I closed my eyes and cleared my mind from everything. The pain disappeared into the background. I could feel the doctor still working. I could still feel the burn of the wolfsbane. I could still hear everything around me, but the room faded away.
I drew in deeper breaths, clearing my nose of my blood and antiseptic and focusing solely on the people in front of me. I pushed my father’s scent to the side and Becks. I narrowed in on the two women. The older women smelled ancient, powerful, and very cunning. She was using power to keep herself alive. Dark power. But the younger wolf she was something else. She smelt as familiar as she looked. Nix and Megan sifted through the scents in the room with me. But it was Megan who found the answer. She smells like Aurora. They both do.My eyes snapped open, and I stared at the two women in front of me. The older woman had the same eyes as the two women. But Amara, Amara had dark hair, but she had the same eyes a“You’re dead.” Ronnie screamed and tried to stand.“You didn’t do a good enough job.” Ronnie scoffed as he walked out, finally completely healed. He stomped over to my father, clearly hanging on to his anger by a thread. “I came here to tell Gavin that you betrayed us. Him. But thankfully Amy saw behind your mask before any of us could have.” Ronnie came over to me and kissed my forehead. “Thank you pup.”“How are you alive?” Beck screamed, veins in his neck bulging.“I saved him.” I looked up next to my father and Ronnie. “My blood saved him. He made it here, even though you betrayed him. Even though you surprised him and attacked him. Even though you poisoned him, he was strong enough to make it here, and the doctor and nurses saved him. And do you want to know why?”“Why he’s alive?” I nodded. “YOU JUST SAID IT!”I laughed. “He could make it here because my grandfather wasn’t stupid enough to include you in the training he did. He might have been a horrible father, but he recognize
Once the warriors moved the three out of the room, the doctor and nurses checked both Ronnie and me out once more, and then they left as well. I finally collapsed against the bed, and Ronnie and my father came to stand in front of me.“Are you alright?” My dad stared down at me until I nodded. “I am just exhausted. How are you handling everything?” I gestured to the both of them.My dad turned to Ronnie and clapped him on the shoulder. “I’d never question you, but I have to ask. Are you sure?” I could hear the hope in his voice. Even after everything that had just happened, he was hopeful. “Am I sure I know who stabbed me in my stomach?” Ronnie gave a tired chuckle. “Yeah Gav, I am.” He sagged next to me on the side of the bed. “I checked on him after the Agora and the attack. He was in bed, but healed. I told him about the attack and he played it off as if he knew nothing. With all the injured coming into the hospital, he got dressed.” He looked over at me. “Your dad mind-linked me
I staggered back from his blow. I shook my head slowly. “I don’t want to go back yet.” I grabbed for his hand but he crossed his arms. “Daddy, I’m not ready.”I watched closely as he closed his eyes, as if my words hurt, but I watched as he pulled himself together. “If it was my choice, pup, I wouldn’t make you go back. But your mother has been messaging these last few days. She says she needs you home. Sooner rather than later. It seems like something is going on and I need eyes there.” He wrapped his arms around my shivering body. “You are a strong, amazing alpha. You will make such a strong luna, Amy.”“I’m weak.”“No baby. You were never weak. Not even in your first life would I believe you were ever weak, but now, now you have your wolf. You have your power. You still have so much growing to do. You are still so young. But you are so strong.” I closed my eyes as I list
My father coughed. “Okay.” He called out, and we all turned back to the room.“Anyway, I hate a few thoughts.” Ronnie’s face fell into neutral lines. “Greyson and Cass take over as the lead Gamma pair, and if Lynn is okay with it, she travels back with Amy under the guise of finding her mate.”The room grew silent. I could tell Lynn was thinking about it. “Would I be able to come back with my mate?” Her question caught me off guard.“Would you want to come back?” My father’s voice was measured.She turned to look at Greyson and Cass. “I don’t want to insult you two. You both are amazing, and you have grown so much since we started training. But you two aren’t strong enough to be the main Gamma pair.” Cass smiled and looked up at Greyson.“We aren’t insulted. We know. We are both still very young and Cass just became ranked. We l
