I'd dressed in a soft pair of jeans and flat, leather, thigh-high boots with multiple buckles covering the top of the leather, curving and hugging my calves. The jacket I'd chosen was army green, with soft fur lining that heated against my arms. Tugging the jacket up tighter, I zipped it while walking the perimeter of the courtyard with Phenrys, my unlucky babysitter for the day.He was silent and vigilant as we moved through the mostly empty yard. I paused, inhaling the crisp air that threatened snow as it stung against my nose and cheeks. "It's cold as shit out here," he grumbled, rubbing his hands together while studying the way I moved. "We're going back inside momentarily because I'm over the cold.""I need to light the candles inside my mother's crypt. They've been ne- glected, and I'd like to do so before we go back inside."Phenrys dropped his head, rolling it back to look at me before sliding his gaze to the crypt that sat a few yards away from the newly built ad-on. Nodding,
"You should run until you reach the furthest exit. It should have anyone trailing Braelyn's scent on your tail while we head in the opposite direction. They aren't expecting her to go through the river, and the rafts will make it near impossible for Saint to catch her scent on the wind. Once you get to the end of the tunnel, Tyler, get on the bike and toss the nightgown over the cliffside. It should have them searching for her until nightfall, leaving us enough time to put some distance between them and us." Douglas dropped the nightgown into Tyler's hand, watching as he took one last long, heated glance at Tora, who smirked wickedly at his interest. "Go, you two can hook up much later once we're off this cursed mountain. The snow is coming, and once it does, we'll be easier to track."We watched Tyler vanish into one of the many caves. Douglas sprinkled the pepper over the entrance of others, including a light dusting at the one where Tyler had disappeared. Moving to where Tora and I
Saint-Three Months LaterI watched Cole Van Helsing climb out of the Blackhawk helicopter, shield- ing his eyes as he moved toward me, shaking the snow from his heavy coat. Tat- tooed fingers righted the collar of his jacket, and he smiled upon seeing me. "Van Helsing," 1 announced, running my eyes over the tattoo that covered his brow and his temple to vanish into his hairline. "Kingsley, pleasure as always," Cole said in a heavily accented tone that most women would fawn over. "You are causing quite the issue for us. I hope your mate is worth it," he concluded, nodding at the other helicopters that were coming in as Cole's took off to refuel."She is, and I believe she's pregnant with my child," I announced, watching his face pinch with distaste."Seems to be in the water lately," he grumbled. "Someone needs to invent some immortal-proof birth control.""You too, huh?" I asked."No, not me." he said in a tone filled with anger. "Rhys is going to be a daddy, but he's rejected his mat
Nausea washed through me, knowing exactly how much pain was involved when skinned alive. The entire room watched as Harold tossed the knife aside and spoke to the camera, with no volume, as per his usual shit. It wasn't until someone else entered the room, his face obscured by a mask, that the camera was adjusted, and the volume came to life. I didn't relish the idea of hearing her screams or reliving the tortured memories they'd bring back to life."Nothing yet? She's a different breed, Harold," the masked male an- nounced, and even though he was wearing the mask, we all knew it was Lucas."There is that sadistic fuck, Lucas. I can't believe he was under our noses all this time, and had been the one to help Harold in his torture session. But why wear the mask?" Eryx gripped his fists and shook in rage.My eyes slid back to the woman, noting her head was covered, and I was willing to bet she was probably gagged beneath the sack. It helped Harold and Lucas to dehumanize their victims.
