《Mated to the Alpha and His Beta》


 mated-to-the-alpha-and-his-beta

    Lanie


    I ran out after Mason, looking around desperately, but he was already deep in the woods.


    ¡°We need to follow him,¡± | urged Lily.


    She obliged, taking over and morphing us into our strong wolf form in a matter of seconds.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    She''d been excited to see Xander and Zane when my memories came back, but she still stirred for Mason, too. Something about


    the tension between us all must''ve turned her on.


    Like | said, h orny b itch.


    | sprinted into the woods, easily tracking Mason¡¯s warm, s picy scent, made sharper by his anger and


    sadness.


    He finally entered my field of vision a few momentster, a lightning-fast brown streak darting through


    the trees.


    | howled at him, trying to get him to slow down. There was more to say, sh it to figure out. If he ran away. his anger would only


    build, and the explosion would be even worse than when he bit Braden.


    ¡°Faster,¡± | urged Lily.


    She growled with annoyance in response but still picked up speed. | was gaining on Mason now.


    | finally ran up beside him, and he nced over at me. Even as a wolf, | could see the hurt in his eyes. He


    threw his head the other way and surged forward, leaving me nipping at his tail. Was he going to do this all


    f ucking night?


    ¡°No way,¡± Lily said, and before | knew it she was leaping through the air, soaring toward Mason andnding on top of him with a


    dull thud.


    We rolled across the forest floor together, finallynding belly up in a heap on the mossy ground of a


    clearing. Moonlight shone brightly through the break in the trees, and the night air was warmer than it had


    been in months.


    It would¡¯ve been romantic if everything hadn¡¯t just gone to s hit.


    Mason stood up and pawed at the ground like he was about to sprint off once more.


    Oh no, you don¡¯t.


    | lunged for him again, this time nipping at his back legs. He wasn¡¯t going anywhere.


    He whipped around and snarled, advancing on me dangerously slow, like he was stalking me. Hell no was


    | getting into a wolf fight with Mason.


    | shifted back into my human form, not giving a f uck that I¡¯d shredded all my clothes outside the house.


    to throw their first punch, only | was at a serious disadvantage as a human. ¡°I said you couldn¡¯t hurt Xander, so you decide to go


    straight to the source, is that it?¡±


    Mason shook his big fluffy head and shifted right before my eyes, naked and crouching on the mossy.


    ground.


    When he stood up, it was all | could do not to let my eyes wander downward.


    ¡°I''m running so | don¡¯t hurt anyone again,¡± he said, his voice a husky rumble. ¡°I made a mistake, but I¡¯m not a monster. Of course


    I''m not gonna f ucking fight you, Katie.¡±


    ¡°It''s Lanie,¡± | said coldly-an unfairly to him, since he¡¯d never known Lanie. Only Katie.


    ¡°What?¡± Mason looked confused.


    ¡°My name. It¡¯s Lanie.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t care what it is,¡± he snarled. His eyes traveled over my body and his.gaze darkened. My heart was racing, and not from


    running.


    ¡°And | don¡¯t care who | find you with.¡± He moved closer to me. ¡°And | don¡¯t care if it¡¯s pathetic...¡±


    | let my eyes graze his body, and my breath hitched.


    His c ock was thick and hard and already dripping.


    ¡°I still want you so f ucking badly,¡± he rumbled. ¡°That hasn¡¯t changed.¡±


    There were mere inches between us now, and my chest was already heaving with the effort of controlling my desire.


    ¡°| know your memories are back, and | know you have mates, but you can¡¯t deny it.¡± He reached his hand out and grasped my


    waist, wrenching me into him roughly.


    He leaned down, his lips grazing my ear.


    ¡°| know you want me, too.¡±

 Chapter 1

    Lanie


    Today was the day | lost my freedom forever.


    ¡°Oh my g od. | can¡¯t believe it! It¡¯s finally time!¡±


    My best friend Mindy stormed into my bedroom.


    | loved her enthusiasm typically, but today wasn¡¯t the day for it. I''d been dreading the mating ceremony for


    years.


    But now that I was eighteen, there was no way around it.


    Due to the shortage of she-wolves, I¡¯d be assigned to my two mates today.


    And they could be anyone-from a neighboring pack, or guys | went to school with who had also just turned eighteen.


    And getting mated to any of the guys | went to school with?


    Gag me. And not in the se xy way.


    No one knew how the elders decided who was mated to who.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    And sure, some people ended up okay, like my mom and my dads. But sometimes? Sometimes it wasn¡¯t so great. And the


    elders? They didn¡¯t care. Once a woman was assigned to her mates, that was it for her.


    The only way out was death.


    And in that case? Lucky guys! They got a new mate.


    After all, the purpose was to rebuild the ns after the Great War, so basically, we she-wolves became nothing but incubators.


    Yay.


    I''d find a way out. Eventually. There was no way | was going to just spend the rest of my life having two men using me as their


    own personal se x t oy.


    ¡°You look like you''re going to prison or off to war or something right.¡± Mindy frowned at me.


    m.¡±


    ¡°Last Fall¡¯s mating ceremony resulted in the birth of seven pups, andst Spring¡¯s mating ceremony has resulted in three


    pregnancies so far. We hope this Fall¡¯s ceremony will be just as fruitful.¡±


    The head elder, Aldon, gave a small nod of approval from his ce on the stage set up in the middle of the town square. Polite


    apuse sounded.


    This whole thing made me want to barf.


    But | wouldn''t dare do anything that could bring embarrassment to my family. The elders were known to be a bit...catty...with


    their assignments if someone displeased them.


    My sister was due to be mated in just a couple of years, and | would slice my own throat before | ever did something to


    compromise her fate.


    Mindy practically vibrated with excitement beside me, her gaze focused intently on the stage, her hand in mine. | gave her hand


    a little squeeze. | hoped we would get to stay in the same town. Being near her would help me through whatever came, even if |


    was separated from my family.


    ¡°Pay attention,¡± Mindy hissed. ¡°They''re starting now.¡±


    ¡°Lanie Stanton!¡±


    Oh, s hit. Why did | have to be first?

 Chapter 2

    Lanie


    | took a deep breath and walked up onto the stage.


    My heart felt like it was about to beat right through my ribs.


    Dear go ds, please don¡¯t let me faint. Please, please, please don¡¯t let me faint.


    | stood next to Elder Aldon and looked out into the crowd, above their heads, not seeing anything or anyone


    as my eyes fuzzed over.


    ¡°Lanie Stanton, it is my pleasure to announce that you have been mated to Alpha Xander, and his Beta, Zane.


    Wait, what?


    | was mated to the Alpha and his Beta?


    No, that couldn¡¯t be right.


    Everyone knew they were bothpletely head over heels for Alice. Everyone expected the elders would


    mate her to them.


    | looked back over at Elder Aldon, who was staring at me.


    ¡°Ex...Excuse me. | don¡¯t think | heard you. Could you repeat that?¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Elder Aldon stepped closer to me, so his ck robe hid the fact that he grabbed my forearm roughly, his bony fingertips digging


    into my flesh.


    ¡°You. Heard. What. |. Said.¡± He punctuated every word with a puff of onions-and-coffee breath, his grip on my


    arm increasing. | feared he would draw blood.


    ¡°Go,¡± he growled, shoving me forward.


    | swallowed down my fear and turned to face Alpha Xander and Beta Zane, who were sitting on the other side


    of the stage.


    | did my best to hold my head high as | took slow, steady steps toward Xander and Zane-who were both looking at me with a


    mixture of pain and anger on their faces, their mouths contorted in snarls.


    Their wolves shined behind their eyes, and they red at me.


    Xander¡¯s hands were gripping the arms of his chair, looking almost as if he could snap the wood right off.


    They looked terrifying, and | wanted to run as far away as | could.


    | made it across the stage and stood in front of them, bowing my head slightly as | waited for them to speak, 1/2


    Chapter 2


    to tell me what to do.


    Because...they owned me now.


    Xander


    This. Would. Not. Stand.


    The elders had made a mistake, and | would force him to fix it immediately.


    E


    If being Alpha stood for anything, Zane and | would at least get the match we wanted.


    ¡°You''ve clearly made a mistake, Elder Aldon,¡± | said, my wolf rising closer to the surface, roiling with anger.


    ¡°| assure you, we have not, Alpha Xander.¡± Aldon lifted his chin, his pointy nose tilted up like a pig sniffing for


    food.


    He disgusted me.


    This match disgusted me.


    I stood, shoving the little twit of a girl aside and walking toward Aldon, ignoring her gasp as she stumbled.


    As | towered over him, he backed up a step.


    ¡°Sir... Alpha...the choice has been decided. Once it has been written, it cannot be undone.¡±


    ¡°Anything can be undone.¡±


    00

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    Xander


    I looked out at Alice. Tears streamed down her beautiful face, and her blue eyes screamed at me in agony. My


    heart sped up, and I wanted to gofort her, tell her everything would be okay.


    Instead, I looked back to Zane and opened our mind link.


    ¡°Go to her,¡± I told him.


    In seconds, he was by her side, holding her and whispering words of reassurance to her.


    My chest ached looking at them.


    That was my future. Me, my Beta, and Alice against the world, raising our pups, raising the next Alpha of the


    Constantine n.


    I turned back to Aldon, allowing my wolf to show its ws.


    ¡°You will undo it. Find a way,¡± Imanded.


    Aldon¡¯s wolf shed in his eyes, along with something else I couldn¡¯t ce. But he looked off to the side out


    into the crowd and then backed down. Had he been in wolf form, his tail would have been between his legs.


    ¡°Please, Alpha. Can we speak about this privately, and let us finish the rest of the mating ceremony?¡± I could


    barely hear him, and I scented his fear.


    ¡°Finish the mating


    I turned to go back to my seat. ¡°Stay down there with her. And I swear to


    3. Now.¡± 11


    go d, if he calls her to mate with someone, I¡¯ll have his head,¡± I spoke to Zane.


    The fact that she was twenty and hadn¡¯t yet been mated wasn¡¯t lost on anyone. Alice had been treated


    horribly by many others in the pack for it, but I¡¯d worked hard to sway the elders to put it off.


    Elder Aldon continued.


    ¡°Next up, Alice Fabine. Mated to Gregory Bjorn and Lucas Spindler.¡±


    Zane


    I was going to kill him.


    I was going to jump onto that stage and tear him limb from limb and then make Xander dere that this whole mating process was done. That our pack was going to go its own way.


    F uck everyone else.


    Alice trembled in my arms, sobbing as her name was called.


    My heart splintered, and I held her tighter, kissing the top of her head.


    It was all I could do not to partially shift and sink my fangs into her neck and im her right there in front of everyone, elders be da mned.


    ¡°Alice, you must go to your assigned mates.¡± Elder Aldon¡¯s voice was slimy, and my fangs dropped.


    ¡°What in the f uck are we supposed to do?¡± I projected to Xander.


    *Just¡­ F uck.¡±


    Xander¡¯s power radiated through the crowd as his anger notched up, and we all felt it in our bones. Just one of the reasons Alphas had to stay in constant control. Anything they felt was sent out to the rest of the pack if


    they didn¡¯t have a tight rein on their emotions.


    ¡°Xander¡­. your rage is being fed to everyone here,¡± I warned.


    Our eyes met, and we both nodded.


    We knew what we had to do.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

 Chapter 4

    Zane


    ¡°Alice, love.¡± | lifted her chin and stared into her tearful eyes. ¡°Go with them for now. We''ll address this after


    the ceremony. We''ll find a way...¡±


    Her chin quivered and she closed her eyes briefly, sending fresh streams of tears down her porcin cheeks.


    My gut twisted.


    | brushed the backs of my knuckles across one cheek, then the other, wiping her tears away.


    ¡°It''ll be okay. | promise,¡± | assured her.


    | stalked back onto the stage to take my ce next to Xander. There was no way | could stand down there in


    the crowd and watch as she walked over to Gregory and Lucas.


    Especially since it was Gregory and Lucas.


    They would tear her apart.


    Alice would be their third mate.


    In just over a year¡¯s time.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Their first mate had been assigned to themst Fall and had mysteriously disappeared barely two months


    into their mating.


    While we all had our suspicions, the Elders had decided that the young Mary had simply run away as there had been no


    evidence of foul y. They never bothered to take into consideration the fact that Mary had been seen by multiple people with


    bruises on her arms.


    Last Spring, they had been assigned a she-wolf whose mates had just passed away in a car ident. Most thought it was too


    soon for her to mate someone else, but the Elders had thought it best for her to be mated right away, saying that ¡°having a


    purpose in life would help her.¡±


    Shested three months before she was found dead in the woods behind Gregory and Luc a s¡¯s cabin.


    The Elders ruled it a suicide, ming it on her depression and grief and instability.


    When Xander and | had gone to view the scene in the forest, we knew that was a lie.


    I''ll never forget the pain that remained in her lifeless eyes, and I''ll never forget the smug way Greg and Luke had just shrugged


    when we asked them what happened.


    ay


    3 5 dyk og


    Xander¡¯s low growl brought me out of my thoughts, and | refocused on the here and now.


    Lanie was standing closer to us now, staring nkly at nothing.


    tanie was


    | nced at Xander. He was intently focused on Alice, who was now standing between


    they took turns manhandling her like she was a piece of meat.


    I saw red.


    And there was nothing | could do right now.


    If we weren''t careful and we p issed off the elders, everyone in our pack would die.


    e

 Chapter 5

    Lanie


    What the heck was | supposed to do? Xander and Zane had stood up as soon as Elder Aldon left the stage, and they were now


    standing at the bottom of the steps, talking in low voices.


    toes.


    While | remained up on the stage, petrified.


    People were staring. | could feel their eyes on me, and all | wanted to do was run and hide.


    If | could get my da mn legs to move.


    Come on, Lanie. Get your s hit together.


    ¡°We could trade her for Alice.¡± Zane¡¯s words floated up to me, and my stomach dropped to the tips of myText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°F uck no. No one deserves to be with Greg and Lucas.¡± Xander¡¯s tone sounded disgusted.


    Zane sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. ¡°You''re right; | don¡¯t want to ce Lanie in harm¡¯s way. But we


    cannot let Alice go home with those monsters.¡±


    Xander shifted his weight, looking out into the pack members still standing around.


    | prayed that whatever he decided to do wouldn¡¯t upset the elders and make things difficult for me, my sister,


    or my parents.


    The elders had been given ultimate power, saying that the egos, heated tempers, and rash decisions of the


    Alphas were what had led to the Great War. The idea was that the elders were older, wiser, and more even-keeled


    since they didn¡¯t have Alpha blood flowing through their veins and making them ¡°unstable.¡±


    So while Xander might be upset about today and what the elders had decided, he didn¡¯t have control over it


    and couldn''t go against them. The only thing Xander had control over was the day-to-day leading of the pack.


    ¡°Lanie,¡± Xander barked.


    | jumped, looking at him with wide eyes.


    ¡°Come with us.¡±


    So...they weren''t just going to leave me here?


    | walked down the steps to stand in the grass beside them.


    Xander and Zane¡¯s eyes roved over me, and | would swear they were talking to each other in their heads,


    because they looked at each other at the same moment, then back to me, then out into the distance.


    What the hell?


    172


    | set my jaw and stared back at them.


    Zane nodded once, then Xander started walking toward the people still in the town square. Zane followed, indicating with a jerk


    of his head at me that | was toe, too.


    ¡°My pack.¡± Xander stopped at the edge of people, his voice booming.


    Every head turned in his direction, and every person stopped what they were doing as soon as their Alpha¡¯s


    voice rang out.


    ¡°Until a thorough investigation can be done and we can determine that a new mate will be safe in their care, Gregory Bjorn and


    Lucas Spindler are hereby forbidden from iming a new mate.¡±

 Chapter 6

    Xander


    | must protect Alice at all costs, and this was my only recourse.


    ¡°This is absurd!¡± Greg burst forth through the crowd, rage shining in his eyes as he met my gaze.


    Luke wasn¡¯t far behind, his hand wrapped around Alice¡¯s wrist, dragging her behind him.


    | let loose a low growl.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Luke let go immediately.


    ¡°You have no right,¡± Luke said.


    m well within my right to protect a member of this pack from possible harm, and | am well within my right to open an


    investigation into members of the pack.¡± | crossed my arms over my chest and widened my legs.


    ¡°What are you going to do with our mate? The elders gave her to us. She¡¯s ours.¡± Spittle flung from Greg¡¯s mouth as he spat the


    words out.


    ¡°She''ll be kept safe,¡± Zane cut in before | could respond. ¡°With us.¡±


    ¡°No f ucking way!¡± Luke yelled. ¡°You will not take our mate away from us. Especially since we all know your history with her.¡±


    Alice stood on her tiptoes to peer around Luke¡¯s shoulder, her eyes filled with gratitude.


    | wouldn¡¯t let harme to her, and | would figure out a way to make her ours.


    ¡°Alpha Xander, this ispletely uneptable.¡± Aldon stepped forward and stood in front of the crowd.


    ¡°Pack protection is not within the elders¡¯ power. It is at my discretion, and | am simply doing what | must in order to protect a


    valuable member of our pack. Certainly the elders will understand the need to protect one of our viable she-wolves.¡±


    ¡°This is not about that, and you know it. You¡¯re ying with fire, Xander, Aldon threatened.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you think this is about. Until you can find aw that negates my ruling, it stands. Gregory and Lucas will


    not be mated to anyone until my investigation isplete, and that¡¯s final.¡±


    He stood there for a moment, staring at me, ring at me, clearly thinking about what his next move was..


    There was none.


    Not right now, at least.


    I''m sure he''d find something, but he wasn¡¯t going to find it today.


    Ww


    | held my hand out to Alice.


    Greg and Luke both moved to stand in front of her to keep her froming to me, and | let loose a low warning growl that had


    them practically ushering Alice into my arms.

 Chapter 7

    Lanie


    No. F ucking. Way.


    Rage, embarrassment, and denial rushed through my veins.


    This couldn¡¯t be happening.


    What the hell was | supposed to do?


    Ahand brushed across my arm, and | looked over to see Mindy standing next to me.


    ¡°It''s going to be okay,¡± she soothed. ¡°I know this is wild, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯re confused, but it¡¯s all going to be


    okay.¡±


    Oh, s hit. In all of my self-centeredness with my own mating and the Alice mess, | hadn¡¯t even heard who Mindy


    had been mated with.


    ¡°| know,¡± she said as if she could read my mind. ¡°It¡¯s okay. | was mated to Monroe de and Maxim Fulton.¡±


    My heart leaped.


    Monroe and Maxim were two of the High Guards for Xander and Zane.


    Who lived in the same house as Xander and Zane, in a different wing of the huge mansion.


    Finally, something was going right for me.


    ¡°Are you happy with it?¡± | asked.


    She nodded. ¡°They¡¯re good men, kind men. And they¡¯re se xy as hell. Plus, | get to be near you.¡±/


    Mindy wrapped her arms around my shoulders and squeezed me tight, and | held onto her for dear life, holding back the tears


    welling up in my eyes.


    ¡°| have to go now, but I''ll see you as soon as | can.¡±


    She gave me onest squeeze and stepped back to the two huge men standing behind her, staring at her with


    all the possessiveness and heat in their eyes that | wished my mates felt for me.


    My ¡°mates¡± were currently cooing over Alice,forting her and stroking her hair.


    F ucking great.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Anger scorched my veins, and | bit back a growl of frustration.


    If only | could shift and run. Far away from here and this whole catastrophe.


    Xander and Zane both lifted their heads at the same time and looked at me, pausing in their pawing of Alice.


    | met their stares.


    ¡°Oh, | see you finally realized that I¡¯m still here.¡±


    Xander¡¯s nostrils red, and Zane raised an eyebrow.


    It was time for me to stop being some sniveling wisp of a girl and act like the woman | was.


    ¡°While | appreciate your concern for a fellow she-wolf, might | ask what your ns are for your actual mate?¡±


    Zane


    | was pretty sure Xander was going to blow a gasket.


    No one spoke to him like that.


    Well, other than me.


    But that was different. As his Beta, it was my job to challenge him sometimes.


    | opened my mouth to reply, but Lanie¡¯s scent wrapped around me again and | lost my train of thought.


    What was it about her?


    I''d never experienced a scent like this before, and my nose-and my wolf-wasn¡¯t sure what to do with it.


    Xander was in the same boat, if the look of confusion on his face was any indication.


    Alice tensed, and she wrinkled up her nose.


    So, she smelled it, too.


    For the first time since this horrible mating ceremony had begun, she spoke.


    ¡°She¡¯s noting with us, is she?¡± Alice looked up at Xander and batted her eyes,


    Amove that melted him every time and had him bending to her every whim.


    It used to get me at first, but | saw it now for the tactic it was. Sex y and cute...but a tactic all the same to get


    what she wanted from us.


    And one of us had to be immune to it to keep a clear head.


    ¡°I''m afraid there¡¯s no other choice, love.¡± Xander shook his head and sighed.


    ¡°But I¡¯m going to be your mate,¡± she whined.


    Xander ran the backs of his fingers down Alice¡¯s cheek in a soothing gesture. ¡°I know, but we¡¯ve rocked the


    boat enough today. Be patient with us.¡±


    His tone wasforting but final, a hint of Alpha leaking out.


    | looked over at Lanie.


    The expression on her face was priceless.


    It was a mix of ¡°what the f uck am | looking at¡± and amusement, and before | could stop it, | was grinning.


    ¡°Is there something amusing, Zane?¡± Xander asked.


    ¡°Something amusing? As in, this whole situation? Yes, amusing would be one word for it.¡±


    Alice sniffed. ¡°I don¡¯t find any of this amusing at all, Zaney.¡± She looked up at Xander and turned her shoulder


    to me. ¡°Can we go home?¡±


    We hate it when she calls us that, my wolf reminded me.


    As if | needed a reminder.


    Hush, de. She¡¯s just upset right now, | answered.


    What about all the other times?


    I sighed and closed my mind off to him. Lately, he¡¯d been vocal about his annoyances with Alice.


    | tended to ignore him. Most people imed that their wolves were insightful and knew the deepest parts of them, the parts they


    didn¡¯t always recognize in themselves.


    That was not the case with de.


    He was judgmental, never happy, and he hated practically everything and everyone other than Xander and his


    wolf, Hunter.


    If | listened to de, lord only knows what my life would be like.


    I''d be a virgin, for sure.


    ¡°Let''s get back to the house. We''ll discuss everything there, privately,¡± | said.


    ¡°Agreed. Come, my love.¡± Xander pulled Alice away, tucked her against his side, and began walking to the small road that led


    from the middle of town and up to the main house, where we and our core members of the pack lived.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Lanie said in awe.


    She stood and watched Xander and Alice walk away, her hands nted on her hips, and something in me broke a little.


    now.


    As much as | wanted Alice and didn¡¯t want this mating with Lanie, | couldn¡¯t imagine being in her shoes right


    For a moment, it struck me how archaic and patriarchal the elders¡¯ rules were.


    Then | remembered that it was the women who had started the Great War.

 Chapter 8

    Lanie


    ¡°You want me to what?!¡±


    ¡°We have to sleep together tonight,¡± Xander repeated.


    ¡°Are you kidding me? Is Alice going to be joining us?¡±


    Both Xander and Zane stood in front of me, jaws clenched, arms crossed over their chests.


    Dear go d they were se xy.


    | wanted nothing more than to sleep with them tonight.


    But not under these circumstances.


    Had this been a typical mating, | would have sprinted to their bed after the ceremony.


    Instead, Alice was looming over us.


    And not even that, this was the Alpha and Beta, which added a whole other level of pressure and difficulty.


    ¡°Lanie.¡±


    And there it was. The Alpha voice.


    ¡°No. You will not use your Alpha voice on me to get me into bed with you. Not happening. You can use that


    s hit on Alice when you get the Elders to mate her to you, but not on me.¡± | crossed my arms as well, matching


    their stances and meeting their gazes, my Doc Martens nted firmly.


    Xander narrowed his eyes.


    00


    Movement from behind him caught my eye.


    And there she was.


    Alice, peeking around the corner and into the luxurious study filled with dark hard woods, masculine leather,


    and walls of books.


    | met her gaze and held it.


    Her curious expression shifted, and anger filled her eyes, darkening them as her wolf started toe forward.


    What the hell?


    Shy, quiet Alice had a malicious side?


    | made a m ental note of it and re-focused back on Xander and Zane. Right now, | had to y one dragon ata


    time.


    ¡°I''m not going to sleep with you and look like a fool after you¡¯ve hoisted me off and mated Alice. Not happening. | have more self-


    respect than that.¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    ¡°If we don¡¯tplete the mating, then we will have broken ourws, and-¡±


    ¡°And if we break thew, it''ll make it harder for you to protect Alice,¡± | cut Xander off. | almost smirked as smoke practically came


    out of his ears. ¡°Yeah, | get it. But that¡¯s not my problem. That¡¯s yours. I¡¯m happy to sit around and not be mated.¡±


    It was almost amusing to watch Xander¡¯s brain seize up.


    The rage and power radiating off him was sexier than anything I''d ever witnessed.


    The scent of it enveloped me, my core clenching and panties growing damp.


    Not to mention, my wolf was in heat in a big way for these two.


    I''d heard people talk about being in heat, but | had no idea what they meant.


    Until now.


    Everything in me was fighting the urge to drop to all fours and rub up against them.


    Nope. Not gonna happen.


    Couldn''t happen.


    | wasn¡¯t going to be slo ppy seconds.


    ¡°Lanie, please be reasonable.¡± Zane stepped forward and reached a hand out. For what, | didn¡¯t know, ¡°You know as well as we


    do that there are certain...expectations that have to be met. For the sake of all of us, for the sake of the pack. | know it feels a bit


    awkward right now, but trust me. It''ll be okay.¡±


    | threw my head back andughed. ¡°What? You''ll be sure to make it real good for me? Give me an or gasm or two and


    everything will be fine?¡±


    ¡°Zane, | swear to g od...¡± It was almost cliche how much Xander¡¯s chest was heaving in anger.


    ¡°No. Both of you shut the f uck up,¡± Zane growled.


    Zane


    ww


    Something in me snapped watching the two of them go back and forth, t it for tat.


    We all knew what the score was.


    If Xander and | didn¡¯t mate Lanie tonight, we would have failed in upholding thews set forth by the elders.


    SS


    Ss


    Which meant that Lanie would be re-mated and we would never receive another mate.


    Wolves who didn¡¯t mate with their she-wolves were held in contempt.


    After all, if men and women were allowed to refuse a mating by not mating, the whole system would fall apart. Therefore,


    punishments had to be dealt out for those who didn¡¯tply.


    And if Lanie were to be re-mated... they''d mate her to the worst pair they could find.


    Plus, it wasn¡¯t like we all didn¡¯t want to mate.


    The scents in the room were overpowering. Full of lust and heat and desire. ..and heat.


    Oh, s hit. Lanie was in heat.


    That''s what her scent was.


    Oh, f uck me.


    | scrubbed a hand over my face, turned around, and walked away from the two of them to stand at the


    window.


    From this vantage point, | had a clear view of the grounds and the town...and the forest. The forest | so badly


    wanted to escape into right now.


    This whole situation was f ucking impossible on a multitude of levels, and | had no idea how to even begin to


    fix it.


    time.


    We had to mate Lanie or else we could never be assigned a mate.


    If we didn¡¯t mate Lanie, she would be assigned to go d only knew what awful men.


    We wanted to mate Alice.


    Alice was mated to Gregory and Lucas, but with the loophole and investigation, we had bought her some


    00


    Plus, if this managed to prevent Gregory and Lucas from being mated ever again, that would be nice.


    But if we mated Lanie tonight...what the hell happened with Alice?


    How would we mate Aliceter if we were forced to mate Lanie tonight?

 Chapter 9

    Zane


    ¡°No. Don''t even think it.¡±


    ¡°It could work...¡± Xander raised an eyebrow at me.


    ¡°No. S hit isplicated enough without doing that. And we can¡¯t even guarantee that the elders will assign Alice to us as a


    second mate.¡±


    ¡°We can find a way to force their hand. Surely there must be something we¡¯ve overlooked when ites to second mates. We


    haven''t gone over thosews as closely...¡±


    ¡°And we''re not going to, Xander. You''re ying with fire even thinking about that.¡±


    ¡°Am |, though?¡± Xander walked over to his desk to the massive book of packws spread open on top of it.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way Lanie will go for that. Not in a million years. And she¡¯s a feisty one. She could cause trouble for us if we don¡¯t


    handle her correctly.¡±


    p


    After I''d yelled at both her and Xander to shut the f uck up, Lanie had stormed off to go d only knew where. Which was probably


    for the best.


    We all needed to cool down a bit, and some distance between us would help.


    Because f u ck if we could think rationally with her scent seeping into our pores.


    Her sweet, sweet, in-heat scent...


    | shook the thoughts out of my head.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if she goes for it. She has no choice. If she refuses, then she''ll be mated to...¡± Xander paused a moment. ¡°Hell,


    | don¡¯t know. They''ll find the oldest, grossest pair for her. You can believe that.¡±


    He shrugged as if to say ¡°not my problem.¡±


    ¡°Xander. This isn¡¯t like you.¡± | moved to stand behind him as he bent over the desk, flipping page after page, scanning through


    the tiny words, looking for a needle in a haystack. | ced my hand on his shoulder and squeezed lightly.


    When he looked at me, his eyes were filled with sadness.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let her go to them. And we can¡¯t let her end up with someone worse, Zane.¡±


    | nodded. ¡°I know.¡±


    Dam mit, he was right.


    As much as | wanted to y by the rules and keep everyone happy, we couldn''t.


    Alice was our mate, and we had to do whatever we could to protect her, love her, have her.


    Even if it meant taking on some coteral damage in the process.


    ¡°We''ll give Lanie a good life. We''ll find a way to make her happy. Once she has a pup or two, she''ll be busy with


    them. And, hell, if she wants to keep someone on the side, that¡¯s okay, too.¡±


    Xander resumed looking through the tome, his finger running over the words line by line, looking for mentions


    of second mates.


    | hated the thought of everything, but when | conjured up and image of Alice-our Alice-mated to anyone else...my heart seized


    and the wind was knocked out of me.


    Whatever we had to do, we''d do it.


    Xander


    We were running out of time.


    Zane and | had spent hours looking through the byws, and we were no closer to a solution.


    | had no idea what we were going to do.


    But if we didn¡¯t mate with Lanie tonight, we wouldn''t have a choice.


    And | didn¡¯t do well with not having a choice.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Not one bit.


    I''m sure it was the Alpha in me who wanted to have everything my way no matter what.


    | know for sure that I''d expected to have my way when it came to Alice.


    We''d bided our time and waited. And waited. And waited...for four mating ceremonies after we''d started sleeping with her when


    she turned eighteen.


    | sighed somewhat wistfully.


    ¡°I know,¡± Zane said.


    Sometimes our bond was a curse. It''d be nice to have my own thoughts and feelings without him always being in tune to them.


    And then there was the annoying Alpha thing where if | felt something too strongly, it would push those emotions out to the whole


    pack.


    That was...not awesome.


    ¡°Remember when we first saw her?¡±


    I smiled. ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°The f ucking pigtails and ice cream cone.¡± Zane chuckled.


    ¡°She knew what she wanted, and she knew how to get it.¡±


    It was forbidden for anyone, no matter their age, to sleep with a she-wolf until she was eighteen, and then¡¯


    she-wolves were mated.


    But sometimes, there was a bit of a grace period, depending on when their birthday fell. And for Alice, she had six months of


    freedom before she was mated.


    And she¡¯d decided that those six months would be spent with us.


    And she''d

 Chapter 10

    Xander


    We were running out of time.


    Zane and | had spent hours looking through the byws, and we were no closer to a solution.


    | had no idea what we were going to do.


    But if we didn¡¯t mate with Lanie tonight, we wouldn¡¯t have a choice.


    And | didn¡¯t do well with not having a choice.


    Not one bit.


    I''m sure it was the Alpha in me who wanted to have everything my way no matter what.


    | know for sure that I''d expected to have my way when it came to Alice.


    We''d bided our time and waited. And waited. And waited...for four mating ceremonies after we''d started sleeping with her when


    she turned eighteen.


    | sighed somewhat wistfully.


    ¡°I know,¡± Zane said.


    Sometimes our bond was a curse. It''d be nice to have my own thoughts and feelings without him always being in tune to them.


    And then there was the annoying Alpha thing where if | felt something too strongly, it would push those


    emotions out to the whole pack.


    That was...not awesome.


    ¡°Remember when we first saw her?¡±


    I smiled. ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°The f ucking pigtails and ice cream cone.¡± Zane chuckled.


    ¡°She knew what she wanted, and she knew how to get it.¡±


    ac


    It was forbidden for anyone, no matter their age, to sleep with a she-wolf until she was eighteen, and then¡¯ she-wolves were


    mated.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    But sometimes, there was a bit of a grace period, depending on when their birthday fell. And for Alice, she


    had six months of freedom before she was mated.


    And she¡¯d decided that those six months would be spent with us.


    And phyd


    She''d made her move, and we''d been toast, panting after her with our tongues hanging out.


    We''d been inseparable since.


    Most Alphas chose their mates, although it was a bit of an unspoken rule. If an Alpha and his Beta were pretty


    set on a particr she-wolf, it was more than likely that the elders would assign that woman to them.


    After all, it was beneficial for them to have happy Alphas.


    So what in the f uck had happened with us and Alice?


    ¡°Xander.¡± Zane¡¯s clipped tone snapped me out of my thoughts.


    He tapped his finger on a notation below one of thews.


    How had we missed this before?


    We both looked up and at each other, nodding.


    It was a bit harsh, but it was the only way to get what we wanted.

 Chapter 11

    Lanie


    Less than two hours until midnight.


    Funny how | didn¡¯t think about what them not mating with me tonight would mean for my future.


    I''d been so caught up in the moment, that | didn¡¯t think about the alternative.


    And now that I¡¯ve thought about it?


    Well, f uck.


    | have two options right now, and both of them are awful.


    Mate these two as sholes who are hot as hell and | know I''ll enjoy, even thought they¡¯re in love with someone


    else...


    Or don¡¯t mate them and the elders will punish all of us and I''ll likely get stuck with whatever two li mp-di cked


    ol d-a ss guys they can dig up from their graves.


    ¡°Life. Is. Grand,¡± | murmur to my reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirror in my quarters.


    After I''d stormed off from Xander¡¯s office, I''d realized I''d made a mistake.


    | had no idea where to go, how to hide.


    Because thest thing | wanted to do was run into Alice in the hallways.


    Thankfully, a lovely woman named Erin had found me wandering and showed me to my suite of rooms. I''d


    been hiding in here ever since.


    When Xander and Zane wanted me, they¡¯d know where to find me.


    | stared at my auburn curls pulled up in a messy bun, my well-loved Docs, and my ripped jeans. Biker chick sheek probably


    wasn''t the look they went for, based on Alice.


    Contemting the possibility of mating, | yanked the hair tie from my hair and shook it out, letting it fall into a curtain down my


    back. It reached my waist, and | refused to cut it.


    | loved it long, but it tended to garner a lot of attention when | wore it down, so most people didn¡¯t realize just


    how long it was.


    Would Xander and Zane like it?


    My stomach knotted at the image of them running their fingers through it, or it draped around them as | rode


    one of them...


    me.


    Grimacing, | hurriedly pulled it back up into a messy bun.


    Asoft knock echoed through my suite and back to the bedroom.


    | made my way out of the bedroom, through the front sitting area, and peered out the peephole


    Erin again. Whew.


    ¡°Hi¡± | opened the door wide and smiled.


    ¡°Hi again. | thought you might be hungry.¡± Erin returned my smile and lifted the tray she was carrying a bit.


    ¡°| hadn¡¯t thought about it before, but now that you mention it, I¡¯m starving.¡±


    Erin walked over to the coffee table in front of the couch and set the tray down, then stood there, peering at


    ¡°Have a seat with me. | could use thepany, if you have a minute.¡± | sat down on the light gray suede couch


    and lifted the silver-domed lid off the te of food.


    Steak, mashed potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. Perfect.


    If | had to be here, at least they would feed me well.


    And my rooms were pretty great.


    Everything was newly updated, with sleek, modern appliances all in stainless steel, and the decor was simple


    and elegant, mostly ck, cream, and grays. Which | loved. And whoever had decorated the room had added


    sshes of emerald green, deep blue, and rich purple.


    | couldn''t have done better if I''d designed it myself.


    And, holy s hit, it was big. It was basically my own fully furnished luxury apartment.


    | had no idea who''d really be visiting me here, but | was d to have a separate living space from the bedroom instead of just


    having a bedroom and bathroom.


    And the bathroom? Yeah, I¡¯d be indulging in that big soaking pool,plete v


    with jets.


    ¡°How are you holding up?¡± Erin pushed a stand of straight ck hair behind her ear. The chic cropped cut looked amazing on


    her and had me thinking for a millisecond that something along those lines might be fun to try.


    ¡°I''m...¡± | paused, not entirely sure how to answer. ¡°I¡¯m here. That''s about all | know right now.¡±


    Erin nodded. ¡°I canpletely understand that. When | was first mated to Gavin and Stephen, it was terrifying. | had no idea


    what to expect in general. And then having to live in this ce on top of it? Yeah.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, | have no freaking idea what I¡¯m doing.¡± | sighed, picked up a fork, and pushed my mashed potatoes around on


    my te. ¡°How is this all supposed to work? Like, everyone saw what happened today. I¡¯m simultaneously terrified they are


    going to walk in here toplete the mating, and desperately want it to happen.¡±


    Girl you and everyone else who''s ever been mated.¡± Erinughed, then reached over and ced afortingText content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ziyou


    hand on my knee. ¡°I know you''re in a different situation than most, given the whole Alice situation, but it could be worse. You


    could be the one mated to Gregory and Lucas.¡±


    Erin and | shuddered at the same time.


    ¡°| know. Trust me.¡± | set my fork down, my appetite gone. ¡°I do feel for Alice. Really. | just wish | didn¡¯t have to be stuck in the


    middle of this. | think what Xander and Zane are doing ismendable. Those two shouldn¡¯t ever be mated to anyone else,


    ever. And | can¡¯t imagine being in her shoes, but...¡±


    Erin looked at me sympathetically when | trailed off. ¡°But now you¡¯re the meat in a s hit sandwich.¡±


    An unexpected giggle burst forth. ¡°Yes! Exactly.¡±


    ¡°| know it might not seem like it, but I¡¯ve gotten to know Xander and Zane. They¡¯re not as scary as they¡¯reing off today. | can


    promise you, they''ll make a decision that will protect you both. You can count on that. Trust them.¡±


    | was about ask her for more information when a heavy fist pounded on the door.


    00

 Chapter 12

    Xander


    Lanie¡¯s door opened, and | was surprised to see she hadpany.


    Erin hurriedly rose and dashed over to the doorway, sliding past Zane and me. ¡°Excuse me, Alpha. | was just bringing Lanie


    some food.¡±


    Before | could thank her for her thoughtfulness, she¡¯d already zipped down the hallway.


    If | were her, I''d have probably done the same thing.


    | cracked my neck and strode into Lanie¡¯s quarters, meeting her scowl.


    Zane shut the door behind him, clicking the lock into ce.


    As if anyone would dare disturb us.


    Instead of standing in a sign of respect, Lanie leaned back into the couch, crossed one knee over the other,


    and folded her arms across her chest.


    The urge to turn her over my knee and redden her a ss for her disrespect was a monster racing through my


    veins.


    Avery lustful monster.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Which shocked me.


    Where had that image, that desiree from?


    | returned her scowl and shoved the thought away.


    ¡°It''s time to mate.¡±


    Lanie made a show of looking over at the clock on the wall on the other side of the living room. ¡°Wow. You''ve allotted me a whole


    forty-five minutes for mating?¡±


    She un-crossed and re-crossed her legs, looking me up and down slowly and deliberately. ¡°Then again, we probably only a few


    minutes?¡±


    With those words, she leaned forward and reached for theces of one of her ck boots.


    ¡°Let''s get this over with.¡±


    | opened my mouth to say...something, but before | could form any words, Zane was in my head.


    ¡°Leave it alone. Let¡¯s just get this done and do what we need to do so we can proceed tomorrow.¡±


    He was right.


    | stalked through the living room and to the bedroom, unbuckling my belt as | went. When | reached the


    threshold, | stopped and turned to look back at Lanie, yanking my belt out of the loops for show.


    ¡°Well,e on then.¡±


    | turned away and walked into the bedroom, shedding my shoes, pants, and shirt before standing at the foot of the bed in my


    boxer briefs, waiting.


    Staring through the doorway, | saw Zane smirking and walking toward the bedroom, shedding his own close as he made his way


    in here. Lanie finished untying her shoes and kicked them off before rising from the couch and sulking her way in here as well.


    When she reached the door, and saw Zane standing beside me, both of us half-hard and in our boxer briefs, she hesitated and


    her eyes widened.


    We knew the effect we had on women, and | hadn¡¯t expected it to be any different with Lanie once she saw us


    undressed.


    ¡°Like what you see?¡± | spread my arms out.


    She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes.


    And pulled her white T-shirt over her head.


    00

 Chapter 13

    ZaneText content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sh it, she was beautiful.


    | didn¡¯t know what | was expecting, and it wasn¡¯t like | was expecting her to not be gorgeous. But something about all that


    wless porcin skin and those perfect, full breasts in a simple white,cy bra had me


    speechless.


    Would her nipples be as pale as her skin? Or would they be darker, like strawberries or raspberries?


    Suddenly, | could wait to find out.


    I''d been dreading mating with her, dreading what we had to do, but now... Now | wanted to have a bit of fun if


    we had to do this.


    | reached down and adjusted my c ock, which was now fully hard.


    From the corner of my eye, | saw Xander reach down to adjust his own c ock, and | looked over at him.


    When his eyes met mine, they were ssy with arousal, and | nodded at him.


    Good. We were both on the same page.


    Apparently, so was Lanie, if her scent was any indication.


    Just like before, the scent of her filled the room and wrapped around us, heightening the desire we already felt for her. My wolf,


    de, was pawing at the inside of me, and I¡¯m sure Xander¡¯s wolf, Hunter, was pawing at him


    as well.


    You only want her because she¡¯s in heat and you''ve never been with a woman in heat before, | scolded de.


    His only response was a low growl. Hell if | knew what that even meant.


    Before | could think about what | was doing, | was in front of Lanie, my hand gently cupping her chin.


    ¡°Before we start, Xander and | need to know if you¡¯ve been with anyone before.¡±


    She reared back, a surprised look on her face.


    ¡°Um, what does that even matter? How is that any of your business,¡± she bit out tersely.


    Xander walked up to stand beside me, stroking the backs of his fingers down her arm. | marveled at the


    goose bumps that rose immediately on her flesh, wanting to count them all.


    With my tongue.


    ¡°Because.¡± He stroked back up her arm, up her shoulder, her neck, and then grasping the back of her head. ¡°If 1/2


    Chapter 13


    you haven''t been with anyone before, Zane and | will proceed a bit differently.¡±


    She c ocked her head to the side as if she didn¡¯tprehend what he meant.


    And that told us both all we needed to know.

 Chapter 14

    Lanie


    What did it matter if | was a virgin?


    How would they proceed differently with me?


    It''s not like there was some magical thing they could do to mate me and keep me a virgin.


    Sure, I¡¯d imagined losing my virginity to someone | cared about, or even to a pair | semi-liked. But that wasn¡¯t


    in the cards for me.


    I''d turned eighteen right before this mating ceremony, so there¡¯d been no time for me to go out and sow any


    wild oats, as the cliche went.


    It was just...this.


    Having sex for the first time with two men who didn¡¯t want me and were in love with another woman.


    Every girl¡¯s dream.


    | watched the look pass between them, and | hated that they couldmunicate this way. | wanted to know what they were


    thinking about me, what they were saying to each other about me.


    | opened my mouth to tell them to get this show on the road, but before | could say anything, Xander had swept me up and into


    his arms, cradling me close to his chest as he walked over to the bed.


    Expecting to be unceremoniously dumped onto the bed, | was surprised when Xander gentlyid me down after Zane pulled the


    covers back. Then Xander was stretched out in bed next to me, lying on his side, with his hand propping up his head and his


    other hand-


    Oh go d. His other hand was stroking his co ck through his boxer briefs.


    His veryrge c ock.


    While he stared me right in the eye.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Zane moved to straddle my knees, his hands reaching for the button of my jeans. After unbuttoning and unzipping them, he


    moved his hands to my hips, to the waistband of my pants, his fingertips caressing my bare


    skin.


    Ashudder ran through me that | could hold back, and | bit my lower lip as | looked down at him.


    He tapped a finger on my right hip. ¡°Lift.¡±


    |plied, lifting my hips into the air in a low bridge pose, and holding them there as Zane pulled the denim down slowly,


    revealing my in white bikini panties as he did so.


    Once he had the jeans around my thighs, | lowered my hips back down, wishing | could pull the covers over me to hide my semi-


    nakedness.


    Anyone who saw me in a bikini at theke saw more of me than they were seeing right now in my in undies


    and bra, but this felt so much more exposed.


    Intimate.


    Zane discarded the jeans onto the floor and moved down the bed a little, toward my feet, and | was confused about what he was


    going to do.


    Until he lowered his head.


    Right over the apex of my thighs, his nose practically touching my mound.


    And he sniffed.


    Deep.


    ¡°Jesus f uck,¡± he groaned, closing his eyes.


    ¡°Is she wet for us?¡± Xander¡¯s voice jolted me from gaping at Zane.


    Zane looked back up and into my eyes, then at Xander. ¡°Smells like she is.¡±


    If | hadn¡¯t been before, | definitely was now.


    As much as 1 wanted to resist them, to lie here like the most unenthusiastic lover in the history of sex...


    couldn''t.


    Never mind that | was in heat, and never mind that my wolf, Lily, was running circles inside of me, desperately


    trying to be let out.


    | wanted them.


    Nothing moreplicated than that.


    | wanted to have sex with them right now, f uck whatever happened tomorrow or the next day.


    Especially if this was my only opportunity for it.


    Before | could second guess myself, | took a breath and said, ¡°I am.¡±


    Zane¡¯s fingers that had been stroking along the edge of my underwear stopped.


    Xander lifted his head, which had been resting in the palm of his hand, propped on the pillow. He moved his upper body to loom


    over me a bit, grabbing my chin between his fingers and forcing me to look at him.


    ¡°You''re what?¡± he growled, steel glinting in his eyes.


    | swallowed hard as | met his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m wet for you.¡±


    And then Xander¡¯s mouth was on mine, his tongue parting my lips, his lips insistent against mine. Heat forged


    Chapter 14


    a path through my body and down between my legs, and my entire being went molten for him,pletely wil


    to do anything and everything he might ask of me tonight.


    My breath hitched in my throat as | gasped into Xander¡¯s mouth.


    This w as ... So much.


    So much mo re than | ever could have imagined it would feel like.


    And this was just kissing Xander.


    Xander¡¯s fingers gripped my chin harder, and the growl he let loose reverberated through my very soul.


    was any indication, he wanted me just as much as | wanted them.


    And if that was the case, was there a chance this mating could work between us?


    Had they given up on Alice and were following the elders¡¯ wishes?

 Chapter 15

    Xander


    | didn¡¯t want to want her like this.


    But her scent, the taste of her mouth, the feel of her.


    She drove me wild.


    I''d heard that females in heat were irresistible. Everything in a male waspelled to mate with them, no


    matter what.


    It was a primal need, an invisible force driving the urge to breed.


    Go d dan was it true..


    Never in my life had | experienced anything like this.


    Had she not been a virgin, | would have already spilled my seed inside her and be prepping for round two.


    It was as if there was a whole other beast inside of me, scratching and wing to be let out, to ravage Lanie.


    All | wanted to do was to give into it, to take her every possible f u cking way | could. And watch Zane f u ck her in between while


    | got my c ock hard again.


    Though, at this point, | was wondering if | would ever go soft again.


    Because | knew that once | spilled inside of her, I''d be immediately ready to go again.


    And again.


    | pulled my mouth away from hers, loving how swollen and red her lips were from my kisses. Moving my thumb away from her


    jaw, | pulled down her bottom lip, stretching her mouth wide as | stared into her ssy eyes.


    The only thing that could make her look more delectable right now would be my co ck in her mouth, stretching her lips to their


    limit...


    ¡°Do you want my co ck in your mouth while Zane eats that pretty pu ssy of yours?¡±


    A hard swallow and a nod was all | got in response.


    | shifted and rose to my knees beside her head, fi sting my c ock and pulling on it a few times in anticipation.


    ¡°Have you ever had a c ock in your mouth, Lanie?¡± | asked.


    She shook her head, her gaze glued to my hardness.


    ¡°Have you ever had someone eat your pu ssy?¡±


    115


    Another shake of her head.


    ¡°Looks like you''re the lucky first one to taste her, Zane.¡±


    | looked to the side to see that Zane had settled himself between her open thighs and was pulling the cr otch


    of her undies to the side.


    He ran a finger through her slit, then lifted it to his mouth, sucking her glistening wetness off. ¡°Lucky indeed,


    brother.¡±


    ¡°Is she just as good as she smells?¡±


    ¡°Better.¡±


    | reached down with my free hand and ran my own finger through her wetness, slipping the tip of my digit


    inside her.


    F ucking hell was she hot and soaked and tight.


    | dragged my finger up and over her c lit, circling her hard nub just slightly.


    The moan she made and shudder she gave had my co ck pulsing.


    When | met her gaze as | licked her wetness off my finger, she swallowed again and her lids drooped. Her chest heaved with


    desire, and | ran my fingers over a nipple that was so hard it looked like it was trying to push through the cup of her bra.


    | helped it along and pulled the cup down, her hard, raspberry nipple tightening when the air hit it.


    Just a little pinch between my index finger and thumb, and she yelped, her hips shooting off the bed. and her


    cro tch right into Zane¡¯s face.


    As soon as | saw him grip her hips and bury his face in her mound, | was done for


    My hips shifted forward, and the head of my c ock nudged at Lanle¡¯s lips.


    Like a woman starving, she opened her mouth and swallowed me whole.


    Lanie


    Xander¡¯s co ck hit the back of my throat and | gagged a little. Which only seemed to turn him on more.


    He was huge, and | could fit the entire length of him in my mouth.


    Acting on instinct alone, | shifted onto my elbow and used my free hand to wrap my fist around the base of his c ock, stroking up


    and down as | bobbed my head.


    ¡°F uck, baby. You sure you''ve never done this before?¡±


    | slid my mouth off of him with a sucking pop sound at the end, then looked up at into his eyes. ¡°Never.¡± 2/5


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop. Your mouth is f ucking magic.¡± He ced a hand on the back of my head and urged me forward


    and onto his c ock again.


    I''d heard some of the mated girls whining about having to give their mates bl owjobs, acting like it was a


    chore.


    There was no world in which this was a chore.


    I''d never been so turned on in my life.


    It was hard to discern which thing happening to me that | liked better-Xander¡¯s di ck in my mouth, or Zane¡¯s


    mouth on me.


    Every time he licked over my cl it, my toes curled. Something indistinguishable was tightening in my belly, and | felt like | was


    going to snap at any moment. Waves of pleasure rushed through me at the onught on his tongue on me.


    And when he mped his teeth on my clit, | came so hard | saw stars, screaming around Xander¡¯s di ck in my mouth and


    squeezing the base of his shaft as my body undted.


    | tried to close my legs; it was all too much. But Zane¡¯s hands pressing down on my inner thighs kept me from doing so.


    More wetness than I''d thought | was capable of gushed from me, and Zane keptpping it up as | ground my hips into his face.


    The vulnerability was intense.


    | waspletely open to them in every sense of the word-body, mind, and soul.


    | hated it.


    I loved it.


    | had no idea what this all meant once tomorrow morning came.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Running my fist up and down Xander¡¯s c ock, | pulled my mouth away from him and gasped. ¡°It¡¯s too much, Zane. | can¡¯t.¡±


    He lifted his head from between my wet t highs, licked his lips, and grinned up at me. ¡°You ain¡¯t seen nothin¡¯ yet, baby¡±


    Before | could register what was happening, | was on my hands and knees, Xander behind me and Zane in


    front of me.


    Xander slid two fingers inside of me and pumped them in and out, stretching his fingers wide and preparing my body to take him


    inside me.


    At least, | hoped that¡¯s what he was doing.


    Aneeded one of them inside me in the worst way possible. 375


    eyes.


    ¡°Please, Xander. | need you inside me.¡± | looked back at him from over my shoulder, begging him with my


    His mouth twisted into a snarl, he lined the head of his co ck up with my opening, and he thrust into me. All the way to the hilt,


    and | couldn''t breathe for a minute.


    I''d expected pain.


    What | got instead was the most intense, pleasurable feeling, and a sense of fullness.


    | wanted more. All | could take.


    | closed my eyes and pushed my hips back against Xander¡¯s hips, grinding my pu ssy onto his c ock.


    And when he started to pump slowly in and out of me, something magical happ ened. That sp e c ia! spot deep inside of me that


    I''d never found on my own with vibrators...


    It was like a wild animal was loosed inside of me.


    And | was going to take both of them for a ride they were never going to f u cking forget.


    Zane


    | saw the moment when Lanie became someone...something...else.


    Her eyes shed, and her wolf came to the surface.


    She took me in her mouth, and as Xander pumped into her pus sy and | pumped into her mouth, she became


    untethered.


    It was magnificent.


    She was beautiful, glorious, a goddess.


    I''d never experienced sex like this before, and as the scent of her heat wrapped around us, | doubted | ever


    would again. This waspletely...beyond.


    My gaze met Xander¡¯s, and he didn¡¯t have to speak to me to tell me he felt the same way.


    ¡°I''m going toe again,¡± Lanie said around the tip of my co ck.


    ¡°I''m right behind you, love.¡± Xander gripped Lanie¡¯s hips an d th rust harder and faster, his knuckles turning white and his jaw


    tightening. Watching them both had me right behind them, and all three of us came together, falling into a pile of sweaty limbs


    and heavy breathing as we recovered from our mutual climaxes.


    ¡°Holy f uck,¡± | breathed.


    ¡°Holy f uck is right,¡± Lanie murmured. ¡°I didn¡¯t... No one told me... Wow.¡±


    Xander wa s conspicuously quiet, and tension radiated from him in waves. 4/5


    | hoped Lanie couldn¡¯t feel what | was feeling from him, that she was basking in the afterglow of her multiple


    org asms and wasn¡¯t in tune with the atmosphere shift that had just taken ce. And then he was speaking to me.


    ¡°T his is a problem.¡±

 Chapter 16

    Zane


    If Lanie wasn¡¯t pregnant with one of our pups, it would be a go d da mn miracle.


    And if she was pregnant with one of our pups, it would be a go d amn problem.


    Right now, everything was lose/lose.


    We''d spent the rest of the night making love, all three of us wrung dry by the time the sun started to peek over the h or izon,


    casting golden rays of light through the windows and over Lanie¡¯s sleeping form.


    She was still asleep, and Xander and | were gathering our clothes.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to hate us,¡± Xander whispered.


    ¡°It''s probably for the best.¡±


    He nodded and pulled on his T-shirt before walking out into the living area. | followed him, and we left Lanie¡¯s quarters, standing


    in the hallway.


    ¡°We need to shower before we see Alice. She¡¯s going to know regardless, and she¡¯s going to be pi ssed as hell, but we can at


    least give her the respect of washing as much as we can off¡±


    | scrubbed a hand through my sex-mussed hair, scratching at my scalp a bit. ¡°Once we exin everything to


    her, she¡¯ll understand. We did what we had to do.¡±


    Xander¡¯s lips settled into a grim line, a morose look taking up residence in every line of his face. ¡°I hope you¡¯re right. | can¡¯t bear


    the thought of how much this is going to hurt her.¡±


    ¡°All this is for her. If she can¡¯t forgive us and understand the motives behind our actions, then maybe she¡¯s not


    the mate for us that we thought she was. Our Luna needs to show strength and resilience.¡±


    Xander couldn¡¯t have looked more surprised if I¡¯d pped him, and he raised an eyebrow at me.


    ¡°| know it sounds harsh, Xan. But if she can¡¯t handle this, that¡¯s another problem.¡± | shrugged and shook my head. ¡°And


    honestly? | can¡¯t even remotely think about that right now. We already have enough to deal with.¡±


    ¡°Agreed¡± Xander started walking down the hallway, heading toward our quarters. ¡°All | want at this moment is to take the longest,


    hottest shower in the history of wolves, and burn this scent off me.¡±


    ¡°Ouch. That seems a little extreme.¡± | shoved my hands in my jeans pockets as we walked.


    ¡°It''s the only option | have right now. If | don¡¯t get her washed off me, I¡¯m going to go mad with wanting to go


    back to her.¡±


    | stopped walking, stunned by what he had just said.


    Out loud.


    I''d been having simr thoughts, and I''d tried to shove them out of my mind, ming it on her heat.


    But what if it wasn¡¯t her heat? What if she truly was supposed to be our mate?


    Even now, | wanted to go back to her bed and curl up beside her, see what her eyes looked like first thing in the morning when


    they were still drowsy and full of dreams.


    Nope. Not going down that road.


    She wasn¡¯t our mate. Alice was. We''d known for two years that Alice was our mate.


    From


    the moment we saw her, we hadn¡¯t wanted anyone else. We¡¯d literally only had eyes for her, as the trite old saying went


    Plus, even if | ever had second thoughts, it didn¡¯t matter.


    As Xander¡¯s Beta, | had to have the same mate as him, regardless of my wants and needs.


    Thank go d we both agreed on Alice.


    Lanie


    | wasn¡¯t surprised to wake up in an empty bed.


    Not one iota.


    But that didn¡¯t stop the sting.


    Part of me had hoped that them mating mest night meant that they had changed their minds about Alice,


    about everything, and that even though everything was going to be a mess, | was still their mate.


    Well, | was their mate now. They had definitely marked me.


    Over and over and over.


    | stretched my arms above my head, my yawn turning into a groan as all of the over-worked muscles in my body cried out.


    Including everything between my legs.


    Hell, even my jaw hurt.


    | got up from the bed and went to the bathroom, then brushed my teeth and threw on the robe hanging on the back of the door.


    Padding out to the mini kitchen area, | hoped there was something in the cabs or fridge. Finding the main kitchen and


    scouting out food-where | was likely to run into other people-sounded pretty miserable right about


    now.


    Right now, | just wanted to sit with myself and my thoughts.


    All eighteen million of them.


    The ding of my cell phone rang throughout the living room, from where I''d left it on the coffee tablest night.


    | grabbed it and looked at the screen to find a text from Mindy.


    Mindy: Gurrrrrrrrrl.


    |ughed out loud. That meant about thirteen different things right now. All of them requiring more than a text back, so | called


    her.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± she demanded when she picked up.


    ¡°Tell you what?¡± | asked innocently.


    ¡°F uck you. Tell me.¡±


    I let out a loud sigh. ¡°Yes, we mated.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°And what?¡±


    Mindy gave an exasperated groan. ¡°Do not f uck with my emotions right now. You know dam n well what.¡±


    ¡°It was...amazing.¡± | bit my lower lip, contemting not telling her more. ¡°But | don¡¯t know what happens now.


    It was literally a ¡®let¡¯s get this over with thing¡± right before midnight, but then it became more?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®more¡¯?¡± Even though | couldn¡¯t see her, | knew Mindy was biting her thumbnail.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know how to exin it. When | woke up this morning, they were gone, though. So I¡¯m not really taking that as a good


    sign.¡±


    ¡°Meh. That doesn¡¯t mean much. They''re the Alpha and the Beta. I¡¯m sure they have a lot going on. Monroe and Maxim left early


    this morning, too. They have early training every day.¡±


    ¡°But you know where they went. Which means they told you goodbye when they left, | pointed out.


    ¡°You''re overthinking it. I¡¯m sure they knew they exhausted you with their sexual prowess and wanted to leave you to sleep and


    recovery so y¡¯all could do it again today.¡±


    | pursed my lips and scraped my index fingernail along the side of my thumb, a nervous habit I¡¯d broken a couple of years ago.


    ¡°Something doesn¡¯t feel right this morning, but | can¡¯t put my finger on it.¡± | cleared my throat before changing the subject.


    ¡°Enough about me. How was your night?!¡±


    ¡°Oh my go d ,¡± Mindy gushed. ¡°Max and Monroe are go ds in bed. I can barely walk this morning. The things they


    can both do with their tongues....holy sh it, | can¡¯t wait for them to get back here and do it all again. I¡¯m pretty sure


    I''ll be pregnant in no time.¡±


    ¡°Are they good, though? Beyond the sex y times portion of things?¡±


    | felt Mindy¡¯s smile before she spoke. Best friends were like that sometimes.


    ¡°They are, Lanie. They really are.¡± She sighed. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to have a really good life with them. Like, | could fall in love with


    them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Mindy. I¡¯m so happy-¡±


    Loud pounding on my door interrupted me.


    ¡°One second. Someone''s at the door.¡±


    More pounding, more urgently.


    | opened the door a cra ck and peeked out.


    Two officers of the High Guard stood there in uniform, serious looks on their faces.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    00

 Chapter 17

    Lanie


    This couldn''t be good.


    The two officers were marching through the mansion, and they wouldn''t speak to me. Not one word other


    than ¡°Come with us.¡±


    ¡°Guys, you¡¯re really freaking me out. Can¡¯t you just give me a hint?¡±


    Silence other than the m uffled sounds of our footsteps on the navy-carpeted floor.


    ¡°Please tell me that wherever we''re going, there will be clothes for me.¡±


    They hadn''t even allowed me to change out of my robe into yesterday¡¯s clothes. No underwear, no bra, and


    bare feet.


    Whatever this was, it was urgent.


    I


    | hoped my parents were okay.


    Or, oh go d, | hoped nothing had happened to Selena.


    The dread and worry grew with each step, and I prayed that whatever news | was about to receive wouldn¡¯t


    completely demolish me. | didn¡¯t know what | would do if anything happened to my mom, dads, or sister.


    After what felt like two miles of walking, we stopped in front of arge set of double doors, made of some


    sort of solid wood,plete with iron hinges and handles.


    Whatever was behind here didn¡¯t feel good. It felt ominous as hell.


    The guards nked me, each opening a door by pushing it forward and into arge room. It took me a second to realize what |


    was seeing, to take it all in.


    There was a gallery of some sort on one side of the room-currently filled with a bunch of people. On the


    other side of the massive space were two throne-looking chairs on a raised dais, Xander in one, Zane in the other.


    Members of the High Guard stood on each side of them.


    | couldn''t see their faces clearly, but they didn¡¯t look happy.


    | pulled my ck silk robe tighter around myself.


    The guard to my left reached over, grabbed my elbow, and pushed me forward. When | looked over and up at him, | swore |


    caught a glimpse of something akin to pity or sympathy cross his face before he blinked it away and pushed me a second time.


    The oue of...this seemed more dire with every passing second. 1/3


    | slowly started walking forward, the silence of the crowd in the galley eerie. When | looked up at them, the faces | could make


    out were filled with curiosity, pity, amusement..but | didn¡¯t get the sense that anyone actually knew what was going on.


    That makes all of us, | thought.


    Well, f uck them.


    If they wanted to catch me off guard and in my robe, | wasn¡¯t going to let them see how unsure | was


    | held my head high, fisted my hands at my sides rather than hugging them around myself to hide from all the watchful eyes, and


    took long, purposeful strides.


    They would not get to see any shame from me, regardless of how they clearly wanted me to feel.


    The stares tingled my skin, and goose bumps rose over my whole body. As | walked, | looked straight at Xander, then at Zane,


    staring each of them dead in the eye and not blinking.


    When | reached the steps in front of their thrones, | stopped and rxed my shoulders.


    | had no clue what the procedure was for something like this, but if they expected me to kneel like some maiden from ye olden


    days, they were sadly mistaken.


    ¡°Xander. Zane.¡± | looked at each of them and nodded as | said their name.


    The guard to my right cleared his throat and said, ¡°Show due respect. That¡¯s Alpha and Beta.¡±


    | kept my gaze focused on Xander and Zane. ¡°I will not call my mates Alpha and Beta. | will call them by their


    given names.¡±


    Xander¡¯s jaw ticked, and Zane winced ever so slightly. If you weren''t paying as close attention to them as | was, you¡¯d have


    easily missed it.


    But | didn¡¯t.


    Not afterst night...


    Afterst night, | knew their bodies and facial expressions pretty well.


    Rather than address what I¡¯d said, Xander braced his hands on the arms of his seat and stood, rising to his full height with his


    chin uplifted and his shoulders back. Instead of looking at me, he looked over to the side, to the front of the gallery, where |


    noticed Elder Aldon.


    Great.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, she-wolves and wolves, I¡¯ve called you forth today in order to rectify an issue that has


    arisen.¡±


    Confused looks were exchanged among attendees, who then resumed their focus on me.


    No one was more confused than | was.


    Especially since | was clearly the one there was an issue with.


    ¡°Yesterday, my Beta and | were assigned Lanie Stanton as our mate. And as you all know, per ourws, iming must happen


    on the night of the mating ceremony In order to ensure that all assigned matings ur


    and are not thwarted.¡±


    Elder Aldon cut in. ¡°We all know how mating works, Alpha. Please tell us why we are here.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, Elder.¡±


    Xander stepped forward a bit and turned his body toward Elder Aldon. What was all of this formality for?


    ¡°Last night, my Beta and | attempted to im our mate.¡±


    What the hell did he mean, attempted to? It had definitely happened....multiple times.


    Was this some sort of ruse to appease Alice?


    ¡°Shortly before midnight, my Beta and | entered Ms. Stanton¡¯s room, where we proceeded to consummate


    our mating, as perw.¡±


    My gaze shifted back to the gallery, and there she was. Seated in the front row, on the far end, closest to


    Xander and Zane.


    If looks could kill, I''d be ash right now,


    Clearly, Ms. Fabine didn¡¯t like hearing about how we had consummated our mating.


    It took everything in me not to wink at her.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Upon consummation, we found Ms. Stanton to be unsatisfactory and we were unable toplete the


    iming process to mark her as our mate. Therefore, per Section Thirty-Two, Item Seventeen C, Footnote One, I,


    Xander Constantine, and my Beta, Zane Allister, will take a second mate of our choosing.¡±


    oc

 Chapter 18

    Xander


    The moment | spoke the words, all color drained from Lanie¡¯s face.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?!¡± Aldon shot up and grabbed the banister in front of him, his bony knuckles white and hie face


    twisted into a sneer of disbelief and sheer rage.


    ¡°Elder Aldon,¡± | said calmly. | would get nowhere by showing any emotion right now. ¡°I am simply following


    thews that were set forth by the High Council.¡±


    | held my hand out and made a e here¡± motion with my index finger. A member of the High Guard Immediately came to my


    side, holding the book ofws, and | indicated with a nod for him to take it to Aldon.


    ¡°I''ve bookmarked the page, and you may look at thew yourself.¡±


    Aldon unpeeled his hands from the railing and sn atched therge book away from the guard, scowling as his


    eyes scanned over the page.


    He mmed the book shut and flung it back at the guard, who struggled to catch it without harming any of


    the pages.


    ¡°Do you agree with my assessment of thisw?¡±


    Aldon gave a slight nod, and a gasp escaped from Lanie.


    ¡°Then my ruling stands. As our assigned mate has proved to be unsatisfactory, and we were unable to im her, we will be


    taking a second mate of our choosing.¡±


    Aldon¡¯s lip twitched as if he wanted to say something, and | met his gaze, raising an eyebrow at him and


    daring him to do something.


    Right now, | had him. He couldn''t go against me, because he would be going againstws that he himself helped to write.


    Go d, | loved it when people were the key to their own undoing.


    ¡°That¡¯s bu Ils hit and you know it!¡±


    More gasps and tittering from the gallery at Lanie¡¯s outburst.


    Zane and | had known she¡¯d be upset, but we¡¯d been unable to anticipate what exactly her response would be.


    Zane gave a sigh next to me that only | could hear.


    ¡°Excuse me, Ms. Stanton?¡± | turned to her and growled.


    Her fingers were twisted into the fabric of the robe at her sides, and defiance, shame, rage, and humiliation.


    Her fingers


    flowed in waves off of her.


    ¡°You heard me. Your not iming me is bu Ils hit. She lifted her chin and set her jaw, and | knew whatever she was about to say


    next would be..something. ¡°You and Zane imed me multiple timesst night, and there was no indication that anything was


    ¡®unsatisfactory¡¯, as you so delicately put it.¡±


    From the corner of my eye, | saw Alice half-rise from her seat, leaning forward and looking as if she wanted to maul Lanie, if the


    ferocious gleam in her beautiful blue eyes was any indication.


    Oh how | wished | could speak to her the way | could with Zane.


    ¡°Yes, we consummated the mating, but we did not im you. A full iming only urs after we have bitten your neck, and you


    ours. I¡¯m sure you can recall that that act did not urst night.¡±


    | hadn''t thought it possible, but Lanie went even more pale.


    ¡°But...¡± Her face was washed in a desperation I¡¯d never seen on another person before.


    My stomach dropped, my wolf tearing me up inside. Hunter was not happy right now.


    You''re an idiot, you fool, Hunter said to me. Aplete idiot, and you¡¯re going to regret this.


    l ignored him. He was only concerned that | was bringing the attention of the High Council on us by doing


    this. Right? Right


    It had nothing to do with the fact that my heart was twisting and my guts were knotted into a tangled mess as | gazed upon Lanie


    standing there in her robe, the hurt and humtion etched on her face like a scarlet letter. And | most certainly didn¡¯t want to


    scoop her up and run to my quarters with her and shield her from this shame


    she didn¡¯t deserve.


    That was just my d ick thinking right now. And | needed to be thinking with my big head. Not with the little one.


    ¡°Be gentle with her, brother,¡± Zane said.


    Lanie¡¯s throat constricted as she swallowed. ¡°imings do not always happen on ceremony nights. Many mates take the time to


    emotionally connect more before theyplete the iming ritual.¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    ¡°She has a point... F uck.¡± Zane¡¯s tone shifted to frustration tinged with a bit of worry.


    ¡°It''s okay. It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°You are correct, Ms. Stanton. But even though many mates elect to wait toplete the iming process, they still feel the urge


    to bite their assigned mate when they consummate the match.¡±


    | steeled myself for her reaction to the next words | was going to say.


    Hunter knew what | was about to say, and | felt him pawing and pawing and pawing instead of me, begging me not to speak,


    begging me not to...not to hurt her?


    What the f uck?


    24/e my shoulders back.


    ¡°Zane nor | felt any desire to bite you toplete the mating. In fact, the thought of biting you was so


    unappealing, we left your bed as soon as we could.¡± | turned to face Alice, and saw the hope on her face. ¡°Instead,


    we have feltpelled to bite Alice Fabine, and we will be choosing her as our second mate.¡±

 Chapter 19

    Lanie


    Lily broke free before | could contain her.


    My robe was ripped to shreds as | shifted and ran from therge room.


    The guards started to chase after me, but | could swear | heard Xander say, ¡°Let her go.¡±


    | wanted to believe that some part of him felt remorse for what he¡¯d just done to me, but he probably just


    wanted me gone, didn¡¯t want to deal with me.


    How had | let myself be tricked into thinking that there could have been something between us? Everything I¡¯d


    feltst night was just them having fun with me as part of their n.


    Oh, go d, this was mortifying.


    I''d never be able to look anyone in the eye again.


    My pads skidded a bit as | took a turn into the main foyer too quickly, heading for the front door. Thankfully, the front door was


    fitted with a handle instead of a doorknob, so | could just press down with my paw and push


    to open it.


    First, they''d openly been displeased about my being assigned to them, making a show overforting Alice in front of everyone,


    and now | was the first she-wolf to be publicly announced as un-imable.


    What was even going to happen to me now?


    | ran down the front steps and down the long driveway, reveling in the crisp fall breeze flowing through my fur.


    Then it hit me.


    Xander¡¯s words had been that they would be taking a second mate, not a new mate.


    Which meant | was still mated to them? How the hell was that going to work? Would they still expect me to


    have sex with them to have pups?


    And what did being an un-imed mate mean?


    For now, | couldn¡¯t bring myself to think of the what-ifs. | just needed to run, to burn off all of this excess


    emotion that | didn¡¯t know how to deal with.


    It was overwhelming, and the human me didn¡¯t know whether tough, cry, scream, or curl up into a ball. Lily,


    however, knew exactly what we needed.


    We needed freedom.


    We,needed to run.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    We


    We needed to hunt.


    We needed to ground ourselves with the earth.


    We ran and ran and ran, until exhaustion took over. There was ake on the far side of town, on the other side of the forest, and


    we made our way there, stopping at the edge top up water before lying down to rest, panting.


    The sun was high above by now, gleaming on the deep-blue water, and the rust-colored leaves decorating the trees provided a


    peaceful, rustling backdrop that was calming.


    The solitude was a balm, a serenity | wasn¡¯t sure when | would feel next, so | basked in it, rolling over onto my back and baring


    my white stomach to the gentle breeze.


    | rested there for a while, unsure how much time had passed as | tried to shut everything out as best as my wolf senses could.


    Leaves crunching underfoot snapped me to attention, and my silver ears perked up as | looked for the sound and sniffed the air.


    My nose twitched as a strange scent reached it.


    Not another wolf.


    But...why would a being who wasn¡¯t a wolf shifter be here?


    We didn¡¯t segregate ourselves from humans as a rule, but none lived here. We liked to keep within our pack forfort and


    safety. Not to mention the ability topletely be ourselves and not have to worry about human¡¯s overhearing or identally


    seeing something they shouldn''t.


    Though, this scent didn¡¯t seem entirely human, either.


    It was something I''d never smelled before. Sp icy, like cloves and ci nnamon, but with a hint of something that was reminiscent of


    parchment paper or an old book.


    And it was absolutely intoxicating. My mouth watered, and | wanted to lick the air to see if | could taste it.


    More crunching, closer now.


    A few yards away from me, a man emerged from the treeline, staring right at me.

 Chapter 20

    Zane


    ¡°Well,


    ¡°Well, that went fantastic.¡±


    ¡°You sure you should have let her run off like that?¡± | asked.


    Xander slumped into dark-brown leather couch in his office,ying his head back and looking up at the ceiling.


    ¡°What the hell else could | have done? She''ll be back.¡± He scrubbed a hand up and down his face. ¡°Plus, if |


    would have let the guard go after her to chase her down, it would have made it look like she was doing something


    wrong. And she wasn¡¯t. She just wanted to get out of there, and can you me her?¡±


    | dropped onto the couch beside Xander and mirrored his position, looking up at the vaulted ceiling and focusing on a wooden


    beam running across it. ¡°Nope. | would have wanted to get as far away as possible.¡±


    We sighed in unison, not needing to verbalize how s hitty we felt.


    She didn¡¯t deserve to be humiliated like that.


    But there¡¯d been no other way to im Alice.


    We''d done what we had to for the woman we loved, and f uck anyone who wanted to fault us for that.


    The look on Alice¡¯s face when Xander made the announcement had been worth it. The love and happiness shining in her eyes


    had been the medicine we needed to make it all worth it.


    ¡°Did you see Alice¡¯s face when you mentioned that we consummated the mating?¡±


    Xander groaned. ¡°I didn¡¯t need to see it. | felt the daggersing from her eyes. I¡¯m not sure who she was


    more upset with-us or Lanie¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we''re going to have to make it up to her big time tonight. Hopefully, the whole mating bit will gain us some br ownie


    points,¡± |ughed.


    ¡°You would think. But we all know Alice likes to hold a grudge.¡±


    There was a side to Alice that no one else saw. She seemed meek and mild to most, but there was a different


    side to her that she only revealed when you got close to her. She could be a bit maniptive and petty, but never


    over anything major.


    In fact, it could be almost cute at times.


    The tips of her ears would start to get red when she got upset if you weren¡¯t ying into her hand, and Xander


    and | often made a game out of getting a rise out of her.


    Of course, we always gave into her. Always nned on giving into her. It was just amusing sometimes to see the Tend she would


    go to in order to get what she wanted.


    ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done?¡±


    Elder Aldon burst through the study door, not bothering to knock.


    Xander¡¯s sigh was loud, and there was no double Aldon heard the annoyance in it.


    F uck, | couldn¡¯t wait to be rid of this guy.


    Xander didn¡¯t even bother to move from his ce on the couch, instead just turning his head slightly to the right to look over at


    Aldon. ¡°I''ve secured the mate we wanted in the first ce. That''s what I¡¯ve done.¡±


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Aldon scoffed. ¡°You¡¯ve now pointed out a loophole in the mating assignments that anyone can use. You''ve


    undermined decades of ritual and nning and procedures and, and


    ¡°And what? If the High Council didn¡¯t want people to have a way out, why write the footnote in there? I¡¯ve done


    nothing wrong, and I¡¯ve followed thew to the letter.¡±


    ¡°The footnote is specifically for- Aldon mped his mouth shut.


    Xander sat up straight and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Specifically for what?¡±


    ¡°Specifically for dire situations.¡±


    ¡°Which would entail?¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    The muscle in Aldon¡¯s jaw ticked. ¡°Unforeseen events.


    ¡°He¡¯s hiding something.¡± | said.


    ¡°No s hit, Sherlock.¡±


    Xander leaned back nonchntly, sped his hands over his stomach, and closed his eyes dismissively. ¡°Well, then good. I¡¯ve


    used it properly. Last night was an unforeseen unfortunate event.¡±


    | kept my eyes on Aldon, and | was pretty sure his face couldn¡¯t get any redder, his eyes practically about to bug out of his head.


    ¡°Are you smelling toast, Aldon? Shall we get you a healer?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± he spluttered.


    ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to have a stroke. | just want to make sure we get you medical attention in time. Would be a shame if


    you lost any of your motor skills.¡± | paused. ¡°Like the ability to speak.¡±


    Xander snorted before he could stop himself, then recovered and schooled his face again.


    | was usually the one telling him to tread carefully, so no one was more shocked than | at myments.


    Thest twenty-four hours was getting to me, apparently.


    Xander stood, and | mimicked him, my d amn sixth sense when it came to him telling me that he was about to leave the room.


    ¡°Elder Aldon, | have not broken anyws. I¡¯m sorry you are upset regarding our taking of a second mate and 2/3


    our inability toplete a iming with Ms. Stanton. I¡¯m happy to speak to the High Council about this.¡± Xande


    strode forward until he was at the office door, then he looked back at Aldon, standing there and seething. ¡°Perhaps if the High


    Council is displeased that | have exercised this option, they should consider making some


    amendments. In the meantime, it¡¯s time for my Beta and | to im our new mate.¡±

 Chapter 21

    Lanie


    ¡°Well, hello there, gorgeous.¡±


    | quickly rolled over onto all fours and crouched low, baring my teeth and growling.


    Smells delicious, Lily said to me.


    Shh, | replied. Not the time to be sniffing out dinner.


    Not that kind of delicious...


    The man took a step closer, and | growled even lower.


    Who the hell was this guy that he was walking toward a growling wolf?


    His green eyes glimmered with something like amusement as he walked toward me, dressed in blue jeans, a white T-shirt with a


    nnel over it, and Timbend hiking boots. He wasn¡¯t nearly as big as Xander and Zane, but there was a lot of lean muscle


    there, and | had no doubt he was strong. His ck hair was expertly cut and styled, with slightly longer strands hanging over his


    forehead in a deliberately messy way.


    Chiseled didn¡¯t even begin to describe his face and his jawline, and had | seen him walking down the street, | definitely would


    have taken a second look. A third, even.


    He took another step toward me, this time hold his hand out, palm up.


    | kept my teeth bared and resisted the urge to back up.


    | refused to show any weakness.


    The leaves crunched under his weight, and his scent wafted around me as he shed a disarming smile, showing perfect white


    teeth.


    | growled another warning.


    If he came any closer, | couldn¡¯t make any promises as to what | would do to defend myself.


    And since we were on wolfnd, well, | hoped he didn¡¯t have any loved ones who would miss him when he mysteriously


    disappeared.


    | might be in s hit right now with Xander and Zane, but wolves took care of their own no matter what when it came to trespassers.


    ¡°It''s okay. | know what you are, love.¡±


    He stopped in front of me, squatting down on his haunches as all thoughts in my mind froze.


    What did he just say?


    ¡°Shhhh.¡± He held out his hand again. ¡°I mean you no harm. | was taking a walk through the woods and |


    smelled you.¡±


    He smelled me? Again, what. The. F uck.


    Lily took over and co cked my head to the side, her inquisitve natureing through loud and clear.


    ¡°Ah, s hit. You can¡¯t shift shift back and talk to me.¡± He looked around. ¡°I¡¯m guess you don¡¯t have any clothes nearby.¡±


    He stood, unbuttoned his nnel, and took it off, revealing exactly what | expected was under the fabric-


    a lean, muscr body that was hard to tell if it came naturally or from hours in the gym.


    one.¡±


    His outstretched hand thrust the nnel toward me.


    ¡°Here. Shift and put this on. I''ll turn my back to you, and | pinky promise | won¡¯t peek. Not even a little


    He gently ced the nnel on the grass in front of me and turned around.


    My heart sped up as | stared at the nnel, then his back, and then back to the nnel, frozen.


    Do it, Lilymanded.


    Odd, considering that Lily never wanted to shift back to human.


    Instead of overthinking it, | trusted my wolf and shifted back, hurriedly grabbing the nnel, yanking it on,


    and buttoning it as fast as my shaking fingers could manage.


    Great.


    Now | was covered in his scent.


    Just f ucking great.


    ¡°Safe?¡± Mr. Dangerous inquired.


    ¡°That depends on your definition of safe,¡± | replied, cing both hands on my hips in a warrior stance.


    | might not be as big as him, but | was powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with him, and my stance needed


    to reflect that.


    Plus, if he showed any danger, | could easily shift back into my wolf form and rip his throat out.


    Man versus wolf was never a fair match-up.


    He turned, crossing muscr forearms over his chest, looking me up and down. ¡°You look good in my nnel. Matches your


    eyes.¡±


    To which | rolled said eyes and remained silent.


    ¡°I''m Braden.¡± He stuck his hand out. ¡°And you are?¡±


    ¡°Not shaking your hand.¡± | kept my hands on my hips. ¡°How did you know what | am?¡± | demanded.


    ¡°Like | said, | scented you. | haven¡¯t been around any wolf shifters since the Great War, so once | smelled one, | had to find it.¡±


    Cc


    Xander


    ¡°Oh my go d. There you are!¡±


    Aliceunched herself into my arms, squeezing me around the waist as tightly as she could and burying her face in my chest.


    | hugged her back just as tightly, and | could feel the tension leave her body as she finally rxed her muscles from the fight or


    flight response she¡¯d clearly been in for thest day and a half.


    Zane followed me into our quarters and stood behind Alice, kissing the top of her head and massaging her shoulders while she


    melted into our touches.


    ¡°Shhh, it¡¯s okay. We''re here now,¡± he murmured to her. ¡°We''ve got you, and nothing will ever take you away from us again.¡±


    ¡°| was so scared,¡± she sobbed,


    ¡°| know, baby. | know. But I told you | would figure it out, to trust me. And look? Now you''re our mate,¡± | cooed gently.


    ¡°Your second mate,¡± she sniffed.


    ¡°The only mate that matters,¡± | replied.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Zane echoed. ¡°And now...it¡¯s time toplete the iming.¡±


    He gently extricated her from my arms and turned her toward him, grinningsciviously.


    She looked back and forth to each of us, her eyes shining, and she nodded. ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s hurry and do it before anything else can


    happen.


    | agreed wholeheartedly. ¡°Once we''ve imed you, no one can take you from us.¡±


    Her blue eyes turned to the darker sapphire they always did when she was turned-on, and her lips curved up in a s exy, teasing


    smile.


    She stepped back from us, reached behind her, and unzipped her dress, letting it pool at her feet. ¡°Well, what are you waiting for,


    boys?¡±


    With a giggle, she turned and ran toward the bedroom,unching herself on the bed andying in the


    middle,


    Just like she¡¯d done a thousand times before. My heart expanded, but there w a s...s om ething else tapping


    at the back of my head. Something | didn¡¯t know how to ssify, and it shook me a bit.


    It wasn¡¯t second thoughts about iming her, but there was something...almost uneasy maybe?Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

 Chapter 22

    I shook it off and divested myself of every stitch of clothing as quickly as | could, Zane doing the same.


    Secondster, we were stretched out on either side of Alice, and she was stroking both of us at the same.


    time as we eachvished a nipple.


    Her hand on my c ock felt amazing, and | shoved down the thought that something was missing, that


    something was different. It was just iming nerves, and | wanted to make sure everything was perfect.


    ¡°Stop thinking so hard,¡± Zane said. ¡°Your energy is all over the ce right now.¡±


    | tried to rx, pausing a moment and wondering if | should even saying anything, and then the words


    were flowing out. ¡°Something feels different.¡±


    | lifted my mouth from Alice¡¯s nipple to look at Zane, and he lifted his mouth as well. Our eyes met for a brief second, but | saw all


    | needed to in his expression.


    He felt the same way.


    ¡°It''s just nerves from finally being able to im her, and stress and tension from everything that¡¯s happened yesterday and


    today.¡±


    | wasn''t sure | believed him.


    ¡°Why¡¯d you stop?¡± Alice lifted her head, and her hands paused their movements on our c ocks.


    Zane waggled his eyebrows at her. ¡°Just nning what we''re going to do to you.¡± He captured her mouth.


    with eyes, and she moaned into his mouth and squeezed my co ck.


    | tried to concentrate on her fingers wrapped around me, but it was no good.


    Nothing was going to break me away from this ni ggling thoughts. | couldn¡¯t get far enough outside of my head to just enjoy her,


    to just revel in the three of us finally having what we''d been waiting two years for.


    My dic k went limp, and Alice¡¯s hand froze. She pulled away from Zane and looked at me in confusion.


    ¡°Xander?¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    | had no clue what to say. This had literally never happened to me before. Ever.


    ¡°Zany?¡±


    | looked over and saw that Zane¡¯s c ock had wilted as well.


    Zane


    ¡°What the f uck just happened? Is this some sort of Alpha/Beta Jedi mind trick where your di ck makes my di ck do the same


    thing?¡±


    Xander and | were still in bed, listening to Alice weep through the closed bathroom door.


    Xander just shook his head and shrugged.


    ¡°Answer me,¡± | demanded.


    ¡°| don¡¯t have a f u cking answer for you,¡± he snarled. ¡°I told you something felt off.¡±


    | ran both hands through my hair and then back down to my face, pressing my palms against my eyes.


    ¡°F uck,¡± | groaned. ¡°I can¡¯t sit here and listen to her cry.¡±


    Xander thunked his head up and down on the pillow in frustration. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the heat thing. We''ve never been with a female in


    heat.¡±


    | nodded. ¡°Yeah, it has to be that.¡±


    ¡°| mean, what else could it be? We''ve never had this issue before.¡±


    ¡°We''ve also never had sex like we hadst night,¡± | hedged.


    Xander groaned. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me.¡±


    ¡°What the f uck are we going to do? We have to do something. How the f uck are we going to im her if we can¡¯t get hard to f


    uck her right now? Can we im her without the sex aspect?¡±


    We both paused and thought about that for a minute.


    ¡°| don¡¯t see why not... The biting is what matters, not necessarily the sexualponent.¡±


    ¡°Do we want to try?¡± | asked:


    Xander looked toward the bathroom door, where Alice¡¯s so bs had starting to subside and were now faint hups.


    ¡°Couldn''t hurt...¡±

 Chapter 23

    Lanie


    ¡°Did you just say the Great Wars?¡±


    Braden stared back at me, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. ¡°I did. | helped fight in them.¡±


    What the hell? The Great Wars had been over twenty years ago, before | was even born. There was no


    way this guy was old enough to have fought in them. He looked thirty, tops.


    And if he wasn¡¯t a wolf shifter, he didn¡¯t have the same extended lifetime we did, living up to a few hundred years.


    *| can see the wheels turning.¡± He grinned. ¡°You¡¯re wondering how the hell | could have fought in them.


    when | don¡¯t look old enough barely be out of diapers when they happened.¡±


    ¡°Something along those lines,¡± | responded.


    ¡°I''m sixty-two.¡±


    My eyes widened, and | stuttered, ¡°But...but how?¡±


    He threw his head back andughed, then put his hands on his hips in an almost preening way as he


    grinned at me.


    ¡°| take it you¡¯ve never heard of the masas dima before.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°The masa what?¡±


    *Masas dima. We prefer the Arabic name we were created with, not the stereotypical, sensationalized ¡®vampire¡¯ that pop culture


    uses.¡±


    exist.


    I''m pretty sure my jaw dropped to the ground.


    There was no such thing as vampires. None. They were a myth, a legend.


    The only supernatural beings that we had proof of were other types of shifters. Everything else? Didn''t


    | said the only thing | could think of.


    ¡°You''re f u cking with me right now.¡± | narrowed my eyes. ¡°What kind of shifter are you? You''re not wolf,


    and | don¡¯t recognize your scent. But I¡¯ve only been around bear and lion shifters.¡±


    Braden¡¯sugh had a group of birds in a nearby tree flying away as fast as their little wings could take


    them into the sky. Heposed himself after a minute, shook his head, and took in the expression on my


    face.


    ¡°Wait, you''re not joking, are you?¡± He furrowed his brow. ¡°You seriously don¡¯t know about the existence of other paranormal


    beings other than shifters?¡±


    Something in the confused look on his face told me that he was telling the truth. Had he been a wolf, I¡¯d have been able to scent


    a lie out, but his scent never changed.


    Rather than admit to my ignorance, | stayed silent.


    Which was probably an admission in itself, but whatever.


    ¡°| think this is a conversation for when you have more clothes on and aren¡¯t quite so...emotional.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± | didn¡¯t know whether to be angry at him for pulling a typical man move and calling me emotional, or curious as to


    how he could tell what my mood was before | shifted.


    ¡°| know, | know. It¡¯s cliche for me to call you emotional.¡± He held his hands out, palms up, in a gesture that | think was meant to


    cate me. ¡°I mean no disrespect. | can sense emotions, and when | came upon you, | could sense very strong emotions from


    you.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you weren¡¯t just sensing my anger and irritation at someone sneaking up on me while | was rxing?¡± | red at


    him and crossed my arms over my chest, co cking my hip.


    The as shole threw his head back andughed at me.


    F ucking. Laughed.


    ¡°Ohe on. We both know | didn¡¯t sneak up on you. There¡¯s no way you didn¡¯t smell me before you saw me, and | was making


    no attempt to quiet my footsteps on the leaves.¡± He stered a c ocky grin on his face. ¡°It¡¯s okay to admit you¡¯re upset about


    something. Boy trouble, love?¡±


    Braden


    The look on her face was priceless.


    And knowing that I''d put it there and set her off-kilter was the icing on the proverbial cake


    She was glorious.


    Full of attitude and defiance and curiosity.


    And, da mn, she was beautiful.


    I''d never seen hair like hers. It was the color of cin namon, full and thick and wild, and hung down to her


    waist. | wanted to wrap myself in it and nothing else as | pumped in and out of her, nipping at her neck.


    Did she taste as good as she smelled?


    Go d, | wanted to sink my fangs into her and get a little taste.


    She still hadn¡¯t spoken, and her mouth was slightly agape, as if she wanted to say a million things but


    couldn''t settle on just one.


    ¡°So, boy trouble it is, then.¡± | smirked at her and winked.


    And watched her just about blow a gasket.


    Go d da mn, she was fiery.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about me,¡± she snarled.


    ¡°| know enough.¡±


    She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again.


    I''d tweaked her enough...for today.


    I''d see her again. I''d make sure of it.


    But | had to be careful. If she could smell something different about me, that meant others would as well.


    Apparently, we''d overestimated how much wolf shifters knew about other species.


    How could they have erased so much information so quickly? It¡¯d only been twenty-three years since the


    Great Wars.


    ¡°I''ve given you a lot to digest. What with finding out that my kind exists and all.¡± | casually stuck my hands in my pockets and


    pulled my shoulders back. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take some time to think about all of this


    and meet me back here, say, tomorrow morning?¡±

 Chapter 24

    Lanie


    | picked my way back ¡°home¡±, trying to reconcile everything that had just happened.


    1...couldn''t.


    None of what Braden had told me made any sense. How could | not know of the existence of vampires?


    Er, masas dima or whatever he had said.


    Sure, | had no proof of anything he told me, but he definitely hadn¡¯t smelled like anything I''d encountered before, and that in and


    of itself was proof of...something.


    But if vampires existed, what about...


    Oh, s hit. What else was out there that | didn¡¯t know about?


    And why didn¡¯t | know about it? Did my parents know about vampires and whatever other witches and


    fairies and trolls and-


    | was getting ahead of myself. Way ahead of myself.


    | couldn¡¯t wrap my brain around vampires, let alone anything else right now.


    Calm down, Lily demanded. You¡¯re starting to hyperventte.


    | stopped walking and sank to my knees, the damp earth and scratchy leaves on my bare skin centering


    mea bit.


    shirt.


    You need to let me shift back. We need to try to get his scent off you.


    Lily''s words didn¡¯t register with me until | looked down to see that | was still wearing Braden¡¯s nnel


    F uck. She was right. It was better for me to stroll back in naked than to show up wearing a strange shirt


    with an even stranger scent. Thest thing | needed was even more attention than | was already going to be faced with after this


    morning¡¯s absolute disaster.


    I snorted. Well, at least discovering that vampires existed had managed to overshadow my humiliation


    momentarily.


    Get it together. Someone is going to see us. Let me take over. Now.


    With a shake of my shoulders and a cr ack of my neck to steel myself, | took the nnel off and shoved it


    under some leaves and behind a rock. Lily took over and the shift was even quicker than usual. She must


    have been anxious as hell to shake the masas dima scent off.


    Meanwhile, once we shifted and Lily proceeded to roll around in the leaves and dirt, part of me wilted


    inside at the loss of that sp icy, musky aroma | hadn¡¯t realized had seeped into my nose.


    We''re safe now, she said.


    The words ¡°It¡¯s time to get back now¡± remained unspoken, and | was a bit grateful for her rare consideration instead of being the


    battle ax she usually was.


    It''s now or never. | urged her forward with my thoughts and we started trotting out from the tree line,


    across the vastwn of Xander¡¯s house, and toward the front door. May as well make an entrance instead of trying to slink


    through the back.


    As if | could slink through the back.


    There was no way they didn¡¯t have people watching for me.


    ¡°Lanie!¡±


    Mindy burst from the front door and ran toward me. | desperately wanted to hug her, but thest thing |


    needed was to turn into a blubbery mess. No way in hell was | going to let Xander or Zane or Alice or any of


    their entourage see me cry.


    Mindy and I reached each other, and she dropped to her knees beside me, for once ignoring the fact that


    her pants might get dirty and mar the perfect-looking image she always portrayed. When her arms wrapped


    around Lily¡¯s neck, Lily rested our chin on her shoulder and nuzzled into Mindy¡¯s neck and chuffed lightly.


    At least she didn¡¯t whine and let Mindy know just how upset | was. | didn¡¯t think | could take even Mindy


    knowing how hurt | was. But based on her actions right now, she didn¡¯t have to be told.


    ¡°It''ll be okay,¡± she murmured and stroked Lily¡¯s neck. ¡°I promise. Whatever happens, we''ll figure it out.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Lily didn¡¯t warn me she was ceding control, and the next second, | was sitting on the ground and Mindy


    was stroking my hair.


    Thank go d wolves didn¡¯t give a s h it about nudity for the most part.


    ¡°And now | get to face everyone,¡± | said quietly, not sure what else to say.


    ¡°F uck them.¡±


    | pulled away from her hug and looked at her face, searching her eyes for anything | could suss out.


    ¡°What''s being said?¡±


    She bit her lower lip-a sure sign that things weren''t great. ¡°Not a whole lot.¡±)


    | raised an eyebrow and said nothing.


    ¡°| mean... just what you would expect.¡±


    | lost it. Literally lost it.


    My shoulders shook withughter as | cackled, my whole body practically vibrating as theughter


    overtook me. | wrapped my arms around myself and rocked back and forth, tears streaming down my cheeks.


    Lanie stared at me, wide-eyed.


    | managed to catch my breath long enough to say, ¡°Lanie,e on.¡±


    She looked at me quizzically.


    ¡°They''re saying just what | would expect?¡± | huped from gasping in too much air while I''dughed. ¡°I have no idea what to


    expect. This has never happened before. This whole thing is f ucking insane.¡±


    She didn¡¯t say anything, and | refrained from rolling my eyes at her. | loved her, but da mn, she could be a little dense at times.


    And I¡¯m sure everything in her world was clouded by the fact that she was now mated. To two hot men who actually wanted her


    and we probably doting on her every second they weren''t dealing with, well, everything surrounding me.


    ¡°Come on. Let''s get this over with.¡± | stood up.


    ¡°You sure? We could go for a walk, sit here for a bit longer...¡± Mindy cast a furtive nce back at the front door, where a few


    guards were now standing and watching us.


    At least they had the decency to let us have our moment. My guess was that it had more to do with Mindy and who she was


    mated to and less about any sort ofpassion for me. Thest thing these guys wanted to do was pi ss off Mindy¡¯s mates-their


    bosses.


    And then Monroe and Maxim were stalking our way, and their faces didn¡¯t radiate sunshine. At all.


    | looked over at Mindy, and titled my head in a silent ¡°Everything okay?¡±


    She gave me the slightest shake of her head, and in that moment, | knew just how much she had risked by rushing out to meet


    me.


    There was no way that her mates, Xander and Zane¡¯s High Guards, would be happy with their mate being


    seen as overly sympathetic to an outcast. Well, at least, that¡¯s probably how | was going to be considered


    now after being so thoroughly rejected this morning.


    | gave her a slight nod and stood, straightening my back and squaring my shoulders as | met their gazes


    head-on.


    ¡°Let''s get whatever happens next over with.¡±

 Chapter 25

    Xander


    My fangs hovered above Alice¡¯s jugr as | let them drop. The sweet scent of her filled my nose, and took in a deeper breath to


    take in morefort from the familiar.


    Zane was on her other side as the three of usy in my bed, and I was struck by how much | was d we''d had sex with Lanie in


    her bed instead of in mine. | don¡¯t think we would have been able to go through with this had we been surrounded with reminders


    of Lanie, of that passion, of that scent of her arousal, her


    heat.


    Once we fully imed Alice, she would go into heat pretty immediately afterward, since biologically, our bodies would all be


    primed and focused on mating and producing pups. It was extremely rare for a she-wolf not to be pregnant within the first


    few weeks after being imed.


    skin.


    | couldn''t wait to have pups around.


    ¡°Are you ready, my love?¡± | breathed into Alice¡¯s neck, lightly scraping my fangs against her soft, pale


    She nodded before saying, ¡°More than ready. Please, Xander. im me.¡±


    She wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and pulled my head closer, and | could feel her her doing the same to Zane as


    she arched her back.


    ¡°Same time,¡± Zane said to me.


    ¡°Now,¡± | replied.


    The moment we both sunk our teeth into her neck was...nothing like what I¡¯d expected.


    | expected fireworks and immediate o rgasms from all three of us. Some sort of transcendant epiphany from the heavens.


    To say | was disappointed was an understatement.


    00


    Sure, | was hard, | was turned on, and | could sense that Zane and Alice were, too. But why the f uck couldn¡¯t | get Lanie gut of


    my head? Was | doomed topare every sexual experience to her now?


    This was our f ucking iming for go d¡¯s sake, and all | could think about was how Alice didn¡¯t react like | imagined Lanie would.


    How she didn¡¯t smell like Lanie. How the scent of her arousal right now didn¡¯t make me want to rip through heaven and hell and


    anything in between so | could bury my co ck between her thighs.


    Alice¡¯s blood was filling my mouth, and it was everything | could do to force myself to swallow the sickeningly sweet fluid.


    And Zane was feeling the same.


    | hoped to g od Alice couldn¡¯t sense our disappointment.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    To make up for it, | slid a hand over her breast and tweaked her nipple the way | knew she liked it between


    my thumb and forefinger, pulling slightly as the rest of my hand cupped her. | tightened my grip on the back of her neck and


    sucked harder, hoping my actions would be construed as need and not, well, me trying too hard.


    *Once she goes into heat it''ll be different,¡± Zane said to me.


    | gulped down her blood and a pang of sadness shot through my body at my sudden realization that this would be thest time


    Zane and | couldmunicate like this.


    As soon as Alice partook from us, she¡¯d be able to speak to both of us in our minds as well. She wouldn''t be able to


    communicate with our wolves, but gone would be the days of Zane and my¡¯s private jokes, private moments that we¡¯d shared


    ever since we were young pups, born into being Alpha and Beta, born with our


    connection.


    ¡°Stop it¡±


    | paused, hoping Alice wouldn''t notice. ¡°Stop what?¡±


    *Stop with your melodramatic depressing thoughts.¡±


    Well, at least that was something Alice would never be part of-my Beta¡¯s ability to sense everything about me and how | was


    feeling.


    Alice¡¯s moan shook me out of my reverie, and when she reached down to grab my c ock, | licked at the punctures I''d made in her


    flesh and pulled away to look down at her.


    ¡°Your turn.¡± | shot her a grin | prayed came off as aroused and excited.


    Jesus, what was wrong with me?


    Zane


    Christ on a cr acker, Xander needed to get his s hit together.


    This was never going to work if he was going to be some maudlin mother f u cker throughout the whole


    thing.


    | pulled away from Alice and licked her wounds to clean them up, then flipped her over onto her stomach. Sliding my hand


    underneath her hips, | pulled them up so her a ss was in the air, something | knew Xander had always enjoyed. He was definitely


    an as s man.


    His eyes darkened a bit as soon as her round as s was in the air, and he reached out to trail his fingertips along her skin and up


    her back.


    ¡°Who do you want to bite first?¡± | asked, lightly pping one of her as s cheeks before cupping it and rubbing the sting away.


    ¡°You.¡± She turned her head to meet my gaze, her eyes glossy with arousal as she lowered her gaze to


    stare at my coc k, my fist wrapped around it and squeezing to maintain my hardness.


    ¡°How about you ride my coc k while you do it?¡±


    She nodded eagerly and scrambled up to her knees.


    Once | was sitting against the headboard, she immediately sank down on me, riding me with a desperation I''d never felt from her


    before.


    And then her teeth were in my neck.


    00

 Chapter 26

    Zane


    The feeling was...hard to describe.


    But something had definitely shifted,


    I''d felt protective of her before, but now that we¡¯d exchanged iming intes, | felt even more protective of her than before.


    Her mouth was suctioned on my neck, and | felt her pulls as she sucked. Suddenly, | didn¡¯t need to work to keep my co ck hard. |


    gripped her hips and ground into her, my seed spilling inside of her before | even realized what was happening.


    And then she was straddling Xander, her fangs sinking into his neck. The moment he experienced the same thing as me, |


    felt it radiate into me.


    | watched them f uck, watched how beautiful they were together, watched as he spilled inside her mere seconds after her


    biting him.


    aura shifting from the s hitshow it¡¯d been just moments before.


    Calm settled over the room, the aura


    This felt right.


    Thank f uck for that loophole.


    Exhaustion overtook the three of us, and Xander pulled a nket over us as we settled into sleep.


    Lanie


    ¡°What am | supposed to do? Just stay here in my rooms until they decide what to do with me?¡± | paced back and forth across the


    living room, hands on my hips, scowling. ¡°I¡¯m not their prisoner. And why do they even want me here?¡±


    Maxim and Monroe shared a nce and then looked back to me. | raised an eyebrow.


    There was definitely something they weren¡¯t sharing with me.


    ¡°Well?¡± | pressed. ¡°They''ve already rejected me. Can''t | just go live my life?¡±


    ¡°They haven¡¯t- Maxim started.


    utting re from Monroe cut him off.


    they will


    ¡°Right now, our instructions are to make sure you stay in your quarters. Once the Alpha and Beta are avable, they will


    come address you,¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    I snorted. ¡°You mean once they¡¯re done f ucking and iming their precious Alice. Got it.¡±


    | flopped down onto the couch, my arms crossed over my chest, wishing | could just sink into it and into some other dimension,


    some other world where my life wasn¡¯t ruled by all this Council and mating and iming b ulls hit.


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to put something else on?¡± Lanie asked from where she sat at my kitchen table, drinking a cup of


    tea. Apparently, my kitchen was stocked with all sorts of things now, and it made me wonder just how long they nned on


    keeping me cooped up in here.


    | looked down at my Star Wars


    alpinia pants and white tank top, shrugging. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m good.¡±


    Lanie nodded but didn¡¯t say anything more.


    Whatever unspoken thing had happened since Maxim and Monroe arrived on the scene had her being a bit more..... stand-


    offish? Composed? | couldn¡¯t put my finger on it, but her demeanor had definitely shifted, and | wondered if she¡¯d made some


    deal with them to be able to at least stay around me but not appear to be too chummy with me.


    If Monroe and Maxim tried to keep her away from me, tried to tell her she couldn¡¯t be around me or be seen with me, they¡¯d have


    one hell of a fight on their hands.


    Mindy was loyal to a fault, and no matter what happened, there was no way she¡¯d ditch me just because my vagina didn¡¯t


    measure up to Alice¡¯s cavern of perfection.


    I


    Maxim (or was it Monroe? They both looked so alike. | had trouble telling them apart) raised a hand to his ear and nodded,


    then said, ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡±


    ¡°lm assuming that was about me?¡± | asked, pursing my lips together.


    ¡°The Alpha and Beta will see you now.¡±


    ¡°So they¡¯re on their way to my cage? Shall | get some tea and crumpets ready for them? Wouldn''t want to be, ya know,


    inhospitable.¡±


    ¡°They''ve requested that you meet them in the throne room.¡±


    |ughed, unable to hold it in. That had to be a joke.


    Maxim and Monroe stared at me, clearly waiting for me to get up off the couch.


    ¡°Oh, boys, that¡¯s not happening.¡± | recrossed my arms over my chest and propped my feet up on the coffee table in front of the


    couch. ¡°If they think I¡¯m going to be subjected to more of that bu Ils hit like this morning, they¡¯ve got another thinking.¡±


    Their jaws twitched in unison and they took a step toward me, as if they were preparing to physically pick me up and take


    me to the throne room.


    ¡°I''m not moving from this couch. At this point, I¡¯d wee them banishing me.¡±

 Chapter 27

    Xander


    ¡°She has got to be kidding¡±


    ¡°She''s not, Alpha,¡± Maxim said into his headpiece, which yed over the inte in my office.


    | closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to dampen my immediate rage. That wound¡¯t get us anywhere right now, and I


    knew Zane would agree. | could already feel him trying to send calming waves of energy toward me.


    ¡°Let''s just go to her, Xander.¡± Zane sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s reeling from everything that happened this morning, and she¡¯s feeling


    hurt and defensive and powerless. And humiliated. The least we can do is meet her somewhere she might feel a bit more


    comfortable.¡±


    | grudgingly grunted out an affirmation.


    Deep down, | was worried that being in her rooms again, surrounded by the lingering scent of our lovemaking and her being in


    heat, would be more than my wolf could resist.


    Then again, now that we¡¯d fully imed Alice and she us, all attraction to any other she-wolves should be null and void. Wolves


    mated for life, and the iming superceded all other previous sexual interactions,


    Of course, since I¡¯d never gone through this before, | was relying on what I''d read and been told.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    It was time to put it to the test.


    F uck.


    F uck. F uck. F uck with more f u cking f u ck on top.


    Lanie¡¯s scent hit me like a punch to the gut.


    Apunch from a pr bear. Or a sumo wrestler.


    The force of it took the wind out of my lungs and da mn near had me gasping for breath.


    Preferably in air that wasn¡¯t absolutely saturated with the essence of Lanie.


    | didn¡¯t have to look at Zane to know he was feeling the same thing.


    We were more f ucked than ever.


    But we''d discuss this predicament.ter,


    ¡°Well?¡±


    Leave it to Lanie to not wait for her Alpha to speak first.


    ¡°This type of insolence and attitude will not be tolerated¡±


    She raised an eyebrow in that challenging way of hers she had Even in her pajamas, she was fierce and prideful and...


    everything | wish Alice was at times.


    F uck.


    Where were all of these negative thoughts about Aliceing from? | loved her, dam mit.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell me what will and won''t be tolerated and what I¡¯m supposed to do now so we can get this over with


    and | can be on my way.¡±


    My lips curled into an amused smirk.


    ¡°Be on your way? Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Back home. Or fill get a job and an apartment. Wherever else that isn¡¯t here since you''ve decided to cast me off like trash.¡±


    She tilted her head and tapped a finger on her chin thoughtfully. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s an idea. Maybe I''ll take up trash collecting. The


    garbage taking care of the garbage?¡±


    | narrowed my eyes, and Hunter raised his hackles inside me. | stalked toward her until we were nose to nose, making sure


    every ounce of Alpha power contained within me oozed through my every pore, through my voice.


    ¡°You will not speak of yourself that way¡±


    She remained silent-for once-her eyebrows furrowing in a look of confusion.


    | understood that. The whish of my emotions and behavior as confusing me, too.


    Zane stepped forward, pushing calm toward me.


    ¡°| think what our Alpha is trying to say is that it wouldn¡¯t reflect well on him to have his mate in such an untenable position.¡±


    She took a step back. ¡°What do you mean, his mate?¡± she said slowly


    There was a pregnant pause as | concerned how best to answer her. Clearly, she didn¡¯t fully understand what had happened


    this morning.


    Zane opened his mouth to respond, but | cut him off.


    ¡°You are still the mate of the Alpha and the Beta, and you will behave as such. You will remain here, and you will fulfill any


    roles, duties, or tasks we ask of you. You willport yourself as a member of this household at all times. Do | make myself


    clear?¡±


    Lanie¡¯s eyes widened to the point of her face looking almost humorous, their emerald color shing with surprise.


    ¡°But.. But... You rejected me.¡±


    ¡°We did no such thing. We exercised our option to im a second mate. While we chose not to im you fully, you are still our


    mate and are expected to act as such.¡±


    All of the color drained from Lanie¡¯s already pale skin, to the point where her face looked almost translucent.


    ¡°But... No.¡± She shook her head back and forth almost manically. ¡°No. | will not just stay here and have no life while you-¡±


    Her voice cracked, and emotion | hadn¡¯t been sure she was capable of behind her tough-girl facade trickled through. Her


    face, her demeanor changed, and | watched her shoulders curl forward, her aura bing that of someone defeated, hopeless.


    ¡°| cannot simply be some fraction of myself, kept in a gilded cage because you wanted someone else more than you wanted


    me. | deserve to live a life, and | deserve to find...something.¡±


    ¡°You''ll be plenty busy helping raise Alice and our pups.


    212

 Chapter 28

    Lanie


    | still couldn¡¯t process what had happened yesterday and the bul Is hit that had spewed from Xander¡¯s mouth about my helping to


    take care of their demon spawn with Alice.


    Over my dead body.


    Literally.


    Before yesterday, all I''d been thinking about was doing whatever | needed to do to protect my parents and my sister, but


    those thoughts were long gone. Now wasn¡¯t the time to be self-sacrificing for others.


    Now was the time to figure out a way to escape this utter madness.


    I


    And | was going to start by meeting with Braden this morning


    I


    If vampires had been kept from us, what else had been kept from us? | was pretty sure the High Council was behind it-they


    were behind everything. And since so much of our history was lost in the Great Wars, it would have been fairly easy for them to


    create whatever narrative they wanted.


    Apparently, that new narrative left out some pretty interesting things.


    | hated thinking that we¡¯d been lied to, but I''did up all night thinking about the eight million things that had just happened. and |


    couldn¡¯te up with another reason why none of us would know anything about vampires.


    Or did they?


    Did only certain people know? Did my parents know? What about Xander and Zane?


    The more | thought about it and all of the possibilities, the more my head spun, and | couldn''t let myself sink into the


    quicksand of what-ifs.


    What-ifs didn¡¯t do anything but make you doubt everything and everyone, and | didn¡¯t want to start viewing everyone | knew


    as some sort of deceptive aplice.


    If they were, I¡¯d deal with thatter.


    For right now, | just needed to talk to Braden again to learn more about the chunks of our history that had been left out of


    what we were taught.


    Something told me | could trust him, that he was one of the only people | could trust right now. Hell, maybe he was the only


    person | could trust. Now, | didn¡¯t even have Lanie, because her mates would be able to read her thoughts. Even if she didn¡¯t


    want


    to betray me, she would


    This sucked.


    Braden and | hadn''t set up a specific ce to meet, but | assumed going back to where we¡¯d met would be the best bet.


    Plus, since we could scent each other out, | was sure we¡¯d find each other. This time, | didn¡¯t shift to get there, and instead


    walked. So, ya know, I¡¯d have clothes on during today¡¯s rendezvous rd still be able to scent him, but just not as strongly than if


    Lily were in control


    Before | could see theke, | could smell Braden. Was it that | was looking for it? Or that his smell was more potent than I''d


    realized before?


    Regardless of the whys and hows, the scent caused immediate desire to shoot through my body, settling between my legs.


    Could he smell me, too? Did my scent affect him the way his scent affected me?


    | hoped so. Now that I¡¯d had sex, | wanted more of it.


    And since | wasn¡¯t going to be getting it from my ¡°mates¡±, maybe Braden was an option.


    There were n


    no viable options for me among my own kind, that was for sure.


    Even if there were someone | was attracted to or someone who was avable, no one would touch me with a ten-foot pole. | was


    completely off-limits for them even thought Xander had said | was free to ¡°have fun¡± as he put it, so long as | didn¡¯t get


    knocked up with ba st ard pups.


    But who the hell was going to dare to touch the cast-off mate of the Alpha and the Beta?


    No one, that¡¯s who.


    ¡°There you are.¡± Braden stepped in front of me.


    I''d been so lost in my thoughts and the scent of him that | hadn¡¯t even seen him.


    ¡°Hi¡± | said, a bit more shyly than | intended.


    Tm d you came. | was worried | might have scared you off with, you know, my whole existence.¡± He waved a hand up and


    down his body, a boyish, lopsided grin spreading across his face.


    His very attractive face.


    | blinked


    Then blinked again.


    F uck, all | could think about was his very attractive face buried between my legs like Zane¡¯s had been.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    This was no good.


    I


    | needed to get my s hit together and focus on why | was really here.


    He titled his head, a lock of dark hair falling over his forehead, and | had to fight the urge to reach up and brush it back.


    ¡°| brought a nket with me¡± Braden turned and started walking away from me, and da mn his a ss looked good in his jeans. He


    was wearing pretty much the same thing he¡¯d been wearing yesterday, and | wondered if he had some sort of lumberjack


    fetish


    I sure as hell might now.


    At the edge of the tree line, overlooking theck, he¡¯d spread arge, thick, red nket, even taking the time to weigh down each


    corner with arge rock. He gestured for me to sit, and | lowered myself, folding my legs beneath me and hugging my oversize


    ck cardigan around me a bit tighter, even though | wasn¡¯t remotely cold.


    He sat down across from me, spreading his legs out in front of him and leaning back on his elbows.


    ¡°So, where do you want to begin?¡±

 Chapter 29

    Xander


    ¡°Let''s go out tonight.¡±


    | raised an eyebrow at Alice and tried to keep from telling her she was insane.


    ¡°| don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea right now,¡± Zane said gently. He was sitting on the leather couch in my office, thumbing through a


    book that he clearly wasn¡¯t reading.


    Alice sat on the couch with him, curled up in the corner, pouting


    ¡°But there¡¯s nothing to do here.¡± She sniffed a little and looked over to me, where | sat behind my desk sorting through the new


    documents | had to sign regarding all of the new matings.


    Even though the Elders decided all of the matings, the legal paperwork still had to be signed by the Alpha. | had stacks of papers


    to go through, and news from other packs to catch up on regarding their mating assignments and oues, and | didn¡¯t have


    the time or patience to deal with an Alice who wasn¡¯t getting what she wanted.


    ¡°I''m sure | cane up with some items you could attend to as the newdy of the manor...¡±


    She wrinkled her nose. ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°Well, you''re going to need to be acquainted with the staff, you''ll need to start thinking about the winter ball. The guards¡¯


    mates live on the premises, so you''ll need to look at attending their get-togethers and learning what they do to support the


    guards. There¡¯s a list somewhere of all the things my mother does every year that will fall to you now.¡±


    My father had stepped down as Alpha as soon as | was able to take over the pack. He was still strong and able, but after the


    Great Wars, he was done with politics and leading. He wanted to enjoy his life with his Beta and my mother, and from the


    moment I¡¯d been born, he¡¯d been counting the days until he could hand it all over to me.


    Typically, he would have waited until after Zane and | had found our mate, but since everything had changed after the Great


    Wars, he figured to hell with tradition, that in the interim, my mother could continue to handle Luna duties. Especially since she


    loved doing it so much and enjoyed connecting with our pack and nning events. | anticipated she''d still want to y arge


    role in helping Alice wherever and whenever she could while Alice learned the ropes over the next year,Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| have...duties?¡± Her brow furrowed and she looked back and forth between Zane and me, confusion lining her delicate


    features.


    ¡°Yes. You''re a Luna now.¡±


    ¡°| thought I¡¯d just, like, have pups for you and that was that.¡±


    Zane looked up from his book and chuckled. ¡°No, love. There¡¯s a lot more to being a Luna than providing pups. How do you-


    ¡°Don''t worry, love,¡± | cut Zane off. ¡°My mother will guide you through everything. | know it¡¯s a lot to take in, but you¡¯re smart,


    capable, and amazing. You''ll be perfect at it.¡±


    ¡°What the hell? Zane red at me.


    ¡°Thest thing we need is for you to imply she¡¯s st upid and then have to deal with herining that you¡¯re being a bully. We


    both know how these arguments end and how we have to make it up to her to soothe her ego, and | don¡¯t have time for that


    right now¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zane replied. ¡°Oh, s hit.¡±


    Through our Alpha/Beta bond, | sensed his heartbeat skyrocket, and he held his breath as he looked at me, obviously trying


    to hide how frantic he felt.


    And then it hit me.


    Now that we had imed Alice, she could hear our


    ur inner conversations with each other.


    The dialogue we were so used to having wasn¡¯t just ours anymore.


    | closed my eyes and took a deep breath, waiting for Alice toment, trying to figure out how we were going to dig our way out


    of the hole we''d just created.


    But Alice remained quiet, sitting in the corner of the couch, still pouting and picking at her cuticles. A sure sign she was upset,


    since she always kept her hands perfectly manicured.


    ¡°Alice, love. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m just feeling a little overwhelmed...¡± | said through the mate band.


    Silence.


    F uck.


    ¡°You know how insensitive he can be when he¡¯s hungry and when he has a little bit of work to do.¡± Zane said with a teasing


    smile, putting his book down and leaning over to rest a hand on her bare knee. She looked up at him, still scowling, then looked


    over at me again.


    ¡°Why are you both looking at me like that?


    ¡°Because we''re apologizing.¡±


    ¡°For what? Does that mean we''re going out tonight then?¡± She sat up a little straighter, flipping her blonde hair over one


    shoulder running her fingers through it.


    ¡°No. Xander was a bit of a jerk, so he¡¯s trying to apologize for that..¡±


    ¡°| mean, | wouldn¡¯t say he was a jerk when he told me about all of the things | have to do. But he is being kind of a meanie


    for not going out tonight.¡±


    What the hell was going on with her? How could she just ignore what I¡¯d said about herining? Any hint of reference to her


    comining was typically a trigger for her, even when said in jest.


    And then it hit me, and | froze, disbelief and shock making my head buzz and my ears ring.


    She couldn''t hear us through the mate bond.

 Chapter 30

    Lanie


    | had about a million questions for Braden, but | started with the most obvious one.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Do other werewolves know you exist?¡±


    He gave me a funny look, then let out a soft scoff of augh. The sound tickled my brain in a not-unpleasant way.


    ¡°| would assume so since some tried to kick my a ss in the Great Wars, and others | fought beside.¡±


    My cheeks flushed furiously.


    I''d once again opened my big mouth and given away my ignorance. He probably thought | was a total idiot.


    ¡°Key word being tried.¡± He puffed out his chest dramatically. ¡°Obviously they didn¡¯t seed.¡±


    | rolled my eyes but | couldn¡¯t fight the smile that forced its way onto my lips. Something else nagged at me, though.


    Did Braden know the High Council had kept this information a secret? Or was he using me to find out?


    Seeing him again, | still sensed | could trust him, but | wasn¡¯t entirely sure why.


    Even Lily, my wolf who pawed at the surface when the slightest hint of danger or difort appeared, remained quiet


    ¡°I''m being serious. Aren¡¯t you worried you''ll be discovered by other shifters when you¡¯re out here prowling around our


    territory?¡±


    He narrowed his eyes at me and his gaze seemed to darken.


    Heat slowly crept up my neck


    ¡°| already told you... | wouldn¡¯t have let you see me if | hadn¡¯t wonted you to.¡±


    His voice was lower, almost a purr, and something stirred in my stomach.


    He was too da mn good at flirting. It was throwing me off.


    | crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows.


    ¡°You couldn''t resist revealing yourself to me, could you? | guess I¡¯m just that irresistible.¡±


    Two could y this game.


    He shook his head and his eyes twi nkled with mischief.


    ¡°Maybe you''re right. Or maybe you¡¯ve got a big head.¡±


    I scowled at him.


    ¡°Honestly, the reason | came to you was because | smelled your distress. And | was...intrigued.¡±


    He raised his eyebrows suggestively.


    ¡°You prey on emotionally vulnerable women is what I¡¯m hearing?¡±


    He smirked.


    ¡°If | wanted to do that, you''d already be dead.¡±


    My heart was beating faster. He was joking wasn¡¯t he?


    | suddenly wondered if | was making a huge mistake, meeting him out here alone like this.


    ¡°So now you''re threatening me?¡± | challenged,


    He held up his hands.


    ¡°No threats, just the truth. Since it seems like no one else is willing to tell you, | guess it¡¯s my job.¡±


    ¡°What''s that supposed to mean?¡± | asked defensively.


    ¡°You grew up thinking shifters were the only supernatural creatures who existed, right?¡±


    Trolled my eyes to avoid admitting he was correct.


    ¡°This might blow your mind, but your kind aren¡¯t the only ones who live here. And they¡¯re not the only ones who fought in the


    Great Wars, either.¡±


    | was shaken up enough that vampires were real...was there even more to the story?


    ¡°Oh, | suppose next you''re going to tell me that mummies walk the forest at night ripping out peoples¡¯ or ga ns?¡±


    He threw his head back and barked out a louderugh


    ¡°No, but you know about the witches, don¡¯t you?¡±


    | studied his face for a moment.


    It was impossible to tell if he was f ucking with me or not.


    When he looked back at me, his expression had turned serious.


    ¡°Da mn, you really have no idea what I¡¯m talking about...¡±


    | huffed out a sigh and pushed myself up onto my knees.


    ¡°If you''re just here to insult me, then | have no problem leaving


    Except, if | was being honest, that was thest thing | wanted to do.


    | needed information from him, but | was also keenly aware of how close were sitting how his strong scent had fully


    wrapped itself around me.


    | wasn¡¯t ready to break the spell, and Braden knew it.


    ¡°You''re not going to do that, but just in case your weak-a ss bluff was real, I''ll tell you more.¡±


    He patted the nket next to him and | plopped back down.


    ¡°For many years, witches and shifters lived in harmony. it was almost like you couldn¡¯t have one without the other. Until.¡±


    He trailed off


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Braden scrubbed a hand over his face.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have enough time to even scratch the surface of that answer. Besides, hearing the truth all at once might break


    2/3


    you. And | must admit, if that happened, I¡¯d sure miss that sassy mouth of yours.


    | didn¡¯t know where he got off talking to me like that, but | would be lying if | said it bothered me.


    Quite the opposite, actually.


    | lost myself for a moment looking at his mouth and the fullness of his bottom lip. | wondered what it would be like to bite it


    softly.


    What it would be like if he bit me back....


    The thought sent a rush of desire straight to my core, and his head tilted up ever so slightly.


    So he could smell me. Or at least it seemed that way.


    Last week, | didn¡¯t even know vampires existed, and now here | was wondering if there was ever a time when they''d mated


    with wolves


    If the High Council had gone to such lengths to keep them from us, then it seemed very much forbidden.


    | tried to change the subject, but when | spoke my voice came out strained and husky


    ¡°Why don¡¯t | know about all of this?¡±


    Braden shrugged.


    ¡°There¡¯s been a lot of mistrust between species since the Great Wars. Maybe pretending we don¡¯t exist is what your kind


    thinks is best.¡±


    | took in his beautiful face and wondered how that could ever have happened.


    ¡°Why did shifters lose trust in vampires?


    There was a sadness in Braden¡¯s voice when he answered.


    ¡°That¡¯s a long story. And the ending is very ugly..

 Chapter 31

    huff


    Zane


    Alice was staring at us like we both had two heads.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Tmn


    not gonna sit here while you guys act like weirdos. If we¡¯re not going out, then I¡¯m going to bed.¡± She stormed off ina


    ¡°F uck,¡± Zander growled. ¡°What the f uck happened?!¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± | breathed out slowly. ¡°We must''ve made a mistake during the mating.¡±


    Zander paced back and forth, his eyes shing as his wolf pushed to the surface, ¡°What''s the mistake? We bit her, she bit us. It¡¯s


    not f u cking rocket science!¡±


    I ran my fingers through my hair, clenching fistfuls in my hands.


    ¡°I''ve never heard of this happening before,¡± | admitted. ¡°When youplete the mate bond, you have the mind link. That''s it, end


    of story?


    Except not for us.


    ¡°So we redo it tonight, Xander said simply.


    I shook my head. ¡°Alice is already pis sed at us for all the weirdness today. If she finds out the mate bond didn¡¯t work, she¡¯s


    gonna lose her da mn mind.¡±


    Xander narrowed his eyes at me.


    ¡°Then what do you suggest we do?¡±


    My mind wandered to Lanie. Just like it had when we¡¯d taken Alice to bed. | thought it was because she was in heat but


    was there more to it?


    ¡°You don¡¯t think it''s because of her?¡± | asked Xander.


    He didn¡¯t need to read my mind to know exactly who | was talking about.


    ¡°We had mindblowing sex with Lanie, and maybe | was thinking about it with Alice, but we didn¡¯t im her. It doesn¡¯t make


    sense.


    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t,¡± | agreed. ¡°Is it because we took Alice as a second mate?¡±


    Xander shrugged. ¡°F uck if | know. This is all new to me.¡±


    ¡°It''s new to everyone.¡± | sighed and threw myself onto the bed rubbing my temples hard. ¡°The High Council are probably the


    only ones with answers, but it¡¯s not like we can ask Elder Aldon right now.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, considering you threatened him and basically called him a se nile old man.¡± Xander smirked.


    ¡°F uck,¡± | mumbled under my breath.


    It was true, we¡¯d pis sed him off royally using that loophole. No way was he gonna help us out now.


    Ahard knock at the door pulled us both out of our thoughts.


    ¡°Enter,¡± Xandermanded.


    AHigh Guard stepped into the office.


    ¡°Alpha Xander, you''re being summoned...by a High Elder.¡±


    me.


    Lanie


    Braden had once again left me hanging, assuring me he¡¯d tell me more about vampires and shifters the next time he saw


    It''s a very ugly story.


    His words rang in my head, and | wasn¡¯t sure how long | could wait for answers


    But | had to get back to Xander and Zane even if | was nothing more than their castoff mate. A means to an end with Alice.


    | walked to a stream where I''d stashed another set of clothes and jumped in, reluctantly letting the water wash away any


    trace of Braden¡¯s intoxicating scent,


    Thest thing | needed was someone smelling anything funny and asking questions. If the High Council had kept vampires from


    us, then there must have been a good reason.


    And if they found out I knew, something told me I''d be in more trouble than my ¡°mates¡± were willing to pull me out of.


    | took a deep breath, steeling myself before | entered the house, and my heart caught in my throat when | saw who was waiting


    for me on the other side of the door.


    Elder Aldon was standing next to a tall man in a pure white robe.


    AHigh Elder.


    ew they wore


    I''d never seen one in person before, but | knew they wore white instead of the High Council¡¯s traditional ck.


    They both whipped around to look at me.


    S hit.


    ¡°So you''re the one who is causing all this trouble...¡± the High Elder said.


    Double s hit.


    ¡°You''re the one I¡¯m here to take care of.¡±


    212

 Chapter 32

    Lanie


    s who don¡¯t give a dam n if | live or die as long as they get to im the


    ¡°Take care of me? You mated me off to two shifters v


    she-wolf they actually wanted.¡±


    Heat crept up from my neck to my cheeks as the words came tumbling out,


    ¡°You should be taking care of them. They''re the ones who spat in the face of your whole mating practice and got us all into.


    this situation¡±


    The High Elder cleared his throat, but | was on a roll.


    ¡°And while you''re at it, why don¡¯t you take a closer look at those so-called practices of yours and ask yourself why you ever


    allowed something like this to happen in the first ce!¡±


    | wasn¡¯t just angry at the Xander and Zane mating, | was also angry that we¡¯d all been left in the dark about the Great Wars, and


    the other creatures who walked among us.


    The High Elder had to be at least partially responsible for keeping the truth from us


    But | could tell by the look on his face that this was not a conversation he was interested in having.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Shut your mouth, girl,¡± his voice boomed.


    | shrunk back until | was pressed against the door.


    His icy, gray-blue eyes shed as his wolf surfaced.


    YOU


    are not a Luna, and you are barely even a mate.¡± His voice dripped with disdain. ¡°The only purpose of she-wolves is to make


    pups and support your mates. So shut your mouth and remember that


    Xander


    We marched straight to the entryway to meet the High Elder. But when we got there, he was towering over Lanie, jamming.


    his bony finger in her face.


    Hot rage coursed through my veins at the sight.


    Lanie¡¯s fear rolled off her in waves | could probably scent from a mile away,


    Deep inside me, Hunter wed his way to the surface, eager to get his paws on the man who was berating Lanie.


    Protect her, Hunter urged. Protect your mate..


    ¡°Ah, yes, here your mates are now,¡± the High Elder said in a cold voice. ¡°Perhaps they will put you in your ce.¡±


    Acold knot twisted itself around my chest.


    She¡¯s in trouble, Zane said. We need to help her


    No s hit she¡¯s in trouble, | replied, And I¡¯m about to do something | might regret.


    Propelled by my wolf and my own overwhelming desire to protect her, | marched straight up to the High Elder and stepped


    1/2


    between him and Lanie.


    ¡°Can | help you?¡± | asked, advancing on him and forcing him backward, farther away from Lanie.


    What the hell are you doing, Xander?! Zane demanded.


    Shh, | silenced him. Just back me the f uck up.


    ¡°If you have a problem with my mate, you can take it up with me first.


    | turned around to face Lanie, and her eyes flew open wide. The smell of her fear waned, reced by surprise and something


    darker and more animalistic.


    Desire.


    Distantly, deep in my soul, | felt the wing of that other beast, the one who wanted to ravage Lanie the night we mated, the one


    who would do the same right here, right now.


    Snap out of it, Zane said. | know what you¡¯re thinking


    Of course, because he was thinking it, too


    Even here, under the scathing stare of a High Elder, | couldn¡¯t keep myself from imagining taking Lanie again.


    What the f uck was wrong with me?


    The High Elder stepped toward me, his voice a low warning growl


    ¡°Get your b itch in line, Alpha Xander. Her behavibe is improper for the mate of an Alpha and Beta.¡± He nced over at Lanie


    again, and she grabbed my arm, squeezing it tightly


    Her touch sent a rush of heat straight to my c ock.


    | needed to get my s hit together around her. And fast


    ¡°If you don¡¯t get her under control,¡± the High Elder said. ¡°Then you will be to me¡±


    Out of the corner of my eye, | saw Lanie step forward ¡°You motherfu-¡±


    Before she could pi ss off the High Elder any more, | threw out my hand, catching her off guard and cutting her off.


    ¡°| wouldn''t say that if | were you,¡± | told her in a low whisper.


    ¡°What


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± She looked confused. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±

 Chapter 33

    Zane


    Holy s hit, did you hear that, too? Xander asked me.


    His heart was beating like crazy, matching the wild rhythm of mine.


    Yeah what the f uck?


    We hadn¡¯t imed Lanie like we''d imed Alice, so why could we hear her inner thoughts?


    Can Lanie hear us? Xander asked the question I¡¯d been wondering, too.


    Lanie... | pushed my thoughts straight to her. Lanie, can you hear me?


    Her expression remained confused as she looked from me back to Xander.


    So that¡¯s a thing, | guess? | asked Xander.


    He nodded his head slightly, then turned back to the High Elder


    ¡°High Elder, why are you here? To flex your power by intimidating a she-wolf who''s never bothered you? Or was there a real


    reason?


    His pale face reddened.


    You''ve made your point, Xander, | wamed him.


    ¡°I''m here because this is all highly unusual. A pair of shifters haven¡¯t taken a second mate since...¡± He halted abruptly.


    Since when?


    Aldon wouldn''t say what the loophole was for and now and now the High Elder refused to say when it wasst used


    These as s holes were definitely hiding something.


    ¡°As | said, this is a rare situation. And we need to discuss how this is going to work.¡±


    | could feel the heat of Xander¡¯s irritation burning off of him.


    ¡°With all due respect,¡± he said through clenched teeth, ¡°we¡¯ve got it under control. Lanie was insufficient, so Alice stepped in


    to give us what we needed. The mating was sessful, what else is there to say?¡±


    Except it wasn¡¯t, was it?


    If it was, our minds would be linked, and we wouldn¡¯t be hearing Lanie¡¯s thoughts


    But Xander couldn¡¯t admit that our n had gone awry.


    The Council was already breathing down our necks, we didn¡¯t need them thinking we couldn¡¯t handle ourselves.


    ¡°| know Elder Aldon has expressed some hesitancy about your double mating the High Elder continued, ¡°but | think this


    could


    open a lot of doors for our kind.¡±


    Xander¡¯s gaze locked on mine.


    He was confused. So was I.


    Aldon stepped forward, finally speaking. ¡°We think this kind of mating could be part of all of our future ceremonies.¡±


    | suddenly sensed a hum vibrating around Lanie that | was surprised to immediately recognize as anger.


    stretch.


    used to this kind of connection with Xander, but with a she-wolf | hadn¡¯t even properly imed? It seemed like a


    ¡°But because this is new for all of us,¡± Aldon continued, ¡°we need to be close by for any necessary damage control. Which


    means we are going to be very involved in the process.¡±


    me?


    Lanie rushed forward.


    ¡°The process of what?¡± she demanded, her eyes wild. ¡°Are you going to sit there in the corner watching while my mates f u ck


    | took her gently by the arm. ¡°Not now, Lanie.¡±


    ¡°See?¡± The High Elder waved his hand at Lanie. ¡°This is why you need our supervision. You have a sister don¡¯t you, Lanie?


    Selena, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lanie tensed next to me, and | scented the now too-familiar smell of her fear.


    ¡°It would be a shame if something were to happen to her because you couldn¡¯tply¡±


    Lanie bit down hard on her lip, but | could tell it was shaking.


    My stomach twisted into knots.


    ¡°Your threats aren¡¯t necessary¡± Xander growled, clearly feeling heated, too. ¡°Tell us what this is about. Why have your changed


    the rules?


    ¡°It''s simple,¡± the High Elder said. ¡°We want our Alphas and Betas to have more offspring and therefore a higher likelihood of


    producing stronger wolves.


    More offspring? Did that mean?


    Lanie¡¯s mouth hung open.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Xander¡¯s breathing was getting heavy.


    ¡°Alice is expected to provide pups to Xander and Zane.¡± The High Elder turned to Lanie, and | swore his lips curled into a


    smile. ¡°But so are you, Lanie.¡±

 Chapter 34

    Lanie


    After the High Elder left, | copsed in my room, feeling totally wrung dry.


    My brain was spinning with a million thoughts and questions.


    It sucked being a she-wolf


    No one told me anything except where | should be and what | should be doing. Braden was the only person who''d told me


    anything usefultely, and even he hadn¡¯t given me many details.


    And what the f uck was all that about Alphas and Betas taking two mates? Now every she-wolf can feel like sl oppy seconds


    all the time!C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    H ooray for us.


    And | didn¡¯t miss that the High Elder had almost let something slip about a time when this had happened before.


    Between that and my conversation with Braden, | was sure something was off about the Council, the Elders, all of it. These old


    guys were keeping secrets, and | needed to know why.


    Was all this connected to the things they¡¯d hidden about the Great Wars?


    The things Braden was revealing to me painfully slowly?


    Before | could thought-spiral anymore, Mindy burst into my room and | sat up so fast my head spun.


    ¡°Bitc h, can¡¯t you knock?! | thought you were another one of those scary elders,¡±


    I clutched my chest, feeling my heart banging hard against it.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± She winced. ¡°Wow, you look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± | rolled my eyes. ¡°Rough day.¡±


    She shut my door and came and sat next to me on my bed.


    ¡°| heard a High Elder came for you today.¡± Sheid back, propping her head up on her elbow. ¡°What the hell did he want?¡±


    ¡°You''re not going to f u cking believe this, but the High Elder said | had to produce pups, too. Even though Alice is Xander and


    Zane¡¯s true mate.¡±


    | dropped my head into my hands and rubbed my eyes.


    ¡°How humiliating is that? | feel like their f u cking sex doll or something.¡±


    ¡°Well...¡± she said sheepishly. ¡°At least the sex was good?¡±


    | groaned. ¡°Mindy! You know they¡¯re in love with Alice. They went out of their way to make her their second mate. Obviously they


    didn¡¯t agree...¡±


    The look of pity she gave me made me want to rage.


    ¡°They''re hiding s hit from us, Mindy. All the things they told us about the Great Wars growing up was a lie.¡±


    She held her hand up. ¡°Wait, wait, wait.. since when were we LEIKFY


    ¡°The shifters aren¡¯t the only ones who fought in the wars. There are other creatures out there, and Braden sald-¡±


    | cut myself off abruptly and swallowed hard, praying she didn¡¯t hear me.


    ¡°Ummm, who the hell is Braden?¡±


    F uck


    ¡°Just a guy | met when | was running through the woods burning off some steam the other day.¡±


    | tried to sound casual, but the stinging heat climbing up my face said otherwise.


    Mindy hit me hard on the arm.


    ¡°Ow!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®ow me! You slept with him, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    | shook my head emphatically. ¡°Hell no!¡±


    That was the truth.


    Now, if she asked me whether | wanted to sleep with him...that might be a different answer.


    ¡°Is he an Alpha? What pack does he belong to?¡±


    | knew she was only looking out for me, but | really wished she''d shut the f uck up.


    ¡°I''m honestly not sure. | didn¡¯t ask.¡±


    Mindy eyed me suspiciously.


    ¡°We literally just met. And we don¡¯t talk about stuff like that! Please don¡¯t tell anyone,¡± | begged.


    ¡°As if | would!¡±


    I stuck out my pinky finger, and she wrapped hers around mine


    ¡°| don¡¯t want you getting in trouble with Maxim and Monroe. And I¡¯m already in enough sh it with Xander and Zane.¡±


    ant to know more about it,


    She sighed deeply. ¡°Well, | don¡¯t know what you¡¯re on about with this Great Wars stuff, but if you want to you could always look


    through Xander and Zane¡¯s library. The ce is f ucking huge!


    | grabbed her shoulders and kissed her hard on the cheek.


    ¡°You''re a genius, Mindy!¡±


    ¡°You''ll have to sneak in, though. | hear they really don¡¯t like people going through their things...¡±


    Xander


    If s hit was bad before, it just got a whole lot worse.


    ¡°What the f u ck was that with Lanie?¡± | rounded on Zane as soon as Aldon and the High Elder had left and Lanie was back in


    her room.


    ¡°| could hear her so clearly...¡± Zane looked dazed. ¡°It was like we''d imed her. Like we had a mate bond with her instead..¡±


    2/3


    Alice was already pis sed that she¡¯d been chosen second, and now we had to break the news that the High Elder was


    commanding Lanie to produce pups, too.


    Which meant more sex with with her.


    ¡°You''re excited though, aren¡¯t you?¡± Zane asked, but he already knew the answer. And | knew he felt the same way about


    getting her into bed again.


    My mind was racing with thoughts of Lanie beneath me, inhalir her deep, heady scent. Her red, wet mouth on my hard co ck. Her


    raspberry nipples, hard with anticipation. Her tight, soaking ussy


    | was dizzy with need for her and with the sudden rush of knowing that I''d have her again. That | had to have her again.


    | looked over at Zane, and his eyes were distant and zed, too


    ¡°How the f uck are we gonna sleep with Lanie again without Alice finding out?¡± he said, scrubbing a hand down his face.


    | smelled someone enter the room and turned around quickly.


    Alice


    Her eyes were wide and ssy


    ¡°Tm sorry what?¡±

 Chapter 35

    Xander


    ¡°Alice, it¡¯s not ¡°I tried to exin, but she cut me off.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to hear it, Xander!¡±


    Her pale face was turning redder by the second.


    F uck


    Why did she have toe in right now?


    It wasn¡¯t like we could keep the news about Lanie a secret forever, but this was the worst possible way for her to find out.


    ¡°It''s bad enough you already slept with that bit ch once! If | have to share you all the time, ...¡±


    Her eyes shed and her fists clenched at her sides.


    Til go back to Gregory and Lucas¡± she shrieked.


    | scoffed.


    No way in hell was she doing that.


    She stepped closer to me, her eyes wide and murderous. She thought | was making fun of her, and maybe | was. She was being


    ridiculous


    And there was no need for her to drag Lanie down just because she was feeling jealous. A hot bubble of rage rose in my


    chest on Lanie¡¯s behalf


    ¡°We can exin, Alice.¡± Zane must''ve felt the surge of my anger too because he stepped between us before | could say


    something I''d actually regret. ¡°The High Elder hasmanded us to impregnate Lanie, too.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Alice threw her hands in the air before turning back to me. ¡°You''re the Alpha, Xander. Don¡¯t listen to him!¡±


    Agrowl rumbled low in my chest.


    She was really irritating me now,


    I


    ¡°You''re out of your go dd amn mind, Alice,¡± | snapped. ¡°If we defy themand of an Elder, we will be put to trial in front of


    the Council. Do you know what they could do?¡±


    Her breathing was heavy, but she didn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°They could strip my Alpha title and take this whole f u cking pack away from me.¡± | leaned down closer, my voice a chilling


    whisper in her ear. ¡°And then you''ll have no choice but to mate with Gregory and Lucas,¡±


    Her lip quivered, but she didn¡¯t back down.


    ¡°| don¡¯t care,¡± she said. ¡°I should be the most important thing to you both.¡±


    Zane held out his hands. ¡°Alice don''t be like that¡±


    A full-on roar ripped from my chest, and Alice stumbled backward.


    What the f uck was she thinking talking to us like this?


    | knew she could be sensitive sometimes, and for good reason, but | never thought of her as selfish.


    | didn¡¯t like seeing this side of her.


    ¡°You''re a Luna now, Alice, and you better behave like one. The deep rasp of my voice seemed to cut through her like a silver


    de. ¡°Rule number one: Pack before self...And you better learn that real f ucking fast.¡±


    She shrank back, her blue eyes ssy with tears.


    She gets it, Xander, Zane said.


    But I wasn¡¯t done.


    ¡°Lunas don¡¯t argue with their Alphas and put their entire pack at risk. Lunas don¡¯t cry when they don¡¯t get their way. Lunas.


    support their Alpha and they ab ide by the rules of the Elders. They do their duties and they don¡¯tin.¡± There was no


    warmth left in my voice and no pity for her in my eyes. ¡°Do you understand?¡±


    Alice¡¯s lip trembled as she gazed up at me.


    ¡°| said do you understand?!¡±


    Before | could stop it, a wave of fury swept over me and Hunter sprang to the surface, my ws shooting forth, my canines


    shing pointy and white while Alice shook beneath me.


    Zane


    ¡°Xander!¡± | yelled, forcing myself between him and Alice.


    He¡¯d never threatened Alice with his wolf before, and | never thought he would.


    | pressed a hand to his chest. ¡°Calm down before the whole pack knows there¡¯s trouble in paradise.¡±


    Xander was losing control, and if that happened, everyone would feel his rage.


    ¡°F uck,¡± he whispered pressing his palms to his eyes. His breathing finally steadied and his ws and canines retracted


    | reached out to Alice, wanting tofort her, but she flinched.


    My heart dropped to my stomach.


    Xander¡¯s little outburst was making her lose trust in us.


    ¡°Alice, you know it¡¯s Xander¡¯s job to keep everyone in this pack safe...including you. We just want what''s best-


    She cut me off. ¡°I don¡¯t believe anything either of you says now!


    Suddenly de was pawing at my insides.


    Why was she still arguing?Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Are you f ucking kidding me, Alice? | couldn¡¯t hold back, either, | moved closer and closer to her until her back was pressed up


    against the wall. ¡°You just received direct orders from your mates, your Alpha and Beta. No more arguing.¡±


    Asick feeling stirred in my stomach


    You made a mistake, de seemed to be saying


    Did we choose the wrong mate?


    No self-respecting she wolf, especially one mated to an Alpha and Beta, should ever pull the s hit she was pulling now


    Alice took a deep breath and stood up tall, her back still pushed against the wall


    ¡°I''m not listening to you,¡± she said defiantly. ¡°And I¡¯m not your Luna, either¡±


    | gritted my teeth, prepared to let de break through the surface and teach her a real lesson. But then she spoke, and my


    mind went nk.


    ¡°| know the mate bond didn¡¯t work.¡±

 Chapter 36

    Lanie


    | crept through the main hallway, determined to get to Xander¡¯s library as soon as possible.


    If there was information on the Great Wars, | was going to get my hands on it.


    But just as | was about to pass the entryway, | heard Alice¡¯s determined voice.


    | peeked around the corner and saw her in a standoff between Xander and Zane.


    ¡°You imed me, but there¡¯s no mate bond between us,¡± Alice said. ¡°So | don¡¯t have to do any of your stu pid Luna duties.¡±


    Wait, what?


    How was that even possible?


    Asmall glow of satisfaction bloomed in my chest. So the boys hadn''t gotten their way, after all.


    Lost in thought, | totally missed Alice rushing into the hallway until she practically body-checked me.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± she growled.


    | nted my hands on my hips. ¡°It¡¯s my house, too, in case you forgot.¡±


    Her eyes shed dangerously and she flexed her hand, making sure | could see her ws shoot out.


    ¡°| bet you love this, don¡¯t you Lanie?¡± she said, ¡°Now that you get to keep f ucking them, you can slowly worm your way into


    my ce.¡±


    me


    | rolled my eyes.


    | kind of loved that Xander and Zane¡¯s grand n to im their ¡°real¡± mate had gone up in mes, but they''d still rejected


    And | had too much pride to go running straight back into their arms.


    ¡°I''m not deaf, Alice,¡± | told her inly. ¡°You said it yourself, you¡¯re not their true Luna, so what is there for me to even steal


    from you?¡±


    Her cheeks flushed pink and she shoved her fists to her sides.


    | had to admit, it was kind of fun getting a rise out of her.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t even ask to be mated to Xander and Zane in the first ce.¡± | waved my hand toward the entryway. ¡°So you can keep


    them¡±


    Alice¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Oh, | intend to,¡± she snarled. ¡°And you¡¯re not going to stop me!


    ¡°Okay is that everything?¡± | crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my foot impatiently. Ignoring her threats would pi ss


    her off more.


    Sure enough, she just scowled and stamped away


    I smiled to myself, but it faltered once | realized what their whole argument meant.


    If they''d imed Alice, but it didn¡¯t work, then where did that leave me?


    For one second, | allowed myself to imagine theming to me, falling to their knees and kissing my Docs, begging for


    forgiveness for humiliating me and taking a second mate.


    They''d tell me how incredible our night together was, that they never needed another she-wolf apart from me...


    The fantasy had me frozen in ce, head spinning, and when Xander and Zane marched out into the hall, my heart leaped


    into my throat.


    Was the moment I''d imagined about toe true?


    ¡°What the f uck did you say to her?¡± Xander demanded.


    Well, that answers that.


    Fantasy over.


    ¡°Why¡¯d you have to go and p iss her off more?¡± he demanded.


    His whele body was humming, like he was barely containing his wolf after the blow-up with Alice.


    Thated that | found it incredibly sex y.


    It reminded me of how no-nonsense he¡¯d been the night we¡¯d consummated our mating. How he¡¯did me down on the bed and


    forged a path down my whole body with his lips...


    S hit.


    | needed to get it together before my scent gave away my dirty thoughts.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Listen,¡± | said, hoping they didn¡¯t notice the slight huskiness in my voice. ¡°It''s not my fault you thought with your c ocks


    instead of with your brains.¡±


    Xander charged forward, a low growl rumbling in his chest.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve dodged this Alice bullet,¡± | continued, ¡°but instead you ran head-first into it.¡±


    Zane ced a hand on Xander¡¯s shoulder to calm him, but his breathing was heavy, too.


    what to


    | got the feeling that they never quite knew what to do with me.


    And | kind of liked it..


    Besides, they were fully distracting me from my real mission of hunting down information on the Great Wars.


    If | could get them riled up, then maybe they''d go all big bad wolf and huff away, leaving me all the time needed to sneak


    into the library


    ¡°I''m just curious, boys... What are you going to do about this precarious situation you''ve found yourselves in?¡±


    Xander¡¯s eyes darkened, his wolf pushing its way to the surface


    It was like | could sense his anger growing as he stood in front of me.


    And | knew Lily could, too


    But we weren''t really mated so what was that all about?


    ¡°What the f uck do you mean, Lanie?¡± Xander said through gritted teeth. ¡°You¡¯re as much a part of this as we are.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± | shrugged. ¡°From where I¡¯m standing, it seems like you''re the ones getting f ucked.¡±

 Chapter 37

    Xander


    | charged at Lanie.


    ¡°You have no idea what the f uck you''re talking about, | roared. ¡°I¡¯ve already had to put one mate in her ce today, so I¡¯m all


    warmed up and ready for round two.¡±


    She just stood there with her arms crossed.


    Her smugness infuriated me,


    ¡°Now you''re out of things to say?¡± | asked her, ¡°Come on, | know there¡¯s more groundbreaking wisdom in that pretty |


    head of yours.¡±


    Don''t


    ¡®t push it, Xander, Zane warned me. You can¡¯t lose it twice in one day.


    Hunter pawed at me roughly, pleading with me to listen to Zane.


    My wolf was supposed to be a fierce fighter so why was he always backing down in Lanie¡¯s presence?


    Except when it was time to mate her.


    Hunter hadn¡¯t yielded then.


    I shook my head.


    Thest thing | needed right now was to think of Lanie in bed.


    I''ve got it under control, Zane.


    Yeah, he said sarcastically, Sure you do. Don¡¯t forget | can sense when your mind wanders.


    F uck.


    ¡°When your mind wanders to what exactly?¡± Lanie asked.


    F ucking f uck.


    Did she just hear that?


    ¡°You...2¡±


    She cut me off. ¡°Heard everything you just said? Yup.¡±


    | nced at Zane, and his confusion mirrored my own.


    | needed to talk to him, but it was impossible now that Lanie was here.


    Why the f uck could the hear us and Alice couldn¡¯t?


    ¡°You wanna tell me what the hell is going on here?¡± She threw her hands out. ¡°First Alice says the mate bond didn¡¯t work,


    and now our minds are connected, but you didn¡¯t im me?¡±


    Zane shook his head ¡°Honestly, your guess is as good as ours We''re the first wolves in our pack to take two mates.¡±


    If | could talk to Zane, | would''ve told him to shut the f uck up. We had no idea what we were doing, but what good was it to


    1/3


    admit that to Lanie?


    | sighed deeply, my anger suddenly reced with discouragement.


    | scrubbed a hand over my face.


    Goddess, how was this all going to work?


    ¡°Look, the High Elder has made his du mb-as s decree, and I''d like to keep my pack, so I¡¯ve got no choice but to follow it, and


    neither do you,¡± | told Lanie.


    | held her gaze, expecting her mind to wander to our night together, knowing what the Elder¡¯s decree meant about us


    impregnating her.


    But | didn¡¯t see desire in her eyes.


    Instead, | sensed something deeper, sharper, something like resolve.


    It was like | could see the cogs of her mind turning, no doubt about to say something that would pis s me off all over again..


    ¡°Sounds like you''re in a lose-lose situation, then,¡± she said.


    Yep, there it was.


    ¡°Clearly that whole,¡± she waved her hand between Zane and me, ¡°thing...with Alice has be a sh it show of epic proportions.


    And | sure as hell won''t be raising the pups you have with her if I¡¯m expected to have little ones of my own.¡±


    Her lips quirked up in a smirk.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Normally that kind of defiance would make me rage. | was her Alpha, and no one spoke to me like that, especially not after


    what just happened with Alice.


    But something about her, the way her lips looked, the way her heady scent still wrapped around me like a vise grip.It made me


    want to give her anything she wanted.


    And give it to her hard.


    | cleared my throat. ¡°Fine, then you''ll both raise your own pups¡± | said, trying to be firm and not give away my distraction.


    Zane¡¯s head snapped to me.


    He could see right through me, but it wasn¡¯t like he could call me out on it.


    Thanks to Lanie highjacking our mind link....


    She eyed us both before responding. ¡°Something tells me Alice isn¡¯t the most maternal she-wolf who ever lived, but | guess


    that¡¯s your problem to deal with. Let''s hope you''re able to convince her to forgive you, otherwise you''ll be in deep s hit with the


    Council.¡±


    | would never admit it out loud, but Lanie was right.


    We f u cked up with Alice, we embarrassed an elder, we circumvented the Council with a loophole we barely understood


    ourselves, and now we had a High Elder breathing down our necks.


    If Alice left us now or we tried to undo the decisions we¡¯d already made, we¡¯d look like fools.


    I''d look like a fool.


    And an Alpha cannot be a fool


    It hit me then, like a silver bullet to the heart.


    | was f ucked.


    Iwas f


    ¡°Why don¡¯t | make you an offer?¡± Lanie asked, and | wondered if she could somehow sense my


    distress


    But she wasn¡¯t our true mate, so it shouldn¡¯t be that way.


    She shouldn''t have that kind of power.


    | was the one with the power.


    ¡°What could you possibly offer us?¡± | demanded.


    ¡°| can save both of your as ses from the Council...¡± she said. ¡°If you let me go

 Chapter 38

    LanieText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Xander looked at me like | was actually crazy.


    ¡°No way that¡¯s happening. What makes you think that you, an eighteen-year-old she-wolf from an average family, can save me,


    the Alpha of the entire Constantine Pack?¡±


    Go ds, he was so arrogant.


    And right now, | had no time for that.


    ¡°And in case you forgot,¡± his voice dropped to a low warning growl, ¡°You''re still our mate. We can¡¯t just ¡®let you go.¡±


    That¡¯s what they thought.


    They''d change their minds soon enough.


    | wouldn''t give them a choice.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to be with me, and | don¡¯t want to be with you, | said inly. ¡°So let¡¯s fulfill the High Elder¡¯s decree and move


    on with our lives.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t entirely true, and Lily knew it, too, | could feel her pawing at my insides.


    You would climb right back into bed with them. You want to experience that pleasure again, she reminded me.


    She needed to shut up.


    But she was right, which was why | needed to get away from these guys, and fast. The more of them | had, the more my


    resolve to leave might crumble.


    Zane narrowed his eyes and looked me up and down


    ¡°What exactly are you proposing here?¡±


    Xander shot Zane an icy re.


    ¡°She¡¯s proposing nothing! We don¡¯t take orders, we give them.1


    Xander brushed past me in a huff.


    ¡°lm done with this conversation.


    He started down the hall, but | couldn¡¯t let him leave yet.


    I''d overheard their conversation with Alice...If Xander thought | wouldn''t use it to my advantage, then he was st upider than


    he looked.


    I''d tell him so if | needed to


    And | could only imagine how well he¡¯d take it...


    I


    ¡°Fine,¡± | said, ¡°then I''ll tell the High Elder that Alice isn¡¯t your true mate. Xander froze. ¡°And that she¡¯s refusing to do her Luna


    duties¡±


    Xander whipped around, his eyes shing a furious crimson, and Zane¡¯s fists clenched at his sides.


    But they wouldn''t act on their rage.


    Thad them both cornered


    ¡°Something tells me the Council won''t take that news too well.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn''t, Lanie,¡± Xander roared.


    Zane leapt in front of him before he could charge at me.


    ¡°Let me get this straight... you¡¯re ckmailing your Alpha and Beta?¡± he asked me.


    Technically, that¡¯s what | was doing.


    I


    But | had no intention of running to the High Elder myself unless | really had to.


    There was too much at stake for me, too,


    If |unched aint against my mates and the Council didn¡¯t believe me, then they might not take it out on only me... they


    might take it out on Selena, too.


    ¡°Look,¡± | held out my hands in surrender. ¡°I can take on all Alice¡¯s Luna duties and give her the credit. You both were too blinded


    by lust to see it at first, but you know she doesn¡¯t want to care for this pack¡±


    Xander let out a dissenting snarl, but | knew it was all for show.


    Neither of them were actually arguing with me because | was right.


    ¡°Alice doesn¡¯t want anything other than the Luna title and to be treated as special for being the Alpha and Beta¡¯s mate.¡± |


    continued. ¡°She doesn¡¯t love you, she loves the status you give her


    If | could¡¯ve dropped a mic, | would¡¯ve


    And if I''d been anyone other than Xander¡¯s mate, he might''ve ripped me to shreds.


    | might not have had the kind of power an Alpha or even someone like Alice had, but | sure as hell could talk my way out of


    just about anything.


    Xander and Zane locked eyes. They were desperate tomunicate privately.


    Too bad, boys


    ¡°You sure have a lot to say, Xander told me in a cold, detached voice. ¡°But why should we believe you''ll actually do any of


    ¡°Let me prove it.¡±


    | thought of Selena, alone at home now that | was gone, counting down the days until she¡¯d be mated, too.


    She was the ultimate reason fd uphold my end of our deal


    ¡°You won''t have to tell anyone you f u cked up by taking Alice as your mate, and she''ll look like the perfect Luna¡±


    There it was all out on the table, take it or leave it.


    ¡°But?¡± Zane asked me, the intensity of his gaze practically burning a hole in my retinas.


    ¡°But if | do that,¡± | said, ¡°then you have to let me go¡±


    ¡°Did you forget the part where you have to produce pups, too? Xander demanded.


    | hadn''t forgotten, but | wished | could.


    ¡°When Alice gives you pups and bes the perfect Luna,¡± | exined, ¡°no one will look twice at me anymore. Everyone.


    including the Elders will see that you guys were right in choosing Alice, and then you can publicly reject me for not being a fit


    mate.¡±


    | took a deep breath.


    ¡°And you can banish me from the pack forever.¡±

 Chapter 39

    Zane


    Banish her forever?


    Asick feeling crept up from the pit of my stomach and settled heavily in my chest.


    Was that really what | wanted? For Lanie to leave?


    | didn¡¯t speak and neither did Xander. | could sense his unease, too


    ¡°| promise I''ll nevere back if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about,¡± Lanie said, confusing our hesitancy for mistrust disappear


    into the ether, like a vampire or witch or something.¡±


    | could tell she thought she was reassuring us, but based on the tension that still hung in the air, it was having the opposite


    effect.


    She looked closely at Xander and me, almost studying us, like she was waiting for some specific sign or answer,


    ¡°Okay, then, Xander said behind me.


    | could feel his heart racing as fast as my thoughts.)


    | nodded at Lanie, signaling my agreement, and she blinked hard.


    ¡°Okay¡± she finally said quietly


    And then she turned to go.


    Xander


    Without speaking, | ripped my shirt off and ran outside.


    | knew Zane would follow


    This house was suffocating. There was always someone there, listening in even when we didn¡¯t expect it. Alice at the door,


    Lanie inside our minds...


    It was too much.


    I needed to run.


    I needed to think.


    I needed to shift.


    My wolf Hunter broke free as soon as | crossed the threshold of the mansion, and | transformed right there, the rest of my


    clothes ripping to shreds as | fell onto all fours.


    I sprinted into the woods behind the mansion, not looking back.


    The cool breeze ruffled my rich, ck fur, carrying away the chaos and confusion of thest twenty minutes with it.


    | could finally think clearly again.


    | heard another set of paws padding behind


    alongside me.


    Finally, we could speak again as wolves.


    But for a brief time, we just ran and ran.


    ¡°Lanie¡¯s n would actually work,¡± | finallymunicated to Zane, breaking the silence.


    Now that we had two mates, moments like this where we could talk openly would be fewer and farther between.


    Lanie had already used our words against us.


    We couldn''t risk giving her more ammunition to get what she wanted.


    | asked the question that | could tell was on Zane¡¯s lips earlier, too. ¡°But what happens to us when she leaves?¡±


    When Lanie had mentioned being banished, a strange feeling of yearning had already begun to well in my chest.


    It was like | already missed her, and she wasn¡¯t even close to leaving yet.


    | thought if | shifted it might go away, but with Hunter at the helm, the feeling needled even deeper inside me.


    What the hell did that mean?


    ¡°We''re both drawn to her, Xander Zane answered, ¡°And | think | think | want her to be here.¡±


    Do you feel the same way about Alice?¡± | asked, even though I knew his answer would match my own.


    ¡°No. And | don¡¯t think | ever will now that | know what it feels like with Lanie.¡±


    F uck.


    Zane didn¡¯t bother asking me if | agreed. My answer was obvious


    We''d gotten ourselves into deep s hit fighting for a she-wolf neither of us actually wanted.


    This was a big f ucking problem.


    Meanwhile, Hunter pawed at me to return to Lanie.


    Go back to her. Mate with her, Hunter said. F uck her until she¡¯s pregnant with our pups.


    Lanie had found a way to get herself out of sleeping with us again, but right now, that was the only thing | wanted.


    And so what if she got pregnant? She''d be a better mother than Alice, that was painfully obvious.


    ¡°Thate that Alice manipted us like this,¡± Zane said.


    So he was thinking about her, too.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°She f ucked us over with that needy little girl act of hers,¡± | growled.


    ¡°But we did the right thing by saving her


    Zane was right. No one should be mated to Gregory and Lucas,


    But we shouldn¡¯t be mated to Alice, either.........


    We needed to be careful how we dealt with her. She¡¯d never turned her wrath on us before, but | knew she had a jealous


    streak, and who knew what she¡¯d do if she found out we didn¡¯t want her like we wanted Lanie.


    | stopped running, my paws skidding across the forest floor.


    Zane¡¯s wolf stopped too, and we locked eyes.


    We both knew what we had to do.


    ¡°We have to get rid of Alice,¡± | told Zane. ¡°And make Lanie our true mate.¡±

 Chapter 40

    Lanie


    | had no ns to meet Braden, but something was calling me back to our spot by theke.


    Was it a feeling he¡¯d be there, or was it just stup id hope?


    Sure, | could sense Xander and Zane¡¯s presence, their emotions even, but we were more connected through the mate bond


    than I''d initially thought.


    With Braden, though, it was something else.


    You want to see him. You want his dirty scent all over you, my wolf Lily teased.


    But | told myself it wasn¡¯t just that.


    He had information, he knew things my mates didn¡¯t.


    Before Heft Xander and Zane, I¡¯d name-dropped vampires and witches, just to see if there was any flicker of recognition behind


    their eyes.


    But they ignored thement altogether, which made me think they had no idea how deep the Council¡¯s lies ran


    All the more reason to slip from their grasp and wash my hands of all of this, sooner rather thanter.


    But first, | needed answers.


    Awave of relief crashed over me as | walked up to theke and saw BradenText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Someone who might actually be able to help me out of this mess.


    His back was to me, but | recognized the clean-cut hair, the nnel shirt, that tight as s in those perfectly-fitting jeans...


    Go ds, he was gorgeous..


    For one wild second, | imagined sneaking up behind him, wrapping my arms around his lean, muscr torso, pressing my face


    to his back, and inhaling deeply, letting his sp icy, intoxicating scent wrap itself around me.


    Maybe Lily was right.


    Just the thought sent a rush of longing straight to my center.


    ¡°Are you just going to stand there, ore and see me?¡± Braden called out, before turning around to face me.


    Suddenly the heat that had settled between my legs rushed straight to my cheeks.


    S hit. Could he smell how turned on | was?


    He shed me a wide, dazzlingly white smile and his green eyes twin kled mischievously.


    u


    That wasn¡¯t helping things.


    | walked up to him slowly, the scent i¡¯d been craving wafting over me on the cool fall breeze.


    Even though | wasn¡¯t in my wolf form, his smell was still strong enough to send pleasant chills down my spine.


    As | got closer, his eyebrows knitted together, and | thought he was going to call me out on my dirty thoughts


    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± he asked.


    | was taken aback, and his question made me feel vulnerable in a different way, like he could see straight into my soul.


    When | didn¡¯t answer right away, he smirked.


    ¡°l can scent your distress, remember?¡±


    How could | forget? He''d said it¡¯s what had ¡°intrigued him the first time we met.


    ¡°Guess | can¡¯t get away with anything around you, can |?¡±


    | sighed and went to plop down onto the ground, but Braden grabbed my arm before | could.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said and reached for that same red nket he¡¯d had thest time we met. He spread it on the ground, then patted


    it. ¡°Much morefortable.¡±


    Warmth bloomed from my chest at the gesture and | could feel myself smiling.


    He sat down next to me, and | was ovee with the urge to tell him everything.


    ¡°Xander and Zane took another mate. Their first love, Alice. The words were tumbling out before | could stop them. ¡°The High


    Elder hasmanded them to have pups with us bath. They¡¯re going to start making every wolf pair take two mates.¡±


    For a split second, | regretted my word vomit, but then | remembered why I¡¯de here..


    I''d wanted to tell someone who cared and could maybe even help. And for some reason, the first person I¡¯d thought of was


    Braden.


    | didn¡¯t know how | expected him to respond, but | was surprised by the sympathy in his expression.


    ¡°Those ancient ba stards,¡± he said, his voice dripping with more vitriol than I''d heard before. They¡¯re returning to the old


    practices.¡±


    This is what I''de for. More information, more confirmation that the Council had a n..and none of us wolves were in


    on it.


    ¡°What old practices?¡± | asked him.


    ¡°You want to know what really happened during the Great Wars?¡± Braden took a deep breath. ¡°Then here goes nothing...

 Chapter 41

    Braden


    Those sick as s holes.


    The look on Lanie¡¯s face when she told me they were reverting to the old practices. Normally | liked seeing her all fired up. but


    not about something like this.


    Not when | thought the Council had moved past this.


    ¡°Are you actually going to tell me, or just tease me some more?¡± Lanie crossed her arms and coc ked her eyebrow.


    | wanted to run my finger across her face and smooth it back out.


    But instead, | told her what she¡¯d been dying to hear.


    ¡°A few hundred years ago, the mating practices were even more barbaric than they are now. There were fewer she-wolves, too,


    so some would be assigned to three or four men.¡±


    Her eyes darkened, and | could tell what she was thinking.


    | hated confirming her worst fears.


    ¡°Their only jobs were to cook, clean, and most importantly, f uck if they didn¡¯t produce pups, then they were worthless.¡±


    Lanie¡¯s eyes widened, and her mouth formed a little ¡°o¡± of surprise.


    For just a moment, | reconsidered telling her everything.


    It struck me again how beautiful she was and how, if she knew all that | knew, she might note back here again.


    But it wasn¡¯t fair to trap her here like those barbaric wolves had trapped their mates.


    I''d have to find another way to make sure she came back to see me....


    | continued on.


    ¡°Over time, the she-wolves, and eventually some of the men, stopped putting up with the Council¡¯s b ulls hit and they started


    being mated to fewer wolves, taking some leadership positions, getting more power of their own, but most of the men weren¡¯t


    having it


    Awide grin spread across Lanie¡¯s face.


    ¡°And instead of backing down, the she-wolves started a f u cking war?¡±


    | nodded. ¡°Bingo¡±


    ¡°Dam n.. that¡¯s kind of bada ss. Her face twisted into a look of confusion. ¡°Wait, but how the hell do you know so much about


    this and | don¡¯t? You''re not even a shifter¡±


    Her emotions were rising like an angry tide washing over me in hot crashing waves.


    ¡°And what about the witches? And why did you fight in the war


    | reached out and ced my hand over hers


    She froze and looked up at me, and when our eyes met, it was all | could do not to lean in and kiss her.


    ¡°| said I''d tell you. And | don¡¯t break my promises.¡±


    Lanie


    My heart stopped.


    Braden¡¯s touch was cool, but not unpleasant.


    It reminded me of the crispness of fall air, the way there¡¯s something warm andforting in the chill.


    | took a deep breath and forced myself to break away from his gaze.


    It was making me want to do things | shouldn''t.


    Kiss him, touch him, let him touch me more. Everywhere, even...


    | took a deep breath,


    He was finally telling me about the Great Wars, but now that rd gotten what | wanted, | was overwhelmed by everything!


    didn¡¯t knowC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Of course the Council didn¡¯t want to teach young pups the truth about the Wars-she-wolves had essentially been treated like se x


    sl av es, a nd things were hardly any better now!


    And the fact that a full-on war started once the women pushed back it did bode well for my future, or Selena¡¯s.


    ¡°The werewolf Council and the High Elders weren''t just trying to oppress she-wolves,¡± Braden¡¯s voice brought me back to the


    present, ¡°they were trying to oppress other supernatural beings, too.¡±


    | arched my eyebrow and Braden removed his hand from mine.


    | missed it instantly.


    ¡°So this is where the witches and vampirese in?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± he nodded. ¡°Once the women started fighting back, the witches and us vampires did, too. We tried to take away some


    of the male shifters¡¯ power and influence, after all, a lot of it was never theirs to take, and it almost worked. But not


    without some loss along the way¡±


    A dark cloud settled over Braden¡¯s features.


    ¡°What did that mean for the vampires? What did that mean for you?¡±


    ¡°There were some... concessions from both sides in order to end the war. I¡¯m not proud of it. But our people were dying, and


    the war needed to stop, and-¡±


    I cut him off.


    ¡°Why are you making excuses? My heart pounded. ¡°What kind of concessions are we talking about here?¡±


    why


    Immediately, regret settled deep in the pit of my stomach.


    | was scared to hear what his answer would be

 Chapter 42

    now.


    Lanie


    ¡°Just tell me, Braden,¡±


    If it turned out he was as terrible as the shifters who enved female wolves before the Great


    Before we got in too deep.


    Int


    t Wars, then at least I''d know


    His green eyes darted around, looking anywhere but into my eyes.


    ¡°| fought alongside the she-wolves when the war started, most of my kind did, but in the end, we all had to throw them under.


    the bus to save our own people.¡±


    My heart sank..


    I''de to Braden for help in escaping our horrible mating practices. But it turned out he was partially responsible for


    them...


    He nced back up, and his face was twisted with pain.


    ¡°The wolf shifters were too powerful. Some of them were dying, too, but not like the vampires. They killed so many more of


    His voice was strained, and | wondered how many people Braden had lost in the wars.


    Had he lost his mother? His first love? A child?


    ¡°We can¡¯t mate and reproduce like your kind can,¡± he said. ¡°Rebuilding our poption will take centuries as it is. If the wars. had


    continued, we would¡¯ve been eradicated.¡±


    ording to legend, vampires couldn''t have children in the traditional sense. Vampires had to be created. They were humans


    reborn after death.


    | wondered vaguely how Braden¡¯s people hade to exist in the first ce.


    Did they kill humans for fun? Did they save them from dying?


    The answer felt important, but it was a conversation for another day.


    ¡°| don¡¯t understand,¡± | said, ¡°If shifters were really that powerful, so powerful they could destroy entire poptions of supernatural


    beings, then why isn¡¯t that part of our history?¡±


    It seemed like the type of story the Council would revel in.


    The story of the fierce shifter wolves who defeated the evil vampires and witches and came out on top as the strongest


    supernatural beings in our region.


    They told us so many other lies...why not that one, too?


    ¡°Remember when | said both sides had to make concessions? Braden asked. ¡°Even though our numbers were dwindling, we


    were still killing shifters. And when things went from bad to worse the witches threatened to curse them with infertility.¡±


    | gasped, and he nodded.


    ¡°We were at a stalemate. No side could win. And that¡¯s when we came to the agreement.¡±


    His gaze drifted to the sky


    ¡°In order to end the war, the wolves had to erase all evidence of their power so younger generations wouldn''t get any about


    uprisings again. The wolf shifters agreed to sequester their people, never to insert themselves in the businesses of vampires,


    witches, or humans again.¡±


    So that¡¯s why we had no idea vampires or witches actually existed.


    Braden turned back to me, a sad look in his eyes.


    ¡°Unfortunately, that meant that the wolves¡± mating practices could resume as they wanted them to, unchecked.¡±


    ideas


    For years now, she-wolves were mated to two wolves and encouraged to produce pups, but the Elders had always made it


    sound like a privilege, they¡¯d made it sound like they honored the women who helped grow the poption of our pack.


    But now they were pushing the boundaries again, slowly, starting with Xander and Zane. They were bringing back the traditions


    that started the Great Wars in the first ce. But with no outside help from witches and vampires this time, they might actually


    get away with it


    Or so they thought


    | looked up at Braden, so se xy and sure, and wondered again if | could really trust him.


    If | could, then he their


    might just be my secret weapon, my key to stopping the Council from making all of us she-w


    s ex sl aves again..


    But if | got closer to BradContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    to Braden, if | put even more trust in him...


    Could | keep myself from falling for him?


    Xander


    ¡°That¡¯s easier said than done, Xander, Zane warned.


    | growled.


    Getting rid of Alice wasn¡¯t going to be easy, | didn¡¯t need to be reminded of that.


    Her reputation was already scarred from being mated sote and from worming her way out of the Council''s intended. match. If


    we rejected her, too, | didn¡¯t know what would happen.


    At best she¡¯d be banished, forced to live as a rogue, but at worst, she''d be killed.


    Before | could consider any other terrible possibilities, the breeze shifted, and an overwhelming scent filled my nose.


    Zane stopped, too, and turned his head in the direction of the smell.


    Lanie.


    It felt briefly like my brain was short-circuiting. With Hunter at the helm, my senses were heightened, and her scent was


    even more overwhelming.


    Find her. Take her. We need her. Hunter urged me to follow the trail that would lead me to Lanie.


    ¡°What is she doing out here?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know, but we¡¯re about to find out.¡± And then Hunter was off, chasing the sweet smell carried on the wind while Zane¡¯s


    wolf padded close behind.


    Soon, we¡¯d reached the edge of ake, and it took a moment to register the sight in front of me.


    Lanie was there, but she wasn¡¯t alone.


    Alow growl ripped from my chest.


    She was with another man...

 Chapter 43

    Xander


    Who the hell was this guy, and what was he doing with Lanie?


    Jealously bubbled up inside me like a volcano ready to erupt.


    Hunter pawed at the ground, his teeth bared, ready to pounce, but | held him back,


    Not right now.


    | was about to shift back, clothes be da mned, and give him a piece of my mind, when another scent hit me.


    It wasn¡¯t the warm, animalistic scent | was used to with other wolves. It was something colder, more ancient-seeming


    He wasn''ta shifter.


    But he wasn¡¯t human, either.....


    Zane¡¯s muzzle was raised to the sky also trying to decipher the strange scent.


    ¡°What are we dealing with here?¡± he asked me.


    1 hated to admit my ignorance, especially since he was with Lanie. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯m sure we can take him, whoever he


    Suddenly Lanie stood up and turned around to face us.


    ¡°Don¡¯t attack, Xander!¡± she called.


    S$ hit. She could


    hear us.


    The man stood up, too, and turned around to face us.


    He wore an amused expression on his face, and another hot wave of jealousy surged through me..C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    He was handsome, even | could see that, and | was sure Lanie felt the same.


    So what the f uck were they doing here alone together?


    ¡°He knows who you are,¡± Lanie gestured toward the man. ¡°I¡¯m in good hands.¡±


    Good hands?


    And what exactly was he doing with those ¡°good hands?¡±


    Zane snarled. He was thinking the same thing.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Lanie nted her hands on her hips. ¡°If you''re afraid of thepetition, and don¡¯t feel your equipment is up to snuff.¡± she


    raised an eyebrow, ¡°then by all means, stand over there and continue barking at us.¡±


    Astrained sound ripped from my chest, something between a howl and a snarl


    And then | was shifting and marching straight over to Lanie, Zane not far behind me.


    Our equipment was very much up to snuff.


    Zane and | were about to remind her of that.


    ¡°Who. The f uck. Are you?¡± | demanded, locking eyes with the mo therfu cker who was still just standing there smirking.


    | was about to wipe that s hit straight off his face.


    Zane stepped up, foxing the guy with an ice-cold re. ¡°And what the f u ck are you doing with our mate?¡±


    Lanie


    Nope.


    No way was | gonna y this ¡°who¡¯s got the biggest di ck¡± game.


    Even if Xander¡¯s and Zane¡¯s di cks were very big..


    Go ds, and the way Xander¡¯s had felt when he pushed himself inside me. It was a kind of pleasure I¡¯d never felt before, and if |


    was honest, | was dying to feel it again.


    And Zane¡¯s..it was so huge | couldn''t even take the whole thing into my mouth. Maybe if | tried again, | could...


    Nope, nope, nope. Not going there again.


    | shook myself out of it before the flush on my face or the scent no doubt flooding between my legs could give me away.


    Ineeded to shut this sh it down right now.


    ¡°Did you two forget about the conversation we had where you told me | could have fun so long as | helped you raise your pups? |


    can still do Alice''s Luna duties and get my rocks off where need to¡±


    | grabbed Braden¡¯s muscr arm and pulled him closer


    ¡°So...meet my sidepiece.¡±


    | nced sideways at Braden. He narrowed his eyes ever so slightly before a wide grin spread across his face.


    ¡°Braden,¡± he said. ¡°So nice to meet you both


    He extended his hand, and Xander and Zane just stared, their faces twisting with disgust.


    | could feel the rage radiating off of Xander as he contemted how to react.


    ¡°Don''t..¡± Xander took a step closer to Braden, pushing his hand aside. ¡°F ucking...¡± He jammed a finger into his chest. ¡°Speak


    tome.¡±


    Zane ced a hand on Xander¡¯s shoulder and spoke low into his ear.


    ¡°Hey, we don¡¯t need a dead body on our hands on top of everything else.¡±


    Braden scoffed, and my heart stopped.


    | raised my eyebrow at him.


    He was a vampire and obviously not afraid of shifters, but it was two against one, and Xander and Zane were hugepared to


    him. He was really pressing his luck.


    Braden met my gaze and gave me a crooked little impish grin


    If | didn¡¯t step in, he was gonna get his head ripped off.


    Literally


    | pushed myself between Braden and Xander


    ¡°Can you two leave me alone, before | call off our deal?¡±


    It probably wasn¡¯t the wisest thing to double down on my ckmail threats, but after everything rd heard from Braden about


    the way she wolves were treated, | didn¡¯t have much patience for Xander¡¯s Alpha bu Ils hit right now


    ¡°You wouldn''t. You have just as much to lose as we do,¡± Xander spat. ¡°I know why you¡¯re really doing this, Lanie, so you


    better not f ucking test me.¡±

 Chapter 44

    Xander


    ¡°Alice is already out of control,¡± |ined to Zane over breakfast.


    The dining room in our private quarters was sleek and modem, with tall ceilings and huge windows overlooking the forest. It was


    one of my favorite ces in the mansion to scheme and think


    And g od s did | need to think.


    ¡°How the hell could she just note back?¡± Zane said, dropping his head into his hands. ¡°Doesn''t she know that kind of


    behavior makes her look just as bad as we do?¡±


    After storming out of the mansion yesterday, Alice still hadn¡¯t returned.


    I shook my head.


    ¡°It''s Alice. She doesn¡¯t really think before she acts.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She didn¡¯t understand her role as Luna. She didn¡¯t understand her ce as our mate.


    Sure, Lanie was fiery and confident, but her moves were calcted.


    Alice was all over the f ucking map.


    And she was making our lives hell,


    ¡°If Alice makes a habit of running off like this, people will start to notice. Zaneid his hands t against the table. ¡°It


    doesn''t reflect well on us.¡±


    ¡°| get it,¡± | said, pounding my fist on the table..


    He wasn¡¯t saying anything | wasn¡¯t already thinking, but | didn¡¯t need him to repeat the obvious.


    Alice was bing more and more of a liability.


    ¡°We''re not fighting in here, are we boys?¡±


    My mother¡¯s voice rang out from the entrance to the dining room,


    ¡°Ma, you can¡¯t just barge into our quarters like this,¡± |ined.


    She walked into the room with a confident gait.


    ¡°As long as I¡¯m still the Luna of this pack,¡± she leaned across the table and plucked an apple from the fruit bowl in the center,


    ¡°| can do whatever the hell | want.¡±


    She took a big bite of the apple, and Zane and | exchanged begrudging smiles.


    My mother, Gabri, was a sweet woman who loved connecting with our pack members, which is why she was such a kickas s


    Luna People felt like they coulde to her with anything, and she always offered the best advice.


    But she was also a total hardas s.


    She didn¡¯t take b ulls hit from anyone, especially me. When my father stepped down as Alpha, she told me she knew | was


    capable of taking over, but that | couldn¡¯t getcent.


    And she¡¯d been riding my as s ever since to make sure wasn¡¯t


    ¡°You know | just caught Alice sneaking back into the mansion, my mother said casually.


    Zane and | exchanged loaded nces.


    My mother noticed immediately.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked. ¡°Did you not know she was out?¡±


    ¡°Obviously we knew | huffed.


    ¡°Then you should also know that it¡¯s not proper for a newly mated Luna to be out all hours without her mates¡± she said.


    | rolled my eyes. It was childish, but I''d just been over this s hit with Zane, and | wasn¡¯t in the mood to rehash it with my


    mother of all people.


    ¡°We''re handling it, Ma,¡± | said through gritted teeth,


    ¡°I''ll believe it when I see it,¡± she said, turning to leave. But before she did, she called over her shoulder, ¡°Alice is gonna be al


    tough one to teach, | can already tell.¡±


    | let my head fall hard onto the table and groaned loudly


    If she was annoyed with Alice now, what the hell was she going to do when | told her Lanie would be taking on the Luna duties


    but Alice would get all the credit?


    It went against pretty much everything my mother believed in, and | wasn¡¯t sure she''d be able to lie to the packs¡¯ faces when they


    praised Alice for the work that Lanie did


    Zane pulled me back up by the hair.


    ¡°Get it together, Xander¡± he said weanly. ¡°We''ll figure this Alice sh it out one way or another. And then...¡±


    He trailed off, but | knew what he was going to say.


    And then we could tackle the even bigger elephant in the room. Lanie¡¯s ¡°sidepiece¡± Braden.


    I still didn¡¯t know who the f uck that guy was or where he got off talking to me like | wasn¡¯t the Alpha. Like | couldn''t tear him


    apart in seconds t..


    ¡°You don¡¯t think Lanie¡¯s actually been with Braden, do you?¡± Zahe asked, his voice tinged with jealousy.


    ¡°No f ucking way. We¡¯d know through the mate bond if she had¡±


    This was true, but that didn¡¯t mean there wasn¡¯t something else going on between them. And that didn¡¯t mean they wouldn''t


    be together in the future.


    Just the thought of sharing Lanie with another man, especially this man with his st upid smirk and his stu pid lumberjack outfit,


    enraged me.


    I clenched my fists as my wolf surged to the surface.


    No way was Lanie going to sleep with that man.


    Not if we reminded her that she had everything she needed right here.

 Chapter 45

    Lanie


    rd barely woken up when | heard a bang on my door.


    Go ds, what was it now?


    AHigh Eldering to check if | was pregnant yet?


    Were Xander and Zane about to barge in and ream me out for the whole sidepiece thing with Braden?


    ¡°Helloooo, Mindy¡¯s voice called from outside the door. ¡°I¡¯m knocking like you asked!¡±


    Relief washed over me.


    Mindy | could handle.


    ¡°Come in!¡± | called back


    She marched straight in and plopped down on the bed.


    ¡°Where the hell did you disappear to yesterday?¡± she demanded. ¡°I even snuck into the library myself thinking you¡¯d be


    there.¡±


    My heart swelled.


    Even though we were mated off, Mindy was still as loyal as ever.


    But then it hit me what she¡¯d said, and | punched her arm.


    ¡°What the f u ck?! You could¡¯ve gotten in huge trouble with Maxim and Monroe!¡±


    They were sweet men, but their job was to guard Xander. They¡¯d have no choice but to punish Mindy if they found her prowling


    around their private quarters. ¡°I told you not to stick your neck out for me like that¡±


    She shrugged.


    ¡°Gotta be honest, there¡¯s not a whole lot else for me to do when the boys are on guard duty. This keeps things interesting.


    She wiggled her eyebrows, ¡°Speaking of interesting. How¡¯s that mystery boy of yours?¡±


    | opened my mouth to protest the question, but Mindy interrupted before | could get a word out.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Maxim and Monroe. They won''t find out | know about your secret lover.¡± She said thest words in a deep.


    husky rumble.


    | couldn''t help butugh.


    ¡°Doesn''t matter anyway,¡± | told her. ¡°They probably already know.¡±


    Mindy¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Xander and Zane caught us together yesterday¡± | winced thinking about it. ¡°I got pi s ed off and told them Braden n was my


    sidepiece¡±


    ¡°Im sorry, you WHAT? Mindy grabbed my shoulders. ¡°What did they do?!¡±


    | thought back to yesterday, to how Xander had actually backed off..aller he¡¯d threat


    But still, he could''ve picked a fight, and he probably would¡¯ve won.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    | still wasn¡¯t sure why he hadn''t.


    ¡°For a second, | was worried they were about to start the second Great Wars, but then they just left,¡± | told her.


    Mindy¡¯s face twisted with confusion.


    You and me both, girl.


    ¡°Okay, but the real question is what did Braden say?¡± Mindy asked animatedly.


    When Xander and Zane left, Braden had been surprisingly cool about the whole thing.


    Atingle of electricity shot through my body when | remembered what Braden had said when they¡¯d left.


    I''d be happy to reap the benefits of being your sidepiece.


    | hadn''t slept with him yet, but that was as open an invitation as you could get. And standing there, his smell wrapped all around


    me, our skin still touching from when I''d pulled him close to me, | wanted to take him up on the offer.


    But then | remembered the mate bond.


    Could Xander and Zane tell if we¡¯d slept together?


    Did they leave because they totally called my bluff?


    ¡°Ummm earth to Lanie.¡± Mindy waved her hand in front of my face, and | blinked hard, tearing myself away from my


    thoughts.


    ¡°Oh, uhhh...Braden was chill about it, too!


    She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Bitc h, we didn¡¯t be friends yesterday. | know there¡¯s more to the story¡±


    | rolled my eyes.


    Of course she could see right through that weak-as s answer.


    But the truth was, | didn¡¯t know yet how far | wanted to take things with Braden, or even where | stood with Xander and Zane,


    and until | figured it out, maybe it was best to keep this to myself.


    Irested my hand on Mindy¡¯s shoulder and gave her a squeeze.


    ¡°Mindy, | appreciate your concern as always, but-


    Another knock at the door interrupted me.


    This one was much sharper.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± | called.


    ¡°It''s Gabri. May we speak?¡±


    Mindy¡¯s eyes flew open wide. ¡°Xander¡¯s mom?¡± she whisper-shrieked


    My heart beat wildly


    Mindy and | scrambled from the bed. | grabbed my ck cardigan from a nearby chair and threw it over my nightgown while


    Mindy ran her fingers through my bedhead.


    in,¡± 1


    ¡°Come in tried to say confidently, but my voice shook


    Ata eautiful woman swept into the room


    Id seen Gabri before, but I¡¯d never actually met her


    She turned to Mindy


    ¡°Please leave us,¡± she said with a small nod, and Mindy scurried away without another word


    I didn¡¯t me her.


    She had the type ofmanding presence that made me think do anything she asked me to do, no questions asked.


    ¡°You''re the girl who¡¯s caused all this trouble?¡± She looked me up and down before fixing me with a fierce re. ¡°You and |


    need to have a little talk¡±

 Chapter 46

    Lanie


    | nodded.


    Normally | was quick with theebacks, but Gabri made me nervous.


    ¡°Did Xander talk to you?¡± | asked her,


    | could only assume he''d told her about me taking over the Luna duties. At least | hoped it was that, and nothing to do with


    Braden


    Her stoic expression morphed into confusion.


    If Xander hadn¡¯t talked to her, then | wasn¡¯t about to drop either of those bombs on her myself.


    ¡°Never mind.¡± | waved away the question. ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡±


    | walked her to the armchairs near my bed and we sat across from each other.


    ¡°I''m gonna be straight with you,¡± she said as she folded her arms in herp.


    Oh g ods, what was she about to tell me?


    That | wasn¡¯t fit to be her son¡¯s mate? That | was an embarrassment to the Constantine pack? That Xander and Zane were


    right to reject me for Alice?


    Awave of nausea passed over me.


    Why did | care so much what she thought or what Xander had told her? | was just going to fulfill my duties as long as it took for


    Alice to be star Luna, and then I''d be on my merry way, never to see those Alpha-holes again.


    ¡°I believe Alice will be a dreadful Luna¡±


    Wait, what?


    My face must¡¯ve given away my shock because her mouth curled up in a smirk.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Surely you''re not surprised to hear that.¡± Sheughed lightly. | take my job very seriously, and | need my sessor to care for


    the other wolves in our pack as much as they care about themselves. And Alice is about as selfish as it gets,¡±


    No. Way.


    So Gabri wasn''t here to tell me how much she hated me...she was here to s hit talk Alice?!


    What kind of twilight zone was | in right now?


    ¡°| don¡¯t disagree,¡± | finally said. ¡°But that¡¯s thest thing | thought you would say¡±


    Gabri studied me for a moment before continuing.


    ¡°What do you think of Xander really? She was looking at me so intensely that | wondered if she could read my


    Where could | begin?


    mind.


    | hated the disappointment he and Zane hadn''t even bothered to hide when we''d been matched. | hated that he¡¯d used his


    1/2


    power to cast me off for a she-wolf he liked better. | hated that he¡¯d so easily agreed to let me go when to proposed my bed,


    Because when we were in bed together, | really hadn¡¯t hated him at all.


    And as pathetic as it was, | was still hoping the three of us would end up back there again, somehow.


    But | couldn¡¯t tell Gabri any of that.


    a weak-as s answer, and there was not way she was


    ¡°Our rtionship is so new.¡± | said instead, and then trailed off, it was a weal going to let me get away with that.


    She barked out a fullugh this time, the sound echoing around my bedroom,


    ¡°That¡¯s a very diplomatic answer.¡± She shed a mischievous grin. ¡°Spoken like a true Luna.¡±


    ¡°|


    ¡°Oh, but I¡¯m not | started to protest, but she held her hand up.


    ¡°| know everything is f ucked right now with this two mates business. And you''re in a worse position than any of us.¡±


    Da mn, | already respected Gabri, but | was actually starting to like her, too?


    ¡°...1 don¡¯t know what to say¡±


    Me? Lost for words again?


    This woman had serious power.


    Gabri reached out and patted my knee gently.


    ¡°Maybe | should''vee by a bitter. Then | would¡¯ve brought some alcohol to make this all go


    |ughed weakly.


    What the hell was this?


    ¡°It''s new


    never too early for booze.¡±


    Gabri nodded. Tve said that very thing myself¡±


    She stood suddenly, and ced a hand on my shoulder.


    down a little easier.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know what the boys have told you,¡± she said, ¡°But as far as I¡¯m concerned, you''re their true mate.¡±

 Chapter 47

    Lanie


    Gabri left before | could ask her any more questions.


    If she believed | was Xander and Zane¡¯s true mate, then how would she feel when Xander told her about our deal?


    | needed to n my escape for real, before | got in too deep hereContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Braden and | hadn¡¯t even had a chance to talk about my n, and | hadn''t asked him if he knew of ces | could go once


    Xander and Zane set me free,


    | switched out my nightgown for a sweater and jeans and headed out.


    Would | get lucky running into Braden by theke two days in a row? | had to at least try.


    | dashed through the entryway to the front door, praying to the goddess that | wouldn¡¯t run into anyone on the way out- especially


    not Xander or Zane.


    But just as my hand hit the door handle and 1 breathed a sigh of relief, another hand mped down on top of mine.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Zane growled in my ear


    The hair on the back of my neck stood up.


    I''sn atched my hand out from under his and threw my back against the door, facing him head-on.


    ¡°None of your business,¡± | said.


    ¡°Actually it¡¯s very much my business¡± He huffed out a sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t having you running off to your little sidepiece again. Not when


    you''re needed here, with your actual mates.


    | rolled my eyes.


    ¡°You two change your minds every f ucking day! Do you care what I do or not? Do you need me or not? Are you down with this


    n or not?¡± | threw my arms in the air. ¡°Just pick an emotion and stick with it. You¡¯re as bad as a she-wolf in heat.¡±


    He mmed his hands against the door, caging me in, and his wolf shed in his eyes.


    My heart stopped.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna teach


    you a lesson about respecting your mates.¡±


    Xander


    | let the hot water scald me while | closed my eyes.


    This shower was the first moment I¡¯d been alone in what felt like ages.


    My muscles had finally started to rx when a rush of boiling rage surged through my veins.


    What the f u ck?


    | was the most rxed I''d been in forever this had to be Zanel


    He was a big boy, he could handle whatever it was while | took 10!


    | doubled over as another wave of fury coursed through my body.


    Sh it. Something was really getting to him.


    Then suddenly, | felt another emotion.


    no in my stomach all the same.


    It was quieter, more distant, but churning in my


    Fear. Lanie¡¯s fear.


    F uck. Both of them were in trouble.


    Without another thought, | jumped straight out of the shower, stopping only to sling a towel around my hips.


    | followed my senses straight to the front door, where Zane and Lanie were nose to nose, their anger like electircity crac Kling


    in the small space between them.


    face


    ¡°Td like to see you try,¡± Lanie spat at Zane.


    If she was scared before, she didn¡¯t look it now.


    Right now she was furious, her eyes narrowed, her long hair falling in loose, thick waves that fell in a fiery halo around her


    My coc k twitched beneath the towel.


    D amn. | liked seeing this side of her.


    ¡°What''s got you both all riled up?¡± | asked as | marched up to them, even though | could watch them go at it like this all day.


    Lanie¡¯s head whipped toward me and her brows furrowed deeply.


    S hit, even that was s exy.


    ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but | thought | was your mate. Your little minion here seems to think I¡¯m more like your prisoner.¡±


    | nced between them both. The air was thick with dark, heady scents. It was almost impossible to tell whether it was from


    anger or desire or both.


    ¡°Your free will kind of depends on what you¡¯re about to do,¡± | told her. ¡°If it¡¯s something that¡¯s gonna pis s us off, then I''m with


    Zane on this one.¡±


    Zane shot her a triumphant smile, and Lanie scrunched up her nose.


    ¡°You two are ridiculous. No wonder I¡¯m desperate to get out of here.¡±


    Another strong, hot sting of rage flowed through my veins like poison, but this time it was my own.


    She was allowed to talk back, but she wasn¡¯t allowed to not want me.


    | walked up next to Zane and we exchanged dark nces before turning our gaze back on Lanie


    ¡°Didn¡¯t seem that desperate to leave when we had you pinned to your bed.¡±


    Her eyes sparkled with rage.


    ¡°You f ucking=¡±


    But before she could finish, my hand was around her throat and my lips were grazing her ear.


    ¡°No more talking back. It¡¯s time | remind you who the Alpha is here.

 Chapter 48

    Lanie


    Xander¡¯s hand gripped my throat, raising me up so only my toes were touching the ground.


    Ahot surge of anger coursed through my body.


    Was this as shole really going full Alpha on me right now? He couldn''t control me like this, it wasn¡¯t right.


    But why did it feel so right?


    He was still wet from his shower, droplets of water cascading down his muscr torso.


    There was nothing but a towel between us and | could see the outline of his c ock bulging underneath it.


    This was turning him on, too.


    | closed my eyes, fighting back a desperate whimper as his grip around my throat tightened ever so slightly.


    Go ds, what the hell was wrong w


    with me?


    Why did | need this so badly? Why did | need him so badly?


    (nced from Xander to Zane. Their chests were heaving, and Zane¡¯s fists were clenched at his side, his eyes zed with


    desire.


    | wished his hands were on me, too.


    But we¡¯d made the deal. We weren¡¯t going to do this again. | was going to walk away.


    Still, Lily


    Still, Lily was practically wing at my chest, begging to be released.


    The need to have them touching me, to have them inside me, was all-consuming and animalistic


    It had to be the mate bond.


    ¡°Do you understand, Lanie? Xander demanded.


    Whatever it was, | didn¡¯t care.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    I


    Hearing my name on his lips, | came undone, and the words tumbled out in a strained whisper before | could stop myself.


    ¡°Yes. Show me what a big, bad Alpha you are.¡±


    Zane


    That was all we needed to hear.


    Xander released Lanie from his grasp, and | caught her under her arms, throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her off


    without another word between us.


    On the stairs, Maxim rushed up to us


    ¡°Xander, Zane, | sensed trouble, so | came. He trailed off when he saw Lanie slung over my shoulder, then nced from me to


    Xander, a worried look on his face.


    Xander pressed a hand to Maxim''s chest, his eyes shing dangerously.


    ¡°Not now,¡± he growled.


    Maxim¡¯s eyes narrowed before he bowed slightly, and then walked back down the stairs.


    ¡°Get her up to our quarters now before anyone else sees¡± Xander instructed, but | didn¡¯t need to be told.


    tld


    Her scent was dizzyingly sweet, and it was all | could do not to let my canines drop and rip her clothes to shreds right here.


    When we got inside, | threw her onto the bed. She wasn¡¯t a virgin anymore; there was no need to be gentle with her.


    Not like | was capable of holding back anyway..


    Not when de was thrashing inside me, desperate to im her again.


    And not when | could feel the untamed desire of Xander and his wolf rolling off him like thick plumes of smoke | had no


    choice but to inhale.


    It pumped through my bloodstream, tangling with my own wild need, shooting straight to my rock-hard c ock.


    Plus the look on Lanie¡¯s face... Those dark, ssy eyes, the way she was biting her lip... | knew without her even saying that


    she didn¡¯t want us to hold back, either.


    | stripped down while Xander yanked off her boots, then her pants, then her sweater revealing more and more of her perfect


    porcin skin..


    She grabbed for the towel slung around Xander¡¯s waist and threw it to the ground just as | pulled down my boxer briefs


    Our raging hard c ocks pped our bellies as we stood over her, and a little moan of pleasure escaped her lips


    We hadn¡¯t even gotten started yet


    | locked eyes with Xander, and he nodded. We didn¡¯t have to speak to know we were on the same page.


    We needed more. We needed to taste her, consume her.


    We climbed onto the bed, bncing on either side of Lanie, each pinning one of her hands above her head and pushing her


    deeper into the mattress.


    | nted soft kisses along her jaw and down her throat, while Xander did the same. Then my mouth was on her breasts, licking


    circles around her taut, raspberry nipples, before moving farther down, in sync with Xander.


    We trailed more kisses down her stomach, her breath getting faster and faster the closer we got to her center.


    |tched onto her underwear with my teeth at the same time as Xander and we both pulled. Lanie yelped as the cotton ripped to


    tatters, exposing her glistening wetness.


    ¡°F uck,¡± Xander whispered, his nostrils ring and eyes drooping with arousal.


    l inhaled deeply, and Lanie¡¯s scent flooded my nose, my lungs, my veins.


    The perfect poison, drawing me straight in


    But | pushed myself back, climbing behind her instead, and pulling her between my legs while | spread hers open wide for


    Xander


    Her head fell back onto my shoulder as Xander buried his face between her legs. My co ck pulsed against Lanie¡¯s back at the


    sight of his tongue parting her lips, the memory of her juices on my own tongue so strong | could still taste it.


    | wrapped my hand around Lanie¡¯s neck, turning her face to me and iming her


    tongue and reached down, squeezing her breast with my other hand.


    one


    She broke away, a strangled moan escaping her lips. The sound of it sent a surge of mind-numbing pleasure through me. How


    was it that even just kissing her, even just watching Xander go down on her, could make me feel this good?


    It struck me then how no words had passed between us, how we somehow knew without speaking how to move together as


    | looked into Lanie¡¯s face, her cheeks flushed, eyes glowing bright with desire.


    | pushed back her hair, exposing the soft skin of her neck, and suddenly the urge to bite her, to truly im her, was so strong


    my vision blurred.


    Xander¡¯s head snapped up at the same moment, and we locked eyes.


    ¡°How the hell am | supposed to stop myself from iming her?¡±


    Lanie¡¯s eyes flew open wide. ¡°Do you really mean that?¡±

 Chapter 49

    Lanie


    | didn¡¯t think it was possible toe apart sopletely from one little sentence.


    Feeling Zane¡¯s hands around my neck, and Xander¡¯s in the same ce earlier, | wondered what it would be like for them to let


    their wolves free, to feel their canines pierce through the soft skin of my neck...


    Hearing Zane say those words was like a fantasye true.


    But it was clear from the look on his face, and the way Xander had torn his head away from his ce between my legs, that


    it had been a slip.


    I''d wonderedst time we¡¯d been together what kinds of things they said and thought about me, and now | knew.


    Before | could think too hard about it, Xander dipped his head back down between my legs, pushing his tongue deeper inside my


    core while Zane¡¯s hands traveled once more to my breasts, squeezing in time with my throbbing center.


    Atush of heat rippled through me as my whole body trembled and | came all over Xander¡¯s face while grinding backward against


    Zane¡¯s hard c ock. Hepped up my juices gratefully before pushing himself up and facing me.


    He reached out and pushed my hair back from my face.


    ¡°As much as we want to, Lanie, we can¡¯t im you. S hit is soplicated with Alice already and | don¡¯t want you to-


    ¡°| know.¡± | closed my eyes. | didn¡¯t want to hear it, | just wanted to feel them on me, in me. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say it.¡±


    | pulled Xander closer so he was kneeling between my still-spread legs and Zane sat up taller so his chest was pressed against


    my back, his hands moving down to my hips.


    1 wrapped my legs around Xander, and he hitched me up onto hisp..


    And then his mouth was on mine, our tongues twisting together in a perfect dance.


    | reached back for Zane and wound my fingers through his hair, needing to feel as much of both of them as | could. He leaned


    into my neck, his lips brushing my skin in response, making me shiver


    Then his hands moved down from my waist to my as s, cupping it firmly while Xander tugged me closer, his c ock teasing my


    entrance.


    ¡°| know how bad you want this,¡± Xander growled into my mouth,


    | pushed myself onto him, so wet his c ock easily slid deep inside me.


    ¡°Just as bad as you do,¡± | whispered, letting my head fall back into Zane¡¯s neck.


    | could feel Xander¡¯s pleasure in the way his c ock surged inside me, in the scent that radiated from every pore of his body. |


    wasn¡¯t the only one who wanted this.


    was like all three of us were being pulled together, tighter and tighter by some invisible cord, building to a kind of pleasure


    | was sure none of us had ever quite experienced.


    Xander¡¯s eyes shed as his wolf took over and he plunged into me, hard and fast, making my back p against Zane¡¯s


    muscr chest and abs


    Zane pulled my arms back, making my back arch and sending xander even deeper


    building to an impossible height.


    But | still wanted more. | needed more.


    | didn¡¯t know if | could ever get enough of them.


    As if he could read my mind-and let¡¯s face it, he basically could-Zane slid his throbbing c ock between my as s cheeks,


    teasing my tight hole.


    The ache in my core intensified as | imagined him stretching me while Xander stuffed me from the front.


    Instead, Zane reached around to my cl it, lightly grazing my bud at first.


    ¡°Please,¡± | had to beg before he finally worked me faster and harder.


    | felt behind me for Zane¡¯s huge, heavy c ock, pumping it in time with Xander¡¯s thrusts.


    Part of me had wondered could sex ever


    ver be as good as it was the first time?


    How f ucking wrong | was to question it.


    ¡°I''m going toe!¡± | choked out, and the cord snapped, stars exploding in my vision as my 0 rgasm shattered me


    completely.


    ¡°We''re right here with you, Lanie, Zane murmured, low and husky, and | felt them both seize and shudder, spilling their seed


    in and over me.


    We copsed onto the bed in a heap, sweating and gasping for air, a million thoughts swirling through my head.


    | might''ve been a virgin before Xander and Zane first f ucked me, but even | knew this wasn¡¯t average sex.


    It didn¡¯t matter if they still hadn¡¯t imed me like they¡¯d imed Alice, there was something pulling us together. Something telling


    me that this wouldn''t stop here.


    Xander rolled over, propping his head against his hand, his gaze zing as he spoke. ¡°I can¡¯t keep myself away from you,


    Lanie.¡±


    Zane nodded in agreement as he traced his finger up my arm in delicate strokes. ¡°I know we had a deal, but there¡¯s no w


    I''m giving this-us-up.¡±


    | swallowed hard. | didn¡¯t want to either.


    So where did that leave us?


    But before | could ask, the sound of a door creaking open ripped all of us out of our reverie


    Xander held his finger to his lips as we trained our ears on the sound of light footsteps walking across the living room.


    Suddenly, Alice¡¯s voice rang out from the other side of the bedroom door.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Are you boys ready to beg for my forgiveness now?¡±

 Chapter 50

    Lanie


    Xander and Zane both jumped away from me, scrambling off the bed as if my touch had burned them.


    ¡°You need to get out of here, Xander told me without even speaking.


    Acold knot of dread settled in my stomach.


    Those f u cking cowards.


    The second they heard the voice of their precious Alice, they once again abandoned me to save their own skin.


    | wrapped my arms around my chest, suddenly feeling very exposed.


    | was their mate first so why did | feel like the side chick caught in the act?


    Seconds ago, they were caressing me, practically begging me to f uck them again, and now they were exchanging horrified.


    nces, no doubt trying to think of a way to stuff me out of sight like a dirty secret.


    out.


    For a second, | had even thought that they were talking about more than sex...


    Was everything they just told me a bunch of bul Ish it?


    | pushed myself off the bed, the desire fd felt moments earlier curdling into sour fury.


    | imagined myself snat ching up my clothes and strutting into the living room, looking Alice straight in the eye as | walked


    But then a lump formed in my throat.


    All | really wanted to do was escape and erase all traces of what had just happened between us.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    ¡°| get it, | told them. ¡°Do what you have to do.¡±


    The look of relief that washed over their faces felt like a dagger to the heart.


    Obviously they thought | was good for a f uck, but they were too ashamed to ever call me their mate.


    That title was reserved for Alice and Alice alone.


    How humiliating.


    | turned away from them and shifted, grabbing my clothes in my teeth and diving onto the roof from the window, then-


    climbing down to the ground.


    Disappearing like smoke. As if | was never there to begin with.


    Xander


    I


    ¡°She¡¯s gonna f ucking know, | told Zane


    | paced around the room, sna tching up Zane¡¯s boxers and tossing them at him, then throwing the towel back around my


    waist


    ¡°It''s fine, just keep it together,¡± Zane reassured me.


    At least Lanie understood the situation.


    Handling Alice was delicate, to say the least. Letting her down wasn¡¯t going to be easy, and now was not the time to do it.


    What the f uck would | even say? ¡°Surprise! You know the mate we told you not to worry about? Well, actually, we¡¯re more


    bonded with her than we''ll ever be with you. And, oh yeah, if we don¡¯t continue f ucking her we think we might literally die.¡±


    Alice would take that super f ucking well.


    We''d have to tell her eventually, but in a way that wouldn''t potentially get us into even deeper sh it with the Elders.


    It was worth taking our time and being careful, especially if it meant we¡¯d get to have Lanie again.


    Alice knocked hard on the looked bedroom door.


    ¡°Hello! What the hell are you two doing in there?¡±


    | took a deep breath and walked out into the living room to face Alice.


    She studied us for a moment, taking in our heaving chests, our nearly naked bodies, our tousled hair.


    | had to get ahead of this before she came to her own conclusions.


    ¡°Sorry. We just got done working out.¡± | shrugged.


    Alice scoffed, her face reddening.


    ¡°You have a gym downstairs, genius. And you think | don¡¯t know you and Zane¡¯s ¡®-just-had-sex looks by heart?¡±


    F uck


    She nted her hands on her hips..


    ¡°Who do you have in there with you?¡±


    Zane waved toward the empty bedroom,


    ¡°No one. Check for yourself,¡±


    Her nostrils red. Go ds, the smell of sex must be all over us. | knew she wanted to believe us...| had to hope that was


    enough to keep her of f our trail.


    ¡°So what?¡± she asked, ¡°You guys were just f u cking each other?¡±


    She was too busy trying to peek around us into the bedroom to see the tension that formed like a heavy rain cloud between


    Only once, a long time ago...


    Zane¡¯s fists clenched, and his eyes were dark when they shed up to meet mine.


    ¡°| told you...¡± Zane¡¯s growl echoed inside my head. ¡°We''re never mentioning that again...¡±

 Chapter 51

    Xander


    | nodded curtly at Zane.


    | wasn¡¯t even a little bit interested in discussing that right now


    Instead, | pulled the bedroom door shut behind me before Alice could step all the way inside.


    Lanie was already gone, but her smell was still lingering in every corner of that room, and there was no way in hell | was going to


    give Alice the chance to identify it. | didn¡¯t think she would smell it on us because she was too fixated on whatever else


    she wanted.


    ¡°Are you gonna tell me what the hell is going on with you guys today?¡± Her nose wrinkled as she spoke, a sign she was


    getting very pis sed off.


    | used to think it was cute, but now | had zero patience for her short temper.


    And to be honest, mine was even shorter.


    | moved closer to Alice, forcing her to take several steps backward.


    The bigger question is, where the f u ck were youst night?¡± My voice trembled with contempt.


    ¡°Seriously, Alice.¡± Zane advanced on her too, his eyes shing with rage. ¡°Who do you think you are demanding who we''re


    with and what we''re doing? This is our house, and you''re our mate!


    My lips curled into a mischievous smile, and | could sense Alice¡¯s resolve crumbling.


    She was no match for the two of us when we were on form.


    And boy were we on form right now.


    ¡°Gabri caught you sneaking back in this morning, so you sure as hell weren''t in this house,¡± | growled. ¡°And we already


    know you weren''t with your parents, so don¡¯t even try it.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    She bit her lip and her eyes shifted around the room, like she was looking for some other pathetic excuse for running off all


    night.


    ¡°W-why does it matter where | was?¡± She was trying to stand her ground, but she was shrinking under our collective rage.


    ¡°It''s none of your business anyway.¡±


    Oh g od s, first Lanie, now Alice with this s hit.


    | weed Hunter to the surface, flexing my fists as my ws shot out.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be desperate to be our mate one second, and then sneak around behind our back the next,¡± | snarled.


    Alice was backing away slowly now, but | was moving closer and closer.


    Hunter prodded at me, a devil on my shoulder.


    You don¡¯t want her. Get her out of the way.


    ¡°Zane,¡± | said, my voice ice cold. ¡°Grab her.¡±


    Zane shot me a confused look. ¡°Xander, she gets it, what the f uck are you doing?¡±


    | waved hirn off. ¡°Just do what | say.¡±


    Zane took Alice by the arm, and she gasped. | could smell her fear growing.


    ¡°Take her to her quarters,¡± |manded.


    For a second, | thought he¡¯d refuse, and then we¡¯d have a whole other fight on our hands, but then he pulled her away and down


    the hall, stopping in front of her door.


    ¡°Get inside,¡± | ordered. When she stepped in, | mmed the door behind her.


    All doors to the she-wolves¡¯ quarters hadtches on the outside, something my father once told me was a remnant from the


    Great Wars.


    | didn¡¯t ask questions, and | sure as hell didn¡¯t n on ever using them, yet here | was,tching Alice¡¯s door from the outside.


    ¡°What the f uck is this, Xander?¡± Zane growled, reaching to utch the door. But | swiped his hand away, my ws still


    extended.


    ¡°Until we can trust that you won''t sneak off again,¡± | called to Alice, ¡°this is what we have to do.¡±


    She beat her fists on the door.


    ¡°You can¡¯t, Xander! This is crazy!¡± she yelled back, her voice mu ffled.


    | turned to walk away, but Zane pped a heavy hand on my shoulder.


    ¡°You''re treading a very fine line here, Xander.¡±


    | shook him off.


    ¡°I''m doing this for us. I¡¯m doing this for Lanie.¡±


    Lanie


    Iran straight to the edge of theke.


    | didn¡¯t care if it was st upid or predictable, I''d been going to see Braden when Zane stopped me anyway. Now that he and


    Xander had humiliated me, I¡¯d see if Braden was serious about his littlement.


    I''d be happy to reap the benefits of being your sidepiece.


    When | got back to the mansion, Braden¡¯s smell would be all over me, smothering thest traces of the mistake I¡¯d made


    sleeping with that as shole Alpha and his st upid minion Beta again.


    When | reached theke, | wasn¡¯t surprised to see Braden waiting there. He¡¯d probably smelled my distress from a mile away,


    from...wherever he lived.


    1 shifted just as he turned around.


    My clothes sat on the ground, but | didn¡¯t even bother picking them up.


    | walked right over to Braden and stood in front of him.


    He looked me up and down, and his eyes darkened.


    He reached out for me, his fingers softly tracing the curve of my waist. | shivered. ¡°Lanie, what are you...¡±


    But | shook my head and cut him off.


    ¡°I need you to stop talking...¡± | leaned in close, so our lips were inches apart. ¡°And just kiss me.¡±

 Chapter 52

    Lanie


    Braden didn''t hesitate.


    His soft, cool lips crashed onto mine, and | melted into him as he wrapped his arms around me.


    His tongue slipped into my mouth immediately, exploring with a curious hunger.


    But his kisses remained soft and so did his touch, his hands roaming over my body gently, like he was savoring every inch.


    It wasn¡¯t like the switch that seemed to flick on when Xander and Zane touched me.


    There was no wing need, no animal desperation, but a burning me of desire still flickered deep in my stomach.


    What did it mean that | wanted to stoke that me and feel it grow warmer and brighter?


    That | wanted Braden to strip down so | could feel his skin against mine?


    My hand traveled down between his legs to the bulge in his pants.


    He moaned into my mouth as | grasped him, and the fire in my belly shot straight down to my core.


    Awas just beginning to unbutton his jeans, needing to feel more of him, but before | could even think about pulling them


    down, a harsh voice rang out across theke.


    ¡°Lanie!¡±


    | froze. | recognized that voice.


    Elder Aldon.


    Part of me expected to be followed by Xander or Zane, maybe | even wanted it, but | was standing naked with a f u cking


    vampire. An Elder was thest person | wanted to see.


    | turned around slowly, and there he was, shaking with fury.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing with a vampire?¡±


    Xander


    Was Zane right?


    Was | making a huge mistake locking Alice away?


    It wasn¡¯t like she was an actual prisoner. She was locked in her own decked-out quarters for g ods¡¯ sake.


    She had everything she needed. And on top of that, she still wouldn¡¯t tell us where the hell she¡¯d beenst night.


    There were worse things | could''ve done to her.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    If she¡¯d acted like this with her original mates, she¡¯d be dead by now, so really | was doing her a favor.


    And | couldn¡¯t lie, knowing she was secured in her quarters meant we could do what we wanted to with Lanie without being


    interrupted.


    Again...


    ¡°Xander.¡± | turned to see Monroe standing at the entrance to the great room.


    Speaking of interruptions.


    ¡°Can''t it wait?¡± | asked irritatedly. It seemed like | couldn¡¯t get more than five minutes alone these days, and it was starting


    to wear on me.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s the High Elder.¡±


    !


    And just like that, he appeared at Monroe¡¯s side, white robes flowing behind him.


    ¡°Xander.¡± The High Elder nodded toward me. ¡°I must speak with you urgently.¡±


    Without waiting for an invitation, he swept inside.


    | stood to greet him, but | was in no mood to update him on our mating situation or entertain any more of the Council''s


    commands.


    ¡°High Elder.¡± | bowed my head to him in a show of respect. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but | don¡¯t have the time for a meeting right now.¡±


    His gaze swept around the room before his eyes narrowed back onto me. ¡°You don¡¯t look very upied at the moment.¡±


    Da mn, he didn¡¯t have to drag me like that.


    He walked over and sprawled onto one of the armchairs by the hearth and motioned for me to sit across from him.


    Great, now he was making himselffortable. Obviously he had no ns to leave until he said his piece.


    ¡°And please,¡± he said as | sat down, ¡°call me Gustav. | imagine we''ll be having many meetings like this in the future, so you might


    as well address me by name.¡±


    Many meetings? Lucky me.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m a busy man, don¡¯t you, Gustav?¡± | folded my hands in myp, not breaking eye contact.


    He coc ked his eyebrow. ¡°With two mates to attend to, I¡¯m quite sure you are.¡±


    | clenched my teeth to keep from cringing. | had no interest in discussing my intimate activities with a High Elder.


    ¡°Gustav...¡± | sat up, eyeing him suspiciously. ¡°With all due respect, why are you actually here?¡±


    ¡°| have some very bad news.¡± He sighed deeply. ¡°There¡¯s been a vampire sighting.¡±

 Chapter 53

    Xander


    ¡°A vampire what?¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Since when was this something | even needed to be worried about? When my father handed over the Alpha title and


    responsibilities, he never once mentioned | might be dealing with the undead.


    ¡°| know, not ideal given how much is already on your te with your two mates.¡± He smirked.


    Was this guy f ucking with me?


    There weren¡¯t vampires in our region. In fact, until this very moment, | wasn¡¯t sure | believed they existed at all.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we''re not ming you,¡± Gustav reassured. ¡°At least not yet. Given who your mother and father are, I¡¯m not


    surprised one came sniffing around our territory.¡± He waved his hand dismissively. ¡°It was bound to happen at some point.¡±


    Wait... What the hell did my mother and father have to do with a vampire skulking around mynd? And why would | be


    med for it?


    No one ever told me border security was an issue | needed to concern myself with. | was led to believe it wasn¡¯t necessary


    after the Great Wars...


    My confusion must''ve registered on my face because Gustav narrowed his eyes and a wicked smile crept across his lips.


    ¡°You have no idea what I¡¯m talking about, do you?¡±


    Go dda mn my father for leaving me in the dark like this. | was supposed to be in control of the situation. | was supposed to have


    the Elders and the Council in my back pocket, but why the hell would they respect me if | looked like a total dum ba ss?


    then.¡±


    ¡°|...l don¡¯t believe my father has ryed this information to me¡± | finally admitted.


    Gustav scrubbed a bony hand over his face and puffed out a full breath of air. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ve done our jobs a little too well,


    | knew these guys were hiding sh it from us, but vampires?


    ¡°Are they a threat?¡±


    The stories I¡¯d heard about vampires made them sound bloodthirsty and unpredictable. They didn¡¯t seem like creatures


    who''d get along with our kind.


    ¡°We''ve only located a single vampire, and his intentions remain unclear. But | believe he should be treated as one.¡±


    His face was stony, his voice ice-cold.


    ¡°Meaning...?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Meaning if he is seen again, he will be killed on the spot.¡±


    My mind raced. | wasn¡¯t even sure how you killed a vampire. Was it stakes and holy water like the stories?


    ¡°| don¡¯t understand...¡± | said. ¡°Are my parents and the Elders the only ones who know about this?¡±


    If that were the case, then how many of us had no idea that we shifters weren¡¯t the only supernatural beings?


    How were we supposed to look out for vampire invaders if we didn¡¯t even know they existed?


    ¡°They are some of the few people who know. They vowed to keep the existence of the others a secret. One that they¡¯d take to


    their grave.¡±


    He rested his chin in his hand, eyes still glued to me.


    ¡°But still, I¡¯m surprised they didn¡¯t at least tell their only son, the Alpha of the Constantine pack. Especially considering your


    mate¡¯s involvement...¡±


    My mate?


    Suddenly, | felt a jolt of familiarity and thought back to what Lanie had said when she first struck her deal with us.


    ¡°I''ll disappear into the ether, like a vampire or witch or something.¡±


    Did she know about vampires? But how could she know when didn¡¯t?


    And then | remembered.


    Braden.


    | knew there was something off about that mo th erf uc ker the second | smelled him. And Lanie had run off earlier, possibly to


    see him again.


    F uck.


    | needed to find out more about vampires, and more importantly, how to kill them.


    Because the next time | saw Lanie with that bloodsucking as shole, | was going to turn him into dust.


    212

 Chapter 54

    Zane


    | unlocked thetch to Alice¡¯s door just long enough to slip inside.


    | understood why Xander had locked her in, but that didn¡¯t mean | agreed with his methods.


    Knowing Alice, the more we pushed her, the more pis sed she¡¯d get. We needed to know where she''d beenst night, and |


    wasn''t leaving until | had answers.


    | found her sprawled out on the bed, her cheeks and eyes still red from shouting and crying.


    When | entered the room, she sat up, her eyes filling with tears again.


    Oh go ds, here we go, my wolfined.


    For once, | didn¡¯t shut de up. Now that | was wise to Alice¡¯s maniption tactics, | was starting to realize that he¡¯d been


    right about her all along...


    She''d act all sweet and hurt, and then use me to get what she wanted.


    Not today.


    Alice held her arms out as if pulling me toward her, and | reluctantly joined her on the bed.


    ¡°Oh Zany, you came back for me,¡± she whined.


    Not that f ucking nickname again, de growled.


    | took a deep breath, but | could feel the hot fury bubbling in my veins already. That name really did grate on myst f ucking,


    nerve.


    She reached out and ran her finger down my arm. ¡°Xander was being so mean to me,¡± she pouted. ¡°He doesn¡¯t understand


    me like you do.¡±


    ¡°Alice, we have to know where you werest night. It¡¯s not a hard question.¡± | searched her face for some sign that she was


    getting close to cracking. ¡°You''re doing this to yourself.¡±


    She climbed up off the bed and stood in front of me, breathing heavily through her nose.


    ¡°| can¡¯t believe you''re trying to tell me Xander was right to lock me in here!¡± She waved her arm around the room, and | had


    to stifle augh.


    We were inside a luxury bedroom, and outside these doors was a whole-a ss furnished apartment with anything she could


    possibly need. Alice was locked inside a f ucking castle.


    now.¡±


    ¡°Maybe | wouldn¡¯t have done the same thing,¡± | admitted, ¡°but you can¡¯t keep getting away with this s hit, Alice. You¡¯re a Luna


    Was that even true anymore? We¡¯d all but decided we wanted Lanie, anyway.


    And with Alice out of the way, we could have her any way we''d like, de growled and pawed at my chest.


    Go ds, Lanie was making us both crazy.


    Alice nted her hands on her hips. ¡°F uck being a Luna.¡±


    Before | could blink she was diving out of the bedroom and straight toward the front door.


    But | was faster, stronger.


    | sprinted out and dived in front of her before a finger could even touch the k nob.


    ¡°Back the f u ck away,¡± | snarled.


    She cowered, her eyes shining again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me do something I''ll regret, Alice.¡±


    | stepped toward her slowly and she backed away, step by step.


    ¡°Im gonna ask you one more time,¡± | said, my voice rumbling with my wolf¡¯s fury. ¡°Where were youst night?¡±


    Alice stopped and puffed out her chest.


    ¡°If you really must know... | was with Xander¡¯s dad.¡±


    Lanie


    ¡°Elder Aldon...¡±


    | stepped away from Braden and wrapped my arms around my body, protecting myself from Aldon¡¯s death re.


    Braden pulled off his nnel and threw it over me just as Aldon approached. The gesture made me tingle.


    ¡°l asked you a question, Lanie,¡± Aldon said, jutting out his pointy chin. ¡°What''s going on here?¡±


    | crossed my arms and co cked my hip. ¡°You have eyes. | think you can tell for yourself.¡±


    Braden scoffed behind me, and Aldon¡¯s wolf shed in his eyes.


    ¡°| don¡¯t appreciate being spoken to that way.¡± His voice dripped with wicked satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten yourself into some pretty


    deep s hit here, and | can sure as hell make it deeper.¡±


    If | didn¡¯tply, | knew I''d be pushing my luck.


    What even was the punishment for being caught with a vampire when | wasn¡¯t even supposed to know they existed?


    | guess | was about to find out.


    ¡°Look, whatever you''re going to do to me or yell at me about, can we just get it over with?¡± | asked him.


    But it wasn¡¯t Aldon who piped up next, it was Braden.


    ¡°Yes, Aldon. Let¡¯s get it over with, shall we?¡±


    1 whipped around to look at Braden, and an amused expression crossed his face.


    ¡°Wait... you know each other?¡± | nced from him back to Aldon. His fists were clenched at his sides.


    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Braden said, ¡°We go way back don¡¯t we, Aldon? Unfortunately for me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Braden,¡± Aldon growled. He reached into his pocket and unearthed a small pouch.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Or what?¡±


    Aldon reached into the pouch and held out a small handful of sandy-looking powder.


    ¡°What the...?¡± | asked.


    Braden jumped forward and threw out his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Aldon-*.


    But he was cut off as Aldon took a deep breath and blew the powder straight into my face.


    And then everything went dark.

 Chapter 55

    LanieContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    | woke up dazed, a splitting headache tearing through my skull.


    For a moment, with my eyes still closed, | wondered if I''d dreamed everything.


    Had | really had sex with Xander and Zane and then run straight into the arms of a vampire, only to be caught by a f ucking


    Elder of all people?


    But | could already sense that this ce was unfamiliar.


    It smelled and felt damp and small, nothing like the coziness of home or the luxury of Xander¡¯s mansion.


    And when | finally opened my eyes, the sad reality set in.


    I had no idea where | was.


    The room was narrow and dark. There were only a couple of windows, but they were boarded up so that only the tiniest


    slivers of daylight broke through.


    | guess that meant I¡¯d slept through the night here.


    There was nothing in the room except the rickety old metal-framed twin bed | was lying on and an old bucket in the corner.


    How f ucking humiliating.


    No way was | staying here, treated like some animal prisoner.


    | nced down at myself and realized | was still just wearing the oversized nnel from Braden.


    | had to get out of here. Now.


    | pushed myself up from the bed and walked toward the heavy metal door across the room, but as soon as my feet hit the floor, |


    heard the clink of a chain and felt the cold, heavy cuff around my right ankle.


    | was chained to the f ucking bed.


    The only thing | could reach was the metal bucket.


    Just perfect.


    ¡°Aldon!¡± | screamed while banging the bucket against the grimy tile floor. ¡°You can¡¯t do this! This is torture!¡±


    Thick silence hung in the air after my echoing voice died down.


    That was when the panic set in.


    Did he really leave me here all alone?


    What did he do to Braden?


    Would Xander and Zane be able to find me here?


    Oh go ds... what would happen to Selena? Would they punish her, too?


    My throat tightened as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.


    If Aldon was here, he wasn¡¯t gonna f ucking ignore me.


    Something halfway between a scream and snarl ripped from my chest, and | banged the bucket on the ground over and over, the


    ngs so loud | felt them in my teeth.


    Finally, | heard footsteps approaching, and | scrambled back onto the bed, wrapping the nnel around as much of my body


    as | could.


    The metal door creaked open and Aldon stepped inside, his back against the door, far away from where | could reach.


    ¡°Are you quite done?¡± he asked, his face flushed with annoyance.


    ¡°Why did you put me here?¡± My voice was shaky. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve this.¡±


    ¡°| disagree.¡± Aldon shook his head. ¡°I knew you were dangerous. When Xander and Zane used that loophole, those du mba ss


    es had no idea that it was created just for people like you ¡±


    My heart stopped.¡±What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    | already felt like enough of a freak having been rejected by my mates multiple times. | didn¡¯t need an Elder confirming my worst


    fears-that what happened with Xander and Zane was all my fault.


    ¡°You''re a wolf shifter, Lanie,¡± Aldon said, his lips lifting in a sneering smile. ¡°But that¡¯s not all you are. That¡¯s just your


    dominant species.¡±


    Awave of nausea swept over me, and my vision began to blur


    ¡°If I¡¯m not full wolf shifter, then what the hell am 1?¡±


    Aldon¡¯s eyes glittered with ¡°You''re also part vampire.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t believe a single f ucking thing you say,¡± | choked out.


    This couldn''t be possible.


    | would¡¯ve known, | would''ve felt it...except that before | met Braden, | had no idea vampires even existed.


    ¡°It''s the truth,¡± Aldon said. ¡°Your maternal grandfather was a vampire...¡±


    | blinked hard, willing him to stop, willing myself to wake up from this nightmare.


    ¡°He¡¯s also the vampire who created Braden.¡±

 Chapter 56

    Xander


    ¡°| swear that¡¯s what she said. She was with your dadst night.¡±


    I''d made Zane repeat himself when he came back from Alice¡¯s quarters and told me the news.


    It soundedpletely ridiculous-my father knew Zane and | loved Alice, and | was sure he¡¯d seen her sneaking in and out of the


    mansion the past two years, but it¡¯s not like they were friends.


    It''s not like they''d be out partying at a club together.


    The image of Alice and my dad grinding together on a hot, dark dance floor floated to the front of my mind unbidden.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Go ds, at least | really f ucking hoped not.


    But Gustav had just told me that my parents were the ones responsible for making sure none of us knew what really happened in


    the Great Wars. If they were capable of telling a lie that huge, then who knew what else they were keeping from


    me?


    ¡°| know it¡¯s insane,¡± Zane said, reading my mind.


    shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s a lie, is what it is.¡±


    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not.¡±


    My father¡¯s low, gravelly voice boomed around the dining room as he swept inside. ¡°Alice was with me.¡±


    | stood up so fast my chair flew over andnded with a crash on the wood floor.


    ¡°What the hell were you doing out all night with my mate?¡±


    Why did he think he could just keep this s hit from me? Or that he could manipte me like | was still a child?


    Orion Constantine had given up the Alpha title to me. | wasn¡¯t his f ucking puppet.


    ¡°You of all people should know what that looks like,¡± | roared. ¡°You should know what kind of trouble that could get me in!¡±


    My father rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Have you forgotten who was Alpha first? | know what I¡¯m doing Xander, and to be frank, it doesn¡¯t concern you.¡±


    | mmed my fists onto the table, my wolf surging to the surface.


    ¡°G ods, if one more f ucking person says that to me...¡±


    Zane stood, slowly, and calmly interjected.


    ¡°I''m sure your father has good reason for holding back.¡± He turned to my father. ¡°But if you could share, Orion, it would help


    all of us.¡±


    My father barked out a short, mirthlessugh.


    ¡°Don''t even try to reason with me. No one would have known who Alice had been with if she hadn¡¯t opened her big mouth


    and told you. So why don¡¯t you sit back down and shut your mouth?


    time.¡±


    | saw red then.


    Zane¡¯s rage¡¯ shot through my body, mixing with my own in a swirlingva rushing through my veins.


    | stomped over to my father, his lips curling up in a smirk as | got closer.


    He held up his hands.


    ¡°Leave it alone, Xander.¡±


    ¡°Like hell | will!¡± | snarled. ¡°If ites down to choosing between my reputation and you, I¡¯m choosing my reputation every


    His face went stony.


    ¡°You''re not going to be the reason my pack stops respecting me,¡± | spat. ¡°I''ll banish you and Alice before | let that happen. You


    won''t keep things from me anymore, Father. | won''t stand for it.¡±


    He scoffed.


    Hisck of reaction was even more infuriating.


    He was doing everything he could to remind me that my power was in his hands, and | wouldn¡¯t stand for that.


    ¡°Are you sure about that, son? There are things you might not want to know. And once you find out, there¡¯s no going back.¡±


    It was my turn to roll my eyes.


    That was the understatement of the f ucking century.


    ¡°Oh, like what?¡± | challenged. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to know about vampires?!¡±


    Zane¡¯s head whipped around to face me, his eyes wide.


    | hadn¡¯t even had a chance to catch him up on everything Gustav had told me.


    But now wasn''t the time to exin. ¡°Or you don¡¯t want me to know how you made a deal at the end of the Great Wars to make


    sure none of us knew vampires ever existed? Is that it?¡±


    My father¡¯s face drained of color.


    I''d actually caught him off guard.


    Asatisfied grin settled on my lips.


    ¡°You weren''t there!¡± he snarled, his wolf shing in his eyes. ¡°You have no f ucking clue what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    He crept toward me slowly, his ws emerging as he did.


    ¡°| made you, son. | gave you this title whether you deserved it or not. And | can take it away...just like that.¡±


    But | wasn¡¯t ready to back down. | felt my own ws rip through my skin as | went to lunge at him.


    ¡°You f ucking-¡±


    But suddenly my senses were overwhelmed with that same sp icy, ancient scent I''d smelled that day when we found Lanie by


    theke.


    i froze.


    And then Braden rushed in.


    Before | could turn my fury on him, before | could wrap my hands around his slimy little throat, he spoke.


    ¡°Lanie¡¯s been kidnapped!¡±

 Chapter 57

    Xander


    | lunged, grabbing a fistful of Braden¡¯s shirt and shoving him against the wall with one hand, while | reached for his neck with


    the other.


    ¡°What the hell did you do?!¡±


    Gustav''s words were ringing in my ears as | squeezed his throat.


    If he is seen again, he will be killed on the spot.


    What would Gustav do if he found out the vampire he¡¯de to warn me about was inside our f ucking house?


    S hit.


    Everything was already crumbling around me, and now Lanie was gone, too.


    Asharp bolt of pain shot through my body.


    ¡°Tell me what you did!¡± | screamed at Braden.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± he choked out. ¡°It was Aldon.¡±


    My grip loosened, and | could hear Zane¡¯s voice break through my cloud of fury.


    ¡°Calm down and let him go. We need to know where Lanie is.¡±


    | growled in response but released Braden from my grip.


    ¡°What does Aldon have to do with this?¡± | demanded.


    once.


    Braden rubbed absently at his neck, but | could tell | hadn¡¯t actually hurt him.


    pat


    He was stronger than he looked, but not stronger than me, and certainly not strong enough to take on three huge wolves at


    Braden nced around the room at all of us. He was probably thinking the same thing.


    ¡°Aldon found us in the woods and used sleeping powder to take us out,¡± he exined. ¡°When | came to, he and Lanie were


    both gone.¡±


    | knew | should be more concerned with Aldon, but | was stuck on the idea of Lanie and Braden alone together. Again.


    So that¡¯s where she¡¯d gone when she''d run off after we slept together...


    | thought she knew where we stood with her, that we just needed time to get Alice out of the way.


    | thought she¡¯d wanted the same thing we did.


    Maybe we were wrong.


    ¡°What were you doing with Lanie in the woods?¡± | growled at Braden.


    But my father stepped forward and spoke instead.


    ¡°The real question is, why the hell is Aldon conspiring with witches?¡±


    Zane and | exchanged confused


    This was way too much to take in at once.


    And why didn¡¯t my father seem the least bit surprised to see a vampire standing in our f ucking dining room?


    | narrowed my eyes at my father. ¡°What do witches have to do with this?¡±


    Braden spoke this time.


    ¡°It''s the only way he could¡¯ve gotten the powder. It¡¯s witch magic.¡± He waved his hand in the air. ¡°But none of that matters right


    now. We need to find Lanie before Aldon makes his next move.¡±


    There was an unmistakable twinge of fear in Braden¡¯s voice. He was genuinely concerned for Lanie.


    But what right did he have to be? Who the f u ck was he to her?Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Not her mate, that was for dam n sure.


    ¡°You really have no idea where they went?¡± | studied his face, looking for a hint of a lie, but | only saw concern and


    impatience.


    ¡°| tried to track her,¡± he exined, ¡°but | only made it as far as the clearing by theke before her scent went dead.¡±


    ¡°F uck!¡± | ran my hands through my hair, grabbing fistfuls.


    ¡°| know you and Zane are mate bonded to her,¡± Braden said, his facet twisted up like the very idea of that was painful to him.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you mindspeak with her or feel her through the bond or something?¡±


    My father shook his head.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t work that way. If she¡¯s that far from here, you would never hear her.¡± His tone was enragingly dismissive. ¡°Especially


    since she hasn''t even been properly imed. The bond you have is weak, it isn¡¯t true.¡±


    What the hell did he know about Lanie?


    Had he snuck off at night with her, too?


    ¡°It''s very real,¡± | snarled.


    | locked eyes with Zane and nodded.


    We both closed our eyes, and | heard Zane¡¯s voice echo in my head.


    ¡°Lanie, if you can hear us, tell us where you are.¡±


    Silence.


    | pleaded again. ¡°Lanie, we know you''re out there. Just say something, anything.¡±


    ¡°Xander,¡± Zane answered instead. ¡°I can¡¯t sense her right now.¡±


    | couldn''t, either. | smelled nothing, heard nothing, felt nothing.


    ¡°Well?¡± My father¡¯s impatient voice broke through our thoughts, and my eyes flew open again.


    ¡°No,¡± | said through gritted teeth. ¡°What if she¡¯s...¡±


    But Braden jumped in before | had to say it.


    ¡°She¡¯s not dead. You would know if she was, and I¡¯m pretty sure | would, too.¡±


    What the f uck was that supposed to mean?


    ¡°If no one can track her, then what do we do now?¡± Zane asked. ¡°Where would Aldon even take her?¡±


    Another set of footsteps sounded in the hall, and we all turned as my mother swept into the room.


    ¡°| know where Lanie is.¡±

 Chapter 58

    Zane


    | was shocked Xander hadn''t already ripped Braden¡¯s head off.


    Or that Orion hadn''t, either, for that matter.


    Between the three of us, we could¡¯ve taken him easily.


    But then, surely, the rest of the pack would''ve known something was off. | could feel through our bond that Xander was about to


    lose it...if he didn¡¯t calm down, that fury would infect everyone soon enough.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Still, | understood his frustration.


    How could we just now be learning about vampires? And why the f u ck was our mate meeting with one alone?


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Gabri instructed. ¡°I''ll take you to Lanie.¡±


    Braden and Orion followed, but before Xander could exit, | grabbed his arm and pulled him back to me.


    | threw my other arm around his neck and rested my forehead on his. His chest was heaving and his eyes were still shing


    with his wolf.


    ¡°Just breathe. Save that rage for when we find Aldon.¡±


    He squeezed his eyes shut tight and a low moan of pain escaped his lips. | could swear | felt it pierce my soul.


    ¡°I need to find her, Zane,¡± he choked out. ¡°It¡¯s so f ucked up. | know she was with Braden, but | don¡¯t even care. | can¡¯t do this


    without her.¡±


    The thought of losing Lanie sent a tornado swirling in my head and a vise-like grip around my chest.


    ¡°I know. | can¡¯t, either.¡±


    ¡°G ods, how can this be possible?¡± Xander whispered. ¡°Mere days ago, we didn¡¯t even know she existed, and now we''re


    following a f u cking vampire to go find her?¡±


    I snorted out augh and as we separated, | saw that Xander was wearing a sad smile.


    ¡°Stop me if you think this is crazy. Stop me if you think we shouldn¡¯t do this.¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°I''m not going to stop you today.¡±


    Lanie


    ¡°You''re lying to me.¡±


    | didn¡¯t see how | could be born part vampire and never know it


    ¡°When you sensed Braden the first time you met, what did you feel?¡± Aldon asked.


    | recalled the way his scent had lured me in and wrapped itself around me. It was intoxicating and inescapable.


    Not that | wanted to escape.


    Quite the opposite, actually.


    | would never say this to Aldon, but the look on his face told me | didn¡¯t have to. | was flushed and biting my lip to keep my


    thoughts from drifting further


    Dead f ucking giveaway.


    ¡°You wanted him, didn¡¯t you?¡± Aldon said, his eyes glittering.


    That skeevy b stard.


    ¡°Or at the very least, you trusted him. Otherwise | wouldn¡¯t have caught you in the predicament you were in earlier.¡±


    His eyes were boring into me so hard, | wondered if he was trying to see straight through the thin fabric covering me.


    ¡°What''s your point?¡± | asked, wrapping my arms tighter around myself.


    ¡°Most shifters detest the smell of vampires,¡± Aldon exined. ¡°Their scent rings rm bells in their brains and creates an


    immediate sense of distrust.¡±


    That couldn¡¯t have been further from my experience with Braden.


    | trusted him immediately, but | had no idea why.


    ¡°And why do you think he just showed up out of thin air when vampires and wolf shifters¡¯ paths haven¡¯t crossed for years?¡±


    Aldon asked.


    | suddenly felt very stu pid for not asking any of these questions myself.


    ¡°He told me he¡¯d smelled my distress,¡± | said, but | knew from Aldon¡¯s wicked smile that there was more to the story.


    ¡°No. He was looking for you, s tupid girl.¡± His voice dripped with contempt.


    | suddenly wished Xander and Zane were here to shrink him back down to size.


    ¡°Why would he be looking for me?¡±


    Aldon snorted out a sarcasticugh. ¡°Because you came of age.¡±


    My heart stopped, then banged against my chest.


    Of course...he was just another man trying to f u ck me as soon as | turned eighteen.


    | shouldn¡¯t have been surprised, but a cold knot formed in my chest all the same.


    ¡°When you turned eighteen, Lanie,¡± Aldon said, slowly moving toward me. ¡°Your vampire abilities surfaced. | could smell it all


    over you at the mating ceremony.¡±


    | remembered the way he¡¯d grabbed me, squeezing my arm so hard he¡¯d almost drawn blood and the way he spoke to me


    like | was nothing-less than nothing.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you treated me like sh it the day of the ceremony?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°I couldn¡¯t say anything. No one else knew vampires existed. And until | knew more about you and your family, |


    couldn¡¯t say for sure how or if this would affect your mating¡±


    So he''d stayed quiet even though he could¡¯ve outed me right there at the ceremony.


    But why? Why protect me?


    Why go digging for more information when he could¡¯ve just sold me out to the Council?


    ¡°Are you gonna share what you learned with the ss?¡± | asked.


    He stepped even closer to me, but | didn¡¯t feel scared anymore.


    If he¡¯d brought me here to hurt me, he would''ve already.


    ¡°Your mother made a deal with a witch at the end of the Great Wars,¡± Aldon said. ¡°The witch agreed to put a spell on her that


    would cloak her vampire side so it didn¡¯t emerge in her offspring.¡±


    When | spoke, my voice was smaller and more scared than | wanted it to be. ¡°Then why am | like this?¡±


    ¡°That...¡± Aldon said, ¡°is what I¡¯m here to tell you.¡±

 Chapter 59

    Lanie


    ¡°Something went wrong with the spell, and it didn¡¯t get passed down to you.¡±


    The first thing | thought of was Selena.


    ¡°And what about my sister?¡± | asked. ¡°Did the spell work for her?¡±


    Aldon shook his head. ¡°Impossible to tell until shees of age.¡±


    ¡°But | still don¡¯t understand why you''ve brought me to this awful ce.¡±


    Aldon sighed and scrubbed a bony hand down his wrinkled face.


    ¡°When a wolf hybrid turns eighteen and goes into heat, every vampire and wolf shifter within miles can smell it. It draws


    them in like flies to honey.¡±


    Great.


    | was basically a f ucking siren call for every supernatural being in the region.


    ¡°You''re safe to do as you wish with your mates inside the confines of the Constantine mansion. Your scent can¡¯t escape within


    those walls. Not to mention, there isn¡¯t a wolf in this pack who would dare to even nce at the Alpha and Beta¡¯s mate.


    That¡¯s the only reason you''ve been safe.¡±


    His eyes darkened.


    ¡°But outside like you were with Braden...you¡¯re asking for your scent to be detected. Any unwanted suitor could approach, drawn


    in by that irresistible smell. Someone wandering by just by chance who doesn¡¯t know you belong to the Alpha and Beta?


    It''s a recipe for disaster.¡±


    ¡°Is that how you found me?¡± | co cked my eyebrow.


    Gag.


    | felt a shiver go down my spine at the thought.


    He cleared his throat and changed the subject.


    Gross. So that¡¯s a yes.


    ¡°You''re safer here where you can¡¯t escape, and where there are no...male distractions.¡±


    Oh go ds, | just wanted this conversation to end.


    ¡°Fine,¡± | said. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I''d like to rest.¡±


    He narrowed his eyes, looking me up and down. Like | was a piece of meat.


    Bile rose up my throat.


    ¡°As you wish,¡± he finally said.


    When the door shut behind him, | let out a huge breath of air


    | had to get out of here.


    Aldon had me chained up here...how long would it be before he took advantage of that?


    And even if he didn¡¯t n to, who knew what other creatures were lurking outside of this ce waiting to get their own


    taste?


    Aldon was old and certainly not as strong as he used to be.


    Who''s to say some particrly hungry vampire wouldn''t stumble upon this ce and take him down to get to me?


    | had to try to call out to Xander and Zane through our bond.


    But then a pang of paranoia shot through me.


    Aldon said my mating heat was like a siren call... what if whatever it was they thought they felt for me was nothing more


    than that?


    What if, now that | was far away from them, they finally had rity?


    What if they realized that Alice was who they wanted all along?


    | shut my eyes tight and spoke through my mind.


    | still had to try.


    Xander


    We were all gathered in my office when | heard it.


    I''d called in Maxim and Monroe to give them the rundown on our n to track down Lanie.


    ¡°If we go at nightfall, we''ll have an easier time sneaking up on Aldon,¡± Monroe suggested. ¡°Which means we should leave at


    But | missed the rest of his sentence because | heard another voice inside my head.


    It sounded distant but achingly familiar.


    Lanie.


    | locked eyes with Zane and my own shock was reflected in his face.


    ¡°Did you just hear that, or am | going crazy?¡± l¡¯''asked silently.


    ¡°If you are, then | am, too.¡±


    Suddenly, | heard it again.


    ¡°Xander, Zane, can you hear me?¡±


    It was louder this time. Unmistakable.


    ¡°Everybody out!¡± | yelled suddenly, sweeping my arms toward the door.


    My parents were looking at me like | was crazy, but | didn¡¯t give a f uck. Lanie was trying to reach us, and we needed silence.


    We needed her to know we were here.


    ¡°Fine,¡± my father said gruffly. ¡°We''lle up with the actual n out here, while you two are doing...whatever it is you do.¡±


    He marched out, and my mother, Maxim, and Monroe followed.


    ¡°As shole,¡± | muttered under my breath.


    We both turned to the fire and closed our eyes tightly, concentrating on hearing her voice again.


    ¡°Lanie, it''s Xander and Zane,¡± | called to her.


    Zane reached out, too. ¡°We want to know you''re safe.¡±


    ¡°I''m here, I¡¯m okay,¡± Lanie answered.


    Relief washed over me with an intensity that took my breath away.


    ¡°But | might not be for long, and | don¡¯t know where | am.¡±


    ¡°We think we might,¡± | reassured her. ¡°You can¡¯t be too far if we can hear you.¡±


    Zane shot me a confused look and | shrugged.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    | didn¡¯t know if that was true-the rules never seemed to apply to us and Lanie-but | wanted to believe it, and | knew she


    did, too.


    ¡°We''re going to find you, Lanie,¡± Zane told her.


    ¡°Oh go ds, please...¡± Her voice sounded higher, more distressed. ¡°Come quickly.¡±


    And then she was gone.

 Chapter 60

    XanderContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    | peeled out of the mansion, tires squealing.


    Zane was in the big ck SUV behind me with Braden while | drove my mother.


    ¡°You''re really not going to tell me anything else about this mysterious ce Lanie¡¯s being kept?¡± | asked her.


    ¡°I told you, I¡¯ve heard talk of it,¡± she answered curtly. ¡°That¡¯s all there is to say.¡±


    My mother had agreed to direct us there, but she wouldn¡¯t tell us what the ce was or how she knew about it.


    | was sick of my parents keeping secrets from me.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a good idea to tell your father he couldn¡¯te,¡± my mother said, changing the subject yet again.


    ¡°He still won''t tell me what the f uck he was doing out with Alice all night.¡±


    My mother looked out the window, refusing to meet my eyes.


    ¡°lm sure he has his reasons.¡±


    She was so strong and sure when she spoke to me, but these days when it came to my father, it was like she shrank down,


    bing weak and powerless.


    He wasn¡¯t even the Alpha anymore, she didn¡¯t have to listen to him or ept anything he told her.


    ¡°| don¡¯t understand why you''re letting him get away with this sh it, Ma. You would never give me that same grace.¡±


    She turned to face me then, a pained look on her face.


    ¡°Maybe | expect more from you. You''re a better man than he is, Xander.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    She let out a deep sigh.


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t understand.¡±


    | stopped suddenly and pulled off the road.


    ¡°And whose fault is that?!¡± | growled. ¡°You and my father named me Alpha without telling me a da mn thing about the Great


    Wars.¡±


    ¡°Why the hell are you stopping?¡± Zane asked through the mindlink as their SUV pulled up behind us.


    ¡°I''m taking care of something.¡±


    | held my mother¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°If you think I¡¯m such a great person, then why keep me in the dark? I¡¯m supposed to be prepared for anything. I¡¯m supposed


    to protect my pack.¡±


    | mmed my fist against the steering wheel.


    ¡°But | don¡¯t even know what the f uck I¡¯m protecting them from,¡±


    ¡°You will in time,¡± she said c ooly. ¡°These things are delicate, Xander.


    ¡°Delicate?¡± My voice rose, high and vicious. ¡°A High Elder came to me about vampires and | had to admit to him that | didn''t even


    know they existed! Do you know how humiliating that is?¡±


    A flicker of something shed across her face.


    Sadness? Regret?


    ¡°Admitting my ignorance like that doesn¡¯t just affect my reputation, Ma. It affects you, it affects Father, it affects my mate..¡±


    She breathed out a coldugh.


    ¡°Please. Don¡¯t pretend to care about Alice¡¯s reputation.¡±


    | narrowed my eyes at her. ¡°We both know I¡¯m not talking about Alice.¡±


    She folded her hands in herp and looked ahead out the windshield.


    ¡°| want things to work out with you and Lanie,¡± she said.


    | opened my mouth to speak, then closed it again.


    Lanie? My mother knew Zane and | were frustrated by Alice¡¯s antics, but | hadn¡¯t even begun to tell her howplicated things


    had gotten with Lanie and the mate bond.


    | guess we were both keeping secrets from each other.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to be arguing with me,¡± my mother said. ¡°You want to find her.¡±


    We zoomed back off, eventually parking the car not far from a derelict building on the outskirts of the nearest human city.


    It was small and all the windows were boarded up. Weeds grew tall and tangled all around the perimeter.


    ¡°This is where Lanie is?¡± Zane asked.


    Braden wrinkled his nose. ¡°Barbaric. ssic wolf shifter s hit.¡±


    | rolled my eyes to keep from punching him in the face.


    ¡°Everyone shut the f uck up, and follow me. Quietly.¡±


    Zane, Braden, and | crept up to the building under cover of darkness while my mother stayed behind in the car.


    Just as we were approaching, the metal door at the front swung open with a great creak, and Aldon stepped out.


    ¡°I''m surprised it took you so long to get here.¡±


    I rushed at him, stopping inches from his face.


    ¡°Where the f uck is my mate?¡± | roared.


    Aldon held his hands up.


    ¡°Now, now Xander, she¡¯s perfectly fine.¡±


    Alow growl tumbled from my lips.


    | wasn''t interested in conversation.


    ¡°Where. Is. She?¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry to say this Xander.¡± Aldon¡¯s brow wrinkled, and | felt my hear


    ¡°There¡¯s been a littleplication with Lanie.¡±

 Chapter 61

    arm.


    Lanie


    Aldon grabbed me roughly by the hand and pulled me through the door, shoving me forward into Xander¡¯s


    | shivered in the cold night air, Braden¡¯s nnel still the only thing covering me.


    ¡°Lanie, are you okay?¡± Xander asked, as Zane and Braden also rushed to my side.


    All| could do was nod.


    ¡°You''re going to pay for this, Aldon,¡± Xander growled,


    Aldon shook his head.


    ¡°| saved her, Xander. If Gustav and the other Elders found out about her vampire side, they would kill her on the spot


    Xander¡¯s face morphed from anger to confusion as he looked down at me.


    Zane and Braden¡¯s faces also twisted into surprised expressions.


    So this was how they all found out what | really was?


    ¡°Xander, |-¡®


    But he held his hand up.


    ¡°Let''s just get home.¡±


    Alittle whileter, we were back at the Constantine mansion after a long, silent drive.


    My stomach was twisted with anxiety.


    Now that they knew, did this change things between us?


    Would our deal be off?


    | stepped inside and Braden moved to enter after me, but Zane ced a hand on his chest.


    ¡°No f ucking way. You¡¯ve done enough tonight.¡±


    Braden nced up at me.


    ¡°| want to make sure Lanie¡¯s okay...¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s with her mates,¡± Xander growled. ¡°We found her. We got her here safe. She doesn¡¯t need you


    anymore.¡±


    Braden¡¯s voice carried over the wall Xander and Zane had built around me with their bodies.


    ¡°If you need me, Lanie, vou know where to find me.¡±


    room.


    | nodded even though he couldn¡¯t see me.


    ¡°You''re not leaving this house any time soon,¡± Xander said gruffly, leading me by the arm to his livingContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    | crashed onto afortable chair, and Zane threw a warm nket over me.


    | hugged it around me tightly, grateful to finally be less exposed.


    ¡°If you leave this house again,¡± Zane said in a gentler voice than Xander, ¡°Aldon might sell you out to Gustav or the other Elders,


    and the Council will put you to death. He¡¯s only willing to keep this between us so long as no one else finds out about your...


    lineage.¡±


    He couldn''t even say it. He couldn¡¯t admit | was a vampire.


    And judging by the way he and Xander had treated Braden, | wouldn¡¯t say they were fans of the species.


    ¡°It''s not just about that,¡± Xander said. His back was turned to me, but | could hear the emotion in his voice. ¡°We can¡¯t always


    protect you if you''re out there.¡±


    ¡°You told me to leave,¡± | said coldly. ¡°You wanted me to wanted with


    10 away so you could do what wou


    Alice


    Xander spun around to face me.


    ¡°Is that what you think happened?¡± he demanded.


    ¡°That¡¯s sure as hell what it looked like,¡± | said quietly. ¡°Why do you think | ran off to Braden?¡±


    | knew now that everything they¡¯d said to me after we f ucked again meant nothing.


    My mating heat called to them just like it did every creature, and they only wanted to protect me now


    because my scent was luring them in again.


    Xander¡¯s eyes shed with his wolf and something else | couldn''t ce.


    ¡°F uck, Lanie! How many different f ucking ways do we have to tell you we want you?¡±


    The passion in his words pierced straight through me, settling low and hot in my belly.


    But | swallowed hard, trying to wash it away.


    Once | was out of heat, they''de to their senses.


    They''d crawl back to Alice.


    | crossed my arms over my chest. ¡°I want to see Braden. You shouldn¡¯t have kicked him out.¡±


    ¡°F uck no,¡± Zane growled. ¡°Do you even know what he wanted with you, Lanie? Like really know?¡±


    ¡°...he just...he was giving me...¡±


    But | trailed off.


    Truthfully, | still wasn¡¯t sure. Especially after everything Aldon had just told me.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know him, and we don¡¯t trust him. If it wasn¡¯t for Aldon interrupting you, who¡¯s to say what he


    would''ve done?¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°You''re both being ridiculous. I''ve been alone with him before, and nothing¡¯s happened. | trust him more


    than anyone.¡±


    Xander snorted out a humorlessugh.


    ¡°That¡¯s f ucking rich.¡±


    Zane fixed me with a stern gaze. ¡°You''re not leaving this house, Lanie. That¡¯s the end of it.¡±


    ¡°| only just got free from that slimy ba stard Aldon,¡± | cried, ¡°and I''ll be d amn ed if | let you lock me up here


    like a prisoner.¡±


    | pulled myself up from the chair, but before | could make another move, Xander dived forward and pushed me back down.


    He took my wrists in his hands and yanked them above my head.


    Ayelp of surprise escaped my lips.


    Zane watched us with zing eyes as Xander leaned down, his voice a gravelly whisper in my ear.


    ¡°Watch me.¡±

 Chapter 62

    Zane


    Dam mit, Lanie.


    | almost stopped Xander from holding her back, but it was more important than ever that she stay close.


    All we wanted to do was protect her, but she had to f ucking fight us every step of the v


    way.


    She could never just ept that we wanted to be her mates and protect her like mates were supposed to.


    ¡°You chose Alice. You aren¡¯t my mates.¡±


    F uck. She''d heard me.


    | needed to get my emotions under control, otherwise she¡¯d know everything | was thinking.


    ¡°Not this s hit again, Lanie,¡± Xander snapped as he released her from his grip.


    | stood abruptly. ¡°Yeah, we''re done talking about Alice.¡±


    ¡°But it''s true,¡± she argued. ¡°The only reason you feel so protective of me is because of my mating heat.


    Aldon told me it¡¯s especially powerful since I¡¯m a hybrid.¡±


    | turned away from Lanie, scrubbing a hand down my face.


    Xander and | hadn''t even had a proper chance to discuss that elephant in the room.


    Our mate was a f ucking vampire.


    And yet...I felt no different about her now than | did yesterday.


    But | had a feeling she¡¯d never believe that no matter how many times Xander and | reassured her.


    ¡°We''re talking to you through mindspeak, Lanie,¡± Xander said, his frustration growing by the second.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    | could feel it seeping in through my pores, making my fists clench at my sides.


    Xander bent down so his face was level with Lanie¡¯s, their lips inches apart.


    | found myself moving closer again too, bending down so | was level with the both of them.


    There was that invisible cord again, tightening around the three of us.


    ¡°Do you think THIS is because of your mating heat, too?¡± Xander asked, a wicked smile curling up on his lips. ¡°Correct me if I''m


    wrong, but that makes no f ucking sense.¡±


    Lanie turned her head away from Xander and her gaze locked on mine.


    Her lips pursed in a tight line.


    ¡°For all we know, it¡¯s some weird vampire talent | have,¡± she said aloud. ¡°You didn¡¯t im me. It can¡¯t be


    the mate bond.¡±


    ¡°Or,¡± | said, not tearing my gaze away from hers. ¡°Is it that our bond is so strong, so fated, that we didn¡¯t need to im you like


    we would another she-wolf?¡±


    Her stony expression faltered.


    She wanted to believe me so badly, but something was still holding her back.


    ¡°We''re not st pid, Lanie,¡± Xander said. ¡°If we wanted to take the easy way out, we could¡¯ve stuck with Alice. We could¡¯ve brought


    her to our bed while we locked you away in your quarters, out of sight, out of mind.¡±


    Xander and | both stood slowly, each holding out a hand to Lanie.


    ¡°But that¡¯s the thing,¡± Xander purred, ¡°You never leave our mind.¡±


    Lanie took our hands and stood up, the nket falling to the ground.


    There was so little fabric between us and that perfect porcin skin of hers.


    ¡°Look Lanie,¡± Xander said, drawing her closer. ¡°This is new territory for all of us. Arguing about what


    exactly our connection is or what it means. ..it¡¯s pointless!¡±


    Xander took a step toward Lanie, so she was now squeezed between us, our bodies touching in a dozen ces.


    ¡°But you know what isn¡¯t pointless?¡± | asked, wrapping my hand around the back of her neck and pulling


    her face to mine. ¡°This.¡±


    | kissed her deeply, fiercely, our tongues meeting in an intricate dance.


    ¡°The way | feel about you isn¡¯t pointless,¡± | said when | finally pulled away


    ¡°How hard | am for you...¡± | ran my hand up the inside of her thigh, then swiped a finger through her slick


    folds. ¡°And how wet you are for us...¡±


    Lanie¡¯s eyes fluttered closed and her sweet scent thickened the air like a raincloud.


    ¡°But...¡± she whispered. ¡°What if it isn¡¯t real?¡±


    | grabbed the cor of her shirt and pulled hard, sending the buttons flying.


    She gasped when my hands found her breasts, while Xander gripped her hips from behind.


    ¡°What if we prove that it is?¡±

 Chapter 63

    Lanie


    Theyid me down slowly onto the warm, soft rug in front of the zing firece.


    Lying next to me, Zane reached out and cupped my chin, lifting it to meet his smoldering gaze.


    ¡°Does this feel real?¡±


    sall Ima


    ¡°Mmmm,¡± was all | managed to say before his lips found mine, flicking his tongue against them until | willingly opened my mouth


    to him.


    He pulled away and both he and Xander leaned into my neck, breathing deeply.


    As they did, their own warm musk, like spiced honey, invaded my senses.


    Artush of hot wetness flooded between my legs.


    Zane¡¯s nostrils red again, and his eyes rolled back


    His unbridled desire turned me on like nothing else.


    ¡°What about this?¡± Xander asked as his fingers traced the inside of my leg.


    Shivers wracked my body as he got closer and closer to my throbbing center.


    He slid in a finger, h o oking it up in a e hither¡± motion that made my hips buck.


    ¡°Does this feel real?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± A strangled moan tore from my lips, and Zane buried his face in my neck, kissing and sucking like


    he couldn¡¯t get enough of me.


    Having both of them touching me, needing me, it felt so real. More real than anything I''d ever felt before.


    Xander rose onto his knees, his co ck thick and proud, swinging in my face like it was hypnotizing me.


    And suddenly my wolf was soaring to the surface, wing desperately for more.


    ¡°| want you back in my mouth,¡± | growled.


    Xander breathed out slowly, and his eyes went dark and ssy with intense arousal.


    | ran my tongue along his shaft from base to dripping tip, reveling in the salty-sweet taste.


    | reached out for Zane, too, stroking him slowly, then faster, running a finger through the juices leaking


    from his pulsing length.


    They groaned in tandem.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    As Xander hovered over me, teasing my lips with his co ck, Zane got between my thighs, his tonguepping at my folds, drinking


    me in eagerly.


    against my waiting mouth.


    Both boys entered me at the same time, Xander¡¯s co ck ramming against the back of my throat while Zane slowly slid himself


    inside me, pumping in and out in a steady rhythm, allowing me to feel every pulsing inch.


    He wrapped his hands around my legs at the same time Xander grabbed my hands, and they both pushed


    them back.


    | was trapped beneath them, Zane thrusting deeper, to a ce no one had yet reached, and suddenly, he let out a strangled


    gasp and an ¡°Oh go ds, Lanie,¡± and | felt the hot surge of his c um erupt inside me. It sent me


    over the edge.


    | came with violent shudders that shook my whole body.


    Just as my breath wasing back to me, Xander pulled himself out of my mouth and scooped me into his arms, flipping over


    onto all fours.


    Zane shimmied himself beneath me so we were facing each other, and began stroking his already-hard-again co ck while |


    bnced myself over top of him, my breasts swinging freely.


    Xander pushed himself deep inside me, and | felt myself stretch, then clench around him, feeling fuller


    than I''d ever felt before.


    ¡°Who do you belong to, Lanie?¡± Xander grunted as he thrust harder.


    | gasped.


    Zane reached up and stroked my face.


    ¡°Who do you belong to?¡±


    | felt a now-familiar pressure building in my lower stomach, taking me to the edge once more.


    ¡°You,¡± | whispered.


