“Please don’t do this.” I begged over and over, but no one was listening. I thrashed against their hold, but nothing. “I am your luna.” I screamed at the top of my lungs, but then his laugh from the other room broke all the fight in me. “Luke please.” I begged once more time, my voice horse.
“Kill it once it’s done. Toss her out. She will have to survive on her own from here on out.”
He can’t mean that. This was our baby. “Our baby.”
“Is a mistake from the Moon Goddess. One I will rectify.” His voice called again from the other room. He wouldn’t even face me. “Now do it. That’s an order.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
It was a mistake to come here.
It was a mistake to give him everything.
“Oh, and doctor?” Her sweet voice called from the other room. My stepsister, Shannon. I gritted my teeth. “Don’t use any anesthetic. She should feel everything.”
“Yes, Luna.” The doctor turned back to me with sad eyes, but when he picked up the scalpel, I knew I was screwed.
I’m sorry, baby. Momma couldn’t save you. She wanted you so, so much. I tried to rub my stomach, but the nurses had strapped me down. When the doctor approached, I realized he was using a silver blade.
“Silver?” My whisper was almost silent, but he nodded. I knew then that Shannon didn’t want me to survive. She wanted my life so badly that she lied about me cheating on my mate, showing photos as proof. But I never touched another wolf, nor would I again, not after this betrayal.
Why, Moon Goddess, why would you give him to me just to take him away? My pup.
I cried silently as the doctor cut into my abdomen, and I felt my baby thrash inside. He knew it was too early to be born. This was a death sentence for both of us.
“Bring me the body of the pup.”
“Yes Alpha.” I felt every slice as he cut into me, and finally I could take it no longer. I started to scream, soon I felt the blood trickling down my side, every drip off of me hitting the floor. I thrashed against the restraints. But the silver had made me weak.
I’m sorry, baby.
They weren’t trying to keep me alive, which I expected, but I wished wasn’t true. I used to love my mate, but I felt the love die in me when I saw my pup being ripped from my belly.
“Please, let me hold him once.” I tried to move my arms to reach for him, but I was still tied down. The doctor, who was shedding tears, brought my pup and laid him on my chest.
He was perfect. I rubbed his scent on my face and mine on his. He would forever be a part of my soul.
My missing piece.
“Doctor, now.”
“Yes Alpha.” The doctor picked the baby up and rushed out, leaving me spread open to the elements.
I felt my life slipping away as the door opened and Shannon came in. Her smug smile was firmly in place.
“I told you I would take your life, Amy. I would have your mate. And I have, over and over, since he found out of your betrayal.” Shannon walked over and laid a kiss on my face as I snarled. “He is perfection. And don’t worry. I will give him another son.” She laid her hand on her stomach and I started to laugh. “What’s so funny?”
“I can smell the beta on you. That’s Derek's child, and it’s a girl. Nice try though.”
She snarled and raised her hand, growing her claws to deliver the final blow, but the door was ripped open and my mate, the man I now hated most in the world, stepped inside. His eyes were red, and I started to laugh again.
“You bitch!” He snarled and struck out, whipping Shannon to the other side of the room.
“Brandon!” Shannon shrieked as she hit the wall. “What’s wrong?” She staggered to her feet, but more blood dripped out of me and I closed my eyes.
“You lied!” He screamed, shaking the walls as his aura struck out, but I could barely feel it. I felt the silver travelling in my veins getting closer to my sluggish heart. “This was my pup. I can smell me on him. He was mine.” Brandon's eyes grew redder as the tears gathered. “You said she cheated on me and that it wasn’t my pup.”
“She did cheat on you. I guess I was wrong about the pup.”
“You said you smelt it.” From the sound of it, he lunged for her again, but him clutching our baby in his arm was the last thing I saw. And I wanted to never see it again. He did this to us. Not Shannon.
She played her part well, sure, but him not believing me, not waiting for a few more days to smell the pup, that was his fault. And all of our downfalls.
I prayed for the moon goddess to take me. I no longer wanted to be here. I wanted to be with my pup.
“Save her.”
