[Answers, Not Excuses II] SEBASTIAN Like many recent events unfolding around my pack, I had no clue what this word meant. It could be a first or last name. Heck, who knew if it wasn’t a location or some sort of code used by Owen and his abhorrent cronies for their secret language? Sometimes I wish the solutions I sought were as fortuitous as the problems themselves. There I go again with my wishful thinking. Nothing could ever be easy or simple, could it? Sigh... I launched the internet browser and typed in the name. They weren’t kidding when they called it the World Wide Web. A bunch of things I doubt had any meaning came up in the search, along with a few names. “Crap, crap, and more crap.” I would ask again, why couldn’t anything ever be easy? My subconscious urged me to take a break, as the search was obviously getting me nowhere. That couldn’t be any closer to the truth. This search was indeed going nowhere. Frankly, when nothing else among the pile screamed importance, I s
[Madam Elsbeth] ZAIDEN It had been days since that altercation with my father, and somehow I kept a straight face whenever I sat in his presence. The man was a menace—cruel and unstable. How had I not noticed that before? The gods above knew I couldn’t wait to make him pay. Knock, knock, knock. “Prince Zaiden, it’s Princess Cassidy.” Her soothing voice wafted to my ears. I jerked upright at the sound of her voice and skidded toward the door, yanked it open and tugged her into the room. Since my father suspected her father was at the castle for another reason than our wedding, I had been trying to avoid them at all costs. She staggered forward and would have fallen flat on her face if I had released her hand. “What are you doing?” Princess Cassidy asked. Her brows furrowed together when she noticed the state of my chambers—dark and unkempt. “Zaiden, what’s going on?” I locked the door, then dragged her toward the parlor, and turned on the television to drown out the sound. My act
[The Raid] SEBASTIAN The teams and I went over the plan one more time, determining we knew our objectives. Everything had to go off without a hitch, and if men stumbled, our plans could go awry. “So, does everybody know what they’re supposed to do? There can be no mistakes out there today. I should not have to stress on that.” “Yes, Alpha,” they roared in unison. “Connor, your group will take the lead and prepare their diversionary tactics. Your team will fall back behind, out of sight, Elliott. Once you arrive, track down the pups and return them to the pack. Avoid lingering. Now let’s go!” I commanded. Everyone dispersed into groups. I went outside and found Rory still skulking. He was giving out his orders for the warriors to protect the safe house from attack. “Beta Rory!” I called him over. “Alpha, what can I do for you?” “Rory, you need to understand this is nothing personal. With Sierra indisposed and I away on this mission, I need you here.” I slapped him on the should
[A Hunch] SEBASTIAN A rush of relief swept over me as we drove home. Even if we didn’t find the hunters this time, the pups were safe, and back home with their parents. It was more than I could have ever hoped. I believed it would take some time to figure out which pack the remains belonged to and if they had any living kin. Overall, I’d say it was a successful day. “Alpha, not to dampen the mood, but do you think we found all their hidey-holes? I mean, if they had one under their house, wouldn’t it be safe to say they would have more?” asked Jack, glancing between the road and me in the rearview mirror. “According to the stories told by my parents and other families in the pack, these hunters have been around for as long as we have.” “I won’t put it past them.” The strangeness of it all was that since we left the farm, a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach kept telling me we had forgotten someone. But who? My men were here, and the kids should be safe with their families. So
[Now What] SEBASTIAN “Okay, Alpha. We have the requested information. Now what? How do we assure ourselves these people are Silenthide pack members without drawing attention to them and ourselves?” asked Rory, as he scanned the printed names and images. “Well, we already know that man is the real Joshua,” I answered, arrogance coloring my tone with the assurance of a moral, aware being. “We only need to figure out who the other three are. That won’t be too hard.” The room fell silent. “We find out someone isn’t from the pack,” he said. “Then what?” I sighed and turned to Rory, standing by the window with his hands in his pockets and a frown on his face. “Rory, all I’m getting from you is skepticism, and I don’t need it. We go through the remaining three, and if anyone stands out, we lock them up until we know who they are. It’s just that simple. C’mon, man, it’s not rocket science.” “I’ll bring them here. It’s the only way to keep everyone else’s eyes and ears away from what we’
[The Results] SEBASTIAN Bryanna’s gaze flickered from face to face, waiting for my response. Her brows furrowed, and her lips pressed together. “Alpha Sebastian?” My eyes darted to meet hers, unsure of what to say. What could I say? I permitted Grace to adopt Bryanna because she had no family in the pack. What was there to say now her real mother was back in her life? I wanted to ease her mind a little, but nothing I could say would serve either of them. “Bryanna, I’m not sure what else I can say besides I’m sorry,” I stated. “I authorized Grace and her mate to adopt you because I was under the impression your parents had died when I accepted you into my pack. Thus, giving you a second chance at a family and a home.” “But my mom is not dead,” Bryanna retorted. “She’s right here.” “Yes, and I understand you want nothing more than to pick up where you left off, but what about Grace? What about Davidson? They’ve been there for you all along. Do you not care how they would feel?” “
[No Number of Apologies Will Suffice]SEBASTIAN>Since Sierra’s attack, I’ve seemed to have fallen into a perpetual routine. I sat on the edge of the bed, fiddling with a purple jewelry box, rolling it between my fingers, the anguish of her absence deepening by the second.Inside the box was an amethyst ring. I had purchased it weeks before Sierra’s birthday, intending to propose. But all I did these days was take the box from its hiding place, open it, and sigh at the ring.This should not be our way of life. I promised her happiness and love. While I might have given her all the love I had, why was it impossible to provide her with the happiness she deserved? We should’ve been laughing. Having fun and making plans for the future, while not knowing what could happen. Instead, I sulked and growled at the world while she lay in a coma in a hospital bed.It wasn’t customary for wolves to marry, simply because the mates the Moon Goddess designated for us were our life
[Awakened II] SEBASTIAN “Trust me, Angel. Arianne will never hurt you again.” I gritted through clenched teeth. The rage surging inside me burned ten times hotter than the sun for what Arianne had done. She should count her blessings because when I get my hands on her... “I assure you; Arianne will get what’s coming to her.” Sierra pulled out of the hug, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Her face sported a determination I saw back when her uncle was after her. “I don’t want you to kill her, Sebastian.” Despite how softly she spoke, her resolve was evident in every word. “It’s not worth having her blood on your hands.” She caressed my cheek lovingly, gazing intently into my eyes. I lowered my head to meet her lips, expecting her to kiss me. Instead, she rubbed her nose against mine. “Besides, I have a bone to pick with her, not you.” Gratifyingly amused, I kissed her lips, forehead, and each cheek, grinning like an idiot. “Gosh, if only you knew how much these past two months withou