* This book is the second book in the Redmoon series, following Property of the Alpha. It is a continuation of the story from Thomas and Paige's point of view, along with a few other cross-over characters from the Bloodstone series. If you have not read book one, please go do so before starting this one.*
*Readers' discretion is advised as this book deals with abuse, death, and other dark content.*PrologueI can still feel the blade's tip pressed against my flesh where it had once cut into me, over and over again, until I was left with wounds my body couldn't heal fast enough. Making sure I would always carry the scars on my skin to remind me of my mistakes.I can still smell how the silver burned into my skin, slicing me open repeatedly until I passed out from the pain, no longer able to stay conscious, no matter how badly I wanted to. Because passing out and leaving them with my unconscious body was much worse than enduring the stomach-churning pain.
I can still taste the blood on my tongue from all the times I had bit into it as hard as I could to suppress the screams building in my throat, not giving them the satisfaction of hearing my screams as they tore into me over and over again. The laughter was as haunting as the sick glint of excitement that danced in their eyes as they watched the blood drip from my wounds.
The ghosts of my past still haunted me even though I survived them, even though I got away. I can still feel them taunting me at every turn, whispering their twisted beliefs in my ear. Telling me this isn't real, that it's only a dream, and soon enough, the monster within me will be awakened once again.I'm constantly on edge, always prepared for everything to turn to shit and be forced to fight for my life all over again. Because nothing good ever stays good for long. I believe that wholeheartedly.So no matter how tired I was of fighting, and god was I tired of fighting; I would keep at it. Keep fighting my inner demons, fighting my past and hoping that maybe I was wrong for once. That maybe just once in my life, the good could stay good, and I could breathe, even if it were only for a little while."Wakey, wakey, mutt. Ivan has a treat for you since you were such a good guard dog yesterday." Leon's nasally voice taunted as he ran the blade of his knife against my cell bars making as much noise as possible to wake me up, the loud clanking enough to drive me mad. Leon, the pig-nosed bastard, knew I wasn't sleeping. Of course, he had to make a game of it, though. I never slept, not in this state where Eris and I were both present—forced to stay in this odd shift from whatever drugs they had injected into my system every day. I didn't move, though. I didn't give in to his taunting. My head still bowed as if maybe I had actually fallen asleep. My arms were numb from the lack of circulation from having them chained above my head all night long. I had become so numb to the pain in my shoulder, so used to the abuse, that it didn't phase me anymore. A fist connected with my side, and I gritted my teeth against the sudden burst of pain that blossomed in my ribcage as Leon took another swing at me. I had missed him entering my cell, lost to the dark thoughts that constantly swirled in my mind. Only then did I lift my head, the movement stiff as I locked my eyes on him.The guy looked like a fucking leprechaun, but he sure as shit knew how to hit. It was the one thing he was good at and probably the only reason Ivan kept his dumbass around: Leon loved to torture the hunter's captives, their victims. Helpless werewolves and any other magical or nonmagical l being they could get their filthy hands on for their little lab experiments. The bastard was good at extracting whatever information the hunters needed too. He made everyone he dealt with sing like a canary, everyone but me, and that pissed him off.He loved hearing whoever was under his care scream and begged for him to stop. He loved watching them break until they were nothing but a husk of themselves. It was one of the reasons why I refused to scream or even react when he had his fun with me. I refused to give him the one thing he wanted, and I knew it pissed him the fuck off, and as fucked up as it was, pissing Leon off was what gave me the strength I needed to survive in this place. "You look at me when I talk to you, boy. You understand that." Leon's fat fingers gripped my hair as he pulled my head back, forcing me to look at him. His lips were peeled back in absolute outrage. He was mad, and pissing him off further would only result in him doing something else that would leave more scars on my already battered body. But I couldn't resist pushing him over the edge. I felt Eris scratch against my skin, trying so hard to break through whatever drug they injected in us. I didn't hold back as I spit in Leon's face. Some of it landed in his mouth. He let out a roar of outrage before he pulled back his silver blade and stabbed it right into my side. "You'll pay for that, you fucking mutt. I'll make you wish you were dead." He pulled out the blade only to slam it into my bicep. ***I slowly opened my eyes, my body no longer reacting to the nightmares of my past. I took in my new room and the bed beside me. The mattress was still too soft for me to sleep on unless I was too exhausted to take note of my surrounding, but even then, I found myself on the floor or in this chair before morning.
