by Jaimi Wilson
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Thank You For Reading!
© 2018 Jaimi Wilson
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Editing done by Rachel Mowry
Formatting by Gina Wynn @ Gina Formats Words
Cover Design by Leanne @ Bound 2 Be
Acknowledgments
This book is dedicated to my amazing PA’s.
Kate, if you weren’t so in love with Josh, this would have taken much longer. Now go and read all the words.
Jamie, thanks for helping me tease Kate with all the possibilities of what could happen to Josh. We make a very good evil team.
You two are the best PA’s a girl could ask for
One
Walking back through the woods the same way I came with the guys a few days earlier leaves me with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I hate that they've been spelled not to leave the house, but what choice did Josh really have? If he hadn't and Neira ended up trying something else, well, I really don’t want to think what could have happened then.
"Man, I need to shift so bad. The magic has been pulsing under my skin since it didn’t work to help Jas. Once we get back, I'm going for a long ass run," Josh says with an uncomfortable shiver.
I look back at him for a moment before his words sink in.
"How the hell can you shift if you're a witch?" I splutter out, beyond confused at this point. I've never heard of a witch who could shift. Or is he just a wolf that can do magic? I honestly don't know, but what I do know is that I'm developing a headache.
"Our kind are capable of doing both."
"Our kind? Don't you mean your kind?" I give him a pointed look, assuming he's just referring to the fact he's a special wolf who has the ability to use magic.
"Hybrids," Jenkins explains from my other side, clearly taking pity on me. "We're hybrids, just as you are. Josh is a hybrid born from a witch and wolf, his mother being a wolf and his father a witch. In your case, however, your mother is the witch and your father is the wolf. Well actually, your case is a little more complicated than that."
I take a deep breath, bile rising up my throat. Hybrids? Is there really such a thing? The last known hybrids were killed off before the extinction of vampires.
"Okay, guys, I'm having a little trouble here figuring this all out. So you two are both wolf and witch hybrids?"
They both nod and I let out a breath. "Right then. If I'm also a hybrid, why is my case more complicated? I've never met my father, so it could be possible he’s a wolf, but if that's true, I’m sure my mother would have used that knowledge against me in some way."
"Unless she didn't know," Josh mumbles ominously.
My gaze jerks to him. "Explain!" I demand with narrowed eyes, and he hurriedly takes a step away from me. We're in the middle of a goddamn forest, but rather than powering forward to get home to my mates, I'm stuck here with a million and one questions. And with every word out of Josh’s mouth, more questions crop up.
He gazes deeply into my eyes, as if looking for something. Seemingly satisfied with whatever he finds, he continues. "When you were conceived, your father was undergoing an, uh, change of sorts... We believe that's what makes you different."
Different? I stare at Josh, completely ignoring Jenkins for the moment because the way Josh spoke has me wondering something. "You know who my father is, don't you?"
His eyes widen minutely before he can control his reaction. I throw my hands up into the air angrily. "Seriously, Josh? I've been looking for him for years, and you've known who he is all this time, but haven't said anything?"
I close my eyes, trying to control my magic as it rages inside me in response to the strong emotions I’m feeling. He lied to me! Okay, maybe he didn't exactly lie, but he didn't tell me the truth either. He should have fucking told me!
Arms wrap around me gently and I sigh, letting go of my anger. Josh presses his lips to my cheek, but pulls back as I open my eyes. I blush, surprised by his sweet gesture.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Jas. I was sworn to secrecy, or at least I was until he called me and told me he had sent Jenkins to help break you out of the cell at the house the Order was staying in. He's on his way to Benji's pack right now actually, so he can meet you and explain everything."
"And when will he arrive?" I ask, trying to calm the raging fury building within me. I've waited twenty-five years to meet him, but the way Josh has worded everything makes it seem like my father has known about me this whole time.
Jenkins gives a cough in order to grab my attention. "Your father will arrive at the pack tomorrow. He said he wants to give you some time to connect with your mates and sort out your feelings before he barges into your life."
I slide from Josh's arms and move past him, marching in the direction of the pack with a firm resolve. I just want to get back to my mates and deal with all the shit that is already happening. This father stuff can wait until I’ve had a chance to sort out all the problems already on my plate.
The guys follow after me and we walk in silence for the next thirty minutes or so. Then I spot the familiar dome-like structure protecting the pack, which thankfully is still in place.
"Hey! How are you able to cross the border if you're part witch?" I exclaim in shock when both Jenkins and Josh pass through the barrier with no issues.
“We're a whole new species, Jas. You'll want to fix that soon actually. Wouldn't want another one of our kind to cross it without permission." Josh winks at me and then continues his journey, following the path that leads to the pack house.
