Alpha Asher

### Chapter 1: Chapter-1

I didn't stop running until I was deep into the forest, my lungs burning from being deprived of oxygen.

My wolf, Maya, was furious.

She was hesitant about Tyler in the beginning, but was eventually won over. She thought he was our mate too. While I was heartbroken and fighting back tears, Maya was seething.

I closed my eyes and allowed her to take over, making her promise that she wouldn't go and hunt Tyler down.

Maya carried us farther into the woods, and I allowed myself to sink into the furthest depths of her mind. My head was still racing with what had just happened, I wanted to turn everything off for just a few moments. I couldn't handle it.

Hours and hours had passed, but I hardly noticed. I drifted off as Maya hunted and continued running.

I finally came to my senses when soft grass tickled my naked back. The familiar scent of herbs filled the air. Basil, Lavender, and Mint invaded my nose and soothed my aching heart.

"Lola, dear? Is that you?" A withered voice called out and I felt my heart jump.

"You brought me here?" I asked Maya in surprise.

"We need her. We're not going back." She growled, resenting me for thwarting her plans on attacking Tyler.

"Grandma?" My voice cracked and I sat up from the grass.

It was nearing dawn, the sun was just beginning to rise and it cast orange hues along her small cottage. Her herb gardens lifted and swayed in the breeze.

I had always loved coming to grandma's house. My mom forbade me and my brother from coming back here, holding a grudge against my grandma for years.

The story of my mom meeting my dad isn't one I like to talk about. My mom and dad aren't mates. Mom rejected her mate when she was younger, seeking out my dad when she realized his mate had died. My grandma always resented her for that, for throwing the mate bond away.

"Lola, what on earth are you doing here?" My grandma exclaimed, wrapping a woven blanket around my exposed body. She pulled me into a hug and I could feel myself break down at her familiar scent and touch.

My grandma had this quality that made everyone love her. She was nearly impossible not to get along with. My grandma matched my extremely short height of 5'2', and had the same long black hair. She was more withered, with laugh lines circling her mouth and eyes, but she had never looked better to me.

"I missed you so much." I cried into her shoulder. I even remembered how she smelled. So many different herbs and apples. Grandma had a couple of apple trees she absolutely adored. She would always be making a pie or some kind of dessert when we used to visit.

"What's got you all worked up, Lola?" Grandma frowned, "Is it that boy you're dating?"

Grandma was always supportive of anything I wanted to do, she just always reminded me to think things through.

Grandma led me into her little cottage and sat me by her fireplace.

"Tell me, what happened?" She sat next to me, placing a fresh set of clothes in my lap.

I poured my heart out for what seemed like hours. She never once threw my mistake back in my face, like my mother would have.

"I don't want to go back, Grandma. I can't face them." I sniffled.

"Then you won't go back. You'll stay here with me." My grandma nodded with finality. She had that determined look on her face that said 'nobody will stand in my way'.

"What about mom and dad." I sighed, knowing a huge fight between them was brewing.

"You let me deal with your parents." My grandma shook her head, placing a cup of tea in my hands.

"Ha-ha!" I laughed, launching myself through the air. I maneuvered around the muscular arms that reached out to grab me.

I dropped to the ground, dodging limbs and landing my own blows as I went.

"Good Lola, don't let me land any blows." Chris's weary voice yelled out.

"Just a few more seconds. He's getting tired." Maya coached me.

I continued to dodge each move Chris made, while landing my own in the process. I could feel him breaking down, growing tired as he threw all he had at me.

"Now!" Maya yelled in my head.

I leaped at Chris suddenly, his eyes widening in shock before he could defend himself. He turned away, as if he were going to run. I landed on his back and wrapped my arms around his neck, putting pressure on his windpipe.

After a second or two of holding it there, I jumped off his back and beamed up at him.

"That was some good work, kid." Chris nodded appreciatively.

"Thanks." I smirked, finally having gotten the upper hand on him.

Chris rolled his eyes and frowned at me, "Don't go getting cocky now. You still need to work on building your strength."

"I know, I know. Just let me have this win." I sighed, smiling at my grandma as she came out of the cottage with food and drinks.

