Hello Rebels, Sorry for the super long chapter today, I wanted to get these last few flashback scenes done, and I did not want to split them into another chapter. For those readers who continue to show kindness, grace, and understanding I cannot thank you enough for sticking by me, and being the lovely humans you are. Having to scrap book two (which was plotted/initially planned out at the same time as TPA, along with book 3) a mere week(ish) before the conclusion of TPA is overwhelming. Countless hours, multiple days of being up for 24 hours to accomplish all the tasks required of an indie author is wasted. But I choose to stay positive, knowing whatever I come up with will be better than the OG (TPA is ;)) Thank you to those who are sending words of encouragement, your support means a lot. XOXO Emma Taylor
DAMON POV *************PRESENT DAY*********** "WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE?!?!" Slade's animalistic roar tears through the house, my eyes completely black, the claws already extending, and fur sprouting from my arms as I rip my office door off its hinges. Throwing it behind me without a care for Andrew or Matt standing there. Thankfully, they're quick, ducking out of the way before it hits either of them. "Alpha..." Andrew says, his words calming but not what Slade wants to hear as we spin to face him, our canines extending as the shift starts to take over as much as I try to contain it until I find my father. "Step away, Beta," Slade growls bitterly, "I have no quarrel with you, but I won't hesitate to kill you if you try to stop me from finding my Luna." "Never, Alpha," Andrew says while throwing up his hands, his neck turning up in submission. Matt, following his lead, says, "we want to find our Luna too, Alpha." "THEN STAY THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!" Slade roars one last time befor
DAMON POV "The council's elite warriors?" Andrew asks, "are you sure? What the fuck would they want with New Moon?" As he asks the questions, he begins pacing, his eyes glued to the screens while his brain tries to figure out where this new puzzle piece belongs in the bigger picture. "I am unsure, Beta," Trent says, as his fingers fly along the keyboard to pull up the video feed from the last week, "but I went through the feed, and they have been here since the ball, making no advancements towards us but growing in number steadily. But they have come ready for war." "War?" Andrew asks while I stare at the screen, my eyes glancing between them when a new clip of Elle pops onto the screen. Despite the fury sitting in my chest, I can't help the giddiness at seeing her, even if it's only a picture. "Elle," I grunt as my eyes dance between the pictures, "they want Elle. It's the only thing that makes sense. They became aware of her existence at the ball." "Then why haven't they att
DAMON POV Taking the two stairs at a time, I am through the door of the packhouse within seconds, not caring that I am completely naked as I walk into the foyer to see some pack members milling around. "OUT! NOW!" I holler as they scurry past me, trying not to look me in the eyes as they pass on their way out the door. Running up the stairs, I can see other pack members making their way out of the house, doing their best to avoid me. My Alpha energy is running rampant, consuming the entire house, and putting pressure on everyone to get the fuck out. I finally reach the hallway where my room is; racing to my door, I enter my room, hoping to find the faint cinnamon and vanilla scent, only to find it empty, fueling the rage stirring in my gut. Entering the closet, I grab the tactical gear I only wear in situations like this. Changing in record time, I kneel to blouse my boots; standing, I lock my heart in a cage, mentally preparing myself for the decisions I am about to make. That I
DAMON POV Before I cross the barrier of the cell, Simon calls out, stopping me in my tracks, "I never wanted to keep the information from you, but if I didn't, my Luna would not have her Alpha. They would have killed you the second you were out of the territory. She wanted you there; she wrote you a letter. Gave it to me for you; I hid it in my dresser drawer at my house." He rasps out, despite the antidote coursing through his bloodstream. "You better hope to the Goddess that's true," I growl, Slade fighting me for control, hating that another person made the best decision for us without our input. Slade's pissed that he was conned by a duplicitous bitch into making a decision he shouldn't have all those years ago. "Because if Elle doesn't make it home, I don't care how far any of you run; I'll hunt you down and kill you myself." I flash my eyes to my parents, letting them know they aren't immune from this promise, "Especially you." I nod to my mother, "you know more than you're
ELLE POV "What have I done?" I growl. My blood starts to boil; it didn't take longer than two seconds for her to obliterate my calm. "All of this is because of your stupid obsessions!" I yell over the music playlist I had chosen, still blaring through the speakers of the house and the rest of the pack. "I did what was necessary to make you the best!" She sneers, her demeanor turning to ice as she stares at me with dead eyes. The same look she would adopt whenever we were alone together, "if I hadn't taken advantage of the situation, you would be weak! Now, look at you! You'll be written about for decades to come!" "Are you serious right now?!" I yell, my voice transforming into Scarlett's as she thrashes for control, wanting to tear apart the woman we are supposed to call mother. "This was never about me," I say, taking a deep breath through my nose and composing myself, "this was about how you would look; at least be honest about the bullshit." "Tiberius was going to attack your
ELLE POV As my mother's body falls to the ground in a helpless thud, the door crashes open as I pull my blade from her open gut, my eyes snapping to the intruders barging into the room. Charity going on the defensive until we see who it is and visibly relax. Theo's chest heaving up and down, my aura making the air in the room dense and nearly unmanageable the others in the room. My gaze meets Theo, Emma, and Taylor as they enter the room, looking nervously at the dead woman laying in a pool of dark red blood in the middle of the room. But the real shock happens when they finally meet my gaze, "holy shit, Alpha. Your eyes!" Taylor exclaims coming towards me calmly before spinning me to face Charity whose only response is for her mouth to hang open. Behind her a large mirror sits on the wall, but I don't pay attention to the scratches, blood, or bruises on my skin. No, the only thing grabbing my attention is my one bright green eye that practically glows like a neon sign. However i
DAMON POV "ooooooooooh, that had to hurt," Trent flinches, watching as Elle climbs on the back of an enemy wolf, reaching around to slit his throat with the dagger she holds in her hands. Most men might be disturbed seeing their woman caught in the violence of war but not me. There is something invigorating about watching Elle slay every enemy that comes her way. "Scoot over," I say, pushing on Andrew and Trent, so they can move their chairs and make room for me; I need to have a front-row seat to watch her take back what was meant for her. Sliding a chair over, I shove it between theirs, plopping into the chair while keeping my eyes plastered to the screen, terrified of missing anything. "Popcorn?" Andrew asks as he offers me the bag without moving his eyes from Theo's fight on the screen. Shoving my hand in the bag, I grab a handful of the buttery goodness, not caring that some fall to the ground as I pop a few into my mouth. "Our Luna doesn't play around," Trent whispers in
ELLE POV I hear the subtle thud of Charity's paws behind me as our wolves weave in and out of the forest, my lungs burning from exhaustion and my stomach rumbling with hunger, but I don't care. The only thing driving me is the desperate need to see Damon. 'Head to the gate,' Theo says, startling my quiet contemplation, 'I will have a car waiting for you. I don't think you want to run the whole way to New Moon.' His warm chuckle rings through my mind making me eternally grateful to have him as my Beta. 'Thanks, Theo,' I huff, feeling breathless as I change direction throwing Charity completely off guard as I head toward the gate, making her stumble and pick up the pace to keep up. 'Of course, Alpha,' Theo responds, clearly happy to be home in the pack we grew up in, 'take care of what you need to and then come back to Silver Run. We will have many things to handle- like rebuilding the packhouse.' I don't even want to think about the disaster that is the packhouse and the other d