Tia heard trickling water somewhere in the dark. She felt bone-chillingly cold. It was so cold, and she wasn’t sure where she was. Excruciating pain shot through her body as she slowly regained consciousness. As she opened her eyes, she saw the sky and trees above her. The dashboard pinned her legs and hips against the seat. The side window was gone, leaving her and the car partially submerged in a creek. She did not see Luca anywhere. Panic set in as she called out for him. There was no response. She screamed in agony as she forced herself to shift into her wolf form, and she almost blacked out again. It was enough to allow her to wiggle free and climb out of the car. She looked around frantically until she caught sight of Luca’s still form contorted on a rocky creek bed 50 feet from the car. She stumbled over to him and nudged him with her nose. He did not respond. She licked at a bleeding wound on his forehead. Suddenly, his
The next morning, Tia left Luca in bed. He needed the sleep, and she wanted to get to Rialto Village early to fit in extra training sessions. Ryder dropped her at the Village on his way into Port Angeles. She had mind-linked with Gaby before she arrived, so everyone had already assembled. Tia first checked in on the last attack victim, Tyler, but he was healing well. He told her everything he could remember, and Gaby filled in any missing details from the Gamma.Everyone greeted her enthusiastically. It was nice to see them all. They were concerned about Luca since he did not come to training. Tatiana assured them Luca was doing exceptionally well, and she merely wanted to give him a day off to finish healing. As training began, Tia realized she was still healing as well. She tired quickly. Gaby helped out. She had become a warrior and was Tia’s star student. Tia was proud of her for all the hard w
(TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains violence and a rape scene.)Talia crouched down and pulled her lips back, exposing her teeth. They might have the numbers, but she would take as many as she could down with her. Vlad stepped forward, snarling at her.“So if it isn’t the Rogue princess. It is a shame you are out here all alone. Did Luca get bored with you already?”“Vlad, my old friend. Did you come back for me to kick your butt again?”Vlad lunged at her, but she stepped out of his path. His reaction time was pathetic. As he passed, she raked her claws down his side. A large gray wolf rammed into her side, while another pounced on her back. She grabbed a smaller tan wolf in her jaws and shook it until she heard its neck s
Luca went to Tatiana’s side. As he saw her condition up close, He let out a haunting howl. It made him sick to his stomach. They brutalized her body in so many ways; he was not sure where to start. Her blank, lifeless eyes stared past him. Luca put his hands on her shoulders and closed his eyes. Although his heart felt as if it were being torn from his chest, he had no time to grieve. He focused his energy on her and let it flow from his hands. His hands warmed her cold skin, but she remained unresponsive. Although Luca was not supposed to raise people from the dead, he prayed to the moon goddess that this would work. He had to bring her back because he did not want to live in a world without her. As he let his strength and energy flow into her, he felt nothing but vacuous emptiness. Tears streamed down his face, but he kept at it. Although she showed no visible change, Luca continued to focus completely on healing her. The cold, dark emptiness inside her was something he had never f
Ari rested in the chair in Tatiana’s hospital room. Squishing his enormous frame into the little chair was uncomfortable, but he was not going anywhere until his mate regained consciousness. After they cleaned her up, he could see how stunning she was. The small, broken figure he found laying helplessly on the ground surrounded by wolves ignited a blinding rage in him. He ripped the cowards apart that he laid eyes on, but some had escaped. He would find the wolves responsible for such a cowardly attack and finish them, too. However, for now, he would not leave her side until she was awake, and he knew she was safe.Her brother Duncan gave him a mobile phone so he could update him on any changes. Apparently, he was the pack Alpha. The enormous wolf had been a Zeta, which explained the Wolfbane resistance. Ari did not realize there were any Zetas in existence. He had only heard of them. His understanding was that Zetas had healing abilities, but he did not know that they could bring wer
Duncan returned to the packhouse. Sadie was still in bed. Knowing Luca and Tatiana were not there left a gaping hole. One no one else could fill. He quietly went to shower in the guest room so as not to disturb Sadie. However, as he stepped out of the shower, he found clean clothes sitting on the bathroom counter. Wondering who left them for him, he quickly slipped into the clothes. As he stepped into the bedroom, Sadie was sitting on the end of the bed, looking pale, with her hand resting protectively on her stomach.“What are you doing out of bed?”“I heard what happened. Word travels fast around here. How is your sister?”“She is still in a coma. It turns out she is fated to the rogue Gamma wolf. He is with her now.”“Did Luca realize he saved her before he died?”“Yes. He saw her come back before he collapsed. It was the last thing he saw.”“How are you doing?”“I am exhausted. I haven’t slept in 72 hours. I keep expecting to look up and see Luca wandering around the room. I attem
Ari had fallen asleep for a couple of hours. When he woke up, he felt sore all over. It took him a few seconds of wallowing in his own pain until he looked up to find his mate staring at him.“Your awake.”“Do I know you?”“Not exactly. My name is Ari. I am the rogue Gamma.”“Where is Luca or Duncan?”Ari suddenly felt very uncomfortable.“I will notify your brother you are awake. He will explain it to you. First, you need to have the doctor look you over.”He left the room briefly and returned with the doctor. As the doctor fussed and ask her a hundred questions, he stepped back to make a phone call. She responded to the doctor, but her focus was on the Gamma. Did he feel it too? Had he told anyone? He was her mate. His mouthwatering scent of lime and raspberry. The carnal pull to him was infuriating. Every movement and every glance he made was intoxicating. His full lips begged to be nipped. Her draw to him was beyond a casual attraction, and he aroused and confused her at the same
Gaby arrived at the clinic to find Tatiana looking determined."I am being released today, and I am not going back to the pack house. I don't care what Duncan says.""Well hold on now. We can offer to fortify the village by adding some extra protections for you and everyone.""What do you mean?""Ari suggested to me last night that we add additional security and that might be enough to persuade Duncan. I thought about it last night. I think in this climate adding guards and perimeter patrols might be a good thing."Tatiana contemplated it for a second."Who would be guards?""All trained warriors run shifts to secure the borders, and warriors in training take shifts walking the interior.""Have the rogues agreed to this?""We have a formal meeting tomorrow, but I discussed it with several rogue wolves yesterday. Rogues want to feel safe in their homes, and with Vex spouting his vile propaganda this adds some extra comfort to many of them.""Okay, Duncan is already on his way with Dad.
Tatiana and Gaby shifted into their wolves, Talia and Gia, as they crashed through the forest towards Rialto Village. Nikau was hot on their heels, but they ran like they were being chased by enemies. Neither of them looking back. She felt wracked with guilt as the expression of Duncan's pain flashed through her mind. She howled mournfully but did not slow. Having longed for a pack to call her own, it surprised her how quickly she turned her back on them. Duncan was only trying to protect her, but he was so stubborn and would not listen. She couldn’t go back to the packhouse. There were too many memories. She hoped her family and pack could forgive her someday.As the three reached the Village, Tia collapsed outside Gaby’s tent. Ari shifted back and carried her into Gaby’s, gently laying her on the bed. Gaby rounded up clothing for all of them and as she and Ari dressed, they looked at each other, flabbergasted.“I did not see that coming.”“I did. I hoped it wouldn’t come to that, bu