Jos's new home is shared with Bay and Savannah—and a she-wolf who flashes her fangs at me the second I walk through the door. Her short brown hair is spiked up and colored purple at the top, although her fine, high cheekbones soften the boyish look. Critical hazel eyes drill into me.

"Behave, Olivia." Jos snakes one arm around her midsection and pulls her closer.

A growl resonates deep from her throat. "We should've discussed this before you invited her."

"I told you, Raelyn and I are just friends. We go way back."

"That"—she wags an angry finger in front of his nose—"is exactly my problem."

Bay, stoking the fire in the open pit, gives her a reassuring smile. "Chill. You have nothing to worry about. I vouch for that."

Olivia rolls her eyes. "Males. You always stick together when it comes to hiding your indiscretions."

"I'm with the guys." Savannah wipes her hands on a towel and limps over to the breakfast bar where I've found a seat. "Raelyn and Jos have always been just friends, isn't that right, Raelyn?"

I can't help but for the heat to crawl into my cheeks. That night in the woods was definitely not something friends would do, but since Jos has so obviously no recollection about our playtime in the snow, we should let sleeping wolves lie.

When I remain quiet, Olivia grumbles under her breath and an awkward silence falls over the kitchen.

"Would you like something to drink?"

I force my gaze on Savannah. "A tea would be lovely."

Olivia snorts. "She drinks tea. Figures."

Jos tightens his embrace. "Could you please let it go? I swear, you don't have anything to worry about."

She squints at him, but then her lips curl to a smile. "Okay, but only because you said 'please'."

"Thank you."

He brushes a gentle kiss on her lips and for a moment, they are caught in their own world. It would be cute if my heart wasn't throbbing so hard. I miss Kendrick and our banter more than I want to admit.

Olivia frees herself from Jos's hold. "Sorry, but I have to use the bathroom."

As she walks out, Savannah calls after her, "Moose is in there, so knock."

Olivia ignores her. A few seconds later, she pounds on a door with what could only be a fully balled fist. "Yo, hurry up. I need to pee."

Jos chuckles. "You have to excuse her. Her parents turned rogues before she was born and she never lived as part of a formal pack. She's still getting used to"—he sweeps through the air—"all this."

"You mean family." Savannah gives him a fond smile and returns to the soup she was stirring on the stove.

"Do you need any help?" I offer.

"The salad still needs tossing, plus I need someone to set the table."

"I'm on it."

I grab an apron off the hanger and tie it around my waist. Jos joins Bay by the fireplace. A few moments later, Moose steps out from the obscure hallway. He only has a towel wrapped around his lower body and runs his fingers through his damp hair. "Bro, that female of yours is something. Like a tornado tearing through the forest and destroying everything in its path."

"Yeah, that's Olivia for you."

"She needs a filter for that mouth."

"Watch it there, Moose." Jos laughs. "You're talking about the female who rules this household. If you aren't careful, you'll find yourself under the porch with some serious cuts and bruises. Olivia doesn't kid around."

I block out their banter and focus on Savannah. "How are you?"

"Fantastic." Her eyes hold the same sparkle that used to capture me. Joy is bursting out of every pore. "Bay has been wonderful. Loving, caring, protective. Being with him is better than I imagined."

I'm thrilled she found her happy ending. "Did you two mate yet?"

"A couple of months ago." She flicks a stubborn strand of blond hair out of her eyes.

"And Jos? Did he mate with Olivia?"

For a beat, she stops stirring and gazes at me from under her eyelashes. Then her lips press to a thin line. "No, not yet. Why are you asking?"

"No reason. They seem great together."

Her mouth relaxes. "They are. She makes Jos happy. I don't recall him ever laughing so much."

"How come you live together?"

"I guess old habits are hard to kill. I grew up around Jos and Bay and they were always friendly, you know, with Jos being an Alpha-born and Bay being Lance's and Millie's son. When we first arrived here, we felt a little lost, but then Jos and Gabriel together with a few others built this house for us. We didn't want Jos to feel left out, so we invited him to stay. Olivia—she was just here one day, decided she liked it, and then never left."

"So all the rogues, are you like a pack?"

