AMBER POV
"Malcolm, where are we," I ask after my kidnapper finally sets me down and shifts back to human.
The other pups immediately head off into the brush, and Malcolm begins to gather massive pieces of moss-covered logs.
"Deep in the forest. We have to reach the spot she spoke of before tomorrow," he mumbles as he stacks the logs with ease, even though they look extremely heavy.
An uneasy wave of fear passes over my skin as I try to piece together what he is talking about. Ever since I woke up, we have done nothing but run. I have no idea how long I was asleep or how far from Lucian I am, but I know I need to get back. Lucian will go crazy when he finds me missing, and he won't be able to reign himself in when he catches up with us. He will kill all the pups. He won't care about their parents' feelings or mine. I won't
AMBER POV "We are close, Amber, just a little farther. I know you are tired, but we are almost there," Malcolm coaxes as I fake fall again. I have done everything humanly possible to slow our progress since the wee hours of this morning, but it hasn't helped. Malcolm has coddled me every step of the way. He has pushed me to keep moving and has even carried me at times. I can't stall much longer. But I don't know what else to do. Lucian has yet to show up and all my cards were riding on him. "I'm sorry, Malcolm. I just can't keep my footing in all this brush," I explain for the fiftieth time. The other pups pace and growl at me to show their displeasure with my clumsiness, but Malcolm only shoots them a look. "I can carry you, Amber. I will be gentler," Malcolm pleads softly,
AMBER POV "Get in," the big ugly fairy dragging me orders before tossing me into a small pitch-black hole. Before I can even gasp, my body drops about two feet, and my butt comes in contact with hard ground. Heavy metal slams closed from somewhere above me, and my brain immediately panics a little. I frantically look around, but I can't make out a single thing. It's as if there is zero light present for my eyes to adjust to. I reach out my hands and instantly touch earth on both sides of me. I sigh a little as my panic dims. At least I am alone. No monsters in the dark here. "When she said pit, I guess she really meant pit," I whisper as my hands drop back down and my panic subsides completely. I can deal with dark solitude. This will keep me away from the horrors outside. As I b
AMBER POV "How will it work? If I go back without knowing what I did wrong, won't the same things happen," I ask, getting excited, and the Goddess shushes me? "Shh. They can hear you when you speak up, and if they know I am here, they will stop my plan. They are powerful beings. I'm lucky they don't fully understand my plan. If they did, she would have just killed you. She plans on using you somehow. I think she wants to barter you life," Selene whispers, and I clamp my mouth shut. I glance up at the hatch like she has been doing this whole time. I didn't even think about the fact that they might be listening to us. I mean, they tossed me down here to rot. Why listen? Maybe they just have heightened senses like the wolves do. "What is the moment you believe altered everything," Selene asks in a hushed voice, and I drop my e
AMBER POV The excitement begins to fill me as I start to recognize the scenery along the road. We are getting closer and closer to the old packhouse, and the thought is truly a happy one. I never thought I would see this house again. Let along go inside. I am so happy to see it again. But not only will I be returning to our packhouse, but I will also be meeting my mate for the second time. How many people can say that? "Amber, what are we going to do," Other-Amber whispers frantically as Lucifer tries not to look at her in the rearview mirror. "The only thing we can do. We are going to trust him to keep his word. He said no harm would come to us. He even killed the guy who kidnapped us and hurt you. Give him a chance. Maybe we are safe," I whisper back while shooting Lucifer fake timid glances. He smiles and nods in the mirror, happy
AMBER POV Lucian doesn't take his eyes off of me as he moves to sit down in his chair, and the caution covering his features makes me smile. It's so strange to see my big scary mate acting afraid of me, but at the same time, it's adorable. "Okay, well, now that everyone is here, I will start by saying I already know all of you except for Lucifer. In the time I just left, Lucifer wasn't someone I ever had a chance of knowing. And Other-Amber, you were murdered shortly after we met in the trafficker's basement by Lucian. But everyone else...I have known you for almost three years. I care about all of you, and you care about me," I announce, and the males all look at Lucian with wide eyes. "Continue," Lucian orders, and I nod. "You caught my scent at my father's building, and when you approached him, he refused to hand me over. That is the s