    ¡°You''re our everything, Lanie,¡± Xander leaned over and purred into my ear, ¡°We-¡±


    He slowed and sighed like he was holding something back.


    ¡°We can¡¯t imagine life without you,¡± Zane finished for him.


    But | had a feeling there was more they wanted to say


    And suddenly, the piercing sting of guilt burned my stomach.


    | wasn¡¯t the first one they''d said things like this to.


    | wasn¡¯t the first she-wolf that had been their ¡°everything¡±


    They chose Alice, not the other way around.


    Because they¡¯d felt this way about her too once.


    No wonder she was so upset...she was thrown into this mess just like | was, and imagining them treating me the way they


    treated her made my heart squeeze.


    But then Xander was thrusting harder, and Zane was pulling my face to his, and suddenly the outside world dissolved into the all-


    consuming bliss of the moment.


    I


    ¡°I''ming!¡± | cried, just as | felt Xander¡¯s c ock surge inside me and the hot liquid of Zane¡¯s seed exploding over both our


    stomachs.


    | copsed onto Zane¡¯s chest, the creep of guilt slowly returning, spreading through my body like poison.


    ¡°I''m going to shower,¡± | announced and left before they could protest.


    | let the hot water scald me as | scrubbed myself raw


    | needed to think clearly, and | could never do that with Xander and Zane¡¯s scents seeping from every pore


    of my body.


    way any trace of my


    Part of me also fantasized that if | scrubbed hard enough, | might be able to wash away any


    vampire blood.


    It struck me how little | still knew about vampires and about myself, and my family.


    All | knew were fairytales and legends.


    No sunlight, no wooden stakes or garlic, powers of immortality,pulsion, hypnosis


    | froze.


    Hypnosis.


    Was that why | was so trusting of Braden?


    Was that why Xander and Zane were so drawn to me?


    Did | have powers of hypnosis? And were they mixing with my mating heat and making the boys do things they normally


    wouldn''t?


    There was one person who would have all the answers | needed,


    It was time she paid me a visit.

 Chapter 64

    Lanie


    ¡°Mama, you''re here.¡±


    | threw my arms around my mother, and she hugged me back tightly.


    It was surreal to see her standing there in the entryway of the Constantine mansion.


    Barely a week had passed since I''d left home for the mating ceremony, but it felt like a lifetime ago.


    She pulled back from me, studying my face.


    | saw myself reflected in her own green eyes and cin namon-red hair. Her nose was covered in way more


    freckles, though, a trait she¡¯d passed down to my sister instead of me.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked before | could say another word.


    But then her eyes traveled to a figure standing over my shoulder.


    ¡°Mama, this is Gabri.¡±


    My mother blinked in surprise.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes, | know.¡±


    An uneasiness passed over me. Gabri was our Luna, of course my mother would know who she was,


    but there seemed to be more than polite recognition exchanged between them.


    Gabri gave a little bow. ¡°Nice to see you again, Julia. Please join us in the sitting room.


    As soon as we sat, my mother turned back to me, her brow furrowed with concern.


    ¡°What is it, my darling?¡±


    | took a deep breath and told her the truth. ¡°I was worried if | couldn¡¯t look you in the eye, that you might


    lie to me.¡±


    me.¡±


    She nced from Gabri back to me.


    ¡°Am | really part vampire?¡± The words tumbled out.


    My mother sighed, her hands knitting together in herp.


    I


    inn


    ¡°Please,¡± | sat forward in my seat cing my hand over top of hers, forcing her to meet my eyes. ¡°Just tell


    Out of the corner of my eye, | saw Gabri give my mother a small nod.


    What the hell was going on between them?


    Did Gabri already know about this?


    it would¡¯ve been nearly impossible for him to reproduc


    What the f uck?


    ¡°Did you just n on keeping this from me for the rest of my life?!¡± | demanded.


    ¡°Lanie, you have to understand, | kept this from you to protect you. If the Council ever found out, not only would | have been


    killed...¡± her voice broke. ¡°You and your sister would have been as well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you had that witch do the spell?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she answered. ¡°It was supposed to bind itself to you and Serena so your vampiric powers would


    never awaken. And no one would be the wiser.¡±


    Except it didn¡¯t work.


    And who knew if it would work for my sister?


    ¡°But my powers did awaken. And if Serena¡¯s do, too, what¡¯s going to happen to her?¡±


    Another look passed between my mother and Gabri,


    Boiling rage bubbled up from deep inside me.


    They were still shutting me out. They weren''t telling me the whole story.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know¡± Gabri answered calmly. ¡°But she¡¯s sixteen. We have two years to figure it out. You,


    however, are out of time.¡±


    nun


    A look of fear washed over my mother¡¯s face, and an ufortable heat began to creep up my neck.


    ¡°How many people know about this, Lanie?¡± my mother asked.


    Gabri jumped in before | could respond.


    ¡°Xander and Zane, Braden, and myself


    My mother looked confused. ¡°Braden? You mean the vampire from...?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Gabri snapped sharply.


    Braden from what?


    First Aidon knew him, and now my own dam n mother?!


    ¡°Before you ask...¡± my mother said, ¡°your dads don¡¯t know.¡±


    | had expected her to exin the whole Braden thing but this caught me off guard. Why the hell would they not know?


    My mother swallowed hard. ¡°I never told them that | have vampire blood, so | certainly wasn¡¯t going to tell them about their


    daughters.¡±


    Apang of sadness seized me as | thought of my mother, hiding who she really was from her own mates.


    | thought then of Xander and Zane, and how nothing really changed when they found out who | really was. 2/3


    Or at least it didn¡¯t appear to


    Thadn¡¯t realized that this wasn¡¯t the norm, that there was a world in which another set of mates might


    harm me for revealing my true self...


    ¡°You can¡¯t stay like this, Lanie,¡± Gabri said solemnly. ¡°Not when more and more people are finding out


    about you. It¡¯s too risky¡±


    ¡°What''s the alternative? Can | really just make the vampire side of me go away?¡±


    My mother stared off into space for a moment.


    ¡°There is one way... we could cast the same spell on you that was cast on me, but...¡±


    She trailed off.


    ¡°But what?¡± | asked, my voice barely a whisper


    The tension in the room grew thick, and my palms started to sweat.


    ¡°But if you do the spell, you''ll give up all your memories.¡±

 Chapter 65

    Xander


    Lanie was starting to worry me.


    Ever since her mother hade by earlier that day, she¡¯d been acting distant and quiet.


    No fieryebacks orints about being held prisoner in the mansion.


    Very un-Lanie-like.


    She''d wandered into my office a few minutes earlier and just plopped down in an armchair, looking out


    the window with an unfocused gaze.


    | caught Zane¡¯s eye, and he shrugged.


    If | asked him what was up with her, she¡¯d overhear, but her silence was starting to grate on me.


    | walked up behind her and cleared my throat, waiting for her to turn around and finally speak to me.


    ¡°What is this, the silent treatment?¡± | asked, but she still didn¡¯t move.


    She didn¡¯t even nce at me.


    I started pacing behind her, growing more impatient by the second.


    Zane was watching me with a concerned expression


    He could feel my irritation radiating off of me.


    ¡°Lanie!¡± | growled, my voice echoing around the high-ceilinged room.


    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡±


    | grabbed her shoulder, and she spun around, blinking hard like she¡¯d only just noticed me.


    Her eyes were shining with tears.


    ¡°Come on, man.¡± Zane walked up and pped my chest. ¡°Look what you did to her.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± | rounded on him. ¡°I didn¡¯t do a f ucking thing!¡±


    ¡°You yelled at her! There are better ways to ask what''s wrong.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah?¡± | challenged. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you trying very f ucking hard.¡±


    And then | shoved him.


    Lanie


    Zane snarled and pushed Xander back.


    ¡°Don''t f ucking touch me, Xander!¡± Zane growled.


    Xanderughed sarcastically. ¡°I''ll do whatever the f uck | want! I¡¯m the Alpha.¡±


    Asmall smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.


    There was something endearing about the way they fought, the passion they spoke with, especially when


    they were bickering about me.


    dy as


    Warmth seemed to blossom from way down in my soul, radiating out through my whole body


    watched them, and | suddenly had the crazy thought that | might die if | never heard them fight like this again.


    But how stu pid was that?


    They weren''t even looking at me for goddess¡¯ sake.


    What did it mean that the idea of losing my memories, of losing little moments like this, absolutely


    crushed me?


    Was this...love?


    It had been only a week since we were mated, but in those short days, I¡¯d felt a small seed of something growing deep inside of


    me, blossoming more and more every time | saw them or touched them or missed


    them.


    Love, huh? Interesting...


    But of course | could never tell them.


    | had no idea if I¡¯d even remember | loved them by this time tomorrow. And anyway, | couldn¡¯t handle the anxiety of hearing them


    say it back.


    I''d only second-guess myself more


    I''d only worry again that this was some fluke, that there was some exnation | was missing for why they could possibly have


    these feelings for me and not Alice.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    And if my mother and Gabri did take me to do the spell, then what would happen to my mates?


    Would the bond be broken? Would they banish me for real?


    | pulled myself back to the present, back to Xander and Zane.


    ¡°As annoying as you two can be, I¡¯m really going to miss this,¡± | said quietly.


    They both turned to look at me, confused expressions on their faces.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Xander asked. ¡°We¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±


    Zane studied me with concern, like he was reading my soul.


    ¡°Lanie, what aren¡¯t you telling us?¡±


    But then the war fantalone and Alien une tomains into the room


    213


    She was breathless when she spoke.


    ¡°Xander, Zane, | have big news.¡±

 Chapter 66

    idea.


    Xander


    Oh sh it.


    What the f u ck was Alice about to tell us?


    She looked from me to Zane to Lanie, then took a deep breath.


    ¡°I''m pregnant.¡±


    Time seemed to stop.


    This wasn¡¯t possible. We hadn¡¯t slept with her since...


    Since Lanie, really. Just the one night we imed her....


    We''d always assumed we''d have pups with Alice. Hell, there was a time I''d actually been excited about the


    But right now, a cold knot of dread was forming in the pit of my stomach.


    ¡°Hello! Did you hear what | said?¡±


    Zane gulped and shot me an ufortable look.


    Right there with you, brother.


    ¡°Alice, how.¡± | tried to choose my words carefully, but it felt like my brain was short-circuiting. ¡°I don¡¯t


    think that can be true.¡±


    Alice¡¯s expression turned sour, and Lanie looked confused.


    ¡°What he means is...¡± Zane stepped in, struggling as much as | was. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Alice scoffed.


    ¡°What the f uck?! Yes, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    She sn atched something out of her back pocket. A pregnancy test.


    F uck.


    She waved it in front of Lanie¡¯s face..


    ¡°It''s positive,¡± Lanie said in a small voice.


    | wanted to grab the test from Alice¡¯s hand and stomp it into oblivion, pretend like it never existed.


    Where did she get off shoving that s hit in Lanie¡¯s face?


    ¡°Don''t act like we weren''t f ucking constantly before the mating ceremony. Surely, you''re not surprised?¡±


    1/3


    What the hell kind of twilight zone were we living in right now?


    Yes, we''d made a deal days ago that Alice would have the pups and Lanie would care for them, but that all went out the window


    as soon as we realized we could never hold up our end of the bargain and let Lanie


    go.


    We couldn¡¯t keep our hands off her, we had to have her in our bed.


    And if | was being honest with myself, I''d fantasized about a moment just like this one with Lanie bringing us this news instead of


    Alice.


    G ods, what a f u cking mess.


    Alice wrinkled her nose at Lanie.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to hear congrattions from you,¡± she sneered. ¡°I want to hear it from my mates.¡±


    | watched Zane¡¯s face strain as he tried to muster the words | couldn¡¯t bear to form myself.


    But suddenly, Alice¡¯s face went green and she pped a hand over her mouth as she dove from the room.


    The gestational period for werewolves was shorter than for humans-only about three months-which meant some she-wolves got


    much sicker at the start.


    | stuck my head out of the office. ¡°Ma!¡± | called.


    My mother entered the room a few momentster.


    ¡°Alice is pregnant and sick. Will you watch


    ver her?


    She nced from Zane to Lanie then back to me, and | thought she might protest, or at the very least drag me for not being


    there for Alice myself, but then she nodded.


    ¡°lll take care of it.¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Lanie


    ¡°Lanie, |...1 don¡¯t know what to say.¡±


    Xander and Zane both walked over to me, somber expressions on their faces.


    When Alice shed the test at me, my heart sank like a heavy boulder dropping to the bottom of the


    ocean.


    But wasn¡¯t this always how it was supposed to go?


    I


    Alice has the pups, then | do what | want.


    And besides, once my memory got wiped by the spell, everything would change.


    At least this way Xander and Zane would have something else to love once | was gone.


    | didn¡¯t know how to feel, but | didn¡¯t want to, either.


    | just wanted a distraction, onest good moment before all my moments were taken away.


    I


    stood and untied the silk robe | was wearing, letting it drop to the floor in a pool at my feet.


    Xander and Zane both looked at me, their eyes darkening, and a rush of desire shot straight through me as | watched them both


    adjust their quickly hardening c ocks.


    They wanted me as bad as | wanted them, that was clear by the dizzying swirl of heady scents clouding


    up the room.


    Did it make me evil, getting them in bed like this when Alice had just announced her pregnancy?


    Yes, but you won¡¯t remember soon enough, Lily said, pawing at me from deep inside ¡°Right now... they¡¯re


    yours to take.

 Chapter 67

    Lanie


    | woke up suddenly, my heart pounding out of my chest.


    Xander and Zane were still on either side of me, fast asleep.


    We''d all copsed in exhaustion after hours of desperate, passionate love-making.


    It was a satisfying, uplicated whirlwind of a night.....


    So why did | feel so off?


    And then it hit me.


    My mother and Gabri were waiting downstairs.


    Today was the day the spell would be cast.


    This moment might be thest time | ever saw Xander and Zane.


    For a second, | considered waking them, kissing them, going for one more quick round, but it would only make things more


    complicated.


    And maybe they wouldn''t let me leave...


    | crept up off the floor and tiptoed out of their quarters and into my own, dressing quickly and rushing


    downstairs.


    My mother and Gabri ushered me out of the mansion and into a car without a word.


    No one else knew what we were doing and if we were caught leaving, there was no good excuse.


    | ced my hand on the window as we drove away, wondering if I''d ever be back there again.


    ¡°Why are we in human territory?¡± | asked a little whileter, suddenly realizing we''d just crossed the border


    into the nearest human city


    ¡°Witches aren¡¯t wee in ours anymore,¡± Gabri exined. ¡°They need to hide in in sight.¡±


    She parked in front of what looked like a regr human doctor''s office.


    I''d never been to one myself. We only had pack healers, but I''d heard of them and seen photos.


    Now that | thought about it, I¡¯d never actually spent time in human territory before, there wasn¡¯t any need


    ¡°How do you know about this ce?¡± | asked


    Gabri waved her hand in the air. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Lanie. | promise they''ll take care of you here.¡±


    ufortable-looking seat.


    The room was cold and sterile, and | had the overwhelming desire to shift right there and run all the way back to the Constantine


    mansion.


    Gabri and my mother had only been sitting with me for a second when an older woman called my name. We all followed her


    to a back room.


    More white tiles, papery surfaces, and a strong chemical smell in the air.


    | couldn''t wait to get the f uck out of here.


    Once the door shut behind us, the doctor gave me a warm smile and extended her hand. | shook it warily.


    ¡°lm Isolde,¡± she said.


    Her hair was long and straight and streaked with gray. Her face wrinkled slightly when she smiled, but something told me she


    was a lot older than she looked.


    ¡°Lanie,¡± | said in a shaky voice.


    ¡°No need to be nervous, Lanie,¡± she reassured me. ¡°The spell involves ingesting a potion, so I¡¯m just going to run a few tests to


    see exactly what measure of ingredients will work best for you.¡±


    ¡°| didn¡¯t realize this was so scientific,¡± | said as she stuck a needle into my arm and drew blood.


    The p rick of the needle was surprising, but not particrly painful,


    Shifters had thick skin.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t very scientific back in my day,¡± my mother said darkly.


    Gabri patted her on the arm. ¡°Isolde is very careful with her magic, Julia.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Isolde said. ¡°As such, | would rmend Lanie¡¯s mates take a simr potion. It can easily be slipped into food or drink,


    and it will help break any bonds between you that might prevent your memories from disappating. It¡¯s a way to make sure the


    spell really sticks.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°| can get them to they take it,¡± Gabri offered.


    She seemed eager, perhaps too eager.


    Erasing Xander¡¯s and Zane¡¯s memories of me would erase their memory of vampires, too, wouldn¡¯t it? Was


    that what Gabri wanted? To go back to the old ways?


    you.¡±


    Isolde slipped out of the room to run the tests, and | turned to Gabri.


    I


    ¡°Does this mean the next time | see Xander and Zane, they won''t remember me, either?¡±


    The thought made my stomach turn over.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Gabri gave me a sad smile. ¡°It¡¯s best if you stay away until the potion has done its job for all of


    Isolde entered the room again, a strange look on her face.


    ¡°Isn''t that right, Isolde?¡± my mother asked. ¡°Lanie¡¯s better off staying away from her mates until the spell is confirmed to have


    worked


    Isolde looked up at my mother and her eyes were full of worry.


    | felt a lump forming in my throat.


    Something was wrong.


    ¡°lm not so concerned with that now,¡± Isolde said in a somber tone.


    ¡°What I¡¯m more worried about is the fact that Lanie is pregnant.¡±

 Chapter 68

    Lanie


    Nope.


    No way.


    This couldn¡¯t be happening.


    I


    | was absolutely NOT pregnant.


    ¡°That¡¯t can¡¯t be true,¡± | said, ¡°We only mated a week ago.¡±


    And then again two more nights...over and over. Xander and Zane had both spilled their seed inside me more times than


    seemed possible in a week, but | wasn¡¯t about to tell them that.


    Instead, | asked, ¡°Isn''t it


    to early to tell?¡±


    Gabri¡¯s eyebrows were knitted in thought, and my mother was staring nkly ahead, clearly just as


    shocked as | was.


    ¡°| can see from the tests that you''re at the tail end of your mating heat,¡± Isolde said. ¡°It¡¯s moremon than not for she-wolves


    to produce pups during this cycle.¡±


    | knew this, and | knew the gestation period for she-wolves was short, but somehow, ever since I¡¯d reached an agreement with


    Xander and Zane, it felt like pups weren¡¯t in the cards.


    Guess my body had other ideas.


    ¡°The timing isn¡¯t ideal given the spell,¡± Isolde said gently. ¡°Termination is always an option, if you''d like.¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± | cried before | even knew what | was saying.


    But suddenly it seemed so clear.


    This pup was a piece of each of us-me, Xander, and Zane.


    It was a reminder of the strange, undeniable thread that seemed to keep drawing us together, even now when | was about to do


    a spell designed to rip us apart.


    ¡°| want to have this baby¡±


    My mother walked over to me and ced a shaking hand over my own. Her eyes were ssy with tears.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°She isn¡¯t going to remember anything from this life. surely this one carryover is eptable, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Gabri looked concerned.


    ¡°It seems risky,¡± she said. ¡°You''d wake up with too many questions.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± Isolde jumped in. ¡°It might be afort to Lanie. Plus, vampiric powers often sk ip generations in hybrids, which


    means Lanie¡¯s baby will likely never go through what she is going through.¡±


    | felt a sudden rush of warmth for Isolde,


    | needed to keep this baby. I¡¯d never felt more sure of anything in my life.


    ¡°But wait... What will happen with the rest of my family and my friends?¡± | asked.


    | thought of Selena at home with my dads, and Mindy with her men at the Constantine mansion, probably blissfully unaware of all


    the sh it that had blown up in thest three days.


    F uck.


    | hadn¡¯t even gotten to say goodbye to her.


    Tears sprang to my eyes.


    ¡°| know you made a deal with my boys, Lanie,¡± Gabri said. ¡°They agreed to let you disappear after you helped them make


    Alice look like a picture-perfect Luna.¡±


    ¡°You knew about that?!¡± | asked.


    ¡°Please.¡± Gabri smirked. ¡°I have eyes and ears everywhere.¡±


    Dam n, she was good.


    ¡°Anyway, now you''re getting your wish, Lanie. You can disappear, and you don¡¯t have to do a thing.¡±


    Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and a hand reached in holding a small vial of dark, thick liquid.


    ¡°Except to drink this,¡± Isolde said, taking the vial and holding it up to the light.


    ¡°Just drink that.¡± Gabri smiled and nodded toward the vial. ¡°And you can get exactly what you wanted.¡±


    ¡°Yeah...¡± My voice was choked with emotion. ¡°I just didn¡¯t think getting it would mean giving up everyone


    I''ve ever loved.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t do this, Lanie, then you die,¡± my mother whispered as fresh tears fell. ¡°And so will your pup.¡±


    ¡°So.¡± Gabri pointed to the potion. ¡°Are you going to take it or not?¡±


    212

 Chapter 69

    Lanie


    | took the vial from Isolde¡¯s hand.


    And then my mother¡¯s arms were around me and hot tears were streaming down both of our faces.


    ¡°This is for the best, Lanie,¡± she whispered. ¡°You and your pup get to live.¡±


    ¡°Your mother is right,¡± Gabri said. ¡°If Gustav and the Council found out about your vampire side, they would kill you and your


    pup anyway. And probably anyone who tried to cover your tracks.¡±.


    That meant my mates, Gabri, Braden, my mother. and Selena would probably get caught in the


    crossfire, too.


    So many people who put themselves on the line to keep me safe.


    But there was no way we could all keep this secret forever. Not without locking me away like hidden so no one could sense my


    tainted blood.


    That was no way to live.


    It was a prison sentence.


    This was better.


    My pup and I could have another life, a normal life.


    We''d start over, never knowing what I¡¯d left behind.


    Love, Lily reminded me.


    The feeling I¡¯d had yesterday, knowing it was thest time I''d see Xander and Zane.


    But | could find love again.


    If not with another mate, then with the pup I was carrying.


    Apiece of the men I''d once loved.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Aldon had,


    ¡°You''ll give them the potion, Gabri?¡± | asked again even though she''d already said she would. ¡°You''ll


    make them forget about all this?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°Consider it forgotten already.¡±


    Xander


    Aldon sat across from Zane and me, stroking his painty chin.


    ¡°Alice¡¯s pregnancy is unexpected, but it¡¯s nothing out of the ordinary.¡±


    But he knew basically everything and he wasn¡¯t the slimy little s hit we thought he m


    -so he seemed like the best option.


    Especially since my mother was mysteriously missing in action today.


    No surprises there. Keeping secrets from me was apparently my parents¡¯ f ucking specialty.


    ¡°The timing isn¡¯t right,¡± Zane told Aldon,


    ¡°That¡¯s not a valid reason to take extreme action.¡± Aldon sounded exhausted. ¡°Gustav gave you orders to produce pups with both


    of your mates...| would think you''d be pleased to share that you''ve followed hismand.¡±


    | nced at Zane and he gave me a nod. ¡°Just say it¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t trust Alice.¡± | growled. ¡°I don¡¯t think the pup she¡¯s carrying is ours.¡±


    Aldon¡¯s wrinkled face twisted into a mask of horror, and he clutched at his chest.


    ¡°That¡¯s a very serious usation, Xander.¡±


    She-wolves caught cheating on their mates were punished severely, in some cases even put to


    death.


    | never believed in such a punishment for that petty of a crime, but it was up to the Council, not the Alpha.


    ¡°She was off all night with my dad, wasn¡¯t she? Are we crazy for thinking this baby isn¡¯t ours?¡± | asked


    Zane silently


    ¡°No,¡± he reassured me. ¡°Things with Alice aren¡¯t adding up.


    ¡°Oh for g ods¡¯ sake, will you two just speak out loud?!¡±


    Aldon rose from his chair in a huff.


    Zane and | stood, too.


    ¡°Aldon, look, we have reason to believe Alice was with my-


    But just then, another wolf stomped into the room.


    ¡°Father.¡±


    He was standing there, right in front of me, a wild look in his eyes


    ¡°There¡¯s been an ident.¡± He sounded breathless and upset.


    ¡°Lanie is dead.¡±

 Chapter 70

    Xander


    ¡°| don¡¯t believe you,¡± | said.


    My father¡¯s expression quickly turned from concerned to infuriated.


    ¡°Why the hell would | lie about that? Your mother was with her when it happened.¡±


    Zane and | exchanged wary nces.


    ¡°| don¡¯t feel any different,¡± Zane said. ¡°If she¡¯d died, we''d feel it.¡±


    | closed my eyes tightly, but | couldn¡¯t sense a change, either.


    ¡°| know you don¡¯t believe in our mate bond, Father, but it¡¯s strong enough for me to know that nothing has changed. She¡¯s alive


    and well.¡±


    ¡°Then where is she?¡± my father asked.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    | rushed upstairs, Zane and my father trailing close behind.


    | ripped open the door to Lanie¡¯s quarters.


    Nothing.


    ¡°Lanie, are you here?¡±


    Silence.


    My heart thumped so hard it made me nauseous.


    It couldn''t be true, could it?


    ¡°MAXIM!¡± | snarled as | ran back down the stairs.


    He came to me immediately.


    ¡°My father is saying Lanie has been killed.¡± | swallowed hard, not meeting Maxim¡¯s eyes. ¡°Track her scent. Prove that this is


    merely some bad information.¡±


    ¡°Son.¡± My father grabbed my arm, but | roared at him, wrenching myself away.


    ¡°Xander,¡± Zane started to speak, but | couldn¡¯t stand hearing him try to talk me down right now.


    ¡°Don''t,¡± |manded


    | rounded on my father. ¡°How the f uck did this happen?¡±


    I still didn¡¯t believe it.


    Just like Alice¡¯s pregnancy, nothing was adding up.


    ¡°Wait.¡± | held up my hand. ¡°Why the f uck was Lanie in the elty with my


    My father shrugged. ¡°Luna duties.¡±


    Another f ucking lie, | could feel it in my bones.


    ¡°What happened to them in the city?¡± | asked.


    ¡°She was hit by a car. Lanie died instantly.¡±


    Lanie


    | woke up to light streaming in through the window.


    Once my eyes adjusted, | took in the room around me.


    Adecent-sized bedroom, furnished in cozy earth tones.


    The view from therge windows was moody and gorgeous, a forest covered with rolling fog.


    | pushed myself from the bed, my hand going to my forehead, feeling like | was in a daze.


    | walked out to the main living area, more big windows lining the walls and letting in morning light.


    The ce wasn¡¯t huge, but it was definitely nice.


    It was decorated with the same warm greens, oranges, and yellows as the bedroom.


    Like a forest in the middle of fall.


    But it wasn¡¯t fall now, | realized as | suddenly noticed small sno wkes dancing through the sky.


    Wait...why didn¡¯t | know what time of year it was?


    Why didn¡¯t | recognize this ce?


    My head started to pound and my vision blurred.


    | stag gered andid myself down on the cool wooden floor.


    | couldn¡¯t remember anything.


    The panic set in, and beads of sweat burst across my hairline.


    | grabbed fistfuls of the nightgown | was wearing, clutching it like a lifeline.


    | was dizzy, on the verge of passing out, when a woman entered the room.


    I had no idea who she was.


    She walked over to me and pushed back my hair, a concerned look on her face.


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± she said. ¡°It would seem that something went terribly wrong¡±

 Chapter 71

    Lanie


    ¡°Who are you?¡± | managed to ask the strange woman.


    She had short, dark hair that framed her soft face in waves. It seemed like she was around my age.


    She held out her hand and pulled me up off the ground.


    Tm Dr. Isolde¡¯s assistant. An apprentice healer.¡±


    | blinked slowly.


    Was | supposed to know who Dr. Isolde was?


    She sped my hand in hers and shook it slightly.


    ¡°My name is Adele,¡± she said, a bright smile lighting up her face.


    | nodded.


    ¡°My name is...¡± | trailed off, and panic rose in my throat again. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Adele grabbed my shoulders gently and held my gaze with hers.


    ¡°Your name is Katie,¡± she said evenly. ¡°And you need to breathe.¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    | took a deep breath through my nose and blew it out through my mouth.


    ¡°Good.¡± She smiled again. ¡°Staying calm is essential Shifting wouldn¡¯t be good for the baby.¡±


    She nced down then back up to me.


    My hand flew instinctively to my belly.


    Baby?


    Shifting?


    What the hell did all of this mean?


    ¡°| don''t...¡± | struggled to find where to begin. ¡°What do you mean by shift?¡±


    She stood back, studying me with a curious expression.


    ¡°You''re a wolf shifter,¡± she said. ¡°A pregnant one, actually


    | could strangely recall that wolf shifters existed, that | lived in their world, but for some reason, the fact that | was one seemed


    like news to me.


    And if | was pregnant, then where was my mate?


    And why was Adele looking after me?


    As if she could read my mind, she said, ¡°You¡¯re going to be staying


    Katie.¡±


    ¡°Is that bad?¡± | asked her.


    She smiled again, but this time her lips were tight.


    ¡°You were dropped off at our clinic. You¡¯re perfectly healthy, but you might feel a little off for a while.¡±


    And then she pulled me into a tight hug, squeezing me momentarily before letting go.


    As she pulled away, | caught a strong whiff of her scent, |


    my wolf had just been reawakened.


    me


    My nose crinkled involuntarily.


    Something about her was off.


    | shook my head. ¡®I still don¡¯t quite understand what all this is.¡±


    ¡°| know you must have a lot of questions,¡± Adele said sympathetically. ¡°But that¡¯s all they''ve really told


    | bit my lip.


    Something inside me stirred, an rm bell going off telling me she was lying.


    Zane


    We didn¡¯t know what to do with ourselves.


    Right now we were standing by the pond in the woods behind the Constantine mansion, sk ipping stones mindlessly, sniffing the


    cold wind for any signs of Lanie.


    The first sn wkes were starting to fall, which meant tracking her would only get harder and harder.


    Neither of us really believed she was gone, but the rest of our family was treating us like we were crazy


    for thinking so


    We couldn''t talk to her, but her presence, that piece of her that felt like it was always there in mys


    that hadn¡¯t gone away.


    ¡°Boys.¡± Gabri¡¯s voice called to us from the edge of the forest. ¡°You need to eat something.¡±


    Xander nced over at me before chucking a stone into the water so hard it plopped straight down to the


    bottom.


    And then he stomped back up to the house.


    | followed, sitting down at the table next to him.


    But | had no appetite at all.


    ¡°At least drink some Moonshade tea,¡± Gabri encouraged us. ¡°You''ll be too weak to lead this pack if you


    nut mathina in narr hedina ¡±


    We both sighed and took a sip from the steaming mugs Info Of US.


    Gabri eyed us intently as we did so.


    Twished she would just leave us alone.


    The tea tasted off, but no surprises there.


    Everything seemed sour since Lanie had left.


    Suddenly, | found myself jerking awake, still in the same ce I''d been seconds before.


    | shook my head and looked over at Xander.


    His eyes were unfocused, his expression confused.


    | could vaguely recall that I¡¯d been worried about something, something important.


    But I couldn¡¯t remember what it was now.

 Chapter 72

    TWO MONTHS LATER....


    Katie


    | spotted Quinn at a back table of the cafe.


    Her blonde pixie cut was hard to miss.


    She waved me over, and | waddled toward the table, squeezing into the booth with some difficulty.


    By now | was very pregnant and the anxiety that | had woken with every day since arriving here had started to morph into


    excitement for my pup¡¯s arrival.


    Adele had been so patient with me in getting me limated to my new home.


    And as it turned out, her weird scent had meant something after all.


    She was a rogue shifter, banished from traditional Pds for some infraction or another.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Specific crimes weren¡¯t usually discussed, but it was widely recognized that for most rogues, especially she-wolves, the


    punishment did not fit the crime.


    But the Council took any chance they could get to flex their power.


    ¡°Go ds, you''re about to pop!¡± Quinn eximed.


    I''d met her only a few weeks ago, once I''d started venturing out into the town.


    Her bubbly personality and infectious smile feltfortingly familiar, and | was drawn to her instantly.


    We''d been meeting here a couple of times a week ever since.


    ¡°| know, I¡¯m f ucking huge.¡±


    Sheughed.


    ¡°l only have a few weeks left,¡± | said, rubbing my belly out of habit.


    ¡°How do you feel about raising the pup in Stillwood?¡±


    That was the name of the rogue town | was living in.


    | still didn¡¯t know exactly how I¡¯d ended up there, but once | realized howid back the lifestyle was and how kind the people


    were, it kind of stopped mattering


    They all asked after me and my baby, chattering excitedly about the little one¡¯s arrival.


    It felt like one big family


    ¡°Honestly?¡± | shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m happy | can¡¯t think of a better ce to do it, since..¡±


    I


    | trailed off, and Quinn reached out her hand for mine


    | took it gratefully.


    ¡°Since you still don¡¯t know who the father is?¡±


    Inodded, swallowing hard.


    Adele had sworn up and down she didn¡¯t know, either, that I¡¯de to them pregnant at the clinic, but I¡¯d never quite shaken off


    the feeling that she knew more than she let on.


    By now | had a little cottage of my own, and | didn¡¯t see her as much.


    We spoke in passing here and there, but | got the feeling she was happy to be free of all my incessant questions about who |


    was and where | came from.


    ¡°I''m still lucky, all things considered.¡± | squeezed Quinn¡¯s hand. ¡°I''ve got all of you here to support me, and my pregnancy¡¯s been


    smooth sailing so far.¡±


    ¡°Thank the go ds for that,¡± she said, taking a big gulp of coffee.


    ¡°Oh!¡± she suddenly cried. ¡°Have you given any more thought to my mom''s job offer?¡±


    Quinn¡¯s mother was the head teacher of the school in Stillwood.


    Just like her daughter, she was vivacious, curious, and incredibly kind.


    The first time we met, she told me she could just tell I''d be a wonderful mother and probably a kick-as s


    teacher, too.


    It made me feel seen in a way | hadn''t since... Well, since | could ever remember.


    | felt like a real person with a real ce in the world, instead of some random character plopped down in the middle of gods


    knew where for go ds knew what reason.


    ¡°| have considered it,¡± | told Quinn. ¡°Once the baby is here, I''ll probably take her up on the offer. | could even bring my pup to


    work with me.¡±


    ¡°It would be so perfect. We could even...¡±


    But Quinn trailed off as she looked over her shoulder at someone.


    Her eyes went wide and she wiggled her eyebrows.


    ¡°Your man is over there,¡± she said slyly.


    | turned around as inconspicuously as | could with my giant belly.


    My face went hot the second | saw him.


    ¡°So..¡± There was a teasing lilt to Quinn''s voice. ¡°Are you gonna go on that date with my brother yet or what?¡±

 Chapter 73

    labor.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Zane


    Xander and | paced around the great room like zombies, waiting for Gabri to tell us that Alice was in


    She''d been ill through most of the pregnancy, which as terrible as it was to say, had made things easi


    We could go visit her at her bedside on the rare moments she felt like seeing us, and just squeeze her hand until another wave


    of nausea came over her and she screamed at us to go away.


    I


    | was gued by an emptiness deep in the pit of my stomach, made worse by the near-constant despair that rolled off Xander in


    deep, depressing waves.


    There had been an increase in reports of petty violence and raging outbursts among the shifters in our


    pack recently.


    There was no doubt in my mind that it was because of Xander¡¯s sour mood.


    His mother was growing impatient with him for refusing to pull himself out of his funk, and impatient with me for being too deep in


    my own to force him out myself.


    She kept reassuring us that once the baby was born, spirits would lift once more.


    And if they didn¡¯t, she warned what would happen: ¡°The pack will start turning on you. The Council will question your positions as


    Alpha and Beta.¡±


    Once upon a time that threat would¡¯ve rocked us, but now it rolled off our backs like nothing.


    A sudden wail echoed in my ears.


    Alice, probably going intobor.


    It sounded like she was in excruciating pain.


    Xander turned around to face me.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know if | can do this,¡± he said.


    ¡°You will, though,¡± | told him. ¡°You want to be there for her.¡±


    | knew this was true, | could sense it as deeply as | could my own emotions.


    She was in pain, going through so much. And we had truly loved her once.


    | still couldn¡¯t recall why we¡¯d ever stopped.


    We rushed upstairs together.


    ¡°She¡¯s not doing well,¡± Gabri said somberly.


    If it wasn¡¯t obvious enough by her wailing, the way she looked would¡¯ve been a dead giveaway.


    Her face was ashen and glistening with sweat.


    Her usually bright blue eyes had dulled to a foggy gray.


    Her chest was rising and falling much too quickly, and she grasped at the sheets beneath her, writhing against the pain as she


    pushed.


    Xander and | went and stood on either side of her bed.


    We locked eyes, and | saw my own mix of pain and fear reflected in his gaze.


    | wanted to feel some glimmer of something as | looked down at our mate: hope for our future pup, excitement for new life to


    come, but there was only that same nagging emptiness that had been guing us


    both for months.


    Xander leaned down, brushing her blonde hair off her sticky forehead.


    ¡°We''re here,¡± he said to her softly.


    I


    He grabbed one of her hands, and | grabbed the other, but it went limp as soon as | touched it.


    She groaned


    ¡°| don¡¯t want you,¡± she whispered with great difficulty.


    ¡°Alice, it''s us,¡± | said, squeezing her hand gently.


    She shook her head wildly and turned to Xander, a desperate look in her eyes.


    7 want...your father.¡±

 Chapter 74

    Xander


    | dropped Alice¡¯s hand like I¡¯d been burned.


    ¡°Did she just say what I think she said?¡± | asked Zane


    ¡°Sure f ucking did.¡±


    ¡°Xander...¡± Alice croaked. ¡°Please get your father.¡±


    The midwife attending to Alice nced ufortably between me and my mother.


    ¡°Alice.¡± Gabri¡¯s voice was stern but even. ¡°He isn¡¯t here.¡±


    | walked over to my mother, ncing back over my shoulder at Alice still muttering desperately.


    ¡°Why the f u ck is she asking for him?¡± | demanded in an angry whisper.


    Zane and | had our suspicions about what Alice and my father had been doing the night they were out together, and this all but


    confirmed our worst fears.


    This baby wasn¡¯t ours. It was my father¡¯s.


    ¡°| honestly don¡¯t know.¡± My mother cast her eyes around the room like she was looking for an answer


    | was


    s so used to her lying to me, but this time she seemed to be telling the truth.


    Did she have the same suspicions Zane and | had about the baby¡¯s real dad?


    ¡°Alice was with Father the night she was out,¡± | said, not meeting my mother¡¯s gaze..


    She was silent for long enough that | finally looked up at her.


    She was breathing heavily, her wolf shing in her eyes.N?velDrama.Org content.


    I so rarely saw her get angry like this.


    It scared me.


    She pointed her finger at me, her voice icy with rage. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare go there.¡±


    Zane walked up carefully behind me.


    ¡°Do you know what they were doing that night?¡± he asked my mother.


    Alow warning growl tumbled from her lips.


    ¡°Your mate is dying,¡± she snarled. ¡°There¡¯s no time for these stu pid questions.¡±


    ¡°Gabri, | need you to assist,¡± the midwife called in a shaky voice. ¡°Her condition is unstable. We need to get the pup out now.¡±


    1/2


    ¡°F uck. She''s already losing too much blood.


    ¡°She s to push harder,¡± the midwife said. ¡°She''ll be too weak soon enough.¡±


    Zane and | rushed back to Alice''s side.


    Her eyelids were starting to flutter closed and a long, continuous moan of pain fell from her slightly


    parted lips.


    Usually, they were bright pink, full of life.


    But right now they looked like the lips of a corpse.


    A jolt of fear pierced straight through my


    heart.


    We were losing her.


    And we would lose the babies soon,


    | dropped my voice lower and tried to add a gravelly edge to it.


    ¡°Alice, it¡¯s me, Orion,¡± | said.


    She gasped weakly but didn¡¯t open her eyes.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Zane demanded.


    | didn¡¯t dare look at my mother.


    Go ds knew what she''d think of this.


    ¡°She needs to hold on,¡± | told Zane. If she wants my father, I''ll give her my father.¡±


    ¡°Alice, you need to push,¡± | said, doing the best impression of my father | could.


    Alice squeezed her eyes tight, and a screaming roar of pain sounded from deep inside her chest.


    Then there was a much weaker, higher-pitched cry.


    ¡°The head is out!¡± the midwife yelled.


    I


    ¡°One more, Alice,¡± | whispered, my voice low and rumbling in her ear.


    Another blood-curdling scream, and then Gabri was holding up our pup, and Alice¡¯s screams died


    down.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she beautiful?¡± my mother said, wrapping her tightly in a nket.


    She brought her over to Zane and me, and when | looked into her tiny face, | felt something stirring, like a long-buried memory


    slowly bubbling to the surface.


    ¡°You all have to decide what to name her when Alice is feeling better,¡± Gabri said.


    ¡°Lanie,¡± Zane and | said together, and we all froze.


    Adark shadow seemed to pass over my mother¡¯s face, but in the next mornent, it was gone.


    2/3


    ¡°How did you...?¡±


    ¡°| don''t...¡±


    Our thoughts both drifted off, neither of us able to exin why the name hade to us.


    Lanie


    ¡°Wait, there¡¯s another baby,¡± the midwife said, ripping me back to reality.


    Twins? What the hell?


    Alice barely survived this birth, | didn¡¯t see how she could possibly make it through another.


    ¡°...can¡¯t...¡± Alice said in a barely audible whisper.


    ¡°Just one more, Alice. Just one more push.¡±


    My mother¡¯s screams mixed with Alice¡¯s as she braced her whole weak, shaking body for one final push.


    Another baby¡¯s cry echoed around the room, but Alice had gone limp and silent.


    ¡°What''s happening?¡± | demanded. ¡°Is she okay?


    ¡°She¡¯s hemorrhaging,¡± the midwife said.


    ¡°Orion,¡± Alice squeaked out, and | leaned close to her


    ¡°Yes?¡± | asked, panic rising like bile in my throat.


    ¡°Tell Mason | did my best,¡± she said before she went still and silent.


    | squeezed her hand, willing her to open her eyes, to say something else.


    ¡°Alice. Alice please, who is Mason?¡±


    But she was already dead.

 Chapter 75

    Katie


    Miraculously, | managed to zip up my dress.


    I''d reluctantly agreed to go to a regional pack event tonight with Quinn¡¯s brother, Asher.


    My bump was huge, but everyone already knew me as the pregnant girl anyway.


    The doorbell rang and my heart ski pped a beat.


    | nced around the small but cozy cottage I¡¯d moved into after leaving Adele¡¯s condo.


    | was used to nights in on the couch, enjoying my time alone.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    I


    Part of me wanted to throw my pajamas back on now and tell Asher | wasn¡¯t up for it, but | put on my big girl pants and walked to


    the door.


    When the door swung open and | saw Asher looking unbelievably tall and handsome in his smart casual suit, | was immediately


    d | didn¡¯t chicken out.


    Even though he was covered up, | could still see his bulging arm muscles and his broad torso.


    His sandy blonde hair was pushed back off his face and his smile was beaming.


    ¡°Wow,¡± he said, looking me up and down. ¡°You look stunning.¡±


    Heat blossomed on my cheeks. ¡°Thanks. Right back atcha.¡±


    ¡°So what exactly is this thing?¡± | asked as we drove down the winding forest road away from Stillwood.


    ¡°It''s kind of like a socialworking thing for all the packs along this part of the coast. It only happens a couple of times a year so


    it can get a little... rowdy sometimes


    Oh go ds, I''d barely adjusted to life in Stillwood, | didn¡¯t know if | was ready to be in a room with that many


    wolves from different packs.


    | rubbed my belly protectively


    The more strangers there were, the more likely | was to be asked questions | couldn¡¯t answer...


    ¡°The Council hates this event, too,¡± Asher continued. ¡°They''d much rather keep us as separate as


    possible. | never really understood why, though.¡±


    My ears perked up at his mention of the Council, and my pulse quickened slightly.


    | felt a slight whirring in my brain like it was trying to recall something that had long been hidden away.


    ¡°They''ll probably have some undercover High Guards or something stationed there to make sure we don¡¯t


    get too out of control,¡± Asher chuckled.


    I snorted a quietugh, but the idea of the Council watching over the party made me uneasy. 1/2


    ¡°Where are we going exactly?


    Asher looked over at me and his lips quirked up in a smirk.


    ¡°You''re sure putting a lot of blind faith in me,¡± he said. ¡°What if I¡¯m taking you out to the woods to murder you or something?¡±


    This time |ughed for real, and smacked him across the arm.


    ¡°You''re Quinn¡¯s brother! If you killed me, she''d kill you worse.¡±


    Asherughed. ¡°Yeah, because that makes so much sense.¡±


    This was nice, this easy vibe between us.


    ¡°But to actually answer your question, the party is happening at a lodge nearby. It changes locations every time, though.¡±


    ¡°A lodge?


    Asher scoffed


    Je fancy¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s total hoity-toity rich wolf s hit. It¡¯s basically a glorified country club in the middle of the woods.¡±


    Asher was a rogue wolf who worked at a metal factory, he wasn¡¯t the kind of guy who¡¯d be impressed by a champagne tower.


    out.¡±


    ¡°Why are you going, then? Sounds like it¡¯s not your thing.¡±


    ¡°Very much not,¡± he said, shooting me a mischievous look. ¡°But maybe | wanted an excuse to ask you


    Asmall flutter of excitement moved in the pit of my stomach.


    Or was it anxiety?


    Asher was a good guy, | was pretty f ucking sure of that.


    He was kind, helpful, and interested in what | had to say.


    | felt safer when | was with him.


    But still...1 wasn¡¯t sure if what | felt was anything more than friendship.


    For all | knew I''d never been in love or even had a mate, but wasn¡¯t it supposed to feel like some crazy fireworks show when you


    locked eyes or whatever?


    Besides, could he really be that interested in me when | had a baby on the way and didn¡¯t even know who


    the father was?


    ¡°You know that stuff doesn¡¯t matter to me, Katie,¡± he said. ¡°You''re not your past.¡±


    | jumped. Had | said all that out loud?


    But I knew | hadn''t.


    212

 Chapter 76

    Xander


    ¡°Mother, what do we do?¡±


    My voice was smaller than usual and choked with pain.


    How could Alice be gone just like that?


    This woman Zane and | had loved for so long?


    This woman we once thought we''d be mated to for life.


    Zane¡¯s head dropped into his hands and his shoulders shook. Feeling his sadness was like experiencing


    her death all over again.


    My mother turned to the nurses and midwife.


    My


    ¡°Please clean up and dress her for...¡± She cleared her throat before continuing. ¡°For the mourning ritual.¡±


    One of the nurses steered Zane toward the door.


    No one wanted us to have to see this.


    ¡°You boyse with me,¡± my mother said, still holding the baby we''d called Lanie.


    What was it about that name?


    She motioned for the midwife to bring over the other baby, a boy this time.


    The midwife gingerly ced the tiny pup in my


    arms


    ¡°What should we call him?¡± Zane asked, finally looking up.


    His eyes were red and full of pain, and | was sure mine were, too.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to think about that now,¡± my mother said sadly.


    | nodded.


    That was all | could do.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Hourster, Zane, my mother, and | were still waiting for my father to return.


    The babies had finally fallen asleep after crying nearly constantly since birth.


    But who could me them?


    Their mother was dead, and their real father was missing in action.


    ¡°Where the f uck is he?¡± | asked for the millionth time that night while | paced the great room. ¡°He¡¯s the


    1/3


    ¡°Don''t raise your voice, Xander,¡± my mother said Wearly. getting any rest.¡±


    ¡°Orlon,¡± Zane suddenly said, and my mother and | both spun around.


    He stood in the doorway silently, an unbothered expression on his face.


    ¡°So nice of you to finally f ucking join us,¡± | spat as | stared him down.


    ¡°What happened here?¡± He c ocked his eyebrow as he strode into the room. ¡°You all look like you¡¯ve seen a


    ghost.¡±


    Anger rose like bile in my throat.


    | rushed at him, nting my hands on his chest before he could react.


    | shoved hard, and he stumbled back, his wolf shing in his eyes as he recovered.


    ¡°What the f uck do you think you¡¯re doing, Xander?¡±


    My breathing was heavy.


    Hunter was pawing inside me viciously, dying to be released, dying to attack the man who caused all this.


    ¡°Alice died tonight,¡± | growled.


    My father¡¯s face drained of color, and his whole body seemed to slump.


    ¡°No,¡± he said inly. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.


    Zane walked up next to me.


    He could sense that | was about to blow again.


    ¡°She was asking for you the whole time she was inbor,¡± he said, his voice shaking


    With anger.


    He was losing it, too.


    ¡°The boys are telling the truth, Orion.¡± My mother¡¯s voice was cold, and she wouldn¡¯t even meet my


    father¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°What are you trying to say?!¡± His face twisted up with anger. ¡°That it was my fault? Just because she was calling out for me?¡±


    | shook my head.


    He was really going to argue with me right now?


    That self-righteous as shole.


    If he wasn¡¯t going to talk, then | would make him talk.


    ¡°Xander, don¡¯t,¡± Zane warned, stepping in front of me.


    As the Alpha, | couldpel people to tell me the truth if | wanted them to, but | never used that power, especially not on my


    father, once an Alpha himself.


    ¡°You can¡¯t stop me.¡±


    | pushed past Zane and looked my father dead in the eyes.


    ¡°Alice didn¡¯t want me or Zane there with her, she wanted someone named Mason.¡±


    My father¡¯s eyes went ssy.


    Thepulsion was working.


    ¡°Are you gonna tell me who the f uck that is?¡±


    His voice was distant and robotic.


    ¡°Xander...Mason is your brother.¡±

 Chapter 77

    Katie


    ¡°You heard what | said?¡± | asked Asher.


    Only mates were supposed to hear a she-wolf¡¯s thoughts.


    But Asher was basically a stranger... there was no way he could hear mine.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Asher said, his brows knitting in confusion. ¡°Why wouldn''t I? It¡¯s a small car.¡±


    Heughed, but | was having trouble seeing the joke


    ¡°| just...¡± | trailed off.


    There was no way to exin this without sounding like a crazy pregnantdy.


    Or maybe that was it.


    Maybe the hormones were scrambling my brain.


    ¡°Never mind,¡± | said, brushing it off. I¡¯m probably just nervous about the party.¡±


    ¡°No need to be,¡± Asher said, reaching over and giving my knee a light pat. ¡°We''re in this together.¡±


    A few minutester, he pulled up to a huge, sprawling lodge tucked away in the woods.


    The whole ce seemed to be glittering, lit up all around the perimeter by delicate tw inkling lights.


    Expensive cars of all kinds were parked outside, and the people walking up were wearing gorgeous dresses and impably


    tailored suits.


    Despite Asher¡¯s reassurance, a stab of panic seized my heart.


    | felt like crying and barfing at the same time.


    There were going to be wolves here from packs all over the region, and | still had no idea where I''de from or how I''d actually


    ended up in Stillwood.


    What if someone from my past was here?


    Would | recognize them?


    Or worse, would they recognize me but not tell me? Would their cold eyes and whispers follow me around


    the room?


    My hands traveled to my belly again, rubbing it protectively.


    Maybe | should¡¯ve stayed home and rotted in front of the TV after all.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Asher said as he opened my door and offered his hand. ¡°It really is going to be fine.¡±


    | stepped out of the car, not letting go of his hand. He squeezed mine tightly in return. 1/3


    ¡°And if it''s not, we can go have some


    | nodded and tried to give him a genuine smile. ¡°Deal¡±


    As soon as we walked inside, | felt like I''de with a f u cking celebrity.


    Wolves approached us from all sides, pping Asher on the back and asking how he was.


    Clearly he had a lot of friends... maybe the nice guy thing was genuine.


    Good to know.


    Asher generously introduced me to every single person, and when we shook hands, | searched their faces.


    for glimpses of recognition, but | couldn¡¯t sense anything out of the ordinary


    Sometimes their eyes lingered on my huge baby bump, but that wasn¡¯t surprising


    They were probably all wondering if the pup was Asher¡¯s.


    We finally made our way through the crowd near the entrance and found a more secluded seat.


    ¡°Sorry about all that,¡± Asher said, his cheeks reddening slightly. ¡°That must¡¯ve been pretty overwhelming.¡±


    |ughed. ¡°That¡¯s an understatement.¡±


    He winced. ¡°I should¡¯ve given you more warning.¡±


    ¡°It''s okay,¡± | shrugged. ¡°Kind of confusing, though.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You''re tight with so many people from other packs, but you¡¯re a rogue. | thought rogues were supposedN?velDrama.Org owns this.


    to be outcasts.¡±


    | couldn¡¯t remember anything from my personal life before Stillwood, but | still knew things about shifters.


    and our history.


    | knew rogues were typically spoken about with disdain. They were unwanted criminals, unworthy of associating with traditional


    shifter packs.


    ¡°Not always,¡± Asher said, and | could sense a darkness settling over his features. ¡°I don¡¯t think most shifters agreed with my


    punishment. | still don¡¯t really understand why | was banished.¡±


    He shifted in his seat. ¡°My whole family was unfairly punished, too. That¡¯s why my mother and Quinn live in Stillwood with me.¡±


    He looked down and shook his head. ¡°I think a lot of people felt sorry for us. Still do.¡±


    ¡°But | don¡¯t understand why were you banished in the first ce?¡±


    He met my gaze again, but there was a guardedness there.


    ¡°An overzealous Alpha was trying to flex his power. He was young just like me. He thought | was overstepping, but...¡±


    Asher stopped.


    nat imnariant neau


    An anxious tingle danced across my skin.


    What was he hiding?


    ¡°Asher, my man!¡± A deep voice rang out behind me before | could ask any more questions.


    Asher¡¯s face lit up as he rose and wrapped the man in a bear hug.


    ¡°Katie.¡± He gestured between me and the smiling guy beside him. ¡°I want you to meet my best friend,


    Mason.¡±

 Chapter 78

    Xander


    The tension in the air was so thick it practically choked me.


    | was an only child.


    That¡¯s what I¡¯d thought my whole life.


    Mason is your brother.


    Why had no one ever told me about him?


    ¡°| thought you only had one mate,¡± | finally said, not breaking eye contact with my father.


    | was stillpelling him. | needed the whole truth.


    ¡°He did as far as | knew,¡± my mother answered instead, her voice shaky and her face pale.


    Zane¡¯s shock radiated through me, mixing with my own like a megawatt jolt to the system.


    So this was news to my mother, too.


    Good to know | wasn¡¯t the only one without a f ucking clue that | had a secret brother.


    My mother continued. ¡°In our time, Alphas didn¡¯t have to participate in mating ceremonies. Orion chose me, and | chose him. |


    thought that bond was sacred.¡±


    Her voice broke, and my heart shattered along with


    How dare my father keep this from her, from all of us, for all these years?


    ¡°Why d


    did you do this?¡± | demanded, my eyes boring into my father¡¯s soul.


    ¡°| loved her,¡± he said inly. ¡°During the Great Wars, the other side found out | was having an affair. They threatened me, so |


    gave in to their demands.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡±


    My mother rushed between my father and me, breaking our gaze.


    My father shook his head like he wasing out of a dream.


    Thepulsion was broken, but the damage had been done.


    ¡°You ended the war to save your own as s?!¡± A cry of anguish tore from her lips. ¡°You allowed us to go back to our old, disgusting


    ways...all because you didn¡¯t want anyone to know you''re a cheater?¡±


    l''d never seen my mothere apart like this, and it scared me.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Normally she was the glue that held this pack and our family together, but now that glue was cracking.


    ¡°Gabri, you know what the consequences are for infidelity.¡±


    Banishment to rogue territory at best. Death at worst.


    ¡°Not even Alphas are immune to it,¡± my father said through gritted teeth. ¡°Did you want me to rip our family apart? Did you want


    me to leave you alone with a child?¡±


    He gestured at me, and my whole body med with raging anger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t use me as an excuse!¡± | roared.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about things you don¡¯t understand!¡± he roared back.


    Zane¡¯s hands fell heavy on my shoulders, holding me back from pushing past my mother and strangling that lying mo therf ucker.


    | wanted to shake him off, but | knew getting angry would only make my father more defensive.


    It was always a vicious cycle with us.


    ¡°The negotiations | made to end the war benefitted everyone,¡± he said, puffing his chest out.


    He¡¯d never admit he¡¯d done anything wrong.


    He¡¯d never allow his methods to be questioned.


    It infuriated me.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true, and you know it,¡± my mother said coldly.


    There it was. More cagey mentions of the Great Wars.


    T


    More things | didn¡¯t know, even though | was the f ucking Alpha here.


    ¡°What the hell does that mean?¡± | demanded.


    My mother breathed deeply, struggling to keep her wolf at bay.


    If she lost control in front of my father, he¡¯d never forgive her.


    Even though | now knew he¡¯d done so, so much worse.


    ¡°It means | trusted your father, and he betrayed me,¡± my mother said. ¡°How could you love another she-wolf?¡± she asked him.


    ¡°After everything you''d promised me?¡±


    Something about her words stung me, too, but | didn¡¯t know why.


    | had loved Alice even though it hadn¡¯t felt like it at the end, so her dig at my father shouldn''t have.


    bothered me the way it did.


    Zane and | had stayed loyal, hadn¡¯t we?


    | turned to look at him, and he nodded.


    ¡°We did,¡± he said, though | sensed he wasn¡¯t totally sure, either.


    ¡°Look,¡± my father said, holding up his hands. ¡°I stopped seeing the other she-wolf when the war ended.


    When Xander was born.¡±


    Did he want a f ucking medal for that?


    ¡°Then how the f uck did | end up with a brother?¡± | asked.


    My father¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°I didn¡¯t find out until yearster. | wondered why she never contacted me after | left the day of


    Xander¡¯s birth. It turns out she died alone during childbirth that day.¡±


    My heart beat wildly.


    ¡°She died that same day? The day | was born?¡±


    My father nodded solemnly.


    ¡°What time was Mason born?¡± my mother asked.


    The eldest son was the heir to the Alpha title.


    It was one of the most basic, longstanding rules of our pack-of any pack, for that matter.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± my father said. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to find out, but without his mother, it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°Then that means...¡± | said, the realization hitting me like a silver dagger to the heart.


    ¡°| might not be the true Alpha.¡±

 Chapter 79

    arm.


    KatieContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    ¡°Hello, Katie. It¡¯s lovely to meet you.¡±


    Mason¡¯s voice was smooth and rich, like hot, fresh coffee on a cold morning.


    His hair was long and dark like his eyes, his lips perfectly full, his jawline strong.


    This close, his scent was strong, too-woody and fresh, with something subtly sweet underneath.


    It hit my senses so hard that my head spun, but | didn¡¯t mind it.


    Actually, it felt kind of hot.


    | fought the urge to lean close and breathe in deeper


    He extended his hand, and when our skin touched, a tingling feeling crawled over my palm and up my


    The sensation was weirdly familiar.


    Suddenly, | felt a stirring deep inside, a beast pawing at my chest.


    My wolf.


    | hadn''t felt her since I''d awoken at Adele¡¯s pregnant and panicking.


    | was starting to wonder if she even existed at all.


    ¡°Touch him again,¡± she urged. ¡°Smell him again.¡±


    ¡°Not here,¡± | replied. ¡°Not now.¡±


    Why had she suddenly awakened?


    Sure this Mason guy was hot as hell, but so was Asher, and she¡¯d never bothered to even lift her head at


    his touch.


    Interesting.


    ¡°Mason and | have been friends since we were little, Asher said. ¡°I know all his darkest secrets.¡±


    ¡°Ha. Ha, Ha,¡± Mason said drily.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna get us all a round,¡± Asher said. ¡°Don¡¯t steal my date while I¡¯m gone.¡±


    He winked and walked off, and then we were alone.


    Mason eyed me with an expression of amused interest.


    ¡°Care to share some of those secrets?¡± | asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you around Stillwood before.¡±


    pretty young.


    My face must''ve fallen because heughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t look so sad, | turned out alright.¡±


    ¡°Why were you banished?¡± | asked.


    Immediately, | felt the heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck and silently cursed myself for being


    so nosy.


    But Mason waved off the question.


    ¡°| had a rough childhood, my parents weren''t around¡± His expression darkened, and | could sense some of his coolness starting


    to cr ack.


    ¡°| don¡¯t think anyone really knew what to do with me.


    His mouth quirked up in a small smile, but his eyes were full of sadness.


    | wanted to know more, to know why he was here, and why my wolf was so interested in him.


    | wanted to know if my scent had made him as dizzy as his scent had made me.


    But he beat me to the punch.


    I


    ¡°You''ve got so many questions, Miss Katie,¡± he teased. ¡°But | don¡¯t know a thing about you.¡±


    | coc ked my brow.


    ¡°What do you wa


    to know?¡±


    ¡°How''d youe to live in Stillwood? You some kind of hardened criminal or something?¡±


    He smirked deviously.


    | turned sideways and rubbed my belly dramatically.


    ¡°Yeah, everything about me just screams superviin.¡±


    ¡°Hey, | don¡¯t judge a book by its cover,¡± he said.


    We bothughed, and it felt easy but also. ..charged?


    What the hell was | doing?


    I''de here with Asher, it wasn¡¯t like | could leave with his best friend.


    ¡°Seriously though,¡± | said. ¡°I kind of don¡¯t know. | was in an ident and | woke up here. | didn¡¯t remember anything, and no one


    could find my family.¡±


    | looked away.


    | didn¡¯t want to see his face when | admitted the next part.


    ¡°| don¡¯t even know who did this to me.¡± | patted my belly. ¡°All | know is that my name is Katie and I¡¯m


    pregnant.¡±


    ¡°Dam n, that¡¯s tough.¡±


    | nced back up at him. | was surprised but grateful he didn¡¯t have anything more to say on the matter.


    Thest thing | wanted was to have some bro-wolf offer to be my new baby daddy.


    | shrugged. ¡°Stillwood¡¯s been good to me, though. I¡¯m lucky to have met people like Quinn and Asher.¡±


    ¡°And me?¡± he asked.


    | wanted to roll my eyes or gag, but somehow Mason made the stu pidest flirting sound smooth.


    | tried to put on my best coy voice. ¡°Maybe¡±


    | nced over Mason¡¯s shoulder to avoid looking him in the eyes and instead, my gaze fell on a girl about


    my age


    When she saw me, her jaw dropped and she ran over,


    ¡°Lanie¡± she cried, her eyes ssy and wild. ¡°Oh my go d, it¡¯s really you!¡±


    ¡°Da mn, that¡¯s tough.¡±


    | nced back up at him. | was surprised but grateful he didn¡¯t have anything more to say on the matter.


    last thing | wanted was to have some bro-wolf offer to be my new baby daddy.


    | shrugged. ¡°Stillwood¡¯s been good to me, though. I¡¯m lucky


    ¡°And me?¡± he asked.


    have met people like Quinn and Asher¡±


    | wanted to roll my eyes or gag, but somehow Mason made the stu pidest flirting sound smooth.


    | tried to put on my best coy voice. ¡°Maybe...


    | nced over Mason''s shoulder to avoid looking him in the eyes and instead, my gaze fell on a girl about


    my age.


    When she saw me, her jaw dropped and she ran over


    ¡°Lanie!¡± she cried, her eyes ssy and wild. ¡°Oh my go d, it¡¯s really you!¡±

 Chapter 80

    Katie


    | turned around to make sure she wasn¡¯t talking to someone else.


    ¡°Sorry, | don¡¯t know a Lanie.¡±


    She blinked quickly, bewildered by my response.


    ¡°Wait, is this some kind of joke?¡±


    Then her eyes traveled down to my belly, and her jaw dropped.


    G ods, had she never seen a pregnant she-wolf before?


    ¡°Lanie, it¡¯s me. Mindy.¡±


    The hair on the back of my neck stood up.


    Why did she keep calling me that name?


    I


    ¡°Good for you,¡± | said. ¡°But I¡¯m not Lanie.¡±


    ¡°Hey.¡± Mason waved his hand in front of the girl¡¯s face. ¡°Let''s take a step back. Whoever you''re looking for,


    she isn¡¯t here.¡±


    The girl looked from Mason to me, then back down at my belly.


    | wrapped my hands around it instinctively.


    ¡®lms


    so sorry,¡± she said, taking a step back. Her face turned a deep shade of red.


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Her voice started to shake. ¡°It¡¯s just that my best friend Lanie died in an ident recently, and you look so much


    like her.¡±


    G ods, how terrible.


    No wonder she was freaking out.


    ¡°I''m Katie.¡± | smiled, even though a creeping unease was still lingering in the pit of my stomach. ¡°It¡¯s nice


    to meet you, Mindy.¡±


    I turned to Mason..


    ¡°Will you give us a minute?¡±


    | wanted to learn more about her without Mason¡¯s watchful eyes on us.


    He nced from Mindy back to me. ¡°Sure. I''ll be over there with Asher,¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry about your friend,¡± | said softly after he¡¯d walked away.


    ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± She swallowed hard. ¡°You know. I¡¯ve heard everyone has a doppelganger out there 1/3


    ¡°Where are you visiting from?¡± | asked her.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m here with my mates Maxim and Monroe representing the Constantine pack.¡± Her face lit up at the mention of her mates


    and her words tumbled out, fast and excited. ¡°We''re not too far from here.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s cool.¡±


    | tried to match her excitement, but truthfully | had no clue what the Constantine pack was.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    ¡°Isn''t it?¡± she said, biting her lip. ¡°Normally, | wouldn¡¯t get toe, but the Alpha and Beta were tied up with some family


    emergency, so they sent their most trusted High Guards in their stead.¡±


    She smacked a hand on her head.


    ¡°Oh g ods, why am | telling you all this? You probably couldn¡¯t give two sh its.¡±


    | barked out augh, | couldn¡¯t help it.


    ¡°Hey, | asked the question,¡± | said.


    Mindyughed, too, and she suddenly seemed so familiar.


    Not the first time I¡¯d had that thought tonight.


    How strange...


    Maybe it was just that her bubbliness reminded me of Quinn.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± she said, ¡°where are you from?¡±


    ¡°Oh, um...I¡¯m from Stillwood.¡±


    It sounded like she was from a fancy traditional pack with all her talk about ¡°High Guards¡± and s hit.


    | had no idea how she''d respond to the news that | was a rogue.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± she said, her eyes widening. ¡°I¡¯ve never met someone from rogue territory before. | want to ask you like a million


    questions, but | will refrain.¡±


    She sped her hands together and rocked back and forth on her feet.


    ¡°Appreciate it,¡± |ughed


    ¡°Well, I''ll let you get back to your date. Thanks for not thinking I¡¯m a total freak.¡±


    G ods, that was strange.


    But as Mindy walked away, | had the crazy thought that | already missed her.


    Maybe we''d see each other again.


    Or maybe | was the strange one.


    Asher and Mason were deep in conversation when | walked back up to them.


    ¡°You really think Katie would go for that?¡±


    Go for what?


    | hung back, waiting with bated breath for Mason¡¯s answer.


    ¡°| don¡¯t care. I¡¯m going to take what''s mine.¡±

 Chapter 81

    air.


    Zane


    Xander stumbled backward, and | caught him in my arms.


    | walked him over to a chair by the fire and sat him down slowly.


    | couldn''t imagine a world where Xander wasn¡¯t the Alpha of this pack, and | didn¡¯t want to.


    If he wasn¡¯t the true Alpha, then | wasn¡¯t the true Beta, either.


    My chest tightened.


    Who was | if | wasn¡¯t Xander¡¯s Beta?


    | was sure Xander was wondering the same thing about himself and his identity outside of this.


    ¡°Orion, when did you find out you had another son?¡± asked, breaking the heavy silence that hung in the


    Orion slumped down into the chair across from Xander.


    Xander averted his eyes from his father, looking into the fire instead.


    ¡°Mason found me,¡± Orion answered. ¡°There was a photo hidden deep in a drawer of his mother and me together.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe him?¡± Xander asked through our mind link.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know if I¡¯d believe anything he says,¡± | answered honestly. ¡°But what does it matter?¡±


    Xander¡¯s head dropped into his hands.


    ¡°What about Alice? | need to know the truth about her and the twins¡±


    Orion clenched his fist and pounded it down onto the chair,


    ¡°For Go ds¡¯ sake, speak out loud!¡± he boomed, ¡°I will tell you what you want to know. But you won¡¯t humiliate me with whispers


    andpulsion again.¡±


    Xander¡¯s head jerked up to face his father, and the wave of his fury crashed over me.


    | ced my hand on Xander¡¯s shoulder,


    ¡°Don''t. I¡¯ve got it,¡± | told him.


    Orion was the biggest f ucking hypocrite, but arguing would only send us around in useless circles.


    ¡°How does Alice know who Mason is?¡± | asked.


    Orion pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°She didn¡¯t find out until after they¡¯d been seeing each other for a while. One night, when


    she came to see Mason, she saw me there with him and left. She confronted meter.¡±


    ¡°Awhile?!¡± he cried.


    His voice was choked, not with anger, but with intense sadness.


    | was stuck on that, too. The whole time we¡¯d thought Alice was in love with us, she''d been f ucking


    another guy.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    her.


    Xander¡¯s brother, no less.


    My mouth went dry, and my stomach churned.


    How were we both so blind?


    ¡°So these pups...are you telling us they¡¯re Mason¡¯s?¡± | asked, my voice shaking.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way to know,¡± Orion answered. ¡°They could just as easily be yours.¡±


    Xander flew up out of his chair.


    ¡°Well, it would sure be nice to f ucking know,¡± he spat ¡°Given the whole next in line for Alpha thing.¡±


    Xander was right.


    Regardless of whether the pups were biologically ours, Alice was our mate, and we¡¯d officially imed


    No one would ever question the paternity, and the Alpha title would automatically be handed down to the


    eldest child.


    tell-¡±


    Orion sighed deeply. ¡°It is my advice to forget this happened. Alice is gone, and there is no one who will


    Xander cut him off.


    You PUTI¡± he growled, throwing his hand toward the doorway. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear another f ucking word from


    His eyes shed a dangerous crimson, and his chest heaved with the effort of containing his wolf.


    Orion rose slowly, a slight smirk on his lips.


    ¡°As you wish, Alpha,¡± Orion said, and he stomped away.


    Part of me wanted Xander to lose control and run after him, thenpletely tear him apart.


    But then our whole pack would dissolve into chaos.


    Better to keep it contained within the walls of the mansion.


    ¡°Don''t ever trust his advice,¡± Gabri murmured from the corner of the room.


    Xander and | both jumped.


    She''d been so quiet, that we¡¯d almost forgotten she was there.


    ¡°| don¡¯t intend to,¡± Xander said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°Then what are you going to do about Mason?¡± she asked.


    This wasn''t the time for this.


    Xander¡¯s rage was hitting a boiling point, and Gabri was pushing him further toward the edge.


    ¡°What are you going to do about Mason?¡± Xander snarled. ¡°Your cheating husband is responsible for that


    moth erf ucker¡¯s existencel¡±


    As soon as the words left his mouth, his face twisted up in anguish.


    He turned away, grinding the palms of his hands into his eyes.


    Xander had never spoken to Gabri this way, and | never thought he would.


    That was no way to treat a Luna, especially not your own mother.


    But Gabri didn¡¯t let herposure slip for a second.


    She took a long breath in through her nose, her nostrils ring slightly.


    But when she spoke her tone was cold and even.


    ¡°Once you''ve both calmed down, we need to discuss what to do about Lanie.¡±

 Chapter 82

    Katie


    | walked up slowly, my heart still pounding.


    ¡°Take what¡¯s mine?¡± What the hell did Mason mean by that?


    He and Asher spun around when | approached, and both of them beamed at me like nothing had


    happened.


    The intensity of their gazes and the brightness of their smiles sent a burning blush across my cheeks.


    Maybe they weren''t talking about me at all.


    | was just being paranoid.


    Pregnancy hormones at it again.


    a


    ¡°Looks like you made a friend, too,¡± Asher said, wiggling his eyebrows. ¡°I knew you''d be fine.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, | guess.¡± | shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s a lot to take in. | still feel like | have so much to learn about the other


    packs.¡±


    Mindy had name-dropped the Constantine pack like should be impressed, or at the very least familiar,


    and now I was curious.


    Asher waved off the idea. ¡°Nah, you''ll probably never see these people outside of this event.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, thankfully they don¡¯t f u ck with us rogues too much.¡± Mason threw his arm over my shoulders casually, and butterflies


    fluttered in my stomach. ¡°So we don¡¯t have to worry about getting caught up in their petty drama.¡±


    ¡°| guess. But Mindy mentioned her pack... Constantine, | think? | tried to make my voice sound casual. ¡°Do you know what


    they''re all about?¡±


    Mason¡¯s arm stiffened, and | swore Asher¡¯s eyes darkened a shade.


    But just as quickly they''d both recovered, flirty smirks returning to their faces.


    Did | imagine it?


    ¡°Wealthy a ss holes,¡± Mason said glibly.


    Asher nodded in agreement. ¡°So far up their own as s es, they think they¡¯re the only pack that matters.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t wanna talk about them,¡± Mason said, removing his arm and draining the rest of his drink in one gulp. ¡°I wanna have fun.


    A few hourster, the night was finally winding down and the boys were sobering up,


    Alot.


    I''d be lying if | said | didn¡¯t enjoy it, but it was overwhelming too.


    These men barely kriew me, and | was about to pop out a pup that wasn¡¯t theirs...was their flirting actually


    genuine?


    They led me outside, my arms h ooked through each of theirs.


    | tried to chase away my anxious thoughts and just closed my eyes, luxuriating in the feeling of being


    wanted.


    Suddenly, a lightning bolt of pain shot through my head, and it was like | was transported to a different


    time and ce.


    very powerful.


    Two other wolves stood beside me, big and strong and very


    Two wolves I''d never seen before...or had |?


    When | opened my eyes and saw Mason and Asher standing there instead, it was like my


    short-circuited.


    brain


    My heart stopped, then hammered hard against my chest, causing a wave of nausea to sweep over me.


    Of course they were standing beside me.


    Who the hell else would be there?


    Go ds, was | actually going crazy?


    Suddenly, Mason¡¯s phone rang, breaking me away from my thoughts.


    His arm slid out of mine and when he looked at the caller, his face paled, and his gaze darted to Asher.


    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± | asked, already shaken up from my weird vision


    Mason shot me a half smile, before starting to back away.


    ¡°Just a call Asher and | need to take.¡±


    Asher¡¯s arms slipped from mine, and suddenly | was standing alone, wondering what the hell had just


    happened.


    ¡°Hey, Katie!¡± | whipped around, still on edge, and saw Mindy walking out of the lodge, nked by two gigantic, meathead wolves.


    Those had to be the High Guards she mentioned.


    ¡°This is Maxim and Monroe.¡± She gestured to the identical-looking men.


    They nodded, barely smiling.


    ¡°Hi,¡± | said politely.


    Not this s hit again.


    Mindy seemed sweet, but she could¡¯ve used a little work on her social cues.


    What person wants to hear a stranger tell them multiple times that you look like their dead BFF?


    ¡°She does,¡± Monroe said, looking me up and down with a wary expression.


    Or maybe it was Maxim.


    Impossible to tell these giants apart.


    Out of the corner of my eye, | saw Mason walking back over, but as soon as he caught sight of Maxim and Monroe, his face


    nched, then turned an angry red.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    What was going on with him?


    ¡°Mason, you met Mindy. And this is-¡±


    Mason cut me off, his tone curt.


    ¡°Asher¡¯s getting the car ready. It¡¯s time to go.¡±


    He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him, hard enough that | lurched forward.


    We''d only walked a couple of steps before one of the guards called out,


    ¡°Mason!¡±


    He froze, his breathing heavy.


    We both turned around to face the two men. Their eyes were narrowed in suspicion.


    ¡°Haven''t we met before?¡±

 Chapter 83

    life.


    Katie


    Asharp pain ripped through my belly.


    Something between a roar and a scream tore from my lips, and | stumbled, clinging to Mason for dear


    My vision blurred as another stab of pain stole the air from my lungs.


    Distantly, | heard Mason calling my name, asking me if | was okay.


    | was not f ucking okay.


    But | was in too much pain to tell him that.


    My vision briefly came back into focus, and | could see Mason waving away Mindy and her mates.


    ¡°I''m getting you to the car,¡± he murmured. ¡°You''re gonna be okay.¡±


    And then Mason wasying me across the backseat of Asher¡¯s car as another stab of pain shot through.


    my middle.


    Go ds, it was happening.


    | was going intobor.


    At least, | hoped it was that, and not something worse.


    ¡°Can we get her there in time?¡± | heard Mason ask in a low, anxious voice.


    ¡°It''s not ideal driving through these winding roads. But it¡¯s not like we can shift and carry her on our


    backs.¡±


    | whimpered uncontrobly, the pain getting more intense with each strike.


    ¡°She''s in serious pain,¡± Mason said.


    Asher¡¯s hands mmed on the steering wheel.


    ¡®m takingl


    ¡°| know! to Stillwood. It¡¯s close, and my mom can help.¡±


    Asher nced back at me, and our eyes met. His were wide and ssy with fear.


    Another st of pain.


    And then everything went ck.


    | awoke with a start to the sound of multiple worried voices.


    ¡°We came as fast as we could!¡±


    ¡°She could''ve f ucking died!


    inn?


    ¡°She¡¯s waking up.¡±


    Another familiar voice.


    | blinked slowly, and Quinn¡¯s mother¡¯s face floated into focus.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°Sable?¡± | asked in a cracked whisper.


    ¡°Katie, you''re going to be okay. But | might ask you to push soon.¡±


    Push?


    ¡°Why? | don¡¯t...¡±


    Another stab of pain, and it came back to me.


    This pup needed to get the f uck out of my stomach,


    ¡°Shhh,¡± she said, patting my arm. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m a healer.¡±


    This didn¡¯t make sense.


    She worked at the Stillwood school.


    ¡°Healer?¡± | croaked out. ¡°I thought you were a teacher?¡±


    ¡°Still sassy, even in excruciating pain. That¡¯s why | like you.¡± Sableughed.


    ¡°I''m a healer, too. Many of us rogues train for multiple jobs. There are no hierarchies here.¡±


    While she spoke, | felt two people grab each of my hands.


    Asher and Mason.


    ¡°You''re still here?¡± | asked in a small voice...


    ¡°Yes.¡± Asher smiled. ¡°You''re not getting rid of us that easily.¡±


    ¡°lm here, too, Katie!¡±


    Ahand rested on my knee, and | looked up to see Quinn standing by my bed, too.


    Tears rushed to my eyes.


    Thank the go ds she was here.


    After all the night¡¯s weirdness, seeing her reminded me that I was still me.


    | was Katie, | lived in Stillwood, and | was having my baby.


    ¡°The pup is early, so we need to be very careful,¡± Sable instructed another healer in a hushed voice.


    My ears perked up.


    Was something wrong?


    Quinn¡¯s mother could sense my distress.


    ¡°It''s alright, Katie. You¡¯re only a couple weeks early. It¡¯s rare, but not unheard of.¡±


    She gave me a soft smile, but even through the pain | could tell that she was concerned.


    Looking around, | saw the same unease mirrored on all of their faces.


    I


    ¡°What happens when pupse early?¡± My voice shook, and | squeezed Asher¡¯s and Mason¡¯s hands


    harder.


    ¡°It''s usually fine,¡± Sable said ominously. ¡°But not always...¡±

 Chapter 84

    Xander


    ¡°What about Lanie?¡± | demanded, stomping toward my mother.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    There was that name again.


    It hade to Zane and me so quickly, and we still couldn¡¯t exin why.


    Was my mother about to give us answers?


    ¡°She''s a girl,¡± my mother said. ¡°And she¡¯s the older twin.¡±


    | blinked hard.


    What the f uck did that matter?


    ¡°She can¡¯t be the heir to the Alpha title if that¡¯s what you¡¯re suggesting,¡± | said.


    The eldest boy is the heir,¡± Zane agreed.


    My mother shook her head.


    ¡°The eldest child,¡± she corrected. She sighed deeply. ¡°G ods, what are we going to do about this?¡±


    ¡°Will anyone know the difference if we say the boy was born first?¡± | asked.


    I''d never heard of a she-wolf Alpha before.


    It didn¡¯t seem like a possibility before now.


    ¡°Let''s hope not. The Constantine pack values tradition above all else. As much as | would love to see a she-wolf leading the


    pack, | think people would have a very hard time epting that.¡±


    Her brows knitted together


    ¡°And the Elders... | can¡¯t imagine how their mating ceremony would go with a female Alpha.¡±


    ¡°Then we keep this a secret,¡± | said. ¡°Tell everyone the boy was born first.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡±


    my mother said sadly. ¡°Otherwise you''re putting this pup you''re calling Lanie in grave danger.¡±


    -My palms were sweating.


    So far, my Alpha reign had been easy, especially after the chaos of the Great Wars.


    | hadn''t had to address my whole pack since the day my father passed the title onto me.


    | remembered how nervous | was, my palms sweating, my voice shaking.


    Yearster, this sh it didn¡¯t feel any easier.


    | was about to tell everyone that Alice had died.


    And somehow | had to leave out the part where she¡¯d cheated on me and Zander.


    ¡°You''re gonna be fine, I''ll be right behind you,¡± Zane said.


    Beads of sweat had broken out on his forehead.


    Maybe it was my own anxiety infecting his thoughts, too.


    We both stepped out onto the makeshift stage in the middle of the town square.


    | cleared my throat and stepped up to the microphone.


    ¡°Zane and | lost someone very special to us yesterday.¡±


    | hated the way my voice sounded in my ears.


    Was it sad enough? Was it strong enough?


    ¡°Our mate Alice died giving birth. But while we are mourning her loss, we are also celebrating the arrival


    of two healthy twin pups.¡±


    There was sc attered pping among the crowd, mixed with shocked and horrified expressions.


    They didn¡¯t know what the f u ck to do with this information, either.


    Here | was, their fearless leader, just as lost as they were.


    ¡°As you might imagine, this is a very difficult time for Zane and me emotionally,¡± | waved my hand behind.


    me toward Zane.


    ¡°We ask that you...¡± My voice broke, and | trailed off.


    Hundreds of eyes bore down upon me, scrutinizing me, judging me.


    My throat started to close up, and | struggled to take a full breath.


    | needed to get the f uck off this stage before | lost it


    I


    before someone could ask more questions...


    ¡°We ask that you respect our privacy at this time. We''re still handling pack business as usual alongside Luna Gabri. Anything


    you need, you can still-¡±


    ¡°HYPOCRITE!¡± a gruff voice called out across the crowd.


    Gregory.


    Of course that disgusting mo therf ucker had something to say.


    Zane and | were the reason he and Lucas weren¡¯t allowed to ever take another mate again. We should¡¯ve known they''d be


    plotting some kind of revenge.


    Here was the perfect opportunity.


    But she''d still died with us.


    The crowd chittered.


    Luca s¡¯s harsh voice rang out next.


    ¡°YOU should be the ones investigated by the Council¡±


    The crowd was growing more restless.


    Awicked smile slid across Gregory¡¯s face.


    ¡°Alice isn¡¯t the only mate they''ve killed.¡±

 Chapter 85

    Zane


    We stood frozen in ce while the whole crowd gasped and murmured amongst themselves.


    What the f u ck was Gregory trying to suggest?


    Alice was our only mate.


    She was the only she-wolf we''d ever been with.


    ¡°What the hell is he talking about?¡± Xander asked as he turned around to face me.


    His face was twisted up in confusion.


    ¡°Probably making up some b ullsh it to get us back for the investigation stuff,¡± | reassured Xander.


    But as soon as | said it, a tingling sensation ran from the tips of my fingers and up my arm, wrapping


    I


    around my neck.


    de scratched at my insides like he was telling me not to ignore the feeling.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Xander clutched at his chest.


    ¡°Is it Hunter?¡± | asked. ¡°de is acting weird, too.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Something about this doesn¡¯t feel right.


    Why were our wolves suddenly going into fight mode?


    Did they know something we didn¡¯t?


    Suddenly, Gabri rushed onto the stage and pushed us back.


    She waved two massive guards over to handle Gregory and Lucas while she ushered us away from the


    crowd.


    Of course the one time we really needed Maxim and Monroe to back us up, they were away on business.


    Once we were inside a car and racing back home, Xander finally asked Gabri, ¡°What the f uck was that


    all about?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we had one mate,¡± | said. ¡°Alice. And we didn¡¯t f ucking kill her.¡±


    Gabri shook her head.


    ¡°| know,¡± she said calmly. ¡°They were projecting. Gregory and Lucas are the ones who killed two of their mates. They¡¯re just


    getting you back for not letting them take Alice as their mate.¡±


    It was the same thing I''d suggested to Xander, but evening from Gabri, | didn¡¯t quite believe it.


    ¡°Yeah, that makes sense,¡± Xander said, but he was twisting his hands in hisp. He was still uneasy, too. 1/2


    Aldon had given us the option, given their checkered history with she-wolves, but we¡¯d decided against it.


    ¡°You know if we¡¯d banished them, they would¡¯ve been sent to one of the rogue towns like S are no hierarchies or fixed rules like


    we have-they would¡¯ve taken advantage of that.¡±


    My stomach turned over imagining them terrorizing rogue towns, taking who and what they wanted


    without consequence.


    There


    ¡°They would¡¯ve taken another mate to abuse or kill. And there would be no Elders or Council to punish them. No Alpha to protect


    the weak she-wolves they would prey on.¡±


    Xander nodded.


    ¡°You made the right decision,¡± Gabri reassured us


    She had a soft spot for rogues and their territories, unlike most Constantine wolves, who acted like rogues were so far beneath


    them that they might as well not exist.


    ¡°Speaking of Stillwood,¡± Xander said, ¡°Did Maxim and Monroe have anything to share from the gathering at the lodgest night?¡±


    ¡°They''ve just arrived back at the mansion,¡± Gabri said. ¡°They''ll meet you in the library to debrief.¡±


    A few minutester, we approached the entrance to the library, where Maxim and Monroe were standing


    with their mate, Mindy.


    We rarely spoke to her, mostly just brief hellos when we passed in the hallways.


    But in thest few months, we¡¯d barely seen her at all.


    Mindy kissed them each on the cheek before turning to leave.


    At least they seemed to be doing well.


    Someone in this house deserved a happy ending...


    ¡°Maxim, Monroe,¡± Xander said curtly as we approached the three of them, ¡°We need the report on the


    regional gathering.¡±


    But when Mindy saw Xander and me, her face turned a deep shade of red and her eyes went wide.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a good thing you two didn¡¯t go,¡± she said ominously.


    Maxim and Monroe exchanged worried nces.


    ¡°| met a woman there who looked exactly like Lanie.

 Chapter 86

    Katie


    I''d been inbor for nearly twelve hours.


    Last night, | didn¡¯t think I¡¯d survive another second with this pup inside me, and now here | was, still breathing through


    contraction after contraction.


    Asher had left at some point in the middle of the night when things really started to get intense.


    | didn¡¯t me him, though.


    It wasn¡¯t like this kid was his, and his mother and sister were still by my side, and that was all | really


    needed.


    And yet, Mason had stayed.


    He was still there, right by my side, holding my


    hand!


    It was just the two of us in the guest room right now while Quinn and Sable took a brief break.


    Another contraction hit and my back arched involuntarily as it coursed through my body.


    Alow, rumbling growl echoed from inside me.


    My voice was too weak and h oa rse to scream anymore.


    | squeezed Mason''s hand again, so hard | thought his bones might break, but he didn¡¯t even flinch.


    It finally passed and | copsed back onto the bed.


    ¡°I''m worried I''m gonna mangle your hand,¡± | said breathlessly.


    Heughed.


    ¡°Don''t worry,¡± he said, flexing his arm muscles, ¡°I can take it.¡±


    To be fair, his arms were pretty f u cking huge.


    Sometimes, during particrly painful contractions, would stare at them just to make it through.


    Thank the go ds he¡¯d thrown on that tight t-shirt after the party.


    now¡±


    ¡°Plus, there¡¯s no way that what I¡¯m going through is anything close to the pain you''re dealing with right


    Damn.


    This guy was good.


    ¡°You know, you really don¡¯t have to stay here,¡± | told him. ¡°You''ve been up all night, and Quinn and Sable can handle this. You


    should get some rest.¡±


    ¡°Nope, we''re not having this conversation again. You''re stuck with me, kalle. Mynt


    and my wolf agrees.¡±


    Okay, this guy was really good.


    | was definitely blushing, but | doubted he could tell. My face was probably a blotchy, sweaty mess.


    Between that and the screaming, | was shocked | hadn¡¯t run him off.


    But also very, very grateful that he¡¯d stayed.


    | ¡°You might change your tune once this pup is actually shooting out of me,¡± | said.


    ¡°Shooting?¡± He coc ked his eyebrow, and we bothughed. ¡°Then I guess this is a good time to tell your that I¡¯m a pretty skilled


    catcher, too.¡±


    The corner of his mouth quirked up in a devious little smirk.


    Apleasant pric kle of heat crawled up the back of my neck that had nothing to do withbor.


    ¡°What can¡¯t you do, Mason?¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°I''m the son of an Alpha; we''re born to handle just about everything.¡±


    Wait, what?


    How could he have failed to mention that little detailst night?N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    And how did the son of an Alpha end up in rogue territory?


    ¡°Mason, you didn¡¯t tell me...¡±


    But | trailed off when | felt it.


    Another contraction, ripping up my back and radiating out through my whole body like white-hot.


    | clenched my teeth hard, the pain so intense | couldn¡¯t make a sound.


    This time felt different.


    ¡°Something''s happening.¡± | finally wheezed out.


    ¡°SABLE!¡± Mason yelled, then turned back to me. ¡°Breathe, Katie, breathe.¡±


    But then there was another stab of pain, and | felt my pup move between my pelvis.


    ¡°The pup ising...¡± | managed to breathe out as Sable and Quinn rushed into the room.


    ¡°It''s time to start pushing,¡± Sable instructed.


    | bit back another scream, squeezing Mason''s hand for dear life while | felt myself parting around the pup¡¯s head, a burning pain


    engulfing everything below my chest.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, Katie. You¡¯re doing great,¡± Sable encouraged. ¡°Again.¡±


    and pushed as hard as | possibly could.


    I felt a release.


    It was happening.


    | was almost there.


    Tears stung my eyes, from both pain and relief.


    ¡°Stop!!¡± Sable yelled.


    The fear in her voice made my heart lurch.


    ¡°The cord is wrapped around the pup¡¯s neck.¡±

 Chapter 87

    Katie


    ¡°Is everything going to be okay?¡± | demanded.


    Amoment ago, speaking seemed impossible, but now that my pup was in danger, there was nothing |


    wouldn''t do.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    ¡°| have to remove the cord, otherwise the pup can¡¯t breathe,¡± Sable said. ¡°It¡¯s not tooplicated. I''ll tell you when to push


    again.¡±


    Quinn came to my side and grabbed my other hand.


    I shut my eyes tightly, willing everything to be alright,


    Mason and Quinn both squeezed my hands.


    After what felt like an eternity passed, a wail echoed through the room.


    My baby.


    ¡°Okay, I''ve unwrapped the cord,¡± Sable said, and her voice was stronger, more encouraging now. ¡°One


    more push, Katie.¡±


    | pushed with everyst ounce of energy | had left.


    Searing hot pain shredded through me, like | was being ripped down the middle.


    And then release.


    ¡°It''s a healthy girl!¡± Sable yelled over my pup¡¯s high-pitched cries


    Quinn squealed with excitement, and through my tears, | could see Mason beaming.


    ¡°Is Katie okay, too?¡± he asked his mother.


    ¡°She¡¯s lost some blood, but nothing concerning. I''d call it a sess.¡±


    Mason turned back to me and pushed back my hair from my face.


    ¡°That was bada ss, Katie,¡± he said softly, squeezing my hand once more. ¡°You''re going to be an incredible


    mom.¡±


    My heart swelled.


    But before | could even thank him, he was out the door and Sable was standing at my side with my beautiful baby girl.


    My heart leapt.


    The pain left my body, and it was like | became weightless.


    ¡°You need to shift now, Katie. You tore when you birthed the pup, and you''re losing blood, but it will healpletely when your


    wolf takes over.¡±


    Atush of joy flowed through me at the thought of finally meeting my wolf for the first time.


    That | could remember, anyway...


    My body had been so focused on growing this baby that I¡¯d barely felt her presence.


    | knew she was lurking somewhere deep in my soul, thanks to my little encounter with Masonst night, and | couldn''t wait to set


    her free.


    ¡°It''s important tomune with your wolf as soon as you can, so you don¡¯t weaken the connection,¡± Sable exined. ¡°She


    needs to bond with the baby just like you do.¡±


    Already she was running circles inside me, desperate to be let out.


    ¡°Lily, you''re there,¡± | said to my wolf.


    | guess that was her name...


    ¡°I''ve been here all along,¡± she answered.


    Quinn offered me her hands, and | stood slowly.


    My knees nearly buckled, and | had to look up to keep from seeing the thick, red blood dripping onto the


    floor.


    ¡°Close your eyes, Katie,¡± Quinn whispered. ¡°Let your wolf take over.¡±


    | squeezed my eyes shut, and Lily immediately broke free.


    My head flew to the sky, my back arched, and my nightgown ripped to shreds as fur sprouted from every pore on my body.


    Lily went to Sable immediately.


    She bent down slightly, so my pup was level with my head.


    My wolf took in her scent, and my


    whole body vibrated, my fur rippling from my head down to my tail.


    Lily leaned in, brushing my fur along my tiny pup¡¯s skin.


    She''d been crying since she¡¯de out of the womb, but suddenly she stopped,


    We turned back around to face her, looking into her tiny eyes, and it was like she could see straight into our soul, and we could


    see into hers.


    Light seemed to blossom from the small space between us, and a warm flood of emotion erupted from my heart, traveling


    through my wolf''s body, down to the pads of my paws.


    It was love.


    The strongest I¡¯d ever felt before.


    But than Illumn harbina sunu and a lesu anul care un in mu throat


    It sounded like a warning.


    ¡°No,¡± Lily was saying. ¡°No, no, no,¡±


    Every hair on my body stood up.


    Something was very wrong.

 Chapter 88

    Katie


    I''d finally managed to shift back to human again, but | was still shaken up.


    What if Lily had struck at Sable or Quinn?


    What if | hadn''t gotten control again?


    | looked down at my new baby, so beautiful in her bass, but something still felt off.


    Why had Lily''s emotions shifted so quickly?


    What could she sense that | couldn''t?


    ¡°Are you still worried?¡± Sable asked as she rubbed my back. ¡°It¡¯s not umon for wolves to act with caution. It¡¯s clear the


    connection was there, regardless of what happened after.¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°| get that, but | can just feel it. Something¡¯s off with the baby.¡±


    I''d already tried to exin, but Sable refused to see anything but the positive side.


    | could see where Quinn got it from.


    She gave me a sympathetic smile.


    ¡°Your body¡¯s released so many crazy hormones, it¡¯s no wonder you''re feeling out of whack.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Tell me about it,¡± | said, rolling my eyes.


    My wounds had healed, but | still felt unsteady on my feet.


    ¡°Give it time, Katie. Hold your baby, feed her, keep her close.¡± Sable gave me a squeeze. ¡°All will feel right. in time, | promise.¡±


    | reached down and ced my hand on my baby¡¯s chest.


    That love was still there, so strong it physically hurt.


    But | couldn¡¯t help but feel like something was missing.


    Xander


    My mind went nk for a moment.


    There was a woman at the party who looked like Lanie?


    Our baby who''d literally been born yesterday?


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Mindy turned bright red. ¡°...1 forgot we werent supposed to m


    She nced from Maxim to Monroe and bit her lip.


    Then she ran off without another word.


    Strange girl.


    ¡°What the f uck was that?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°F uck if | know,¡± | answered.


    Why would Mindy know our daughter''s name?


    For all we knew, Maxim and Monroe didn¡¯t even know her name.


    But they were acting strange, too.


    ¡°Sorry about that, Alpha Xander,¡± Monroe said gruffly, ¡°Mindy gets bored sometimes and she wanders.¡±


    Maxim nodded. ¡°She hears things she doesn¡¯t understand.¡±


    | narrowed my eyes at them.


    They weren''t telling me the whole story.


    But perhaps they would once we discussed the regional gathering.


    ¡°Make sure she stays in her quarters from now on,¡± instructed.


    They bowed slightly, signaling their understanding, and we headed into the library.


    ¡°Anything to report on the gathering?¡± Zane asked as we all took seats by the firece.


    ¡°Overall, it seemed to go smoothly,¡± Maxim said. ¡°No fighting, no probing questions on your absence. There was only one thing


    that concerned us.¡±


    Alook passed between them.


    Oh go ds, here we go.


    Zane and | already had enough to deal with. Alice¡¯s death, a secret brother, a firstborn girl, Gregory and Lucas making our whole


    f ucking pack question whether or not we were murderers.....


    | couldn''t handle anotherplication.


    ¡°What is it?¡± | asked pinching the bridge of my nose.


    The p


    pressure building in my head was making my teeth ache.


    ¡°There was a man there who seemned odd,¡± Monroe said. ¡°He was mostly just speaking to rogue territory wolves who had been


    enforcers or guards in their former packs.¡±


    Zane shifted in his seat and shed me a worried look.


    F uck.


    Clearly, this guy was nning something


    The question was, who was the target


    ¡°Who was this guy?¡± Zane asked. ¡°Did you get an ID


    ¡°Yes. His name is Mason.¡±

 Chapter 89

    Katie


    There was a knock at the door.


    Quinn had told me she¡¯de by, and | was as excited as ever to see her.


    She''d been visiting every day around this time to give me a much-needed break.


    It was probably the only reason | hadn¡¯t gone totally insane fromck of sleep.


    | shifted Ste from myp onto my shoulder.


    I''d just named her today, finally settling on something that felt worthy.


    When | opened the door, | was surprised to see Mason standing there.


    ¡°| hope you don¡¯t mind a surprise visit.¡±


    A flirty grin spread across his face.


    My eyes drifted from his full lips, down to his broad chest.


    He was wearing another tight t-shirt that showed off his sculpted torso and arms, and his long hair was


    perfectly tousled,


    | touched my own hair absently, tossed up in a thick-as s mom bun.


    Cool cool cool.


    Very sex y, Katie.


    ¡°No, not at all.¡±


    Ste stirred slightly in my arms, and | worried she might cry.


    Babies. The ultimate coc kblo ckers.


    But when she opened her eyes and saw Mason, her face lit up with a gummy smile.


    ¡°Looks like she doesn¡¯t mind, either,¡± | said.


    ¡°She¡¯s so cute.¡± Mason ran a gentle finger down her little arm. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s gonna have your hair


    color.¡±


    1 beamed


    Ste already had a thick dusting of hair the same ci nnamon red-brown as my own.


    We settled onto the couch and | noticed Mason was holding a neatly wrapped package,


    ¡°For baby,¡± he said, handing it over to me.


    ¡°Here, | can take her.¡± Mason reached out his arms.


    For some reason, | didn¡¯t even hesitate.


    Even though | didn¡¯t have a f ucking clue if this man had ever


    held a bare


    y in his life, | liked the idea of it.


    And when he took her, so unbelievably tiny in his giant arms, my heart melted into a puddle,


    Ste made pleased little grunting sounds as she settled into Mason¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Damn, she really likes you.¡±


    | could¡¯ve watched them like that all day.


    Mason rocking her lightly back and forth, looking at her like she was the cutest thing in the world.


    Let''s be real, she was the cutest thing in the world, but | was her f ucking mother. Of course | thought that.


    But seeing her through Mason¡¯s eyes, the way she fit so snugly in his arms, it all felt so...right.


    | tore my eyes away from them long enough to open Mason¡¯s gift.


    A baby nket covered in quilted stars.


    Holy s hit.


    ¡°How d


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°Know what?¡± he asked.


    ¡°That her name is Ste? | just named her that today because she feels like the starlight of my life,¡± | said


    softly.


    He shook his head.


    ¡°| honestly had no idea.¡±


    Dam n. Why was everything he did so perfect?


    The nket was gorgeous and even matched my daughter''s f u cking name.


    My stomach flip-flopped, and | had the urge to lean closer, to get him to wrap one of those giant arms around me, too.


    But g ods, Quinn was supposed toe over.


    And Asher still liked me as far as | knew.


    What would she say if she saw me and her brother¡¯s best friend together?


    | nced toward the door uneasily.


    It wasn¡¯t like I''d promised Asher we¡¯d ever be more than friends.


    But it would probably sting if Quinn told him she''d seen us together again.


    Achirping sound rang through the air, and Ste wiggled in Mason¡¯s arms. 2/3


    ¡°S hit. My phone.¡±


    He handed her off to me gently and stepped out of the room to take the call.


    weird.


    Tassumed it was urgent if he had to answer so quickly, but the fact that he didn¡¯t exin at all...that was


    Or was | overthinking it?


    Ascratching sensation rose up from deep inside me a stirring that meant Lily was wing to the


    surface.


    | was still getting used to it after she¡¯d been quiet for so long.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± | heard Mason say in a low, choked voice.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    With Lily at the helm, it was easy to hear him through the cottage¡¯s thin walls.


    ¡°F uck,¡± he said, louder this time. ¡°Gather the guys from the regional packs immediately...you know what


    we have to do.¡±

 Chapter 90

    Katie


    Mason went quiet, and | heard his footstepsing back down the hall.


    Whoever he was talking to, it sounded urgent.


    And kind of...scary?


    Did this have to do with the phone call he got at the regional pack gathering?


    Whatever it was, it seemed best not to tell him I¡¯d overheard.


    It wasn¡¯t my business anyway, and maybe | was worrying too much.


    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± | asked in a casual voice.


    He blew out a deep breath. ¡°Oh yeah, it¡¯s fine.¡± He waved me off, but his eyes looked dark and unfocused.


    ¡°Just some ns have changed, is all.¡±


    He stood in the doorway to the living room, his fists flexing repeatedly.


    ¡°It''s nothing really.¡±


    He nced away from me, but before he did, | swore | saw his wolf sh in his eyes.


    What the hell?


    He was definitely hiding something.


    And it was getting him pretty f ucking riled up by the looks of it.


    ¡°Do you wannae sit back down?¡±


    | patted the spot next to me and Ste on the couch.


    ¡°Actually, | think | should go,¡± he said, still not meeting my eyes. ¡°I''ll visit you and Ste again soon.¡±


    He left quickly, without another word.


    Apr ickle of unease crawled up the back of my neck, but | rolled back my shoulders and shook it off. We all had


    had our own s hit going on, and Mason didn¡¯t need to tell me everything.


    Plus, if there was really some danger present, wouldn¡¯t Lily sense it?


    She seemed pretty da mn calm right now.


    | expected the door to shut behind Mason, but instead, | heard Quinn¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Oh, hey,¡±


    And then Mason¡¯s grunt of acknowledgment.


    Sh it.


    We''d been caught.


    Quinn walked into the living room, arms crossed, eyebrow coc ked.


    Uh oh, | was in trouble.


    ¡°Girl, | get the appeal there,¡± she waved toward the door Mason had just walked through, ¡°but you should¡¯ve stuck with my


    brother.¡±


    Da mn. Knew this wasing.


    1 like


    Asher, too,¡± | argued, but even | could tell it wasn¡¯t very convincing.


    Quinn rolled her eyes and plopped down on the couch next to me, giving Ste a gentle stroke under her


    chin before continuing.


    ¡°Mason is trouble. Even Asher told me so, and that¡¯s his best friend.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± | asked. ¡°I don¡¯t mind guys who are rough around the edges.


    | nodded down to Ste in my arms.


    ¡°lm a mateless she-wolf with a newborn baby. | can¡¯t really judge.¡±


    Quinnughed.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the kind of trouble I¡¯m talking about.¡±


    She bit her lip like she was deciding whether or not she should say something.


    My palms started to sweat.


    Honestly, | liked Mason.


    My wolf liked Mason.


    And dear go ds, that man was se xy.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    | wasn¡¯t ready for the illusion to be shattered just yet


    ¡°Listen, Katie,¡± she said. | didn¡¯t like how serious she sounded. ¡°I''ve hung out with those guys, and it¡¯s crazy the shi t Mason will


    say when he thinks I¡¯m not paying attention or that I¡¯m too drunk on Moonflower champagne to remember what we talked about.¡±


    My mouth went dry.


    ¡°What kinds of things?¡± | asked, my voice almost a whisper.


    ¡°Like the fact that he¡¯s some Alphas ¡®s ba stard son, for one,¡± she said.


    So that was why he didn¡¯t mention the Alpha thing sooner.


    He was a bas t ard child.


    Quinn¡¯s eyes went wide, and | held my


    ¡°He¡¯s been plotting his revenge against the Alpha¡¯s legitimate son ever since.¡±

 Chapter 91

    Xander


    ¡°Are you gonna tell me why the f uck Mason was at the regional gathering?!¡±


    Zane and | had called my father into the library after Maxim and Monroe dropped their bomb about my brother and his suspicious


    activities.


    talk.¡±


    ¡°Or why he was having discussions with rogue guards?¡± Zane asked.


    My father scoffed and scrubbed a hand down his face.


    ¡°How should | know?¡± His voice was sharp with irritation.


    Zane and | shared a suspicious look.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± | flexed my fists.


    How s tupid did he think we were?


    ¡°When Alice was on her deathbed, she wanted you to deliver a message to Mason. So clearly you two


    ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± my father spat.


    ¡°NO!¡¯ | roared. ¡°What''s ridiculous is that you¡¯re still hiding things from me even though your bas tar d son could put our entire


    pack in danger


    Zane came to stand next to me.


    Neither of us was letting my father leave until he finally told us the whole f ucking truth.


    ¡°Tell us the full story,¡± |manded, ¡°Or | willpel you to tell me.¡±


    My father¡¯s jaw clenched and his wolf danced in his eyes.


    Hunter wed at my insides, and beside me, Zane¡¯s body seemed to be humming with the effort of keeping de at bay.


    Two against one.


    My father might''ve been the Alpha once, but Zane and | were strong and much younger than he was.


    He didn¡¯t stand a chance against the two of us.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he finally said, ¡°I''ve been keeping tabs on Alice for years, assuming the two of you would mate with her eventually. If she


    was going to be our pack¡¯s Luna, | needed to make sure she could be trusted.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess,¡± | said. ¡°She couldn¡¯t?¡±


    My father shook his head.


    meet with the same guy.


    ¡°Mason,¡± Zane said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± my father answered. ¡°There was something familiar about him. But it wasn¡¯t until | walked into the bar myself one night to


    get a closer look at him that | realized...he looked just like you, Xander.¡±


    My mouth flooded with saliva and my stomach churned.


    ¡°| was nning on investigating him,¡± my father continued, ¡°but as | was leaving, he headed me off. And that¡¯s when he told me


    about the photo he¡¯d found. That''s when he told me he was my son.¡±


    | turned away from my father.


    Zane¡¯s hand rested on my shoulder.


    ¡°He was a smug mot herf ucker, Xander. | could tell he¡¯d known for a while. Hell, maybe that¡¯s why he was


    h ooking up with Alice in the first ce. To get to me.¡±


    | rubbed my temples, trying to loosen the mounting pressure in my head.


    ¡°| wanted to tell you, son. But not until | knew what he was nning.¡±


    His voice was softer, and shaky with guilt,


    Good. He should feel guilty.


    ¡°B ulls hit!¡± | growled, spinning back around to face him. ¡°You knew Alice was f ucking around on us for years. You could''ve given


    us a heads-up on that, at least


    My father sighed deeply.


    ¡°You weren''t mated, Xander. You and Zane were single, as was Alice. As much as it might hurt, she wasn¡¯t f ucking around on


    you.¡±


    ¡°Cool. Yeah, | guess you¡¯d know, since you''re such an expert in that department.¡±


    ¡°Shut your f ucking mouth,¡± my father snarled as his ws shot from his fingertips.


    Zane stepped between us, nting his hands on my father¡¯s chest.


    My father breathed in deeply, squeezing his eyes shut until his ws retracted again.


    At this point, | was ready for a f ucking fight.


    But if news got out that I''d f ucked up my own father, Gregory and Luca s¡¯s rumors about us being murderers might not sound so


    crazy after all.


    ¡°What about after mating?¡± Zane said, trying to move us forward. ¡°What about the night Alice was out with you, Orion? You still


    owe us an exnation for that.¡±


    ¡°She was saying goodbye to Maso n,¡± my father said, his eyes still closed. ¡°I went with her so nothing else could happen


    between them.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean the pups aren¡¯t his?¡± | asked.


    ¡°| already told you


    mating ceremony.¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    F uck.


    There really was no way to tell.


    What the hell were we supposed to do with this information?


    The only thing | could think of was to track down Mason.


    Right f ucking now.


    ¡°We''re going to find Mason,¡± | said.


    Zane looked at me like | was crazy.


    ¡°We should wait and see if he does anything else suspicious. He¡¯s a f ucking rogue, we have like ten times


    the power he has.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t think you''re going to have a choice soon,¡± my father said ominously. ¡°If he¡¯s going to act, he will do it quickly.¡±


    ¡°Then where is he?¡± | demanded.


    ¡°You''ll find him in Stillwood.¡±

 Chapter 92

    Zane


    The next day, Xander and | found a rare moment alone with the pups.


    while!


    He rocked Lanie gently while | held our baby boy.


    We''d decided to call him Isaac after my father who died in the Great Wars.


    He was only a week old, but already he kind of reminded me of him.


    He was gentle and patient and rarely fussy, and whenever his sister got upset, he would reach out his hand to touch hers.


    It was very f u cking cool.


    ¡°D amn, can you believe we''re fathers?¡± Xander asked.


    We''d been tied up with so much s hit the past week, from Alice¡¯s mourning to hunting down Mason to all Xander¡¯s family drama


    that we''d hardly had a moment to just breathe and be together.


    ¡°No way,¡± | said. ¡°But we sure do love hanging out with you guys,¡± | said in a sing-song voice as | touched my finger to Isaac¡¯s


    chin.


    ¡°Yes, we do,¡± Xander said in his own high-pitched baby voice. ¡°You''re our little killers.¡±


    We both looked at each other andughed.


    Who the f uck were we?


    Not the same men we were a week ago, that was for sure.


    | liked this new version of us, and | could tell by Xander¡¯s wide smile that he did, too.


    ¡°And no matter what your grandma or the rest of the pack says,¡± Xander cooed, staring down at Lanie. ¡°You''re going to be an


    amazing Alpha one day.¡±


    Katie


    ¡°Sorry | left in such a hurry yesterday,¡± Mason said as | let him inside.


    Ste was currently taking a nap, so we had a rare moment alone.


    ¡°Yeah, what was that all about?¡± | asked.


    After everything Quinn had told me, | was even more sure he''d been hiding something.


    ¡°Someone | was close to passed awayst week,¡± he said.


    His eyes shined with sadness.


    That exined why he seemed so distracted.


    He probably needed space to grieve.


    And here | was being all nosey.


    Way to go, Katie.


    Way


    ¡°Thanks. We hadn''t talked in a while, but still. It was hard to hear.¡±


    | guided him over to the couch and rested my hand on his knee.


    ¡°If you need anything. I¡¯m here for you,¡± | said.


    He gave me a crooked smile, and my stomach swooped.


    G ods, he was handsome.


    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m all good,¡± he said.


    Amu ffled grunt sounded from the back of the house.


    Ste was awake.


    And if | didn¡¯t get her up immediately, it would turn into a full-on wail.


    ¡°| think you could use some help more than | could,¡± he said as he got up off the couch.


    ¡°Oh no, you don¡¯t have to-


    But he waved me off.


    ¡°Please, let me. I¡¯m sure you hardly get any rest.¡±


    | didn¡¯t protest anymore.


    He was right. Even with Quinn¡¯s help, | was f u cking exhausted.


    Mason walked back to Ste¡¯s room, and when they came out, she was smiling and grabbing at the stubble on his face.


    ¡°Wow, she¡¯s never this happy when she wakes up.¡± | marveled.


    Mason seriously had the charisma of an old Hollywood star.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    No one could resist his charms


    Standing in front of me, holding my baby like it was the most natural thing in the world, it was hard to see the side of Mason that


    Quinn had warned me about.


    | saw someone strong, thoughtful, protective, a little sensitive.


    I still couldn¡¯t believe someone like that was drawn to me, a single mother with no power, but that didn¡¯t mean he was a ps ycho


    I''de here alone, I¡¯d spent all my nights alone...it was nice to have someone strong standing beside 2/3


    ¡°It¡¯s finally a little warmer out,¡± Mason said. ¡°What do you think about going for a walk?¡±


    Allittle whileter, we''d driven down the road to a park that was shared between Stillwood and the rogue territory where Mason


    was¡¯ from.


    We strolled leisurely, Ste in her stroller, and | found mysel


    between us.


    again by how natural things felt


    As we passed an older woman, she leaned down and admired Ste in her stroller.


    ¡°So beautiful,¡± she said, and my heart swelled. ¡°Looks just like Daddy.¡±


    She winked and then continued on.


    Masonughed lightly, but | couldn''t decide whether | was embarrassed or delighted¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s obviously confused,¡± he teased.


    But as | looked down at Ste and then back up at Mason, | wasn¡¯t wrong.


    realized that the wo


    | didn¡¯t know how | hadn''t noticed it before, but they really did look alike...


    I turned to Mason.


    ¡°Do you have something you want to tell me?¡±

 Chapter 93

    Katie


    as over


    Mason was over


    Again.


    This was the third day in a row.


    He¡¯dughed off my question about his and Ste¡¯s resemnce, assuring me | was only seeing it


    because | was looking for it.


    ¡°A days-old baby can look like anyone if you squint,¡± he¡¯d said.


    That made us both giggle so hard we''d cried.


    But over thest couple of days, | couldn¡¯t shake it.


    There were small mannerisms, like the way they knitted their brows together when they were frustrated or the way their lips


    curled up in impish smiles, that seemed undeniably simr.


    Plus, there was the fact that Mason and Ste had bonded more and more every day.


    Currently, he had her in his arms, feeding her a bottle.


    Awarm glow erupted from my chest and spread all the way to my fingertips in moments like these.


    Everything felt just...perfect.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Even Lily would stir when he was near.


    ¡°Mmm, that smell,¡± she¡¯d say. Or ¡°Get closer, touch him again.¡±


    She liked being near Mason as much as | did.


    ¡°If you keeping over and feeding her,¡± | told Mason, ¡°I¡¯m gonna get used to it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine with me,¡± he said, grinning mischievously ¡°Because | don¡¯t n on stopping anytime soon.¡±


    ¡°Good to know.¡±


    ¡°I''m drawn to you, Katie. And to Ste, too. I¡¯m sure you can tell by now,¡± he said, his zing gaze holding me hostage. ¡°I''ve


    never felt like this before. Especially so quickly.¡±


    My insides melted like warm chocte.


    ¡°| feel the same way, Mason. Truly¡±


    ¡°Listen,¡± he said, setting down the bottle and moving closer to me. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back home.¡±


    ¡°What...what do you mean?¡±


    My heart was hammering.


    | liked having him over, but not like....permanently.


    That would be moving way too fast.


    Wouldn''t it?


    ¡°| mean I¡¯m content just staying with Asher right now so I can be near you and Ste.¡±


    Relief flooded through me.


    He wanted to stay, but he wasn¡¯t pushing me.


    Mr. Perfect strikes again.


    He reached forward with his free hand and brushed my hair back.


    Little jolts of electricity seemed to dance across every ce his skin touched mine.


    ¡°| just want more time with you,¡± he said,


    His face was so close, his full lips inches from mine.


    Was this going to happen?


    Was he going to kiss me?


    | closed my eyes, anticipating his touch, but instead, heard a pounding on the door.


    My eyes flew open.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± | said.


    [ran to the door and Asher rushed in, his face flushed and his darting everywhere.


    ¡°Where''s Mason? Is he here?¡±


    ¡°Da mn, hello to you, too.¡±


    ¡°lm serious, Katie.¡±


    He turned his gaze on me and his eyes shed with his wolf.


    I''d never seen him like that before.


    ¡°Yeah he¡¯s in the living room.¡±


    Asher ran in and | followed.


    ¡°What the f uck, man?¡± Mason said. ¡°You could¡¯ve called.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Asher said breathlessly. ¡°They''re here.¡±


    Mason¡¯s face drained of color.


    ¡°Alpha Constantine and his Beta. They¡¯re in Stillwood¡±


    eyes

 Chapter 94

    Xander


    ¡°Da mn, this ce is pretty cute,¡± Zane said,


    He looked through the window of the cafe booth we were sitting in and took in the bustling main road.


    ¡°| was expecting to see people getting like... murdered in the streets or something.¡±


    Stillwood was pretty quaint for a rogue town, and the surrounding forest made it look lush and


    picturesque.


    But | shrugged.


    ¡°| can¡¯t imagine not having a pack. Or hierarchies.¡±


    Zane took another huge slurp of coffee.


    ¡°They


    y seem to manage it pretty well. You just can¡¯t imagine not being Alpha.¡±


    He tossed a piece of toast at my face.


    ¡°What the f uck?¡± | growled.


    But then | ripped off a piece of bacon and threw it back.


    We were here to find Mason, but we''d decided to hang back and observe first, see how the town worked.


    ¡°How do you think all these people got here?¡± Zane asked,


    ¡°Dunno,¡± | shrugged. ¡°Theymitted serious crimes against the Council.¡±


    ¡°Shemitted serious crimes against the Council?¡± Zane asked, pointing to an olderdy carrying a bouquet of flowers and


    saying hello to everyone she passed.


    ¡°She was young once,¡± | said. ¡°Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover.¡±


    | nced back at the woman and everyone else on the street.


    Everyone seemed pretty friendly and happy.


    It was hard to imagine that we were looking at a bunch of criminals,Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    ¡°We should strike up a conversation with a local, get some more info,¡± | said.


    Zaned nodded.


    ¡°What about this guy?¡±


    A tall, broad-shouldered man with


    Zane turned around to get a look.


    andy blond hair lumbered in.


    ¡°What the hell is his problem?¡± Zane asked.


    my arm.


    | slid out of the booth to follow him, but Zane grabbed my


    ¡°Maybe he doesn¡¯t like neers. Let¡¯s just wait and see what happens.¡±


    | ripped my arm from his grip and threw myself back into the booth.


    ¡°Hey, | haven¡¯t seen you two around before.¡±


    | looked up to see a petite girl with short blonde hair standing in front of us.


    ¡°Apparently, you intimidated my brother, but | don¡¯t scare easily.¡±


    So this was the blond oaf''s sister.


    Interesting


    ¡°We''re here on business,¡± Zane told her. ¡°Looking for an old friend. Just came to town recently.¡±


    She pressed a thin finger to her chin and tapped.


    ¡°Hmm. are you thinking of Katie? Poor girl showed up a few months ago after some sort of ident,


    pregnant and alone.¡±


    | raised my eyebrow.


    This wasn¡¯t who we were looking for at all.


    But before | could correct her, she pushed on.


    ¡°She¡¯s my bestie now, though. And she just had her baby, so cute.¡±


    ¡°Oh how nice,¡± Zane said awkwardly.


    ¡°This is a waste of time,¡± | said to him through our mind link.


    ¡°Sorry, where did you say you were from?¡± the girl asked.


    ¡°The Constantine pack,¡± | said.


    No point in hiding it.


    ¡°Oh my g od!¡± she cried. ¡°My brother told me the craziest story about how this weirdo girl from your pack met Katie at the


    regional gathering and she kept telling her that she looked like her dead friend Lanie.¡±


    Zane and | froze.


    What the f u ck?


    Asick feeling churned in my stomach.


    That name again.


    And this time from a total stranger¡¯s mouth.


    But wait...


    ¡°Mindy,¡± Zane said.


    She''d said something about a girl at the pack gathering who''d looked like Lanie.


    Hunter pawed at my insides, making me even more nauseous.


    But before | could ask the girl another question, another man walked up beside her.


    He stood in front of me, a vicious smirk spreading across his face.


    ¡°Hello, brother.¡±

 Chapter 95

    Zane


    Oh, s hit.


    So this was Mason.


    ncing between them, it was easy to tell that he and Xander were brothers.


    Masons hair was longer, and he was rougher around the edges, but anyone could see they were rted.


    ¡°It¡¯s like looking in a mirror,¡± Mason said, taking the words right out of my mouth.


    Xander looked like he was going to make some smart-as sment, but then thought better of it.


    He looked Mason up and down.


    ¡°This is f ucking scary,¡± he said to me.


    ¡°Da mn right, it is.¡±


    ¡°Shall we talk outside?¡± Mason asked.


    ¡°After you,¡± Xander said, his voice thick with bitterness.


    We followed him onto the main street.


    ¡°Let''s cut right to the chase,¡± Xander said, puffing out his chest. ¡°What the f uck are you trying to do?¡±


    Mason narrowed his eyes at Xander.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± he said co olly.


    Xander scoffed.


    ¡°Sure you don¡¯t,¡± Xander said, matching his icy tone.


    It was scary how alike they sounded, too.


    But | could tell Mason was already working Xander up.


    His rage was boiling so fast, | felt like my insides were liquifying, too.


    ¡°Tm a f ucking Alpha,¡± Xander said. ¡°You think | can¡¯t kick your a ss up and down this street?¡±


    Masonughed and Xander¡¯s eyes shed a dangerous red


    | stepped between them.


    If this turned into a fight, we¡¯d never get any information out of Mason.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Zane. Leash your little dog,¡± Mason said wickedly.


    Oh f uck ma


    ¡°F uck you, Mason.¡±


    This


    guy deserved a beatdown.


    Ohhhh, I¡¯m so scared,¡± Mason said, wiggling his fingers.


    de was running circles inside me now, wing at me to be released.


    | closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, letting him rise to the surface.


    My ws ripped from my knuckles..


    Beside me, Xander¡¯s ws were out, too, and his canines glinted in the morning light,


    We were starting to draw attention to ourselves.


    Acrowd of people from the main street had gathered across from the cafe to watch us


    ¡°We don¡¯t acknowledge Alphas here,¡± Mason said, his voice seething with disdain. ¡°Your power has no


    meaning in Stillwood.¡±


    Sweat broke out along my hairline as | looked around at the growing crowd.


    What would happen if we attacked Mason?


    Would they all attack us?


    It suddenly seemed like were way out of our depth, confronting Mason in rogue territory.


    F uck


    ¡°What do we do?¡± | asked Zander.


    ¡°I''m trying to think,¡± he said. He clenched his jaw. ¡°There¡¯s so many f ucking people around.¡±


    Acold knot formed in my chest.


    ¡°Are you just gonna f ucking stand there, or are you gonna try to fight me?¡± Mason asked.


    But before we could decide, a woman ran up beside him, a baby swaddled in her arms.


    All the air left my lungs.


    Her face was creased with worry, her wildly long red-brown hair tumbling down her back.


    And her scent...N?velDrama.Org content.


    G ods, I¡¯d never smelled anything like it.


    | looked over at Zane.


    His nostrils were ring, too.


    Who the f uck was this?


    ¡°Mason, what''s going on?¡± she asked anxiously.


    When our eyes met, it was like the rest of the world tell away.


    de reared up inside me, pawing and pawing against my chest. | was


    to Xander.


    He wanted her. Badly.


    My back arched uncontrobly.


    de was forcing me to shift, forcing me to im this woman.


    ¡°She''s mine,¡± he said.


    Hunter was doing the same

 Chapter 96

    Katie


    Who the hell were these men and why were they fighting with Mason?


    As soon as | looked at both of them, their eyes darkened and then shed with their wolves.


    Their fists flexed as their ws shot from their fingertips.


    They were shifting.


    My heart pounded.


    Was | in danger?


    Was Ste?


    But why couldn¡¯t | move?


    | wrapped my arms tighter around my pup, shielding her face from these two leering strangers.


    Mason stepped between us, shielding me from the two strangers.


    ¡°That¡¯s close enough,¡± he said with a warning growl.


    | had the sudden urge to peek around Mason, to look into the two men¡¯s eyes again.


    Something about them had felt so familiar, especially the bigger one.


    What the hell was wrong with me?


    | should be running, begging Mason to scoop me up and take us home to safety.


    The two shifters were flexing their wolves, advancing on me, maybe even nning an attack.


    But then | felt it.


    Lily pawing at me persistently. ¡°That would never happen,¡± she said. ¡°You


    an trust the


    ¡°You''re just h orny for every big bad wolf that crosses your path these days,¡± | argued.


    She''d been this way with Mason, too.


    And that¡¯s when it hit me.


    | nced back up at the bigger shifter...he looked just like Mason.


    His hair was neater and he seemed more put together, but the resemnce was uncanny,


    What the f u ck was going on here?


    ¡°Who is that?¡± the bigger shifter asked, nodding at me.


    *Shoe not unur connor Macon enar


    I''d never seen him get so defensive.


    | bristled slightly.


    | liked it when he yed protector, but | wasn¡¯t ready to walk away from these two just yet.


    ¡°Katie,¡± | said quietly. ¡°My name is Katie.¡±


    Mason wheeled around to face me, a shocked and irritated look on his face.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    I''d surprised myself by speaking up, too.


    But | wanted these men to know me, and | wanted to know them, too.


    | felt like | already did in some strange way.


    ¡°Looks like she wants to get to know us after all,¡± the other shifter said.


    He was strong and handsome, too, but he didn¡¯t share the same features as Mason and his mysterious.


    twin.


    Another rumbling growl tore through Mason¡¯s chest, and his own ws extended.


    The three men stood in a face-off, their bodies humming with anticipation.


    S hit.


    This was about to be a dirty fight.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s enough!¡± An older, rugged-looking guy ran up and stood between them, facing the two strangers.


    | recognized him as the guy who ran the cafe. Hank was his name. He was normally friendly and smiling, but right now, there


    was nothing pleasant in his demeanor.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t how we do things here in Stillwood. We don¡¯t pick fights in the street.¡± His voice was even but dripping with anger.


    ¡°And you.¡± Hank rounded on Mason. ¡°You should know better than to engage with as sholes like this.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Mason¡¯s twin said. ¡°I¡¯m Xander Constantine, and this is Zane. We''re-¡±


    ¡°The Alpha and Beta, we¡¯re all well aware of that,¡± the older man said bitterly. ¡°Which makes your behavior even worse. You''d


    never tolerate a couple of strangersing into your pd and behaving like idiots.¡±


    Alpha and Beta, huh?


    So these guys were a big deal.


    Xander and Zane shared a dark look, and for a moment it seemed like they weren¡¯t going to back down, but then they closed


    their eyes and their ws retracted.


    ¡°Sorry for the disturbance,¡± Zane said, but he didn¡¯t look all that sorry.


    ¡°We''ll be on our way,¡± Xander said.


    ¡°But not without Katie.¡±

 Chapter 97

    her.


    100


    Mason


    Xander and Zane¡¯s wolves retreated, but mine wasn¡¯t going anywhere.


    And neither was Katie.


    Especially not with these two as sholes.


    She and Ste weren''t leaving my sight now.


    Not with Xander in town.


    The way that he and his Beta looked at Katie...it was like they wanted to devour her.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    | knew | couldn¡¯t trust them.


    Not with someone as precious as her.


    From the second I''did eyes on her at the regional gathering, | knew there was something different about


    My wolf knew it, too.


    He wouldn¡¯t leave me alone, practically begging me to get closer, to stay with her when she needed me.


    But he didn¡¯t need to beg.


    | needed to be near Katie, too. All the time, so | could protect her.


    | also wanted to im her, to kiss her, to touch her, but | didn¡¯t dare push it.


    | wanted her to want me as much as | wanted her before | touched her.


    We weren''t going to repeat what had happened between me and Alice.


    I''d already lost one person | loved to Xander and Zane, but even | had to admit it wasn¡¯t totally their fault.


    Alice was ying with me, twisting my emotions to get what she wanted.


    I''d told her | loved her, then made the mistake of confiding the biggest secret of my life: | was Orion¡¯s son,


    At the time, | thought she''d realize that | was as much an Alpha as Xander, and that she¡¯d finally leave him and Zane for good


    But she didn¡¯t


    And as it turned out, she¡¯d already confronted Orion about who | was. There | was, thinking I''d confessed my deepest secret to


    her, but she already knew.


    | st upidly convinced myself that it wasplicated, that she kept seeing me because she loved me. 1/3


    She was just covering all her bases by f ucking me and Xander.


    She never really loved me, even though my love for her was so real it nearly drove me mad.


    | didn¡¯t think that kind of love was possible again, not so soon after she¡¯d died, but then | saw Katie.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± | asked, turning to her and Ste.


    Katie nodded and swallowed hard.¡±


    But Ste¡¯s face twisted up, and she unleashed an anguished wail.


    Katie''s eyes welled up as she began rocking her back and forth, but Ste wasn¡¯t calming down.


    ¡°She¡¯s probably scared,¡± Katie said. ¡°She can feel that I¡¯m upset, too.¡±


    | felt my wolf retreat


    We both knew what we needed to do.


    | reached out for Ste, and Katie willingly handed her over.


    Her hands were shaking and she looked dazed.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said quietly.


    As soon as Ste was in my arms, she fell quiet and Katie gave me a soft, relieved smile.


    An all-consuming warmth bloomed in my chest and traveled through my body.


    I''d met Katie days ago, but looking at her already felt like being in love.


    Hell no were these arrogant bas tar ds going to take that away from me.


    Not again.


    Zane


    de wed at my insides incessantly.


    It had taken every ounce of willpower for Xander and me to push our wolves back down, and now that Mason was holding


    Katie¡¯s baby, de was going absolutely feral.


    ¡°Take her away from him,¡± de snarled. ¡°She doesn¡¯t belong to him.¡±


    ¡°Chill the f uck out,¡± | demanded.


    | was almost doubled over with the effort of calming him down.


    What de was saying didn¡¯t make any f ucking sense.


    The baby looked exactly like Mason


    He was obviously the father.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t belong to him. She belongs to you.¡±

 Chapter 98

    Katie


    ¡°Are you sure you''re okay?¡± Quinn asked again.


    I''d already told her yes about a dozen times.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    ¡®dam. You


    m. You don¡¯t need to keep asking,¡± | reassured her.


    After they nearly killed each other, Mason finally told me that Xander was his brother.


    Talk about a f ucking bomb drop.


    When | asked if he and Asher knew anything about the Constantine Pack, he¡¯d somehow left out that little


    detail.


    But | guess | understood why. They obviously didn¡¯t get along.


    Once Mason got me home safely, Quinn came over to keep mepany while he dealt with the


    and Zane situation.


    Xander


    For the past two hours, she¡¯d been quietly staring off into space, then ncing over at me every few minutes and asking if | was


    good.


    Now that Ste was down for her nap, Quinn''s weirdness was getting to me.


    ¡°What about you?¡± | asked.


    at


    She looked up at me again, a confused expression on her face.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked.


    ¡°You''ve been acting very...distracted ever since you came over.¡±


    Quinn sighed. ¡°I know you think Mason is really great with Ste, but I¡¯m just worried...¡±


    She trailed off and cleared her throat.


    ¡°I''m worried you think he¡¯s Ste¡¯s dad. And | can tell you for sure that he¡¯s not.¡±


    A twinge of annoyance flitted through me.


    ¡°Quinn, I¡¯m not stu pid,¡± | said in a huff. ¡°Plus, it would be super f ucking weird if Mason knew that Ste was his child and didn¡¯t


    say anything to me about it.¡±


    Realistically, | knew this.


    But the hopeful (or maybe extremely st upid) part of me wanted to believe that Mason somehow was Ste¡¯s father.


    They got along so well. And he and 1 did, too.


    After all, Mason was my...


    What would | even call him? My boyfriend?


    liked him, but we hadn¡¯t even kissed.


    G ods, this was way tooplicated.


    ¡°It''s just...l mean...are you sure you''ve never met Xander before?¡± Quinn asked.


    | co cked my eyebrow.


    ¡°Xander? Before today, | didn¡¯t even know his name.¡±


    Quinn bit her lip.


    ¡°Xander looks so much like Mason, and you always say Ste looks like Mason, so if Mason¡¯s not the dad


    then-¡±


    ¡°Oh please, Quinn. Don¡¯t even go there,¡± | scoffed. ¡°He¡¯s an Alpha. And | have zero memory of ever meeting him or his Beta


    before.¡±


    | took my hair down and then threw it back up into a messy bun.


    | was suddenly restless and needed something to do with my hands.


    Because the truth was, my wolf did act like she¡¯d known Xander and Zane.


    ¡°You can trust them,¡± she¡¯d said.


    But Lily was all over the ce ever since I''d shifted after Ste¡¯s birth.


    I''d barely heard a peep from her in the three-odd months | was pregnant, and now she seemed to awaken at the strangest times


    with the strangest thoughts.


    Right now, | wasn¡¯t sure she could be trusted.


    Xander


    ¡°What the f uck was that?¡± | roared, pacing the length of my and Zane¡¯s hotel room that evening.


    We''de to Stillwood to find Mason, and instead our heads had been totally f ucked by some random woman and her baby.


    An incredibly s exy woman named Katie whose scent was nothing like I''d ever experienced before.... Zane blew out a big breath


    and shook his head.


    ¡°No f ucking clue.¡± His eyebrows knitted together. ¡°de¡¯s never had a reaction like that to anyone, not


    ever...¡±


    He trailed off, but | knew what he was going to say.


    Alice.


    Our mate, the woman we''d loved.


    | thought back to our early days with her.


    She was beautiful, fun, and seemed like someone who would make a great partner.


    But had | felt that instant, all-epassing need to have her?


    We were so young, who could really say?


    And besides, all that was a lie anyway..


    Maybe we were still just hurt from her betrayal.


    Maybe Hunter was acting out of spite,tching onto the first truly gorgeous woman we¡¯d seen since all


    this horrible shi t had gone down.


    was.


    Or maybe there really was something special about Katie.


    Suddenly, the entire reason we were here had taken a backseat to figuring out who this mysterious Katie


    And why were our wolves practically tearing out of us to get to her?

 Chapter 99

    Zane


    ¡°Are you sure we should be doing this?¡± | asked Xander as we pulled up to a small cabin in the woods.


    Hank, who had broken up our fight with Mason earlier, had called us together for a more private meeting


    in his backyard.


    ¡°That way if things get ugly, you won''t disturb the locals,¡± he¡¯d said.


    Hank seemed like a nice enough guy, but | kept imagining us arriving and a whole group of rogues. descending on us, tying us


    up, and dumping us back in Constantine territory, beaten and bloodied.


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s gonna happen,¡± Xander had said. He seemed uncharacteristically calm about the whole thing.


    But | think he knew that if he blew his lid and Alpha¡¯d out on the Stillwood wolves, we¡¯d never get the


    information we needed on Mason and his beautiful mystery woman.


    And he also knew that if Mason tried anything here, the town wouldn¡¯t wee him back. Rule number


    one of living in neutral territory was to, well, keep it neutral.


    ¡°Nice to see you again, boys,¡± Hank said as he extended his hand.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    It couldn¡¯t have been more obvious that he was lying, but we shook anyway


    It was clear that his displeasure had more to do with the situation than with us in particr. Though when Orion had told us to go


    to Stillwood, we hadn¡¯t thought through what we were going to do...which was very uncharacteristic of us.


    We''d just acted.


    Anger, hurt, and too much adrenaline wasn¡¯t a goodbination for any Alpha.


    It was my job to keep things like this from happening. Unfortunately, | hadn¡¯t considered that until this


    moment.


    I''d let my emotions get the better of me. | felt betrayed, surprised, and was still reeling from the loss of


    our mate.


    | had no idea how this meeting was going to go, and | knew Xander hadn''t thought about it, either.


    Especially since setting eyes on Katie.


    Hank walked us around the back of his cabin to a sprawling yard overlooking the woods.


    Mason sat on a log in front of an impressive fire, a smug expression on his face.


    He was like a more punchable version of Xander.


    Hank gestured to the other logs and we all took seats around the mes.


    and you two don¡¯t have the same authority here as you do in Constantine.¡±


    Xander and | nodded, waiting to see what he would say next.


    ¡°| used to serve as a mediator for the Council,¡± he continued, ¡°and when | saw what was happening on the street, well, | guess |


    just couldn''t leave it alone.¡±


    | nced at Xander with a raised eyebrow.


    There was definitely a story there.


    ¡°We were out of line earlier. It wasn¡¯t necessary to make a scene,¡± Xander apologized.


    Mason looked up, a hint of surprise shining in his eyes. As if he hadn¡¯t expected Xander to admit to any


    wrongdoing.


    He looked away and tossed a twig into the fire, the leaping mes glittering in his dark eyes.


    ¡°Mason, why don¡¯t you start,¡± Hank said, taking a sip from a Thermos | hadn¡¯t noticed before.


    ¡°So, Xander, where is dear old Dad?¡± Mason asked bitterly. ¡°I would¡¯ve thought you''d bring him as backup.¡±


    Xander scoffed and remained silent for a moment, then said, ¡°I¡¯m the Alpha now, and this is between us.¡±


    Mason growled, low and gravelly.


    ¡°| know you''re the f ucking Alpha,¡± he said.


    Hank cut in. ¡°If this is going to work, you both need to respect each other, regardless of how you are feeling. It won''t go


    anywhere if you just needle each other.¡±


    | knew Xander didn¡¯t want to admit to having the same feelings as Mason, so | decided to force the issue for him.


    ¡°Xander¡¯s as mad and resentful of Orion are, Mason,¡± | said.


    as you


    ¡°F ucking traitor,¡± Xander said with a hint of bite.


    | looked over at him and shrugged.


    Mason barked out a humorlessugh. ¡°Oh, is he?¡± He turned his piercing gaze on Xander. ¡°Well, at least you had him in your life.


    At least he knew you f ucking existed.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, | did have him in my life, and you know what he gave me?¡± Xander asked. ¡°Lies, lies, and more lies. He lied to me, to my


    mother, to Zane, to you probably and now we''re all dealing with the fallout of his secrets.¡±


    | shook my head. ¡°Everyone is, considering what he did to end the Great Wars.¡±


    ¡°Don''t f ucking remind me,¡± Xander spat.


    ¡°I''m not your enemy, here,¡± | silently reminded Xander


    ¡°So what the f uck do you want with me?¡± Mason asked. ¡°What are you doing here exactly?¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± Xander answered. ¡°If I¡¯m being honest, | hadn¡¯t thought that through. | was told you were anina sround and


    annabing upth nnuseful unline at the natharina, an if stanarina for an attack


    Orion told me you were here and urged me to find you.¡±


    There was silence while Mason digested that information, nodding as he thought.


    ¡°Is that what you were doing, Mason?¡± Hank questioned.


    Mason opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again a secondter.


    ¡°Yes. Absolutely.¡±

 Chapter 100

    Mason


    | waited for the Alpha explosion | was expecting.


    Hank hovered, half-standing, prepared to dive between us if things got ugly.


    Xander¡¯s gaze locked on mine, his eyes shing with his wolf.


    But he didn¡¯t move.


    ¡°What did you think would happen if you attacked me?¡± he demanded in a cold, harsh voice. ¡°If your n was to take over as


    Alpha with a bunch of rogue mercenaries then you would''ve ended up killing half my


    pack.¡±


    | swallowed hard but kept my face stony.


    Xander wasn¡¯t wrong, but he¡¯d probably lose his s hit if | admitted that.


    ¡°You don¡¯t make friends and influence people by killing their loved ones,¡± Zane said darkly. ¡°The pack would never ept you as


    Alpha.¡±


    Xander and Zane shared a smug look like they knew they had me cornered.


    ¡°Did you think that through, Mason?¡± Hank asked.


    He was only trying to keep things civil, but right now, he was pi ss i ng me off.


    Their eyes were all boring into me, waiting for me to reveal my grand viin n and prove that | was the evil b astard child they


    already assumed | was.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    | would never give them the satisfaction.


    ¡°Maybe | didn¡¯t f ucking think it through!¡± | growled. ¡°I''d just found out that the woman | loved had died in your care.¡±


    Asnarl ripped from Xander¡¯s chest, and Zane shot up out of his seat.


    ¡°Don''t you dare act like we had anything to do with Alice¡¯s death,¡± Xander barked. ¡°You were the one f u cking her behind our


    backs.¡±


    I stood up, too, but much more calmly.


    He had no f ucking right to act like they owned Alice, | was in love with her long before they forced her to be their mate.


    ¡°If she''d been satisfied with you, then she¡¯d never havee to me,¡± | spat.


    Xanderunched himself toward me, but Hank was faster.


    He threw himself between us, one hand on each of our chests.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Hank cried. ¡°I said no needling. Drop it.¡±


    | threw my hands up. ¡°Happy to,¡± | said.


    I


    ¡°Fine,¡± Xander said. ¡°But | know you were talking to the rogue guards before Alice died. So don¡¯t pretend that it was just some


    grief-fueled rage or whatever. It was calcted.¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t have some grand n in ce when | was talking to those rogues at the gathering. I¡¯m not the evil mastermind you think


    lam.¡±


    ¡°Why should we believe that?¡± Zane asked as he walked over to where we were all standing now.


    ¡°| knew you''d both learn the truth about me one day. And about Alice. And when you did, | worried you¡¯de for me. I¡¯m af u


    cking rogue, and you''re an Alpha and Beta. | needed to surround myself with people who


    could protect me.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t the whole truth, but if Xander and Zane bought it, that was all that mattered.


    To be honest, | knew exactly what | was doing.


    Xander was known for being a benevolent Alpha, for giving people second chances. If some of those rogue guards could get


    back in his good graces, then maybe he¡¯d invite them back into the pack, and eventually allow them to join his High Guard.


    Once they were a part of his inner circle, they''d turn on him one by one, taking him down from the inside, giving me space to


    move in and take over as Alpha.


    There would be no innocent bloodshed, just good old-fashioned betrayal.


    And now | had Katie, the perfect Luna to stand beside me.


    If Xander believed my lie, my n could still work.


    It would take a while, but it would be worth it.


    Xander looked at Zane, who gave him an almost imperceptible


    heads


    shake.


    They looked back at me, their eyes narrowed suspiciously.


    ¡°I call bul Is hit,¡± Xander said.


    Da mmit.


    ¡°And | didn¡¯t take anything from you,¡± Xander argued didn¡¯t even know you f ucking existed. If you¡¯re mad about that, then take it


    up with my father.¡±


    ¡°Our father,¡± | growled. ¡°I would be happy to if that coward would show his face. | haven¡¯t even seen him since the night he


    brought Alice to say goodbye.¡±


    He¡¯d barely even looked at me that night.


    Why the f uck would he tell Xander and Zane toe find me when it seemed like he couldn''t wait to never see me again?


    2/3


    | don¡¯t know what f ucking answer you want from me | said throwing my hands up Yes, have wanted to get my revenge | have


    wanted to watch you suffer likeyou made me suffer. | wanted to take from you everything you took from me But now that you''re


    actually here.¡±


    | sighed, loud and long like | didn¡¯t want to admit what | was about to say next


    ¡°I''m not angry like | was. Not at you, anyway¡± | said ¡°Orion, though that¡¯s a different story¡±


    Xander¡¯s eyes locked on mine


    ¡°Thene with me to confront him?


    ¡°| don¡¯t know what f ucking answer you want from me, said, throwing my hand up. Yes,


    to get my revenge. | have wanted to watch you suffer like you made me suffer. | wanted to take from you everything you took


    from me. But now that you''re actually here...¡±


    | sighed, loud and long, like | didn¡¯t want to admit what | was about fo


    say next.


    ¡°I''m not angry like | was. Not at you, anyway,¡± | said. ¡°Orion, though...that¡¯s a different story.¡±


    Xander¡¯s eyes locked on mine.


    ¡°Thene with me to confront him.¡±

 Chapter 101

    Katie


    There was a knock at the door.


    Finally.


    I''d been alone since Quinn had left earlier that evening, and Ste had already gone down. | was anxiously waiting for Mason to


    come back


    He¡¯d told me Xander was his brother then rushed out before | could ask any questions.


    | knew there had to be way more to the story, the question was, would he tell me the rest?


    ¡°I''m so sorry | left in such a hurry earlier,¡± Mason said as soon as | let him in. ¡°My head was all over the ce, but | didn¡¯t want to


    leave you in the dark.¡±


    He pulled me into a hug, and when we pulled apart, he was smiling


    ¡°How¡¯s my girl?¡± he asked sweetly.


    My heart swelled every time he said that. My girl.


    ¡°She¡¯s sleeping, but she¡¯d be smiling like a madwoman if you were here,¡± | answered. Mason beamed.


    | wasn¡¯t ready to move on from his apology, though.


    ¡°But Mason, you did leave me in the dark.¡± His face fell a little. ¡°| know Xander is your brother, but | still


    don¡¯t understand why he¡¯s here now.


    He sank down onto the couch, and | joined him.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. There¡¯s so much | need to tell you.¡±


    His eyes were shining with some frantic emotion | couldn''t quite ce.


    | breathed in deeply, trying to see if his scent would give it away.


    But all | got was smoke.


    ¡°Where have you been? You smell like a chimney.¡±


    ¡°Campfire. | had a meeting with Xander and Zane. Hank mediated, hence why | came back in one piece.¡±


    He breathed out a smallugh, but the joke didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    ¡°Our father...¡±


    ¡°Was an Alpha,¡± | finished for him. ¡°Quinn told me.¡±


    name


    ¡°| wished | could''ve told you myself.¡± Mason pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Orion Constantine is his


    ¡°He didn¡¯t even know he had another son until | confronted him, and my mom died giving birth to me. | had no family, and


    everyone expected me to grow up faster and take care of myself, but | couldn¡¯t.¡±


    Tears sprung to my


    eyes imagining little Mason, lonely and confused, no one around to help him.


    | understood him, too, remembering when I¡¯d woken up in Stillwood with no memory of who | was or if |


    had any family at all.


    ¡°| was going to run away from home anyway, but then | found it¡±


    ¡°What?¡± | asked, my voice barely a whisper.


    ¡°A photo of my mother and Orion. My father was the Alpha of a neighboring pack. Rich, powerful, and he¡¯d never once tried to


    help me.¡±


    My heart panged for him, and for the family he never had.


    | reached out for Mason, and he took my hand in his


    ¡°| left-home and tried to find Orion, but a guard stopped me before | could get there. Without family or any ce to go home to, |


    was banished to the rogue territory | now call home.¡±


    ¡°I''m so sorry, Mason,¡± | said.


    He squeezed my hand.


    ¡°There¡¯s something else.¡± He fixed me with an intense gaze, not speaking for an excruciating few seconds. ¡°I¡¯m going to go to


    the Constantine pds with Xander and Zane.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± | cried.


    They''d almost ripped each others¡¯ heads off in the street.


    Now he was going to their territory where they had even more power and influence?


    ¡°| know it sounds crazy, but | need to figure this family s hit out,¡± he said. ¡°I had all these fantasies of challenging Xander and


    making him pay for having the childhood | always wanted. | guess | still feel that way


    a little, but | also want to get to know him.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    I


    | moved closer to him, taking him in my arms.


    His body was warm and solid against mine. Even when | held him | felt protected.


    ¡°| get that,¡± | said, running my fingers through his long, dark hair. ¡°If | had the chance to know my family, | would take it in a


    heartbeat.¡±


    He reached for my leg and gave it a tender squeeze.


    ¡°My head is such a f u cking mess right now,¡± he said, ¡°but being with you makes everything feel a little clearer.¡±


    He sat up slowly, his eyes tw inkling with something resembling hope.


    ¡°Katie,¡± he said, his voice sounding bright and hopeful. ¡°I want you and Ste toe with me.¡±

 Chapter 102

    Chapapter 102


    MMasonN?velDrama.Org content.


    Katitis and froze and dropped from my hair.


    Herltecheanupounded against my cheek.


    My Woltwoit vrunrunning anxious circles inside of me, and | could tell by her scent that something hard liftedted


    But she sud nd nating


    | sat up and surrchroned ter face.


    Her gaze wes du dagaandund the room and she was biting her lip.


    Had | scared her orolt?


    My own heart was the thoning has now


    ¡°What are you thinking?sted her slowly


    Part of me was afraid of the die weswer.


    If she said no to conting with a mud did that mean that this was over?


    Did that mean that hedvinnut the the best thing that had happened to me maybe ever?


    ¡°| don¡¯t know, she said distractedtendt not meeting my eyes. ¡°Without my memories, the thought of unknown scares me.


    She wrung her hands in her tap as she cu ntinotiqued to speak softly.


    ¡°The things I¡¯ve built in Stillwood are the only nterocot have. They may not be very d


    sdy to rip them up yet.¡±


    todo


    | took her chin in my hand and turned her head to be face me


    She finally looked into my eyes. Here were shining with with worry.


    | took her hands in mine and squeezed them gendently


    ¡°| understand that, but I''ll be right there with you, would old never let anything happen to you o


    ing es you''re with me, you¡¯re safe. And you¡¯re homefe


    Asmile tugged at her lips and a light seemed to flicker on bet but ind her eyes


    She liked it when | let her know how special she was


    | would keep telling her every day if the gave me the chocence


    But then a shadow of sadness settled over her face.o


    not sure I¡¯m


    bu lish it story and. I¡¯d have to believe it because | wouldn¡¯t know any better.¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°Sometimes | wonder if | know who | really am at my core¡± She ced a hand on her chest. ¡°Even me and my wolf are on


    differents it seems like.¡±


    She nced over her shoulder, toward the room where Ste was sleeping.


    ¡°| want to make sure I¡¯m doing the right thing for me and Ste, but | don¡¯t always trust myself to know what the right thing is


    ¡°Forget what | said about leaving here,¡± | told her. ¡°Just for a moment.¡±


    | leaned in closer, | couldn¡¯t help it


    My body was drawn to her like a moth to light.


    ¡°Sure,¡± she said in a soft, breathy voice that made me shiver.


    ¡°What do you want right now, Katie?¡±


    She swallowed hard


    ¡°Don¡¯t think. Don¡¯t worry. Just take what you want.¡±


    Her cheeks flushed and the heat from her body seemed to radiate straight through me.


    | was dying to close what little space was left between us.


    ¡°What if | want you?¡± she whispered, ncing down at my mouth.


    | reached out, gently gripping the back of her neck and running my thumb along her bottom lip.


    I''d never wanted to kiss someone so badly


    I''d wanted to since | first met her.


    ¡°Then I¡¯m all yours,¡± | said.


    Our lips crashed together, and all the emotions I¡¯d carried for her poured into the kiss-curiosity, desperation, and something like


    love


    My tongue swept over the seam of her parted lips and slipped inside.


    gasped into my mouth, her tongue entwining with mine as | deepened the kiss


    Fire erupted in my chest, surging out through my veins and straight between my legs


    My hands traveled down to her waist, tugging her closer


    Her legs wrapped around me tightly, her lips never breaking from mine as | lifted her off the couch and walked straight to the


    bedroom.


    | brought her to the bed andid her down, my eyes traveling over her body


    This was perfect.


    ¡°Come here,¡± she said, pulling me onto the bed.


    And | obeyed...

 Chapter 103

    Katie


    | woke up, but for the first time, | wasn¡¯t alone.


    Mason was sleeping soundly next to me.


    After we''d kissed, I¡¯d pulled him into my bed and we¡¯d fallen asleep in each other¡¯s arms.


    ¡°As long as you''re with me, you¡¯re safe. And you¡¯re home,¡± Mason had said.


    When | kissed him, it was likeing home.


    Sofortable, so natural, so secure.


    But we hadn¡¯t taken it any further than that.


    | wanted to, and judging by the way Lily had pawed at me, | knew she did, too.


    But | couldn¡¯t, not without knowing what would happen next.


    I''d panicked a bit when Mason asked me toe with him to the Constantine Pds


    | thought back to Quinn¡¯s words about Xander and the baby and wondered if there was any way in hell he could possibly be the


    father.


    If there was even the slightest possibility, then moving to his pds with his own f ucking brother was pretty much insane.


    Then again, he hadn''t given any indication that he recognized me or knew who | was when he¡¯d seen me. So that didn¡¯t make


    sense, either.


    Mason stirred next to me.


    When he turned over and saw that | was already awake, he smiled sleepily.


    | pushed his long hair from his face.


    ¡°Good morning, sleepyhead,¡± | said.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± he answered.


    ¡°When are you leaving?¡± | already missed him in my bed, and he hadn''t even left yet..


    ¡°Tomorrow morning. Are youing with me?¡±


    As soon as he asked, Lily stirred inside me.


    She''d made her presence known the first time he¡¯d asked, too.


    ¡°Do it,¡± she seemed to say.


    Her messaging was so d amn confusing.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    First she¡¯s telling me to trust Xander and Zane, then she¡¯s telling me to go with Mason. 1/3


    Maybe she really was just a h or ny b itch.


    And who could me her really?


    Mason and | had gotten so close, and who even knew thest time she¡¯d gotten any.


    Or if she¡¯d ever gotten any


    ¡°Can | take today to decide?¡± | asked Mason


    | couldn''t let Lily¡¯s persistence influence me. Not when it would change so much for me and Ste.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said, getting up from the bed.


    | watched as he put on the shirt he¡¯d discarded before curling up with me, trying to memorize every ripple of his muscles before


    they disappeared again.


    ¡°As much as I''d love for you and Ste toe, | don¡¯t ever want to force you to do something you''re notfortable with.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Mason,¡± | said.


    He always knew how tofort me.


    ¡°Of course. And as much as | wish | could stay here and be with you, | need to go try to figure out this family s hit. Before it¡¯s too


    late.


    He kissed me on the forehead, and then he was gone


    Xander


    ¡°You really think bringing Mason back with us is a good idea?¡±


    I''d been waiting for Zane to ask me this question.


    The ride to the hotel from the meeting with Mason had been dead silent.


    This morning, he¡¯d barely looked at me while we were packing up


    our sh it.


    | knew Zane wasn¡¯t a fan of the idea of bringing a rogue with a revenge n into the manor, but he was much more dangerous


    out of our sights than under the same roof


    ¡°Hell if | even know what a good idea is anymore,¡± | answered, ¡°but what else are we supposed to do?¡±


    ¡°Xander Zane said, concern wrinkling his face. ¡°What if he really is Lanie and Isaac''s father? Will the


    twins somehow know when they meet him? Will they be more bonded to him than us?¡±


    ¡°Whoa, whoa,¡± | said, holding up my hands ¡°They¡¯re newborns. | doubt that would even happen. Especially after all the time


    they''ve spent with us¡±


    He nodded, but | could tell he didn¡¯t buy it


    Honestly, | didn¡¯t, either. But we''d cross that bridge when we came to it


    213


    Zane co cked his brow


    ¡°| thought you said you couldn''t leave without her,¡± he teased.


    ¡°That was Hunter talking.¡± | growled. ¡°It¡¯s been too long since he¡¯s had a she-wolf. G od s knows what he¡¯d do if she was around


    us all the time.¡±


    Zane shot me a knowing look. | was sure de had wed at him as desperately as Hunter had when he''d seen Katie.


    If she was hanging around all the time, | had no idea how we¡¯d control ourselves.


    If Katie came to Constantine, we definitely wouldn''t.

 Chapter 104

    Katie


    | woke up the next morning ready to go to the Constantine pds.


    All day yesterday, Lily had been restlessly pacing, pushing me out of the house.


    ¡°Go¡± she told me again, ¡°Go with Mason¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± | tried to ask her,


    But that question was conveniently ignored.


    Or maybe it was too hard for her to exin.


    Still, there had to be some reason she was so desperate to go there, and it wasn¡¯t like | didn¡¯t want to myself,


    Ever since the night I''d spent with Mason, | felt more and more sadness at the prospect of him leaving without me


    | threw everything of mine and Ste¡¯s into a couple of huge suitcases.


    It was


    feet.


    to do-there was only so much you could umte in a few months of existing in a ce.


    As | packed, Ste watched me with interest while she yed with her tiny fe


    She''d been weirdly chill this morning, and maybe | was crazy, but she even seemed kind of excited.


    Another reason this was probably the right move.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    But as | zipped the suitcases up and then threw them in my trunk, my stomach churned,


    What the hell was | actually getting myself into?


    | walked down to the end of my driveway slowly, shuffling along with both suitcases and the stroller.


    Ste¡¯s chipper mood from earlier had already soured somewhat, and she was sticking out her lip in a


    pout that told me she was definitely going to lose it soon.


    When | got to the bottom of the driveway, Mason, Xander, and Zane were all standing there, their gazes locked on me


    All of their eyes were shing, their wolves rearing up inside them.


    Their interest in me couldn¡¯t be more obvious. The look in their eyes told me they''d all eat me up right then and there if they


    could


    Or maybe | was being totally f ucking delusional


    Regardless, a p rickle of heat crawled up the back of my neck and then bloomed across my cheeks.


    1/2


    ¡°Let me get that,¡± Mason said at the same time Zane rushed forward to grab my two suitcases.


    ¡°I''ve got it,¡± Zane said.


    The three men stood looking at each other, fists flexing.


    The tension was thick as a rain cloud.


    Suddenly, Ste let out an ear-piercing wall.


    Yup, saw thating.


    But before | could even think about getting her out of the stroller, Xander was already scooping her up and cradling her in his


    arms.


    He rocked her gently, cooing softly.


    Almost immediately, she fell quiet. And then she smiled.


    | blinked hard to make sure it was actually Xander holding her and not Mason. What the hell?


    Maybe she recognized that they were brothers.


    Quinn¡¯s voice rang out in my head. Or maybe it¡¯s more...


    | looked from Ste to Xander. There seemed to be some resemnce, but maybe it was only because ! was really looking for it.


    | stepped closer, wanting to get a better look, but then a low warning growl echoed from Mason¡¯s chest.


    1 froze.


    When | whipped c


    When | whipped around to look at Mason, his eyes went wide like he didn¡¯t realize what he was doing.


    Xander cut his shing eyes at Mason. His own warning.


    Were they really fighting over my child right now?


    ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Mason asked, his voice shaking with anger.


    1 guess that was a yes.


    But then Xander¡¯s face rxed and he shook his head slightly.


    ¡°Sorry, | wasn¡¯t thinking,¡± Xander said.


    He extended Ste toward Mason.


    ¡°You can have your pup back.¡±

 Chapter 105

    Mason


    | took a deep breath to calm myself before wrapping Ste into my arms.


    Seeing her with Xander. | almost lost it.


    But then it was like a switch flipped on inside him and he realized he¡¯d taken her from me


    He thought | was actually her father, and | wasn¡¯t about to correct him.


    ¡°As her father, | don¡¯t like strangers picking her up,¡± | said, more bitterly than | meant to. ¡°And my mater doesn¡¯t either.¡±


    | nodded toward Katie


    The words had left my mouth before | could really think.


    Xander and Zane exchanged questioning nces


    I''d surprised them.


    | waited for Katie to jump in and correct me, but she stayed quiet, her face unreadable.


    I''d probably hear about thatter


    ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you formally mated?¡± Zane asked.


    Good question.


    Probably because we weren''t mates at all


    But if they thought we were, then maybe they¡¯d back off.


    Xander and Zane had ogled her shamelessly as soon as she''d arrived, and they were so f ucking arrogant, they were probably


    already nning some way to double-team me and get her into their bed.


    ¡°This is rogue territory,¡± | said casually. ¡°The rules aren¡¯t the same here.¡±


    ¡°Sure¡± Xander rolled his eyes.


    ¡°You''ve been so sheltered, living under the Council¡¯s thumb your whole life.¡± | continued. ¡°We can do what we want here. Katie


    and | certainly have


    Katie


    After the tense moment between Xander and Mason had passed, we climbed into our cars and headed into Constantine territory


    Xander and Zane were riding in their ridiculous all ck SUV, while Mason and | rode in his truck.N?velDrama.Org content.


    He must''ve gone out and bought it just for this asion.


    The thought had me grinning like an idiot.


    Truthfully, | hadn¡¯t even thought about needing one.


    Maybe subconsciously | knew Mason would handle anything | forgot.


    And once again, he¡¯de through.


    ¡°| know you want to ask, so go ahead,¡± Mason said after a few minutes of silence.


    He shed me the same kind of mischievous grin he had the night we met.


    His cheekiness was one of the many things I¡¯d instantly fallen for


    ¡°Okay ¡°I said, ¡°Why did you tell Xander that Ste is your pup?¡±


    Mason sighed.


    ¡°In case you didn¡¯t notice, | kind of overreacted when he picked her up.¡±


    The growling thing had been a little much.


    Mason might''ve been flirty, but he didn¡¯t strike me as the peacocking type.


    But that possessive growl had also spoken to something deep inside of me. I''d loved that he¡¯d been so protective of me and my


    baby.


    ¡°Did it bother you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not really¡± | answered truthfully


    He smiled


    ¡°| didn¡¯t know how else to exin my behavior. It just seemed simpler to im she was mine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s n?¡± | asked, eyeing him intensely.


    He nced over at me again and winced.


    ¡°Okay, fine Maybe | was a little jealous of Xander, too.¡±


    | scoffed. ¡°A little?¡±


    ¡°Okay, a LOT,¡± he said. ¡°I didn¡¯t want him to think you''re avable. He took my entire childhood from me. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d have no


    problem taking my


    He trailed off, and | waited anxiously for him to finish.


    My what?


    Would he call me his mate again?


    ¡°Anything else you want to ask about?¡± he said instead


    So that was a no, then


    | bit my lip.


    Of course | wanted to ask about him calling me his mate in front of Xander, too, but it almost felt too... serious.


    Like it would open up a whole can of worms | wasn¡¯t ready to tackle just yet.


    Not when so much else was about to change...

 Chapter 106

    Katie


    We pulled up to the huge, sprawling mansion, and my palms started sweating.


    Aslow, creeping sensation crawled along the back of my neck.


    Was it fear? Anxiety?


    Mason pulled out my luggage while | got Ste in her stroller, and we made our way inside behind Xander and Zane.


    The ce was massive but cozy, with high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and rich, dark wood everywhere


    | nced at Mason. His face scrunched up as his eyes darted around the room.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°So this is how the other half lives,¡± | could imagine him thinking.


    But none of this surprised me.


    In fact, it all felt eerily familiar.


    The feeling I¡¯d had earlier. it was deja vu.


    As Xander led us into a great room with a roaring fire, the sensation that I''d been there before got even stronger


    I


    Asharp pain stabbed behind my eyes, and | squeezed them shut.


    My hand flew to my head, and | struggled to stand as an image swam to the front of my mind.


    Xander and Zaneing to me in the night.


    | was embarrassed, scared, excited.


    ¡°It''s time to mate,¡± they said.


    They led me into a bedroom, my bedroom.


    Distantly, | heard myself cry out.


    The pain was too much.


    The vision was too much.


    What the hell was this?


    | tried to open my eyes, toe back to the present, but | only fell further into darkness.


    Zane


    Masonid Katie down on the leather couch slowly.


    She''d passed out but now seemed to be sleeping it off.


    Xander and | stood watch while Mason stroked her hair.


    Seeing Katie walking through the house and even now, sleeping there soundly, seemed so...right. So normal. Like this wasn¡¯t


    her first time here.


    ¡°You feel it too, don¡¯t you?¡± | asked Xander silently.


    Xander nodded. ¡°She''s meant to be here.¡±


    | sensed that, too, but it was impossible to exin why.


    de paced around inside me, turning my stomach inside out.


    He wanted to know that Katie was okay. He wanted to protect her.


    Xander was clutching at his chest as he looked down at her, and | knew Hunter was restless, too.


    ¡°Does this happen a lot?¡± Xander asked Mason.


    Mason shook his head. ¡°No. But she¡¯s been through a lot today.¡±


    ¡°Does she need anything?¡± | asked. ¡°We can get her some tea or-¡±


    ¡°I''ve got it,¡± Mason growled.


    Ste stirred in her stroller, and a sudden pang of guilt overtook me.


    What were we doing standing here, consumed with whether or not this woman we barely knew was okay, when our pups were


    here?


    It had been days since we¡¯d seen them, and we¡¯d missed them every second.


    | knew Lanie and Isaac were safe with Gabri, but Xander and | couldn¡¯t help but worry. They were so young, and they¡¯d


    already lost so much.


    | heard footsteps, and Xander and | ripped ourselves away from watching Katie.


    Gabri swept into the room holding Lanie, and Mindy was right behind her holding Isaac.


    ¡°How are they?¡± Xander asked as soon as heid eyes on the twins


    ¡°They''re doing just...¡± Gabri trailed off as her eyes traveled over our shoulders to Mason and Katie.


    Gabri¡¯s mouth dropped open in a horrified gasp, and all the color drained from her face.


    She looked like she¡¯d seen a ghost.


    When she spoke, her voice shook.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡±

 Chapter 107

    Xander


    ¡°l invited Mason here, Mother,¡± | said.


    I''d never seen her look so rattled.


    It made sense, though. He was living proof that my father wasn¡¯t the man he imed to be for all the years they¡¯d been together.


    Mason stood up and extended his hand.


    Gabri shifted Lanie in her arms and shook it in a daze, her eyes flitting to Katie.


    ¡°That¡¯s my mate, Katie,¡± Mason said.


    My mother¡¯s brow furrowed, and I thought she might say something else, but she seemed to shake herself


    out of it.


    Thank you for taking care of the twins,¡± | told her.


    She nodded and passed off Lanie to me while Mindy handed Isaac over to Zane.


    Wait...Mindy?


    Why the hell was she even here?


    And why was she looking after our pups?


    After that weird s hit she¡¯d pulled after the regional gathering, we¡¯d asked Maxim and Monroe to make sure she stayed in her


    quarters.


    ¡°You looked after them?¡± Zane asked Mindy.


    He was clearly having the same thoughts.


    ¡°Gabri brought me in to help take care of the twins while you were gone. She thought | was the most appropriate choice.¡± Her


    voice sounded small and wobbly. Maybe she was scared we¡¯d punish her again.


    But her scent told me she was more shocked than scared. Something else had her all shaken up.


    She kept looking over at Mason and Katie just like my mother had.


    Had she told Mindy about my secret brother? It didn¡¯t seem like something she''d share...


    ¡°Maxim and Monroe are your most trusted High Guards,¡± Mother jumped in. ¡°Their mate seemed like the safest person to help


    me out.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± | nodded. She nodded back, and then scurried back out of the den.


    ¡°These little ones are yours I¡¯m guessing?¡± Mason asked.


    Mason moved toward me to get a closer look and instinctively | turned away, pulling Lanie in closer.


    Mason froze, his eyes narrowed, but he backed off without another word.


    ¡°Smart,¡± Zane said. ¡°We can¡¯t risk him getting too close.¡±N?velDrama.Org content.


    | had no idea if Mason knew he might be the father of Alice¡¯s pups, but | wasn¡¯t about to nt that idea in his head if he didn¡¯t.


    away.


    And it, by some chance, he could tell just by getting close to them... Well, then it was better to keep them


    Hot bile crept up my throat at the thought of giving these


    | swallowed hard. No f ucking way that was happening.


    ups / to Mason


    We''d spent too much time with them, we¡¯d bonded too much.


    Lanie and Isaac were ours. No more questioning it.


    | heard a low groan and turned to see Katie stirring on the couch.


    When she sat up and looked around at all the people in the room, her eyes widened.


    ¡°Katie, are you feeling alright?¡± Mason asked. ¡°Do you need to shift?¡±


    She shook her head and gave a weakugh.


    ¡°Low blood sugar probably. | was so nervous | barely ate anything today


    She shot us all a quick smile, then bit her lip.


    She was lying, but why?


    ¡°You should keep resting.¡± | told her. ¡°You and Ste can have your own quarters. It¡¯s already prepared.¡±


    Mason moved toward Ste¡¯s stroller, but Zane made it there first.


    ¡°You rest, too, Mason,¡± Zane said, his mouth lifting in a slight smirk.


    | shifted Lanie to one hand, and held my other out the Katie, helping her up off the couch.


    I


    ¡°Yeah, we''ll take care of Katie from here,¡± | said.


    | looked Katie deep in the eye, ignoring everyone else around us.


    ¡°My home is your home¡±

 Chapter 108

    Katie


    Something weird was going on.


    That pri ckle at the back of my neck refused to go away, and there was already tension between Xander, Zane, and Mason.


    Xander and Zane had insisted on getting me set up in my quarters, but as soon as they¡¯d left, Mason had slipped in with his


    bags.


    ¡°Do you mind if | stay with you and Ste?¡± he asked


    | hesitated


    | wanted him there with me, but | suddenly felt shy.


    Would Xander and Zane be monitoring us?


    Would it change things between us, suddenly living on top of each other like this?


    He must''ve sensed my anxiety because he said, ¡°They believe we¡¯re mates and that Ste is our pup, so they can¡¯t argue with


    this arrangement.¡±


    | shrugged. ¡°Maybe not, but something tells me they won''t be too thrilled about it.¡±


    Mason rolled his eyes. ¡°They¡¯re showing off. They obviously like having you around..¡±


    He stepped closer to me, and his hands found my hips.


    ¡°And who could me them?¡± he asked.


    My stomach fluttered.


    But before anything else could happen, Ste started fussing again.


    ¡°It''s long past her nap time,¡± | said wearily.


    Mason scooped her up out of the stroller and began rocking her.


    She immediately quieted down, and her eyelids started to flutter closed


    ¡°You''re very tired, aren¡¯t you?¡± Mason asked her in a sweet voice.


    ¡°If this is how it¡¯s gonna be, then you can definitely stay,¡± | said, shing him a wicked smile.


    ¡°Is this you nanny-zoning me?¡± Mason asked, raising an eyebrow.


    | barked out augh and then pped a hand over my mouth. Ste was already drifting off to sleep.


    ¡°I''m sorry...nanny-zoning?¡± | asked quietly


    Mason giggled silently. ¡°You know, like the friend zone..but I¡¯m your nanny.¡±


    I shook my head,


    ¡°That¡¯s definitely not what''s happening.¡± | teased.


    ¡°Better not be,¡± he said.


    He walked back to the bedroom to put Ste down for her much-needed nap and returned a little while with a mischievous grin


    on his face.


    ¡°There¡¯s a surprise for you in the bathroom,¡± he said.


    | followed him inside the sleek, modern room and saw that he¡¯d prepared a bubble bath for me.


    ¡°Mason, this is amazing.¡±


    My heart swelled with gratitude as | ran my hand through the hot water.


    ¡°Enjoy,¡± he said before he walked out and closed the door behind him.


    | stripped off my clothes, grateful to be washing away the stressful morning.


    The tub was wide and deep, and sinking into it felt like going to heaven.


    | let my eyes close, but before my thoughts drifted too far, there was a knock at the door.


    | nced down at myself.


    Mason had never seen me naked before, but it wasn¡¯t like he could really see me now with all the bubbles in the water.


    ¡°You cane in,¡± | said.


    ¡°Xander¡¯s called me for a meeting,¡± Mason said. ¡°I won''t be too long...¡±


    He seemed to lose the ability to speak as he took in the sight of me in the tub, and his eyes darkened then shed with his wolf.


    It didn¡¯t seem to matter that he couldn¡¯t see everything.


    ¡°Okay,¡± | said, but my voice was barely audible.


    He walked over to me and leaned down, giving me a slow, tender kiss.


    Without thinking, | reached up and grabbed him by the neck, soaking him in bubbly water.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    He breathed out augh and then kneeled down in front of me, his hands reaching out to caress my cheek as his tongue slipped


    easily between my lips.


    ¡°Mmmm,¡± | breathed into his mouth.


    One hand slid down into the water, grazing my nipple before he took my whole breast in his hand, squeezing gently.


    Ashudder wracked my body as a zing surge of heat ran straight through to my core.


    G ods, I''d been waiting for this.


    He¡¯d only kissed me, barely touched me, and already | wanted him desperately.


    He circled my hardened nipples with his thumbs, theh flicked them softly, teasing me.


    ¡°Touch me,¡± | begged him. ¡°I need it.¡±


    An animalistic growl fell from his lips as his hand traveled lower, down past my stomach, and straight between my thighs.


    He trailed a finger through my slit, and my whole center throbbed, the ache of need settling deep inside me, already beginning to


    knot up.


    o down


    My back arched as he eased a finger inside me, stroking his thumb over my swollen bud again and again.


    The edges of my brain fuzzed as he kissed me deeper and slid another finger in, working me achingly slowly.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Katie,¡± he whispered, his voice husky with need. ¡°Come for me.¡±


    | grinded against him harder and he quickened his pace, h ooking his fingers upward, hitting a spot deep inside me that made my


    legs buck and my vision blur.


    Our tongues danced as he pumped faster and faster and before | could even warn him, | was crashing over the edge with a


    strangled whimper of his name.


    He slid his fingers out slowly, and a shiver ran through me.


    He stood over me, breathing as heavily as | was, and | could clearly see the outline of his hard c ock straining against his jeans.


    It was big. Very big.


    I sat up in the tub and reached for the button of his jeans, but he took my hand instead.


    ¡°We''ll continue this in bed tonight. Making youe was more than enough for me.¡±


    Another rush of heat flowed straight through me.


    Tonight couldn¡¯t get here fast enough.


    ¡°Your clothes are soaked,¡± | said softly. ¡°You''re gonna have to change.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Nah, if anyone wants to know why, I''ll tell them you''re all mine.¡±

 Chapter 109

    Mason


    Thest thing | wanted to do was leave Katie.


    | was dying to strip down and join her, to make here again and again, but we¡¯d have more time for thatter.


    Right now, | needed to figure out where | stood with Xander and Zane.


    We sat around the fire in the library sipping the strongest Moondust Whiskey I¡¯d ever had in my life.


    | had to turn away after the first taste so they wouldn''t see me wince.


    ¡°Did | make a mistake bringing you here?¡± Xander asked


    | wanted to tell him that the mistake had been mine, that | never should¡¯ve brought Katie with me if I¡¯d known he and Zane were


    gonna go all territorial.


    But then we¡¯d just end up right back where we¡¯d started...having a useless fight.


    And now that | wasn¡¯t on neutral territory, a fight was the stupidest thing | could start.


    I


    ¡°Look, I¡¯ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to take you down, Xander,¡± | dived right in.


    The alcohol warmed my body and loosened my tongue.


    That was probably why they''d offered it to me.


    Xander and Zane exchanged knowing nces.


    ¡°| was jealous that Alice didn¡¯t choose me over you. It felt like you stole everything from me, and | wanted to take something back


    for once.¡±


    | had nothing to lose by admitting this to Xander, and it wasn¡¯t news to him anyway. Whatever jealousy I''d felt, he¡¯d experienced


    it too in some way.


    The difference was that he¡¯d won the Alpha title and Alice in the end.


    But it didn¡¯t sting quite the same way now that | had Katie. Keeping her close and keeping her and Ste safe...it made me


    reconsider my strategy.


    The night of the regional gathering when | started mobilizing those guards, I''d only been thinking about myself. I¡¯d wanted


    revenge on Xander and Orion, | wanted to take it all for myself.


    But in thest few weeks, | thought more and more about how Katie and Ste would fit into that n. If | went all rogue Alpha


    and burned sh it down, they¡¯d get caught in the mes, too.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    And I''d never forgive myself for that.


    ¡°| appreciate your honesty,¡± Xander said. ¡°But if we team up to confront my father....what¡¯s to stop you from


    They stood side-by-side, their gazes burning as harshly as the fire.


    It was crazy how they moved so identically sometimes, almost like they were one entity. I''d heard that about Alphas and Betas,


    but living in rogue territory, | never witnessed it myself.


    | could see then the power they might have over someone like Alice. She was always easily distracted by the shiniest thing.


    And seeing them both standing in front of me, huge and unflinching, they did seem pretty d amn shiny.


    Asick wave of jealousy washed over me at the idea of their shine catching Katie¡¯s eye, too.


    All the more reason to stake my im on her....


    ¡°Everything¡¯s different since | met Katie,¡± | admitted. ¡°I¡¯m not going to do anything that will put her or Ste in danger,¡±


    Zane¡¯s eyes narrowed like he was scanning me with a truthser.


    ¡°When did you meet Katie?¡± he asked. ¡°You must''ve had the pup right away...¡±


    | knew what he was suggesting.


    There wouldn¡¯t have been much time between myst night with Alice and when I''d gotten Katie pregnant.


    They were trying to catch me in a lie, maybe chip away at my connection with Katie.


    ¡°It happened fast for us,¡± | said simply. ¡°I was drawn to her the night we met, and we haven''t been apart since.¡±


    | took another sip of the whiskey. It was getting easier to swallow now.


    ¡°Meeting her helped me get over the pain of Alice leaving me. She helped me see what | really wanted.


    I


    And then | didn¡¯t resent you as much as | used to.¡±


    Xander gave a grunt of acknowledgment, but there was still distrust in his eyes.


    Suddenly there was a brief, sharp rap at the door.


    Without waiting for an answer, an older man stepped through.


    Aman | hadn''t seen in months.


    Orion.


    ¡°Hello, son,¡± he said. ¡°We need to talk.¡±


    212

 Chapter 110

    XanderN?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°| heard you were here,¡± Orion said to Mason. ¡°I figured it was better to face the situation head-on.¡±


    ¡°Since when?¡± Mason and | both asked at the same time.


    We looked at each other, our eyes widening, then narrowing, still sizing each other up even though it was clear we were on the


    exact same page.


    Zane shot me a sh it-eating smirk, ¡°You guys really are alike,¡± he said.


    ¡°Don''t f ucking start,¡± | bit back at him.


    ¡°Okay, sure...¡± my father said, throwing up his hands, ¡°Let me have it, then.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± | asked, my anger surging already. ¡°Fine. You-¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Mason¡¯s voice rang out through the library.


    He¡¯d said it like amand, but that as shole had no power over me.


    I called the shots here.


    ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to even know what we''re thinking or how we feel,¡± Mason continued. ¡°And we don¡¯t give a f u ck what you¡¯re


    thinking or feeling.¡±


    We? Now he was speaking for me?


    | flexed my fists and turned my furious gaze on Mason, prepared to jump in and speak for myself like I''d been doing before he so


    rudely interrupted.


    But then | felt Zane¡¯s hand on my shoulder and his voice in my head.


    ¡°Don''t,¡± he said. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to flex your Alpha status.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s trying to f ucking speak for me,¡± | spat. ¡°He can¡¯t juste in and do that.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s never had the chance to challenge Orion before, Xander, and you know he¡¯s right. This isn¡¯t about who''s the bigger Alpha,


    it''s about your father answering for what he¡¯s done to you.¡±


    | shook Xander off, but of course, everything he said made sense.


    My father tried to speak, but Mason¡¯s voice rose, drowning him out.


    ¡°You never thought twice about any of us,¡± Mason said. ¡°Not even your own f ucking mate. You just did whatever the hell you


    wanted, and you only thought about yourself.¡±


    My father spun around to look at me, his jaw clenched so tight | thought it might shatter.


    ¡°And you agree with this?¡±


    | sighed deeply. Even though this whole confrontation thing was my idea, | hated siding with Mason.


    Especially since | was imagining I''d be the one leading the charge.


    ¡°| do,¡± | admitted.


    My father really was a selfish p rick.


    Now that we had the twins, | couldn¡¯t imagine throwing them or our mate under the bus to protect my own power, and | knew


    Zane would never do that, either.


    All| cared about was protecting them and preserving the pack¡¯s peace, so that when it came time for one of them to lead, they


    could do so without conflict like this.


    These two pups were our legacy pow, and all we wanted was to create the best life for them.


    | nced at Mason, chest heaving, wearing an angry expression that probably looked identical to mine.


    He was surely thinking about the same thing with Ste, How he didn¡¯t want to repeat the same mistakes as our father had.


    For the first time, when | looked at him, | actually felt respect.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to hear how | feel, then | don¡¯t know what the f uck I¡¯m supposed to say,¡± my father argued bitterly. ¡°I don¡¯t


    know what you want from me.¡±


    ¡°An apology would be nice,¡± | said icily. ¡°You owe us that at the very least.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t owe you anything,¡± he sneered.


    ¡°Oh yes, you do.¡± My mother¡¯s voice cut through our argument as she swept into the library. ¡°Because we haven''t even


    scratched the surface of your lies, Orion.¡±

 Chapter 111

    Katie.


    ¡°| won''t be too long.¡±


    Mason¡¯s words from earlier rang in my ears.


    Ste¡¯s nap hade and gone, and bedtime was fast approaching.


    What the hell was he still doing with Xander and Zane?


    She''d been fussy the whole afternoon, and | didn¡¯t me her one bit.


    She was in a strange new ce, | was an anxious mess, and her favorite person was MIA.


    Ohw


    yeah, and I''d passed out right in front of her earlier.


    Amazing first day for all of us...


    all


    | let my thoughts travel briefly to earlier in the bathroom, the only highlight, and reminded myself that Mason would be back. He


    had to be.


    Ste¡¯s lip quivered again and | rocked her side to side, trying to do it like Mason, but the wails came


    anyway.


    It wasn¡¯t the same without the jacked superhero biceps, | guess


    ¡°Let''s try something else, shall we?¡± | said as |id Ste across the couch.


    | stripped off my lounge clothes and closed my eyes, letting Lily take over.


    Shifting sometimes worked when nothing else calmed Ste..


    Something about the warmth, the softness of the fur, or maybe it was the pheromones. And aside from the weirdness Lily had


    pulled the day of Ste¡¯s birth, the two always seemed to get along.


    | pressed the side of my furry face to Ste¡¯s chest.


    Normally, this delighted her. She¡¯d squeal and tug at my fur, and Lily would shake yfully in response.


    But this time, the crying didn¡¯t stop.


    Lily sent me pacing the length of the couch, irritated by the sound.


    | guess she wasn''t in the mood, either.


    | shifted back and threw my clothes back on.


    Time for n B.


    | crept out of my quarters quietly, bouncing Ste to keep her at least somewhat quiet.


    The chance of scenery seemed to distract her as well. Her little eves were darting all around the hallway. 1/3


    Something about sneaking out felt wrong, but | reminded myself that Alpha Constantine had told me to make myselffortable.


    ¡°My home is your home,¡± he¡¯d said with such an intense gaze that | thought | might light on fire.


    Even remembering the look sent a brief rush of warmth through me,


    He had a weird way of doing that. Making me feel special, like | was the only person in the room.


    Wait, no...what the hell was | doing thinking about Xander like that when I¡¯d spent the whole afternoon dying to see Mason


    again?


    Nope, nothing good coulde of those sorts of thoughts.


    Besides, | was sure the way Xander was treating me was nothing. Maybe Alphas were like that with


    everyone...


    I''d gotten lost in my thoughts, and now | was just in lost.


    The mansion was crazy big, and I''d been too distracted by all the tension earlier to notice how we''d gotten from the den to my


    quarters.


    S hit.


    Could | even find my way back there?


    But just as | was about to start panicking, | heard Xander¡¯s voice.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t good for us, Zane,¡± he said. ¡°It isn¡¯t good for anyone here.¡±


    | could barely hear him. The door to the room they were in was big and heavy and only open ac rack.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    I snuck a quick peek inside. No Mason.


    That was weird


    Lily stirred inside me. | let her rise to the surface so their voices would amplify.


    ¡°| know,¡± Zane said. ¡°I can smell her everywhere...even on Mason earlier.¡±


    Asick wave of recognition washed over me. My cheeks burned hot.


    They were talking about me. They had to be.


    ¡°Being under the same roof is too much to handle,¡± Xander said.


    The warmth I''d felt at Xander¡¯s words just moments before turned to an icy knot in my chest.


    ¡°We''re going to have to do something about her,¡± Zane said in a grave voice.


    My heart pounded so hard, | worried they¡¯d hear it through the door.


    I started to back away slowly, but Ste¡¯s lip quivered.


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± | whispered, trying desperately to pull down my shirt to get her totch and shut the hell up.


    ¡°Stop,¡± Xandermanded, and he and Zane both fell silent. ¡°She¡¯s here.¡±

 Chapter 112

    Zane


    Xander and | locked eyes, then nced at the twins sound asleep in their basss beside us.


    ¡°It has to be her,¡± Xander said.


    | looked at the door.


    F uck, it was open.


    Only a little, but enough for a shifter to hear through


    We heard another baby¡¯s cry, and then a shushing noise.


    | marched up to the door and threw it open, Xander trailing just behind me.


    And there, a few steps away was Katie, her eyes as wide as saucers:


    My eyes traveled down, pausing when | saw that her breast was out.


    S hit.


    She was obviously trying to feed Ste, so it shouldn¡¯t have turned me on.


    But de was a whole other beast.


    He was pawing at me so fiercely, it was like he was digging up my insides.


    ¡°Mine.¡± He growled the same way he had the first time I¡¯did eyes on Katie. ¡°Mine¡±


    | heard Xander¡¯sbored breathing behind me.


    He was wrestling with Hunter, too.


    I turned around to face him.


    ¡°What the f uck?¡± | asked.


    ¡°| told you,¡± Xander said. ¡°This can¡¯t keep happening. She needs to get out of here.¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± de roared.


    | ced my palms on my temples. Between his and Xander¡¯s voices, my head was literally spinning.


    | didn¡¯t want her to go either. Truthfully, | couldn¡¯t bear the thought.


    How had Katie gotten under my skin like this so quickly?


    She was Mason¡¯s mate.


    Ste¡¯s cry ripped me back to reality. Katie yanked up her shirt and bit her lip, casting her eyes around like she was looking for


    an escape.


    | didn¡¯t think or listen to either of the voices in my head. | just stepped forward and held my hands out for Ste.


    Katie eyed me suspiciously but handed her over.


    | held her gently to my shoulder, patting her back and cooing to her. ¡°Do you not like what we''ve done with the ce?¡± | asked


    jokingly.


    Ste stopped crying, and Katie breathed out a littleugh.


    I


    | turned and walked back into the library, and Xander motioned for Katie to follow.


    | set Ste in the bass with Lanie. They were both so tiny that they fit with room to spare.


    We all stood back and gazed at them. A warm, soft sensation settled around me at the sight of the pups together and the feeling


    of us together.


    It felt like home.


    | chanced a nce at Katie, and she was wearing a smile so bright it even lit up her eyes. But suddenly, her face twisted up in


    some unreadable expression, like she was struggling to process whatever emotion she''d just been feeling.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Katie blurted out ¡°I didn¡¯t know if | was allowed to wander. And then | got super f ucking lost.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    | watched Xander¡¯s lips quirk up in a goofy smile, all traces of our concern from moments before were fone


    How did she have that effect on us?


    ¡°All good,¡± Xander said. ¡°You looking for Mason?¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°He went for a run with his wolf after our meeting.¡± | said. ¡°It got a little....tense. He didn¡¯t wanna bring the negative energy back


    to you guys.¡±


    She raised her eyebrows and then smiled warmly to herself.


    | had the fleeting thought that I''d love nothing more than to make her smile like that every single day.


    What the f uck was wrong with me?


    ¡°You guys are good with them,¡± she said, nodding toward the twins. ¡°It''s cute.¡±


    ¡°Cute?¡± Xander asked teasingly, but | could tell thepliment had hit him like a lightning bolt, the same


    as it had me.


    She shrugged sheepishly, then took her hair down.


    It was long, all the way down her back, and a beautiful red-brown.


    She tossed her head over, then back up, piling it on top of her head again.


    When she did, her scent hit me like a silver bullet to the gut. Sweet and heady, and thick enough to choker 2/3


    us.


    ¡°You wannae sit closer to the fire?¡± | asked her.


    I needed her next to me.


    Xander watched her closely, his eyes dark and intense, like he was drawing her in.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m okay,¡± she said in a shaky voice.


    But she was fidgeting, shuffling her feet like it was taking every ounce of her energy not to move closer to


    Suddenly, her face turned a deep shade of red, and she turned away, breathing deeply.


    And then it hit me.


    Another scent.


    Something much more animal.


    And then | lost it.

 Chapter 113

    Katie


    When | looked back over at Xander and Zane, they had both turned away toward the fire.


    S hit, had they smelled how turned on | was?


    Being alone with them and seeing them with the pups had done something to me, and to Lily, too.


    They were pulling me in like a ma, and it was all | could do not to let it happen.


    | needed to get it together.


    Suddenly, the door burst open and Mason ran in, a worried look on his face.


    Once he saw me and then Ste in the bass, relief washed over his features.


    But | felt anything but relieved.


    My heart was pounding wildy with guilt.


    The thoughts I¡¯d been having just seconds before.... It was a good thing he couldn¡¯t read my mind.


    ¡°Thank go d,¡± Mason said, running over to Ste and plucking her out of the bass. ¡°I got worried when you weren¡¯t in our


    room.¡±


    She didn¡¯t even stir.


    | silently thanked the g ods that he¡¯d been distracted by worry and hadn''t scented my arousal.


    ¡°What are you doing in here, Katie?¡± Mason asked me.


    | nced at Xander and Zane. They were turned around now, but they were silent, their faces stony.


    ¡°Ste was fussy, so | decided to wander and look for you. But | got lost.¡±


    Mason looked at Xander, and he nodded.


    What, did he not believe me?


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Mason said. ¡°I¡¯m here now. Let¡¯s go to bed¡±


    Mason led me down the hall silently, and when we got to our quarters, he put Ste down right away.


    D amn, he spoiled me.


    |id down on the bed, my legs falling open, my arms spread wide.


    When Mason entered, he stopped at the doorframe and his nostrils red.


    His eyes went heavy and ssy.


    ¡°F uck, Katie,¡± he said. ¡°Your smell.¡±


    | propped myself up on my thighs.


    Now he''d scented me.


    Mason


    | plowed into the room, my mind swirling with her dark, heady scent.


    It was all over me, smothering me, and still | wanted more.


    ¡°Mine,¡± my wolf''s calls echoed through my body.


    | reached down and adjusted my c ock straining against my pants.


    Her eyes followed my hands and her lids went droopy


    ¡°Come,¡± she whispered.


    That was all she had to say.


    The next second | was beside her on the bed, pulling her on top of me.


    My mouth crashed against hers in a desperate, demanding kiss.


    She took my shirt in her hands and ripped it off in one quick tug.


    F uck, she was wild.


    I''d never seen her like this, and I''d been dreaming of it night after night.


    Clothes flew across the room and in seconds, she was naked beneath me.


    ¡°F ucking hell, Katie,¡± | said, my eyes roaming over every inch of her soft, pale skin. The taut pink nipples I¡¯d yed with earlier,


    the lines of her waist, her hips.


    growled and threw myself on top of her, pressing my groin against hers


    She moaned and bucked her hips up, pressing my throbbing co ck against her mound.


    ¡°Go ds, | need you,¡± she said, wing at my chest. ¡°I need you inside me.¡±


    Agrowling moan escaped my lips.


    She was so f u cking s exy.


    And that scent...


    I needed more. | needed to taste her.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± | told her in a low rumbling growl.


    | tugged down her underwear, and spread her legs all the way apart with my forearms. She gasped, and


    when the full cloud of her scent hit me, my mouth watered.


    | bent low and ran my tongue along her glistening lips in short, quick swipes.


    | raised my eyes to look at her, and they were fluttering open and closed, her chest heaving with pleasure already.


    And we were just getting started.


    Katie


    Hepped and sucked at my c lit, until his chin was dripping with my arousal.


    My back arched involuntarily, and 1 grabbed his hair desperately, pulling his mouth back up to mine.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t make me wait anymore.¡± | begged.


    | ripped down his boxers and his c ock sprang free, thick and huge and already dripping with pree.


    G ods, everything about him was so f ucking se xy.


    He entered me with one thrust of his hips, and a cry of pleasure tumbled from my lips.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°More,¡± | told him, ¡°1 need more.¡±


    ¡°F uck, Katie,¡± he groaned, ¡°You''re so tight.¡±


    | threw my legs around his rock-hard torso, bucking up my hips to meet his thrusts.


    He took my wrists in his huge hands, pinning me down as he moved deeper and faster inside me.


    A tangled knot of pleasure wove it¡¯s way up from deep inside me, threatening to explode at any second.


    ¡°You''re mine,¡± Mason whispered in my ear. ¡°All mine.¡±


    My whole body shook as an earth-shattering o rgasm tore through me.


    Mason let out a roar and his c ock surged, spilling his seed deep inside me.


    He fell down next to me, panting and grinning.


    ¡°Lam,¡± | said. ¡°I¡¯m all yours.¡±

 Chapter 114

    Katie


    | walked down to breakfast arm-in-arm with Mason.


    | was still on cloud nine from the night before, the glow in my chest so strong that | thought | might light up in the dark.


    Everything about my night with him had been perfect.


    | decided the moment I''d had with Xander and Zane earlier in the evening had been a fluke.


    It was the pent-up desire from Mason¡¯s promise to me after he¡¯d made mee in the bath.


    That was all...


    Now that | had him, I''d be satisfied.


    ¡°You ready for this?¡± Mason asked, squeezing my hand.


    Gabri had arranged breakfast for everyone. Apparently, it was her job as Luna to tend to guests.


    ¡°I''m with you, so I¡¯m good,¡± | said.


    He leaned down and kissed my cheek, and then we stepped into the dining room together.


    The room was intimidatingly grand, with huge windows looking out to the forest.


    Xander and Zane were already sitting around the giant table, and when we entered, they looked up at me with hesitant


    expressions.


    Were they thinking aboutst night, too?


    ¡°Good morning.¡± | said mildly


    Gabri, who was pouring juice into sses, spun around so fast she dropped the ss she was holding. It shattered on the


    floor.


    ¡°S hit,¡± she mumbled under her breath.


    She recovered quickly and shed Mason and me a smile.


    ¡°Good morning!¡± she said in a harried tone. ¡°Sorry,


    gotta clean this


    up.¡±


    She rushed out of the room with the broken ss, and we sat down across from Xander and Zane.


    ¡°What''s up with Gabri?¡± Mason nodded his head toward the door. ¡°Or is she always that jumpy?¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Xander said. ¡°She hasn''t really been the same since....| guess since Alice got pregnant. And then when she died..¡±


    Xander trailed off and stared down at his food.


    Something told me I knew, or should know who she was, but | couldn¡¯t conjure her face.


    Mason must¡¯ve noticed my confusion.


    ¡°She was Xander and Zane¡¯s mate,¡± he said gruffly.


    Zane¡¯s eyes flicked up to him.


    Another pang of nausea hit me,


    | knew that. But how did | know that?


    | cleared my throat and set down my fork.


    ¡°I''m so sorry for your loss,¡± | said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s so hard, losing a mate and the mother of your children.¡±


    ¡°It''s terrible.¡± Gabri¡¯s strained voice called from where she was cleaning up the juice on the floor.


    | hadn¡¯t even heard here in again.


    ¡°What...what were the twins¡¯ names?¡± | asked, trying to change the subject.


    ¡°Oh yeah, you were passed out for that part,¡± Mason said, patting my shoulder,


    ¡°The boy is Isaac, named for my father,¡± Zane said proudly.


    ¡°And the girl is...¡± Xander started, but Gabri cut him off.


    ¡°Xander, don¡¯t-¡±


    But he ignored her and pushed on...


    ¡°Lanie. The girl¡¯s name is Lanie.¡±


    My breath caught in my throat


    That was the name that girl Mindy had called me at the regional gathering.


    | pressed my hands to the table as the room started to spin in front of me.


    Did Mason remember, too?


    | tried to look over at him, but my vision was swimming.


    Asearing pain ripped through my skull.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Everything was suddenly very wrong.

 Chapter 115

    Katie


    Mason had carefully walked me back to the den to rest after my ¡°migraine¡± at breakfast.


    | didn¡¯t know what else to call it.


    It was almost like a brain ripple, like my mind was working so hard to dig up a memory that it was physically painful.


    | started to wonder ifing here was a good idea after all.


    My mind had been pulled in about a million directions, and even when | experienced pleasure like | had with Mason, some other


    weird sh or feeling would creep in and make me question everything.


    Gabri walked into the room and set down a ss of steaming tea.


    ¡°Drink. And then you should go for a run with your wolf,¡± she suggested.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°Oh, but | have to.


    ¡°I''ll watch Ste,¡± she cut in. ¡°The guys are off doing who knows what. You should take some time for yourself.¡±


    She walked away and paused at the door, studying me carefully. She opened her mouth to say something else, but then closed it


    and walked away.


    | stepped outside in nothing but a robe and breathed in the fresh mountain air.


    The scent reminded me of my cottage back in Stillwood.


    It was hard to believe | had been there just yesterday


    | stepped into the woods just far enough that I''d be covered, and stripped down.


    The spring breeze still carried a chill that nipped at my bare skin.


    Lily immediately surged to the surface and broke free before | could even properly think about shifting.


    She sprinted through the woods, and the feeling was honestly miraculous.


    When | shifted nowadays, it was only tofort Ste within the safety of our little home.


    The soft ground on my feet, the wind whipping through my fur, the feeling that | could go anywhere | wanted. I¡¯d never


    remembered having it, and yet | still felt like I''d missed it more than anything.


    | was grounded, | was strong, and | was so dam n fast.


    ¡°We need to go faster,¡± Lily said, and my body raced forward at lightning speed.


    There it was again. Deja vu. Even my wolf was feeling it.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± | demanded. Lily was taking overpletely, her path locked in. ¡°Where are you taking us?¡±


    ¡°| know where we need to go,¡± was all she said.


    ¡°But how?¡±


    She couldn''t tell me.


    We ran and ran until we reached ake on the other side of the forest.


    Lily took me to a patch of dirt on theke¡¯s edge. She pawed at it roughly.


    My nostrils red. What was that scent?


    It was so different from the scents that followed me down the main street in Stillwood or the thick, sp icy scents that hung in the


    air of the mansion, and yet it was so familiar, too.


    There was spice there, but also something older and more papery.


    Like it belonged to something ancient. Or someone.


    The trees beyond theke rustled ominously, and | jerked my head up.


    ¡°We''ve


    been here before,¡± Lily growled, still pawing at the patch of dirt. ¡°When were we here before?¡±


    But | was too busy trying to see who had followed me into the woods.


    Another branched cracked, and this time Lily paid attention.


    We backed up, hackles raised.


    And suddenly, they leaped from the trees, straight at me.


    Three of the biggest wolves I''d ever seen.


    212

 Chapter 116

    Katie


    | bared my teeth in a growl, warning them to back off.


    The wolf leading the pack charged forward. He was brown and huge, but still smaller than the other two.


    Lily barked out a warning, but it didn¡¯t faze him. He sprinted straight for me without hesitation.


    | braced myself for an attack that never came. Instead, he stopped short, pawing at the same patch of


    ground Lily had been obsessed with moments before.


    =f


    The two


    bigger wolves-a gray one and a pure ck one-snarled and slowly padded toward me.


    Would they stop, too? Or would they attack?


    Lily was just as confused as | was. She was ring her nostrils, taking in all their individual scents and trying to sniff out any


    threats. But their earthy, smoky smells were too intoxicating to read.


    ¡°Mmmm,¡± Lily purred.


    ¡°Don''t get distracted,¡± | warned, crouching low and keeping my sharp canines exposed.


    But | was having trouble taking my own advice. | wanted to walk up to each one of them and rub against their bodies to spread


    my own wolf¡¯s scent all over them....


    The two bigger wolves bared their teeth, too, their eyes darting around theke shore manically.


    my


    What the hell was wrong with me? These wolves looked like they were poised to kill, and here | was fantasizing about rubbing all


    up on them.


    ¡°Get ready,¡± | instructed Lily. ¡°They¡¯re going to attack!


    fur


    But then the brown wolf spun around to face the tworger wolves, blocking me with his huge, furry body.


    Was he protecting me?


    Tension hung thickly in the air.


    | braced myself for an attack, but suddenly, the brown wolf shifted


    And there was Mason. Standing in front of me, fully naked.


    It dawned on me then that I''d never seen him in wolf form before.


    No wonder | was so drawn to him.


    His chest was broad and strong, his muscles rippling in the golden afternoon sun, his c ock standing at


    attention


    | thought of how it felt when he¡¯d thrust himself inside me, the pleasure like none I¡¯d ever felt before...


    | shook it off. There were still two other wolves here.


    If this was Mason, then that must mean...


    The other two huge wolves shifted then, revealing a very naked Xander and Zane.


    It seemed wrong to look at them, especially with Mason standing right there in front of me, but | couldn¡¯t help it.


    They also had huge, muscr arms and torsos. | suddenly wished | was human again so | could reach out and trace all the deep


    grooves in their bodies.


    My eyes drifted down between their legs next.N?velDrama.Org content.


    G ods, they were huge everywhere,


    ¡°| want them,¡± Lily growled needily.


    ¡°You''re h orny and confused,¡± | scolded her.


    But if she was, then so was I.


    | was thrilled that they were in human form and | was still a wolf. Or else they¡¯d all smell how turned on was, and | didn¡¯t think


    Mason would take that too well.


    ¡°Let me go to them,¡± Lily said, pawing the ground restlessly.


    ¡°Chill the f uck out,¡± | warned her. ¡°This is SO not the time.¡±


    Why was she so zeroed in on Xander and Zane right now?


    Maybe because I''d seen all of Mason before, but Xander and Zane were like shiny new toys.


    Shiny, new, very off-limits toys.


    They all looked at me pawing the ground, and | wondered if they could sense my internal battle with Lily.


    ¡°I''m sure you''re wondering why we followed you here¡± Xander said, interpreting my desire as agitation. ¡°Perhaps Mason would


    like to exin.¡±


    Xander


    ¡°We all scented you in the woods,¡± Zane jumped in. ¡°But Mason here darted away like a madman, iming you were in some


    kind of trouble.¡±


    1 smirked at Mason. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s okay to me.¡±


    Mason¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I smelled something strange. | still smell it now.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Zane asked.


    To be honest, we''d smelled it, too. From about a mile away.


    Avampire¡¯s scent.


    We''d stumbled across one ourselves not too long ago, but for some strange reason | couldn¡¯t remember why


    on


    just knew that use the High Eider had told we needed to keep them out of our territory, or else


    kang we¡¯d be in deep chin with the Counc


    ¡°Why the hell would term whale¡¯s home before an had add me while we were following M


    | didn¡¯t have a grind uneve


    Something really f ucking went was bring on the viewer thing we needed Hight new another


    now what you''re doing Menak enaries Yong the male it cany


    He shoved his finger toward the grund the spot Whed paved and sniffed


    But now I¡¯m not know emeline & VEPENTA

 Chapter 117

    Katie


    Vampire?!


    That strange smell that had driven Lily crazy was a vampire?


    ¡°What the hell do you know about vampires?¡± Xander spat at Mason,


    Mason shrugged.


    ¡°The strongest rogues are warned about them as soon as we¡¯re banished,¡± he exined. ¡°So we can protect ourmunities if


    they ever sneak around or try to attack.¡±


    Try to attack? What the f uck?


    I''d lost a lot of my personal memories when | woke up in Stillwood, but I''d at least remembered basic things about shifters, stuff


    I''d learned in school.


    But vampires...| couldn¡¯t recall ever being taught that they were real, much less hanging around our territories and attacking


    people.


    Xander and Zane exchanged surprised looks, and then Xander¡¯s face reddened. | could practically see the rush of fury flowing


    through his veins.


    He was so quick to anger sometimes. | guess that was an Alpha thing.


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that wonderful for you,¡± Xander said through gritted teeth.


    Did | detect a hint of jealousy as well?


    These boys could never just y nice.


    voice.


    ¡°You thought | didn¡¯t know about them because I¡¯m some dumb rogue, didn¡¯t you?¡± Mason said in an icy


    Part of me was enjoying watching them fight, their muscles flexing, their di cks swinging like swords out


    of their sheaths.


    But another part of me was super f ucking annoyed that | seemed to be the only one who didn¡¯t know what


    was going on here.


    F uck it. They all owed me an exnation, which meant | needed to face them as a human and demand it


    myself


    | shifted back, clothes be dam ned.


    ¡°Umm, excuse me,¡± | said, and all their eyes locked on me. ¡°When were any of you going to tell me about vampires?!¡±


    They all froze, their eyes darkening. I¡¯d caught them off guard.


    y"9


    | nted my hands on my hips. This was


    not the time to act meek and vulnerable.


    Was | imagining it, or were Xander¡¯s and Zane¡¯s eyes lingering on my breasts and between my legs?


    Mason stepped in front of me, shielding my


    So | wasn¡¯t imagining it, then.


    naked body from their view


    | peeked through the small sliver of space between Mason¡¯s arms and torso. Xander¡¯s and Zanes¡¯s zing gazes were still fixed


    in my direction.


    And to my horror and delight, | saw that their co cks were fully hard now.


    | swallowed hard, trying to keep the heat building in my belly from rushing to my core.


    | waspletely naked andpletely human....nothing to hide behind now.


    Mason turned to face me and took me by the shoulders.


    ¡°It''s safer for you not to know about vampires,¡± Mason said. ¡°It''ll only cause more trouble.¡±


    | nced down at the small space between us, at how huge and hard Mason was, too. The wave of desire I''d been trying to


    tamp down broke free, flooding my center in a hot rush.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Astrong p rickle of heat bloomed across my cheeks.


    No hiding it now,


    Mason¡¯s nostrils red, and | knew he''d scented it. | didn¡¯t dare look behind him at Xander and Zane, but could only guess that


    they had, too.


    | imagined how easy it would be for Mason to lift me up and slide me down onto him, for my legs to wrap around his waist, for


    him to shove me up against a tree so he could go deeper and deeper.


    Maybe | even liked the idea of Xander and Zane watching...


    Lily reared up inside me.


    ¡°Do it,¡± she urged


    Suddenly | didn¡¯t even care about vampires.


    | was hungry, and | needed to be satisfied.


    But before | could move, Xander¡¯s voice rang out.


    in anyt


    ¡°Mason¡¯s right. None of us want to get you he said huskily. Like he was aroused but fighting it.


    | knew the feeling.


    ¡°Get


    her home safely, Mason,¡± Zane instructed in an equally strained voice.


    | looked up into Mason¡¯s face, and he held my gaze as | heard the snarling and rustling sounds that


    meant Xander and Zane were shifting again. Their paws padded on the dirt as they sprinted back into the


    2/3


    And then it was silent, and Mason and | just stood there, looking into each other''s


    Finally, he leaned down, his lips brushing my ear.


    ¡°| know what you want,¡± he said.


    My breath hitched in my throat.


    ¡°You do?¡± | whispered.


    He pulled me into him, closing the space between us.


    His c ock twitched against my stomach.


    | needed him. Desperately.


    ¡°Yes, Katie. | always do.¡±

 Chapter 118

    Katie


    But then he stepped back from me.


    Immediately, | missed his body against mine.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± he said. ¡°I found somewhere | think you''ll like.¡±


    Then he threw his head back, and with a low growl, he shifted back into his great, brown wolf.


    My heart beat with both nerves and excitement.


    I''d only just gotten to run with my own wolf, and it seemed like a big step to run with Mason''s, too.


    But when else would | get the chance?


    | stepped forward and shut my eyes tightly, my back arching before | fell to all fours and fur rippled over every surface of my skin.


    Lily yipped with excitement and ran to Mason¡¯s wolf, rubbing our reddish-brown fur all over his dark brown body. We looked good


    together, | had to admit.


    | nuzzled my head into his neck, and he folded himself over me protectively. | licked his nose, and he let out a little growl of


    pleasure.


    Our wolves broke apart, and we pranced around like puppies, nipping at each other¡¯s tails and running in circles.


    Then Mason turned and sprinted into the woods.


    Lily was desperate to follow, and | didn¡¯t hold her back. | was dying to see what he wanted to show me.


    Mason''s movements were fast and graceful as he darted through trees. | let all the weirdness from the


    past few days melt away, taken over by the joy, curiosity, and wonder | felt running through the forest with Mason, just the two of


    us, free to roam wherever we wanted.


    He dropped his speed slightly so | could run up beside him, and our pace became synced, almost like we


    were moving as one.


    He finally slowed down when we came to a stunning clearing deep in the woods. The trees were towering and majestic, and


    springtime wildflowers bloomed all around us. Lily¡¯s ears perked up at the sound of rushing


    water nearby.


    Mason tilted his head and ran toward it until we came up on the most beautiful waterfall I''d ever seen. It looked magical, like a


    ce where fairies would live.


    It was lush and colorful and absolutely perfect.


    Mason trotted down to the edge of the small plunge pool beneath the waterfall and dipped his nose in the


    water | followed cult curriced he how warm it was


    Without warning, he dipped his nose deeper and threw his head toward me, sshing water all over me and soaking my fur. |


    snarled yfully and leaped onto him, tackling him to the ground,


    We rolled over each other onto the bank of the water nipping and growling yfully.


    When we stopped, Mason shifted back into his human form, his beautiful naked body syed out on the mossy ground.


    I shifted, too, and an electric shock zapped through me as my warm skin touched his. | felt light as air and totally happy.


    Wey next to each other in silence for a few moments before Mason finally spoke.


    ¡°Your wolf is beautiful,¡± he said, turning his face toward mine. ¡°What is her name?¡±


    | looked into his eyes. They seemed to be glowing from within. He was happy, too.


    ¡°Lily,¡± | answered. ¡°It¡¯s strange... When she told me her name it was like she¡¯d known it forever. | wonder if she remembers more


    from my life before than | do.¡±


    ¡°| wouldn''t be surprised,¡± Mason said, a small smile ying on his lips. ¡°My wolf has a mind of his own a lot of the time.


    Sometimes he''ll push me to do things that I¡¯m not sure | actually want. It can be super f ucking annoying.¡±


    We bothughed. | knew that feeling.


    Lily was all over the ce, and | thought it had something to do with me and my messed-up memories. But maybe it was normal.


    ¡°What''s your wolf''s name?¡± | asked.


    He smiled. ¡°Colt.¡±


    ¡°| like it.¡± It was strong but wild. Kind of like him.


    He propped himself up on one of his elbows and pushed my hair back from my face. His touch sent a shiver down my spine.


    ¡°| like you,¡± he said softly.


    And then his lips were crashing into mine in a deep, passionate kiss. | rolled myself over onto my side, and he pulled me closer.


    His co ck grew hard against my bare skin, and | moaned into his mouth.


    ¡°Mason...¡±


    | nuzzled my head into his neck like | had when we were wolves, and | smelled the desire rolling rich, strong waves, mixing with


    my own sweet, animalistic scent.


    off h


    him in


    | took in a deep breath through my nose before bringing my mouth to his once more. The feeling of his tongue on mine and the


    thickness of his scent surrounding me waspletely intoxicating.


    A deep well of desire bubbled up from my belly and moved straight down to my core in a hot rush. | was so wet, so beyond ready


    for him.


    moved his hand up my inner thigh, swiping his fingers through my wetness.


    ¡°| want you, Mason,¡± | whispered.


    A low growl of pleasure fell from his lips as he scooped me up in his arms and carried me to a tree, pinning me up against it.


    | didn¡¯t feel the scratching of the bark or the gritty dirt on my back, | only wanted Mason inside me.


    But as his fingers wrapped around my hair and he tugged lightly, a vision suddenly surged to the front of my mind.


    Xander with his hand around my throat, Zane throwing me over his shoulder and then onto the bed,


    Another wave of heat, fiercer and darker than before, exploded through my core.


    What the hell?


    | tried to focus on Mason kissing my jaw and then my chest, then licking my hard, pink nipples.


    | closed my eyes and bit back a yelp as he bit them delicately.


    Stay here, | urged myself, Stay with Mason.


    | groaned softly as he wrapped his hands around my thighs and hoisted me higher, gasping as he thrust himself inside me


    eyes.


    It was just like I''d imagined. So why was my mind still drifting?


    | clung to Mason desperately as he thrust deeper and deeper, but each time a new image swam before my


    Zane¡¯s head buried between my legs,


    na my c lit over and over.


    My lips around Xander¡¯s c ock, him hitting the back of my throat so hard | gagged.


    Xander thrusting into me while | took Zane in my mouth.


    | cried out, half in pleasure, half in horror, and the sound seemed to awaken something in Mason.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    He thrust with a punishing pace, grunting with exertion as my legs shook and bucked.


    Everything Mason was doing was making me wild with pleasure, but still, | was thinking of the Alpha and


    his Beta.


    ¡°I''m all yours,¡± Mason growled as he thrust once more, deeper than he ever had before.


    But as my walls squeezed around him tightly and we fell over the edge together, | could only picture.


    Xander.

 Chapter 119

    Mason


    | carried Katie to the plunge pool, and we both drifted into the water slowly, wrung dry but satisfied.


    Or at least | was. This time with Katie, it was hard to tell.


    She''d seemed to enjoy it if the sounds she was making were any indication, but when | pulled back to look at her, her face was


    strained. And when her eyes were open, they were nk and distant.


    | wondered again if bringing her here to the Constantine packnds was a mistake.


    The jealousy I''d felt when Xander and Zane shifted in front of her was so intense it was hard to think straight.


    And yet if she wasn¡¯t here, I¡¯d never have had her like had today. Or like | hadst night.


    When Katie and | f ucked, it was all-consuming and uplicated. She was mine, and | was hers.


    It had never been like that with Alice.


    Maybe | was overthinking it. Maybe all the sh it from my past was making me paranoid.


    ¡°We should go into town together,¡± | said as we floated in the water.


    7+00


    ¡°Now?¡± Katie''s eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Are we allowed?¡±


    I stood up in the water.


    ¡°We''re two grown-as s wolves visiting.¡± | said, waving off the idea. ¡°If Xander and Zane could hang around. Stillwood then why


    can¡¯t we hang around Constantine?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer the question,¡± Katie said, arching her eyebrow at me.


    Xander and Zane had asked me to stay within the confines of the mansion unless | was taking a wolf run. But we¡¯d only been


    there for three days, and already | was feeling stir-crazy.


    Everywhere | looked, Xander and Zane were there. If Katie and | didn¡¯t sneak away, we''d never really beN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    alone.


    I


    And we needed to be alone. There were things | wanted to ask her, things | wanted to do with her.


    | looked at her, floating naked in the water, her pale skin glowing in the afternoon sun, and | had the same thought I¡¯d had when


    she¡¯d been shoved up against the tree, bucking and moaning beneath me.


    ¡°Mine,¡± Colt said. ¡°My mate¡±


    I''d told Xander and Zane that she already was my mate, and | was feeling more and more like | wanted to im her for real..


    But that distance I¡¯d seen in Katie¡¯s eyes made me wonder if something was holding her back from


    | could only hope that whatever it was, it had nothing to do with Xander and Zane.


    Otherwise, we were going to have a big problem.


    Katie


    ¡°Fine, let''s go,¡± | finally said, standing up in the water


    | felt like | could¡¯ve stayed there forever, floating weightlessly, but | could never leave Ste for that long.


    But | needed this time alone with Mason to figure my s hit out. I''d imagined Xander and Zane while having sex with him... How f


    ucked up was that?!


    Maybe being farther away from the mansion-and farther away from the memory of Xander¡¯s and Zane¡¯s perfect bodies-would


    give me more rity on where we stood.


    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± Mason said, a wide, mischievous grin spreading over his face. ¡°We can even sneak Ste out with us.¡± +


    ¡°No, Ste should say with Gabri,¡± | said. ¡°Let¡¯s just be quick. Coffee or something.¡±


    I''d never left Ste alone for so long, but after hearing the word ¡°vampire,¡± | was hesitant to take her away. from the protection of


    the mansion.


    | didn¡¯t know what it meant that a vampire had left their scent in Constantine and Lily was somehow drawn to it, but what | did


    know is that | didn¡¯t need some undead stalker sna tching my baby outside the local cafe.


    I''d figure out why the hell all these men knew about vampires before me eventually, but first | needed to see if my feelings for


    Mason had really changed, or if being cooped up in the mansion was just driving me


    crazy


    ¡°Coffee sounds great,¡± Mason said. ¡°I''ll have you back in time to put Ste to bed.¡±


    Alittle whileter, Mason had snuck into the mansion and grabbed our clothes so we could hop in his truck and head into town.


    a whole town


    Constantine really wasn¡¯t all that different from Stillwood, just a bit fancier. There was a w


    square surrounded by old, beautiful buildings, and the whole thing was perfectlyndscaped.


    Mason walked me into a cafe on a cobblestone street. It waster in the afternoon, so it was basically empty aside from us.


    We sat down in a seat by the window, and Mason studied me carefully like there was something he


    wanted to ask me.


    My palms went sweaty. Why was | suddenly so nervous?


    inn or


    ¡°This reminds me of going to the cafe in Stillwood,¡± | said before Mason could speak. ¡°Except no Quinn


    Asher.¡±


    My heart panged. It seemed like I''d been gone a lifetime, and | missed them and my old life already. 2/3


    ¡°We don¡¯t have to be here forever,¡± Mason said, grabbing my hand. 1 promise. My priority is you and Ste and your happiness.¡±


    | nodded. The smile he gave me was sad, and | could tell he missed them, too.


    But then his expression turned serious. ¡°You know how | told Xander and Zane that you¡¯re my mate?¡± he asked carefully.


    ¡°Yes...¡± | said, my heart rate picking up speed.


    Mason continued. ¡°Have you thought about maybe-


    ¡°Can | get you anything?¡± A woman walked up to our table and cut him off.


    | looked up at her, and when our eyes met, hers went wide and her mouth dropped open.


    ¡°Oh my go d, it¡¯s you.¡±

 Chapter 120

    Katie


    ¡°I''m sorry?¡± | asked the woman.


    Her mouth rearranged from a surprised ¡°o¡± to a polite smile.


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± she said in a slightly breathless voice. | thought you were an old friend for a moment.¡±


    She set two coffee cups down on the table. Her hands were shaking.


    ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Mason said, eyeing her closely. ¡°Thanks for those.¡± He nodded to the coffee cups.


    She hesitated before turning away, and | was suddenly hit with that same creeping deja vu I''d experienced multiple times since


    coming here. | blinked hard, trying to drive it away, but when | opened my eyes | noticed something else about her...she kind of


    looked like me.


    She had simr brown-red hair, only hers was cut short, and she had a heavy dusting of freckles across


    her nose.


    Was Mason seeing this, too?


    | nced at him and saw that his eyes were flitting from her to me, then back again, a curious expression on his face. So it


    wasn¡¯t just me,


    ¡°Do | know you?¡± | asked her before she could run off.


    | hadn''t sensed such a strong pull toward someone since....well, | guess since earlier today with Xander and Zane.


    This seemed to be happening a lot here in Constantine.


    The woman raised her eyebrows. ¡°No, no | don¡¯t think so,¡± she said hurriedly. ¡°What is your name?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°Katie,¡± | answered.


    She nodded and smiled, but her eyes looked sad.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Katie,¡± she said softly.


    I


    ¡°What the hell are you doing here?!¡± | heard Gabri¡¯s angry voice before | saw her.


    She marched up to our


    Gabri, too?


    table and I swore the woman¡¯s face when ghost ghost-white. Did she know


    ¡°I''ll just leave you to it,¡± the woman mumbled before scurrying off.


    ¡°We''re getting coffee,¡± Mason answered inly.


    Gabri¡¯s jaw clenched. | looked down at the table to avoid her death re.


    ¡°You''re not supposed toe into town,¡± Gabri said in an ice-cold voice. ¡°Especially not with her. We 1/3


    My head snapped up.


    ¡°What instructions?¡± | asked.


    Was this why Mason had avoided my question about not leaving the mansion earlier?


    His mouth formed a tight line, and Gabri shook her head at him.


    ¡°To make sure you stay in the mansion, Katie. You¡¯re rogues; everyone here can smell it. And they might not wee you as


    warmly as we have.¡±


    | held Gabri¡¯s gaze, but her stony expression didn¡¯t flinch.


    ¡°If someone wants to give us s hit for being rogues, then they''ll have to deal with me,¡± Mason spat.


    ¡°You know it¡¯s not that simple,¡± Gabri said. ¡°You¡¯re in Council territory. There are consequences to your actions.¡±


    Was she telling the truth? And if we really were at risk of being targeted for being rogues, then why the hell would Mason bring


    me here?


    My stomach flipped. Thank g od | hadn¡¯t brought Ste. Here | was worried about vampires when the Constantine Pack might''ve


    been our real enemies all along.


    Wait... Ste. If Gabri was here, then....


    ¡°Where is Ste?¡± | suddenly asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s with Xander and Zane. They¡¯re watching her and the twins,¡± Gabri said. ¡°But she needs you home.¡±


    Awave of guilt crashed over me, making me nauseous.


    ¡°Let''s go, Katie,¡± Mason said, standing up from the table.


    ¡°I''ll take her home,¡± Gabri said. ¡°We have things to discuss.¡±


    Mason scoffed. ¡°You can¡¯t just f u cking...¡± He trailed off and took a deep breath.


    His face was reddening, a nd his fists were clenched. He obvi ously wanted to fight, but he was doing his best to hold back.


    | silently prayed to the go ds that he wouldn''t lose it here. Sh it was alreadyplicated enough without dealing with the


    consequences of Mason blowing up on Gabri. There was no way an Alpha like Xander would put up with someone tangling


    with his mother.


    out.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°But you better get her home safe.¡±


    ¡°I''m the Luna for a reason,¡± Gabri said. ¡°I know how to take care of people.¡±


    Mason leaned down and gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead. T¡¯ll see you soon,¡± And then he walked


    ¡°I''m sorry about all that,¡± Gabri said as she led me to one of Xander and Zane¡¯s big ck SUVs outside


    the cafe. ¡°Llust want you and Ste to be safe¡±


    cafe.


    | bit my lip and nodded. | didn¡¯t know how else to respond.


    ¡°I need to grab something from inside quickly, I''ll be right back,¡± Gabri said as she ran back into the


    Through the window, | could see Gabri tap the woman from earlier on the shoulder. Her face was twisted up with anger, and


    the woman looked a little scared when she saw her again.


    Lily awakened inside me, scratching around, her ears perking up to hear their conversation,


    | crept out of the car and walked up to the window of the cafe, pressing myself against the outside wall so they couldn¡¯t see me


    inside.


    ¡°She can¡¯te around here, it¡¯s too hard,¡± the woman said, her voice shaking. ¡°What if Selena had been here?¡±


    Selena? Who was Selena?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Gabri said, ¡°She''ll never leave the mansion again.

 Chapter 121

    Katie


    ¡°Xander, don¡¯t,¡± Zane warned.


    | might not have known too much about how things worked in the Constantine pack, but | did know it was wrong to threaten your


    Luna.


    But when Xander looked at me, his eyes were full of concern, like he was worried for me.


    Was he being a mega a sshole to his mom? Yes.


    But was he doing it to protect me? It seemed like maybe.


    Sh it. If | wanted to stop thinking about Xander and Zane, then they were going to have to stop going all Alpha on my behalf.


    ¡°I''m going to pretend like you didn¡¯t just say that,¡± Gabri said icily. ¡°Usingpulsion on your own mother... despicable.¡±


    | agreed, but the tiniest, most evilly curious part of me wanted to Xander to do it. Then maybe I''d know more about that woman in


    the cafe, or why she mentioned me and someone named Selena.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    | tried to bring it up in the car, but Gabri had filled every silence with inane questions.


    Xander was right. She was hiding something. But | was pretty sure everyone else in the room was, too.


    Xander took a deep breath in and stepped back, looking away from his mother.


    ¡°I''m not actually going to, and I¡¯m sorry to even threaten it. But | won¡¯t tolerate more lies and secrets.


    Ahand fell hard on my shoulder. | flinched, but it was only Mason.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he mouthed.


    thing.


    | reached for Ste, the could quiet the restlessness in my mind and body.


    | nodded at Mason, but | was very much not okay.


    When we got back up to our quarters, | put Ste to bed and then climbed in to sleep next to Mason


    without a word.


    | knew he wanted to ask me how it had gone with Gabri, but it was thest thing | felt like talking.


    about.


    Instead, | went through the checklist of weirdness that seemed to follow me all over Constantine for thest few days


    | had incessant deja vu that Lily felt, too.


    Gabri told Mason to keep me away from town.


    ange


    town recognized me.


    So many secrets, and none of them shared with me.


    Nknew there was more | was missing, too, but before | could conjure them all, I¡¯d slipped away into sleep.


    | finally got out of bed the next morning when | heard a knock at the door.


    Mason had woken me a little while before with a deep kiss that sent a jolt of electricity straight from my lips down to my core.


    At that moment, | wondered why I¡¯d ever questioned what | had with Mason, Just his brief touch sent my head spinning and


    made me desperate to pull him into bed and yank all his clothes off.


    hips.


    My mind just hadn¡¯t been right yesterday. I''d been stressed and tired, that was all.


    | knew Mason would¡¯ve obliged me, too, if Ste hadn''t stirred just as his hands were drifting down my


    ¡°Do you need me to stay?¡± he¡¯d asked.


    | shook my head and got up, grabbing Ste and feeding her from bed.


    Now, walking to the door, my heart rate quickened.


    Without Mason here with me, | was afraid to face the rest of the people who lived in the mansion.


    | opened the door slowly, still holding Ste in my other hand.


    ¡°Hello, Katie,¡± Gabri said, an apologetic smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for yesterday¡±


    | shrugged, not really knowing how to respond.


    ¡°| have an idea if you''re interested,¡± she said.


    ¡°What is it?¡± | asked apprehensively.


    ¡°As you now know, Xander and Zane no longer have a mate. And this means that | no longer have a Luna-in-training to help with


    tasks concerning the house and caring for the pack.¡±


    Where was she going with this?


    ¡°| was wondering... she eyed me closely, ¡°If you might be interested in helping me out. It''ll get you and Ste out of these stuffy


    quarters, and it would allow me to reintroduce myself. | feel like we¡¯ve gotten off on


    the wrong foot.¡±


    That should¡¯ve been an immediate red g. She was obviously making this offer to soften the blow of my being trapped in the


    mansion.


    But some kind of instinct told me that | could trust her, that she was here to protect me, too.


    Plus, she was a total ba das s and | really didn¡¯t want to get on her bad side.


    Lauallowed hard. ¡°Umhem that sounds neast


    She led me and Ste downstairs and out the back door to a greenhouse where a petite girl with a ponytail was fiddling with


    some kind of vine.


    ¡°This is my other pair of helping hands,¡± Gabri said, waving toward the girl.


    When she spun around, my throat tightened.


    ¡°Her name is...¡± Gabri started to say, but | cut her off.


    ¡°Mindy,¡± | said. ¡°We''ve met before.¡±

 Chapter 122

    Katie


    ¡°Oh,¡± Gabri said, surprised. ¡°How do you know each other?¡±


    She looked taken aback, almost worried.


    Meanwhile, Mindy was giving me a shaky smile, but her eyes were full of shock.


    | should''ve known I''d run into her here. I¡¯d forgotten Her mates were Xander and Zane¡¯s High Guards.


    ¡°We met at the regional pack gathering.¡± Mindy said in a tight voice. ¡°She was there with Mason.¡±


    She didn¡¯t mention that we''d met because she''d mistaken me for someone named Lanie.


    Wait... now that | thought about it, the woman at the cafest night had acted simrly to the way Mindy had when she


    approached me at the gathering... Like she¡¯d seen a ghost.


    | wondered why Mindy seemed to be purposefully leaving out the details of our interaction. That would be a question forter.


    ¡°Yes,¡± | nodded. ¡°Mindy was very friendly.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good you already get along,¡± Gabri said, some of the uneasiness sliding off her face. ¡°I¡¯ve got a project for the two


    of you to work on today.¡±


    Gabri walked over to a group of bushes in the back corner of the greenhouse,


    ¡°These moon berries are ready to be harvested, and just in time, too. There¡¯s a bout of moon fever going around town, and our


    healers can use them to make into tonics.¡±


    | walked over to the bush and fingered the beautiful cerun-blue berries with my hand that wasn¡¯t holding Ste


    ¡°Here, let me take her,¡± Gabri said. ¡°The boys are all training today, so I''ll call for you when the babies need feeding. Thank


    you both for your help.¡±


    Gabri dashed off with Ste, and | went to rush after her.


    ¡°Your baby is in good hands,¡± Mindy called, making me stop in my tracks. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about leaving her with Gabri, you


    shouldn''t be.¡±


    bed.¡±


    ¡°It''s just...¡± | trailed off. ¡°I feel like everyone here is always grabbing her and feeding her and putting her to


    Mindy c ocked her eyebrow at me. ¡°And you''re mad about that? Sounds like a nice break to me.¡±


    | breathed out a smallugh. ¡°But | feel like everyone here just does stuff without even asking me. | know I¡¯m a visiting rogue, but


    a heads-up would be nice before you sna tch my baby.¡±


    Mindy snorted. ¡°You''re funny,¡± she said. ¡°And also right, unfortunately. I¡¯m kind of nosey and very much a 1/3


    me stay locked up in my room. Can you believe that?¡±


    ¡°Who did? Your mates?¡±


    So | wasn¡¯t the only one they¡¯d locked up here.


    Beads of sweat began to form along my hairline.


    ¡°Oh, no. Maxim and Monroe are great,¡± she said, plucking a handful of ripe moon berries off a bush and plopping them into a


    bucket. ¡°They don¡¯t say much, but they still have a way with their tongues if you know what | mean.¡±


    She wiggled her eyebrows and | couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    | was right about her being a weirdo, but she was a very fun one at least. She and Quinn would get along great.


    ¡°Wait, then who made you stay in your quarters?¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Alpha Xander and Beta Zane. They''re way too hotheaded sometimes. Xander especially. And they do this


    mindlinkmunication thing so they can talk s hit about you right in front of your face.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    My breath caught in my throat. They couldmunicate with each other silently?


    What the hell had they said about me when they saw me naked yesterday? Or when my boob popped out right in front of them?


    Or when they could smell my arousal in the library?


    My cheeks suddenly burned fiercely, and | turned away toward one of the bushes and plucked a few berries so Mindy wouldn¡¯t


    see.


    They''d confined Mindy to the house just like they had me. They weren''t the type of wolves | should be fantasizing about.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± she continued, ¡°I finally got cleared to wander again as long as | was helping out Gabri. She really saved me.¡±


    Interesting. Was Gabri trying to give me some kind of freedom, too?


    ¡°Oh, s hit,¡± Mindy said. ¡°My hands are getting so blue. Would you mind grabbing a towel?¡±


    ¡°Sure. Where are they?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Just inside, down the hall. The closet with the gray door. It¡¯s after the showers and sauna, but just before you reach the gym.¡±


    D amn, they had everything here. Maybe being locked in the mansion wasn¡¯t so bad after all.


    | slipped back inside and walked down a long hall.


    The smell hit me first. Xander and Zane. | was embarrassed to admit I¡¯d probaby recognize their scent anywhere now


    | moved toward it slowly, and realized the smell was being carried through steam from the shower room


    | could walk past it and get the towels and walk away like nothing had happened, or | could...


    ¡°Go in,¡±


    ly urged as she paced inside me. ¡°Go inside.¡±


    grip.¡± | growled back at her.


    That h o ry itch was at it again.


    Just this morning I¡¯d been happily-very happily-with Mason. | wasn¡¯t supposed to get all wrapped up in Xander and Zane again.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with looking.¡± Lily urged. ¡°You know you want to after yesterday.¡±


    | opened the door and took a step inside the shower room.


    Go d da mn her for making me do this.


    Or...was this me?


    | would just get one peek and then grab the towel. That was it.


    | stepped all the way through the wooden door to the showers, and there in front of me were two steamed-up stalls. | narrowed


    my eyes, trying to see inside.


    But to my horror, both ss doors suddenly opened.


    And out stepped Xander and Zane.

 Chapter 123

    Xander


    ¡°L...I''m so sorry.¡±


    Katie stumbled over her words.


    Even through the billowing steam, | could see that her face was bright red.


    ¡°What are you doing in here?¡± Zane asked, his mouth curling up in a smirk.


    ¡°...¡± She bit her lip and nced up at the ceiling, avoiding looking at us. ¡°I needed a towel.¡±


    The steam was disappearing fast. Soon she¡¯d have to face us like she did yesterday.


    And this time, Mason wasn¡¯t there to whisk her away.


    I


    ¡°You''re not going to find a towel in here,¡± | said, feeling my own lips twist up in a mischievous grin.


    F uck me. We needed to stay far, far away from Katie


    But what the hell were we supposed to do if she came looking for us?


    Was that what was happening right now? Was the towel just an excuse?


    | stepped closer to her, and she backed up until her back was pressed against the door that had closed behind her.


    | grabbed the towel | would¡¯ve slung around my waist and held it out to her instead. Her eyes were fluttering as she tried to keep


    her gaze locked on mine and not...elsewhere.


    ¡°Ul


    guess you can have mine if you''re really desperate,¡± | told her. ¡°I¡¯m sure Zane would even give you his, too. Isn¡¯t that right,


    Zane?¡±


    Zane nodded and came to stand next to me


    ¡°Of course, Katie,¡± he purred,


    She gulped.


    ¡°Th...thank


    you,¡± she said desperately. ¡°But | think you need them more than me.¡±


    | ocked my head to the side.


    ¡°You want us to put on the towels?¡± | asked, motioning down to mine and Zane¡¯s rapidly hardening co cks. ¡°You don¡¯t like seeing


    us like this?¡±


    She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again.


    She breathed out deeply. At the same time, the sweet, heady scent of her arousal hit us, even more powerful in the steamy


    room.


    ¡°F uck,¡± Zane groaned, closing his eyes.


    G ods, she smelled so good.


    | wanted to cage her in against that door and press my body to hers, wrap her legs around my waist, and thrust inside her so


    deeply she screamed. My co ck twitched at the thought.


    fuck


    Her eyes flitted down and then back up, and her lids drooped slightly.


    We couldn''t make the first move. Not when she was mated.


    ¡°Yes, you can,¡± Hunter begged and pawed. | could only imagine de was dying to get to her, too.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know how much longer | can stand here like this,¡± Zane said. ¡°de is killing me.¡±


    ¡°| know she wants it, too. She just won¡¯t make a move,¡± | said. ¡°Do you think...¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°If we do anything with Katie, are we doing the same thing to Mason that Alice did to us?¡±


    ¡°It''s different.¡± Hunter interrupted.


    ¡°My wolf doesn¡¯t seem to think so,¡± Zane said.


    ¡°Mine either.¡±


    ¡°What are you two saying about me?? Katie asked in a shaky voice.


    | stared at her curiously.


    ¡°You can speak to each other with your minds, right? Her voice was huskier than usual. It was sex y as


    ¡°So | want to know what you''re saying.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Zane asked.


    She nodded.


    ¡°We were saying that it¡¯s really f ucking hard to stand in here alone with you, looking at you, smelling you, and not touching you,¡±


    | said. ¡°Not tasting you.¡±


    She drew in a quick breath and her face flushed.


    ¡°Especially when you keep doing that,¡± | said, my nostrils ring as another wave of her scent hit me.


    ¡°What if you didn¡¯t touch?¡± she said.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Zane and | exchanged a confused nce.


    ¡°What if you just looked while | did it?¡± she asked.


    And then she slid her hand down her pants...


    Katie


    | should''ve opened the door and ran the second they spotted me, but | was still glued to the floor.


    And now my f u cking hand was in my pants.


    But it was impossible to resist them.


    Water was rolling off their muscr torsos in delicious rivulets, and their huge, thick c ocks kept pulsing like they were begging to


    be touched.


    But I couldn¡¯t. And | couldn¡¯t let them touch me, either.


    So now | was touching myself. How f u cking wrong was that?


    ¡°Mason¡¯s not your mate,¡± Lily growled. ¡°He¡¯s not even your boyfriend.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t wrong. But still, for all Xander and Zane knew, he was.


    | slid my finger inside my soaking, aching heat.


    Xander¡¯s and Zane¡¯s hands traveled down to their c ocks as they watched me, and a moan escaped my lips as they started


    pumping them in rhythm with my own movements.


    It was too much to stand there and watch, | needed to touch them.


    | pulled my hand out of my pants and walked up to them.


    | reached out to touch their wet, muscr torsos first, releasing a little gasp of pleasure as | traced the grooves of their muscles.


    ¡°Katie?¡± a voice cried out.


    My brain short-circuited. This couldn¡¯t be happening.


    | whipped around to see Mason standing in the doorway, sweaty and shaking with anger. ¡°What the f uck. are you doing?¡±

 Chapter 124

    MasonContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    I saw red.


    What the f uck was Katie doing here with those as s holes?


    And why did it smell like a g odda mn or gy in here?


    I clenched my fists, roaring as my ws shot from my hands.


    ¡°Calm down, Mason,¡± Xander said, holding his hands up. ¡°You''re not in rogue territory anymore. You¡¯re on mynd now.¡±


    ¡°Shut the f uck up, Xander,¡± | snarled. ¡°Stop trying to steal my f ucking mate again. It¡¯s not going to happen.¡±


    Colt reared up inside me, pushing me to attack.


    Katie gasped. | looked at her then, and my rage surged hotter and harder than before. Yes, she looked surprised and scared. But


    she also looked flushed, and her eyes glittered with something like excitement.


    She''d wanted to be here with them. And she was probably pis sed that I¡¯d interrupted whatever the f uck was going on when |


    walked in.


    | clenched my fist and raised it high, and for one sweet, satisfying second, a look of horror shed across Xander¡¯s face. But


    then | spun around and brought it down hard against the mirror opposite the showers.


    The ss shattered, and blood poured out of my hand, but | didn¡¯t give a f uck.


    | stalked out of the bathroom before Colt took overpletely and | did something | couldn¡¯te back


    from.


    If | touched even one little hair on their on their b ig-as s heads, I''d be thrown to the literal wolves of the


    council.


    | couldn''t touch those mo therf uckers on their home turf, but Project: Bring Xander Down from the Inside


    was back on.


    ¡°Mason, wait!¡± Katie yelled down the hall.


    F uck. What was | gonna do about Katie?


    | thought she was different, | thought she was the one. | thought I loved her, and | thought she loved me back. Hell, | was about


    to make her my mate for real.


    But it was Alice all over again.


    Xander and Zane had stolen her from me just like before. And Katie hadin down and let them.


    ¡°Don''t, Katie,¡± | said, not turning around.


    ¡°Please!¡± She caught my arm from behind, and | spun around, ws raised.


    But when | saw the fear in her eyes and watched her cower below me, all the rage that had flowed through me a second ago


    suddenly turned to ice in my veins.


    | dropped my hand to my side.


    ¡°What?¡± | asked her bluntly. ¡°What could you possibly say right now?¡±


    ¡°Mason, I...¡± She took a shaky breath, and tears sprung to her eyes. She was guilty, | knew it. ¡°Nothing really happened. Nothing


    like what''s happened with you.¡±


    | shook my head. My wolf retreated. | was done.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t even matter, Katie,¡± | said. ¡°You wanted it. You wanted them.¡±


    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean | don¡¯t want you, too!¡± she cried.


    She had no idea what she was talking about.


    ¡°I''ve already been through this s hit once,¡± Mason said. ¡°I¡¯m not doing it again.¡±


    be


    | turned away from her.


    ¡°It was a mistake to bring you here.¡± | walked back down the hall, but this time she didn¡¯t follow.


    Katle


    My eyes blurred with tears and | doubled over, heaving.


    What the f uck had | just done?


    The G ods were punishing me and my wolf for being so unbelievably stu pid.


    After what happened with Alice, it must''ve been so hard for Mason to trust again. And here | was


    | reminding him why he never should''ve.


    | thought about running after him, but what would | say?


    He was right. | had wanted it, and | had no excuse for it.


    The one bright spot was that at least I''d been honest with him about it. Not like Alice had done.


    Instead, | ran to the side door and out of the house. Distantly, | thought of Mindy and how I''d left her alone, how when Gabri


    found out, she¡¯d probably have my head. But at least Ste was safe with her


    As soon as my feet hit the grass, | ripped off all my clothes and ran straight for the forest, shifting before !


    could even think about what | was doing.


    Not thinking was good. | didn¡¯t want to think about the consequences of what I''d done, of how I''d face everyone once | got back.


    | just needed to run until my body gave out


    But Lily had other ns. She was pulling me in a certain direction again, to the same ce we¡¯d gone the


    dru baforn


    The sun was still rising in the sky as | reached the edge of theke, and the light was sparkling on the water¡¯s surface. It


    would''ve been beautiful if everything else wasn¡¯t so f ucked up.


    A branch broke close by, and | snapped my head toward the sound. | raised my nose high and sniffed the air. What the f uck?


    It was that same strange smell Lily had gone nuts for yesterday. She sent me pacing in circles. Clearly, she was still going crazy.


    And so was |, because now | knew what that smell meant.


    Vampire.


    | looked out over the trees, and then | saw him..


    An admittedly beautiful man with bright green eyes, cropped ck hair, and a jaw chiseled by the go ds themselves. He was


    wearing a nnel, perfectly fitting jeans, and boots... Did all vampires dress like s exy lumberjacks?


    When he saw me, his eyes went wide with recognition and amusement.


    ¡°| thought you¡¯d gone missing,¡± he said in a smooth, deep voice. ¡°Looks like | found you.¡±

 Chapter 125

    Zane


    ¡°What the hell did we just do?¡± | asked as | threw myself onto the bed.


    ¡°We almost f ucked Katie...aka Mason¡¯s mate,¡± Xander said, blowing out a big breath of air.


    If Mason had walked in five minutester, who knew what kind of position he would¡¯ve found us in.


    | couldn''t tell if | was more relieved or disappointed that things hadn¡¯t escted when he caught us.


    Probably more disappointed than anything.


    Now Mason was raging, and Katie probably wouldn¡¯t go near us again anytime soon.


    An intense wave of need pulsed through me just at the thought.


    We''d gotten so close to touching her, and now it was all crashing down around us.


    ¡°It''s for the best that it didn¡¯t happen,¡± Xander said, though | could tell he didn¡¯t even believe his own words.


    It was lessplicated, yes, but now the thought of never being that close to her again was physically painful.


    ¡°Where do you think she went?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Let''s hope she¡¯s just out for a short run. We can only cover for her for so long.¡±


    We''d told Gabri that we''d found Katie stumbling down the hall after a migraine hit suddenly and that we¡¯d brought her up to


    bed.


    Gabri agreed to look after Ste until Katie was feeling better, but we only had a couple of hours


    before she would go up there herself to check on her.


    And if Katie wasn¡¯t there, all hell would break loose.


    ¡°G od s, can this day get any worse?¡± | said, pinching the bridge of my nose


    Aknock sounded at the door.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Xander instructed.


    Maxim stepped through the door, a troubled look on his face.


    ¡°You have visitors,¡± he said solemnly. ¡°Gregory and Lucas. They''re downstairs waiting with Monroe.¡±


    Xander cut his eyes at me. ¡°F uck you, man. You cursed us. Those are thest as sholes | want to talk to


    today.¡±


    We hadn¡¯t seen Gregory and Lucas since we announced Alice¡¯s death and they used us of killing her.


    very much on the Council¡¯s bad side.


    ¡°S hit. What business do they haveing here?¡± | asked.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know.¡± Xander shrugged. ¡°But | guess we¡¯re about to find out.¡±


    We walked downstairs slowly, dreadinging face to face with those disgusting oafs again.


    they w


    ¡°Alpha Xander, Beta Zane.¡± Gregory nodded when we walked into the great room where waiting. on therge couch. ¡°We have


    something urgent we need to discuss with you.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s lies and nder, then | don¡¯t want to hear it,¡± Xander said, waving his hand at them dismissively.


    We both sat in armchairs facing the couch, giving us a good view of the other two men. They looked more rough and weathered


    than they even had on the day of the mating ceremony. | supposed thest few months hadn''t been very kind to them, either.


    ¡°It''s not nder, it''s concerns,¡± Lucas said through gritted teeth.


    Oh, great. Here we go.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Xander said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. ¡°Tell us what these so-called ¡®concerns¡¯ are.¡±


    ¡°We know you''ve brought another young she-wolf to the mansion,¡± Gregory said, a self-satisfied smirk popping up on his face.


    | nced sideways at Xander


    ¡°How the f uck did he know that?¡± | asked.


    ¡°No f ucking clue,¡± Xander said. ¡°But | don¡¯t like the sound of this¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the mate of a visitor,¡± | answered simply. ¡°And it¡¯s none of your concern.¡±


    ¡°Forgive us,¡± Lucas said. ¡°We just wanted to make sure this one doesn¡¯t wind up dead, too.¡±


    Xander growled and lunged out of his chair. | stood and dived between him and the two men.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Anything Xander or | did could be used as fuel to fan whatever mes of doubt they were trying to nt in our pack¡¯s heads


    about our sanity.


    ¡°Where the f uck do you get off ying protector of she-wolves?¡± Xander growled. ¡°You really think anyone would buy that after


    the way you tortured your own mates?!¡±


    Gregoryughed mirthlessly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have any f ucking clue what you''re talking about, Alpha,¡± he said.


    ¡°We weren''t the ones who hurt our mates, Xander,¡± Lucas said. ¡°That was your father.¡±

 Chapter 126

    Braden


    | threw a bundle of clothes at Lanie¡¯s feet.


    ¡°There,¡± | said. ¡°You can shift now, gorgeous.¡±


    I spun around and faced the trees,


    | won''t even look. Even though thest time | saw you, you didn¡¯t seem to mind...


    There was a rustling sound behind me, and then her voice.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know who the f uck you think | am, but you''ve got it all wrong,¡± she said.


    | turned around to face her. If I¡¯d had breath to lose, it would¡¯ve been gone. I''d forgotten how unbelievably


    beautiful she was, even in my sweats and a hoodie.


    That cinn amon hair, all long and wild, that perfect face, that intoxicating scent, and the way her nose


    wrinkled when she was irritated.


    Which she obviously was right now.


    Her arms were crossed, and her hip was co cked to one side.


    ¡°You''re kidding, right? Or is this all part of your disappearing act?¡± | asked, studying her face for signs


    that she was joking.


    But she just looked confused.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know what act you''re talking about.¡± She lifted her arm and inhaled, then stuck out her tongue ast


    if gagging


    ¡°What, the clothes aren''t to your liking?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°No, they just smell like vampire.


    now are you?¡±


    | narrowed my eyes at her. ¡°Oh, so you''re holding that against me now,


    ¡°What do you mean ¡°now¡±?¡± she asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know who the hell you are or why you think you know who |


    am¡±


    | thought back to thest time I''d spoken to a shifter | talked to Gabri shortly after Lanie had been freed from Aldon¡¯s prison,


    and she told me that Lanie had disappeared herself and would beying low


    indefinitely.


    With the Council sniffing around Constantine and on high alert for vampires, Lanie thought it was too dangerous to stay in the


    territory as a hybrid.


    This woman standing in front of me looked like the Lanie I¡¯d known, but she really seemed to have no clue at all who | was. She


    was either an incredible actress or something very strange was going on.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t have any idea who | am, do you?¡± | asked her.


    She red at me. ¡°Did | not just say that?¡±


    Da mn, she was still as fiery as | remembered her being.


    ¡°I''m Braden. We were friends once,¡± | said carefully, not sure how she would take this news.


    Her brows knitted together. ¡°Were we really?¡±


    Did she actually not remember? Had the Constantines done something to her?


    ¡°Yes,¡± | said. ¡°We met here another time when you were feeling...distressed.¡±


    She stuck her bottom lip out. | wanted to sink my teeth into it.


    ¡°How did you know I¡¯m distressed?¡± she asked me warily.


    Tve to


    told you before, | can smell you from a mile away¡¯ | told her. ¡°More boy troubles this time?¡±


    She scoffed. ¡°That''s none of your business!¡±


    ¡°Til take that as a yes.¡±


    She grunted a non-response.


    I''d missed winding her up like this.


    ¡°Man, this is just like the first time we met,¡± | said.


    ¡°| wish you''d stop acting like we''re besties,¡± she said, rolling her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine being that tight with


    a vampire.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Dam n, had whatever happened to her made her forget that she was a vampire, too?


    ¡°You don¡¯t like vampires?¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Aren¡¯t they, like, the enemies of wolf shifters?¡±


    ¡°In fairytales, maybe,¡± | said, stepping closer to her. ¡°Do | seem like your enemy?¡±


    She looked me up and down.


    I could tell she liked what she saw.


    ¡°Remains to be seen,¡± she said.


    But | could feel her defenses breaking down already, and thank the go ds for that. I''d missed her thesest few months.


    id know


    | still didn¡¯t know why she didn¡¯t remember me or the part of herself that made us so alike, but | did that | didn¡¯t want to lose her


    again like | did before. We had to be sneakier this time.


    ¡°You said we were friends once.¡± She eyed me curiously. ¡°Could you tell me more about what it was like back then?¡± she asked


    2/3


    ¡°| might be able to help you out,¡± | said, ¡°But not today, let¡¯s meet tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    Iturned to walk back into the forest.


    ¡°You''ll see.¡±

 Chapter 127

    Katie


    What the hell was that all about?


    The whole time Braden was speaking, Lily was going crazy, scratching and pawing inside me.


    | couldn''t tell if she wanted to hump him or bite his head off.


    | couldn''t, either, if 1 was being honest.


    Thest thing | needed was to add another man into the rotation, but Braden was handsome as hell, and


    he knew his way around some flirty banter.


    | shook myself out of it. This was just a distraction from thinking about Mason and how much I''d f ucked


    up with him.


    But if Braden could tell me things about my past, then maybe some light flirting to get the information needed wouldn''t be so bad.


    | stripped out of Braden¡¯s clothes, needing to shake off the vampire smell before | got back to the


    mansion. Then | shifted and ran.


    When | got back, | collected the clothes I¡¯d strewn all over thewn and got dressed again, bracing myself


    for whatever chaos was unfolding inside the mansion.


    | stepped inside as quietly as | could, nning to make a beeline straight for my quarters, but as soon as


    the door shut behind me, | felt a hand grip my arm and tug me backward into another wing of the house.


    | tried to pull away, but whoever had me in their grip was way too strong.


    Adoor mmed shut and suddenly, | was in a living room | didn¡¯t recognize.


    ¡°What are we going to do about you?¡± a deep, wicked voice asked.


    | finally looked up into the eyes of the person who''d brought me here. He was older, his face lined and his hair streaked with


    silver, but | didn¡¯t recognize him.


    ¡°Do you know who | am?¡± he asked, his eyes boring into me.


    Lily stirred inside me, running a defensive circle around my belly. Her guard was up. This man made her


    nervous.


    I shook my head.


    ¡°I''m Orion Constantine,¡± he said, and his lips curled up in a half-smirk half-snarl. ¡°I¡¯m Xander¡¯s father and the former Alpha.¡±


    ¡°N-nice to meet you,¡± | said softly. ¡°Are you going to let me go?¡±


    | nced at his hand still wrapped around my arm.


    113


    My father was an as shole, but he womin ini


    ses natt Gregory said ¡°Tonon would tell us he needed to take our mates to the mansion to help w


    Asong of routes fissed my stomach inside of de nym


    My Shixa7e0?


    Suddenly couldnt hear anything but my clode puitping in my dads star to smallcam but my throat was


    cover ini


    I


    then smillion


    my ears. Men and Monroe will see you sur


    ¡°nam


    Could he really be sailing the truth


    They


    Gregory and Luces had barely been out of the house for the sess what Kattie¡¯s serum achend in a


    2/3


    ¡°Xander! Help!¡±


    Zane¡¯s eyes shed to mine.


    ¡°She¡¯s in trouble,¡± he said.


    We ran straight toward the sound, which wasing from the west wing of the house. The only person who usually spent time


    there was my father.


    And if everything Gregory and Lucas said was true, then Katie was in even bigger trouble than | imagined.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    | burst into his quarters, Zane trailing just behind me.


    | went blind with rage when | saw it.


    My father¡¯s arm was wrapped tightly around Katie, and tears were streaming down her face.

 Chapter 128

    Xander


    ¡°What the f uck are you doing to her?¡± | snarled.


    He let her arm go. It was red and angry where he¡¯d squeezed it.


    It didn¡¯t matter that Katie could shift and heal, when saw the red ring around her skin, | lost it.


    Roaring, | dove at my father, hands around his neck, and mmed him into the wall.


    Katie yelped. Zane ran to her and threw an arm around her shoulder protectively.


    ¡°What did you do to her?¡± | asked him, spit flying into his face. ¡°WHAT did you do?!¡±


    He wheezed out a weakugh. ¡°You wouldn''t understand. You don¡¯t understand any of this.¡±


    | pulled my father back from the wall, then mmed him into it again. He grunted in pain, but the sinister


    smile never left his face.


    ¡°You can¡¯t keep saying this s hit,¡± | screamed. ¡°I know what you did to Gregory and Luc a s¡¯s mates. They


    told me.¡±


    His face was rapidly reddening.


    ¡°They''re dumb, violent liars,¡± he choked out.


    ¡°No,¡± | spat back. ¡°I think that¡¯s you.¡±


    ¡°Xander,¡± Zane said. ¡°You''re choking him. He can¡¯t breathe.¡±


    I


    His face was turning purple now, but | couldn¡¯t let him go. Not until he told me everything..


    | looked my father dead in the eyes,pelling him to tell me the truth. But they remainedN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    present.


    Thepulsion wasn¡¯t working. | narrowed my eyes and tried harder. But still, he stared returning to his face despite his limited


    air supply


    I snarled and finally moved my hands from his neck. He slid down the wall to the ground.


    ¡°| can¡¯tpel him,¡± | told Zane. ¡°It¡¯s not f ucking working.¡±


    ht and


    ¡°You''re too emotional,¡± my father said,ughing wheezily. ¡°You¡¯re not focused. Or maybe the Alpha never should¡¯ve been yours


    to begin with.¡±


    Hunter reared up inside me, dangerously close to breaking through the surface. But what good would attacking him do? His lies


    ran so deep at this point, | had no idea what he was capable of.


    ¡°What the f uck happened to you?¡± | said, my voice breaking.


    My father and | had never been close, but | never once thought he was this much of a monster. 1/3


    ¡°Go to


    your quarters, Katie,¡± | told her over my shoulder. | didn¡¯t want her here anymore. Not until | could


    get rid of him


    ¡°Lock the door from the inside, and don¡¯te out until | say so, okay?¡±


    | spun around to look at her, and the fear on her face made my heart drop.


    She nodded and a tear fell down her cheek.


    And then she was gone.


    ¡°And you...¡± | squatted down, shoving my finger in my father¡¯s face. ¡°You can¡¯t be here anymore. Go stay in your hunting lodge


    or your apartment or wherever the f u ck. You¡¯re not wee in this mansion anymore.¡±


    | thought he mightugh or argue or spring up and punch me in the face. Zane was standing in a warrior stance behind me,


    prepared for it all.


    But to our surprise, he rose slowly and nodded.


    ¡°Fine-You won''t see me here again.¡±


    Katie


    I ran out of the room like my life depended on it.


    Because it probably did.


    | shuddered to think what might have happened if Xander and Zane hadn¡¯te when they had.


    ¡°| know what you are,¡± he¡¯d said. What the f uck did that mean?


    | could barely see in front of me, the tears were so thick in my eyes. When | rounded a corner, | nearly plowed into Gabri. As


    soon as | saw Ste in her arms, | broke down sobbing.


    ¡°Please-| need her,¡± | said, reaching out to take her. Gabri passed her off silently, but her vere


    wide with rm.


    ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± she asked.


    I had no idea how to tell her.


    | just shook my head as more tears fell.


    ¡°I can''t...¡± | said. ¡°I can''t...¡±


    on


    And then I ran to the room, holding Ste as tightly as | could.


    | prayed to the g ods that Mason would be in our quarters when | got back. | needed his arms around m needed his scent all over


    me. | needed normal a gain.


    But when I got inside, the rooms were empty and eerily quiet.


    A fresh wave of tears streamed down my face as | set Ste down on the bed. She started crying, too.


    I''ve gone to Stillwood to think. I''ll be back soon.


    He''d left without me.

 Chapter 129

    Katie


    How could Mason leave me here?


    | knew I''d upset him, but to go back home without me seemed cruel. I''d just told him how much | was missing Asher and Quinn,


    and he was probably hanging out with them right now.


    So bs wracked my body, and Ste wailed, too. | picked her back up and held her to my chest, taking deep breaths to calm


    myself. My tears only seemed to upset her more.


    | tried not to think about the fact that Mason had left Ste as well. He¡¯d abandoned our routine of


    putting her down and climbing into bed together at the end of the night.


    It had only been a few days, but I¡¯de to depend on it


    Maybe when he saw me with Xander and Zane, he thought | was saying that these things didn¡¯t mean


    anything to me. But that couldn¡¯t be further from the truth.


    | wasn¡¯t lying when | told Mason that | wanted him, too. | wanted all three of them, and was that so bad?!


    didn¡¯t have a mate, | didn¡¯t have my memories. | was starved for connection, and so was my wolf.


    Instead, | was abandoned, sn atched up by a crazy former Alpha, and locked away in my room.


    Some life this was. My heart panged for the way things were before, even though | had no idea if they


    were better. But they had to be, didn¡¯t they?


    | thought then of Braden and his promise that he¡¯d meet me tomorrow. Maybe he¡¯d know if things had


    been better. Maybe he could help me get back to where | was before.


    Because | didn¡¯t know how much longer | could take this pain.


    The next morning | woke up with a heavy head and an even heavier heart.


    The bed was still empty next to me. The door was still locked. Another day trapped inside this mansion, only this time | couldn¡¯t


    even leave my room.


    I


    Ste and | passed the morning together in a daze. | fed her, read to her, and yed with her toys, but she seemed distracted


    and disinterested in everything. Probably my sour mood infecting hers. What a great


    mother | was.


    | put her down for her morning nap, grateful to have another moment to myself to cry or scream into a pillow, but when | walked


    back into my bedroom, a man was standing there.


    | yelped but pped my hands over my mouth as soon as | realized who it was.


    ¡°Braden? How the hell did you get in here?!¡± | whisper-screamed.


    ¡°Window¡± ha chinnad ¡°Vamniras are a little lighter on their feat than wolf shifters 1/3


    One side of his mouth was quirked up in a little grin. His green eyes were glittering brightly. Go ds, he really was hot.


    | patted my messy bun self-consciously and silently cursed myself for wearing my grimiest PJs the night before.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he said, c ocking his head to one side as he studied me.


    Very perceptive.


    ¡°No, not really,¡± | said. ¡°And could you keep your voice down? My baby is sleeping.¡±


    His face paled. ¡°Baby?¡± he asked.


    Should | not have told him? Were vampires really baby sn atchers after all?


    ¡°Yes?¡± | said warily.


    He nced down at the floor and his eyebrows knitted together.


    ¡°Since when?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Since like three weeks ago.¡± | nted my hands on my hips.


    ¡°And the father,¡± he said. ¡°That''s who was causing your distress?¡±


    Go ds, he was nosey


    ¡°Something like that,¡± | said irritatedly. ¡°I thought you were gonna let me ask questions this time. You snuck into my room and


    scared the sh it out of me, so it¡¯s only fair.¡±


    ¡°Okay, what do you want to know?¡± Braden asked.


    I


    I


    ¡°Let''s start with..¡± Sh it. | should¡¯ve thought more about my questions. ¡°Did | know Xander and Zane before?¡±


    Braden eyed me curiously before nodding slowly.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    ¡°You did,¡± he said.


    My heart started moving at warp speed.


    ¡°So strange you don¡¯t remember. They were your


    The sound of splintering wood cut Braden off.


    My heart jumped to my throat as | braced myself for Orion toe bursting in to kidnap me again.


    But it was Mason.


    ¡°Katie, | heard what happened, and | came.¡±


    He trailed off when he ran into the bedroom and saw Braden standing in front of me.


    His nostrils red.


    Mason lunged, but I called out, ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t hurt him!¡±


    Mason rounded on me, his eyes shing with his wolf.


    ¡°He knows me from before,¡± | exined desperately. He¡¯s helping me remember. He¡¯s...


    Mason snarled and his eyes shed crimson. ¡°Are you sleeping with him, too?¡± he roared. ¡°I leave for one night and you have a f


    ucking vampire in your bed?¡±


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not what this is,¡± Braden said. ¡°Let¡¯s just be calm.¡±


    ¡°Calm?¡± Mason barked, his ws and canines shooting out. He was losing it. I''d never seen him so angry.


    ¡°lll show you calm.¡±


    Mason dived forward and shifted in midair, his clothes ripping to shreds as hended hard on the floor.


    ¡°No!¡± | cried. Mason lunged straight at Braden, but he dodged him just in time, his fangs shooting out of


    his mouth.


    Braden leaped at Mason next, tackling him to the ground. The two rolled together across the floor,


    mming into a dresser and sending everything on top of it crashing to the ground.


    Ste started to cry. This was too much.


    ¡°STOP!¡± | screamed. ¡°The baby! You can¡¯t fight here!¡±


    Braden fell onto his back and raised his hands in surrender, but Mason was like a man possessed.


    He bared his canines then lunged at Braden, sinking them deep into his side.

 Chapter 130

    Xander


    Iran


    Zane and | ran as soon as we heard the crash.


    My first thought was that my father hade back to finish what he¡¯d started with Katie, but that didn¡¯t make any sense. I¡¯d sent


    Maxim out to trail him and report back if he even thought abouting to the mansion again.


    So when we ran into Katie''s room and saw Mason¡¯s wolf crouching over a bleeding man, we were confused, to say the least.


    ¡°What the f uck is going on here?¡± | asked as | surveyed the scene.


    Zane took Katie by the shoulders and walked her over to the bed to sit, but she shook her head, her eyes wide with shock. ¡°I


    have to get Ste.¡±


    She was wailing in the other room.


    ¡°I''ll do it.¡± Zane said, running to go grab her. Her cries stopped a momentter.


    And then Mason was shifting back to his human form, crouching naked on his knees. He took one look at the man bleeding out


    from his side and scrambled back against the wall.


    All the color drained from his face.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t mean to.¡± he said in a dazed voice.


    ¡°Braden?¡± Katie said, walking over to the hurt man. His face was twisted up in pain.


    She lifted his b loody shirt, to expose a nasty-looking wolf bite, and suddenly, | caught a whiff of the guy.


    | locked eyes with Zane.


    ¡°Vampire,¡± he said.


    If Katie didn¡¯t know they existed, then why was she acting like she was old friends with this guy?


    | took a closer look at the bite. It wasn¡¯t bleeding anymore, which made sense now. If the stories I¡¯d r about vampires were true,


    then that meant he could control the way his blood flowed through his body.


    | thought they could heal themselves, too, but the bite was wet and deep and angry-looking.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t he healing?¡± Katie asked desperately, speaking my thoughts aloud.


    | looked to Zane for an answer, but he shook his head. We¡¯d only recently learned vampires even existed,


    and we''d been too busy with Alice and then the twins to study up on them.


    ¡°He can¡¯t,¡± Mason said in a choked voice. ¡°Wolf bites are deadly to vampires. There¡¯s no healing, no cure.¡±


    He blinked hard a few times as if trying to wash away the scene in front of him.


    ¡°So he¡¯s just going to die?¡± Katie screeched. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Braden said weakly. ¡°Not immediately. It¡¯s a couple of days of intense pain, and then I''ll start


    literally losing my mind. After that, I''ll go. It''s slow and torturous, like the worst kind of poison.¡±


    Mason stood up slowly, and like a zombie, he walked to the door and plucked a robe off a h ook, draping it


    over himself.


    us?¡±


    He really was acting like a f ucking zombie.


    ¡°Why did you do this?¡± | demanded, stepping in front of him.


    He shook his head, a baffled look on his face.


    | nted my hands on his chest and shoved him hard.


    ¡°What the f uck were you thinking?¡± No response. | shoved him again. ¡°What if more vampirese after


    | shoved him a third time, and he stumbled backward.


