Alba's voice dropped, "Lie back, close your eyes, and allow your body to relax. Clear other thoughts from your mind and just think of this room. Columbus is outside patrolling the grounds. You've met him and I want you to picture him mentally. Send your mind in search of him, but don't say anything in your head just think of him and try to narrow in.""I can't." She sat up and her face grew red. "When I close my eyes, I can only picture Marcus.Alba laughed inside her head. "Yes, and you don't close your thoughts so I get them too. Much more information than I need but quite the picture." Exasperation was clear in her voice and she gave Amy a stern look with wolf eyes. They both laughed. "I'll send Columbus a message and tell him to go check out the gazebo. He'll think it strange, but they're used to it when I'm pregnant."A few minutes went by while Amy tried to wipe the mental images of Marcus from her mind."Okay he's at the gazebo. Try to find him."Amy remained sitting and pi
Marcus escorted Amy downstairs so she could eat. He promised to stay with her until she was finished but then he had to leave and join Ivan."It's very important we find the person that killed Sinner, but it's more important that we figure out why. The attack was unprovoked and we need answers. I'm sorry to leave but I must investigate so I can keep us safe.""I don't like being left behind, but I understand. I'll stay here with Alba and catch up on some sleep until you return. I feel as if all I've done is sleep today, but I'm tired and lethargic." Her husky voice betrayed the sleepiness she felt.He took her hand and squeezed gently. "That's my fault. Giving blood is different for humans than for wolves. I got carried away and for that you have my apology.""Accepted. Will you come to my room and get me when you return?""No, I want you sleeping in my bed while I'm away and I will happily kick Alba out when I return.""Alba is pregnant and you are incredibly rude to her."Marc
All of this resonated in Amy's mind with no sign of movement from Alba. It was best that the men think she was unconscious. They dragged Amy outside. She resisted and the blow to her face was sudden and brought back memories of another struggle. It rattled her brain. She realized she needed to stay alert to try and communicate with Marcus. She stopped fighting them and allowed the men to pull her toward a large vehicle that was coming up the drive. She was airborne for a moment, traveling across the back seat and hitting her head on the opposite window. Her captor slammed the door behind him after following her in. She couldn't help reaching for the door handle closest to her but he grabbed her hands in a punishing grip and used duct tape to wrap them securely. The other man jumped in the front seat next to the driver. Amy was used to the scent of the wolves and realized these men smelled different, especially in the close confines of the car. She focused on Marcus. Her terror for hers
Marcus carried Amy inside with Alba in wolf form at his heels. "Don't you dare change; I can take care of her. My doctoring skills may not be as good as yours, but Amy will survive them."Alba whined.Amy's voice held a renewed strength when she said, "Alba changed when the men came in through the door. She attacked one of them and then changed back. She needs to be examined first. He hit her in the side of the head with his rifle and she's bleeding."Marcus turned away from the stairs and went towards the couch. He gently sat Amy down and turned to Alba."Let me see Alba, it will be easier to care for Amy if she knows you are well."Alba let him examine her head. The wound was below her ear and blood was in her fur. She didn't say a word as he touched and prodded the wound."I think you'll survive, but probably with a headache. Philip is coming with warm water and to clean you up. I don't believe you need stitches and this will help."Before Alba could move, Marcus struck. His
Ivan dropped his fork. Alba's laughter went off in Amy's head. "Now you've done it. Just be ready for the fallout.""How did that happen?" Ivan asked glaring in Amy's direction."What? You mean this." She projected her thoughts into his mind again."You shouldn't be able to do that. Does Marcus know?" Real anger was apparent in his voice.They all heard Marcus in their heads. "Yes, Marcus knows." He said to them, "And if you don't lower your voice and be polite to Amy, I'll be down to teach you some manners. I would prefer sleep though so pull in your claws. Amy, Mary means nothing to me. I'll prove it later." With that Marcus was out of their heads.Ivan looked at Amy and then at Alba. "This entire place has gone nuts."Ivan left the room as fast as he could.Alba was laughing again. "Ivan always retreats when he loses. He needs to think things through and then he'll be back. It was priceless though. He's such a control freak."Amy cleaned her plate then got up and made hers
"I don't know what he sees in her. He doesn't need her and she's only human. Without wolf blood she couldn't even keep him alive without killing herself. I can. I'm available anytime he calls."Alba answered but sent the message to Amy's mind as well as Mary's. "You never meant anything special to him. He's always known you're afraid of him.""I'm not afraid of his body just his teeth and I still share my blood freely.""You share blood to stay alive, but he knows your family was killed by a vampire. He knows what you fear."Mary began crying. "But I love him. He didn't kill my family. It was his father."Amy's heart broke. She was prepared to hate Mary and now this. She backed away from the door and walked out the side door and into the garden. She continued to the pond.She should not have been surprised when she saw Ivan. He looked at her as she walked towards him."Is this a private party or can I join you?" Amy asked."I need to speak with you anyway. Let's sit down."Amy
They sat talking for hours and Amy finally asked softly, "How did your sons die?""It's a long story, but it must be started at the beginning if you are to understand. Kirill did not allow us to breed. He wanted no babies and I don't want to imagine what he might have done if one of the females had one. In the early years it's hard for a pup to control their change and for some reason Kirill hated if we were in human form. After he died, things changed and Marcus wanted us to have children. He didn't care if babies changed and he loved all the children and especially Alba's. She was his right-hand man so to speak. I would have had to fight her to the death to become Alpha. It was Marcus' idea for me to marry her. Alba kicked and screamed and felt she could beat me in a fight to the death. Marcus wouldn't allow it.""I bet that went over well with her?""It went over so well that Marcus finally had to back down and we fought. It was brutal and I wanted to win so badly, but when the t
More than two-hundred years ago...Marcus participated in a high stakes game of chance at a rundown ale house in England. It wasn't in the best part of town, but the stakes were high and that's all Marcus cared about.Wilson St. Clair was in over his head. He lost steadily all evening. The more he lost, the more he drank. When Marcus finally cleaned him out of his ready cash and a not-so-plush coach and four, he was ready to show some pity for the man.St. Clair did not want to quit."You have nothing left to wager and I do not need another home. I need to leave soon, but before I do, I'd like to share some of the other delights on offer here."St. Clair's speech was so sloppy it was hard to follow his words. "I have something you can't turn down. But you'll have to win her fair and square and I think my luck's a-changing."Marcus was thinking a prize horse when St. Clair added, "I have the prettiest daughter in England. She's worth more than anything I own. I wager my daughter,