Hope you enjoy this latest update - as always, thank you for all the likes, gems and comments - they are all appreciated! Next chapter update will be tomorrow. Be sure to leave a comment telling me how you feel about the story so far. Ellie xo
Carrie POV I had to admit I was nervous. I could feel the excitement in Reba as we walked with Jackson to the clearing where I would shift. I had not shifted in two years and all I could remember was the pain of that first shift when I had just turned eighteen. It had been painful then. So much so I had passed out before I got to see Reba. After that I was quickly traded by my father and then I never had the chance to shift again. Reba has not said much about the shift. Other than to say it will not be as bad as the first shift. Whatever that is supposed to mean. It did not give me a lot of comfort. “Are you okay?” Jackson asks. “Of course, why?” I reply quickly. “You have not spoken for the last ten minutes, and your breathing is strained,” he says. I can hear the gentle teasing in his voice. Shaking my head, “I am nervous,” I reply. “I will be with you the entire time,” he tells me. “I know. I just cannot help thinking about my first
Jackson POV I stripped off my clothing quickly. I could see Reba wanted to play with her mate and I needed time to think before Carrie and I talked about her wolf. As I shifted, Zak moved over to stand beside his mate. He rubbed himself all over her and she did the same. It was common for wolves to spread their scent on their mate. To let others know they belonged to someone else. As they finished, Reba yipped and nipped at Zak’s feet. She took off quickly, but he was just as fast and kept pace with her. He let her take the lead as she had not been in wolf form for a couple of years. In fact, you could say this was her first shift as she never got to run and play that first night. I wanted to communicate with Carrie to make sure she was alright but got the sense she wanted to be alone with her thoughts. I know the shift had been painful, but I hoped knowing she was a white wolf. No, a special hybrid wolf, helped with that experience. But w
Carrie POV I stare at myself in the mirror. I was not permitted to leave the immediate property to go shopping as Jackson was too concerned about the threat surrounding me. He had gowns brought in for me to try, to decide on what to wear this evening. I had landed on a gorgeous red gown that had jewels sewn into the bodice. I felt like a princess in the gown. There was slit up my right thigh which added to the sexiness of the dress. In addition, my shoulders were bare with a sweetheart neckline finishing the design of the dress. On my feet were nude heels, which showed off my perfectly polished toes as of that morning. Jackson had looked after everything so quickly. Jessica, Mandy, and I were treated to new gowns, with pedicures, manicures, make-up, and hair done. Jackson had one of his IT people trying to track my father down with no success. We were going forward with the ceremony regardless. I could not help the sense of doom I had been
Jackson POV I was anxiously waiting inside the hall where the ceremony would take place. I knew Carrie should already be making her entrance. Deciding I could not wait any longer I start to walk towards the door where she should have already entered. Before I can reach the door, Rosie stands up and stops me from moving forwards. “Move, Rosie,” I growl at her, but she puts her hands up. “I just want a minute, Alpha,” she murmurs as I look at her in surprise. It had been years since she had called me Alpha, I realized recognizing that she has had little respect for me or my title since we had slept together. “I wanted to apologize for my behaviour the other night at dinner,” she says as I look at her and nod, “Apology accepted,” I say as I start to move around her. “I was simply jealous and afraid,” she adds grabbing a hold of my arm. I stop and scowl at her, “Get to your point, Rosie,” I say to her not buying her story. “I wanted y
Carrie POV As Jackson’s and my hand connected, I felt nothing but love from Jackson through our bond. He was as happy as I was in this moment. As Carleton began to finish the ceremony, I heard “STOP” in the distance. It caught Carleton off guard momentarily, but he looked to both Jackson and I and continued finishing his statement. “By the powers vested in me, I am proud to present the Alpha and Luna of the Evergreen Pack,” he shouts as there are yells in the background. Some of the yells ae from those wanting to stop the ceremony but they were drowned out by the cheers of the Pack members. As soon as he finished his words, I instantly was bombarded with the thoughts of the Pack members. Many were happy, some were concerned with the interruption, and others were pissed off. I could identify those pissed off as the women who had sought to have Jackson as their own. I would have to watch my back with them. I heard mutterings of the Alpha and a
