Trista’s POVI opened the front door to my cozy little home, happy to be back. I felt like it had been a lifetime since I’d seen my house. And I couldn’t wait to see my sweet babes again.Billy and Belle saw me from the kitchen and squealed with delight. They ran towards me and I embraced them, inhaling their scent. Tears brimmed in my eyes – I’d missed them both so much.“Momma, where have you been?” Belle asked. I noticed that she had chocolate smeared on the corner of her mouth. I glanced over at the kitchen table and saw that is was covered in junk food! French fries, chips, pop, chocolate, assorted candies were strewn all over the table. I rarely let Billy and Belle eat this much junk food. I was appalled.“Jules,” I chastised, surveying the food. Jules was sitting at the table happily stuffing his mouth full of take-out French fries.Jules looked at me and shrugged sheepishly. “Welcome back,” he said.“Is this what you’ve been feeding the kids?” I asked, walking into the living
Trista’s POV“Jules!” Liam demanded, waiting for an explanation. But when I turned to look at Jules, I saw his lips quivering. He had tears brimming in his eyes.He looked like a little school boy who was afraid of being punished.“You owe me an explanation,” Liam said. “I…I…” Jules stuttered, taking a few steps back from Liam. His face was pale and he looked terrified. Billy and Belle were watching with wide eyes. I walked up to Liam and patted him gently on the arm.“Liam,” I said, “stop it. Can’t you see you’re scaring him?”Liam inhaled a sharp breath. His eyes flitted from Jules, who was shrinking into the corner, and me.“You’re right,” Liam finally said, calming down. “But we need to get to the bottom of this.”“The…the bottom of…of what?” Jules said, clearly flustered.Jules was always so talkative, so it was a bit jarring to see him so flustered and tongue-tied.“Are you going to fire me?” Jules asked, his voice small. “For hiding my identity?”Liam shook his h
Trista’s POV“What?” Liam exclaimed, bolting upright in his chair. I was equally as baffled. What did Jules mean he didn’t know he was a werewolf?Jules shrunk back into the corner of the room. “Please don’t be mad at me,” he said.“I don’t understand,” I said. “How could you not know?”As werewolves, our wolves were a part of us. They are with us since birth. Of course, it’s not until we’re older that they really surface. Billy and Belle, for example, didn’t know their wolves yet. But there would come a day when their wolves would make themselves known. And when they did, there was no denying the wolf. How could Jules not know he had a wolf?“I mean, I guess I knew,” Jules said, his voice small. “Sort of. I…it’s confusing.”Jules was almost hyperventilating at this point, so I tried to calm him down.“Just take a deep breath,” I said. “No one’s mad at you. Come. Sit on the couch here.”Jules nodded and sniffled, then he followed me to the couch like a little boy. Luckily, Billy and B
Trista’s POV “They never told you,” Liam said. “Your parents? That they’re werewolves?” Jules shook his head.I was stunned but I guess that made sense. If they hadn’t told Jules that he was a werewolf, why would they tell him that they were, too.“They just raised you in the human world?” I asked.“Yes,” Jules shrugged, but I could see the shock in his eyes. He was trying to process all of this, but it was a bit too much for him. “They never said anything like that…about being…wolves. So when I started hearing the wolf voice in my head, I thought I was crazy. I never told them that I thought something was wrong with me. I didn’t want them to worry. But now…you’re telling me…Are you sure?” “Yes, Jules, we’re sure,” I told him. He lowered his head and fiddled with the cuff of his sleeves. “Oh,” was all he said. This was unbelievable. Mercury and Storm had kept their identity hidden from Jules for his entire life? As well as his o
Trista’s POVBilly and Belle laughed with delight as Jules entered their bedroom. My mind spun with everything Jules had just told us. I felt sorry for him. He’d been struggling with the fact that he was different his entire life, without knowing why. That must have been so hard for him. I still found it strange that Jules had no wolf scent, though. I wondered why. It was highly uncommon for a werewolf not to emit the wolf scent. It was how we recognized our own kind.Was his wolf weak? Disabled? It didn’t make sense. But I didn’t have time to dwell on things like that.We had more pressing matters to think about.“Mercury and Storm are the key to this whole thing,” I told Liam. “They have the key to the vault. Or at least, they know where it is. I’d been hoping that Jules knew about the key, or at least knew more about his parents and their role in all this. But that was a dead end.”It was crystal clear that Jules had given us all the information he could.“That’s an understatement,
Trista’s POV“What do you mean?” I asked. Liam eyed me, his expression serious.“I mean,” he said, “Jules is a werewolf. I can accept him into Blue Moon Crescent Pack. He’ll have the pack’s protection.”I paused, stunned by Liam’s idea. I hadn’t even thought of that, but Liam was right. Since Jules was a werewolf, Liam could formally accept him into the pack. He’d be safe there with the entire pack behind him. He’d be protected. It was actually a really good idea.It wasn’t that easy though. “What about his life?” I asked. “Jules has been living as a human. He’d have to give all that up. He’d have to leave the city and learn the ways of the pack.” Shifting from life in human society to life in a pack would be jarring for Jules, to say the least. It wouldn’t be an easy transition.“He’d get used to it, with time,” Liam said. “He was never given the option of living with a pack. That choice was taken from him when his parents withheld the truth. Maybe this is the best thing for him? Be