I follow after him, and Jenkins hangs back with me. "Are you okay?" His voice is filled with concern and sincerity.
I study him, taking note of how different he looks now than when he was peering in at me from the window of that basement. Gone are the shadows that make him look older, and he looks closer to my age in appearance now that we’re in full light
I shrug my shoulders, not quite sure how to answer him. "Honestly?"
"Always."
I puff out a breath of air. "My mother is a power-hungry bitch. I've never met my father. One of my mates is a guy I used to love, and I fell for him all over again in only two days. My other mate didn't believe me when I told him the witch who was helping us had ulterior motives, and look what happened there! I'm just... exhausted. I want to curl up in my bed and sleep for a week straight. Maybe then I'd be able to deal with all the crazy around me."
Jenkins stays quiet for a long moment, and I start to think I frightened him with my word vomit, but then he looks over and meets my eyes. "You may not believe me, but the earth chose yo
u for a reason. Everything you've been through, the earth has been by your side the whole way. How else do you think you were immune to Evan and his attempts to siphon your magic? Yes, you may have some kind of curse on you, but the earth is still with you, protecting you every step of the way."
I would respond, but now we’ve made it to the back of the pack house. This conversation will just have to wait for another time.
Up ahead, Josh has opened the back door to reveal two angry Alpha males, who both smash against an invisible barrier, desperate to be free from their prison.
Benji growls as he stares daggers at Josh. "Let me out now, so I can rip your throat out, you fucking traitor!"
Josh gives an annoyed sigh. "Is that any way to treat the people who brought your mate back home safely?"
At that, both men freeze, and Jenkins pushes me forward into their line of sight. We all just stare at each other for I don't know how long. That’s when I notice the strange haze around Liam.
It's like a shadow clinging to him, mostly unnoticeable unless you're actively looking for it. Exactly how a persuasion spell is supposed to work.
Josh glances over at me, an unspoken question in his eyes. I sigh sadly. "Let Benji out. Leave Liam to me."
He does as I ask, waving his hands through the air, and mouthing some unintelligible words.
The moment Benji is free, he launches himself out of the house, running for me. He scoops me up in his arms and holds me close, while Liam continues to rage from inside the house.
Benji's lips land on mine and I respond just as enthusiastically, kissing him for a few moments before pulling away. "Sorry, baby. Liam needs me," I tell him, before stepping out of his arms, and moving past him towards the house.
He grabs my hand and turns me back so I’m once again looking at him. "What are you doing?" he asks in an uncertain tone, seeming reluctant to let me go.
"Long story short, Liam has a spell on him which I need to fix before it gets to a point he ends up doing something he’ll regret."
I make it all the way to the back door before Benji's presence registers behind me. "You're not going in there alone. I know I can't do magic, but I'm strong enough to hold him down while you do whatever you need to."
I nod at him before looking back to Josh, who waits where we all stood when we arrived. "You know what this will take, so keep the pack away."
I don't wait for an answer, instead stepping through the barrier and into Liam's arms. He crushes me against him, seeming to have no clue as to what was happening on the other side of the barrier, and I feel my heart break a little at the state he’s in.
"Oh, Jasmine, thank goodness you're okay! I was so worried."
"I know, honey. But I'm here now," I sooth, running a hand over his back, feeling the dark sludge of magic in his aura as a tear falls down my cheek. Magic, while a blessing to have, is also a curse in its own way. It always exacts a price, either on the caster or the target of the spell. Smaller spells of course, have a smaller cost. But in order to free him from the magic surrounding him, he’s going to feel like he's being ripped to shreds from the inside out.
"Liam, honey, I need you to listen to me. Someone has spelled you with magic and I have to remove it. But if I do it, it will hurt. A lot. Will you let me use my magic on you?" I ask, hoping for his permission. Despite the fact I know he's going to refuse, it still hurts to see his outburst of anger.
"No, you can not use magic on me! You must be out of your mind if you think that's ever okay!"
I see Benji out of the corner of my eye as he moves to position himself behind Liam, ready to act when I do. I lift my hand to Liam's cheek in a caress. He flinches, stepping back, and straight into Benji's arms. He wraps Liam in an iron grip, locking him in place. Liam's violet eyes flare angrily and he growls furiously.
I summon my magic, and then press my hand over Liam's heart chakra, connecting with his soul as the dark sludge of magic tries to take over me too. His wolf is so close to the surface, fighting against the twisted magic affecting them. I use everything in me to push the tainted magic from his soul, cleansing it.