I had been living with grandma for almost a year, only talking to my parents once a week. I stopped calling my mom after a month. She insisted on giving me updates on Tyler and his mate, which I learned was named Brittany. I kept in constant contact with my dad, the only person who seemed to understand the decision I had made. Even my older brother Sean, rarely called.

Sean had started taking over his duties as Beta, my father having retired almost a year ago.

Life had been amazing living with my grandma. I spent my eighteenth birthday in her cottage, picking herbs and making pastries with the apples she had picked. My grandma lived a simple life, but I had quickly grown to love it.

She introduced me to her neighbor. Chris. Chris happened to be a werewolf like Grandma and I. In Chris's prime he was one of the best warriors in history, and even a Beta at one point. No one knew what happened to him after he disappeared, no one but my grandma. Chris agreed to train me, looking at my short stature, and deciding I needed to know how to protect myself.

Chris taught me to use what I had in my favor. Being 5'2' and 105lbs didn't give me much to work with. After training with Chris for almost a year, I could easily handle myself. I'm small and fast, which means men twice my size had to work even harder to land any blows.

"Lola, dear. Your brother's on the line waiting for you!" Grandma informed me, placing a sandwich in my hand as I walked into the house.

"Hello?" I said through a mouthful of sandwich. Why would Sean be calling me?

"Lola? I have some news." Sean's voice responded from the other end, sounding a lot deeper than usual.

"What’s up?" I frowned, sitting on the arm of the couch as I munched on my sandwich.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line.

"Mom's dead, Lola." Sean replied in a gruff voice.

I felt my face scrunch up in confusion. How could mom be dead? Everything seemed normal when Dad called me every week.

"W-What? How?" I demanded.

"Just- Just come home, Lola. I don't want to explain this over the phone." Sean sighed, adding "Dad needs you."

"I'll- I'll talk to grandma." I sighed. The last thing in the world I wanted was to go home. The thought of running into Tyler or his mate put a sour taste in my mouth.

After Chris went home for the day, I told grandma the news.

As much as grandma didn't like my mom, she was still sad to hear what had happened.

"And he wouldn't tell you what happened to her." Grandma sighed.

"He said he wanted to explain in person. He said dad needs me." I frowned at her, and she knew what I needed to do.

"Then I suppose we better get packing." Grandma frowned, worrying about her widowed son.

"We? You're coming too?" I nearly gasped.

A stern frown crossed her face, but I could see her eyes twinkling. "Of course, no granddaughter of mine is going back to her slimy ex without some backup."

"I don't know what I'd do without you." I sighed, pulling her in for a hug.

"Just don't expect me to get into any fist fights, I'm too old for that stuff. No one wants to see a sixty-year-old werewolf fight." Grandma cackled.

I rolled my eyes at her, but I couldn't help the giggle that slipped from my lips.

"You'll never be old to me." I smirked, following her into the bedroom to pack our clothes away.

Grandma stopped by Chris's house the next morning, letting him know where we had gone. She promised him a year's supply of apple pies if he took care of her herb garden.

We hopped into my grandma's car, and the anticipation bubbled in my stomach. Everything about me had changed in such a short amount of time. I was no longer weak or shallow. I wouldn't let anyone walk all over me ever again.

"Are you ready for this?" My grandma frowned, her silver eyes meeting my identical ones.

"Not at all." I gave her a weak smile.

"Chin up. If any of those pups mess with you, bite their damn head off." My grandma encouraged me.

Through the nerves and resentment I held for my old pack, I laughed at my grandma and braced myself.

Turns out I wasn't the only thing that had changed.