“Daddy…I don’t want to leave you like this.” I tried one last chance.“I know, pup. But your mom needs you.” He looked worried. “She wouldn’t have asked for you unless it wasn’t important. And she has been pretty insistent. In all the years she sent you here, she has never once acted like this. We always had this unspoken rule that we would never keep you from the other.”“I know.” I started to worry about my mother, too. “But I don’t like leaving you with this mess.”“I’ll be fine. I have Ronnie, and the rest.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me up the stairs of the pack house. “But your mother is alone. So I need you to go back and take care of her for me, since I can’t.” I stumbled as we went and he stopped and picked me up.“Dad!”“Sorry pup. I know your tired. I am too.”“Then why don’t you
I woke with a start, jolted up from my bed, and clutched my heaving chest. What the heck was that? I searched my room, sure that I would find the black wolf with bright blue eyes there, but I was alone.“What was that?” I dropped back to my bed and huffed out a laugh. Just remembering his voice had my skin breaking out in goosebumps. I closed my eyes and his eyes flashed in my mind. “Who are you?”There was a knock at the door and I sat up again, pushing the mysterious wolf out of my brain. I got up and looked down at my ruined sheets. “The blood.” Ugh. I shuffled to the door, wiping my eyes. I cracked it open and Cass pushed in. “Wake up.”“Cass?” I wiped my face as I turned to face the irrate Cass sitting at the end of my tossed and ruined bed. “What are you doing here?” I looked at the clock on the bed-side table. “It’s six in the morning.”“Exactly.” Sh
“Let’s go eat.” I pulled her from my room and raced down the stairs.“Where are we going?”“I’m not telling you.” I looked back at her and grinned. “It’s a surprise, but you will love it. I promise.” I pulled her into the dining hall and we grabbed biog plates of food. I went and sat next to my exhausted father. “You okay?”“Yeah baby girl. I’m just tired. But I got it done.” He took a sip of his coffee and looked over at me. “You look excited. What’s up?”“Cass woke me up at the butt crack of dawn to get some quality time in.”“But she hijacked my plans and now I have now idea what we are doing.” Cass pointed out and I laughed.“You made the mistake of waking me up.” I leaned into the warmth of my father. “We are going to see MJ and Neil.” My dad looked over at Cass and laugh
Five hours later, we were walking out with giant grins. “Thank you for coming in so early for us.” I kissed MJ and Neil as we left. “It was our pleasure.” MJ called out as he shut the door, and locked it behind us. “They aren’t staying open?” Cass looked back to the dark door. “Nah. They are usually closed today. They just came in for us.” I hooked my arm in hers and we walked into the bustling mall. “Where to now?” I looked down. “I wanted to get some new clothes. Now I want to get some even more. I need to show this off.” She stared down at her right arm. It was covered in a black and white version of the moon goddess with a full moon behind her, and wolves hidden in the forest around her wrist. It was gorgeous and Neil did an amazing job drawing it up on the spot. I nodded, and she stared down at the fresh ink. “How does it feel?” “It stings.” She shook her arm and then smiled. “I didn’t realize what went into doing tattoos on wolves.”&nb
We stayed silent as we ascended. I puffed out my cheeks as Rowan looked at me but the elevator dinged and the girls got out. I walked out with them. “Where are you going?” Rowan grabbed my arm. “They are shifted…” I looked at him with furrowed brows. “They can’t open their door. I’m going to open it for them.” I shook him off. “Keep the elevator open.” I walked to their door and punched in their code, swinging their door opened. “Call me when you get back to your packs.”They both nodded and went inside. Hanna turned back. “Be careful.” I blew her a kiss and went back to the elevator. I slid in and pressed the top floor again. Rowan opened his mouth, but I shook my head. He was obviously frustrated at me, but I wasn’t going to talk until I got into my place. The doors opened, and we headed to my door. I unlocked it and the two followed me in. Toya headed straight to my bedroom, looking for something to wear for now, and I went to the kitchen. “What the fuck is going on?” Rowan snar
“What does that mean?” Verity stomped her foot.“It means-” Vince started. But Rowan interrupted him. “It means that if I want to speak with Alpha Amy, I must contact her and let her know I’ll be visiting beforehand. And that I have to use her title. Also, she will be included in any vote.”“Toya and I will also attend the alpha conference in a month.” I smiled at Verity.“But that’s…”“Only for Alphas.” Toya finished with a toothy grin. She walked over and rubbed her fur against my side.“While this is nice, catching up, and all, is there a reason your are here?” I looked around and waited. “Alpha Vince? Brandon?”He smiled, looking down at me. “We are here about the job position in the pack. Brandon told you to think about it. I wanted to come and see if you had.”I smiled up at him. “Sorry, with everything that happened yesterday…” I trailed off and glared back at Rowan. “I haven’t had a minute to think about it.”Vince nodded. “Where did you go yesterday?”I looked out the door.
