ã€ŠRISE OF THE LYCANS - Mates and Bondsã€‹


 Prologue - Read First

    Alright... who¡¯s ready for the next adventure?!! It¡¯s been about 24 years since Christmas at Crescent Castle and Alpha Balthazar, which means our pups are now grown.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

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 Chapter 1 - Breakfast

    Lukas

    Love is a curse disguised as a blessing.

    From the moment we are born, we¡¯re taught to respect The Moon Goddess and be thankful for the gifts and blessings she has given us. We¡¯re taught to have faith and ept the destiny she has mapped in the stars for us. To unquestioningly ept her n without challenge. No one teaches us what to do if we are unhappy with her n. They don¡¯t tell you that you have a choice or can reject her n because if you do¡­ your soul will be cursed.

    I made my way through the trees, taking a well-worn path toward the northern part of the territory. My sister preferred to be away from the hustle and bustle of the mansion and had moved into a cottage in the northern woods. I was half expecting her twin, Rex, to move out with her because they had been inseparable since birth.

    Storm has always been the silent type, strong, and observant. She was a strategist and a formidable force. I had long decided that when I became The Lycan King, Rex would be my Beta, and Storm would be my Zeta¡­ the Warlord.

    ¡°Good morning, Alpha,¡± a familiar voice carried softly through the forest.

    ¡°Persephone, my father and your mother are siblings. That makes us cousins,¡± I tell her, though I consider her more like my little sister. ¡°You don¡¯t need to call me Alpha.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of sisters, are you going to see Storm?¡± she asked eagerly as she walked in step beside me. Her long dark hair, flowing in a tangled mess behind her, told me she had run to catch up with me.

    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± I replied, noticing the flowers she held. Persephone was one of my younger cousins and possibly the sweetest.

    ¡°I was just on my way to visit with her, too. Would it be okay if I joined you?¡±

    I wanted to speak with Storm alone, but didn¡¯t have the heart to disappoint her, ¡°Of course.¡±

    My father is one of four siblings and the current Alpha King. He¡¯s held the title for over twenty-five years following The Golden Wars when the shifters¡¯ council was abolished, and a monarchy was re-established. Thest line of royal lycans lived a thousand years ago in Greece. Lycans were thought to have been extinct¡­ until I was born.

    I was the first lycan born in over a thousand years, and I was destined to be the first Lycan King since the downfall of my ancient ancestors. At least, that¡¯s what the Ancient Prophecy foretold.

    Ie from a long line of powerful werewolf families with special gifts that allowed them to control elements. Elemental gifts often skip generations or siblings, but they were prominent in my family lines. Elemental wolves typically controlled one of the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire. It wasn¡¯t until the recent century that some of us received the ability to control more than one element. It was part of some grand n The Moon Goddess had for us. A n I wasn¡¯t too happy about right now.

    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Persephone¡¯s voice rang out.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I nodded. ¡°I was hoping for some of Grandma Dori¡¯s biscuits and gravy, but she seems to have disappeared this morning.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t see her in the garden this morning either.¡±

    ¡°Maybe she ran off to an early morning bingo game,¡± I told her. ¡°Is Storm expecting you this morning?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she hesitated. ¡°I want to train with her, and she said she would think about it.¡±

    ¡°You know lycans don¡¯t reach maturity until twenty-five,¡± I reminded Persephone. ¡°You¡¯ll have to wait to train with other lycans until after you¡¯ve shifted. I¡¯m sure Storm doesn¡¯t want you to get hurt.¡±

    ¡°But you started shifting when you were a pup,¡± she replied. ¡°And Rex and Storm started shifting when they were a few years old.¡±

    I was the youngest to shift into wolf form at six months old, and my siblings were four years old. Aunt Demeter and her mate Balthazar also had lycan offspring, but they hadn¡¯t shifted early.

    ¡°I wish I could exin why, but it seems The Goddess has her reasons.¡±

    Werewolf shifters normally matured and started shifting at the age of eighteen. This was the age when they could finally scent and find their destined mates. Lycans matured and shifted a littleter, at age twenty-five. They were both created by the Moon Goddess and given soulmates. A shifter¡¯s soul was one half of a whole.

    ¡°I wonder why my brothers didn¡¯t shift early?¡± She asked as we approached the back door of the cottage.

    ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯re not little troublemakers like Lukas was when he was a pup,¡± Grandma Dori replied, poking her head out the door. The silver of her hair had been tinted pink, and it suited her in a strange way.

    ¡°Grandma, what are you doing here?¡± I asked. She was our great-great-grandmother, but everyone called her Grandma Dori.

    ¡°What? I can¡¯t visit with my great grandpups?¡± She replied, and I noticed the wooden spoon in her hand as she pulled the door open for us. Magic happened when Grandma Dori was cooking in the kitchen.

    ¡°It smells delicious in here.¡± Persephone followed her nose into the cozy kitchen, taking a deep breath.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing I made extra. Come, have a seat¡­ Storm will be down in a minute.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to put these flowers in water.¡± Persephone moved to the cabs in search of a vase.

    ¡°Oh honey, they¡¯re beautiful,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I thought you and Cynder were going dress shopping today for your gowns?¡±

    ¡°The mating ball, where no one actually finds their real mate,¡± Storm said as she entered the room. ¡°Why are they holding the ball again this year? Haven¡¯t they figured out something is wrong?¡±

    ¡°Maybe you haven¡¯t found your mate yet because you¡¯re not twenty-five?¡± Grandma said as she ted biscuits with eggs and bacon. ¡°Lycans don¡¯t reach full maturity until twenty-five. It¡¯s possible that you haven¡¯t found your mate on ount of your age.¡±

    ¡°I can count all the lycans on my fingers and toes with a few toes left over, Grandma. We¡¯re all rted, which means our mates are werewolves,¡± Storm told us. ¡°If werewolves reach maturity at eighteen, then they should have already been able to sense us.¡±

    ¡°Only you, Rex, and Lukas started shifting when you were pups. It¡¯s never happened before in the shifter world,¡± Grandma reminded Storm. ¡°The others won¡¯t shift until they reach maturity. Who knows, your other half could be a human, and you¡¯ll need to be the one who senses them.¡±

    She had a point. Our mother was still human, though now that I had my venom, I could turn her into a lycan along with my father. I had nothing against humans, but I already had my heart set on a particr she-wolf.

    ¡°Cousin Cyrus had a human mate that was turned into a lycan,¡± Persephone added.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, and your father turned Cyrus and Esmeralda into lycans when he saved her from death,¡± Grandma continued as she set food on the kitchen table. ¡°That was the Christmas we spent at Crescent Castle.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Mom still calls it <i>The Christmas Miracle</i>,¡± Persephone replied.

    ¡°You know what the real miracle is?¡± Grandma smiled. ¡°Her cat! Pepita is still alive and well after twenty-something years.¡±

    ¡°Cat? You mean jaguar,¡± Iughed. ¡°It¡¯s Italy. The life expectancy in Italy is among the highest in the world.¡±

    ¡°Does it count if Selena has been visiting and giving the cat healing to keep her young?¡± Storm paused a moment, realizing she mentioned Selena¡¯s name.

    The she-wolf I had loved my entire life had inherited her father¡¯s healing gift. Just the mention of her name stabbed through my heart. I swallowed the sting, pretending I hadn¡¯t noticed, and quickly shifted the subject to our cousins in Italy.

    ¡°Cyrus is preparing to hand Nightshade pack to Vria in two years when she shifts.¡± I took the chair beside my sister and started passing food around.

    ¡°She¡¯s going to be a powerful Alpha,¡± Storm replied, sipping her coffee. ¡°The first female lycan Alpha of a pack. Even in ancient times, lycans didn¡¯t have female Alphas,¡± she scoffed.

    ¡°Do you expect anything less from Great Aunt Anabeth¡¯s granddaughter?¡± I asked. ¡°They called her Alpha Grave Digger for a reason.¡±

    The rise of lycans wasing, and it was happening in my family lines. Ancient family lines that had produced the strongest Alphas were destined to lead and maintain the bnce. Being the Lycan King was my destiny, but I wasn¡¯t interested in what the Moon Goddess had in store.

    ¡°Selena has been traveling back and forth from Paris to visit with Vria in Italy while she finishes that fancy fashion degree of hers,¡± Grandma said. ¡°Maybe I should have her design me a gown for the mating ball? I¡¯m not a fan of wearing those face masks, but I could still cut a rug.¡±

    ¡°Selena¡¯s graduation and the mating ball are a week apart. She might be a little busy,¡± Persephone said, forking a chunk of melon. ¡°Besides, I won¡¯t need a dress after all because I¡¯m not going to the ball.¡±

    ¡°What? Why not?¡± Grandma asked. ¡°It¡¯s the Pce of Versailles!¡±

    ¡°What happened? All the pumpkin coaches already rented out?¡± Storm snickered.

    Persephone sighed. ¡°Dad thinks it¡¯s pointless since lycans can¡¯t sense their mates until they¡¯re twenty-five.¡±

    ¡°Your dad has no issue with the triplets attending before they¡¯re twenty-five, but he wants to keep his baby girl safely tucked away at home. Sounds about right for an Alpha father,¡± Stormughed.

    ¡°If you were going, he¡¯d let me go,¡± Persephone looked at my sister with hopeful eyes.

    ¡°Cynder is going,¡± Storm replied, biting into a slice of bacon.

    ¡°Cynder is a mature werewolf. She has a mate out there that she intends to find,¡± Persephone said.

    ¡°Not if Wylder kills him first,¡± Grandmaughed.

    ¡°Uncle Ares won¡¯t let him,¡± Persephone sounded rmed. ¡°Everyone knows you shouldn¡¯t interfere with the ns of The Moon Goddess.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just it,¡± Storm replied. ¡°When was thest time anyone found their mate? No one has felt a mate bond or imed a soulmate in so long.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s happened in other packs¡­ hasn¡¯t it?¡± Persephone turned to me.

    There had been some mating ceremonies over thest decade in other packs, but I really didn¡¯t pay too much attention to the details. ¡°There have been a few, yes.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Storm rolled her eyes, and I could feel the frustrated static of her energy. ¡°They could have just been chosen mates pretending to be destined mates. Look around Lukas, it¡¯s not just you¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been one year for me. I¡¯m only twenty-six,¡± I replied. Though I didn¡¯t want anyone else. Mate bond or not, I didn¡¯t want whoever The Goddess had destined for me because it wasn¡¯t Selena.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with finding your mate a littleter in life,¡± Grandma told us. ¡°You¡¯re lycans, and you¡¯ll live for centuries. There¡¯s plenty of time to find that soulmate after you¡¯ve sewn some wild oats, if you ask me.¡±

    ¡°Grandma!¡± Persephone gasped.

    ¡°What? Lukas¡¯ namesake didn¡¯t find his mate until he was thirty-three. Your cousin Cyrus was thirty-six, and Balthazar had to wait two thousand years to find Demeter.¡±

    Persephone¡¯s mother was my aunt Demeter. When she found her mate, Balthazar, they discovered he was a lycan cursed with immortality over two thousand years ago. He was frozen in time, living but never dying. The only way to break the curse was for Balthazar to find and im his true mate. After he imed his mate, he turned her into a lycan.

    My father and his sister, Demeter, had lycan offspring, while his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, were still werewolves, so they had werewolf offspring.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just the lycans,¡± Storm shook her head. ¡°All of the werewolf cousins, Ranger, Phoenix, Caspian, Coral, Cynder, ym¡­ even Selena and Sol. No one has found their destined mate.¡±

    ¡°Selena and Sol are not our cousins,¡± I replied before I could stop myself. Sure, they were practically family, but we weren¡¯t actually rted. My beast was feeling uneasy just hearing her name and stirred. I didn¡¯t want to hear anything about Selena finding a mate because I would rip his throat out when she finally found him.

    ¡°You know what I mean,¡± Storm continued. ¡°Our cousins around the world¡­ no one has found a mate or felt a bond.¡±

    ¡°Maybe she has forsaken us,¡± Persephone shifted ufortably in her seat.

    ¡°Maybe The Moon Goddess has ns for all of them to turn into lycans?¡± Grandma said thoughtfully and passed the bacon.

    ¡°So, there¡¯s no reason to attend the mating ball¡­¡± Persephone looked around the table with disappointment in her eyes.

    ¡°Definitely not,¡± Storm agreed as a knock sounded on the back door. ¡°Come in, ym,¡± she called out.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± ym greeted us before he kissed Grandma Dori on the cheek. ¡°Ooh, bacon,¡± he snatched a slice from the te at the center of the table.

    ¡°Honey,¡± Grandma started to say, ¡°I made my biscuits and gravy¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, please,¡± he replied before she could finish asking him.

    ym and Cynder were our cousins on the Crow side of the family. They had both inherited their father¡¯s red hair, though ym had also inherited his father¡¯s appreciation for food.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised your father didn¡¯t sniff out the scent of bacon wafting in the woods first,¡± Grandma said, passing him a te.

    ¡°He left early with the others for Paris this morning. Something aboutst-minute dress shopping,¡± he shrugged.

    ¡°ym, how old are you now?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°Twenty-one, you mean you don¡¯t know?¡± He looked hurt.

    ¡°Of course, I know,¡± Storm replied. ¡°When you shifted into your werewolf three years ago, did you find your mate?¡±

    ¡°You know I didn¡¯t,¡± he replied, shoveling a forkful of gravy-soaked biscuit into his mouth. ¡°I love it when you put the crumbled sausage in the gravy, Grandma.¡±

    ¡°Did any other cousins find their mates in thest few years¡­ or decade?¡± She continued trying to make her point.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t keep track,¡± ym replied.

    ¡°We went to Alpha Vince¡¯s mating ceremony two years ago,¡± Persephone reminded us.

    Storm scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m certain they were chosen mates and not destined mates.¡±

    ¡°What makes you say that? How do you know?¡± Grandma asked.

    Persephone shook her head in disbelief. ¡°That would be an insult to the Goddess.¡±

    ¡°The rotten bastard hit on me just before his mating ceremony,¡± Storm said casually.

    ¡°What!¡± I held back a snarl. Rex had ck hair and blue eyes, but Storm was born with silvery hair and blue eyes. She was uniquely beautiful and turned heads her entire life.

    ¡°Honey, are you sure he hit on you?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°He grabbed my ass and asked if he could have me instead,¡± Storm replied. ¡°I wanted to alleviate him of his entire hand, but I settled for his pinky instead.¡±

    Persephone gasped. ¡°Wait! I do remember his hand being bandaged¡­ you didn¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°I shifted a single w and took a single finger,¡± she smiled.

    ¡°What happened to his finger?¡± ym asked with fascination.

    True to her name, my sister was a storm, and I expected nothing less. Her cool blue eyes shifted and swirled like a spinning gxy in space, indicating her lycan was close to the surface. With a grin on her face, she replied.

    ¡°I gifted it to his new mate after the ceremony¡­ told her if she ever catches him touching another female, I¡¯de back and remove both of his hands.¡±

    ¡°Delightful breakfast conversation,¡± Grandma said, reaching for a pitcher. ¡°Orange juice, anyone?¡±

    *****

    4/29/24 - This book has been marked plete¡± though we still have about 10 more chapters to go. I do this to give people a chance to discover the book before its gone. I write and post a chapter each day, onceplete this book will move to publishing around May 12, 2024.

    Do not wait to read this because it will bepleted and removed in about 2 weeks

 Chapter 2 - Paris

    Lukas?

    I sat alone in my father¡¯s office, mulling over Storm¡¯s words this morning. Was it possible the Moon Goddess had forsaken us?

    Werewolves had asionally rejected their destined mates and selected a chosen mate. Producing offspring with a chosen mate was difficult, but it wasn¡¯t unheard of. Unlike werewolves, lycans can only reproduce with their destined mates. Whether or not it was because lycan anatomy was slightly different or The Goddess had willed it on purpose, we didn¡¯t know.

    There were other differences between werewolves and lycans besides the age at which we matured. Lycans lived for centuries, while werewolves lived twice as long as humans. A born lycan could produce venom and turn a werewolf or human into a lycan. But a werewolf had to be born with the werewolf gene and couldn¡¯t turn another.

    Werewolf shifters took the shape of wolves, though they were bigger and stronger than regr wild wolves. They walked on all fours and could only shift their ws while in human form. Their wolf was a counterpart and had independent thoughts and speech. Only one was in control at a time. You were either in wolf form or human form.

    A lycan was both all the time: half human, half beast. The wolf of a lycan was more feral and primal, running on instinct. A lycan had longer hind legs and preferred to run and fight on two legs. I could shift any body part at any time, which made me lethal in any form. We had other physical differences, but the most pronounced was that lycans were faster and stronger than werewolves.

    ¡°Lukas, where are you?¡± Rex¡¯s voice came through the mind link.

    ¡°Dad¡¯s office.¡±

    ¡°On our way,¡± he replied.

    The office belonged to the Alpha King and would pass to me when I took my ce as Lycan King. My father had intended to step down when I turned twenty-five, but I wasn¡¯t interested in taking over. When I have my coronation, my Queen will be standing beside me. The only problem standing in my way was that the Moon Goddess had failed me.

    Rex pushed the office door open, and Ranger followed behind him. Although Rex and Storm were twins, anyone who didn¡¯t know them might believe Rex and our cousin Ranger were twins. The only real difference between them was that Rex had the LaRue blue eyes, and Ranger had inherited his father¡¯s steely gray eyes. Ranger was Uncle Zeus¡¯ eldest son and the future Alpha of Moon Realm West.

    ¡°Were you able to convince her toe?¡± Rex asked.

    ¡°Storm isn¡¯ting to the ball,¡± I told him. ¡°You know our sister, once her mind is made up, it¡¯s made up.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s as stubborn as Mom,¡± Rex shook his head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let Mom hear you say that,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Storm¡¯s convinced the Goddess might be cross with us because none of us have found a destined mate yet. She said she¡¯d fly in for the graduation and then visit Vria in Italy.¡±

    ¡°Vria isn¡¯t going to the ball either?¡± Ranger asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s twenty-three. She thinks it¡¯s pointless since lycans don¡¯t mature until twenty-five.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte,¡± Caspian said as he entered the office. ¡°What did I miss?¡±

    ¡°Storm and Vria are not attending the mating ball because they¡¯re not twenty-five yet,¡± Ranger recapped.

    ¡°Makes sense. Coral won¡¯t be eighteen for another two months, so dad¡¯s not letting her go either,¡± Caspian told us. Caspian was the eldest son of my Uncle Poseidon and the future Alpha of Moon Realm East.

    ¡°Phoenix isn¡¯t going either,¡± Ranger said. Phoenix was his younger brother and preferred to spend most of his free time training. ¡°He doesn¡¯t think he¡¯ll find a mate until after I¡¯ve found my mate since I¡¯m older.¡±

    ¡°Then, there¡¯s no reason for me to go,¡± Rex added. ¡°Storm and I won¡¯t be twenty-five for a few more weeks. I¡¯ll fly in with her for Selena¡¯s graduation next weekend.¡±

    ¡°Ouh l¨¤ l¨¤ just openedst month in Paris, and it¡¯s got rave reviews,¡± Caspian tried to convince him. ¡°You¡¯re going to miss the fun.¡±

    ¡°The new kink club?¡± Ranger asked, and Caspian¡¯s grin pulled wider.

    ¡°If we¡¯re there for the ball this weekend and the graduation the following week, we¡¯ll have plenty of time to enjoy the nightlife in The City of Love,¡± Caspian told him.

    ¡°Count me in!¡± Ranger agreed.

    ¡°As much as I would love to,¡± Rex said. ¡°I¡¯ll sit this one out. It¡¯s a lot of work dodging all the she-wolves trying to sink their ws into a lycan mate all night.¡±

    ¡°Easy there, Casanova,¡± Caspian chuckled. ¡°Every she-wolf at the ball will try to dig her ws into Lycan King Romeo over here.¡±

    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s just the three of us,¡± Ranger grinned.

    ¡°Four,¡± Caspian corrected. ¡°ym ising with us. He told me about club Ouh l¨¤ l¨¤.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure we can¡¯t convince you toe?¡± Ranger asked Rex.

    ¡°The jet will be ready in four hours,¡± I announced. ¡°Better get packing.¡±

    When Selena turned eighteen and shifted for the first time, she was devastated when her wolf couldn¡¯t sense me as her soulmate. I was convinced it was because of my age. When I turned twenty-five, and there was still no mate bond between us¡­ she ran away to study fashion in Paris.

    My brother and cousins tried everything to cheer me up. Parties, vacations, clubs of every kind, and still, my beast only wanted her. I had supported her through everything in life, and now that she wasn¡¯t mine, I found it harder and harder to do.

    The selfish part of me was happy that she hadn¡¯t found her mate yet. If I couldn¡¯t have her, then I didn¡¯t want anyone else to have her. I didn¡¯t even want to attend the mating ball, but I was the future King and had to make an appearance regardless. If it were up to me, I¡¯d mask my scent with evve tea and suppress my aura so that no one could sense or scent me.

    I made my way through the mansion toward my room to start packing when I noticed Grandma Dori rolling a hot pink suitcase down the hall.

    ¡°Grandma, what¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Well, what does it look like? It¡¯s my pet pig,¡± she smiled.

    ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡±

    She said something about running off to join the circus or seeing Cirque du Soleil, but I missed it because ym was mind linking me something about food.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandma, what was that?¡±

    ¡°I said I¡¯m going to stay at Moon Realm East with Poseidon and Thalia while you all are off to Paris having cr¨ºpes without me,¡± she replied. ¡°Persephone is going to spend the night with Coral, so I¡¯m hitching a ride with her.¡±

    ¡°Here, let me help you,¡± I offered, reaching for her luggage.

    ¡°I may not be a spring chicken anymore, and I might have trouble digesting raw vegetables, but I can certainly pull a luggage on wheels around,¡± Grandma replied. ¡°Now, try to have fun in Paris and bring me back some macarons.¡±

    Relieved she didn¡¯t tell me to bring home a new mate, I pressed a kiss to her cheek and continued on my mission.

    We arrived at the small regional airport in Upstate New York, where we housed the family jets. We were taking the smaller Gulfstream because my parents already had the bigger jet in Paris. The ground crew was loading other luggage my mother had arranged to be delivered, which contained tuxedos, gowns, and custom masks for the ball.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this party started!¡± Ranger called out as he boarded the aircraft.