Reunion Lola’s P.O.V. 10 Years Later… “Ramona, so help me! If you don’t stop stealing your cousin’s toys I’m going to sick Aunty Ember on you, and you know she won’t hold back.” I shouted from the kitchen, craning my head to look over my shoulder where I locked eyes with my dashing mate. Asher was leaned against the wall, his arms downright bite-able in the fitted t-shirt he wore. He brought the beer in his hand to his mouth, lips twisted in a knowing smirk that had me contemplating a fourth child. If this man doesn’t calm down, we’re going to have to hire a second nanny. He returned his attention to Zeke and Brandon as though our little heated exchange hadn’t occurred. On cue, Ramona let out a shrill scream that quickly morphed into pulses of erratic laughter. A familiar pang of longing hit my chest as it did every time I heard my daughter’s laugh. She sounds just like Mom. Ember’s monstrous roar emerged from the living room, followed by a cacophony of giggles from the other c

Ember and BrandonSeven Years Later – Ember’s P.O.V.“Darcy Mathews, if I see so much as a single snowflake in the bathroom’s you’ll find yourself in detention for a week.”This was the fourth time this month that the pipes had nearly burst from being frozen solid. Damn water elementals.The squirrely brunette with her spattering of cinnamon freckles jumped a foot off the ground at the sound of my voice, unwittingly letting out a pulse of elemental magic that spiraled down the corridor in a gust of chilly wind. It slammed several lockers shut, startling a handful of students.“Sorry Headmistress.” She hung her head sheepishly.There was once a time where Tessa and I couldn’t control our magic. It was easier for my twin. No one looked twice when you sprouted flowers in your wake or animated the topiary bushes trimmed into animals. Starting fires, however, that drew attention.“It’s alright…” I sighed, taking it easy just this once. I already had a reputation of being a hard ass, but on

Tessa and ZekeSix Years Later – Tessa’s P.O.V.“What do you say we wrap up early and head out to the cabin—just the two of us?”A voice I spent the last six years memorizing called out from across the room. I lifted my head from the mountain of paperwork I was sorting through, a smile already tugging at my lips as I spotted the playful light shimmering in Zeke’s eyes.My mate and fiancé—a term I couldn’t seem to stop using—was peering at me from across our shared office, a shameless grin tugging at his velvet soft lips. I drummed my fingers across the top of the desk, tapping out a pattern that filled the silence between us.A jolt of electricity crackled along my skin, delving past my flesh to settle in my stomach. Once upon a time, I couldn’t bare more than a few seconds staring into those eyes of his. Now I couldn’t seem to get enough.We’d come so far from where we’d once been. Not as far as Ember and Brandon, who had a sea of troubles even six years later, but those two were ano

Breyona & GiovanniFive Years Later – Breyona’s P.O.V.I appeared in a plume of inky shadow, emerging from the darkness like I’d been there all along. If there were any humans nearby—which my hearing told me there wasn’t—they’d see nothing more than a lingering shadow dancing along the brick walls of the abandoned store front I lurked outside of.This wasn’t my ideal hangout spot, but for whatever reason, this was where Freya had chosen to hide a bunch of magical texts and artifacts. I absolutely adored my job of traveling the country via shadows, collecting information that was thought to be lost among the witches.It was similar to what my parents had done, a realization that never failed to bring tears to my eyes.Even after all these years, I missed them so much.I slinked along the back wall, past the rusted dumpsters that hadn’t been used in Goddess knows how long, to the backdoor Ember’s source promised would be unlocked. Sure enough, when I tugged the handle, it swung open wit

Clara & MasonFour Years Later – Clara’s P.O.V.“Don’t you dare, little witch.” Mason warned in a low voice.A shiver worked it’s way down my spine when he placed his hand against my back. Even through the thin fabric of the dress I wore, I could feel the heat he exuded. One of the first things I’d learned about Werewolves was that they ran hot. Despite how hard I tried, a smile worked it’s way onto my face. My chest quite literally ached with the urge to cackle, but I couldn’t help it. It’s not my fault Tristan’s expression was absolutely to die for. Even Lola was having a hard time containing herself, snickering behind her hand as she watched the scene unfold.Tristan had been locked in place for the last minute in a half, staring at Holly like she had grown three extra heads. No one could blame the poor guy considering he was the only one who didn’t know his mate was pregnant.“You’re pregnant.” He repeated for the thirteenth time.A laugh exploded from my mouth seconds before Ma