    ¡°Xander!¡± Katie cried. ¡°Stop!¡±


    Tears were streaming down her face and her eyes were darting around the room wildly


    ¡°| don¡¯t think Mason meant to do it,¡± she said desperately. ¡°There has to be some way to fix this. We have


    to fix this.¡±


    Go ds, how had everything gotten so f ucked up?


    ¡°| don¡¯t know if we can, Katie,¡± | said solemnly.


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Braden nearly whispered. Everyone froze and looked at him. ¡°Xander is right. If | die, other vampires wille


    looking for you.¡±


    Zane and | locked eyes. That couldn¡¯t happen under our watch.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°If | die, then you¡¯ve broken the treaty we established after the great wars, and all bets are off,¡± Braden


    said ominously.


    He locked eyes with me then.


    ¡°Your pack and all the packs in this territory will never be the same again.¡±

 Chapter 131

    Zane


    ¡°Why should we trust anything you say?¡± | asked the vampire that Katie had called Braden. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the vampire High Elder


    Gustav warned us about?¡±


    Gustav had visited us and told us a vampire had been spotted in the ce we¡¯d found Katie yesterday, but we hadn¡¯t heard


    anything else about him ever since Alice fell pregnant.


    Why all of a sudden had he reappeared? And almost at the exact same time that Katie had arrived?


    ¡°Am | already hallucinating or something?¡± Braden asked weakly. ¡°Why are you two acting like you don¡¯t know who | am?¡±


    He looked from me to Xander while Katie watched us curiously.


    ¡°Because we don''t,¡± Xander said it like Braden was crazy. ¡°Why would we know a vampire?¡±


    Braden coughed out an incredulousugh. ¡°Maybe because | helped you save your mate¡¯s life?¡±


    What the f uck was he talking about? He really was going crazy already


    ¡°Alice?¡± | asked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you knew her, too.¡±


    Braden tried to push himself up to sitting, but he groaned and slumped back down. Xander walked over


    and tugged him up roughly by the shoulders.


    ¡°Thanks for that,¡± Braden said, wincing against the pain. ¡°And no, I¡¯m not talking about Alice.¡±


    He looked from Katie to Xander then back to me. ¡°Why is everyone pretending like Lanie doesn¡¯t exist?¡±


    My heart dropped to my stomach. Katie made a strangled gasping noise. Even Mason seemed to perk up


    out of his catatonic state at the mention of that name.


    ¡°How the f uck do you know our daughter¡¯s name?!¡± Xander demanded.


    ¡°Your daughter?¡± Braden asked, his face a mask of confusion. Tim talking about your m


    But before any of us could ask questions, Monroe¡¯s voice carried in


    am the bouN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°Alpha, Beta,¡± he said gruffly. ¡°High Elder Gustav is here to see y


    you.¡±


    All the color drained from Xander¡¯s face.


    Speak of the f ucking devil.


    Gustav wanted the vampire problem dealt with, but there had to be Council-regted ways of doing it.


    And | was pretty d


    those ways.


    da mn sure that having Xander¡¯s rogue wolf ba stard brother maul him wasn¡¯t one of


    ¡°S$ hit, what do we do?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Is everything alright in there?¡± Monroe called.


    ¡°We have to go out there,¡± Xander said.


    ¡°Yes!¡± | called. ¡°All fine. We''ll be out in a moment.¡±


    Katie looked terrified. ¡°What¡¯s a High Elder? What''s he going to do? Is he going to kill Braden? Will Mason get locked up?¡±


    Katie was spiraling. This wasn¡¯t good.


    ¡°We need to go take care of this,¡± | said. ¡°Can you watch Ste?¡±


    ¡°lll watch her,¡± Gabri said.


    When did shee in?


    | passed Ste off to me..


    ¡°Ma, we


    exin,¡± Xander began, but she held her hand up. ¡°Go see Gustav. The twins are safe with Mindy. And in the meantime, wash


    your hands. You stink


    | cast onest nce around Katie¡¯s mess of a room before Xander and | dashed into the bathroom, scrubbing our hands raw.


    ¡°We just ask what Gustav wants and get him out of here as quickly as possible,¡± Xander said.


    He was trying to stay calm, but his voice was frantic


    Our eyes met in the mirror and we both nodded.


    The timing couldn¡¯t be worse. Orion was gone, Gabri would surely kill uster, and we had a dying


    vampire stowed upstairs.


    Just perfect.


    We walked through the splintered doorway where Monroe was waiting, bouncing on the balls of his feet anxiously. | could tell he


    wanted to know what had happened.


    ¡°We had a little disagreement with Mason,¡± Xander waved his hand toward the door disn


    working through it.¡±


    Monroe narrowed his eyes for a brief moment before walking us downstairs to meet Gustav


    room.


    When he heard us enter, he spun around, his all-white robes flowing behind him. An angry frown


    his already heavily lined face...


    S hit. He was mad at us, and we hadn¡¯t even spoken to him yet.


    ¡°What can we do for you, Gustay?¡± Xander asked, keeping his distance.


    Clearly, he didn¡¯t want Gustav sniffing out any whiffs of vampire that might have floated down from


    upstairs.


    re


    He sped his bony hands behind his back.


    ¡°Your father sent me here, Xander. He tells me you''ve broken one of the Council¡¯s most important rules...¡±


    3/3

 Chapter 132

    Xander


    Goddamn him.


    | should''ve known my father wouldn¡¯t leave this ce without a fight.


    ¡°What rule is that?¡± | asked carefully.


    Zane caught my eye and his face paled slightly.


    | knew what he was thinking because | was thinking the same thing. If my father somehow found out we were harboring a dying


    vampire, then we were dead in the fucking water.


    ¡°The rule that says you''re supposed to respect your elders,¡± he seethed.


    So my father had run off and told Gustav that I¡¯d yelled at him? How fucking pathetic.


    ¡°If there isn¡¯t peace among your family, then how will there be peace in the pack?¡± Gustav demanded.


    ¡°My rtionship with my father isplicated,¡± | said. ¡°And private.


    Gustav shook his head.


    ¡°The Constantine pack is the most powerful pack in the region, and the Council would like it to stay that


    way,¡± Gustav said icily. ¡°Which means nothing that goes on behind these doors will stay private.¡±


    He looked at me pointedly, his gray-blue eyes unwavering.


    | tried to keep my expression stony, but my heart was about to beat out of my chest.


    We needed to get him out of here, and then take Braden as far away from the mansion as possible. Something told me Gustav


    would be back, sooner rather thanter. And so would my father, | was sure of that.


    Gustav stepped closer, and | instinctively moved back. He cocked his head at me.


    ¡°You know,¡± he said, ¡°our pack was the most harmonious it¡¯s been in decades when you and Zane took over, and now it seems.


    that everyone walking down the street is restless and looking for a fight. We can¡¯t have


    that, Xander¡±


    He pointed a bony finger at me, then Zane.


    ¡°One more slip-up from either of you, and you''ll be under Council investigation. Your days as Alpha and Beta might be


    numbered.¡±


    And with a swish of his white robes, he was gone.


    But his threat loomed over us like a heavy storm cloud.


    We were so fucked.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Katie


    ¡°You want to tell me why the hell a vampire is in my house right now?¡± Gabri asked as soon as Xander and Zane had left.


    She nodded her head in Mason''s direction.


    ¡°And why your boyfriend here has gone catatonic?¡±


    ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Braden asked. ¡°This is the guy?¡±


    | waved Braden off.


    ¡°You should be resting, not talking.¡± | scolded him.


    Gabri motioned for me to follow her out to the living room, away from the boys.


    Tm serious, Katic,¡± she said, lowering her voice so it was barely above a whisper. ¡°Having a vampire here could put us in deep s


    hit.¡±


    Yeah, no duh. Everyone had made that pretty f ucking clear.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t bring him here,¡± | whispered back. ¡°He just showed up. Mason was supposed to be away, and | think when he saw me


    with Braden, he just... lost it.¡±


    Gabri studied me for a moment, like she was waiting for me to say more.


    The truth was that Mason probably wouldn¡¯t have gone all big bad wolf if he hadn¡¯t caught me with


    Xander and Zane the day before.


    But | wasn¡¯t about to tell Xander¡¯s f ucking mom that | was caught messing around with them.


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± | said. ¡°I¡¯m not trying toe here and screw up all your lives.¡±


    Gabri reached out with her hand that wasn¡¯t holding Ste and ced it on my shoulder.


    ¡°| don¡¯t me you for any of this,¡± she said.


    And when | looked into her eyes, | believed her. There was an understanding there that no one else


    ever offered me.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± | said.


    The sound of footsteps made Gabri drop her hand.


    Xander and Zane appeared in the doorway.


    ¡°We need to get Braden out of here,¡± he said, a wild and terrified expression on his face. ¡°NOW¡±


    212

 Chapter 133

    Mason


    What the f uck had I done?


    The rage I¡¯d felt when | saw Katie with Xander and Zane had still been so fresh that when | saw Braden in


    our bedroom, | didn¡¯t think.


    Colt took overpletely. Here was a ce | could channel all my fury. A vampire, a natural enemy to


    wolf shifters


    But when I returned to myself, I''d been horrified by what I¡¯d done.


    I''d killed him. Not immediately, but there was no real cure for a shifter bite. Not for vampires, anyway.


    Not only had | killed him, but I''d done it on Constantine territory. If Xander and Zane decided to throw me to the Council, who


    knew what they would try me with?


    Would they im it was my fault that a vampire hade to Constantine? Would they im that | was the one making trouble?


    Would they lock me up and take me away from Ste and Katie forever?


    Would they kill me, too?


    At some point, | heard Xander¡¯s voice again in the other room, and | realized I''d been lost in my


    thoughts for g od knows how long.


    | looked around.


    The room was empty except for Braden and me. He gave me a weak salute


    At least the guy had a sense of humor.N?velDrama.Org content.


    | ambled out to our living room to see what was up.


    vown


    ¡°My father ran straight to Gustav to tell him I¡¯d kicked him out of the house,¡± Xander Katie and Gabri. ¡°He said if Zane or |


    screw up one more time, we''ll be investigated by


    looking for any reason to strip our titles.¡±


    ing to


    hey¡¯re


    My ears perked up at this.


    Even though | knew I was probably in the deepest s hit imaginable, if | somehow found my wa maybe taking Xander down would


    be simpler than | thought.


    them.


    ¡°Who else would be Alpha?¡± | asked.


    Everyone turned to look at me. Zane¡¯s and Xander¡¯s eyes narrowed, like just the sight of me disgusted


    It must¡¯ve been so sweet for them that their screw-up with Katie had already been overshadowed by my


    mistake.


    you.¡±


    33


    ¡°Not you now, if that¡¯s what you''re thinking,¡± Zane said coldly. ¡°You don¡¯t even live here. It doesn¡¯t concern


    Katie nced up at me and bit her lip nervously before looking back down at the floor.


    Did that mean she agreed with them?


    ¡°It would likely be my father,¡± Xander said. ¡°Maybe even Gregory or Lucas,¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t happen,¡± Gabri said sharply. ¡°Your father should never be in power again.¡±


    At least we were all on the same page about one thing.


    ¡°We''ll cross that bridge when we get there,¡± Gabri finally said, waving her hand through the air. ¡°Right now we need to figure


    out where to take Braden.¡±


    ¡°I''m starting to wonder if we even need to take him anywhere,¡± Xander said.


    Even Zane looked confused.


    ¡°Mason did this. If we pin it on him, then he and Braden both get in trouble, and so does my dad for giving birth to the ba stard.


    Alow growl echoed through my chest.


    Katie shot me a warning look. | couldn¡¯t lose my head again.


    | took a deep breath, prepared to plead my case rationally, but Gabri jumped in before | could say anything


    ¡°It''s better for everyone if Braden can somehow be healed and walk away quietly. Anything else will draw unwanted Council


    attention.¡±


    | locked my eyes on Gabri, but she refused to look at me.


    Arguably, Xander¡¯s n made the most sense. It¡¯s probably what | would¡¯ve done in his situation. So why was Gabri helping


    me?


    ¡°| agree,¡± Katie said quietly. ¡°l know Mason didn¡¯t mean to do this. He deserves another chance.¡±


    Xander and Zane both let out something between a sigh and a snarl. Of course they wanted to get rid of me, the cheating mo


    therf uckers.


    him?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no f ucking cure for this!¡± Xander said, throwing his hands up. ¡°So where are we supposed to take


    1 know a ce,¡± was all Gabri said. ¡°Everyone pack a bag we''re going to see a witch.¡±

 Chapter 134

    Katie


    It seemed crazy enough that there were vampires in our territories, but now there were witches, too?


    No one looked quite as shocked to hear this as | was. No surprise there.


    ¡°Why do we need to pack a bag?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Witches hide in in sight in human territories,¡± Gabri exined. ¡°We''ll need to travel under cover of night if there¡¯s any


    chance the Elders are keeping an eye on theings and goings here.¡±


    Instinctively, | reached for Ste, and Gabri passed her to me.


    for a bit to let the cure work.¡±


    ¡°Depending on what the witches say, we might need to s


    Now there were witches plural? And how long was ¡°a bit¡±?


    ¡°The babies will need toe, too. We all will,¡± she said.


    Xander took a step forward and held his hands out. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± he said. ¡°How the hell does it make sense for all of us to go?


    Mason should stay here with Katie and Ste at least.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Apang of trepidation momentarily stopped my heart. Did | really want to be here with Mason alone after what happened with


    Braden and Orion?


    ¡°Really?¡± Gabri said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°After he asked you who will be the Alpha next? You''re really confident leaving him


    here with just Monroe, knowing your father or the Elders might return any day?¡±


    Xander¡¯s jaw clenched, and he shot Zane an annoyed look.


    ¡°Good point,¡± Zane said.


    Thank the go ds. Gabri to the rescue again.


    ¡°Once everyone is packed, we''ll all meet back down in the great room at midnight.¡±


    Xander and Zane stalked back into the bedroom, hoisting Braden away to wait downstairs while Mason disappeared to go gather


    our things.


    ¡°One more thing, Katie,¡± Gabri said. ¡°You might want to...disguise yourself when we go.¡±


    | shook my head, at a loss for what to say.


    ¡°| don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Gabri¡¯s lips formed a tight line.


    ¡°Is this to do with my past?¡± | asked her.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said.


    especially not some random rogue like me.


    Except | couldn¡¯t have been that random if Braden knew me. And if I''d known Xander and Zane.


    All those feelings of deja vu were starting to make sense. I''d definitely been here before, and Gabri knew it.


    The question was, why was it so important that no one else did? What danger was | in if someone else recognized me?


    ¡°Just do as | say, okay? If things be safe again, I''ll tell you everything you need to know.¡± She reached for my shoulder and


    squeezed it, holding my gaze.


    ¡°Okay,¡± | said. | might''ve been crazy to trust her, but she and Braden had been more honest than anyone about who | was and


    where | came from. | needed to cling to that, even if it was risky.


    As soon as Gabri left, my palms started to sweat,


    | usually felt sofortable around Mason, but so much crazy sh it had happened in thest two days. that | had no idea where


    the f uck we stood now.


    Jealousy had brought out a monster in him, and | wasn¡¯t sure | had the energy to tame it.


    ¡°I''m so, so sorry, Katie,¡± Mason said when he walked back into the living room with our bags. ¡°I know it doesn¡¯t make up for what


    I did, but | am.¡±


    ¡°You left me, Mason. And Orion hurt me. And now now you might''ve killed someone, maybe the only person who could help me


    discover who | was before. | know | made a mistake with Xander and Zane, but | don¡¯t even know who you are anymore.¡±


    He nodded like he understood, but his devastation was written all over his face.


    ¡°| do love you, Katie. That¡¯s why | went so crazy.¡±


    My stomach turned over and tears pr icked my eyes. A week ago | was sure | would¡¯ve said it back to him without hesitation, but


    now...everything was way too f ucked up.


    ¡°| don¡¯t expect to say you love me, too,¡± he said sadly ¡°What | did these past two days was scary, b figure this sc hit out with


    Braden...well, | hope you''lle back to me again.¡±.


    Without waiting for my response, he went downstairs.


    After a stressful and silent drive from the mansion into human territory, we pulled up to what looked like


    skeevy nightclub


    ¡°Are you taking us out on the town, Gabri?¡± Braden asked weakly.


    ¡°| don¡¯t think Ste will enjoy that very much,¡± | said,


    Gabri barked out augh. | even saw Mason smile in the rearview mirror.


    ¡°This is what it means to hide in in sight. The witch we''re looking for operates out of the basement.¡±


    was dark out after all. Gabri, Braden, and | piled out of the car and to the entrance first. Once we were inside, everyone else


    would trickle in behind us.


    But when we got to the door, the big beefy guy guarding it red his nostrils and spat on the ground.


    ¡°No way you''re getting in. Dogs and bloodsuckers aren¡¯t wee here.¡±

 Chapter 135

    Katie


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Gabri asked the guard,


    ¡°| said what | said. Now clear my door.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Gabri argued. ¡°We¡¯re here to see Rhiannon.¡±


    The guard looked her up and down.


    ¡°No way you know her. Now move, or I''ll make you move.¡±


    He clenched his fist and suddenly it was coated in silver..


    D amn. So that¡¯s what magic looked like.


    We all took an involuntary step back. That would do some major damage to a shifter.


    ¡°Please,¡± Gabri pleaded, ¡°We..


    But she was interrupted by another woman walking out of the exit door next to us.


    Awoman with short, dark wavy hair. | knew her.


    ¡°Adele!¡± | called, pulling off my hat and sunsses.


    Her eyes widened. ¡°Katie,¡± she said running over to us. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡±


    I


    Her gaze shifted quickly to Gabri, and | could swear | saw a flicker of recognition.


    ¡°Could you help us get inside, please?¡± Gabri asked Adele.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Adele turned to the guard. She looked anxious to be on her way. ¡°Jett, will you let these guys. through?¡±


    He grunted.


    ¡°Sorry, there are a few more in the car,¡± Gabri said. He looked us over once more, me with my hair sticking out in every


    direction, Braden barely standing upright, and Gabri struggling to support his weight.


    ¡°They don¡¯t pay me enough for this s hit,¡± Jett said. But he opened the door anyway.


    Once we walked through the hallway and stepped inside Rhiannon¡¯s ce, | was shocked to see a modern apartment that


    looked more like an underground artists¡¯ loft than a seedy basement of a club, though you could still distantly hear the thumping


    of the bass. There was cool art and lighting in every corner of the ce


    and the overall vibe was cozy but chic.


    And when Rhiannon walked out, | could see why.


    She was dressed in a gauzy, perfectly draped outfit, that looked, in a word, fabulous.


    ¡°What''s the deal with the half-dead bloodsucker?¡±


    ¡°Long story,¡± Gabri said.


    Theard shuffling behind us and watched the rest of our party pour into the apartment, including luggage and baby strollers.


    ¡°You''ve brought quite the little group with you,¡± Rhiannon said, her nose wrinkling up. ¡°You know | told. trust wolves, G.¡±


    ¡°These are good ones.¡± Gabri said. ¡°Mostly.¡±


    Gabri shoved her thumb in Mason¡¯s direction. ¡°This one got a little overzealous when he came up on Braden here,¡± she said.


    ¡°He bit him, and we need a cure fast.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Braden?¡± Rhiannon said, raising her eyebrows in surprise. ¡°As in Braden-¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Gabri cut her off. ¡°So you see why we need a cure.¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s only one cure, and it¡¯s getting harder and harder toe by,¡± she said, suddenly looking more concerned. She


    waved Braden and Gabri over to a huge velvet couch and sat him down. He groaned with pain.


    ¡°Do me a favor will you?¡± Rhiannon asked, grabbing my arm. But then she looked up at me and something shed in her eyes.


    ¡°Wait, hold on,¡± she said. ¡°This one¡¯s got a spell cast on her¡±


    | giggled nervously and pulled my arm back, ncing around the room. You would¡¯ve thought | was on stage with a spotlight


    pointed right at me the way everyone was staring.


    ¡°Wh-what kind of spell?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Give me your hands,¡± she said.


    | hesitated but held them out to her. When she took them in hers, my skin tingled like they¡¯d been res


    on blocks of ice.


    ¡°Let''s do thister, Rhiannon,¡± Gabri said impatiently, ¡°We¡¯re losing time.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Rhiannon shushed her, and all the color drained from Gabri¡¯s face. Did she know what


    on here?


    that was g


    gol


    ¡°It''s a dampening spell,¡± Rhiannon said, looking deep into my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s concealing your vampire side.¡±


    | gasped and then choked on my own breath. What the f uck?


    | nced around the room again. The looks on everyone¡¯s faces ran from shock to confusion to utter


    horror.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°My what?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know that you¡¯re a hybrid?¡± she asked.


    I shook my head and the room started spinning around me


    ¡°Only your blood can heal a wolf shifter¡¯s bite.¡±

 Chapter 136

    Mason


    Katie was half vampire?!


    My mind raced with a million thoughts.


    Was this how she knew Braden?


    Was this why she lost all her memories?


    It had to be, otherwise how the hell could she not know?!


    I''d been taught from a young age that vampires were the enemy, but | couldn¡¯t imagine Katie ever hurting anyone. Then again,


    her vampire side was dampened-would that change if it were somehow reawakened?N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°Why is it that Katie¡¯s blood that can heal Braden?¡± Xander asked, tearing me away from my thoughts.


    Everyone turned to look at Rhiannon. He was asking the question that was on all of our minds.


    ¡°Awolf shifter¡¯s blood has a natural resistance to wolf bite venom, and so do hybrids,¡± Rhiannon


    exined. ¡°They are the only vampires with natural immunity to the venom, an immunity that can be


    transferred to another vampire through drinking their blood.¡±


    ¡°Could you draw some of Katie¡¯s blood to give to Braden?¡± Gabri asked.


    Rhiannon shook her head. ¡°It won¡¯t work that way. It must be at full potency, direct from the source.¡±


    ¡°Braden has to bite me and draw the blood himself?¡± Katie asked in a small, shaky voice. Her eyes were


    ssy and unfocused.


    ¡°Yes, dear. It¡¯s the only way.¡± Rhiannon rested her hand on Katie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But | wouldn¡¯t rmend it.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Zane asked, a suspicious expression on his face.


    ¡°Once vampirestch onto their victims, it¡¯s extremely difficult for them to stop drinking their blo Rhiannon said. ¡°He would have


    to have incredible control, otherwise he''ll wind up killing her.¡±


    ¡°She''s right,¡± Braden croaked out from where he was slumped over on the couch. ¡°I haven¡¯t had non-animal blood in decades. If


    | tasted Katie¡¯s...1 don¡¯t know what would happen.


    My stomach turned over.


    ¡°Then that¡¯s not an option,¡± | said firmly.


    No way could | ever let her make a sacrifice like that for me.


    ¡°There could be other consequences for Katie even if Braden can somehow stop himself,¡± Rhiannon agreed in a warning tone.


    ¡°I''ve only heard stories of this cure. I¡¯ve never witnessed it working myself.¡±


    Xander pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers. ¡°Isn¡¯t there another hybrid whose blood we can


    ¡°That¡¯s because it is cruel,¡± Gabri interrupted icily


    It wasn¡¯t very Alpha-like to volunteer a stranger to possibly be sucked dry by Braden, but | wasn¡¯t exactly thinking straight, either.


    | knew why he¡¯d suggest something so crazy: he was desperate to save Katie, just like | was, | could see it on his and Zane¡¯s


    faces.


    A hot rush of jealousy pr ickled up the back of my neck. Katie was mine to protect.


    ¡°Aside from cruelty,¡± Rhiannon said, ¡°hybrids are a dying breed, | couldn¡¯t even tell you where to find one at this point.¡±


    If they were so rare, then what were the odds that we''d all been drawn to one of the few that


    that was still alive? Or was that why we were so drawn to her?


    ¡°Someone is targeting hybrids, and | don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the Council or what, but whoever it is has enough power to cover it up.¡±


    Rhiannon turned to Katie. ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s why someone put a spell on you. To protect you.¡±


    Katie raised her eyebrows. ¡°Can you tell who cast the spell to dampen my vampire side?¡± she asked.


    | was curious, too. Was whoever did it really protecting her, or did they have other more sinister Intentions?


    ¡°It''s impossible to know,¡± Rhiannon said, shaking her head. Katie''s face fell. ¡°I can detect the magic itself, but not the specific


    source.¡±


    Zander and Zane exchanged a worried nce. Did they know something | didn¡¯t?


    ¡°Ma, we need to speak privately,¡± Xander said to Gabri.


    Gabri startled, blinking rapidly as she met Xander¡¯s eyes. | suddenly realized how strangely quiet she¡¯d been through this


    whole thing.


    What were these people hiding?


    ¡°Sure,¡± Gabri said. ¡°Rhiannon, can we use a back room to chat?¡±


    ¡°Of course, take the old ce.¡± She motioned to a back hallway.


    The old ce? Why had Gabri been here before, and why was she keepingpany with witches in the first ce?


    After Gabri, Xander, and Zane left the room, Katle turned to Rhiannon, a wild look in her eyes. ¡°Can you do a spell to recover


    my memories?¡± Katie asked.


    She bit her lip and nced from me to Braden then back to Rhiannon.


    ¡°| feel like I¡¯m in danger because | don¡¯t know who | am. And if | don¡¯t know who | am or what kind of


    danger exactly, then how can | protect my daughter? Her voice broke, and my heart panged.


    | walked over to her and took her hand in mine. To my surprise, she epted it and even squeezed it.


    Rhiannon looked at her sadly. ¡°I can certainly try to figure it out while the others are deciding what to do about Braden.¡±


    Asmall smile tugged at Katie''s lips. | could tell she was relieved, and | wanted to be happy for her, but


    instead, my throat tightened.


    If she got her memories back, would she forget about me?

 Chapter 137

    Xander


    ¡°What the f uck are we supposed to do now?¡± | exploded as soon as | walked into the room.


    come all the way here for a cure that would kill the woman Zane and | were undeniably falling for when we could''ve just let


    Mason take the fall.


    And to make matters worse, Katie was a f ucking hybrid, and from what Rhiannon said, it sounded like that put her in more


    danger than Braden drinking her blood.


    ¡°Do you think Rhiannon would let us leave Braden here in her care?¡± Zane asked. ¡°We could pay her off to burn the body and get


    rid of the evidence once the poison takes hold.¡±


    My mother shook her head vigorously. ¡°She would never go for that. She¡¯s already in hiding, she won''t risk letting someone trace


    a vampire¡¯s death back to her.¡±


    But there was more to it. There was some reason why my mother wanted Braden alive, probably the same reason she was


    friends with witches like Rhiannon. As soon as we got this s hit figured out, | intended find out what that reason was.N?velDrama.Org content.


    But Zane was being way too soft with his solutions. We''d bent over backward trying to find a cure for a


    vampire we didn¡¯t know from Adam and trying to clear Mason¡¯s name


    Sure, he was my brother, but he wasn¡¯t a part of my pack, and | still had no f ucking clue if | could really trust him, or if he was


    plotting against me as we spoke. Especially after he¡¯d caught us with Katie in the


    showers.


    I''d already gotten my father out of the way; it was better if | did the same with Mason and made him deal


    with his own problems.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t we just drop Mason and Braden in rogue territory and let him and the other rogues deal with the consequences?¡± |


    asked irritatedly


    Zane¡¯s head snapped up to look at me


    ¡°| thought we let that go,¡± he said.


    ¡°You might''ve, but | didn¡¯t,¡± | growled.


    | hadn¡¯t argued back at the house because | thought my mother was trying to protect me from more


    with the Council. But now that we were away from the mansion, how would they ever know that Zane


    or | had anything to do with this?


    ¡°What if other vampires get wind of what''s happened to Braden?¡± Zane asked aloud.


    I shot him a vicious look. He was testing my patience right now by questioning my n.


    ¡°Drop it, Zane,¡± | warned.


    Alow growl rumbled in my chest.


    ¡°Listen to me, Xander,¡± my mother said. Her expression had turned darker and more foreboding. ¡°If Braden¡¯s coven finds out


    about his death, they will likely attack the rogue wolves. Do you really want that blood on your hands?¡±


    Rogue wolves weren¡¯t my responsibility, but the truth was, | didn¡¯t.


    | thought back to our brief time in Stillwood, of how kind and calm everyone had been there. | nced at Zane, and his face was


    twisted up in a kind of horror, He must''ve been thinking the same thing.


    | wasn¡¯t the Alpha of the rogues, but | also wasn¡¯t a killer. It would be evil to sic a coven of vampires on innocent shifters.


    ¡°No,¡± | said, shaking my head. ¡°I don¡¯t want any shifters to die because of Mason¡¯s st upid mistake.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± my mother said. ¡°Because if vampires attack any shifters, even rogues, then the Great Wars treaty is broken, and all hell


    could break loose.¡±


    My mouth went dry. That¡¯s just what we f ucking needed, a vampire invasion.


    Zane and | were already on thin ice with the Council, and if more vampires started flooding our we¡¯d be stripped of our titles


    faster than we could blink.


    territories,


    ¡°It''s best if Mason agrees to hand himself into the Council,¡± my mother said, though she seemed sad to admit it. ¡°They''ll figure


    out a way to handle things with Braden without breaking the treaty.¡±


    ¡°But what if he refuses?¡± Zanea asked.


    ¡°If he won''t agree to it, then we make him,¡± | said simply. ¡°He''ll do it if he knows that that¡¯s the only way to protect his...Katie,¡±


    I''d almost said ¡°his mate,¡± but ever since we''d gotten closer to Katie, it felt harder and harder to call her that. It didn¡¯t seem right.


    ¡°So that¡¯s settled,¡± Zane said, breathing out a deep sigh. ¡°Now what the f uck do we do but this whole hybrid situation?¡±


    My mother¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. ¡°Nothing,¡± she said abruptly. ¡°Katie will keep that


    herself to protect Ste. As long as the spell holds and no one else finds out, everything will


    her back to Stillwood tomorrow, and she can resume her life.¡±


    Like hell she would. Katie wasing back to the mansion with us one way or another, but


    argument for tomorrow.


    My mother held our gazes for one long moment before sweeping out of the room.


    ¡°What the hell is up with her?¡± Zane asked,


    I''d asked the same question way too many timestely.


    to


    There was something she didn¡¯t want any of us to know, something she was protecting by keeping us an Katie in the dark...but


    was it for selfish reasons like my father, or did she think she was doing us all a favor?

 Chapter 138

    Katie


    | walked to my room in a daze.


    | didn¡¯t want to stay at Rhiannon¡¯s tonight. | wanted to go to somece safer, somece that felt more like home.


    Ste clearly agreed. She¡¯d been fussing almost nonstop since we¡¯d gotten there, and nothing | tried would calm her down.


    | could rte, though. If Ste wasn¡¯t in my arms, | probably would¡¯ve already broken downpletely.


    Hours ago, | was angry with Mason for letting his emotions get the better of him and putting us all in this


    I


    position, but now | was weirdly grateful for it.


    If he hadn¡¯t bitten Braden, would | have ever found out who and what | really am?


    ¡°lm a vampire,¡± | said again to myself. I''d repeated it over and over, almost not believing it. What the hell did that even mean?


    Would | be an outcast? Would | be hunted like the others? Would Mason hate me


    now?


    The very idea of it made my eyes fill with tears.


    Mason attacked Braden because he thought he was an enemy who would hurt me. but turned out we were a lot more alike than |


    ever would¡¯ve thought. Was that why Braden and | knew each other before? Did he know this whole time that | was a hybrid?


    Ste let out another great wail, and my heart panged. The tears welling in my eyes spilled over.


    | hated seeing her so distressed like this.


    | rocked her back and forth, cooing to her, ¡°It¡¯s okay, my love. There¡¯s nothing to be afr shook, and she didn¡¯t calm at all. She


    must''ve known | didn¡¯t believe the words | was sayin


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Mason slipped inside without waiting fo


    ¡°Let me take her,¡± he said, holding out his hands for Ste, ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what you mu now. I¡¯m sure you could use a break.¡±


    | openly wept as | passed Ste off to Mason. Of course, he hade to help me, and | didn¡¯t


    to ask.


    He held Ste with one hand and pulled me into him with the other.


    But my voice


    1 was scared you''d feel differently about me now,¡± | said in a shaky voice. ¡°You hated Braden as soon you knew what he was. |


    was worried the same thing might happen to me.¡±


    He pulled back and looked me in the eyes. They were full of hurt and sympathy and what seemed like love, too.


    ¡°| could never Mason said. ¡°I acted rashly when | bit Braden. | don¡¯t think he deserved that.¡±


    He leaned down and kissed my forehead. My eyes fluttered closed.


    ¡°And more importantly,¡± he said softly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t change how | feel about you. Not even for a second, If anything, it just makes


    me want to protect you and Ste even more.¡±


    | blinked up at him. There he was again, right there when | needed him most, saying all the right things.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± | said tearfully.


    He smiled softly. ¡°T¡¯ll put Ste down,¡± he said. She¡¯d already quieted in his arms, her favorite ce to be. ¡°You go take a hot


    shower and try not to think about all this s hit for a minute.¡±


    | looked him up and down. His long hair tousled perfectly, his chiseled face arranged in a gentle


    expression, his big arms flexing as he held my baby... He looked perfect. | bit my lip.


    -Will


    you join me in there when you''re done?¡± | asked


    Mason¡¯s face morphed from surprise to arousal. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything you want,¡± he said, his voice a low


    rumble.N?velDrama.Org content.


    | stepped into the bathroom and turned the water as hot as | could stand it, letting the steam wrap itself


    around me as | peeled off my clothes piece by piece.


    ¡°| do love you, Katie.¡± | thought about Mason¡¯s words as | stepped inside, letting the water run over me.


    | suddenly felt desperate to have him here with me, to have his hands all over me. My insides tightened


    and my core pulsed. | let my hand travel down between my legs, imagining my touch was his.


    As if I''d conjured him, the door opened and Mason¡¯s silhouette appeared in front of the ss shower


    door.


    He stepped inside, and without a word, his lips imed mine, not bothering to be gentle. His hands were


    all over me, his hard c ock pressed into my aching belly.


    ¡°Mason, wait,¡± | said, pulling back. ¡°I have something to tell you first...¡±

 Chapter 139

    away.


    Mason


    ¡°What is it?¡± | asked her, my heart pounding wildly.


    Any


    ny moment, | was worried she¡¯d decide | was a monster for what I¡¯d done to Braden, and she¡¯d push me


    But the look on her face didn¡¯t say she was sad or afraid. She looked sure, excited even.


    ¡°| love you, too,¡± she said, a smile widening across her face and even lighting up her eyes.


    It was like | was floating, like my soul had left my body. The only reminder that | was still there, that | wasn¡¯t dreaming, was the


    eager padding of Colt¡¯s paws, racing triumphant circles inside me.


    ¡°| love you so much, Katie,¡± | said, taking her face in my hands, my gaze locking onto hers. ¡°More than I¡¯ve ever loved anyone.¡±


    | kissed her more slowly then, drinking her in, savoring the taste of her. My hands wandered down to her nipples, massaging


    them until they were stiff and swollen


    | moved my mouth down to them, licking and sucking them while Katie¡¯s head fell back and a gasp escaped her lips. The air


    became thick with her arousal.


    | moved my mouth back up her body, tracing kisses up her chest, then along her jaw, until my lips were brushing her ear.


    ¡°Your scent, Katie,¡± | whispered, ¡°I crave it.¡±


    Everything about her was perfect. Her wless, c reamy skin, her full breasts, her rounded as s. | couldn¡¯t


    get enough


    ¡°Mason,¡± she moaned hungrily.


    The aching need in her voice made my wolf stir again. | growled and took her by the shoulders, spinnin her around so her back


    was facing me, and then slipping my arms around her waist.


    | groaned at the feeling of my hard c ock pressing against her as s. | let my hands move farther down her


    stomach, teasing her tight bud with slow, gentle strokes.


    She clung to my hips and leaned her head back onto my chest, her breathing fast and ragged.


    Howered myself down, guiding my c ock so it slid through her slick folds and teased against her entrance.


    ¡°| need it,¡± she said in a strangled whisper.


    | pressed her up against the wall of the shower and slid inside her with ease. | clung to her hips and pushed myself inside her


    roughly, forcing a sharp cry from her lips.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said desperately, and my wolf responded eagerly.


    taking me to the edge again and again, and judging by the way she was shaking, she was right there with me.


    ¡°Mason, please,¡± she begged.


    | flipped her around to face me again. | needed to see her face, to taste her mouth on mine.


    ¡°Please what?¡± | growled.


    | rested my tip against her entrance, teasing her again


    ¡°Please don¡¯t stop,¡± she said breathlessly.


    ¡°Never,¡± | whispered.


    | mmed my c ock into her again, and she cried out as | filled her up with every inch of me, hitting her sweet spot again and


    again.


    Her walls contracted around me tightly, and | could feel that she was unraveling.


    ¡°Come for me, Katie,¡± | purred.


    She cried out, spasming around my shaft while | thrust inside her once more.


    Agrowling moan ripped from my chest and Colt suddenly reared up, crashing through the surface of my skin as | came inside


    her, harder than I''d evere before.


    | nuzzled my face into her neck as my canines broke through my gums. It was everything being here with her, but still, | wanted


    more. | wanted to sink my teeth into her, to im her as mine forever.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    But what would happen if | mated her and then everything fell to s hit? Was it really fair to im her when we were at the mercy


    of the Constantines? I''d fight like hell to get our life back and get us out of this mess,


    but what if | failed?


    | nipped at her neck lightly, not breaking the skin, and she moaned with desperation and frustration. She


    wanted this, too, but she must''ve had the same fears.


    ¡°Soon,¡± she whispered in my ear as |id my head on her shoulder, ¡°When this is all over, | want to be your


    mate.¡±

 Chapter 140

    Mason


    | wanted that, too, more than I¡¯d ever wanted anything, but as soon as | turned the water off, all my fears. crept back in.


    Without a cure for Braden, | didn¡¯t see how we could have a happy ending.


    We stepped out of the shower and tossed on some robes Rhiannon had left for us


    ¡°How are we going to get out of this?¡± Katie asked, searching my face for answers | didn¡¯t have.


    | took her hands in mine, trying to make my voice sound confident. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better if | turn myself into the Council,¡± | said.


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯ll thank me for taking care of their little vampire problem.¡±


    Katie looked horrified, but it seemed like the best option we had left. Perhaps | could even convince the Council that Xander and


    Zane were the reason Braden and | crossed paths in the first ce. Then if | went down, at least | could take the Constantines


    down with me.


    | just needed to make sure Katie was safely back in Stillwood before that happened.


    ¡°I''ll take you home,¡± | reassured her. ¡°Even if things don¡¯t work out for me, you can be with Asher and Quinn again, and


    eventually you''ll forget you ever came to Constantine¡±


    tom


    Tears sprang to Katie¡¯s eyes. My heart sank to my stomach seeing her so upset.


    ¡°| just told you | love you,¡± she said thickly. ¡°You can¡¯t leave me now. We have to find another way¡±


    She reached for my arms and clung to them desperately.


    | didn¡¯t want to fight her on this. Truthfully, thest thing | wanted to do was leave her and Ste


    Rhiannon was a witch, for goddess¡¯s sake. She must have other things she could try.


    ¡°Okay.¡± | told Katie. ¡°Let me talk to Rhiannon and see if we can figure something out. You stay here until |


    come back.¡±


    She nodded and let me go.


    After getting dressed, | made my way down the hall silently, listening at each door for signs of Rhiannon.


    This loft apartment was deceptivelyrge. But as | approached the second door, | heard Xander and Zane¡¯s


    hushed voices.


    +froze, and Colt pawed around inside me, my wolf hearing perking up to catch their conversation.


    ¡°So it¡¯s settled then,¡± Xander said. He sounded agitated. ¡°We get my mother to drive her back to the


    mansion in the morning, and we take Mason to the Council to hand himself in.¡±


    What the hell? No f ucking way were they going to change their minds and throw me under the bus just when things with Katie


    were finally falling into ce again.


    And what the f uck was this about ¡°driving her back to the mansion? They sure as hell hotter not he


    nning to lock Katie up in Constantine again.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know about this, Xander,¡± Zane said. He sounded equally short-fused and also exhausted, and didn¡¯t me him. I¡¯d


    rather fall on a silver de than have to babysit Alpha Know-It-All As shole. ¡°You''re letting Gustav¡¯s threats get to you. You''re not


    thinking this through.¡±


    ¡°Yes, | f ucking am,¡± he roared. | could hear him breathing heavily, trying to calm himself. ¡°Look, there¡¯s a reason our wolves are


    drawn to Katie. And with Mason out of the picture, we might finally get to find out why


    that is. | need you with me on this, Zane.¡±


    No response, just silence.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to follow my orders,¡± Xander said, ¡°Then don¡¯t forget that | can make you.¡±


    D amn, Zane was right. It really did sound like Xander was losing it. | needed to find Rhiannon, and fast. After we talked with her


    about an alternative cure, I''d get Katie and Ste out of here and we¡¯d go somewhere, maybe back to Stillwood for the time


    being.


    But whatever n Xander had to steal Katie for himself...there was no way in hell that was happening.


    | rushed down the hall, throwing open doors looking for Rhiannon. We needed to be out of here before morning. | knew Katie


    was desperate for Rhiannon to do the spell to restore her memories, too, but if out of time, then maybe that wasn¡¯t the worst


    thing in the world.


    we ran


    Finally, | threw open a heavy steel door at the end of the hall and heard the sound of shattering ss and


    a grumbling female voice Gabri.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    | crept into the dark room slowly, trying not to announce myself. It was some kind of storage room, filled with shelves and shelves


    of what looked like spell supplies. Or at least that¡¯s what it used to be. The ce


    was totally trashed now.


    From my ce in the shadows, | watched as Gabri ripped down shelves and shelves of ss vials, jars, herbs, and all kinds


    of other supplies, tearing them to shreds and sending them shattering to the ground. The smell in the air was nauseating. What


    the f uck was she doing, and where was Rhiannon?


    My wolf senses perked up again as her mumbling got more manic. ¡°I will not put my son in danger, not again,¡± she said, still


    thrashing around the room. ¡°If her memoriese back, then everyone will know the truth...¡± She froze and her eyes went wide.


    ¡°Xander and Zane are mated to a hybrid.¡±

 Chapter 141

    Mason


    | burst back through the door, panting and looking around frantically.


    Katie''s eyes locked on mine and widened. | must''ve looked like I¡¯d seen a ghost.


    ¡°We have to get out of here as soon as possible,¡± | told her.


    ¡°Xander and Zane are mated to a hybrid,¡± Gabri had said. She was implying that Katie was their mate.


    Was she also tearing around the room like a maniac? Yes. And maybe that meant she was cracking and making s hit up, but


    when she said that, it was like my stomach turned inside out.


    If there was even the slightest chance this was true, then it was more important than ever that we leave this ce and never look


    back. Katie was mine, we were in love. We were going to be mated after we were back in Stillwood.


    ¡°Did you talk to Rhiannon?¡± Katie asked.


    | shook my head emphatically. ¡°No time,¡± | said.


    This Braden s hit was nothingpared to the secrets Xander and his pack were keeping from us.


    There was no chance in hell | was telling Katie what I''d overheard Gabri saying-it might make her event more desperate to


    uncover her memories. What if she discovered that Xander and Zane really were her mates and she decided to leave me for


    them?


    Gods, | was spiraling now, too. This ce was making us all crazy.


    I''d tell her what | heard Xander and Zane saying. Nothing more.


    | took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. ¡°I overheard Xander and Zane talking. They¡¯re nning something bad.¡±


    Katie


    My heart dropped into my stomach.


    That sounded pretty f ucking foreboding.


    Plus, I''d never seen Mason look so pale and scared before.


    ¡°What a


    arriving


    are they nning?¡± | asked as Mason dashed around, picking up anything we¡¯d unpacked since


    ¡°They''re going to throw me under the bus,¡± he exined. ¡°They''re going to drive me to the Council and force me to turn myself


    in. They''ll make me confess to biting Braden and goddess knows what else.¡±


    TLJU


    ¡°But if you turn yourself in and the Council detains you, then what happens to me?¡± | asked. My stomach turned over, and tears


    burned my eyes. ¡°What happens to Ste?¡±


    My voice sounded high-pitched and cracked, | looked down at my hands and they were shaking


    uncontrobly.


    Mason stopped and walked over to me, taking me by the shoulders.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°They''re nning on driving you back to the Constantine mansion,¡± he said, his gaze zing with fury and concern. ¡°They''re


    going to keep you locked up there.¡±


    | couldn''t believe Xander and Zane would ever do such a thing or that Gabri would actually let them,


    but why else would Mason be so upset?


    o stay in the


    If he was telling the truth, then what would happen to Ste and me if we were forced to


    mansion after everyone who lived there had lied to me?


    Awave of nausea crashed over me. | was not about to let my baby be trapped in that ce. Not again, and certainly not without


    Mason to protect us.


    At least when Mason had suggested turning himself in, he¡¯d wanted to take me back to Stillwood to be


    with the closest thing | had to a family.


    ¡°| can¡¯t go back there,¡± | whispered. ¡°I can¡¯t take Ste back there.¡±


    ¡°| know,¡± Mason said. ¡°I won''t let that happen.¡±


    | was suddenly hit with a pang of panic. What would happen to my memories? Would they lock me back. up in the mansion and


    continue to lie and gaslight me, knowing I''d never find out the truth about myself


    beyond the fact that | was a hybrid?


    ¡°But wait,¡± | said, ¡°what about the spell to recover my memories?¡±


    gaze


    Mason shook his head, ¡°I saw...| don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible,¡± he said hurriedly. He shifted his downward and his eyebrows knitted


    together. It seemed like he knew more, but didn¡¯t want to say.


    I''d have to get Rhiannon to do the spell myself and get my memories back before we left this ce. It was now or never. Maybe


    she could rush through it if | begged her. | just had to find her and do it now.


    But something told me Mason would try to talk me out of it. I¡¯d have to lie.


    n away fr


    ¡°| need to see Braden,¡± | said, Mason. ¡°To say goodbye.¡±


    His head jerked back up to me. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Katie, that might make it harder when he...


    H


    | held up my hand, silencing Mason, | didn¡¯t even want to think about Braden dying right now.


    ¡°Everyone has taken everything else from me,¡± | said, my voice shaking ¡°Just let me have this¡±


    His lips pursed together forming a tight line, and for a moment, | thought he¡¯d tell me no


    ¡°Okay,¡± he finally said ¡°Til finish packing Be quick.¡±


    | dashed out of the room and down the hall, praying | wouldn¡¯t run into anyone else


    ¡°F uck,¡± | muttered.


    | was just about to throw open the first door when an ear-shattering scream split the air.

 Chapter 142

    Katie


    What the hell?


    | turned back toward the door to mine and Mason¡¯s room, immediately wanting to hold Ste and make sure she was safe. But


    before | could move back down the hall, Rhiannon crashed into the hallway.


    ¡°The ritual is off,¡± she shouted at me. Her face was twisted with anger and pain. ¡°Your memories are gone.


    forever, thanks to one of Gabri¡¯s disgusting dogs,¡± she sneered.


    I


    ¡°What happened?¡± | asked her. She looked sick, almost green in the face, and unsteady on her feet.


    She barked out a mirthlessugh. ¡°Someone ransacked my spell supplies. Ingredients I''d worked at lifetime to gather...


    destroyed in one night.¡±


    Her voice was manic and high-pitched ¡°This is why | hate werewolves.¡±


    Panic shot through me. F uck. How would | get my memories back now?


    Suddenly, Xander and Zane came sprinting down the hall, with Gabri trailing behind them.


    They ran up to Rhiannon, and | instinctively stepped back, slowly inching back down the hall to where the


    guest rooms were.


    Now that I knew Xander¡¯s n, | wasn¡¯t interested in being anywhere near them.


    ¡°YOU!¡± Rhiannon screamed, shoving a shaking finger toward Xander and Zane. ¡°You''re the ones who destroyed everything!¡±


    ¡°Whoa, whoa,¡± Xander said. ¡°Destroyed what?¡±


    ¡°Very funny.¡± Rhiannonughed hysterically, but she clearly didn¡¯t find it funny at all. ¡°| know what you¡¯ve done. Is this why you


    actually came here?!¡± she demanded.


    She lunged at Xander and he stepped back, his face wrinkling in confusion.


    ¡°We really don¡¯t know what you''re talking about,¡± Zane said.


    Rhiannon narrowed her eyes, and | saw them sh with an eerie light. Was she about to do magic?


    ¡°You don''t, do you?¡± she said wickedly. ¡°Maybe this will teach you not to touch a witch¡¯s sh it again.¡±


    She raised her hands high in the air, and a cr ackle of electricity jumped between them.


    ¡°NO!¡± Gabri cried, diving at Rhiannon and knocking her to the ground. Her head hit the floor with a


    smack and lolled to the side.


    Gabri¡¯s eyes widened in horror.


    ¡°What the f uck?!¡± Xander said. ¡°Did you kill her?¡±


    when she wakes up.¡±


    ¡°Zane, grab Mason, we''re taking him to the Council.¡± Zane ran toward my room, not even ncing at me as he passed.


    So Mason was right. They really were going to force him to hand himself into the Council. Did that mean


    they were going to take me back to the mansion, too?


    | backed away slowly, wondering if | had any chance of grabbing Ste and slipping away, but then Xander rounded on me.


    ¡°Pack your bags and get Ste. We''re taking you home.¡±


    They would lock me away again, just like Mason said. Not if | could help it.


    ¡°No,¡± | said. ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡±


    Xander raised his eyebrows. ¡°Yes, you are, Katie.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± | argued again before diving for the door next to mine-the door to Braden¡¯s room.


    Iran inside and mmed the door behind me, thanking the go ds it locked from the inside.


    |tched it and sprinted to Braden¡¯s beside.


    ¡°Lanie?¡± he asked in a confused voice.


    ¡°It''s me, Katie,¡± | said. ¡°You need to drink my blood. Now¡±


    The only way to stop Xander and Zane¡¯s n now was to heal Braden¡¯s bite.


    Braden picked up his head and winced in pain. ¡°I¡¯m not doing that,¡± he said simply ¡°I refuse to hurt you.¡±


    A body mmed into the door. Sh it. They wereing to get me.


    ¡°You have to, Braden,¡± | said. ¡°You can stop, | know you can.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t trust myself,¡± he croaked out. ¡°Please don¡¯t make me do this.¡±


    On the other side of the door, | could hear the scratching and snarling that meant Xander and Zane were


    shifting.


    And then another huge m. The door started to splinter.


    F uck.


    | cast around the room looking for something sharp. If Braden didn¡¯t want to bite me, then I¡¯d make himN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    | fingered the sharp metal edge of the side table and decided it was my best bet. | closed my eyes and


    raked my forearm across it as hard as | could. Blood bloomed from the scratch.


    | held it up to Braden¡¯s face and watched as his nostrils red and his fangs dropped.


    Another m of the door. It wouldn¡¯t hold much longer.


    ¡°Drink,¡± |manded. And this time he did.


    His fangs sank into my skin like a dozen silver daggers. The pain momentarily blinded me, but then a different picture swam into


    my field of vision, and then another, and then another.


    Me with my younger sister and my dads.


    Me hanging out with Mindy.


    Me being mated to Xander and Zane..


    ¡°G ods,¡± | whispered, ¡°I remember everything.¡±

 Chapter 143

    Katie


    The memories were flooding back in lightning-fast shes, one right after the other.


    Why was this happening? When would it stop?


    Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain shot up my arm, and my eyes flew operN?velDrama.Org content.


    | was still in the room with Braden, and he was still drinking my blood.


    ¡°Braden, you should stop,¡± | said weakly. The room was spinning now, and | was fighting to keep my eyes open. ¡°Braden,


    please...¡±


    This was how | would die. My whole life had already shed before my eyes.


    | could feel reality starting to slip away when a great crash echoed around the room. Wolves were snarling.


    The sound must''ve startled Braden out of his blood stupor because he finally pulled away from my arm with a great rip of my


    flesh. | screamed as another stab of intense pain roped its way up my arm.


    | copsed onto the floor and watched as Xander and Zane snapped and growled at Braden, who was covered in my blood.


    Lily was scratching ferociously at my insides. ¡°My mates,¡± she said, ¡°My mates.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry, Katie,¡± Braden said. ¡°You need to shift. You need to heal.¡±


    I let go and let Lily take over, my eyes rolling back in my head as my body shifted.


    And then everything went ck.


    | woke up to warmth on my forehead.


    My eyes blinked open slowly, and there was Mason, patting my head with a towel. We were in a small bedroom with wooden


    walls. A small fire danced in a stove in a corner of the room.


    Even with all my memories back, | didn¡¯t recognize this ce.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± | asked. ¡°Where''s Ste?¡±


    ¡°One of the Constantine hunting cabins. Ste is asleep next door,¡± Mason said. ¡°We couldn¡¯t stay at Rhiannon¡¯s. She woke up


    and was super pis sed. Gabri promised to restore all her supplies, and she...¡± he trailed off. ¡°What am | saying? None of that


    sh it matters.¡±


    His gaze locked on mine, the mes from the fire dancing in his dark eyes.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    wound was no longer open.


    ¡°You were able to shift before you passed out, but apparently vampire bites take longer to heal.¡± Mason touched the bite mark


    gingerly. It made me shiver. ¡°It would¡¯ve been poisonous to you if you weren¡¯t a vampire already.¡±


    | stared down at the bite. Had this unlocked my memories?


    ¡°Do you know what happened to me?¡± | asked Mason.


    ¡°Braden bit you. He almost killed you,¡± Mason said, his eyes going ssy.


    So he didn¡¯t know that everything hade back to me. G ods, how was | supposed to tell him?


    ¡°Is Braden here?¡± | asked. Maybe he would know why this had happened.


    Mason nodded. ¡°Gabri has him locked up in the back room while she takes care of Xander and Zane. They passed out right


    after you did and haven¡¯t woken up since. She¡¯s freaking.out.¡±


    fine.


    | pushed myself up to sitting and swing my legs over the bed. My head felt heavy, but otherwise


    ¡°I have to see him,¡± | said.


    ¡°He almost f ucking killed you, Katie,¡± Mason said. | winced at the sound of that name. Was it still mine? Had it ever been mine?


    ¡°He didn¡¯t, Mason,¡± | said, cing a hand on his shoulder. 1 made him bite me. | couldn''t let them take you to the Council. |


    couldn''t let them lock Ste away in the mansion.¡±


    Mason¡¯s eyes widened. His mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.


    ¡°I''ll be right back,¡± | said, then walked straight into the room where Braden sat chained to a chair.


    I


    ¡°Katie, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he said as soon as he saw me. wanted to stop, | really did, | just...¡±


    ¡°It''s okay, Braden,¡± | reassured him. ¡°I begged you to do it. | knew the risks.¡±


    | looked around the room. ¡°Why do they have you tied up like this?¡±


    ¡°They think | forced you to let me drink your blood. | don¡¯t really me them.¡± He huffed out a smallugh. ¡°That was a pretty


    crazy f ucking move you pulled. | knew you were wild, but not that wild, Katie.¡±


    ¡°It''s Lanie,¡± | said.


    Braden¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°I don¡¯t understand...¡±


    ¡°When you bit me, all my memories came back,¡± | said. ¡°You want to tell me why the hell that happened?¡±

 Chapter 144

    Braden


    ¡°| honestly have no idea,¡± | answered.


    | never could''ve imagined that biting Lanie would break her out of whatever spell she was under.


    | studied her face, trying to decipher whether she was happy about having her memories back or not. | didn¡¯t think she even


    knew herself. She seemed overwhelmed and confused, but so was I.


    ¡°It might have something to do with the vampire venom,¡± | suggested. ¡°Once it hit your veins, it could¡¯ve reawakened your


    vampire side and destroyed the spell or something. That''s all | can think of.¡±


    She nodded slowly and walked around behind me, fiddling with the ropes holding me to the chair. Normally | would¡¯ve busted


    through them myself no problem, but | was still regaining my strength after the


    bite.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± | asked her.


    ¡°Getting you out of here,¡± she mumbled. ¡°But first...¡±


    She walked around the chair to face me again and crossed her arms. She looked so cute when she got all huffy like this.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me everything you knew the first time we met up in the woods?¡± she asked irritatedly. ¡°Obviously, you


    recognized me.¡±


    1 figured there had to be a good reason why you didn¡¯t remember who you were,¡± | answered honestly. ¡°Until | knew whether


    you''d made the choice to forget yourself or whether someone had done it to you as punishment, | decided to tread carefully.¡±


    ¡°You decided to trap me with lies, just like everyone else,¡± she argued.


    Her fiery side wasing out again. My favorite.


    ¡°As you might recall,¡± | said, ¡°you were in a lot of danger when west saw each other. | didn¡¯t want the one to get you in even


    deeper s hit.¡±


    She raised an eyebrow and scoffed.


    ¡°Guess that didn¡¯t work out too well, did it?¡±


    | narrowed my eyes at her. | wasn¡¯t the one who''d gotten her into this mess, not even close.


    ¡°You can thank your boyfriend for that one, Lanie,¡± | bit back. ¡°He¡¯s the one who bit me, remember?¡± Her lip trembled I''d clearly


    struck a nerve.


    I


    ¡°Look, | don¡¯t want to fight with you,¡± | said quickly. | liked to rile her up, but | didn¡¯t want to upset her like this ¡°Before you


    disappeared, | really did like you¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    her hine ¡°Twae in heat. You were thinking with wur diek ¡®


    ¡°You weren''t in heat when | found you again,¡± | said. ¡°And I''d be lying if | said | didn¡¯t hope we could eventually pick things up


    where we''d left off.¡±


    Her mouth dropped open slightly, and | wondered if she was thinking about the kiss we¡¯d shared, too.


    | still liked her, | knew it as soon as | saw her again. And the truth was, Lanie had tasted better than


    anyone I¡¯d ever sunk my teeth into, better than I¡¯d imagined when | first scented her. That was why it was even


    more excruciating to stop once I''d had a taste.


    She walked around behind me and a secondter, the ropes holding me back dropped to the ground. | stood up and positioned


    myself in front of her.


    ¡°| liked you, too,¡± she said softly, baking up at me. ¡°But once | learned about my vampire side and then my pregnancy, I-


    ¡°| get it,¡± | said, cutting her off. ¡°The timing wasn¡¯t right for us.¡±


    | pushed her hair back from her face. That glorious, impossibly long, cin namon hair,


    For a split second, | imagined wrapping it through my fingers, tugging her head back, and giving her onest kiss to remember


    me by


    But it was over.


    ¡°What''s going on in here?¡±


    We both snapped our heads toward the doorway. Gabri was standing there, a confused look on her face


    ¡°It was my idea to let Braden bite me,¡± Lanie said, taking a step back from me. ¡°He shouldn''t be tied up.


    He''s not a threat.¡±


    ¡°It''s true,¡± | agreed. ¡°Let me leave, and I¡¯ll go back to my coven and keep quiet. You won''t see me around Constantine territory


    again.¡±


    Gabri eyed me suspiciously.


    ¡°You know me, Gabri,¡± | said. ¡°You know | keep my word.¡±


    Lanie nced between the two of us, probably trying to figure out how the hell we knew each other. That was a story for another


    day.


    ¡°| care about Lanie,¡± | said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to put her in any more danger.¡±


    Gabri¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You mean you care about Katie,¡± she said.


    ¡°No.¡± Lanie stepped forward and held Gabri down with a death re. ¡°I know everything now. You cursed me. And you''re


    going to pay for it.¡±

 Chapter 145

    Katie


    ¡°Go, Braden,¡± Gabri said. ¡°I better not see your face again.¡±


    He shot me onest sad smile, and then he was gone.


    | didn¡¯t even have time to be sad before Gabri was advancing on me.


    ¡°Did you forget that it was your choice to do the spell?¡± she asked. ¡°Your mother and | didn¡¯t force this on


    you.¡±


    ¡°Not physically, you didn¡¯t,¡± | argued. ¡°But you made it seem like | didn¡¯t have another choice!¡±


    It didn¡¯t help that Xander and Zane were refusing to acknowledge me as their true mate at the time. It


    made me feel hopeless, like | had nothing to lose. How wrong was |?


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have another choice,¡± Gabri said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve convinced your son to ept me and protect me,¡± | spat. ¡°You could¡¯ve protected me, too!


    But instead you shipped me off to rogue territory, pregnant and alone.¡±


    ¡°You were supposed to move on and start a new life, Gabri said. ¡°You were supposed to be happy.¡±


    My heart squeezed. | was happy in Stillwood, at least for a while. At least until Mason had to go and get tangled up with Xander.


    ¡°Once | showed up at Constantine, you could¡¯ve told me,¡± | said. ¡°How was keeping this secret any safer


    than the truth?¡±


    Because of her lies, everything was even more f ucked up than before. | had a kid, everyone assumed | was


    dead or missing, and | was sleeping with my mate¡¯s brother.


    ¡°| suppose it wasn¡¯t any safer in the end,¡± Gabri admitted through shaking lips. ¡°But | did this because |


    care. Not just about my son, but about you, too.¡±


    | shook my head. I¡¯d always trusted Gabri, even when | didn¡¯t understand her methods. She was confident, she was bada ss,


    and she put her family first. But now | was starting to doubt her.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Were Xander and Zane under the same spell | was?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Asimr one,¡± Gabri said. She looked ashamed, as she should. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure they will be once they


    wake up. Their spell was only to make them forget you, not everything.¡±


    She scrubbed a hand down her face.


    ¡°G ods, | tried so hard to prevent this spell froming undone...¡±


    And then it hit me. ¡°You''re the one who f ucked with Rhiannon¡¯s supplies!¡± | cried. ¡°You''d really go that far


    to sabotage me?¡±


    ¡°If your memories came back and the truth came out about you still being mated to Xander and Zane, then we''d all be in danger,¡±


    she said. ¡°The Alpha and the Beta mated to a hybrid... the Council would never


    stand for it. It was protection, not sabotage.¡±


    | tried to imagine what | would do if | were put in Gabri¡¯s position, needing to protect Ste. Probably


    any


    dam n thing | needed to do to keep her safe. But it didn¡¯t change the fact that I''d trusted Gabri, and this felt like a betrayal.


    | suddenly thought back to the time not long ago when Mason and | went to the cafe in town. We''d run


    into my mother, | now realized. And Gabri had forced me away from her.


    Alump formed in my throat.


    ¡°I need to see my family immediately,¡± | choked out.


    Gabri nodded enthusiastically, probably grateful for the subject change.


    ¡°| think that¡¯s a good idea,¡± she said. ¡°With the Elders sniffing around the mansion and your vampire side


    exposed again, it¡¯s better for you to spend some time away until things go back to normal.¡±


    Normal? What did that even mean anymore? Back to the world where the Council lied to us about our


    history and where she-wolves were treated like disposable sex dolls? No, thank you.


    ¡°In the meantime, you should see family only and stay hidden otherwise. If people see a supposedly dead


    she-wolf walking around Constantine, they¡¯ll start asking questions none of us want to answer.¡±


    ¡°| understand,¡± | said coldly. The only reason | had to hide was because of this stu pid spell Gabri fought so hard not to break.


    ¡°Im assuming you''ll want to find a way to live at the mansion again, though,¡± Gabri said. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine you want to be apart


    from your mates forever.¡±


    My


    y pulse quickened. Did any part of me want to live with Xander and Zane again after what happened


    with Alice?


    Gabri studied me. ¡°Unless you really have fallen in love with Mason?¡± she asked curiously.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know¡¯ | said. ¡°I need time to think. | haven¡¯t even told him about my memories yet.¡±


    Dread settled in the pit of my stomach. How the hell would he take this news?


    Gabri nodded, ¡°Of course. You should go see him.¡±


    And then | left without another word.


    But when | went by my room and the room next door where Ste was sound asleep, he was nowhere to


    be found


    | walked quietly through the living room into the kitchen, dark now that the sun had set.


    As | approached, | saw a figure with his back to me.


    Before | could call out to him, he spun around. But it wasn¡¯t Mason, it was Xander.


    | moved toward him like | was dreaming, pulled closer by some invisible string | couldn''t loosen.


    Secondster, | was standing only inches apart from him.


    Thest time I¡¯d seen him before the spell, I¡¯d thought | was in love with him. Did | still? Would | ever


    again?


    He brushed a stray hair away from my face.


    ¡°I''ve missed you so much,¡± he said.


    And then he was kissing me.


    Something inside me broke or erupted. Was this pleasure or pain?


    But a voice tore through my thoughts before | could decide.


    ¡°What the f uck are you doing? Mason roared.

 Chapter 146

    Mason


    Katie put her hands on Xander¡¯s chest and pushed him away


    She looked stunned and horrified, but she had to have known what she was doing.


    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Mason,¡± she said in a desperate voice.


    But Xander charged forward: ¡°No, it is what you think,¡± he yelled. ¡°Because you''re a f ucking liar who tried to steal my mate!¡±


    Steal his mate? That was a new one.


    She didn¡¯t belong to him, and she


    he never would.


    ¡°Katie''s my mate,¡± | roared. Colt reared up, pounding at my chest, and | didn¡¯t resist him.


    My ws ripped from my hands, and my canines broke through my gums.


    | snarled dangerously, and Xander started shaking. He couldn¡¯t keep it together, not without his minion


    Zane holding him down..


    brain


    ¡°Her name¡± Xander growled. is Lanie.¡±


    Lanie? That was his f u cking daughter¡¯s name. Whatever s hit he was on right now was scrambling his


    ¡°STOP!¡± Katie shouted, jumping between us. ¡°Xander, he doesn¡¯t know


    Xander nced from Katle to me, narrowing his eyes like he didn¡¯t believe what she was saying.


    ¡°Know what?¡± | asked.


    Katie turned to look at me. She bit her lip and her eyes went ssy. Whatever she was about to say, she


    Auldn''t like it.


    F uck. My heart was sinking further and further into my stomach the longer she stayed silent.


    ¡°When Braden bit me,¡± she finally said in a quiet voice, ¡°the poison from his fangs broke the spell that was


    hiding my vampire side. All my memories came back.¡±


    My vision blurred. | closed my eyes and pressed the palms of my hands against them. This wasn¡¯t happening. My worst fears


    wereing true. | knew as soon as she got her memories back, she¡¯d run straight.


    to Xander


    Gabri wasn¡¯t speaking nonsense at Rhiannon¡¯s. He really was her mate.


    Katie turned to Xander. ¡°Can you give us a minute?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Xander clenched his fists and held my gaze, his wolf still shing in his eyes. But then he let out a


    XCLAMA


    ¡°So Xander and Zane are your mates, | said coldly


    ¡°Yes,¡± Katie said begrudgingly, ¡°But it¡¯s not that simple. | was their first mate, but they didn¡¯t want me. They only wanted-¡±


    ¡°Alice,¡± | said. ¡°I know.¡±


    Fury shot through me, fast and scorching.


    yout


    think Xander and Zane never loved you?¡± | demanded, stepping closer to Katie. She backed up a step. ¡°Well, Alice never loved


    me, either. Not like she loved them. And now the same sh it is happening all over


    again.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Katie said, but her voice was so small, so unsure. She swallowed hard. She looked scared.


    F uck. My rage was quickly turning into sadness. Heavy, all-consuming, devastating sadness. Why did | have to fall for the she-


    wolf who was mated to my f ucking brother? What kind of sick twist of fate was that?


    | ran my hands through my hair, grabbing chunks of it in a vise grip.


    | could barely wrap my head around what it meant that she, Xander, and Zane had been mates. They''d


    kissed, they''d f ucked, they''d...


    me


    Realization crashed over me like a tidal wave.


    ¡°Ste,¡± | said. ¡°Is she Xander¡¯s?¡±


    Katie''s lip trembled. That told me all | needed to know.


    F uck. She was his, too. Everything was Xander¡¯s. Everything | wanted, everything | loved.


    Alow, sharp moan of pain tumbled from my lips. It sounded eerie and animal even to my own ears.


    Colt was taking over, | could feel it in the way my head was falling back and my skin was tingling.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt Xander,¡± Katie begged, tears streaming down her face now. ¡°If you hurt him, you hurt


    Even in my rage and devastation, | didn¡¯t want to hurt her.


    | fell down onto all fours, my fur shooting out across my body. | lunged for the door, swiping it open with my paw, and ran out into


    the cool night.


    | wouldn¡¯t hurt him tonight...but | would kill him eventually.

 Chapter 147

    Lanie


    I ran out after Mason, looking around desperately, but he was already deep in the woods.


    ¡°We need to follow him,¡± | urged Lily.


    She obliged, taking over and morphing us into our strong wolf form in a matter of seconds.


    She''d been excited to see Xander and Zane when my memories came back, but she still stirred for Mason, too. Something about


    the tension between us all must''ve turned her on.


    Like | said, h orny b itch.


    | sprinted into the woods, easily tracking Mason¡¯s warm, s picy scent, made sharper by his anger and


    sadness.


    He finally entered my field of vision a few momentster, a lightning-fast brown streak darting through


    the trees.


    | howled at him, trying to get him to slow down. There was more to say, sh it to figure out. If he ran away. his anger would only


    build, and the explosion would be even worse than when he bit Braden.


    ¡°Faster,¡± | urged Lily.


    She growled with annoyance in response but still picked up speed. | was gaining on Mason now.


    | finally ran up beside him, and he nced over at me. Even as a wolf, | could see the hurt in his eyes. He


    threw his head the other way and surged forward, leaving me nipping at his tail. Was he going to do this all


    f ucking night?


    ¡°No way,¡± Lily said, and before | knew it she was leaping through the air, soaring toward Mason andnding on top of him with a


    dull thud.


    We rolled across the forest floor together, finallynding belly up in a heap on the mossy ground of a


    clearing. Moonlight shone brightly through the break in the trees, and the night air was warmer than it had


    been in months.


    It would¡¯ve been romantic if everything hadn¡¯t just gone to s hit.


    Mason stood up and pawed at the ground like he was about to sprint off once more.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Oh no, you don¡¯t.


    | lunged for him again, this time nipping at his back legs. He wasn¡¯t going anywhere.


    He whipped around and snarled, advancing on me dangerously slow, like he was stalking me. Hell no was


    | getting into a wolf fight with Mason.


    | shifted back into my human form, not giving a f uck that I¡¯d shredded all my clothes outside the house.


    to throw their first punch, only | was at a serious disadvantage as a human. ¡°I said you couldn¡¯t hurt Xander, so you decide to go


    straight to the source, is that it?¡±


    Mason shook his big fluffy head and shifted right before my eyes, naked and crouching on the mossy.


    ground.


    When he stood up, it was all | could do not to let my eyes wander downward.


    ¡°I''m running so | don¡¯t hurt anyone again,¡± he said, his voice a husky rumble. ¡°I made a mistake, but I¡¯m not a monster. Of course


    I''m not gonna f ucking fight you, Katie.¡±


    ¡°It''s Lanie,¡± | said coldly-an unfairly to him, since he¡¯d never known Lanie. Only Katie.


    ¡°What?¡± Mason looked confused.


    ¡°My name. It¡¯s Lanie.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t care what it is,¡± he snarled. His eyes traveled over my body and his.gaze darkened. My heart was racing, and not from


    running.


    ¡°And | don¡¯t care who | find you with.¡± He moved closer to me. ¡°And | don¡¯t care if it¡¯s pathetic...¡±


    | let my eyes graze his body, and my breath hitched.


    His c ock was thick and hard and already dripping.


    ¡°I still want you so f ucking badly,¡± he rumbled. ¡°That hasn¡¯t changed.¡±


    There were mere inches between us now, and my chest was already heaving with the effort of controlling my desire.


    ¡°| know your memories are back, and | know you have mates, but you can¡¯t deny it.¡± He reached his hand out and grasped my


    waist, wrenching me into him roughly.


    He leaned down, his lips grazing my ear.


    ¡°| know you want me, too.¡±

 Chapter 148

    Lanie


    |unched myself onto Mason, and we both crashed onto the ground, his body under mine.


    He¡¯d awakened something in me, something that needed to be let out.


    No taming my animal side this time.


    | grabbed his hands and yanked them above his head, pinning them there.


    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± | growled


    His c ock twitched beneath me, and his eyelids were drooping.


    ¡°You''re into this?¡± | asked, pressing myself down onto him harder, holding him hostage.


    ¡°So f ucking sure, and so f ucking into this,¡± he said. The low, gravelly tone of his voice sent a pang of desire straight from my


    belly down to my core. I¡¯d practically flooded his abs with my arousal,


    ¡°F uck me,¡± he said, his nostrils ring. My smell must''ve been all over him. Just how | wanted it.


    Mason


    She lifted herself off of me slowly, sliding backward down my body and nipping at my stomach with her


    teeth as she went.


    | groaned at her teasing. It was taking so much self-control not to yank her back up and sit her on myN?velDrama.Org owns this.


    di ck. But her mouth on me..that would be even better.


    She hovered her head just above my throbbing c ck, her lips slightly parted. Go ds, she was making me crazy. She licked the tip


    of me slowly, and it twitched wildly, covering her tongue with my juices.


    ¡°Open,¡± |manded. Her eyes shed and her wolf came to the surface as she opened her mouth and


    took me hungrily.


    | groaned, pushing myself into her slowly, and she gagged a little when my tip hit the back of her throat.


    ¡°Go dda mn,¡± | breathed out.


    She was so f ucking se xy.


    Her eyes flitted up to me through hershes as she put one hand around the base of my c ock and pumped slowly, still taking as


    much as she could of me into her mouth.


    | wrapped my fingers around her hair. That long, beautiful hair. | tugged it with force, and she cried out around my d ick.


    The sight of her pretty pink lips around me nearly made mee undone. My c ock surged in her mouth.


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± she growled. ¡°Not yet.¡±


    I sat up and grabbed her roughly by the wrists. ¡°Then you better get on your knees,¡± | ordered. Her eyes danced with wild


    pleasure and delight.


    She crawled onto the ground and tossed her hair behind her, her gaze not breaking from mine. She was like a woman


    possessed in the best way, desperate to take anything | could give her.


    | clung to her waist while | thrust inside her, hitting a spot that made her scream and buck beneath me. Go ds, nothing felt better


    than this.


    ¡°Come for me, Lanie,¡± | whispered into her ear as | pounded her harder and harder from behind. ¡°Come all


    over my thick c ock.¡±


    She let out a strangled yelp, and her walls clenched around me as her o rgasm took over. Hearing her screams, feeling her


    tighten around me. It was all | needed to fill her up with my seed.


    We rode out our o rgasms until we were grunting and panting, and finally copsed onto the ground next


    to each other.


    ¡°You think you can get used to calling me Lanie?¡± she finally asked.


    stroked the length of her body, my finger dipping down the lines of her perfect curves.


    ¡°If it makes s you scream like that, then | think | can,¡± | said, my lips lifting up in a smirk.


    ¡°| know this is f ucking weird,¡± she said, ¡°but it¡¯s real. This thing between us. Mated or not, we have something, and you''re right, |


    can¡¯t deny it.¡±


    My heart swelled hearing her say that. Of course it wasn¡¯t that simple, but at least here alone in these


    woods, | let myself believe that it could be.


    ¡°I''m leaving,¡± she said softly, tracing her hands through the soft moss beneath us. ¡°I¡¯m going to see my mother and sister, and |


    want you toe with me and Ste.¡±


    My mind went momentarily nk. | wanted to meet Lanie¡¯s family, but if | got in even deeper with her, then it would hurt that


    much more when she decided to run back to her real mates.


    ¡°That¡¯s how serious | am about us, Mason,¡± she said. ¡°But | want to give you time to think about it, just like you gave me time to


    think abouting with you to Constantine.¡±


    | nodded and turned away from her. Something was holding me back from saying yes right then and


    there. Was it Colt? Was it my jealousy?


    When | nced back at Lanie, a cloud of disappointment had settled over her features, but when she caught me looking, she


    arranged them back into a soft smile.


    ¡°Think about it,¡± she said, patting my leg before she shifted and sprinted away again.


    Lanie


    Tran back to the house, desperate to see Ste.


    I''d lost control with Mason, and we''d both given into our animal desires, but as soon as reality came crashing back down, he¡¯d


    disconnected again.


    Did | regret what we''d just done? No. But | wished he¡¯d said yes when | invited him toe home with me so | knew he still


    believed in us and he wasn''t just there for a f uck.


    | was lost in thought when | tiptoed back into the cabin, hands wrapped around my naked body. | didn¡¯t


    need another run-in with Xander and Zane.


    | slowly pushed open the door to the room where Ste was sleeping, and of course they were there. Xander and Zane. Holding


    my f ucking baby.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing with my daughter?¡± | demanded.


    Xander raised his eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯t you mean our daughter?¡±

 Chapter 149

    Xander


    Lanie stood at the door, frozen by shock.


    Her scent hit me a moment after she''d entered, and | wrinkled my nose at the same time that my mouth watered. The


    intoxicating smell of her sex mixed with the musky tinge of Mason.


    That as shole had interrupted Lanie and me for the second time. I''d dumped my frustrations onto Zane,ining that Lanie


    hadn''t seemed head-over-heels back in love with me when we''d kissed.


    Zane was upset, too. When we woke up and all of our memories were back, we were both rocked by an extreme surge of


    feelings for Lanie, like being with her again was the most important thing in the world.


    But clearly, she didn¡¯t feel the same way. Now here she was, alone with us again. And very naked...


    ¡°Here,¡± Zane said, offering her a nket from the bed. She threw it around herself.


    ¡°Don''t get too attached,¡± she said, nodding her head toward Ste, ¡°We¡¯re leaving tomorrow. Mason might


    join us.¡±


    Tomorrow? What the f uck?


    ¡°No,¡± | said bluntly. ¡°Where would you even go?¡±


    ¡°To see my family,¡± she said, biting her lip. | could tell that even just mentioning it made her emotional. ¡°My mother and my


    sister.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t want to tell you not to see them, Lanie, Zane said.


    Speak for yourself.


    ¡°But we¡¯re your family, too,¡± he continued.


    ¡°And Ste is mine,¡± | said, my voice rising slightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us about her?¡±


    Alice was pregnant then, but that didn¡¯t mean we wouldn''t have stuck by Lanie¡¯s side too.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t find out until just before the spell was cast over me,¡± she said, her eyes going unfocused.


    She reached out for Ste, and | handed her over.


    ¡°It seemed lessplicated if we could just start over,¡± Lanie exined, setting her down in her bass


    and rocking it slowly.


    ¡°But you u can¡¯t turn off a mate bond like that,¡± | argued. ¡°We loved you, and you left us.


    H


    Her eyebrows shot up to her forehead. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s rich,¡± she whisper-yelled. ¡°Have you forgotten that you didn¡¯t choose me? You


    want me now that Alice is dead and no longer an option.¡±


    She had no idea what the f uck went on with Alice. She wasn¡¯t there.


    Mason,


    My jaw clenched almost as hard as my


    fists.


    ¡°Don¡¯t argue with her,¡± Zane warned. ¡°It won''t get you anywhere.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s saying a bunch of b ullsh it,¡± | growled. ¡°I won¡¯t take that.¡±


    ¡°Alice fooled us both,¡± Zane jumped in, attempting to calm me down. ¡°If we¡¯d been able to see beyond her, we would''ve realized


    immediately that it was you. It was always you.¡±


    Her expression seemed to soften slightly.


    ¡°But I¡¯m a hybrid,¡± she said. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that that puts you and the twins in danger?¡±


    ¡°No better ce for a hybrid to hide out than in the arms of an Alpha and his Beta,¡± | said. ¡°We can protect you like no one else


    can.¡±


    Worry lines creased her forehead. She was considering it, | could tell.


    ¡°Your mother doesn¡¯t seem to agree, Xander,¡± she said. So much for that. ¡°She wants me to go while


    things with the Council blow over at the mansion.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡± F uck what my mother said,¡± | growled. ¡°This family should stay together.¡±


    ¡°Careful there, Xander,¡± Zane warned. ¡°Remember whose babies you''re rocking to sleep every night.¡±


    Shi t. It was only a matter of time before Mason put two and two together with the twins and the fact they. might be his. At least if


    he left with Lanie, he¡¯d be away from them for a while.


    ¡°I''m going Xander,¡± she said assuredly. ¡°I¡¯m done arguing about it. I¡¯m leaving tomorrow, and you''re not


    coming with me.¡±

 Chapter 150

    Lanie


    | packed mine and Ste¡¯s bags as slowly as possible, waiting for Mason to show up and help me or tell


    me he''d decided to join.


    Gabri had thought it best if we left the next morning since she, Xander, and Zane all needed to get back to the mansion to


    avoid suspicion. They¡¯d already been gone more than a day.


    | finally walked outside, taking my time throwing the bags in the car and buckling Ste into her car seat.


    I


    | cast my eyes around for any sign of Mason, but there was nothing. | bit my tongue to keep tears from welling in my eyes. |


    could do this alone. | didn¡¯t need him or anyone else.


    But then | heard a creak on the cabin steps, and | spun around, relief already washing over me.


    Only it wasn¡¯t Mason, it was Zane.


    He ran down the stairs and straight up to me.


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want me toe with you, Lanie?¡± he asked softly. ¡°Xander will be fine alone for al few days.¡±


    He reached out and squeezed my shoulder and a bolt of electricity spider-webbed out from where he''d


    touched me.


    ¡°We want to start over fresh, forget all the sh it that happened before the spell,¡± he said.


    Impossible. You don¡¯t forget the kind of rejection they made me feel.


    ¡°| just don¡¯t want you to go alone,¡± Zane said.


    ¡°Oh, she won''t be alone,¡± Mason said as he swept out of the front door. ¡°I hope there¡¯s still room for me.¡±


    | smiled brightly in spite of myself. Mason showing up was a da mn dreame true.


    ¡°Of course there is,¡± | said.


    He shot me the same winning smile that had won me over the first time we met. ¡°Good,¡± he said.


    And then he kissed me. Slowly and gently. And right in front of Zane.


    | nced at him as we broke apart. | could swear his eyes shed red. But when | looked again, they were only full of sadness.


    He


    e stomped back into the house without another word.


    Lily scratched at my insides. She was telling me to go to Zane andfort him, but | fought against it hard. Mason always put


    me first when Xander and Zane didn''t. | needed to do the same for him.


    It was also tucked away in the woods, but a much more modest bungalow than the


    or their hunting cabin.


    As soon as it came into view, my vision swam with tears. | hadn¡¯t been there since right before the mating ceremony, what felt


    like a million years ago.


    I''d seen my mother briefly, but my heart nearly cracked in half when | realized it had been more than half a year since I¡¯d seen


    my sister.


    As soon as we got out of the car, she sprinted up to me, throwing her arms around me, and covering me with her nket of hair


    that was just a little brighter red than mine.


    ¡°Selena,¡± | whispered, breathing in her familiarlyforting scent, a scent that reminded me of ski pping stones in a pond,


    gossiping instead of sleeping, and bonds that can¡¯t be broken.


    ¡°I''ve missed you so much,¡± | said as | pulled away from her. | took in her face, the crowded dusting of freckles across her nose


    that matched our mothers. She was only seventeen, a year out from being of age, but she looked so much older than thest


    time I''d seen her. On closer look, she seemed tired, her face a little


    sunken.


    ¡°I''ve missed you, too,¡± she said thickly. She smiled, but it didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. ¡°Go ds, is this Ste?¡± she squealed,


    running toward Mason, who was holding her


    While they introduced themselves, | looked to the house and saw my mother standing in the doorway, a


    wistful expression on her face.


    too?


    ¡°My girls, back together again,¡± she said. Was limagining it, or did she look more exhausted than usual,


    ¡°Mama,¡± | said, wrapping her in a tight hug. ¡°This is Mason.¡±


    | gestured toward him and my mother gave him a small wave as he approached.


    Selena slipped through the front door, now holding Ste. The sight of them together made


    my


    heart


    swell.


    ¡°Be careful with her Selena, she¡¯s still so small,¡± my mother said


    Selena¡¯s nose wrinkled. ¡°F uck off,¡± she muttered, stomping into the living room and plopping down ontoN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    the couch with Ste.


    | gasped at her response. It was so unlike her to be rude to our mother.


    ¡°What the hell has gotten into her?¡± | asked. Selena had always been a quiet, goody-two-shoes type. |


    used to make fun of her for it.


    ¡°Honestly,¡± my mother said, leaning in closer. ¡°I¡¯m worried for her safety. | think she¡¯s seeing someone,


    | think they might be hurting her.¡±


    and

 Chapter 151

    Xander


    Zane and | sat on the steps of the cabin, waiting for her to return.


    We hadn''t spoken to her since we¡¯d awokentest night, dazed and with the sudden realization that the existence of our mate


    had been wiped clean from our minds by my own f ucking mother.


    She owed us an exnation along with about a million apologies, and we weren''t going back to the mansion until we got them.


    As soon as the car pulled up to the drive, we stood, fists trembling at our sides.


    ¡°She¡¯s your mother, don¡¯t do anything you¡¯re going to regret,¡± was the only warning Zane gave me.


    Normally, he would¡¯ve talked me down from confronting her in the first ce, but he was just as furious


    as | was.


    Lying to us was one thing, but manipting our memories? That was psychotic.


    ¡°know you have a lot of questions,¡± my mother said wearily as she walked up to the cabin. ¡°But we can talk once we¡¯re back at


    the mansion. We¡¯ve already been gone too long.¡±


    ¡°We''ll talk now,¡± | snarled. ¡°Or I''ll make you talk.¡±


    She sighed and rubbed her temples. ¡°Don¡¯t lose it again, Xander,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m sure the whole pack felt it when you and Zane


    wolfed out on Bradenst night. ¡°Do that again, and the Council will have your heads forContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    breakfast¡±


    ¡°We''re not talking about the f u cking Council,¡± | yelled, swinging my fist at the wooden beam next to me and splintering it like a


    toothpick.


    | could feel Zane vibrating with anger beside me, his face growing redder by the second. He wasn¡¯t the kind to act out, but he


    was more furious than I''d ever seen him.


    My mother jumped back, her eyes widening. A sick sense of satisfaction ripped through me. Good. She should be scared.


    ¡°Why did you do it?¡± Zane asked, his voice ice cold. ¡°Why did you curse us?¡±


    We took one step down, slowly advancing on my mother.


    She held up her hands and stepped back.


    only way i


    it


    ¡°It was Lanie¡¯s decision to go through with the spell, she said. ¡°Roping you into it was the only could work. You''d never stop


    trying to get her back otherwise.¡±


    ¡°put it didn¡¯t work, did it?¡± | asked, co cking my head at her. ¡°We found our way back to each other anyway, only now she¡¯s in


    love with someone else.¡±


    We took another sten down. Ichanneled all my hurt at being rcted bynia into rane at my mother for


    getting us into this s hit.


    ¡°So tell me,¡± | said, shoving my finger at her, ¡°how the f uck is that better?


    ¡°Because now we don¡¯t have a hybrid living in our go dda mn house!¡± she screamed. ¡°Do you understand how much danger she


    puts us in? | like her, | really do, but I¡¯m not letting her be the reason my whole family is


    destroyed.¡±


    Zane and | barked out a mirthlessugh,


    ¡°Oh, please,¡± Zane said viciously. ¡°If your family is destroyed, | think your husband is the one to me.¡±


    | nced over at Zane and nodded. This was the bada ss Beta backup | needed right now.


    My mother¡¯s lip trembled and a growl of anger rumbled low in her chest.


    ¡°Don''t you dare,¡± she shrieked, her wolf shing in her eyes.


    She never lost control like this. We were getting to her, pushing her, just like she pushed us.


    ¡°Is Zane wrong?¡± | sneered.


    Her lips formed a tight line. She was quiet because she knew he wasn¡¯t wrong.


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± she finally said thickly. ¡°I never wanted to be the kind of mother who manipted her own child. Everything I¡¯ve ever


    done and will ever do has been to protect you.¡±


    She used that line far too often. | didn¡¯t feel very protected now, with the Council breathing down my neck and my mate off f


    ucking my bas ta rd brother


    ¡°Then you won''te back with us,¡± | said firmly


    Zane¡¯s head snapped to face me. We hadn''t discussed this part.


    ¡°What the hell do you mean? | won¡¯te back with you to the home | built?¡± she asked, jamming her finger into her chest.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± | said. ¡°I¡¯m the Alpha, | have the power to ban you from the mansion. | already did it to my


    father.¡±


    She shook her head in disbelief. Tm your Luna,¡± she growled.


    ¡°Not anymore, you¡¯re not,¡± | said.


    She blinked hard, her chest heaving with the effort of keeping calm.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, yanking open the car door. Then you can figure this s hit out on your own.¡±


    212

 Chapter 152

    Lanie


    A hot surge of anger coursed through me.


    | pulled my mother away from Mason. This was between us.


    ¡°If you think Selena is getting hurt, then why won''t you stop it?!¡± | snapped at her. ¡°Why don¡¯t my dads stop it? Where even are


    they?¡±


    Selena was barely seventeen, she needed people to look out for her. What the f uck were my parents doing letting her run


    around by herself?


    ¡°Your dads have been called away to help build a council facility at the far edge of our territory,¡± she said. There was a twinge of


    bitterness in her tone.


    ¡°What kind of facility?¡± | asked. My dads had worked as pack engineers for as long as | could remember, but they''d always made


    time for us, too. They¡¯de home for dinners, and even cook for my mother


    sometimes.


    It wasn¡¯t like them to leave her and my sister alone.


    ¡°They can¡¯t say,¡± my mother said, her eyes going ssy and unfocused. ¡°I keep waiting up at night, hoping they''ll surprise me


    with a visit home, but it¡¯s been over a month now...¡±


    She trailed off. So that¡¯s why she looked so exhausted. My heart ached for her, and for Selena, too. She¡¯s needed me here with


    them, but she was forced to pretend | didn¡¯t even exist. | couldn¡¯t imagine doing that with


    Ste.


    was.


    | pulled my mother in close, and her body shook with s obs.


    ¡°When Gabri told me you wereing back, that you were Lanie again... can¡¯t tell you how happy!


    | was crying now, too. | wanted to be angry at my mother for allowing Gabri to lie to me and for not


    protecting my sister from wolves who wanted to prey on her, but she was a victim too.


    Plus, I''d missed my family so much, and | had no idea how badly they¡¯d needed me here.


    My mother clung to me tightly.


    ¡°I''ve tried to talk to Selena,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve even tried tracking her, but she knows how to throw me off too


    well,¡± she choked out. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to help her anymore.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry to interrupt, | know this is personal,¡± Mason said, ¡°but is there anything | can do to help?¡±


    My mother stood up straighter and wiped away her tears. She gave Mason a watery smile.


    ¡°It''s just nice to have someone big and strong here to look after my baby,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m Julia by the way?¡±


    Che prended her hand


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Julia,¡± he said, shing her his most charming smile. A tingle of warmth crawled up my spine seeing them


    together like this. My mother¡¯s smile brightened as they shook hands, and | could tell he was already winning her over too.


    He had that effect on she-wolves.


    Just then, Ste¡¯s cries carried in from the living room. Without missing a beat, Mason ran in to grab her,


    and she quieted instantly.


    ¡°I''m going to put her down for a nap!¡± he called.


    ¡°Upstairs bedroom!¡± | called back, and we listened to the sound of his footsteps retrateating up the stairs..


    ¡°He really has a way with Ste, doesn¡¯t he? my mother asked.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty amazing.¡± | said.


    She


    My mother¡¯s smile faltered for a moment. ¡°I like him, Lanie, and | can tell that you do too, but...¡± pursed her lips and breathed in


    deeply through her nose before continuing. The mate bond isn¡¯t something you can just ignore. And neither are the fathers of


    your child.¡±


    | shook my head. My mother couldn¡¯t just be happy that we were here with her, she had to remind me of


    Xander and Zane.


    ¡°Mama, you know my situation isplicated. They didn¡¯t want me as their mate. They reced me andN?velDrama.Org content.


    cast me off,¡± | huffed.


    ¡°But you might never be able to connect with ormunicate with Mason like you can Xander and Zane, not as long as they''re


    still alive and well,¡± she said. ¡°They''re your true mates, whether any of you like it or not.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t even know that¡¯s even true now that the spell has been broken!¡± | cried.


    There''d been no trace of the mind link Xander, Zane, and | had shared before when | spoke to them at the


    cabin, maybe the spell had f ucked everything up.


    Still, my heart was thudding hard against my chest. The way my mother described my rtionship with Mason sounded eerily


    simr to the one that Xander and Zane had with Alice. They loved her, they wanted to


    be with her, but she wasn¡¯t their true mate.


    Something was missing, and by the time I''d left, it had slowly but surely been tearing their rtionship apart. Would the same


    thing happen to me and Mason?


    217

 Chapter 153

    Lanie


    F uck what my mother said, being with Mason was all | wanted right now.


    Later that night, | made my way upstairs to my attic bedroom, dragging my hand along the wooden railing


    I''d used so many times.


    When | walked inside, Mason was rocking Ste gently, and her eyes were fluttering closed.


    ¡°Hold her while | grab the bass from downstairs?¡± he asked. | took her, always grateful for any


    moment she was in my arms.


    Mason returned only a momentter, but she was already fast asleep. | set her down gently in her


    bass and wheeled it into the rec room off thending.


    ¡°Does it feel strange to be back here?¡± he asked me as | walked back into the bedroom. ¡°It sounds like


    things with your mom and sister are...¡±


    ¡°Complicated?¡± | finished for him and shrugged sheepishly. What else was new? Even with my memories back, my life was


    nowhere near stable. Quite the opposite


    ¡°Yeah, it does feel strange not sharing this room with my sister,¡± | continued. It had two twin beds


    separated by a small nightstand. We''d slept in there together our whole lives until I''d left for the mating


    ceremony.


    But now she was downstairs in the guest room while Mason, Ste, and | were staying here.


    ¡°Do you think everything¡¯s gonna be okay with her?¡± he asked, his eyebrows knitted in concern.


    ¡°]


    Tears suddenly sprang to my eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± | said. ¡°I wish | knew exactly what was happening. I¡¯m


    scared I''ll find out toote¡±


    Mason sat down with me on one of the beds.


    ¡°What if | tried tracking her?¡± he suggested. ¡°I hunted down Orion once, and he didn¡¯t want to be found,


    either. I¡¯m sure | could do the same with your sister.¡±


    The tears spilled down my cheeks and a warm rush of gratefulness bloomed from


    ¡°You''d really do that?¡± | asked.


    He rested his hand on my knee. ¡°That''s what I¡¯m here for.¡±


    my chest.


    He sighed deeply. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just start over now?¡± he asked. ¡°Pretend for a bit like none of that sh it with the spell and


    Constantine even happened.¡±


    He moved his hand up and down my thigh absentmindedly. It gave me the shivers.


    ¡°| know it¡¯s not realistic,¡± he continued, ¡°but there¡¯s enough for you to worry about here with your family.


    And | don¡¯t want to nunich wou anymore¡±


    ¡°Thank go d,¡± said, and my lids fluttered closed as he kissed me softly


    My back, it was like | was meeting


    hiks p rickled with warmth. In a way now that | had my i


    again.


    ¡°| feel like a sixteen-year-old sneaking a boy up to my room.¡± | was even blushing like a f ucking teenager. ¡°Not that | ever did


    that before | was mated,¡± | said shyly.


    ¡°Really?¡± Mason said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I find it very hard to believe that every wolf in town wasn¡¯t scaling the walls of this


    house to get to you.¡±


    | barked out augh.


    ¡°Oh please,¡± | said. ¡°I was like the least boy-crazy she-wolf to ever exist. | hated the concept of mating because | thought it was


    sexist and stu pid. | used to drive Selena crazy with my rants,¡± |ughed.


    The corner of Mason¡¯s mouth quirked up in a smirk. | can totally imagine you doing that,¡± he said.


    ¡°| was a walking cliche, too,¡± | said. ¡°My style when |nded in Stillborn was much more minimalist mom, but back then I¡¯d wear


    ck, Docs, had my hair up all the time, the whole nine.¡±


    ¡°So punk rock of you,¡± Mason teased, | giggled.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°| probably have a whole closet of rocker chick hit in here still,¡± | said, motioning to the wardrobe across


    the room.


    ¡°Oh, s hit,¡± Mason said, his eyes lighting up. ¡°You gotta try something on for me.¡±


    |


    I rolled my eyes. What had | gotten myself into?


    But | didn¡¯t think too hard before | walked over and plucked out a ckce-up corset and leather skirt. | didn¡¯t bother mentioning


    that these had sat in my closet for years because they were entirely too s exy and ufortable for me to leave the house in.


    They''d been impulse purchases, egged on by Selena.


    ¡°Hell yes,¡± Mason said hungrily.


    ¡°Close | instructed.


    reves.


    I


    ¡°I will, but | don¡¯t want to,¡± he said


    He sat back on the bed and put his hands over his eyes while | stripped down and pulled on the outfit. The corset was a pain in


    the as s toce up. No wonder | never wore it.


    But when I told Mason to open his eyes, the look on his face made it all worth it.


    His eyes turned dark and animal, like he wanted to devour me.


    ¡°Get the f uck over here,¡± he growled, and hismanding tone sent a surge of heat straight to my center.


    | climbed on top of him on the tiny bed.


    ¡°How are we gonna fit?¡± | asked. His huge, muscr body took up so much space.


    ¡°We''ll figure it out,¡± he said, tugging me down and iming my mouth as his


    | reached down between my legs and rubbed it slowly, feeling it throb beneath my touch.


    ¡°Lanie...¡± he whispered. ¡°I wanna f uck you so bad.¡±


    wa s already so wet and ready for him.


    His hands traveled up my thighs, then under my skirt, grabbing my as s roughly. He yanked down my


    panties hard.


    ¡°Sit on my face,¡± he said,


    ¡°Yes,¡± | answered breathlessly.


    But before | could move, | heard a thump outside. We both froze.


    ¡°You heard that, too?¡± | asked, and Mason nodded.


    I ran to the window and peeked through the ts of the shutters.


    ¡°It''s Selena,¡± | said.


    She stumbled out into the yard, stripping down and throwing her clothes to the ground. She shifted before my eyes, snat ched up


    her clothes, and then she was sprinting into the woods.


    ¡°F uck,¡± | cursed. ¡°She just shifted. She¡¯s leaving.¡±


    Mason jumped up from the bed and stripped off his shirt. ¡°Then I¡¯m following her.¡±

 Chapter 154

    Mason


    ¡°I''ming with you,¡± Lanie said, grabbing up her clothes.


    She looked manic, like she was about toe unraveled.


    I


    | took her by the shoulders. ¡°We can¡¯t both leave,¡± | said, holding her gaze. We were wasting time discussing this. ¡°What about


    Ste?¡±


    Lanie¡¯s eyes widened and she blinked hard,


    ¡°I''ll take her to my mother,¡± she said, nodding along like she was convincing herself it was a good idea.


    ¡°Okay, but we need to do this fast,¡± | said.


    ¡°Yes..yes...¡± she said distractedly.


    | carried the bass down the stairs as gently as | could while Lanie snuck into her mother¡¯s room.


    ¡°Mama, Selena¡¯s left,¡± she whispered. ¡°We''re going to find her.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Julia said. She sounded equally upset and relieved.


    ¡°| need you to watch Ste,¡± Lanie said.


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± she said. ¡°Go now.¡±


    | pushed the bass inside, and we slipped out of the house, not speaking as we stripped down and shifted, sn atching up our


    clothes in our mouths.


    Lanie pawed at the ground where Selena had shifted, instructing me to pick up her smell.


    | leaned down and red my nostrils, taking in as much of the scent as | could.


    ¡°Find her,¡± |manded to Colt.


    And then we were off, Lanie and her wolf trailing just behind me. | knew she could keep up; she made that clear when she¡¯d


    followed me into the woods outside the cabin.


    We ran and ran for what seemed like forever, weaving through trees until we were following the winding


    road that led out of our territory.


    What the hell? Was Selena going into the nearest human city? | knew the way well after all those years of


    meeting up with Alice.


    Lanie ran up beside me, seeming just as confused as | was.


    Finally, the trees cleared, and we could see it. The human city lit up just beyond the tree line.


    We crept along the edge of the forest until we feared we''d be seen, and then we shifted back and threw on


    our clothes


    ¡°There!¡± Lanie cried, pointing over my shoulder. ¡°She''s walking into that bar¡±


    My heart sank before | even turned around.


    | knew exactly which bar she was talking about because I¡¯d met Alice there dozens of times.


    | turned around slowly, and sure enough Selena was slipping inside. A sharp bolt of fury shot through me. She was barely


    seventeen. Why the hell were they letting her in there?


    | nced back at Lanie. She looked horrified. She was probably wondering the same thing.


    ¡°We have to see who she¡¯s meeting in there,¡± Lanie said desperately, charging out of the trees.


    | grabbed her arm, pulling her back.


    ¡°Don''t act rashly,¡± | instructed. ¡°Or someone could get hurt.¡±


    She pursed her lips in a tight line and nodded.


    | your back, okay?¡± | said, leading her out of the trees.


    ¡°I''ve got y


    Momentster, we were stepping into the bar, careful to stick to the shadowy corner by the door.


    ¡°Over here,¡± | said, waving Lanie toward a half wall that separated the main bar from the bathrooms and


    back storage.N?velDrama.Org content.


    We crouched down, peeking over the top. | hoped we didn¡¯t look too obvious.


    ¡°There she is at the other end of the bar,¡± Lanie whispered.


    | could just make her out at this distance. There was arger man sitting next to her with his back to us.


    ¡°Can you tell who that is with her?¡± | asked.


    ¡°No, but he seems familiar,¡± Lanie said. I¡¯d thought the same thing, but from this far away and with the


    lights so dim, | couldn¡¯t quite tell why.


    And then he turned. Only slightly, so just his profile was visible. But it was unmistakable.


    ¡°Orion,¡± Lanie whispered.


    Why the f uck was her sister meeting with my father?


    212

 Chapter 155

    Zane


    ¡°Wee back,¡± Xander said as Maxim led Gregory and Lucas into the great room


    After no reports of suspicious activity on Orion¡¯s part, we¡¯d called Maxim back to the mansion to keep an eye on things here. By


    some miracle, Gustav and the Elders hadn¡¯te back while we were gone, so we had


    no one to answer to for our absence.


    But if and when they did eventually return, we needed the heads-up from our High Guard now that they were looking for any


    reason to strip us of our titles.


    It was certainly a risk having Gregory Bjorn and Lucas Spindler over to the mansion. Everyone knew weN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    were essentially nemeses, so their presence in our home might raise suspicions.


    But now that Lanie and Mason were out of the mansion, we needed to deal with the next most pressing.


    issue of what the hell was up with Orion.


    Gregory and Lucas each took a seat in front of the small fire. Now that spring was dwindling the weather was warming up, there


    was no need for the roaring mes we usually stoked


    ¡°Where¡¯s that hot little piece you had running around the mansionst time we were here?¡± Lucas asked, his eyes roaming


    around the room as if a she-wolf might appear out of thin air. ¡°We never got a good look at her...we were hoping we could meet


    today!¡±


    The bitter taste of disgust bloomed on my tongue. We''d never bring Lanie anywhere near these two, not in


    a million years.


    ¡°We told you she was the mate of a visitor,¡± Xander shapped. ¡°A visitor who is no longer staying here.¡±


    Gregory barked out a bitterugh.


    ¡°Sure. You probably scared her off already, didn¡¯t you?¡± he said. ¡°I knew you were worse than we were


    when it came to mates.¡±


    ¡°This is not why we called you here,¡± | growled while Xander flexed his fists. We were quickly losing patience with them already.


    ¡°We''re here to discuss Orion.


    ¡°So you believe us now, do you?¡± Gregory asked as a sneering smile stretched across his weathered face.


    ¡°We heard you kicked him out of the house.¡± Lucas piped up. ¡°I have a feeling that''lle back to bite you


    in the as s,¡± he said ominously.


    ¡°Yeah, well, he¡¯s not the Alpha anymore, so there¡¯s only so much he can do,¡± Xander said, though | could


    tell he wasn''t as confident about that as he sounded.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know about that,¡± Gregory said, ¡°He¡¯s got the whole Council in his pocket. I¡¯m pretty sure he can do


    whatever the f uck he wants.¡±


    Xander and | exchanged nces, and | knew what we were both thinking. Gregory was right. Orion had 1/2


    them do?


    ¡°Do you know why the Council is so willing to do his bidding?¡± | asked. ¡°They¡¯ve always had more power than him, even when he


    was the Alpha.¡±


    Lucas stroked his chin like a movie viin. ¡°Should we tell them, Gregory?¡± he asked.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know, Lucas,¡± Gregory said, folding his fingers together and leaning forward. ¡°You forbid us from taking a mate, and acted


    like we were crazy for saying your father was responsible for hurting the she-wolves


    we''d mated before.¡±


    ¡°We''ve been so hurt,¡± Lucas said, dropping his head in his hands dramatically. ¡°By our own Alpha and Beta, no less.¡±


    | rolled my eyes. They were doing¡¯way too much.


    ¡°Cut the theatrical sh it, and tell us what you want,¡± Xander said impatiently.


    ¡°A stiff drink to start,¡± Lucas said, motioning to the bottle of Moondust Whiskey sitting on a nearby table. | walked over and


    poured them two generous sses. Maybe it would help loosen their lips. They both downed


    them in one gulp.


    ¡°And we want you to take back your ruling that we¡¯re no longer allowed to have a mate,¡± Gregory said, a


    wicked smile curling his lips.


    F uck. No she-wolf should be forced to live with these two. But they had helped us once, maybe they were misunderstood?


    Maybe they really did care for the women they mated behind closed doors? Or maybe | was being totally f ucking delusional.


    ¡°Done,¡± Xander said curtly.


    Gregory and Lucas exchanged excited nces, while | shot Xander a look of death.


    ¡°You''re going to regret this,¡± | warned.


    ¡°The next mating ceremony is months away. We''ll deal with it before then.¡±


    So we were sweeping it under the rug, then. Great.


    ¡°Under one condition,¡± Xander said, and Gregory and Lucas grumbled. ¡°You tell us if and when you have


    any new information.¡±


    Gregory shrugged. ¡°Fine, here¡¯s what we know.¡±


    He shifted forward in his chair, leaning in closer and lowering his voice


    ¡°Orion is nosing out hybrids, and picking them off one by one.¡±

 Chapter 156

    Lanie


    Not Orion, anyone but him.


    | thought back to the night when he¡¯d pulled me into his quarters and ¡°introduced¡± himself, aka


    threatened to kill me if | didn¡¯t leave.


    ¡°| know what you are, he¡¯d said.


    A hybrid. He knew | was a hybrid...


    Which meant he knew my sister might be one, too. Is that why he wanted to see her? To lure her out and


    then kill her?


    My breath wasing in short gasps, and the room was starting to spin.


    | thought | might pass out, but then Mason¡¯s strong arms were around me, holding me up.


    ¡°Deep breaths,¡± he said. ¡°We''re going to get her out of this.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± | croaked out. ¡°Thest time | saw him, he tried to kill me.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s in human territory,¡± Mason reminded me. ¡°He¡¯d be stu pid to try anything here.¡±


    | shook my head. ¡°He doesn¡¯t y by the rules.¡±


    My mind raced wildly. If | ran over there, would | shook him enough that Selena could slip away back


    home? Was she even safe there?


    What if | surprised him and Mason grabbed him from behind while Selena and | ran? No, we¡¯d draw too


    much attention to ourselves. F uck. What could we do?


    to cry.


    ¡°Lanie,¡± M


    Mason said, nudging me out of my wild thoughts. His voice sounded worried.


    | focused my eyes back on Selena and saw that her lip was trembling and she looked like she was about


    Orion said something to her and her eyes widened. She shook her head emphatically.


    What the f uck was he saying to her? Go ds, she must feel so alone right now, | thought.


    I''m here, Selena, | tried to push the thought to her, hoping she would somehow feel it, but | knew it didn¡¯t


    work like that.


    And then | saw it. The glint of a silver de beneath the bar. | gasped.


    That was it, | had to go to her. No way was | going to stand here while Orion threatened my little sister.


    I stood up straight, and Lily pawed her way to the surface. My ws extended, and my canines dropped, sharp against my


    tongue. | was just about to dive over the half wall when | felt strong hands around my waist.


    | thrashed against him, trying to break free.


    ¡°Are you f ucking insane?¡± he whispered. ¡°You''re in human territory, and your f ucking ws are out. You''re asking for the


    Council to lock you up!¡±


    | stopped fighting and fell limp, breathing heavily. He was right, if | was caught shifting in human territory, then I¡¯d never be able


    to protect Selena again because I''d be in prison.


    Suddenly, Mason dragged me against the wall and threw his hand over my mouth.


    | looked around wildly, and there was Selena, sprinting through the door of the bar and out into the night, wiping the tears from


    her face.


    | breathed a sigh of relief and a silent so b wracked my body. She was okay. For now.


    We stood carefully, checking to make sure Orion¡¯s back was still to us, and then we slipped out, too.


    But by the time we got outside, Selena was already running back into the woods.N?velDrama.Org content.


    We trailed her all the way home, keeping a safe distance so we didn¡¯t scare her more.


    But the second we got inside, | marched straight to her room and threw the door open.


    She whipped her head around to look at me, and up close, her face was even more heartbreaking. It was dirty and tear-streaked


    and drained of all color.


    ¡°What the f uck were you doing with him?¡± | screamed.


    She looked terrified, but | wasn¡¯t the one she needed to be afraid of.


    She nced from me to Mason standing behind me. ¡°..you...you can¡¯t be in here!¡± she cried.


    | walked up to her so my face was inches from hers. ¡°We''re not leaving until you tell us why the f uck you were meeting with that


    sc umbag Orion Constantine.¡±


    arms.


    Her face scrunched up and then her whole body shook with violent so bs. Instinctively, | wrapped her in my


    ¡°I''m sorry for yelling,¡± | said. ¡°But he¡¯s dangerous. He tried to-


    She pulled back from me and narrowed her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you think | know that?¡± she practically squealed.


    ¡°I''m not f u cking s tupid!!¡±


    She ran her hands through her fiery hair, grabbing fistfuls as she paced the room.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t want to meet him, but he made me.¡±


    I


    ¡°Why? What does he want from you?¡± | asked.


    ¡°| can¡¯t tell you!¡± she screamed. She bit her fingernail as she paced some more. ¡°You shouldn''t even be here,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°You shouldn''t havee here.¡±


    | ced a hand on her shoulder, stopping her and making her face me.


    ¡°Why not?¡± | asked.


    Fresh tears rolet

 Chapter 157

    Zane


    ¡°Orion is targeting hybrids?¡± | asked. ¡°How do you know?¡±Lanie was a hybrid.


    | suddenly remembered the night he¡¯d attacked her. Was that why?


    ¡°Because both of our mates were hybrids,¡± Gregory said, sitting back in his chair again.


    ¡°| thought they were a dying breed,¡± Xander said, repeating the words Rhiannon had said to us a couple of


    nights ago.


    ¡°They are,¡± Lucas confirmed. ¡°Our mates were some of the few left in this region.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t making any f ucking sense.


    ¡°How did you just so happen to get mated to two of thest remaining hybrids in this region?¡± | asked


    suspiciously.


    Awicked smirk curled onto Gregory''s lips. ¡°It wasn¡¯t by chance,¡± he said. ¡°Remember when | said Orion has the Council in his


    pocket?¡±


    | looked at Xander. Was he saying what | thought he was saying?


    ¡°He had the Elders rig the mating ceremony?¡± Xander asked.


    Lucas pointed at Xander. ¡°Bingo.¡±


    ¡°But...why?¡± | asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we''re trying to figure out,¡± Gregory said,


    | rolled my eyes.


    ¡°We just paid you off, and this is all you can f ucking tell us?¡± | spat.


    Gregory held up his hands. ¡°Hold on, hold on, I¡¯m not done. | didn¡¯t tell you the best part: We were promised power if we yed


    the role Orion wanted us to y for him.¡±


    ¡°And what role is that exactly?¡± Xander asked, his eyes boring into Gregory¡¯s likesers.


    ¡°The bad guys,¡± Gregory growled. ¡°He tapped us for his little scheme because we looked like the type of wolves who''d murder


    their mates. And | guess it worked. You two bought it, anyway.¡±


    | studied Gregory closely. Was he bu Ilsh itting us? He didn¡¯t seem smart enough, and yet, this whole


    scheme was almost too outrageous to believe.


    Orion was paying off the two roughest wolves in Constantine to mate with hybrids so he could kidnap them and do what exactly?


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what he¡¯s trying to do with the hybrids,¡± Lucas said, as if he could read my mind. ¡°Until


    L


    Why the hell had Xander agreed to let them take a mate again? Did that mean they¡¯d be matched with another she-wolf who¡¯d


    end up in Orion¡¯s clutches?


    ¡°Surely you have theories, though?¡± Xander said, pouring them each another healthy ss of whiskey.


    Smart. Keep them talking.


    They each downed the ss with another huge single gulp.


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s using them to make hybrid babies, or maybe he just really hates bloodsuckers, | don¡¯t know¡±


    | took the bottle from Xander and poured my own ss. | tossed it back, wincing as it burned my throat.


    ¡°If he¡¯s paying you off, then whye to us and tell us everything? Aren¡¯t you worried he''ll retaliate?¡± |


    asked.


    ¡°Nah, he¡¯s already broken his promises. We don¡¯t owe him s hit,¡± Luc as ¡®s words were starting to slur.


    ¡°You see,¡± Gregory said, gesturing drunkenly. ¡°Orion promised us protection from you, Xander if we went through with his n.


    Which is why we were so pi ssed when you dered that we couldn¡¯t mate anymore. We asked for Orion¡¯s help getting out of it,


    but he ignored us like we were f ucking street garbage¡±


    ¡°Hence the little scene at Alice¡¯s death announcement,¡± Lucas said. ¡°Oops.¡±


    | winced at the mention of Alice¡¯s name and that horrible day.


    ¡°Oops?¡± Xander said, stepping closer to Gregory, his eyes shing dangerously, ¡°You almost turned our whole f ucking pack


    against us.¡±


    That¡¯s why we''re here now,¡± Lucas shrugged. ¡°Consider this making it up to you.¡±


    | scoffed. ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Gregory said, leaning close again, his voice dropping low. Xander and | shared a


    look of disgust before kneeling down to hear him better. ¡°Orion¡¯s not working alone. He has-¡±


    But Gregory was cut off by the sound of the front door crashing open, and multiple sets of footsteps


    running inside.


    ¡°What the. | said.


    Suddenly, a whole group of men in ck robes poured into the great room.


    Four of them were holding back Maxim and Monroe, whose faces were twisted with anger.


    ¡°What the f uck is going on here?¡± Xander demanded.


    A sh of white swept through the crowd of ck robes. Gustav.


    ¡°By order of the Council,¡± he announced, his voice echoing around the room, ¡°You and Xander are underN?velDrama.Org content.


    arrest.¡±


    217

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    Mason


    ¡°Who can get us too easily here?¡± Lanie asked Selena.


    Obviously Orion had threatened her if she told us anything specific because she shook and started


    sobbing again.


    My heart ached for her, and for Lanie having to watch her sister go through this


    1 wish | could tell you, but | can¡¯t,¡± she said weakly. If | do, we¡¯re all in danger. Or dead.¡±


    Da mn. My father had really done a number on her.


    I


    ¡°Are you going to meet up with Orion again?¡± | asked. They both spun toward me like they were shocked |


    was still in the room.


    Lanie shrugged. ¡°If he tells me to, then | have to. | want my family to live.¡±


    | couldn''t argue with that. | knew what Orion was capable of, and | didn¡¯t doubt for a second that he¡¯d keep his word. Lanie didn¡¯t


    bother arguing either.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell Mom,¡± Selena begged. ¡°I don¡¯t want to disappoint her. | don¡¯t want to hurt her any more


    than | already have.¡±


    Lanie¡¯s lip trembled and a sick sensation swooped in my belly. That was why Selena was being so sh itty to their mom. She was


    pushing her away in case one of them got hurt.


    F uck, neither of them deserved this.


    | watched Lanie embrace Selena again while they both sobbed together. | wondered briefly what it would be like to have


    someone like that in your life who always looked out for you and vice versa.


    Was that what it would¡¯ve been like if Xander and | were both raised in Constantine, or if at the very least,


    we were both acknowledged by our father?


    Orion is the enemy, not him, | tried to remind myself. I''d gotten so wrapped up in this sh it with Xander. Zane, and Lanie, that I''d


    forgotten who the real threat was.


    Lanie and Selena broke apart, and Selena looked over at me. ¡°You should take her back to the mansion,¡±


    she said thickly. ¡°It''s safer there.¡±


    Lanie ced a gentle hand on Selena¡¯s chin and turned her so she was looking her dead in the eyes. T¡¯m not leaving you alone,


    not again,¡± Lanie said darkly.


    Selena pushed her hand away and stepped back. ¡°You have to,¡± she said. ¡°I can¡¯t leave Mom alone. That will literally kill her. And


    besides, Orion won''t hurt me for real. I¡¯m not the one he wants.¡±


    Sh it. What did that mean? Was Lanie the one he really wanted?


    ¡ê few minutester we shuffled hark unstales lika zombies brinning Sta un with us 1/2


    ¡°Do you really want to go back there?¡± | asked. | sure as hell didn¡¯t.


    ¡°No,¡± she said we


    ¡°| want to sleep for like a thousand years in my own f ucking bed.¡±


    She walked over and fell into my arms and | held her tightly.


    ¡°| know the feeling,¡± | whispered.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t even get to have sex in it,¡± she pouted.


    We


    | barked out augh. | never knew what the f uck she was going to say. | wished we could''ve stayed here


    for weeks or maybe forever, just f ucking around and being silly.


    Lanie giggled, too, but it very quickly dissolved into tears again.


    ¡°I''m not ready to leave them,¡± she said, with such anguish, | felt my own eyes fill with tears.


    | stroked her hair. ¡°I know,¡± | said, ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°But if it will protect them, then | guess | have to.¡±


    She pulled back suddenly, studying me.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have toe,¡± she said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to get wrapped up in this again.¡±


    1 already was long before | met you,¡± | reminded her.


    | leaned down and kissed her softly.


    ¡°Plus, | love you, remember? And I¡¯m never leaving you.


    We gathered our things as quickly as we could and snuck out without saying goodbye...Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    212

 Chapter 159

    Xander


    Zane and | backed away slowly, holding our hands up.


    ¡°No f ucking way we''re arrested,¡± Xander said. ¡°I¡¯m the Alpha.¡±


    n thin ica¡± Gustav


    ¡°| told you you were said, his icy blue eyes shing with irritation.


    ¡°Then make us stand before the Council first!¡± Zane snapped. ¡°You can¡¯t just arrest an Alpha and a Betal without allowing them


    to plead their case.¡±


    Gustav crept toward us, pping his bony hands in front of him.


    ¡°When ites to murder, that isn¡¯t an option,¡± he said.


    Murder? What the f uck was this sen ile as shole talking about?


    ¡°We didn¡¯t kill anyone,¡± | scoffed. ¡°You must be confused.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I''m not arguing anymore,¡± Gustav said, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°You''re being arrested for the murders of multiple hybrid


    she-wolves, including Lanie Stanton.¡±


    alive,


    My hands went numb, and the world seemed to spin. The edges of my vision cked out. Lanie was a or at least she was this


    morning. And we¡¯d never touched another hybrid, much less murdered them. That


    was...


    Realization crashed around me. | turned to Zane, we locked eyes and both spun around to face Gregory and Lucas. They


    wiggled their fingers in a little wave.


    ¡°Sorry, boys,¡± Gregory said. ¡°Nothing personal.¡±


    Those f ucking ba stards.


    ¡°YOU SET US UP!¡± | snarled, lunging at them.


    But before | could make contact, multiple sets of hands were on me, pulling my arms back and tying them with heavy silver


    chains that singed my skin. | winced and growled at the pain.


    Zane growled, too, and | looked over to see him thrashing and howling against the men chaining


    him up.


    How could | have been so f ucking st upid thinking Gregory and Lucas were confiding in us, thinking | could actually trust them?


    They were basicallyying out their n for getting us locked up, and we didn¡¯t even realize it.


    My father was too f ucking powerful, he owned everyone and everything. There was no way we were ever getting out of this.


    ¡°Our babies!¡± | cried. ¡°Our twins! You can¡¯t leave them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, we won''t,¡± Gustav said icily. ¡°They''ll be very safe with us.¡±


    Not our babies. They couldn¡¯t take our babies.


    Another cry of anguish ripped from Zane¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Zane, stop fighting.¡± | yelled at him. ¡°Struggling only makes it worse.¡±


    ¡°What the f uck do we do, Xander?¡± Zane asked me desperately.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± | said, ¡°We have to see where they take us first and then-¡±


    ¡°ARRRRRGH,¡± | screamed as an electric shock zapped from my back, all the way up to my head. The sound of anguished


    screams echoed around in my brain and it took me a moment to realize they were my own. Mine


    mixed with Zane¡¯s.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± | said to Zane, but something didn¡¯t feel right. It was too quiet inside my head.


    ¡°No silent plotting.¡± Gustav tutted.


    They''d really just zapped our f ucking brains so we couldn¡¯t speak via our mind link?! | didn¡¯t even know. they had the science to


    do that. What else could they do that we didn¡¯t know about?


    Another ck-cloaked wolf approached me and threw something over my head.


    And then the whole world went dark.


    | woke up who knew how many hourster with a splitting headache.


    As soon as | moved, white-hot pain raced up my arms.


    ¡°Silver shackles,¡± Zane croaked from the cell next to mine. The walls were metal but thin, and there was a small barred window


    in the door where | could see a sliver of the dark cellblock hall.


    F uck. Being bound by silver meant that our wolf abilities were weakened so much that we couldn''t shift. They were treating us


    like criminal masterminds, like f ucking murderers.


    But | guess that¡¯s what they thought we were. Or at least what my father, Gregory, and Lucas wanted


    everyone to think we were.


    Our strength was gone, our twins were gone, our mate was gone...what else did we have?


    | said a silent prayer of thanks to the g ods that we¡¯d fought with my mother that morning, otherwise she¡¯d probably be locked in


    here with us,


    Unless she was in on it...


    | shuddered at the thought. It was bad enough that my father had sent his own son to prison, but my mother, too? My mother


    who had always seemed to care about right and wrong?


    But she¡¯d cursed Zane and me, ripped us apart from our mate.


    Dread settled in the pit of my stomach. Was my father acting as Alpha now? And where was Lanie?


    | was torn away from my thoughts by the sound of footstepsing down the cellblock.


    A figure stood in front of my cell, shrouded in Shadow.


    ¡°Looks like you could use my help, Xander.¡±

 Chapter 160

    Lanie


    Mason and | drove down the winding road back to the mansion in silence.


    | rested my head against the cool ss and wondered if I''d ever see my family again.


    My sister was only a little over a year away from her mating day, the day she¡¯d be sent away and forced to reproduce, possibly


    with a disgusting wolf like Orion.


    If her vampire powers didn¡¯t awaken and put her in mortal peril first. | shivered.


    G ods, everything was so upside down, and | had no idea what to do to make it right. | wasn¡¯t even sure going back to the


    mansion was the best move, but at least there we¡¯d have an Alpha¡¯s protection.


    Suddenly, Mason veered off the road and pulled onto the shoulder, stopping the car abruptly.


    ¡°Should we just f ucking run away together?¡± he asked, his question mirroring the doubts | was already


    having


    He looked over at me, a determined expression on his face.


    ¡°| just want you and Ste to be safe and happy. We can find somece good and then we can move Julia and Selena and your


    dads there, too,¡± he said.


    He leaned in, his lips inches from mine. | closed my eyes, letting him kiss me, letting myself melt away into the fantasy for just a


    moment.


    It was amazing to imagine: the three of us running off somewhere warm and beautiful, finallyying down real roots and then


    sharing them with my family.


    But it wasn¡¯t that simple, and Mason knew it, too.


    When | pulled back from him, his eyes were full of sadness.


    ¡°| wish we could,¡± | whispered. ¡°But you know it¡¯s not possible. | don¡¯t want to run. | don¡¯t want to be constantly looking over my


    shoulder wherever we go. And | know you don¡¯t want that, either.¡±


    Mason nodded solemnly and pulled back onto the road. He had unfinished business at Constantine, just like | did. Hell, his own f


    ucking father was the one responsible for all of this.


    And | couldn¡¯t deny that there was something pulling me back to the mansion, something telling me it was where | needed to be.


    I''d felt it when Gabri assured me that | coulde back one day, and | still felt it now, even though | knew it was dangerous to


    go there.


    The tiniest voice in the back of my head, or maybe it was Lily, piped up. ¡°Your mates are there¡± But i shook it away and focused


    on the road in front of us.


    A few minutester, we were pulling up to the mansion Mason cut the engine but neither of us moved.


    Tud at mus took so cream?¡± he asked


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± | answered, Something about it did feel eerier than usual. It was darker,


    Mason let out a deep sigh and reluctantly climbed out of the car, then pulled Ste out of her car seat. | climbed out after him and


    watched him set her in her stroller. We were really doing this, | guess.


    We walked


    up


    to the front door and froze. It was open, and the hall beyond it was dark,


    ¡°Maybe we shoulde back in the morning,¡± Mason said.


    My heart started to race and my palms were sweating. But | was being ridiculous. Xander and Zane were in there, where else


    would they be? And | wasn¡¯t afraid of the dark.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± | said, pushing open the door.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Mason said. ¡°T¡¯ll go first.¡±


    We crept inside slowly, Ste¡¯s gurgling and our footsteps the only sounds echoing through the mansion.


    ¡°Zane?¡± | called, ¡°Xander? Gabri?¡± No answer.


    ¡°Is it empty?¡± Mason asked. But just then, we heard footsteps on the stairs. We moved into the great


    room to follow them.


    Mindy came sprinting in from another room, her eyes wide and wild. She looked f ucking terrified.


    ¡°They took them all,¡± she said, ¡°And then they-¡±


    Suddenly, what few lights were left on in the mansion cut off and we were thrust into total darkness.


    Ascream ripped through the air and footsteps ran frantically.


    | waved my hands around trying to make contact with something familiar, and finallynded on an arm that felt like Mason''s. |


    clung to it tightly.


    What felt like minutester, the lights finally flickered back on. | was holding onto Mason for dear life and Mindy was halfway


    across the room, squatting with her arms thrown over her head.


    She looked up at us, then pointed with a shaking finger at Ste¡¯s stroller.


    It was empty.

 Chapter 161

    Lanie


    ¡°Where is she?!¡± | screamed. ¡°Where¡¯s my baby?¡±


    I spun in a circle around the room, and my eyesnded on him.


    Braden, across the room, holding Ste. My mind went nk. What the hell was going on?


    Next to me, | heard a low, dangerous growl, but | couldn¡¯t rip my eyes away. Braden had lowered his head,


    and his nostrils were ring.


    Was he sniffing her?


    Any second, | thought his fangs might drop. | had to stop this.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± | cried. My voice sounded high and distant. My heart was pounding so hard that | felt nauseous, | was


    afraid of what might happen if | made any sudden moves.


    Braden looked up and locked eyes with me. His face softened.


    He spoke calmly and evenly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare you, but | had to-¡±


    ¡°PUT HER DOWN!¡± Mason roared behind me.


    The boom of his voice made me jump. | whipped around, and another wave of nausea crashed over me. Mason''s ws were


    out, and his canines had dropped.


    He couldn''t lose it on Braden again, not after what happened the first time.


    Braden nced from me to Mason, a curious expression on his face.


    ¡°You''re not going to bite me again, are you Mason?¡± Braden asked, moving toward him. ¡°Not while I¡¯m


    holding Ste, | hope.


    was.


    NOW


    Another furious growl ripped from Mason¡¯s chest.


    D amn Braden for being so cheeky. He was pushing Mason¡¯s buttons. He should¡¯ve known how deadly that


    ¡°| said, Put. Her. DOWN,¡± Mason snarled through clenched teeth. ¡°Before | make you.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± | cried, jumping between the two of them and holding my hands out. ¡°Braden, exin yourself.


    ¡°Braden?¡± Mindy asked. | had honestly forgotten she was there. She walked over to us. ¡°Hold up Is that the guy you were seeing


    before? He¡¯s cuuuuute.¡±


    Not the time, Mindy


    Mason raised his eyebrows so high they practically disappeared into his hairline. ¡°Seeing?!¡± he said


    Perfect. Just perfect.


    Before | could respond, Braden was running his mouth again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mase. The timing wasn¡¯t right


    for us.¡±


    Mason''s fists clenched at his side. F uck. He was really about to blow his lid now.


    ¡°It was before we met,¡± | said quickly. ¡°And nothing more than a kiss.¡±


    Not entirely true, but not the time to go into detail.


    ¡°Now, can we get back to why I¡¯m really here?¡± Braden asked. He took a step toward me, and | moved back instinctively. But


    then he held Ste out to me. ¡°I''ll hand her over if you promise to leash your dog.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not gonna bite,¡± | said, rolling my eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± | turned to Mason.


    Mason took a few deep breaths and, finally, his wolf retreated. He nodded reluctantly.


    | reached out for Ste, and Braden let her go. | held her close to my chest, relief filling my insides withN?velDrama.Org content.


    warmth.


    ¡°Now... why the f uck did you take my pup?¡± | asked Braden.


    ¡°You need to get out of here and hide immediately.¡± Braden warned. ¡°You and Ste both.¡±


    Mason threw his hands out. ¡°Nope. Not until you answer the f ucking question.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Braden said. ¡°I was scenting her. | thought she could be, but | wasn¡¯t sure at first.....


    My mouth went dry. | somehow knew what he was about to say, and part of me wanted to lunge at him


    and throw my hand over his mouth.


    ¡°She has vampire in her blood,¡± Braden said. ¡°I can smell it already.¡±


    | swallowed hard, but | was suddenly weak and unsteady. Mason came up behind me and held me by the


    arms while | clutched onto Ste for dear life.


    ¡°No hybrids are safe,¡± Braden said. ¡°Especially not one whose scent is already so strong. And especially


    not when her mother¡¯s is, too.¡±


    ¡°We know this already,¡± Mason said icily. ¡°We all heard Rhiannon. So why are you back here scaring Lanie again? | thought you


    were going back to your coven.¡±


    Braden shook his head. | couldn''t tell you what | was really doing. It would¡¯ve been too dangerous.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna need you to be a little more specific,¡± Mason spat. Thank the go ds for him.


    ¡°Let''s just say that me being in Constantine was never totally about Lanie,¡± he said darkly. ¡°The Council is nning something,


    something they¡¯ve been keeping a secret from the whole pack. And it¡¯s going to destroy the peace we''ve kept for years.


    2/2

 Chapter 162

    Braden


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait,¡± Lanie said, shaking her head. ¡°What exactly are you talking about?¡±


    | ran a hand through my hair. This was going to be a hard pill to swallow.


    ¡°The Council is kidnapping hybrids and running tests on them,¡± | said. Lanie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°They want to create a stronger, all-


    powerful wolf hybrid species.¡±


    ¡°W-why would they do that?¡± the other girl in the room squeaked. Her eyes were ssy and unfocused, and her face was white


    as a ghost. Who the hell even was this?


    ¡°The wolf shifters could break the peace treaty or any other rule they wish,¡± | continued. ¡°They could do whatever the f uck they


    wanted because an army of hybrids would be nearly impossible to kill.¡±


    A tortured look crossed Mason¡¯s face. | wondered if he believed what | was saying or if he thought | was


    trying to rile him up again.


    ¡°Who is behind all of this?¡± Lanie asked.


    But her expression told me she already knew the answer. And judging from Mason¡¯s knitted brows, so did he. Still, | felt a little


    bad having to be the bearer of bad news.


    ¡°Orion Constantine,¡± | said.


    ¡°F uck,¡± Mason mumbled, pressing his closed fists to his eyes.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Lanie¡¯s mouth formed a round ¡°o¡± before she suddenly spun around in a circle, her eyes darting wildly


    around the room.


    ¡°Wait...where are Xander and Zane? Do they know about this? Are they part of this?¡±


    ¡°| bet they f ucking are,¡± Mason growled. Da mn, this guy was so reactive.


    Meanwhile, Lanie looked like she was about to hyperventte. | preferred getting her worked up p over silly things...seeing her


    so scared like this made my chest knot up.


    ¡°Lanie, no, they¡¯re in prison!¡± the other girl piped up.


    Lanie gasped. | already knew this, of course. | was getting there.


    ¡°They''ve been tried with the murder of multiple hybrid she-wolves...including you,¡± the other girl said.


    shakily


    CHANN


    ¡°The usations are false,¡± | jumped in quickly before Lanie or Mason could overreact. ¡°Obviously.¡± | waved at Lanie standing in


    front of me, very much alive.


    ¡°The Council is using Xander and Zane of the murders theymitted?¡± Lanie asked.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± | said.


    1/2


    So they have!


    Good to know | wasn¡¯t the only man he didn¡¯t trust.


    ¡°| don¡¯t believe so. Orion and the High Council are starting to get desperate,¡± | exined. ¡°The she-wolves. they''ve kidnapped so


    far aren¡¯t passing the tests they¡¯re giving them, so now they¡¯re seeking out a new subject: hybrid babies.¡±


    | gritted my teeth. | didn¡¯t want to say this next part, but | had to. ¡°They know Ste exists, Lanie, and they''re going toe after


    her.¡±


    The other girl let out a little yelp. Lanie looked like she might be sick.


    Mason narrowed his eyes, appraising me. ¡°How can we trust anything you say?¡±


    This f ucking guy. He was wasting precious time.


    ¡°Why do you think Orion was talking to Selena?¡± | asked, cutting my eyes right back at Mason.


    His jaw dropped slightly and Lanie took in a sharp breath.


    ¡°Yeah, | know about that,¡± | said. ¡°Lanie, Orion threatened your sister into giving him valuable information


    about you a and your whereabouts¡±


    Lanie¡¯s eyes welled with tears. ¡°S hit,¡± she whispered. ¡°This is all my fault.¡±


    ced a hand on her shoulder, and she leaned into him. A pang of jealousy ran through me.


    ¡°It''s absolutely not,¡± he said.


    ¡°Mason is right,¡± | said. | fought back a wince. Those words tasted rotten in my mouth. ¡°You can¡¯t help


    what you''re born into.¡±


    | should know. | never intended to be a vampire. Waking up as one all those years ago was a big f u cking


    shock.


    ¡°So where do we go from here?¡± Mason asked.


    ¡°| told you,¡± | said. ¡°We get Lanie out of here and get her and Ste into hiding.¡±


    They seemed a lot less resistant to the idea now. Took them long enough.


    ¡°But first, we go get Xander and Zane,¡± | said.


    Mason fully rolled his eyes, and Lanie and the other girl looked confused.


    ¡°Who''s breaking them out?¡± Lanie asked.


    ¡°My aplice,¡± | said simply. ¡°Their identity might surprise you.¡±

 Chapter 163

    Xander


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Lasked, trying to make out the figure outside my cell.


    Suddenly, they stepped into the light, and my mind went momentarily nk.


    ¡°Elder Aldon?¡± | said shocked.


    | heard scrambling on the other side of the wall where Zane was.


    ¡°Aldon is here?¡± he asked with simr disbelief.


    ¡°Did youe to spit in our faces, too?¡± | asked him bitterly. Everyone had turned on us now, and I''d never really trusted him in


    the first ce.


    Aldon held a finger to his lips.


    ¡°Keep it down,¡± he whispered harshly. ¡°I¡¯vee to get you out of here.¡±


    My first instinct was to lean into my relief, to go along with whatever the hell he was doing so we could escape and see our pups


    again...see Lanie again.


    But this was Aldon. Slimy, skeevey Aldon. He probably had ulterior motives.


    ¡°| don¡¯t trust you,¡± | said,


    Aldon arched an eyebrow.


    ¡°Do you have any idea what¡¯s going on here Xander? Or what about you, Zane?¡± he asked, looking from me to the cell next door


    ¡°No, but I¡¯m guessing you do,¡± Zane¡¯s m uffled voice called out.


    Aldon crossed his arms and jutted out his pointy chin. ¡°The Council intends to hold you until their grand n is executed.¡±


    ¡°What n?¡± Zane asked.


    Aldon waved him away. ¡°My aplice will exin in due time. But the execution could take months, even years. Would you


    really like to wait here that long?¡±


    | huffed out a sigh. Who the hell was Aldon¡¯s aplice?


    In a perfect world, | would¡¯ve forced him to exin everything right here. But we couldn¡¯t stay locked away any longer than we


    already had. These dam n chains were sucking away all my strength and power, and | needed to talk to Zane mind to mind.


    ¡°Fine How exactly will you get us out?¡± | asked, rattling the chains singeing my wrists


    1 swiped this,¡± Aldon said, waving a set of keys in the air. ¡°The High Guards upstairs are oafish dolts, but 1/3


    Aldon slipped the key into the door and swung it open quietly. He walked over to me and undid the chains. next. | rose up quickly,


    but his hand mped over my arm


    ¡°Wait¡± he said, pulling out a small vial from his pocket. ¡°Your shifter abilities are still dampened by the silver exposure. Take one


    swallow of this.¡±


    He handed the vial over to me. ¡°It will cast a mour over you so the guards can¡¯t see you. Be careful,


    though. They can still hear and feel you.¡±


    | eyed him warily.


    ¡°Do it now, while | free Zane,¡± he instructed. ¡°The guards are on break, so there¡¯s no one keeping watch


    outside. We have to do this quickly¡±


    Without thinking too hard, | dowried a gulp of the thick liquid. It was either this or we tried and failed to get past the guards and


    ended up back in these cells.


    The liquid burned as it moved slowly down my throat. It sent bizarre tingle¡¯s through my whole body.


    | stepped out of the cell, and Aldon snat ched the vial out of my hand, passing it to Zane. He winced as he


    drank. Aldon took one small sip, too, and then pocketed the vial.


    ¡°That¡¯s all | have, and it may onlyst a few minutes, Aldon said. ¡°We need to move now.¡±


    Aldon waved us down the hall and through a heavy steel door. The prison was eerily empty. Where were


    the criminals who usually filled the cells?


    here.


    Zane shot me a worried nce. He was thinking the same thing. Thank the go ds we were getting out of


    We opened another door into a depressing, windowless room, and suddenly, a handful of guards spun


    around and looked right at us. | held my breath, my heart pounding. But then their faces scrunched up in


    confusion.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    One of them walked toward us and | had to duck at thest minute so he didn¡¯t run into me.


    ¡°What the...?¡± one of the guards asked. ¡°This door f ucked up?¡±


    ¡°Nah, something¡¯s up,¡± another guard said. ¡°Someone check downstairs.¡±


    Two of the guards rushed downstairs. S hit. They were going to see that our cells were empty.


    Suddenly a tiny, high-pitched cry rang out from across the room. The twins were here, too.


    One of the other guards pped his hands over his head. ¡°I can¡¯t stand those da mn babies,¡± he grumbled through gritted teeth.


    ¡°What''s the point of even keeping them alive?¡±


    | took a deep breath, barely holding myself back from snarling and lunging at this disgusting as shole.


    Zane looked at me and nodded toward the hall. | knew what that meant: Let''s get the babies and get the


    fuck out.


    We sprinted into another sad, small room, empty except for our babies in their basss. My heart


    panged. They looked so sad and scared


    Zane and teach scooped one up while Aldon waited anxiously at the door.


    From the other room, we heard one of the guards yell, ¡°They¡¯re gone!¡±


    F uck. We had seconds to leave, if that.


    Zane and | held the babies tightly to our chests and ran like we¡¯d never run before.


    i


    Even Aldon, despite his age, sprinted through the hall and out of the door to the prison like a f ucking


    madman,


    fuck.


    Aldon suddenly halted ¡°Give me the babies and take off your shirts,¡± he said. | blinked hard. What the


    ¡°Quickly.¡± Aldon snapped. The guards will follow the scent trail, I''m going to try and lead them away. You


    keep heading east.¡±


    We handed over the pups and we stripped before taking them back quickly and turning to run.


    ¡°Be careful¡± said to Aldon: He¡¯d just saved our lives and the lives of our pups.


    He nodded, and then we were sprinting away.


    We crashed through the trees and what seemed like agester, were running up on a ck SUV.


    And there, standing in front of it, was Lanie. Holding Ste,


    A heavy wave of relief pummeled me. | wanted to fall onto the ground and melt into it.


    ¡°Get in!¡± she yelled


    But before we could make it to her, one of the guards from the prison stepped out in front of us.


    ¡°Oh no, you don¡¯t

 Chapter 164

    face.


    Xander


    Lanie screamed.


    The huge quard who''d leaped out in front of us spun around to look at her. An evil grin spread across his


    ¡°Who do we have here?¡± He co cked his head to the side. ¡°The Council will be very pleased that I''ve found


    you, too,¡± he said in a raspy voice.


    ¡°Don''t f ucking touch her,¡± | said,


    The quard spun around to face me again. ¡°You know it¡¯s the weirdest thing,¡± he said. ¡°One second | was following your scent,


    and the next p oof, there you are right in front of me. Almost like magic.


    Suddenly, movement behind the car caught my eye. Braden and Mason were creeping up slowly, silently.


    What the f uck were they both doing here?


    | exchanged an uneasy nce with Zane.


    ¡°Take Isaac from my hands. I¡¯m going to attack this m otherf ucker,¡± | willed him to hear me even though


    the silver chains had dampened our strength.


    To my surprise, he responded, ¡°Do it now¡±


    | passed Isaac off to Zane in a split-second, but before | could even think about attacking the guard, Braden and Mason were


    leaping out from behind the car and tackling the guard to the ground, each holding


    back one of his arms.


    e kicked and thrashed wildly.


    Hel


    ¡°He¡¯s gonna give away our f ucking location making all that noise,¡± Zane said. ¡°We need to get the f u ck out


    of here.¡±


    If we killed him, we''d leave behind evidence and give the Council even more of a reason to keep us locked away. But if we let


    him go, he''d track us until we were all in the Council''s possession.


    No, | needed to try something else.


    | marched up to the guard.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Cover his mouth,¡± | instructed, and Bradenplied. | stomped as hard as | could on both of the guard¡¯s legs, and he cried out


    in m uffled pain


    Once his legs were still, | reached out and sped my hand around his throat, holding him with my gaze.


    The guard¡¯s eyes suddenly became unfocused.


    ¡°You will forget everything you¡¯ve seen here today,¡± |manded. He nodded. ¡°If any guards ask if you''ve ented in uni will cau


    no Another nod ¡°Now what will you say if another quard asks if you found ne?¡±


    Braden and Mason were watching with intense curiosity.


    ¡°| will say no.¡± His voice was eerily robotic. ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    fraised my fist and punched the guard square in the face. He slumped to the ground.


    ¡°S hit.¡± Braden said.


    So mypulsion worked. Interesting. | guess that meant | was still Alpha. At least for now.


    And then, suddenly, Lanie was running up to me and throwing her arms around me.


    | held her tightly for a moment, Ste nestled between us. | closed my eyes and breathed her in. I''d


    missed this so much.


    Joy.


    She nuzzled her head into my chest. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered.


    | didn¡¯t want to let her go, but | knew we had to move.


    When we parted, | caught sight of Mason¡¯s face behind me, growing redder by the second.


    As Lanie stepped back, he threw his arm over her protectively. Jealous as shole.


    ¡°Does someone want to exin what the f uck he¡¯s doing here?¡± Zane asked, nodding toward Braden.


    | could¡¯ve asked the same for Mason. Every guy Lanie¡¯s ever been with, all together in one ce again.


    ¡°Me?¡± Braden asked. ¡°I¡¯m the reason your as ses aren¡¯t still locked up in prison. So | believe the phrase you''re looking for is


    ¡®thank you.¡±


    ¡°We need to get moving, NOW,¡± I said. ¡°Or else we''ll be swarmed with guards.¡±


    ¡°Everyone pile in,¡± Braden instructed.


    We secured all the babies into car seats and piled into the back. Braden climbed into the driver¡¯s seat and


    peeled away,


    ¡°Ummm...where are you taking us, Braden?¡± | asked suspiciously.


    ¡°| can¡¯t tell you yet,¡± Braden said, shooting me an annoying little grin in the rearview mirror. ¡°That would


    ruin the surprise.¡±

 Chapter 165

    Lanie


    ¡°If we have no idea where we''re going, then why are we all stuffed in this car together?¡± Xander asked


    irritatedly.


    | couldn''t help but smirk. He was so annoying sometimes.


    | So why had I run up to him and hugged him like that? | was grateful that he¡¯d saved us, yes, but honestly, | was also just happy


    to see him and Zane again, and so was Lily. She pranced around like crazy as soon as they¡¯de running up to us.


    This was going to be fun...


    | tried to catch Mason¡¯s eye after the hug, but he would hardly look at me. | didn¡¯t me him. | knew he hadn''t been thrilled about


    returning to the mansion in the first ce for this very reason he was worried I¡¯d run back into Xander and Zane¡¯s arms again.


    S hit, that was the first thing I''d done. A hot pr ickle of shame ran down my neck, and | rubbed it


    self-consciously.


    G ods, wherever we were going, | hoped it had enough space that Mason and I could be as far away from Xander and Zane as


    possible. Otherwise, they''d kill each other before the Council even had the chance.


    ¡°Because you can trust me,¡± Braden answered. ¡°I have good reason to want Lanie¡¯s safety, too, and it''s got nothing to do with


    wanting to get in her pants.¡±


    Heat crept to my cheeks. What did that mean?


    ¡°Thanks for that, Braden,¡± | snapped.


    ¡°If this guy doesn¡¯t shut the f uck up, I¡¯m gonna jump up there and make him,¡± Xander mumbled. Mason


    rolled his eyes next to me.


    ¡°Wait¡± Braden suddenly said, ¡°Where''d Aldon run off to?¡±


    Aldon??


    ¡°Oh g ods, don¡¯t tell me Aldon is your aplice?¡± | asked, pinching the bridge of my nose with my


    fingers.


    The man who''d been so heartless to me for what he imed were good reasons. That didn¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯d chained


    me up and treated me like shit.


    ¡°He was trying to throw the Guards off our scent, so he ran away from us,¡± Zane said. ¡°Pretty f ucking noble for as enile as


    shole. Still can¡¯t believe he¡¯s one of the good guys.¡±


    Neither could 1. He¡¯d really risked his own neck to break Xander and Zane out of prison and make sure we


    got away safely?


    with hybrids.


    They were shocked and horrified, to say the least.


    ¡°Aldon¡¯s been helping me y both sides and get the information | need to figure out what the f uck Orion is up to,¡± Braden said.


    ¡°He seems to be the only Elder who actually cares about protecting the lives of she-wolves and hybrids.¡±


    | wondered why that was. When every other male Elder seemed obsessed with exercising power over us. why did Aldon want to


    be a protector?


    It suddenly hit me that we were quickly speeding away from Constantine territory, and my heart stopped.


    ¡°WAIT!¡± | cried. Braden skidded to a halt and pulled over. Everyone looked at me with expressions of


    concern.


    ¡°Aren''t we picking up my family first? ¡°I asked desperately. ¡°If Orion¡¯s been using Selena to gather Information about me, then


    she and my mother are in danger.¡±


    Braden twisted around to face me in the back seat.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°I''m keeping an eye on them,¡± he reassured me, pulling back onto the road. ¡°They''re safer not seeing you. or knowing anything


    about where you¡¯ve gone.¡±


    ¡°But what if the Guards or the Elders torture them?¡± asked. The thought was unimaginable.


    ¡°Orion and any Guards will be able to tell whether or not your sister is lying to them,¡± Braden said. ¡°They have no reason to hurt


    her as long as she stays in the dark.¡±


    | swallowed hard, fighting back tears. What could | say? | didn¡¯t want to put my sister through the torture of having to meet with


    Orion, but | also couldn¡¯t put Ste in more danger. It was an impossible situation.


    Plus, leaving them behind meant not seeing them for who knew how long again. And I''d already had to say goodbye to Mindy


    back at the mansion. | told her to go back to her family¡¯s ce for the time being and take shelter there, but it was horrible


    leaving her behind.


    It felt like | was constantly pushing away the people loved.


    Masonid his arm over my shoulder, pulling me closer even though we were already packed tightly


    together in the seat.


    | closed my eyes and leaned my head against his chest. When would things be normal again?


    Finally, Braden slowed down and pulled off onto a winding dirt path. He came to a stop in front of a tiny cabin tucked far away


    into the woods.


    It looked like it couldn¡¯t be more than a couple of rooms. Guess having spaces of our own was wishful


    thinking...


    As we all piled out of the car, | could tell the guys were worrying about the same thing,


    ¡°Wee to my enchanted abode,¡± Braden said. ¡°This is where you''ll be hiding out.¡±


    ¡°Uhhh how many bedrooms does this ce have? Mason asked, co cking an eyebrow. 2/3


    ¡°Just the one,¡± Braden said. ¡°So you''ll have to get creative.¡±

 Chapter 166

    Zane


    ¡°Hell no. There¡¯s gotta be another ce we can stay, | said.


    Not only were there three very small babies with us but also three men who were in love with the same f ucking she-wolf. The


    ce would explode into chaos in about two seconds


    I''m not sharing a f u cking bedroom with these two.¡± Mason tossed his head toward us.


    Lanie bit her lip an d looked nervously between all of us.


    ¡°There¡¯s a couch and floor space,¡± Braden said. ¡°How you split it up isn¡¯t my problem.¡±


    He started pulling luggage off the top of the car, including mine and Xander¡¯s suitcases. A small spark of warmth bloomed in my


    chest imagining Lanie packing them for us.


    ¡°And there¡¯s no other ce you can go, so don¡¯t ask again,¡± Braden said. ¡°I had a witch cast a protective spell on the cabin anda


    small area of thend surrounding it. There¡¯s an imprable dome around the whole


    thing.¡±


    ¡°How do you know about this ce?¡± Lanie asked, looking around with wonder.


    s real?


    | looked around, too, but couldn¡¯t see any sign of a spell. How could we trust that it


    that it was re


    ¡°This is where I¡¯ve been living while I¡¯ve been spying on the Council''s little hybrid project,¡± Braden exined. ¡°That way if they


    ever found out what | was doing, I¡¯d have a ce to hide out.¡±


    He still hadn¡¯t been especially clear on what ¡°spying¡± meant. | had to assume he¡¯d tell us everything we needed to know


    eventually, but it still seemed s tupid to trust him in the meantime.


    Xander looked over at me. ¡°You think he¡¯s bul Ishi tting us?¡±


    | shrugged. ¡°Hard to say. | can¡¯t sniff out a lie on a vampire.¡±


    How convenient for Braden...


    Xander stepped forward, crossing his arms. ¡°Who cast the spell around the house?¡±


    ¡°Rhiannon, actually,¡± Braden answered.


    they know


    What the f uck? Since when did each other like that?


    ¡°We met during the Great Wars,¡± Braden answered as if I''d asked the question out loud. ¡°That¡¯s how |


    know Gabri, too.¡±


    Xander¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Now you''re just saying random bu Ilsh it,¡± he spat.


    don¡¯t know


    ¡°He¡¯s not,¡± Lanie said. We all turned to look at her. ¡°Braden knows my mother, too. | don¡¯t know why, but he


    does¡±


    Lanie rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. ¡°We were all work


    she-wolves during the Great Wars. The testing they¡¯re doing now on Innocent hybrids started all the way back


    then.¡±


    Wait a minute...so the Great Wars weren¡¯t just a power struggle between factions of shifters. it was also about checking the


    Council¡¯s power?


    ¡°That¡¯s all a story for another day perhaps,¡± Braden said.


    But Xander wasn¡¯t ready to move on. ¡°So in the wars..my mother was fighting for good?¡± he asked quietly.


    Braden nodded. ¡°She has been all along, even though your dad¡¯s a royal a ss hole.¡±


    Xander¡¯s head dropped suddenly, and an emotion rolled off of him, so strong it was like a punch in the gut


    for me, too.


    Regret.


    Gabri was doing her best to protect the weak, and we¡¯d chased her away.


    | looked over at Lanie. Her face was clouded with sadness. She was feeling his hurt, too.


    ¡°Well, I''m sure you''re all tired, and the sun¡¯s about toe up,¡± Braden said, changing the subject. ¡°I''ll be out here while you


    sleep. You can move safely around the cabin and as far away as that cluster of trees. You''ll be able to feel when you''ve gone out


    of bounds.¡±


    He pointed to a group of trees about twenty meters in the distance. It was better than nothing, but still not enough space for


    wolves to run and burn off energy. It would be a miracle if we didn¡¯t rip each other¡¯s


    heads off within the first day of staying here.


    We all shuffled inside, already crowding the living room with our luggage and the three basss.


    | moved into the bedroom and discovered it was even tinier than it looked from the outside, with barely


    enough room for a bed. Great.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Lanie walked up behind me and looked over my shoulder. ¡°Da mn, it¡¯s small,¡± she said.


    | huffed out augh. ¡°Yeah. You should take it,¡± | told her.


    She didn¡¯t argue with me. Her lids were heavy and her eyes were bloodshot. We all needed sleep.


    | walked back out to the living room where Mason was starting a fire while Xander stood over him, watching awkwardly.


    Thankfully, all the babies had stayed asleep after we moved them from their car seats.


    ¡°You think she''ll sleep in there with Mason?¡± Xander asked me silently as | entered.


    ¡°Yeah, probably,¡± | answered. Did | wish she¡¯d pull the two of us into that room with her instead? Yes. |


    liked imagining us all piling into the small bed together, bodies pressed up against each other. But | knew that


    wouldn¡¯t happen.


    | grabbed a nket from the couch and spread it on the floor, then |id down without another word. Behind me, | could hear


    Xander settling in on the couch.


    Then Lanie stepped out of the bedroom and toward Mason, taking him by the hand. 2/3


    Thest thing | saw before my eyes closed was her leading him into the bedroom and shutting the 8881.

 Chapter 167

    Braden


    | heard stirring in the cabin a few hours after daylight had broken.


    They


    v. sol


    didn¡¯t get much sleep, which meant tensions would be high. Thankfully, | had ces to be today,


    didn¡¯t have to listen to them bicker.


    Zane¡¯s grumbling voice traveled through the front door, and | focused on it until | could decipher his


    words.


    ¡°I''m gonna have to shift to heal my back after sleeping on that hard-a ss floor,¡± heined.


    | rolled my eyes, but | guess | didn¡¯t really know what it was like to have to sleep. It had been so long since.


    I needed to.


    ¡°| bet Mason slept like a baby,¡± Xander hissed.


    | had to admit, it was a little entertaining, watching these shifters try and fail to hide their jealousy, but | wondered for a second if


    I''d made a mistake bringing them here, knowing Lanie would get caught in the


    middle of it all.


    As if I''d conjured her, Lanie stepped out of the front door, shutting it firmly behind her and plopping down


    on the porch steps next to me.


    She was wearing an oversized t-shirt, tall fuzzy socks, and a ck cardigan. Her hair was long and wild.


    She looked beautiful but exhausted.


    She scrubbed a hand down her face. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have put us up in an enchanted high rise or


    something?¡± she asked.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    |ughed. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s the best | could do on short notice.¡±


    She smirked and ced a hand on my arm. She squeezed lightly, but it felt more like a jolt. Her touch was


    magic.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s great. Thank you for letting us stay here. You''re literally a lifesaver,¡± she said. ¡°Even though I¡¯m definitely worried they


    might all kill each other before the day is over,¡±


    We both nced behind us at the closed front door.


    m, too, to be honest.¡± Sheughed this time. The sound was sweet, alluring even. ¡°But it¡¯s still better


    than the alternative.¡±


    I


    ¡°How bad is it? How much danger are Ste and | in?¡± she asked, tucking her hands inside the sleeves of her sweater.


    | could reassure her and tell her that as long as she stayed here, she¡¯d be safe. But she deserved to know what was going on.


    They all did.


    Lanie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What do they do?¡± she whispered.


    ¡°They torture them,¡± | said simply. ¡°Shoot them with silver bullets, stab them with silver des, inject silver directly into their


    bloodstream, burn them with torches. You name it. They want to see how immortal


    they really are.¡±


    Lanie shivered, but she didn¡¯t look away from me.


    ¡°But they''ve discovered that unless a hybrid is born from a pure shifter and vampire bloodline, this kind of torture will maim them


    at best, and kill them at worst.¡±


    Her mouth dropped open slightly.


    ¡°They don¡¯t know if a hybrid¡¯s blood is pure unless they torture them?¡± Lanie asked in a shaky voice.


    ¡°There is one other way.¡± | said. | knew she wouldn''t like to hear this. ¡°If you can smell the vampire blood of a hybrid pup, then


    that means they are pure.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± Lanie trailed off, her eyes drifting off to the distance. ¡°You could smell Ste¡¯s blood.¡±


    ¡°You know your maternal grandfather is a vampire, right?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Yes. He¡¯s the vampire who sired you,¡± she said.


    | nodded. There was more to it than that, but | didn¡¯t want to overwhelm her right now.


    ¡°He¡¯s an ancient vampire, born from the original line of vampires who walked the earth,¡± | exined. ¡°And Xander is a


    Constantine, one of the purest wolf bloodlines that exists. Which makes Ste...¡±


    ¡°The perfect hybrid,¡± Lanie finished in a whisper.


    ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s so important that you all stay here and figure out a way to make it work,¡± | urged her. ¡°If anyone leaves, they¡¯re in


    danger, and so are you and Ste.¡±


    Through the front door, we could already hear the rumble of irritated voices. Easier said than done.


    Lanie dropped her head into her hands.


    ¡°| don¡¯t even know if | should be telling you this, but | can feel my body changing,¡± she said, looking back


    un at me. ¡®I think...I think I¡¯m going into heat again.¡±


    | thought back to that first time I¡¯d met her, the way her scent had wrapped itself around me, trapping me like a prisoner. And


    she''d tasted even better than she¡¯d smelled. Da mn, | would give anything for one more


    bite...


    ¡°Last time this happened, we all went f ucking crazy¡± she said, her voice dropping lower, her head leaning closer to mine. ¡°I¡¯m


    worried | might do something tupid,¡±


    | had to do it. | had to taste her once more. Just to know that there was really nothing left between us.


    ¡°St upid like this?¡± | asked.


    And then | kissed her.

 Chapter 168

    Lanie


    When his lips touched mine, | tried not to think.


    Not about Xander or Zane or Mason, or the danger Ste and | were in. There had been something about Braden that had made


    me want to kiss him the first time..maybe now I¡¯d remember why.


    But when | finally did, | nted my hands on his chest and gently pushed myself away.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    His eyes blinked open, and his face settled into an unreadable expression.


    I''d kissed him before because | was sad and confused. My wolf and | were looking for answers andfort wherever we could


    get it. Kind of like | was doing right now.


    But the real reason why | trusted Braden, why Lily always ran to him, too, was because he was a good


    friend.


    ¡°Nothing, huh?¡± Braden asked, a small smirk curling up


    his lips.


    I smiled back and shook my head. ¡°Nothing romantic, maybe. | think we''re better as friends.¡±


    He clenched his fist and brought it to his heart in a stabbing motion. ¡°Better as friends. The kiss of death!¡± he cried dramatically.


    ¡°But | get it. Four men is one too many to juggle


    ut away


    G ods, the nerve of him. | reached out and shoved him yfully. Only he could with being that


    cheeky.


    I


    ¡°Thanks for understanding,¡± | said, co cking my eyebrow at him.


    ¡°Godspeed to all of you in that tiny cabin. That scent of yours is going to drive them all crazy. It really is delectable, if | may say


    so, Braden said. ¡°In a friendly way, of course.¡±


    | barked out augh. ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°And besides, | do have quite the little rotation going,¡± Braden said mischievously. ¡°You and | have that in


    common.¡±


    mate


    My smile grew wider. Da mn, he really was a great guy. Hot, clever, pushed my buttons. But he wasn¡¯t my


    He patted my knee quickly. ¡°I have to go check on your family and head back into the fray today,¡± he said.


    ¡°Til report back at some point tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Could you be a little more vague?¡± | teased.


    ¡°| know, | know,¡± Braden said. ¡°But you have enough to deal with here. Let me deal with the Orion sh it.¡±


    | watched as he walked away, grateful for his willingness to keep me and my family safe, even if it meant |


    couldn¡¯t give him what he wanted in return.


    was gone.


    | was debating whether or not to head back inside when the voices beyond the door grew louder, and one of the babies started


    crying.


    S hit. What now?


    | stood quickly and raced inside.


    Xander and Zane stood face-to-face with Mason, their expressions all twisted up with anger. It almost lookedical...their


    huge, muscr bodies taking up so much space in the tiny living room


    But then | noticed Xander holding Ste. She was the one crying. It wasn¡¯t funny anymore.


    ¡°Hand. Her. Over,¡± Mason said through gritted teeth. ¡°She¡¯s obviously upset¡±


    ¡°Because you''re f ucking yelling!¡± Zane cried. ¡°What''s the big deal? She was crying, and Xander picked her up. You were in the


    bedroom f ucking sulking or whatever


    ¡°What the hell is going on here?!¡± | yelled.


    They all spun around to look at me.


    ¡°We''re handling it, Lanie,¡± Xander said, before turning back to Mason.


    Mason barked out a mirthlessugh. ¡°You both just want to do it all, don¡¯t you? You can¡¯t let me have a


    single f ucking thing!¡±


    ¡°Ste is my baby,¡± Xander snapped. ¡°Did you already forget that?¡±


    ¡°Oh, hell no,¡± | said, | rushed toward Xander to take Ste from him. She calmed down immediately. She


    couldn¡¯t take the drama, either.


    Mason jammed his finger toward me. 1 helped Lanie raise her from the beginning,¡± he said, his voice rising again. ¡°She¡¯s mine,


    too, even if it¡¯s not by blood.¡±


    Xander and Zane rolled their eyes.


    ¡°Don''t think I haven''t noticed,¡± Mason said, his eyes shing with his wolf. He needed to calm down. Now.


    ¡°Noticed what?¡± Xander growled.


    ¡°That you two can do whatever the f uck you want with Ste, but you¡¯ve never once let me touch the


    twins.¡±

 Chapter 169

    Xander


    My mouth went dry. F uck.


    We had been purposely keeping Mason away from the twins. But with him being so busy with Ste and Lanie, we didn¡¯t think


    he''d notice.


    out.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | nced over at Zane. His lips were pursed in a tight line.


    ¡°Why would we let you touch the twins?¡± | finally said, in a voice | hoped sounded casual and confident.


    ¡°Be careful, Xander,¡± Zane warned. ¡°You protest too much, and we''ll wind up in deep s hit if he ever finds.


    ¡°He won''t find out,¡± | snapped back, even though | didn¡¯t feel very confident about that.


    I


    We''d kept the secret that the twins were Mason¡¯s for too long. We couldn¡¯t go back now.


    In our minds, they were ours. And the thought of giving them up ripped us in two.


    Lanie gave me a curious look, and for a split-second, my heart leaped into my throat. Was our mind link back? It had been gone


    ever since the spell had been lifted, but the way it worked had always been a mystery


    tome.


    ¡°There¡¯s two of us and one of you,¡± Zane said to Mason. ¡°We have it covered.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure you do,¡± Mason spat. ¡°I¡¯m sure you just don¡¯t want my disgusting rogue bas ta rd paws all over your purebred twins,¡±


    | fought back a smile. We could use this


    ¡°Yeah, maybe we don¡¯t,¡± | said icily. Lanie¡¯s eyes widened. It was a horrible thing to say, | knew that, but at least it got Mason off


    our backs.


    ¡°And you don¡¯t know what Isaac likes,¡± Zane said. ¡°You don¡¯t know what Lanie needs.¡±


    Mason furrowed his brows. Zane had been talking about our baby Lanie, but the double meaning was undeniable | hadn¡¯t really


    considered until then just how confusing it was that we¡¯d named our pup after her.


    And now that she¡¯d gone back to her given name and we were in the closest quarters imaginable, it was going to get pretty f


    ucking awkward and confusing


    ¡°Maybe she needs a name change,¡± | threw out, changing the subject, trying to diffuse the tension.


    ¡°Might be nice,¡± Lanie said with a shortugh.


    Good it was working. Thest thing | wanted to do was upset her more.


    And then it came to me. Just like it had that day Alice had given birth


    I nodded, ¡°It is.¡±


    Lanie smiled. ¡°I love it.¡± She looked over at Mason expectantly.


    He cleared his throat. ¡°It¡¯s a great name,¡± he said emotionlessly.


    Zane


    e was watching me closely to make sure | left it there. Mason¡¯s response had annoyed me, but at least he was keeping whatever


    peace we''d established in thest two minutes.


    As long as we kept the twins away from him, we could keep that peace, too.


    Mason


    Lanie and | stood together outside the cabin, looking out at the forest beyond the line of enchantment. Not like we could see


    much of anything. The sun had set a while ago and the air was getting chillier, but still,


    we stood there silently.


    Thankfully, summer was on its way and we¡¯d managed to fill our time today taking Ste for short walks around the perimeter of


    the cabin, then going back inside while Xander and Zane did the same with the twins.


    Once, when we came back inside, we saw that Xander and Zane had rigged a makeshift room for the pups by hanging a couple


    of bedsheets from the ceiling in the back corner of the living room,


    of.


    | tried to be grateful instead of resentful, but it just felt like another thing they were trying to take control


    I


    And to make matters worse, Lanie and | had barely spoken today except to remark on the weather or a bird flying over us or to


    specte what Braden might be up to.


    Part of it was my fault. The way she¡¯d run up to Xander and hugged him after he knocked that guard out... | couldn¡¯t get it out of


    my head. Even though she¡¯d chosen to sleep next to mest night, it still felt like a big


    deal.


    But | couldn¡¯t let it hang over us another night.


    ¡°Lanie, | want to ask you something, but | don¡¯t think you¡¯re gonna like it,¡± | said.


    Very smooth, Mason. Very smooth.


    ¡°Oh, great,¡± she said, turning to me with a worried expression on her face and sarcasm in her voice. ¡°Can¡¯t


    wait to hear what this is about.¡±


    ¡°What was up with that hug you gave Xander?¡± As soon as | said it, | felt stu pid. Two people could hug and it could mean


    nothing.


    But the way she scrunched up her lips and looked down at the ground made me think | was right to ask.


    It wasn¡¯t nothing.


    ¡°You''re the one, Mason,¡± she said softly. ¡°But there¡¯s a part of me that''s still drawn to them. | think | always will be in some way.¡±


    2/3


    about Xander and Zane would just push Lanie away.


    ¡°But | don¡¯t want them like | want you,¡± she said, turning to me, holding me there with her gaze. As soon as she said it, | could


    smell that it was true.


    She reached up and caressed my jaw with her fingers. My eyes fluttered closed. Go ds, | wanted her, too. | always wanted her.


    ¡°We never got to finish what we started at my house,¡± she said, her voice a little whiney with need. ¡°Why


    don¡¯t we finish it now?¡±


    Without speaking, | took her by the hand and led her inside the house.


    My co ck was already straining against my pants imagining her straddling me again.


    | knew Xander and Zane¡¯s eyes were on us as we walked through the living room. | knew they could smell Lanie¡¯s desire rolling


    off her in thick waves.


    But | didn¡¯t care..

 Chapter 170

    Zane


    Her scent clouded the room like thick poison, intoxicating and deadly.


    F uck.


    It had been so long since we''d aroused that kind of desire in her.


    Watching her go into the bedroom with Mason and shut the door was pure agony.


    Xander growled next to me. ¡°This is f ucking torture,¡± he mumbled, throwing his head over the back of the


    couch.


    ¡°We''re gonna hear everything,¡± |ined. ¡°Should we go outside?¡±


    Just as | got up from the couch, Lanie let out a long, needy moan. Xander threw his hand out.


    ¡°Wait,¡± he said. ¡°We don¡¯t have to.¡±


    I sat back down.


    Again we heard her, making the kind of noises she¡¯d made with us once. It sent a stab of desire deep down into my belly.


    Xander blew out a long breath.


    ¡°F uck,¡± he whispered.


    Her sounds were so sex y, the smell she''d left in the air so sweet.


    Before | knew what | was doing, my hand was traveling down to my rapidly hardening co ck, and my legs


    were falling open.


    | stroked myself through my pants, imagining the scent of Lanie¡¯s wet heat and the taste of her sweet juices as |pped them up.


    She moaned again, and | stroked faster, a grunt escaping my lips. But then with a jolt, | remembered


    where | was.


    | opened my


    my eyes and nced over at Xander, but his head was still leaning back, his eyes shut tight, his


    hand making its way down to his own cro tch.


    He reached for the button of his jeans and tugged down the zipper, releasing his rock-hard c ock


    I leaned back and did the same.


    Another desperate moan sounded from the room next door, and my d ick throbbed with need. Xander and | both sighed.


    Pree was already leaking through my boxers. F uck, | needed her. | needed her on my d ick, in my


    How could we do this every night and not have her?


    It seemed f ucking impossible.


    Lanie


    was straddling Mason again, just like | had in my bedroom back home.


    Only this time, | wasn¡¯t wearing a tight corset and a leather skirt. | wasn¡¯t wearing anything, and neither


    was he.


    | hovered above his thick, huge c ock, before finally sitting on him. He pulsed hard beneath me and my pus sy clenched,


    releasing a gush of wetness onto him. | slid my slick folds up and down his shaft until we were both moaning and aching with


    need.


    ¡°Now can | sit on your face?¡± | asked breathlessly.


    ¡°You f ucking better,¡± he growled.


    He ced hisrge hands around my waist and pulled me up toward his face until my center


    from his lips.


    | heard him take a deep breath in.


    ¡°F ucking hell, Lanie,¡± he said. ¡°I can¡¯t get enough of you.¡±


    was inches


    He flipped me around so | could nt my hands on his chest, and then pushed me down onto his mouth. He pressed his tongue


    into my entrance as one of his hands reached up to massage my cl it.


    | moaned loudly, bucking against his face and digging my hands into his chest. Vaguely, | wondered if Xander and Zane could


    hear us in the living room or if they¡¯d left.


    Secretly, | hoped they¡¯d stayed. | hoped they could hear everything. | hoped they liked it. Another aching pulse ripped through my


    center at the thought. | knew how badly they wanted me, and | f ucking loved having that power over them.


    | grinded my hips against Mason¡¯s face, harder and harder while | pictured Xander and Zane on the other side of the wall, their


    eyes locked on mine, stroking their thick, dripping c ocks.


    F uck. | shuddered and threw myself off of Mason, panting hard. | blinked away the vision, but it still hung


    there like a phantom


    ¡°What is it?¡± he asked, sitting up and pulling me onto hisp again. His di ck was still hard and slick with


    pree.


    | shook


    my head ¡°Nothing,¡± | said as | nuzzled my head into his neck. ¡°I just need you inside me.¡±


    by the intense


    Mason obliged, and suddenly the vision of Xander and Zane disappeared, steamrolled by pleasure | experienced every time


    Mason was inside me


    I clung to his neck, breathing in his warm, se xy smell, wrapping my fingers through his hair, and clenching my thighs around him


    as he thrust into me again and again.


    ¡°Lanie,¡± he growled.


    through the c racks. |


    And then he hit that sweet spot inside me, and | broke a little, Lily wing her was the


    dug my fingernails into his back and tossed my hair wildly.


    When | looked into his eyes, | could see Colt shing there, too, his wolf just below the surface.


    | was suddenly ovee with need for him. To have him closer, to chase away these thoughts of Xander and Zane, to im him


    as mine.


    | knew he wanted it, too.


    | grabbed his head and shoved it into the crook of my neck.


    ¡°Do it,¡± | begged. ¡°im me.¡±


    He let out a growling moan and shoved himself deeper inside me. | couldn¡¯t hold on much longer.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± | gasped. ¡°Yes!¡±


    | felt his mouth on my neck, his tongue running up my soft skin. A tangled knot of pleasure was tightening deep in my belly, and


    soon it was going to snap.


    ¡°Please, Mason...Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    And then his teeth sank into my flesh.

 Chapter 171

    Mason


    The second | let Colt¡¯s teeth lengthen and sunk my canines into her, everything else melted away. It was only me and Lanie.


    It was like we were rising up off the bed and into some second dimension. And it felt so right. The most right anything had ever


    felt before.


    Her blood was filling my mouth, the vor sweet andplex and addicting.


    | wanted to live there forever, buried deep inside her, blutching her close to me, drinking her in.


    Lanie moaned deeply and wildly as her walls clenched around me. | reluctantly drew my mouth away, licking the puncture


    wound. She was still panting and shaking.


    ¡°Your turn,¡± | growled into her ear before | turned my head to the side, offering her my neck.


    V skin.


    She lifted herself off me first, nestling her head against my


    ¡°| can¡¯t wait to taste you,¡± she purred.


    | was desperate to feel her heat around my co ck again.


    The sting of her canines hit at the same time she sank down on me, riding me like a wild woman, desperate and untamed.


    her


    She moaned into my neck as she tasted my blood. Her teeth went in deeper along with my co ck inside


    The feeling wasn¡¯t pain exactly. It stung, but the pleasure of it, the significance of it, was so overwhelming


    that | hardly noticed.


    | held her tightly, never wanting to let her go. | knew then that I¡¯d do anything in the world to protect her.


    Her mouth was locked on my neck, and | could feel her sucking deeply. My hands moved down to her hips and | thrust into her


    hard, spilling my seed inside her before | could help myself.


    ¡°Now you''re mine,¡± | growled.


    ¡°And you are mine,¡± she whispered.


    And then we fell down onto the bed and drifted off to a deep sleep.


    Xander


    | awoke with a start the next morning, the early light of dawn streaming in through the living room


    windows.


    and checking on Ste


    ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± she whispered when she turned around and saw | was awake.


    Thank goddess Zane and | had managed to pull ourselves together and not fall asleep with our di cks outst night. How the hell


    would we exin that?


    | got up off the couch, careful to be quiet. Zane and the babies were still sleeping.


    | tiptoed over to Lanie. She was wearing a big t-shirt and nothing else. It took all my willpower now


    scoop her up and pull her close.


    She e crossed her arms in front of her like she could read my mind.


    ¡°It''s okay,¡± | said to her. ¡°You want some tea or something?¡±


    to


    She shook her head, and a long lock of hair fell in front of her face. When she pushed it back over her shoulder, | saw it. Right on


    her neck. A f ucking bite mark.


    ¡°What is that?¡± | asked, louder than | meant to.


    She raised her eyebrows and tossed her hair back over her shoulder to hide it again.


    ¡°Oh, |...it''s¡± She took a step back from me and bit her lip. ¡°Xander.¡±


    ¡°Did he im you?¡± | asked. My voice came out harsh and ragged. ¡°Did Mason f ucking im you?¡±


    Out of the corner of my eye, | saw Zane sit up off the floor.


    ¡°| should¡¯ve shifted so you wouldn¡¯t see,¡± she said in a shaky voice. ¡°I just. | didn¡¯t want it to go away yet.¡±


    ¡°Lanie, what the f uck?!¡± | was almost yelling now, but | didn¡¯t care. One of the babies started grunting. They''d all be crying ina


    minute.


    Mason charged out of the bedroom.


    ¡°Keep your f ucking voice down,¡± he spat. ¡°What Lanie and | do in private is none of your g odda mn


    business.¡±


    |ughed harshly. ¡°It¡¯s not very private if you do it on the other side of a paper-thin wall!¡±


    Lanie blushed, and Mason clenched his jaw. Zane stood up, ready to intervene.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°And you seem to have conveniently forgotten that she¡¯s our f ucking mate!¡± | yelled.


    Ste was crying now. Lanie swiped the curtain aside and picked her up, then rounded on me.


    ¡°You never imed me,¡± she hissed. ¡°You said | wasn¡¯t suitable. So you don¡¯t get any f ucking say in this.¡±


    She moved next to Mason, and he put his arm around her protectively.


    | was shaking with anger now. He''d taken Lanie away from us. He¡¯d marked his territory permanently. | was supposed to do that.


    Zane was supposed to do that. Not Mason.


    | walked up to him slowly.


    in da and nuttinn hie hand nut


    ¡°Or what?¡± | snarled, feeling my wolf surging to the surface.


    Before | could think about what | was doing, | raised my fist and punched Mason square in the face.


    Lanie screamed, Ste cried, and the twins stirred.


    F uck. What had | just done?


    Zane rushed over to stand beside me and shot me an annoyed look.


    He wasn¡¯t angry enough about this. Why wasn¡¯t he angry?


    Mason leaned down, squeezing his nose. When he stood back up, his canines had dropped, and his ws


    were out.


    ¡°NO!¡± Lanie said. ¡°No more fighting!¡± Tears were streaming down her face.


    ¡°Get the f uck out of here!¡± Mason yelled, struggling to keep himself from retaliating.


    law his


    But still, | could feel Hunter rearing up inside my chest, desperate to w his way out and rip Mason¡¯s


    head off.


    | looked around the room, and everyone was staring at me. Lanie looked disgusted with me.


    Asearing pain ripped up my body. | was hurt, but more than that, | was f ucking furious.


    | needed to get out of here, otherwise | was going to lose control.


    I spun around and flew out the door of the cabin, diving off the steps and shifting in midair, then soaring straight through the


    protective barrier and into the woods.


    Far, far away from there.

 Chapter 172

    Zane


    What the f uck was Xander thinking?


    Realizing Mason had imed Lainie was like taking a silver dagger in the heart, but running away from the cabin and out of


    bounds of the protective barrier was in s tupid.


    have


    Iran


    out after him, Lanie and Mason trailing behind me.


    ¡°Da mmit!¡± | yelled when | realized how far he¡¯d run already. His clothes were shredded on the ground. ¡°I to go after him.¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Lanie shouted, ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous. What if you¡¯re caught? What if you¡¯re-?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not going toe back unless | track him down,¡± | said.


    Xander was stubborn like that. He¡¯d think he found some better ce to shelter and then wind up getting


    himself thrown in prison again,


    ¡°Don''t do anything s upid,¡± Mason said.


    | stared him down. He''d earned that f ucking punch, and | was about to give him another one.


    I


    ¡°Don¡¯t need your advice, thanks,¡± | said and sprinted off the porch, shifting just before | crossed the threshold of the


    enchantment.


    The fur on my neck p rickled as soon as | was on the other side. Even though the forest was mostly quiet, | felt exposed, like |


    was a moving target.


    | could still detect Xander¡¯s scent, and as | followed the trail, a vague sense of uneasiness crept over me that had nothing to do


    with Mason and Lanie. If | could scent Xander, then so could our enemies. And we¡¯d cut a path straight that led straight back to


    the cabin.


    If what Braden said was true, everyone was safe inside. But if Orion and the Council knew our location, then surely they could


    eventually break down the enchantment.


    Go ds, why did Xander have to be so f ucking hotheaded?


    Finally, his wolf came into view ahead of me.


    ¡°Xander, slow down!¡± | called to him.


    He threw his head back to look at me.


    ¡°No way,¡± he said, running faster and putting more feet of forest between us


    | pushed my body forward, willing de toply.


    My paws thundered against the earth as Iran faster than | ever had and finally caught up to Xander. | ran alongside him for a


    moment before diving sideways, knocking him off course.


    We both rolled along the forest floor, finallying to a stop at the Dase


    un first and jumped on top of me, pinning me down.


    Xander got up


    ¡°Why the f uck couldn¡¯t you just leave me alone?!¡± His voice thundered around inside my head.


    | looked into his eyes, expecting them to be fiery with anger, but instead, they were full of hurt.


    ¡°| know this hit sucks, but it¡¯s not worth getting killed over,¡± | reminded him.


    He pushed himself off me, and | rolled over onto all fours again.


    Xander paced the small clearing we¡¯d tumbled


    into.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Sure feels like it is,¡± Xander said. He sounded so defeated, so broken. ¡°If we can¡¯t have Lanie, then what is


    there to live for?¡±


    | walked toward him slowly, and he growled at me. He needed to chill.


    ¡°How about your f ucking children?¡± | asked.


    He dropped his head, scraping his nose against the dirt. He knew he was being st upid running away like this, but he¡¯d never


    admit it.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t upset you?¡± he asked in a quiet voice. ¡°Mason iming her?¡±


    | shook my head. ¡°Of course it f ucking does. When | heard you say those words ¡®Did Mason f ucking im you?¡¯ it was like my


    heart shriveled up and died. That should''ve been us.¡±


    Xander lifted his head. ¡°I feel the same way.¡±


    | took a few steps closer to him, only this time he didn¡¯t growl.


    ¡°But we didn¡¯t im her when we had the chance.¡± | hated to admit it, but it was true. ¡°We made our bed,


    and now we have to lie in it.¡±


    | stood next to him, so close our fur was almost touching.


    ¡°We can get through this together,¡± | said, ¡°But not here. Not out in the open like this with no protection, We have to think about


    our pups,¡±


    Xander leaned his weight into me. | never felt more connected to him than when we ran as wolves together. Right now, even


    though we''d just been through hell with Lanie, | felt closer to him than ever.


    ¡°He¡¯s my brother, Zane,¡± Xander said, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°How could he do this?¡±


    ¡°It had to be Lanie¡¯s decision as much as his,¡± | reminded him.


    He slumped against me. It was a hard pill to swallow that she still didn¡¯t want us like we wanted her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how I can live under the same roof with them, Xander said.


    ¡°We''ll figure it out,¡± | said. ¡°But right now, we have to get back to the cabin.¡±


    Xander straightened, and without another word, he was running back the way we came


    213


    We were almost back when we heard it.


    The sound of running, of something big brushing against the limbs of trees. We were being followed.


    ¡°We havepany,¡± Lcalled to Xander.


    ¡°I know,¡± he said. ¡°We need to move fast and throw them off our trail.


    ¡°You think it¡¯s the Council?¡± Lasked.


    Xander looked back at me. ¡°Don¡¯t know who else it would be...¡±


    He veered dramatically east for a few moments, then took another sharp turn, sprinting with insane speed. | struggled to keep up


    with his crazy bobbing and weaving.


    Eventually, the sounds of other movements stopped, and Xander corrected his course back to the cabin.


    It came into view only momentster, and | watched as Xander ran thest few yards toward the line of


    enchantment.


    But just before he crossed it, something darted out of the woods and tackled him to the ground.


    Lanie


    | screamed when | saw Xander fly through the air.


    hen:


    okay


    Without thinking, | ran outside, needing to make sure he was of


    Zane sprinted toward him, but suddenly the thing dived at him, too. Whatever it was moved so lightning-fast that | couldn¡¯t make


    it out.


    Suddenly, the thing stopped moving. It was a man.


    And he was dragging Xander and Zane by the scruff


    To my horror, he marched right up to the line of enchantment and passed through.


    Had Braden lied about the spell¡¯s strength?


    As soon as the man saw me, his face split into a wide grin.


    ¡°Hello, granddaughter,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s nice to finally meet you.¡±

 Chapter 173

    Lanie


    Granddaughter? What the hell?


    This guy didn¡¯t look like he could be more than thirty years old. His wavy blond hair was perfectly coiffed, his jawline was sharp,


    and his eyes were a vivid green,


    He was handsome in a ssic romantic lead sort of way.


    So what was he doing calling me his granddaughter, and how the hell could he possibly drag two of the biggest wolves I¡¯ve ever


    seen through the forest with his bare f ucking hands?


    Underneath my shock, a nauseating fear rose up inside me. Xander and Zane had run off because they thought | betrayed them.


    It was my fault if this man hurt them.


    Mason ran out onto the porch. When he saw the man), he threw himself in front of me


    ¡°Don''t be afraid, Lanie, and..Lanie¡¯s friend,¡± he said in a voice that sounded like warm honey. | got the feeling he¡¯d made a lot of


    people fall to their knees with that voice. ¡°We¡¯re family.¡±


    Braden came sprinting up to the cabin, leaning over and panting when he finally stopped. He caught sight of Xander and Zane


    passed out on the ground, and his eyes bugged out.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing, Mchi?¡± Braden eximed. ¡°We talked about this!¡±


    The guy Braden called Mchi dropped Xander and Zane. Their heads thudded to the ground.


    ¡°Braden, what the f uck is going on here?¡± Mason demanded.


    ¡°Lanie, Mason, meet Mchi the Ancient,¡± Braden said, waving from us to the handsome guy. ¡°Mchi,


    meet Lanie and Mason.¡±


    ¡°Pleasure,¡± he said, running up to us at warp speed and extending his hand. Mason stared down at it and growled. His nostrils


    red


    ¡°Vampire,¡± he said through gritted teeth. ¡°Why did you bring more of them here, Braden?¡±


    But looking into Mchi¡¯s eyes, there was something familiar there, something almostforting.


    ¡°Mchi¡¯s the one | take orders from,¡± Braden exined. ¡°A vampire descended from the original masas


    dima bloodline. He¡¯s the reason we know anything at all about the Council and Orion¡¯s ns with hybrids.¡±


    Braden¡¯s words triggered a memory of our conversation the day before. He¡¯d exined that Ste¡¯s hybrid blood was pure


    because my grandfather was descended from the original vampires.


    Could this really be him? For some reason, | was picturing him a lot wrinklier and more


    disgusting looking. This guy was almost dazzlingly fresh faced.


    Behind him, Xander and Zane started to stir


    ¡°Why do you give a f uck about hybrids?¡± Mason asked.


    Mchi narrowed his eyes at Mason like he was sizing him up.


    ¡°Because they¡¯re targeting my bloodline, and I¡¯d quite like for it to live on,¡± he said.


    Over Mchi¡¯s shoulder, | watched Xander and Zane shift back to their human forms, using what little scraps of clothing were left


    on the ground to cover themselves.


    me


    ¡°Then why the f uck did you knock us out?!¡± Xander snarled. ¡°We''re not the enemy.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t trust dogs, Mchi said, his nose wrinkling. ¡°Unless they¡¯re family, of course.¡± He motioned to


    ¡°Family?¡± Mason asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s Ste¡¯s great-grandfather,¡± | said, stepping around Mason. ¡°In order for the Council to sessfully build their army of


    hybrids, they need to use ones that were bred with his blood.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s exactly right,¡± Mchi said smoothly. ¡°I see you got my smarts. d to know someone around here has some brains. He


    casted a pointed nce back at Xander and Zane.


    When Mchi turned back toward me, Xander crept up behind him, poised to attack.


    But as soon as Xander was within a foot of him, Mchi whipped around and had him in a chokehold before | could blink.


    I


    What the hell was he thinking sneaking up on an ancient vampire?


    ¡°You will not try anything like that again,¡± Mchimanded, holding Xander¡¯s gaze.


    Xander nodded, his eyes distant and unfocused.


    Mchi dropped him onto the ground. Xander shook his head and blinked rapidly.


    ¡°Did you just f uckingpel me?¡± he demanded.


    ¡°Yes. And don¡¯t even try doing it back.¡± His lip quirked up in an amused smirk. This guy was kind of growing on me. ¡°Yours won''t


    work on me.¡±


    ¡°I''m still the Alpha of this territory,¡± Xander bit back.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Mchi said. ¡°The Council has chosen not to elect a new Alpha and Beta for the time being. Instead, they¡¯ve put


    the whole pack on lockdown until you two are located.¡±


    Xander¡¯s and Zane¡¯s mouths dropped.


    My heart stopped. That meant everyone and their f ucking mother was probably out looking for Xander and Zane right now. They


    were beyond stu enough, the concept of Alphas and Betas will be obsolete,¡± Mchi said. ¡°If Orion and the Council have their


    way, there will be no ruler, only chaos.¡±


    His words hung thick in the air. There was even more riding on our safety and on ruining Orion¡¯s hybrid n than we could¡¯ve


    imagined


    ¡°Nowe with me, Lanie,¡± Mchi said, waving me off the porch. ¡°We need to have a little talk

 Chapter 174

    Lanie


    | walked with Mchi to the edge of the enchantment line.


    He turned to look at me, taking me in from head to toe.


    ¡°You look so much like your mother,¡± he said.


    | looked down at myself, | still had on the same rumpled oversized t-shirt and cardigan I''d worn thest two days, plus some


    cargo pants I''d taken from my closet at home. | felt like a mess, but thepliment still


    made me smile.


    ¡°Not as much as my sister does,¡± | said.


    It was true, they shared the same eye color and the same heavy freckles across their noses. Suddenly it hit me why Mchi had


    looked so familiar: his eyes were the same green as my mother¡¯s and Selena¡¯s.


    The same green that Ste¡¯s eyes were slowly morphing into.


    | took a closer look at him. It really was hard to believe that this man who looked so young and full of life was not only my


    grandfather, but also an ancient, probably hundreds of years old.


    ¡°| know,¡± he said, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a devious smile. ¡°I''ve been keeping an eye on them for a long time now.


    And on you, too.¡±


    | didn¡¯t know whether to find thisforting or creepy.


    There was something trustworthy about his face, but | also got the feeling that this was a power of his: winning people over with


    his charms.


    ¡°I''ve been sending Braden out to check on them every day now that the Council has called away your dads and left your mother


    and sister vulnerable,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, though. They''re not working on the hybrid


    project.¡±


    | breathed out a sigh of relief. When my mother said my fathers had been called away on a secret project, it made me sick to


    think they might be working with the men who were kidnapping and killing she-wolves like us. | was more than d to hear they


    weren''t.


    ¡°So does that mean you knew that my sister was meeting with Orion?¡± | asked.


    ¡°Yes. And | know you followed them to that bar,¡± he said. ¡°Not a very wise decision, Lanie. If he¡¯d smelled you or even gotten a


    glimpse of you... Well, we might never have met like this.¡±


    My face scrunched in thought. If he was so all-knowing and all-powerful, then why didn¡¯t he do something


    about Orion? Then Mason and | wouldn''t have had to sneak around like that.


    ¡°You''re an ancient vampire, right?¡± | asked. ¡°Doesn''t that mean you have some kind of undead. superpowers or something? So


    why don¡¯t you just kill Orion yourself?¡±


    who were of shifter descent. But then he set his sights on you and Ste and that¡¯s when things got personal,¡±


    We both turned to watch Mason as he stood outside the cabin, bouncing her lightly.


    Alump formed in my throat, and my eyes swam with tears. All these strong, powerful me protect me and my baby.


    i were here to


    ¡°And besides,¡± he continued, turning back to me, ¡°When | kill Orion-and | do intend to one day soon-then the treaty is broken,


    and another war will break out. We vampires must be ready before that happens.¡±


    Another war? It seemed so unfair that even once we dealt with Orion it still might not be over.


    ¡°Does my mother know you''re here?¡±


    Heughed lightly. ¡°Your mother doesn¡¯t know who | am anymore¡± Mchi exined. ¡°When she had the spell cast on herself to


    conceal her vampire side, she forgot who her family was.¡±


    a


    He looked out over the forest, a sad smile on his face, ¡°Her mother died when she was young, and it took away the pain she¡¯d


    felt after her death, but it also meant that she no longer knew who | was.¡±


    ¡°That must''ve been so hard,¡± | said. ¡°To lose your wife and your daughter.¡±


    Mchi nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve lived for centuries, and I¡¯ve loved more people than | can count,¡± he said. ¡°But she was one of the hardest


    to let go.¡±


    My ears perked up at that. ¡°Have you ever loved more than one at a time?¡±


    He c ocked his eyebrow, then turned to look back at the cabin again like he knew exactly why | was asking.


    ¡°Of course | have. And if you want my advice,¡± he said, holding me with his bright green gaze. ¡°Take what you want. When


    you''ve lived as long as | have, you start refusing to settle. Keep the doors open, and use the power you have¡±


    | looked back at Mason, still holding Ste, then Zane across the yard carrying wood inside the cabin,N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    In my perfect world, | wouldn¡¯t have to choose. But was that really possible?


    212

 Chapter 175

    Xander


    Lanie and Mchi walked into the cabin just as things were kicking off with Braden.


    ¡°I''m gonna f ucking kill you, Xander!¡± he cried. ¡°I leave for one day, and you''re already tearing apart my


    cabin?¡±


    we were currently


    He jerked his hand toward the sheets hanging from the ceiling and the stack of wood we fitting to nail to the wall that the living


    room shared with the bedroom.


    ¡°| n on living here again someday¡± Braden said, ¡°But | can¡¯t if you and Zane demolish it.¡±


    ¡°What the hell is all this?¡± Mchi asked as he walked in. | rolled my eyes and put down the piece of


    wood | was holding.


    Now the room was crowded with vampires and their smell was filling the air, even overpowering Lanie¡¯s. | fought the urge to plug


    my nose.


    This ce needs to be soundproofed,¡± | snapped. ¡°Or else | can¡¯t sleep here another f ucking night.¡±


    Mason walked in then, and | cut my eyes at him.


    ¡°You can tear the wood down when we leave,¡± Zane said, backing me up..


    ¡°Come on, you guys are being ridiculous,¡± Lanie said,


    But she had no idea how tortuous it was listening to her and Mason go at it. It would be even worse now


    that they were mates.


    ¡°| agree,¡± Mchi said. Like | cared what this s tupid old guy thought. Not that he looked old. He looked annoyingly hot and


    young, actually.


    ¡°None of you own Lanie,¡± he continued, gesturing toward her, ¡°Why don¡¯t you try asking her what she wants instead of pulling her


    every which way for a change.¡±


    | opened my mouth, then closed it again, | looked at Zane, and his lips pursed into a tight line. Mason looked annoyed, but even


    he had nothing to say to that.


    Lanie, on the other hand, crossed her arms, and the barest hint of a smile tugged at her lips. She was


    enjoying this.


    ¡°Now, Braden and | have more news to gather,¡± Mchi said, pping his hands together. ¡°We''ll return soon, and this time, we


    better not see anyone out of bounds.¡±


    They both turned and swept out of the cabin, Braden yanking the hammer out of Xander¡¯s hand before he could protest


    ¡°Where the f uck do they get off bossing us around like that?¡± | grumbled.


    Tm the dinha¡± Maenn mumbled under his breath in a markinn unice: ¡°I knew batte 1/3


    than avarinne


    What was that?


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Mason said airily.


    ¡°| know what you''re doing, and it won¡¯t f ucking work, | sneered.


    He was pushing me, probably trying to get me to leave for good this time.


    ¡°Not this shi t again,¡± Lanie snapped. ¡°I¡¯m taking a shower. No one bother me.¡±


    She marched off to the bathroom after her announcement, leaving the three of us there alone.


    Lanie


    | turned on the water as hot as | could stand and let it scald my skin..


    This whole situation was ridiculous. Orion was out there, trying to steal my baby to build an army of unkible wolves and we


    couldn¡¯t keep the peace for three seconds in this house.


    It was the sexual tension, and it was only going to get worse. | was already hornier than I¡¯d been since before Ste was born...


    My heat cycle was starting, and everyone was acting psychotic.


    | thought back to what Mchi had told me: ¡°Keep the doors open.¡±


    If | leaned into the feelings | still had for Xander and Zane then maybe it would take care of some of the tension that was blowing


    up the house, but wouldn¡¯t that hurt Mason? Wouldn''t that be more trouble than it


    was worth?


    | turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, slinging a towel around myself. As soon as |


    stepped out, | bumped straight into Xander in the short, narrow hallway.


    ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± | said as he grabbed my arms to steady me, but then he didn¡¯t let go.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Instead, he steered me backward until | was pressed against the wall.


    He nted his hands against the wall on either side of me, caging me in.


    ¡°Wh-where is everyone?¡± | whispered.


    ¡°Outside,¡± Xander said. His voice was low and raspy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lanie. | know I¡¯ve been a huge a ss hole, but it¡¯s just because |


    can¡¯t stand not being close to you. | can¡¯t stand not touching you...not being inside you.¡±


    My heart pounded, but I wasn¡¯t scared. | was so turned on, | couldn¡¯t think straight. My breathing turned heavy, and my eyelids


    drooped.


    Xander¡¯s nostrils red, and he pressed himself against me, groaning into my ear.


    His hard c ck twitched against my stomach. | wanted to drop the towel so badly, | wanted to unzip his pants and climb onto him,


    slide him inside of me.....


    F uck, what was | thinking? | wasn¡¯t, | couldn¡¯t, my head was spinning...


    He leaned down and nipped at my neck, the same ce Mason had bitten me the night before.


    ¡°| f ucking need you, Lanie. I¡¯m starving for you.¡±

 Chapter 176

    Mason


    When | turned the corner into the hallway, | almost had tough.


    There were Lanie and Xander again, panting heavily, pressed up against each other, and about two seconds away from kissing.


    ¡°How many times is this going to happen before | have to kill you?¡± | said in a rough, manic voice that barely sounded like my


    own.


    | hadn''t intended to threaten him like that, but as soon as I¡¯d scented Lanie, a smell even sweeter and headier than usual, it was


    like some macho di ck part of my brain lit up.


    ¡°Whoa, what is this?¡± Zane said, walking up to us. He was holding the twins and giving Xander a furious. look. ¡°Is this why you


    asked me to look after Issac and ina? So you could have Lanie to yourself?¡±


    He growled at Xander, and Xander growled back, his wolf shing in his eyes. Since when were they fighting again?


    Lanie shook her head and pushed Xander off of her.


    ¡°| can¡¯t take this anymore!¡± she cried, backing away from us. ¡°We''re all acting crazy, and | know why?¡±


    We all looked at her expectantly.


    ¡°I''m in heat again,¡± she said, wrapping her towel tighter around herself. As soon as she said it, it all made sense. Realization


    spread across Xander¡¯s and Zane¡¯s faces, too.


    That¡¯s why her scent was especially irresistible. That''s why it was turning all of us into actual animals.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t take care of this tension,¡± she said, ¡°then you''re literally going to rip each other¡¯s heads off.¡±


    | didn¡¯t disagree with her. We were all fighting tooth and nail to get our wolves to shut the f uck up and


    chill out right now.


    ¡°It''s better for all of us and the babies if we can just get it out of our systems and move on,¡± she said.


    Wait...get it out of our systems? As in Xander and Zane, too? They both exchanged curious, excited


    nces.


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± | asked.


    | hoped to the go ds that it wasn¡¯t what | was thinking.


    ¡°I''m saying we need to set some ground rules.¡±


    A few minutester, Lanie and | were sitting on the couch while Xander and Zane lounged on the floor in


    front of us


    We kept our voices low so as not to wake the babies


    ¡°Think of it like a contract,¡± Lanie said. ¡°Mason is my mate, full stop. He¡¯s my partner, the one | want to be with, and | will always


    choose him first. But I''ll still have sex with Xander and Zane.¡±


    White-hot fury churned thick and fast through my bloodstream, and it was all | could do not to yell my


    protests.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Sex with her original mates? It sounded like my worst fearse true. What if she realized she loved them more than me? What


    if they formed a kind of bond could never understand?


    | would never say this out loud, though. | wouldn¡¯t give Xander and Zane the satisfaction.


    I


    ¡°Just sex, nothing more,¡± she continued. ¡°No love, no babies, no iming. Sex, in and simple. Whenever tensions get high,


    we use this contract to burn off steam and keep the peace.¡±


    | tried not to look at Xander and Zane¡¯s smug, eager faces. They were as sholes every step of the way, and they still got what


    they wanted. Typical.


    ¡°How long is this contract good for?¡± Zane asked. He took the words right out of my mouth.


    ¡°At least for as long as we live under one roof,¡± Lanie said. ¡°We can¡¯t have anyone punching each other or


    running off into the forest again.¡±


    She shot Xander and me pointed looks. We both dropped our heads so our irritation didn¡¯t show


    ¡°Especially now that my scent is like a f ucking ma for every man in a five-mile radius,¡± she said worriedly. ¡°You lead anyone


    anywhere close to this ce, and | will be found.¡±


    S hit, she was right. It was more important than ever that we kept things locked down here.


    ¡°And remember that this has nothing to do with feelings,¡± Lanie said firmly, addressing Xander and Zane. She wasying down


    thew, but it kind of sounded like she was trying to convince herself at the same time.


    Or maybe | was being paranoid.


    ¡°This thing you''re both feeling for me is pure animal maism,¡± she said to them. ¡°You¡¯re my mates in some way, too. It¡¯s


    understandable that you want to impregnate me and vice versa. But that¡¯s all it is.¡±


    The three of us sat silently. | could tell Xander and Zane were waiting for my response. They were getting


    such a f u cking kick out of this.


    ¡°Mason,¡± Lanie said, turning to me and taking my hand. ¡°Mchi told you to ask me what | wanted for a change. Well, this is


    what | want.¡±


    | couldn''t argue with that. And if this is what would keep Lanie and Ste safe, then | guess | couldn''t


    argue with that, either.


    ¡°Fine,¡± | said curtly, pulling my hand away. Lanie looked stung, but | couldn¡¯t pretend like | was okay with this. | would go along


    with it, but it was far from okay.


    ¡°When does this little contract take effect?¡± Xander asked slyly


    Lanie sighed deeply.

 Chapter 177

    Lanie


    | pulled Mason into the bedroom and sat down on the bed.


    He sat beside me, staring straight ahead,


    ¡°Can you find a way to be okay with this?¡± | asked him.


    He turned to look at me and his face was stony. | knew he never would be, but | wanted him to at least tell me he would, then


    maybe | would feel less guilty.


    ¡°Yes, if you can be honest with me about what happens tonight,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not s tupid, | know Xander and Zane mean


    something to you. If you break your own rule about feelings, | hope I''m the first to know.¡±


    | nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±


    He stood up and walked to the door.


    ¡°If you need me, I''ll be outside,¡± he said without looking back.


    Xander


    We were going to sleep with Lanie again.


    It''s what I¡¯d been fantasizing about since before the spell was even broken. Pretty much since the second


    we''d seen her in Stillwood.


    | could barely keep my wolf contained, and when | looked to Zane, | knew he was feeling the same as me. No mind link was


    even necessary, all we needed was to look at each other.


    The fact that Lanie thought we could keep feelings out of it wasughable, but right now | didn¡¯t care about that. All | cared about


    was being inside of her, tasting that sweet c unt again, have her mouth on my


    cock...


    F uck, | was already hard for her.


    | clenched my fists and looked over at Zane standing beside me in the living room.


    He nced at me, and then his gaze when back to the bedroom door, where Lanie was currently having a


    talk with Mason


    It still rankled that he had imed her and she had imed him, but | couldn¡¯t allow myself to think about


    that right now. Zane and | could deal with thatter.


    After we''d f ucked Lante to oblivion.


    The bedroom door opened, and Mason stomped out. His were in tight fists and his jaw was clenched as


    he red at us


    ¡°| swear on the goddess herself, if you...¡± He took a deep breath and turned his head and cracked his neck.


    ¡°T''ll be outside.¡±


    Zane and | both nodded at him.


    There wasn¡¯t anything else to say about the situation. Lanie had made herself clear, and as much as it pained me to keep my


    mouth shut about my mate, In understood that she was his now, too. They had chosen each other, and | had to respect that no


    matter how much | hated it.


    If | were in his position, it would be hell to keep from tearing us to piecesContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Who knows? Maybe when this was all said and done, he would try


    When the front door shut behind him, Zane and | stared at each other. It was almost hard to breathe, the tension and


    pheromones were so thick in the cabin.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Zane asked.


    | reached down and cupped my rock-hard length, pressing my palm against it. ¡°More than,¡± | answered.


    Zane grinned, and | looked down to see that his dic k was already straining against his jeans.


    Adelicate cough came from the bedroom, and we looked over to see Lanie sitting on the edge of her eyes already cloudy with


    desire, her wolf shining in them.


    of it.¡±


    ¡°| thought the purpose of this was for you to f uck me, not each other,¡± she teased


    the bed,


    | grinned. ¡°At this point, I¡¯ll do anything you want so long as it means my c ock is inside of you at the end


    Zane snorted.


    Lanie¡¯s eyes widened and her nostrils red...and the scent of her heat became even stronger.


    Interesting...


    ¡°Seems like our girl has a bit of kinky side,¡± Zane said to me.


    ¡°It would seem so...¡± | responded.


    ¡°Let''s see what else she might be hiding.¡±

 Chapter 178

    Lanie


    The thought of Xander and Zane ¡°together¡± in any way unlocked something primal in me.


    | While | knew it was wishful thinking, | didn¡¯t care. The seed had been nted and now | was more turned-on than I''d thought


    possible earlier today.


    | craved Mason, but this was different. More animalistic, more mindless, and needy.


    Instead of saying anything else, | scooted back on the bed until my back was resting against the headboard, knees bent, and the


    bottoms of my feet on the mattress. Keeping my gaze locked on them, | pulled back the hem of my long t-shirt and spread my


    legs.


    Rarely did | go without underwear, and | was pretty thankful | didn¡¯t need to take the extra step of removing them...especially


    when | saw the reaction on their faces.


    it


    They practically sprinted the few steps into the bedroom, pulling the door closed behind them and locking


    | bit my lower lip as | took them in, standing at the end of the bed.


    ¡°What are you doing still dressed?¡± | questioned.


    They each gave a low, rumbling growl, and whipped their shirts off, revealing tanned skin and so. many.


    muscles.


    | bit my lower lip as | stared at their gorgeous bodies, and my own body practically vibrated with excitement at the fact that | was


    about to have them in my bed....in


    me.


    Goddess, | was already so wet for them, and | felt myself grow even wetter as | watched them unbutton and unzip their jeans at


    the same time. The tension in the air grew impossibly thicker, and my breathing grew heavy as | slid a hand between my legs.


    | barely had time to touch myself before they had both fully undressed and pounced on me, each on one


    side of me.


    When Xander gently took my chin in his hand and pulled my face to his, my heart pounded so hard that! thought it might stop


    altogether


    stop


    And then when his lips touched mine, his tongue seeking entrance into my mouth, | was pretty sure it did.


    The world stopped, too


    His hand moved from my chin to slide back into my hair, cupping the back of my head and pulling me as close to him as his


    tongue plundered my mouth. His lips, teeth, and tongue devoured me, and | almost forgot Zane was in the room until | felt


    another mouth on my neck, licking over the spot where Mason had marked


    me


    head to pull Zane¡¯s mouth to mine.


    His kiss was equally a¡¯s passionate as Xander¡¯s, and just as hungry too.


    Soon, we were all a tangled mess of limbs, lips, hands, and tongues, and | was desperate for them. Desperate to have someone


    else¡¯s hands between my legs other than mine-which was pressing against my cl it as my body begged for release.


    Zane tugged the hem of my shirt and yanked it over my head, his hands sliding down from my shoulders to my breasts, his


    fingers pinching my nipples, | gasped out a moan, but it was silenced by his lips on mine, hungrily kissing me, his tongue


    exploring every inch of my mouth. But | still needed his touch.


    Xander seemed to read my mind because as Zane imed my mouth, his hand grazed my thighs and then settled between my


    legs, stroking my wet folds painfully slowly and softly.


    Then he thrust his fingers inside me, and they slicked with my juices, sliding easily in and out. But it still wasn¡¯t enough. | needed


    his thick, long c ock buried deep Inside, hitting me in that spot that would totally unravel any shreds of self-control | had left.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | let out a frustrated growl into Zane¡¯s mouth and grabbed each of their co cks with my hands, stroking quickly and desperately.


    Both of them groaned with need, and my p ussy pulsed around Xander¡¯s fingers.


    hand.


    Xander leaned down, his lips grazing my ear. ¡°You want this, Lanie?¡± he teased as his c ock twitched in my


    F uck yes, | did. | pulled away from Zane long enough to sigh out a response.


    ¡°| need it.¡±


    Zane moved behind me as Xander settled himself between my legs, pressing his erection into my slick folds. | thrust my hips


    against him, needing him inside. Another flood of wetness seeped out of me, and Xander and Zane both groaned at the scent.


    Xander reached down for his c ock, rubbing it from my lips to my cli t and back again. | shuddered. He was


    driving me f ucking crazy.


    ¡°Say it again,¡± Zane growled from behind me. | looked over my shoulder and saw that he was pumping his co ck and watching us


    with dark eyes, his tip already dripping. ¡°Beg him for it.¡±


    ¡°Please, Xander,¡± | whined. ¡°Please don¡¯t make me wait any longer.¡±


    I


    ¡°Fine,¡± Xander purred. ¡°But once | do, there¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m stopping.¡±


    And then the tip of his co ck pushed into me and | gasped before he gripped my waist and pulled me down onto his rock-hard


    length. | wrapped my arms and legs around him, holding on for dear life as he stretched


    and filled me to the brim.


    My head flew back and my wolf took over as | grinded and thrust my hips against him. Zane gripped the back of my neck and


    angled my face toward him, kissing me hard again. His hand reached out for my lower back, then traveled down, down until | felt


    his warm, slick fingers pressing against the tight muscles of my


    whimnarod and my whole brullede Yana ndied a


    finar incida ma


    uk v


    Vandare enab


    mmed into my cervix.


    ¡°You like that?¡± Zane¡¯s voice rumbled in my ear


    ¡°Yes!¡± | cried breathlessly as my walls clenched around Xander¡¯s co ck


    | was dangerously close now a scream building up inside me along with a familiar thread of wild pleasure that seemed to be


    wrapped around all three of us so tightly, that it had to snap any second


    And then it did My o rgasm crashed around me with a force Fd never felt before My whole body seized, squeezing Xander¡¯s dic k


    in fast flutters, while Zane¡¯s finger continued to work me from behind


    ¡°| love you Lane¡± | heard Xander cry and then a flood of juices left my body at the same time Zane¡¯s warm seed covered my back


    with a desperate groan Xander pulled himself out of me before erupting all over


    my stomach


    But all could think about now were the four words he¡¯d just said


    ¡°You what?¡± asked breathlessly

 Chapter 179

    Xander


    ¡°F uck,¡± | said, because I''d juste so hard | could barely see straight.


    But also. Lanie had heard me? ¡°Did she hear that?¡± Lasked Zane.


    We locked eyes over Lanie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That can¡¯t be possible.¡±


    ¡°Umm... yes it can,¡± she said, jumping up from the bed. She snat ched the t-shirt off the floor and started cleaning herself up. |


    felt a pang of longing in my chest...! wasn¡¯t done with her yet.


    But now of course there was some fresh bu Ils hit we had to deal with


    ¡°Why is the mind link working again?¡± she asked, her eyes darting from Zane to me.


    | didn¡¯t want to think about this right now. | wanted to wrap my mouth around those hard, pink nipples. F uck now that my wolf


    and | had gotten another taste of her, | needed more


    | nced over at Zane and his eyes were droopy and ssy. He was having troubleing back to


    reality, too.


    ¡°Focus¡± Lanie snapped her fingers and sna tched up her cardigan from her open suitcase. She wrapped itProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    around her tightly, but there was no concealing her scent.


    | shook my head hard, trying to focus on the task at hand. So we had the mind link back...so what? We could talk to Lanie


    without Mason knowing, | didn¡¯t see the problem with that


    She looked down at the floor, biting her lip, lost in thought.


    ¡°We n


    need to keep this a secret for now. Mason can¡¯t know¡±


    Mason


    | stood outside pacing, trying to decide whether to shift and runps.


    But then | decided Colt¡¯s hearing was too good. He might pick up what was happening inside despite my


    best efforts to drown it out


    As | walked my hundredth anxiousp around the cabin, Theard the sound of a baby crying. It wasn¡¯t Ste, rd know her cry


    anywhere at this point.


    | stood still for a moment, waiting to see if the pup quieted down, but the cries still sounded from the


    cabin


    ¡°Sh it,¡± | mumbled


    Were they really so caught up that they couldn¡¯t take care of their f ucking kid? All of them were going to start wailing in a second


    1/2


    Reluctantly, | stomped into the cabin, hoping the baby¡¯s cries WOL


    bedroom.


    | marched straight through the bedsheet curtains to the basss and scooped up the twins, who were both crying now.


    Thankfull


    Ste didn¡¯t stir. | only had two hands.


    I rushed straight back outside with one pup in each of my arms. The night air was getting warmer every


    day, thank the go ds.


    I


    The babies seemed to like the fresh, crisp air or maybe the way I was rocking them back and forth slowly because they quieted


    almost instantly


    | assumed they¡¯d fallen asleep again, but when | looked down at them, both of them were looking right back up at me, and |


    could swear they were smiling


    Suddenly, staring into their eyes | was struck with a feeling so powerful, | didn¡¯t know how to identify it at first. But it brought tears


    to my eyes and sent an explosion of warmth from my chest, out to every part of my


    body.


    ¡°Mine,¡± Colt said, but not in the way he would say it to im a mate or take on an enemy. ¡°Mine,¡± as in ¡°My children. My blood.


    My twins.¡±


    These pups were mine. Mine and Alice¡¯s. | felt more sure of it than even my own name.


    What the f uck? But.. Xander and Zane had done everything possible to keep them away from me.


    My body shook, something between a s ob and a growl rising from deep in my chest.


    They knew. They knew, and they kept it from me.


    | looked down at them, these two perfect things | now felt desperate to protect as my own. And then I marched back into the


    cabin and sat on the couch.


    | was determined to wait for them, no matter how long it took, but in the next moment, Xander and Zane strode from the room in


    only their underwear, expressions of ted satisfaction on their faces.


    But not for long.


    ¡°When were you going to tell me?¡± | asked.


    Their faces fell just like | knew they would. They went through every f ucking emotion: confusion, shock,


    anger.


    ¡°Tell you what?¡± Xander asked, trying and failing to sound casual.


    ¡°What''s going on?¡± Lanie asked, stepping out to the living room in just her cardigan.


    1 guess Xander and Zane didn¡¯t tell you either,¡± | said bitterly.


    | held up the twins.


    ¡°ina and Isaac are my pups.

 Chapter 180

    Xander


    When | saw Mason holding the twins, | knew it was over.


    Zane looked at me with this usatory, Hold-you-sa expression. Now Mason knew our secret. And we


    were going to pay for it


    | looked at Lanie, but she avoided my gaze, a seething look on her face. She shook her head almost imperceptibly. She was


    telling me not to use the mind link, and she was obviously furious that we¡¯d kept this


    secret, too.


    Shi t. What the hell was | supposed to say?


    ¡°You know how you bonded with Ste before you knew who her fathers were?¡± | finally said. ¡°The same


    thing happened with us and the twins.¡±


    Zane sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. This was a weak argument. He knew it, | knew it, Mason


    knew it. But it was all | had.


    Mason¡¯s face was a cold, stony mask. He marched over to the makeshift curtain and gentlyid the twins


    back down.


    When he turned to face us again, his wolf was dancing dangerously close to the surface, and his chest


    was heaving with the effort of holding him back.


    ¡°And Lanie, she did the same thing, too,¡± | said, trying to grab at anything | could to distract Mason, to take the heat off Zane and


    me. Lanie jerked her head up, her face reddening angrily.


    ¡°Don''t f ucking drag her into this,¡± Mason roared.


    | looked at Zane, my jaw clenched firmly. | jerked my head toward Mason. It was Zane¡¯s job to back me up,


    whether he liked it or not.


    ¡°Lanie knew she was pregnant with our pup when she did the spell,¡± Zane said reluctantly. ¡°But she still


    did it. Knowing that it meant we''d never get to see our child again.¡±


    Lanie narrowed her eyes at us. ¡°What the hell does that have to do with keeping the twins a secret from Mason?! | did the spell


    to protect myself and my child, a child | didn¡¯t think you even wanted!¡±


    her?


    She marched over to Mason and stood beside him. Did the time we just spent together mean nothing to


    ¡°And besides,¡± Mason snapped. ¡°You''re really going to keep my pups away from me as punishment for


    what you think Lanie did to you? Do you really think that makes any f ucking sense?!¡±


    He put his arm around Lanie protectively and pulled her closer


    it was all | could do not to run at him and tackle him to the ground. He needed to shut up, he was turning Lanie against us. Of


    course, he didn¡¯t understand why we¡¯d kept this from him. He wanted to see us as evil


    ¡°Look,¡± | finally said. ¡°Whether or not these twins were ours, weN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    of you finding out and running back off to rogue territory with these perfect little pups that we''d already fallen in love with...it was


    devastating.¡±


    ¡°So what, you u were just going to keep this a secret forever?¡± Mason demanded. ¡°I loved Alice.¡± His voice broke, and he cleared


    his throat. ¡°And these babies are all | have left of her. They¡¯re mine, and | won¡¯t let you


    take what''s mine again.¡±


    | knew it. | f ucking knew he¡¯d go there.


    My whole body was shaking now, and | didn¡¯t know what I¡¯d say next. This wasn¡¯t about some vendetta | had against him. | loved


    these babies, and | couldn''t give them up to a wolf | still didn¡¯t trust.


    Zane could sense that | was about to blow, so he stepped in, trying to be the voice of reason.


    ¡°You want to stay with Ste, we want to stay with the twins. I¡¯m sure we can work something out,¡± Zane


    suggested.


    ¡°Correction,¡± Mason said. ¡°We could have worked something out. If you hadn¡¯t f ucking lied to me. But that ship has sailed¡±


    Lanie


    Mason stormed out of the cabin, and | followed him into the night, the door e


    behind me.


    1 can¡¯t f ucking believe them,¡± he said, his voice shaking with anger and hurt. ¡°My own f ucking pups they kept them away from


    me this whole time.¡±


    | rested my hand on his shoulder while he breathed raggedly. I''d never seen him this upset.


    ¡°We can¡¯t trust these people, Lanie,¡± he said, looking up at me. There was a renewed fierceness in his


    eyes. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here.¡±


    ¡°What are you suggesting?¡± | asked incredulously.


    ¡°We take the babies. And we run back to Stillwood.¡±


    212

 Chapter 181

    Mason


    Lanie was looking at me like | was crazy.


    ¡°We can¡¯t leave this ce!¡± she cried. ¡°It¡¯s not safe!¡±


    ¡°Says who?¡± | jammed my finger toward the cabin. ¡°The wolves in there who stole my pups from me and have been plotting to


    steal my mate?!¡± | waved my hand off toward the dark woods. ¡°Or the ancient vampire and his hot young minion who keep


    promising to ¡°keep us updated¡± but never tell us a f ucking thing?!¡±


    Xander and Zane¡¯s lies had pushed me over the edge. Why the hell were we trusting any of these people? What good had they


    ever done for us?


    I''d made a mistakeing here, thinking | could make Xander and Orion pay for what they¡¯d done to me. But they were already


    self-destructing without my help. Maybe if I¡¯d nevere here, things would''ve imploded anyway, and | could''ve slipped in


    quietly after the dust had settled.


    We should''ve just stayed in Stillwood, stayed hidden, stayed in the dark.


    ¡°Mason, if they hadn¡¯t helped us, we would¡¯ve been kidnapped...or worse,¡± Lanie said.


    But | turned my head away from her. That''s what they wanted us to believe. That we needed them. So they could keep us here


    long enough to carry out whatever ns they had for us.


    Maybe they were all working for Orion, maybe this was some borate n to take me out of the picture for good. | bent down


    and held my head in my hands. Did | really think that? Or was Colt so riled up that he was making me believe crazy sh it?


    Unless | got away from all this and cleared my head, I¡¯d never know.


    ¡°Look, Mason.¡± Lanie stepped closer to me and took my hands in hers. She held my gaze intensely. ¡°You know Orion could


    easily find us in Stillwood. We''re not hidden there like we are here. We''re not safe,¡± she said


    again.


    ¡°So you feel safe with Xander and Zane and Braden, but not with me?¡±


    | knew it was a petty thing to say, but it felt impossible to control my anger and jealousy right now.


    Lanie shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t do that, Mason. | feel the safest with you, and you know it.¡± She fell into my


    arms and | held her tightly.


    It still amazed me, how right it felt having her in my arms.


    ¡°| feel horrible about what happened with the twins. It¡¯s f ucked up that they didn¡¯t tell you,¡± she said ¡°But it''s important that we all


    try to work it out and not do anything crazy.¡±


    A twinge of annoyance crept up the back of my neck. Why was | the crazy one here? Why did Braden and some old-a ss


    vampire know what was right for Lanic and Ste but | didn¡¯t?


    ¡°Lanie, | want to do this because | love you,¡± | said, pulling back and searching her face ¡°I don¡¯t want anything else to happen to


    you, or to our children.¡±


    She s


    swallowed hard and tears sprang to her eyes.


    ¡°| love you too, Mason.¡±


    | leaned down and kissed her slowly and deeply. Our tongues intertwined, and my hands were in her hair, and her heavy,


    intoxicating scent was wrapping around me, squeezing all the sense out of me.


    | couldn''t leave her, | needed her, needed to have her.


    We broke apart and she shook her head. ¡°But | can¡¯t go to Stillwood with you.¡±


    She wouldn''t meet my eyes. It felt like a spell had broken.


    Was she saying no because she genuinely thought she was safer here? Or because she didn¡¯t want to


    leave Xander and Zane behind?


    ¡°And, Mason... | don¡¯t want you to go, either. | want you to stay and protect me and Ste. You owe us that. You know that if you


    hadn¡¯ She trailed off and looked at the ground, but she didn¡¯t need to finish her sentence. | knew what she meant. If | hadn''t


    dragged her here, none of this would¡¯ve happened.


    Awell of rage and sadness rose from deep within me, but | gritted my teeth and nodded my head. | said nothing, and let Lanie


    lead me back inside


    Lanie


    | led Mason through the cabin and past Xander and Zane without another word.


    We entered the bedroom and climbed into the bed, still not speaking.


    Mason wrapped his arm around me, but even though we were pressed together, it seemed like he was miles away. I¡¯d hurt him


    by saying | wouldn''t go to Stillwood, but leaving this ce and its magical safety was way too scary and uncertain.


    Anxiety gripped me, my breathsing short and fast. | didn¡¯t want to leave with Mason, but | didn¡¯t want


    to live without him, either.


    | awoke suddenly and felt the emptiness of the bed immediately.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    | flipped over and sure enough, Mason was gone. My heart thudded hard. Maybe he was outside or in the living room with Ste.


    But something in me knew that was wishful thinking.


    | slowly tiptoed out to the living room where Xander and Zane were sound asleep. | pulled back the


    curtain to check on Ste. She was there, sleeping soundly.


    But both of the twins were gone.


    212

 Chapter 182

    ZaneN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°Zane, you have to wake up!¡±


    Distantly, | heard Lanie¡¯s voice, and then | felt her shaking me


    My eyes fluttered open, and she was standing over me, her eyes wide with fear


    ¡°He¡¯s gone!¡± she cried. ¡°He took them!¡±


    I sat up off the floor like my body was spring loaded.


    ¡°He took who?¡± | asked, but | already knew the answer.


    Xander sat up on the couch and looked over at us, blinking the sleep out of his eyes.


    Lanie nced from him back to me, her bottom lip quivering.


    ¡°The twins,¡± she whispered.


    Xander and | bolted up at the same time and ran over to where the babies were sleeping. When we ripped


    back the curtain, only Ste was asleep in her bass


    ¡°He can¡¯t have left,¡± | said. ¡°Did you check outside?¡±


    ¡°No, but...¡± Lanie started to say, but | waved her off and ran out the front door, Xander trailing behind me


    ¡°MASON" Xander yelled as we split off and ran the length of the enchantment line. But even in the dark,


    we could tell that he was gone.


    Aroar broke free from Xander¡¯s chest, and he threw himself to the ground, his back rising and falling with


    heaving breaths


    | walked over to him and kneeled, cing my hand on his back


    ¡°He f ucking took them,¡± Xander said, his voice heavy with fury and sadness. ¡°And | have no idea where


    they went


    ¡°| do¡± We both whipped around, and Lanie was standing on the porch holding Ste, her gaze distant and


    unfocused. ¡°I know where he took them.¡±


    Iran to her. ¡°Where?¡± | asked desperately. ¡°We need to get them back.¡±


    Xander sprinted to the edge of the enchantment line, and | could feel Hunter rising within him, about to break free His whole


    body was vibrating, ready to shift and run after Mason, and | could feel de starting to


    stir inside me, too


    But then Lange shook her head tears falling fast down her cheeks


    ¡°No, no, you can¡¯t go She reached for my arms and clung to them desperately 1 told him not to leave me


    Her voice was high and shaky and terrified.


    My stomach lurched, and a lightning bolt of pain ripped through my chest. de was pacing fitfully. pulled in one direction by the


    need to hunt down Mason and get our babies back and in another to stay with


    Lanie and keep her safe.


    Xander was doubled over, too, no doubt fighting the same internal battle.


    ¡°Please,¡± Lanie whispered again. ¡°Please...¡±


    ¡°This is bu Il s hit,¡± Xander snapped as he stalked back inside.


    Lanie breathed out a long, relieved sigh. Of course, we wouldn¡¯t leave her there alone. But there was no


    way we were letting Mason run away with our babies, either,


    ¡°We have to call Braden back here,¡± | said. ¡°If we can¡¯t leave, then we need someone else to track Mason


    down.¡±


    Lanie swallowed hard and nodded.


    But it was the middle of the night, and phones were useless out here. How the hell could we call him? | felt s tupid for not asking


    that question sooner. | was a f ucking Beta: | helped give orders, | didn¡¯t wait around


    for them.


    Lanie clung to my arm harder. | squeezed her hand. She looked like she wanted to speak, but was having


    trouble finding the words.


    ¡°I''m sorry we kept this from Mason.¡± | broke the silence instead. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry | dragged you into it. |


    didn¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°| know,¡± she said to me through our mind link. ¡°I can¡¯t lose you too, Zane.¡±


    My insides warmed at her words


    ¡°You won''t,¡± | assured her.


    She reached for the front of my shirt and grabbed a fistful of the fabric, tugging me closer to her. Our lips were inches away, her


    scent filling my nostrils, almost making me forget where | was and what had


    happened...


    But then there was a crash and a roar inside the cabin and we sprung apart. It sounded like Xander was


    tearing the ce apart.


    ¡°F uck, I''ll be right back,¡± | said.


    Lanie


    Zane shut the door behind him, and then I was alone with Ste,


    | could hear their stomping feet and raised voices, but | didn¡¯t care what they were saying as long as they


    were here with me.


    unswaddled Ste and set her nket down on the porch,ying her gently on top of it. | would only be gone for a mornent.


    Xander and Zane would never let me do this, so | had to act fast.


    | ran down the stairs and the the edge of the enchantment line, pausing for one second before | crossed it. The forest was pitch-


    ck and silent, and blood pumped loudly in my ears.


    | took my hair down, letting it spill down my back and blow in the wind. | let myself feel the full extent of my fear, my frustration,


    and my sadness, hoping the scent of it was strong enough to draw him in.


    ¡°Braden!¡± | called out. ¡°Braden, | need you!¡±


    My voice echoed through the trees and then silence settled over me again. Goosebumps erupted over my body.


    And then there was a rustle in the trees nearby. My heart leapt into my throat.


    But before | could move, a hand pped over my mouth, and | was tackled to the ground.

 Chapter 183

    Braden


    Before | knew what | was doing. Lanie and | were crashing to the ground in a heap.


    She thrashed and kicked beneath me, but | didn¡¯t care. We were back inside the spell''s protective borders. That was all that


    mattered.


    | let her go, and she scrambled to her feet just as Xander and Zane ran out from the cabin.


    they had deep


    They both looked, frankly, likeplete s hit. They were scruffy around their jaws, a purple bags under their eyes. Maybe |


    overestimated their ability to deal with the close quarters.


    ¡°What the f uck is this?¡± Xander asked, his eyes bugged out and crazy. He sprinted down the stairs and straight up to me,


    nting his hands on my chest and shoving me.


    |


    I stag gered back, but recovered quickly, huffing out a humorlessugh.


    Zane stood behind Xander, his chest heaving and threatening me with those stu pid wolf eyes.


    Ico cked my eyebrow at them both. ¡°I was about to ask you the same thing,¡± | said, motioning to Lanie, who had run to the porch


    to scoop up Ste. ¡°She was out beyond the border letting her scent seep all over the forest like some deadly siren¡¯s call.¡±


    Lanie looked furious. ¡°I was doing what | had to do to get you here!¡± she cried.


    ¡°Yeah, well you''re lucky | was headed here anyway.¡± | said. ¡°But we might get unwantedpany soon.¡±


    | had no idea what possessed Lanie to step outside the border. Her vampire side had been reawakened, and her in-heat scent


    was more powerful than ever.


    ¡°Why the hell were you out there anyway?¡± | asked. ¡°And why do you two look like sh it?¡± | asked, waving at


    Xander and Zane.


    Zane growled and | had to fight back the urge tough again. Wolves and their grumbling...


    ¡°Mason left,¡± Lanie said thickly. ¡°And he took the twins with him.¡±


    Oh, sh it.


    ¡°What?!¡± | asked. ¡°Where did he go?¡±


    ¡°To Stillwood, | think,¡± Lanie said.


    Double s hit.


    ¡°We need you to find him before Orion does,¡± Xandermanded.


    I started to argue that | didn¡¯t take orders from Alphas but now wasn¡¯t the time.


    ¡°Mchi is tracing Orion as we speak,¡± | exined. ¡°If he¡¯s found Mason and the twins, then he¡¯lle


    1/2


    Xander and Zane eyed me suspiciously.


    ¡°These are our f ucking pups were talking about,¡± Zane said. ¡°We can¡¯t just wait around to see if hees


    back or not.¡±


    | held my hand up. ¡°Fine, I''ll go and check myself, see if Mason¡¯s scent is still traceable.¡±


    | turned to go, but Lanie called out.


    ¡°Wait! Why were youing back here?¡± she asked. is my sister okay?¡±


    | nodded. ¡°Orion is frustrated. He tried getting information from Selena, and she could honestly say she


    had no idea where you were, so he had to let her go.¡±


    ¡°And what about the pack? The Council?¡± Xander asked.


    ¡°It''s only been a few days of lockdown, but every wolf in Constantine is growing restless,¡± | exined.


    ¡°Anyone who¡¯s broken out of lockdown has been imprisoned or taken to the hybrid facility for ¡®tests¡¯ aka


    torture, but it''s not calming people down any less.¡±


    It was honestly chaos, but without Ste and Lanie or Xander and Zane, Orion and the Council were


    stuck. Pretty soon they were going to need that hybrid army, otherwise the shifters they¡¯d forced into lockdown


    were going to rise up against them.


    ¡°So you


    you came here to tell us what? That nothing has changed?¡± Xander asked.


    ¡°A lot has changed, actually. In a very short amount of time.¡±


    | spun around when | heard Mchi¡¯s voice. Another figure stood next to him just on the other side of the


    barrier, a cloak concealing their identity.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± Zane asked, but | had the same question.


    And then the figure dropped their hood. It was Gabri,


    Xander¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Ma? What are you doing her


    e?¡±


    Now that her face hade into view, | could see that it was pale. She was afraid.


    ¡°We have a big problem.¡±

 Chapter 184

    Lanie


    ¡°Gabri, what is it?¡± Braden asked, a concerned look on his face.


    | was desperate to hear her answer, but if she was here with Mchi, then no one was trailing Orion.


    What if he¡¯d already captured Mason? What if he was torturing him right now?


    My mouth went dry, and the ce on my neck where Mason had imed me tingled.


    ¡°He¡¯s in danger.¡± Lily was freaking out, too, but stating the obvious wasn¡¯t helping.


    | braced myself to hear the worst-that Mason had been captured and killed, but | wasn¡¯t expecting what


    came next.


    ¡°Orion has what he needs,¡± Gabri said. ¡°Two hyrbid babies.¡±


    Wait, what? Two babies? But they weren¡¯t...they couldn''t be....


    ¡°No,¡± Xander said firmly. ¡°It''s not them. Tell me it isn¡¯t them.¡±


    He rushed down to the spell border where Gabri and Mchi still stood on the other side. Zane


    followed him as if in a daze.


    ¡°| wish | could say it¡¯s not, but..¡± Mchi trailed off, his handsome face was twisting in disgust. ¡°I¡¯m


    afraid your father¡¯s ns run deeper than we''d even imagined, Xander.¡±


    Xander looked at Gabri. ¡°What is he talking about?¡±


    | watched them closely, my heart hammering so hard it made me nauseous.


    ¡°Do you know much about Alice¡¯s family, Xander? Do you, Zane?¡± Mchi asked.


    Their faces scrunched in concentration, but they remained silent.


    ¡°It took her years to be mated, did it not?¡± Mchi asked. ¡°And when she finally was, who did she get


    mated to?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°Gregory and Lucas,¡± Zane said, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°The men Orion paid off to mate hybrid she-wolves so he could use


    them for testing.¡±


    My breath caught in my throat. ¡°Alice was a hybrid, too.¡±


    Everyone turned to look at me. Xander¡¯s and Zane¡¯s faces morphed into masks of shock and horror.


    My heart panged for them. They''d had no idea what kind of danger Alice was in, what kind of danger their


    pups were in.


    But deep down, | also felt a terrible, ugly jolt of jealousy. Alice and | had been the same, | wasn¡¯t stronger or more special than


    her. And Mason, Xander, and Zane had all loved her, too.


    or


    knew Mason


    Constantine, but the twins were only useful to Orion if their vampire side came


    from an ancient bloodline.


    Mchi nodded.


    ¡°She¡¯s not from my bloodline, but I¡¯m one of three surviving ancients,¡± he exined. ¡°The others...they don¡¯t live in this region. |


    don¡¯t know who her ancestors were, but I¡¯m guessing Orion does.¡±


    ¡°F uck!¡± Xander cried, pressing his palms to his hands. ¡°Where are the twins now?¡±


    ¡°With Orion,¡± Gabri said. ¡°He¡¯s bargaining with the Council before he hands them over for testing. We


    don¡¯t have much time.¡°


    My heart ached for the twins. They were so little, so innocent, and Ste could have just as easily been in


    their ce.


    G ods, it wasn¡¯t fair. We had to stop this.


    ¡°Why did he have to run?¡± Zane asked, his voice rough with emotion. ¡°Why did Mason have to be so


    fucking st upid?¡±


    Ahorrible sound ripped from Xander¡¯s throat, something between a cry and a snarl. Zane wrapped his


    arms around him, but his whole body was shaking, too.


    ¡°Where is he?¡± | was almost afraid to ask, but | had to know. ¡°What did Orion do with Mason?¡±


    ¡°| wish | could tell you, Mchi said: ¡°Gabri didn¡¯t see him.¡±


    Xander picked up his head. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Gabri took in a shaky breath. ¡°I was living with him again. In the hunting lodge. | convinced him | wanted in on his n, but |


    was working for Mchi this whole time.¡±


    Sh it. No wonder she looked so pale and terrified. Orion had probably tortured her, too.


    ¡°Thene in here, you''re not safe out there,¡± Xander said.


    ¡°| can¡¯t,¡± Gabri said. ¡°The spell won¡¯t let me through the barrier. But it¡¯s okay. Mchi and | are going to wait for Orion to leave,


    and we''re going to head him off. We''re going to bring the babies back.¡±


    Looks of confusion and concern passed between me, Braden, Xander, and Zane.


    ¡°Say you seed in bringing back the twins,¡± Zane said. ¡°Then what? Orion won¡¯t stoping.¡±


    ¡°| know,¡± Mchi said. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to kill him.¡±

 Chapter 185

    Xander


    ¡°We''re going with you,¡± | said. ¡°And my mother is staying here.¡±


    Zane nodded.


    If our p


    pups were in danger, in what f ucking world would we sit here and wait for my mother and an


    ancient vampire to take care of it?


    ¡°You''re not,¡± Mchi said. ¡°And Braden will stay here to make sure you don¡¯t take one step outside the


    barrier.


    Braden whipped his head toward Mchi. He clearly didn¡¯t want the job, which was great, because he


    couldn¡¯t stop us from leaving if he tried.


    Anger bloomed inside me, hot and fast, and | let Hunter w his way to the surface.


    Next to me, Zane flexed his fists, too. When he opened them, his ws had shot down from his knuckles.


    ¡°We have to find them,¡± Zane said. ¡°We have to protect them.¡±


    Hell yes, we did.


    When Mchi told us Orion had our pups, my heart felt like it cracked in half. But there was time. And we


    were wasting it by having this s upid f ucking discussion,


    ¡°Charge at Braden on three?¡± | asked Xander.


    Lanie caught my eye, and her lips pursed into a tight warning line.


    F uck, | forgot she could hear us.


    But she didn¡¯t say anything.


    | looked back at Zane and he nodded slightly.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°One...¡± We spread our legs out in warrior stance.


    ¡°Two...¡± We growled, low and vicious. Braden narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Three.¡±


    We lunged at Braden, each knocking into one of his shoulders and throwing him to the ground.


    ¡°You think he can keep us here?¡± | screamed at Mchi.


    ¡°Xander!¡± | could hear my mother yelling and Ste starting to cry. | didn¡¯t want to do this, | didn¡¯t want to


    create anymore chaos, but they were forcing our hand.


    While we held Braden down, he thrashed and kicked. His fangs finally dropped down into his mouth, but


    we were overpowering him.


    protest


    lisce was emotionless.


    Braden went limp in our grasp, and we stood up, thinking we¡¯d proved our point. But in the blink of an eye. Braden was on his


    feet and reaching out his hands, grabbing both Zane and me by the necks and squeezing


    hard.


    ¡°STOP!¡± | heard my mother and Lanie both cry.


    My ears were ringing, and my vision was going fuzzy | tried to scratch at him, but my ws weren''t connecting. Then there was a


    rush of air to my lungs, and | crashed to the ground. Zanended in a heap


    beside me.


    ¡°Like | said...¡± Mchi surveyed the scene with some disinterest. ¡°You will stay here, inside. And you will take care of each other.


    You''re no use to Mason, Isaac, or ina if you¡¯re dead,


    ¡°You two have the biggest targets on your back aside from Lanie and Ste,¡± my mother said. ¡°And if anything happens to you,


    who will take care of them?¡±


    The question hit me like a dagger to the heart as | looked at Lanie and Ste. As f ucked up as it was to think about it, she was


    our mate, and Ste was our blood child. Our duty was to them first.


    me


    ¡°F uck all of you,¡± | said, but all the fight had left me. went to Lanie and put my arm around her. She let


    ¡°We''re staying to protect you and Ste,¡± | said.


    Zane walked over and joined us. ¡°You still mean more to us than anything else.¡±


    She nodded and rested her head on my shoulder.


    Mchi stepped over the spell border and handed me a walkie-talkie.


    ¡°We''llmunicate with these,¡± he said. ¡°Hard to trace, and they don¡¯t rely on cell


    cell service.¡±


    H


    Zane and | exchanged a confused look. This thing felt old and bulky.


    ¡°I''m well aware it¡¯s old fashioned, and magic would be cooler,¡± Mchi said in an exasperated tone. ¡°But


    other spells or magicked items could interfere with the protective barrier. And besides, we can¡¯t locate Rhiannon right now.


    Everyone''s heard about the Constantine lockdown, and it¡¯s got the witches sp ooked, too.¡±


    any


    ¡°Got it,¡± Zane said. ¡°Let us know as soon as you have news.¡±


    ¡°| will.¡± Mchi bowed and walked back over to my mother.


    | broke away from Lanie and followed him, stopping as close to the spell barrier as | could.


    ¡°Be safe,¡± | told my mother, and suddenly | was fighting back tears. ¡°And I''m sorry, | didn¡¯t mean what |


    |said-


    ¡°Xander,¡± she cut me off, ¡°I know. | love


    you.¡±


    | nodded. ¡°Be safe¡± was all | could manage to say.


    212

 Chapter 186

    Zane


    After G


    Gabri and Mchi left, Xander and | sat on the couch not speaking for a long time, the gray light of morning eventually


    creeping in through the windows.


    I tugged


    ed the curtains shut, nning on getting some sleep, but | knew as soon as | sat back down that it wouldn¡¯te.


    Braden was still outside pacing and guarding while Lanie sat in the bedroom with Ste.


    Go ds, what a terrible mess we were in. Our pups had been our whole world for the months between Alice¡¯s passing and Lanie¡¯s


    arrival. They¡¯d be everything to us, and now we were just sitting here while Orion held them captive.


    And if we didn¡¯t get them back, who knows what he''d do to them. Would he run the same tests on them that he¡¯d run on the she-


    wolves he¡¯d captured? Shooting silver into their bloodstream? Burning them with fire?


    I


    Awave of nausea hit me, and | had to take a deep breath through my nose. They were so small and Innocent. The thought of


    them being tortured almost drove me crazy.


    Next to me, Xander kept sighing and holding his head in his hands. He was just as distressed, no doubt


    having the same thought spiral | was. But both of us seemed afraid to speak any of our fears into existence.


    As time ticked by, | found it harder and harder to sit here waiting for news. Just when | thought | might


    cra ck, | felt Xander stand up beside me..


    ¡°I''m leaving,¡± he said. His eyes were distant and unfocused, and his movements were robotic.


    ¡°Xander, you can''t,¡± | said, even though I''d just been contemting it myself.


    But somehow his movements had jerked me out of it


    He turned away from me and grabbed his jacket, sliding it on.


    ¡°Braden doesn¡¯t scare me,¡± he said.


    There was no emotion in his voice. It freaked me out


    ¡°Xander,¡± | said, but he didn¡¯t turn around.


    | stepped between him and the door, and his eyes seemed toe back into


    ¡°Don''t try and stop me, Zane,¡± he said, his voice more aggressive now.


    ¡°Or what?¡± | asked evenly. Better we fight than Xander and Braden.


    focus as he looked at me.


    Alow growl rumbled from Xander¡¯s chest, and in a sh, his hand was at my throat, pushing me against


    the door. But | wasn¡¯t afraid.


    Xander leaned in, his lips grazing my ear.


    ¡°I''m your Alpha,¡± he whispered. ¡°I hope you haven''t forgotten.¡±


    | looked into his eyes, and suddenly | felt a sensation | hadn¡¯t felt in years. Or at least...1 hadn¡¯t allowed. myself to feel it. |


    wanted him. | needed him.


    | h ooked my fingers through his belt loops and pulled him into me. His c ock swelled immediately, his gaze darkening and his


    eyelids drooping. So he was feeling it, too.


    ¡°Never,¡± | whispered back.


    And then | leaned forward just enough that my lips collided with Xander¡¯s. He didn¡¯t move at first, traces of anger still rolling off of


    him, but then his hand rose up to my jaw, pulling me closer, while his other hand gripped my waist.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    We''d done this before, years ago, and | realized now that I¡¯d missed having Xander like this.


    The first time was just after Alice had turned eighteen and we thought she¡¯d be mated to another pair of wolves. We were already


    mourning the loss of her in our bed, wondering how we¡¯d get on without her when we still had all this pent-up desire, these needs


    that had to be satisfied..


    And that¡¯s when Xander kissed me


    That¡¯s when we discovered that we could satisfy each other. And I''d be lying if | said | didn¡¯t f ucking enjoy it. We¡¯d always had


    this connection, we¡¯d always understood each other like no one else could, why not use that for sexual pleasure?


    Now, with Xander¡¯s big hands all over me and his tongue diving into my mouth, | wondered why we''d ever agreed not to go there


    again. What was so bad about it, especially now that Lanie was only using us as second-string sex objects?


    ¡°I''ve f ucking missed this,¡± Xander growled.


    So had I.


    Lanie


    | slept fitfully for a few hours after we¡¯de back into the cabin, but now that morning hade, | was


    awake and scared.


    Ste still slept peacefully in her bass, thank the go ds. | was worried my stress would upset her and


    she would wind up sleepless and cranky, too.


    | was so anxious about Mason that | couldn¡¯t even think about him without feeling dizzy and like | might


    be sick. | knew he was strong as hell, and something in me was sure that he was still alive, still fighting. He had imed me after


    all-Lily and | would know if he¡¯d been killed.


    | wished now that I¡¯d told him what he¡¯d meant to me again, in case it was thest chance | had. Right now, | was beyond


    grateful to Xander and Zane for staying with me even though | knew a huge part of them


    wanted to leave and find their pups.


    They were telling me how much they cared for me, and now | needed to do the same for them.


    While Ste was still sleeping soundly, | crept out of the bedroom and down the hall, stopping in my


    tracks when | saw them.


    Xander had Zane pressed up against the door, one hand around his throat and kissing him desperately, while Zane grabbed


    Xander¡¯s co ck through his pants. Xander moaned into Zane¡¯s mouth, and the sound sent


    shivers down my whole body.


    They started tugging at each other¡¯s clothes, pulling them off wildly, like they couldn¡¯t wait another


    second to touch each other.


    | pressed my thighs together against the sudden rush of arousal flooding my core, watching them closely and not saying a word,


    desperate to see how far they would go.

 Chapter 187

    Lanie


    That same primal need that I''d felt the night before overtook me again,


    They''d teased mest night with thoughts of the two of them together, but | never thought it would actually happen. And now


    here they were in front of me, tumbling onto the couch together, running their hands. over their bare, muscr chests.


    The fantasy of them f ucking had turned me on intensely, but | didn¡¯t think seeing them actually together would make me this wet.


    Maybe it was because they were my mates, they belonged to me in a sense, and | knew they wanted me just as badly as they


    wanted each other.


    Maybe they were doing th


    because they needed me so badly, because they couldn¡¯t have me like they wanted. The power of that and the roughness with


    which Zane was pushing Xander back onto the couch and shoving his hands under the waistband of his boxers made me dizzy


    with desire.


    | leaned against the wall, still watching them just out of sight, feeling my skin grow hot and tingly as Zane took Xander¡¯s coc k in


    his hand. Xander moaned deeply, capturing Zane¡¯s lips with his and kissing him passionately. | let my fingers travel down into my


    underwear, immediately soaked with my arousal.


    | rubbed my swollen c lit while | watched Zane force down Xander¡¯s boxers, freeing his hard, thick c ock and taking it in his hand,


    Xander thrusting into it with force.


    | gasped involuntarily and pped my hand over my mouth, but their heads had already jerked up, their eyes ssy with need.


    Amischievous smile spread over both of their faces as they called me toward them.


    ¡°Come here,¡± Xander said, his voice husky and demanding.


    My cheeks pri ckled with heat, but | walked forward. How could | say no?


    Zane held his hand out to me, and | took it, letting him pull me between them. | fell onto Zane¡¯s chest, his hard c ock pressing


    into my stomach through his boxers as he sat me up.


    Xander leaned into me, his erection warm and hard against my back.


    ¡°| knew you had a kinky side. You like watching us, don¡¯t you?¡± he teased in a raspy whisper.


    | shivered and another rush of wetness flooded my thighs.


    Zane¡¯s nostrils red and Xander inhaled deeply, growling with hunger. | was turned on and very much still in heat. My scent was


    stronger than ever.


    | nodded and swallowed hard.


    Zane took me by the chin and brought my lips to his, while Xander¡¯s hands wandered to my breasts,


    rougher, needier.


    | felt Xander¡¯s lips on my ear again. His husky,manding voice. ¡°You¡¯re going to let Zane f uck you. And I¡¯m going to watch.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± | said breathlessly. | liked seeing his Alphae out like this.


    I


    Zane¡¯s big hands wrapped around my hips, hoisting me onto him. | automatically wrapped my legs around him, pressing my


    needy core against his rock-hard c ock. In one swift movement, he lifted me up, then set me down gently onto the nket on the


    floor.


    Xander watched us carefully from the couch, his co ck twitching with anticipation.


    Zane yanked down my underwear while | ripped off my shirt, spreading out naked on the nket, fully on disy for them.


    | almost giggled thinking back to how nervous I¡¯d been for them to see me that first time. Now | relished in their hungry gazes,


    drinking me in like | was the most beautiful thing they¡¯d ever seen.


    ¡°You bettere over here,¡± | said to Zane.


    ¡°Or what?¡± he asked mischievously.


    | let my legs fall open, clouding the room with my heady scent.


    Xander¡¯s head fell back against the couch, and Zane groaned.


    ¡°F ucking hell,¡± Xander said under his breath.


    my wet folds


    My fingers drifted slowly past my stomach down between my legs, where | slid them along my tauntingly. | moaned as | pushed a


    finger inside myself, my walls clenching, desperate for more.


    Zane pushed himself between my legs and pulled my finger out of me, guiding it to his mouth and sliding


    it slowly between his lips, tasting my] juices.


    His eyes fluttered closed, and he moaned deeply before pulling my finger out and ripping down his boxers,


    exposing his hard, dripping co ck.


    He leaned down onto me, his wet tip teasing my entrance, aching to have him inside me.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°You''re all mine now,¡± he whispered.


    But then it hit me where we were, why we were alone, and suddenly, | sat up


    ¡°Wait,¡± | said through our mind link, and Zane paused. Both of them were looking at me curiously. ¡°It¡¯s just...how can we? With


    everything going on?¡±


    | didn¡¯t dare mention Mason or the twins, but they knew what | meant.


    ¡°You''re guilty, aren¡¯t you?¡± Zane asked looking down at me intensely. ¡°I feel it, too.¡±


    ¡°But if this is what our wolves are begging us to do, if this is what keeps us here and keeps us safe,


    then...¡± Xander trailed off.


    ¡°Then why not?¡± Zane said. finishing his sentence. 9/2


    It was true, we were told to stay within the walls of the cabin. And sex with Xander and Zane was part of the contract we¡¯d


    agreed on. Was it right to do this while Mason was g od knows where? No, it wasn¡¯t. But could | stop now that we¡¯d gone this


    far? No f ucking way.


    ¡°What about this?¡± Xander asked as he picked his shirt up off the ground and ripped a strip of fabric fr


    from it. He walked over to us and knelt down, cing the fabric over my eyes, and tying it behind my head.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be personal,¡± Xander said, just a voice in my head now that everything had gone dark.


    ¡°Now we can be anyone you want us to be.¡±

 Chapter 188

    Lanie


    Zane¡¯s hand slowly slid up my thigh, to my


    v care.


    He swiped his fingers through my folds. ¡°She¡¯s so wet,¡± he said before plunging two fingers inside me.


    | gasped, everything feeling heightened without sight.


    ¡°We can be anyone you want us to be,¡± Xander had said, but | couldn¡¯t imagine anyone but them. My need for them was too


    strong, too animal to resist.


    | thrust my hips against Zane¡¯s fingers, needing more, needing to feel fuller, but instead, he pulled them out of me and pushed


    my thighs farther apart. A secondter, | felt warm breath on my center. My pus sy clenched in anticipation.


    And then his tongue was on me, moving through my wet folds and hitting my c lit. More juices flooded my center and Zane


    lapped them up gratefully. A low grunt of pleasure sounded from the couch, and Xander¡¯s arousal rolling off him in waves while


    Zane continued to taste me.


    Suddenly, Zane stopped. Secondster, his tip was at my entrance.


    ¡°Do you want me to f uck you, Lanie?¡± Zane growled in my ear. My whole body shivered.


    ¡°Yes,¡± | whispered.


    He barely pushed his tip in, and | gasped.


    ¡°How badly do you want me to f uck you?¡± he asked, his voice rough and low.


    ¡°So f ucking bad,¡± | whined needily.


    | could feel


    In one swift movement, he hitched my legs onto his shoulders and mmed himself inside me, plunging in so deeply | cried out.


    Her


    groaned as he slowly pulled out and then quickly thrust back inside me, somehow even deeper than before. Moan after moan


    tumbled from my lips as Zane filled me to the brim. | felt myself tumbling toward the edge, about to break, when he slowed down.


    He pulled out of me and pulled me up off the floor, supporting me as my knees nearly buckled from the


    intense pleasure and his denial of my release. | wondered what was in store for me next.


    | walked only a few steps before | felt warm, big hands on my back.


    ¡°Xander?¡± | whispered as | was pulled onto hisp.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he growled in my ear. ¡°It¡¯s my turn.¡±


    His co ck twitched between my cheeks, and | moaned.


    ¡°You want it in


    your a ss?¡± Xander purred. ¡°You like that now don¡¯t you?¡±


    1/2


    ¡°Yes,¡± | said desperately. | knew it would hurt-Xander¡¯s co ck was way thicker and longer than Zane¡¯s fingers, but blindfolded like


    this, letting them do whatever they wanted to me... couldn''t resist.


    ¡°Zane, would you mind?¡± Xander asked as he scooted me off hisp a bit. | heard Zane kneel down, felt. his head close to my


    center, and then heard Xander¡¯s low, needy moan. Zane was sucking him off.


    Go ds, | wanted to rip the blindfold off and watch so badly. But something about imagining, hearing but not seeing, made it way f


    ucking hotter. | felt Zane¡¯s hand part my thighs and swipe through my folds again. I¡¯d soaked his fingers.


    ¡°She''s so wet,¡± Xander moaned out. ¡°She likes this.¡±


    | heard the soft pop of Zane¡¯s lips leaving Xander¡¯s di ck, and then | was back on Xander¡¯sp, his c ock teasing my entrance. |


    folded my legs on either side of him, pushing myself up slightly, ready to take him.


    | let my hips rx into him as he slidpletely inside me, Zane¡¯s hand back at my cl it, stroking slowly.


    | felt fuller than | ever had, the sensation unlike any I¡¯d ever experienced. | reached for both of them, weaving a hand through


    each of their hair.


    ¡°| want to feel both of you,¡± | gasped. ¡°I need both of you inside me.¡±


    They both grunted, intensely turned-on, and | felt Zane¡¯s hand leave my c lit and spread my legs before sliding back inside me.


    He grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me hard as my muscles clenched around. them desperately.


    ¡°F uck,¡± | murmured as Xander moved my hips forward and back, his length sliding in and out in time with


    Zane¡¯s.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I''d never felt so connected to them. That string that always held us together was tighter than ever, its presence more intense


    without my sight. | savored every deep, intense movement, never wanting it to end. But


    | could feel a hard knot clenching in my stomach, about to break at any moment.


    Their breathing soon became wild and ragged, and | could tell they were close, too. With onest deep


    thrust, | camepletely undone, feeling pleasure so intense that my brain short-circuited. | felt Xander and Zane¡¯s co cks jerk,


    and then warmth as they spilled everything they had deep inside me.


    They s


    slid out of me slowly, and Zane reached out for me, pulling me off the couch. He threw a nket over me and picked me up,


    walking me back into the bedroom. He set me down gently on the bed.


    I didn¡¯t remove the blindfold.


    | didn¡¯t want to wake up from the dream.

 Chapter 189

    Xander


    Zane and | were syed out on the couch, dressed now and totally spent from our time with Lanie.


    It was incredible how in sync we were, how right everything always felt with her. But now that it was over, the guilt was creeping


    back in.


    We''d had the time of our lives f ucking her while half our family was in mortal peril. How f ucked in the head was that?


    | tried to remind myself that we''d had to stay here anyway, that worrying ourselves sick would only have led to us trying


    something stu pid, but still. The fact that we still hadn¡¯t heard any news was concerning.


    | was just about to stick my head out the door and bother Braden when a cra ckle sounded from the walkie-talkie. Zane and |


    both snapped our heads toward it. | sn atched it off the side table and held it between


    us.


    Another cra ckle, and then my mother¡¯s voice, barely audible though the static.


    ¡°Xander, they¡¯re-¡± Her voice cut out.


    | pressed the button to talk. ¡°They¡¯re what? What''s going on?¡± | asked.


    More static, and then Mom''s voice again. ¡°They¡¯reing, Xander. They¡¯reing for you. Get out of there, get away, NOW.¡±


    Zane and | locked eyes, my worry reflected in his face


    ¡°What the hell?¡± he said.


    | pressed the button again.


    ¡°Ma!¡± | yelled. ¡°Ma, who¡¯sing? Where do we go?


    But there was only silence.


    ¡°F uck!¡± | yelled and threw the walkie-talkie down.


    ¡°She''s gotta be talking about Orion,¡± Zane said, his brow furrowed with concern.


    But my mother had said ¡°they¡¯reing.¡±


    | pressed my palm to my head, trying to think.


    Just then, the door flew open, and Braden stepped through. ¡°Everything good in here? | heard yelling.¡± He nced from me to


    Zane. ¡°The bad kind, | should say..


    | narrowed my eyes at him. Of course, he had listened in on us earlier.


    ¡°No, this is f ucking serious,¡± | snapped.


    it.¡±


    Braden shook his head. ¡°You can¡¯t leave here,¡± he said.


    Yeah, we f ucking knew that.


    Braden sn atched up the walkie and spoke into it. ¡°Mchi, are you there?¡±


    There was still silence on the other end.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t hear Mchi¡¯s voice when my mother came through,¡± | told him.


    ¡°S hit,¡± Braden cursed. ¡°This isn¡¯t good.¡±


    ¡°How strong is this protective spell?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°Pretty da mn strong,¡± Braden said. ¡°But if Orion finds us here, then we¡¯re stuck until he can break through


    F uck. We''d have to leave here eventually. And if Orion found us, he could surround the ce Guards and make sure we never


    escaped.


    with High


    ¡°What''s going on?¡± Lanie asked sleepily as she walked into the room holding Ste. It was almost a shock. to see her dressed


    normally, with no blindfold over her eyes.


    ¡°We have to leave,¡± Braden said, his gaze distant, like he was lost in thought. ¡°If it turns out Orion¡¯s not on our trail, we can


    alwayse back.¡±


    | knew it wasn¡¯t that simple, and so did Lanie by the look on her face. Her eyes were wide and she was chewing her bottom lip.


    Braden seemed to shake himself out of whatever daze he was in. ¡°We have to move quickly,¡± he said,


    already beginning to gather things we''d need to bring with us.


    | walked over to Lanie.


    ¡°| never really unpacked,¡± she said in a quiet voice. ¡°My suitcase is ready.¡±


    We started taking things out of the cabin to the ck SUV still parked among the trees. Our eyes shifted every which way as we


    worked, keeping our wolves close to the surface so we could hear anyone who


    approached.


    ¡°We''re ready to go,¡± | called to Lanie inside. We''d decided she¡¯de out at the veryst second, right


    when we were ready to drive away.


    She''d barely made it down the front porch steps when we heard the snap of a branch in the woods.


    Zane, Braden, and | whipped around. And there, on the other side of the protective border was my


    With Mason.


    father.


    Lanie gasped and a s ob ripped from her lips.


    Mason looked like he¡¯d been through literal hell. He was beaten, bloodied, and barely standing upright. His ankles and wrists


    were tied together with silver chains.


    213


    ¡°Lanie,¡± Mason wheezed. ¡°Don¡¯t give him anything.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± my father cried, pping Mason across the face.


    Lanie cried out, tears running down her face.


    Regardless of how | felt about Mason, Lanie¡¯s pain cut straight through me. My father was a f ucking. a sshole, and he was going


    to pay.


    ¡°| want Lanie and Ste, my father announced. ¡°Come with me, or else.¡±


    ¡°F uck no,¡± | growled. He was insane if he thought I''d ever let him touch Lanie again. I¡¯d die before that happened.


    ¡°Fine,¡± my father said. ¡°Then Mason dies.¡±


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 190

    Lanie


    ¡°NO!" | yelled, rushing forward.


    But all at once, Xander, Zane, and Braden stepped in front of me.


    ¡°You can¡¯t, Lanie¡± Zane held out his hands to stop me.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    But | couldn¡¯t watch Mason die, either. | looked down at Ste, then back at Mason. He shook his head weakly.


    This was an impossible decision. Any choice | made would be devastating.


    ¡°He¡¯s all talk, Lanie,¡± Xander said, his wolf rising up in him as he faced his father. ¡°He¡¯s a f ucking coward.¡±


    ¡°You disrespectful little sh it,¡± Orion said.


    ¡°I''d rather be disrespectful than f ucking evil,¡± Xander snapped. ¡°You''re threatening to kill your only two sons all because you


    want to build an undefeatable army? Really?¡±


    My heart ached for Xander and Mason, especially since they both were such great fathers. And for Zane, trapped in the middle


    of it all.


    If | turned myself in, | couldn¡¯t even make their pain go away. Ste was their child, and | was their mate.


    ¡°I''m waiting, Lanie,¡± Orion growled. ¡°Make your choice.¡±


    ¡°Are you st upid?¡± Braden asked.


    We all looked at him, shock on our faces.


    Orion reddened, shaking with fury. ¡°Excuse me, bloodsucker?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s three of us, and one of you,¡± Braden said, nting his hands on his hips. ¡°We can take your old as s down in seconds


    t.¡±


    Da mn, Braden had some balls. | could tell by the nces Xander and Zane exchanged that they were


    thinking the same thing.


    Asudden stillness fell over all of us, and | wondered what would happen next. | hadn¡¯t made my decision yet, but Orion was


    growing antsier by the second. His canines had dropped, and so had his ws. But by now everyone was half vampire or


    werewolf except me.


    Orion¡¯s eyes shed crimson. His gaze swept over everyone, thennded on me.


    ¡°Time¡¯s up,¡± he said, raising Mason off the ground by the throat.


    It was like time stood still. | shut my eyes tight, my stomach flip-flopping and my ears ringing.


    | waited to hear the thud of Mason¡¯s body, and Orion¡¯s viciousugh, but instead | heard a whooshing


    slowly opened my eyes. Braden was holding Mason, now inside the border of the protective spell.


    e okay. Lanie,¡± Zane said. He¡¯d walked over to me, and he was rubbing my back.


    ¡°That was easy,¡± Braden said. ¡°You have no leverage how.¡±


    Too easy, | thought.


    And sure enough, Orion¡¯s lips spread into a wicked smirk.


    ¡°Come on out boys,¡± he said.


    Suddenly, at least ten High Guards emerged from the trees, walking forward to nk Orion,


    My heart thudded. They couldn''t get to us, could they?


    ¡°One problem,¡± Braden said. ¡°The spell. It can only be broken by the witch who cast it. You can stand out there forever, but


    Lanie¡¯s never crossing that f ucking line.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think this through did you, old man?¡± Xander asked.


    But Orion''s jaw was set defiantly.


    ¡°Actually, | did,¡± he said. He reached behind the nearest tree and pulled out a bound and gagged Rhiannon. Her eyes were big


    and ssy and full of fear.


    S hit. How had he captured her? How did he know she was the witch who''d done the spell?


    Orion ripped off her gag and shoved her to the ground.


    ¡°Break the spell,¡± hemanded.


    ¡°Don''t do it, Rhiannon,¡± Braden said. ¡°You know you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    Tears streamed down her face.


    ¡°She wants to live,¡± Orion said. ¡°So she doesn¡¯t have a choice. Now DO IT!¡±


    The guards behind Orion stood in warrior pose, ready to attack.


    Xander and Braden flexed their fists and did the same. Zane moved in front of me, his arms outstretched.


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± Rhiannon whispered, before closing her eyes and speaking an incantation in a rough, cracked


    voice.


    Suddenly, there was a burst of light, and then silence.


    And then all hell broke loose.


    212

 Chapter 191

    Zane


    The High Guards rushed straight at us, and my heart leaped into my throat.


    I spun around to look at Lanie and took her by the shoulders. ¡°Go inside NOW. All the way into the bedroom. Lock every door,


    Protect Ste.¡±


    Her eyes were wide and afraid, but she nodded. And then | leaned down and kissed her. Fast, but hard.


    I


    ¡°We love you, Lanie,¡± | said as | pulled away. ¡°We¡¯re going to get you out of this.¡±


    She turned and dashed inside, mming the door behind her.


    ¡°We have to keep the guards from getting inside,¡± | shouted to Xander through our mind link, praying to the go ds that he could


    hear me through the chaos.


    | ran down toward the fallen border. The Guards were steps away from crossing over now


    ¡°You and Braden take the guards,¡± he said as he shoved one aside. ¡°I''ll take my father.¡±


    S$ hit. This was going to get very ugly


    | nced at Braden, who was moving lightning-fast, running from guard to guard, delivering blows before they could blink.


