HENRY
“What is this place?”Hell was the word. When we entered the tunnel, the entrance resembled the mouth of an unearthly beast, with its teeth guarding the entrance like prison bars.The interior was moist and slippery. Even with my wolf senses, I couldn’t scent a thing and it made me lightheaded.We walked on as Lilith swayed her hips, moving on the slippery ground like it was as dry as a desert. The path ahead was dark and gloomy, and I saw no end to this tunnel.“You haven’t answered any of my questions.”“I will answer them, Hen, when you answer mine.”Not that bosh again. “Fine, ask me anything.”She stopped and looked at me as a wicked smile spread across her face. “I have a lot of questions for you, Hen. A lot of them.” Lilith moved on and I waited for her reply. “How did you meet Katrina?”That question had more to it than words. “In a club. She was a bartender.”She chuckled and IKATRINA I was still figuring out what was happening as the two of them walked over to me. But everyone’s attention shifted when we heard cries of, ‘Mummy!’ coming from the other end of the hallway.They ran past Alpha Hades and the eldest council member, surrounding and cuddling my legs.“We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Dash exclaimed, shifting from me with a frown and folding his arms.“Where were you, mummy? Where were you?!” Hilda said, hugging me tighter.“No one wanted to tell us,” Aurora said calmly.“I’m sorry about that,” I said squeezing Aurora and Hilda’s faces as I created smiles on them while Dash continued to be stubborn. “But I’m here and that’s all that matters.”‘Drama queens, it was just eight hours ago.’‘Nice to hear your voice too, Mel.’The kids turned to the approaching two. They recognized Alpha Hades and greeted him while I tried to feel less stupid in the short hospital
CANNONI poured a whiskey down an oversized glass as my mind went to today’s discussion, most especially the new Agmarbhs that arose from only the goddess knows where. Being the one that read the letter, I absorbed the words more and couldn’t bring myself to calm down. But in my six years of reign as Alpha, I’ve never been terrified of a problem.I saw them as a reason to get stronger. Be it wars. Be it plagues. Be it natural disasters. But why was I now? ‘Katrina…’ Shadow muttered in resonance. They were after her. They wanted her and the thought made sweat form dark circles under my arms. ‘Katrina…’ he continued, hungry and longing for her presence.If they caught her… I wouldn’t let them. Never. So many things were attached to her and the goddess forbid something happens to her.Was that why I was bothered? Because Katrina was involved?“Your vodka’s on the floor, Can. Long gone on the floor.” I shifted back to life and dropped the vodka bottle on the table, hissing at the liquid
GINA“Doesn’t it baffle you? Don’t you wonder where that kiddo can be?” I asked, tidying our tent and dusting our sleeping bags.We had a real eating frenzy in here and I didn’t want insects crawling on me when I sleep because of one of Jason’s stupid ideas. I’m smarter than that but that slim hunk can make me do anything.The smile Jason had since the camping trip died and I knew I had done it again. Spoiling moods. “We’re meant to be enjoying this camping trip, G. You shouldn’t bring it up.”I fluffed my camping pillow. “I know but let’s be real. She just vanished along with her kids. There’s no trace of Henry and we hear that Carissa’s been murdered. Doesn’t that scare you?”I was terrified for her… and the kids. They could be in some real danger.“G, please! We’re out here on a break. Don’t bring that up!”I had annoyed him again. It’s all I can do when I’m around him. I can’t give him that smile and shine he would’v
KATRINA ‘They’ve done something, haven’t they?’‘I-I think they’re fine, Kat,’ Mel said—uncertain.“What did they do to them?!” I expected the worst of answers.“They’re fine, don’t be worried,” Cannon said but it wasn’t so reassuring.“I don’t think they are.”Kane wheezed. “We’re not that bad, Kat.”I flashed a frown. “You should be the last person saying that.”Ian smirked, receiving a dirty look from Kane. “F*cking true.”“And you think you’re better?”Elder Sesan hit his hand on the table, redirecting our attentiveness to him. Ian was pissed off at what I said and I was glad he was. The triplets all looked annoyed.“Katrina, you mustn’t judge unless you know what happened.”“There’s nothing to judge…” I glowered at them again. “Mother of the triplets, that’s enough. I’ll explain what happened.” I kept quiet and huffed.‘Sheesh, Kat, you’re really somet
KANE Took some hours of running and getting lost but I made it. I tipped the cabman and absorbed the surroundings. D*mn, New York is one busy city. Everything’s so f*cking rushed and crowded, and some streets were a real pain to the nose.We were in front of a white bungalow located in Long Island, and thankfully in the suburbs. The bungalow was moderate with trees surrounding the backside and a Land Rover parked in the half-opened garage.The lawn was cut and the roof was ash-brown. Apart from the green and white present, there were a few flowerbeds that added color to the scenery.A phone call was all I made to find the designer but finally, I was here.‘Are you sure this is the place?’ Ante asked.New York addresses are a bit confusing but I was certain. Yet, I expected a huge jewelry industry that I’d have to break a few bones to get into but this was good.I kept an eye out for security as I went to the door. The p
