**TRIGGER WARNING This chapter contains violence that may be triggering to survivors.**
Adea
Time stood still. At least, that’s what it seemed like. Days passed and we had no word, no sign of Olivia. Gabe was in so much pain I didn’t know what to do to make it better.
There wasn’t much we could do. Beta Odis alerted a sect of human cops who he worked with from time to time on Olivia’s description. The packhouse had been full of excitement had gone quiet since Olivia disappeared.
Some of the Delta’s dared to say she went on her own accord. There was no sign of a struggle or a fight and they took it as her choice. As if she was the type of person to walk away from her pack, from her family, from her mate. I shook the thought away.
If I dwell too long on it I’d snap at someone. Odis, Gabe, and some of the warriors have been running longer loops around the pack lands in hopes of f
OdisTroy’s powerful paws slow to a stop at the top of a hill that looks over the territory. I search the surrounding area through his eyes in hopes of even a glimpse of her. The rain came down unforgivably as if the Goddess was working against us.I picked up the Deltas in the surrounding regions and felt reassured as I watched them make their way through the territory. Since she’s been gone it’s been hard trying not to curse the Moon Goddess for letting this happen.Something dark has been eating at my thoughts all day every day as I worked tirelessly to find her. I’d been out here since sunrise and I wouldn’t stop until I found her. When I found who took her I swore to the Goddess I would rip them apart. I’d torture them slowly, painfully, and feed them their entrails.Troy growled at the thought of finding them. We howl into the cold night sky as th
OdisThe door opens with a creak and I freeze and listen to see if there’s any noise in the house. Ethel, the sitter I’ve had working double time since Livdisappeared, has been putting Paul to sleep for me. She has been amazing and I need to give her a pay raise.I grab the towel by the door and dry my body off quietly. Despite the fact that Paul is still young, his ears are sharper than a few wolves I know. I grab a pair of black shorts from the top of my ‘for naked’ bin and swipe at the water dripping down the back of my neck.Looking up the stairway, the light in the hallway is on and I decide to make my way upstairs. The need to see Paul and make sure he’s okay pulls me to his room. His doorway has a bright red and blue Superman emblem and it’s cracked just an inch.I peer inside and see his small form laying in his green
Ethan“There will be no fighting in the meeting hall,” Alpha Rich said. He was one of the elder alphas still strong enough to be in power and this was his territory. Dante stopped his shift and gave a curt nod in his direction.“Follow me,” Alpha Richard ordered as he headed out of the meeting hall. We followed his lead until we were outside. The snow crunched under our feet as we made our way to the field.Here in the north, fights were held in an open clearing. Pack members and visiting alphas came to spectate and usually bet on who would come out on top. But this situation was severe since a lower leveled alpha dared to challenge me in the middle of a meeting.Ninety-eight percent of the time the fights are to the death but I had no plans of dying here today. My mate was waiting for me and I’ve made her wait long enough.Dante shift
AdeaKnock knock knock.I’ve been pounding on Gabe’s door for a good 10 minutes. My patience is wearing thin and I’m so close to getting pissed. A scary thought crosses my mind and instead, worry floods my chest.Knock knock knock knock.Damn it, Gabe. It was my idea to have drinks last night to try and help him relax even for just a couple of hours. A couple of hours turned into four, which turned into six and he ended up crying his heart out and I cried with him. I missed Ethan and I let my emotions run wild as we threw back our drinks.Out of respect for our mates, he went back to his room, which I totally agree with. I wouldn’t want to upset Olivia. And Ethan… a shudder runs down my back as I think of what Ethan would do if he knew I spent the night with Gabe while he was gone. In our bed. Oh, God
AdeaI lowered a small bowl of oats and a plate of fruits in front of Gabe. A few Deltas greeted me and I smiled awkwardly. I snagged a few slices of toast and scrambled eggs for myself before dropping down across from Gabe.“Ugh,” Gabe groaned.I laughed around a mouthful of food, swallowing before I spoke. “We’re getting old Gabe, we may have to watch how much we drink. You know, maybe we could try a healthy approach by watching a movie next time. There would be so much less vomiting involved.”Gabe closed his eyes but still had the strength to lift his hand up and flip me off and the deltas chuckled.Gabe’s lips pursed and his spine stiffened as he looked across the room at something across the room.I gave him a look before following his gaze to the doorway and watched as Odis walked in. As he grabbed
Adea I gaped at her as my thundering heart tried to adjust to the fact that she was here. Before I could think of anything to say, she sagged in on herself and Gabe’s arms were around her as she crumpled down to the ground. They stayed there for a moment. Odis’s eyes were wide with a mixture of shock and disbelief. His shoulders sagged with relief as he stared at Olivia. His eyes raked down her body, his eyes filled with tears but before they could escape he closed his eyes. I drag my eyes from Odis and look back at Olivia. “Let’s get her up,” I said gently, and stride over to where she remained on the floor. Olivia didn’t look at me or pay attention as I made my way to her side. Instead, she tilted her head to gaze up at the sky then dropping her eyes to the field. Her eyes were hollow as they darted from the field where I shifted to the trees. “I’m really he
