TWO DAYS LATER
There are ten days until the full moon, which also happens to be on Christmas day. Even with everything going on, I think it’s going to be the most memorable holiday yet. I’ll be around everyone I love. Also, if everything goes as planned, I’ll be mated.
“Great training today,” Micah says. I wave at Amelie as she backs out of the driveway to head to work. When I turn to Micah, I see that he’s talking to Cedric and not me.
Cedric pours himself a cup of coffee and sits down at the kitchen table with him. “Thanks. I didn’t get my ass kicked.” He winks at me, and I smile.
I’m glad Cedric gets along with my family and the other wolves in the surrounding packs. Well, other than with Colin. For years, all I’ve been used to are men who want to show complete dominance over everyone. I have no doubt there are packs somewhere in the country that are still like that, but thankfully, not here. Cedric and Micah talk about life in general while I run upstairs to change out of my sweaty clothes. Today’s lesson was how to work with another to ward off attackers. Faith was my partner, and I think we did a pretty damn good job fending off the guys. I stop at the bathroom door and listen to her in the shower, singing a soft melody. She has a beautiful voice. I’m surprised she hasn’t found a mate yet, but I know it’ll happen soon. I have a feeling. The same goes for Amelie.
Once I’m changed into some dry clothes, I head downstairs, and a car can be heard coming down the driveway. I can sense it’s my father long before he comes into view; he’s not alone either. Colin is right beside him in the passenger’s seat. Micah goes back to the coffee pot and pours more coffee. “I didn’t know my brother was stopping by this morning.”
“Neither did I,” I say, opening the front door. My father and Colin get out of the car, but they make no move to come to the door. I glance over at Micah and Cedric. “I’ll be right back.”
I walk outside, and Colin leans against the car, but my father walks toward me with his arms open. I’m the only person he shows affection to, and it saddens me. “Nice job at the Tanner house,” he says, hugging me. “Colin and I rode by there today. Richard’s going to love it when he gets back into town.”
He lets me go, and I beam. “Why, thank you. I had to put my special touch on a few things. All I’m waiting on now is some of the furniture. Should be in soon, and then I can finish up.”
His lips pull back in a smile, but there’s a sadness behind it. “Great. Hopefully, you won’t give it all up when you become a park ranger. You have a talent.”
“I’m not,” I promise him. “I’m looking forward to working with you both. I can be with Cedric during the week, and on the weekends, I can design for your clients.”
Colin clears his throat. “I know a woman who wants to hire you. Do you mind if I give her your number?”
This excites me. “Of course. I’d love to work with her.”
The door to my house opens, and Micah walks out, followed by Cedric. “Hey, brother,” Micah shouts. “Glad to see you out and about.” My father stares at him blankly. The man doesn’t know how to take a joke. Micah pats him on the back and laughs. “I’ve missed you.”
They shake hands, and Cedric holds his out to my dad. “It’s good to see you again, Zayne. How’s your business going?”
My father nods and shakes his hand. “Very well. Colin and I have been bringing in new clients almost every day.”
Cedric turns to Colin and holds out his hand. I admire him for taking the first step. “Glad to hear it. I wish you both well.”
Colin stares down at Cedric’s hand and sighs. When he meets Cedric’s gaze, it’s as if all of the hate fades away. He shakes Cedric’s hand. “Thanks, Convel. I appreciate that.”
It’s such a relief not to feel the tension between them. Colin is Faith’s brother, and with Faith being practically a sister to me, there’s going to be many times he’ll be around us, especially with Christmas coming up. My father backs up to his car door, but before he can speak, a loud wolf’s howl echoes through the woods. It’s not just any typical howl either. If it came from a human, it’d be a gut-wrenching, anger-filled scream.
The men go on alert, and Cedric takes my hand, pulling me close to him. The hair on the back of my neck stands up. “What’s going on?”
Cedric’s hand tightens around mine. “It’s Ryker. Something’s wrong.”
My father rushes over and nods toward the woods. “Go. Colin and I will stay with Laila and Faith.” Cedric takes off so quickly the only thing I see is a blur as he runs toward the direction of Ryker’s howl.
“I’m going too,” Micah says quickly. He takes off after Cedric.
My chest hurts because I know whatever is going on isn’t right. “Let’s go inside,” my father commands. Colin follows behind us, his eyes are vigilant on the surroundings. I don’t sense anyone near.
When we get into the house, Faith comes down the stairs with her hair wet from the shower. She takes one look at us and freezes. “What’s going on?”
Colin shuts the door. “We don’t know,” he replies. Both him and my dad stand guard.
There’s a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach I can’t seem to shake. It doesn’t take me long to realize it’s Cedric’s emotions I’m feeling. Then, out of nowhere, a blast of rage pounds through me, but then it disappears. My knees weaken, and I stumble into the couch.
