***Mary heard the shouts and hurried outside to check what the ruckus was all about. Her eyes flashed with annoyance when she saw two wolves going at each other furiously whilst thirty-one men stood around, cheering as though they were at a wrestling match.“Your dogs are at it again.” Mario, one of the two male warlocks sighed beside Mary.“Break it up!” Mary shouted angrily at the two wolves that were at each other’s throats. God, they were nasty animals, she thought as she glared at the angrily snapping animals.“Does this look like a battlefield to you?” She asked heatedly. “This is not what you were signed up for. You’re supposed to fight someone else not each other, you filthy animals. Shift back to humans immediately!” She ordered.“I guess they can’t help themselves,” Mario muttered. “At this rate, they will kill each other before it’s time to face the enemy.”“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Mary growled, her eyes flashing angrily as she looked at the rogue werewolv
***“I’m a warlock, Paul.” Mary chuckled. “Surely your friend Troy has told you who warlocks are. And you’re right. Those wolves are pretty powerful. But they are no match for me. You see, I knew they would try to come for you. After all, they have a resident warlock. All they need is something personal of yours to trace you. Well, guess what…they traced you alright.” She paused for effect. “To somewhere in Oklahoma City.”“What the fu…”“Hey, hey mind your language.” Mary groaned. “What’s the word you use these days? Clone, right? Well, someone who looks exactly like you was sent to another state. You, I’ve cloaked so they can’t trace you. They can only get to your double but not you.”“Why would you do that?” Paul whispered, wrapping his arms around himself. He felt cold all of a sudden. “What do you plan on doing with me?”“Well, I’m going to tell you because you’ve been a friend to my Troy,” Mary said sweetly. “That double of yours is going to explode like a bomb as soon as he tou
***“They’re in,” Philip informed the people with him in the conference room and watched as Agyemang instantly shot to his feet and rushed for the door. As the alpha ran for the door, Troy made to run after him but Philip held him back, groaning when he felt how tensed up his mate was. “Come here,” Philip muttered as he drew Troy into his arms and buried his face in his soft blonde hair. His mate hadn’t slept a wink since Paul was taken. They were all stressed over Paul’s kidnap. Philip was actually relieved that the council had postponed their mating ceremony indefinitely. They needed to handle the threat first. “He’s fine.” He murmured against Troy’s hair as he rubbed his back soothingly.“I just want to see him.” Troy groaned against Philip. He knew he wasn’t going to be okay until he laid eyes on his friend.“I know.” Philip sighed as he started moving to the door, his arm draped around Troy’s shoulder. “I just want you to give Agyemang the chance to fuss over his mate first.”“My
***Deloris waited until Jeremy entered the building before turning to Ryan. “Now, unfreeze just his head.” She instructed. She knew that Ryan hadn’t tried that on anyone before so needed to concentrate. Ryan was not too conversant with his warlock abilities so Deloris made it a point to give him pointers whenever she could. “Just picture the head in your mind and…” She trailed off when Paul began to look down at himself in surprise. “Brilliant.” The warlock murmured under her breath, looking impressed with Ryan.“Who the fuck are you?” Stan asked with a growl.“Why can’t I move?” Paul asked as he stared down at himself. “And where is he?” He gasped, glancing around in confusion.“Now he talks.” Camille drawled. “Hasn’t said a word since we picked him up. Clearly didn’t want to give himself away by talking. Where is who?” She asked angrily.“Jeremy,” Paul responded, still looking around. “I just want to shake his hand.”“Why?” Deloris asked.For a moment, Paul looked like a deer caugh
***“Shit…” Philip swore, quickly moving towards the three as Agyemang headed inside. He hoped he would be able to keep his sister from going ballistic on the witch until they were able to get some useful information from her at least.“How about telling us who this bitch and her people are.” Deloris folded her arms across her chest. “What’s your name?”“Amber.” The witch sighed. “They are warlocks from the Wyatt Clan.” She said without further prompting. “Their bitch of a leader is called Mary.”“What?” Troy gasped, feeling his heart pound. He moved closer to the witch. “Mary?” There was only one Mary who was a Wyatt warlock and old enough to be a leader. “Are you sure?”“Of course, I’m sure.” Amber looked Troy up and down.“Describe her.” Troy breathed.“What?” Amber gave Troy an incredulous look. “You think I’m lying?”“Please, Amber…” He whispered. He needed to know whether it was really his guardian who wanted to kill his brother. The Mary he knew wasn’t that vicious.Something o
***“Huh?” The warlock looked totally gobsmacked by Paige’s reaction and words. “Err…it can be...”“I’ll do anything.” Amber sobbed. “You can send me back to them with whatever instructions you want.” Her body shook against Paige’s as she sobbed.“Shhh…” Paige rubbed Amber’s back as she would someone that she actually had affection for. Everyone looked on in shock. “That warlock is going to kill you the instant she lays eyes on you again.”“Without my powers, that will be a better fate.” Amber sobbed.“Don’t say that,” Paige growled. “I’m going to kill her slowly and painfully.” She vowed fiercely, almost as if she’d forgotten they had an audience. “For the attempt made on yours and Jeremy’s lives.”“Paige?” Paige heard her brother’s voice and looked at him, a myriad of emotions on her face.‘Please, Lip…’ Paige pleaded softly on their mind-link. ‘I know she deserves to die for her part in this but please…’Philip’s jaw dropped as he watched the sadness, helplessness, tenderness, and
***“Still not talking to me?” Ryan reached out to rub Jeremy’s chest.“I just think you should have at least talked to me before making such a decision,” Jeremy said gruffly. “You’re my responsibility. And I hate that I have to stay back as you walk into danger alone.”“I’m not alone and you know it.” Ryan got back into the bed and placed his head on Jeremy’s chest. “I really should take offense that you have no faith in your child and your mate.” He purred, trying to lighten Jeremy’s mood.“I really don’t care if you do,” Jeremy muttered as his fingers slipped into Ryan’s white tresses. “What you did wasn’t right. And I need to point it out.”“I’m sorry,” Ryan said.“You don’t even sound sincere.” Jeremy snorted.“Of course I’m not.” Ryan sat up and stared down at his mate.“I’m scared, Ryan,” Jeremy whispered shakily. “I don’t want you out there alone without me to protect you.”“You’re the target.” Ryan countered. “Not advisable. Besides, it won’t do anyone any good if my red-eyed
***A shaky sob tore out of Paul when Agyemang and Ryan materialized before him. Paul wanted to fling himself against Agyemang and allow him to make everything better. But he knew that wasn’t possible. He completely broke down, allowing all the misery and fear within to pour out through his sobs. He wished he could warn the two men but there was nothing he could do to warn them. Hell, he couldn’t even shake his head to indicate that something was wrong.If Agyemang was surprised that his mate didn’t make any attempt to come to him even though he felt his need to be in his arms, he didn’t show. The relief and joy on the alpha’s face was almost palpable. He wasn’t only looking at his mate, he actually felt him. Agyemang went to the sobbing young man and wrapped his arms tightly around him, making Paul sob even harder.“Shhh…I’m here, baby.” Agyemang murmured softly as he rocked a trembling Paul in his arms. “It’s him, Ryan.” He informed Ryan over Paul’s head.“Allow me…” Ryan drew Paul