was pointing at. I turned to look behind me, but there was nothing. I turned back and all of their faces, lit by the glow of the flames, were full of disbelief.Micca came over and pulled out her phone. “Don’t move.” She took a photo and then turned it around. The screen was dark except for the fire to my right and…I touched my forehead where new marking were glowing in the dark on my forehead. It lit the top of my face; the glow was so strong you could just make out my eyes in the darkness. A soft blue, white light emanated from the design carved by the goddesses. I traced the design, awe filled my chest, and a soft tingle hit my fingertips. Before there was just a crescent moon, but now, the crescent moon shifted to a full moon in the center, and two crescent moons on the sides. Vines wrapped around the crescent moons, trailing up into my hair and trailing down the sides of my face. I brushed it again and I felt a stronger vib
“Absolutely not.” Toya shook her head and crossed her arms.“Toya-”“No, Amy. I’m with Toya. You politely, graciously turn them down.” Wendy sidled up next to Toya. And then so did Micca and Hanna. I felt burning behind my eyes as I shook my head.“We don’t agree.” Hanna pulled her shoulders back and had this defiant look on her face.“You guys.” I started turning to them. But Micca stomped her foot. “No.” Her brows furrowed, and she glared at me. “You are our friend, our alpha, and we refused, dammit. I love the Moon Goddess in all her glory, but she can’t take you from us.”I sighed. “I love you. All of you. And I will be your friend and alpha until the end. But when the goddess, goddesses.” I corrected. “When the two goddesses you descend from come knocking, you answer.” I watched their faces fall. “They haven’t asked for anything I wasn’t already planning on doing. We have discussed this many times over.”“But you have a kid now.” Hanna murmured, and I nodded.“Just another reaso
The silence was only broken by the crackling of the fire. Hanna watched as everyone took in her words. She walked over to the pile of wood that Rowan left and chucked a few more pieces into the fire. The sound jolted everyone out of their thoughts. Wendy took in a deep breath, and then she gagged. “What the fuck?” She wretched again, and then the smell hit the rest of us. “What the fuck is that?” Micca gagged too. It was only Toya, Hanna, and I that didn’t gag. We looked at each other and then back to the other two. “That…” Hanna started, but stopped.“That’s what is smells like when you burn bodies.” I finished for her. Micca groaned and rushed away, puking closer to the house, while Wendy looked at me with wide eyes. “Why are you three okay?”“Because this isn’t the first time we had to do this.” Toya walked over to Wendy, pulling her away from the fire. Hanna went to grab Micca, and we walked to Carl’s grave, creating space. “The first time is always the worst.” I offered with
“How do you know this stuff?”“Like I said, the Japanese lines were very proud of their lineage and we all knew who the first family of Tsukiyomi was.” Hanna nodded to Toya. “The real question is, how does Toya know?”“And how Amy knows about the first family?” Micca pointed to me and I smiled.“Toya?” Hanna turned to her. “How do you know about the line from Nut?”“Because she is the one who created my family.” Toya leaned back and looked up at the moon. “We worship the Moon Goddess and Nut. She who oversees the starts and the sky. She saw the wolves, heard their songs, and wished to hear it in Egypt. So she asked the Moon Goddess for help and permission to create our line. My father is descended from her power.”“That’s why you’re so fast?” Micca furrowed her brow. “Not cool. I never had a chance of beating you.” We all laughed, remembering the races Micca tried to win for months. Then, one by one they all turned to me. I turned back to the grave and continued to fill it in. “I kno
Toya chucked a rock at me. “Be serious.”I turned and looked at my friends. “I am serious.” I looked at Toya, with her silent strength and Hanna, how far she’s come. It made sense that they were tied to a goddess. Too much sense. Then I looked at Micca and Wendy. “We were all drawn together. What if there was a reason behind it?”“There was a reason behind it.” Wendy leaned in, like she was going to whisper a secret. “You collected us, like that kids’ show. Oh goddess, what is it?” Hanna snorted. “The one with the weird animal things that say their name?” Wendy pointed to her. “Exactly. The Poki show. Your are a collector of people.” Hanna shook her head but she was laughing with Wendy.Toya smiled but just shook her head in defeat. “I am serious.” I stood. “I hate people, to the extreme. I have only ever had one friend my entire life, and she only had to deal with me during the summers. But you guys, you guys stuck around.”“Amy, I hate to tell you this but your are in fact a nice