I let out a deep breath, pushing myself out of the chair that Colette had insisted on putting in my room after she found me sleeping on the floor a few weeks ago, a look of understanding passing between us once I finally gave in.I rubbed my hand over the ache in my chest, hating that my sister was haunted by similar demons, hating that we shared this deep twisted understanding no one should ever know.
I looked out my window, finding the large mountains still covered in shadows of the night as the sun slowly rose into the morning sky.I wasn't with Leon and Ivan anymore. I wasn't their weapon anymore. After fifteen years of believing she was dead, I was safe and finally back with my sister.I was safe; we were safe, and I would keep telling myself that until I actually believed it. Because I was wrong, and good things could stay good, even for monsters like me.Chapter 1 - Firecracker I looked at my shop one last time. The sold sign was sitting in the big window bidding me one last goodbye. The bank was more than happy to buy this piece of land from me once I told them I was leaving the province. The final part of my past, a darker time, was finally gone as I closed this chapter of my life. I looked down at the ring on my finger, the glowing sapphire staring back at me. It had done precisely what Colette had promised. It sealed Eris away, keeping him buried deep inside of me in a place I couldn't reach, a place that kept people as far away from him as possible, a place that kept everyone close to me safe.My body felt lighter, and my mind clearer. I finally felt like I could breathe again. Like all my thoughts were my own, and for the first time in over a decade, I felt like I could finally plan for a future. Or at least I wanted to, but that little nagging voice in the back of my mind told me not to get too comfortable, never to get too c
Chapter 2 - Denial Paige "It's done," I muttered as I walked into Zane's office. The room smelled the same as it always did, like cigars and testosterone. I usually didn't mind it, but after being forced to sit in the car with Thomas and his little human lover for over an hour, surrounded by whatever cologne he wore, I was over it. It's not like I cared about what Thomas did with other females. He wasn't my responsibility or my type. Even if he was, I didn't play around with males from my pack, and with him moving here, he was officially a member of the Redmoon pack. It was a rule I lived by, but it wasn't just about how annoying Thomas was. I didn't feel right about that chick. I was all for becoming a better person. Yeah, she's a human, but who gives a shit? A few of our pack members were mated to humans.No, it wasn't that at all. It was more of the fact that she used to be a hunter. You either became one because of fear and hatred that was passed down through the generations th
Chapter 3 - ImpulseThomas"Earth to Thomas." Irene teased, waving her hand in front of my face. I blinked a couple of times before regaining my focus. Ever since finding out my sister was alive, I had found myself doing that a lot lately, spacing out, losing myself to my thoughts.I had been in the process of tuning up one of the pack members' trucks before I got lost in the memory of last night. It took everything in me not to rip those kids a new one for asking Paige about her sex life. I honestly don't know what came over me. One second, I was making my way to my room after working out in the gym. The next, I was pulled into the kitchen by the one fucker opening his fucking mouth, ready to rip them to shreds. I swore for a minute I felt Eris itching against my skin, trying to get out, my body instantly reacting to the irritation that poured from Paige as she kept her back turned to those idiots. Of course, I had heard more than a few times since my stay here about her and how sh
Chapter 4 - Sharp TonguePaige If looks could kill, Zane would be dead a thousand times over. I was tempted to break his nose the next time we were in the ring together for this. The smug grin he plastered on his face every time he looked at me only solidified that desire. I could feel Thomas's eyes burning into the side of my head, but I was determined to ignore him for however long this dinner took. The only reason I didn't leave the second I caught the scent of that snake Irene or after my encounter with Thomas was because of the girl sitting right across from me. Colette gave me a nervous smile, clearly picking up on the irritation I was radiating, but didn't comment on it. Colette was never one to push questions on me about anything. It was one of the things I loved most about her. Honestly, after the shit cards fate dealt her, I didn't blame her for keeping to herself. But that didn't mean she was weak or incompetent. It meant quite the opposite. Lettie was the most badass wo
