Justin POVMy mate’s shrieking scream sounded off from the distance, and I tore through every obstacle in my way to get to her, including shoving that eavesdropping Fae out of my way.Randy wasn’t far behind me, the two of us running into the village square, seeing my mate laid out, eyes shutting on instinct, while a little dart is in here fingertips. She drops the dart, her body going under with her mind, and seeing her so motionless from a mere dart frightens me so much…What if it were a silver bullet? She would be dead.My Lycan snaps out of my frame without warning, rushing over to my mate where we stand over her protectively, looking around the skit of the pack village where a few of my warriors are watching on. They glare through them all, trying to find the one responsible.Randy snarls, his dark fur wolf coming out and charging towards my mate and I, a panicked look on his face that I can’t exactly read until I hear a shot being fired, like a needle whizzing through the air t

Helen POV“What the hell, Helen? Are you trying to drown?!”I sucked in air through the water that had leaked into my lungs and it ached so bad that I wanted to double over, but instead Justin linked is arms around my lower back and held me to his warm, bare chest. He made sure my head stayed above water while I caught my breath.“I’m—I’m sorry but—but you wouldn’t come swim out if—”He cracked a reserved smile and only shook his head, pushing my hair back as it sat tangled with sand and knotted from the soft water where we were now swimming together. I can’t help but feel a little proud of my work.“You almost drowned so I would come and swim with you, Helen?” He looked through me as I nodded sheepishly, flustered and blushing from the couching fit. “My mate is a trickster.”His lips brushed mine softly, taunting me at first, and I caught them at last, turning a once innocent moment of closeness to a hard grinding of our flushed bodies, needy and hot together in the water.“Justin,”

Justin’s POVShe finally fell asleep, which I thought would never happen. Her day was chaotic and long, most of it she spent waking up out of the dreary super poison that overwhelmed her system.She is peaceful in her dreams, though still whimpering and ached from her bruising. She mumbled my name once or twice before I joined her in the hammock.Holding her, I could feel her settle. She loved me, that was proof in her calming touch, but it didn’t change that weird explanation she gave me about what he told her. My father can’t be alive, that’s impossible.I heard the broadcast, the news of his death—I didn’t have to be there to see it, I saw the aftermath and his pack claimed to know it happened for sure.So why is the Huntsman trying to throw us off track now? Why is lying?“I guess my secret can’t always be kept.”I practically jumped from the hammock, throwing myself onto the sand while my Lycan bit back his fury. It wouldn’t last long, but it had better last enough for an explana

Helen POVJustin rented a car when our time in paradise had clearly come to an end. We didn’t get to mate, we didn’t even get to talk through all of our problems. I felt stronger though, as if I had gotten a week’s worth of rest and my body and wolf were both rejuvenated.My mate appeared to be in the same condition, his eyes lit with a new fire.He sat the little vial between us, the precarious opal-like liquid swishing around as he pulled the classic car down the mortal world’s highway. I missed our pack and the trees, especially the river, but I also needed to know what happened with Ezequiel.Justin said Randy was going to take care of him but it didn’t explain anything to me.Why would he turn on us and lead the pixies to their death? He had been given leniency with his sister staying in the pack but for him to betray that trust, it just didn’t add up. I thought of him a lot on the silent, dreary trip back to the pack.My eyes flutter shut with his name still stuck on my mind.I

Helen POV“Ezequiel,” I gasped, rushing into the barracks to see him laid out on the floor, his body slumped off the edge of the cot. I found the keys and hurried over to his side, only to push him over onto his back. “No! Dammit, no!”I leapt out of the cellar and hurried away, my head spinning, my hands covered in blood. I couldn’t get to the bedroom fast enough, stumbling and weeping and angry—so fucking angry.I finally had the opportunity to tell Justin that I had proof and now it was ruined. Ezequiel looked dead and it wasn’t going to solve anything anytime soon.I ran right into my mate, throwing myself into his arms as he caught me unexpectantly. He gasped, his hands pulling at my arms, stained in blood. He looked over me for some kind of sign that I was hurt but when I shook my head, my mouth still parted open in shock, he seemed to understand.He moved past me, ripped open the window and looked down toward Russo and Randy chatting on the village street.“Go to the barracks a