Carly met my eyes, and she sniffled. “What will you call me?”I froze. “Well, I haven’t thought about it. I’ve called you a few names, but that isn’t fair to you either.” I looked around the table. “What would you like us to call you?”She looked at her hands. “Daddy called me pup. Or baby girl.” I nodded when she looked up. But she worried at her lip. “We can call you other things.” I offered. She shot up. She raised her hands and waved them. “No, no, no, no.” She whipped her head back and forth. I grabbed for her hands, worried that she would slip from the chair. “Sweet pea. It’s okay.” I slid my hand to her cheek. “If you want us to call you pup or baby girl so it helps you remember your daddy, we will. If you want us to come up with different nicknames so that only your dad called your those two, we can do that too. What ever you want, we will do.”Toya stood and came over to her chair, kneeling. “If you want Amy to call you certain names, and then rest of us something else, we
Carly whirled to face the end of the grave only to see Carl settling down on to the ground. “Daddy.” She stood to run to him, but he waved her back down. “I’m not here baby.” He looked down. “Well I am, but I’m not.”She settled back on her knees. “You’re under here?” He nodded. “Yeah baby. Amy laid me down here so that you can spend some time with me if you want.” He smiled as he settled in. “I know I won’t be able to come every time you need me, but today seemed important.”Carly nodded her head. “I miss you, daddy.” She swiped her hand at her face, smearing snot across her cheek.I pulled a tissue from my pocket and I wiped it away. Carl smiled, watching us. His eyes met mine. “I miss you too, baby girl, but Amy here has you.”Carly looked up at me. “I like Amy, but it’s not the same.” Hey eyes held an apology.I chuckled. “It’s okay sweet pea. It’s going to be different. And it should be.” I kissed her and then we turned to Carl. The smile on his face was bright. “Go on and say
“Amy.” Carly ran after me, her sweet voice calling for me, and I skidded to a stop. “Yeah sweet pea?” I panted. The need to protect her warred with my need to take care of her. She pointed to a box on the fridge. “Daddy told me to show you the box.” She bounced on her toes. “He said it was important, but I forgot about it till now.” She looked worried.“It’s okay, baby girl. You did great.” I ran back to the box and pulled it down. Another note was taped to it. I wanted to laugh, cause the man thought of everything. I brought it to the table and Toya stood from the couch when I slammed the box down. “What’s going on?” She walked over to us and patted Carly on her head. “Are you okay?” I opened the box only to find more herbs and four little statues. “What’s this stuff for?”But I knew. This was the start of a new barrier spell. I grabbed everything from the box and thought back to the spell in the book. The herbs were here. The statues were here. There was a lock of hair from every
Carly’s words had my stomach dropping. I finally looked around and realized everyone was staring at me, but I couldn’t blame them. This place, this place was still so fresh in our mind from last night. “We need to move this to a new spot.” Micca offered, but I shook my head. This was the spot that I needed. “We can’t.” I looked down at the ground, blood still a dark stain that I didn’t see. But now I understood. “This is the only place for this spell, and I think Carl knew that.” I sank on to my feet and waited.“What do you mean, this is the only place for the spell?” Toya crouched in front of me.“The spell has to be cast at the north point of the property. The spell, the barrier, stops people from finding those within. My father cast one to keep Carly safe, but since he went into hiding, he wasn’t able to come here to renew it.”“Renew it?” Micca looked around. “How do you do that?”“This spell is powered by a sacrifice. The hair or the cloaked, and blood.” I swallowed. “Normally
I sat silently. My entire focus on the bubbling liquid. The timing had to be perfect. I watched as the silver slowly disappeared, the magic sucking it away. Once the last flash of silver could be seen, I pushed the bowl from the rocks, dumping the dark black liquid over the grass, smothering the fire, and dumping out silver statues.“What the fuck?” Micca pointed. Hanna’s mouth dropped open. “Those were wood.” She walked over and stood over them. “Can I touch them?” I nodded, hiding my smile. She bent over and grabbed the first one. “Holy shit.”“What?” Toya walked over and grabbed another. Her gaze snapped to mine. “It’s metal.” I nodded. “How?”I gave her a look, lifting my eyebrow. “It’s magic.” I laughed as they all looked at me with the same look of disbelief. I waved them off and stood, bending to grab the other two statues. “They aren’t really metal. The magic, the blood, coated them in the magic I need to create, the barrier, the shield for the cabin. For Carly.” I studied th
I felt them leave this time; I don’t know how, or why, but I knew my grandmother and Carl were gone before I turned. “It’s done.” I turned to my friends. “Whose staying?”Toya and Wendy looked at each other and then back at me. Wendy stepped forward. “I called my mom. She made a bag for me for you guys to grab. We thought having Toya with you would be better.”“Not better, but I need to figure out what pack I was sent to. I figure I could call and ask for leave after I figure it out. That way we can make sure we are set for the next while.”Wendy nodded. “I already told my mom to tell the Alpha I have a position under you last night. She was ecstatic and the Alpha already agreed.” She looked at me weirdly. “The alpha pair really likes you.”I snorted and waved her off. “I’m likeable.” She snorted, but let it go. I crouched down to talk to Carly. “Are you going to be okay while we are gone?”“How long are you going to be gone?” She bit her lip and looked up at me.“We are going to be q
We ran to the tower first. I wanted to handle our stuff before we faced the music. But as we ran into the building, I saw that luck was not on our side. Vince, Brandon and Rowan were all waiting for us. I shifted, gesturing for everyone else to wait, since I was the only one able to retain my clothes. “Alpha Vince, my King.” I bowed my head a little to both. “Brandon.” I smiled. “What can I do for you?”“Where have you been?” Vince stepped closer to me, but I just raised my brow.“Handling something personal. Why?”“You ran out of graduation.” I snorted. “Graduation? You mean the ambush that was waiting for me coordinated by the council?” Vince reeled back as if I slapped him. I felt the skin around my eyes tighten. “Did you think I was too stupid to see it for what it was? My father has been dead for almost two years and now they branded him a traitor. I think that’s laughable.” “Amy.” Rowan started, but I growled. I couldn’t even stop it.I took a deep breath. “Sorry my king.” I
“What does that mean?” Verity stomped her foot.“It means-” Vince started. But Rowan interrupted him. “It means that if I want to speak with Alpha Amy, I must contact her and let her know I’ll be visiting beforehand. And that I have to use her title. Also, she will be included in any vote.”“Toya and I will also attend the alpha conference in a month.” I smiled at Verity.“But that’s…”“Only for Alphas.” Toya finished with a toothy grin. She walked over and rubbed her fur against my side.“While this is nice, catching up, and all, is there a reason your are here?” I looked around and waited. “Alpha Vince? Brandon?”He smiled, looking down at me. “We are here about the job position in the pack. Brandon told you to think about it. I wanted to come and see if you had.”I smiled up at him. “Sorry, with everything that happened yesterday…” I trailed off and glared back at Rowan. “I haven’t had a minute to think about it.”Vince nodded. “Where did you go yesterday?”I looked out the door.
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