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#Chapter 88: Home Plate
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The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 89: Suspicions
KadeemKadeem's gaze fixed on Rayburn's sleeping body in the dim, mildew-scented motel room. Already, pale light was beginning to peek through the curtains. If Kadeem's mind hadn't been so focused on Ardal last night, he might have already accomplished this small, but necessary, bit of detective work on his to-do list, but alas.The plan was simple enough, although it required some delicacy. He needed only to confirm the mark Silas had identified on Rayburn's shoulder. He'd already directed Riley and Mateo to research the rune - now he had to just be sure they had the right rune. For all he knew, the pompous ass tattooed a Caduceus on his shoulder.Barely daring to breathe, he crept towards Rayburn like a lioness in the Serengeti. He reached out his arm to lift Rayburn's shirt sleeve - hissing out a curse under his breath as the van door screeched open outside.Rayburn jolted awake, his eyes wide with wary surprise to find Kadeem lurking over him.Kadeem sprang onto him with an overly
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 90: The Checkpoint
KadeemThe kids screamed in the backseat like they were on a rollercoaster ride, a mixture of terror and thrill in their ear-splitting shrieks.Jack slammed on the brakes and they screeched to a sudden halt, slamming into a ditch on the other side of the road.Kadeem ripped off his seatbelt and lunged at Rayburn. “Get the fuck out of the car!"“If we can't go my way, we’re not going at all,” Rayburn squeaked, his face beet red as he shrank in his seat like a wilting flower. “We might as well just turn around now and go back home!”“Both of you, cut it out!”Kadeem ignored Ardal's stern voice and rounded on Rayburn again, letting out another menacing growl.“Mommy,” said Lottie, “I’m scared.”Her little voice stopped both Kadeem in his tracks.“Do you see,” Ardal yelled, pointing towards her daughter. Her brothers looked equally frightened.Erbao, on the other hand, seemed to be having the time of his life. He laughed joyously. “Let’s do that again,” he said, leaning up to confer with
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 91: Into the Woods
ArdalWe curve down a winding path thick through the woods, hugging the trees alongside us, the top of the car occasionally scraping underneath branches as we venture further into the dark depths. It seems as though we’re following a secret route carved by someone who knew the way intimately through the deep thicket of pines.The only thing that penetrates the silence is Keith Urban’s “Kiss a Girl” playing on the country radio station. Its infectious melody and upbeat lyrics feed the lovesick girl inside of me. I think wistfully of Kadeem and can’t help but smile to myself, until suddenly, it goes dead, cutting out with a strange humming frequency.Kadeem quickly shuts off the radio to quiet it, then fiddles with his phone."I don't have any signal," he says to Jack. "I don't like this," he adds with a growl."We're in the middle of a forest an
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 92: Blackbird
Ardal“They make cute pups."I whirl around to see Jack has perched himself onto a fallen log. His hands move swiftly, scrawling a mark into the dense soil beneath him. He raises his head to meet mine and adds in a gravely tone, "It's good they're with their father, Ardal."I nod and cast my eyes down, feeling the heavy weight of the secret I'm keeping from Kadeem crash down onto my shoulders again.I break the silence with a half-formed thought. "I swear, though," I mumble, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Kadeem…” A knot forms in my stomach and I trail off.Jack fills the void, murmuring softly, “Remembers."I nod and look off into the distance. “Let’s not talk about him.”Jacks fiddles with the stick in his hand and we sit in silence for a moment before I attempt to address the tension between us."I really am grateful to you for this," I say as I find his e
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 93: Jack’s Secret
ArdalMy wolf revels in her freedom, breaking free from her human prison for the first time in so long. Every sensation is amplified - the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, the scent of pine needles and damp earth, the creaking of tree branches as they sway in the wind. I eagerly take in all the smells and sounds that only come alive in furred form.Jack urges me forward with a lighthearted nudge. And then we're off, racing through the forest. As the terrain grows steeper and more treacherous, leading me further and further away from Kadeem and the quints, I push myself harder until my lungs feel ready to burst.At last, we emerge into a clearing at the foot of a mountain range that looms high above us like a majestic goddess. Her snow-capped peaks reach for the sky, casting long shadows across the rugged landscape. I sense danger lurking, but I'm also drawn to here, as if some part of me has always belonged.Panting, we shift back into our human forms a
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 94: Warning
ArdalMingan stops abruptly at the edge of the treeline, the only demarcation between the dark and light. Even with her vampire white pallor, she’s the very picture of innocence - but I don’t trust my eyes. Instead, the image of a rabid, fanged demon flashes in my mind, making me feel frozen with fear."Will she - eat me," I choke out."No, of course not," he laughs, as if that was the most ridiculous assumption ever uttered. “Then what the hell was this for,” I say, pointing at the raised cow on my hand."Some of them are - are dangerous," he says solemnly, "But I bring them blood, so we're on fairly friendly terms - and they're not out. Yet."Surely doctors had more honorable tasks. But he shrugs and smiles gently, as if it's nothing more than a professional courtesy, using his access to blood donations.I still can't move. The "yet," in his answer is giving me some trouble.I make a strangled attempt at a laugh. "Give me a shove then," I say, grimacing.He takes hold of my good h