I finished getting dress as someone knocked on my door. I walked over, still wrapping my hair in a towel, and cracked it open. Toya pushed a wine glass into my hand and stepped in before closing the door. “What’s wrong?” I sat down on my bed and took a sip. I knew Toya she had something on her mind and she came in here to talk it out, before bringing in the others. “I’ve been thinking about what you said…about the first families.”I nodded. “What about it?”“What if you’re right? What if we were all pushed together by the gods we descended from and now we are here?” She paced the room.“What if we were?” I shrugged and took another sip. “Does that bother you?”“It doesn’t bother you? We were pushed together, forced to be in each other’s lives, and now we are here.” She faced me. “Do we not get free will?”I eyed her as I took another longer drink this time. “Do you not like being friends with me?”She sucked her teeth. “Of course I do.”I tilted my head. “Are you unhappy with the ot
We all stared at Toya. Then Wendy came over and got into her face. “What’s wrong with you?”Toya pulled back, but her eyes were filled with panic. “Nothing.”“No, Wendy’s right.” Hanna came closer. “You are Amy’s biggest supporter. We are all close, but you and Amy have always had that extra bond. You have never once worried or questioned your spot here, or Amy’s decision. But this…” She waved her hand, gesturing wildly to Toya. “This isn’t you.”I felt my eyes narrow as I leaned against the table. “They are right. In the last three years, you have never once questioned your place here. You have questioned my decisions, but I always appreciated your opinion, but you always did it away from everyone.” “I came to you to discuss this alone, but you brought us down here.” Toya pointed out.“You are right. But so are Hanna and Wendy. This isn’t you.”Toya pointed at all of us. “You’re not buying this, right?”Wendy grabbed her hand. “Calm down Toya. We are just trying to figure out what’s
Toya jumped over the table at me but I was ready. She shifted her hands as she tried to tackle me, but I jumped out of the way. She sailed past me and I wrapped my hands into her braids and yanked her back. She flew off her feet with a snarl. “I’ll kill you.” She snarled again, but I was already moving. I slammed her to the ground as I slipped my hand into the bag Micca brought down. I pulled the first length of rope out and turned to the girls. They had grabbed Micca by the arms and were holding her. “Get her into a chair.” I called back to them and slid a spool of rope to them. “Tie her too it.” Toya tried to slice at my throat. Whatever had eaten away at her was digging in deep, removing any and all love she had for me, and left only anger and fear. I pulled my hand back and punched her as hard as I could without breaking anything, dazing her. “Amy…” Hanna looked back at Toya. “Are you sure?” I could see the doubt trying to push forward, but she shook her head again. I watched he
Morgan shrugged. “You should have kept your pants on. You only had to keep it in your pants for a few years, and you can’t even do that.” Morgan leveled him with a look. You can blame Shannon all you want, but let’s not pretend she is the only one you’re fucking.Brandon glared at him for a minute before laughing. “True.” He sighed. “But Shannon was the only one Amy had to deal with.”Morgan level him with another look. “Again, it isn’t her fault you decided you wanted to drain Amy of her power. You could have chosen anyone else.”Brandon sighed. “True again, but she is so fucking strong.” He grabbed his dick. “And she is so fucking stuck up. I was going to enjoy draining her.” Rick laughed. Fucking laughed, but when he turned, I saw it. A flash of something in his eyes. He didn’t want to be here. What the fuck is going on here? Megan called back to us, but neither of us knew. “Shut the fuck up.” Vince called back and everyone quieted. “Verity. How fucking long now?”She 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, that’s 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 Vince’s 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 wasn’t 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 mother’s body double disappeared, and I called for the jet to get ready to take a flight to the coast and come back. “Who are we taking?”I laughed. “No one.” There was silence on the other end. “Take you families for a vacation to the coast if you like, my gift to you.” I looked at the dash. “I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Get everyone to the hangar to leave and I’ll 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. “Where do I go?” She turned to me and I just gave her a look. “I know I’m going to the cabin. I just mean how? Won’t the pack notice if I don’t leave?”I waved my hand. “I’ll use magic to pretend to drive you away and I’ll leave your car at the airport and run back. Just pack your essentials and we will go over.” I kissed her temple. “But let’s be quick.”