I was in a good mood. Sure our date started with the trouble with the Syndicate but it was going great after that. We were making out through the movie. And as we got home Isis was talking about how she thinks soon she’ll be ready to complete our bond. Godric and I are entirely on board with that.
I want her to want this. I don’t want it to be because she thinks it’s the only way to ensure people like Noya can’t come between us. And okay it felt good to hear she wants me just as badly. Sure I assumed given how much time we spend making out but it’s nice to hear. To know without a doubt you are wanted.
But all those good feelings went straight down the shitter when I saw that box. We had a Se7en moment when we arrived in Incubi Pack, and I do not want to relive that. I am not about that life. I especially don’t like that it’s addressed to Isis.
‘Alpha! Silvercloud!’ I called out in the link because they are the two I need right now. I considered contacting John but he and Sarael just moved into their new house. So he may want privacy. Plus if someone is going to contact him and not get the annoyed John voice it would be Alpha or my mate.
‘This better be good Kurt. Your Luna and I were about to make sundaes and I don’t mean with ice cream.’ Alpha Logan’s growly voice responds. Oh crap. I didn’t want that mental image. ‘I really need to move out of the packhouse. Gross Alpha. Just gross.’ Silvercloud sighed.
“My apologies for interrupting Alpha. But I just got home and we have a problem.’ I sighed. ‘We or you have a problem?’ Alpha questioned. ‘Both? Someone left a box on my doorstep addressed to my mate. No return address. No postage. No scent.’ I outlined the problem.
I winced as Logan let out an angry growl. ‘God fucking. Fine, I'll be right there. Don’t touch anything. Silvercloud, get your ass moving too. I want to know if it’s safe to open.’ Alpha commanded. ‘Yes, Alpha. See you soon Kurt.’ Silvercloud quickly agreed and the link was closed.
I was right that my mate reached out to John. Still freaks me out that she calls him ‘Uncle John’. I mean yes he’s mated to her Aunt Sarael but it’s weird. Weird that she took to calling him that so easily. Weirder still that he’s allowed it. Well, maybe that isn’t too weird. I know how well he treats Hana.
I sighed and wrapped my arms around Isis, hugging her to me. I kept looking at that box, we both did. I want to know how it got here almost as much as what’s inside it. I don’t smell anyone who shouldn’t be here. I don’t even smell humans. Just the scents of pack members.
I really hope no one from the pack is helping the Syndicate with possible scare tactics or attempts against my mate’s life. Because if I find out one of my neighbors did this I’ll take a page out of Alpha Chesed’s book and skin them alive. Okay, so I probably wouldn’t go that far.
‘I would. Anyone who would willingly aid in attempting to hurt our mate in any way is dead.’ Godric growled. “It will be okay.” Isis softly cooed stroking my back. I furrowed my brow, cocking my head as I looked down at her. “Aren’t I supposed to be assuring you?” I questioned.
“Maybe, but we are mates and that means we support each other. And I could feel how tense you are and your eyes were changing so I know Godric is upset too.” Isis shrugged. “I’m worried about what’s in the box too. I hope it’s not like that box we were made to give to Alpha Chesed.” she cast a fearful glance at the box.
I shuddered remembering that first meeting with the Alpha of Nightmares. “I don’t know. I hope it’s not too.” I sighed, rubbing her back. “Hope it’s not what?” John questioned as he and Sarael stepped into the hallway from the stairs. “Uncle John, Aunt Sarael.” Isis turned from my hold and rushed to them.
She hugged her aunt first and then John. “Beta John. Beta Sarael.” I nodded my head to them. “Alpha and Silvercloud should be here shortly. We discussed that we hope this box isn’t akin to the one we delivered to Alpha Chesed in Italy on our first meeting with him. It was very Se7en.” I wrinkled my nose.
