Filed to story: Mated to the Alpha and His Beta Novel Free >>???
And what the hell was that anyway? I already felt like s hit having to hit Mason, something I never imagined I’d do, but telling Xander “I love you” in front of him? That felt like an even bigger slap in the face.
And the worst part was, I actually questioned whether I might’ve said it even if I hadn’t been compelled. Feelings weren’t supposed to be involved in whatever the f uck was going on between Xander, Zane, and me, but when I thought Orion might kill Xander, I’d felt like I’d do anything to save him.
later.
If that wasn’t love, then what was?
I shook myself out of these complicated thoughts. The twins were the focus now. I’d deal with the guys “What do you mean you’re leaving?” Xander demanded to Malachi. “How the hell are we supposed to find the twins when we’ve been trapped in this f ucking cabin for days? You were the one tracking my father!”
“But unfortunately, I never located the twins, and now the treaty established in the Great Wars has been broken with Orion’s murder,” Malachi explained. “Plus, there are living guards who witnessed what happened here.”
Ashiver ran down my spine. Did that mean they’d tell everyone that we were responsible for starting the next war? Did that mean that there’d be nowhere for us to run now?
“Can’t you just burn Orion’s body and destroy all traces of us ever having been here? The guards can’t act without proof.”
“It’s not that simple, but I sure f ucking wish it was,” Gabriela said.
“Gabriela’s right,” Malachi said. “At the end of the last wars, the leaders of each species agreed to have a spell cast over us that would alert the Council if we or our packs or covens ever violated the treaty.”
“S hit, does that mean the Council already knows about Orion?” Zane asked.
“Yes, which is why it is imperative that we split up and all leave here,” Malachi said. “They will be hunting first, but they won’t rest until all of us pay for what we’ve done today. It’s a good idea to burn the evidence, but it won’t stop them from coming after us.”
me My heart ski pped a beat. Silence hung in the air. How the hell would we get the twins back if we were all “Then we’re leaving right now,” Mason said, taking Stella from Gabriela and walking her to the car.
“Hold on to the walkie, and update us if you can I guess,” Xander said to Malachi. “I’ll take care of the evidence.”
Zane placed a hand on Xander’s chest, stopping him from going back into the cabin. “I’ve got it,” he said.
I felt a warm rush of appreciation for Zane. He knew Orion, too, but he wasn’t family. Xander was lucky to have Zane looking out for him. And so was I.
eye.
I went to join Mason to help with Stella, but Malachi placed a hand on my shoulder, and looked me in the “Before I go,” he said, “I need to tell you…keep trusting your instincts. What you did back there in the cabin just proves how strong you are.”
I nodded. I didn’t feel strong; I felt like s hit. But deep down, I knew we were all better off without Orion around.
“You’re more like me than you know,” Malachi said.
I raised my eyebrow. “Is that a good thing?” I asked.
“I sure as hell think so.” He smirked. “And good for you for taking my advice.” He nodded toward the guys and then winked. “It keeps life exciting.”
And with that, he walked to the edge of the property, and Braden took his place. We looked at each other for a moment and then his arms were around me, hugging me tightly.
“Be safe,” he whispered into my ear.
Suddenly, tears sprang to my eyes. Braden had put himself in so much danger for me, even when it became clear that we’d never be together the way he wanted us to be.
“You, too,” I said thickly, breathing in his comforting scent. He was a good friend, and I prayed to the g ods.
that he’d make it out of this.
He pulled away and flashed me the same charming smile he’d won me over with that first time we’d met by the lake. “I don’t know when I’ll see you again, but I will Count on that. It’ll all work out…somehow,”
I nodded as he walked over to stand by Malachi. And then they were speeding off in a blur of movement.
Xander ran his hands through his hair, grabbing fistfuls as he watched them go.
“Where the f uck are we even supposed to start?” he asked.
“I know where,” Gabriela said. “But you’re not going to like it.”
Xander–
“Where?” I demanded.
“The hybrid testing facility,” my mother said, a worried look on her face. “If the Council knows Orion has been killed, then the first thing they’re going to do is rush to build their hybrid army so they can win the next war. No more treaties and hiding; they want the shifters to reign supreme.”
“F uck,” I muttered under my breath. “How do we get there?”