    Suddenly, two guards were rushing at me, trying to weave past and into the cabin.


    ¡°Hell no you don¡¯t,¡± | said, ducking to avoid the attack, then rounding on them and swiping my ws across their torsos. They


    stumbled backward, clutching their sides.


    ¡°Zane, look out,¡± | heard Mason croak from the ground, just before a guard in wolf form jumped me. | rolled out of the way,


    shifting as | tumbled through the dirt, andnded on all fours.


    | growled, and without thinking too hard, | blindly attacked, biting and tearing at the guard¡¯s flesh, only stopping when his body


    slumped onto the ground.


    Could we actually get out of this? Would we have to kill them all?


    Xander


    ¡°Get out of my f ucking way,¡± my father growled.


    | stood between him and the cabin.


    All around us, guards were flying, Braden and Zane taking them out as quickly as they could.


    Zane and Braden were outnumbered, but they were winning. Could they keep it up?


    ¡°No,¡± | said simply, shing my ws and my canines. It wasn¡¯t an empty threat. I¡¯d used my power 1/2


    But my father was fast, he knew me too well. Without even putting his hands on me, he was dancing around me, just out of


    reach of my ws, and before | knew it, he was on the porch throwing open the door.


    |unched myself in after him, mming the door behind me and jumping him from behind. He threw me off, his face red and


    wild with fury. |nded with a floor-shaking crash, and he stood over me, vibrating with anger.


    F uck, | needed backup. Why did I think | could do this alone?


    | kicked at my father, and he snarled as | tried to roll over and push myself up, but he was faster. I¡¯d underestimated him and how


    much power he still had.


    He was kneeling, and his hands were at my throat before | could stand up again,


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me do this,¡± my father growled. ¡°I¡¯m not here to hurt you.¡±


    ¡°You''re here to steal my mate and my daughter,¡± | spat. ¡°Obviously, you are trying to hurt me.¡±


    He shook me, his hands tightening around my neck. My vision was starting to blur.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± he cried manically. ¡°I¡¯m in too deep. I¡¯ve done too many things, made too many. mistakes. | can¡¯t go back


    now.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    For a split second, a wave of sadness overtook me. This was my father, the man who was supposed to protect me. And in his


    own way, he probably thought he was. But in the end, all he ever did was hurt me.


    me?


    His grip tightened again, and | felt myself drifting. Was this the end? Was my father really going to kill


    But then distantly, | heard a voice. My favorite voice in the world.


    ¡°STOP, you''re killing him,¡± Lanie cried. ¡°I''ll go with you. I''ll do anything.¡±

 Chapter 192

    Lanie


    | could tell Xander was slipping away..


    First, Orion had almost killed Mason, and now he was about to kill Xander. My mate. The father of my child. His only son.


    G ods, the pain was too much. At this point, | couldn''t cry any more tears. | couldn¡¯t think too hard. | was numb, and | just needed


    to save him.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Orion asked in a wicked voice. | hated him with everything in me. | didn¡¯t want to go anywhere near that slimy mo


    therf ucker. He¡¯d threatened me, my sister, my friends, my mates... If | went with him, it would


    I


    finally end.


    ¡°But then he''ll have his army,¡± Lily growled from within me. | couldn¡¯t think about that. Not when Xander wasn¡¯t breathing any


    longer.


    ¡°Yes,¡± | said. ¡°Let Xander go.¡±


    Orion loosened his grip, and Xander gasped, his face a dangerous purple-red.


    ¡°Lanie, no.¡± he barely gasped out.


    | shook my head and took a step toward Orion. Ste¡¯s lip trembled, and | could tell she was about to cry. She could sense my


    fear. My heart broke into a million pieces for her. All | could do was hope that whereverContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Orion was taking us, we''d at least get to stay together


    ¡°It''s okay, Xander,¡± | said in a shaky voice. ¡°We''ll be okay.¡±


    Orion dropped Xander onto the ground with a sickening thud. | thought he would leave him there, gasping and panting, but he


    raised his fist high and brought it down hard in the middle of Xander¡¯s face.


    | gasped, horrified.


    ¡°Just a little insurance,¡± Orion said, before standing up and holding out his hand to me.


    | reached out slowly, our fingers inches away. But before he could sna tch them, the front door burst open and Gabri flew in,


    trailed by Mchi.


    She didn¡¯t waste one second. Her ws were already out, her canines shining in the fading daylight. She dove straight at Orion,


    knocking him to the ground.


    Dam n, she was such a ba da ss.


    ¡°You don¡¯t touch her!¡± she screamed.


    Orion roared and threw Gabri off of him. ¡°You two-timing bi tch!¡±


    I


    He threw his head back, shifting before my eyes. Gabri followed suit. | backed away until | was up anainst the wall Armes the


    room Mchi was watching intently Why the f uck wasn¡¯t he moving?


    Can a Both shifted and were diving and nipping at Orion, who was thrashing around


    like a f ucking maniac.


    ¡°Do something!¡± | screamed at Mchi as my canines and ws dropped.


    Mchi crossed the room to me, carefully sidestepping the fray. ¡°One bite from him and I¡¯m dead,¡± Mchi snapped in my ear.


    ¡°In order to kill him, it needs to be a clean bite straight to the neck. | can¡¯t do that if he¡¯s writhing around. | need your help.¡±


    ¡°What am | supposed to do?¡± | asked him in a desperate whisper.


    | felt a twinge of annoyance at his selfishness. | knew Mchi didn¡¯t feel any particr loyalties to Xander and Zane, but | was


    his f ucking granddaughter. He really couldn¡¯t get in there and fight for me?


    ¡°You''re a hybrid,¡± he said, fixing me with a gaze so intense | thought my eyes might burn. ¡°You have more power than you think.


    Call on it, and you''ll know what to do.¡±


    Iran into the bedroom and set Ste on the bed, leaning down to kiss and stroke her forehead. | hated leaving her alone, but |


    had to do something.


    ¡°I''m going to get us out of this,¡± | whispered thickly.


    | took a deep breath. You''re a b ada ss hybrid. You can f uck this old man up, | told myself before stepping back out into the living


    room to face Orion.


    Just as | walked in, he¡¯d shaken off Gabri and was standing over Xander menacingly. Xander was a huge wolf, but so was


    Orion. He''d been Alpha once, too.


    | locked eyes with Mchi, and he nodded at me.


    I clenched my fists, drawing on my power.


    ¡°Orion, look at me!¡± | shouted.


    He nced up briefly, but it was enough


    I


    He froze suddenly, and | knew then that | had him.


    ¡°Leave Xander alone,¡± | said, my voice echoing through the cabin. ¡°Leave us all alone. Lay down, and stop fighting.


    Orion fell to the ground.


    Gabri and Xander got us slowly, and their shock was palpable, even in wolf form.


    I''dmanded Orion to stop, and he¡¯d listened. And the craziest part was, | knew it would work. | knew I


    could control him. | didn¡¯t know how, but | did.


    Mchi stepped up to Orion slowly, cing two hands on his furry chest to hold him down, but Orion


    didn''t move.


    And then Mchi opened his mouth wide, fangs shining, and sank them into Orion¡¯s neck.

 Chapter 193

    Xander


    | closed my eyes.


    Even after everything that had happened, | didn¡¯t want to watch my father die.


    | heard the whine of my mother¡¯s wolf, and then my father¡¯s body going limp.


    Then | felt hands on me. Lanie.


    ¡°I''m so sorry, Xander,¡± she breathed into my neck as she wrapped her arms around me. |id my head against her, focusing on


    her warm, beautiful, familiar smell. | wanted to crawl inside of it and live there forever.


    his blood still on


    But | opened my eyes and pulled back as Lanie let me go, | nced once at my father, at his Mchi¡¯s lips, and | pushed my


    way out of the cabin, needing to know that Xander was okay


    His wolf whipped around at the sound of my paws on the steps, and Braden looked up at me, too. They were dirty and panting


    but seemed to be okay. Mason and Rhiannon were both still lying on the ground, chained up and dazed.


    Thank the f ucking g ods everyone had made it out of this. Well...everyone except my father.


    | looked around while Hunter¡¯s ears perked up, both of us on high alert for any more guards. But the forest looked empty, aside


    from the handful of men and wolves who were lying on the ground, unmoving and covered


    in blood and dirt


    safe¡±


    Zane and | ran to each other, shifting back to our human forms in mid-air


    ¡°Where are the other guards?¡± | askedContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Dead. Or ran off,¡± Zane said, his brow furrowed. ¡°Orion?¡±


    I let out a long, shaky breath. ¡°Dead,¡± | said.


    Zane set his hand on my shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, and | knew he meant it.


    | shrugged. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± It was easier to say that than to let myself feel anything serious. ¡°Lanie¡¯s


    ¡°Thanks to all of you,¡± Lanie said behind us.


    Braden, Zane, and | all looked up at her. They breathed out huge sighs of relief.


    ¡°And Ste?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°Inside with Gabri.¡± Lanie smiled ever so slightly. It was a wee sight.


    She walked over to us and handed us each a towel. We slung them around our waists, even though | wished | could¡¯ve just


    scooped Lanie up and taken her straight to the bedroom.


    ie


    hands out and the chains holding him snapped like they were made of string.


    His eyes flew open, and they were glowing an otherworldly gold.


    He let out a great snarl and snapped the chains around his ankles.


    And then he lunged.

 Chapter 194

    Mason


    | threw myself to the ground, the stabbing pain in my chest almost too much to bear.


    But beneath the pain, | felt something else. Power.


    It was unlike anything I''d experienced before.


    I''d just broken out of silver chains. How the f uck does that happen? They¡¯re supposed to suppress a wolf''s power, not make it


    supercharged.


    And then, all of a sudden, the pain receded. But a warm glow still hummed in my chest.


    ¡°What the f uck was that?¡± Xander asked, taking the words right out of my mouth.


    | stood up slowly, feeling like I''d just been reborn, but | hadn¡¯t even shifted and healed myself.


    Lanie still stood beside me, a shocked look on her face. | shook my head, baffled.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± | said. | nced at Rhiannon. Had it been magic?


    ¡°Don''t look at me,¡± she said weakly. ¡°Whatever that was, it came from within.¡±


    Gabri walked down from the porch with Ste in her arms.


    ¡°Alpha power,¡± she said in a soft voice, almost as if she didn¡¯t want to say it at all.


    ¡°Alpha what?¡± Xander asked in a strange tone.


    Gabri bit her lip and nced from Xander to me. ¡°Every Alpha holds on to some residual power, even if


    they hand over the pack to a sessor. It remains with them until they die. And then...


    She trailed off, her lips forming a tight line.


    ¡°And then what?¡± Zane asked, his brows knitting together.


    ¡°And then it gets passed on to the next Alpha in line, Gabri said. ¡°When Orion died, his Alpha power


    had to go somewhere. And it went to you, Mason.¡±


    S hit. Did that mean....?


    ¡°No f ucking way is he the true Alpha,¡± Xander snapped,ughing mirthlessly. He cut his eyes at me. ¡°That¡¯s a joke. The title is


    mine.¡±


    Then why did the power go to me?


    ¡°I''m Orion¡¯s son, too, remember?¡± | stared Xander down. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t | be the true Alpha?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t know what time Mason was born,¡± Gabri said distractedly.


    Lanie¡¯s eyes never left mine. If | really was the true Alpha, would this change things between us?


    [e)


    ¡°And now we do,¡± Gabri said. ¡°Mason was the firstborn. If he wasn¡¯t, then he never would''ve gotten that power.


    ¡°What the hell does that mean?¡± Xander growled. | could tell he was seething, but so was |. Here was another f u cking thing


    Orion and my as s hole brother had stolen from me. ¡°Are you saying he¡¯s the true Alpha?¡±


    Xander cast around desperately for an answer. | had to fight back a smile. I''d be lying if | said | wasn¡¯t enjoying watching him


    squirm.


    ¡°Sounds like it¡¯s possible,¡± | said.


    Xander turned on me, clenching his fists. ¡°You stole my f ucking mate, and now you''re after my Alpha title?!¡± he snarled.


    ¡°You stole my f ucking babies!¡± | cried.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Zane shouted, stepping between us. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to fight.¡± He looked from Gabri to Mchi. ¡°Isn¡¯t there some


    way to tell who the true Alpha (s? Some magic or something?¡±


    Lanie


    ¡°Compel me,¡± | said suddenly.


    Xander and Mason both looked at me with raised eyebrows. ¡°A true Alpha could do it, right?¡± | asked. ¡°So try it out on me.¡±


    Until Xander and Mason got some answers, they''d be at each others¡¯ throats constantly. Better to find out now and move the f


    uck on.


    What did it matter to me who was Alpha? Mason was my true mate whether or not the title really belonged to him.


    Mchi shrugged, and Gabri looked unsure.


    ¡°| suppose it would work,¡± Mchi said. ¡°It¡¯s fairly easy to tell wnen someone is under truepulsion.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to control you,¡± Xander said, looking at me with intensity.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°Me neither,¡± Mason said. ¡°It wouldn''t feel right.¡±


    | shrugged. ¡°We''ve already done just about everything together. | trust you guys, and I give you my


    permission.¡±


    Xander and Mason both looked uneasy, | couldn¡¯t believe they were getting so hung up on this after the huge f ucking battle we''d


    all just fought.


    ¡°Listen to her. It''s the quickest way to find out,¡± Rhiannon said from behind us. | kept forgetting she was


    there. She was still tied up: | assumed because no one knew whether or not we could trust her.


    ¡°You can uncover the true Alpha with magic,¡± she continued. ¡°But it¡¯s a long and tedious process.¡±


    We didn¡¯t have time for that.


    ¡°No funny business, you two,¡± Braden said, pointing his finger from Mason to Xander.


    Zane rolled his eyes. ¡°They know her better than you do, genius,¡± he snapped.


    Mason stepped in front of me first, his face twisted up in a frown. | could tell he was nervous.


    ¡°It''s okay,¡± | said, taking his hands and squeezing them. ¡°Do what you need to do.¡±


    He nodded solemnly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for leaving you,¡± he said. ¡°I never should have done that.¡±


    Mason looked me dead in the eyes, and | could swear | saw a sh of that same eerie gold that had danced in his eyes just


    before he''d broken the chains.


    ¡°Will you do what | tell you to do?¡± he asked me.


    It was like I''d gotten lost in his eyes and couldn¡¯t find my way back out..


    ¡°Yes, Mason,¡± | said. Why wouldn''t | do what h


    he said?


    ¡°Good,¡± Mason said, ¡°Now p me as hard as you can.¡±

 Chapter 195

    Mason


    Her handnded across my face with a loud smack.


    Lanie was f ucking strong.


    | almost stumbled backward, wincing against the stinging pain radiating out from my cheek.


    Gabri gasped, and everyone else was looking around with some mix of shock and curiosity.


    Except Lanie. She blinked herself out of her daze, and her expression was horrified. She pped a hand over her mouth.


    ¡°Oh go ds, Mason, | didn¡¯t want to do that,¡± she said.


    ¡°That¡¯s the point,¡± | answered. ¡°And besides, | deserved it for running out on you.¡±


    I


    She touched her fingers to my stinging cheek delicately, then let them travel down to my jaw. | leaned down, not giving a f uck


    that everyone was watching us, and | kissed her.


    It was short and tender, but still passionate. | could tell she¡¯d missed me. And I''d missed her. So da mn much.


    ¡°Does that answer everyone¡¯s question?¡± | asked, looking around at everyone.


    Xander stepped forward, his face twisted into a sullen expression. ¡°It¡¯s my turn.¡±


    Lanie faced him willingly, but it was all | could do not to grab her and turn her back around to face me. | didn¡¯t want to think about


    what it would mean if Xander couldpel her, too.


    Xander¡¯s gaze burned holes into Lanie¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Will you do what | tell you to do?¡± he asked her, stealing my line.


    That moth erf ucker. My heart beat faster in my chest | didn¡¯t want to see Lanie fall under Xander¡¯s spell.


    | prayed to the g ods that she¡¯d say ¡°hell no,¡± and all this bu Ilsh it would be settled. But of course, it wasn¡¯t that simple.


    ¡°Yes, Xander,¡± Lanie said in the same eerie, robotic voice she¡¯d used when she answered me. It made my skin crawl seeing her


    being controlled like that. | didn¡¯t like it when | did it, and | f ucking hated it when Mason did it.


    me.¡±


    ¡°Lanie,¡± Xander said, his eyes alight with some mix of lust and mischief. ¡°Kiss me, and tell me you love


    That f ucking b astard.


    ¡°No.¡± | growled under my breath.


    M-LIL


    ¡ª de asana  ¡ª b¡ª-?


    | wanted to pull them apart or turn away. Anything except watch this. But | knew that was exactly what Xander wanted-to rile me


    up and f uck with my head.


    So instead | stood there silently, waiting for the worst.


    Lanie slid her hand behind Xander¡¯s neck and pulled him down to her, eagerly kissing him. | watched, hot fury bubbling in my


    veins as her tongue slid between his lips and his hands moved to her waist. That should''ve been me.


    After what seemed like minutes, they finally broke apart, but Lanie¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t leave Xander¡¯s.


    ¡°| love you, Xander,¡± she said with a chilling amount of conviction.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    | almost could''ve believed she wasn¡¯t beingpelled.


    ¡°| love you, too,¡± he said, a slight smile lifting his lips.


    | couldn''t watch this for one more second. Zane, on the other hand, looked practically giddy. | was dying to wipe his stu pid smirk


    off his s tupid face.


    face.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, so we both have Alphapulsion then,¡± | said, interrupting their moment.


    Lanie shook her head,ing back to herself. She looked at the ground, a confused expression on her


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Xander said smugly. ¡°By the way, is your cheek okay? That looked like it hurt.¡±


    Lanie jerked her head back up.


    ¡°At least | don¡¯t have to force her to love me,¡± | spat.


    Lanie held up a hand. ¡°Mason, don''t.¡±


    Something in her eyes made my heart s kip a beat. Maybe she wasn¡¯t forcing it at all. Maybe she really did


    love him, too.


    ¡°No more fighting, either of you,¡± Lanie pleaded.


    ¡°What the hell does this mean?¡± Zane asked.


    Mchi spoke up again. ¡°It means both Xander and Mason are Alphas. When Orion went through the ritual of making Xander


    the next Alpha of the Constantine pack, he passed on some of his power. But he did.


    the same to Mason when he died.¡±


    ¡°So the title belongs to us...equally?¡± Xander asked. My skin crawled at the idea. Xander had gotten everything he¡¯d wanted his


    whole life. Why the f uck did we have to share this if it was his by circumstance and


    not destiny?


    bit.


    ¡°In a manner of speaking.¡± Mchi said. ¡°But to be frank, I¡¯m not sure any of this matters a single f ucking


    Mchi¡¯s glibness was infuriating, but at this moment | couldn¡¯t help but agree.


    I


    ¡°You''re right,¡± | said. ¡°All | care about right now is finding the twins.¡±


    ¡°That won''t be possible,¡± Mchi said. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve just started the next Great War.¡±

 Chapter 196

    Lanie


    ¡°Braden and | need to leave now and prepare for the fight ahead,¡± Mchi said.


    The fight ahead? But we¡¯d just killed Orion. | nced around at everyone. They all looked exhausted and


    defeated.


    This Alpha confusion didn¡¯t help.


    | thought testing thepulsion would make things simpler, not a thousand times moreplicated, but


    | should''ve known better.


    And what the hell was that anyway? | already felt like s hit having to hit Mason, something | never imagined I¡¯d do, but telling


    Xander ¡°I love you¡± in front of him? That felt like an even bigger p in the face.


    And the worst part was, | actually questioned whether | might''ve said it even if | hadn¡¯t beenpelled. Feelings weren¡¯t


    supposed to be involved in whatever the f uck was going on between Xander, Zane, and me, but when | thought Orion might kill


    Xander, I''d felt like I''d do anything to save him.


    later.


    If that wasn¡¯t love, then what was?


    | shook myself out of theseplicated thoughts. The twins were the focus now. I''d deal with the guys


    ¡°What do you mean you''re leaving?¡± Xander demanded to Mchi. ¡°How the hell are we supposed to find the twins when we¡¯ve


    been trapped in this f ucking cabin for days? You were the one tracking my father!¡±


    ¡°But unfortunately, | never located the twins, and now the treaty established in the Great Wars has been broken with Orion¡¯s


    murder,¡± Mchi exined. ¡°Plus, there are living guards who witnessed what happened


    here.¡±


    Ashiver ran down my spine. Did that mean they''d tell everyone that we were responsible for starting the next war? Did that


    mean that there¡¯d be nowhere for us to run now?


    ¡°Can''t you just burn Orion¡¯s body and destroy all traces of us ever having been here? The guards can¡¯t act without proof.¡±


    ¡°It''s not that simple, but | sure f ucking wish it was,¡± Gabri said.


    ¡°Gabri¡¯s right,¡± Mchi said. ¡°At the end of thest wars, the leaders of each species agreed to have a spell cast over us that


    would alert the Council if we or our packs or covens ever vited the treaty.¡±


    ¡°S hit, does that mean the Council already knows about Orion?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°Yes, which is why it is imperative that we split up and all leave here,¡± Mchi said. ¡°They will be hunting first, but they won¡¯t rest


    until all of us pay for what we''ve done today. It¡¯s a good idea to burn the evidence, but it won¡¯t stop them froming after us.¡±


    me


    My heart ski pped a beat. Silence hung in the air. How the hell would we get the twins back if we were all 1/2


    ¡°Then we''re leaving right now,¡± Mason said, taking Ste from Gabri and walking her to the car.


    ¡°Hold on to the walkie, and update us if you can | guess,¡± Xander said to Mchi. ¡°I''ll take care of the evidence.¡±


    Zane ced a hand on Xander¡¯s chest, stopping him from going back into the cabin. ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± he said.


    | felt a warm rush of appreciation for Zane. He knew Orion, too, but he wasn¡¯t family. Xander was lucky to have Zane looking out


    for him. And so was |.


    eye.


    | went to join Mason to help with Ste, but Mchi ced a hand on my shoulder, and looked me in the


    ¡°Before | go,¡± he said, ¡°I need to tell you...keep trusting your instincts. What you did back there in the cabin just proves how


    strong you are.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    | nodded. | didn¡¯t feel strong; | felt like s hit. But deep down, | knew we were all better off without Orion around.


    ¡°You''re more like me than you know,¡± Mchi said.


    | raised my eyebrow. ¡°Is that a good thing?¡± | asked.


    ¡°| sure as hell think so.¡± He smirked. ¡°And good for you for taking my advice.¡± He nodded toward the guys and then winked. ¡°It


    keeps life exciting.¡±


    And with that, he walked to the edge of the property, and Braden took his ce. We looked at each other for a moment and then


    his arms were around me, hugging me tightly.


    ¡°Be safe,¡± he whispered into my ear.


    Suddenly, tears sprang to my eyes. Braden had put himself in so much danger for me, even when it became clear that we''d


    never be together the way he wanted us to be.


    I


    ¡°You, too,¡± | said thickly, breathing in hisforting scent. He was a good friend, and | prayed to the g ods.


    that he¡¯d make it out of this.


    He pulled away and shed me the same charming smile he¡¯d won me over with that first time we''d met


    by theke. ¡°I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll see you again, but | will Count on that. It''ll all work out...somehow,¡±


    | nodded as he walked over to stand by Mchi. And then they were speeding off in a blur of movement.


    Xander ran his hands through his hair, grabbing fistfuls as he watched them go.


    ¡°Where the f uck are we even supposed to start?¡± he asked.


    ¡°| know where,¡± Gabri said. ¡°But you¡¯re not going to like it.¡±

 Chapter 197

    Xander


    ¡°Where?¡± | demanded.


    ¡°The hybrid testing facility,¡± my mother said, a worried look on her face. ¡°If the Council knows Orion has been killed, then the first


    thing they¡¯re going to do is rush to build their hybrid army so they can win the next war. No more treaties and hiding; they want


    the shifters to reign supreme.¡±


    ¡°F uck,¡± | muttered under my breath. ¡°How do we get there?¡±


    ¡°We need Rhiannon,¡± Gabri said.


    All eyes went straight to Rhiannon, still bound by chains that couldn¡¯t be broken with magic.


    ¡°Hell no,¡± she said. ¡°Cut me free and let me go hide. I¡¯m not gonna be used of taking sides in the next war. I¡¯m not gonna be


    the reason all of us witches are wiped out for good.¡±


    | didn¡¯t understand why we even needed her. She was vtile and powerful, she¡¯s the reason the protective spell was broken,


    How could we trust her?


    ¡°Why can¡¯t 70


    and | just sneak into the facility and grab them ourselves?¡± | asked impatiently. We were wasting precious time with all this


    complicated coordination. ¡°We already did it once at the prison with Aldon¡¯s potion.¡±


    ¡°That was thest of it,¡± my mother said. ¡°And even if it wasn¡¯t, they''d be expecting it now. Plus, it¡¯s unpredictable-if the mour


    faded too soon, you''d be exposed and killed in seconds.¡±


    She turned to Rhiannon. ¡°But if Rhiannon can give us a transmogrifying potion..that¡¯s another story.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry...a what potion?¡± Lanie asked. She sounded about as impatient as | felt. This n was growing moreplicated by


    the minute.


    ¡°It transforms the drinker into someone else entirely, my mother exined. ¡°Like hiding in in sight. If one of us can transform


    into one of the guards at the facility, that¡¯s the surest way of getting in and rescuing


    the twins.¡±


    ¡°Fine, then I''ll do it,¡± | volunteered, stepping forward,


    Rhiannonughed mirthlessly. ¡°I¡¯m not sticking around and risking my neck to make a potion for the same dogs who destroyed


    my supply storage,¡± she sneered. ¡°I told you I¡¯m not taking sides in this war. I¡¯ll


    never do that again.¡±


    She nced at my mother, and a strained look passed between them. | still didn¡¯t know everything that


    had happened in the first Great Wars, only that everything I¡¯d been told was a lie.


    ¡°Then make it for me,¡± Lanie said. ¡°I¡¯m a hybrid-so you wouldn''t technically be taking sides, would you?¡±


    Rhiannon rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re reaching,¡± she said,


    If the potion fails, you will be doing just that. And if it seeds, we set you free, and you can run as far away from this as you


    want. It¡¯s a win-win.¡±


    Rhiannon clenched her jaw, refusing to answer, | could see the fear in Lanie¡¯s eyes at the idea of going in there, but she didn¡¯t


    argue.


    ¡°We''re trying to be respectful here, Rhiannon,¡± my mother continued, ¡°but you''re still tied up at the scene of the crime. If you


    want to be cut free, then do this onest thing for us.¡±


    | co cked my eyebrow at my mother, impressed. Her top-notch Luna skills were jumping out once again. | didn¡¯t see how


    Rhiannon could argue with that logic.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Rhiannon spat. ¡°But only if Lanie agrees to be the one to take the potion. She¡¯s my insurance.¡±


    Lanie stood frozen and silent for a moment before nodding. ¡°Sure. I''ll do it,¡± she said.


    | felt a low growl building in my chest, but my head turned at the sound of more growling to r Mason was standing there, fists


    clenched, looking just as furious as | was.


    my


    leftContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Rhiannon was making it sound like taking the potion and waltzing into the facility was the easiest thing in the world and not


    extremely f ucking scary and dangerous for Lanie. But before | could open my mouth to protest, Rhiannon jumped in again.


    ¡°And before any of you big bad wolves argue with me about your precious Lanie going into the lion¡¯s den,¡± she said, ¡°I won''t


    budge on this. So if you want your pups back, I¡¯d stay quiet and agree to my terms.¡±


    None of us said a word.


    ¡°That¡¯s what | thought,¡± Rhiannon said. ¡°I''ll need at least twenty-four hours to brew the potion,¡± she said.


    We all let out frustrated sighs.


    F uck. More time wasted. How many tests could the Council perform on the twins in that time? How much pain would they be in?


    ¡°Then we need a ce to hide in the meantime,¡± Mason said.


    Just then, Zane walked out from the cabin carrying an empty gas can. ¡°Everyone get in the car,¡± he said, holding up a match.


    ¡°I''m gonna light this, and then we run.¡±


    We all piled into the SUV and watched as Zane threw the match and dove inside, too, the cabin exploding in orange mes


    behind him,


    ¡°GO!¡± he screamed to my mother in the driver¡¯s seat. We peeled off, silent for a few minutes as we sped through the forest and


    out onto the mountain road.


    ¡°Where are we going to brew the potion?¡± Zane finally asked.


    ¡°We need somewhere close by where the Council isn¡¯t breathing down everyone¡¯s necks,¡± Gabri said. ¡°Rogue territory is our


    best bet.¡±


    Mason sighed in the backseat.


    ¡°Then | guess we¡¯re going back to Stillwood¡± 2/2

 Chapter 198

    Mason


    Allittle whileter, we were pulling up to Lanie¡¯s cottage in Stillwood.


    Memories flooded back immediately. Those early days with Ste, just the three of us bonding and hanging out together.


    Until | got the call about Alice and everything changed. I¡¯d been blinded by grief and revenge, not realizing that leaving this ce


    and bringing Lanie with me would change both of our lives forever.


    | heard her suck in a deep breath next to me, then sigh deeply. | reached over and took her hand. She squeezed mine gratefully.


    We''d both dreamed ofing back here one day, of returning to our normal, easy life, but | wanted it to happen under better


    circumstances.


    ¡°OhText content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    good, another tiny house,¡± Xander said sarcastically.


    | rolled my eyes. He had to be a d ick about everything. He couldn¡¯t help himself.


    ¡°| doubt anyone will be sleeping very much tonight anyway.¡± Gabri said. ¡°You guys get settled in while Rhiannon and | gather


    a few supplies. We won''t be gone long.¡±


    Lanie, Xander, Zane, and | walked inside. Zane had grabbed Ste out of the car seat before | could while Xander brought in her


    bass.


    | felt a pang of jealousy as they tended to her-I¡¯d been away from her and wanted to hold her and let her know that I¡¯d never


    wanted to leave her, but | knew if | tried, Xander and Zane would bite my head off, and to be honest, | had no leg to stand on


    right now.


    I''d run out on Ste and Lanie, and now the twins were gone, too. | was lucky Xander hadn''t literally bitten my head off yet.


    Once inside, Xander set up Ste¡¯s bass in the living room while Lanie headed straight for her old bedroom. Lanie¡¯s ce


    was still small, but we had much more room to breathe than we did in the cabin, and thank the go ds for that


    ¡°Mason, can | talk to you for a minute?¡± Lanie¡¯s voice traveled from the back room.


    Xander and Zane nced up at me, then at each other, and | wondered briefly what they were saying about me. But then |


    decided it didn¡¯t f ucking matter. Lane was calling for me, not them.


    ¡°I''m d you called me in here,¡± | said as | closed the door behind me. Lanie was sitting on the bed staring off into space while


    she mindlessly stroked theforter.


    | came and sat next to her. ¡°I can¡¯t even express how sorry | am,¡± | admitted. ¡°Running away from you and


    Ste was the s tupidest f ucking thing I¡¯ve ever done. | don¡¯t know what | was thinking¡±


    She sniffed and turned away, but | could tell she was crying. My chest tightened. 1/2


    ¡°| know it wasplicated,¡± she said shakily. ¡°Xander and Zane keeping the twins from you was f ucked on so many levels, but


    running away from the problem, running away from me....you broke my heart.¡±


    She turned back to me, her cheeks stained with tears.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t know how to feel, what to do...1 didn¡¯t recognize myself,¡± she said. ¡°...1 have to tell you something.¡±


    My breathing got shallower and a pr ickle of heat crept up my neck. | hoped this wasn¡¯t about what | thought it was about.


    ¡°What happened while | was gone?¡± | asked, but | wasn¡¯t sure | actually wanted to know.


    ¡°| took advantage of the contract with Xander and Zane,¡± she said. ¡°I was angry at you and at Xander and Zane, but also scared


    out of my f ucking mind and sad that you''d all lost your pups.¡±


    She swallowed hard and finally looked into my eyes. ¡°We were cooped up inside that tiny cabin, and everyone was about to lose


    it. So we put our energy into each other, and we forgot about our problems for a while.¡±


    So while Orion was torturing me and taking away my pups, Lanie was f ucking Xander and Zane in the safety of the cabin?


    1 felt my face get hot, anger and jealousy churning deep in my gut.


    ¡°Look, you told me to be honest, so here | am, telling you everything,¡± Lanie said. ¡°I forgive you for walking out, and | hope you


    can be okay with this, too.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t, | never would be, but what could | say without pushing her away?


    I''d missed her, and | wanted her. all | could do was channel that rage into f ucking away the memories of Xander and Zane in her


    bed.


    All | could do was im her again like she belonged to me and me alone.


    | took her chin in my hand. ¡°Sure,¡± | said, and then | kissed her, hard and desperate, pushing her back onto the bed and


    mounting her, pressing my swelling c ock between her legs.


    She cupped it and squeezed slightly. | shivered,


    ¡°Mason, please. Will you...?¡± she asked, her voice whiney with need.


    ¡°Can you stay quiet?¡± | whispered in her ear.


    When she spoke, her voice was low and husky with desire.


    ¡°Yes. | won''t make a sound.¡±


    212

 Chapter 199

    Lanie


    ¡°Good girl,¡± Mason murmured, and a rush of heat flooded my core.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    | tugged up his shirt, yanking it off him and running my hands over his smooth, muscly torso. | looked up into his face and at his


    long, dark hair that perfectly framed his dark eyes, his strong jaw, and his tasty bottom lip. He leaned down, kissing me softly,


    teasing me.


    His hand traveled down my chest, lingering on my hard nipples straining against my shirt before fingering the hem and then


    diving under it, squeezing my breast. | gasped.


    ¡°Shhhh,¡± he whispered in my ear, making me shiver.


    He pulled my shirt up and over my head, nting kisses from my jaw, down my neck to my breast, my head falling back into the


    mattress as he sucked and licked my swollen nipple.


    | struggled to stay quiet as he yanked down my soaking panties. My core clenched, desperate to feel his


    hard length inside me.


    He moved down until his face hovered above my center, then breathed in deeply. His lips parted and he let


    out a ragged sigh.


    ¡°F uck, Lanie, your smell,¡± he whispered. ¡°I need to taste you.¡±


    I


    He pressed his face to my entrance, flicking his tongue against my swollen nub. | clenched my jaw tight and clung desperately to


    theforter, fighting to stay quiet. | slung one leg onto his shoulder and thrust into his face, feeling so f ucking needy and


    desperate for him.


    He slid two fingers inside me as hepped at my c lit over and over. | wrapped my fingers through his hair and pulled tightly, a


    quiet moan escaping my lips. Mason stood up and tugged down his pants, freeing his hard c ock, the tip already sticky and


    dripping.


    He pulled me up off the bed and brought me close, our skin touching in a million ces, my whole body on fire feeling his hard c


    ocking twitching against my stomach.


    He dipped his head into the crook of my neck, his lips brushing my ear.


    ¡°Sit on my c ock and f uck me,¡± hemanded in a whisper.


    | nodded, fighting the urge to scream, ¡°Yes!¡± His eyes were dark and needy, and | could tell by the heaviness of my lids that mine


    were, too.


    | straddled him on the bed, my pu ssy already quaking with anticipation. | slipped myself onto him, biting my bottom lip to keep


    from moaning. | rolled my hips and lifted myself up on my knees, gliding up and down


    his shaft.


    He gripped my hips and | fell down onto his chest, my lips pressing against his, his tongue sliding between them and tangling


    with mine.


    pleasure building steadily inside me tightened, and | felt myself racing closer to the edge.


    | groaned, and he pped his hand over my mouth, which only made me want to ride him harder and make even more noise. |


    bit his hand yfully, and he pulled it back.


    ¡°Not as badly as | needed you,¡± | purred into his ear, thrusting myself harder against him.


    My walls clenched around him tightly and a soft moan fell from my lips as | dug my nails into his chest, my or gasm crashing


    down around me.


    His co ck surged and suddenly | was filled with his warm seed. My body spasmed again, and | copsed onto his chest, panting


    hard.


    He pull


    pulled me into his arms and held me there until | slipped away to shower.


    | hesitated before | stepped in, not wanting to wash off the smell of Mason all over me.


    | could¡¯ve stayed in there all day, letting the hot water run over me and drown out everything else, but eventually, a voice carried


    out from the bedroom.


    ¡°Lanie!¡± Gabri called. ¡°We need you in here.¡±


    I stepped out, slowly dressing myself, I''d barely given myself time to think about what I''d agreed to with the potion. But now that


    Gabri and Rhiannon were back, | had no choice.


    | walked out into the living room, and everyone¡¯s eyes turned to me.


    ¡°Lanie,¡± Xander said. ¡°We have some bad news.¡±

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    Mason


    ¡°S it, what now?¡± Lanie asked.


    ¡°Don''t be dramatic, Xander, you¡¯re f ucking scaring her,¡± Mason snapped,


    ¡°Please you two,¡± Gabri said, stepping between them before turning back to me. ¡°Lanie, the hybrid facility is heavily policed by


    elite guards. In order to get in, you¡¯re going to have to turn into one of them.¡±


    Lanie shrugged. ¡°Yeah, | figured,¡± she said. ¡°We''re using the transformation potion thingy right?¡±


    ¡°Transmogrification potion,¡± Rhiannon corrected. Her hands were still bound. | appreciated that Gabri wasn¡¯t willing to take


    any risks with her. ¡°The potion is brewing now, and once it¡¯s ready, you''ll need to add a strand of hair from whoever it is you¡¯re


    trying to transform into.¡±


    ¡°How do we get that?¡± | asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s the not-so-great part,¡± Gabri said. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to hide outside the facility and wait for the guards to change


    over. You''ll need to follow them until you¡¯re far enough away that you can attack and knock them out with sleeping powder. Then


    you''ll take their hair and their clothes.¡±


    ¡°You make it sound easy,¡± Lanie said nervously.


    She did, and it was f ucking annoying. Did Gabri really think we''d let her send Lanie out alone to do


    something like that?


    ¡°There¡¯s no way Lanie is doing that alone,¡± Zane said, taking the words right out of my mouth.


    ¡°I''m going with her,¡± | said, before Xander or Zane could offer first.


    Xander narrowed his eyes at me. ¡°No f ucking way,¡± he said. ¡°Not after you ran out on Lanie when sh it got


    hard before.¡±


    How dare he use that against me now? He was no better than me.


    ¡°When s hit got hard?¡± | snarled. ¡°You mean when you stole my pups from me?¡±


    ¡°And then you went and stole them from us!¡± Xander cried, stabbing his finger at me.


    My blood was boiling now, but | took in a deep, steady breath, trying to prove that | could keep it together


    when Xander couldn''t.


    ¡°Neither of you are going,¡± Gabri said. ¡°Not when you''re acting like this.¡±


    ¡°| think Lanie should decide,¡± Xander said, seething.


    ¡°| agree,¡± | bit back..


    ¡°| agree with Gabri,¡± Lanie said, crossing her arms.


    ¡°You''re both too close to the situation,¡± Lanie said. ¡°think it should be Zane.¡±


    Asurge of jealousy cut through me.


    ¡°But he¡¯s just as close to this as we are,¡± | argued. ¡°He cares about you and those pups just as much.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Zane¡¯s a huge part of all this, too,¡± Xander actually agreed.


    Gabri held up her hands to quiet us down. ¡°Yeah, but is he arguing right now


    Xander and | both looked at him. It was obvious he wasn¡¯t happy, but he had stayed quiet. Dam n, | guess he was handling this


    better than Xander and | were.


    ¡°Zane can keep his head on straight, even when things get crazy,¡± Gabri said. ¡°It¡¯s literally his job to talk you down, Xander.¡±


    ¡°And | know for a fact that he¡¯ll go to any lengths to make sure he does his job well,¡± Lanie said, turning to Zane. A loaded look


    passed between them before Zane nced at Xander, then looked at the floor. And...was he blushing?


    What the hell was that all about?


    ¡°Zane,¡± Lanie said, walking up to him. ¡°Will you go with me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, | will,¡± he answered. Another hot rush of jealousy shed through my body. Was | about to be trapped here with


    Xander while Lanie and Zane did some se xy, dangerous mission together?


    | knew it was petty to think that way when they were both putting themselves on the line, but the wolf Inside me couldn¡¯t help it.


    But before | could ask orin, a thudding sound drew my attention away.


    ¡°Ma!¡± Xander yelled.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    | looked over, and Gabri was syed out on the ground, not moving.


    212

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    Xander


    me


    I ran to my mother, but just as quickly as she¡¯d fallen, she got


    back up and waved me away.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± she said irritatedly, but | could tell that she wasn''t. ¡°Let''s just finish figuring out the n.¡±


    | nodded but kept my eye on her.


    ¡°So Xander and Mason are staying behind...together?¡± Lanie asked warily, ncing between the two of us.


    | could tell she thought that was a terrible idea, but to be honest, so did I.


    ¡°Is that wise, considering the whole Alpha thing?¡± Zane asked.


    | shot him an annoyed look. Way to remind me that my ba stard brother might steal my title away from


    Thest thing | wanted to do while Zane and Lanie were off rescuing the twins was argue with Mason


    over who was the bigger, badder wolf.


    It was me. duh.


    ¡°| just don¡¯t want you two fighting over Ste.¡± Lanie crossed her arms. ¡°Or worse, ignoring her while you


    compare d ick sizes,¡± she mumbled.


    Rhiannon barked out augh, and | shot her a death re. I''d always appreciated that Lanie had a mouth


    on her, but no one else was allowed to give us s hit like that.


    ¡°Til behave if Xander does,¡± Mason said.


    | rolled my eyes. ¡°Right back at ya, bud.¡±


    ¡°They''ll both behave,¡± Gabri said. ¡°I''ll make sure of it. I''ll stay here with them and help with Ste.¡±


    She wrung her hands and looked down at the ground. She looked meeker and more unsure than | was


    used to her being. ¡°I¡¯m certainly not going back to Constantine....where else would | be?¡±


    Her voice cracked, and she spun around, nting one hand on the wall to steady herself.


    | was ready this time, and grabbed her shoulders, helping to hold her up. She ced a shaking hand on her head and her eyes


    fluttered closed.


    ¡°What is it, Ma?¡± | asked. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°| think Gabri is mourning,¡± Lanie said in a small, sad voice.


    S hit. Of course she was. My father was a s hitty person and an even shi ttier mate, but he was her mate


    And when mates died, she wolves felt it. Especially Lunas.


    I''d heard it described in school once. It was supposedly like having your body ripped in half, a pain that


    And on top of that, my mother had lost her pack to the Council and my father¡¯s evil n. The whole pack was on lockdown


    without an Alpha, Beta, or Luna, and if any of us tried to return, we¡¯d be imprisoned at best, and killed at worst.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But here | was


    worrying about what kind of arguments Mason and | would get into while Lanie was gone,


    Asting of guilt pierced through me as | walked my mother over to the couch and sat her down gently.


    Lanie threw a nket over her.


    ¡°You''re right,¡± | said to Lanie. ¡°I hadn¡¯t even stopped to think about all the s hit she¡¯s been through with my


    father.¡±


    Lanie grabbed my arm and squeezed it. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can be there for her now,¡± she told me through our mind link.


    Her words sent aforting flush of warmth through my body. | nodded. Out of the corner of my eye. | saw Zane nod, too.


    Mason was watching us closely. He still didn¡¯t know we couldmunicate like this again, and now was certainly not the time to


    tell him.


    But my chest swelled with a hint of satisfaction.


    Lanie and | had a secret, and Mason would never get to share it.


    Zane


    ¡°| feel much better about leaving Xander and Mason together now,¡± Lanie said as we threw our stuff into the car a whileter.


    We''d already said our goodbyes. ¡°At least they won''t be alone.¡±


    ¡°So do I,¡± | agreed.


    Gabri was in intense emotional pain from Orion¡¯s death-| had faith that Xander wouldn¡¯t do anything that would make her life


    harder right now.


    He could be a stubborn pain in the a ss, but picking a fight with Mason wasn¡¯t worth causing his mother. even more pain and


    frustration.


    To be honest, | really hoped Xander and Mason used this time alone toe to some sort of agreement on the whole both-


    being-true-Alpha thing.


    Because that was kind of a walk in the parkpared to whaty ahead with Lanie, Ste, and the twins.


    Goddess only knew how we¡¯d handle those issues once we were all back together...


    ¡°| think I¡¯m ready to go,¡± Lanie said, taking onest look at the bags in the trunk before mming it shut. She nced toward the


    house, taking in a deep breath, then letting it out slowly.


    ¡°She''ll be okay, Lanie,¡± | told her. | knew she was f ucking terrified to leave Ste alone, and | didn¡¯t me


    her. | felt extremely protective of Ste, and I''d only recently learned she was mine. But Ste and Lanie had


    never been apart from each other.


    | climbed in after her and gave her leg a squeeze before peeling away.


    | was sad and scared, too, leaving them behind and thinking about the task ahead of us.


    But | couldn¡¯t lie, a small part of me was grateful for this chance to be alone with Lanie, to finally have her


    all to myself.

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    Lanie


    We pulled up to a run-down motel off the mountain road a couple of hourster.


    Night had fallen by now, and some gruff-looking men were camped out outside of a room, in the dark. | was suddenly d Ste


    wasn¡¯t with us.


    chain-smoking


    ¡°We''re in human territory now,¡± Zane said, turning off the car. ¡°We''re less likely to be recognized at a ce


    like this.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, less likely to be recognized. ..but more likely to be killed in our sleep,¡± | said.


    Zane snorted out augh. ¡°I''d like to see those guys even try toy a hand on you,¡± he said, nodding to the smoking men. ¡°TIl f


    uck ¡¯em up so quick, they won''t know what hit them.¡±


    It was my turn tough.


    ¡°Hey now,¡± Zane said, looking affronted. ¡°You don¡¯t think | can take them?¡±


    | raised my eyebrow at him. ¡°Chill out, big man. | know you can.¡±


    We both sat there in silence for a second, looking at each other and smirking. It felt nice to be here with Zane justughing and


    giving each other s hit. Being alone with him reminded me how easy things always


    were between us.


    ¡°I''ll be right back with the room key,¡± he said, and | watched him run into the office


    | thought about staying in the car until he came back, but it seemed like a silly thing to do when | could be unloading. He wouldn''t


    be that long anyway.


    | popped the trunk and leaned in, pulling out our bags.


    ¡°What brings you here, littledy?¡± | heard a throaty voice say behind me.


    The hair on the back of my neck stood up. | turned around slowly, and one of the smoking men was


    sauntering up to me.


    ¡°Just need a ce to stay.¡± | said firmly, shutting the trunk and walking toward the office.


    S hit. Zane and | had literally just joked about this, but suddenly the idea of these mening any closer


    wasn''t the least bit funny.


    But as soon as | started moving, | was suddenly surrounded. All the men who''d been sitting in the shadows were standing ina


    circle around me and for a moment, | thought they might be wolves, the way they were circling me like prey.


    Did they recognize us after all? Were they going to take me away to the facility and trap me there, too?


    | took a deep breath in. No wolf scent.


    Could |, though? Sure, | was a wolf with wolf strength, but | rarely had to use it in a fight. Plus, | could onlypel them one at a


    time, | might not be able to stop all three of them quickly enough if they decided to


    charge at me.


    | nced toward the office.


    ¡°Your boyfriend can¡¯t help you now,¡± one of the men said. ¡°There¡¯s three of us and one of him, anyway.¡±


    | stood there frozen like an idiot. What the hell was wrong with me? These were dirty human men, and I''d just helped a vampire


    kill a f ucking Alpha. But my hands were shaking so hard | struggled to hold onto our


    bags.


    ¡°Don''t think of running, either,¡± another one of the men said. ¡°You wouldn''t get too far.¡±


    They all took another step forward, and it was like my mind was shutting down. | wanted to move or call


    out to Zane, but | couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Come with us littledy,¡± the first guy said, nodding toward the room they were sitting outside of. ¡°Or we''ll make you


    ¡°| don¡¯t like those options,¡± Zane said, stomping up behind the men. Before they could move, he had one of the guys by the neck.


    Then Zane yanked up the guy¡¯s wrist with his left hand. It snapped like a tiny twig.


    He groaned in pain and fell to the ground.


    ¡°Hey, hey, we don¡¯t want any trouble,¡± the first guy sald, holding up his hands and backing up.


    ¡°That¡¯s what | thought,¡± Zane said, taking me by the elbow and leading me back to the car.


    We climbed in and he pulled away again.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I


    ¡°I''m sorry | didn¡¯t call out to you, | couldn''t... | started to say, but Zane interrupted me.


    ¡°| shouldn''t have left you alone. We''ll find another ce.¡± His face was stony and he was quiet the rest of


    the ride.


    Alittle whileter, we were throwing our bags down in another run-down motel room and copsing on the bed, fully clothed. No


    way was | crawling under those musty-a ss sheets.


    Zane¡¯s nose wrinkled, and | could tell he was thinking the same thing. At times like these, | wished my


    wolf senses weren''t so heightened.


    | turned away from Zane and my stomach suddenly swooped with fear. How the hell was | supposed to sleep tonight knowing we


    had to wake up in the morning and stake out the hybrid testing facility?


    Especially since I''d just choked up around some weak, dirty humans? The guards at the facility were


    much stronger and scarier.


    And if we didn¡¯t sessfully knock out a guard and make it into the facility tomorrow, then that was one more day the twins were


    trapped there with goddess knows what happening to them.


    Awave of nausea passed over me. This was so much pressure, and so much could go wrong.


    | felt Zane move closer to me and ce a reassuring hand on the dip of my waist. He could probably 2/3


    Any other night in any other ce, this might''ve been romantic, s exy even. But not tonight.


    Tonight, we didn¡¯t move or even speak. a fitful sleep.


    ne just held me until | drifted off into

 Chapter 203

    MasonProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I''d only been stuck here with Xander for a few hours and already | was struggling to control my temper.


    I''d put Ste to bed while Xander scowled at me. Clearly, he¡¯d wanted to do it, but bedtime was my thing.


    ¡°Now that you''re back it is,¡± he¡¯d said, trying to cut me down and remind me that I''d abandoned Ste. | didn¡¯t need reminding. |


    felt like s hit about it every other minute.


    But Gabri was still resting in Lanie¡¯s room so | held myself back from arguing with him.


    Now we were both sitting silently, him on the couch and me at the dining table while Ste snoozed in her


    bass.


    Neither of us wanted to go to sleep and leave her. It was like we were trying to prove that by staying. awake through the night,


    we were the most attentive father.


    And sure enough, as soon as Ste got to fussing, we were both dashing toward the bass ready to scoop her up andfort


    her, but Xander beat me to it.


    He picked her up and draped her over his shoulder. She quieted briefly before starting to fuss again,


    ¡°Give her to me,¡± | hissed. ¡°I know how to get her back to sleep.¡±


    | reached out for her, but Xander dodged me.


    ¡°Hell no, it¡¯s my turn,¡± he snapped. Ste wriggled in Xander¡¯s arms, and her cries got louder. ¡°You''re


    upsetting her.¡±


    ¡°You''re the one upsetting her!¡± | said, my voice louder than | meant it to be.


    ¡°Just let me f ucking take this,¡± Xander growled. ¡°She¡¯s my daughter.¡±


    My anger was bubbling up, about to hit a boiling point, when Gabri walked in and sn atched Ste right


    out of Xander¡¯s arms.


    Without a word, she rocked Ste gently until she finally quieted down and drifted back to sleep. Gabri ced a finger to her


    lips and motioned for us to join her outside.


    Sh it, we were in trouble.


    ¡°You two need to get your sh it together,¡± she said bluntly, looking from me to Xander. ¡°You''re already fighting, and Lanie and


    Zane have only been gone a few hours.¡±


    was.


    We both hung our heads like shamed children but didn¡¯t argue. Gabri was right, of course. She usually


    ¡°This mission might take them days. They¡¯re going toe back exhausted, maybe even hurt, and they¡¯re


    going to need you,¡± she said sternly. ¡°Imagine them walking into a scene like that.¡±


    ¡°You''re right,¡± | said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.


    Xander nodded. ¡°Me too.¡±


    Her stern expression softened. ¡°I know tensions are high, and | know neither of you chose these things that have happened to


    you,¡± she said more kindly, ¡°but you both are the true Alpha, which means you ca share your responsibilities. You don¡¯t have to


    carry these burdens all on your own.¡±


    | hadn''t really thought of it that way. | was so used to seeing Xander as the person who''d stolen everything from me and denied


    me the life | deserved. Working together without some ulterior motive felt


    almost unnatural.


    ¡°You both love these babies, and you both love Lanie wouldn''t you rather have all of them in both lives than fight so much that


    you split them all up?¡±


    your


    Xander and | both looked at each other. We nodded slightly then looked away. Of course we''d rather have


    it all, but neither of us was very good at sharing.


    ¡°You''re both Alphas now...you need to act like it.¡±


    Lanie


    ¡°Dam n, this ce is even more intense than | was picturing,¡± Zane said.


    | swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat remained


    The Hyrbid testing facility was massive and prison-like, with tall fences, barbed wire, and tons of security.


    | felt the hard bulge in my pocket, the potion bottle Rhiannon had given me. This was our ticket inside, but


    taking down a guard felt more impossible than ever now that we''d seen the size and scope of the ce.


    Even if | did make it in, | had no idea where the hell the twins even were.


    ¡°We should shift,¡± Zane suggested. ¡°Our senses will be sharper, and we''ll be more ready to attack when


    the timees.¡±


    | nodded, but before we moved, we saw a group of guards marching around the front of the facility.


    But they looked...familiar.


    ¡°Are those?¡± | trailed off.


    ¡°Human military uniforms,¡± Zane finished.


    What the hell? Since when were humans involved in shifter affairs?


    Zane¡¯s eyes widened as he took in the marching soldiers.


    ¡°This is much bigger than any of us realized...

 Chapter 204

    Zane


    ¡°Humans are a part of this, too?¡± Lanie asked. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    Truthfully, | didn¡¯t know exactly. This operation was obviously bigger than we''d originally thought, which meant that breaking in


    there was probably even more dangerous.


    But if we got too bogged down in how deep this all went, we might psych ourselves out or lose sight of why we were really there.


    ¡°It means we need to get in there and get the twins,¡± said. ¡°That''s what we came to do. Anything else we learn along the way is


    just a bonus.¡±


    My palms were sweating. | tried to push away thoughts of what would happen after we¡¯d rescued the twins. It was bad enough


    that the Council was after us, but the human military, too? That was way too big toprehend.


    nced over at Lanie. She was chewing her lip, and her eyes were ssy like she was stuck in terrible thought spiral.


    ¡°Lanie?¡± Her head snapped up. ¡°Are you ready to shift?¡±


    She nodded.


    some


    ¡°Should we target a human guard?¡± she asked. ¡°At least one of those military guys was wearing the armband Braden told us


    about.¡±


    Before he left, Braden had informed us that only high-ranking guards with a special armband were allowed ess to every part


    of the facility. In order to guarantee the twins¡¯ rescue, Lanie was going to have to transform herself into one of them.


    ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea,¡± | said. Humans had guns andbat training, but they¡¯d never be as strong or as fast as a fellow shifter.


    ¡°It would be a hell of a lot easier to catch one of them off guard and capture them.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Lanie said, though her voice sounded a little shaky. ¡°Then let¡¯s do it.¡±


    We fell back farther into the woods and stripped our clothes, Lanie being careful to zip up the potion intol her jacket pocket.


    My eyes briefly traveled over to her, keenly aware that her perfect body was totally on disy. She caught me looking and


    smirked. Was she even blushing a little?


    Her scent was still overwhelming and intoxicating, almost making me forget what we were there to do,


    | would''ve loved nothing more than to take her right there. Because f uck it, we might get killed by a soldier soon, but | knew we


    couldn¡¯t waste any time.


    ¡°Here goes nothing.¡± | said, reluctantly throwing my head back and letting de take over.


    Slowly and silently, we crept closer to the facility again, keeping our ears and noses out for any guards.


    After about an hour of silent watching, we finally saw a couple of guards who seemed like they were


    switching shifts.


    One of them was a military guard, and sure enough, he was wearing a special armband. | nodded toward


    him and Lanie crouched low, preparing to follow him.


    We watched closely as he climbed into a car and pulled away.


    We gingerly scooped up our clothes in our teeth and padded through the trees as quietly as possible,


    following the car as it pulled out on the mountain road, traveling back the way we¡¯de, into human territory.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    He finally pulled off onto a dirt road that led deeper into the woods, to a tiny cabin. We watched from a


    thick gathering of trees as he climbed out of the car, nced around, and walked inside.


    We needed to shift back to humans to get inside the cabin and use the sleeping powder on the guard to


    knock him out.


    | positioned myself behind a huge tree and transformed. Lanie followed suit and we both pulled on our clothes quietly.


    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s alone?¡± she asked through our mind link so we didn¡¯t have to speak aloud. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anyone else inside.


    ¡°| didn''t, either,¡± | answered. ¡°But we should both be prepared to attack, just in case.¡±


    I let my canines and ws drop, my wolf hovering at the surface, and Lanie did the same.


    We slowly crept closer to the cabin, peeking in one of the windows


    Inside, the guard was lying down on the couch in the front room, sleeping.


    ¡°D amn, this might be easier than | thought,¡± | said. ¡°He¡¯s passed out.¡±


    | motioned for Lanie to follow me, and we moved around to the back door.


    | tried the handle and miraculously, it opened.


    ¡°You think he¡¯d have better security,¡± | said.


    ¡°Maybe he does,¡± Lanie warned.


    We moved from the cramped kitchen into a little hallway, keeping our footsteps as light as possible, me in the front and Lanie just


    behind me.


    ¡°The front room is just through here,¡± | said. ¡°Get ready.¡±


    | pulled out the sleeping powder and stepped into the front room, but the couch was now empty.


    What the f uck?


    Behind me, | heard the co ck of a gun and a quick gasp.


    When | spun around, the guard was there. With a gun to Lanie¡¯s head.

 Chapter 205

    Lanie


    | squeezed my eyes shut, my mind going nk as | prepared for him to pull the trigger.


    This was it. This was the end.


    But then | heard Zane say ¡°Cover your mouth!¡± and felt the gun slip slightly against my temple.


    | pped my hand over my mouth just as the gun left my head and | heard a loud thudding sound.


    | slowly opened my eyes, and Zane stood in front of me, holding the pouch of sleeping powder, his face


    set in a determined frown. Next to me, the guardy in a heap on the floor.


    | blew out a sigh, my whole body shaking from the intense fear and then huge wave of relief.


    ¡°| thought | was dead,¡± | said. My voice came out weak and squeaky.


    ¡°If ¡¯d been one second slower, you might''ve been,¡± Zane said thickly. ¡°Stay here.¡±


    He rushed into the other rooms of the house, looking for other people who might be hiding, waiting to


    attack. He returned a momentter, a look of relief on his face.


    ¡°All clear,¡± he said, standing in front of me.


    Atush of appreciation coursed through me. Thank the f ucking g ods Zane was here and thinking clearly. He¡¯d saved my a ss


    again.


    Warmth bloomed in my belly as he stepped closer to me and slipped his hands around my waist.


    | fell into him instinctively, letting his arms slide all the way around me and pressing my body into his. We


    never got to be alone like this, and after all the hit that had already happened on this mission, | just wanted


    to hold onto this moment as long as | could.


    | tilted my head up and he leaned his head down so our lips met in a gentle but passionate kiss. He


    kissed me like he knew how close he¡¯de to losing me, hard and desperate but almost reverent, too.


    I clung to his back as his hands traveled farther down mine, tugging me even closer. G od s, | wanted him. |


    needed him. I''d felt it earlier, too, when we stripped in the woods.


    | fingered the hem of his shirt, wanting to rip it off, but Zane pulled away from me, a pained look on his


    face.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time,¡± he said. ¡°But | really f ucking wish there was.¡±


    | nced down at the guard lying still at our feet, and | knew he was right. Every second lost was a second the twins might be in


    pain.


    | squatted down and plucked a hair from the guard¡¯s head then pulled the potion bottle out of my jacket


    pocket.


    filled the air.


    Zane and | both coughed.


    ¡°Go ds, that guy¡¯s gonna taste terrible,¡± he said.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    | braced myself, then raised the potion high.


    ¡°Bottom¡¯s up.¡± And | swallowed it in one gulp.


    that


    Xander


    When | walked into the kitchen the next morning to get coffee, Mason was already in there brewing some.


    Of course he was.


    | reached for the pot with a co cked eyebrow and Mason motioned for me to go ahead.


    | poured it slowly, feeling his eyes on me.


    I''d avoided him since my mother had brought us outside for that little talk. To be honest, | felt ashamed.


    tI¡¯d let my temper get the best of me so quickly when I knew she was having such a hard time already.


    Lying on the couchst night, I¡¯d actually convinced myself | should apologize to Mason and try to be the bigger person. Partially


    because | was tired of acting like some emotional idiot, but I¡¯d be lying if | said | didn¡¯t also want Lanie to see how far I''de


    when she got back.


    ¡°Look, | wanted. ¡°But I trailed off when Mason started talking at the same time. ¡°You first,¡± | said.


    Hey, if Mason was going to be the first to break down and apologize, then | wouldn¡¯tin.


    ¡°Have you spoken to your mom since she shamed us yesterday?¡± he asked, smirking a little, then frowning. ¡°I feel like a huge d


    ick for not thinking about what she was going through.¡±


    ¡°You and me both. But nah, | thought it was best to give her some space.¡± | shrugged. ¡°She deserves to


    not deal with other people¡¯s b ullsh it for a while.¡±


    Mason nodded.


    ¡°Plus, if we don¡¯t let her cool down, then she''ll rain hell down upon us, Alphas or not.¡± We both snorted out


    a smallugh. ¡°She wasn¡¯t Luna of the Constantine pack for nothing.¡±


    As soon as | said that, an uneasiness crept up the back of my neck, the beginning of a realization I''d


    somehow ignored up until now.


    100.


    And then it hit me all of a sudden. | looked up at Mason and recognition seemed to dawn across his face,


    S hit. Mason was an Alpha now, too, and he¡¯d fully imed Lanie which meant....


    Lanie was the new Luna.

 Chapter 206

    Mason


    Lanie was my Luna, wasn¡¯t she?


    Xander and Zane had never fully imed her, and they''d intended for Alice to be their Luna, hadn''t they?


    Xander held my gaze for a moment like he was waiting for me to say what | was thinking out loud, but I


    knew it would only cause another fight.


    Besides, we needed Lanie back here safely before we could even think about whose Luna she was and


    what that meant for us.


    My mind wandered then to her and Zane and whatever danger they might be facing right now. | had


    gotten barely any time with the twins before Orion headed us off and separated us again. The thought of never


    seeing them again, never getting to connect with them as their father, was physically painful.


    | ced a hand on my chest and rubbed absentmindedly.


    ¡°| know you''re worried about ina and Isaac,¡± Xander said, drawing my attention back to him. Had it


    been that obvious? ¡°I am, too. But Zane will bring them home. He¡¯s the only person I¡¯d trust with my life and


    the lives of my pups.


    | nodded. Was he actually trying tofort me? The act of it felt kind of awkward, but | appreciated that


    he¡¯d changed the subject and at least attempted to rte to me instead of arguing with me.


    ¡°Xander...¡± | started, then took in a deep breath. ¡°What would you say to a truce?¡±


    | extended my hand out for him to shake it.


    He looked at my hand suspiciously, and it took everything in me not to pull it back and say ¡°Psych.¡±


    ¡°We know where we stand, the rest is basically up to Lanie,¡± | said.


    Xander took my hand and shook it briefly before dropping it. ¡°Sure,¡± he mumbled 1 guess we do need to


    get our heads out of our as ses.¡±


    ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± | said, and we both smirked.


    The air around us already felt less thick and charged with awkwardness.


    Ste¡¯s cries carried in from the living room, and we both automatically dashed in there and stood over


    her bass.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    We stood frozen, each waiting for the other to scoop her up. We''d just called a truce, but how we¡¯d


    actually put it into action was another story.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Xander said, waving me on. | c ocked my eyebrow but didn¡¯t argue. | just nodded my thanks. and picked her up,


    rocking her gently until she quieted down.


    When | turned around | caw


    aw that Gabri was 1/2


    was watchinn us from the hallway


    av a wide smile on her face


    Lanie


    Looking in the mirror was scary.


    I''d put on the guard¡¯s uniform and was ready to head back to the facility. Zane had tied up the real guard and dosed him up with


    more sleeping powder to make sure he didn¡¯t wake up before | was out of there with


    the twins.


    My heart was pounding and | couldn¡¯t get my breathing under control. Surely they would know immediately that | was a fraud and


    didn¡¯t belong there.


    me.


    | pulled an ID out of my pocket. ¡°You are Sergeant Philips,¡± | said into the mirror to convince myself.


    My voice startled me. Because....it wasn¡¯t my voice.


    | gave myself a shake, then walked out to join Zane in the living room. His nose wrinkled at the sight of


    ¡°Go ds, I''ll never get used to this,¡± he said.


    | shrugged. ¡°Well, hopefully | never have to do it again. Your nose wrinkled...do | still smell like me?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°No, you smell and sound and look like him. It¡¯s creepy, to say the least. But no one-


    human or wolf-should be able to tell any difference.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± | nodded. ¡°What¡¯s our n? We need to move quick to be sure this doesn¡¯t wear off.¡±


    ¡°Okay, so I''ll follow you back through the woods to the facility and keep watch,¡± Zane said. ¡°If anything goes wrong, just get out of


    there as fast as you can and be waiting right outside for you.¡±


    I


    ¡°Got it,¡± | said. ¡°I just pray if anything goes wrong, it¡¯s after | have the twins.¡±


    Zane pursed his lips. ¡°Let''s not even think about that. Everything is going to go to n. In and out, easy


    peasy.¡±


    | turned my eyes to the sky and prayed to the Goddess that he hadn''t just jinxed us.


    212

 Chapter 207

    Lanie


    It was easier to get inside than I''d thought it would be. Apparently, nobody looks twice at someone who


    seems to be exactly what he¡¯s supposed to be. | just kept my head down and my voice gruff and no-nonsense.


    | was inside.


    Too bad wearing this guy¡¯s face didn¡¯t also transfer all of his memories to me. | had no idea where to go,


    so | just started walking. There were a few signs, but nothing that screamed ¡°here¡¯s the room where we keep


    babies.¡±


    The scent of coffee had me salivating, and | paused outside a room with an open door. The coffee scent


    was even stronger in there. It wouldn¡¯t be where the twins were being held, but | needed an excuse to linger


    while | figured it out.


    | helped myself to a paper cup of coffee, marveling at the size of my hands. Looking like Philips was one thing, but | also had to


    move inside his body, operating it like a puppet. This was nothing like when | shifted


    and Lily took control of our consciousness.


    S$ hit. It hadn¡¯t urred to me that | actually had a d ick now. | shifted from foot to foot at the thought.


    ¡°Ants in your pants?¡± The voice came from behind me as the person pushed past to get at the coffee


    maker. The man looked about Philips¡¯s age. My age, | reminded myself. ¡°Where the hell have


    you


    been?¡±


    | cleared my throat. ¡°Apologies. sir, | needed caffeine. Bad night''s sleep.¡±


    | kept my voice low and rough. | had no idea about what the patches on his uniform meant, but I''d added


    the ¡°sir¡± just in case he was higher ranking than Philips. It seemed I''d made the right choice, because the guy


    -his name badge said Franklin, poured himself some coffee and lifted his cup in my direction.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s going around. You gotta cover Smith¡¯s post today.¡± Franklin sipped, wincing. ¡°Coffee''s s hit


    today. Anyway, Smith was called away to provide protection to the High Council. So you¡¯re covering¡±


    The question blurted out of me before | could stop myself. ¡°Why does the High Council need more


    protection?¡±


    Sh it. Had | just given myself away? Would Philips have dared to ask Franklin a question like that? | braced myself, but Franklin


    didn¡¯t seem too put out.


    He shrugged, dumped the coffee down the sink, and tossed the cup into the trash. ¡°Your guess is as good as mine. | heard


    something about a vampire coup, killing all the Alphas. Something like that.¡±


    He sounded totally unconcerned, but ice shed through my entire body. Well, Philips¡¯s body. My back snapped up straight,


    shoulders squaring. My guts tumbled and twisted.


    Fortunately for me, Franklin had bent to look in the fridge, his top half hidden behind the open door. |Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    didn¡¯t call out the lie, obviously, and by the time he closed the door to show off the bottle of iced tea in one hand, I¡¯d managed to


    compose myself.


    To keep


    was you


    klin eyed me. ¡°You got something else going on today that | should know about? You look like s hit.¡±


    ¡°No, sir. Just that bad night¡¯s sleep, like | said.¡±


    He lowered his voice and leaned in. ¡°You¡¯d better get to Smith¡¯s post. You know we can¡¯t keep those yahoos waiting. I¡¯m headed


    that way, we can walk together. | gotta tell you about this date | had with a hot


    little honey...¡±


    The leer on his face grossed me out, but | sent up a prayer to the Moon Goddess for watching out for me.


    | didn¡¯t think I''d ever be able to find my way to where the twins were being kept without Franklin as my guide,


    and | was d for the tour even if it meant | had to listen to him bragging about his sexploits for the next


    fifteen minutes.


    ...80 then she goes, ¡®but it¡¯s so big, right? And I¡¯m like...ah, s hit, here we are. Guess I''ll have to finish the


    storyter.¡± Franklin pulled up so short | almost ran into him.


    Honestly, I¡¯d been tuning him out while | kept my eyes and ears open, paying as much attention as | could


    to all the different corridors and signs. | had to be sure | could find my way out of here again. Lucky for me,


    Franklin was so preupied with his story that he didn¡¯t notice | barely responded.


    He ducked his chin toward the door at our left and the tall man there who had to be Smith.


    ¡°Dismissed,¡± Franklin barked. ¡°You¡¯ve got a new assignment.¡±


    Smith grinned. ¡°Better than the smell of diapers and listening to those two little freaks screaming their


    heads off, | hope.¡±


    Franklin pped him on the shoulder and they both headed down the hall, leaving me to take my post


    outside the door without another word to me.


    My heart pounded at what I''d just heard, and | sent up another grateful prayer. The Goddess was definitely looking out for me,


    which | confirmed with a quick peek inside the room before | shut the door


    quickly,


    The twins were inside.

 Chapter 208

    Lanie


    ¡°My¡± heart pounded in Philips¡¯s broad chest, but it was my mind and thoughts that whirled with what I''d Just discovered. | wanted


    to run in and grab ina and Isaac immediately, but | knew | didn¡¯t dare. | might be desperate to get those babies out of here,


    but | had to do it the right way, or else everything would be lost.


    Instead, | focused, concentrating until | could open up the mind link with Zane. For a few terrifying seconds, | thought | wasn¡¯t


    going to be able to. The overhead fluorescents were too bright, this uniform was so heavy, and | was sweating under the


    unustomed weight of Philips¡¯s body. Then, sweet relief rushed over


    me when | heard Zane¡¯s voice in my head.


    ¡°Are you all right, love?¡±


    ¡°| made it inside. | found them. I¡¯ve been- | mean, Philips has been posted outside their door. But, Zane.... they¡¯re sending


    people to give more protection to the High Council. A higher-ranking guard told me there¡¯s talk


    of the vampires killing the Alphas.¡±


    The silence in reply went on so long | started to be afraid the mind link had broken. They could use silver to keep us from


    shifting. | guess it wouldn''t be such a stretch to think they could somehow shield the building,


    to stop us from linking our minds, too.


    ¡°Zane?¡±


    ¡± here, love hard to hear you....


    ¡°| think they might be blocking us somehow!¡±


    More silence. Then, finally, ¡°...see what | can find out about the Council. Just get the babies...¡±


    The connection...well, it didn¡¯t break, exactly, but it faded to the point where | couldn¡¯t sense Zane any longer. | was on my own. |


    stood up straighter, my thoughts whirling. | could do this.


    I''d have to


    My ears strained for any sound from inside the room. In my own form, | could call on Lily''s wolf hearing to help me out, but


    somehow, with Philips ears, she felt blocked off from me. A shudder of unease rippled through me. Maybe the mind links weren''t


    the only things that were being blocked...what if they found a way to disconnect us from our wolves, even without silver?


    ¡°Stop it,¡± | muttered to myself.


    Paranoia wasn¡¯t going to help me. | had to think about how | was going to get inside that room, get both babies, and get out and


    away from this ce without anyone seeing. | scanned the hallways for cameras, but if they had security cams set up, they were


    well-hidden,


    | might just have to risk running.


    ¡°Well hi there. | didn¡¯t know you were on duty today. Lucky me.¡± The warm female voice burbled into a 1/2


    The woman approaching wore a set of neat scrubs patterned with cartoon characters. It took me a second to realize that the way


    her eyes shed and she kept smiling meant she was flirting with me.


    Well, with Philips. Flirting hard.


    ¡°Haven''t seen you in awhile,¡± she continued. ¡°I thought maybe you were blowing me off.¡±


    Oh, sh it. Da mmit, Philips, | thought with an internal sigh. To the woman, | gave a big, broad grin.


    ¡°Never,¡± | said. ¡°I was hoping I¡¯d see you today, as a matter of fact.¡±


    Her entire face lit up, and | felt bad. Clearly, she was super into him, and he didn¡¯t seem to feel the same. My guiltsted only a


    few seconds. She might be on the road to heartbreak, but she was clearly okay working here in a ce where terrible things


    happened, and she stood between me and the twins. I''d do whatever it


    took


    The door behind me opened, and a woman poked her head out. She wore simr scrubs, but she lookedText content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    tired. ¡°There you are. I¡¯ve been waiting. | need to pee, so get in here.¡±


    The new nurse made a face. ¡°I was going to grab a shack from my locker real quick...¡±


    ¡°| need to go!¡± the other one said.


    ¡°Ladies,dies,¡± | said in my best ¡°I¡¯m a man and I¡¯ve got you covered¡± tone. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go ahead the restroom, and you


    grab your snacks. So long as you promise to share,¡± | added in a low voice as flirty as could make it. ¡°I''ll be right outside the


    door. Nobody¡¯s going to get past me.¡±


    ¡°| can¡¯t wait, and you''rete, so if theye to write us up, I¡¯m totally throwing you under the bus!¡± She


    scurried down the hall, calling out over her shoulder.


    ¡°Go on,¡± | urged the flirty nurse. | couldn¡¯t believe my luck, but | had to be careful not to give away my


    eagerness.


    She hurried to the end of the hall and turned the corner. The second she got out of sight, | flew into the


    room. Oh, dear Goddess, there they were, both babies asleep in their cribs. | checked as quickly as | could, but they both


    seemed fine


    Yanking the baby sling | had stuffed into my uniform, | managed to get both twins into it. It wasn¡¯t meant


    for two,


    but Philips¡¯s chest was a lot broader than mine, so | was able to bind them both against me. His arms were longer, too, which


    was great since | could cradle them with one arm.


    us!¡±


    Breathing hard, | sent out ast desperate mind link, hoping Zane would get it. ¡°Found them! Be ready for


    | checked to make sure the coast was clear. Nobody was in the hallway. | held the babies close to me...


    And | ran.

 Chapter 209

    Lanie


    Running with two babies strapped to my chest and feet four sizes bigger than | was used to was harder than I¡¯d thought it would


    be. | caught myself as | stumbled, muttering a curse, and my heart pounded at the


    thought of what would happen if | dropped the twins.


    My shoulder hit the wall, and | spun in a half-circle. ina shifted against my chest, letting out a mu ffled


    yelp.


    ¡°Shh, shh,¡± | soothed. If she started crying, this was going to get that much harder.


    Light shone into the corridor that didn¡¯t look like it came from overhead fluorescents, and when | turned


    the corner, | let out a small yelp of my own at the sight of a door to the outside. | mumbled more thanks to all


    the g ods above. Nobody was standing guard. | ran for it. | was never going to make it through the front door without getting


    caught.


    | wasn¡¯t going to get out this door, either.


    Just as | passed one of the many closed doors lining the corridor, one flew open. A guard came out, looking as startled as | felt


    when | screamed. Philips¡¯s mouth let out a high-pitched and shrill shriek that


    would''ve had me busting into hystericalughter under any other circumstances.


    The guard reeled back for a moment before getting himself under control. ¡°The f uck?¡±


    ¡°Out of my way!¡± | shouted with as much authority as | could. ¡°There¡¯s been a breach in security! You gotta get...f uck!¡±


    | kicked the door shut in his face. From behind it came a shout, but | didn¡¯t stop. | kept running toward th¨¦


    door, and freedom. Behind me, | heard half a dozen voices and the heavy clomp of boots as more guards spilled out of the


    doorway. Shouting like thunder. The floor, rumbling.


    ¡°They found me,¡± | sent to Zane. ¡°Where are you? | need you!¡±


    | did my best to send him a m ental picture of where I''d be exiting the building, but | couldn¡¯t tell if he would understand. Against


    my chest, the babies screamed and wriggled in the sling. My arms ached from holding them both up, my shoulder hurt from


    hitting it against the wall, and | was only steps ahead of the


    other guards.


    ¡°Philips, what the f uck are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Breach!¡± | shouted over my shoulder. ¡°The coup! They''reing! You need to get to the armory!¡±


    | had no f ucking clue what | was saying, but the raised voices told me they were all confused. When | was just a few feet from


    the door, rms started drowning out the screaming infants.


    My heart seized. Sheer terror threatened to overtake me, but there was no way | was going to let any one of those mot herf u


    ckers catch me and take away the twins again. I¡¯d fight them all to death if | had to.


    | didn¡¯t have time to think about that feeling, because the guards behind me weren''t going to stop. Wheezing, doing my best to


    haul Philips¡¯s big body, | kept heading for that door.


    ¡°Zane, please! I¡¯m almost to the door! Where are you?¡±


    ¡°...edge of the fence...cut a hole...¡±


    His voice broke up but gave me fresh determination. flew out the door, banging it open so hard it


    bounced off the wall and came back, almost knocking me over, | sta ggered, holding the babies tight with one


    arm while the other grabbed the railing to the short flight of concrete steps.


    From behind me, a voice shouted, ¡°No, idiot! Don¡¯t shoot him! he¡¯s got those kids with him!¡±


    | didn¡¯t dare close my eyes, even though | wanted to freeze, tense with expecting to feel a bullet between


    my shoulder des. | leaped off the steps, hitting the pavement beyond and rolling my ankle. | went to one


    knee, shredding Philips¡¯s uniform pants, but | kept the babies safe against me.


    I could see the fence in the distance. There were a few vehicles between me and it. The rms red.


    Other doors were opening with more guards appearing.


    I


    All | could do was run as fast as | could. My legs pumped. My breath seared my throat, sharp as thorns, and | was sure my next


    step would be myst.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    | had to keep my feet. Had to keep running. | had to make it to that fence.


    ¡°| see you!¡± Zane said through the mind link. ¡°Keeping, love! I¡¯m here!¡±


    ¡°They''re right behind me! They¡¯re going to catch us!¡±


    More than words came through the link. Zane¡¯s strength, his love, support and confidence in me all urged me to run faster. |


    could see the hole in the fence, a familiar shape just beyond. Searchlights swept the area as | reached the chain links, and


    Zane¡¯s strong hands grabbed me by the front of Philips¡¯s jacket. He pulled me


    through.


    Wheezing and gasping, | almost fell, but he caught me. He would always catch me, | thought a little deliriously as Zane stepped


    between me and the fence.


    He held up a leather pouch and tugged open the top. He pulled out a handful of dust and blew it into the


    air all around us.


    The babies went instantly, eerily silent.


    Everything. | realized, was quiet.


    ¡°What the f uck?¡± | managed to say as four guards made it to the fence and pushed through the hole...and kept on running right


    past us as though we didn¡¯t even exist.

 Chapter 210

    Zane


    Time slowed as the powder I''d bartered with Rhiannon for covered all of us in a fine cloud that smelled a bit likevender. Me,


    Lanie, the babies. She turned wide eyes on me as the guards ran past us without even a nce, even when one of the babies


    sneezed loudly.


    Rapidly, Lanie morphed back to herself. No lie, it was a f ucking relief to be looking at the woman | loved instead of that giant


    goon whose form she¡¯d taken, but | didn¡¯t have time to take her in my arms and kiss her the way | wanted to.


    ¡°We''re invisible,¡± | said. ¡°Shielded, too, somehow, Rhiannon gave me a powder. They can¡¯t see us or hear


    us. | guess it also took away your transmogrification.¡±


    One of the twins let out a whimper, and Lanie kissed its head tenderly and murmured soothing words. Watching her this way, so


    maternal, stirred something low in my gut. The uniform that had fit Philips s was way too big on her, and her sleeves hung past


    her wrists as she cradled both babies.


    More guards ran past us, shouting. | gestured for Lanie toe closer to me, and until they''d all passed us.


    a stood in one ce


    ¡°Let me take one,¡± | told her finally when we had a chance to take a breath. We couldn''t stay there, but for


    the moment, all the guards were gone.


    Carefully, we managed to get Isaac out of the sling and bundle him in the oversized guard¡¯s jacket. | was. able to make a kind of


    baby sling out of it, but carrying both babies was going to get old fast, especially for


    Lanie, who already looked wiped out.


    ¡°We need to get into those trees and walk back to Stillwood,¡± | told her, pointing.


    She nodded and followed me. After a minute, she said, ¡°You do realize how much easier all this would¡¯ve been if you¡¯d p oofed


    us into being invisible in the first ce, don¡¯t you?¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°We couldn''t take the risk of it not working right, or wearing off before you found the twins.¡± | hated lying to her, but the truth


    about how I got the powder was not something | could get into right then. It was a story


    and a confession...for another time, when we weren''t running for our lives.


    Her voice was h oa rse. I¡¯m so tired, and my entire body hurts like I¡¯ve been run over by a truck. | almost


    didn¡¯t make it.¡±


    We''d gone enough into the woods that | thought we could take a break for a few minutes. Careful of the infants between us, |


    gathered her in my arms and held her close. She shook, but fought a little to get away


    from me


    ¡°There¡¯s something you''re not telling me,¡± she used.


    | had to send up thanks to the go ds that | had a mate who knew me so well, even though right now that was a real


    disadvantage. She was right. There was a whole bunch of s hit | wasn¡¯t telling her. | hoped I¡¯d never


    All | could do was pull her close again. | let her breathing match mine, slowing, as the babies quieted in


    the circle of our embrace.


    Finally, she looked up at me with tears streaking her cheeks. 1 was so scared, Zane. | didn¡¯t think | was going to get out there. All


    | could think about was how | was going to fail...you, and Xander, a-and.¡±


    ¡°| knew you''d never fail.¡± | tipped her chin up to kiss her lips. ¡°And | was about to let my wolf go in for you


    when you came storming out of that ce.¡±


    ¡°They''re going toe after us,¡± she said. ¡°Even though | looked like Philips, they¡¯re going to figure out who took the babies, and


    they''lle after us. Even to Stillwood, assuming we even make it there on foot with


    two infants who need to be fed, changed...


    Lanie¡¯s voice rasped to silence, but then she straightened up and cleared her throat. ¡°What are we going


    to do?¡±


    Ss


    ¡°First, we''re going to get to Stillwood. We have the twins. That''s the most important thing right now. And


    that, love, is all because of you.¡± | took a couple of steps back from her to let my wolfe forward and scent the air. ¡°I¡¯m not


    sensing any guards on our tail.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s probably a bad thing,¡± she said. ¡°If they¡¯re not following us, that means they think they know where


    we''re headed.¡±


    Pride flooded me, so fierce it took my breath away. This was my Luna. Bold, brave, smart,petent.


    Thinking on her feet. Exhausted, but not willing to give up the fight.


    The truth was, without that powder from Rhiannon, I''d have lost her and the twins back at the fence. I''d made the deal with her


    because | was willing to promise anything to make sure | had a way to keep Lanie safe


    if things went south.


    | only hoped Lanie would never have to find out what I¡¯d agreed to do.

 Chapter 211

    Xander


    I smelled them before | saw them.


    I''d been standing on the front porch of Lanie¡¯s cottage, a mug of coffee in one hand that | wasn¡¯t drinking. The urge to shift and


    run as my wolf all the way through the woods to find them both had been almost overpowering me. The only reason | hadn¡¯t was


    because | was an Alpha, dam mit, and | had more self-control


    than that.


    The first moment | scented them, though, | dropped the mug. | didn¡¯t even care about the hot coffee sshing on the way to the


    ground. | jumped down the few small steps and took off across the small patch of grass, heading for the trees.


    Lanie had baby ina strapped to her chest. Next to them, Zane carried Isaac. | had them both in


    arms, squeezing, before | said a word. | didn¡¯t think | could speak, actually. All | wanted to do was make sure


    they were all okay.


    ¡°Whoa, there,¡± Zane said into my ear. ¡°We¡¯re okay. We''re all fine. Xander, you have to let go...


    But | couldn¡¯t. The thought of losing them. My mate, and the man | also loved, and our pups... Only when


    Isaac let out a mewling squeal did | ease off, but | kept my hands on both Lanie and Zane.


    ¡°We''re fine,¡± Zane reassured me again through the mind link.


    From behind us, | heard a rough growl. In the next minute, | was jostled out of the way as Mason pulled


    Lanie into his arms and then turned to Zane with his eyes shing. He held out his arms.


    ¡°My pup,¡± Mason said, adding after a second, in a lower voice full of gravel, ¡°Please.¡±


    He and Zane shared a look, and Zane handed over the baby. Mason cradled his pup to his chest and


    pulled Lanie close to him again with his other arm.


    Then we were all hugging, four adults and two fussing infants, and Lanie was weeping happy tears.


    Zane¡¯s arm went around my waist. Mason and | were hip to hip, and | didn¡¯t even want to punch him.


    ¡°We need to get these babies inside and cleaned up. Fed,¡± Lanie said in a voice h 0 ars e with tears still


    streaming down her cheeks.


    Her eyelids fluttered, and | sensed her st agger before | actually saw her knees start to buckle. Moving as one unit, coordinated


    as warriors on a strike, Zane scooped ina out of her arms, and | caught Lanie as she


    started to topple over.


    She nestled against my chest. She smelled disgusting, like sweaty male human, but | didn¡¯t f ucking care


    She was home.


    My mother waited on the porch, her anxiety palpable.


    ¡°You two,¡± she barked, pointing at Mason and Zane. ¡°Get those babies fed. They''re famished. Xander, you


    1/2


    It had been a long time since | took orders from my mother, but we all did exactly as she told us. In the tiny bedroom, Iid Lanie


    gently on the bed. She was clearly fighting unconsciousness, and she clung to me as


    I sat next to her


    right.


    ¡°The twins...¡±


    ¡°They''re with Zane and Mason. Their fathers.¡± The word slipped out of me before | could stop it, but it felt


    Lanie let out a gasp of relief and shuddered against me. ¡°Oh, Xander, | was so scared!¡±


    ¡°You''re here now, | won''t let anything happen to you. None of us will,¡± | whispered fiercely and pressed my


    forehead to hers.


    When her mouth met mine, wide open and eager, it was all | could do not to strip us both naked and take


    her then and there. This wasn¡¯t the time, though. Carefully, | pulled away from her to cup the back of her neck


    and look into her eyes.


    ¡°You need to rest until you feel strong enough to take a hot bath. I¡¯ll bring you some water,¡± | told her.


    I


    From outside the bedroom, a baby¡¯s wail rose.


    ¡°Ste!¡± Lanie gasped and struggled against me while | held her back. Atst, she fell onto the pillows with a gasping sigh.


    ¡°Xander, | want my daughter.¡±


    ¡°I''ll bring her to you,¡± | promised, ¡°First, you have to rx. Let us take care of you.¡±


    Asmall smile quirked the corners of her lips. Her eyes were shadowed with exhaustion, but dam n, she


    was the most beautiful woman I¡¯d ever seen. The only one | could ever want again.


    Asoft knock at the doorway turned me to see my mother holding a basin. ¡°You leave this poor woman


    alone, Xander. I''ll help her get cleaned up. Go you have someone else to take care of too. Several someones,


    I''d say.¡±


    Heat slithered through me as | stood, my hand lingering in Lanie¡¯s. She squeezed my fingers and gave me a smile, a stronger


    one this time.


    ¡°Go,¡± she said with a knowing glint in her eye


    | knew better than to argue with either of these women. In the doorway, | paused to look across the living


    room to where the two other men hovered over the babies in their basss.


    ¡°Zane,¡± | said.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    212

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    Zane


    At the sound of my name, | turned. Xander¡¯s eyes zed, and those long f ucking legs brought him across the room to me in


    seconds. | was pulled against him and crushed against his chest before | could do anything


    but just let him.


    I let him hold onto me, and my arms went around his broad back as he buried his face against the side of


    my neck. | didn¡¯t even f ucking care that Mason was watching us.


    I''d been Xander¡¯s Beta for so long. A brother. A best friend. We¡¯d shared women and more than that. In


    that moment, it didn¡¯t matter that my muscles ached with exhaustion, that | reeked of sweat, or even that |


    was anxious to check on Lanie and make sure she was really okay.


    All that mattered was Xander.


    He only pulled away when Mason coughed, clearing his throat. Xander¡¯s lip curled, and his eyes zed as


    he looked at his half-brother. The Alpha tension wound up so tight | had to step between them, a hand on


    Xander¡¯s chest to hold him back.


    Mason, on the other hand, only shook his head and let out a soft huff. ¡°I¡¯m d you''re back, Zane. Thank


    you for taking care of my pups and for bringing Lanie back to me safe.¡±


    ¡°Back to you?¡± Xander growled, and again, | held him back.


    ¡°Cool it,¡± | murmured through the mind link. ¡°You¡¯re on edge. Mason¡¯s not the enemy. We have other


    enemies to worry about.¡±


    Xander shot me a look and stalked out the front door. | could see his big form pacing on the porch. He


    was transmitting his fury, fear, relief...an onught of emotions that every one of us felt, including the babies,


    who all started fussing again.


    Mason seemed untouched, but that made sense, since he was also now a true Alpha. He wouldn¡¯t be


    affected by Xander in the same way. He looked past me with a raised brow. A silent understanding passed


    between us, and | nodded.


    Xander wasn¡¯t on the porch anymore when | got out there. | opened my senses to search for him. He was


    still radiating his Alpha power, so it wasn¡¯t hard to find him. He¡¯d gone around the side of the cabin to a stump


    used for splitting wood.


    | took the time to admire his bare back as he hefted the ax and swung, splitting a log neatly in two. Physically, we''d always been


    closely matched, but Xander had a grace his bulk denied. Watching him move was sometimes like watching a trained dancer,


    fluid and mesmerizing.


    He knew I was there. | could tell. But he reached for another log and set it up on the stump, then swung the ax with such power I


    felt the thud of it against wood in my belly. He kicked the split pieces out of the way


    and reached for another log before | spoke


    alend


    ...mlied for him tonn tka ¡ª ¡ª


    stump. He faced me with clenched fists. ¡°But I¡¯m also very f ucking d to be back here with you, so maybe. you could let us all


    just settle before you go waving that big di ck around.¡±


    For a second, | thought I¡¯d gone too far. Then Xander gave me a grudging smile. He put his hands on his hips and looked over


    my shoulder toward the cottage, then into my ey


    eyes,


    ¡°You think my di ck is big?¡±


    My own co ck thickened at that knowing tone. Suddenly, | wasn¡¯t so tired. | grinned at him.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Come here,¡± he ordered in a dark voice so powerful it sent a shudder straight to the base of my spine.


    her


    Xander had neverpelled me; he never needed to When he gave an order, | obeyed it. | was in front of him in a few long


    strides.


    When he kissed me, our teeth shed. His tongue f ucked deep into my mouth. It wasn¡¯t the first time we¡¯d ever kissed, but this


    time it felt different. Like the two of us had agreed on something we¡¯d never really


    admitted to before.


    His hand cupped my rising co ck and rubbed it as he fisted his fingers into the hair at the base of my skull. Xander nuzzled my


    throat, smelling me. He pressed his sharp teeth to my skin, and | tipped my head back to give him as much of me as he wanted.


    ¡°Boys?¡± Gabri¡¯s voice carried to us from the front of the cabin,


    If Xander had shoved me away from him at the sound of his mother¡¯s call, | would have understood. What we had and shared


    wasn¡¯t unknown among the packs-you don¡¯t consistently mate two males with one female for years without epting that two


    men sharing a mate would also be intimate with each other. But Xander and | had never been that way with each other around


    anyone else.


    Instead, he gave my c ock another slow rub and kissed my mouth firmly before slinging an arm


    shoulders.


    n over my


    ¡°Let''s get you in a hot shower,¡± he said. TIl wash your back. If you''re lucky, I¡¯ll wash your front, too.¡±

 Chapter 213

    Mason


    | hated being this f ucking jealous, especially of Xander, but bitterness surged all the way up my throat as ! watched my half-


    brother move through the kitchen, pausing to press a kiss to Lanie¡¯s hair, then baby Ste on herp. Hell, | even hated the way


    he casually ran a hand along Zane¡¯s back and shoulders when he moved


    around the other man at the counter, where he was grabbing tes from the cupboard.


    They were all so clearly a unit, and L..f uck. Who was in all of this? An outsider. Interloper. | might also be the true Alpha because


    we shared a father, but that didn¡¯t make me part of what they all shared.


    ¡°They''ve known each other a long, long time, Mason. That''s all¡± Gabri murmured by my side as she hitched ina on one hip.


    The baby fussed and gnawed a fist until Gabri soothed her


    My baby. No actual blood rtion to Gabri at all, yet the woman clearly loved the little girl. The same as | loved Ste, despite


    knowing | hadn¡¯t fathered her.


    Isaac squirmed, fussing in my arms as | nced at the woman my father had been married to. The one. he¡¯d betrayed. Xander


    had grown up with a mother, a father. He had a Beta.


    But Lanie Lanie was mine.


    Lanie looked up at me as | thought the word. Her eyes narrowed and her head tilted, but she didn¡¯t say anything. She crooked a


    finger at me.


    ¡°Mason. Bring the baby here. He needs to be fed.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t they always?¡± | joked.


    Between the three infants, it sometimes felt like all we did was rotate through feeding, rocking, changing


    diapers, bathing, and soothing babies to sleep. But | couldn¡¯t deny how hot it f ucking got me to watch the


    woman | loved being so maternal. Not for the first time, | imagined her belly swelling with my pup, and my


    cock throbbed.


    Gabri put a hand on my sleeve to hold me back for a second. ¡°I¡¯m d you and my son have found a way to get along. |


    always wished...¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Her voice cracked, causing both Xander and Zane to look at her.


    ¡°| often wished for another son. A brother for Xander,¡± Gabri whispered and lifted ina up so she could nuzzle the baby¡¯s


    cheek. Gabri¡¯s eyes shone. ¡°You are all so blessed. | hope you realize that.¡±


    | did, even if | did hate parts of that blessing.


    With a grim nod, not sure what to say to her, | took my spot at the table as Xander slid a bottle in front of


    me. Isaac was already wriggling in my arms, ready to eat. When Xander put a hand on my shoulder, | tensed,


    not sure what he wanted.


    He waited until | met his eyes. ¡°You need anything?¡±


    unshed tears, but her lips curved into a smile. | shook my head.


    ¡°Just my...| coughed, clearing my throat, risking the next words. ¡°Just my family.¡±


    Silence fell through the entire kitchen. Zane turned from the cupboard, his eyes wide. Xander didn¡¯t lift his


    hand from my shoulder. He nodded once, firmly.


    ¡°How about a big old steak, too, little buddy?¡± Xander asked.


    | almost bared my teeth at the ¡°little buddy¡± until | realized he was yanking my chain. Was that how it felt


    to have a brother?


    | rolled my eyes. ¡°Rare as you can make it, so long as it¡¯s not still mooing.¡±


    Gabri sighed softughter and shook her head as she settled into a seat next to Lanie. ¡°Boys. Behave


    yourselves.¡±


    ¡°It''s what we are, though,¡± Lanie blurted.


    When we all turned to look at her, pink flushed her cheeks. She gave each of us a short stare before


    settling her gaze back on mine. She reached across the table for my hand. Our fingers linked.


    ¡°It might be unconventional, but that¡¯s what we are. A family. All of us, she emphasized. ¡°And if


    you three are going to get worked up about it, you can all just...not. Got it?¡±


    of


    F uck, she was sex y when she got all tough like that could see the ze in Xander¡¯s eyes at her tone.


    Zane¡¯s, too. Were they thinking what | was? About carrying her into the bedroom and ravishing that sassy


    mouth?


    Of course, they were.


    | didn¡¯t love the idea. Hell, no. But I¡¯d seen how they could share her, and | knew it was possible for more


    than one man to love the same woman.


    The question | couldn¡¯t get out of my head, though...could Lanie love all of us equally?


    Or would someone...me, for example, always be the odd one out?


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    Lanie


    ¡°| wouldn¡¯t dream of going up against you,¡± Mason said as his thumb rubbed over the back of my hand. ¡°Not when you get that


    look.¡±


    ¡°No man or wolf would dare,¡± Zane put in with a grin as he sat.


    ch hot, s exy men...


    | didn¡¯t think a woman could be as lucky as | was. Cared for so deeply by three such hot, mother to a gorgeous baby girl and also


    healthy, beautiful twins. I¡¯d never imagined on my mating day that I¡¯d end up here, but now that | had, there was no ce | would


    rather be.


    | squeezed Mason''s fingers as Zane slid bowls of mashed potatoes and a basket of bread onto the table. | wasn¡¯t sure where the


    bounty of food hade from, but he and Xander had insisted on cooking for all of us,


    a skill | hadn¡¯t even known they had.


    The two of them had been sending each other secret nces since we got back...sharing emotions they didn¡¯t know | could


    sense. Their dynamic had changed ever-so-slightly, and | wondered what that would mean


    for the three of us.


    What would all of this mean?


    Xander slid a tter of seared steaks onto the table and took his seat next to his Beta. ¡°One grandmother, one mama, three


    daddies, and three babies. Sounds like all we need¡¯s a white picket fence.¡±


    | loved them all so much, it was like a me that had been kindled into an inferno inside me. Emotion


    my throat as | looked at all of them. In my arms, Ste cooed like she understood exactly what was


    going on.


    cho


    ¡°She''s right,¡± Gabri said. ¡°Of course, the Luna is always right.¡±


    |ughed with a little choke in my voice and met Mason¡¯s eyes. Then Xander¡¯s. Two Alphas, but only one me. We were going to


    have figure out what that meant for all of us.


    ¡°I''m not sure | even feel like I¡¯m ready to be a Luna,¡± | said around the lump in my throat.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just silly, because you definitely acted like one,¡± Zane put in fiercely. ¡°You all should have seen her. She was beyond


    anything | could¡¯ve imagined. So strong and brave. Lanie, I¡¯m so insanely proud of you.


    Never let me hear you say you''re not ready.¡±


    ¡°Being the Luna is more than household chores and nning parties, Lanie. A Luna is a warrior who stands by her Alpha¡¯s side,


    and if not at his side, she fights to protect him however she can. You did something none of the rest of us could do. Because of


    you, we have these two precious little ones returned to


    us safe and sound.¡±


    Gabri¡¯s soft voice was so full of love and pride it made me miss my own mother. Xander¡¯s mom had intimidated me when we


    first met, but that was back when | hadn¡¯t known that, eventually, I¡¯d be mated to her son for real. We weren¡¯t what I''d call close,


    but | could see us getting there, and | certainly held her up as a


    ¡°Thank you,¡± | told her sincerely. ¡°That means a lot, especially from you.¡±


    I snuggled Ste closer to me, breathing in the sweet fragrance of her soft baby-fine hair. She was my pup, my daughter, but


    ina and Isaac were also mine in a way | would never have expected | could feel about them. They might''ve been the children


    of a woman who''d been my rival, but | was the only mother they would


    ever know.


    ¡°Zane, | can never thank you enough for bringing my pups back safely. Anything you ever need from me, you have it.¡± Mason¡¯s


    rough voice cracked with his emotion. He shot a quirked grin toward Xander. ¡°I might have to go toe-to-toe with this as shole now


    and then just to remind him he¡¯s not the only top wolf, but I¡¯ve got your back, no matter what,¡±


    ¡°Hey, man. No need to thank me. | love those babies Zane said firmly, making sure Mason looked toward him. ¡°As far as I¡¯m


    concerned, ina and Isaac are as much my pups as Ste is. It doesn¡¯t matter what the biology says. They''re all mine, and |


    will fight to the death to protect them.¡±


    My heart swelled with love again. | knew what Gabri had said was true, no matter how | still felt about. my abilities. ..or not.


    But | did agree with Zane about the pups. I¡¯d risked my life for them, and | would do it


    again in a heartbeat.


    ¡°Me too. And for each and every one of you,¡± | added.


    ¡°That¡¯s what makes a family¡± Xander said roughly, and | was shocked to see the glint of tears in his eyes.


    Mason coughed into his fist. ¡°P ussy.¡±


    | braced myself for Xander to explode, but to my surprise and relief, he simply rolled his eyes and grinned.


    ¡°Sphincter,¡± he shot back and pped a steak onto Mason¡¯s te.


    ¡°Boys,¡± Gabri murmured, but with a smile.


    Zane scoffed, helping himself to a steak. ¡°Watch out. With d icks that big, there won¡¯t be room in the bed


    for all four of us.¡±


    Every head turned his way.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    212

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    Lanie


    | couldn''t look any of them in the face, especially Gabri, as my cheeks flooded with heat so intense |


    swear it sizzled. | focused on the baby in myp instead, and to my relief, everyone else at the table dug into


    the meal and took turns feeding the pups.


    The conversation stayed light, but a little strained, which was better than Mason and Xander going for each other¡¯s throats. |


    couldn''t recall thest time I¡¯d actually eaten, so | quickly cut into the massive b of beef Xander had prepared. The moment |


    took that first bite of my steak, my hunger roared to life so fiercely that | moaned. The tter of forks on the tes stopped, and |


    felt the weight of every male eye on me.


    | could hardly swallow my steak with the three of them staring. But there was power in the feeling, too. Of being wanted, craved,


    and desired by three of the se xiest strongest men I¡¯d ever met. My men, | thought, a little dazed.


    My mates.


    Aglow rose up inside me at the thought of it, and it wasn¡¯t until | saw Zane staring at me with wide eyes.


    that | realized with embarrassment that it wasn¡¯t an imaginary light, but a literal one. The faint golden aura surrounded me.


    Xander saw it next, followed by Mason.


    Their jaws all dropped.


    ¡°The Luna Light,¡± Gabri murmured with a small shake of her head and a smile. ¡°I think it¡¯s time these


    little ones were all tucked up into bed, and this olddy went off to sleep herself.¡±


    ¡°But-¡°Xander began, and she shushed him with a stern look.


    ¡°I''ll help you,¡± | offered quickly. ¡°Too much for one set of hands. And besides, it¡¯s going to be a long time


    before | won¡¯t want to make sure they''re all oka


    ¡°Boys, you take care of the kitchen,¡± Gabri ordered.


    Together, Xander¡¯s mother and | took the pups into the living room. We cleaned them off with wipes, making sure their adorable


    baby rolls were wiped clean, then changed their diapers and dressed them in clean


    sleepers.


    ¡°| can¡¯t wait until we can give them real, proper baths,¡± | said softly as Gabri hummed a luby. ¡°When we can just be at


    home, all of us together.¡±


    ¡°Home,¡± Gabri agreed. ¡°Soon enough, if the Goddess permits.¡±


    One by one, we tucked the yawning pups into their basss. | knew it had to be my imagination, but Ste seemed to have


    grown even since thest I''d seen her. | could see the shape of Xander¡¯s smile in her lips


    as she fell asleep.


    ina was already sleeping, and Isaac¡¯s eyes drooped. | kissed them both on the foreheads, feeling my heart twist with this


    unexpected love...one | was immensely grateful to have.


    could hear the mutter and rumble of male voices and tter of tes. ¡°You''ll have your work cut out for you, my dear, wrangling


    those three.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know what to do about them,¡± | whispered h o ar sely. | didn¡¯t really want to discuss my sex life with


    Xander¡¯s mother any more than | would¡¯ve wanted to with my own mom, but it wasn¡¯t like she didn¡¯t know I''d slept with all the


    men now trading louder and louder insults.


    ¡°If you wake these babies, you''ll have to face me,¡± | called out, and they fell silent.


    She grinned at me. ¡°Seems like you know exactly how to handle them all, Lanie. But if you¡¯re not sure, open yourself up to that


    light. You''ll find your way. I''d tell you to get some rest, but something says that¡¯s a tall


    order tonight.¡±


    She touched my hand, then drew me close for a hug that surprised me. She patted my back. When she


    pulled away, she held me by both shoulders.


    ¡°You''ll find your way,¡± she said again. ¡°Go on, now.¡±


    Nervously, | left her in the small living room with the sleeping pups and went to the kitchen. They¡¯d done a fine job of clearing


    everything away and washing the dishes. The three of them were lined up at the sink,


    Xander washing, Zane rinsing, and Mason drying.


    Stunned, | couldn¡¯t help myself from staring at the picture of domesticity. For a few seconds, this was the entire world. No


    enemies, no fear or pain, no danger. Just this picture of three men | couldn¡¯t imagine being


    parted from.


    ¡°It''ste,¡± Zane said after a few seconds, over his shoulder, like he¡¯d known | was there all along. ¡°We''re


    almost finished up in here.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    My voice sounded throaty and full of longing when | answered


    ¡°| guess we''d all better get to bed, then.¡±


    212

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    F uck, | wanted this woman. | wanted her as much | wanted to breathe, wanted her so much it was like a knife to the gut to think


    about her walking into that bedroom with Zane and Xander, leaving me behind.


    Family? Right. That counted for something, but when it came down to all three of us sharing her body, there was no way that


    could fly. Not to mention her heart.


    ¡°Come on.¡± Lanie gestured at all three of us, crooking her finger over her shoulder.


    She went into the bedroom, while we three schmucks stood around the kitchen, staring at each other with our mouths open like


    we were trying to catch flies.


    | needed to get the f uck out of here. | needed to shift, give my wolf control, run out into the night and wear myself out until


    morning. Anything so | didn¡¯t have to think about her being with them.


    ¡°You''re not going anywhere,¡± Xander said sharply, taking a step toward me. ¡°Not until we get this s hit


    sorted out.¡±


    Zane pitched his voice low with a nce toward the living room. ¡°Yeah, man. Don¡¯t run off like that. We need to find out what


    Lanie wants. Cool? Don¡¯t make it weird.¡±


    loud.¡±


    ¡°Weird?¡± | said aloud. ¡°What''s f ucking weird is that you both heard me when | didn¡¯t say a da mn thing out


    They shared a look. Once again, | felt the sting of jealousy. | hated to admit it, but I''d always wanted a brother to be as close to


    as Xander and Zane so clearly were. We made the points of a triangle, but the two of them would always be a circle. One big


    enough to enclose Lanie


    Xander held up a hand. ¡°The f uck you are you saying?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t talk out loud,¡± Zane put in. ¡°You were just thinking it, right?¡±


    I nodded.


    Again, we all stared at each other, this time without saying or thinking anything.


    After a few seconds, | felt rather than heard a tentative nudge in my mind. When | opened to it, | heard Xander¡¯s voice, distinctive


    but also kind of echoey and distant.


    ¡°You can hear me. Can¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Sh it,¡± | said aloud.


    ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Zane¡¯s voice came next.


    ¡°| can hear both of you.¡± | looked back and forth between them. ¡°You''re in my f ucking head. What is this,Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    how are we...?¡±


    ¡°Mind linked¡± Yander harked. nut my mind 1/2


    ¡°When Orion died, you gained your Alpha powers,¡± Zane said. ¡°Looks like that connected you to Xander, as the other Alpha of


    your father. And because you''re connected to him...¡±


    ¡°You''re connected to Zane,¡± Xander said and raked a hand through his thick mane of hair. He paced and then tossed both hands


    up in the air. Out loud, he said, ¡°What the f uck?¡±


    ¡°And | can hear all three of you.¡± Lanie¡¯s voice filtered through the others. ¡°Come to bed. Now.¡±


    Lanie


    There was no way all four of us were going to be able to sleep in this small bed, but somehow, | doubted. sleeping was on


    anybody''s mind. It sure wasn¡¯t on mine, especially not as each man came through the door and filled the room with their pulsing


    male energy. Two Alphas and a Beta.


    | wasn''t sure I''d survive.


    Zane closed the door behind him as Xander and Mason each moved to opposite sides of the bed. Zane stayed at the foot.


    My desire for all of them was as different as the men themselves. With Xander, | could let myself get swept up in the idea of


    being Luna to his Alpha. His mate, mother to his pups, Zane at our side and in our b bed


    With Zane, | knew | had a strong ally in keeping Xander as humble as he could ever get. Our shared


    experience at the hybrid testing facility had brought us closer together, and we would always share something


    special nobody else could understand. | trusted him with my life and knew | could always count on him to


    protect me.


    Mason was the man who¡¯d stolen my heartpletely. He¡¯d been there when | couldn¡¯t remember who |


    really was, and he¡¯d loved me as Katie, mother to Ste, the baby he¡¯d epted as his own without second thought. Mason had


    never wanted someone else instead of me the way Xander and Zane had, and even though I''d forgiven them for that, there


    would always be the memory of when, for them, I¡¯d been second


    choice.


    | loved all three of them in different ways, my body craving each. | sat propped up against the headboard and looked at each one


    of them, drinking their handsome faces, their strong, hard bodies. All of them were getting hard, | could smell their arousal, and


    my wolf wanted to submit to them, one by one.


    ¡°You''re mind linked to Xander and Zane,¡± Mason muttered.


    ¡°Yes. | didn¡¯t want to tell you because | didn¡¯t want you to think my connection to them was stronger.¡±


    He scowled, and | could feel his anger. Xander and Zane both tensed. | sent out a wave of soothing calmness.


    ¡°We''re all mind linked,¡± Zane said, the voice of reason. ¡°All four of us.¡±


    ¡°| love all three of you,¡± | said boldly. ¡°And | want all three of you.¡±

 Chapter 217

    Mason


    My anger swelled up for one heartbeat. Then another And then....it faded.


    | knew the calm flowing through me came from Lanie, and | could see it centering in Xander and Zane, too. Zane was right. All of


    us were able to hear each other through the link.


    Feel each other, too.


    ¡°Not happy you lied to me, but yeah, | would¡¯ve been pis sed,¡± | admitted reluctantly.


    Lanie nodded. ¡°And | wasn¡¯t sure exactly what it meant.¡±


    ¡°It means,¡± Xander barked, ¡°that you¡¯re my Luna!¡±


    The way her chin went up and she fixed him with a solid, unblinking stare showed she was a Luna, all right. | couldn¡¯t help the


    chuckle that rumbled out of me. My wolf even chuffed with amusement, something that had Xander¡¯s wolf growling a low warning


    that quickly subsided with another re from Lanie.


    We''d made a truce, but | suspected we were always going to be at least a little bit on edge with each


    other.


    ¡°And that¡¯s not a bad thing.¡± Zane said aloud, turning all of us toward him.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    S hit. | really needed to remember they could hear me and learn how to block them.


    ¡°It means that she¡¯s the Luna,¡± Zane continued. ¡°But, just like both of you are the Alphas, and from the


    same bloodline, no less, and Lanie loves you both-¡±


    ¡°And you,¡± she murmured.


    They shared a look before he went on.


    ¡°| don¡¯t think any of this has ever been documented before. Brand new territory. But if a woman can be


    mated to two men, why not three? Why not be Luna to two Alphas?¡± Zane finished.


    Xander and | red at each other across the bed, Lanie between us. He nodded first, and | could see the reluctance in his gaze.


    | felt it, too, and | could tell he sensed mine.


    I


    But in the end, we both wanted what was best for her and those pups, and that meant putting aside


    selfishness, at least for me.


    ¡°So where does that leave us?¡± | asked.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to have a bunch of rules,¡± Lanie said. ¡°Rules will only get broken, and so will hearts.¡±


    Zane sat on the foot of the bed, his body angled toward her. After a moment, Xander did the same on his side, so | did, too. She


    reached for both of us, linking our fingers.


    The second she did, an electric zap traveled through me. | swore | heard it sizzle up my spine to snap at 1/2


    ¡°What the f uck was that?¡± Xander thought at me.


    ¡°No f ucking clue.¡±


    It was weird as all hell to have him in my head that way, but even weirder was the sensation zipping back and forth between us.


    Our wolves even perked up, mine yipping and prancing like he wanted to....y?


    My wolf wanted to f ucking y with Xander¡¯s.


    | shook my head and tried to tug my fingers loose from Lanie¡¯s gentle grip, but she tightened it and shook


    her head.


    ¡°Whatever this is, we are going to figure it out. And we can¡¯t do that if we aren''t all together on it,¡± she sai firmly. ¡°I love you all,


    and | trust you all. | know you all love me. and Xander and Zane, you love each other.¡±


    They nced at each other, and although | still felt a little left out, the feeling wasn¡¯t as strong as it had been before. | was never


    going to share with Xander whatever he and Zane had going on.


    We were brothers, after all.


    ¡°And that¡¯s a different kind of love,¡± Lanie said, her voice rich with emotion, kindness, andpassion.


    ¡°| really need to learn how to shield myself,¡± | muttered.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± Xander asked suspiciously.


    Interesting. So there were times when we couldmunicate without everyone tuning in like it was an old-fashioned party line.


    This would take some time to get used to, but | was d to know | had at least some ess to Lanie that was still all to myself.


    fire.¡±


    ¡°You said you wanted all of us,¡± Zane said quietly. ¡°You want to make love with all of us?¡±


    Lanie gathered a deep, shuddering breath. ¡°Yes. Oh, yes, by the Goddess, | want all of you so much it¡¯s like


    ¡°All at the same time?¡± Xander barked.


    Sheughed with a nce at me. The idea of that had my lip curling. The other two men were okay with sharing her that way, but


    | didn¡¯t know if I¡¯d be able to. It would be hard enough not to freak out knowing she was with them. Seeing it would probably send


    me over the edge.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± Lanie said finally and squeezed my hand. ¡°Mason?¡±

 Chapter 218

    Lanie


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t the deal-¡± Mason started, but then he cut himself off so abruptly his teeth clicked together.


    His canines had dropped. His eyes shed. His wolf was really close to the surface. | sent out another slow, rolling wave of calm


    to him and the other two as well. We all needed it.


    Mason¡¯s wolf retreated.


    | already knew what he''d stopped himself from saying. | could feel his thoughts and feelings pouring out of him in waves. | could


    hear him in my mind, even the thoughts he hadn¡¯t been able to fully articte.


    My love for him grew as | watched his struggle. He could¡¯ve run out of here, but he stayed because he loved me. | would never


    have to doubt that.


    ¡°Mason, my love,¡± | was aware of Xander¡¯s burning gaze, but kept talking without looking at him. Xander was going to have to


    get used to this. ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t the deal, and | hope you know | would never deliberately try to get around a promise we made


    to each other. But | don¡¯t want to, and | can¡¯t keep lying to myself...or any of you.¡±


    Zane shook his head, and his voice was fierce. ¡°| never want you to lie to me.¡±


    Mason


    Xander let out a gruff noise from low in his throat. The link between us sent a feeling, more than words. He didn¡¯t want her to lie,


    either, but he also wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to hear the truth.


    ¡°| feel you, brother,¡± | sent him.


    He looked at me with narrowed eyes. Then nodded sharply. We understood each other.


    ¡°I''d rather be honest and risk losing any of you than continue to hide how | feel. It¡¯s been eating me up inside.¡± Her voice


    cracked.


    The thought that she was in pain sent an equal agony all through me. | ran my thumb gently over the back of her hand. ¡°I know. |


    can feel what''s in your heart, more now even than | could before. | don¡¯t know how all of this works, but you¡¯re inside me, Lanie. |


    love you too much to risk losing you. If that means | have to make nice with Xander, then that¡¯s what I¡¯ll do. Whatever It takes.¡±


    ¡°Xander?¡± She turned to him.


    At first, | thought he was going to refuse. This was so much bigger than simply agreeing to a truce. But after a moment, Xander


    nodded.


    ¡°I''ve held grudges against you for a long time, brother,¡± | said. ¡°Hell, | held grudges against you before |


    knew who you were, before | even knew you existed. | feel like | was born with a chip on my shoulder and a grudge against you.


    But that¡¯s not your fault, and I¡¯m done hanging onto the past.¡±


    His eyes had shed at the start of my little speech, but now his wolf retreated. His expression remained grim and distant, but


    that didn¡¯t matter. Our connection meant he''d have to actively be shielding his emotions from me, and he wasn''t.


    We weren''t best friends by any means, but it was a start.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t actually do any of the things | hated you for, and I¡¯m done holding you ountable for things you didn¡¯t have any


    control over,¡± | told him, determined to get it all out in the open, no matter how hard it felt.


    The only way to heal these old wounds was to rip off all those scabs. Yeah, there¡¯d be some scars left behind, but they¡¯d only be


    reminders of everything we¡¯d gone to in order to end up where we were.


    ¡°| also had no idea you existed,¡± Xander said. ¡°Me and my old man had our issues, but believe me, if I''d


    known | had a brother, | would have done my best to find you, Mason. I¡¯m ashamed of what my father did to


    your mother and to mine. To you. To our family.¡±


    her.


    We reached across the bed and sped each others forearms, our fingers circling our wrists.


    ¡°When | met Lanie, it was like having a door that had been locked inside me swing wide open.¡± | looked atContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    She shook with so bs | could feel were a mix of relief and joy. | kissed the back of her hand. She cupped


    my face.


    ¡°| can¡¯t ever give that up. But this isn¡¯t a game, and I¡¯m not going to look at this as losing. I¡¯m choosing to think of this as me


    gaining something. Lanie.¡± | turned my face to kiss the palm cupping my cheek. | looked at


    Xander. ¡°A brother.¡± At Zane. ¡°A friend.¡±


    ¡°Kiss me,¡± Lanie ordered. ¡°All of you. One at a time, and then start over and do it all again.¡±


    212

 Chapter 219

    Lanie


    Xander kissed me first.


    | half-expected him to ravish my mouth, to take out his frustrations and passion on me with a stabbing tongue and rough hands,


    but my enormous Alpha knew how to be gentle, too.


    He slid across the bed and cupped my face in his hands to tip me toward him. When | parted my lips, a faint smile tilted his. He


    brushed mine so softly it made me shudder.


    | moaned his name. ¡°I need you, Xander. Please.¡±


    ¡°We''re going to take our time, love. You deserve every single second of our attention, but also...¡± he paused to draw his nose


    along my jaw to ce his lips at my ear, ¡°...if you really want to take all three of us,


    we''ll have to be careful.¡±


    ¡°I''ve had...two...¡± | arched, desperate to get my mouth on his, but Xander¡¯s deep chuckle reverberated through me.


    ¡°Two isn¡¯t three. And this is all new for us, too,¡± he reminded me.


    | opened my eyes, thinking Mason might have fled the room. He moved closer to me on the bed, instead.


    His hand slipped up my arm and shoulder so his fingers could tickle my neck.


    ¡°My turn,¡± he murmured.


    His kiss was a little stronger than Xander¡¯s. Oh, I''d kissed them both before, but not like this. Their shared Alpha power flowed all


    around us when Mason parted my lips with his tongue and stroked it along mine. He swallowed my breath and gave it back to


    me. He sipped my moans like they were wine.


    When it was Zane¡¯s turn, he made a little joke that made me love him so much | shook with it. ¡°Last but


    not least.¡±


    ¡°Never least,¡± | promised him.


    | drew him toward me, my fingers curling in the front of his shirt. Eagerly, our tongues danced. He tasted different to me now.


    After what we''d shared, | knew there would always be something about Zane that would set him apart from his Alpha and the


    second Alpha.


    He let his forehead drop to mine. He was already breathing hard. ¡°My body aches for you, Lanie. Are you positive this is what


    you want? | have to hear you say so.¡±


    ¡°| love that you care so much,¡± | murmured against his cheek. My lips found his jaw, and | nipped his throat until he groaned.


    ¡°Yes, | want you all.¡±


    ¡°Let''s get you out of these clothes,¡± Xander whispered huskily at Zane¡¯s side.


    The official, assigned mates on one side of me. The man I''d fallen in love with and taken as the mate of


    my heart on the other. Three pairs of strong male hands made short work of each item | was wearing as, piece


    of exactly where | wanted them to be.


    ¡°| need your mouth on my pus sy,¡± | whispered to Xander.


    He shifted to move at once between my legs as Zane moved out of the way in a move so coordinated it was like they were


    dancing. Seconds after that, Xander¡¯s tongue danced on my c lit, and | arched upward, my fists clenched in the sheets as | rolled


    my hips to get his mouth exactly where | needed it to go.


    | could barely keep my eyes open as the pleasure swept over me, but | was desperate to see my other two lovers. To keep them


    a part of what we were all experiencing. The glow around me heightened, and so did the waves of Alpha power rolling off Mason


    and Xander.


    ¡°Oh, Goddess,¡± | moaned. ¡°I can feel how hard your co cks are...¡±


    Not with my hands or even against my body, but how it felt for them to experience their stone-hard lengths throbbing. | sensed


    Zane, too, a flood of emotion and sensation and the heat of arousal, all mingled with my own rising desire.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Xander slid his tongue along my c lit in long, slow, t strokes. He took me to the edge and hovered me there, then eased off


    with such expert precision that | knew he had to be feeling me, too.


    We were all so connected. I''d been with Xander and Zane at the same time, and it had been like magic, but this...this was so


    much more.


    ¡°| can feel you,¡± | whispered again. ¡°All of you. Hard and throbbing and aching...¡±


    Mason was naked, too. When had that happened? He knelt next to me on the bed, his co ck in his fist, stroking it. ¡°I can feel your


    c lit swelling. | can...f uck, Lanie, it''s like | can f ucking taste you...¡±


    ¡°Your turn,¡± Xander said.


    He looked up with a grin and slid to my other side to capture my mouth with a kiss while Mason took his ce and Zane moved


    into the spot Mason had just upied.


    | looked up at the two thick c ocks on either side of me. ¡°Now, | want to taste each of you.¡±

 Chapter 220

    Xander


    | couldn''t hold back my guttural groan when Lanie took me in her mouth. Her mouth was magic. Her lips caressed the head of


    my co ck, then traveled down the shaft while she cupped my balls with the other.


    ¡°F uk,¡± Zane murmured. ¡°I love watching you take him in that way, Lanie.¡±


    | locked eyes with my Beta. Sharing women had never felt like this before. As Lanie let her tongue and lips. suck and lick my co


    ck, | reached for his shoulders to pull him close for a kiss.


    He jerked and moaned as she left my co ck and took his in next. Back and forth, our gorgeous Luna


    sucked us as my tongue dove into Zane¡¯s mouth. We breathed in and out in sync.


    Lanie¡¯s moans rose to a familiar pitch.


    | looked between her legs as Masonpped her c lit like making her cu m was going to save his life.


    F uck, maybe it was. Having her in the bed with all three of us sure as hell felt like it was something


    important.


    Mystical, even.


    She was glowing.


    Zane¡¯s eyes shed, and | felt the light in my own. When Mason nced up at us, his were, too. All three


    of us were wrapped in the luminosity surrounding her. | couldn''t feel it, not exactly, but it centered heat in my


    stomach. The base of my c ock. It weighed heavy in my balls, which pulsed every time her sweet mouth took


    my co ck again.


    ¡°Feels so good...¡±


    | knew we all heard her in the mind link. That connection deepened as Zane curled his fingers around the


    back of my neck to hold my mouth close to his, our foreheads pressed together. | felt Lanie¡¯s mouth leave me, and | grunted a


    protest, but in the next second, Zane¡¯s pleasure pulsed and throbbed through my co ck like his


    ecstasy was my own.


    Mason¡¯s was there, too, but farther away. More distant. | could tell he was tasting her, but he and | weren¡¯t


    connected the same way | sensed he and Zane were. Based on the way Mason moaned and jerked as Lanie


    sucked Zane¡¯s d ick, anyway.


    The first time she came, ripples of silver and gold sparked all around us. At least that¡¯s how it felt. | couldn¡¯t be sure if | actually


    saw them, or felt them, or if they were only in Lanie¡¯s head but projected into mine.


    ¡°Goddess,¡± Zane breathed as his head fell back. His hips were moving, driving into her mouth as Lanie


    took him sopletely. ¡°What is that..¡±


    ¡°F uck me, Mason,¡± Lanie begged as she took me and Zane in her fists.


    At the stroke of her fingers along my c ock, slick with her spit, | almost came right then. When Mason slid 1/2


    was too close.


    Zane panted, hands on his hips. Eyes closed. F uck, he was amazing. My beautiful Beta.


    His eyes flew open, startled, and | realized I''d transmitted that thought. | didn¡¯t care. It was the truth, and |


    wanted him to know it. To feel it.


    Lanie arched, her hands working each of us as her head tossed back and forth, spreading the glory of her


    hair out on the pillows. Mason was on his hands, pumping slowly inside her with his gaze fixed on her face. He


    looked entranced.


    She was ensorcelling all of us. At least, that was how it felt. Like being under a spell of sex and lust and


    love, like we were all moving somehow out of space and time. Individually, but together.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    When she took Zane again, her hand moved on my c ock in perfect time with how she sucked him. Then, she switched. Her hips


    rolled, and she whimpered around my co ck.


    Zane slid a hand between her and Mason. | knew his fingers were finding her sweet little c lit, probably so plump and hard and


    swollen. She bucked, crying out.


    We all moved as though we''d spent years together perfecting this lovemaking. All of it felt right. Perfect.


    Meant to be.


    Nothing was going toe between us after this. | felt in my bones, at the base of my spine, tingling with my gr owing 0 rgasm,


    in my chest. And definitely in my c ock.


    ¡°Come for us, baby,¡± Mason breathed.


    Lanie¡¯s keening cry was finally what sent me over. Did | spill in her slickened fist? In the velvet of her mouth? | couldn''t tell and


    didn¡¯t care. The world had be the rise and crest of this desire.


    | kissed Zane again as my c ock leaped, spurting. His tongue stroked mine, his fingers curling against the back of my neck. His


    moan and shudder sent waves of pleasure coursing through me.


    Vaguely, | could hear Mason shouting out as he finished, too.


    If the world had ended in that moment, | don¡¯t think any one of us would¡¯ve been able to tell.


    | fell onto the bed panting, eyes closed. | only opened them when | heard Lanie¡¯s soft, satisfied giggle.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said. ¡°Now we have to figure out who has to sleep in the wet spots.¡±

 Chapter 221

    Lanie


    No matter how much | wanted to, there was no way | could sleep in past the first blush of light in the sky. With three babies in the


    house, it was going to be a long time before any of us had that luxury. When I crept


    out of the bed and into the mostly dark living room, | was surprised to find all three infants still quiet.


    Knowing they''d be up soon, | carefully let myself out onto the front porch. | took in breath after breath of


    the crisp, cool morning air. So much loomed on the h orizon, but for now, we were all safe. All together. |


    wanted to drink in this peace for as long as | possibly could.


    ¡°Morning.¡± Gabri¡¯s soft voice turned me. She sat on the porch swing, a mug of coffee in one hand. She


    gestured at the small table next to the swing. ¡°The pot and a mug are there, if you want some.¡±


    ¡°I''m desperate for some,¡± | admitted. ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°You''re a mama. | knew you''d be up. Those three big lugs will be snoring away for a while. Not that they


    aren''t all wonderful daddies,¡± she countered with a small smile. ¡°But...¡±


    We bothughed as | poured myself a mug and settled into the rocker next to the swing.


    ¡°| take it you all worked things out to a mutual satisfaction?¡± She peered at me over the rim of her mug.


    ¡°| hope so.¡± | fought a blush, but | knew she didn¡¯t mean that kind of satisfaction. ¡°It''s going to take a lot of work. Twice as much, |


    guess.¡±


    ¡°Three times.¡± Gabri sipped.


    | thought for a second, then nodded. ¡°Yes. | think of Xander and Zane as one unit, but...¡±


    ¡°They are, of course. Alpha and Beta. But Mason is also an Alpha, and Xander¡¯s brother, which means he and Xander will


    be a unit of their own. It¡¯s going to be an ever-changing triangle for you to navigate.¡±


    | sipped my coffee, thinking about everything that had happened since the mating ceremony. All the


    secrets that had been revealed. When | looked at Xander¡¯s mother, she wore a frown of concern.


    ¡°You''re worried that it¡¯s not real,¡± she said.


    | forced augh. ¡°Are you part of the mind link, too?¡±


    When she looked confused, | added as exnation, ¡°The four of us are mind linked. | thought maybe you


    were somehow part of it, too.¡±


    Her eyebrows went up, and she shook her head with a soft chuckle. ¡°No. Just a mother. The four of you,


    really? Mason links to Xander and Zane, too?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡±


    We sat in silence, each of us sipping coffee as the sun rose. The trees brightened. Birds began to chirp. My wolf nosed the air,


    scenting it, wishing for the chance to run free. | hoped | could give her that freedom


    ¡°That should reassure you,¡± Gabri said.


    ¡°I''m a hybrid,¡± | told her tly. A sour taste washed away the good coffee vor, and | grimaced. ¡°Wolves


    and vampires all smell me and want me. What makes those three any different?¡±


    She snorted lightly. ¡°Wanting to f uck you is not the same as wanting to have pups with you. Share a life. |


    daresay that simply being drawn to your scent and wanting to rut is nothing like the desire to build a life with


    you, and certainly, it does not mean anything like love. Those men all love you enough to find a way to make this work. That isn¡¯t


    because you''re a hybrid, Lanie. That¡¯s because you share something so much deeper than


    the physical...which, I¡¯m hoping is wonderful; for your sake.¡±


    | blushed again, but she onlyughed and set the swing in motion with her toe. The creak of the chains


    and the wood was soothing as a luby, and | understood why babies loved to be rocked so much.


    As though they all sensed my thoughts, three thin wails filtered out through the cabin¡¯s half-open front


    door.


    ¡°They''re up,¡± Gabri said. When | stood, she reached to put a hand on my arm. ¡°Never doubt your mates, Lanie. | promise you,


    | don¡¯t need a mind link to feel their love for you.¡±


    She stood up so we could hug. My emotions were up and down and all over the ce, but my tears were happy ones. Gabri


    thumbed them away from my cheeks as the crying from inside got louder.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| guess we''d better go inside,¡± she said.


    When | opened the door, it was to the sight of three giant men, each holding an infant cradled against


    their chests. With the babies bundled up, it was impossible to tell who held which pup, but then | realized that


    made no difference.


    We all belonged together.


    ¡°I''ll make some breakfast, since it looks like the boys have everything under control,¡± Gabri offered.


    Asoft tension swirled around me, Mason, Xander, and Zane as she went into the kitchen. Last night had


    changed everything for all of us once again, and it was going to take some time to get used to it all.


    And, beyond our personal drama, there was so much more we had to figure out.


    ¡°Ill help,¡± | called out to Gabri, but before | could follow her to the kitchen, a knock came at the front


    door behind me.

 Chapter 222

    Zane


    The instant that knock came at the front door, my wolf went on high alert. Whining, he paced and pawed.


    | had to forcibly push him lower. The only reason nobody else thought anything of it was that all of their wolves were reacting the


    same way.


    Gabri moved through the living room so fast, none of us could stop her. She wielded a stic spat in one hand and ab


    utcher knife in the other. Neither would be better weapons than her own wolf''s ws, but | got the hell out of her way.


    ¡°You all stay back,¡± she said. ¡°Take care of those babies.¡±


    ¡°As if we wouldn''t,¡± Xander grumbled through the link.


    4


    Fear radiated off Lanie in pulses. | moved closer to her with baby Ste in my arms. She didn¡¯t try to take the baby from me, but


    leaned close to run her hand over $te¡¯s head. Lanie¡¯s wolf shed in her eyes.


    All of us tensed as Gabri peeked through the front window to see who was on the porch. She visibly tensed, then rxed, at


    the sight. She looked over her shoulder at us.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It''s Rhiannon.¡±


    As another knock rattled the door, Gabri opened it and stepped aside to let the witch enter. My gut roiled at the sight of her,


    and Lanie looked up at me.


    ¡°She helped us,¡± she reminded me in a low voice. ¡°Without her, we wouldn¡¯t have the twins back. You don¡¯t


    have to like her, but we should be grateful.¡±


    | barely kept my lip from curling. | wanted Rhiannon gone, out of here, far away from the woman and the


    man | loved, and the pups we were all bound to love and protect. Most of all, | wanted her the hell away from


    me.


    ¡°Zane?¡± Lanie¡¯s mind probed mine.


    | subtly tried to shield myself from her, but it wasn¡¯t working. As a Beta, there wasn¡¯t much | could do


    against the innate power a Luna could wield, and even though she was still new and didn¡¯t know how to


    ess all of her gifts, Lanie was so much stronger than she thought herself to be. She knew something was


    wrong.


    ¡°Not because I¡¯m the Luna,¡± she thought at me. ¡°Because | love you. What the hell is going on? Why are


    you trying to stop me from sensing you?¡±


    Mason looked toward us, and | felt a tentative touch of his attempt at listening in. Him, | could block, and


    | could tell it annoyed him by the way he grimaced.


    ¡°You can all just put your teeth away,¡± Rhiannon said sharply. ¡°Oh, what big eyes you have and all that b ullsh it. Nobody followed


    me. | have a potion that alerts me if someone did.¡±


    someone else a transmogrification potion, and this is only someone who looks like her?¡±


    The witch put her hands on her hips. ¡°Why by the stars would | do that?¡±


    ¡°Because you''re a witch,¡± Xander put in. ¡°And you hate wolves. You were quick enough to insist that Lanie be the one to use


    your potion to get into the facility. Maybe the n all along was for her to end up getting killed. Maybe ¡®Rhiannon¡¯ never really


    wanted to help us at all.¡±


    | always had Xander¡¯s back, but it felt good to know that he would always step up to have mine, too. Even


    if he had no idea why | was so desperate to get this witch the hell out of here. Even if | knew that if he ever


    found out, there¡¯d be hell to pay.


    I''d have to face that if it happened. For now, | stepped between Lanie and Ste and the witch. ¡°Prove it¡¯s


    really you.¡±


    Gabri tutted softly. ¡°Zane, we can all smell that it¡¯s her.¡±


    ¡°We can smell a witch,¡± | countered grimly. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s the one you''ve all asked us to trust.¡±


    Gabri¡¯s wolf shed as her lip curled back to show her dropping canines. | knew I¡¯d shocked her with my disrespect. Xander¡¯s


    mother and | had always gotten along.


    Rhiannon drew herself up. She had no wolf inside her, but her eyes shed with something. Her lips


    quirked into a small smile.


    ¡°Fine. I''ll prove it to you. And only you,¡± she added with a sharp nce around the rest of the room before


    she settled her gaze back on mine. ¡°Youe outside with me, and we''ll have a little...chat.¡±


    S hit. I''d stabbed myself in the back.


    ¡°Zane?¡± Lanie said aloud, her voice tense with suspicion. ¡°Does this have anything to do with the invisibility potion?¡±


    Xander¡¯s head swirled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the what now?¡±


    We''d been so caught up in our interpersonal dynamics Lanie and | hadn¡¯t told him all the details of the


    escape.


    ¡°Zane,¡± Lanie repeated, this time in a harsher tone.


    Rhiannon smiled, backing up toward the door. ¡°Yes, Zane. Come outside with me, and I¡¯ll prove that I¡¯m


    exactly who | say | am.¡±


    I had no other choice.


    ¡°Fine,¡± | said. ¡°Let''s go.¡±

 Chapter 223

    Zane


    The instant that knock came at the front door, my wolf went on high alert. Whining, he paced and pawed.


    | had to forcibly push him lower. The only reason nobody else thought anything of it was that all of their wolves were reacting the


    same way.


    Gabri moved through the living room so fast, none of us could stop her. She wielded a stic spat in one hand and ab


    utcher knife in the other. Neither would be better weapons than her own wolf''s ws, but | got the hell out of her way.


    ¡°You all stay back,¡± she said. ¡°Take care of those babies.¡±


    ¡°As if we wouldn''t,¡± Xander grumbled through the link.


    4


    Fear radiated off Lanie in pulses. | moved closer to her with baby Ste in my arms. She didn¡¯t try to take the baby from me, but


    leaned close to run her hand over $te¡¯s head. Lanie¡¯s wolf shed in her eyes.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    All of us tensed as Gabri peeked through the front window to see who was on the porch. She visibly tensed, then rxed, at


    the sight. She looked over her shoulder at us.


    ¡°It''s Rhiannon.¡±


    As another knock rattled the door, Gabri opened it and stepped aside to let the witch enter. My gut roiled at the sight of her,


    and Lanie looked up at me.


    ¡°She helped us,¡± she reminded me in a low voice. ¡°Without her, we wouldn¡¯t have the twins back. You don¡¯t


    have to like her, but we should be grateful.¡±


    | barely kept my lip from curling. | wanted Rhiannon gone, out of here, far away from the woman and the


    man | loved, and the pups we were all bound to love and protect. Most of all, | wanted her the hell away from


    me.


    ¡°Zane?¡± Lanie¡¯s mind probed mine.


    | subtly tried to shield myself from her, but it wasn¡¯t working. As a Beta, there wasn¡¯t much | could do


    against the innate power a Luna could wield, and even though she was still new and didn¡¯t know how to


    ess all of her gifts, Lanie was so much stronger than she thought herself to be. She knew something was


    wrong.


    ¡°Not because I¡¯m the Luna,¡± she thought at me. ¡°Because | love you. What the hell is going on? Why are


    you trying to stop me from sensing you?¡±


    Mason looked toward us, and | felt a tentative touch of his attempt at listening in. Him, | could block, and


    | could tell it annoyed him by the way he grimaced.


    ¡°You can all just put your teeth away,¡± Rhiannon said sharply. ¡°Oh, what big eyes you have and all that b ullsh it. Nobody followed


    me. | have a potion that alerts me if someone did.¡±


    someone else a transmogrification potion, and this is only someone who looks like her?¡±


    The witch put her hands on her hips. ¡°Why by the stars would | do that?¡±


    ¡°Because you''re a witch,¡± Xander put in. ¡°And you hate wolves. You were quick enough to insist that Lanie be the one to use


    your potion to get into the facility. Maybe the n all along was for her to end up getting killed. Maybe ¡®Rhiannon¡¯ never really


    wanted to help us at all.¡±


    | always had Xander¡¯s back, but it felt good to know that he would always step up to have mine, too. Even


    if he had no idea why | was so desperate to get this witch the hell out of here. Even if | knew that if he ever


    found out, there¡¯d be hell to pay.


    I''d have to face that if it happened. For now, | stepped between Lanie and Ste and the witch. ¡°Prove it¡¯s


    really you.¡±


    Gabri tutted softly. ¡°Zane, we can all smell that it¡¯s her.¡±


    ¡°We can smell a witch,¡± | countered grimly. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s the one you''ve all asked us to trust.¡±


    Gabri¡¯s wolf shed as her lip curled back to show her dropping canines. | knew I¡¯d shocked her with my disrespect. Xander¡¯s


    mother and | had always gotten along.


    Rhiannon drew herself up. She had no wolf inside her, but her eyes shed with something. Her lips


    quirked into a small smile.


    ¡°Fine. I''ll prove it to you. And only you,¡± she added with a sharp nce around the rest of the room before


    she settled her gaze back on mine. ¡°Youe outside with me, and we''ll have a little...chat.¡±


    S hit. I''d stabbed myself in the back.


    ¡°Zane?¡± Lanie said aloud, her voice tense with suspicion. ¡°Does this have anything to do with the invisibility potion?¡±


    Xander¡¯s head swirled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the what now?¡±


    We''d been so caught up in our interpersonal dynamics Lanie and | hadn¡¯t told him all the details of the


    escape.


    ¡°Zane,¡± Lanie repeated, this time in a harsher tone.


    Rhiannon smiled, backing up toward the door. ¡°Yes, Zane. Come outside with me, and I¡¯ll prove that I¡¯m


    exactly who | say | am.¡±


    I had no other choice.


    ¡°Fine,¡± | said. ¡°Let''s go.¡±

 Chapter 224

    Zane


    Within minutes of stepping out the front door, I¡¯d felt the push of Xander trying to get to me through the mind link, but I''d closed it


    off immediately. I''d have to answer to himter, but right now, | needed my full attention for Rhiannon. | didn¡¯t trust her, but...


    F uck.


    Fowed her.


    She threw a nce over her shoulder at the cottage in the distance. Mind links didn¡¯t rely on proximit work, but I¡¯d let her take me


    into the trees because she said she needed the peace that radiated off the lea


    Whatever the f uck that meant.


    ¡°Put your wolf away,¡± the witch said serenely as she tipped her face toward the sky and lifted her hands, palms up. She wiggled


    her fingers, then cracked an eye open at me. T¡¯m sure your wolfy women find that animal stink a real turn-on, but I¡¯d rather you


    put your teeth away.¡±


    My canines hadn''t even dropped; she was just being snide. Still, | made a conscious effort at pushing my wolf into silence, even


    though he wanted to snap and snarl at her


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s better.¡± Rhiannon purred. | knew you were capable of submitting. You¡¯re the Beta, after all.¡±


    My fingernails cut into my palms with the effort | had to make not to show her just how f ucking


    ¡°submissive¡± | was.


    Sheughed. ¡°Oh, my. You¡¯re angry. You don¡¯t like it when someone points out that you¡¯re in second ce. And especially now


    that there¡¯s another Alpha in the mix. Poor Zane. I''ll be surprised if you don¡¯t get totally


    demoted.¡±


    ¡°You have no idea what you''re talking about, or how anything works, | didn¡¯te out here with you to educate you, either, so


    why don¡¯t you just get to the point¡±


    Atendril of thought probed at the mind link I¡¯d been careful to close off. | couldn¡¯t tell if it was Xander or Lanie without opening


    up, so | renewed the force it took to block them. | expected Xander to burst out of the cottage to find me when he couldn''t get


    through my head, but although I sensed faint movement inside past the kitchen windows, nobody came out.


    Rhiannon looked past my shoulder to the cottage. Her smile was sly. ¡°Chit-chatting with your brains again? Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s


    rude not to share the conversation with everyone?¡±


    ¡°What the f uck is wrong with you?¡± | kept my voice even, measured, but bitterness coated every word. | unpeeled my fingers


    from the fists. ¡°I came out here with you, so just get to it, okay? | know | owe you for your


    help¡±


    ¡°You''re not going to back out?¡± Rhiannon looked genuinely surprised. She put her her hands on her hips,


    denting the fabric of her dress.


    Ill


    felt confident enough to poke me a few minutes ago, but at the sight of my wolf rising, the witch took a hasty step back. High


    color rose in her cheeks. She put a hand t on her chest over her heart, fingers syed on her throat as her shoulders heaved.


    She was afraid and, based on the way her nostrils red and her lip curled back, more than a little disgusted. Which made what


    she''d told me she wanted from me make even less sense.


    ¡°You hate me, and our kind,¡± | said in a low voice as another soft surge of pressure tickled the mind link. ¡°You¡¯ve made that


    abundantly clear. So why are you asking this of me?¡±


    Her chin went up, and her hands balled into fists on her hips. ¡°I don¡¯t have to tell you a thing. All you need to know is that | gave


    you what you asked for, to save your precious Luna, and that means that you owe me And let me warn you, wolf, those who


    back out on a vow they¡¯ve made to a witch only live so they can be m to regret it.¡±


    | shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m not going to back out, Rhiannon. Whatever you might think about us, | made you a promise in exchange


    for that invisibility potion, and | intend to keep it.¡±


    ¡°You''re going to ruin your rtionships with them,¡± she pointed out in a low tone. Her gaze turned curious. ¡°You don¡¯t care about


    that?¡±


    It was getting harder to keep the mind link closed. Three different voices were trying to get in, but all of them one at a time and


    separate. That meant Mason could reach me on his own, but | didn¡¯t have time to figure out what that all meant.


    ¡°| care,¡± | told her. ¡°But without you, Lanie and the pups might all be dead. If you really want me to give you what you asked for,


    I''ll do it. My mate and the others will have to understand.¡±


    ¡°And if they don¡¯t?¡±


    I shrugged, my expression and voice both grim. ¡°I''ll find a way to make them.¡±


    The witch drew herself up. ¡°Fine. I''ll book a room at the Stillwood Inn. Meet me there Saturday night, and bring what | told you to


    bring.¡±


    living room.


    enough to wake the three infants.


    One by one, they started up a chorus of wailing. Gabri hurried from the room to calm them.


    ¡°Xander- Zane held up his hands, but Xander wasn¡¯t having it. He tossed away his Beta¡¯s attempt at a grip, his own big fists


    clenching.


    Mason stepped between them, a hand on each of their chests. ¡°Calm the f uck down. Xander, step back, or I''ll have to make you


    step back. Zane, you too.¡±


    Zane shook his head, panting and fists clenching, as his wolf red out of his eyes. Xander snarled and whirled to give us all his


    back, then stalked to the other side of the kitchen.


    | wasn¡¯t sure what to say or how to react.


    ¡°Please, exin this to me. To us,¡± | added quietly When Zane only shook his head without looking at me, | stepped in front of


    him. ¡°Zane. You have to tell us what¡¯s going on. We''re your mates. Your pack.¡±


    Zane raked both hands through his hair, standing it on end. He took in a long, slow breath, visibly forcing himself to calm down.


    When | touched his arm, he flinched. My stomach sunk.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Do you.. you can¡¯t have... feelings...?¡± | began haltingly, not sure | could even say the words out loud without puking.


    His eyes flew open wide even as Xander growled and tossed over a chair. Mason picked it up and put out a hand to hold Xander


    back, but he didn¡¯t say anything.


    Zane pulled me against him in a hug that pressed my face against his chest. | closed my eyes, letting him hold me for the few


    seconds before he gently pushed me back far enough to look into my eyes.


    ¡°| could never have romantic feelings for her, and | would never, ever betray you or Xander like that, Lanie.¡±


    Relief soared through me. | shook my head, my throat closing with the rush of emotion. ¡°I didn¡¯t think so


    She asked you to do this because of the potion, right? You have to do what she asked.¡±

 Chapter 225

    Lanie


    Whatever Zane had agreed to do, he and Rhiannon were out there right now talking about it. Even though my stomach felt


    almost sick with worry, | tried hard not to show it, not even when every attempt | made to reach him through the mind link went


    unanswered.


    | trusted my mate. | had to. He and | had been through too much together for me to ever think that he could betray us.


    But that didn¡¯t mean | trusted the witch, and whatever she¡¯d asked him to do so that he could get that invisibility potion had to be


    something he hadn''t wanted to admit to. Still, in my wildest dreams, I¡¯d never imagined it would be something like. ..this.


    ¡°She wants what!?¡± Xander¡¯s roar echoed throughout the kitchen, loud enough to wake the three infants sleeping in the living


    room.


    One by one, they started up a chorus of wailing. Gabri hurried from the room to calm them.


    ¡°Xander-¡± Zane held up his hands, but Xander wasn¡¯t having it. He tossed away his Beta¡¯s attempt at a grip, his own big fists


    clenching.


    Mason stepped between them, a hand on each of their chests. ¡°Calm the f uck down. Xander, step back, or I''ll have to make you


    step back. Zane, you too.¡±


    Zane shook his head, panting and fists clenching, as his wolf red out of his eyes. Xander snarled and whirled to give us all his


    back, then stalked to the other side of the kitchen.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | wasn¡¯t sure what to say or how to react.


    ¡°Please, exin this to me. To us,¡± | added quietly. When Zane only shook his head without looking at me, | stepped in front of


    him. ¡°Zane. You have to tell us what¡¯s going on. We¡¯re your mates. Your pack.¡±


    Zane raked both hands through his hair, standing it on end. He took in a long, slow breath, visibly forcing himself to calm down.


    When | touched his arm, he flinched. My stomach sunk.


    ¡°Do you...you can¡¯t have...feelings...?¡± | began haltingly, not sure | could even say the words out loud without puking.


    His eyes flew open wide even as Xander growled and tossed over a chair. Mason picked it up and put out a hand to hold Xander


    back, but he didn¡¯t say anything.


    Zane pulled me against him in a hug that pressed my face against his chest. | closed my eyes, letting him


    hold me for the few seconds before he gently pushed me back far enough to look into my eyes.


    ¡°| could never have romantic feelings for her, and | would never, ever betray you or Xander like that, Lanie.¡±


    Relief soared through me. | shook my head, my throat closing with the rush of emotion. ¡°I didn¡¯t think so.


    She asked you to do this because of the potion, right? You have to do what she asked.¡±


    soothing them one ata time.


    | pulsed out a calming counterpoint as best | could. It took more out of me than | expected, but | could see Xander visibly


    rxing. He still looked angry, but it was under control.


    ¡°| needed to do whatever it would take to make sure Lanie and the twins could get out of the facility,¡± Zane said as Mason let go


    of Xander. Both Alphas moved closer to us. ¡°The witch was insisting that Lanie be the one to put herself in danger, so | knew |


    needed some help to be sure that if things went wrong, we¡¯d have some help. When she gave me the potion that turned us


    invisible, it saved our lives...so I¡¯m not sorry | agreed to do what she asked. Without that potion, Lanie and the twins wouldn¡¯t be


    here. | did what | had to, so | told her | would give her a baby.¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t giving her one of our children,¡± Xander snapped. ¡°I don¡¯t give a f uck what the witch wants.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± | said slowly, watching the flurry of expressions twisting Zane¡¯s face. ¡°She doesn¡¯t want one of our pups.¡±


    Zane shook his head and drew in a breath. | should¡¯ve been furious with him, as angry and upset as Xander, but my heart


    swelled with wave after wave of love for the man in front of me. He¡¯d been willing to sacrifice anything to make sure | was


    protected. That the twins were safe. Even if it meant having to disappoint his Alpha and his mate.


    Zane straightened and faced his Alpha. ¡°She¡¯s not going to take one of our pups like some kind of fairy tale, no. She wants a


    child of her own. She wants me to get her pregnant.¡±

 Chapter 226

    Zane


    ¡°You fool. Yo have no idea what you''ve done.¡±


    Gabri spoke from the doorway in a cold, horrified voice. She bounced ina on her hip while the baby gnawed a fist.


    In all the years I''d been Xander¡¯s Beta, there¡¯d been a few moments, here and there, when his mother and | hadn¡¯t seen eye to


    eye. She¡¯d always been looking out for him in one way, and sometimes, I¡¯d been looking out for him in another. We''d found ways


    to agree or agree to disagree, but this time, the spark in her eyes told me


    she was definitely not agreeing.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It''s not like | want this,¡± | said in a low voice. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep with her-¡±


    Xander growled, and Lanie pulsed out some Luna energy to all of us. | could feel her hurt, though. She was keeping a brave


    face, and her voice whispered to me through the mind link.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want that, either.¡±


    ¡°Nobody wants it,¡± | put in harshly, hating that | had to hurt any of the people | loved. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to bed with her even


    once, not to mention however many times it''ll take before she gets pregnant. And | don¡¯t want any pup of mine out there in the


    world connected with anyone else as its mother.¡±


    | was being purposefully blunt about all of it, braving myself to face whatever they threw at me. Only Mason didn¡¯t re. He put a


    comforting arm around Lanie¡¯s shoulders, drawing her close. She leaned into him, and another pulse of that soft, feminine


    strength filtered through me, boosted by a simr surge from him.


    Xander, on the other hand, was a bundle of tension. His wolf kept rising, shing in his eyes and rippling her his expressions.


    Every time he forced the beast to quiet, my own wolf responded.


    ¡°This is all a f ucking mess. | get it. I¡¯m sorry,¡± | told them all. ¡°But any one of you would¡¯ve done whatever you had to do to keep


    our Luna and the twins safe. | don¡¯t want to fight you over it, Xander, but if | have to, | will, F uck,e and beat the s hit out of


    me if itll make you feel better. But | gave her my word, and I¡¯m going


    to have to do it.¡±


    He was across the room to me in a few long strides, and | braced myself for that first punch. Instead, he took me by both


    shoulders and gave me a single, hard shake.


    Xander¡¯s gaze bore into mine. ¡°You should have talked to me first.¡±


    | shrugged out of his grip and took a step back. ¡°There wasn¡¯t any time. | did what | thought | had to do.¡±


    ¡°I''m the Alpha!¡± He growled.


    Mason snorted. ¡°Me too.¡±


    ¡°And my job as your Beta,¡± | said to Xander, ¡°is to do what | feel is necessary to support you, and our pack,


    so that you can continue to be the Alpha.¡±


    that Xander knew | was right, though. He didn¡¯t like it, but he knew | hadn¡¯t acted out of scope.


    ¡°I''m your Beta, Xander,¡± | said in a low voice. ¡°You have to trust me.¡±


    ¡°| trust you. | know you would never have agreed to any of this if you didn¡¯t think you had to.¡± Lanie spoke


    up, still encircled in Mason¡¯s embrace. Her voice was strong and firm, even though tears glistened in her eyes.


    | hated seeing them there. ¡°I love you. Both of you.¡±


    Her Luna light swelled all around her. Xander backed up a few steps, his fists clenched. His shoulders


    sagged as he faced away from me. He wasn¡¯t happy, but at least he wasn¡¯t going to punch me in the face.


    | put my arms around him from behind in a hard embrace he could have jerked out of, but when he didn¡¯t, |


    kissed him between the shoulder des.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to share anything with that witch,¡± he muttered, half-turning. ¡°I don¡¯t want her to be part


    of our family, and if you father a pup with her, that pup will be part of our family.¡±


    Mason let out a strangled noise and shook his head. ¡°Having been the son who belonged to a father that


    had an entire other family, a brother he never knew, | have to agree with Xander. Knowing there¡¯s a child out


    there who should be part of our pack, | couldn¡¯t stand for not including it and its mother, no matter how much


    it sucks.¡±


    Through it all, Gabri had been studying us all. The baby had quieted in her arms and now slept.


    Gabri rocked slowly back and forth. When atst she spoke, she kept her voice pitched low so she didn¡¯t


    wake ina.


    ¡°It has nothing to do with being part of a family,¡± she said finally in a low, strained voice. ¡°It has everything


    to do with what Rhiannon will be able to do once she¡¯s pregnant with your pup, Zane. You should never have


    agreed to this.¡±


    212

 Chapter 227

    Lanie


    Gabri and | had taken seats at the table with mugs of hot tea her one of us had touched. Xander paced. Mason stood at the


    counter, tipping a bottle of beer to his lips and not saying much, while Zane had taken up position in the doorway. All of us tried


    hard to keep from shouting, since the babies had all fallen asleep, but was hard not to raise my voice at what Gabri was


    revealing.


    ¡°You can¡¯t hold back, Gabri. You have to tell us everything you know.¡±


    ¡°| wish | knew more. Rhiannon is a powerful witch, and there¡¯s really no limit to how much stronger she can get, under the right


    circumstances.¡± Gabri rubbed the spot between her eyes with a fingertip.


    She looked tired. Worn out. That¡¯s how we all seemed to feel.


    When | sensed a surge of self-loathing swirling around in Zane, | countered it.


    ¡°We''ll figure all of this out together,¡± | sent to Zane. His tension and anxiety were like a swirling cloud of


    darkness | was doing my best to dispel.


    ¡°Once she gets pregnant, she''ll be able to tap into the powers of her child,¡± Gabri continued. ¡°Or,


    Goddess forbid, children, if she has twins.¡±


    | thought of my own belly, swollen with Xander¡¯s pup. Instinctively, | put my hands over the tness, but


    my palms remembered how it had felt when the baby kicked and squirmed inside me.


    ¡°The only power | had when | was pregnant with Ste was napping,¡± | said, trying to keep things light.


    ¡°And revisiting my lunch, sometimes.¡±


    | was happy to hear Zane¡¯s soft snort ofughter. Not that he was happy about any of this or that it was


    funny or anything, just that he appreciated my efforts at keeping us all from losing our s hit.


    His gaze shed from across the room, and his voice nudged my mind. ¡°You are a natural Luna.¡±


    | didn¡¯t feel much like it right then. | wanted to scream and yell, to throw things. The thought of Zane putting his hands on


    Rhiannon made me physically sick. The image of him naked with her, kissing her, was


    even worse.


    ¡°It won''t be like tContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    that,¡± he shot back at me immediately. ¡°I swear by the Moon Goddess, | won¡¯t make love to


    her. It''ll be utilitarian. That''s it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, so what does that mean?¡± Xander asked his mother. ¡°A child doesn¡¯t really have any powers, right?¡±


    ¡°Strengths. Talents. Abilities,¡± Gabri said in a short, sharp tone. ¡°That baby will be half wolf, which means Rhiannon will be


    able to ess all of her child¡¯s abilities, including those granted to us by the Moon Goddess, and only to us. Abilities and talents


    witches are traditionally never able to gain.¡±


    We all fell silent at that. My throat clogged as | tried to think of what that all meant. It had been hard enough to figure out what


    being a hybrid meant for me, and of course knowing a baby created by Zane and


    mingled.¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s because witches can get their powers from their babies in the womb?¡± Xander shot at her. ¡°That


    seems like a pretty f ucking important thing to know, Ma.¡±


    She gave him a look that should have made him take a step back, but Xander stood his ground.


    ¡°There is another waring. That is something | am sure of. And if Rhiannon gets pregnant with Zane¡¯s


    child, she will be able to use that child¡¯s blood to create spells.¡± She looked around at each one of us. ¡°Spells against wolves.¡±


    2/2

 Chapter 228

    Lanie


    ¡°No,¡± | said at once. ¡°Her baby will be half wolf. She wouldn''t do that. She''ll be its mother! And mothers...


    don''t...¡±


    | had to get up and run to the sink to ssh my face with cold water at the thought of any mother using her child, its blood, for


    any reasons, much less as part of a war.


    she?¡±


    ¡°She wouldn''t use her baby to make a spell,¡± | muttered into my wet hands, my voice mu ffled. ¡°How coul¡±


    ¡°Because she¡¯s a witch, and you can¡¯t f ucking trust any of them,¡± Xander gritted out.


    ¡°Awitch who already said she didn¡¯t want to take sides,¡± Zane pointed out.


    ¡°Sure. She won''t take sides.¡± Gabri¡¯sughter sounded like coins rattling in a jar, breaking the ss. ¡°How easy was it for


    Lanie to convince her otherwise? And she agreed to help Zane in exchange for getting something she wanted. She''ll do


    whatever it takes to get whatever she wants, and it looks like Zane¡¯s going to


    hand it right to her.¡±


    ¡°| didn¡¯t know she could do anything like that,¡± Zane said, his tone rocky and rough.


    Mason spoke up. ¡°It sounds like nobody really knows s hit about anything.


    I


    man.


    Zane turned on his heel and left the kitchen. When | tried to go after him, Xander¡¯s firm grip on my wrist


    held me back.


    ¡°Let him go for now,¡± he said. ¡°I know him better than any of you, and he needs to get his head on straight


    about all of this.¡±


    His mother shook her head. ¡°Unfortunately, if in fact he did make a vow to her, it¡¯s not as easy as breaking a promise. Before


    Rhiannon would''ve agreed to give him anything, she¡¯d have done some kind of binding to him. Whether he knew it or not at the


    time, whatever Zane promised her is now bound by deep magic. To break


    that vow...¡±


    When she didn¡¯t finish, | sshed my face again and then took a long, deep drink.


    Xander handed me a dishtowel to dry my face, and then pulled me close. He kissed my damp forehead, and | let myself lean


    against him, taking strength. Alpha and Luna, two sides to a coin, thepletion of a puzzle with two pieces. We were not the


    only two in the room, but in that moment, we might as well have been.


    ¡°| need you,¡± he growled through the mind link. ¡°You and me, my Luna. We need to run and hunt. | just


    need some time with you, and only you.¡±


    ¡°Soon. | promise. | want that, too.¡±


    Not for the first time, | had to ask myself exactly how all of this was supposed to work. A Luna to an Alpha, mated to him and his


    Beta, and also another Alpha. Would we ever have the chance to just settle in?


    ¡°How can we stop another war?¡± | couldn¡¯t stop mysel


    Xander¡¯s brood, strong chest for a second until he captured my wrists and held me close. | stopped strugglingProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Gabri didn¡¯t move from her spot at the table. ¡°None of us can stop a war. The best we can do is get ready for it. Find out what


    we can.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t let her have a hybrid baby.¡± Xander¡¯s tone was no-nonsense andmanding, and it sent a thrill of pride all through


    me.


    His mother sighed. ¡°I already told you, Zane is likely bound to that promise. He won''t be able to break it without dire


    consequences, probably physical. Certainly irreversible.¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t guarantee he''ll impregnate her!¡± Mason took a step away from the counter to face Gabri. ¡°Asking him to vow that, no


    matter the spell that binds him, can¡¯t be legit. | don¡¯t care what magic she use Bodies don¡¯t work that way. He can¡¯t promise to


    actually make a baby¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t refuse to try,¡± Gabri shot back at him. ¡°And so long as he¡¯s trying to, I''ll guess there¡¯s a ver good chance he will


    seed.¡±


    All of this was worse even than I''d imagined. | sent my mind to touch Zane¡¯s. His pain and shame and anger were overwhelming,


    even through the link. He needed us.


    ¡°Come back to us, love,¡± | urged.


    Xander approached his mother. ¡°So, what are we supposed to do? If he tells her he¡¯s going back on his word, what will happen?


    She''ll cut off his d ick, or what?¡±


    ¡°Binding spells are personalized. | can¡¯t say what it is she¡¯d do, only that | know Rhiannon, and she¡¯d have


    made it foolproof.¡±


    ¡°Could another witch help?¡± | asked.


    She shook her head. ¡°That is a box of trouble | have no intentions of opening, Lanie. Involving another of


    her kind would backfire¡±


    ¡°So what do we do?¡± Mason asked.


    Gabri stood up from the table. ¡°I need to think about this and do some research. I¡¯ll have to let you know what | find out. In the


    meantime, let¡¯s just hope she¡¯s not ovting for at least a week or two.¡±

 Chapter 229

    ¡°He feels like sh it about it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, | know. | can sense him.¡± An awkward silence stretched between us. ¡°Look, we''ve never talked about us both being


    Alphas with only one Beta.¡±


    too.


    ¡°It¡¯s bad enough | have to share my Luna with you,¡± Xander growled. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can have my Beta,


    ¡°I''m not trying to take him from you, or even ask you to share. But | need one, man. An Alpha without a Beta is...¡± | trailed off,


    trying to find the words to describe exactly what | meant. ¡°Hollow.¡±


    He¡¯d been bristling, but after a moment or so, Xander¡¯s tension eased. ¡°Yeah. | get it. | can¡¯t just give him, to you. You have to


    build that rtionship, and he¡¯s got to want it, too.¡±


    ¡°And | don¡¯t see how | could realistically bring in my own,¡± | added, my mind fighting to figure out all the contortions that dynamic


    would take.


    ¡°F uck, no. No other men,¡± Xander said through bared teeth.


    | grabbed two beers from the fridge and handed him one as he looked again out the window. | could feel Zane outside. He hadn''t


    changed into his wolf, but | knew he wanted to. Needed to. Not just because it made sense, or because it¡¯s what | could imagine


    I''d want or need right now, but because | literally felt his rising urge


    like it was my own.


    F ucking freaky.


    ¡°He needs to run,¡± | said, but mildly, aware of how touchy this subject already was....and how much more ticklish it could end up


    getting.


    ¡°| know what my Beta needs,¡± Xander shot back.


    | cracked the top off the beer and sipped it, letting the cold crispness run across my tongue. |Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    concentrated on the full sensations of carbonated, hops, yeast, sugars. | took them all in, and | sent them all.


    Xander shuddered. ¡°Cut that out¡±


    ¡°I''m just showing you, man. | know what he needs, too. We don¡¯t have to like any of this, but it¡¯s our life now.¡± | sipped again and


    watched Xander¡¯s throat work as he swallowed.


    With a mutter, he popped off the cap from his own beer and drank greedily. Lanie came back into the kitchen and held out her


    hand so he could pass her the bottle for a sip. She drank more daintily.


    ¡°| could taste it,¡± she said after a moment. ¡°Just a hint of it. Mason, you were sending it to Xander. It was like | was listening from


    behind a closed door, only it was a vor, not words. A feeling, really¡±


    Warmth covered me like a heavy nket as she crossed to me and gave me a long, solid hug. She gestured to Xander, who


    joined after a reluctant pause. She gripped us both tightly for a few seconds before stepping back


    ¡°| know you wanted some time alone with me, love, but | think Zane really needs you right now.¡± She nced at me. ¡°Mason and


    | will be here to take care of the babies while your mother¡¯s off doing whatever she¡¯s doing. You and Zane should shift. Take him


    for a long, hard...run.¡±


    The hesitation she had before that final word wanted to twist my lips into a smile, but | didn¡¯t dare show We were all still


    navigating this...whatever it was. Xander sensed my humor, though. He frowned, but his eyes went again to the window.


    ¡°Go,¡± | urged. ¡°We''ll be okay here. Your Beta needs you. You need to take care of him. Make sure he understands that we''re all


    on his side with this. All of us need our strength for whateveres next, and he¡¯s going to draw a lot of his from you.¡±


    ¡°From us,¡± Xander said aloud.


    We shared a look and then sped our forearms, fingers curling around the others¡¯ wrists. We shared a nod while Lanie looked


    on with a broad smile.


    ¡°Go,¡± she told him. ¡°We''ll all be waiting here for you when you two get home.¡±

 Chapter 230

    Zane


    | knew Xander wasn¡¯ting after me to battle anything out, but | tensed anyway when he approached. There was no point in


    apology. | wasn¡¯t sorry for what I¡¯d done.


    ¡°Take off your clothes,¡± he said.


    ¡°That was not where | thought this was going to go.¡±| admitted, already pulling my T-shirt off over my


    head and tossing it to the grass.


    Xander toed off his boots as he unbuckled his jeans and ran the zipper down. He shoved the deni his hips and stepped out,


    bare-as sed. ¡°Save that forter Right now, Beta, you¡¯re going to show me wi


    wolf can do.¡±


    Internally, my wolf whined with glee at the offer. My teeth were already sharpening as | stripped out c rest of my clothes. Seeing


    through my wolf''s eyes, everything took on a different sheen of color. Smells heightened as | gave over more of my senses to the


    beast inside me. Part of me.


    Then, the beast was me.


    ¡°Too long.¡± de growled as my four paws hit the soft ground.


    Beside us, Hunter had taken over from Xander. The big wolf nipped at de¡¯s sides, making us dance. away, but yfully.


    Together, we rolled on the ground before Hunter leaped up and ran for the woods, de


    hot on his heels.


    ¡°Always want to run.¡± de¡¯s breathbored as we moved into the trees, dodging roots and nosing the scents of squirrels and


    rabbits that made him salivate.


    Of course, my wolf always wanted to be up front, and it had been too long since we''d been able to do this. Not for the first time, |


    wondered what it would be like to live like this permanently. What it must''ve been like for our ancestors in the earliest days of the


    Moon Goddess''¡¯s blessing.


    Then, | stopped thinking and let my wolf take over. Hunter jumped a fallen tree. de followed. Together, the wolves hunted


    some prey, flushing up a flock of birds as they crashed through the undergrowth in gleefulThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    pursuit of the small deer.


    Just before we would¡¯ve taken it down, Hunter veered off and headed for the sound of rushing water, de protested, but only


    for a second as the other wolf sent out amand for us to follow. By the time we got there, Xander had shifted back and stood,


    proudly naked, by the water¡¯s edge.


    | followed suit. My muscles were limp and loose from the exercise, and | regretted not being in my wolf form only for a few


    seconds before Xander slung an arm over my shoulders and pulled me against his hip.


    There were things wolves couldn''t do, and a hug would always be one of them.


    | buried my face against the side of Xander¡¯s sweaty neck and breathed him in. | might not be able to differentiate as many


    scents as de could, but I¡¯d always know the smell of this man.


    His hand rubbed the back of my head before he sank his fingers into my hair and tugged a couple of times to get me to look up


    at him. Xander¡¯s eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed. He frowned.


    ¡°| f u cking love you. | want you to hear it, do you understand me?¡± he said roughly. ¡°You f ucked up, but I just...I get it. And |


    want you to stop beating yourself up about it. We''re going to find a way to make this all


    okay.¡±


    | punched his chest lightly, then let my hand rest t over his heart, still beating fast with the efforts of our run. My fingertips


    curled, pressing for a second before | let my hand slide down his hip to anchor there. Xander slipped a heavy thigh between


    mine.


    ¡°My mother was going to do some research to figure out a way to get you out of the vow. You did make a vow, right? Not just like


    a little, casual promise with a wave of your fingers or whatever?¡± He looked a litt! hopeful at the end of that question.


    With regret, | shook my head. ¡°No. It wasn¡¯t a blood vow or anything like that. | mean, she didn¡¯t cu palm and mingle our


    essences in a goblet or anything f ucked up like that ¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he said, tone slightly mocking. ¡°She just made you promise to ¡®mingle your essences¡¯ in her goble so you could make a


    baby with her.¡±


    | snortedughter, amazed that we could even find any humor in any of this. ¡°Yeah. | made a vow.


    ¡°Ma says that means you''re bound to do it, then. That Rhiannon would''ve set a binding on you somehow, whether you knew it or


    not. So you can¡¯t just tell her you changed your mind.¡±


    ¡°| wouldn''t do that. | gave my word,¡± | said harshly. ¡°Which means we need to figure out another way to


    stop her.¡±

 Chapter 231

    Lanie


    over


    When Zane and Xander got back, | could tell that Zane felt...not better, since this whole thing was still mess, but he didn¡¯t feel as


    anxious. He and Xander came through the front door with their arms slung each other¡¯s shoulders, smelling like fresh air and


    sweat and pine needles.


    | loved them both so much.


    A twist of guilt tried to tighten inside me when | saw Mason watching the other men joking around at the kitchen sink, and me


    watching them. It was going to take a while for all of us to settle in to something that worked. | gave him an extra kiss to make


    sure he knew how much | loved him, too.


    ¡°Love you, too,¡± he murmured into my ear and squeezed my hips.


    ¡°I''m starving.¡± Xander dered, yanking open the fridge. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re out of steak. I¡¯m going to grill


    some chicken.¡±


    Just like that, he was grilling while the other two ¡°helped¡± with their advice and they all drank beer. Gabri had appeared briefly


    just to say she hadn''t been able to figure out a solution yet. Since the babies were all still peaceful in their basss, she left me


    to finish up the rest of the meal prep.


    ¡°Lanie.


    At the sound of Zane¡¯s voice, | turned. At the look on his face, | went to him at once. He kissed me softly, tipping my face to his.


    ¡°| know you hate this,¡± he said.


    Iran my


    hands up his chest to his shoulders. ¡°I hate the idea of you having to be with her like that. But | don¡¯t hate the fact you were


    willing to do whatever it took to protect us.¡±


    He nodded and pulled me into a hug. We danced in the quiet kitchen for a few seconds, spinning slowly in


    a circle while the sound of jeering shouts rose from the yard. He chuckled gently into my ear and ran his hand. up and down my


    back.


    ¡°What are they doing out there?¡±


    ¡°Comparing d ick sizes,¡± Zane said with a snort. When | pulled away, startled, he shook his head. ¡°Figuratively. They each have


    specific ideas about what temp to put the grill at, and how often to flip the


    chicken. Stuff like that.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Manly man stuff.¡± | put on a fake-impressed face, and we bothughed.


    ¡°Anything from Gabri?¡± Zane kissed my forehead and went to the fridge to pull out a beer.


    | went back to prepping the sd, my knife slicing sharply through the tomatoes | was putting in the bowl. ¡°Nothing.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°She''ll figure something out. She always does.¡± He leaned against the counter to watch me with a glow in 1/2


    My eyebrows went up. ¡°In the kitchen, huh? And look. I¡¯m not even wearing shoes. What do you know.¡±


    Heughed ruefully and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re good at making a home, Lanie. If we were back at the mansion, there¡¯d be staff


    to take care of this stuff. You¡¯d be busy with Luna duties, sure, but you wouldn¡¯t have to be chopping lettuce.¡±


    ¡°Or cleaning toilets,¡± | said. Living with three men in a cottage with only one bathroom was proving to be more of a challenge


    than | really wanted to face.


    ¡°What I mean is, we''d all be living together, but it would be very different. It almost makes me wish we could just stay here


    forever. You, me, Xander, the babies. Mason too, | guess. Our family, here together.¡± He tipped his bottle to his lips and drank.


    | watched his throat work as | added some sliced cucumbers to the bowl and dried my hands on a to ¡°You don¡¯t want Xander to


    be Alpha of the pack?¡±


    ¡°Of course | do. Even if | didn¡¯t, it¡¯s what he is. But this is nice.¡±


    ¡°For now,¡± | said softly.


    Our eyes met.


    No matter how much | tried to pretend | could handle the idea of him having sex with someone else, | really couldn''t. It made my


    canines drop and my ws lengthen, and Zane saw it even though | quickly held myself back. He crossed the kitchen to me and


    took me in his arms


    He didn¡¯t apologize, but | felt his sorrow. Not at what he¡¯d agreed to do, but at how it hurt me and all of us. | was being selfish


    with my pain. Yeah, | hated the thought of him being with someone else physically, but he was the one who''d have to do it.


    He


    e was the one who''d be creating a child he¡¯d never get to raise, one that could be in danger from its own


    mother from the first moment of its conception.


    | couldn''t let that happen to an innocent child, but especially, | could not stand to let the man | loved go


    through all of that.


    ¡°Lanie? Love?¡±


    The glow emitting from all around me had grown so bright it reflected in Zane¡¯s eyes. | stood up straight.


    ¡°You all finish your dinner and take care of the babies, okay? | need some time to myself.¡±


    | had an idea of how | could solve this dilemma...but needed some time. The problem was, | wasn¡¯t sure


    I''d have enough.


    212

 Chapter 232

    Xander


    Something was wrong with my mate, and there wasn¡¯t sh it | could do about it. That pi ssed me off-and that made everyone else


    in the cottage on edge. The babies were practically inconsble, which only made it


    all worse.


    Zane had firmly suggested | go outside to keep the babies from being agitated, and Mason had agreed with such force | found


    myself on the front porch with my fists clenched, hating them both. | had to begrudgingly admit they were right to get me out of


    the cottage, though. Being cooped up inside wasn¡¯t


    helping.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You need to go for another run or something,¡± my mother said, irritated, as | paced the front porch. ¡±


    nor |


    off some of this angry energy, Xander. It¡¯s not good for you or for anyone else.¡±


    ¡°What''s she doing in there?¡± | stabbed a finger toward the front door of the cottage.


    I


    Lanie had been hiding out in the bedroom since Mason and | came in from the grillst night. She¡¯d epted a tray of dinner, but


    then shut the door right in my face. It had been hours without a peep from her, and any time | tried her through the mind link, all


    she said was ¡°I need some time.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know what she¡¯s doing, but whatever it is, you need to back off,¡± my mother said sharply. ¡°By the Goddess, being the


    Alpha doesn¡¯t give you permission to run roughshod over your Luna just because you¡¯ve


    got an itch to scratch,¡±


    My lip curled at that. ¡°Ma, this isn¡¯t about that. Not that | want to discuss that with you.¡±


    ¡°| was the Luna for a long, long time, and believe me, there were plenty of times when | needed your father to back off so | could


    simply have a few minutes to breathe. You have a lot of responsibility as the Alpha.¡± My mother shook her finger at me. ¡°And you


    have a Beta to help you. You have a Luna. But who does the Luna have? Give her the time she needs. Goddess knows, it''ll be


    soon enough that none of us have the luxury of


    taking a few hours alone.¡±


    Zane opened the front door. ¡°The kids are all quiet. Mason and | are going to y a few hands of cards.


    You want in?¡±


    | wouldn''t be able to concentrate on a game right now, and | didn¡¯t even need to say so. Zane nodded and


    went back inside. | returned to my pacing.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, | swear by the moon, I''ll take you down myself!¡± my mother growled.


    | leaned against the railing and looked out across the yard. ¡°You haven¡¯t been able toe up with


    anything, have you?¡±


    ¡°If | had, you¡¯d know. But no. None of my resources have been able to give me a definitive answer about


    the ways to break a witch¡¯s vow binding spell, especially since we can¡¯t be sure exactly what she used. At least


    not without asking her, and | highly doubt she¡¯d be willing to tell us.¡± My mother chuckled without much humor. ¡°As for what she¡¯d


    be able to do with a hybrid witch-wolf child..I¡¯m trying to be very careful who and how | ask.¡±


    | turned to face her. ¡°Can¡¯t we just kill her?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Xander.¡±


    ¡°I''m serious, Ma.¡± My voice dropped. ¡°When Mchi killed Dad, he broke the treaty. There¡¯s no reason for us not to just take her


    out since everything is f ucked anyways.¡±


    My mother flinched, her expression getting as dark as a summer thunderstorm. ¡°I¡¯ve always hoped you had more of me than


    your father inside you. | guess | was wrong.¡±


    | guess it didn¡¯t matter how old you ever got, or how much power you could control. When your mother looked disappointed in


    you, it royally sucked.


    ¡°I''m not my father,¡± | told her. ¡°But | will do what | have to in order to protect my pack and my mates.¡±


    ¡°Killing Rhiannon would cause far more trouble than we can hopefully prevent.¡± She shook her heal if the treaty is already


    broken. Which is something | never thought | would see in my lifetime.¡±


    | settled into the wicker chair across from her. I¡¯d learned so much about my mother and father and 1 roles they''d yed in what


    the High Council had done, but it felt like there was still so much that had been kept secret from us all. Now war wasing, and


    all | could think about was what | could do to stop it.


    ¡°Lanie,¡± | heard Zane say through the link.


    Mason joined in. ¡°She¡¯s out of her room.¡±


    When | leaped to my feet, my mother jumped to hers, immediately wary and ready to fight. She spun


    toward the trees, then back to face me.


    ¡°What? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Xander,¡± Lanie murmured through the link. ¡°You and your mother shoulde in here. | have something


    to share with both of you.¡±

 Chapter 233

    Lanie


    My eyes were grainy with exhaustion, but my heart raced. | hadn¡¯t slept at all. At this point, | was running. on caffeine and


    adrenaline.


    ¡°| think | have a solution.¡± | dug enthusiastically into a bowl of pasta with meat sauce Gabri had insisted on putting in front of


    me before | started talking. The moment | took the first bite, my hunger roared into life so strong there wasn¡¯t any way to stop


    myself from gobbling up half the bowl.


    | looked up to see everyone staring at me.


    Mason looked impressed. Zane, amused. Xander looked pi ssed off, which was no surprise, since feeling his Alpha energy and


    anger since I''d shut the door on him. Gabri, on the other hand, looked.


    satisfied.


    ¡°You''re burning energy twice as fast right now,¡± she said with a re at Xander when he acted as thoug he meant to say


    something to me. ¡°You hush and let her fill her belly. Whatever Lanie has to tell us can certainly wait a few more minutes while


    she fuels herself,


    Atush of giddiness overtook me at the way the big Alpha was put in his ce so thoroughly by his


    mother. | reached to pat his hand, though, | didn¡¯t want him to be angry and upset.


    | took another bite and chewed more slowly this time. The vors of meat and sauce burst on my tongue, and | felt new life


    surging through me. When | held up my hand, wiggling my fingers, the glow around them spread out in wispy waves of shining


    glitter.


    ¡°Incandescent,¡± Mason murmured. ¡°Goddess, Lanie. You''re almost on fire.¡±


    ¡°How long have you been shining that strongly?¡± Zane pushed a basket of garlic bread toward me, and | eagerly tore off a hunk


    of it with my teeth.


    | had to finish chewing and swallowed before | could answer, | shook my head. My hunger was slowly


    sating, but | could still feel the energy coursing through me. Burning.


    ¡°I''m not sure. | wasn¡¯t paying attention. | was just working on a solution...¡± Another wave of hunger roared through me, and | dug


    back into the pasta.


    ¡°You all might as well eat, too,¡± Gabri ordered. ¡°She¡¯s going to be a while.¡±


    Xander shot her a look. ¡°You know what¡¯s going on with her?¡±


    ¡± told you. She has to fuel herself. She¡¯s burning an immense amount of energy. Lanie, my girl, you''ll learn how to adjust yourself


    and control all of this, but for right now, you feed yourself as much as you need.¡± Gabri looked proud.


    ¡°I''ve never been this hungry,¡± | admitted. ¡°Maybe


    when | was pregnant, eating for two...


    All three men stopped and stared at me.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Went wide,


    ¡°Im not pregnant,¡± | told them all. ¡°Just starving.¡±


    ¡°Not pregnant with a baby, no. But you are creating something. Growing it,¡± Gabri said as she thickly buttered a bite-sized


    piece of bread and tucked it neatly between her lips. ¡°One of the advantages of that Luna gift is being able to eat basically most


    anything you want. But you won¡¯t always feel like you need to.¡±


    As the men dished up bowls of pasta and sauce and started eating, | was finally able to ease off a little bit. | wiped my mouth


    with a napkin and took a long, grateful drink of water, followed by a few sips of the good red wine Gabri had set out for us, too.


    | was d she¡¯d poured wine. It felt like we were going to have a reason to toast. | sipped again, feeling the wine¡¯s warmth flood


    through me. The shine hadn''t abated, even if my hunger had softened.


    ¡°How long was | in there?¡± | realized I''d lost track of time.


    ¡°Just overnight. Almost twenty-four hours,¡± Xander sounded gruff as he drank some wine.


    Now that | was out of the room, he was feeling relieved.


    ¡°| still owe you some time with just us,¡± | whispered through the link. ¡°I just needed some time alone. It


    had nothing to do with not wanting to be with you, my love.¡±


    ¡°When? | need you. Want you.¡± Not only Xander, but Hunter¡¯s voice reached me.


    Lily stirred. My wolf had been so patient, but now she huffed out a growl that | almost made out loud.


    ¡°Want you. Running.¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± Zane said, waving his hand in front of Xander¡¯s face. ¡°When the two of you are ready to share with


    the rest of the ss...?¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± | said quickly. | eyed another piece of garlic bread with longing, but forced myself to take a deep breath, instead, |


    couldn¡¯t stop the big grin spreading over my face, ¡°I think I¡¯ve found a way to get Zane out of


    the promise he made.¡±

 Chapter 234

    Lanie


    ¡°lve been on the dark web,¡± | said.


    Zane¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°The f uck is that?¡±


    ¡°How the hell did you manage to get onto it?¡± Mason demanded.


    Xander growled. ¡°You were where?¡±


    Gabri, on the other hand, only nodded with a secret smile. ¡°I wondered if you were holed up in the doing something like that.¡±


    ¡°Something like what? What''s she talking about?¡± Xander swiveled to stare at her.


    ¡°The dark web for wolves is all backdoor entries, really illegal-¡± Mason began.


    ¡°The f uck!¡± Xander interrupted with a glower. His big fist pounded the table, making all the bowls and


    silverware jump.


    | sent a surge of soothing calm out in short pulses. He blinked rapidly and sat back in his chair. Gabri¡¯s grin got bigger, and |


    could feel her pride rolling out of her.


    ¡°How did you even know about it?¡± Mason asked


    | broke a slice of garlic bread into bite-sized pieces so | could let myself really savor each one. Now that my raging hunger had


    eased a bit, | wanted to enjoy the food. Every bite | took sent small bursts of energy through me. It felt like I¡¯d been an empty


    cup, and now | was being filled to the brim.


    ¡°| started just with some basic searches, but I¡¯d heard about the underground resources a long time ago,/ mean, everyone¡¯s


    heard of the dark web, right? Even if you never essed it.¡± | let the warm butter coat my tongue, followed by a luxurious sip of


    wine.


    Zane¡¯s eyes had been following the movement of my lips and throat, and now his gaze connected with mine. ¡°You were able to


    get there using what, yourptop?¡±


    I


    14 took some time. And money¡± added. ¡°You''re going to see a hit to the ounts. It''ll look like we


    subscribed to a bunch of different...um._toy boxes.¡±


    ¡°Toy boxes? Like, for the babies?¡± Zane asked, sounding confused.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Gabri snorted softughter and shook her head.


    ¡°Toys for the adults.¡± | corrected him and was tickled to see what looked like it might''ve been a blush creeping up his throat into


    his face. ¡°Some of the subscriptions are real, so we''ll actually get the boxes. There will also be some makeup kits, curated


    clothing boxes, stuff like that. And oh, | invested in a mushroom farm. |


    also think that¡¯s real.¡±


    ¡°Af ucking mushroom farm,¡± Xander said in a voice full of admiration and wonder.


    ¡°The money went to all those things, but it was really paying to get the codes and locations of how to get into the dark web,¡± |


    exined. ¡°Like Mason said, it¡¯s illegal. | couldn¡¯t just log on,¡±


    | shivered for a second, thinking of some of the information that hade up on my first searches; things | didn¡¯t want to see and


    hoped to never see again.


    ¡°How did you figure out how to do all this?¡±


    Tm not sure. | just...knew.¡± | sat back in my chair and held out my wine ss for a refill, which Zane took care of immediately. ¡°I


    can¡¯t really describe what it was like, only that | started getting these images in my mind. One after the other. Almost like when


    wemunicate through the mind link, but without words...at least, not words in anguage | speak. And yet, | had no trouble


    understanding it.¡±


    A fresh outpouring of pride and understanding swelled toward me from Gabri. Tears glinted in her eyes. | felt something else,


    too...a small sadness. Bittersweet regret. The faintest tinge of envy colored outer edges, but when our eyes locked and she


    nodded at me, it went away.


    ¡°The Moon Goddess has been guiding you, my daughter.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how | knew where to look and what to do.¡± | replied and took her hand.


    For a few seconds, we were the only ones in the room. Two women, bound together in the supporting light from the Moon


    Goddess. A spark leapt from Gabri¡¯s fingers to mine, and we both gasped and shivered. Gabri opened her mouth to speak,


    but the voice that came out did not sound like hers. Deep tones hummed all through it, and the hairs on the back of my neck


    stood up. Our fingers linked, zapping more energy.


    ¡°The hand of the Goddess has guided you, Lanie. You are tapping into your true Luna powers. The more you use them, the


    closer you will be to the strength and power of the Goddess herself.¡±


    Gabri and | cried out at the same time. We pulled our hands apart with a cr ackle and sh of glittering light. An electric heat


    rolled all over me, there and gone as fast and fierce as a lightning bolt.


    That¡¯s when Gabri¡¯s eyes rolled to the back of her head, showing only the whites. Her head fell backward as her body shook


    so hard it rattled the table. Then, she fell forward, face down on the table with a


    thump.

 Chapter 235

    Xander


    ¡°Ma!¡± | shouted.


    I''d been almost hypnotized, watching my mother and my mate joining their hands. The voice that hade out of my mother


    had reverberated through me, echoing like she¡¯d shouted into a deep well even though she¡¯s barely raised it. As soon as she fell


    onto the table, though, | jumped up to help her.


    Zane was on her other side, while Mason went to Lanie. She waved him off.


    ¡°I''m fine, I¡¯m fine,¡± she said. ¡°Is Gabri okay?¡±


    | helped my mother sit upright. Blood trickled from her nose, and her forehead had a bruise alrea blooming on it. She blinked


    rapidly, eyshes fluttering, and then her eyes popped wide open.


    I''m fine,¡± she said, trying to wave me away.


    | didn¡¯t let her go. ¡°You just face nted so hard | heard a crunch, Ma. You''re not fine.¡±


    ¡°Let me get some ice,¡± Zane said. He went to the freezer and started pulling out the ice cube trays to fi


    stic baggie.


    My mother gingerly touched her nose and then her forehead, but she gave Lanie a huge grin. ¡°You see


    what a blessing you''ve been given, Lanie? I''d hoped, but didn¡¯t want to say anything, in case | was wrong. spent hours opening


    my mind and heart to the Moon Goddess¡¯s guidance without luck. | knew she hadn''t simply abandoned me, but | couldn¡¯t be sure


    she was finally granting you the full and true Luna gifts that rightfully belong to you now.¡±


    Mason rubbed Lanie¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I thought Lanie already was the Luna. She¡¯s mated to two Alphas,


    right?¡±


    ¡°We take nothing for granted when ites to the Goddess,¡± Gabri said. She took the ice pack from Zane with a grateful


    smile and pressed it to her forehead with a wince. ¡°When Orion died and your Alpha powers were awakened, the mate bond


    between you and Lanie was tied to Xander, and through him, Zane. You four already knew you shared the mind links and that


    connection, which is something | genuinely have neverText content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    heard of happening before. | worried the Goddess wouldn¡¯t bless the union, that she might deny Lanie the full realm of her


    powers.¡±


    ¡°I''d have been the Luna in name,¡± Lanie added, ¡°but | wouldn¡¯t have been able to ess all the Luna gifts.


    Gabri would have kept some of them.¡±


    ¡°And lost some,¡± my mother added. ¡°Certainly I''d have stepped down as Luna as far as running the pack


    went. But we don¡¯t have to worry about that, because it¡¯s so very clear that that Goddess has shone her light


    upon Lanie and the three of you. The Goddess has blessed her with her Luna intuition. That''s why | wasn¡¯t able


    to find a way to solve this problem, and Lanie could.¡±


    ¡°And | did find a solution,¡± Lanie put in.


    [e)


    good?¡±


    ¡°We''re both fine, my love,¡± Lanie said confidently and pushed a swell of light andfort all around me.


    Mason bent to drop a kiss on the top of her head, then took his seat again. He poured us all fresh sses of wine and lifted his


    ss. ¡°Cheers to our Luna.¡±


    We toasted. As the warmth of the red wine ran down my throat, | looked around the table in wonder at everything that had gone


    on. One thing after another, we''d all endured enough to rock us to our cores, to drive us to our knees andy us t, but we all


    just kept getting up.


    ¡°Tell us what you figured out, Lanie,¡± Zane said.


    She beamed. ¡°Wolvesbane.¡±


    Mason startled. ¡°That¡¯s a myth, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Apparently not...at least, the synthetic kind isn¡¯t,¡± Lanie said. ¡°It can be used to negate certain thing you need to take it with


    specific other ingredients and in precise dose.¡±


    ¡°Negate what certain things?¡± | asked suspiciously.


    ¡°It can render both men and women temporarily or permanently infertile,¡± she said. ¡°It can dissolve the


    magic of binding spells... Basically, from what | could gather, wolvesbane works to tear things apart than tie them together. So,


    anything that requires a joining of some kind can be prevented or destroyed.¡±


    I


    Mason muttered out a low curse. ¡°It¡¯s extremely dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Very, very ancient,¡± my mother added. The ice cubes in her bag cra ckled against each other as she set it on the table. | also


    thought it was nothing but a myth. You say someone has sy n th esized it?¡±


    risky.¡±


    Lanie nodded. ¡°Yes, and there are several different types. Some safer and more reliable than others.¡±


    ¡°None of them could be reliable or safe,¡± my mother countered in a thoughtful voice. ¡°Using it would be


    ¡°I''ll do it,¡± Zane said. ¡°Whatever it is. Just tell me how to get it and how to use it.¡±


    Lanie looked stricken. ¡°It will require a sacrifice, Zane. One I¡¯m not sure | can ask you to make.¡±

 Chapter 236

    Zane


    ¡°I''m the one who put myself in this predicament. Whatever the sacrifice is, I''ll make it.¡± | paused, thinking of how little time we


    had left. Tm supposed to meet the witch at the Stillwood Inn in three days. How long will


    it take to get the wolvesbane and whatever else we need? And how long does it take to work?¡±


    ¡°I''ve already ordered it.¡± Lanie said quietly. ¡°It won¡¯t be delivered to the house for safety and anonymity.


    We''ll have to go pick it up.¡±


    ¡°In Stillwood?¡± Xander asked.


    She shook her head. ¡°Outside of town. I¡¯m waiting for the message to let me know when we can p


    ¡°What''s the


    ¡°What''s the sacrifice?¡± Mason asked


    Gabri sighed, ¡°Permanent infertility. I''d imagine it could result in temporary or permanent impotenc


    ¡°F uck that,¡± Xander snarled.


    | wasn¡¯t happy about the idea | could never sire a pup of my own, or that my d ick would stop working.


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°Or gan damage, leading to failure. It¡¯s very toxic,¡± Gabri said.


    Lanie nodded. ¡°We¡¯d need ash, bedonna, raspberry leaf, Salt. Some other things | can¡¯t think of. | wrote


    it all down.¡±


    ¡°Easy enough to get all the rest of that online or in town,¡± Mason said. ¡°But...dude, you don¡¯t want to risk taking this shi t, do


    you? It sounds like it could really f uck you up.¡±


    ¡°It could kill him,¡± Xander bit out. ¡°So, no f ucking way!


    ¡°It''s probably our only option,¡± | shot back. ¡°Unless you can find another way for me to tell a witch | decided | don¡¯t really want to


    knock her up. Pretty sure breaking a vow made with a binding spell would also f uck me up pretty good.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°If she¡¯s desperate enough to allow you inside her body and to make her pregnant,¡± Gabri said, Td say she¡¯s definitely not


    going to just let you walk away. Or if she does, she¡¯ll demand it out of one of you.¡±


    She pointed at Mason, then at Xander.


    ¡°And that absolutely cannot happen, as I¡¯m sure | do not need to tell you how very, very badly giving a witch ess to an Alpha¡¯s


    powers would go,¡± Gabri finished. She gave me a sad look. Tm sorry, Zane, but | do think you will have to at least make the


    effort of breeding with her in order to fulfill the vow.¡±


    But if | take this concoction, potion, whatever it is, it''ll make it so | can¡¯t get her pregnant? Or | won¡¯t be


    to perform, or what?¡± | swallowed some wine, but it tasted like gasoline.


    [e)


    Lanie frowned.


    ¡°That won''t stop her from getting what she wants,¡± Gabri said. ¡°She can force him to an ejaction


    without needing an erection.¡±


    Xander recoiled. ¡°The f uck you say!¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not a fan of the idea, either.¡± | went to him and put my arms around him so | could force him to look into my eyes. ¡°But


    we''re going to make sure she can¡¯t do that. Okay?¡±


    He shook his head fiercely. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to do this sh it, Zane. | don¡¯t want you risking your f ucking


    life...F uck! This is all so f ucked.¡±


    ¡°If he can¡¯t get it up for her, that might be enough to make her call it off?¡± Mason suggested. ¡°She¡¯s probably not used to men not


    being able to get hard for her.¡±


    ¡°It won''t matter,¡± Gabri told him.


    ¡°| think we have to let him...¡± Lanie coughed into her fist. Her cheeks bloomed crimson. She wouldn''t at me. ¡°He has to f uck her.


    He has to go through the entire process of at least pretending he¡¯s trying to get pregnant, so there¡¯s no way she can im he


    broke the vow. But with the rightbination of wolvesbane a the other ingredients, we can make him incapable of impregnating


    her.


    me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what we''ll do, then,¡± | said firmly, holding onto Xander as he tried to squirm away. ¡°Hey, Look at


    | waited until he did. ¡°We both know that fatherhood has nothing to do with who donates the sperm, and everything to do with


    who raises and loves the child. Right? We have three infants in this house right now that prove that. Anyway...¡± | faced Lanie.


    ¡°How can we even be sure that any of this is going to work?¡±


    ¡°It''s going to work. | feel it. The Goddess is guiding me,¡± Lanie replied with such confidence | was. immediately convinced.


    It all felt like sh it, though.


    ¡°Do you trust me, Zane?¡± Lanie got up from the table to join me and Xander.


    After a second, so did Mason. The four of us made a circle, shoulder to shoulder. | closed my eyes and


    bowed my head to give my answer.


    ¡°Yes. With my life. Always.¡±

 Chapter 237

    Lonle


    | was strong. Stronger than I''d ever been, even whenpelled Orion. Stronger than | ever imagined!


    could be.


    Yet in that moment, | felt fragile as ss,


    ¡°I''m going to make sure nothing terrible happens to you,¡± | promised Zane with a hitch in my voice. ¡°No permanent damage. But


    we have to work fast. You''ll need to prepare.¡±


    ¡°I''m going to make some coffee. If you all can get this table cleaned up and check on the babies, wee back to this fresh and


    lay out the n.¡± Gabri said all this briskly, and then she paused. Clear throat. The nod she gave me waspletely


    respectful, which | appreciated. ¡°If that¡¯s eptable to


    Luna.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    We made short work in the kitchen and, amazingly, none of the children woke up. | sent up a prayer of


    gratitude, and we all settled back at the table with cups of fresh, hot coffee and slices of cake. My hunger was


    still there, in the background, but | still felt it.


    said,


    ¡°When Lanie gets the message that the goods have been delivered, she and | will go pick it up,¡± Xander


    ¡°Zane, you''ll be in no shape toe along. You''ll need to be fasting for the two days before you have to


    meet her. From food, water, and sex. It¡¯s going to suck,¡± | told him.


    ¡°You''ll feel like s hit,¡± Mason said.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°He''ll feel even worse once he takes the mixture,¡± Gabri put in dryly. ¡°I''ll be surprised if Rhiannon


    doesn¡¯t turn you away at the stink of you, after the hours you¡¯ll have spent beforehand.¡±


    Zane shuddered. ¡± F uck,¡±


    ¡°We''ll all be able to help you through it,¡± | told him. ¡°But there¡¯s no question, it is going to be rough.¡±


    ¡°Fine, so you and Xander will get the stuff. Any idea of when? We''re on this tight turnaround,¡± Mason said.


    I''d checked my messages while they cleaned the kitchen. ¡°I should hear within the hour.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s no way any of this is traceable to you?¡± Xander demanded. ¡°Nobody¡¯s going to show up ready to drag you off to jail


    or anything?¡±


    ¡°Surprisingly, or


    v, or not, there are a lot worse things on the dark web than me buying synthetic herbs,¡± | told him with a small smile. ¡°And this will


    give us our time together, my love. | know it won''t be like a romantic getaway, but we will be together.¡±


    ¡°When this is all squared away, when we aren¡¯t worrying from one minute to the next about a f ucking war, | am going to take you


    away on a romantic weekend. Somece warm and tropical, with white sands and


    ¡°| want in on that action,¡± Mason interjected, and |ughed, realizing we hadn''t been shielding ourselves


    from the others.


    ¡°Me too,¡± Zane said aloud.


    Gabri shook her head but didn¡¯t ask us what we were all discussing.


    ¡°Zane will take the potion early Saturday morning. It will start working within minutes, ording to everything I''ve researched. He


    should be recovered enough from the initial...effects...to have his date with Rhiannon that night,¡± | said.


    *Please don¡¯t call it that,¡± Zane said with a grimace.


    ¡°Meeting.¡± | amended. ¡°And here¡¯s where it all bes very important that you keep it all on the line. You will need to verify that


    she¡¯s fertile and make sure she understands that this is a one-time offer, not som ongoing thing. She¡¯s got one shot at it, and it¡¯s


    on her to be sure the timing is exactly right.¡±


    ¡°It will be part of the binding spell,¡± Gabri added, ¡°If she agrees to the terms, she won''t be break them any more than you


    can, Brilliant, Lanie.¡±


    | blushed. ¡°The Goddess has truly been good to me.¡±


    I


    ¡°And then what? L..do it with her?¡± Zane¡¯s lip curled. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t get with pup, won''t she figure out | did


    something to stop it?¡±


    ¡°She can never find out, and she will never find out,¡± | said adamantly. ¡°And you won''t be able to identally let it slip, either,


    even if she tries to put a truth hex on you.¡±


    Zane shook his head. ¡°I doubt | can stand against a truth hex-¡±


    | swallowed hard. Here was the part I¡¯d kept secret until now. The most important part.


    ¡°You will tell her the truth as you know it, because you won¡¯t remember anything else.¡±


    ¡°What, hold up. What do you mean, | won¡¯t remember?¡± Zane shot out.


    ¡°It¡¯s critical that you can¡¯t let her know you''re not going to be able to get her pregnant, or else you''ll trigger that binding spell. She


    has to believe-and you have to believe-that you''re there to honor it. If you don¡¯t, Zane, it will all fall apart. So part of the


    wolvesbane potion will include an aphrodisiac...and an amnesiac.¡±


    212

 Chapter 238

    Zane


    The room went so quiet | swore | could hear the sound Xander¡¯s eyeballs made when he blinked.


    His growl broke the silence, rising up and up, nearly into a roar that was suddenly cut off as quickly as if he¡¯d pped a hand


    over his mouth. Lanie stood from the table.


    ¡°Shh,¡± she said. ¡°I love you, Xander, but in this, you cannot fight me.¡±


    He fell back into his chair, slumped in defeat. He shook his head in amazement, then broke into a wide, proud grin. ¡°My Luna.


    Goddess help us all, Lanie, you¡¯ve got so much power.¡±


    ¡°More than I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± his mother murmured in admiration, but | caught a hint of worry sh 0 face before it smoothed back


    to neutral.


    ¡°What if the potion goes wrong? We already lost you because of a spell that took away your memories My voice sounded


    solemn, because | was working hard not to sound usatory. | knew how much all of this was taking out of Lanie, and thest


    thing | wanted to do was pile on any more worries for her.


    I shot a covert nce at Mason to see how he¡¯d react. After all, the only reason he¡¯d met Lanie was because she''d been living as


    Katie. Even though the four of us were slowly finding ways to make all of this work, it had to sting that we all hadn¡¯t been forced


    to forget each other, he would never have had the chance to


    even touch her.


    Lanie shook her head. ¡°I understand, but we won''t have to worry about that. It¡¯s a small, targeted memory loss, only in ce


    during the time the potion is active. It protects you, but it will wear off when the potion


    does.¡±


    ¡°You''re sure?¡± Mason asked.


    ¡°I''m as sure of this as | can be. It won¡¯t undo any major memories, but Zane won''t be able to recall that he took something to


    make him sterile. Also temporarily,¡± Lanie added firmly.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°If | can¡¯t remember that | won¡¯t be able to make her pregnant, how can we be sure | won''t back out at thest minute?¡± | posed


    this question, not because | believed I¡¯d dishonor our pack with such cowardice, but because...well, because all of this was f


    ucked up, and | wanted to cover all my bases.


    ¡°If you were going to do that, then we wouldn''t have to do all of this other sh it,¡± Xander said. ¡°Frankly, I¡¯d rather have you risk


    breaking that binding spell than taking this wolvesbane b ulls hit.¡±


    When Lanie gave him a long, significant look, Xander held up his hands and looked chastened.


    ¡°But if our Luna says this is the best option, then that¡¯s what we''ll do,¡± he said.


    Mason rocked his chair back on two legs. ¡°Why the aphrodisiac?¡±


    ¡°We want her to believe he¡¯s enthusiastic, even if we all know he¡¯s not going to be. Zane¡¯s mated to me, and through me,


    Xander. And to you, Mason, in a way. For him to have sex with another person not part of our


    And honestly...for me.¡±


    She cleared her throat and gave us all an honest, vulnerable look. | wanted to gather her into my arms. and kiss away the frown


    turning down the corners of her lips.


    ¡°If | know that he has no real choice, that he almost can¡¯t help himself...¡± Her voice trembled and caught. Xander put his arm


    around her, drawing her close, and kissed her temple.


    He let his lips rest against her skin. ¡°I get it. | feel the same way. If it''s something he can¡¯t really control, it


    won''t feel so much like...


    ¡°A betrayal,¡± | finished for them, my own voice rough and cracking.


    Xander put his other arm around me. ¡°We both know you''re not betraying us.¡±


    ¡°The more eager you are for her, the more she''ll believe it¡¯s real,¡± Lanie said. ¡°She''ll agree to your te


    ¡°Fine. So I¡¯m going to forget why I¡¯m so h orny for a witch, and I''ll do my best to make a baby with h she doesn¡¯t figure out that


    we stopped my swimmers from reaching the target. Am | missing anything? my tone light. ¡°Oh, other than the fact apparently this


    stuff is going to make me nasty sick for a few hours before it kicks in, and it might kill me slowly, over time.¡±


    Tegs.


    ¡°You''re not missing anything. | think that covers it,¡± Mason said and let his chair thump back onto all four


    Aping came from Lanie¡¯s phone. She pulled it out, tapped the screen and studied it for a few seconds.


    ¡°It''s time to pick up the wolvesbane.¡±

 Chapter 239

    Lanie


    ¡°Shh, shh, Ste. Mama will be home soon.¡± | clutched my daughter to my chest and kissed her soft, fat


    she cheeks over and over again. | breathed in the scent of hair. When | looked into her vibrant green eyes, cooed and giggled


    with a slobbery smile.


    ¡°Love, we


    we need to get going.¡± Xander knew better than to try and pull me away from the baby, but his


    reminder had me sighing.


    | handed Ste to her grandmother, Gabri would take excellent care of her, and so would the first f she¡¯d ever known. Mason


    was already reaching to take her as Gabri turned to lift Isaac from the port crib we''d set up in in the living room.


    | kissed Zane¡¯s mouth, letting the embrace linger as long as he wanted. | couldn¡¯t be the first one to


    away. Not right now.


    His grip on me t


    tightened, and he breathed into my hair much the way I¡¯d done with the baby. He wanted


    take in as much of me as he could. | knew the feeling.


    ¡°| love you,¡± he said into my ear, low, but loud enough that everyone could hear it. ¡°And | am loyal to you.¡±


    ¡°| know that. | love you, too.¡± | kissed him again, aware of Xander moving from foot to foot impatiently.


    | was tempted to pulse some Luna energy to get him to stop, but | didn¡¯t really want that to be the way our rtionship


    worked. Battling each other. Yes, | was strong, but so was he. We needed to use that


    strength in tandem, not opposition.


    | could focus some of that Goddess-guided strength into Zane, though. | felt his muscles, which had been tight and tense, rx.


    He drew in another breath and let his nose rub along my jaw before he kissed my mouth


    again. He stepped away.


    ¡°You should get going. You have a long run ahead of you, and I know-¡°he tipped his chin toward Xander, ¡°-that guy¡¯s got a n to


    take a little detour.¡±


    My heart thumped and my core heated at the thought of it. With everything going on, it seemed silly and selfish to spend even a


    spare second anticipating the chance to be alone with one of my mates, but the Goddess had shown me several visions of how


    difficult it was going to be, navigating being mated to three


    different men


    Each would need-and each deserved-having their own time with me where | could give them solo attention. We''d be spending


    most of our lives intertwined, so we''d have to make an effort to remember that we were all important to each other in different


    ways.


    Xander pulled his shirt off over his head and tucked it into the small duffel Hunter would be carrying in his mouth. His boots,


    socks, and jeans followed. Naked, Xander twisted from side to side, stretching his back. He opened his jaw wide, moving it back


    and forth, prepping his wolf for the burden.


    surrounded me from all of my mates. | closed my eyes for a moment to let their love and desire flood over me. Fill me up. | took


    strength from the heat of their passion for me.


    Lily was already rising, so eager to be free that | didn¡¯t even dare give my daughter onest kiss goodbye in case my sharp teeth


    cut her. By the time | hit the front yard on all four paws, | was almost fully transformed.


    Hunter sat on his haunches and sent up a long, wild and thrilling howl that Lily answered at once. | was slipping away to the back


    of my wolf''s mind, but she deserved this chance to be front and center. | took onest look toward the cottage.


    Zane stood on the porch, his hand half-raised in a farewell wave. A sudden sense of warning rushed over me, and Lily spun to


    lope toward him.


    She went up on her hind legs to put her front paws on his shoulders. She licked his face as he buried hi- face in her s haggy fur.


    With a whine, she jumped off the porch and followed Hunter, who held the bag in


    mouth.


    Together our wolves ran through the forest. Lily reveled in controlling her limbs and her senses. | gat full rein and felt myself


    being taken along for the ride.


    Time passed differently when Lily was in charge. Wolves were ruled by the phases of the moon, not by th hands on a clock.


    Minutes and hours were the same as years, as far as my wolf was concerned. She cared


    of about her legs getting tired and the rumble of hunger in her belly. She cared about her thirst and the scentText content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    prey.


    By the time we got to far side of the forest, she was panting. Hunter slowed and dropped the bag before returning to his human


    form. | joined him a few minutester.


    We hadn''t discussed what would happen when we were alone together. Our bodies did the talking. He pulled me into his arms,


    our naked flesh slick with sweat.


    Xander pressed his forehead to mine, and his voice still bore the wolf¡¯s throaty growl.


    ¡°Mate...¡±


    ¡°Take me,¡± | whispered.


    212

 Chapter 240

    Xander


    | couldn''t wait to get my mouth between my mate¡¯s thighs. It seemed like an eternity since I''d tasted her this way. Time had lost


    some meaning over the past few hours.


    As | pushed her gently back onto a hillock of soft grass, Lanie was already opening herself to me. The sweet, ripe fragrance of


    her pus sy got my co ck raging hard within seconds, but | wasn¡¯t going to plunge into


    her right away.


    We didn¡¯t have the time to take our time...but | was going to do my best to make sure every second


    counted.


    ¡°I need you.¡± Her voice called to me, echoey and rippling.


    | nuzzled the insides of her thighs, one at a time. ¡°You have me.¡±


    Lanie arched into my mouth as | let myself taste her. | moaned against her soft flesh and breathed in he delicious scent. My wolf


    was still near the surface, letting me draw on his senses, so everything was


    heightened.


    ¡°| want you because you are strong and capable,¡± | murmured to her through our link, ¡°Because you''re beautiful. A devoted


    mother and partner. You were meant to be mine from that moment an eternity ago when


    the Moon Goddess created our souls. Never doubt that, my Luna.¡±


    I''d sensed my mate¡¯s concerns that my desire for her, the desire from all of us, was rted to her being a hybrid, and | wanted to


    make sure she knew, without a doubt, that my love and desire for her came from


    inside. From who, not what she was.


    Then there weren¡¯t words, only sensations. | let my tongue slide along the tight knot of her cli t until her


    hips rocked. When | slipped a finger into her hot, tight cavern, her muscles clenched me. My co ck throbbed, but | wanted her to


    come before | sank into her. Once | did, | knew | wasn¡¯t going to be able to hold out for very


    long.


    Lanie cried out, and her entire body shuddered. Her pus y fluttered around my finger as her c lit leaped against my tongue. She


    cried my name through the mind link, over and over.


    Aloud, she said, ¡°Xander. Now.¡±


    Lanie


    Letting my wolf run had awakened my carnal senses. The hunger I¡¯d felt back at the cottage had been a need to fill my stomach-


    what | felt now was a ravenous, wing desire to be filled by my mate¡¯s c ock.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Xander took his thickness in one fist and positioned himself between my legs. He teased me with the tip. of his co ck, wetting it


    before sliding in the first inch and withdrawing.


    He let his body press me into the soft grass as he thrust into me, hard and fast. Our mind link stayed open, and we traded words


    of love, images, feelings.


    Everything.


    We f ucked like the animals we kept inside us.


    He¡¯d already made mee once, but now every time he thrust, | got closer and closer to another o rgasm. | thrashed beneath


    him, mindless with the pleasure. | felt it in my toes, first, as they curled.


    Astrange, tingling feeling, almost like a weight on my feet. Not a numbness, but something like it. A distance that made me hyper


    aware of the arches of my feet and the soft grass tickling my ankles. The solid feel of Xander¡¯s muscr thighs when | h ooked


    my feet behind them, urging him to f uck me deeper.


    The feeling moved up my calves to my thighs, inch by inch, so that my rising or gasm was not only centered in my pus sy but


    everywhere. My arms, legs, the back of my neck. My earlobes. | was being cor alive by desire, like | was in a fire, burning, only


    instead of being made into nothing but ash, | was explo into a million tiny points of light.


    | screamed his name as the first rush hit me. Xander grunted, burying his face against the side of my neck. His hips pumped


    faster. | raked my nails down his back and used my heels against his a ss cheeks to g


    him to move even faster.


    We came together, both of us shouting.


    | hadn''t been imagining that feeling of bursting into light. It was like fireworks exploding all around us. Gold glitter surged and


    mingled with orange and crimson luminescenceing off him.


    Alpha and Luna. Luna and Alpha. There was no Xander and Lanie, no him and me, but instead it was the


    two of us together.


    Joined as one.


    Inseparable.


    Forever.


    As the glow faded, leaving us in darkness, Xander panted and fell off me to roll onto his side. His hand found mine, linking our


    fingers. We stared up at the night sky and the moon.


    ¡°Did you just kill me?¡± His voice rumbled.


    |ughed, softly at first. Than harder, but silently. Xander did, too, until we were both writhing withughter.


    That was a release of a different kind, and when | could finally catch my breath, | kissed him.


    ¡°We need to get to the meeting point,¡± | told him. ¡°But this was...¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°Unbelievable.¡±


    | shook my head. ¡°I believe it. Because | love you.¡±


    Astick popped as loud as a gun shot, and my Alpha shot to his feet with a growl. 212

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    Lanie


    We both knew the noise had been made by a deer before it stepped out of the shadows. Our wolves were riled up from the


    running and the sex. Lily whined, wanting to hunt, but | hushed her.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Another time,¡± | promised her.


    My wolf wasn¡¯t happy. My needs had been met, but my wolf''s hungers were still fresh. She wanted to run some more. To hunt. To


    bay at the moon. To be free.


    Lily retreated, but with a huff that told me she was going to hold me to that promise.


    ¡°| look forward to it,¡± | assured her.


    The timid doe looked at us for a few startled seconds before bounding away into the brush.


    Xander unzipped the duffel bag and pulled out our clothes. ¡°We''re meeting this guy about half a mile from


    here?¡±


    | put on my socks and underwear, then my jeans as | answered. ¡°Yes. No exchange of money, that¡¯s already been taken care of


    with the electronic deposits.¡±


    ¡°Are they going to leave the wolvesbane in a bag, or what?¡± He buckled his belt and bent to push his feet


    into his big boots.


    | knew he wasn¡¯t going to be happy about this next part. ¡°No. The dropoff has to ur hand to hand. | guess there are


    instructions. Even people who use the dark web are allowed to be responsible about handing


    over toxic substances.¡±


    My joke fell t.


    ¡°Lanie...¡± Xander growled. ¡°How do you know we can trust this as shole?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t. But we have to follow whatever procedures they want us to, or we don¡¯t get the goods.¡± | finished dressing and picked


    up the duffel bag to sling over my shoulder.


    Picking our way through the trees in our human forms was definitely not was easy as it had been when our wolves were in


    control. | took Xander¡¯s hand, though, which was nice. If the temperature hadn''t dropped so that | shivered, and my eyes weren''t


    so heavy from sudden exhaustion, it would¡¯ve been a romantic stroll.


    ¡°We''ll have this again,¡± he said aloud, having ¡°heard¡± my thoughts through the link. ¡°Our lives won''t always be in such an uproar.¡±


    ¡°| feel like my life has been in an uproar since the moment they gave me to you and Zane as your mate,¡± | told him honestly.


    Xander growled under his breath and squeezed my fingers. ¡°You sure as hell rocked our world.¡±


    ¡°| wouldn''t have it any other way, though. Our family, our pack...even you and Mason both being Alphas.¡± | 1/2


    un


    edge was up ahead, in sight. ¡°Your mother was right. The three of you were meant to be my mates. | feel it. Without you all, |


    might''ve been able to dip my finger in the surface of my Luna abilities, but I''d never have been able to reach them all. So...thank


    you.¡±


    He shot me a curious nce | could see in the shaft of dim moonlighting through the trees. ¡°What are you thanking me for?¡±


    ¡°For being able to ept that things were not going the way you''d always thought they would. For opening yourself to other


    possibilities.¡± | stopped a few yards away from the forest edge. The meeting ce was just beyond, but | needed him to hear


    this. ¡°I know you and Zane loved Alice, and you wanted her to be your mate. | know she betrayed you, but even before that, we


    were connected. If you¡¯d continued to deny that, or if you''d t-out refused to let yourself be with me at the beginning...we


    wouldn''t be here now.¡±


    ¡°No. | don¡¯t believe that.¡± He shook his head and turned me to face him. He put his hands on my hips. ¡°I believe we¡¯d have found


    our way to each other, no matter what else happened. We are destined mates, Lanie.


    | frowned. ¡°So...we had no choice?¡±


    ¡°Not a single one,¡± Xander said, and kissed me.


    This time, the c rackle of branches pping a moving body was definitely not a deer. He broke the kiss, his nostrils ring and


    eyes glowing. The sound hade from just beyond the edge of the trees.


    ¡°It¡¯s our contact,¡± he said.


    ¡°| guess we''d better go get what we came for,¡± | agreed, but | let him go first.


    No choice.


    He¡¯d said it like that was meant tofort me, but it had done exactly the opposite. Now, all | could think about was his words


    when we were making love. ¡°You were meant to be mine from that moment an eternity ago when the Moon Goddess created our


    souls.¡±


    If we had no choice but to end up together, then how could we be sure any of our feelings for each other


    were real?


    What if we were all just pawns in an eternal game we could never possibly win?


    212

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    Xander


    | didn¡¯t trust this shifty looking little p rick.


    ¡°Human,¡± | muttered to Lanie through the link. ¡°Untrustworthy, backstabbing, human.¡±


    She didn¡¯t answer me.


    Taking a few steps forward and keeping her voice pitched low, Lanie approached the guy although | put my hand on her to keep


    her behind me. No way was | letting her get in grabbing distance of this guy. He smelled like microwave burritos and unwashed


    feet. Greasy little punk.


    His eyes glittered as he waved a shlight in our direction. Of course he¡¯d need that to see in the dark with his weak little human


    eyes. | felt my canines dropping and let my lips draw back so he''d be sure to seeThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    them.


    ¡°Xander,¡± Lanie said warningly.


    ¡°Hi, hi,¡± the human said quickly, putting up both hands. ¡°Listen, | don¡¯t want no trouble. I¡¯m just here to deliver the candy. Okay?


    That¡¯s it. No trouble from me, okay?¡±


    ¡°I can smell his fear. He¡¯s not going to try anything to hurt us,¡± Lanie thought toward me. Out loud, she said, ¡°You have


    instructions for us?¡±


    The little as shole was dancing nervously from foot to foot. ¡°Yeah, yeah. | gotta make sure you¡¯re the uh... the right...customers,


    though.¡±


    ¡°It''s the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere. Who the f uck else would we be?¡± | growled, towering over him with my


    fists clenched and my teeth fully out.


    ¡°Dam mit!¡± Lanie whisper-shouted. ¡°Back the f uck up off him!¡±


    A pulse of her energy centered between my shoulder des and at the base of my spine, yanking me back a few steps as easily


    as if she¡¯d used her hands. My hackles rose. | knew tensions were high, sure, but the fact she couldpel me like that, even


    for a few seconds...


    ¡°I need you to be with me on this,¡± she said through the link. ¡°We''re going to give this guy what he needs so he can give us the


    wolvesbane and the herbs, and we¡¯re going to get back home. Please stop wolfing out. Can¡¯t you see he¡¯s terrified? He¡¯s no


    threat to us.¡±


    ¡°Of course he¡¯s not. | could break him in half with one hand.¡±


    ¡°But you won''t,¡± she said.


    ¡°Uh...guys?¡± The little sh it said, looking back and forth from Lanie to me. He put his hands up. ¡°I don¡¯t


    want no trouble.¡±


    ¡°You said that already.¡± The words clipped out of me, sharp as knives, but | backed up.


    ¡°It ought to be halitosis,¡± | muttered.


    He backed up another step. ¡°That ain¡¯t it. Look, I¡¯m just here to do a job, okay? | got bills to pay, same as youse. And believe you


    me, thest thing | wanna do is pi ss off a barker, okay?¡±


    My ws bit into my palms. ¡°The f uck did you just call me?¡±


    ¡°A woofer, a...s hit, man!¡± The guy whined. ¡°I¡¯m f ucking nervous, okay? You''re over there looking at me like you want to gobble


    me up and use the bones to pick your teeth!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to hurt you, so long as you give us what | paid for.¡± Lanie¡¯s voice was soothing.


    She pulsed Luna energy out and around me and the human. | didn¡¯t know if it would work on the little pr ick...could humans be


    affected by it? But it worked on me, even though it made me wary at the same time. | did not f ucking like that she was


    manipting me, even if | could tell she was doing it. F uck, maybe especially because | could.


    ¡°Code phrase,¡± the guy said.


    ¡°Anaked American man stole my balloons,¡± she said.


    ¡°The f uck?¡± | shot at her through the link.


    Lanie didn¡¯t even blink in my direction. The human snortughed. She sent out another calming wash of energy, but kept her


    light dim. Probably so it didn¡¯t freak him out.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it. Okay, you''re legit.¡± The man went for something in his pocket, and | bristled, stepping forward in case it was


    something stu pid like a knife.


    He pulled out a small vial. It had a faint rainbow shine when he held it up to the beam from his shlight. He turned it side to side.


    | caught a whiff of something sweet.


    My mouth watered.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the candy,¡± the guy said in a low, hurried voice. ¡°You need only a drop or two, okay, this is cut with some powerful shi t.


    It ll get your di ck hard and your brain soft, you get what I¡¯m sayin?¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t have a di ck,¡± Lanie answered mildly, ¡°but yes.


    ¡°Just a drop or two. You mix it with whatever you want. Take it straight under the tongue, | don¡¯t care, but the taste is nasty. You


    wait five minutes. If you ain¡¯t throwing up by then, you take another two drops. But no more than that, or | can¡¯t be responsible.¡±


    ¡°The arrangements stated clearly that you''re not responsible for any reason,¡± she said calmly and took the vial from his hand.


    ¡°Now get out of here, before my mate here decides he wants to eat you.¡±

 Chapter 243

    Mason


    Gabri had gone to bed. The kids were all sleeping Zane and | had taken up our posts on the front porch, not saying much. He


    sipped asionally from a ss of whiskey, neat. | had one, too.


    ¡°They should''ve been back by now,¡± he said into the silence that had stretched out so long and thin it was like a spider web


    between us. Making a trap.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°My brother will make sure nothing happens to her.¡±


    Zane eyed me. ¡°I know that.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± | told him amiably, ¡°I know it, too.¡±


    There was more silence between us, but it wasn¡¯t as sticky.


    ¡°Are you ready for this?¡± | asked him after a few more minutes had passed.


    ¡°F uck, no.¡±


    |ughed, and after a moment, Zane joined in.


    ¡°When you knew her as Katie,¡± he said. ¡°Was she different?¡±


    The whiskey in my ss tasted like smoke, and | let it roll over and around my tongue before | answered him. ¡°I didn¡¯t know her


    before she was Katie, so | can¡¯t say if she was different than she¡¯d been. But she was different than she is now, yeah. In a lot of


    ways. But in some, she¡¯s exactly the same.¡±


    ¡°It was a good thing she had you,¡± he said quietly. ¡°When we couldn''t be there for her.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault,¡± | started, but Zane shook his head..


    ¡°Fault doesn¡¯t matter. We weren¡¯t there for her the way we should have been before she was sent to


    Stillwood, before she became Katie. Me and Xander...we were a pair of arrogant pr icks.¡±


    ¡°From what | understand, you were in love with a woman who made promises she had no intentions of


    keeping.¡± | cleared my throat so it wouldn¡¯t squeeze tight with angry memories.


    Zane raised his ss toward me. ¡°You were in love with her, too. Seems like no matter what any of us had


    nned, we were all three destined to end up with the same woman, one way or another.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know about love. I''d have agreed with you before, but after falling in love with Katie...with Lanie,¡± | amended. ¡°Once | felt


    what | do for her, everything that I''d ever felt for anyone else, including Alice, just doesn¡¯t seem like it matters too much. But


    maybe you''re right. The Moon Goddess had ns for the three of us we could never have guessed. | mean, what are the odds


    that we''d all fall for the same woman not once, but twice?¡±


    ¡°It sure seems like we were as destined for each other as we were for our Luna,¡± Zane said.


    It might''ve been the nerfect moment to ask him how he felt about being my Reta too but | didn¡¯t have the


    Il


    words. We¡¯d shared a lover, a bed, pups, and a mate, but even that didn¡¯t seem intimate enough


    pledge himself to me.


    While | was still thinking about this, Zane got to his feet. ¡°There they are.¡±


    The two wolves bounded out of the forest and across the yard. Hunter carried the duffel in his mouth while Lily pranced around


    him in circles. She ran to the porch and put her front paws on the bottom step. Her tongue tolled out as she grinned. | felt the joy


    she was experiencing from the long run coursing off her in waves, and Colt pressed forward, eager to greet her.


    | stripped bare in half a minute and changed. Colt joined Hunter and Lily, leaping and rolling onto his back for a few seconds


    before jumping up again. de was there, too.


    de sat back to lift his muzzle to the moon. He bayed, and Hunter joined. Lily¡¯s howl rose into the chorus and finally, so did


    Colt¡¯s.


    Four wolves in perfect harmony.


    Perfect sync.


    Colt would''ve run forever, but when Lily¡¯s great s haggy form rippled and shifted, returning to Lanie¡¯s human shape, we all did the


    same.


    Now, four naked people stood in a circle on the grass with a duffel bag in the center of us. The wolves¡¯ happiness lingered. My


    heart had lifted. There¡¯d been a lot of tension going around, but our quartet sharing in the ritual of giving our wolves control felt


    like it had bonded us even closer.


    ¡°You got it?¡± Zane asked Lanie. He had one arm slung over Xander¡¯s shoulders and the other over mine.


    She nodded and moved toward him for a kiss. ¡°Yes. We got it. You¡¯ll have just enough time for the fasting period toplete


    before it¡¯s time to take it, if we go inside right now and have the biggest breakfast anyone


    ever ate¡±


    ¡°In a minute,¡± Zane said. ¡°I want us to stand like this, just another minute.¡±


    So we did. Four souls bound to each other for reasons we didn¡¯t know and would probably never be able to find out. We''d truly


    been granted the blessings of the Moon Goddess.


    Lanie unhooked herself from under my arm. Her voice was bright and cheerful, but there was something much darker in her


    eyes. A sh of emotion | couldn''t figure out, and | realized it wasn¡¯t Lanie | was seeing in that moment. It passed, quicker than a


    sh of lighting, but I''d seen her as Katie.


    Not the woman we all loved and shared, but the one I''d loved and who''d loved me alone.

 Chapter 244

    Zane


    Everything I''d ever eaten in my entire life hade out of me.


    ¡°I''m good,¡± | lied as Lanie rubbed my back in soothing circles and Xander pressed a damp cloth to the back of my neck. ¡°T¡¯ll be


    good. Just give me a few minutes.¡±


    ¡°It''s working,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s making you so sick, love, but that means it¡¯s working.¡±


    ¡°| know.¡±


    The nausea didn¡¯t pass like magic, but it did pass. | was able to take a shower and brush my teeth. My eyes were red, though,


    and | looked like I¡¯d been hit by a truck and dragged for a few miles.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t pick me for my pretty face,¡± | tried to joke.


    Xander lightly punched my arm. ¡°Good thing, since you¡¯re ugly as f uck right now.¡±


    ¡°You hush,¡± Lanie scolded. ¡°He¡¯s gorgeous and always will be.¡±


    My d ick twitched.


    ¡°Yeah... the rest of it¡¯s working,¡± | said, pressing my hand to the front of my jeans, where my coc k bulged.


    ¡°You ready to go make yourself a baby?¡±


    | turned at the sound of Mason''s voice. My heart pounded. My co ck felt hard enough to break bricks.


    ¡°F uck yeah,¡± | said eagerly. ¡°Can''t wait. A little Zane running around? F uck, yeah.¡±


    Xander frowned. ¡°You sure about that, buddy?¡±


    I''d never been more sure of anything in my life. My balls were so heavy, I¡¯d be surprised if | didn¡¯t get her pregnant from across


    the room. | itched and ached to sink myself inside that witch, fill her up, watch her belly


    swell with my pup...


    ¡°Zane.¡± Lanie brought me back to myself. ¡°It''s time for you to go. Mason will drive you.¡±


    ¡°l can drive.¡±


    ¡°You can barely stand,¡± Xander groused.


    ¡°What are you talking about? | feel f ucking amaaaaazing.¡± | let the word drawl out, ending in a howl


    ripping from my throat as my wolf surged. | shadowboxed, dancing from foot to foot.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lanie turned away. ¡°Mason, please take him now. | can¡¯t watch this.¡±


    ¡°Baby, baby, baby.¡± | tried tofort her. ¡°It¡¯s all good, I¡¯m good. It''ll be fine. I¡¯m just going to go get my c ock sunk deep in that


    witch, but it¡¯s all fine...¡±


    ¡°By the Moon, Zane, shut up,¡± Mason said irritably.


    Lanie left the room. | kn


    not like it mattered, right? She had two other hot c ocks ready to service her, she could take a break from mine


    for one night.


    | rubbed my hand on the front of my jeans and grinned.


    ¡°Zane, for f u ck¡¯s sakes,¡± Xander said. ¡°Get out of here.¡±


    In the car ride, | couldn¡¯t stop myself from rubbing my co ck through my jeans. | was on fire. Mason looked at me like | was a f


    ucking freak, but | didn¡¯t care. When your c ock¡¯s that hard, you don¡¯t care about anything.


    We pulled up in front of the Stillwood Inn, and Mason turned off the ignition. | tasted sweat on my upper lip. The world was a little


    blurry.


    ¡°Dude. I¡¯m going to ask you again, just to be sure. You really want to do this?¡± Mason''s voice sounded


    kind of far away.


    | groaned. ¡°F uck yes. | want to fill her up with my baby.¡±


    | closed my eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt Lanie. This is going to upset her, isn¡¯t it? Me being with another


    woman?¡±


    ¡°She understands that you have to do this.¡±


    | swallowed hard. ¡°I have to.¡±


    ¡°Yes. You have to.¡± Mason gripped my shoulder, squeezing. ¡°One more time. You want this?¡±


    ¡°| shouldn''t, right?¡±


    ¡°Let''s just sit here for another minute. Until you¡¯re sure.¡± Mason¡¯s eyes shed for a second, but | wasn¡¯t sure why. | felt his wolf,


    though.


    ¡°Alpha,¡± | muttered.


    ¡°It''s all good, man. Let''s just make sure you''re cool. We know you have to. Me, Xander, Lanie. We''ll all be waiting for you when


    you get back.¡±


    | let my head fall back against the seat. My c ock was as big as a python. Anaconda. It was going to leap the f uck out of my


    zipper, the metal teeth straining, no way | could myself back another minute.


    ¡°You want this, Zane?¡±


    ¡°| want it.¡± | didn¡¯t know why, but | did.


    Mason nodded. ¡°Okay. Go. Text me when you''re done, and I¡¯lle pick you up.¡±


    | put my hand on the door handle. ¡°Aren''t you going to tell me to have fun?¡±


    ¡°No. | can¡¯t tell you that. Just go.¡±


    Cool night air hit me in the face but did nothing to stop the fire between my legs as | walked to the


    outside door to the room where the witch was supposed to be waiting for me.


    | knocked


    She opened it. Her eyes dropped to the front of my jeans. They went wide.


    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± Rhiannon said. ¡°It looks like you''re ready, all right.¡±


    ¡°Let''s do this.¡±

 Chapter 245

    Zane


    ¡°We have some things to discuss before we get to it, | told her.


    ¡°So says your mouth, but your dic k looks pretty impatient.¡± She gestured for me to take a ss of wine from the small table. ¡°We


    don¡¯t have to rush.¡±


    The ck, sheer robe she wore fell open to reveal her body which, | hated to admit, was banging. My p rick definitely wanted


    some of that. | shook my head about the wine, though. No way in hell was | going to trust anything this witch tried to give me.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m mated, and you know | only agreed to this because it¡¯s what you demanded. So this isn¡¯t a romantic intrude,


    Rhiannon. It¡¯s a business transaction. Nothing more than that.¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Like | don¡¯t know that? You think I¡¯m eager to bed down with one of your kind for


    kicks?¡±


    ¡°I need confirmation that you''re fertile. | want to be sure you¡¯re going to conceive tonight.¡±


    ¡°And | want to be convinced,¡± she shot back, ¡°that you are in full agreement to give me a child.¡±


    My throat dried at the thought of it. Eilling her with my seed. Getting her pregnant.


    It was all | could think about.


    ¡°| promised. Gave you my word.¡±


    She gestured at a pile of papers on the table. ¡°You will have no parental rights, but I¡¯m not going toe after you for any kind of


    support, either.¡±


    ¡°| understand.¡± We''d agreed on that back when we first made the arrangement. ¡°You will let me know when you have


    confirmation that it worked. But after that...¡±


    ¡°After that, you might as well be a stranger,¡± she said. ¡°Your baby will never know you as its father.¡±


    Rhiannon c ocked her head, looking me up and down. ¡°And you''re okay with that? | thought all of your kind


    were fiercely protective of your spawn.¡±


    My jaw set. ¡°We are. But we also do what is necessary when it¡¯s required to protect our loved ones.¡±


    ¡°You really do love her, huh?¡± Rhiannon shook her head. ¡°Well, that doesn¡¯t bode well for you, | guess, since it¡¯s so easily


    exploited. But that¡¯s hardly any of my business.¡±


    luck.¡±


    ¡°This is for tonight only, you understand?¡± | forced myself to focus. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work tonight, you¡¯re out of


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you worry about that, puppy.¡± She put her hand on the bulge in my jeans and rubbed it. ¡°The only thing | need from


    you tonight is your sperm. The sex is an added bonus. Something tells me you can f uck like jackhammer.¡±


    stop


    | put my hand over hers, and it took every effort. ¡°If you want me to spill inside you, then you''d better Slop that. | want to hear you


    say it out loud. A vow, like the one you made me give. This is the one and only time you and | will ever f uck, and if you don¡¯t get


    pregnant tonight, you won''te back to meter.¡±


    Her fingers continued to drift up and down the length of my shaft, trapped inside my jeans to the point of pain. Her eyes


    narrowed. She tapped the head of my c ock, and | let out a long, shuddering groan.


    ¡°F uck,¡± | breathed.


    ¡°Take off your jeans. | want to see you.¡±


    ¡°Vow,¡± | said, but my fingers were already fumbling with the button and zipper.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    My c ock sprang free, tapping my belly when | shoved my jeans over my hips. | took it in my fist. Her eyes


    went wide again.


    ¡°Vow,¡± | ordered. ¡°You don¡¯t get this until we agree.¡±


    ¡°Fine. | vow...¡± Ashimmer appeared in the air between us, one that stank of magic. ¡°I vow that tonight is the only night we''ll f uck,


    and if | don¡¯t get pregnant tonight, | can¡¯te after you again. But | will. I¡¯m sure |


    will.¡±


    1 could tell she¡¯d done something to make sure she¡¯d conceive, and the thought of it again shot desire from the base of my c ock


    all the way to the head. It throbbed in my fist. ¡°Get on the bed.¡±


    ¡°Ah, ah, ah.¡± She shook a finger at me. ¡°We need to seal the promise with a kiss.¡±


    ¡°...1 don¡¯t want to kiss you, Rhiannon.¡±


    Her expression went dark. ¡°Listen, wolf, | don¡¯t want to kiss you, either, but that¡¯s how this s hit works. Ancient magic has rituals


    and rules.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± | ground out.


    | kissed her. Hard. She parted my lips with her tongue, and nipped mine hard enough to draw blood. | drew


    back at the coppery vor.


    ¡°Rituals and rules,¡± the witch breathed. ¡°One of them is blood.¡±


    | yanked my shirt off over my head and tossed it to the ground. | toed off my boots. Shoved down my jeans and stepped out of


    them.


    ¡°Get on the bed,¡± | said. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    212


    4

 Chapter 246

    Mason


    I''d been ready to wait all night, but after an hour, the door to the room opened, and Zane appeared in the doorway. He stood


    there for a few minutes, talking to someone | assumed was Rhiannon, still inside. Then, he hurried to the car and got in.


    ¡°Let''s get the f uck out of here,¡± he said.


    | didn¡¯t ask him how it had gone. | could smell sex on him, and a faint perfume. A hint of magic. Some


    blood


    We drove in silence broken only by the asional hitch of Zane¡¯s breath in and out. Right before we got to the drive to Lanie¡¯s


    cottage, he muttered, ¡°Pull over.¡±


    I did. He got out to be sick alongside the road. | gave him a few minutes before | turned off the car and got out to make sure he


    was okay.


    ¡°I''ll be fine.¡± Zane assured me. ¡°The taste of puke is better than tasting the witch.¡±


    | had a bottle of water in the car, so | got it out and handed it to him. He swished it in his mouth and it out, then drank some. Spit


    again. He finished the bottle.


    ¡°Thanks, man.¡±


    ¡°You ready?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. | don¡¯t want to face them. I¡¯m not sure | can face them.¡± He shuddered, his voice cracking. ¡°They''re my mates. And | was


    just with someone else.


    ¡°They understand. You should go straight into the shower as soon as you get back, though. That''ll help.¡± | hesitated, then rubbed


    his shoulder. | wasn¡¯t sure what else to do for him.


    Facing Xander and Lanie was going to be hard for all of them.


    ¡°What''s done is done,¡± | said, adding, ¡°Did you...l mean, you got her to vow?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Tonight only. And she was guaranteed to conceive tonight. She didn¡¯t tell me how she could be so sure, but | could tell she


    was.¡± Zane shuddered again. When he looked up at me, his pupils were dted. ¡°I can¡¯t face them, man. | just f ucking can¡¯t.¡±


    | put my arms around him for a strong hug, the strongest | could give. Zane clutched me, his face pressed to my shoulder while


    he fought his so bs. It was the best | could do, and it didn¡¯t feel like enough.


    ¡°Sorry¡± he said when he pulled away.


    ¡°Don''t be sorry. We''re family | got your back.¡± | looked at the car. ¡°You ready?¡±


    ¡°No. But they¡¯ll be worrying. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Zane


    Mason hustled me into the bathroom as soon as we got back, running interference between me and my mates. I¡¯d be grateful to


    him for that for the rest of our lives.


    The hot water scalded me, but | wasn¡¯t sure | would ever feel clean. The memories of the sex were already thankfully fading into


    ck, but the horrible feeling in my stomach wasn¡¯t going away.


    As soon as I''d finished, | made sure to get dressed right away. | knew why | was there, but the urge to get out was stronger than


    anything. Now, | couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the sight of the witch, naked on the bed. When | pulled on my boots, she¡¯d jumped


    up to put her hand on my arm.


    ¡°What''s the rush? You could stay for a drink,¡± she''d said in a breathy voice.


    ¡°One night only, Rhiannon. You vowed.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still the same night,¡± she¡¯d wheedled. ¡°You could stay.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to stay.¡±


    | expected her to look angry, but she¡¯d only looked...sad?


    Her voice even shook when she said, ¡°I guess you really do love her.¡±


    ¡°More than anything,¡± I''d told her, and made haste to get the f uck out of that room.


    She''d called me back when | was in the doorway.¡±If you change your mind...¡±


    ¡°The vow, Rhiannon!¡±


    ¡°A vow can be broken if both parties agree to it,¡± she¡¯d said.


    | was never going to change my mind. | made sure to m the door behind me in case she tried to follow.


    Why had she been so clingy? Rhiannon had made no secret about not liking wolves. Loathing them, even. The sex had been


    fast and hard, but | hadn¡¯t done anything to make it good for her. If anything, I¡¯d done my best to feel the bare minimum, myself,


    even though there¡¯d been a hateful pleasure at the end of it.


    i got out of the shower and toweled off. Physically, | felt better. M entally, it was going to take some time.


    There was no point in trying to put it off any longer. | had to face my mates. | steeled myself for the look of disappointment in their


    eyes. Even if they¡¯d agreed I''d had to do it, there was no way they weren¡¯t going toThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    be hurt.


    Yet when | went into the bedroom where they were waiting, all | saw was love and eptance.


    Lanie opened her arms to me. ¡°Come to bed, love. You''ve had a long night.¡±


    Thank the Goddess it was over.

 Chapter 247

    Lanie


    With the California King bed set up in my bedroom, there wasn¡¯t much space for anything else. It gave us all room to sleep


    together, though. Mason on one side, Xander and Zane taking turns snuggling up to me on the other. | held back a giant grin at


    the memories of the first night we''d all had plenty of room.


    Life was good.


    So good that | had to pinch myself.


    We didn¡¯t talk about Zane spending the night with Rhiannon, but since then, we''d all fallen into a great little domestic routine.


    Night time snuggles and delicious sex. Morning coffee and taking care of our babies. Meals around our big table withughter


    and most of all love.


    | couldn''t shake the feeling that something bad wasing, no matter how many times | told myself i was only because things


    were so wonderful that | was being paranoid. | didn¡¯t know what was on the h orizo only that it felt dangerous.


    There was no denying that any one of a hundred dangers could be heading toward us.


    We had our twins back with us, but that didn¡¯t change the fact they¡¯d been stolen in the first ce, or that the people who''d taken


    them had others locked away in the hybrid facility.


    The thought of other pups being subject to whatever the f uck was going on in there... made my stomach


    tense and twist.


    | smoothed the newforter and plumped the pillows on the giant bed. From outside the room, | could hear Zane and Xander


    both ribbing Mason. One of the babiesughed along with them. My heart swelled, and


    I sank onto the edge of the bed.


    The Council had to know where we were. They had spies everywhere, and it wasn¡¯t like me having a


    cottage in Stillwood had ever been any kind of secret.


    What were they waiting for?


    It was too much to hope that they were simply intending to leave us alone. | was a hybrid, and so was my


    daughter. Even if they didn¡¯t want me for some reason, they would probably want to do something with Ste.


    | put my hand over my heart as it seized, imagining my precious daughter being taken from me. | knew if | called my mates in to


    comfort me, they would, but for the moment | wanted to bear this burden alone. | didn¡¯t want to destroy the peace we''d found


    over the past few days.


    Instead, | opened myself to the Goddess, hoping she¡¯d guide me. | waited, steadying my breathing and doing my best to focus.


    Nothing came. No words offort or assistance. | didn¡¯t feel abandoned... just felt nothing.


    Frustrated, | let out a heavy sigh.


    going on. | knew it was Xander¡¯s job, not mine, to check in, but we still hadn¡¯t figure out exactly Mason as co-Alpha would mean.


    We couldn''t avoid that forever.


    Just like we couldn''t avoid the fact that Mchi had killed Orion.


    Avampire killing a wolf broke the treaty.


    War wasing. Was that the bad thing | kept sensing whenever | tried to let myself rx and lean into our happy little family?


    But war was something that would affect everyone, not just us, and the twinges that kept poking me definitely felt more personal.


    It would be a few weeks before Rhiannon discovered she had not gotten pregnant. That could be it. My Luna intuition would be


    highly attuned to that situation, which was about as personal as it could get.


    ¡°Lanie?¡±


    The knock on the door had me jumping up. | busied myself with the bedclothes that didn¡¯t need smoothing. | put a smile on my


    face and turned toward Mason in the doorway.


    ¡°What are you doing in here, sweetheart?¡± He came inside and half-shut the door behind him.


    ¡°Admiring the bed. Feels like | got a good night¡¯s sleep for the first time in a long time.¡±


    He eyed me. His Alpha energy flowed around me. There was no lying to my mate.


    ¡°Something''s wrong,¡± he said. ¡°You want to talk about it?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    ¡°Let me rephrase that. Tell me what¡¯s wrong,¡± he said so sternly that my nipples peaked.


    We''d spent hours making love in this very bed, all of us together, and | didn¡¯t think my body was ever going to stop craving them.


    Masons nostrils red as he scented my arousal.


    ¡°Nothing wrong with that,¡± | murmured with a grin.


    He shook his head. ¡°Never. But something is going on with you. Your eyes are shadowed. You say you


    slept, but did you, really?¡±


    | sighed, knowing | couldn¡¯t keep my real feelings a secret from him, or any of them. ¡°Let me grab a cup of coffee and meet you


    in the living room. | do have some things weighing on my mind, and | guess we shouldFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    talk about them.¡±

 Chapter 248

    Xander


    My mate was upset. | could smell her unease and sehse it in every move she made. Lanie looked like she was being weighted


    down. From the look on my brother¡¯s face, he noticed the same.


    ¡°She says she¡¯s got something on her mind,¡± he said through the link.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What''s going on, love?¡± | drew her close so | could nuzzle her cheek. | nted a kiss on her temple. ¡°Mmm. You smell good.¡±


    | was relieved when she let out a small chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s just fabric softener.¡±


    ¡°It''s not ¡®just¡¯ anything,¡± | told her. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡±


    Lanie looked up at me, and | was d for the t winkle in her eyes. Her expression still looked a little strained, but at least she


    was smiling.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Zane?¡± She paused, eyelids fluttering before her eyes opened fully. ¡°What¡¯s he doing outside? Is


    he okay?¡±


    Mason and | shared a look over the top of her head. Zane had been out chopping firewood for an hour or so. He wouldn¡¯t talk


    about it, but clearly, bis night with the witch had affected him. He imed he couldn¡¯t remember all the details, not that I''d wanted


    to hear them. | hoped he¡¯d be able to talk to me soon about what was still bothering him.


    ¡°He¡¯s working off some steam, that¡¯s all. We''ve all been feeling a little stagnant sitting around here.¡± The second the words came


    out, | knew I¡¯d f ucked up.


    Lanie¡¯s entire expression crumbled. Mason shot me a re. | shot him one back. Lanie shrugged me away from her and went to


    pick up Ste from the ypen.


    ¡°We need to talk about that,¡± Lanie said. She kissed the baby until Ste giggled and squirmed to be put


    back with the other pups.


    The three of them were growing so fast, it was crazy. They might as well have been triplets, for as close as they were.


    Sometimes, | swore it was hard to tell them apart aside from the color of their hair.


    ¡°We can¡¯t stay here forever,¡± Lanie said firmly. She put her hands on her hips and looked around the living room with a frown.


    ¡°|... love this house, but we can¡¯t be in Stillwood when we really need to get back to the


    mansion. You and Zane have duties to the pack, Xander.¡±


    ¡°There are more important things,¡± | began, but she held up a hand to stop me.


    It was hard to think about the girl Lanie had been the day we''d been ordered to take her as our mate, but every minute | got


    prouder and prouder of her. That didn¡¯t mean | appreciated her trying to shut me down, though. My growl warned her she was


    stepping a little too hard on my toes.


    ¡°We do need to get home,¡± she told me. ¡°There are things we need to face. We can¡¯t stay here in this


    Mason nodded. ¡°Hate to step on your toes, bro, but she¡¯s right.¡±


    | scowled at hearing my own thoughtsing out in his words. Mason raised his eyebrows at me and shrugged.


    ¡°Sorry, dude, you were sending,¡± he said through the link. ¡°I can¡¯t help it if you think too loud.¡±


    | smelled my Beta¡¯s sweat right before the door swung open. Zane swiped an arm across his forehead. He


    looked us all over.


    ¡°Am | missing something?¡±


    Lanie sighed. ¡°Answers. We''re all missing answers.¡±


    She thought at us in rapid session, all her questions peppering our minds like hail spattering a


    windowpane.


    Hybrids


    Orion


    Mchi


    The Council


    Rhiannon


    Lanie¡¯s thoughts whirled and rambled, almost incoherent. Everything about her screamed tension.


    ¡°She really needs to get away for a bit,¡± Mason shot over to me.


    Zane added, ¡°This isn¡¯t good for her.¡±


    ¡°Luna,¡± | said sternly to get her to focus.


    Lanie¡¯s mind quieted, but her expression was still strained.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you do something nice for yourself?¡± | told her. ¡°Something that isn¡¯t about us or the kids. When¡¯s thest time you


    talked to Mindy?¡±


    Lanie¡¯s eyes lit up, but only for a second. ¡°I can¡¯t risk inviting her here, and | can¡¯t exactly go back to the pack mansion just for a


    visit, can 1?¡±


    ¡°You had friends here in Stillwood when you were Katie,¡± Mason pointed out. Something sounded weird in his tone, but he was


    shielding me from any thoughts he had about that.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to risk anyone else,¡± Lanie snapped at him. She looked immediately upset with herself. ¡°I¡¯m


    so sorry!¡±


    ¡°You definitely need some time out of this house.¡± Zane took her by the upper arms and kissed her firmly


    on the forehead, then pressed his to it. ¡°Listen to your mates. Take a little break. Go for a run. Go shopping.


    Get your nails done. Something, anything, so you can rx a little bit.¡±


    ¡°Chop some wood?¡± Lanie teased pointedly.


    Lanie sighed. ¡°I guess | could go into town and just grab a coffee. There¡¯s that nice little use next door. | could find something to


    read.¡±


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Mason said. ¡°Get out of here, before we have to s pank you.¡±


    Agenuine giggle came out of her. ¡°Fine. | will. Let me just get changed.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a permanent fix,¡± Mason thought to me and Zane. ¡°We''re going to have to find some other


    solutions.¡±

 Chapter 249

    Chapter 249


    Lanie


    I''d been trying to read a thick paperback I''d picked up from the used bookstore next to the coffee shop, but | wasn¡¯t making much


    progress. | couldn¡¯t concentrate. | was sipping hot coffee with cream and sugar and enjoying the sweet treat of a chocte


    croissant.


    ¡°Katie?¡±


    | looked up at the sound of a familiar voice. Emotion rushed through me at the sight of my friend¡¯s blonde pixie cut and her wide


    grin.


    ¡°Quinn!¡±


    ¡°Goddess, it¡¯s been so long!¡±


    Before | knew what was happening, | found myself squeezed so tight | could hardly breathe.From N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What''s been going on? | haven''t seen you in ages. You look fantastic!¡± Quinn looked me over with narrowed eyes. ¡°You look


    different, though. Something¡¯s changed.¡±


    | wanted to tell her everything. It would''ve felt so good to unburden myself about all of it. Xander, Zane, and Mason being my


    mates. Me being a hybrid...Ste being one, too. Me being the Luna of Constantine Pack.


    Orion''s death. All of it.


    | even opened my mouth to start telling her, but something stopped me. | didn¡¯t want to involve my friend in anything that could


    get her hurt-or worse. Quinn knew a lot already, sure, but there was still so much that


    could put her in danger.


    She snapped her fingers. ¡°You''ve taken off the baby weight, for one thing. | mean, | guess it has been what...six months or so?


    Ste must be getting so big! She¡¯s probably about to have her first doubling soon,


    right?¡±


    ¡°She is,¡± | said, d for a reason to brag about my daughter and keep the subject on something that wouldn''t lead to any trouble.


    ¡°| swear she grows from minute to minute.¡±


    Wolf pups grew faster than their human counterparts, doubling in size during their first six months and then a couple of times


    after that before they''d be full grown. Our pups didn¡¯t stay small for long.


    ¡°| hear babies do that,¡± she said with augh. ¡°Wait a sec, I¡¯m going to grab a coffee and m uffin. Don¡¯t you


    go anywhere.¡±


    ¡°| won''t. | promise.¡±


    I''d kept my finger holding my ce in the book, and when Quinn returned to the seat across from me, she tilted her head to look


    at it. She pursed her lips.


    ¡°Huh. | didn¡¯t figure you for a history lover.¡±


    | looked down at the book. It was History of the Great Wars. So far, the little bits I''d managed to read 1/2


    been kept a secret,


    ¡°| thought it looked interesting, but it really isn¡¯t.¡± | shrugged and put the book away into my bag and forced a smile. ¡°Tell me


    about you! How is your mom? And...¡±


    | coughed a little and cleared my throat.


    ¡°How''s Asher?¡±


    Quinn made a face. ¡°Well, he sure was a pain in the a ss to live with for a little while. A sore loser. Not that | me you,¡± she


    added hastily. ¡°How''s Mason?¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡± | frowned. ¡°Their friendship didn¡¯t suffer, did it?¡±


    Asher and | had never be more than friends, but there¡¯d been that flirtation there. He¡¯d even taken me out on a date. Once


    I''d met Mason, though, I''d known at once there was never going to be anything beyond friendship for me with Quinn¡¯s brother.


    Even then, my body had known Mason was meant to be my mate.


    ¡°Who knows how men keep their friendships?¡± She paused, leaning forward and lowering her voice to serious tone. ¡°I should be


    really furious with you, too. All this time, not even a text? What happened to you, Katie? You and Mason ran off together. There


    were rumors that you and that Alpha from Constantine Pack were together, too, along with his Beta.¡±


    ¡°Rumors? From who?¡±


    Quinn waved a hand. ¡°You know, people talk. Some have asked me where you and Ste went off to. | wasn¡¯t really sure what to


    say. | was worried that something bad had happened to you. You kind of left the way you showed up...without a word.¡±


    A few bad things had happened to me, but a few good things had, too. | wanted to share them with my friend, but again, held


    myself back. This woman had been with me when | gave birth, and | still simply couldn¡¯t bring myself to share the truth.


    Quinn must''ve sensed my hesitation because she lifted her coffee mug and waited for me to do the same.


    When | did, she tapped hers against mine.


    ¡°Cheers,¡± she said quietly. ¡°When you''re ready to talk, I¡¯m ready to listen. No matter what it is, | hope you


    know that I¡¯m your friend, Katie.¡±


    Finally, my walls crumbled down. | put my coffee mug on the table with a thump. Coffee sshed, but neither of us moved to


    wipe it up. When | drew in a heavy breath, Quinn reached across the table to take my


    hand.


    ¡°Well, first things first,¡± | said atst. ¡°I guess | should start off with the fact that...my name isn¡¯t Katie.¡±

 Chapter 250

    Chapter 250


    Mason


    Xander and Zane had gone off for a run in the woods and what | assumed was some private time between the two of them. |


    hadn''t been able to hear them through the link, but | could tell they were having a pretty deep discussion before they left. Maybe


    it should¡¯ve bothered me more, being left out like that, but...Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It''s going to take you all some time to get used to how it all works.¡± Gabri said this from the kitchen doorway to me in the


    living room. She held up a te of cake. ¡°I made this. It¡¯s carrot with cream cheese icing. Want some?¡±


    himself up to


    | checked the babies, who were all ying happily in their ypen. Isaac had pulled up babble at his sisters, who were watching


    him with a keen intent | knew would lead to them trying it next. They were safe where they were, though, and my stomach was


    rumbling.


    Plus, | wanted to spend some time getting to know the woman my father had married.


    ¡°Coffee?¡± Gabri asked as she cut a thick slice of dake for me.


    | dug my fork in and took a big bite. F uck, it was good. | nodded with my mouth full, and she slid a mug. toward me, then filled it


    with hot coffee.


    ¡°It''s a good thing you boys urged Lanie to take some time to herself. She was getting a little stir crazy here in the


    Oge. By the way my son and his Beta took off a little while ago, I¡¯d say we all are. Do you need to run off somewhere, too?¡±


    | shook my head as | took another bite. ¡°Not right now. Anyway, someone has to stay and help out with those three pups. They¡¯re


    too much of a handful for one person alone.¡±


    ¡°It was certainly easier when they couldn¡¯t move around.¡± Gabri twisted to look into the living room fondly. ¡°They''re so


    precious. What a gift.¡±


    ¡°An unexpected one,¡± | told her sincerely. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be part of a family like this.¡±


    Xander¡¯s mother studied me solemnly. ¡°I never in a million full moons would have believed I''d ever be sitting across a kitchen


    table feeding the son of my husband''s mistress carrot cake.¡±


    ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯m sorry Orion did that to you¡±


    Gabri shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize for the cruelties your parents did. None of us are without w. | was


    foolish to trust him the way | did. At any rate, I¡¯m d to have the chance to know you, Mason. | always wanted Xander to have a


    brother. Zane has filled part of that need in him, but not exactly the same as you can¡±


    ¡°No,¡± | said after a second,ughing. ¡°I don¡¯t think | can do that.¡±


    She smiled, but it looked a little sad. ¡°Lanie was right, you know. There is change on the h orizon. Big things areing. I''ve


    tried to ask the Goddess for insight, but since | am no longer the Luna, my ess to


    her is much dimmer¡±


    ¡°Ah. So you did overhear us. | wasn¡¯t sure.¡±


    Xander¡¯s mother nodded. ¡°I heard.¡±


    ¡°Is it hard for you? Having Lanie be the Luna now, | mean. Since you were the Luna for so long...¡± | licked the tines of my fork,


    adding, ¡°Xander wasn¡¯t happy about having to share his Alpha status with me, but at least he didn¡¯t lose it altogether.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Gabri said so bluntly it surprised me. ¡°It is hard to give up my role, my status, all of it. I¡¯m used to a certain amount of


    power, and of course it¡¯s difficult to lose that, no matter how certain | am that Lanie deserves it. She¡¯s incredibly strong, Mason.¡±


    Something in her voice clued me in. ¡°And you¡¯re worried about that for some reason,¡±


    ¡°Lanie is a hybrid,¡± Gabri said with that same bluntness. ¡°None of us knows what that all means, and while | cannot condone


    what the High Council and my former husband were trying to do to the hybrids...1 can¡¯t help but wonder if we do need to be


    concerned about how they are able to ess their powers. She¡¯s not just a wolf, Mason. Not a simple Luna. She''s got the


    vampire powers, and she¡¯s the only Luna I¡¯ve ever heard of who has three mates.¡±


    I scowled. ¡°You think | shouldn''t be mated to her...?¡±


    ¡°| didn¡¯t say that. The fact is, no matter what | think, she is your mate. And Xander¡¯s. And Zane¡¯s. And it¡¯s clear the Goddess


    blessed that union of you four,¡± Gabri shook her head. ¡°But it''s also clear to me that with great power and strengthes a


    vast amount of stress not to mention responsibility¡±


    ¡°And you think she can¡¯t handle it?¡± | used, angry on Lanie¡¯s behalf.


    ¡°| don¡¯t think anything.¡± Gabri snapped. ¡°But we don¡¯t know anything, either. Like | said, she¡¯s very strong. Maybe that¡¯s why


    she has three mates. She needs all three of you to help her. If something should happen to that bond...¡±


    | calmed down. ¡°It won''t. Nothing can break us apart


    Gabri shook her head and gave me a sad smile. ¡°Thope you''re right,: son.¡±


    But something in the way she said it made me think she didn¡¯t have the same confidence | did.

 Chapter 251

    Chapter 251


    Lanie


    Quinn stared at me without speaking, but her eyebrows went up so high they nearly disappeared into her hairline. She took a


    slow slip of coffee, still staring at me over the rim of her mug. Her wide eyes made me want to giggle, but | couldn¡¯t be sure if she


    was mad at me or not.


    She put the cup down. ¡°I can¡¯t even be shocked that your name isn¡¯t Katie. | knew there was something mysterious about you!


    This is like, so romantic and wild. You have a secret identity!¡±


    ¡°No, not like that.¡± | quickly shook my head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t keeping it a secret on purpose, anyway. Goddess, I¡¯m not even sure where


    to start.¡±


    ¡°Probably at the beginning.¡± Quinn offered and put her chin in her hands to blink her eyes at me. ¡°I¡¯m


    ready.¡±


    |ughed, shaking my head. ¡°So...1 guess | can go all the way back to Xander and Zane. My mates.¡±


    Quinn gasped aloud and sat back so hard she rocked her chair on two legs. | waved at her to be quiet, not wanting the entire


    coffee shop to hear our conversation. She nodded and scooted her chair closer to me.


    ¡°What about Mason?¡±


    | bit the inside of my cheek and braced myself. ¡°He¡¯s also my mate¡±


    Her jaw dropped. Her eyes shed as her wolf rose from the surprise. She quickly soothed her wolf into being quiet, but her


    voice held a touch of a growl when she whispered to me.


    ¡°What the actual f uck, Katie? Or not Katie, what is your name, anyway?¡±


    ¡°It''s Lanie. Lanie Constantine.¡± | had to shake my head at that. | never really thought of myself that way. ¡°I¡¯m the Luna of


    Constantine Pack¡±


    m going to pass out from this,¡± Quinn said. ¡°I can¡¯t even.¡±


    | was d she was able to keep a good sense of humor about all of this. It really was a lot to take in.


    ¡°It''s been a wild ride,¡± | admitted. ¡°First, | was given to Xander and Zane to be their mate. But they were in


    love with someone else...¡±


    She held up her hands. ¡°Hold on. Let me digest this. That¡¯s not supposed to work.¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t at first. But it turns out the woman they wanted to take as their mate, Alice, was also with...¡± | hesitated, not sure | could


    even say it out loud without it all sounding ridiculous. ¡°Well, she was with Mason.


    And although they took her as their mate, she never could hear the mind link with Xander and Zane, which


    meant-¡±


    ¡°That the mate bond didn¡¯t work,¡± Quinn finished for me. ¡°But it did with you?¡±


    | nodded. If | wanted to tell her everything, the entire truth, | would have to reveal that | was a hybrid and


    1/2


    vampire side go away, but at the expense of my memories. It was the reason I¡¯d ended up in Stillwood with the name Katie, not


    knowing where I''de from, who | really was, or who''d fathered my baby.


    Quinn must''ve been able to see my reluctance on my face, even if she couldn¡¯t possibly know the reason why | didn¡¯t want to say


    what was on my mind.


    ¡°That¡¯s a little messed up,¡± she offered.


    ¡°Yeah. It was. But we were destined to be mates¡± | quickly came up with a small lie. ¡°Because of the confusion about everything,


    though, | ended up umm...well, it''s all confusing, but basically, | ended up in Stillwood because of that mess.¡±


    ¡°So...Xander is Ste¡¯s father?¡± Quinn asked, shaking her head and looking amazed.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    She thumped one fist into her other palm. ¡°I knew it! | knew that baby looked too much like Mason not to be rted to him! By


    the Moon, Katie...| mean Lanie.. I¡¯m surprised Xander didn¡¯t kill Mason for touching you! And now you''re all mates? And they''re


    friends?¡±


    ¡°Well, Friendly¡± | corrected her. ¡°They''ve managed to find a way to get around their differences.


    | didn¡¯t mention their father had been killed by the ancient vampire, Mchi-who happened to be my grandfather. | hated lying to


    my friend, but there was only so much | could reveal without putting her in danger.


    Quinn blew out a breath. ¡°Phew. | think | need something a lot stronger than coffee after hearing all of that. | can¡¯t even begin to


    imagine how you must feel. So..you went back to be with Xander and his Beta?¡±


    ¡°Mason asked me to go with him to Constantine to figure out the family umm...dynamics,¡± | said. Tm really sorry we didn¡¯t give


    you a heads-up or anything. It was all so crazy and sudden. | really should have been in touch, though.¡±


    ¡°Water under the bridge,¡± Quinn said. ¡°I can¡¯t say | me you. Sounds like you had a ton going on.¡±


    Asense of doom hit me suddenly, and | sat straight up.


    ¡°I need to go home. Now.¡±

 Chapter 252

    Chapter 252


    Zane


    My body ached from the hours I¡¯d spent with the ax. We had enough firewood to heat the entire house for a dozen winters by the


    time Xander came out and told me that we were giving our wolves a run. Now my muscles ached with a different kind of


    soreness.


    Xander stretched, naked, next to the small stream. He bent to cup the water and drink deeply. | admired the strong lines of his


    back and shoulders. When he turned around to see me staring, he shot me a wide, arrogant grin.