Holly and TristanThree Years Later – Holly’s P.O.V.The breeze was blissfully cold against my skin, the sunlight a slight tingle that rippled over my exposed arms and shoulders.Winter was approaching, tainting the air with its crisp scent. No matter how much I ventured outdoors and basked in the sunlight, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get enough. Even though I burned easily—thank you, Vampire genetics—it was a wonderful taste of freedom that I’d never take for granted.The shrill screams of children playing pierced my ears. I didn’t find it irksome the way some of the parents here did. Despite how loud they were, their wails were full of joy and innocence that could never be replicated or replaced.I looked up from the stack of papers in my hands, focusing on the children racing across the mulch just ten feet away. The tiny font had been giving me a headache for the past two hours now.“Honey, you need to stop and tie your shoe! You’re going to trip and fall.” The woman on the bench beside

“Make sure he’s not dead back there.” I grunted, glancing in the rearview mirror to see Brandon slumped over.Clara unbuckled her seatbelt and turned around. I could smell her sugary sweet perfume as her curly hair brushed against my shoulder. A few muffled jabs sounded fr

Half an hour later, I stumbled away from Tristan’s body and into Asher’s warm embrace.My legs had been reduced to jelly, and my magical reserves drained so low they might never recover. I could only imagine how much blood and rest it would take before they were back to normal again.Asher’s voice was

One Year LaterIt was hard to believe how much time had passed, even as I stood at my own wedding reception, surrounded by the people I loved most in this world.So much had changed in three hundred and sixty five days, and it wasn’t just my marital status. There had been some uprising within the othe

“My Queen.”Tristan, my first in command. The man I considered both a friend and a worthy enemy. A Vampire I had once hated with every fiber of my being, only to now trust him with every beat of my heart.He was dead.Cold. Unmoving. Not a spark of light in his eyes.He pushed me out of the way. He took

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### Chapter 2: Chapter-2

The drive back to my old pack was only five hours. While I remembered Tyler finding his mate like it was yesterday, the run to my grandma's house had been hazy.

"You ran five hours?" I asked Maya, somewhat shocked.

"We needed to get the hell out of there." She grumbled, "And now were going right back."

"We don't have a choice." I sighed, "But were both different now."

"You're damn right we are." Maya growled smugly.

We pulled up to the edge of the packs territory, escorted to the side of the road by some of the wolves who were guarding the perimeter. I was surprised that I didn't recognize any of these wolves.

They emerged from the forest wearing nothing but low hanging sweat pants. I tried to keep my gaze to myself, but I'm still half human.

"What is your business coming here?" One of the men spoke up. His build was huge, and he had a long scar running down his bicep.

"Were here to visit family. My brother's the Beta." I replied, looking at each of their faces. There really wasn't anyone here that I recognized. Had the pack grown in the time that I was gone?

"Beta Drake?" The man had a confused look on his face.

"What? No, Beta Sean." I scowled. Since when did Tyler have a Beta named Drake? I wondered if everything was okay with Sean's position in the pack. You typically have to do something really bad to lose your position like that.

A look of understanding crossed the man's face, and he glanced at the other men with him.

"Go on through." He nodded once, and my grandma wasted no time in pulling away.

"Well, that sure was strange." My grandma looked at me and frowned, I'm sure she was thinking the same thing as me.

"It definitely was." I frowned.

We drove through the center of town and I was shocked to see a ton of new faces. Something had definitely happened while I was gone.

I vaguely remembered Tyler telling me about another pack that needed help. Maybe they finally joined forces.

We pulled into the driveway of my old house. The white paint was now faded. It looked like I had been gone for much longer than a year. The flowers that were once outside were now wilted and dead. My mom was the one to take care of the flowers out front. How long has she been dead for?

I hesitated at the door, wondering if I should knock or just walk in. My train of thought was interrupted as my grandma opened the door and walked into the house.

A shocked Sean was sitting on the couch, my dad sitting off to the side in his recliner.

"Lola?" My dad exclaimed, looking more surprised than ever.

My dad and Sean looked me up and down, noticing the changes I had been through in the past year. My raven colored hair had grown longer than ever, now reaching my waist. My silver eyes were much brighter, teeming with life. My skin was clear and porcelain-like, and I had lost some of the baby fat I had carried with me. The fat quickly was replaced with muscle.

"Hi dad." I smiled at him, walking into his arms. I breathed in his scent of cologne and toba**o.

"I missed you, kid." My dad grumbled, ruffling my hair before he turned to his mom.

