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MIKE “I’m going after her…” I heard Tawny as she slid under and between the advancing attackers. I was more focused on how the fuck I was going to take on a were-bear and wolf at the same time. Fuck it, I thought as I shifted again, snarling at the shifters in front of me and leaping toward them. I attacked the wolf first. A big mistake. My jaws latched onto his shoulder ready to tear when I felt claws sink deep into my back, making me let out a painful howl, and feeling my skin tear. I let go of the wolf and rolled to the side, removing the bear's claws from my back. I backed up assessing my situation and how I was going to take these two fuckers down. Duke was reeling and ready to take over, but I held him back, convincing him we would work better together. The fuckers darted towards me and I jumped back, looking for the right moment and angle to attack. Right now, I have to use defensive tactics if I am to survive this. Just as I was ready to go all in, I watched as the bear fel
LAMIA The relief I felt when it dawned on me that Mike was really there was indescribable. “…get these the fuck off me!” I said. My body ached, my limbs lax, and my face was swollen from the beating they had come to give me that night. Kira had stood there and watched, laughing as they brutalized me within an inch of my life, leaving me there for dead thinking I could not heal and the silver poisoning of my body coupled with the wolfsbane and some other burning substance they injected me with would finish me off. When the kicks and punches finally stopped after goddess knows how long, I stilled my breathing and slowed my heart rate down. Even though I could not hear my wolf, her presence was still there, weak but there. My lips were chapped from lack of fluids and my throat was dry. My skin itched from the filth and my scalp felt as though it was on fire when they had pulled and yanked it out. I took a deep breath when the cuffs were snapped from my ankles and wrists, the feeling o
LAMIA As I held the blades, one in each hand, the blood from my palms coated the handles, as a rejuvenating and authoritative energy claimed my body. I felt my wounds begin to heal and close at a ridiculous rate. The vibrating zing of power coursing through my veins. My eyes are sharp and my breathing is steady. My anger - unhinged. I stood up from the ground, not lifting my head fully, but rather peering through my lashes and disheveled hair. I felt the fire burning in my eyes and wondered if they mirrored the heat I felt from them. There he stood, across the grounds, hiding behind his fighters and a line of bears. I saw the King in the forefront of the fight taking out as many as he could in a bid to get to Silas, his brother. Not today, my King, I thought. Today he is mine and he will suffer. The swords in my hands glinted from the morning sun, and the inscriptions on the blades were glowing a cosmic hue of green and orange as if they had come alive. My fangs protruded, pierci
KELLEN When Lamia fell to the ground, holding Zane in her arms, her heart-wrenching sobs met my ears, I felt her bond to Zane snap. I gasped at the dreaded reality of what had just happened. “No, no, no, no. Zane! Zane baby, hang in there, you are OK, Zane baby, stay awake”, she cried out. I wanted to go to her, to hold her, to take her pain away. But I couldn’t. I was fighting bear shifters and couldn’t turn my back on them. I could hear her sobs and turned in shock when I heard her cry her confession. “Baby please don’t leave me, not like this, we were going to have a pup, please don’t let them take you from me too!” She sobbed, pounding on her dead mate’s chest. Her body was strewn across his as she desperately tried to wake him. But it was no use. I could no longer hear his heartbeat. No longer hear his lungs expand. He was gone. Pup? She was pregnant! Was? Or, is she still now? With more determination, I cut down my enemies so I could go to her when, suddenly, a howl so impo
LAMIA I awoke with a start to find everyone standing over me, talking in hushed whispers. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone; my mother, father, the King, and Queen, the royal Beta, Aunt Olivia, Mike, and Kellen. The immediate feeling of loss filled my heart and I clutched my chest at the tight pull as all my emotions hit me at once, the vision, dream, or whatever you call it, far from my mind as I take in the crowd. I look at each of them and only then realize I am in my old room back at the palace. “Dear Goddess Lamia! You gave us quite the scare!” My mother’s comforting voice floats through the sea of faces. My gaze lands on her beautiful blue orbs full of concern and worry. I hold my arms out toward her and her tiny frame flies into my embrace. “It hurts so bad momma” I hiccup through the whimpers I can’t control. “It… it hur…hurts so b…bad”. I let everything out as I soaked her shoulder with my weeping and blubbering. I know baby, I know. I’m here for you. You just let
LAMIA We pulled into the pack lands of Golden Circle well after dark. As we crossed the border, an invigorating and charging energy raced through me and a pack link formed. I was now connected to all of the pack. A difference from before as I had not had my Luna ceremony and been initiated into the pack. Now, I was the rightful Alpha and the link snapped into place. The car stopped in front of the large packhouse. Outside stood Brett, Cyrus, and Halley. Kellen and Mike exited the car with Mike opening the back door and helping out. I pulled at my rumpled clothes and looked up at the large structure. I was home, but it didn’t feel like home. Zane was not there. Kellen and Mike exchanged pleasantries, whereas I remained silent. I looked at Halley who had tears in her eyes. I cautiously walked towards her first, not knowing how I would be received by her. After all, her Mother and Brother were dead because of me. There’s that guilt again. Survivor’s guilt is what Kellen called it. I o
