The next morning was much of the same. I awoke to my father’s knock, and we made our way to the clearing. He nudged me into the clearing and I walked to the stump and sat down. By the time I looked back up, he was already gone. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on, or what I am supposed to do here.” I shook my head and took off my shoes. I planted my feet and took a cleansing breath. Then I closed my eyes and focused, like my father explained. The air was a soft, gentle breeze. I felt it dance across my skin. It played with my hair, tangling my curls as it blew through the clearing. The early morning sun crested the tree tops. I could feel the warming light hit my skin. I wiggled my toes in the grass, and it tickled my the bottom of my feet. I opened my hands, palm up on my knees, and settled deeper on to the stump. “This is stupid.” I opened my eyes and looked around, but I was talking to myself. “Is it?” I whirled around to see my father’s grandmother walking towards me. “H
A glowing green orb that shined like the sun. I walked closer to it and I could see the orb was pulsing. With every step closer, I could feel my pounding heartbeat, and my heart was in time with the orb. “What are you?”Nix and Megan walked out and sat beside me. “This is your power. This is the center of your soul. Your power that runs through your body comes from this orb. Your entire being is in sync with this piece of you.” Megan nudged against my hand.“Megan and I are a part of you, but separate. We are our own souls that share your body and mind. But this part of you would still be here if we weren’t. It is woven into your very soul. Your human soul. This is your grans legacy for you, the very power that ran in her veins, your father’s veins and now yours. It will pass to you pups and beyond.” Nix leaned forward.“If werewolves were to even die off, your line would continue to hold power.” Megan followed suit and leaned toward the orb. Ribbons of power floated out and stroked
“Let’s go.” I yelled behind me, frustrated with the progress these last few weeks have given to these ladies. “Hussle.” I ran with them, leading them while Lynn and Tina running at the very back. I would have lapped them three times if I ran my regular pace. Which is ridiculous. I don’t have access to my wolves yet. Soon Amy. Soon. Nix’s voice came to me as I panted around the track. I finished the laps and walked over to the water cooler and grabbed a bottle of water, waiting for everyone else to finish. I stretched out my arms and then dropped to the ground to lean over my legs to stretch them. “Amy, you are killing us.” Cass dropped next to me and I looked up, surprised.“You finished first.”“No, you did.” Cass pushed me and laughed, but I shook my head slowly.“No, Cass. You were behind me. Which is fantastic. You don’t have a weak wolf.” I smiled over at her and Nix chuffed in my head. Of course, she doesn’t have a weak wolf. Lily just doesn’t see the point in putting her str
“Dad.” I slammed into his office and dropped into a chair. He just looked up from his phone call to me and raised a finger. “Yes, Steven. She will be returning in the next month. But if she wants to move here permanently, you can’t refuse the request.” He paused and met my eyes. “I understand you think she might be your son’s mate, but if she isn’t, you can’t block her again.” He nodded. “I’m happy we could come to an agreement. Thank you Steven. I will see you at the Alpha summit.” He hung up the phone and smiled up at me. “Come on in Amy. What can I do for you?”I smiled and shook my head. “Dad. What was that about?”“Just clearing the way in case something changes and you want to come back here, or stay.” He smiled up at me and I just laughed. My father was the trouble maker alpha. “What made you bust in here just now?”My smile turned into a grimace, and I flopped into a chair. “Our family is failing this pack.”“What do you mean?”“You have had no one else heading the wolf class
“Amy.” Cass’s voice jolted me from my own thoughts. I got up from my mother’s desk and walked to the door, opening it.“Hey.” I looked her over, and she had tears drying on her face. “What’s wrong?” I stepped out. “Nothing…everything. I had a question.”“Anything. What’s going on with you?”“It’s Lily.” Cass grabbed my hand and I stepped out of the office and closed the door. “Wh-”“What do you think you’re doing in the luna’s office?” Aurora’s voice was overly loud, and it grated on my nerves.I turned to her, pulling Cass behind me. “Who are you to question me about my mother’s office?” I lifted my lip. “The real question is, why have you been in the luna’s office?” Aurora stumbled. “Did you think I wouldn’t smell you all over the office? You are not permitted in the office. It’s not yours to use, sit in, or dream about.” I was becoming more and more agitated the closer I stepped toward her. “I don’t know how many times I have to say this to you Aurora, but you are not the luna. Y
I waited until my father left me alone in the clearing before I dropped to the grass and closed my eyes. I reached deep inside myself and did the only thing I could think of. “Grandmother, I need your help.” I waited in the silence of the clearing until I felt a chill run down my neck. I opened my eyes to see her sinking down in front of me.Her silver and black hair hung in a braid over her shoulder, swinging in my face and she lowered herself and I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out to brush the strands, but I felt nothing. “I’m not truly here, Amy. I send my sprit to you when I sense your need. But you can not touch the spirit world, as I cannot touch the living. I don’t feel the ground we sit upon, or the wind that blows through your hair.” “But you seem so…” I trailed off. “Alive? Because I am in a weird way. Who is to say earth is the only life we live?” She gave a secret smile and a wink. “But that is not for you to worry about right now. Now why have you called me here?