His face lit up like a little kid, "It's good to see you, Ma." He pulled her in for a hug and held on for dear life.

"Now tell me what the hell is going on." I scowled at Sean, who was simply watching their exchange with dad.

Dad sighed and sat back down on his recliner, looking tired and somewhat beaten down.

"Well go on. I'm not going to break if you talk about it." He grumbled at Sean. My grandma stood off to the side, her hand on her son's shoulder.

"Tyler f**ked up." Sean huffed.

I rolled my eyes, "Wow, so surprised. Keep going."

"I don't know if he told you, but Tyler was supposed to help another pack. They pissed off the Alpha of the Crescent pack and needed backup in case they went to war." Sean started, and I was already becoming bored. Tyler's mistakes didn't surprise me. After finally leaving home, I was able to see what a complete moron he was.

"Okay, and?" I drug my words out, letting him know I didn't care about any of the small details.

"Well, Tyler refused to help them. Then, Tyler kept talking sh*t on the Crescent pack. He pissed off their Alpha, pissed him off real bad." Sean shook his head as if he were trying to get rid of a bad memory.

"He didn't." I sighed, shaking my head. I know Tyler's inflated ego was going to bite him in the ass. His father was a half-assed Alpha and he was turning out to be the same.

"They came here, Lola. They declared war on us." Sean frowned, glancing at Dad.

I couldn't help but feel confused. Sure, there were a lot of new faces but everything seemed the same. There was no way Tyler defeated the Alpha of the Crescent pack.

"What happened?" I frowned, looking between Sean and my Dad's grim faces.

"I'll tell you what happened," My dad spat angrily. "Not a single f**king pack would help Tyler. Tyler made us all fight. Every man and woman had to fight. Your mom died fighting. I couldn't get to her in time." My dad's voice broke off with a mournful sigh.

"How- How could he do that." I said the words more to myself. I knew Tyler was bad, but this was worse than I could imagine. Then again, they hadn't finished the story.

"And you know what the worst part of all of this is? Tyler f**king ran. Grabbed his bitch and escaped while the rest of us were fighting for our lives." My Dad spat, now he was shaking with anger.

My grandma gasped, and they gave us a few moments to process what Dad had said. Abandoning your pack was something no Alpha had ever done. Being an Alpha wasn't a job, it was something embedded deep inside of you. An Alpha would sooner be tortured and die with their pack than to leave everyone behind. It went against everything we know as werewolves.

"Dad calm down. If he ever comes back Alpha will kill him." Sean's face turned grim again.

"Alpha? Alpha who?" I questioned.

"Once we realized Tyler had left us all to die, we did the only thing we could. We surrendered." Sean frowned.

"We have a new Alpha now. Alpha Asher. We're part of the Crescent Pack." Sean grumbled, obviously not enjoying the situation. I wondered what that would mean for his position as Beta.

"At least Alpha Asher would never leave his pack behind." Dad spat, "He may be ruthless and cruel, but he'd sooner die than abandon his people."

After the long and painful conversation, they gave me and my grandma time to settle in. I nearly cried when I saw my room was exactly how I had left it. I ripped the pictures of Tyler and I down with a furious growl.

"Better that girl be his mate than us. We'd never abandon our pack like that." Maya spat.

"We kind of did abandon our pack." I replied to her with a frown.

"That's different, Lola. We're not Luna, we're not Beta's or anything. We had no obligation to this pack. Especially after Tyler." Maya growled, but her words made sense. She was right though, if we were Luna, we would have died along with our friends and family.

After settling in, Grandma and I went back downstairs. Grandma insisted on making dinner even though my Dad grumbled in disagreement. I knew he was happy to see his mom though. He needed his family after losing Mom. She may have not been his mate, but he'd been with her for twenty years.

As we ate dinner, I nearly jumped off my seat hearing the mind-link click in my head. The mind-link hadn't worked since I decided to leave the pack. A deep, husky voice ran through my head. I practically shivered as it swirled in my ear, around my head, and out the other.

"Report to training at the Pack House, 10 a.m. Do not be late. I look forward to meeting you." A male's husky voice rolled around in my head. Rough and commanding.