Trista’s POVThe early evening air was cool and fresh. I inhaled the scent of the forest just beyond my back yard. I’d missed the smell of the forest. My mind flashed back to the night Johnson and I had sat out here, after Hazel’s wedding and sipped on ice cold beer. I’d been so comfortable that night with him. We’d gazed up at the star-speckled sky and let the night roll by. By the time I’d woken up the next morning, he was gone. It was the last time I’d seen him, the REAL Johnson, not the man in the VIP room at the High Seine auction.That had been months ago, before our cruise and our shopping trip through Europe. Before I entered the competition in Milan. Before Liam was shot and we raced to the Milan border to track down Johnson’s parents in France.Had it really been that long ago? So much had happened since then, it was hard to fathom. And even though it felt like a lifetime had passed since that night, every time I thought about Johnson, sitting there, beside me with a beer in
I hope he can read my mind.In fact, I also need his support.I know that the current situation may not be optimistic, and I can't just leave them alone and pretend nothing is happening; On the other hand, I can't put the children in danger if I’m helping Johnson and his family.If there is someone else here I can trust and who will protect my children at any cost, then that person must be Liam, their real father.“Liam, not just Johnson, but the whole family are wonderful and decent people. They helped not only me, but you too! Liam is the one who saved you by throwing you out of the VIP room window and told me to leave. And Johnson is the reason we were able to escape and come back here, to the United States. He distracted the black-clad men. If he hadn’t done that, who knows what would have happened? And Dagny, she healed your wounds. I know you feel she is unfriendly. But if you knew their family history you would not say that. They are Lycans. For many years they have been hunted
Trista’s POV Belle let out a horrified scream. It reverberated through the forest.“Pele, no!” I cried out again.But Pele was in full wolf form by now. His wolf was magnificent, with broad, muscular shoulders and deep, brown fur with matching eyes. He bent down onto his hind legs and put his head onto his front paws. It was a playful position, and was welcoming the kids to come and touch his fur.Of course, the kids didn’t know that though.Neither Billy nor Belle had actually seen a werewolf before, and Pele’s wolf was massive. The wolf shook his head playfully, his brown fur rippling in the world. “What in the world?” Jules asked, aghast at the sight before him. I realized that Jules had never seen a wolf before either. And I had to admit, watching a man transform into a wolf could be a bit jarring, to say the least. I knew what Pele was trying to do.In the wolf pack, it’s normal for someone to shift when children are upset. In fact, one of the
Trista’s POV I felt a flush of relief wash over me. Jules and I couldn’t get through, but knowing that the children would be safe was a huge weight of my shoulders. Plus, I knew that as soon as Liam saw Billy and Belle, he’d know that we were close by and would come for us. He’d find a way to get us into the pack. He was the Alpha, after all. He could take down the pack border to let us through. It wasn’t ideal, separating from Billy and Belle. But we were out of other options. “Thank you,” I told Pele sincerely. I’d have to find a place for Jules and I to stay in the meantime, but I’d crossed that bridge once I came to it. Jules and I could find somewhere nearby, in the forest, and just wait for Liam. First thing was first – we had to get the children across the border and safely into the pack. “Come,” Pele said, holding out his hand to the children. But Belle clutched at my legs and began to cry. “No, Mam
Trista’s POV I needed Pele to understand that this wasn’t a normal situation. It was urgent that he let us into the pack. Plus, we’d come a long way and we were all feeling really tired. I decided to just be honest with Pele and tell him the truth. “This is Jules,” I told Pele, motioning at Jules. “He’s Liam’s assistant and he’s very important to Liam. But he’s currently being hunted by some members in the human world. They’re very dangerous men. They belong to an underground mafia and they’ll stop at nothing to find Jules. It’s very important that you let us through. Liam promised us all the protection of the Blue Moon Crescent Pack.” Pele narrowed his eyes, his lips pressed together. He appeared to be thinking about what I was saying. Honestly, though, I wasn’t sure if he’d care either way. Pele didn’t live in the human world. He probably didn’t care about dangerous mafia men. He turned his head to Billy and Belle. “And who ar
