ZIRA violent content ahead I woke up in a dark room. Was it still nighttime? I looked around and saw nothing but darkness. I got up from the bed and started walking further into the darkness. There was nothing in sight. I started to panic, looking around for any signs of life. “Why do I always find you lost somewhere?” A figure materialized out of the darkness, and I saw it was Isaiah. Light was shining off his body as he walked towards me. I was so happy to not be alone that I immediately ran to him and gave him a huge hug. It felt great to be able to hold him again. “I thought I was alone,” I said into his shirt as he rubbed my back. “You’re never alone. I will always be there for you, Zira.” My heart swelled when he said my name. It was a melody to my ears. Then I heard laughter behind me, and another figure walked out of the darkness. It was Alaia. No light was coming from her, so I could barely see her. “Here you are again taking something that’s not yours, Zira!”
ALAIA I lay on my mate, trying to catch my breath after another round of lovemaking. This has been constant for the past month and a half. He had just returned from a run with his pack, smelling the pine needles and the morning air. Apparently, that’s all it took to get Elaine up and ready. I was surprised he hadn’t said anything about me giving control to Elaine whenever we had sex. I knew full well he wouldn’t like my answer. Don’t get me wrong, I can feel everything Elaine feels, and it was my body, but something in me was holding me back. Back for what? I wasn’t sure. I just knew intimately touching him was too much for me. I felt like I was cheating someone. Or maybe I’m still not fully ready to accept that this was my life and I have someone who was bound to me. In my mind, I just hoped it would be James. When Maria died, I knew I would be his second-chance mate. I was ready to step up and help him through the most painful part of his life, but he pushed me away further.
ALAIA I took the grimoire from my office and returned to the bar. The music was pure metal, and the clientele was rougher than before, with girls dancing on every platform and the workers looking out of their minds. A part of me was disgusted by the change, but right now, I didn’t have time to care. Instead, I had to find a way to read this book. I made my way through the crowd to the basement. A scream fell from Mirja’s mouth when I walked through the door. Nas had her chained to the wall. There were little cuts on her from head to toe. Some were new, while others looked more like scars. She was a half-werewolf like me, so she didn’t heal as fast as a regular werewolf, especially if Silver or Wolfsbane was involved. Is Nas using both? The silver chains around her wrists and feet didn’t cause physical damage but could still weaken her. “Anything yet?” I asked, plopping down in her chair. “Tough cookie, this one, but I can open her up. In one way or another,” Nas grinned. He was h
OMEGA MARY Right when things calm down, the Alpha has not one but two pregnant women. I examined the positive pregnancy test on the Alpha’s and Luna’s bathroom sink. I quickly threw it away, wishing I had never seen it. I’m not sure who I feel sorry for more. Zira was obviously in love with someone else’s mate; she tried to get away, and now she’s trapped with having his baby. Luna Alaia, the new girl who just got married to a guy who impregnated another girl, so she hurried to get pregnant to compete. Who don’t I feel sorry for? Isaiah. He deserves a bit of drama, and I hope he gets hell for all this. He shouldn’t be having unprotected sex with people who aren’t your chosen mate because, ultimately, the women get to bear the hard part of it. The only good thing about this is the excellent writing material I could use for my book. I have to think of a good name. The Messy Trio? No. Bermuda Baby Triangle? Ha! That’s crazy. Being surrounded by drama tends to freak me out. Too many
ISABELLA I stared at my best friend as if she had three heads. I couldn't believe what she just told me. Everything in my body told me to fight against what she wanted. "Zi, I don't know about this," I said, shaking my head. "This could get you into some serious trouble. Hell, it can get me into trouble just hearing you say it. I can't believe you can just say it like it's no big deal." Zira sighed. "I know it's serious, Isa, but I've thought about this a lot. Isaiah has Alaia, his mate. She can give him as many babies as he wants. On the other hand, I may not have that chance if I go through with this. I had plans, Isa. Plans that didn't include a baby." I shook my head some more, trying to really listen to what she was saying. I knew the odds of her surviving were slim, but this was extreme. Abortions weren't a thing in the werewolf community. She-wolves were more desperate to have babies and even more desperate to bring them to term. So, hearing Zira talk about getting rid o