    ¡°Like what you see?¡±


    ¡°Always,¡± | admitted. ¡°Just thinking how much you¡¯ve changed over the years.


    His smile faded and softened. His eyes lit with a glow from his wolf that mine immediately answered. ¡°We


    both have.¡±


    ¡°Did you ever wonder what it would¡¯ve been like if you''d had a different Beta?¡± | joined him by the side of the stream and bent to


    scoop up my own drink


    The water, ice-cold and delicious, dripped down my chin and chest. | sshed some on my face and then over each shoulder to


    stream down my bare back. The water wasn¡¯t deep enough to swim in, or | felt like I¡¯d have plunged in as deep as | could. Let it


    close over my head to shut out the world for a few minutes. Just float for a little while.


    Xander sat and put his feet in the water. He tugged my wrist until | sat next to him. All at once | was wondering if the urge to dive


    in had been my own, or if it hade to me through the mind link, with me feeling Xander¡¯s feelings more strongly than my own.


    ¡°There could be no better Beta for me than you.¡± He nudged my shoulder with his.


    We sat for a few minutes, shoulder to shoulder, our feet in the water. It ran over our calves. | curled my toes into the cold and


    looked over to see my Alpha doing the same.


    ¡°know that. | was born to be your Beta. But what if someone else had been?¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Xander twisted to look at me with a frown. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you, dude? The Moon Goddess gave you to me the same way


    she gave Lanie to us. What''s the point in worrying about things that didn¡¯t happen?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. | just...¡± | kicked at the water a bit and pulled my feet up to the edge of the stream. ¡°You have a brother now.


    You have another Alpha. What do you even need a Beta for?¡±


    For a moment, Xander didn¡¯t answer. Then he mirrored my position, grasping one of his wrists while his arms linked around his


    knees. He stared out over the stream to the trees beyond. A deer hade out of the woods and stood staring at us, her ears


    twitching. When heither of us moved, she bent to crop at the grass.


    ¡°An Alpha needs a Beta. Yeah, Mason¡¯s part of our lives now, and there doesn¡¯t seem to be much we can do about that. But he


    could never rece you, Zane. You are my Beta. You are my best friend. And | love you,¡±


    | knew he was telling me the truth because, just like it had been since we were pups, | could feel it. | rubbed at my eyes, pressing


    the heels of my hands into them. ¡°Since that night, I¡¯ve just felt..off.¡±


    He didn¡¯t have to ask me what night | meant. ¡°I know I just don¡¯t know what to do for you.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know what you can do for me, either,¡± | admitted. ¡°I feel like | betrayed you. All of you.¡±


    ¡°Sneaking around on us, that would be a betrayal. We don¡¯t love what you had to do...1 f ucking hate the thought of you being


    with her but you did not betray us. You got that?¡± Xander¡¯s voice rumbled, and his wolf snarled.


    ¡°| keep telling myself that, but | can¡¯t stop myself from feeling it, | retorted, my voice too harsh. | got up. ¡°S hit. Sorry, man. I¡¯m not


    trying to be an as s hole to you.¡±


    Xander got to his feet. He grabbed my shoulders and forced me to look at him. He was my Alpha, there was no way | was going


    to disobey him...but | definitely didn¡¯t want to look him in the eyes. He shook me a little bit until | did.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wanting to ask you,¡± he said finally. ¡°Something | think, if you agree, will prove to you that there¡¯s


    no betrayal. That nobody could take your ce, that having another Alpha doesn¡¯t mean your ce has been made any less.¡±


    | moved closer to him so his grip didn¡¯t need to be so tight, like he was trying to keep me from running. away. No matter how |


    felt, | knew | was never going to run from Xander.


    His eyes red. ¡°I want you to be known as Zane Constantine.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What?¡± Stunned, | had no idea how to answer that.


    ¡°Instead of Allister, | want you to take the Constantine name.¡± He grinned at me. ¡°Will it make the Elders heads spin around? F


    uck yeah. But will it show everyone that we are a family? All of us, me, you, Lanie, the pups, Mason? Also, f uck yeah.¡±


    A heavy weight felt like it lifted off me. Weughed together, our voices full of joy.


    ¡°Okay,¡± | said. ¡°F uck yeah. I''ll take your name.¡±

 Chapter 253

    Chapter 253


    Lanie


    ¡°Wait!¡± Quinn cried. ¡°You can¡¯t just run off like that! What''s wrong, Lanie? You look like you''ve seen a ghost!¡±


    The urge to cra ck a joke rose to my lips. A ghost? More like a vampire, a witch, and a werewolf walked into a bar. | shook my


    head with a burst of nervousughter that hurt


    my throat.


    The feeling of desperation and that something was very wrong at home was only getting worse. | could tell Quinn was worried for


    me. | felt like | probably looked like sh it.


    ¡°You went the color of that milk,¡± she said, pointing to the bottle on the table next to us. ¡°Are you going to pass out? Take a


    breath. Do you need something cold to drink?¡±


    | breathed slowly. ¡°I¡¯m okay. | think maybe something | ate disagreed with me. | should really just get going.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | could tell she did not believe me. ¡°I wish you wouldn¡¯t just run off again, | want to hear more about Ste. | miss her. | could go


    home with you. We could hang out longer?¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t feel good, Quinn. I''m sorry. It¡¯s my stomach.¡± | wasn¡¯t lying. | really did feel like | might puke right there, but | knew it


    had nothing to do with anything I''d eaten.


    Something was very wrong at home. | had to get there right away. | couldn¡¯t tell if it was real danger, or something simpler than


    that, but whatever it was, my stomach churned and twisted and chill dripping down my spine. Then heat shed over me. | had


    to grit my jaws to keep my teeth


    eat was


    tering


    Quinn frowned. ¡°Yeah, you really don¡¯t look very good at all. Are you going to be able to could take you.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m okay to drive. | really just need some fresh air. I''m sorry to rush out on you. Let¡¯s get soon, okay?¡± Without waiting for an


    answer, | pushed away from the table and hurried out the front coffee shop


    Wildly, | searched for the car. | couldn¡¯t remember where I''d parked it. On the street? In the lot? My ni was whirling as fever


    waves of hot and cold ripped through me over and over. My legs were shaking.


    ¡°Hey, Katie Lanie, wait a second!¡± Quinn had followed me out of the coffee shop. Tm having a birthday party on Saturday, and I''d


    love it if you came. Bring Ste, Umm bring Mason, too. And | guess bring Xander and Zane. I''d really like to get the chance to


    get to know them. And don¡¯t worry about Asher, he''ll get over it all. Say you''ll be there?¡±


    | spotted my car in the lot by the book store | turned, doing my best not to show how sick | was really feeling | even managed a


    smile. ¡°That sounds awesome of course I''ll be there. | can¡¯t promise everyone else wille, but I''ll bring Ste. What time?¡±


    ¡°Starts at three. You don¡¯t have to let me know if you''re alling or anything. There will be plenty of


    town is enough of a present. Oh, Goddess, I¡¯m so happy to see that you¡¯re doing okay!¡±


    Before | could stop her, she had me in a long, hard hug that I had to return, | closed my over to


    a few seconds, taking in strength from the force of her friendship. Strangely, | felt steadier when we stepped apart.


    Quinn, on the other hand, frowned and looked a little confused. She blinked rapidly before focusing on me. Her smile returned.


    ¡°Yeah, so see you Saturday. You sure you don¡¯t need a ride home?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± | was. The feverish chills had faded, and the churning in my stomach now felt more like a hunger rumble that


    nausea. My clothes were damp from sweat, but my legs were steady. ¡°I''ll see you.¡±


    ¡°Byel¡±


    She waved, and | shot a wave over my shoulder as | hurried to my car. | didn¡¯t bother calling home on the way, just drove as fast


    as | dared without risking ending up in a ditch. | pulled up the drive and threw the car in park in front of the house. | took the


    porch steps two at a time and burst through the front door.


    Everyone was in the living room. They all turned toward me with matching startled looks.


    | scanned them for anything that looked out of the ordinary. | scented the air.


    Fresh water. Pine needles. Sweat. Xander and Zane had been running. Carrot cake? My stomach rumbled.


    ¡°| came home as soon as | felt it,¡± | told them. ¡°Something is wrong.¡±


    ¡°But how...?¡± Zane started.


    Xander took a step toward me. ¡°Don¡¯t get freaked out...¡±


    ¡°By what?¡± | cried. ¡°Tell me!¡±


    t''s Sterak


    said quietly. ¡°She¡¯s talking.¡±

 Chapter 254

    Chapter 254


    Lanie


    ¡°What do you mean, talking?¡± | turned in confusion toward the ypen where the pups had all been happily ying when | left. It


    was empty.


    | turned to the couch. Isaac and ina sat at one end, each them ying with a cloth book that had maniptives sewn to the


    pages. Ste sat on the other end.


    ¡°Hi, Mommy.¡± Ste waved a small hand at me, and her face lit up with a grin. She had board book in her other hand.


    ¡°Hi, baby,¡± | said. ¡°Mommy''s going to talk with...¡±


    | stopped. We hadn''t really talked about how the pups were going to address Xander, Zane, and Mason. I¡¯d been calling myself


    Mama and Mommy to all the babies, but with three fathers, we''d have to figure out how to differentiate


    Your


    daddies,¡± | said quickly. ¡°Can you stay here and be good for Grandma?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mommy,¡± Ste said cheerfully. Incredibly, she looked down at the board book and began sounding out words.


    | thought | might fall over right then and there. The sense of doom and dread that had overtaken me while


    talking to Quinn hadn''t returned, but it had been reced by a new sense of unease and concern.


    ¡°Kitchen,¡± | said and we all went in there.


    ¡°Coffee?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°I''m about to float away from all the coffee | had at the shop. No. | could use a cold ss of water, though,¡±


    As he filled one for me, | looked into the living room again at the sight of our children on the couch. The twins were babbling


    happily, and Ste was still reading.


    | turned back to my mates. ¡°What by the Goddess is going on?¡±


    The first doubling must''ve kicked into its final surge right after | left this morning. It was a surprise to see them all the size of


    toddlers, but not a shock. They¡¯d been growing so fast over the past couple of weeks, | knew it could only be a matter of time


    before their first growth spurt finished.


    But talking...


    ¡°We aren¡¯t sure,¡± Mason said ¡°Gabri said she¡¯s never heard of this before.¡±


    Zane gave me the ss, and | gulped it down. | put the ss on the table. | crossed my arms over my belly, hugging myself to


    hold back the shivers Zane put his arm around my shoulders, and | leaned into him forfort


    since they couldn¡¯t all fit in there at the same time anymore. She needed a hand with the diapers and getting them some lunch,


    so | told Zane to grab a shower while Mason and | helped her out.¡± Xander shook his head with a small chuckle. ¡°| knew pups


    grew fast, but it''s different when they¡¯re your own. | never really paid attention to it before, you know? And having three so close


    in age, it was quite the sight.¡±


    ¡°Growing fast is normal,¡± | told him quietly, pitching my voice low to make sure none of the pups could overhear. As they grew


    bigger, their wolf senses would start to kick in before their wolves introduced themselves. ¡°But talking is definitely not. They don¡¯t


    learn to talk until they¡¯re through the second doubling. which isn¡¯t supposed to happen for another six months or so.¡±


    ¡°So, we have a precocious daughter,¡± Xander said.


    | could hear the babble of babyish voices from the living room. Isaac and ina had been using a few sounds here and there,


    and they had a sort of twinnguage we¡¯d heard from them both. But Ste was talking to Gabri in full sentences.


    ¡°When | came out of the shower, they were all at the table eating their lunch,¡± Zane said. ¡°And then out of nowhere, Ste asked


    me if she could have a ss of juice.¡±


    ¡°Papa, can | please have some juice! Clear as a bell,¡± Mason said. ¡°I couldn''t believe it. Also, not sure why Zane gets to be Papa,


    and Xander gets to be Daddy, while I¡¯m Abba,¡±


    ¡°It''s from the baby learning video we used to y for her all the time,¡± | reminded him, and his expression lit with recognition.


    ¡°I''m Daddy because I¡¯m her father¡± Xander cut in.


    ¡°You are all her fathers,¡± | corrected him firmly. ¡°And none of you are more or less important to her, so sto with the dick swinging.


    We have more important things to be thinking about than what our daughter has decided to call you. The twins aren''t talking, are


    they?¡±


    ¡°Not like Ste is,¡± Mason said.


    Zane shook his head and kissed my temple before letting me go so he could refill my ss. ¡°She¡¯s also


    clearly more...aware...than they are.¡±


    Achill that had nothing to do with the cold water ran through me. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    From N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 255

    Chapter 255


    Lanie


    ¡°| think you should just go see for yourself,¡± Zane said after a moment in which he hesitated and all three of my mates shared a


    look.


    | put my hands on my hips. ¡°You¡¯re all keeping something from me.¡±


    Xander moved quickly to put his arms around me. ¡°Love, we¡¯re not deliberately keeping secrets. | promise you. It¡¯s just that it''s


    hard to exin. You need to go see for yourself, like Zane said.¡±


    The sense of dread that I¡¯d felt when talking to Quinn started seeping back. | put my hands over my stomach and pressed lightly


    to stop the churning. My heart pounded.


    There couldn¡¯t be something wrong with my Ste. There just couldn¡¯t. Frantically, | looked from Xander to Zane and then to


    Mason. All three of them looked concerned, but | could feel their worry was more for me. That helped me calm down a little bit.


    ¡°We''re not sure it¡¯s necessarily a bad thing.¡± Xander assured me quietly. ¡°Unusual, sure, but some pups do mature faster.¡±


    ¡°Not this fast,¡± | muttered. ¡°And there¡¯s more to it than just her talking. What does ¡®aware¡¯ mean?¡±


    ¡°Go talk to her,¡± Mason urged gently. ¡°Maybe you''ll have more of an insight than we do.¡±


    | nodded grimly. ¡°Fine.


    Before | went in there, though, | made sure to smooth my expression. | also took a minute or two to cl my mind of worries as best


    | could, and to focus on slowing my thumping heart. | couldn¡¯t do a whole lot al my upset stomach, but | tried hard to make myself


    as unflustered as | could.


    | didn¡¯t want my baby to sense anything strange about her mommy.


    | went into the living room and put on a bright, cheerful voice. ¡°Hi, my little love. What are you doing?¡±


    Ste held up the book. ¡°I reading wiff Grandma.¡±


    | shot Gabri a quick look. Xander¡¯s mother raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips. She gave a tiny


    nod.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, sweetie. Maybe you can tell me all about itter, okay?¡± | held out my arms for Ste to jump into. | fit her onto my


    hip. ¡°My goodness, you¡¯re so big now. Soon I''ll hardly be able to pick you up. You''llThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    have to carry me around.¡±


    Ste burst into a flutter of childish giggles that lifted my heart. | held her close, breathing in her scent. It was no longer that of a


    baby, but it was still familiar. | held her so tightly that she squirmed.


    ¡°Too tight, Mommy,¡± sheined. She put her hands on my cheeks to turn my face to hers.


    ¡°Did you have a good nap while Mommy was gone? Were you good for Grandma?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mommy. You have fun wiff your friend?¡±


    | paused and met Gabri¡¯s gaze again, She shrugged. | hadn¡¯t told anyone about meeting Quinn. | looked back at Ste, who


    was patting my cheeks.


    1 did. Do you know my friend?¡±


    Ste shrugged and snuggled with her face into the curve of my neck. | ran my hand down her back. | rocked her a little the way


    I''d done ever since she was born. Only now she was able to stand on her own. Walk.


    Talk.


    ¡°l ran into Quinn at the coffee shop,¡± | said over Ste¡¯s shoulder, | made sure to keep my voice light and unconcerned. |


    definitely didn¡¯t want her to hear anything weird in my voice.


    ¡°How did she know I''d met Quinn?¡± | thought to my mates.


    ¡°This is what we were talking about. She seems to know things,¡± Mason sent out.


    ¡°Is ita mind link? Is she overhearing us? Or somehow pulling out our thoughts?¡± | made sure to shield us from anyone other than


    the quartet.


    Zane¡¯s voice was husky. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Anyway, you didn¡¯t even tell us that out loud or through the link, so how would she have


    overheard it?¡±


    ¡°She just knew,¡± Xander said.


    ¡°Mommy, | hungry.¡± Ste squirmed in my arms until | set her down. She tipped her little face up to mine and wrapped her arms


    around my legs. ¡°Snack?¡±


    ¡°Were you a good girl and ate all your lunch?¡± | asked Ste the question but looked to Gabri for the


    answer.


    ¡°She did. She¡¯s been a very, very good girl,¡± Gabri answered with a small hitch in her voice.


    ¡°Snack, Mommy, pweeeeese?¡± Ste asked.


    ¡°How about some apples and peanut butter?¡± | stroked my hand over her soft, cinnamon-red curls.


    She stared up at me with the piercing green eyes she''d inherited from her grandfather, Mchi. The


    vampire.


    Ste pulled back her little lips into an exaggerated grimace and a hiss. She burst into giggles again. when | startled. Her tiny


    face twisted into pure delight. She¡¯d just been teasing me.


    ¡°Mommy funny,¡± she said.


    | met Gabri¡¯s gaze. Her eyes were wide. She looked scared.


    | was a little scared, too.

 Chapter 256

    Chapter 256


    Xander


    Seeing my baby girl walking into the kitchen on steady legs was definitely something | was going to have to get used to. Lanie


    got her settled at the table on one of the booster seats we''d ordered, expecting the pups to need them in the next couple of


    weeks.


    ¡°Sit up straight, little love,¡± Lanie told her. ¡°Mommy''s going to get your snack ready.¡±


    ¡°Abba, juice, pweese?¡± Ste gave Mason a look | could already tell was designed to wrap all of us around her little finger.


    It was working.


    My mother entered the kitchen with Isaac holding one hand and ina gripping the other. They''d both hit their growth spurt, too,


    but although they were toddling, neither one of them was as steady as Ste. They babbled to each other softly, not real words,


    Isaac held up his arms. ¡°Dada.¡±


    I


    | picked him up and put him on my hip. ¡°Hey, there, little man. Do you want a snack, too?¡±


    The little boy put his finger in his mouth and nodded My mother was already putting ina in a booster seat as Lanie cut up


    apples onto tes and adding a dollop of peanut butter. Zane opened the cupboard to grab out some sippy cups with lids Lanie


    had also had delivered, and Mason pulled out the jug of apple juice.


    We all moved, coordinated as a dance, and | looked over to see my mother shaking her amused expression.


    | settled our son into his seat as my mate put the te in front of him. My mother saw me She let out a soft chuckle.


    ¡°It takes five adults to take care of three children,¡± she said with another chuckle. ¡°And now tha mobile... Well, if your children are


    anything like you were as a boy, Xander, we¡¯d all better step up our c workouts so we can keep up with them.¡±


    Ste kicked her little legs against the rungs of the chair. ¡°Daddy, what car...cardy.¡±


    ¡°It means exercise.¡±| bent to kiss the top of her head.


    Lanie put the te in front of Ste. ¡°What do you say?¡±


    ¡°Please¡± Ste said confidently


    an


    Lanie looked startled, but her voice was calm. ¡°You say please when you want something, but when you get something, my little


    love, you say ¡°thank you¡±


    ¡°Tank you,¡± Ste said. Then, after a second, softly as though she was speaking more to herself, she repeated it. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    1/2


    only is she speaking in sentences, which is way beyond what she ought to be doing, she¡¯s also progressing in hernguage


    skills.¡±


    ina pounded the table, and my mother hurried to get the little girl her own te of apples and peanut butter. ina didn¡¯t say


    anything, but her pout turned into a smile when my mother gave her the snack.


    The differences between Ste and the twins were so obvious now. Isaac dragged his apple slice through the peanut butter and


    managed to get it into his mouth, but the peanut butter fell off and he used a finger to try to scoop it up. ina didn¡¯t even try to


    get the apple into the peanut butter, just used her finger right off the


    bat


    Ste, on the other hand, daintily took an apple slice and dipped it into the peanut butter. She used her finger to press the gooey


    brown treat onto the apple slice and lifted the entire thing to her lips, then took a


    small, careful bite.


    The difference in her coordination was vast.


    ¡°You were an early walker and talker,¡± my mother said in a rough voice. She gave me a look that seemed. oddly hopeful.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Like the rest of us, she seemed amazed by her granddaughter¡¯s growth. And like us, she was obviously hoping that it didn¡¯t


    mean something was wrong with our little girl. The catch in her voice, though, led me to believe my mother was doing her best to


    sound braver than she felt.


    | met Lanie¡¯s gaze over the top of our little girl¡¯s head. My Luna¡¯s eyes red bright with her wolf for a few seconds. Waves of


    nervousness rolled off her, a rush of sensation that faded in a second. She was doing that on purpose, and it was taking a lot of


    effort. | could feel her using self-will to shield her anxiety.


    We all were frozen, watching our children at the table. No idea of what to do, or how to handle any of this. Just then, Isaac


    dumped his cup and the lid came off. Apple juice spread across the table as he started to cry. ina joined him. Ste pouted


    and looked upset.


    ¡°Oh, no, what a mess. Let¡¯s get this cleaned up. Don¡¯t cry, sweetheart. Mommy will get you more.


    Lanie sounded d for the distraction, and we all started working to clean it all up.


    But what were we going to do about this much bigger mess, the one we didn¡¯t know how to take care of?

 Chapter 257

    Chapter 257


    Lanie


    ¡°| haven¡¯t been this worn out and exhausted since | was pregnant.¡± | held back an enormous yawn and grabbed my brush from


    the dresser. | pulled the tie out of my hair and let it fall down around my shoulders so | could brush it. ¡°I swear, | almost fell asleep


    in the shower!¡±


    All three pups had been constantly on the go since got back from the coffee shop. ina and Isaact were still a little wobbly, but


    Ste was able to run. We¡¯d spent the rest of the day trying to wear them out ying tag outside. Then Ring Around the Rosy.


    Then Simon Says,


    bed.


    by


    ¡°| thought they¡¯d never go down,¡± Mason said as he pulled back theforter and nkets on our giant


    ¡°Isaac definitely didn¡¯t want to.¡± Zane chuckled from his ce on the other side of the bed as he helped fold down the covers.


    ¡°Stubborn little pup.¡±


    ¡°Like his Abba,¡± Xander said with a grin and plucked the brush from my hand. ¡°You. Get into bed. Let me do this for you. You''re


    falling asleep on your feet.¡±


    | held back another yawn but obeyed. When the four of us had settled into the bed, | settled in between Xander¡¯s legs as he sat


    up against the headboard. He started brushing my hair. Mason took a bottle of lotion from the nightstand and began rubbing it


    into my hands for me. Zane took some of it and gestured for me to give him one of my feet.


    My mates pampered me, and | loved them for it.


    ¡°When Ste asked me to read her to sleep, | noticed she was reading along with me,¡± Mason said. ¡°That has to be just


    memorization...right?¡±


    Xander pulled my hair to the side and kissed the back of my neck before gently beginning to brush again. ¡°I was not an early


    reader. Lanie?¡±


    ¡°| remember reading books before | went to school,¡± she said, ¡°but only after I¡¯d passed my second doubling.¡±


    ¡°It''s clear she¡¯s advancing faster than is to be expected,¡± Zane said. ¡°The question is, what are we going to do about it?¡±


    All of us were silent at that. | could sense my three mates thinking about the reasons why Ste was different than Isaac and


    ina, despite them sharing the same bloodline as her father


    ¡°It''s because of me,¡± | said aloud, but quietly. ¡°The twins are Alice¡¯s children, but Ste¡¯s a hybrid, like me. That has to be why¡±


    Mason gave both my hands a squeeze and sat back against the headboard. ¡°But you didn¡¯t grow faster, did you? Or start talking


    sooner?¡±


    ¡°No, but remember, my mother had the spell that was supposed to cloak her vampire side and make sure 1/2


    pressure of the brush was mesmerizing. ¡°Something didn¡¯t work right, which is why when | turned eighteen.


    | trailed off, not wanting to remind my three virile mates that my hybrid scent was an aphrodisiac draw to any vampire or wolf


    within miles.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t grow up having full use or control of my vampire side,¡± | added softly. ¡°And Isolde, the witch who gave me the spell that


    sent me to Stillwood the first time. she said that in hybrids, vampiric powers sometimes skip generations.¡±


    ¡°Which, obviously, it didn¡¯t in Ste,¡± Mason said.


    ¡°We just don¡¯t know enough about hybrids, Zane said. He kissed the sole of the foot he¡¯d just lotioned and took the other to start


    on it.


    ¡°Someone has to know,¡± | said fiercely. The testing facility wouldn¡¯t exist to take hybrids if someone didn¡¯t know something about


    them to begin with.¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t taking her there,¡± Xander said sharply.


    | leaned back against him, which prevented him from being able to run the brush through my hair, but it felt good to be in hisThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    arms. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just saying that she¡¯s not the first hybrid. There has to be someone who knows what''s going on.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but until we find that person, we have to keep this locked totally down.¡± Xander put the brush aside. and wrapped his arms


    around me. ¡°We can¡¯t tell anyone. Her size is a little unusual, but nothing that would stand out, especially around anyone who


    doesn¡¯t know her exact age. But the talking thing...


    ¡°She can¡¯t talk around anyone else but us,¡± Mason put in with the same firm authority Xander had.


    My two Alphas. My body thrilled at their strength, even as my heart twisted at the thought of my little d being in any kind of


    danger.


    ¡°How will we be sure she understands?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°We''ll have to talk to her. If she¡¯s able to speak in full sentences, and if she¡¯s able to read, hopefully, she''ll be able to understand


    that she has to keep this secret,¡± | said.


    But what if she can¡¯t?


    She¡¯s still just a baby.


    Did | send that, or did one of my mates? | couldn¡¯t be sure, since it was obvious that all of us were thinking it, or variations of it.


    None of us said it aloud, though.


    Because none of us had the answer.

 Chapter 258

    Lanie


    ¡°Let''s just put this to bed for now,¡± Xander said into my ear. ¡°It¡¯ste, you''re tired.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the Goddess will have some answers for you while you sleep,¡± Mason offered.


    ¡°Like...in a dream?¡± | asked, curious about what he was getting at.


    He nodded and pressed a kiss to my bare shoulder. | was never going to spend a cent on pajamas ever again, if these three


    men had their way. Not that | wasining. Being naked with them all in this giant bed was the mostplete happiness I''d


    ever known...or could imagine.


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve heard of that happening.¡± Zane added with onest stroke of my insole that had me giggling... and also giving a little


    gasp. ¡°Not every Lunamunicates with the Moon Goddess on that level, but...¡±


    ¡°| think we all agree that our Lanie is not ¡®every Luna.¡± Xander nuzzled my neck below my ear.


    No matter what was going on, his touch always set me on fire. So did Zane¡¯s...his warm, strong hands sliding over my ankles


    and calves. Mason¡¯s teeth nipped at my skin.


    | gave myself up to my three mates and the pleasure they were wonderfully insistent on giving me. When | tried to shift so | could


    offer my mouth to Xander for his cock, he gruffly refused.


    w


    ¡°Youy back and let us worship you the way you deserve to be worshipped,¡± he said with a hint of a growl.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    | did, dly. My eyes were heavy with exhaustion, and my muscles tense with the anxiety, but in m found all my cares flying


    away under their skilled hands and tongues.


    When the soft scarf slipped over my eyes, | let out a small, startled sigh. But then | didn¡¯t fight it, beca being unable to see made


    the pleasure so much better. Then, when | felt a simr set of soft ties binding me to the bed posts, all | could do was writhe.


    | didn¡¯t think I¡¯d want to be tied up right now, but my three mates seemed to know better. | couldn¡¯t see, and | couldn¡¯t use my


    hands. All | could do wasy back and let them do exactly what Xander had promised


    Whose mouth caressed my neck, nibbling down to my breasts and nipples to suckle gently? | didn¡¯t know. Who centered his


    tongue over my other nipple,ving it to a hard peak until | had to bite back my moans?! couldn¡¯t tell, and it didn¡¯t matter. The


    tongue stroking my clit was steady and moved in a perfect pace


    The big bed rocked as my three mates took their time teasing me close to the edge, over and over. | gave myself up to them My


    hips rocked against the lips and tongue making love to me


    My orgasm was like a ribbon, curling and colling, wound tighter and tighter until | exploded. Cascades of sparkling stars filled my


    vision, gold and silver against the darkness of my closed eyelids. | cried out, my voice muffled by a kiss


    | came again, a smaller burst of pleasure


    position, wan and Sated from my orgasm, | was too sleepy and content to say a word as they curled around.


    me


    | knew | was dreaming because | was alone in the forest, and Lily was in control. | could see everything in the darkness through


    her wolfish eyes. We scented prey and ran after it into a meadow full of flowers. We poised to spring, but a cool voice said both


    of our names, and we stopped.


    | looked down at the earth and saw hands instead of paws, | stood, naked, and stretched up toward the sky. The big silver moon


    was thergest I¡¯d ever seen it, tinged with a ring of blue.


    ¡°Goddess?¡± | questioned.


    The light shifted and shimmered, revealing the figure of a woman cloaked in a silver gown. Or was it gold? Or blue, or green?


    The colors lit, one after the other, all of them at once.


    | could see her face, but not her features. Was her hair long, flowing to her waist, or spread out in tendrils that reached up to the


    sky to pluck down the stars?


    ¡°Shhh,¡± the Moon Goddess soothed. ¡°I appear to you in the shapes you can recognize, but this is not my true form. Your eyes


    cannot fathom it. Rx, and | will be seen.¡±


    | did as | was told. | still couldn¡¯t describe her, but | no longer felt the need to fit her into a familiar box.


    Her words filled me, vibrating. Like | was hearing them but also feeling each one. Her warmth cloaked me infort.


    ¡°But there is warning, as well,¡± she cautioned. ¡°You are unique, my daughter, and your strength is what sets you apart. You have


    muching to you, but | want you to be reassured that even in your darkest times, no matter how distant | may feel, | will


    always be with you. At your side.¡±


    ¡°| have so many questions, Moon Goddess-¡±


    ¡°Mommy! Mommmmmyyyyy!


    | sat straight up with a scream, my heart pounding. The meadow and the Goddess were both gone.


    And Ste was screaming.

 Chapter 259

    Chapter 259


    Lanie


    Ste¡¯s nightmare hadn¡¯t been anything specific. A monster under the bed. Xander had thought quickly and took a spritz bottle of


    my body spray from the dresser and quickly dispersed it as ¡°anti-monster spray¡± That had been enough to settle her back to


    sleep...but not me.


    | wanted desperately to get back to my dream and the conversation with the Moon Goddess, but no matter how hard | tried, all |


    did was toss and turn. Finally, when the first hint of light showed through the blinds, | got out of bed and went to the kitchen for


    some hot tea.From N?velDrama.Org.


    The quiet house was a good solution to at least some of my tension. Unlike the mansion, this cottage in Stillwood that had been


    the perfect size for me and Ste-even me, Ste and Mason-was way too small for three enormous men, three growing pups, a


    mother-inw, and me.


    | wanted to tell myself that was part of my problem. Too much noise, too many of us cramped in too small a space. | knew that


    wasn''t it, though. Like the Moon Goddess had said, something wasing, and | wanted to be ready for it.


    | just couldn¡¯t figure out what ¡°it¡± was.


    The thought urred to me that the only reason I¡¯d dreamed about her was because Mason had put the


    in my head. It wasn¡¯t like I¡¯d ever had the Moon Goddess show up in my dreams before then. She¡¯d never


    communicated with me directly like that. Everything had always been a feeling, an intuition.


    Had what she''d told me even been real?


    Grimly, | poured myself some more hot water and soaked my tea bag. ¡°I guess I''ll find out one way or another soon enough.¡±


    ¡°Mommy?¡± Ste rubbed her sleepy eyes and ran across the kitchen and into my arms.


    ¡°Good morning, baby. You''re up very early.¡±


    ¡°I''m not a baby,¡± she said with a grouchy pout.


    |ughed and snuggled her. ¡°No. | guess you''re not. You¡¯re my big girl. Aren¡¯t you still sleepy? | can tuck.


    you back in.¡±


    ¡°No. Izzy and Allie are sleeping.¡± Ste said, ¡°because they''re still babies. But I¡¯m awake¡±


    ¡°I see. Well, maybe you''d like a piece of carrot cake for breakfast? A secret treat for me and you, since we''re the early birds.¡±


    Ste giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. She nodded, and | kissed her again. | put her in her chair at the table and


    served us both pieces of Gabri¡¯s carrot cake.


    ¡°Ste, my little love. | hesitated, not sure how to start this conversation or where it would go. ¡°Your bad


    dreamst night...what was it about?¡±


    a monster under the bed, Mommy. | promise. But Daddy made it go away, and | went sleep. And thedy said | was a...hmm.¡±


    ¡°Awhat, Ste?¡±


    ¡°She said | was..hmmm.¡± Ste concentrated on licking more icing.


    | was impatient, wanting answers, but | didn¡¯t pressure her. | ate a bite of cake and tried to give her the time to answer. Maybe


    she didn¡¯t really know how.


    ¡°She said for me to hush, hush,¡± Ste said finally. She held her finger to her lips and blew out a breath. ¡°Like shhh, shh. Quiet.¡±


    ¡°She told you not to tell anyone what she said?¡±


    Ste tilted her head, thinking about this. ¡°She said me to shhh, shhh.¡±


    To keep a secret?¡±


    Ste nodded. She ate a bite of cake and pushed the te toward me. ¡°More?¡±


    ¡°One piece of cake is plenty for a little girl,¡± | said absentmindedly. | was trying to figure out if she¡¯d seen the Moon Goddess in


    her dreamst night, too, and if so, what did that mean? It was too much. | looked at her. ¡°Little love, you know how proud


    Mommy is, and Daddy, and Papa, and Abba, too.


    be...¡±


    ¡°And Grandma?¡±


    ¡°Grandma, too. You¡¯re growing up so big and smart and strong. But Ste, listen to Mommy. You have to


    Quiet. Shh, shh, hush, hush, thedy in her dream had said, How could | exin it any better than that?


    ¡°Mommy, your face is squishing.¡± Ste demonstrated with her own wrinkled forehead and pursed lips. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I''ll be hush


    hush if someone elsees. I''ll only tell you and my daddies and Grandma thinks from my head. Okay?¡±


    | blinked back tears. ¡°You mean you won''t talk to anyone but any of us? Only to me and your daddies, and


    Grandma.¡±


    ¡°And to Izzy and Allie,¡± she added and got a worried look. ¡°I can talk to them?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But nobody else.¡±


    ¡°| know that, Mommy.¡± Ste said with a grin that erased her prior worried look. ¡°I¡¯m special, and we can¡¯t


    tell anyone else. It''s a secret¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. The silverdy told you that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. She said I''m sun less tree owl¡±


    ¡°Sunless tree owl?¡± | had no idea what that meant. Then it hit me. Not sunless tree owl.


    Celestial


    The Moon Goddess had visited my daughter in her dreams and told her she was celestial


    Too bad | didn¡¯t know what that meant.

 Chapter 260

    Chapter 260


    Xander


    One thing | was definitely missing in this ce was the gym. | hated splitting wood, and Zane had taken that over, anyway. But |


    needed to get out and clear my head, so | decided to go for a run in the morning before anyone else was up.


    Hunter was more than happy toe out and y. It had been a while since me and my wolf just hung out like that, alone and


    running. Smelling what there was to smell. Patrolling the borders of Lanie¡¯s property. He was wary and alert, but there were no


    signs of any intruders or even strangers. Nothing out of the ordinary.


    That was almost as worrisome as if he¡¯d scented danger.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Zane called to me through the mind link. ¡°Do you need me to meet you somewhere?¡±


    | thought back a series of images through Hunter¡¯s eyes. The trees. The stream. A running rabbit.


    Zane chuckled. ¡°Have fun. See you soon.¡±


    By the time | got back to the house, the sun had risen. Inside, | found my mom and my Luna making pancakes for the children.


    My Beta was deep in conversation with my brother, both of them looking serious until Zane threw back his head inughter.


    Mason jabbed a finger at him, alsoughing.


    My family


    ¡°Xander!¡± Lanie¡¯s face lit up as she came to the door to greet me with a long, loving kiss. ¡°Mmmm. You''re


    sweaty. Breakfast is almost ready.¡±From N?velDrama.Org.


    We''d fallen into a routine, and it was great, but we were still all on edge. Lanie was right; we couldn¡¯t stay here forever, but how


    should we approach going back to Constantine territory? | was the Alpha, yeah, but | couldn¡¯t make this decision all on my own.


    ¡°First, we''re going to go to that birthday party you got invited to. Now that your friend knows you''re back in town, it would be


    pretty suspicious if you ditched her,¡± | said this over the towering stack of pancakes my Luna had served me. ¡°And besides, you


    deserve to do something fun.¡±


    Mom had taken the kids away from the table to get them cleaned up. My mates had all joined me around the tter of food and


    pot of coffee. Lanie didn¡¯t dig in, only nibbled at a piece of bacon. Waves of uncertainty


    were rolling off of her.


    When she looked up at me, Lily shed in her gaze. Hunter whined, reaching for her.


    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s a good idea?¡± She shook her head, her brow furrowing.


    ¡°She really needs this,¡± Mason thought to me


    Zane nodded. ¡°It''ll be good for her And we should know her friends. Know if any of them are a danger.¡±


    Lanie scowled. ¡°Hey, you three. Cut it out. | can tell you¡¯re talking about me.¡±


    Sheughed and brushed her thumb over my bottom lip.¡±You practically snarled that.¡±


    ¡°| can¡¯t help it that | don¡¯t love remembering that you had a whole life here without us,¡± | said with a nod


    toward Mason. ¡°No offense, bro.¡±


    ¡°None taken,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°I feel the same way about before she came to Stillwood.¡±


    Lanie put a hand on each of our shoulders. ¡°Settle down, boys.¡±


    ¡°Go to the party, and we promise to behave ourselves,¡± Mason said with a grin.


    | had to admit it, yeah, it was true 1 didn¡¯t like being reminded of the time when we¡¯d forgotten each other


    -but he did have a beginning with our mate that wasn¡¯t as...controversial...as the start of our rtionship had


    been. | could learn some things from him about how to deal with her in a way that didn¡¯t make her bristle.


    Of course, | kind of liked it when she was feisty.


    ¡°What about the Council?¡± Lanie asked in a low voice.


    Zane forked a bite of pancake and said around it as he chewed, ¡°The odds of them, or anyone, targeting us at a party is pretty


    low. They¡¯d want to get to us outside of neutral territory. Or, they¡¯d juste right here


    and do it without witnesses.¡±


    ¡°Whatever they''re nning, they sure don¡¯t want anyone to see them doing it,¡± Mason added.


    Lanie frowned, then nodded. ¡°I would really like to go to the party. Show off my three handsome mates


    But what about the kids?¡±


    ¡°My mom will watch them,¡± | offered, knowing she''d be happy to and it would be the only way to get Lanie


    to agree to go.


    ¡°We''ll be vignt. It¡¯s the best we can do. Gabri¡¯s a warrior, and our pups will be safe with her.¡± Lanie a


    last dug into her stack of pancakes.


    She still looked worried. Clearly, something was on her mind. | sent out a gentle probe through our private


    link to see if she¡¯d confide in me, but she only shook her head and kept eating.


    She knew something we didn¡¯t, and | was going to have to find out what it was

 Chapter 261

    Chapter 261


    Mason


    ¡°You all go.


    Itll be fine. I''ve watched these pups on my own, and you all deserve to go out and have a good time. What¡¯s a grandma for, if not


    to spoil them with some cookie baking and some cartoons?¡± Gabri hugged Lanie and patted her back before pulling away to


    rub both her shoulders up and down.


    ¡°It''s just that with Ste being so... Lanie cleared her throat and looked to where our daughter was ying with a pair of human


    dolls. ¡°I know Quinn wants to see her, and | know Ste said she understands, but...¡±


    ¡°You just tell her that Ste wasn¡¯t feeling well, and you left her at home. She''ll understand. I¡¯m sure she''ll be disappointed but


    won''t think twice,¡± Gabri assured her.


    said.


    ¡°Anyway, taking all three pups with us to a party wouldn¡¯t leave much chance for you to rx,¡± Xander


    Lanie rolled her eyes. ¡°Like I¡¯m going to rx much anyway. I¡¯m sure there are going to be a lot of people there with a lot of


    questions.¡±


    ¡°You let me handle the questions, love.¡± |ughed, thinking about it. ¡°You¡¯re not going to be the only one who¡¯s going to get


    pestered for answers.¡±


    | jerked my thumb toward Xander. ¡°Or the only one who¡¯s gonna have to exin this dude.¡±


    Xander lifted his lip in a snarl | knew was mostly for show.


    Mostly.


    ¡°Daddy, Abba, no fighting,¡± Ste piped up from the floor.


    | scooped her up and kissed her cheek. ¡°No pouting.


    Biologically, she was my brother¡¯s, but dam n if she didn¡¯t still feel like mine. | knew Xander felt the same way about the twins,


    too. The babies we''d raised from birth were now all fast approaching being entirely grown, and all three of them belonged to all


    of us. | still thought there¡¯d always be a special bond between me and Ste, though.


    ¡°Abba¡± Ste said this seriously, pressing her forehead to mine. ¡°Member when you gave Mommy that nket? Wiff the starts on


    it?¡±


    ¡°The oh, the stars¡± | nodded. ¡°Stars, Ste.¡±


    ¡°Stars,¡± she corrected herself. ¡°When | was just a little baby¡±


    | remembered, but how could she possibly remember that? Come to think of it, | hadn¡¯t even seen that nket around in a long


    time.


    ¡°Do we even still have that nket?¡± | thought to Lanie.


    1/2


    Ste squirmed to get down, and when | let her, she went back to the dolls. ¡°I wanted my dollies to know about it. Because it was


    something Abba gave me, before we went to live with Daddy and Papa.¡±


    ¡°Do you remember that?¡± Lanie asked curiously.


    Ste frowned, her tongue peeking out between her teeth for a moment as she concentrated. Then she shrugged and looked up


    at us both. ¡°You and Abba were with me before Daddy and Papa and Grandma. And Izzy and Allie weren¡¯t here. But I¡¯m d


    they are now. Cuz | love them.¡±


    ¡°You all had better get going, or you''re going to miss the whole party,¡± Gabri put in when all the rest of us were quiet, not sure


    what to say.


    None of us talked much about the things Ste had said on the way. Lanie was really quiet, even though Zane tried to make her


    laugh.


    ¡°You gonna be okay?¡± | thought to her.


    She looked at me in the rearview mirror. ¡°It¡¯s going to be really weird seeing everyone again. Maybe this was a bad idea¡±


    ¡°No worse than me whisking you away without telling anyone where you were going. It''ll be okay. You have all of us with you. I


    bet everyone will be so interested in Xander and Zane they won¡¯t even pay a attention to little old me and you.¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    This earned me a smile.


    any


    As we pulled up to Quinn¡¯s house, | could already hear the sounds of music andughtering from the back yard. We went in


    through the front door. The house was crowded with people holding drinks and tes


    of food.


    ¡°| think Quinn¡¯s probably out back,¡± Lanie said. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go find her first.¡±


    ¡°If anything starts to upset her too much, we¡¯re out of here,¡± Xander said sternly to me and Zane through the link. ¡°Mason, I¡¯m


    counting on you to run interference with anyone who tries to dive too deep with her.¡±


    ¡°And me, I''ll just be my charming self and provide a distraction,¡± Zane shot me a grin.


    Lanie really was distracted, because she didn¡¯t seem to notice the three of us exchanging a conversation through the link without


    her. She smiled a greeting and waved a hand at some familiar faces. She went


    through the back sliding doors onto the deck, and | saw her wave.


    ¡°Quinn!¡± she called excitedly.


    I


    ¡°Here we go,¡± | thought to Xander and Zane. ¡°It¡¯s party time.¡±

 Chapter 262

    Chapter 262


    Lanie


    Once again, | was reminded of how much | needed to trust my mates. They knew what was best for me, just what | needed. My


    heart leaped at the sight of Quinn waving me over to the tiki bar set up in her backyard.


    ¡°Goddess, | missed you,¡± | said as she hugged me so hard she squeezed the breath right out of me.


    ¡°Same, girl, same! Are you feeling better?¡± Quinn¡¯s eyes shadowed as she looked me over.


    | saw her curious nce at my belly andughed a little self-consciously. ¡°I am. And I¡¯m not...you know.¡±


    ¡°With three mates,¡± she murmured, looking past me, | wouldn''t be surprised if you


    ou were.¡±


    | turned. Xander and Zane hade down the steps of the deck into the yard, with Mason right behind them. Pride filled me at


    the sight of them. They were so much bigger, taller, stronger, more handsome...


    ¡°Girl,¡± Quinn breathed at my side. ¡°You, like, glow around those guys. Literally¡±


    My Luna light wouldn¡¯t show up as much in the bright sunshine, but it was obvious to anyone standing close to me. | looked


    down at my hands, curling my fingers and watching the faint shimmer. | looked at Quinn with a grin.


    ¡°Aren''t they all just so..¡±


    ¡°Yummy,¡± she agreed with an answering smile, that she turned into a fake pout. ¡°I should hate you. Some of us can¡¯t even find


    one mate, much less three. You''re lucky | could never hate you.¡±


    THE


    ¡°It''s certainly not something | ever imagined would happen,¡± | told her.


    ¡°Well, c''mon, let¡¯s get you a drink!¡± Quinn tucked her arm through mine and led me to the tiki bar. When she saw me looking for


    my mates, she added, ¡°They''ll be fine. We need some girl time.¡±


    ¡°Lanie! Goddess, it¡¯s so good to see you!¡± Quinn¡¯s mom, Sable, enfolded me into a hug that | dly returned. She held onto me


    and then pushed me away gently to look me up and down. She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s been so long!¡±


    | moved from foot to foot, a little embarrassed. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been that long.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s out little Ste? She looked beyond me expectantly.


    Quinn handed me a fruity drink from the bar. ¡°Oh, yes, where is she? | can¡¯t wait to see her!¡±


    ¡°She had a little fever. You know how it is when they¡¯re in their growth period,¡± | said as nonchntly as ! could


    I


    Sable frowned. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad. I¡¯m sure she''ll feel better soon, but | am disappointed she couldn¡¯t be here. You''ll just have to


    bring her by as soon as she¡¯s okay¡±


    ¡°Who''s with her?¡± Quinn asked, sipping from her own drink.


    1/2


    Sable smiled. ¡°That must be nice for her. I''ve been waiting for the chance to take care of my own grandpups, but so far...¡±


    Quinn rolled her eyes, but | felt more embarrassment wash over me. Sable had to know that her son had been interested in me.


    Was she thinking that Asher and | could¡¯ve been mated by now? Maybe with a pup of our own on the way?


    Thinking of Asher, my body stiffened, and my eyes scanned the back yard for any signs of him. | didn¡¯t see him, but | also didn¡¯t


    want to ask about him. That felt weird. Quinn saw me looking around.


    ¡°He¡¯s not here yet,¡± she said under her breath as her mother left to greet some other guests. ¡°If that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about.¡±


    | took a long, grateful drink of the fruity liquor. ¡°Tm not worried. Not exactly, anywayText content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| did warn him you were going to be here. Well, not warn.¡± Quinn corrected herself quickly, probably at the sight of my face. ¡°I


    told him. He said he was fine with seeing you. And Mason.¡±


    My stomach twisted a little. ¡°You know | never wanted toe between them.¡±


    ¡°Look, | might not have men fighting over me the way you do, but | can tell you something | do know. You can¡¯t hold yourself


    responsible for your feelings. Or theirs.¡± Quinn shook her head and took another drink. ¡°If a friendship like theirs can be ruined by


    someone else, even a woman, then it was already wed. You know what I¡¯m saying? You can¡¯t stop someone from wanting who


    they want, but you can¡¯t force them to want you, either. My brother had to learn that lesson.¡±


    ¡°Did he? Learn it, | mean.¡± | scanned the backyard for him again.


    Quinn shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But don¡¯t you worry about it. If my brother and your mate are going to g it, there¡¯s nothing you can


    do about it. But you didn¡¯t cause it.¡±


    | nodded and let her gesture for another frosty drink for both of us. | knew what she said was true, but


    that didn¡¯t change the guilt | felt about what had happened...or rather what had not happened with Asher.


    All | could do was hope that when he and Mason finally saw each other again, they weren''t going to go to


    battle.

 Chapter 263

    Chapter 263


    Xander


    ¡°Just so you know...most of these people will be surprised to see you here,¡± Mason thought to me and Zane ¡°Because...well...


    they know that | wanted to..¡±


    ¡°Kill me?¡± | thought in reply. My chuckle had an edge to it.


    He grinned. ¡°Yeah. That. So do me a favor, bro, and hold it together. Okay? These are good people. They¡¯re going to want some


    exnations, but let me handle it. They''re going to be on my side.¡±


    ¡°Like what, ready to throw down?¡± Zane thought at us both. de rose a bit with a growl.


    Mason shook his head. ¡°Nah, nothing like that. | mean, they might be shocked, but they¡¯re not going toe after you two.


    Unless | give the word, | mean then all bets are off.¡±


    | considered giving him a bit more of a hard time but decided against it. We were here to give Lanie a good time, not to get into a


    brawl over old fights. Sure, me and Zane would be ready to defend ourselves if necessary, but we didn¡¯t need to have an attitude


    about all of it.


    ¡°Sure, thing, bro,¡± | sent through the link. ¡°I trust you to keep everyone settled.¡±


    Mason¡¯s eyebrows lifted, but then he nodded. We shared a smile. He reminded me a lot of my father in some ways. In the good


    ways, | realized. | had a lot of resentment toward my old man that | wasn¡¯t sure | was ever going to fully work through. But | had


    good memories of him, too, which was more than my brother¡¯d ever


    had.


    ¡°Hey, there.¡±


    Cautiously, | turned at the sound of a male voice that sounded familiar. ¡°Hank.¡±


    Zane and | had met the older guy the first time we came to Stillwood so | could find out more about the brother | hadn¡¯t known |


    had. Hank ran the cafe in Stillwood, but he¡¯d also been the go-between when me and Zane showed up to confront Mason.


    | hesitated, not sure if he¡¯d want to shake with me-the Alpha of another pack who''d disrupted the peace


    in their rogue town. But Hank grinned and moved forward to sp my forearm with his.


    ¡°d to see y


    you boys found a way to get along. From what I¡¯m hearing,¡± he added, ¡°you¡¯re doing more


    than just getting along. Mason, son, it¡¯s good to see you. It¡¯s been a while.


    Mason and Hank sped forearms. ¡°Hank. Good to see you, too.¡±


    | was aware of eyes on us, and lowered voices. | kept my back straight and didn¡¯t look toward any of the


    whispers. Mason had promised he''d take care of any exnations, and | was going to trust him to do that.


    ¡°Thanks, bro,¡± he thought to me.


    Hank gave us a curious look, back and forth, then moved forward to greet Zane with a forearm sp.


    When he stepped back, he put his hands on his hips. His eyes narrowed.


    ¡°So | take it you¡¯ve made your peace with each other? I¡¯m not going to have to toss you out of here?¡± Hank said to all three of us.


    ¡°Absolutely not. Xander¡¯s my brother, and | don¡¯t need to tell you that family is more important than old grudges, Hank,¡± Mason


    said.


    ¡°Mason?¡±


    My brother turned to face a guy about our age. The new dude bristled with faint aggression, and | put a hand on Zane¡¯s chest to


    stop him taking a step forward. Mason greeted the new guy with a quick handshake, not a full forearm sp.


    ¡°Steven, this is-


    ¡°| know who they are. Dude,¡± Steven said, ¡°why are they here?¡±


    I


    ¡°This should be good.¡± | thought to Zane as we both watched Mason to see how he¡¯d react.


    We were both ready to jump in if he needed us, but Mason stepped up with a grin that seemed to settle the other guy, at least a


    little bit.


    ¡°| thought you wanted to annihte this guy,¡± Steven said under his breath with a sideways re at me.


    Mason shook his head. ¡°Yeah, well. Things change. Turns out | didn¡¯t have all the information | needed to


    make an informed decision.¡±


    Steven blinked rapidly. | heard Zane¡¯s chuckle through the link. This was not the hothead who''d tried to tear us apart right in the


    street the first time we''de to Stillwood.


    ¡°Your bro¡¯s all grown up.¡± Zane thought in a teasing tone that had Mason shooting daggers at him. ¡°Acting like a real Alpha, all


    calm and measure and s hit.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Mason thought back. ¡°But it¡¯s better than having to kick Steven¡¯s a ss to protect you two.¡±


    I grinned, enjoying the banter between my Beta and my brother, | took a step toward Steven, my arm extended. The other guy


    looked confused, but took it.From N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Any friend of my brother¡¯s,¡± | said, emphasizing the word.


    Steven rxed and nodded. ¡°Same.¡±


    Mason¡¯s gaze shifted toward the house. His grin faded. ¡°Excuse me, there¡¯s someone | need to talk to.¡±


    | turned to watch him go. ¡°Who''s that?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Steven said. ¡°Oh, that guy? That''s Asher,¡±


    212


    Constantine to confront their father, | went along. And then | found out that Xander and Zane were my mates. originally, and


    Xander is Ste''s father.¡± | knew | was babbling a little bit, probably repeating myself, but Quinn looked fascinated. ¡°And Mason


    is the father of the twins that Xander and Zane were raising¡±


    Quinn rocked back in the glider. ¡°What, what?¡±


    Oh, s hit.


    | swallowed hard, regretting that I''d let her give me so many drinks. | cleared my throat, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Uh,


    yeah...Yes. Their other mate-¡±


    ¡°Alice,¡± Quinn said, reminding me that | had told her that part already. ¡°The one who was also sleeping with Mason.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Well, she had twins. And unfortunately, she died giving birth to them.¡±


    All of ourughter faded, chased away with this solemn news. I¡¯d hated Alice once, with everything I''d had inside me. But |


    couldn¡¯t hate a dead woman any longer, not even if she¡¯d done her best while she was living to ruin my life.


    ¡°What happened to the babies?¡± Quinn asked quietly


    | lifted my chin. ¡°While | was in Stillwood, believing | was Katie, Xander and Zane were in Constantine, not remembering me,


    either, | can¡¯t get into all the reasons why, because it¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°Complicated, yeah. Sounds veryplicated? Quinn interjected softly.


    ¡°They were raising the babies they thought were theirs. They didn¡¯t know Alice hadn''t been faithful to


    them.¡±


    ¡°And they didn¡¯t know you were here, pregnant.¡±


    | shook my head.¡± When | went back to Constantine with Mason, he found out for the first time, too.¡±


    ¡°So. three pups. Two mothers. They all must be close to their doubling by now, if not through the first.¡± Quinn co cked her head at


    me. ¡°You''re raising another woman''s children?¡±


    only


    | wanted to tell her the whole story about the rescue and how it had bonded me to Isaac and ina, but !


    nodded. ¡°They all belong to all of us, now¡±


    ¡°You''re a better woman than | would be,¡± Quinn said, She looked over my shoulder, toward the house. She looked back at me.


    ¡°Not to rm you, but it looks like my brother finally got here.¡±

 Chapter 264

    WhatsApp


    Lanie


    I didn¡¯t mean to a


    get tipsy, but it had been ages since rd had more than a ss or two of wine, and Quinn had been putting fruity drinks into my


    hands nonstop since | got there. Now | had the giggles, and the two of us sat together in a glider rocker in the shade while she


    filled me in on all the gossip I¡¯d missed while | was


    gone.


    ¡°You look good, girl. Like, really, so good.¡± Her giggle faded into a bright, sincere smile as she nudged me with her shoulder. ¡°Tell


    me all about them.¡±


    down


    | sighed happily. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t even know where to start.¡±


    ¡°You could start with what it¡¯s like in the bedroooooom.¡± Quinn drew out the word, making it go up and


    like she was singing it.


    Ahot blush stole over me. ¡°It¡¯s beyond amazing.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± She twisted on the glider so she could look me full in the face. ¡°How does it, you know...work?¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°It works the way it works with anyone. What do you mean?¡± | winked at her, knowing what she was getting at. | was just tipsy


    enough to tease her about it.


    Quinn gestured. ¡°Aren''t there just too many...you know. Sausages for the amount of biscuits?¡±


    My jaw dropped at that little description, and then she burst intoughter. | joined her,ughing until tears streamed from my eyes


    and | had to clutch my stomach against the pains in it from working my muscles so hard.


    ¡°It''s not breakfast, Quinn!¡± | wiped my eyes as my guffaws softened into giggles that red up again at


    the look on her face.


    ¡°Well, it''s some kind of meal, because it sure isn¡¯t a snack,¡± she said through herughter.


    ¡°Well, to answer your question, no, there are not too many sausages.¡± Another rush of heat flooded over me at the memory of


    thest time we¡¯d been together. All those hands and mouths, worshiping my body and bringing me to ecstasy, over and over...


    ¡°Ugh. Look at you, you''re giddy! Seriously, girl,¡± Quinn added more seriously. ¡°I¡¯m happy for you. Jealous, but I¡¯m also really,


    really happy for you. So you...ahem, you got your memory back? All of it?¡±


    | couldn''t me her for asking. If the situation was reversed, I¡¯d have been overflowing with questions, too. But | had to tread


    carefully with what | shared with her, and the drinks were making it hard for me to be


    Is


    sure | kept my stories straight.


    | nodded. ¡°Yep.¡±


    ¡°And you found out why you ended up in Stillwood, pregnant and with a different name?¡± She tilted her head with a curious look


    in her eyes.


    Constantine to confront their father, | went along. And then | found out that Xander and Zane were my mates originally, and


    Xander is Ste¡¯s father.¡± | knew | was babbling a little bit, probably repeating myself, but Quinn looked fascinated. ¡°And Mason


    is the father of the twins that Xander and Zane were raising...¡±


    Quinn rocked back in the glider. ¡°What, what?¡±


    Oh, sh it.


    | swallowed hard, regretting that I''d let her give me so many drinks. | cleared my throat, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Uh,


    yeah...Yes. Their other mate-¡±


    ¡°Alice,¡± Quinn said, reminding me that | had told her that part already. ¡°The one who was also sleeping


    with Mason.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Well, she had twins. And unfortunately, she died giving birth to them.¡±


    All of ourughter faded, chased away with this solemn news. I¡¯d hated Alice once, with everything I''d had inside me. But |


    couldn¡¯t hate a dead woman any longer, not even if she¡¯d done her best while she was living to


    ruin my life.


    ¡°What happened to the babies?¡± Quinn asked quietly


    | lifted my chin. ¡°While | was in Stillwood, believing | was Katie, Xander and Zane were in Constantine, not


    remembering me, either, | can¡¯t get into all the reasons why, because it¡¯s-


    ¡°Complicated, yeah. Sounds veryplicated, Quinn interjected softly.


    ¡°They were raising the babies they thought were theirs. They didn¡¯t know Alice hadn''t been faithful to


    them.¡±


    ¡°And they didn¡¯t know you were here, pregnant.¡±


    | shook my head.¡± When | went back to Constantine with Mason, he found out for the first time, too.¡±


    ¡°So three pups. Two mothers. They all must be close to their doubling by now, if not through the first.¡± Quinn c ocked her head at


    me. ¡°You''re raising another woman''s children?¡±


    | wanted to tell her the whole story about the rescue and how it had bonded me to Isaac and ina, but |


    only nodded. ¡°They all belong to all of us, now.¡±


    ¡°You''re a better woman than | would be,¡± Quinn said. She looked over my shoulder, toward the house. She


    looked back at me. ¡°Not to rm you, but it looks like my brother finally got here.¡±

 Chapter 265

    Chapter 265


    Mason


    ¡°Asher!¡±


    Quickly, | went over to my best friend where he stood on Quinn¡¯s deck. Asher held a bottle of beer in one hand. He didn¡¯t reach


    out his other to shake mine. | paused, my arm extended, and slowly drew it back against my body.


    He looked pis sed, but when | tried to sense his deeper feelings, theyers and permutations of emotion, |


    couldn''t reach him.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t see you before. Did you just get here?¡± | asked.


    He nodded and tipped the bottle to his lips. He took a long drink, swallowing before finally answering in a distant, bored tone.


    ¡°Yep. Wasn''t sure | was going toe, since my sister told me you were going to be here.¡±


    S hit. This wasn¡¯t going to be good. | took a deep breath, again tried to find a sense of his feelings, and got


    nothing.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we go somewhere to talk that¡¯s more private?¡± | said with a jerk of my chin inside the house.


    Asher¡¯s lip curled, and | saw a sh of his wolf rise in his eyes. ¡°Nah. I¡¯m good. Go on and enjoy the party.¡±


    ¡°Dude,¡± | said roughly but keeping my voice low to keep people from overhearing. ¡°Are you going to be an


    as shole about this?¡±


    ¡°Me? The as shole? That''s rich.¡± He drained the bottle and tossed it with a tter of ss into the nearby trash barrel. ¡°F uck


    you, man.¡±


    Asher spun on his heel and stalked away into the house. | went after him. He was climbing the stairs, but | caught up to him at


    thending. He shoved off my arm from his sleeve and went into a spare bedroom. | shut


    the door behind us.


    ¡°Look,¡± | began. ¡°I know | have some exining


    ¡°F uck, You,¡± Asher gritted out. ¡°Exining? You make it sound like you stepped on my toe when we were


    taking ballroom dance lessons. You f ucked off to Constantine, and you never f ucking came back!¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry¡± | tried to reach out to him through our mind link and found only a steel wall. | couldn¡¯t tell if it


    was because he was blocking me, or if my new bond with Xander, Zane, and Lanie had broken the one I''d


    shared with Asher.


    Tuck you, and f uck your sorry. You¡¯re buddy-buddy down there with that arrogant pri ck Asher spat


    ¡°That arrogant p rick is my brother¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the Alpha of the pack you should be running!


    ¡°Tm the Alpha, too


    Asher took a few steps away from me. Confusion filtered over his face. Then rage. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Orion¡¯s dead.¡±


    ¡°You did it?¡±


    | shook my head. ¡°No. It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got time,¡± Asher said in a tone so cold it raised the hair on the back of my neck. ¡°So you¡¯d better get talking, or I¡¯m out of


    here.¡±


    | went to the window overlooking the backyard, scanning it for sight of Lanie. She and Quinn were still sitting together on the


    rocker. Without turning around, | sketched out the confrontation with Orion, and how the vampire Mchi had killed him.


    ¡°And when he died, | got his Alpha powers.¡±


    ¡°And Xander lost them?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± | shook my head, turning atst. ¡°We''re both the Alpha.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s f ucked up. All of this is supremely f ucked up. But you should already know that.¡± Asher shook his head. His voice had


    gotten quieter, but his fury vibrated off him in waves.


    I sent out a soft push of Alpha energy, intending to calm him. He recoiled. His hands went up, ws


    extending as his canines dropped.


    He snarled. ¡°Don¡¯t you f ucking dare.¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    | backed off. ¡°I should¡¯ve been in touch. But there¡¯s been a lot of s hit going down, Asher. I¡¯ve been ah


    fucking busy, okay?¡±


    ¡°Busy kissing Xander Constantine''s as s, | guess? What happened to our ns? Everything we talked about? | guess that


    means s hit to you. | guess | mean s hit to you.¡±


    Before | could stop him, Asher shoved past me and out the door. He pounded down the stairs, and | ran


    after him, taking the steps two at a time so | could catch him as he hurtled through the front door of Quinn¡¯s house. | snagged his


    sleeve, but he yanked it away and kept going.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to fight you, man,¡± | growled, taking another swipe.


    4


    He was heading for his car. | lunged again, meaning to grab his sleeve, but my own ws were slightly


    out, and | tore the fabric.


    Asher whirled, his wolf rippling his entire body. S hit, this was thest thing | wanted, but | could feel my own wolf rising,


    snapping and snarling


    He was going to change right there on his sister¡¯s frontwn in front of everyone, and | was going to have


    to do the same to stop him from tearing out my throat.

 Chapter 266

    Chapter 266


    Zane


    | stopped with my hot grilled sausage halfway to my mouth at the sense of rising rage. | shot my gaze around, looking for


    Xander. He was talking with Hank, but neither of them looked like they were ready to fight.


    | found Lanie with her blonde friend, Quinn. Lanie jumped up from the rocker she''d been sitting on. The anger wasn¡¯ting


    from her, though.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed. She found me looking at her from across the yard.


    ¡°It¡¯s Mason,¡± she thought at me.


    ¡°| don¡¯t see him,¡± | replied.


    Xander chimed in. ¡°I saw him go into the house earlier with that Asher dude.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no,¡± Lanie thought. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a lot of anger from him. Where are they? Do you see them?¡±


    The three of us met in the center of the yard. Xander put an arm around Lanie, who looked like she¡¯d been having a good time.


    Her wolf rose, though, sobering her up quickly. She slipped an arm around my waist. To anyone watching, it would look like we


    all were just enjoying a conversation. | even took a casual bite of my


    sausage.


    ¡°Really, dude?¡± Xander muttered.


    ¡°They''re good,¡± | told him, chewing.


    Lanie squeezed us both. ¡°Asher and Mason were best friends. Close enough that I¡¯m sure Asher would''ve


    been his Beta, if things were different.¡±


    ¡°Do you think he still wants Asher to be? Is that what they¡¯re talking about right now?¡± Xander asked


    quickly.


    Lanie shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m trying to see what | can feel from him. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ve had a lot to talk about.


    We did just up and leave Stillwood without a word to anyone. I¡¯m sure Asher¡¯s pis sed off with him. And


    She trailed off. Heat rushed off her. She didn¡¯t look us in the eye, but Xander and | shared a stare over the


    top of her head


    ¡°Asher kind of liked me,¡± she said, adding quickly when Xander growled, ¡°When | was Katie


    ¡°Did you like him?¡± Xander¡¯s voice rasped.


    ¡°| did¡± Lanie lifted her chin to stare him in the face ¡°He was funny and kind, and he took me out even


    though | was pregnant with someone else¡¯s baby¡±


    ¡°With my pup.¡± Xander growled


    ¡°Don''t act like that was noble or anything¡± | told her with a frown. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful. Any man would be


    hannu to taka unui rast. He wasn¡¯t drinn unii a fauna and veri ro ne s hit abut nwa him oratitude for heinn a


    1/2


    decent guy.


    ¡°Both of you, stop,¡± she ordered with a Luna push. ¡°I had no idea who | was, much less that you were my mates. Besides, | really


    liked Mason, instead. And since we all ended up here, exactly where the Goddess meant for us to be, there¡¯s no point in you


    getting yourself all tangled up about it.¡±


    Xander mumbled something but didn¡¯t keep going with it.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Lanie closed her eyes, swaying a little bit. ¡°Mason¡¯s trying to exin things to him. Can you hear anything? Sense anything?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Xander said. ¡°Not sure if he¡¯s blocking or just too focused on what''s going on.


    | concentrated. ¡°They''re just talking, | think. I¡¯m getting a sense of guilt, confusion, maybe a little impatience?¡±


    ¡°I''m only catching small bits and pieces of that,¡± Lanle added. ¡°But if Mason¡¯s in trouble, we should go


    find him.¡±


    Mason


    ¡°Check yourself!¡± | pushed my Alpha strength toward Asher in a series of short, sharp bursts. | wasn¡¯t


    trying to overwhelm him, just get him to put his wolf away.


    His biceps bulged, tearing his shirt as hair sprouted. | pulsed out another burst of energy, hoping he¡¯d


    respond even though, technically, | wasn¡¯t his Alpha.


    It didn¡¯t look like he considered me his best friend anymore, either.


    Or even a friend at all.


    For another half a minute or so, | was sure he wasn¡¯t going to pull back. Colt snarled and thrashed inside


    me, eager to battle. | tried onest time to stop this


    ¡°You''re right!¡± | shot out at him. ¡°I¡¯m the as shole. | don¡¯t me you for being pi ssed off with me. Hell, you


    don¡¯t even have to forgive me. But I need you to listen to me, let me tell you what¡¯s been happening, and then, if you¡¯re still


    angry, you can tell me to f uck off again. You can punch me right in the face, | won¡¯t even step out of the way.¡±


    With painful slowness, Asher¡¯s wolf retreated. He flexed his arms, looking down at the series of tears.


    ¡°You owe me a new fucking shirt.


    ¡°Done. Are you ready to have a conversation? We can go grab a beer.¡± | jerked my thumb toward the


    house. ¡°Something stronger, if you want.¡±


    At first, Asher looked like he was going to take me up on the offer. Then he looked past me. His lip curled.


    ¡°Oh, look,¡± he said with a sneer. ¡°The gang¡¯s all here

 Chapter 267

    Mason


    ¡°| got this,¡± | sent out to my brother, Zane, and Lanie.


    ¡°We know you do. We''re just here in case you need us. We won''t interfere,¡± Xander thought in reply.


    Asher¡¯s mouth thinned. ¡°Are you f ucking kidding me with this s hit? You¡¯re mind linking with them? I¡¯ve been trying to reach you


    for f ucking months. No wonder | couldn''t.¡±


    off.


    ¡°It¡¯s not something |


    something | nned.¡± | did my best to keep my voice calm, even though he was really pi ss ing me


    ¡°No. | guess not. Because we had ns, dude. Me and you. You were going to take him out.¡± He jerked his chin toward Xander.


    ¡°And then you were going to be the Alpha, and | was going to be your Beta. That was the n. | guess all of that meant nothing


    to you.¡±


    | shook my head. That''s not true. You know | wanted that more than anything. | spent years of my life festering with hatred for my


    father and my brother. But-


    ¡°Your brother.¡± Asher¡¯s sneer seemed more forced this time. ¡°That¡¯s what you''re calling him, huh?¡±


    I


    ¡°It''s what he is,¡± | said as gently as | could. ¡°All of this is f ucked up. You got that right. But he is my brother, and...


    | took a breath and figured I''d just better get it all out in the open.


    ¡°Lanie is my mate. Our mate,¡± | added. ¡°Me, Xander, and Zane.¡±


    Asher¡¯s head hung for a few seconds. His shoulders heaved with something that could¡¯ve beenughter or so bs, it was too hard


    to tell which. When he looked at me, his expression was twisted with emotions |


    couldn''t determine.


    ¡°You have got to be f ucking joking. Right? This is some kind of setup for a prank show or something. Right? C¡¯mon, dude.¡± His


    voice stretched into a low, thin whisper. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡±


    ¡°| can¡¯t apologize for finding my mate. For everything else, yeah. But not for that. You know that it¡¯s not


    something | chose, especially not to hurt you.¡±


    Asher shook his head. ¡°Naw, dude. You made your choices, and you apparently forgot | existed. Okay, so you don¡¯t get to


    choose your mate, but what about the rest of it? You¡¯ve been back here in Stillwood for how long? And you never once reached


    out to me. In fact, if my sister hadn¡¯t randomly run into Katie, or Lanie, or whoever the f uck she is, would we even be talking right


    now?¡±


    ¡°Mason?¡± Lanie pushed a question at me. ¡°You okay?¡±


    | realized they were all standing far enough away that they couldn¡¯t really hear our conversation. They had


    to be sensing my distress, though. | didn¡¯t want them to get involved and make it all worse.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Even through the link, my voice sounded sharp and harsh. ¡°I got it. Just give us some space. 1/2


    | added that as an afterthought, knowing none of this was Lanie¡¯s fault.


    In fact, there was no fault.


    ¡°Sh it happens, Asher, | feel like sh it about leaving you hanging, and that¡¯s the truth. It was never my intention. But there''s been


    a lot of stuff going on.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Sure. Okay.¡± Asher made a shoving motion at me with his hands, like he was pushing me away without actually touching


    me. ¡°What the f uck ever. I¡¯m out of here.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Don¡¯t walk away from me, man.¡± The words came out harder than I¡¯d meant them to, but dam n it, | was really f ucking over


    Asher¡¯s attitude.


    You''d think years of friendship wouldn''t be wiped out so quickly, but as he turned to leave, | saw the end of our rtionship


    happening right in front of me. And that pis sed me off.


    | grabbed for him, and this time, caught him hard enough to spin him around. ¡°You have no f u cking clue about anything, so


    maybe take a f ucking second and listen to me! Everything I¡¯ve done has been to make sure that everyone | care about-and


    yeah, you as shole, that includes you-is protected!¡±


    Asher threw off my arm and snarled at me, advancing. We''d tussled in the past, sure, but his wolf was ready to take mine again.


    Colt roared in my brain.


    ¡°| Don¡¯t Need. Your. Protection!¡± Asher¡¯s jaws snapped as his teeth lengthened.


    ¡°Listen-¡±


    ¡°To what? A bunch of f ucking excuse? That''s all you¡¯ve got!¡± Asher shot at me. ¡°If this is how you you think an Alpha¡¯s supposed


    to lead, let me tell you something, friend, you''re a s hitty f u cking Alpha who d deserve the title.¡±


    The red haze threatened to take me over. | actually felt like the world was sliding away under my fe That¡¯s when a strong hand


    curled around my shoulder. The fingers squeezed firmly.


    Once.


    Twice.


    | was able to catch my breath.


    ¡°Hey, man,¡± a warm male voice said to Asher, who was staring with wide eyes. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m


    Zane.¡±


    And all at once, everything was calm.

 Chapter 268

    Chapter 268


    Zane


    The muscles under my fingers rxed. Not entirely-Mason was still alert and aware. But that powerful Alpha energy that had


    been pulsing out of him like fireworks being shot from a cannon had turned into a spray of sparklers


    Asher narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth from me to Mason. He took a few steps back, out of Mason¡¯s reach. He still


    looked really pis sed off, but without the edge of Mason¡¯s Alpha fury riling him up, it looked as though he might just calm down.


    And that¡¯s what we wanted. No harm, no mess, no big drama in front of everyone. Nobody asking questions we didn¡¯t have the


    answers to. No attention drawn to our unusual quartet.


    ¡°Whatever, dude,¡± Asher said finally, but there wasn¡¯t as much heat in his voice as there¡¯d been even just a few minutes ago.


    Mason slid me a sideways nce. ¡°The f uck did you just...? Did you....Beta me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, | guess | did. | didn¡¯t think about it. | just did it. Sorry?¡±


    ¡°We''ll have to talk about thister. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t want us to be at each other¡¯s throats,¡± Mason said now to Asher, who only gave him a strong, steady re.


    After another few seconds, though, Asher finally gave him a grudging nod. ¡°You think | want that?¡±


    ¡°| hope not. Look, let¡¯s just go in and enjoy the rest of the party, okay? We can meet up for coffee in town tomorrow. | have so


    much to tell you.¡± Mason¡¯s voice rose, eager, and it was easy for me to hear the desire in


    his voice to connect with his friend.


    | tried not to let jealousy rear up in me at Mason''s tone. He and Asher had been friends for a lot longer than I¡¯d known him. Hell,


    from what Lanie had said, Asher was as good as Mason¡¯s Beta.


    Except. | was the one who''d calmed him down. | was the one who''d been able to sense just what he needed to stop from totally


    blowing up. That wasn¡¯t his oldest friend, his potential Beta.


    That had been me.


    | felt the heavy weight of Xander¡¯s gaze. When | met it, | expected to see his wolf snarling, or at least a


    twisted expression. Instead, he wore a faint smile that disappeared when he caught my eye.


    So he wasn¡¯t mad about it. That was good. Thest thing in the world | wanted to do was pis s off


    Xander


    ¡°| think I¡¯m just gonna head out,¡± Asher said stiffly.


    He didn¡¯t sound like he was ready tounch himself or his wolf-at either one of us. That was good, too. He looked like a guy


    who¡¯s been punched in the n utsack, though, and | had kind of an idea of how that had to


    ¡°I''d never do that, and you know it,¡± Xander thought at me.


    | turned toward him. ¡°Did you hear me think that?¡±


    ¡°No. | could just tell by the look on your face. Is everything cool? Is that other dude gonna wolf out?¡±


    | shook my head. Xander put an arm around Lanie¡¯s shoulders. She looked worried for a few seconds, then nodded as Xander


    must''ve sent her something through the link.


    him.


    ¡°Tomorrow. Hank¡¯s ce. Three?¡± Mason asked. He was smart, didn¡¯t press the guy by moving toward


    After a


    a moment, Asher nodded. Without another word, he stalked away. We both watched him go.


    Lanie came over to us and slipped her hand in Mason''s. | could feel her love radiating off her. Mason


    must''ve been able to feel it, too, because he turned to pull her into his arms for a hug.


    ¡°He''lle around,¡± she told him in a low voice.


    ¡°| hope so.¡±


    ¡°He was wrong,¡± | said to Mason''s back.


    He let go of Lanie and turned to me. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°What he said about you being a s hitty Alpha. He was wrong.


    ¡°F uck yeah, he was wrong,¡± Xander said as he joined us.


    Mason snorted. ¡°I thought you¡¯d agree with him.¡±


    ¡°The only person


    only person who¡¯s allowed to call your Alpha skills into question is me, bro.¡± Xander grinned and


    punched Mason lightly on the arm.


    Well, lightly for Xander. His brother sta ggered back a step or two before catching himself. Mason? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    pretended to make a threatening gesture. The two of them squared off, tapping fists before Xander tossed up his hands and


    backed away.


    ¡°Truce, truce.¡± He nced around. ¡°We don¡¯t need to gather an audience. Everyone already thinks you''re still just waiting for the


    right chance to kill me.¡±


    The faint sound of singing rose to us from the backyard.


    Lanie grimaced. ¡°They''re starting karaoke. Are you sure you all want to stay?¡±


    We all looked at each other and grinned.

 Chapter 269

    Chapter 269


    Lanie


    ¡°Hearing Zane sing ¡°Hard Candy Christmas¡± was one thing,¡± | said around another flurry ofughter at the memory. Once


    Mason¡¯s argument with Asher had dissipated, Quinn''s party had ended up being really fun. ¡°But when Mason and Xander dueted


    with ¡®Greased Lightning Gabri, | swear to the Moon, | almost peed my pants.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Mason said mildly, ¡°Your rendition of ¡°Baby Got Back was truly inspired, Lanie.¡±


    ¡°No Eddie Grayfur ssics? Gabri chuckled softly and set the match to one of the candles on the


    mantelpiece.


    She''d had a fire going for us when we got home, and now she was adding the candles. She shook her head at her enormous


    son, bent over and shaking withughter on the couch.


    ¡°You and your human music. Xander always did like to listen to it.¡± She put the matchbox on the mantel and her hands on her


    hips. ¡°All four of you smell like a brewery. Do | need to bring you some coffee?¡±


    ¡°We''re all good, Ma. Thanks for watching the kids.¡± Xander straightened with a grin.


    ¡°Yes,¡± | echoed. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize how much | really needed to just do something...normal.¡±


    ¡°| would not call that duet normal,¡± Zane said, but his voice was rich with suppressedughter.


    ¡°You all deserved a night out, and | had a good time here with the pups. They did wear me out, though I¡¯m off to bed. Unless you


    need me for something? Should | wear earplugs to bed in case you all decide to start singing again?¡± Gabri raised an


    eyebrow at us all.


    We assured her we were all fine. Once she left, | propped my feet up on the coffee table and let my bod sink into the couch next


    to Xander. It wasn¡¯t big enough for all four of us, really, but we managed to squeeze by me ending up half on Mason¡¯sp and


    half on Xander¡¯s.


    There hadn¡¯t been much discussion about the fight between Mason and Asher, or what had happened when Zane stepped in,


    but | knew we¡¯d all been thinking about it. It wasn¡¯t really my ce to bring up the subject, though. | belonged to all of them.


    Xander belonged to me and also to Zane. Mason belonged to me.


    Zane belonged to me, but also..who else?


    Gently, Xander pushed me off hisp so he could poke the fire to keep it going. That was his role, to make


    sure all of us were taken care of. That we had what we needed to be warm.


    I


    We all had our ces in this family, and | was so grateful for it.


    ¡°So,¡± Xander said quietly and then said nothing else for so long the cr ackles and pops of the fire began to sound like a song.


    Finally, he finished, ¡°I sensed what happened earlier.¡±


    Mason and Zane nodded, but neither one of them said anything. Sitting between them, | could feel their awkwardness. Like it


    was Xander¡¯s job to keep the fire going, it was mine to soothe our troubled emotions.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    1/2


    had to be said.


    Zane


    ¡°| hope you didn¡¯t think | overstepped.¡± | had to speak up first, when it was obvious Mason wasn¡¯t going to say anything. | leaned


    forward with my elbows on my knees and tried to choose my words carefully. The heat from the fire red as Xander poked it


    again. ¡°I apologize if it bothered you.¡±


    ¡°Nah. You were good. | needed that. Needed you,¡± Mason added casually, like an afterthought.


    ¡°| saw things getting out of control, and | knew you wouldn¡¯t want that. Didn¡¯t think it, didn¡¯t suspect it,¡± | said with emphasis to


    make sure he understood my full meaning. ¡°I knew it.¡±


    | looked up, and Mason met my gaze.


    He nodded. ¡°You were right.¡±


    ¡°Was it instinct?¡± Xander put in, sounding curious. ¡°Like, you¡¯ve done that for me so many times. Walked me back from the edge.


    Redirected me when it was necessary.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± | answered honestly. ¡°It felt instinctual. But that¡¯s what being a Beta means. Acting on instinct to do the things your


    Alpha needs.¡±


    There. I''d said it out loud. That Mason didn¡¯t just share his Alpha status and his Luna mate with Xander, but maybe...he might


    share me, too.


    ¡°I''ve been thinking about it all day since it happened, Mason admitted. He got up to pace, and Xander stood back, out of the way.


    That small action of courtesy, giving his brother the room to move, said more than words could. Lan and | shared a look. She


    was bearing


    | wasn''t sure what or how to feel.


    Whatever | said was going to change the way things were.


    Did | want to be the one to do that?

 Chapter 270

    Mason


    The party had been a great time, but I¡¯d spent the rest of it unable to stop thinking about how easily 2


    Zane


    had calmed me down. If he hadn¡¯te along, | might really have kept pushing Asher. Both of us would''ve let


    our wolves out to fight. It would¡¯ve ruined Quinn¡¯s party, but also wrecked whatever remained of our friendship


    and made it unsalvageable. | was still hoping that even if we couldn''t be as close as we''d been, at least Asher


    and | didn¡¯t have to be enemies.


    ¡°lowe you,¡± | told Zane. ¡°You really saved my a ss.¡±


    He smiled a little. ¡°Yeah, | know. But it wasn¡¯t my ce.¡±


    ¡°It could be,¡± | said boldly.


    I''d been pacing up and down, my body full of nervous energy about everything that had gone on. Now |


    stopped to face Zane on the couch. Xander was at my side, but respectfully quiet.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want you to feel like you have to be my Beta just because of the connection. You and Xander have


    been together since you were pups. You''re under no obligation to pledge to anyone else, even if we do share


    our Alpha strength from the same source. That doesn¡¯t make us the same men or the same Alphas,¡± | said.


    Zane nodded and stood to face me ¡°I don¡¯t want you to feel like you have to pick me just because of what


    happened today, or because we''re already linked. | know you and Asher had a strong bond. | wasn¡¯t trying to


    get between you or break that today¡±


    ¡°| know that.¡± | shook my head. ¡°And it didn¡¯t feel like that¡¯s what you were trying to do. It just felt...rig


    ¡°That¡¯s how it felt to me, too,¡± Zane admitted and turned to Xander. ¡°Alpha, you know I¡¯mpletely lo


    to you.¡±


    ¡°I know that, Beta.¡±


    The three of us made a triangle with Zane at the point. | felt a pulse of soft,forting Luna energy, and a slightly harder and


    more forceful but reassuring pulse from Xander. Theirbined forces mingled, flowing


    all around us. The tension between me and Zane that had been tightening didn¡¯t go away, but it eased. Became less like a


    rubber band, ready to snap, and more like a ribbon wrapping a gift we were both about to


    open


    Lanie slipped between me and Xander, and the triangle became a circle. ¡°You both are trying so hard not


    to step on each other¡¯s toes, but it¡¯s obvious to me and also to Xander that this feels right for both of you.¡±


    | turned to Zane. ¡°She''s right. We can¡¯t keep dancing around this. It¡¯s been at the back of my mind since


    the first time we realized we were able to use the mind link with each other.¡±


    ¡°I''ve been thinking about it, too,¡± Xander said.


    Zane looked startled, then narrowed his eyes. The two of you talked about it,


    idn¡¯t vous


    could decide for you. It''s always had to be something you felt for yourself.¡±


    Zane


    Maybe | should''ve been pi ssed off that the two Alphas had been talking about me behind my back, but Instead, a rush of


    gratitude flooded me. Clearly, both of them cared enough to want me to be all right. | grabbed each of them by the bicep. They


    each put an arm behind Lanie¡¯s back.


    Energy pulsed around our circle, flowing in and out.


    Two Alphas and a Luna...but | had my own Beta strength, and when | added my push to the ebb and flow,


    we all lit up. Nothing anyone else could have seen. A light only for the four of us. Binding us together as a unit.


    ¡°Mason needs a Beta, but there¡¯s no way we want someone elseing in to this.¡± | said as our energies


    swirled ¡°Xander wouldn¡¯t stand for anyone else being that close to our mate, and so whoever you brought in


    would have to always be an outsider. He¡¯d never really be able to get close enough to you to be a good Beta. It would disrupt


    everything we have. The four of us are mind linked. | don¡¯t pretend to know everything, but | know that¡¯s rare. Andplicated


    enough without trying to force another person into our bond. Mason, if you


    will have me, | would be honored to be your Beta.¡±


    Lanie let out a small, shivery gasp, and her eyes gleamed with tears.


    Mason let go of her to step forward. He sped my forearm. My fingers curled around his wrist, and | felt


    the beating of his heart against my palm


    ¡°Zane, it would be my honor to ept your pledge.¡±


    Anew ripple of energy rose around us. Lanie let out a gasp. | could smell her desire, sweet as perfume.


    ¡°Oh,¡± she said. ¡°Yes, this all feels so good.¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Xander¡¯s eyes shed, and so did Mason''s. My c ock throbbed as | watched a se xy smile spread over our


    Luna¡¯s face.


    ¡°| think | know a way to celebrate this,¡± she murmured and stepped into my arms.

 Chapter 271

    Chapter 271


    Lanie


    1 stifled my gasp with my hand when Zane scooped me up and carried me to the bedroom with Mason and Xander following


    close behind. One of them shut the door and locked it, while Zane lowered me to the bed. | was already moaning from his mouth


    on my neck.


    The moment he¡¯d asked Mason to ept him as Beta, a rush of pleasure had filled me from top to toe. Tingling arousal centered


    in my nipples and between my legs. We''d all been sharing and mingling our energies, but something about making Zane


    Masons official Beta had triggered something inside me. In all of us, | thought as Zane stripped me out of my top and jeans.


    Xander and Mason were stripping down, too, and the moment | was naked, Zane stepped back to get out of his own clothes. |


    stared at the three of them, each of them gorgeous. Mason and Xander, lookalikes but different in so many ways. Zane, their


    perfectpanion.


    ¡°I''m the luckiest woman in the world.¡± | pushed up onto my elbow so | could get a full view of their hard, strong bodies. ¡°I want


    every single one of you.¡±


    left.¡±


    ¡°You have us. Our loyalty. Our love,¡± Zane said.


    ¡°Our coc ks,¡± Xander added with the wicked grin | loved so much.


    Mason moved up the bed to my right side and ran his hand over my naked belly. ¡°And whatever else is


    For a second, | remembered Quinn¡¯s question about having too much sausage for the biscuits, and | giggled. A rush of love


    overwhelmed me as my other two mates climbed into our giant bed and found their ce next to me.


    ¡°You''re hungry now?¡± Xander thought at me in response to the sh of breakfast I''d sent.


    ¡°Hungry for all of you,¡± | said aloud. ¡°Quinn wanted to know how it worked with the four of us. | didn¡¯t really have a good way to


    answer her. | think | need another demonstration.¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I''d been a little tipsy before from the party, but | was fully drunk now-intoxicated with the attention of three virile mates who


    seemed determined to focus their entire energies on making mee. | pulled Mason


    closer to kiss me.


    His


    s tongue stroked mine. | drank in his vor and breathed in his scent, which was mingling with the other two. | felt two other


    mouths sliding up my ankles, over my shins and calves, and two sets of hot breath


    gusted over my thighs.


    ¡°Open for me, love,¡± Xander murmured.


    | knew Zane¡¯s hands by the feeling of callouses. He¡¯d been chopping so much wood. His fingers tickled


    along my i inner thighs as | obeyed my Alpha¡¯smand and opened for him. For all of them.


    Astlick, hot tonguepped at my cl it, and | moaned into Mason¡¯s mouth. He nipped at my tongue, holding 1/2


    a kiss so fierce it took away my breath.


    Fingers tweaked and plucked my nipples as Mason kissed me. Xander¡¯s tongue slid against my cl it over and over in a steady


    pace the


    pushed me close to the edge. When he paused for a second to murmur to Zane,


    | made a little cry of protest.


    ¡°Shhh,¡± Zane whispered.


    With Mason''s mouth on mine, | couldn¡¯t move my head to look between my legs and see what was happening, but that didn¡¯t


    matter. | could feel it all. The bed dipped and rocked.


    ¡°Right there,¡± | heard Xander say encouragingly.


    A thick co ck filled me. Zane. He groaned. | moaned into Mason¡¯s open mouth as his fingers continued to y with my nipples.


    | broke the kiss, gasping, when slick fingers circled my cl it as Zane thrust slowly and deeply. | cried out with the pleasure, |


    couldn¡¯t make words, only sounds.


    When | opened my eyes, Mason was in front of my face. We kissed again. When he broke the kiss, | turned my face to the other


    side to see Xander. He took my mouth tenderly, stroking my tongue with his as his fingers kept circling my c lit.


    Back and forth, | kissed each man as the third continued his slow, sweet thrusting. Mason toyed with my nipples, and Xander


    stroked my cl it. The three of them moved in perfect sync, and the mind link between the four of us opened to our thoughts and


    feelings,


    ¡°So sweet,¡± Xander thought.


    ¡°Hot. Tight. Wet,¡± came from Zane.


    ¡°Tight little pearls,¡± Mason thought about my hard nipples.


    Xander and Mason moved in coordination to pinch my nipples and c lit at the same time with small, firm tweaks that had me


    delirious and bucking against Zane. Their mouths plundered mine as | turned my face side to side.


    My pleasure rose up and up and up.


    | was going to explode with it.

 Chapter 272

    Chapter 272


    Zane


    Lanie¡¯s sweet little pu ssy began convulsing on my co ck, and | almost spilled inside her right then and there. She cried out,


    bucking, her walls milking me. | braced myself on my arms and slowed my thrusts as Xander, Mason, and | each connected in


    our mutual desire to send her into orbit.


    Xander slowed his fingers on her c it, letting his thumb and finger pinch her gently and softly without moving. Mason rolled her


    nipple between his fingers in a simr way. Both of them nuzzled and nipped at her neck and throat while the other kissed her


    mouth. Watching them take turns getting her so hot was sending me closer and closer to the edge.


    ¡°| want toe. Oh, please let mee,¡± Lanie gasped out to all three of us.


    Xander¡¯s wicked chuckle sent a spiral of desire straight to the base of my co ck. His fingers barely moved on her. Again, her pus


    sy tightened.


    ¡°Her legs are shaking.¡± | murmured. ¡°She''s so close.¡±


    Mason bent his mouth to suckle her nipple, and Lanie bucked and thrashed. His chuckle sounded just like Xander¡¯s. The two of


    them were getting off on teasing her, and | was getting off on it, too.


    clit.


    ¡°You want toe, love?¡± Xander bared his teeth to hip at her neck. His fingertips twitched against her


    Braced up the way | was, | could see between our bodies to where he was touching her. Her pretty pink cl it was swollen and


    hard, peeking around his taunting fingertips.


    ¡°F uck, she¡¯s wet,¡± | said as | let my hips move again.


    She wrapped her legs around my back, digging in her heels, urging me to f uck her fast. Lanie arched, letting out a sobbing gasp


    as her two other mates tortured her closer and closer to the edge.


    ¡°Come inside me, Zane,¡± she begged. ¡°F uck me hard, please!¡±


    Xander


    My c ock leaped, throbbing when our mate begged Zane to f uck her harder. His arousal hit me through the


    mind link, hard and fast as a freight train. It was almost like our c ocks were joined, | could feel her wet, tight heat around my own


    even though it was my Beta¡¯s di ck pumping so slowly inside her.


    ¡°Yeah, harder,¡± Mason urged him,


    | could hear him through the link, but our bodies weren¡¯t connected in the same way. | could tell that he was feeling Zane,


    though...


    ¡°F uck,¡± Zane bit out through gritted teeth. ¡°I can feel her through each of you...¡±


    1/2


    sharp sp ank. | swallowed her h 0a rse scream.


    Zane¡¯s entire body shook as he pounded inside her. | felt Lanie¡¯s cli t jumping under my touch, but | also felt her velvety walls


    gripping my c ock just like | was the one inside her.


    ¡°Oh, f uck,¡± Mason said aloud. ¡°I can...¡±


    ¡°| feel you all,¡± Lanie whimpered.


    It wasn¡¯t going to take more than a feather touch to send her over, | didn¡¯t even have to move my fingers. With every thrust,


    Zane¡¯s belly pushed my hand against her. Mason was sucking her nipple and rolling the other between his fingers. | gave our


    gorgeous, pleading Luna my mouth and tongue.


    Mason


    My c ock was hard as iron, aching and throbbing. The faster Zane f ucked into her the more | could feel. Soft, tight, slick heat


    surrounded my p rick, even though | wasn¡¯t even touching it.


    | closed my eyes, centering my lips and tongue on Lanie¡¯s tight nipple. | drew it between my teeth,ving it with my tongue in the


    way that made her scream. | heard Xanderugh softly as he captured the noise with his kiss. | plucked at her other nipple in


    tandem with my sucking lips, Zane¡¯s thrusts and Xander¡¯s hand pressing her c lit..


    We all rose together. Tight knots of flesh, soft pressure, slickness, muscles clenching, bodies moving. Ecstasy built in my belly


    and balls. A quick nce told me that despite what my body was feeling, | wasn¡¯t actually inside her. A silver strand of pree


    leaked from the head of my co ck, and | thought about using it to lube myself so | could stroke to or gasm...but | didn¡¯t even need


    to do that.


    Zane¡¯s co ck was inside her, but it might as well have been mine. | let myself go over into that feeling. The link between all of us


    wiped out everything else. There was only this bed, our bodies.


    Our Luna.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Her p ussy clenched, at first with a few soft flutters. Then harder, stronger pressure as she came, hard. Her pu ssy bore down on


    our co cks, and although Zane was the one thrusting, the rapid string of images and thoughts pouring out of her told me she was


    feeling each one of us inside her the same as we each felt like


    we were there.


    Lanie¡¯s o rgasm sent me surging over that cliff. My c ock pumped jets of hot seed against her thigh, and | buried my face against


    the side of her neck as my climax tore through me.


    But our Luna wasn''t finished yet.

 Chapter 273

    Chapter 273


    Lanie


    With every thrust, Zane was sending me higher and higher, until | wasn¡¯t sure | was ever going toe back to earth. I¡¯d felt


    pleasure before, but this was like nothing we''d ever experienced. | was feeling each of them, and they were feeling each other


    and me.


    My entire body coursed with the ecstasy my mates were giving me. Hands, tongues, fingers, teeth, c ocks. Every ce they


    touched me was alive with electricity.


    | realized that my eyes had been closed, and yet, | could still see them. Sense them. When | opened my eyes to actually look at


    them, my Luna glow had enveloped my three mates.


    This had be more than sex. We were joining, bodies, hearts, minds, souls...every single part of each one of us was


    communing.


    All | could do was let the pleasure wash me away. | couldn¡¯t have fought it even if | wanted to.


    And | definitely did not want to


    | embraced it, all of it, as | embraced Zane and pulled him close to me so we could kiss.


    | cupped his face with my palms as he looked deeply into my eyes. His thrusts slowed. He added a little grind of his hips to each


    one, and that was what finally sent me surging over into my or gasm.


    All four


    of our bodies rocked in unison. | felt Zane¡¯s thick c ock pumping inside me, and within seconds, heat and wetness coated my


    breasts and belly as Mason and Xander joined him. Powerful tension clutched my pu ssy around Zane¡¯s co ck, and he groaned


    out my name.


    ¡°| love you,¡± | said to all of them...or did | think it? | couldn''t tell, and it didn¡¯t matter.


    They all heard me, and they said it back. The four of us were perfectly aligned.


    Zane rolled off of me with a groan to spoon behind Xander, Mason shifted over to give us all a bit of room as we all adjusted on


    the giant bed.


    | was floating on the aftermath of my pleasure, so content | didn¡¯t want to move. And, | didn¡¯t have to.


    Without a word, at least out loud to me, my three gorgeous mates got up and moved around the room. Mason brought,me a


    ss of cool water while Xander and Zane used a couple of warm, wet washcloths to clean me


    up. While they were tossing the cloths into theundry, Mason pulled out a pair of soft,fy PJs and helped


    me into them.


    ¡°Usually, | want to keep you with me naked all night, he murmured into my ear, ¡°but | know you''ve been thinking about how much


    easier it is to have pajamas on if the pups need you in the night.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | had to stifle a jaw-cracking yawn while he pulled the soft T-shirt over my head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware I''d been sending that.¡±


    He shrugged as | pulled on the soft, matching shorts. ¡°I don¡¯t think you were. At least not exactly. | could


    | looked at Xander and Zane as they both crawled into bed, each wearing boxers. ¡°What about you two? The same?¡±


    They shared a look. Zane nodded. ¡°I wasn¡¯t really thinking about it before Mason said so, but, yeah. | guess | have been picking


    up a lot more of your thoughts. It¡¯s more like pictures, not words.¡±


    ¡°Same,¡± Xander said. ¡°But | think I¡¯m doing it with Zane, too. Possibly Mason.¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure | like you all knowing my every thought, | said in a teasing voice, but | was a little serious. loved our connection, but


    the idea that | had no privacy at all, even in my own head, was a little unsettling. | knew how to shield or block the mind link, and


    | was getting better at being able to use it for them individually rather than broadcasting it to them all, every time. But | didn¡¯t want


    to have to shield myself all the time. How would | even know when to do it?


    ¡°It''s not like | never want you to know how I¡¯m feeling,¡± | said aloud. ¡°I want to be able to confide in and trust you all, and count on


    you to support me when | need it. But | also don¡¯t think | want to monitor my own thoughts and feelings all the time. That sounds


    like a good way to get into arguments.¡±


    Xander raised an eyebrow at me. ¡°Why would that cause arguments?¡±


    ¡°Because sometimes, my love, you can be an overbearing Alpha. And if | was only thinking that but not saying it, you could still


    get mad about it,¡± | told him with a little grin.


    He growled and pulled me against him for a long, slow, kiss. ¡°I''ll show you overbearing.¡±


    | sank into his embrace, and once more, we all settled into


    Our ces in the bed. | knew we¡¯d all better o our sleep-the pups were going to be up soon, and we couldn''t leave them with


    Gabri the entire day.


    pulsed out love to my three mates. That was something | wanted them to feel and share.


    As for the rest of it...I¡¯d have to do some research about learning how to keep at least some part of me private

 Chapter 274

    Chapter 274


    Xander


    | watched our mate and pups, busy with a few learning games my mother had been teaching them. Counting, alphabet, stuff like


    that. It was hard to believe the three pups had gone from infants to toddlers in what felt like a few hours. But, in the way of our


    kind, they¡¯d continue growing and maturing at an even faster pace now.


    ¡°If they''re getting older, what does that mean about us?¡± |ughed as Zane brought me a mug of ck coffee


    ¡°You''re 0


    old,¡± my mother shot over to me with a wry grin. ¡°And I¡¯m even older.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± my mate said as she got up to greet us both with a kiss, ¡°I¡¯m not old yet. Morning, my loves.¡±From N?velDrama.Org.


    Zane gave her a mug, too, along with a kiss. Watching the two of them together lifted my heart in ways I¡¯d never known it could


    feel. For a second, | shot back to the Mating Day when we¡¯d found out she¡¯d been given us. Hot shame washed through me at


    the memory of how st upid we¡¯d been. How arrogant and...yes, even


    cruel.


    ¡°All forgiven,¡± Lanie thought-whispered.


    to


    ¡°But not forgotten,¡± | replied firmly. ¡°I will never allow myself to forget how badly | behaved. | never want to be that way again.¡±


    Atendril of her emotions wound through me. She was touched. Lanie pushed up on her toes to her mouth. The sensation of


    feeling her emotions faded, and | gave her a curious look


    Since our conversation the night before, I¡¯d gotten a few wisps this morning. Unformed thoughts, like hints of ideas or stream-of-


    consciousness pictures. Not like when shemunicated with purpose through the link


    | could tell it bothered her, but | was careful not to say anything and tried my best not


    even to think anything about it. | wasn¡¯t sure | was sending the way she was, but | didn¡¯t want her to know that | was receiving


    her. Not if it was going to bother her.


    or fe


    It was something we were going to have to figure out how to work with, though. | thought of it as a gift, something unique to us


    because of our unique rtionship, but | guess being so connected to Lanie also let me understand how she could feel like it


    was an invasion of her privacy.


    ¡°It''s all a puzzle still missing some pieces,¡± Zane thought to me.


    That was the best way to describe it.


    ¡°Daddy!¡± Ste waved me over to the small, child-sized table to show me the blocks she¡¯d been sorting. ¡°See what | did?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been a very smart little girl this morning,¡± my mom said proudly. ¡°She''s sorted all the blocks by color, size, and shape.¡±


    1/2


    ¡°Allie and Izzy did it, too,¡± Ste said with a wide grin


    | bent to kiss the tops of each twin¡¯s head, then Ste¡¯s. ¡°Good job, all of you. And thanks, Ma, for teaching them.¡±


    ¡°They''re all so bright.¡± She beamed at me, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes. She lowered her voice. ¡°How''s your brother


    doing?¡±


    Mason had been stalking around the house all morning, getting ready to go into town and meet up with Asher. We''d all been


    letting him know we were there for him but also giving him space.


    ¡°He¡¯s got a lot on his mind,¡± | told her.


    She nodded. ¡°Of course. You all do. There¡¯ve been a lot of changes around here in a very short time. But | have faith in the Moon


    Goddess that her ns are all meant toe to fruition. Whatever she has in store for us, it¡¯s going to be exactly right.¡±


    | definitely did not have my mother¡¯s faith, but | knew better than to argue with her. | watched the kids ying with the blocks for


    a few minutes more, really studying them.


    ¡°Ste is a lot more advanced than ina and Isaac | thought to Lanie. ¡°She¡¯s speaking in full sentences. She¡¯s sorting the


    blocks like she¡¯s been doing it for years.¡±


    ¡°You sound worried,¡± Lanie thought in reply.


    | caught her eye from across the room and gave my head a subtle shake. ¡°Proud. But is this normal?¡±


    She shrugged and looked over her shoulder to Mason, who was still pacing in the kitchen. She directed her thoughts to me. ¡°I


    don¡¯t know what normal is anymore, but | don¡¯t think this family can be described that way¡±


    back.


    Out loud, she said, ¡°It¡¯s almost three. Mason, love, are you leaving soon?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± He sounded sharp, and my instinct was to growl at him for being short with our mate, but | held


    My mother gave me an approving nod.


    D amn, this emotional bonding stuff was hard.


    ¡°Tell Hank | said ¡®hi,¡± Lanie said with deliberate cheerfulness.


    ¡°Asher texted me to meet him at the pub, instead,¡± Mason said. ¡°I better get going¡±


    Without another word, he pushed past her and headed for the front door.


    Through the front windows, | saw Zane ce a hand on Mason¡¯s shoulder. They spoke in low voices for a moment, and then


    Mason nodded. Zane pped him on the back.


    Pride filled me at the sight that would¡¯ve enraged me just a few weeks ago.


    ¡°You''re a good Beta,¡± | thought to Zane


    ¡°| hope so,¡± he thought back, sounding a little grim. ¡°Because | think that after this conversation today 2/2

 Chapter 275

    Chapter 275


    Mason


    | was seriously debating about running into town as my wolf when Xander came over to my truck. | raised a hand in greeting.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    me


    ¡°You need us, you call for us. We''ll be there right away,¡± he said.


    | nodded. ¡°Thanks, man. But | won''t need you. This conversation¡¯s going to suck, but it¡¯s been weighing on


    for way


    too long. | need to get everything out in the open, clear the air. Asher deserves to know that I¡¯ve officially epted Zane as my


    Beta. It would be shi tty of me not to tell him in person.¡±


    My brother gave a solemn nod as his wolf shed for a few seconds in his gaze. ¡°You know that even if things weren¡¯t the way


    they are with the four of us, you could never have taken him as your Beta. Not with the way he had feelings for Lanie. Your wolf


    would never trust him around her. And withoutplete trust...¡±


    | shot a nce towards the house, but Zane had gone inside. ¡°It¡¯s not good if you can¡¯t fully trust your Beta¡±


    ¡°With everything. Your mate. Your life. All of it.¡± Xander also looked toward the house, and | heard the swell of pride and love in


    his voice. When he looked back to me, | could see theplicated ripple of emotions moving over his features.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Even th


    though our connection was letting me tune in to him, it wasn¡¯t the same as actively reading him. Not the way we¡¯d been able to


    do with our Luna.


    ¡°When | get back, we need to talk about Lanie and the way she¡¯s been sending,¡± | told him. ¡°Figu there¡¯s anything significant we


    need to know.¡±


    ¡°Like. ...maybe it¡¯s her vampire side? Xander tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in thought. ¡°Do you t it''s dangerous? | thought


    maybe it was just another way we''re all bonding. Like, none of this is the way it usually goes, so this was just one more way


    we''re unique¡±


    | shrugged. ¡°Could be. But it¡¯s probably worth exploring. We''re all in this for the long haul, brother, so we¡¯d better get a good


    handle on it now.¡±


    He grinned and punched my bicep lightly. ¡°I¡¯ll see you when you get back. If sh it goes down, though, seriously. Just shout. We''ll


    be there.¡±


    ¡°| know you will.¡±


    That was the thing-I did know it.


    Xander and | had been enemies because of s tupid circumstances, but the truth was, we were brothers,


    and we had each other''s backs.


    ¡°Always,¡± he said, but | couldn¡¯t tell if he was echoing my thoughts or sharing his own.


    Honestly, | wasn¡¯t sure it mattered anymore. Whatever was going on with all of us was out of our control.


    than believe in Zane, | had to ept that the Goddess wanted me to trust Xander, too.


    The drive into town didn¡¯t take any more time than usual, but it felt like for-f ucking-ever. By the time | pulled up in front of the pub


    where Asher had decided to meet, | was wishing | had given in to my impulse to run here as my wolf. It wouldn¡¯t have made it


    any easier to face my best friend-who might now be my former best friend-but it would¡¯ve felt good for me.


    As it was, Colt was close to the surface, pacing and ready to pounce. | had to soothe him down. Whatever the conversation with


    Asher led to, | didn¡¯t want to start it offing in like | was ready for battle.


    It took me a few minutes to find him in the dimly lit pub. As | stepped through the doorway, the hairs on the back of my neck


    tingled and rose. | scanned the room quickly, Colt leaping up with a snarl. | saw no signs of danger. The only people in the ce


    were the bartender, a waitress standing near the back, and Asher, in the far corner. He had a ss of something amber in front


    of him.


    | ordered a whiskey and a tallger from the bar and carried them to the booth. | slid the whiskey in front him. ¡°Quit nursing that


    watered-down c rap and have a real drink.¡±


    For a moment, | thought he was going to snarl at me, but then heughed. He shook his head and waved at the seat across from


    him. ¡°Far be it from me to turn down a drink¡±


    | slid into the booth with my beer. ¡°Thanks for meeting with me. We have a lot to talk about.¡±


    Asher raised his ss and waited for me to do the same. The clink of the sses against each other was very loud. He took a


    long, slow slip before putting his ss onto the table with a small thud. He fixed me with a thin, grim smile.


    ¡°Then you''d better get talking, friend.¡±

 Chapter 276

    Lanie


    Gabri a


    and | had spent the morning working with the pups.


    She was the one who¡¯d brought up the subject of their schooling.


    Obviously, we weren''t going to be putting them in school, at least not for a while, but Ste was maturing so fast, she needed


    some kind of learning.


    She was outpacing the simple puzzle games, and although the twins weren¡¯t as advanced as she was, they were still thriving


    and growing at a remarkable pace


    a


    ¡°They''re all so smart,¡± | said proudly.


    ¡°Soon enough, we won''t be able to keep up with them. Especially her,¡± Gabri said in a low voice as she nodded toward Ste.


    Ste and ina were happily ying with a doll together, while Isaac ran a toy car around a makeshift racetrack Zane had


    drawn on an old cardboard box.


    ¡°There¡¯s a nice preschool in Stillwood. Sable¡¯s the head teacher there,¡± | said.


    Gabri pressed her lips together. ¡°I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s the best thing to send them to school just yet, for many reasons.¡±


    ¡°You''re worried about their safety,¡± | said quietly so the children wouldn''t overhear.


    I


    Xander¡¯s mother looked wary, then nodded. ¡°Of course | am. But more than that, | know you don¡¯t stay in Stillwood forever. At


    some point soon, you''re all going back to Constantine. If you get them start school here, it''ll be a bigger adjustment for them


    when we get back home.¡±


    ¡°Home,¡± | said, half to myself as | looked around the house I¡¯de to love so much. ¡°This feels like


    home. It¡¯s where we''ve all be a family.¡±


    ¡°Stillwood is a roguemunity, Lanie. And you are the Luna of Constantine Pack. | know you have


    strong emotional ties to this town, but Stillwood is a ce to visit. Not for you to stay permanently¡±


    ¡°| know you''re right. When Mason gets back from talking to Asher, | think we''ll have to have a family meeting and really decide


    whates next.¡±


    Not that | knew what that was going to be.


    ¡°The Moon Goddess will provide,¡± Gabri said serenely.


    As she said the words a pulse of warm energy surrounded me for a few seconds.


    ¡°| know you''re right about that, too. | just wish she¡¯d be a little more up front about what it is she¡¯s going to provide. What she


    wants from us. From me,¡± | added.


    Gabri smiled. ¡°It will hannon Have faith¡±: 1/2


    ¡°Are you okay to stay with them? I''d like to do a little research on homeschooling.¡± | didn¡¯t mean to lie to her, but the words


    slipped out.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Gabri didn¡¯t seem to notice anything weird in my tone. ¡°Sure, hon, you go ahead. I¡¯ve got this covered. We''re going to have a


    snack and a nap soon, anyway. Where are the boys?¡±


    ¡°They w


    went out for a run. | told them they needed to get out of the house or their nervous energy was going to drive me nuts.¡± |


    laughed, shaking my head. ¡°I think they¡¯re on alert in case things go wrong with


    Mason and Asher.¡±


    ¡°Do you think they will?¡± Gabri frowned.


    E


    | bit my lower lip for a second before giving my honest answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Their friendship was solid, but....


    ¡°Things can change,¡± she finished for me.


    We had a few sillent seconds while we thought about all the things that had changed for us. Then she waved me away. I kissed


    each of my pups and took myptop into the bedroom.


    | really did look up homeschooling options. Most of the hits were for human resources, which didn¡¯t apply to our fast-maturing


    pups, and most packs had a strong school system, with a lot of learning done at home or as a joint effort from the pack.


    Keeping the pups away from any kind of group learning meant they needed us to teach them, but that wasn¡¯t going to be as easy


    as setting them up with a set of blocks forever.


    | did find some good information about pup growth spurts and milestones, though. Ste was d


    definitely


    ahead of her twin siblings, even though they were a little older. My fingers flew over the keys, but | hesitated


    before typing in the next search string.


    Before | did, | sent a slight push out to Mason through the link. ¡°All good with you?¡±


    The seconds passed too slow before he answered. His response was clipped and brief. One word.


    Yep.


    Frowning, | nudged again, but he was shielding. With a little more force, | thought | could probably push through that block, but |


    didn''t.


    Instead, | turned back to myptop and put up one of my own.


    | couldn''t be sure how long it was going to take me to research all the things | was trying to find out, but |


    didn¡¯t want any of my mates peeking in on me while | was doing it.

 Chapter 277

    Chapter 277


    Mason


    ¡°Can | get you something to eat?¡±


    The waitress was so obvious with her curious looks that | wanted to snap at her to leave us the f uck alone, but Asher gave her a


    familiar, charming smile.


    ¡°Sure, sweetheart. How about tworge tters of hot wings, extra bleu cheese. Oh, and | want some fried beef rolls, too. Honey


    mustard¡±


    | had to stop myself from rolling my eyes as he ordered even more food, but it got the waitress to focus on taking our order rather


    than ogling us.


    too.


    ¡°Anyway, you''re treating,¡± he said with another grin, for me this time. ¡°And I¡¯m hungry


    | leaned back against the booth. ¡°It¡¯s going to be hard to talk with food in our mouths.¡±


    ¡°I''ll be eating. You''ll be the one talking.¡± He lifted his ss toward me again. ¡°T''ll need a few more of these,


    ¡°lm not even sure where to start.¡±


    ¡°How about with what the f uck did you mean by an ancient vampire killed Orion-f ucking-Constantine?¡± Asher lost the smile and


    leaned across the table, pitching his voice low. It still pped at me, each word sharp


    as a razor.


    ¡°| guess that¡¯s a good ce.¡± | tried to sound light, but Asher wasn¡¯t having it.


    His lip curled. ¡°The f uck were you doing around an ancient vamp to begin with?¡±From N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You''re go


    going to hate this answer, but | can¡¯t really tell you.¡± | braced myself for his fury, but Asher only let


    out a low growl ofughter.


    He shook his head and leaned back in his seat. ¡°Of course you f ucking can¡¯t. You¡¯re so full of secrets!


    can smell them oozing out your pores.¡±


    ¡°Look, there are things | shouldn''t even know for my own safety, and there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to put you any danger because of


    it. And | will not risk my family, either,¡± | told him in the same growling tone he¡¯d given


    me


    in


    ¡°Who''s the vamp?¡±


    | hesitated but answered reluctantly. ¡°Name¡¯s Mchi.¡±


    ¡°No, | mean....who is he? Why the f uck was he able to get to Orion in the first ce, and why would he kill him?¡± Asher sat


    upright with a sick expression twisting his features. ¡°S hit F uck. The Treaty¡¯s been broken?¡±


    ¡°| mean, the Treaty said that we wouldn''t kill each other, so yeah¡± | took a long pull off my beer, wishing there was an easier way


    for this conversation to happen. There was too much | still didn¡¯t know...and too much


    Asher was quiet for a long few seconds. He drained his ss and opened his mouth to speak, but the waitress arrived with the


    tters of food. She put them on the table, chattering away and flirting with him-or trying to. But unlike before, this time, Asher


    didn¡¯t give her a charming smile.


    His face had gone dark. His teeth gleamed, too sharp. His eyes shed, setting her back a few steps. He flicked a hand at her in


    a gesture more authoritative than I''d ever seen him make.


    ¡°Go. We don¡¯t need anything else from you. Do note back,¡± he added without looking at h burned into mine. ¡°My friend and |


    need to be left the f uck alone. You got that?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± she mumbled and scurried away.


    ¡°If the Treaty has been broken, why hasn¡¯t anyone heard about it?¡± he asked finally.


    her. His gaze


    | rubbed at the space between my eyes as a pulse came in from Lanie. She was checking in on me, and that should¡¯ve made me


    feel good, but it only reminded me that the man across from me had once been interested in her. It reminded me that she and |


    were connected in ways | didn¡¯t understand and would not be able to exin, | answered her quickly and then put up a shield.


    When | focused back on Asher, he was staring with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know why nothing¡¯s happened about the Treaty. That''s the truth, | vow to the Moon,¡± | told him.


    He stared in silence, and the seconds ticked on between us. | wasn¡¯t going to say anything first. Asher needed to guide this


    conversation. He deserved to get what he needed from me.


    | only hoped I''d be able to give it to him.


    ¡°She was linking to you, huh? A minute ago.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s my mate,¡± | said solidly, without flinching or any note of apology in my tone. If we were going to fight about this, best to get


    it out of the way right off the bat. My rtionship with Lanie was the one thing | was never going to be sorry about.


    you.¡±


    ¡°She should''ve been our mate,¡± Asher said. ¡°Tell me that can¡¯t still happen. | need to hear it straight from


    ¡°Lanie can¡¯t be our mate, Asher. I¡¯ve epted Zane as my Beta.¡±

 Chapter 278

    Chapter 278


    Lanie


    My gentle m ental inquiry out to Xander and Zane told me they were still gleefully running as their wolves.


    They''d be gone for a while, which was good, because no matter how fast my fingers flew over the keyboard, | was having a hard


    time getting to where | needed to be.


    The dark web wasn¡¯t as easy to navigate as the regr inte.


    The back door ways I''d found before when | was researching had since been mostly shut down, and the ones that weren''t led


    me all over to everywhere but where | wanted to go. Every rabbit hole | could imagine prompted me to dive into it while |


    searched with as many different questions as | could.


    Finally, frustrated to the point of tears, | shut myptop lid and pressed my fingertips against my eyes.


    | took a few deep breaths.


    | knew it wasn¡¯t as easy as simply opening up a browser and navigating to a handy website that would let me download a


    cheerful brochure outlining all the ways hybrids were different. Even so, | couldn¡¯t stop the simmering resentment getting ready


    to boil over as each link | clicked took me to junky sites, outdated message boards or, worst of all, gross porn.


    I sent up a silent plea to the Moon Goddess for guidance.


    Images formed and swirled in my mind as | did my best to tap into my Luna powers. They still seemed s distant sometimes. Like


    | could sense how to call on them, but they weren¡¯t quite as responsive as | wanted


    them to be.From N?velDrama.Org.


    | closed my eyes and tried hard to let the light of the Moon Goddess fill me. After what felt like an hour, |


    opened them.


    Only four minutes had passed.


    Now | was even more frustrated. | got up to pace around the room. It had been so easy before! I¡¯d reached


    out to the Goddess, not really even knowing what, exactly, | was doing, and she¡¯d answered by filling me with.


    confidence. This time, | got nothing.


    | tried again.


    | added words. ¡°Oh, Moon Goddess, | beseech you to give me a sign of what | should be doing to get the


    information I¡¯m seeking. Please fill me with your wisdom and the confidence to know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    | settled myself again at the keyboard and waited with my fingers poised to type away. Slowly, slowly, | tapped out one word into


    the browser window. Then another. It wasn¡¯t making much sense, and it wasn¡¯t the search | wanted to make, but somehow it got


    me to something that looked right. Or close to right, anyway, and


    that was a start.


    Relief washed over me. For a few minutes, it had really felt like the Moon Goddess had abandoned me.


    ess her strength. She guided me to downloading a new browser and | also figured out how to mask my


    location.


    I''d never thought much about usingputers before, but now it was like I¡¯d spent my entire life learning how to hack into sites


    and message boards | would never have known existed a few months ago.


    This stopped me. My heart raced, and my throat closed. A few months ago, | hadn¡¯t had to know anything. like this. Now,


    whatever | could find out might save my daughter''s life.


    And mine.


    Quickly, | typed in another search string that | hoped would lead me to more information about hybrids. My precious Ste was


    growing so much faster than we could ever have expected. | wanted to be sure there wasn¡¯t anything wrong with her.


    ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± | muttered as | typed a little faster but got stalled by a site that was clearly designed as a decoy. ¡°Someone out there


    has to know something.¡±


    Asurge of Alpha energy tickled the edges of my concentration. Xander? Or Mason?


    | couldn''t be sure, only that whoever it was, he was getting a little agitated.


    Probably Mason.


    Not thinking much about it, | sent out a pulse of Luna energy. He¡¯d been pretty clear earlier that he didn¡¯t want me bothering him,


    and honestly, right now, | was just trying to get through as much of this dark web information as | could find before any of my


    mates got home.


    | wasn¡¯t worried that they¡¯d be angry about it. | knew they wanted to find out as much as | did. B knew how protective all of them


    could be, and thest thing | needed was three di cks swinging arou in my way.


    The Goddess was guiding me. She was showing me. And | would be the one to solve this puzzle... could get in just a little


    deeper.

 Chapter 279

    Chapter 279


    Mason


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even have to tell me that. | saw it written all over your face,¡± Asher said. ¡°F uck, | could practically smell him all over


    you.


    His sneer revealed sharp teeth he used to tear into a wing, devouring it in seconds. He tossed the bones onto a te and


    scrubbed at his finger¡¯s with a napkin while | watched, saying nothing.


    ¡°Just tell me that wasn¡¯t the n all along.¡± Asher spat out finally.


    | sighed. ¡°Of course it wasn''t. It just...happened.¡±


    He grimaced. ¡°Not sure how s hit like that can just ¡®happen, but whatever.¡±


    There wasn¡¯t a whole lot | could say to make any of this better, but | was d amn sure going to try. Asher had been my best friend,


    my right-hand man, for years. | hated that he looked at me now like I¡¯d let him down...


    | hated knowing that | had.


    ¡°You know the ways of the Moon are not always clear,¡± | said in a low voice. ¡°If this is what the Goddess, wants for me, Asher, |


    can¡¯t go against that.¡±


    He narrowed his eyes and then hung his head. His shoulders lifted and dropped in a heavy sigh.


    ¡°It just feels |


    feels like you didn¡¯t


    you didn¡¯t even f ucking try, man, You went off and left me here, not a f ucking word. Next thing | know, you¡¯re back with Lanie as


    your mate, but you¡¯re best buds with your brother. The one you swore end.¡±


    Asher lifted his head.


    ¡°Tell me the truth, man. This is all some kind of long game, right? You''re getting close to Xander Constantine because you¡¯re


    working our n, aren¡¯t you? In the end, you¡¯re really going rip him to shreds.¡±


    Zane


    Panting, | fell onto a bed of crispy leaves and pine needles and let my wolf retreat. There were always those few minutes of the


    in-between. When | wasn¡¯t fully wolf anymore, but | wasn¡¯t totally a man, either.


    Honestly, | kind of f ucking loved it.


    In the in-between, | didn¡¯t feel like | had to be anything other than me. No matter how much | loved being Xander¡¯s Beta, | was


    now also sworn to Mason. And | still wasn¡¯t sure how all of that was going to y out.


    For right now, | didn¡¯t have to worry about any of it. Only the stretching of my muscles and the soft whine


    of my wolf as he settled down to sleep. | joined him, allowing myself to rx into a doze


    | hadn''t been sleeping well ever since the night. well, the night whatever had happened, happened.


    close enough to see the house, but still in the shelter of the trees. He had his hands on his hips, fingers syed and pointing at


    his c rotch. So fully Alpha | had to shake my head with augh.


    ¡°You let me beat you,¡± he challenged, ¡°You know you''re faster than | am.¡±


    I


    | got up with a stretch and met him as he crossed to me. ¡°It¡¯s not always about winning, dude. Sometimes, it¡¯s just about.


    running. Having a good time.¡±


    He slung an arm around my shoulders and bumped his hip to mine. ¡°You hear anything from my brother? | poked him, but he


    shut me right the f uck down.¡±


    ¡°No. | can reach out to him again, but I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s shielding from us.¡± | sent out a few thoughts toward Mason, nothing too


    strong. He wouldn¡¯t like it if he thought we didn¡¯t believe he could handle himself, and there was no point in pi ssing him off when


    he was already in an emotional upheaval about having to talk to Asher.


    | spotted Xander studying me. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You,¡± he said with a shrug. ¡°You''re a good Beta. You¡¯re giving him space but checking in on him. He might not appreciate that


    yet, but he will.¡±


    ¡°| hope so.¡±


    Together, we headed for the house. | paused at an old pump out by the shed to draw some cold, clear water from the spring. |


    drank my fill and let it flood over me to wash away at least some of the sweat from running. When | stood up, Xander¡¯s eyes


    were zing


    | knew what that look meant. | grinned, returning it. Slowly, | ran my hands through my wet hair.


    ¡°Time for a cut soon,¡± | said.


    ¡°No.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I like it long.¡±


    ¡°Your wish is mymand, Alpha.¡±From N?velDrama.Org.


    Xander rolled his eyes, but | could tell he liked it, too. We were on the porch when a surge of Alpha anger poked at my ribs hard


    enough to make me cough. It wasn¡¯t him, obviously, but he sensed it, too. His head went up, nostrils ring.


    ¡°It''s Mason.¡±

 Chapter 280

    Chapter 280


    Mason


    | did my best to keep my voice level, but it still came out hard as iron, cold as ice.


    ¡°Be very, very f ucking careful if you intend to keep going in that direction,¡± | told him. ¡°I do not want to drag you out of here and


    throw down in the street, but | will.¡±


    Asher rocked his chair back. | knew he could tell | was dead serious. A begrudging look of respect crossed his face, and finally,


    he gave a small, firm nod.


    ¡°Okay, so you really did manage to find your way to brotherly bliss. And get yourself a brand-new Beta, too. Forgive me if I¡¯m not


    quite as overjoyed as you are about it.¡± He dug back into the tter of wings.


    ¡°| never wante


    wanted to choose someone over you, Asher. But when Mchi killed Orion, he passed his Alpha powers along to me, meaning


    that Xander and | both hold them.¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Asher gave his head a stubborn shake. ¡°That¡¯s not how it works.¡±


    ¡°Apparently, it does. Orion gave Xander, his acknowledged son, the role of Alpha, along with his powers, when he decided it was


    time. But ording to Gabri...Xander¡¯s mother,¡± | reminded Asher quickly, ¡°every Alpha holds on to some residual power,


    even if they choose to step down and hand over the pack to a sessor. They keep it until they die, when it gets passed along


    to the next Alpha in line. He¡¯d chosen Xander,


    but it turned out that I''m the firstborn.¡±.


    ¡°So....you are the true Alpha!¡± Asher cried in triumph, smacking a fist against the table. ¡°You could just


    take him down!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure, if he hadn¡¯t already granted the title and his powers to Xander. Me getting them didn¡¯t strip them away from


    someone who already had them. Besides, man...| don¡¯t want to.¡±


    Asher stared at me for a long, silent moment. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand what happened. For so many years, all you talked about


    was getting revenge on your deadbeat dad. You hated your brother. And now you share a


    mate with him. Which is f ucked up, by the way¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s f ucked up.¡± | nodded. ¡°Is it something we can change? No. So we decided it was better to find a way to work together.


    And all those years of me hating my brother for something our father did? | had to let it go. It was like a poison inside me. | hope


    you can let it go, too.¡±


    Asher sucked hot sauce off his fingers while looking me right in the eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know if | can. How does


    any of this even work? Because it all still sounds like b ullsh it to me.¡±


    ¡°| wish | could tell you,¡± | answered honestly, hoping he¡¯d be able to sense my genuine sincerity, even if he wasn¡¯t close enough


    to be my Beta anymore. ¡°We really just don¡¯t know. We''re trying to find out, but in the


    meantime-


    When Asher attacked me verbally, my wolf had reacted. | must''ve sent out some Alpha surge, because | felt Zane in my head.


    Carefully, | made sure to put up my shields. | knew he was just doing what a good Beta


    but Ln didak jum tad de pah that in Ankara faanA


    1/2


    ¡°F uck, you''re linking with them right now, aren¡¯t you?¡± Asher demanded, jabbing a finger at me.¡± Lanie, but the other two also?¡±


    ¡°Not just


    ¡°Yes. The four of us mind link. All together, and one-on-one. | think it¡¯s because of the joint powers between me and Xander.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s why Zane is your Beta, too, huh?¡±


    Asher hung his head again, both his hands t on the table. When he looked up, | hated the expression twisted across his face.


    ¡°We''ve been through some serious s hit, dude, but | never in a million moons thought we¡¯d ever be sitting across from each other


    talking about how you picked another Beta over me. F uck. | can handle Lanie not choosing me. If | were her, I¡¯d do the same.


    But you...¡±


    | reached across the table to tighten my fingers around his wrist for a few seconds before he pulled away ¡°None of this means


    we can''t be friends. We can still work together.¡±


    ¡°You want me to what? Join you? Be part of Constantine pack?¡±


    Was that what | wanted? Xander¡¯d had a point about trusting Asher around Lanie. | didn¡¯t think my best friend...former best


    friend, | guess, would ever try to get between me and my mate. On the other hand, he clearly never believed he wouldn¡¯t


    be my Beta.


    People had done worse things for better reasons.


    ¡°It''s something we could talk about,¡± | told him evenly. ¡°You''d have to swear fealty, of course. But you¡¯re a good man, Asher.


    What do you say?¡±

 Chapter 281

    Chapter 281


    Lanie


    | pulled up one site that listed a few facts about hybrids, but nothing | didn¡¯t already know. That site led me to another one with a


    little more information. Mostly spective rather than first-person experiences. A lot of it seemed wrong.


    | was desperate to find out anything that | could use to prepare for raising Ste, but my next hit turned out not to be


    about hybrids, at least not directly. It was an old message board where someone had been asking if it was possible that a Luna


    could ever be stronger than her Alpha.


    There hadn''t been much activity in the past few years, but what | first read chilled me and sent my heart racing. The person


    who''d made the initial post described, well...pretty much everything I¡¯d been feelingtely.


    Astrong connection to the Moon Goddess. Knowledge about things previously unknown. The ability to send emotions to her


    mates, or rather, an inability not to send them. There were more items on the list, and as | read them, | felt my palms start to


    sweat. The final entry took my breath away.


    The ability topel


    Alphas could do that, sure, but it wasn¡¯t something Lunas were meant to be able to do. But | could, and had. Even now, when |


    thought back to the strange push of power that had flowed through me when | was using that ability, | could hardly believe it. |


    mean, sh it, | could hardly believe anything that had happened to me since that Mating Day, so why was this such a hard thing to


    swallow?


    After all, | knew | was a hybrid.


    The person who''d written this post, though, didn¡¯t seem to have any idea that hybrids existed. She wa Luna from a pack


    somece in the Midwest, a tiny one by the description. She¡¯d been mated to her Alpha a


    her Beta practically from birth, arranged by agreement between both sets of parents. Her father had been her Alpha¡¯s father¡¯s


    Beta. It seemed a little tangled up to me, but who was | to judge? | had two brothers as my


    mates.


    ording to the post, this Luna, who used the screen name ¡°DarkLuna,¡± had first discovered that she


    could ess and control Luna powers immediately after her Mating Day.


    That wasn¡¯t the weird thing.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    It was that after a few months, she¡¯d started to notice that her Alpha was getting stronger, too...but only


    when she was around and, as the poster put it, ¡°giving him a push.¡±


    I sat back in my chair to study this. Xander had been strong when | met him, and he was even stronger now. But that hadn''t


    seemed unusual. It certainly wasn¡¯t something | could directly attribute to anything I''d


    been doing for him.


    My strengths were definitely growing, though.


    | read through to the end of her post, and my heart went out to her. For poor DarkLuna, the stronger she


    1/2


    treated bar. And all


    actually helped him!


    Frowning, | scanned the first set ofments. There were the usual trolling sort, telling her she should never have let herself be


    stronger than her Alpha. ¡°Let,¡± like she could help it? Like it was her fault the Moon Goddess had gifted her with more than what


    her Alpha had?


    Xander would never resent me for my strengths, | told myself. But there was a small part of me that connected so much with


    DarkLuna and it made me worry.


    mall,


    Other than the initial post, DarkLuna hadn''t responded to any of thements. | read them all, even the ones that made me see


    red with anger. | needed to find out if the reason why she was stronger had anything to do with being a hybrid. And finally, in one


    of the finalments, left muchter than the others, | got a glimmer of an answer.


    It was from someone whose username was ¡°Seek The Truth.¡± They had a shortment, only a few words, but reading them


    sent a shard of ice right to the base of my spine.


    ¡°You need to ask your parents about a fox in the henhouse,¡± the post read. ¡°Because the only way a Lunat could ever be


    stronger than her Alpha is if she¡¯s got mixed blood.¡±


    There were a bunch ofments piling on that one, most of them nasty. It seemed even the idea of a hybrid to these people


    was so disgusting, they had to scream in ALL CAPS at strangers on the dark web about


    it


    A fewments pointed out that Alphas can be weak for a lot of reasons. And any Alpha that treats his Luna like s hit because


    she makes him insecure was also probably not too strong to begin with.


    But most of the posters were slinging around derogatory terms for hybrids. Or they were saying hybrids were ¡°only theoretical¡±


    and ¡°impossible¡± and ¡°crimes against the Goddess¡± and, to me, worst of all, ¡°monstrosities that should be put down at birth.¡±


    Tears flooded my eyes as thoughts of my sweet Ste flooded my mind. My little girl was not a


    monstrosity. My sister wasn¡¯t. My mother wasn¡¯t. | was not


    Words on a screen were only words and couldn¡¯t hurt me. | dashed away my tears and got back to work. | was onto something.


    First, | clicked on DarkLuna¡¯s screen name, hoping I''d be able to find a way to connect with her.


    The link took to me to another site, and what | saw there had me gasping aloud,

 Chapter 282

    Mason


    Asher pushed his half-eaten tter of wings to the side. He shook his head.


    I


    ¡°| don¡¯t know what to tell you, Mason. | guess if you need an answer right this minute, it''ll have to be ¡®no.¡±


    | shook my head. | wasn¡¯t surprised by what he said, but | was d he wasn¡¯t raging at me about it.


    ¡°| get it. All of this is heavy stuff. You need time to think about it. Hell, | wouldn¡¯t want you to agree right away. If you decide to join


    us, | want you to be a hundred percent certain that it¡¯s the right choice for you.¡±


    He cut his gaze from me and rubbed the back of his hand over his mouth. Finally, he turned back to me. His gaze red briefly


    with a hint of his wolf.


    ¡°You know s hit¡¯s going to go down,¡± he said.


    | nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°If the Treaty¡¯s been broken, that means another war, F uck, another Great War.¡±


    ¡°Probably,¡± | agreed. ¡°Yes.¡±


    There was so much more for me to tell him, too. The existence of hybrids. What the Council was doing with them, and my


    father¡¯s role in all of that. The fact that Lanie was a hybrid. And her daughter. At least some of that would help exin why


    Mchi had been around in the first ce.


    | kept my mouth shut, though.


    There was so much we didn¡¯t know, and | didn¡¯t want to open that can of worms with him until | had more answers. Until he¡¯d


    sworn his loyalty. Until | was sure | could trust him,


    Asher let his head fall back with a groan. ¡°If all of this had just been over a woman, we could''ve just brawled it out and gotten


    over it.¡±


    ¡°| know.¡±


    He eyed me. ¡°That baby is your brother¡¯s, isn¡¯t it? She looked a helluva lot like


    you.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Lanie was mated to Xander and Zane before she came to Stillwood.¡± | waited for the next set of questions.


    ¡°My sister told me some f ucked-up story that Katie had lost her memory and that¡¯s why she came here.¡± Asher sat up straight.


    ¡°And you never wondered about all of that?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Of course, | knew the whole story, but | was pretty sure Lanie had told Quinn only an abbreviated version


    of it.


    ¡°She shows up pregnant and alone, can¡¯t remember anything¡± He used air quotes. ¡°Gets you to f her, ends up getting you to go


    to Constantinends...From N?velDrama.Org.


    fall for


    starting to have feelings for each other.¡±


    it.


    Asher quirked an eyebrow at me. ¡°You sure about that, bro?¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡± | caught myself pushing some Alpha energy toward him, and | could tell he felt


    ¡°Everything cool, bro?¡± Zane thought to me.


    | appreciated that my Beta had my back, but | didn¡¯t need him in my head right now. | put up my shields again, | focused on


    Asher.


    ¡°I''m just saying.¡± Asher¡¯s tone was sly. ¡°It kind of seems like she reeled you in with the whole damsel in distress routine, got you


    h ooked on her, got you wanting to be a father to a pup that wasn¡¯t even yours, and she just happened to be mated to your


    brother? And now all of you are in some kind of tangled up quartet, sharing powers and a Beta? I¡¯m just saying,¡± he repeated, ¡°it


    seems a little f ucking contrived.¡±


    ¡°Or,¡± | replied as evenly as | could, ¡°you¡¯re jealous that Lanie didn¡¯t have feelings for you.¡±


    Asher shrugged and leaned back in his seat. ¡°There are plenty of women. | don¡¯t need to fight you Especially not one who¡¯s


    already mated to someone else don¡¯t need sl oppy seconds.¡±


    for one.


    | was over the table with my fists in the front of his shirt before he could blink...and Asher didn¡¯t even do that. His grin was wide


    and full of dark humor. He¡¯d been taunting me on purpose.


    | released my grip and sat back with a frown. ¡°You¡¯re an as shole.¡±


    ¡°Maybe | get to be, just a little. Don¡¯t you think?¡± He c ocked his head at me.


    Grudgingly, | nodded.


    His mouth twisted. ¡°Look, man. | appreciate that you came here alone without your two goons. And I¡¯m d you were able to tell


    me the truth about getting a different Beta. I''m d you confided in me as much as you could about all that other s hit, too. But |


    don¡¯t think we are friends anymore. Not sure we ever will be again. If you thought bying here that we''d be all cool like


    nothing ever went down, I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you.


    I shook my head. ¡°No. | didn¡¯t think that. But thanks for meeting me. | hope...sh it, man. | get it if you don¡¯t want to hang out. But |


    hope we aren¡¯t enemies.¡±


    Asher gave me a single, slow nod. ¡°Yeah. Me too. | guess we''ll have to wait and see

 Chapter 283

    Chapter 283


    Lanie


    The site | linked to from thement on DarkLuna¡¯s post was all about the Great Wars. The history of vampires, witches, and


    wolves


    There was even an entire section on human history and how their world and ours intersected. | skimmed over the entries, which


    were almost like a diary. It looked like DarkLuna had been researching for a while and posting entries as she discovered


    information.


    In addition to the posts on history, she¡¯d written essays on her theories about why her powers were so much stronger than


    expected. | read eagerly, hoping she¡¯d have some big reveal about discovering that she had a vampire grandfather, the way I


    had, but I reached the end of the posts still disappointed. Also, heartbroken.


    Her entire life had been torn apart by her jealous Alpha. She didn¡¯t state it directly but hinted at him turning abusive. Refusing to


    have pups with her. Taking a mistress.


    If DarkLuna had ever figured out that she was a hybrid, she didn¡¯t share it in this online journal.


    Thest entry was dated from a few years ago, and | wondered what had happened to her. Did she just get tired of posting? Or


    had something kept her from it? Most of the entries were locked fromments, but thest one was open,


    There were the typical number of s u pidments, and | read them but tried to ignore what they said Finally, there it was. A


    comment from SeekTheTruth.


    ¡°Lots of history here, friend. Did you look into your own and figure out the truth?¡±


    The date of thatstment was the date of thest entry.


    Had SeekTheTruth scared DarkLuna off the dark web?


    A re of Mason''s Alpha energy distracted me for a second. | tuned into him. He was shielding, so | connected with my other two


    mates.


    ¡°Zane checked on him. We''re ready if he needs us. What are you doing in there? Ma said we needed to leave you alone,¡±


    Xander thought.


    ¡°Til be out soon.¡±


    | hated not being fully honest with my mate, but until | had some answers, | didn¡¯t want to share anything.


    | shut down the link and got back to theputer.


    It seemed pretty clear to me that DarkLuna was a hybrid, and that Seek The Truth knew about hybrids and


    was p


    possibly one, too. No fresh search turned up anything from or about DarkLuna, though. She could have


    changed her usernarne or just stopped posting


    Or, something bad could have happened to her.From N?velDrama.Org.


    My next quick check was for any information | could find about a Luna in the Midwest being exiled.


    Or worse. ..killed.


    My fingers shook as | clicked another link, expecting to be taken to a site with a horrible news story, but Instead | found myself on


    a page filled with smiley faces, rainbows, and balloons


    ¡°What the f uck?¡±


    ¡°Baby? You okay?¡± Xander thought to me at once.


    S hit, I''d been sending my shock. | really, really needed to learn how to control that.


    ¡°All good, love. | need a little more time with this project, okay?¡±


    | imagined his face as | sensed his grumbling answer, and my heart twisted as | thought of poor DarkLuna¡¯s experiences, | really


    wanted to find out if she was okay. Everything about this site should''ve felt happy, but it felt ominous.


    | looked all over it, but there weren''t any words. Only floating balloons that bobbed up and down. The rainbows sparkled


    asionally. The smilies sometimes winked. Whoever had designed this site was a big fan of vintage websites. | was surprised


    the cursor didn¡¯t trail butterflies with the motion, and there wasn¡¯t any electronic music ying in a loop.


    Carefully, | dragged the cursor across the screen, watching to see if it became a clickable link. Finally, one of the balloons turned


    out to be clickable. | had tough, even though | was getting pretty frustrated. and running out of time.


    ¡°Why all the jumping through hoops?¡± | murmured to myself. ¡°It¡¯s the dark web, it¡¯s not like thin a public forum or something.¡±


    Still, | guess the existence of hybrids was controversial enough that whoever was posting int about it wanted searchers to really


    work hard to find it. My frustration wasn¡¯t going to make me qui on the balloon and waited a few seconds while the screen went


    dark.


    It stayed dark.


    | frowned and navigated back to the cheerynding page. Dragged my cursor around. That balloon was the only clickable link.


    So, | clicked it again.


    That same dark page filled my screen. This time, though, | forced myself to have more patience. | waited for it to fully load. As |


    was dragging my cursor around it, seeing if there were any hidden links, a small chat


    box popped up in the center of the screen.


    Five words, white on ck.


    Do You Seek The Truth?

 Chapter 284

    Lanie


    When the rush of adrenaline flooded me, | immediately sensed my mates¡¯ attention.


    At once, | closed down my entire body with everything | had.


    | focused hard, shielding, blocking, whatever | could. | did not want any of my mates feeling the exhration and terror rushing


    through me. The two here at home would rush in, breaking down the door if they had to. And Mason would probably drive so fast


    to get home he''d risk wrecking his car.


    And...| didn¡¯t need any of them. My pounding heart and panting breaths were fear, sure, but | wasn¡¯t in any real danger. Plus, |


    wanted to handle this on my own first, the best | could.


    ¡°Love?¡± Zane¡¯s voice drifted to me through the veil I''d hung between all of us.


    ¡°Lanie, I¡¯ming in,¡± Xander thought to me.


    ¡°No, my loves, I¡¯m fine. | promise you, | need some more time alone. Don¡¯te in.¡±


    | waited, holding my breath and forcing myself to calm down. | looked at the door, expecting it to fly open.


    After half a minute, Xander¡¯s voice came to me. ¡°If you need us, we¡¯re right outside. If we don¡¯t hear from


    you in thirty minutes, we¡¯reing through that door whether you like it or not.¡±


    | sighed but alsoughed softly. | thought back, ¡°I need at least an hour.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    | could tell he wasn¡¯t happy about it, but | was also d my mates were willing to let me do w


    Taking a few deep breaths and sending up some grateful prayers to the Goddess, along with a p additional guidance, | turned


    back to myptop.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The white words Do You Seek The Truth? blinked slowly on the ck background. Beneath them was solid white rectangle.


    Cautiously, | moved the cursor inside it and typed my reply.


    YES


    Nothing happened for a few seconds as | waited, tension coiling inside and all around me.


    | became aware of my Luna glow pulsing, and | eased it back. It was hard enough to keep my mates from sensing my anxiety. |


    definitely didn¡¯t want them seeing anything through the window or under the door, especially since they were right outside.


    Probably listening in.


    As | calmed myself, the screen slowly faded into pale gray, then changed to white. A single word centered


    on the screen, this time with a blinking ck rectangle below it.


    ENTER


    | clicked the rectangle. A wry chuckle trickled out of me at all the drama, but | couldn¡¯t deny that | was intrigued. Was it a way to


    chase off people who didn¡¯t want to make the effort, or was there something more


    to it?


    A popup warned me that | was being tracked by DARK WEB HACKERS who were going to drain my bank ounts, steal my


    identity, steal my mates, and sleep with my mother.


    It was all very threatening, but | ignored it. There wasn¡¯t anything on this oldptop that | cared about, and the Goddess had


    guided me on exactly how to set everything up so when | logged onto the dark web, nothing could be traced to me.


    After a few seconds in which | did nothing but wait, another popup followed it.


    YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. THE BACK BUTTON IS YOUR FRIEND. LEAVE NOW, AND YOU WILL BE SPARED.


    ¡°I''m not going anywhere,¡± | murmured, leaning closer to the screen to see if | could discern any kind of pattern or links on the


    page, maybe white text on the white background or something like that.


    That was it!


    DO


    YOU


    SEEK


    THE TRUTH?


    This time, | giggled aloud and clicked the pale box below the almost invisible words. The screen chan


    changed again, this time to a swirling pattern of stars with a full moon glowing in the top corner. More words appeared scrolling


    down the screen so fast | had to read quickly or else I¡¯d miss them.


    ARE YOU A LUNA?


    | didn¡¯t see a ce to type anything, but a small microphone icon blinked beneath the words, and | took a


    chance.


    ¡°Yes,¡± | whispered.


    | hadn''t given any permissions to ess my microphone, but it seemed the site was able to hear me,


    because the next question zoomed onto the screen like a movie title.


    ARE YOU STRONGER THAN ALUNA IS SUPPOSED TO BE?


    ¡°Yes. | think so.¡±


    ARE YOU STRONGER THAN YOUR ALPHA?


    ¡°No...I¡¯m not sure. Maybe.¡±


    The screen went dark again. | waited, holding my breath, for another question to blink onto the screen.


    ARE YOU, OR DO YOU BELIEVE YOU MIGHT BE, AHYBRID?


    There was only one way for me t to answer that question and | leaned in close to whisper the words to the 2/3


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Anew word appeared, blinking slowly.


    ENTER


    So, | clicked it.

 Chapter 285

    Chapter 285


    Lanie


    This time, | ended up in a more standard-looking chatroom.


    It had no name across the top bar, and the column along the side where all the participants should¡¯ve been listed was empty. It


    was me and one other person with the username DarkLuna. | hadn¡¯t expected that.


    There was a ce for me to enter my username. | thought quickly and typed in something simple: LunaLooking


    I


    As soon as | hit enter, | got an immediate typed response.


    DarkLuna: Greetings, LunaLooking. What are you looking


    for?


    LunaLooking: Answers. Are you the same DarkLuna who posted on the sites that led me here?


    DarkLuna: Probably. Without knowing what sites led you here, how am | supposed to know?


    Even through text, the answer sounded smart-as s, but it had a point.


    | listed the site where I¡¯d started my search.


    LunaLooking: You were there talking about being stronger than your Alpha.


    The cursor blinked, spelling out the words one letter at a time, very slowly.


    DarkLuna: And that led you here?


    | typed much faster.


    LunaLooking: Yes.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    DarkLuna: Because you are a Luna who is stronger than her Alpha?


    Now it was my turn to hesitate before answering. | wondered about the person on the other side of the


    screen. Were they waiting and watching for my answer with as much anticipation as I''d waited for theirs?


    LunaLooking: | might be. Not physically. But | have some extra powers that | don¡¯t thinke from the Moon Godder


    DarkLuna: Why would you assume they came from something else?


    Again, | took my time typing out my answer


    LunaLooking. That''s why I¡¯m here. | want information about hybrids.


    | waited a few seconds and got an answer after that of a long series of paragraphs about animal hybrids.


    My stomach twisted.


    LunaLooking: Is this a joke? I¡¯m looking for real information.


    of curses. Aughing emoji appeared, and | realized that the site was still using my microphone to capture my


    voice.


    ¡°You listen to me,¡± | whispered fiercely. ¡°I am not f ucking around with this. | have personal, intimate knowledge about hybrids,


    probably a bunch of stuff you have no idea about. If you¡¯re a hybrid, you need to know what''sing for you. But | need more


    information from you, first.¡±


    | tensed, anticipating a verbal answer, but instead, words appeared slowly on the screen.


    DarkLuna: How do | know you''re telling the truth?


    The words blinked at me.


    | sighed and hung my head. Not wanting to risk my mates overhearing me, and with an eye on the time, |


    quickly typed my reply.


    LunaLooking: You don¡¯t. But | don¡¯t know that about you, either.


    Another few seconds ticked past while my heart lodged in my throat.


    DarkLuna: What do you want to know?


    LunaLooking: Everything. My daughter...


    | paused, hoping that | wasn¡¯t going to set myself up for disaster by revealing the truth about Ste.


    DarkLuna: Your pup is a hybrid. You mated with a vampire, or a witch?


    | decided just to go for it.


    LunaLooking: | found out recently that my grandfather is a vampire. Without going into all the


    have reason to believe that my daughter is growing faster and maturing sooner because she¡¯s ah


    And | want answers about why. Can you help me?


    From outside the door, | heard my mates pacing and muttering to each other in low voices. | even


    first ping through the mind link from Mason, on his way back from his meeting with Asher. All three of th were centering on me.


    My hour was almost up, and I''d have to cut this conversation short.


    LunaLooking: Hello?


    | typed quickly when DarkLuna didn¡¯t reply to myst question.


    LunaLooking: Can you help me figure out what is happening with my daughter? Can you tell me what to


    or anything at all about hybrids?


    expect,


    DarkLuna: You have information to share with me? You said you did.


    My breath caught in my throat as | sighed in relief. My fingers flew over the keys.


    LunaLooking: Yes. | have information about hybrids being targeted. Other information, too. I¡¯m willing to


    share it with you, if you tell me what | need to know.


    The cursor blinked, mocking me as DarkLuna did not reply.


    Hello? | typed again.


    Finally, the first letters began to appear.


    DarkLuria: Yes, | will help you, in exchange for your information. | can tell you what to expect for your daughter. But not online.


    Even on the dark web, it¡¯s too risky to share this. We''ll have to meet in person.


    | should have been immediately suspicious, but the moment the words appeared on the screen, my Luna glow surrounded me. A


    sense of anticipation, this time without anxiety, grew inside me. The soft murmur of the Goddess whispering her encouragement


    put a huge smile on my face. | typed an answer quickly.


    LunaLooking: Just tell me when and where, and I''ll be there.

 Chapter 286

    Lanie


    DarkLuna: You must be certain this is what you want. You can¡¯t go back from this.


    DarkLuna¡¯s words blinked into existence before my eyes.


    | hovered my hands over the keyboard, wanting to type my answer right away. Because there could only be one, right? Still, |


    took a few moments to reach out toward the Moon Goddess with everything | had.


    The room spun away from me. The floor became a dark chasm. The roof flew off, revealing the stars, the moon, the immensity of


    space. | closed my eyes and flew, even as | remainedpletely aware of the chair under me.


    My hands resting on the keys of myptop.


    Of my own breathing, in and out.


    I


    The Moon Goddess didn¡¯t speak to me this time. Everything | felt moved through me in what seemed like threads of light. They


    moved outward from my heart, into my veins, arteries, capiries.


    Lily howled, and her wolf senses filled me. Scents, sounds, the sensation of wind over our fur, the brightness of the moon in our


    eyes...| was my wolf, and my wolf was me.


    | opened my eyes..


    | took a full, deep breath.


    This is what | want, | typed. | need to know everything you can tell me.


    DarkLuna: Tonight. Midnight.


    My heart raced. That was only a few hours from now. Mason hadn''t evene back yet. I¡¯d need time to exin everything to


    my mates and also to convince them this was a good idea. That wasn¡¯t going to be easy.


    But did | really have a choice? It wasn¡¯t a question of wanting answers, but needing them. If this was the


    only way to do it, and so far, it was the only way I¡¯d found, I¡¯d have to go.


    No matter how dangerous it felt.


    Lily chuffed her approval. | no longer felt the presence of the Moon Goddess surrounding me, but | knew. that she was still there.


    She would always be there, even If parts of me were not wolf, | belonged to her fully.


    I can be there, | replied.


    DarkLuna continued typing out instructions. | was to meet her in the closest human city, which was the first thing that made me


    nervous. Wolves had no business messing around in human territory. Human-wolf interactions were always bad news, to my


    thinking. For a moment, | hesitated, thinking of the facility and the humans and wolves working together there.


    Was Dark! una truing to not me to an inmora like that? If she already know about the facility why 1/3


    did she need me to tell her what | knew?


    LunaLooking: Why the human city?


    DarkLuna: The meeting ce will be safer. Most normal humans have no idea about our kind, and so they will not be watching


    out for our meeting.


    LunaLooking: There are humans who work with wolves, and it¡¯s never good.


    Along beat of silence followed.


    DarkLuna: Is information about this something you have to share with me?


    LunaLooking: Yes.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    DarkLuna: This is my requirement. If you don¡¯t want to meet, then | guess you will simply have to suffer


    your ignorance.


    Da mn, this b itch was cold. | had to admire her. And, after reading what she¡¯d gone through with her Alpha, could | really me


    her? Who knows what kind of person I¡¯d be without the love, care, and support of my


    mates?


    My fingers were almost cramping from how fast | was typing.


    LunaLooking: I''ll meet you wherever you need me to. Give me an address.


    Astring of numbers and a street name appeared. | quickly used my phone to check the maps app and see how long it would


    take for me to get there. Time felt like it was already running out.


    LunaLooking: | can be there at midnight.


    More words appeared.


    DarkLuna: You muste alone. Fully alone. Your three mates must remain behind. Nobody waiting in


    the car.


    Coldness shot through me so hard my teeth started to chatter. How did DarkLuna know! mates? Two could be a good guess, but


    knowing about all three had my suspicions on high al


    Before | could type anything else, more words appeared


    DarkLuna. To show you that | am to be trusted, | acknowledge what must be your concern. Fra be a fool not to be worried. You


    may bring one mate with you. They will wait for you at a secure locat miles from our meeting ce. | will have someone there to


    assure your mate remains there while you meet if your mate attempts to join you or interfere in any way, or if the other two show


    up, | will immedi leave our meeting and you will not get your answers: Type yes to agree


    LunaLooking: Yes


    More words appeared, much faster than before. The addresses of both meeting ces, all the


    instructions


    DarkLuna. You have two minutes to write all of this down before this chat is permanently deleted.

 Chapter 287

    Xander


    We''d been pacing outside the bedroom door for an hour already. | was about to go in.


    Zane held me back.


    ¡°She said she''d be out,¡± he told me calmly. ¡°Whatever she¡¯s doing in there, it must be important. Let¡¯s give


    her a few more minutes.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not researching homeschooling,¡± | shot back at him, pitching my voice low to make sure my mother


    didn¡¯t overhear us. ¡°Which means she¡¯s not telling us the truth.¡±


    ¡°She will.¡± Zane gripped my shoulder and squeezed it. ¡°Trust our Luna.¡±


    My fists clenched. Of course | trusted our Luna with everything | had. But | could still sense her anxiety


    and unease and then a burst of exhration. All of it was tangling me up inside so much | had to go out to the


    front yard and shift to my wolf so | could tear around in circles for a bit.


    him.¡±


    ¡°Run with me,¡± Hunter thought to de.


    Zane stood on the porch, shaking his head. ¡°You go. Mason''s on the way back, and | want to be here for


    Hunter had already gained control, but | forced a shift back to my human form.


    In all the years that Zane had been my Beta, sure, there¡¯d been times when he¡¯d refused a request, or even an order...if he had


    good reason. If he thought that | needed something different. And in all that time, I''d have to say he was right about his choices.


    This was the first time he¡¯d ever denied me something | wanted or needed in favor of doing something for


    somebody else.


    Panting, naked, | stood in the front yard and thought about asking again. Demanding, this time.


    I


    Sharing Zane was something | knew | didn¡¯t have any control over. It had been his choice. Also, it was something | felt deep in


    my gut was truly necessary for the family unit we''d created.


    The one we''d all agreed to.


    But until this moment, | hadn¡¯t realized that sharing him would mean sometimes not having him give me what | wanted so he


    could give Mason what he needed.


    Zane watched me calmly from the front porch. He said nothing.


    My anger, disappointment, and irritation whirled around me.


    Then the gentle pulse of Lanie¡¯s Luna energy reached us both.


    This only made me angrier, that both of them were working to calm me down, when all | really wanted


    was hoth of them to just f uckinn do what | wanted them in dn


    ¡°We love you,¡± Lanie thought to me. ¡°If you need to run, run. We love you, and we both want to help you, but that doesn¡¯t mean


    just doing whatever you say because you say so.¡±


    ¡°F uck!¡± | growled out loud, clenching my fists.


    They were right, and | knew it. But d amn, | didn¡¯t like it.


    Mason¡¯s truck pulled up the drive and parked. He got out. His expression pretty much matched mine, full of darkness. He


    basically rippled with the effort of holding back his wolf.


    ¡°| need to f ucking get all four paws on the ground.¡± His words became a snarl as he stripped out of his clothes. It took him a


    second to see that | was already naked. His lips curled back over sharp teeth. ¡°You want to run with me, brother?¡±


    I did.


    So we gave our wolves their power, and we ran.


    Zane


    Lanie¡¯s hand slipped into mine as we watched the two angry Alphas shift and run into the trees. Her fingers squeezed mine


    lightly. She rested her head against my shoulder, so | turned to pull her into a hug.


    She pushed her face toward mine for a kiss. ¡°They''ll be all right. We''re all going to need time to adjust.¡±


    ¡°I''ve never denied Xander,¡± | said. ¡°I get why he¡¯s pi ssed, but...¡±


    ¡°He will get over it,¡± she told me, though her brow was furrowed. ¡°Mason came back upset. Did you get any read on him about


    his talk with Asher?¡±


    ¡°Only that it went as well as it could,¡± | told her, hesitating for a second before asking, ¡°What about your... research?¡±


    ¡°| wasn¡¯t looking up homeschooling sites,¡± she told me with a small smile. ¡°But | know you b knew that.¡±


    long


    ¡°Yeah. That''s part of why Xander was so pis sed off.¡± | sighed, turning toward the woods, but thi


    ig gone. ¡°It''ll be good for him and Mason to bond with their wolves. Are you going to wait to tell m you were researching until they


    come back?¡±


    ¡°No. | want to talk to you about it first. I¡¯m going to need you to Beta both of them through what | ha say.¡± Lanie sounded grim.


    ¡°Because | already know they aren¡¯t going to like it. Not at all.¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    dy

 Chapter 288

    As Abante¡¯s story wound out of her, I could feel every muscle in my body tense. My fists clenched. She noticed my distress and cupped my face in her hands so she could kiss my mouth.


    Our foreheads pressed together as our energiesbined. It didn¡¯t stop me from being worked up about it. She had to go into the human city on some kind of wild goose chase, but it did help me navigate the waves of agitation.


    ¡°We need to get Mason and Xander back so I can exin it all to them,¡± she said quietly.


    ¡°Xander¡¯s gonna lose his shit.¡±


    She chuckled and kissed my lips again before sitting back. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±


    ¡°And Mason¡­¡± I hesitated, opening myself to anything I could feel from my second Alpha. I frowned, sensing him closing himself off. He was upset about the conversation with Asher, and he¡¯s trying not to unload any of that on me, even though I could feel it. I can¡¯t force him to ept me.


    ¡°He epted you,¡± Abante interrupted me firmly. ¡°You''ll figure this out, the same way we''ve all been figuring it out. Together.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like any of this,¡± I admitted as our fingers linked, our hands palm to palm.


    ¡°I have to go. I have to bond with whoever this person is that knows about hybrids. I don¡¯t like it either, my love, but there is no choice.¡±


    She looked so determined and stubborn that I knew there was no way I was going to convince her otherwise. Plus, I knew that she was going to find out whatever we could, and if this was a good source...


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it''s a good source,¡± she said aloud, her head tilting and her brow furrowing, ¡°but it¡¯s the only one we have.¡±


    It was my turn to kiss her. Our mind link, the one between the four of us, was growing stronger all the time. And there was the weird way I could sense her intentions or thoughts even when she wasn¡¯t actively sending them. Our quartet was stronger than anything I¡¯d ever heard about.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    That didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t going to be in danger.


    ¡°I¡¯m calling them back,¡± she said. ¡°I''ll need you to get ready and call our end now. Are you ready?¡±


    I nodded firmly and took the chance to kiss her again. ¡°Whatever happens, I¡¯ve got your back.¡±


    ¡°I know that. Goddess, I¡¯m the luckiest Luna in the world.¡±


    Her wide grin was happy.


    Lanie¡¯s eyes glistened with tears, but pulses of joy surrounded us, and I leaned into them, drawing strength from Lanie and both my Alphas. Instinctively, I knew to give Xander some small priority. Maybe that would change in time, but for now, that¡¯s how it had to be.


    ¡°Running,¡± Hunter thought to me. ¡°Hunt. Prey.¡±


    ¡°Xander,¡± Lanie thought. ¡°I need you toe home now. It¡¯s urgent.¡±


    A glimmer came through the link, and in the next second, Xander¡¯s voice spoke.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Come home,¡± Lanie thought. ¡°I¡¯ve got something important to tell you.¡±


    While we waited for them to get back, I could feel my anxiety and tension curling up inside me like a ball of knotted yarn.


    I needed to get into the human city, and I couldn¡¯t do that without telling all three of my mates that I was going.


    Zane was my rock. He held my hand as we waited on the front porch for Xander and Mason to get back. They''d run fast and far, so it would be a few minutes still. My heart pounded, and Zane pulled me against him to press a kiss to my temple.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got this,¡± he murmured.


    Gabri, Goddess bless her, was inside making sure the pups were taken care of. I hadn¡¯t exined anything to her yet, wanting to make sure I told Xander and Mason first. But she must¡¯ve sensed something was up because she looked worried. I wanted to tell her it would all be okay, but the truth was... I couldn¡¯t be sure about that.


    All I knew was that nothing was going to stand in my way of trying to find out.


    A rustle in the trees alerted me that my Alpha mates were almost home. Lily paced, scenting. She wanted to run, too. She wanted to hunt. I soothed her with a promise that soon, we¡¯d take an entire day, as long as she wanted, and be free in the forest.


    As the two giant wolves bounded out of the trees, my whole body tingled. My love for my mates was nothing I¡¯d ever imagined could be possible. Yeah, as a young girl I''d dreamed of the day when I''d find mates and share a home, raise some pups. I¡¯d never dreamed it could feel like this.


    ¡°What the fuck¡¯s going on?¡± Xander growled as soon as he¡¯d fully shifted.


    Mason was right behind him. ¡°Lanie? What''s happening?¡±


    Rapid-fire, a series of thoughts, images, and emotions tore through me. I wasn¡¯t using the mind link on purpose, but everything in my head clearly struck home with all three of my mates at the same time.


    Xander staggered back, one hand on his forehead. Mason grunted and shook his head. Zane¡¯s hand squeezed mine even harder.


    But I couldn¡¯t answer him, because the world was going dark.

 Chapter 289

    Xander


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Lanie insisted. ¡°Love, | promise you. | was just a little bit dizzy for a few seconds. I¡¯m fine¡±


    The moment she¡¯d tumbled forward, | had her in my arms. Now we sat on the porch steps with her in myp. | was still naked.


    Mason had thrown on a pair


    of jeans, his chest and feet still bare. Zane sat next to me, aforting hand on my back.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t even faint,¡± Lanie dered, pushing at my chest. ¡°It was just a rush of...something. I¡¯m not sure what it was, but I¡¯m fine


    now. You all felt it?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Mason put in.


    ¡°| did,¡± Zane added.


    | cradled her closer to me, staring deep into her eyes. ¡°We all did. So you better tell me what the f uck is


    actually going on with you, or...


    ¡°Or what?¡± she demanded with a quirk of her eyebrow. ¡°Will you...sp ank me?¡±


    ¡°This is no time for jokes,¡± | warned her, but her Luna light pulsed out around her, joined by Zane¡¯s Betal


    energy.


    It was almost like | couldn¡¯t stand against the two of them. My irritation eased away. | was still upset, but


    not enraged.


    ht sight of M


    | caught


    of Mason''s expression, looking a little confused. Then admiring. He shook his head but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Lanie pushed against me again. ¡°You need to get dressed. I''ll tell you everything.¡±


    Quickly, | pulled on a pair of jeans, a nnel, and my boots. The four of us gathered again on the front porch. My mother hovered


    inside, peeking out the windows until | turned and gave her a look. Then she backed


    off, but | knew she was as worried as | was.


    This


    has nothing to do with homeschooling, right?¡± confronted my Luna, and she shook her head


    ¡°No, love. And I¡¯m sorry | was hiding the truth from you while | worked on all of this.¡± Lanie took a deep


    breath and shared a nce with Zane.


    ¡°Hea


    sounded.


    already knows?¡± Mason asked in a low voice that sounded. hell, | couldn''t tell how my brother


    Zane moved forward to put a hand on Mason¡¯s shoulder, but my brother stepped neatly away from it before the touchnded. He


    stayed focused on Lanie and took her hands in his to kiss the knuckles, one at a


    time, on each hand.


    ¡°You''re all my mates, equally.¡± Lanie replied in an even tone. ¡°So yes, Zane knows.¡±


    zel Zane¡¯s Beta strength tougioune genitly back to....well, not neutral, but definitely not infuriated. It was


    ustrating. | wanted to shout and pound my fists, but he was keeping me as calm as he could.


    When | shot a look at mybrother who was pacing the porch as Lanie told us everything she¡¯d been up t nd discovered, | could


    see Mascosanneer practically vibrating around him. With each pulse of Zone¡¯s energy oward him, he flinched, and his


    intactangoner, until finally, Mason sagged against the porch railing with hiss


    ack toward us.From N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I''m going with you, | told y una with mocow


    She nodded. ¡°Yes. Not because you¡¯regioernanding it, though.¡±


    | frowned, and she took my hand tedinkoupenogers


    ¡°Mason needs Zane right now,¡± she whisper-thoughtcone. He¡¯s raw frorn his meeting with Asher, and the


    vo of them need to learn how to ept what cecounters the other. You and | will go to the human city.¡±


    ¡°I''m not staying wherever the f uck that source add you | had to stay, | warned her through the link. ¡°F uck


    lat noise. I¡¯m not


    ¡°You''ll have to,¡± she cut in. Her eyes bore into name as dengers tightened. This isn¡¯t about your ego.¡±


    ¡°No. It''s about keeping you safe.¡±


    ¡°It''s about the safety of our daughter, Lanie shot back. We need to find out what this source, this


    arkLuna, can tell me about hybrids. Because war ising, Endocrher we like it or not, and we need to


    e prepared. So that means, also whether or not you like it, that tweingya cocollow those instructions. | will not


    sk my daughter.¡±


    Goddess, she was powerful. | didn¡¯t agree with her, but | knew there was no way | was going to be able to


    tand against her.


    All of this is f ucked,¡± | said aloud.


    But we have no choice,¡± Lanie added quietly.


    Her gaze flicked over my shoulder to my brother, leaning on the railing. Zano sconto


    eren¡¯t saying anything out loud, but | could catch a hint of themmunicating through priva


    me, when Zane put a hand on Mason''s shoulder, my brother didn¡¯t shrug it away.


    When do we have to leave?¡± | asked my Luna.


    vive to meet the source at midnight,¡± she confirmed with a nce at her watch Whichhmmenns we


    ave to leave right now¡±

 Chapter 291

    Lanie


    | tried again to mind link with Xander, and again, nothing. The fries arrived, and | thanked the waitress, who gave me a


    sympathetic look. | must''ve looked like | was desperately waiting for someone.


    But how long was | going to keep waiting?


    Five more her if she was that long.


    as | told myself grimly. Then | was out of here, and DarkLuna better hope | never found have to wait even simply having me jump


    through hoops for her enjoyment. Turns out, | didn¡¯t


    A figure in a dark hoodie, face obscured by the hood, slipped into the booth across from me. As the waitress approached, the


    figure simply held up a hand with two fingers raised and made a small, silent gesture. The waitress withdrew without speaking to


    us.


    ¡°That¡¯s a neat trick,¡± | said.


    The person sitting across from me tugged the hoodie off to expose a fall of long, dark hair tied at the nape of her neck. It showed


    off her slender neck and sharp jawline, as well as the crimson sh of her lipstick. That wasn¡¯t what forced a small gasp of


    surprise out of me, though.


    ¡°You''re |¡±


    She looked at me, amusement clear in her expression, but didn¡¯t say anything. She looked...young. My age, maybe even


    younger, so eighteen or neen, tops. But how could this be DarkLuna, if she was my age? The posts I''d found on the dark web


    were at least a few years old. My body tensed as | got ready to flee if this stranger pulled something shady.


    ¡°This has to be some kind of trick,¡± | said aloud but under my breath. How could this pers ny kind of super-knowledgeable


    contact? She didn¡¯t even look old enough to be allowed inside a hum faked license, same as me.


    The young woman leaned over to grab a handful of my fries. She tucked one into her mouth slowly as she studied me. Her eyes


    shed a low, bright violet. So, not human, at least.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Look, | Know wolves age differently than humans, but...


    outa


    ¡°| look too young? You were expecting someone older. Wizened, perhaps?¡± She grinned and popped another fry into her mouth.


    She chewed and swallowed, then pulled my beer across the table toward her lifted that to her lips next. ¡°Mmm. That¡¯s good. I''d


    have ordered something lighter, ager, maybe. Not a sto


    ¡°| wasn¡¯t going to drink it. | just got it because you know what, never mind¡± | shook my head. ¡°You are... her. Right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m her, all right. At your service.¡± Her grin widened.


    | scowled at her. ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate you making light of this¡±


    dark.¡± DarkLuna shrugged and sat back against the seat. ¡°That¡¯s what Lunas do, isn¡¯t it? Make light. That¡¯s


    what you¡¯re going to have to do.¡±


    I sat back, too. ¡°That isn¡¯t what | was talking about, and you know it. And aren¡¯t you worried about being overheard? Talking


    about Lunas that way. We''re in a human bar.¡±


    My voice dipped way down low, but | kept my eyes fixed on hers. Another small re of violet shed in them. She leaned across


    the table toward me.


    ¡°| wouldn¡¯t have met you here if | was worried about anyone listening in. I¡¯ve got this ce covered. Don¡¯t you worry, little Luna.¡±


    ¡°Don''t call me that. Or honey. | didn¡¯te here for games.¡± | couldn¡¯t stop the small growl from filtering through my voice, but f


    uck, if she wasn¡¯t worried about being overheard, | guess that meant | wouldn''t be,


    either.


    She sighed and waved a hand. ¡°Settle down. I¡¯ve been around a lot longer than you have. | know you won''t believe it, but I¡¯ll be


    two-hundred and fifty on my next birthday.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°Clearly, it''s not,¡± she shot back. ¡°And if | were you, sweet cheeks, I''d start being a little more respectful to your elders. Because


    one day, this could be you sitting across a table, trying to help out someone who''s young and dumb and thinks the world owes


    them a favor.¡±


    Stung, | crossed my arms over my chest. ¡°The only reason | think you owe me anything at all is because I¡¯ve done everything


    you requested. I¡¯m here: | promised to trade you information for yours.¡±


    | paused to study her.


    ¡°What do you mean, one day, this could be me?¡±


    | already had a sneaking suspicion, but | was here for answers, and | was going to get some.


    ¡°| mean that you and me are the same.¡±


    ¡°Hybrids,¡± | whispered.


    DarkLuna nodded sharply. ¡°Yes. But you knew that already.¡±


    ¡°And you think, | mean, you believe, that I''ll age...?¡±


    ¡°The sarne as me? Slower than everyone you love? Getting older year by year but never really changing. while they all leave you


    behind?¡± Her voice hitched and caught in her throat, and her gaze burned into mine. ¡°Yes. That''s exactly what | mean.¡±

 Chapter 292

    Lanie


    At first, | wasn¡¯t sure what | could even say. The thought of it was horrible. Xander, Zane, and Mason were


    already a number of years older than | was. I¡¯d always imagined us growing old together. To find out now that


    they''d get older and eventually die while | stayed the same...1 shuddered.


    ¡°So, | won¡¯t age beyond this point?¡± | asked her.From N?velDrama.Org.


    DarkLuna waved a hand as though she could read my mind. At this point, | wouldn¡¯t have been shocked if | found out she could.


    ¡°Maybe by a few years or so. But your hair won''t go gray. Your face won''t get lines. Not until you¡¯re far older than | am, at any


    rate.¡±


    ¡°It sounds awful,¡± | whispered.


    Her brows knit. ¡°There¡¯s an advantage to keeping your physical youth and beauty. The world is kinder to a pretty person than an


    old crone. There¡¯s a reason why everyone thinks of witches as being ancient, withered,


    and ugly..or that ancient, withered, and ugly women are witches.¡±


    | thought of Rhiannon. ¡°The only witch | know personally is not old and definitely not ugly,¡±


    | hated thinking of Zane being with the witch, of having had to go to bed with her. Did this woman know


    about that, too? | wasn¡¯t going to say anything about it, if she didn¡¯t bring it up.


    ¡°Not a rtive, is she?¡± DarkLuna sounded concerned.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Although if she had a child with my mate, wouldn''t that make her family, of a sort? | shoved the thoughts out of my mind.


    Rhiannon was not going to have a baby with Zane. We''d done everything we could to make


    sure that didn¡¯t happen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about keeping that pretty face, then. It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t grow and mature with experience


    Age is more than a number, either in years or in lines on your forehead,¡± DarkLuna said.


    Her words made sense to me. Didn''t | feel a lot older than eighteen? By the Moon, so much had happened.


    since my Mating Day that | realized I''d entirely forgotten about my birthday | was neen already. Closer


    even to twenty than eighteen. | shuddered at the realization and looked up to see the woman studying me with


    a small, secret smile.


    ¡°You know exactly what I¡¯m talking about, don¡¯t you?¡± she asked


    ¡°And this is because we are hybrids? | don¡¯t understand. There are others who age normally. My mother, for example.¡± |


    hesitated, thinking of my precious Ste, who seemed to be growing and maturing extra fast.


    DarkLuna snorted softly and drank some more of my beer. She lifted the ss toward me. ¡°You sure yo


    you don¡¯t want one for yourself? You might need it


    ¡°No. | want my mind to stay clear¡± | shook my head.


    you everything ikhismow My real name is Charlotte, first of all, so don¡¯t feel like you have to Keamtthmpoofime by that old web


    usumaname if I¡¯d known then how long it was going to follow me around, wouldn¡¯t have picked something so..enten &


    Burwhatcan | say? The  was young. It¡¯s what we did.


    Asmall smile proficit at at may ups Tm Lanie.¡±


    ¡°| know that, shesaditouwave no exnation about how


    | stopped myself from as kin anul Charlotte was going to tell me in her own way and time, and no matter how


    desperate | felt. | needed to tot bener is it,


    ¡°| was born in thete 7ONING: far from here, actually. I¡¯ve been all around the world, but guess what


    hey say is true. There¡¯s no ca dik eltonoma Her lips pressed together for a second. ¡°My father was one of the


    Ancients. A vempire called Ezeki biheveve you might have some first-hand knowledge about the Ancients


    Again, | wondered how she knewesosaunlichnabout me


    | nodded. Yes. My mother¡¯s fetishes cach. Did you do you know him?¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s expression went carefully nkn know him: Sure.¡±


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t know he was my grandfathanerpiecessed her


    This was curious. Was it possible than Charlemortech fad actually know as much as she pretended to? Or


    was there something else about my grandfather thehambritenen troking that way?


    ¡°My mother was a wolf shifter. Like youngrandnorth Charlotte said without answering me.


    ¡°Which means that you and | really are alike.e


    She nodded slowly, then tilted her head to look at menstone of the reasons why agreed to meet


    with you.¡±


    ¡°Have there been others looking for information?¡± Agartist opppoenvoyself from asking her how she knew


    so much about me. Everything was going toe out in tirtene


    ¡°Over the years, yes. But, Lanie,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Nobody else is be on dn live you¡±


    212

 Chapter 293

    Lanie


    ¡°Back when | first started posting about my troubles, Charlotte said the word delicately, ¡°I had a lot of peoplementing. | read


    a lot of other blogs, too. | wasn¡¯t the only one in a bad situation with her Alpha, but | couldn''t really find anyone who had the exact


    issues | did. As time went on, and | got more


    e answers, | stopped writing new content, but | kept the old blog up in case someone else needed to figure out what was


    happening to her.¡±


    ¡°I''m d you did.¡± | snagged a fry, now cold, and chewed it carefully.


    ¡°I''m d you found me.¡± She sounded sincere.


    | still wasn¡¯t sure | could trust her, but | wanted to. ¡°I think....for the first time, | can admit how.... lonely I¡¯ve been feeling.¡±


    Asharp bark ofughter slipped out of me, and | cut it off, embarrassed. | cut my gaze from hers. My cheeks heated.


    ¡°Lonely,¡± | repeated under my breath. ¡°As if a woman with two mates can be lonely. A Luna with not one, but two Alphas. I¡¯m


    being ridiculous!¡±


    ¡°You''re not. None of this is normal. Nobody else can understand how it feels.¡± Charlotte seemed as though she meant to reach


    for me, but held herself back. ¡°Believe me, | know what it¡¯s like to start to suspect you are not the same as everyone else. It is


    lonely, Lanie.¡±


    ¡°How do you know so much about me?¡± | asked her finally.


    ¡°ALuna with three mates gets people talking,¡± Charlotte said simply, without adding more than that.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | hated the idea of being gossiped about, but | knew she was right. We were keeping a wasn¡¯t like we were one hundred percent


    keeping our quartet a secret. ¡°But you didn¡¯t know contacted you?¡±


    ¡°No. | get queries all the time from those old posts. Most of the time, | ignore them. If I¡¯m f a sshole that day,¡± she paused to


    chuckle, ¡°I might send them off down a rabbit hole to some dec set up. But when you reached out to me, | could feel that you


    were legit. But I¡¯m sure you can under had to be wary. Make sure.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± | hesitated before adding, ¡°The Moon Goddess led me to you.¡±


    ¡°| know she did.¡±


    but it


    More |


    ¡°My mother-inw was a powerful Luna. | admire her so much, and I¡¯ve learned so much by watching her. But even she has


    nevermuned with the Moon Goddess the way | have.¡± | whispered the final words. fiercely. Charlotte might be convinced


    nobody here was going to pay attention to us, but | still didn¡¯t want to


    | broadcast us being shifters.


    Except...we weren''t wolf shifters. We were hybrids. Something entirely different. Not that it would matter if 1/2


    ¡°They don¡¯t really carry pitchforks anymore,¡± Charlotte murmured when she saw my wild gaze darting.


    around the bar.


    ¡°Are you reading my mind?¡± | demanded. It wouldn¡¯t have shocked me.


    ¡°Oh....no. | just understand you, because I¡¯ve been where you are. Well, except | didn¡¯t have anyone with the answers for me.


    But I¡¯ve been scared like you. Lonely, as you said.¡± She shrugged and gave me a sad smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t have three good mates. |


    didn¡¯t even have one good one.¡±


    e was nearly


    | wanted to ask her what had happened to her Alpha, the one who''d been so cruel. If she two-hundred and fifty years old, had


    she been posting on the blog about events that had happened centuries before? Or had she been mated with someone more


    recently than that, the Alpha who hadn''t been as strong? So many questions whirled in my head, but the clock kept ticking away


    the seconds. I''d just learned | was. going to live for a long, long time, but it already felt like time was running out.


    ¡°When you said nobody else was like me,¡± | asked, ¡°what, exactly, did you mean?¡±


    ¡°Like | said, a lot of people were just asking questions out of curiosity. Some were trolling. You''d think the effort it takes to get on


    the dark web would mean people were genuinely in need, but...s. You were asking the right questions, though.¡±


    ¡°So why did you make me go through all the rigamarole?¡± | waved a hand in the air.


    Sheughed. ¡°I have to protect myself, obviously. You¡¯re worried about your safety and that of your pup.


    Why would you think | wouldn¡¯t be worried for myself? Not to mention that when you''re as old as | am, you end up with a lot of


    free time to design and code disappearing websites. Sometimes, it was more like a game. With you, even though | felt like |


    could trust you, | had to be sure you were willing to make the effort. And | was


    right, wasn¡¯t 1? Because here you are.¡±


    ¡°And you have answers for me?¡±


    She nodded.

 Chapter 294

    Larie


    Charlotte had somehow, without words, ordered us big tters of juicy cheeseburgers, onion rings, and intore fries. Two giant


    sses of water and another couple of beers rounded out the meal. The waitress dropped it all off without speaking to us, and


    although moments before I¡¯d have said my stomach was tied in ttoo many knots for me to even think about eating anything, the


    moment the smell of the food hit my nostrils, | was supractically drooling.


    That Now! Lily called to me. ¡°Food good!¡±


    Mish of violet caught my attention. Charlotte was grinning, and for a few seconds, | saw her wolf. dancepaze appreciated that


    she trusted me enough to let me see her.


    Chaitatte gestured. ¡°Dig in. My treat. You have to keep yourself fueled. Have you noticed that your appaditess much stronger


    lately?¡±


    saate ketchup on my te and dunked an onion ring for a bite. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Youubaum:creenergy than non-hybrids. You burn brighter because you are a Luna, too. You''ll find that the hunger sibiss and


    Bows but when it¡¯s there, you really can¡¯t ignore it. Your wolf certainly won¡¯t let you. And you shouldn¡¯t You regret not feeding


    your body.¡±


    She lifted heredtytburger and took an enormous bite, letting out a moan of pure pleasure.


    chewed tantrissvaal towed ravenous but not wanting to talk with my mouth full. ¡°I came here to learn about what¡¯s


    happeningwithmyddaughter¡±


    Charlotte finished wiped her mouth clean. She sighed, and her lips pursed. She looked like she was trying to find


    justitchwords/tmpatiently, | bit into my burger. She was right. | no longer ignore or deny this hunger


    ¡°The High Council wams he/ Chisaitotte said finally


    My heart stopped. The burgse dunned my throat, almost choking me until | washed it water. For what? Are theying afterner?


    ¡°They will!¡± She did that same heatintino took me up and down ¡°You went to the facility to re other pups. The ones they took


    Yourteen consemed about them it because you didn¡¯t gi


    them?¡±


    Tlove the twins as if they ate my own rodnemy am concerned about them. Absolutely. We rescuing them frorn that facility would


    intan wcoutthetene targets But I¡¯m worried about Ste because she is different from ther


    ¡°How so? Describe it to me


    ver


    ¡°She¡¯s bigger. More mature. They went through theerermoubiny) but she¡¯s as advanced as a pup twice her age. My hands shook


    until | forced myself to dertien stetty


    ¡°Early to speak?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡±


    Charlotte nodded. She was hiding something from me. | could see it all over her face, which meant that


    I? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    she wasn¡¯t worried about me figuring that out. I''d seen how she could shield her expression. If this was


    another one of her tests, | vowed | was going to pass it.


    ¡°Orion gave the twins to the Council because they had pure vampire blood. Their birth mother, Alice, was


    also descended from an Ancient vampire,¡± | said. ¡°We had no idea. Honestly, | don¡¯t believe Alice had any idea.


    And she died before she ever found out.¡±


    ¡°Do you know which Ancient?¡±


    | shook my head, thinking back to what my grandfather had told me the day we discovered Xander¡¯s father, Orion, had taken


    them. ¡°Only that it wasn¡¯t my grandfather, Mchi was certain of that, but he didn¡¯t


    know, either.¡±


    ¡°Or that¡¯s just what he told you,¡± Charlotte said with a frown. ¡°You know that even though we carry their


    blood inside us, you can¡¯t always trust what a vampire says. Wolves are loyal. Vamps...not so much.¡±


    | watched her expression twist. She''d said her father was an Ancient named Ezekiel. Could Alice have


    been one of his descendants? Did that mean Charlotte could have been Alice¡¯s grandmother?


    My mind was being boggled by all the possibilities.


    ¡°The Council started their program focusing on hybrids during the Great Wars,¡± Charlotte told me.


    | waited, but that was all she said. | watched her drag an onion ring through some ketchup and eat it. |


    forced myself not to reach across the table and shake the answers out of her.


    ¡°That was a long time ago,¡± | finally ventured. ¡°Why''d they wait so long to ramp it up again?¡±


    ¡°That, | can¡¯t tell you. | can only say that they originally had no idea hybrids could even ex


    a lot of information from someone who. ..well. A turncoat. One who betrayed their own kind. C


    worst of each part of themselves and allowed that to rise. One who believed they were helpin


    who ended up destroying everyone and everything they loved.¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s loathing was clear in every word she spit out.


    ¡°Who would do something like that?¡± | asked quietly.


    Her gaze met mine


    ¡°It was me.¡±


    il they got

 Chapter 295

    Lanie


    Alternating waves of hot and cold rushed over me. Shudders wracked me. My teeth chattered, and the


    burger I''d been gobbling now weighed like a rock in my gut.


    now?


    If Charlotte had been able to betray others in the past, what was to say she wasn¡¯t doing it again, right


    ¡°Are you working for the Council still, Charlotte?¡± | demanded. ¡°So help me, by the Moon, if you are-¡±


    She held up both her hands in a cating gesture and waited for me to calm down. Not that | could, really. But | took in a few


    deep breaths and sipped some more water.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she said kindly. ¡°I get it. If | were you, | wouldn¡¯t trust me, either. All this cloak and dagger b ulls hit? You have to


    understand, it¡¯s all been for my protection. You can¡¯t talk about the things | was discussing without someone, somewhere wanting


    toe after you for it.¡±¡±


    ¡°The Council, maybe? The same Council you just admitted to me that you were working with? Why shouldn¡¯t | assume you still


    are?¡±


    ¡°I''m not. That was long ago, and I¡¯ve regretted my involvement ever since. Even back then, | knew they


    weren''t going to use any of the information | gave them for good, but honestly, | was ashamed of being a


    hybrid. Of being different. | had no answers. All | knew was that | was not like anyone else....| was lost. | had


    nobody to help me. And, until you, Lanie, | had nobody | really needed to help.¡±


    ¡°| can¡¯t really be the first one since the Great Wars to need you. I¡¯m not that special.¡± | frowned.


    ¡°Oh, but you are. Don¡¯t be falsely modest. You feel it. You know it.¡±


    | thought of the Moon Goddess murmuring to me. Guiding me. I¡¯d spent my entire life shield hybrid self as a result of a witch¡¯s


    spell. I''d grown up never thinking | was anything other than nor


    ¡°Like me, you''re strong. Like me, you can call upon powers that go beyond what regr Lunas


    ess.¡±


    | closed my eyes against a sting of tears. ¡°But...why me?¡±


    ¡°Why? | have no idea, and | think it would be arrogant to try and figure it out. Only the Moon Goddess c say why she chooses


    who she chooses. Everything in your life that has led you to this pointes from her would never presume to guess her


    reasons, and | don¡¯t think you should, either.¡±


    | swiped at my eyes, dashing away the tears.


    ¡°Are you


    you saying the Moon Goddess made my Ancient vampire grandfather fall in love with my grandmother wolf shifter just so they


    could have my mother, who paid a witch to use a spell that would keep my vampire self hidden? Only toter need a different


    spell that made me forget who | was, forget my mates, flee to Stillwood, where | met my third mate?¡± |ughed harshly and


    shook my head. ¡°That¡¯s all very convoluted, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°But it¡¯s how you ended up sitting here across the table from me. The person. who can answer your


    questions. But who knows? Maybe none of this is about you at all. Maybe it¡¯s all about me and my journey. Did you ever think of


    that?¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | wasn¡¯t sure what to say.


    Herughter caused a swirl of Lufia energy to whirl around us in wisps. It was the first obvious show of her Luna power since I''d


    arrived. She was no longer mated to an Alpha, though. How and why did she still have


    it?


    ¡°Everyone is the hero of their own story,¡± Charlotte told me matter-of-factly. ¡°Why should yours be any


    more important than mine?¡±


    ¡°| guess that¡¯s true,¡± | admitted begrudgingly. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t really exin to me why you¡¯re helping me, then. If this is all about


    you.¡±


    Her expression rippled with a flurry of emotions, one after the other. Grief. Fear. Shame.


    ¡°| started posting about my experiences on the dark web because I''d lived with my guilt for so long, I¡¯d almost stopped believing |


    could ever atone for what I¡¯d done. For a long time, | had convinced myself that what I¡¯d endured from my Alpha was the price |


    had to pay¡±


    ¡°What happened to him?¡± | tried to be gentle in my tone, but there didn¡¯t seem to be any good way to ask the question.


    Charlotte¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°That¡¯s a story for another time. What you need to know is that I¡¯ve been


    waiting for you, Lanie, for a long time. And while | can¡¯t be sure you''ve been sent to redeem me, | ama


    thousand percent convinced that the Moon Goddess sent you to me so | could help you.¡±


    I sat up straight and boldly said, ¡°So stop beating around the bush. Help me. Tell me what | need to know.¡±

 Chapter 296

    Lanie


    ¡°Nothing in lifees for free,¡± | said to Charlotte. ¡°I know you''ll want something in exchange. Just tell me what it is. You already


    seem to have all the information I¡¯ve got, plus more.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t need information from you. | want revenge.¡±


    | waited for her to exin, but that was all she said. watched Charlotte calmly lift her giant burger and help herself to a few more


    bites. She actually even rolled her eyes with how good it was. After a second, | picked up mine and did the same.


    ¡°You''re learning,¡± she said, sounding almost proud.


    It took every bit of my willpower not to lunge across the table, p the burger right out of her hand, and shake her until her teeth


    rattled. Then, | remembered the puzzles I''d solved to get to her. She liked to y games? | could y them, if | had to. So long


    as | got what | needed from her.


    Atst, she finished her food and sat back.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| want revenge on the High Council, the Council, everyst one of them. | want them to pay for the torture they put my family


    through. Not just mine, but all of them. | want them to suffer for the injustices they''ve


    caused. Taking babies...


    She shuddered, her voice catching. Tears glistened in her eyes, and, like me, she dashed them away with an angry swipe. Her


    lip curled to reveal her teeth as her eyes shed violet, although she did keep her face turned away from the room so only |


    could see the glow.


    We sat in silence for a moment or so before she turned back to me.


    ¡°Your mate¡¯s father. Orion, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°He needs to pay¡±


    | gave her a grim smile. ¡°Well, he¡¯s dead, if that makes you feel any better.¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s fingers curled into her palms, making her hands into fists. | could tell this was news to which seemed strange. She


    knew so much about everything else. Maybe the Council was spinning a stor hide the fact he¡¯d died, although that didn¡¯t make


    much sense


    ¡°My grandfather killed him.¡±


    ¡°So the rumors are true. The Treaty has been broken?


    ¡°Yes. so you did hear about it?¡± | was curious about everything else she knew.


    ¡°I''ve grown ustomed to discounting rumors until have proof,¡± she said and added a humorless chuckle. ¡°I suppose I¡¯m a bit


    paranoid. All the intrigue.¡±


    ¡°It''s not a rumor. Mchi killed him. He¡¯d taken the twins, and was attacking, and...¡± | spoke soberly, then. paused. ¡°I don¡¯t think


    my grandfather cared very much about breaking the Treaty.¡±


    ¡°| doubt it.¡±


    ¡°My mate, Xander... he didn¡¯t know his father was not a good man.¡± | drew in a short, sharp breath. ¡°He¡¯d surrendered his Alpha


    status and passed it along to Xander, even before he really had to. He was proud of his


    son.¡±


    one


    H


    ¡°He had two sons,¡± Charlotte reminded me. ¡°And he was unconscionably cruel when it came to the other


    son...¡±


    | nodded. There was no denying that. ¡°When he died and passed thest of his Alpha powers to his other


    ¡°All part of the Moon Goddess¡¯s work. That¡¯s what | believe. You and Mason were already mates, yes?¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°ALuna with an Alpha and a Beta as mates, then adding another...he had to be an Alpha, or |


    suspect he wouldn¡¯t have survived. Loving you would have killed him.¡± Charlotte¡¯s voice turned h o ar se.


    1 recoiled in rm at the thought.


    ¡°When | said there was nobody like you, Lanie, this is what | meant. A hybrid Luna. One mated to two


    Alphas, and also a Beta. I¡¯m strong, but even | can¡¯tpare to you.¡±


    Instead of seeming envious, Charlotte had that proud tone to her voice again.


    My head was starting to ache. It felt like the entire night had passed with all of this, but when | checked


    the clock on the wall, it had only been a little over two hours.


    ¡°Xander will be worrying about me. | can¡¯t reach him through the mind link. That was on purpose?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡±


    | sighed and rubbed between my eyes, then pinched the ridge of my nose. ¡°Not everyon


    bad, though. Right?¡±


    cilis


    ¡°Every single one of them will pay¡± Charlotte dered.


    ¡°Aldon helped me,¡± | told her. ¡°There must be others who deserve some level of mercy?¡±


    ¡°No


    mercy. Aldon might have helped you, but let me assure you, it was for his own reasons. He¡¯d t to turn on you, quicker than a


    snake can strike, if he thinks it will give him what he wants¡± Charlotte dra


    her beer and stifled a burp with the back of her hand. ¡°No matter what good he did for you, he¡¯s caused ha


    to countless others. He wille after your daughter, Lanie. The same way he came after mine.¡±

 Chapter 297

    Lanie


    ¡°My daughter was, of course, a hybrid, although | knew what | was before she was born. She seemed


    normal at birth.¡±


    ¡°Ste is not abnormal,¡± | cut in fiercely.


    Charlotte smiled. ¡°No. You''re right. Hazel was not abnormal, either. She was, in fact, extraordinary. As | suspect your Ste is.


    Rare and extraordinary. But definitely not normal.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± | conceded.


    ¡°Let me describe her, and you tell me if I¡¯m right,¡± Charlotte began. ¡°Grew at an expected rate until close to her first doubling,


    when it became clear she outpaced her siblings by quite a bit.¡±


    I nodded.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You were lucky to have theparison. | didn¡¯t realize that Hazel was bigger than other pups at her stage of development. Oh,


    sure, | knew she was particrly bright and beautiful, but, after all...¡± Charlotte¡¯s eyes shone as she ducked her head. ¡°What


    mother doesn¡¯t think her own child is the best, the brightest, the loveliest of them all?¡±


    ¡°We were all shocked when Ste started talking. All three of the pups had been babbling, but Isaac and ina were still only


    making those baby words when Ste was using full sentences.¡± A tickle caressed the back of my neck at the memory. ¡°Was


    Hazel the same?¡±


    ¡°Again, | wasn¡¯t fully aware that she was progressing so much faster than expected. | simply thought she was advanced for her


    age. But yes. She began speaking in full sentences. She could walk, talk, dress herself. She was able to use the toilet by herself


    within a few hours of me teaching her.¡± Charlotte¡¯s gaze for a few seconds, and she fell silent.


    Was. Were. She spoke of her daughter in the past tense, which sent a chill of worry twisting th Was she simply rting a story


    that had taken ce in the past, or had something happened to Haz


    stant


    The thought of losing Ste had my heart seizing. | covered my sudden distress by taking a drink beer, but the sour vor made


    me cough even harder. Charlotte turned her attention back to me and waite without speaking for me to clear my throat.


    ¡°You need to understand how rare this is. In all the years I¡¯ve been trying to understand my own life and that of my daughter, I¡¯ve


    only heard rumors and stories. And, Lanie, keep in mind that Hazel¡¯s bloodline was much shorter than your daughter¡¯s. My father


    to me, to my child. Ste¡¯s bloodline goes back another entire generation, which ought to have diluted it even further.¡±


    ¡°And, no other hybrids are showing the same traits,¡± added. | was desperate to put all the pieces into ce, but some of them


    simply would not fit. ¡°But why?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something the High Council is trying to figure out with what they''re doing in that facility.¡± Her lip


    ¡ª tha used. ¡°That diamustian an. I¡¯m


    in it burient to the aratind


    ¡°I''m with you on that one.¡± A shudder rippled over me at the memories of the horrid building. The smell.


    The harsh lights.


    ¡°You were very brave, you know. Going after those babies. The children of your rival. | doubt many others


    would''ve done the same.¡± Charlotte sounded admiring.


    | frowned and shook my head, ufortable with the praise. ¡°The children could not be med for the


    circumstances of their conception.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but that still doesn¡¯t mean that what you did isn¡¯tmendable. | doubt their birth mother


    would''ve done the same, if the situation were reversed.¡±


    ¡°We''ll never know, because she died,¡± | said, a little too harshly. ¡°There¡¯s no point in wondering what she


    might have done. | am their mother.¡±


    Charlotte chuckled. ¡°Thank Goddess. You¡¯re not perfect.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± My brows knit.


    ¡°You''re not perfect,¡± she repeated, but in a kind voice, ¡°Your jealousy over the woman your mates all loved


    is still there, even if you try to pretend it¡¯s not. It¡¯s very real, very rtable, and very understandable.¡±


    ¡°| didn¡¯te here to talk about Alice,¡± | snapped, hating that Charlotte¡¯s insight felt spot on. ¡°And I¡¯ve


    never imed to be perfect.¡±


    ¡°Good thing. That¡¯s likely to be the swiftest way to have the Goddess show you how wrong you are.¡± She


    grinned.


    After a few seconds, | returned it. | wasn¡¯t sure | liked Charlotte. | wasn¡¯t sure | one hundred percent


    trusted her. But | was starting to understand her.


    ¡°| want to meet your daughter,¡± she said next. ¡°I have some theories, and | do have more information to share, but here is not the


    ce. We''ve just about worn out our wee.¡±


    | nced around and for the first time, started to notice some curious nces. ¡°Did you...do


    To shield us?¡±


    Her smile told me the answer was ¡°yes.¡±


    My Luna intuition told me that having her meet Ste was the right choice, but | also knew it was g


    be a hard sell for my mates.


    When | told her this, Charlotteughed. ¡°Understandable, and if they weren''t concerned, | would wonder why they weren''t. So...


    Let''s start with Xander. Come on. You''ll have to help me convince him.¡±

 Chapter 298

    Xander


    I''d been waiting here in this roadside diner for hours without a word from Lanie. Not a peep through the


    mind link. It was driving me crazy. The rational part of me knew that she could handle herself. She was one of


    the strongest women I''d ever met, not to mention a Luna of iparable talents.


    I


    ¡°F uck rational,¡± | muttered and was half out of my seat when my phone buzzed.


    | grabbed it out of my pocket, already knowing it wasn¡¯t Lanie. Zane¡¯s text was short and to the point.


    All good?


    | wanted to type a few paragraphs of my frustration back through the phone, but | settled for replying, No word yet.


    ¡°More coffee, hun?¡± The waitress hovered a full pot over my empty mug.


    My stomach was already eating itself from all the acid, so | shook my head. | checked the time. | sent out another probe through


    the mate bond, pushing hard this time.


    Still nothing


    All around me, various humans were digging into big tters of pancakes and sausage. Some werelearly on dates, while, as


    the night wore on, more filed in looking to fill their bellies with carbs and fat to soak ups all the alcohol clearly running through


    their systems.


    Maywolf paced, growling and upset at the proximity of all these humans. Most didn¡¯t even bother to


    gie my way. Not even the single females, and that definitely wasn¡¯t something I¡¯d expected. | looked around.


    10: 300m again, surreptitiously trying to gauge if anyone was paying any real attention to me. because | sure


    cat jo ckdelt kke i was being watched.


    1 Lames instructions for tonight had been very clear. She was to leave me here while s other ces in the human city. She¡¯d


    been forbidden to tell me the address, only that it was


    rather been astunned a bar than this diner, even if the coffee was all | could drink.


    Shedsuidthe name of her source went by the alias DarkLuna, which should''ve made me


    actully made in toore supplicious. Anyone with a screen name like that for sure sounded like the around 1moothne inte wat


    fresh, which meant that everything Lanie had told me about what this annoynousi unn i had said was probably true


    560) f ucking 1 hated that my woman was out there trying to find ways to keep our little ones, and her safe, white! hadd1stypant


    as s in this ney diner booth and nurse coffee until | was sure the caffeine would guaranteed hover sieppoquin


    Lanie find wanna fine bow important it was, though that | stay put. Had she known we wouldn''t be able to reach each other


    though the mute bond? | didn¡¯t think oo, | knew she''d kept a few secrets from me here and there, but nothing like that, moothing


    that would jeopardize her safety.


    apart from each oththat pulled out my phone, but again, there were no messages,


    This time when scanned the room, | caught a set of eyes staring. They didn¡¯t belong to a female, though. The steely gray gaze


    set inthes sharp features of a tall dude hanging by the dessert case. When he saw me


    looking, | figured he¡¯d tum his antention right away to the bies and cakes spinning slowly behind the ss, but he only let a slow,


    wide annis pead omross his face


    Then, that mo therf ucker winkkad? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    The only thing that kept me for jumping to my feet and crossing the entire length of the diner to get his throat in my fist, or f uck


    between myw, was that my Luna had made me promise | would abi de by the rules. DarkLuna had set out. Instinctivelykkethis


    as shole had to be the one the source had set up to keep watch


    over me


    So why was he making himself know??


    He sauntered all the way from the otheesicide of the room, casual and cool as ice. He slid into the booth seat across from me


    and nodded at the watresssaofiline mug he flipped over.


    ¡°Who the f uck are you?¡± | managed to keppibsgow out of my voice, but the words still came out hard


    and cold and bitter.


    Something wasn¡¯t right about this guy. He smiddot My nostrils red as | drew in a breath, then


    another. He wasn¡¯t wolf. Not vamp, and not a witch...


    ¡°You wolves. So sheltered.¡± He shook his head and oppoedd a packet of sugar to pour into his coffee. ¡°So


    ignorant, since your Council erased your history and kept you apart from the rest of us. I''d feel sorrier for you if


    you weren''t all such arrogant p ricks.¡±


    | ba sted, but hisughter shoved me back into my seat The eucleare you?¡±


    He held out his hand. ¡°Name¡¯s Greyson. Dragon shiftae Andammharedodake you to yourdy.¡±

 Chapter 299

    Xander


    | was thrown by this dude¡¯s allegation abortion.what the actual f uck had he said? A f ucking dragon nifter? | yed it cool,


    though. His remarks aboutus votivelen ignorant because of the Council was true,


    nd | knew it.


    The part about us being arrogant. | knew that was true to


    He drove a battered ck pickup truck that revved and porn dream despite its appearance. When gave him a look as he started


    it up, Greyson let out a series ofanortho chuckles that, f u ck me, smelled like a andle being blown out. Warily, | eyed him in case


    he intended tottercreathing fire or some s hit like that


    find that my choice of vehicle is necessarily as..well, shall wessaynondescript, as | am, myself.¡± He anced over at me with


    another broad grin. This time, his teeth ofearned with sharp points, and although it as hard to see because he flicked it out so


    fast, a forked totiuse Fooraaf¨¦ww.seconds; swore his face looked ce it was covered in scales, but then he looked exactly as he


    had, bascore.


    ¡°Your kind is viewed as myth, or sometimes monster. My kind is ancter tankiosso well-known. We''ve ot to ourselves for centuries.


    Mostly, anyway. Even before the Great Wars:


    I


    date neaced away from the diner and toward the city | could see rising in these


    cho,what changed?¡± | asked.


    Byel xep an eye on the mileage and street names we passed. If something went down wanted to make sure isabelfogat myself


    and Lante back to the diner for my truck.


    d. The weld, | suppose.¡± Greyson shrugged and easily handled therge vehicle doww as s enessofmarrow


    us out or eus out on a main thoroughfare, He peered up through the windshield to the skyecre en looove the Boman city. So


    glittery. So shiny.¡±


    wishow much about dragons, much less dragon shifters, but this made me shortious love shay u love shiny things so much you h


    oard then¡±


    ys gone by, sundry, sure. Now, | collect my wealth more virtually. But that doesn¡¯t stop me fro leauty wing even my weezer can


    find it. Unlike your kind, we dragons like things made of stone an


    referredder meer om of the forest Cities make me twitchy.¡± | confirmed


    Stitead


    pulled up in front of up to tons of a bar and eased the truck to a parking spot. He led me inside and too rei-spoten teneantette at


    once she sat with a young woman about her age, both of them chatteg ling in the world in the world trig gune wong like my mate


    badn¡¯t beenpletely out of reach for hours.


    in


    growled, showing try show theyalee through the mind ink at the same time.


    pter 299


    Kander


    best


    Aor


    incr


    his


    was thrown by this dude¡¯s allegation about bond alwhat the actual f uck had he said? A f ucking dragon


    ? | yed it cool, though. His remarks about ouwwives being ignorant because of the Council was true,


    willl


    new it.


    ne part about us being arrogant, | knew tHERWESUB100


    e drove a battered ck pickup truck that rewed and cake a dream despite its appearance. When him a look as he started it up,


    Greyson fet oute serice obsishaming chuckles that, f uck me, smelled like a


    being blown out. Warily, | eyed him in case he intended daar breathing fire or some sh it like that.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    find that my choice of vehicle is necessarily as well, the wae say nondescript, as i am, myself.¡± He d over at me with another


    broad grin. This time, his teeth o band with sharp points, and although it Ird to see because he flicked it out so fast, a forked


    tongue one aufery seconds, | swore his face looked


    was covered in scales, but then he looked exactly as he had betalere


    scre


    she


    her


    pret


    our kind is viewed as myth, or sometimes monster. My kind is ancient and not so well-known. We''ve


    ourselves for centuries. Mostly, anyway. Even before the GleasWarers.


    told


    a headed away from the diner and toward the city | could see rising in the distance.


    myl


    the


    o what changed?¡± | asked.


    tat an eye on the mileage and street names we passed. If something went down, wwatted to make sure


    loe to get myself and Lanie back to the diner for my truck.


    fort


    stra


    he world, | suppose¡± Greyson shrugged and easily handled therge vehicle dowwa settes on parrow


    that led us out on a main thoroughfare. He peered up through the windshield to the slokoop head


    we the human city. So glittery. So shiny.¡±


    off


    dinkowmuch about dragons, much less dragon shifters but this made me son out o


    you me shiny things so much you h oard them.¡±


    and save gone by, sure Now i collect my wealth more virtually. But that doesn¡¯t stop me from


    ting obey y wherever | can find it. Unlike your kind, we dragons like things made of stone and


    Moes profethetedorn of the forest, Cities make me twitchy. | confirmed


    yeopled up pandant of a bar and eased the truck into a parking spot. He led nie inside and swart


    vivre i pocera Lan eat once. She sat with a young woman about her age, both of them chatting


    je nothing the wwdid done wrong, like my mate hadn¡¯t beenpletely out of roach for hours


    ate, growler heveny voice through the mind link at the same time.


    better with Xander at my side, his arm slung around my shoulders, almost pinning me next to him. He was going to keep me


    close for awhile, | could sense that. | didn¡¯t mind.


    When Charlotte introduced me to Greyson and said he was a dragon shifter, though, | let out a long, incredulousugh. She


    frowned and looked a little pis s ed off, but Greyson only grinned and nudged her with


    his hip.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± he said as myughter died down. ¡°I suppose if | were you, I¡¯dugh, too. Seeing as how I¡¯m willing to bet you had no


    idea we even existed until the moment Charlotte told you.¡±


    ¡°Just like we didn¡¯t know about vamps.¡± Xander sounded sullen. ¡°The f ucking Council has been really


    screwing all of us over.¡±


    ¡°All that¡¯s going to change,¡± Charlotte vowed.


    | quickly y sent a series of thoughts and images through the link to update Xander on at least some of what she and | had


    covered. I¡¯d have to fill him in with more detailter. For now, | had to get him to trust her, and her shifter boyfriend.


    That part I''d figured out the second he looked at her. Charlotte didn¡¯t seem to notice, or she was maybe


    pretending not to, but Greyson was clearly head-over-heels for her. The casual way they touched each other


    told me they¡¯d been together for at least a little while.


    What really surprised me was how easily Xander had taken to Greyson. They weren''t buddies, but at least my mate wasn¡¯t trying


    to fight him. This was curious, but | also noticed something particrly soothing about


    the other man. Maybe it was his voice, low and smoky


    We covered the basic details in a few minutes, and to my surprised relief, Xander was the one who offered


    for Greyson and Charlotte toe home with us. He even called home to let Zane know we''d be bringing


    strangers so there¡¯d be no shocks.


    off.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t until we were in our own truck, leading the way back to Stillwood, that he told me why.


    ¡°They feel like good people,¡± he said. ¡°Tell me differently, and I''ll turn around and tell


    ¡°No. They do.¡±


    He pulled into the driveway and turned off the truck, He twisted to take my hands in his.


    get the answers we need, love. | promise you.¡±


    ck right

 Chapter 300

    Lanie


    Isaac and ina were still in bed, but at Xander¡¯s request, Gabri had gotten Ste up. My precious daughter ran into my


    arms, and | scooped her up the second | got through the door. | pressed my face to her hair and breathed her in, holding her


    tightly.


    ¡°Ste, Mama has some people for you to meet, okay? So | want you to say hello.¡±


    Slowly, | turned and set Ste on her own two small feet. Other children might have clung to their mothers at the sight of


    strangers invading their home, or cried at being woken up in the middle of the night, but Ste only waved as Greyson and


    Charlotte came into the room.


    ¡°Hello, friends,¡± she chirped. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you. I¡¯m so d you''re here!¡±


    Xander and | shared a startled look. Charlotte¡¯s eyes visibly welled with tears she dabbed at with two fingertips. She smiled and


    knelt to hold out her hands for Ste to take.


    At thest second, | wanted to grab my baby back. Charlotte was still a stranger, after all. But a silver warmth flooded me. The


    Moon Goddess reassured me this was the right path, so | kept my ce at Xander¡¯s side and watched as our daughter allowed


    Charlotte to look her over.


    She touched the dark curls and cupped Ste¡¯s precious round cheeks. She peered deeply into her eyes. Something seemed to


    satisfy her..and take her aback.


    ¡°Ste, is that your grandma there?¡± Charlotte tipped her chin toward Gabri.


    ¡°Yes. She¡¯s my daddy''s momm


    Ste put a hand over her mouth to hold back a giggle. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little


    bit funny? He¡¯s so big, and she¡¯s so small!¡±


    ¡°It''s very funny,¡± Charlotte agreed and met Gabri¡¯s gaze as she got to her feet. ¡°Maybe yo would be able to take you into the


    kitchen and get a snack or something? | know it¡¯ste, but so me you''ve been a very, very good little girl.¡±


    ¡°She always is,¡± Gabri agreed with a look at Xander, and then one at me.


    He gave her a solemn nod. | could see she wasn¡¯t quite sure what was going on, so | sent out a sm pulse of Luna energy. The


    instant | did, an answering wave came from Charlotte, mingling with a rise of s from Gabri, herself.


    She looked startled and put a hand on her heart. ¡°Oh


    ¡°Once a Luna, forever a Luna,¡± Charlotte told her


    Our three mingled forces faded quickly, but it was easy to see that they''d soothed at least some of Gabri¡¯s anxiety. Her eyes


    shone, actually. I''d, of course assumed that surrendering her role as Luna had left her with a bit of mncholy, but this was the


    first time I''d ever considered how personally devastating the loss. of that might''ve been. | was more grateful than ever that my


    mother-inw had graciously given over to me, been a help to me, and had never once made me feelcking


    We all waited until Gabri had taken Ste out of the room before we spoke. Then Xander offered. Greyson a ss of Scotch


    while | moved some of the kids¡¯ toys out of the way so Ste could have a seat. It. all felt oddly sociable, but there was an


    undercurrent of tension rising from Mason and Zane. They only had a part of the story, after all.


    ¡°Two Alphas, bonded to the same mate. Luna powersing through each of you.¡± Zane shook his head, speaking for the first


    time since our guests had arrived. ¡°Can you tell me what the hell is going on?¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°There¡¯s so much to tell, but we really don¡¯t have time for it. We''ll have to exin it as we go,¡± Charlotte said firmly. ¡°For now, it¡¯s


    very clear to me that what | suspected is absolutely true. Ste has a connection to the Moon Goddess unlike anything I''ve ever


    seen. Lanie, it''s more even than yours or mine. Ste is...¡±


    ¡°Celestial?¡± | said when she didn¡¯t continue.


    Charlotte nodded. ¡°You''ve heard of it?¡±


    ¡°No, but it''s something Ste told


    means?¡±


    e. She had a dream about the Goddess. Can you tell me what it


    Greyson stepped forward. ¡°Begging your pardon, but Charlie¡¯s right. We really don¡¯t have time for a full lecture on the entirety of


    the situation.¡±


    ¡°Ste must not be around any wolf shifter who are not her immediate family. Her mother. Her fathers, her siblings, her grandma.


    Who else knows about what¡¯s been happening with her?¡±


    ¡°Nobody,¡± | said. ¡°I haven¡¯t even spoken to my mom or sister on the phone since all of this started. | didn¡¯t


    want them to worry...or be in danger. Everyone around here knows Ste from when she was an infant, but not


    since...well. Nottely.¡±


    ¡°Perfect.¡± Charlotte stood. ¡°We need to make preparations for all of you to leave Stillwood immediately. Tonight. Within the hour,


    if possible.¡±


    My heart pounded. ¡°Tonight? But...where do you expect us to go?¡±


    Greyson took Charlotte¡¯s hand. She faced me and my mates with a determined look, as she gave us the


    answer.


    ¡°To the vampire enve in ska.¡±


    212

 Chapter 301

    Lanie


    Packing up an entire life, including three little kids, was surprisingly easy to do with four parents, a grandmother, and two new friends to help.


    The sense of urgency Charlotte and Greyson had given us also helped.


    Still, the fact that we were all rolling up to a freaking vampire enve less than two days after the first minute I''d walked into that bar to meet Charlotte... I was still struggling to wrap my head around it.


    We''d decided to take our SUV instead of one of my mates'' trucks. I knew leaving them behind weighed on their minds, but they hadn''tined about it. My heart had ached as we drove away from the house I''de to love so much, and I hadn''tined about that, either.


    Our lives were changing so fast, there wasn''t time to worry about what we were leaving behind. It was taking all ourbined energies just to focus on the future.


    Isaae and ina were still sleeping, but Ste was wide awake and wide-eyed as she looked out the windows of the SUV. I understood her surprise. Sure, they''d told us it was an enve. They hadn''t said it was a freaking fortress.


    Insanely high walls of gray and brown stone rose highinto a clear blue sky unlittered by clouds. A set of huge wooden doors studded with what looked like iron bolts were closed in the center of the closest wall, while smaller, person-sized doors eut into the stone on each side.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Not a window in sight, but I did spy a few of what looked like window slits in the stone. A turret rose in each corner, each with a lookout window, but we were too far away for me to see if anyone was inside.


    "Does a princess live here?" Ste asked in her sweet little voice.


    "Well, my little love, we are going to live here, and you re my princess. So I guess a princess does live here." I made sure to keep my voice cheerful, no hesitation or worry in it.


    I got out to stand next to the SUV and stare up at the massive stone fortress. My heart pounded, but my spirits were lifting. I opened myself to the Moon


    Goddess, waiting for herfort, and it entered me in what felt like rippling sparkles of silver.


    "Love? You okay?" Zane slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me close. He kissed my temple.


    I beamed at him. "This was the right choice. I can feel the Goddess moving through me."


    Zane''s smile looked a little wary. "Good to know."


    "You''re not convinced." I faced him, my arms around his neck.


    Gabri was helping Mason get the twins out of the SUV while Xander and Greyson talked next to the truck he and Charlotte had arrived in. Zane looked over at them all, then at me. He smoothed the hair from my forehead and tipped my chin upward with one finger.


    "I trust you. I love you. I believe in you, and our family," Zane said. "You''ll have to forgive me if all of this is taking some time to work through."


    We''d all been through so much over the past year, but it urred to me that Zane had endured the most. His deal with the witch still haunted him. He didn''t talk about it, but I sensed it in him during the small, quiet moments when he allowed his mind to dwell.


    Now, we had left before he could know for sure what had happened.


    And we obviously wouldn''t be reaching out to her to check in.


    There wasn''t time to ask him about it now, but I made a mental note to keep in touch with him, his feelings, his needs. Zane must have felt my curious probe, because his head tilted as he smiled down at me.


    "Luna, Luna, Luna," he whispered. "How lucky I am to have you."


    "Lanie!" Charlotte called to me with a wave, and the moment between me and Zane dissipated.


    Charlotte came closer and gestured toward the massivestone walls. "We''ll go through those small doors, there. Someone wille and bring in the vehicles with our luggage. Are you ready? We really should get inside."


    "Are we in danger?" I asked, rmed.


    She hesitated, then shook her head. "I don''t know, but I think until we are convinced otherwise, you should consider that unless you are inside those walls, yes. You are all in danger."


    "From who? From what?" Zane asked quickly. "The High Council?"


    Again, Charlotte hesitated before she sighed and looked to the sky. She looked past us, to the vast, empty skan ins. Mountains rose in the distance, their peaks snow-capped, but the ground here was bare and brown. When she returned her gaze to ours, her expression was shadowed.


    "Wolves are so insr, so isted...so ignorant," she added in a low voice. "The High Council did that to you all after the Great War, but it wasn''t always like that.


    What I can tell you is that there are threats that have nothing to do with your small wolf world. But for now, let''s get you all inside."


    <ddict-div></ddict-div>

 Chapter 302

    Lanie


    | had Ste by the hand as we walked throuun ith door into an enormous courtyard with the rest of our


    mily following.


    Gabri carried Isaac, and Zane held ma


    Xander and Mason brought up the rear.


    Although they didn¡¯t say it aloud or even send them thoughts through the mind link, | knew it was because


    ey were nking us in case some threat came up on us frontechidd


    The Moon Goddess moved inside and all around meslecting coinotney had nothing to worry about. | as d for their alertness,


    though. My two Alphas were straboootesand ready to take on anything that


    e our


    me


    way


    Charlotte moved ahead, past us, with Greyson at her side:


    She looked over her shoulder at me with a wide grin. | hadn¡¯t knowwnerseridong, but it was the first time


    seen her look happy and genuinely at peace. Her satisfaction tobeo of herinromalbouises or energy that


    dn¡¯t really mingle with mine...but | was d to feel them.


    Itd epted this path because the Moon Goddess hadforted me but seeriga Ghadotte st ease


    fereally cemented to me that we were all going to be all right..


    wasn¡¯t sure what I''d been expecting, but it wasn¡¯t this. Lush gardens beneath aaroooorsskyn this


    more? | could hear the tinkling of a fountain but couldn''t see it. Birds chirpeddSoftigarssswasihned with


    ng stones making a few different paths leading to several separate area ss


    Obi Mara,it¡¯s so pretty!¡± Ste tugged my hand toward one of the winding stone pathss


    her


    Toulon,sweetheart. Let¡¯s just be patient, okay?¡± | shot Xander a look.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    He seemed


    pressed as | was, but a swirling pulse of his Alpha energy reached the. Het vo


    in cose cohing went down


    Steddockddatt him Cooddy, it¡¯s okay. This is a good ce.¡±


    He bent to scoopd her up and kissed her chubby unnm


    without Maan coronatus You promise mustle cheek. ¡°Let''s just stick together, Ste. N


    She looked disapppoited but the nodded ¡°Yes, Daddy, | promise.¡±


    Slowly, a group hadantennalized in front of us, one by one, from behind the trees and flowerbeds.


    Men and wonten treseada nothing more appropriate to tropical temperatures than what I''d have pected from an skan


    ecotuthored in semi-circle. Most of them were smiling at us in wee, but


    ew hung back as though they were reserving judgment


    However pon¨¦fantitat face stood out to me, and | gave a happy gasp.


    ¡°Mchi


    Xander


    ¡°If Mchi¡¯s hanging putitihare it must be safe enough,¡± Zane thought to me as soon as the Ancient vampire stepped out of the


    crowd that was greeting us. ¡°How are you feeling about this? I¡¯m getting conflict.¡±


    | shifted Ste fromone eantac the other as | replied via the link. ¡°I keep getting waves of reassurance from our Luna. Not sure


    she¡¯s swaddoing it on purpose, or if that¡¯s the reason I¡¯m actually pretty cool right now. But | do know that if Mchin shealthis


    ce has to be safe as hell.¡±


    Mason''s voice slipped into any vidro how are you so cool? | gotta be honest, I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m okay. being surrounded by all these


    vampes


    ¡°We''re all here together Feel Lenis Sheertruits Mdi. So should we,¡± Zane put in.


    | could tell by the look on Meson¡¯s face that he still wasn¡¯t convinced. That was fine. Some healthy wariness would serve us well,


    so long as itididioned his so tense he went off without warning or


    provocation.


    Lanie must''ve been feeling it, too, because she turned


    It even lifted the ends of her hair, and | swore could see


    almost at once in the golden tight of the courtyard.


    him, her smile still wide. A glow surrounded her.


    all sparkles glittering all around her. They faded


    ¡°| mean, look at this f ucking ce,¡± Meson thoughhtapne and Zane. ¡°We''re in ska, and this is like


    something out of the Bahamas or some s hiti This stinks opmagic Xander. Do vamps control the weather?¡±


    ¡°Daddy,¡± Ste said with a frown. She put a tiny hand on my check to turn my face toward her. ¡°Tell him


    not to worry so much?¡±


    ¡°Did you hear me thinking to your Daddy?¡± Meson asked dna dowodice.


    She paused before answering. ¡°I can just see your eyes am scared¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be afraid, Mason.¡± A woman in a flowing green dres her blonde hair c


    her shoulders and back, stepped closer to us. She held out a delicate handdawnld my brother. A


    tittle one might not be reading your mind..but | am¡±


    212

 Chapter 303

    Mason


    ¡°Fuck this,¡± I muttered out loud as I took a step in front of Xander, a call to action clear in my voice.


    I wasn¡¯t worried about my brother, obviously, but carrying our sadness, he wasn¡¯t going to be able to fight if he had to.


    The woman¡¯sugh was a light tinkle that floated through the air like a thousand cascading butterflies. Fuck, for a few seconds I even swore that¡¯s what I saw¡ªtiny glowing insects fluttering about, and then they disappeared, but I wasn¡¯t fooled. If she could read my mind, who was to say she couldn¡¯t also insert stuff in there, too?


    ¡°I am Melina. Wee to the enve, Mason. I must assure you, here, you aren¡¯t surrounded by vamps as you might think,¡± she said, sounding amused. ¡°Shall we say, to put it gently, here in the haven we call Brightsky, we share our space with many supernaturals. Brightsky is a refuge for those who need it. Those such as yourselves.¡±


    I tilted my head to chase away any residual sensation of those damn butterflies. ¡°What the hell are you talking about? Other supernaturals?¡±


    ¡°Mason,¡± Lanie murmured.


    Even though I loved and trusted her with my life, I ignored her. I took another step toward Melina.


    ¡°What others are you talking about? I know about him.¡± I gestured toward Greyson. ¡°I know about hybrids. Vampires, witches. You¡¯re telling me there are others?¡±


    ¡°Mason,¡± Lanie repeated firmly and took my hand to force me to look at her.


    Zane joined her, and the two of them swirled their energies around me, but I waved them off. I had a responsibility to my mates and all three of my pack. One step wasn¡¯t going toe without some exining.


    ¡°Let him speak,¡± said a tall, murmuring man with steel-gray hair.


    He stood with his arms crossed over his chest and unlike the others who wore light clothing, he was dressed for what I¡¯d expect in an Austin winter. I tried to pinpoint his kind but couldn¡¯t. He was not witch and not even dragon, which was still so new a smell I wasn¡¯t quite used to. I nodded at him, though, and he returned it. Whoever he was, I liked his vibe.


    Melina¡¯s smile switched on like a camera iris that she peacefully waved a hand in his direction, then mine. ¡°Mason should know he is wee to question anything. Wee here at Brightsky at any time, for any reason.¡±


    Zane¡¯s Beta energy tried to tickle the back of my mind at the base of my spine, but again, I did my best not to let it infiltrate me. I could sense his frustration with me.


    ¡°Beta,¡± I ordered through our private link. ¡°Stand down.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t be a very good Beta if I did!¡± came his quick reply, though he did back off.


    Well, he backed off of me. He focused on Melina. ¡°Respectfully, it¡¯s been a very short time since we learned other than wolf shifters existed. Wolves and humans, that¡¯s what we believed.¡±


    He took a breath, clearly shaken. ¡°Finding out about vampires was a huge shock. And not just us, but all of us. Maybe you all have more information or whatever, but we¡¯re understandably a little bit shook.¡±


    Again, her lightughter tinkled through the air. No butterflies this time. Maybe she¡¯d read my damn mind and felt how that unsettled me. But the flowers blooming around us nodded their heavy heads as if in agreement.


    Lanie pulsed some Luna calm around me, which I allowed.


    ¡°Melina, there is so much we don¡¯t understand, and we thank you for allowing us toe here to your home. Trust me, knowing we have a refuge is immensely reassuring. I hope you all will forgive any missteps we might take as we adjust.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but be proud of how well-spoken my Luna had be. When I met her as Katie, she was an unsure mother, and now she¡¯d be almost regal.


    Now, Katie no longer existed. Lanie carried herself like a fucking queen.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Melina smiled, looking like she was about to burst with pride. ¡°My granddaughter, you and your kin are wee here for as long as you like.¡±


    ¡°And if we want to leave?¡± I challenged him, aware of Lanie¡¯s frown but wanting to get things out in the open right away.


    Melina¡¯s eyes went wide, and she shook her head with the same delicate grace she¡¯d shown with every action so far. ¡°Oh no, Mason, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t allow that. Not at all.¡±

 Chapter 304

    Lanie


    ¡°Zane. Hold him,¡± | sent through a private link. ¡°He¡¯s going to lose his s hit.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Zane thought in reply.


    Together, we wove a tapestry of calm for Mason, but | was surprised that instead of bursting into rage, he startedughing. He


    shook a finger at Melina. Sheughed gently


    ¡°If you''re going to read my mind,¡± he said, ¡°you''d better be prepared for what''s in there.¡±


    Zane and | shared confused looks. Melina, however, simply glided forward like she was walking on air and took Mason by the


    shoulders. She kissed one cheek, then the other, her lips brushing the air over his skin without actually touching.


    ¡°My dear new friend. You cannot leave without a bath, dinner, fresh clothes, and the assurance that you have our protection. We


    treat our guests with the utmost hospitality,¡± she said, then paused. ¡°But | suppose


    you are not guests, are you? If you are family to Mchi, you are kin to us a all.¡±


    1-1


    ¡°What did you think to her?¡± | heard Zane ask through the group link, but Mason only grinned and shook


    his head.


    ¡°Melina, perhaps our guests would be better prepared for what we have to share with them if they''re


    shown to their rooms and given a chance to rest. Reflect Refresh.¡±


    The gray-haired man at the back of the group said this a bit sharply, and | wondered what his rtionship was to Melina. She


    didn¡¯t seem at all taken aback by his tone. If anything, the look she shot over her shoulder


    made me think he amused her.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Allow me to introduce Jacques,¡± Melina said. ¡°He is a warlock.¡±


    ¡°And her husband,¡± he said sternly, his brow furrowing


    ¡°So, men can be witch kind,¡± Xander said aloud.


    Mchi nodded ¡°Your world is going to get so much bigger over the next few days, son. | hope you¡¯re ready for it¡±


    ¡°Tim Penelope,¡± offered a pretty brte whose eyes tipped up at theers when she smiled Tm a vampire witch No wolf in


    me, but I¡¯m fascinated by how you shift I¡¯d love the chance to learn more about how It all works | mean, where does the for even


    come from? And where does it go?


    ¡°Pen, let¡¯s get them to their rooms so they can rx a bit before dinner Melina chided kindly


    Penelope moved closer to link her arm through mine | do hope we can be friends, Lanie i promise you, I¡¯m not always so nosy


    Eve just heard so much about you from Charlotte Well, we all have. I¡¯m so very excited to have you here!¡±


    | looked around the group of those who¡¯de to oreet us, wondering how many more lived here it had 1/2


    ¡°You have the advantage, | guess,¡± | told her with a small, self-conscious chuckle. ¡°Since none of us had


    any idea about any of this before a day ago.¡±


    Gabri hefted ina higher on her hip. Isaac clung to her leg. Both pups were staring, goggle-eyed, all around them. ¡°These


    two little ones could certainly use a change of clothes. So could |. We''d be very grateful if you could show us where we''ll be


    staying.¡±


    ¡°I''ll take them. You, Penelope, stay here and help prepare for the dinner tonight. You''ll have plenty of time. to get to know Lanie


    later. Give her a chance to settle in,¡± my grandfather ordered. To me, he said, ¡°I''ll take you all to your rooms. Your belongings


    have already been taken there.¡±


    We gathered ourselves and the kids and followed him out of the courtyard, through an area dominated by the fountain I¡¯d heard


    earlier, and then through a set of wooden doors that matched the ones on the outside


    wall. These, though, hung open in a way that suggested they were rarely closed. Inside the main building, the


    enve turned out to be a maze of stairs, halls, andmon rooms.


    ¡°Is that thing


    ing safe?¡± This time, Xander was the one with a suspicious re at the elevator in front of us.


    The doors were of borately scrolled metalwork that formed so many small scenes | thought | could


    spend hours looking at them all. My grandfatherughed and opened the door to usher us inside. Despite the antique


    appearance, all eight of us fitfortably. Mchi hit the button marked seven.


    ¡°This building isn¡¯t even seven stories high,¡± Mason said.


    Mchi shook his head. ¡°Floors zero through four are above. Five through eleven.


    go below.¡±


    The elevator shuddered and began to move, but without his exnation I¡¯d have been hard-pressed to


    know if it was going up or down.


    ¡°It''s like what the humans call witches¡¯ stairs,¡± Gabri murmured admiringly. ¡°Meant to confuse anyone.


    who¡¯s not supposed to be here.¡±


    Mchi grinned at her. ¡°You got it.¡±


    The doors opened to let us out into a small, cozy entry foyer that looked like it belonged in a boutique hotel. That was surprise


    enough, but when my grandfather unlocked and pushed open the door, | couldn¡¯t he back my cry of utter shock.


    212

 Chapter 305

    Zane


    ur rooms.¡±


    ¡°By the Moon,¡± | said at the sight of what Mchi had quaintly called ¡°your


    This space, with only one room | could see, was bigger than Lanie¡¯s entire cottage back in Stillwood.


    We all stood in afortable living room already lit by a crac kling fire. Heavy leather couches and chairs


    surrounded the hearth, with thick rugs covering the stone floor. Multiple doors promised to lead to what |


    assumed were bedrooms or bathrooms.


    Bookcases lined the walls, with old, leather-bound books piled high on every shelf, | also spotted some


    current paperbacks. A big screen TV was at the far end of the room, with a set offortable looking recliners facing


    oit.


    The lighting was dim and came from sconces set in the wall, but as Mchi waved his hand and


    murmured amand, the room brightened.


    ¡°Brightsky runs on the most advanced technology, even if it does look like a medieval castle,¡± he


    exined. ¡°That includes heating, cooling, lighting, and of course, security. Not only are you all entirely safe


    here because nobody knows it is here, in the unlikely event our enemies are able to find us, they will certainly


    find us unbreachable.¡±


    Xander put Ste down, and she ran over to Gabri. Mchi pointed to a set of doors open at the other


    end of the room.


    ¡°Gabri, there¡¯s a children¡¯s room right there. Plenty of toys, fresh clothes, and a small selection of


    snacks, since | know little wolves must eat more frequently than some of us. It has its own ensuite, and you''ll


    find yours right next door. If you need anything, you can use the inte system to ring for one of our staf


    Xander¡¯s mother blinked rapidly but smiled at him. ¡°Come on, children. Let¡¯s go see what Mr. Mchi


    for us to y with


    When they¡¯d gone, Xander turned back to Lanie¡¯s grandfather. ¡°How can you be so sure nobody knows thi


    ce is here? | mean, it¡¯s f ucking enormous¡±


    ¡°Ahh. Well, just because something is oversized,¡± Mchi grinned and gave all three of us guys a significant look, ¡°doesn¡¯t mean


    it''s obvious to everyone Brightsky is hidden from view except to those who are


    invited to it¡±


    ¡°Spells fail,¡± Mason said:


    Mchi chuckled ¡°Brightsky is cloaked, but not by a spell Oh, we do have our spellcasters put to work here, but they are not


    tasked with the sole responsibility of keeping us hidden We utilize aplex series of checks and bnces to keep Brightsky a


    secret¡±


    ¡°You have a cloaking system set up? fd heard about tech like that, but we¡¯ve never had ess to it it¡¯s


    one of the things | think my father was working with the Bumans to get¡±


    we found out his ns to experiment on the hybrids. He caught my nce and shrugged.


    now.¡±


    ¡°| overheard him talking once when | was a pup, but | never put two and two together about it until just


    Mchi nodded. ¡°Your father may have been in cahoots with humans for many things, but our cloaking security is far more


    advanced than anything a mere human coulde up with. Vampires are a race that is


    utterly vulnerable when we sleep, so it¡¯s imperative to have protections. Different periods of human history have seen us hunted


    in ways wolves have never had to face. We learned long ago the best defense against


    getting staked while we dreamed was to simply never be discovered in the first ce.¡±


    My head spun. ¡°I could use a drink.¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Help yourself. There¡¯s a full bar set up in the library, which is just through there. | know you wolves like to


    drink.¡± Mchi pointed to another door on the far side of the firece.


    ¡°I''ve heard you vamps like to drink, too,¡± Mason said roughly.


    He seemed a little easier since his interaction with Melina in the gardens, but he wasn¡¯t giving Mchi


    more than an inch of give at a time.


    ¡°Oh, we certainly do.¡± The Ancient vampire¡¯s lips skinned back to reveal his curved and glittering fangs.


    ¡°But it''s most definitely not whiskey.¡±


    ¡°Mason,e have a drink with me,¡± | urged him. If | needed one, he needed one even more. It would


    soften the edges a little bit. And, although | understood and respected his concerns, | wasn¡¯t as worried as he


    seemed to be.


    If my Luna felt safe, and my Alpha prime felt safe, then | was going to trust them both and do my best to


    make my Alpha second did, too.


    Mason grumbled. ¡°Fine.¡±


    iru


    ¡°I''ll go with you,¡± Xander said. ¡°I want to check out the rest of this ce.¡±


    ¡°Make yourselffortable. Consider this your home,¡± Mchi said. ¡°Il would like the chance to have a few moments with my


    granddaughter.¡±


    He paused. ¡°Alone.¡±


    212

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    Lanie


    I


    | was a little surprised when my grandfather took both my hands in his. He peered deeply into my eyes. wondered if he was


    going to try topel me. It didn¡¯t feel like that was his n, but | prepared for it anyway.


    Instead, his expression softened, and he touched my cheek before letting me go and taking a couple of steps back.


    m so happy you''re here, granddaughter. There have been times when | was certain you and | would never have the privilege


    of getting to know one another.¡±


    ¡°| can¡¯t say | exactly felt the same,¡± | said honestly. ¡°Seeing as how | didn¡¯t even know you existed until fairly recently. But | am


    d to have the chance now.¡±


    His lips quirked on one side. ¡°You¡¯ve grown up so much, even in the short time sincest we saw one


    another.¡±


    ¡°Short time?¡± | let out a rough chuckle. ¡°It feels like an eternity has passed.¡±


    ¡°When you live for an eternity, anything other than a century feels like a short time.¡± My grandfather pointed to the big leather


    couch. ¡°Sit with me?¡±


    | was happy to. The many hours in the car should have made me eager to be up and moving, but my entire body ached from all


    the tension. Sinking into thefortable leather was a relief, and | sighed out loud. Hisst words reminded me of what


    Charlotte had told me.


    ¡°| guess I''m going to find that out for myself,¡± | said.


    He


    gave me an amused look. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Eternal life. Charlotte told me that she¡¯s more than a couple of hundred years old, and that it¡¯s likely I''ll be the same, since we¡¯re


    both vampire-wolf hybrids. I''ll be honest, Mchi, | can¡¯t really imagine it.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to, at least not right now. And, perhaps you will get lucky and die at the end of what would be considered a


    normal lifespan for wolf-kind.¡± He quirked an eyebrow at me.


    ¡°Is that supposed to make me feel better?¡± |ughed, rxing into the couch c ushions. ¡°I guess that¡¯s better than dying in a war


    or something else as bad.¡±


    His expression sobered ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to make light.


    ¡°Mama?¡±


    We both turned to see Ste in the doorway to the children¡¯s room. Gabri was behind her, tugging at the sleeve of her dress,


    but Ste was pulling away with uncharacteristic stubbornness.


    ¡°Need to talk to Marnal¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. She cane to me. Are you all right with the twins?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Gabri gavana Mchi cach a nod. ¡°Call me if you need me.¡±


    She shut the door behind her and Steita ran across the room to throw herself against me. | hugged liner, nning my hand over her


    handicappoond te face so ficould look into her eyes.


    ¡°What''s wrong, little love


    ¡°| wanted you.¡± She leaned adais pressing her face into the front of ray shirt


    ¡°Sometimes, that is all a child needs het intothe Mchi said.


    Ste peered at him from under my anHallo, You re the strange man who¡¯s going to help my rama.


    ¡°Ste¡± | chided embarrassed at her bits, stiut Mchi onlyughed.


    He held out his arms and to my surprise, Steelia went right to him. She settled herself on my grandfathers. pas easily as if they''d


    known each other former bases warmed by the sight, and, not so surprisingly, a little iddened. How different my life, all of our


    lives eighths have been, if I''d been a little girl who could sit on her


    andpa¡¯sp.


    ¡°This is Mchi, Ste. He¡¯s your


    She giggled, cutting me off. ¡°I know him t¡¯member air nitrotrons foefore Mama? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    He and | shared a look


    You were a very little girl then, my grandfather said paganefeetings wouldn¡¯t be hurt if you didn¡¯t member me.¡±


    n: not telling a story, Ste protested, clearly offendeded


    No. of course you''re not,¡± he soothed quickly. With another giant at the cold. What did you mean hen you said that your mother


    needed my help?


    Ste frowned. 1 Mamma needs your help because...because shes evamere and she co


    at Snes having trouble, and she needs you to help her


    ww how to


    Mchi nited has head studying hier is that so?!


    and she thinks about it a lot like a bunch of buzzing bees, all in heral


    taopped


    161 the spot between fer e


    Lave never denyttang ke that to you


    Adamit i cantar your thoughts.¡±


    Startles i ut t ang noi lo show at a teding | wasing to discover wismon amen tynaudunter


    grogatotion | can hear ad of your

 Chapter 307

    Leutene


    Stoi;@renched to touch the hem of Ste¡¯s dress. | wanted to pull her into my arms, but | didn¡¯t want Oscarehend settled for


    that small contact.


    ¡°What sodo you mean, all of our thoughts?¡± | tried to keep my voice steady, but her little face scrunched up


    it the sound of my tension.


    | was misle des mung to use my Luna energy, but | didn¡¯t need much of it right now. The Moon Goddess was notizer to


    varises and the strengths she¡¯d granted me worked through my own motherhood. Ste rxed.


    Theditton |


    Theo icon warning about my varnpire side, but | certainly had never shared anything like that out loud with my daughter Ste


    might''ve simply been perceptive enough to guess that. It didn¡¯t mean she was Ictually reading thcuouterOn the other hand...


    ¡°Wolves doxtonomununicate via mind links. Usually, it¡¯s mate to mate, or Alpha to Beta, but close tionships cac create a bond


    that allows us to speak mind to mind.¡±


    ¡°I''m aware of that tavadachesaid wryly.


    Of course he was. A susandash of iration filtered through me. He knew so much, and | still barely knew


    anything. | didn¡¯t have receno tviviedian that now, though.


    ¡°Ste.¡± 1 focused ch Wowon¡¯t be angry with you if you¡¯re a little confused. Are you feeling Mama¡¯s


    eelings? Guessing? Can youdeltay cjelodbok on my face, like when you told Abba his eyes looked scared?¡±


    She shook her head. No bheneamwhatyou¡¯re thinking


    ¡°When he asked you if you were reading his mind, did you tell him a fib?¡±


    Solemnly, she waited a second, then anodded.


    ¡°Why would you do that? Fasked her, trubut thought already knew.


    cute fudy with the pretty dress was already thinkin


    Anat tumult hear that Abha was upset about some


    ¡°| didn¡¯t want to get into trouble. And the


    thinks. His thoughts, Steacted hemen.


    able to do that, so i didn¡¯t want to tell alm could, toob. Betoon.¡±


    *How long have you been able to do tra?¡±.


    I''m not sure.


    Heat flushed my cheeks. | was going to tuve anne


    least some of the private conversations between my rate


    Daddy, Papa, and Abba are thinking to each other


    im ng to-to if she was, in tact, listening in to at


    and have you been hearing what Mama and


    She covered her mouth with both hands wivin a hurry of of mites es escapedNo, ob, Mama Only one at a time: But once theard


    Abba thinking about how much he tesugutt Joy wwata noap hood: Only he didn¡¯t say


    poop, he said the bad word¡±


    ty eyebrows flew up. ¡°Oh, he did??


    Yes. | try not to listen, becoused kinowie¡¯s bad. But you¡¯re all so loud,¡± sheined. ¡°You, Daddy, Papapa, Grammy. Izzy and


    Allie, too. And thngecontit downstairs. And the people upstairs.¡±


    he pointed a small finger at theeinou. Snowwisted on Mchi¡¯sp to look him in the face. And you


    Mchiughed and bouo her cienti Steltalit not mide to make jokes like that¡±


    Not joking!¡± There was that sh of stubbornness again, Ste crossed her arms and glowered at him


    es, the same color as his, shot out a samotnow that took a few seconds to fade.


    My grandfather turned stem, andil caught chirpssef novicerrifying an Ancient really could be. ¡°Good


    iris do not scare people that way it¡¯s not arme pok. Ste You cannot be hearing my thoughts,


    se Great Granddad is a vampire. That¡¯s not how things work for our kind.¡±


    is eves met mines had to take his word forismce: nad h o does about now vampires worked.


    told you, | am not joking! Her voice wavered. Cleanty.nne was upset ¡°Right now, you''re thinking about


    ty mama¡¯s mommy used to y jokes on pecole swien 50g was lode, just like me. And | look like her. And


    be ying a joke, because | look like my grandmaaaang youthink yarmpires can¡¯t have their thinkse


    their head, but they can! Because | hear them


    like


    Pet


    cas


    he burst into tears, and | reached to gather her against reel Malhi fooked shaken, then sorrowful. He


    : her back gently


    hav


    mys


    m sorry, small one. | never meant to hurt your feelingss! believe you¡±


    I


    te turned fear-stained cheeks toward him. Sniffling, she gave him wobbly, watery smile. | know you


    cause | can hear you.¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    of o


    How about now? What am | thinking?¡±


    ford


    hedrowned ¡°Nothing¡±


    locked at me. | was thinking, quite hard, but also trying to shield. So poosmile to bioch


    mine stand how it¡¯s possible for her in the first ce.


    Mchi stood. ¡°This is extraordinary I¡¯ve got some things to look into about this ut conte


    the potantume, get refreshed, and Ill see you all at dinner.


    um Hand How was going to exin this to my mates?


    212


    tha

 Chapter 308

    Xander


    Reluctantly, | handed my son over to a stranger.


    ¡°You''re sure they''ll all be okay?¡± | demanded gruffly of the woman who, | had to admit, had a kind face.


    ¡°Our little ones love the school here. Your children are going to have a great time. And you can always


    observe through the ss.¡± She gave a discreet tip of her chin toward the two-way mirror on the far wall.


    Ste was already running off, holding ina¡¯s hand and mindful that her sister couldn''t go as fast. Just


    like that, all three of my pups were gone.


    ¡°I''ll hardly know what to do with myself,¡± my mother said as she watched them go. When she turned to me, her eyes shone.


    ¡°Actually, | know exactly what I¡¯m going to do with myself. I''ve got some friends here.


    I


    People | knew during the Great Wars. | haven¡¯t seen them since...well, in a long, long time.¡±


    ¡°You deserve some time to enjoy catching up with your friends, Ma.¡± | pulled her into a hug. ¡°And, just in case | haven''t


    mentioned it, you know we all appreciate how helpful you¡¯ve been with the pups. We truly can¡¯t


    have done any of this without you.¡±


    ¡°You''re my son. Family pulls together,¡± she said with a wide grin. ¡°But if you''ll excuse me, I¡¯m going to pull myself out of here


    before one of those babies decides they want Grammy!¡±


    With a chuckle, | watched her go. Lanie was standing with a concerned look, but when | sent out a probe of concern through our


    bond, she smiled and shook her head.


    ¡°It''s a milestone. And hey, at least we don¡¯t have to homeschool. | know how much you were looking. forward to learning how to


    read all over again,¡± she joked.


    Zane and Mason had lingered over breakfast, deep in conversation, but both showed up now.


    I


    ¡°My brother is taking his good old time adjusting,¡± | sent through my private link to Lanie.


    ¡°Zane¡¯s taking care of him. And it¡¯s good for all of us to be a little wary, notcent.¡±


    My brother was downright trepidatious, but | also could tell that Zane was helping to bnce him. It had to be taking a lot out of


    our Beta, though.


    ¡°| hope this will be a ce where we can all let our guards down for a bit¡± Lanie leaned into my embrace.


    We hadn¡¯t talked much about what it meant that Ste could read minds beyond a normal bond link, or that she could read minds


    that were supposed to be unreadable Something told me that was a discussion that was going to lead to anything but being able


    to let down our guards, but | didn¡¯t say so. Instead, | kissed


    her.


    ¡°Does this feel like home to you?¡± | asked, curious about the vampire influence.


    Hell, even | could feel it, and | didn¡¯t have any varnp in me Beforeing here, | hadn¡¯t realized how much, of an aura, forck


    of a better word, surrounded wolf kind, and how different it was from each other kind of


    ¡°It''s starting to. So fastasesyes she added, answering the question | hadn¡¯t asked but only thought. She aughed a little at my


    Experosiosional quess Ste inherited her special talent from my side.¡±


    ¡°What am | thinking right no new?


    My mate grinned, he de omino no to my c rotch. She wiggled her eyebrows, and my co ck stirred. It had een far too long since i


    radne naked body under my hands and tongue. No time for that now, sadly.


    ¡°Hello. You must be Mchu¡¯s omarandaughter mm Vera. And this is Eowan¡± A woman as tall as me gently hoved a little boy


    forward. Both at the men hao pointed eartips. ¡°He¡¯ll be in ss with your little ones.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Lante se dald


    | waited until the two had gone out or earshot, atthough, hell, with ears like that, maybe they could hear eyond what i thought


    they couto. Whethare of of supernatural are they?¡±


    ¡°Fae Zane said in a low voice as ns ce came up to us with Mason, ¡°We met her husband in the corridor. ice dude. Hey, by the


    way, Greyson invitedles us to the enve training grounds for a workout. | could really use


    ne. You in?¡±


    ¡°F uck yeah, I¡¯m in. Unless our Luna needs see tumed to give her a look, hopeful she¡¯d say no.


    Laneughed, shaking her heart woulo edes


    As stand in the way of you getting to pound and break ings. All three of you, go. My grandfather askeskeiser with me this


    morning.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn''t we be with you?¡± Zane asked with a from Wide He¡¯s going to tell you about Ste, right?¡±


    I''m not sure what he¡¯s got to say, but he asked for fotothe be in private. You go,¡± she said.


    1 pounded one fist into my opposite palm, already grinning geareah Let¡¯s go break some sh it.¡±

 Chapter 309

    Lanie


    Brightsky really was a technical marvel


    As | made my way toward my grandfather¡¯s quarterecht dimmed behind me and brightened to light my ath, directing me at every


    turn. | was a little sturording so clearly tracked. How did the lights know here | was supposed to be going, anyway?


    m


    that elevator that definitely had me a little


    It was better than getting lost, and better still than riisin rvous. | climbed a set of winding stairs, the railing carved own at tooked


    like one immense tree. Like the evator doors, figures and scenes looked like they told a stop wand took a few minutes to see if i


    could icionerit.


    ¡°It''s the history of our kind.¡± Mchi said this from the top of the airs, just around the curve. | could only e his shoes. ¡°I''ll be


    happy to lead you through it..after we ta


    climbed the final few steps to find myself in an open, bright hati/avas boasting¡¯s wrong with this... Betis it?¡±


    Mchiughed. ¡°The windows. Fake sunlight. Our kind loves the light


    in!


    usedly, the light does not love


    the same way. So my quarters designed to mimica sun drenched it talten vatonce had the essure of owning, tong, tong ago. |


    never got to enjoy it the way | can thisis


    Every time | think | can¡¯t be surprised again, something else shows up to knock onomw.butt¡± anneetakly, suddenly


    embarrassed to curse in front of thy Ancient rtivese


    Nindy/stop being capable of surprise is the day | give myself to the stake. Mththasaid


    wan suure what that meant, but it didn¡¯t sound good.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Het cosmathcough a few airy, open rooms, and into a dimmer, cooler space furnished with cos./pouretme a ss of what


    smelled like lemonade i didn¡¯t want it but took it anyway.


    He


    006, Grenne 101th edge of a couch with my grandfather in the chair across from me. When sele toos the other cab presu his


    fingerups to each side of my head on my temples, | closed my mev pinst wooden vermingle, not quite an electro zap but more


    like a hum


    ¡°What: ate you doing?


    Upty that fivedon West that way for a couple more minutes: Finally he sot both.


    h


    That wasn¡¯t youpting Wat war


    was trying 10


    rcentages, Some tesis


    de


    mmpire so i was trying to ridicem.


    yourpra unde hybrid doesnt work in neat little mathematical


    recessive Seda dard you wore having trouble learning to be


    you ready is


    ¡°I''m afraid it''ll take more than adminutes to discern that.¡± Mchi leaned back in his chair and ossed one leg over the other


    Hestteorded his fingers and pressed the tips against his pursed tips asha


    died me.


    ¡°You said already is.¡± | studied him right oock Exm?


    ¡°Your Luna strengthes from mopediaan your Moon Goddess. Your vampire blood is also enhanced by moon. Could


    you have guessed that?


    ¡°We don¡¯t share the same rtionship voltmerrs


    mertas you wolves, but we are creatures of the night, all the me. The parts of you that are vampire a meshing with your wolf


    traits, which isn¡¯t always the case with


    brids.


    ¡°Sometimes, different traits fight against eiche o rgancel each other out. That''s why many, many rids are never even born but


    perish in the venth. Butmoose who do survive are very special.¡±


    Restlessly, | got off the couch to pace. | saw frame coat of my mother on one wall and studied it for aw moments. Another


    surprise set me back stap.


    ¡°You have photos of me and


    V Sister?¡±


    ¡°Of course | do. Just because | wasn¡¯t able to be inventives ovenrimaant hididn¡¯t wish to be part of them.¡±


    My mother sent you these?¡±


    Mchi hesitated, looking a little ufortable It was aarexpression Lever expected to see on him. tell you that | acquired


    them through other means, will you think maastikker?¡±


    ¡°Sure: A night stalker,¡± | quipped, hoping it didn¡¯t offend him Didoveannos have good senses of humor? | had


    idea other than my interactions with Braden, and he did.


    Speaking of..if Mchi was here and safe, where was Braden??


    That would have to wait.


    To my rebet, Mcht snorted softughter. ¡°You have your mother¡¯s watt As stidos your bove


    arshiming little star¡±


    putine ss down without taking a single sip. ¡°Since that¡¯s what you rolled trek


    11 weet down to it? I¡¯ve spent too much time worrying and running. If we are reallyysanner. Th


    emerything | need to know¡±


    fret what you need to know is that your daughter not what you believe hersie

 Chapter 310

    Lante


    My heart sant ¡°Whatissshine¡±


    ¡°| believe your uganee what is known as a Celestial.¡±


    A burst of relievedughter sitt out of me ¡°Oh, thank the Goddess. | thought you were going to tell me something | really didn¡¯t


    kno


    ¡°You...were aware of this airred??


    ¡°If | had any idea of what a Colestatissid say yes sat down across from him again. This time, | drained that lemonade in a few


    greedy oulites


    Mchi leaned forward, hands on thishness, an intense expression twisting his youthful face. ¡°Tell me


    what you do know.¡±


    ¡®Not much. Ste told me she¡¯d had addrer which a-in her words-silverdy¡¯ visited her and said she was ¡®Celestial.¡¯ | mean, she


    didn¡¯t pronounceautight at first. She was still very early in her speech. But


    that¡¯s what | figured out it meant. And, with cheating and another, | just haven¡¯t been able to find out what,


    exactly, that means.¡± | gave a relieved sigh Botypookknow. Right?¡±From N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| know that I wish you''d told me this theamonnentryyouridiscovered it.¡± He sounded...not


    concerned, disturbed.


    ary. More


    Alittle...awed?


    | frowned. Sure, because you and | were chatting liked bestes every day, right? Just beca picture on your wall doesn¡¯t mean |


    had any reason to reach post to you for anything, Mch


    kated


    i paused. Shuddered, closing my eyes at the memoryWhen i boot myself under control, | fo


    steady re.


    You killed my daughter¡¯s grandfather. You broke the Treatyylitharesnother Great War, and e seems to think that¡¯s likely, you''re


    the cause of it. But sure right att binne Land for not rushing to


    todo¡¯er¡¯s clean


    have my


    tened up his hands and pushed them gently toward ne kete vestastnyttarens in ar


    trenght very night, my dear I¡¯m sorry


    Matachi got up to stare at the photos of me and my sister With trafowarsime he said. ¡°Please.


    tommw what your little one shared with you about the dream


    kristy


    to you all know the silver tatly was the Moon ideas, of that pretty co onneen: Tast¡¯s really all!


    Celtitials are rare, very, very precious and rare but | had no idea. H is voice tremble an


    Was he...weeping?


    In fact, his eyes were glistening when he turned, but he watcodia white hanky from his pocket and swiped is face immediately. |


    caught a glimpse of crimson on the cloch vatten no sucked it away again. So, vamos


    red blood tears?


    I''ve lived a long time, but Celestials are only born once every ten vernerations. By the time a new Celestial rrives, people have


    forgotten the one who existed before it they becoorgate stuff of fairy tales. The ones umans create, not the stories of the Fae,


    which is something else entry Maison shook his head, his


    noulders hunching.


    still couldn¡¯t tell if he was upset or ovee with joy. Nor could lettresom. Not his thoughts or sentons. He wasn¡¯t sending


    anything, and this only made me feel weirdan ooorchefect my child was


    Die to reach into his head.


    ...you know about them. The people here in Brightsky. They know?¡±


    From stones. Yes. But only Ancients...and there are so few of us left, Larne. Soused far apart. Again. raiet off to fight with


    whatever he was going through.


    waited as patiently as i could.


    Enaily Maiach seemed to rally himself. ¡°Only the Ancients know about Celestials from secrpenence Kause everyone around


    them dies before a new one can be born. More used to know aboodamrootmany


    hese were smughtered in the Great Wars. And of course, your wolf-kind would have noodaamstaal since ur leaders basically


    rewrote your history to keep you all subjugated, subdued, and submiss


    i frowned. ¡°What happened to thest one?¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure what happened to him, but I can tell you his name was Ghad. He wrote the books


    rail supernaumis. A baxshould add, your leaders have also dismissed and ignored.¡±


    A book of luwe fail supernaturals shook my head, sagging.


    Mchi¡¯s lips peeed back to expose his shining canimes. His voice was thick with barely restr


    iger That, could figure out.


    ¡°You can me me for breaking the Treaty but the real fault lies with those who''ve been lying to.th


    ople


    | wasn¡¯t going to argue that prom gow


    So why and how in my taught a Celestial


    me


    | expected him to say he didnt row but March wavednguid hand, like this was the least important


    ¡°Well, she has the blood of an Am argue the of a pureblood wall and the blood of a watch¡±


    Awhat, now? Thinkod


    zangue, tuna

 Chapter 311

    Lanie


    My first instinct was to run for my children. Mason bristled at the idea that a witch had been taking care of them. My heart ached with betrayal and fury, and I stopped myself short of sending a cry to Xander to get the children from their preschool so we could get out of here.


    But...Gabri was his mother.


    She''d never shown my children anything but love and support. I shook my head, still tense, and caught sight of Mchi¡¯s bemused expression.


    ¡°Gabri is not a witch, Lanie.¡±


    ¡°A hybrid, then?¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily.¡± My grandfather gestured at the pitcher on the coffee table. ¡°Have some more lemonade.¡±


    ¡°Why do you have a coffee table?¡± I muttered, my mind racing. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you don¡¯t drink coffee.¡±


    Mchi got up, poured me a fresh ss, and pressed it into my hand. ¡°Here. Sip this. You wolves can be so fragile sometimes.¡±


    I bristled at that as Lily rose at what we both perceived as an insult. We hadn¡¯t been free to run in so long I couldn¡¯t recall how long it had been. My skin itched.


    The vampire only studied me with those green eyes. I still couldn¡¯t quite get over the fact he looked more like my mother¡¯s age, and she only looked to be a few years older than me. He sat back in his chair and crossed one long leg over his knee. He steepled his fingers beneath his chin and watched me.


    ¡°Caring is not the same as caring,¡± he said.


    I took a sip of the lemonade. It did make me feel better.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You¡¯re fearful of the idea of your mother-inw being a witch because you believe, for no real reason, witches are not to be trusted. This mistrust is what you¡¯ve been fed your entire life.¡±


    ¡°Is that not true?¡± I thought of Rhiannon. ¡°My personal experience has been that witches think like us, they don¡¯t trust us, either.¡±


    ¡°Do you trust a group that¡¯s made it their mission to use you of dastardly deeds at every turn without so much as a scrap of proof or a drop of evidence?¡±


    I sighed and took another sip before setting the ss on the table. ¡°You said that Gabri isn¡¯t necessarily a hybrid. What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°She might have a witch in her ancestry. It could be several generations in the past. Two or even more. And because witch blood is a recessive trait, it¡¯s likely even she was unaware of carrying it.¡±


    ¡°If it passed to Ste, that means Xander has it, too.¡± My mouth and throat dried. He was going to lose his shit about this. Mchi sighed.


    ¡°Obviously. But again, wolf blood, like vampire blood, is the dominant trait. Whatever witch blood flows in his veins is so diluted it''s barely a trace.¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be that diluted if Ste is a Celestial because of it!¡± My fists clenched on my knees. I wanted to get up and pace but held myself back. I wasn¡¯t going to give Mchi any more reason to use me of being fucking fragile.


    ¡°Lanie, listen to me. Here at Brightsky, we embrace all supernaturals, pure of blood or not. After all, you are my granddaughter, and you''re not a pureblood vampire. And Celestials are the best of us all.¡±


    ¡°So you say. But you also said you didn¡¯t really know much about them, or what they do. This Ghad guy. He wrote aw book for supernaturals I¡¯ve never even heard of. Which, yeah, I get that¡¯s because both the councils fucked us over, but that doesn¡¯t help me.¡± I leaned forward to put my elbows on my knees so I could rub my eyes. My head hurt.


    Mchi chuckled gently. ¡°How familiar are you with humans, their history, and their beliefs?¡±


    I sat up with a frown. ¡°We live in the human world and consume their media. It¡¯s kind of hard not to be familiar with them even if we don''t interact personally.¡±


    ¡°Then you understand how important the humans¡¯ religious texts are to so many of them. The Book of All is like every single one of their most important religious texts, along with the Hippocratic Oath, the United States Constitution....any document that has ever and continues to impact the way humans rte to each other and their world....That is the Book of All.¡±


    ¡°So this Ghad is like....a prophet or messiah or something like that?¡± I wasn¡¯t sure I was using those human terms correctly, but Mchi nodded.


    ¡°Yes, particrly in the way that those leaders existed so long ago they have taken on a mythical status. Until now, of course, as we have been graced with the appearance of a new prophet.¡±


    Mchi got up to take my hands. His fingers were cold, but his gaze seared into mine.


    ¡°Lanie, Ste is destined for a greatness we cannot even imagine. Something so fantastical it will change the entire supernatural world as we know it.¡±


    4o

 Chapter 312

    Lanige


    ¡°How do tad heetant!? How can | prepare her? My voice was strangled.


    ¡°You don¡¯t. Shess recocious but stilt too young to understand. You''ll only frianten named Matachis voice ipped low in wanting


    Tears weiled 10, bomma but | didn¡¯t try to dash them away. if that made me frag so cene i Matachi itted and handed mesa


    nandkerchief from his breast pocket. It was of crisp, trones cotton andhrameters faintly f cigar smoke and soninian di incense.


    | pressed it to my face dresond before wiping my tears. | crumpled the fabric in my hand add stuated noting no signs


    opbloooconwitch was good. | wasn¡¯t squeamish about blood, generally, but after sesestng is red tears. | didn¡¯t want to owner own


    with the same goth.


    ¡°| know this scent: 1 told himml teemember it from my childhood. My mother would be sad sometimes, and he¡¯d always just tell


    us it was seemedag eer cycle. But it was you, wasn¡¯t it? Somehow, rted to you


    ¡°The lies we tell our childrennacmotthens are sometimes the ones that wound us the most, Mchithi aid gravely. ¡°Keep the


    bankie?¡±


    | wound the cloth around my fingers siriand outcing them with it. ¡°I never want to lie to my children.


    ¡°But you will,¡± he said. ¡°All parents slod


    | frowned, feeling stubborn. ¡°I¡¯ve beentieadamy entire life. hhad to lose my entire memory and identity


    ecause of lies. | won''t do that to my children Etpeeciality not Ste. If she¡¯s really destined for some kind of t


    on¡¯t even know what, I¡¯m not going to bite sha atocontines won''t have her going into anything un


    cared...From N?velDrama.Org.


    My voice broke and cracked as my near tezed at the thought of my precious little one bein


    anger: Mchi squeezed my shoulder gently erretzing is seat again. He watched me strugg


    ffered no words


    Finally, | managed to get my voice back. Shes pist patitueqir Mch. No matter what blood flow


    prough her, shes still just a baby¡±


    seas everything sounding you


    ¡°And she has you as her mother. Your daughters special, Loupandocare you. A luns with three mate!


    wo of them Alphas who share the same sire his unprecedente


    Gusev unique


    ¡°As rare as a Celestial? Lasked sarcastically Cut Maachis


    methowas agreeing how can you


    wrey y


    jessure? What do you know every single supernatural in note wood or single mating that has


    Herurred?¡±


    His chuckle raised the hairs on the back of my neck, and Lys Riv cu


    Ly valva


    eeth; but Mchi only waved a hand, not at all impressed.stled against


    Myps cured, baring my


    hus


    quantwith a scowl.


    ger, and so quick to anger. It¡¯s your duality | suspect. Living with that beast inside you, always trying to get the surface and take


    control. So many ups and downs. It must be so tiresome.¡±


    hard rather have my ups and downs than be some cold-hearted, emotionless-"I bit off the end of my ntence, not entirely sure


    what insult | was trying to hurl his way. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you give in to your fury, so don¡¯t t like you don¡¯t. You broke the Treaty.¡±


    ¡°It was time for that Treaty to be broken,¡± Mchi said.


