“Wellllllll.” Madison drawled out the word. “I was changing one time over at Alex’s, and she saw it.” Madison bit down on her lip. She was anxious telling Jacob this, as she knew it could probably get them both into a lot of hardship with his family. Madison glanced over at him. He seemed a little pissed off at the situation. “But,” she tried to get herself out of any trouble she may be in with him, “I ignored her when she asked about it, and she hasn’t said any more about it, so maybe she forgot. See, nothing to worry about.” She gave him the happy girl smile that usually got her out of a lot of problems.
“Just play it safe, okay?” He couldn’t stay mad at her no matter how much he wanted to. “And the whole thing with Brindle, well, she’s questioning more since we haven’t had sex or done anything like that.” He saw that Madison tried to hide the smile that wanted to come out
“I was just leaving.” Madison sidestepped past Adam and Danny and walked out the open front door. “And, Jacob, tell Mr. Michaels that I did what he requested, but next time find your own tutor for math so I don’t have to be bothered by you.” She walked down the sidewalk a little, then turned around once more to the three guys, who were watching her leave. “And, Adam, maybe see if you can get your baby brother a sippy cup since he obviously can’t handle a real glass of soda. He spilled it all over himself.” She motioned toward Jacob being in his boxers. “Later.” She walked over to her car and got in to leave.“You needed help in math, and Madison helped you.” Danny was shocked to find those two together, and neither one of them was dead.“Mr. Michaels asked her before the break if she would help out for extra credit and referral for college." Jacob kept up the story that Madison was a
“So, what did he have to say?” Jacob questioned Adam after they’d gotten back from their nightly hunt. Adam and Danny had found Zach and talked to him briefly while Jacob strolled the outlying area of the small cabin Zach had been staying in. As much as he wanted to shift and bitch out at his brother for making them do these hunts while he got vacation time and for making Emily heartbreak by his disappearance, he couldn’t because the others couldn’t find the marking on his shoulder.“He’ll be back before school starts again.” Danny glanced over at Jacob, then went back to watching the college basketball game on TV.“And why did he leave?” Jacob was irritated by Danny and Adam’s lack of answers.“He had to think some things through.” This time Adam intercepted for the answer.Jacob was curious as to whether Zach was contemplating telling Emily about the pack and who they were. &l
Zach heard the sound of a car pulling up the driveway. His guess was Adam or one of Jacob’s friends was coming over. He didn’t bother to get up from his bed. He wasn’t in the mood to socialize with anyone right now. “Jacob,” he screamed out, knowing full well his brother had to have heard the chime but was too lazy to get up to answer the freaking door. The sound of the doorbell ringing for the third time was enough to annoy him even further. Zach stomped out of his room on the fifth ring, slammed the door, and pounded down the stairs. He swung open the front door without checking to see who it was.“Hey.” Emily gave a little wave with her hand. She was scared to be here, but at the same time, she felt delighted to finally get to see the one who had occupied her every thought for the past two weeks.Zach felt something that he’d missed the entire time he’d been gone. His wolf was stirring about.
Zach stood there for a while, not knowing what to do or say. Finally, after several long seconds of silence, his voice decided to make an appearance. “You should probably go.”His wolf screamed at him.His conscience screamed at him.And even Emily’s eyes seemed to scream at him that this was the wrong decision for him to be making.“Why?” Emily’s voice trembled, and her hands shook, but she was standing her ground.“I can’t have anyone find you here.” He didn’t need Jacob or anyone else in the pack to pick up on the slight scent of vampire she was emitting. She still smelled and looked like the same Emily he’d proclaimed his love for at one point, but she was supposed to be the enemy and not the one he wanted to take to his bedroom right now.“Jacob said you’d be here by yourself for a while,” Emily repeated the information Madison had told her, who said Ale
Emily wasn’t sure why Zach had led her up here, but he made it more than evident when he picked back up where they’d left off in the living room. His touch was more forceful as he backed her up to his bed along the far wall. Emily fell flat on her back as her knees buckled against the edge of the bed. She pulled Zach down with her as she lay flat, and he collapsed on top of her. Instantly her hands were under his shirt, and she began to outline each muscle she felt along his back. Emily moaned as Zach’s fingers began to tease her nipples through her shirt. Her back arched upward as she let out a deep sigh.Zach knew what was probably going to happen was occurring for a reason he’d thought of as the only solution for their dilemma. As much as he wanted to wait and have this be a special time between them and not break an elder law, the only way the others in the pack wouldn’t harm her was if she was bonded as his mate.Clothing was shed, an