    ¡°The others are already on board, Sir. We¡¯ll be ready for take-off in ten minutes,¡± the co-pilot greeted me as he continued with his safety checks.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I nodded. Something pink in the bottom of the cargo hold caught my attention, and then something red caught my attention at the door.

    ¡°Pizza!¡± ym shouted from the top of the steps. A small Toyota with a <i>Gino¡¯s Pizzaria </i>sign on the roof rolled to a stop on the tarmac, and ym rushed past me to collect his order.

    ¡°You ordered a pie?¡± I don¡¯t know why I was asking because I already knew the answer.

    ¡°I ordered tworge pies¡­ it¡¯s a six-hour flight,¡± ym said as he followed me into the cabin and took a seat.

    We dug into the pizza pies, waiting for take-off. Caspian rummaged around the steward¡¯s cabin, looking for drinks. We normally contracted in-flight service along with the pilots, but since it was a six-hour flight and the jet would remain grounded in Paris with us, I didn¡¯t bother. Caspian seemed just as capable as a stewardess when he returned with an armload of drinks.

    ¡°Good afternoon, and wee aboard,¡± the captain¡¯s voice came over the cabin speaker. ¡°Today¡¯s flight time to Paris Le Bourget Airport is approximately six hours. The time is currently five after midnight in Paris, and we expect an early morning arrival.¡±

    ¡°I was thinking about what Storm told us earlier today,¡± ym said as he bit off arge hunk of pizza.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°That you shouldn¡¯t talk with your mouth full?¡± Ranger replied.

    ¡°About the Moon Goddess forgetting to mate us,¡± ym continued. ¡°Lukas, Rex, and Storm are the only three to get elemental gifts. No one else got a crescent moon mark when they turned eighteen.¡±

    The crescent moon mark on the nape of the neck appeared when a werewolf was blessed with an elemental gift. None of the current generation cousins from the Theodorus, LaRue, or Crow sides of the family had been given an element. Not only did I get my elemental gifts when I was a pup, which was highly unusual, but I also had the gift to control all four elements.

    ¡°Your point?¡± I questioned.

    ¡°Rex got fire, Storm got air, and you got all four,¡± ym said. ¡°You three were thest to get elements.¡±

    ¡°We got them when we were pups,¡± I added. ¡°Maybe the Goddess doesn¡¯t think we need them anymore now that the wars are over and lycans have returned.¡±

    ¡°Just like she doesn¡¯t think we need mates anymore?¡± Ranger questioned. ¡°Without mates, there¡¯s no new pups.¡±

    ¡°And without new Grandpups, we may as well let Grandma Dori run off and join the circus,¡± I shook my head.

    A loud thud sounded from the back of the jet, and ym got up to ensure nothing had fallen over. He opened the bathroom door, but it was empty, and everything seemed in order. ym reached for the door of the closetpartment, and the jet hit a small pocket of turbulence that nearly knocked him off bnce.

    ¡°I think the cargo below was just shifting around,¡± he said as he returned to his seat.

    ¡°Turn off the lights so I can get some shut-eye,¡± Caspian groaned. ¡°I need my beauty sleep before we get to Paris.¡±

    The cabin went dark, and I reclined my seat. Looking out the window, the moon appeared brighter and crisper because we were above the denser parts of air and light pollution.

    My mind was still racing¡­ first Storm, and now ym. Could we have done something to offend the Moon Goddess? The majority of werewolves used to find their mates soon after turning eighteen. Had she intended for lycans to rise and werewolves to go extinct? If lycans lived for hundreds of years, she might have intended for us to find mates muchter in life.

    What if I found a mate at the ball?

    Thest thought soured in my stomach at the idea of finding a mate who wasn¡¯t my beautiful Selena. I closed my eyes and tried to stop my thoughts, but pictures of her floated in my mind. It had been nearly half a year since Ist set eyes on her. She had returned for the holidays but didn¡¯t stay long.

    My breathing evened out, and my mind took me back in time¡­

    <i>It was her thirteenth birthday, and she had just given me my first kiss in the astronomy observatory at the top of the mansion... She was my Princess, and someday she¡¯d be my Queen.</i>

    <i>¡°Happy Birthday,¡± I reached into my pocket and removed the small wrapped package.</i>

    <i>¡°Is that for me?¡± She smiled.</i>

    <i>¡°It¡¯s a bracelet,¡± I said nervously. ¡°I collected all the crystals when I was at Crescent Castle. An elder at Crescent Vige helped set them in a bracelet.¡±</i>

    <i>She tore open the package and held it up. The crystals reflected light like a prism. She held it higher, admiring it. ¡°They remind me of the stars in the sky.¡±</i>

    <i>¡°Do you like it?¡±</i>

    <i>¡°No,¡± she shook her head. ¡°I love it!¡± She threw her arms around me, and I felt like I was floating with the stars in the heavens.</i>

    <i>I smiled with relief. ¡°I¡¯ll name an entire constetion after you someday, Princess.¡±</i>

    ¡°Good morning,¡± the captain¡¯s voice rang out once again. ¡°We¡¯ve started our descent into Paris and have been cleared fornding. The early morning weather is a cool fifty-nine degrees or fifteen degrees Celsius, and local Parisian time is a quarter after six.¡±

    ¡°That was quick,¡± Ranger said, reclining his leather chair back in the upright position.`

    ¡°Are we going straight to the hotel or stopping for breakfast?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°I ordered two cars,¡± I replied. ¡°You three can go to the hotel and get us checked in. The top floor is reserved for our family, so I¡¯m sure arge breakfast is being prepared right about now. I need to run a quick errand and will be there shortly.¡±

    ¡°Want me toe with you?¡± Caspian asked.

    ¡°No, it won¡¯t take me long.¡±

    The jet taxied to the private hangar, and we quickly went inside to clear customs. A porter from the hotel had been sent to retrieve our luggage. The Parisian Grand was part of a worldwide chain owned by the LaRue side of the family and part of LaRue Enterprises. We were always treated like royalty when we stayed at the properties because, in our world, we are royalty.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get lost,¡± Ranger called out and slipped into the first car with Caspian and ym.

    I took a seat in the back of the second car. ¡°Where to, monsieur?¡± The human driver asked with a heavy French ent.

    French wasn¡¯t my strongestnguage, so I replied in English. ¡°Latin Quarter, Rue Dante.¡±

    I knew today was herst day of school before graduation in a week, but I didn¡¯t know if she was nning to move back home after graduation or stay in Paris. No one had mentioned it, and I hadn¡¯t asked because I wanted to appear indifferent. I was so fucking indifferent that I set off to sneak a peek of her the moment Inded in Paris.

    I wanted to see if she was sitting outside at her favorite caf¨¦ under the shade of the red-striped awning and big trees. Perhaps she was at the corner bongerie she loved so much, getting fresh bread and croissants. There was a good chance she¡¯d be at the hotel having breakfast with her parents and my family¡­ maybe she¡¯d think I was trying to avoid her when the others showed up, and I wasn¡¯t with them.

    I didn¡¯t know what the hell I was doing, and my beast was restless. When she first moved away to Paris, I found myself hiding in the shadows, watching her like some obsessed stalker. The first time I saw her out shopping, she looked sad and lost. A monthter, she was buying flowers and shopping for baguettes like a local. Three monthster, she seemed happy and looked well. By the fourth month, she was going out with new friends, and I heard whispers she was dating someone.

    Being in the same city with her had triggered me because my beast wanted to carry her away and tie her to the bed so she couldn¡¯t leave me again. If she wasn¡¯t my destined mate, I¡¯d im and mark her as my chosen mate. I thought about luring her back to the jet and taking her to the private family ind in Greece, where no one would find us. I didn¡¯t want to be the Lycan King without her by my side.

    At this point, I didn¡¯t care what the Moon Goddess had nned for me because my girl was all I could think about. I had been born into a role I had never chosen¡ªa destiny I no longer wanted. Lycan eyes swirled when the beast within was close to the surface or felt strong emotions, and I knew my beast was feeling everything I was. Without looking at them, I knew my eyes were swirling.

    I slipped on my sunsses and watched as Parisians started a bustling Friday.

 Chapter 3 - Guests

    Selena

    There was a new and unusual energy in Paris thest few days, making my wolf, Ste, restless. I tried to ignore it and continue my daily life, but it was impossible. Shifters worldwide have been flying in all week for the uing mating ball.

    Some were enjoying the sights, dining out, shopping, or trying to blend in with the tourists. It didn¡¯t matter how hard they tried because the one thing shifters couldn¡¯t do well was blend in with humans. Especially not when they¡¯re all hunting potential mates.

    The idea of finding a mate at the ball made me nervous. The shiftermunity had a long-standing tradition of holding mating balls every few years to help unmated shifters find their destined mates. Elders from a few European packs had decided it was time to hold a mating ball, and what better ce than the Pce of Versailles, where shifter balls have been held for centuries.

    I had considered skipping the ball altogether, but my father was the Zeta to the Alpha King and would be here with my younger sister. After a great deal of begging, I gave in to my sister¡¯s request and agreed to attend the ball. Sol was a few years younger and wanted nothing more in the world than to find her mate.

    Sitting on the terrasse of my favorite caf¨¦, I sip my cappino and savor the ky, warm, crescent-shaped slice of heaven called a croissant. I looked down at my phone and found two messages from my parents, who arrivedtest night with others from the pack. Shamefully, I was avoiding them by iming I had ss today. It wasn¡¯t entirely a lie, but more of a stretch. Final projects were due yesterday, and we had to clear out our workstations today.

    The truth is¡­ I don¡¯t know what to do now that my master''s program isplete.

    I had nned to return to New York and move to the city to work, but I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to return to the States. London was an option, but I wasn¡¯t crazy about the weather there. I had given up the lease on my apartment and nned to move out next month, but I still had no idea what I was doing or where I was going.

    Gaston was my regr waiter most mornings, but the young man who helped me today was new. I caught the sight of ck cks and thought the waiter was delivering the bill, but then I noticed the Berluti leather oxfords. No waiter in Paris, no matter how good he was, could afford to spend so much on shoes, let alone work in them.

    My heart skipped a beat when his Alpha aura hit me, and Ste was alert.

    ¡°Ce si¨¨ge est-il up¨¦?¡± He asked if the other seat at my table was taken.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± I pretended not to understand.

    ¡°Ahh, Americana,¡± he smiled. ¡°Are you here for the ball?¡±

    ¡°Tell him we¡¯re here for the croissants,¡± Ste snuffled.

    ¡°I¡¯m just here to enjoy the croissants,¡± I replied, trying not to let his piercing green eyes affect me.

    ¡°Then allow me to buy you another.¡± He pulled the chair back and took a seat. He was an Alpha with a natural French ent, which meant he belonged to the Darc or Orl¨¦ans family packs.

    I couldn¡¯t help feeling like we were being watched, and I quickly nced behind the Alpha. I expected to find the Alpha¡¯s Beta or a warrior with him, but I didn¡¯t see anyone. If someone was there, they kept a distance from the Alpha. The city of Paris was neutral territory, and I wasn¡¯t on packnds, so I had made no contact with local packs or their Alphas in the fifteen months that I¡¯d been here.

    ¡°Parfait!¡± He said, almost whispering.

    ¡°What is perfect?¡±

    ¡°The warmth of the morning sun caressing your beautiful skin,¡± he reached out, gently stroking the top of my arm. I don¡¯t know if it was static electricity or the maism of this French Alpha touching me, but I thought I felt a zing pass through me. Or maybe it was a shudder.

    ¡°Do youe here often?¡± I managed to ask, wondering why I hadn¡¯t seen or sensed him before.

    ¡°This is one of the many establishments owned by my pack,¡± he said. ¡°How did you stumble upon it?¡±

    I had rarely scented or sensed any shifters here, which is why I frequented this caf¨¦. ¡°There¡¯s a bookstore nearby¡­¡± I nervously took another sip of my cappino. ¡°Near Notre-Dame,¡± I managed to say without telling him I lived down the street.

    ¡°Oui, the Shakespeare and Company bookshop,¡± he nodded as he reached into his pocket and removed a handkerchief. ¡°You must enjoy reading?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± I smiled. I loved reading almost as much as I loved fashion.

    ¡°Allow me,¡± he reached with the small swatch of fabric and pressed it to the top of my lip. ¡°A little bit of cr¨¨me from your drink.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t resist the nervousughter that erupted from me at the thought of this strong Alpha wiping my milk mustache. He was attentive and handsome, and I wasn¡¯t sure what to make of him. Ste let out a low whine, and I instinctively scanned my surroundings again. Something was making her anxious.

    ¡°Are you expecting someone?¡± He asked, and my eyes were drawn to the cloth in his hand. A vintage Herm¨¨s silk pocket square.

    ¡°No,¡± I replied. ¡°Well, yes, actually. I¡¯m meeting my sister in twenty minutes for somest-minute dress shopping,¡± I lied, waving my arm to call the waiter over. ¡°I was trying to get the waiter¡¯s attention.¡±

    ¡°Your bill is on the house,¡± he waved off the waiter. ¡°So, you¡¯re dress shopping. Will you be at the ball tomorrow?¡± He was handsome in a ssical French way, and his sense of fashion screamed old money. He appeared to be in his early thirties and was still unmarked.

    ¡°Why? Do I look like I¡¯m in the market for a mate?¡± I asked before I could stop myself.

    He leaned back in the chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and studied me briefly before he replied. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful and unmarked. You didn¡¯t cower from my Alpha aura and hold my gaze when speaking to me, which tells me you¡¯re from a ranked family. Now, I just need to figure out who this pretty little wolf is and why she¡¯s suppressing her aura.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m no one important,¡± I replied, trying to keep my heart from racing.

    ¡°It takes a strong wolf to suppress an aura,¡± he added. ¡°Which pack did you say you¡¯re from?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± I replied with a coy smile. This wolf was making me nervous, and his powerful aura was doing things to me¡ªsomething I hadn¡¯t felt in a long time.

    ¡°How am I supposed to find you again?¡±

    ¡°You can try sniffing me out at the ball, Alpha,¡± I replied, standing up to leave. ¡°Thank you for breakfast. Au revoir!¡± I said goodbye in French and prayed he wouldn¡¯t follow me.

    ¡°Challenge epted,¡± he called out behind me.

    I moved quickly to the corner and hailed a passing taxi. My apartment was around the corner, but I asked the driver to take me to a fabric store I frequented, which was ten minutes away. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling I was being followed, so I looked around at the fabrics to help me calm down.

    ¡°He was handsome,¡± I told Ste.

    ¡°He wasn¡¯t our mate,¡± she replied dejectedly.

    ¡°Are you sure? When he touched my arm¡­¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she insisted.

    I knew she was just as hurt and disappointed that Lukas wasn¡¯t our mate. She had practically gone silent the first year after the devastation. Being in Paris and so far away from him didn¡¯t help her either. She missed shifting and long runs with her pack mates, so I visited Vria as often as I could get away. The pack territory in Italy was stunning. It was situated in the Tuscan Mountains and nestled against an ancient forest that always made Ste feel better.

    The pull to Lukas had always been there for as long as I could remember. The energy I felt being near him, touching him, kissing him¡­ there was no doubt in my mind what he was to me. I grew up knowing he was my mate and that when I turned eighteen, the mate bond would forever lock our hearts. Only it never happened, and the Moon Goddess had other ns for us¡­ for him. I just wish I knew what her n for me was.

    I took the metro back to my apartment to ensure I wasn¡¯t being followed. A young couple standing close to me embraced before kissing. He was tall and had dark hair that reminded me of Lukas. I swallowed the lump in my throat along with my feelings. Visions of Lukas at the ball tomorrow night floated through my mind. There was a good chance he would finally find his mate. The future Queen of our world. Some unknown female the Moon Goddess found worthy enough to bond with him. Someone strong enough to be his mate, Queen, and the mother of his pups.

    The metro stopped at my station, and I walked absent-mindedly to my apartment building. I wondered if I would be able to feign happiness watching as he danced with his mate. To stayposed while everyone congratted the happy couple.

    ¡°There¡¯s also a good chance he won¡¯t find her,¡± my wolf whispered.

    I took a deep breath and tried to shake the feeling of dread as I entered my apartment building. I loved being on the top floor with my little balcony and having a beautiful view of the rooftops in Paris, but the climb to the sixth floor made me thankful to be a shifter. I took the stairs two at a time and stopped abruptly when I heard shuffling from the top floor. There were two apartments at the top, and my neighbor was on vacation in the south of France.

    ¡°Hold the light still. I almost had it,¡± I heard a familiar voice whisper.

    ¡°Hurry, Grandma,¡± I heard another say. ¡°I really need to pee.¡±

    ¡°Honey, this is Paris, the home of wild peeing. Just go outside and pee if you need to.¡±

    ¡°<i>Pipi sauvage</i> is against thew now, and people get fined for public urination,¡± I said with augh when I saw the two trying to pick the lock of my apartment.

    ¡°Selena!¡± Persephone hugged me.

    ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± I smiled as I moved to hug Grandma Dori, who was quickly shoving a lock-pick kit into her purse. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you two be at the hotel with the others?¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a funny story¡­¡± Persephone started to say. ¡°But if I don¡¯t get to your toilet, there will be some wild peeing in this hallway.¡±

    I shoved my key in the lock and realized that Grandma Dori had managed to pick it just as I arrived. Pushing the door open, I stepped back to allow Persephone the clearance to run for the bathroom. Grandma reached for a hot pink suitcase, and I wheeled the ck one in behind her. Her silver hair had a light pink tint to it, and I couldn¡¯t help suppressing augh because it was so perfectly spunky like her.

    ¡°Did you two carry the suitcases up the stairs by yourself?¡±

    ¡°Persephone insisted on carrying them both up,¡± Dori said.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you drop the suitcases at the hotel before you came over?¡±

    ¡°We were hoping to crash at your ce,¡± Persephone called out as she washed her hands in my bathroom.

    My apartment was a small one-bedroom with a pull-out sofa. I¡¯ve never had anyone spend the night except for Jose after working on projects or a night out in the city. His on-again-off-again boyfriend also lived in the Latin Quarter, so we spent a lot of time together.

    ¡°Woo wee, will you look at that!¡± Dori moved to the ss door of my small balcony. ¡°I can see the top half of the Eiffel Tower from here.¡±

    ¡°It must look so beautiful at night,¡± Persephone squeaked.

    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± I moved to the fridge to see if I had anything edible in it.

    ¡°Starved!¡± Persephone replied. ¡°Can we get some cr¨ºpes before we go shopping?¡±

    ¡°Shopping?¡± I was still slightly confused about why they would want to stay in my tiny apartment when the family had an entire floor at the Parisian Grand. They were royals in the shifter world, and every luxury would be avable to them at The Grand.

    ¡°Well, since I¡¯m a lycan, and I¡¯m not twenty-five yet¡­¡± she started to say.

    ¡°You won¡¯t be twenty-five for almost five more years¡­¡±

    ¡°Right¡­ well, it¡¯s not fair,¡± she continued. ¡°Werewolves mature at eighteen, and so Cynder and Sol get to go to the mating ball¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re here to crash the mating ball,¡± Grandma admitted.

    ¡°Does the family know you¡¯re here?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Persephone shook her head.

    ¡°A bunch of party poopers, if you ask me,¡± Grandma said. ¡°We had to sneak on the jet and hide in the closet.¡±

    ¡°Where do your parents think you¡¯re at?¡±

    ¡°They think we¡¯re staying with Uncle Poseidon,¡± Persephone replied.

    There had to be more to this story. ¡°And Poseidon thinks you¡¯re where?¡±

    ¡°He thinks we changed our mind and decided to stay with Storm,¡± the sly olddy grinned.

    ¡°We promise not to get in your way,¡± Persephone added. ¡°We just want to eat, shop, and take in the sights. Please don¡¯t tell.¡±

    This was Lukas¡¯ great-great-grandmother who had helped raise me and loved me as one of her own. There wasn¡¯t anything in the world I wouldn¡¯t do for her, but I didn¡¯t like the idea of her walking around Paris by herself.

    ¡°She¡¯s not alone,¡± my wolf reminded me. ¡°She has Persephone and us.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve masked our scents with evve tea, and we brought extra tea with us. I can¡¯t shift yet, and Grandma doesn¡¯t shift anymore, so we should blend right in with the humans,¡± Persephone pleaded.

    ¡°I just wanted to see Paris while I still can. You know, the arthritis in my back has been getting worse, and I want to be able to enjoy Paris before I be wheelchair-bound,¡± Grandma sniffled.

    I had never seen an elder werewolf in a wheelchair and wondered how serious it was if she was worried about a wheelchair. ¡°Wheelchair-bound?¡±

    ¡°And don¡¯t get me started on these damn cataracts,¡± she added. ¡°I could go blind soon, and then I won¡¯t be able to see the beautiful stained ss windows at Sainte-Chapelle. I hear it¡¯s one of the most beautiful churches in the world.¡±

    ¡°Has my father given you healing? I can give you healing, too,¡± I offered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You will see Sainte-Chapelle, I promise.¡±

    ¡°You promise?¡± She sniffled again, pulling a handkerchief from her purse.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°I do.¡±

    ¡°Can we go now?¡± She smiled.

    Sainte-Chapelle was a ten-minute walk from here, but I didn¡¯t have time to y tour guide. ¡°I need to go to school and clean out my station today.¡±

    ¡°Great, we can help you,¡± Persephone offered. ¡°After we get something to eat, of course.¡±

    Four cr¨ºpes, three coffees, two croissants, and one tarter, we arrived at the Fashion Institute. Our special projects, showcased in a graduation runway showst week, were lined in the window and would remain on disy for the rest of the year. Knowing this would be one of thest times I walked through these halls was a bittersweet moment. The Fashion Institute was my refuge. It¡¯s where I buried my heartache when I arrived in Paris over a year ago.

    ¡°There you are!¡± Jose called out, waving his hand at us.

    ¡°And who is this handsome human?¡± Grandma Dori asked, and Persephone coughed at the mention of <i>human</i>.

    ¡°Grandma Dori, this is my friend Jose. Jose, this is Grandma Dori and Persephone.¡±

    ¡°Enchant¨¦,¡± Jose said, holding his perfectly manicured hand out.