“I see. Well as long as it’s not a bomb.” Sarael sighed, running a hand through her hair. “We will know soon enough if it’s safe to open.” John assured with a nod. Isis nodded but her eyes were drawn to her aunt’s left hand and the big ass ruby ring. “OH. MY. GOD!” Isis squealed all fears and thoughts of the box gone.
“Is that what I think it is?” Isis questioned pointing to the ring. I recognized it. Luna Elizabeth wore it. It seems she bequeathed it to her eldest son. Sarael smiled softly, relevantly touching the ring. “Yes. John proposed today.”
Another squeal escaped my mate as she was now hoping with joy, literally. “I’m so happy for you. For both of you.” Isis beamed hugging Sarael and then John again. “And that ring is gorgeous.” Isis sighed. “Thank you.” Sarael smiled.
“Of course the ring is gorgeous. It was our mothers.” Alpha Logan’s voice broke through as he and Silvercloud joined us in the hall. “Alpha.” Isis’s back straightened as she bowed her head in greeting. “Hi Alpha. Hey Silvercloud.” I nodded to them.
“Gawking at heirloom rings later. I’ve got a box to inspect.” Silvercloud nodded. “Congrats by the way Betas.” he winked, going past all of us to kneel by the box.
All ring talk had fallen to the wayside as Silvercloud opened a case and took out some weird Star Trek-looking device and scanned the box.
“Well, there is nothing inside that could explode or that appears to be hazardous to werewolves. I deem it safe to open.” Silvercloud concluded.
“Is there anything… um organic inside?” Isis tentatively asked. Silvercloud arched an eyebrow. “Expecting someone to send you a severed head or the missing appendages of a loved one?”
“Jonathan, answer my niece without being an imbecile.” John sighed.
“Yes, let's hurry this up. You are impeding both Kinsley men from getting laid right now. And by extension, you are impeding your Luna from getting laid, and you don’t want to piss off a pregnant Luna.” Logan growled. Silvercloud held up his hands in surrender.
“Of course not. I would never dream of being on the wrong side of Luna Aurelia’s claws. And no, there is nothing organic inside. Want me to open it?” Silvercloud offered. Isis let out a sigh of relief and moved to my side. “Y..yes. Open it.” she nodded.
In an instant, Silvercloud used a claw and cut through the tape. “It’s a letter.” he frowned, taking out a piece of parchment. “A box to deliver a letter?” I asked skeptically, furrowing my brow.
“I can’t read this. I’m a genius, but I don’t read hieroglyphics. And there’s something else inside. A pendant of a bug.” Silvercloud wrinkled his nose, lifting a gold chain with a sapphire and emerald beetle pendant. Obviously, this has to do with the guild.
And my assumption is proved right just by the looks on Isis and Sarael’s faces. “Drop it!” Sarael shouted. “What? Wh… th...fu….”Silvercloud seemed to freeze his words coming out incomplete. “What is that? And what did it do to my Delta?” Logan questioned.
“It’s the symbol of the Adio Hunter’s guild. It’s enchanted, so when touched by a supernatural creature, it will freeze them, and if they hold it too long, kill them.” Sarael explained, walking closer. “Don’t touch it.” John shook his head, obviously worried.
“Give me your handkerchief. I may straddle the line of human and werewolf, but I’m not risking anything.” Sarael said, holding her hand out to her mate. “Who carries a handkerchief?” I questioned because I couldn’t believe John would have one. John sighed and reached into his pocket.
The mother fucker pulls out a crisp white handkerchief with the initials JAH embroidered in blood red at the corner. “Seriously? How fucking old are you, man?” I couldn’t help but ask. John growled at me while his mate rolled her eyes and took the handkerchief using it to carefully take the necklace from Silvercloud.
“There.” Sarael nodded, folding the handkerchief securely around the necklace so it couldn’t touch anyone. Silvercloud wiggled his nose then his jaw before doing a full-body shake. “Mother fucker. I didn't like that.” he shuddered.
“So this means the Adio guild is coming for Isis. Why not send something to you? Why here? How did they get it not just onto my territory but this deep in to leave on a doorstep?” Logan questioned.
