~Tia~The three of us dress and head out of the room. We are met with curious glances as we make our way downstairs. I’m sure that glances are due to the fact that we are sporting marks on our necks. I know I’m still looked at warily by most of the pack, but the twins are loved. We make our way out of the building and out to the cells. I’ve never been out here myself, and I’m not really looking forward to what I will encounter. There is a cellar door behind what looks like a barn. It isn’t since we don’t do farm activities here, but that’s what it looks like. The steep steps lead from the cellar door to the area below. We have guards, but you can’t see them. Rather than have them posted at the cellar door, alerting people that there is something there, they are in the woods across the way. They can see any movement around the barn-like structure this way. We quickly head down the stairs, Landon in front and Lincoln behind me. It’s pretty dark and dank-smelling. The outer room is not
~Lincoln~SON OF A BITCH!!!THAT FUCKING —I SWEAR I WILL—The shift was fast, and no time was spared while our wolves barrel into the forest. We are mind-linking each other, but we are also trying to gain control. Brutus is apocalyptic, and I’m sure Goliath is the same. Our mate almost died because these bitches decided to try to play Goddess. They thought it was their place to decide someone else’s fate, and they used someone else to do so. I don’t think anyone will be safe if we don't get control back.I don’t know where Brutus is going, but he is zooming through the brush and trees as if there is nothing there that could stop him. I’m begging and pleading for him to give me back control, but I’m not sure he hears me. I can feel branches and rocks cut into us; we zoom past, and it hurts. Brutus is eating up the pain, not willing to stop for anything. We careen through a large bush and tumble into open space. We are at the meadow where the lake is. Emerald Lake is what it’s called
~Tia~I ate dinner alone and was waiting for the twins in the room. They have had their blocks up, and I’m starting to get worried. I have been trying to figure out what set them off. Clearly, Adela was influencing Neal, but I don’t understand why the twins got so unsettled. I toss my book on the nightstand and get off the bed. I guess I should check on my mom. That will distract me. I head down to the guestroom where she’s staying and softly knock on the door. I hear rustling on the other side before the click of the door opening. Mom doesn’t say a word; she opens her arms, and I step into them. I have rarely been able to have moments like this with my mom, and I plan to soak up every second of it. We hug this way for a while before she lets me go. Mom steps aside and allows me to walk into the room. We sit on the couch, and I tell her everything that has happened since the dress shop.Mom gets up and paces the room, looking worried. “If your sister had marked Landon….” She takes a
~Stuart~I’m summoned to the pack office as if I’m some schoolboy about to be reprimanded by the principal. It irks me that these boys think so highly of themselves. They feel they are above everyone else and untouchable. I wasn’t even happy when my twins expressed their interest in them. I went along with it because they deserve the best, and having the Luna title gives me that. As I walk into the room, I see all eyes on me—Paul with Landon, Lincoln at his desk, and Mark on the couch. I have no idea what the hell they want from me, but they better make it quick. I have things to do, and I’m still pissed about my mate being allowed to be away from me. “You wanted to see me…….” I make eye contact with Paul, hoping he will speak quickly. “No, not me. My sons called for you. Have a seat, please.” As if I didn’t know it was his bratty sons who called for me. I pretend to act as if I’m some complaint member of the pack when I really just want to rip their throats out. I make my way to th
~Adela~FUCK!! What the fuck just happened? One minute, I’m close to getting Landon back, and the next, I’m hiding from my pack. I’m grateful that I have always kept a few warriors in my inner circle. I was given a heads-up that they were tasked to find Aida and me and throw us in the cells. Can you imagine me in the cells?! Fucking Neal! I knew he would spill the beans if given a chance. Now the twins know that I put him up to making the phone call that took them away from Portia. I’m sure they suspect that we either orchestrated her attack or attacked her. I wish we had killed her. Had we done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess right now. The twins would have grieved, but they would have taken us as Lunas since they would have needed to have someone by their sides. I’ve been on the run for days and days. It was a task getting off our territory without being seen. I haven’t gone too far from the territory. I don’t know how much longer I need to live like this, but it isn’t easy. I’m
