ISAIAH I woke up stretching my arm to the other side of the bed. As usual, it was cold. Something I had been getting used to since that fateful night two months ago. That day, I lost more than I bargained for. I got up and went through my morning routine. I took a quick shower and picked out some training clothes. I dressed and took a moment to look at myself in my full-length mirror. I looked like shit. My five o’clock shadow was turning into an actual beard, and my eyes were a bit sullen due to the lack of sleep. I looked at my clock and realized it was only five am. So, I had a good four hours of sleep. That should be enough to get me through the day or at least through training. I went outside to take in the cold air. It was just the kind of weather I needed for a quick run. There was something therapeutic about running. Feeling the ground underneath your feet. I look forward to these runs, especially with Devon being MIA (missing in action). Ever since Alaia left the ro
ISAIAHSo now we are back here where my best friend, more like a brother, was afraid of saying ‘baby’ in front of me. Afraid of celebrating the life he helped create. I couldn’t allow this. My pack, my people, should be able to come to me about anything. As Alpha, I needed to rise above my trials and tribulations to better serve them. “Hunter, I am excited for you, man. Really, I am. We should celebrate what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t.” Hunter smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He really did look like he had just risen from the dead. “So, is the baby news why you look like this?” Hunter laughed a bit while rubbing the back of his neck. “Not exactly. With everything going on, Ashlee worries that something might happen to her. So, I’ve been busy making her feel safe while trying to fulfill my duties as Beta and-” “Say no more, Hunter.” I quickly mind-linked Jace and Chris. “If you need this time to be with her, take it. I still have Jace and Chris. They
ZACKIt’s been a few months since the attack on my pack. With the help of Alpha Isaiah and Alpha Gregg of the Whispering Winds Pack, I was able to get control of the damage. We still had a long way to go to return to where we were before, but the people were optimistic. I wish I could say the same for myself. Mirja, my mate, was still in a coma. Harry, James’ warlock friend, finally figured out what was wrong with her. She was trapped inside her mind. So, everything she saw felt natural to her. The only way to break it was to go inside to convince her it wasn’t real. I volunteered myself, but Harry refused. He felt he would be more experienced if something happened. So here I was, pacing back and forth at her door. Harry insisted I stay out of the way so he could concentrate. I said-well Alexi told him he was out of his witchy mind if he thought he was leaving his mate alone with another man. I tried to explain to Alexi that Harry was batting for a different team, but still, he w
ZACK This bond was completely taking over my senses, making me pull her close to inhale her wild berry and honey scent. I was happy that she was returning the favor. I slowly but reluctantly helped her back to bed. “You should probably take it easy.” She shook her head. “We have to find her. She has completely lost it and is tapping into the magic beyond her control.” “That was the plan. I just needed the proof. You,” I said, pointing to her. “Now I can bring Alaia back to the Elder Witches and-” “No,” Mirja said firmly. “You tried that before, and look at what’s happening. If she has found a way to access the power in my family’s grimoire, this is beyond the council. She has to be stopped.” “What do you suggest?” I asked, knowing the answer. I knew eventually, it might come down to eliminating the problem, but it was still hard to come to terms with it. Alaia was still my little sister. At that moment, Harry entered the room with a glass of water and gave it to Mirja.
ISABELLA I nervously watched George examine Victoria. I was fortunate to get James to bring someone to see her. He stood beside her bedside as I paced back and forth, watching them through the window. James kicked me out after growling at George numerous times for touching Victoria. It was more Jas than me, and she refused to listen. Ever since that night, I have been convinced Alaia had something to do with this. On the other hand, Isaiah believed her when she said she healed Victoria after Nas attacked her. Nas supposedly knocked her out before she could fully heal her. I just didn’t believe it. That girl doesn’t have a good bone in her little body. Then, finding out Zira was with them and suddenly disappeared, I really lost it. I had another huge fight with Alaia and Isaiah that still ended up with me looking like a jerk yelling at two people who had just lost their baby. Now, I could barely look at Isaiah without feeling a bit shameful. So, I kept to myself and watched ov
ISABELLA My mother stood with her hands placed in front of us. She stared at me, waiting for me to continue. I thought about everything that had happened this past year, but I wanted to start at the beginning for her. Start where this all began. “I knew I was gay when I was thirteen, maybe even before then. It may have been the day you pulled me away from Lana’s sleepover, which she totally kissed me first, by the way. I remember you being so furious with me. You kept saying, ‘Oh, what are people going to think?’ and ‘What will they say?’ You looked at me like I was a…a…freak. Like something was wrong with me. You made me feel like it was the worst thing in the world. So, from that day, I kept that part of me hidden. Just to please you, and it was killing me inside. I didn’t even notice until I met someone who didn’t look at me like you did. Zira and her mother accepted me without a second thought, and you know what, Mother. Their acceptance hurt even more than your displeasure
ISAIAH I had to share this news with someone who would feel the same as me. So I hurried to my office with Isabella at my heels. I ran for an hour without stopping when I found her scarf. Besides, Devon didn’t mind being out. He hadn’t gotten over the fact that Elaine hadn’t surfaced in the past few months and was getting oddly suspicious. I decided to see what Alaia had to say. According to her, Elaine hadn’t spoken to her in a while, keeping herself hidden. Devon, of course, didn’t take the news so well, so I had to get him focused on something else. “Where did you find this, and why didn’t you call when you first found it?” Isabella asked, holding up the necklace and the scarf. “I lost my phone on the way back, but that’s unimportant. I found the necklace on the cliff the night she disappeared. The coat and the scarf were found near the riverbank, which could have meant she was alive when that happened. She has to be alive, Isa. I just know it.” “Zira’s alive?” Isabella
ISAIAHWe both started to walk out of the room when Isabella’s phone rang. She looks at the screen and back at me. “It’s Zack,” she said, picking it up. I used my werewolf’s hearing to listen to the conversation. “Bells, I’m glad I caught you. I tried calling your brother, but it’s going straight to voicemail. I need to talk to you both, and it can’t wait,” Zack said urgently. Isabella noticed me listening and switched to her speakerphone. “Zack, he’s right here. We can both hear you. What’s going on?” “It’s about Alaia,” Zack started. “She’s been playing us all from the start. She’s why the rogues attacked the pack and tried to kill Zira.” I couldn’t believe my ears. “How do you know this?” “Because the person who had front-row seats is standing next to me,” Zack said before another voice chimed in. “You have someone in your custody. Nas, right?” The woman asked. I looked at Isabella. I was still trying to wrap my head around the first bit of information. “Yes, he’s here,”