Mist sprayed on my face and I closed my eyes, pretending the cool water was helping wash away my anxiety. The roar of the waterfall eased my racing mind, giving me a few blissful moments of peace before the weight of the world came crashing in around me.My eyes snapped open as I wiped the water from my face. I took a step back, then crossed my arms over my chest. The sun was low in the horizon and my clothes were soaked from standing so close to the waterfall. I was freezing, but that was a small price to pay for a moment of peace.Star had agreed to let us stay the night at her place, but I had to admit, the thought of fleeing had crossed my mind. It wasn’t that I wanted to run from my problems, it was that I was tired of getting swept up in everyone else’s. Since when was it my job to help my absentee father with a coup?I shifted my weight and my feet slipped on the mossy ground, nearly causing me to fall. Finding my balance, I backed away from the edge of the water. At least my s
“You’re right,” I said. “I don’t worry about those things. But I do worry that I’m taking too great a risk by putting everything else off to help Spencer.”“You’re not ready,” he said. “I mean no disrespect, but you could use the time to learn how to be more wolfy.”I quirked a brow. “Wolfy?”He grinned. “You heard me. You aren’t ready to tackle the challenges in Wolf Creek.”“Yet I’m ready to help a royal take down another?” It didn’t seem like it was any less risky than standing up to my former pack. I wasn’t sure I was ready for either thing.“You’ll have our help with that endeavor. When you fight an alpha, you must do it alone,” he reminded me.My stomach twisted into knots. “Don’t remind me.”The sun had set and it was getting colder by the minute. I shivered, then glanced over at the warm glow coming from the windows at Star’s house. “We should go in, it’s getting late.”The two of us walked toward the house together, my feet sinking into the soft, mossy earth with each step. I
I marched over to Spencer, my eyes narrowed. Heat rushed through me, and I felt like I had electric current in my veins. “When were you going to share this with us? How dare you put my friends’ lives at risk. After everything you’ve already done.”“First of all, I didn’t even know you were alive, so spare me the deadbeat dad guilt,” Spencer said with a growl.His tone was menacing, and I tensed but held my ground.“Second, I never asked your friends for help. I asked you. And your brother was a happy addition,” he said.“That’s why you needed us,” Malcom said. “You can’t do this without blood relatives to help. You weren’t counting on the others joining.”“Maybe there’s hope for you, after all,” Spencer said. “Get your sister in order.”I growled. A low, loud rumbling that felt like it came from my toes. “Nobody gets me in order. We are the ones helping you and we can back out of that at any time.”Spencer lifted a brow. “Did you growl at your future king?”“Did you talk down to a fut
“Shit, I’d do it too,” Sheila said. “Any of us would, isn’t that right, Alec?”Alec was silent and I knew the reason why he wasn’t chiming in. With his mark, he couldn’t be a second.“I know any of you would,” I said. “But I doubt Ace is even going to care.”“Well, y’all are being squishy again, aren’t you?” Star said.I hadn’t noticed the witch’s entrance. “That’s what we do, I guess.”“Worst shifters ever,” she said.“Tell me about it,” Spencer said.“For real, though,” Malcom said. “Tell us you plan on keeping us alive. That you’re not going to sacrifice us for your throne.”“Having you two is beneficial for my rule, why would I want you dead?” Spencer asked. “My brother never had children. His line will end with him. It’s got the alphas all riled up. When he dies, it will mean war. Many would rather see an heir to prevent chaos. I think it’s the only reason his council was able to talk him into keeping me alive rather than executing me. Technically, they could bring me in to preve
I followed Star down the long hall, past several doors until we reached a room at the end.“It’s all yours,” Star said. “I call it the yellow room.”“Well, that’s dubious,” I said as I pushed open the door. Everything in the room was an overwhelming shade of yellow. My lips parted. “You weren’t joking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much yellow in one place before.”The wallpaper was yellow and white striped, the bed was covered in a pale-yellow quilt, and the lampshades were an almost neon lemon color. I stepped into the room, noting the huge yellow and orange rug that covered most of the wood floor. “Your choices or did it come with the house?”“It came this way. I didn’t ask.” She walked toward a closet and slid open a mirrored door. “It also came with this.”Inside the closet were men’s suits, dress shirts, and ties hung in neat rows. My brow furrowed. “It just showed up in the closet?”“Maybe Winter thought I’d have a friend over some day. I’ve learned not to question the fae to
I pushed him away, trying to clear my mind of all thoughts related to him. My wolf was fighting me, I could feel her conflict. We’d worked this out, hadn’t we?Tyler is no good for us. He’s violent and hateful.Visions of Tyler injured and vulnerable came to mind. He looked like he was in pain and my heart ached for him. What was wrong with me? He deserved all the bad things that were coming to him.He tried to kill me. Again. But he was my mate, chosen by the fates.No. Tyler was never happening.I thought about Alec, unconscious after taking the dose of toxin meant for me. My wolf seemed to ease a little, as if the memory of how awful Tyler really was, came back. This was where I needed to be. As complicated as things were with Alec, there was something there. And I’d give anything to have him be the only romantic possibility in my consciousness. I wasn’t even sure if things with him could be fixed, but despite his poor judgment, he had mostly redeemed himself. He didn’t want me dead
A shiver ran down my spine as I peered down the ominous steps. I didn’t like the thought of going down there, but if Star was there, it could provide more privacy than other parts of the house. I didn’t want an audience for what I was going to ask.You don’t cross a witch. Everyone knew that. Though, the example I’d grown up with had been my own grandfather. While the true history was different, and his curse might not have been the result of his direct actions, it was still a warning. Witches could do things with magic that shifters had no power over.I balled my hands into fists and took a deep breath, steeling myself for the descent. My fear of witches and their magic was less than my fear of being bonded to Tyler for eternity.The bond was getting stronger, and I needed to stop the connection. I had reached the point of desperation. Anything to break the bond would be worth the risks.The only light in the basement came from the orange lamps softly buzzing over the rows of herbs.
I didn’t dream. Even after a shower and allowing my thoughts to wander, I didn’t once think of Tyler in a positive way. No concern for him. No desire.For the first time in a while, I felt like myself. It was as if I was waking from a nightmare.I walked into the kitchen where Sheila and the others were already eating breakfast. It was a bright and welcoming room with windows along one side and a table large enough for eight nestled near the windows. On the counter, several platters were set out, filled with pastries, fruit, scrambled eggs, and sausages. A pot of brewed coffee completed the spread. I wondered how Star got groceries in and who cooked everything.I took in the sight of my friends seated around the table. Kyle and Malcom were speaking quietly, while Sheila stared into space. Alec was the first to notice me. “Good morning.”“Morning,” I said.“Nice dress,” Sheila called.“This old thing?” I did a spin to show off the men’s shirt I was wearing. A tie acted as a belt and th