Forever Changed (The Mystic Wolves)

by Belinda Boring

  “There’s no need to challenge. If Devlin needs time, let’s give it to him.”

  “He lied to you,” Mason blasted. “All this time he knew there was a threat and he said nothing. He knew why your connection to me was so sporadic and instead of easing your confusion, he continued with this masquerade.” Mason glared over my shoulder at Devlin. “Do you even understand what that did to her? Do you? She doubted herself. She doubted her wolf. She thought she was inferior, and all this time you knew why!” Stepping around me, Mason shoved his friend. “You knew! How could you watch her falling apart with uncertainty and say nothing?”

  Daniel quickly moved, just in case Devlin retaliated. As much as my heart was breaking over being kept in the dark, watching the pain between the two of them killed me. What happened next would define their future relationship and, as a result, mine.

  Praise for Forever Changed

  “Forever Changed is Belinda Boring’s best to date. Her bag of tricks never cease to amaze and traumatize me with feelings for the characters I have grown to love. Bravo on an excellent book.”

  ~ Lisa Markson, I Pimp My Authors.

  “Belinda Boring surprised me with Forever Changed in a way I didn't think possible. I love these characters even more! This is my favorite Mystic Wolves book yet . . . at least until the next one comes.

  ”

  ~ Christina Silcox, Literary Redemption.

  “The Mystic Wolves series continues to grow in ways that keep surprising me! The love the author has for her characters shines through making you love them more! Forever Changed is by far my favorite! Belinda Boring, you are an amazing storyteller! Thank you for your gift of words!”

  ~ Jessica Johnson, Bookend 2 Bookend.

  “Once again Belinda Boring proves why she is called The Queen of Swoon!! Darcy is stronger than she has ever been and Mason will steal your heart. The ending will take your breath away!”

  ~ Caren Davis, Book Minion.

  Forever Changed

  Copyright 2013 Belinda Boring

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Published by Blushing Heart Press

  Edited by Kim Swain, Red Line Editing & Writing

  Cover Design by Regina Wamba, MaeIDesign & Photography

  KINDLE Edition

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Dedication

  To Susan

  Even though life is full of changes, one thing remains forever . . . our friendship. Here’s to creating new memories! I love you!

  Acknowledgements

  “Don’t you give up on me

  You’re everything I need

  This is how it feels when you take your life back

  This is how it feels when you fight back.”

  ~ Not Gonna Die by Skillet.

  I feel so blessed by the people surrounding me, by those who love and support me in whatever dream I chase. So much goes into writing a story, of capturing my imagination, and translating it into words. I’d be lost without my circle of friends, or in the very least, crazier than I already am!

  I love this story. I say that about every book I write, but the Mystic Wolves definitely hold a very special place in my heart. It means a lot when I go to signings or sign onto my social medias and see how much others love them as well. I have BIG plans for this series. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, WATCH OUT. Even I’m surprised by all the twists and turns.

  A huge thank you needs to go to my faithful beta readers: Lisa Markson, Jessica Johnson, Christina Silcox, Julia Wood, Susan McCray, and Caren Davis. You guys are amazing! Thank you for all your feedback and helping me tell the best possible story. You’re all worth your weight in gold.

  Thank you, thank you, to my editor Kim Swain: You went above and beyond the call of duty to get Forever Changed polished and ready for release. I really appreciate all your help and the dedication you show your clients. Each time I work with you, I walk away feeling stronger as a writer! MUAH!

  Big hugs to Regina Wamba for my incredible cover: It still makes me gasp when it pops up on my laptop. I love knowing that each cover you create matches the story perfectly. You’re a genius.

  A special thanks to my personal assistant, Lisa Markson: Where would I be without you? Oh, that’s right, in the corner rocking back and forth! You’re such a rock star and I’m grateful for your friendship. Thank you for keeping me sane and organized. It’s a godsend.

  Huge smiles to Julia Wood: You are amazing! Truly. This story is full of awesomeness because of you. Thank you for listening to me every Thursday as I talked out plot and for helping me brainstorm. Oh, and for always telling me “I love you and you’re pretty!”

  Dorky winks to my BFF, Lacey Weatherford: Your friendship is such a gift. Without you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to even try living my dreams. Thanks for believing me and giving me that push two years ago. Feel free to push me anytime you like!

  Last of all, SWOONY KISSES to my beloved Mark: You are my Mason. Thank you for always being there, for understanding why I cry over my characters, and being so supportive. I couldn’t do this without you cheering me on, making sure I don’t get distracted, and loving me. You are my greatest blessing EVER. I adore you!

  I hope you all enjoy Forever Changed!

  Live. Love. Swoon.

  Bels

  Chapter 1

  My thoughts went blank, as if it couldn’t quite comprehend what had just been said. If I considered every statement that Devlin could have made at that moment, this one wouldn’t have even made the cut. Each time I tried to wrap my mind around it, I reeled.

  “Come again?” I asked.

  “I’m your uncle.” Devlin watched me carefully, as if he was waiting for me to fall apart—or explode.