Zayne killed the feed as I moved to grab Chaos. I didn't even know what to say to him since I wasn't able to process what I'd seen. I'd accused Braclyn of helping Harold, and she'd been his primary victim. Why hadn't she said any- thing? Why hadn't she tried to reach me with the truth?"That's why she was so sad all the time," Chaos whispered, his eyes swim- ming with unshed tears. "She tried to hide it and pretend not to be sad, but I sensed it. I caught it once when she was trying to pretend she was happy." He sniffled, and I frowned at his words.I swallowed down the sick feeling as I tried to recall Braelyn ever acting like a victim. "How the fuck did we miss this?" I asked myself, but it was Chaos who answered."You had to watch her when she didn't think you were. Fear is an emotion. and so is pain. We control our emotions, and only we allow people to see them." He handed me a phone, and I stared at it. "I saw it because she seemed sad, but she's Braelyn. She is only sad when no
BraelynStepping out of the shower, I peered around the small cramped room. It was hardly big enough to turn around in, but it was clean. We'd rented a new apartment in a high traffic area, close to work, once we'd noticed the wolves around the one Douglas had chosen for us. It would have been more dangerous to be around wolves, especially considering Saint had left me in a precarious condition.I dressed in a pair of soft, stretchy jeans and pulled the camisole top over my sensitive breasts. Turning sideways in the cramped room, I looked at the gentle swell of my belly in the mirror. It was noticeable now and hard to hide that I was pregnant. Groaning. I grabbed the sweater and slipped my arms into it, shoving my hair into a messy bun before I left the room. The stale scent of takeout food made my nose itch, hating that it wasn't the fresh food we'd had on the mountain. I missed the mountain and the protection it would have offered me in my current condition. I hated waking up every
Jackson's hands moved over his heart, and a roguish smile covered his lips. "Never call it such. Daisy Dame," he laughed. "I better go fix the jukebox before Floyd gets here and starts beating it again." "He does love his music," I muttered, turning my attention to the door as it opened.Royce and Bryce, regulars at the bar, entered, shaking the snow from their jackets as they removed them. Grabbing a pitcher, I tipped it to fill for them and took the $20 bill he placed on the bar, breaking it into change for them to play pool. Once they headed off, I started mixing the drinks we'd serve for the special.People began filing in as the clock ticked on, and the music got more bois- terous. I'd finished mixing the drinks for a group of women who were slumming it, their words, not mine. Jackson worked beside me, moving through the orders for the kitchen while I focused on the drinks.I was pouring another pitcher of beer when the doors opened, and a man entered. My senses screamed in warni
“Bring me the food quickly”,I heard that ugly voice but I pretended like I didn’t hear him and went on with washing the utensils.“You also a slut , there is no need to show off”, Out of the blue, my hair was in a tight grip and my locks were being pulled roughly.“Slut?”,I hated that word.“Fuck you, son of a bitch”, I cursed before pulling away. He grabbed my arm and stopped me from running like I usually did.“I ordered you to get me food, bitch.” He said with a tone filled with anger. I glared at the bastard angrily. He was the Beta of the Red Moon Pack whilst I was an omega-the lowest and the dirtiest in line.That was why I was disrespected with my fellows but not today.God! Today, I wasn’t in any mood to play games. I had enough of male wolves playing around with me and dominating me because I was an omega.“Fuck off, I’m not your slave!”, I snapped angrily and all the omegas who were working turned to look at me with their mouth open. What I was doing was wrong. It was neve
Jackson's hands moved over his heart, and a roguish smile covered his lips. "Never call it such. Daisy Dame," he laughed. "I better go fix the jukebox before Floyd gets here and starts beating it again." "He does love his music," I muttered, turning my attention to the door as it opened.Royce and Bryce, regulars at the bar, entered, shaking the snow from their jackets as they removed them. Grabbing a pitcher, I tipped it to fill for them and took the $20 bill he placed on the bar, breaking it into change for them to play pool. Once they headed off, I started mixing the drinks we'd serve for the special.People began filing in as the clock ticked on, and the music got more bois- terous. I'd finished mixing the drinks for a group of women who were slumming it, their words, not mine. Jackson worked beside me, moving through the orders for the kitchen while I focused on the drinks.I was pouring another pitcher of beer when the doors opened, and a man entered. My senses screamed in warni
BraelynStepping out of the shower, I peered around the small cramped room. It was hardly big enough to turn around in, but it was clean. We'd rented a new apartment in a high traffic area, close to work, once we'd noticed the wolves around the one Douglas had chosen for us. It would have been more dangerous to be around wolves, especially considering Saint had left me in a precarious condition.I dressed in a pair of soft, stretchy jeans and pulled the camisole top over my sensitive breasts. Turning sideways in the cramped room, I looked at the gentle swell of my belly in the mirror. It was noticeable now and hard to hide that I was pregnant. Groaning. I grabbed the sweater and slipped my arms into it, shoving my hair into a messy bun before I left the room. The stale scent of takeout food made my nose itch, hating that it wasn't the fresh food we'd had on the mountain. I missed the mountain and the protection it would have offered me in my current condition. I hated waking up every
Zayne killed the feed as I moved to grab Chaos. I didn't even know what to say to him since I wasn't able to process what I'd seen. I'd accused Braclyn of helping Harold, and she'd been his primary victim. Why hadn't she said any- thing? Why hadn't she tried to reach me with the truth?"That's why she was so sad all the time," Chaos whispered, his eyes swim- ming with unshed tears. "She tried to hide it and pretend not to be sad, but I sensed it. I caught it once when she was trying to pretend she was happy." He sniffled, and I frowned at his words.I swallowed down the sick feeling as I tried to recall Braelyn ever acting like a victim. "How the fuck did we miss this?" I asked myself, but it was Chaos who answered."You had to watch her when she didn't think you were. Fear is an emotion. and so is pain. We control our emotions, and only we allow people to see them." He handed me a phone, and I stared at it. "I saw it because she seemed sad, but she's Braelyn. She is only sad when no
Nausea washed through me, knowing exactly how much pain was involved when skinned alive. The entire room watched as Harold tossed the knife aside and spoke to the camera, with no volume, as per his usual shit. It wasn't until someone else entered the room, his face obscured by a mask, that the camera was adjusted, and the volume came to life. I didn't relish the idea of hearing her screams or reliving the tortured memories they'd bring back to life."Nothing yet? She's a different breed, Harold," the masked male an- nounced, and even though he was wearing the mask, we all knew it was Lucas."There is that sadistic fuck, Lucas. I can't believe he was under our noses all this time, and had been the one to help Harold in his torture session. But why wear the mask?" Eryx gripped his fists and shook in rage.My eyes slid back to the woman, noting her head was covered, and I was willing to bet she was probably gagged beneath the sack. It helped Harold and Lucas to dehumanize their victims.