AdeaThat night, the bed dipped and warmth slowly covered my body. My mate’s scent filled my senses and I tried to fight the blanket of sleep from holding me down. Stubble slides against my cheek as he trails kisses up to my mouth.I manage to open my eyes and see the shadowed outline of my mate above me. “I missed you,” Ethan says. The love in his gaze has my body moving on its own accord.“Show me how much you missed me,” I whisper. I spread my thighs slowly and watch his eyes trail down my body and stop at my core. This man was made for me and I want what only he can give.His mouth opens and he leans back to take me in. Ethan’s eyes drag over my pussy, desire and need stare back at me.“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he says. His hands grab my knees and I clench my core when his tongue darts out and coats
AdeaEthan’s eyes clouded over and I watched as he linked someone.“When do you think he’s going to initiate us into the pack?” I asked Kor.“Are you worried?”“No… I’ve just… been here for a while and I’m marked now.” I tell her.“I’m pretty sure he’s going to initiate you during your Luna ceremony. Which, by the way, you need to talk to him about.”“Yeah, I don’t know how to bring it up. Like, hey, I’ve been wondering why you haven’t initiated me into the pack yet?”Kor laughs. “Yes, like that but without all the obvious uncertainty.”“Mm-hmm,” I laugh. “I mean future Luna and all&hell
The first month back at Desert Moon had been hard. Not a day went by without us fighting. Ethan rejected Mavy as his mate before we came home. A part of me knew he was hurt about it, missed her like I missed Shane. I felt like he was only with me because I was his Luna, because of obligation and duty. I didn’t know why he wanted to be with me. He didn’t know why I was with him when I loved Shane. We were at our lowest. We were ugly, we were at our rawest. It wasn’t until month two that we finally talked about everything. We talked bout what happened and we talked about the past. The one that I remembered and by this time, the one that he remembered. It was hard, facing the man I loved in this life and the man I hated in the past. He wasn’t him anymore, he hadn’t been him for a long time. We dug into the past and were completely honest with each other. He fell to his knees and apologized for what he’d done even though I told him it wasn’t him, that wasn’t him anymore. He asked me if I
Mavy fell back as if she’d been physically struck. She collapsed on the couch, her eyes watering. She didn’t look back at me, she kept her gaze focused on Ethan. I watched as her world crashed around her again for the second time in five minutes.“Where does that leave me?” Mavy asked. “I’m… your…” she shook her head and turned to look back at Ethan. “That’s not possible. I’m… I can smell it. I can feel it. Can’t you?” Mavy whispered. I heard the desperation in her voice.“I don’t care what you think or how you feel. I am already mated and my mate, my partner, my love, MY QUEEN sits in this room. Don’t disrespect her again.” The emotion in his voice caused me to choke up. Mavy bit into her lower lip and tears streamed down her cheeks. She dropped her head.“Yes, Alpha,” she said submissively.“I killed your Alpha,” Ethan said. “I’ve killed your brother.”“Yes,” she murmured.“Will you fight me on this?” Ethan asked.“As the next in line, I submit to you,” Mavy whispered.Ethan dismiss
The voices were getting louder, my head was hurting. I wanted to roll up into a ball and disappear from the world. Instead, I closed my eyes and tried to drown it all out, trying to ignore everyone. I wasn’t ready to deal with it.“She’s in shock…”“She’s confused…”“Enough!”A door slammed and footsteps paddled quickly towards me. Soft frail arms wrapped around me. Tears soaked my cheeks and my neck as Mavy cried. Did she know? She had to know.“Are you okay?” Mavy sobbed.I wrapped my arms around her and nodded. The tears started up again and streamed down my cheeks. Her t-shirt bunched in my fingers as I held her close. We cried and held each other.She inhaled deeply and froze. Slowly, she lifted her nose into the air and took another deep breath. Turning from me, she tried to follow the scent. She stopped, her gaze locked on someone, I turned and followed her gaze.I should have known, expected it but I’d been so caught up in my feelings that I didn’t think. I don’t know how it w
I didn’t have an answer for him and I don’t think he would have liked what I would have said. Hell, I didn’t know if I liked what I thought or how I felt. Instead of hurting him and cutting myself open for him, I didn’t say anything. I remained quiet. My world was crashing around me and my ears were ringing. I lowered my head and the tears flowed of their own volition.Ethan leaned down and I flinched as his arms wrapped around me. They were strong and broad. His embrace was warm and promised I could lean on him. I attempted to get to my feet only to fall. My face twisted from the pain and I wanted to cry and wallow in my own self-pity. Standing, he pulled me up and held me as my body gave up. I collapsed against him.I wanted to get to Shane, needed to. As if on cue, the weak mate bond snapped, and just like in my dream, it was gone. Only, this time, the pain I was feeling was because of Shane and not because of Ethan. The world was cold, the warmth I’d been able to feel from Shane f
Did what I do to him last night not bother him? I betrayed him. Did he not care that I came here to hurt him? Did he not care that I chose Ethan? I wanted to cry and scream. I wanted to run into his arms. I wanted this to stop. I wanted them to stop fighting. I wanted it all to stop. I screamed, it was painful and gut-wrenching but I screamed. I cursed the Goddess, damn her, she was useless in all of this. She sat up there above the clouds and did nothing to help us. Did she enjoy watching us suffer? When I couldn’t scream anymore, I inhaled deep breaths of air. I looked up and froze as Shane stared back at me. The way he looked at me told me he knew he was going to die. The look in his eye told me he knew he lost but for me, there was a small spark as if he wouldn’t just lay down and take it. I watched Ethan punch him. It was as if he was moving in slow motion. He hit his jaw and Shane’s head snapped back hard against the ground. Shane’s body tensed and he punched Ethan in the gut.
