by L. P. Dover
He leans in close and lowers his voice. “Zayne wants Amelie out of here if he loses. He doesn’t want Knox taking her.”
“Don’t worry,” Laila whispers, keeping her face forward, “Amelie’s not going anywhere.”
Zayne and Knox growl and snap at each other, but neither one makes a move. The crowd is silent, their eyes wary about the coming fight. Death looms over the circle, waiting to take its victim. Who will it be?
The electricity in the air intensifies, and I hold my breath as I wait for one of them to attack. Knox lunges first, and Zayne meets him head on, both growling so loud it echoes in the distance. They move so fast across the ground that they look like a white blur. Teeth ripping flesh and the smell of blood permeate the air, making me sick to my stomach. When one rips into the other’s flesh, the other does the same thing right back. Neither one has the upper hand.
Swallowing hard, I look away and close my eyes. The sounds are just as worse as watching it. My wolf wants to jump into the fight and help her mate. The pull to run out there gets stronger every second I hear the men yelp and growl in pain. When I turn back to the fight, their white coats are red, and their fangs are stained with blood.
“It kills me not to use my magic,” Laila says, cringing every time the men rip into each other. “I could end it.”
“Your father wouldn’t want that,” I whisper.
Laila sighs. “I know.”
The fighting goes on for what feels like hours, but it’s only been a few minutes. They’re both beaten and bloody with tears all over their skin. They grapple on the ground, rolling around the snow with their teeth snapping at each other. The second I hear Zayne’s howl, my heart stops. Knox grabs hold of his shoulder and tosses him across the circle, ripping out a mouthful of flesh in the process. Zayne falls to the ground and doesn’t move as blood pours out of his shoulder. Knox spits it out and gives a wolfish grin as he stalks closer to Zayne.
“No, no, no, no,” I cry, trying to break free of Laila and Tyla’s hold.
Colin wraps his arms around my waist. “Amelie, stop.”
Laila and Tyla whisper soothing words, but nothing helps to take the agony away. Finally, Zayne opens his eyes and finds me in the crowd. “Please get up,” I whisper, choking out the words.
His wolf eyes close, and his body gives out as Knox moves closer. A sharp pain explodes in my chest, and I know it’s the breaking of my heart. But instead of sadness, it’s the fury that rocks me to my core. The guttural scream that escapes my lips is a sound I’ve never heard before. All eyes turn to me, and I can feel my wolf about to break free.
Knox lunges for Zayne at the same time I pull away from Colin’s hold. Everything moves in slow motion. Knox jumps in the air to land on top of Zayne, and I run toward them. Zayne’s eyes flash open just as Colin snatches me away. I crumple in his arms and watch as the end draws near. Zayne rolls out of the way and catches Knox off guard, causing him to falter. Zayne latches onto Knox’s neck and bites down with a sickening crack.
Everyone falls silent as Zayne drags Knox to the center of the circle. Knox tries to get out of Zayne’s hold but to no avail. Zayne looks over to me, and Colin loosens his hold. “He doesn’t want to hurt you, Amelie. I think he wants to know you’ll be okay.”
Tears fill my eyes, and I nod. It has to end. “Do it,” I say, knowing he can hear me. He clamps down harder on Knox’s neck, and the life slowly dies out of him. Letting my tears go, I will mourn my friend and former lover, but it’s what had to be done.
Zayne shifts back into his human form and falls to his knees. The crowd cheers and revels in our victory. Colin lets me go, and I race over to Zayne, taking him in my arms. I burst out crying as he holds me tightly against him.
“I love you,” I cry, not wanting to let him go.
“I love you too. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Shaking my head, I pull away and hold his face in my hands. His eyes are tired, and his body bruised and battered, but it’s nothing a little time won’t heal. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” A small smile stretches across his face, and I can feel his hand on my stomach. I look down at his hand and then into his eyes. “How did you know?”
