While I continue to walk towards Sukieโs cottage, I force myself not to turn back to Amelia and Paisley.ย If I see Paisleyโs face one more time, I know I may lose my courage to die for the man I love. As I look ahead, I see Sloan and Luca standing by the door to the cottage. They both turn in my direction when Iย slowly walk up the sidewalk, stopping a few inches away. โWhat are you doing, Luca?โ I questioned,ย folding my arms across my chest. He looks at Sloan then back to me. โI can't let you do this, Chloe. Itโ
I squint against the sudden intrusion of light and see everyone standing around me. โDid it work?โ I ask them, but no one answers or even acknowledges me. I reach for Malachi, but my hand phases right through him. I realize my body feels light and airy, but I sense something lying behind me. I turn around, and suddenly it all makes sense. My spirit hovers above my physical body. It still lies on the chair, but this time lifeless. I want to enjoy our success, but in seconds Iโm ripped away towards the sky. I reach o
I stand there looking at Luca before Sukie, and we look at each other. โWhoโs coming?โ I ask, puzzled,ย looking back at Luca. He simply stares between Sukie and me. โThe coven. They must have found us by doing a locator spell,โ he explains, and my stomach sinks with worry. โWe have to tell the others,โ Iย declare while turning to walk back to the cottage with Sukie and Luca following behind me.ย
The wind rushes through my fur as I sprint through the forest with Sloan and Luca at my heels. I glance back and see Sloan is right behind me, but Luca is lagging to keep up. I stop and turn to him, allowing him time to catch up. He stops to catch his breath beside me, and thatโs when I realize how much taller I stand over him. Since I canโt communicate with him in wolf form, I use my head to motion towards my back, but he doesnโt understand. Sloan sighs heavily next to us.
All I see is rage as I run through the forest chasing after Blair. I effortlessly leap over tree limbs before Iย come skidding to a halt, digging my paws into the soil when I lose her scent. I pause a moment, with my snout in the air, taking deep breaths to catch Blair's scent. I know she couldnโt have gone too far. My nose twitches to the right and I swivel my head in the direction she went. With a wolfish grin I use all my power to sprint after her.ย
We walk back towards the cottage when I stop Malachi. โStop here,โ I tell him. He looks down at me,ย lifting a questioning brow. I move my gaze toward the tree where Lucaโs lifeless body lays, and Malachiย nods, letting me down. โPlease get Sukie and Cypress for me and bring Paul back with you to help takeย Luca back to the cottage. We need to lay him to rest properly,โ I tell him softly. Malachi kisses myย forehead, rubbing my shoulder before pulling away. I watch him walk toward the cottage, leaving meย alone with Luca.ย
Itโs been several months since Lucaโs death and itโs finally starting to get easier. Iโm still struggling withย the way I told him how I would always choose Malachi over him. I was telling the truth; I would never give up my life with Malachi and Paisley, but it just doesnโt feel the same without Luca here. There was an unexplainable emptiness in my life that I knew nothing but Luca could fill. I only hope he knew how much he meant to me. I canโt help but get lost in thought with everything that has happened since
As I stand there, watching Benjamin walk into the woods, I realize I've been so selfish. This whole time Iย have been so consumed with grief I have been neglecting the family I fought so hard to protect. Malachiย and Paisley deserve better than this. โThank you moon goddess for giving me another chance at this lifeย with my wolfmanโ I say aloud, looking to the moon as I place my hands together in prayer. With aย newfound purpose I turn on my heels and head
As Malachi tells me the news about Paisley, my heart is racing. I don't say a word and dart out of theย kitchen, grabbing my keys and rushing out the door without even acknowledging Cypress as I run pastย him, almost knocking him over. Malachi is not far behind me as I make it to my car, quickly opening theย door and jumping in. He hurries into the passenger's seat, closing the door and we look at each otherย with worry filling our expressions.ย
As we made our way through the darkening woods, I couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted. The uneasy truce between us seemed to crumble, along with the old ways the witch had mentioned. I could feel Lux's anger radiating off him in waves, his body tense as he moved ahead of me through the trees."Lux," I called out softly, trying to bridge the growing chasm between us. "We need to talk about this. About what she said..."He whirled around, his eyes flashing with barely contained fury. "There's nothing to talk about, Zadie. You heard her. We have three days to make an impossible choice."I took a step closer, ignoring the way he flinched at my proximity. "I know what she means."Lux stood there, arms folded, with irritation written all over his face. "So, what does she want?"โMe.โHe seemed taken aback. โWhat do you mean?โI reminded Lux, "You already know that I'm a witch. My grandmother was a powerful hybrid hunted by her covenant. Sukie, my ancestor, cast
As the sun sank below the horizon, casting an orange and pink glow across the sky, it was time for me to meet Lux for our border patrol. The crisp evening air filled my lungs as I walked towards our rendezvous point, determination coursing through my veins. This was my chance to prove myself, to show Lux what I was truly capable of. The moon hung low in the sky, like a giant silver coin, casting its ethereal light over the land. As I approached Lux, standing tall and confident in his black jeans and black sleeveless shirt, I felt a surge of adrenaline. This was it - my moment to shine on this important mission."Someoneโs eager," I joked, stopping next to Lux, who was leaning against a tree and shaking his head before gazing out into the forest.Suddenly, a bone-chilling howl pierced the air, followed by the sound of snapping branches and thundering footsteps. Lux's eyes widened, his body tensing as he pushed off the tree. "Rogues," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.Without hes