    ¡°Shantay, yourself,¡± Grandma sped his hand.

    Persephone burst intoughter. ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s pronounced on-sean-t¨¦. It means delighted to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Right, well, it¡¯s a delight to meet you, Jose,¡± she smiled.

    ¡°I love your hair,¡± he grinned at Grandma. ¡°Are you also attending the fundraiser g?¡±

    Most of the packs had umted wealth through established corporations and big names, so it was easy to pass the mating ball off as a corporate fundraiser for the elite.

    ¡°At my age, I¡¯m here for the macarons, the sights, and to find out if Frenchmen are really hard-wired to flirt,¡± she retorted.

    ¡°Yes, yes, and yes!¡± He replied with a giggle.

    Persephone helped me clean out my workstation while Dori chatted away with Jose. I returned general supplies to the closet and packed my personal items. This was it. Jose and I were officially done with our master¡¯s program. The only difference was that he was going to stay and work for Balenciaga, and I was still trying to figure out where I belonged.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand how all these dress-form mannequins are all t-chested,¡± Grandma Dori told Jose as she spun around a torso mannequin on wheels. ¡°Are French women built like boys, or did tits go out of fashion around here?¡±

    <b>********</b>

    Note: Oui - is pronounced "We" which is "Yes" in French.

    <b>*********</b>

    <b>Hi, hope everyone had a wonderful Easter, Semana Santa, Ramadan, or April Fools Day. :)</b>

    <b>I''m trying to write this series so that anyone can pick it up and read it without having read the previous books. </b>

    <b>This is a new Chapter, but we still have some of our beloved characters along for the ride. And of course, there are always hidden Easter Eggs in my stories for those of you who have read the other books. </b>

    <b>I''m trying to exin who''s who as we read along, so I''m going to wait a few more chapters and am considering posting a quick reference guide so you know which pup is rted to who. BUT... I''m trying to casually mention it, so hang in there, and let me know if you really do need the reference guide or if it''s relevant to the storyline.</b>

    <b>Paulina</b>

 Chapter 4 - Tour Eiffel

    Lukas

    Alpha Pierre Darc will lose his right hand for touching what wasn¡¯t his.

    The human driver had parked under the shade of a big tree, giving me the perfect view of her across the street. She had cut her long, curly hair to shoulder-length and looked as beautiful as ever. She smiled at something he said, and my lycan let out a low snarl. I tried to remind myself that she wasn¡¯t mine.

    Watching as he reached over with a damn handkerchief, he wiped her mouth, and I saw red. I wanted to tear the square fabric from his hand and shove it down his throat. To watch him gasp and gag on the fucking thing. I considered pulling the air out of his lungs and watching him die slowly, but Selena would know it was me.

    Her head tilted back inughter, and I felt a hot spear pierce through my chest. She was enjoying hispany. Of course, she would. She was a beautiful, unmated female and could date anyone she wanted. Unless Darc was her mate¡­ then he was a dead man.

    I zeroed in on her neck, no mark yet. If Darc was her mate, he would have marked her already because Alpha¡¯s are possessive bastards. My beast snarled at the idea of anyone marking her, and I was sure the driver heard the rumble in my chest. I needed to get out of here before I decided to kill the unsuspecting Alpha.

    ¡°Parisian Grand Hotel,¡± I ordered, and he immediately pulled away to the eighth district. I could hear his erratic heartbeat and knew I was making him nervous. His brain didn¡¯t understand what I was, but it somehow knew I was dangerous. We reached the hotel in record time, and I tipped the anxious man a hundred euros.

    ¡°Ah, Monsieur LaRue,¡± the concierge greeted me.

    ¡°Monsieur Crow. Lukas Crow,¡± I corrected him.

    ¡°Excusez-moi,¡± he bowed his head. ¡°I apologize, Monsieur Crow.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I assured him. ¡°The family genes are strong, and I¡¯m sure you have more than a few LaRues visiting right now.¡±

    ¡°Merci beaucoup,¡± he thanked me and handed me a golden key card to ess the penthouse floors. ¡°You have suite five in the corner. The family is on the rooftop terrace having breakfast. It is a beautiful morning to take in the view.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    The elevator went straight to the terrace, and the doors slid open to the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. Though it was on the other side of the Seine River in the seventh district, it seemed to tower over the entire city.

    ¡°What¡¯s the golden dome over there?¡± Sol pointed west. She had the same curly hair as her sister, but hers was still waist-length and floating in the gentle breeze.

    ¡°That¡¯s Les Invalides,¡± I replied, pulling a chair at the table. ¡°It has served many purposes in the past, including a hospital, a retirement home for war veterans, military museum, mausoleum, and church.

    ¡°Mausoleum?¡± Sol questioned.

    ¡°Napoleon¡¯s tomb is under that dome,¡± Ranger told her. ¡°He was the most roguish of rogues.¡±

    ¡°You mean rogue¡­ as in a rogue?¡± Cynder asked.

    ¡°Yes. Many historical people who did extraordinary things throughout human history were shifters,¡± I told her. ¡°Uncle Balthazar said Alexander the Great was a lycan.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty wicked when you think about all the history he¡¯s lived through,¡± ym said. ¡°All the women he¡¯s been with.¡±

    ¡°Like the Goddess who cursed him?¡± Caspian smirked.

    ¡°Not just the Goddess, but I heard Cleopatra was in love with him,¡± Rangerughed.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Sol protested. ¡°That¡¯s Persephone¡¯s father¡­ can we be a little more respectful.¡±

    Something in the way she protested reminded me of Selena. She had the same wide, soft brown eyes and natural pouty lips as her big sister. Sol was younger, impulsive, and na?vepared to her sister. Judging by how Ranger looked at her, he seemed annoyed at being chastised by the young female.

    ¡°Did you get a room with a Jacuzzi?¡± ym asked as he reached for another egg.

    ¡°He just got here,¡± Ranger told him. ¡°Let the man sit down and eat.¡±

    I looked around the terrace, expecting to see other family members. My parents and Selena¡¯s parents were nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Where¡¯s everyone?¡± I reached for arge savory pastry with meat.

    ¡°The Crows from Australia are staying next door at the Four Seasons along with the Cortez¡¯s from Spain,¡± Caspian told me.

    ¡°Our parents are next door visiting with them,¡± Sol added. ¡°They¡¯re meeting with the Orl¨¦ans pack and a few others this evening.¡±

    I wanted to ask if Selena was joining us for dinner tonight, but I couldn¡¯t speak. If my parents were meeting with the Orl¨¦ans Pack this evening, Selena would likely have dinner alone with her parents and sister. I probably wouldn¡¯t see her again until the ball, where I¡¯d spend most of the evening ignoring her and trying not to kill anyone who danced with her.

    ¡°The others?¡± It was all I could manage to ask, and I hoped someone would mention her.

    ¡°Zane and Zander got dyed,¡± Caspian said. Zane was the current Alpha of the LaRue Crescent Moon Pack. He was two years older than me and still had no Luna. ¡°Gunner, Brick, and Archer LaRue areing with Aspen and Lily LaRuete tonight.¡± It seems my cousins from other LaRue packs were all traveling together.

    ¡°I take it Constantine and Atticus areing in tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Greece is less than a three-hour flight from here,¡± Ranger nodded. ¡°They¡¯reing with Adonis, Cristos, Lykos, and To.¡±My Theodorus and Kappas cousins were also traveling together.

    ¡°Great, with so many rtives at the mating ball, I doubt any of us will find a mate,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Unless the Goddess wants us to inbreed.¡±

    ¡°Does it really matter if it¡¯s a fifth cousin or something?¡± ymughed. ¡°I¡¯m not rted to the other branches of your family, so Vria might be my mate after all.¡±

    Laughter erupted from Caspian and Ranger. Vria Theodorus was a born lycan, and much like my sister, she was a force to be reckoned with. She was far more Alpha than most Alphas.

    ¡°Where are your parents?¡± I asked Cynder.

    ¡°There¡¯s a food exhibition at Le Cordon Bleu today. Dad left a credit card so we could go shopping. We were hoping Selena could take us, but she has ss today.¡±

    ¡°You and Sol cannot go trotting off alone in Paris. This city is known to have vampires,¡± Ranger said.

    ¡°Rx, Champs-¨¦lys¨¦es is around the corner,¡± Cynder said. ¡°It¡¯s the most popr shopping strip in Paris. We¡¯re not going far, and I¡¯m sure we won¡¯t be the only shifters shopping.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you,¡± Ranger seemed to say to Sol. She stared wide-eyed at him before she mustered the courage to speak.

    ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to take us,¡± she replied softly, and Ranger paused a moment before he nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he said curtly. I noticed his blue eyes sh ck and sensed his wolf on the surface.

    ¡°Everything okay?¡± I asked Ranger through the mind link.

    He lifted his coffee cup and took a drink before he replied. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t like babysitting spoiled brats.¡±

    ¡°When you say brats¡­¡± I grinned. ¡°Do you mean the kind you want to pull over yourp and spank?¡±

    ¡°Cynder is our cousin,¡± he linked back.

    ¡°And Sol is not,¡± I grinned as he shook his head. ¡°Who knows¡­ she might need help shopping for a new bra or something.¡±

    Ranger let out a low growl, and I couldn¡¯t help theughter it drew from me. All eyes turned to him as he tried topose himself. Caspian shed a knowing smile. It was something we often teased Ranger about.

    It was obvious that Sol harbored a crush on Ranger for years. When we were pups, she had fallen into the pond only to be rescued by him. She would attend the training session to watch, but she never took her eyes off him. He had dismissed her as a silly little girl, but the way she looked at him reminded me of the way I felt about her sister.

    Fuck, the Moon Goddess was cruel. My fists clenched tight as I suppressed my frustration. Wolves were naturally sexual creatures, which is why most found their mates when they reached maturity.

    Not only were shifters having problems finding their mates, but the females who reached maturity had to get a heat-suppressing injection once a year. Shifters were naturally attracted to their mates, but a she-wolf in heat would drive an unmated wolf crazy with the need to rut.

    This was all new ground that started over a decade ago once we realized pairings were not urring as quickly as they usually did. Mating ceremonies had be few and far between, which had impacted the number of new pups being born. Perhaps Storm was right? Maybe the Moon Goddess had forsaken us.

    ¡°Are we visiting the Moulin Rouge today?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°It won¡¯t be open untilter tonight,¡± Caspian said. ¡°I¡¯m going to shower and get some shut-eye.¡±

    ¡°Ohh, can we go, too?¡± Sol asked.

    ¡°No. There¡¯s some nudity,¡± Ranger clipped.

    Cynder folded her arms across her chest and shot Ranger an incredulous re. ¡°When has nudity ever been a problem for our kind?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not exining to Wylder or Mateo why I took their daughters to a sultry cabaret show,¡± Caspian said, standing to leave.

    ¡°We¡¯re leaving to go shopping,¡± Ranger announced. ¡°We¡¯ll be back in a few hours.¡±

    I took a quick shower and pulled the ck-out drapes closed. The bed felt like a cloud, yet I couldn¡¯t getfortable. My beast was tense from seeing her with Pierre Darc.

    How long had she known him?

    Was he her mate?

    Why didn¡¯t she say anything?

    I rolled over and adjusted the pillows. I thought about the way the sun danced off her hair. The way she threw her head back when sheughed. Then I growled in frustration and rolled again. I needed to let this obsession with her go. Tomorrow was the mating ball, and if I found my mate tomorrow, the bond should be strong enough to make me forget Selena.

    It was early in the evening when the sound of my phone pulled me from sleep. It was Caspian.

    ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Bonjour,¡± he replied in a lofty fake French ent. ¡°Your parents asked if we wanted to join them for dinner with the Bordeaux pack and I told them we already had ns.¡±

    ¡°You told them about our ns for the new club?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, then I asked Uncle Ares if I could borrow his whip to spank pretty girls,¡± Caspian chuckled. ¡°No. I told them we had dinner reservations at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant.¡±

    ¡°And they believed you?¡±

    ¡°We do,¡± he said. ¡°ym has a connection. It seems the head chef used to cook in New York. Be ready to go in an hour.¡±

    I met Ranger and Caspian in the lobby and scanned the champagne bar, looking for ym. The elevator doors dinged open behind me, and I looked to ensure he was appropriately dressed.

    ¡°Looking good, Monsieur ym,¡± the evening concierge greeted him.

    ¡°Merci beaucoup,¡± ym replied.

    ¡°The limousine has been arranged for your use tonight, and the champagne is chilled,¡± the man bowed his head.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I reached into my pocket and slipped him a tip.

    ¡°How was your shopping trip today?¡± I asked Ranger as the limousine pulled away.

    ¡°They sure know how to spend money,¡± he chuckled. ¡°We went on a wild goose chase when they thought they spotted Selena at Galeries Lafayette.¡±

    ¡°Selena?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t Selena,¡± he replied. ¡°The woman had shorter hair than Selena and was with some guy.¡±

    Selena¡¯s hair has been shorter since west saw her. Was Darc taking her shopping? Was he so important that she would rather spend time with him than her family?

    ¡°Did you get a good look at both?¡±

    ¡°No. They disappeared by the time we made it to the ground floor. Anyway, Selena had ss today, and she¡¯s celebrating with her ssmates tonight.¡±

    ¡°We are going to have a great time tonight,¡± Caspian said. ¡°Who knows, tonight might just be someone¡¯s bachelor party before tomorrow¡¯s big night.¡±

    ¡°Should we take bets?¡± I asked sarcastically.

    ¡°Like, who finds their mate first? Or who has the prettiest mate?¡± ym replied.

    ¡°At this point, I¡¯m just hoping someone finds their mate to prove Storm wrong,¡± Caspian smirked.

    ¡°If the Moon Goddess was upset with us, you¡¯d think that one of our family members in the realm of the moon would have sent us a message,¡± Ranger said as he red out the window.

    Our namesakes had passed on to the realm of the moon in the stars before we were born. Both had been known to pass along messages when something dire was happening in our world, but it had been years since anyone had an encounter with the afterlife.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t someone need to have a near-death experience to be able to visit the realm of the moon?¡± ym questioned.

    ¡°I suppose we could toss you off the Eiffel Tower,¡± Ranger snickered.

    ¡°Anyone have a bungee cord?¡± ymughed, but I wasn¡¯t sure I understood the humor.

    ¡°Bungee cord?¡± Caspian asked.

    ¡°Oh,e on! American Werewolf, Eiffel Tower¡­It¡¯s a ssic,¡± he let out a dramatic sigh. ¡°Never mind,¡± he fell back into the leather seat, shaking his head in disbelief.

    We reached the Eiffel Tower¡¯s security entrance, and I immediately scented the two shifters working as security. They both lowered their heads to me, and I stepped closer to the first guard.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°The restaurants¡­ are they pack owned?¡± I questioned.

    ¡°Yes, my King,¡± he replied with a heavy ent, exposing his neck. I fought the urge to correct him and remind him my father was still the Alpha King, but it was only a matter of time before I took over.

    ¡°Which pack?¡±

    ¡°The restaurant on the first level belongs to the Darc¡¯s and the one on the second level belongs to the Orl¨¦ans Pack.¡±

    ¡°And we are dining at which one?¡± I asked ym, but the guard answered for him.

    ¡°At Alpha Orl¨¦ans special table. We¡¯re honored to have you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I nodded and moved to the ss elevator waiting to take us up.

    ¡°Your chef friend¡­¡± Caspian started to ask ym.

    ym smiled. ¡°Colette Auir.¡±

    Caspian chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°The older she-wolf who seduced you and stole your virginity.¡±

    ¡°Best morning after breakfast I ever had!¡±

    ¡°No one makes better breakfast than Grandma Dori,¡± Ranger said as the elevator lifted past the lower-level restaurant where people were waiting to be seated.

    I don¡¯t know if it was the mention of her name or my imagination ying tricks on me, but I thought I saw Grandma at the Darc Restaurant. The Elevator carried us swiftly to the next floor before I could take a second look. I shook my head, knowing it was impossible. Grandma wasn¡¯t in Paris, and she certainly wouldn¡¯t approve of spending money on fine dining where the portions were small and the cost was high.

    We were seated at a table closest to the windows, looking out over the Seine River and the rest of Paris. Most eyes in Paris would be looking at and admiring the Eiffel Tower at night, but tonight, we were inside the Eiffel Tower with a spectacr view of the city.

    ¡°Chef Colette is sending all seven courses to the table for you, and a special course for Monsieur ym¡± the waiter informed us.

    The sommelier made wine rmendations, and though the wine had no impact on shifters, we selected a bottle of red. I was hoping for a ssic French beef bourguignon with crunchy bread, but the high-end menu had lobster, venison, veal, scallops, foie gras, caviar, and fish. ym didn¡¯t want to miss a thing, so we passed the tes around, sampling a little bit of everything. The food was delicious, and ym ordered a second venison and lobster. I looked out at the city, wondering where Selena was having her pre-graduation celebration tonight and with whom.

    ¡°No, ym, you¡¯re not taking a doggie bag,¡± I heard Caspian say. ¡°Finish your desert so we can go.¡±

    ¡°Lukas, you want the chocte, fig, or pear?¡± ym asked as he looked over the tter of desserts.

    Before I could answer, an rm sounded, and lights started shing.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Ranger asked the waiter.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, that¡¯s the fire rm. The restaurant needs to be evacuated immediately.¡±

    <b>********</b>

    <b>Who''s been to Paris? What was your favorite or most memorable experience? </b>

 Chapter 5 - Dinner

    Selena

    ¡°Is prostitution legal in Paris?¡± Grandma Dori asked as the esctor carried us from the basement to the ground level of Galeries Lafayette. Several heads turned in our direction, and Jose stifled augh.

    Persephone looked horrified. ¡°Why do you ask, Grandma?¡±

    ¡°A thousand euros for one pair of shoes?¡± She replied. ¡°Wait until Nooker hears about this at Bingo! Hell, my Hush Puppies were only sixty dors.¡±

    ¡°They were on sale,¡± I tried to exin.

    ¡°Hello, those are the Valentino Rockstuds,¡± Jose added. ¡°It¡¯s practically a crime not to own a pair.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any?¡± She asked Jose.

    ¡°Of course! I have them in ck, red, and silver,¡± he grinned. ¡°But they¡¯re only for special asions.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone will notice your shoes,¡± she told me. ¡°Everyone will be walking around with those masks obstructing their views. It might be easier to dance if you borrow some of my Hush Puppies.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t mention it was a masked g,¡± Jose replied as we stepped off the esctor. ¡°Do you have masks yet?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure,¡± I told him. I was just going to cut a ckce mask for myself, but I wasn¡¯t sure if Persephone and Grandma had some.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to need some of those,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°I know a great ce to get masks,¡± he beamed. Jose always knew just the right ce.

    ¡°Perfect!¡± Persephone was practically floating with joy. ¡°I was hoping for a full-face mask¡­ like the kind you see in Venice for Carnival.¡±

    ¡°I know just the guy!¡± He pped with excitement.

    ¡°Can we shoplift something before we go?¡± Grandma asked, looking at the security guards wearing sharp suits as if they were dessert.

    ¡°No! There will be no shoplifting,¡± I told her. ¡°We can buy anything you want. No prostitution or shoplifting required.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind a little pat down,¡± she smirked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take a big pat down,¡± Jose chuckled. ¡°Everything here is fashionable and tempting, including those bonbons!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t encourage her!¡± I hissed.

    Ste stirred, and I quickly scanned the upper balconies of the mall. I could sense other shifters here, but I couldn¡¯t see them.

    ¡°Alpha,¡± my wolf told me, and that¡¯s when I spotted him.

    He had a strong resemnce to Lukas, but I knew it wasn¡¯t him. It was Ranger, his younger cousin. Red hair moved beside him, and I recognized Cynder just as my sister locked eyes with me.

    ¡°Selena!¡± She screamed from the second floor, and I quickly turned my back to her. My parents would be upset if they knew I was avoiding them. Persephone lifted a bag to hide her face and was already dashing away with Dori in tow.

    ¡°Go, go, go,¡± I nearly barked, hunching beside Jose for cover as we weaved through the shoppers.

    I breathed a sigh of relief when we pushed through the mall doors and crossed the street to a taxi stand where the cabs were lined up. One of the taxis was a van, and we rushed to it before anyone could hire it. Jose gave the driver an address, and I looked back through the window to see Ranger, Cynder, and my sister looking around at the throng of people walking past.

    ¡°That was close,¡± Persephoneughed.

    ¡°Whom are we avoiding? And is he handsome?¡± Jose asked.

    ¡°My sister¡­ I told my parents I was busy today.¡± He eyed me suspiciously but didn¡¯t press. ¡°Are we going back to the fifth arrondissement?¡±

    ¡°Arron what?¡± Dori asked.

    ¡°Arrondissement¡­ it means district.¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you just say district,¡± she rolled her eyes. ¡°Leave it to the French to make everything sound fancy.¡±

    Paris had twenty districts, but the Latin Quarter, located in the fifth and sixth districts, was my favorite part of Paris. It was practically in the city center and close to everything. The Romans built the Latin Quarter, which became the hub of learning institutions where Latin was widely spoken. This part of Paris offers everything from vibrant markets to gardens. It had plenty of caf¨¦s, restaurants, clubs, bookstores, and historicalndmarks.

    ¡°The shop I want to take you to specializes in Vian art, everything from jewelry and ss to masks and costumes. Gio is amazing,¡± Jose touted.

    The array of authentic handcrafted face masks in the little shop was stunning, and I wondered how I had never stumbled upon it before. The owner was a Vian-born elder who learned his craft from generations of ancestors. Jose introduced us and exined that Gio had met his Parisian wife fifty years ago during the Venice Carnival and has lived in Paris ever since.

    Romantic envy seared through me when I thought about Gio following his heart to Paris. He gave everything up in Venice and started all over again to be with the woman he loved. A ck-and-white photo of the two in their youth hung on the back wall.

    He noticed my gaze on the photo and smiled. ¡°My Sylvie,¡± he said.