Saint-Three Months LaterI watched Cole Van Helsing climb out of the Blackhawk helicopter, shield- ing his eyes as he moved toward me, shaking the snow from his heavy coat. Tat- tooed fingers righted the collar of his jacket, and he smiled upon seeing me. "Van Helsing," 1 announced, running my eyes over the tattoo that covered his brow and his temple to vanish into his hairline. "Kingsley, pleasure as always," Cole said in a heavily accented tone that most women would fawn over. "You are causing quite the issue for us. I hope your mate is worth it," he concluded, nodding at the other helicopters that were coming in as Cole's took off to refuel."She is, and I believe she's pregnant with my child," I announced, watching his face pinch with distaste."Seems to be in the water lately," he grumbled. "Someone needs to invent some immortal-proof birth control.""You too, huh?" I asked."No, not me." he said in a tone filled with anger. "Rhys is going to be a daddy, but he's rejected his mat
"You should run until you reach the furthest exit. It should have anyone trailing Braelyn's scent on your tail while we head in the opposite direction. They aren't expecting her to go through the river, and the rafts will make it near impossible for Saint to catch her scent on the wind. Once you get to the end of the tunnel, Tyler, get on the bike and toss the nightgown over the cliffside. It should have them searching for her until nightfall, leaving us enough time to put some distance between them and us." Douglas dropped the nightgown into Tyler's hand, watching as he took one last long, heated glance at Tora, who smirked wickedly at his interest. "Go, you two can hook up much later once we're off this cursed mountain. The snow is coming, and once it does, we'll be easier to track."We watched Tyler vanish into one of the many caves. Douglas sprinkled the pepper over the entrance of others, including a light dusting at the one where Tyler had disappeared. Moving to where Tora and I
I'd dressed in a soft pair of jeans and flat, leather, thigh-high boots with multiple buckles covering the top of the leather, curving and hugging my calves. The jacket I'd chosen was army green, with soft fur lining that heated against my arms. Tugging the jacket up tighter, I zipped it while walking the perimeter of the courtyard with Phenrys, my unlucky babysitter for the day.He was silent and vigilant as we moved through the mostly empty yard. I paused, inhaling the crisp air that threatened snow as it stung against my nose and cheeks. "It's cold as shit out here," he grumbled, rubbing his hands together while studying the way I moved. "We're going back inside momentarily because I'm over the cold.""I need to light the candles inside my mother's crypt. They've been ne- glected, and I'd like to do so before we go back inside."Phenrys dropped his head, rolling it back to look at me before sliding his gaze to the crypt that sat a few yards away from the newly built ad-on. Nodding,
"Oh, this will be fun." I turned back to him, noticing how his eyes skimmed over my bare skin."Hey, they're at least excited to meet you from what he told me. But there are other Alpha's in the city and the meetings with them aren't going as smoothly without me. They're on edge, and some of them might be secretly against me. There's a lot going on.""Something is always happening in the world. They just all seem to be happening to us right now." I gave him the closest thing I could to a comforting smile, one that wasn't a mask. I needed to be real with him. "Luckily, we can handle your wolves with little interference.""Our wolves, you mean." He corrected and my brow pinched together. "We're mated now, officially. You bear my mark and I'm the Alpha. That makes you their Luna by wolf law."I rose from the bed, setting my feet on the cold floor and closing my eyes as I steadied myself. "Apollo, there's still a chance we won't make it out of here alive. The wolves, that's easy in my min
Saint climbed into bed, naked. He didn't move the pillows, choosing to slide beneath the covers. Before I could guess what Saint intended, he'd yanked on the blanket, lifting it, sending all the pillows shooting into the air, raining down around the bed. He pounced, capturing my wrists above my head, smiling down at me.“No more walls, woman. You and me, we have to figure out a balance so that we can live together. I know you're struggling because I can feel your turmoil through the link. I can feel your need to run, to escape me, and that isn't happening. I know you, Brae. I know you because you live within in me, inside my fucking soul.""If you really knew me, Saint, you'd know I would never be involved in anything that would hurt this pack." I whispered, struggling to get out from beneath him.He allowed me to wiggle from his grip as he settled in beside me. His attention moved over my face before he softly exhaled. "At night, when they'd put us back into our cells. I dreamed of y