    ¡°Interesting timing, isn¡¯t it? You break the treaty, which directly leads to Mason gaining his Alpha powers, ating two Alphas where


    there should''ve only been one. | have three mates, and our daughter is a Celestial.¡± red him. ¡°You had no idea?¡±


    1.


    toThe world turns, granddaughter, and the best we all can do is spin ourselves along with it. There are ces in ce so much


    grander than any one of us. | cannot pretend to understand everything.¡± Mchi iked at me. ¡°But I can tell you that it¡¯s easy


    enough to know that no Luna in recent history has had three Tes. You all might''ve been secluded from the rest of the


    supernatural world, but that does not mean that we haven''t been watching you all very closely.¡±


    ¡°| hate that!¡±


    putes you should. What your councils jointly decided was perhaps on the surface meant as protection, but hehera et only


    harmed you.¡±


    itslive parents lying to a child,¡± | said through gritted teeth. Look how well that¡¯s turned out. Besides, Ste eady knows what she


    is. The Moon Goddess told her. She might not understand what that means, but ! dos. Either do we


    cacay Ask is that you allow yourselves to settle in here. We''ll find a way to navigate all of this. | saldlachi said.


    her safeep her safe?¡±


    ply didn¡¯t reply.


    th


    co


    ar

 Chapter 313

    Kander


    $50 basically Mcht doesn¡¯t know shit. He scowled as he tipped the bottle of whiskey to pour us all a drink.


    ¡°Have some,¡± he said.


    Lanie shook her head when I offered one to her. ¡°At least not now.¡±


    ¡°How can you be sure he¡¯s telling the truth?¡± Mason took a ss, tossed back the amber liquid, and held it out for a refill. ¡°Are you sure you can trust him?¡±


    Zane kissed Lanie, sending some beta energy to us both. I rxed into it, but Mason resisted before rxing. Zane had shared a book; it was still taking my brother some time to ept Zane¡¯s role. He would have to work on it. Obviously, he wanted Zane to be his Beta, but something was holding him back.


    ¡°If he¡¯s any good, if we can¡¯t trust him, we might as well leave here right now. And then what? Where else do we go?¡± Mason growled, his voice tinged with a hint of Lily¡¯s growl, and his eyes shed.


    ¡°You need to rx,¡± Lanie stopped and grinned when her eyebrows flew up. ¡°I was going to say rx, but if you have something else in mind?¡±


    To my relief, seeing my Luna upset, sheughed.


    She just smiled and looked over at the stocked bar. ¡°First, I''d love a ss of red wine.¡±


    ¡°Out,¡± Zane said at once.


    When we¡¯d seated on the couch with our drinks, Lanie put her feet in my Beta¡¯sp. He began rubbing her soles, really digging in, and her moan of pleasure rippled through the room, an answering echo in the air.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave,¡± Lanie said after a few sips. She sighed and let her head fall against the couch while Zane¡¯s fingers worked their magic. She tilted her head, one eye closed, as she looked at me. ¡°How are you all feeling?¡±


    I sipped the smoky elixir, missing the vors while trying to put my thoughts into words.


    ¡°Whiskey, I''ll say that. This top-shelf stuff is incredible.¡±


    ¡°The food¡¯s out of this world,¡± Mason retorted as Zane massaged Lanie¡¯s toes. ¡°Had a steak the size of my head for lunch.¡±


    Mason snorted. ¡°Guess now we know how to keep you happy: a b of beef and a bottle of whiskey.¡±


    ¡°Mason, love, tell me what your instincts say,¡± Lanie murmured.


    For a minute, he didn¡¯t answer, but each time he seemed to need it. Finally, he shrugged.


    ¡°Fuck if I know. Fine, I like it here. I don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t want to trust anyone here, especially not an Ancient who killed our father. But finding out how many of them are there...my mind¡¯s fucking blown, okay?¡±


    ¡°Us,¡± Lanie corrected gently. ¡°Not them. Us, supernaturals.¡±


    ¡°Us,¡± I added. ¡°And my mind¡¯s blown, too, brother. Just so you don¡¯t feel so alone.¡±


    We raised our sses to each other, too far apart to clink them but toasting anyway. Mason shivered as he sipped. His smile was grim.


    ¡°Damn, but you¡¯re right about the whiskey, though,¡± he said.


    Zane lifted each of Lanie¡¯s feet and kissed them before settling them back into hisp and reaching for his own ss off the coffee table. His Beta strengths supported us all. He sipped before speaking.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It feels right to be here,¡± he said. ¡°I felt it as soon as we got here, and I keep feeling it, more and more. I want our children to grow up knowing about other supernaturals. I don¡¯t want them isted and lied to, the way we were. I¡¯m with you on that, Lanie.¡±


    She nodded and took another slow sip of the wine. Her cheeks had flushed. I could smell a rising heat from her, and again, my cock twitched.


    ¡°I do feel they¡¯re safe here,¡± she said.


    ¡°For now,¡± Mason put in. ¡°Are we going to tell Gabri what Lanie learned today?¡±


    I shared a look with Lanie. Somehow, finding out our daughter had inherited witch blood through me via my mother had left me less upset than I would''ve been even a few weeks ago. ¡°She deserves to know, doesn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But let Mchi do it, I think,¡± Lanie said. With a grin, she rubbed her foot against Zane¡¯s crotch and giggled when he groaned. ¡°Right now, my loves, do you realize something very, very important?¡±


    I drained my ss and put it down, already having a hint of her meaning. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Our children are in school, and your mother has her own entire set of rooms for when she visits, wherever she is. We are, for the first time ever, totally and utterly...alone.¡±


    I was already on my feet, followed by Mason, and then Zane, who scooped her into his arms. ¡°Bedroom,¡± I growled.

 Chapter 314

    Mason


    The four of us were so eager for each other, | could almost see the scent of our mutual arousing glimmering in the air. Lanie


    clung to Zane, giggling and pressing her face into his neck as he carried her into our massive bedroom. | shut the door behind


    us, while my brother was already tugging off his shirt.


    ¡°What does my Luna desire?¡± Zane asked her.


    Lanie lifted her head. Her eyes gleamed, her wolf calling to all of ours. The connection between us red, opening up sensations


    that flooded me. My c ock ached, pressing the front of my jeans.


    ¡°| really want to try out that shower,¡± she said in a low voice.


    ¡°Your wish is mymand.¡± With a grin, Zane strode toward our ensuite.


    Inside it, a tiled shower with four separate overhead shower heads awaited. More jets lined the walls. Next to it was a tub big


    enough to hold the four of us, which meant it was more like a private swimming pool. Lush greenery hung all over, fed by grow


    lights that mimicked a summer sky, and the far wall had been painted with a mural of a forest so detailed it looked like you could


    walk right into it.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Zane set Lanie on her feet and captured her mouth with a kiss. His hands fit on her hips, and she pushed onto her toes to mold


    her mouth to his. | waited for jealousy to slice me open, but the only envy | felt was a desire to taste her, myself.


    ¡°We are a unit. Mates. There¡¯s no room to covet what any of the others have, because we all share everything.¡± Lanie¡¯s soft


    voice eased into my mind. ¡°I want Zane and Xander, and | want you, Mason. All of you. None of you above the other. None of us


    below...although | do want to be under you all...


    Also gratitude.


    out loud at her naughty innuendo. My heart beat and swelled with adoration, love, and desire.


    | could feel how that was all shared by my co-mates as we surrounded our Luna. Mouths met. Hands roamed. Piece by piece,


    we slipped her clothes away until she was fully, gloriously naked in the center of our


    circle


    Zane started the shower water, checking the temp. Xander gathered soft towels from a cupboard and hung them on the heating


    rack. | found some shower gels and soft sponges in another cupboard and put them in the shower niches.


    Then, we began to worship our Luna


    Lanie


    | stepped under the soft, fine spray that was more like a mist than a real shower. Zane had set the temperature perfectly, and I


    thought my thanks to him i bent my head to let the water run over my neck and down my back. In a few minutes | might want a


    stronger spray, but for now, this was amazing


    ¡°It''s like being to a soft ratai torerad Lee what imagine it would beske tote standing at the jutskirts of a tropical waterfall¡±


    Three naked giants joined meal headras few pesand barks from their wolves through our mate zonasac ily replied. Xander was


    right. | did need a hororun


    ¡°But first | need these hard c ocks with aggle looking up to see all three of them ereet cand ulsing with lust for me.


    Me.


    My body tensed and tingled as Meson moves cannot to kiss the back of my neck. Zane pulled a ponge from a niche and Xander


    kissed my moon is $questi cong mine and my mouth opened wder gasp when | felt the first soft touch of the sponge obox.


    ¡°Tickies,¡± | murmured into Zane¡¯s kiss.


    First Xander, then Zane... | let my mouth explores syscontinued kissing and nibbling the back of wy neck. My shoulder des.


    He ran his tongue down amgopas¡®0 the trance of my a ss cheeks, and | moaned nd jumped at the surprise of the sensation.


    | sensed more than heard his giggle. The three of thanworditandem one hand shipping between my highs to set my feet wider


    apart. Another using the sponge excubbisisow cercles between my legs. A tongue Itding atong the seam of my buttocks.


    ¡°Ch...¡± It was all | could manage to get out, the single, harsh sound


    | put a hand on Zane¡¯s shoulder as he knelt in front of me. He worked the sponge in slow determined


    recres against my c lit. | thought it would be too rough, but the sponges noobsweewhat made the pleasure so


    uch better.


    Kander lifted one of my breasts to his lips and suckled softly on the nippleli yaadd my knees or weak Itwas held up by my lovers


    and didn¡¯t fall.


    And then


    O f uck Oh, f uck, Mason! Yes!¡±


    212

 Chapter 315

    Lanie


    Mason¡¯s tongue had found the most secret part of me.


    | fell a little forward, both of my hands on Xander¡¯s shoulders a wou met up. The angle made it even asier for Mason to circle his


    tongue against the tight knot of muscles that it never dreamed never thought...


    Shuddering, | gave up to the desire lighting me up like a sparkter. Zane of my nip as his fingers reced


    at


    he sponge. He pressed them inside my p ussy, one, then another, stretchintone Xantier turned his attention to ny other nipple as


    | gripped him harder.


    He groaned at the way my nails dug into his skin, but a rush of his arousal pummeled me. We were all ding each others¡¯ waves.


    Rising, rising, easing back and cresting but not going over


    Mason¡¯s tongue circled me in a slow, steady motion that had me shuddering ife and Zame must''ve onnected, because Zane f


    ucked his fingers into me with the same pace. Xander joined then fr lips tugging t each nipple in perfect timing.


    Every part of my body was alight. On fire. Burning, even under the fine, misty warmthan the simwer


    ¡°Yes, give up to this,¡± Mason thought to me.


    ¡°I''ve never


    His voice chuckled through the link. ¡°I know. Let go. Let us pleasure you.¡±


    ¡°It''s so f ucking weird to hear you speaking so clearly, even when your mouth is upied, gaspect loud.


    His chuckle this time was out loud, and the vibration of his lips added a new level of ecstasy s old that | actually screamed a little


    bit and tried to get away from him. | couldn''t move. | was pinn Mason¡¯s questing tongue worshiping my rosebud, while Zane¡¯s


    fingers slid in and out of my clenchin With each tug of Xander¡¯s lips on my nipples, | thought | might just explode.


    The three of them worked my body with precision until all | could do was what Mason had ordered. Sive in. Give up


    ¡°| want your mouth on my cl it, Zane Please, | moaned, but i was rewarded with a chuckle from hum.


    ¡°Not yet¡±


    | squirmed and cried out in protest, but the three of them were talking through the link and shutting me but-something that


    would''ve pi ssed me off in any other circumstance, but now felt like a sweet torture. My hree mates were discussing the best way


    to get me toe, and not knowing what they were nning was getting me there.


    Fast


    ¡°I''m going toe,¡± | moaned. 7 want toe. | need toe.


    | closed my eyes


    Hands pushed my feet a little farther apart. | felt my buttocks being spread a little wider. Warm water sluiced over my back and


    down the cr ack of my a ss, over the tender flesh that had been teased by Mason¡¯s tongue. A mouth sucked my nipples, one at a


    time. Fingers f ucked inside me.


    If | tried, | could tell which hands and teeth and tongues belonged to which of my lovers, but | was more than happy to be swept


    up by their mutual efforts without trying to distinguish between them.From N?velDrama.Org.


    I


    ¡°Feels so good,¡± | thought to them all. ¡°Want your co cks. In my pu ssy. My mouth. My a ss.¡±


    Along, guttural groan roared out of me as Zane slipped his fingers out of me. | desperately wanted him- one of them-to rece


    them with a thick, pulsing c ock. But he only pressed a kiss to my hip again. His teeth. nipped me. Xander withdrew from my


    breasts, too..


    All that was left was Mason¡¯s tongue against me from behind. My nails dug deeper into Xander¡¯s skin. | was vaguely aware of


    Zane getting to his feet, his hands holding my hips. He and Xander kept me steady and in ce while Mason kept going.


    | tried to struggle free. The pleasure was overwhelming. | needed a tongue on my cli t, a c ock inside me, but all they were giving


    me was this strange, new ecstasy. | wanted to fight it, a little embarrassed at how


    good it felt to have his tongue there.


    ¡°Give in,¡± Mason ordered through the link.


    ¡°| won''t be able to...1 can¡¯t...this way...| need...¡±


    But my mates knew what | needed, somehow better than | did. Xander and Zane, so long bonded to each


    other, both held me tightly. Mason continued making love to me with his tongue. It was different than having. my cli t licked. The


    sensation, somehow dimmer. Less intense. All the more torturous because of that.


    Oh... f uck. | was going toe from this. I¡¯d never dreamed a ss y would be like this. | never thought | Oh...f uck.


    coulde without my cl it being touched.


    | screamed h oa rsely, over and over, as my body jerked and | went up....and up...and then, over.


    212

 Chapter 316

    Zane


    | thought my co ck was going to spill right then and there as Lanie¡¯s org asm tore her apart. | felt it, felt hering from Mason¡¯s


    tongue on her back hole, and it was almost like | was having her o rgasm right along with her. Electric pulses coursed through


    me from the base of my co ck to the base of my skull. | shouted wordlessly.


    ¡°F uck,¡± Xander barked out. His c ock bobbed, thick and veined and throbbing. It was hard to see the pree trickling out of


    the head from the showers spray, but | could smell it, just like | could smell the sweet juices coating Lanie¡¯s thighs and being


    rinsed away by the shower.


    ¡°F uck yes,¡± Mason groaned through the mind link. ¡°Come for me, Lanie. Just like that. Come for all of us.¡±


    ¡°Oh, f uck yes, Mason. Lick me...I¡¯ming...


    Then, there it was. A final burst of ecstasy so extreme, so intense, | swore to the Moon it left me almost blinded. If | felt that much


    just through the link, | couldn¡¯t begin to think what Lanie had to be feeling. She shook so much it took pretty much everything


    Xander and | had to keep us all from falling over. The pleasure built at the base of my co ck, pulsing through to the head, and |


    could feel my own slick trickle of pree sliding down my shaft. | gripped my c ck with the hand not holding onto Lanie.


    With only a few quick strokes, I''d be spattering everyone in this shower with my hot seed. And oh, f uck yes, | wanted that. Her or


    gasm had been good, but mine would probably knock me unconscious at this point.


    It took every bit of willpower | had and more than | had ever before possessed to stop myself from f u cking my fist. | was waiting


    for my mates to guide this. If they told me | coulde, | would. But for now | knew I had to let my c ock buck in my fist.


    Instead, | focused on helping our Luna.


    Lanie¡¯s h oars e gasps echoed around the bathroom as she sagged in Xander¡¯s and my grip.ughed with satisfaction as he


    stood and turned his face into the spray. He opened his mouth, fil water for before letting it drain out of him, over his chest and


    belly. His grin was fierce and wolfish a than a little smug. | thought that would pi ss off Xander, but he onlyughed along with his


    co-Alpha.


    ¡°Good job,¡± Xander thought.


    Lanie mewled, and | felt her reaching for us through the link, but even there she seemed incapable of finding any words. Only


    small, sighing gasps and moans. She panted roughly and looked up at Xander.


    With a chuckle, Xander kissed her mouth. He put a finger under her chin to keep her face tipped to his. Her eyelids were


    fluttering. She was about to pass out from the satisfaction.


    ¡°Let''s get her into bed,¡± | murmured.


    Her eyes opened fully. ¡°Yes, need to lie down...but want...¡±


    ¡°We have you, love,¡± Mason promised.


    It wasn¡¯t something we thought about, not consciously. We just somehow knew what to do. How to act formation, like a well-


    trained army of three Mason helped her out of the shower while Xander plucked a heated towel from the rack. | went to the


    bedroom to pull down the covers and plump the pillows. The Alpha one on each side of her guided her to the bed and helped her


    onto it.


    Her chest still heaved with panting breaths. She snuggled down into the soft mattress and pillows and spread out her arms. Her


    knees fell apart, sying her legs wide. Her pretty pink pu ssy glistened. | drew in a long, deep breath of that amazing fragrance


    ¡°She¡¯s still pulsing. Mason said to us in a low voice. ¡°Look.¡±


    | looked closer to see he was right. Lanie¡¯s pu ssy twitched with the aftershocks of her o gasm. Her cli t, though, was as proud


    and stiff as if she¡¯d never evene. My mouth watered to taste her.


    | wasn¡¯t alone in that desire. Xander was already moving to the bed to kneel between her legs, while Mason went to one of the


    dressers and began hunting through the drawers. Again, wemunicated without words, each of us moving like one unit.


    In the shower, we¡¯d been using a th ree-way link to keep her on the edge, and that kept up now.


    Lanie seemed to be recovering a little bit, and she pushed herself up on one elbow to watch us all. Ared flush had crept up her


    gorgeous breasts and her throat to paint her cheeks.


    ¡°Are you going to f uck me now? Please?¡± she breathed.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Xander said sternly. ¡°We have something else in mind, first.¡±

 Chapter 317

    (Chapter 317


    Lanie


    rmed at Xander¡¯s words, | struggled to sit upright was weak from the aftermath of that o rgasm...but


    aa hot blush stole up over me as | wondered what, exactly they had in mind


    Mason held up a scarf he¡¯d pulled from the drawer and shared a look with Xander as he drew out anotherFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    sso that he now held two | pushed myself fully upright, looking at each of them. Then at Zane, who wore a wide


    Dann.


    ¡°What is that for?¡± | demanded, even as my pounding heart started throbbing faster again.


    ¡°We''re going to keep worshiping you, Luna. Giving your body all the pleasure it can handle. But to do that,


    yoou have to utterly submit to us.¡± Mason said this with self-assurance


    XXander nodded. ¡°We can¡¯t have you begging us, can we? It¡¯s a distraction.¡±


    youdont like me to beg?¡± | asked him pointedly, knowing he actually did


    06h, kovert, sweetheart. But | also want that pretty mouth of yours closed up so you can focus on what welersdong to you. Every


    word you say is an effort | don¡¯t want you to have to make¡± he said.


    Were going 10 anticipate your every desire,¡± Mason said.


    Zzane poved closer kneeling on the bed. ¡°Everything you¡¯ve ever thought about the most secret wishes


    jouveearnizade


    Weing make theme true,¡± Xander finished.


    loved the e suund brit, but | was still wary when Mason drew the blindfold over my eyes.


    to my prison camng my tips, and | sucked them on instinct. Whoever was opening my mou


    | thought.din annder


    want you casas suur mind ge nk, Xander ordered directly into my ear. ¡°I want you t


    end Ineen outingbyond the pleasures we''re going to give you


    Itrand to protest, ut ant anne sted between my jaws and was knotted on the side of my head soy buckega trineos without the


    lump bothering mis


    1) bil toqdan ¡®t make words not out loud


    Your diapoleoncondough in line and was rewarded with three different sers of smugughter..


    After that, | let tay miles dos coudy y w hit kan


    Hands, Tongues, teeth, bodieci/F


    gave myself over to them. All of them.


    ipped


    di ja tea which onw was kissing my mouth. Which to of


    which c ock o tsing the entonce kony pu szy. Watch cupped the sensitive skin of my hip


    | was still


    Stopped tevina so determine


    ImWcundo #private link to talk, but stopped trying to join it


    bawsedanyntur a noter back, and gave up to all the sensations flowing


    A mouth trailed its way down my body to center on my cl it. Warm wetnesspped me there, while thick fingers pressed inside


    me. A hard c ock brushed my lips, and eagerly, | opened for it.


    I''de so hard in the shower that | figured | wouldn¡¯t again, but my mates weren''t going to let me get away with that. Patiently,


    they worked my body. Time passed, but | had no idea how long I''d been blindfolded. ddidn¡¯t care. It didn¡¯t matter. | was safe.


    Protected. Adored,


    When a hard male body slid beneath me, | did cry out, startled, but the gag stopped it from being more


    ththan a m uffled hiss. | heard familiarughter. Xander. But was he the one under me? Or above?


    It cried out again at the probe of a thick erection at my back entrance. My body stiffened, but quickly


    alexed as theard a bottle of lube being pumped and the soft sound of thick liquid being poured into a palm.


    ¡°We''ll take care of you. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Three male voices mingled through the link, and, like their bodies, they¡¯d be nearly indiscernible.


    corumed softly as a c ock pushed inside me from behind. Strong hands gripped my hips, lifting me a bit, thest easing me down. |


    felt so full, and even fuller when another co ck pushed inside me from the front. With


    theconein my mouth, | waspletely, utterly filled.


    Weelocked together. They took their time to get me rising higher and higher, until we moved in a frenzy.


    Pesahogpoliting, f ucking, sucking...screaming...


    lw as sddon the gag-it did exactly what they''d said it would. Kept away the distractions of having to


    form wordels Fock, | could barely form a coherent thought


    Anadhalily, at the end, they opened up their private link, and the four of us joined with our bodies and our


    thoughtsssswelt exploded in furious, frenzied, unparalleled ecstasy.


    Moret mep passed as they slipped the gag and blindfold off me.


    Ww.cuddiedt.cooed my head on Xander¡¯s chest and Mason spooning me. When the ja


    nd ofa


    phone voice en upp t eras so whoaver could be calling.


    Zane answered foorumi. He listened for a moment, then held it out to me. | was instant.


    h


    ¡°its Charone, Nessa ¡°the needs to see us Now¡±

 Chapter 318

    Hannie


    XXnndenbad a hand on my back, between my shoulder desstpresessen the phone to my car.


    ¡°Chadrone? What''s going on?


    Theekhoow they all know!¡±


    The abkanowwhat? Who''s they?¡± | tried to keep my voice calm, since to was as clean that she wasn¡¯t able to


    ¡°Wold and knows that the Treaty has been broken.¡±


    Her voice asped, but she took an audible deep breath that | hoped meant she wow as getting herself under


    ime kind of Co onool.


    ¡°Cent put togenn speaker? I¡¯m here with my mates.¡±


    ¡°Sure fine Therabneed to hear this, too.¡±


    tapped the scene and held my phone in my palm as my mates moved closer was saidtvering in the


    termath of the amrangg sex d didn¡¯t think much was going to bring me down from that. Noworongvinile.


    yway.


    ¡°Okay, go ahead Chaddou


    ¡°Words out that the deaty was broken Charlotte repeated.


    ¡°That¡¯s not such a shookkming, I¡¯m surprised it took so long.¡± Mason said.


    ¡°The official statementfromthgh Council is that the ones responsible for the murder of


    executed¡± Charlotte''s voice scanned aga rising at the end of her sentence.


    Xander and | shared a look


    ¡°So, they¡¯reing after Mcatif rappled to her


    ¡°No. Lanie The High Counciting a try you out in fact, theyre alling after you. Everyone.


    You''ve been exiled¡±


    Mason frowned We''re being tared abbeceno foguer?


    To the three of us, he thought. This note


    We always knew that Xander and | bom vatru ani tady vis be epted 10gether as Alphas of Constantine ack. We have each


    other!


    ¡°More than that. You have a collectivo pone on your needilibaura alt bring hunted as enemies of the pack.¡±


    How can the High Counot get away with what


    Whebe


    Treaty. That would be a pack issue, yeah, but it has nothing to do with the f ucking Treaty.¡±


    ¡°Because your High Council is made up of liars and cheats, because they''ll do whatever is necessary to get what they want and


    keep control,¡± Charlotte spat through the phone. They told the entirety of wolf-kind that Lanie is a hybrid! Part vampire!¡±


    ¡°Which means if Lanie killed Orion, then she broke the Treaty,¡± Zane said.


    I''d been basking in the warmth of my mates¡¯ naked bodies, but now | shuddered from the sudden chill raking its talons up and


    down my spine. ¡°The High Council is iming that | killed Orion?¡±


    Mason got off the bed and began yanking on his clothes. ¡°That¡¯s f ucking ridiculous. Orion was a f ucking Alpha. Even if he had


    passed on his role to Xander, obviously he was way f ucking stronger than Lanie could ever be. How the f uck could she possibly


    kill him?¡±


    ¡°They named you all as co-conspirators,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°With Lanie putting you up to it. It doesn¡¯t really


    matter, they say, whose hands actually did the killing.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    She''s the one in charge, she¡¯s part vampire, and therefore, the Treaty is broken.¡±


    ¡°The Treaty was broken,¡± Zane said matter-of-factly.


    And we knew that was going to be a huge problem.


    But | don¡¯t get it. Does the council really think Lanie, of all people, was behind it?¡±


    ¡°Do they really believe it?¡± Xander barked out.


    Charlotte cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯m not really sure what they believe, versus what story they¡¯re spinning to


    keep the upper hand. Whatever it is, that¡¯s the word that has gone out. Lanie Constantine and her mates are


    complicit in the murder of Orion Constantine.


    Lanie Constantine has been proven to have vampire blood, and therefore, the Treaty has


    Lanie and her mates, Xander and his Beta Zane, along with their known associate, Mason


    recognized as Mason Constantine, shall be hereforth named as Exiles in the First Degree.¡±


    She sounded like she was reading the words, and her voice hitched and cra ckled over each on


    | took the panties and bra Mason handed me and began dressing. The others did, too. The four of moved almost in formation,


    gathering sc at tered clothes and finding fresh items in the dresser drawers


    It seemed that most everything had been provided for us all, in the right sizes and everything


    ten.


    For a second, a frigid fear swept over me it was so clear that everything had been prepared especially for


    us. fight down to my bra size. That meant someone here in Brightsky had to know everything about us..so. how had they found it


    all out?


    ¡°Lanie!¡± Charlotte¡¯s voice dragged me out of my para ¡°Can you all get down here to the meeting area fast as you can??


    ¡°Sure Of course We''ll be there right away,¡± | told her


    1 assume the lights will show us the way?¡±


    More tracking.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Hurry.¡±

 Chapter 319

    Braden


    ¡°| can¡¯t say that I¡¯m shocked. A bit dismayed, of course, that my granddaughter sis facing the fallout of my actions.


    e knew that killing Orion would break the Treaty. | should have known the High Council would find a way to wrangle the situation


    for their own twisted needs.


    Mchi offered me a ss of warm crimson liquid.


    When | reached to take it, he snagged my wrist and pulled me closer in a half-embrace. ¡°You¡¯ve been gone too long. | wanted


    you back here ages ago.¡±


    | let myself breathe him in, that cool vampire scent so concentrated in him. Like crisp autumn leaves and cinn amon. Out there in


    the world, even when | came across another vampire, the smell was diluted, and Mchi... Well, as an Ancient he was always


    just so much more. It had been too long.


    We parted, and he made a show of looking me up and down until |ughed and shook my head,


    ¡°It hasn¡¯t been that long, Mchi. I¡¯m sure | still look the same. You certainly do.¡± | lifted my ss toward him and took a long,


    slow sip. ¡°Delicious.¡±


    ¡°That beverage? Or me?¡± He grinned and winked, but the glee on his face faded nearly at once. ¡°You¡¯ve been sending a bounty


    of information back to us. We''re indebted to you.¡±


    ¡°I came back as soon as the news broke about the Treaty. They¡¯ve put a price on Lanie¡¯s head, Mchi.


    Hers and the others. They¡¯re not going to be safe in Stillwood.¡±


    | grimaced at the thought. I''d been hanging around with unsavories for too long, spying to et information to send back to


    Brightsky. Now that I¡¯d returned, all | wanted was to drink a gallon of Mc and shower off the stink of humans and wolves.


    ¡°They''re not in Stillwood. Charlotte and Lanie made a connection, and Charlotte brought


    Mchi drained his ss and lifted the bottle, one eyebrow arched.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    | followed suit and held out my ss for a refill. All of them?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And their three pups, along with Xander¡¯s mother. They arrived only a couple of days ago¡±


    ¡°You should have sent word to me,¡± | said.


    e reserve


    Mchi shrugged, and | found it impossible to stay mad at him. Maybe that was his Ancient charm, or more likely, the handsome


    face. He¡¯d appeared to be in histe forties for as long as I¡¯d known him, and | suspected he¡¯d continue looking that age for well,


    until he didn¡¯t want to, anymore.


    ¡°You''re here now. You know now,¡± he said. ¡°But what is that going to mean for you?¡±


    ¡°Why? Because i had to drink their Luna¡¯s blood so | wouldn''t die?¡± |ughed. ¡°They''re in Brightsky. They can hate me if they


    want to, but they¡¯re in our territory. Anyway, they should thank me. taken her


    If | had 1/2


    have their Lanie back.


    Mchi


    lost you


    put his ss down and moved to me like quicksilver to touch my face. ¡°I can¡¯t believe | almost


    ¡°Well,¡± | said gently, ¡°you didn¡¯t. And I¡¯m back here now.¡±


    I''d been taking my orders from Mchi for years without dreaming that we¡¯d be more to each other. Sometimes, | still


    couldn''t believe it, not even with his mouth and hands on me. Part of me was always waiting for him to change his mind and


    return us to where we''d been before the first time we kissed.


    His gaze traced my face before settling on my eyes.


    His lip quirked up on one side. ¡°You put your things in your rooms before you came here. | thought you were going to consider


    moving into my quarters.¡±


    ¡°| did think about it. But | wasn¡¯t sure you¡¯d still want me to,¡± | told him honestly.


    ¡°And you''re not sure you want to give up your independence from me. | understand. Mchi¡¯s expression shadowed, but he


    nodded and stepped back. ¡°You''re afraid others will think you''ve gained special privilege by being with me.¡±


    ¡°Haven''t I?¡± | set my ss on the table and moved forward to put my arms around his waist. ¡°I mean, what¡¯s the point, if | don¡¯t


    get special treatment from the most Ancient of the masas dimas?¡±


    His hands slipped to my waist to anchor me against him. ¡°If the world was not in mes right now, | would take you right here and


    remind you of how special that treatment can be.¡±


    |ughed h oars ely. ¡°Hmm. | look forward to the reminder.¡±


    His lips brushed mine before he stepped back and said crisply, ¡°Charlotte has informed Lanie and her mates that they are in


    exile and being med for Orion¡¯s murder. She¡¯s called them to the meeting room. We should go there now, ourselves. There¡¯s


    much ground to cover.¡±

 Chapter 320

    Lanie


    We navigated our way up several floors to the meeting room where Charlotte had told us to meet her. My mind and heart both


    raced with everything she¡¯d told us, and | couldn¡¯t but be angry... at the High Council.


    At the world. We''d finally found a ce where it seemed as though we could settle in and have a breather, and here we were


    again, facing a fresh set of dangers.


    ¡°We will get through this, like we¡¯ve gotten through everything else,¡± Mason thought to me right outside the door to the meeting


    room.


    | paused long enough to give him a grateful kiss.


    Then one for Xander and another for Zane. The four of us hugged in a circle for a few seconds, gathering strength from each


    other. | lifted my chin and pushed open the door, ready to hear what Charlotte had to tell


    US.


    | was not ready to see Braden.


    My jaw dropped, and | let out a startled squeal.


    ¡°Braden?¡±


    He got to his feet at once when | spoke. His wide grin weed me, and | was across the room before | even knew it. | hugged


    him hard.


    Braden had been a friend to me when | truly needed one. He¡¯d saved my life. I''d saved his.


    ¡°| should¡¯ve known you''d be here,¡± | told him with another strong hug before pulling away s good look at him. Something about


    him seemed a little different, but | guessed he probably co


    same about me.


    | heard a throat clearing behind me and turned to see Xander glowering. | rolled my eyes at hi came around the edge of the


    enormous wooden table to hug me fiercely, which surprised me. | let he Our Luna energies pulsed and swirled, until finally a few


    secondster, she released me.


    geta


    Her expression was dark. All these years, I¡¯ve been so careful, and within days of meeting you, everyth


    catches on fire¡±


    | frowned, taken aback, but then she shook her head and continued.


    ¡°I''m not ming you, Lanie If anything, it proves to the even more that the Moon Goddess has something in mind for you,


    something special and necessary


    Something we¡¯ve all been waiting for, perhaps without even knowing it, for ages.¡± She managed a smile that looked thin and


    tired.


    ¡°With great changees great upheaval.¡± This came from Mchi, at the far end of the table. Melina and her husband sat


    close to him. He gestured to us all.


    ¡°Come in. Sit. I''ve arranged for refreshments. You wolves prefer your meat rare, yes?¡±


    As he spoke, two carved wooden doors at the room¡¯s other end swung open to reveal a few staff carrying tters of thinly cut


    steak. My stomach rumbled as | scented the meat. Goddess, how long had it been since


    I''dst eaten?


    ¡°Not so long ago he was calling us dogs, Zane murmured through our group link. ¡°I guess this is an upgrade.¡±


    We all took our seats at the long table. | used the few minutes as the food was being served to look around and take it all in. The


    room was grand, with high ceilings covered in more wooden carvings. Matching. floor-to-ceiling bookcases lined the walls,


    except where there were doors. The table in the center of the room was so big, twenty carved wooden chairs with velvet


    upholstery fit around it. Several lit candbras lined the center. We all clustered at one end.


    ¡°Let''s just get right to it, Mason said. ¡°Do we need to go on the run again?¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Xander pulled the te in front of him closer to stab into a slice of steak. He tucked it into his mouth and chewed slowly, his


    eyebrows rising. | could feel his satisfaction at the meat¡¯s tender vor rolling through us all via the link. | dug into my own te.


    ¡°We need to know everything.¡± Xander said, his mouth full. No more of this keeping secrets bu Ils hit.¡±


    ¡°The good news is that nobody seems to know where you are, much less that you''re here,¡± Charlotte said quickly.


    ¡°| thought you said nobody knew about Brightsky.¡±


    Zane shot a look at Mchi.


    ¡°| said that nobody knows where Brightsky is,¡± my grandfather corrected him. ¡°Many know of its existence and could guess that


    you might be here.¡±


    ¡°ording to our sources,¡± Charlotte said, ¡°they do not even suspect you are.¡±


    ¡°If they''re using Lanie of being part vampire-¡±


    Xander began, but Mchi raised a hand to cut him off.


    ¡°It is not an usation. It is the truth. She is part vampire,¡± he said in a cold tone.


    Xander frowned but didn¡¯t argue. ¡°If they¡¯re revealing to everyone else that Lanie is part vampire, why wouldn¡¯t they assume


    she''d seek refuge in the vampire enve?¡±


    ¡°| think | can answer that,¡± Braden said. ¡°Since I¡¯m the source Charlotte was talking about.¡±

 Chapter 321

    Mason


    I''d taken the spot next to Lanie, and now | reached for her hand under the table. She linked her fingers with mine and gave me a


    small smile as she squeezed them.


    else


    I''d heard Charlotte say that nobody knew we were here, but | wasn¡¯t sure | could believe her or anyone


    Since when did we start trusting vampires, anyway?


    Since we found our Luna had vampire blood, and since they weed us into their enve,¡± Zane thought to me.


    Sh it. Id been sending without meaning to. At least to Zane. Xander and Lanie didn¡¯t seem to have heard


    I''s troked my thumb over the back of her hand, but she was focused on everything Braden was saying


    ¡°Like Charlotte said, nobody seems to know that you, or Gabri, or the children, are here,¡± he began, and Lanie interrupted


    him.


    ¡°Do they know about Ste?¡±


    Braden tilted his head. ¡°What about Ste?¡±


    Til bring you up to speedter, Mchi cut in. The two vampires exchanged a look.


    Huh


    Those two?


    | wasn¡¯t sure anyone other than me noticed. Lanie took her hand from mine to put them both on the table. She leaned toward


    Braden, pinning him with an intense gaze.


    ¡°You''re sure nobody knows the children are here?¡±


    she asked


    i didn¡¯t hear a peep about it if anything the general rumor seems to be that you and those three ran off together and left the kids


    somece with Gabri¡±


    Braden had left a pause significant enough to show he¡¯d meant to call us all something else


    Xander grumbled Zane gave him a little burst of Beta calming | thought Lanie would, too, but she was too intent on what Braden


    was saying | could hear her heart beating with my wolf''s ears. She was tense


    We all were


    ¡°When the High Louncil put out the announcement that tanie was a hybrid, they only told the council members though Hight?


    Xender had stopped shoveling his mouths full of food to talk. They couldn¡¯t or


    ¡°They couldn''t reveal that Lanie was a vampire-wolf hybrid without revealing to every pack that hybrids exist,¡± Zane said firmly. ¡°If


    they admitted that hybrids exist, they¡¯d have to admit purebloods exist, and since they¡¯ve been keeping the entire reality of other


    supernaturals a secret since the Great Wars, there¡¯s no way...


    ¡°They can¡¯t announce a broken Treaty without revealing that there was a Treaty in the first ce.


    Or why it was put in ce, Mchi said smoothly and paused like he was waiting for all of us to put the pieces together.


    Da mn, | was so f ucking tired of all the intrigue. In the early days, back in Stillwood, all I''d wanted was to get some normal-sized


    revenge on my deadbeat father and the brother | thought | had to hate. | wanted to make a life with a mate and the baby I''d


    come to love as my own.


    We could still have that, | thought, being very, very careful to shield my thoughts from everyone.


    Lanie sat back in her chair hard enough to rock it on two legs. Her voice trembled. ¡°They''ve undone everything they worked so


    hard to put into ce after the Great Wars. All those years of lies. | had to have a spell put on me to forget my life because of


    what they did. They can never repay me for losing myself! Never!


    | can never get that lost time back! And now they''re just tossing it all away and putting the me on me?¡±


    he didn¡¯t let me take her hand. S


    | reached for her again, but was shaking, her fury palpable. The fact that she¡¯d said she wanted that lost time back stuck with


    me, and | frowned.


    No, the way we met hadn''t been ideal, but | would never have wished it away.


    Was Lanie?


    ¡°| figured they just told all wolf-kind some other kind of lies about us,¡± Xander said with a growl edging his voice. His eyes shed


    as his wolf rose.


    Mine did, too.From N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°If they''ve admitted that they''ve been lying to everyone they¡¯re supposed to protect, why hasn¡¯t everyone risen up against them?¡±


    Zane questioned.


    Braden¡¯s shoulders lifted and dropped as he gave a deep, heavy sigh. ¡°It seems your High Council is spinning things in a very


    different direction. They put out an official announcement revealing the existence of vampires. I¡¯m not sure if they mentioned any


    other supernaturals.¡±


    ¡°And...nobody¡¯s rioting about this? Everyone¡¯s just totally peachy keen with it all, right?¡± Xander¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm.


    Braden¡¯s expression twisted. His gaze found Lanie¡¯s and held it, and a small sliver of jealousy made the existing cut I¡¯d been


    trying to ignore a tiny bit deeper.


    ¡°They convinced everyone that vampires brainwashed all of wolf-kind to forget about them. Both councils


    Included¡±

 Chapter 322

    Lanie


    | burst into hardughter that raked at my throat.


    ¡°No! You¡¯re kidding, right?¡±


    Mchi frowned. This is far from a humorous matter, Lanic.


    ¡°If | don¡¯tugh, I¡¯m going to scream, | said. ¡°| mean, seriously. Brainwashing? What the actual f uck?¡±


    Braden snorted a soft chuckle, which earned him a stern look from Mchi. It didn¡¯t seem to sober him much. His amused gaze


    met mine, but he pressed his lips together to hold back hisughter.


    ¡°They can¡¯t really have everyone believing they''ve all been brainwashed,¡± Zane said, sounding incredulous.


    ¡°Why would everyone in every pack fall for that?¡±


    ¡°Your High Council can be very persuasive, and they¡¯re very, very good liars. After all, they managed to hide the truth from all of


    you for decades. What makes you think they''d have any trouble convincing you all that the opposite is true, especially if they''ve


    crafted some borate story?¡± Mchi sneered a little when he spoke. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s well-known that you all follow your pack


    leaders with an almost  vish devotion.¡±


    Xander rumbled with a hard growl that would¡¯ve sent anyone other than an Ancient vampire running. ¡°And, you vamps apparently


    don¡¯t know how to be courteous to guests under your roof.¡±


    ¡°It is the duality of your natures,¡± Mchi said without batting an eye. ¡°It lends itself to duplicitousness. That means-¡±


    ¡°| know what it means, Xander interrupted. ¡°F uck¡¯s sakes. No matter what you obviously seem to think, we aren''t a pack of


    idiots.¡±


    Braden leveled a silent look at my grandfather that went on way too long before Mchi broke it. | didn¡¯t think vampires had mind


    links the way wolf-kind did, but something was definitely passing between them.


    Something unspoken but definitely understood.


    My skin pr ickled with awareness. Braden...and my grandfather? | wanted to leap up from the table and confront them both, but |


    held myself together. This wasn¡¯t the time or the ce.


    ¡°If | might be permitted to continue?¡± Braden¡¯s voice oozed with politeness he addressed toward Mchi.


    Mchi¡¯s the one | take orders from.


    That¡¯s what he¡¯d told me back when | was the one who was just learning that vampires were real. It looked like he was taking


    more than orders from my grandfather now. My skin didn¡¯t just pr ickle. It crawled as | remembered Braden¡¯s mouth on mine


    And now he was with my grandpa? Yeah, Mchi looked young, but..


    ¡°The High Council''s official stanca is that vamnites working tanather enhacivalu-¡±


    ¡°Like we¡¯re a monolith,¡± Mchi spat out. ¡°Like we aren¡¯t individuals capable of our own choices!¡±


    Braden gave another heavy sigh and continued.


    ¡°ording to the Council, vampires have been able to infiltrate every wolf pack, mating with wolves to create hybrids who could


    subjugate wolves via mind control.¡±


    ¡°We canpel, yes, but something like this on a diabolical, wide scale....¡± Mchi hissed, showing his fangs.


    *Clearly, you''re affronted,¡± Mason said coldly. ¡°But could you let Braden f ucking finish?¡±


    Mchi sat back.


    ¡°Hybrids carrying vampire blood are loyal to vampires, ording to the High Council, Braden said.


    ¡°That makes no sense whatsoever,¡± Zane replied.


    Mason shook his head. ¡°Why would hybrids be loyal to any one bloodline over the other? Especially if they were raised without


    knowing they were hybrids?¡±


    ¡°Why would anyone with wolf blood be loyal to vampires, hybrid or not?¡± Xander snarled.


    ¡°Obviously, because we are superior,¡± Mchi shot back at him.


    | stood up and mmed my palms onto the table, making them all look at me. ¡°Shut up, all of you. In case you hadn¡¯t noticed, I¡¯m


    the one they called out.


    I''m the one they used. So stop with all the d ick swinging and let Braden finish!¡±


    My shout came out along with a burst of Luna power


    | could see my own glow and feeling throbbing and pulsing in the air all around me. It even seemed to


    affect Mchi and Braden. Both twitched backward.


    Breathing hard, |posed myself and retook my seat.


    Braden waited a few seconds before giving me a nod that was as good as apuse.


    ¡°However they spun it, people are all-in about it,¡± he said. ¡°Fear mo ngering works. The packs are scared and restless. It was no


    secret Orion was killed and you four went missing. Without any solid proof to the


    contrary, they''ve managed to convince everyone that Lanie was able to get Xander, Zane, and Mason under her


    complete mind control. Orion figured out what was going on and bravely confronted her, and she had her


    mates kill him.¡±


    Tuck Mason said. ¡°They¡¯re painting Orion as a martyr¡±


    ¡°And there is no better way to get people to rally together than behind martyr,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°They''ve


    essentially made all four of you into targets. You wont be able to go anywhere without someone trying to haul


    you back to the High Council? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Braden gave up head a gran shake ¡®Or worse take you out themselves¡±


    212

 Chapter 323

    Xander


    They were all tossing around my father¡¯s name like it meant nothing. My fingers curled into fists, my wolf wsing out just


    enough to scrape the palms of my hands. Not enough to draw blood. Just enough for Hunter to let me know he was there.


    My father had been an as shole, yes. But he was still my dad. | felt Zane reaching through the mind link, offering support.


    Not pity. | wouldn¡¯t have stood for it.


    But out of all the people in this room, he was the only other one who''d known my father almost as well as


    I had.


    Or hadn''t, | reminded myself. Considering the s hit my father had pulled. It didn¡¯t matter, though. Blood was blood. | didn¡¯t have to


    forgive him for what he¡¯d done, but couldn¡¯t let myself forget we shared the same blood.


    ¡°People are scared. They haven¡¯t started turning on one another yet, but they could, if the Council doesn¡¯t


    watch itself,¡± Braden said.


    Zane nodded. ¡°Right. You can¡¯t put out the idea that hidden hybrids have infiltrated the entiremunity


    without people starting to get suspicious of each other.¡±


    ¡°So far, though, they¡¯ve managed to get everyone worked up to unite against vampires rather than being


    upset with the High Council for keeping secrets.


    They''re all victims together, Braden said.


    Lanie shook her head firmly. ¡°There were guards there when Mchi killed Orion. Witnesses. They know


    the truth!¡±


    ¡°The guards are all dead. Anyone wolf-shifter other than you all who was there who could tell the truth has been eliminated.¡±


    Braden sounded grim.


    My lip curled. ¡°Let me guess. They were hybrid vamp sympathizer mind controllers?¡±


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Braden agreed. ¡°All very clever


    All very pointed


    ¡°All very selfish, Lanie said with a hitch in her breath


    Her eyes were fleshing over and over as her wolf rose to the surface Her cheeks were flushed, too.


    Charlotte reached for a small bell in the center of the table between her and Mchi She rang it lightly and some staff and to


    take away our tes A few more brought in a coffee cart with steaming mugs they


    i poured out for everyone didnt really want coffee but they werent offering whiskey, so i took one


    Something scoured to me Has at room t


    Mchi looked around. ¡°Technically, it¡¯s a library.


    But, yes. You wolves would consider it a war room.


    Does that offer youfort?¡±


    ¡°If we are going back to war, maybe.¡±


    To my surprise, the old vampire and | shared a smile


    Mason was looking concerned. ¡°So now the High Council gets to rally their army to fight for them, and


    when the word gets out about that hybrid testing facility-and it will-all the packs will be fine with it because


    they''ll have been told hybrids are vampire monsters who were sent to destroy them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s f ucked up,¡± Zane said.


    Lanie gave the table a soft p. ¡°It¡¯s wrong. Our babies were in that awful ce. Other peoples¡¯ babies


    are probably still in there. They''re not monsters. I¡¯m not... I¡¯m...¡±


    Mason got to her before | could. He enfolded her in his arms and pressed her to his chest. His gaze met


    mine over the top of her head.


    ¡®She¡¯s suffering. Are we really going to stay here? Can we trust these vampires? Who¡¯s to say Braden isn¡¯t


    full of sh it?¡± he thought privately to me.


    ¡°| felt at home here as soon as we arrived. | can¡¯t say exactly why. But, yeah. | guess | do trust them.


    Mchi¡¯s her grandfather, and he¡¯s already shown he''ll be there for her. We¡¯re her mates, which means


    he''ll do the same for us.¡±


    ¡°| knew Gustav was aplete di ck,¡± | said aloud. ¡°I just didn¡¯t think that all of them would be such a


    pack of utter pr icks.¡±


    Mchi chuckled lightly. ¡°You know they only did this because your merry little quartet has pushed their noses against the wall.


    They have no idea whatsoever where you all got off to or where you could possibly be. A Luna with two Alpha mates, plus a


    Beta. A former Luna, the widow of the martyr, and three small children. They¡¯re pulling out their fur about it, | guarantee.¡±


    ¡°They even sent people tob through Stillwood,¡±


    Braden added. ¡°Couldn''t find a single hair. You have good friends there. You''re very lucky, Lanie, to be so


    loved¡±


    There was a strange tilt to his voice when he said that.


    | didn¡¯t like the way he was looking at my mate. | knew she and Braden had dallied. Nothing serious:


    And | couldn¡¯t me him for wanting her, of courseContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Still, | didn¡¯t like that weird little ring in his tone


    Larue lifted her face from Mason¡¯s chest The glow in her eyes had faded. ¡°So we can stay here and just live our lives for a bit


    972


    pter 32

 Chapter 324

    Lanie


    ¡°For now.¡± | repeated Charlotte¡¯s words in a slightly dull voice. ¡°But not forever?¡±


    ¡°Even Brightsky cannot keep you in its embrace forever, granddaughter. Mchi sounded a little sad.


    ¡°No sanctuary is eternal.¡±


    ¡°Is that a threat? Mason said sharply.


    ¡°It is simply the truth of things. You cannot hide forever. Even behind the sanctity of these walls, we acknowledge that there is a


    great, grand world beyond them. It¡¯s no life for you and your children to be locked


    away for your whole lives, is it?¡± Mchi tutted, shaking his head.


    ¡°Others do it,¡± Melina said gently. It was the first time I''d heard her speak since we got into the room. She


    lifted her mug and took a delicate sip.


    Mchi narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°Others who are not my granddaughter.¡±


    ¡°Eventually, the truth is always discovered,¡± said Jacques, Melina¡¯s husband. ¡°It¡¯s not feasible to think that nobody would ever


    figure out you¡¯re here. You''d be putting Brightsky, and everyone here, at risk.¡±


    ¡°It is also not feasible,¡± Mchi said sharply, ¡°to think that none of you would ever desire to go out somewhere and get found out.


    That is not the life | want for you, any of you. But for now, yes. Enjoy your time here in Brightsky. Rest. Rejuvenate. Replenish.¡±


    ¡°Get ready,¡± Xander muttered.


    ¡°That too,¡± Mchi agreed.


    Braden made a noise low in his throat. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you all really can do until we get more information, anyway. The High


    Council is acting fast and striking hard, but they¡¯re still scrambling. They might


    screw up.¡±


    ¡°We have no ¡®High Council¡¯ here, but those of us with more years here do our best to make sure we keep everything running as


    smoothly as we can.¡±


    Melina took another delicate sip and gave me a smile that would¡¯ve been more reassuring if | wasn¡¯t so


    worked up.


    ¡°We will keep our ears to the ground, so to speak. This is not only your burden to bear, Lanie. We are all here for you, and not


    simply because you are Mchi¡¯s bloodline, but because you are our guests. Some of us -¡°she shot a cool look at my


    grandfather, then at Xander, ¡°-do understand what it means to provide appropriate hospitality.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Mchi returned, looking totally unconcerned about any condemnation from Melina.


    ¡°We need to learn more about Ste. About her...¡± | paused. What was it? Not a condition. Not a disease.


    live


    The others at the table all nodded.


    ¡°And you, Lanie, need to learn how to be more connected with your vampire self. How you choose to


    your


    life will be for you to decide, but you cannot make a choice without being informed. We have many here to help guide you!¡±


    ¡°Like an Intro to Your Vamp Side ss?¡± | joked.


    ¡®Yeah, you should see the textbook,¡± Braden retorted.


    | wanted tough along with him, but there¡¯d been the way he and my grandfather were sharing those looks. When Braden and I


    first met, my life had been turning over and over. Xander and Zane had been my mates, but Alice had been the one they wanted.


    Whatever possible romance that might''ve been between me and Braden had been created out of all the confusion, and I¡¯d


    always been grateful that we¡¯d ended with a strong friendship.


    Now | wondered if I''d been wrong about him this whole time.


    ¡°There are...mentorships,¡± Melina exined. ¡°Not sses, exactly. But we can pair you with someone who will teach you how to


    ess your hidden skills.


    Walk you through them. You''ll be surprised how much you already can control, | suspect. Things you never knew were actually


    vampire strengths.¡±


    ¡°Anything that will make Lanie stronger and better, Zane said. ¡°I¡¯m all for it.¡±


    ¡°Nothing too dangerous, Mason disagreed.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I sensed a re between them. Not being at odds, not exactly. More like Mason was exerting some of his Alpha-ness over his


    Beta.


    | sighed. More d ickswinging. | loved my mates, all three of them, with everything | had inside me. But there was no denying that


    there was a lot of male to deal with.


    Fortunately, Zane was an amazing Beta and did not rise to Mason¡¯s poke. He only inclined his head and shot me a secret smile.


    Mason seemed appeased.


    ¡°Shall we adjourn?¡± Mchi stood.


    ¡°| need a run,¡± Mason said. ¡°I¡¯m itching for it.¡±


    Xander nodded. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind, either. Mchi, would there be a ce for us to run freely but Brightsky?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Walk with me, and I''ll tell you where to find it.¡±


    stay inside


    The three of them left with Zane close behind. Melina and Jacques took their leave, and so did Charlotte.


    That left me and Braden alone in the meeting room.


    ¡°So,¡± | said. ¡°How long have you been f ucking my grandfather?¡±


    212

 Chapter 325

    Braden


    I''d known this conversation was going to happen, but | wasn¡¯t prepared for the look of betrayal in


    I


    eyes. | held myself back from pulling her into a hug.


    It looked like she might bite me rather than let me do that.


    ¡°Were you...when we?¡± She waggled her finger back and forth between us.


    | could tell she was struggling not to sound like she cared at all, but every syble she spoke sounded strained with effort.


    | sighed and cast a surreptitious look around. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about that here. Will youe with me somece more


    private?¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know if | want to do that.¡±


    There''d be no forcing her, so | waited as patiently as | could. She¡¯d have to find out the truth sometime, but | could tell | was


    going to have to let her be the one to guide this conversation.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°You asked me a question,¡± | told her quietly. ¡°If you want an answer, I¡¯d prefer we don¡¯t discuss it in the middle of the hallway.¡±


    Several people walking past raised a hand in greeting and gave us curious looks. Lanie¡¯s back stiffened as she returned them.


    She turned back to me.


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Relieved, | gestured for her to follow me. | could tell she was looking around us with fascination as | led her through a series of


    corridors and then down a short, nondescript hallway. When we stepped through a small door at the end into a courtyard, |


    couldn¡¯t help grinning as she gasped aloud.


    ¡°How is this ska?¡± Lanie spun in a slow circle to stare all around her.


    Like the main courtyard, this smaller space was open to the sky above. Yet the air was temperate, even warm. Lush greenery


    and flowers grew all over, and a small fountain tinkled in the center. Comfortable outdoor furniture created conversation spaces,


    and we settled into chairs opposite each other.


    ¡°It''s a spell, right? She frowned. It has to be


    ¡°It''s abination of spellwork and tech. We can¡¯t be in the sunlight without something protecting us


    Her eyes tattowed ¡°All those other times we met in the woods?¡±


    When we go outside, we have to wear something to protect us. Yep | wear mine in this amulet.¡±


    Mine was on a thin steel chain and | pulled it out of my shirt to show her


    ¡°These spaces are too big for something like this, though the same tech that suelds Brightsky from detection also provides kinst


    of


    bahonast


    you''d have to ask Mchi how it all works.¡±


    Lanie so


    back. ¡°If it failed right now, would you burst into mes?¡±


    ¡°I''d burn. It would be agonizing. But | probably wouldn''t burst into mes, and | wouldn¡¯t probably die from


    it, as long as | could get into shelter.¡± | eyed her. ¡°Do you want to see me burst into mes?¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure. | don¡¯t know how | feel about you now, Braden.¡± She crossed her arms over her chest,


    | sighed. ¡°I was not with Mchi when | met you.


    Not like this, | mean. He was mymander, and | reported directly to him. But we didn¡¯t get together romantically until after the


    last time | saw you. | hope that makes you feel better.¡±


    I


    ¡°You kissed me,¡± she said in a low voice, a little shaky.


    ¡°And now you''re with my grandfather. | feel a little squicked, to be honest.¡±


    That stung, even though | knew where she wasing from. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have anything to do with you.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn''t have met me if you didn¡¯t know him!¡±


    | nodded. ¡°And | don¡¯t regret meeting you. Do you wish you hadn¡¯t met me?¡±


    She didn¡¯t answer for a minute. Then she sighed. ¡°No.


    And | know you and | were never more than friends.


    Friends who kissed, though!¡±


    |ughed. ¡°I liked you. | was interested in you. But, Lanie, you were already mated. And that was even before you met Mason.¡±


    She paused to look me over. ¡°Does he make you happy?¡±


    ¡°|...¡± Lwasn¡¯t sure how to answer that. ¡°Sometimes.


    Yes. Deliriously. Like my life did not begin until the first time he kissed me.¡±


    She blinked rapidly, her expression twisting and then smoothing. After a second, she nodded and gave me


    a small smile. ¡°I know that feeling.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s an Ancient. He lived multiple lifetimes before | was even born. And he¡¯s powerful. We aren¡¯t equals, | admitted quietly.


    ¡°Not sure we ever could be.¡±


    ¡°You and | were never meant to be anything other than friends; | know that,¡± she said.


    hope we still can be.¡±


    Lanie grinned. ¡°I need all the friends | can get.¡±


    | opened my arms and stood Bring it in here, buddy!


    We were bothughing hard as we hugged Lanie pulled away, shaking her head and nced behind me.


    Her smile widened, and she waved


    | turned to see Xander¡¯s mother staring at jis.


    She did not look happy

 Chapter 326

    Gabri


    ¡°Hello there,¡± | said carefully, watching as my only son¡¯s mate released herself from another man¡¯s arms.


    It might have been better if I¡¯d found her with a stranger, actually, rather than Braden. | might have. convinced myself a stranger


    posed no threats. But this man was different.


    The pair of them had... Okay, | wasn¡¯t sure it could be called a rtionship history, exactly, but you don¡¯t let a vampire feed off


    you without creating some kind of bond.


    Clearly, she was still feeling it with him.


    | smoothed my frown. ¡°So sorry. | didn¡¯t mean to interrupt.¡±


    Lanie shook her head. She was glowing. Some of it was Luna energy, but some of it was a pulsing shine. that came from an


    entirely different source. It was faintly red and softer than the Luna glow. Almost hidden.. Almost...sly.


    ¡°No, no, we were just talking. Catching up,¡± she said,


    That sounded like maybe a little bit of a guilt. | bit back my frown and kept my distance, adding a little light chuckle to my reply.


    ¡°| had so much free time on my hands without the babies that | thought I¡¯d explore the ce a bit. | was looking for somewhere to


    sit and do a little reading.¡±


    | held up one of the paperbacks I''d pulled from themon library. It was a thick human novel about werewolves that I''d heard


    was hriously inurate.


    ¡°| can find another ce, if you two need some privacy.¡±


    I


    ¡°Not necessary,¡± Braden said. ¡°I actually have a meeting | need to get to. Lanie, would you like to walk with me? I can introduce


    you to Delh. She¡¯s one of the mentors you could be working with.¡±


    ¡°Mentor?¡± | asked.


    Lanie nodded. ¡°Yes. To help me learn more about my vampire skills. Mchi wants me to learn more


    about how to ess and use them.¡±


    Of course, he did.


    That was the extra glow. | should¡¯ve known by the crimson shade. Her vampire self was rising the way her wolf could. Only,


    unlike her wolf self, the vampire part of her would never be something wholly different.


    Vampires were always fully vampires and never anything else.


    But Lanie was a hybrid...


    | shook myself, aware they were both staring at me forced a smile and held up the book. ¡°Have fun. I''ll


    cua iniry


    ¡°Dinner¡¯s an event tonight,¡± Braden said. ¡°A big wee for you all. See you there. C¡¯mon, Lanie.¡±


    They both left, and | watched carefully to see if they were holding hands or anything like that. They didn¡¯t, but the image of them


    embracing left a lingering bad taste in my mouth. | settled into afortable chair, but


    | couldn''t concentrate on my book.


    them.


    We were supposed to be safe here.


    Safe enough that | could leave the babies | loved so much in the care of others who didn¡¯t even know


    Safe enough that my son and his Beta could go off and run and take the son of my husband''s mistress.


    with them.


    Safe enough that | could finally, after so long, let my mind dwell on everything I¡¯d been pushing out of my


    thoughts.


    The words of the book ran together as | tried to focus


    Finally, | put it aside and simply let myself rx into the chair. The sun overhead was bright but dim at the


    same time. | smelled magic underneath the scents of the different exotic flowers. The cool tinkle of the


    fountain should have been soothing.


    Why was | suddenly so anxious?


    Tears clogged my throat and burned in my eyes. | pressed my fingertips to my eyes hard enough that colored lights shed in my


    vision. | swallowed hard, again and again, each swallow like a razor de.


    | didn¡¯t want to cry over Orion.


    My mate had betrayed me. Stolen from me the honor of being the only mother of his pup. He¡¯d lied to me for years. Everything


    we''d had together was false.


    And now he was dead.


    | would never get to confront him. Never have closure. He was gone and would never have to face the consequences of his


    actions...but | would.


    My wolf howled inside me.


    She circled, trying to draw close enough tofort me. But with the grief ripping at my heart. It felt like she was too far away


    | couldn''t call on my powers, the gifts of the Moon Goddess, my strengths. | would never truly lose them, of course, but | was no


    longer the Luna. That role had been taken over by Lanie


    Was she going to betray my son the way his father had done to me?


    Worse did that vampire part of her mean she was destined to betray us all?


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

 Chapter 327

    I


    Lanie


    | was going to like Delh a lot, which was a relief.


    In the short hour we¡¯d spent together, she¡¯d been so cheerful and helpful that | couldn¡¯t help but feel like all of this was going to


    be okay.


    ¡°Of course, it will,¡± Delh said with a look of surprise when | said that out loud. She tilted her head to look. at me with wide eyes.


    Her irises were fully ck with a red ring around them, which I''d found startling at first, but she¡¯d exined that it wasn¡¯t


    something every vampire had.


    It was a sign of her empathic abilities, which went beyond being able topel someone, a skill most vampires could easily


    wield.


    ¡°You are feeling so much better; | can sense it,¡± she added. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to say anything about it before, since it¡¯s rude to talk


    about someone¡¯s feelings unless they mention them first.¡±


    ¡°| have so. Much. To. Learn.¡± | emphasized each word andughed a little. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would be so tiring, either! |


    communicate with my wolf all the time, and when | draw on my Luna gifts, it leaves me energized. Not drained.¡±From N?velDrama.Org.


    Delh smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a journey, Lanie. Because you are a hybrid, you are not going to have the same reactions as a pureblood


    vampire. But because your bloodlinees from an Ancient...well, to be honest, | can feel a loting off of you. Though I¡¯m


    not entirely sure what awaits you. We''ll have to learn together.¡±


    ¡°| look forward to it.¡± From somewhere far off, | heard what sounded like a bell or a gong.


    Delh turned toward it. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the announcement bell. It¡¯s time for us to get ready for the big dinner tonight. Did you have


    any more questions before we go?¡±


    She held up a hand before | could answer.


    ¡°Never mind,¡± she said. ¡°I know you have many questions. Anything | can help you with in less than a


    minute?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± | shook my head, and we bothughed.


    ¡°Can you find your way back to your quarters?¡±


    ¡°| hope so. | need to start learning how, anyway. | can¡¯t expect a tour guide every time | need to go from


    one ce to the next.¡±


    ¡°If you get lost, I¡¯m sure someone will be around to help.¡±


    We hugged and parted ways.


    I


    l impressed myself with how well | was able to navigate my way back to the quarters. By the time | got


    01/2


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± | asked, concerned, as Ste ran to me right away. | smoothed a hand over her hair.


    ¡°Hello, my precious. Did you have fun today?¡±


    ¡°The boys aren''t back yet, Gabri said.


    | frowned and bent to hug ina and Isaac, who''d taken a bit longer to toddle to me. | kissed


    and then straightened. ¡°They¡¯ve been gone this whole time?¡±


    ¡°Can you link with them? See where they are?¡± Her voice had an edge to it that made me feel a litt


    anxious.


    | sent out a query through the mate link and got nothing at first. Then Xander¡¯s voice drifted to me, very soft. | had to concentrate


    really hard to hear it.


    ¡°Shielding...interferes...¡± he thought.


    | looked at her. | think he¡¯s trying to tell me that the security shields here are blocking the mind links.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t like that.¡±


    ¡°Are wolves the only supernaturals that have mind links?¡± | hefted ina onto my hip and nodded as she


    babbled at me. ¡°Yes, that sounds like so much fun.¡±


    | kissed her chubby little cheek and squeezed her, then set her down to do the same to her twin. All three


    pups were vying for my attention, and it was a little overwhelming.


    ¡°Gabri, could you take Ste and help her get a bath? I''ll take care of the twins.¡±


    ¡°Of course | can.¡± She said this with more of that same edge in her tone.


    It made me look up. ¡°Everything okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Fine. They''ve been away from us all day, that¡¯s all. I¡¯m not used to it. Maybe | should stay here. tonight while you four go to


    the dinner.¡±


    ¡°You can if you want to, I¡¯m sure, but Braden told me that they''ll send someone from the school to stay


    with them. They¡¯ll be in bed before we have to leave.¡± | studied her, sensing waves of irritation and nervousness


    rolling off of her, but not sure exactly why. ¡°I think it would be good for you to go to the dinner, though. Didn¡¯t you say you had


    friends here?


    Did you get to spend any time with them today?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, old friends,¡± she said crisply. ¡°I guess I¡¯m not the only one who was able to spend time with


    people from the past today.¡±


    Before | could ask her what she was getting at, the door flew open. Three sweaty,ughing and clearly


    exhausted men stumbled into the room


    When | looked back to check on Gabri, she¡¯d gone into her rooms and closed the door behind her.

 Chapter 328

    Gabri


    In all the stories I¡¯d ever heard about Brightsky, I¡¯d never imagined that eighty-seven floors down there would be an entire


    underground, small-town street. | had to double-take and look behind me at the elevator to make sure I''d stepped out of the one


    I''d entered and not some kind of crazy time machine...or portal.


    No. This was real. My wolf chuffed happily as she scented grilling meat. | spotted a small food cart at the street''s far end, and


    just beyond it, what looked like a wall, Proof that all of this was an borate set-up.


    Fake, like a theater set, but so realistic | couldn¡¯t believe | wasn¡¯t walking the briek street of some charming European vige


    Floor Eighty-Seven was emzoned on a sign to the left of the elevator. The street itself was lined with small shops and cafes.


    Clothing and sundries, a bookstore, a small grocery. | even saw a post office, and when | peeked through the front window, | saw


    what looked like a parcel-sorting center. More like the mailroom of a big corporation, with rows of boxesbeled with names. A


    few people were chatting in front of them, paper coffee cups in hand.


    It made sense that amunity like Brightsky would need all of these things, but seeing it set up like this was truly an


    unexpected marvel.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Gab


    | looked past the post office to the storefront two doors down. A sign shaped like a coffee-mug swung over the entrance. Lenora


    waved at me, her face beaming.


    We hugged, and she pulled away so she could give me a long, assessing look. Her gray eyes were shadowed and her pale


    cheeks a little hollowed, but her ebony hair bore the same luster as it had years ago, before the Great Wars. As she twisted a bit,


    the faintest shimmer glistened from her back and shoulders-her


    wings, hidden to keep her from bumping into things with them.


    She''d once told me how much she missed the freedom of when her people had lived solely in their underhill cities, with plenty of


    space to amodate them


    Humans had chased the far out from nearly every ce, all over the world


    ¡°You look amazing¡± she enthused, tucking her arm through mine. ¡°Come, I''ve ordered us pots of hot


    chocte and some truly decadent cherry biscuits.


    Oh and if youd like, | can have them bring some beef skewers from the cart down the street?


    ¡°Biscuits will be fine¡±


    ¡°They''re cookies¡± the coded as you cal


    We settled at


    unc


    eat eat to the wall so | could face the cafe with


    my back protected instinct i had a skicking in


    was worrying about, but of course there was nothing.


    Even | couldn¡¯t really be sure what | was expecting.


    It takes a long time to catch up with an old friend you haven''t seen in years, especially when you''ve been forbidden from staying


    in touch through even the most basic means. | was thrilled to hear that she¡¯d married and had many children during the interim


    She, too, had grandchildren. Nearly a dozen.


    ¡°| thought three was a lot,¡± | told her with a small chuckle.


    ¡°Three is plenty.¡± She poured us both fresh cups of hot chocte, adding dollops of whipped cream from a small pot. ¡°Triplets?¡±


    ¡°No. Twins, ina and Isaac. And a little girl, Ste.¡±


    I


    | waited to see if she¡¯d show any signs that she¡¯d heard about my granddaughter being a Celestial, but Mchi seemed to have


    kept that quiet for now.


    ¡°They have different mothers.¡±


    | paused, for the first time truly considering this.


    ¡°Different fathers, too.¡±


    Lenora looked confused. ¡°So...the twins...?¡±


    ¡°Not my son¡¯s. His half-brother¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°So...not blood-rted to you,¡± Lenora said after a second. She lowered her voice. ¡°I heard about Orion.


    What he did,¡±


    | nodded, not trusting myself to speak out loud.


    ¡°Your daughter-inw is a strong Luna and very unique. She is the little girl''s mother?¡± Lenora pushed the


    te of biscuits my way.


    | took one, although my appetite wasn¡¯t really there.


    ¡°Yes. But she is mother to the twins as if they were her own. We''re raising them all together like siblings.¡±


    ¡°If you''d like to talk about it, about anything, Gab...


    you know I¡¯m here for you¡±


    My first inclination was to deny | had anything to talk about, but then the words rushed up my throat


    Raw and burung like bile | was happy hadn¡¯t eaten anything because it might''vee right back up


    sloud.


    Fleaned forward as my harsh whisper shot out of ing and i told her something i¡¯d never dare spoken

 Chapter 329

    Gabri


    ¡°| hate him,¡± | whispered fiercely. ¡°The only reason | wish he wasn¡¯t dead is because I''d like to kill him


    myself!¡±


    ¡°Understandable. In fact, if you¡¯d said anything else, I''d wonder if you were telling the truth.¡±


    | felt better for having said it aloud, but the confession had taken something out of me. | sagged a little, my elbows on the table


    so | could put my face briefly into my hands. | didn¡¯t want anyone seeing how upset | was, but | also couldn''t hide it.


    ¡°It''s bad enough that he didn¡¯t honor our mating bond. Infidelity happens, even among wolves. But he sired a child with another


    woman and never told me. Never allowed his son to have a brother. Orion''s selfishness caused so much trouble for so many


    people...! won¡¯t even get into the disgusting things he was doing with hybrids.¡±


    I


    | peeked through my fingers to make sure she knew what | was talking about. It would be a lot to exin.


    ¡°Of course there is so much to learn about how traits manifest in hybrids, but a medical torture facility is hardly the way to go


    about it,¡± she said firmly. She leaned closer to add, ¡°And I''ll tell you something else, Gab. | never liked him. He was arrogant, and


    you were far too good for him!¡±


    To my surprise, |ughed. At first just a low chuckle.


    I


    Then louder, until | was almost wheezing with it. | had to wipe my eyes of pained tears and hold a hand to my stomach until my


    rasping guffaws faded.


    Lenora gave me a satisfied smile. ¡°There. That''s much better.¡±


    | did feel better, almost like I¡¯d had an infected wound that had been drained of its poison. It still hurt and likely would for a long


    time...but perhaps | could finally start to heal.


    Atst, | helped myself to a biscuit. ¡°I just never thought anything like this could happen to my family.


    Maybe that was my downfall, you know? | was too proud. Too confident in my role in the pack, too convinced | deserved it.


    Maybe the Moon Goddess decided to teach me some humility.¡±


    ¡°If your Moon Goddess is the sort to punish those who follow her simply because of a little pride, I''ve never heard of it,¡± Lenora


    said with a wave of her hand. ¡°And besides, that¡¯s nonsense. You were more than deserving of being a Luna. It¡¯s not your fault


    your mate was a horrible person...even if, by all ounts, he was an incredibly strong and sessful Alpha. Like your son, yes?


    Xander.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Xander is also a strong Alpha.¡±


    She took a dainty sip from her inug But not sessful?¡±


    | wasn''t sure how to answer that.


    He was happy to be the Alpha, though, yes? | mean, when his father relinquished the role, Xander


    ¡°Of course.¡± | hesitated. ¡°Why would you think otherwise?¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t Alpha very long, though. He couldn¡¯t have been. But you say he was happy about it, having his father hand it over to


    him?¡±


    ¡°It''s what he¡¯d been waiting for,¡± | said after a second


    ¡°To be honest, | never asked him if he wanted it. | just assumed.....


    ¡°Of course, of course. Your boy would¡¯ve been ecstatic to take over from his father without having for it. Or wait for his father to


    die. I''m sure he meant to be the best Alpha possible.¡±


    | digested her words. The hesitant tone. ¡°But he didn¡¯t have the chance, you mean.¡±


    ¡°Wel...I¡¯m sure in time...¡± She coughed lightly into her fist. ¡°You know how the young are, consumed with their mates when it¡¯s all


    fresh and new. Certainly none could me him for being so focused on his new Luna, particrly since she¡¯s as special as she


    is. He could hardly help it, could he?¡±


    ¡°Because she¡¯s a hybrid, you mean?¡±


    ¡°Gab, listen. Nobody could me him for losing sight of his pack. Not when that girl came of age and went into heat. It''s a


    miracle he was able to think straight, much lesspetently run a pack.¡± Lenora added another biscuit to my te.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | crumbled it between my fingers. ¡°It''s the vampire part of her, isn¡¯t it? That¡¯s what you¡¯re trying to get at.


    My son is so enamored of this woman because of that.


    ¡°It does make her stronger, Lenora said. She pped her hands quickly and gave me a wide smile. ¡°Enough of all that. Tell me


    you''re not dying for a mani-pedi.


    We have a delightful ce here on Eighty-Seven run by a witch I¡¯ve known forever. She¡¯s got the most amazing herbal scrubs.


    You can¡¯t even believe it. She¡¯ll have you feeling like you''re on top of the world...and |


    don¡¯t mean because we''re in ska.¡±


    ¡°That sounds lovely,¡± | said, but my mind was on what she¡¯d said before.


    | let Lenora take me to the nail salon, but | couldn¡¯t stop thinking about everything she¡¯d said about Lanie.

 Chapter 330

    Lanie


    | was losing track of time, but | found | didn¡¯t care.


    In the mornings, we had breakfast in our luxurious quarters as a family, then got the children ready for school. After that, Gabri


    took herself off to whatever she did all day, while my mates and | spent an hour or so making love. Then the men went off to train


    with Greyson while | met with Mchi or Charlotte, or spent. time with Delh.


    Brightsky was truly bing home.


    More than that, it was as close to a paradise as | could ever have imagined.


    No luxury was out of reach. The enve had whatever | could think of. Spa massage? No problem, Lanie.


    | Do you want that in the spa or your quarters?


    Hungry for rare steak in the middle of the night?


    Again, not an issue. Help yourself to themon kitchens if you¡¯re in the mood to cook. Or have it sent to


    your rooms with whatever else you could ask for..


    | knew that a lot of the treatment was special because | was Mchi¡¯s bloodline, but the longer we spent there, the more | came


    to understand that Brightsky really was a utopia. Everyone had a role, a job, but everyone worked together using their best skills.


    ...what¡¯s my contribution, then?¡± | was sweating, the taste of copper rich in my mouth. Delh had really been putting me through


    my paces. Wolves couldn¡¯t fly...but | was learning that vampires could.


    toe


    child


    | still couldn¡¯t, though. |nded on the mat with a thud and fell back onto it. Delh nudged me with her


    ¡°You''ll get it. As for your contribution, you¡¯ll have to see. We all find a way to make this ce work.¡±


    | pushed up on my elbow. ¡°Where does the moneye from?¡±


    She threw back her head andughed, then gave me an amused shake of her head. ¡°Oh, sweet summer


    | puffed out a breath and took the bottle of water she handed me. My muscles ached, but in the best way


    Im serious¡±


    ¡°Supernaturals with long life spans have a lot of time to umte wealth And, unlike humans, we are


    not as focused on keeping it all for ourselves, since often we have so much more than we cant even use Well


    Not the dragons, of course They do like to h oa rd


    She grinned and looked behind me She waved ¡®Oh took There¡¯s Penelope Have you had enough for the


    day? | think she wants us to go to the hot springs


    ¡°| can be convinced.¡± With a groan, | got to my feet.


    Penelope gave us an eager wave. ¡°Hello, friends! | got us a reservation, but if we don¡¯t get there in ten minutes, we''ll miss it.¡±


    As we rode in the elevator down, down, down, countless floors, | thought about her greeting.


    Friends. The other two women chatted, and | watched them with a lump in my throat. They were my


    friends.


    | missed my old friends, of course, but here... ¡°I feel so much more at home here than anywhere else I¡¯ve ever been.¡±


    Penelope linked her arm through mine. ¡°Good.


    Because we love having you here.¡±


    The hot springs turned out to be in a series of caverns with soft lighting, fluffy towels, and benches carved into the stone pools.


    The three of us stripped naked and got into a pool of steaming water, and | sank back with a happy sigh.


    ¡°This is almost too much,¡± | said.


    Delh sighed, too. ¡°Vampires adore hot springs.¡±


    | cracked open an eye at her. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Cold blood,¡± she said matter-of-factly. ¡°Your wolf self probably makes up for it, since that kind runs extra hot. Like you¡¯re covered


    in fur even when you''re in your skin.¡±.


    She sshed lightly andughed.


    | held a hand out of the water, turning it from side to side. ¡°It¡¯s so weird to me to think that I¡¯ve got that inside me, and | just can¡¯t


    see it.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been doing a great job learning how to draw on your different strengths, though,¡± Penelope said sincerely. ¡°We''re all


    shocked.¡±


    ¡°Pen!¡± Delh said, sounding exasperated.


    ¡°It''s okay. I¡¯m shocked, too.¡± Soberly, | sat up, and the water sloshed. ¡°Honestly, | can¡¯t believe it myself.¡±


    ¡°Mchi¡¯s so proud of you,¡± Penelope said hastily, looking embarrassed.


    ¡°You are a valued addition to this enve, Lanie You might not be sure of what you''ll contribute, but my guess is that you''re


    going to be vital in Brightsky¡¯s protection Delh let herself float, face tipped to the cavern ceilingFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want this ce to need help with that, | said in a low voice. ¡°But I''ll do whatever | have to, if the


    timees.¡±


    Delh turned her face toward me. Her ck eyes gleamed, the red a pulsing glow in the cavern¡¯s dim lighting ¡°It''sing We


    all know it!

 Chapter 331

    Mason


    on


    ¡°Go! Xander! Go, Mason, you next!¡± Greyson had shifted into his dragon form, so the words came out ona


    hiss of steam.


    bar.


    | couldn''t get over the fact that dragons could talk.


    ¡°What if our wolves could talk when we''re in that form?¡± | grunted as | jumped up to grab the firstdder


    Xander was one set of rungs ahead of me, his long legs dangling over the spi k e-li ned pit below us.


    ¡®Can''t...


    imagine...they¡¯d have much...f uck!¡±


    As one of his hands slipped, he swung from the other. | kicked his side a bit to get him swinging close enough so he could grab


    the rung again. We hung side by side, panting. The pit looked way too close.


    ¡°If we fall in there, we could die,¡± he said with a grow!


    ¡°Guess we''d better not f ucking fall in there, brother.¡± grinned and rocked my body again to get moving from rung to rung.


    Greyson was in side. He was still naked. A pattern of what


    his human form by the time we got to the att


    looked like scales gleamed faintly on his skin.From N?velDrama.Org.


    He grinned at us both. ¡°Nice work.¡±


    ¡°You all are not ying around,¡± Xander said with admiration.


    | grabbed a bottle of water from the icy barrel next to Greyson and drank half of it before | spoke. ¡°We''re even better as our


    wolves. You probably feel the same as your dragon.¡±


    ¡°Why do you think | was in that form? If either of you fell, | could¡¯ve reached you in seconds with one wing.


    Kept you from ending up looking like porcupines instead of wolves.¡± Greysonughed as he pulled on a pair of sweatpants. ¡°And


    your wolves could not have crossed thatdder. No fingers.¡±


    Xander drank some water ¡°Could¡¯ve jumped it, though.¡±


    ¡°No s hit. Really?¡± Greyson looked at the pit, then at Xander He looked impressed ¡®Show me¡±


    We spent the next couple of hours running each other through our paces As it turned out, wolves could outrun dragone on the


    ground, but we were no match when a dragon was in the sky


    Carit breath fire, either, Xander panted under his breath


    We were behind one of the walls in the training grounds Greyson was circling above, but he was at least a little hampered by the


    ceiling in open sky, Bungs would be totally different.


    | grinned. ¡°F uck yeah, | am. It¡¯s been too long sitting on our a ss es without doing much of anything Doesn''t


    it feel good to you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± He leaned back to eye the shadow overhead as a bell rang from outside the training space.


    ¡°Can''t quite get used to that,¡± | said as everyone inside returned to their human-shaped forms.


    Xander huffed out augh, and his wolf zed for a minute in his eyes. ¡°Right? Like being in school all over again.¡±


    | | scanned the space for Zane and caught sight of him on the far side of the room talking to Greyson and a group of mixed Fae,


    witch, and vampire.


    ¡°Hardly any of us here,¡± | murmured as we got ready to join the others. ¡°Not pureblood, anyway. Not sure how many hybrids.¡±


    Xander also kept his voice pitched low. ¡°But that¡¯s not a surprise, all things considered.¡±


    ¡°I''m super pi ssed off we missed out on all of this.¡±


    | gestured toward the groups of men and women congratting each other on the great workouts we''d all had today. ¡°I hate


    feeling st upid and kept in the dark.¡±


    He nudged my shoulder with his and scooped up his jeans from where he''d left them. He pulled them on as he said, ¡°Me too.¡±


    ¡°If | find a way to make the Elders pay, I¡¯m going to.¡± pulled on my own jeans and long-sleeved T-shirt, then found my boots.


    ¡®lll be right there with you, brother. Zane! Hey!¡±


    Xander waved an arm.


    Our Beta turned to us, hands on his hips, with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. ¡°Grey''s telling me about this sweet setup


    setup he¡¯s got for supes that can fly.¡±


    ¡°So we''re not hampered by the roof,¡± Greyson said, pointing upward. ¡°Not that you boys would know. anything about flying.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, | said, not taking the bait.


    Xander slung an arm around Zane¡¯s shoulders for a moment. ¡°Dragons fly. Lanie said vampires can, too.¡±


    ¡°Some can. Witches can, but not on their own. They need a spelled object. Fae can, of course, but it¡¯s more like hovering or


    gliding for them.¡± Greyson looked at Zane. ¡°I¡¯m happy to show you, if you¡¯re interested.¡±


    Zane shot us both a look ¡°That sounds awesome, man. Do either of you ?¡±


    ¡°You go ahead,¡± | said before my brother could answer ¡°We''ll catch up with youter¡±


    | had things | needed to talk about with my brother


    He was the only one who''d understand.


    212

 Chapter 332

    Mason


    Greyson and Zane f ucked off to whatever flying grounds they''d been talking about. That left me and Xander to enjoy what


    turned out to be a ki ckas s hot spring spa far down underneath the enve.


    ¡°| could definitely get used to this, Xander said as we got into a natural stone pool brimming with steaming water. He groaned.


    ¡°This is hot as all f uck. S hit, we need to get something like this back home.¡±


    Home.


    | was quiet for a second, thinking about what that word meant to me. Was it Stillwood? Was it Constantine?


    We spent a few minutes enjoying the bubbling heat before | finally spoke.


    ¡°I spent my entire life dreaming about what it would be like to take over Constantine Pack, and now that | have, it means...... f


    uck,¡± | said. ¡°It means nothing.¡±


    My brother eyed me with a frown. ¡°First of all, bro, you did not ¡®take over the pack, okay? Don¡¯t make me fight you when this


    water feels too f ucking good.¡±


    | rolled my eyes. ¡°Whatever, dude.¡±


    ¡°Second, it doesn¡¯t mean nothing. It can¡¯t. Can it?¡± He sounded hesitant.


    ¡°We are Alphas. The only ones I¡¯ve met here, even if there are a couple of other wolves. But being an Alpha means nothing


    without a pack to run. We have our family but that¡¯s not the same thing.¡±


    Xander sat up a little higher out of the water. Sweat beaded his forehead and upper lip, and he swiped it away. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s weird,


    huh? It¡¯s like this thing | was told my entire life was going to be the most important thing | would ever do...and it¡¯s just...¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter,¡± | said in a low voice


    We were both silent for a few more seconds. The dripping water from the cavern roof seemed very loud.


    Asmall hiss of steam sifted out from a crevice on the wall. The water bubbled lightly, then stopped


    it still matters.¡± Xander said finally ¡°If we believe it does, it matters. And when we get back, well figure all


    of it the f uck out Okay?¡±


    ¡°| barely even met any of them Do they even know th also their Alpha?¡± asked


    Xander heaved himself out of the water to sit on the edge of the pool. He scrubbed at his face, raking wet


    hands through his hair to keep it off his forehead


    We both needed haircuts fd started wearing one cubed at the base of my neck with a leather cord, but


    | joined him. The hot water felt awesome, but it was also getting to be way too much. | wished we¡¯d wished we¡¯d brought some


    water along with us.


    My brother sighed. To be honest with you, man, | don¡¯t know. If none of the Elders said anything about it, I''m not sure how any of


    the pack would know, especially if, like Braden said, the guards that were there w Orion was killed are also all dead. There


    wouldn''t be anyone to spread the word. For all they know, it¡¯s st


    me...¡±


    ¡°And you f ucked off to the Moon knows where,¡± | said with a harsh chuckle.


    He scowled. ¡°Yeah. | hate that my pack could think that about me...f uck. | hate that it¡¯s the truth.¡±


    IFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Do you think they''d have epted it? Us being co-Alphas?¡± | let the warm bubbling water lift my feet up


    I


    and down a little bit.


    Xander didn¡¯t answer for a few seconds.


    ¡°| don¡¯t know that, either. It¡¯s notmon, that¡¯s for sure. They¡¯d have had to have theirplete trust in me, and | would''ve had


    to be solid on having you at my side. Guided them through it. But | think...yes..


    If they saw the way we work together now, yes, they would have epted you as their co-Alpha. You are their former Alpha¡¯s


    son, it¡¯s not like | picked some rando out of the woods.¡±


    ¡°Son or no, | would be a random to them. And we didn¡¯t work together like this,¡± | said honestly. ¡°We didn¡¯t


    n to work together at all.¡±


    ¡°If my...our father hadn¡¯t been killed, you wouldn¡¯t have be their Alpha and my co-Alpha, and if you''d killed me, they still


    might not have epted you. A stranger, a rogue Even being Orion¡¯s son might not have


    been enough. F uck, man. | don¡¯t know. Unless we get back there, we never will.¡±


    ¡°Growing up without a pack, | always thought that when a new Alpha rose, the entire pack felt it. Like a pack-wide mind link f''d


    imagine walking into a group of people just cheering and saying my name¡± | said.


    ¡°| guess | was a st upid little pup¡±


    ¡°Better than being a st upid Alpha,¡± my brother said roughly ¡°Like me¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

 Chapter 333

    Xander


    ¡°| took it all for granted,¡± | said.


    | tipped my face back to look up at the cavern ceiling, and a drop of water hit me in the


    my breath and swiped at it. When my vision cleared, Mason was frowning at me.


    ¡°| grew up being told how great | was, and | just believed every word. Everypliment, every bit


    | knew from the time | was a pup that I¡¯d be running Constantine Pack one day, and | never once bothered think about what that


    all would actually mean.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like every Alpha I¡¯ve ever met,¡± my brother said. ¡®Arrogant and full of himself.¡±


    | rolled my eyes. ¡°Presentpany included.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Mason said with a low chuckle and slid back into the water. ¡°It''s not a shock, man. Alphas are born, right? It¡¯s inside you


    from the moment you take your first breath. Before that, even. It''s just how we work.¡±


    ¡°You, on the other hand, would¡¯ve been the actual Alpha if our father hadn¡¯t been such a pr ick to both our mothers. You didn¡¯t


    grow up knowing it would be handed to you, but you dreamed about it. Ached for it. Am | right?¡± | asked when his frown


    deepened.


    ¡°You wanted it, you were determined to get it, but you weren¡¯t one hundred percent sure you would. It wasn¡¯t a guarantee, the


    way it was for me.¡±


    you¡¯


    ¡°No,¡± he said after a pause. ¡°I knew that there was always the chance that | wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat


    ¡°When my dad decided to relinquish being the Alpha, | thought it was because | was so f ucking great, so strong, so whatever-


    the-f uck amazing, that he just couldn¡¯t wait to hand it over to me.¡± |ughed ruefully. ¡°The reality was, he wanted to make me the


    Alpha so he could get on with all the stuff he couldn¡¯t do when he had to take care of the pack. And here¡¯s the thing, Mason


    something | can¡¯t tell anyone else. Ever¡±


    | tried to find the right words, but there were only a few to be said


    ¡°l understand why¡±


    MasonContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    And | feel guilty as f uck about it my brother admitted, head hanging ¡°Not because I¡¯m away from my


    pack, but because i dont feel that bad about it


    | should think my ded was aplete fature as an Alpha because he gave it up so he could do other things. Shotty, sorrible


    things. But | also get why he had to give it up so he could do, be anything else


    A few months ago, my brother¡¯s words would have Sure | have done in lost to kill him for that confession


    us to a fist fight A short time even before that, Iny waited for my fury to rise up, but my wolf only sat


    Or maybe I''d just found a way to rte to my


    brother.


    ¡°I''m an Alpha without a pack,¡± | told him. ¡°Yeah, technically, it¡¯s Constantine, but they don¡¯t know me, and we aren¡¯t there. But I¡¯d


    be a liar if | told you | hadn¡¯t thought about just running off. F uck all this sh it. Go be a rogue in another small town, far away.


    Hell, maybe even a lone wolf.¡±


    ¡°Way less to worry about,¡± Xander said.


    ¡°But no Lanie.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°No Zane. No pups. No brother.¡±


    | sshed at the water with a grunt. ¡°Being here at Brightsky is kind of like being in a fever dream.


    Everything seems too bright. There¡¯s an edge to it all, surreal, like | have to pinch myself to make sure I¡¯m awake. It¡¯s just so f


    ucking...easy here. | know it only seems like that, | mean, they''ve got military grade security. Better than military¡±


    ¡°But it does feel easy,¡± my brother agreed. ¡°Simple, and happy, and like we can just hang out and be with our kids and our Luna


    and each other, and maybe just...breathe. We don¡¯t have to decide anything for anyone else. We barely have to decide it for


    ourselves.¡±


    ¡°If we wonder what''s next one of those da mn bells will remind us,¡± | said with augh.


    ¡°We have friends here. Dude, don¡¯tugh at me, but other than Zane, | don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever really had any.


    He¡¯s the only person who treated me like we were equals. Well, until you came along. Kinda f ucking hated, you for it, at first.¡±


    I snorted. ¡°And now?¡±


    ¡®Still think you''re a pain in the as s, but...I¡¯m d you''re my brother.¡±


    ¡®Like you said, we''ll figure all this out. For now, | have to get out of here or I¡¯m going to melt.¡± | slipped out


    of the water with a sigh of relief.


    Xander handed me a towel. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave here. Not yet, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Same¡± | wrapped the towel around my waist, not adding what | knew we both were thinking


    We probably weren''t going to have a choice

 Chapter 334

    Xander


    There was a f ucking street cart selling kebabs. And beer. And churros


    ¡°Beer,¡± my brother grunted. ¡°Hot dam n, what is this ce?¡±


    ¡°Floor Eighty-Seven is the sh it,¡± | said to Mason.


    We hadn¡¯t even nned to get off here, but when the elevator doors had opened on our way up from the spa, we both stepped


    out. Hunter was scenting the air, both our bellies growling. | caught a sh of Colt in Mason¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Let''s grab some before some other da mn bell tells us to go somewhere else, Mason said with a grin.


    ¡°You''re speaking mynguage, bro.¡±


    We waited in line behind what | was now learning to recognize as Fae by the slight shimmer of air behind them. They both turned


    and nodded, totally polite but nothing more. We might as well have been...well,


    anyone.


    aa


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about,¡± | said under my breath when we¡¯d taken our skewers of beef toward an iron cafe table in a small,


    open arca between two shopfronts. ¡°People here don¡¯t give a f uck who we are.


    | mean, I¡¯m sure they know, but they just don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°And the food is good,¡± Mason said, tearing into the meat and chewing messily. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand,


    showing off a gleam of grease.


    My stomach rumbled, and | gulped down some of my own. It was good enough to make me groan so loud it startled a passing


    vampire pushing a small portable cart. She giggled. | waited until she¡¯d passed out of


    sight before turning back to my brother.


    ¡°| want our pups to grow up in a ce like this. Not one ruled by a bunch of Elders bent on destroying everything | was told to


    believe in. Not one on the verge of war.¡± | washed down the beef from my kebab with a


    pull off the bottled beer I''d also grabbed.


    ¡°This ce is on the verge of war, though. We can¡¯t pretend it¡¯s not, matter how many food carts it has.¡±


    Mason tipped his bottle toward mine before drinking.


    | frowned, looking across the street toward a buildingbeled as the Post Office. If | could just be in touch with someone back in


    Constantine, find out what¡¯s going on. | could reach out to Maxim and Monroe


    Get an update. It would set my mind at ease.¡±


    ¡°| know you''re worried about the pack, even if you are enjoying your freedom. But you don¡¯t think the Elders are watching every


    bit of correspondence that makes its way to Constantine, especially to those two? The second you tried to open up any lines of


    communication with either one of them, the Elders will be on you like a fly on a dead deer. Who knows, it could even alert them


    that we¡¯re at Brightsky. Security or no, that would


    | growled but kept it low so we didn¡¯t attract attention F uck Yeah You''re right it''ll put them in danger And all of us, too. The less |


    know, though, the worse it feels. Anything could be going on back there. They could all be


    | didn¡¯t want to say dead, but Mason nodded like he knew what | meant anyway.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Mchi would''ve told us. Braden would''ve known it.


    You could just ask him, Mason said. He gnawed off another hunk of beef and let out a low groan. ¡°F uck, this is good. Where do


    you think they get this from?¡±


    ¡°Dude, they have underground hot springs and an entire little Main Street here. They probably keep a herd of Wagyu beef on


    some floor we haven''t been to yet.¡± |ughed, hard, then sobered. ¡°Brightsky is beyond anything | ever imagined. Why does it


    feel like we¡¯re going to be the ones to burn it all to the ground?¡±


    ¡°You''re a paranoid as shole?¡± My brother postted with a grim smile, then added, ¡°I know how you feel.¡±


    ¡°They took us in, put their as ses on the line, to give us a safe haven. | can¡¯t think of any pack that would. do the same,¡± | said


    honestly. | hated admitting it, but although wolves were loyal, that loyalty was to their


    own.


    ¡°They are a pack, though, aren¡¯t they? All of them?


    And us now, if we let them make us a part of it,¡± Mason said. ¡°We won''t be Alphas in it, but maybe that¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°If we aren¡¯t Alphas, Lanie won''t be a Luna, right?¡±


    We both contemted that.


    ¡°What would that mean for her? The Moon Goddess has ns for her,¡± Mason said quietly.


    ¡°And what about Ste? It¡¯s all well and good for us to stay here, but if we let ourselves truly belong, what


    does that mean for them?¡±


    For that, neither one of us had an answer.


    010

 Chapter 335

    Zane


    ¡°You''ll hold onto the leather harness by the buckle.


    And


    grip it tight. If you fall off, | can catch you, but you will also probably s hit your pants. Greyson¡¯s dragon voice was low and


    rumbling, with an almost metallic edge to it.


    | flipped him off, which was ridiculous since he was about forty times bigger than me at the moment and could literally open his


    mouth and cat me alive.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to let me take you up,¡¯ he saidzily.


    One huge eye rolled to look down at me. The slitted pupil was brilliant gold, while the rest of his gigantic eye gleamed brilliant,


    seamless ck.


    | shook my head. ¡°Nah. | want to.¡±


    Hand over hand, | climbed the series of leather straps and buckles attached to the cor around Greyson¡¯s neck. He needed a


    whole crew to get him fitted for riding. It wasn¡¯t something he did often, he¡¯d said.


    | was a little ttered, to be honest.


    Once situated, | could feel the heating off his skin. I''d figured a dragon would be cool to the touch, like a lizard, right? But |


    could actually see wisps of steaming out from between a few of the iridescent


    green and purple scales at the base of Greyson¡¯s long, sinuous neck. He could move it


    like a snake, and he


    twisted his head around now to stare right at me.


    are.


    off.


    ¡°You are impressed.¡± His forked tongue flickered out.


    ¡°You should be. Are you ready?¡±


    | was still kind of rocked that he could speak to me in dragon form, but | just nodded. ¡°Yeah. When you


    Holy f uck. | was not ready. | held back a h oa rse shout as | held onto the leather straps and Greyson took


    Up, up, and even farther up.


    The flying grounds were actually far below the earth.


    Safer there, he¡¯d told me. Some carved to connect to the series of natural caverns the enve had been


    built overBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°S hit! Watch it!¡±


    As soon as | shouted, | felt like an as shole, especially because the dragon roared withughter. He¡¯d flown close to the ceiling,


    but it was easy to tell that he was inplete control.


    The railings here were sn hinh it felt lik so wore mil¨¦e un Mande we were All | know was that I''d 1/3


    expected a jerky flight, but the dragon''s wings pped so smoothly it was like floating.


    | wasn¡¯t sure how long we were up there, but when we finallynded, | couldn''t stopughing.


    | slid down his vast side, feeling the smooth scales underneath me. When my boots hit the ground, Greyson¡¯s crew was already


    hustling me away so they could get ready to take off the gear. It came off much faster than it went on-he simply shifted back and


    let it all fall around him.


    ¡°You want to grab a beer?¡± He pulled on the same sweatpants he¡¯d been wearing earlier.


    ¡°Dude, you didn¡¯t even break a sweat. When | change back from my wolf form, I¡¯m usually a sweaty mess.¡±


    Greyson grinned. ¡°Mammals. So sweaty. Dragons steam, my friend. We do not sweat.¡±


    |ughed, feeling a weird little twist in my gut at his words. Friend. For a second | had to fight what felt like a twinge of disloyalty


    to my Alphas.


    Greyson frowned. ¡°Do you need to head out? Get back, or...?¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t keep me on a leash, if that¡¯s what you mean.¡± The words came out sound too defensive.


    ¡°Not what | meant at all.¡±


    ¡°A beer sounds great,¡± | told him.


    He took me to a pub down on Eighty-Seven, which blew my mind again. Brightsky was never going to stop surprising me.


    Greyson kept the conversation going by asking me questions about myself, which felt like another surprise.


    ¡°What?¡± he asked me.


    ¡°| can¡¯t really feel you.¡± When he frowned, | added quickly, ¡°Which is kind of awesome.¡±


    ¡°You share a lot with your mates, huh? Charlotte¡¯s tried to describe it to me. How wolves work.¡±


    ¡°It''s kind of a relief to just hang out with someone | don¡¯t have to manage, that¡¯s all.¡± | wished | hadn¡¯t said it, but it was the truth.


    Hanging here in the pub with Greyson, | didn¡¯t have to be anyone¡¯s anything. | could just...be.


    ¡°Not that | mind it,¡± | told him quickly


    ¡°Of course not. You love them. They love you. But everyone deserves to have interests and friendships and space to


    themselves. For me, that¡¯s flying.


    Charlotte hates going up, so | do it alone. When | get back, I¡¯m always much more ready to put in the work a rtionship takes


    Greyson shrugged.


    What he said made total sense


    And you don¡¯t have to feel bad about at Greyson added


    ¡°Thanks, man tipped my beer his way


    ¡°Any time


    He was right. Taking some time away from my mates had left me refreshed, rejuvenated. Feeling like a better version of myself


    for the people | loved.


    Who, by the way, | couldn''t wait to get back to.


    I


    As | was getting up to leave, | spotted Gabri across the pub. She looked deep in conversation with a woman | didn¡¯t know.


    Gabri looked up for a moment, but she must not have seen me, because she looked away like | wasn¡¯t even there.

 Chapter 336

    Lanie


    The ground beneath me was very, very far away. The second | thought it, | plummeted down, bouncing off the padded mats and


    rolling onto my back. | flung out my arms and legs, panting.


    ¡°F uck,¡± | muttered.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Mchi snorted and stood over me, hands on his hips. ¡°You let your wolf side get in the way again.¡±


    | pushed up on my elbow to roll my eyes at him.


    av


    ¡°Wolves run. They stay on the ground. Can | help it if I''ve been a wolf for my entire life without any clue there was more inside


    me than that? Maybe I¡¯m not meant to fly. Maybe | don¡¯t have enough vampire blood.¡±


    Charlotteughed. ¡°You''ll never learn if that¡¯s your attitude.¡±


    ¡°You''re my bloodline, Mchi added with a buff of his nails on his shirt and a smug grin. ¡°You''ve got plenty. You should be able to


    do whatever you want to do. You simply need to want it more. Let go of your fears, Lanie.


    ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± | grumbled and got to my feet. | was sweating, aching, muscles sore, but also....


    loved it.


    For the first time in my entire life, | felt ike something wasn¡¯t missing.


    The next time, | focused and felt my feet lifting off the floor, | was able to stay up for more than a minute. |


    I


    I


    couldn¡¯t move yet, but it was a great start. | could tell my grandfather was pleased and proud. | was, too.


    ¡°Charlotte, | shall leave you and Lanie to finish up, | have some appointments that call my attention away.


    Butter, granddaughter, I¡¯d like you and | to meet privately.


    ¡°Something important? | gulped a long drink of water. | hadn¡¯t yet had any desire to drink blood, and frankly, that was the one


    vampire thing | hoped | never would.


    My grandfather shook his head, but his lips quirked,


    ¡°Every conversation with me should be deemed of the utmost importance. | am, after all, an Ancient.¡±


    ¡°Of course ¡°I made sure to put on a serious face and gave him a curtsy ¡°I treasure every single word that


    comes out of your mouth¡±


    ¡°Sarcasm does not be you,¡± Mchi said, but there was a glint of humor in his gaze


    He nodded at Charlotte and was gone in a sh.


    Like, a literal sh, moving so fast it was almost like he blinked out of existence 1 shook my head in


    amazement


    ¡°Will | be able to learn how to do that?¡± | asked


    apter


    Charlotte gathered up my hoodie and handed me another bottle of water. ¡°Hydrate. You¡¯re working yourself more physically than


    you realize. And yes, | should think you''d be able to learn how to do anything Mchi can do. Perhaps not with as much skill, but


    if he has the talent, it was likely passed along to you. You''re quite powerful, Lanie.¡±


    ¡°| wish | felt more powerful,¡± | told her honestly as | drained half the bottle. ¡°I still feel like a stumbling jerk most of the time.


    Clumsy.¡±


    ¡°Would you expect a baby to leave the womb and walk?¡±


    | shrugged into my hoodie. ¡°No, but-¡±


    ¡°You''ve only known about your vampire self for a short time, and in fact, have only been able to ess its gifts since you turned


    eighteen. If


    u¡¯d been told from bith what woulde to you when you came of age, you¡¯d have been prepared and still not immediately able


    to utilize all the talents.¡±


    Charlotte shook her head, her lips pursing. Then she continued.


    ¡°It would have taken time even then. You''ve first had to wrap your head around being something different from what you¡¯d always


    believed yourself to be, and in addition find ways to bring forth what was always hidden from you. If anything, | expected you to


    be much slower in learning than you are. You should be proud of yourself. | know your grandfather certainly is.¡±


    Warmth circled inside me at the thought of making him proud. ¡°Should we go again?¡±


    ¡°| admire your resilience, but no. | think you need a meal and perhaps a soak in the hot springs. Or a visit to the spa. Charlotte


    looked serious, but there was a lilt in her tone. ¡°Or you might even wish to call your mates back to your quarters for your own


    private time.¡±


    | blushed and pulled my hair on top of my head in a messy bun. ¡°They''re busy today with their own training and workouts.¡±


    ¡°But | can sense your need for them,¡± Charlotte said casually like it wasn¡¯t at all embarrassing that she


    knew how worked-up the training session had made me.


    ¡°Is that normal?¡± | asked under my breath.


    She grinned. ¡°Let''s grab a drink, and you can ask me whatever you want to know.¡±

 Chapter 337

    Gabri


    Once more, we''d dropped the children off at school, leaving me with no responsibilities Mchi doing only the Goddess knew


    what, while Xander, Zane, and Mason had gone off to


    amusements.


    That left me alone.


    I''d considered volunteering at the school. It would keep me close to my babies and give me some kind of purpose. | knew that


    Brightsky required its residents to contribute, and what other skills did | really have? | couldn¡¯t be a Luna here anymore than |


    could''ve if we went back to Constantine.


    Here in the vampire enve, there might be a need for someone to oversee all the small details that kept the ce running, but


    it was not my ce to take that over. Plus, | had to admit that | wouldn¡¯t even know where to begin. It was so vast andplex,


    not much like running a pack house and supporting my Alpha


    mate.


    The bottom line was, | didn¡¯t have anything to do, and it was wearing me down.


    ¡°I''ve never been ady of leisure,¡± | admitted to Lenora.


    She''d bumped into me outside the children¡¯s school and invited me for tea again. | pulled my delicate


    teacup toward me and sniffed it. Something herbal.


    Something even my wolf couldn¡¯t identify from the scent. Carefully, | sipped and got a strong ck.


    licorice vor.


    Lenoraughed and broke her chocte croissant into bite-sized pieces. ¡°I fell in love with croissants when | lived in Paris, oh,


    ages ago. The pastry chef here trained in Paris, but even though these are delicious, it''s still not quite the same. | imagine there


    is much like that here for you, Gabri. Much to appreciate, but much to adapt to. Let yourself have some time to yourself and to


    be in charge of nothing. You¡¯ve worked hard for so long. Doesn''t it feel nice to let someone else do the heavy lifting for a


    change?¡±


    | took another slow sip before answering. ¡°I suppose so.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t sound convinced. Look, if you truly wish to have some sort of job or task, I¡¯m sure something can be assigned to you.


    But once you take it, then these little dates with you and | will have to go by the wayside You''ll be too busy¡± She frowned. ¡°And


    we''ve only just been able to renew our friendship.¡±


    | was ttered that Lenora enjoyed mypany so much, but that couldn¡¯t stop the itch of needing to be useful thought of seeing


    if the school needed a carer


    ¡°You do love being around the children Your entire face lights up when you speak of them.¡± She smiled.


    ¡°It would keep me close to them¡± | said quietly ¡°Just in case.¡±From N?velDrama.Org.


    Lenora¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Oh, my friend, surely you cannot still believe your grandpups could be in danger? Not here in Brightsky.


    | mean not from anything outside.


    | looked up sharply at her words. ¡°But from inside?¡±


    ¡°Of


    that.se not,¡± Lenora said with a light littleugh that sounded almost forced. ¡°I would never suggest


    that. It''s that...¡±


    ¡°Tell me. | leaned closer. ¡°If you know something | should know, tell me. | swear | feel like I¡¯m thest to learn anything since we


    got here. They all just-¡±


    | stopped myself.


    | didn¡¯t want to admit aloud, not even to my friend, that since we''d arrived at Brightsky, my been so busy with all of their own new


    adventures that they barely included me.


    family


    had


    ¡°Even the childrene home babbling about their teachers and new friends, and they¡¯re growing so fast...soon they won''t


    need me at all any more than their father does.¡±


    There. I''d said it aloud.


    | waited to feel the relief of unburdening myself, but only felt guilty.


    Lenora covered my hand with her cool one, fingers gently squeezing.


    ¡°Of course you''re feeling a little out of sorts. You¡¯re living with a vampire-wolf hybrid who¡¯s learning how to fully use all of the


    powers. Think of it as being around a live wire. The closer you get to it, the more likely it is that you could get a shock.¡±


    ¡°Lanie is dangerous?¡± | tilted the word into a question, although it felt more like a statement.


    Lenora coughed lightly into her fist. ¡°Well, we''re all dangerous, are we not? Or can be? | don¡¯t want to worry you. She¡¯s your


    daughter-inw, after all. | know you care for her.¡±


    ¡°| love my family,¡± | said fiercely. ¡°But | will do whatever | have to in order to keep them safe. If she¡¯s dangerous, Lenora, please


    tell me.¡±


    Lenora shook her head, her eyes widening again.


    ¡°Oh, no, | certainly didn¡¯t mean to suggest that you need to fret about it. Being here in Brightsky, she''ll be carefully monitored as


    she¡¯s being taught. Should anything go awry and we have no reason to believe it would


    well there are checks and bnces here to prevent any trouble. Now, let¡¯s talk about something more pleasant | hate to see you


    look so worried.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡± | said faintly and tried to shove away my concerns. | concentrated on her gentle, innocuous gossip.


    It wasn¡¯t working


    | was still very, very worried

 Chapter 338

    Lanie


    | was never going to get over how cool Eighty-Seven was Charlotte meant to take me to the cute little cafe for some tea and


    pastries, but it was super crowded, and we decided instead to grab something from one of the food carts and take it to a little


    grove on the far end of the ¡°street.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that your mother-inw?¡± Charlotte pointed toward the cafe window.


    Gabri sat at a small table, lifting a teacup to her lips. The woman with her had her back to the window, so | couldn''t see who it


    was, but | was d Xander¡¯s mother had been spending time with her friends.


    | waved, but she didn¡¯t see me as a few people passed in front of the ss. My stomach was rumbling, so | followed Charlotte to


    the food cart and ordered some steak kebabs. | eyed the small crimson bottles withbels featuring only a single red droplet.


    They didn¡¯t need a name for me to know what was in there. | didn¡¯t


    ask for one.


    ¡°Will | need to drink blood?¡± | asked Charlotte when we''d taken our food toward the small pic arca along the far wall. A mural


    of trees created a trompe l''oeil effect, but it would never be as nice as being ina


    real forest.


    She settled onto some soft grass that turned out to be real.


    ¡°Grow lights,¡± she exined when she saw my eyebrows shoot up. ¡°And...possibly. You eat regr food already, and always


    have. So, while you would most certainly tolerate blood, it doesn¡¯t seem likely that you''ll ever require it absolutely for your


    nourishment. You might have a craving now and then. Perhaps if you get pregnant again¡±


    Charlotte pressed her lips together against a smile before she added, ¡°do you think you''ll have anotherContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    pup soon?


    ¡°| don¡¯t know. Three little ones has seemed enough for now, but | do think about it. Yes.¡±


    Unconsciously, | rubbed a hand over my t belly | tore into the steak kebab.


    ¡°Of all the supernaturals, vampires and wolves are the most sensual With having both bloodlines tunning through you, it should


    be no surprise that you''ve got those urges Charlotteughed softly, shaking her head as her eyes gleamed ¡°Dragons are a little


    less greedy when ites to sex Because they like to umte


    things, they tend toward, oh well


    Dental


    She paused to cover her mouth with her hand to hold back a flurry of giggles


    It had been a long time since 7d been able to giggle with a gritand


    ¡°You mean?¡± Tacked casually


    She nodded Greysones to tease and deny


    ¡°So...he denies you? Or you deny him?¡±


    ¡°| deny him,¡± she said quietly, eyes darting around to make sure we were alone. Tve never really told


    anyone


    ¨¦lse about this before. That he likes me to edge him, over and over, but not allow him toe. He like me to be in control, and |


    really like that, too.¡±


    | thought about being blindfolded and tied up by my mates, and heat rushed through me.


    my cheeks. ¡°I would hate it if | couldn¡¯t have an org asm!¡±


    ¡°Oh, me too,¡± Charlotte assured me. ¡°He doesn¡¯t expect me to go without, ever. In fact, he m have at least three or four each


    time...like pearls on a ne, he says. Or a stack of coins. The mo or gasms he gives me, the better. I¡¯m sure it sounds


    strange.


    ¡°No stranger than me having three mates who all make love to me at the same time, | told her.


    Charlotte had been chewing a bite of her kebab and now swallowed so she couldugh. To me, that sounds like two too many c


    ocks. I¡¯m very happy having only one mate. Not that I¡¯m judging you, of course.¡±


    ¡°| didn¡¯t feel like you were. Believe me, having three is a handful. Or a mouthful,¡± | added, and we both burst into peals of


    laughter. | had to hold my sides with it.


    Al both


    As it eased off, Charlotte sighed. ¡°Still, this dual nature that you and | both share does create a greater,


    oh, need, shall we say? It¡¯s something to navigate, certainly. If | had a different mate, one who didn¡¯t have these


    less than vani proclivities, I¡¯m not sure I''d be satisfied. With my Alpha...¡±


    She trailed off, her voice saddening. | waited, giving her time to speak. She did finally, a gleam of tears in


    her eyes.


    ¡°Let''s


    it''s just say that what he asked of me did not fulfill my desires. For a long, long time, | believed | would


    never be able to find love or sexual gratification with anyone. That | wasn¡¯t worthy of it. But with Greyson,


    everything fits perfectly into ce.¡±


    ¡°| never dreamed | would love three men who all loved me, but that¡¯s exactly how | feel about them, too.¡± |


    told her


    That¡¯s when the weird feeling washed over me and the world went wavy

 Chapter 339

    Lanie


    | came back to myself, not sure how much time had passed. It couldn¡¯t have been long, since Charlotte was tugging a chunk of


    steak from her kebab with her teeth and giving me a curious look.


    ¡°Lanie?¡± She spoke around the mouthful of meat.


    ¡°You all right?¡±


    ¡°Got a little woozy for a second or so. Felt like | was dreaming, but | knew | was awake.¡± My appetite had


    also faded quite a b


    Charlotte¡¯s frown eased. She sighed. ¡°Your grandfather must be trying to reach you.¡±


    ¡°Like through a mind link?¡± | blinked in surprise. ¡°I know we''re family, but that seems strange.¡±


    ¡°Not like the one you share with your mates. He¡¯s an Ancient, so he can....I¡¯m not sure how to describe it. Reach, Charlotte


    exined. ¡°Umm...maybe it¡¯s better described as touch? He can find people he wants tomunicate with and draw them to


    him. Usually, they simply think it¡¯s their own idea.¡±


    ¡°He did tell me he wanted us to meet.¡± | concentrated, trying to see if | felt that weird dreaming sensation again, but it was gone.


    ¡°Could there be something else going on?¡± Charlotte gave me a sideways look that at first | couldn¡¯t interpret


    ¡°You mean am | with pup, | confirmed, and she nodded. My heart pounded at the thought of it, but | couldn¡¯t tell if it was in a good


    or a bad way. ¡°I hope not. | think | hope not. There¡¯s so much going on right now, it¡¯s not the right time for another pup¡±


    Even as | said it aloud, | wondered if that was how | truly felt. One hand went protectively to my belly again, the way it had in the


    training room, only this time did | imagine the smallest of bulges there?


    Something that didn¡¯t have anything to do with the beef kebabs I''d been gobbling?


    ¡°I''m sorry | didn¡¯t mean to worry you¡± Charlotte leaned a little bit closer to draw in a long, slow breath.


    ¡°if it offers anyfort, | can¡¯t smell a pregnancy, not even if | open myself up to all of my strengths.


    flet out a self-conscious chuckle that faded quickly


    sighed How long did it take you to learn how to control all your gifts? | feel like I''ve barely scratched the Hartacs with what the


    Moon Goddess has given me How will | ever leam how to utilize all the vampire stuff,


    not


    You pa long hepan Youre meant to eat all in a day or two hot even in a month or year or


    ester; bool years. Lulus Ce


    last of and sped the one Radiated To scary if t


    khoal


    see what my grandfather wants.¡±


    ¡°Can you find your way? | could take you, but | have some errands to run.¡± Charlotte tossed her empty kebab stick into the


    garbage.


    | paused to focus my thoughts. ¡°I think | can find it.¡±


    We exchanged hugs and she went off in one direction while | took the other. As | was heading for the other end of the street


    where the elevators were, | spotted Xander¡¯s mother leaving one of the small shops. She carried a shopping bag in one arm and


    a travel mug in the other.


    ¡°Gabri!¡± | called, hurrying to catch up to her.


    She turned with a frown that didn¡¯t ease even when she saw it was me. If anything, it looked like she kind of frowned even


    harder. Itsted only a few seconds before she looked normal again.


    ¡°Lanie. What are you up to?¡±


    ¡°I''ve been training with Charlotte and Mchi, and I¡¯m on my way to meet up with him again. | guess he¡¯s got some things he


    wants to talk to me about one on one. What are you up to?¡±


    With a strainedugh, she held up her bag and the mug. ¡°Nothing much. With the children being cared for, there¡¯s not much for


    me to do other than pick up a few things. Oh, and have tea with a friend.


    What kind of things were you learning during your training?¡±


    Another wash of that woozy sort of dreamy feeling passed over me. This time, | managed to fend it off, but | could tell she¡¯d


    noticed something. ¡°I''ll tell you all about itter tonight, okay? Right now | really have to


    run.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| can smell the vampire in you.¡±


    | did a double-take, not sure I''d heard her correctly over the sounds from the crowd. Several others had


    Group out. gathered to wait for the elevators now opening and letting a group


    ¡°I''m sorry?¡± | asked her, but Gabri shrugged.


    ¡°You run on. | forgot | needed something from the book shop. See youter.¡±


    She left without another word, and | took a spot on the elevator. Just as the doors shut, | glimpsed her through them. She was


    staring at me with an intense look of concentration.


    What was that all about?


    919

 Chapter 340

    Lanie


    By the time | got to my grandfather¡¯s quarters, that weird wavy dreamy feeling hade and gone a few times. Charlotte had


    told me it was mostly likely caused by Mchi reaching for me, but the closer | got to his ce, the less convinced | was that the


    weirdness wasing from him.


    | paused before knocking on his door to send a few thoughts up to the Moon Goddess. | thanked her for the gifts she¡¯d granted


    me, and all the guidance she¡¯d given me so far. | waited for her warmth to surround me, and although it did, there was a


    coolness and a distance that hadn''t been there before.


    Frowning, | opened my eyes. Was it possible that the Moon Goddess did not approve of me focusing so much of my attention on


    these new vampire traits?


    She''d chosen me, or at least that¡¯s what everyone seemed to think. She was a goddess. Discovering | was a hybrid had been a


    shock to me, but it could not have been to her.


    Unfortunately, there just wasn¡¯t any way for me to know what a goddess intended.


    | still thanked her again without pushing for a more prominent response. | knocked on my grandfather¡¯s door and heard him call


    for me to enter. Even though I''d been in this ¡°vi¡± before, | was still pretty stunned to see it looking as though night had fallen.


    The windows that had shown ate afternoon summer sunshine glow before now gleamed with silver moonlight against a ck


    velvet sky pinpricked with stars. | couldn¡¯t actually look out of the windows to see if there was also a moon, and | bumped my


    head trying.


    Mchiughed. ¡°What are you doing? | told you before this is all an illusion.¡±


    ¡°| thought you only had the sunshine, since you can¡¯t enjoy it the way you''d like to.¡± | let him hug me and


    lead me to the living room to settle into thefy couch.


    ¡°The lights are timed to mimic the passing of day. | can leave them on all the time, if | choose, but | enjoy the night and the moon


    both. Since | don¡¯t always want to go all the way up to the surface in order to see the real sky, this is a lovely substitute. Don¡¯t


    you think?¡±


    ¡°| prefer the real thing.¡± | said without thinking about how snarky that might sound, especially to a vampire who needed all kinds


    of protection to walk in the sunlight ¡°Sorry¡±


    ¡°No need. You should be aware of your fortune, however. You¡¯re able to embrace the sun and the moon equally. It could have as


    easily gone differently for you¡± Mchi crossed one long leg over the other and steepled his fingers beneath his chin. ¡°So many


    hybrids perish at birth for reasons such as that.¡±


    ¡°Were you worried that | would?¡±


    ¡°It was a possibility,¡± he said.


    Would you have been upset?¡±


    deeply as any I¡¯ve ever felt. How could you even think such a thing?¡±


    | frowned, hating the idea that it was mere chance that had kept me alive this far. ¡°Were you making my head feel all funny


    earlier?¡±


    ¡°No. At least, not on purpose.¡± He inclined his head.


    Why? Who


    did it feel like?¡±


    ¡°Charlotte said it might be you reaching for me, that you could do that because you''re an Ancient. | feltBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    like | was dreaming. Like the world around me was very far away.¡± | shivered a little at the memory.


    Mchi frowned. ¡°It sounds like a Summoning, yes, but it wasn¡¯ting from me.¡±


    ¡°Who else would be doing it?¡±


    ¡°Nobody here in Brightsky,¡± he said. Mchi was still frowning.


    ¡°Are you worried about it? That it was a....


    Summoning? What is that, anyway?¡±


    ¡°I''m not at all worried about it, since | know it¡¯s impossible that anyone but me could have been trying such a thing. A Summoning


    is much likepelling someone, but it can be done from any distance, and it is not capable of making someone do anything but


    get to the Summoner. The skills are rted, but while many vampire-kind be quite proficient atpelling, there are very


    few who can Summon. In fact, | believe only


    Ancients can.¡±


    ¡°But it makes that dreamy feeling?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯d been Summoned, | think you''d know it, Mchi said with a chuckle. ¡°It creates a feeling of


    desperation in the recipient. Something impossible to deny, One who is Summoned will do anything to get to


    their Summoner. They will kill whatever stands in their way, if necessary.¡±


    ¡°| definitely didn¡¯t feel that much of an urge,¡± | told him with augh. ¡°But if it hadn¡¯t been a Summoning.


    what could it have been?¡±

 Chapter 341

    Zane


    Greyson wasn¡¯t taking me flying today. Instead, we''d agreed to meet on the training field to go through some of the special


    maneuvers Brightsky had put together. Xander and Mason were once more off on their own, doing some kind of bonding thing


    Mchi had set up for them with other leaders.


    Which left me, once again, on my own.


    ¡°You work hard.¡± Greyson sounded admiring as he pped me on my sweaty, bare shoulder. ¡°You almost beat me.¡±


    I


    I


    With a guffaw, | swatted away his hand and made like | was going to go after him. He backed up, alsoughing. | shook my


    head.


    ¡°You''re f ucking strong, man. But you could also shift and just, like, literally gobble me up in a single bite. | there ever really was a


    battle here or anywhere, why wouldn¡¯t you just do that?¡±


    Greyson tipped his chin toward a few of the others who''d been training with us and waited until they''d passed us before he


    answered.


    ¡°Bing the dragon isn¡¯t the same as it is for you wolves, or even other shifters. The difference in mass means my


    transformation takes such a significant amount of energy that | have to have a recovery period afterward. In ideal situations,


    once | am the dragon, | stay that way for a long time before returning to my


    human self.¡±


    | epted the bottle of water he handed me and drained half of it. My muscles ached, and | was grateful


    for it. It meant I''d worked myself hard.


    ¡°Before | met Charlotte, | spent most of my time as the dragon,¡± Greyson said.


    This surprised me. ¡°Get out.¡±


    Heughed. ¡°It¡¯s true. There aren¡¯t many of us left, and we¡¯ve be adept at hiding deep underground, so for the most part,


    we''re solitary. And well, we can hibernate for a long time, if necessary. But | can¡¯t live with Charlotte as the dragon Certainly can¡¯t


    make love to her in that form And, since | love her, I¡¯m happy to maintain this shape for the most part. Want to head for a beer?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Xander and Mason won''t be finished with Malichi¡¯s special training untilter this afternoon. | heard the slight edge in my


    voice even though | didn¡¯t mean for it to be there


    Greyson heard it, too | could tell by the way his expression shifted But he didn¡¯t say anything about it und we''d settled into the


    back booth in a pub, not on Eighty Seven, but a much smaller ce located on a residential wing. It was mostly empty, and | got


    the idea that was why he¡¯d brought me here.


    They always have something you can¡¯t share,¡± he said without preamble once the frosty points of ale had been put in front of us,


    along with a tter of ribo


    | rubbed the spot between my eyes and gave him a sheepish look ¡°Was that obvious?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. | just think you and | are more alike than it might seem on the surface. | think...rather, | feel, ¡®ane, that we both share a


    certain...¡± Greyson leaned across the table, lowering his voice. ¡°Propensity for


    service.¡±


    | took a pull off my beer while | tried to think about how to answer that. ¡°Not sure I¡¯m getting you.


    ¡°You are a Beta. Your role, your purpose, is to serve your Alpha. Right?¡±


    ¡°Well...yeah. | mean, he¡¯s my best friend. And my mate. They both are. But yes, | guess it¡¯s my job to keep my Alpha happy.


    Even-keeled. If he¡¯s upset or something, need to get him calmed down.¡± | wasn¡¯t sure why my heart pounded as | admitted this.


    It wasn¡¯t something to be embarrassed about, but | felt a heat rise in my face.


    ¡°You anticipate your Alpha¡¯s needs.


    ¡°| try to. Yeah.¡±


    He grinned. ¡°I anticipate my mistress¡¯s needs. I¡¯m happiest when I¡¯m serving Charlotte. Keeping her happy. Whatever that takes.¡±


    | was getting it now, and | grinned. ¡°Ah, you mean like a sex thing.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s more than that, too.¡± He dug into the ribs and chewed heartily.


    | was quiet for a minute, thinking. ¡°Xander is kind of kinky in the bedroom.¡±


    ¡°And you enjoy that.¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yeah. | guess | do.¡±


    Greyson shrugged. ¡°But it bothers you that he¡¯s got Mason at his side now. It shouldn¡¯t. His brother is never going to take your


    ce. Mason is also an Alpha, first of all. He''ll never be able to serve the way you can


    as their Beta.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t going to pretend it didn¡¯t bother me, not when Greyson clearly could see it. ¡°They hated each other, but the closer they


    get, the more | wonder if there will still be a ce for me.¡±


    ¡°There will be. I¡¯m sure of it. But Zane...there¡¯s something you should know about your Alphas.¡±

 Chapter 342

    Lanie


    ¡°Are you sure it wasn¡¯t low blood sugar or something ridiculous like that? You were working extremely hard this morning, and |


    know you wolves need all that protein and whatnot. Perhaps your body needs. nourishment. I''ll ring for something.¡± My


    grandfather shrugged as though he wasn¡¯t at all concerned,


    Well, if he wasn¡¯t, why should | get worked up about it?


    ¡°That might''ve been it,¡± | admitted. ¡°It passed, anyway. And I had some kebabs with Charlotte, so I¡¯m not really hungry right now.


    What did you want to talk to me about?¡±


    Mchi smiled. ¡°I wanted to spend some time getting to know you better. | know you have many questions, some of which


    Charlotte can answer but many she cannot.¡±


    ¡°| thought maybe you had more information for me about Ste,¡± | said, a little disappointed.


    I


    My grandfather¡¯s mouth turned down at the corners, and he shook his head. Sadly, | have nothing new to share. Trust me, as


    soon as | know something, Ill be certain to let you know at once. | might be very good at keeping secrets, but this is not one I¡¯m


    eager to maintain.¡±


    ¡°You said only Ancients could Summon. How do you be an Ancient, anyway?¡± | made myself morefortable on his


    couch.


    ¡°By


    ly getting old,¡± Mchi said with a snort ofughter


    ¡°How else?¡±


    | rolled my eyes. ¡°I guess | walked right into that one


    ¡°You have great strength, Lanie. In many if not most cases, mingling the bloodlines leads to each trait bing lessened


    Hybrids are special in their own ways, but rarely in all ways in your case, though, it seems to be the opposite Both your wolf and


    vampire selves are so strong, | wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you one day became an Ancient yourself Of course | may finally be long


    gone by then. Mchi looked pensive,


    What exactly does it take to Itrated off, wondering of my question was rude


    Mnts


    or


    one.


    to his Jung uger for off as added property it will destroy us in nude & ke trough the ear code was nie to yet close enough to


    use on


    Thatdy was tappana As you can images we protection of ours


    My sabes c


    Lage soldered for choral wow port to give theaters to


    Why Age whose at


    ¡°I''m not sure | want to live that long. My throat closed, making my voice h oa rse and scratchy. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave my mates


    behind.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes. Your mates.¡± He nodded solemnly. ¡°Your three mates. Do you fear that you¡¯ve had your allotment That once they are


    gone, you''ll have to spend the rest of your years alone?¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± | said sharply. ¡°That¡¯s pretty rude and presumptuous of you. No, I¡¯m not afraid of being alone because | used up my


    allotment. | love them all, and the thought of losing them breaks my heart.¡±


    Mchi made a soothing noise. ¡°Forgive me, granddaughter. Wolves are so much more fiercely emotiona than vampire-kind. We


    are more practical.


    Capable of great love, yes, but we mourn and move on.¡±


    crossed my arms over my chest. ¡°I don¡¯t want to mourn and move on. | don¡¯t even want to think about having to do that!¡±


    Heughed, annoying me. ¡°So don¡¯t think about it.¡±


    ¡°Let''s talk about something else.¡±


    ¡°Your training,¡± he said smoothly and immediately.


    ¡°It''s going so well. | must admit, | was a bit surprised at how your talents are manifesting, but I¡¯m quite


    I


    pleased and impressed. In fact, your talent forpelling is so uniquely strong, | would not be at all surprised if you did


    eventually gain the ability to Summon.¡±


    I''d been grouchy, but his words warmed me. ¡°The first time | was able topel someone was Orion, and it happened so fast,


    and | was so upset, | couldn¡¯t be really sure | was even doing it on purpose.¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯d beenpelling before that,¡± he told me.


    ¡°Probably since childhood.¡±


    | tried to remember any times when I''d made someone do something | wanted them to do. | frowned ¡°1. thought my hybridness


    didn¡¯t show up until | was of age My heat


    coughed lightly, very aware that not only was this my grandfather, Mchi was also, for all appearances, a white and handsome


    middle-aged man Not the sort of person I''d normally be talking to about my heat


    ¡°Ah, well, here it is What | ought to have been around for your whole life, what your mother should have


    been while to do for you and could not


    ¡°What''s that?¡± asked outtle rmed


    Matach¡¯s fangs lengthened sightly as he grinned

 Chapter 343

    Xander


    | was used to the boring parts of being the Alpha.


    Meetings, s hit like that. There was more to running a pack than leading its warriors into battle. Honestly, most of running a pack


    was more about delegating small tasks and s hit like annual reports than anything else.


    Mason hadn''t grown up with an Alpha dad, and although he had the Alpha powers, he¡¯d never had the chance yet to actually,


    like...lead,


    Man, was he eating it up.


    | got a real kick out of watching my brother on the other side of the big table, leaning in to offer his suggestions to the other


    Brightsky bigwigs Mchi had h oo ked us up with. Me? I¡¯d been doodling on the notepad we¡¯d each been given when we


    walked through the door. | didn¡¯t really care much about the requisitions and acquisitions and storehouse inventories and who


    was going to set up a new trust to pay for the infrastructure and h, h, h...


    Yeah, all important stuff, but | hadn¡¯t even been put on amittee for anything, and | wasn¡¯t used to being part of a...well. A


    team.


    Alphas ruled. Usually alone, with the support of a Luna and a Beta. It was hard enough for me to adjust to sharing my pack with


    another Alpha, and so far, all of that had only been an idea. Mason and | had never actually had to do it.


    ¡°Dude, this sh it is so boring.¡± | sent myint to Zane through the link, careful to keep my expression from giving away my


    real feelings.


    It took him a few minutes to reply. ¡°What''s going on?


    ¡°Boring Alpha s hit. You¡¯re lucky you''re out there getting to pound on some s hit.¡±


    ¡°Boring Alpha sh it is your job i thought you didn¡¯t really like that being an Alpha didn¡¯t mean much here? Sounds like they¡¯re


    trying to give you a chance to fit in¡±


    Zane sounded annoyed?


    What the f uck?


    ¡°Dude, you okay? | thought to him


    Unlike you. Im not bored right now in the middle of conversation.¡±


    Hip clipped response shocked me enough that | dug my pen into the paper hard enough to tear through to


    the nextyer Apson shot me a look, but | was d to see that nobody else seemed to notice


    | didn¡¯t think anything to Zane again, but it bothered the hell out of me that he¡¯d been so snippy | kind of


    felt like he was a little bothered when i told him Mchi was sending me and Mason into this meeting but


    ¡°Bro, get your sh it together,¡± Mason thought to me.


    ¡°They''re asking what you did in Constantine about hiring outside human contractors to handle work tha couldn¡¯t be done with our


    own kind.¡±


    Blinking, | sat up straight, suddenly aware that everyone at the table was staring. F uck. | looked like a re


    douche.


    ¡°Can''t say that we ever really ran into that problem,¡±


    | said quickly. ¡°My dad didn¡¯t think working with humans was in the best interests of the pack, and he never outsourced stuff.¡±


    I


    The second | said it, | felt like | wanted to bite back my words.


    Obviously, Orion had not really believed that working with humans was going topromise the integrity of the pack, since he


    was fully involved with that nasty hybrid testing facility staffed and run by humans.


    The slight awkward tension in the silence after | spoke told me that most of the people in the room knew that, too.


    But


    tme,¡± | put in hastily, ¡°If | had to


    get some work done that could only be done with a human team, | would...first, I¡¯d make sure to get references. You know. Make


    sure they were trustworthy working with wolves.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Jacques said with a smile. ¡°We absolutely would do the same.¡±


    The conversation picked back up, this time volleying ideas back and forth for an enve expansion.


    Mason reached out to me through the link. ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡±


    ¡°| think Zane¡¯s pi ssed off with us. Or at least me. | was linking with him, and he sounded mad.¡±


    ¡°Because we''re in a fancy leadership meeting without him, | bet.¡±


    ¡°| guess so.¡±


    My brother¡¯s lips quirked into a small smile he kept hidden from everyone else. ¡°Sounds like a great excuse to duck out of this


    thought you were gobbling it up like it was a big slice of beef¡± | thoughtughed.


    Mason gave his head a slight, subtle shake only i saw


    ¡°S hit, no Im so bored | want to stab out my eyes


    i


    And ears. Let''s go find our Beta and remind him how important he is to us.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 344

    Lanie


    ¡°Oh, no.¡± | groaned and let my head fall back against the couch cu shions. ¡°Do we have to?¡±


    ¡°Rx. I¡¯m not going to ask you to get into all the dirty details. But it¡¯s clear that you''ve inherited the...well, how do | put this


    delicately? The sexual side of things.¡± Mchi chortled.


    | looked at him. ¡°I thought it¡¯s because I¡¯m a hybrid.¡±


    ¡°You are correct. Two sensual natures binding together,bining to create an even greater desire. I¡¯ve been thinking quite a bit


    about it since your arrival, and-


    ¡°Gross!¡± | protested.


    Mchi sighed. ¡°Sometimes | forget how truly very, very young you still are.¡±


    This annoyed me. ¡°Sorry.¡±


    | really wasn¡¯t.


    ¡®As | was saying, or trying to say, | believe it is exactly this part of your nature that allowed your Moon Goddess to gift you with


    not one or even two mates, as had be the custom of your kind. Three mates at the same time is a genuinely rare instance


    for wolves. Even for us! And vampire-kind is notoriously, shall we say...¡±


    He paused as though trying to think of the right words. Mchi¡¯s expression brightened, and he snapped his fingers. ¡°Generous


    with our favors.¡±


    | had to giggle at that.


    ¡°Uh huh. Generous is one way of putting it. You mean you sleep around with a lot of people.¡± | thought back to what Braden had


    told me what felt like a million years ago.


    ¡°But rarely more than one at a time,¡± Mchi protested, sounding actually affronted. ¡°Yes, | had my wild times, but | myself


    practice serial monogamy and have done for well, literally decades¡±


    ¡°You have a rotation,¡± | said


    ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it¡± My grandfather leaned back in his seat to study me. It was clear he was trying 10 get at something, but


    what?


    ¡°It''s something you might need to think about La


    | could feel my untire expression twist into disdain shook my head. ¡°Not even a consideration Wolves


    ampires dont. | love my mates The Moon Goddess gave us the gift of each other. I¡¯m not


    mate for life, even


    just being greedy


    frin not talking about greed, but rather, nu


    My jaw dropped, and | could feel myself trying to sp is a fire. | squirmed around in my seat.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| think three mates is plenty.¡± | thought about what ind another bolt of heat flooded me. | was sure Mch


    sound like I¡¯m some kind of...| don¡¯t even know


    Sexual glutton!¡±


    ¡°Three might sate you for now, but might not alway to his mouth to nibble on a knuckle.


    It seemed out of character for my grandfather to be want to press him about it. | felt like maybe | didn¡¯t reall


    Finally, though, | couldn¡¯t hold back from asking. ¡°W


    ¡°Your energyes from within, and it is fed by the conjunction and harmony,each of you providing what th Moon Goddess. And,


    the additional dual nature you''ve g own gifts. A different sort of energy. One that-¡±


    Again, he cut himself off and looked like he wanted


    ¡°What''s so difficult about this, Mchi?¡± | demande.


    Spit it out!¡±


    The red sh from his eyes was intimidating, but | c him and sent out an involuntary push of Luna energy. | c


    physical, but in surprise.


    ¡°By all the g ods old and new,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°You are like nothing I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me what you have to say. Please.¡±


    ¡°Vampire energy consumes, Lanie. Wolf energy, the


    pushes outward. But vampire energy draws in. If it¡¯s not


    could end up draining them¡±


    ¡°Draining like their blood? | grimaced and shook


    ¡°Not their blood. Their very essence. All that makes you. If you¡¯re not careful, you could consume it all and le

 Chapter 345

    Zane


    I


    ¡°What should | know about my Alphas?¡±


    | demanded of Greyson at once, my heart pounding. My fingers curled into fists instinctively, but | forced myself to loosen them.


    ¡°Oh, hey, friend. No need for rm. | can see how protective you are of them, and that¡¯s wonderful. Exactly the kind of loyalty we


    need here at Brightsky. | was only going to tell you that your Alphas are being asked to join our lead council. That¡¯s all, nothing


    bad.¡±


    Greyson looked entirely distraught. ¡®I¡¯m sorry if | gave off the impression that there was something wrong. | should¡¯ve thought


    more carefully about my words, considering everything you all have been through before you got here. But that¡¯s what they''re


    doing today. The leadership council is going to officially request they join.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean we''ll be wee to stay at Brightsky...forever?¡± | took a long drink of my beer to cover up my overreaction.


    Greyson clearly felt bad, but | just felt dumb.


    I


    ¡°As long as you''d like, at least. | wanted to let you know because | know you were a bit put out that they got invited, and you


    weren''t a part of it. From what | understand, being Beta in a pack would normally give you a bit more input and involvement in


    how things are run. You''d be at your Alpha¡¯s side, not excluded like that.


    It''s not quite like that here. Here at Brightsky,though, you could also have the opportunity to move into a full leadership role


    yourself.¡±


    I


    | thought about this as | dug into some ribs.


    After I''d chewed and swallowed, | said, ¡°You mean be an Alpha? That''s impossible. Alphas are born. You don¡¯t just decide to


    be one.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have Alphas here, no matter how they''re born. Which means you definitely don¡¯t have to Beta anyone Greyson paused


    and gave me a long, serious look. ¡°Although to be honest, Zane, | don¡¯t get the feeling that you¡¯d willingly give up that role, no


    matter what other position was offered to you.¡±


    ¡°Your feeling is right. | can¡¯t even imagine it,to be honest. It¡¯s what | was born t


    to do. To be


    That¡¯s how wolves are | wiped my mouth with a paper napkin and pushed my te away ¡°But if we stay here, and my Alphas are


    no longer Alphas...¡±


    Talready told you that | didn¡¯t think your ce with them would change Unless you want it to,of course. And here, well, Zane If


    you want it to, it can You could be or do anything else you wanted to be?


    Did | want such a thing? t shook my head it feels disloyal even to talk about this.¡±


    ¡°You''ll have to forgive me Charlotte¡¯s always telling me that | need to be better with my interpersonal skills. | lived alone for so


    long) sometimes forget what it¡¯s like to navigate a new rtionship¡± Greyson shrugged ¡°Im sorry if | made you ufortable¡±


    1/2


    My words tasted a little bit like a lie, even though | thought | was telling the truth. ¡°You¡¯re not in at leadership role, are you?¡±


    ¡°Me? Go ds, no. | don¡¯t have any interest in that. Being a leader requires a lot of teamwork, and, like | said,


    | dragons are generally solitary folk. My loyalty and attention is to my mate. | don¡¯t really want to be in charge of anyone or


    anything else.¡±


    Disloyal or no, Greyson¡¯s words had stirred something up inside of me. Something | didn¡¯t really want to admit to. Didn¡¯t want to


    feel. | finished my beer. ¡®But you think | might?¡±


    ¡°You know, sometimes just because we feel like we were born to be something, that doesn¡¯t mean we have to stay in that ce


    for our entire lives. But | understand why you wouldn¡¯t want things to change. | understand how it feels to gain great personal


    satisfaction from giving someone elsefort, or pleasure, or somehow relieving them of a burden they might not even now they


    were carrying.¡±


    | nodded. ¡°That is what it¡¯s like. As Xander¡¯s Beta, and now Mason¡¯s, I¡¯m prepared to go to war with and for them, if | have to.


    Fight next to them. Give my life for them.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°And what about when you''re not in a war?¡±


    ¡°| want to make their lives easier,¡± | said without hesitation. ¡°Share everything with them. Run interference if needed. Stand at


    their sides, but also watch their backs.¡±


    it


    ou want to serve them.¡±


    ¡°You


    ¡°Yes,¡± | said. ¡°If that¡¯s the way you want to put it.


    ¡°| think that you could be a great leader, if given the chance,¡± Greyson said. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is..... think about.


    F uck.


    Now | couldn''t stop thinking about anything else.

 Chapter 346

    Lanie


    ¡°F uck that, and f uck you, Mchi! | would never do anything like that!¡± | bit the words out harsh tasted sour, like ashes.


    ¡°Not on purpose, perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Never,¡± | said again and got up to pace. | went to the fake windows, this time being careful not to bump my head as | looked out


    at


    I


    take night sky. | turned back to my grandfather.


    ¡°Seems like you''ve spent so much time living in an illusion you can¡¯t understand what it¡¯s like to feel something real.¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    By the Moon, how did he get up from his chair and across the room to stand in front of me no quicker than it took me to blink?


    For one single heartbeat? | sta ggered back against the ss with a little shriek of surprise.


    I''d pi ssed him off. Mchi¡¯s eyes rimmed with red like they were filling with blood, and his lips pulled back to show off the


    curving fangs so very different from wolf canines. Same location, far different shape. His teeth weren''t made for tearing and


    biting. His were as sharp as needles, poised for plunging through skin and into veins. Hollow-tipped like a snake¡¯s.


    | felt my muscles trying to stretch and ripple. | bared my own teeth, growing longer. My voice came out as a low, thick growl. Lily


    was ready to burst free.


    ¡°Back the f uck off me, old man.¡±


    ¡°You should show me more respect.¡± His voice hissed like a snake¡¯s, too.


    But, he backed off and turned his back on me to take a few steps away. Another person would¡¯ve been panting, breathing hard


    with emotion, but Mchi looked as cold as ice.


    ¡°Do vampires even breathe?¡± | muttered, moving away from him without running. | wasn¡¯t going to give him the satisfaction of


    knowing he really had scared me.


    I''d kind of scared myself.


    ¡°Of course we breathe. Our hearts beat. We are not, as the human legends would have it,corpses.¡± He turned back to face me,


    his eyes no longer b loody. His expression twisted a little into something smug. ¡°If we were the undead, we wouldn''t have a


    bloodline.


    You wouldn¡¯t be who you are. You''d be someone simply...


    ordinary¡±


    My fists clenched, and i realized my nails had started to be ws. Lily peered out through my eyes, and | soothed her,


    trying to get her to settle.


    ¡°That¡¯s a s itty thing to say,¡± | told him


    ¡°But it''s true.¡± He lifted his chin, and his gaze swept me. I¡¯m not going to pretend otherwise. Your vampire 1/2


    the responsibilities. Without knowing the consequences


    ¡°You think | don¡¯t deserve all three of them?¡±


    My fists clenched again.


    ¡°Of course not. Who is the one who told you to seek what your heart desired? To take what you want? Not to settle?¡± Mchi


    demanded.


    | stalked to the bar on the far side of the room and poured myself a generous slug of


    it wasn¡¯t tainted with blood. | gulped down half before turning back to him.


    My wolf was so close to the surface that | had to make a strong, conscious effort not to shift rig and go for his throat.


    Which would be madness. A certain suicide. In my mind, Lily snarled and paced again.


    Mchi¡¯s eyes narrowed. The red glow had abated, but he still looked pi ssed off. ¡°Get your beast under control. You need to be


    able to manage your emotions.¡±


    ¡°Manage...!¡± | slugged down the rest of the whiskey. ¡°I''d rather have these feelings than be cold-blooded and feel nothing!¡±


    ¡°| feel more than you could ever begin to imagine,¡± Mchi countered. ¡°You use me of not understanding what you feel for


    your mates? You deny you could ever harm them, yet your rage rises inside you at the slightest provocation. There are parts of


    you that cannot be tamed, granddaughter. The sooner you recognize that, the better.¡±


    ¡°You''re the one who told me not to settle, | finally sad in a low voice. ¡°And now | have three mates because | let my heart guide


    me to ept them all, even though it¡¯s not normal! | opened myself up to what the Moon Goddess gave us, and you''re telling me


    might kill them because of it?¡±


    ¡°I''m telling you what is possible, because of your unique nature. That one day, you might find yourself with needs greater than


    those they can fulfill. You might need to seek another lover, or more than one.¡± Mchi tossed up his hands. ¡°I¡¯m telling you that


    if you do not heed my warnings, Lanie, your love for those three men might be exactly what ends up destroying them.¡±

 Chapter 347

    Lanie


    Aharsh so b tore out of my aching throat. | wanted to sink to my knees and press my face to the floor. Instead, | squared my


    shoulders and took a deep breath. | forced away my burning tears.


    | wish you¡¯d never told me that,¡± | said. ¡°I wish | didn¡¯t know


    ¡°Better to understand what may happen so that it doesn¡¯t happen,¡± my grandfather said with cold gentleness. ¡°I loved your


    mother¡¯s mother with my entire being When | lost her | thought | would be alone for the rest of eternity. It was inconceivable to


    me that | would ever find a lover who did more than fulfill my body.


    | licked the taste of whiskey from my lips. ¡°But you did¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Mchi tilted his head and turned toward the vi¡¯s front door. ¡°Speak of sun, and she will shine. Braden,e in.¡±


    As if on cue, Braden peeked around the door.


    ¡°Am | interrupting?¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± Mchi repeated and held out his hand.


    Even though Braden and | had already talked about his rtionship with my grandfather, it still gave me a little cringe when they


    kissed.


    | know that made me kind of a jerk, but | couldn¡¯t really help it. Once upon a time, I¡¯d thought maybe Braden and | had the


    possibility of something..Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    My grandfather was right, | realized, horrified.


    | loved Xander, Zane, and Mason with everything inside of me, but even back then I''d been drawn to Braden, too. If the Moon


    Goddess had truly intended for me and my three mates to be together all along, even if | hadn¡¯t known that Mason was waiting


    for me,she did. How and why could she have let me want Braden,


    too?


    ¡°Hey, hey,¡± Braden said, soothing, as he took my arm.


    | hadn''t realized how hard | was shaking. He guided me to the couch and settled me on it,then poured me a fresh ss of water


    from the bar. He pressed it into my hand while Mchi watched with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°What did you say to her?¡± Braden demanded of my grandfather. ¡°Look at her, she¡¯s trembling.¡±


    ¡°You''re right, | muttered, meeting Mchi¡¯s gaze. ¡°I mean, | don¡¯t want it to happen, but | understand.... feel that it could. Do |


    have a choice? Could | stop it?¡±


    ¡°Keep training,¡± he said. ¡°And you''ll find out.¡±


    It was not the answer | was hoping for, but it was better than a definite no.


    Mchi moved nat in Aradan to nut an arm around his waleteirer Ararian Innn an n and frunht mu


    desire for him for way too long. | was foolish to do so!


    I


    ¡°He brok


    my heart. More than once,¡± Braden said and nudged Mchi with his hip. ¡°Every time | thought maybe, just maybe he might be


    into me, he¡¯d dump me again.¡±


    ¡°You said you weren¡¯t together romantically until after thest time we saw each other,¡± | said.


    Braden¡¯s eyebrows went up. ¡°Well...yeah.


    Romantically, like this. | didn¡¯t mean we hadn¡¯t ever f ucked. When a vampire sires someone, it¡¯s usually because they''re lovers.


    But it wasn¡¯t until more recently that this old f uck actually decided he was in love with me.¡±


    Mchi rolled his eyes. ¡°Impertinent. I''ll take care of youter.¡±


    | held up a hand. ¡°Please, no flirting in front of me.¡±


    Athought struck me. ¡°You sired Braden. Will | be able to sire someone?¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t see why not.¡± My grandfather let go of Braden and went back to his chair. Braden followed to sit in the one next to his.


    Is it always because you''re lo


    e you''re lovers?¡±


    Braden frowned. ¡°What''s wrong?¡±


    ¡°You were saying how my vampire energy could end up draining them. Would | be able to sire my mates, turning them into


    vampires?¡±


    The words shot out of me, rattling like marbles in a jar. My entire body was shaking. | felt my expression turn into a horrified


    mask. ¡°What would it do to them if | made my wolf mates into vampires? What if | didn¡¯t mean to...but it just happened?¡±


    ¡°| have no idea,¡± Mchi said quietly. ¡°But you should be very, very careful.¡±


    | put my head in my hands.


    ¡°You can¡¯t identally sire anyone. It has to be done with consent, you see,¡± Mchi said. ¡°You cannot sire someone who does


    not concede.¡±


    ¡°But | couldpel them to consent,¡± | said, lifting my head to stare at them both. ¡°Couldn''t I?¡±


    They shared a look Braden frowned My grandfather looked thoughiful.


    ¡°You''d have to be able topel someone to gopletely against every instinct for self preservation,


    Even their morals. You¡¯d have to be able topel someone to counter their own soul, Mchi said finally. ¡°1 think we should


    find out exactly what you¡¯re capable of

 Chapter 348

    Xander


    Lanie had called us all to the training grounds without much of an exnation, but once let it all out. She needed to test her


    ability topel people.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Of course | wanted to be there. If Lanie was going to be exploring any new range of absolutely going to be with her to make sure


    nothing went wrong.


    powers,


    ¡°It''s going to be fine, love,¡± she said, hanging back from the others for a minute. ¡°I promise you. My grandfather would never risk


    me, and Charlotte would never risk her mate.¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t they have you test this on me?¡± | grumbled back at her.


    She slipped her hand into mine and leaned against me. ¡°Because I''ve already shown that | have the ability topel you. We


    already have a connection.


    My mind shot back to the night we''d met the dealer who was giving us the wolvesbane we needed to break the agreement


    between Zane and Rhiannon. That felt like a lifetime ago. She¡¯d had topel me that night to get me to back off, but I''d also


    agreed to do it once | felt her strength.


    ¡°We need to find out if | can trulypel someone against their will, when they¡¯re actively and strongly resisting¡± She paused,


    her brow creased with concern. ¡°It seemed like | could do it with Orion, but everything was happening so fast, and then he was


    killed, so...it¡¯s really hard to say. | need to be able to practice and test my limits, in a safe environment


    Which this is¡±


    | grumbled again. Of course i trusted her, but that wouldn''t stop me from also wanting to protect her.


    ¡°She will be fine with us, you know Mchi greeted Lanie with a kiss to each cheek.


    ouldn¡¯t tell if the vampire had been able to read my mind, or if my thoughts were just that clear all over my face. ¡°Then she''ll be


    fine with me here watching¡±


    Mchis cold gaze flicked past us to the doorway His mouth thinned into a smile. Apparently, your ulher mates feel the hate way


    it will be quite the party


    nated but Lakeughed My mates are a to be her, grandfather im not scared or ashamed about them being any part of


    what for learning


    Fruh beband me. Zan hang arm around my derrything coul


    Zaneughed er der le men detras to the other of the ¡°hey


    SRM


    Min. Raut ly the dragon wher


    ¡°Chill, bro. Mason thought to me in a private link.


    ¡°He¡¯s allowed to have other friends.¡±


    | rolled my eyes as | turned to my brother and thought in reply, ¡°Don¡¯t act like I¡¯m some kind of control


    freak.


    Mason didn¡¯t reply with words, only raised eyebrows and a smug grin. | frowned, but backed off from calling after Zane as he


    went to greet the dragon shifter kept close to Lanie, though.


    ¡°Greyson.¡± Mchi said this smoothly, waving him over. ¡°Thank you foring.¡±


    ¡°Charlotte said there was something special she needed me for?¡± Greyson gave us all a curious look.


    ¡°You should go over there and wait for her,¡± Lanie said calmly without a hint of tension in her voice. She pointed to a bench on


    the other side of the room.


    Greyson gave her a strange look. ¡°Sure. Okay.¡±


    We watched him go. When he was out of earshot, Mchi said quietly, ¡°That was a good start. But you''re too timid, Lanie. You


    have topel him to do something he absolutely otherwise would not wish to do.¡±


    this.


    | could sense her nervousness and the tension in her muscles. ¡°Hey. Maybe this isn¡¯t the right time for


    Does she have to do it right now? Maybe she could-


    ¡°Xander, she interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m fine. | promise. It''s just weird. I¡¯m just getting used to it.¡±


    Mason was on my side, though. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have to do this at all. Ever. Just because you think she


    needs to be able to do some weird vamp s hit doesn¡¯t mean she actually has to.¡±


    Mchi rolled his eyes and shook his head. ¡°Mason, your reluctance is understandable, and | can sense your great love and


    concern for my granddaughter.


    But you need to back away with that attitude.¡±


    Mason took a step back, then another. He scowled.


    ¡°Get the f uck out of my head!¡±


    ¡°See? Mchi turned to Lanie with a small grin ¡®It can be as subtle as that Now you go on. Give it a try!


    212

 Chapter 349

    Mason


    ¡°Greyson, you should kiss Charlotte to show her how happy you are to see her, Lanie called out in a clear voice that rang


    through the big space.


    Mchiughed softly under his breath. ¡°He¡¯d already want to do that. She must try something a little less obvious.


    ¡°I''m not sure | like this,¡± | thought to my brother and our Beta. ¡°What if something goes wrong? It doesn¡¯t feel right for her to be


    compelling people. Especially since, apparently, that dude doesn¡¯t know he¡¯s part of an experiment.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you''re not just upset because she¡¯s our Luna and you think only Alphas should be able to use their powers to


    compel? She¡¯s already shown that she¡¯s different. More than you might expect her to be,¡±


    Zane replied calmly.


    ¡°What the f uck does that have to do with anything?¡±


    Xander thought, sounding surprised and a little ticked off. ¡®What¡¯s up with the attitudetely?¡±


    Lanie shot a narrow-eyed nce at her grandfather.


    She turned her attention back to the other side of the room. ¡°Greyson, take a walk around the room to grab me a water, would


    you?¡±


    The dragon shifter looked up, a faint look of surprise on his face, but he nodded and did so. He took the long way around, a route


    that made no sense...unless Lanie waspelling him.


    ¡°Never mind,¡± Zane thought to Xander. ¡°Obviously, | wouldn¡¯t have any idea what it¡¯s like to be able to


    compel someone, since I¡¯m just a Beta.¡±


    ¡°You two, work your shi t out at home. This feels wrong,¡± | insisted through the link. ¡°Pay attention to what''s going on in here. |


    have a bad feeling that it could go wrong at any minute. We have to be ready to get


    Lanie the f uck out of here.¡±


    | could see Xander and Zane sharing a look, but only Xander nodded in my direction. Zane was staring at the dragon shifter with


    an intent expression | couldn¡¯t get a read on his feelings, but | also couldn''t tell if it


    was because he was shielding, or | was too focused on Lanie¡¯s conversation with Greyson.


    She took the bottle of water he handed her and looked at it. ¡°Open it for me¡±


    This definitely didn¡¯t sound like our Luna Cold


    Fierce She didn¡¯t even say ¡°please¡± It was clear she was giving him amand, not a request, and it was f ucking weird to


    watch him simply obey


    Greyson opened the bottle, casting a nce over his shoulder at Charlotte, who''d left the other side of the


    room to join us. | could tell something wasn¡¯t sitting right with Greyson, but he must not have been feeling too


    She didn¡¯t say ¡°thank-you¡± and every rm bell started ringing in my head. She waspelling him


    She had to be.


    ¡°It''s too hard to tell if she¡¯spelling him or he¡¯s justpliant. Being nice and polite, Xanderined in our heads.


    ¡°He is being nice. He¡¯s like that. He enjoys service,¡±


    Zane told us both through the link. ¡°It could be possible he¡¯s just doing what she asks because of that.


    It doesn¡¯t mean that she¡¯s forcing him to do it.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s more than being polite. | feel it. Can¡¯t you?¡± | thought to them both.


    There was a heavy sensation in the air. Kind of an electrical hum or buzz. It tingled on the back of my neck and made the hairs


    rise. Bumps pric kled on my arms.


    F uck, even my c ock was kind of getting hard from it, even though | wasn¡¯t at all aroused.


    Xander and Zane were shifting their weight from foot to foot. Restless. It was happening to them, too.


    ¡°Stop her,¡± | demanded of Mchi, who just shrugged. ¡°If you won''t, | will.¡±


    I


    When | took a step forward, the Ancient raised a hand and crooked his fingers at me. F uck. | was stuck in ce, unable to


    move. | tried to call out to Lanie, but | was as m uffled as if he¡¯d stuffed a gag in my mouth.


    Xander and Zane looked as stuck as was.


    ¡°You need to let your Luna find her own way, Mchi murmured. ¡°You can fight me. Perhaps even get free, though it will cause


    you agonies you won''t soon recover from. But more than that...¡±


    Lanie looked over at the three of us. Her eyes were zing with a light unlike any I¡¯d ever seen from her before.


    ¡°She will not forgive your interference,¡± Mchi finished.


    | stopped fighting him.


    All | could do was watch the woman | loved doing something | couldn¡¯t believe she was capable of.


    ¡°Greyson Tell me what dragons love more than treasure.¡± Lanie¡¯s voice was calm andmanding.


    ¡°Fire, Greyson said in a strange monotone.


    Dragons love fire.¡±

 Chapter 350

    Gabri


    Lenora¡¯s soft words chimed in my mind like bells as | made my way back to our quarters


    She''d been so apologetic, so concerned | would be upset, but the truth was, I¡¯d had som before we came to Brightsky. And


    wasn''t it always better to confront your concerns?


    I''d spent the morning in themunal library, trying to research, but I''d been able to find very little should have met with Lenora


    again today to ask more questions.


    Maybe if I''d listened to my wolf''s unease about my husband and his long, unexined absences, I¡¯d have learned long ago that


    Orion had been unfaithful. So much might have been different, if only I''d trusted myself instead of shoving any fears deep down.


    It wouldn¡¯t have to be an angry confrontation or anything like that. | liked Lanie and always had, and it was also clear that she


    was a much better mate for my son than Alice could ever have been.


    But what if Lanie hadpelled Xander into loving her?


    What if, what if, what if.


    | hurried along the corridors without paying much attention to where | was going, heading toward the children¡¯s wing instead of


    home. The urge to get back to my babies was so strong it felt like an invisible fist. yanking me step by step back along the


    hallways.


    Those little ones needed my protection. | could feel it in every fiber of my being.


    I''d texted my son about half an hour ago, but so far, Xander hadn¡¯t answered me. Visions filled my head of him bl oody, injured...


    or worse. Yes, | knew it was more likely he was in bed with his mates, but at the same time, my mother¡¯s instinct had kicked in.


    Moon Goddess, | prayed. Guide me. Give me strength.


    Help me sift out the dangers.


    It was true that | no longer felt her inside me as strongly as | had before Lanie became the Luna, but the Goddess would never


    completely leave me. No matter how | strained now, though, | couldn¡¯t feel her presence.


    My wolf rose, pacing and growling under her breath


    She, too, was fiercely protective of the pups and Xander. She''d always been a little standoffish with about


    Lanie¡¯s wolf, Lily, but I''d always thought it was simply because they hadn¡¯t had much of a chance to run together. There''d always


    been a tiny bit of Luna rivalry, even though | had willingly abdicated my role when my


    son was mated.


    Gabri! Hellca


    1 barely stopped moving when a voice called to me. It took me a few seconds to recognize it It belonged to Meliria


    Immediately, | tossed up a thought-shield. I''d begun learning to hide my thoughts behind a wall from Orion, long ago, without


    even realizing why. A sadness crept into me that | also hid behind the wall and the wide smile | put on my face as | turned to her.


    ¡°I''m on my way to pick up the children,¡¯ | exined, keeping my voice light and calm.


    Melina looked surprised. ¡°Oh, but it¡¯s so early! The school usually doesn¡¯t release them until closer to the dinner break. | thought


    you and | might spend some time getting to know one another.¡±


    ¡°| miss them. | forced augh, trying to sound like a silly old woman. ¡°I spent so much time with them when they were tiny. I¡¯ve


    been the twins¡¯ primary caregiver since they were born.¡±


    ¡°And little Ste, our Celestial wonder, Melina murmured, tilting her head.


    I


    ¡°Yes. Lanie¡¯s child.¡± Ste was special because her mother was, and | loved that little girl fiercely because she was my blood...


    but there was no denying that | also feared what might be on the h ori zon for all of us because of her.


    4


    Melina¡¯s eyes narrowed, and | strengthened my shield.


    ¡°Perhaps we could have tea another time?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. Excuse me.¡± Without looking back, and without hurrying, | walked away with her gaze burning holes in my back.


    hallway then


    | rounded a corner and took another hallway, then a flight of stairs. | cursed under my breath. | was lost.


    Somehow, I''d gotten turned around in my haste to get away from Melina, and | was in a part of the enve I''d never been in


    before.


    ¡°I smell her,¡± my wolf whispered in my mind.


    Ahead of me at the far end of the corridor was a big set of double doors made of carved wood. From


    behind them, raised voices that became shouts.


    My heart pounded as | let my wolf senses guide me toward the scent of my son and his mate. Mates. All of them were behind


    those doors. Their scents were oveid with something


    stronger, Acrid Sweat and


    aggression


    Fear? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Fury


    | ran toward the doors and the sound of shouting

 Chapter 351

    Zane


    ¡°Grey! No, you can¡¯t!¡± The shout tore out of me before | could think twice. | was already running toward him, both hands out to


    grab the torch away before he could actually set fire to Charlotte.


    She had her mouth open wide, but it looked like she was too shocked even to scream. | knew that Lanie was making him do it,


    but | was still pretty da mned shocked, myself. | dove at him just before he touched the torch to his mate¡¯s sleeve.


    In the same moment, Mchi intoned in a strong, cold tone, ¡°Stop!¡±


    Immediately, Greyson backed away. | thanked the Goddess he hadn¡¯t set his mate ame. | couldn¡¯t stop my forward motion, so


    | ended up grabbing the torch out of his hand. | couldn''t figure out how to extinguish it, but | kept it held far away from my body. |


    kept my eye on Greyson, not sure if he was going to try anything


    else.


    Greyson turned to Mchi. ¡°Stop what?¡±


    Charlotte let out a strangled, sobbing noise, and | heard another sound, too. It sounded like a gasp, but when I turned to see who


    else might be watching all of this y out, | only saw the empty doorway. If someone was watching us from there, they were long


    gone.


    Lanie put her arm around Charlotte¡¯s shoulders. Her expression was twisted and stricken. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡±


    But she didn¡¯t sound sorry. Not exactly. She sounded gleeful and proud.


    Mason and Xander had their heads together, muttering. | joined them, still holding the torch. | wasn¡¯t sure what the f uck to do


    with it, but | knew | didn¡¯t want it anywhere near Greyson just in case.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Careful with that,¡± Xander bit out.


    ¡°You''re not afraid she''ll be able to make me try to hurt you with it, are you?¡± | shot at him through our mind link. | definitely didn¡¯t


    want Lanie to hear me say it, but | also wasn¡¯t sure if my shield was strong enough to keep her out.


    She was stillforting Charlotte and didn¡¯t even toss a nce our way, so | hoped it was okay. My heart had been pounding,


    but now it started to slow to its normal rhythm.


    Mason looked like he wanted to punch a hole straight through something ¡°What the f uck was that? He was actually going to light


    her on fire.¡±


    It was hard to pulse out some Beta energy for him with my own emotions still in an uproar, but | did my best. | concentrated,


    sending some out to Xander as well. The two Alphas were visibly upset, looking like they wanted to pace or shift into their


    wolves.


    ¡°Mchi wanted Lanie topel someone to do something they would never willingly do. | guess this proves she can,¡± Xander


    replied with an equally grim expression


    try, but it¡¯s not like we didn¡¯t already know that she¡¯s powerful.¡±


    ¡°Powerful is one thing,¡± Xander thought. ¡°But she was willing to let her friend get hurt as part of her test.¡±


    We all turned to look at our mate and Charlotte. The two women were...ughing? And hugging. Charlotte reached out her hand


    to bring Greyson into the hug. He looked as confused as | felt.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like she¡¯s upset about it,¡± | said aloud, but under my breath.


    Mchi had moved closer to us without any of us three noticing. F ucking vamps and their sneak mode.


    Mason and Xander didn¡¯t jump, but | could tell they were as surprised by his sudden appearance as | was.


    ¡°My granddaughter did well, don¡¯t you think?¡± Mchi said. He was practically preening.


    Xander scowled. ¡°This is b ullsh it, Mchi. | don¡¯t want my mate-¡±


    ¡°Our mate,¡± Mason cut in.


    Xander gave his brother a narrow-eyed red but nodded. ¡°We don¡¯t want her actively hurting people.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t hurt anyone,¡± Mchi pointed out. Like he didn¡¯t give two s hits about what Xander or Mason wanted. ¡°If you¡¯re


    worried about her capacity to cause harm, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s really out of your hands. Wouldn¡¯t you rather she be able to control her


    talents than be controlled by them?¡±


    | knew | would, but | was still dealing with the shock of seeing the man I''d thought was bing my friend about to set his mate


    on fire. Even knowing he wasn¡¯t doing it out of his own desire didn¡¯t do much to erase the memory of his nk face holding up


    that torch,


    If Lanie could make someone almost kill the person they loved beyond any other, what could she make someone do to a person


    they didn¡¯t care about at all?

 Chapter 352

    Mason


    Greyson stared down at his hands, holding them out in front of him like they belonged to someone else. He turned them over


    and over before looking to Zane, who still held the torch. When he crossed to us, | instinctively stepped between the Beta and


    the dragon shifter. Who knew what the f uck he was going to do?


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Greyson said, like he knew what | was thinking. ¡°Thank you, Zane, for stepping in. If Mchi hadn¡¯t stopped me, I¡¯m sure


    you would have.¡±


    Charlotte came up behind Greyson and wrapped her arms around his waist with a gleeful squeal. ¡°My love, you almost burned


    me to cinders!¡±


    Greyson frowned and turned to pull her against his chest. ¡°This is not something | want to celebrate.¡±


    ¡°Not about you,¡± she said with a shake of her head. ¡°It¡¯s about Lanie. She was able topel you. | know. you would never, not


    in a million moons, ever deliberately hurt me that way. The fact she was able to get you to obey is huge.¡±


    | shared a look with the dragon shifter. He didn¡¯t seem happy about Lanie¡¯s obvious power, even if his mate was almost dancing


    with joy. Mchi, too, had a broad grin spreading across his face. He had pulled. Lanie into a half hug as he leaned to whisper in


    her ear. Lanie was radiating with obvious pleasure at her aplishment.


    When | looked at Xander and Zane, though, | was d to see that my brother and our Beta seemed like they felt the way |


    did....which was not at all sure we liked our mate having the capacity topel people into murder.


    For one minute, | considered telling them all | wanted to leave the enve. We could pack our sh it and gone from here in a few


    hours. Take our pups, our mate and just get the f uck out of Dodge. The three of us could protect our family, and if we couldn''t,


    what the hell good were we, anyway?


    Zane must have sensed my wild train of thoughts, because he sent out another pulse of calming energy


    let it flow through me, even though | really wanted to fight it. He was doing his job.


    | locked eyes with my brother and opened the mind link. ¡°This is f u cked up, right? Like, | get that we should all be happy she¡¯s


    got this power, but...¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m with you, brother. | love our mate, and I¡¯m super proud of her, but this feels like too much.¡±


    ¡°Same,¡± Zane thought.


    Lanie pulled away from Mchi with a frown and stared straight at me.


    Ah, sh it. She¡¯d heard us.


    Lanie


    [e)


    J


    stay private. | could overhear some of their words and sense the emotions behind them, but | hadn¡¯t caught all


    of it.


    They weren''t happy, that much | could tell.


    And ...didn¡¯t...care?


    My grandfather snaked an arm around my shoulders again, pulling me close again. ¡°Pay them no mind. They''ll get used to it,


    even if it does bruise their egos. You were marvelous. Don¡¯t let anyone make you feel


    otherwise.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t going to. | wasn¡¯t sure | even could. I¡¯d never felt like this before, such a strangebination of


    exhration and exhaustion.


    ¡°| feel like | could literally climb up those walls right now, but I¡¯m also so drained | could fall over and


    sleep for a hundred years,¡± | told my grandfather with a small grin. ¡°Is that normal?¡±


    Mchi waved a hand. ¡°What¡¯s normal? Nobody¡¯s normal. You''ll have to learn what is ¡®normal¡¯ for you,


    and it won''t be the same as for anyone else. You''re a hybrid, Lanie. You are unique unto yourself. | can tell you


    that it¡¯smon to feel both tired and excited after a sessfulpelling. Does that help?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± | told him, because it did. ¡°I guess | just have to ept the fact that I¡¯m not normal. | won¡¯t have a


    normal life.¡±


    My words had a solemn tinge to them as | sought out the sight of my mates. Three of them. That wasn¡¯t


    normal. My beloved and precious Ste, a Celestial. That wasn¡¯t normal, either.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    | could spend my time moaning about it and wishing for things that were never going to happen, or |


    could fully embrace everything that made me who | was.


    Different. Strong. Special.


    ¡°So, what do | do about this?¡± | asked my grandfather.


    He gave me a knowing grin. ¡°Full vampires would consume blood and have a rousing f uck.¡±


    | still wasn¡¯t jazzed about the blood-drinking thing, and talking about sex with my grandfather felt weird,


    too. ¡°How about a raw steak and some time alone w


    my mates. Would that do the trick?¡±


    Mchi looked at the three of them and gave me another grin. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go find out?¡±


    212

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    Lanie


    ¡°I''m starving!¡± | dered as | approached my mates. My hunger was for more than food, and | knew they


    | could smell it on me. It aroused them, based on how their eyes all red when they looked at me.


    They might not like what I''d done, that was clear, but they liked who | was. Like my grandfather said, they¡¯d have to get over their


    egos. For now, | crooked my finger at them.


    ¡°C''mon. Let¡¯s go stuff our faces with as much rare steak as we can fit in our mouths. And then...¡± | added, ¡°we can see what else


    we can all get into our mouths.¡±


    Zane, Goddess bless him, snorted withughter. Xander, too, seemed to give in to my joke. | felt the pulse of his arousal


    warming me, and mine joined it.


    Mason, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t smiling at all. In fact, his frown deepened. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. | think we should all just go back to


    our quarters. Talk about what just happened.¡±


    ¡°I''m not going anywhere until | have something to eat.¡± | didn¡¯t mean to snap, but | was actually getting


    | | hangry. My stomach rumbled, feeling as empty as if I¡¯d never eaten a meal in my life. ¡°I want food, and then want to f uck.¡±


    ¡°Lanie,¡± Xander said sharply.


    Tension crept through me at his tone. If he thought he was going to boss me around, too, he had another thinking. They all


    did. But even though my fists tried to clench, | uncurled my fingers and kept my voice nice and calm. | couldn¡¯t quite manage


    sweet, but they were lucky | wasn¡¯t roaring with irritation.


    ¡°My loves, let''s go have a meal together. And then we''ll go back to our quarters and make love and tel about everything. It¡¯s all


    going to be okay.¡± | watched Mason¡¯s express twist as he tried not to spout ou anger. | forced myself to soften even more. |


    guess if I''d been in their situation, | might be asking ¡°what f uck,¡± too.


    But | wouldn¡¯t be trying to get them to make themselves smaller to please me, | thought abruptly. | wouldn¡¯t be jealous of their


    strength.


    I''d be proud.


    bad. Greyson wasn¡¯t mad at me or Charlotte, and he¡¯d been the one to actually almost hurt her. If he could get


    over it, so could my three mates. After all, it wasn¡¯t like I''d made any of them do somethingContent ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Mason


    ¡°I''m not hungry,¡± | told Lanie. ¡°But if you want to eat, I''ll join you. We all will.¡±


    ¡°I could eat,¡± Xander added.


    L


    Through the link he said to me, ¡°We have to stay with her. If this is what she wants, Mason...¡±


    | appreciated what my Beta was trying to do for me, but it wasn¡¯t working. I¡¯d just watched my Luna behaving in a way that


    seemed totally at odds with who I''d believed her to be. | wasn¡¯t sure what to think about


    it, only that it made me uneasy.


    She still had that light in her gaze, but it was fading. She was forcing herself not to frown, and | wished


    she¡¯d just be open about her anger with me. If she let it out, I¡¯d be able to match it. | didn¡¯t want to fight with her, but | didn¡¯t want


    her pretending everything was just fine and f ucking dandy, either.


    The other two mates weren''t thrilled, but they also seemed okay with our Luna pushing our concerns to


    the side. Probably because she was pushing out waves of lust. My c ock was half-rigid despite my concerns.


    She honed in on that. Lanie slipped her arm through mine and nudged my shoulder with her nose. Her fingers gripped and


    released my bicep, and | was reminded of how it felt when she wed my back while | was


    f ucking her. Had she done that? Put that image in my head?


    Was she trying topel me?


    The fact | couldn¡¯t be sure was almost worse than the idea that she might be willing to use mind control


    on me. For what? A f ucking steak dinner?


    ¡°Mason,¡± she murmured. ¡°I understand that you¡¯re upset. But | really do need to eat. And | really do want


    you in bed. You don¡¯t have to like what | did, but it has affected me physically, and | need to take care of my


    body.¡±


    Gruffly, | kissed the top of her head but didn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡°You want to help me take care of my body, don¡¯t you?¡± she teased lightly, and | knew that this was one


    battle, at least, that I¡¯d lost.


    ¡°Fine,¡± | said sharply. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat. And then....I¡¯m going to f uck you until you can¡¯t see straight.¡±


    212

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    Lanie


    Juggling three mates, each with their individual personalities, needs, desires, fears, and insecurities had never felt more difficult


    than it did as we all found seats at a table in the cafe. | could feel each of my mates pushing their feelings onto me, whether or


    not they were doing it on purpose. My mind felt like it was sucking. in every single scrap of emotion each of them was feeling, but


    the more | took in, the better | felt.


    More energized. Focused. Hungry, for food and for sex.


    | felt really, really dam ned good.


    When I''d devoured my tter of thick bs of rare beef, barely seared on each side, | polished off what


    Mason couldn''t eat. Zane and Xander had each left a few bites clinging to the bones of their ribeyes, and |


    gnawed them clean.


    Finally, | sat back at the table with a loud sigh. | realized they were all staring at me with looks of wonder. They¡¯d probably never


    seen me eat that much before, but it had made all the difference.


    With my belly sated, | was raring to feed my other appetite.


    | didn¡¯t intend to send out a pulsing wave of my lust, but | also didn¡¯t try to pull it back. It rushed out of


    me, golden sparkles swirling around my hands as | lifted them. They sca ttered and fell to cover my mates,


    light as falling snow.


    ¡°Take me to bed,¡± | growled as my wolf shone from my gaze,


    I''m not sure how we made it from the cafe back to our rooms. Only that we were all over each other.


    Hands, mouths, touching, kissing, feeling, stroking. I''d have f ucked them all in the elevator if the door hadn''t


    opened on our floor.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I''d been hungry before, but now | was ravenous.


    Xander kicked open the door to our quarters as Zane pulled me through and into his arms. He spun me as


    we kissed. It was like a dance, something out of a perfectly choreographed ballet. | left Zane¡¯s mouth and


    twirled slowly into Mason¡¯s embrace. His kiss was harder his teeth nipping at my tongue.


    We tumbled across the living area and into our bedroom. One of them mmed the door behind us.


    Another locked it. | moved among the three of them, kiss to kiss to kiss, until we were all on the bed.


    They undressed me, tearing at my clothes, and | didn¡¯t care if they were ruined. We''d all been passionate before, but this time...


    something had risen inside me that called out to each of my three mates individually and also collectively. Something in my heart


    and soul was finding exactly what sent them to the brink with unbridled lust, pushing them to the point where their thoughts all


    became a jumbled stream of consciousness focused on me.


    My body. Touching me. Pleasing me.


    And | drank them all in.


    Their powerful arousal fueled me even more. | raked my nails down Zane¡¯s back as he knelt over me, his mouthtching onto my


    nipple and sending desire pulsating through me. Xander¡¯s c ck nudged my mouth as | turned my face toward him, and | opened


    eagerly to take him into my wet warmth. His groan of pleasure rasped, and his c ock throbbed on my tongue.


    When Mason¡¯s tongue stroked along my folds to finally center on my cl it, | cried out with my mouth full of Xander¡¯s erection. My


    hips bucked Mason slid a finger inside me to stroke upward, finding a secret, internal spot that threatened to drive me over the


    edge of no return.


    | was already wild for them, and this was almost too much.


    But, f uck, it was amazing.


    Alow growl rumbled out of me as my back arched. | was riding the waves of ecstasy, but now | moved my body with fluid


    strength so that | ended up on top-straddling Mason¡¯s head. | wasn¡¯t sure how that happened, only that somehow I¡¯d moved all of


    us into different positions.


    Mason was under me, his mouth on my pu ssy and big hands gripping my a ss as | rode his face. Xander and Zane were each


    kneeling in front of me as | used my hands to stroke them. Zane kissed me, then broke off with a moan as my hand moved


    faster. Xander kissed me after that, and Mason¡¯s tongue on my cli t had me


    gasping and crying out into Xander¡¯s open mouth.


    My body moved, rocking against Mason¡¯s lips and tongue as he worked my clit. | was in a frenzy Couldn¡¯t


    stop moving. More sparkling gold poured out of me, surrounding all of us. Urging us all higher


    My or gasm rose with the rush of a storm | couldn''t hold it back, and | didn¡¯t want to. | threw back my


    head, letting my hair stream down my back to tickle Mason¡¯s thighs. | ground myself onto his mouth until


    finally, everything stopped going tight inside me.


    And | exploded with desire


    212

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    Mason


    | was so shocked when Lanie rolled us both over to end up riding my mouth that I didn¡¯t even protest. | just dove into her heat


    and fragrant wetness to gobble up every bit of sweetness | could get.


    et. With


    her thighs mped around my head, | couldn¡¯t hear much. Couldn¡¯t see much, either. | was entirely consumed with


    making my Luna burst into o rgasm.


    Her pu ssy convulsed against my tongue and lips. My c ock was aching, hard and throbbing, and | didn¡¯t


    have to stroke it to feel the slickness of my pre-c um sliding down the head and over the shaft. My balls were


    heavy and tight. When she came, | wanted to joi n her, but | didn¡¯t quite go over.


    Lanie writhed against my mouth for what felt like an eternity before she rolled off me and onto the bed. |


    almost got a face full of Zane¡¯s d ick as she released it, but somehow, she was still coordinating all of our


    bodies. Compelling us or simply sending out her Luna energy to guide us into the right ces....1 couldn''t tell.


    No matter how uneasy I¡¯d been before, now we were all in the thick of a mutual and all-epassing


    ecstasy, and that was all | really cared about.


    I''d worry about everything elseter.


    Xander


    Watching my mate cu m was hot AF.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Feeling her o rgasm bursting all around me as she sent out the waves of her Luna energy was


    indescribable. No words came through the mind link, but the four of us were connecting on a deeper level.


    Something fierce and primal. It reminded me of a giant wind, gathering us all up and spinning us, tossing us


    so high into the air it was impossible even to see the ground.


    This wasn¡¯t like anything we''d ever done before. It was almost....cosmic. | didn¡¯t feel like Lanie was moving


    me like a puppeteer pulling my strings, but there was a definite sense that she was coordinating every move


    each of us made. But the pleasure was so intense that nothing else mattered.


    ¡°I need you


    you to f uck me,¡± she crooned to Zane as she ran her hand along his ock.


    Mason had been underneath her, and now he moved at the same time as Zane. They traded ces. Lanie swung her leg over


    my Beta¡¯s hips and gripped him in her fist to guide him inside her.


    Jealousy rippled up and down my spine, but she fixed me with a look that reminded me how much she


    belonged to me.


    ¡°Always will,¡± Lanie murmured.


    Was that through our link? | couldn¡¯t tell. All | knew was the sound of her voice guiding me to move behind her as she sank onto


    Zane¡¯s co ck with a groan. She lifted her body again, looking at me over her shoulder.


    exactly where she wanted me.


    Zane


    | couldn''t hold back my groan when Lanie settled herself fully onto my co ck. | could see Xander behind


    her from over her shoulder, and | felt the bed dip as he moved between my knees to put his hands on her hips.


    She lifted her body, and | mumbled a protest, but she wasn¡¯t leaving me.


    She was offering herself to the Alpha.


    Xander grunted as he seated his thickness inside her. | could feel him against my own c ock, nothing more


    than the thin barrier of her pu ssy walls between us. | almost shot right then and there.


    ¡°Slow,¡± Lanie ordered us both. ¡°Take your time.¡±


    In fact, she was the one moving her body, while Xander and | basically stayed still and let her use us like f ucktoys. Knowing she


    was setting the pace, the pressure, moving herself however gave her the greatest pleasure...1 was happy to be used however


    she wanted.


    ¡°Mason. Here.¡± She gestured as she groaned out the words, showing him that she wanted him to get


    front of her.


    He knelt by my shoulder, and Lanie leaned over my body so her breasts hung over my face. | mouthed her


    nipples eagerly as she cried out. When her voice got mu ffled, | could tell it was because she''d taken Mason¡¯s.


    cock into her mouth.


    her


    My own c ock twitched at the thought of Lanie¡¯s mouth. How good it felt to have it on my d ick. How good p ussy felt


    felt, and how amazing it was to rub Xander¡¯s dic k with mine with her in between us.


    ¡°Oh...Goddess...!¡± Lanie screamed.


    In the next minute, | heard more mu ffled groans.


    She ground herself onto my c ock, a nd by Xander¡¯s long, drawn-out moan, | could tell she was squeezing


    him, too. Our Luna¡¯s desire moved through me like a hurricane across the sea, drawing power from each one of us until finally,


    all four of us reached the pinnacle and came together.


    And then, like being in the eye of the hurricane, we were all consumed by silence.


    212

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    Mason


    What the hell just happened?


    | wasn¡¯t sure if I''d imagined all of that, or if | was dead, or what. It was possibly the best sex I¡¯d ever had in


    my life.


    Slowly, | turned my face to the side. | was on my back on our big bed. Lanie next to me. Xander behind her.


    | felt behind me. Zane was there, not touching me but close enough that my hand found his naked skin. | let it


    rest there for a few seconds before | took it back.


    Lanie¡¯s eyes were closed. Her glorious bare breasts rose and fell with her breathing, and my heart was


    beating, so | knew that we weren¡¯t dead. | wanted to say something to her, but | just couldn¡¯t find the energy to


    speak.


    My brother let out a snore. He was still alive, too. Goddess, | was knackered, but in the best way. | rested


    my hand on my mate¡¯s belly, and she murmured sleepily and turned onto her side to press her butt against me. Incredibly, my


    cock


    d to stir again.


    | was almost too tired to let my mind dwell on everything that was concerning me. My thoughts tried to


    tumble around likeundry in a dryer, but at the same time, my physical satisfaction was so great that all |


    could really do was kiss Lanie¡¯s shoulder and let her snuggle closer.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Surely it wouldn''t hurt to sleep for a little bit... just a little nap...


    ¡°That was beyond amazing. The way you took control of everything, the way you were so demanding. So


    hot, babe.¡± Xander¡¯s sleepy voice broke into my attempt at dreaming. ¡°But | have to say, Lanie, | thought | was


    supposed to be the Alpha.¡±


    Athrob of embarrassed energy leaked out of her, but | frowned and pushed up on my elbow to look acro


    her at Xander. He was the Alpha? Fuck that noise. | thought we were past that, but apparently not.


    Xander¡¯s eyes opened when he felt me looking at him. He scowled at once and sat up with Lanie still


    between us. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, bro,¡± | said, but | couldn¡¯t stop my lip from curling or my wolf from rumbling. | felt my eyes ze and didn¡¯t try to pull my


    wolf back.


    ¡°Seriously, dude. The fuck is your problem?¡± Xander demanded as Lanie yawned and struggled to sit


    upright.


    It''s a good thing she was still there, because otherwise | might''ve just reached across to punch Xander in


    the teeth. As it was, my fist clenched until | forced myself to rx. Moments ago, we''d all been sleepy and


    sated. Now | was ready for a smackdown.


    Asmall rm bell was ringing in the back of my mind at how fast my mood had changed, but | dismissed


    1. Of course, | was pissed off.


    Lanie put a hand on each of our chests. ¡°Hey, Cut it out.¡±


    Xander shook away her touch. His eyes zed, boring into mine. ¡°All of our dicks were just swinging around, so | don¡¯t know


    what you''re trying to say. If you have something you need to get off your chest, why. don¡¯t you just say it?¡±


    | was aware of Lanie¡¯s shouting when |unched myself off the end of the bed and around the foot of it to


    get at my brother. Xander had already leaped up, both his fists raised. We were snarling at each other, feinting


    Lanie jumped up on the bed, batting at us, but Zane grabbed her back and out of the way.


    punches. Lani


    This room was big, but not quite big enough to do more than jab at each other without bumping into the


    bed, the dresser or the wall. | swung anyway. Xander took a single neat step back and barked outughter.


    ¡°A swing and a miss!¡± he shouted with glee. He twitched his fingers at me. ¡°Come on, man. You want to


    hit me? Fucking hit me!¡±


    ¡°Talk about swinging dicks.¡± Zane¡¯s tone dripped with acid, cutting between me and my brother. ¡°I¡¯m about


    to get a ck eye from one of them if you don¡¯t watch it.¡±


    Lanie was in the middle of the bed with her knees drawn to her chest. She wasn¡¯t crying, but her eyes were wide and watery.


    She sniffled.


    Xander put his hands on his hips. ¡°If you really want to fight me, bro, let¡¯s at least put some pants on.¡±


    ¡°Mason, what''s going on?¡± Lanie asked in a trembling voice.


    The trouble was, | couldn''t really put my true feelings into the right words. All | could do was point at


    Xander. ¡°You''re not the only Alpha, and I¡¯m fucking sick of you acting like you are.¡±


    212

 Chapter 357

    XanderBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    It took me a full half a minute to really get what my brother wasining about. | didn¡¯t even remember saying anything that


    might have made him feel like | didn¡¯t respect his Alpha position.


    What you said to Lanie about being the Alpha,¡± he continued. ¡°That was a shi tty thing for you to say. Especially in bed. | guess


    it''s easy to tell that you really mean it, though, since you were half-asleep when you


    said it.¡±


    ¡°| didn¡¯t mean anything by it other than that she was a wild woman,¡± | shot back. Lanie let out a small


    whimper that made me want to punch Mason for making this trouble right now. ¡°She was all dominant and stuff. | was making a


    joke. S hit, bro, can¡¯t you even take a joke?¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t think making jokes about who¡¯s the Alpha is funny,¡± Mason said.


    ¡°| wasn''t... it wasn¡¯t even directed at you!¡± | shouted. ¡°Of course | know that you''re an Alpha, too. It¡¯s not


    like you can ever stop reminding everyone about it.¡±


    Mason bared his teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t have to remind everyone about it, because it¡¯s just who | am. You''re the


    one who needs to go bragging about it all the time!¡±


    Part of me knew this fight was st upid, but the other part couldn¡¯t seem to stop myself from jabbing at


    him again and again. Not even the sight of my Luna¡¯s tear-streaked cheeks could stop me.


    ¡°Both of you can keep fighting about who said what, who meant what, and who''s hurting who¡¯s feelings.


    but it''s not going to get you anything but bruises. On your bodies and your hearts,¡± Zane added. ¡°So maybe


    just cool your jets.¡±


    When the swirl of calming Beta energy came at me, my wolf snarled. | men tally batted it away. I''d just


    been verbally and physically osted by my own flesh and blood when | was supposed to be dozing in


    post-f uck delight. | was not in the mood for any kind of bu Ilsh it from my Beta


    ¡°How about you keep out of this?¡± Mason snapped at Zane. ¡°It¡¯s between me and my brother. Has nothing


    to do with you at all, Beta.¡±


    ¡°You made it between all of us when you started trying to fight in our bedroom,¡± Zane began, but Mason


    snarled so fiercely that our Beta actually flinched


    | went to the dresser and grabbed out a pair of jeans | shoved my legs into them while | shot Mason a re ¡°Lay off of him. If


    your problem is with me, keep it with me Get yourme as s dressed so | can beat it.¡±


    ¡°Beat my a ss? Rilight I¡¯d like to see you try¡± Mason sneered as he found a pair of jeans on the floor and


    started yanking them on


    They were my jeans, and that just made me all the angrier ¡°You just have to keeping after everything


    that belongs to me, huh?¡±


    Zane jumped off the bed between us, a hand out on each side to keep us apart. ¡°I mean it, both of you. 1/2


    ¡°How about you mind your own da mned business?¡± Mason growled at him.


    Zane


    The two men in front of me literally were my business. But both of them were ring at me like I''d overstepped. Honestly, | was


    sick of them both and their constant posturing. All | wanted was some peace and a little nap, and they both had to act like the


    world revolved around them.


    ¡°I''ll tell you this much. You''re both Alphas, all right, and you''re both as sho le s.¡± | flipped them both the bird


    and grabbed a pair of jeans from the chair where I''d tossed them earlier. | pulled them on along with a T-shirt


    and left the bedroom, mming the door behind me.


    | wasn¡¯t sure where | was going, only that | needed to get out of that room. | found my boots by the front


    door to our quarters and shoved my feet into them. My stomach churned, and my heart pounded so hard |


    could hear it in my ears.


    My wolf paced, whining and chuffing, but | didn¡¯t want to take even a minute to calm him. Not here, not still so close to Xander


    and Mason. | wanted to get far enough away from them that | didn¡¯t have to feel their st upid desires, didn¡¯t feel my own


    apparently idiotic need to help them navigate their emotions.


    How far would that have to be?


    | guessed I''d have to do some running to find out.

 Chapter 358

    Chapter 358


    Lanie


    One by one, each of my three mates left me. Three times, the door mmed hard enough to rattle the pictures on the walls. On


    thest m, a flower vase on the dresser actually vibrated right off and onto the floor. And then | was alone in our giant bed,


    wondering what the f uck had just happened.


    | swiped my tears away. Even me crying hadn''t stopped them from abandoning me. And why had they all been so angry in the


    first ce? We''d all made love....and it had been fierce and wonderful and unlike anything


    we''d ever done.


    | thought it had brought us together, but it seemed like it had only shoved us all entirely apart.


    Was that my fault? | asked myself that question as | cleaned up the shattered vase. It was a


    as broken as


    my heart was trying to be. Would | have to toss my rtionships into the trash the way | was throwing away this broken ss?


    cold cloth


    Determined not to let myself fall into despair, | went to the bathroom and washed my face. | pressed a


    to my eyes to soften the swelling from my tears. Emotions that had been so high were fading now.


    Tentatively, | tried to see if | could sense where they were. Zane had let his wolf out and was running. Xander¡¯s aura felt like he


    was working out hard. The gym, maybe, or the training field. For Mason, | could only sense voices, maybe music.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    The farther away my mates got in distance, the less upset | seemed to be feeling.


    Something about that seemed like it should be important, but even though | wracked my brain, | couldn¡¯t put my finger on why.


    The best I coulde up with was that I¡¯d been filled with aggression after being a topel Greyson, and that had manifested


    itself in my need for food and f ucking. Lust was an aggress emotion, and I''d spent it with my mates by taking control of our sex


    y in a way I''d never really done


    Being in charge,manding all three of them and having them obey. ..all of that had left me delicio empty of anything but


    satisfaction. But somehow, had my aggressiveness transferred to Xander, Zane, an Mason? Was that why Mason had been so


    quick to jump down Xander¡¯s throat about ament that had been clearly meant to tease me, not to insult him? And then,


    they''d both turned on poor Zane, who''d only bee trying to be the Beta they needed.


    ¡°Da mn it,¡± | said aloud to my reflection.


    If I''d known that bossing them around in the bedroom was going to lead to this, | would have....


    | would have still done it, | realized with a frown.


    It''s not even like I¡¯d just wanted to take charge for giggles or a way to spice things up. It had been a raw,


    insistent need inside me that | doubted | could¡¯ve ignored.


    What a mess.


    | was going to have to consult with my grandfather and Charlotte about this. A sinking feeling told me 1/2


    Chapter 358


    anyone to experience things just this way before.¡±


    ¡°Story of my life,¡± | muttered to myself as | started the shower water as hot as it would go.


    If my mates were going to be gone for a while, | was going to take advantage of being alone in the bathroom and having some


    time all to myself. As | let the water pound my neck and shoulders, | became aware of how sore my muscles were. | ran my


    hands up and down my arms, but there were no bruises


    anywhere on me. Every ache was internal...like I¡¯d run a marathon or climbed a mountain.


    This was from more than the vigorous f ucking we''d done. A lot of the tension and aching centered at the base of my skull, kind


    of like a headache but also...not. Gingerly, | probed the area with my fingertips, but although they slipped on my wet skin, |


    couldn¡¯t feel anything abnormal.


    The pain tingled a bit, upward from the base of my skull and outward, around my head to curve behind my eyeballs. | blinked and


    tipped my head back to the let the shower spray over my face. | could see just fine, so that wasn¡¯t a concern. And the pain was


    fading even as | tried to concentrate on it


    At least the pain in my head was. The pain in my heart still throbbed. | wasn¡¯t even sure who to be mad at.


    One thing | did know for sure. Wherever my arrogant pack of husbands had run off to, someone had to be responsible and go


    pick up our pups.

 Chapter 359

    Mason


    Step


    My anger was fading with every | took away from our quarters, my Luna, my brother, and my Beta. From my entire life, really. By


    the time | got into the elevator and up a few floors, | felt like a giant idiot for being so pis sy with all of them. | could remember


    being so mad, but....it was like | couldn¡¯t hold onto the rage.


    | was going to have to apologize.


    Some residual fury was still swirling around in my gut, though. The only thing that felt like it might help


    was a beer and a sandwich. How long ago had we all scarfed down that enormous meal with Lanie? Hours, and my stomach


    was empty now. Grabbing a meal would give me an excuse not to head back right away, too.


    Instead of heading to Floor Eighty-Seven, | decided to visit the general dining hall. | grabbed my meal from


    the selections set up in the buffet and found a seat at a small table toward the back of the room. | didn¡¯t feel


    much like talking to anyone, and | kept my back to the wall out of habit.


    When | felt the hesitant probe of Lanie¡¯s Luna energy trying to tap my location, | didn¡¯t fight it, but | didn¡¯t


    reach out toward it, either. I''d have to face the music soon enough, but | wanted to have some time alone first.


    | loved my mate, my Luna, with everything | had inside of me...and if it was just the two of us, the way it


    had been back in the beginning, things would be different. Lanie, me, and Ste, our perfect little family unit.


    Except it never had been. Not really. Ste wasn¡¯t my pup by blood. She''d always belonged to my brother,


    the way Lanie had belonged to him first, too. I¡¯d been able to get used to that. Find a way to love them both


    even if that meant sharing them.


    But sharing my Luna with two other men was taking more out of me than I really wanted to admit.


    If nothing else, the jeans I¡¯d grabbed reminded me that hardly anything | had was truly mine alone. even my clothes. Before


    finding Lanie, I''d been a Rogue. That meant solitary, not part of a pack. I''d had fi


    of course, including Asher, who''d been a brother to me longer than Xander had. He¡¯d have been my Beta i


    things hadn¡¯t changed. Still, that had been a lot different than being bound to three other people who could


    where you were and what you were doing at all times. Even shielding could only do so much.


    Was that why | was so quick to pick a fight with Xander? Close quarters? Brothers fought, or at least I''d always heard they did.


    | muttered a curse and drained my mug of dark beer.! wasn¡¯t going to figure any of this out on my own,


    and | knew that was a good thing. | didn¡¯t have to rely on myself for everything. | had a support system, even if it was currently pi


    ss ing me off.


    ¡°Mason?¡±


    | looked up at the sound of Gabri¡¯s voice. She looked cautious, a te of cake in one hand. | waved for


    her to join me. At first, | thought she wasn¡¯t going to. Then she slid into the seat.


    ¡°Are you all right? Where¡¯s everyone else?¡± she askedBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Sorry, | didn¡¯t mean... | can see that you¡¯re not all right,¡± Gabri said firmly. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    | leaned back in the chair. This woman had every reason to hate me, but she¡¯d only ever been kind to me. I


    was grateful for that.


    ¡°It''s been a weird day,¡± | admitted. ¡°Started off weird with the testing thing Mchi had Lanie do, and it just ended up in a fight


    with me and Xander and Zane.¡±


    Gabri¡¯s fork nged against her te, and she put it down on the table. ¡°Testing? Lanie? What


    happened?¡±


    | paused, studying her. Her voice had gone tight and tense, and although we weren¡¯t connected through.


    blood, | could still vaguely get a hint of her emotional aura.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know about it?¡± | asked her.


    She shook her head. Her expression went grim. ¡°Nobody told me about it. No.¡±


    ¡°Mchi was testing Lanie to see if she was able to exert any kind of mind control orpulsion talents.


    He had her make Greyson try to hurt Charlotte...and it worked.¡±


    Gabri¡¯s face twisted, but there was a knowledge in her eyes, too, that told me she wasn¡¯t surprised.


    Pain pulled down the corners of her mouth. She lowered her voice and leaned closer to me.


    ¡°So...what are we going to do to stop her?¡±

 Chapter 360

    Gabri


    Mason looked at me with both of his eyebrows raised. Then, they furrowed.


    ¡°Huh? Sto


    Stop her from doing what? Mchi stopped Greyson before he actually did anything bad, if that¡¯s what you''re talking about.¡±


    He¡¯d looked upset and lost in thought when | first saw him from across the room, but now he only looked. confused. Well, so was


    |. Was it possible that what I¡¯d thought I¡¯d seen was not what it appeared to be?


    Oh, how I prayed to the Moon Goddess that was the case.


    ¡°Mchi wanted Lanie to see if she couldpel someone really hard, but he wouldn¡¯t have let Greyson hurt his mate,¡± Mason


    said confidently. He took a long pull off his beer and added, ¡°You thought she was out of control.¡±


    | didn¡¯t want to admit it, especially not to her mate, but | nodded. He shook his head and also leaned toward me. Mason pitched


    his voice low.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t like it, and | can see you don''t, either,¡± he said. ¡°I realize that Lanie is strong and special, And mostly, I¡¯m cool with that.


    But I¡¯m not sure how I¡¯m feeling about all this new stuff her grandfather is throwing out at us. Especially since it seems


    sometimes like he¡¯s flying by the seat of his ancient pants.¡±


    ugh choked out of me at Mason¡¯s irreverence. ¡°So...Lanie was doing that under the guidance of her grandfather? Not all on


    her own.¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    I


    | leaned back in my chair with a sigh of relief that | could tell intrigued him. ¡°If you knew it was all part of a test, why did you end


    up fighting about it?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Mason groaned and rocked back for a second. He took another drink before he answered me, and | thought | could spy a hint of


    red creeping up from his cor. He cut his gaze from mine when he answered.


    ¡°After the test, Lanie was....worked up. Which ended up being great, but after...¡± He coughed into his fist and didn¡¯t say more.


    |ughed. ¡°Mason, | know what the four of you get up to. | don¡¯t need everyst detail, believe me, but you don¡¯t have to be


    embarrassed about it.¡±


    He met my eyes. ¡°Why have you always been so nice to me?¡±


    This took me a second to answer. Truthfully, | wasn¡¯t not quite sure how to answer him.


    ¡°You''re my son¡¯s brother,¡± | eventually said. ¡°Why by the Moon would | go out of my way to be cruel?¡±


    We both knew all the reasons why | might have found it easier to hate Mason than to be kind. We didn¡¯t really need to dissect


    them. | tried to let him see and feel my eptance of him in my gaze, until finally, he nodded.


    His voice was h oa rse when he replied. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°So. The fight?¡±


    Mason grumbled and ran both hands through his hair, standing it on end. He looked very much like my


    son when he did that...which meant there was more than a passing resemnce to their father.


    For the first time in many moons, thinking of Orion didn¡¯t immediately churn my stomach. | wasn¡¯t sure I''d


    ever be able to find my way totally to forgiveness-he¡¯d never have the chance to ask for it, anyway. But | could find a way to let


    my mind help ease the pain he¡¯d caused in my heart.


    ¡°After we were finished, Xander cracked some smarta ssment about being the only Alpha. It really rubbed me the wrong


    way.¡±


    ¡°| can see why,¡± | said. ¡°He¡¯s my son, but even | can see that Xander sometimes speaks without fully


    thinking his words through.¡±


    Mason sighed. ¡°He wasn¡¯t even saying it to me, or about me. It was a joke that didn¡¯t hit, | guess. Maybe | overreacted. But then,


    the next thing I knew, we were about to get into a beatdown with each other, and Zane


    stepped in to break it up.¡±


    ¡°He is your Beta,¡± | said, but it was easy to see that Mason didn¡¯t need the reminder.


    ¡°We both turned on him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no.¡± | shook my head. ¡°That''s no good at all.¡±


    Mason again scraped his hands through his hair. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to do about all of this. I¡¯ve even been thinking....| don¡¯t


    even want to say it out loud.¡±


    Gently, | patted his shoulder. ¡°Mason, | know I¡¯m not your mother, but...I¡¯d like to be something like a mother to y


    0 you, if you¡¯d let me. And you should be able to tell your mother anything. Okay?¡±


    His shoulders heaved with a sigh. Whatever was on his mind was weighing heavily. When he finally s his voice was so soft that I


    couldn''t believe I¡¯d heard him correctly.


    ¡°No,¡± | said. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡±

 Chapter 361

    Mason


    | didn¡¯t want to repeat myself. Even saying it one time instead of only thinking it left a sour taste in my


    mouth. Gabri was taking her head.


    ¡°Leaving won¡¯t make anything better for you. It would be so much worse. You''d be breaking your mate bond... And aside from


    the repercussions of that, you¡¯d be so sad, Mason.¡±


    ¡°What if | wasn¡¯t really meant to be a part of them?¡± | hate even asking, but who else can | talk to about


    this?n¡¯s power only passed to me because he died. He didn¡¯t give it to me. | just...got it. What if it was by


    ident?¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°The Moon Goddess doesn¡¯t do idents,¡± Gabri said kindly. ¡°If you four are bound it is because she meant for it to happen


    that way.¡±


    I


    ¡°| feel like an outsider. More than | ever did even when | was growing up, knowing | didn¡¯t belong.¡±


    There. | had admitted it.


    All of the thoughts and feelings that had been haunting me since | first discovered that the woman | loved was in fact my


    brother''s mate.


    I''d spent my life fighting the fact my own father had abandoned me, focused my energy and efforts on destroying his other, more


    prized son. | couldn¡¯t regret discovering that leading alongside my brother was better than sI aughtering him to take his


    ce....but | also couldn¡¯tpletely shake the worry that | might always be on the outside looking in.


    ¡°Oh, honey. I¡¯m so sorry. That can¡¯t be good.¡± Gabri¡¯s brow creased between her eyes as her mou curved down. ¡°I know


    there¡¯s nothing | can do that can change how you feel, but | hope | can help you understand that none of that is true. You and


    your brother might butt heads. You''ll have to face some resentments. Both of you are strong men with big personalities.. just like


    your father. You might not have known him growing up, but you inherited a lot from him.¡±


    She chuckled and pursed her lips. | had tough a little, too. The situation wasn¡¯t humorous, butughin was better than


    screaming.


    ¡°When | found out that Orion¡¯s death had passed you the Alpha role, | won''t lie. | was extremely concerned for Xander, but also


    for you. | wasn¡¯t sure if you¡¯d be able to get along, first of all, | didn¡¯t know if your inheritance would manifest itself with full Alpha


    powers, or if there¡¯d be some kind of restrictions.


    ¡°| worried that perhaps your gain would mean my son¡¯s loss. Not because | didn¡¯t feel you deserved it,¡± she added. ¡°But because,


    of course, no mother wants to see her child in pain ore to harm. But, as | saw the two of you managing to put aside the past


    and work beyond the damage your father had done, | became so very proud of you both.


    ¡°| know | had no hand in raising you, Mason, so | can take no credit. I¡¯m still proud of you.


    1. You''ve ovee a lot. More than | think many others could have done. I¡¯d hate to see you and Xander at odds with


    | nodded. ¡°Yeah...he might be a giant pain in my as s sometimes, but no, | don¡¯t want us fighting, either.¡±


    ¡°And you don¡¯t really want to leave,¡± Gabri said softly. ¡°Not in your heart.¡±


    | grumbled. ¡°No. Even if | think it would be easier to run away with Lanie....but | couldn¡¯t leave the pups behind. She¡¯d never


    allow it, and my brother would never allow his children to be taken from him.¡±


    ¡°You are both exemry fathers, which also makes me very proud.¡± Gabri beamed, even though a faint. shadow remained in


    her gaze. ¡°Your rtionship with your brother isplicated, but that¡¯s how families work. Being part of a pack means


    negotiation andpromise. You''re a strong leader, Mason. You''ll find


    way.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± | said. | almost called her ¡°Mom,¡± but at thest second decided against it. | didn¡¯t want to


    dishonor my mother..


    ¡°You said you both turned on Zane when he tried to Beta you?¡±


    | made a disgusted noise at myself. ¡°Yeah. Tempers were ring.¡±


    your


    She looked thoughtful. ¡°Xander and Zane have always had each other. They''ve been bonded, oh, since they were pups. I''ve


    known them to get on each other¡¯s nerves on asion, but it sounds like the fight you all


    had was worse than that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Like | said, tempers were ring. To be honest, Zane tried to Beta us into calming down, but when we didn''t, he got pi


    ssed off at us and ran off. I¡¯m not saying he didn¡¯t have a right,¡± | added hastily at Gabri¡¯s stern look. ¡°I know we were acting


    like as sholes, but he just up and left.¡±


    She shook her head, looking solemn. ¡°You two better get your act together, or else he might do more than


    leave to cool off. He might up and quit you both entirely.¡±


    212

 Chapter 362

    Gabri


    ¡°Can he do that?¡± Mason looked so taken aback that | let out augh.


    Not at his expense, or at least | didn¡¯t mean for it to be.


    ¡°It''s not unheard of. Betas pushed too far by their Alphas, Betas who haven''t been respected or cared for. They absolutely can


    sever their bond with their Alpha, if pushed to it.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t want that,¡± Mason said.


    | shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t. Neither does Xander, and I¡¯m sure Lanie would have something to


    say about it, too.¡±


    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s going to have a lot to say to all three of us, | bet.¡± Mason shoved a couple of potato chips intoContent ? N?velDrama.Org.


    his mouth and crunched.


    ¡°As she should. The two of you would do well to pay closer attention to what your Beta has been going through. | know it¡¯s easy


    to get caught up in everything you¡¯re experiencing, and everything your Luna is learning. But don¡¯t forget about your Beta in all of


    that. He¡¯s the reason why you''re all coping as well as you


    are.


    | finally dug into my cake. The rich chocte and cre amy frosting was sweet enough to make my teeth


    ache, but I''d been craving dessert. This was just right.


    Mason squirmed with difort in his chair. ¡°It¡¯s not like | haven¡¯t told him that | appreciate him.¡±


    ¡°But have you?¡± | asked, pointing my fork at him. ¡°Actually told him. Better yet, have you shown him?¡±


    ¡°...think so.¡±


    ¡°If you only think so, then maybe you need to do a better job of being sure you have. Think of how hard


    must be for Zane over these past months. His role was to support his Alpha no matter what. First, they were


    mated to someone they didn¡¯t want-


    ¡°They love Lanie!¡± Mason cut in.


    Calmly, | took another bite of cake. | was used to dealing with men who were quick to react. When he settled back in his seat, |


    kept going.


    ¡°Xander and Zane loved Alice and believed she would be their mate. They didn¡¯t know what she was doing


    or who she was doing it with When they were forced to take Lanie as their mate, Zane had to be there for


    Xander even as he had to face his own disappointment. Then to be a father to children that are not biologically his


    ¡°To face the betrayal of the woman they loved, to find love with someone else, and also to watch his Alpha have to share his role


    with a stranger. It¡¯s been a lot¡± | said. ¡°And as the Beta, Zane¡¯s got to be feeling all of that even more than you or Xander. How


    could he help it? Any time one or both of you is in any kind of


    ¡°Calms us down,¡± Mason admitted, sounding reluctant.


    ¡°He takes on your bad feelings and reces them with better ones. He¡¯s your strength when yours falters,¡± | point out. ¡°And he


    does it without expectation of ever being fully in charge of anything. He willingly takes on the role of second ce, ready to step


    aside at any second, should his Alpha require it. Whether it¡¯s waiting in line at a buffet or in bed with their mate.¡±


    | said thest part with deliberate harshness, trying to drive my point home.


    Mason''s lip curled. ¡°Xander has never made Zane wait on him or like, walk behind him or bow, or wait his turn with anything.


    Neither have I!¡±


    ¡°But you would, if it was important. If your pack needed you to step up as Alpha and that meant Zane had to stand behind you,


    then you would expect it of him. Perhaps even demand. And he would do it, because he loves you. That doesn¡¯t mean he


    doesn¡¯t struggle.¡±


    ¡°F uck,¡± Mason bit out. ¡°You¡¯re right. | haven''t thought of it at all. lm such an as shole.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s anyfort to you, I¡¯m sure Xander probably hasn''t spent much time considering it, either.¡± | took another bite of cake,


    relishing the dark chocte. ¡°But you really both need to. Remember what I said about


    Lanie.¡±


    Mason looked stricken. ¡°Three mates. She needs three of us because she¡¯s so strong.¡±


    ¡°Blessed by the Moon Goddess.¡± | can¡¯t quite keep the grim tone out of my voice. ¡°I¡¯m worried about that strength, | won¡¯t


    pretend otherwise. But I¡¯m more worried about what could happen to her....or what she might


    do...if that bond breaks.¡±


    ¡°Without the three of us, she might not be able to control all of her powers,¡± Mason said, pressing his lips


    together in thought.


    shook my head, my expression deadly serious. ¡°No, Mason. I¡¯m afraid that Lanie might be able to co every one of her


    powers....but without the three of you to temper her, I¡¯m terrified that nobody will be able t


    control her.¡±

 Chapter 363

    Mason


    There was real fear in Gabri¡¯s voice. | wanted to immediately spring to my Luna¡¯s defense and deny everything Xander¡¯s


    mother was saying, but the more | thought about it, the more | knew that she had a point.


    ¡°Lanie wouldn''t want that,¡± | said.


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t want to lose you. Any of you. The rest of it...¡± Gabri¡¯s mouth thinned, and her gaze went a little strained. ¡°Great


    power corrupts. That''s all I¡¯m going to say about it.¡±


    Again, | wanted to defend my Luna, but I had to admit that I¡¯d had simr fears. | didn¡¯t worry that Lanie would ever deliberately


    do anything to let herself get corrupted. But I¡¯d seen how she¡¯d been able topel Greyson, and how she¡¯d reacted to it, after.


    er even


    power, ¡°It made her feel good,¡± | said in a low voice. ¡°Compelling Greyson, | mean. Using that imperfectly, gave her like...a high,


    | guess is the only way to really describe it. She got high off it.¡±


    Gabri closed her eyes briefly. Then nodded. She looked at me again, this time with a steely gaze.


    ¡°I''ve grown to love Lanie as though she were my own daughter. Just as I¡¯vee to think of you and Zane as mine. But a


    mother who doesn¡¯t look at her children with an honest gaze doesn¡¯t do them any favors.¡±


    !


    ¡°Are you really worried that she¡¯s going down the wrong path?¡± | asked her.


    Gabri looked thoughtful as she polished off her te of cake. She wiped her lips with a napkin. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m no longer


    sure what | think.¡±


    There was something she wasn''t telling me. | could see it in her eyes. Before | could dig in deeper, though she said, ¡°You should


    talk to her. Nobody is ever done a favor by being kept in the dark about how their part feels. You¡¯re concerned. You need to tell


    her that, or else you''re going to keep letting it fester, and it wille out in ways you don¡¯t want it to.¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid to put this on her,¡± | said. ¡°She¡¯s honestly going through so much, Gabri. Thest thing she needs is one of her


    mates piling on another bunch of s hit.¡±


    and no.


    ¡°Be gentle. Be careful. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s as confused and worried as you are about all of this...¡± Gabri swirled her fingers around


    in the air. ¡°Stuff. The emotions. The revtions. Yes, she has a lot going on, you don¡¯t want to burden her. But she¡¯s your mate


    and your Luna. She deserves your honesty.¡±


    Just then, | got a nudge through the mind link from Xander.


    ¡°Hey, di ckweed. Have you heard from Zane?¡±


    I snortedughter, which made Gabri give me a curious stare. ¡°It¡¯s your other son. The less handsome. and charming one.


    He¡¯s asking me if I¡¯ve heard from Zane.¡±


    To Xander, | thought, ¡°I haven''t, as scheese. Have you?¡±


    ¡°No. Where are you?¡±


    | sent him an image of the dining hall. Also an image of my middle finger, since....well, he was my brother. And | was still a little


    annoyed with him.


    ¡°I''m on my way. Don¡¯t go anywhere.¡±


    ¡°He says he¡¯sing here,¡± | said to Gabri.


    Sheughed. ¡°This should be interesting. | certainly hope | don¡¯t have to put the two of you in the naughty.


    corner.¡±


    Her gaze went behind me, and | twisted in my chair to see Xander stalking through the room toward us.


    With a gruff nod at me, he bent to kiss his mother on the cheek. He kicked the leg of my chair.


    ¡°Let me sit there,¡± he said.


    ¡°F uck you,¡± | replied evenly.


    Gabri let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Boys.¡±


    With a grumble, Xander slid into the chair next to mine. It put his back at an angle to the room, and | bit


    back a grin at his disgruntled expression. He had the same idea as | did, about being able to survey the room.


    ¡°Don''t worry, bro. I''ll make sure to warn you if someone sneaks up behind you,¡± | promised.


    ¡°Boys!¡± Gabri snapped, sounding really irritated this time.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± To Xander, | said in a lower voice, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°For this?¡± He sent me an image of both his middle fingers.


    ¡°You know what for,¡± | said aloud so Gabri could hear me. | gave her a significant look that she


    returned.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Xander frowned. ¡°What¡¯s up with you two?¡±


    ¡°| was craving some dessert so | came to get a piece of cake. | happened to see Mason sitting here.


    were chatting. That''s all.¡±


    | was impressed at how easily Gabri could keep her expression straight when | was pretty y sure she


    wanted tough. | wasn¡¯t as good about it. Xander saw my mouth working, and he scowled.


    That¡¯s when both of us got the mind link from Zane,

 Chapter 364

    Lanie


    The hallways outside the school bustled with people picking up their little ones. | kept my head down, not really wanting to talk to


    anyone. | didn¡¯t want to have to force a smile or exin why | looked like I''d been


    crying.


    The moment | saw my three precious little ones, my heart instantly lifted. No matter what else might be going on in my life, their


    sweet faces always made me smile. Bing a mommy was hard work, but | was never going to regret the choices that had


    given me these children.


    | shouldn''t have been surprised that ina and Isaac were both bigger than when I''d dropped them.off this morning. The


    doubling all wolf pups went through was neverpletely predictable, and because they were twins, even less so. They''d


    started off smaller than Ste when she was born, and of course she¡¯d grown. faster because of being a Celestial. Now, though,


    both twins were an inch or so taller than their sister.


    ¡°Mama, look what | made!¡± ina ran to me waving a paper colored all over with pictures of rainbows,


    suns, and moons.


    ¡°Very nice,¡± | said admiringly. For a second | had a pang of mncholy that | had no fridge of my own to hang this picture on. I¡¯d


    just have to save it carefully for when we were able to get back home.


    If we ever could.


    Ste had followed the twins a few steps behind and now gave me a curious look. ¡°Mother, are you sad


    about something?¡±


    She sounded as sophisticated as a teenager. | bent to stroke her hair and kiss her forehead.


    ¡°No, my love. I¡¯m fine. Oh, hey, there.¡± | let out augh as Isaac muscled his way into our embrace. ¡°What


    have you got for me?¡±


    ¡°| made a picture, too,¡± he said, holding it up. His was of dragons breathing fire.


    | admired it, too, then folded both pictures and tucked them into the pocket of my jeans. | looked at Ste.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you draw any pictures today?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°No. Miss Janice said | should be in reading group, so | didn¡¯t get to color today.¡±


    ¡°She did?¡± II


    | looked for Miss Janice, a tall Fae woman with silver curls framing her face. She waved at me. ¡°You three stay here. I¡¯m going to


    talk to Miss Janice for a second.¡±


    When | asked her if what Ste had said was true, Miss Janice nodded.


    ¡°Oh, yes. Ste was so interested in learning to read that we put her in the group with some of the older


    children. She was already sounding out words and insisted that she be allowed to focus on that. It seemed


    silly to keep her with the children who aren''t quite as advanced.¡±


    That wasn¡¯t how Ste had put it. She¡¯d made it sound more like she¡¯d been put in the group, not thatContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Chapt


    she''d ryed the information.


    ¡°We so enjoy all three of your children, Lanie, if | might say so.¡± Miss Janice beamed. ¡°What a wonderful addition to our school.


    ina and Isaac are so friendly and well-behaved.¡±


    For a moment, her smile faltered as she looked beyond me. | turned to see what she was looking at but saw only the groups of


    children being released to their parents. My three were busy giggling with a small boy with dark hair whose name | didn¡¯t know.


    Ste raised her hand to wave at me when | caught her eye.


    Miss Janice cleared her throat. ¡°And Ste...well, her name means star, and | suppose that¡¯s just what she is. A bright and


    shining star, yes?¡±


    There was no better way to make a mother happy than to hear praise about her children. The teacher¡¯s words made me smile


    and chased away some of my sadness from the fight between my mates.


    ¡°We certainly think so,¡± | said to the teacher.


    Miss Janice nodded. ¡°If you''ll excuse me...?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± With a small frown, | watched her bustle away. Something in her tone had seemed a little off, but then | saw her


    smiling and greeting another parent there for pickup and told myself that Miss Janice was


    just busy.


    | gathered my three. ¡°C¡¯mon, you rascals. It¡¯s time to go home.¡±


    ¡°You mean back to our quarters,¡± Ste said as | took her and ina by the hand, with Isaac holding his


    twin¡¯s.


    | looked down at my daughter. ¡°Yes. Home.¡±


    ¡°It''s not home. Not really.¡± Ste said this cheerfully and matter-of-factly. ¡°ina and Isaac don¡¯t remember our other house like |


    do. So they don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°Do you care?¡± | asked her, pausing in the hallway outside the school.


    Ste shook her head. ¡°Not really, Mother. But | know that you do. Hey, Allie, let''s run!¡±


    Before | could stop them, both took off and made it around the corner with Isaac close behind. By the time | got there, ready to


    tell them to slow down...


    All three pups were gone.


    212

 Chapter 365

    Zane


    | didn¡¯t really want to see my Alphas, but | couldn¡¯t let this argument fester between us. They might have both been d icks to me,


    but | was still their Beta. Unless | was willing to give that up-and | wasn¡¯t-i t was up to me to get them back together and on good


    terms...even if | was still more than a little bit pis sed off at them.


    That was why | had them meet me on the training field.


    If we couldn¡¯t work out our differences with a few hours of punching, running, kicking and jumping, we had bigger problems than


    some d umba ss argument. | didn¡¯t want to think about what would happen then. | paced the training ground as | waited,


    centering my Beta energy so it would be ready for them when they got


    there.


    | could sense the two of them were still not at peace when they arrived. Xander and his brother were no longer furious with each


    other, but there was a cool distance between them that red to an even deeper iciness when Mason strode straight to me and


    took me by the hand. He shook it while he used the other to


    grip my shoulder.


    | sent some calming sensations toward Xander, who looked totally affronted that his brother had reached me first. Mason, if he


    noticed, didn¡¯t care. | sighed at their rivalry.


    ¡°First off, I¡¯m apologizing to you,¡± Mason said firmly. | don¡¯t me you for being pis sed off. We were both heinous as sholes to


    you upstairs.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Xander broke in with a scowl directed at his brother. To me, he gave a grim nod before saying to


    Mason, ¡°Speak for yourself.¡±


    Mason pulled me into a half-hug before letting me go and stepping back. He made a sweeping gestu Xander. ¡°Fine. | speak for


    myself. I¡¯m sorry | was a giant di ck to you, and I¡¯m sorry my brother can¡¯t takeContent ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ownership of his actions.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t going like I¡¯d hoped it would. | was ready to jump between them, but Xanderughed and


    shook his head. He feinted a punch at Mason and then turned to me. ¡°He¡¯s right. He was a giant di ck. But so was I. We


    shouldn¡¯t have treated you that way when you were just


    trying to do your job.¡±


    ¡°Now both of you are trying to do my job for me,¡± |ined, but without real heat.


    Aresidual tension still coiled in each of my Alphas, but | could hardly be surprised, considering their


    personalities. It wasn¡¯t likely they¡¯d never argue again, unless one of them wasn¡¯t around any more. As far as |


    was concerned, as long as they were willing to try to get along, that was good enough for me.


    ¡°Ahh, there it is.¡± Xander closed his eyes with a grin and tipped his face to the ceiling. ¡°Gimme that sweet, sweet, Beta energy.


    Ahbh....¡±


    ¡°You''re being a di ck again.¡± | punched his arm but also pulsed out some more of my individual glow.


    Our wolves greeted each other with snuffling yips. After a moment, Mason''s joined. | rxed into the


    ¡°| came down here to let my wolf run free, but | decided it would be more fun if | wasn¡¯t alone,¡± | said to them both. ¡°I found a


    great set of corridors off the training field that we can use. Kind of like a race track and an obstacle coursebined. You in?¡±


    Mason grinned. ¡°Hells yeah. My wolf''s been dying to get some freedom.¡±


    ¡°I''d love to be in the forest,¡± Xander said, ¡°but if this is what we can get, yeah. I''ll take it.¡±


    His wolf shed in his gaze. | started pulling off my shirt, and Xander stopped me with a hand on my arm.


    He waited for me to look him in the eye.


    ¡°I''m really sorry,¡± he said seriously. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t take someone else to get me to say it. You are an amazing


    Beta.¡±


    When he pulled me into an embrace, | let my arms link around his neck. | couldn¡¯t tell him how afraid I''d been, running out of that


    room. How terrified that everything we¡¯d built over all the years was crumbling. That | was failing him.


    ¡°Never,¡± Xander whispered in my ear.


    | hadn''t said a word, not even though the mind link. | hadn''t had to. He just knew and understood.


    When he pulled away, his wolf was rising and rippling across his features. Xander stripped down, racing


    Mason. When all three of us were naked, our wolves made their appearance.


    Together, we howled at the ceiling, since there was no moon. Then we took off, tearing up the earth of the training field, heading


    for the track where we¡¯d be able to run, and run, and run..

 Chapter 366

    Lanie


    Panic instantly set in, and | shouted Ste¡¯s name. My eyes swept the empty hallway. My stomach was a


    hot ball of fear.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    That¡¯s when | heard the familiar set of three giggles,


    | was so relieved | could hardly even be angry with them as three small faces peeked out of an open doorway. | swept them into


    a hug. They¡¯d been hiding just inside what looked like a storage closet.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t funny,¡± | scolded. ¡°You scared me. Please don¡¯t do that again.¡±


    Isaac, my sensitive boy, looked as though he might cry. ina also looked chastened. Ste, on the other hand, frowned and


    looked surprised.


    ¡°| thought you liked Hide and Seek, Mother! It was one of your favorite childhood games, wasn''t it?¡±


    | paused as | studied her. ¡°I guess it might have been. My sister and | yed it ¡±


    With all the rush and up and down of my emotions, | should¡¯ve been used to going from fear to sadness and back again. Even


    so, my throat clenched at the memory of me and Selena running and ying. Such happier times, long before I¡¯d ever imagined


    what awaited me.


    | hadn¡¯t spoken to her in so long. How could | have let so much time pass without reaching out to let her


    and


    my mother know | was all right? Yes, | had to keep my distance to secure their safety, but there had to be some way to reassure


    them, and to find out if they were okay.


    ¡°Mother?¡±


    | shook away the thoughts and looked into Ste''s concerned eyes. ¡°I do like that game, sweetie, but it not fun to y a game if


    you don¡¯t know you''re ying it. Does that make sense?¡±


    Ste¡¯s eyes welled with tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mother!¡±


    ¡°Shh. It¡¯s all right. Tell you what. Let''s head back home and I''ll order some ice cream for a snack. And


    after we''re all done, we can y Hide and Seek. Okay?¡± | cupped my darling girl¡¯s face in my hands. | didn¡¯t


    want her bursting into tears, which would send the twins into a crying fit along with her. Goddess knew, I¡¯d


    probably end up sobbing, too.


    This time, all three of them held tightly to mine or each other¡¯s hands, and nobody ran off. Our quarters were still empty when we


    all got back, and | did my best not to show my disappointment. | didn¡¯t want the children to sense something was wrong, but


    although ina and Isaac happily started ying with a set of stic bricks, building a castle, Ste was very quiet. | could tell


    she sensed something.


    ¡°I''ll order the ice cream,¡± | told them and went to the house phone to ce the order. | might not have a fridge of my own, but |


    could still treat my darlings to ice cream in thefort of our own space. | was determined more than ever to make sure that


    these quarters, which might not be our forever home, would still feel like home for as long as we stayed here


    | did enjoy the convenience of being able to call down to the kitchen and have three small cartons of sweet treats arrive within a


    few minutes. Chocte, strawberry, and vani, the favorites of each of my three pups. Ste, however, shook her head when |


    told her the snack would be here soon.


    ¡°I''m not hungry, Mother. May | please be allowed to go read in my room? Miss Janice says if I¡¯m to get better at reading, | should


    practice on my own.¡±


    | hesitated. We didn¡¯t have any children¡¯s books that knew of. ¡°What will you read?¡±


    Ste pointed at the big bookcase on the other side of the room. ¡°One of those.¡±


    Of course | checked first to make sure that the book was appropriate, and she seemed happy with the choice of an encyclopedia


    of supernaturals. It looked boring to me, but Ste ran off with it like it was a prize.


    ¡°Mumma,¡± Isaac said a few minutester from around a gigantic spoonful of chocte ice cream. ¡°Why is


    Stellie difftent?


    | paused scooping some strawberry ice cream into ina¡¯s bowl. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°She''s not like us.¡± ina supported her twin as she eyed the treat impatiently. ¡°Mumma, please give the


    ice cream?¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± | murmured and finished filling her bowl. | sat down across from them. ¡°What do you mean, Izzy.


    Why is Ste different?¡±


    | kept my voice pitched low, aware that even though Ste seemed to be reading happily in the other


    room, she could still overhear. My heart had started beating a little faster,


    Isaac licked his spoon and dug back in for another bite. ¡°Bigger.¡±


    ¡°Well, you and Allie aren¡¯t smaller than she is anymore.¡±


    ina shook her head, a frown on her ice cream smeared lips. ¡°Her with the bigger kids.¡±


    ¡°Do you mean the reading group?¡±


    ¡°All the bigger kids,¡± Isaac said.


    ina nodded. ¡°Stellie¡¯s got the magic.¡±


    Stunned, | wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d heard her right. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Magic, Mumma,¡± ina repeated. ¡°You know. Magic!¡±

 Chapter 367

    any


    Lanie


    | kept my voice steady. ¡°What do you mean, my love? What magic?¡±


    Wolves didn¡¯t have magic. Vampires didn¡¯t, either. Not like Witches or even Fae. But my dear Ste wasn¡¯t


    of those. She was, as her siblings had pointed out, different.


    ina shrugged and helped herself to a spoonful of her brother¡¯s chocte ice cream. ¡°Her make the


    teachers say funny stuff.¡±


    ¡°She,¡± | corrected absently. ¡°She makes the teachers say funny stuff?¡±


    ¡°She makes,¡± ina repeated.


    ¡°Like what? Jokes?¡±


    Isaacughed, his little face tipping upward. ¡°No, Mumma! Silly.¡±


    ¡°Her...she,¡± ina said, ¡°thinks at them.¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Her brother picked up the exnation. ¡°Her thinks make them do it.¡±


    ¡°She thinks for them to say silly stuff, and then they do it. That¡¯s kind of like a joke,¡± ina says, her little face scrunched up in


    thought. ¡°Is that a joke, Izzy?¡±


    ¡°No, Allie, a joke is ¡®knock-knock, who''s there,¡± her brother said with absolute confidence.


    | loved them so much it almost hurt. | checked to see if Ste was still in her room. The door remained


    shut.


    ¡°Can you give me an example?¡± | asked the twins.


    ¡°What''s a zample?¡± ina asked with a frown.


    Again, her brother had an answer. ¡°It¡¯s that red fruit from a tree, duh.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an apple,¡± | told him and caught ina¡¯s hand before she could use it to smack him. ¡°No hittin


    | had to cover my mouth against augh, not wanting them to think | was making fun of them. They wer both so adorable |


    wanted to squeeze them, but at the same time, | really needed them to tell me what they


    meant.


    ¡°| want you to tell me something Ste thought to a teacher and made the teacher say,¡± | told them.


    ¡°Her say... mean she say, to me and Izzy, do we want Ste to make the teacher say a funny,¡± ina


    promptly replied.


    va


    ¡°| say for her to make the teacher say...¡± Isaac doubled over inughter at the memory. ¡°She make her


    say...


    @ALLI¡ª IL.


    one thing | was learning about motherhood, it was that it would never be boring.


    ¡°He said for the teacher to say she was full of far ts!¡± ina crowed, also bursting into a flood of giggles.


    fortssss, Mumma!¡±


    | pressed my lips together to hold back myughter. And the teacher said that?¡±


    ¡°Ste made her,¡± Isaac said, still giggling.


    It was better than making the teacher pass wind, but still unsettling to think that Ste was able to exert that kind of mind control.


    Yes, obviously it was the sort of prank any child would think to pull on a teacher, but how many kids were able to get a teacher to


    do something like that?¡±


    And what would happen if my daughter decided not to y a prank but instead made a teacher do or say something much more


    harmful than a joke about fa rts?


    | blinked, thinking of how I¡¯d ordered Greyson to set Charlotte on fire. It had taken a lot of my strength to make that happen, and


    it was, of course, a much bigger ask than simplypelling a teacher to say a few words. Not to mention that my grandfather


    had needed to step in to stop Greyson frompleting mymand, because I''d been so caught up inpelling him that I''d


    been struggling to control myself.


    If it was hard for me as an adult, how much harder would it be for a child to properly control herself?


    The thought of Ste forcing someone to cause harm pushed a rush of frigid fear straight to the pit of my


    stomach.


    ¡°Eat your ice cream,¡± | told the twins. | went to Ste¡¯s bedroom door and knocked. ¡°Ste. Come out here


    please.¡±


    My tension didn¡¯t ease very much at the sight of her suspicious face peeking out from the doorway. Quickly, | shielded my


    emotions, but toote. My sensitive, special daughter had already figured out | was upset about something that had to do with


    her.


    ¡°Your brother and sister told me something, and I''d like to talk to you about it. Come over here.¡± | to to the couch and we both


    settled onto it.


    ¡°Yes, Mother? What is it?¡±


    ¡°They told me about what you''ve been doing at school. With the teachers,¡± | added when her brow furrowed in confusion. She


    still looked like she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°That you think something to them to make them say funny stuff. Is that true?¡±


    Ste looked relieved. ¡°Oh, yes. It makes Allie and Izzyugh, that¡¯s why | do it. The teachers don¡¯t get


    mad about it, Mother.¡±


    Likely because they weren¡¯t even aware that she waspelling them, or mind controlling, or whatever it was. She might even


    be making them forget.


    ¡°How do you do it, Ste?¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know, Mother. | just...do it.¡± Ste shrugged, looking totally unconcerned.


    Can you do it to me? Right now?¡±


    Ill


    [e)


    ¡°If you want me to¡± she said. ¡°But you probably won''t like it very much

 Chapter 368

    Lanie


    ¡°Why wouldn''t | like it?¡± | asked as calmly as | could.


    I


    Ste shrugged. ¡°If | made you say something silly, then Izzy and Allie wouldugh at you. You wouldn''t like them tough at


    you, would you, Mother?¡±


    ¡°If | said something funny, | guess | wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± | took in a deep breath, m entally preparing for words | didn¡¯t mean to say to


    tumble out of my mouth.


    Ste¡¯s brows drew close together. Her expression screwed up in concentration. | braced myself.


    ¡°Abba!¡± Ste cried and got up from the couch to run to Mason.


    | was now ¡°Mother,¡± but he was still Abba. That made me smile. Ste was a little girl with three fathers, but Mason was the one


    she¡¯d known first. There was more than a biological tie between them. He swung her


    up in the air and then down with a small groan.


    ¡°Won''t be able to do that much longer,¡± he said to me as | also got up to greet him.


    | wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to kiss me, or honestly, if | wanted to kiss him, but when he pulled me against him, sweet relief flooded


    me. | closed my eyes and let him hold me close. His lips brushed my temple.


    Oh, how | loved this man.


    And he loved me, too. | could see that in his eyes when he pulled away to quickly kiss my lips. He mouthed ter¡± and added a


    wiggle of his eyebrows that made meugh.


    Mason turned to the twins and the melting cartons of ice cream. ¡°What''s this? None saved for wow, you two must''ve been eating


    a lot of ice cream. Look how big you got.¡±


    He shot a look at me over his shoulder and his eyebrows raised. It was kind of startling to see he


    they were changing.


    ¡°They''ve almost caught up to you, Ste my star,¡± Mason said. ¡°How was school today?¡±


    For a moment, | tensed. Mason loved our daughter. | would never doubt that. But | knew he was worried


    after what I¡¯d done with Greyson. | didn¡¯t want him getting upset about Ste. | needed more information firs


    Ste looked at me. Then she smiled brightly. ¡°It was great, Abba. Miss Janice let me go into the reading


    group. Do you want to listen to me read?¡±


    can''t


    Mason gave me a startled look. ¡°Reading? Already?¡±


    | shrugged and tossed up my hands. ¡°Apparently so.¡±


    ¡°We''ll go in my room and do it,¡± Ste said, lowering her voice. ¡°So the twins don¡¯t feel bad, since they


    tread yet. They¡¯re still in the baby group¡±


    ¡°Right of course¡± Mason met my puas ansin as we channad silentmunication 1/2


    ¡°When did she start reading?¡± He thought to me.


    ¡°As far as | know, this morning,¡± | replied through the mind link


    ¡°Abba,¡± Ste said impatiently, tugging his hand.


    ¡°Did you see Xander and Zane?¡± | asked as he let our daughter lead him away.


    ¡°Yes. We''re good,¡± Mason thought back, although his attention was fixed on Ste and her description of something she¡¯d read in


    the encyclopedia.


    Through the open door, | could hear her reading to him. | helped the twins get cleaned up, just finishing as the door opened


    again to reveal Zane and Xander. Both of them wereughing, arms slung over each others shoulders. Relief swept over me.


    They obviously weren''t fighting anymore,


    ¡°Papa!¡±


    ¡°Daddy!¡±


    The twins ran to their fathers. Zane scooped up Isaac, and Xander tossed ina high into air, catching her easily as she


    shrieked withughter. He snuggled close to her.


    ¡°Hello, love,¡± he thought to me. ¡°About earlier...


    | cut him off with my reply through the link. ¡°Never mind. I¡¯m just d you''re all back home. We''re all


    together.


    ¡°Daddy, y with us!¡± ina shouted, squealing with delight as her father tossed her again.


    Xander caught her in one arm, cradling her against his broad chest. ¡°As you wish. What do you want toBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    y?¡±


    Isaac squirmed to get down from Zane¡¯s arms and ran to the bookcases along the wall. Whoever had supplied these rooms for


    us had been thoughtful enough to provide a bunch of kid-friendly board games. Isaac picked out Weasels and Swings, an old


    favorite | hadn¡¯t yed in ages.


    ¡°Stellie! Come y! Abba! Come y!¡± ina shouted as Xander put her down.


    | was reminded again of Ste ying Hide and Seek Of my sister, of my childhood. But for now, | was present here, with my


    children and my mates. Instead of letting myself be haunted, | chose to focus on the blessings the Moon Goddess had bestowed


    upon us all.


    | was going to be grateful for this peace as long as | could...because | knew it couldn''tst forever.

 Chapter 369

    Xander


    Nobody would ever use me of beingputer savvy, but | was doing okay. | had a few different spreadsheets up on the


    laptop in front of me, and the notepad on the table was full of my scribbled notes. This meeting wassting forever, and we


    weren''t even really close to being finished.


    | had to admit, though, it felt good to be doing something. So far, we¡¯d spent the morning going over the different security


    protocols already in ce in the enve. Most of them were fine, and a few were even impressive. But there were still fragilities


    in the system that could be exploited. Mason had pointed out a few | hadn¡¯t even noticed, and | also had to admit | was


    impressed.


    Mchi and the other enve members on the leadership council seemed to be, too. They also seemed to be regarding me and


    my brother as a team. | wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about that. It made sense, sure, but it wasn¡¯t like we¡¯d grown up together. Had


    never led a pack together.


    ¡°Now, about the testing for Lanie,¡± Mason was saying when | snapped back to attention. He addressed Mchi and also


    Charlotte. ¡°I''d like to insist that there be some better protocols or checks and bnces put in ce for that. | know it has to


    happen, but...


    He looked at me.


    ¡°We don''t like our mate being set up to do things we can¡¯t be sure she understands how to control,¡± |Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    finished for him in a firm tone.


    | wasn¡¯t going to let anyone here talk us out of this. We''d discussed it beforeing to the meeting, and both of us had agreed.


    Lanie was not going to be used by anyone. Not for any reason.


    Mchi steepled his fingers under his chin and studied us for a minute or so without speakin finally did, he sounded kind of


    amused, which, no lie, kind of pis sed me off. ¡°When will the pair of y ept that your mate is, and always will be, much stronger


    than the two of youbined?¡±


    ¡°It''s not about how strong she is,¡± Mason cut in before | could snap back. ¡°It¡¯s not about her skill.


    about her being able to use that strength and skillpetently, something that¡¯s impossible to do with


    training and practice.¡±


    ¡°Yet you''re trying to hamstring me about the testing.¡± Mchi said.


    | shook my head and made sure to address each member at the table as calmly as | could. | remembered once seeing my father


    shouting during a pack meeting. Totally losing his sh it. I''d vowed back then that I''d be careful how | approached people, and |


    wasn¡¯t proud to realize | hadn¡¯t been doing a great job of it. | was going to try extra hard today.


    ¡°We understand that you know all this stuff, Mchi, but we don¡¯t. And Lanie doesn¡¯t. And, honestly, man, you''ve said yourself


    that there are things you haven¡¯t seen before. It¡¯s not out of line to work within a set of


    parameters,¡± | told him.


    ¡°Ones you''ve set, along with your brother,¡± Mchi said. 1/2


    Mason nodded. ¡°You''ve trusted us enough to take our counsel about your security measures. Why wouldn¡¯t you trust that we can


    come up with safety procedures that will allow you to do what you have to for Lanie¡¯s growth, but also protect her? And anyone


    else she¡¯s working with.¡±


    Mchi rolled his eyes but then nodded. ¡°Very well. No more testing of her abilities until you¡¯ve managed toe up with


    something. But you must get her permission as well, do you understand? | realize wolves are rather more...¡± He paused.


    ¡°Patriarchal, shall we say. In terms of how you deal with your mates. But although. we wee your kind here in the enve, we


    do not hold by outdated gender standards.¡±


    | barely kept myself from rolling my eyes right back at him. ¡°This isn¡¯t about gender. As our Luna, Lanie is given the utmost


    respect. We just want her to be safe. | would think you¡¯d want that, too.¡±


    ¡°| do.¡± Mchi sighed. ¡°The hours have passed, and fear it¡¯s time to do more than feed our minds with ideas. My stomach is


    empty, and I¡¯m sure all of yours must be as well. | move we adjourn for meals and reconvene this meeting tomorrow. Mason and


    Xander, | expect you to havee up with something to start with by then. The longer we wait to help your Luna reach her full


    potential, the more potentially damaging it


    might be for her.¡±


    This was the first I''d heard of that. ¡°Huh?¡±


    Lanie¡¯s grandfather raised an eyebrow. ¡°To put it more simply for the two of you. The longer Lanie goes without being able to


    harness the full array of her powers, the more likely it is that it will begin to affect her body. And worse..her mind.¡±


    212

 Chapter 370

    Lanie


    It had been a little over a week since I¡¯d been able topel Greyson, but | hadn¡¯t done anything like that since. Mason and


    Xander had been called to take part in the leadership council, which had been taking up a lot of their time, and | knew my


    grandfather and Charlotte were also busy with that.


    Zane had been finding ways to spend his time, and so had Gabri. The children were all in school. | was the only one without a


    specific task or job. | was starting to get really bored.


    At the same time, | was d to have the time to figure out what, exactly, | wanted to do about all of this new power | could feel


    burbling up inside of me. After seeing how it made my mates feel to watch me, and knowing how it had made me feel after, |


    wasn''t really that eager to have Mchi test me again.


    In fact, | was kind of nervous about it.


    The only way to stop yourself from worrying about something was to make sure you knew as much as you could about


    everything that could go wrong. My mom had told me that once, a long time ago, and I''d never forgotten it. At the time, I¡¯d


    thought she was being too overprotective, maybe even a little bit paranoid. Now, as a mother myself, | thought | understood her a


    lot better.


    Today I''d decided | was going to start setting goals for myself. The enve had so many resources avable. Libraries crammed


    full of books, aputer cafe where you could ess the inte that was blocked in much of the rest of the ce, and even


    sses you could sign up for. Because there were so many types of supernaturals living here, | was far from the only one who


    didn¡¯t know a lot about the different ways things worked.


    Of course, only the wolves had been specifically kept in the dark, but | wasn¡¯t going to let that keep me back any more. | had a


    wealth of information at my fingertips, and | was going to start learning.


    But first....a meat pie.


    I


    There were things | didn¡¯t love about living here-not having my own ¡®stuff¡¯ for example. Our rooms were grand, but | missed


    having a yard. Trees.


    The food, however, was amazing. Plenty of it, and | never had to lift a finger to cook it.


    I''d stopped at the main library on the way to this cafe and found a few texts on the history of vampires. | figured I¡¯d try to learn as


    much as | could about that side of me. | had another book about vampire physiology and psychology, too. There wasn¡¯t an


    equivalent book for wolves, and the only information I''d been able to pull


    on hybrids was more like a pamphlet than a full research book. It was a start, at least.


    up


    | ordered my meat pie and ager, then dove into the books. I¡¯d brought my own notepad, and as | bent over the words on the


    page, | scribbled my thoughts down. | made a little chart and a diagram as things


    started to be more clear to me.


    So much to learn, so much to know. And the High Council had kept all of it from me.


    Me at lust ma Ahun


    Hatred burned in my gut like a volcano when | thought about how arrogant they¡¯d been. And how st upid, too. To think they could


    hide an entire world of history from us because...why? Wolf psychology meant we


    trusted our leaders?


    Vampires didn¡¯t run in packs. They formed groups, usually family based, but it wasn¡¯t the same. The Ancients were more


    powerful, but they didn¡¯t rule over everyone the way our Alphas did. | found it fascinating. especially when | started to read about


    how vampires mated. How they reproduced.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    How they made other vampires.


    | hadn''t been thinking much about Braden and Mchi being together because it still kind of squicked me out. But | did want to


    find out if | would be able to turn anyone into a vampire. | didn¡¯t want it to happen by ident, that much | knew for sure, and |


    really didn¡¯t know how | felt about the idea that if | ever did do it, that new vampire would have to rely on me for everything for an


    untold number of years. Since vampires were basically immortal, it could even be centuries.


    ¡°Way more responsibility than having a pup,¡± | murmured to myself as | flipped the book¡¯s pages.


    Of all the subjects I''d been studying, this was the one that didn¡¯t seem to have much information about it


    at all. That''s when | saw the chapter | needed. | had to stifle my gasp at what | saw there.

 Chapter 371

    Zane


    Xander and Mason were busy with the leadership council meeting and probably would be all day. The fact that | hadn¡¯t been


    invited to attend or participate rankled in my gut, and not just because the leadership council didn¡¯t seem to think my presence


    was valuable.


    My own two Alphas didn¡¯t seem to think it was necessary to tell everyone else that they wanted me there.


    There were some wolves here at Brightsky, just like there were some of every kind of supernatural. Even some I''d never heard


    about, much less believed really existed. But the wolves who''d been a part of the enve for a long time also hadn''t had any


    dealings with pack business or how things were run in a long time, and most of them had been Rogue beforeing here. So


    even if they did remember how packs were run, they were generally not the sort to hold onto traditional pack structure.


    That was why | could possibly forgive Mason for not taking me into consideration. There was no excuse for Xander, though. We¡¯d


    been partners since we were pups, but suddenly he didn¡¯t seem to need me by his side. As much as finding out about Mason


    also inheriting Orion¡¯s Alpha powers had enraged him, you¡¯d think he wouldn¡¯t be tossing me over for someone he considered a


    rival.


    But here | was, wandering the halls of Brightsky alone to act like | had somece to go and something to


    do, while my Alphas ignored me.


    | could spend weeks exploring every nook and cranny in this ce and still not find where all the corridors. and staircases led. I''d


    learned quickly enough that the elevators were the fastest way to travel between levels but not the most efficient. There were


    plenty of ces that were still only essible via back stairwells or tunnels or even through rooms that led to other rooms and


    had no other entrances or exits...at least none th


    I could see.


    That didn¡¯t seem to be very safe to me. In the event of a full-scale attack, anyone in one of those back rooms would be trapped. |


    made note of the ones | found and reminded myself to do more than keep a menta


    map, but also draw a physical one. Of course, the enve probably had maps aplenty...but making my ownN?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    would mean | got it right and didn¡¯t have to trust the ones they let us see.


    Today I''d discovered a series of stairs behind a nondescript metal door at the end of a hallway with


    nothing else in it. The stairs went down. They were concrete with stainless steel railings. Very industrial.


    Nothing on the walls to indicate floors or location in the enve overall, but also no signs of any


    security preventing entrance. Honestly, I¡¯d only stumbled on them because | decided on a whim to take a left instead of


    a right.


    It didn¡¯t look like anyone else had been through here in a long time, either, based on the strings of dusty cobwebs in the corners.


    As | rounded onending to see another three sets of stairs, | considered going back up. That''s when | heard the tiny voice


    whispering.


    The hairs rose on the back of my neck, and my wolf instantly went on high alert. | had one hand on the railing, and | looked over


    it both up and then down to see if someone had followed me in there. Nobody.


    The voice whispered again, a little louder this time.


    | went very still and let my wolf rise. My senses heightened. | smelled dust, stale air, and cleaning


    but old. A faint breeze tickled my cheeks from some overhead air vents, but the cirction in this stairwell wasn¡¯t the best. The


    lights were also dim behind and in front of me, brightening only where | walked.


    | wasn¡¯t afraid. Whatever was lurking in this mostly abandoned stairwell probably wasn¡¯t going to attack me. Not in the enve.


    But still, it was unsettling to hear a voice murmuring and now yeah, it was straight up.


    chuckling at me.


    ¡°Who''s there?¡±


    ¡°Look up!¡±


    | did, scanning the sloping ceiling but saw only the concrete bottom of the stairs above me. ¡°Where are


    invisible?¡± you? Quit fooling around. If you want to talk to me, show yourself. What are you,


    | didn¡¯t know what kind of supernatural could do that other than a witch. Theughter got a little louder. |


    looked all around me and still didn¡¯t see anything.


    ¡°lm not invisible!¡± The voice tinkled like a small bell.


    ¡°I''m just small. Wait a second. I''ll get bigger.¡±


    Motion caught my attention from a high corner. A shadow stretched. Long legs. Bright, sparkling eyes...


    By the Moon..it was a spider!


    212

 Chapter 372

    Mason


    My wolf, Colt, finally had enough of being suppressed.


    His growl ripped out of my throat as | felt my canines lengthening. One nipped my bottom lip, and | tasted. blood. | could¡¯ve


    restrained him, but | let him show himself as much as | could without actually shifting.


    ¡°Bro. Impressive as f uck,¡± Xander thought to me while aloud, his wolf, Hunter, also snarled.


    We were both on our feet, fists on the table, leaning toward the ancient vampire. Mchi turned his face. and waved a hand in


    front of it.


    ¡°Boys, settle yourselves. | can smell your wolves all the way down here.¡±


    Xander¡¯s wolf rumbled in his voice when he replied.


    ¡°Mock if you want, but you will not dismiss us.¡±


    ¡°Not when ites to our Luna,¡± | added with Colt¡¯s growl edging my tone.


    Charlotte stood and waved her hands at all of us.


    ¡°Let''s have everyone just calm down. Please. Xander and Mason, don¡¯t make me have you removed from the room. We value


    your contributions to the leadership council, and | understand your concerns about your mate, but this is not the ce for


    antagonism!¡±


    ¡°Tell that to him,¡± | muttered with a point of my chin at Mchi. The old bas tar d was smiling at us both. | reeled Colt back in by


    promising to take another long run with him. Outside, if we could manage it. | sat back in my chair.


    Xander followed me after a few seconds, but his wolf kept zing in his eyes. He bared his teeth and shook his head like a wolf


    shaking its ruff. For a minute, wasn¡¯t sure he was actually going to stop his


    I


    change.


    Finally, he faced Charlotte with no signs of Hunter in him at all.


    ¡°Look. We get it. We''re new here, and you don¡¯t have many wolves at all, much less Alphas like us.¡±


    ¡°I''ve never even heard of Alphas like you,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Your entire family is unique.¡±


    It could have sounded like she was just sucking up, but the smile on her face looked sincere. It settled me


    down alittle. Xander, too.


    ¡°But you can¡¯t just keep tossing out all of these bombshells and not expect us to get upset.¡± | finished Xander¡¯s statement for


    him. ¡°You all aren¡¯t used to wolves like us, but we aren¡¯t used to any of this at all.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Mchi said in a tone that sounded genuinely sorry.


    Charlotte shot him a fond look. ¡°Vampires are well known to have a ir for the dramatic.¡±


    for all to get along and appreciate our differences.¡±


    ¡°So how about instead of being all dramatic about it, then, you just tell us what we should be worried


    about for Lanie,¡± | said.


    ¡°Yeah. Is she in danger of getting sick? Or ending up in aa? What?¡± Xander demanded.


    Mchi leaned forward in his chair. ¡°Unfortunately, much as with everything else rting to my granddaughter in particr, we


    simply cannot be one hundred percent sure. There have been cases of hybrids. who, for some reason or another, have been


    unable to ess their full strengths, even with a lot of training. Some with a lesser m ental capacity, for example.¡±


    ¡°Lanie¡¯s one of the smartest women I¡¯ve ever met.¡± | defended her boldly.


    Mchi inclined his head. ¡°I agree. | have no doubts that she will be able to learn everything she has to. The problem lies within


    the scope of what that means.¡±


    Xander shot me a look and a thought. ¡°Now what the hell''s he talking about?¡±


    ¡°You''re not entirely sure what she¡¯s fully capable of, so you can¡¯t be sure you can teach her everything she needs to know. Am |


    getting that right?¡± | asked Mchi, who nodded.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Xander picked up where | left off. ¡°So then what?¡±


    ¡°The solution to that, fortunately, is a simple one. We teach her every skill we can think of. It will be quite intense. And first, of


    course, she has to be tested to see if she inherited the skills. So if the only way the two of you overprotective lunks will allow it is


    if you can be in charge of the safety protocols, then by all means, please set them up. But do it quickly. By the end of the day, if


    possible, so she can get started first thing in the


    morning.¡±


    My brother and | exchanged looks. He nodded, and | returned it. Xander gestured at Mchi.


    ¡°We''ll need a list of the potential skills you''ll be testing and how you n to do it. If there are people you


    be asking to help you out, we need their names.


    Background information. Anything like that.¡± Xander sounded confident, and d amn, | did admire the way


    he was able to step up like that.


    Not for the first time, | wondered what it would be like to really rule the Constantine pack beside him.


    The longer we stayed here, the less confident | was that we¡¯d ever have the chance.

 Chapter 373

    ¡°On the subject of hybrids, their strengths and weaknesses, and of particr importance to their upbringing.¡± | read the title of the


    old fashioned essay aloud.


    It wasn¡¯t printed in the book but in a sheaf of folded papers that fell out when | turned a page. It looked more like a rough draft of


    an essay rather than any published piece. It was written in faded ink, the handwriting thin and ornate and hard to read.


    Since I''d found afy chair tucked away into a back corner of this small library, there wasn¡¯t anyone around to see what | was


    doing. Nevertheless, following some instinct | couldn¡¯t put my finger on, | settled deeper into the chair and turned my body away


    from the room to shield what was in my hands.


    Slowly, | turned the pages of what I¡¯d found. The handwriting covered both sides, top to bottom, of four The paper itself was


    weirdly thin, almost transparent, and yet despite having words on both sides, nothing was showing through.


    pages.


    | held it up to the light and noticed a faint drawing or engraving of what looked like the moon and a woman with stars in her hair.


    The Moon Goddess? In one hand she held what looked like a bottle, and a wolfy curled at her feet. The drawing was


    surprisingly intricate for a watermark. It was also an image I¡¯d never seen before, but it had a kind of religious vor to it that


    made me think maybe this paper had been written by one of the Moon Goddess¡¯s followers.


    That could mean wolf, vampire, or probably even witch. For all | knew, there could be any dozen other kinds of supernaturals


    who worshipped her. What mattered to me was that I¡¯d found a paper about hybrids. | sent up a prayer to the Moon Goddess


    hoping I''d finally learn something concrete.


    o over ita


    The paper used a lot of flowerynguage, which was kind of hard to understand. | had to go couple of times when the sentences


    ran on and on.


    Sometimes, there were references to things | couldn¡¯t figure out. Names of supernatural races | didn¡¯t recognize and hadn¡¯t met


    here at Brightsky. Dozens of references to historical events that seemed to bemon knowledge for whoever had written this


    paper but that I¡¯d never heard of


    That wasn¡¯t shocking. | knew the High Council had kept us all isted for that very reason, to keep us ignorant. What was


    unsettling was just how many times | had to go back and reread something, trying to put it into context, without even knowing


    where to begin.


    Beyond the Great Wars, there had been other battles,


    The paper touched on interactions of supernaturals with humans in times long past, when apparently we''d all lived in greater


    harmony. Or if not harmony, | realized, reading on, at least less secrecy Humans had widely known and epted the existence


    of supernaturals. ording to this paper, some great disaster had changed all of that, but it didn¡¯t go into detail about what that


    was


    | really needed a notebook and pen to start taking notes about all the things | was reading that led me to


    research more thinns | didn¡¯t understand it


    was hark in school again only this time instead of heina


    a pretty decent student that got good grades, | felt like the bad pup in the back of the row who shot spitballs at the teacher when


    her back was turned. The one who failed all the tests.


    For now, I''d have to use my phone. | snapped pictures of the sections | found most confusing, and added some typed thoughts in


    my notes app. By the time | got to the end of the four pages, a headache was starting to brew. More than once, Lily had probed


    at my mind. That wasn¡¯t usual of her. She reacted to my strong emotions, yes, and if it had been too long since she¡¯d had her


    freedom, she was more likely to nudge me for it. But reading this paper, it was almost like my wolf was reacting to the words,


    especially the things | wasn¡¯tBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    understanding.


    | tried again. The first couple of pages had a history of the different kinds of hybridbinations and what traits were more often


    dominant versus recessive.


    Something | found interesting was that hybrid children were more often twins than singletons, something that | would never have


    guessed. Alice¡¯s babies were twins and hybrids, but neither ina or Isaac had shown any signs of special qualities and


    probably wouldn¡¯t until adolescence.


    Not like Ste.


    At the thought of my daughter, Lily whined. Her insistence grew stronger. There was something in these pages that my wolf had


    seen...and it was about my daughter.

 Chapter 374

    Zane


    Spider shifters?


    ¡°I''m not a shifter.¡± The spiderughed again. Now it was the size of a cantaloupe, which thankfully seemed about as big as it was


    going to get. It looked me over with its eight sparkling eyes and waved one long front leg at me. ¡°Just an envian spider.¡±


    ¡°You read my mind?¡±


    ¡°| could see the horror all over your face,¡± she said.


    ¡°But yes, | read it. A little. You were sending very loudly. It¡¯s a bit rude to invade someone¡¯s thoughts, so we spiders generally


    only do it amongst ourselves. | do want to reassure you, though, | am not a shifter.¡±


    | still took a step back and looked around the stairwell for any signs there might be more potentially giant spiders. ¡°I¡¯m Zane.¡±


    ¡°I''m Bellissa. I''ve heard of you. We all have. The wolves who came to Brightsky with Mchi¡¯s granddaughter. Wee.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± This was kind of awkward.


    ¡°Out exploring are you?¡± Bellissa waved her leg again


    ¡°Are you looking for Greyson? Sorry. That was a bit rude. You''re just sending so loudly, it¡¯s difficult not to


    receive.¡±


    ¡°| guess | am?¡± | said. ¡°I mean, | was just kind of wandering around. Getting they of thend, so to


    speak.¡±


    The spider dangled lightly from a thin string of webbing that attached itself to a high-up corner. She spun gently in the breeze


    from a nearby venttion duct. ¡°It¡¯s always good to understand where you are...


    Would you like me to find Greyson for you? | can put out a call to my friends.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± | looked up the stairs and then down again. | could spend the day wandering around without any purpose, or | could hang


    out with Greyson, assuming this spider could help me find him. ¡°Sure.¡±


    She let out another tinkle of that lightughter and said after a second, ¡°Oh, he¡¯s far, far down in the pearl


    fields.¡±


    ¡°In the what, now?¡±


    ¡°The undergroundkes in the caverns that the enve was built over,¡± Bellissa exined cheerfully, pointing with one leg to the


    stairs going down. ¡°Some of them house fish, while others grow edible water nts. And of course the ms and mussels


    provide food for the ducks and chickens on the farm level, and the pearls are sold to wealthy human collectors so the enve


    has ie. This entireplex was designed


    to be self-sustaining.¡±


    ¡°For safety?¡±


    ¡°In the event of an attack, especially a siege, yes. But generally, also in case that its residents determine there''s a need to


    completely go underground. Not just physically; | mean if the leadership council feels like it''s imperative for us all to withdraw


    from the world.


    Hide for any indeterminate amount of time.¡±


    ¡°Why would they decide that?¡±


    She waved both her front legs. ¡°I suppose if there seemed to be some kind of natural local or global disaster. I''ve heard stories


    about an enve-¡±


    ¡°This one?¡±


    ¡°No, an older one.¡±


    ¡°How many are there?¡±


    Bellissa swayed lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know, really.


    Envian spiders can only talk to others in the same enve. But I''ve heard there were at least a few other enves. And one


    of them went on lockdown during the humans¡¯ ck gue. They didn¡¯t re-emerge until sometime after the invention of the


    airne. It must have been quite shocking for them all.¡±


    ¡°How often has this enve gone into lockdown?¡±


    ¡°We spiders live short livespared to most of you, so | can say that it hasn''t happened in my lifetime and it won¡¯t mean


    much,¡± Bellissa admitted. ¡°But because we live such short lives, we also share generational memories. So far as I¡¯m aware, no,


    Brightsky has never gone into lockdown. But isn¡¯t itforting to know that you''re safe here and could be for the rest of your life


    and the lives of your children, your children¡¯s


    children...¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to stay in here forever,¡± | interrupted. ¡°I sure don¡¯t want my descendants to have to, either.¡±


    Bellissa chuckled. ¡°I suppose not. We spiders like our dark corners and our sheltered spots. I¡¯ve heard the sun is horribly bright.


    No, thank you. Ah, my sister Agatha says that she would be happy to tell Greyson you¡¯re on the way, if you like. So he doesn¡¯t


    leave before you get there. It¡¯s a terribly long way down via the stairs, andContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    I''d hate for you to make the trip without reason.¡±


    ¡°That would be great. Thanks. I''ll just head down that way anyway,¡± | said, already turning. | might as well see the pearl farms


    whether Greyson was there or not.


    worry.


    ¡°Have fun!¡± Bellissa called after me. ¡°Oh, and in case the enve suddenly goes into lockdown, don¡¯t


    The rms will all sound and the lights will go off, but you should still be able to breathe all right. At


    least, | think so.¡±


    | paused with my hand on the railing. ¡°I thought you said Brightsky had never gone into lockdown.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± said Bellissa cheerfully, ¡°there¡¯s always a first time!¡±

 Chapter 375

    Lanie


    | paused and closed my eyes so | could make a better connection with my wolf Lily couldn¡¯t read, of course. She could


    understand words that | read, but even if | gave her control of my eyes so | could use her vision, she could only see the words on


    the page, their sharp strokes and spatters of ink, or the erasure marks that were too faint for my human vision to pick up. She


    couldn¡¯tprehend anything without my


    interpretation.


    Still, she wouldn¡¯t stop whining and pacing, pawing at the ground and even howling so fiercely that the sound almost jumped out


    of my throat-something | was pretty sure would get me kicked out of the library


    | soothed her and let her see through my eyes. At her wordless urging. | turned the pages slowly, scanning each line and trying


    to see what she saw.


    The watermark was clearest when | held the paper up to the light, but with Lily''s enhanced gaze, | could also see the outlines of


    the image beneath the words on the page. Over and over again, she had me look at the pages, up and down, line by line. The


    watermark was the same on each page, but no matter how many times | looked over them, | couldn¡¯t seem to figure out what it


    was that she wanted me to see.


    Finally in frustration, | shuffled all the papers together and turned them upside down, hoping that a different point of view might


    make a difference.


    I spun the papers around the right way and read another snippet about twins and hybrids, but again the author of the paper was


    referring to historical figures and events I''d never heard of


    was getting super frustrated, and my anger came out in my shaking hands. Lily wasn¡¯t happy, either anything, she seemed


    annoyed with me!


    Deciding to take some breaths and rx, hoping that somehow | could figure out what she was tryin tell me, | closed my eyes


    again. | put my hands on the papers, which were resting on top of therge book where I¡¯d found them. | let my body settle into


    thefortable chair:


    If | wasn¡¯t careful, | might just doze off The library was super quiet, but | could hear the murmurs of othe people sometimes, like a


    far-off distant hum


    White noise, like a fan whirring. | hadn¡¯t thought | was tired when I got here, but now it felt like all | wanted


    to do was sleep...


