We are getting so close to the end of this book. But there's still more to be revealed. What do you think? Should Tawny forgive Crimson? Is she overreacting and did Crimson just make yet another bad decision by not telling her about his deal with Abner Brooks? Do we want a happy ending for crimson and Tawny, or just Tawny? Leave your comments and let me know what you think!
CRIMSON A WEEK LATER I pull up to a large Mansion, the location Abner Brooks gave me to meet at. He had been staying in the Kodiak Kingdom from what I understood, filling in the gaps that King Mathias left when he moved to Riocht with Queen Lamia. Neglecting his duties to the high council. When Alpha Xander made Finnegan Artos his Beta after losing his leg, Abner left, coming back to his home in the far northern part of the bear kingdom. As I open my car door a blast of iciness hits me. I shiver at the stark contrast to Cambiadors muggy heat. O sooner do I make it up the short steps, bag in hand, containing the leather folder we found hidden in the wall of Papa Armand's room. Our room I mentally correct myself. Hoping there would still be an us when I returned home. I had left Tawny, heartbroken with a half-assed and shit explanation. I know she is hurting. It hurt me just as much to walk away from her, knowing I hadn't told her about this, knowing I couldn’t even disclose who or
TAWNY The past week at Riocht has been comforting, aside from having to hash up the last time I saw crimson, and the discussions of our discoveries. I have spent most of my time pouring my attention onto the triplets. My ovaries go wild as I help change and feed them, giving not only Lamia and Mathias a break, but also her mother Vivian, and father Marcus some much-needed time off. Amali is beautiful, cute, and tiny. And when separated from her brothers for mere minutes, Zachary and Maximus would wail like banshees until they could see or feel her close. Not even six months old yet and are already so protective of their little sister. I hold Amali a little tighter, wondering if I will ever get the chance to be a mother. The green-eyed monster called jealousy rearing its ugly head, as I think of Gillian. My thoughts wander back to Crimson as they always do. For the past week, I have tried to concentrate on just being here, and enjoying my time with friends and the babies. As tears
UNKNOWN “My Lord, we have a possible location on one of the stones. The Alpha of the Wolf Paw pack can get one of your spies in.” I look down at the feeble hybrid, bent at the knee, head bowed. Treating me like a king, that I am not. The lost and unwanted souls of Hybrids with no spirit animal. The lost souls of rogues and humans, desperate to even the playing field in this realm. I have built my empire with them. Grown and cultured an army who are no longer scared of the Packs and Clans. Ready to take back what they think is so rightfully theirs. I too once thought that way. Even joined forces with two powerful shifters who promised me the future I saw for my family. It was all a lie. Just like I have told promises of salvation and a future of acceptance to my followers. Lies. I put the syringe down, turning away from my subject to acknowledge the weak hybrid knelt before me. “Get up.” I bark, making the poor male flinch. He stands, but he daren’t look at me. Too scared to see
TAWNY Late December and the cold had settled into the Capital of the New Moon Kingdom. Riocht was much chillier than Cambiador, but not cold enough for snow to settle. Whereas New Moon had a light dusting of snow and reports said they could get more. As I stepped out of the car, I felt the bite of the cold air, a season I didn’t miss even if I had missed my father and the place I once called home. It wasn’t until I came to New Moon that I finally felt comfortable in my own skin. My father had no choice but to raise me in packs. Unfortunately, most packs didn’t accept werecats and I spent the better half of my childhood and teen years lonely. Years of being picked on, the target of most bullies because I was a werecat in the wolf's den. They didn’t like me, taunting me because of my race. My father did everything he could, but it was hard after my mother died. He was a warrior; it was all he knew how to do. We moved around a lot, and with each pack we lived in, the bullying became
CRIMSON I groggily open my eyes; my body is stiff and frozen. I feel worse than when I woke up in the cold and dark cell of Tolba. I wasn’t sure what I would wake up to or where when my eyes finally focused. Frozen like an ice cube or not, I was relieved to find I was still out in the open. I shake my head a little, the wet snow falling from my face and head. As I focus, the bright, blinding winter sky has me squinting as big fat flakes fall around me. “Shit,” I groaned trying to muster the strength to move my frozen limbs. How long had I been laying here? What the fuck happened? The memories come flooding back all at once, the dirt bikes, the crash, the blood. I hastily check myself out, already knowing my wounds had healed. But what in the goddess’s name did those people hit me with? I thought they were coming to help, but all I remember is the agonizing sting of electricity shooting throughout my body. I felt weak. Drained. But I couldn’t lay here any longer. My clothes were
TAWNY “Yes, yes, I’m ready!” I shout to Mason through the bathroom door. Checking myself out one more time and running my hands down the deep red dress. I brought it with Crimson in mind, the color of the sheer fabric was close to his eyes when they turned that deep shade of blood red. The dress was full-length, perfect for a coronation ball. Its haltered strap left my back bare, the neckline dipped with a deep V. And small clear jewels encrusted the bodice of the dress. My had grown out and was now shoulder length. I had it dyed black last night, with a few dark red highlights, to cover its natural bright orange. Satisfied with my appearance and finally emerged from the bathroom. “Whoa!” Mason gave a low whistle, and his eyes greedily ate me up. I smiled, scrunching my nose at his obvious ogling. “I take it I will do then?” “You will more than do, Princess.” I palmed the back of his neck and a blush crept over his cheeks. “You look beautiful.” “Thank you,” I replied, needing to
TAWNY Snow began to fall from the black sky, hiding all the stars and blocking out the moon. A blanket of white covered all our human side sins. Giving the streets a fresh and untainted look. I gazed out the sitting room window watching each fat flake fall and blend with its sisters. A sliver of light from mother moon broke through the haze of white, illuminating the street just outside. The snow made everything look innocent, fresh, clean - virgin. But I knew better. Underneath that cover of purity were the sins of men. The dirty truth of who we are. The white winter months could only cover our true nature for so long before the cover fell and melted away. Revealing our true nature. What were the chances that a murder would take place on the eve of Tala’s coronation? Wolves are unforgiving by nature; their pack is only as strong as their leader and their leader is only as strong as their resolve. They hunt together. Fight together. Play together. They are family, the Alpha being
TAWNY By the time morning rolled around, I still hadn't heard from anyone. Not about the murders, nor about Kellen and Tala and if their pup had been born. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, because that really isn’t like me, and couldn’t understand why I was so dang emotional. Usually, I could shake shit off. Hold my head up and smile, because we never did mind about the little things. At least that’s the phrase Lamia would always say and her outlook on life, in general, had imprinted on me in more ways than I know. I decided to buck up and go find what I hope were still my friends. I knew there was a valid reason that I hadn’t seen Mike or Kellen. Or I at least hoped their reasoning for reaching out to me was not because they didn’t value our friendship. “Good morning!” I sang when Mason and my father appeared. I brushed off Mason’s worrisome scowl and turned back around to flip the crepes I was making. I had already prepared bacon, sausage, and some eggs. Chairs scuffled in th