Carrie POV The first thing I feel is disoriented. I am lying someplace cold. Someplace that reminds me of the times Adam would put me in the dungeon to remind me of my place. My heart starts racing. Adam. Did I hear his voice when they contained me? I could remember everything else. It came back in a rush. The beautiful ceremony almost completed but then disrupted as the Wolf Council tried to stop us. We had succeeded. We were the Alpha and Luna of the Evergreen Pack. I had felt the connection to everyone before everything had started to go black. What had happened that made me lose consciousness? I could not remember. “Reba?” I call out but there is no reply. “Reba!” I call louder but still nothing. They did something to my wolf. Why isn’t she responding? I go to move and realize I have no clothes on. Simply a jacket that is barely covering my nakedness. And my hand is hand cuffed in silver. As I look at the cuff, I recognize the
Jackson POV I race into the Wolf Council’s headquarters, “Where is she?” I demand. “Calm down, Alpha. She is sleeping off the sedative she was given. She has not woken up yet,” the Council member says to me trying to pacify me. “I do not care; I want to see her!” I yell throwing as much of a command as I can into my voice. “You do not dictate what happens here, Alpha. Remember your place!” the council member responds. “My only place is beside my mate,” I reply coldly. He looks at me slightly embarrassed. “Look, I agree the situation is the shits, but there are rules. Rules you failed to obey. She is going to pay for those broken rules,” he says sounding exhausted. “I will pay for the broken rules. She does not deserve to be punished any more than she has been,” I say trying to reason with the man in front of me. “It does not work that way. She is the one on trial. She will be the one to be punished,” he says trying to reason with me. “I
Jackson POV I gently let Carrie stand once we are in another room where I can help her put some clothes on. They would be a little big on her but at least they would cover her. It pained me to think of how many may have seen her when she was unconscious. How many took advantage of staring at her beautiful body. I gave my head a shake. Right now, she needed me to be strong. There would be time for retribution later, but right now Carrie needed me to help her. And to be her rock. She had been peculiarly silent since I found her. I would expect that to a degree but now that she was rescued, she still seemed a little distant. Was she upset because I had not kept my promise and protected her? The guilt I was feeling surrounding that reality was incredible and uncomfortable. I felt like I had let her down. And I did. I let happen what I said would not happen. I know Christian was also sharing in that guilt, as he had been out fighting the rogu
Carrie’s POV Jessica, Mandy, and I sat watching our pups. Jessica and Mandy each had a boy. We had thought one might be a female but had a pleasant surprise when two males were born to my two best friends. Colton, Rosie’s pup and my half-brother, were playing with the boys. It was easy to see they were best friends being born so close to one another. Unless Colton was upset about something. Then his temper showed through. We were concerned and already working with him to control his anger. Even at his young age, we knew we needed to build the capacity within Colton to control himself, at all times. It was challenging for Jackson and me. Having a gifted child when I was still learning my own talents was keeping us on our toes. He was going to be more talented than me. It is incredible but we now believe that my father had enhanced his powers in some way that resulted in Colton’s talents being enhanced. The challenge of trying to anticipate
Carrie POV Before I can move, Christian steps forward. I see tears in the doctor’s eyes as she looks at her mate, knowing her fate. “Please, I am sorry,” she whispers as Christians looks at her with hate in his eyes. He is owed this. She almost destroyed him and the fact that she is his mate is only a cruel twist of fate. He leans forward placing his lips on hers. One solitary kiss from his mate before he reaches his hands up to her neck and snaps it as her lips rest on his. He steps back, cradling her body in his arms. I feel tears of my own rise up as I watch helplessly at our friend being forced to deal with the crappy hand he had been dealt. Without saying anything else, Christian turns and walks out of the gala event with his dead mate in his arms. Nobody spoke. They simply watched the tragic event in slow motion. As Christian exits the building, I can hear people starting to speak softly. Talking about calling it a night. Sadly, I a
Carrie POV Christian cut off the words the doctor was about to say. “Christian!” I yell wanting to hear what she had to say. Christian was determined to snap her neck. Jackson was beside him trying to unwrap his hands around her neck. My mother kept yelling for Christian to do it. “Christian stop!” I command with all my power. Many surrounding us started to drop to their knees at the wave of power that left my body. Christian dropped his hands turning his angry glare on me. The female doctor leans forward gasping for air. “Why?” Christian demands. “We need to know who Rosie’s baby’s father is, Christian,” I say to him trying to reason with him. “It is my right to destroy her,” he says with anger. “I understand but this is important,” I say to him looking to Jackson. I know he is wondering as well and wants the answers from her. I feel a sense of trepidation as I move towards the woman. My mother is struggling to get out of Josh’s hands,
