That made me stop. He always forgets. Just like he never saw my emails. My texts or calls. I close my eyes and drop my head to my knees. โI am stupid.โ โWhat do you mean?โ Wendy crouched. โHe hasnโt seen any of my calls, my text, my emails all disappeared.โ I turned my face towards her. โI thought it was just someone hacking his stuff. But what if itโs more?โโMore how?โโWhat if itโs magic? Or what if it is someone close to him and magic? Because Toya is right. I have made it clear I like him, and now heโs questioning who I want to be with. It doesnโt make any sense.โโUnless magic is involvedโฆโI nodded and wiped my face as the door opened again. I closed my eyes and took a breath before I faced him. โItโs me.โ His words were soft, and I just nodded. He staggered closer. โToya said you told me you liked meโฆโI bit back a moan as the heat came surging back. I drew in a shaky breath and up, slipping deeper into the water. โYeah, in a way.โHe looked confused as he came to the edge o
My heat took a full week to disappear. And the entire time I cried for Rowan, I needed his touch, but I was left alone chained to the wall of my bedroom. The pain was excruciating, but it still never compared to the pain of giving birth, which I still remembered viscerally. But both now and then paled to having my new born pup laying on my chest struggling to breathe only to be ripped from me.I wanted to be mad at Rowan. I actually wanted to hate him. I laid in my bed, burning from the heat, the pain setting my nerves on fire, knowing that his touch, anyoneโs touch, would save me. But he was right. I would have regretted it after it was said and done. I screamed all day, all night. I couldnโt eat, I barely slept. Wendy and Toya were there to help with anything I needed. Micca and Hanna came and visited, but they handled everything out of the apartment for me. Ensuring everything was in place for the start of the second year. They handled the shopping, the rumors, everything that mig
โYeah, I think itโs time we do.โ I grabbed the shampoo and start on my hair. โObviously, this last week has been hell.โ Both of her wolves agreed. Nix and Megan stumbled over to the clearing where my magic lived. Once they were close, they laid down, as if drawing strength from her center. We are tired. Megan sighed. This has been hell. Nix snorted and rolled her eyes. โSay what you need to say.โ I rinse my hair and focused on my Lycan. โI know you have something to say.โShe sighed. I like Rowan, we both do. She started and I could feel it. She was holding back. โCome on Nix. Just say whatโs on your mind.โShe took a deep breath. Okay. Fine. When we woke up after dying, we swore we would never allow another man to make us beg. We agreed we would push men to the side and focus on what matters. Nix stop. Megan shook her head. โNo. Itโs fine.โ I shook my head. I took a giant glob on conditioner and threaded it through my curls. โWe need to be open and honest with each other. Otherw
The world stopped for a minute, and then my wolves were lunging for each other. I slipped on the tub, slicing my leg as I struggled to reach for them. I turned inwards, sending myself into my mind, chasing after my wolves. โStop.โ I called as I reached the carrier, but they were fighting each other, and they were vicious. I pushed through the separation and ran to my clearing, diving between the two, earning myself a few bites in the process before they realized I was there. โI said stop!โ I screamed as both latched onto me, and then jumped back. โAmy!โ both of them called as they realized, and I dropped to my knees. Blood poured from my shoulder and my hip where they bit. Nix circled. โYou are so fricken stupid.โ She licked the wound at my shoulder, the one higher up where she got me. The blood slowed and Megan stepped up, cleaning the wound on my hip. โIโm sorry I didnโt notice you jumped in.โ Megan went back to cleaning the wound. โDonโt apologize.โ Nix hissed. โShe knows better
Seventy-two. The floor fell out from under my feet. โHow could you face that alone for seventy-two times?โShe sighed. โI didnโt have a choice.โโThat doesnโt make sense.โ I was grasping at straws. โThatโs likeโฆโโOnce a month from your eighteenth birthday, when you met Brandon, until we became pregnant. It would have been more, but we made our pup on your birthday. So that year I only have the one.โ She answered softly. โWe were almost twenty-five when we died.โThe truth hit me like a punch in the gut. She survived so many times, all alone in the forest. โI am so, so sorry.โShe took a deep breath and stood. โThey get easier. And I had my mates touch to temper the burn. You both just went through you first without any help other than me. I took the heat, so you had those few breaks to collect yourself.โI wrapped my arms around her. โYou are the strongest wolf I have ever met.โShe laughed. โYouโre only saying that because Iโm your wolf.โโNo.โ Nix came over and sat next to her. โSh
I looked up at Toya in the doorway, confused. โWhat?โShe pointed to my leg. โYouโre bleeding, and it hasnโt healed yet. Why arenโt you healing?โ I looked down at my leg and saw the blood pouring from a minor cut. I furrowed my brow. โI donโt know.โ I looked back at her and shrugged. โI was talking to my wolves and got distracted.โ Now it was her turn to furrow her brow. โGet out so I can stop the bleeding.โI waved her off. โGive me a few minutes to finish and then I will come out.โโAmy, just come out now.โโOkay mom.โ I rolled my eyes. โOut.โ I pointed, and she shook her head as she closed the door. Pushy woman.I finished my shower, including finishing my shaving, and I got out. It was bleeding faster than I thought possible and I didnโt know why. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my leg and walked out, leaving a bloody footprint with every step.At least you have wood floors in here. Could you imagine the damage if it was carpet? Megan sighed as Nix choked out a laugh.โD
