The mother of all cliff hangers! If I can update tomorrow I will, if not Sunday!
~Hannah’s Point of View~Jeez, having a wolf right now would sure be fucking nice. Do I sleep with Rafe? Tell him to go to hell? I literally have no resources, though the boys have proven they can make it in the wild for weeks on their own. With my help we’d do fine I’m certain. But it's so hard. Too hard. It’s not the life they should be living. I don’t want them to struggle. Hell, I don’t want to struggle. It’s lazy perhaps but I can’t lie … living in the packhouse and having everything done for me was nice. But Nightwind ugh… Can I go back there? What about this other pack they talk about?“You are the ultimate tease,” I hear, just over my shoulder. The subtle but sweet waft of fresh berries hits my nose and it nearly wraps around me like a warm blanket. It’s Rafe, it’s all Rafe.Then his arms are around me, his warmth at my back. He moves my side ponytail to find the spot on my neck he likes. My body relaxes, and welcomes him. It’s as easy as breathing to let him join with me.
“Hannah’s Point of View~ “There won’t be any hiding our scents all over each other,” I say, as we both jog back toward the camp. He stops quickly, and takes my hands in his. “Good. Maybe my mom will get it through her head once and for all. You’re my world Hannah. There is no way in hell I’m giving you up,” he says, but it’s not just words. I see the promise in his eyes and practically throw myself at him, lock my wrists around his neck and kiss him. It lasts a couple of minutes, until he groans and pulls away. “My father’s just mind-linked me. They’re pulling into camp now. Come on,” he says, as a sinking feeling hits in my gut. While I do feel like Rafe and I turned a corner, there’s still a lot between Parker and I that needs to be said. There’s no ignoring that. Those few blissful days Parker and I had together in his cabin … he should have told me then who he was and the fact that he didn’t, hurts. Yeah I’m hardly smart or sophisticated, though I’ve felt like Parker fin
~Hannah’s Point of View~ I stare at the set of keys, they jingle slightly as Patricia holds them out to me. My first reaction is to laugh right in her face. But I give her a minute to explain herself. “Grab your brothers, hop in and find the life you’ve always wanted, it’s that easy,” she whispers. Her face is stern, she’s very serious. Oh she’d love nothing more than to get rid of me wouldn’t she?? It’s that easy, just throw some cash at me? She’ll give me the life I’ve always wanted... She’ll be responsible for my happiness? Yeah right! I never wanted anything but to see the next morning. To have what I needed for me and the boys. A female rogue is the absolute lowest of low. Nothing special, easily overlooked and forgotten. Someone to do the cooking, the washing. A body to lie next to you and raise your pups. And what do I have now? The hearts of two unbelievably sexy males, the promise of their love. Parker nearly died trying to find my brothers for me. Rafe walked away from
~Parker’s Point of View~ “Just sit me down next to her,” I say, already feeling more pain than I could've imagined. It’s for her, I’ll do anything for my mate and she needs me now more than I need to be comfortable. I forced Rafe to wrap me in a thick blanket and carry me out to Hannah, and boy he didn’t want to. But she needs us, both of us. There’s no getting around it. Crush nearly ripped me out of my skin the moment we smelled her new scent from her shift. It’s the same wildflower field but so much more intense and other things I can’t place. After everyone was down for the night, Crush was finally strong enough to mind-link. My twin and I had a very long conversation with a lot of cursing, a lot of blame. We both brought up old shit that should long be in the past. But we’re both petty to a fault at times. Definitely get that from our mother. I’m not entirely sure how it ended because we both drifted off to sleep but we can’t ignore the fact that in that moment we already kne
~Hannah’s Point of View~“How much further,” Parker moans, as I stroke his hair. I frown and kiss his forehead, absolutely frustrated there’s nothing more I can do for him. The Alpha and Luna seemed all too pissed off with our entire situation, and wouldn’t even allow Jake to stay behind to care for Parker’s wounds. Some parents!The only silver lining was that they were gone by the time we got back to camp. I couldn’t face the Luna, knowing she’d want an apology I’d rather die than give.Thankfully Jake left things and gave some instructions but I can’t just constantly pump Parker full of pain meds. “Still an hour, sorry man,” someone replies.My brothers snore loudly in the back of the van as Parker winks at me. Where he even finds the energy to be frisky I can’t understand. But it’s cute as hell.As we near this other pack, which they’ve described as isolated and secretive, there’s such an ominous feeling within me. I don’t feel like Isaac is just going to give up and I’ve alrea
~Hannah’s Point of View~ “Tell me what happened first. How was I taken? What about everyone else,” I ask, as a tear rolls down my cheek. I already know the answer. Dead, they’re all dead. Just like I should probably be. Was it a rogue attack? Isaac himself? I can’t just blindly run into this. I’ve had far too many unknowns in my life. A pair of violet eyes isn’t enough to let all my walls down. It can’t be. “Jane first,” Frederick says, nearly like a caveman. His eyes fall over the female, and I can tell there’s so much hurt there. “I’ve spent my entire life never seeing another who looks like me. Though I believed a certain male was my father and he wasn’t. Maybe something in the back of my mind always knew he was a liar but I couldn’t face the world totally alone. I suppose I needed him though I resented it. Why have you been alone Frederick? Why can’t you wake her yourself … and why aren’t you stuck in a slumber too,” I ask, as I turn and step down back onto the dirt floor of