“I won’t know till I decipher the message. It’s not as easy as translating hieroglyphics. They get translated, and then that gets translated through the code.” Sarael sighed.
“Can you do it?” Logan asked. “Don’t question my mate’s ability.” John gave his brother a stern look. “All I want to know is if my mate is safe. Like no immediate threat.” I sighed. “At the moment, Isis is safe. But I think you shouldn’t go into the apartment. There is no telling what magic may have been cast.” Sarael sighed.
“As for reading it. I can translate it, but the code changes every three years. I wouldn’t know what it means now.” Sarael frowned. “I know the code. Unless they changed it in the last few months. I mean, they obviously wanted me to know they were threatening me.” Isis frowned.
Logan sighed. “Alright. You two, let’s go. You’re staying at the packhouse for the night. Tomorrow I want the letter deciphered and someone to do a sweep of the whole building. I want every resident brought in for questioning. I want that abomination of a pendant in a lockbox where it can’t hurt anyone.” Alpha went into well Alpha mode.
He may be small, but the man oozes authority. “Yes, Alpha.” Was the immediate response from all of us. I don’t want to stay in the packhouse, but if it ensures Isis stays safe, I’ll deal with the unholy sounds of Alpha and Luna having sex.
“I’ll take the charm. I want to run some tests on it in the bunker.” Silvercloud nodded. “Fine, but wear protective gloves. Never let it touch you.” Sarael sighed, giving him the wrapped necklace. “I won’t. I’ll report my findings tomorrow.” Silvercloud nodded, and with that, he was gone.
“Let’s go get some sleep.” I sighed, wrapping an arm around Isis. “I hope no one here was involved. I know the extremes the guild can go to make people compliant. It may not have been of their own free will or even knowledge.” Isis sighed, leaning into me as we left.
“We will get to the bottom of this. No one threatens someone under my protection.” Logan promised when we reached the packhouse. “Thank you, Alpha.” Isis nodded. Alpha went to his room to probably update his mate and get back to their evening plans while we went to one of the available rooms.
New chapters are posted Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
I don’t know if I should be terrified or relieved that the contents of the box had been a coded letter and disabling charmed pendant. It could have been worse. I was afraid it was going to be a body part. It didn't matter whether it was sent from my family or the rogues. I was still terrified that inside we’d find a part of Khalid. I should be angry that he set Sakina free, but I understand why he would. She’s his mother. He always idolized her. He wanted to be a strong leader and talented hunter just like her. But in the end, he chose to save my life. Even though it meant taking hers, he did put me above her. And I’m terrified for him because the guild won’t see it as self-defense, and they’ll want to hold him accountable for her death. They’ll have marked him a traitor and a murder. Add that to know
I am hanging on by a thread. A thin, frayed thread of control is the only thing keeping me from entirely stripping Isis naked and fucking her till we both collapse from exhaustion. This is already further than we’ve ever gone. My fingers are on her damn zipper. I am inches from reaching the promised land. And of course, leave it to Logan and Aurelia to be loud enough fornicators that soundproofing only muffles their sounds. Muffling in the same way a car muffles music when the base is too high. Instead of a thumping heavy base, its growls and moans. I swear to the Moon Goddess if their loud, apparently passionate sex cockblocks me, I’m going to lose my shit. I paused, looking up at my mate’s face. ‘If Logan cockblocks us….’ Godric growled. ‘What exactly are we going to do? Fight him? He’ll kick my ass
Oh my god! I’m seeing stars. The things that man can do with his tongue are mind-blowing. I was still on a euphoric high when Bastet moved forward. I didn’t think twice about letting her take control. I don’t think I could form sentences, let alone have the courage to act on what I was thinking. I didn’t want this to be one-sided. I didn’t want Kurt to be left unsatisfied. That’s happened enough times before this. Heated making out that left us both turned on, but I was too nervous to let it go further. I know what Kurt goes into the bathroom to do. We pretend I don’t, but I do. I had been okay with letting Bastet take the reins, and she was more than happy to do so. It was strange watching from the back seat as she seduced Kurt.