Trista’s POV I hadn’t expected to be stopped at the Blue Moon Crescent border. Pele was not much older than me, but he possessed the composure and maturity of someone much older than himself. I understood that he wasn’t exactly thrilled to see me, since I’d been exiled from the pack. But I was sure that if I explained the situation, he’d let us pass through.“Leave, Trista,” he said coldly, He fixed his eyes on me, his face stern. “We’re here to see Alpha Liam,” I told him, a little taken aback by his unwelcoming and abrupt manner. “I don’t know what business you would have with Alpha Liam,” he stated, his tone dry. “Since you are no longer a member of our pack.”“If you would please just mindlink Alpha Liam, he’ll explain that…” “I’ll do no such thing. You cannot just show up here, Trista, with strangers in tow and demand to cross our border.” “I’m Jules,” Jules suddenly said, extending his hand. Pele did not accept his hand, leaving Jules
Trista’s POV The children felt the tension in the air. I bent down and scooped up Belle, hoisting her onto my hip. She buried her head in my neck. “Who is it, Trista?” Jules asked, his voice barely above a whisper. I shook my head, telling him that I didn’t know. Serena stayed in high alert, her fur standing on end as the man approached us.He had his eyes locked on me as he sauntered towards us. He was tall, with a powerful presence. We all stayed frozen to the spot. I squinted, trying to make out his face with my poor eye sight. But it wasn’t until he was only a few feet away that I recognized him.It was Pele.I was stunned at first. Pele was the man who had succeeded my father as Gamma after my father’s death. I hadn’t known Pele very well during my time at the pack, but his face was unmistakable. He also had the air of a gamma, which only solidified the fact that it was him.I remembered when Pele had been chosen as Gamma. I’d resented him on prin
Trista’s POVJules looked very concerned by the fact that there was no road. But I chuckled.“This is the right place,” I assured him.“How can that be?” Jules asked. I understood his confusion. He was used to living in the human world and humans took roads while travelling. But the Blue Moon Crescent Pack was protected by natural barriers, which is why werewolves have been able to hide from humans. The barriers are strong and only allow supernatural creatures to pass through them.I explained this all to Jules.“So I’m just supposed to keep driving? Through the forest without a road?”Billy and Belle giggled in the back seat. Jules slamming on the breaks had woken them up.“We’re going to drive through the forest?” Belle asked, wide-eyed.“Yup,” I replied. I unrolled the window to let the thick scent of the forest breeze through the car. The scent brought back so many memories and I couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic. I’d been away from the pack for so long. I hadn’t expected
Trista’s POVHe drove along the coast line, the salty scent of the sea thick in the air. I was a worried wreck, though. I tried several times to get in contact with both Liam and Johnson, but I wasn’t having any luck. Serena tried too, but she wasn’t able to connect with them.I was worried about Johnson. Was he okay? Where was he now? Was he in immediate danger? Were we? What if they’d followed him and found us? At one point, I thought a car was following us. It was a red car and it was behind us for quite a while. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want Jules to worry. I glanced back at the car through the rearview mirror, momentarily convinced that it was one of Jake’s people and that they’d tracked us down.But the car eventually turned off the highway.‘You’re just being paranoid,’ I told myself. ‘No one’s following you.’I was impressed to see that Jules was a good driver. He didn’t speed and he kept his eyes locked on the road. He was calm and collected, and that helped
Trista’s POVI tried to sleep, but I tossed and turned all night. Thoughts of Johnson flooded my mind. I kept thinking about him and trying to come up with ways to help him. The look on his face in the forest – he had seemed so…tortured. There had to be something I could do. But what?He was going through something, something profound. And no matter how much I wanted to understand, no matter how sympathetic I was, I couldn’t truly feel what he felt. He had twin wolves warring within him. His family was in danger. He was worried about me and the children. All of these things were things that only HE could experience.I sighed, turning over and drawing the blanket up to my chin. The house was dead quiet, with only the gentle sound of Jules snoring softly in the next room. I’d known Johnson so well at one point in my life. Better than anyone, I’d believed. But now, he was somewhat of a stranger to me. We’d been apart for so long and he’d gone through all these events…without me. The dist
Trista’s POVThe pain in Johnson’s eyes was palpable. It broke my heart, seeing him hurt like that. I leaned to kiss him, in an effort to comfort him. But he turned his cheek and shook his head.“We need to have a serious conversation,” he told me, his brows furrowed.“Whatever it is, you can tell me,” I told him, taking his hands in mine. He inhaled a sharp breath. He was clearly grappling with something, searching for the right words.“I can’t involve you or the children, Trista, in anything that’s happening with my family. I’ve already involved you way too much. It needs to stop. It’s just too…dangerous.”“I’m well aware of the dangers,” I told him. “The children will be safe at Blue Moon Crescent Pack with Liam. I’m here for you. I want to help.”Whether or not he liked it, I was already involved. I couldn’t just turn my back on him, not now, not when he needed me the most.“That’s the problem,” he said with sadness in his eyes. “I know you want to help. You’re so brave and strong