Summer’s POV Opening the front door, I tried to be as quiet as I could. I walked towards the voices in the kitchen. As I got closer, I heard mom speaking. I have missed the sound of her voice. It was even funnier that she was having a go at Gale. Growing up, he was always the one who got the blame for everything. Then again, he was the one who was always causing trouble. “Hi mommy. Hi daddy.” The simplest word in the world. Yet their impact was immense. I cried as my mom and dad embraced me. I never wanted them to let me go. When I introduced Dawson as my mate, mom was ecstatic that I had found my soul mate. Dad compared him to the Wolf King. Dawson tried to explain. But he was cut off by my mom having another go at Gale. Some things never change. He looked at me and rolled his eyes. That’s when it came out about Evie being my nanny. Mom pieced it together quickly. Once she found that out, she was over the moon. “My baby has a baby?” She bragged to my dad, who had heard the
Rayne’s POV My truck was the first to arrive at Forest Green Pack. I was followed by my convoy. Nathan and Adam were somewhere in between and a car with Alpha Rick and Beta Vincent back there somewhere. Usually, someone else would be the first to drive in. I know this place like the back of my hand, which was why I insisted. An enormous crowd stood outside of the pack house. I guess Summer and Gale got started without us. I jumped out and made my way to the front of the crowd. Which was where I saw Elizabeth being held in place by Gale. At least five warriors restrained Autumn. A very disheveled Carly in the arms of Alpha Stan. “What’s going on here?” I asked Alpha Stan. I asked, thinking I already knew the answer. But it’s Carly that fills me in with the answer. “Oh General, thank the goddess you're here.” I guess the uniform gave it away. “That bitch pointing at Elizabeth attacked me. While I was playing with my daughter,” she made a dramatic sobbing noise. “He sai
Beta Vincent’s POV I can’t believe she was his sister. I tortured his sister! The General of the Royal Guard’s goddam sister. If he finds out I had anything to do with her torture, he will rip me apart and fuck knows what he will do if he finds out I gave Carly the gun that shot her. The only thing I have going in my favor right now is that Alpha Rick has given me an alibi. As are the rest of the pack. There is nothing to link me to the scene and no one other than Carly, Shane and Jack were there with us. They wouldn’t say anything against me, not without dropping themselves in it. Thankfully, Summer is dead and can’t identify me. I can’t even remember why Carly wanted her dead. I should have asked. Otherwise, I would be royally screwed, especially with the Wolf King accompanying the General. I can’t believe Carly got me involved in all of this. She is supposed to have confirmed all of this. As always, she has done half a fucking job. Now I feel she has screwed me over.
Summer’s POV I stand next to my big brother. General of the Royal Guard. Shock and fear are words I would use to describe the look on Carly’s face. “Oh, my fucking goddess,” were the words out of her mouth when she saw me. Beta Vincent followed her gaze and just stared at me as if I was a ghost. That was before he vomited. I guess the man who I don’t know is Carly’s father. “Nice to see you both again,” I said sarcastically. “You, you should be dead.” Carly says, while staring at me. “Shut up Carly.” Beta Vincent says from the ground. I ignored him. “Why is that, Carly? Because you, Beta Vincent, and your buddies decided to torture me? Or should I be dead because you shot me?” I paused “Twice.” “It was all her idea. I just did as I was told. My job is to do as the Alpha family.” Beta Vincent blurts out. “General, it was all her idea.” He must have figured out that Rayne is my brother. “But you willingly took part in her attempted murder,” Rayne stated. Beta Vinc
Blake’s POV I watched as my little girl played outside, basking in the sunshine. I wish I could be there, but Carly is. If me and Zane go out and join them, she will leave. I despise having to choose between my brother and my mate, but he has to choose as well. Carly made it very clear she didn’t want two mates. We practically had to pretend each one didn’t exist. It’s soul destroying having to pretend that my best friend is nonexistent, even though we live under the same roof. Freya must be so confused, as she rarely sees me and Zane together. I hope she doesn’t grow up thinking she only has one dad or with Carly’s beliefs. Carly may be our mate, but her attitude is disgusting. We are talking to dad again about handing over the pack to us, as he had just celebrated his 60th birthday. We have wanted him to do it for years. But he has always refused because of Carly. Who is pressuring us more and more, so we asked him again? I worry that if he doesn’t do it soon, Carl
Summer’s POV I look at the surrounding people. I see family, friends and enemies. A lot of decisions are to be made, and it’s up to me to make them. Alexis and I have ultimately determined their fate. We need answers as well. We won’t get them if they are dead. “Even though they organized my kidnapping. Had me beaten, humiliated me, cut my hair, burned my skin, starved me, deprived me of rest, eventually stabbing and shooting me. I could let them live. It is not their fault that they were raised in a pack that praised this sort of behavior.” Carly started smirking, probably remembering what I looked like or what she did to me. “But they hired men who hurt my children and tried to kill one of them. They were prepared to leave my children motherless. The heartbreak my kids endured, not knowing whether they would see me again. The torture they suffered when my heart stopped beating. The overall emotional turmoil my kids endured.” I paused. “Both me and Alexis
Elizabeth’s POV How could I not reject him? I saw what he did to my best friend. He did it for fun, the sick arsehole. I knew it was going to be painful. I’d heard all about it in my line of work. Once, he accepted my rejection. My head felt so light and weightless, my body limp. I could feel myself swaying. I was going to faint. But I didn’t hit the ground. Surrounding me was the smell of a freshly cut lawn on a nice day. It is one of my favorite things to do, just so I can sit there afterwards soaking in the scent. I took another deep breath, enjoying the fragrance before my eyes opened and I was in the arms of Summer’s brother, Rayne. Who was looking at me? Really looking at me. Absorbing my features. Lacie, my wolf, screamed “Mate” for the second time in minutes. But I didn’t believe her. I had just rejected my mate in an epic way. No way would the goddess give me a second chance mate so fast. I mean, I know the goddess works in a mysterious way, but this would be miraculous.
Summer’s POV “Where is she?” Rayne was going mad when he couldn’t find Elizabeth. She wasn’t anywhere nearby, nor was her scent. “Was she taken? Did she go on her own?” Rayne said, panicking. “She has had a horrible day, Rayne. She has probably gone for a walk. She must have gone a while ago. I hope she doesn’t go too far. I mean, she was pretty upset. Not in her usual state of mind.” I told him, becoming concerned about her myself. “What do you mean?” He asks. I explained to him about what happened earlier in the car and her feeling responsible for what happened. “But it wasn’t her fault,” he tells me, defending her. “I know that you know that. Elizabeth knows that. But she doesn’t believe that?” I responded. He looks concerned before he runs off. I saw him shifting and others followed him. So do I. She is my friend, after all. We ran miles before Alexis eventually got a hint of her scent. “Please let her be okay.” I said to Alexis. When I find her,