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CHAPTER ONE

   

No matter how hard I clung to the present, the world morphed around me as if I were trying to teleport away from Halfway, Oregon. My wolf howled in protest, the sound ringing in my ears as my heart shattered.

I had to get to Bodey.

He was unconscious and surrounded by Queen Kel’s wolves. I shouldn’t have encouraged him to run to help his sister Jasmine. Now I might pay the ultimate price, losing my fated mate.

A deep, comforting laugh came from behind me, one I didn’t remember hearing before but sounded strangely familiar.

My chest expanded as my surroundings took form.

I stood in the backyard of a huge mansion. The house was a deep gray with two levels. The bottom entrance seemed to lead into a basement and the top into the main area of the house. Stone columns supported the top story.

“Caroline,” a warm female voice called from behind me. “We’re about to play tag with your brother.”

My breath caught. Even though my name was Callie, Caroline fit just as well. I spun toward the voice, and my world tilted.

Ten feet away stood my parents.

Mom’s light-brown hair was braided down her back like always, and her dark-chocolate eyes sparkled as she watched me.

At her feet, Samuel turned toward me, his too-large toddler head nearly toppling him over. Even as a baby, he looked like our mother, except for his baby-blue eyes, which twinkled in the twilight.

A lump formed in my throat. What the fuck was going on here? I needed to find my mate. Any other time, I’d be happy to relive whatever this was, but not when my mate needed me.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” Dad’s ice-blue eyes narrowed as he ran a hand through his ash-blond hair. He held out his arms toward me. “Did you think we were going to leave you out? Every wolf likes to play chase even if they haven’t shifted yet.”

“Something’s wrong,” I said, but it wasn’t my voice. It was the voice of a five-year-old. A shiver ran down my spine. “Where’s Uncle Zeke?”

The warmth in Mom’s eyes vanished. “He’s gathering his things to leave. We had a disagreement, that’s all. Nothing you need to worry about.”

Something inside me eased, and I glanced at my hands, noting they were small.

I swallowed hard. This was a memory. There had to be a way to wake up and get back to Bodey.

“Okay.” I nodded and ran toward my parents. “I’m it first!”

Dad smiled and wiggled his fingers. “You better not get me, or I’ll tickle you to death.”

I paused and placed a hand on my hip. “Daddy, you can’t tickle someone to death. That’s just silly.” Then I bolted toward him.

Despite the lightheartedness swirling through me, my fear of what was going on with Bodey took precedence in my adult mind. Each second I stayed here was another second that the scouts had to kill my mate. I needed to get back to him.

As I leaped onto Dad, Samuel laughed, and Dad followed through on his promise, tickling my sides as I squeaked to roll off him. Then he stood up and yelled, “You better watch out. I’m coming for all of you now.”

I yelped and ran to Samuel. My childhood happiness and love swirled within me, mixing with my adult heartbreak. What I wouldn’t give to have many more nights like this and have Bodey here beside me.

The four of us played for what felt like only minutes, but the night sky engulfed us. Samuel yawned, and Dad picked him up in his arms. “I’ll get this little one to bed. Care, head up to the study. I want to go over some things with you before you go to bed.”

Heart soaring, I nodded eagerly. I wanted to do everything in my power to make Daddy proud. He was counting on me to help find a way to unite the packs, especially with the new queen of the Southwest. Daddy said he knew her and she had lofty goals, and we needed to be united and strong so she would never attempt to take over our lands. Though he made me promise to keep that part to myself. He didn’t want to worry the alpha advisors.

“Come on, Caroline.” Mom took my hand. “Let’s grab you a snack before Daddy steals you away from me.”

I loved our late-night snacks. They usually involved ice cream or chocolate, and on the best occasions, chocolate ice cream. She’d sing to me as she made my snack. That had to be why I always focused on music and lyrics now—they often held so much meaning.

I was getting answers about my past, but I desperately tried to pinch myself awake to help Bodey.

When we followed Dad onto the back terrace, an overly musky scent hit my nose.

Zeke.

I’d never understood why Mommy liked him. He stared at her in ways that made me feel uneasy, and then his gaze would turn to me and harden into something that made me want to disappear. My wolf always helped me lift my chin and not cower.

Mommy stiffened, and her hand clutched mine harder. She rasped, “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be gone.”

Her speaking out loud caught me off guard, but then I remembered that she’d told Daddy she had to make sure Zeke understood that their relationship had changed. That had to be why.

