After the announcement was finished, there was a collective pause that could be felt all around the school…and then chaos erupted. And in the middle of that churning storm of need and desperation were me and my friends. Women of all shapes and sizes ran through the corridor and then spotted the giant banner Brandon had made and made a bee-line for us. “Welcome to the Application table. Take this tablet.” I handed the first girl that made it to me. “Fill in the application and hit submit. Make sure you enter your proper email, as it will send you a duplicate of the application process and the receipt that it has been sent in.” I smiled as she snatched the tablet away and filled in the paperwork. “According to the king, you will receive a confirmation email that your application has been received by the email in place.”“Thank you.” She filled it in and then handed it back. Wirth in seconds, she received two notifications. One email confirming the application had been sent, and one fro
I stumbled into my apartment around ten, utterly exhausted, but I had something I still had to do. I showered, ate, and then curled up into my chair. With shaky resolve, I turned in and I started down the path I had once walked months ago. I was back to the first day when my grandmother coached me through finding my power, but this time, I was searching for something else. My wolves. I trailed my hands down the trees of my mind as I passed. I walked barefoot through the tall grass. The pathway that was so clear back then had become overgrown and I didn’t know why.“Because your wolves stopped using it.” I turned to see a woman walking next to me., Her hair and skin were luminous, a bright shining light in the darkness. “Moon Goddess.” My breath hitched. “Why are you here?”“Because you need me to be.” Her smile was soft, but it comforted me. I turned back to the path ahead of us and we continued. The trees growing darker the deeper we went. We walked for a long time before I worke
The scene before me was wiped away with her arm. The screams that had shattered the silence of my mind were gone in an instant and once again, we were alone in the trees of my mind. “The first Lycan was born from your blood. The wolves were born from your power.” “Exactly. But you, your line is different.” She walked a few steps. “You wolf line, your fathers, descended from the first wolf, and from a powerful line of witches. But your mother’s line. Her Lycan line came from me.” Her grip on me tightened again. “You see, I fell in love.” Her eyes were full of tears as we continued down our path, but her smile was bright. “The man I saved had a large family, who had children, and they had children until Wellin came.”“Why has no one heard of Wellin?”“Because…” She shook her head and I felt a slight burn as her tear landed on my hand. “Because I loved him too much, and when he betrayed me, I banished him.” A soft sigh escaped her. “He was my everything.”“What happened?”“I had finally
We made it to their sides, and I realized in the dim glow of the Moon Goddess that Nix had grown thin, and Megan’s fur was patchy. “What is wrong with them?”“I don’t know. But they are not healthy.” The goddess let go of my side and crouched down, stroking my wolves, shaking them from their slumber. “Why are you down here, little ones?” The goddess stroked their faces, lifting their heads as they struggled to wake. Megan was the first to realize they weren’t alone. “Moon Goddess?” Megan struggled to stand on her shaky legs. “Why are you here?”“We were wondering the same.” The goddess shifted, and Megan’s eyes met mine. I watched her widen and then fill with shame. “Amy…” she started. “Why are you here?” Her voice was thick with some pent up emotion.“Why am I here?” I had to give a tiny, sad laugh. “Why are you two? Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you? How long you left me alone?”“Amy…I-”I held up my hand. “I don’t want to hear any excuses, Megan.” I got to my knees a
“Follow the power back…” I closed my eyes and when I opened them back up, I was back in my apartment. I stood from my chair and ran to my room. I pulled out my lock box and grabbed my book. I flipped through the pages manically. One page after the other until I found it. A tracing spell. I read down the list and checked the time. It was late, but I was sure I could find what I needed at a superstore.I pulled out my phone and called Toya. “Hey.”“Hello?” Her voice was exhausted, but I needed her. “It’s late. I was just about to turn in. What’s wrong?”“I need your help.” Instantly, I could hear the shift in her voice. “What’s wrong? What do you need?”“You know the issue I was having with my wolves?”“Yeah…” She was hesitant, and I wanted to laugh.“I’m actually under an attack, and they were trying to deal with it themselves instead of telling me. Cause they are stupid. I need supplies for a spell.”“Holy shit.” I could hear her spring up. “Like magic?”I laughed then. “Yeah. Like m
I called downstairs. “Jora?”“Hey Amy, what can I do for you?”“We need to go to the superstore off campus.”There was a pause. “For…”“I need to get supplies I thought I had for-”“Dinner.” Wendy interrupted me and I smiled, giving her a thumbs up.“Your cooking dinner now? It’s nearly eleven.”“Jora, we are wolves. Sometimes you just have to eat a full chicken roasted with fresh herbs.” His laugh let me know I had him. “Fine. But next time, I’m expecting some of the chicken.” There was some rustling. “Meet me down at the van. We will have to make this quick.” I nodded like she would see it.“Of course.” I hung up, and we ran out the door. “That was surprisingly easy.” Toya and Wendy both snorted. “What?”“They love you here.” Toya looked at me from the corner of her eye.“Not only do you treat them with the respect they deserve. You are an Alpha who isn’t in their pack and still treats them with the status and respect they deserve.” Wendy pointed at me with her finger. “And you ge