Chapter 5 - Never ForgetPaige*Six years ago* "Come on, Paige, the waters great," Casper called out. I worried my lower lip, looking around the forest surrounding us. Why did I let him talk me into coming here? I should have said no. I should have suggested a different place.We shouldn't be here; it was too close to human territory, too close to potential hunters. But I had ignored all of that because it was also exciting, being out here alone with Casper, the future leader of the Redmoon pack patrol team. As a Delta, he would be the leader of our pack warriors, helping to train all the recruits and honing their skills. As the second born in the Beta family, I wasn't forced to take up patrols or have any sort of responsibility like my brother, Kyle. But as a female Beta who just got her wolf four months ago, I was now the main focus of all the males in my pack. Each of them was looking for a chance to move up the food chain, hoping that if I didn't find my mate, I would pick one o
Chapter 6 - Siren Call Thomas"You doing okay?" Irene asked as I finished up on another pack vehicle. This one's muffler was starting to sound off. Sure enough, it had a couple of pinholes, and I needed to replace it."Why wouldn't I be?" I grunted, tightening the last bolt. I really didn't want to do this today, but I knew there was no avoiding anything when it came to Irene. She gave me a couple of days to stew in my emotions, and then she would ream me out until she was sure I had received enough hell for my behaviour."Oh, I don't know because it's been two days since dinner with your sister, and you have done nothing but spend every minute that didn't involve sleeping or eating in here working on another vehicle to make sure you were too busy to do anything else.I let out an irritated sigh, sliding out from underneath the Tahoe. She wasn't wrong. I had been avoiding the packhouse like the plague, and the sooner I got my shop up and running, the sooner I could make sure I was on
Chapter 7 - Calculated Endeavours Paige What the fuck was happening right now? That was the only thought I could manage to process as Thomas invaded my space. My brain had gone on a hiatus, making it impossible to think past the smell of motor oil, spice, and that pure male scent. Thomas had a commanding presence, the attention of a room always turning to him when he entered. It was why I tried extra hard to ignore him, hating how my skin prickled and my heart raced when he was near me. And right now, he was way too close for comfort. How are you supposed to ignore someone when the big doofus is towering over you, taking up all the free space? My back stiffened as I forced my brain to work, screaming at my legs to move backward so I could get enough room between the two of us to think. 'Would it be so bad if we stayed here?' Odessa purred, actually fucking purred like a cat. Oh, hell no, we were not having that. I took a step back, hating how my body instantly missed the warm
Chapter 8 - Beast Thomas"You like the smell of their fear, don't you? You like the way their eyes widen with terror, and all hope fades from their eyes as you move in to make the kill." Leon's hot breath brushed against my ear as he whispered into it. The smell of tuna and onion made bile crawl up my throat. I forced myself to swallow it down, unwilling to give him any satisfaction as he doled out his punishment for the day. The pain in my back replaced the pain in my shoulders. The bastard used a silver-tipped whip today, giving lashings until the skin split, making sure to hit me enough times so they would turn into scars before I could heal them properly. "You're a monster, a fucking disgrace to all living things. You kill everything you touch and destroy everything within your grasp. You should be dead, just like your disgraceful pack of mutts we slaughtered." He continued. I bit my tongue so hard I could taste blood, trying so hard to ignore him, but the smell of smoke filled