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 95: The Trap
ArdalMy body convulses with pain. I let out a howl and Jack rushes towards me, his gray fur bristling with panic before he quickly shifts into his human self.In the blink of an eye, I'm violently torn from my wolf form and sent crashing back into my human body. I scream as the pain intensifies, thrusting me into a nightmare."Ardal," he cries, worry etched on his face.I yank my leg up towards me, pressing my knee to my chest, breathless and wordless, hardly able to think. There's a small steel trap clamped around my leg and ankle. It's even tighter around me in my human form, digging into my flesh, pulsating with a pressure that sends pain through every nerve ending in my body.The sight is sickening and shocking. I'm visibly mangled and bleeding. I gasp for breath and can't speak while tears are streaming down my face."It's okay," Jack soothes, but his trembling lips betray his own fear. "I'll release it."He tugs at the trap wit
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 96: The Moon
ArdalJack's eyes are darting wildly in the forest around us. “Shhh,” he whispers in my ear. “Someone’s out here.”He drops his hand from my lips as I comply, obediently frozen in place, unsure of what to do. He inhales sharply and points to a juniper bush standing a few feet away. My muscles tense as I look from the juniper to woods ahead, my body prepared to bolt away - injured or not.If I have to crawl, I will, I think. But at the same time, I know logically, I have no chance of escape.When I don’t move, he hooks me gently, but hurriedly, under the arm. He pulls me into the shrubbery, pushing aside the soft, fragrant branches to conceal us inside like two foxes seeking refuge from a pack of wild hounds.I shut my eyes tight, a whimper nearly escaping my throat as Jack stiffens beside me. I have no idea what he senses out there, but terror oozes off him
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The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Epilogue, Part 2: Sonnet 116
Shitty, shit, shit!Kadeem quietly gauges my reaction.“Kadeem,” I begin, not wanting to hurt him, but panicky all the same, “Could we just - pretend you didn’t give me this?” It comes out in the vein of an anxious Western villain. Walk away slowly, and no one gets hurt.“Suit yourself.” He goes back to working on his computer. “But you might like what you see in there,” he adds.I run my fingers over the soft, velvety surface of the box. My voice comes out high-pitched as I try to change the subject. “Are you getting nervous about your surgery?”“No.”“Really?”“It doesn’t ruffle my feathers,” Kadeem mumbles, half-distracted. He pauses. “Erbao’s surgery on the other hand…”My stomach knots at the thought of it. “Me too. But for both of you.”“It’ll all be worth it,” he says, looking up to smile.Seeing Erbao healthy will be worth it. Thank the Goddess Kadeem was a match for his kidney transplant.“Something did ruffle your feathers once,” I say, “Maybe something medical.”“Impossible
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Epilogue, Part 1: The Final Rose
Outside of Kadeem's health club, his security guard, Nora, is aggressively confronting someone. As expected.She shoots me her usual scowl when I pass by, but I don't acknowledge it, and simply yank the door open to go inside. I told Kadeem to fire her, but he doesn’t listen.I’m not giving up, though.I head over to the check-in area where my main rival, Rory, is lazily answering a phone call. A pile of white gym towels on the counter behind him is waiting to be folded.My left arm is braced across my chest in a sling and cast, but I make sure to lean my good arm casually on the counter like I own the place. Because, let’s face it, I pretty much do."I'm here to see Kadeem," I announce, adding a sarcastic, "Is that alright with you?"Rory gives me an icy glare before turning his attention back to his call. I drum my fingers on the counter and flash him an innocent smile before walking away."Yes, sir," he mumbles into the phone, before whispering a snide, "If he wants you around.""H
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 150: The Fray
Orange and yellow leaves dot the sidewalk outside of the pack headquarters where I huddle with the kids as we prepare for our next move. Despite the chill in the air, beads of sweat are dripping down the back of my neck.Thanks to Jack’s magic and a shit ton of luck, we left Sasha, Gabe, and the rest of our captors unconscious and tied up in Kadeem’s cabin. Jack stayed behind to help Riley before setting out to slay his mother. Talk about an Electra complex.I take a moment to catch my breath when the sounds of a growing commotion come from the Council building. Without warning, Erbao bolts off, charging up the concrete steps, his eyes blazing with determination.“HEY!” I belt out. Bob could have dozens of henchmen stationed inside. Worse, he could have already seized control of Red Moon.Erbao ignores me and his siblings rush after him. My heart is a race car, but my legs are still Jello from wolfsbane. All I can do is stumble after them as they burst through the doors of the crowded
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 149: Hero