“I heard what Laila said when she told you. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked. I’ve lived over two hundred years, and things keep changing. There’s no telling what’ll happen next.”
Dropping to my knees, I kiss him gently and rest my forehead to his. “At least we’ll find out together. Only now we’ll have two little boys to share it with us.”
Zayne kisses me again. “It’ll be a new way of life.”
A chuckle escapes my lips. “Feels like I’ve waited an eternity for it. It’s about time we find our happiness.”
35
Kami
When I get to Amelie’s house, I’m a little disappointed. I’ve been ready for a fight with Kara the first second I met her, but it’s not what I get when I arrive. I walk inside and slowly climb the stairs to the top floor. Kara’s heartbeat is faint, but it’s still beating. I made sure to wear gloves to keep myself from touching her bare skin. The last thing I want is to dream about her. I would hope the Great Luna wouldn’t gift her with a true mate after what she tried to do to those I love.
I turn the corner to Amelie’s room, and Kara is face down on the floor, wearing one of her expensive skintight dresses, with a puddle of blood at her head. The whole room is a mess with broken glass all over the floor and the bed in disarray.
Kneeling on the floor, the more I look at Kara, the angrier I get. “Looks like you got your ass beat,” I hiss low, knowing she’s not going to wake up. “If you can hear me, just know that if things didn’t work out the way they did, I’d hunt you down and make you suffer as you’ve never suffered before.”
And I would. I’d enjoy it too.
Grabbing her around the waist, I haul her up over my shoulder and stop at the door to look at the mess in the room. “I should make you clean this shit up, but we have other plans for you.”
I carry her downstairs and drop her on the living room floor. “That’s harsh,” Colin says in my mind, his laughter making me smile.
Glaring down at Kara’s body, I scoff. “She deserves it. How is everyone out there?”
I didn’t get to watch the fight between Knox and Zayne, but I knew Zayne would win it. Everyone always says that good triumphs over evil, but that’s not always the case. Colin’s family was good, and a rival pack butchered them. I will never understand why that was allowed to happen, but it’s the way of the world. With Zayne, I knew there was no way he could lose.
“Zayne’s okay. He got beat up pretty bad, but now he’s with Amelie and taking her to his house. But get this, Amelie said that Knox would’ve killed Kara if Amelie hadn’t put her out. Talk about brotherly love there.”
I glare down at Kara. “Interesting. It’s a shame I can’t tell Miss Psycho Bitch that.”
It doesn’t surprise me Knox would turn on his sister. Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to seeking power. Even those closest to you will turn on you in a second if it benefits them.
“Chase and I are headed your way, and Laila and Cedric will be there shortly after us. She has to get something for Kara, and then Chase is flying her to California with him.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.” Hopefully, Chase knows what he’s getting into.
Several minutes later, I can sense Colin and Chase drawing closer. Kara groans behind me, and I watch her try to get up off the floor and fail. She rolls onto her back and touches her head, her fingers coming back covered in blood.
“You’re awake,” I say, hoping she hears the disdain in my voice.
“What the hell happened?”
I stand over her. “You failed, that’s what.”
She looks up at me and tries to stand, but I bend down and grab her neck, holding her to the floor. Kara hisses in pain and clutches my wrist, but she’s no match for me. Thankfully, my gloves cover my ski
n where she touches. “Where’s my brother?” she snarls.
I squeeze her neck harder. “Knox is dead. You can’t come here and threaten my pack and expect to live.”
“You lie,” she shouts, even though the tears in her eyes suggest she believes me.
“I don’t know why you’re so upset. Knox was going to kill you if Amelie hadn’t bashed your head into the floor. You should be thankful he’s gone.”
Her eyes widen, and she fights even harder to break free. “Fuck you. Knox would never hurt me.”
I stare right into her eyes. “Do you honestly believe that?”
The room falls silent, and it gives me the answer I need. Colin and Chase approach, and she jerks her head toward the door. “Who’s here?”