AMBER POV "After you made me eat, my friend, I wasn't able to eat anything, so I got real weak. I guess I freaked you and Kohn out because you actually called a human doctor here to check on me...The next part is a little rough, but it was the turning point in our relationship," I say softly as I meet Lucian's eyes again. His deep brown eyes lose a little bit of their hardness, and I sigh before continuing. "I don't know if it was Kohn or you, Lucian, but after the doctor came, you decided I needed to see the house and learn about werewolves. You wanted me to meet the pups to properly understand where you come from also. So Kohn explained how Selene cursed her ex-lover, Lupin. And then he took me on a tour of the house. During the tour, I met Jolene and Tabitha. Your little bed partners...they growled at me, and you attacked Jolene. I begged you not to kill
LUCIAN POV How could I have ever harmed her? She looks so fragile. She can't weigh more than one hundred and fifteen pounds. All it took was an hour in her presence for me to come to my senses. This little female is mine. She was made to be mine. No matter if she is a human or leopard. Yesterday I was cursing the Goddess for giving me such a young human for a mate, but now none of that matters. I only had to be around her for an hour for me to feel nothing but compassion for this tiny creature. How could I have possibly hurt her? How did I stand to make her cry? Even if I lost Lucifer, I shouldn't have been able to stand it. It must have been because I met her while I was already grieving. But that doesn't matter now. She is mine. Her timeline doesn't exist. Her timeline has vanished, along with my lust for anyone but her. I can't even imagine touching another female now that I have
AMBER POV My leg is bouncing up and down faster and faster as my excitement builds and builds. I can't believe I am about to see my dad and Kenny after all this time. I knew I would never see my dad again, but I thought Kenny was lost to me as well. "Excited," Other -Amber asks from the backseat, and I nod before looking back towards her. "Very. I know to them it's only been five days, but for me, it's been three years. I am so excited to see them I could dance. I am worried about Lucian explaining what he did...but don't worry, my dad is amazing, and my brother, Kenny, is a sweetheart. All their anger will be directed at these two," I say, gesturing towards our two quiet mates, and she smiles. "Telling your father the truth is the best option. The two of you completing your education is important, and if we are to see you every day....your father n
"Please, Selene, slow down. Where are we going," I ask as the Goddess in front of me practically sprints down the wide corridor? Selene makes no sign of hearing me and presses forward at the same speed. Forcing me to run to keep up with her. It continues like this for a while until she reaches a door that looks like it has been carved out of the night sky. Stars included. "Wow," I breathe out in amazement. Selene stops and brushes her hands over her long white dress before finally looking at me. The stark difference in her Goddess appearance and her mortal appearance is still a little unnerving to me, but I am adjusting. Gone is the brunette hair and blue eyes I met in the fairy pit. In their place is nothing but black. Black hair. Black eyes. The angelic face is still the same, but the colors are all wrong. But I must admit I have grown to like the pitch-bl
LUCIAN POV "What was mommy like," Octavius asks as he skips next to me excitedly. I look down at my five-year-old son as thousands of memories begin to play over in my mind. His light blue eyes stare up at me, waiting, and I gulp before answering him. "She was wonderful. She had a kind heart and cared about the wellbeing of others more than she cared about herself," I manage to whisper, and he gives me her signature smile. "I wish I got to meet her," he says, and I smile at the innocent wish before continuing down the familiar path. "You did meet her. You just don't remember her. You and her were both very special to the werewolf species, so she had to leave us after bringing you into the world. But you did meet her, son," I explain for what seems like the millionth time. He nods, already knowing my words are true
LUCIAN POV "I don't know, Kohn. She's only nineteen. How can her body do this? I mean, have you seen Mouse. She is tiny. I don't like it. I should have never knotted her. She can't do this! And if my child kills her, I will never be able to love it," I growl as I pace back and forth in my office. All my fears over the past few months are exploding out of me. Something about the labor is terrifying me. I don't know if it's the pain she will experience or something else. But I am scared of my pup coming. I glance over at Kohn and grit my teeth. He is watching me sympathetically, but he is just like all the others. He has held off having a pup with his mate, just so his wouldn't be born cursed, just like all the other members of my pack. They are all excited to have my Little Mouse go through childbirth. They don't care that it has been a difficult pregnancy for her. They don't care that her