Zeke’s emerald eyes darkened, and his face twisted in agony. Stepping away from the corner of the house, he rolled up the sleeves of his pale-yellow button-down shirt, revealing more of his dark-olive skin. Adult me noticed there was more black than gray in his hair, unlike his salt-and-pepper look of today. “We need to talk,” he said softly. “We’ve been best friends for forty years—you can’t just throw us away.”

My stomach clenched. Zeke never talked to anyone like that. He seemed genuinely hurt.

“I’m with Richard.” She tugged me behind her. “We have two kids, and we love each other. You need to get that through your head. You and I have always been friends. Nothing more.”

I froze, my blood turning to ice. Zeke had been in love with my mother.

“But—”

Mom sighed and linked to me, Care, I need you to go to the study. I’ll be there soon with your favorite snack.

Chocolate ice cream! I replied. Gone was my discomfort about whatever conversation these two adults were having.

Adult me screamed at young me not to go inside, but my little legs propelled me into the house. I guessed it didn’t matter since I couldn’t change the events of this memory.

As I hurried into the basement rec room, I heard Daddy telling Samuel good night. Without pausing, I took the wooden stairs straight ahead to the main floor. At the top, I turned left, rushed through the kitchen and dining room, and made it to Daddy’s study in less than a minute.

I walked past the huge mahogany desk and hurried to the globe that sat in the far-right corner in front of a built-in bookshelf beside the brick fireplace. When Daddy joined me, the first thing he would do was light the fire. Then we’d sit and talk about whatever business he wanted to keep me in the loop about. He always asked for my opinion and listened to what I had to say, even if he didn’t take my advice. He said I had a unique way of looking at the world, and he treasured the insight I gave him.

I spun the globe, playing a game my friend Bodey and I often played when our dads met. Bodey would spin the globe, and wherever I was pointing when it stopped would be one of the places we’d visit together when we got older. The idea of traveling with him made my stomach feel funny.

Adult me knew why it did. Bodey and I had been drawn to each other because we were fated mates. That was why I needed to wake up and get to him now.

Daddy stepped into the study, smiling warmly. He arched a brow. “No snack this time?”

Turning around, I pouted. “Mommy said she’d bring it in a minute. Zeke stopped her outside.”

His smile changed into a deep frown. “She’s talking to him.” His eyes glowed, indicating he was linking with Mommy.

“Should I have not left her?” My head hung. “I’m sorry—”

“Oh, baby girl.” Dad came over and kissed the top of my head. “You didn’t do a thing wrong. You listened to your mother.”

My bottom lip quivered. “But—”

“She’s heading up now.” He winked, though adult Callie could see his tension. “Everything’s fine. We just might not see Uncle Zeke for a little while.”

“That’s good with me.” I nodded eagerly.

Daddy laughed. I liked the sound of his laughter. It was one of my favorites, besides Bodey’s.

Sounds of Zeke and Mommy echoed through the house, and Daddy scowled. He turned and headed back toward the foyer as he linked, I’ll be right back. If you hear Mr. Valor come in, don’t be alarmed. I asked him to return to help with Zeke.

Zeke’s, Mommy’s, then Daddy’s voices grew louder, and I wrung my hands. I didn’t like how they were all fighting.

“Why don’t you go into your study?” Zeke growled. “This is between Mila and me.”

“There’s nothing left to discuss,” Mommy replied. “You need to leave.”

“Come on, Mila,” Daddy said. “Follow me.”

“Mila, wait,” Zeke said. “Just talk to me a little longer. I need you here for a few more minutes.”

All three sets of footsteps headed toward me, and the three of them paused in front of the study doorway. Daddy’s face was flushed in a way I’d never seen before. His nostrils flared, and his eyes glowed. “Leave our house. Now.”

Something powerful laced his voice, and my wolf trembled within me.

Zeke flinched.

“He didn’t want to do that.” Mommy shook her head. “I think it’s time we cut ties. Lynerd will be announced as the new Oregon royal advisor soon. Go back to your wife and son. Spend time with them. Let me go.”

Zeke bowed his head as he strained not to walk away. But his feet moved, step by step, away from the study.

I heard the front door open. Mommy stayed put as if to make sure he’d left as Daddy went to the fireplace.

He’d bent down, his finger touching the button to turn the fireplace on, when Mommy spun around, her eyes locking on mine. She raced toward me, yelling, “Richard! Don’t!”

Bile churned in my stomach as Daddy’s head turned toward us. Mommy’s body crashed into me, shoving me against the wall just as the world shook all around us.

Hot air hit every piece of me, and my mother’s body sagged against me like dead weight. The stench of burned flesh and the sound of crackling flames were the last things I experienced before blackness engulfed me.