I ran my hands through my hair. “Who are you working for, Andrew?” I asked, trying to get back on topic. “Like you care.” “WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?” Brady said using an alpha command. Feeling the weight of the alpha command, Andrew started laughing. “You want to try that again, Brady? Go ahead. Give it all you got.” Brady looked at Andrew and the rest of us with confusion. He gave the command again. Andrew still did not talk. Instead, he laughed. “Just now figuring it out? Most alpha commands do not work on me.” Dr. Hyder and Brady looked at Andrew in confusion. “How?” “Oh, it was easy. I asked a friend on the werewolf council to order me to NOT OBEY any alpha commands given to me. His order trumps your order,” Andrew announced proudly. “The council member’s order does not trump my order,” Lily said, stepping forward. Suddenly, the confident and menacing look on Andrew’s face vanished. “You must be Lily?” “Yes.” He stood, smiled at her, and reached out to touch h
(James POV) I took a step back from Andrew. “It did not have to turn out this way,” I told him sadly. Andrew glared at me. “You spent years pretending to be something that you weren’t,” I continued. “You acted like a loving, devoted husband and father. You acted like someone who really cared about others.” “I did what I was supposed to do,” Andrew replied coldly. “No, what you were supposed to do was actually BE the male that you were pretending to be. Imagine how different your life could have been if only you had tried…. if only you ACTUALLY cared about someone other than yourself.” “Would it have gotten me any further?” he asked bitterly. “I don’t know. I would like to think so. But I do know this: if you made different choices, you would be going home to your mate and family tonight. Instead, you will likely spend the rest of your life in the dungeons.” “My choices were taken away from me the moment that the Moon Goddess decided to punish Stephanie. The Moon Godde
(James POV) “Evelyn is your half-sister,” I said softly. Lily stared at me silently for what felt like forever…. and then she sat down in the chair again… and started laughing. “I did not know that I could laugh so hard at a time like this. Thank you, James.” “Lily?” “That was a really good joke. I almost believed you.” “Lily, my love, I am not joking,” I said seriously. Lily rolled her eyes. “Of course, you are. Evelyn and I look a lot alike. I look just like my mother. There is no way that my mother had another pup and did not tell us. She worshipped Stephanie largely because she was having so much trouble having a pup back then.” I took both of Lily’s hands in my own. “Sweetheart, you do look a lot like Margie. I agree with you on that. But you also look a lot like your dad, too.” Lily stopped laughing. “You aren’t seriously suggesting what I think that you are suggesting, are you?” I frowned. “I am so sorry, Lily. I know this is hard to hear.” “James, I lo
(Brady POV) It has now been three full days since Charlotte, Lily, James, and I returned to Black Moon. A lot has happened during that short period of time. For example, there have been several planning meetings with our allies to discuss the takeover of West Mountain Pack, the takeover of the we
(Brady POV) My parents, James and Lily, Charlotte, and I were all sitting in the alpha office talking about last minute details relating to the takeover of the council, the takeover of the werewolf council, and the related trials. The allies had all already gone back to their packs to ready their
“So that means that ---” “Yes. I always knew that you were special; I just did not know that you were the chosen one. I did not know that many years later, when Jessica told me.” Lily got up and went over to my father. She gave him a huge hug. “Thank you.” “Was that why you accepted her into
(Stephanie POV) My heart racing, I immediately began looking for my mother. I could not find her anywhere. “Mom!” I shouted in the mind-link. “Where are you?!!?” “I am in the Steffie Garden with Jane and Sheila. Are you okay?” “I am on my way!” I replied. I hurried downstairs and cut through the packhouse kitchen, shoving any omegas who dared to get in my way. A couple of them fell and began crying, but that was their problem. I needed to get to my mother as quickly as possible. I finally arrived, finding her having afternoon tea with Jane and Sheila. The Steffie Garden had been built and named after me after I “died.” It had previously been used as a lounge for omegas during their breaks, but my mother wanted an interior garden space dedicated to my memory, and this was the only room that was not only big enough but that could also have large portions of the roof replaced with glass to allow a sufficient amount of sunlight. The best part about the Steffie Garden was th
Urgh. Seriously. Why do people keep bringing Jackson up?!? Jackson was part of my past. James is my future. “Jackson is with his father.” “But you are his mother.” “Not anymore. His father is more than capable of taking care of him.” “Don’t you care about your own flesh and blood?” "URGH. SHUT UP ALREADY," I thought to myself. I needed to figure out how to close this little chapter once and for all. The last thing that I need is the topic of Jackson and Antonio interfering with my relationship with James. I had been thinking for months about how to solve the Jackson/ Antonio problem, but I had not had any good ideas. But then, the solution hit me. Right when I needed it the most. Granted, the solution was a bit cliché and a bit overused, but who was going to have the guts to challenge me on it? I covered my face with my hands and forced myself to start crying. “Are you okay, honey? What is wrong?” “Mom, it’s just… Jackson… it is so hard for me every time someone b