“No!” Shannon screamed. “I am the Luna now, you marked me last night.” Ah, so that was the pain I felt last night. His betrayal had bile shoot into my mouth. “I am bearing your pup.”
I started to laugh again. I cracked my eyes to see my mate, Brandon, hovering next to me. “Stay with me Amy.”
“Beta’s baby. She is fucking…the beta.” I choked out the words and laughed as horror bloomed in his eyes. Blood flew from my mouth as I smiled again.
“Save her.”
“No!” I slammed out, putting all of my power in it. “Don’t move.” I used my Alpha strength to freeze everyone, including my mate.
“How?” Brandon looked down at me, pleading. “Let me save you.”
“I am descended from the Moon Goddess, and you don’t deserve to save me. You don’t deserve our pup. You were weak. And now you lost everything.” I smiled up at him as I felt my life from my body.
And then I was free.
I opened my eyes to find myself surprisingly alive. “Amy hurry, you’re going to be late.” I jolted up and look around, confused. What was going on? Where was I? “Amy!” The voice called again and I shook myself. I stood up from the bed and looked around again. I recognized this room. It was my childhood bedroom. I hadn’t stepped foot in this room since I found my mate, Brandon. I heard a knock on the door and my mother opened it. Before I could process what was happening, I ran into my mother’s arms. “Mom, you’re here.” I started to cry. “I’ve missed you so much.”“Amy. My girl.” She laughed as she patted my back. “I saw you yesterday.” She pulled back and I looked into her amber eyes that matched my own. “Happy birthday, baby.”I leaned into her hands and realized that today was the last day I spent at home. I found my mate on my eighteenth birthday. “Thank you, mom.”“Hopefully, you will meet your mate today and start your new life.” She smiled at me and I felt my blood freeze. I di
“Pack your bags, Amy.” My mom came in, surprising me from the list I was making. “What?” I looked up. “Why?”“You are going to spend the summer with your father. I already got the approval from the Alpha.” Mom smiled down at me. “Come on, baby. Pack your bag and get ready.”I jumped to my feet and ran to my mom. “I can go?”“Just for the summer, baby, then you will be back here with me. I had to promise that you would be returning here.”I pouted. “Mom, I really don’t want to be here.” I wanted to make them pay, but I wouldn’t risk him finding me.“It’s okay baby, you will understand once you see your dad.” She patted my hair and kissed my cheek. “Now get ready.”“Okay mom.” I kissed her back then she left me alone. I grabbed my phone to lock it and then turned back to my closet. I packed my bag and then headed into my bathroom when I heard the downstairs door slam open. “I fucking knew it.” I heard Shannon scream down stairs. I ignored her as I grabbed everything from my bathroom a
I slipped into the back of the car after putting my bags in the back and buckled in. I had barely takin a breath before I launched myself over the seats and into the driver’s arms.His laugh made my eyes prickle. “Hey love bug.”“Uncle Ronnie. I’ve missed you.” I climbed over the seats and sat up front. “What are you doing here?” Ronnie was my dad’s beta. Not related, but he had been there for most of my life. “You think I was going to let my cheeky niece come to pack lands alone? Not on your life.” “Dad sent you?” I laughed.“Dad sent me. He is a worry wart your da.” He smiled over and laughed with me. “As soon as your mom called, he sent me with the jet.” “He didn’t have to.” I just shook my head and buckled my seatbelt. “Of course he did. He never gets to see you enough, and now you’re sending in the summer. What’s going on?” My uncle looked at me and I just shook my head. “I don’t want to be here.”“Why?”I looked down at my hands that were twisted. “I’m afraid that my mate i
“I lived another life, and I died.” I stumbled over my words and I felt my father freeze. A quick look to Ronnie had him locking the door and waving his hands. I felt the air still, but I was focused on my father’s eyes. “This morning I woke up six years in the past after living until I was twenty-four, and growing my own pup only to have my mate to rip him from my body.” My father’s and Ronnie’s snarl shook the walls, but I raised my hands. “He betrays me for my step sister who convinced him that I cheated and the pup wasn’t his, so he killed us both using silver scalpels, and killing any love I had for him at the same time.” I looked up at my father and the tears rolled down my face. “Pup.” His voice was choked up, but I raised my hand. “I don’t want him to be my mate, daddy. I know I won’t survive it. I need to change it. Everything, and it starts with hiding my scent. I told mom what I needed, and she called you. How are you going to help me?” I was starting to panic. “I don’t