“Well?! What do they do?” I’m pacing back and forth while keeping an eye on all exits. I’m deep in the forest in an unknown cabin, but that doesn’t mean people haven’t followed me. I look up, and the silence is becoming unbearable. “I don’t have all day! It’s almost time.”To be clear, the Alpha ceremony is tomorrow. I have to be sure about these items before then. I have waited for an answer for days, and my patience is running out. This is the final piece to the puzzle. “You were given a bit of the wrong information.” I stop in my tracks.“What do you mean?” The witch sighs.“These were created for fated mates. If they are in the same area, this keeps their wolves from seeking the other out. The bond will be dampened, so the desire will be gone.” I swear that’s the same thing I told her in the first place.“That’s what I told you.” “No.” She shakes her head. “ For one to wear this, they make their wolf almost indetectable to their mate. They won’t be felt through their bond if mark
~Mark~I feel wretched! I swear my body is sluggish, and my mind is hazy. I’ve felt this way since Jenna left the territory. I’ve been struggling with training and my duties as the future Beta of the pack. I’ve tried to keep the twins out of it as much as possible, relying on Tia to talk it out with me.She has been off as well. I guess finding out that your sisters wanted to, possibly, kill you is enough to have anyone acting off. We have relied on each other to gain some sort of semblance. Lynn has also been helping us, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Our parents are in front of the packhouse now, welcoming the guests for tomorrow's ceremony. I had planned to join them, but I just couldn’t put the fake smile on my face and pretend. I’d have to pretend that my heart and soul aren’t hurting. That angers me! Why should I be hurting? Why should I want someone that is clearly no good for me? It isn’t just Cato who yearns for her; I hate myself for that. Out of all of the she-wolves I c
~Jenna~I tossed and turned all night. I just couldn’t get settled, and it didn’t help that Iris was off on her tangent. She kept calling for her mate, and it was driving me crazy. She acts like I don’t want Mark. Actually, I can’t be mad at her. I did act as if he wasn’t what I wanted, but that simply isn’t true. I grab my phone off the nightstand and see it’s 3:15 in the morning. I know sleep will not be visiting me at all, and I wish I were back home. If I were, I would go for a run and try to tire myself out. I’m visiting a different territory, and it isn’t smart to take off for a run under those circumstances. Not only that but if I let Iris out, I know exactly where I’d end up. I asked Mark to give me time before he asks that I accept his rejection. I just need to build my strength and be mentally prepared for the loss.I sigh and turn to my side. I stare at the wall for a bit, watching the movie that isn’t my life play out. I scroll through my phone, looking at different video
6 Months Later~Paul~It’s been six long months, and Nikki still hasn’t woken up. Owlyn has been here and tried to get a response from her. Nothing has worked because she says it has nothing to do with magic. The doctors don’t have an answer, and I’m just lost without her.I knew she shouldn’t have volunteered. I felt in my heart that it wasn’t the right choice, but what could I do? I love her with everything I have, and I couldn’t tell her not to do what her heart said was the right thing.I run my hands through my hair and then over my face. I haven’t left her side in six months, and I’m beyond tired of seeing these walls. My sons have tried to get me to leave, and so has Tia. I refuse them because this is where I’m meant to be. As long as my heart is here, I will be here. Tia has been here often and has brought our grandchild, but besides those visits, it’s just been Nikki and me. I refuse to believe that I finally found my fated mate just to lose her so quickly.I put my head in m
~Devonte~The pain in my heart is all-consuming. I want the pain to stop, but I don’t know how to make that happen. I curl up tighter, hoping that the pressure will help with the pain. It’s all too much, and I don’t know what to do to make it better.Abe has gone silent, and I’m not surprised. He’s been struggling the most, and I have no words to soothe him. I wish I could wake up yesterday when things were what they were. I’d give anything to go back.“BROTHER?! BROTHER WHERE ARE YOU?!” I curl up tighter as if that’s going to keep me from being found. I don’t think I can handle the words and emotions that will surely follow my brother. I can’t take what that would mean.His thudding footsteps get closer and closer. I know I can’t hide myself; there’s no way to become invisible. I can’t keep this from happening. I hold my breath, waiting for the inevitable. “D, I found you. I’ve been looking everywhere. Our mate, she needs us. She needs you.” I’m trying to block out his words, but I’m
~Third Person~Everything seemed to happen all at once. Andricia is thrown against a tree trunk and curls up with a whimper. The pain is too much, causing Andricia to shift back into Tia. The twins witness this, and all restraint is lost. They shift and run at Imogene, who quickly wraps them up in blue light.Nikki hasn’t taken her eyes off Imogene, so she’s ready to interfere. As she shoots her light at Imogene, it strikes her in the stomach. Imogene is taken off guard and loses her grip on the twins. They fall to the ground and falter as they try to get on their feet. Eventually, they gain their footing and try to attack Imogene again.Imogene defends herself, reduced to hand-to-hand combat with the edge of magic. She repeatedly strikes the wolves as they throw themselves at her. They are taking a lot of punishment, but they refuse to stop. Their only goal is to defend their love, though they’d rather take the time to see about her.The group is joined by vampires and rogues alike.