    ¡°She¡¯s lovely. Does she craft with you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s a true Parisian with a deep love of French history. Sylvie spent forty years teaching at the university. Then, she decided to take tourists on historical tours through the Catbs of Paris, Les Invalides, ce de Concorde¡­ you name it!¡±

    ¡°Is that right?¡± Grandma Dori asked. ¡°Does she have a card? I may want to schedule a few tours.¡±

    Lukas also had a deep love of history. He was a lycan, which meant that he would live for hundreds of years. Growing up, he was always so fascinated with world history. He was eager to understand the rise and fall of civilizations because, one day, he would rule.

    ¡°How cute is this! I think it¡¯s a cat mask,¡± Jose said. ¡°Do you have any wolf masks?¡±

    ¡°No! No animal masks,¡± I shook my head.

    Persephone¡¯s voice came through the mind link. ¡°Does he know?¡±

    ¡°That we¡¯re shifters? Of course not,¡± I replied.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± She pressed.

    ¡°I¡¯ve known Jose since I moved to Paris. He doesn¡¯t know,¡± I assured her.

    Jose had be one of my closest friends in Paris, but I never felt the need to tell him what I was. Living in Paris, I was just an ordinary female studying fashion and nursing my broken heart. I would have to return to pack life soon enough, and I knew that Lukas would eventually find his soulmate. I would have no choice but to ept her as our Queen, no matter how much it hurt.

    Dori let out a low whistle as she pointed at a ck and gold mask. ¡°Look at the beak on this one! No one will recognize me in it.¡±

    ¡°You are not wearing a gue doctor mask, Grandma!¡± Persephone told her. ¡°Every curious eye will be drawn to you if you show up in that thing.¡±

    ¡°The idea of wearing masks to a ball or Carnival has been around for centuries,¡± Jose said. ¡°It¡¯s a free pass to be someone else, release your passion, act on instincts, and sleep with whoever you want. Think of it as a nk cheque to do what you want without being judged by society.¡±

    ¡°I might need a few of these nk cheques,¡± Grandma Doriughed.

    ¡°You should wear a Colombina mask,¡± Gio told me. ¡°You are very beautiful, and a half mask would suit you best.¡±

    ¡°I agree!¡± Jose chirped. ¡°Her dress is a deep royal purple. We should find something toplement it.¡±

    ¡°I want a full-face mask,¡± Persephone told Gio, who looked stunned at the idea of her covering her entire face. ¡°I¡¯d like to avoid being noticed and just enjoy myself,¡± she added.

    ¡°The Volto mask is best for woman wanting to cover their entire face.¡±

    Persephone selected a simple but elegant cream and gold full-face mask, while Grandma Dori selected avish burgundy and green checkered mask with gold embellishments.

    ¡°So much for being unnoticeable,¡± I mumbled to myself.

    ¡°At least it wasn¡¯t the gue doctor mask,¡± my wolf snickered.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to need one of those big velvet hat wrap things to go with my mask,¡± Dori said. ¡°My hair is a dead giveaway, and I want to be able to do what I want without being judged, like Jose said.¡±

    After Gio had wrapped up our boxes, we left to find a taxi. My apartment was about ten blocks away, and I wasn¡¯t sure Grandma Dori was up for the walk.

    ¡°Should we find a taxi?¡± I asked.

    ¡°We should find lunch,¡± Persephone suggested. ¡°I hear the French take their dining hours seriously.¡±

    ¡°They sure do!¡± Jose replied. ¡°Lunch is a long and cultural event here¡­ It¡¯s illegal to eat lunch at work.¡±

    ¡°You mean you can¡¯t eat a sandwich at your desk?¡± She asked him.

    ¡°Eww, why would you want to? The separation of work and lunch is practically sacrosanct in France. The midday break is good for your health, and the quality of your work.¡±

    ¡°Okay, so where are we eating?¡± Grandma Dori asked.

    I looked at my phone and realized it was nearly two already, and most kitchens would be closed until dinner service. ¡°We¡¯ve shopped right through lunch. We¡¯ll have to pick up some items for a spread at home.¡±

    ¡°I was looking forward to trying some ratatouille or those fancy snails,¡± Grandma Dori said.

    ¡°I need to get home and take care of a few things,¡± Jose said, looking at a message on his phone. ¡°But if you¡¯re free tonight, Erick has invited you to dinner at La Tour. His escargots are delicious.¡±

    ¡°His what?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°Those fancy snails you want to try. He¡¯s the Sous Chef at La Tour,¡± Jose told them, expecting them to know what La Tour was.

    ¡°La Tour is one of the restaurants located inside the Eiffel Tower,¡± I told them.

    ¡°We¡¯re eating at the Eiffel Tower tonight?¡± Persephone looked like she was ready to start jumping up and down.

    ¡°Gives me a reason to wear lipstick!¡± Grandma smiled.

    I took a deep breath and shook my head. There was no way Persephone or Grandma would allow us to miss this opportunity. I¡¯ve been to La Tour with Jose several times, and it was a wonderful experience with a lovely view, but the tourists were everywhere at all hours of the day and well into the evening.

    ¡°Fine,¡± I exhaled. ¡°What time should we meet you?¡±

    ¡°Meet at nine, and don¡¯t bete,¡± Jose said as he gave me air kisses on each cheek before he departed.

    We made our way to the bongerie first, which is a bakery that sells fresh bread. Grandma Dori hovered close to the ss and carefully inspected the different selections of bread behind it.

    ¡°How do we know it¡¯s fresh if we can¡¯t squeeze the baguettes?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Frenchw requires traditional baguettes to be made at the bongerie they¡¯re sold at,¡± I tried to exin. ¡°And since they can¡¯t contain additives or preservatives, they have to be fresh because they go stale in twenty-four hours.¡±

    After our trip to the bakery, we picked up a variety of meats, cheese, and fruit for ourte lunch. We returned to my apartment with all the shopping in hand and mbered up the stairs. Persephone sat on the small balcony, taking in the view of Paris from my rooftop apartment as I prepared the charcuterie spread for our afternoon meal.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re going to have dinner in the Eiffel Tower!¡± Persephone murmured wistfully as she gazed out at it.

    I couldn¡¯t help feeling sorry for her. Persephone was a born lycan and had been protected her entire life. If it wasn¡¯t her father, it was her older triplet brothers, cousins, uncles, and grandparents. She was twenty years old, but wasn¡¯t allowed to go out without a guard. In the human world and among other werewolves, she was considered a mature adult. It was her lycan gics that ssified her as a pup until she was twenty-five.

    ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Grandma Dori said. ¡°I need to shower and take a nap, so I¡¯m refreshed for a night out on the town!¡±

    After a much-needed nap, we took turns in the bathroom getting ready for our dinner. Grandma and Persephone had taken the bed in my small bedroom, and I curled up on the pull-out sofa bed in my living room. There was a familiarfort in my soul having them here with me. I had missed my family and everyone in my pack who was practically family.

    I tried to imagine what it might be like to return home. Things would be different, and I wasn¡¯t sure I would ever be ready for it. If I find my mate tomorrow night, I could have a different pack to call home. I could finally forget about Lukas. Ste let out a low growl just thinking about it.

    ¡°Is this dress okay?¡± Persephone asked. ¡°I sort of packed in a rush.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± I assured her. Persephone was a natural beauty and looked like her mother, while her brothers looked like her father. She had inherited the Theodorus family genes with long dark hair, stunning facial features, honey-golden eyes, and light olive skin. She looked like a Greek Goddess walking on earth.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m ready to paint this town red,¡± Grandma Dori slung her purse over her shoulder.

    I thought about her purse, and dread surged through me. ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t bring your pistol with you. Civilians are not allowed to carry firearms in France.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± She squawked. ¡°How¡¯s an olddy supposed to protect herself?¡± She returned to the bedroom, no doubt stashing her pistol in her suitcase.

    ¡°And no switchde,¡± I called out.

    ¡°Good thing I have my pepper spray,¡± she replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s prohibited, too,¡± I said, and she grumbled something. Knowing her for as long as I had, it was best to remind her of other weapons she¡¯s been known to carry...

    ¡°No taser, nunchakus, brass knuckles, expandable batons, or throwing knives either.¡±

    ¡°That only leaves a wooden spoon, holy water, and a stale baguette to use for protection,¡± sheined, and I couldn¡¯t helpughing. She could probably still kick someone¡¯s ass with a stale baguette and make it look like an ident.

    The Taxi dropped us off, and we made our way through security to the restaurant check-in. We stood directly under the Eiffel Tower and looked up to admire the center view.

    ¡°The irondy looks good for her age,¡± Grandma Dori said as she reached for her phone. ¡°Let¡¯s take a few photos. The girls at bingo will never believe this.¡±

    ¡°The Eiffel Tower gets repainted every seven years,¡± Jose said as he greeted us. ¡°She got her faceliftst year,¡± he took Grandma¡¯s phone from her and prepared to snap photos of us. ¡°Now, stand together and look fabulous.¡±

    After what felt like a mini photo shoot, we checked in and stepped into the elevator.

    ¡°Well it¡¯s a good thing we¡¯re eating at the first level restaurant,¡± Dori said as the ss elevator came to a stop. ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of heights¡­ I¡¯m more of and creature.¡±

    ¡°This view is amazing!¡± Persephone replied. ¡°I hear there¡¯s a champagne bar at the very top.¡±

    ¡°Do they bungee jump from this thing?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°Only in movies,¡± Joseughed.

    We were seated at the Sous Chef¡¯s special table, looking out over the river. Champagne was poured, and the starters were served. I waited for Grandma¡¯s reaction to escargot and was surprised when she gave a nod of approval.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I suppose with enough garlic and butter, anything can be tasty,¡± she said, reaching for another snail.

    There were a lot of ranked wolves in Paris tonight, and I could sense the two shifter males on the other side of the restaurant before I saw them. They were both Alphas and appeared to be engaged in a serious conversation. They seemed oblivious to our presence and carried on with their meal while several human females noticed them. I sighed. It was always the same with male shifters, especially ranked wolves.

    Bitterness filled me thinking about all the females who used to throw themselves at Lukas shamelessly. I reminded myself that Lukas was not mine, and he could have all the women he wanted. Then I promised myself that I would find my mate tomorrow no matter what. I had to.

    I reached for the chilled bottle of champagne at our table, wishing the alcohol had the same effect on shifters as it did on humans. I tipped the ss back and gulped down the crisp, bubbly liquid.

    With a small burp, I set my empty ss down and met the gaze of green eyes staring at me with amusement. They were eyes I had met just this morning at the caf¨¦.

 Chapter 6 - FlambèŒ…

    Selena

    The Alpha I met at the Caf¨¦ this morning was here. Dressed even more impressively than earlier today, he was seated with the other Alpha. I hadn¡¯t noticed at first nce, but they had a strong resemnce. A brother or cousin.

    What was he doing here? Was he following me? My mind spun, and I broke eye contact when Grandma asked a question about visiting a guillotine.

    The main course arrived, and I looked down at my duck. I had a strong craving for beef bourguignon with fresh bread, but it wasn¡¯t on the menu for tonight.

    ¡°Woo, wee,¡± Dori said. ¡°Thismbchop is delicious, but for the price, I could have purchased the wholemb from Farmer Coonce back home.¡±

    ¡°Look at that!¡± Persephone pointed. The lights on the Eiffel Tower started twinkling in a light show.

    ¡°It happens every hour on the hour in the evening,¡± Jose told her.

    ¡°You can see it sparkle at night from my balcony.¡±

    We had just finished the main course when Erick came to the table to greet us. ¡°Such a pleasure to meet Jose¡¯s friends,¡± he said in a heavy French ent. ¡°How was your meal?¡±

    ¡°It was wonderful as usual,¡± I stood to hug him. ¡°Erick, this is Dori and Persephone.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes!¡± His eyes lit up. ¡°The Cousin and the Grandmother.¡± Though they were technically Lukas¡¯ cousin and grandmother, no one corrected him. As far as I was concerned, they were my family, too. Erick reached for Persephone¡¯s hand first and seemed to admire her wless beauty.

    ¡°Thank you for a wonderful evening. Everything was delicious,¡± Persephone thanked him before he turned to Grandma.

    ¡°I hope you enjoyed the escargot. Jose asked me to prepare them, especially for you,¡± he reached for Grandma¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Enchant¨¦,¡± she said as she sped his hand. Jose let out a low chuckle¡­ she had gotten it right this time. ¡°They tasted like salty mushrooms cooked to perfection with garlic. Thank you!¡±

    ¡°I sprinkled them with a little bit of magic,¡± he said, grinning.

    Grandma held tight to his hand and paused for an awkward moment. With a smile, she turned his hand over to admire the triple moon tattoo on his inner wrist.

    ¡°You certainly do have a gift,¡± she nodded and released his hand.

    ¡°I hope you¡¯ve saved room for dessert. We have a special tableside ssic nned for you,¡± he told us.

    ¡°Well, hell!¡± Grandma smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve never met a dessert I didn¡¯t like.¡±

    Erick had a second dinner service to prepare for and returned to the kitchen after wishing us a goodnight. I tried not to look, but I could feel the Alpha¡¯s stare from across the room. I sipped from my ss of water and tried to focus on the night view of the city.

    A mb¨¦ trolley was wheeled out and I recognized the cr¨ºpes Suzette being prepared. Grandma Dori watched closely as the dessert chef cooked them in the stainless pan tableside. The orange in the sauce smelled delicious, and my mouth watered. We watched as he folded the sauce-drenched crepes into small triangles and swirled them around in the sweet sauce over the fire. He reached for the liquor bottle and poured a generous amount into the pan as he mb¨¦ed it. The mes danced high, and the dessert chef leaned back, adding to the dramatic effect of the mb¨¦.

    ¡°He¡¯s going to burn the ce down!¡± Grandma Dori shouted as she swatted the mes with her cloth napkin. The tip of her napkin caught fire, and she instinctively whacked it against the table, causing her entire napkin to catch fire.

    ¡°Grandma!¡± Persephone screeched, tossing her ss of water on the napkin.

    The burning napkin was extinguished, and Grandma pushed away from the table, knocking the trolley cart over. I watched with horror as the entire bottle of liquor sshed over the neighboring table, and the burner came crashing down. The table, chairs, and carpet that had been soaked instantly caught fire.

    People started screaming and rushing for the exit. The kitchen staff wasted no time and quickly rushed out with fire extinguishers in hand. Before I knew what was happening, the handsome Alpha was beside me and hurried Grandma out to safety. An rm sounded just as we reached the exit, and I looked back to see puffs of white filling the air from the fire extinguishers.

    ¡°Well, that was a memorable experience,¡± the Alpha smiled.

    ¡°Grandma, that was a mb¨¦¡­ it was supposed to ignite like that!¡± Persephone told her.

    ¡°He nearly caught my hair on fire,¡± she snapped back, and the Alpha roared withughter.

    ¡°Erick could lose his job for this,¡± I told her. ¡°His boss will know the fire started at the table he reserved for us.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± the Alpha said. ¡°I wanted to remodel the restaurant anyway. Now I have an excuse to do it sooner.¡±

    ¡°You own this joint?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°I do,¡± he nodded. ¡°It¡¯s been in the family for generations.¡± By family, he meant pack.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I started to say, but he shook his head.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t be,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°Save a dance for me tomorrow night, and we¡¯ll call it even.¡±

    ¡°I missed my dessert,¡± Grandma told him. ¡°But it was still a lovely dinner.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he smirked. I don¡¯t own the Pce of Versailles, so try not to set it on fire tomorrow night. If you¡¯ll excuse me, I need to check on my staff.¡±

    Before he left, he leaned down and whispered in my ear, ¡°Keep her away from Notre-Dame. They have candles inside.¡±

    And just like that¡­ Alpha Handsome was gone.

    ¡°You know Monsieur Darc?¡± Jose asked.

    Darc¡­ he was one of the Darc pack Alphas. When we met, something told me he was either a Darc or Orl¨¦ans Alpha. I couldn¡¯t exactly tell Jose that Monsieur Darc was Alpha Darc and that he could turn into a vicious werewolf shifter.

    ¡°He can¡¯t shift into a lycan,¡± Ste whispered glumly.

    ¡°I met him this morning at the caf¨¦. Turns out he¡¯s also going to the fundraising event tomorrow night.¡±

    ¡°Girl! If you married him, I bet he¡¯d buy you any chateau your little heart desires. Then you wouldn¡¯t have to move, and I coulde to visit you anytime,¡± Jose continued as we followed the evacuating people down the stairs. ¡°That man always looks like a dreamy Vogue cover.¡±

    ¡°Do you know who the other man was with him?¡± Persephone asked.

    ¡°Sorry, I was trying not to get my eyebrows singed off,¡± he replied.

    Jose decided to wait for Erick since the rest of the dinner service was sure to be canceled. We walked down the street away from the turmoil to find a taxi and headed back to my apartment.

    ¡°The night is still young,¡± Grandma Doriined as the taxi stopped in front of my building. ¡°We should go down to the Moulin Rouge, catch a show or something.¡±

    ¡°We have breakfast with the family in the morning,¡± I reminded her.

    ¡°Nuh-uh,¡± she shook her head. ¡°You have breakfast with the family in the morning. Persephone and I are going to the Louver Museum.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t going to argue with her. Shifters from around the world would be busy getting ready for tomorrow¡¯s ball. It was an all-night affair, so they would likely be takingte naps and going to beauty appointments anyway. My phone chimed, and I retrieved it, expecting to find a reminder text message from my father about breakfast. Instead, it was my sister.

    The message read, <i>Can youe get us?</i>

    I was going to call her but decided to text in case she couldn¡¯t talk.

    <i>Where are you?</i>

    My phone chimed again, <i>Club Ouh l¨¤ l¨¤ ¨C 1st District.</i>

    <i>I¡¯m on my way. </i>I sent the text and tucked the phone into my purse.

    ¡°Sol texted me. I need to run out for a little bit.¡±

    ¡°Great, we¡¯lle with you,¡± Grandma Dori offered.

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t know who¡¯s there, and I¡¯m not getting in trouble for harboring you two.¡±

    ¡°Is she okay?¡± Persephone asked.

    ¡°She will be. Stay in this apartment and get some sleep. We have a very busy day tomorrow¡­ I shouldn¡¯t be long.¡±

    I walked faster than most humans, but the first district was just across the river from me. I could probably be there faster than the time it would take me to find a taxi or take the metro. I wasn¡¯t sure where club Ouh l¨¤ l¨¤ was, so I looked it up on my phone.

    It didn¡¯t have any reviews yet because it just opened this week. It was ssified as an adult entertainment club, but in Paris, that could mean anything. My mind raced as I walked faster. It could have been anything from a cabaret club to a sex club. Somehow, I knew this would be Cynder¡¯s idea. My little sister was mild and shy, but Cynder was always convincing her to live her best life.

    The club was on the corner, and the outside was inconspicuous. An older gentleman, who¡¯d be ssified as a silver fox, was dressed in a well-cut suit holding a clipboard. He may have been human, but the guard standing behind him in ck cks and a ck dress shirt was definitely a shifter. A Gamma or strong Delta, maybe.

    Reluctant to approach them, I texted Sol. <i>I¡¯m here. Can youe outside?</i>

    I watched a Bentley pull to the curb, and the driver rushed around to open the back door. A well-dressed man wearing a ck eye mask stepped out of the vehicle, holding a leash. My jaw dropped when I saw the female attached to the end of the leash. She was wearing practically nothing. Her head hung low, her eyes trained on the ground, and her long blonde hair was braided back.

    ¡°Monsieur ude,¡± the silver fox with the clipboard nodded and pulled the door open to wee the man who was fully clothed and his mostly naked pet.

    I realized exactly what kind of ce this was and wondered how my sister and Cynder managed to get inside. The shifter at the door would have sensed they were she-wolves. Could this have been a trap?

    My phone chimed.<i> No. We¡¯re stuck in the locker room in the basement. </i>

    Stuck? What the hell did she mean by stuck?

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± I called to the man with the clipboard. ¡°My sister and her friend went inside, and I need to see them, please.¡±

    ¡°Are you on the list?¡± he asked, his eyes trailing from my face to my feet.

    ¡°Well¡­ no. I just need to go inside and speak with my sister. I¡¯ll be real quick.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay the entrance fee,¡± I added.

    ¡°Not possible,¡± he said with that thick ent.

    ¡°Why is it not possible?¡±

    ¡°Your attire is not appropriate for our establishment.¡±

    I looked down at my blouse, long skirt, and ts. My attire was perfect for an evening of fine dining at the Eiffel Tower, but obviously contained too much fabric for this club. I rolled my eyes. The sexist pig was not going to let me in unless I looked like a wet dream.

    ¡°Fine!¡± I snapped, pulling down my skirt and stepping out of it. ¡°Is this better?¡±

    ¡°Not entirely.¡± He nodded towards my blouse.

    Thankful I had slipped on a matching underwear and bra set, I stood with my head held high. I was not only a she-wolf, but I was also of Hispanic origin, which gave me a perfect light tan year-round and curves in all the right ces. Judging by the rising tent in the Gamma¡¯s pants, I must have passed the wet dream test.

    ¡°The shoes,¡± the man with the clipboard said smugly.

    ¡°These are Jimmy Choo¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if they¡¯re Coco Chanel, they¡¯re still ballet ts. There¡¯s nothing sexy about them unless you¡¯re going to wear nothing but a tutu,¡± he smirked.

    I entered a long, dark entrance hall to the beat of music. The club had a bar against the front wall, a stage on the opposite wall, a dance floor, leather sofas and chairs, and VIP alcoves. The upstairs seemed to have eight private balconies, but I couldn¡¯t tell if they were upied. I tried to move unnoticed, hoping to find the stairs to the basement without making eye contact with anyone.

    I lifted my head and noticed the sheer elegance of the club d¨¦cor. It was Paris chic with a dark and exotic feel to it. The walls had ck and gold velvet-looking wallpaper, and the lights were dim and altered between red and purple. The sexual energy in the air was strong, and my wolf let out a low whine. Sure, I could have sex with anyone I wanted, but my wolf only wanted her mate.

    The ground seemed to shake, but I wasn¡¯t sure if I actually felt a tremor or if my nerves were getting the best of me. A wave of dizziness washed over me, but I continued to make my way to the back corner in search of the basement. A small group had gathered around an alcove to watch a naked woman being spanked with a paddle. My French wasn¡¯t the best, but I saw a sign that said yrooms with an arrow pointing down and followed it.