I walked to my room and screamed when I was tackled to the ground. I started laughing as Cassie got off me. “Why the heck didn’t you tell me you were coming?” She punched my shoulder as I stood. “I didn’t know until this morning.” I hugged her to my side. “I missed you.”“I missed you too.” She pulled back and tossed me a small box. “Happy birthday.”I laughed again. “With everything that has happened, I had pretty much forgotten that it’s my birthday today.” “The big eighteen. Have you shifted yet?” Cassie jumped up and down with excitement. I just shook my head. “I don’t shift. You know that.” My face fell. I heard chuffing inside of my head. “I think you are just blocking it. You have a wolf. We all feel her.” She bumped her hip into mine. “I can feel she wants out.” My wolf chuffed in agreement.Cassie is smarter than you. My wolf’s voice ricochetted in my mind and I just smiled. There are things I cannot tell you, even now, but eventually, if we are lucky, you will find out y
When we got to the mall, we walked into the clothing store. “I need a new dress.” Cassie pulled me to the back and started to go through the racks. “Why do you need one of these dresses?” I pulled a dress off the rack and held it to my body. The form fitting dress flared out at the bottom. It was a beautiful mermaid formal dress, but white wasn’t my color. “Your homecoming ball.” Cassie grabbed a short pink number that would look horrible with her skin tone. “Put that down and what do you mean homecoming ball?” Cassie froze and then slow turned back to me.“Don’t tell your dad I told you.” She rushed back to me and grabbed my hands. “Frick, I knew I was going to mess this up. You are my best friend and I knew I would mess this up.”“Calm down.” I laughed. “I would never tell my dad you messed up.” I wrapped my hands around her shoulders and shook. “Cassie, calm down and just tell me.”She smiled and nodded. “I was supposed to take you dress shopping for a surprise home coming party
“So, do we walk to talk about it?” I looked over at Cassie, but she was staring straight ahead. “Cas?”“Can we pretend like it never happened?” Her voice was small when I pulled her over to the side of the mall and leaned in. “Talk to me.”“What do you want me to say?” She threw up her hands. “It’s miserable being this weak. Every she wolf with more power out of the ranking demands we do their work, or their chores, or if we get nice stuff, they take it.” Cas looked at me and I could feel her pain. "We have no alpha female that protects us here. The beta and gamma try, but they have their own duties.” Cas wiped her face. “We have learned to deal with it, and when it really gets bad, then you dad gets involved.”“Cas…”“You aren’t here, and neither is your mom. If you get too involved, then we just suffer when you leave.” She looked at me and then shook herself. “C’mon, let’s go pick out jewelry for your dress. Which one are you going to wear?”“Don't worry about it. You are going to
“There are my two favourite girls.” My dad walked into my room as we just got back.“Hi Daddy.” I walk over and hugged him and bowed her head. “Hi Alpha Devlin.”“None of that Cassie, when it’s just us, I’ve told you just to call me Dev.” Cas blushed and nodded. “Can I speak with my daughter alone for a minute?”“Of course, Alpha.” Cas looked at me with a tiny bit of panic in her eyes as she turned away. I tried to reassure her, but I couldn’t do much. She knew exactly what this conversation was about. I followed my father to his office and sat down with Ronnie and him. “Talk.”“What is going on in this pack, Dad?”“What do you mean?”“Why are unranked she-wolves lording their power over the weaker wolves?” I looked over at Ronnie and he looked away. “You obviously know what I am talking about. The beta and gamma female here are doing what, exactly?”“Hey!” Ronnie looked at me. “That isn’t fair.”“I’m not saying it’s fair.” I looked back at my father. “You are letting your pack crumb
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