~Jenna~I scramble backward, making sure my back is flush against the tree trunk. I try to quiet my breathing, but it's proving to be a task. I search around me, but there’s only darkness. The night air is still filled with the sounds of a battle, but I can’t see what’s going on.“Ughhhhh.” I slap my hand over my mouth in an attempt to stay quiet. I look down and see the bright red blood. I shut my eyes tight and try to think about anything else. If I freak out right now, I won’t be able to get back to safety.Every inch of my body hurts, but I can’t think about that now. I need to get out of here and make it back to the packhouse. I struggle to my feet, using only my right arm. My left just hangs against my body. Every twist and turn of my body brings a wave of excruciating pain, but I have to ignore it right now.I finally get to my feet and stand against the tree trunk. My breathing is erratic, and my chest is heaving up and down. “Where’d she go? I don’t see her.”“Sniff her out.”
~Aida~I’m applying pressure to my sister’s neck, and I feel her body giving in. This is so easy it’s pathetic. I would have thought that she would have trained during my absence. She had to know that I would return, and with my return would come the fight for her life. I guess having a brain doesn’t guarantee that you’ll use it.Portia’s body slumps to the ground, and her breathing gets heavier. I swear she’ll be dead in a minute. While part of me is rejoicing, the other part of me feels that she’d be getting off too easily. She’s the cause of all my problems, even the cause of Adela’s death. I may have administered the final blow, but it wouldn’t have come to that if she hadn’t disrupted our plans.Portia completely falls under, and I let her go with a thud on the ground. I get to my feet and walk around her limp body. Her breathing is shallow, so I know I can still play around with her before I kill her. I just need to figure out what games will be fun to engage in.I walk around h
~Ivan~One of the twins lunges at me, and I step out of the way. The other twin moves toward me, causing me to dodge slightly. This can’t be how they expect to beat me. If things continue this way, I’m going to win without breaking a sweat.I don’t want to spend a lot of time with these two. I need to go find Aida and so help anyone who has tried to put their hands on her. No one will hurt my love and live to tell the tale. I’d scorch the Earth before I let anyone hurt her.These imbeciles are staring at me but have stopped lunging. I guess they realize that it’s useless. It doesn’t matter what they do to me, they won’t win. I’m a vampire, so my natural state is on a different level. On top of that, I’ve been around for a long time. There isn’t much that I haven’t seen before, so they are hard-pressed to find something new to throw at me. “We’re wasting time, boys. I have more pressing matters.” I flip two fingers in the air back and forth. I hear reinforcements moving in. “Let me jus
~Lynn~I reach into the vampire’s chest and pull out its heart. My hand is covered in blood, but it’s as black as tar. There’s a stench to it; it smells like it’s rotting. I guess that makes sense because vampires aren't like the rest of us. They are the undead.I look to my left and can make out Abe in the distance. He’s ripping the head off of a vampire. Another vampire has climbed on his back, but he shakes him off. I look to my right, and Mace has the leg of a vampire in his mouth, and he shakes him like a rag doll. I duck quickly, missing the clothesline that was intended for me. I look behind myself and kick out, catching the perpetrator in the stomach. I wind the rope around my fist and throw a punch. The rope, mixed with the strength of my punch, causes my hand to literally push a chunk of her arm onto the ground. I follow up with a round kick and straddle her body as soon as it hits the ground. I rain a combination of punches on her body before ripping her throat out.I’m tir
~Jenna~I’m herding those who can’t fight into the safe rooms. We have entry points on both ends of the pack, but I’m only worried about those on this end where the packhouse is. Elderly pack members, as well as children, have been running here in droves. The sooner we get them to safety, the better off we will all be.I take one last look around and turn to the opening that will lead to the underground tunnels. It isn’t a long walk from the tunnels to the rooms; we wanted to make sure everyone would have a chance to get to safety. Once I get inside, the doors will be locked, and we will wait for word that everything is over.Crying sounds behind me, causing me to whip around. A pregnant woman with a toddler is running toward where I’m standing. A few warriors rushed out to her, working overtime to keep the vampires back.I watch the woman run forward with her baby’s hand in hers. She trips, and her knees hit the ground, causing her to lose her grip on her child. She cries out and cra
~Mark~I’ve been on alert all evening. I know tonight is the night, but I have no idea when. It’s just a guess, but we expect an attack on this pack. It isn’t that I’ve done anything to Aida, but her enemy is my best friend, and my mate has gone after her obsession. It seems they are trying to hurt Tia in any way they can, and that would include attacking this pack.I haven’t been Alpha that long, and I’ve only had my fated mate a bit longer than that. I have a baby coming and I like my life right now. I don’t want to lose anything right now, but this battle could have me lose it all.I clean off my desk and put files in the filing cabinet. I think the best thing right now is to have time with my mate. I want her to know how much she’s loved, just in case. I close the office door behind me and turn to head up the stairs. Alpha, we have a breach! My heart begins to thump in my chest as the seriousness of the situation grabs me. I take a deep breath and let it out. Hey, beautiful. Wher