I am not surprised at all that Hana is hoping that she gets a brother. The girl had a hard enough time accepting she would have to share her father’s attention with Aurelia when she came into their lives. I don’t want to imagine her jealousy if this baby is a girl. She will not be the only Bloodmoon Princess anymore. Though girl or boy, this child will be considered the Alpha heir till they turn sixteen and either has Bloodmoon Alpha wolf or not. If we learned anything from John and Logan, the firstborn isn’t always the one to be blessed with the alpha wolf. Though I don’t know what happens if Logan and Aurelia only have one child and that child doesn’t have the alpha wolf. Would that mean the next Alpha would be born to John? ‘Stop overthinking about the line of succession for this pack. We may be in this pack for now. But we have a pack of our own we are supposed to be leading.’ Godric rolled his eyes. ‘I don’t want to be an Alpha.’ I grumbled.
Jonathan is truly something else. And in many ways, he reminds me of Persephone. I know she would absolutely lose her mind if she knew that Kurt’s friend is THE Silvercloud, the one behind the tech company she’s obsessed with. I’ve wanted to tell her, but Kurt made me promise not to. He said that Jonathan wants to remain anonymous regarding the company, so the whole pack keeps it secret. And as much as I know, my friend would squeal with delight and beg to visit just to meet him or to get an autograph; I won’t break Jonathan’s trust. Though I wonder if she could help with what he has planned for tracking the frequency of the talisman. I’m sure she could and would probably be thrilled to do so. I bet Alpha Alec would even appreciate such a device to know if my family is circling his territory. Not that I think any of them would. What happened to Sakina’s uncle has not been forgotten. I would prefer to have gone with Jonathan to figure
It was taking every ounce of control to keep Godric on a leash. Hearing there is a traitor within Bloodmoon, a traitor who could endanger Isis, has Godric thirsty for blood. I had shoved my hands into my pants, clenching them tightly into fists to resist the urge to break something. If I break something in John and Sarael’s brand new home, I’m guessing I would be a dead man. And I don’t want to let Godric’s rage blind me and lose control like I did when Isis was injured. I don’t want Isis to see Godric like that or me. I felt so out of control, unhinged… like Siegfried. I don’t want to be anything like that bastard. “At least we know the talisman wasn’t sent to hurt you. Now I just want to know how your brother got it on my doorstep and who the hell he thinks is a traitor in Bloodmoon.” I tried to focus on
I covered my mouth to stop the laughter bubbling inside me at Jonathan. He’s so crazy and adorable. I wish I could introduce him to Persephone. They’d make the cutest couple. Or at least the most outrageous of best friends.‘They are werewolves. Unless they are mates, neither would give the other the time of day romantically.’ Bastet sighed. ‘I know. But they would be so cute together.’ I sighed.‘They’d be terrifying. If Alpha Logan had to give Silvercloud an underground bomb shelter for a lab because of the damage and chaos, I don’t want to imagine those two teaming up.’ Bastet shuddered. I giggled because she’s not wrong.Bastet snickered too. ‘The little veins in their foreheads become more pronounced and ready to burst.’ I can just imagine how Uncle John or Alpha Logan would react to the two of them causing trouble.I blinked as Silvercloud so casually sug
Fucking Khalid. He had to have known what that damn talisman would do. That the talisman would prevent me from being able to touch Isis. That is, it would prevent John from touching Sarael. ‘Sneaky little shithead.’ Godric snorted. At least Isis has agreed to not wear it. I know that if we were attacked, it could be helpful to keep people like Noya from being able to touch them. But the fact it dampens her connection with Bastet is more worrying. Bastet is strong, and her gifts can get Isis out of danger in a blink of an eye. As we looked at the lights on the map, I could feel Godric’s agitation and thirst for blood. Glaring at the three lights in Egypt, knowing these people turned a blind eye to how Sakina treated Isis. These are people that were supposed to love and care about Isis but let her down in the worst ways. Godric wanted to rip their throats out. Then my eyes focused on the light in Mexico. The light that was on the mov