It had been a couple of months since I was appointed as the first female alpha of Aberdeen. And, to put it lightly, my beta was causing me major headaches. He constantly ridiculed me and made it difficult for me to get him to do anything I needed. It didnโt help that his entire family supported him and resented the fact that I was now in charge.As I paced in my office, the weight of leadership pressed down on me like a physical force. Every decision I made felt scrutinized, every order questioned. I caught glimpses of whispered conversations that fell silent as I approached, saw the barely concealed sneers on faces that should have shown respect.My beta, Lux, was the worst of them all. Just yesterday, he'd openly challenged me during a pack meeting, his voice dripping with disdain as he questioned my strategy for expanding our territory. The memory of it made my blood boil, my inner wolf snarling for dominance.But beneath the anger, a seed of doubt took root. Was I truly fit to lea
My heart raced as the plane landed at Aberdeen airport, knowing that my mother's family would be waiting for us with disapproving glares the second we stepped onto Aberdeen territory. They resented her for leaving to become queen of the Lycans. Uncle Hunter, in particular, held a deep grudge against my dad for taking his sister away and leaving him to deal with pack responsibilities alongside our grandfather. He used to adore my father as a child, but as he grew older, his hate only intensified.After retrieving our baggage from the carousel, we walked towards the limousine waiting curbside at the airport. My parents were the first to enter, followed by my siblings Marcus and Ashton. I paused outside the car, taking in the gloomy sky above, thick with humidity - an uncommon sight in Aberdeen. Wolves were connected to the earth, so it was no surprise that even the elements seemed to mourn my grandparents' passing.โZadie?โ Dad poked his head out. โCome on.โI forcefully looked away from
Chapter 1 The Bad NewsYears had flown by since Ashtonโs birth. Soon, he would come of age and take his rightful place as the Lycan king once our father stepped down from the throne. However, that seemed like a distant future; my brother was still young, and it was common for rulers to reign for centuries among Lycans. According to tradition, I was supposed to marry my fatherโs right-hand man, Theo, which worked well since we were already in a relationship. But deep inside, I knew I possessed powers meant for something greater than just being a wife and mother. Unfortunately, as a woman, I couldnโt rule the Lycans even though I was the oldest child; that honor would be bestowed upon Ashton with Marcus as his second-in-command.โZadie?โ Theoโs voice resonated from the hallway, and the door creaked open. He poked his head inside, trying to catch a glimpse of me.โYes?โ I glanced back at him in the doorway. โYour father called. He would like you to be at the palace. He stated it was urg
~Paisley~ My water broke, and the contractions were coming in fast. Zade carried me out of the packhouse, rushing toward the car, but I knew there was no time. The baby was coming now. โZade, it canโt wait,โ I urged. "The contractions are coming on strong,โ I added, my features filled with fear for my unborn child. โZade?โ My mother called behind us. He turned. His grip was tight on me as he looked at my mother, with an expression that begged for help. He was terrified. โBring her upstairs. Iโll prepare everything,โ she said, gesturing for him to take me toward the main bedroom. There was no hesitation on his part; he rushed past all the guests into the house at the speed of light. He kicked the door open and laid me on the king-size bed and kneeled next to me, gripping my hand in his. โIt will be okay, Pais,โ He reassured me. My fingers felt along his jaw, and I smiled, but I knew it wouldnโt be okay. I could feel it deep down, and I didnโt have the heart to tell him, nor did I w
~Paisley~ Soft tears tread on the edge of falling down my cheeks as Asher's face appeared on the screen. In the background are the pictures of us displayed on the walls of his office. "Paisley, if you're watching this, I'm gone, but I couldn't let you think I stopped loving you. We had our problems but not once has my love for you faded. Sure, Zade was a tough competitor, but I knew you better than anyone. I guess that gave me the upper hand in at least the friend department," Asher paused while he glanced down before continuing. "I've done some things I'm not proud of, and I deeply regret them. I trusted someone over you, and that was a big mistake. I'm sorry," Asher looked back at the camera. "Maybe in a different life, we would have been able to live happily, but it just wasn't meant
Seven years ago ~ Zade ~ In the woods, I sat watching, waiting for a sign she was okay. Was she happy? It had been months since I last saw Pais. I woke up alone in a stranger's home with no recollection of what happened or who I was until one day, my memories of her came flooding back out of the blue. The urge to be with her was tough. I knew most likely she had moved on with her other mate, but a piece of me couldn't just let go. As I watch outside the Aberdeen packhouse, it's full of visitors. What was going on? I thought. Then like a slap in the face, I saw her in a white gown fit for a princess, and as she turned my way, as if she could sense me, her protruding belly came into view, and I knew right then I couldn't disrupt her life. I spent the next year like a creeper, stalking the woods outside Paisley's house in Cody. I watched Paisley turn from a young girl t
~Paisley~At an appointment for the baby, I sat waiting for the doctor while Zade looked at me in awe. It was a bit awkward. "What weirdo?" I said, laughing.His smirk that could make any girl swoon appeared, making my lady parts ache. "Nothing, baby mama," Zade lifted a brow.Lately, I have been a total horn dog. I mean, Zade and I haven't slept together since that night, but these hormones made me want to jump him right in the doctor's office.I swallowed, biting my lower lip while my eyes racked over his well-structured frame. He looked so good in his black jeans and grey t-shirt. His tatted arms were visible for my eyes to drool over. I mean, what's the use of having a Lycan mate if you couldn't have wet dreams about him?"Pais, you alright?" Zade used his thumb to motion to wipe the corner of my mouth. "You got some drool hanging," He laughed, and I sent him an icy glare.It always pissed me off when he caught me