ALAIA News about my pregnancy spread like wildfire, overshadowing the fact that Zira was also pregnant. Isaiah was excited, but I could tell he was nervous. It made sense. Becoming a father of not one but two babies by two different women only a few months apart can be taxing. When he told Isabella, her reaction was subpar, but Zira’s reaction was puzzling. She looked as if she wanted to cry. Not from sadness but excitement. I thought she would at least be nervous about the competition, but maybe she didn’t see it that way. I was wondering what was going on, but I will find out. The following week, Isaiah left to attend business with my brother, giving me time to figure out what to do with this grimoire. Things were looking bright for me. Now, if only there was a way to see the contents of the grimoire, and I could get rid of Zira for good. That’s all I wanted, and I could be happy. Well, as happy as I could be without James. My moment of solitude was interrupted by a knock on
ZACK “What is taking them so long,” Bronx complained. “They’re closer to this place than we are.” We were sitting in the car lot of the Wormhole, waiting for Isaiah and his entourage to show up. He wanted to be invited to check the place himself. I only agree because this affects him more than me, and I needed an excuse to leave my pack for the moment. Since hooking up with Emily the night of the ceremony, I’ve endured countless surprise visits from her. I tried not to be a jerk, but how do you explain to a woman that a one-night stand was just that? One night. I thought that would’ve made her mad, but it only encouraged her to come on stronger. She kept reminding me the pack needed a Luna, and her medical expertise could be helpful.No doubt Bronx was whispering some encouragement in her ear. I was confident he put the ‘Luna’ idea in her head. The woman can’t take ‘No’ as an answer. Just thinking about it was making me mad as I watched Bronx pace in front of me. I needed a break
ZACK I couldn’t believe I had found her here of all the places. I dropped the guy on the ground and followed the scent down the dark corridor. The scent of wild berries and honey filled my nostrils along with...blood. As I approached the door, sigils illuminated the walls and ceilings. I could feel the protection spell tattooed on my back, beginning to burn. The only way I knew strong, dark magic was at play here. I ignored the burn and walked through the door. I didn’t know what to expect when I walked in, but it wasn’t what I thought. The room was big, with walls covered with books as far as the eye could see. There was an enormous desk in front of me decorated with all sorts of cutting materials, from swords to surgical tools to daggers. Her scent pulled me further in until I saw her. I froze at the sight of her. She was tied up on a wall, badly bruised. Her face was covered by long, unkempt red hair. She wore a bloodied bra and black ripped jeans with a studded belt. She ha
ISAIAH Water splashed on my face for the hundredth time as my son’s laughter filled the bathroom. I looked down at Arias, who apparently got a kick from throwing soap in my face. Each time seemed to make Arias laugh more. “Arias, we’ve been in here for twenty minutes. You have to let me wash you,” I said, trying to grab him, but Arias slipped out of reach. “That’s it. I’m coming in.” Arias shrieked, trying to get away from me. I couldn’t help but laugh. Who knew bath time could be this fun? After another ten minutes or so, I was able to thoroughly wash and dress Arias for bed. I laid Arias down in his crib and grabbed a book to read from the bookshelf. Arias climbed out of his crib and
ZIRAI stretched and yawned as the light from the window crept across my face. I reached across my bed and realized it was empty. I instantly sat up. Panic starting to set in. I looked around the room for him, and it was empty.I was on my way to get out of bed when the door to my bathroom opened. James walked out and noticed my panicked face. He cocked an eyebrow, with a smile playing across his face.“What?”“I thought,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “I thought you were gone.”James laughed. “Where would I go?” James asked sarcastically. “You barely let me pee without hovering over me. And that snoring-”
ZACKAfter Alaia’s death, getting things back together slowly improved as the days passed. I took her body back to my pack to have a proper burial. Mirja didn’t think she deserved it. She wanted to burn the body, but I stopped before she could.True, Alaia was evil, and I knew that. However, she was still my sister, and I felt partially responsible for everything that had happened. So, I brought her home and buried her next to our parents. She was their problem.After that matter was settled, our days were filled with rebuilding the Blue Moon Pack. With the help of Alpha Isaiah and Alpha Fiona, we were now working at a ninety percent capacity. Most of the houses were rebuilt, and Bronx proved to be a responsible Beta. George and Harry came around more often. Harry was obsessed with Mirja’s knowledge of
ISABELLA"No, no, no!"Luna Bella's screaming filled the entire hospital room and down the hall. She sat in bed, holding her hands out in front of her while Victoria stood in front of her. Victoria sighed, holding a teacup of medicine in her hands."Luna Bella, you have to drink this to get better," Victoria said to her, clearly frustrated. "Are we seriously going to go through this every morning?""Are you seriously going to force me to drink that crap," Luna Bella growled at her.Hitting the breaking point, Victoria growled back. "Drink it!"Luna Bella leaned back with a shocked expression before glaring at Isabella, who sat back, watching everything unfold.
