I can feel Axel picking apart my mind, his ultima morphing and melding to my own, and suddenly a tickling sensation rolls through me. My body involuntarily shivers at the feeling, unsure if it’s one we like or dislike. It rolls through again and again like the waves lapping at the shoreline. A hand holds onto my arms until suddenly my body goes rigid and my eyes snap to Ali.  She stares at me in awe, and slowly she releases her hold on me. I take a step back, no longer acting on my accord. My wolf is in control of my human form, responding to her mate and ultima with no actual interaction other than the feeling of knowing exactly what he wants us to do. I step out into the small opening as if compelled and move to Axel’s side. The other Ultima falters in his step and ceases fighting with Axel long enough to look me over, trying to figure out if I'm a threat or just a distraction. When his eyes meet mine, they widen, and he glances over at

*Axel* I look down at the woman in my arms, and I nearly fall over with relief. She is awake; Maggie is alive, and these amazing tingles are just as strong as they have always been. She weighs a ton and I remember that I have pressed all of my strength to her to heal her and bring her back. The ultima’s strength combined with the mate bond is more than enough. It would seem to bring someone back from the dead. A new handy trick I didn’t know existed. This new trick baffles even the ultima in me. “What do you mean a lot?” Maggie asks. She eases her head to the side, wincing in pain but still doing her best to survey the surrounding area.  “Matthew is…” “Dead?” she asks me hopefully, her eyes begging for confirmation. “Yes.” “How?” she asks, spotting the bloody mass of flesh ten feet away. “I lost control,” I say, hanging my head in shame. I have fought and bitten my fair share of people and wo

*Axel*Dr. Sari steps out of the room across from where we are waiting and freezes. After glancing down the empty hallway, she clears her throat, causing Billy to jump up and anxiously wring his hands out. Billy has always been a worrywart. He does an excellent job hiding it behind his grumpy exterior, but the moment you break through those grumbles and scowls, he is gentle and truly caring. “Billy,” Dr. Sari starts. Her hesitation as she speaks has my hair standing on edge, waiting for the final blow.“Is she…” Billy gulps deeply and Maggie steps up to him, grabbing hold of his hand and giving it a good squeeze. Ordinarily, I would be jealous but since the bond Maggie and I have is so different from a normal mate bond, I can feel her emotions. She loves Billy. I can feel it, like the warmth a sip of hot tea brings on a chilly day. But her love isn’t ordinary. It doesn’t burn hot with passio

The coppery smell of blood floods my senses the moment we walk in. Liam freezes behind me as our presence goes completely ignored by Dr. Sari and Billy. Billy works diligently with a small squeeze bottle spraying the back of Beatrice’s head, soaking the once clumpy red hairs in a sudsy liquid solution. The solution the sprays on clear drips down from the side of the table in little pink splatters of water onto the musty white carpet, rendering the area around Billy’s feet completely pink and wet.“How is it going?” I ask anyone who will answer.“All the wolfsbane flowers have been removed,” Billy grumbles.“But, the oils from the crushed petals seem to form pustules when it comes into contact with the skin,”“Like poison ivy to humans?” I ask.“Exactly like that,” Dr. Sari says. She grabs a paper towel and walks to the bathroom, flushing it down the toile

*Maggie* I stand in front of the doctor who saved me from the mental institution and blink furiously to clear my eyes. My lashes feel thick and sticky and I rub at them furiously trying to either wake myself up or free my poor eyelids of the feeling of stiffness that settles in. I groan in frustration when my eyes water and I try yet again to blink through the heavy lids of my eyes. I can’t explain how I know who is in front of me other than, I just know. It could be her scent or perhaps the blurry shape I can perceive through my gooey eyes.  “What is happening?” I rasp out. My throat is dry and painful begging for water to wet my dirt dry mouth.  “You killed a few more than last time.” Her voice rings through my head. I snap my head in the direction of her