Ashley’s eyes are black and extended claws, with her wolf at the surface. “Let him go, Bronx.” I lighten my grip on Reggie’s arm and stare her down. “Zinnia, calm down.” “NOW!” She growls and jumps forward in her seat, shaking the SUV. Arnie turns in his seat and reaches his arm back. “Gamma, please. Sit back. I’m not trying to restrain anyone here today.” I slowly release Reggie and hold my hands up. “Alright, see, I let go. I apologize, Zinnia. Please give Ashley back. I was sleeping. I didn’t know what I was doing.” “That’s what you said the last time.” She snarls, referring to the time I had a PTSD episode where I blacked out and almost slit his throat, thinking he was an intruder in the packhouse. “No, this wasn’t like last time. It was just a dream, but it felt so real.” I rub my hands over my face. “I’m sorry. Reggie, are you okay?” “I’m good.” He rubs his arm with his hand, then turns to Ashley. “Zinnia, it’s okay. I’m fine. Please let Ashley come forward now.” Ashle
A woman from the airline escorts me when it’s time to board the plane. She makes sure I’m comfortable, then boards the rest of the passengers. I leave my sunglasses on so people can’t see me watching them watch me as they walk past. I try to read my newspaper, but I’m distracted thinking about the color of Andreas’s eyes and how I felt so drawn to Maya. I take the folder out of the envelope Ashley gave me and put down the tray table. I still have to finish answering the questionnaire. I fold up the paper, but notice an article about cryptocurrency, written by someone I know, so I pick it back up and look it over. The stewardess comes by and sets a glass on my tray table while I’m engrossed in the article. “Thank you.” I murmur, not turning my attention away from an article. I take a sip of the glass and feel the familiar burn slide down my throat. I taste the flavor on my tongue and look in the glass. It’s the same bourbon I’ve been drowning myself in for the last five months. I l
Kas’s POV There’s a tiny knock on the door, then the nurse peeks her head in. “Luna, you’re awake.” I shake my head at the thought of being able to sleep, knowing Bronx is downstairs trying to heal Andreas. “Yes, please come in.” I try to sound pleasant. Inside my stomach is full of angry butterflies. I adjust Maya in my arm to make sure she’s getting milk from the bottle. “H-how did it go?” The nurse approaches with the Andreas blanket and sits on the edge of the bed. “See for yourself, Luna.” She sits closer and pulls the blanket away from Andreas’s face. My sweet boy squints at the light and fusses about having to be removed from his warm cocoon. The first thing I notice is that his hair has a tint of color to it. It isn’t the stark white it was when the nurse took him away. “Oh, my sweet boy.” I brush my hand over his head and coo at him. “Look what your daddy did for you.” At my touch, Andreas opens his eyes wide and looks at me, cooing with a grumpy face in response. When
“Kas?” A high pitched, excited voice wakes me up. “Open your eyes! I need to talk to you!” My eyes flutter open to my sister Leticia being inches from my face. “WHAT THE?!! Leticia! You scared me!” “Holy moly, Kas, you look like shit.” She sits me up and touches her fingertips on my face. “I didn’t think you could look worse than you did when you brought us here.” “Ugh. Thanks Leticia. I love you too. The last month has been a little rough, but the twins are born safe and sound. Maya and Andreas.” I sit up on my elbows and look around. I’m in a guest suite in Kardiá tou Menae. The light airy room feels full of positive energy. I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing I’m not in danger for once. “You summoned me? Am I an astral projection?” “Yeah, but I’m not allowed to use dark magic anymore. Since you’re here, that means it was GOOD magic. Right?” She speaks slowly and nods, waiting for praise. “No need for me to go to the Waiting Room.” “Yes, Leticia. If you called me here for a go
My jaw drops in awe at the request. They either haven’t through this through or they are messing with me. I look around at the women, seeing if I can tell if this is some sort of prank. “I- Are… are you sure? You all voted? You want me to be your Luna?” Leticia wraps her arms around me from behind and gives me a strangling hug. Ayrelles looks concerned, but I hold my hand up to let her know it’s fine. “Kas, you’re the best choice for it. You’re already basically the best Luna we’ve ever had, and it’s not even your official title.” “Yeah, Kas. You created this beautiful place for us. We all agree. We can’t think of anything more kind and selfless than using practically every drop of your essence to make sure you family has been taken care of. They are the most important qualities for a Luna. It’s been millennia since we’ve had that. Katherine only wanted control. She didn’t give a shit if we were doing well.” Sunny, one of the Maven, approaches me and regards me with bright, golden e
“Iokaste, wake up, dear girl.” An unfamiliar voice beacons me. The woman’s tone sounds rich, like warm honey on a freshly baked roll, with doves gently cooing in the background. The scent of roses and juicy pomegranate overtakes my senses, making me open my eyes to see where I could be. When I sit up, my hands sink into a deep, plush velvet chaise lounge. It is the lightest shade of blush pink I have ever seen. Instead of brass upholstery tacks around the edges, the sofa appears to be held together with large pearls. There are white satin pillows stacked behind me. The chair I’m sitting on is in the middle of the room that doesn’t seem to have walls, but if it did, they would be adorned in a creamy brocade wallpaper. Besides the chaise, there are two oversized armchairs made of an ivory color velvet. The more I look at them, the more I realize they aren’t just oversized. They are huge. You would have to be at least seven feet tall to sit comfortably. I swing my feet off the side of
Aphrodite stands up with a satisfied look and snaps her fingers. When I blink, there is a rush of warm air that smells a little like roses. We transport to a room filled with deep red and green velvet furniture accented with exotic animal furs and a giant fireplace. It isn’t like the light, airy room we were just in. This room reminds me of a play Bronx took me to see called Moulin Rouge. The Goddess is now wearing a burgundy colored robe with feather trim. She stands next to the wall beside the fireplace and waves her hand, making a mirror the size of a barn door appear. I watch the reflection of the mirror morph and swirl as if it isn’t satisfied with just showing the contents of the room it’s in. “Come here, Iokaste.” She pouts her lip, unfurls her fingers, and holds her hand out to me. “Gaze in the mirror if you’d like to see another future for yourself.” “I’m not able to walk, your Highness.” I lower my head and look at my toothpick thin legs. “My human spirit was imprisoned f
Wait, I must have heard her wrong. I turn my head back to the mirror. Milo? The mirror shows Milo in the weight room with other warriors and pack guards working out. His eyes are intense with concentration as he bench presses almost five hundred pounds. He is dripping in sweat with no shirt on. His shorts are low on his hips, with his tattooed torso on full display. When he finishes his set, he sits up and grins at someone with that goofy lopsided smile he gets when he jokes around. His gray eyes sparkle as he says something, but there’s no sound to the image. The scene fades to him on the front lawn, tossing Codi in the air and catching her while she squeals and giggles. Every time he catches her, he gives her a kiss on the nose, then tosses her up again. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so happy. I look at my feet for a moment. Of all the werewolves, this is the one she thinks I would be a match with? It’s just Milo. Okay Kas, think. Eros? If memory serves me correctly, he is m