“We need Rhiannon,” Gabriela said.
All eyes went straight to Rhiannon, still bound by chains that couldn’t be broken with magic.
“Hell no,” she said. “Cut me free and let me go hide. I’m not gonna be accused of taking sides in the next war. I’m not gonna be the reason all of us witches are wiped out for good.”
I didn’t understand why we even needed her. She was volatile and powerful, she’s the reason the protective spell was broken, How could we trust her?
“Why can’t 70
and I just sneak into the facility and grab them ourselves?” I asked impatiently. We were wasting precious time with all this complicated coordination. “We already did it once at the prison with Aldon’s potion.”
“That was the last of it,” my mother said. “And even if it wasn’t, they’d be expecting it now. Plus, it’s unpredictable-if the glamour faded too soon, you’d be exposed and killed in seconds.”
She turned to Rhiannon. “But if Rhiannon can give us a transmogrifying potion..that’s another story.”
“I’m sorry…a what potion?” Lanie asked. She sounded about as impatient as I felt. This plan was growing more complicated by the minute.
“It transforms the drinker into someone else entirely, my mother explained. “Like hiding in plain sight. If one of us can transform into one of the guards at the facility, that’s the surest way of getting in and rescuing the twins.”
“Fine, then I’ll do it,” I volunteered, stepping forward, Rhiannon laughed mirthlessly. “I’m not sticking around and risking my neck to make a potion for the same dogs who destroyed my supply storage,” she sneered. “I told you I’m not taking sides in this war. I’ll never do that again.”
She glanced at my mother, and a strained look passed between them. I still didn’t know everything that had happened in the first Great Wars, only that everything I’d been told was a lie.
“Then make it for me,” Lanie said. “I’m a hybrid-so you wouldn’t technically be taking sides, would you?”
Rhiannon rolled her eyes. “You’re reaching,” she said, If the potion fails, you will be doing just that. And if it succeeds, we set you free, and you can run as far away from this as you want. It’s a win-win.”
Rhiannon clenched her jaw, refusing to answer, I could see the fear in Lanie’s eyes at the idea of going in there, but she didn’t argue.
“We’re trying to be respectful here, Rhiannon,” my mother continued, “but you’re still tied up at the scene of the crime. If you want to be cut free, then do this one last thing for us.”
I co cked my eyebrow at my mother, impressed. Her top-notch Luna skills were jumping out once again. I didn’t see how Rhiannon could argue with that logic.
“Fine,” Rhiannon spat. “But only if Lanie agrees to be the one to take the potion. She’s my insurance.”
Lanie stood frozen and silent for a moment before nodding. “Sure. I’ll do it,” she said.
I felt a low growl building in my chest, but my head turned at the sound of more growling to r Mason was standing there, fists clenched, looking just as furious as I was.
my left Rhiannon was making it sound like taking the potion and waltzing into the facility was the easiest thing in the world and not extremely f ucking scary and dangerous for Lanie. But before I could open my mouth to protest, Rhiannon jumped in again.
“And before any of you big bad wolves argue with me about your precious Lanie going into the lion’s den,” she said, “I won’t budge on this. So if you want your pups back, I’d stay quiet and agree to my terms.”
None of us said a word.
“That’s what I thought,” Rhiannon said. “I’ll need at least twenty-four hours to brew the potion,” she said.
We all let out frustrated sighs.
F uck. More time wasted. How many tests could the Council perform on the twins in that time? How much pain would they be in?
“Then we need a place to hide in the meantime,” Mason said.
Just then, Zane walked out from the cabin carrying an empty gas can. “Everyone get in the car,” he said, holding up a match.
“I’m gonna light this, and then we run.”
We all piled into the SUV and watched as Zane threw the match and dove inside, too, the cabin exploding in orange flames behind him, “GO!” he screamed to my mother in the driver’s seat. We peeled off, silent for a few minutes as we sped through the forest and out onto the mountain road.
“Where are we going to brew the potion?” Zane finally asked.
“We need somewhere close by where the Council isn’t breathing down everyone’s necks,” Gabriela said. “Rogue territory is our best bet.”
Mason sighed in the backseat.
“Then I guess we’re going back to Stillwood”
Mason–
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?