    The stone steps were like ice on my bare feet and a shiver ran up my spine hearing the cry of moans below. There were several shifters here tonight, and I could sense their energy. I silently prayed I wouldn¡¯t run into anyone I knew and slowly continued down the stairs.

    A woman in a leather dress passed me on the stairs, and I felt her hand caress my bare butt cheek.

    ¡°Yvette!¡± A man barked and went on to say something in French about touching, permission, and to go wait at the cross. I turned to find an Alpha I didn¡¯t know standing at the top of the stairs.

    ¡°And you,¡± his eyes seemed to scold my skin as he looked at me. ¡°Are you the she-wolf who stripped to gain entrance?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s with me,¡± the timbre of his voice sounded, and my knees nearly gave out on me.

    ¡°Of course, my King,¡± the Alpha bowed his head and stepped away.

    I stood frozen in ce on the stairs. His beautiful blue eyes had turned dark, and he seemed furious by my sudden appearance. His hands were clenched tight, and his nostrils red. He took each step slowly and deliberately as he approached me. Without speaking, he leaned in close and ced his hand on the wall beside my head.

    Instinctively, I closed my eyes and inhaled his delicious scent. My wolf let out another low whine, and I knew she had missed him. Before I knew what had happened, Lukas pulled me into his arms and pressed his nose into my neck. My heart was shattering again. How could someone who wasn¡¯t my mate feel so right?

    ¡°Why are you naked, and what are you doing here?¡± His voice rasped.

    ¡°I could ask the same question,¡± I whispered as I opened my eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m not naked, Princess,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Not Yet,¡± I shot back.

    ¡°Is that an invitation?¡± He grinned, removing his suit jacket. ¡°Alpha Orl¨¦ans will be happy to provide us with a private yroom.¡±

    He held his jacket open for me, and I turned my back to him so he could help me into it.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± He growled, and I knew he had noticed the back of myce g-sting.

    I pulled the jacket closed and found myself shoved against the wall with Lukas pressing into my back. I swallowed the moan that nearly escaped me when I felt his hardness pressing against my ass. This was a line we both knew we couldn¡¯t cross, yet my body yearned to.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Lukas was a lycan, and lycans could only produce offspring with their fated mates. He needed to find his fated mate to produce heirs. As the Lycan King, he had to. My chest constricted at the thought¡­ I wasn¡¯t sure if I could withstand seeing him with another female. Knowing that he was taking her into his bed every night and mating with her.

    ¡°Lukas¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡±

    ¡°I want you, Selena,¡± he said in a low growl. ¡°Now!¡±

 Quick Reference Guide & Skip Day

    Sorry to keep you waiting, but I¡¯m going to need to take the night off. I think I caught a cold, and I can¡¯t seem to focus on writing. I¡¯m in Northern California, and it snowed yesterday in the foothills near my house. Can you believe we got snow in April... in California?!! Two months from now, we¡¯re going to have 100+ degree weather here.

    Depending on how I feel, I may skip tomorrow night as well.

    But I wanted to give you a quick reference guide, for those of you who need help remembering who¡¯s who.

    This is not the full family tree; you can find those on my Facebook page, but I¡¯m hoping to write these books with the handful of characters as their own series. Of course, I love hiding Easter eggs in my books for those of my readers who have deeply loved my books and characters.

    Yes, there are some cameos and old characters from the past, but let¡¯s face it... Who can say no to Grandma and Wylder? LOL

    <b>Moon Realm</b>

    Grandma Dori Crow (Deceased unnamed mate)

    Tobias Crow (Deceased Human Mate Mena) ¨C Mac¡¯s Parents

    Mac Crow & Cassiopeia Theodorus (LaRue/Theodorus Line)

    (1-4 )<b>Ares, Zeus & Poseidon, Demeter (Mac & Cassi¡¯s offspring)</b>

    1)Ares Crow & Eudora ¨C Lukas, Rex & Storm (offspring born lycans)

    2)Zeus Crow & Hazel ¨C Ranger, Phoenix (all werewolves ¨C Hazel hybrid)

    3)Poseidon Crow & Thalia ¨C Caspian, Coral (all werewolves)

    4)Demeter Crow & Alpha Balthazar Malik ¨C Triplets (Perseus, Theseus, Dimitreus) and Persephone. (All Lycans)

    Cousin Wylder & Tymber (Wylder is a Crow from mothers side.) ¨C Cynder and ym (all werewolves)

    Mateo & Pa ¨C Selena and Sol (all werewolves)

    Xena (Wylder¡¯s Sister) & Killian LaRue ¨C Kairo (all Lycans)

    <b>Nightshade Pack in Italy</b>

    Alpha Cyrus Theodorus & Esmeralda (Anabeth¡¯s line) ¨C Vria and As (all Lycans)

    <b>Crescent Moon</b>

    Knox LaRue III & Zoi Kappas - Zane and Zander (Diesel¡¯s line) (all werewolves)

    <b>Olympus Blood Moon in Greece</b>

    Alpha Constantine Theodorus (Dimitri Theodorus Line) (werewolf)N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    <b>Moon Warriors in Greece</b>

    Alpha Adonis Kappas (Hades Line) (werewolf)

 Chapter 7 - Dessert

    4/29/24 - This book has been marked plete¡± though we still have about 10 more chapters to go. I do this to give people a chance to discover the book before its gone. I write and post a chapter each day, onceplete this book will move to publishing around May 12, 2024.

    Do not wait to read this because it will bepleted and removed in about 2 weeks.

    ************

    Lukas

    ¡°Is the restaurant okay?¡± ym asked Alpha Fran?ois Orl¨¦ans as he walked us through his new club.

    ¡°Yes, it was a small fire at La Tour. Some crazy American tourist knocked over a mb¨¦ trolley. Our restaurant is fine, but I¡¯m sure Darc will have to remodel.¡±

    ¡°Oh, a mb¨¦,¡± ym¡¯s eyes lit up.

    ¡°I¡¯ve told that fool before that the space was too small for mb¨¦s,¡± Fran?ois continued. ¡°He should stick to caf¨¦s and leave fine dining to us.¡±

    ¡°Does Alpha Pierre Darc have a mate or special someone?¡± I couldn¡¯t help thinking about him with Selena this morning.

    ¡°Not that I¡¯m aware of,¡± he paused momentarily, his eyes zed over. Someone was mind-linking with him. ¡°Alpha Zane LaRue has just arrived. Would you like a separate balcony, or should I bring him to yours?¡±

    ¡°Have my cousin brought here.¡±

    Alpha Orl¨¦ans excused himself, and a human waitress wearing lingerie took our drink order. I sat in a leather armchair while ym and Caspian sat on the sofa. Judging from her increased heart rate and the blush on her face, ym was already making googly eyes at her.

    ¡°I bet Ranger wasted no time finding someone to spank downstairs,¡± Caspian said with a chuckle.

    ¡°I¡¯m the eldest, so I should have the first crack of the whip,¡± Zaneughed as he stepped onto the private balcony. His younger brother Zander followed behind.

    ¡°Look who it is,¡± Caspianughed as he greeted our cousins.

    After handshakes and hugs, we sat and watched the action below.

    ¡°Rex didn¡¯te?¡± Zander asked.

    ¡°No, he stayed behind with Storm to help with Grandma Dori.¡±

    ¡°How much trouble could a little olddy be?¡± Zander questioned.

    ¡°Grandma does what she wants,¡± ymughed.

    ¡°Is Rex still having those weird dreams?¡± Zane asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. He hasn¡¯t mentioned it since thest dream.¡±

    ¡°Papa Diesel thinks it could be visions. We¡¯ve had some powerful seers in the LaRue line for centuries.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t Storm having the same dreams?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± My sister had never mentioned having dreams, and it irked me that our little cousin knew something I didn¡¯t.

    ¡°I thought I heard Cynder say something about it,¡± ym shrugged. ¡°Who knows, I could be wrong.¡±

    ¡°Is she still living out in the cottage by herself?¡± Zane asked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded. ¡°I guess she likes her independence.¡± My sister seemed to be an enigma to everyone who knew her, including her family.

    The barely-d waitress returned with a tray of drinks and brushed her ass against my shoulder when she bent over to set drinks down. We waited in silence to continue our discussion. Most humans had no idea shifters existed, and we wanted to keep it that way.

    ¡°She¡¯s hot!¡± ym said, motioning to a female downstairs who was tied to a wall hook topless. Her master had left her there with jingling nipple mps on for all to see. It was meant as punishment, but she was turned on.

    This was the social space, though the stage was set up for scenes, and the nooks were set up to give a sense of privacy while allowing voyeurism. The real fun was in the yrooms below.

    ¡°You think this is the year for us?¡± Zane asked.

    I wanted to tell him I had no interest in whoever the Moon Goddess had destined for me. I wanted the one she-wolf my knot ached for. ¡°With any luck, you¡¯ll be the first to find your mate tomorrow night,¡± I told him.

    ¡°Grammy Lucy is worried something might be wrong,¡± Zander said.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± My eyes tried to focus on a female in ckcy underwear who resembled Selena.

    I knew she wasn¡¯t here, and she sure as hell wouldn¡¯t be walking around practically naked with bare feet. The female pressed herself against the back wall and tried to avoid the heads turning to look at her luscious body. Was she someone¡¯s ve? Whoever she was, she had a strong resemnce to Selena, and I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off her.

    ¡°Look up¡­ look up¡­¡± I whispered to no one and leaned forward, trying to get a better look at her face.

    ¡°Is that who I think it is?¡± Zane noticed.

    ¡°No, it couldn¡¯t be,¡± Caspian replied. ¡°Selena has longer hair than that.¡±

    ¡°I should go talk to her,¡± ym said. ¡°French women love red hair.¡±

    Her head turned, and she looked up at the ceiling. It was her. She was here¡­ in a club like this. ¡°Sit down,¡± I nearly snarled, and a tremor shook the building.

    ¡°Calm down, earthquakes aren¡¯tmon in Paris,¡± Caspian told me as I raced down the stairs.

    I reached a small gathering near the alcove where she stoodst. My eyes quickly scanned the crowd watching a naughty brat get her punishment, but Selena was nowhere to be found. It couldn¡¯t have been my imagination because the others had also seen her. I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to crash every private room and corner to find her.

    Turning around, I looked to ym on the balcony, who pointed at the corner. ¡°She went down the stairs,¡± he said through the mind link.

    Is this how she was spending her time in Paris?

    Alpha Orl¨¦ans was standing at the top of the stairs, and I took a deep breath to maintain myposure. My lycan could sense her. ¡°And you¡­ are you the she-wolf who stripped to gain entrance?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s with me,¡± I said, trying not to lose my control because he had seen her naked. I had to remind myself he had a mate and wasn¡¯t interested in Selena.

    ¡°Of course, my King,¡± he bowed, sensing my lycan pushing forward and quickly disappearing.

    Goddess have mercy because my beast wanted to throw her on these stairs and mate her right here. She looked up at me like a deer caught in headlights. Herce bra barely covered her nipples, and the top rounds of her breasts were fully exposed. I tried not to look at her panties because I was going to lose my fucking mind if I could see through thece.

    Selena never shifted around me, and for good reason. I took a few more deep breaths to calm my beast before each measured step closer to her. When her scent hit me, I couldn¡¯t resist caging her in with my arm against the wall and leaning in for a deep sniff of her euphoria. My lycan seemed to calm with her scent, and I pulled her into my arms for another sniff.

    ¡°Why are you naked, and what are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°I could ask the same question,¡± she replied. I had to fight the urge to give her a punishing lip-bruising kiss for her sass.

    ¡°I¡¯m not naked, Princess,¡± I reminded her.

    ¡°Not Yet,¡± she sniped.

    Was she jealous? I saw a shadow move at the top of the stairs and needed to cover her from the view of others.

    ¡°Is that an invitation?¡± I pulled off my jacket. ¡°Alpha Orl¨¦ans will be happy to provide us with a private yroom.¡± I held open the jacket for her and nearly lost all control at the sight of her gorgeous backside.

    A growl ripped through me. ¡°Fuck!¡±

    I wanted her¡ªno, I needed her. I shoved her against the wall and leaned in for a few more deep breaths to calm my howling lycan. I was going to lose control of my beast, who was raging for her. I tried to remind him that she wasn¡¯t our mate, that she belonged to someone else, but he didn¡¯t care. Lycans were driven by instinct, and he wanted to knot her deep.

    ¡°Lukas¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡±

    ¡°I want you, Selena,¡± I growled, though I was sure my beast was speaking for both of us. ¡°Now!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t. We can¡¯t,¡± she cried.

    ¡°Fuck the Moon Goddess and her destined mates. I don¡¯t want anyone but you.¡±

    ¡°Lukas, don¡¯t say that. You¡¯re the Lycan King, and she could curse all of us if you offend her,¡± she pleaded.

    ¡°She¡¯s the one that has offended us. Whatever her damn game is, she¡¯s already denied an entire generation a mate bond.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know that. You don¡¯t know what will happen tomorrow,¡± her eyes filled with worry.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need to go tomorrow,¡± I told her. ¡°Let¡¯s get the hell out of here.¡±

    She shook her head, and I knew what she was going to say. It was the same thing she said before she ran off to Paris. ¡°You need your mate. You need offspring.¡±

    ¡°Rex or Storm can have offspring that can take over for me. I don¡¯t give a damn about anything else if I can¡¯t be with you.¡±

    ¡°We have mates out there. What if our bond to them is stronger than what you might feel for me?¡±

    ¡°NO!¡± I roared. ¡°That will never happen.¡±

    ¡°Look, I know you¡¯re here tonight looking for a female to blow some steam off with, but it¡¯s not me,¡± her words stabbed through my chest, and rejection seared through me. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to crash your party¡­¡±

    ¡°You mean you didn¡¯t think we¡¯d be here.¡± I struggled to gain control of myself. ¡°Are you meeting someone? Is that it? Is that why you¡¯re walking around naked at a kink club?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she shook her head.

    ¡°If you want me to spank your ass, all you have to do is ask.¡±

    ¡°Sol sent me a text message asking me toe get her.¡± Those sweet brown eyes filled with tears.

    ¡°Sol? Sol is here?¡±

    ¡°I think she¡¯s here with Cynder.¡±

    ¡°Well, Cynder¡¯s brother is here. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be thrilled to see her here,¡± I said sarcastically.

    ¡°I need to find them,¡± she pleaded.

    ¡°Where are they?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. She said she¡¯s stuck in the locker room downstairs.¡±

    I grabbed her elbow and guided her downstairs because I didn¡¯t trust myself to put my arm around her. We entered a big yroom with spanking benches, cages, swings, restraint chairs, and arge bed in the corner. The locker room was on the other side of the room, between the main yroom and the dungeon.

    Her eyes fell on a bare-chested man holding a whip, and she gasped. ¡°Ranger.¡±

    ¡°Keep moving.¡± Not wanting to spoil Ranger¡¯s fun, I ushered her away. He had a she-wolf tied to a bench, and she seemed to enjoy whatever he did to her.

    We reached the small hall that housed the bathrooms and locker rooms. I pushed the door open and used my Alpha voice.

    ¡°Sol and Cynder,e here at once.¡±

    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Zane asked, entering the hall.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ranger followed behind Zane.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t let us ruin your good time,¡± Selena snapped at him.

    ¡°What happened to your clothes?¡± Ranger asked her.

    ¡°Probably the same ce as your shirt,¡± she fired back.

    ¡°Sol and Cynder are here. Seems Selena came to collect them,¡± I told the others, running my fingers through my hair.

    ¡°What?¡± Ranger growled, his gray eyes shing ck as his wolf tried to surface.

    The door pulled open, and Cynder¡¯s red hair was the first thing we saw. To my relief, they were both still fully dressed. Sol stood behind Cynder with her head hung low like a submissive little thing about to get her punishment.

    ¡°How did you get here?¡± Ranger demanded.

    ¡°We took a taxi,¡± Cynder replied. ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re pups.¡±

    ¡°I mean, how did you get through the door?¡± Ranger pressed.

    ¡°Again, we¡¯re not pups,¡± Cynder snapped. ¡°You think we¡¯re not hot enough to get into a ce like this?¡±

    ¡°We slipped in through the back door when the bartender was smoking,¡± Sol confessed. ¡°We overheard you guys discussing the new club and thought we¡¯d check it out.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell him anything. He¡¯s not your dad,¡± Cynder scoffed.

    ¡°If you¡¯re going to be naughty, you might need a daddy to spank some sense into you,¡± Zane warned Cynder, who looked at him with wide eyes.

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to spank me,¡± she replied.

    ¡°Another word, and I will. You¡¯re in the big boy¡¯s yground now, little pup.¡± Zane opened and closed his hand, and I knew his palm was itching to spank her. Cynder always seemed to get under his skin since we were kids.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Selena hissed. ¡°No one is spanking anyone. I¡¯vee to collect them and take them home.¡±

    ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± Ranger said, buttoning up his shirt. ¡°I¡¯ll take Sol back to the hotel before Mateo realizes she¡¯s gone.¡±

    ¡°Great, then I guess I¡¯ll go find the dance floor,¡± Cynder announced.

    ¡°The hell you will,¡± Zane barked. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he grabbed Cynder¡¯s arm and started walking.

    ¡°Wait,¡± I reached for Zane¡¯s arm. ¡°ym is upstairs. He might get upset seeing his sister here.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll slip out the back door,¡± Zane huffed, dragging Cynder behind.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Ranger ordered Sol, who looked mortified.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you at breakfast,¡± Selena called out to her sister.

    ¡°That went well¡­ Would you like to stay and y, or do you have somece else to be?¡± I teased.

    ¡°y?¡± She looked at me with those eyes, and I wanted nothing more than to taste her lips.

    ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you home.¡±

    ¡°I can find my way home, thanks.¡±

    She pushed the door open and walked through the yroom again. Her hands clutched at thepel of my jacket, ensuring it remained closed. My lycan was urging me to get her alone in a room and have my way with her.

    Unmated wolves had sex with others all the time. Once they found their mate, a mate bond locked them together forever. It¡¯s said that once a mate bond is in ce, it bes impossible to live without the other. Every touch and sensation with your destined mate is enhanced, and no other willpare. Or at least, that¡¯s how our parents and grandparents always exined it.

    Selena and I are both unmated adults and share intense chemistry, so why are we denying our carnal needs?

    She reached the coat check and retrieved a bag containing her clothing. Her eyes looked around as if she would find a dressing room.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be shy now, Princess,¡± I grinned. ¡°You¡¯ve already walked around the entire ce naked.¡±

    ¡°Will you stop calling me naked? I¡¯m wearing underwear,¡± she snapped, pulling up her skirt.

    ¡°My sock has more material than your underwear,¡± Iughed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why you care,¡± she said, slipping her shoes on. ¡°You¡¯re the one who came here tonight for pleasure. I came to rescue my sister.¡±

    ¡°Alpha Orl¨¦ans invited us to his new club. We were just having a look.¡±

    ¡°Waiting to take someone into a private yroom, right?¡± She took off my jacket, and the sight of her hardened nipples under that thince caused my dick to pulse.

    ¡°Would you like to see a private yroom?¡± I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her pinned beneath me.

    ¡°What? No,¡± she said. ¡°I have to get home. I havepany.¡±

    ¡°Oh, then I¡¯lle with you. I love meeting newpany.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°My friend from school is spending the night. She¡¯s probably already asleep. It¡¯s no one you¡¯d be interested in meeting.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be the judge of that. Shall we take a taxi, or would you like to walk so we can catch up?¡±

    We left the club, and the cool night air hit us. I offered her my jacket again, and she quickly slipped it on. My beast was calm, knowing she was covered in our scent. After all this time away from her, he was back to being a love-sick puppy.

    I knew the walk back to her ce was about ten blocks away and would take us over the Seine River to the fifth district.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s your favorite thing about Paris?¡±

    ¡°You really don¡¯t need to walk me back. I¡¯m just on the other side of the river,¡± she said.

    ¡°I¡¯m your Alpha. It¡¯s my job to ensure your safety.¡±

    ¡°Your father is still my Alpha,¡± she smirked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen your underwear,¡± I told her. ¡°Trust me, you¡¯re not safe out here alone.¡±

    The corner of her mouth twitched, and I knew she was hiding that beautiful smile. We walked in silence for a few minutes before she spoke.

    ¡°I like the architecture and the history here. I can easily reach any other part of Europe in two hours or less from Paris.¡±

    ¡°You visit Vria often,¡± I said as we rounded the corner.

    ¡°Tuscany might just be my absolute favorite,¡± she said. ¡°Cyrus and Esmeralda treat me like family.¡±

    ¡°Cyrus¡¯ sister is mated to your uncle. That makes you family to them.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re amazing, and Vria is like a second sister.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s noting tomorrow,¡± I told her, though I¡¯m sure she already knew.

    ¡°No, she¡¯s not.¡± Selena stopped and gazed at the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was lit up beautifully. ¡°It seems a bit unfair that werewolves mature at eighteen and lycans have to wait until twenty-five,¡± she said pensively.

    ¡°It does,¡± I replied, standing beside her to take in the cathedral. ¡°The stained ss is beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Have you seen Sainte-Chapelle yet? It¡¯s just a stone¡¯s throw away from here, and the stained ss there is¡­ well, it¡¯s absolutely breathtaking.¡±

    ¡°No, but I know something else that¡¯s breathtaking,¡± I couldn¡¯t peel my eyes away from her. Afraid if I lost sight of her, she would disappear. We started walking again, and all I wanted to do was walk around Paris with her all night.

    ¡°I¡¯m always in awe, wondering how they constructed something so magnificent so long ago without the tools of today,¡± she said as we walked across the bridge to the left bank.

    ¡°It was probably shifters,¡± I suggested.

    ¡°It could have been mages,¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°Or vampires.¡±

    ¡°I happen to know the Vampire King. I¡¯ll be sure to ask him the next time I see him,¡± I chuckled. ¡°I see the cr¨ºperie is still open up ahead.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a Friday night. They tend to stay openter on the weekends.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get a chance to have dessert with dinner tonight.¡±

    ¡°What happened? Did ym take thest macaron?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t helpughing. ¡°No. The restaurant was evacuated before we could get our dessert because of a fire.¡±

    ¡°A fire?¡± She froze mid-step.