"Heavens no. We are all independent, and most of the rogues don't like to be tied down in one place. I guess Gabriel is the unofficial leader everyone runs to for advice, and Jos helps out whenever he can. It's a good set-up, even if . . ."

Her words trail off and I detect moisture in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"

"It's fine." She wipes her face with the back of her hand. "I guess I miss my parents—and Hailey. Did you know that Kendrick Raynes holds her as his slave?"

"I saw her once at his packhouse."

"How is she?"

"Not good."

A silent tear rolls down Savannah's cheek. Crap, why did I let the conversation drift in this direction?

"Could you maybe talk to Kendrick?" Hope jumps out at me from her pleading eyes.

"We aren't together anymore."

"Oh." Her lips twist to a painful grimace.

Attempting to buy some time to get over the sudden awkward tension, I toss the salad around in the bowl with a pair of tongs. "Are you and Bay going to try for a pup during the next heat?"

"Of course."

Olivia stomps back into the kitchen; Moose hit the mark by comparing her to a tornado. "Is it going to take much longer? I'm starving."

"If you help set the table, it will go faster." I place a stack of plates on the counter and look at her with a raised brow.

She hesitates, smiling at me with teeth. "Alright, males, you heard Raelyn. Time to get this table set, so we can eat."

Moose shoots Jos this "seriously?" look but doesn't complain when the other two fall in line. Olivia supervises with her hands propped on her hips, only jutting her chin at a few spots where the silverware isn't aligned perfectly with the plates without lifting a finger.

I lean closer to Savannah. "Is she always this pushy?"

"Oh, yeah."

"And Jos doesn't mind?"

