by K J Carr
“Shane.” Holden’s voice tore my heart, but I needed to do this. I needed to bring her justice. This was my first act as Alpha of our Pack. She just didn’t need to see this right now.
I leaned down, my lips touching her forehead.
Betta and Soren slipped into the room and crawled up the bed. Soren put himself on the other side of Holden, while Betta cuddled her sister. They would make sure no one could get to their mama.
Holden looked up at me, her eyes red. Her tears had stopped and her face looked calmer. “Thank you.”
I leaned over and kissed her again, before walking out of the bedroom.
Holden
Waking up, I realized that I was alone in the bed. I didn’t remember Shane coming back. I knew, though, that the pups had been here, in my bed, most of the night.
I could hear sounds in the kitchen, so I got up, taking care of my morning routine, before shuffling out of the bedroom. So much had happened in so little time.
Shane was there, making breakfast.
“Where are the pups?” I drifted over to the island, sitting on the stool. My hands hurt. My body hurt. And my head ached from all my crying.
Shane gave me a glass of water and two pain reliever pills. He then pushed a mug of coffee with milk and sugar next to them on the counter.
“Max came and took them. Take the pills and then I will wrap your hands.” He stood there, waiting for me to do as he asked.
I picked up the pills and held them. “What happened to Edward?”
Shane exhaled. “Take the pills, Holden. Please.”
Glowering at him, I popped them into my mouth and then took a sip of water. “There. Now tell me.”
Shane turned back to the stove and scooped out scrambled eggs onto a plate, which already held a few strips of bacon. He placed it near my hand and gave me a fork, before moving around to sit next to me.
“Pack Law.” He turned to me and watched my face. “No one will find him. No one will know. Mercer even came to take part because Edward had held him for almost a year. Tortured him for almost a year. Edward had made him shift back and forth at the man’s whim, sometimes up to ten times a day.” Shane’s voice was rough with anger.
I just looked at him. “So, he’s dead.” There was no emotion in my voice.
He nodded twice.
“Good. It was more than he deserved.” I turned around and picked up the mug, sipping at my coffee.
Shane stared at me. “You don’t mind we killed him?”
I reached over and grabbed my phone. Accessing my pictures, I pulled up one and put the phone down between us. It was the picture that Edward had sent me of Thomas pleading with him for help.
“The man that did that to another human being – no, not just another human being, but his brother – shouldn’t get human justice of a few years of prison. Jail is too good for him after what he had done. He deserves to die. We should treat him like the vermin he was.”
He looked at me. I am sure he was wondering how much this would change me. Or if I would have regrets later. Heck, I was wondering how much I had already changed to accept this all so easily.
I sighed, putting down my fork, still staring at my plate. “Did Mercer feel vindicated?”
“Yes.”
Turning just my head, I met his eyes. “Good. Then I am fine with his punishment.” I sat up and swung myself around. “Thank you for protecting me, Shane. Thank you for being here with me and for coming back for me.”
My hands cupped his face, my fingers stroking his skin.
“I know little about being a lycanthrope, but I know some about wolves. I know wolves would be fine with this. I know that this is one area where they are kinder than humans are, given it was over with quickly. Edward living forever in jail would have been scary. Human courts would have released him, allowing him to commit more crimes. He was not sane. But he could act sane when he wanted to.”
I got up and moved between his legs, putting my arms around his neck. “Now, I want you to either take me to my pups or make love to me. Your choice, Alpha.” My smile was soft, but the love I had for this man that was radiating down the bond must have convinced him which option I wanted him to choose.
No more talk about Edward. Or Thomas. Or labs.
Just about us and our future.
Shane pulled me in and kissed me, his mouth hungry as it moved over mine. Picking me up, I wrapped my legs around his waist as he moved towards our bedroom.
“What? Not the pups?” I teased him.
“Pups later. It is just about us. I love you, Holden Black.”
I laughed, feeling happy for the first time in a long time. “And I love you, Shane Loren! Forever and always!”
Author’s Notes
It has taken me some time to get from my last series to this one. Partly because of just learning the trade of Indie publishing. Partly because of my health. And partly because of fear. I wanted to be the best that I could be now.
But writing is like taking that first step. And then the second. Those steps are scary. Necessary, but scary. There is so much to learn on this journey, but foremost is to put words on paper. Without the stories, the rest mean little.
Hybrid is the first of the Rare Wolf Series.
You can find me at the following places:
https://www.facebook.com/kjcarrauthor
http://kjcarr-author.com
Other Books
Immortal Transformation Series
Immortal Decisions
Immortal Transition
Immortal Vengeance
Immortal Transformation Universe
Achilah
Rare Wolf
Hybrid
Berserker (TBD)
Omega (TBD)