We ran to the tower first. I wanted to handle our stuff before we faced the music. But as we ran into the building, I saw that luck was not on our side. Vince, Brandon and Rowan were all waiting for us. I shifted, gesturing for everyone else to wait, since I was the only one able to retain my clothes. “Alpha Vince, my King.” I bowed my head a little to both. “Brandon.” I smiled. “What can I do for you?”“Where have you been?” Vince stepped closer to me, but I just raised my brow.“Handling something personal. Why?”“You ran out of graduation.” I snorted. “Graduation? You mean the ambush that was waiting for me coordinated by the council?” Vince reeled back as if I slapped him. I felt the skin around my eyes tighten. “Did you think I was too stupid to see it for what it was? My father has been dead for almost two years and now they branded him a traitor. I think that’s laughable.” “Amy.” Rowan started, but I growled. I couldn’t even stop it.I took a deep breath. “Sorry my king.” I
I felt them leave this time; I don’t know how, or why, but I knew my grandmother and Carl were gone before I turned. “It’s done.” I turned to my friends. “Whose staying?”Toya and Wendy looked at each other and then back at me. Wendy stepped forward. “I called my mom. She made a bag for me for you guys to grab. We thought having Toya with you would be better.”“Not better, but I need to figure out what pack I was sent to. I figure I could call and ask for leave after I figure it out. That way we can make sure we are set for the next while.”Wendy nodded. “I already told my mom to tell the Alpha I have a position under you last night. She was ecstatic and the Alpha already agreed.” She looked at me weirdly. “The alpha pair really likes you.”I snorted and waved her off. “I’m likeable.” She snorted, but let it go. I crouched down to talk to Carly. “Are you going to be okay while we are gone?”“How long are you going to be gone?” She bit her lip and looked up at me.“We are going to be q
I sat silently. My entire focus on the bubbling liquid. The timing had to be perfect. I watched as the silver slowly disappeared, the magic sucking it away. Once the last flash of silver could be seen, I pushed the bowl from the rocks, dumping the dark black liquid over the grass, smothering the fire, and dumping out silver statues.“What the fuck?” Micca pointed. Hanna’s mouth dropped open. “Those were wood.” She walked over and stood over them. “Can I touch them?” I nodded, hiding my smile. She bent over and grabbed the first one. “Holy shit.”“What?” Toya walked over and grabbed another. Her gaze snapped to mine. “It’s metal.” I nodded. “How?”I gave her a look, lifting my eyebrow. “It’s magic.” I laughed as they all looked at me with the same look of disbelief. I waved them off and stood, bending to grab the other two statues. “They aren’t really metal. The magic, the blood, coated them in the magic I need to create, the barrier, the shield for the cabin. For Carly.” I studied th
Carly’s words had my stomach dropping. I finally looked around and realized everyone was staring at me, but I couldn’t blame them. This place, this place was still so fresh in our mind from last night. “We need to move this to a new spot.” Micca offered, but I shook my head. This was the spot that I needed. “We can’t.” I looked down at the ground, blood still a dark stain that I didn’t see. But now I understood. “This is the only place for this spell, and I think Carl knew that.” I sank on to my feet and waited.“What do you mean, this is the only place for the spell?” Toya crouched in front of me.“The spell has to be cast at the north point of the property. The spell, the barrier, stops people from finding those within. My father cast one to keep Carly safe, but since he went into hiding, he wasn’t able to come here to renew it.”“Renew it?” Micca looked around. “How do you do that?”“This spell is powered by a sacrifice. The hair or the cloaked, and blood.” I swallowed. “Normally
“Amy.” Carly ran after me, her sweet voice calling for me, and I skidded to a stop. “Yeah sweet pea?” I panted. The need to protect her warred with my need to take care of her. She pointed to a box on the fridge. “Daddy told me to show you the box.” She bounced on her toes. “He said it was important, but I forgot about it till now.” She looked worried.“It’s okay, baby girl. You did great.” I ran back to the box and pulled it down. Another note was taped to it. I wanted to laugh, cause the man thought of everything. I brought it to the table and Toya stood from the couch when I slammed the box down. “What’s going on?” She walked over to us and patted Carly on her head. “Are you okay?” I opened the box only to find more herbs and four little statues. “What’s this stuff for?”But I knew. This was the start of a new barrier spell. I grabbed everything from the box and thought back to the spell in the book. The herbs were here. The statues were here. There was a lock of hair from every
Carly whirled to face the end of the grave only to see Carl settling down on to the ground. “Daddy.” She stood to run to him, but he waved her back down. “I’m not here baby.” He looked down. “Well I am, but I’m not.”She settled back on her knees. “You’re under here?” He nodded. “Yeah baby. Amy laid me down here so that you can spend some time with me if you want.” He smiled as he settled in. “I know I won’t be able to come every time you need me, but today seemed important.”Carly nodded her head. “I miss you, daddy.” She swiped her hand at her face, smearing snot across her cheek.I pulled a tissue from my pocket and I wiped it away. Carl smiled, watching us. His eyes met mine. “I miss you too, baby girl, but Amy here has you.”Carly looked up at me. “I like Amy, but it’s not the same.” Hey eyes held an apology.I chuckled. “It’s okay sweet pea. It’s going to be different. And it should be.” I kissed her and then we turned to Carl. The smile on his face was bright. “Go on and say
Carly met my eyes, and she sniffled. “What will you call me?”I froze. “Well, I haven’t thought about it. I’ve called you a few names, but that isn’t fair to you either.” I looked around the table. “What would you like us to call you?”She looked at her hands. “Daddy called me pup. Or baby girl.” I nodded when she looked up. But she worried at her lip. “We can call you other things.” I offered. She shot up. She raised her hands and waved them. “No, no, no, no.” She whipped her head back and forth. I grabbed for her hands, worried that she would slip from the chair. “Sweet pea. It’s okay.” I slid my hand to her cheek. “If you want us to call you pup or baby girl so it helps you remember your daddy, we will. If you want us to come up with different nicknames so that only your dad called your those two, we can do that too. What ever you want, we will do.”Toya stood and came over to her chair, kneeling. “If you want Amy to call you certain names, and then rest of us something else, we