LAMIA 6 WEEKS LATER *Meet me in the Alpha office and bring Travis with you* I sent a collective mind link to Brett, Cyrus, Halley, and Chris. They all acknowledged my request and cut the link. I left my room and wandered down the hallway making my way to the office. For the past few weeks, I had been going over pack finances, borders, treaties, and training. Not just for the Golden Circle, but also for the Pacific pack and MacTire. MacTire was a little harder as it was a new territory and had nothing, no business, no funds, no hierarchy, rank, or solid training. Hunji had been doing his best to establish rules and warriors with the shifters that were left and wanted to stay. Even some rogues who had feared Silas and had been against his way of ruling were eager to join a pack again. Some had never been part of a pack, born a rogue. There was a mixture of people left at MacTire; wolves, feline, and bear shifters as well as humans. I was needed there and could not put off going back
***Out now and completed: Book 2 - Rise of a Queen*** Please remember to leave me a review, I hope you enjoyed this book. For updates and chapter teasers, check my i*st*gr*m >>> authorjwgstout Or my F_B group for readers >>> Author Jwgstout Lamia's story continues in the second book, 2 years later. Carry on the adventure and see if Lamia finds her happily ever after. Thank you so much for reading my first ever book, I leave you with the first chapter from Rise of a Queen - book 2 for your enjoyment. RISE OF A QUEEN - BOOK 2 Chapter 1 – A New Kingdom. LAMIA I looked out the window on the top floor of my castle, yes, my castle, taking slow sips from the crystal glass that held the dark thick rum, my drink of choice tonight, as I pondered over the past two years and how far we had come. Two years ago, Travis and I left the Golden Circle pack in the dead of night to come back to MacTire (which literally meant wolf in ancient Gaelic). With the help of Alpha Greg from the Cres
***Out now and completed: Book 2 - Rise of a Queen*** Please remember to leave me a review, I hope you enjoyed this book. For updates and chapter teasers, check my i*st*gr*m >>> authorjwgstout Or my F_B group for readers >>> Author Jwgstout Lamia's story continues in the second book, 2 years later. Carry on the adventure and see if Lamia finds her happily ever after. Thank you so much for reading my first ever book, I leave you with the first chapter from Rise of a Queen - book 2 for your enjoyment. RISE OF A QUEEN - BOOK 2 Chapter 1 – A New Kingdom. LAMIA I looked out the window on the top floor of my castle, yes, my castle, taking slow sips from the crystal glass that held the dark thick rum, my drink of choice tonight, as I pondered over the past two years and how far we had come. Two years ago, Travis and I left the Golden Circle pack in the dead of night to come back to MacTire (which literally meant wolf in ancient Gaelic). With the help of Alpha Greg from the Cres
LAMIA 6 WEEKS LATER *Meet me in the Alpha office and bring Travis with you* I sent a collective mind link to Brett, Cyrus, Halley, and Chris. They all acknowledged my request and cut the link. I left my room and wandered down the hallway making my way to the office. For the past few weeks, I had been going over pack finances, borders, treaties, and training. Not just for the Golden Circle, but also for the Pacific pack and MacTire. MacTire was a little harder as it was a new territory and had nothing, no business, no funds, no hierarchy, rank, or solid training. Hunji had been doing his best to establish rules and warriors with the shifters that were left and wanted to stay. Even some rogues who had feared Silas and had been against his way of ruling were eager to join a pack again. Some had never been part of a pack, born a rogue. There was a mixture of people left at MacTire; wolves, feline, and bear shifters as well as humans. I was needed there and could not put off going back
LAMIA We pulled into the pack lands of Golden Circle well after dark. As we crossed the border, an invigorating and charging energy raced through me and a pack link formed. I was now connected to all of the pack. A difference from before as I had not had my Luna ceremony and been initiated into the pack. Now, I was the rightful Alpha and the link snapped into place. The car stopped in front of the large packhouse. Outside stood Brett, Cyrus, and Halley. Kellen and Mike exited the car with Mike opening the back door and helping out. I pulled at my rumpled clothes and looked up at the large structure. I was home, but it didn’t feel like home. Zane was not there. Kellen and Mike exchanged pleasantries, whereas I remained silent. I looked at Halley who had tears in her eyes. I cautiously walked towards her first, not knowing how I would be received by her. After all, her Mother and Brother were dead because of me. There’s that guilt again. Survivor’s guilt is what Kellen called it. I o