After what feels like hours, the dark sludge has finally dissipated. I drop to the floor, my knees cracking on the hardwood of the kitchen. Benji lowers Liam’s unconscious form to the floor before dropping beside me with wide eyes.
“Shit, you okay, Jazzy?”
I smile weakly to reassure him, getting to my feet. He holds out a hand to help me, but I brush him aside, needing to get outside. Being connected to someone's soul comes with a price, and the price I paid is one I don’t want to acknowledge right now.
The cost can be anything, but this time it was a vision. A vision of Liam’s past, revealing he had lied to me when he said he and Neira were nothing more than friends. And whether he was spelled or not, he should have been truthful with me regardless.
Benji doesn't follow me, for which I’m grateful. I head straight for the tree I destroyed earlier, dropping my ass to the ground and letting the tears finally fall.
I just want today to be over with.
Two
"Jasmine!"
Liam is banging on the shield around me with such force that I’m surprised it hasn’t shattered apart by now.
After I removed the spell on him, I went straight to the tree I had destroyed just a few days ago and plopped my ass on the ground. As I sat there, I felt my heart call out with pain, the vision I witnessed as I removed the spell from Liam playing on repeat in my mind. I wish I could destroy the tree all over again in order to let out all my bottled emotions. After a while, I began to feel thundering footsteps through the earth, growing ever stronger as he got closer to me. I put up a shield, not wanting to be touched by him after what I saw in the vision. All I felt was betrayal that he had lied to me.
I summoned a shield ten feet in diameter that would keep everyone out, needing space from everyone. No one can cross it without my express say so.
I smile, feeling vindictive but relaxed as he continues to beat his fists on my shield. I can see that Benji is also out there, but he is just standing to the side, watching the whole thing.
An hour later and Benji has given up on me coming back and decides to head back to the pack house. Liam, however, still rages against the shield, apologizing over and over for not telling me the truth. I know that he’s concerned about me, but no matter how many times he apologizes, the images are still burned in my mind. I’d need some kind of epic brain bleach to remove them.
And I know he saw what the magic left me with as the price for saving him with such powerful magic. I know he saw it, because I can feel the guilt weighing on his soul as he apologizes.
Liam keeps trying to get in, begging me to hear him out, but no matter what he does, the barrier is going to keep him out, at least until I pass out from the magic use. Although considering how recharged I feel after whatever Jenkins did to me, that could still be a few hours from now.
I close my eyes and focus on my breathing, trying to rein in my emotions. Then, I feel my shield suddenly tingle. My eyes snap open and I look up to see Jenkins standing there right in front of me, his brown eyes conveying his concern.
I cock my head in confusion. "How did you cross my shield?"
He shrugs his shoulders, and puts his hands in his pockets. "No idea. I just felt like going for a walk, and happened to come across you sitting out here while your mate was going off, acting like a caveman."
I snort at that and look over at my mate in question as he glares at Jenkins. Liam is most definitely not a caveman. A little controlling maybe. But definitely not a caveman.
I sigh and close my eyes, trying to stop my anger in its tracks. Why did Liam do that? Why did my magic have to pick that vision, of all things, as the price?
These past few days have already been filled with so much crap that I haven’t really had a chance to fully process everything. I just wanted a moment to myself to try and wrap my head around everything. I let my hormones lead me
when it came to Liam and Benji and didn't get that bonding time I should have with them, the opportunity to learn about them and their pasts. If I had, then maybe Liam would have told me about what I saw before the vision was burned into my mind.
My mother, who I thought had moved to Australia with her new husband, was actually the mastermind behind everything that had happened recently. It turns out she killed one of the Order members and is married to another. The final Order member, the wolf, hasn’t been seen since.
Then there's my father, who seems to know about me but has never once reached out until now, and even then, it wasn't to me directly.
Then there's Josh. When he hugged me, something inside me stirred, something that I first noticed when we started spending time together. But I refused to acknowledge it, out of fear for what it might mean. Whether it’s just because of our connection to the earth through magic or something more, it’s not something I can think about right now. Josh is my friend and I don’t want to risk asking any questions that may blur that line.
Lastly, there's Jenkins. He's a mystery all on his own, coming to save me, even though he had no idea who I was. I'm grateful for that, truly I am, but I can’t help but think that something about him feels off. Like he's here physically, but emotionally he's tormented by a deep hurt. Something about his brown eyes screams pain and automatically makes me want to ask what's wrong.
I shake my head, trying to clear it of my desire to question him. I came out here so I could have a relaxed moment to soothe my anger, not to grill someone about their past. So instead, I study him as he looks down at me. First he was able to break through whatever magical barrier the Order had me under and heal me, and now he's able to cross my shield when my own mates can't? It’s quite intriguing really.