  “My uncle? But how?” Over and over, the conversations we’d had over the years replayed—memories of our friendship from the first time I met him and he made me believe he was drinking blood, to the countless hours we’d spent talking about life, love, and the future. He had to be lying. This was too big to be the truth.

  When I didn’t flinch or stop him, Devlin took a step closer and kneeled before me.

  “It’s more like great-great-great uncle, but the connection is the same. We’re related, Darcy. You are a descendant of my beloved sister, Elynor.” He spoke softly and carefully, like trying to calm a frightened animal.

  I wasn’t afraid—I wasn’t even sure I was angry. I just couldn’t grasp the magnitude of what he was saying. I heard the words, but they didn’t make sense.

  “But you can’t be. You’re my best friend. We’re not family . . . well, we are, but not blood.” I glanced over at Mason, my mate, no longer the carefree man I married just a few hours ago. “I just . . .” I let the rest of the sentence fall away.

  He looked just as shocked as I felt. His jaw clenched and the muscle in his cheek twitched. I could tell he was trying to rein in his temper, the steady pain of betrayal pulsing through our connection. Flickers of his own thoughts broke through the wall of control he’d erected to protect me. He didn’t need to, though. I was feeling exactly the same thing. This was too big of an announcement to immediately bounce back from.

  “Explain.” It was just one word, but it was filled with Alpha authority. There was no courtesy extended to an old friend; Mason demanded a
response and his body language confirmed he would settle for nothing less.

  “I don’t even know how to begin.” Devlin sighed, his shoulders sagging from the weight of the burden he’d been carrying.

  “Find a place and then start talking.”

  He shot Mason a warning glance, clearly not appreciating the tone. Normally this was where I’d mediate and cool down the hotheaded pair before things escalated. Instead, I sat there with my hands in my lap, waiting for an answer. Even Mason’s best friend, Daniel, remained quiet; but he was wound tight, his body rigid as he paced back and forth. Only Vivien looked worried, glancing back and forth between everyone.

  “Give me a moment,” Devlin snapped, clearly under pressure. “I knew this day would come and I know it’s a lot to take in. I just wasn’t prepared to do this right now.”

  “Please, just start at the beginning,” I added, my voice soft and pleading.

  Mason interrupted. “I don’t care about you, Enforcer. The only thing that matters is my mate. For her entire life you’ve lied to her. So, no, I won’t give you time. Speak now, or so help me, I’ll rip the answer from your throat.” Electricity sparked in the air as Mason’s wolf surfaced, ready to honor his ultimatum.

  “Are you threatening me, wolf?” Devlin straightened and fixed his gaze on Mason.

  It was a blatant show of defiance, one that Mason would normally ignore between friends; but with him already in a heightened state, I knew he would see it as a challenge.

  “Hell yes, I am. You’ve upset Darcy and I want some answers.” Stepping forward, both predatory men stood toe-to-toe, staring each other down. One wrong move and blood would be spilled. Judging from the low growls emitting from Mason, it wouldn’t take much more to set him off.

  “Mason . . .” Daniel intervened, placing a cautionary hand on his leader’s shoulder. Mason didn’t shrug it off; but he didn’t relax either.

  “Mason . . .” I chided, wedging myself between the two men who meant the most in the world to me. Grabbing his face with my hands, I dragged his gaze down to mine and held it, waiting for him to recognize me. My strategy was a dangerous one. When a wolf was on high alert, especially an Alpha, it was suicidal to put yourself in the line of fire. All that aggression and primitive instinct was channeled into protecting and, with such a hair trigger, there was no guarantee that fury wouldn’t explode onto the wrong person. I was banking on Mason listening to me, his mate, and taking a steady breath, my hands held him firm.

  “Stop.” I wasn’t the Alpha, but I still held authority of my own. He bristled under my gentle command. Shaking his head, Mason growled again and tried to break free. I didn’t let go, though. I knew his heart. As pissed off as he was, I knew that once everything was settled and explained, he would regret any action done in anger.

  In spite of this unexpected revelation, Devlin and Mason were close friends and I knew they both valued and cherished the relationship. “There’s no need to challenge. If Devlin needs time, let’s give it to him.”

  “He lied to you,” Mason blasted. “He knew there was a threat and he said nothing. He knew why your connection to me was so sporadic and instead of easing your confusion, he continued with this masquerade.” Mason glared over my shoulder at Devlin. “Do you even understand what that did to her? Do you? She doubted herself. She doubted her wolf. She thought she was inferior, and all this time you knew why!” Stepping around me, Mason shoved his friend. “You knew! How could you watch her falling apart with uncertainty and say nothing?”

  Daniel quickly moved, just in case Devlin retaliated. As much as my heart was breaking over being kept in the dark, watching the pain between the two of them killed me. What happened next would define their future relationship and, as a result, mine.

  “Don’t you think I wanted to tell her? That I constantly wondered if I was making a mistake? I’ve wrestled with this dilemma since the day she was born. I gave a blood oath to protect her—to keep her safe from harm. I knew this knowledge would be a burden and I didn’t want that for her. Every time my resolve melted, I would see her happy and content . . . How could I destroy that? So yes, I waited. I waited until there was no other choice but to tell her. I chose between the lesser of two evils. I would much rather she be angry at me now, than to have spent her life up until this point always looking over her shoulder.” Devlin defended his decision, vehemently. He looked tortured, beaten down by his choice to withhold the truth, like a cancer corroding his confidence.

