Chapter 151


    JAMES


    “SONOFABITCH!!!”


    Aaron is convulsing.


    His arms and legs are iling and for a 6’4″ beast of man, he can do a lot of damage. Our men can


    handle it.


    His wife…


    Leah’s eyes are open and unseeing. Aaron has her hand sped in his and I wonder if they walk the


    same space or if that peace beyond life is as simple as one breath to the next.


    Nothing to mourn or hope for.


    Just silence and darkness.


    One thing’s for sure… if he follows her, it’ll cause chaos.


    “Get your ass back here, bro,” I growl, and because I’m so pi ssed that he could be so f**king reckless,


    I p his face to try and anger him back to his senses.


    Our men are anxious and gaping at me. They’ve never lost an Alpha. Not in battle and not even in


    session. Aaron’s grandfather transferred the role to him at an early age. Pack Rathborn has been


    beneath Aaron’s control for two decades.


    There are police sirens outside and that’s going to be a mess to deal with.


    “Get them up and out the back.”


    There are boats outside and while that might cause a whole shitstorm of trouble-the whole evading


    police and fleeing a crime scene variety of charges-we can’t stick around and wait for my Alpha to do…


    whatever it is he’s trying to do.


    I think back long and hard on every text of our Archives I’ve


    ever read.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Wolves have been transitioned. Wolves have been ‘saved’ by a mating bond.


    But no wolf in existence has been mated to a dead human and survived it.


    The very act that Aaron hasmitted is an abomination.


    I worry at the consequences.


    “The canisters are ready.” One of the men pulls a tab off one


    and it lights instantly.


    “Haul them out,” I order. Then I light the remaining fuses.


    I stand at the back of the warehouse and wait for the mes


    to catch, then flee out the back as they engulf the ce.


    Burning Liam, this building and all evidence.


    ********


    6 Monthster


    The air is cool. It carries the scent of winter.


    But that doesn’t make sense.


    –


    Summer had barely begun.


    There’s music in the background. ssical music, Für Elise by


    Beethoven.


    I sit up slowly.


    My body feels awkward. My muscles ache with an odd difort that doesn’t hurt, per say, but it’s a


    clumsiness that makes me feel like a colt new to walking. My head is heavy and my bnce is off.


    I stumble and when I stand I almost fall back down again.


    But I get moving, one foot in front of the other.


    There’s a balcony and door is partly open, letting in the cold-and snow. The kes scatter on the carpet


    before melting.


    My feet are bare and the contrast of cold and warm is invigorating.


    I open the French doors and step out. The sun is shining even


    as the wind and snow b low. His back is to me.


    But I’d know those strong shoulders anywhere.


    He turns slowly, sensing my presence. “It’s about time you woke up.”


    Aaron stalks toward me.


    My hair is unbound. It’s long. Like really long. I’m draped in some full length nightgown that an 80 year


    old might wear.


    His hand touches my face and I gasp.


    His touch is as brief as one of those snowkes. Kissing my skin then melting into the air.


    He walks past me back inside.


    “A-aron?”


    My voice is raspy and I try to clear my throat. “Aaron. Don’t go.”


    He pauses near the door of his bedroom. I’m in his house. I try to hurry to catch up to him, but I’m dizzy


    and have to cling to the wall so not to fall.


    He moves toward me like he might catch me and then pauses.


    I hold my head. I have visions. Memories.


    Splintered images of blood. And pain.


    Betrayal and loss.


    Someone calling my name in the dark. Dragging me back from the abyss.


    I have so many questions…


    “I have to go, Leah. Ask one of our staff to fill you in.”


    That hurts. I don’t know what I expect, but it isn’t for him to be so…distant.


    “Aaron, Please.”


    He hesitates again. His huge body visibly shudders. Is it the man, his wolf?


    He told me he loved me. He held me. Myst memories are of only him.


    “Why are you pushing me away?” Darkness creeps into my mind, teasing at the edges my


    consciousness. If it engulfs me, I’ll drown. I need him. He’s my tether to this world. I love him and I


    need to touch him, to know that this is real and not some figment of my mind, because I’ve been adrift


    for so long.


    “Please,” I call to him. “Don’t leave me alone…”


    His dark eyes are anguished. His muscles flex and his wolf surfaces in a sh of gold. Then his irises


    darken again. “I’m sorry,” he mutters before charging out the door. It closes with a resounding click and


    I sink to the floor. Tears gather in my eyes.


    Then a voice echoes from within: Whoever said you were alone?