The pack headquarters was in an ordinary brick building, tucked away right in the heart of the city. The activity was minimal, except for nights when the council met - usually on the full moon. Even then, it was never bustling. It was a seat of immense power, but it looked an awful lot like a local Elk’s Club.Today was different.Pack members, raw with emotion, gathered like storm clouds at the downtown HQ. As dawn broke, Council Elders fought to maintain control of the room, elbow-to-elbow with Weres demanding answers.The vampire attack had come without warning, had been brutal and swift. The enemy was fueled with a devastating strength, leaving many injuries and fatalities.Amidst all of the chaos, one question loomed over them all: Where was their Alpha?It was into this pressure cooker that Kadeem allowed himself to be dragged in by Bob.The room erupted at the sight of him. Even the stoic Council gasped in shock. Bob was barreling in Kadeem with a ruthless force - leather boots
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 148: Reckless
ArdalJust like that, our goodbye is cut. I slump against the couch, head in my hands."I'm sorry," Jack says.I lift my head to shoot him a fiery glare.The first rays of sun are lighting the windows. Around us, the quintuplets are Energizer bunnies- getting cranky, maybe, but still going. I'm scraping by on their fumes and my emotional torment.Guilt is splashed across Jack's face.What am I actually seeing?I scrutinize him, hard. The emotion looks utterly real. For a second I am so disgusted, it renders me speechless."You’re pathological," I spit out.He flinches at my words. I picture myself wolfing out and tearing him to bits.Well, it’s a split between that, and throwing myself into his arms to melt into him. Inexplicably, my confusing feelings for him will not die. It only makes me hate him- and myself- more. My hands ball into fists and I battle the urge to scream.Sasha pockets her phone. Next to Jack, Lottie and Milo fight over the box of cookies."Sit tight for now," Sash
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 147: In the Wee Small Hours
The stage is set.I've got to hand it to Bob, he's built a well-oiled network of evil and orchestrated his plan perfectly.Kadeem will be taken in front of the Council elders. He'll be blamed for everything from Susan's death to the vampire attack. Bob will get to play the hero and declare himself the rightful Alpha. Kadeem will be killed.It's everything Bob hoped for.His henchmen arrive in the darkness to haul off me, Jack, and Riley. Jack is coming to, Riley's still holding on, and I'm less noodle-like, but I fake incapacity, forcing one of them to lift me from the ground and half-carry me, supporting my weight.My last glimpse of Kadeem is as weighty as you would imagine. There's no fear in his eyes, though. I'm starting to feel hints of my inner wolf again and the emotional link between us. What I pick up from him is exactly what he's projecting outwards: calm.It sets me off. Where's the anger?! The steely determination?! The whirling thoughts as he plans a way out of things?!
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 146: “Ten Duel Commandments”
Kadeem's eyes flash like lightning.The wind picks up, stirring the night air and whipping up a swirl of leaves. On the ground nearby, Susan's tresses blow gently across her face, still staring lifelessly into the darkness ahead."Guess you've got it all figured out," Kadeem says quietly, almost eerily calm. His gaze shifts to Riley, who's lying unconscious on a bed of leaves. "But you forgot her.""Collateral damage," Bob shrugs. "I was planning on having her killed anyway. No way I can trust her."A low growl rumbles from Kadeem's throat. "No deal, then."Bob laughs. "If you think you have any kind of leverage over me, you're sadly mistaken. I've got more than enough to ensure your compliance, including your sweetie over there." He gestures lazily in my direction as he approaches Riley, still hovering somewhere between life and death."I'll give her a warrior's end," he says, staring down at her. "The Council will believe she died trying to stop you, trying to protect the pack."Nex
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 145: No Way Out
Kadeem glares at Bob. “Cooperate?" he spats. "You should know me better than that."Kadeem is on the ground, his weight supported by a tree. Exhaustion is etched into his sweat-covered face and the blood from his shoulder has seeped into the fabric of his shirt, staining it bright red.Nearby, Jack's sole focus is on the medical emergency in front of him. He's been working quickly to keep Kadeem's beta alive, turning her onto her side, holding pressure against her stab wound and checking her pulse.Increasingly drowsy, the sound of Bob chuckling in response to Kadeem is faint in my ears. Susan yanks me by my wrists and begins to drag me along the damp ground, limping as she goes. Before my eyes grow too heavy, I glimpse the deep bites around her right shin and calf."If you hurt her-"I'm too weak to take advantage of her injury and I don't resist. I simply wonder what the point is. Why expend her energy to put more distance between me and the others?In this current state of affairs,
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 144: Knives Out
Riley spoke in a low, urgent whisper. "One wrong move and you're dead, got it?"Rayburn's voice rose as he responded fiercely, "Perhaps at some point you'll realize I haven't done anything wrong and I'm not going-"Kadeem whipped around to interrupt him with an icy growl. They were on the brink of reaching Ardal, and Riley had made a dangerous gamble by freeing Rayburn.Kadeem could only hope it wouldn't backfire on them.He knew Riley well enough to guess her thought process. Intimidation was part of the game, and Kadeem showing up with his distracted beta tagging after him while she juggled a captive was no good. Riley wanted it made clear that Kadeem had back-up, and she needed to give herself the chance to fight by his side when it boiled down to it.But Kadeem also knew the reality of their situation. Now, there was nothing to prevent Rayburn from using the spell that had knocked them unconscious in the woods, killing them, or worse: going after Ardal or the kids. What were the o