Carrie POV I block the bolts of power coming at me with my arms. It is as if my arms have become shields of steel and I simply have the intuitive awareness of how to deflect her attack. She moves closer as I step back. Taking a chance, I flip my right arm and make like I am tossing something at her. It shocks her and she stumbles backwards with a smirk, “Just testing out your powers, I see,” she says as she steps closer to me pushing a stronger wave of force at me. Before I can respond I am pushed backwards. My shoes fall off and I land on my ass. I hear Jackson yell my name, but I cannot look to him. I have to focus on the threat. She continues to stalk towards me as I crawl backwards trying to get my bearings. I am working my way towards standing when she slams into me again this time knocking me back and winding me. “If you were smart, you would stay down. As much as I want you dead, your father would never forgive me for destroying you
Jackson POV It has been a week since Carrie received the email from her mother. After a few months reprieve I had started to wonder if they would just give up. I had hoped they would give up. They were after something. I simply did not know what it was. Carrie was too independent. She could live on her own without them. She had always wanted her mother but not like this. Not this woman who had seemingly abandoned her at a young age for the greater good, as she liked to imply. We were all getting ready for the Gala event we were hosting. We had spent every waking moment well into the wee hours of the night, planning for every type of attack we could imagine. Christian had gone darker if that were possible. Now that the end was imminent, I knew he would take out the female doctor, or die trying. And that scared me. He had no fear of death. It was as if he had looked it in the face once and he was prepared to die if it meant taking out his
Carrie POV It has been three months since we last saw my mother, brother, or his mate the female doctor. Everyone has been on intense alert since that fight. Our warriors were exhausted from all the additional training and extra shifts they have been taking to protect the Pack. Jessica has settled into her job working with Carleton for the Wolf Council. They continue to try and find leads as to where my family is but have had no luck. They are all wanted and considered dangerous. There are huge bounties on all of them. I do not want them captured. I want them dead. They are wreaking havoc with my family and my doctor is concerned the stress is impacting my ability to get pregnant. I am exhausted myself worrying about how much I have brought to Jackson’s doorstep. He continues to tell me to stop worrying. He will stand by my side regardless. But the Pack did not sign on for this either. They continue to be supportive, but I know they are
Hi Everyone Quick note to let you know I have had the flu all weekend and have been unable to post. I am starting to come around but wanted to let you know why you have not received an update this weekend. I figure there are only four chapters left in the story and hope to pick those off starting tomorrow. My apologies for the less than consistent posting in March. Fingers crossed this is the end of the craziness. Any questions feel free to post below and I will either answer in the story or here :) Hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Catch up tomorrow. Ellie xo
Carrie POV Jackson returned to us and shared what they learned so far. Which was not much. My mother had attempted to have Randy freed, but Jackson quickly replied, “It is out of my hands. The Wolf Council is taking him into custody, and he will be charged accordingly.”. “That is outrageous. We have neutralized the threat!” my mother exclaims. “Take it up with Carleton. He is making transfer arrangements as we speak,” Jackson says without sympathy. “Carrie you must do something to help your brother,” my mother pleads with me. Shaking my head, “I am sorry, but I cannot. He betrayed me and my Pack; had he succeeded it would have been the end of us,” I reply to her. Jackson looks at me with love and pride at my response. The rage that crosses my mother’s face surprises me, but she quickly contains it. That causes me to pause for a moment as I watch her. “You have his wolf, his powers … what more do you want?” she asks coldly. “It is not abo
Carrie POV “Do you sincerely believe he deserves to have his wolf, after all that he has done?” my mother asks. I sit with that question. Did I think he deserved his wolf? I had not been prepared to help save him, yet I worried about him being without a wolf. A wolf was so much a part of who we were. And having been without my wolf for so long, I could easily identify with the devastation. “I do not know the answer to that question,” I respond honestly. “Well, you have time to decide,” my mother replies. “What do you mean?” I ask. “You have taken his wolf into your care; you can give it back or let the wolf go to its resting place. The choice will solely be yours,” my mother says softly. I sit back in my chair and chew my food slowly. Mandy is sitting silent listening to the conversation. “What do you think?” I ask her as she looks at me in surprise. “I think it is as your mother has said. It is your choice; your decision,” she replies.