"Trust me, if you heard him moan at night when she does her thing, you wouldn't mind either."

~~~~~

After dinner, I excuse myself to go for a walk and clear my head. The night is filled with the buzzing of wildlife and the occasional bark of a coyote. At a small pond nestled in the woods, I drop down into the mossy grass and stare at the sky. My mind runs in overdrive. Two days is all I have left before I have to make my choice.

Jos plops on the ground next to me. He holds up a bottle. "I think you can use some of this."

"What is it?"

"Olivia's homemade plum hooch. It will wash away all your worries."

I sniff at the bottleneck and take a swig. The snaps burns in my throat, although it also leaves a sweet tangy taste on my lips. "That's actually pretty good."

"Olivia knows how to make great hooch."

"I heard that's not the only thing she is good at." I wiggle my brows, which draws out a laugh.

"Yes, Olivia is a female of many talents."

"I'm surprised she let you out of her sight with me around."

"Don't let her gruff manners fool you. Beneath it all is a heart of gold."

Giving him a sideways glance, I appreciate the wide grin on his face. "I'm glad you are so happy."

"That I am." He takes a mouthful from the snaps and passes back the bottle. "So what has you so worried?"

"What makes you think I'm worried?"

"Seriously? Even a wolf who doesn't know you can tell how miserable you are. What is it? Is Raynes giving you a hard time?"

It's more the other way around. "I really fucked up with Kendrick, but that's not the main reason why I'm upset."

"Then what is it?"

Fighting with the sudden lump that lodges in my throat, I let my mind drift back to the night I trained with Sazith in the woods. It was the first time he told me about Kaleidopae's plan and my role in it.

I take another swallow of hooch for liquid courage. I shouldn't confide in Jos, but I'm also in desperate need of getting my worries off my chest. "Not sure if you heard, but I'm a hybrid. I have warlock powers."

"Everyone has heard about that."

And Olivia was prepared to fight me if I made a pass at Jos. She must really love him. "For warlocks to keep their powers, they have to commit to their world before the end of their twenty-first earth year. For me, that's in a little less than a month. Otherwise, all my powers will go away."

"And how do you make the commitment."

"Usually, it's simple. You have a dominant power, that's either gifted by the sun or by the moon, and you pledge your loyalty to your primary god. With me, it's different. My primary power is fire, which signifies the Sun God, but I'm also a werewolf and something that warlocks call a spirit guardian, and those are gifts of the Moon Goddess. If I commit to her, I will lose my fire powers, but if I go with the sun, it's vice versa."

"So let me get this straight. If you pledge your loyalty to the sun, does that mean you stop being a werewolf?"

I nod.

"Raelyn, that's a no brainer. You can't give up being a wolf. It's a part of who you are."

More hooch is drowned in a desperate attempt to get rid of the foul taste in my mouth. "It's not about that. My fire powers are needed to kill this warlock Marush—if not, he'll wage war on all the werewolves and eradicate them."

"And that's for certain?"

"Yes, he hates our kind."

"That's really fucked up." Jos knocks his fist into the ground as if trying to punch a hole in which to bury the injustice.

The lump in my throat dislodges and I wipe over my eyes. Tilting my head, I stare at the sky. It's clear of clouds as it was the night Sazith confessed the truth about Kaleidopae's plan. A soft wind had swooped across the Iomaire Draíochta, making the leaves rustle in the trees; the same way the wind caresses my face now and plays with the leaves around my feet. Back then, I was all fired up, ready to help. I couldn't wait for the solar eclipse. It was before second thoughts chipped away at my dedication. I love my wolf—and I love my life as a werewolf.

"If I choose the sun, a group of warlocks will fight Marush, but they can't do it without my fire powers. It's the only chance for the werewolves to survive."

"And why is this Marush guy even doing this?" Jos tips the bottle to his lips, but instead of swallowing, he spits the hooch on the ground. "I mean, what is he trying to accomplish by killing us?"

"Marush wants to control the balance of nature. That's his ultimate goal. He craves to hold the same power as the Moon Goddess herself."

"That's crazy. No creature should ever hold that type of power."

"I agree, but Marush is not open to reason. He will destroy every living thing that stands in his way."

Jos shakes his head like he's struggling to comprehend my words. "How did he ever get this strong? Why didn't anyone stop him before?"

Good question and one I've asked Sazith at least a dozen times. "After Marush was born under a malediction, the Sentinel Council—those are the ones in charge of the warlock world—kept a close eye on him. His father had been punished by death for getting his mother pregnant, but she was too well liked to suffer serious consequences for her misstep. All was well for many centuries. Marush grew into a generous and caring man, proving his mother's theory that her own flesh and blood would have the same positive values that she was known for, that he would turn into the type of leader others looked-up to and adored."

"What changed?"

"No one realized the anger Marush harbored for the death of his father, that he ultimately blamed his mom for choosing motherhood over his father's devotion. By the time he showed his true colors, he was already too powerful with impeccable skills to make any opponent pale. His strength was unrivalled. Once he joined the Sentinel Council and secured the dagger that Gideon picked up from Gabriel today, no ordinary warlock was able have stop him. That's when his mother came up with a plan: steal the dagger and hide it until she could find a way to kill Marush."

Before Jos can tip the bottle to his lips again, I grab it from his grip. A few more good swallows wash away the remains of the lump. My hand still shakes, but the slight hum in my ears is soothing.