    ¡°We were eating at one of the restaurants in the Eiffel Tower. The other restaurant had an incident with a mb¨¦ trolley.¡±

    ¡°Gram¡­,¡± she mumbled something I didn¡¯t catch.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± she smiled. ¡°You know what? A cr¨ºpe sounds like a perfect idea right now.¡±

    <b>***Thank you all for the well wishes. My fever is finally gone, and I¡¯m feeling much better, but still snotty. Lots of tea and nose blowing, but I got it done! </b>

    <b>If you see any typo¡¯s please let me know. My eyes are tired and I¡¯m off to bed. </b>

 Chapter 8 - Family

    Selena

    ¡°They¡¯re both technically cr¨ºpes,¡± he said as his lips quirked.

    ¡°A galette is savory, and it¡¯s made with buckwheat. A cr¨ºpe is sweet, and it¡¯s made with regr flour.¡±

    ¡°The French and their fancy words.¡± He shook his head, and Iughed, recalling that his grandmother had said the same thing earlier today.

    He ordered the cr¨ºpes Suzette with a side of vani ice cream, and I was thankful they didn¡¯t mb¨¦ it tableside. It was probably safe to do so since Lukas could manipte fire, earth, air, and water¡ªsomething the lycans of the past couldn¡¯t. Not only was he the first lycan born in over a thousand years, but he was also the first known elemental lycan. This was a clear sign the Moon Goddess had something extraordinary nned for him.

    ¡°How¡¯s your cr¨ºpe?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Choctey delicious.¡±

    His eyes softened. ¡°You always loved Nute.¡±

    ¡°Apparently, the French do as well,¡± I smiled. ¡°France is the world¡¯srgest consumer of Nute. It¡¯s a household staple.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like it¡¯s a staple in your household.¡±

    I held up two fingers. ¡°Two jars. I always keep a backup just in case,¡± Iughed.

    He reached his hand across the table and swiped his finger at the corner of my mouth. ¡°You had some on your face.¡± He licked his finger clean and continued eating as if it was the most normal thing to do.

    ¡°I hear the triplets are nning a summer vacation in Ibiza?¡± Persephone¡¯s older brothers were always up to something, and I was curious to see if Lukas was going.

    ¡°Ibiza is overrated. Nothing beats Mykonos,¡± he said.

    The thought of Lukas at some summer party destination surrounded by bikini-d females bothered me. It shouldn¡¯t have, considering he was at a sex club tonight, but it did.

    Three females upied the table next to us and kept stealing nces at him. His jet-ck hair and striking blue eyes made him irresistible to shifters and humans alike. I focused on my food and tried not to let it bother me, but my wolf was snarling in my head.

    Alphas always seemed to stand out in a crowd, but Lukas wasn¡¯t just an Alpha. He was the strongest and deadliest Alpha in the shifter world and often had to suppress his aura. He towered over six feet tall and was perfectly carved with muscle. His clothing was perfectly tailored for him, and it only seemed to enhance his physique. Lukas smiled at me, and it pulled at the strings of my heart.

    ¡°How¡¯s Ste?¡± He asked, and I knew he was sensing her tension.

    ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± I lied. She missed his wolf and rarely ever wanted to go for a run without him. ¡°I didn¡¯t see Rex at the club,¡± I quickly changed the topic.

    ¡°He¡¯s at home with Storm. They think it¡¯s pointless since they¡¯re not twenty-five yet,¡± he exined. ¡°But they¡¯ll be flying in for your graduation with Grandma Dori.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s in for a surprise,¡± my wolf whispered.

    Remembering I had left Persephone and Grandma Dori alone in my apartment, I quickly finished the rest of my dessert. The cr¨ºperie was two blocks away from my building, and I was torn on how to get rid of him without looking suspicious.

    ¡°What¡¯s your hurry?¡± He said as he walked in step beside me.

    ¡°Tomorrow is going to be a busy day,¡± I replied. I¡¯ve got breakfast at the hotel, a spa appointment with the girls, and then the ball.¡±

    ¡°I was serious about skipping the ball.¡±

    My heart fluttered. He couldn¡¯t be serious. This had to be anxiety or cold feet the night before he would potentially meet his life mate and Luna Queen. No matter how much I wished, hoped, or prayed, I already knew it wasn¡¯t going to be me.

    ¡°My building is just over there. You should probably try to catch a taxi from this corner.¡±

    ¡°I was thinking that I shoulde up and meet yourpany. Apologize for keeping you away longer than necessary.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ no. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s probably sleeping already,¡± I tried to wave him off. ¡°Good night.¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re lying,¡± he said, and I froze mid-step.

    I could kick myself. Anyone with waitingpany at home wouldn¡¯t have stopped for cr¨ºpes. Or, at the very least, they would have ordered extra for their visiting guest.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± I asked, and he stepped closer to me. Too close.

    ¡°Only two jars of Nute,¡± he smirked. ¡°I bet there¡¯s a third one hidden in the back of a cupboard.¡± His face was inches from mine, and I licked my lower lip.

    ¡°So what if there is?¡± I spoke just above a whisper, too focused on his mouth.

    That damn smirk of his made my heart skip a beat, and I could feel myself heating up. He was trying to find an excuse to invite himself to my apartment. To be alone with me, and I wasn¡¯t immune to his charm. His eyes focused on something moving behind me, and his head tilted to the side as he stared.

    ¡°Grandma?¡±

    ¡°Lukas, honey,¡± Her voice floated behind me. ¡°You never saw me.¡±

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± He asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m here for the open auditions at the Moulin Rouge. Why else would I be here?¡± She told him, and I had to choke down myughter.

    ¡°Persephone? What are you two doing here? Did Uncle Balthazar and Aunt Demeter bring you?¡±

    ¡°Well, no,¡± Grandma said. ¡°Not exactly.¡±

    Persephone stood in silence, holding two bags. By the looks of it, they had ventured out for some food. ¡°Where did you go?¡± I thought I told you not to leave.¡±

    Lukas turned his questioning eyes to me. ¡°You knew they were here?¡±

    ¡°Oh, for crying out loud,¡± Grandma moaned. ¡°We just went for a quick snack. Rx.¡±

    ¡°Grandma, you can¡¯t go walking around Paris in the middle of the night,¡± he replied.

    ¡°It¡¯s not even midnight, and thest time I checked, I didn¡¯t have a curfew,¡± she said. ¡°Come on up, I picked up some eirs and macarons.¡±

    ¡°Great, I¡¯m starved,¡± Lukas said as he followed her back to my apartment building.

    ¡°You just ate,¡± I whispered.

    ¡°When did they get here?¡±

    ¡°This morning,¡± I replied as we started trekking up the stairs.

    ¡°Grandma, I thought you were staying with Uncle Poseidon?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Change of ns,¡± she casually shrugged.

    ¡°I said I wasn¡¯t going to be gone long. You should have waited for me.¡±

    ¡°We got bored. It¡¯s hard to sleep with the time zone difference,¡± she told us. ¡°I wanted to take a tour of the catbs at night, but they were already closed.¡±

    ¡°Imagine that¡­ allowing the dead to rest in peace,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°But we did get invited to a secret underground party in another part of the catbs,¡± Persephone added.

    ¡°So, you want to party with six million dead people buried under Paris?¡± Lukas replied sarcastically. ¡°Sounds like a real good time!¡±

    ¡°Those gatherings are illegal,¡± I told her as we reached the top of the stairs.

    Grandma pushed the door open, and Lukas was instantly annoyed. ¡°You left the door unlocked?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s all the way on the top floor. No thief would be foolish enough to climb all those stairs so they could carry down a television.¡± Grandma shuffled into my tiny kitchen to te the desserts. ¡°These macarons better be good for the price I paid.¡±

    ¡°I still can¡¯t get over this view,¡± Persephone moved to the window.

    Lukas leaned in close and whispered, ¡°You didn¡¯t think to tell me sooner?¡±

    I shrugged. ¡°Your grandmother can be very convincing.¡±

    ¡°Let me guess, was it the cataracts or the arthritis?¡±

    ¡°Both.¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°Shifters don¡¯t get either.¡±

    After another round of dessert, Grandma Dori and Persephone retired to my bedroom for the night. Lukas tried to persuade them to return to the hotel with him, but they wanted to stay. He sat in the only armchair in my apartment, insisting that he would stand guard for the night to ensure Grandma¡¯s safety. I knew it was to ensure she didn¡¯t sneak off again¡ªprobably to that illegal catb party.

    I went into the bathroom and slipped into my pajamas before I wished Grandma and Persephone goodnight. Padding out to my living room, I returned to the pull-out sofa and yanked the nket over myself. Lukas had kicked off his shoes and stretched his legs out. He looked perfectly rxed and amused.

    ¡°Why are you smiling?¡±

    ¡°You walk around a club naked, but you dress like a nun to go to sleep,¡± he chuckled. ¡°You know, they say nearly one-third of France sleeps au naturel.¡±

    ¡°I was not naked in the club, and I don¡¯t look like a nun,¡± I clipped. ¡°And I¡¯m certainly not going to parade around in something skimpy with your grandmother here.¡±

    ¡°So, if my grandmother wasn¡¯t here, you¡¯d parade around in something skimpy? I¡¯ll call Caspian toe get her!¡± He grinned, and Ste yipped in my head.

    ¡°Good night!¡± I hugged my pillow closer but kept my eyes glued on him.

    ¡°Good night, Princess.¡±

    I never thought I¡¯d like being called Princess, but when he did, it made my stomach flutter. His head turned, and he stared at something outside my window. The clock told me it was midnight, and I knew the Eiffel Tower was sparkling in the distance as it did at the top of every hour. I¡¯ve watched it sparkle hundreds of times, and it always looks as magical as the first time I saw it.

    Lukas was here¡­ in my apartment. I should have been freaking out and trying to maintain my distance from him to protect my heart. But the truth was, having him so close wasfortable. The world felt calm and bnced. His fresh, masculine scent filled the air, and it gave mefort. I breathed in the cedarwood and earthy spice that was uniquely Lukas.

    I closed my eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep, knowing he was watching over me.

    The sun was rising when I opened my eyes, but I wasn¡¯t ready to get up yet. Pulling the pillow to my face, I inhaled deeply and sighed when I realized how wonderful it smelled.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± his deep voice rasped from the kitchen. ¡°How did you sleep?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Great,¡± I groaned as I realized my pillow smelled like him.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    I took a quick sniff of the nket, and it was saturated in his scent. Rubbing my hand over my face, I tried to recall the events from the night before. When I dosed off, he was sitting in the armchair - the same armchair that his clothes were slung over.

    ¡°Lukas?¡±

    ¡°Would you like a cup of coffee before we leave?¡±

    I turned to find him standing in the tiny kitchen, looking like a giant. I tried not to gawk when I saw him, but he was an incredible sight.

    ¡°Why are you naked?¡±

    He shot me a grin before he replied. ¡°I¡¯m not naked. These are boxer briefs.¡±

    <i>Moon Goddess, kill me now.</i>

    Lukas had asked Caspian toe over in the morning and take Grandma Dori and Persephone to the Louvre Museum. Thanks to the evve tea, their scents were hidden, but he still insisted they be apanied. I took a quick shower and dressed before I stepped out into my living room to see Caspian.

    ¡°The car I took is waiting downstairs to take you back to the hotel,¡± I heard him tell Lukas before he turned to me.

    ¡°Long time no see,¡± he said with a wink. The grin on his face told me he was also at the clubst night.

    The ride back to the hotel took about ten minutes, and we made small talk about all the visiting families who would be attending the mating ball. My parents were born in the same pack from Mexico, so my family wasn¡¯t spread out across multiple countries and continents like his were. The ball was going to be a big family reunion for Lukas.

    We reached the hotel and took the elevator to the top floor. The door chimed open, but it wasn¡¯t the rooftop. It was the penthouse floor. Lukas turned and leaned into me. His eyes seemed to be searching for answers in mine. For a fleeting moment, I thought he was going to kiss me.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a quick shower and join you in a few minutes,¡± he said as he stepped out and pressed the red button for the rooftop.

    The door closed, and the elevator lifted up before I could say a word. I should have known he¡¯d want to shower. My scent was all over him, and he didn¡¯t want anyone to get the wrong idea. I took a deep breath, and the elevator door chimed open to the rooftop. stering a smile on my face, I stepped out to greet my family.

    ¡°Mi amor!¡± My father was the first to wrap his arms around me. Ste yipped happily at the sight of him.

    ¡°H Papa.¡± It had been three months since theirst visit, and yet it felt like an eternity.

    ¡°How was your pre-graduation celebrationst night?¡± He kissed the top of my head.

    ¡°It was a night to remember,¡± Iughed and continued hugging my mother and sister.

    The tables were pushed together as members of the LaRue and Crow packs mingled. Lukas¡¯ parents hugged me next, and guilt washed through me, knowing that I was keeping a secret from Ares and Eudora. Ares was still my Alpha, and my wolf was feeling anxious.

    ¡°Everything okay?¡± Ares asked.

    <i>I¡¯m harboring your grandmother and niece in my apartment. Grandma set fire to a restaurant and wanted to go clubbing in the catbs beneath Paris. I ran into your son at a sex clubst night.</i> My mind was spinning with all the possible answers¡­

    ¡°Fine,¡± I smiled. ¡°Everything is good.¡±

    We sat down to eat, and I noticed both Cynder and Sol were unusually quiet. After making my rounds and greeting the others, I took a seat beside my mother to eat. Breakfast in France wasn¡¯t a big affair, and it usually consisted of a pastry or bread with coffee or tea. The spreadid out today was incredible.

    I reached for my favorite - baked eggs.

    ¡°Why do they call them eggs en cocotte?¡± ym asked, pointing to my eggs. ¡°Doesn¡¯t cocotte mean prostitute?¡±

    ¡°Here we go again with talks of prostitution,¡± my wolf snuffled.

    Ares had reserved both the spa and salon at the hotel for the day. There wasn¡¯t a thing he wouldn¡¯t do for his mate. We spent the rest of the morning getting manicures, pedicures, and facials. Mimosas were served as we got plucked and waxed. I went with the full wax since it had been a while since I treated myself. I wasn¡¯t sure what to do with my hair, and Jose wasing over this evening to assist with hair and makeup, so I just went with deep conditioning at the salon to keep my curls shiny.

    Lily LaRue had just turned eighteen and was Lukas¡¯ cousin from Dark Moon Pack. I couldn¡¯t help overhear her conversation with my little sister. ¡°If Lukas doesn¡¯t find his mate tonight, I bet she¡¯s going to be human,¡± she said. ¡°Though it doesn¡¯t really matter what she is because he¡¯s going to turn her into a lycan.¡±

    ¡°Archer said Lukas preferred human females,¡± Aspen LaRue chimed in. I felt my chest squeeze. That would probably exin what he was doing at the clubst night.

    ¡°Only the Moon Goddess knows who is destined with who,¡± Cynder scowled and shot me an apologetic look.

    Through the salon mirrors, I met Eudora¡¯s sympathetic gaze and tried to look as calm as possible. She had always believed I was destined for her son and was just as shocked as the rest of my family when it didn¡¯t happen. Smiling, I reached for my mimosa and suddenly found myself wishing I had skipped breakfast and spent the day at the Louvre with Grandma.

 Chapter 9 - Versailles

    Selena

    The sound of a heated conversation greeted me when I returned to my apartment. Grandma Dori was arguing with Caspian.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t try stealing the Mona Lisa!¡± Caspian bellowed.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been to Egypt,¡± she snapped back. ¡°I know what I¡¯m talking about.¡±

    Caspian was more mild-mannered than most of the Crow Alphas. If he was angry, then something serious must have happened. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Grandma thinks there¡¯s a statue of my father in lycan form at the Louvre,¡± Persephone said.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it wasn¡¯t Anubis. Everyone knows Cleopatra was infatuated with Balthazar,¡± Grandma told them, and she wasn¡¯t wrong. I had also heard the story of the ancient love affair.

    ¡°You attempted to break into the disy,¡± Caspian tried to restrain a frustrated growl.

    ¡°That ss case was firmly in ce. It¡¯s not like I could actually reach inside.¡±

    ¡°It didn¡¯t stop you from trying,¡± Caspian fired back.

    ¡°Wait¡­ what happened?¡± I asked, praying shattered ss wasn¡¯t involved.

    ¡°She caught the guard¡¯s attention at the museum when she tried to pull a painting from the wall,¡± Caspian said. ¡°By the time we got to the Egyptian collection, she was leaning on a ss panel trying to move it.¡±

    ¡°They kicked us out,¡± Persephone admitted, looking slightly embarrassed.

    ¡°I wanted to see if there was a description on the back of the painting. How was I supposed to know that Jeanne d¡¯Arc was Joan of Arc.¡±

    ¡°Saint Joan of Arc is the patron saint of France!¡± I nearly shrieked. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me something happened to her painting at the Louvre.¡±

    ¡°Saint?¡± Grandma questioned. ¡°Wasn¡¯t she burned at the stake for witchcraft?¡±

    Caspian tossed his hands up. ¡°I give up. She¡¯s all yours,¡± he grumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll be back at nine with the car to take you to the ball. I can¡¯t believe Lukas is still allowing either of them to attend the ball. If anything ends up missing from the Pce of Versailles, I won¡¯t be responsible.¡±

    The door mmed behind him, and I could hear his heavy footsteps descending the stairs.

    ¡°Well, someone¡¯s in a growly mood!¡± Grandma scoffed.

    I plopped on the sofa and took a deep breath. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll have to stay at the ball all night?¡±

    ¡°Why would you want to leave early?¡± Persephone asked. ¡°They¡¯re going to have food, dancing, performances, and even fireworks at midnight!¡±

    ¡°Unless you¡¯ve found your mate before midnight, those might be the only fireworks you experience,¡± Grandma added.

    A knock sounded, and Persephone moved to answer my door.

    ¡°Who¡¯s ready to look fabulous for tonight¡¯s fundraiser?¡± Jose said as he shoved a tter into Persephone¡¯s arms. ¡°Erick sent a little ap¨¦ro and champagne over to help you get ready for the evening. He¡¯s working the catering event for the fundraiser. I volunteered to help him this evening, but he said security wouldn¡¯t allow it because of all the donors. I think there might be some royalsing tonight!¡±

    ¡°Royals?¡± I stifled augh.

    ¡°If only he knew what kind of royals,¡± my wolf snickered.

    ¡°Keep your eyes open for that handsome Prince of Greece,¡± Jose told Persephone before he turned to me. ¡°And you¡­ don¡¯t forget that gorgeous Sheikh from Qatar I was telling you aboutst week¡­ I think he might be in France right now!¡±

    ¡°So, if I¡¯m hearing you correctly,¡± Grandma said with augh. ¡°You want them to <i>husband hunt</i> at this fundraising ball?¡±

    Jose smiled. ¡°Well, where else are you supposed to meet rich and powerful men?¡±

    Nearly two hourster, we said goodbye to Jose and hello to Caspian, who was standing beside a white stretched limousine wearing a tuxedo. The end of his ck and white embroidered mask was hanging out of his coat pocket, and he looked a little less growly than when he left. Caspian pulled the door open for us, and my sister jumped out.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re here!¡± She squealed and hugged Persephone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing?¡±

    ¡°Grandma, my father just overnight expressed you some macarons,¡± Cynder called out from the back of the limo.

    ¡°It seems Lukas has entrusted the secret to Cynder and my sister?¡±

    ¡°Have you met Grandma?¡± Caspianughed. ¡°Lukas figures the secret will be out by the end of the night anyway. You look incredible, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, but don¡¯t I look incredible, too?¡± Grandma replied as she spun in a circle, showing off her gown and mask. She then glided past Caspian to climb into the waiting car.

    ¡°You all look great,¡± Caspian said. ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t think anyone will recognize either of you with those full face masks. Well¡­ at least not until you need to eat or drink.¡±

    ¡°Who wants some chilled champagne?¡± Persephone held up the extra bottle Jose brought over.

    ¡°Tr¨¨s bien!¡± Cynder smiled.

    I looked through the limousine bar and passed around ssware. Persephone gave Caspian the bottle, and he reluctantly opened it.

    ¡°What¡¯s the point? Alcohol does nothing for our kind,¡± he shook his head and filled our sses.

    Versailles wasn¡¯t too far outside of Paris but the traffic getting out of the city slowed us down, which made Caspian impatient.My sister looked like a beautiful ck swan in her dress. Her long, curly hair had been pulled back and adorned with feathers. Cynder always looked stunning, and her long gold dressplemented her pale skin and deep red hair. Her half-mask was ornate and had plums of feathers and crystals at the top.

    ¡°Here¡¯s to all of you finding your mates!¡± Persephone said as she held her ss up. She was wearing a simple but elegant cream-colored dress. Jose had twisted and braided her hair back with flowers. She was hoping to look inconspicuous with her full Vian facemask, but she looked like a mysterious stranger.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t find your mate, here¡¯s to finding a mate for the night!¡± Grandma joked and raised her ss.

    ¡°Grandma!¡± Persephone¡¯s mouth fell open.

    ¡°What? I was talking to Caspian,¡± she insisted.

    ¡°You look like royalty,¡± Cynder told me. ¡°I thought you were going to wear a tiara?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want someone to mistake me for royalty,¡± Iughed. It was a bittersweet response, and everyone seemed to understand it.

    Lukas and I had shared such a strong bond that everyone believed I was destined to be his Queen. I took a long drink of champagne and swallowed back my pain knowing that tonight he might finally find his Queen.I looked down at my dress and admired the crystals in my ball gown.

    ¡°You did an amazing job with that dress,¡± Grandmaplimented softly.

    I had spent two months perfecting my gown and sewing the Swarovski crystals into the bodice of the strapless dress and throughout the ruffled and bustled skirt of the gown. Jose had loosely pulled the curls of my crown back and decked them out with matching crystals. A tiara would have been too much and sent the wrong message.

    ¡°Even Armani would be envious of that dress,¡± my sister said with a smile.

    We arrived just after sunset, and the glow of the castle made it lookrger than life. A guard directed our driver to the right-sidene of the parking lot, where we cruised to a stop at a red carpet. My wolf chuffed, and she was on edge. The idea of possibly finding our mate was making her anxious.

    ¡°Are wete?¡± Cyder asked, noticing the parking lot was full.

    ¡°Every limousine in Paris must have been hired for tonight,¡± Sol said nervously as she slipped on her mask.