“No one that concerns you. It’s time you go back to sleep.” She opens her mouth to scream, but I slam her head into the floor, knocking her out for the second time tonight. If she were human, she’d have a real nasty concussion.
“You didn’t let me get to say hello,” Chase teases as he strolls through the door.
Releasing my hold on Kara’s neck, I stand and turn to him. “Don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of time with her in California.”
Colin walks in after him. “I told him he might want to rethink this.”
Chase shakes his head and smirks. “Oh no, I got this. My jet is at the airport and ready to take us home.”
Colin comes over to me and takes my hand, pulling me closer. “I’m just glad it’s all over.”
I lean into him. “Me too. Once Laila comes and does her magic mojo stuff on Kara, I want to clean up this house. I don’t want Amelie coming back to this mess.”
Colin kisses the top of my head. “We can do that.”
Chase stands next to Kara and looks down at her. “She’s going to be pissed when she wakes up. I have never met another wolf who was so full of herself or so pretentious.”
“Yeah, apparently, she doesn’t like any wolves other than royals,” Colin tells him.
Chase snorts. “Oh, I know. She’s mentioned that to me plenty of times before when my wines would place better than hers. She doesn’t like getting beat out by a lesser wolf like me.”
I wave him off. “Nobody gives a rat's ass what she thinks.”
It doesn’t take long for Laila and Cedric to show up, and when Laila walks in, Colin and Chase walk outside with Cedric. Laila steps over Kara’s body and stares down at her as she kneels. In her hand is a silver bracelet with green vines etched into the metal.
“What is that going to do?” I ask.
Laila winks and grins at me. “It’ll give Kara a taste of what she deserves.” She holds up the bracelet and then sets it down on the floor. “The bracelet belonged to Seraphina. My magic can be placed inside of the vines.” She closes her eyes, and the room fills with the essence of earth magic mixed with her fae power. I can feel it circle all around us and then hover over Kara’s body. Laila places her hands on Kara’s arm, and the magic disappears inside of her. “That was the sleeping spell,” Laila whispers as she opens her eyes. She picks up the bracelet and holds it between both of her hands. The vines begin to glow bright green as she chants some words in her fae language. Hearing her speak is mesmerizing.
As soon as she’s done saying the words, the vines go back to normal. Laila picks up Kara’s hand and gently slides the bracelet onto her wrist.
“What does the bracelet do?” I ask, staring at it curiously.
Laila rubs a finger over the green vine, and it glows. “This takes away all her power. She won’t be able to shift or use any of her wolf senses. Basically, she’ll be just like a human.”
Mouth gaping, I look at the bracelet in awe. I’ve never heard such a thing could be done. “Won’t Kara be able to take it off?”
Laila grins. “Try to take it off of her.”
I stare at the bracelet, hesitant to touch it. It’s probably going to shock the hell out of me. Taking a deep breath, I hold out my hand and move it closer. However, the second I get within an inch of it, I can’t move any further; it’s like a force field that propels you away.
“Interesting,” I say, using all the strength I have to move closer to the bracelet. “Is there a way for it to come off?”
Laila nods. “Oh, there’s a way, but only myself or Kara can take it off.”
“How can Kara do it?”
Her eyes avert to Kara, and she sighs. “She will have to figure that out herself.”
“So, you’re not going to tell me?”
Laila purses her lips. “She’s lying right here, Kami. For all we know, she can hear everything we’re saying.”
“Well, in that case,” I say, hovering over Kara’s body. “If you can hear me, I hope you enjoy being a lesser wolf for a change. Maybe it’ll teach you a lesson or two. It’s a shame I won’t be there to watch you suffer.”
“All right, ladies, it’s time to wrap this up. Chase needs to get on his jet,” Colin says from the doorway.
Chase walks in and picks Kara up in his arms. “I hope she likes staying in my wine cellar.” He winks at me. “You know, since she loves mine so much.”
Colin comes up and kisses me. “Cedric and I are going to make sure Chase gets to the airport. We’ll be back soon.”