Dacian POV Mother fucking back… rib stabbing Sevastian. I don’t care that he’s my brother by blood. He has betrayed me and the rest of the Death Legion in favor of those go monkeys in The Black Vipers. They dumped me just inside werewolf territory, knowing the sun would be up soon and if I somehow found shelter without help, I’d be dead before the wolves found me. Sev trusted the wolves would find and kill me if I lived that long. With me out of the way, our father and the rest of the legion would never know the truth. He’d either carry on as a double agent for the Vipers or help destroy the Legion. I had to live to stop either of those outcomes. Sev would pay for his betrayal. I would be the one to make him pay. I just needed to survive long enough to do it. I’d managed to get from where Sev had dumped me to a secluded cave before sunrise. I knew that in my state, I didn’t want to be here later when the black bear, based on the smell and massive scat, almost stepped in and came hom
Zoraida POV Do I believe my little cousin that he saw not only Luna Laraine’s ghost but also a little girl, possibly a witch, during the full moon last week? Not really. It’s not a slight against Jamil. It’s just that he’s five, and the night before, he was told a ghost story about his very dead great-grandmother. Of course, it was going to make him jumpy. Tiziano is the only one that fully believes Jamil, but well, he’s a sucker. Owen and Olivia were more skeptical, but they smiled and told Jamil that if he was sure that’s what he saw, that’s what happened. Just what my cousin doesn’t need, a bunch of ‘yes men’ in his ranks. I’m the only one that called bullshit and suggested Jamil had a nightmare. I couldn’t explain the girl, but that doesn’t make it any less bullshit. When Aunt Isis and Dad checked his room and the dungeons, they found nothing suspicious. I’m a hunter, so I believe in what I can prove. Jamil is family, and I love him, but because of that, I have to be honest with
Nyx POV “Go spy on the wolves. You’re too small for them to notice. Your magic isn’t strong enough for the hunters to trace.” I grumbled, repeating my grandmother’s demands. I’m only five. What does Grandmother expect from me? I like to think I’m powerful for my age. Not that I have other witches my age to compare myself to. It’s just me and my grandmother, though there’s a coven not far from us that grandmother is trying to get us into. I hoped to find something on this spying assignment to get us in with the coven. I’m only five and sick of being just me and my grandmother. I wish Mom were still alive. I don’t even remember her. All I have is her picture, which I keep in my locket. I frowned, stopping to pull the gold necklace from under my shirt to look at it. “I wish I could remember you,” I sighed, touching her picture. When the smell of a campfire and the sound of voices reached me, I quickly closed the locket and put my necklace under my shirt. I suppose grandmother was rig
Jamil POV “I’m going first!” Owen Kearney shouted. “All right, fine. Wow us, Kearney.” Zory waved her hand around the circle of heirs seated around the campfire. I giggled. My cousin is unintentionally funny. She’s like Tio Khalid and Tia Dani, so serious she’s funny. I know she’s our oldest, but she should lighten up. Maybe she doesn’t think she can lighten up as the only human among us heirs. It would explain why Tio Khalid is always so serious. “Talia told me this one when I was Jamil’s age,” Owen began. “Ooo, I know which one,” Olivia, his twin, interrupted. “And I’m the one telling it. So quiet.” Owen rolled his eyes, pressing his finger to his mouth to shush her. The Kearney twins are always fun to be around. They had a fun dynamic, always teasing each other. Sometimes, it made me wish I had a brother or sister. Being an only child can get lonely. Tiziano knows how I feel. Zory, too, but she had a big brother who stopped to visit, so it’s different. I know my Aunt Talia, b
The following chapters are a Halloween treat, featuring the heirs of Silverclaw and some new faces we may meet again someday. It’s been over a decade since Alpha Kurt and Luna Isis overthrew the crazed werewolf-witch Noya, freeing those forced to follow her and restoring the Silverclaw pack to the glory of old. Now, to the children of Silverclaw, all the danger and death of their parents’ time are merely scary stories to tell around a campfire. Tales even the heirs tell to scare each other. What happens when those scary stories start to become real? As an added note, The Reluctant Alpha, including these bonus chapters, is now available in paperback.