The silence that fell was charged. โThat fucking douche canoe.โ Toya and Wendy snapped to me and snorted. โYouโre watching too much human reality TV again, Amy.โ I flipped them off. โSo youโre telling me that not only was he trying to get me to mate with him, he was trying to get me pregnant?โWendy winced. โWell, we canโt make that jump.โToya growled. โWhy not?โWendy slid her phone back into her pants. โBecause while Brandon is a douche canoe, as Amy has pointed out, he wasnโt the one that grabbed the kudzu to beguin with. Morgan got it for your mom, Amy. He was trying to get your mom pregnant, so that is why he chose kudzu over another herb that can kick in a heat. But Brandon isโฆwell heโs stupid. He is in my course and letโs say, if it wasnโt for his dad running the school, he would have failed business already.โ Tina chuckled. โThat doesnโt surprise me. Last time he pretended to know what he was doing, but I was the one investing the packโs money to make sure we didnโt go ban
Almost one and a half years laterโฆโAre you ready?โ Wendy bounced on her toes. Her long hair shining in the curls that we painstakingly styled this morning. She looked gorgeous in her pale pink dress. The black grad dress hung open around her shoulders as she finished her makeup. I looked around at everyone in my living room and I couldnโt stop the smile. โYou guys look amazing.โ And they did. Miccaโs red hair was braided over her shoulder, her graduation dress a dark canvas to her stunning beauty. Hannaโs black textured bob was such a drastic change since our first year. She had let it grow out these two years, and then showed up this morning like this. โHanna, your hair is stunning.โโI liked the long hair, but this feels like me.โ She smiled and ruffled her hair. She slipped her graduation dress over her white sundress. โCan you believe itโs been almost three years? They said they would fast track us, but I didnโt actually think they would.โToya came out of my room with her stunn
He knows. Nixโs words were soft, her eyes fully focused on the man in front of us. What are you talking about? Megan turned back to us. Heโs 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, heโs pale, but his eyes are focused. His handโฆ She trailed off.Heโs clutching at his neck. Megan tensed beside me. โWhat happened first, Rick?โHe turned his haunted eyes back to us. โWhat?โMegan sighed as she crept closer. โWhat came first? You working with Vince? Or Abby getting branded?โโDoes it matter?โ He slammed back against the wall and dropped to his ass. โIt changes nothing.โโIt matters.โ She growled. โIt matters to me, and I know it will matter to Amy.โ โWhy?โ He dropped his head into his hands. โIt
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. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you. Everything is silver in here.โ Vince wagged the key in front of me. โYou will just have to be a good girl to get let out.โ 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. โStop!โ I pulled away, slowly, weakly, growling softly to show I hadnโt 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 donโt 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? Itโs poisonedโฆpoisoned 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 doesnโt have magic. OkayโฆI donโt know whatโs 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. Thatโs 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 canโt go any faster or it hurt them, it will break down their bodies. Like poison.So youโre
I heard a chuckle and then a soft whispered. โSlepta noir sha dineh por clotin.โ Then the world went dark. Amy, stay awake. Nix called me, but I couldnโt 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 wasnโt an attack, like Verity said it was a gentle spell to put her to sleep. We are still awake, and if anything happens, Iโm sure we can force her awake. But there is a bright side.Whatโs 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. โWhy would you bring up the brotherhood in front of the wench?โWench? 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 thinkโฆI 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 thinkโฆI think he likes us because of it. The thought made my stomach clench. Sick fuck. โWench? Dadโฆcommon we all know she is going to be dead soon. So why does it matter?โ Brandon snorted as he passed me, kicking out, but I jumped up and snarled. โI would watch your self Bran. She is feisty. She alr
I sat still. I knew I couldnโt 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. โYou arenโt going to come quietly, are you?โ I just settled on the ground. I wasnโt stupid, but I wasnโt going to just fall in line, either. He chuckled and turned to Morgan. โWatch my son. Donโt let him get close to the wolf.โ Morgan nodded, but Vince was already turning away. โRick, come with me. You can carry me back here with our shit and the pup.โ Rickโs eyes tightened again and then he nodded. He smiled. โYeah. Poor thing has to survive another week.โHe shifted and left the clearing while Morgan and Brandon glared at me. โAre you seriously still going after Amyโs mom?โ Brandon sagged against a tree. โI mean, I get it. Sheโs 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. โAre you okay?โ 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 didnโt 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? Meganโs 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 didnโt 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, youโre 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. โYou should have kept your pants on. You only had to keep it in your pants for a few years, and you canโt even do that.โ Morgan leveled him with a look. You can blame Shannon all you want, but letโs not pretend she is the only one youโre fucking.Brandon glared at him for a minute before laughing. โTrue.โ He sighed. โBut Shannon was the only one Amy had to deal with.โMorgan level him with another look. โAgain, it isnโt her fault you decided you wanted to drain Amy of her power. You could have chosen anyone else.โBrandon sighed. โTrue again, but she is so fucking strong.โ He grabbed his dick. โAnd she is so fucking stuck up. I was going to enjoy draining her.โ Rick laughed. Fucking laughed, but when he turned, I saw it. A flash of something in his eyes. He didnโt want to be here. What the fuck is going on here? Megan called back to us, but neither of us knew. โShut the fuck up.โ Vince called back and everyone quieted. โVerity. How fucking long now?โShe sighed as s