"Was- Was that Alpha Asher?" I found myself speaking out loud. Dad, Sean and Grandma gave me looks of confusion.

"What, Lola?" My Dad frowned, uneaten spaghetti hung from his fork.

"Um, a guy told me to report for training tomorrow?" I sounded unsure. Was it his Beta?

"That was Alpha Asher." Sean nodded, his lips pressed in a thin line.

My Dad nodded, "He likes doing things himself. He makes everyone train."

I scowled at the two of them. I didn't like being forced into doing anything.

"Don't worry, Lola. If you're no good he won't make you fight. He just likes to see what everyone is capable of." Sean told me, his frown permanently etched onto his face.

"I can fight just fine." I snapped at him. I no longer wanted to be treated like some dainty little girl. I may be small, but I can handle my own.

"Since when?" Finally a smirk formed on his face, the only other expression I had seen on his face was a frown.

I glared at him, "Since I left this pack. I haven't been sitting on my ass for an entire year."

"I'll be there tomorrow for training too. We'll see how good you really are little sis." He smirked at me, only pissing me off further.

Tyler was a big advocate on "men fight better than women", it was good to know my brother felt the same.

Chris pushed me to the breaking point more times than I could count, I had no doubt that I could handle most of the male wolves here.

I spent the rest of the afternoon with my family. Grandma tried to raise their moods, but they had been sitting in misery for who knows how long.

I followed my grandma outside and helped her straighten out the wilting flowers that crowded the outside of the house. By the time we were finished pulling up the dead flowers and planting new ones, I was exhausted and covered in dirt.

"And you call yourself old." I huffed at her, taking long gulps of the lemonade she had made for me.

She chuckled at my statement and rolled her eyes, "Years and years of working in my garden dear. Let's make that a part of your training." She laughed, and I gave her a frightened look.

"You're gonna work me to death, Grandma. And I thought Chris was an evil dictator." I shuddered in fear.

My grandma cackled and shooed me inside. By the time I finally collapsed on my bed, I was knocked out cold without a second thought.

Reunion Lola’s P.O.V. 10 Years Later… “Ramona, so help me! If you don’t stop stealing your cousin’s toys I’m going to sick Aunty Ember on you, and you know she won’t hold back.” I shouted from the kitchen, craning my head to look over my shoulder where I locked eyes with my dashing mate. Asher was leaned against the wall, his arms downright bite-able in the fitted t-shirt he wore. He brought the beer in his hand to his mouth, lips twisted in a knowing smirk that had me contemplating a fourth child. If this man doesn’t calm down, we’re going to have to hire a second nanny. He returned his attention to Zeke and Brandon as though our little heated exchange hadn’t occurred. On cue, Ramona let out a shrill scream that quickly morphed into pulses of erratic laughter. A familiar pang of longing hit my chest as it did every time I heard my daughter’s laugh. She sounds just like Mom. Ember’s monstrous roar emerged from the living room, followed by a cacophony of giggles from the other c

Ember and BrandonSeven Years Later – Ember’s P.O.V.“Darcy Mathews, if I see so much as a single snowflake in the bathroom’s you’ll find yourself in detention for a week.”This was the fourth time this month that the pipes had nearly burst from being frozen solid. Damn water elementals.The squirrely brunette with her spattering of cinnamon freckles jumped a foot off the ground at the sound of my voice, unwittingly letting out a pulse of elemental magic that spiraled down the corridor in a gust of chilly wind. It slammed several lockers shut, startling a handful of students.“Sorry Headmistress.” She hung her head sheepishly.There was once a time where Tessa and I couldn’t control our magic. It was easier for my twin. No one looked twice when you sprouted flowers in your wake or animated the topiary bushes trimmed into animals. Starting fires, however, that drew attention.“It’s alright…” I sighed, taking it easy just this once. I already had a reputation of being a hard ass, but on