    And then | was walking in the forest with Lily at my side This didn¡¯t feel like a dream. Not exactly


    But | knew it had to be, because when my wolf took her control, me, Lanie, was inside her the way Lily


    remained inside me the rest of the timeContent ? N?velDrama.Org.


    We never walked next to each other this way. It was impossible. There was no Lily without Lanie, no Lanie without the wolf We


    were one being in two parts


    Yet, here we both were, padding along the crunching pine needles beneath trees so tall they seemed to


    fantastic, it had everything anyone could ever need or want...except, despite its name, the bright sky.


    My hand rested on the top of my wolfs head as we walked, | thought she might speak to me, since this was a dream or a vision


    or whatever, but Lily remained silent except for a few chuffs and rumbling growls when she wanted me to take one path or


    another. She led me deeper into the forest until we reached a


    clearing.


    Above us, the moon shone so brightly it was almost blinding. And...there she was. The woman from the watermark. She held a


    bottle in her hand. More like a pitcher, really. She tipped it into a ss and held it out.


    It was full of blood.


    | took it, wondering if the Moon Goddess meant for me to drink. The liquid inside was rich crimson and


    swirled like it had a life of its own.


    Lily went to Moon Goddess''¡¯s side and curled up at her feet, just like in the image on those papers. |¡¯ waited for the Goddess to


    tell me what she wanted me to do.


    Without words, she made a graceful gesture toward a book on the ground next to my wolf. | swore it


    hadn''t been there before.


    Lily took it in her teeth and trotted to me toy it at my feet. | looked down at its faded, green leather cover and the title stamped


    in gold foil.


    My fingers trembled as | stroked them over the ancient book. The title jumped out at me, almost stopping


    my heart.


    Celestial.


    212

 Chapter 376

    Xander


    Mchi had dismissed the rest of the leadership council and promised to get me and Mason all the information we''d asked for.


    He¡¯d even had food sent in for us. Big tters of steaks and ribs, along with a couple pitchers of beer. Myptop was practically


    smoking from all the files being downloaded to it, and my brother had a thick stack of files and papers in front of him to sort


    through.


    We had ourselves a tidy littlemand center here in the conference room. For the first time since we got to Brightsky, it finally


    felt like we''re doing something important. Making a real contribution. Sure, it was a selfish one for the sake of our Luna, but


    going over all the security protocols in the enve was going to help.


    more than just us.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    | was happy to feel like me and my brother were getting the chance to work together, too. Sure, we''d had our problems with each


    other in the past, but we''d also never really had an opportunity to find out if we could lead side by side.


    The vampire looked restless, though. He paced in front of the fake windows that made it look like we


    could see outside.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to stick around if you don¡¯t want to,¡± told him. ¡°So long as we get what we need, Mason and | can keep working


    on all of this without you.¡±


    ¡°Unless he doesn¡¯t trust us,¡± Mason used the mind link to say.


    ¡°What wouldn''t he trust us with? It¡¯s an empty room.


    It''s not like we could steal anything.¡±


    ¡°Well, something¡¯s wrong with him. He looks jumpier than a cat on a hot stove,¡± Mason thought.


    I snorted softughter aloud at that funny old-timey saying. Mchi spun around to face me. His expression was twisted into an


    emotion | couldn''t read.


    ¡°What''s up?¡± | asked him.


    The vampire waved a hand. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°You look nervous,¡± Mason said.


    Mchi shook his head and put both of his hands on his hips while he stared intently out the ¡°window.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything.


    My brother and | shared a look.


    ¡°Maybe you should eat something,¡± | suggested.


    The vampire¡¯s lips drew back to expose his suddenly much sharper fangs. | shot my brother a look.


    Mason¡¯s eyebrows were going up just like mine.


    Wolves had canines, upper and lower, and of course they got sharp when we were letting our wolves rise.


    Our teeth weren''t fangs, though. They didn¡¯t inject venom. | wasn¡¯t sure if vampires showed their teeth as a sign of aggression,


    but that¡¯s what it felt like, and it was making my wolf unhappy.


    ¡°Dude, what the f uck is up with him?¡± Mason thought to me.


    ¡°No clue. But he¡¯s making Hunter agitated.¡±


    ¡°Colt, too. Think we should try to calm him down or what?¡±


    ¡°You can both stop thinking about me,¡± Mchi snapped.


    His fangs shed, and spittle sprayed. His tongue slid out to swipe over his lips. He scraped both hands through his mane of hair


    and tossed his head back, shaking it. He let out a weird noise, too.


    ¡°Want to tell us what¡¯s going on?¡± Mason asked him.


    Mchi made a visible effort at getting calmed down.


    My brother and | shared another look. There was some s hit going down in this room, and both of our wolves were reacting to it.


    At the same


    time, it didn¡¯t seem like his weird behavior was directed at us. Not to mention that no matter how strong our wolves were, even


    the two of us together weren''t likely to be able to


    take down an Ancient.


    And if we did, what then? The entire enve would be against us. We''d never be able to get our Luna the


    help she needed.


    ¡°My apologies,¡± Mchi said. ¡°I¡¯m feeling strangely unwell.¡±


    ¡°Do you need us to call someone? A doctor? Get you some blood or something?¡± | asked him.


    Mchi rubbed his mouth but then shook his head.


    ¡°No. This isn¡¯t physical.¡±


    For the first time in the past few minutes, he looked at us and seemed to actually see us. ¡°Again, my apologies. You see, when


    you are as old as | am, the world feels different. | am tied to it in ways | could not


    begin to exin.¡±


    ¡°We aren''t idiots,¡± Mason said, but not like he was trying to be a d ick.


    From the way Mchi smiled, it seemed like he might be thinking about disagreeing. | held myself back from saying anything. |


    just watched him, letting my wolf''s senses enhance mine.


    Vampires didn¡¯t sweat, but | did pick up a kind of bitter scent that smelled like anxiety. No heartbeat or heavy breathing, but he


    was pacing and clearly focused on something internal.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Mchi said and then, like a shot, moving so fast he was a blur, he ran from the room


    212

 Chapter 377

    Lanie


    The thud of someone dropping a heavy book startled me into full consciousness. | was back in the library.


    Lily had retreated. The Moon Goddess was nowhere to be seen...


    But the lingering scent of pine needles still tickled my nose.


    | hadn''t fallen asleep and dreamed it. She¡¯de to me in a vision with a message, one clear enough that | didn¡¯t have to fight to


    figure it out. | sent up a grateful prayer with a small, embarrassed chuckle at how hard


    she''d had to work for me.


    ¡°Sorry, Lily,¡± | murmured to my wolf, who¡¯d also been doing her very best to get me to see the message.


    There was a book in this library that would tell me everything | needed to know. Now, | just had to find it. It was probably wrong to


    fold up the sheaf of papers into a fat square and shove it into the pocket of my jeans, but | was willing to take that risk. | returned


    the small stack of books I¡¯d been reading and forced myself to get


    into concentration mode.


    If finding that book was as easy as looking it up by the title, I¡¯d have found it already. That meant it was


    somewhere on these shelves but it had been misced, either by ident or maybe on purpose.


    But it was here, | knew it in my heart.


    There was no librarian here. People who wanted to check out books simply wrote their names and the book titles in a ledger,


    along with their address in the enve. | started there, skimming the list of titles just in case someone had checked the book out.


    | ran my finger down the lines, page after page. | came up with


    nothing. That was good...unless someone had taken the book without checking it out.


    | wouldn¡¯t let myself believe that. The Moon Goddess was guiding me. | had to trust in that guidance!


    But...where to begin? The library itself wasn¡¯t huge, but all four walls had shelves from the floor all the


    way to the ceiling, so tall there was adder on a rail that you had to climb to get to the very top shelves.


    Long rows of other shelves filled the center space with cubbies crammed full of books in the corners, too.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    There were also shelves that formed small reading nooks like the one I¡¯d been sitting in.


    Thousands of books. No idea where to begin. | thought about what I''d seen in my vision. The size of the


    book was a good clue to start with. It had been about the size of a big photo album, not small like a


    paperback novel.


    Also, it was leather-bound with gold leaf. Many of the books | was looking at had paper covers. | could


    eliminate them easily. Even so, it was going to take me a few hours tob through all of the books.


    Auick nce at the big clock on the wall told me | didn¡¯t have hours. | wanted to pick up the pups from


    school and spend time with them before everyone else came back to our quarters.


    Mason and Xander hadn''t told me what time they''d be back from the leadership meeting. | didn¡¯t know where Zane had gone,


    and my mother-inw kept her own schedule, too. She¡¯d also been distant from metely. Still helpful with the children but not as


    chatty with me as she¡¯d been before.


    Sometimes, it felt like she was studying me when she thought | couldn¡¯t see her. Hopefully, finding this book would help with that.


    The more knowledge | had, the better off we''d all be.


    The only thing | could do right now was start my search. And if | didn¡¯t find the book | needed, I¡¯d have toe back tomorrow


    and the next day until | did. | decided to make it easier on myself by starting at the library¡¯s far corner, on the bottom shelf. There


    weren''t many other people browsing here, but | didn¡¯t want to attract any extra attention by climbing those talldders.


    However, the Moon Goddess must still have been gulding my feet and my hands, because the moment | crouched down to run


    my fingers along the row of books on the lowest shelf, | felt the nubbly, rough leather cover of a book much bigger than all the


    others there.


    My heart leaped into my throat. | refused to rush and yank it out, instead pulling it out slowly and carefully in case the book was


    fragile. It had looked really old in the vision. Atst, | held it in both hands.


    Oversized, the book filled my entirep. Just as I¡¯d seen it, the gold foil title said Celestial.


    For a few seconds | almost couldn¡¯t bring myself to


    open it. | was so afraid I¡¯d find out something | didn¡¯t want to know...but at the same time, | desperately wanted to be prepared to


    face whatever wasing our way.

 Chapter 378

    Zane


    | was a little out of breath by the time | finished jogging to the bottom of the stairs. Another reminder that | really needed to find a


    ce where | could let de run free more often. Brightsky might be exactly what that spider had said-self-contained. But


    underground tunnels couldn¡¯tpete with a real bright sky. Me and my wolf both needed some more regr exercise.


    The smell reached me before the sight. Dampness. Not briny like the ocean, but more like minerals. | could hear the slosh of


    water as | turned a corner of the bare concrete corridor. The room beyond was lit with hundreds of lights that gave the space a


    natural glow.


    The ponds didn¡¯t look natural, though. They were built of concrete,rge rectangles more like swimming


    pools.


    | spotted Greyson right away. He had a with a long handle that he was dragging through the water. | watched as he h ooked


    what turned out to be a basket.


    He pulled it out, dripping, and set it on the side of the pond.


    ¡°Grey!¡± | called out, lifting a hand in greeting.


    For a second, he looked confused. When he saw me, though, he gave a wide grin and waved back. ¡°Zane!


    Hey!¡±


    | made my way toward him. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying this, but a spider told me you were down here.¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°They''re everywhere. How do you think the hallway lighting brightens and dims as you''re walking, or how the lights show you just


    where you want to go?¡±


    Greyson leaned the handle against the wall.


    ¡°| thought it was tech.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°Brightsky has tons of tech, sure, but the envian spiders are everywhere. Most of the time you won¡¯t even


    see them. I¡¯m surprised one showed itself to you.¡±


    Greyson put his hands on his hips and twisted at the waist, cracking his back. Then he rolled his head back and forth, cracking


    his neck. When he saw me looking, heughed. ¡°Sorry. Had a pretty solid workout earlier, and it kind of wrecked me.¡±


    ¡°| wish you''d called me. | need a solid workout,¡± | said


    Greyson studied me. ¡°Next time, | will. For sure. So...


    did you need something?¡±


    [e)


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You said one of the spiders told you | was down here.


    Were you looking for me?¡±


    S hit. If | said yes, was | going to look like a weirdo?


    ¡°Mostly just exploring,¡± | said. ¡°But I¡¯m d | found you.¡±


    ¡°Your Alphas are in the leadership council meeting, huh? So''s Charlotte. | know what it¡¯s like to have to


    find ways to fill your time. Want to see ¡®something cool?¡±


    | nodded. ¡°Always.¡±


    Greyson opened one of the ms to show me the pearls inside. ¡°These are worth hundreds of dors


    each. | haven''t been assigned farm duties in years, but sometimes | like toe down here and just check.


    them out. It¡¯s always quiet. Gives me time to think.¡±


    He pocketed the pearls and tossed the empty shell into a container at the end of the pond.


    ¡°Seems like maybe you''ve got a lot on your mind,¡±


    Greyson said. ¡°Anything you want to talk about?¡±


    Together, we walked along the edges of the ponds and into a long hallway on the outside. We passed a


    lot of doors, and when | peeked inside | could see other simr rooms. | waited until we reached the end of the


    hall and another set of stairs before | answered.


    ¡°| want to talk about what happened with Lanie and Charlotte, | guess.¡±


    ¡°What about it?¡± Greyson gave me a curious look as we started to climb the stairs.


    | paused on thending. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel...s hit. | hate to even say it. Vited?¡±


    Greyson¡¯sugh wasn¡¯t mocking. ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying. Yeah, at first | was kind of upset. I¡¯d never hurt


    my mate like that. But...well, it¡¯s part of being in a rtionship with Charlotte.¡±


    ¡°What? Having your mind be controlled?¡± | didn¡¯t even pretend | could understand this.


    ¡°Being tested, if it''s necessary. She¡¯s a hybrid, just like Lanie. There are lots of things Charlotte didn¡¯t


    realize she could do until she was tested. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s all pretty confusing for you as Lanie¡¯s mate.¡± Greyson


    eyed me. ¡°If you want to talk about it, I¡¯m here. | can¡¯t promise to answer all your questions, but if | can¡¯t, | can try to find


    someone who can.¡±


    ¡°Yeah...¡± | said with a nod and sense of hope rising inside me. | hadn¡¯t realized just how much all of this


    was weighing on me until Greyson made the offer.


    ¡°Yeah. I''d like that. I¡¯m not sure I''d even know where to start.¡±


    ¡°Tell you what,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°Let¡¯s go grab a drink, and we''ll see what happens.¡±

 Chapter 379

    Mason


    ¡°What the hell was that about?¡± Xander said as we both watched the Ancient vampire speed out of the


    room like he was on fire.


    The door mmed behind Mchi so hard a picture fell off the wall. | shrugged. ¡°Who knows?¡±


    My brother pushed his hair out of his eyes. ¡°Vamps, man. They''re weird.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± | agreed even though | didn¡¯t really want it to be true. After all, our Luna was part vampire. So wereContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    our pups.


    As if he¡¯d read my mind, Xander said, ¡°Lanie¡¯s not like that.¡±


    ¡°You saw her the day she used her mind control on Greyson, bro. She might not be fully vamp, but she¡¯s definitely not what we


    are used to. The things she can do...the things they''re suggesting she might be able to do.....¡±


    ¡°Those things are weird,¡± Xander said firmly. ¡°Our Luna is not. It¡¯s all f ucking weird, and | don¡¯t like it. Nove our Luna beyond the


    Moon and stars, but | don¡¯t want this for her. | agree she needs training to keep her safe, but... ah, d mn it, man. Mchi says


    we don¡¯t want her to be stronger than us, but what¡¯s wrong with that? What¡¯s wrong with wanting to be able to protect her?¡±


    I sat back in my chair, rocking it a bit on the back legs. ¡°No matter how powerful she is, we''ll always be able to do that. Which


    means we''d better forget about what her weirdo grandfather is doing and get to work.


    | don¡¯t really want to be in here all night, and he was pretty clear he wanted to get her started with heavy training by the


    morning.¡±


    ¡°Not happening,¡± my brother said curtly. He waved a hand at theptop and my pile of folders. ¡°I¡¯ve never drafted safety


    protocols for anything like this before, and | know you haven''t, either. It¡¯s going to take time to figure out what the best way to go


    about this would be. Also to reference anyone on these lists that he intends to have in her training.¡±


    ¡°If they live in the enve, they''ve already been vetted,¡± | told him.


    Xander shook his head again. ¡°I don¡¯t care about their credit scores or criminal records. | want to know who they are. Anyone


    who gets close enough to our Luna needs to pass inspection. They have to be trustworthy to keep her from getting hurt. Tell me


    you don¡¯t want to make sure of that.¡±


    ¡°Of course | do. But I¡¯m more worried about what Mchi said. About how the longer we wait, the more likely it bes that our


    Luna might start having issues. She¡¯s already had some strange s hit crop up with her. I¡¯m concerned,¡± my brother said.


    ¡°And you think I¡¯m not?¡±


    Aknock came at that her dohr, which opened before either of us could answer it. Charlotte peeked herhradad ad, then


    steppedhipsinsSthe She frowned.


    ¡®| was looking for Moradibhiv Do you know where he went? Charlotte asked.d


    He said he was sick sind randah out/d told her.


    Her frown got deeper. So diabthedthe crdasle between her eyes. ¡°Sick? But.....he doesn¡¯t get sick.


    Kander shrugged. ¡°Everyone gets gets sink sometimes.¡±


    No. | mean...vampires don¡¯tdpettsick.Sick.


    He didn¡¯t say he was sick. He said haid he was einwell,¡±


    corrected. ¡°He looked sick to me. Said Stawiswasnt physical. Then he ran out of here like a shot.¡±


    Charlotte looked concerned. lihaveltovgadigd find him. But while I¡¯m here, | wanted to see if you were.re


    able for another meeting.ing.


    kept my groan to myself. Xander and had a datafov off work to do just to get things in ce for Mchi¡¯s


    led testing with Lanie. We might even have twockwork:uhrough the entire night, something | wasn¡¯t looking ng


    ard to.


    What kind of meeting?¡± Xander askedsked.


    Specifically security. | have some concerns,rns,


    Charlotte said in a low voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to bring them to toother entire leadership council, in case I¡¯m being


    f line. But | know that the two of you would be able to loob apuatpour qurotocols without the prejudice of


    g lived here for a long time. I¡¯d like to get your opinionision over havehave enough defense systems in ce,


    Id we be attacked. Specifically by your High Council heil.¡±


    My wolf perked up at that.


    Do you have reason to believe that¡¯s going to happen?baskedsked her.


    Charlotte shook her head, but her expression twistedsted.


    No it¡¯s just a feeling | can¡¯t seem to shake. | have no proof that your tight@gh Councilknows about t


    much less that you¡¯re all here. But there¡¯s been a flurry of activity on mynotaybbdd blogsicmuch like it


    danie was searching. It feels suspicious. Like someone¡¯s been tracking king her.¡±

 Chapter 380

    poly ept is that your Luna is not like you¡± Greyson shrugged as hegged as he


    kn look, like i was going to argue with him.


    Were you ¡°Were you with Cherl


    Greyson In Greyson frowned an


    abusive busive Alpha and freed ! when she when she and | got toget


    | though! althought about my t


    ¡°She¡¯s luckyShe¡¯s lucky to have


    questions questions for me. Ask av


    Not even siNot even sure wher


    that whatever | thought | understood about Charlotte was never going toer going to aswbbold to watch. Listen. Learn. | had to let


    her lead,¡± Greyson said in an said advice you advies you have for me?!


    novdan know anything about dragon culture. Is that a problem? problem?


    ¡°That¡¯s a tougats a tough one,


    control talenatal talents, of course


    | didn¡¯t. Are grains. Are you say


    decides to decides to do?¡±


    176 Grevesm? Greyson chuckled, and | couldn¡¯t even take offense. He was se. He was


    Greyson¡¯srensen ughter c


    eterol as thevels the Alpha, but....yeah. No. It¡¯s not really the same. I¡¯d e same. Id ¡°But you¡¯re okayyoure okay wel


    s,¡± | said.


    remembering thaiensgtthatst time with Lanie when she¡¯d been wild been wild


    ed to pretendo pascade wasn¡¯t getting hard thinking about it. Talk about is kabout


    aid with a nod. Asafondragonfor dragons, since we¡¯re mostly solitary and


    same hierarchy you awonyesodowolvesado. But because we tend toward


    ontrol to someone else one else.¡±,


    s. right?


    dn¡¯t imagine my life without bewithmythesdymjust saying that my nature


    y our rtionship had to work, datuwonnd think the same could be


    ust a wolf, after all. after all.¡±


    Not because any of us don¡¯t aucemintea copiiites for who she is.


    ¡°That was para fasegaft of a


    ¡°What if Mcht habitacorba


    Greyson shook his heakst


    wouldn''t have allowed that towRED D


    to be totally ignorant of the test c.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I''m really all right withticettivi


    to perform, too. If you¡¯re calfedbon


    her using you as a Weapon a weap


    ¡°That makes me feel a li


    Lime


    ¡°The best advice I''d give


    time, and even for us, Chariot


    ¡°And Wolves don¡¯t live that


    ow exactly what that means. So welne working working all the time just


    ¡°Not usually. No. So you shoul


    ndships, too.¡± Greyson paused and sippedritisipadthis beer His gaze


    your entire life.¡±


    new what he was getting at. My Alpha$/leavingmiebving the behind. | just


    him.


    1/2Chapter 380


    ¡°Were you with Charlotte when she was first learning about how to hone her hybrid skills?¡±


    Greyson frowned and shook his head. ¡°No. I¡¯m much younger than she is. She¡¯d already been mated to an abusive Alpha and


    freed herself from that rtionship before she and | met. She was fairly confident in herself when she and | got together. Still


    always learning, though. That¡¯s something you''ll have to prepare yourself for.¡±


    | thought about my Luna. ¡°Whatever she needs, I¡¯m ready to give her.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s lucky to have you, Zane.¡± Greyson tipped his beer mug toward mine. ¡°But I¡¯m sure you have


    questions for me. Ask away.¡±


    ¡°Not even sure where to begin. | guess let''s just start with the basics,¡± | said. ¡°What''s the biggest piece of


    advice you have for me? How can | be ready to support Lanie, no matter what she needs?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a tough one, since we¡¯re not sure how her hybrid traits will manifest. We know about the mind


    control talents, of course.¡± Heughed.


    | didn¡¯t. ¡°Are you saying that | should be ready to let her make me hurt or kill people if that¡¯s what she


    decides to do?¡±


    Greyson¡¯sughter cut off abruptly, and his smile faded. ¡°No. Of course not.¡±


    ¡°But you''re okay with what she did to you.¡±


    ¡°That was part of a test.¡±


    ¡°What if Mchi hadn¡¯t stopped you? What if you¡¯d ended up actually hurting Charlotte? Or worse?¡±


    Greyson shook his head. ¡°I realize how shocking that must have seemed, but | promise you, Zane, Mchi


    wouldn''t have allowed that to happen. And they couldn¡¯t tell me ahead of time for my consent, because | had


    to be totally ignorant of the test for it to work.


    I''m really all right with all of it. They did what they had to do. There might be other difficult tasks for Lanie


    to perform, too. If you¡¯re called on to help her, then yes, be prepared. But | don¡¯t think you have to worry about


    her using you as a weapon.¡±


    ¡°That makes me feel a little better.¡± But only a little.


    ¡°The best advice I''d give you is to be prepared that you will age faster than she will. Dragons live a long


    time, and even for us, Charlotte¡¯s hybrid traits have given her a vampire¡¯s lifespan.¡±


    ¡°And wolves don¡¯t live that long,¡± | said.


    ¡°Not usually. No. So you should be ready to serve her for the rest of your life...but not the rest of hers.¡±

 Chapter 381

    Lanie


    Instead of opening the book, | clutched it to my chest. | sent up another grateful prayer to the Moon


    Goddess.


    ¡°And thank you for not losing patience with me,¡± | added in my head. ¡°For trusting that | can and will always follow you.¡±


    | didn¡¯t think anyone would pay attention to me reading a book. Everyone was doing the same thing.


    Since | wasn¡¯t sure what | was going to find, though, | wanted to take the book back to our quarters. | wanted to be able to take


    better notes than on my phone, too.


    The first thing that happened when | stood up was that the book was so heavy | had to use both hands to carry it. And then when


    | headed toward the desk where the ledger was, | tripped and almost fell over. | barely hung onto the book!


    Luckily for my pride, nobody seemed to notice my clumsiness. When | tried again to get to the desk, | stubbed my toe and let out


    a sharp cry. This time it was much more noticeable that nobody turned to look atBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    | went still, looking around. Seriously, nobody was looking at me or even seemed to notice | was standing in the aisle, based on


    how someone nearly ran me over. | had to jump out of the way. They looked back, though, surprised when | muttered, ¡°Excuse


    you.¡±


    So...1 wasn''t invisible.


    But every time | tried to get that book to the desk so | could check it out using the ledger, something stopped me. Something was


    shielding me from anyone in this library seeing that | carried that book.


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± | thought to the Moon Goddess. ¡°I get the hint. No paper trail.¡±


    It felt wrong to take that book out without following the rules. Like stealing. But for a good cause, | told myself as | carried it out of


    the library without anyone shouting after me that | shoulde back and sign it out. Once the door closed silently behind me the


    book itself got instantly lighter.


    | couldn''t do anything about the sheer size of it, so | tucked it under my arm and scurried through the hallways and staircases,


    heading for home. I''d have an hour or so to read it before | had to pick up the children from school, and then hopefully some


    more time after that.


    Just like in the library, nobody seemed to pay me any attention. | got on an elevator just before the doors closed, and nobody so


    much as looked at me or asked what floor | needed them to push. | did it myself, and the woman standing in front of the panel


    looked surprised, but as soon as | moved back a step, her face went


    nk again.


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    Chapter 381


    | did find myself wondering what kind of mischief | could get into with everyone in the enve seemingly thinking | wasn¡¯t there.


    When | was a kid, I''d always been fascinated by the stories about magic cloaks and whatnot...the book in my hand seemed like


    something of an equivalent. | wasn¡¯t going to risk anything,


    though. After all, | wasn¡¯t eight years old.


    Once back in our quarters, | cleared off the heavy wooden table from the children¡¯s books and board games. | found a notepad


    and several pens, and | settled into the chair with the giant book in front of me. This was it. Was | finally going to find out the truth


    about my precious little girl?


    Carefully, | opened the cover. The inside pages were of thick paper that had rough-cut edges. Instead of printed words, | saw


    handwritten scribbles that looked to be in a simr handwriting to the essay that I''d


    found tucked inside the other book. When | pulled it out, sure enough, they were the same.


    The title of the book was Celestial, but there was no author. To my shock, as | turned the first page, the words.....moved. They


    scrambled around and then settled back into ce. This time they appeared to be


    printed like a regr book, making it much easier to read.


    That wasn¡¯t the only shocker, though. The pictures in this book moved, too. Kind of like gifs, the illustrations ran on loops. |


    flipped through the entire book, fascinated by this magic. Had the author of the


    book been a witch?


    Witches can read


    My jaw dropped. Did this book just...read my mind and react to my thoughts?


    Witch blood Can read


    The words scrambled and formed the message, then reverted to the text. A picture of a rising sun side by


    side with a matching moon looped over and over.


    ¡°Where do | start?¡± | said aloud.


    Beginning


    |ughed. Of course. Where else? | shouldn¡¯t need a smart a ss book to tell me that.


    So, that¡¯s where | started.


    Page one.


    The first sentence.


    | recoiled in the chair. | couldn''t believe it. ¡°No!¡±

 Chapter 382

    Lanie


    | read the words aloud but softly, although | was alone and nobody would overhear me.


    ¡°Celestials are amongst the rarest of us, and therefore, the most blessed. Children of the Moon Goddess


    as well as her Sisters Sun and Earth, Celestials carry within them the powers of every supernatural kin.¡±


    Below that sentence was a list of the different supernatural kinds. Wolves, vampires, witches, fae,


    dragons...the list went on and on to the next page, naming supernaturals I''d never heard of.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mchi, you weren¡¯t exactly right,¡± | murmured, watching as another looping picture scrolled through


    illustrations of all the different beings that made up a Celestial. ¡°Gabri might have had a witch in her


    . bloodline, but that¡¯s not what makes my daughter a Celestial. It''s...everything. Everyone in every bloodline,


    ever.¡±


    Even a single drop passed along for generations.


    | read farther.


    ¡°Celestials carry the skills, powers, and traits-recessive and dominant-of every supernatural to ever have


    existed. Celestials are capable of everything any supernatural being can do. Furthermore, they are inplete


    control of these traits and skills from birth, so that any Celestial is able to present oneself solely as one


    supernatural, should they so choose, or to disy any or all of their other traits. See illustration.¡±


    | didn¡¯t even look at the picture right away. From birth? | had to digest this. | was no baby expert, but


    Ste had been born...well..normal. At least | thought she was.


    Normal for a Celestial The words rearranged.


    ¡°Are you a spirit or something trapped in here?¡± | asked.


    Just a book Read Me


    | felt giddy and almost hysterical from all of this. | had to get up and circle the table to burn o


    nervous energy. | was talking to a freaking book.


    And my daughter was probably the most powerful person in the entire world.


    | felt like | had to put my hand over my heart to stop it from leaping right out of my chest. | wanted scream and cry, but | was also


    proud. Anxious. Afraid.


    Overjoyed to have an answer, even if it left me with more questions than ever before.


    My Ste, my little star, was already proving that she could use multiple traits without being trained. S looked like a wolf pup, had


    experienced the doubling like one of them. She¡¯d never shown any inclinations toward needing or wanting to drink blood, and I''d


    never known her to be able to move physical objects with h


    1/3


    Chapter 382


    mind. She hadn¡¯t even been able to connect with her wolf yet..at least, I¡¯d never seen her do it.


    If she had all of these talents from birth and was capable of choosing them, did that mean that she was simply mirroring us, her


    family, in order to fit in?


    Did my precious little girl have any idea of how to be anything else? Perhaps she¡¯d need to be exposed to


    different supernaturals, see how they looked and what they could do, before she chose to manifest those


    talents...


    Would she no longer look like me?


    Astrangled cry shot out of me. | would love my child if she looked like a wolf, a vampire, fae, a dragon, no matter what. But this


    not knowing how to prepare, or even what to prepare for...


    ¡°Moon Goddess, if ever you offered me guidance, | sure could use some right now,¡± | said out loud.


    The lights flickered.


    paused, thinking it might have just been a trick of pages, or from my anxiety.


    my eyes from staring so hard at the old-fashioned The lights flickered again, this time staying dim for a


    few longer seconds. Definitely not my imagination.


    Immediately, | felt the nudge of my three mates in our bond link.


    ¡°Lanie?¡± Xander¡¯s voice filled my mind.


    ¡°I''m in our quarters. Where are you?¡±


    ¡°With Mason in a conference room.¡±


    ¡°Zane?¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± he thought back at once. ¡°I''m with Greyson in a pub.¡±


    ¡°Where are the pups?¡± Mason asked.


    ¡°In school,¡± | thought. ¡°I was just getting ready to go pick them up.¡±


    ¡°I''m the closest,¡± Zane thought to us all. ¡°I''ll go for them.¡±


    ¡°I''ll go, too,¡± | replied as my heart pounded. ¡°I''ll be there in ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°We''re on our way,¡± Xander thought to us all.


    Something wasn¡¯t right. | heard no rms bells ringing or anything like that, but in all the time we¡¯d been


    here, nothing like that had ever happened before. It could be nothing, or it could be something very big. Very


    important. Very dangerous.


    | had to get my children.


    | shoved the book into the shelf in the corner and ran for the door. | had my hand on it, flinging it open to


    2/3


    the empty hallway beyond.


    That¡¯s when the lights went outpletely, and | was plunged into total darkness.

 Chapter 383

    Chapter 383


    Lanie


    By the time we all got to the school, the other parents were lining up, too. Nobody seemed bent out of shape about the lights


    flickering. Some even joked about it.


    The only concerned faces | saw belonged to my mates.


    We got the pups back to our quarters. We settled all three with snacks and some games, and then they yed sweetly together.


    | watched Ste carefully.


    Now that I knew she had to be capable of reading my thoughts, | wanted to see if she¡¯d reveal that talent.


    Ste.


    She didn¡¯t look up or even seem to blink. That didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t hear me. Just that she didn¡¯t.


    Maybe she hadn¡¯t discovered yet that she could, or she¡¯d sensed that | was upset at the idea of her telling


    the teachers to make fa rt jokes.


    She was just a little girl, after all. One who''d grown faster than was to be expected... was trying really


    hard not to think of her in terms of ¡°normal¡± or not.


    She''d grown faster. Matured more quickly. She could do things other wolf children couldn''t, even things.


    other hybrid children weren''t able to.


    And for Ste, all of that was exactly as it was meant to be.


    ¡°Love?¡± Xander put a hand on my shoulder. ¡°We''re ordering dinner in tonight. What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Whatever you all decide will be fine with me.


    Something good for the kids that isn¡¯t nuggets or pizza,¡± | added absently.


    | wasn¡¯t hungry. That in and of itself seemed like a big change, considering how intense my appetite ha beentely. | pretended


    to be folding some clothes that hade back from theundry, but I was really watching Ste interact with ina and Isaac.


    None of our three pups had ever been a disciplinary problem. Nothing more than the general fussing. | couldn¡¯t even recall if any


    of them had ever had a tantrum. Wolves might be impassioned and full of emotions, but wolf pups were generally well-behaved,


    and ours were terrific examples of that.


    But what if...what if Ste did rebel? Even something as simple as telling her to go to bed, to brush her teeth...there was no way


    for me to enforce that. Not if she truly was as powerful as that book had said.


    | had thought Ste didn¡¯t fully understand what she was doing to those teachers and why it was wrong.


    She was just a little girl. But now | had to rethink that.


    | had to actually hope that she did, in fact, understand and chose to anyway, even knowing that it was


    wrong.


    Her childlike morals might need improvement, but that was better than thinking she could use that talent


    without understanding it.


    | had to believe she could choose it. Could control it. Because if she couldn''t, that would mean an


    out-of-control child had more power than anyone else alive.


    Xander


    | thought the knock at the door was our food being delivered, but it turned out to be Mchi. He entered


    our quarters without so much as a nod at me. He strode in and turned around with a triumphant gaze, hands


    on his hips.


    ¡°Hal¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°Ha, what?¡± | demanded:


    Lanie looked nervous. ¡°Grandfather?¡±


    Mchi barely looked at her. He focused on me and Mason. ¡°You two will be interested to know that my gut feeling-and yes, by


    the sun¡¯s belligerent rays, it was totally in my gut-¡±


    ¡°Get to the point,¡± Mason said.


    ¡°My gut was correct in telling me something was wrong,¡± the Ancient vampire said.


    Lanie let out a small noise. ¡°What''s wrong? What''s going on?¡±


    | could sense her anxiety rolling off her in strong waves. Zane could, too, and | sensed him sending out a few pulses of Beta


    energy. They didn¡¯t seem to be working.


    ¡°There is a town not far from here. Very remote. So remote,¡± Mchi said, ¡°that everyone in it single building. The entire town is


    in one building, can you imagine? Nothing like Brightsky.¡±


    Us.


    ¡°The point,¡± Lanie snapped.


    The vampire looked strangely giddy and didn¡¯t even take offense. ¡°We have sources there who


    And they¡¯ve said that multiple new faces have arrived there over the past few days. That¡¯s not at typical.


    Not this far out in the middle of nowhere. Certainly not without a reason. It¡¯s not a tourist spot.¡±


    Lanie nodded toward a light fixture. ¡°What happened earlier today with the lights?¡±


    Her grandfather turned to face her. ¡°Power surge, | suppose.¡±


    ¡°Is thatmon?¡± Mason asked.


    Mchi frowned. ¡°No. But it¡¯s not impossible. Even technology as advanced as we use here in the enve


    can be strained from time to time when there¡¯s a big draw on the power source.¡±


    ¡°Was there?¡± | asked.


    He shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.


    No wonder Charlotte wanted our input into the security here. Clearly, they''d all gotten too used to being


    ¡°safe,¡± which was the ripest time for something bad to happen.

 Chapter 384

    Lanie


    ¡°Little cars are listening, love,¡± | said as calmly as | could to Xander, trying to remind him that the children


    were present.


    | didn¡¯t want our pups to be scared, even though it was all | could do to keep myself from screaming at my


    grandfather that | needed to talk to him. Ste¡¯s small hand crept into mine and squeezed. When | looked down at her, she was


    smiling brightly up at me.


    Because she knew | was upset? Or just because she was my sunny-faced angel? | bent to scoop her up,


    staggering a step under her weight. She was getting too big to be carried, but | didn¡¯t want to put her down. It could be thest


    time | ever picked her up.


    | rubbed my nose against her cheek, and she hugged me hard.


    ¡°Love you, Mama,¡± she said, which was a nice change from being called Mother.


    Mchi, Xander, and Mason were muttering about the lights, power surges, the evidence of strangers in


    the nearby town. Alpha stuff. It was clear I¡¯d have to wait my turn.


    ¡°Xander,¡± | repeated. ¡°You and Mason should go with Mchi somewhere else to talk about this.¡±


    Mason looked over at us. He put his hand on his brother¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She''s right. Mchi, we should take


    this back to the conference room.¡±


    this.¡±


    Xander frowned, meeting my gaze. He nodded silently and used our link to think, ¡°Sorry, love.¡±


    ¡°I''ll call for an emergency meeting of the leadership council,¡± Mchi said. ¡°They all need to be told about


    The three of them left the room.


    | caught Zane¡¯s eye as he turned away. His face was pulled into a mask | couldn¡¯t interpret. H


    angry, More like he was disappointed.


    ¡°Papa?¡± Ste said in her high, clear voice. ¡°Will you y with me and Allie and Izzy?¡±


    He smiled and walked immediately toward the stacks of board games on the bookshelves. ¡°Of c


    Ste gave me another grin. | still couldn¡¯t figure out if she was reading me, or if she was making


    what she wanted him to do. It made sense that he¡¯d agree to y with them. It wasn¡¯t out of character


    anything like that. Even so, something in the way she looked at me made me think she was manipting


    situation.


    | had to stop myself from doing this. No matter what my daughter was able to do, | had to find out, not keep guessing and making


    silent assumptions about her motives. She was a child, for crying out loud!


    Il


    [e)


    Another knock came at the door, and | answered it. It wasn¡¯t the food this time, either, but Greyson, who stepped through the


    doorway when | stood aside to let him in.


    fine.¡±


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± Greyson addressed Zane. ¡°You took off so fast. | wanted to make sure you were all


    Zane and | exchanged looks.


    ¡°We''re all good. The power surge startled us, that¡¯s all,¡± Zane said. ¡°That is what happened, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Greyson nodded. ¡°I¡¯d assume so, since the lights were only out for a minute.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Allie and Izzy. Let¡¯s go y in my room,¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Ste said and took her siblings by the hands. She shot a look at me over her shoulder right before she


    closed the door.


    | let out a breath I¡¯d been keeping held tight in my throat. My entire body felt slumped but tense at the


    same time. It might only have been a power surge like my grandfather and Greyson both said, but there was


    no question it had felt more dangerous than that. All four of us had felt it.


    Greyson lowered his voice., ¡°Charlotte let me know that Mchi got word about the new arrivals in


    Standard.¡±


    ¡°That''s the name of the town?¡± Zane asked.


    Greyson nodded. ¡°The closest one, yes. We consider them a port of entry to the enve. It''s so remote,


    the only people who go there have to have some reason for it.¡±


    ¡°Maybe those new people have a reason,¡± | said.


    ¡°New arrivals could also be the reason for a power surge,¡± Greyson replied. ¡°Brightsky supplies Standard


    with power for the entire town.¡±


    ¡°A few extra people could deplete the power so much it causes a surge in the enve?¡± Zane sounded


    suspicious.


    ¡°Im not on the tech team, so | can¡¯t answer you withplete confidence, but it¡¯s my understanding tha we create the power.


    Sr, geothermal, steam, even methane dumps from the farm levels.¡± Greyson ticked th list off on his fingers. ¡°It all gets sorted


    and ported, as the tech team says. A portion of it is sent to Standard,


    where it¡¯s stored. So, yes, if they got new folks in town who used up the normal power stores, it would send a


    bump over here.¡±


    ¡°Still feels wrong,¡± Zane thought to me.


    Tagreed.


    | also thought we had bigger things to worry about.

 Chapter 385

    Xander


    Mason and | had left the conference room in such a rush that we hadn¡¯t taken theptop or other notes.


    While we were gone, Charlotte had tidied it all up. | bet that she looked through it all, too. That¡¯s what I''d


    have done. Nothing we''d been prepping was a secret, anyway.


    Mchi took his seat at the head of the table and looked around as everyone settled into their chairs.


    ¡°Some of you may have already heard that our contacts in Standard have sent some information.


    New arrivals. Unexpected ones.¡±


    ¡°What other information do you have on them?¡± | asked bluntly.


    Mchi shrugged. ¡°What other information do we need? New faces in a town that houses only a few


    hundred residents, all of whom work for the town?


    Every one of them documented and a known entity?


    It''s clear these new people, whoever they are, present a threat.¡±


    ¡°If nothing else, they¡¯re putting a strain on our resources,¡± said Charlotte.


    | pulled theptop toward me and opened the lid. | created a new document and began typing up a fresh


    list. ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°The town gets all of its power from the enve,¡± she said like the answer was obvious.


    | shot my brother a look. Mason had started scribbling notes of his own.


    ¡°That probably exins the lights,¡± Mason thought to me.


    ¡°We need more info about this town.¡±


    ¡°This is the first I¡¯ve heard of that. Honestly, it¡¯s the first time I''ve heard anything about Standard at all,¡± |


    said to the entire room. ¡°First rule about your security team is that they should be told everything and anythin


    that could be important.¡±


    ¡°Sounds to me like this town is pretty important,¡± my brother added.


    Mchi might not think too highly of wolves, but at least this time he nodded in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Of course. Standard and its proximity to Brightsky did not seem to have much importance to Lanie¡¯s


    training.¡±


    But it sure would be important to the overall security of the entire enve, which Charlotte had asked us


    1/3


    to help with.


    ¡°Looks like good old DarkLuna didn¡¯t tell anyone else she was recruiting us,¡± Mason thought to me.


    By the look on her face, | had to agree with him. She shot a quick nce around the rest of the room


    before looking down at the table, not meeting my eyes.


    ¡°Looks to me like she doesn¡¯t want us to mention it, either,¡± | thought to Mason.


    Both he and his wolf rumbled out a silent chuckle.


    ¡°Standard is the town everyone passes through on their way here,¡± Mchi said.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t,¡± | point out.


    He shrugged. ¡°You were brought here in a rather different manner than is the norm. My granddaughter


    and her family are allowed to bypa ss the general restrictions.¡±


    ¡°Not everyone in the town is there toe to Brightsky,¡± Charlotte said hastily. ¡°It is the point of first entry, yes, where they can


    be vetted by our sources there. But others live there as well.¡±


    ¡°So, how do you know that these new folks aren¡¯t there seeking sanctuary?¡± Mason asked.


    Mchi waved a hand. ¡°Because we haven''t been petitioned for it.¡±


    ¡°So that automatically means they¡¯re a threat?¡± | focused my attention on Mchi, but | was very aware


    of the others, muttering.


    Charlotte wasn¡¯t saying anything, but she did stare at me hard. Melina, on her right, leaned to whisper


    something in Charlotte¡¯s ear. On Melina¡¯s other side, her husband narrowed his eyes and looked back and forth


    from me to Mchi.


    ¡°What other reason would anyone have to show up there?¡± the vampire asked in an using tone.


    ¡°People with ties to residents of the town. Families.


    Friends. New employees,¡± | added.


    Melina leaned toward me. ¡°Xander, what you should know about Standard is that only some who live


    there know about Brightsky. We trust them to let us know of anything strange at once. We consider them to be


    our first warning, and we take anything out of the ordinary very seriously. You sound as though you think


    Mchi might be overreacting.¡±


    | rolled my eyes. ¡°I would never use a vampire of being dramatic or anything like that. Goddess forbid.¡±


    Masonughed out loud this time.


    Mchi scowled. ¡°You should show respect to your elders, boy. For someone who brags about being so


    concerned about safety, you seem to be ying fast and loose with ours!¡±


    ¡°But all they¡¯ve told you is that some new people havee to town,¡± | replied. ¡°Correct?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Melina and Charlotte shared a nce. Melina nodded.


    ¡°Yes. It was part of their regr reporting.¡±


    3


    ¡°So, nobody there said anything about these new folks seeming to be out of the ordinary,¡± Mason


    confirmed.


    ¡°No,¡± Melina admitted.


    Mchi stood, pressing his curled fists against the table¡¯s polished wood. ¡°Nevertheless, we must take


    action.¡±


    ¡°What kind of action?¡± | wanted to know.


    ¡°We supply Standard with its power, which we''ll cut in half, and then again. We can cut them offpletely,¡± Mchi dered


    triumphantly. ¡°We''ll strangle them before they have the chance to retaliate!¡±

 Chapter 386

    Zane


    When our food arrived, Lanie invited Greyson to stay, but he excused himself.


    ¡°Thank you, but no. Dragons don¡¯t need to eat as often as wolves do,¡± he told us. He chucked Isaac under


    the chin, making him giggle. ¡°Especially little wolves.¡±


    While my Luna was setting out the meal, | walked Greyson to the door. We both stepped into the hallway beyond. | closed the


    door most of the way behind me. | could still hear my Luna murmuring to our children, and theirughter. It was a good sound.


    ¡°| hope | didn¡¯t overstep bying here,¡± Greyson said. ¡°It¡¯s just that you ran out so fast. | could tell your


    mates had messaged you about something important.¡±


    | shook my head. He¡¯d given us an exnation for why the lights had been acting weird. It was a good one, even if | did still have


    my suspicions that it was something more than a simple power surge.


    ¡°Nah. It¡¯s cool,¡± | said. ¡°Thanks for checking up on me. It¡¯s...good. To have a friend.¡±


    Our eyes met and held for a few long, tense seconds


    The instant | said anything negative about Xander or Mason, | knew things would change forever, so again | bit my tongue. |


    wasn''t ready for things to change, even if it felt like every day we got closer and closer


    to something being permanently different.


    Greyson looked solemn. ¡°Good friends are a real gift.


    | hope you know that you can rely on me, Zane. | realize you have your pack-¡±


    ¡°Not anymore.¡± | shook my head and frowned, wondering if we¡¯d ever make it back to Constantine...


    and if we did, would they even ept us? We''d all be as likely to be thrown into prison as return to the


    way things had been. Another thing that was forever changed.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Maybe not the one you grew up expecting to help your Alpha lead, but you, Xander, Mason, and Lanie.


    Your children. Xander¡¯s mother. Those are all your pack.¡± Greyson looked thoughtful. ¡°Because it¡¯s not simply who you''re born to,


    is it? Its who you make a family with. Who you allow into your life.¡±


    | hadn¡¯t thought of it that way before, but he was right. ¡°If that¡¯s what makes up a pack, then I''d say it


    includes you, too.¡±


    He grinned and put a hand over his heart. ¡°I¡¯m honored.¡±


    Greyson held out his hand for me to shake. When | grabbed it, he pulled me close for a hug. We pped


    each other on the backs and parted, both of usughing. He gave me a little salute as he walked off down the


    1/2


    hallway.


    It did feel good to have a friend. Someone | could count on. How long had it been since I''d had a real, true


    friend other than Xander? | wasn¡¯t even as close with Mason as | was to my first Alpha.


    Had | ever been that close with anyone else?


    Still thinking about this, | went back inside. All three of the children were seated at the table, digging into


    the tes Lanie had filled for them. She¡¯d set a ce for me, too. She¡¯d even poured us both sses of wine.


    For a single second, the entire scene imprinted itself on my mind, like a sh photo. So bright it stung my eyes. | actually


    flinched.


    | could imagine me and Lanie and our children just like this for the rest of our lives. Around a table,


    sharing a meal,fy and cozy and domestic.


    Just us.


    Blinking, horrified, | shoved the thoughts down deep.


    de paced and huffed, letting out a low growl | had to press my lips together to repress. | couldn¡¯t tell if


    he was angry at the way those thoughts betrayed my mates, or if he was agreeing with me.


    ¡°Zane? Sweetheart?¡± Lanie¡¯s brow furrowed in concern. ¡°Everything okay?¡±


    | strode to her and took her in my arms for a long, slow kiss that drifted apart rather than broke. | pressed


    our forehead¡¯s together. Her arms went around me.


    We breathed in together. Out. | took her hand and put it on my heart, and | put mine on hers. They were


    beating in the same rhythm. Perfectly synced.


    ¡°My love, what''s going on?¡± She thought to me, and only to me.


    Lanie and | had been through more together than anyone else. She¡¯d never shoved me aside for anyone


    else. Never ignored me. Never made me feel less than | was worth. Was it really so wrong of me to think abou


    what it might be like if we were together without the others?


    The pain stabbing in my gut and my heart told me that yes, it was. | shoved the thoughts away again.


    Harder this time.


    Without an Alpha, there was no Luna, and Lanie could never stop being what she was. The same way I''d


    never be anything more than what | was. Always a Beta.


    Nothing more.

 Chapter 387

    Xander


    ¡°Bro, | thought wolves were ruthless,¡± Mason thought to me. ¡°Vamps are even more brutal. Dam n.¡±


    ¡°Tell that to the High Council. And our father, ¡°I thought back grimly.


    My brother¡¯s faint smile faded right away. ¡°F uck.


    Yeah, | guess you''re right. But we aren¡¯t them.¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°No,¡± | agreed through the mind link. ¡°We need to be cautious. Strong. But also careful not to jump into anything without all the


    details. | don¡¯t want to be responsible for innocents getting hurt...or worse.¡±


    ¡°What if they¡¯re not innocents?¡± My brother thought in a practical tone.


    ¡°That''s what we need to determine.¡±


    ¡°Who are the people who live in Standard that don¡¯t know about Brightsky?¡± | asked the council. They all looked ufortable,


    squirming around in their seats and refusing to look at me. Not a one of them answered me. | sighed. ¡°They don¡¯t all know about


    the enve, do they?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Charlotte.


    ¡°How many do know?¡±


    She didn¡¯t reply. | sighed again, and this time, my voice had an edge ofmand in it. They were all really starting to pi ss me


    off. They might not respect me just because | was an Alpha...but they would learn to respect me. ¡°How many sources do you


    have?¡±


    ¡°Three,¡± Mchi said finally.


    I sat back in my chair. ¡°And how many other residents are there?¡±


    ¡°A couple of hundred. No more than that,¡± Melina said.


    ¡°But you''re willing to sacrifice every one of those lives on the off chance that some new people are a


    threat?¡±


    My voice lowered to a growl, and my wolf shed in my gaze. ¡°That''s the most ludicrous thing I¡¯ve ever


    heard.¡±


    ¡°You have an awful lot of concern for a bunch of people you don¡¯t know,¡± Mchi said.


    For the first time since the leadership council had reconvened, Jacques spoke up. | hadn¡¯t had much interaction with Melina¡¯s


    husband, so | was more than a little wary when the air cra ckled around him.


    She''d said he was a warlock, but | couldn¡¯t tell if he was showing emotion or actually trying to spellcast.


    ¡°Let him try it,¡± my brother sent through the mind link, picking up on my thought.


    ¡°Who even is this guy?¡± Jacques¡¯s voice sounded like the pop and cr ackle of logs splitting in a fire. It set my telethon edge.


    ¡°Mchi, with all due respect, | get that he¡¯s mated to your kin, but seriously; who is he? Or should | say, who does he think he


    is?¡±


    ¡°lm Xander Constantine, Alpha of the Constantine pack, son to Orion.¡± My lip curled back over my sharp


    canines, and my wolf zed in my eyes. ¡°Who the f uck are you?¡±


    ¡°Someone who''s lived in this enve a hell of a lot longer than you have,¡± he shot back.


    ¡°Too bad the entire world isn¡¯t this enve,¡± | said with a sneer. ¡°Because it¡¯s totally obvious to me that for


    all of you at Brightsky, you arepletely out of touch.¡±


    Mason¡¯s Alpha energy swirled and knotted with mine.


    He didn¡¯t say anything though. He just gave me a nod of agreement.


    Melina stood up. ¡°I agree with my husband. We aren¡¯t bound by anything you or your brother have to say.


    Mchi is right. The arrival of these new people in Standard constitutes a threat. | say we should pull our


    sources at once. Bring them back to Brightsky. Then we cut the power to Standard.¡±


    ¡°It''s the middle of winter in ska. Without power, those people will be dead within a day,¡± Mason bit out


    the words around a growl. ¡°That¡¯s murder!¡±


    | stood to match her energy. ¡°You don¡¯t even know if any of those people are snooping around or doing


    anything suspicious. Do you? Have your sources reported anything like that?¡±


    Melina flinched and cut her gaze from mine. She sat back down and muttered a reply. ¡°They just reported


    the arrival of new residents. Nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± | said, also taking my seat. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that maybe, just maybe, instead of going off


    half-co cked, you have your sources monitor the situation. It doesn¡¯t have to be forever, but at least another day or two. See if


    there¡¯s anythi ng suspicious other than their simple existence before you go wiping out an entire


    town.¡±


    wolf.¡±


    Mchi snorted. ¡°I have to say, this temperance is not what | would have expected. Not from an Alpha


    ¡°When you bite without looking first, you tend to end up with a mouthful of something that makes you


    sick,¡± | told him. ¡°Better to make sure of your prey before you try to eat it.¡±


    The vampireughed. The tension in the room eased, but only a little. The warlock was still giving me the stink-eye. So was his


    wife. Charlotte, on the other hand, gave me a grateful look.


    Mason and | were going to have to have a conversation with her.

 Chapter 388

    Lanie


    Zane had returned from his brief, private conversation with Greyson looking a little strange. When he pulled me into his arms for


    a kiss, though, | epted it gratefully. We kissed and hugged every single day, but | was really needing thefort of his


    embrace right now. With our other two mates away, it was just the two


    of us.


    | was surprised at how nice that felt. With Zane, | never felt like | had to fight to prove my strength. He was always there to


    support me. Oh, sure, Xander and Mason loved me, and | loved them. But they were Alphas, and they would probably always


    balk a little bit when they had to let me be as strong as | knew I could be.


    Not that | felt very strong right now. Tucked up in Zane¡¯s arms, | looked down at the children eating so happily. ina and Isaac


    had grown even more and could use silverware like they¡¯d been doing it for years. Ste daintily separated her vegetables from


    her meat and the Applesauce in small containers. It would be easy to convince myself nothing could disrupt this happy little


    scene.


    Zane tipped my chin up for another kiss. ¡°Hungry?¡±


    ¡°Not really. I''d love that ss of wine though. We can let them eat while we sit on the couch.¡±


    ¡°They''ll make a mess,¡± he said with augh.


    ¡°And we''ll clean it up,¡± | told him. ¡°Together. Isn¡¯t that what you and | do?¡±


    He stared at me for a long moment before a slow smile quirked the corners of his lips. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s exactly


    what we do. You go sit, love. I''ll bring the wine.¡±


    | settled into thefortable couch with a sigh. My mind was still whirling with the book I''d found, what


    I''d learned, and all the empty ces ready to be filled with what | still did not know. | took the ss my mate


    handed me and took a long, slow, and grateful sip.


    I sighed. ¡°This is good. Brightsky sure has the best of everything.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Zane¡¯s voicecked enthusiasm.


    | scooted closer to put my legs on hisp. | put my head on his shoulder for a few seconds, careful not to


    spill the wine. ¡°You don¡¯t like it here.¡±


    ¡°| like it here. | just...¡± he trailed off and rested his head on mine.


    Both of us were keeping our voices low, mindful of the children not so far away. | knew | should tell him that | suspected Ste


    could hear us even if we whispered.


    quiet.


    Maybe even if we simply thought to each other. But in that moment, all | wanted to do was enjoy the


    The silence between the strike of lightning and the crash of thunder.


    ¡°Greyson said something to me that¡¯s been on my mind,¡± Zane said.


    i moved so | could look at him. ¡°What was it?¡±


    Zane frowned and swirled his wine around in the ss before taking a sip. He swallowed and licked his


    lips, not looking at me. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how | feel about it, that''s all.¡±


    ¡°Zane,¡± | said quietly. Gently. ¡°What did Greyson say?¡±


    ¡°We were talking about Charlotte. And you. Being hybrids. What that all meant, what | should be ready to


    do to support you.¡±


    | waited, but he didn¡¯t say more. ¡°And? That makes you nervous? | know it was hard seeing me do that test


    my grandfather wanted. But-¡±


    ¡°No, Greyson said he was cool with it. If he is, | have to be, right?¡± Zane chuckled and shook his head. His


    smile twisted as he cut me a sideways nce. ¡°He warned me there¡¯d be a lot of surprises. And | have to agree


    with that. Since the moment the council gave you to me...to us...Lanie, everything about you has been one


    surprise after another.¡±


    We bothughed at that.


    ¡°It''s true,¡± | admitted. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you haven''t all run away screaming. Thank you for loving me even


    though I¡¯m the reason your entire life is in a shambles.¡±


    Zane¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. | wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.¡±


    | hesitated, thinking of Alice. ¡°You didn¡¯t always feel that way.¡±


    ¡°| do now, and that¡¯s what matters. Lanie, | love you more than | thought would be possible. | would do


    anything for you, anything to make you happy. To serve you.¡± Zane cleared his throat. ¡°I mean that.¡±


    I studied him as a pulse of Beta energy nudged at me.


    ¡°| love you, too. But | think I¡¯m not quite catching your meaning.¡±


    ¡°The other day, when you were in charge...you know.¡±


    Heughed self-consciously.


    Heat flooded me, hard and fierce. ¡°Ohhh.¡±


    | put a hand to my cheek, feeling the blush rising. | cast a nce at the children, still eating. Okay, so they


    were ying with their pizza a bit. I''d deal with them in a minute.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| think | know what you mean,¡± | said and let my gaze pin his. ¡°And, just so we''re clear... liked that, too.

 Chapter 389

    Mason


    | admired my brother¡¯s determination, and | was right there along with him. Of the two of us, though, | figured | was the one with


    a little bit more...finesse.


    When | stood up, Jacques grumbled, but Melina shot him a look. He quieted down. Mchi leaned back


    in his chair with a wry smile. He flicked his fingers at me for permission to speak.


    ¡°Ancient as shole,¡± Xander muttered through the mind link.


    ¡°Everyone, Xander has made some good points. So has Mchi.¡± | paused. ¡°Sorry, man. Consider it diplomacy,¡± | added through


    the link. To everyone else, | said, ¡°It¡¯s been clear to both of us that Brightsky does, in fact, have a superb security system. But


    any system is only as good as its updates. And nothing is without w. My brother¡¯s concern about striking hard at the town of


    Standard is about the innocents who live there. Neither one of us is willing to have that on our conscienees, and | doubt any of


    you want that, either.¡±


    Mchi shrugged. ¡°Life is short.¡±


    ¡°Not for vampires,¡± | told him. ¡°And since the rest of us only have as much life as we¡¯re granted, it seems


    particrly cruel to steal that from people who''ve done nothing to harm you.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t sure | was getting through, but at least the vampire looked ufortable. Jacques didn¡¯t, but


    most of the others were nodding and looking thoughtful.


    ¡°Anything we do through fear is bound toe back to bite us twice as hard. That¡¯s why it makes more sense for us to gather


    more information before acting.


    Are we all in agreement on that?¡± | looked around the table.


    ¡°Generally, the leadership council takes action items to a vote,¡± Jacques said in a bitter voice. ¡°Not that I''d expect Alphas to get


    why having everyone¡¯s input is important.¡±


    ¡°So much for everyone being weed here at Brightsky,¡± Xander retorted with half a snarl. ¡°You talk a big talk about how


    everyone''s got a ce here, but it turns out, the only ce you want us to have is underBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    your heel.¡±


    | put my hand on my brother¡¯s shoulder to stop him from leaping across the table and probably tearing out that jackwad¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Bro. We just talked about not bringing down violence where it wasn¡¯t warranted,¡± | thought to him.


    ¡°Key word being unwarranted,¡± Xander thought back, but he stayed in his seat.


    ¡°You know, | think it might behoove all of us to consider some inclusivity training,¡± piped up a small, clear


    voice from the end of the table opposite Mchi.


    ¡°Begging all of your pardons, but wolves have been rare here in Brightsky, and it seems like at least some of you are holding


    onto some..erm...well, I¡¯m just saying that it''s nice to have some differing viewpoints.¡±


    We all turned to look at the young wolf who¡¯d been speaking. | wasn¡¯t sure of her name or even if I¡¯d ever seen her around, but


    nobody else looked affronted that she¡¯d spoken.


    ¡°You make good points, Goldie. You can head themittee.¡± Mchi nodded at her. He turned back to


    me and Xander. ¡°So, how do you suggest going about this? What should | call it? A reconnaissance mission?¡±


    ¡°How much do you trust your sources?¡± Xander asked him.


    ¡°As much as | trust any source,¡± Mchi said. ¡°Which is to say, only after they¡¯ve proven themselves.¡±


    ¡°And they have?¡± | ask him.


    ¡°Any trusted source can turn out to be untrustworthy,¡± Melina said smoothly. ¡°Your closest friend can turn


    on you at any point.¡±


    ¡°| bet she¡¯s a joy to be mated to,¡± Xander thought to me.


    Aloud, | replied to Melina, ¡°Fine. Then send someone new into the town to act as a backup source. Have


    them all observe the new arrivals. Set up fresh surveince. You can do that, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course we can.¡± Mchi snapped his fingers.


    ¡°We''ll send a dozen or so of the spiders.¡±


    Xander coughed. ¡°The what?¡±


    ¡°Envian spiders are intelligent, empathic, telepathic, and psychokic,¡± Jacques said with a sneer.


    ¡°We''ve had them observing you two since you got here.¡±


    ¡°And tell me, what have you discovered about us?¡± | kept my voice neutral even though now | was the one


    who wanted to jump across the table and throttle him.


    ¡°Pr ick,¡± Xander judged through the link.


    ¡°Major,¡± | agreed.


    Jacques shrugged but didn¡¯t say anything else. | ignored him and sat back down. Melina leaned to whisper something in his ear


    that made him frown.


    ¡°Send the spiders,¡± | agreed.


    ¡°I''ll go,¡± said the young wolf, Goldie. ¡°I''ve never been to Standard. | don¡¯t know any of the sources, and I¡¯m willing to bet they


    don¡¯t know me.¡±


    | looked to Mchi for confirmation of this. When he nodded, | smiled at her. She ducked her head in


    embarrassment but smiled back after a minute.


    ¡°Just get pictures for now, Goldie. You should be able to get photos of every resident, not just the new


    ones.


    Bring them back here for identification. We can start there,¡± | told her.


    ¡°And what happens if you recognize someone?¡± Jacques demanded.


    ¡°If we do, then we''ll go from there,¡± | promised. ¡°And if there¡¯s proven danger, | promise you, we''ll do


    whatever is necessary to protect the enve.¡±

 Chapter 390

    Zane


    ¡°Papa?¡± My son¡¯s little voice called out from the bedroom. ¡°Come see!¡±


    The tension coiling between me and my Luna didn¡¯t dissipate, but we bothughed softly and pulled away


    from each other. Having three kids meant so little ¡°private time.¡± Lanie leaned in to kiss me.


    ¡°Later,¡± she promised, her hand on my thigh. She squeezed gently.


    My co ck throbbed. | wanted her, but more small voices called to me again. ¡°I¡¯ve been summoned.¡±


    ¡°Should | be jealous they want their Papa and not me?¡± Lanie¡¯s head tilted as she grinned.


    | brushed a stray strand of her hair off her forehead and studied the shadows in her eyes. Something was


    going on in her beautiful mind, but | didn¡¯t want to pressure her. So | kissed her, instead.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go take a long bath or something?


    Do alittle self care,¡± | told her. ¡°I can handle the little monsters.¡±


    ¡°Don''t,¡± she said sharply as her wolf red in her eyes.


    She made an obvious effort to soften herself. ¡°| mean, don¡¯t call them that.¡±


    ¡°Sure, love. | was just teasing.¡± | kissed her again.


    Definitely something going on with her.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| think | will take that bath,¡± Lanie said. ¡°Are you sure you can take care of the pups? They''ll all need


    baths, too. And bedtime stories.....


    ¡°I''ll take care of everything. You go rx.¡± | got up and poured her another ss of wine.


    She stood and took it. Her eyes shone with love. ¡°You really do take such good care of me, Zane.¡±


    ¡°Forever,¡± | promised.


    ¡°Pappaaaaaaa!¡± Three small voices chorused.


    |ughed and kissed my mate one more time, then went to see what was so important.


    ¡°We made this for you,¡± ina said proudly.


    What they¡¯d made was a big mess, but my heart swelled at the sight of the fingerpainted signs. | ignored the pots of fingerpaint


    and the messy hands as | gathered all three of them in for a hug. | didn¡¯t even care that


    they were getting paint all over my clothes. That''s what washing machines were for.


    This was my life. The woman out there. These three young ones in here.


    Lanie


    waited until Zane went into the bedroom before | grabbed up the big book from the shelf. | took it and


    my ss of wine into the big bathroom the four of us shared. | locked the door behind me. | need privacy, and


    with three mates, | knew it was entirely likely that at least one of them could burst in on me without warning.


    | filled therge tub and added some scented oils. | lit a few candles and put the wine on the edge of the


    tub.


    |id down a towel and put the book on it.


    When did all my muscles start to hurt? | hadn¡¯t noticed until | started taking off my clothes. | checked the


    large mirrors, turning around to check my body from all sides. No bruises, even though it felt like I''d been


    pummeled. | pressed my palm to my heart. It was just stress, | told myself.


    | eased into the steaming water with a sigh of relief.


    I''d forgotten to pull my hair up on top of my head, and the ends dipped into the water. | couldn¡¯t be bothered to do anything about


    it now and simply let myself rx into the heat and steam.


    The wine warmed my tongue as | sipped. Faintly, | could hear the rising sound ofughter from Ste''s bedroom. And then the


    sound of Zane...singing? Some kind of nursery rhyme, or that¡¯s how it sounded.


    Amazing how sound carried through the vents, since most of the time our quarters were fairly


    soundproof.


    Which was a good thing, | thought with a chuckle. | didn¡¯t want anyone to be able to overhear what the


    four of us got up to.


    | couldn¡¯t hear them anymore. | sipped more wine and put the ss carefully on the ledge. | closed my eyes. | wanted to look


    over the book again, but suddenly, was so tired that it was all | could do not to fall asleep right then and there.


    Lazily, | let my hands drift over my body. | imagined my mates. Their mouths and hands. Their co cks. | thought about Zane


    admitting that he¡¯d liked it when | was in charge, and my heart started to beat just...a


    little...faster...


    ¡°Lanie!¡±


    The sound of my name being shouted startled me awake. | sloshed water out of the tub as big hands pounded on the bathroom


    door. | blinked, shaking water out of my eyes. Had | really fallen asleep? Had | slipped beneath the water?


    More pounding. | managed to get out of the tub and grabbed a towel. | was totally awake now, and kind of pis sed off.


    ¡°Hold on!¡± | shouted. ¡°For the love of the Goddess, Xander, I''ming!¡±


    Toote. My Alpha kicked open the bathroom door hard enough to splinter the wood. He goggled at me standing in only a towel.


    ¡°What the f uck?¡± | snapped at him.


    ¡°You weren''t answering...¡±


    ¡°| just wanted some peace and quiet,¡± | told him. | waited for him to demand to see the book I''d left on the tub ledge, but | didn¡¯t


    need to worry about it.


    When | turned around to check on it, the book was gone.

 Chapter 391

    Lanie


    Xander had been properly shamed about kicking in the door, but once he told me that I¡¯d been in the


    bathroom for hours and wasn¡¯t answering when they called my name in worry, | forgave him. | med the wine


    and tired eyes, but the truth wa s...som e time had gone missing as much as that book had.


    | intended to take the children to school, but Xander¡¯s mother had offered to do it so | could enjoy


    breakfast with my mates. Fat lot of good that had done-the three of them had been huddled around their


    tters of eggs and toast talking about doing some kind of training exercises that sounded like a


    complicated mess to me.


    | could tell that Zane was happy they were including him, though. Whatever had been causing the strain


    between the three of them seemed to be better this morning. They were allughing and punching each other


    on the shoulders and knuckling each other''s heads. My boys, | thought fondly, watching them behave like


    overgrown children.


    | hadn''t told any of them about the book, or its disappearance. I¡¯d started thinking maybe I¡¯d dreamed it


    up. The vision from the Moon Goddess that I¡¯d had in the library might have continued on home with me,


    making me think | held that book in my hands when I''d only been holding it in my mind.


    Was | still in the vision? Everything around me felt real. | looked at my hands and noticed a faint glow


    surrounding them. | turned them over and watched a trail of light follow the motion of my fingertips.


    None of my mates seemed to notice, not until | pulsed out some of my Luna energy. Then they all stopped


    horsing around and looked at me.


    Three male faces gazed at me with love so strong, so powerful, | knew this had to be real. Because if it


    wasn''t, | didn¡¯t want there to be anything else. Our energies met and mingled, weaving strands of gold and


    silver and green and all the colors of the rainbow.


    it.


    Itsted no more than a second or so. No longer than a blink. | don¡¯t think they even saw it, but we all felt


    ¡°Go on, all of you,¡± | told them. ¡°It¡¯s obvious you need to go let off some steam.¡±


    One by one they kissed me and headed out, leaving me alone. | made my way to my grandfather¡¯s fake


    vi, hoping to find him there. Fortunately, he was.


    He and Braden sat at their table, mugs of red fluid in front of them. The fake sun outside the windows


    mimicked morning, and no matter how realistic it was, it was no realparison or substitute for the genuine


    article.


    I''d never actually pitied my grandfather before, but | did now.


    | didn¡¯t let him see it, though. ¡°Good morning.¡±


    ¡°To what do | owe this pleasure so early in the day?¡±


    Mchi asked curiously.


    | wasn¡¯t sure if | should talk in front of Braden, but then decided to go for it. There were so many secrets around here. Too many.


    Besides, he and my grandfather were lovers. | doubted there was much Mchi


    wouldn''t share with him.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°| found a book yesterday. In the small library.


    The Moon Goddess showed it to me. It was called Celestial. Have you heard of it?¡±


    Mchi frowned. ¡°I have not. | take it the tome is of some importance in regard my great-granddaughter?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It told me a lot of things. Strange and wonderful things, but also terrifying. The book said that Celestials have the power of


    every single supernatural being that exists.¡± At his shocked expression, | decided to sit down. | told him the rest of what the book


    had said. ¡°I¡¯m worried about Ste. If she¡¯s really able to choose which talents to show or hide...she¡¯s just a child, Mchi. How


    can we teach her what we don¡¯t even


    know?¡±


    ¡°Where is the book now?¡± he demanded.


    1 hesitated. ¡°This is going to sound crazy, but...it¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°You lost it?¡±


    | described the night before. The bath, the wine, the sleepiness. ¡°And when Xander burst into the room, the book had vanished.


    Could someone havee into the bathroom without me knowing about it?


    Locked the door behind themselves?¡±


    ¡°It''s unlikely, although | suppose not impossible.


    More likely the Moon Goddess took the book back for some reason. So your Alpha didn¡¯t see it, perhaps.¡±


    Mchi shook his head. ¡°Can you recall anything else about what it said?¡±


    | shook my head. ¡°I¡¯ve told you everything | can remember. | was really hoping to show it to you so we could go over it together.¡±


    My grandfather got up from his seat to pace back and forth. He moved fast, double speed, and a lump grew in my throat. My


    daughter could do that.


    He faced me. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t dream this?¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± | told him, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±

 Chapter 392

    Xander


    Zane basically kicked my a ss during the workout session. I¡¯d never seen my Beta go so hard. Toward the


    end, | really thought he might injure himself. | had my share of aches and pains, for sure. They told me |


    needed to make more of an effort at getting to the training fields. | was getting too soft.


    There was something else | needed to make an effort with, too. My Beta hadn¡¯t said anything, but we¡¯d


    been friends too long for me not to notice that he¡¯d been quieter than usual.


    We were all taking advantage of the locker rooms attached to the training fields rather than going back to


    our quarters. Our bathroom at home was great, and the shower was huge, but it wasn¡¯t big enough for all of us


    at the same time. It didn¡¯t have a steam room, cither, and the three of us were headed there.


    As we took our spots on the tiled benches, thick steam wreathed all around us. It made it hard to see


    Zane¡¯s face. Maybe that would make it easier for him to open up to me. | thought about asking my brother if


    he¡¯d give us some privacy, but then | decided against it.


    Zane was Beta to both of us.


    ¡°Great workout,¡± | said to Zane. Our shoulders bumped and for a moment, he tensed like he was going to


    pull away.


    Then he settled with his back to the wall. ¡°Yeah. | really needed it.¡±


    ¡°| really need this steam room. Maybe even a massage,¡± | said.


    Mason sat across from us, silently enjoying the steam. | could sense his interest, though. | knew he¡¯d


    jump in if he had to. | appreciated that, and also his willingness to let me talk first.


    ¡°Zane,¡± | said and paused, not sure how to bring up the subject. Finally, | just went with blunt honesty.


    ¡°What''s going on with youtely?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    | should¡¯ve guessed my Beta wouldn¡¯t be as upfront with me. | chuckled in a low voice and nudged him


    harder with my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s not ying,¡± Mason teased.


    Zane grumbled. ¡°Nice one.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, dude. | can tell that something¡¯s on your mind. | know we¡¯ve been busytely-¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Zane said.


    | took a second to answer, not sure if we were going to fight, or what. ¡°You¡¯re pis sed off because Mason


    113


    and | have been busy?¡±


    ¡°Busy.¡± Zane snorted. ¡°Doing s hit that has nothing to do with me, right?¡±


    ¡°... That¡¯s not...¡± | stumbled on my words.


    Mason spoke up again. ¡°They asked us to go to the leadership council meeting because we¡¯re Alphas it


    wasn¡¯t anything against you.¡±


    ¡°If it was a pack meeting, I''d have been there.¡±


    It was a good thing the room was hot as an oven, because our Beta¡¯s voice was colder than ice.


    ¡°But it wasn¡¯t a pack meeting,¡± | told him in a firm voice. ¡°Your duty as Beta is to support your Alpha.


    Alphas,¡± | emphasized the ¡°s.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m supposed to do that how, when you two are off in secret meetings that I¡¯m not invited to?¡± He


    shrugged away from me. ¡°It¡¯s f ucked up, Xander.¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t invite you because you...¡± Mason started but then let his voice fade.


    ¡°Even if they didn¡¯t invite me,¡± Zane cut in, ¡°either one of you should have. Both of you should have insisted


    that | be there.¡±


    ¡°It was f u cking boring, mostly,¡± | told him.


    Zane¡¯s face loomed toward mine through the steam.


    ¡°Bu Ilsh it. | know s hit¡¯s going down, and | know the two of you are all up in that business. You didn¡¯te


    home and tell me about it. It¡¯s like | don¡¯t f ucking matter.¡±


    ¡°You matter,¡± Mason said.


    ¡°F uck, dude,¡± | said. ¡°He¡¯s right. And you''re right.¡±


    Silence filled the steam room.


    ¡°F uck,¡± Zane said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a little b itch about it.¡±


    A light cough turned our attentions toward the doorway. | couldn¡¯t see who was standing in it. | didn¡¯t


    sense danger, though.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± | called out.


    ¡°Umm...sir, Xander, sir, | mean. It¡¯s me. Goldie?¡±


    Oh, right. The young wolf who¡¯d volunteered to go to Standard and check things out for us.


    ¡°You cane in,¡± | told her.


    ¡°Are you leaving soon?¡± Mason asked.


    213


    ¡°Pl fill you in as soon as she leaves,¡± | promised Zane through the mind link.


    A form materialized in the fog. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been there and back again. | took some pictures.¡±


    ¡°Of everyone?¡±


    ¡°Only one of the neers, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Goldie said almost apologetically. ¡°Something went wrong with


    the phone before | could take more. | thought I''de back, grab a new one.¡±


    A light appeared in the shadowy hand. A phone screen. She brought it closer and | leaned over to take it. |


    swiped through some of the photos, stopping at one.


    ¡°Sh it,¡± | said aloud and reached to take the phone from her. | showed it to Zane.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°Do you know him?¡± Goldie asked.


    | nodded grimly. ¡°Yeah. We do.¡±


    The man in the pictures Goldie had brought back from Standard was Elder Aldon of the wolf Council.

 Chapter 393

    Lanie


    ¡°I''m not sure I¡¯m not dreaming right now,¡± | said to Mchi and Braden.


    ¡°You''re not dreaming. If you are, we all are,¡± Braden said kindly.


    I smiled at him gratefully. ¡°So if I''m dreaming, | should be able to snap my fingers and the book should


    reappear. Right?¡±


    is...


    I snapped my fingers. No surprise, no book showed up. Mchi rolled his eyes.


    ¡°If the two of you could please be a little more serious about this,¡± he said.


    | frowned at him. ¡°Dude, all I''ve been doing is worrying about this. Give me a break.¡±


    ¡°Do not ¡®dude¡¯ me, please,¡± my grandfather said with a curl of his lip. ¡°I find it deplorably distasteful.¡±


    Braden chuckled and reached to squeeze my hand.


    ¡°You''re not dreaming. | don¡¯t know where the book went, but Mchi will be able to help you.¡±


    My grandfather whirled, his expression stormy. ¡°No, Mchi cannot. | have no idea where to even begin.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    I''ve never heard of the book she mentioned, and the idea that Celestials control every talent imaginable.


    Well, it¡¯s unimaginable, to be frank. That kind of power...¡±


    The smile I¡¯d shared with Braden slowly faded.


    ¡°Well,¡± Mchi said finally. ¡°It¡¯s terrifying.¡±


    Aso b twisted in my throat like a tornado. | barely held it back. Braden squeezed my hand again, and this time | turned it upward


    so he could hold it.


    ¡°There has to be something you can do, Mchi.¡±


    Braden said the words quietly but with a firm conviction. ¡°You''re an Ancient. And brilliant.¡±


    Mchi spun on his heel to tear across the room again. Then back. Faster and faster, until he was a blur.


    | looked at Braden, my eyes wide. ¡°Is he okay?¡±


    ¡°He does this when he¡¯s thinking,¡± Braden said in a low voice.


    After another minute, my grandfather slowed his pace. He hadn''t even broken a sweat. His hair had


    gotten mussed from the wind he''d created as he ran, and now he smoothed it with both hands.


    ¡°The book said that Celestials could choose, from birth. So to me that says they¡¯re born understanding what they are and how to


    present themselves,¡± he said with an edge of triumph in his voice.


    Gently, | released Braden¡¯s hand from mine and got up from the table. | couldn¡¯t move as fast as my grandfather, or at least |


    didn¡¯t think | could. But sitting still was making my entire body tense up all over


    again. | went to the fake windows, turned and came halfway back.


    ¡°So, you think Ste has been choosing to act like an infant wolf?¡± | asked him.


    Mchi nodded. ¡°It¡¯s possible. That would make sense, would it not? A brand-new Celestial entering the


    earth would still be tied to its parent. Surely, even a Celestial is able to feel love and concern. She would want


    to prevent you from harm, especially of her own doing. It¡¯s totally feasible to me that your little Ste could have been choosing


    her form all along.¡±


    right.¡±


    | shook my head. ¡°That''s hard to swallow. | held her in my arms. | nursed her. | changed her. I.......


    Braden got up and put his arms around me. ¡°None of that is taken away even if what Mchi says is


    ¡°And none of that means that she wasn¡¯t aware, from birth, of how to behave. She grew faster than


    expected. Perhaps that was also deliberate.¡±


    ¡°But you can¡¯t be sure!¡± | shouted, breaking free of Braden¡¯s embrace and facing my grandfather with both


    myself fists clenched. ¡°This is just a theory. She could simply be my little girl, not sure what she¡¯s able to do! It could scare her as


    much as it does me! I¡¯m her mother. | have to protect her!¡±


    ¡°And teach her,¡± Mchi said sharply.


    | nodded, forcing my anger to ease. Nothing would be aplished with a fight. ¡°Yes. Of course.¡±


    ¡°Like | said before, no way to teach what we¡¯re not even certain needs to be taught.¡±


    ¡°So, what do we do?¡± | asked helplessly.


    ¡°Keep an eye on her,¡± he began, and | cut him off.


    ¡°By the Goddess, of course | do that already!¡±


    Mchi pointed a long finger at me. ¡°Your anxiety is understandable. Your tone with me is not.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± | said, although | really wasn''t.


    ¡°Your generation is so enamored of ¡®safe¡¯ spaces.


    Create one for your daughter so she can share what she¡¯s feeling and learning about herself. Thest thing we want is for Ste


    to feel ashamed of her talents or because she is different. If she is cognizant of her abilities as a Celestial, we want her to feel


    comfortable sharing that with you. Perhaps she¡¯s sensed your fear on her behalf. You''ll have to learn to let that go.¡±


    ¡°And if | can¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°You have to,¡± he said. ¡°Unless you''re willing to lose her entirely.¡±

 Chapter 394

    Mason


    ¡°Is that...?¡± Zane said and quickly shut up.


    ¡°Sirs, umm...if you don¡¯t mind, | can just leave the phone here. It¡¯s really hot,¡± Goldie said hesitantly.


    ¡°Unless you need me for something else? I''ll head back to Standard with my new phone and get the rest


    of the photos.¡±


    ¡°Did anyone in Standard notice you''re not a regr resident?¡± | asked her. | hadn''t yet seen the pictures on her phone, but by the


    way Zane and Xander were reacting, it had to be bad news.


    Goldie waved at the steam but didn¡¯t do much to move it around or clear the way. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.


    | pretended to be a janitor. Nobody pays much attention to the cleaning staff.¡±


    ¡°Smart,¡± Xander said. ¡°What''s wrong with this phone?¡±


    ¡°It just froze up. Won''t take any pictures, won¡¯t connect to the inte. Nothing. | couldn¡¯t get the pictures to send, but they are


    saved on it. Oh, and it doesn¡¯t have a passcode on it. If you need me for anything else, Alphas, I¡¯m at your service.¡±


    She left the room.


    As soon as she did, | crossed to the bench next to my brother. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Xander turned the phone toward me. At first | had no idea who the picture showed. Then it hit me.


    ¡°Aldon. The guy from the prison? Your Elder from the Council?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡± Xander swiped back and forth through a few more of the photos on the screen, then handed me the phone. ¡°She¡¯s right.


    This phone is basically bricked.¡±


    | swiped to a closeup picture. ¡°What''s he doing in Standard?¡±


    ¡°Good question,¡± Xander said. ¡°I say we get out of here and discuss it back home before we bring it to the leadership council. We


    need more pictures from Goldie to see if we recognize anyone else.¡±


    We all showered off the sweat from the steam room, dressed, and headed back to our quarters. Lanie


    was gone, but a quick test of the mate bond told me she was with her grandfather. That was just as well. |


    didn¡¯t want her getting worked up by any of this.


    From what | could remember, she and Aldon had interacted, but | wasn¡¯t sure what she''d think about him


    being in Standard.


    None of us could figure it out, either.


    ¡°The only reason he could possibly be in that town is because he somehow found out that we ended up here in the enve.¡±


    Zane handed me and Xander each a bottle of beer with the caps already cracked off. He went back to the mini fridge in our


    kitchte to get himself one.


    Xander took a long pull off his beer and smacked his lips. ¡°Brightsky Brewing makes some da mned fine. beer. And yes, Zane, |


    agree with you. No Elder would be randomly traveling around. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s on


    vacation.¡±


    ¡°Not in Standard, anyway,¡± Zane added.


    | studied the pictures. Goldie had managed to get a few from a distance, and some more up close. He wasn¡¯t really facing the


    camera in any of them, and a few were blurred. ¡°These pictures aren''t the best.


    Could it just look like Aldon?¡±


    ¡°No way. That''s him. You think I''d forget the man who put me in prison?¡± Xander said with a scowl.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Zane slid into the chair across from us. ¡°He looks like s hit, but that¡¯s how he always looked, as far as I¡¯m


    concerned.¡±


    | got up, my beer in one hand, to pace as | thought aloud. ¡°The whole reason you had Goldie go take those pictures was to be


    absolutely sure before we let Mchi take action that Brightsky needs to be on the defense. So let¡¯s think about all the reasons


    why an Elder might have recently arrived in the portal town to


    Brightsky.¡±


    ¡°One,¡± Xander said roughly, ¡°he knows we''re here.¡±


    ¡°Two,¡± | put in, ¡°he might be trying to get to Brightsky for his own reasons. What if he¡¯s seeking sanctuary?


    He helped Lanie, didn¡¯t he?¡±


    Zane shook his head, then seemed to reconsider. He looked thoughtful. ¡°So he straddles both sides of the fence. That just


    means we can¡¯t trust him.¡±


    town.


    ¡°It means he could be trying to find safety in Brightsky,¡± | said.


    ¡°So why isn¡¯t he here, then? If he made it all the way to Standard, that means he knows it¡¯s the portal


    If he¡¯s really got a good reason to show up after all this time, he¡¯d know how to petition for entry. Right?¡±


    Xander tapped his finger at his temple, then pointed it at me.


    Zane took a long drink. ¡°I get why you''re trying out all the angles, Mason, but Aldon¡¯s a f uckwad. If he¡¯s in


    Standard, that smells like trouble to me.¡±


    ¡°What about the other neers? We should wait until we see their photos before we go jumping to


    conclusions,¡± | replied.


    Xander nodded. ¡°I¡¯m with Mason. We have Goldie keep eyes on Aldon and boots on the ground about the


    others. Hopefully, she can get us some more pictures.¡±


    | took the phone and tapped the screen. ¡°In the meantime, maybe | can figure out what happened with this


    phone. In case someone tampered with it or something.¡±


    Something was telling me that not everyone in Brightsky could be trusted.

 Chapter 395

    Lanie


    | hated putting up a permanent shield against my daughter, but Mchi had convinced me it was


    necessary. Of course, we both knew that if Ste really was in control of all the powers of the universe, she¡¯d


    have no trouble blowing right through any shield little old me was able to put up, no matter whether or not |


    had the blessing of the Moon Goddess.


    The real key was acting like nothing was wrong. Not just for Ste¡¯s sake, but for my other children. My


    mates. My mother-inw, even if she¡¯d been turning colder and colder to me every day.


    Once things calmed down, | promised myself I¡¯d have a real heart-to-heart with Gabri. Get us back on


    the same page. | hated that | felt this growing distance between us.


    Xander and Mason had included Zane in nning their updated safety protocols for me during the


    testing of my own, still fully unknown abilities. | thought they were all being way overprotective, but | didn¡¯t


    fight them about it. My mates were strong and knew what they were doing. So long as they weren''t actively trying to stop me


    from learning more about myself, | was willing to honor their simple requests for my safety.


    Or what they perceived it to be, anyway.


    This morning | was in my grandfather¡¯s quarters. Not in the breakfast room with its fake windows this


    time, but a smaller gym. He had lined it with wrestling mats.


    room.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m going to fly off and hit the ceiling or what?¡± | asked him with augh as | came into the


    It was only me, Charlotte, Greyson, Braden, and Mchi. We wanted to make sure nobody could walk in on us during activities


    my grandfather had promised might be ¡°intense.¡± | felt better knowing | didn¡¯t have an audience, for one, but also all the people


    around me would take care of me to the best of their abilities.


    ¡°Let''s start with the most basic and move up,¡± Mchi said. ¡°The first thing | want you to do is shift,


    Lanie.¡±


    | hesitated, not sure | understood him right. ¡°You mean let my wolf take over?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not even a skill,¡± | said, balking. ¡°That''s just my nature. Who | am. Me and my wolf are inseparable


    He smiled. ¡°So it should be no hardship to allow her some freedom, then.¡±


    ¡°It''s not a hardship,¡± | agreed. | stripped naked, folding my clothes neatly.


    There was no reason to be shy about it. Charlotte and Greyson were shifters, too, and understood the need to not shred my


    clothes. Mchi was my freaking granddad. But Braden...


    Heat painted my cheeks as | slowly turned away from the four people watching me. Braden and | were never going to be


    together like that, but there¡¯d been a time when we¡¯d flirted. | didn¡¯t think my mates would be thrilled about me being naked in


    front of him no matter what. On the other hand, as | let Lily rise to the surface, being naked and changing into my wolf felt so free


    that | really didn¡¯t care what Braden was looking


    at.


    ¡°Very nice,¡± Mchi said, pping his hands together.


    Lily was happy to be out. She sniffed at the outstretched hands of my grandfather, wrinkling her nose and growling a bit at his


    vampire scent. She had her freedom for a few more minutes before | called her back. | returned to my human form, tasting sweat


    on my upper lip.


    | put my hands on my hips. ¡°Now what?¡±


    Braden tossed me a towel and | wiped my face.


    Charlotte handed me my clothes, and | dressed while my grandfatherid out the list of other skills | was


    going to run through.


    Levitation.


    Check.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    | didn¡¯t make it up very high, but | could get myself a few inches off the floor, anyway. | was d it wasn¡¯t much higher, because


    even with the soft mats tond on, | still ended up on my a ss.


    Super speed?


    That one was harder. No matter how | tried, the space was too small. Mchi coached me, but | couldn¡¯t


    quite get it right.


    ¡°| run into the wall,¡± |ined, rubbing my nose from the bump I''d given it.


    ¡°You''re thinking too hard,¡± he said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to get up to speed. You simply are the speed. Try it


    again.¡±


    | did, getting frustrated, especially when Charlotte demonstrated along with him how easy it was.


    ¡°For vampires,¡± | muttered.


    ¡°For hybrids, too. You can do this,¡± Charlotte encouraged. ¡°Take that first step and imagine the ne already done. It¡¯s mind over


    matter.¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t master this,¡± Mchi said, rolling his eyes, ¡°I doubt you''ll be able to take the next steps, s might as well just stop


    right now.¡±


    | took a step...and then | was a blur, darting back and forth in the small room, until | skidded to a stop in front of the Ancient


    vampire.


    ¡°There!¡± | cried. ¡°I did it!¡±


    ¡°Very nice. Now let¡¯s give you something hard to try.¡±

 Chapter 396

    Xander


    | wanted to be sure my Beta didn¡¯t feel like we were shoving him out of the way again, but | didn¡¯t even have to say anything.


    Zane was already clearing away our empty bottles. He turned to face me.


    ¡°| know the two of you need to go handle this stuff.


    I''ll be here if you need anything from me, okay?¡± He shrugged.


    | got up and pped him on the back. ¡°You got it. I¡¯m going to head down to the security center and check out their tech setup. |


    want to find out more about those spiders Mchi was talking about.¡±


    Mason nodded. ¡°I''ll go with you to see what | can do about this phone. It could be just this one, but maybe something''s going on


    with the equipment that¡¯s being distributed.¡±


    ¡°You think someone¡¯s on the inside?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°Could be,¡± my brother said with a grim expression on his face. ¡°It would make sense, wouldn''t it?¡±


    ¡°No ce is ever as secure as the people in charge want and need it to be. Not even Brightsky,¡± | concluded. ¡°And Zane, just so


    you know, when all of this gets sorted, I¡¯m also working on getting you security


    clearance.¡±


    He grinned and waved a hand in my direction. ¡°No rush. | decided | actually kind of like being a gentleman


    of leisure.¡±


    |ughed. That was as far away from the Zane | knew as anything could be. ¡°Right. What are you going to do while we¡¯re gone?


    Get your nails done? Maybe a spa treatment?¡±


    ¡°That actually doesn¡¯t sound half bad,¡± Zane said with another broad grin. ¡°A massage...¡±


    ¡°Ugh,¡± my brother cut in, holding up Goldie¡¯s phone.


    ¡°All of that sounds better than dealing with this f uckery.¡±


    Anything sounded better than that. We left Zane behind in the apartment and made our way throu long hallways and several


    levels to get to themand center. Mason peeled off to go to the equipmen while | asked for entry to the audio/visual hub.


    ¡°Xander, right?¡± A tall, lean man with pointed ears got up to shake my hand. ¡°Pleasure to meet you. We¡¯ heard a lot about you


    and your brother. I¡¯m Franco.


    This is Jordy¡±


    At my look of surprise, Jordyughed. ¡°Yeah, we''re twins.¡±


    Both had the same startlingly blue eyes, the irises rimmed with pale green, and slightly oblong pupils


    instead of round. Their white-blond hair hung past their shoulders, braided and tied back in aplicated design. They were


    identical. The only way to tell them apart was by their different colored shirts.


    ¡°What can we help you with?¡± Franco asked. He wore blue.


    Jordy, in red, swiveled in his chair to gesture at therge bank of screens showing many ces in theplex. ¡°Want to take a


    gander at what¡¯s going on around here?¡±


    from.¡±


    Franco pulled up a chair. ¡°Have a seat. Tell us about what kind of security you had back where you came


    ¡°Forgive my brother,¡± Jordy said with a roll of his eyes. ¡°He doesn¡¯t get out much.¡±


    The two of them even sounded alike. It was weird. | took the chair Franco had offered and looked at the


    screen closest to me. It was showing a familiar sight.


    The training grounds.


    ¡°Do you have anything on the outside?¡± | asked. ¡°Can you see who goes in and out?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure. Of course.¡± Jordy typed quickly and the screen changed to show an empty expanse of tundra.


    Together, the twin brothers walked me through the entire setup.


    ¡°But nothing in Standard?¡± | questioned.


    Franco shook his head. ¡°Standard¡¯s the portal town, but we don¡¯t have jurisdiction there. We could set up


    equipment, | guess, but someone would have to do the maintenance on it, which would mean someone from


    Brightsky would have to be assigned permanently to the town. Nobody wants to live there all the time. Not


    when they could be here instead.¡±


    ¡°But since it''s the ce everyone whoes to the enve has to go to first, wouldn¡¯t it make more


    sense to have eyes there?¡±


    | didn¡¯t want to get too deep into the neers who¡¯d shown up in town. Franco and Jordy were on the


    security team, but that didn¡¯t mean Mchi had alerted them of something happening outside of the enve.


    Jordy shrugged. ¡°Anyone seeing entry to Brightsky has to be approved, vetted, and confirmed. If th


    made it to Standard in the first ce, they¡¯re already pretty much guaranteed to be epted into the


    ¡°People doe to Standard who have no clue about Brightsky, though. Right?¡± | asked.


    Franco answered this time. ¡°Sure. It''s a legitimate town. We keep records of whoes and goes, o


    course.¡±


    ¡°Can | see them? I¡¯m particrly interested in any new arrivals over the past, oh, six months.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure, no problem.¡± Jordy spun around again to do some more typing. He made a surprised noise.


    ¡°What the.....? Franco, look.¡±


    His brother bent over Jordy¡¯s shoulder to peer at the screen. ¡°Where''d all those files go?¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± Jordy said. ¡°They¡¯re just gone.¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!

 Chapter 397

    Lanie


    | grinned at my grandfather. ¡°Bring it on, old man!¡±


    Mchi winced. ¡°For the sun¡¯s sake, Lanie. Please try to address me with a bit of decorum.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Ancient one,¡± | teased. ¡°Is that better?¡±


    ¡°Marginally,¡± Mchi said.


    | was feeling good about putting my body to the test and passing it. My muscles that had been aching were sore but in a good


    way now. | was pumped up.¡¯


    Energized. | felt like | could probably run up the walls and across the ceiling if | tried hard enough. | felt like | could fly.


    ¡°Calm down first,¡± Mchi added as | bounced back and forth on the balls of my feet. ¡°You''re so easily


    distracted.¡±


    Greyson chuckled, earning him a sharp look from Mchi. Charlotte frowned at him, too, shaking her head, but then her lips


    curled into a small smile. She took his hand and squeezed it. | could tell they were speaking to each other through a mind link.


    The love that shone out of their eyes for each other was so


    beautiful, it almost moved me to tears.


    ¡°Your emotions are out of control,¡± my grandfather cut into my thoughts. ¡°By the Goddess, | can


    practically smell them. Wipe those sappy tears away, granddaughter. Focus. If you don¡¯t get yourself under


    control, you''re going to hurt yourself. Or worse, one of us.¡±


    ¡°| didn¡¯t think I''d be able to hurt you,¡± | said, but | did as hemanded and dashed away my tears of happiness for my friends.


    He was right. My emotions were all over the ce.


    There was no reason for me to be so ovee by them. To my surprise, Braden put an arm around my


    shoulder and pulled me against his hip.


    ¡°Stop guing her, Mchi. Lanie¡¯s emotions are part of what makes her so unique. She can¡¯t just turn


    them off like they¡¯reing out of a faucet,¡± Braden said calmly. ¡°If she didn¡¯t feel so deeply, she¡¯d never be able to harness her


    gifts.¡±


    Mchi¡¯s eyebrows went up, but then his eyes narrowed. ¡°Would you like to take responsibility for her if she allows her emotions


    to hamper her progress? What if it causes an ident because she¡¯s too worked up?¡±


    ¡°Hey, you two. No fighting. Braden, my grandfather has a point. | do need to learn to manage myself. I¡¯m not saying | don¡¯t think |


    should feel,¡± | corrected hastily when Braden looked like he was going to protest. ¡°But


    he¡¯s right. If | want to learn how to use my hybrid traits, | need to be focused.¡±


    Mchi shot Braden a smug look. For someone centuries old, my grandfather sometimes acted even


    ¡°Let''s try telekinesis,¡± Charlotte cut in, bringing my attention back to the tasks at hand. She put a small, weighted ball on a table


    in front of me and stepped back. ¡°Try to move this with your mind.¡±


    it.¡±


    ¡°Can you do that?¡± | asked curiously.


    She shook her head. ¡°No, but it is a talent some vampires have. Mchi has it, so you might.¡±


    My grandfather demonstrated by lifting the ball and setting it down merely by looking at it. ¡°Now, you try


    | did, but even though | stared hard enough to make my eyes hurt, the ball didn¡¯t budge. | frowned.


    ¡°What''s the trick?¡±


    ¡°There is no trick. You can either do it or you can¡¯t,¡±


    Charlotte said. ¡°Looks like you can¡¯t.¡±


    That was a disappointment, but there were many other tests | had to do. My earlier confidence and good feeling from mastering


    the fast run was fading quickly as | was unable to do anything else my grandfather or Charlotte asked me to do. | wanted to cry


    again, but this time the tears weren''t happy.


    Charlotte hugged me. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Lanie.


    Think of it this way. The more we eliminate, the more opportunities you''ll have to focus on what you can do, without everything


    else clouding it.¡±


    ¡°Enough of this sappy nonsense,¡± Mchi said, snapping his fingers. ¡°Let''s test your mind reading.¡±


    | tried Greyson first, but although | could tell


    anything from him. Braden, on the other hand...


    e was thinking hard to give me a good chance, | couldn¡¯t get


    ¡°| can¡¯t...quite...tell what you''re thinking,¡± | said slowly as | concentrated. ¡°It¡¯s more like I¡¯m getting shes of your feelings.¡±


    Charlotte nodded. ¡°That makes sense. As your grandfather pointed out before, your own emotions are running high. You''re


    connected to feelings, especially deep ones.¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t discern Braden¡¯s thoughts, then describe his feelings,¡± Mchi demanded.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    | did my best to create that shift in my mind again.


    That opening door. But when | looked at Braden¡¯s face, something became so clear to me | didn¡¯t have to read his mind to guess


    what he was thinking.


    He didn¡¯t want me to share his feelings with anyone in this room, and especially not with my grandfather.

 Chapter 398

    Zane


    Silence surrounded me after Xander and Mason shut the door behind them.


    | was the only one left in the apartment, and | couldn¡¯t remember thatst time that had happened.


    It probably never had.


    Come to think of it, when was thest time I''d really been alone with nothing to do but entertain myself?


    Too long. | wasn¡¯t used to not having any tasks toplete, but | was going to take advantage of having no responsibilities, at


    least for the moment. Everyone would be back home in a few hours, and family life


    would resume.


    | loved my family, but there was no doubt that the grind of caring for three children as well as three other mates, plus a mother-in-


    law, could sometimes feel like a strain. Like it was taking everything out of me but not putting much back.


    | did consider giving Greyson a call, but then | remembered that he was helping Lanie with her testing in Mchi¡¯s quarters. That


    was actually a relief, because then | truly had no reason not to indulge myself in


    doing...nothing.


    Unfortunately, the problem with having nothing to do meant there was, well, nothing to do. | wasn¡¯t really hungry or thirsty, and


    although a nap alone in the quiet sounded like a decadent luxury, | wasn¡¯t sleepy enough to take one. | didn¡¯t need a shower, and


    | was feeling toozy to do any kind of workout.


    ¡°Well, s hit,¡± | said out loud to the empty space. | made myselfugh, shaking my head.


    | wanted to bezy, but it just wasn¡¯t in my nature.


    The kids had left a few board games out, so | gathered up all the pieces and sorted them into the correct boxes to put them all


    away. We had housekeeping staffe in for the actual cleaning, but | knew if Lanie came home and saw the mess, she''d clean


    it up.


    | didn¡¯t want my Luna toe back from her training to do any chores. She¡¯d probably be wiped out.


    As | was putting the games back on the bookshelf, | decided to open the cab set into the shelves. I¡¯d never bothered to look


    inside it before. What | saw inside made meugh out loud.


    ¡°No way!¡±


    | couldn¡¯t remember thest time I''d watched anything on TV. Months ago, at least. Here inside the cab was a giant t-


    screen h ooked up to every streaming service I¡¯d ever heard of and a bunch | hadn''t.


    My Alphas had gone off to handle their leadership duties, and this time, | wasn¡¯t upset about being left out. In fact, looking at this


    big screen, | was d | didn¡¯t have to go deal with anything other than making myself a huge bowl of popcorn with melted butter.


    | grabbed a couple of cans of soda, too, and settled my as s into one of thefortable leather recliners facing the TV.


    I


    stations to see what options | had. | was used to the human offerings, of course, since that was most of what


    we had ess to back home. | was surprised to see how many new episodes of shows had aired since the


    last time | could remember watching.


    Apparently, the Fae had an entire broadcasting system, with their own game shows, dramas, and evenedies. Fortunately,


    they were subtitled so | could understand what was going on, but | quickly switched away from the channel after only a few


    minutes. | had enough drama in my life. | didn¡¯t want to watch it on TV.


    | kept scrolling until | found the sports stations. Every sport from around the world, plus all the


    supernaturalpetitions. There were even channels devoted to on-demand reys of the best matches of


    all time.


    face.


    ¡°This is more like it,¡± | said out loud. |. dug a hand into the bowl of popcorn and shoveled some into my


    | didn¡¯t want to indulge in anger about how the High Council had screwed us all over for so long, but whenContent ? N?velDrama.Org.


    | saw how many supernaturals were out there living their lives,peting in sports | hadn¡¯t even heard of, |


    couldn¡¯t help feeling the fury and frustration.


    We''d been denied an entire world.


    The ¡°house¡± phone rang, startling me with its harsh, discordant jangle. It was more like an inte system than andline, you


    could only use it for internal calls. If any of my mates or even Gabri had wanted to reach me, they¡¯d have used my cell, so the


    fact that someone was ringing the house line meant something of an emergency.


    ¡°Zane Constantine,¡± | barked into the handset.


    ¡°Zane, hello, this is Myrna from the Brightsky school.


    You need toe and collect your daughter, Ste.


    There¡¯s a small problem. You really need toe right away.¡±

 Chapter 399

    Mason


    | knew Brightsky had a system set up to distribute tech to its residents, much the same as we were all provided with food,


    clothes, and medicine.


    Computers, phones, reading tablets, and the like all came from the central equipment hub, and there was


    an entire IT staff dedicated to servicing all of it.


    ¡°Can | help you?¡± the vampire behind the desk asked politely. Her fangs peeked out over her lower lip when


    she smiled. She looked about twelve, but | knew she had to be much older than that.


    ¡°I''m looking for a new phone,¡± | said casually.


    She nodded and swiveled in her chair to face theputer on her desk. Her fingers poised over the


    keyboard. ¡°Sure. Name?¡±


    ¡°Mason Constantine.¡±


    She looked back at me. ¡°Oh, my: You¡¯re Mchi¡¯s granddaughter¡¯s mate!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± | said with a chuckle. | wondered if I¡¯d ever get used to being kind of a minor celebrity around


    here. ¡°Does that matter?¡±


    ¡°Well, certainly. It gives you ess to a much greater range of equipment,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°And if we


    don¡¯t have what you want in stock, we can order out for it¡±


    ¡°Not everyone has that privilege?¡± | asked, curious about how it all worked. Charlotte had given Xander aptop to use for the


    leadership meetings, but we all still had our own cell phones from before we got here.


    None of us had needed to requisition any equipment since we¡¯d arrived.


    The vampire behind the desk pressed her lips together primly. ¡°All residents of Brightsky are permitted to have whatever


    equipment they want, but if they want something beyond the standard, they¡¯re on their own to


    order it. Special gaming systems, things like that.


    We don¡¯t provide that kind of upgrade.¡±


    ¡°But if | wanted something powerful like that, | could get it,¡± | rified.


    She nodded. ¡°Yes. It would take a few days, but | could put in the order for you. Were you interested in


    that?¡±


    ¡°No. Just a new phone.¡± | studied her as she typed, asking me my brand preference and any specs | wanted. ¡°So if someone


    does order in equipment, does it stille through here?¡±


    She frowned, looking at herputer screen. ¡°No.


    The residents are responsible to order it and pick it up themselves. We have nothing to do with it.¡±


    Which meant there was no oversight of it. Which meant that anyone could bring in tech that was


    compromised, either with spyware they didn¡¯t know about...or maybe, they did. The phone in my pocket that Goldie had given us


    felt suddenly much heavier.


    | was going to have to fill in my brother about this. | knew he¡¯d have something to say about the possibilities of a security breach.


    ¡°Does your IT staff do any repairs on it or anything, if there are problems?¡±


    Sheughed. ¡°No. And believe me, sometimes peoplein about that a lot. But what do they expect?


    If it''s not our equipment, we can¡¯t be held responsible for it. We do always warn people that if they want to


    go outside of the department for their tech, they¡¯re on their own.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± was all | said. The wheels were turning in my mind. | could sense a spi ke in my brother¡¯s emotions.


    Something was going on with him, but he didn¡¯t reach out to me through our mind link.


    She typed quickly, fingers flying over the keys in a blur, much like the way I¡¯d seen Mchi running.


    It was impressive. | wondered if she made many mistakes. | could only hunt and peck, myself.


    ¡°There. All ordered,¡± the clerk said cheerfully. ¡°If you wait right here, I¡¯ll have someone bring you the new


    unit. You can have a seat there while you wait.


    Complimentary soft drinks and coffee, too.¡±


    ¡°Is this going to take that long?¡± | asked, a little concerned.


    Sheughed. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t, not unless you¡¯re here for a repair.¡±


    True to her word, another clerk brought me a new, boxed phone. | unwrapped it to check it out, specifically


    looking to see if it had the same issues as the one Goldie had given me. It all looked fine.


    Nothing wrong with it.


    Casually, | took out the broken one. ¡°While I¡¯m here, | wonder if someone can take a look at this?¡±


    | handed it to the vampire behind the desk. She looked it over with a frown.


    ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with this phone,¡± the clerk said. Her frown deepened.


    ¡°| know, that¡¯s why | want a tech to look it over.¡±


    She shook her head, turning the phone over and over in her palm. ¡°No, | mean...where did you get it?¡±


    ¡°It was given to someone I¡¯m working with on the leadership council as a temporary unit.¡± | didn¡¯t say whoN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    or what for, and the clerk didn¡¯t give any indications that she was trying to guess.


    She shook her head and handed it back to me. ¡°Well, all | can tell you is that we don¡¯t carry that type of


    unit. Wherever they got that phone, it wasn¡¯t from here.¡±

 Chapter 400

    Zane


    ¡°What happened?¡± | demanded at once.


    The voice on the other end of the phone cleared her throat. ¡°I think it¡¯s best if you juste down here.¡±


    ¡°Is she hurt?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not hurt, nothing like that,¡± Myrna assured me.


    ¡°I''m the school nurse, and | can honestly tell you she seems in perfect health. But her teachers asked me


    to call you toe pick her up.¡±


    ¡°I''ll be there as soon as | can get there.¡±


    The school nurse had said Ste was in perfect health, so that could mean she¡¯d eaten too many snacks


    and had a belly ache or something. Or, more likely, she¡¯d misbehaved in some way. The nurse hadn¡¯t sounded


    too shocked, so that made me feel a little better. She probably saw kids getting up to hijinks all the time.


    Bad enough to get sent home, though?


    | thought about using the mind link to alert my Luna and my Alphas that Ste was in trouble at school,


    but then | decided against it. They were all busy, and | was her parent as much as any of them, even if | had no


    biological ties to her. Quickly, | cleared away my snack bo and started hunting for the boots I''d kicked off


    earlier.


    myContent ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Da mn, this was the problem with wearing the same size as both Xander and Mason. One of them must''ve taken my favorite


    boots. | found an older pair instead and put those on. | grabbed my phone, too, just in case


    someone needed to get ahold of me while | was out.


    Oops. There was a call from the school and also a text.


    No wonder they¡¯d finally called the house phone.


    The voicemail and text didn¡¯t say anything more than what Myrna had told me on the phone, so | guessed that whatever Ste


    had gotten into couldn''t be that serious. Still, | was worried enough that when the elevator


    was taking way too freaking long to arrive on our floor, | chose to take the stairs instead


    Popcorn and soda sloshed around in my stomach as | ran up the stairs. When | came out into another hallway, | was a little


    turned around. Cursing Brightsky¡¯sbyrinth of corridors, stairwells and public spaces, | navigated as best | could toward the


    school. | reached a locked door, though, preventing me from essing the corridor beyond. It didn¡¯t have any signs saying why it


    was restricted or anything on it, and this was the first time I''d ever encountered something like that.


    Cursing a little under my breath, | backtracked. Even though | hadn''t been too worried at first, the longer it was taking me to get


    to the school, the more uneasy | felt. Even if it wasn¡¯t something serious, the idea that my little girl could be sick and waiting for


    her Papa made me pick up my steps.


    essible from one central point, which was great for safety but a pain in the a ss when you needed to get to your sick kid. |


    could see some of the different sses through the windows, but there was no way to get in there from here. | didn¡¯t spot Ste,


    either.


    Atst, | made it all the way around to the front entrance. | didn¡¯t recognize the three adults sitting in the vestibule. One man, two


    women. | gave them a nod as | passed, going to the front desk.


    ¡°I''m Zane Constantine. | got a call from the school telling me there was a problem with my daughter,


    Ste. I¡¯m here to pick her up.¡±


    The receptionist looked...scared? Startled? She stood up and cleared her throat. ¡°Yes, well, um, thank you


    foring right away.¡±


    ¡°What''s the problem? Is she sick?¡± | braced myself for bad news about her behavior.


    The receptionist looked past me. She cleared her throat again. ¡°No. Well. | mean...¡±


    Irritated, | leaned a little closer. ¡°I came right away because someone named Myrna called to tell me there


    was a problem with my daughter. I''d appreciate it if you stopped beating around the bush and told me what''s


    going on. Where can | pick her up to take her home?¡±


    ¡°She''s...¡± the receptionist tipped her chin behind me to the vestibule.


    | turned and saw the same three adults who''d been there when | came in. Two women, one man. |


    frowned, scanning the area for any sign of Ste, but the three strangers were the only ones waiting.


    ¡°Hello, Papa,¡± said one of the women as she stepped forward. She had a clear, warm voice and looked like


    she was at least twenty years old.


    ¡°What the...¡± | began but couldn¡¯t say more than that.


    | was too shocked.


    The adult woman was Ste.

 Chapter 401

    Chapter 401


    Zane


    I stared at this young adult woman but snapped my jaw shut to hide my surprise. She looked like


    Xander


    more than ever, but I could see Lanie in her, too.


    She¡¯d gone off to school today in a blue and white dress with white tights and ck shoes. Now she


    wore


    a long skirt in a floral pattern. It was too long for her and dragged on the floor. Her shirt was of a


    different


    pattern that didn¡¯t match. The sleeves were too short.


    ¡°We¡­hrmmm,¡± the male teacher said. ¡°Anita gave her some clothes from the lost and found.¡±


    The woman, who must have been Anita, added, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we didn¡¯t have any shoes or socks to fit


    her.


    We did the best we could.¡±


    Ste chuckled softly as she lifted the hem of her borrowed skirt to show off what looked like paper


    booties on her feet. They were the sort meant to go over shoes to keep them from dirtying a carpet.


    There was


    some duct tape holding them on.


    ¡°It was quite an unexpected event,¡± said Anita.


    The world swam a little bit as I tried to take it all in.


    ¡°Did you know?¡± the male teacher asked. ¡°Because I have to say, Mr. Constantine, if you did, it


    would¡¯ve


    been nice if you¡¯d informed the school. Perhaps kept her home today?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not contagious,¡± I said sharply.


    Anita cleared her throat. ¡°Of course not. Herb wasn¡¯t implying any such thing. We¡¯re just all a little taken


    aback, that¡¯s all.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    ¡°Papa,¡± Ste said quietly with a sideways nce at the man on one side of her, and the woman on the


    other. ¡°I¡¯m dismissed from the school. I think we ought to go home now, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Herb stepped up and said quickly and apologetically ¡°Ste¡¯s always been a star student here, but I


    think you can see why she¡¯s no longer able to attend.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± I said automatically. ¡°Thanks for taking such good care of her.¡±


    I¡¯d been wondering if they were used to this sort of thing, but it was now clear this was out of the


    ordinary


    even among a bunch of supernaturals.


    ¡°My other pups. ina and Isaac. Are they being dismissed, too?¡±


    I braced myself for word that the twins had somehow hurtled into adulthood, too, or maybe just


    adolescence. A stage Ste had sk ipped, I thought a little wildly and pressed my lips together to hold


    back a


    1/2


    Chapter 401


    spurt of inappropriateughter. The less of a big deal I made out of this, the easier it would be, or so I


    hoped..


    Anita shook her head. ¡°The twins are in preschool art ss right now. They¡¯re not¡­rather¡­ahem.¡±


    ¡°Allie and Izzy are fine, Papa.¡± Ste¡¯s eyes shone as she smiled and took my hand. She looked back


    at her former teachers. ¡°Thank you both for everything. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll see you around.¡±


    Anita smiled. ¡°Youe back and see us anytime, Ste.¡±


    I had to trust my daughter that her siblings were, in fact, fine. She didn¡¯t say anything else as we left the


    school and started toward home. Her paper booties made a shushing noise with every step she took.


    I couldn¡¯t stop myself from staring down at them peeking out from under her skirt. Something about the


    fact that they¡¯d had to dress her in cast-off clothes and give her makeshift shoes really struck all of this


    home


    for me.


    Ste was truly no longer a child.


    When we got around the corner and almost to the elevator, Ste finally spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have shocked you this way, Papa. It was unavoidable.¡±


    I stopped walking and turned to put my hands on her shoulders. I looked down into her face, which was


    so familiar but also so strange at the same time. This was more than the usual rapid growth young


    wolves. went through. She looked like an adult and spoke like one, too. She¡¯d been acting older than


    her age for a


    while now, but this wa s¡­something else altogether.


    I didn¡¯t know what to think about it. ¡°Ste, how did this happen? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Her smile did not falter or fade, but her eyes did cut around the corridor. She let them flick upward


    toward the spot where the ceiling met the wall. I nced there, too, but didn¡¯t see anything other than a


    small, dark spot. It was one of those spiders that watched everything. Now that I knew about them, I


    could spot them


    everywhere.


    ¡°I think we should get home first, before we talk about anything. I¡¯m starving,¡± she said cheerfully,


    rubbing


    her stomach. ¡°I missed snack time at school today.¡±


    ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s get you home.¡±


    I was going to have to let my mates know what had happened to our daughter. What she had be.


    Together, we¡¯d have to figure out how it had happened¡­and more importantly, why.


    2/2

 Chapter 402

    Chapter 402


    Lanie


    ¡°Lanie¡­¡±Zane¡¯s voice met me through the mind link, but it sounded like it wasing from very far


    away.


    I¡¯d been concentrating so hard on figuring out Braden¡¯s emotions and also his thoughts about why he


    didn¡¯t want me to share them with Mchi, that my own mate¡¯s link to me was stretched thin to the


    point of breaking. I shook my head, sta ggering back a few steps.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Charlotte asked at once, her voice thick with concern. She put a hand on my arm.


    Greyson joined her on


    faint or anything like that my other side. I realized they were both ready to catch me if I fell over. I didn¡¯t


    feel


    faint or anything like that, but I appreciated that they were there for me in case I did.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Braden asked evenly as his eyes met mine.


    Was he trying to send me something? The way his


    couldn¡¯t read him, though.


    yes narrowed told me that maybe he was. I still


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. But Zane is calling for me. Can you all give me a minute so I can find out what he needs?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get you some water and a snack, Greyson offered.


    Mchi snorted. ¡°You need to build up your stamina granddaughter.¡±


    I waved him off, something I knew would make him gnash his teeth. I wasn¡¯t trying to get on my


    grandfather¡¯s nerves or be disrespectful, but I also knew he wasn¡¯t going toe after me for it. That


    was the privilege of being his blood.


    ¡°Zane?¡±


    ¡°Lanie, love¡­can youe home?¡±


    I looked around this small training room and wrinkled my nose at how I could suddenly smell the


    overpowering stink of my own body odor. Charlotte pressed an opened bottle of water into my hand,


    while Greyson handed me an unwrapped protein bar.


    hear.


    Mchi and Braden were in the room¡¯s other corner, heads bent together, murmuring words I couldn¡¯t


    ¡°I¡¯m kind of in the middle of something, honey. Is something wrong?¡± I took a long drink. My thirst and


    hunger both roared to full life, and I eagerly gobbled the protein bar.


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong. But you shoulde home. It¡¯s about Ste. I don¡¯t want you to worry,¡± Zane thought


    quickly, as though he knew I¡¯d hear that and instantly get nervous. ¡°But this is something that would be


    better to share with you face to face. And you should be prepared that she looks a little different.¡±


    1/2


    Chapter 402


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there in fifteen minutes. Where are Mason and Xander?¡±


    ¡°Still at the tech center, as far as I know. I haven¡¯t reached out to them yet, but I will. I wanted to get in


    touch with you first. Are you still training with Mchi?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    I looked over at my grandfather, who was still talking to Braden. The younger vampire looked a little


    upset, an emotion I could feel only faintly now that I wasn¡¯t concentrating on him as hard. Out loud, I


    said, ¡°I need to get home.¡±


    Mchi turned with his hands on his hips. ¡°Lanie, really. Your libidinous mate can wait his turn, can¡¯t


    he? This is important. You don¡¯t need to be at his beck and call.¡±


    With a frown, tossed my empty water bottle in a trash can by the door. ¡°That¡¯s pretty rude of you to


    assume that my mate was only reaching out to me for something like that. I¡¯m not at his beck and call.


    I¡¯m in a partnership with all three of my mates, which means when they need me for something, I¡¯ll do


    my best to give it to them. Maybe that¡¯s something you could learn, too.¡±


    ¡°Ouch,¡± Charlotte murmured with a twist of her lips and a sideways look at my grandfather.


    Mchi¡¯s eyes zed crimson as his lips skinned back over his curving fangs. ¡°How very dare you!¡±


    Braden put his hand on his lover¡¯s arm. ¡°Mchi.


    Don¡¯t.¡±


    Mchi shook him off and crossed the room to me in the blink of an eye. His fingers gripped into my


    upper arms hard enough to make me wince. He pushed his face close to mine so I could see the


    swirling red


    spirals in his eyes.


    ¡°All of this is for your own protection,¡± he hissed. ¡°Do you think I gain joy from pushing you? Do you


    think this is how I¡¯d like to spend my hours?¡±


    I didn¡¯t flinch. By the moon, he was a drama queen.


    ¡°Grandfather, please. It¡¯s something about my child.


    I¡¯m sure you understand why that¡¯s more important than any of this right now.¡±


    Instantly, he stepped away from me. The red in his eyes faded. ¡°You should have said so in the first


    ce.¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have had to,¡± I told him. ¡°I¡¯m a grownup, and I have a life and responsibilities that you¡¯ve


    never had. You fathered a child, Mchi, but you¡¯ve never raised one. If my mate needs me toe


    home because our child needs me for something, for anything, then nothing else matters to me more


    than that.¡±


    ¡°Go,¡± he said. ¡°But you should know, granddaughter, that until you understand your gifts and can use


    them, you¡¯ll never be able to fully protect your children.¡±


    2/2

 Chapter 403

    Chapter 403


    Xander


    A few minutes ago, Zane had called out to me through our mate bond link, but although I¡¯d replied


    within a few seconds, he hadn¡¯t replied. Then he¡¯d gone silent.


    That was kind of weird, but I figured maybe he¡¯d had something to tell me that could wait, or else he


    was busy and would reach out again in a few minutes.


    Right now, I had to figure out what in the void was going on with all these missing files.


    ¡°Is anything else not where you¡¯d expect it to be?¡± I asked as I leaned over Jordy¡¯s shoulder to look at


    hisputer monitor. Scrolling lines of green text flowed along a ck background. I couldn¡¯t make


    heads or


    tails of it.


    ¡°The entire Brightsky system is all tied into our central hub here. It¡¯s backed up regrly, which means


    that even though I can¡¯t find that list on my hard drive, it should be essible through one of the


    backups.¡±


    Jordy¡¯s fingers flew over the keys as he brought up a list of folders and files in multiple hard drives,


    external drives, and even some from a cloud server.


    With every file he opened that didn¡¯t contain the backup he was looking for, he sounded more and more


    frustrated when he replied.


    ¡°Nothing else is missing. Only the files pertaining to the resident list for Standard. And not all of them


    are gone, either. Only the ones from the past year.¡± Jordy muttered a curse and sat back in his chair


    hard enought


    to spin it around.


    His brother pulled up a seat and started typing on his own keyboard, but he was having the same


    issues.


    With a frustrated sigh, he also spun around and tossed his hands in the air. ¡°I got nothing.¡±


    ¡°Any other backups you might be forgetting about?¡± asked them both.


    Jordy shook his head. ¡°Me and Franco are the ones who set up this entire system. There isn¡¯t a backup


    avable that we don¡¯t know about. I¡¯ve even checked the secret servers that nobody else has ess


    to.¡±


    ¡°And the files aren¡¯t there, either? F uck,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°They might¡¯ve been excluded from a backup to that server,¡± Franco said. ¡°I¡¯d bet my life that nobody


    could get into them, but they could¡¯ve rewritten themands to send a backup there. That¡¯s the only


    thing I can


    think of that makes sense.¡±


    ¡°None of it makes sense,¡± his brother said in a defeated voice. He looked up at me. ¡°Sorry. This is


    extremely embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°Could be worse,¡± Franco said. ¡°The resident list isn¡¯t really that big of a deal. We can probably pull one


    1/3


    Chapter 403


    together in an hour or so from other sources.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Do that for me, please. And can you get me a list of anyone who might have admin ess to


    these


    files?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a short list,¡± Franco said. ¡°You¡¯re looking at two of the people on it. The other one is Mchi, and


    the


    leadership council has a temporary ess code they can use with permission.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t about the resident list but the fact that someone in Brightsky had thought that it was important


    enough to destroy¡­and that they¡¯d done it long enough in advance that it definitely seemed deliberate.


    ¡°Xander!¡±


    Zane¡¯s voice filtered into my mind through the link again, and I paused to answer him.


    ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of something,¡± I thought to him.


    I knew I sounded a little irritated, but I didn¡¯t want him to keep calling for me without being there when I


    answered. Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    His voice was sharp. ¡°I know, but this is important.


    Are you with Mason? He¡¯s not answering me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Mason thought to us both in the next second. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m caught up in something, too. What


    do


    you need, Zane?¡±


    ¡°Hold on for a second,¡± I thought to them both and turned back to the tech twins. ¡°I¡¯ve got my Beta


    trying


    to connect with me. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    The twin in red kept furiously typing away. His brother was doing the same at his own terminal. I took a


    few steps away and turned my back so I could concentrate better on what my Beta was saying.


    ¡°Whatever¡¯s going on, put a hold on it forter. You both need toe home right now. I¡¯ve already


    connected with Lanie, and she¡¯s on her way, ¡°Zane thought. ¡°For some reason, she wasn¡¯t hearing me


    through


    our bond.¡±


    That probably exined why he¡¯d called out for me but then went silent.


    Mason¡¯s voice rose through our link. ¡°I¡¯ll finish up and be there as soon as I can. Xander, meet me by


    the


    elevators?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Be there in five,¡± I thought.


    Zane¡¯s voice reached us both again. ¡°If either one of you can get in touch with Gabri¡­she should be


    here, too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to have toe back,¡± I said to the twins,


    ¡°But you have my number. Call me or text as soon as you get those lists together.¡±


    2/3


    Chapter 403


    I dialed my mother¡¯s number as I left for the elevator to meet Mason, but my call went right to


    voicemail. I. called again, thinking she might notice a second ring, but she didn¡¯t pick up this time,


    cither. I sent her a text, but a small red exmation mark showed up to let me know my message didn¡¯t


    get through.


    ¡°And you should know,¡± Zane thought to us both.


    ¡°Ste is going to surprise you.¡±


    3/3

 Chapter 404

    Chapter 404


    Zane


    ¡°They¡¯re all on the way. I was finally able to get your mother through our mate link.¡± I paused, looking at


    my now-adult daughter. ¡°Can you still hear us when we talk through that?¡±


    Ste had helped herself to some cut-up fruit from the fridge in the kitchte. She paused in pouring


    herself some hot water for tea, then nodded.


    ¡°I can hear everyone¡¯s thoughts. All the time. Even when I don¡¯t want to. But yours and Abba¡¯s and


    Daddy¡¯s and Mother¡¯s are indistinct when you¡¯re talking through the bond. I can hear you, but I usually


    can¡¯t decipher what you¡¯re saying. Which, honestly, I prefer.¡±


    Steughed, sounding a little embarrassed. She poured us both mugs of tea and sat at the table. I


    took the chair across from hers and pulled my mug closer to me, even though I really wanted


    something much


    stronger than tea.


    ¡°That must be hard,¡± I told her. ¡°Hearing thoughts all the time.¡±


    She shrugged and frowned a little bit, and in that expression I saw very clearly the little girl she¡¯d been.


    This was going to take me some time to get used to¡­


    and I had to wonder how hard this was for her. One minute to be a child, the next an adult in the span


    of


    mere hours.


    Could she hear what I was thinking just then?


    ¡°I try not to,¡± she said aloud. ¡°Sometimes, like just now, what you were thinking was so loud and so


    strong, and it was about me. I heard it before I could stop myself But mostly, Papa, I try to be polite and


    not listen in.¡±


    ¡°Has it always been like that for you?¡±


    She nodded after a moment and lifted the mug to her lips. She winced at the heat, then pursed her lips


    and blew lightly. I could feel the cold breeze from all the way across the table, and I let out a mutter of


    surprise.


    Again, my daughter looked embarrassed as she set down the mug. ¡°I can make things cold if I need


    them


    to be. Or hot.¡±


    ¡°Ste¡­¡± I trailed off, not really even sure what I meant to say. ¡°You are extraordinary. I always knew


    that,


    of course. That you¡¯re so special. But¡­¡±


    ¡°But now you can see it right in front of you, and you can¡¯t deny it or pretend it away. I understand. I¡¯m


    sorry it¡¯s such a shock to you, Papa. I didn¡¯t mean for it to be.¡± Ste paused, tilting her head as though


    she was listening. ¡°They¡¯re almost here. Then I¡¯ll be able to tell you everything. I¡¯d like to do it when


    we¡¯re all


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    Chapter 404


    together, if you can be patient enough for that.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I can. If that¡¯s what you need,¡± I told her.


    Ste smiled, but tears gleamed in her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s why I had them call you first, Papa. Because I


    knew


    you¡¯d be able to wait without demanding everything from me right away. Daddy is going to be a little


    more


    difficult, I think.¡±


    We bothughed at that, shaking our heads. She was right. Xander was going to flip his lid when he


    saw her. That was why I hadn¡¯t simply told him what happened through our mind link.


    ¡°He¡¯s got to see it for himself,¡± I told her. ¡°But he¡¯ll be okay. He¡¯s your father, Ste. He¡¯s going to love


    you,


    no matter what. We all will. Were you worried about that?¡±


    Her hesitation showed me that was true. She might be adult-sized with a grownup¡¯s maturity, but there


    was another glimpse of her childhood in that expression. A little girl¡¯s fears that something she¡¯d doneN?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    would


    take away her parents¡¯ love.


    ¡°People don¡¯t like those who are different, Papa.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Ste.¡±


    ¡°The teachers at school didn¡¯t like me. They might have told you otherwise,¡± she cut in with a sharp


    look at me. ¡°But I could tell, even before I grew up, that they really didn¡¯t know what to make of me. I


    tried hard


    never to show them what I could do, but it was hard.¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t people. We are your family. Your pack.


    We¡¯ll stand by you no matter how big you get,¡± I told her fiercely. A sudden thought mmed into me


    about supernaturals I¡¯d heard about but hadn¡¯t yet met. I had to assume they were real, though, since


    all the others turned out to be. ¡°Are you going to get any bigger?¡±


    She burst intoughter. ¡°Papa!¡±


    ¡°You could be part Giant, for all I know,¡± I teased, but there was a real question in my voice.


    Ste shook her head. ¡°I promise not to outgrow you¡±


    That hadn¡¯t answered my question about if she could get bigger or not, but I epted it. We both


    chuckled a little bit. Then her head tilted again, and her eyes narrowed.


    ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± she said.


    2/2

 Chapter 405

    Chapter 405


    Lanie


    My vampire running skills were far from being perfected, and I¡¯d had to slow down halfway home to


    catch my breath. I made it the rest of the way in decent time, though. Xander and Mason showed up


    outside our


    door at the same time.


    We greeted each other briefly with hugs and kisses, but then I pushed open the door. I was eager to


    get inside, terrified of what I might find.


    In all the things I¡¯d imagined, the sight that greeted me was not one of them.


    ¡°Hello, Mother.¡± A willowy young woman with Xander¡¯s smile stood up from the table.


    Zane had been sitting across from her, and he stood up, too. He didn¡¯t say anything, not even through


    our


    mind link. He didn¡¯t look half as confused as our other two mates.


    Xander¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Huh?¡±


    Mason took a few automatic steps forward, his fists up before he caught himself and put them back at


    his sides. ¡°Ste?¡±


    ¡°Mother, Daddy, Abba. It¡¯s really me.¡±


    ¡°Did you get in touch with your mom?¡± Zane asked Xander.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t answer.¡± Xander sounded full of wonder.


    He crossed the room and took both of Ste¡¯s hands in his as he looked her up and down. ¡°I can¡¯t


    believe


    this.¡±


    She looked past him to me, and her expression creased. ¡°Mother?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here, baby.¡± I flew to her and gathered her into a hug.


    My arms might not have been used to the size of her but she could never outgrow the space in my


    heart.


    Ste wept, and I joined in. Happy tears? Scared? It was hard to tell, but we rocked together as she


    held onto me as tightly as she ever had as an infant.


    ¡°I love you, Ste, my little star. My precious angel.


    You could be a hundred feet tall, and you¡¯d still be my little girl.


    Sheughed through her so bs. ¡°Papa already asked if I was going to get to be the size of a Giant!¡±


    I held her at arms¡¯ length and pretended to give her a stern look. ¡°Well, are you?¡±


    1/3


    N


    Chapter 405


    Mason came up behind us. ¡°Can anyone tell me what in the world is going on?¡±


    ¡°You told us she was going to surprise us, but I didn¡¯t expect this.¡± Xander pinched the bridge of his


    nose.


    ¡°I need a drink,¡± Mason said. ¡°Whiskey, anyone?¡±


    Xander raised a hand. ¡°Me.¡±


    Zane did the same, and after a moment, so did I. A second after him, so did Ste.


    ¡°You might be taller,¡± Xander told her, ¡°but I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m ready for you to be tossing back shots.¡±


    Steughed and dipped her head. ¡°Oh, Daddy.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Daddy,¡¯ she says.¡± Xander shook his head and crossed to the small bar cart to pour everyone a


    round.


    ¡°Like I¡¯m the one being unreasonable!¡±


    His words were strong, but his tone was teasing.


    We all gathered around to toss back a single shot of whiskey, our newly grownup daughter included.


    This was a celebration, after all, even if the three parents weren¡¯t quite sure what it all meant.


    Ste shuddered. ¡°Ew. I think that¡¯s enough for me.


    I¡¯m sure you all have many questions. Mother¡­it might be best if you start off sharing what you already


    know?¡±


    Heat rushed into my face as my three mates turned to look at me. I swallowed hard. ¡°About that¡­¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Xander frowned. ¡°Lanie, was there something you weren¡¯t sharing with us?¡±


    I knew he was thinking that it wouldn¡¯t have been the first time. I lifted my chin to meet his gaze


    squarely with mine. ¡°I was trying to find out some more information and get some confirmation from my


    grandfather before I told you things that might not be true. I found a book¡­¡±


    I wasn¡¯t sure what else to say. All three of my mates were glowering at me, and I supposed I couldn¡¯t


    me them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my loves. I just didn¡¯t want to worry you if what I was reading turned out to be


    fiction. And then there was the power surge and everything else, and we all got distracted, and I guess


    I was just


    trying to take things one step at a time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the only way to take things, sweetheart,¡± Zane murmured.


    ¡°But we¡¯re supposed to take those steps together.¡±


    Xander sounded a little angry but a lot more disappointed, and that made me feel worse than if he¡¯d


    screamed at me.


    Mason was the only one toe and put his arms around me. He pressed his forehead to my temple


    and both of us stared at the woman who¡¯d once been our little girl¡­and ours alone. Back in the days


    when I¡¯d forgotten the rest of my life. When the three of us had been a little family all on our own.


    2/3


    ???? ???????? ??? ??? ???? ?????


    Chapter 405


    Chapter 405


    Xander and Zane loved Ste, but Mason had been her father before either of them even knew she


    existed.


    have.¡±


    ¡°I understand, love,¡± he thought to me privately.


    ¡°Where is this book? I want to read it?¡± Xander demanded.


    ¡°It disappeared,¡± I said.


    ¡°And it won¡¯te back,¡± Ste said. ¡°Because you don¡¯t need it anymore. I¡¯ll answer any questions


    you


    3/3

 Chapter 406

    Chapter 406


    Mason


    The five of us settled into our ces in the living room. Thest time Ste had sat in that chair, her


    legs. dangled. Now her feet reached the floor. They were bare, and it urred to me that we¡¯d have to


    get her a


    whole new wardrobe.


    It was a stu pid thing to be worried about at a time like that, but I found it was easier to focus on the


    practical aspects of the situation to keep myself from disintegrating into a spiral of confusion. Because


    if I didn¡¯t have something to focus on, I thought I might lose my s hit, just a little.


    Not like my brother, though. Pulses of his Alpha energy kept swirling out of him. It felt like a rain of icy


    pebbles sca t tering over all of us. Our Luna and our Beta were doing their best to counteract him with


    warmth and soothing bursts of their own energy, but I also had to put in some of my own.


    Alpha on Alpha-it was like two mas touching the wrong ends. Every time I tried to help my brother


    get


    himself under control, we sprang violently apart.


    ¡°Daddy.¡± Ste¡¯s calm voice surrounded all of us like thep of waves on a shore.


    She held out her hands, palms up. Light suffused the air around her. The ends of her hair floated, cr


    ackling, as more light built its glow until it


    when


    epassed Xander. His eyes were zing with his wolf, but


    Ste¡¯s light reached him, he closed them.


    ¡°Daddy,¡± she repeated. ¡°I have answers for every question. Everything is going to be all right.¡±


    Zane and I shared a look. How was she doing this?


    Ste was the daughter of an Alpha and a strong Luna who¡¯d been blessed with unique gifts, and all of


    us belonged to the Moon Goddess in ways we didn¡¯t fully understand. Was it possible that Ste had


    an Alpha and a Luna¡¯s powers, maybe even some of a Beta¡¯s?


    That was the only way I could imagine her being able to surround all of us in this glowing nket of


    peace.


    Lanie was the only one of us who didn¡¯t look confused by what our daughter was doing. Whatever


    she¡¯d read in that vanishing book had given her the heads¡¯ up. I could see her mind turning as she


    watched Ste work her magic on her agitated father.


    Magic, I thought to myself. That¡¯s what it had to be. Some kind of magic none of us had experienced


    before.


    Xander opened his eyes, fully calm. ¡°Apologies, Ste


    1/2


    Chapter 406


    I see now. I mean, I feel¡­hell, I¡¯m not really sure what I mean. But I¡¯m ready to listen to whatever


    to tell us.¡±


    you have


    Ste grinned. ¡°Good. I¡¯m ready to answer any of your questions. Mother has one. I can tell by the look


    on


    her face.¡±


    ¡°Was the book true, Ste?¡± Lanie¡¯s voice held a hint of tears but also something that sounded like


    hope.


    A little fear. Pride, too. ¡°Do you have every ability of every supernatural to ever exist?¡±


    Ste nodded, her expression solemn. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Xander groaned and leaped off the couch to pace.


    Zane¡¯s head fell back against the cus hions. I just stared at our daughter and her mother as they held a


    long, solid look between them. I didn¡¯t know what to do, say, or even feel.


    ¡°I am a Celestial,¡± Ste said gently to us all. ¡°That means I am part of everything, and everything is a


    part


    of me.¡±


    ¡°From birth,¡± Lanie said faintly. ¡°You¡¯ve been able to do all of this since you were born. N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Again, Ste nodded. ¡°Celestials are born aware, into the infant bodies of their parents. I can¡¯t speak


    for any others, only myself, but¡­you wanted and needed me to be your baby, so that¡¯s what I


    remained. At least as long as I could. I did what I thought was best¡­


    with the Celestial ¡®dream¡¯, so you would have some awareness. I never wanted to hurt or frighten you,


    Mother!¡±


    Lanie shook her head. ¡°All of this must have been so hard for you. I¡¯m only sorry you didn¡¯t feel like you


    were able to tell us before now.¡±


    ¡°There was so much you and my fathers had to face. I didn¡¯t want to add to that struggle,¡± Ste said.


    ¡°Until now? What changed?¡± Xander asked.


    Ste raised her hands again to bathe us all in her warmth and glowing light. I closed my eyes to bask


    in it, letting it take away my worries. I loved my daughter, but more than that, I trusted her. I had to.


    ¡°I tried to be your child for as long as I could. I wanted to do all of this slower, for your sakes, but there


    isn¡¯t time for that anymore.¡± Ste looked at each of us in turn. ¡°Danger ising.¡±


    2/2

 Chapter 407

    Chapter 407


    Lanie


    My heart stopped when Ste revealed that she¡¯d had to grow up so fast because there was danger. To


    my surprise, Xanderughed out loud. Considering how upset he¡¯d been moments ago, this guffaw


    sounded


    strange.


    ¡°Danger has been on its way for a¡¯long da mned time daughter,¡± he said with a shake of his head.


    ¡°I know that. But until now, all of you have been able to handle whatever came along.¡± Ste¡¯s smile


    was


    crooked. ¡°You didn¡¯t need help from me.¡±


    ¡°And now we do?¡± Zane asked.


    Ste looked at him. ¡°It felt right, Papa. That¡¯s the best way for me to exin it. Mother was too worried


    about me to really pay attention to herself. It made her keep secrets from you. I couldn¡¯t be the reason


    for


    that.¡±


    Another rush of guilt tangled all around my heart.


    ¡°You can¡¯t me yourself for anything I chose to do, Ste. I was the one who decided not to tell my


    mates what I was discovering. Even though I had my reasons, it wasn¡¯t right, but it also wasn¡¯t your


    fault.¡±


    My daughter¡¯s eyes-so much like Mchi¡¯s-shone vividly green. I saw no sign of a wolf inside them,


    and a pang twisted inside me. As a Celestial, Ste was in fact everything. Why, then, did she have no


    wolf? It seemed like the part of her I could most identify with was missing.


    Then again, I¡¯d spent so much timetely focused on the parts of me that were not wolf¡­ From low


    inside me, Lily whined. I imagined her rough tonguepping at my face, something that, of course,


    could never happen since we would never upy the same space at the same time. I could be


    her, and she was always a part of me.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m getting this. You can do and be everything?¡± Zane asked slowly, his brow knitting.


    ¡°And you¡¯ve always been able to?¡±


    ¡°She can choose her gifts,¡± I told him when at first Ste didn¡¯t reply.


    ¡°So you can shift into a dragon?¡± Zane asked.


    Ste nodded. ¡°If I choose. Or a wolf. I can run as fast as a vampire andpel others with a


    vampire¡¯s charm. I can cast spells and make potions like the witches.¡±


    ¡°And you can see the future,¡± I said as I ran through everything I¡¯d read in that book.


    Xander let out a grumble. ¡°Nobody can do that. The future isn¡¯t written in stone. Every choice we make


    shapes it.¡±


    1/2


    Chapter 407


    ¡°True, Daddy. But Mother is also correct. I can see into the future. I can peel away time like theyers


    of


    an onion and see¡­.well, all the possibilities. It¡¯s so overwhelming, though.¡± Ste drew in a hitching


    little


    breath.


    Xander went to her at once. He might be fighting his own rollercoaster of emotions, but I was so proud


    to


    see my mate being such a good father. He put his arm around her shoulders until she leaned against


    him. He


    kissed the top of her head.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to help you,¡± he said.


    Ste clung to him, pressing her face against his stomach. Her voice was mu ffled. ¡°All the voices.


    All the visions. It takes such effort to sort through it all. When I was small, I didn¡¯t have to. My mind


    simply wasn¡¯t big enough for it. I could pretend not to understand what I was capable of, but that time is


    past.


    I have to step up. I just don¡¯t know what to tell you all about the High Council.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Mason shot a look at me, then at Zane and Xander.


    ¡°What about them?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯reing for us. It¡¯s been their n for a long time. And I know you already know that,¡± Ste


    said


    before any of us could interrupt. ¡°But they keep changing the ns. Every time I thought I had


    something


    concrete to warn you about, they¡¯d change it again. Until they make a full n and put it into action, I


    simply


    can¡¯t get a full read.¡±


    ¡°So, we¡¯ll just have to be ready for whatever those as sholes decide to throw at us,¡± Xander said grimly.


    ¡°I knew something like this wasing ever since we saw those pictures of Aldon.¡±


    Ste nodded. ¡°He¡¯s still in the gray for me. He hasn¡¯t yet decided the role he wants to y. His future


    is


    fuzzy. When I look at him, it¡¯s like he¡¯s a stone on the bottom of a pond. I can see him, but he¡¯s


    distorted.


    I think he could turn on you, Daddy, if the right opportunity presents itself. Don¡¯t trust him.¡±


    ¡°I never would,¡± Xander said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even talk to him for now. It¡¯s too soon. If you do, it could prompt him to make his choice,¡± Ste


    said. ¡°And so far, there¡¯s no guarantee that it will be the one that doesn¡¯t lead to utter destruction.¡±


    2/2

 Chapter 408

    Chapter 408


    Xander


    I wasn¡¯t used to taking orders from anyone, especially not my daughter.


    ¡°You want us to just ignore the fact that an Elder with ties to the High Council is lurking around the


    portal town to Brightsky?¡± I put my hands on my hips and shook my head. I tried not to sound upset,


    but there was


    still a hard edge to my tone. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like a smart way to go about this, Ste.¡±


    ¡°Not ignore it. Just ignore him. For now, anyway. Just until I can get a clearer vision of what is toe,¡±


    she added so serenely that it was like talking to a puff of clouds, a spring rain, a soft mattress¡­


    ¡°And stop adjusting me,¡± I told her sternly. ¡°I can manage my emotions, even if none of you three think


    so.


    Ste looked guilty and pressed her lips together with a frown. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Daddy.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s better at it than I am,¡± Zane said with a proud grin. ¡°And you do need help sometimes, Xander.¡±


    ¡°Not this time. All of this is-¡°I gestured around the room. ¡°Hard. Weird. You can¡¯t just smooth away the


    rough edges because it¡¯s ufortable to feel them, Ste. For me, or for you. You have to let me


    process all


    of this, and if that means I¡¯m a grouch, so be it.¡±


    She looked thoughtful. ¡°But it hurts your heart. I can feel that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, I¡¯m allowed to grieve a little for my little girl, right? That you grew up so fast without us


    having


    the chance to see it?¡± I shook my head again.


    I could feel Lanie¡¯s Luna energy washing over me, but it was different than what Ste had been doing.


    Lanie¡¯s was more supportive, but opaque. I could still feel myself through it. It didn¡¯t hide my feelings


    away from me.


    Ste¡¯s frown deepened, and she looked confused.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Daddy! I never wanted to make any of you sad! That¡¯s why I waited as long as I could. I just


    couldn¡¯t stay small any longer.¡±


    Zane got up to put his arm around Ste¡¯s shoulders


    ¡°Your Dad is an Alpha, sweetheart. He has to be strong. And you can¡¯t be strong without big feelings.¡±


    ¡°But you can¡¯t just take them away from me,¡± I said with a hard look at my Beta.


    Lanie came up behind me and linked her arms around my waist. She pressed her face to my back. ¡°It¡¯s


    hard to feel you hurting, love. None of us wants that.¡±


    I put my hands over hers and pulled her around to the front of me so she could hug me. I kissed the top


    of her head and then looked at our daughter. ¡°All of this is going to take time to get used to, that¡¯s all.


    But if I¡¯m


    1/2


    Chapter 408


    dulled, I¡¯m no good to anyone. And I sure as hell can¡¯t keep you all safe.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t fall only on you,¡± Mason said. He also stepped up to hug Ste. Then he turned to grip my


    shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re all in this together.¡±


    For another few seconds I felt the push and pull of Ste¡¯s will against mine. It didn¡¯t feel like being


    compelled. For an instant I had the image of her toddler self looking at me through her fingers, ying


    peek-a-b oo with my thoughts. Her eyes gleamed with a swirl of different colors. Gold, green, red, blue,


    violet.


    ¡°I can¡¯t understand what it¡¯s like to have every single power at yourmand,¡± I told her. ¡°But I know it


    has


    to be either the easiest thing in the world, or the hardest. And something tells me that it¡¯s not the


    easiest.¡±


    ¡°I see every possibility,¡± Ste said quietly with a hitch in her voice. ¡°I see what happens if I make the


    wrong choices¡­or allow them to be made. I¡¯m still learning how to shut all of that out.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re not infallible,¡± Mason said.


    Ste¡¯s eyebrows went up. ¡°I never said that I was, Abba!¡±


    Mason smiled at her. ¡°Being gifted with every power to exist would seem to lend itself to never being


    wrong or making a mistake. You¡¯ve been worried about that, haven¡¯t you? Feeling like you can¡¯t let


    anyone down because you¡¯re not perfect.¡±


    A


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It feels like I¡¯ve made such a mess of all this. I tried so hard to do the right thing.¡± Ste


    bowed


    her head, and her shoulders went up and down with her heavy sigh.


    Lanie hugged her. ¡°Little star, nobody here expects you to know everything.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m a Celestial!¡± Ste cried.


    ¡°For all that, you¡¯re still our daughter. It¡¯s our job as your parents to do whatever we can to support you.


    Even if you¡¯re a hundred million times more talented and capable than the three of usbined, we¡¯re


    here for you. To help you up if you fall. To hold your hand.


    To guide you through any darkness,¡± Lanie said. ¡°We love you.¡±


    ¡°Even if I mess up?¡± Ste asked.


    ¡°Especially then,¡± I told her.


    2/2N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

 Chapter 409

    Chapter 409


    Lanie


    I knew parenting would be hard, but I¡¯d never imagined facing anything like this. I hugged Ste hard


    again. ¡°This isn¡¯t exactly like helping you with your homework.¡±


    To my relief, sheughed. The sound of it rang round the room like a chorus of bells. Something in it


    lifted my spirits, not the way she¡¯d been doing to manipte her father¡¯s mood, but with clear and


    simple joy we all shared. In that moment, I had my own sh of the future, one in which all of us were


    all right.


    No more danger. Only love and happiness.


    ¡°There¡¯s something else we need to discuss,¡± I said to everyone. ¡°Ste is now an adult, but we still


    have two toddlers. How will we exin all of this to ina and Isaac?¡±


    Ste bit her lower lip. ¡°They already know. We¡¯ve all been bonded since birth¡­they¡¯re not Celestials,


    but they are hybrids. They¡¯re wiser than they seem.¡±


    Xander grunted. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re going to stroll in here looking like thirty-year-olds instead of


    three-year-olds next.


    Steughed. She went to him for a hug, leaning her head on his shoulder. ¡°No, Daddy. They¡¯ll likely


    grow like wolf pups usually do. But they can talk and understand better than they¡¯ve been acting like


    they could. They¡¯ve stayed babies longer than they might have otherwise, but they probably won¡¯t keep


    maturing faster than normal.¡±


    ¡°This is going to cause a stir around the enve,¡±


    Mason said seriously. ¡°How should we handle it?


    Obviously, the teachers at the school know. Word will get out. We can¡¯t pretend you¡¯re still a child.¡±


    ¡°Everyone knows I¡¯m a hybrid. We¡¯ll have my great-grandfather exin this as a quirk of gics,¡±


    Ste said as though she¡¯d already been thinking of the answer to this before he had even asked the


    question. ¡°Nobody can know I¡¯m a Celestial, but nobody will even guess. It¡¯s just not something anyone


    thinks about or would even believe.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°I can hardly believe it,¡± Zane said.


    Xander kissed the top of her head. ¡°So¡­do we make an announcement? Or just let peoplee to us


    with questions?¡±


    Ste¡¯s eyes narrowed, but I could see a swirl of colors in them. My mother¡¯s intuition told me that she


    was running through multiple scenarios and oues in her mind, although I couldn¡¯t read her


    thoughts. Her lips moved with silent words. Her eyes opened, and she focused on all three of us.


    1/3


    Chapter 409


    ¡°We let peoplee to us. The residents of Brightsky, most of them, are going to view my rapid


    maturity as something akin to going through puberty. A natural process that is different for everyone,


    nothing to be ashamed of, but not necessarily anyone else¡¯s business,¡± she said. ¡°There will be some


    who ask, and all we have to say is that my hybrid traitsbined to make this my natural state of


    growth.¡±


    ¡°That makes the most sense to me,¡± I told her. ¡°But when female wolves reach their maturity, their


    mothers and sisters often have a little celebration. I¡¯d like to acknowledge that for you.¡±


    She beamed. ¡°I¡¯d love that, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Spa day,¡± I told her firmly with a look around the room at her fathers. ¡°Girls only.¡±


    There were things that Ste would now have to learn.


    She might be a Celestial, but she was still a woman.


    ¡°I got all the messages¡­¡± Gabri came through the door into the living room and pulled up short with


    a


    gasp.


    ¡°Hello, Grammy,¡± Ste said.


    Gabri came to hug her at once. She cupped Ste¡¯s face in her hands, her eyes wide with wonder.


    ¡°By


    the Goddess. You look exactly like my grandmother,¡± she marveled.


    Xander¡¯s mother turned to the rest of us. ¡°I take it this is the important news you were all banging on


    about?


    Don¡¯t tell me it was something else.¡±


    ¡°No, Grammy,¡± Ste said with augh. ¡°It was about me. I grew up¡­¡±


    ¡°I see that,¡± Gabri said and stepped back to give her an up and down look. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful. This is


    amazing.¡±


    Ste put her fingertips to her temples as her eyes red again. She blinked away the colors and


    smiled.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to my room for a bit to let you all process this and to give my head a rest. So many feelings,


    thoughts¡­..fears¡­..¡±


    She gave Xander a pointed look, but her smile didn¡¯t fade.


    ¡°I love you all,¡± she said and hugged each of us tightly before stepping back. ¡°I know you have a lot to


    discuss and work through. And just so you know, I won¡¯t be listening in.¡±


    Sheughed, shaking her head. ¡°Even though you are all being so very, very loud.¡±


    ¡°Go rest,¡± I told her. ¡°You¡¯ve had a big day. We¡¯ll order in for dinner tonight and have some nice family


    time.¡±


    ¡°That sounds lovely,¡± she said and retreated to her room.


    ¡°So,¡± Gabri said after Ste had closed her door.


    2/3


    Chapter 409


    ¡°You¡¯d


    better tell m


    me everything.¡±

 Chapter 410

    Chapter 410


    Gabri


    I¡¯d spent a restless night, tossing and turning. No matter what I tried, I couldn¡¯t find a way to get


    comfortable. My mind raced with everything my son and his mates had told me about Ste. And my


    dreams, when I slept long enough to have them, were full of strange images.


    When I woke up, though, all of my tension and distress had faded away. Yes, the thought of my tiny


    granddaughter now being taller than me should seem odd, but I¡¯d somehow gotten used to it.


    I went into the kitchte to help Lanie with the twins for breakfast, and I found Ste already pouring


    them some cereal.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± she greeted cheerfully.


    She wore a dress I recognized as one of Lanie¡¯s, and she¡¯d tied her hair up into a knot on the top of her


    head. Yesterday it had been all the way to her waist-it had grown as much as she had.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to take you shopping,¡± I said, eyeing her bare feet.


    ¡°Mother¡¯s shoes pinch me,¡± Ste said, looking at her wiggling toes.


    ¡°We can see how a pair of mine feels. Good morning, little ones.¡± I kissed ina and Isaac on their


    plump little cheeks. At least they were still little and would be for the expected amount of time.


    Still little, but I quickly saw how much more mature they were. They spoke inplete sentences and


    used a much bigger vocabry. They were able to use their spoons to eat without slopping milk all


    over the


    ce.


    ina saw me watching and giggled. She waved her spoon at me. ¡°We¡¯re not as big as Ste yet, but


    I¡¯m


    d we don¡¯t have to act like we¡¯re babies anymore.


    Right, Isaac?¡±


    My little man nodded as he shoveled food into his mouth.


    ¡°You,¡± I said with a sigh, ¡°are very much like your daddy was when he was a pup. Slow down, please.*


    ¡°It¡¯s bad manners to gobble, you greedy thing,¡± ina said. She turned shining eyes onto her bigger


    sister.


    ¡°Right, Ste?¡±


    Ste ran her hand lovingly over her little sister¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Yes. But it¡¯s also bad manners to call names.¡±


    Isaac swallowed his cereal. ¡°Ste, will you take us to school today?¡±


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    Chapter 410


    She looked at me. ¡°I can do that. If that¡¯s all right with Grammy.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I take it your parents are all still sleeping?¡±


    Thadn¡¯t heard a peep from their bedroom yet, but I¡¯d wokenter than usual.


    ¡°Daddy, Abba, and Papa went out this morning to let their wolves run. I¡¯m not sure where Mother went.¡±


    Ste smiled at me. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    This gave me pause, and I studied her. ¡°Eventually. I don¡¯t suppose you had anything to do with that,


    did you, youngdy?¡±


    She looked caught out but not guilty. ¡°All of us needed a good night¡¯s sleepst night. To make it easier


    to face the morning.¡±


    I poured myself a mug of coffee and leaned against the counter. ¡°If you¡¯re able to know everything we


    all need, how is it that you¡¯re not sure where your mother went?¡±


    I spoke without any intention at insults or usations. I was truly curious. I had no idea how it all


    worked, and, I suspected, neither did my son or his mates. I wasn¡¯t even certain Ste herself could


    know all of it, no matter how powerful she was.


    Only a goddess could know everything, and not even a Celestial couldpete with a goddess.


    Could she?


    Lanie


    I figured it was going to be difficult to hide things from Ste, but that didn¡¯t stop me from ducking out


    early this morning to visit a few boutiques. It might be impossible to surprise her, but I was going to do


    my best to show her that I was still here to take care of her. When I got back with my arms full of


    packages, with more to be deliveredter, I found her helping the twins with their school bags.


    Gabri helped me unload the goodies I¡¯d brought.


    ¡°Ste is going to take the twins to school today. Are there any shoes in here?¡±


    I pulled out a pair of blue ballet ts. With a grin, I said, ¡°Will these do?¡±


    ¡°Mother!¡± Ste hugged me. ¡°These are wonderful.


    Thank you.¡±


    ¡°I want to go to real school now,¡± ina said with a pout. ¡°Mama, can you tell them we don¡¯t need to be


    in


    preschool anymore?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the school, my little love.¡± I hugged and kissed her and tried to do the same for Isaac, who


    squirmed away.


    ¡°Yuck!¡± He scrubbed at his cheek.


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    Chapter 410


    ¡°I¡¯m going to change into this.¡± Ste held up a pale-blue maxi dress patterned with sunflowers. ¡°I love


    it! Then I¡¯ll take you both to school, okay?¡±


    She was back within minutes, looking so grownup and beautiful that my heart ached with pride. I did


    my best to shove away my worries. The Goddess surely was watching over my daughter. She just had


    to be.


    ¡°Oh, Mother.¡± Ste paused at the doorway. ¡°When I get back, there¡¯s something very important we


    need to


    do together.¡±


    3/3Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!

 Chapter 411

    Chapter 411


    Lanie


    ¡°So, it¡¯s true. Myrna from the school called me to let me know all the gory details, but as she¡¯s well-


    known to be a bit of a gossip, I had to admit I took most of it with a grain of salt.¡± Mchi tossed his


    head back with


    laughter.


    ¡°Did you know this was a possibility?¡± I asked him sternly. ¡°If you did, I could¡¯ve used a heads up,


    Grandfather.¡±


    He pulled me into a hug, patting my back the way you would a child having a temper. I shrugged away


    from the embrace, which felt more annoying thanforting.


    ¡°There is so much I do not know about Celestials.


    Enough to fill a book, I¡¯d say.¡± He lifted an eyebrow at me. ¡°Too bad the only textbook we know of went


    missing/


    crossed my arms over my chest with a sigh. ¡°We aren¡¯t here to talk about me or any book. Ste has


    some things she wants to discuss with you.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t told me what she wanted to talk to him about, but then again, I hadn¡¯t asked. That was


    something I was rapidly having to learn about being mother to a Celestial-she would tell me what she


    knew I


    needed to know.


    I had to trust her.


    ¡°I can hardly wait to hear all about it. Your transformation must have been magnificent. Myrna said you


    stunned the entire school into silence.¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t happen in front of the entire school,¡±


    Ste replied with the same calm serenity she¡¯d been disying since yesterday.


    For a moment, Mchi¡¯s expression flickered into shadows. Then it brightened as he spoke in a


    forcedly


    cheerful voice.


    ¡°Ste, Ste, Ste. You¡¯ve surprised us all once again. How many more surprises do you have in


    store?¡±


    ¡°If I told you,¡± she said with a quirking smile, ¡°they wouldn¡¯t be surprises.¡±


    Mchi took her into his arms and danced her around the living room of his vi. Theyughed


    together as he spun her so fast that they became a blur. When they came to a stop, Ste shook her


    head and kissed his cheek. Her eyes shed red for a moment, echoing what I¡¯d seen his do. I had


    thought she looked like her father, but now I could see a lot of Mchi in her too, and not just the color


    of her eyes.


    ¡°She favors you,¡± Mchi said, holding her at arms length. He chucked her under the chin, and she


    1/3


    giggled, ducking away.


    Sho


    does?¡± I asked in surprise, and with a bit of joy, too.


    ¡°She has your grace,¡± he noted as he circled around her. ¡°Your poise. Your strength, I should also think.


    Her features belong to her father, aside from those eyes. But the rest of her is her mother almost


    entirely.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s entirely herself, no matter who she looks like,¡± corrected him.


    ¡°With all the blessings of your Moon Goddess¡­along with many others. But both of you,e in.


    Enough chitter-chatter. You¡¯vee for a purpose. Can I offer some refreshment?¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t here for snacks, Mchi.¡± Ste¡¯s voice was soft withughter, but it had a bit of an edge.


    ¡°There are some things we need to make clear.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re all grown up, you think you know it all, eh?¡± Mchiughed and backed away with


    his/


    hands up.


    Ste didn¡¯t move. ¡°I am a Celestial. I know whatever needs to be known.¡±


    His expression went from amused to solemn. Then his eyes narrowed, shing crimson. His lips curledContent ? N?velDrama.Org.


    to


    reveal his fangs. His gaze flicked to me.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be that grownup if you had to bring along your mummy for support,¡± he shot at her, but there


    was a sense of inevitability in his tone. He sighed and waved a hand toward the couch. ¡°You might as


    well


    have a seat. Get this over with.¡±


    Ste didn¡¯t rise to his


    attempt at an insult, and I was proud of her for that. I might not have had as many


    years to raise her as I¡¯d expected to have when I found out I was pregnant, but I was happy to see that


    at least


    some of my lessons hadnded.


    We each took our seats. To my silent curiosity, my grandfather looked tense. He literally sat on the


    edge


    of his seat. He linked his fingers together, palms pressing against each other, like he was trying hard to


    not


    clench his hands into fists.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get right to it,¡± my daughter began


    many eyes, and I am not so easily


    dece


    ¡°You may have everyone here in Brightsky fooled, but I see with


    His eyes narrowed. ¡°It¡¯s no deceit to give everyone the illusion they crave, child. And yes, despite your


    size and your talents, you are still a child to me.¡±


    Ste didn¡¯t take the bait this time, either.


    ¡°Nevertheless, there¡¯s no point in keeping up the pretense with me or my family.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡± he asked, leaning forward. ¡°What is it that you¡¯ve seen?¡±


    ¡°Hello? Anyone want to tell me what you¡¯re talking about?¡± I demanded.


    They both turned to me, and I realized something upsetting. In their battle of words, they¡¯d both


    forgotten


    2/3


    I was there.

 Chapter 412

    Chapter 412


    Lanie


    I tried not to be insulted by the way they were ignoring me. An Ancient and a Celestial certainly didn¡¯t


    have to consult me on anything, even if I did have blessings from the Moon Goddess. Even so, I was


    her mother, and Ste had asked me toe along.


    This back and forth between her and Mchi was leaving me in the dark. I waved a hand at them,


    trying


    to catch their attention.


    They finally both looked at me. Ste¡¯s gaze was calm, but my grandfather looked cold and distant¡­


    and very, very much like an Ancient vampire. I focused on my child.


    ¡°What¡¯s Mchi doing?¡± I asked her.


    Ste sighed and looked at him. He gave her a familiar flick with his fingers for permission. She cleared


    her throat.


    ¡°The leadership councit is a farce. Brightsky is supposedly built up on the concept of equality, inclusion,


    and democracy, but the truth is-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the only one in charge,¡± Mchi cut in. He stood abruptly. ¡°It¡¯s all me. Oh, I pretend to give the


    council a say in anything that has to do with running this enve, because everyone likes to think they


    have input. But


    in the end, I¡¯m the only one with any real power.¡±


    ¡°They all turn to you for advice, and you allow them to believe you take their concerns and desires into


    consideration, when in fact you cast a veil over their minds any time they try to balk you.¡± Ste


    frowned and


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    shook her finger at him. ¡°That¡¯s quite rude, you know.¡±


    Mchi rolled his eyes and leaned back in the chair.


    He still looked tense but was rxing at least a little bit. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for an Ancient to be rude, Ste


    We do what we know must be done. This enve cannot run under ording to the desires and


    whimsies of group. We¡¯d be overrun by our enemies within days if I didn¡¯t keep a tight control over


    everything that goes on


    inside these walls. It¡¯s exhausting.¡±


    I shook my head, digesting everything I¡¯d just heard.


    ¡°I knew you were arrogant, but this is¡­¡±


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s shocking,¡± he said. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly be truly stunned.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m disappointed,¡± I admitted. ¡°You made such a big deal about how Brightsky is this wonderful ce


    where all kinds can mingle and have a say in what happens. After what we had to deal with from the


    wolf High


    Council, it felt so much better to be in a ce like this.¡±


    1/2


    He shrugged. ¡°To you and everyone else who suffered injustice on the outside. What nobody seems to


    understand or at least wants to see is that the old saying is true: too many cooks do indeed spoil the


    broth.¡±


    ¡°Brightsky isn¡¯t a pot of soup!¡±


    ??? ??? ??


    His lip curled. ¡°No, but it is a cauldron, bubbling full of ingredients. Too much of this, not enough of that,


    a pinch here or there of something unexpected¡­salt can ruin a meal with having too much or not


    enough of it, and anymunity is the same. Everyone might think they want an equal say in how


    things run, but in the end, what they truly want is only to feel as though they were heard. So long as


    they have that, nothing else


    matters.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right. As long as themunity is happy, it can seed,¡± Ste murmured. She put her hand


    over mine, which had clenched into a fist on my knee.


    ¡°And the residents of Brightsky are happy, Mother. It runs smoothly.¡±


    ¡°Like an oiled set of gears,¡± Mchi put in proudly.


    ¡°At the end of the day, that is the goal,¡± Ste exined.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the problem then?¡± Mchi asked with an edge of both irritation and relief in his tone. ¡°Are


    you nning on pulling away the curtain to review the big, bad wizard behind it? Should I prepare


    myself for the coronation when I take my crown as king?¡±


    Sarcasm dripped from his tone so thickly I could almost see it.


    ¡°You could give her the respect she¡¯d due,¡± I told him.


    ¡°Hear her out. I realize how hard it must be for you to give anyone that consideration.¡±


    The bright tinkle of Ste¡¯sughter t winkled through the entire room, bright as the stars she¡¯d been


    named for. That brightness filled me and made me want tough, too. She turned her glowing smile


    toward Mchi, and slowly, to my surprise, he smiled in return.


    ¡°Even when I can tell you¡¯re using the powers of the Flora, I still find myself sumbing to it. Flower


    nym phs,¡± he said to me. ¡°You wou


    have heard of them. Known for their incessantly cheerful natures.


    They can intoxicate you with joy.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like a bad thing,¡± I told him.


    ¡°Forgive me, Mother. I thought it would help with what I have to tell you next. Give a sort of buffer,¡±


    Ste said.


    Silence fell as we waited for her to speak.


    ¡°The wolf High Council has found a way to exploit Brightsky¡¯s weakness.¡±


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 Chapter 413

    Chapter 413


    Lanie


    Despite the Flora happiness my daughter had infused into me, my shock was hard and cold and more


    bitter than anything I¡¯d ever tasted.


    Itshed at me with the sting of a thousand whips before it subsided into a bearable weight. I couldn¡¯t


    help but wonder if Ste was helping me to bear it, and I hated feeling like my own child had to be


    strong for me. I vowed then and there that I would do my best to never make her carry me this way


    again.


    There was an inevitability to this feeling as well, this discovery that those who¡¯d meant to lead, guide,


    and protect our kind were working so very hard to hurt us.


    It felt like what we¡¯d been waiting to find out for sure for so long. I hated that, too, but I could hardly be


    truly surprised. I¡¯d always known it was only a matter of time.


    At least now, I hoped we¡¯d get some answers.


    ¡°What weakness?¡± I managed to say.


    ¡°They can¡¯t have. Of course, they think they have,¡±


    Mchi retorted at once. ¡°But it¡¯s impossible for them to actually breach our defenses. Believe me,


    others


    have tried with better methods than any the High Council could ever employ, and they¡¯ve all failed.¡±


    Ste touched her fingertips to her temples and bowed her head. ¡°I see many pathways, but despite


    the


    many branches, each one leads to the same end.


    The destruction of Brightsky. You can continue to deny it, or you can face it and save the enve and


    all


    those in it.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, exploiting the enve¡¯s weakness?¡± I held up a hand when Mchi began to spea


    ¡°Please. I want to hear what my daughter has to say. I believe and trust that she has insight into things


    you


    might have blinded yourself to.¡±


    Mchi sighed irritably. ¡°Fine. Speak away, all-knowing Celestial.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve managed to find a way to kill the spiders,¡±


    Ste said.


    I waited for his reaction, which was cold, hard, and icy silence. Confused, I turned back to my daughter.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it. What do spiders have to do with anything? Spider shifters?¡±


    ¡°Envian spiders,¡± Mchi said. ¡°Empathic, telepathic, tiny little guardians to us all. Generation after


    generation, they¡¯ve evolved to serve and support the enve.¡±


    1/2


    ¡°And now they are connected intrinsically to Brightsky in ways they were never meant to. Ways that


    have remained unknown to you all,¡± Ste exined.


    Mchi¡¯s eyebrow quirked. ¡°Not to me.¡±


    ¡°To me, though,¡± I said. My heart pounded a little faster. ¡°Forgive me for needing the crash course, but


    get me up to speed, please.¡±


    He turned to me. ¡°The spiders control the lights, the heat, the water. All of the utilities. They are the


    eyes and ears of the enve, our silent s ervants, keeping everything running to perfection. They light


    the paths we


    walk.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯ve ever wondered how you find your way from one ce to another, it¡¯s usually because of the


    spiders helping you without you being aware of it,¡±


    Ste said. ¡°But there¡¯s more to it than that. Over the years, they¡¯ve also grown more powerful. Their


    telepathy and psychokic powers are linked, not only to the spiders that live in Brightsky, but they¡¯re


    starting to connect with their distant rtives in other enves.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never even seen a spider here¡­¡± I began.


    Mchiughed. ¡°They¡¯re tiny. You wouldn¡¯t see any one of them unless they want you to.¡±


    ¡°Or you need them to,¡± Ste said. ¡°And the wolf High Council has found a way to hurt them. To kill


    them,


    actually.¡±


    I was putting the pieces together, one at a time. Far more slowly than my brilliant daughter would be


    able to, but I was doing the best I could¡­and, it seemed like I was doing it better than my grandfather.


    ¡°The lights. The power surges. That was from the spiders being killed?¡± I asked her.


    Ste nodded solemnly. ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to see exactly how they did it, because the spiders


    themselves don¡¯t know. But they¡¯re frightened, and that alone should tell you of the danger. I can tell


    you one


    thing, however. The only way that anyone or anything could bring harm to those spiders is if they also


    have


    ess to Brightsky.¡±


    ¡°Someone on the inside is feeding the High Council information,¡± Mchi said in a voice as dark and


    co


    and deep as the void. ¡°That¡¯s the only exnation.


    Ste nodded. ¡°Yes. And while I haven¡¯t been able to find out how they killed the spiders, I can tell


    exactly how they got the information they could use to do it.¡±


    Mchi¡¯s eyes zed crimson, and I felt a simr glow in my own eyes. Not my wolf, but my vampire


    side,


    reacting. Ste¡¯s gaze swirled with multiple shes of color.


    ¡°You know who their source is?¡± Mchi asked.


    Again, Ste nodded. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s Gabri.¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!

 Chapter 414

    Chapter 414


    Lanie


    didat physically st agger back, but everythme made me tweeted and turned white Lity howled Red


    consumed my vision as my vampire and wolf selvs fought for control, and there was more inside me


    too parts of me I never felt before Didn¡¯t know how to


    New elements of myself were trvale to rise and take ves


    Ste raised a hand toward me. She didn¡¯t say anything, but instantly, I felt the relief of being settled


    back inside myself. Me, Lanie, Luna and mate to Xander, Mason, and Zane Mother to Ste, ina,


    and baac


    Granddaughter to Mchi S ervant to the Moon Goddess,


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said to my daughter


    She nodded. ¡®It¡¯s shocking news, I know¡±


    ¡°Gabri,¡± Mchi said with a snarl. She will have to be killed of course¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ste replied in her same calm voice. She has h o idea that she is the one providing the High


    Council with their information.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t stay sitting. I had to move. I paced the floor at half double speed and for my muscles


    responding with a groan. Not at the effort of moving that much faster than normal, but with the restraint


    of


    stopping myself from buzzing around the room like an angry wasp.


    ¡°If she¡¯s a spy, how can she not know that about herself?¡± Lasked, spinning to a stop on one heel to


    face


    Ste.


    ¡°She¡¯s not a spy, exactly. But they are using her.¡±


    Ste touched her fingertips to her temple again, this time only for a second or so.


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t been around as much. She¡¯s been suspicious of me. Things have been different with bec


    said to Mchi. ¡°I should have known something like this!¡±


    Ste shook her head. ¡°How could you have? All you¡¯ve been told since we got here was boW SONID


    Brightsky is.¡±


    Mchi¡¯s expression twisted. ¡°And it is. Or at least, it has been at least until you all arrived. Stingiga


    spy, no less!¡±


    ¡°I told you, she¡¯s not a spy. She¡¯s a victim of the High Council¡¯s intrigues as much as anyone they le


    eve used for their own gain. Perhaps more, because, unlike her husband, Gabri did not choose


    ¡°Stolia looked at Mchi, then at me. No Fiora joy came out of her this time. Only a calm and steady


    tooling of truth. ¡®Gabri has found friends and a life here in the enve. That¡¯s a good thing for her.


    Something she


    1/2


    Chapter 414


    and frankly, deserved.¡±


    I paused before answering. ¡°How much do you know about your grandfather, Orion, and what he did?¡±


    Ste smiled gently. ¡°I know everything I need to know about everything, Mother.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯ve pointed out,¡± Mchi said. ¡°But what your mother wants to know is, exactly what do you


    know,


    so she doesn¡¯t have to find a way to be nice about telling you that your father¡¯s father was a viin.¡±


    ¡°I know of his betrayal,¡± Ste told me. ¡°I also know what you have not yet learned, and that¡¯s about his


    deal with the High Council.¡±


    1-


    ¡°I know about him and his ns for the hybrids,¡± I began, but Ste shook her head.


    ¡°Orion Constantine worked toward his own interests for a long time before any of what you know about


    him came to pass. He offered what did not belong to him in his pursuit of power,¡± she said. ¡°He gave


    them his


    wife.¡±


    I paced again, more slowly this time. I wracked my brain trying to recall anything Xander¡¯s mother had


    ever told me about the High Council, its ns, Orion¡¯s part in them, and also her own. It all felt as


    though it


    had happened to me so long ago. I was having a hard time recalling even how long we¡¯d been at


    Brightsky.


    Weeks? Months? Surely, we could not even have been here for a year yet.


    ¡°Time passes differently here,¡± my daughter said aloud, although she had to be reacting to the


    onught


    of my increasingly louder thoughts.


    Mchi whipped his head to stare at her. ¡°What are you telling her that for?¡±


    ¡°Because she deserves to understand everything, and I¡¯m doing my best to put it all together,¡± Ste


    retorted in a harsh tone unlike her previous cool calm.


    To me, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t mean it¡¯s like time travel or anything like that. It¡¯s just that here in the enve,


    separated from the outside world, it¡¯s easy to drift along without a solid knowledge of the passing of


    time. You shouldn¡¯t feel badly about it, Mother. It¡¯s the same for everyone here, but for us in particr.¡±


    ¡°No bills to pay, no real responsibilities, every need of desire catered to,¡± I said with a look at my


    grandfather. ¡°The privilege of being the king¡¯s granddaughter, right? Keep us content but stu pid?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous,¡± Mchi said. ¡°If anything, all I¡¯ve done since you got here was try to help you


    be better. And how am I repaid? You brought a snake into my henhouse! What choice have you


    given me, Lanie, but to throw you all out at once?¡±


    1


    2/2N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

 Chapter 415

    Chapter 415


    Lanie


    ¡°No!¡± Ste¡¯smand rang throughout the vi like a p of thunder.


    It was enough to stop my grandfather in his tracks. He took a couple of steps back, a hand on his


    chest. He looked so astounded and affronted that I couldn¡¯t help myself. I burst into a loud round of


    guffaws.


    ¡°She¡¯s stronger than you are,¡± I told him proudly.


    Mchi¡¯s lip curled. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t even be a Celestial if it weren¡¯t for me.¡±


    ¡°The moment you reveal to the High Council that you know their game, you push them to attack. And


    you¡¯re not ready to face that,¡± Ste said. ¡°Are you ready to listen to me?¡±


    ¡°I need a drink.¡± Mchi strode to his bar cart and poured himself a tall ss of red fluid from a carafe.


    He drained it quickly and poured another.


    took my seat again on the couch. ¡°Tell us everything we need to know, honey.¡±


    Ste linked her fingers together in front of her and bowed her head for a moment. I was learning to tell


    what was going on with her. How she needed moments to process the information in her mind.


    It took only a few seconds, but I had a feeling she¡¯d worked through an almost infinite number of


    connections and scenarios before she looked back to me


    In that moment, my heart ached for the burdens my daughter faced. Yet, there was no denying my


    pride


    and my awe. Ste hadn¡¯t been on this earth very long, but she¡¯d already made such a difference.


    ¡°Yes, yes, get on with it,¡± Mchi said in a bored tone.


    Ste didn¡¯t seem to take offense, although I did on her behalf. My grandfather was a really arrogant


    pain in the a ss sometimes, and that was saying something, considering the Alpha males I was mated


    to.


    ¡°Gabri was never on the side of the High Council, no matter what her husband did or wanted. They


    all knew it, and, even though they were hell bent on keeping the knowledge of any other supernaturalsN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    away from- their next generation, they had connections with witch kind.¡± Ste crossed to the bar cart


    and poured herself a drink from the jug of water.


    She also got one for me, which she pressed into my hand. ¡°Drink, Mother.¡±


    +hadn¡¯t realized how thirsty I was until she said something, and I c hugged the water down. Ste sat


    next to me on the couch again. She heaved a heavy sigh, and put my arm around her shoulders.


    done.


    ¡°Take your time, honey,¡± I told her, even though I was desperate to discover what the High Council had


    1/2


    Chapter 415


    ¡°After the Great Wars, the High Council knew it was possible for them to lose control again, no matter


    how hard they clung to it. No matter what atrocities they nned or put into ce. They wanted a


    failsafe.


    Some guarantee of protection, and of course they couldn¡¯t request it from the Moon Goddess.


    Everything they did was performed outside of her light.¡± Ste finished her water and put the ss on


    the


    coffee table.


    ¡°And Orion offered them Gabri as that protection? How?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°Because they knew that Gabri would be on any side that opposed them. They had a powerful


    warlock


    integrate her with a third eye,¡± Ste said.


    Mchi actually gasped. ¡°That¡¯s-


    ¡°Don¡¯t say impossible,¡± I cut in. ¡°You¡¯ve been dering that nothing she tells us is possible when


    clearly,


    all of it is.¡±


    Ste smiled at me. ¡°He has a reason to be incredulous. Integrating a third eye into anyone, much less


    an


    unknowing and likely unwilling subject is a task even the most powerful warlocks and witches would


    struggle


    with.¡±


    ¡°Yet, they managed,¡± Mchi said.


    She nodded. ¡°They killed the warlock, immediately after, and the High Council members who found him


    are also dead. So there¡¯s nobody alive who can remove it from her.¡±


    ¡°What does the third eye do? I assume you¡¯re not talking about an actual eye,¡± I added, thinking that


    surely


    I¡¯d have seen it if Gabri had another eye on her face.


    ¡°It¡¯s internal, yes. It allows anyone who has a scrying tool connected to it to see what the third eye


    sees.


    ¡°A mirror, a crystal ball, a pool of water. Even a ss of wine can be a scrying tool,¡± Mchi said, sin


    was obvious I didn¡¯t know what she was talking about.


    For once, he didn¡¯t sound smug or patronizing about it.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Ste said.


    ¡°So, they can see whatever Gabri is seeing by looking at this scrying tool?¡±


    ¡°Which gives them ess to most anything here in Brightsky,¡± my grandfather added. ¡°Of course,


    Gabri


    hasn¡¯t been given permission to visit any of our heavier secured areas¡­¡±


    ¡°But she could see the spiders,¡± Ste said. ¡°And so far, that¡¯s been enough. If they manage to kill


    enough


    of them, they¡¯ll be able to do whatever else they want.¡±

 Chapter 416

    Chapter 416


    Lanie


    ¡°Is there any way for us to close that third eye?¡± I asked Mchi and Ste at the same time.


    Mchi frowned. ¡°Without the one who cast the original spell? I have no idea. But then, I¡¯m not a


    witch.¡±


    ¡°Can you ask someone? There are, witches here,¡± I said.


    Ste frowned. ¡°Only Braden and Charlotte know that the leadership council has no true power. If we


    go to any witch-kind for help with this, Mchi would have to reveal that everything he¡¯s bragged about


    is nothing


    more than a farce. Besides, it would probably kill her.¡±


    ¡°If she has to die to protect Brightsky, then she has to die,¡± Mchi stated harshly.


    Ste shook her head. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have to die, and I can¡¯t allow you to even attempt her murder.¡±


    I thought for sure my grandfather would fight her about this, or at least pop off with some nasty


    comment, but all he did was narrow his eyes at her.


    I turned to Ste. ¡°Can we block it, then? There must be shields or spells that would work without


    hurting


    her. She might not even have to be aware of it.¡±


    ¡°Mother, you of all people should know that casting a spell on someone to hide a part of their nature


    can


    only hurt them in the end.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already been hidden from her, hasn¡¯t it? You said she doesn¡¯t know,¡± I reminded her.


    ¡°She means the harm woulde in having her find out,¡± Mchi said. ¡°So long as they can use her,


    Gabri is a liability to the entire enve.¡±


    Ste got up from the couch and spun in a slow circle.


    She wasn¡¯t moving fast enough to bell the hem of her dress out around her ankles, but it did, and I


    laughed a little to myself. As a little girl she¡¯d often done the same thing, ¡°like a princess.¡± I enjoyed that N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    glimpse of her childhood, but I didn¡¯t cling to it. If there was one thing I¡¯d learned, it was that holding


    onto the past was never going to lead to a better future.


    ¡°Actually, Mchi, she is our asset,¡± Ste said as she slowed, stopped, and faced him.


    Again, his eyes narrowed. He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingertips under his chin. His


    lips pursed as his brow furrowed.


    ¡°How so?¡± he asked.


    ¡°The High Council can only see what she sees in the moment. They can¡¯t control her or make her go to


    look at things they want her to see. But we can. At least, we can control what and who she has ess


    to.


    1/2


    Chapter 416


    It would be simple enough to make sure they only see a carefully curated view of what goes on here,¡±


    she


    exined.


    ¡°If they have to watch through this third eye using a scrying tool, how do we know that they¡¯d be


    watching


    at the right time?¡± I asked.


    ¡°They¡¯ll have someone watching all the time,¡± Mchi said dismissively. ¡°They would never leave their


    tool unmonitored, even when she¡¯s sleeping.


    it.¡±


    ¡°So they must have seen you, as you are now,¡± I said to Ste.


    She nodded. ¡°Yes. They know I¡¯ve grown. They¡¯ll know I¡¯m a Celestial, too, since you¡¯ve talked to her


    about


    ¡°If they know so much, what are they waiting for?¡±


    I asked her. ¡°Why haven¡¯t theyunched an all-out attack on the enve already?¡±


    ¡°Brightsky was not their priority until recently.¡± Ste paused and looked guilty. ¡°When I was still a child,


    they didn¡¯t care as much about me, either. Their concerns were the hybrid testing facility.¡±


    ¡°But now you¡¯ve grown up, and they¡¯ve seen it. Which means they¡¯ll be trying to get their hands on you.


    Which puts all of us in danger,¡± Mchi snapped.


    I thought of what Xander and Mason had told me when we were alone in bed after we first discovered


    our daughter was now an adult. They¡¯d told me all about what they¡¯d found out about the pictures of the


    neers to Brightsky¡¯s portal town, and also about the missing records and purposefully bricked


    phone.


    All of it made sense now.


    ¡°Did the High Council send Aldon to Standard to keep an eye on things, or to infiltrate us somehow?¡± |


    questioned.


    at


    ¡°It¡¯s still cloudy,¡± Ste said. ¡°Which means he has not yet decided for himself which path


    take.¡±


    ¡°Will feeding Gabri this curated information help push him into a decision?¡± I asked her.


    g to


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Mchi¡¯sugh was harsh. ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±


    ¡°Need I remind you,¡± Ste said, ¡°exactly who I am?¡±


    She rolled her eyes and looked so much like him that I wasn¡¯t sure if she was t-out imitating him of


    simply had inherited his mannerisms along with the color of his eyes.


    ¡°Daddy and Abba don¡¯t need to bother going over any more security protocols with Charlotte. What we


    need to focus on now is making sure that Gabri begins feeding the High Council exactly what we


    want


    them to find out.¡±


    212

 Chapter 417

    Gabri


    I¡¯d been happy enough when Lenora rang me to see if I¡¯d have lunch with her, but I¡¯d been waiting


    during the entire meal for her to question me about what had happened with Ste. So far, she hadn¡¯t


    said a word. Finally, I decided I couldn¡¯t stand it any longer.


    ¡°Sometimes, wolf pups have a double doubling.¡± The words shot out of me without me fully knowing


    why I said them. It wasn¡¯t true, and I couldn¡¯t be sure Lenora knew that.


    I¡¯d just lied to her face. It felt terrible, but also like the only choice I could make.


    Lenora¡¯s eyebrows rose, and her teacup stopped halfway to her lips. She put the cup down without


    drinking. ¡°Oh, my. That sounds like quite the surprise.¡±


    ¡°You heard about it, didn¡¯t you? What happened at the school. I¡¯m sure the rumors are flying.¡± My


    laugh. rasped in my throat without much humor. Heat zed in my cheeks.


    My friend leaned forward with a look of concern. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to ask you about it. But if you want to


    talk


    about it¡­¡±


    Oh, I did, didn¡¯t I? I needed to unburden myself to someone about my worries, but I didn¡¯t dare.


    I couldn¡¯t reveal that my granddaughter was a Celestial, not without also having to exin what that


    meant. It would have to be enough just to start a rumor of my own.


    ¡°It¡¯s very rare, but as I¡¯m sure you also know,Ste is a hybrid.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯d heard. I don¡¯t know much about hybrids,¡±


    Lenora admitted with a gentle smile. ¡°But here in Brightsky, we wee everyone as equals.¡±


    A burst of relief flooded me. I hadn¡¯t really been afraid my friend would somehow reject my


    granddaughter,


    but it was still good to be assured of it. Lenora and I had experienced a lot together all those years


    past. It was


    good to feel like I could trust her.


    She¡¯s a Celestial.


    The words fought toe out, and I held them back by gritting my teeth.


    ¡°Gab? You look upset.¡± Lenora reached to pat my hand. ¡°Is this double doubling, this rare thing¡­


    harmful?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing like that. Shocking, that¡¯s all. One minute she was a little girl, and now she¡¯s a lovely


    young woman. Time flies the older we get,¡± I said with a ruefulugh. ¡°But this is too fast.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s done can¡¯t be undone. She has her family around her to support her. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be able to


    weather this change without too much trouble. As will you.¡± Lenora tilted her head to give me a curious


    look.


    ¡°And I hope you know, I¡¯m here for you. Whatever you need.¡±


    For the next hour, we chatted about other Brightsky gossip. Lenora relieved my mind that the news


    about Ste had spread, but nobody was saying anything unkind. In an enve open to anyone, a child


    who grew into an adult within hours wasn¡¯t even close to being the most scandalous event.


    We parted ways with a hug, and for me, a much lighter heart. On the way back to our quarters,I thought


    I¡¯d stop off and pick up a few things for Ste. Her mother had bought her an entire new wardrobe, but I


    had


    some ideas about other things she might need.


    A birthday cake, for one. How many had she missed? I wasn¡¯t even sure she could count them, or if


    she¡¯d really be able to ever name her urate age again. Would she continue to age, or would she


    stay forever


    locked into the appearance of a young woman, never going gray or getting wrinkles?


    all.¡±


    ¡°Moon Goddess,¡± I murmured to myself as I looked over the bakery case at the cakes for sale. ¡°Guide


    us


    For a moment, my vision swam. Doubled.


    Quadrupled. I closed my eyes tight and pressed my fingers to the spot between my eyes. The small


    re


    of pain there faded under the pressure, and when I opened my eyes, my vision was fine.


    I¡¯d been meaning to check in with an enve eye doctor for the past few weeks but had been putting


    off


    the appointment. I knew my vanity wasn¡¯t going to help me, but I hated even the thought of needing


    cheater


    sses for reading.


    So far, I¡¯d been able to ignore the small issues with my sight, but I had to admit they were getting more


    frequent.


    ¡°That one,¡± I said to the clerk, pointing at the tall chocte cake festooned with pastel flowers. ¡°Please


    write, ¡®Happy Birthday, Little


    Star¡¯ on it.¡±


    I paid for the cake and carried the box with me toward home. Wanting to avoid crowds so I could get it


    back as fast as possible, I decided to take a different route home. Just as I turned the corner to a new


    hallway I¡¯d never used, the lights got so bright it was like a sh of lightning. Then, the hallway plunged


    into darkness.


    At home, I put the cake on the table and cursed myself for dropping it. It could be salvaged, but the


    icing was smeared along the inside of the lid. I definitely needed to make that appointment with the eye


    doctor. The sh of light and dark hadn¡¯t been themps along the way, but my own eyes.

 Chapter 418

    Zane


    ¡°We¡¯ll be gone for hours,¡± Ste said as she led her twin siblings by the hand toward the front door.


    ¡°Ste¡¯s going to take us to see the pearl farms!


    And they said we can open our own ms to find pearls!¡± ina bubbled with energy.


    Her brother made a face. ¡°I want to go see the training grounds. Ste, you promised.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see everything you two want. Now that you¡¯re big enough,¡± she said with a wink at me.


    The twins hadn¡¯t grown much bigger in size, but the difference in their behavior had been astounding.


    As


    soon as they¡¯d gone and shut the door behind them, I felt Laniee up behind me. She wrapped her


    arms


    around my waist.


    ¡°I think she meant that as a hint,¡± my Luna said. ¡°Should I feel weird that our child is giving us some


    ¡®alone


    time¡¯?¡±


    I turned her around to hug her from the front.


    ¡°Of all the things going on right now that are weird, that¡¯s probably the least of them.¡±


    ¡°Mmm.¡± She pushed up onto her tiptoes to offer her mouth for me to kiss.


    When it deepened, our tongues stroking, she let out a pleased murmur. She pulled away a bit to look


    up


    into my face. Her smile was still one of the most beautiful things I¡¯d ever seen.


    ¡°I love you,¡± I told her.


    ¡°Love you, too. My Zane.¡± She cupped my cheek and let her fingers trace the line of my jaw and then


    dow


    over my throat. They pressed lightly to the throb of my pulse, beating faster from her touch.


    My coc k was throbbing, too. ¡°Goddess, it¡¯s been too long since I tasted you.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± She looked around with a coy smile.


    ¡°We do have the ce to ourselves.¡±


    I kissed her again, parting her lips with my tongue again. She tasted like sweet honey and fresh


    strawberries. My co ck strained against the front of my jeans.


    When she put her hand on it, cupping my d ick through the denim, I let out a small, strangled moan.


    Lanieughed into our kiss. Her hand rubbed me slowly.


    ¡°You know, we never got to finish our conversation thatst time¡­about how much you liked me being


    on


    top.¡± She got up on her tiptoes again to nibble at my neck


    touch of her teeth on my skin sent tingles shuddering all through me. My hands fit to her hips. I


    pulled her against me and ground my c ock against her belly.


    yours tomand as you so choose, Luna.¡± I meant to sound teasing, but the words came out low,


    husky, and strained with lust.


    Lanie took me by the hand and led me to our bedroom. Her eyes gleamed with our mutual passion as


    she pushed me gently to stand next to the bed. She put her hands on her hips.


    ¡°Take off your clothes for me,¡± she ordered in a whisper. ¡°Let me see that beautiful body.¡±


    She sounded like Xander when she spoke,allmanding and demanding, and it sent waves of desire


    coursing through me. I dlyplied. First, I pulled my T-shirt over my head and tossed it to the floor,


    only to


    see her stern look.


    ¡°Sorry, Ma¡¯am.¡± I grinned sheepishly and folded it to ce neatly on the chair.


    Lanie crossed her arms. ¡°The jeans, Beta.


    They¡¯re hiding that beautiful coc k. I want to see it. Now.¡±


    Her voice deepened into a growl that dried my mouth. I put my fingers on the button and unsnapped it,


    then slowly inched the zipper down. I put my hands on my hips to slide the denim down, but I made


    sure to do


    it teasingly.


    Slowly. Giving her the show I sensed that she wanted-the one I wanted to give her.


    I wanted to give my Luna anything she desired.


    When I stood naked in front of her, Lanie murmured her approval. ¡°Turn around.¡±


    I did. She moved behind me to run her hands up my back. Her nails dug into my skin. I closed my eyes


    but


    didn¡¯t try to hold back my moan.


    Her hands spun me to face her. She gripped me at the base and slid her palm up the shaft to palm t


    head. ¡°This beautiful co ck belongs to me.¡±


    ¡°All yours,¡± I agreed as I looked into her eyes.


    Gently, she pushed me onto the bed. She slipped out of her dress and panties, tossing them to the


    floor. Lanie straddled me, my co ck in her fist so she could guide me inside her.


    I thought she might ride me hard. F uck me fiercely. But my Luna moved slowly,deliberately. Our


    lovemakingsted forever. As the pleasure built, we moved together in perfect sync.


    Her head fell back, her long, loose curls tickling the tops of my thighs as she ground herself against


    me. I


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    let her take the lead and watched the flush of her arousal travel up her chest and throat.


    She cried out my name when she came, and when I felt her p ussy tighten around me,clenching with


    the


    strength of her or gasm, I came, too.


    Lanie copsed on top of me. She breathed into my ear. ¡°Our Alphas will be back soon. I think we


    should have something nice ready for them.


    What do


    you


    think?¡±


    ¡°Your wish, my love, is mymand.¡±

 Chapter 419

    Chapter 419


    Mason


    | grunted as | hefted the weights and then set them down. Over the past few days, all the work Xander and | had been doing had


    been set aside. Useless.


    Unnecessary. That put us right back where we''d been before...and for me, that was bored out of my f ucking mind.


    Sure, danger loomed on the h orizon, but when hadn''t it? It felt like I''d spent my entire life waiting for something to happen, being


    held back from what | knew wasing. | was f ucking sick of it.


    Working out helped to keep the frustration at bay, but | could only


    refused to do a single more thing other than copse.


    I


    for so long before my body


    only ceilin


    So, that¡¯s what | did, in a big, sweaty heap on the mats. | stared at the and listened to the heave and grunt of everyone else


    working out around me.


    Xander kicked my foot. ¡°Bro. You ready to head back to the apartment?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Let''s go.¡± | let him help me up.


    We by pas sed the gym shower and headed for home.


    We didn¡¯t talk on the way back. There didn¡¯t seem to be much to say.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    If | was wrung out from the past couple of hours, my brother had to be twice as tired, both in his body and his mind. After all, it


    was his mother who''d turned out to be a spy for the High Council. Worse, she somehow was totally unaware of it, which meant


    that none of us could let her know that we did.


    This was all kinds of f ucked.


    I''d been doing my best not to give any hints, but it had been da mned hard over the past week not to question Gabri about her


    every move. She hadn¡¯t seemed to be acting suspiciously, but she did seem quieter than usual. She¡¯d had a nice little party for


    Ste tomemorate all the birthdays she¡¯d missed, but that was thest time she¡¯d really spent time with us.


    | could tell it was weighing on her son, even if he wasn¡¯t sharing anything with the rest of us. Xander was trying too hard to be


    strong. I¡¯d thought about asking Ste to work on him, but Lanie had guessed my n and talked me out of it. She told me we


    needed to respect Xander¡¯s distance from us so he could manage his


    own emotions.


    | knew she was right...all the same, I''d spent my life resenting my brother and a lot less time wanting the best for him. | hated


    doing anything, or rather, not doing something that | felt could help him.


    He put a hand on my arm before we went through the front door to our ce. ¡°Listen. Lknow we''re not


    1/2


    Chapter 419


    supposed to be bothering with any of the security s hit anymore, but it doesn¡¯t feel right to wait around with our thumbs up our as


    s es. You feel the same way, right? It¡¯s not just me.¡±


    ¡°Nah. I¡¯m bored as f uck, man.¡± | lowered my voice.


    Since learning about the spiders and the High


    Council¡¯s ability to see through Gabri¡¯s eyes, | was trying to be careful about what | said out loud.


    ¡°We''re Alphas,¡± Xander said. ¡°We''re not meant for all this waiting and watching bu Ils hit.¡±


    |ughed and lightly punched his shoulder. ¡°We could go for a run. Colt¡¯s still pretty tired from thest time, but I¡¯m sure | could


    convince him...¡±


    The door to our apartment opened to reveal our Luna.


    ¡°What are you two doing standing out here?¡±


    Over her shoulder, | spotted Zane. Both of them had wide grins and the giddy attitude of kids waiting to open their New Moon


    Festival gifts. When Xander and | went into the living room, he stopped so short | nearly


    ran into him.


    ¡°What''s all this?¡± he said with a low, amused chuckle


    | looked at the table, set with a fancy cloth and dishes.


    Candles. ¡°It''s the middle of the day.¡±


    ¡°We have the ce to ourselves until after dinner,¡± Lanie said as she came toward us.


    She wore a sheer nightgown that clung to her curves.


    It showed off the dusky hints of her


    nipples and the shadowy thatch


    between her thighs. Her curls were


    piled high with a few hanging down


    to tempt me into thinking what it


    would be like to spiral them around


    my


    fingers.


    ¡°Do you like what you see?¡± Lanie asked.


    My co ck certainly did. It was already thickening.


    When | watched Zanee up


    behind her and kiss her shoulder,


    bared by the neckline of the


    nightgown,


    got even harder.


    ¡°| figured you two would be all


    tuckered out,¡± Xander said around a


    growl, ¡°| sensed you were making


    love


    earlier.¡±


    ¡°Lucky for you,¡± Zane said, gesturing at his first Alpha. ¡°We¡¯re ready for more.¡±

 Chapter 420

    Xander


    There was no rule that none of us could make love to our Luna alone. That would have to be, ever and


    always, her choice. So when I was down in the gym and felt my Beta¡¯s rush of arousal, along with our


    Luna¡¯s answering desire, I carefully shut out that part of our link to give them the privacy I would have


    appreciated if I was the one alone with her in bed.


    When I saw the dinner the two of them hadid out for us, our Luna¡¯s carefully chosen outfit, and our


    Beta¡¯s wide grin, my co ck got hard. More than that, my heart twisted. I loved the two of them more


    than I¡¯d ever thought I¡¯d be capable of loving anyone.


    ¡°You know,¡± I said, crossing to them both. ¡°I used to think I understood what it meant to want someone.


    But until this moment, I¡¯m not sure I ever really did.¡±


    Both of them put their arms around me. Lanie pressed her lips against mine, her tongue tangling with


    my tongue. I tasted Zane in that kiss, and that was more than fine with me. When she nibbled at my


    jaw and then my neck, I pulled her closer and buried my face against her hair.


    ¡°We¡¯ve set up the bathroom for you to take nice, hot showers,¡± she murmured into my ear. ¡°You and


    Mason go get cleaned up. Then we¡¯ll eat. After how hard the two of you have been working out, you


    need your


    strength.¡±


    ¡°If we only have a few hours before the kids and Gabrie back,¡± my brother said from behind me,


    ¡°then I vote we shower fast and eat faster.¡±


    As it turned out, we did shower fast, but the three of us lingered over that meal. Our Luna and our Beta


    had made sure to order every one of our favorites.


    We indulged in every bite, feeding each other from our forks and fingers. Lanie slipped fromp top,


    tipping our sses of rich, red wine into our mouths andughing when the crimson liquid dribbled onto


    her


    nightgown.


    ¡°Oh, my,¡± she said with fake concern. ¡°I might have to take this off.¡±


    She was on Mason¡¯sp when she said this, and he growled. His hands found her breasts. Her nipples


    were hard through the see-through fabric, stained with red. The spilled wine made the fabric cling to


    her body, riper than any fruit on the table.


    With a low roar of desire, I stood and swept the tabletop clean so her other Alpha could lift her onto it.


    Lanie arched as he pushed her nightgown up over her hips. Her three mates all stopped to admire her


    beauty.


    We¡¯d sated our bellies, but we were going to make a better meal of her.


    ***


    Lanie


    I would never get my fill of these three men. I wanted to shout out my words of love to them, but all I


    could do was moan and cry out as Mason centered his lips over my already throbbing cli t. Zane and I


    had made love mere hours ago, but I was ready for more.


    Always, always ready for more.


    ¡°Mason!¡± I cried as hepped at my p ussy in slow, leisurely strokes of his tongue.


    I tried to writhe, but Zane and Xander were at each of my shoulders, holding me in ce. Xander took


    a steak knife and slipped it into the neckline of my gown, slitting the fabric about an inch. Zane took it


    and tore it free, leaving me gloriously naked and ready for every single kiss.


    Xander found my mouth. Zane¡¯s hands caressed my breasts, and his tongue roamed over my nipples.


    He sensed and joined Mason¡¯s rhythm on my cli t, and the two of them sucked my flesh in tandem.


    I cried Xander¡¯s name in a h oar se, pleading voice. ¡°I need your coc k!¡±


    He gave it to me. It filled my mouth as I felt Mason slide inside my pus sy. His co ck stretched me, and I


    wrapped my legs around his hips to pull him deeper inside me. Deep as he could go.


    My o rgasm flowed through me like ripples of water, a rushing stream. No, a river. A waterfall.


    I became aware of both my Alphas disengaging.


    Xander lifted me. Carried me to our big bed, where we all tumbled down. Our lovemaking continued.


    Together, we lost ourselves in the pleasures of our bodies. It was more than sex. That, any one of us


    could have found with any other body.


    This was a joining of our hearts, minds, souls. I heard a humming through our mate bond as the four of


    us reached a final, gasping climax.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Ecstasy consumed me, and I gave myself up to every blessed clench and release of my muscles. For a


    moment, it was as though I hovered above our quartet, looking down. And then I was back in my body,


    in a sweaty pile of male flesh, and we all had to wriggle around to getfortable¡­and this, too, was a


    blessing.


    Thefort we found in each other.


    Death mighte for us, but nothing would ever be able to take away our love.

 Chapter 421

    Mason


    I couldn¡¯t keep my eyes open. After sex that good, all wanted to do was fall into a deep, hard sleep.


    Lanie¡¯s bare shoulder pressed mine, and the soft sound of her breathing mingled with Xander and


    Zane¡¯s. Mine was doing the same, I realized sleepily as I started drifting off. The four of us had synced


    up.


    It felt good. Comfortable. Secure.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Abba?¡±


    My eyes flew wide open. I pushed up on my elbow, expecting to see Ste standing at the foot of the


    bed.


    That was how close she sounded. The bedroom door was closed. We were all still alone.


    Lanie sat up next with a small gasp. ¡°Ste?¡±


    Xander and Zane, on her other side, did the same. We all stared at each other. Ste¡¯s voice entered


    my


    mind again. Her words echoed a bit, like a shout down a well.


    ¡°I¡¯ve fed the twins and settled them in their room with some toys. I need to talk to all of you.¡± Ste¡¯s


    voice


    vibrated in my head, and by the way everyone else was reacting, I could tell they heard her, too.


    Zane¡¯s shocked expression was almostical, as was my brother¡¯s. Lanie didn¡¯t look that shocked,


    more like she was taken aback. As for myself, I was barely getting used to having a four-way mate


    bond with my mates. Having our daughter chime in without warning was enough to get me out of bed in


    a sh.


    ¡°Give us a few minutes, sweetheart,¡± Lanie thought through the new link. ¡°We¡¯ll be out.¡±


    The four of us shared looks.


    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Xander muttered, pitching his voice low so it wouldn¡¯t carry out of the


    bedroom.


    Could Ste overhear us, anyway? She probably had enhanced hearing. Or, she could simply read all


    of


    our minds even when she wasn¡¯t using that brand-new link to talk to us. The feeling was unsettling, to


    say the


    least.


    Lanie shook her head and got out of the bed. ¡°She¡¯s a Celestial, Xander. I think the more open we are


    to


    whatever happens, the better off we¡¯re all going to be.


    I¡¯m going to jump in the shower before we go talk to her, though.¡±


    Zane chuckled, lifting his arm to sniff under it. ¡°I¡¯d say we all should at least rinse off. Just because


    Ste


    knows we¡¯ve been making love, that doesn¡¯t mean we all need to roll out of here smelling like it.¡±


    Ja


    Four adults in a bathroom would never be an ideal situation, even with the size of ours, but we all


    managed to get to the shower and the sinks without tripping over one another. By the time we all got


    out into


    the living room, Ste had made us all mugs of sweet, spiced tea andid out tes of the sliced


    birthday cake Gabri had brought for her.


    ¡°This was nice, honey. Thank you.¡± Lanie hugged her with a smallugh. I must say, while I¡¯m still


    getting used to the idea of you being all grown up, I can get used to this!¡±


    Xander plucked a slice from the te and bit into the thick frosting. ¡°Me too.¡±


    Ste beamed. ¡°I¡¯m d. I didn¡¯t want to overstep, but I could tell you all needed something sweet and


    sugary.¡±


    ¡°The link,¡± I said as I took a te and fork and sat with it in one of the recliners. ¡°That¡¯s new. How long


    have you been able to do that?¡±


    ¡°Mason, she probably always could,¡± Lanie murmured


    Ste nodded and pressed her lips together. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the truth, Abba. I just never did before


    because I didn¡¯t want to freak you all out. But I still did, huh?¡±


    ¡°A little,¡± I admitted.


    She sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, Abba, I think there will be many times in the days ahead when we¡¯re all


    going to feel a little ufortable with what I¡¯m able to do.


    Even me. Knowing I¡¯ve had these abilities for so long but never sharing them has always felt wrong,


    and i never want to hide anything from my parents again.¡±


    Lanie hugged her again, her expression shadowed.


    ¡°I never want you to feel like you have to, honey.


    Whatever you need to share with us, you should be able. Even if you think it will upset us, or make us


    mad¡­or scare us.¡±


    Ste nodded, looking solemn. She hadn¡¯t taken a piece of cake or a mug of tea, but she waited until


    we


    all had and sat before she addressed us.


    ¡°Mother, Daddy, Abba, Papa. For the past few hours, I¡¯ve been feeling the fog clear away. At first, I


    wasn¡¯ sure if what I was sensing was true, but now I¡¯m convinced that what I¡¯ve seen is the truth. The


    High Council has made their decision about what they¡¯re going to do.¡± Ste looked at each of us in


    turn. Her voice was strong, without a tremble or a quiver. Her eyes shone brightly. ¡°Now I know how we


    can stop them.¡±

 Chapter 422

    Xander


    ¡°Did they learn something from my mother?¡± My throat went tight at the idea that my mother was being


    used as a tool for the High Council¡­again. And again, without her knowledge.


    Ste shook her head. ¡°They¡¯re seeing through her eyes, but something inside her is fighting them.


    Even though she doesn¡¯t know about the third eye, her own strength and desire to stand on the side of


    right is working to obscure what they do see. They¡¯re not blocked. She¡¯s just refusing to look at things


    that she unconsciously senses would help them.¡±


    ¡°We should just tell her what¡¯s going on,¡± Mason said in a clipped tone. ¡°Enough of this bu lls hit with


    people keeping secrets.¡±


    ¡°We can tell her, but only once we¡¯ve made sure the High Council is set in their path. I can¡¯t stop them if


    A


    we don¡¯t know what they¡¯re nning,¡± Ste said sharply. Her tone softened. ¡°Sorry, Abba. But it¡¯s just


    not that easy.¡±


    My brother¡¯s expression went tight, but he nodded.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to feel betrayed when she finds out that she¡¯s been the High Council¡¯s spy, but it¡¯s going


    to be worse when she realizes that we knew and just let her continue.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no help for it,¡± Ste said. ¡°If Gabri bes aware of the third eye, that will alert the


    High Council that she knows. They¡¯ll change their course, leaving us all blind. I¡¯ve seen the ways this


    can go, Abba. Please, you must trust me.¡±


    Mason got up to pace. ¡°I want to, Ste, but all of this is pretty hard to swallow.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± she said with a sadness in her voice. ¡°Believe me, I wish we could all just live without worrying


    about this.¡±


    ¡°We can,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Once we destroy the High Council. So how do we do that?¡±


    ¡°What have you seen?¡± Lanie asked.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Ste closed her eyes for a moment, her expression twisting. She opened her eyes. ¡°Since they can¡¯t


    direct her to look at the things they want to see, they¡¯re getting frustrated. Because Gabri is


    unconsciously


    avoiding anything that would truly help themy an attack, they¡¯re seeing only bits and pieces of what


    they want information about. They¡¯ve decided to finally just act.¡±


    ¡°What do they intend to do?¡± I asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re going to force a¡­well, kind of a back surge,¡± Ste exined. ¡°From the portal town. They¡¯ve


    been


    somehow essing the power supplies in Standard, and they¡¯re nning to reverse the input back


    through all


    the lines. All the way back here, to Brightsky.¡±


    Zane gathered the empty tes from all of us and took them to the kitchte. He put them in the sink


    with a tter. He turned, his hands in fists at his hips.


    ¡°The b astards are going to kill every envian spider in the ce,¡± he said in a hard, angry voice. His


    wolf shed in his eyes, and his lip curled as a growl escaped him.


    Ste nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the n.¡±


    Lanie let out a soft moan. ¡°Those poor things. They¡¯re intelligent! And empathic! It¡¯s not like they¡¯re


    going to kill a bunch of mindless bugs. They¡¯re nning to  ughter an entire society!¡±


    ¡°You really think the High Council gives a f uck about that, Lanie?¡± Mason said in a bitter snarl.


    She shook her head. ¡°No. They care about nothing but themselves and their quest for power. But we


    can¡¯t let them do this. It¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°Everything they do is wrong,¡± I bit out around my own growl. My wolf paced, rising. ¡°I used to be so


    dam ned proud to be the Constantine Alpha, but now, all can think about is how ashamed I am to take


    any part in wolf society. So long as the High Council is in charge-¡°.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to stop them,¡± my brother cut in. ¡°It isn¡¯t wolf-kind that¡¯s the problem, but a few power-


    hungry as sholes who think they¡¯ve got the right to decide for everyone else how to live.¡±


    ¡°Or die,¡± Zane said furiously.


    Ste held out her hands, palms up. Small, sparkling orbs glittered, a soft glow emanating from them.


    They vanished after a few seconds, leaving behind a calming, soothing sensation. We were all still


    upset, so


    she hadn¡¯t taken that away. But I, at least, had a much better sense of rity and understanding.


    ¡°Once they reverse that power surge, the backflow kills the spiders. That leaves Brightsky without all


    utilities,¡± I said. ¡°Lights, heating and cooling, water supply. Everything will shut down.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll bepletely at their mercy.¡± Lanie¡¯s voice sounded strained.


    ¡°Brightsky has to have auxiliary backup sources, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Zane asked Xander. ¡°Generators of some


    kind? Sr sources, thermal, whatever?¡±


    My brother snorted under his breath. ¡°That would make sense, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Standard controls every secondary source of power that Brightsky can utilize,¡± Ste said. ¡°Their


    generators are set up only to provide emergency services, though, not to send power back to Brightsky.


    When the spiders die, Standard¡¯s going to lose power, too. But they¡¯ll have their backup generators.


    The High Council¡¯s n is that a team from Brightsky will have to go to Standard so they can re-rig the


    power


    supply. When Brightsky is vulnerable, the High Council will attack.¡±

 Chapter 423

    Lanie


    Being able to glimpse what Ste had been able to see about the High Council should have been more


    comforting, but knowing their ns made me so angry I had to get up and pace around the room.


    Only when I paused to look at my mates¡¯ startled expressions did I realize that I¡¯d been buzzing around


    the room like a bee. I consciously slowed myself. I hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat this time.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Xander punched a fist into his opposite palm. ¡°We¡¯ll be ready for them!¡±


    Ste shook her head. ¡°Sorry, Daddy, but no. The High Council has way too many soldiers at their


    command. More even than you¡¯ve ever known of.


    They¡¯ve spent their time these past months recruiting.


    There aren¡¯t enough people in Brightsky who arebat trained.¡±


    Mason shook his head. ¡°We were trying to work on that.¡±


    ¡°No time for it now,¡± Xander said.


    ¡°There won¡¯t be enough capable staff to fight and protect those not capable of fighting,¡± Ste


    exined.


    ¡°Everyone in this ce has some kind of talent,¡± I said. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that with all the different types


    of supernaturals in Brightsky, we can¡¯t protect ourselves?¡±


    Xander also got up to pace, his steps measured and heavy as he walked. His expression had tightened


    and gone dark, and I could practically see his thoughts whirling, even if I couldn¡¯t hear them. If he


    wasn¡¯t my mate, the look on his face would have terrified me.


    The High Council had no idea who they were messing with, and a fierce pride rose in my chest.


    ¡°Most of the people who live here in the enve have never had to even think about fighting or


    defending themselves. They¡¯ve been safe here for so long,¡±


    Ste said. ¡°In his own way, Mchi has been as detrimental to the enve as the High Council was in


    determining that they¡¯d keep the truth about the Great Wars and the world atrge hidden away from all


    of


    you. By reassuring them over and over that they had no reason to fear, Mchi has made it almost


    impossible


    for any of them to fight.¡±


    ¡°What about a spell? The witches here should be able toe up with some kind of protection, right?


    Can¡¯t we use that, somehow?¡± Mason suggested.


    Zane didn¡¯t pace. He sat back on the couch with his hands gripping his knees.


    A sense of unease drifted to me through the mind link. Not the new one Ste had created, and not the


    mate bond, but through my private connection with him. When Zane thought of witches, he was afraid.


    I wasn¡¯t sure he was even aware of that fear, but when he imagined the use of spells, even in


    Brightsky¡¯s defense, he shed back to Rhiannon and being forced to sumb to the workings of her


    magic. He also remembered using magic to help me get inside the hybrid testing facility, and, even


    further back, the spell that had taken our memories, making me Katie. A spell had also hidden my


    hybrid self from me.


    ¡°Magic isn¡¯t always bad, love, ¡°I thought to him.


    I understood why he thought it was, but I had to believe it could also be used for good.


    Zane looked at me with wide eyes. We shared a silentmunication, unshared by anyone else. I tried


    to send him as muchfort as I could, but I could tell that he was still unsettled by the idea that we


    might have to rely on witches.


    ¡°I don¡¯t trust witches,¡± Xander said to his brother.


    Mason¡¯s expression got grim. ¡°At this point, I¡¯m not sure we have a choice.¡±


    ¡°Magic can only do so much,¡± Ste dered but with a tone of respect for her fathers. ¡°It can protect,


    yes, but for aplex of this size, any protection spell will be limited. In order to cast bigger spells,


    there¡¯d need to be a much greater advance warning, and even then, you¡¯d have to have so many


    spellcasters working together. Not every witch is even capable of that level of strength. That¡¯s why the


    spiders have be such an integral part of the enve. They¡¯ve had generations to adapt and grow.


    They¡¯ve entwined themselves into the very fabric of the enve. Their magic is so inherent in the


    structure and workings of Brightsky that nothing can truly rece them.¡±


    ¡°We have to save them,¡± I said fiercely, my heart breaking at the thought of all those small lives


    destroyed


    I hadn¡¯t even known about them until a short time before, but the idea that the High Council could


    simply wipe them out¡­I shuddered and fell silent.


    Tears p rickled in my eyes, mingled anger and sorrow


    life


    All I wanted was to live a peaceful life, and the High Council was making that impossible.


    e, and the High Council was making that impossible.


    ¡°We have to save everyone,¡± I added before anyone else could speak.


    Ste stepped closer to me. ¡°And we will, Mother. As soon as you leave.¡±

 Chapter 424

    Zane


    Instantly, I stepped forward. ¡°Yes. Get Lanie out of here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not running,¡± our Luna retorted fiercely.


    ¡°Brightsky is in danger because of us.¡±


    ¡°This enve is in danger because of your grandfather¡¯s arrogance,¡± I told her firmly.


    Ste nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true, in part. Because Mchi kept everything under his own control without truly


    letting anyone else have any power to control things here, yes. But it¡¯s also true that the four of you,


    me, and the twins, all are the reason why Brightsky is now in danger.¡±


    are.¡±


    Lanie gave her head a stubborn shake. ¡°Which is why I¡¯m not abandoning them! We stay and fight!¡±


    Xander wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple. ¡°You leave the fighting to us, love.¡±


    Our Luna struggled out of his grip. ¡°Don¡¯t you pull that Alpha card with me. I¡¯m in this as much as you


    all


    huh?¡±


    Mason stepped up to put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°We need to listen to Ste.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re ready to do whatever she says?¡±


    Lanie snapped at him. ¡°When ites to sending me away, I guess she¡¯s making all kinds of sense


    now,


    She whirled on the two Alphas who were standing together in a united front. She poked each of them in


    the chest. Hard. I had to hold back augh. None of this was funny, but even so, watching our Luna


    stand up to Xander and Mason was like watching a mouse face off with a pair of very pi ssed-off-


    looking lions.


    ¡°Think about it,¡± Mason told her without flinching away from her touch, even when she poked him


    again.


    He stared Lanie down without looking away. ¡°If we leave the enve, the High Council will be drawn


    away. They¡¯ll have no reason to do anything to the people here. It¡¯s us they want.¡±


    Ste raised her hands again to let those swirling, glittery orbs float up from her palms. I had no idea


    what they were, only that a sense of relief came along with them. I was able to understand the situation


    from multiple viewpoints all at once. It wasn¡¯t quite like being able to see every timeline and oue,


    but I felt how hard it must be for our little girl to have to sift through everything to find the truth.


    ¡°And what if they¡¯re not?¡± Lanie asked in a small voice. It trembled, not with weakness, but with the


    force of her emotions. They poured out of her in slow, pulsing waves that I found hard to keep at bay.


    She turned toward Ste. ¡°What if we run off and make it to safety, and everyone left behind here is


    destroyed the way they intend to kill the spiders?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re forgetting something, love.¡± I stepped forward. ¡°That hasn¡¯t happened yet. The High Council


    made the decision to do it, which is what has let Ste figure out what steps we should take. Right?¡±


    I looked at Ste, who nodded. I could tell that she was doing her best to let her mother figure it out on


    her own. It was the only way Lanie would agree. If she believed it was the right choice.


    ¡°So you mean we could stop them? Before they hurt the spiders, before they cut the power to the


    enve?¡±


    Lanie asked.


    Ste nodded and put an arm around her mother¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I think so, Mother. That¡¯s what I¡¯m


    seeing.


    Of course, every decision we make also changes the path ahead. But this is the one that leads to the


    best


    oue, at least for now.¡±


    Lanie¡¯s struggle was still clear on her face. She shrugged off Mason and Xander and hugged Ste.


    Then she buzzed back and forth again, moving fast with her vampire speed. I felt a breeze as she


    passed.


    I wanted to reach out and stop her, but I didn¡¯t dare get in her way. She¡¯d have bowled me over.


    And I didn¡¯t want to feel like I was forcing her into any decision.


    The Alphas weren¡¯t as generous. Both of them stepped in front of her at the same time. She ran


    straight


    into them, almost knocking them out of the way. They were only able to stop her with sheer, brute


    strength.


    Each of them grabbed her by an arm and held her in ce as her feet kept moving for a few seconds


    until


    she stopped.


    They set her down.


    There was a moment when it looked like she was going to fight them, or at least yell at them for getting


    in her way, but once more, Ste created those shimmering, soft orbs. We all stopped, paused,


    centered ourselves in our daughter¡¯s sphere of serenity. Earlier in the bedroom as we were falling


    asleep, I¡¯d felt a sens of deep connection with my mates. Like we were all aligned and in tune.


    That sensation was even stronger now, and this time, it included our daughter. We were more than a


    pack a family, a team. We were all joined in a way I couldn¡¯t truly describe¡­I just knew it was because


    of Ste.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen us prevail,¡± she said now to us all. She grinned. ¡°They¡¯re still tapping into Gabri¡¯s third


    eye. Which means we can manipte what she sees to our advantage. We can totally set up the High


    Council to


    fail.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 425

    Gabri


    The enve¡¯s optometrist was a cyclops, which was a little surprising. Not only had I never met any of


    the


    famous one-eyed n, I¡¯d never heard of one going into any kind of medicine.


    The most I¡¯d known about them was that they were mountain folk who kept to themselves.


    ¡°You¡¯re in good hands with Dr. Alonius,¡± said the receptionist, a petite Fae with a cheerful smile. ¡°He¡¯s


    been


    part of Brightsky almost since it began. Have a seat. He¡¯ll be with you in just a few minutes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been putting this off,¡± I said with an embarrassed smile. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why.¡±


    As I took a seat in thefortable waiting chair, I felt the urge to run out of the office rising in me again.


    It had taken everything I had to make the appointment in the first ce, and now that I was here, all I


    could


    think about was how horrible it would be if something bad happened to my eyes. No matter how I tried


    to tell myself it was foolishness, I couldn¡¯t stop myself from imagining, over and over, that when the


    doctor put the


    lenses in front of my eyes to test my vision, the ss would break and shatter splinters into my


    eyeballs.


    It was enough to make me run screaming from the waiting room. Only the pain in my head kept me in


    the


    chair. I knew something was going on with my vision, and I didn¡¯t want to risk it being something


    important.


    In the office, Dr. Alonius beamed a broad smile at me. Hisrge eye, centered in the middle of his bald


    forehead, shone with good humor through the single bifocal lens. I felt much more at ease.


    ¡°Go ahead, ask me,¡± he said as he settled himself on a rolling stool. ¡°Everyone wants to.¡±


    ¡®I¡¯m not sure¡­..¡±


    ¡°Why does a man with only one eye go into optometry?¡± Dr. Aloniusughed with a hearty guffaw.


    ¡°Well,


    the answer, my friend, is that when you only have one, you want to be extra sure you take good care of


    it. I


    decided I wanted to do the same for as many others as I could.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making me feel a lot better,¡± I admitted. ¡°Ive been having some weird anxiety about my eyes. I


    know an eye exam shouldn¡¯t hurt, and yet¡­¡±


    ¡°No fear. I¡¯ve got you.¡± Dr. Alonius scooted forward to begin the exam.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d had my eyes examined. Wolves don¡¯t tend to need sses until we get much


    older, but a number of years ago I¡¯d suddenly had a re up of strange vision anomalies that felt very


    much like what had been going ontely. I told the doctor about them when he rolled his stool out of the


    way after he¡¯d finished the exam.


    ¡°I can¡¯t see anything going on, so I can set your mind at ease about problems with your eyes


    themselves. As for needing a prescription,you¡¯ve got superb vision, Gabri. No need for sses. Not


    even readers.¡± The doctor tilted his head to study me. His expression was calm, but his brow furrowed


    in concern. ¡°Have you seen


    the Brightsky medical staff about the headaches?¡±


    A


    ¡°Should I?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re truly concerned, but¡­¡± He coughed lightly into his fist. ¡°Look, it¡¯s a bit out of line for me even


    to say anything, so feel free to put me in my ce. But is it possible you¡¯re having¡­anxiety attacks?¡±


    My eyes went wide, and my eyebrows went up.


    Way up. ¡°Anything¡¯s possible.¡±


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°It¡¯s just that I know you and your family have had some hardships to deal with. All of that tension could


    lead to headaches and changes in your vision. I do want to relieve you, though. I can see nothing to


    worry about with your eyes themselves.¡±


    I was relieved, and let out a breath I¡¯d been holding while I waited to hear the verdict on my vision. It


    stuttered out of me on a flurry of soft giggles that grew louder, until I had to p a hand over my mouth


    to


    hold them back. After a moment, Dr. Alonius joined me. The two of usughed hard for a minute more


    before


    we tapered into afortable silence.


    ¡°That was unexpected,¡± he said with another bright grin.


    liked this man. He had a calming, easy demeanor and gentle way about him that was so different than


    Orion had ever been. I blushed, realizing I¡¯d been staring.


    ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out,¡± Dr. Alonius said as he stood and offered me his hand.


    I took it. His was so much bigger that it fully engulfed mine. He squeezed mine gently before letting it


    go.


    ¡°Maybe I should get your number,¡± he said quietly as we stared at each other. ¡°Just in case,I mean.


    Um, if any of these readings turn out to be¡­um¡­ of concern. I could call you.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t hold back my smile. ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡±


    With a spring in my step, I headed back home.


    For the first time in what felt like an entire lifetime, it felt like I might actually have a good future ahead


    of


    me. A home here in Brightsky.


    Friends.


    The possibility of something even more.


    Happiness.

 Chapter 426

    Lanie


    ¡°What do you mean, we¡¯re going to say goodbye to the twins in front of Gabri?¡± My jaw had


    dropped, gaping wide, and I shut it with a snap.


    I clipped my tongue between my teeth and tasted blood, but that was a better vor than the bitterness


    in my words.


    ¡°We have to make sure she hears us and sees us, so it¡¯s ryed to the High Council,¡± Ste said.


    I spoke to her in the tone of voice I¡¯d used on the rare asions when she¡¯d thrown a temper tantrum.


    Calm, but firm, and clearly letting her know that I was disappointed in her. ¡°I understand that part,


    Ste. But you¡¯re asking me to leave them behind?¡±


    She¡¯d quicklyid out the n to us, but I was not convinced that it made sense. My mates seemed to


    believe that leaving the enve was a good idea, and I was having a hard time getting behind that, too.


    Leaving ina and Isaac here though, while we ran off¡­I couldn¡¯t do that.


    ¡°Gabri will stay with them.¡± Ste said.


    ¡°Lanie, just hear her out,¡± Zane began, but I made an angry gesture to make him go quiet.


    ¡°How can you even think I¡¯d be okay with this?¡± I demanded of the three of them. Then, I turned to my


    daughter. ¡°I don¡¯t like this, Ste.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    You¡¯ve grown up, but your brother and sister are little more than babies-¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re stronger and smarter than you give them credit for, Mother.¡±


    here!¡±


    ¡°Because they¡¯re hybrids!¡± I cried. ¡°They¡¯re special. Like you. Which is exactly why we can¡¯t leave them


    I crossed my arms over my belly and hugged myself tight. I shook my head, not meeting the eyes of


    any of my mates. I couldn¡¯t bear to look any of them in the face. ¡°I swore when I rescued them from that


    cursed testing facility that I would never abandon them. They would never be alone like that ever again.


    I vowed to protect them and love them like they were my own, and that¡¯s what they are. They are my


    children as much as you are, Ste. And now,what you¡¯re asking¡­ It¡¯s too much. I won¡¯t do it.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll be safer here than anywhere else, Lanie. And we can¡¯t really fight with two children in tow. It¡¯s


    better if they remain behind.¡± Mason tried to reach for me, but I shrugged myself out of his grip.


    ¡°My mother will take care of them,love,¡±


    Xander said.


    I ducked away from Xander¡¯s reach, too. I whirled on him. ¡°Your mother ispromised!


    C


    This entire n revolves around that fact, which you seem to have conveniently or st upidly forgotten.


    Whether she knows it or not, Gabri is a tool for the High Council.


    How can you ask me to trust her?¡±


    ¡°She would never hurt our children!¡± Xander snapped at me, sounding truly angry, probably because I¡¯d


    called him s tupid.


    Oh, yeah? Well, so was I. I put my hands on my hands and stood my ground with him. ¡°Of course she


    wouldn¡¯t, if she could help it. But what if she can¡¯t help it, Xander? What then?¡±


    ¡°Because I trust our daughter, something you were telling us to do not ten minutes ago!¡±


    Xander growled.


    ¡°Mother. I know this is hard. If there was another way, I would offer it, but I¡¯ve seen the various paths.


    The only ones that work are the ones in which we leave ina and Isaac here.¡±


    me?¡±


    Tears filled my eyes. ¡°How are they going to feel when I tell them I¡¯m going away and not taking them


    with


    Ste hesitated. ¡°They¡¯ll be with their beloved Grammy. You can tell them we¡¯re going away to do


    grownup things. They¡¯ll understand.¡±


    ¡°It will be a lie,¡± I said.


    Mason stepped closer but wasn¡¯t foolish enough to try and pull me against him. ¡°It¡¯s not a lie. We will


    be doing grownup things.¡±


    I eyed him with a frown. ¡°And Gabri won¡¯t want toe with us? If we tell her the High Council is


    coming, she¡¯s not going to want to stay here if none of us are.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll tell her that we¡¯re taking Ste away for her own protection. Because she¡¯s a Celestial and more


    important,¡± Xander said.


    life.¡±


    ¡°Compromised or not, I believe with my whole heart that my mother will protect our children with her


    very


    ¡°The High Council wants our children because they¡¯re hybrids. What makes you think they¡¯d just give th


    up?¡± I demanded.


    Hubris.


    The whisper tickled the back of my neck at the base of my skull. I instantly went on high alert,but


    nobody in the room had spoken or even used the mind link. Vaguely, from far off, I heard the sound of


    my name being called, but I stumbled forward andnded on my hands and knees¡­


    On a soft carpet of pine needles.

 Chapter 427

    Mason


    ¡°Katie!¡± The name flew out of my mouth before I realized what I was saying.


    My Luna, my beloved mate, had crumpled to the floor. She curled onto her side with her knees to her


    chest, like an infant in a crib.


    Behind me, I heard Xander¡¯s roar of surprise,but I was the first one to reach her. I threw myself onto the


    floor at her side and slid my arm underneath her shoulders. When I pulled her onto myp, she rolled


    bonelessly onto her back. Her arms and legs flopped. Her eyes were closed.


    She wasn¡¯t breathing.


    ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± I heard my own voice muttering and crying out. Through the mind link, I heard the same


    I expected my brother and our Beta to be at my side, but neither of them joined me as I rocked my


    Katie in


    my arms for a moment, desperate to see or feel any signs of life. She was limp and unresponsive. I


    probed her


    mind through the link and got no response. I pressed my fingers to her pulse, but there was nothing.


    She was not dead. I would not allow her to leave us this way. With a strangled cry, I slid her onto the


    floor


    on her back so I could resuscitate her.


    ¡°Wait, Abba. No!¡± Ste cried when I tipped Katie¡¯s head back to clear her airway. ¡°Stop!¡±


    I was aware of Ste moving toward me, but I ignored her. I¡¯d fight her off, if I had to, and if Xander or


    Zane tried to get in my way, I¡¯d fight them, too.


    ¡°I. Said. Stop.¡± Ste¡¯s voice gonged like a bell.


    ¡°F uck that,¡± I growled. ¡°Katie¡¯s -¡±


    A force that felt like a giant fist grabbed me by the back of my cor and hauled me to my feet.


    It yanked me back and away from the woman on the floor. And then, by the void, it held me in ce


    while l


    fought it.


    ¡°You let me go right now,¡± I demanded.


    Ste hadn¡¯t moved an inch. Her hair had started softly floating up and around her,crac kl ing with


    energy. A rainbow nimbus surrounded her. She held out one hand in my direction. The other toward


    Zane and


    Xander,who were frozen in ce.


    ¡°Not until you all three agree to leave her alone.


    You can¡¯t help her right now.¡±


    ¡°F uck that,¡± I said again, this time under my breath.


    The three of us stared at our Luna on the floor.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    She hadn¡¯t moved. Ste knelt next to her and smoothed her hair off her face. The force holding me


    back


    didn¡¯t break, not for a second,even when Ste didn¡¯t seem to be paying attention.


    A chill shuddered through my spine at the enormity of that young woman¡¯s power. Yes, we¡¯d all been


    told she had the abilities of every supernatural, but I¡¯d never seen or felt anything like this. I shot a


    nce at my brother. He was grimacing.


    ¡°We have to fight her. I don¡¯t care if she¡¯s our daughter, we have to help Katie,¡± said through the mind


    link.


    ¡°Her name, by the way, is Lanie,¡± Xander thought fiercely at me. His wolf zed in his eyes and voice,


    and his face rippled with the force of the beast trying toe to the surface.


    ¡°Both of you, knock it off. There are more important things right now!¡± Zane¡¯s snarl reached us both


    through the link.


    In the face of three adult wolves fighting for control, anyone else would have run. Not Ste.


    Our Celestial stood calmly, holding us back with no more effort than if we were toddlers throwing


    tantrums.


    ¡°I can hear you plotting, but please, fathers.


    Stop fighting. I don¡¯t want to have to hurt you,but I can¡¯t allow you to interfere right now.¡±


    Slowly, I stopped my struggle. Zane followed.


    Atst, Xander went quiet, too.


    The three of us stood panting, our fists clenched. But none of us kept fighting to get to our Luna.


    Clearly, there was no point. Ste was far too strong.


    Lanie¡­Goddess, I¡¯d called her Katie, and the shock sent ripples of emotional pain straight to my heart.


    She¡¯d been my Katie first, just as the woman standing over her had been the baby I¡¯d been willing to


    raise as my own¡­even before I knew they both belonged to my brother,


    My chest heaved. ¡°Ste. Let us help your mother.¡±


    Ste shook her head. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need our help. You need to leave her alone, at least for now.¡±


    Zane took a single step. When that worked, he took another until he knelt by our Luna¡¯s side. He


    stroked her hair back from her face.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡±


    ¡°The Moon Goddess has taken her,¡± Ste said.


    ¡°When will she bring her back?¡± Zane demanded.


    Ste nodded, then paused, tilted her head and shook it slowly. She frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

 Chapter 428

    Lanie


    I was alone with the scent of the forest and what felt like a breeze across my face. The trees sang in


    low


    murmurs as the wind passed through their branches. Peace, calm, serenity¡­


    when was thest time I¡¯d felt any of that? So long ago that I couldn¡¯t recall a time when I¡¯d felt only


    ¡°Moon Goddess?¡±


    I reached for her and got only silence in return.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Slowly, I turned in a circle. I knew I had to be experiencing this in my own mind, and that she hadn¡¯t


    transported me physically. I wore a soft gown of pale-green fabric, knotted at the shoulders. Around my


    waist,


    a golden cord nipped the dress against my hips, and the hem was so long only the tips of my toes


    peeped out.


    My hair cascaded down my back in ripples and waves.


    I thought I must look something like a goddess,myself.


    I wanted to run. To fight. To scream and argue.


    I wanted answers. Safety. Knowledge.


    But Goddesses don¡¯t answer to those they protect; I could only wait for her to show me what she


    wanted


    me to see.


    The Sun rose and set, and the Moon followed.


    Years passed in the span of minutes. I walked through the trees and slowly became aware of Lily at my


    side. My hand rested on her head,and I let her lead me.


    In front of me, the trees parted to show me a meadow full of flowers. The sun shone brightly overhead.


    Had I evermunicated with the Moon Goddess under the light of her sister Sun? I could only


    remember her


    voice ever reaching me in the Moon¡¯s silver glow. Right now, the golden light beckoned me, and I went


    into the


    meadow.


    Lily snuffed in my hand and licked. Then she ran away. I reached for her, but then I let her go.


    I knew there was something desperate happening to my body. Hands on me. Voices calling my name.


    Katie, Lanie, Katie, Lanie.


    Who was I?


    Who had I ever been?


    Who would I be?


    When I got into the meadow, the scent of flowers was like some sweet perfume that made my head


    spin. Dizzy, I sank onto a bed of soft grass while the flowers crushed underneath me and cast out even


    more glorious scents. I looked up at the sky and saw the sun, so bright I had to shield my eyes.


    But also the Moon at the same time. So much smaller than her sister, and to some, less powerful. She


    guided and blessed the wolves and kept us from harm, while the Sun had the strength and power to


    give life¡­and take it away.


    My back arched as a groan slipped out of me.


    In my mouth, I felt the sharpness of vampire fangs. They dented my bottom lip, piercing my own flesh


    until I tasted a hint of blood.


    Vampires die in the sunshine without protection, and I had none.


    ¡°No,¡± whispered the Moon Goddess. You have me.¡±


    Then I was floating, my toes barely grazing the ground and the grass and the crushed flowers.


    The Moon and the Sun both bathed me in their lights. Silver and gold swirled around me.


    From the Moon, I felt strength and power, as well asfort. Assurance. Guidance.


    From the Sun came ferocity, determination, and an edge of fear. A promise of punishment,if I did not


    obey. ¡°I don¡¯t understand, Moon Goddess! Please, as your humble ser vant, I beg of you to help me


    understand.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t see her, but her voice filled my head with a chime like bells. Like the soft hush of waves


    rolling against a shore. Like a mother singing her babies to sleep.


    ¡°You are not only mine, child.¡±


    ¡°I owe my allegiance to you!¡± I cried.


    Her soft chuckle made me feel like I was wrapped in a warm nket, being rocked like an infant.


    ¡°And I wee it. But you have more than wolf inside you, and you must ept the blessings and


    restrictions of the sun, as well.


    ept who you are. Fully.¡±


    Above me, the sky turned to navy, sprinkled with glittering stars. The Moon and the Sun continued to


    shine. I felt like I could feel the earth turning beneath my feet, but I wasn¡¯t dizzy.


    ¡°Your daughter would not be a Celestial if she had not been born to you,¡± the Moon Goddess said. ¡°You


    created her, and you have raised her.


    Now is the time to take her counsel. She is no longer a child.¡±


    ¡°But ina and Isaac are. Don¡¯t they still need their mother?¡± I lifted my face to the skies,pleading to


    understand. ¡°How can I leave them behind in the care of someone I can¡¯t trust?


    Can you give me assurance that Gabri won¡¯t let theme to harm?¡±


    ¡°You stand in the Sun, and you do not burn.


    That alone should tell you enough.¡±


    I fell onto my hands and knees and pressed my face into the sweet smelling earth. A single word had


    hung behind my closed eyes,illuminated like a neon sign.


    TRUST

 Chapter 429

    Xander


    ¡°So, what happens if she doesn¡¯t wake up?¡± I asked Ste.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time to keep messing around with this s hit,¡± Mason spat. ¡°Ste, if you expect us not to


    fight you, then you have to tell us what we can do.¡±


    ¡°Gabri coulde back here at any second,¡±


    Zane said quietly. ¡°If she sees Lanie like this,won¡¯t the High Council also see it? How will we be able to


    exin it to her without revealing everything?¡±


    ¡°This is a pretty terrible time for the Moon Goddess to put her in a f uckinga,¡± I said with my fists


    clenched. I waited for lightning or something to strike me for my sphemy.


    I almost weed it. At least that would be something I could understand.


    Something I could hate the Goddess for.


    ¡°She¡¯s not in aa. She¡¯s walking in the world between,¡± Ste said after a moment. Her expression


    shadowed. ¡°She¡¯s having trouble returning.¡±


    I growled. My wolf paced. He wanted to leap out of my skin. I wanted to let him. If I was my wolf, I


    wouldn¡¯t have to deal with any of this.


    No. I shook away that cowardice. An Alpha didn¡¯t run. Not from a fight. Not from trouble.


    And not from this.


    ¡°I was going to leave her as long as the Goddess wanted her, but¡­¡± Ste hesitated. Her shoulders


    bowed, and her head hung. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, fathers. I¡¯m sorry for how hard this all is.¡±


    Her head went up. Her eyes zed with a swirl of colors, finally settling on a brilliant gold rimmed with


    silver. I¡¯d never seen anything like it, and the sight had my blood running cold. I¡¯d known our daughter


    was powerful, but in this moment, she didn¡¯t look¡­human.


    ¡°I will go alone,¡± Ste said. ¡°I will go to Standard to the High Council and let them take me. If they have


    me, they¡¯ll leave everyone else alone!¡±


    Mason went to her at once and gathered her against his chest. ¡°Never. I will never allow that, Ste, so


    you can stop with that nonsense right now.¡±


    ¡°Have you seen what happens if you do that?¡±


    Zane asked quietly.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. We won¡¯t let her face them alone,¡± Mason snapped back at him.


    My brother had been there for Ste¡¯s first moments in this life. He¡¯d been her father before either me


    or our Beta. She clung to him now, her face against his chest, while he stroked her hair. I couldn¡¯t see


    those


    strange and wild eyes anymore. Right now, she looked like a scared young woman seekingfort


    from her


    father.


    Which was exactly who she was. My heart twisted. She was our daughter, and there was no way we


    were ever going to let her face danger without us at her back.


    ¡°Ste, what happens if you go alone?¡± I asked, not because I didn¡¯t know, but because I wanted to


    force


    her to say it out loud.


    If she had to admit the future she saw along this path, I hoped she¡¯d realize she couldn¡¯t take it. I even


    sent up a prayer and an apology to the Moon Goddess. I begged her to take care of our Luna¡­and


    also our


    Celestial.


    Ste shook her head against Mason¡¯s chest,but then, after a few seconds, lifted her face.


    Tears streaked it. Her silver and gold eyes had faded to their normal color, but I would never forget the


    sight of them.


    ¡°If I go there alone¡­¡±


    ¡°She dies, that¡¯s what happens,¡± Mason snapped.


    ¡°She¡¯s a Celestial,¡± I said quietly, holding her gaze with my own. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t kill her.


    They¡¯d find a way to use her, and that would be worse.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be safe¡­ Brightsky would be safe¡­¡±


    ¡°For how long?¡± I challenged her.


    ¡°For as long as I made them!¡± she cried. ¡°Id make sure. I wouldn¡¯t do what they want unless they swore


    not to hurt anyone here!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯d use you to destroy everything else,Ste. What are our lives worth if the rest of the world


    suffers?


    How could we ever live knowing that we were only safe because everyone else wasn¡¯t?¡± I asked her.


    Her expression twisted, and she pulled out of Mason¡¯s arms. She turned her back to us. Her head


    again.


    Mason spoke next. ¡°You might have every power ever known. You may be able to change the tides


    control the weather and whatever other talents exist that I don¡¯t even know about. But none of that


    mean


    have to do any of this alone. Ever.¡±


    Ste heaved a sobbing gasp and faced us. ¡°I want to make you all proud-¡±


    ¡°You do!¡± Mason assured her. ¡°Always.¡±


    Zane hugged her, then stepped back. ¡°Of all the possible paths you can see, which is the one with the


    best oue? Is it still leaving the twins behind with Gabri while we take you somece else and


    lure the


    High Council there?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ste said. ¡°Many paths and many oues, but that is still the best one. I¡¯ll go to the world.


    between and bring Mother home.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 430

    Lanie


    I¡¯d been working with my grandfather and Charlotte to ess my different traits. I¡¯d mastered some of


    them and learned there might be some I¡¯d never be able to control. But until I stood under the mutual


    glow of both the Moon and the Sun with the stars dancing between them, I hadn¡¯t ever truly epted


    that I was not wolf-kind.


    I was a hybrid. Many pieces together in one vessel. The body that I¡¯d left behind. The one I needed to


    return to so I could support my daughter.


    For a second that might as well have been an eternity, I tipped my face up to the Sun.


    It bathed me in its glow. I held out my arms, letting the golden light cover me all over.


    I¡¯d walked in the sunshine for my entire life without worry, not knowing I had vampire blood running in


    my veins. Not realizing how lucky I was that the Sun didn¡¯t choose to fry me alive.


    The future might be obscured to me. I couldn¡¯t look ahead the way my daughter could and see every


    branching path. I couldn¡¯t predict how my choices would influence whaty ahead.


    But I could still make them.


    I might never be able to do everything, but that would never again stop me from doing what I could.


    ¡°I think I understand, Moon Goddess. I have to trust in you. In Ste. But most of all, in myself.¡±


    Theughter of a Goddess is a blessing all its own. Hers rained over me, sparkling silver droplets I


    could feel as well as hear. I lifted my face to the sky again and danced in the light andughter of the


    Goddess I¡¯d been born to serve. I epted her blessings¡­and also those of her sister, the Sun, who


    could have chosen at any moment in my life to end it, but who had allowed me to reach this ce.


    ¡°Thank you, thank you!¡± I cried out into the skies. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡±


    With a rumble of thunder, storm clouds rolled across the sky. They covered up the stars first,dimming


    their light and then blinking them to darkness. Next, the Sun itself faded from zing orange to soft,


    pale yellow. Then to white, and it, too, was gone. The Moon remained, but the clouds quickly covered


    up its silver sheen.


    I was in darkness.


    I couldn¡¯t see the path in front of me, but worse than that, I couldn¡¯t even feel it. I tapped a toe and felt


    something solid underneath it. I took a step, and suddenly, there was nothing to stand on. I teetered on


    the edge of the world.


    With a scream, I pulled myself back from the edge. I couldn¡¯t tell if I had my eyes open or closed.


    Everything was darkness, either way.


    If this was a test, I wasn¡¯t sure I was going to pass it


    Time passed like the beat of a heart or the tick of a clock, but I couldn¡¯t tell if it was hours or minutes or


    years or eternities. I fought to stop myself from running, plunging over the abyss. I¡¯d trusted the


    Goddess this far, and I¡¯d epted her will. I had to remain patient for whatever message she sent me


    next.


    Slowly, I became aware of a dim glow. It looked really far away, like the light at the end of a tunnel. I


    blinked, realizing my eyes must have been open. They¡¯d been open the entire time, waiting for


    something to


    see.


    The glow brightened. I could see the edge just beyond the tips of my bare toes. It looked like I stood on


    a cliff, but I had no idea how high it was, or whaty below it. I put my foot out,feeling nothing below it


    but air. An icy wind lifted my hair. If I lost my bnce, I¡¯d fall and plunge into that darkness.


    I wasn¡¯t going to lose anything.


    ¡°Mother?¡± Ste¡¯s voice came to me from that light.


    I took the first step. My heart seized as my body tensed, waiting to hurtle over the cliff edge. I still


    couldn¡¯t feel anything under the foot extended forward. The one behind me was still solid.


    ¡°Mother, follow my voice! You have toe back to us now!¡±


    It took everything I had, every bit of willpower,to lift the foot remaining on the ground. I stepped forward


    again. Now there was nothing beneath me. I wasn¡¯t floating, but I wasn¡¯t falling, either.


    ¡°I¡¯ming, Ste!¡±


    I took another step. Another. I walked on nothing but trust and hope. The power of my belief buoyed me


    up. The love I felt emanating from my daughter kept me moving.


    The light grew brighter, and now it looked like a doorway. Ste stood just inside it. Behind her, over her


    shoulder, I could see our living room. My three mates.


    My own body, sprawled on the ground like I was dead.


    ¡°Come back to us, Mother!¡±


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Step after step, I followed her voice and the light.

 Chapter 431

    Chapter 431


    Gabri


    I hadn¡¯t had this much spring in my step since long before Orion and I had been mated and had


    Xander.


    It was like I was looking at the world through brand-new eyes. Colors were brighter. Crisper, bolder,


    fresher.


    I stopped short with a small cry of surprise as the realization hit me.


    That¡¯s just what I needed. A fresh start. My own life.


    The chance to pursue new friendships¡­or more, if the chance came up. Of course I loved my family,


    but Ste was now an adult. The twins were going to full-time school. My grandchildren didn¡¯t need me,


    and my


    grownup children might simply have to adjust to living on their own, too.


    Wasn¡¯t it time I lived my own life? Yes, there were still trials and tribtions ahead of us, but I could still


    be there for my family without living in the same space.


    It was long past time for my son and his three mates to have their own as well. Our living quarters were


    luxurious and four times the size of the cabin we¡¯d all managed to survive, but that didn¡¯t mean we had


    to keep


    living this way forever.


    I stopped by the Housing and Responsibilities office to check for possible openings. Mchi had simply


    provided us with our original quarters, so I¡¯d never been here before. The elderly witch at the desk


    waved a small wand over a parchment to reveal words that looked like they¡¯d been typed with an old-


    fashioned typewriter. Such a strangebination of magic and technology¡­only in Brightsky, I thought


    with augh.


    ¡°Something small. A studio would be fine,¡± I told her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even need a stove. I¡¯m looking forward to having all my meals cooked by someone else. But¡­


    ahem¡­I¡¯d like a queen-sized bed.¡±


    The witch sl anted me a knowing gaze. She chuckled,


    ¡°I think we have somethinging open at the end of the week. It¡¯s on a high level, though. Above


    ground.


    Those are usually our less desirable units. Would that be all right?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s what¡¯s avable, that will be fine. Are you able to look up the list of open responsibilities for


    me, too? I¡¯d like to start giving back to themunity.¡± I took a deep breath, thinking about how I¡¯d tell


    the rest of


    the family of my ns to move out and take work in Brightsky.


    ¡°I can help you with that.¡± Again, she waved her wand, this time to reveal a different list. ¡°We¡¯ve got


    many


    open positions, depending on your qualifications.¡±


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    Chapter 431


    She waved the wand again, this time turning the words to face me so I¡¯d be able to read them without


    twisting my head. For a moment, a sh obscured the words. My head ached. I took a step back from


    the desk, blinking. The words had gone blurry.


    I blinked again to clear my vision while the old witch looked on curiously. I could read the list, but the


    letters looked kind of scrambled. I could read some of the words easily-daycare, kitchens, retail. Other


    words


    in the list weren¡¯t so easy to read.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to decide right now, dearie. The list changes often, as people d¨¦cide to switch things


    up.


    Like you,¡± she said with a kind chuckle. ¡°How about I put your name down for the new living quarters,


    and


    you can get yourself settled in there before you go taking up a new job, eh?¡±


    ¡°That sounds perfect. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°My pleasure, dearie. That¡¯s how we work here at Brightsky. Together.¡±


    I thanked her again and set off once more for the apartment that would only be home for another week


    or so. I was a little disappointed about my weird vision thing, but at the same time, maybe it would be a


    good


    reason for me to call Dr. Alonius. I even thumbed his number into my phone before bursting into


    self-conscious giggles and putting my phone away. It was too soon.


    I pushed open the door to the Constantine quarters and pulled up short at the sound of voicesing


    from ina and Isaac¡¯s room. Something told me to hold back and listen before joining them.


    ¡°¡­but you¡¯ll be good for Grammy, won¡¯t you? We won¡¯t be gone for long. We¡¯ll be back before you


    know it.¡±


    Lanie¡¯s voice sounded soothing. I heard the twins murmuring in reply.


    Gone?


    ¡°Hello?¡± I called out and went to their door.


    All of them turned to stare at me¡­everyone except


    Ste. She wasn¡¯t there. A coldness washed over me


    ¡°Grammy!¡± ina cried and ran to take my hands.


    ¡°Mama and the fathers are going on a trip, but we get to stay home with you!¡±


    I met my son¡¯s gaze. ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t we go into the other room,¡± Xander said with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°We


    have some important things to tell you.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 432

    Chapter 432


    Gabri


    1


    I warmed my hands around a mug of hot tea, but I didn¡¯t want to take even a single sip. Xander had


    exined to me, quickly, that he and his mates would be leaving with Ste, but the twins and I would


    stay


    behind.


    ¡°You might have asked me first,¡± I said in a low voice. ¡°Rather than simply springing this on me. No


    warning.¡±


    ¡°We have to move on this now, Mom. Sorry, but you¡¯re our only option. We have to get Ste out of


    here for


    her protection. She¡¯s far more powerful than the twins and far more at risk from the High Council.¡±


    At those words, a pain sliced into my heart. ¡°The High Council. When will they ever stop causing us so


    much trouble? Is it so much to ask that they simply leave us alone? Never mind.¡± I waved a hand for


    silence,


    my voice rasping. ¡°I know the answer to that. Probably more than any of you.¡±


    I didn¡¯t want to feel such disappointment that my ns were being struck to the ground before I even


    had


    the chance to put them into action. I didn¡¯t want this selfishness. With a heavy sigh, I put my face in my


    hands.


    ¡°Where is Ste?¡±


    Mason stepped up to answer that question. ¡°Right now, she¡¯s in the temple of the Moon Goddess,


    preparing herself.¡±


    ¡°A Celestial needs to make offerings to a Goddess?¡± asked.


    Lanie had been talking to the twins, but now she appeared with a bag slung over her arm. ¡°Even a


    Celestial can use as much protection as she can get.


    Gabri, I know this is hard. We wouldn¡¯t ask you to do this if we had any other choice.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± I studied the mug. The steam wafted up, bathing my face. My vision blurred


    again.


    This time from tears.


    Xander cleared his throat and took the seat next to mine. He pushed the mug out of the way to press


    both of my hands between his. He waited until I looked into his eyes, but although his mouth opened,


    he still didn¡¯t


    speak.


    ¡°You have your father¡¯s eyes. Did I ever tell you that?


    Not the color, or even the shape. It¡¯s the look in them Xander. Orion looked at me that way every time


    he


    asked me to do something he knew I wouldn¡¯t want to do I shook my head and pulled my hands from


    my son¡¯s grip. ¡°I never thought to see my own son looking at me the same way.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re taking her to Fallen Crest,¡± he said.


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    Chapter 432


    I couldn¡¯t hold back my gasp of shock. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±


    My words stuck in my throat. I pushed away from the table and got up to face all four of them. They


    were talking to each other through their dam ned mind link.


    I could sense it. I wrapped my arms around me against the sudden chill.


    ¡°Fallen Crest is the dead city,¡± I told them. ¡°Nobody goes there. It was forbidden by the High Council


    ages


    ago-¡±


    ¡°As if we give a single tiny f uck about what the High Council wants,¡± Lanie said.


    I shot her a look so fierce she winced. ¡°It was forbidden by every High Council or Leadership Court or


    Noble Senate of every single supernatural kind that has such a governing body. Every. Single. One. It¡¯s


    the only


    thing that everyone has ever agreed on in totality.


    You can¡¯t go there.¡±


    ¡°We have to. It¡¯s where Ste says she will be safe,¡±


    Lanie shot back at me with her wolf zing in her eyes.


    ¡°By the Moon and the stars above, how? The Moon Goddess herself abandoned Fallen Crest. It¡¯s


    nothing


    but a wastnd, inhabited only by the dead, and if you go there¡­¡± I stabbed my finger at each one of


    them. ¡°You¡¯ll all be dead, too. You might as well simply slice off your own heads right here and now.


    Save me the heartache of wondering what has happened to you.¡±


    ¡°Mom. Don¡¯t be hysterical,¡± Xander began, but I whirled on him.


    ¡°You watch your mouth,¡± I snapped. ¡°Your father used to speak to me that way, and I didn¡¯t put up with


    it, from him. I tolerated a lot, but never that.¡±


    Zane got up from the table to take away my unused mug. He poured it into the sink. When he turned


    back


    around, his gaze was sympathetic but strong.


    ¡°Lanie¡¯s had a vision from the Moon Goddess, and Ste has confirmed that Fallen Crest is where we


    have to go. There¡¯s more than our lives at stake. If we can¡¯t get Ste safe from the High Council, the


    entire world is in jeopardy. If you take a minute to think about it!¡± he said, ¡°I know you¡¯ll be able to see


    that. Because you know them. You know what they¡¯re willing to do.¡±


    The tension in the air between all five of us popped like a balloon stuck with a pin. And, like a stuck


    balloon, I deted. I sat back at the table with my hands folded. The life I¡¯d imagined only an hour ago


    would have to be put on hold for the greater good.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d changed my life to help save the world¡­but by the Goddess, I prayed it would


    be thest.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

 Chapter 433

    Chapter 433


    Chapter 433


    Lanie


    My heart ached at the way we¡¯d had to treat Xander¡¯s mother, but there was no other way for it to


    go. We¡¯d had to dance a careful ballet of the truth interwoven with half-truths and semi-truths. Our


    choreography skirted outright lies, but just barely.


    She had to know where we were going so the High Council would follow, and she had to be


    convinced that staying was the best protection for the twins. We also had to convince her that we


    couldn¡¯t tell Mchi or anyone else.


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t let us go,¡± I told her. ¡°Not alone. And Ste was very clear. It has to be the five of us


    only. Nobody else.¡±


    Gabri had put the twins to bed while we finished quickly packing. Ste had not returned, and


    although I suspected Gabri didn¡¯t really believe she was paying homage to the Moon Goddess in


    her temple, she also didn¡¯t keep pressing us for more details. Now, Xander¡¯s mother finished


    spreading peanut butter and jelly on some bread to make sandwiches we could take with us. I


    hadn¡¯t had the heart to tell her we didn¡¯t need them.


    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t stop you from leaving before you get out the front gates, he¡¯ll figure out you¡¯ve gone


    before you make it to the portal town,¡± she said.


    Her knife moved over the bread, adding moreyers. Her hands were steady. They¡¯d been shaking


    a few minutes ago.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°We have a safe route through Standard,¡± I told her carefully. ¡°Through the maintenance tunnels.¡±


    There was no way for us to know if she was transmitting our words to the High Council through the


    scrying device. Every word we said and every item we chose to take with us had to be specific and


    purposeful. We wanted them to know where we were going, what route we were taking, and what


    time we nned to leave. Like everything else, some of what we said was true. The rest of it¡­we


    didn¡¯t even fully know.


    The Moon Goddess had convinced me to ce my trust in Ste and also my own instincts, and so


    that¡¯s what I was determined to do. It wasn¡¯t easy. I had to keep taking slow, deep breaths while at


    the same time keep my expression from giving away my anxiety to Gabri. I also had to show


    some nervousness, because there was no way I¡¯d be able to convince her that I wasn¡¯t worried at


    all.


    This dance had so many steps, and I hadn¡¯t practiced them nearly enough. I felt way too clumsy to


    be performing it. All I could do was keep stepping, even if it was over an abyss.


    ¡°How will you stop the enve¡¯s security systems from alerting your grandfather that you¡¯re


    leaving?¡± Gabri asked. She folded waxed paper around the stack of sandwiches and tucked


    them into a tote bag. She lifted it, hefting its weight, and put it on the table with augh. ¡°I haven¡¯t


    made this many PB&Js since Xander was going through puberty. He and Zane ate me out of house


    and home. My two boys.¡±


    Her voice cracked, and I went to her. I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d let me hug her, but she did. I held her


    tightly, hoping we were doing the right thing.


    Gabri extricated herself from me. She cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes. ¡°The twins will


    be safe here. I¡¯ll take care of them.¡±


    ¡°I know you will. And when wee back¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she said firmly around a tremor in her voice. ¡°Just don¡¯t, Lanie. I can¡¯t bear to hear a


    promise you can¡¯t make. Not in good conscience. epting that promise means I¡¯m letting you lie


    to me, and I can¡¯t have that.¡±


    I nodded after a moment. She was right. We both hated it, but looking into her eyes, I saw that she


    also understood it.


    ¡°Lanie,¡± Xander said from the doorway. ¡°Mom. We have to get going. Ste will be waiting.¡±


    We hadn¡¯t told his mother that Ste could speak to us through a new mind link. That was one piece


    of information we didn¡¯t want the High Council to suspect. We did, however, want them to be on


    alert that we were heading out.


    ¡°Take these,¡± Gabri said, handing him the tote.


    When he peeked inside, surprise and pleasure wreathed themselves across his face in a broad


    smile. I¡¯d never seen my Alpha smile that way before. It lifted my heart and broke it at the same


    time. It was the grin of a boy whose mother had made sure he had everything he could possibly


    want or need.


    It faded quickly, reced with a sterner expression. He hugged his mother and kissed her cheek.


    ¡°Thanks, Ma.¡±


    Mason and Zane bustled through the doorway. Each had a backpack slung over one shoulder. That


    was all we were taking with us¡ªone small bag each. ording to Ste, we would find whatever


    else we needed along the way.


    ording to Gabri, it might be all we needed for the rest of our lives.

 Chapter 434

    Chapter 434


    Chapter 434


    Zane


    The four of us moved as silently and quickly as we could along the quiet corridors of Brightsky. At


    this time of night, not many residents were around. Every time a new light cast its glow ahead of us,


    showing us the way, my heart felt like it was being stabbed.


    We hadn¡¯t even kissed the twins goodbye. They were sleeping when we left, and Lanie had thought


    it would be better not to wake them. She said we¡¯d see them again before we knew it, and I wanted


    to believe her.


    The spiders were still alive, and although their tiny lives were not the only ones we hoped to save,


    knowing they were still here reminded me over and over again of that one reason why we were


    leaving.


    Ste was waiting for us. Not in the Temple of the Moon, but deep down in the caverns that housed


    the steam baths and pearl farms. We all took the stairs to avoid running into anyone in the elevators


    who might question what was feeling more and more like an escape¡­like we were running from.


    Not running to.


    I hated all of this, but I¡¯d been shoving my emotions down so I could focus on making sure my


    Alphas and our Luna were taken care of. Mason and Xander were shifting into soldier mode, and


    that triggered me into full-on Beta. Watching their backs. Anticipating their needs, their every move.


    Over all of us, Lanie spread her Luna love and light.


    Down and down we went. By the time we got to the bottom, even the spiders¡¯ light had gone more


    dim as fewer of them guided our way. I drew in a long, deep breath of dank air as we came out into


    the stone alcove Ste had sent us directions for using our mind link.


    She waited quietly on the other side of the alcove. Her hands were linked neatly in front of her, and


    she stood perfectly still. I¡¯d been carrying the backpack Lanie had packed for her, and she took it


    from me with a soft smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Papa.¡± She slung it over her shoulders and hitched it into ce. ¡°Are we ready? We¡¯ll


    have to move quickly. You told Grammy we were leaving through the tunnels in Standard?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xander said.


    ¡°Then they¡¯ll be gathering there to stop us. We won¡¯t have much time after they realize we¡¯ve


    actually bypassed them. But they know we¡¯re heading for Fallen Crest, so I expect them to be on


    our trail within the day. Let¡¯s go.¡± Ste turned toward a small opening in the stone wall.


    We followed her, walking in single file. Ste, then Lanie, then Xander. The corridor was so narrow


    that my shoulders brushed it on each side and Xander, with his massively broad frame, almost had


    to walk sideways. Mason brought up the rear. We weren¡¯t expecting any trouble yet, but I was ready


    for it, just in case.


    We came out into arge cavern with a soaring ceiling. It reminded me a lot of the one Greyson had


    taken me flying in. That felt like a lifetime ago. This one had a set of stone steps carved into it that


    led upward, curving around a series of columns carved with oversized designs. Huge faces. Wings,


    tails. I saw wolves, too.


    Just as we got to the bottom of the stairway, Ste paused and turned to face us. ¡°I don¡¯t want you


    to worry about going up the stairs. I won¡¯t let any of you fall. I¡¯ll tether us, using the powers of the


    Oreads. Mountain nymphs.¡±


    I looked up and up. ¡°Ugh. Wolves aren¡¯t meant for heights.¡±


    Steughed gently. Iughed with her, surprised that there could be any humor around us right


    now. She took the first step. Lanie followed. When they made it up the first five or six steps, Xander


    went after them. That left me.


    It wasn¡¯t as bad as I thought it might be, even though there was no railing and the sheer drop was


    high enough that, if the tether Ste talked about failed, we¡¯d all fall to a painful, broken death.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    ¡°One step at a time, love.¡± Lanie¡¯s voice slipped into my mind through our group mind link. ¡°Keep


    moving upward and onward. We¡¯ll make it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep us safe,¡± Ste thought, her voice smooth and steady.


    When we finally got to the stop, all of us except Ste were breathing heavily. I paused to look over


    the side, feeling the pull of gravity tempting me to tumble head over heels. An answering pull kept


    me in ce, safely beyond the edge. Ste¡¯s tether.


    She was already moving on, our Luna following. It was my turn to go, but I took onest look down


    into the depths of the cavern below. Then I turned back and took those steps, one at a time. We¡¯d


    made it this far¡­But we had a lot farther to go.


    As we approached a dimly lit doorway a few feet away, Ste paused. She pitched her voice low.