“Why?” She sat on my bed and I pulled out black clothes. She just lifted her eyebrows. “What are you going to do? Rob a bank?” I laughed. “I need a shower and descenting spray.” I rummaged through my bathroom, but my mom stood and went into my closet. “What are you doing?”“I put the extra spray in here, foolish girl.” She came out with a bottle. “Now tell me why.”“Rick.” She just twirled her finger. “Rick what?” She handed me the bottle, and I put it on my counter. “When he told me to go home for the day. He to
Vince looked at me, then he turned to Morgan with a raised brow. “Well, then…” He sat back. “There isn’t much of a choice, is there?”Morgan turned to me. “Amy, you can’t be serious. I raised you. I was your dad.” My eyes flashed and Nix was in front in a second. “Repeat those words and I will call the Cath Báis for pure arrogance from you. You barely looked at us when we were a pup. You did everything and anything to take our mother’s time and attention from us. And when I finally shifted, you stole our bonding night.” Nix chuffed a warning call. “So think before you open your mouth again, beta. If you step on my father’s legacy and my mother’s hard work, then I will not hold back. I will rip you to shreds and reunite you with your mate.”Morgan paled. “Nix…I didn’t mean-”“You dodn’t mean to take credit for work you had no hand in. You didn’t raise me. You didn’t pay my way. You didn’t even house me. Amy bought the house. Amy’s 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. “Oh, don’t worry Vince. I have backups.” She crossed her arms. “Now…about my divorce.” The smirk on her face was amazing. But I had to play both sides. “Mom. You can’t let that photo get out. It’s obviously fake. Morgan might do that, but Alpha Vince would never do that.” I pleaded with my mom, but she just patted my hand. “Don’t worry, baby. Whether the photo is real, it’s your concern.” My mom turned back to Vince. “Is it?”Vince 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. “She’s right. I don’t know what Morgan does in his spare time, but my father would never do something like that.” Brandon crossed over to me and tried to grab my hand. “I 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. “I don’t even know what Shannon said. How can I tell you if she is lying?”My mother snarled and tried to attack him again. “You fucking son of a bitch.” 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. “I 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.” I let a sob out. “That she was pregnant with your pup.” I slapped my hand over my mouth and I turned. I put my face on my mother’s chest and silently laughed. The shaking thankfully looked like sobs. “What?” Brandon looked at Shannon. “You’re pregnant?”She looked down. “I think so.” “It isn’t mine.” Brandon scoffed. “Why are you lying?” He stood. Morgan and Shannon turned their head to look at Brandon and so did my mom. Nix’s words were soft
There was silence in the room as Brandon’s steps faded away. Then Vince looked at me. “Brandon doesn’t want to get between his mate and her sister. So he respectfully stepped away from deciding. So as to not hurt either of you.” I wanted to lift my lip in disgust. He’s fucking pathetic. Megan’s voice was vicious. He can’t 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 don’t 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. “What?” Shannon looked back at me. “He left because of you?” I could see she wanted to scream, to pout. I shook my head. “I already told Brandon, so I might as well tell you here.” I swallowed and forced more tears into my eyes. Dramatic. Nix scoffed, and I grinned back at her. “I told Brandon today that I realized he was still in love with you, Shannon. Obviously, he still wants to be
We walked into Vince’s 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. “Alpha Vince.” I nodded once and stood behind my mother who took the chair. “Vince.” My mom looked to the left. “I assume you know why we are here.”He nodded. “I did here. But why don’t you tell me?”My mom rolled her eyes. “Im here for a quick divorce and a transfer. I already submitted my request to the King.” Everyone stopped breathing. “You did what?” Vince’s voice was barely a whisper. But my mom smiled. “Did you think I would stick around here?” She chuckled. “My request to transfer has already been approved, my new pack has accepted, and I just have to finalize everything here.” She looked down at her nails. “You had no right.” Morgan screamed. But my mom just swung her head towards him. “Are you stupid?” Morgan blinked slo