~Hannah’s Point of View~ “I’ll rip his freakin’ throat out and happily eat it,” I shout, as I frantically pace the cave next to my slumbering mother. Once I had my tantrum I thought about it for a minute … I decided the actual physical act of being a cannibal didn’t even remotely sound appealing. Yeah let’s not do that. Just as I had that thought, my gums began to hurt and heartburn grew in my throat. Blood, my body wanted it. Specifically, Isaac’s. I gulped and clutched my throat. “You’re not going,” Rafe says, matter of fact, putting his hands on my shoulders. I shrugged out of his grip. “The hell I’m not,” I shout, maybe feeling a bit too big for my britches. But I’m a fierce beast who has only had a tiny taste of the blood of my enemy. I mean Patricia is definitely an enemy right? My body hums with the idea of her mutilated face and how painful it’ll be to heal. Goddess what the hell is wrong with me?? If the Rhodes family has been basically wiping lycans off the map for y
~Hannah’s Point of View~ The very moment I get into our tent, I strip off all my clothes and get cozy in a pile of blankets. The Alpha offered to have a quick cabin assembled, but we insisted it wasn’t necessary. I declined because I love being closer to the forest, and the guys? Well I’m pretty sure they don’t believe we’re staying here very long. Frederick wanted me to sleep on a cot in the cave with him but there was no chance of that happening. So a tent far into the middle of the woods it was, and the boys have one about a five minute walk away. For good measure, I tug out my braids and fluff my hair. They love pulling on it, and I have to give my mates what they want. It’s been days since I felt one of their bodies fully pressed against mine, their weight on top of me. It’s time. If I’m to face Isaac, I do it with their marks, their scents mixed with mine. I’m certain nothing will piss him off more. After a minute when they still haven’t showed up, I get annoyed and raise m
~Epilogue~ ~Three Years Later~ ~Scarlett’s Point of View~ I look down at the fur sprouted on my hand and gasp. I’d been feeling a weird tingle in my brain for the last two days, and I absolutely knew what that meant. But to see it finally happening, to have it be real… “Are you there,” I whisper, as I continue to stare at my skin. I’m suddenly hotter than I’ve ever felt, it’s truly unnatural. Literally all I want is to tear this dress off and shave my head if it’ll help cool me off. Since I’m alone in my room I decide I could care less, and I strip since I don’t want my dress to get shredded anyhow. Everyone is at a picnic down by the pond, and though I’m sure the twins are wondering where I went, but something told me it was best to be alone. The sun is setting, and too soon the full moon will be showing itself. This is absolutely the moment every girl dreams of, getting her best friend for life. *Hmm, what’s that smell,* I hear, making me gasp. I practically shoot off the bed
~Frederick’s Point of View~ She could very well be a trap. An attempt to lure me away. My senses tell me the heartbeat is steady, not nervous or anxious. It’s not moving either. I instantly know she’s studying me. “I mean you no harm,” I whisper, though I know she’d hear it. My body relaxes slightly, of course not picking up much of a threat. Though I’ve been fooled by females before. Considering I’m still on the property of the Rhodes clan, I absolutely shouldn’t let my guard down. For whatever reason, I kneel. I don’t know another way to tell her that she can come to me. It’s barely a minute before I hear some movement and when I catch sight of her, maybe a quarter mile away, I simply can’t look anywhere else. Her scent is stronger now but it’s bogged down with grime, dirt. Probably nowhere for her to bathe out here. It took many decades to be able to get my lycan eyes to work as I needed. To be able to see at night and focus. Lycans use their hearing and their nose for most th
~Frederick’s Point of View~ I sigh, looking down at the gas meter, it’s nearly at the end. When I see a service station up ahead with a diner, I decide to finally stop. My lycan can run for hours and refuel from eating, but driving is so different. It’s barely been five hours and I’m exhausted. *Yeah well, I like food,* my wolf, Xavier says, with a yawn. I can only smile, still having to get used to the other voice in my head though he’s been with me awhile now. Once I’m seated in the diner and looking at the menu, I nearly ask myself what the hell I’m doing. Is this really just a fool’s errand I’m on? An excuse to get away for a bit? Maybe both. *I don’t fully get it, but I haven’t seen anywhere outside of the pack so I say a little trip is a good thing,* my wolf replies. “What can I get you hun,” I hear, as I turn to look at the waitress. Even seated I’m still nearly as tall as she is standing. “Coffee, black and the special please. Very rare on the burger,” I say, putting th