    ¡°Masks on!¡± Grandma told Persephone, and I wondered how long it would take for Ares to notice them.

    ¡°This was a bad idea,¡± Ste echoed in my head, and I felt the knot tighten in my stomach.

    In true gentlemen¡¯s fashion, Caspian held his hand out and helped each of us out of the car. I slipped my mask on and swallowed thest of the champagne before taking his hand. The mask around his eyes only enhanced the cool blue color, which reminded me of Lukas.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± He asked me.

    ¡°Fine,¡± I forced a smile on my face, though I was suddenly feeling shaky.

    ¡°If¡­ anything happens,¡± he started to say. ¡°And you want to leave early for any reason¡­I¡¯ll take you.¡±

    I nodded a quick thank you. What he was really telling me was that if Lukas found his mate and I didn¡¯t want to stick around to see it, he¡¯d take me home. We were quickly escorted through the outer gate and made our way up to the tall golden gates of the pce. Caspian gave his name, and his Alpha aura was enough to allow us all admittance.

    ¡°Is that real gold on the gates?¡± I heard Grandma ask Cynder through her mask.

    ¡°Grandma¡­¡± Caspian said in warning.

    ¡°What? I¡¯ll behave. I promise. I¡¯ve waited my entire life to see the Hall of Mirrors.¡± she told him. ¡°Don¡¯t ruin it for me.¡±

    We stepped into the courtyard, which was made of ck and white marble squares. Shifters in masks greeted each other before entering the Pce. The men were dressed in tuxedos. Some had long tails and top hats that seemed to fit the event. The women were draped in stunning designer gowns, haute couture, and vintage pieces.

    ¡°This is amazing!¡± Persephone whispered.

    ¡°Who¡¯s Marie Antoniette over there?¡± I heard Cynder ask. ¡°She looks like she stole that gown from the headless Queen¡¯s collection,¡± she continued, and Grandma burst intoughter.

    ¡°Shhh,¡± Caspian shushed us. ¡°Her name is actually Marie, and she¡¯s Alpha Orl¨¦ans¡¯ daughter.¡±

    ¡°The Orl¨¦ans and Darc packs are hosting the ball. Why isn¡¯t she inside being a good hostess?¡± Cynder muttered.

    ¡°She¡¯s probably hoping to catch an early sniff of her mate,¡± Caspian said.

    ¡°A little too eager, isn¡¯t she?¡± Ste grumbled, not liking the idea that she could be Lukas¡¯ mate.

    ¡°I wonder if the marble out here gets slippery when it rains?¡± Grandma asked no one in particr and I turned my focus to the marble.

    We entered the pce and stepped into the massive checkered entrance hall. The dramatic and beautiful architecture was French Baroque at its finest. We moved past the marble staircase leading up to the Hall of Mirrors and made our way to the open doors leading out to the gardens. Arge orchestra was set up in the corner and yed as people mingled. Over a hundred tables were set up with white linen, and the lights in the water fountains gave the night an air of magic.

    ¡°Are the tables assigned?¡± Persephone asked Caspian.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s open seating, so we can mingle with other pack members,¡± he exined. ¡°The appetizer and desserts are buffet style, and the wait staff is serving from a fixed menu.¡±

    ¡°Then Grandma and I will sit at the far end, by that fountain,¡± Persephone pointed.

    ¡°Stay away from the fountains,¡± Caspian said. ¡°The fountain show is set to go off during dinner, and every eye will be turned in the direction of the fountains.¡±

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll sit on the other side by the orchestra,¡± Grandma suggested.

    ¡°Lukas ys the cello. Where do you think he¡¯ll want to sit?¡± Caspian chuckled.

    ¡°Fine, then we¡¯ll sit way in the back and try to look invisible,¡± she huffed. ¡°Come on, Persephone, let¡¯s go see if we can find some cocktail shrimp or fancy snails before we check out the Hall of Mirrors.¡± The two of them disappeared, and I felt my anxiety rising.

    ¡°Is that Alpha Lawless over there?¡± Cynder asked.

    ¡°It is, but he seems to have a fancy for Sol,¡± Zane said as he suddenly appeared behind us.

    ¡°Who has a fancy for Sol?¡± Ranger demanded, appearing behind Zane.

    ¡°No one,¡± Cynderughed.

    ¡°The girls were just admiring the Scottish Prince over there,¡± Zane said.

    ¡°Wait, he¡¯s royal?¡± I couldn¡¯t tell if Zane was being sarcastic.

    ¡°His mother, Alpha Louise, was a great Alpha. I was hoping to see her here¡­ that¡¯s all,¡± Cynder told us.

    ¡°Alpha Louise doesn¡¯t need a mate,¡± Erick¡¯s familiar voice said. ¡°She¡¯s not here tonight.¡±

    ¡°Erick?¡± I turned to find Jose¡¯s boyfriend standing behind me. ¡°You know about shifters?¡±

    ¡°Of course. My mother has a shifter mate,¡± he said with a chuckle.

    ¡°And you¡¯re human!¡± Realization set in. His mother was mated to someone in Alpha Darc¡¯s pack.

    ¡°Ouch,¡± Caspian said. ¡°That must have been hard. Did you grow up in the pack?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was,¡± he nodded. ¡°And yes, I did.¡±

    Lukas¡¯ mother was our Luna Queen, and she was still human. The few humans in our pack were treated no differently than shifters, but that wasn¡¯t always the case in other packs. Ares had signed a decree forbidding the abuse or neglect of pack humans, but pups could sometimes be cruel to one another.

    ¡°Does Jose know?¡± They had been dating for nearly a year now, but Jose seemed oblivious to shifters.

    ¡°No,¡± Erick smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not a shifter, so there¡¯s no reason to tell him. I don¡¯t want to vite shifterws.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°And now you run Alpha Darc¡¯s most prestigious restaurant.¡±

    ¡°And his special events,¡± he replied. ¡°You look fabulous! Find afortable seat, and I¡¯ll send some champagne over. I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t take you long to find your mate.¡±

    I turned to Caspian. ¡°All the workers seem to be human. Even the orchestra. Do they all know?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zane replied. ¡°Alpha Darc had them all take a special tonic to help keep tonight¡¯s events a haze for them in the morning.¡±

    ¡°A tonic?¡± Cynder questioned. ¡°As in witchcraft?¡±

    ¡°Is there something wrong with magic?¡± Ranger asked. His mother had the blood of Hecate running in her veins and held powerful magic.

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Cynder replied. ¡°I¡¯m just not sure I trust anyone but your mother with magic.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Fervent whispers filled the air, and heads turned to the doors behind us. I didn¡¯t need to spin around to know what was going on. The buzzing excitement told me Lukas had arrived with his parents. I took a deep breath and turned around slowly to face him. He wore a ck metal wolf mask, and I resisted the urge to smile.

    When we were pups, Ares agreed to take us trick-or-treating while we were spending a long weekend in Florida. I think we only visited a dozen houses, but the five-year-old pup inside of me remembers it like it was yesterday. Lukas insisted on wearing a wolf mask and growled at the humans who were stingy with the candy. He knew the milk choctes were my favorite and slipped all of his into my little bucket.

    His blue eyes met mine, and my wolf howled in pain. He wasn¡¯t reaching for me, sniffing my neck, or calling out the one word I longed to hear... <i>mate</i>. My chest squeezed, and I felt my throat closing up. The agony inside of me made it difficult to breathe. Blinking away tears, I went to find a chocte macaron.

    ¡°These macaron towers are amazing,¡± I heard her voice before I saw her. ¡°I¡¯m going to stuff my purse full of them! You know what they charge for each one of these little delights?¡±

    ¡°Grandma, you should probably wait until the end of the night to take the macarons,¡± Persephone told her.

    ¡°There won¡¯t be any left,¡± she said. ¡°Look around. No one seems to be pawing at each other or shouting, <i>mate</i>. These are unmated wolves¡­ they¡¯re going to start binge-eating their disappointment within the hour. You¡¯ve got to get it while the getting is good!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not stealing macarons,¡± I told her as I pulled a chocte macaron from the tower.

    ¡°I need one, too,¡± my wolf whimpered, and I pulled two more off the tower.

    I looked back at hundreds of unmated and beautiful shifters. They were mixing and mingling, but Grandma Dori was right. No one was sniffing out a mate. I shoved the first macaron in my mouth and wondered why I had even bothered toe.

    ¡°It looks like they¡¯re nning something big for the fireworks show tonight,¡± Grandma said. ¡°And they¡¯re trying to keep it a secret.¡±

    ¡°Secret?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s some kind of ck-out smoke past those big trees out there.¡± I looked in the direction she was pointing but didn¡¯t see anything.

    ¡°Don¡¯t go snooping around in the gardens,¡± I told her. ¡°There¡¯s over two thousand acres of garden out there, and we¡¯ll never be able to find you.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like fun,¡± sheughed.

    ¡°Excusez-moi,¡± a server said, holding out a tray of bubbly. The chef has sent you some of the best champagne in France.¡±

    ¡°Merci,¡± I said as I took two flutes. Everything Erick always cooked or rmended was delicious, and champagne was no different.

    ¡°Do you think Storm was right?¡± I asked them as I watched a parade of females passing by Lukas, no doubt hoping to be his mate.

    ¡°About the Moon Goddess forsaking us?¡± Persephone asked.

    I devoured another macaron and washed it down with the first ss of champagne. ¡°Yep.¡±

    ¡°Selena!¡± A deep voice called out, and I turned my attention to see who it was.

    ¡°Constantine! How wonderful to see you.¡± Constantine Theodorus was the current Alpha of Olympus Blood Moon in Greece. He was heartbreakingly gorgeous and an exact replica of his great-grandfather.

    ¡°How¡¯s everyone in Greece?¡± I asked as Grandma Dori and Persephone quickly shuffled away.

    ¡°Great, though Pappo¨²s and Yia-Yia keep asking why you keep visiting the pack in Italy so much instead of us,¡± he chuckled.

    His great-grandparents visited our pack in upstate New York so often that they were practically a fixture. Guilt filled me when I realized I had only visited Greece once since my move to Europe. ¡°Better get that guest room ready for me, Alpha.¡±

    He nodded with a smile and turned his attention back to the gathering guests of hopefuls. Everyone was dressed to impress, and Constantine seemed as eager as I was to join the crowd. ¡°Any luck yet?¡±

    ¡°Not yet,¡± I shook my head. ¡°You?¡±

    ¡°The night is still young,¡± heughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare your friends off. Was it anyone I know?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± I lied with a big grin on my face. Persephone¡¯s resemnce to her Theodorus family was so strong that she looked more like Constantine¡¯s little sister than his little sister did.

    He looked down at the treat in my hand. ¡°How are the macarons?¡±

    ¡°Delicious,¡± I replied and shoved thest one in my mouth. I probably should have offered it to him, but there was an entire tree on the table behind us, and I really needed the chocte to calm my nerves.

    Constantineughed and pulled a macaron from the tree. I couldn¡¯t help but notice several females scowling in our direction. Constantine was one of the most desirable unmated Alphas, and I could feel their jealous res. My life would have been so much easier if only the Moon Goddess had paired me with Constantine.

    ¡°Come sit at my table and have dinner with me,¡± he held out his arm. ¡°If we¡¯re not going to find our mates tonight, we can at least make everyone wonder¡­ and make my cousin jealous,¡± he smiled mischievously.

    *****

    I''m not going to lie. I swooned a little when I thought of Constantine! LOL

 Chapter 10 - Wanted

    <b>? Copyrighted. No part of this book may be used or reproduced. I will not hesitate to take legal action against you or the tform you use my stolen work on. You have been warned.</b>

    <b>***********</b>

    Lukas

    This was proof the Moon Goddess hated me and wanted me to suffer.

    Alpha Darc greeted us upon arrival, and his sister was immediately shoved under my nose. I greeted her with a simple head nod, and to his disappointment, my lycan showed no reaction to the female.

    We moved through the courtyard, and it was more of the same. Alpha Orl¨¦ans introduced two daughters, Marie and Antote. One was dressed like the old French Queen, and the other was barely dressed. Then there was the cousin, the Beta¡¯s daughter, the Chief Warrior¡¯s son, and several other hopefuls hoping to be my mate.

    My mother gave me an apologetic smile, and my father fought to conceal his smirk. We were nked by ym and his parents, as well as Selena¡¯s parents. The lineup of females was overwhelming, and ym seemed to be the only one enjoying the attention as we were paraded through. I wasn¡¯t interested in any of these females, and my beast was starting to get restless.

    My escape came when my phone vibrated, and I reached for it.

    ¡°Leave it,¡± my father said as we continued walking through the main entrance.

    ¡°It¡¯s Rex¡­ it could be urgent,¡± I replied, thankful for the distraction. I stepped away into a corner to answer.

    ¡°Everything okay?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Grandma and Persephone¡ª,¡± he started to say before I cut him off.

    ¡°They¡¯re here.¡±

    ¡°Oh, sweet Goddess,¡± he breathed in relief. ¡°Balthazar is furious. We thought maybe they went into Manhattan to catch a show or something. He sent the triplets to the city to look for them.¡±

    ¡°No, they¡¯re here. I think they hid in the jet when we left for Paris,¡± I told him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t think to tell you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll let Aunt Demeter know. She¡¯ll calm him down.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s everything else?¡± I asked, and I felt the tension through the phone when he remained silent. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he replied. ¡°I had the dream again, only this time it was in a wild-looking garden, and you were there.¡±

    ¡°The ck mist?¡±

    ¡°Also there,¡± he replied. ¡°Don¡¯t wander far from the castle. Something doesn¡¯t feel right.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not the lineup of she-wolves wanting to devour me?¡± I chuckled.

    ¡°Just be careful,¡± he warned.

    ¡°Will do,¡± I replied and disconnected the call.

    We moved through the pce, and Alpha Darc guided us upstairs into the Hall of Mirrors, where some were already gathered. The hall was long and opulent. Everything was tipped in gold, and the seventeen mirrors matched the seventeen ss doors that looked out over the gardens. The mirrors were made up of hundreds of smaller mirrors in a time when only the Vians knew how to manufacture such perfection.

    I remembered reading somewhere that the French had paid a hefty sum to get a few Vian artisans toe to France and make the mirrors for the great hall. When the Vian government found out, they ordered the assassination of the men to keep the trade secrets from falling into the hands of the French. The assassinations happened toote, and Frenchmen learned the craft.

    ¡°It¡¯s as beautiful as ever,¡± My mother said, though this wasn¡¯t her first time here.

    ¡°This is where your LaRue ancestors enjoyed many evenings long ago,¡± Alpha Darc told me. ¡°They may have been shifters, but they were also nobles.¡±

    ¡°Judging from the Roman and Greek statues in the hall, I¡¯d say there was a great deal of shifter influence in this time period,¡± my father replied.

    ¡°The fountain of Apollo in the garden is a favorite around here,¡± Alpha Darc smiled, knowing that my father¡¯s golden wolf was named Apollo. The ass-kissing was already annoying my beast.

    ¡°It¡¯s my favorite fountain,¡± my mother smiled.

    I gazed out the window overlooking the gardens, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but there were too many people. Some were even wearing full face masks. ¡°What¡¯s really amazing is that they managed to construct all of this opulence, fountains and all¡­ yet they couldn¡¯t figure out proper toilets.¡±

    ¡°If you look closely at some of the paintings around here, you¡¯ll find some familiar-looking LaRue faces,¡± Alpha Darc replied.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see the point since the LaRue faces haven¡¯t changed much over the centuries,¡± I chuckled dismissively.

    The only face I wanted to see was hers. I knew she was here, and I needed to see her to calm my beast down. I told myself her calming effect on me was because we had been so close since we were pups, but I was lying to myself. I couldn¡¯t get her out of my mind, and the thought of finding a mate that wasn¡¯t her was like a silver de to my heart.

    Alpha Darc continued his informal tour, proudly spouting historical facts about the castle as I pretended to listen. My beast continued to grow restless, and the urge to see her was driving me mad. A small tremor shook the ground, and my father turned his attention to me. I usually had more control over my elemental energy, but my father had to use his control over the elements to neutralize mine.

    ¡°Lukas?¡± He called through the mind link.

    ¡°My beast is anxious,¡± I replied.

    ¡°Is he sensing his mate?¡±

    I nodded. ¡°I think we need to go outside and look.¡± Any excuse to see if she had found her mate. Only then would I finally be able to let her go. Let her go¡­ or kill him.

    The moment we stepped outside, I shifted the wind to try and pick up her scent, but my father neutralized my element again.

    ¡°Calm down,¡± he said through the mind link. ¡°You¡¯ll stir up the air and make it harder to locate the source of her scent.¡±

    Fuck, he was right. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I didn¡¯t want to scent anyone but her. Heads turned, and I tried to remain calm as I scanned the masked faces for her. I saw Cynder¡¯s red hair before my eyes finally found Selena¡¯s familiar form.

    Time stood still when she slowly turned to face me. In her purple gown, she looked like a dream. When her eyes met mine, my lycan snarled in frustration. Destined mate or not, he wanted her. I watched her turn and make her way to the dessert buffet. Knowing her so well, I knew she was searching for something choctey.

    Several females flocked to my mother in hopes of getting close enough to me. It wasn¡¯t just the females annoying me; it was also the males watching Selena. Alpha Darc practically tripped over his feet when he followed her to the dessert buffet. He stopped short when my cousin beat him to her.

    Constantine Theodorus may have been my cousin, but Selena was an unmated, beautiful she-wolf who was fair game. Jealousy med through me when he hugged her, and I watched as they spoke. He offered his arm to her, and sheughed at something he said. Family or not, my lycan wanted to sink his ws into Constantine.

    Alpha Singh, who came from a long line of Maharajas, was bold enough to walk right up to her and greet her despite her arm being looped around Constantine¡¯s. It seemed to be every Alpha for himself, and my lycan wasn¡¯t happy. I watched as Singh scented the air, hoping to im her as his mate. A low snarl rumbled in my chest, and my father gave me a questioning look.

    ¡°We should eat.¡± I wasn¡¯t really hungry, but I figured people would leave me alone if they saw I was trying to eat. I moved to an empty table closest to the orchestra and hoped the music would calm me.

    For a moment, I thought Constantine was going to join my table with Selena, but he stopped short one table and pulled a seat for her. My other cousin from Greece, Alpha Adonis Kappas, quickly seated himself on her other side. Werewolves had excellent hearing, but lycan hearing was far superior. Despite the music ying behind me, I heard Adonis tell her how stunning she looked.

    ¡°Lukas, are you okay?¡± My mother asked. She may have been human, but she didn¡¯t need to be a shifter to tell I was raging on the inside.

    ¡°Somethings not right, Mom. Rex and Storm have been trying to tell me, but I haven¡¯t been listening.¡±

    ¡°Something¡¯s not right tonight?¡± She questioned in a low, rmed whisper. ¡°Or just in general¡­ with thete matings?¡±

    ¡°Everything.¡±

    Selena pushed away from the table suddenly and wrapped her arms around her stomach. She looked like she was going to throw up. Male shifters started sniffing the air and following her with interest. She swayed and whimpered while clutching herself tighter. Her breathing seemedbored, and for a moment, I thought she was going to burst into her wolf.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Selena?¡± My mother asked in a panic.

    Something was happening near the appetizer buffets, but I couldn¡¯t look away from Selena. She was panting and groaning, and something was definitely wrong. She took a few more wobbly steps and nearly fell over.

    ¡°Selena?¡± I raced to her and heard the snarl of several angry Alphas.

    That¡¯s when it hit me.

    Her pheromones were so strong that they instantly called to my beast. It smelled like pure euphoria, and I wanted to devour every bit of it. She was in heat, and my cock pulsed with the knowledge. I reached for her, and her skin felt hot. She looked up at me as sweat glistened from her forehead, and her pupils were fully blown.

    ¡°Lukas,¡± she instinctively curled into me, and it set off the other males who were reacting to a she-wolf in full heat. ¡°Please¡­¡± she begged.

    I heard screaming from somewhere beyond, but all I could think about was getting Selena out of there before the males started fighting for the right to mount her. I considered using my element to pull up a wall of fire to keep the other males away from her.

    ¡°Lukas¡­ move away from her,¡± my father called to me, and my lycan roared in response. No one was going toe near her.

    ¡°You¡¯d better get her the hell out of here before you have to fight your way out!¡± ym shouted.

    Selena let out a whimper and doubled over. Her scent hit me again, and it was stronger. Releasing my full lycan aura, I snarled at the hungry males who were driven by the animalistic instinct to rut her. My canines dropped, signaling I was ready to fight for her. Fortunately for me, I was the only lycan here, and it would be foolish to challenge me.

    I reached for Selena and scooped her up in my arms before running back to the parking lot.

    ¡°Lukas!¡± My father was the only one who could keep up with me. ¡°She¡¯s not your mate,¡± he reminded me.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed,¡± I growled back. ¡°None of us seem to have mates.¡±

    ¡°I know you¡¯re responding to natural instincts, but think about this¡ª¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s mine!¡± My lycan snarled possessively.

    Our human driver was standing with a few other drivers, smoking a cigarette. He immediately extinguished it beneath his shoe when he saw me approach.

    ¡°Everything okay, Monsieur?¡± He asked, taking in the writhing female in my arms.

    ¡°Food poisoning. We need to leave right away.¡±

    ¡°Lukas,¡± she cried my name.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, baby,¡± I crooned. ¡°I¡¯ll get you out of here.¡±

    The driver immediately pulled the door open, and I slid into the backseat. Holding her tightly against me, she nuzzled her head into my neck to breathe me in. My father stood silently observing before the driver closed the door.

    ¡°Monsieur Crow, there¡¯s a hospital down the street. Would you like me to stop there?¡± The driver offered as we set off.

    ¡°Take us back to the hotel as fast as you can. We have a family doctor there,¡± I told him.

    ¡°Right away.¡±

    ¡°How is this happening?¡± She cried.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°It¡­ it hurts,¡± she whimpered.

    ¡°Hang in there. I¡¯ll take care of it soon.¡±

    She turned to press her chest into me; the contact should have beenforting to her wolf, but it only frustrated her because of our clothes. I stroked the exposed parts of her skin to help soothe her, but it only made it worse for me. Her pheromones spiked, and I was ready to pounce on her in the back of this limo.

