All Chapters of The Last Blackthorne Heir Returns: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“Well, well, if it isn’t the runt of the Delta line,” Fin, the eldest of the Maxwell quad Alpha heirs, drawled.“What brings you here, pest?” Brent continued.“Your father, the Alpha, requested me regarding my coming-of-age next week,” I said, looking to the floor, knowing all too well how this was going to go from here.“Sure, he probably brought you over to cancel it so that we don’t have to waste time on your ugly ass self,” spat the third brother, Kane.I shrugged and began to move, “To be honest, I’m not big on large parties, so that it wouldn’t upset me at all.”The youngest of the brothers wasn’t around and probably the least rude towards me, but then I wasn’t exactly the hot Delta’s daughter or sister, for that matter, I was more of a bookworm and well, no one really took the time to get to know me so it was easier to stay out of the way.I waited for the typical mocking laughter that always followed, and sure enough, it came right on cue."Bookworm is probably afraid no one w

I stopped but didn't turn around. Of all the Maxwell brothers, Liam was the only one who'd never gone out of his way to make my life miserable. But that didn't mean he was on my side either."What do you want, Liam?" I asked, still facing away from him."To make sure you're not planning to do something incredibly stupid." He came around to face me, his expression serious. Unlike his brothers, Liam had inherited his mother's softer features, though he was just as tall and broad-shouldered as the rest of them."Since when do any of you care what I do?""Since you threatened to get yourself killed." His green eyes searched my face. "Look, I know my brothers can be... difficult."I snorted. "That's one way to put it.""But shifting alone? That's not just dangerous, it's a death sentence. The pain alone could kill you, never mind the risk of getting stuck between forms."I knew he was right. Everyone knew the stories of wolves who'd attempted their first shift without pack support. Most di

"You came," his voice said from above me.I jumped, looking up to find him perched on one of the lower branches, legs dangling. "Do you always lurk in trees?""Only when I'm trying to avoid being seen." He dropped down beside me with the fluid grace all the Maxwell brothers possessed. "Thanks for meeting me.""What do you want, Liam?" I crossed my arms, keeping my distance. "And how did you get my number?""Pack directory." He shrugged. "Being the Alpha's son has its perks.""Fine. You got me here. What are these 'dangerous things' I need to know about?"Liam glanced around, making sure we were alone. "Not here. Follow me.""I'm not going anywhere with you," I protested."Please." His expression was serious. "What I need to show you can't be seen by anyone else."Against my better judgment, I followed him deeper into the woods, away from the pack grounds. We walked in silence for several minutes until we reached a small clearing. In the center stood a dilapidated cabin I'd never seen

"I know you don't trust me," he continued. "I know you don't trust any of us. But if this bond is real, if you are our mate, then everything changes. We're bound to protect you, to cherish you. It's not a choice, it's written into our very DNA."I laughed bitterly. "DNA didn't stop your brothers from making my life hell before.""Because they didn't know. None of us knew what you were to us." His eyes were pleading now. "The aggression, the way they've always singled you out, it might have been the mate bond trying to surface. Sometimes it manifests as hostility when the connection is being suppressed or denied."I shook my head, backing toward the door again. "That's convenient. Blame their cruelty on some mystical bond they didn't know existed.""I'm not making excuses for them," Liam said quickly. "What they did was wrong, bond or no bond. But if we are mates, then your coming-of-age ceremony is going to change everything. The moment you shift, if the bond is there, all four of us

"I didn't have to. After last night..." He sighed heavily. "Quad bonds work both ways. When I felt the pull toward you, they felt it too. It was impossible to hide."I closed my eyes, dread washing over me. "How did they react?""About as well as you'd expect." His laugh was bitter. "Fin punched a hole through his bedroom wall. Brent hasn't stopped pacing. And Kane... Kane's been unnaturally quiet, which is somehow worse than if he were raging.""This is a nightmare," I whispered."It doesn't have to be." His voice softened. "Please, just come talk to us. To my father. There are things you need to know before your ceremony next week.”“Yay to be thrown to the wolves, likely me,” I said, “and knowing at least two of them will have me moved to the pack house by noon, and even better, their girlfriends will be there to remind me of my place, go me.”"Their girlfriends aren't there," Liam said quietly. "They broke up with them last night."I nearly dropped the phone. "What?""The mate bon