JASONI shuddered from the heat in my sleep, having sweet dreams of Gina on me, pounding her all night. Slowly, those dreams became nightmares of ferocious beasts tearing our flesh and ripping our hearts out.My eyes shot open as I realized that the heat was real. The dream didn’t end as planned but the nightmare’s ending scared the sh*t out of me.Even though my eyes were open, I couldn’t see and my back was against hard rods that restricted my movement. Droplets of sweat rolled down my face and the urge to pull off my clothes was agonizing.When I heard Gina’s groan, my vision returned and I had to lock my scream down in my throat when I saw our location. We were in a cage, a large cage that could fit elephants but with people arranged on the floor of it. We were so many inside that some had no place to sit and had to climb over people.The heat was out of this world and the floor was covered with sweat. The horrific part was that this wasn’t the only cage. There were more cages—hund
KANE Katrina doesn’t know how much she’s assisted me. I was closer to finding the culprit now that I knew who she was, her bloody sister. I had to get her, make her talk, spill it out and get me off the hook.I’m not getting beheaded next month and I didn’t like being on vanilla’s bad side either. Maybe she’d stop glaring at me if she found out the truth.I got up to leave.“Thanks, ice cream,” I winked and headed for the door.She was quiet for a while as I walked on before she started asking random questions. “Where did you find the locket? Is that why you were in Southpaw the other day?” Now wasn’t the time to answer those. “Why the questions, Kane? What’s going on?”When she said my name, my d*ck hardened. I had to reply her ‘cause if she called my name like that one more time, I might need to f*ck someone.“Keep the locket, ice cream. I’ll be back to show you the truth.”She didn’t understand what I meant but I left her in the room and took
KATRINA “Is there a new trend where you pull your shirts off before painting?”Kane tossed the shirt over his shoulder while Cannon used his to fan himself. “It got hot in here as soon as you entered,” Kane winked.Melora giggled.‘Shut up, Mel.’“Let’s just get this over with.”I lay on the bed but Ian hissed. “Terrible posture. Lay on the bed with your hands over and let that sexy shape out.”“What?” I asked, surprised that it was Ian speaking.It didn’t sound like the a*shole but someone with a little brain in his head. “Start with the Titanic Rose Pose.”“What?” I asked, again.“I’ll handle this.” Cannon got up from the chair, offering to help but I stopped him there. “I-I’ll take care of this. Do you understand a d*mn word you’re saying, Ian?”Kane took a glass of whiskey down in one sip. “Used to be a sucker for art. Now he’s into smokes.”“Shut the f*ck up, b
He listened to the darkness that spun around his ears, a low screeching noise releasing from it. It danced around him and sang the song of death as he walked mindlessly to where he had to be.This meeting could happen only once in ten years. He wasn’t sure he had made the wisest decision or that the others were smart to join but what he knew was that he needed answers. And he would do anything to get them.Heart-burning answers about his mate and all happening on the surface above, things he needed to know. If only he could stretch his hand out of the looming darkness and rejoin them…The darkness continued to swirl like a body of smoke in the dead of the night. He was walking but he wasn’t feeling the ground. He was moving but he felt like he had been in the same place the whole time. His eyes were open but it wouldn’t make a difference if he were blind… in a place as dark and sad as this.Not too long after his wailing thoughts, Cannon saw what looked like a dull red orb of dim light
KATRINA‘It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?’My knees were on the new little shoots of grass that were growing… The wind was very friendly ‘cause it circled me in a gentle whirlwind. The sun was madly bright, hoping to roast everyone with its stinging rays but that didn’t bother me because of the greater pain weighing my heart down. Little stones prickled my knees and I removed my sunglasses, setting them aside.Windy and Sunny didn’t go well together. Father said there was nothing in the world that couldn’t go together. It all depended on how you were doing it. But in this case, the wind is like Dash and the sun is like Hilda so…The pain of looking down at father’s grave was sharp and hit me right in the heart.There was nothing like it and I had been fighting tears all the time I was here. I could barely hear the voices of the playing kids that Kane was trying to control. I smiled a bit… they wouldn’t take him seriously, especially when he’s been spoiling them too much.Surprisingly m
KATRINAFreedom. It was all I could think about.Kane ushered me into a room, checking to make sure no one followed us here. Our duration at the ball was mostly spent attending to guests, dancing, and having conversations with the Beta and Gamma until nine o’clock. We needed time to ourselves and I was annoyed that two Alphas, one of the Jayrus pack and the other of the Skyfall pack, were eager on discussing business with the Alpha. There were so eager that they couldn’t even respect the party. I couldn’t blame them. The partnership would be hugely beneficial if they succeeded.But if they think that because Kane’s a new Alpha, he’d be easily convinced with a partnership that he’d only gain access to a few diamond mines and good weather, then they were twice dumber than I thought. Kane knew what he was doing. His words, “Today’s a celebration. Let’s not spoil the mood with business talk, the time for that will come.” We also met Alpha Hades and I didn’t care if it was inappropriat