"How did this plan work out so far?"

Jos's question forces me to refocus on our conversation. "There's this girl, Tessa, who will be able to kill Marush, but only if she holds the strength of all five elements of the pentagram. That's where I come in. They need a fire warlock to complete the vesting ritual that will transfer the necessary powers to her."

Jos sighs and runs his hand through his hair. His lips are twisted in frustration."And I guess that can only happen if you choose the sun."

My problem in a nutshell. I take another swig, determined to soothe the wounds in my heart that have been oozing for weeks. They are painful, widening, encompassing me with every breath. When the hitch in my throat warns of impending tears, I clutch my hand over my mouth to suppress the sob.

"Hey, come here." Jos pulls me against his chest and rubs my back. "Are you sure there's no other way?"

"I'm sure." I soak up the scent of his wild and a few stray tears escape into his shirt.

"Why can't another warlock with fire powers take your place?" he asks.

"They have to be from a Sentinel bloodline, and there are only a few of us. The others are loyal to Marush."

"Man, that's so screwed."

"And more warlock business than you should be privy to." Andrenior steps out of the darkness with his arms folded. "Time for him to go, Raelyn, before you spill all our secrets."

I blink the last tears away. "What are you doing here?"

"Gideon sent me. He was worried."

Jos squints at him. "Weren't you there with Raynes during Cassum's Trials?"

"Guilty as charged. Now shoo. I have to speak to Raelyn."

Jos growls.

When he takes a step forward, I hold him back. "Don't. He attacked you before."

Confusion is edged in the wrinkles on Jos's forehead. "When?"

"It doesn't matter." I don't want Andrenior to ever touch him again—do some freaky shit to steal his memories. He has Olivia now and the happy life he deserves, plus a family with Bay and Savannah. "Please, just go."

A new growl resonates from Jos's chest. His stance is protective as he faces Andrenior.

I tug the hem of his shirt. "Please, let me deal with him."

His gaze flicks to me. "You sure you'll be okay?"

"Yes, and please thank Olivia and Savannah for their hospitality in case I don't make it back."

Jos hesitates for one more beat before he shifts and jumps into the woods.

Andrenior grins and squats down to retrieve the bottle with the hooch. He sniffs the opening and takes a good mouthful. Closing his eyes, he exhales slowly. "I can see how this could've loosened your tongue. These wolves are unbelievable. Anything to get you to talk."

"He was just trying to make me feel better."

"I bet." He smirks, taking another swig. "And I'm sure getting into your pants had nothing to do with it."

"He's in a relationship. Besides, you took his memories that afternoon at the cabin. Since then, he has barely even looked at me."

"Yeah, sorry, that was an accident."

"What did you do to him?"

"I had forgotten to cloak the cabin. As you know, Cassum and I were staying there while she was pregnant, so that was an inexcusable mistake on my part. When I encountered you and Jos, I had to do something. Taking all the memories you guys had about the cabin was the only thing I could think of. It worked on him but unfortunately, not on you, because it's much harder to mess with warlock memories."

"But he forgot everything about the times we spent together and not just stuff that happened at the cabin."

"I must've used too much of my powers, although in hindsight, it was for the best. He would've complicated matters, just the way he did tonight. How could you confide in him? Our secrets are none of those savages' business."

I point at my chest. "News flash. I'm one of them."

"No, you're not. You're a warlock."

"That's not decided yet."

"Are you saying you're not going to take your pledge to the Sun God?"

"I don't know." I kick against a tree stump. The lump is back and I can barely breathe. "It's too much pressure."

"Raelyn, this isn't truly a choice. You have to do it."

"And if I don't want to. Jos is right. Why can't we find someone else?"

"Who? Izikey? He hates Marush but not enough to kill him."

"What about Rikka?"

Andrenior snorts. "Marush's plaything? She isn't part of a Sentinel bloodline."

"But there has to be someone."

"Don't you think Sazith has already explored every possibility?"

"Please, Andrenior, think."

He takes another swallow from the bottle. His gaze is on the shadows of the trees that toss long across the pond's mirroring surface. "It's a longshot, and Sazith will probably slap me if he finds out I approached him, but we could try Nalco."

The smug warlock who was training with Tessa and me at the Iomaire Draíochta. That day, when Marush embarrassed him in front of the class, hate was burning in his eyes. "Do you think he'd be willing to help us?"

"He's extremely power hungry, but his two sibling are above him when it comes to succession. Especially Enigma will be hard to beat for someone like Nalco, so he'll always be a wannabee Sentinel relegated to the sidelines. Those types of shackles fuel anger. If anyone would consider taking your place in the vesting ritual, it's him."

I bite my lip. "Can you ask him?"

"I will, but don't get your hopes up. He might blow me off."

My nod is automatic—this huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders and I'm not willing to take the load again. Remaining a wolf is what matters; Kendrick and I might even have a future. Then my heart constricts as if squeezed by a fist. Who am I kidding? Kendrick and I can never be together, but at least, I can help restore his reputation. "I have to go."

"Go where?"

"I need to see Kendrick."

"Now?" Andrenior shakes his head. "No, you need to stay put until I sort this Nalco situation out. Sazith will—"

"Sorry, but this can't wait." Without giving him another chance to persuade me to change my mind, I shift into my nature and leap into the woods. It's time to put the male I love first after everything he sacrificed for me.

~~~~

© Sally Mason 2018

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