NIRVANA I followed them into her kitchen. Well, I thought it was her kitchen, but the whole world spun. My vision felt dizzy as I hung onto Knight. The feeling was uncomfortable and gave me a vertigo effect that had almost landed my butt on the ground. “Whoa! That was something. What the hell was that, Zarah?” Archibald asked. I looked around. The place had changed. We were not in her kitchen anymore, but somewhere looked like a tomb or temple— their sacred ground. “Where are we?” “This ground is sacred like a sanctum and can never be contaminated.” She gestured for us to come around the table with a big thick book with written language I’d never seen before. There were some tools like bowls and knives and small decanters of some sort. “Dylan, stay behind. Sebastien, Knight, Archibald, and Aira will cut your palm when I tell you to drop your blood on the bowl. That’s when you do it. You should do it together for the potion to work.” “What about me?” “You will have your turn lat

KNIGHT “Can you not say something like that? It gives me creeps.” He rubbed his arm on the steering wheel. “We’re halfway out of the territory.” I looked over the side mirror. Luka, Maddox, and the twins rode the military-grade armored truck. “So, I saw the ring on Luna’s finger. When are you planning on telling us?” I looked over my shoulder with a smile. “When I feel I want to. You know where it’s heading, Kaleb.” “Well, I’m happy for you, Alpha. I hope this virus will end soon so I can put my suit to good use.” “Thanks, Kaleb. It means a lot.” “I like Vana from the start. She’s perfect for you. You are both argumentative and authoritarian,” he said. “With hearts,” McKaye added. “Protective and fearless. Wait, Kaleb. Did Gage call you back? I’ve sent texts since last night, and he hasn’t replied. That dimwit just went out whenever he wanted without telling us where he was going.” “What do you mean Gage didn’t come back last night?” I looked at them both, alarmed. “And how I

NIRVANA “What happened?” He looked devastated. Watching his pack member slowly being destroyed by a virus must have been very difficult for him. “Nothing.” I tried to smile and hugged him tight. “You’re upset.” He hugged me back. “I’m so sorry, baby, this happened to Gage.” “Thank you, sweetheart.” He sighed deeply, and he hadn’t let me go. “I hope he would be the last one. I can’t take this. Watch the people I cared about slowly dying before my eyes.” I pulled away and cupped his face. “I know this is hard, but we will do everything to find a way to stop this madness. Gage will be the last one to be infected. This has to end, Knight.” “I hope so.” Watching him so helpless almost broke my heart. “We should go.” McKaye came. “He’s cooperative, but he’s getting worse, Alpha.” “Is Zarah not here yet?” I dropped my gaze in shame. “I made a mistake. I said something terrible to her. I’m sorry.” I cried again. My tears fell like a stream. “Hey. It’s okay. I’ll call her again. Don

KNIGHT “You already did, Knight. I wish you could have been more upfront so we know what’s happening and how to deal with it.” “I’m so sorry, uncle.” “You didn’t realize you put me and the entire pack at risk. I’m an elder, for Goddess’s sake, and I have a say in this. I may have known something that could help you, but you chose to work with them and with vampires. Really?” I dropped my gaze as I breathed deeply. I felt ashamed and hurt that I hurt the person who trusted me and who never gave up on me when my parents were gone. “Elder Lennox, we found a book that said something that may help defeat Cyrius. The reason why we work together with the vampires is because we may need our blood to create a weapon.” Nirvana chose her words carefully, and I admired that she considered my uncle’s feelings. “What book? Where did you find it?” “After I died, Ambrose—” “Ambrose? The same Ambrose?” “Yes.” She swallowed hard. “My great great great grandfather.” “I can’t believe I’m hearin

NIRVANA I stopped when they just stared at me as if I turned into a blue alien president of the confederacy until I realized the alpha was around, and I just gave him an order. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have given you the order.” “Go on. That was a good idea,” Knight said, backing me up. “Are you sure?” I looked at Knight. The ring around in his eyes almost glowed again. “You’re the Luna. Everyone will listen to you.” “Right. We will shut down any operation in the vineyards and winery. If you want to protect me, I’d be honored. If you wish to go, I won’t hold any grudges. I don’t want you to feel obligated to save my butt. As much as you want to end this plague, I want you to save yourselves. If you stay for our alpha, I’ll be indebted to all of you and do my best to protect you all. Thank you.” Kailin pressed a button on her phone. She sent and done. “You recorded what I said?” “Yeah. Do you have a problem with that?” She arched a brow. “I could have given a better speech?” I grin