We pulled into the super store parking lot and hopped out. But Jora just kept talking. “The council then tried to argue that it would be unnecessary for him to be that involved in the process so that every girl has the same starting point, but the king disagreed. He turned on them. Clair sent me a video.” We were walking in to the store when Jora handed me his phone. He clicked the play button and Toya and Wendy crowded my back to watch. Rowan was just turned to face the mob of men behind him, and you could tell he was agitated. “What do you mean, I shouldn’t be involved in the selection? It’s my fucking mate we are choosing here.” Clair had to adjust her body, I am assuming, to keep the phone hidden. “Why should I let you all choose my mate without any of my input? Did you think I was just going to fall in line? Did you assume I would just accept any woman you choose that is under your thumb and happily make her my queen?” Rowan turned and walked away from the trembling men. You cou
“This is actually genius.” I handed back her phone. “Now we just have to find it.”“Actually, the store made it easy.” She scrolled for a minute. “This location has it in aisle twenty.” She led the way to the aisle. “And now that we are here, we can hit this button.” And she pointed to a flashing tag halfway down the aisle. “That’s convenience.” Toya laughed as she ran over. She grabbed a box and brought it over while reading the box. “It says it comes with everything, including the seeds and soil.”“That’s actually amazing.” Jora walked over. “My mate would love this.” He looked down and then whistled. “Nevermind.”“What?” I pushed the cart closer. “I didn’t expect it to be so expensive, is all.” I looked at the price tag and I winced. A few hundred dollars is nothing to me, but for someone working as a guard. It would probably mean a lot. “No worries.” I grabbed another box and put it to the cart, then looked at the girls. “Did you want one?” I could see Wendy eyeing the box, so
He knows. Nix’s words were soft, her eyes fully focused on the man in front of us. What are you talking about? Megan turned back to us. He’s scum.Nix shook her head. Look at him, Megan. Truly look, and push away your hatred towards Brandon, Vince, and well, all the male population. Megan snorted but turned back.What am I looking for? Megan sighed, but focused. I stepped closer, trying to see what she was seeing.Nix was focused on Rick. Look at his skin. He is sweating, he’s pale, but his eyes are focused. His hand… She trailed off.He’s clutching at his neck. Megan tensed beside me. “What happened first, Rick?”He turned his haunted eyes back to us. “What?”Megan sighed as she crept closer. “What came first? You working with Vince? Or Abby getting branded?”“Does it matter?” He slammed back against the wall and dropped to his ass. “It changes nothing.”“It matters.” She growled. “It matters to me, and I know it will matter to Amy.” “Why?” He dropped his head into his hands. “It
I waited until Vince pulled out the needle and I jumped up, growling. I let my hackles rise and I lunged for Vince, but he danced back and slammed the door shut. His chuckle was infuriating, and I lunged, hitting the bars on purpose. I yelped and jumped back from the searing pain of silver. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Everything is silver in here.” Vince wagged the key in front of me. “You will just have to be a good girl to get let out.” I nearly gagged, but I lunged again, testing how hard the bars were. They bent a little, making every man jump back. I yelped again and slid against the ground, showing the burns to Vince. “Stop!” I pulled away, slowly, weakly, growling softly to show I hadn’t given up yet. Nix rolled on the ground. You are really selling this, Amy. Vince is eating this up for sure. Megan shook her head. But don’t push it too far. A wolf cornered would fight, but a weaker wolf would stay away from the silver after this. I nodded. Oh, I know. That was the l
Nix and Megan pressed against my side. What are you saying? It’s poisoned…poisoned how? Nix leaned in, trying to see it closer, but we were stuck where we were. The power that their traps were pulling from me it was transferred to this rune. The quickening. It says it right in the name. It converts your power into physical strength and speed. Like I was doing with our power, but this is for a person who doesn’t have magic. Okay…I don’t know what’s wrong still. Megan leaned against the barrier and I laughed. Do you see the line that cuts through the rune? Both of my wolves focused on the rune that was bobbing in and out of our line of sight as he ran. Yeah. Nix finally said. The part that looks infected?Yes. That’s exactly what it is. A poisoning. It breaks the limits on the rune and pushes power into the person. Normally, the person will hit a wall. The wall being that their physical body can’t go any faster or it hurt them, it will break down their bodies. Like poison.So you’re