~Six Months Later~ ~Rafe’s Point of View~ “That’s it baby, it’s almost time to push,” I say, reaching to brush some stray hairs off of Hannah’s sweaty face. She straight up growls at me, but I only offer a smile. The labor has lasted several hours, which Jane says isn’t uncommon for lycans. Everything is on their time, when they’re ready. Shifters usually pop babies out within an hour or so of their water breaking. But this is all new to me. While we know it’s only one baby, we don’t know the gender. We were tempted to visit another pack that has an ultrasound machine but decided it was better to be surprised. After raising two boys though, I know my mate wants a little girl to love on. *It’s a girl, I feel it,* Cruz boasts. When I see Parker come in with a video camera, I quickly motion to cut it. Now is hardly the time! But Parker does what he wants, and this won’t be any exception. As if it happens in slow motion I watch Jane palm the front of the camera and pitch it in a cor
~Parker’s Point of View~ I grab Hannah and hold her, gently rubbing her back. I mind-link our sage to bring something to settle her belly, though I know it's the stench of death making her sick and not our baby. I watch in horror as the guys pull out jars with brains, hearts and who knows what. All parts of lycans. There are notebooks and charts. They were studying them. Not too surprising but, gross no less. A growl breaks out and Hannah’s head jerks up to see where the noise came from. We both see Frederick studying a large jar and then suddenly, he’s off and running with it. Hannah’s eyes meet mine. “I’ll mind-link mom to check on him. Maybe it was a scent he recognized. Goddess, his people have been gone for so long. Could they really have something that old,” she questions. I shake my head, unsure. “You have a wolf now, we personally saw the Goddess and her parents. Shit… anything is possible,” I say. I nearly also mention that I’ve cheated death many times in the last cou
~Later That Month~ ~Hannah’s Point of View~ I make a face and stare at my hand, then shake it and throw it like I’m Spiderman trying to make a web. At long last, the full moon has arrived. And not that I haven’t wanted to believe the Goddess, I definitely have. I mean she’s already been huge with the mind-linking thing. It’s literally been invaluable, more than I could have ever imagined. “And you’re totally sure the shift won’t hurt the baby,” Parker asked Jake, for the fifth time. Getting annoyed, I fall into a camping chair. “I know it seems like it would hurt the baby, but shifting for she-wolves is perfectly safe for the first three months. The last two months it’s better to err on the side of caution and the wolf understands that,” Jake says. They keep talking but it fades out. A lull practically pings in the back of my mind like someone is trying to mind-link me. Someone who doesn’t normally. If it’s a signal my body is familiar with, it comes right through. I wait a mi
~Hannah’s Point of View~ “Loyalty amongst rogues. What a joke,” I whisper, shaking my head. “Well this guy was enough of a figurehead, a powerful force that all these people followed him. Or were that afraid of him,” Frederick says. A shriek behind the truck has us both jumping and I don’t even realize my body’s own ability to move with such ease but suddenly I’m standing back on the ground. One of the new females is on her knees, holding Oscar and Oliver like they’re… like they’re… “Ohh! My babies, he said he killed you!! He said you were gone,” she sobs, practically wailing into the night. Oscar pats her head like she’s a cat, unsure what to think. Oliver looks at me almost like he’s … asking for permission? Confirmation? While I am the only mother they’ve ever known, they’ve never called me that word. Of course I’d want them to know their real mother if in fact this female is that person. I fall to my knees next to the trio and draw a deep breath. The boys have never really
~Hannah’s Point of View~ There had been really no talk of me actually becoming Luna of Nightwind… I guess I’m just supposed to know there’s no question it is a fact. It is happening. Not that I’m sure what good a chat would do, my mind won’t wrap around it. I have zero clue what I’m supposed to say or do. If there are specific things expected of me. I want to say that surely the pack will cut me some slack. They know I have no idea what I’m doing, they know I’m not part of this world. But I know better. I haven’t forgotten the stares that made me walk taller, the whispers that made me hold my chin up. Still, as Scarlett holds my hand and walks me toward the front, with literally all eyes on me… I’m close to panicking. I don’t feel the same strength now. Running seems to be what my mind knows, it’s my fall back… My fail safe. Run, hide. Escape the threat. Which is at odds with my lycan half that only wants to run toward a threat because it feels that it’s the absolute best weapon
~Rafe’s Point of View~ “You can’t think about it like that babe, that’s not at all what being a Luna is even if it might be what my mom made it into,” I whine, stroking my thumbs over the tops of Hannah’s hands. My sexy mate practically stares daggers at me. Her feistiness will literally always be something I treasure. Parker and I both need a female that’ll push back on us and everyone else too. She huffs and pulls her hands away, then stuffs them into her hair. “Nobody is any better than me. I don’t need some title,” she snaps, between moving her fingers in a way I couldn’t even imagine. I’d never really watched a female braid their hair before but it seems impossible. Yet she does it like it's as easy as breathing. I move to her back and kiss her bare shoulder. “Well… I’m biased,” I whisper, between kisses. I practically feel her skin warm with my touch and of course, I’m instantly hard. Not only is she just sitting in her bra and panties, but she’s just showered and smells