“Let’s go ladies.” I called out, watching the girls move faster than I had seen this month. Cassie, in particular, was moving a lot faster. Once the girls finished their laps, I had them circle up. “Congratulations ladies. We are finally moving like wolves. Now we can up the ante.”“What do you mean by that?” Charlotte, a female that just had her first shift last week, perked up.“Well now, that you’re actually running, and you have built the muscle on. Now we can break off on to shift and non shifted sides.”“For what?” Cass asked, bouncing on her toes. “Hand to hand combat.” I smiled, and some girls jumped with their excitement.“Finally.” Tamara squealed. “I’ve been waiting for this since we started.”“Well, we talked about it, and Amy here thought that getting you moving and building muscle was a stronger base than throwing you into the thick of it.” Tina smiled and bumped her little sister’s shoulder. “I know, and she’s right. I would have died week one, but now I’m ready.” Tam
“Amy?” I whirled to face my father and tried to smile. “Yes, daddy?” I looked up at him as he looked over at me.“What are you doing?” He chuckled at my outfit. “Are you going to break into a bank?” I looked down at my black hoodie, pants, and boots. I just shrugged. “I’m going for a hike.”“In all black, with a flashlight, in the late afternoon?” He laughed again and crossed his arms. “Why not?” I tossed a small wave and ran away before he could ask any more questions. I headed down the stairs and around the back, heading through the kitchen and out the door. I heard Cass calling out for me, but I ran toward the back of the yard. Once I had run through a couple of small patches of woods, I finally spotted the gazebo. I beelined for it. I was running through what my grandmother said.I circled the side and found nothing. I circled a few times and there was no way under. I threw my hands up in the air, frustrated with the search already. What in the hell am I going to do? I huffed
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
The world blurred past us. The trees became blurred sticks as we wove in between. Bushes became wider obstacles that we jumped over. The animals, the birds, they knew something was happening, and they stayed quiet and out of the way. Megan passed the borders of the pack lands, she weaved between the border patrols that were following their routes, and others that were just out for friendly hunts. We finally slowed to a stop to catch our breath and to figure out where to go. She looked around. Nix receding back beside me and collapsing. Are you okay? I hurried to her side. Yeah. She huffed and sagged against me. I pushed too hard, that’s all.I cuddled her to my side, holding her up as she caught her breath, and I realized the sun had set. How long did it take us to run here? Nix huffed out a breath. Not long. Around two hours. Why?Why is the sun setting? I looked around and the woods were definitely darker. Megan looked up, and we saw it. She checked the sun, but there was nothi
I drove past the pack members that had lined the street. All of them were waving and bowing, giving my mother a farewell deserving of a luna, not just another pack member. But she has stepped up where Vince’s mate failed. My mom helped with the pups. She made sure they were taught properly. She fought for the females of this pack. And wolves never forgot their debts. I drove down block after block of our pack, saluting to my mother, who wasn’t even here to see it. I waved as I drove past the guards at the beginning of the land, and then we were out. My mother’s body double disappeared, and I called for the jet to get ready to take a flight to the coast and come back. “Who are we taking?”I laughed. “No one.” There was silence on the other end. “Take you families for a vacation to the coast if you like, my gift to you.” I looked at the dash. “I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Get everyone to the hangar to leave and I’ll transfer you twenty thousand to have a nice weekend. Make s
We made it back to the house and my mother was ecstatic, dancing her way to my room. We shut the door, and she twirled. “Where do I go?” She turned to me and I just gave her a look. “I know I’m going to the cabin. I just mean how? Won’t the pack notice if I don’t leave?”I waved my hand. “I’ll use magic to pretend to drive you away and I’ll leave your car at the airport and run back. Just pack your essentials and we will go over.” I kissed her temple. “But let’s be quick.”“Why?” She sat on my bed and I pulled out black clothes. She just lifted her eyebrows. “What are you going to do? Rob a bank?” I laughed. “I need a shower and descenting spray.” I rummaged through my bathroom, but my mom stood and went into my closet. “What are you doing?”“I put the extra spray in here, foolish girl.” She came out with a bottle. “Now tell me why.”“Rick.” She just twirled her finger. “Rick what?” She handed me the bottle, and I put it on my counter. “When he told me to go home for the day. He to
Vince looked at me, then he turned to Morgan with a raised brow. “Well, then…” He sat back. “There isn’t much of a choice, is there?”Morgan turned to me. “Amy, you can’t be serious. I raised you. I was your dad.” My eyes flashed and Nix was in front in a second. “Repeat those words and I will call the Cath Báis for pure arrogance from you. You barely looked at us when we were a pup. You did everything and anything to take our mother’s time and attention from us. And when I finally shifted, you stole our bonding night.” Nix chuffed a warning call. “So think before you open your mouth again, beta. If you step on my father’s legacy and my mother’s hard work, then I will not hold back. I will rip you to shreds and reunite you with your mate.”Morgan paled. “Nix…I didn’t mean-”“You dodn’t mean to take credit for work you had no hand in. You didn’t raise me. You didn’t pay my way. You didn’t even house me. Amy bought the house. Amy’s money paid for everything for her and her mother. You