Tessa and ZekeSix Years Later – Tessa’s P.O.V.“What do you say we wrap up early and head out to the cabin—just the two of us?”A voice I spent the last six years memorizing called out from across the room. I lifted my head from the mountain of paperwork I was sorting through, a smile already tugging at my lips as I spotted the playful light shimmering in Zeke’s eyes.My mate and fiancé—a term I couldn’t seem to stop using—was peering at me from across our shared office, a shameless grin tugging at his velvet soft lips. I drummed my fingers across the top of the desk, tapping out a pattern that filled the silence between us.A jolt of electricity crackled along my skin, delving past my flesh to settle in my stomach. Once upon a time, I couldn’t bare more than a few seconds staring into those eyes of his. Now I couldn’t seem to get enough.We’d come so far from where we’d once been. Not as far as Ember and Brandon, who had a sea of troubles even six years later, but those two were ano

Breyona & GiovanniFive Years Later – Breyona’s P.O.V.I appeared in a plume of inky shadow, emerging from the darkness like I’d been there all along. If there were any humans nearby—which my hearing told me there wasn’t—they’d see nothing more than a lingering shadow dancing along the brick walls of the abandoned store front I lurked outside of.This wasn’t my ideal hangout spot, but for whatever reason, this was where Freya had chosen to hide a bunch of magical texts and artifacts. I absolutely adored my job of traveling the country via shadows, collecting information that was thought to be lost among the witches.It was similar to what my parents had done, a realization that never failed to bring tears to my eyes.Even after all these years, I missed them so much.I slinked along the back wall, past the rusted dumpsters that hadn’t been used in Goddess knows how long, to the backdoor Ember’s source promised would be unlocked. Sure enough, when I tugged the handle, it swung open wit

Clara & MasonFour Years Later – Clara’s P.O.V.“Don’t you dare, little witch.” Mason warned in a low voice.A shiver worked it’s way down my spine when he placed his hand against my back. Even through the thin fabric of the dress I wore, I could feel the heat he exuded. One of the first things I’d learned about Werewolves was that they ran hot. Despite how hard I tried, a smile worked it’s way onto my face. My chest quite literally ached with the urge to cackle, but I couldn’t help it. It’s not my fault Tristan’s expression was absolutely to die for. Even Lola was having a hard time containing herself, snickering behind her hand as she watched the scene unfold.Tristan had been locked in place for the last minute in a half, staring at Holly like she had grown three extra heads. No one could blame the poor guy considering he was the only one who didn’t know his mate was pregnant.“You’re pregnant.” He repeated for the thirteenth time.A laugh exploded from my mouth seconds before Ma

Holly and TristanThree Years Later – Holly’s P.O.V.The breeze was blissfully cold against my skin, the sunlight a slight tingle that rippled over my exposed arms and shoulders.Winter was approaching, tainting the air with its crisp scent. No matter how much I ventured outdoors and basked in the sunlight, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get enough. Even though I burned easily—thank you, Vampire genetics—it was a wonderful taste of freedom that I’d never take for granted.The shrill screams of children playing pierced my ears. I didn’t find it irksome the way some of the parents here did. Despite how loud they were, their wails were full of joy and innocence that could never be replicated or replaced.I looked up from the stack of papers in my hands, focusing on the children racing across the mulch just ten feet away. The tiny font had been giving me a headache for the past two hours now.“Honey, you need to stop and tie your shoe! You’re going to trip and fall.” The woman on the bench beside

“Make sure he’s not dead back there.” I grunted, glancing in the rearview mirror to see Brandon slumped over.Clara unbuckled her seatbelt and turned around. I could smell her sugary sweet perfume as her curly hair brushed against my shoulder. A few muffled jabs sounded fr

Half an hour later, I stumbled away from Tristan’s body and into Asher’s warm embrace.My legs had been reduced to jelly, and my magical reserves drained so low they might never recover. I could only imagine how much blood and rest it would take before they were back to normal again.Asher’s voice was

One Year LaterIt was hard to believe how much time had passed, even as I stood at my own wedding reception, surrounded by the people I loved most in this world.So much had changed in three hundred and sixty five days, and it wasn’t just my marital status. There had been some uprising within the othe

“My Queen.”Tristan, my first in command. The man I considered both a friend and a worthy enemy. A Vampire I had once hated with every fiber of my being, only to now trust him with every beat of my heart.He was dead.Cold. Unmoving. Not a spark of light in his eyes.He pushed me out of the way. He took

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