  “It wasn’t your choice!”

  “As her blood relative, it definitely was. Everything I’ve done has been for her.” Devlin’s voice lowered to a whisper. “You wouldn’t even have her if it wasn’t for me.”

  That was the wrong thing to say, the confession adding fuel to the already volatile fire. Mason erupted a fraction of a second before Daniel did. Whereas Mason launched himself at Devlin, his second-in-command threw himself at his best friend, wrapping his arms tightly around him to hold him back.

  “How dare you!” Mason snarled.

  “You have no idea what I’ve been protecting her from, who I’ve been safeguarding her against. There is someone out there who thirsts for the power she possesses, who would rip her from us in a heartbeat if he could get close enough. Just one second of lowering our defenses and he’ll come. And trust me, he makes Avery and Amber look like amateurs. He is your very nightmare. Believe me. Darcy breathes now only because I had her powers bound. It was the only way to keep her hidden.”

  “But you didn’t think you could trust her—trust me, as her mate, to help? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. She’s my heart and soul, my very reason for existing. Any threat to her is one to me; and with my last breath, I would keep her from harm’s reach.”

  Underneath the intense anger, Mason’s hurt revealed itself. That was just one of the emotions I felt churning within him. He was devastated that after everything he’d done to prove his loyalty, love, and dedication, Devlin hadn’t trusted him with the care of his beloved. He also felt betrayed. The two emotions were deeply entangled. He couldn’t think straight enough to even attempt to see where Devlin was coming from. Mason saw this as a direct and personal attack on his character.

  “I’m truly sorry. I can now see that not confiding in you was one of my many errors. But, in my defense, even you admitted that the connection between you sometimes worked. It didn’t matter that for the majority of time, there were issues. I couldn’t risk Darcy reading your mind or emotions and discovering the truth. It was too important that she enjoy what little peace she had for the short amount of time she had it.”

  “At the cost of her self-worth?”

  “Yes. And, before you say it, with everything she’s recently gone through, I didn’t want to add to it. Everything I’ve done, whether you agree or not, has been for her.”

  “So, that’s why the Fates had you be my companion through the Heart and Death?” I finally spoke up. At least some of this was starting to make sense.

  “Yes, family members were permitted to accompany each of you. I volunteered; knowing I was the best choice to watch out for your best interest. I’ve watched over you since you were born—either from the shadows or actively. My life for yours, Darcy. Always.”

  He was being earnest. His need for me to accept what he was saying as truth filled his eyes. I ignored the thoughts ravaging my mind and focused, instead, on what I was feeling. Regardless of my confusion and hurt, I searched my heart, wanting to believe him.

  “You should’ve told me, Devlin. Maybe not when I was younger, but you’ve had plenty of time since I met Mason and joined the Mystic Wolves. I’ve been safe with him, you, Vivien, Zane, and the extra strength from the vortex.” I wanted to touch him and let him know I was trying to understand, but I didn’t.

  “But . . .”

  “You could’ve at least told me you were my uncle. I don’t see how that would’ve hurt.” Tears prickled at my eyes, wanting to fall.

  “Everythi
ng was so tightly concealed. I worried that revealing anything—no matter how small—would lead you to ask questions I couldn’t answer.”

  Devlin took a step toward me, his focus never leaving my face. “In every possible scenario that I played over and over in my mind, I couldn’t see a definite resolution. So, instead, I chose absolute secrecy.”

  “Yet, you told Vivien. How long have you been in his confidence?” Mason asked, turning his attention to the witch.

  “I’ve known from the beginning,” she answered, sympathetically.

  “The beginning of what? When Darcy came to live in Woodside Hollow? Since her birth? Childhood? When?” Mason had taken over the conversation again, firing questions at her.

  “Since the moment the curse was uttered on Elynor’s deathbed.”

  “That’s . . .” My mind shut down as I tried doing the math. I’d known Vivien for a long time, but what she was suggesting seemed impossible. She wasn’t a vampire or immortal. To be there with Devlin’s sister meant she was over two hundred years old, not the same age as my mother.

  “Impossible,” Mason retorted. “That would make you . . .”

  “Two hundred and thirteen years old.” Vivien continued. “Elynor was a witch under my guidance and a member of my coven. As her magical leader, it was my responsibility to care for her and provide any advice she sought. I didn’t suspect anything was wrong until too late. As she lay dying, she placed Devlin under a blood oath and I, too, promised to stand as a sentinel over her posterity.”

  “But how?” I stammered. It didn’t matter how much I stared at her, there were no telltale signs exposing her true age. She was just as flawless as ever.

  “I’ve been feeding her small amounts of my blood,” Devlin answered. “Enough to prolong her life and keep her from aging. Together we’ve gone through the centuries, waiting for the prophecy to be fulfilled.”