AMBER POV I can't stop pacing. Three minutes has never felt so long. I mean, it's only 180 seconds. Why does it feel like I have been pacing this bathroom for an hour? Probably because I have. I mean, it took me at least an hour just to work up the courage to take this damn test. Another fifteen minutes to convince my bladder it was okay to pee. Then another thirty minutes for me to drop that pee on the test. I glance down at my timer and groan when I see that I have 36 more seconds. I need to know now. I need to know if the miracle that will free all werewolves is growing inside of me. "Knock, knock," Marie says from the other side of the door, and I pull it open. She quickly slides in and shuts the door behind her. "Does he know," I ask, and she shakes her head. "I told him you we
AMBER POV R-Rated My hands slide over the small silky piece of fabric I chose to wear tonight nervously. I can't believe it's happening. Tonight the ache in my chest will be connected to Lucian. We will experience the same type of connection Lupin had with his mate. We will become one! A special bond meant to repair all future werewolves. I meet my own gaze in the mirror and smile. My graduation makeup has held up pretty well, and my hair still looks nice. I can do this. I can accept my mate's knot and get marked. I have experienced being marked before, and Marie said that when it happens, you are too consumed with pleasure to feel the pain. I can become a true Alpha female. I have trained for this position. And it isn't like Lucian, and I haven't touched and kissed before. This is just the next step. The rightful step. "Mouse, are yo
THIRD-PERSON "I can't believe my baby sister is graduating," Kenny yells as he grabs Lucian's shoulders and shakes them excitedly. Lucian grins but keeps his excitement to himself. Today his mate finishes high school. Marie graduated last year, so Lucifer isn't here to enjoy this moment with his brother, but Lucian is happy about that fact. He has been waiting for this day for two years, just as Senator Gavens has. Gavens didn't have any faith in Lucian's self-control for one second during these past two years. He thought his daughter would graduate mated to a werewolf, but he was wrong. Lucian held true to his promise to wait, and that fact has built a good foundation of friendship between the two. "She looks so grown up down there," Kenny squeals before screaming out Amber's name and waving. Lucian smirks as he w
AMBER POV My leg is bouncing up and down faster and faster as my excitement builds and builds. I can't believe I am about to see my dad and Kenny after all this time. I knew I would never see my dad again, but I thought Kenny was lost to me as well. "Excited," Other -Amber asks from the backseat, and I nod before looking back towards her. "Very. I know to them it's only been five days, but for me, it's been three years. I am so excited to see them I could dance. I am worried about Lucian explaining what he did...but don't worry, my dad is amazing, and my brother, Kenny, is a sweetheart. All their anger will be directed at these two," I say, gesturing towards our two quiet mates, and she smiles. "Telling your father the truth is the best option. The two of you completing your education is important, and if we are to see you every day....your father n
LUCIAN POV How could I have ever harmed her? She looks so fragile. She can't weigh more than one hundred and fifteen pounds. All it took was an hour in her presence for me to come to my senses. This little female is mine. She was made to be mine. No matter if she is a human or leopard. Yesterday I was cursing the Goddess for giving me such a young human for a mate, but now none of that matters. I only had to be around her for an hour for me to feel nothing but compassion for this tiny creature. How could I have possibly hurt her? How did I stand to make her cry? Even if I lost Lucifer, I shouldn't have been able to stand it. It must have been because I met her while I was already grieving. But that doesn't matter now. She is mine. Her timeline doesn't exist. Her timeline has vanished, along with my lust for anyone but her. I can't even imagine touching another female now that I have
AMBER POV "After you made me eat, my friend, I wasn't able to eat anything, so I got real weak. I guess I freaked you and Kohn out because you actually called a human doctor here to check on me...The next part is a little rough, but it was the turning point in our relationship," I say softly as I meet Lucian's eyes again. His deep brown eyes lose a little bit of their hardness, and I sigh before continuing. "I don't know if it was Kohn or you, Lucian, but after the doctor came, you decided I needed to see the house and learn about werewolves. You wanted me to meet the pups to properly understand where you come from also. So Kohn explained how Selene cursed her ex-lover, Lupin. And then he took me on a tour of the house. During the tour, I met Jolene and Tabitha. Your little bed partners...they growled at me, and you attacked Jolene. I begged you not to kill