*Axel* Maggie sleeps soundly next to me, her hair spreads over the pillow in a mess and her lips are swollen and plump from our moment of passion that lasted way longer than I had expected. She very much enjoys teasing. Not that I mind, I just want to please her. I was, however, ready to scream if she had made me wait any longer. But the perk of sharing a mind is that she knew exactly how far to push me.  I reach out and pull the blanket over her bare shoulders, smiling weakly at how peaceful she finally looks. Damn, I love this broken, fragile woman. When we first met, she had all this bottled-up anger. It had burned in her sweet, sad eyes with a fire unlike any I had felt. I understand it now. How could I not when I have now witnessed the things she had experienced? Terrible things were done to her, and she has done terrible things as well.  All she has done since stepping into my life is grow more confident in what she want

“I am so sorry, Cor. I promised I tried.” He says stroking her hair and clinging to her. “I know you did, Uncle Hans. You loved him as much as I did. And I know, Dad, watching you die would have killed him. He would never have forgiven himself if he didn’t try, and I wouldn’t have forgiven him either.” She says softly, trying to comfort him. I watch them with tears of my own on my cheeks and I turn to wipe my face with my hands, only to find Maggie waiting for me with open arms. She wraps them around my waist, holding me close, and allows herself to cry too.  -Billy, We need all the freak-show family to meet in front of the packhouse- I say trying to hide the pain in my voice, but I know Billy can hear the tension. -Who is it?- he asks. -Just… get everyone to the front- And then I block the link. I know Billy will be mad that I didn’t tell him immediately, but right now is not the time. Right now, I need to find my family so we can all mo

“First of all, I know that for the sake of sensitivity about what happened to you both and to you packs, we should wait, but-” Alpha Wade starts “A full investigation is being launched to figure out what actually happened and where to place you all.” Ali breaks in. Alpha Wade sighs and slides his mate a glance. “Yes. You are something very different from what we are used to.” Alpha Wade offers a genuine smile. “And you want to determine if I am a friend or a foe?” Axel asks. “Exactly. We found a library which we kind of commandeered as a sort of headquarters until we know how to move forward. I know you don’t have any actual pack lands with which to take your newly formed pack, so we want to hammer out some things to solidify where people can begin to go.” “Thank you,” I say, squeezing Axel’s hand in mine as we walk alongside Wade and Ali. My eyes flick down to Ali’s bicep where a large gauze is wrapped around he

I’m not exactly sure what we were expecting to find when we arrived in the room. There is a sheet divider down the center and I’m not sure who is on the other side, but they are as quiet as Gregor, who lies on the table with blue lips and a gray face. Sari feels for a pulse and then grabs her stethoscope, then listens to his chest for a few minutes. I cling to Maggie for support, and she doesn’t let me down as she steps closer and wraps her arm around my midsection, resting her head against the side of my chest. Billy stands to the side as he crushes some plants into a bowl. He moves quickly and with a pointed purpose as he steps up to Gregor’s side and looks up at Sari, who nods. They count to three and gently roll the large man towards her. Billy frowns and puts the bowl down, using both hands to hold Gregor’s body where it is, and he uses his eyes to call Sari over. When she sees what he is showing her, her eyes crinkle, and she slides us a worried

Maggie stiffens, and I hold her tight to my chest, refusing to move from my place. I hold no fear for my brother. I have no desire to fight with him and no desire to kill him, though if he gives me a reason, I will do what I need to. A heavy sigh escapes my lips and I glance down at Maggie, who slowly moves from my grip and stands at my side. However, I decide to remain seated. “Abe. What brings you here? Coming to kill me again?” I raise a brow and bring my elbow to my knees, leaning forward slightly.Abe chuckles and steps out into the lamplight that illuminates the broken driveway.“Brother, if I wanted to kill you…”“I would already be dead?” I raise a brow and dawn a ghost of a grin. Still the same as Abe. Way too confident for his own good. “What more do you have to prove? You have the title you have always wanted. I stayed away. You came to me, you and your men shot my ma