THIRD POV After her little laughing fit, Alaia turned her attention back to Mirja, who was trying to claw her way out of Alaia’s grip. Alaia could see her brother stalking back and forth beyond her little shield, looking just as helpless as his little mate. “You know,” Alaia started with a malicious smirk, “it tickled me when I found out you were my brother’s mate. All this time, I couldn’t figure out why you always dismissed my plans of wanting to kill him. Subconsciously, you were always on his side. You just didn’t know why. So now I’m going to enjoy killing you while he watches.” Alaia tightened the hold around Mirja’s neck as Mirja gasped for air. Alaia was so wrapped up in her fury to kill that she didn’t notice anyone entering her space until the last moment. She whipped around and came face to face with James. 
THIRD POVAlaia blocked another attack from Deacon as he pushed her away from Arias and Zira. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Zira finally getting up and assessing the situation.Alaia looked around, confused. James’ wolf, Deacon, was attacking her, but she could clearly see James’s body in the hall. Unfortunately, her mind was so clouded that she couldn’t figure out who was real. Besides, this wolf was moving too fast for her to focus on attacking.This…this wolf had to be an imposter or some sort of trick. She thought.Deacon kept attacking her, pushing her back, and she could feel herself getting weaker, or maybe it was tiredness. She watched Deacon stand between her and Arias. The one whos
THIRD POV It took a moment for Zira to realize she was being carried. Then, she looked up and saw James, who noticed she was awake. “You...you rejected me,” Zira said softly, and it tugged at James’s heart. “James would not reject you, Zi. I can tell he loves you,” James said to her. Zira looked at him, confused. “You’ve never called me Zi before, and why are you speaking in the third person?” “I’ll explain when I get you as far away from here as possible,” James said as he proceeded down the long hallway. They descended a few hallways before Zira squirmed out of James’ hold. “No,” Zira screamed. “I have to get Arias. I have to find him.”
THIRD POVThe sounds like that of beating drums echoed throughout the woods as werewolves collided with each other. More rogues descended upon them as they tried to hold the line. Deacon maneuvered as best as he could, taking down a rogue every step of the way, but they seemed to be multiplying. He did his best to concentrate, but he felt pain spiral throughout his body occasionally.Zira. He had to get to her, but there were too many obstacles.“Portals are open,” George linked him.Deacon immediately started running towards George when a rogue jumped right before him. Maybe it was because he was only a few minutes away from her, but he felt a new kind of energy surge through him.
THIRD POVMary gripped the bottle behind her back as the rogues glared at her. She tried controlling her fear as she approached them, but it slowly took over as she felt her legs shaking slightly. She was still just an Omega with meager fighting skills.“No one should be in this area,” growled the she-wolf as she gave Mary a once-over, noticing the shaking. “Why are you here?”“Luna Alaia,” Mary squeaked out before clearing her throat and failing to stand tall. “I’m here at Luna Alaia’s request. She wants me to check on the baby.”Mary tried to step through them, but the she-wolf held her back. Mary was able to get close enough to spray the pheromones on the she-wolf.