LOGINShare
#Chapter 97: Fraying Lines
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Ardal
Julia and I lie atop the bed of my studio apartment, perusing my laptop in a flurry of desire as we craft a plan for our long-awaited travels. With each click and keystroke, this fantasy becomes a tangible reality - or at least as close to it as we can get.
"What if we took the train," she muses, hastily bringing up the Amtrak homepage.
My mind soars with technicolor Hollywoodesque fantasies.
"Of course," she sighs disgruntledly, "Everything's become so complicated with the packs recently. You can be sure that they'd put some Weres on staff just to make sure no one manages to leave the territory without the proper authorization."
"Who needs their permission," I grumble crossly, fuming over all of the recent political tension.
I slump against my pillow, arms crossed behind my head, imagining burly Weres inspecting each car, hunting for any rogue passengers who hopped on board without approval, like a werewolf version of a Hitchcock film
Related chapters
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 98: Up a Creek
KadeemKadeem’s heart clenched with dread as he watched Ardal go limp. Her skin drained to a chalky white and her eyes rolled back in their sockets.His grip on the children tightened in an effort to contain them while trying to remain composed himself. Erbao squirmed out of his grasp and shot towards Ardal.Kadeem lunged after him, grabbing hold of his shirt just before he would have reached her. The little boy, though brimming with angry tears, had no choice but to comply with his grasp."She's holding for now," Rayburn said grimly. His fingers remained pressed to her artery while he held her legs propped up with one arm.'Lucky for you,' Kadeem thought, ready to berate Rayburn, even as his chest heaved with the speck of relief.But their reprieve was fleeting.No sooner were the words out of Rayburn’s mouth when the sound of wild, feral animals ripping through the trees thundered towards them.“You've got to be kidding me," Kadeem hissed, shooting an angry glance up at the starry s
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 99: Rain
Ardal“Ardal, your boyfriend’s looking for you.”I spin around to see Meg. Her auburn hair is spilling out of messy braids underneath her yellow umbrella.I bristle immediately. “He knows where I’m at! Or would, if he bothered to listen.”Meg shrugs awkwardly, not expecting my disgruntled response. “He’s in the library,” she says, raising an eyebrow.
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 100: “Too”
ArdalKadeem pulls me onto his bed. The warmth of his skin against mine is like a blanket, cocooning us in our own little world. Every caress amplifies the sensation coursing through us until I'm almost overwhelmed with desire.He enters me and our bodies move together in a passionate rhythm while gentle rain beats against the windows.He grinds his hips harder against me, rattling the bed frame. The intensity builds and we're both lost in it - his soft moans in my ears, the rough feel of the
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 101: The Choice
KadeemKadeem shot his eyes down at Rayburn. "Well, this explains a lot.”The vampire’s eyes shone with a particular kind of malice, reminding Kadeem of a vitriolic talking-head on cable news. She was blond with a sassy 90s bob and he hated her in an instant.He quickly widened his stance in preparation fo
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 102: Waking Up
ArdalMy vision is spotty as it slowly returns. I gasp for air, my heart hammering from the flood of cortisol and adrenaline.Suddenly, the screams begin.“Mommy’s a vampire!” Milo’s shrill terrorized cry pierces my ears.
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 103: Pi ()
Kadeem“Try it and I guarantee, you won't regret it.”With a devilish grin and a Vanna White flourish, Mateo waved his hand over his plate of chocolate pie.The bell chimed behind them, bringing in a rush of warm night air as more patrons filed inside.Kadeem, Mateo, and Riley were settled into the booth of an old diner just outside of the city limits. It was well past midnight, but this place was iconic enough to keep the hordes weary travelers of I-35 coming through its doors. Signed photos of celebrities, including a few Weres, covered the walls.Mateo pushed his plate in front of Kadeem. “Not even joking," he said, with an earnestness that made Kadeem roll his eyes instantly. “This is the best pie I’ve had in my life!”“Mateo," Kadeem said, shaking his head, "You say that about every dessert you lay eyes on.”“This time,” he begged, "I'm telling the truth!"Kadeem leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his black coffee. “I’ll pass.”“Hey jackass,” Riley piped up, the vinyl gro
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 104: Scars
ArdalPanting, I come to a slow near the dry creek bed in the cypress grove a few blocks behind the house. I shift out of my wolf form and pause to kick a few dirt clods where the water should be.Sunlight flickers through the emerald canopy of trees. A light breeze blows just enough to make the Texas September heat tolerable.I run my finger over the mark inscribed on my hand. This and the one on my ankle are the visible reminders of my narrow escape a few months ago.Oh, and the fang marks on my neck, too, of course.I keep those covered with makeup. I made the mistake one day, of dashing into the grocery store for bread without bothering to conceal the scar - ran into one busybody werewolf, and now I'm the talk of the Were community.There are invisible remnants, too.A swell of cicadas sing me a song, an afternoon lullaby that does little to soothe my angsty soul. I've spent more time as a wolf this summer than I have in years, roaming and racing through pastures in an attempt to
The Reawakened Mates and their Quintuplets #Chapter 105: Teddy Bear Picnic
ArdalThe bell on the door chimes as I step inside the shadowy occult shop. The fragrance of juniper incense hits me, making my heart speed a little as I remember the juniper bush in the forest. I swallow nervously and try to ignore the feeling of unease."Hey Bernard," I say, removing my sunglasses. It takes a second for my eyes to readjust from the bright sunshine to the dim, crowded room made dimmer by the haze of the incense smoke."Well, hello there." The white-haired man looks up from a box of palo santo sticks and bundles of eucalyptus leaves and other herbs. "Back for more, eh? Or something new this time, perhaps?""Same old, same old," I say.He nods and pulls down a stack of books from a shelf behind the counter. "Plenty more to choose from," he says, spreading them out on the countertop for me to parse through. "Funny how popular this subject has grown. I may move these out with the rest of the books." His eyes flicker to the large bookcase in the corner of the room next to
Latest chapter
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
