BASTIANWith Alexi riding shotgun, we pull into the tiny human town of Bellington.Tiny really is an understatement. There are probably only 20 houses here. All small, humble looking homes. There's a diner, a small church and a few other buildings. This town makes Black Lake look huge.I park the car on the side of the street. "So, where do we start?" I ask Alexi.She looks around. "That restaurant looks like as good a place then any."I nod and get out. We cross the street and walk to the little eatery. It has soft lighting save for the large front window letting in more light. It's filled with square, dark wood tables. There's maybe 5 people in it. A big, overweight guy is behind the counter. He wearing a tight t-shirt and an apron.He eyes us as we walk in. "You folks lost?" He arches a brow as he wipes the counter.The others at the tables turn and scan us suspiciously. I meet their staring eyes and give a little wave saying 'Hi' quietly. Flashing my best smile. I don't want to be

BASTIANI pace back and forth in the common room of the pack house."Bastian, we need more manpower. We can't go in there without help." Nigel was sitting in an arm chair with Luke, River, Jayson and the rest of the Alliance Alphas on various couches.I stop and rub my head. "We can't. The Alliance will tear her to shreds. Especially if that thing fights back. I need this to be an extraction mission. If we can get to her and pull her out, I can touch her and fix it."Jayson leans on his knees. "Ok. We set up two teams. One from the north and one from the east. We keep mind links open at all times. We'll send in the flyers first to get Intel and form a plan once we know what we're up against. Scouts can escort them. We'll have two trackers per team. Luke. You and Wren will be team one. I'll call Shane and Hayden. They'll track for team 2."River sat up. "I'll set up satellite imagery so we know movements. Anna can take Alexi and be the first wave in. They're both light on their feet an

BASTIAN"Where is she, Jay?" I whisper as I throw on a t-shirt. I had Anton and Nigel bring packs with clothes in them for everyone.We're crouched in an empty, overgrown lot just outside the city waiting for Sarah and the two scouts to get back. They've been gone now for almost two hours and there's no sign."I don't know." Jayson's fist opens and closes as he scans the city lines. Looking for any sign that his mate is back. "It shouldn't take this long." He's getting worried. I feel the same. “She’s not answering my link.”River turns to me. "Maybe we should go look for them."A twig snap behind us. We spin around."Relax. It's just us." Dylan, Wes and Grey come crouched out of the brush."Did you bring them?" I crawl over to Dylan. He drops a bag."Yeah, but I don't know if they'll work. Remember, she's immune." He unzips the bag and opens it.I look in and can feel the resistance under my skin. My wolf growls and flashes his eyes. I push him down. Putting on a glove, I pull out tw

BASTIAN I pace around the cell. It's been almost two days, I think, since I've seen anything of Sammy. I'm going out of my mind. "Bastian, stop pacing. Between you and Jay, I don't know who's agitating me more." Luke scrubs his hair with his hands. Jayson scowls. "Easy for you to say, dick. You're mates right there." He points to Alexi. "Why hasn't she come back?" I motion to the bars. "Maybe she's compromised." Anna crosses her arms. River stands beside her. "It's time we make a plan here." Wes and Grey stand. "If she's compromised, we need to put her down. She sends that army on us, we're as good as dead." Grey says. I snarl my lips and rush him. Grabbing his shirt collar. "You fucking touch her, I'll tear you to shreds!" I growl my deepest growl. "Hey!" Luke grabs my arm and rips it from Grey. "We really don't need an Alpha showdown right now, ok. We won't kill her. Just relax." "Better not." I bore holes into Grey as I clench my jaw. Dylan joins the circle. "Ok. So, what

BASTIANGardenias. God, I love waking up to that smell.I'm lying on my stomach with my arms tucked under my pillow. I crack an eyelid. I blink to adjust to the morning light.I stretch a bit to wake up and instantly I hear, "Don't move a muscle."My eye search for the angel that said those words.I smirk. "What are you doing?"Sam has pulled a chair close to the bed. She's curled up in it, wearing my shirt loosely, with a sketchpad and pencil."I'm drawing." She smiles."I see that. Why can't I move?" I ask."Because you'll ruin it." She glances at me.I watch the end of her pencil twirl as the tip glides over the pad. "You're drawing me while I sleep?""Yes." She barely makes eye contact."Why?" I question."It's what muses are for. So, we can draw you while you sleep." She smirks."I'm your muse?"She nods, biting her lower lip."We'll that's a first." I chuckle."Don't move." She scolds. "It's a first for me too. I've never had anyone I've been so inspired to create before. When I