KATRINAI don’t want to sound proud but since no one’s here to tell me, I say this dress looks so much better when I’m wearing it.‘You do sound proud and… that’s how it’s meant to be.’‘Ever heard of what you wanted versus what you got?’I couldn’t recognize my former self as I gazed at myself in the mirror. It must be a crime to look this pretty.‘Cut it out already! It’s annoying.’‘Sounds like jealousy to me. Too bad you can’t wear a dress.’‘Says who?’I pushed her aside for a moment and thought about the kids. I wasn’t happy that they would have to sleep through the most important morning of my life but it was best. They wouldn’t understand what was happening and would ask just too many questions.Hilda would’ve been so pleased to see me wear a crown. She would think we were in a castle all this time and tick herself as a princess. Also, I don’t think they know that the wolves here can actually shift into one. It’s hard to imagine the looks on their faces when they realize they
KATRINA Thankfully, Kendra left me off because Susanna caught us when she came to momentarily check up on me. She was furious when she discovered I wasn’t sleeping and it made me wish I had locked the door.So that was how she sent Kendra away at ten pm and tried to put me to sleep. Of course, I couldn’t so I pretended. She bought it and left the room. I don’t know what the time is but I’m still awake and I was laying on my side on the bed, staring at my dress.The last time a dress had been folded for me like this was when I was being sold. Today, this was for a coronation that will change my life. It’s crazy because the sale felt like yesterday.If someone told me I’d end up like this, I would have never believed it. It’s amazing but some strange force was pulling me down. I couldn’t force a smile even with all the amazing things happening around me.There were still unsettled things between Kane and me, and I was afraid to bring it up. I’m not sure if he has ever thought about it.
KATRINA“Why are you here?”My right hand kept the door partially open, prepared for when they’d say something irritating so I could slam it in their faces, and the part of me that wasn’t inside, rested on the hinges.Kane was close… close enough for me to feel his warm heavy breaths on the weak points of my neck and his crotch unnoticeably grinding my a*s, excitement sizzling through me. If only Susanna wasn’t in…Madeline and Fraser were not present, thank goodness for that, but any of the council members is enough to put me in a bad mood. “You haven’t said anything?” Kane inquired, opening the door a bit more so that his menacing figure would get a better view.Penelope’s eyes were sizing Kane up and that made me more insecure than it normally should’ve been.Elder Sesan had gone strict and that small smile he once had, had gone. “We must inform you, of course, about the coronation that will occur in the grand hall tomorrow.”“Coronation?” I asked, easing and tensing up at the sam
KATRINAFor a second there, I felt complete emptiness. What was I saying? I couldn’t even feel myself. I went numb and it didn’t ‘feel like’ because something had definitely been pulled out of me. It came like eternal peace but I began to worry when I got my senses back and still couldn’t move.Thankfully, Kane caught me and the world was colorful again. My nerves were working again. I was still recovering but Kane helped me to my feet and his touch brought me back to life.His aura was stronger than ever and the one thing that was once shared among three, then two… all belonged to him. It was a pulling attraction, which I could barely control.Was this how it felt to have one mate? The one you truly deserved. “What did you do, Kat?” Kane asked, and he seemed to have turned slightly pale as well.I muttered silently, smiling, “What I should have done a long time ago.”Ian wasn’t taking this well. He screamed like he was burn
KANE I didn’t understand a f*cking thing that was happening but the way my life changed from ‘waiting for death’ to ‘becoming Alpha’ left me in shock. I was not expecting it and what I loved most right now was how Katrina held my hand bossily.Dragging me along with her… with serious a*s movements that drove me nuts.‘I see empty rooms all around us?’‘Not a f*cking word from you.’But as much as I enjoyed this moment and didn’t want it to end, I had to know what the hell was happening. The excitement, sex drive, and curiosity were killing me.“You have to tell me what’s going on? Can you hear how hard my heart is beating?”I sensed her rolling her eyes because her back was to me, and I admired her beautiful and lengthier caramel blonde hair. “Be patient, would you?”I didn’t want to stop her because she was so anxious but I had to do something.“Explain while we’re going. If you don’t, I might die before we reach there.”She turned to me, a glare locked on her face before she shook
KATRINAWho will be the chosen one?It was a simple question but there’d be grave consequences if a mistake occurred. Not only would my kids and I suffer for it, but the pack as a whole. A worthy wolf would also be hanged to death.“You’ve had plenty of time to think before now, Katrina. We don’t want to waste any more time now, do we?” Madeline snapped at me, seeming greatly impatient.Penelope talked before Elder Sesan could say a word. “This is a very delicate decision. Even at the last second, it needs proper thinking. You shouldn’t rush…”“And who asked you to speak?” Fraser turned to her while I watched them with grazing eyes. “You never have anything sensible to say.”“She is right, Fraser.” All attention returned to Sesan when his words came out. “A decision made in haste would yield frightening results. We must not hasten her.”Fraser sneered while Penelope glared at Madeline for some time before catching me loo