This whole matter just became more complicated. Not only had he claimed her, but they’d completed the whole bonding experience that wasn’t supposed to happen just yet.How did she know to bite?Did she know about the bonding between a shifter and their mate?Was she craving blood now?Zach picked up her towel and clothes and walked back to his room.As soon as Zach walked back into his room carrying some needed supplies, Emily could tell by his expression something wasn’t right. “What’s wrong?” She sat upright in the bed when he sat down on the edge.“Um, did you know that you bit me?” He decided to be straightforward and ask her since she already sensed something was wrong. He could tell by the feelings rolling off her and the expression on her face she had no clue what he was referencing.“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. It was just&hel
The group started back to school, and it seemed everything was going as planned for all of them. Jacob kept his distance from Madison. She still ignored him but made it clear through their mental connection that she wasn’t happy when he was getting too physical with Brindle. He would drop Brindle’s hand when they were walking, and she would storm off down the hall. Madison would giggle at the sight, and Jacob would shoot her a dirty look because he’d have to deal with Brindle and her attitude later. He kept telling Madison he wanted to end that relationship, even if they couldn’t say they were together. At least he’d be rid of one complication in his life. Madison kept telling him to wait just a little longer, maybe when school was over, then neither one of them would have to listen to Brindle and her little posse whine.Zach and Emily resumed their romance like it was before the big revelation and their committed bonding. They both were trying t
Zach watched as Jacob sprang up from his seat on the rocking chair. Nothing exciting was going on with the game, so he knew it had to be something that he smelled or sensed. “What?” Zach followed him out with Danny to the entryway leading outside.“I gotta go.” Jacob ripped off his shirt and shorts, not thinking that the others could see his marking, and then shifted into his black wolf. He was off the main grounds and into the wooded areas in less than three seconds. He felt the panic his mate was experiencing and knew she was at Alex’s house. It should only take him no more than two minutes to run there at full speed. He just hoped that was enough time.Zach and Danny watched as Jacob blurred out of their line of vision, then shed their clothes, shifted, and followed in pursuit of where he was going. In Zach’s intuitive state of mind, he knew it must have something to do with Madison because he saw the tattoo marking spreading acro
The following morning, Lucas delayed opening the store as he took Cecelia home to get a set of her own clean clothes for the day. She’d put up a struggle having him follow her, but eventually caved in after he kept persistent about the matter for over twenty minutes.“Does everything look normal? Untouched?” Lucas glanced around at the sparsely furnished and decorated pile dwelling that Cecelia called home for the moment. The stilted home sat far back in the swamplands where alligators would be her nearest neighbor.“For the most part, yes. But we all know Rayne can put a glam spell on anything to make it seem untouched.” Cecelia rummaged through several drawers grabbing the necessities for a quick shower.“That is true. Rayne will do anything to cover her tracks. I’ll keep an eye and ear open while you take your shower.” Lucas stood by the front door and stared out into the vast land and water.“Alrig
Cecelia slightly waggled her head back and forth as she tried to figure out how to tell him what he wanted to know. “Are you connected to Rayne in any way?” She looked over at him so that she could interpret if he was telling the truth by his expression.“I was at one point in my life, but I learned that Rayne wasn’t the person who I thought she was.” Lucas didn’t want to divulge too much information until he found out what Cecelia’s association was to her.Cecelia nodded her head. It was a brief and basic answer. She wanted more as to how much he knew about their kind.Lucas saw the looks of conflicting emotions cross over Cecelia’s face. It seemed she was torn between telling him the truth or making up some outlandish lie. “I know all about the enchantresses of both black and white magic if that makes this all any better.” He hoped he just didn’t open up a whole new box if she had no clue what h
The electricity of their first kiss ripped through Cecelia. She had kissed men before, but this was one that no other could compare to. Lucas played with her by only allowing soft kisses until she wrapped her arms around his neck and forced them to be closer. His tongue lightly traced her lips asking for entrance, which she did without reservation. His hands that were once on her hips had moved around to fit perfectly on her ass. Cecelia softly moaned as his hips began to gently sway back and forth causing her to become wet in her panties.“Is this the type of business you are now offering, Lucas?”The sound of someone speaking halted both Cecelia and Lucas’s actions. They both knew who the voice belonged to, but neither knew that the other also knew Rayne.Lucas turned around keeping Cecelia behind him. “Rayne, it’s always a pleasure to see you.” He said this with as much sarcasm as he could put out right now. The past little