Time flies when you’re having fun. Or at least that’s how the saying goes. And given Isis and I are going on a second honeymoon vacation to celebrate our third wedding anniversary, it rings true. It still feels like just yesterday that Isis popped into my hotel room in London, and we learned we were mates. So to realize that it’s been five years since then is crazy. And now we are off to Athens to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. We planned to be away for a week, though our fellow ranked members assured us we could take an extended trip. It mainly was Collin and Tanner teasing me that this wasn’t a second honeymoon but a baby-making trip. And I guess, in a way, it is. Isis and I have discussed starting our family, and she didn’t get a new birth control implant so we could start trying. But I also know this trip is more than just a chance to be alone with Isis and perhaps conceive an heir. I choose Athens over all the places in the world to travel to for a particular reason.
In the last two years, my life has changed so much. It had its high and its low points. But for every low point, I had infinitely higher points. I found out I was a werewolf hybrid and that my online crush Kurt was my soulmate. I lost my mother, and the only man I knew as a father disowned me. But I didn’t lose all my family. I kept my brother and gained a sister-in-law. I also reclaimed an estranged Aunt acquiring an Uncle and his family by extension. So losing my mother and the man I called father was far outshined by the new larger family I gained. Then there was the whole mess with Noya wanting me dead to take Kurt for herself. But she failed, and it cost her both her mate and her own life in the end. And I gained a little sister and a pack. That has been the most significant and beautiful change, only seconded by Kurt proposing to me. It’s been a challenge to learn how to be a Luna while finishing my studies. But I made it through knowing I could depend on Kurt as well as my f
It’s only been a few days since the pack ceremony, and it’s still weird to hear the voices and feel the emotions of hundreds. Sure I was in the Bloodmoon pack link, so I was connected to thousands then, but as Alpha, it’s different. I can’t believe Logan manages to deal with this on a larger scale. Isis, Khalid, and Dani experienced difficulty adjusting to the pack link. None of them are used to being linked to multiple people like this, Isis more so as Luna. Khalid and Dani got it easier as they just had to tune out their thoughts. As Alpha and Luna, we have also to keep emotions out. But I think we’ve been doing well, and we’ll keep getting better at it. Today, however, the thoughts and emotions of the pack are strong. Today is the winter solstice, and Isis had her mind set on a pack-wide holiday festival. Everyone in the city is buzzing with excitement and joy to celebrate. Isis has no real experience celebrating Christmas, so I was more involved in this event. I’m of course ver
I don’t think I’ve been more nervous about something in my life. I was so jittery while getting ready that I nearly let my hair stay in the curling iron too long. Thankfully Zelma took the iron from me before my hair singed. Thankfully I had the others to help me. And I tried to distract myself from how nervous I was about the ceremony. I don’t know what all goes into a pack ceremony like this. I witnessed Aunt Sarael’s Beta ceremony, but that’s very different. All too soon, it was time to go. Everyone had gathered downstairs, waiting on Kurt and Khalid. And oh boy, when Kurt came down the stairs. Don’t get me wrong, Kurt is handsome no matter what he’s wearing. ‘Especially when he’s wearing nothing.’ Bastet snickered. I opted to ignore her, which was easy enough given I was distracted by how good Kurt looked in his tux. I had picked it out and knew he’d look good, but I hadn’t realized how good. Given how we both seemed to be in a lustful daze looking at each other, I at least kn