    ¡°We need to move faster. They¡¯ve decided not to wait for us at the tunnel exit in Standard. They¡¯re


    coming for us now.¡±

 Chapter 435

    Chapter 435


    Chapter 435


    Mason


    I might not have ever had a pack under mymand, but that didn¡¯t make me any less of an Alpha


    than my brother. The instant Ste told us the High Council was nning to infiltrate the tunnels, the


    two us got into position, nking our pack. Zane also instantly moved into Beta mode between us.


    We might be the Alphas, but we were under themand of a Celestial. We all turned to face her.


    She was concentrating hard, her eyes narrowed and expression twisted.


    ¡°I thought there¡¯d be more time before they moved,¡± she muttered. ¡°Something has changed. Give


    me a minute to Seek.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s she talking about?¡± I thought to Lanie through our mate link.


    Our Luna shook her head, her eyes focused withser precision on our daughter. ¡°I don¡¯t know.


    Give her a minute.¡±


    ¡°What does Seek mean?¡± I thought to them all.


    Even though we were all using the mind link, it still sounded like we were all whispering.


    ¡°To Seek is to send out my mind ahead of me,¡± Ste said aloud. ¡°Like a scout. It¡¯s not telepathy. It¡¯s


    more like a projection of myself, while my body stays here. Mother, you were Seeking when the


    Goddess called you into the forest, but I can do it on purpose.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°And do it so well,¡± Lanie said aloud with a smile, proud smile. ¡°Do you need us to do anything for


    you while you Seek?¡±


    Ste shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll need a minute or two. I want to see where they are and what they¡¯re


    doing.¡±


    Her eyes went white, but hazy, like they were full of clouds. Hershes fluttered. A soft sigh puffed


    out from between her lips, and then, just like that, she was back with us.


    ¡°Can we stop them froming through the tunnels?¡± Xander asked. ¡°Keep them out of Brightsky?¡±


    She nodded, her expression grim, but her eyes alight. ¡°I can make them think they¡¯ve encountered


    a rockslide, blocking them. It won¡¯t keep them forever, but once they figure out it was fake, they¡¯ll


    understand that they were tricked. They¡¯ll retreat¡­¡±


    She paused, that white cloud going over her gaze again. Itsted only a few blinks this time. She


    focused on us.


    ¡°They¡¯ll go back to Standard and regroup. They¡¯ll figure out we¡¯re still heading to Fallen Crest.


    They¡¯ll make their way there, maybe on our trail or maybe in another fashion, but it won¡¯t matter. We


    will still get there before them.¡±


    ¡°Is that what you¡¯ve seen for certain?¡± Lanie asked.


    ¡°Everything I see is a possibility, but this is the oue I see as the end to many different choices.


    That means it¡¯s the one we should expect, unless something else drastically changes.¡± Ste


    sighed, her shoulders hunching for a moment. ¡°I have so many talents, and sometimes, they work


    against each other.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still learning,¡± Lanie told her, an arm around her shoulders and offering Ste a mother¡¯s


    comfort.


    Ste leaned against her. ¡°Thanks, Mama.¡±


    Lanie kissed her cheek. ¡°Come on, now. What¡¯s next? We¡¯re here. We¡¯ve got you.¡±


    Ste drew in a breath and straightened. Her shoulders squared. ¡°They¡¯re moving through the


    tunnels, intending to meet us where they assume they¡¯ll intercept us. I¡¯m going to send out a mirage


    just beyond it. It will look, feel, and sound like a rockfall. It will send them back out the way they


    came in. It buys us some time. Maybe an extra half a day. No more.¡±


    ¡°We better get moving then,¡± Xander said.


    Zane cleared his throat. ¡°What¡¯s the benefit in sending a mirage? Couldn¡¯t you actually copse the


    tunnels? If not on top of them, at least enough to block them for real?¡±


    ¡°Blocking the tunnels would prevent anyone in Brightsky from escaping through those tunnels. In


    the end, it would possibly be worse for them. Just in case they need a way out,¡± Ste exined,


    but hesitantly. ¡°And, I¡¯ve seen a path in which I copse the tunnels. It doesn¡¯t end with triumph for


    us. I don¡¯t know why. I can¡¯t always see the reasons.¡±


    ¡°And you don¡¯t have to,¡± Lanie assured her.


    ¡°All right. This will take a moment.¡± Ste took several steps away from us.


    She closed her eyes tight, her entire face squinching. Her fists clenched at her sides before her


    arms rose, palms up. Her fingers twitched, curling and flexing, as her hands moved. I¡¯d seen her


    make orbs before, but this time she looked more like she was working with her hands.


    ¡°She¡¯s weaving something,¡± Lanie said after a moment. ¡°Or knitting? Something like that.¡±


    ¡°Only it¡¯s not with yarn or cord,¡± Zane murmured.


    Xander shook his head in amazement. ¡°She¡¯s doing it with their minds.¡±


    The three of us looked at each other, and all of usughed incredulously. For some reason, I


    thought I¡¯d hear them screaming or something, but we hadn¡¯t yet reached the entrance to the


    tunnels. All I heard was my mates¡¯ soft chuckles and the drip of water from the cavern ceiling.


    Ste opened her eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± she said in a voice thick with a sound like gravel crunching under heavy feet. ¡°Now. We


    run.¡±

 Chapter 436

    Chapter 436


    Chapter 436


    Xander


    Wolves can run for a long time at a steady pace. Long, loping strides. Measured breathing. We¡¯re


    built for long distance travel in our wolf forms, but even in our human shapes, we¡¯re pretty good at it.


    Even so, by the time we were seven miles away from Brightsky, the frozen tundra and equally frigid


    air was taking its toll. We might have shifted into our wolves, but that would have meant leaving our


    backpacks behind, and none of us were ready to do that. We¡¯d eventually have to return to our


    human bodies, and we¡¯d be naked in the skan wilderness. Not ideal.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have to camp here for the night,¡± Mason said, looking up at the sky.


    So far, even though it felt like the middle of the night, the sun hadn¡¯t gone down. No moon had


    risen, either. I couldn¡¯t tell what time of year or day it was.


    ¡°How long have we been at Brightsky?¡± I asked Lanie as she set down her pack with a sigh.


    She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, my love. I¡¯ve lost track of everything.¡±


    ¡°Same here.¡± I pulled her close for a hug and kissed the top of her head as we watched Ste giving


    Zane and Mason orders about how to set up camp. ¡°No tents. No sleeping bags. Nothing to build a


    fire with.¡±


    ¡°Ste will take care of everything. Besides, you¡¯ve had survival training, haven¡¯t you?¡± Lanie teased


    lightly, nudging me in the side with her elbow.


    ¡°Yeah, sure. My father had us doing drills from the time I was weaned. We always had some


    preparation, though.¡±


    ¡°We have her.¡± She tipped her chin toward our daughter.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need something to use for the fire,¡± Ste told us all when Lanie and I joined the rest of the


    group. ¡°I can light it, but I can¡¯t make anything out of thin air. Any transmogrifications need to have a


    source to change from.¡±


    ¡°We packed light, the way you said. I have this.¡± Lanie offered a popsicle stick picture frame the


    twins had made her in preschool. ¡°I want to keep the photo, but I guess you can have the frame.¡±


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Ste said with a grin. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure they rece it with another one.¡±


    We watched her break the frame into small pieces. She put them on the ground and concentrated.


    The sticks grewrger, into a stack of firewood. She looked at us proudly.


    ¡°Bravo,¡± Mason said.


    ¡°Thanks, Abba.¡±


    ¡°But what about tomorrow night?¡± Zane looked around the bare tundra. ¡°Those sandwiches aren¡¯t


    going tost long. We can¡¯t keep using things we brought with us to change into what we need,


    either.¡±


    Ste hesitated, then knelt next to the pile of wood. She studied it in silence for a moment or so,


    then murmured a few words. It caught fire and was soon burning briskly. She gestured for us to


    gather around it. It was a little awkward, sitting in our bulky winter gear, but it also felt good to take a


    break.


    ¡°We aren¡¯t going to walk the entire way. That would take us forever, first of all, and also, as you


    pointed out, Papa, we aren¡¯t really prepared. I just wanted to get us as far away from Brightsky as


    we could to start.¡± Ste waved a hand over the fire, which zed to even greater light.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    It cast a dancing orange, red, and gold glow over her face. Her expression was solemn. She drew


    her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been in touch with some friends,¡± she said finally.


    Lanie sat up straight. ¡°What kind of friends? Why don¡¯t I know about them?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve never met in person. I¡¯ve only been able to connect with them through a kin link,¡± Ste


    exined. ¡°Because I¡¯m a Celestial, I could make one with them even though I¡¯m not¡­umm¡­¡±


    ¡°Ste,¡± I said sternly. ¡°I think it¡¯s time you came clean. Who are these friends, and what, exactly,


    are they supposed to do for us?¡±


    ¡°Slitherkin,¡± she said softly, almost like she was worried we would scold her.


    Zane¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°What the hell are Slitherkin?¡±


    ¡°It sounds like snakes,¡± Lanie said with a frown. ¡°Ste, please tell me that you are not talking about


    snakes.¡±


    ¡°Snow snakes,¡± she said apologetically. ¡°They¡¯re not like us. Shifters, I mean. They never take


    human form. They¡¯re more like the envian spiders than they are like people. They live deep


    beneath the permafrost. They¡¯re what created the original tunnels and caverns under Brightsky.


    Mchi chased them off in order to take over their territory so he could build the enve.¡±


    ¡°That sounds rude,¡± Lanie said, pursing her lips.


    ¡°They weren¡¯t happy about it, that¡¯s for sure. But don¡¯t worry, Mother,¡± Ste said hastily. ¡°I¡¯ve been


    in contact with them, and they¡¯re willing to help us get to Fallen Crest. Mostly willing. Okay,¡± she


    admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve had to use some strong mind power to get them to even agree toe meet us. But


    I¡¯m pretty sure they won¡¯t try to hurt us. Or kill us.¡±


    ¡°Pretty sure?¡± I demanded.


    Ste gave me a sheepish grin. ¡°¡­yes?¡±

 Chapter 437

    Chapter 437


    Chapter 437


    Zane


    Discovering that the High Council had lied to us all for decades about the existence of other


    supernaturals had been shocking. Learning that the world was also full of monsters just aboutid


    me out t. I still couldn¡¯t believe it, not even after riding on the back of a giant freaking worm miles


    underground.


    The Slitherkin weren¡¯t really worms. Not snakes, either. They were something totally unique, a hive


    mind race that grew as big as blue whales but that somehow had managed to escape the eyes of


    the world. There weren¡¯t even any rumors about them. No sightings.


    ¡°They¡¯re not Bigfoot, Papa,¡± Ste said in a low voice as I leaned against the wall of the tunnel in


    which we¡¯d be spending the night. She must have read my thoughts. Sheughed and leaned


    against me. ¡°The Slitherkin are real.¡±


    ¡°So long as they¡¯ve decided we aren¡¯t the enemy,¡± I told her. ¡°Those things have massive teeth.¡±


    ¡°Sure, to bore through rock and dirt. Not to eat wolves.¡± Sheughed again.


    She sounded tired.


    ¡°We should get some rest. You hardly slept at allst night, and I know how hard it must have been


    to wrangle those things all day.¡± I nodded toward the empty end of the tunnel. The Slitherkin that


    had helped us were gone, at least for now.


    Ste yawned, hiding her mouth behind her hand. ¡°They have so many voices, speaking all at once.


    They¡¯re easily distracted. And, they don¡¯t like being so close to the surface, so we¡¯re lucky they


    consented to taking us anywhere.¡±


    ¡°It was fast, I¡¯ll give them that.¡± Xander handed her thest half of a peanut butter sandwich.


    ¡°And safe from the High Council seeing us,¡± Lanie added.


    The High Council had no idea the Slitherkin even existed. It seemed like a sweet irony. The


    creatures that helped us were hidden from the council by its own ignorance. If only they hadn¡¯t been


    so determined to hide away and keep the real knowledge of the world hidden from us, they might


    have learned so much. Instead, they¡¯d chosen to stagnate.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Unfortunately for us, the wriggly monsters weren¡¯t able to take us all around the world. Their habit


    was rtively small, especially since they¡¯d been avoiding the enve for years. They¡¯d been able


    to get us closer to the ocean, though. We had a few miles¡¯ walk tomorrow on the surface, and then


    we¡¯d be at the water.


    From there, Ste had promised us a boat ride.


    We weren¡¯t going to build a fire in the tunnel. The smoke could easily collect against the stone walls


    and ceiling and end up suffocating us. Instead, we huddled into a group.


    ¡°At least it¡¯s warm,¡± Lanie murmured, resting her head on my shoulder. ¡°Okay, warm is an


    overstatement. It¡¯s not freezing.¡±


    I moved so I could put my arm around her, letting her rest on my chest. Xander and Mason were


    side by side with Xander next to me. They were discussing Alpha tactics in low tones. Ste leaned


    against her mother.


    ¡°Tell us what to expect, Ste.¡± Lanie¡¯s voice sounded thick and syrupy with sleepiness. She


    yawned, which triggered one from me, and one by one, from everyone else.


    Ste¡¯s was thest to finish, and she let out a small yip at the end of it that made me chuckle.


    Xander had just yawned in exactly the same way. So had Mason. It must be an inherited family trait.


    ¡°I¡¯ve booked us passage on a small private yacht,¡± Ste began.


    Lanie¡¯sugh interrupted her. ¡°Why, out of all the things I¡¯ve seen you do, is this the one I can hardly


    believe?¡±


    ¡°It was one of the hardest to manage,¡± Ste admitted. ¡°I had to manipte actual data and deal


    with human money. The only thing supernatural about it was the fact I used troll talents to hack into


    the banking system and make the reservations.¡±


    ¡°I should lecture you about breaking rules, but I¡¯m too tired. And frankly, too proud,¡± Lanie told her.


    Xander leaned around me to look at his daughter. ¡°Who¡¯s going to be sailing this yacht? I¡¯ve never


    even been on a boat.¡±


    ¡°The rentales with a captain.¡± She hesitated. ¡°He¡¯s human.¡±


    We all fell silent at that.


    ¡°He won¡¯t survive,¡± Mason said quietly.


    Ste twisted to look at him. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to make sure he does.¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t be able to get within a few miles of the ind,¡± Mason continued.


    Xander and I shared a look. So did Lanie. It was clear the three of us didn¡¯t know as much about


    Fallen Crest as Mason did. That was no surprise, since before Ste told us where we were going,


    I¡¯d never even heard of the ce.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Lanie said hesitantly. ¡°Fallen Crest is on an ind?¡±


    Ste shook her head. ¡°Fallen Crest is the ind.¡±

 Chapter 438

    Chapter 438


    Chapter 438


    Lanie


    It felt like I hadn¡¯t slept a single minute, but Zane was shaking me gently, and everyone else was on


    their feet as I blinked my eyes open. It took me a few seconds to orient myself.


    Right, we were in a tunnel bored by gigantic snow snakes thatmunicated with my daughter


    through their minds.


    Just another day for the Constantine pack.


    Zane helped me to my feet. I stood with a groan. My bones all creaked. I had to pop my neck and


    back as I put my hands on my hips, twisting side to side and hearing all my vertebrae popping.


    Run, Lily whined in my mind.


    The fact she was using actualnguage told me how desperate she was to be free. I soothed her


    the best I could, but the sh of her in my gaze was soon echoed with simr shes from my three


    mates. All of us were in need of some wolf time.


    Ste had a strange look on her face. Concerned, I put my hands on her shoulders. I turned her to


    look into my eyes.


    ¡°Ste, my little love? What¡¯s wrong?¡± It was silly to call her by the old nickname when she was


    taller than I was, but I wasn¡¯t ready to give it up yet.


    At first, she shook her head and tried to cut her gaze from mine. Firmly, I held her until she looked at


    me again. Her eyes swam with many colors and sometimes looked cloudy or foggy, but in this


    moment, her gaze was absolutely clear.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel my wolf,¡± she whispered. Her frown deepened. ¡°I can touch every talent, skill or trait that


    exists, so why can¡¯t I feel my wolf?¡±


    Without a real camp, no fire, no food, no way even to wash up, we didn¡¯t have much to do to get


    moving. What I did have to do was be there for my daughter when she needed me. I took Ste¡¯s


    hand and drew her quietly a bit farther down the tunnel, away from the section where her fathers


    were chatting.


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t have one?¡± Ste fretted.


    I hugged her. ¡°You¡¯re the daughter of wolves. Your wolf is inside you. She might simply be shy.¡±


    Ste pulled away with a frown. ¡°Does that happen to people a lot? They get shy wolves who don¡¯t


    make themselves known?¡±


    ¡°You grew up very fast,¡± I reminded her. ¡°Your wolf might not have had the time to grow up as fast


    as you did. You have the ability to pull from any of your multiple traits. Maybe some of them are


    hiding your wolf for some reason.¡±


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    She pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll never reveal herself to me.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t sure exactly what to say. Knowing a Celestial could use any power or talent that existed still


    didn¡¯t quite exin to me how it worked. What it meant. And I had no idea why it would mean


    Ste¡¯s wolf wouldn¡¯t have shown itself to her already.


    ¡°Can you shift into other forms? A dragon, for example?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°Not here,¡± she said, looking around the tunnel.


    Iughed softly and pulled her against my side. ¡°Of course, you shouldn¡¯t do it here. But could you,


    outside, if you wanted to?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I haven¡¯t done it, but I think I could. But¡­Mother, it¡¯s not the same. I¡¯m not a dragon shifter,


    even if I could take the form of a dragon. I don¡¯t have a dragon inside me. Not the way I should have


    a wolf.¡±


    She sighed and scrubbed at her face with both hands. ¡°I wish there was someone who could help


    me figure out how all of this is meant to work.¡±


    I checked my three mates to see if they were looking for us, but all of the men were still talking. I


    turned back to my daughter. ¡°When all of this is over, we¡¯ll find someone. Something. Whatever it


    takes, okay? I promise you.¡±


    ¡°It will be over soon.¡± Ste¡¯s voice rasped and scratched. Her gaze went far away and cloudy, then


    cleared abruptly. She focused on me. ¡°We should get moving. The yacht is docked and waiting for


    us. We have to make it through the human town to get to it.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d better get moving, then.¡± I paused, holding her for a moment longer. My heart ached at the


    sadness I saw battling with other emotions on my daughter¡¯s expression. She was doing her best to


    project confidence, but I saw the truth.


    Celestial or no, my Ste was hurting.


    ¡°I mean it, little star. I¡¯m here to help you carry whatever burdens weigh you down. We will get


    through this together.¡±


    Both of us cried a little bit, clinging to each other. I pressed my cheek to hers. Then I wiped away


    her tears and gave her a firm look.


    ¡°One step forward. Then the next,¡± I reminded her.


    She nodded. ¡°I know. But¡­it¡¯s hard, Mother. Being the only one. I might not be alone, but I am


    lonely.¡±


    ¡°Are you two ready?¡± Xander called from behind us, making us both turn.


    She looked past me toward her father. ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    And then, although I wanted to hug her again, Ste marched away from me.

 Chapter 439

    Chapter 439


    Chapter 439


    Xander


    We moved through the human town, all of us tense and alert, but nobody there gave us any trouble.


    The port town attracted a lot of tourists, so even a small pack of supernaturals didn¡¯t seem out of


    ce. None of us even turned a head as we stopped in a cafe to pick up some breakfast.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to eat the table. Isn¡¯t there some kind of magic Ste can cast to stop us from being


    hungry?¡± I growled under my breath to Lanie as she and I waited to pick up our order.


    ¡°She could feed us, but it would only be an illusion. Better to wait for real food, love.¡±


    Lanieughed, but her voice sounded a little strained. Her eyes kept finding our daughter, who was


    waiting to the side with her other fathers. I could see the worry etching lines in Lanie¡¯s face, and I


    wanted to ask her what she and Ste had talked about earlier. It would have to wait until we were


    alone.


    The server showed up with our paper bags of food. Ste stepped up and mimed swiping a credit


    card through the machine at the cash register. Even though I¡¯d seen her doing amazing things, I


    was still not sure this was going to work¡­until it did.


    ¡°Wow,¡± the server said, blinking. Her grin spread across her entire face. ¡°Thanks for the tip.¡±


    We bustled out of there with our food, all of us eagerly tearing open the foil around our breakfast


    burritos and gobbling while we walked toward the docks where we¡¯d board the yacht.


    ¡°Human towns smell¡­different,¡± Ste said, wrinkling her nose. She¡¯d only nibbled at her burrito.


    I scented the air, letting my wolf rise a bit. ¡°I smell grease and breakfast meat. And coffee. And


    yeah. Humans. The smell kind of stale, like they could use a good, hard, run. How are we doing on


    time?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be there on time,¡± she said, barely pausing even though her vision went that weird cloudy


    gray that looked like it should make it hard for her to see where she was going.


    I took thest bite of my burrito and crumpled the foil to toss into a nearby garbage can. I could see


    the water ahead of us.


    Ste handed me her burrito. ¡°I don¡¯t want this. Will you eat it?¡±


    ¡°You need to eat something,¡± I scolded her, but didn¡¯t push it. I took the burrito and bit into it.


    Ahead of us, Lanie walked between Zane and Mason. Ste had assured us the human town


    offered us no dangers, but we weren¡¯t taking any chances. We wanted to get through here as fast


    as we could without attracting attention.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°Anything from the High Council?¡± I kept my voice pitched low.


    Ste nodded. ¡°They figured out the tunnel block was an illusion. They¡¯ve taken some time to mount


    their forces. They¡¯re calling in everyone who wasn¡¯t with them already. It will take them some time to


    catch up to us.¡±


    ¡°But they will,¡± I said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be at Fallen Crest with time to prepare for them. But, Daddy¡­we will have to fight.¡±


    ¡°I know that, sweetheart.¡± I finished thest of the burrito and tossed the garbage in another nearby


    can. We¡¯d reached the edge of town. The sidewalk led beyond the row of shops and restaurants


    toward the docks.


    She looked at me. ¡°There will be so many of them.¡±


    Leaving Lanie, Zane, and Mason to keep walking ahead of us, I stopped and tugged Ste¡¯s sleeve


    to make her pause. ¡°Are you seeing something bad? Something you should tell us?¡±


    She hesitated. ¡°There are so many branches, Daddy. And we don¡¯t win at the end of every one of


    them. I¡¯m doing my best to keep us on the paths that lead to our victory, but¡­everything we do


    could change the future. I mean, everything and anything.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t really sure I understood what that meant. I didn¡¯t have visions. I¡¯d never been touched by


    the Moon Goddess in that way. For me, reality was what I could touch. Punch. Kick. What I could


    fight with my fists, not with my mind.


    ¡°Look. There¡¯s the yacht.¡± Ste pointed. I was happy to see the grin spread across her cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s


    called The Eclipse. That¡¯s why I booked this one. It was the only one that had a moon name.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± I said, but my enthusiasm didn¡¯t match hers.


    I watched her as she ran up ahead to push herself between Zane and Lanie, so she could link arms


    with her mother. They bent their heads together,ughing as Ste pointed out the yacht. I could


    hear her telling Lanie about the name, too.


    I wasn¡¯t as excited. It might have been the only boat that had a moon name, but that didn¡¯t seem to


    me like the good omen my daughter obviously thought it was.


    After all, an eclipse is when one celestial body blocks the light of another one and makes it go dark.

 Chapter 440

    Chapter 440


    Chapter 440


    Gabri


    My son and his mates, along with Ste, had left two days ago, and I could no longer hide their


    absence from Mchi. The Ancient vampire finally showed up at the door to our quarters, and he¡¯d


    brought Braden with him.


    ¡°They¡¯re not here,¡± I said.


    Mchi scowled. ¡°I know that. I came to make you tell me where they went. I can¡¯t have my


    granddaughter floating around out there, unsafe and unprotected.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s hardly unprotected, Mchi. She¡¯s with her mates and her daughter. I shouldn¡¯t have to


    remind you what Ste is capable of.¡±


    In seconds, faster than I could blink or take a breath, he¡¯d crossed the room to grab me. His fangs


    descended as he bent me back, aiming for my throat. My wolf was on the surface in an instant,


    snarling.


    ¡°Mchi!¡± Braden snapped. ¡°Back the fuck off of her.¡±


    We were seconds away from going to battle.


    ¡°The children,¡± Braden reminded us. ¡°Both of you. Stand down.¡±


    I was caught in Mchi¡¯s grip of Ancient vampire strength. His fangs, scant inches from my throat. It


    would take so little for him to tear out my jugr vein. I¡¯d bleed out in moments.


    ¡°The children,¡± I told him as I forced my wolf to retreat.


    With a snarl that sounded almost wolflike, Mchi let me go and turned his back on me. He moved


    like a sh, back and forth, beforeing to a halt. His eyes shone crimson.


    ¡°You are more of a fool than I ever thought you could be,¡± he said. ¡°Do you know your son is


    certainly on his way to certain death?¡±


    I lifted my chin. ¡°My son is an adult, and an Alpha. He is doing what he feels is right to protect his


    family. I¡¯m here to do the same for my grandpups.¡±


    ¡°Where did they go? Don¡¯t make me rip it out of your mind, Gabri. It will leave you worse off than


    you already are.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?"


    ¡°Never mind,¡± Braden said, stepping between us. ¡°Where did they go?¡±


    ¡°Fallen Crest,¡± I said.


    Mchi staggered back. Actually staggered, like I¡¯d hit him. I wish I had.


    ¡°The one ce you can¡¯t go,¡± I told him with a thin grin.


    Not because it was forbidden. Somehow, I doubted Mchi would honor any injunction, even if he¡¯d


    made it himself. Mchi could not go to Fallen Crest, because the residents of the dead city would


    be desperate to consume his vampire energy as one of the few ways they could experience what it


    felt like to be alive again. Even an Ancient wouldn¡¯t be able to stand against them.


    Without a word, Mchi spun away out of the room. Braden paused in the doorway. ¡°Sorry about


    that. I¡¯ll see if I can talk some sense into him.¡±


    Then he left, too. I followed, scanning the hallway. But then, something stopped me from looking at


    anything.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    I couldn¡¯t see.


    Nothing, not even darkness. I blinked and blinked, but I couldn¡¯t clear my vision. I could hear the


    twins babbling to themselves in their room, so I held back my cry of rm.


    ¡°I won¡¯t show you,¡± I muttered, not sure where the words wereing from. ¡°I won¡¯t. Show. I won¡¯t


    show you.¡±


    A sharp pain stabbed me between the eyes, hard enough to force a yelp out of me. I mped my


    lips closed against another rising moan. I didn¡¯t want the pups to hear me. They would worry. They


    were my responsibility. I had to protect them.


    I fumbled with my pocket, feeling for my phone. This time, my soft cry was of relief as I found it and


    pulled it out. I couldn¡¯t see the screen to dial the number, but I was able to swipe it. I heard a click


    as the facial recognition kicked in.


    ¡°Call Dr. Alonius,¡± I ordered it, praying the voice recognition would also work.


    Hot tears sprang from my eyes at the sound of the phone ringing. Then, the brisk male tones in a


    voice I shouldn¡¯t find so familiar yet somehow, did. Like I¡¯d known him my entire life and any lives I¡¯d


    lived before this one. Maybe all the ones I¡¯d have when this one ended.


    I heard my own voice describing the problems in shaky, broken tones. I was barely finished when he


    broke in to interrupt.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there right away.¡±


    And he was. Not ten minutes passed before the knock came at the door. I¡¯d been standing frozen,


    scared to move in case I stumbled into something and hurt myself or alerted the twins to my


    problem.


    ¡°Come in!¡± I called, hoping it was him and not Mchi or someone else.


    ¡°Gabri.¡± The doctor¡¯s warm tones greeted me only moments before his hand rested on my


    shoulder. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    I fumbled the words, keeping my voice low. Not really sure what to say.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong,¡± I said.


    I felt myself enfolded in a strong, warm embrace. Instantfort flooded me. I wasn¡¯t sure if my


    eyes were open or closed as I pressed my face against a strong, broad chest.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m here. You¡¯re safe with me.¡±

 Chapter 441

    Chapter 441


    Chapter 441


    Mason


    Under any other circumstances, being on this luxury yacht would¡¯ve been the vacation of a lifetime.


    The skipper, Captain Jon, greeted us with sses of champagne and exined apologetically that


    he¡¯d be the only crew on board for this trip. He said the words with a hint of confusion in his voice,


    like he didn¡¯t quite understand what he was saying.


    He showed us belowdecks to the small but fancy cabins. None were big enough for all four of us,


    but we¡¯d have to deal. This trip was only about luxury on the surface. We all had other things on our


    minds rather than who got to cuddle up with who.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    The tour included a peek into the galley, a small dining room, and then abovedecks to take a look at


    the wheelhouse. Captain Jon briefly demonstrated the helm and all the equipment.


    ¡°How is she in storms?¡± Xander asked. He sounded a little nervous.


    I couldn¡¯t me him. I was, too. Even the minor rocking of the boat at anchor was enough to get my


    heart racing. Out of all of us, only Ste and the captain didn¡¯t seem at all worried.


    Jon grinned. ¡°She¡¯ll weather storms just fine. Why? Are you expecting some?¡±


    ¡°I guess I should ask you that question,¡± Xander said.


    The captain¡¯s gaze turned a little foggy. ¡°No. No storms.¡±


    I looked off to the horizon and the dark clouds there. ¡°You sure about that?¡±


    ¡°We have to go, no matter how bad the weather gets. I¡¯m making him see only sunny skies. Don¡¯t


    poke him, Abba,¡± Ste scolded through our family link.


    It turned out that Ste was doing more than making Captain Jon see only sunny skies. She was


    making him believe he could crew this yacht all by himself, a feat that was only possible because


    we were not the usual crew of rich tourists demanding gourmet meals and turn-down service.


    ¡°But¡­he really can sail the ship. Right?¡± Xander asked when we were all gathered on the back


    deck, watching thend recede into the distance.


    Ste shaded her eyes for a moment before taking a seat in a padded deck chair attached to the


    deck with a chain. There was a bit of exasperation in her tone, but also fondness. ¡°Yes, Daddy.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t want there to be more people involved than have to be,¡± Lanie told him.


    Xander frowned and stared out over the water. ¡°How long will it take us to get there?¡±


    I could tell he was hating how little control he had over any of this. I felt that, too. We were supposed


    to be the ones leading, and all we¡¯d been doing since we left Brightsky was following. Blindly, at


    that.


    The yacht hit a wave, and we all grabbed for the closest solid thing to hold onto. I gripped a small


    cafe table bolted to the deck. Zane fell backward into another deck chair. Lanie and Xander grabbed


    the railings.


    Above us, the sky got darker.


    The storms held off, though, until night. Captain Jon had powered us miles out to sea, then


    prepared an easy dinner for us and served it in the dining room. As he filled his te, he dropped a


    steak knife. Itnded point-down, stuck in the floor.


    ¡°Oops,¡± he said. ¡°Clumsy. I¡¯ll take my te to the wheelhouse. Leave you folks to your meal.¡±


    Ste watched him go. She wasn¡¯t eating anything. She rubbed at her head, her eyes squinting.


    Finally, I called her out on it.


    ¡°I¡¯m keeping him on course, that¡¯s all,¡± she said. ¡°Suppressing his concerns about the weather and


    our destination. He thinks we¡¯re just taking a leisurely cruise along the skan coastline. But in


    order to keep him thinking that, I have to concentrate.¡±


    ¡°And use energy,¡± Lanie said firmly. ¡°Which means, youngdy, that you need to eat something.


    Come on. Fuel yourself.¡±


    Ste rolled her eyes, and this small expression of annoyance with her mother lifted my spirits.


    Things couldn¡¯t be too bad if our daughter was rebelling against her mom in such a normal way.


    Lanie went to the sideboard and piled a te with rich-looking desserts. ¡°You don¡¯t even have to eat


    your veggies. Have some sugar.¡±


    Steughed, her eyes aglow as she looked around the table at all of us. She reached to take


    Xander¡¯s hand, since he was the closest to her. Then she stretched to take mine too.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re all doing your best to look out for me. I love you,¡± she said.


    ¡°We love you, too,¡± Zane replied.


    After a few bites, Ste got some color back in her cheeks. Sheid out the ns for us heading to


    the ind and what to expect after. She told us several times that anything could change at any


    time, based on what the High Council decided to do or how other choices led to different oues.


    No matter what happened, we were looking at a battle. First, against the undead or living dead or


    spirit dead or whatever the hell upied Fallen Crest. And of course, the High Council themselves.


    ¡°It¡¯s Grammy!¡± Ste gasped in the middle of her sentence. ¡°The High Council¡¯s scrying tool has


    been destroyed! Her third eye is closed!¡±

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    Chapter 442


    Chapter 442


    Zane


    At Ste¡¯s words, Xander was instantly on his feet. Ste took his hand again. She tugged it gently


    to get him to look at her.


    ¡°Daddy, she¡¯s fine. She¡¯s got a man with her.¡±


    Xander scowled. ¡°What man?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a doctor.¡± Ste tilted her head, her gaze going far away. ¡°He¡¯s an eye doctor. She was


    sensing that something was using her vision, and she stopped it by shutting her own eyes down.


    He¡¯s helping her. She¡¯ll be fine. The twins are fine, too.¡±


    ¡°And the High Council? What are they doing?¡± Xander demanded.


    ¡°They already knew we¡¯re gone and where we¡¯re going. They¡­¡± She paused. ¡°When she refused to


    let them see through her third eye any more, they destroyed the scrying device, hoping it would kill


    her. But it didn¡¯t! She¡¯s free!¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t they be attacking Brightsky, then?¡± Mason interjected.


    Steughed, bubbling with joy. ¡°No! They don¡¯t care now! They¡¯re so focused on us, they¡¯re all


    coming. Everyst one of them is set on destroying us!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re cutting off their noses to spite their own faces,¡± Lanie said.


    ¡°They have no choice but to do their best to annihte us,¡± Ste said. ¡°Not after they¡¯ve spent so


    much time working everyone into a frenzy about vampires taking over and hybrids being at the root


    of the wars. All of their lies need to be supported, or they¡¯ll find themselves destroyed.¡±


    Brightsky¡¯s safety was good news, but I couldn¡¯t get too jazzed about us being the sole targets.


    Nothing had changed except the number of people on our trail, but it still felt worrisome.


    Lanie had fallen asleep, and I didn¡¯t want to disturb her. Xander and Mason were silently ying a


    game of cards that neither seemed interested in winning. My Beta senses told me I¡¯d done all I


    could for them so I decided to take myself up on deck.


    I spotted Ste at the back of the boat, sitting on the small lower deck used for swimming. For now,


    the sea was calm enough that she was in no danger¡­well, other than the danger we were already


    in.


    ¡°How close will he be able to get us to the ind?¡± I asked her as I approached.


    She jumped at the sound of my voice and let out a gasp. ¡°Oh! Papa! You scared me!¡±


    It seemed strange that I¡¯d been able to startle her. Maybe she wasn¡¯t so all-seeing and all-knowing


    as I¡¯d thought. Or, more likely, she had so much on her mind that she hadn¡¯t been paying attention


    to me.


    ¡°Sorry. I wasn¡¯t trying to sneak up on you.¡±


    I sat down next to her, our legs dangling over the back of the yacht¡¯s swim deck. The water was cold


    on my bare feet. I imagined somethinging up from the depths to nibble my toes. If I was lucky,


    a nibble was all I¡¯d get.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    ¡°I was Seeking,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re close to the ind. We¡¯ll get there tomorrow.¡±


    She leaned against my shoulder but said nothing for a few minutes. The water pped at the sides


    of the yacht. It stretched out beyond us into a vast ckness even the light of the stars could not


    cut.


    ¡°When the sun rises, I¡¯ll know more,¡± she said. ¡°Fallen Crest is hidden by a fog that stretches for


    miles, all around it. So long as we stay just outside that barrier, I think our captain will be okay.¡±


    Something in her tone sounded off. I didn¡¯t think she was lying to me, but I did suspect there was


    something she wasn¡¯t telling me. I gave her another minute to decide if she was going to or not.


    ¡°Papa,¡± she said quietly, then stopped.


    ¡°Yes? What is it? You can tell me.¡±


    She hitched in a trembling sigh and pressed her face to my shoulder. Her hand sought mine and


    took it. I linked our fingers, squeezing, and brought her knuckles up for a kiss.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± I urged her. ¡°We can help.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve made some bad choices. Choices that can bring harm to people. But I have no


    choice. At dinner¡­¡± She drew in another shaky breath. ¡°The captain dropped his knife. Itnded


    point down. Stuck in the floor.¡±


    ¡°I remember.¡± I¡¯d wondered at the odds of that happening.


    ¡°He was meant to have it stab his foot,¡± she said. ¡°So he couldn¡¯t stand. It would take him longer to


    move around the wheelhouse. And he¡¯d be fine. We¡¯d get to the ind, and he¡¯d leave. He¡¯d


    survive.¡±


    A cold fist squeezed my heart. ¡°But the knife missed his foot.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    I thought of what she¡¯d told us. How every small action or inaction affected the future¡¯s course. How


    every path branched a myriad of times, and not all branches led to the same conclusion.


    ¡°What happens now that he¡¯s not injured?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°He dies before we get to the ind.¡±

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    Xander


    All of us had found spaces to sleep in the tiny cabins belowdecks. We had all wanted to be together,


    but there was no bed big enough for the four of us. Also, Ste had told us that she¡¯d seen us


    sleeping in our own beds, and so we had agreed.


    Exhaustion imed me right away, but my sleep was fitful. I tossed and turned until finally, I sat


    straight up in bed and grazed the ceiling with my head. For a second, I didn¡¯t know where I was.


    I wasn¡¯t tossing and turning. The yacht was. Without any windows in the cabin, the room was pitch


    ck, but I felt the boat rolling from side to side. I put out a hand to feel for the wall, suddenly afraid


    I was not in a boat, on the sea, but in space, floating without protection. Maybe dreaming. Maybe


    transported to some far off ce I¡¯d never heard of.


    The second my fingers brushed the wall, I felt solid, anchored, and myself again. I shook off the


    fears trying to consume me and fumbled for the light switch. The lights wouldn¡¯t turn on, even


    though I flicked it several times.


    My wolf took over.


    He didn¡¯t take my body, just my vision and instincts so I could make my way to the door and the


    hallway beyond. It was dark there, too, but a faint strip of emergency lighting led me to the stairs so


    I could get up on deck. Zane and Mason were right behind me. Lanie had beat us there. I couldn¡¯t


    see Ste.


    ¡°She¡¯s up there!¡± Lanie pointed. She had to shout over the sound of theshing winds pushing


    waves up and over the deck.


    The sky was light overhead, but not from the sun or the moon. An eerie green glow crackled with


    electricity and showed off rolling clouds of billowing fog.


    ¡°That is not normal,¡± Zane thought-shouted to me.


    The fog made a wall. It was hard to see if it was solid, as in if the yacht would crash into it or go


    through it, but it was definitely not moving the way fog was supposed to. The wall stretched from the


    roiling ocean all the way up to the skies and beyond.


    As we all gathered on the foredeck in front of the wheelhouse, I turned to look up into the windows


    for any sight of the captain. His silhouette lit up in another sh of lightning. He looked scared out of


    his mind. His eyes were wide. His mouth, gaping open in a scream I couldn¡¯t hear over the rush and


    roar of the storm.


    All of a sudden, his gaze locked onto mine. He disappeared from view. Momentster, he was on


    the deck, plunging toward us. He slid on the slick wood and fell to one knee. He struggled to get up,


    but the yacht was riding a tall wave that pitched us up at an angle so sharp he couldn¡¯t get his


    footing.


    Zane lost his bnce and slid down the deck to collide with arge boxbeled with emergency


    gear. Mason managed to grab onto the railing and stop himself from falling, and he reached out to


    grab Lanie and hold her close to stop her, too.


    I staggered back, arms pinwheeling, as the yacht¡¯s position shifted and then sent me forward again.


    The captain grabbed at my arm and hauled himself upright. His eyes zed with fear.


    ¡°What is this? What is happening?¡± His lips shaped the words, but I could still only barely hear him.


    If he wasn¡¯t at the helm, were we going to crash? I didn¡¯t know shit about how boats worked. The


    captain grappled with me, clutching at the front of my shirt. He was still shouting, but I couldn¡¯t


    understand him. I felt his terror, all right. Sour and stinking even over the electrical scent of the


    storm.


    Ste appeared like she¡¯d been there all along and we simply hadn¡¯t seen her. Maybe she¡¯d been


    invisible. Maybe we were all hallucinating.


    Maybe we were all going to die.


    The yacht bore down on the wall of fog at top speed. Every second it seemed like we¡¯d burst


    through it, but it remained the same distance away. And then, a hand curled out of the fog. It was


    made of the fog itself. Long-taloned fingers wed.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    It grabbed the captain and lifted him into the air, squeezing as his arms and legs iled. He was


    shrieking. The phantom fist crushed him and began to draw him into the wall of mist.


    Ste held up both her hands, then mmed them down. The giant hand dropped the captain into a


    boneless heap on the deck. I could tell by the way hended that he was already dead.


    The hand disappeared. Was that a scream? An endless, ageless howl of rage? Or was it the storm,


    still rising?


    Ste worked her hands again, moving them. The captain got to his feet. He lurched toward the


    wheelhouse.


    He was dead, all right, but Ste was moving him. The rest of us fought to keep our feet as the


    captain reappeared in the wheelhouse windows. Ste turned and jumped up on the front of the


    boat, holding onto the railing as though she meant to go over.

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    Lanie


    On deck, I clung to the railing with every bit of strength I had or could steal from my wolf. The yacht


    pitched as each wave took us higher Than the one before it. Up, up, up, and then down, we¡¯d


    plunge into the well left behind by each crest.


    I thought I might be screaming, but I couldn¡¯t hear my own voice above the sound of the storm. Rain


    shed at my face, cutting into my cheeks and forcing me to close my eyes. My feet slid out from


    under me.


    With determination, I redoubled my efforts to get to my daughter. Hand over hand, I hauled myself


    along that railing, getting closer an inch at a time to where Ste stood at the front of the yacht. I


    could hear my mates shouting through our mind link, but their voices sounded so far away I couldn¡¯t


    understand what they were saying. I knew they would be fighting to get to her the same way I was,


    though.


    This yacht might sink, but we¡¯d swim, if we had to.


    I couldn¡¯t Seek the way Ste could. I had to open my eyes despite the cold, icy shes of rain. I


    squinted against the harsh pellets of hail now pelting me. They bounced off the deck and made it


    even more slippery than it had been before. My feet tried to go out from under me again. My hands


    slipped off the railing. I went to my hands and knees on the slick wood. The boat rocked, up and


    down, worse than a roller coaster.


    ¡°I will crawl to you, if that¡¯s what it takes,¡± I sent to my daughter, not knowing if she could hear me.


    Praying to the Moon Goddess and to whatever deity would listen that the sound of my voice would


    reach Ste. That she knew her mother wasing for her.


    My nails duck into the wooden deck, swollen with saltwater. The boat pitched, and I fell forward,


    hitting my face against the deck. Pain red, but I fought it. My wolf didn¡¯t try to fight for control,


    understanding that this was not a battle she could win. She sent me her strength, though. Her wolf¡¯s


    stamina. Without it, my exhaustion would have sent me into unconsciousness.


    I forced my head up. I could see my daughter¡¯s dark shape, still at the front of the boat. I thanked


    the Goddess that Ste hadn¡¯t been swept overboard. Even as I watched in horror, another


    immense wave rose up like some great beast and swept over her. I held my own breath as the


    water cascaded toward me. It buffeted me against the deck, mming me against the side of the


    cabin where the captain sat to navigate. As the wave receded, I was pulled toward the back of the


    yacht again. The water sucked at me like a greedy mouth trying to draw me into a monstrous gullet.


    It was alive, I thought. The water. Alive. Hating and hungry.


    I mmed into the back of the boat, no longer even trying to remember the nautical terms. My hip


    and back screamed with excruciating pain as I hit the table secured to the deck and bounced off it.


    ckness tickled the edges of my vision, trying to get me to sumb to it. To sleep. Sleep would


    take away the pain, and the water could swallow me whole¡­


    ¡°No!¡± The shriek erupted from my throat. Tearing. I tasted blood.


    As the boat tipped forward again, I pushed off with my knees. The timing was just right. Luck or


    skill? It didn¡¯t matter. I was on my feet, the soles of my boots gripping as my toes pressed against


    the deck¡¯s sharply nted angle. It was like running uphill, but I put everything I had into it.


    The rain hadn¡¯t eased, but I was able to see Xander¡¯s massive shape on the other side of the cabin.


    I didn¡¯t see Zane or Mason, but they¡¯d be close by. All of us were fighting to get to the front of the


    yacht.


    The boat mmed nose-down into the emptiness left behind by another greedy wave. Now it was


    like I was facing downhill. I plummeted forward, skidding past the cabin. I managed to stop myself


    by grabbing the railing again.


    I could see through the cabin window. The captain stood at the wheel. His face bore no expression.


    His mouth hung open. Nothing held him in ce¡­nothing but the force of Ste¡¯s will.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    I knew nothing about how to steer a yacht, especially not through seas like this. This dead man,


    puppeteered by my daughter, would have to get us safely to shore. As the boat mmed through


    another wave, I managed to get beyond the cabin to the empty deck beyond. I tore open the locker


    holding the life jackets and pulled one over my head. I kept the other held tight in my grip as I fell


    onto my knees again.


    I crawled toward Ste.


    Another wave crashed over us, and for a moment when it passed, I thought she was gone. Then my


    vision cleared. She was still there. Not safe, but still alive.


    And then, she began to sing.

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    Lanie


    The waves did not calm, and the storm did not cease. The wall of fog in front of us had looked like it


    was getting farther away, but now it stayed in ce¡­and we got closer. We were heading right for


    it. We were going to collide, and yet I wasn¡¯t afraid.


    With every note my daughter sang, the fog shifted and changed in time with her melody. It was like


    no song I¡¯d ever heard, and her voice was also not quite her own. She sang with a thousand voices,


    all at once, none I¡¯d heard before. And yet, I would¡¯ve known the sound of her singing anywhere. In


    any time, in any life.


    The Moon Goddess had told me to TRUST. That was all I could do. Everything I must do.


    I joined her. My mouth opened and filled with the shing salt of rain and waves, but a song came


    out of me that could not be drowned, no matter how fiercely the water tried. It joined with Ste¡¯s,


    the melody rising and falling as I harmonized. There were words, in a thousand or morenguages I


    didn¡¯t know and would never learn.


    The song filled the air and blocked out the sound of the storm. As we sang, the fog began to thin. I


    could see the edges of what looked likend. For a second, my voice faltered.


    The fog wall mmed back into being totally opaque. The yacht veered along it instead of going


    through. I fell onto the deck, hitting it with my face. My mouth filled with blood, but I spit it out, over


    and over, until I could sing again.


    My first notes were low and soft and broken, but I let my heart lead. Soon, the song flowed out of


    me again with a force greater even than the storm. Lightning shed and struck the deck inchesContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    from my face. The burning smell of electricity crackled through my nose, but the strike didn¡¯t even


    leave behind a mark on the wood.


    Strong hands yanked me up to my feet. Xander and Mason held me up between them. Their


    mouths moved with words I couldn¡¯t hear over the sound of the song I shared with our daughter.


    They were shouting encouragement at me.


    Zane joined them, all three of my mates supporting me and keeping me from flying backward as the


    yacht rose and fell. It hit the water with the force of a boulder hitting concrete. My teeth mmed


    together, and my scream of pain mingled with the sounds of our song.


    Their love surrounded me with an almost physical force. It was as much a wall as that fog had been,


    but it didn¡¯t hide or obscure anything. The love of my mates made everything stronger. More clear.


    The four of us turned to face our daughter, still at the front of the boat. The wind and rain had


    drenched everyone else, but she looked as though not even a drop had touched her. Her hair flew


    around her, individual strands lighting and shing with each simr sh of lightning. When the


    thunder rumbled and the hail battered us, her song got louder.


    My mates helped me forward. I didn¡¯t try to stand next to her, but instead kept my ce behind her.


    Ready to catch her, if she fell.


    Ste didn¡¯t fall. She faced forward, and the prow of the yacht parted the water as smoothly as a hot


    knife through butter. Then, it nosed the wall of fog. It split it like a curtain, or a bride¡¯s veil being


    lifted.


    A single fist had crushed the life out of our captain. Now a multitude of hands formed out of the mist.


    Fists, and clenching, clutching talons. Hands the size of berries and some bigger than the entire


    yacht. They all reached for us as we slipped through what had been a solid wall. Hands at the ends


    of long, snaking arms, attached to nothing.


    They yanked at our clothes and hair and tried to grip our arms, legs, any part they could reach. Tiny


    hands tried to slip inside our mouths and nostrils, into our ears. They tried to poke our eyes. Bigger


    hands tore at the yacht¡¯s rigging. ws dug into the wooden deck.


    A piece of the railing flew away, clutched in a phantom hand. The wheelhouse windows shattered


    under the pounding of a hundred ghostly fists. Deck furniture flew past us to shatter on the water


    when the foggy hands dropped the pieces, like once they discovered the chairs and tables weren¡¯t


    alive, they didn¡¯t want them anymore.


    The yacht lurched with a horrible scraping noise as we hit the shallow water. Me and my three


    mates fell onto our knees as the boat went ashore. Ste copsed and fell off the deck and onto


    the sand.


    Both of us had stopped singing. I was already forgetting the tune. The words. Only the soreness in


    my throat remained.


    My mates helped me off the boat and onto the beach. I ran for our daughter and gathered her into


    my arms. I rocked her, desperate to make sure she was alive.


    Ste turned her exhausted face toward us.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± she said in a voice as dusty as an attic. ¡°Wee to Fallen Crest. The ind of the


    dead.¡±

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    Zane


    As soon as the boatnded, the fog wall went back up. I could see it behind us, but I couldn¡¯t figure


    out the distance. It looked like it was inches away, and also miles at the same time.


    The five of us stood on a narrow beach scattered with shells. They were all bone-white and worn.


    Here and there, I thought I caught a nce of what looked like skeletal remains also sticking out of


    the sand, but it was impossible to tell what kind of bones they were.


    ¡°It¡¯s quiet,¡± Mason said. ¡°Too fucking quiet.¡±


    Even the sound of the waves crashing was dim and far away, like a radio with the volume turned


    down way too low. I went to the water¡¯s edge and dipped my fingers in it, thinking of how hungry the


    water had felt on the boat. Now it was thend behind us that seemed like it was ready to eat us.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    ¡°We need to find shelter,¡± Xander said. ¡°Ste needs to warm up. To rest. We need food.¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Daddy, we won¡¯t find anything like that here. We need to get into the trees


    before the High Council gets here, but¡­we aren¡¯t going to find anything here that will help keep us


    alive.¡±


    ¡°Ind of the Dead,¡± Lanie said softly. She shaded her eyes to look into the trees that lined the


    sandy shore. ¡°Those trees aren¡¯t even alive.¡±


    ¡°Nothing here can stay living for very long. The dead here, they¡­want us. They need us. We have


    to stay vignt. Strong.¡± Ste drew in a long, deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m holding them off for now. I¡¯ve got a


    bubble of protection around us.¡±


    ¡°How long can you keep that up?¡± Xander asked.


    ¡°Long enough.¡±


    Lanie pulled Ste close to her side. ¡°When the High Council gets here, will they be able to reach


    the ind? They¡¯ll be able to get through the fog?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes. They¡¯re all so angry, it fills them with¡­¡± Ste gestured. ¡°Think of a juicy steak. Of how


    your mouth waters just thinking of it. That¡¯s how the residents here feel and think about grand


    emotions. Love, hate, fear, anger. None of them can feel anything for themselves anymore. They


    lost the ability so long ago, all they can do is remember how being alive felt.¡±


    I moved to the edge of the sand. The trees reached leafless branches toward a dull sky, bright


    enough to see by but without even a hint of sun, moon, or stars. The fog had made this ce a


    tomb.


    That seemed fitting.


    ¡°How long do we have?¡± I asked Ste.


    She shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t tell. The council members are fighting amongst themselves at every


    turn. The only thing they have inmon is their desire to see us all dead.¡±


    ***


    Lanie


    We didn¡¯t need shelter, and there was no food. The only thing we could do was fight our way


    through the grasping fingers of the dead trees and get to the center of the ind. There, we found a


    small hut made of leaning timbers. We stepped through the door and into a vast, cavernous space


    so big I couldn¡¯t see the end of it. Carved columns held up a ceiling dotted with what might have


    been stars, but so far away they were only pinpoints.


    All around us, soft sighs and whispers tempted our little group to break apart. I swatted away a


    vision of my mother and sister reaching for me. My heart pounded.


    ¡°Are they dead?¡± I cried.


    Ste put her arm around my waist. ¡°No. It¡¯s a trick. Please, none of you let what you see pull you


    away from us. I can only protect us within this space, and you can¡¯t see the borders of it. Stay close.


    Touching one another.¡±


    ¡°Should we leave this ce?¡± Xander asked boldly.


    ¡°This is where we have to wait for the High Council. It¡¯s the only ce I can defend us while putting


    them in danger.¡± Ste drew in a breath. Her voice rasped, hoarse and gritty. ¡°They¡¯reing for


    us, but the dead are going to find them first. Any who make it through to here, I¡¯ll take care of.¡±


    More figures appeared. Some I knew. Some I could tell my mates knew by the way they recoiled or


    muttered. The specters screamed, wailed, berated¡­pleaded, ttered, and cajoled.


    When Orion appeared in front of us, both Mason and Xander tensed. Ste did, too. She put her


    arms around both of her fathers.


    ¡°He¡¯s more powerful than the others, because he¡¯s real,¡± she said. ¡°Stand strong!¡±


    Orion let out a string of garbled curses and dove at our little group. We couldn¡¯t see the protective


    barrier, but he clearly bounced off it and fell back.


    ¡°She should be mine!¡± He howled, pointing at Ste. ¡°My ns¡­the stakes¡­the council¡­¡±


    His voice tattered like a silken scarf shredded by sharp ws.


    Ste stepped up. ¡°I never knew you, grandfather. But you have no power over my fathers.¡±


    ¡°Their power is mine!¡±


    Xander and Mason dropped to their knees. Quickly, Zane and I knelt with them to put our hands on


    them. Ste had said our safety was incumbent on us touching each other. We were never going to


    let them go.


    That¡¯s when Orion breached the circle.

 Chapter 447

    Chapter 447


    Chapter 447


    Xander


    My father grabbed the front of my shirt with fists as cold as ice. The moment he did, that same ice


    began to fill me. It centered around my heart. He was digging his fingers deep into my chest, tearing


    through muscle and bone. Blood spattered on the floor.


    I fought him as hard as I¡¯d ever fought anyone or anything in my life. I thought about the foggy hand


    crushing the captain. My father was trying to do the same to my heart.


    ¡°Fight him, Daddy!¡±


    The more I tried, the harder he crushed. Memories shed across my mind. My father had been


    there the first time I gave my wolf control. He¡¯d taught me how to fight. He¡¯d trusted me enough to


    take his ce as Alpha in our pack, even though he could have kept the spot until he died.


    ¡°I love you, father!¡± I screamed.


    A st of bitter, stinking wind sucked the breath out of me. The fist squeezed. I could no longer


    stand. The only thing holding me up was my dead father¡¯s ws digging into the meat of my heart.


    That, and my brother¡¯s hands.


    ***


    Mason


    ¡°I hate you!¡±


    I¡¯d spent most of my life hating Orion. Faced with him now, though, my heart tried to leap out of my


    chest. His other hand mmed into me, his fingers seeking to gouge a canyon in my flesh the way


    he was doing to my brother.


    With every wrench of his fingers inside us, Orion¡¯s form grew more solid. The pain was excruciating


    and relentless. It seemed like I should already be dead, and still his hand kept squeezing. Twisting.


    He wasn¡¯t going to be satisfied with simply grinding our hearts to a pulp.


    He was going to tear them out of our bodies.


    I could hear Ste screaming at us both to fight him. Waves of love and hate flowed around us


    toward the specter sucking us dry. I grabbed my brother¡¯s hand. Palm to palm, we fed each other


    thest dregs of our strength, and the forces of our determination mingled.


    I felt a hand on the back of my neck. Zane stood behind me and Xander, his hands cupping each of


    us. He stood straight and tall. His Beta strength filled us. Sustained us.


    Orion fell back a step.


    His hands slipped out of our chests. I stared down, expecting to see my shirt in shreds, my chest


    even worse, but I was unmarked. So was Xander.


    Orion staggered backward again.


    Ste moved between us and the ghost of our father. She put her hands up. She pushed outward,


    not touching him, but still shoving him away.


    ¡°I love you, Dad,¡± Xander said. ¡°But you can¡¯t have her. Or us. Not anymore.¡±


    ***


    Zane


    I¡¯d never been more proud to see my two Alphas joining together to share their strengths. They


    stood up to the man who¡¯d given them life, and they refused to let him take it away from them.


    Orion¡¯s form shuddered, getting bigger and smaller. Beating like a heart.


    The howls of the other dead rose around us. The same hands that had wrecked the yacht onto the


    beach grabbed Orion. He screamed as those hands tore him into a million tiny pieces that scattered


    like flower petals and then disappeared.


    The hands remained. New figures appeared. I didn¡¯t recognize any of them, but that didn¡¯t matter.


    Wolves, dragons, Fae. Even human figures became solid and faded in rapid session. They flew


    toward us, striking at the invisible barrier Ste had shielded us with. One at a time, then many all at


    once, they attacked.


    Snarling, screaming, crying out. But alsoughing. They were gorging themselves on every emotion


    that could be experienced¡­and it wasn¡¯ting from me or my mates.


    The dead were sucking everything out of Ste.


    She swayed but kept to her feet. Me, Xander, and Mason leaped toward her at the same time, but


    we fell back from the inside of the barrier. Lanie stood on the edge of it, her hands toward our


    daughter. Sending her waves of brilliant Luna energy, pulsing strength that bypassed the shields


    and filled Ste.


    ¡°Together!¡± Xander cried. ¡°Stand with her together!¡±


    Two shields of Alpha energy pulsed toward her. I added my Beta strength to it. The four of us stood,


    loving our daughter with everything we had inside us, and the dead gobbled it up faster than she


    could absorb it.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Ste no longer looked like the little girl she¡¯d been or the young woman she¡¯d grown into. I couldn¡¯t


    say what she looked like. Something ethereal and otherworldly. To call her a goddess would have


    been a disservice. She was something beyond anything I¡¯d ever imagined.


    But she was faltering. Growing weak. She wasn¡¯t going to be able to keep the dead outside the


    protective circle much longer, and there didn¡¯t seem to be anything any of us could do to help her.


    The doors flew open.


    The High Council had found us.

 Chapter 448

    Chapter 448


    Chapter 448


    Lanie


    The second the doors opened, the members of the High Council swarmed inside. They leaped and


    ran, at first in tight formation, like they were on a battlefield. Their cries rang out. Roars intended to


    intimidate us. Shrieks so fierce they sounded like they were tearing open their throats.


    Once through the door, at the sight of the vast space that had been hidden inside what looked like a


    tiny hut, they spread out. Their expressions twisted in confusion. I saw a few at the rear of the


    attack start to backpedal, but the door had vanished and the wall was suddenly so close behind


    them they ran into it. I could see their ns falling to pieces right in front of us. They hadn¡¯t


    expected anything like this.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    And still, they would not stop.


    They charged on, stumbling over each other. Shoving and pushing. The ones who fell were


    trampled by those who kept running. It was like they¡¯d all gone mad, crazed with their hatred.


    Nothing would keep them from us. I didn¡¯t need any Goddess talents to smell their fury and desire


    to tear us limb to limb. They burned with it, and they wanted their inferno to consume everything in


    their path.


    I saw Aldon at once, his face contorted with his screams of rage and triumph. Other Elders followed


    him. So did a dozen or more others I didn¡¯t know. I should have been afraid, but a strange peace


    stole over me.


    Whatever came next was what had always been meant to happen. Every choice we¡¯d made had led


    us all to this ce. We¡¯d woven a tapestry of decisions. Taken our own paths, one step forward at a


    time. There had never been a different ending to this.


    The dead that had been pummeling us and devouring every scrap of emotion that Ste had ever


    felt became a single entity with a roar so loud it seemed like it shook the entire world.


    Then it burst into a million pieces again. Hands. Faces. Tails, ws, horns, teeth. Arms and legs


    and fur and scales. Every creature who¡¯d ever lived and every single one that had ever died all


    showed themselves in the same instant. And every single one was focused on the High Council.


    Ste¡¯s feet rose off the ground. Her toes pointed downward. Her hands were at her sides, palms


    up. Her hair flew around her the way it had done on the boat, snapping and crackling with electric


    life.


    She spun slowly in the air, still rising. She was so far up now that I couldn¡¯t have reached her even if


    I jumped as high as I could. I wanted to fight out of the protection she¡¯d ced around us, but her


    quiet voice whispered to me through our family link.


    ¡°Stay inside the circle,¡± she breathed inside our minds. ¡°All will be well inside of it.¡±


    It took everything I had to obey. I could tell her fathers were fighting the desire to break free and


    attack the High Council. The council members themselves were pelting toward us at top speed.


    There¡¯d been the illusion that they were only feet away when they burst through the door, but now


    they seemed miles from us. Then inches. Then they might have been on the other side of the world.


    Ste was causing that to happen. She was using everything she had to fight them off. The dead of


    Fallen Crest, on the other hand, were drawing them in. Desperate and hungry, greedy for their rage


    and fear and smug arrogance. The dead and the wolf-kind High Council were racing toward each


    other with our daughter in between them. The only thing keeping them apart.


    And then¡­ She stepped aside.


    She was back inside our circle with us. Still invisible, but I could feel the renewed strength of it. All


    of us grabbed hands, making our own circle within a circle.


    Within seconds, the High Council began to change. Howls filled the cavernous space as their


    wolves tore free of their human bodies. Their beasts fought the restrictions of their clothes. Naked,


    they leaped, twisting and shifting in mid-air, only tond on human feet.


    Over and over again, the High Council shifted from wolf to human and back. Some were stuck half


    changed, paws at the end of human arms. Wolf muzzles stretching from human faces. Wolf canines


    sprouting in human jaws. Human eyes with wolf pupils. Fur and skin and ws and soft flesh, all


    twisting together.


    Their screams turned from arrogance to agony. Triumph to tragedy. The dead surrounded them,


    wrenching and tearing. Cracking them open like crab legs and sucking out the meat. One by one


    the High Council fell. One by one, they were consumed by the dead.


    One by one, until the five of us were all that remained.

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    Chapter 449


    Chapter 449


    Xander


    Watching the High Council be nothing more than dried-up husks had been one of the most


    terrifying and satisfying sights of my entire life. Yet, already, the memory of it was fading. We¡¯d fled


    the ind on the boat the High Council had arrived on, and Ste had managed to keep us safe to


    just beyond the wall hiding the ind. The farther away we got, the blurrier everything became.


    ¡°How much will we be able to remember?¡± I asked her. We were all in an SUV she¡¯d


    commandeered for us as soon as we made it back to the maind. I knew that¡¯s what had


    happened, although the details of the journey were almost gone.


    Ste was in the passenger seat and turned to me. Her gaze was solemn. ¡°Probably nothing. The


    dead might not have been able to take our bodies, but they had to be satisfied with something. They


    will gnaw on the memories of that battle for eons.¡±


    I looked into the rearview mirror at my three mates. Lanie¡¯s gaze met mine. Shadows hollowed her


    cheeks and under her eyes, but she smiled at me. She was the most beautiful woman I¡¯d ever


    known.


    Mason leaned forward to look out the front windshield. ¡°Are we ready to do this?¡±


    We¡¯d returned to Brightsky. This time, we¡¯d stopped in Standard to go through the regr process


    of being admitted to the enve. None of us wanted to face whatever security defenses Mchi


    might have put into ce after we left. Ste had been unable to tell us if we¡¯d been in danger or


    not.


    ¡°My visions have gone dark for now,¡± she had said without any strain or concern in her tone. ¡°When


    I need them again, they¡¯ll return. For now, we have to rely on our instincts.¡±


    It might have felt like a punishment, being denied the guidance from¡­well, whoever or whatever it


    was that had guided Ste as a Celestial. Instead, it felt more like a reward. We hade through


    the fire and been hardened, like diamonds.


    We could trust ourselves to make the right choices.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go in,¡± I said. ¡°See what kind of wee we get.¡±


    ***


    Gabri


    I stared into the mirror with a sigh at my reflection. The sses didn¡¯t feel right. I just couldn¡¯t get


    used to them.


    ¡°I think you look gorgeous with them,¡± said Targon as he hugged me from behind to kiss my cheek.


    ¡°Admittedly, I¡¯m biased. But still. Gorgeous.¡±


    Targon Alonius had saved my life with a couple discs of ss and wire frames. The eyesses had


    honed my vision and revealed the third eye imnted by the High Council. The moment I found out


    about it, all the memories of Orion and what he¡¯d allowed them to do hade flooding back. In


    minutes, I¡¯d blocked every vision that could be sent to the scrying device.


    I¡¯d expected an attack from the High Council because of that and had even warned Mchi to


    prepare, but to our mutual shock, nobody came. Everything in Brightsky had been quiet. Stable.


    For the first time in years, I¡¯d allowed myself to entertain the idea that I could be happy with a


    partner who didn¡¯t try to use me for his own gain. Targon and I had fallen for each other hard and


    fast¡­but I wasn¡¯tining. I¡¯d learned that life was too short to waste.


    ¡°Grammy.¡± ina tugged my sleeve. ¡°Daddy.¡±


    Startled, I shook my head. ¡°Honey, this is Dr. Alonius, remember?¡±


    ina burst intoughter, shaking her head. She pointed toward the living room. ¡°No! Daddy!¡±


    I turned with a gasp of surprise. ¡°Xander!¡±


    My boy hade home. Until I had my arms around him, or at least as much around him as I could


    get, I couldn¡¯t believe that he was real. He lifted me off my feet, squeezing the breath out of me, and


    twirled me around.


    All of them hade home. I hugged them each in turn. Weughed and cried with joy as the twins


    greeted their parents and their sister. And then I introduced them to Targon, and although Xander


    grumbled, he also shook the doctor¡¯s hand.


    The door flew open, and we all turned toward it. Mchi flew toward Lanie and grabbed her up to


    fly her around the room so fast they both became a blur. She staggered,ughing breathlessly when


    he put her down. The Ancient vampire hugged her, then held her off at arm¡¯s length.


    ¡°Wee home,¡± he said. ¡°By the Sun¡¯s golden mantle, I thought for sure all of you were dead.¡±


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Within minutes, he was calling for a celebration throughout the entire enve. We had so much to


    celebrate, the festivities wouldst for days. The whirlwind of our reunion finally simmered down


    when Mchi left us alone once again.


    The twins were sleepy eyed despite the excitement, and Ste took them off to bed with the


    promise of a bedtime story. Nothing too scary. My heart swelled with gratitude as I looked at my


    family, returned to me. We had so much to talk about¡­but in the end there was one ending to the


    story that they all expected and I couldn¡¯t provide.


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving the enve,¡± Xander said. ¡°This isn¡¯t the ce for us anymore. We can go after the


    parties are over.¡±


    ¡°No. Not me.¡± I said to each of them, meeting their gazes one at a time. ¡°I¡¯m going to stay here. This


    is where I belong.¡±

 Chapter 450

    Chapter 450


    Chapter 450


    Lanie


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    The celebrations weren¡¯t over, and they wouldn¡¯t be for a long time. But I was bone-tired and ready


    for some quiet time with my children and my mates. A hot shower. A warm, soft bed.


    We weren¡¯t going to stay here in Brightsky. As wonderful a ce as it was, it still wasn¡¯t home. And


    while there might always be a need for some to seek sanctuary behind its gates, we, the wolves of


    Constantine, no longer needed it.


    The High Council¡¯s utter destruction had left a void in the world of wolves. There¡¯d been talk of


    having Xander step in to fill at least some of it, but he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to. Definitely not alone,


    and the idea of co-Alphas was new and strange. He and Mason had talked about it long into the


    past few nights, but I wasn¡¯t sure what they would decide. Whatever it was, Zane and I would


    support them.


    For now, I was happy enough that our little pack was going to have some time alone before we hit


    the road at the end of the week. Mchi had asked us to stay at least that long to finish out all the


    celebrations and give all the Brightsky residents a chance to thank us. He had other reasons, too.


    Gifts to present to us, including the transfer ofrge sums of money that would do a lot to help


    rebuilding Constantine. So, even though I was itching to get on the road, I¡¯d agreed that we would


    stay a little longer.


    I couldn¡¯t hide my yawn, though. My grandfather caught it, even when I hid it behind my hand. He


    leaned over to me and spoke in a low voice I could still hear over the sounds of the music, singing,


    and dancing.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to sit here all night. I can tell you¡¯d rather be alone with your mates. And they alone


    with you, I rather suspect.¡± He chuckled. ¡°You wolves don¡¯t have the stamina of us vampires. We


    can party all night.¡±


    ¡°But we can party in the sunshine,¡± I told him without malice.


    He guffawed. ¡°True, true. Ah, granddaughter. Are you sure I can¡¯t convince you to stay here? I¡¯m


    going to miss you. There¡¯s still so much you have to learn.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee to visit us any time you want to in Constantine. I¡¯ll be busy helping repair and


    rebuild, but I guess I could make some time for my Ancient grandfather.¡± I leaned against him for a


    second before sitting up straight again in my chair. ¡°If I can tear my mates away from the buffet, I¡¯m


    going to take them back to our quarters. We¡¯ve been running on fumes for days. They need their


    rest.¡±


    ¡°You are truly a genuine Luna.¡± Mchi shook his head gently. ¡°Your care, concern, and


    consideration are beyondpare. Even if you can¡¯t manage all your talents¡­All right! Apologies!¡±


    He ducked away from my yful swat.


    I kissed his cheek before I wove my way through the crowd toward my three mates. Each had piled


    their tes high with food, but they were starting to slow down. Even their massive appetites were


    being sated, and I knew what that meant. Soon they¡¯d be hungry for something other than food.


    The thought made me grin. I was definitely looking forward to having some time alone with my three


    men. Alone, in our own home, the one we would spend our time building together.


    For a moment, I pressed both hands to my belly. Maybe there would be more pups. Maybe, I


    thought as I caught sight of Ste across the room, there might even be grandpups.


    I could only shake my head withughter at the thought of it. Me, a grandmother? It would hardly be


    the strangest thing our family had weathered.


    Ste saw me looking and waved for me to join her. I pushed through the crowd of people dancing


    and singing to get to her. She grinned and hugged me.


    ¡°Having fun, little star?¡±


    ¡°Everyone is so happy,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s filling me up with all of their joy. It¡¯s almost overwhelming¡­but


    I love it.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re grateful to you,¡± I told her as people swirled around us, smiling and gesturing their


    gratitude.


    Ste ducked her head. ¡°I know. But all I did was¡­¡±


    ¡°All you did was save them all. And probably the world as we know it,¡± I told her firmly. ¡°No false


    modesty, little star. Without you, none of us would still be here. You deserve to take pride in that.¡±


    ¡°Umm, Ste? I was wondering, hoping, I mean, if you¡¯d maybe like to dance with me?¡±


    We both turned to see a handsome young warlock. He blushed, but boldly held out his hand to her.


    After a moment, she did.


    ¡°Go on,¡± I told her. ¡°Your fathers and I will be waiting for you back at the apartment. Enjoy tonight.


    Tomorrow, we head back to Constantine.¡±


    I watched her walk away with her admirer and sent a mind link to my mates that I¡¯d be waiting for


    them at home. In bed. Naked.


    They all chimed in at once to say they were hot on my heels.


    ¡°Mother!¡±


    I turned as Ste ran to hug me.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be outte. I want to get an early start tomorrow. I can¡¯t wait to get to Constantine. I think it¡¯s


    where I¡¯ll finally be able to discover my true purpose as a Celestial.¡±


    ¡°All in good time, little star,¡± I told her. ¡°Everything will happen exactly as it¡¯s meant to.¡±


    All of us would find our purpose.


    We were finally going home¡­for good.

 Chapter 451

    Chapter 451


    Chapter 451


    Lanie


    It felt strange to be back in Constantine.


    I hadn¡¯t lived in the mansion very long, and so I¡¯d never really managed to think of the big house as


    ¡°home.¡± There were a lot of memories here, for sure, and they weren¡¯t all good. I¡¯d entered the


    mansion mated to Xander and Zane when they were in love with another woman, and none of us


    had been happy at first.


    But we were happy now. I rolled over to quietly get out of the bed that would need to be reced as


    soon as possible, since it was way too small for the four of us. My three mates were still snoring


    away like they didn¡¯t have a care in the world, and I paused to look them over. My heart stilled as I


    pressed a hand over it, and my eyes filled with tears of joy to see them all asleep. Without worry


    and fear for the first time in so long I couldn¡¯t recall just how long it had been.


    The household staff was already bustling in the kitchen when I went down to see if I could grab a


    cup of coffee before I had to face the day. No envian spiders to lead my way this time. I had to


    follow the scent of freshly baked bread and other delicious smells. The Constantine mansion wasn¡¯t


    nearly as big as the enve had been, but it was still enormous, with multiple branching wings, and


    I took a few wrong turns before I ended up where I wanted to be.


    ¡°Luna,¡± the cook greeted me with a hint of surprise in her voice. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have you here. Are


    you looking to inspect the kitchen?¡±


    Iughed, shaking my head. ¡°Oh, Goddess, no. I just desperately need some coffee and maybe a


    piece of whatever smells so good. Cinnamon?¡±


    ¡°Cinnamon buns,¡± the older woman said proudly and also sounding a bit shy. ¡°I¡¯m happy to serve


    you one. They just came out of the oven.¡±


    ¡°And coffee¡¯s here,¡± said another staff member from across the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to pour you a


    mug. Do you want to take it in the dining room? We¡¯re setting up the breakfast buffet. And¡­Luna¡­¡±


    I waited, watching the young woman¡¯s eyes light up as she clearly struggled with what she wanted


    to say.


    ¡°Luna, we are so happy that you¡¯ve all returned to Constantine!¡± Her voice rose into a squeak, and


    she blushed so fiercely I could almost feel the heat in her cheeks from all the way across the room.


    My own flush warmed my throat and face. It was going to take some time for me to get used to


    being called Luna with such respect and admiration¡ªand that little touch of intimidation. All of this


    was going to take some time to get used to¡­for everyone.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure I speak for my family and not only myself when I say that we are all very, very happy to be


    back.¡± I tried to sound gracious and also approachable, the way Gabri had always sounded.


    She¡¯d had years to perfect her Luna attitude, though. It was going to take me some time to get it just


    right.


    The staff didn¡¯t seem to mind. The cook and the maid both grinned at me and bustled around


    serving me up a cinnamon bun the size of my head and an oversized mug of coffee. In the dining


    room, I wasn¡¯t sure where to sit. The long table had seats for twenty, more if people squeezed in.


    Nobody else was in there yet.


    ¡°Traditionally, if this was a formal dinner, you¡¯d be at that end.¡± The maid from the kitchen cast her


    voice low and pointed. ¡°The Alpha would be here.¡± She touched the tall, throne-like chair at this end


    of the table. ¡°But you¡¯re of course wee to sit wherever you like, Luna.¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡­what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Karys, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Karys.¡±


    She beamed. ¡°Will you be wanting to set up a meeting with the staff today, Ma¡¯am? Or will you be


    settling in first? We¡¯re all pretty eager to find out about any changes you¡¯ll be making to the


    household operations.¡±


    Changes? Household operations? All of that, I guessed, was going to fall under my control now. As


    the Luna Constantine, I¡¯d have to oversee the running of this entire mansion.


    A chill, anxious sweat trickled down my spine. I¡¯d survived multiple attacks on my life, fled more


    times than I could count, discovered I was a hybrid, gained and loved three mates, and gave birth to


    extraordinary children, all while serving the Moon Goddess, and this was what made me want to


    bite my nails? I had tough, and Karys looked at me curiously.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll have to call a meetingter in the week,¡± I started to say, but I was cut short as the big


    double doors at the far end of the dining room flew open with a bang.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    There was a scream.

 Chapter 452

    Chapter 452


    Chapter 452


    Xander


    My hand slid over a bare spot on the bed, no longer warm from my Luna¡¯s naked body. I shot up in


    bed, my heart hammering, before I remembered¡­we were safe. All of us. Back in Constantine.


    With a slight groan, I fell back against the headboard and reached out with the mind link to see if I


    could sense Lanie¡¯s location. She was in the mansion somewhere. Feeling fine. No hint of danger or


    fear.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Zane yawned and stretched, joining me against the headboard. He tipped his chin


    toward the still-snoring Mason. ¡°Look at sleeping furry over there.¡±


    I scrubbed at my face and looked around the luxurious room. It was familiar and strange at the


    same time. Our quarters in the enve had been fancier in many ways, but this room was¡­home.


    ¡°We¡¯re gonna need a bigger bed,¡± I said.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Zaneughed. ¡°Yeah. My ass was hanging over the edge all night.¡±


    Mason stirred with a snort and opened his eyes. For a second or two, it looked like he was going to


    leap up with his fists out, but he calmed down. He also yawned, ending it with a little yelp, and


    pushed up on his elbow. ¡°Where¡¯s Lanie?¡±


    ¡°Feels like she¡¯s having breakfast,¡± Zane murmured. ¡°Which sounds good. If I could manage to get


    my ass out of bed.¡±


    Mason flopped onto his back. ¡°Damn, it feels nice to just wake up without an rm. I don¡¯t just


    mean the kind thates along with a clock. Just¡­no rm, and nothing rming.¡±


    I raked a hand through my hair to get it off my face. I couldn¡¯t recall thest time I¡¯d had a cut, and it


    was way too shaggy. Now that we were back in Constantine and would be hosting official events


    and shit like that, I¡¯d need a trim, at least.


    Zane looked over at me, sensing my thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s going to feel weird. Getting back to regr


    business.¡±


    Mason huffed out a low noise and, with a groan, got out of bed. He stretched widely and went to the


    window to peer out, twitching the curtains back and then letting them fall again as he turned to face


    us. ¡°Xander, I¡¯m going to let you take the lead on how we approach things, but we are going to need


    an official gathering meeting sooner rather thanter.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I agreed. ¡°We need to let them all know that you and I will be co-Alphas and what that will


    mean for the pack.¡±


    My brother¡¯s expression eased. I could tell he was relieved that I¡¯d brought it up so he didn¡¯t have


    to. Mason and I hadn¡¯t fully discussed how things were going to work now that we¡¯d all returned to


    Constantine, and the truth was, I couldn¡¯t really be sure yet. I did know that we¡¯d figure it out


    together.


    ¡°The pack is going to be confused,¡± Zane said quietly. ¡°There might be some pushback.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve all dealt with what amounts to a reign of terror,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Lies. Betrayal. The High


    Council kept them all scared, all the time, so they could be controlled. Well, that¡¯s not how I want to


    run things here.¡±


    ¡°No, me neither,¡± my brother said. ¡°But I am fully aware that I¡¯m the new guy. The bastard son of


    Orion Constantine. It¡¯s likely some of them are going to have a hard time epting me for that


    reason alone. They¡¯ll feel that I don¡¯t have a right to be Alpha.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a question of feeling. Our father passed his Alpha powers to me, and then he also passed


    them on to you when he died. That¡¯s something nobody can argue with, or take away from you,¡± I


    told him. ¡°Is it kind of fucked up? Yeah. Will we handle it together? Also, yes.¡±


    Mason chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°You got it, bro. I got your back¡­and I know you¡¯ve got mine.¡±


    We¡¯de a long way from my brother hating me and actively nning my demise to this. We both


    grinned at each other. I got out of bed to stretch.


    ¡°The first thing I want to do is establish that Mason and I are a team, one they can count on to keep


    the pack¡¯s best interests at heart. Two Alphas and a Beta, working together with our Luna. With the


    shit we¡¯ve been through, we can handle a scared pack,¡± I said as I rummaged in the dresser to find


    a pair of sweatpants to pull on.


    I felt a pulse of warmth emanating from Zane. Relief. Pride. Friendship. I turned to him.


    ¡°Your ce is still by my side,¡± I reassured him. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure the pack sees that. More than that,


    that they feel it.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°We got this.¡±


    That¡¯s when all three of us heard the scream through the mind link.


    ¡°Lanie!¡±

 Chapter 453

    Chapter 453


    Chapter 453


    Lanie


    I almost didn¡¯t recognize the woman rushing across the room to hurtle herself against me. My


    scream rose, joining hers, turning to a squeal at thest second as my best friend Mindy hugged me


    so hard she squeezed the breath out of my lungs. Laughing, crying a little, I wrapped my arms


    around her and hugged her back as hard as I could.


    ¡°Lanie! Goddess, you look so good! I mean, you always looked good, but you look¡­¡± Mindy held


    me at arms¡¯ length, then hugged me again. ¡°You look like a Luna.¡±


    Her words tickled my earlobes. ¡°I am the Luna.¡±


    Mindy¡¯sughter had an edge of tears as she pulled away again. ¡°I was going to say you looked


    older, but I thought that mighte out wrong.¡±


    ¡°I am also older,¡± I said. ¡°You look good, too.¡±


    We both hugged each other again, dancing in ce. I¡¯d put the thoughts of my bestie entirely out of


    my head for so long, incapable of giving myself permission to miss her. Now that came flooding


    back into me with the force of mming into a brick wall. I wanted to cry,ugh, scream, jump up


    and down, run around the room¡­I settled for hugging her hard one more time and then stepping


    back to take another good, long look at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m home,¡± I said.


    Mindy¡¯s eyes welled with tears. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, bestie. Don¡¯t you dare ever go off like that


    again.¡±


    ¡°I hope I never have to.¡± I knew better than to make a promise that I wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d be able to keep.


    The High Council had been soundly and permanently defeated, but I¡¯d seen way too much out there


    in the big world beyond Constantine to ever think there was no possibility that something else might


    happen. I pushed those thoughts away for now, though. Whatever might happen in the future, for


    right now, we were all safe and sound.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    ¡°I¡¯m starving,¡± Mindy stated. ¡°I¡¯m going to get myself one of those buns and some coffee and


    probably a whole te of other goodies¡­ The buffets here are amazing, please tell me you¡¯re not


    making any changes to the way they do breakfast here!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the second time this morning already that someone¡¯s asked me if I¡¯m going to make any


    changes to the way things have been running.¡± I followed her to the buffet so we could both load up


    our tes. ¡°Why is everyone assuming that?¡±


    Mindy looked over her shoulder at me as she piled her te with cheesy scrambled eggs. ¡°Well,


    Gabri had her ways of managing the mansion, and when you all were gone, the mansion


    chatine took over. Now that you¡¯re back, as Luna, you get to decide how things work. Oh,


    Goddess, they¡¯ve got blueberry muffins today.¡±


    ¡°I promise to keep the muffins,¡± I said with augh as I watched my friend add an enormous muffin


    to her te.


    Mindy gave me a serious look. ¡°I¡¯m so d you¡¯re back, and not just because you said that.¡±


    We bothughed and carried our tes to the table and took our seats. She dove into her food at


    once. I¡¯d never seen Mindy eat like that, but before I could ask if she might have a special reason


    for her hunger, I heard heavy footsteps thundering toward us.


    My three mates barreled into the room, Xander in the lead with Mason hot on his heels and Zane


    bringing up the rear. When they saw me and Mindy at the table, our forks paused halfway to our


    mouths in surprise, Xander let out a grunt.


    ¡°Damn it, Lanie. You scared the shit out of us with that scream!¡±


    Mindy blinked, looking at the three men. They were all familiar to me, but I tried to see them through


    her eyes. They¡¯d all aged, too, of course, but they¡¯d also gotten¡ª¡±


    ¡°By the Moon,¡± Mindy breathed. ¡°They¡¯re huge!¡±


    Iughed, watching my mates rx when they saw I wasn¡¯t in danger. They had all gotten bigger.


    Thicker in the arms and chests, legs like tree-trunks. My heart thudded with a sudden, fierce influx


    of love. It burned inside me hot enough to flood my entire body with heat.


    Mindy turned to me with wide eyes. ¡°And they¡¯re all three mated with you. How do you¡­I mean¡­¡±


    She coughed into her fist as her blush deepened. Mindy and I had shared most every detail of our


    lives when we were younger, so I could practically see the wheels spinning in her head now. I didn¡¯t


    need her to finish her sentence, but she leaned closer to whisper to me anyway.


    ¡°Fit,¡± she finished. ¡°How in the world do you all fit!¡±


    ¡°Very nicely,¡± I promised her in a low voiceced withughter.


    I watched her gaze go beyond the three giant men stalking into the dining room. She looked


    surprised then confused, then surprised again. She turned to me.


    ¡°Who is that?¡±

 Chapter 454

    Chapter 454


    Chapter 454


    Zane


    I¡¯d never had much chance to get to know Lanie¡¯s best friend, but watching the two of themughing


    together was a real treat. The four of us had been a tight-knit unit and a team, but I could tell Lanie


    had longed for femalepanionship. Seeing her with her best friend made me realize how lucky I


    was that Xander was not only my Alpha, but also my best friend.


    Lanie had her arm around Ste¡¯s shoulders as she introduced her to Mindy, who understandably


    looked boggled. Her mouth hung wide open for a few seconds before she caught herself. She


    finished chewing and swallowed, then got to her feet.


    ¡°This is baby Ste?¡± Mindy asked, shaking her head and looking astounded. ¡°I expected all the


    pups to be bigger, obviously, but this is way, way more than any doubling!¡±


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Ste¡¯s lightughter tinkled through the air. ¡°Everyone was surprised. But it¡¯s me. Baby Ste.¡±


    ¡°All grown up,¡± Lanie said.


    We hadn¡¯t told anyone in Constantine that Ste was a Celestial, but rumors about her advanced


    aging had managed to get here ahead of us. Maxim and Monroe, Xander¡¯s most trusted High


    Guards, had been among the first he¡¯d contacted when we were on our way back home. They¡¯d


    been able to fill him in on some things we could expect.


    They¡¯d told him there¡¯d been newsing to Constantine about the destruction of the High Council,


    but that the details had been sketchy, and they were doing as much damage control as they could


    until we got back and could fill everyone in on the truth. As Mindy¡¯s mates, they must¡¯ve made the


    choice not to tell her much, since she was so clearly shocked.


    It was obvious that Mindy was bursting with questions, but she only nodded and got up to hug Ste


    before she sat back down at her chair. Lanie took her seat again, too.


    ¡°Where are the twins?¡± Lanie asked Ste.


    ¡°Still sleeping if you can believe it.¡± Steughed. ¡°They were wiped out. But I bet they¡¯ll be up all


    night tonight!¡±


    Mindy¡¯s eyes got even wider. ¡°The twins¡­baby Lanie¡ªer, ina¡ªand Isaac...they¡¯re not all grown


    up, too, are they?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re bigger than they were thest time you saw them,¡± Lanie assured her, ¡°but they¡¯re not quite


    as grown up as Ste.¡±


    The three women chatted while the rest of us helped ourselves to the buffet.


    ¡°This is new,¡± I said to Xander as he stacked thick, savory, cheddar and jpe?o waffles on his


    te.


    He grinned. ¡°Yeah. But I like it. Lanie, love¡­keep this morning buffet!¡±


    She rolled her eyes but did it with a smile. ¡°I think I need to make a general announcement. I am not


    nning on changing anything! At least not until I¡¯ve had the chance to settle in!¡±


    At the sound of heavy footsteps, I looked toward the doorway. I tensed automatically, and so did


    Xander and Mason. But when I saw that it was Maxim and Monroe, I put my te on the table and


    went to greet them. Xander joined me, while Mason held back a little bit.


    ¡°By the Moon, it¡¯s good to have you back! All of you,¡± Maxim said with a quick look at Mason. Maxim


    gave him a deferential nod, clearly acknowledging his Alpha role.


    Monroe grinned and pped Xander on the back, then pulled him closer. ¡°Bring it in, bro. We


    missed the fuck out of you!¡±


    ¡°d to see you seem to have held things together while we had to be away,¡± Xander said.


    Maxim and Monroe high-fived me, then Mason. Their joyful energy was infectious, and I could see


    Mason rxing a bit as they treated him pretty much the same as they were treating me and


    Xander.


    ¡°It¡¯s all going to be all right,¡± I thought to Mason and filtered some calming Beta energy his way.


    ¡°They¡¯re good guys. Xander and I trust them wholeheartedly.¡±


    We took seats at the table¡¯s other end, giving our mates room to chat with each other. Xander dug


    into his te of food, while Maxim and Monroe filled theirs and then joined us.


    ¡°When are you having the meeting?¡± Monroe asked around a mouthful of scrambled eggs.


    Mason shot him a look, then one at Xander, who was spreading a bagel with a thickyer of cream


    cheese. When Xander didn¡¯t answer, Mason said, ¡°We figured it would happen pretty quick. We


    don¡¯t want people spending too much time worrying or wondering what happened, or what how we


    intend to move forward.¡±


    I could feel him almost holding his breath as he waited for Maxim and Monroe to respond. I couldn¡¯t


    me him for being a little anxious about it. They were the trusted High Guards, and he¡­well, he¡¯d


    made no secret before about his loathing for his brother. It was going to take some time for Mason


    to feel like he had the right to be here, and in charge.


    ¡°We¡¯ll call it for after breakfast,¡± Xander said casually. He didn¡¯t emphasize the ¡°we,¡± but we all


    heard it.


    Maxim and Monroe exchanged looks.


    ¡°So¡­it¡¯s true, then?¡± Maxim asked after a second.


    Xander wiped his mouth. ¡°What was?¡±


    ¡°About your father,¡± Monroe said. ¡°We were hoping it was just another rumor.¡±

 Chapter 455

    Chapter 455


    Chapter 455


    Mason


    The minute I heard the doubt in Monroe¡¯s voice, I almost got up from the table. I should¡¯ve known


    they weren¡¯t going to wee me here. I might¡¯ve been a Constantine by blood, but I¡¯d known for


    my entire life that blood was not necessarily thicker than water.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xander asked in a cold, hard tone. Full Alpha mode.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Monroe shrugged. ¡°It just sucks to find out that your dad really wasn¡¯t the great guy we all thought


    he was. That¡¯s all.¡±


    He turned to me. ¡°Xander says you¡¯re his brother, and as far as I¡¯m concerned, that¡¯s enough for


    me.¡±


    ¡°Same goes for me,¡± Maxim said so firmly that I knew he meant it.


    ¡°Mason, you¡¯re super tense, man. Rx a bit.¡± Zane¡¯s calming voice reached me through the mind


    link we shared with my brother.


    ¡°They¡¯re cool,¡± Xander added.


    I forced a smile I hoped looked natural as I offered my forearm to Monroe to grip. Then to his¡­were


    they brothers? They looked like they could be. I offered my forearm to Maxim for a grip.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to be a part of the pack and share the leadership challenges with Xander,¡± I told them


    both, making sure I made eye contact with each of them to show my sincerity. ¡°I vow to do my best


    to stand by his side and also have his back.¡±


    The other two men nodded with nearly identical grins. They looked down the table toward their


    mate. Mindy and Lanie were giggling, heads together, while Ste watched with wide eyes. She


    joined theirughter a momentter.


    Isaac and ina came into the dining room, both looking sleepy and grumpy. ina rushed to


    Xander, who held out his arm to pull her close. Isaac walked a little slower, his eyes already on the


    food.


    ¡°Morning,¡± our son grunted as he headed right for the buffet.


    ina hugged Zane next, then me. She leaned her head against mine for a few seconds, and I felt


    a small press of reassurance swirling around her. I looked at her in surprise, although I shouldn¡¯t


    have been shocked that she was able to affect me like that. The twins would always share a bond


    with Xander and Zane from being raised by them from birth, just like Ste shared the same with


    me. But ina was my daughter. My blood.


    ¡°I love you, Abba,¡± she said.


    ¡°Love you, too,¡± I said. ¡°You¡¯d better get some breakfast before your brother eats it all.¡±


    ina rolled her eyes. ¡°Ugh. He¡¯s being so gross.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s growing,¡± Xander said with augh.


    ¡°I¡¯m growing, too,¡± ina said, putting her small hands on her hips. Her scowl was fierce and


    formidable¡­and I saw a lot of her mother, Alice, in that expression.


    Xander and Zane saw it, too. Guilt swept over me like a tidal wave. This was the house where


    Xander, Zane, and Alice had thought they¡¯d live and be mates together. Where they¡¯d raise their


    pups. And hadn¡¯t I had some of the same thoughts and feelings about her?


    The three of us looked toward our Luna as she tipped her head back in a sweet flurry of giggles. I


    could never have imagined loving another woman as much as I loved her. Never thought I could


    share my mate with anyone else. Yet there the three of us were, sharing her the way we¡¯d


    unwittingly shared Alice.


    It was a bit of a mindfuck.


    ¡°Abba?¡± ina frowned. ¡°Why does your face look like you just ate something sour?¡±


    I quickly pushed away those thoughts. It shouldn¡¯t be a secret that Lanie was not the twins¡¯


    biological mother, but yet we¡¯d never really talked about it. They were babies, and then they grew


    up, but not quite as fast as Ste. It was probably time we let them know the truth. Now that we


    were all back in Constantine, we¡¯d be fools to think that nobody would ever talk about Alice.


    ¡°They¡¯ll have to find out, and better from us,¡± Zane thought to me and Xander. He¡¯d caught my


    thoughts, but Xander hadn¡¯t.


    My brother looked at ina though, brow furrowed, and figured it out. He nodded and thought to us


    both, ¡°We¡¯ll tell them, but privately. I want them to know we all love them. And Lanie will want to


    make sure they know that she loves them, too.¡±


    Gently, I pushed ina in the direction of the buffet. ¡°Go get yourself a te. You need a good


    breakfast so you can keep on growing and not let your brother get bigger than you.¡±


    Lanie¡¯s sudden cry of joy had us all turning. Our Luna stood up so fast she overturned her chair with


    a tter. She ran toward the woman in the doorway to the dining room.


    ina looked surprised. ¡°Who¡¯s thatdy and that girl?¡±

 Chapter 456

    Chapter 456


    Chapter 456


    Lanie


    My mother enfolded me in her embrace, and all I could do was cling to her as I shook with sobs. I


    breathed in her familiar scent. Her warmth. She rocked me as we hugged, and her hand stroked


    down my back, over and over again, exactly the way it used to when I was a little girl who¡¯d woken


    up from a nightmare.


    ¡°Oh, my Lanie. Let me get a good look at you.¡± She pushed me away only for a second before


    hugging me hard again. ¡°No, not yet, I can¡¯t let you go. Oh, I just can¡¯t let you go.¡±


    I closed my eyes and let my mother hold me. It had been so long since we¡¯d been together. I¡¯d


    forced myself to barely think about her, my sister, and my dads, much like I¡¯d stopped myself from


    thinking too much about my best friend. It had been easier for my mind to focus on the dangers we


    were navigating. But, oh, now that my mother was here and hugging me, every second of the time


    we¡¯d spent apart mmed into me like a hammer pounding a nail.


    ¡°Mama?¡±


    At the sound of Ste¡¯s hesitant voice, I turned. I had to wipe away the tears blurring my vision, but I


    used one hand to do that while I held out the other to gather my daughter close. My mother drew in


    a sharp breath.


    ¡°Is this¡­?¡± she asked, sounding awed.


    I knew that there¡¯d been some advance word, rumors, about Ste, but since I hadn¡¯t been


    expecting my mom to be here at the mansion, I couldn¡¯t assume anything about what she may or


    may not have heard.


    ¡°Mama. This is my daughter. Ste. This is your grandma, Julia Stanton,¡± I said to Ste.


    ¡°But she¡¯s¡­¡± My mom fanned her face, her eyes wide.


    Ste might be adult-sized, and she might be special with all the talents of ever supernatural that


    had ever existed, but I could never forget that she was also my child. I pulled her in next to me,


    offering my support and warmth. I could feel her muscles trembling the tiniest bit with her


    nervousness.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± my mother finished and opened her arms for a hug. ¡°Ste. Come here and give me a


    hug.¡±


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m here, too,¡± a voice said in a sour tone.


    I¡¯d been so caught up in greeting my mom that I¡¯d almost totally missed my sister. ¡°Selena!¡±


    She hugged me hard, but only briefly before stepping back. She eyed me cautiously. Thest time


    I¡¯d seen her, she¡¯d been underage, but now she was over eighteen. Shit, I didn¡¯t even know if she


    had been mated yet. I didn¡¯t know anything about what had gone on while we were away. Had the


    High Council and Elders still been assigning two males to every female wolf in the pack? Or had


    that stopped? Were pack members allowed to choose their own mates?


    So much to find out¡­so much to consider about the way things had been and how they were going


    to be. Everyone was asking me about making changes. Well, I¡¯d finally started thinking of a few I


    was going to tell the Constantine Alphas to make.


    There was more to learn about my baby sister, now that she¡¯de of age. For instance, had the


    spell our mother asked a witch to cast to dampen her vampiric powers worked on my sister? It had


    failed in me, but that didn¡¯t mean it hadn¡¯t worked for my sister.


    Selena¡¯s eyes zed soft green for a moment. Her wolf was close. I could sense my sister¡¯s


    agitation and hated that the first time we saw each other in so long had to be tainted with any bad


    feelings. But could I me her for being wary of me? Mason and I had snuck out of my childhood


    home without saying goodbye. I¡¯d left my sister behind to take care of our mother, even though I


    knew Orion had been targeting her. She¡¯d told me I had to, but¡­even so, the look on her face told


    me she wasn¡¯t ready to ept me back with open arms.


    She looked at Ste with a nk expression, very different from the first time they¡¯d met when Ste


    was an infant.


    ¡°I¡¯m your aunt Selena,¡± she said in a stiff voice. ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t remember me. You probably


    never even heard of me.¡±


    ¡°Selena,¡± our mother said in a shocked tone.


    Ste, my dear little star, stepped forward. ¡°Of course I did. Mama told me so many stories about


    the two of you when you were both little. I don¡¯t remember you from when I was a baby, but of


    course I know who you are.¡±


    Little white lies. As a Celestial, Ste could certainly call on the memories of anything that had


    happened when she was a baby. She was being kind and gracious.


    Too bad my sister didn¡¯t respond the same way.

 Chapter 457

    Chapter 457


    Chapter 457


    Lanie


    ¡°Let her go,¡± I murmured to my mother when Selena turned on her heel and stalked out of the room.


    My mother shook her head as she cast a worried look after my sister. ¡°She¡¯s been having a rough


    time. I thought it was better, but ever since she heard you wereing back to Constantine¡­well.


    A rough time, that¡¯s all I can say.¡±


    Ste had a distant look in her eyes. I couldn¡¯t be sure, but it felt to me like she was following my


    sister with her mind but doing it so subtly that my mother wouldn¡¯t guess. Her gaze snapped to


    mine, and she gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod. Without words, she told me that my


    sister was okay¡­for now.


    ¡°She was rejected by the mates the High Council tried to assign to her,¡± my mother said, keeping


    her voice pitched low. It was rough with sadness. ¡°Not even the threat of prison could get them to


    agree to the match. She took it hard¡­not because she was in love with them, but to be so violently


    rejected¡­¡±


    My heart ached for Selena. ¡°That must have been horrible!¡±


    My mother nodded, her expression full of shadows. ¡°After you all left, Lanie, things were very dark


    here. Orion¡¯s death changed so much, and the High Council was out of control. I think the pack truly


    believed we were going to all have to go rogue. Everything was utterly falling apart.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know what to say. If I tried to apologize, I knew my mom would try to tell me it wasn¡¯t my


    fault, but that wouldn¡¯t stop me from trying to take the me. Because it was our fault¡­me, Xander,


    Zane, Mason. We hadn¡¯t been the ones to set anything in motion, but we¡¯d been the ones to make


    sure the High Council couldn¡¯t simply keep on doing what they¡¯d been doing all those years.


    We¡¯d broken the pack.


    Now, we¡¯d have to work hard to put it all back together.


    My mom cleared her throat and said in a brighter voice, ¡°Your dads are beside themselves. They¡¯ll


    be back tomorrow or the next day. They¡¯d have been here sooner, but they were sent so far away,


    and the High Council made it so hard to get back here on purpose.¡±


    Tears shone in her eyes, but there was hope and happiness in her voice.


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    If I couldn¡¯t wait to see my dads, I could only imagine how much my mom was looking forward to it. I


    let my gaze linger on my three mates bent over their tes as they talked to Monroe and Maxim. It


    felt impossible that I could survive being separated from any one of them for longer than a few


    hours, much less months. Years.


    ¡°Goddess,¡± I murmured, mostly to myself. ¡°Has it truly been more than a year?¡±


    For all I could tell, it could¡¯ve been closer to two. Three, four¡­I shook my head. It couldn¡¯t have


    been that long, but I hadpletely lost all track of time while we were gone.


    ¡°If a mother judges the passing of time by the way her children grow,¡± my mother said, ¡°I can see


    why you¡¯re not sure.¡±


    She hugged me again, and then we joined Mindy and ina with freshly filled tes. Isaac had


    moved to the other end of the table with his fathers and the High Guards. It was a clear separation,


    and my heart panged at the sight of my little boy beginning his journey into manhood.


    Mindy saw me looking and paused with a forkful of food halfway to her mouth. She let out a


    snuffling sob and put the fork down. ¡°He¡¯s so big! Lanie, how do you st-st-staaaaaaand it!¡±


    rmed, I patted her shoulder. Emotions rose, swelling and swirling all around us. Mindy had


    always been excitable, but this seemed kind of extreme, even for her. I chalked it up to all the


    upheaval with our return, and in seconds her wails and tears turned toughter. She swiped at her


    eyes.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s just that I missed you so damned much, Lanie. I was so scared I¡¯d never see


    you again. I missed my bestie!¡±


    We hugged,ughing and crying while Ste shook her head with amusement. ina watched us


    both carefully, her brow knitted. She was clearly studying what was going on but not sure what to


    think about it. I held out my arms hand for her to take.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret, sweetpea. We¡¯re all just diving way down into our feels this morning,¡± I assured her while


    Mindy sniffed but beamed a wide grin beside me.


    ina didn¡¯t smile. She squeezed my hand and then let it go. ¡°May I be excused?¡±


    ¡°Sure. Where are you going?¡± I didn¡¯t want her running off until we¡¯d had some time to get settled.


    ¡°Daddy¡¯s going to be calling a pack meeting for everyone pretty soon, and we want you there for it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just going up to my room,¡± ina said and left the room.


    Ste watched her go. I couldn¡¯t read her expression. I touched her hand until she looked at me.


    ¡°Ste? Everything okay?¡±


    She nodded and smiled, but her gaze was locked on her sister¡¯s retreating form, and a tiny shiver


    tickled my spine until she looked at me. ¡°Yep. All good.¡±


    But something felt off.

 Chapter 458

    Chapter 458


    Chapter 458


    Mason


    The air in Xander¡¯s office crackled with an electric tension as we gathered around his desk. He¡¯d


    called for the pack meeting to be held in the town square and put out the word that every pack


    member able to make it should n to attend. There¡¯d be many who couldn¡¯t make the journey in


    time, but ording to Zane¡¯s statistics with confirmation from Maxim and Monroe, we were looking


    at a huge group.


    ¡°Zane, you¡¯ve got the lead on the speaker system and all of that?¡± I asked.


    Zane nodded. ¡°Yep. Maxim and Monroe have put together an amazingmunications setup, too.


    Great job.¡±


    Maximughed and jerked a thumb at his partner. ¡°me this guy. I¡¯m just the one who installed the


    equipment. He¡¯s the one who nned the system.¡±


    ¡°It looks state of the art to me,¡± Xander said with admirationcing his tone. ¡°Something my father


    would never have embraced. Too much ess to information, too much transparency about what


    the Alpha was doing? Fuck no.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re not your father,¡± Zane told him. ¡°And this is no longer your father¡¯s pack. Or the High


    Council¡¯s.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Maxim and Monroe nodded. I was still having a hard time telling them apart. They were the same


    size, same shape, their voices sounded the same, all of it. They looked more alike than Xander and


    I did, but Zane had told me they weren¡¯t brothers.


    Not so far as anyone knew anyway. That was my private thought, which, admittedly, was probably


    formed by my own existence as the son whose father hadn¡¯t known about for a long time.


    I looked out the window toward the town square. I couldn¡¯t see it from here, but the rest of the


    mansion grounds were bustling with activity. I let the curtain fall and turned back to the room.


    ¡°We want there to be a solemn but also joyous feel to the meeting. We want the pack to be assured


    that Xander and I are a team, working together, to protect and lead. But we can¡¯t promise that every


    threat¡¯s been extinguished. There are still those hybrid testing ces out there, for one thing,¡± I


    said.


    ¡°On my list to immediately disassemble,¡± Xander added. ¡°But we can¡¯t just go in with teeth and


    ws. There are innocents in those ces.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll needpassionate care once they¡¯re released,¡± Zane said quietly. His gaze darkened.


    ¡°Some of their families may not be around any longer to take them back in.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± Maxim tapped the keys on hisptop and squinted at the screen. ¡°Fuck. I think I need


    sses.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got the catering team working on putting out snacks and drinks,¡± said Monroe, tapping on his


    ownptop. ¡°Unless you think it would be more appropriate for the Luna to handle this?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s give Lanie a bit of time to get limated, especially since you two have been doing such


    great job handling shit while we were gone.¡± Xander got up from his seat and went to the same


    window I¡¯d looked out of. He turned back to his friends and grinned. ¡°I gotta be honest, guys, I


    thought I¡¯d being back to a real mess.¡±


    Maxim and Monroe both grinned back at him.


    ¡°Gotta say, kind of the same thing on our end,¡± Maxim said with a look at me. ¡°We figured you might


    be returning in pretty rough shape. Looks like your co-Alpha and your Beta took good care of you.¡±


    The fact they were clearly epting and making the effort at acknowledging me went a long way,


    but it was still going to take some time before I could fully getfortable here. In Stillwood, I¡¯d


    known my ce. My friends had be my family. Here in Constantine, I had friends, and I had


    family, but I¡¯d also need to join this pack. That was something I¡¯d never been a part of.


    ¡°Hey¡­Mason. I just got a ping,¡± said Maxim, looking at hisptop. ¡°Some new arrivals. A¡­Quinn


    and Sable from Stillwood?¡±


    A wide grin spread instantly across my face. ¡°Yeah? They¡¯re good. You can let them in. Is there


    anyone else with them? A man? Asher?¡±


    Maxim tapped a message into hisputer and waited a couple of seconds before shaking his


    head. ¡°Nope. Just the two women. They said they know the Luna?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re the mom and sister of my best friend from Stillwood. Yeah, they know Lanie. Sable


    delivered Ste. Can you have someone let her know so she can greet them at the front door?¡± I


    told him.


    Maxim nodded and took care of it while Xander let out a small whistle. He put his hands on his hips.


    ¡°I guess this shindig¡¯s getting bigger by the second.¡±


    ¡°Should we hold it off?¡± I asked him.


    He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The pack is going to be eager to see us, and we owe it to them


    not to fuck around much longer. They deserve to be told as much as we can. And, you deserve to


    be greeted and weed as their new co-Alpha.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± I said, but inside, I wondered if that was how all of this was going to go.


    I¡¯d have to face a crowd of people Orion had betrayed. What if they decided I was a good target to


    take the punishment he¡¯d never had to face?

 Chapter 459

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    Chapter 459


    Xander


    I¡¯d called for the entire pack to congregate here, but I hadn¡¯t thought so many would be able to


    make it. As it turned out, pack members had traveled hard and fast to get here. They were still


    pouring into the square, hanging out of the window of storefronts, and lined up along rooftops.


    I shaded my eyes to look out at the crowd from my ce on the small stage Maxim and Monroe had


    arranged to have built. With my brother on one side, Zane on the other, and my High Guards


    behind, we waited for the crowd to settle, but they weren¡¯t. The tensions were high and rising.


    Nobody was getting rowdy, but they could go that way, if we weren¡¯t careful about what we said¡­or


    how we said it.


    My father had often addressed the pack like a beneficent king, but one who definitely expected you


    to kiss his ring or find yourself facing a not-so benevolent ruler. I didn¡¯t want to approach any of this


    the way he had. It was going to be hard enough to hold onto the good memories I had for my dad


    without trying to behave in his bad ways.


    ¡°They¡¯re getting restless,¡± Zane thought to me. ¡°Even if they¡¯re not all settled, you should probably


    start to address them. I can sense a growing dissatisfaction, some fear, a lot of curiosity.¡±


    I looked at him with one brow quirked. ¡°Could you always do that?¡±


    ¡°I think Ste lent me some of her empath talents,¡± Zane sent through the mind link.


    I didn¡¯t have time to consider this or dwell on what that might mean for my Beta, or even if there was


    a chance that our daughter had done the same for any of the rest of us. The crowd was swelling,


    pressing up toward the base of the stage. Their murmuring voices were rising, and I could catch bits


    and pieces of what they were saying. Some of it was regr excited chatter, but there was also


    some undertones of discontent.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started,¡± I said aloud so Maxim and Monroe could both hear me, too. I switched on the


    mic Maxim had tucked into the color of my Henley. I saw Mason do the same. I faced the crowd.


    ¡°Greetings, Pack Constantine!¡±


    My father would never have used technology to address a meeting like this. He¡¯d have expected his


    voice to boom out over the restless crowd and that they all would simply shut up and listen at rapt


    attention. Hell, he probably would¡¯ve had guards stationed throughout the crowd to haul off anyone


    who wasn¡¯t listening.


    ¡°I am not my father,¡± I said to them all. I kept my voice as slow and steady as I could. I let my eyes


    sweep the crowd, making contact with several people here and there. I looked upward to some on


    the roof, too. I wanted them all to feel like I was looking at them as individuals. ¡°So let¡¯s just start off


    with that, okay? I¡¯m Alpha Xander Constantine, and I¡¯m here today to let you know that¡­well, from


    here on out, things are going to get better.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t prepared for the thunderous apuse. It was so loud it reverberated through my mic and


    almost caused a squeal of feedback before it softened. My heart thudded as emotions swept over


    me. I caught Zane¡¯s eye. He was channeling some of the crowd¡¯s feelings so I could get in touch


    with them.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I sent to him.


    To the crowd, I said, ¡°As I¡¯m sure you all know, the High Council has been disbanded. Destroyed,


    actually. And I know some of you have concerns about that, what it means for our pack overall, as


    well as for the families of those council members. So first, I want to let you know that anyone who¡¯d


    like to discuss it can make an appointment with me or my co-Alpha. My brother, Mason.¡±


    Silence.


    Then, the rustle of voices.


    I didn¡¯t give them time to start shouting. I held up my hands, and the crowd obeyed.


    ¡°I know the rumors have preceded us, so I want to set all of your minds at ease. My brother Mason


    is also a son of Orion, and when our father died, Mason inherited Alpha powers. Same as me. I


    know this isn¡¯t how it usually works, but this is how it works for us. So if you have concerns about


    that, you can also make an appointment to see us. We¡¯re here for you, the entire pack.¡±


    I could hear questions being shouted, but Zane pulsed feelings toward me. Mostly eptance,


    tinged with confusion and a lot of hope. There were a few bits of discontent, but it was outweighed


    by the positive.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the Luna?¡± A single voice rose, joined soon by a bunch of others. ¡°Show us the Luna


    Gabri! Prove she¡¯s alive! I heard she was killed to hide the truth about her mate!¡±


    Shit.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

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    Chapter 460


    Chapter 460


    Lanie


    When I heard the cries of ¡°show us the Luna¡± I knew I had to step forward and show myself to the


    screaming group. I¡¯d been waiting behind the stage, quietly, offering my support to my mates but not


    wanting to overstep. It wasn¡¯t usually the Luna¡¯s ce to address anything at a pack meeting,


    unless it had to do with the duties a Luna usually oversaw. Orion had never let Gabri do much


    more than smile and wave, looking pretty, even though she¡¯d been a warrior in the Great Wars,


    same as him.


    With the announcement about there being two Alphas, we¡¯d all felt that it would be for the best not


    to rock the boat any more than necessary. Whatever other changes my mates were going to bring


    to the leadership of this pack, all of it would be taken one step at a time. But now it looked like we


    had to take a few more steps, and make them a little faster than nned.


    I stepped up onto the stage and moved in front of Xander and Mason. I didn¡¯t have a microphone,


    so I didn¡¯t try to speak. I just let the audience see me. I kept my chin up and my shoulders straight.


    No amount of criticism or judgment could rock me. I¡¯d faced a lot worse than this.


    Maxim quickly handed me a handheld mic and turned it on. For a moment, a squeal of feedback


    sounded and then eased. The crowd quieted expectantly.


    ¡°Hello, everyone!¡± I waved. ¡°I¡¯m Lanie, and I am your Luna. For all of you concerned about Gabri,


    I want to reassure you that she¡¯s alive, well, and living her best life. She declined to join us in


    returning to Constantine, not because she didn¡¯t want to be with her family, but because she¡¯s found


    a new loving partner and wanted to stay where she was.¡±


    ¡°Proof!¡± rang out that first voice.


    I shaded my eyes to see if I could hone in on the user. ¡°I can¡¯t give you proof, since it didn¡¯t


    ur to any of us that some would be needed. But we can get in touch with her, and let her know


    you¡¯re all asking about her¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle this, Mother.¡± Ste¡¯s calm voice murmured through our joint mind link. ¡°Daddy, Abba,


    Papa, I¡¯ll ease this man¡¯s mind. I can¡¯t do it for every person here, but he¡¯s the one shouting.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t wild about Ste manipting anyone¡¯s thoughts or emotions, but in this instance, it looked


    like the guy in the crowed was dead set on derailing this meeting. ¡°Thank you, little star.¡±


    The man didn¡¯t shout again.


    ¡°Lanie is our mate and our Luna.¡± Xander turned to gesture at me. ¡°Me, my Beta, Zane, and also my


    co-Alpha, Mason. The four of us were blessed by the Moon Goddess in our unconventional union,


    and it¡¯s my firm expectation that you¡¯ll all wee her to the role of Luna.¡±


    I had to stifle augh at Xander¡¯s ¡°dad¡± voice. It offered no argument, kind of the same way when he


    was making our pups finish their meat at dinner before they¡¯d be allowed to have candy. I kept


    myself fromughing though, even as I caught sight of Zane¡¯s grin.


    ¡°They¡¯re happy to ept you. And us.¡± Zane¡¯s thoughts filled the mind link.


    I felt a rise of hesitant happinessing from the crowd through him. This was weird, but I rolled


    with it. I raised my hands and addressed the crowd again.


    ¡°It¡¯s my honor to serve as your Luna, and I look forward to it!¡±


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    The crowd rose in a rush of cheering. It faded when Xander stepped back up to the front. He


    gestured for Mason to join him at the front of the stage.


    ¡°We, the co-Alphas of Pack Constantine, understand and empathize with how much damage the


    High Council left behind. But we want to make it clear that other supernaturals are not our


    enemies.¡± He paused as though expecting some pushback, but the only sounds were soft murmurs.


    He pressed on. ¡°We know it can be hard to change your minds after being told so many lies. We


    intend to set all of the records straight and bring truth back to this pack and all of wolf society. We¡¯ll


    be leading with transparency, honesty and integrity.¡±


    The crowd roared. My heart swelled with pride and love. These people could have rushed the stage


    and thrown all of us in prison, poisoned by what the High Council had done. They could have let


    another war start, continued the lies, refused to listen to reason. Instead, they were embracing my


    mates and me.


    When I¡¯d first been mated with Xander and Zane, I¡¯d never imagined a day like this.


    As it turned out, nothing in my imagination could have prepared me for today.

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    Xander


    As more shouts erupted, and the crowd began surging up toward the stage, I held up my hands.


    The truth was, if they all truly wanted to riot, they would. There wouldn¡¯t be much me, Zane, and


    Mason, could do about it.


    I didn¡¯t want to rule this pack like my father had. I refused to, as a matter of fact. But that didn¡¯t


    mean I wasn¡¯t going to show them all exactly who was boss.


    My lip curled in a snarl that reverberated through the air. I felt my canines lengthen, just a touch.


    Behind me, without me saying even a word to them, both Zane and Mason did the same. When I


    shot a nce at Lanie, she¡¯d stepped back, her eyes wide. Not frightened but impressed.


    ¡°Let him speak!¡± Someone shouted from the crowd.


    I should have known they¡¯d all want to know where my mom was. Telling them she¡¯d found a new


    mate wasn¡¯t going to sit well with anyone who was harboring conspiracy theories about her being


    killed because of my father, but I also wasn¡¯t going to start this new era building on the lies he¡¯d left


    behind. Sure, I missed my mom, but I understood why she wanted to stay at Brightsky. She


    deserved the chance at happiness.


    As the crowd settled, I let my wolf retreat¡­at least physically. I was sure to keep Hunter at the


    ready in case I needed him. He was eager to be set free and wanted to run, but he¡¯d have been


    happy tounch himself into battle, too.


    ¡°Steady, old friend,¡± I murmured to him in my head and promised myself I¡¯d set up some training


    days as soon as I could.


    Hopefully, though, training for war would only be a pastime, not something we needed to truly


    prepare for.


    My brother stepped up to address the audience. ¡°Everyone, I realize this is not something you were


    prepared for, but I want to reassure you that my brother and I are both on the same page when it


    comes to this pack. I¡¯m honored to be at his side, and I¡¯m also honored to have Zane as my Beta.


    And, I want to make sure you all know that I¡¯ll be avable to meet with any of you who have


    concerns about me, who I am, and how I intend to work as the co-Alpha of this pack.¡±


    I listened to his calm, steady voice, and shot a grateful thought up to the Moon Goddess that I had


    my brother at my side. For as bad as it started off, our rtionship had be steady. We couldn¡¯t


    have gone through everything we had without ending up having each other¡¯s backs.


    Mason gave me a nod and stepped back.


    I faced all of them again. ¡°There are a lot of changesing for this pack. First, I want you all to


    know that I appreciate and value your support. I am my father¡¯s son, but I will not be making his


    mistakes.¡±


    Some faces in the crowd frowned and grumbled, but most of them smiled and nodded. I sensed an


    upsurge of confidence and relief. We¡¯d been gone a long time, and a lot of shit had gone down.


    They wanted and needed leadership that worked with them and for them.


    ¡°Second,¡± I continued, ¡°I¡¯ll be setting up a series of discussions about what we experienced while


    we were gone. We¡¯re going to be sharing that information with you. No more secrets. And friends,


    let me tell you, there¡¯s a lot of stuff we weren¡¯t told.¡±


    I waited a second or so for the murmurs to die down, then went on. ¡°Third, Constantine will now


    be a sanctuary for all supernatural beings, provided those who join us abide by our rules:


    Contribute to the well-being of the pack, and be kind. Hatred and discrimination will no longer be


    tolerated here.¡±


    I looked around at everyone, fixing my gaze and the light in my eyes on as many individuals as I


    could.


    ¡°The old regime, the High Council, used fear to control us. Ultimately, their fear and hatred was their


    own downfall. They were destroyed because of it. I won¡¯t see that happen to the rest of us. We are


    Pack Constantine!¡±


    The crowd¡¯s roar became deafening. Shouts, cheers, hats thrown into the air. People were jumping


    up and down, hugging, pping each other on the backs.


    ¡°We are!¡± Mason shouted, and the crowd called back, ¡°Constantine!¡±


    ¡°We are!¡± Zane stepped up and hollered out the words with a wide, broad grin.


    The crowd bellowed out the response, ¡°CONSTANTINE!¡±


    That¡¯s when another, single voice rang out. ¡°Show us the child!¡±


    The silence fell like a hammer. The crowd parted to show a single man in the center of it. He looked


    around like he was surprised at being shown up that way, but then faced the stage to shout it out


    again.


    ¡°Show us the child!¡±


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°Ste,¡± Lanie thought to me in a panic. ¡°He means Ste.¡±

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    Mason


    ¡°Ste! Show us Ste!¡±


    At the sound of my daughter¡¯s name in the voice of the crowd, Colt stirred inside me and rose with a


    growl. I felt my eyes zing, and my ws and teeth were both descending. If they tried to harm


    her, I¡¯d fight them all to the death.


    My brother held up his hands again, although the audience had gone quiet. I could feel their


    anticipation rising, along with an edge of anxiety. It wasn¡¯t that I med them, but I still wasn¡¯t going


    to let anyone hurt her.


    ¡°It is not the custom for the pups of the Alpha and Luna to be paraded around like show dogs,¡±


    Xander said firmly in a clear voice. ¡°If you have questions about Ste¡ª¡±


    ¡°I heard she¡¯s the one who killed the entire High Council!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not a wolf!¡±


    ¡°Someone said she¡¯s not even Alpha Xander¡¯s pup!¡±


    Xander and I shared a look. His fists were clenching, and his snarl was loud enough I could hear it


    even over the crowd. I knew he was going to lose his shit if they kept up with the usations, even


    with Zane pulsing out his calming Beta energy.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°She can control people¡¯s minds!¡±


    ¡°She ate the High Council!¡±


    Thisst shout sent ripples all through everyone in the audience. I could see Xander raising his


    fists, but who did he think he could pound first? There were so many of them, and what they were


    shouting pissed me off, too, but we had to keep our heads clear.


    When I stepped up again, I made sure to make eye contact with everyone in the front row, one at a


    time, along with a reassuring nod and smile. Then I addressed everyone else. I kept my voice


    steady, but firm. I might not have been raised to be an Alpha, but I was one now.


    ¡°Friends!¡± I shouted. ¡°We¡¯re all getting a little worked up. Let¡¯s not allow unsubstantiated rumors to


    fly around, okay? Ste Constantine is the daughter of Xander and Lanie, but I consider her my


    own, as well. As many of you know, in order to save our Luna¡¯s life, she spent some time in


    Stillwood, where she and I met.¡±


    This had the possibility of getting sticky with exnations that I didn¡¯t want to shout out to a crowd,


    but I had to keep my brother from shifting into his wolf and tearing into the restless pack. I didn¡¯t


    me him for being upset, but we had to keep ourselves under control. Lead with example. Protect


    our family while also honoring ourmitment to the entire pack.


    ¡°I saw her! I saw Ste, and she¡¯s an adult!¡± The woman shouting this turned to herpanions


    with a frightened look. ¡°Those twins look like they doubled just fine. How can she have grown up so


    fast?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a freak!¡± someone shouted in response.


    ¡°A hybrid!¡±


    ¡°The High Council warned us about hybrids!¡±


    ¡°The High Council were bigots who deserved everything that happened to them!¡± Xander growled.


    His Alpha fury rippled out into the crowd. Some fell back, but not everyone did. ¡°Their campaign of


    hatred will not happen again! Look around you. I guarantee you in this crowd you¡¯ll find your friends,


    your loved ones, might also be hybrids.¡±


    I added my Alpha energy to his, but used mine to pull his back a bit. I spoke up again. ¡°Our Ste is


    unique and unusual, that¡¯s the truth. She¡¯s also not used to being in the spotlight like me and


    Xander are, so I¡¯m going to ask you to respect that and give her some time and space. But she is


    the descendant of Xander, she is not a freak, and yes, she is now an adult. When she¡¯s ready, she¡¯ll


    address you. But on her terms!¡±


    I could tell they weren¡¯t exactly happy with this response. I couldn¡¯t really me them, either. This


    pack had been lied to for so long, I couldn¡¯t be shocked if they had trouble trusting in any kind of


    authority figures. Plus, I knew that if I were among them, I¡¯d be wary and scared by rumors, too.


    Xander and I stood shoulder to shoulder, with Zane slightly behind us. Lanie stepped up beside him.


    The four of us would be no match if the pack rushed the stage¡­at least that was the expectation.


    None of these people had any clue about what we¡¯d faced. How we¡¯d conquered. They were afraid


    of Ste, and I understood their concerns, but they were afraid of her for the wrong reasons.


    ¡°We demand to see her!¡±


    ¡°You said no more secrets!¡±


    ¡°What are you hiding, Alpha Xander? Why won¡¯t you show us your daughter?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡±


    As more shouts and usations rang out, Xander, Zane, Lanie, and I formed a line. Our wolves


    rose, ready to fight if necessary. We¡¯d faced the High Council.


    We were about to find out if we had to fight the entire remaining pack.

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    Ste


    A rush of intense emotion stabbed into me like a thousand tiny des slicing me all over. My flesh


    stung and crawled like I was being bitten by ants. I¡¯d opened myself empathically when my fathers


    started speaking, and this fierce influx of emotions rose and rose without stopping.


    I¡¯d been standing in the back of the stage, off to the side where nobody could see me. Earlier, I¡¯d


    quieted the shouting man who¡¯d been trying to rile up the crowd, but I could see now that had been


    the wrong choice.


    I¡¯d thought I was easing his worries, but all I¡¯d done was give room for him to feel stifled without


    knowing why, and that nameless feeling had pushed his anxiety even higher. The people around


    him had sensed it, reacted to it, and now, they were all starting to feel it¡­which meant so was I.


    How could I me the people of this pack for being afraid of what they didn¡¯t know? How could I


    ask them to understand what I, myself, could barely begin toprehend? I was unlike anything


    they¡¯d ever known.


    Celestial.


    Most of them probably had never even heard of such a creature. They¡¯d been lied to for so long,


    and they hadn¡¯t even been fully informed that there was an entire world beyond wolves, vampires,


    and witches. How could we expect them to simply change everything they¡¯d been taught? To ept


    the existence of other supernatural beings without questions or worries? They were terrified of the


    rumors, but the reality was going to shock them even more. My heart went out to each individual


    pack member who was struggling.


    As I heard my fathers addressing the crowd, another thousand¡ªno, a hundred thousand small


    des raked at me like the slices from a hundred thousand ws. I drew in a shaking breath and


    stood up straight. I needed to draw strength from the Moon Goddess.


    I had to close myself down from the full force of all their feelings, or else they were going to¡­well,


    not destroy me. But hurt me quite badly. I narrowed myself to only the broadest and most general


    overview of the crowd instead of each individual. Anxiety, tension, concern, fear. There was also


    some self-satisfaction as people convinced themselves they¡¯d been right all along not to trust


    anyone in charge.


    This pack neededfort. Reassurance. They needed the truth.


    If only I knew what to tell them!


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    My family wanted to protect me because they still thought of me as a child. They probably always


    would. I loved my fathers and my mother for that unconditional love and support, but the Moon


    Goddess had shown me in a vision that being a Celestial was not meant to be a dirty little secret.


    I¡¯d reached out to her again this morning, but there¡¯d been no clear answer. I knew I had to ept


    that. I might be a Celestial, and I might be able to harness all the supernatural gifts that existed, but


    that didn¡¯t make me a goddess.


    I heard the usations being thrown around, and again, my heart went out to all the scared people


    of the pack. My fathers were trying to defend me, but of course, just about everything the crowd was


    shouting was true, at least in some measure.


    Nothing could be gained by hiding away. I just wished I had some clearer help to guide me. Back in


    Brightsky, with a mission, my goals had been easy to figure out. My visions from the Moon Goddess


    had been consistent. Reliable.


    For one moment, I felt very, very alone.


    My feelings of istion and abandonment faded within a few seconds. The Moon Goddess would


    let me know when I was needed, and what I should do. She had never led me astray or let me down


    in the past.


    My faith in her wasplete.


    If only the pack could feel that sameforting weight, that utter confidence that came along with


    the knowledge that someone was watching over them. Protecting them the way my parents wanted


    to protect me¡­


    Ah! There it was! My confidence that I didn¡¯t need a specific vision to guide me.


    Whether it came from the Moon Goddess or from somewhere deep inside myself, because I was a


    Celestial, or because I was an adult, I couldn¡¯t be sure. What I did understand was that this pack


    belonged to me.


    I was the daughter of not one, but two Alphas. My lineage was strong. Powerful. I carried their


    strength inside of me, and it had nothing to do with being a Celestial.


    I was a Constantine.


    My people needed to trust me, and how could they put their faith in me if I was no more than a myth


    or a rumor? They were scared of what they didn¡¯t understand, so I needed to help them understand


    me.


    To know me.


    I stepped out of the shadows, and into the light.

 Chapter 464

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    Chapter 464


    Ste


    My dad¡¯s muscles tensed under my grip when I stepped forward to grip his shoulder.


    Abba was at his side with Papa slightly behind them. My mom was tense, too, and I could tell she


    wanted to get up in front of the crowd to tell them to leave me alone, but she was holding herself


    back out of respect for the Alphas.


    When my Abba turned to me, his eyes widened slightly. I knew that Daddy was my biological father


    ¡ªbut Abba was the first father I¡¯d ever known. Plus, we all shared the same blood through the


    grandfather I¡¯d never met. My connection with all three of my fathers was strong, but there would


    always be something special between me and my Abba.


    I gave him the slightest of nods, and he returned it. I could sense that he wanted to step between


    me and the front of the stage, but he stayed in ce. Daddy, on the other hand, growled and half-


    turned. Before he could tell me to get back out of sight, I used our mind link to send him


    reassurance.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Daddy. I¡¯ve got this.¡±


    I squeezed his shoulder again but didn¡¯t try to send him any calming feelings. He¡¯d know right away


    I was doing it, and he¡¯d get angry with me for trying to soothe him when he felt¡ªand not wrongly¡ª


    that he needed to be on high alert. Even so, I needed him to back off, and I didn¡¯t want to do it by


    reminding him that I was a Celestial.


    I wanted him to remember that on his own.


    After a second, his eyes zing, my dad stepped back, too. I shot a quick nce at Papa Zane,


    then at my mom. Both of them gave me faint nods. We were all together on this. Pride and gratitude


    flooded me. We¡¯d been to literal hell and back again. Nothing could break our family apart.


    Now, if only I could convince the pack of the same thing.


    ¡°Hello, friends!¡± I called out. I tried to keep my voice light, not aggressive, but also firm. Authoritative


    without being overbearing.


    They knew my adult figure was not usual. I was too grown up and also too young at the same time.


    I could feel their confusion rising.


    ¡°I¡¯m Ste Constantine. You know my Dad, Xander. And my other fathers, Papa Zane and Abba


    Mason. I¡¯m sure I¡¯m quite a surprise to you all, but I assure you, nobody was more shocked than my


    papa the day he came to pick me up from school expecting to see a toddler and finding¡­well. Me.¡±


    I waited, holding my breath, hoping I hadn¡¯tpletely bungled all of this. My senses had told me


    the crowd would respond to light humor, but as they all stared, some of them with the zing eyes


    that showed their wolves were very close to the surface, I had to send up a prayer to the Moon


    Goddess that she¡¯d been guiding me down the right path.


    Then, someone chuckled.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    The negative mood didn¡¯tpletely break and dissolve, but it got a lot better. People took deep


    breaths. They smiled. Some murmured to each other about times when their own pups surprised


    them.


    ¡°I realize that you all are likely to have a lot of questions. So, like my dad and abba both have said


    already, I want you to be able toe to me with them. Please just understand that, although I¡¯ll be


    as honest as I can be with you, there are many things about myself that I don¡¯t even know. So¡­I


    hope you¡¯ll all help me discover what I can about myself.¡±


    I paused again, hoping that my appeal for their help had also been the right choice. People liked to


    feel connected to their Alpha and his family. I wanted them to feel that connection to me. A


    willingness to ept and help me, instead of being afraid.


    ¡°We heard that you destroyed the High Council!¡± a voice called out hesitantly.


    More whispers circted.


    ¡°Yes. That¡¯s true. The Moon Goddess granted me the blessings of her vision and guidance, to let


    me know that the High Council nned to eliminate me and my family.¡±


    I took a soft breath and tried to meet the gazes of as many people as I could. I wanted to sound


    confident, even though I didn¡¯t entirely feel that way.


    ¡°The High Council lied to you and betrayed you. I didn¡¯t want to hurt them. I don¡¯t want to hurt


    anyone. But they refused to stop their attack, and they lost their lives because of their hatred.¡±


    ¡°How could you take out the entire High Council all on your own?¡± another voice cried out. ¡°You¡¯re


    just a girl!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not a girl!¡± someone else shouted out. ¡°She¡¯s something else!¡±


    ¡°Tell us the truth!¡± another voice shouted out. ¡°We¡¯re tired of being lied to!¡±


    I could feel all four of my parents urging me to find a way to keep my secret just a tiny bit longer,


    until they could find a way to spin it. But I knew there was no more hiding. Not if I wanted this pack


    to ept me.


    I sent up one more prayer to the Moon Goddess.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t let them tear me apart.¡±

 Chapter 465

    Chapter 465


    Chapter 465


    Ste


    ¡°You¡¯re right! I am not a girl! I¡¯m a woman,¡± I said with a slight smile and that edge of humor I¡¯d been


    trying out before. I didn¡¯t pause for theughs, though.


    I faced the crowd with my chin up and my shoulders straight. I put as much confidence and maturity


    into my voice as I could. The Moon Goddess didn¡¯t send me a vision, but that didn¡¯t matter. I could


    do this.


    I had to.


    ¡°And yes, it¡¯s also true that I am more than that. I am a Celestial.¡±


    There were some gasps. Even a few loud guffaws, like I¡¯d made a joke. There were some mutters,


    too, half-angry and half-confused.


    I didn¡¯t use humor this time, and I didn¡¯t try for the element of surprise. I simply waited and let them


    take it all in. Someone would know what I was talking about, and I wanted that person to be the one


    to speak first. I could pound all of them with this knowledge, but it would be so much better¡­so


    much easier¡­if it came from someone they already trusted.


    Just as long as that person wasn¡¯t horrified.


    The Moon Goddess didn¡¯t feel very close to me in those few moments while I waited. I could feel my


    parents holding their breaths, expecting me to speak. Ready to fly to my defense, verbally or


    physically, if they had to.


    Atst, a tremulous voice rose above the crowd.


    ¡°A Celestial! A blessing from the Moon Goddess herself! Oh, praise, praise to the Goddess!¡±


    The people gathered parted, leaving an opening around the old woman in the center. Her long gray


    hair trailed down her back in a series of tiny braids tipped with beads. Her dark-blue gown was


    spackled with silver and gold stars all up and down the front of it. As she moved toward the stage,


    the crowd continued to part. She turned, shaking hands and kissing cheeks, and I could see more


    gold and silver designs on the back of her robes. The entire moon cycle was embroidered there.


    She reached the front of the stage and beamed up at me, holding out her hands for a moment


    before turning back to face the crowd. ¡°We¡¯ve waited a long time for the blessings of a Celestial!¡±


    I could see a few confused looks being passed around. The old woman offered her hands to my dad


    and Abba, who helped her onto the stage. She put her arms around me and enfolded me into an


    embrace so warm andforting I wanted to sink into it. When she pulled away, she kissed both


    my cheeks, one at a time.


    ¡°My dear, my great-grandmother told me many stories of theing of a Celestial, and what it


    would mean for our pack. But I never dreamed it would happen within my lifetime.¡±


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What¡¯s a Celestial?¡± A hesitant, brave voice spoke out.


    She turned to face them all. ¡°A Celestial is a tapestry, woven of every single thread. Beyond the


    blessings of the Moon Goddess, our precious Ste is able to ess the gifts of every supernatural


    to have ever existed. That she belongs to our pack is a blessing of the highest order.¡±


    ¡°Is that how you were able to kill so many who were much stronger than you?¡±


    ¡°If she¡¯s one of these Celestial things, she has to be strong!¡±


    ¡°What does this mean?¡±


    The old woman, still smiling, turned to take both of my hands in hers. She squeezed my fingers.


    She gave me a single, firm nod.


    Her confidence in me lifted me up. Again, I faced the crowd. I kept my voice as clear as I could, but


    it shook with my own waves of emotion.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it by myself. I am a Celestial, yes, but that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t need the support and


    love of my parents. Or my pack,¡± I said and swallowed hard around the lump in my throat. ¡°I would


    never have been able to stop the High Council without my parents. All four of them were there to


    protect me¡­just as all four of them will be here to lead this pack. Your two Alphas, your Beta, and


    your Luna!¡±


    Cheers rang out. People clutched each other. The old woman hugged me again.


    My dad stepped up. ¡°Everyone, I promise you, there will be ample time for everyone to ask the


    questions they need to be answered. We¡¯re here, together, just as Ste said. More importantly, we


    are all here together. Alpha Mason and I have dered today a pack holiday! Food and drinks are


    on us!¡±


    More cheers rose up. I knew there¡¯d be many more questions and meetings, and not all of the


    people watching us were satisfied, but that was fine. They had the right to their concerns. We¡¯d face


    them all with honesty, just as my dad had promised them.


    I watched my parents embrace, hugging and kissing because they loved each other¡ªbut also to


    show everyone of the pack that they were truly all mated. It would take some time for them to get


    used to it, but this was a great start.


    Looking out at the entire pack cheering,ughing, and celebrating, though, I couldn¡¯t stop myself


    from also feeling sad.


    Nobody would ever love me that way.


    Who could ever want someone like me?

 Chapter 466

    Chapter 466


    Chapter 466


    Mason


    The party we¡¯d meant as a small celebration, a wee home, a token of our appreciation to the


    pack¡­yeah, that little shindig had gone on until long past moonrise. Hell, some revelers were still


    going as the sun rose.


    I¡¯d grabbed a few hours of shuteye, but the room here in this mansion felt strangely too small. The


    biggest bedroom I¡¯d ever had, and the walls had closed in on me while I tossed and turned next to


    my sleeping mates.


    Finally, when the birds chirping outside sounded louder than an rm going off, I got out of bed and


    made my way to the kitchen.


    Some of the staff were already up, of course. Someone had to make the bread and get the coffee


    brewing. I startled a pair of chatty women dressed in maids¡¯ uniforms as they replenished their


    cleaning caddies.


    ¡°Good morning, Alpha Mason! We were just¡­um¡­ahem, we¡¯re getting to work right away!¡±


    I had to stifle myughter, but I also felt a little bad that they looked so obviously worried that I was


    going to scold them. Or worse. I wondered if my brother had been the sort of Alpha toe down


    hard on the staff, or if that was a throwback from Orion.


    Every time I thought I had this Alpha gig down pat, something new cropped up to remind me that


    wishing and wanting to be something wasn¡¯t the same as training to be something.


    ¡°No worries,¡± I told the maids, who giggled behind their hands.


    ¡°Can I serve you some breakfast, Alpha Mason?¡± A younger man in the house uniform of ck


    trousers and a white button-down approached me hesitantly. I recognized him from the night before,


    when he¡¯d been dancing wildly with¡­yep, one of the maids.


    Man, I missed the days when I could party all night and still wake up at the crack of dawn looking


    like I¡¯d slept for twelve hours.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just grab some coffee. I can get it myself.¡± I stopped him from heading into the kitchen on my


    behalf.


    He looked a little taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s just that Cook is kind of¡­protective. About her kitchen.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the Alpha,¡± I told him dryly. ¡°Somehow, I think grabbing myself a cup of coffee shouldn¡¯t be too


    much of a problem.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    The maids and the young man all left me. In the kitchen, I found the cook hovering over the oven,


    talking a mile a minute about the sourdough loaves in several pans on the racks inside. I found the


    coffee pot and helped myself, only to turn around and see who was taking up so much of her


    attention.


    ¡°Ste,¡± I said happily. ¡°Good morning, little star.¡±


    ¡°Morning, Abba!¡± she said cheerfully.


    Talk about looking fresher than a daisy. I suspected Ste hadn¡¯t slept at all. Did she even have to?


    I wasn¡¯t sure, but I suspected that she could get along on no sleep for a lot longer than I¡¯d ever


    been able to.


    She hopped off the counter and gave Cook a big, warm hug. The older woman gave me a side eye


    but didn¡¯tin about me helping myself to the coffee. She put a couple of fresh blueberry


    muffins into a handled basket and gave it to Ste with an admonition toe back any time.


    ¡°You¡¯re too thin,¡± Cook scolded.


    Steughed and hugged her again. She linked her arm through mine and leaned against me.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, Abba. Let¡¯s go out into the back garden and have our breakfast. Have you been out there


    yet?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been much of anywhere yet,¡± I reminded her.


    Either she¡¯d been exploring, or her Celestial talents gave her an unerring sense of direction,


    because my daughter led me through a maze of hallways and through a double set of doors.


    Beyond was a high-walled courtyard with a garden in full bloom.


    ¡°Kind of like Brightsky, huh?¡± she whispered as she nudged me with her elbow.


    ¡°Kind of.¡±


    We found seats on a curving stone bench in front of some red and white roses in full bloom. Unlike


    Brightsky, there was no artificial sun here to make them grow, and once more I was reminded that I


    had no idea what time of year it was. How long we¡¯d been in the enve. It might¡¯ve been a year, or


    two, or three months¡­


    Ste cocked her head to stare at me. ¡°Abba? Are you all right?¡±


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I sipped my hot coffee. It was perfect. Delicious. Fit for an Alpha, as a matter of fact, and I couldn¡¯t


    stop myself from chuckling under my breath.


    ¡°I waited my whole life to be here,¡± I told her. ¡°And now that I¡¯m here¡­¡±


    ¡°It feels weird, doesn¡¯t it?¡± she asked quietly.


    I nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Ste tipped her face up toward the sky. ¡°You know, we could run away.¡±


    She had a teasing tone to her voice, but at first, I didn¡¯t answer her.


    Running away didn¡¯t actually seem out of the question.


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    Chapter 467


    Ste


    I knew my Abba was feeling out of ce here. The huge house. The staff. I¡¯d never spoken at


    length with him about how he grew up, which was very different from how Dad did. I just felt a


    strong sense of being out of ceing from him.


    I understood exactly how he felt.


    For a few minutes we just sat quietly in the bright morning sunshine. He sipped his coffee and broke


    the blueberry muffin into pieces. I ate a bite of mine and let the vors explode on my tongue. I was


    trying hard to appreciate everything for what it is. Simple pleasures.


    ¡°We can¡¯t run away, Ste,¡± Abba said finally.


    ¡°I know.¡± I licked some crumbs off my fingers and then wiped them clean with the cloth napkin Cook


    stuck into the basket. ¡°But if we did, where would you go?¡±


    His eyebrows went up fast and came down more slowly. I could tell he was thinking about it. ¡°I don¡¯t


    even know. Anyway, I¡¯m here now. I¡¯m co-Alpha with your dad. I¡¯m not going to abandon the pack,


    or you and the twins. Or your mother.¡±


    I nodded. I knew that already, and not from any Celestial superpower senses. I knew it because my


    Abba was one of the strongest and most loyal men I¡¯d ever met¡­not that I¡¯d actually met very many


    men.


    My shoulders lifted and fell with my heavy sigh. Abba nudged me with his knee.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the long face?¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°I know this is home. I remember being here before, although I was a baby and it¡¯s all


    fuzzy and distant, the way all my baby memories are. But I feel like a stranger, too. Just like you do.


    Like I¡¯m a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. ¡±


    Abba shifted on the bench and cleared his throat. ¡°Do you want to talk about it? Anything? I know


    that being a Celestial means that when you were a baby you were still aware in ways that normal¡­I


    mean¡­usually¡­ah, shit. I don¡¯t mean to imply that you¡¯re not normal, little star.¡±


    I burst intoughter and leaned my head on his shoulder. Abba put his arm around me. ¡°Oh, Abba.


    I¡¯m not normal.¡±


    ¡°Hey.¡± He pushed me away from him to hold my upper arms while he scowled into my face. ¡°You¡¯re


    a Celestial. It¡¯s normal¡­for a Celestial. I mean, you¡¯re not¡­weird.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m weird.¡± Iughed one more time and looked up at the sky with a grin. ¡°But that¡¯s okay. Look


    at who I have for a father.¡±


    Weughed together, then. Rollicking guffaws that hurt our sides and brought tears to our eyes. I


    hugged him hard. This time, when I let my head rest on his shoulder, he didn¡¯t push me away.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard for me to say what it would¡¯ve been like for me if I wasn¡¯t a Celestial, Abba. It¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever


    known. In babyhood, I knew I had to let you all think of me as an infant. Then when I got a little


    older, it was bing more and more clear to me every time the Moon Goddess offered me a


    vision. How to behave. What to expect. But she¡¯s gone quiet. I know there¡¯s more for me, but right


    now, I feel a little lost. I don¡¯t know my purpose.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Ste,¡± my Abba said sadly. ¡°I hate that for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s part of life, isn¡¯t it? Don¡¯t we all feel that way sometimes?¡±


    ¡°Sweetheart, I understand that being a Celestial is important. That it¡¯s who you are, and there¡¯s no


    other way you can be. But what I want for you is¡­shit. A normal life,¡± he finished finally with a hint


    of apology in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s okay for you not to have some kind of purpose right now. After


    everything we went through, and everything you did for us all, you deserve some time to just¡­be.


    Time to do more than survive and help the rest of us. I want you to make friends. Have a social life,


    like other young women your age.¡±


    ¡°Technically, I¡¯m not their age,¡± I reminded him.


    Weughed again at that. More quietly, this time. My father¡¯s love for me shone out of his eyes with


    such strength, I didn¡¯t have the heart to keep teasing him.


    ¡°Abba,¡± I said with a gentleugh. ¡°I can¡¯t be worried about all of that. I mean, really, what¡¯s the


    point? As soon as I learn my purpose andplete it, the Moon Goddess will call me home.¡±


    He made a low growl. ¡°What the hell does that mean? Even if it doesn¡¯t quite feel like it yet,


    Constantine is your home.¡±


    I was quiet for a moment. I wished there was a better way to say this to him. A softer way. But in the


    end, I could only tell him the full truth.


    ¡°No, Abba,¡± I told him gently. ¡°I mean that when my purpose is finished here¡­I¡¯ll die.¡±

 Chapter 467

    Chapter 467


    Ste


    I knew my Abba was feeling out of ce here. The huge house. The staff. I¡¯d never spoken at


    length with him about how he grew up, which was very different from how Dad did. I just felt a


    strong sense of being out of ceing from him.


    I understood exactly how he felt.


    For a few minutes we just sat quietly in the bright morning sunshine. He sipped his coffee and broke


    the blueberry muffin into pieces. I ate a bite of mine and let the vors explode on my tongue. I was


    trying hard to appreciate everything for what it is. Simple pleasures.


    ¡°We can¡¯t run away, Ste,¡± Abba said finally.


    ¡°I know.¡± I licked some crumbs off my fingers and then wiped them clean with the cloth napkin Cook


    stuck into the basket. ¡°But if we did, where would you go?¡±


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    His eyebrows went up fast and came down more slowly. I could tell he was thinking about it. ¡°I don¡¯t


    even know. Anyway, I¡¯m here now. I¡¯m co-Alpha with your dad. I¡¯m not going to abandon the pack,


    or you and the twins. Or your mother.¡±


    I nodded. I knew that already, and not from any Celestial superpower senses. I knew it because my


    Abba was one of the strongest and most loyal men I¡¯d ever met¡­not that I¡¯d actually met very many


    men.


    My shoulders lifted and fell with my heavy sigh. Abba nudged me with his knee.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the long face?¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°I know this is home. I remember being here before, although I was a baby and it¡¯s all


    fuzzy and distant, the way all my baby memories are. But I feel like a stranger, too. Just like you do.


    Like I¡¯m a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. ¡±


    Abba shifted on the bench and cleared his throat. ¡°Do you want to talk about it? Anything? I know


    that being a Celestial means that when you were a baby you were still aware in ways that normal¡­I


    mean¡­usually¡­ah, shit. I don¡¯t mean to imply that you¡¯re not normal, little star.¡±


    I burst intoughter and leaned my head on his shoulder. Abba put his arm around me. ¡°Oh, Abba.


    I¡¯m not normal.¡±


    ¡°Hey.¡± He pushed me away from him to hold my upper arms while he scowled into my face. ¡°You¡¯re


    a Celestial. It¡¯s normal¡­for a Celestial. I mean, you¡¯re not¡­weird.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m weird.¡± Iughed one more time and looked up at the sky with a grin. ¡°But that¡¯s okay. Look


    at who I have for a father.¡±


    Weughed together, then. Rollicking guffaws that hurt our sides and brought tears to our eyes. I


    hugged him hard. This time, when I let my head rest on his shoulder, he didn¡¯t push me away.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard for me to say what it would¡¯ve been like for me if I wasn¡¯t a Celestial, Abba. It¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever


    known. In babyhood, I knew I had to let you all think of me as an infant. Then when I got a little


    older, it was bing more and more clear to me every time the Moon Goddess offered me a


    vision. How to behave. What to expect. But she¡¯s gone quiet. I know there¡¯s more for me, but right


    now, I feel a little lost. I don¡¯t know my purpose.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Ste,¡± my Abba said sadly. ¡°I hate that for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s part of life, isn¡¯t it? Don¡¯t we all feel that way sometimes?¡±


    ¡°Sweetheart, I understand that being a Celestial is important. That it¡¯s who you are, and there¡¯s no


    other way you can be. But what I want for you is¡­shit. A normal life,¡± he finished finally with a hint


    of apology in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s okay for you not to have some kind of purpose right now. After


    everything we went through, and everything you did for us all, you deserve some time to just¡­be.


    Time to do more than survive and help the rest of us. I want you to make friends. Have a social life,


    like other young women your age.¡±


    ¡°Technically, I¡¯m not their age,¡± I reminded him.


    Weughed again at that. More quietly, this time. My father¡¯s love for me shone out of his eyes with


    such strength, I didn¡¯t have the heart to keep teasing him.


    ¡°Abba,¡± I said with a gentleugh. ¡°I can¡¯t be worried about all of that. I mean, really, what¡¯s the


    point? As soon as I learn my purpose andplete it, the Moon Goddess will call me home.¡±


    He made a low growl. ¡°What the hell does that mean? Even if it doesn¡¯t quite feel like it yet,


    Constantine is your home.¡±


    I was quiet for a moment. I wished there was a better way to say this to him. A softer way. But in the


    end, I could only tell him the full truth.


    ¡°No, Abba,¡± I told him gently. ¡°I mean that when my purpose is finished here¡­I¡¯ll die.¡±

 Chapter 468

    Chapter 468


    Mason


    For a second, all I could do was blink. Ste was watching me with apletely calm look on her


    face. Her eyes stayed steady on mine. They reminded me of Lanie¡¯s. She¡¯d always resembled


    Xander more, or so I¡¯d thought, but I had to admit I¡¯d allowed my imagination to sway me so I could


    pretend that instead of looking like my brother, she looked like me.


    It was what let me think of her as my own, even though I knew that was impossible.


    ¡°You¡¯re joking, right?¡± I shook my head and got off the bench to pace in front of it. I spun on the heel


    of my boot to face her, thinking I¡¯d find herughing. It would be a poor joke, but better for her to


    show off a terrible sense of humor rather than¡­


    ¡°No,¡± Ste said. ¡°The Moon Goddess showed me.¡±


    For another half a minute, all I could do was focus on curling my fingers hard against my palm,


    feeling my nails dig into the meat of my hand. I wanted to punch something, but I settled for carving


    wounds into my flesh, instead.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± The words fell from my mouth like stones, one at a time. Plink, plink, plink. They


    tasted like ashes.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ste nodded solemnly. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How!¡± My voice raised in a shout, but I quickly suppressed it to move closer to her. There were so


    many staff in this house, I didn¡¯t want anyone to overhear us. ¡°How can you be sure?¡±


    ¡°Abba, you wanting me to be unsure doesn¡¯t make it happen,¡± my daughter said calmly. She held


    out her hand and waited for me to take it, then drew me back to the bench so I could sit next to her.


    ¡°Did you always know?¡± I asked her, keeping my voice pitched low. I held her hand and put my


    other one over it, sandwiching her much smaller hand between mine.


    Ste gave me a curious look. Her brow furrowed. ¡°I must have, although it wasn¡¯t until we came


    here that I really understood what that meant. After all, Abba, we¡¯ve already faced death more than


    once in my lifetime.¡±


    ¡°But here, you¡¯re supposed to be safe,¡± I hissed at her.


    ¡°Here, we are safe.¡± Her gaze went far away for a few seconds before she focused on me again.


    ¡°But I will be shown my true purpose, and when I¡¯ve fulfilled it, then my time in this world will be


    done. I¡¯m a Celestial, Abba. Everything I¡¯ve ever learned about my kind is that yes, this is how it¡¯s all


    supposed to go. Have I always known it? That¡¯s hard for me to answer, since everything the Moon


    Goddess has shown me over time has been revealed when she decided it was time for me to know


    it. I am her servant.¡±


    I squeezed her hand and let my head hang for a moment, then looked up at her. ¡°I¡¯ve never been


    very religious.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t need you to make offerings or sing her praises,¡± Ste said softly. ¡°But because I love


    you, I think you should learn to ept that her will transcends any choices I would make on my


    own.¡±


    I gave a sharp, barkingugh. ¡°Will that help me ept when my beloved daughter dies because of


    the whim of a Goddess?¡±


    ¡°It might,¡± she said.


    A thought urred to me and filled me with a fierce hope. ¡°But you have no idea how long it will


    take to fulfill that purpose, right? It could be a week, or it could be a hundred years from now.¡±


    A faint smile painted itself over Ste¡¯s lips. ¡°I suppose so. Sure.¡±


    ¡°And, your goal as a Celestial will most certainly be something designed to help people. Right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, inclining her head to study me. ¡°Of course it will, Abba. I might have to cause harm,


    but my purpose would never be to bring harm.¡±


    I thought of her facing the High Council. They¡¯d had the chance to back down, but they hadn¡¯t, and


    so that meant they¡¯d had no chance to stand against her. Ste had been the reason for their


    deaths, but only because of their own anger and hatred.


    ¡°Well,¡± I said with a note of triumph in my tone, ¡°you said that making friends and being social isn¡¯t


    worth worrying about. But what if you have centuries left here? Doesn¡¯t it stand to reason that


    learning more about your pack and the rest of your family isn¡¯t such a bad thing? How do you know


    that the rest of your life¡¯s mission isn¡¯t to discover what would be best for people here to improve


    their lives?¡±


    Again, her smooth brow crinkled in thought as she studied me. Her lips pressed together, then


    parted. I saw a hint of excitement in her eyes that she quickly blinked away.


    ¡°You have a point,¡± Ste said slowly. Begrudgingly. ¡°But there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be able to do any of


    that.¡±


    ¡°Of course there is,¡± I promised. ¡°We just have to think of it.¡±

 Chapter 469

    Chapter 469


    Chapter 469


    Ste


    I¡¯de to ept the will of the Moon Goddess, even if it meant I only had a short time left here in


    Constantine, and in this world as a whole. I¡¯d pushed aside my sadness, not so much at the thought


    of leaving my family, since I knew that wherever the Goddess took me would be the ce I was


    meant to be. My sorrow was focused more on the knowledge that my loved ones would grieve for


    me, and there wasn¡¯t anything I could do to ease that pain.


    But now¡­now, my Abba was grinning at me with a wild light in his eyes. He squeezed my hand, a


    little too hard. It didn¡¯t hurt, but it surprised me enough to tug it out of his.


    ¡°You deserve a life, Ste. A real, true life. Celestial or not¡­in fact, maybe even more so because


    of that,¡± he said. ¡°If the Moon Goddess expects you to be her servant, surely she also has to give


    you some kind of rewards.¡±


    I thought about this. It wasn¡¯t like me and the Moon Goddess had heart to heart chats or anything


    like that. She gave me visions of what must happen, or what was toe. She guided me.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°I think she might intend my reward simply to be¡­here,¡± I said after a second.


    My father frowned. ¡°See? This is why I¡¯m not religious.¡±


    Iughed. ¡°Oh, Abba.¡±


    ¡°Look. I know you didn¡¯t be a Celestial because of anything that came through me. But you are


    my daughter as much as if I¡¯d sired you.¡± Abba looked grim. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you do wonderful and terrible


    things. I know what you are, but more importantly, Ste, I know who you are. And I refuse to


    believe that your destiny in life includes being lonely.¡±


    In Brightsky, I¡¯d been friendly with the other children in the school, but none of them had truly been


    my friends. My closestpanions had been my sister ina and brother Isaac, but even though


    they¡¯d grown up faster than most other wolf pups because they were hybrids, they were still much


    younger than me, both in physical and mental form. I loved them dearly, but we weren¡¯t in the same


    ce. Besides, they had each other.


    I¡¯d always been set off. Different. Alone.


    My chin lifted, and I tried hard to keep the wobble out of my voice. My father could hear it, though. I


    hated that this was causing him pain, even though at the same time, I was kind of desperate to hear


    what he had to say.


    ¡°Sweetheart, I don¡¯t say this to embarrass or shame you, but you¡¯ve never really been like anyone


    else,¡± he began, then stopped.


    Iughed, shaking my head. ¡°We¡¯ve already established that I¡¯m weird, Abba. I¡¯m not ashamed of it.


    I am who I am. What I am.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve also never really been able to just¡­be,¡± he said.


    I pondered this. ¡°When I was a baby¡ª¡±


    ¡°Even when you were a baby,¡± he said.


    We sat in silence for a few minutes. A soft breeze caressed my face, bringing with it the scent of the


    blooming roses and other flowers in the garden. I closed my eyes and let the sunlight make patterns


    behind the lids. I reached out to the Moon Goddess and felt her presence, but she was quiet.


    Listening? Waiting for me to make a choice?


    How could I know which was the right one?


    ¡°I do want friends, Abba,¡± I said finally and opened my eyes. ¡°For however long I have in this world,


    I don¡¯t want to be alone.¡±


    I wanted tough with girlfriends over silly outfits. I wanted to be asked out for coffee, to join a book


    club, to do one of those paint and sip wine things I¡¯d overheard my grandma talking about once on


    the phone.


    I wanted a boyfriend.


    A mate, children¡­I shook my head, not wanting to get too far ahead of myself. I told myself the


    Goddess would provide what I was meant to have.


    But oh¡­how I yearned to have a life.


    When I focused on my father, he was staring at me intently. I loved all four of my parents, of course,


    but Abba was the one I sometimes felt most alike. My Papa Zane and Dad Xander had each other.


    My mom had all of her mates, plus her pups. But Abba and I always seemed to stand a little outside


    of everyone else.


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been special, Ste. Even before we discovered you¡¯re a Celestial. The pack here in


    Constantine isn¡¯t really going to have the chance to think of you as anything other than that.


    Something to be marveled at, be curious about¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybe even a little afraid of,¡± I added, and Abba nodded.


    ¡°That too. But there is a way for people to learn about who Ste the person is. Not Ste the


    Celestial.¡±


    I frowned, feeling disheartened. ¡°But how?¡±


    Abba grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve just thought of the way.¡±

 Chapter 470

    Chapter 470


    Chapter 470


    Mason


    When Lanie needed to sneak into the hybrid facility to rescue the twins, she¡¯d used a potion from


    the witch Rhiannon to change her appearance.


    When I described that quickly to Ste, she tipped her head back inughter that rang throughout


    the walled garden. When she looked back at me, her eyes twinkled. She patted my hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need a potion, Abba! I can ess the powers of a shapeshifter, remember?¡±


    I shook my head with a chuckle. ¡°Sweetheart, there¡¯s so much you can do that I can¡¯t even begin to


    comprehend.¡±


    As I watched, Ste¡¯s features rippled. Her eyes turned a dark amber, while her hair faded into pale


    gold. Faint freckles scattered suddenly across her nose and cheeks, which were pudgier than they¡¯d


    been a moment ago. Her smiling mouth changed, too. The effectsted only a few seconds before


    she returned to her familiar face.


    ¡°That¡¯s beyond amazing,¡± I told her, the hairs rising on the back of my neck. ¡°It¡¯s incredible.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s weird,¡± she said matter-of-factly.


    Iughed again. ¡°It¡¯s not something I think you¡¯d want to trot out in front of people who don¡¯t know


    you, that¡¯s for sure. But it¡¯s still an amazing gift.¡±


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    ¡°How¡¯s it going to help me, though?¡± She bit her lower lip with straight, white teeth, then let her head


    hang so her hair covered her face for a moment. Her fingers knotted in herp as she shook her


    head. ¡°Looking like a different person isn¡¯t going to make me into a different person.¡±


    I thought of Lanie when she¡¯d been Katie. She had looked the same as she did now, but she had


    been different. And why? Because those of us in Stillwood hadn¡¯t known her already. We hadn¡¯t had


    any preconceived notions of how she ought to behave, or anything about her personality at all.


    ¡°Looking like a different person is going to give you the chance to figure out who you want to be. Not


    who the Goddess expects you to be,¡± I cautioned her. ¡°You¡¯re still discovering yourself, little star.


    You might have every gift a supernatural can have, and you might have all the weight of the


    universe on your shoulders, but so far in your life, have you ever had the chance to truly understand


    yourself?¡±


    I could tell she had not. Her eyes welled with tears she dashed away with quick swipes of her


    fingertips. She gave me a watery, brave, and genuine smile.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m starting to. I definitely want to,¡± she added quickly.


    ¡°If you look like someone else for a while, you might be able to put down some of your burden. Just


    for a short time, here and there,¡± I said hastily when it looked like she meant to protest. ¡°But you are


    not only a Celestial, Ste. You¡¯re more than that.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s possible to be more than a Celestial, Abba.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not trying


    to brag, but Celestials are a pretty big deal.¡±


    Iughed and leaned forward to hug her with one arm. She leaned against me. ¡°So let yourself be


    ordinary sometimes.¡±


    She was quiet for a moment or so before she pulled away with a nod. ¡°I think I understand what


    you¡¯re getting at.¡±


    Excitement edged her voice, and the gleam of tears became a shine of interest.


    ¡°As long as everyone here recognizes me, I won¡¯t be able to do much. I won¡¯t be able to hang out


    with anyone other than people who already know me¡­which is a very small group,¡± she said.


    I nodded, letting her put the pieces together, as I knew she¡¯d be able to. ¡°Yep.¡±


    ¡°But if I change my appearance, I could go out. In public. Anywhere I wanted to go!¡± She sounded


    even more excited and even pped her hands together a couple of times. ¡°People I meet won¡¯t be


    stuck on the fact that I¡¯m a Celestial. Heck, they won¡¯t even know!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. It will give you some freedom. You¡¯ll be able to have some privacy, too,¡± I told


    her.


    Ste¡¯s excitement faded. She frowned. ¡°But¡­Abba, won¡¯t people be upset with me once they find


    out? It will feel like I¡¯ve tricked them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s possible. But if you make the right sorts of friends, they¡¯ll care more about what¡¯s inside of


    you, the real you, than how you look.¡±


    ¡°But when they find out I¡¯m Ste the Celestial, they¡¯ll be upset I didn¡¯t tell them already.¡±


    ¡°Why would they?¡± I point out. ¡°Unless you straight up lie and say ¡®Hi there, I¡¯m absolutely not a


    Celestial, happy to meet you,¡¯ what could they really say?¡¯¡±


    ¡°Abba,¡± Ste said with a frown.


    I grinned. ¡°I know it¡¯s splitting hairs. A technicality. As your father, I certainly wouldn¡¯t suggest you


    practice dishonesty as a general rule. But¡­¡±


    ¡°But,¡± Ste agreed after a second¡¯s hesitation. Her grin returned. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better to ask for


    forgiveness than for permission?¡±


    I held up my hand so she could fist bump it. ¡°Let¡¯s start with that.¡±

 Chapter 471

    Chapter 471


    Chapter 471


    Ste


    ¡°What are you two up to?¡±


    I turned toward my mom¡¯s voice as she approached us with a smile. She looked so much more


    rxed here in Constantine than she did when we were living in Brightsky. My Abba and I shared a


    quick look of mutual understanding before he got up off the bench to greet her with a hug and a


    kiss.


    I watched them wistfully, but with some hope brewing inside me. My father¡¯s suggestion that I use


    my shapeshifting skills to change my appearance was a wild idea¡­but one that I really hoped


    would work.


    It was also something I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to tell my mom about. I figured she¡¯d worry about me.


    And I definitely knew that Dad would lose his mind over the idea of me going out into the world.


    Papa might be okay with it, but for now, Abba and I shared another look that said he was going to


    help me keep my secret.


    After all, it was just a small one.


    Right?


    ¡°Mason? Ste?¡± Mom frowned, looking from him to me and back again. ¡°What¡¯s up? Everything


    okay?¡±


    The edge of worry in her voice made me sad. I didn¡¯t want her to fret, especially not here in the


    pds, where we were all supposed to be happy. I stood up to give her a hug and a kiss on the


    cheek.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s great, Mama. We¡¯re just getting used to being settled. That¡¯s all. And Abba says he


    stayed up tootest night.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t actually said that aloud, but I¡¯d sensed it in him.


    Abbaughed and slipped his arm around my mom¡¯s waist. ¡°I must be getting old. Can¡¯t party like I


    used to back in the olden days at Stillwood, when I was a young, single, rogue wolf¡­¡±


    Mom smacked his arm yfully. ¡°Uh huh. Keep talking about how it was back when you were young


    and single, and you might find yourself single again!¡±


    Heughed and pulled her close for another kiss. ¡°Never.¡±


    They hugged and kissed before my mom turned back to me again. ¡°The twins are still sleeping, but


    I thought after they woke up that we could all take a little trip downtown? They need new shoes, and


    honestly, we could all use a bit of a new wardrobe, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    We¡¯d brought hardly anything with us from Brightsky, and although I figured my mom probably had


    some clothes and personal belongings here in the Alpha¡¯s mansion, she¡¯d also been a very different


    person when she left here. Hardly more than a kid, I realized now with a start. Sure, she¡¯d been


    mated to my dad and papa¡­pregnant with me¡­


    ¡°Little star?¡±


    I shook off my thoughts and smiled at her. ¡°Yes, Mama?¡±


    ¡°You looked so far away,¡± my mom said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go shopping in town if you don¡¯t want to.


    We could order things to be delivered. I didn¡¯t think about what it would be like for you to go out in


    public, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    I shot Abba another look. ¡°I can¡¯t hide away here, Mama. If I want the pack to ept me, I have to


    go out among them. It¡¯ll be okay.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± She looked concerned.


    I nodded firmly. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡±


    She still looked hesitant but let go of Abba and stepped away. ¡°I¡¯m going to grab some breakfast


    and check in with the staff. I haven¡¯t had much chance to be the acting Luna here, so I want to get


    started on that right away. But as soon as the twins get up and I can get some food into them, I¡¯ll be


    ready to go shopping.¡±


    ¡°I can be ready then. Abba and I are just beingzy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say you both deserve it,¡± Mom said. She kissed his cheek again, stretching up on her tiptoes to


    do it. ¡°What are you up to today, my love?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Xander has a bunch of meetings lined up for us. Other than that, just getting they of the


    land. He said he¡¯d take me on a driving tour of the pds,¡± Abba told her.


    My mom chuckled. ¡°Sounds like it¡¯s back to work for all of us. Ste, I¡¯ll see you in a bit.¡±


    When she¡¯d left us alone again, Abba turned to me. ¡°You don¡¯t want to tell your mom about my


    idea?¡±


    ¡°I want to see what it¡¯s really like today when we go to town. Maybe I won¡¯t even have to do what


    you suggested.¡± I sounded hopeful, but I knew that wasn¡¯t going to be the case. ¡°But, can we n it


    out anyway?¡±


    He grinned. ¡°Of course.¡±


    We spoke quickly, in hushed tones. Abba had the best idea¡ªthat I should say I was a rogue wolf


    who¡¯d arrived in Constantine because I heard that it was bing a sanctuary. I¡¯d be just one of


    many new faces joining the pack, so I wouldn¡¯t stand out. I could get to know the current pack


    members and anyone else who showed up, too.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    I picked the name Elleah Whitehaven because it sounded pretty to me, and Abba assured me it was


    a fine name for a rogue because it didn¡¯t tie to any current packs.


    Now, all I had to do was decide what I was going to look like.

 Chapter 472

    Chapter 472


    Chapter 472


    Lanie


    Why I¡¯d thought taking a pair of cranky twins shopping for clothes and shoes was going to be a


    good idea the day after an all-night party, I could never know, but I was definitely cursing myself for


    it within the first half an hour. Not only did ina and Isaacin and literally drag their feet as


    we went from shop to shop, we couldn¡¯t make it more than a few feet down the sidewalk without


    being stopped.


    I¡¯d thought people would be curious about and want to meet Ste, of course, but I hadn¡¯t quite


    counted on how many people wanted the chance to get close to their new Luna. Sure, I¡¯d


    technically been the Luna before we left, but it had been for such a short time, and there¡¯d been all


    that mess and confusion with the assigned mating. Gabri had been the Luna for Xander after his


    father gave over the leadership to him, and the pack had been used to her.


    Well, now they had me. I hadn¡¯t realized how exhausting it would be to smile and engage with


    everyone from the people passing on the street to the cashiers and sales staff in the shops, to other


    customers¡­by the time we got out of the final store and were heading toward the ice cream shop


    where I¡¯d promised my cranky twins we¡¯d get a treat, my face ached from forcing the smiles.


    ¡°Come on, you two. Settle down or else we¡¯re going right back to the house, and it¡¯ll be nothing but


    broli for you both.¡± I scolded, but there wasn¡¯t much force in my words; I wanted ice cream, too.


    We found a booth toward the back and, fortunately, once we ordered our giant ice cream sundaes


    with all the extra toppings¡­people left us alone in peace. The twins dug in right away, but Ste


    only nibbled at hers.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet all day. Was it too much for you, little star?¡± I kept my voice quiet, but the twins


    were so busy gobbling their sweet treat that they didn¡¯t seem to be paying much attention to us.


    She shook her head and licked the tip of her spoon. She¡¯d chosen, not her usual vani or


    chocte, but the more exotic ck cherry chocte alongside a scoop of butter pecan. Not a


    combination I thought I¡¯d enjoy. I couldn¡¯t tell if she was, either.


    ¡°People have been so nice. It¡¯s just weird to feel them watching me all the time. Even if they¡¯re not


    talking to me,¡± she said, then shrugged and dug her spoon deep into the ice cream. She took a bite


    and smiled. ¡°Yum!¡±


    She looked like an adult, but there was still so much childish joy in her that I had to smile back. I


    waved my spoon at her. ¡°You didn¡¯t get the chance to buy many new clothes.¡±


    The twins had been so irritable that I¡¯d had to keep my focus on them while leaving Ste to


    purchase her own items. Most of our packages had been sent on to the house so we didn¡¯t have to


    carry them, but she had a few bags at her side. I leaned to take a peek into one, but it was so close


    to her that I couldn¡¯t see what was in it.


    ¡°Did you at least pick out some pretty things? Whatever you got, it has to be better than wearing


    your old mother¡¯s stuff.¡±


    We bothughed, but our chuckles were a little strained. Ste looked the same age as me, if not


    maybe even a couple of years older. We were simr in size, but she was taller. My clothes didn¡¯t fit


    her the same way.


    ¡°I¡¯m still deciding on my style,¡± she told me. ¡°I guess I¡¯m trying to figure out who I want to be.¡±


    Something in those words rang a little off to me. I studied her face. ¡°Nobody says that what you


    picked out today has to be it forever, Ste. You¡¯re allowed to discover your own preferences.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that I grew up so fast,¡± she said in a low voice, not meeting my eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to


    learn about how to dress or style my hair or do my makeup or anything like that. Don¡¯t girls usually


    do all that with their friends or sisters?¡±


    At that, my heart panged. My sister and I were only a year-ish apart in age¡­and it had been so long


    since we¡¯d been able to hang out and do our hair and nails¡­I missed her.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to have to invite your Auntie Selena toe over. She was always a lot more into


    fashion and makeup than I was.¡± My heart panged again.


    Ste smiled. ¡°That sounds like it would be fun.¡±


    A figure appeared at the side of the table. The young woman could barely string a sentence


    together as she stumbled over her greeting to Ste. She was clearly overwhelmed at meeting a


    Celestial. I was proud of Ste, though. She handled the girl¡¯s obvious star-struckness with poise


    and calm.


    There was something shadowed in her expression, though. A sadness there I hated to see and


    wished I could take away.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mama,¡± she assured me, even though I hadn¡¯t said a word. ¡°Just learning exactly what it¡¯s


    like when people find out what I am, that¡¯s all.¡±


    I wanted to believe that¡¯s all it was.

 Chapter 473

    Chapter 473


    Chapter 473


    Ste


    Even though I¡¯d known that everything Abba and I had talked about made sense, I¡¯d held out a


    small hope that interacting with the people of Constantine wouldn¡¯t be so¡­freaking¡­weird.


    Everyone had been super nice, whether they were talking to me or about me. There¡¯d been a few


    who¡¯d touched me, though. Even if it was just my sleeve, it was odd to be such an object of


    attention.


    My mom had noticed it, too, but she hadn¡¯t said much about it. She¡¯d been caught up with my bratty


    siblings. I was kind of d for their fussing. Herck of attention had let me pick out a bunch of


    different outfits that I wasn¡¯t sure Mom would have approved of.


    I stared at myself in the mirror wearing one of those outfits right now. The jeans were loose around


    the waist and the butt. Even the legs were a little loose, and also too long. They¡¯d drag on the


    ground if I didn¡¯t roll them up. The blouse I¡¯d picked out was of sheer fabric printed with flowers in


    bold colors of red, purple, green, teal, and ck. It had flowy sleeves and a high neck¡ªbut the see-


    through cloth made it sexy.


    Well, at least I hoped it was sexy. I really had no idea what that meant beyond the sound of the


    word. As long as I¡¯d been aware of my mom¡¯s clothing, she¡¯d favored practical, well-fitting jeans,


    boots, and T-shirts, or long, flowy skirts and dresses.


    I lifted my chin. This outfit wasn¡¯t quite right for Ste Constantine. It didn¡¯t fit, and it wasn¡¯t a style


    that I felt matched my personality.


    But for Elleah Whitehaven? These jeans were going to make her ass look amazing.


    Shifters who changed into wolves or dragons or any number of other creatures had to expend


    energy to ess their inner beasts. They didn¡¯t have to focus hard on bing their animals,


    because their internalpanion was as much a part of them as their very souls. Still, the change


    took effort, even if it was an unconscious one. It ate up bodily resources. For some, like dragon


    shifters, it meant a period of recovery time topensate for the enormous changes in mass from


    dragon to human form.


    The kind of transformation I was undertaking didn¡¯t take anywhere near that kind of effort or energy.


    Although I¡¯d never done it before, I knew I could ess my shapeshifter gifts¡­I just needed a little


    bit of practice. First, to decide what I wanted to look like. And then, to hold that form in ce no


    matter what else I was doing.


    If I thought being a Celestial freaked people out, I didn¡¯t want to think about what would happen if I


    was talking to someone and I forgot to keep my eyes the right color¡­or in the right ce.


    Also, deciding on a face and body was an important decision, and one I didn¡¯t want to rush. If I was


    really going to embark on this grand new adventure, I wanted to make sure I did it looking like


    someone I could feelfortable being for as long as I had to be her.


    Abba had pointed out that looking like a different person was going to give me the chance to meet


    people as someone they didn¡¯t think they already knew. So. Who was she?


    A blonde? Brte? Ginger? Did she wear her hair in long waves or tight curls? Was she blue-


    eyed, or green, or brown, or something totally wild, like purple?


    I was giddy with the possibilities as I watched my face go through every change as I thought of it.


    My body, too. Big breasts, thick thighs, wide hips, narrow waist¡­When the body filled out the


    clothes I¡¯d chosen to perfection, I stopped.


    I ended up with longer legs, but a slightly thicker waist. A bigger butt and bust, but my face was


    fuller, too. Long golden curls reached to the small of my back, giving me plenty to y with. I settled


    on gray-blue eyes rimmed with thickshes that looked natural but would pop with the right amount


    of mascara.


    Elleah Whitehaven was pretty, but not beautiful. She¡¯d blend into a crowd of other regr people,


    not much to stand out or call attention¡­but she wasn¡¯t ugly, either. When I used ¡°her¡± mouth to


    smile, she looked¡­


    Nice.


    Normal.


    She looked like someone I¡¯d like to get to know.


    More importantly, she looked like someone I¡¯d like to be.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I paused for a moment to close my newly colored eyes and send up a message to the Moon


    Goddess. I asked her to help me make the right choices. To serve her will, but also, I asked for her


    blessing as I ventured out and tried to learn how to live. In return, I got a sense of peace and


    comfort, which I took as her blessing.


    I opened my eyes. I smoothed my blouse. I practiced Elleah¡¯s smile until it felt natural, like my own.


    Now all I had to do was try it out on someone else.

 Chapter 474

    Chapter 474


    Chapter 474


    Zane


    I¡¯d spent much of my adult life in this house, and as much as I¡¯d enjoyed living among the wonders


    of Brightsky, I had to admit that it felt good to be home. Really, really good to have my own space, a


    ce for my belongings. Room to stretch out and breathe that did not include three other adults.


    ¡°You good?¡± Xander asked with a rap of his knuckles on the doorway to the small office I¡¯d imed


    as mine. ¡°I¡¯m taking my brother out and about to check out the pds. Figure we¡¯ll be gone for a


    few hours, thene back in time for the afternoon meetings. You sure you don¡¯t want toe


    along with us?¡±


    ¡°Dude. No.¡± Iughed at his sour expression. ¡°I want to sit on my ass and read a book with a ss


    of whiskey and a cigar, and I want to do it in this little room, and I want to do it all on my lonesome.


    I¡¯ll be ready for the afternoon meetings by the time you get back. Right now, all I want is the sound


    of my own breathing.¡±


    His lip curled, and he let out a growl, but it wasn¡¯t a serious one. ¡°That sounds fucking amazing. No


    lie.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it will be. As soon as you get your ass out of here.¡± I grinned at him, enjoying the chance


    to rib him a little bit.


    All of this felt good. The ability to take a break. Tough. Yeah, we had a shit-ton of work ahead of


    us as the pack adjusted to all the changes we¡¯d be bringing, but hard work was a lot different than


    running for our lives. In fact, I weed the hard work, since during the time we¡¯d been in Brightsky


    I¡¯d ended up feeling mostly like I didn¡¯t have anything important to do.


    Back here in Constantine, I had a good, solid ce. Responsibilities. A job.


    And for now¡­I had a book, a cigar, and a ss of whiskey.


    Well, at least I had the book, the cigar, and the ss. As it turned out, my decanter was empty.


    Considering I hadn¡¯t been using my office for months or longer, I shouldn¡¯t have been surprised, but


    I was annoyed. I could¡¯ve rang for someone to bring me more, but I figured I could get to my


    rxing much faster if I did it myself.


    Not much had changed in the mansion while we were gone. New staff faces, but it wasn¡¯t as hard to


    get around as it had been in Brightsky. I made my way to the storage room without a problem,


    grabbed a bottle of The Macan from one of the shelves and took a long minute to admire it with a


    wide, satisfied grin.


    ¡°By the Moon,¡± I said out loud. ¡°It¡¯s really good to be home.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Sorry.¡± A soft female voice had me turn. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were in here.¡±


    I didn¡¯t recognize the young blonde woman standing in the doorway. ¡°No problem. I was just


    grabbing a bottle of whiskey.¡±


    ¡°I came to get a bottle of¡­wine?¡± She sounded hesitant, then got a more confident look on her face


    and took a step closer. ¡°If that¡¯s okay. The woman in the kitchen said that the¡­uh¡­the Alpha was


    um¡­well, it¡¯s a wee gift? I¡¯m new.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Zane. The Constantine Beta.¡± I looked her over curiously. ¡°I hadn¡¯t heard anything about


    Xander offering neers ess to the liquor storage. But wee. What brought you to


    Constantine?¡±


    ¡°I heard it¡¯s going to be a sanctuary for anyone without another ce. So long as we abide by the


    rules and are useful and kind.¡± The girl lifted her chin. ¡°My name is Elleah Whitehaven. I¡¯m a


    rogue¡­but I¡¯d like to be part of the pack.¡±


    ¡°Wee to Pack Constantine, Elleah.¡± I nodded, still studying her. I stepped aside. ¡°What kind of


    wine were you looking for?¡±


    ¡°Oh. Red.¡±


    Iughed. ¡°Well, we have Cabe Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot¡­you name it, we probably have


    it. Orion really loved his alcohol.¡±


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought much about it. What¡¯s the best?¡± She paused, looking embarrassed. ¡°I don¡¯t mean


    the most expensive. Just, like¡­the best tasting.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t drink much, huh?¡±


    She shook her head and bit her lower lip. ¡°Not really.¡±


    I plucked a bottle of a red blend from one of the alcoves on the shelf and handed it to her. ¡°This is a


    nice one. Fruity, not too sweet.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± She hesitated. ¡°It was really nice to meet you, sir. I look forward to being a part of the


    pack, and I promise to do my best to fit in.¡±


    ¡°Great to meet you, too, Elleah.¡± I watched her walk away down the hall.


    Then I took my whiskey and returned to my office where I could enjoy my rxation. I made a


    mental note to ask Xander what we were doing about new arrivals, since if we were going to be


    giving away free bottles of wine to anyone who showed up, his dad¡¯s stash was going to dwindle


    fast. Maybe that could be one of my new duties, I thought with a grin. Official alcohol orderer.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I made myselfugh at the thought, and then settled in for a few hours of alone time.


    Life was good.


    I just hoped it stayed that way.

 Chapter 475

    Chapter 475


    Chapter 475


    Ste


    I could hardly hold back my giggles as I raced down the hallway toward my bedroom. I dodged a


    few of the house staff who gave me odd looks, but they didn¡¯t try to stop me. By the time I got


    upstairs, I was out of breath.


    I was still getting used to having my own room that wasn¡¯t joined to my parents¡¯ or my siblings¡¯ or


    grandma¡¯s. My room was small but precious for being so private, tucked up away in an attic space


    with sloping ceilings and a view that took my breath away. Now I flew through the door and tossed


    myself on the bed, mindful of the bottle of wine I kept gripped in one hand.


    I rolled onto my back and let out another long string of giggles as I felt myself shift back into Ste¡¯s


    shape. Papa had looked right at me without guessing who I really was. A hot flood of guilt washed


    over me, but I felt good, too. If my Papa didn¡¯t recognize me, nobody else was going to.


    I sat up and looked at the bottle of wine. I had been nning to try some before going outter. I


    didn¡¯t want my first time drinking to be alone in a bar, just in case my body couldn¡¯t tolerate it. I was


    going to be in an entire different body shape, which would be hard enough to handle without also


    being unexpectedly hammered. Of course, I knew I didn¡¯t have to drink at all¡­but I wanted to.


    Now that I knew this face and body could fool even one of my fathers, I wanted to try everything that


    life could offer me. Drinking, dancing, flirting with strangers. All of it.


    First, though, a ss of wine. Just one, while I freshened up my hair and makeup. I¡¯d already


    looked up the bars in town to make sure they were close enough that I could get there easily


    without needing to ask my parents to borrow a car.


    I didn¡¯t even know how to drive.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Ste?¡±


    I jumped up and off the bed at the knock on my door. The bottle of wine in my hand suddenly felt


    very heavy. I set it on the desk with a thump. ¡°Come in!¡±


    My mom poked her head around the doorframe. ¡°Just checking in on you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°You look a little flushed. Are you¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said again, more firmly this time. I cleared my throat and softened my tone as her


    eyebrows raised. ¡°Sorry. I just¡­I¡¯m really okay.¡±


    ¡°Is it because your clothes aren¡¯t right?¡± My mom¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°I told you, we can go shopping


    again, just the two of us¡­¡±


    I looked down at the ill-fitting jeans and top. ¡°Oh, no¡­they¡¯re fine. I mean, yeah, they don¡¯t¡­ Mom,


    I really just would like to be alone!¡±


    The shouted words hung in the air between us, which surprised me. They felt so heavy, I was sure


    each one would plummet to the ground and stab the hardwood floors with the force of bullets.


    Instead, all that happened was my mother took a step away from me.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she said in a stiff tone unlike any I¡¯d ever heard from her before.


    It was so obvious that I¡¯d hurt her feelings, and I wanted to cry. At the same time, I wanted to shout


    again. To drive her back, out of my room. I wanted her to leave me alone so I could try out this wine


    and get my face on the right way so I could go out and try to meet friends.


    ¡°I just thought we could spend some time together,¡± my mom said. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Mom, I love you, but I¡¯d just like to be by myself. I don¡¯t need you to try to be my best friend. Even if


    I am a grownup now, I¡¯m still your kid.¡±


    I tried to keep my voice light, but it came out harsh and grating. It was honest, though. I could see


    she understood that. It didn¡¯t make me feel any better, but what had happened was done.


    Her gaze cut over to the bottle on the desk. Her eyebrows arched even higher, but the corners of


    her mouth turned down lower. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I care for your tone, youngdy. As you pointed out, you


    might be grown up, but you¡¯re still my kid.¡±


    My mother had rarely raised her voice to me. I¡¯d been a model child, of course. I¡¯d only ever gotten


    in enough trouble to keep anyone from suspecting that I might look like an infant or a toddler, but I


    was, in fact, fully aware of everything. She¡¯d never had to discipline me for being truly naughty.


    I don¡¯t think either one of us liked this very much.


    But neither one of us was going to say so. No matter what kind of talents I had, once cruel words


    were spoken, I couldn¡¯t take them back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just leave you, then,¡± she said.


    I nodded. ¡°Close the door on the way out, please.¡±


    She did.

 Chapter 476

    Chapter 476


    Ste


    Once my mom left the room, I locked the door. I uncorked the wine and poured myself a little ss.


    My first sip made me wrinkle my nose. It wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d ever tried some, but it was


    supposed to be the first time I really tried some.


    The next sip wasn¡¯t much better, but I turned on the clock radio that had been in this room when my


    parents told me it would be mine. That meant the radio was mine, right? The desk, the bed, the


    chair, all of it? Mine, mine, mine.


    Hey. Maybe those sips of wine had been bigger than I thought they were. Standing in front of the


    mirror, I watched my features ripple and change. For a moment, I looked exactly like my mom. Then


    my fathers, one after the other. Just the faces, though. No way would my fathers¡¯ huge bodies fit


    inside these clothes.


    By the third ¡°sip,¡± I¡¯d drained the ss. I was feeling pretty good as I danced to the tunesing


    out of that radio. Music I¡¯d never heard before, something catchy, with a great beat. I tried snapping


    my fingers along with it, which was easier than getting my feet coordinated.


    Outside, night had finally fallen, which meant I felt okay sneaking out. I took a few minutes to shift


    and make sure everything was where it was meant to be. Then I stuffed some pillows under my


    covers and shut my door behind me.


    Nobody stopped me as I left the mansion. My navy ballet ts crunched on the gravel of the


    driveway as I hurried as fast as I could without looking suspicious toward the road. I didn¡¯t need a


    map to guide me. I could rely on the tracking and guiding skills of several different supernatural


    types. All I had to do was point myself in the right direction.


    Okay, so maybe drinking half of that bottle of wine on a mostly empty stomach hadn¡¯t been the best


    or brightest idea I¡¯d ever had. I felt good for now, though. Light, almost like I could fly.


    Well, I could fly, couldn¡¯t I?


    I could sprout wings, like a griffin shifter. I could make myself lighter than gravity, or I could give


    myself the ability to control the air currents under my feet. Instead, I kept one foot moving in front of


    the other along the road, reminding myself that the entire point of all of this was to blend in. Look


    natural. I couldn¡¯t do that by flying to a downtown bar!


    Downtown looked different at night than by day. There was still a bustle of people moving along the


    sidewalks, but most of the shops that I¡¯d visited before were closed. So was the ice cream shop.


    The three bars, however, were all open with bright lights spilling from the windows.


    I paused to listen to the music. With my regr hearing it was a bit of a jumble, but when I tuned in


    with some more specialized skills, I could differentiate between the songs. An upbeat tune that felt


    good for dancingpeted with a slower song with more instrumentals, and the final bar was


    ying songs with voices that sounded a little bit like whooping and hollering.


    I picked the bar with the dance music. My heartbeat pumped a little bit quicker as I moved closer. I


    mingled with the people on the sidewalk, holding my breath when any of them looked at me.


    Nobody gave me more than a passing nce, though.


    My disguise was working!


    The bar I picked was called The Silver Crescent. The man at the door gave me a long, up and down


    look that at first made me nervous. I thought he was going to stop me from going in, or question me,


    but as it turned out, he just gave me a slow smile.


    Oh, my.


    He was totally checking me out.


    I was a little giddy, and no longer from that wine I¡¯d had. I gave him a small smile and a nod like I did


    this every day¡­or even like I¡¯d done it at least once. I pushed through a small crowd near the door


    and smiled and nodded at everyone I passed. My heart was still beating harder than normal. My


    palms felt a little sweaty, and the music beat throbbed in all the ces my heart was pounding.


    I didn¡¯t think I wanted to drink too much more tonight, but I also felt weird without a ss in my


    hand. Everyone else had one. So, I went up to the bar and confidently tried to ce my order.


    ¡°One beer, please.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    The woman behind the bar looked at me with a funny expression. ¡°Bottle? Draft? Can? Any brand in


    particr? We have a pretty big selection.¡±


    Shoot. I didn¡¯t know anything about beer. All I could do was smile at her and hope she didn¡¯t think I


    was aplete idiot.


    ¡°What do you rmend?¡±


    The bartender rolled her eyes but filled a ss and slid it toward me. The first sip was horrible, so I


    allowed myself to use one of my Celestial skills to turn the sourness into sweet on my tongue.


    I turned to watch the crowd. The dance floor was hopping. In the center of it was a girl who looked


    like she was having the time of her life.


    To my surprise, I know exactly who she was.

 Chapter 477

    Chapter 477


    Chapter 477


    Ste


    Even if we hadn¡¯t met right after my family and I got back to Constantine, I¡¯d have known my Aunt


    Selena from her resemnce to my mom. Not just in the shape of her face or color of her eyes, not


    even by her scent, which my wolf-self caught at once. Something else connected my mother¡¯s sister


    to her, something I couldn¡¯t quite put my finger on.


    ¡°Too much wine,¡± I said to the woman I bumped into.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    She looked at the ss of amber fluid in my hand and rolled her eyes before turning back to her


    companion. The two of them giggled and looked sideways at me as I tried to get past.


    A hot blush spread up from my chest, up my throat and into my cheeks with their unfamiliar


    plumpness. I blinked hard to hold back a rush of embarrassed tears.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean any harm,¡± I said to the two of them. ¡°It¡¯s just so crowded in here¡­¡±


    The first woman, a blonde, turned back to face me with her eyes wider than they ought to be. She


    let them skate over my hair, my face, down to my clothes and back again. Then she shrugged and


    returned to her friend.


    Stung by the dismissal, I pushed past them. My beer sloshed over my hand as I got buffeted by


    people who were dancing, drinking, andughing. Everything I wanted to be doing, except I wasn¡¯t.


    I needed to find a ce to get out from the crush of all these bodies.


    I wasn¡¯t used to being around so many people.


    My heart pounded. Even in Brightsky, I hadn¡¯t been surrounded like this. I¡¯d been a child for most of


    the time I was there, though, so much smaller than everyone else. Being in a group of people who


    towered over you should have felt scarier than this did, but suddenly, I wanted to run out of The


    Silver Crescent as fast as my longer legs would take me.


    Too bad for me, because I¡¯d pushed my way to the opposite of the bar, as far away from the front


    doors as I could get. If I wanted to leave, I¡¯d have to fight all the way back through that pushing,


    laughing, celebrating crowd. Instead, I decided to shrink back against the wall and watch everyone


    else having a good time.


    I didn¡¯t like the beer very much, but I took slow sips of it so I didn¡¯t look even more like an idiot. I


    smiled with my new face and tried to bop along with the beat of the music. As much as I tried to look


    like I was waiting for someone, I could tell that I just looked¡­


    ¡°Weird,¡± I whispered to myself.


    Selena wasn¡¯t weird. She¡¯d left the dance floor to grab another drink at the bar. She wasughing,


    tossing her hair over her shoulders as she tipped her head back. She shook her finger at the


    bartender as though the woman had said something naughty, and then they bothughed together.


    ¡°Excuse me. Hey, ¡¯scuse me!¡± A male voice poked me into turning to face him.


    The guy trying to get past me had four mugs of beer in each hand. Golden, foamy liquid sshed


    over the rims of the mugs as he got jostled from behind. Some of it sshed on my arm, soaking


    the sleeve of the blouse I¡¯d picked out so carefully.


    ¡°Can you move?¡± he growled, his lip curling and his eyes shing with the light from his wolf.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, kid. Shift it.¡±


    ¡°Where do you want me to go?¡± I gestured at the wall behind me and the table at my side. The rest


    of the space was filled with people.


    He rolled his eyes at me kind of like the first woman had, and then twisted his body to press past


    me. More beer sshed, wetting my other sleeve. He was ruining my outfit, but I couldn¡¯t bring


    myself to care. As far as I was concerned, my night was already ruined.


    The guy set down all eight beers on a table surrounded by a group of men and women who looked


    only a little bit older than I looked. My aunt joined them after a minute, not sitting but greeting them


    all with a fist bump, a hug, or a kiss on the cheek.


    None of them were asking her to move out of the way.


    I downed the rest of my beer, now warm, and put the empty mug on the thin railing behind me. I


    gave myself a little pep talk.


    ¡°Come on, Ste. I mean Elleah. You came here to dance, so get on out there and start dancing!¡±


    With my head spinning, I ducked and wove through the throng and found a spot on the dance floor


    just as the song changed to something slower. Smoother. All of the people jumping and twirling


    around me either left the floor or paired off, leaving a lot of suddenly open, empty space.


    And me standing in it, obviously, terribly, and embarrassingly alone.

 Chapter 478

    Chapter 478


    Chapter 478


    Ste


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    The awkwardness hit me like a shovel to the face.


    I¡¯d had a short life so far, but I¡¯d had a lot of people paying attention to me during it. I should have


    been used to the weight of so many eyes on me. The whispers and the giggles.


    I couldn¡¯t handle it. I got myself off the dance floor as best as I could, bumping into people and


    earning their angryments as I did. I fled for the restroom, mming open the door and hurtling


    myself into a stall, where I sank onto the toilet and put my head in my hands.


    The tears rose in me like a rising storm.


    No matter how hard I tried to hold them back, the best I could do was p my hands over my mouth


    and bite my tongue as hard as I could, hoping the pain and the taste of blood would hold back my


    cries. It didn¡¯t work that great. Tears flooded from my eyes. My entire body shook.


    All I wanted was to fit in, and even in this new body, with this pretty face, it was so obvious that I


    was never going to. I could dress up in new clothes, but the outfit I¡¯d picked also didn¡¯t fit in here. All


    the women in this bar wore torn jeans with fitted T-shirts and cowboy boots, or sleek little dresses


    that showed off their cleavage. My dark denim jeans and flowery blouse looked out of ce.


    I heard the door to the restroom swing open and footsteps on the concrete floor. Women¡¯sughter.


    I caught a hint of perfume. Sweat. A tang that might¡¯ve been alcohol or something else, something


    smoky.


    ¡°It¡¯s crazy out there tonight,¡± said one voice.


    Another answered. ¡°Yeah, well, now that the Alpha¡¯s back, everything¡¯s going to be different.¡±


    ¡°Co-Alphas,¡± a third voice said with a serious tone. ¡°Which is so freaking weird, am I right?¡±


    ¡°Whatever. They¡¯re both hot as fuck, and their Beta is fine as fuck too,¡± said yet a fourth voice. ¡°I


    used to think about leaving Constantine, but I guess it¡¯ll be cool to stick around and see what they


    do now.¡±


    ¡°Where else would you even go?¡± said the first voice. ¡°It¡¯s not like any of the other packs are in any


    better shape.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but if I went to live in another pack, I¡¯d probably have a better chance of finding a decent


    mate,¡± said the second voice. ¡°Everyone around here is so borrrrring.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think the co-Alphas are going to make us¡­you know. Let them choose our mates? The


    way the High Council did?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I mean, they were forced to take Selena Stanton¡¯s sister as their mate, and we all


    know they didn¡¯t want to do that. They were totally in love with what¡¯s-her-name.¡±


    My tears had slowed. I grabbed some squares off the toilet paper roll and wiped my face as I


    listened to the conversation. Had I known about this, my Dad and Papa being forced to mate with


    my mom? If I had, I¡¯d forgotten. My head spun more. I swallowed hard, hoping I wasn¡¯t going to be


    sick.


    ¡°They said they were opening Constantine as a sanctuary to all supernaturals,¡± said the third voice.


    I heard the faucet sshing water into the sink. ¡°To tell you the truth, I¡¯m kind of nervous about


    that.¡±


    ¡°I never believed the High Council when they said that they were bad, by the way,¡± the first voice


    piped up. ¡°The Alpha, his Beta, and the Luna, I mean. My mom and dads didn¡¯t, either. So I don¡¯t


    think that other supernaturals have to be bad, either. Like, I¡¯m sure the co-Alphas wouldn¡¯t allow


    dangerous people toe here to Constantine.¡±


    ¡°Maybe not,¡± said one of the voices, ¡°but it¡¯s not like they¡¯re putting any kind of like, you know,


    standards, in ce.¡±


    Guffaws rang throughout the bathroom.


    ¡°You mean that random chick who showed up tonight? Where the hell did shee from? Mars?


    ¡®Cuz it sure wasn¡¯t the Moon,¡± said a voice edged withughter. ¡°Did you see the way she was


    wearing her hair?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, that outfit was a choice, huh?¡±


    ¡°It sure was,¡±ughed someone else. ¡°A bad one.¡±


    Heat mmed into me so hard I fell back against the wall. Silence fell outside the stall. I was


    breathing too fast. It made whistling sounds in and out of my throat.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s in here,¡± said one of the voices.


    A hand rapped on the door of the stall.


    ¡°Hey. You okay in there?¡±


    ¡°I bet it¡¯s Candace. She¡¯s always drinking too much and having to throw up,¡± said one of them.


    I could hear the roll of her eyes in that tone.


    I struggled to my feet and pushed open the stall door. I didn¡¯t wait to look at any of them, just ran out


    of the restroom. Through the crowd, I headed for the bar¡¯s front door. I didn¡¯t care if I spilled drinks


    or stepped on toes.


    I had to get out of here.


    This had been a mistake. I burst through the door and out onto the sidewalk. I took in great gulps of


    cool night air. I needed to just get home.


    That¡¯s when I heard the shoutinging from inside.

 Chapter 479

    Chapter 479


    Chapter 479


    Ste


    Every hair on my body rose as a crackle of tense energy swept over me. I honed in on the sound of


    the scream, which I realized hadn¡¯t been loud enough for anyone else to notice out here on the


    street, even those tuning in with wolf hearing. A ripple of anxiety ran along my spine as I stopped


    myself mid-run.


    Someone had screamed from inside The Silver Crescent, but it didn¡¯t seem to be causing a panic. I


    didn¡¯t have to respond to it. I could keep on running my sad little self right on home and leave all


    those people to their own tragedies.


    But I didn¡¯t. I turned around and went back through the doors. I scanned the crowd. My senses were


    on high alert, tingling. For a moment, I was almost overwhelmed. I could draw on so many different


    talents, it was hard right this second to figure out which to use and how¡­without giving myself


    away.


    No more screams hade, but there was a different kind of tension swirling through the air. Heat,


    but also cold. A smell like rich earth, but also like metal. Like the electric zap of lightning. I¡¯d forced


    the hair on my head to stop floating around me in a cloud, but the hairs on the back of my neck


    were still twitching.


    Aunt Selena was back in the center of the dance floor. The song had gone back to something


    uptempo, and she moved to the beat with such easy precision that I couldn¡¯t stop the wave of


    jealousy poking at me with tiny kitten ws. She moved like she didn¡¯t care who was watching


    her¡­but everyone was.


    Every male was, anyway. Even the ones with other women. Their eyes followed every move she


    made, tracking her like she was prey. Almost in unison, they lifted bottles or sses to their lips and


    drank, but on nearly every male mind was not the vor of the alcohol but what it would be like to


    taste Selena¡¯s lips¡­and other ces.


    A different sort of heat rushed into me, deep in my gut. I knew what sex was, not that my parents


    had ever talked to me about it. I¡¯d carried the knowledge of how people joined their bodies for


    pleasure and procreation inside me, the same way I¡¯de into this world knowing so much else.


    But knowing how body parts could join wasn¡¯t the same as having experience.


    Watching my aunt dance, watching all these men stare at her, I began to get a better sense of how


    it all worked, only it wasn¡¯t as fun as I¡¯d expected it to be. In fact, the growing sense of friction


    emanating off the men in the room was twisting my stomach into knots.


    Selena kept on dancing even as a man came up to her and tried to take her hand. She shook him


    off with a toss of her hair and spun back around, showing him her back. A cluster of women I


    assumed were her friends circled her, but there was a strange feelinging off most of them, too.


    Not the same as from the men, which was all need-focused. These women were feeling more like


    they were pushing away. Kind of angry.


    Oh, it was jealousy. Not overt. Most of them didn¡¯t even know they were feeling it, or at least they


    were pretending they didn¡¯t. They all smiled and danced and tossed their hair the same way she


    was, but it was so clear that Selena, in the center, was still getting all the attention. Positive or


    negative, pretty much everyone in this room was thinking about her in some way or another.


    The more she refused them, the more fervent they got. Angrier. Denial wasn¡¯t sitting well with any of


    these men, even the ones I could tell thought of themselves as ¡°nice guys.¡± Maybe particrly the


    ones who believed that of themselves.


    I knew it was a risk, but I couldn¡¯t stand here and watch her fend off that unwanted attention. It was


    going to get ugly in a few more minutes. I could see fists clenching. Eyes were narrowing.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    What the heck was going on in here?


    I shrank back against the wall, hopefully out of the way, so I could give myself a minute to close my


    eyes. I had to picture my mind like a vast library full of books, each of them an instruction manual of


    a different set of skills or talents. Because, like a library, I could only ¡°check out¡± a few of them at a


    time. That was something I was only slowly learning, that being a Celestial didn¡¯t mean constant


    ess. Since I was already using shapeshifting energies, I¡¯d have to be careful about what I pulled


    next.


    The information filled my head in seconds. My aunt was in her first heat, and because she was a


    hybrid, she was drawing every male within miles. She didn¡¯t even know it, and neither did they.


    Which meant that it would be simple to ease them all off her without calling attention to myself. I


    pulsed out some distraction energy to get everyone to ignore Selena¡¯s hybrid heat energies. Within


    half a minute, the tension eased. The men still paid attention since she was gorgeous and


    confident¡­but they were all leaving her alone.


    And I¡¯d seen enough to know I needed to get out of here.

 Chapter 480

    Chapter 480


    Chapter 480


    Ste


    I wanted to belong with the crowd in a ce like The Silver Crescent, but I didn¡¯t. Not yet, anyway.


    Nor would I, not without some help I couldn¡¯t get from the library in my head or even from the Moon


    Goddess. I didn¡¯t even bother reaching out to her. She couldn¡¯t possibly be bothered with something


    as mundane as my stupid little yearnings.


    I guessed there were some things no supernatural talent would ever be able to give me.


    As soon as I was sure my aunt wasn¡¯t going to get kidnapped and brutalized, I ducked out of the


    bar. The night air was wonderfully cool against my face, which still felt puffy and hot from the


    weeping fit I¡¯d had in the restroom. I let the breeze waft over me with my eyes closed for a minute,


    until the doors opened behind me, and I heard peopleing out.


    Theirughter still made me envious, but I kept myself in the shadows so I didn¡¯t catch their


    attention. A couple helped each other down the sidewalk. The pulse of their sexual energy was so


    strong I didn¡¯t need to use any special skills to feel it. I could practically smell it.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The doors opened again, letting out another courting couple and a surge of music that thumped all


    through me. It didn¡¯t make me want to dance anymore. All I wanted to do was get home, sneak


    back inside the house without anyone seeing me, and crawl under my covers.


    This time, I took the risk and let myself fly.


    Not up into the air, like a bird with pping arms in the ce of wings. I just drew on the ability to


    make myself weightless. My body rose a few inches, so the tips of my toes barely skimmed the


    road, and I pushed myself along by manipting the air currents. It was much faster even than


    running as a wolf would have been, but it wasn¡¯t very fun. It made it hard to hold onto my different


    face and body, too, but that made sense.


    Ste Constantine was the Celestial, not Elleah Whitehaven.


    My first night out had been an utter failure, but I didn¡¯t have any more tears left by the time I made it


    back to the mansion grounds. There were still a lot of lights on. I paused on the very edge of the


    lawn, among the trees, and opened myself up to see if I could sense my parents. They were all still


    awake. Dad and Abba were in the dining room, having a veryte dinner. Papa was in his office.


    Mom was checking in on the twins, who were asleep.


    Guiltily, I realized I hadn¡¯t even seen ina or Isaac today. The distance between us felt so much


    bigger than it had before. They were still very much children, but what was I? Something caught in


    between two ces¡­I hadn¡¯t been alive long enough to call myself an adult, but I¡¯d never really


    ever been a child.


    Inside that house, my family was settling in. They were happy to be in the ce they considered


    home. Even Abba was feeling more at ease. The pack had epted him.


    I was the only one who didn¡¯t really belong here, and I had to ept that it was possible that I never


    really would.


    Abba¡¯s idea had been a good one, but the experiment had failed.


    I didn¡¯t feel like taking the risk of running into any staff or¡ªworse¡ªmy parents, so instead of letting


    myself in through any of the doors on the ground floor, I let myself get even more weightless. I


    drifted upward to my bedroom window. I considered letting myself keep on going, up, up into the


    night sky and then just¡­flying away. Somewhere, anywhere, to a ce where nobody knew my


    face as I usually wore it. Maybe all the way up to the Moon¡¯s broad silver face.


    ¡°You are loved. Do not despair.¡±


    The sweet, soft whisper tickled my ears as I used a pulse of strength to utch my window from the


    inside. I slid it open and floated into my room. My feet touched down lightly, but I was breathing as


    hard as if I¡¯d run up a mountain.


    ¡°Moon Goddess?¡±


    But she didn¡¯t answer me or send a vision. All I had was those six words imprinting on my mind. I


    knew I was loved. That had never been the issue. What I wanted¡­what I needed¡­was more than


    the love of my parents, though.


    I needed to know my purpose. Until then, until I knew why I was here and whaty ahead for me,


    everything else was only going to feel like a ceholder. For tonight, though, thefort from the


    Moon Goddess would have to be enough.


    It was all I had.

 Chapter 481

    Chapter 481


    Chapter 481


    Ste


    I sleptte the next morning. By the time I got up, morning sun was nting brightly through the


    window of my attic room. I watched the dust motes dancing in the beams for a long time. If I


    concentrated, I could see right inside them, like each was a tiny little all on their own. I


    imagined each one filled with civilizations, rising and falling. Maybe on one of them, a tiny Celestial,


    all alone in her bed, was looking at the dust motes in her own sunbeam¡­


    ¡°Gah.¡± I sat up, shaking off those feelings. I was about to get lost in my mind. Maybe so deep I


    wouldn¡¯t be able to get out.


    Anyway, my stomach was rumbling. It seemed impossible that I could be hungry with my heart so


    heavy, but¡­no matter how many supernatural talents I could use, I was still in this body, and


    apparently, this body needed to eat on a regr basis.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    I¡¯d left my clothes from the night before in a pile on the floor. They stank of sweat and spilled beer,


    with the faintest hint of the other odors that had filled The Silver Crescent. I wrinkled my nose but


    tossed them into the hamper. I wasn¡¯t sure what to do about washing them.


    Here was another thing I was having to learn about skipping from childhood right to adulthood¡ªwas


    I going to have to do my ownundry?


    I showered quickly, brushed my teeth, and dressed in a pair of flowered leggings with a long tunic


    top. I paired this outfit with the same ballet ts from the night before. The mirror told me I looked


    cute, but I didn¡¯t feel it. I looked tired.


    Not feeling like putting on makeup, I used a little bit of energy to pink up my cheeks and darken my


    eyshes. Nothing too obvious, but at least I didn¡¯t look hungover anymore. I didn¡¯t want to have to


    exin to my parents why my face was so haggard and drawn.


    I could smell something good wafting from the kitchen as I went downstairs. I followed my nose


    along the corridors, past closed doors, pausing to peek into any rooms with open ones. I could¡¯ve


    dug into the minds of the various staff members passing me on their way to their duties, or even into


    my Dad¡¯s or Papa¡¯s, but I was trying not to overextend myself. Using powers on people without their


    knowledge felt icky, but especially when it wasn¡¯t for their benefit, but only for mine.


    Was I ever going to figure out how all of this was supposed to work? Shaking my head, I peered into


    an open room that featured floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. It also had a nice firece, no fire lit now,


    and a set of cozy looking armchairs facing it. Tall windows let in a lot of light, but sheer curtains


    diffused it, making it soft. I stepped inside to take a closer look and let out a slow breath.


    It was the library from inside my head. Right down to the scrolled woodwork on the arms of the


    chairs and the floormp with the stained-ss shade. With my mouth open in wonder, I went to the


    shelves and studied the books. I ran my finger along the spines.


    The books here were different, anyway. Which made sense, since in my head, the books were a


    construct I¡¯d imagined as a way of helping to catalog and coordinate the myriad of supernatural


    powers I could ess. Here, they were just books. Novels, non-fiction, even a few photo albums.


    Intrigued, I pulled an album off the shelf and flipped through it. I recognized my grandma Gabri


    right away, even though she looked so much younger. She was smiling, happy, her arm linked


    through a man¡¯s. That must be my grandfather, Orion. I studied him closely. He didn¡¯t look evil.


    Frowning, I flipped through more pages. Pictures of my Daddy when he was a pup made me giggle.


    I could see myself in those pictures. I traced the lines of his face for a moment, imagining what it


    might have been like if I¡¯d been born a normal pup.


    Strangely, the photosforted me in a way the Moon Goddess¡¯s words from the night before


    hadn¡¯t quite managed. I might stumble through social encounters, but these pictures and the


    resemnce I shared with my father showed me that I did belong here in Constantine. It was my


    lineage. My home.


    ¡°Oh, shit. Sorry. Didn¡¯t know anyone was in here.¡±


    I turned at the rasping female voice and saw Aunt Selena in the doorway. She carried a carafe that


    smelled like coffee and an empty mug. Dark sunsses covered her eyes, and her hair was wet like


    she¡¯de right out of the shower. She wore a in T-shirt and a pair of fuzzy pajama bottoms


    emzoned with cartoon characters, along with a matching set of bunny slippers.


    ¡°I was trying to hide from my sister,¡± she said.


    Quickly, I moved around her to close the door. I locked it. Turned back.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said. ¡°Me too.¡±

 Chapter 482

    Chapter 482


    Chapter 482


    Ste


    ¡°I only brought one mug,¡± Selena said.


    I shook my head. ¡°That¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t really like coffee.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡± She moved past me to one of thefy armchairs. She put the carafe on the small table


    between them and plopped herself in the chair, her legs sprawling. The mug dangled limply from


    her hand. She didn¡¯t pour anything into it.


    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s okay. I just don¡¯t¡­I mean, I don¡¯t need a mug, that¡¯s all. I can get one if I want to,¡± I


    hastily amended myself. Drinking coffee was an adult thing to do, right? Only littles didn¡¯t drink


    coffee.


    ¡°You¡¯re talking way too fucking loud,¡± Selena said.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± I coughed into my hand. After a second, I locked the library door, but I wasn¡¯t sure if I should


    sit in the chair next to hers.


    Or leave. I could leave. Maybe I should. She clearly didn¡¯t want anyone around her.


    ¡°What are you doing in here?¡± She sat up straight enough to pour her mug full of coffee, then


    slouched back to sip it slowly. She grimaced. ¡°Fuck, that¡¯s gross. And hot. Ugh. Is there any alcohol


    in this room? I need some hair of the dog.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­understand what that¡­¡± Quickly, I essed some of that internal library, seeking a


    knowledge skill that would let me extrapte the meaning of her phrase from context. ¡°Oh. That


    works?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s supposed to.¡± Selena¡¯s gaze was still hidden behind those dark sses, but I could feel her


    eyes boring into me. ¡°I don¡¯t usually drink that much, butst night felt weird.¡±


    I looked around the room for something that would help her and found a small bar car stocked with


    decanters, crystal sses, and even a bottle of wine. My own stomach churned at the sight of that. I


    held up a decanter of clear liquid.


    ¡°This?¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Selena groaned. ¡°If I never see tequ again, it¡¯ll be too soon.¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s¡ª¡± I took off the cap and sniffed. The alcohol stung my nostrils. A quick scan of internal


    information. ¡°Vodka?¡±


    ¡°Oh. Sure, that¡¯ll be fine. Maybe. Fuck if I know.¡± She soundedzy and kind of angry, but there was


    a small tremble in her voice that I could tell she was trying to hide.


    Anyone else wouldn¡¯t have noticed it at all, so I pretended that I didn¡¯t, either.


    She held up her mug, the coffee sloshing, and I added some vodka to it. Selena sipped. Grimaced.


    Sipped again. This time, she shrugged and fell back against the chair again.


    ¡°Is it working?¡± I asked her.


    She snorted. ¡°Maybe. I might have to hurl. Who knows.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± she said, barely concealing her snarl. ¡°I don¡¯t need your sympathy, okay? I¡¯m fine. Why don¡¯t


    you go y with some toys or something. Leave your old auntie alone.¡±


    Irritation straightened my back. ¡°I¡¯m too old for toys.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not. You¡¯re like, three years old.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± My frown felt like it was carving deep grooves into the sides of my face. I tried to smooth my


    expression, but the waves of aggression rolling off her were a lot to fight. I cleared my throat.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right,¡± she said with a sneer before I could find the words to say anything. ¡°You¡¯re


    special. Special, Celestial, Ste. Tell me, honey, why are you in here hiding from my sister?¡±


    ¡°I was just looking for a book. I¡¯m tired of her hovering over me. That¡¯s all.¡± It felt disloyal to say that


    about my mom, even if it was true. ¡°Why are you?¡±


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to see her. Duh.¡± Selena glugged back the rest of her mug and held it out.


    ¡°More.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a little early to get drunk, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Did I ask you?¡±


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Well,¡± I said after a moment¡¯s hesitation, confused about why she was being so mean. My brow


    furrowed, and I didn¡¯t try to smooth it. ¡°You literally just did.¡±


    ¡°Ugh,¡± she said again. ¡°You¡¯re like a damned little robot, aren¡¯t you? Taking everything literally? Shit,


    I can see you processing like a fuckingptop.¡±


    My mouth popped open in shock, dismay, and¡­yes. Anger. ¡°What an incredibly rude thing to say!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s me. Rude AF.¡±


    Again, I had to scan to interpret what she meant, and when she smiled snidely, I shut off that


    internal search.


    ¡°It means ¡®as fuck,¡¯¡± Selena told me. ¡°Which is totally different than ass fuck, in case your little¡­¡±


    She twirled her finger around in a circle in my direction. ¡°Whatever the fuck you have going on in


    there can¡¯t figure it out.¡±


    My chin went up. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything going on.¡±


    Herugh did not sound like she thought I was being funny. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t. I¡¯ll say it again. Go


    away and y with your toys, you infant.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not an infant! I¡¯m grown enough to go to The Silver Crescent, just like you. Only I¡¯m not stupid


    enough to get so drunk it makes me hungover!¡± This was partly true, anyway.


    Selena sat up. ¡°Liar. I¡¯d have seen you, or someone would¡¯ve noticed the special Celestial in our


    presence.¡±


    Briefly, I transformed into Elleah. Then back to my usual appearance.


    ¡°Holy shit,¡± Selena breathed. ¡°That was you?¡±


    Then she burst into hystericalughter.

 Chapter 483

    Chapter 483


    Chapter 483


    Ste


    ¡°Oh, my sister will shit a ton of bricks if she found out her precious little snookum-ookums was out


    last night. At the Crescent, of all ces? Girly, she never even liked going there herself. She said it


    was trashy.¡± Selena snorted moreughter and shook her head. She put the mug on the table and


    swiped her mouth with the back of her hand. ¡°Shit. What were you doing there?¡±


    I put the decanter of vodka back on the cart while I tried to get myself into some kind of emotional


    coolness. Selena had really made me mad. Hurt my feelings, too.


    With my back to her, I said, ¡°Why are you being so mean to me for no reason?¡±


    ¡°Aww, puddin¡¯. I get that you think you¡¯re special, but trust me. I¡¯m just a bitch to everyone.¡±


    I took the seat next to hers. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m special. I actually am special, Aunt Selena.¡±


    ¡°So fucking earnest, too. And don¡¯t call me that.¡± She grimaced.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because I told you not to, kid, and I¡¯m your elder.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± I told her harshly. ¡°Don¡¯t call yourself anyone¡¯s elder. That¡¯s¡­they¡¯re gone.¡±


    Selena¡¯s meanughter faded. So did her smile. She studied me in silence, and after a few


    seconds, shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re a piece of work. I can tell you¡¯re my sister¡¯s daughter, all right.


    You both have the same smug, self-satisfied face.¡±


    My hands flew up to touch my cheeks. At her wide eyes, I put them down. I tried hard to stop myself


    from frowning. ¡°I don¡¯t. And you shouldn¡¯t talk about my mother that way.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk about her any way I want to. She was my sister long before she was your mother.¡±


    ¡°But¡­it¡¯s mean,¡± I said, sounding helpless. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Selena got up and stalked to the bar cart. She opened the vodka decanter and drank directly from


    it. She put it down, then whirled to face me with her fists clenched. I could see the re of her gaze


    even through the dark sunsses. Her wolf snarled, and she bit it back.


    ¡°She abandoned me,¡± she said finally. ¡°She just up and fucking left, okay? No clue where she was.


    What she was doing, if she was okay, nothing. I had to watch my mother grieve her like she was


    dead, okay? I can never forgive her for that.¡±


    ¡°She was trying to save you. And everyone else. And she did,¡± I told my aunt, even though I could


    tell my words weren¡¯t going to change her mind.


    I could do something else to her that would, though.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking dare,¡± Selena growled. ¡°I can see it on your face, I told you that. If you¡¯re going to


    go around manipting people, you¡¯d better learn to hide it with a little more skill.¡±


    I didn¡¯t say anything, but I didn¡¯t try to use any energies to calm her down, either.


    Selena made a wild gesture at the books on the wall. ¡°Yeah, I studied up on you, kid. Some of these


    books, only a couple, have information in them about Celestials. So I know all about you, and what


    you¡¯re capable of. So don¡¯t you dare try.¡±


    To my rm, her breath hitched in and out on sobs. Silver tears trickled out from beneath the


    sunsses. She didn¡¯t bother to wipe them away.


    ¡°You think it¡¯s been easy for me? Ever since I turned eighteen, it¡¯s been like every step I take, some


    horny dude is there trying to get in my pants. I can feel their stupid wolves circling mine. I can¡¯t even


    go out dancing without having to fend them off. The other girls are nearly out of their minds with


    jealousy because all the guys they¡¯re interested in taking as mates are slobbering over me. I can


    feel them,¡± Selena said. ¡°I can feel them starting to hate me because everyone wants me so much.


    And none of them, not a single damned one, actually wants to take me as his mate. My sister has


    three mates, and I can¡¯t even get one guy to like me.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    ¡°That¡¯s not my mom¡¯s fault. She didn¡¯t make you a hybrid.¡±


    ¡°No, but she sure as hell could¡¯ve stuck around to help me figure out how to get through this!¡±


    I shook my head and kept my voice low. ¡°Ah¡­I mean, Selena, she couldn¡¯t have. Don¡¯t you get it?


    There was more at stake than you. If she hadn¡¯t gone off the way she did, you probably¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, I know. I¡¯d have been mated the moment I turned eighteen. Probably to two males who might


    not have liked me, either. But don¡¯t you get it? As awful as that might¡¯ve been, at least I¡¯d have had


    my sister here!¡± Selena burst into thick, harsh sobs.


    I knew she didn¡¯t want my sorries, so I didn¡¯t say it again. I did step closer to her. I reached but


    didn¡¯t dare touch her. Instead, I said the only thing I could think of.


    ¡°I can help you.¡±

 Chapter 485

    Chapter 485


    Chapter 485


    Ste


    Selena sobered up, herughter fading to silence. ¡°You¡¯re serious.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    She tilted her head to look me over. Her eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Last night¡­they were all


    circling me, like they were sharks and I was a bucket of chum. It was making me crazy, you know?


    Like, I just wanted to dance and have a good time.¡±


    ¡°You keep calling them other things, but I know what you mean. I heard you scream.¡±


    ¡°Some asshole grabbed my butt. But I put him in his ce. Nobody else really noticed. I didn¡¯t think


    I screamed. Maybe I shouted a little, but the music was so loud¡­¡± Selena¡¯s voice once again trailed


    to silence. She coughed into her fist. ¡°Okay, this is freaky.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t want to be freaky.¡±


    For a moment, I thought she was going to give me another sarcasticment, but my aunt only


    nodded. ¡°I get it. You can¡¯t really help it, though. Can you.¡±


    ¡°I guess not.¡±


    ¡°Is that why you changed how you look?¡±


    It was my turn to nod.


    My aunt sighed and let her head fall against the back of the chair. She stared at the ceiling. ¡°I used


    to think I wanted guys fighting over me, you know? I wanted to be so pretty, so special, so¡­


    whatever.


    ¡°Oh, gosh. You are so pretty!¡± The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them, not that


    I wanted to. My aunt was beautiful. ¡°If anything, I wish I looked more like you.¡±


    ¡°None of those men want me, actually me. They aren¡¯t even attracted to me because of how I look


    or dress, or the sound of my voice, or my sense of humor. None of that shit matters to them,


    because the only reason they¡¯re panting after me like they¡¯re the ones in heat is because my


    ancestors aren¡¯t all wolf shifters.¡± She let out a harsh chuckle that sounded like it hurt her throat.


    ¡°I know that. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    This time, she didn¡¯t tell me to fuck off. She rolled her head to look at me. ¡°You say you can help


    me, though?¡±


    ¡°I didst night.¡±


    She let her face tip toward the ceiling again. ¡°Is that why they all of a sudden started leaving me


    alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I felt your distress, and I couldn¡¯t watch it anymore. It felt like they were getting ready to hurt


    you. At least some of them wanted to.¡±


    Selena sat up, her body shaking with a shiver of revulsion. ¡°That¡¯s so fucking gross.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if any of them would have, but they were thinking about it.¡±


    ¡°I know. I could feel them, too. But you made them back off?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°It was just a little pulse. A tiny push. I didn¡¯t want to get in their heads too much, so I


    didn¡¯t do anything they¡¯d be able to really feel. I just kind of shielded you from them. Made you¡­¡±


    ¡°Not invisible,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯d have noticed if you¡¯d done something that intense.


    ¡°No. But a little transparent, maybe?¡± I chewed the inside of my cheek, trying to remember exactly


    what I¡¯d done. ¡°I just kind of nudged them into wanting something else. Another beer. A dance with


    a different partner. It won¡¯tst, I mean, they might start feeling like they want to pursue you again.¡±


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    ¡°But you could nudge them again, right?¡±


    ¡°I think so.¡± I took a few seconds to scan my internal library, calcting different ways I could keep


    her safe from the toads. Or the sharks. Whatever it was she wanted to call them. When I focused on


    her again, my aunt was sitting up with an odd expression.


    ¡°It really is kind of like watching aputer work through a program,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t mean for


    that to hurt your feelings, Ste. It¡¯s just that you get this distant look in your eyes. Then youe


    back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll work on that. You can help me. It¡¯ll be part of the fitting in.¡±


    Selena sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know, kid. I don¡¯t think your parents will be cool with you going to bars with


    me. I mean, they can¡¯t be down with you using your Celestial powers to change yourself so you can


    go out partying.¡±


    ¡°My Abba¡­it was his idea.¡±


    Selena¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Get out of here right now.¡±


    Confused, I stood but she waved me to sit again.


    ¡°No. I mean, I¡¯m just surprised that Mason would do that.¡±


    ¡°He feels out of ce, too. He wanted to help. And even though I bungled it on my own, if you help


    me, I think it could work.¡±


    ¡°Does my sister know about it?¡± When I hesitated, Selenaughed. ¡°That¡¯s a no. Well, that¡¯s fine


    with me.¡±


    ¡°You could forgive her,¡± I said.


    She shrugged. ¡°I could. We¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡°So¡­you¡¯ll help me? And let me help you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, then leaned forward with a wicked grin. ¡°But not here in town. I¡¯ll have to take you


    somece else.¡±

 Chapter 486

    Chapter 486 Ste


    No matter how much I asked, Selena refused to tell me about this club.


    She shook her head and waved a hand at me. Some color hade back into her cheeks. She thought it was the vodka, but I''d been subtly sending out some healing energies to her. Nothing overt, just tiny touches to her liver and stomach. I knew she''d be mad if she thought I was manipting her body...and that was something I''d need to ask the Moon Goddess for guidance about.


    Wasn''t it okay to use my talents for good use, even if the other person didn''t know and might not want it?


    "Quit grumping about it," Selena''s voice broke into my thoughts. "I just don''t want you spilling the beans to my sister or your dads. They''d never let us go where I''m nning to take you."


    "Why not?" I thought I was being clever, trying to get her to reveal more to me, but Selena justughed and wagged a finger at me.


    "Nope. You''ll find out when we get there. We''ll leaveter tonight, oh, like around nine. That''ll get us there by..." She paused and grinned. "Not telling you, in case you decide to use some of those freaky tracking talents or whatever you''ve got going on to map out all the possibilities within travel distance."


    I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. "You''re just being ridiculous now."


    "Are you telling me that if my sister gets a whiff of our ns and confronts you to your face, you''re not going to tell her everything?" Selena sounded gruff, but I could also tell that she was curious. I squirmed a little. "I don''t want to lie to my parents."


    Her eyebrows rose, and her smile tipped up the corners of her lips. "But you will, huh?"


    "I..." I could feel my expression twist as I tried to keep it looking neutral. I''d never talked much about this to anyone. "I did basically lie to them from birth until just a short time ago."


    "About being a Celestial," she said.


    I nodded. My heart was heavy, but I also couldn''t deny it. "I was born knowing and aware, and guided by the Moon Goddess to only reveal my true self over time. If I''d done it right away, my parents wouldn''t have been able to handle it. Everything has to happen at the right time."


    "I don''t believe in the Moon Goddess," Selena said. Her eyes shed.


    "How can you not believe-"


    "I mean, I believe that maybe once upon a time, there was some kind of thing or whatever, but is she still around? No. Does she answer prayers? Hell, no."


    I wasn''t quite sure how to answer


    this without making her angrier. "It''s not her job to answer prayers. We have to make our own choices and be responsible for them. The Moon Goddess is there to guide us, but in the end, we all do what we do on our own."


    "So why bother with her, then?" Selena demanded. She got up from her chair and went to one of the shelves, to run her fingertips down the row of books before turning back around to face me again. "If we can''t count on her, why should any ofus ever ask her for help?"


    "I..." Once again, I started to speak but couldn''t find the words.


    Selena gave me a triumphant look. She stabbed her finger at me in the air. "Ha! See! You don''t know, either. And if a Celestial can''t figure it out, I sure as hell can''t be expected to."


    She had so much anger inside her, and I thought could understand a lot of it. I wished there was a way I could help her through it, or take it away...but that would mean actively shifting her emotions. I''d just told her all about how we have to make our own choices and be responsible for them. Helping an upset stomach was one thing, but it would''ve been hypocritical of me to manipte her into letting go of her angst.


    That was something my aunt was going to have to work through on her own.


    The door to the library opened to reveal my mom.


    Selena shot me a look. "I thought you locked it."


    I could only shrug.


    "There you are," my mom said, worry clear in her voice. "I went to your room to make sure you were okay, and when you weren''t there..." "I''m fine, Mama."


    My mom''s gaze shot to her younger sister, and her expression softened. "Hey, Selena. I''m so d you''re here. Maybe we can grab some tea?"


    "Why don''t you go on ahead and get it," Selena said. "I''ll meet you in the dining room."Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    My mom''s expression was a mixture of happiness and uncertainty, but she nodded and quietly let herself out of the door. She closed it behind her. As soon as it was shut, my aunt turned to me. "See?" she hissed. "It doesn''t matter how tall you get. She''s never going to let you grow up."

 Chapter 487

    Chapter 487 SteThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    I couldn''t shake what my aunt had said. Obviously, my parents were all still trying to adjust to how fast I''d grown up, but I''d thought they were all taking it in stride. At least as much as they could have, anyway. And I couldn''t me my mom for being protective of me. Not after all we''d been through. What mother wouldn''t worry for the daughter she''d seen destroy an army?


    But I couldn''t live my entire life being watched over by my parents. First of all, now that my body was finally aligned with my mind, I knew that sooner rather thanter, the Moon Goddess would tell me of my final purpose. Second, my Abba''s advice was sticking with me. I couldn''t know how long I had here in this world, and I wanted to experience as much life as I could...while I could. And, finally, I wanted my mom to have the same chance.


    At eighteen, she''d been mated to the Constantine Alpha and his Beta. Shortly after that, she''d gotten pregnant with me...then her memory had been stripped from her. For her protection, sure, but even so, it had left some psychic scars on her that might never be totally healed, even if she didn''t know that. She''d met my Abba. Fallen in love with him. The Moon Goddess had given all four of my parents her greatest blessing, but I knew more than anyone how being unique and special wasn''t always the blessing it had been meant to be.


    It was a lot of work. It caused stress, being different. Even the good parts could feel like they were too much, overwhelming.


    My mom was manifesting her worry for me by being overprotective. Understanding it didn''t make it easier for me to handle, but I was trying not to flip out on her.


    "You never had your teenage years," she said now from behind me.


    I''d been staring out the window of my bedroom, out across the tops of the trees. Toward the unknown. The sound of her voice made me jump a little.


    "I didn''t mean to scare you." My momughed a tiny bit, shrugging her shoulders. "I thought you''d be able to sense that I was there...I mean..."


    "Because I''m a Celestial," I finished for her. At her open, curious expression, I decided to keep going. "Yes. I''m sure I could keep my senses on alert all the time so that nobody could ever sneak up on me. I could call on so many different kinds of skills to protect me from any threat. But that''s tiresome, Mom. And I don''t want to live like that."


    Her lips pressed together, and her gaze red as her wolf rose a bit. Then it shadowed. She nodded.


    "I want you to feel safe, Ste."


    I crossed the room to take her hands. "I do. I promise you. I do."


    Her fingers squeezed mine gently before she let go. She went to the window I''d been staring out of. "It''s so beautiful here. You''ve got the best view in the whole house. I just want you to know you cane to me about anything, little star You bypassed all the awkward years, right from child to adult.bwant you to know that I understand if there are some rough patches between us."


    "Did you have them with your own mom?" I felt a little weird calling my mother''s mother "grandma." That had always been Gabri for me. I''d barely met my other grandma.


    My mom turned and nodded. "Sure. We had our arguments. She wanted what was best for me, but I wasn''t always ready to listen to her, and I didn''t always agree. I love my mother, but we...well, we are different."


    I sensed a tension in her. A sadness.


    Something to do with me and the twins. I didn''t want to dig into that without her permission, so I withdrew the tendrils of my senses. This wasn''t as hard as keeping up a constant vignce would''ve been, but it was somehow more insidious. It would be too easy to open myself up to the high emotions of the people I loved so I could help them. But, I hadn''t done it with my aunt, and I wasn''t going to do it with my mom.


    "Has she seen or talked to you since we''ve been back?" my mom asked. Her voice was so purposefully steady that I knew she was only able to keep holding it that way with a lot of effort. "No," I said softly.


    Her flinch was small, but I saw it. Her head hung and her shoulders drooped. She nodded, like the answer didn''t surprise her. She drew in a long, deep breath and stood up straight. My mom''s brave smile didn''t fool me. I suspected it didn''t fool her, either.


    "I didn''t think so," she said. "I''ll leave you alone now."


    For a moment, she looked like she was going to hug me, but then she backed off. She left my room, giving me the space I''d thought I wanted.


    It wasn''t actually as great as I''d thought it would be.

 Chapter 488

    Chapter 488 Ste


    The day had taken a long time to pass. I''d spent it exploring the mansion. Then, I''d taken the twins into town for ice cream. They''d have to start school soon, and I had to admit that I didn''t envy them having to do that...even if I did wish, just a little, that I''d had the chance.


    Thinking about my mom''s sadness that there seemed to be a distance between her and her mom, and also her sister, I vowed that I wasn''t going to let my rtionship with my siblings get any further apart. Back at home, I popped in on my Dad, Abba, and Papa, but they were totally upied with pack business. Unlike my mom, they didn''t seem interested in hovering over me, but I figured that could change fast enough if they thought they had any reason to worry. I definitely didn''t want that. Abba snagged my sleeve as I was leaving their office.


    "How''s it going?" he asked, pitching his voice low and ncing back at Dad and Papa, who were bent over the desk, looking at some kind of files. "With the...you know."


    "Oh, I, um...I''m sure it''ll be great, Abba. I''m going to try it outter this afternoon when I go shopping. I need some new outfits."


    Heughed, shaking his head, then drew me closer to kiss my temple. "Good for you. Have fun, honey. Let me know how it goes." "I will," I promised.


    It wasn''t a lie. Not really. I could go shopping wearing Elleah''s face, if I wanted to.


    ***


    "You need to go shopping," Selena told me with a roll of her eyes. "I''m not going out with you looking like that."


    She waved at my long, navy skirt and matching flowery blouse. She pointed specifically at my navy ballet ts. I looked down at them.


    "They''refortable. And I just got them!"


    "You look like you teach preschool," Selena said. "Not the look we''re going for. Change your face and let''s go."


    Shopping with my aunt was way more fun than it had been with my mom and the grouchy twins. Or maybe it was shopping as Elleah and not as Ste. Elleah''s golden hair and gray-blue eyes were a perfect match for an ice-blue silk camisole that Selena insisted I pair with ck leather pants and a matching ck leather jacket. She added heavy soled ck boots thatced up tight to the ankle. Then, she stepped back with an approving nod.


    "Stillfy, but not so dainty," she said. "You look like a real badass."


    I blushed at my reflection. "I feel silly. All that ck leather. It''s not me."


    "Of course, it''s not you," she said with augh. "But it is Elleah Whitehaven."


    We paid for the clothes and I left wearing them. Outside of the store, Selena looked serious. "You sure this is cool? The...you know."


    She waved her hand up and down along my body and twiddled her fingers in my face.


    I watched a couple of people pass us on the sidewalk. They gave me a curious nce but that was because I was a stranger, not because I was Ste Constantine. They kept going. I waited until they''d passed.


    "Abba said it was the best option. I trust him."


    "Okay, well, you can trust me. You look great. The guys will go crazy for you."


    "I''m not sure I want anyone goingN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    crazy for me, said in rm. I made sure nobody was overhearing us when I leaned closer to her. "I thought the whole point of us going out to somece different was that we weren''t going to have anyone going crazy!"


    Selena rolled her eyes again. "I just don''t want anyone trying to hump me to death while I''m trying to dance and have a good time. I want to have fun, not fight off men who can''t control themselves. The only time want a guy to be out of control is when I decide I''m into him. And listen, I''m not ready to be mated yet, so that''s not going to happen for a long time."


    "Why don''t you want to be mated yet?" I asked curiously as we walked along the sidewalk.


    "You think want to end up like my


    sister? She''s barely twenty and has three kids. Not to mention three mates." Selena shuddered. "One dude seems like a pain in the ass to deal with, much less three. S


    "My mom loves my fathers!"


    Selena let out a snorting guffaw. "I''m sure she does, but the whole idea of that is, like, no thanks."


    My expression must''ve shown my feelings, because Selena sobered up.


    "Oh," she said. "You want...?"


    I shook myself and lifted my chin. I put an extra surge of confidence into my stride. Ste? Elleah? Whatever face I was wearing, I was still the same inside, right? "Let''s just go dancing," I said.

 Chapter 489

    Chapter 489 Ste


    I stared up at the tall, ck brick building in front of us. It had taken us over an hour to get here with Selena driving so fast I would''ve feared for my life if I hadn''t known I could cast a protection bubble around us in the event of any emergency. Even so, my heart was racing and my palms were sweating from the wild ride.


    And anticipation.


    "This is a human club," I said under my breath.


    Selena giggled. "Yep."N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "I''ve never been to a human city," I murmured, holding back to let some clubgoers go in ahead of us. "I''ve barely even been around any humans."


    Selena tugged me off to the side. "I thought you were in that, whatever you call it. That enve ce. Weren''t there any humans there?"


    I shook my head. "There might''ve been, but remember, I was small for a lot of that. And once I grew up, we had to get out of there. Fast."


    A shadow passed over my aunt''s face. For the first time, she looked sympathetic. "That must''ve been really hard. And scary."


    "It''s what I was meant to do," I told her sincerely.


    "Even so," she said.


    After a second, I nodded. Then, Iughed with embarrassment. "I faced an army of raging High Council wolves who were determined to kill me and my entire family, but somehow, I feel more scared about going into that club."


    "You look fantastic," Selena assured me. She dug in the small crossbody purse to hand me apact mirror and tube of crimson lipstick. "Freshen up."


    When my hand looked like it was shaking, she helped me. She stepped back to assess, then gave me an approving nod. I couldn''t stop myself from grinning at the tiny face I could see in the small mirror. "Ready?"


    "Yes," I said. "As ready as I''ll ever be."


    "Just follow my lead," she said, then stopped short with a furrowed brow. "Shit. I''m going to need you to do a little handwaving to get us through the door."


    "Huh?"


    "Humans can''t get into a club like this until they''re over twenty-one, not eighteen like shifters can. And, you need a form of ID," Selena exined. "You don''t have a driver''s license, do you?" "No..."


    "Me neither," she said with augh she hid behind her hand.


    "But you drove us here!"


    "Yeah," she said, totally without shame.


    "How do you have a car without a driver''s license?"


    Selenaughed again. "It''s not my car. Let''s just say I...borrowed it."


    "You stole it?"


    "Borrowed," she insisted in a low voice. "C''mon. Can you get us inside or not?"


    I looked back up at the many storied, ck-brick building. I could hear faint music thumping from inside it. It got louder when the doors opened, letting people in or out. A tall, man stood guard at the door, checking small stic cards watched him turn away a pair of young guys with hopeful looks on


    ON ERA


    their faces.


    "Come back when you''re old enough," the guard said. He kept their stic cards as the younger guys slunk away.


    I sighed with a frown. "Selena...you didn''t tell me it was going to be like this."


    "What''s the difference?" she asked. "You''re wearing a different face and body to fool people into thinking you''re someone else. Why''s it such a big deal to fool the bouncer into letting us in?" "I''m not doing it to fool people," I argued.


    Sheughed. "Yes, you are."


    My frown deepened. "Maybe we should just go home."


    "We came all this way! And you look so good," she wheedled in a voice that told me she knew I wasn''t going to be able to resist.


    The truth was, I did want to go


    inside. I wanted to see what a


    human club was like, and...I did look


    good. The mass of golden curls tumbling over my shoulders and down my back, the red lipstick, the leather jeans that molded to my butt and legs... Selena had said looked like a badass, and I was feeling like


    one.


    "You''ve got some kind of mind-control powers, don''t you? Vampires canpel people, right?"


    "Yes." There were other kinds of supernatural beings that could manipte others, too.


    She grinned at me until finally, reluctantly, I grinned back.


    Selena tucked her arm through mine and forced my feet to move. In front of the guard...no, she''d called him a bouncer. Probably because he bounced people out of the way? In front of him, she positioned us both.


    He gave us a bored look that turned a little more interested as he looked her up and down. Then me. "Ladies."


    She nudged me.


    I held out my palm, fingers up. I focused on an image of two driver''s licenses with appropriate information on them. "Here are our IDs."


    He looked at my hand, eyes narrowed. Then nodded. With a grin, he stepped aside and even opened the door for us.


    "Have a good night,dies," he said. "And wee to Paradise."

 Chapter 490

    Chapter 490 Ste


    "Why do they call this ce Paradise?" I asked Selena when we were through the front doors and standing in a vaulted entryway.


    "It''s what the humans call the ce they think they go to in the afterlife," she said in a low voice. Her eyes were wide as she looked around. She grinned, looking excited. "But this ce looks more like the opposite of heaven, if you ask me."


    I took a few seconds to scan my internal library for information about humans and their afterlife and then nodded. Human heaven was supposed to be white, high above the clouds, and filled with creatures they called angels ying harps. I had tough a little bit to myself. Angels existed all right, but they were not the way humans thought they were.


    Selena was right about this ce. Humans had an almost universal idea of hell that had been described by books, movies, and TV for so long that even people whose faith didn''t support an idea of a hell would''ve recognized that was the vibe this ce was putting out.


    "I don''t get it," I said to her.


    Sheughed. "They''re trying to be ironic."


    Paradise was dark, with velvet draperies on the walls, covering up bricked-in windows. Dim, flickering torches lined the walls. A small alcove off to the left led to restrooms, and another on the right looked like a ce to leave coats.


    The music was louder in here buting from a different room. Selena tugged my arm toward another set of doors. These were massive, made of carved wood with huge brass handles in the shapes of some kind of bird with a huge beak.


    They weren''t heavy, though, and when I pulled one, I almost fell back from how easily it opened. Selenaughed at me, but I didn''t take offense. I was too eager to get inside and see what kind of paradise this ce actually was.


    "You haven''t been here before?" I asked her as we both went through the doors.


    She shook her head, her eyes getting even wider as she looked around the massive space. The ceiling was so high it looked like it disappeared into the sky, and sparking lights and painted stars gave it the appearance of a gxy lit up with hundreds of stars. shing lights swirled different colors across the ceiling and along all the walls. A giant silver ball covered in mirrors dangled from the center of the ceiling. The lights reflected off it, sending out shards of brilliant light in all directions.


    "This ce is fantastic!" Selena had to shout over the thumping beat of the music pounding out of the speakers. She clung to my arm.


    The people on the dance floor were bumping up and down in time to the music, and I couldn''t stop my feet from shifting, too. The far end of the room had some ck leather couches and chairs set up. The wall behind them had more of those dim torches, and also...This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    "Are those...shackles?" I asked Selena.


    "It''s a dungeon theme!" she shouted over the music. "Humans are soooo into their themes!"


    I looked around, taking in all the


    other oddities. A coffin tipped against one wall with the door hanging open and a mannequin inside it wearing a tuxedo, a cape and with its arms crossed over its chest. Red eyes glowed, and fangs protruded from its mouth,


    "That''s what they think a vampire looks like," Selena said, pointing andughing. "They are some sometimes."


    "How did you find out about this ce?"


    She shrugged. "I''ve been to the human city a few times. But I never was able to get into any of the clubs!"


    Iughed. "What would you have done if we got turned away tonight?"


    "I wasn''t worried. I knew you''d be able to get us in," she said. "Let''s get some drinks!"


    The long wooden bar was so busy we had to push our way through a bunch of other people to get to it. I had to admit that Selena had been right about my clothes. I never


    would have fit in wearing wheel m


    I''d


    had on before, but here, the ck


    leather was perfect. She managed to press up against the bar and shook


    her hair over her shoulders.


    I watched her and did the same thing.


    "Two gin and tonics," she shouted as the bartender turned toward us. To me, she said into my ear, "Hey, can you do your magic wand trick and get us free drinks?"


    I could. I felt a little funny about it,


    but when the bartender slid two sses toward us and gave me an expectant look, I quickly pulsed a bit of invisibility toward him. He looked right through us. He''d forgotten we were there and was already turning to help someone else.


    Selena crowed as she drew me away from the bar. "Drink up, niecey-poo! This party is just getting started!"


    I watched her down the drink in two fast gulps.


    Anticipation and excitement were flooding through me, tinged with a little bit of uneasiness. Her eyes gleamed, a sh of her wolf that had heads turning her way. Were things about to get out of hand?


    And...did I mind if they were?

 Chapter 491

    Chapter 491 Ste


    I knew humans were different, of course, but my entire life had been spent around supernatural kind. My curiosity was raging as I allowed Selena to lead me to a set of leather chairs tucked around a coffee table littered with empty sses. The leather couch across from us was upied by two other women engaged in an intense conversation. They didn''t pay any attention to us other than a quick, flicking nce Selena''s bright gaze stabbed around the room in all directions before she turned it back on me. The re of her wolf had faded, thank the Goddess. Human eyes didn''t glow.


    She leaned closer to me to shout over the thumping beat of the dance music. "Isn''t this great?¡±


    "I''ve never seen anything like it, that''s for sure!" I shouted back.


    Sheughed and twirled her fingers in a circle again. It was a gesture I was getting to recognize. She wanted me to do...something.


    "Make it quieter for us," she said.


    With a small shift of effort, I was able to create a small, private bubble of soundproofing. We could still hear the music, but it wasn''t so loud that we had to shout. I was d she''d thought of it, but I wondered aloud how she knew I could do such a thing.


    "Why do you think I was really going to that library?" Selena asked, leaning against the back of the chair and fluffing her hair out around her shoulders. She moved gracefully, but also with utter awareness of how every line of her body, every twist of her waist or toss of her hair was perfectly designed to show herself off.


    To who? I looked around. Nobody was looking at us right now. When I looked back at her, she was rolling her eyes.


    "You said it was to hide from my mom," I replied with a small frown at her expression.


    "Sure. But also, I was reading up on you. I bet you don''t even know the half of what you can do."


    I felt my mouth twist as I pressed my teeth to my bottom lip for a moment. "I can do everything."


    "Yeah, but you don''t even know what that means. Do you?" Selena scooted to the edge of her seat. "Would it have urred to you to do that silencing thing for us here?"


    "Maybe," I said defensively. "But it''s not like we need it. It''s just a convenience."


    "Not everything has to be as important as a battle," she told me. "What''s the use of being able to do ''everything'' if you don''t do anything?"


    She had a point. I looked around again and added a protective shield to our quieting bubble to keep anyone from overhearing us. "Did you want toe to a human ce because they aren''t attracted to you? "Aren''t they?" She looked surprised, then frowned. "That would be a giant disappointment."


    She waved a hand. Tossed her hair again. Her gaze was already scanning the room, no longer fixed on me. I sensed her wolf pacing. Selena was on the hunt.


    "Constantine doesn''t have a ce like this," she said. "And if it did, I''d never have been able toe here."


    She turned back to me. "Human


    men will still want to dance with me,


    but it will be because they are


    attracted to me, not because ma hybrid. And I don''t have to worry about finding a mate."


    "Get you something?"


    We both looked up at the male voice. The man standing over us wore nothing more than


    butt-hugging briefs that looked like some kind of shiny, stretchy leather. Both of his nipples were pierced with bars, and his naked skin glittered with a dusting of silver and gold. He smiled at us both, and his teeth gleamed so white they looked like they were glowing. So did the whites of his eyes.


    "Two margaritas," Selena told him. "Put it on our tab, please."N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    He nodded and left. Selenaughed, probably at my wide eyes. She shook her head and patted my knee.


    "Chill out," she said. "You fixed it so we don''t even have a tab, but he''ll think we do."


    "He was so handsome," I blurted.


    Her eyebrows went up. She looked over my shoulder toward the bar. "Yeah, he was cute. But don''t crush on the staff, Ste. Sorry. Elleah, We''re going to find men who are here to have a good time, not to work."


    "Oh, I''m not here to find anyone," I protested, but my auntughed right in my face.


    "We''re going to get you danced up on, maybe even a little smoochy boochy." The lilt in her voice and the way she talked was so much lighter than she''d sounded before.


    She was only eighteen, and excited about sneaking away from the people who wanted to control her. I couldn''t me her. This ce was pretty exciting.


    And I wanted to experience all of it.


    The server appeared with two frosty sses. I sipped mine, wincing at the sweet and sour bite. Selena downed hers in another few gulps. Then she did the same with mine.


    "Let''s dance!" Selena shouted.


    "You drank my drink!"


    "There will always be more drinks,¡± she said, standing and grabbing my hand. I stood, too. ¡°Let''s go!"

 Chapter 492

    Chapter 492 Ste


    The crowd parted for us as we moved toward the center of the dance floor. I wasn''t doing that. Selena moved so confidently that she naturally took up the space.


    I watched. Tried to learn. I was bumped and jostled until I followed her lead to dip and weave. By the time we got to the middle of the floor, the music had changed to something fast, with a driving beat that made me want to move my body.


    Our bubble hade along with us, so I had no trouble hearing her when she said, "It''s like watching a wildlife documentary, isn''t it?"


    "More like being in the middle of one," I said as the crowd began moving in unison.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Selena tossed back her head in a torrent ofughter. She twirled around to face a tall man who''d been dancing closer and closer. She looked over her shoulder at me and winked as she began to move in time with him.


    Heat. Music. The smell of sweat and lust and unbridled joy swirled around me, tickling my nostrils. When I expanded my senses, I caught hints of anxiety, jealousy, desperation. Humans might not mate the way wolf shifters did, but this club was definitely a mating ground.


    The man my aunt had started dancing with fitted his hands to her hips and pulled her up close as the song once again changed. Now I was dancing by myself, doing my best to look like I knew what I was doing. A man danced up to me, but I quickly turned around, my cheeks ring with heat that rushed up from my center. I wanted to flirt with him, to let him pull me close the way Selena was doing, but he''d know right away that I had no clue how to dance. How to flirt.


    I edged toward a smaller group of women who were dressed alike in matching T-shirts. One said "Bride." One said "Maid of Honor." She grabbed my arm.


    "Is that creeper bothering you?" she cried, tugging me into their circle. "Get in here, girl!"


    He hadn''t been really bothering me, but I let her pull me into their group. I kept an eye on Selena. The women in the circle had a confusing human array of emotions that took a few seconds for me to sift through. They were so different from supernaturals! Complexyers of feelings swept through them, but they weren''t using them tomunicate with each other, because they couldn''t feel each other the way supernaturals could.


    The song changed, and so did their circle. One of them wore several strands of beads around her neck, each with a stic pendant dangling from it. She yanked one over her head and slung it around my neck, where it bumped against my chest as I danced. I couldn''t tell what it was, and when I tried to thank her, she just waved me away.


    I turned back to make sure Selena was still okay. She had one man in front of her and a different, new guy behind her. The two men were grinding her body as she had her arms in the air. Her wild grin told me she was having a great time, but the human men had heat pulsing out of their crotches. They might not be able to sense the fact she was a hybrid, but that didn''t seem to matter. They were still riled up, and she was loving it.


    But was she in actual trouble?


    I danced closer, trying to make sure she was okay with being rubbed up and down by these strangers. "Selena!"


    The music kept going from one


    song right into the next, and she pushed herself out of the human male sandwich. They grabbed at her half-heartedly but then turned toward the circle of women in the matching shirts and tried infiltrating it.


    "What?" Selena asked.


    "Are you all right? They were both really grabbing you!"


    Sheughed. "That''s the point, isn''t it?"


    Was it? I''d have to take her word for it. In the few minutes since I''d left the circle, two new men had danced up to us. One was behind Selena. And one...


    "Oh!" I cried in rm as a hard male body pressed along my back. I felt the nudge of strong thighs against my butt and turned quickly.


    That wasn''t much better. Now he pulled me against his front. He flicked my beads. "Bachelorette?"


    "Huh?" I stepped back to put some distance between us and bumped into Selena, who was happily pressing her butt against this new guy.


    The four of us were in a tangle now. More people on the dance floor. Everyone writhing and bumping and jumping & heard a pop, and dozens of colored paper strips fell out of the ceiling and floated down while wild lights shed. Giant screens on the walls lit up with colored patterns that moved in time to the music.


    The man dancing with me was trying to talk to me, but I couldn''t hear him. As I leaned closer to try, I lost track of Selena for a second- while the crowd closed up around her. I spotted her a few feet away, tugging herself free of the man''s grip. She looked annoyed.


    Keeping her out of trouble was turning out to be harder than I''d expected.

 Chapter 493

    Chapter 493 SteThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Quickly, I formed a different sort of bubble around her. A small shield, light and thin, that kept the man grabbing her from being able to pull her with him off the dance floor. Every time he tugged, his fingers slipped off her wrist like she''d been covered in oil. His confusion was obvious, and I wanted tough. Finally, he gave up and turned away to find someone else.


    Selena danced back over to me with a frown. "Hey! I know what you''re doing!"


    I turned my back on the man who''d flicked my beads, and he gave up to find someone else. "He was trying to take you off the dance floor!"


    "Yeah, he wanted to buy me a drink!" She frowned. "Listen, kiddo, I''m here to have a good time. The deal was that I''d show you how to be normal, and you''d help keep away the supes trying to get at me."


    "Is this normal?" I shouted to be heard. The quiet bubble had faded while I shielded her from the man she apparently had wanted to go with.


    I was having a hard time juggling everything at once.


    Selena''s eyes were glowing again, but not from her wolf this time. Like the server''s, the whites were bright. So were her teeth. It was from the purple lighting overhead, I realized. Her fingernail polish, the white tips, were glowing, too.


    "And don''t call me kiddo," I shouted.


    Only a minute or so had passed without any men trying to grab our hips and push themselves against our butts. That seemed to be about the limit of time we''d get solo. As Selena felt big male hands pulling her back against him, she grinned at me and let this new stranger hold her close.


    "You don''t even know what he looks like!" I couldn''t hold back myughter, even though I didn''t really think it was funny.


    Behind me, my own brand-new


    stranger was bumping his pelvis against the small of my back. I tried to take a couple of steps forward to let him know I didn''t want him to do that, although truthfully, I kind of did. Everyone around me was linking and untinking, all of us part of a giant chain of rising desire mingled with a plethora of other feelings that were starting to give me a little bit of a headache.


    "What difference does it make?" Selena cried as she put her hands over the guy''s, resting t on her belly. She swiveled her hips and let her head fall back against his chest.


    "You don''t even know if he''s cute!"


    She grinned again. "Everyone''s hot on the dance floor! Let yourself go!"


    I wanted to, and it was easy to let myself get swept up. In the music, in the man touching me, his breath now hot on the back of my neck. His grip got bolder, pulling me closer, his fingertips inching around to my belly and just under the hem of my camisole. At the touch of his bare skin on mine, a flood of strange new sensations rushed through me.


    I wanted to see his face, but the


    crowd had pushed in on us so closely that I couldn''t twist around without pulling myself away...and I couldn''t pull away, because there was another body in front of me. My front bumped a woman''s back. We were all moving in unison. Up and down, side to side. With each beat of the drums, the floor shook beneath our feet. I shot a nce toward where I''dst seen Selena and could only catch a glimpse of her hair.


    Something hard was pressing against my back now. Something firm and hot pushing through the denim of this guy''s jeans. Then coot air reced the heated breath, but only for a second, because another set of hands ttened on my belly. Pulled me against a different body. A pair of lips nudged my ear, and I shivered as small tendrils sensation tiptoed up and down my spine.


    I couldn''t move without shoving the woman in front of me. We all rocked together, boats on an ocean of music and sweat and lust. I barely had to move my feet because the entire crowd was doing the dancing for me.


    I found myself being spun in a slow circle. Now my back rubbed the woman who''d been in front of me. My chest pressed against a broad, male chest d in a glowing white T-shirt. He tossed his head to get sweaty hair off his forehead and looked down into my eyes with an intense gaze.


    Was he cute? Like Selena had said, everyone was hot on the dance floor. But did I think he was cute? He was a human, so what did it matter? We weren''t going to be mated. I wasn''t even going home with him... All we had to do right now, in this moment, was give up to the throbbing meat. To let go and dance.


    I let my fingers link behind his neck for a moment while he moved us in time to the beat. I looked around to make sure my aunt was all right. I couldn''t find her.


    Selena was gone.

 Chapter 494

    Chapter 494 Ste


    Wildly, I spun in ce. I was trapped, unless I wanted to push rudely through the crowd. I opened my mind to find Selena and was relieved to feel her presence still close by. Unagitated. She was having a good time.


    "Don''t go," said the man who''d been dancing with me when I pulled away.


    I didn''t really want to, but I couldn''t concentrate on keeping my aunt out of trouble and also get swept up in dancing myself. Yes, she''d promised to teach me how to be normal, and apparently, this counted. But I''d promised to keep her safe, and even if humans weren''ting after her the same way supernaturals would be, it was very clear that I couldn''t trust her to use good judgment.


    I found her standing near the bar with the guy she''d been dancing with. Or it could have been a different one. Honestly, it was hard for me to tell these humans apart. They all wore the same kinds of clothes, had simr features, and didn''t have a distinctive, signature scent. They all smelled the same to me, an odor I couldn''t put my finger on but was basically nd.


    "This is Joey," she shouted.


    "Meetcha," Joey said with a nod. His gaze slid over my face and down my body.


    I''d forgotten for a minute that I didn''t look like myself, so his tant appreciation took me aback for a few seconds. Then, warmth flushed my cheeks again. I chased it away by forcing a cool smile and lifting my chin.


    "Sup," I said, imitating what I thought someone who looked like Elleah Whitehaven should say.


    "Joey," Selena said, "has a friend."


    She sipped her drink and wiggled her eyebrows at me. I thought she might have something in her eye, but then I got it. Oh. She meant he had a friend for me.


    "Where''s your friend?" I asked.


    Joey shrugged, leaning against the bar. "You want a drink?"


    "No, thanks." I licked my lips and tasted sweat. More sweat pasted strands of my hair to my cheeks, so I pushed them back.


    How did Selena stay looking so put-together? We''d only been here for a couple of hours, and I felt like I looked like someone had hit me in the face with a shovel. I could feel my mascara streaking. My lipstick had to be smeared. Sweat coated my back. I could''ve freshened up by manipting my shapeshifter talents, but it would have to be subtle. I didn''t want to risk anyone watching as Elleah''s messy makeup repaired itself.


    What was the use of being able to do everything, like Selena had said, if I couldn''t do anything?


    "Oh, go on," she said. "Live a little. Have a drink."


    "Just a c, then."


    Joeyughed. "Sure, princess."


    I frowned at the hint of sarcasm in his tone. Joey was not as handsome as the server had been. Selena leaned into his embrace as he gestured at the bartender. She seemed to like him well enough, but she was also definitely feeling the influence of the alcohol.


    "Don''t be so uptight," she scolded.


    "One of us should stay sober," I told her.


    Joey snorted. "Why?"


    I hadn''t realized he could hear me. The bubble I''d put around me and Selena was entirely gone. I didn''t try to put it back into ce. So much was going on, and I needed to keep my head about me. "Come on. Let''s dance again!" Selena swayed on her high heels.


    Joey put his arm around her. "Whoa, whoa, littledy."Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ???%%%


    Littledy? Ugh. How could she stand to be talked to that way? But Selena shot me a secret grin that showed me she was not as intoxicated as she seemed...or least as not as much she wanted Joey to think she was. Her wink didn''t really make me feel better, either.


    "I''ll stay here," I told them both. "My feet hurt."


    That was true, I might not have squeezed my feet into the kind of


    pointy tettos my aunt was


    ????


    wearing, but these fashion boots were still a lot different than the sneakers and ts I was used to. It wasn''t the real reason I didn''t t¨¦ get back on the dance floor, though.


    I really just wanted to be able to keep my wits about me.


    "You go," I told her. "Have a good time. I''ll be over here."


    I could tell Selena was torn, but only for a few seconds before she shrugged and took Joey by the


    hand. She led him back to the dance floor. She didn''t even nce back. I felt a little insulted, honestly, She was obviously more interested in having her own fun than helping me.


    I was content for the moment to stay here at the end of the bar and sip the fizzy c with the bubbles tickling my nose. I wanted to take in every sight. Every smell. I wanted to simply experience this night, even if it was on the sidelines.


    That''s when things started to get really interesting.

 Chapter 495

    Chapter 495 Ste


    Theparison to a wildlife documentary seemed even more urate when I was a bystander and observer instead of a participant. Everywhere I looked, there was something going on that had my eyes going wide or made my hold back augh or gasp of surprise.


    Humans sure did get up to some wacky hijinks once they got going with some booze in their systems.


    I kept my back firmly against the bar behind me, so nobody could surprise me. On the far side of the room, shadows were split with shing lights as people gathered around a long table. Each end was set up with red stic cups, and the teams looked like they were bouncing small stic balls in an attempt to get them into the cups. When someone made it, a small ssh wafted a scent of yeast and hops toward me. Beer. The person who got the ball in the cup shouted and...drank the contents.


    Gross!


    Still, I was intrigued. I''d told my aunt I wanted to be normal, but what wasmon for humans wasn''t necessarily tranted into what supernaturals would do. At the same time, I could see so many simrities Our physical forms were basically the same, at least between humans, shifters, witches, and vampires. This hinted atmon ancestry.


    I concentrated for a few seconds on my inner library but didn''t give myself time to do any more searching. I couldn''t forget how Selena had described me as going nk. I couldn''t afford to do that here in Paradise, not even for a few seconds. But I was intrigued at this new realization of how much alike we all were.


    My mom and her sister were both hybrids. So were ina and Isaac, and their birth mother, Alice, was likely one, too. I myself was a hybrid of the mostplex sort, a blend of every single supernatural that had ever existed. It should have been as natural for me to be born looking like a Cyclops or Fae as it was for me to look like a wolf shifter. Yet my natural appearance, the one I didn''t have to think about to keep, matched my parents''.


    Could humans mate with supernaturals? And if so, what kind of hybrids would they create? Would the humanck of any innate special talents dilute or even block out those of the supernatural? Or the opposite, would babies from a human/supernatural joining be even more talented because of something I didn''t yet understand?


    Why was I even thinking about this now, I scolded myself as I focused back on the dance floor where Selena had abandoned Joey for someone else. I could spend as many hours as I wanted to when we got back home, either researching all the millennium of knowledge locked away in my mind, or with real, physical books from the library in the mansion. Right now, all I really needed to pay attention to was my aun and her shenanigans.


    She''d called me uptight, but I saw others standing along the walls or the bar, same as I was. Not everyone here tonight was looking to get mated...to hookup, I thought, catching an overheard conversation between two guys near me. Dudes. Bros. That''s how they referred to each other, anyway. It made meugh behind my hand.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    I''d seen all three of my fathers acting kind of like this. pping hands on each other''s shoulders. Posturing. I''d even seen Isaac starting to imitate them. What was it about men that made them walk around with their pelvises leading the way? Like the entire world needed to step aside so they could get by? Like they deserved to take up more space than anyone else around them?


    The whisper of a fingertip trailed along the back of my neck, and I shuddered. But when I turned, nobody was there. I scanned the room, expecting to pick up the signature, either heat or scent, of another supernatural. At first, I thought I saw a sh of crimson eyes, but it turned out to be the silly mannequin in the fake coffin. Other eyes glowed white from that purple light, but I didn''t see anyone else with a rising wolf or anything like that.


    Still, my back straightened as my senses tingled. The atmosphere in the bar had changed a little. More people had been drinking for a longer time. The night was wearing on, and those who hadn''t yet paired up were starting to give off waves of desperation. Humans yearned for passionate interludes that were not attached to mating-their instinct for sex was as strong as that of wolf shifters, but they seemed way less concerned about finding their one and only. More like they wanted their only for one night.


    I could see Selena, surrounded by human men all yearning toward her. They were being affected by her being a hybrid, after all. They just didn''t know why she seemed so much brighter, sexier, more desirable than the other women here. They weren''t as dangerous as the wolves in Constantine had been, but I still needed to be watching out for her. She clearly wasn''t doing it for herself.


    "Hey, you." An elbow nudged me. "Guess what?"


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