LAMIA I awoke with a start to find everyone standing over me, talking in hushed whispers. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone; my mother, father, the King, and Queen, the royal Beta, Aunt Olivia, Mike, and Kellen. The immediate feeling of loss filled my heart and I clutched my chest at the tight pull as all my emotions hit me at once, the vision, dream, or whatever you call it, far from my mind as I take in the crowd. I look at each of them and only then realize I am in my old room back at the palace. “Dear Goddess Lamia! You gave us quite the scare!” My mother’s comforting voice floats through the sea of faces. My gaze lands on her beautiful blue orbs full of concern and worry. I hold my arms out toward her and her tiny frame flies into my embrace. “It hurts so bad momma” I hiccup through the whimpers I can’t control. “It… it hur…hurts so b…bad”. I let everything out as I soaked her shoulder with my weeping and blubbering. I know baby, I know. I’m here for you. You just let
KELLEN When Lamia fell to the ground, holding Zane in her arms, her heart-wrenching sobs met my ears, I felt her bond to Zane snap. I gasped at the dreaded reality of what had just happened. “No, no, no, no. Zane! Zane baby, hang in there, you are OK, Zane baby, stay awake”, she cried out. I wanted to go to her, to hold her, to take her pain away. But I couldn’t. I was fighting bear shifters and couldn’t turn my back on them. I could hear her sobs and turned in shock when I heard her cry her confession. “Baby please don’t leave me, not like this, we were going to have a pup, please don’t let them take you from me too!” She sobbed, pounding on her dead mate’s chest. Her body was strewn across his as she desperately tried to wake him. But it was no use. I could no longer hear his heartbeat. No longer hear his lungs expand. He was gone. Pup? She was pregnant! Was? Or, is she still now? With more determination, I cut down my enemies so I could go to her when, suddenly, a howl so impo
LAMIA As I held the blades, one in each hand, the blood from my palms coated the handles, as a rejuvenating and authoritative energy claimed my body. I felt my wounds begin to heal and close at a ridiculous rate. The vibrating zing of power coursing through my veins. My eyes are sharp and my breathing is steady. My anger - unhinged. I stood up from the ground, not lifting my head fully, but rather peering through my lashes and disheveled hair. I felt the fire burning in my eyes and wondered if they mirrored the heat I felt from them. There he stood, across the grounds, hiding behind his fighters and a line of bears. I saw the King in the forefront of the fight taking out as many as he could in a bid to get to Silas, his brother. Not today, my King, I thought. Today he is mine and he will suffer. The swords in my hands glinted from the morning sun, and the inscriptions on the blades were glowing a cosmic hue of green and orange as if they had come alive. My fangs protruded, pierci
LAMIA The relief I felt when it dawned on me that Mike was really there was indescribable. “…get these the fuck off me!” I said. My body ached, my limbs lax, and my face was swollen from the beating they had come to give me that night. Kira had stood there and watched, laughing as they brutalized me within an inch of my life, leaving me there for dead thinking I could not heal and the silver poisoning of my body coupled with the wolfsbane and some other burning substance they injected me with would finish me off. When the kicks and punches finally stopped after goddess knows how long, I stilled my breathing and slowed my heart rate down. Even though I could not hear my wolf, her presence was still there, weak but there. My lips were chapped from lack of fluids and my throat was dry. My skin itched from the filth and my scalp felt as though it was on fire when they had pulled and yanked it out. I took a deep breath when the cuffs were snapped from my ankles and wrists, the feeling o
MIKE “I’m going after her…” I heard Tawny as she slid under and between the advancing attackers. I was more focused on how the fuck I was going to take on a were-bear and wolf at the same time. Fuck it, I thought as I shifted again, snarling at the shifters in front of me and leaping toward them. I attacked the wolf first. A big mistake. My jaws latched onto his shoulder ready to tear when I felt claws sink deep into my back, making me let out a painful howl, and feeling my skin tear. I let go of the wolf and rolled to the side, removing the bear's claws from my back. I backed up assessing my situation and how I was going to take these two fuckers down. Duke was reeling and ready to take over, but I held him back, convincing him we would work better together. The fuckers darted towards me and I jumped back, looking for the right moment and angle to attack. Right now, I have to use defensive tactics if I am to survive this. Just as I was ready to go all in, I watched as the bear fel
MIKE Tilting my head back, filling my lungs with the crisp warm air of the ending summer, I glanced up into the now fading moonlight, the stars becoming dim and the horizon deep shades of purple and orange as dawn began to break. An astute feeling of Nostalgia, swept through me carried by the soft breeze that managed to find its way through the trees and up the mountainside we were patiently waiting on. Summer would soon be ending and Kellen would be inducted as the new Alpha of the Moon pack, the Royal pack. How things had changed from the beginning of summer, and how I wished for that more peaceful time. Where the three of us were together, not a care in the world, no impending rogue attacks, no mate drama, just us three, running through the forest, jumping in the lake, or lying out in our favorite field star gazing. I think back to when we were much younger, how Kellen and I would chase Lamia through the palace or play hide and seek in the gardens, both of us wanting Lamia’s atte