For a moment in time, they stood glaring at each other. The sun was blaring down on us. My gaze darted back and forth between the two. Shane’s eyes wandered away from Ethan and landed on me. “Look at me, mutt. You don’t get to look at her after what you’ve done,” Ethan spat. “I’m not so weak that you can look away from me in the middle of a fight.” “What have I done?” Shane taunted. “You’ve touched what’s mine,” Ethan growled. “I haven’t done anything other than touch what is mine. I haven’t done anything but make love to what is mine. I’ve claimed her. She may not wear my mark, thief but she is mine. Don’t claim her as yours. She was mine, she was always mine. She doesn’t belong to you, she never did.” A look came over Ethan’s face as if he knew as if this was confirmation as if he was reminded of something he’d forgotten. “You’re the one who touched someone who wasn’t yours. You are the one who took what was mine. Don’t try to play the victim. Don’t pretend to be something you’re
No.Not Odis.“Devin,” I gasped.Devin heard me but didn’t stop. He didn’t look up at me, didn’t even hesitate as he continued to stomp Odis into the ground. Blood spurt from Odis’ mouth and I think I heard his ribs crack. I took a step closer to stop it, to stop him. In a flash, someone was on top of Devin. Strong arms held Devin’s prisoner in a headlock and his legs wrapped around Devin’s abdomen.I wanted to scream but it quickly died in my throat as Odis and I realized the man in front of me was Gabe. Gabe. It was Gabe and he was on top of Devin. Well, he was wrapped around him like a python ready to suffocate his prey. Gabe grunted as he continued to squeeze Devin’s head, blocking his airflow.I wanted to cry out happily but I couldn’t. Gabe was here. Why was he here? He wasn’t supposed to be here. Things were going differently since he was alive. He was standing, breathing, his head was still attached to his body. Maybe things were turning out differently.Maybe Gabe was safe, ma
“Do you understand what I’m saying?” Odis asked. I couldn’t find the words to speak, so I nodded. “Good,” Odis said as his grip on me loosened. “Why don’t you let her go?” A voice called out to us. Looking up, I searched for the source of the voice. My eyes widened as I found Devin watching up. His gaze locked around Odis’ arms that were still wrapped around me to his hands that gripped my arms. “I promise I’m more fun,” Devin teased. I know what it looked like. It looked like I was being held back from moving. It looked like Odis was stopping me from helping Shane. It looked like I was stuck between two packs, two men. The situation I found myself in was precarious. I was now stuck between two Betas who were supposed to protect me, despite their conflicting thoughts regarding me. I hadn’t had much time with Devin since I’d been back. He hadn’t been the nicest, shit, I don’t think he even liked me. That didn’t change the fact that Devin was Beta of Half Moon pack. Shane was his
I didn’t have an answer and I prayed I didn’t have to make the choice. Not only had everyone stopped moving but it had gone deathly silent. For a moment, everyone and everything froze. There wasn’t a whisper of wind in the air, the trees stood still, and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was the calm before the storm. It felt like someone had pushed the pause button and all at once the play button was pressed and all hell broke loose. As if planned, the two of them ran toward each other. I looked past Ethan and my gaze landed on Shane’s chest. The sword had been taken out, a gaping hole was left in its place right next to his heart. Now that it was gone, I could see I had barely missed his heart. If I’d been one inch to the right, he would have died. How had I missed that? I didn’t kill him. Was I not paying attention? Why hadn’t I looked at his heart? I had aimed, hadn’t I? Had I meant to miss it? No, I had meant it, or else I wouldn’t have stabbed him at all. I tried to