The smell, lights, music, and ambiance of the chosen restaurant caught Cecelia’s attention as soon as Lucas pulled the car into the parking lot. “How did you know I liked Cajun food?” She looked at the many people that were seated at the outside patio tables and then back to the long line forming by the front door. “Looks like we’ll have a long wait.”Lucas chuckled. “I doubt that. I have good connections that will probably allow us to bypass that line.” He took hold of Cecelia’s hand and led her in the opposite direction of the front entrance.“Where are we going?” As soon as Lucas led her back into the darkness behind the restaurant and away from the hustle and bustle that was going on in the front, Cecelia started to get a little anxious.“Right here.” Lucas knocked on the back door and waited for someone to open it.The back door swung open and a petite, beautiful woma
It had been two days since Cecelia went to the small store along the main street. She’d kept her presence in the Bayou hidden since venturing out the last time, never knowing when Rayne and her coven of black magic witches were going to poke their ugly heads up. Not that they were really ugly, quite opposite in fact. They were the most beautiful coven of enchantresses that she’d or anyone had ever seen, it was just their practices that were ugly.Cecelia’s cell phone buzzed to life with an incoming call. Only one person had the number and she’d given it to him as a gamble, which could have been deadly if he’d been a pawn of Rayne’s.“Hello,” Cecelia answered the call cautiously.“May I speak with Ms. Towne?” Lucas knew it was her as the sound of her voice had been floating in his thoughts for the past two days and nights. But he wanted this call to sound formal so she wasn’t so easily scared off b
Cecelia opened the back door of the small, wooden shack that was hidden amongst the cypress trees and swamp grass of the deep south. The heat, humidity, and musky smell rising up from the Bayou filled her senses as she walked across the pier that linked her small home on stilts to the mainland. She’d been in hiding since leaving West Lakes and knew this place would serve as a great cover. She'd left her home, her sister, and most importantly her niece, Madison, all alone at a time when she needed the protection of everyone in the coven.The dark ones, the enchantresses of black magic, would find her no matter where she took refuge. But, the seclusion and shadows of the Bayou would serve as protection for the time being. Cecelia had encountered those who practiced black magic when she was sixteen years old. Being of a rebellious nature and not wanting to follow in the steps of her older sister, she experimented in the dark, mystical essence that always seem
Madison opened her eyes. Wherever she was it was still pitch black and she couldn’t see anything in front of her. She still had some kind of rope binding her hands together and her ankles were crisscrossed and wrapped with some sort of material. Her whole body ached and she felt like she’d been in this prone position for years. She heard a door unlock and soft footsteps coming closer to her. She closed her eyes and pretended to be back asleep. The darkness that was once in front of her now had a soft hint of light. Whoever had come in obviously was lighting some sort of candles as she smelled a hint of burning wax in the air. Madison kept her eyes closed, but opened them enough that she could somewhat see. It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust, then she could make out several details of where she was at. The walls were bare and seemed as if they were made of dirt. There were three candles in a smallholder that was placed to the side of her. A couple of empty IV fluid
“I’m here.” Zach burst through the door, still pulling the shirt over his head. Danny, Adam, Derek, Dr. Scott, and Jacob followed close behind. He rushed over to Emily’s bedside and picked up her other hand. “It’s going to be okay.” He saw the pain she was in as her face scrunched up as another wave of discomfort took over. “Just breathe and try to calm down.” He stroked her hand with his.“Fuck you,” Emily hissed out as the pain kept getting stronger. She let out a loud piercing scream that made everyone hold their ears.“I don’t think we have enough time to make it to the clinic.” Dr. Scott was observing the scene and then motioned for both Zach and Maureen to step away from the bed. “Can you all give us a minute or two? I need to check how Emily is progressing.” Derek motioned for the group to follow him out into the hallway. Once they were alone, Dr. Scott addressed Emil
“Has anyone talked to Jacob lately?” It had been over a week since they all had last seen Madison and Jacob. Alex hadn’t had any more visions, even with concentrating and focusing as the elder had suggested, she just couldn’t get any read on what was happening with either of the two.“He’s still looking for Brindle, who has also gone AWOL since all of this went down.” Danny had picked up Jacob on a few of their tracking runs, but he still hadn’t come back home yet. “Have you talked to him?” He looked over at Zach, who seemed completely exhausted with all that had been going on.“Um, I saw him once like two days ago, but he wouldn’t or couldn’t shift back to talk. It looked like this whole Madison being missing is making him go insane.” Zach had only had the chance to track both Madison and Jacob twice this week. Emily, who was now confined to bed rest, had him up day and night.&