[Hyacinth]The entrance to the tunnels was located behind a large community plaque in the basement that listed the names of all the donors who helped the hospital over the years with generous donations. The most recent name in bronze is "Alpha Slate Danvers" for his "continued contributions to the health of his pack" with the year right below. The name above his on the plaque is my grandfather, Aster Monrovia. I place my hand on the plaque, touching each name and silently thanking them both."Before today, this tunnel has been a secret passed down from Beta to Beta since the original was dug. Only a few Alphas or Lunas ever learned of this secret. What I'm about to show you, I need you all to swear to keep secret," Her gaze is intense as she makes eye contact with each of us. "It is vitally important that this stays within our pack, and that it isn't told to anyone who might use this knowledge for our harm."We all nod in agreement. Nobody wants to see our pack harmed more than it al
[Hyacinth] The light on the other side of the tunnel is not particularly bright, but it is such a stark contrast to the flashlight-illuminated dimness of the tunnels that our eyes need a moment to adjust. Our noses, however, do not. The scent of sweat, urine, blood, and death overwhelms us as we enter the jailhouse. It is evident from the smell alone that nobody has checked on these prisoners in quite some time. This means nobody will likely miss them either. If we are quick and careful, we may even succeed at breaking him out without anyone being the wiser. "It seems strange that they left Drew so unguarded," I muse. "You'd think they would keep a better eye on such a strong alpha." The packhouse jail is small, consisting of two simple hallways with 4 cells each. In the first hallway, the smell becomes obvious. I shield Bash's eyes so he doesn't see what is left of the humans turned into wolves for the sake of the witches' plans. Those same poor men who were sent to kill me
[Hyacinth]Gamma Cameron McCoy can be surprisingly convincing when he needs to be. He's attractive, charismatic, and intelligent. If anyone has a chance of tricking the witches, it's him. Or at least it should have been."Oh no, Mama," Bash is shaking. "The witches! The witches are coming."That is all the warning we received before we were tossed into chaos. The lights flicker out all at once as steps descend. "Cindy, get Bash out of here! Go!" Drew urges, but we stay, frozen in place. He's right, neither one of us has enough power to fight.Or so I thought. "You are bad witches," Bash starts to growl, his wolf speaking with him. "Bad, bad witches." The steps on the stairs stop. The next sound is of their bodies crashing to the ground and then slapping against the walls as their bodies twitch. Roderick quickly casts an illusion of normalcy, one that shows the cells as they should be, just as the next two witches come into view. The first two bodies, which are now foaming at the
I relax as I feel my son relax against me, transforming from the powerfully protective alpha to my little boy. "Okay Mama," he closes his eyes, nuzzling into the crook of my arm, releasing the witches and wolves under his power. "We can get the other ones later."The sound of bodies slamming against the floor slowly stops as each body affected by his powers grows still. Nobody says anything, not wanting to be the one to break the calm of the moment. What we all just witnessed is terrifying on so many levels. Bash's abilities are far more expansive than even I had known. I have never seen him control the minds of so many people at once. I've been with him his entire life and watched him grow and learn, and I had no idea he had this in him. I can only imagine how terrifying it must be to people who aren't his mother. I will always love him. He is my baby. But they have no reason to trust him. Because what they saw wasn't the act of a child. It was the act of a potential monster. Th
[Sebastian]The words, they are calling to me. "Come be a hero," they sing to the beat of drums. "It is your destiny. Join us." Mama is still sleeping. Baby sister is fluttering awake, but she is too small to follow the song. "Keep Mama safe," I tell her even though I know she can't understand me. She's still very little. "Let Mama sleep." My little sister wiggles even more in protest. Mama groans, feeling sick in her sleep."Stop it," I point a finger at Mama's belly. Little Sister is a bit of a brat. She doesn't listen to me. Maybe it would be better if I knew her name. Then I could command her to be good and she'd have no choice but to listen to her Alpha. Her wolf's name is Crystal. She is very tiny too but maybe she can make the baby be good.""Crystal make baby behave," I order quietly, using my alpha voice."Slate," Mama whines in her sleep. She thinks I am Papa. I give her a small kiss on her forehead like she does for me when I am having nightmares. Poor Mama, she is so ti
[Ashlynd]As soon as I came home I scrubbed my body. But that wasn't enough, not nearly enough. I needed to feel Slate inside of me, his seed washing away the tainted feeling of the Grand Warlock's hands from my body.I was asleep, safely curled in Slate's arm when I heard the doorbell. It is dark, not quite dawn when I creep down the stairs to answer. I wasn't expecting to see one of the many sisters in blue standing on my stoop. She looked elegant and polished, as all coven witches do, her blonde hair cascading over one shoulder as she leaned forward to hand me a note and a white taper candle."Mistress Witch," she curtsies recognizing my new status as the Warlock's official concubine, before disappearing into the darkness. The note says that he has a surprise for me. Something for the spell and my wedding as well. I look up and think of Slate sleeping in the room above me. I hate to leave him. Not only because I want to stay by his side, but because I cannot trust him to stay wh
[Ashlynd]"Sebastian James," The Grand Warlock takes a step towards us, his knarled hands with fingers steepled and visible while the rest of him is still in shadow. My sister's son turns his head towards the voice. "I know you," he says with absolute confidence. "You're the bad man from the..." The small child falls to the ground silent, his eyes closed, his body still. "That is how you deal with a moon pup," he pushes the little boy's leg with the toe of his boot. "Don't worry, he'll still be useful later and none of the others should be a problem."I nod obediently, but what I want to do is ask him how he knew who this child is, and more importantly, how the child recognized him in return. That shouldn't be possible. Nobody can see past the Grand Warlock's shadow. It is a spell that is as ancient as our order, a way to protect his identity. And yet a small wolf pup of 5 years old knew his secret in a manner of minutes. But where would little Bash have encountered him? How does
[Hyacinth]I can smell my mate wrapped around me. His warmth and his love cover me with his gentle scent and in this moment I feel whole and safe. "Wake up, Hyacinth," he whispers in my ear. "Our son needs you."I feel a quick flash to my chest as if receiving an electric shock that moves from my toes to my head in a wave, only to leave me feeling drained and weak. "Now! Hyacinth! Save our boy!"______I startle awake. I have slept in so many different beds in the last week that it is no surprise that I am in yet another one. But where am I? And why does it smell like Slate?Then I remember. Our little group took back the packhouse last night and then Bash and I went to bed after battling against the witches who had kept Drew captive. Both Bash and I were so exhausted that we were encouraged to go to bed straight away. Drew tucked us into the Alpha suite, a room that is now by rights mine as well, as Slate's Luna. So that is how we got here. But why would I have such a strange dream