I heard a chuckle and then a soft whispered. “Slepta noir sha dineh por clotin.” Then the world went dark. Amy, stay awake. Nix called me, but I couldn’t move. Everything was heavy. I felt like I was snuggled under the best blanket in a dark room. Amy! Megan called after me, but I was snuggled deep into slumber. A few more minutes, guys. I called back to my wolves. I heard them both growl. What is the point of having magic if we fall victim to it? Nix growled, but Megan just sighed. It wasn’t an attack, like Verity said it was a gentle spell to put her to sleep. We are still awake, and if anything happens, I’m sure we can force her awake. But there is a bright side.What’s that? Nix sounded doubtful, but open to listening.Amy will be rested and fully recharged. Then we can figure out what the actual fuck happened. Like, how did Rick catch us?I felt my wolves settled near me. And I rolled to touch them. I wanted to wake up. This seemed like something important. Something was wro
Vince turned to look at Brandon. He looked at its stumpy fingers and shook his head. “Why would you bring up the brotherhood in front of the wench?”Wench? Is he trying to be a fucking pirate or something? Nix snorted and rolled her eyes. Vince is stupid.But I watched him. Something was off in the way he watched us. Ever since I ripped off his cheek. I think…I think he likes us, Megan. She snapped her head to mine and then gagged. Absolutely the fuck not. She shook her head. But Nix watched him. I think she is right, Megan. Everytime he says something, his eyes flick to us. He is looking for our reaction. She gagged again. No, you two have to be wrong. We ripped off half his face.I think…I think he likes us because of it. The thought made my stomach clench. Sick fuck. “Wench? Dad…common we all know she is going to be dead soon. So why does it matter?” Brandon snorted as he passed me, kicking out, but I jumped up and snarled. “I would watch your self Bran. She is feisty. She alr
I sat still. I knew I couldn’t run away without being caught, so I would sit, watch, and wait. I was going to hold back on any magic use until I was somewhere else. Since Rick said the forest was covered in magical traps, this was once I was out I would be safe. I just needed to get out first. Rick narrowed his eyes. “You aren’t going to come quietly, are you?” I just settled on the ground. I wasn’t stupid, but I wasn’t going to just fall in line, either. He chuckled and turned to Morgan. “Watch my son. Don’t let him get close to the wolf.” Morgan nodded, but Vince was already turning away. “Rick, come with me. You can carry me back here with our shit and the pup.” Rick’s eyes tightened again and then he nodded. He smiled. “Yeah. Poor thing has to survive another week.”He shifted and left the clearing while Morgan and Brandon glared at me. “Are you seriously still going after Amy’s mom?” Brandon sagged against a tree. “I mean, I get it. She’s hot. And the power of the women in tha
Vince yelled as he tossed me to the ground. Morgan kicked me as soon as I hit the dirt, chunks of grass and twigs flying, the swift kick to my stomach sending me into a tree. I yelped as my shoulder broke, along with a few ribs, but Vince just looked at me with surprise as a chunk of his face slowly knitted itself back together. I looked at him through hooded eyes, but I watched with satisfaction as his cheek slowly rebuilt itself. Blood poured from his left side of his face. The lip hung loose, cut adrift from the portion of his cheek. I ripped away. His teeth were visible, and the surprised look in his eyes made the slow healing a little easier to deal with. Brandon looked at his father with wide eyes. “Are you okay?” He went to move closer, but that was the moment I spat out the hunk of meat I had in my mouth, as if his blood was poison. Vince didn’t look away from me. I sat up and wretched, like I was going to vomit. His blood and bits of flesh clung to the inside of my mouth.
I heard them all shift and start after me. One after the other, I heard a growl and then charging feet. Even Rick, who knew I was going to be out here, was charging after me. Rick, fucking Rick.Why would he want me to see all of that? Megan’s words were ragged. She was waning, but Nix was pushing her body to the brink. I think he needed us to see that. Maybe this started as a couple of friends, and he thought they were joking. Or it was a what if, and then he fell in love with Shelly?Nix panted but hummed her agreement. I think it was probably in the middle. He thought they were just assholes joking around with the women they were using, and then he found his mate. But he didn’t want to let go of his friends. Until his pup came back branded. Megan finished, and Nix agreed.I feel bad for him. Her words made us stop. But Nix pushed on. This about it, you’re trying to stay loyal to your friends but faithful to you mate and you think that witchcraft is probably fake and then suddenl
Morgan shrugged. “You should have kept your pants on. You only had to keep it in your pants for a few years, and you can’t even do that.” Morgan leveled him with a look. You can blame Shannon all you want, but let’s not pretend she is the only one you’re fucking.Brandon glared at him for a minute before laughing. “True.” He sighed. “But Shannon was the only one Amy had to deal with.”Morgan level him with another look. “Again, it isn’t her fault you decided you wanted to drain Amy of her power. You could have chosen anyone else.”Brandon sighed. “True again, but she is so fucking strong.” He grabbed his dick. “And she is so fucking stuck up. I was going to enjoy draining her.” Rick laughed. Fucking laughed, but when he turned, I saw it. A flash of something in his eyes. He didn’t want to be here. What the fuck is going on here? Megan called back to us, but neither of us knew. “Shut the fuck up.” Vince called back and everyone quieted. “Verity. How fucking long now?”She sighed as s