The guys leave, and Laila and I watch them go. It’s as if a huge weight is lifted off our shoulders. I look over at Laila and bump her with my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
She blows out a sigh. “I’m fine. I never thought I’d see the day when my dad had to fight to the death with another wolf.”
“It’s over now,” I murmur. “And the good thing is that he has Amelie. She’s always been the mother hen to us, and now she’s going to be your stepmom of sorts. It’s kind of funny how things work out.”
Laila smiles at me. “Yes, it is. That’s fate for you though. We’re all connected in ways we never thought possible.” And that is the truth.
36
Zayne
The night began with violence, but the morning brought a new sense of hope. Soon after I buried Knox’s body, fresh snow started to fall, hiding the blood-soaked snow. It was as if none of it ever happened. Amelie passed out the second we got to my house, but there was still a lot of work to do.
“Happy New Year, Dad.”
I look over at Laila and smile. Little Sera is wrapped against her chest, and Laila holds her arms protectively over her. It was a long night, but we all got through it. “Happy New Year to you too. I know you’re exhausted.”
Now that everyone’s gone, Laila and I decided to go for a walk in the field behind my house. For the first time in my entire life, I feel whole. I’ve lived a long time and thought I knew what true happiness was, but I was wrong. Right here and now is what I’ve been searching for.
Laila snorts. “That’s an understatement. I feel like I can barely keep my eyes open.”
“Does the magic wear you down?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Not at all. If anything, it gives me more. I think I’m mentally drained after the night we had.”
I feel the same way. “Tell me about Kara. What did you do to her this morning?”
Amelie told me about the attack and how she could’ve killed Kara, but she didn’t think it was the right thing to do. I respect her decision, but it’s still dangerous to keep her alive, especially once she realizes I defeated her brother. However, her opinion might change if she finds out he was going to kill her if she hurt Amelie.
“Well,” she says, rubbing her hands over Sera’s back, “Kara was still knocked out when Kami arrived at Amelie’s house. Then, this morning when she started to awaken, Kami hit her over the head. I was able to put a magical bracelet on her while she was still out. Now, she’s on her way to California with Chase, where he’ll keep her locked away until the sleeping spell wears off.”
“How long will that be?”
She shrugs. “Hard to say, but it’ll at least be three weeks or more. That way, you and Am
elie will have time to complete the bond on the next full moon without worrying about her. Of course, the spell would last longer if she was closer, but I know we want her far away from here.”
We still have three weeks until the full moon. Once Amelie and I are mated, we’ll be stronger. “What will that bracelet do to Kara?” I question, looking over at Laila.
We walk back to my house, and she sighs. “She’ll be no stronger than a human. She won’t be able to shift or use her strength.”
“So, basically, she’ll be helpless,” I say.
Laila nods, and I don’t see any remorse in her bright blue eyes. “She deserves it after what she did. But I think she needs to be brought down a notch or two. Maybe it’ll give her a dose of reality. She should be thankful none of us ripped her apart.”
Chase is going to have his hands full when the sleeping spell wears off. “I hope Maheegan knows what he’s getting into.”
Laila giggles. “They’re vineyard rivals. I think it’ll be pretty interesting to see how that plays out.”
I walk Laila over to her car, and she gently puts Sera in her car seat. “How does it feel to know you’re going to be a father again?” she asks, beaming at me.
Again. The thought saddens me. I never got to experience true fatherhood with Laila. “It feels amazing. I wish I would’ve gotten the chance with you,” I murmur.
She throws her arms around my neck. “We’ve been over this a million times. You didn’t know. We have hundreds of more years to make up for the lost time. And now I’m going to have two little brothers to have fun with.” I hug her tight, and she lets me go. “You’re going to be an amazing father to those boys. And Amelie will be a terrific mate. I love her so much.”
“I do too. I never thought I’d love anyone besides your mother.” Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the green stone from Alina. “I wish I could tell her thank you for this. It saved me.”