Faith rushes over to me. “Are you okay?”
I rub a hand over my chest. My father and Colin watch me cautiously. “No. I’ve never felt this from Cedric before, but now I feel nothing. Like he’s blocked me out.” Rising to my feet, I pace back and forth, the seconds feeling like hours. I hate not knowing what’s going on. My father calls Micah, but he doesn’t pick up.
“What do you think happened?” Faith asks, her voice low.
I shrug. “It’s not good, whatever it is.” There’s only one other person I know who can find out for me. Taking Faith’s hand, I pull her upstairs to my room and shut the door. “I probably shouldn’t do this, but I need to know.”
Eyes wide, she sits down on my bed. “What are you doing?”
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly. All I have to do is say his name. “Beck,” I whisper.
Faith gasps and jumps to her feet. “Oh, dear God.”
A few seconds later, Beck appears, looking like his usual warrior prince self in all black with a shiny sword hanging at the side of his waist. He looks over at Faith, and then to me, his brows furrowed with concern.
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel bad for asking this of you, but I need a favor. Something’s wrong, and I have this …” I pause to concentrate on exactly what that feeling is. It’s dark and heavy, and it weighs on my chest. “I don’t know, I can’t explain it. I just need your help.”
His icy blue eyes stare right into mine. “What do you need me to do?”
“Find Cedric, please. I think the wolves are in trouble.”
Jaw clenched, he nods and backs away. “I’ll be right back.”
He disappears in an instant, and Faith blows out a breath. “I don’t think he’s pleased about having to find your lover.”
“I know,” I say regretfully. “But he’s the only one who can help me find out quickly. I’m going to release him from his vow soon. Maybe then, he’ll be able to move on from me.”
Faith shrugs. “Maybe. He’s very good looking. It’s a shame he’s not a wolf.”
A few minutes pass, and then he appears, his expression guarded. My heart stops, and I’m almost afraid to ask him what he saw. I already know it’s going to be bad. Faith stands next to me, and I can hear her heart pounding.
I swallow hard. “What did you see?”
Beck closes his eyes, and when he opens them, all I can see is despair. “I’m sorry, Laila. It’s not good.”
“Where’s Cedric?”
He turns to the window. “North of here. In the woods, not too far away.” When he focuses back on me, he steps forward and takes my hand. “There was an attack. From what I overheard, they think rogues did it.”
The pain in my chest explodes. “An attack on who?” I demand impatiently.
Beck squeezes my hand. “There were several, but I only recognized one of them. They were all older.”
I gasp. “The elders. They were supposed to have a meeting this morning.” Bile rises up the back of my throat. Seraphina. Please tell me she’s not dead. I can’t seem to get my voice to work.
Faith closes a hand over her mouth and looks away. “Are they dead?”
Beck glances over at her, and reluctantly turns back to me. “They are. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh my God,” I cry, feeling as if I’m going to throw up. “I have to get over there.” I pull away from him and rush downstairs. Faith and Beck follow behind me, and my father doesn’t seem shocked to see him. Tears fall down my face as I storm toward the door. “We have to go.”
My father grabs my arm. “We don’t know what we’re walking into.”
“I don’t care,” I growl. “Either you drive me, or I’ll go by myself. Your choice.”
With a heavy sigh, he nods and opens the door. “Let’s go.”
Beck places a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll meet you there.”
We all pile into my father’s car, and he finally gets in touch with Micah. I can hear his voice through the phone, saying they’re about a half-mile past Seraphina’s house. Hearing her name makes all the emotions resurface. I try to penetrate through Cedric’s mind, but all I get is a dark wall.
There are other cars when we get to Seraphina’s, but nobody is in them. I jump out and take off as fast as I can. I can smell the pack, and worst of all, I can smell blood—a lot of it. There’s a clearing up ahead with five large tree trunks, all positioned in a circle. What I saw scattered around the ground made me stop dead in my tracks.
The elders weren’t just murdered; they were brutally slain, and pieces of them strewn out everywhere. Cedric and Ryker are on the ground, kneeling by another body. All I can see is her bare feet and the hem of her white dress, splattered with blood.
Cedric barrels out a scream so loud it rips my heart in two. I run over and fall to my knees beside him. When I get my first glimpse of Seraphina, I’m sickened to the core. Her throat has been slashed, and there are claw marks on her chest, her blood soaking the ground. I take Cedric’s hand, and his mind blasts open, his rage and despair pouring through me.
“When I find out who did this …” he growls.
I squeeze his hand. “I know,” I whisper. He lifts her hand, and the stone we got her for Christmas falls to the ground. Cedric’s anger becomes my own. He’s had so much taken from him. His parents, and now Seraphina, who’s been a mother to him, is gone now too. “I know,” I say again, hoping my love with help give him comfort. “We’ll kill them all.”