*Ivy POV*I sit with Clem as she vomits in the trash can in the kitchen. All I did was offer to make her eggs before we head out to the ceremony. I didn’t even pull them out, or crack them open. Just a loose suggestion to help with all her nausea, which she still claims is from a bug. Luckily for her, after my conversation with Caleb the other night, he stocked the fridge with ginger ale and the cupboard with plain old boring crackers. The original pack house is undergoing some massive renovations since it was abandoned for quite some time. I was under the impression James lived in this cabin we claimed as ours because he was never actually the true Alpha of the pack. Maybe that was part of the issue, maybe not. As lovely as the cabin is, it was made quickly and isn’t of the finest qualities. Which, if I’m being honest, lends to its charm and makes me like it all the more.Caleb and Clem have since moved into the little cabin with us, taking James’ old room and using his office for A
The breeze picks up as we stand in a freshly mown meadow. It whips my loose hair around my face. Caleb was insightful enough to have the areas where we would all walk and witness the ceremonial burning mowed, so we don’t set the entire area ablaze. Everyone stands in silence, all women in black dresses and men in black shirts and their choice of slacks. The amazing thing is there was no dress code, yet it looks like we had stripped the choice from everyone. To me, that’s what makes it seem more beautiful.We are all in mourning. Here we stand united with all those who came to acknowledge the terrible history of my brother and his mates’ newly acquired pack. The darkness that lingers in the trinkets and trophies of a man possessed by madness will soon be laid to rest and made free. No longer will he have a hold on me or any of the others who had loved ones that fell victim to the monster that was Jonathon. When James approaches with a wary-looking Sarah on his arm, the crowd watches wi
8 Months later~Ivy POV~Enzo and I have been traveling as fast as possible to get back to Caleb and Clem. After taking a few months to travel and be together, just us, we are finally, frantically I might add, heading back home. Home where my brother and his mate share their alpha ship, home where I finally grieved my parents and Enzo’s. Home where my baby niece or nephew is waiting to meet us. Auntie Ivy. Uncle Enzo.Best nicknames ever if I say so myself. Honestly, Enzo seems to be more excited about it than I am, and that is saying something. We came to the agreement that we want one or two pups of our own one day. But not anytime soon. I have five years of ignorance to make up for by giving my man my undivided attention and all the love he could have ever dreamed of. “How much further until we hit the meadows?” I ask him anxiously as he tears down the road in the borrowed car. I use the word borrowed loosely here.“I would guess maybe fifteen minutes?” He says, scanning the roa
5 years later~Enzo POV~ James laughs at me as I pace the living room anxiously. It’s been years since we buried the hatchet. I hate to admit it but with him being so close to Caleb considering they are family now through the mate bonds that tie us all together, I’ve come to call James a friend. And a good one at that. Caleb made us sit down and have a very serious chat about Ivy and Sarah. I can’t say I would have subjected my mate to watching me pursue another woman in order to free her from the abuse she was living through. In fact, I know I would have just killed the fucker. But James and I are not the same. Where I had nothing to live for he was afraid to lose his mate, even after knowing he would have to give her up for her to be safe. I don’t think it makes him braver than me or my methods but it makes him honorable all the same. Sarah was subjected to far worse at the hands of James’ father. All because they were mates and James wanted to protect her. Only a monster uses th
This was a very different type of book for me to write and to those of you who stuck it out with me, I so appreciate your dedication to see this through! It was rough for me, but we made it. so THANK YOU! I will be taking a short break from writing any new stories as I am pregnant and have morning sickness which hinders not only my sleep but my ability to keep food down. These last two weeks have been a struggle to make deadlines and ensure quality writing. I am hoping it goes away in a few weeks! I would love to see you all back for my future novels!Happy Reading!!
~Ivy POV~The rocky path digs into my bare feet as I force myself to walk on, clutching my bleeding side. I know I saw lights from this direction, so why the hell can’t I find them? I sniff the air, groaning in frustration when all I can catch on the breeze is my own blood and sweat. If my father could see me now, it would appall him. His precious little princess, bleeding and dirty? Hah! He would have killed whoever left me like this without a second thought. That’s how he was, though: protective, loving, and overwhelmingly strong. I pause in my steps, gulping down a deep breath and trying to quell the tears in my eyes. They seem to come unbidden when I think of him or Caleb–my older brother. One day I will be reunited with them and we will laugh about the terrible shitty journey I had to take to get to them. But it will all be worth it. I know it will.As soon as I’m in control of my emotions, I stumble forward again and the breeze changes, whipping my long, knotted, dirty blond ha
The wolf shifts into a handsome man, standing at a solid six foot three over my average five foot six frame. I rub my hand along his arm and he looks at me once more. His eyes flashing in pure murderous rage when they flick over my ripped top. He then turns to face the remaining four men. “There is a small body of water in the woods beyond their vehicles. Clean yourself up.” He says, moving forward with a growl.I turn my back on the grunting as the fighting ensues and I walk past their SUVs. I stare into a pool of water that reflects my blood-covered body in the early morning light. Blood blankets my chest and face as I kneel, feeling numb, and cup the cool liquid in my hands, scrubbing at my skin until it is raw.The blood swirls in the water, looking like smoke from a recently snuffed-out candle. It’s mesmerizing as it lulls me into a trance. I try to keep my mind from wandering to the dark place blood always wants to take it. To the horrors of my past and the heartache of my empt
The woman, whose name I assume is Bella, barks orders for us to strip down and quickly clean off. They give each of us a single bar of soap and a washcloth as we march by and step into the stream of water. I gasp when the ice-cold water runs down my scalp and seeps into my flesh, freezing me to the bone. I quickly lather the soap on my cloth and scrub myself clean and amble out before anyone else.A man looks me up and down with a look of disgust, stopping at my side as he leans over and touches my pink scar. He gives me a suspicious look but says nothing as he thrust clothes into my hands and gives me a rough push to keep moving. Then he repeats his process with everyone coming out of the showers. Every single slave that proceeds out after me looks empty and robotic. They exit, and turn in their soap and washcloth. He inspects their bodies and hands them generic clothing and no towel. I try to slip on the cotton panties and the white linen sports bra, but the water that clings to my