    I wanted to ease her pain with a quick orgasm, but I knew my lycan would lose control with the first wave of her sweet release. Lycans were primalpared to regr shifters. A lycan understood territory, rank, mating, procreating, hunting, hunger, death, and dominance. I could sense how wet and ready she was for me.

    My beast started purring, and she nuzzled closer into my neck, seekingfort. The bastard was humming in delight at the thought of knotting her and hoping to fill her with our pup. I knew it wasn¡¯t possible because lycans could only reproduce with their destined mates, but it wasn¡¯t going to deter me from rutting her through her heat.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­ need,¡± she struggled to say it, but I knew it. She needed me. She wanted me¡­ always has. And now she was looking up at me with those wide, hungry eyes. I¡¯d move heaven and hell for her.

    ¡°Almost there,¡± I whispered in her ear and kissed her neck, breathing her in.

    Despite the driver speeding, it was the longest half-hour ride of my life. He was human, so I didn¡¯t have to kill him. A shifter would have scented the pheromones rolling from her, broadcasting her heat. Instinct would have kicked in for him, and I wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to rip his throat out. I removed a hundred euros from my wallet and handed it to the driver when he pulled the door open.

    ¡°Please return for the others,¡± I instructed him.

    ¡°I will,¡± he nodded. ¡°Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Crow.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve returned early,¡± the concierge greeted me.

    ¡°ce a <i>do not disturb</i> on my room unless I ask for something.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Oui, of course,¡± he called out from behind me as I raced for the elevator. Thest thing I needed was for another shifter to scent her. My lycan wouldn¡¯t hesitate to protect what was his.

    <i>Hell¡­ when did she be his? </i>

    We reached my room, and I gave the same direction to the floor butler. Locking the door behind me, I made a beeline for the bed.

    ¡°Your dress is stunning,¡± I said as I reached for the zipper and allowed it to fall to the floor. It took all I had to keep from destroying the dress, because I knew she had made it.

    ¡°I¡¯m on fire!¡± She moaned and bent over the bed, exposing her silk purple panties.

    The crotch of her panties was soaked, and I couldn¡¯t resist bending down to run my tongue along her seam. Instinctively, she pressed herself back against my face with a moan, desperate for contact. I wasn¡¯t sure how much longer I could keep control over my beast, who was demanding to be inside her.

    I had dreamed of exploring all of her warm curves and tasting every inch of her, but now wasn¡¯t the time. She had waited long enough, and my lycan was growing more in control. I tore the scrap of panties from her and freed my cock. The sight of her freshly waxed pussy glistening with her slick arousal drew a growl of pleasure from me.

    When she moaned my name and swayed her hips from side to side like a siren calling for my cock, I nearly lost my mind. My lycan was drunk on the scent of her heat, and I couldn¡¯t stop him. I did the only thing I could¡­ I thrust deep into her with one swift motion.

    The beast inside roared, and she cried out in bliss. Buried deep inside of her, I remained motionless to give her a moment to adjust to my size. I leaned down to press kisses on her shoulder and nibbled at the back of her neck.

    My Selena¡ªmy sweet and beautiful girl was finally mine, and I¡¯d kill any wolf who tried to take her from me.

    My hand cupped the fullness of her breast, and I rolled her hardened nipple between my fingers, wishing I could taste it. I traced my hand slowly down to the curve of her wide hip. She had perfect hips that were made to carry pups. I started pumping in and out of her, and she moaned with every stroke.

    It was a tug-of-war as I struggled not to hurt her with my beast¡¯s urge to mate her hard. I pounded in and out of her until my knot started to swell. My grip on her hips tightened as I mounted her. I wasn¡¯t sure if she knew exactly how lycan anatomy worked, but I hoped she had heard the rumors.

    ¡°Lukas!¡± She cried out as her orgasm ripped through her.

    The sound of my name on her sweet lips shot straight to my balls, and the need to fill her with my seed was overpowering and feral. I buried myself deep inside her just as my knot tied us together. The pulsing shot through my cock with each spasm and spurt, branding her with my scent.

    My canines dropped, and my beast demanded I sink them into the silky smooth flesh of her neck and take what I wanted.

 Chapter 11 - Nose Knows

    Selena

    He copsed on top of me and rolled us onto our side. Coming down from the high of orgasm, I realized he was knotted tightly in ce.

    Despite getting an annual heat suppressant injection, the heat hade out of nowhere. The haze of frenzied fucking over thest three days left me exhausted, sore, and still hungry for more. His arms wrapped around me, pulling my back to his chest. The warmth of his body soothed me, and I was already growing used to having him beside me, holding me.

    ¡°Sleep.¡± He nuzzled into my neck. ¡°I¡¯ll wake you when the food is here.¡±

    We had done nothing but mate, sleep, and eat the past few days, and it was amazing. Nothing existed in the world outside of this hotel room. Turning my head back, I captured his mouth for a kiss. His beast had been rough and demanding, but his human side had worshipped and loved me. Lukas continued kissing and caressing my skin like I was the most beautiful thing in the world.

    Closing my eyes, I listened to the purr in his chest and drifted away into bliss.

    I woke to the smell of food and found Lukas spooning something from a serving pot into a bowl. He tore a chunk of bread from the baguette, dipped it into the bowl, and brought it to my mouth. With a smile, I opened my mouth and allowed him to feed me just as he had the past few days.

    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± He asked tenderly.

    ¡°Exhausted but wonderful.¡± I took another bite of the warm bread soaked in the coq au vin sauce.

    The heat had passed, but the sight of him in his boxer briefs, seated at the edge of the bed feeding me, made me long for him. I wanted him to hold me and love me all over again¡­ outside of heat. He moved the fork to my mouth, and I happily ate the tender, delicious chicken.

    I shifted into a sitting position on the bed and felt the soreness between my legs. I tried to recall what had happened through the mating haze, and memories started flooding back. One little detail seemed to keeping back to me, and I wanted to ask how it was possible. Did he really have a magic dick?

    Knotting was normal when mating in wolf form, but no one ever mentioned that lycan anatomy was uniquely special. Lukas, Rex, the triplets, Kairo¡­ surely they weren¡¯t all virgins, so why wasn¡¯t anyone talking about it? Did no one notice? How could they have missed it?

    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± He asked casually as he took a bite of potato.

    ¡°Your magic dick,¡± Ste hummed.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about how wonderful the coq au vin is.¡±

    ¡°Liar.¡± I heard him say it but didn¡¯t see his lips move.

    Shifters from the same pack couldmunicate through the pack link, but it felt like he was listening to my thoughts.

    ¡°Busted,¡± my wolf whispered, and I could have sworn the corner of his mouth twitched.

    ¡°I was wondering what time it was. All the curtains have been pulled tight, and I¡¯ve lost track of time.¡±

    ¡°You want to try again? Or would you like me to spank it out of you?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll be spanking your ass. Not mine,¡± Ste snickered, and Lukasughed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± I replied, but I couldn¡¯t seem to make eye contact.

    ¡°Knotting happens after a lycan reaches maturity, which, as you know, is at the age of twenty-five.¡±

    My face heated, and my mind raced. How the hell did he know what I was thinking? Only a mate could read your thoughts. Then it hit me.

    ¡°Persephone said that lycans have the ability to read minds,¡± I narrowed my eyes at him.

    ¡°Reading someone¡¯s mind requires sinking my ws into them.¡±

    ¡°Then how is it possible?¡± I questioned as his eyes fell on my neck.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t stop myself,¡± he replied.

    My hand shot to my neck, and I felt the tenderness of his bite. ¡°You marked me!¡± I gasped.

    ¡°You¡¯re all I want.¡±

    ¡°But we¡¯re not true mates. We don¡¯t have that stupid tingling bond that our parents brag about,¡± I said, as my eyes burned with tears. ¡°What happens when one of us stumbles across our real mate?¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t happen,¡± he growled.

    ¡°How can you be sure? Are we staying in this room forever?¡±

    ¡°A lot has happened in thest five days¡ª¡±

    ¡°Five days? We¡¯ve been here for five days?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Five days of mating. No wonder I was so exhausted and sore. I tried to figure out the day of the week. The ball was on Saturday, and my graduation is on Friday¡­ Wait¡­ ¡°Grandma Dori!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Today is Thursday. Your graduation is tomorrow, and Grandma Dori is fine. The Eiffel Tower is still standing, and nothing is missing from the Louvre. My sister is with Grandma.¡±

    If I had been missing for five days, Jose would have noticed my absence. Would Erick have told him? I needed to call him.

    ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡± Everything was so hazy that I couldn¡¯t remember what I had done with my phone.

    ¡°Sweetheart, it¡¯s almost midnight. We¡¯re going to eat and sleep, and then we¡¯ll talk to Balthazar in the morning.¡±

    ¡°Balthazar? Balthazar is here?¡±

    ¡°Everyone is here,¡± he said, lifting another forkful to my mouth. ¡°A lot has happened, and we¡¯ll discuss it in the morning.¡±

    Discussing it in the morning could mean a number of things¡­ things I didn¡¯t want to think about right now. My eyes dropped to myp, and I noticed teeth marks near the inside of my thigh.

    ¡°That was my lycan,¡± he said.

    ¡°Kas,¡± I smiled.

    Werewolf shifters had an inner wolf that was capable of independent thought andmunication. Their wolf had a separate identity and name. Lycans were shifters with an inner beast that was part of them all the time. A feral creature thatmunicated with emotion and instinct. A lycan was capable of shifting any body part at any time and did not need to be one or the other. So their wolf, or beast as it was often called, did not have a name.

    I fought to keep the tears from falling as the memories came racing back.

    <i>¡°It¡¯s not fair,¡± my seven-year-old self tried to understand. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t your wolf have a name? I bet that makes him sad.¡±</i>

    <i>¡°Aunt Demeter said she named Uncle Balthazar¡¯s lycan,¡± Lukas tried to calm me.</i>

    <i>¡°His wolf is very big and scary,¡± I sniffled. Balthazar¡¯s lycan was the first lycan I¡¯d ever seen, and he was different. Lukas could also shift into a lycan, but he was cute. </i>

    <i>¡°Mine will be bigger when I¡¯m older,¡± Lukas told me as he puffed out his chest with pride. ¡°When we¡¯re mated, you can name mine if you want.¡±</i>

    <i>¡°Kas,¡± I said with a soft whisper. ¡°I¡¯m going to call him Kas.¡± Even at such a young age, I had always known Lukas was going to be mine. </i>

    <i>¡°He likes it,¡± Lukas smiled. </i>

    <i>¡°How do you know?¡± </i>

    <i>¡°Because you¡¯re his favorite girl, but don¡¯t tell my mom. She thinks she¡¯s everyone¡¯s favorite.¡±</i>

    His voice called my name and I blinked away the sweet memories.

    ¡°Selena?¡±

    I raised my gaze to meet his warm eyes. I wondered if he was going to me the bite on my neck on his beast. ¡°Who marked my neck?¡±

    ¡°Kas marked you here,¡± he touched his fingers to the left side of my neck. Sadness rushed through me because a mate touching their mate mark should have sent the most intense waves of pleasure through my entire body, and I only felt his touch on the surface.

    I nodded my head in understanding. ¡°So, Kas marked me.¡±

    His hand moved to the right side of my neck, and his fingers caressed a tender spot. ¡°I marked you on this side.¡±

    ¡°Two marks?¡± I wondered if the marks wouldst since we weren¡¯t true mates.

    His hand continued moving, and he tenderly caressed the back of my neck. ¡°We both marked you here as well.¡±

    My mouth fell open with shock. Three iming marks. I looked down at my body and noticed more bite marks besides the ones on the inside of my thighs. They weren¡¯t like the ones that typically decorated the necks of mates, but they were still bite marks. His hand moved to my shoulder and down to my left breast.

    ¡°This nibble was me, too,¡± he cupped it in his hand possessively before his hand continued to roam down my body. It stopped on my hip, where his finger circled another bite mark. ¡°This was also me.¡±

    His other hand reached around and slipped under me, squeezing the right side of my butt. ¡°This was my beast.¡± I felt the sensitive sting of the bite. ¡°He loves your ass. Damn near lost his mind at the club when we saw it.¡±

    Wolves had elerated healing, but bites from mates healed slower. I wondered how long it would take and if the ones on my neck would remain. As a healer, I could use my gift on others but not on myself. If I wanted to make these disappear faster, I¡¯d have to ask my sister because I sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to ask my father.

    ¡°Our parents¡ª¡± I started to say.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± he replied with absolute certainty. ¡°Rex can be Lycan King, or Storm, for that matter.¡± He reached for another hunk of bread, dipped it in the bowl, and lifted it to my mouth.

    We continued eating in silence, and I couldn¡¯t help worrying about the fallout tomorrow morning. I wasn¡¯t ready to face the family, to hear them tell us how we¡¯d offend the Moon Goddess and how that could doom our families.

    ¡°All I care about right now is taking care of my mate,¡± he forked a mushroom and dragged it through the side of mashed potato before bringing it to my mouth.

    I ate and admired the man I had loved my entire life. There was a sweet and tender simplicity in watching him care for my every need. When we finished eating, he ced the tray in the other room and climbed into bed beside me.

    He drew me to him, and I naturally buried my face in his shoulder. Everything felt so right with him, and yet something kept nagging in the back of my mind. His arm reached down to my leg, and he hooked it around his waist. My wolf started humming with pleasure, and his was purring again. It seemed to be theirnguage of love.

    I was pulled from my sleep by the ringing of a cell phone. Lukas answered it, and after a moment, he told whomever it was that we were going to shower and be there in thirty minutes.

    ¡°Who was that?¡± I mumbled.

    ¡°Storm. She left a bag of clothes and some of your things outside our door. The family is expecting us up for breakfast.¡±

    Lukas joined me in the shower, and I blushed remembering snippets of what happened during the mating haze. He had attempted to take a shower with me that ended with us pressed against the shower wall, tied together with his magic dick.

    ¡°If we didn¡¯t have family waiting for us, I would give you my magic dick right now and remind you exactly how it happened thest time we were in here,¡± he grinned.

    My wolf yipped, and heat pooled between my legs. Five days of mating and I still felt insatiable. My core was throbbing for him, and it wasn¡¯t because of a mating haze. His blue eyes dropped to my chest, and I felt my nipples harden. When he looked up at me, his eyes had turned into dark, spinning gxies.

    ¡°Kas¡­¡± I said in a low whisper.

    He lowered his head to my neck, scenting me before he started licking and kissing my neck. I let out a deep breath I didn¡¯t know I was holding and dug my fingers into his thick ck hair. Breakfast was in half an hour, and I tried to remember how long knottingsted. He pulled back and looked at me. Tilting his head to the side, he smirked, knowing what I was thinking. He wanted me as much as I wanted him.

    His mouth covered mine, and he kissed me hard and demanding. I moaned. The wet warmth of his mouth nearly sent me into a frenzy. The shower continued to rain down on us, and the heat radiating from him encased me. His strong arms lifted me with ease, and I wrapped my legs around him.

    ¡°MINE!¡± Kas growled, and I cried out when he sank into me. The stretching burn was a delicious fire between my thighs that sent me spiraling with each thrust.

    Lukas rocked back and forth as he pumped every long inch in and out of me. My inner walls squeezed around him, and he groaned. When I met his eyes, they shed back and forth between the dark swirling of his lycan eyes and the cool blue of his human eyes.

    ¡°I love the feel of you wrapped around me,¡± he rasped.

    I tried to hold my pleasure back, but I was losing the battle. Lukas picked up the pace, and I felt the first waves of my walls convulsing around him. I writhed against him, and the sounds of his moans deepened. His pelvis ground against me, and I could feel his knot swelling. It should have felt strange and foreign, but it didn¡¯t. It felt absolutely natural and elevated intimacy to a mind-blowing level.

    We left the hotel room and took the stairs at the end of the hall leading to the rooftop. My heart was pounding, and I couldn¡¯t help feeling like amb going to the ughterhouse. Rejecting a destined mate was something that just wasn¡¯t done. A soulmate was a gift from the Moon Goddess, and we were going to offend her and our families.

    ¡°We¡¯ve done nothing wrong,¡± he said. ¡°My heart and soul have always belonged to you. If loving you is wrong, then I don¡¯t ever want to be right.¡± He kissed my forehead and then pushed the door open to the rooftop.

    ¡°Maybe we should reconsider that private ind escape after all?¡± I whispered nervously, feeling like I wanted to vomit.

    I tried to remain calm when the sight of all of them hit me. My parents were standing with Ares and Eudora, wearing serious expressions. Wylder was seated with Tymber in hisp. Only, she didn¡¯t look like she was cuddling up to her mate. She looked like she was trying to keep him from pouncing on something¡­ or someone. My eyes followed Wylder¡¯s re and found Cynder standing in a corner with Alpha Zane LaRue and his brother Zander standing close. Beside them, Ranger stood with his arm around my sister.

    ¡°Sol?¡± I called out to her, and she nced nervously in my direction.

    Storm and Rex sat quietly with Grandma Dori and Caspian, who looked like they were waiting for the show to start. The only thing they seemed to be missing was a bucket of popcorn. ym seemed uncertain as he paced back and forth. Persephone wasn¡¯t here, but her parents were. Balthazar and Demeter were seated at the table, but no one was eating. They wore the same concerned expression as my parents. They were probably angry that I had harbored their daughter at my apartment and allowed her to attend the ball.

    I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and squeezed Lukas¡¯ hand for support. My stomach churned, and my nerves were getting the best of me. Despite the beautiful assortment of foodid out, no one was here to enjoy breakfast, not even Wylder or ym.

    ¡°You marked her,¡± Ares said. It wasn¡¯t a question but a confirmation of what he could see. The man I had always believed would someday be my father-inw looked displeased, and I couldn¡¯t help the tears pooling in my eyes.

    ¡°She¡¯s my mate!¡± Lukas snarled at him.

    ¡°Sweetheart, everyone loves Selena,¡± his mother said. ¡°We all thought you were destined for one another¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about the Moon Goddess. My lycan knows what she is to me,¡± he dered.

    ¡°This breakfast looks amazing,¡± Grandma piped. ¡°We should eat.¡±

    ¡°My wolf also feels the same about Sol,¡± Ranger announced. ¡°He¡¯s felt it for a long time.¡±

    ¡°It was heat-induced lust,¡± Wylder growled. ¡°Nothing more!¡±

    ¡°Daddy!¡± Cynder cried out. ¡°I¡¯ve felt the same draw to Zane for as long as I can remember.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not destined mates!¡± Wylder snapped.

    ¡°Cynder is mine,¡± Zane growled. ¡°She will be Luna of Crescent Moon.¡±

    ¡°Grammy Lucy won¡¯t allow it,¡± Caspian said.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Wylder snarled at Caspian. ¡°Is my Cynder not good enough for the mighty LaRues?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Caspian replied, shaking his head. ¡°But you know how Grammy feels about the rejection of soulmates in favor of a chosen mate.¡±

    ¡°We should eat,¡± Grandma Dori said. ¡°We don¡¯t want the food to get cold. Oh¡­ is that smoked salmon?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already cold after waiting for the love birds to grace us with their presence,¡± ym snipped.

    ¡°Cynder is not a chosen mate,¡± Zane insisted. ¡°My wolf is sure of her.¡±

    ¡°Maybe your wolf is just desperate for a mate,¡± Wylder snarled.

    ¡°Daddy!¡± Cynder wailed.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you called Zane the other night?¡± ymshed back.

    ¡°ym¡­¡± Ares warned.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk to your sister like that,¡± Tymber shrieked at ym.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Cynder removed her shoe and aimed it straight for her brother¡¯s head.

    ¡°Do you realize if you do this, you still have a true soulmate out there,¡± my mother warned.

    ¡°News sh,¡± Storm interjected. ¡°No one has found a true soulmate in over a decade¡­ maybe even two decades.¡±

    Balthazar pushed back from the table and made his way closer to us. He sniffed the air, and I could feel the tension in Lukas¡¯ body. Balthazar¡¯s eyes swirled, and the strong aura of his lycan radiated in waves. I wasn¡¯t sure if he was so powerful because he had lived for so long or because his lycan was created by a Goddess. I suddenly felt like that scared little seven-year-old pup when I first set eyes on Balthazar¡¯s full-grown lycan.

    ¡°Uncle Balthazar,¡± Lukas gave a tense nod of greeting.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Do either of you three recall taking anything that would induce heat?¡± He asked thoughtfully and stepped closer for another sniff.

    I exchanged a confused look with my sister and Cynder. Did they also experience heat the night of the ball?

    ¡°No,¡± I replied. ¡°I had myst heat suppressant injection when I came home for the holidays.¡±

    ¡°Heat sets in once you¡¯ve met your destined mate,¡± Ares said suspiciously. ¡°Did any of you find your mate and reject them?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Cynder replied. ¡°The only one my wolf has ever felt a draw to is Zane.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a chocte croissant,¡± Grandma told Caspian, passing a tter of pastries to him. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why the French insist on calling it pain au choct?¡±

    ¡°Something isn¡¯t making sense,¡± Ares said.

    ¡°I know,¡± Grandma replied. ¡°The pronunciation is even funny, <i>pan oh shock-oh</i>.¡±

    ¡°Grandma, he¡¯s not talking about croissants,¡± Rex told her, taking the tter of pastries and setting it down.

    ¡°Maybe the Moon Goddess has decided to stop ying her matchmaking games and let us pick our mates,¡± Storm suggested.

    ¡°Then all the unmated females would go into heat upon reaching maturity,¡± Rex said in disagreement. ¡°We¡¯d have a lot more pups running around.¡±

    ¡°Lycans can only reproduce with their destined mates,¡± Demeter added.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want pups?¡± My mother pleaded, looking heartbroken. Both of her daughters were choosing to go against the wishes of the Moon Goddess, which gave her a slim chance of ever having grandchildren.

    ¡°Rex and Storm can produce heirs for the throne,¡± Lukas announced. ¡°I don¡¯t care about offspring.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Balthazar chuckled. ¡°You should care.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Lukas asked.

    Balthazar¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Because you¡¯re expecting a pup.¡±

 Skip Day - Taxes

    I¡¯m sorry to say that I¡¯m still working on filing those stupid taxes and haven¡¯t been able to write this evening.?N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    I feel like I need Wylder here to help me emotionally eat my way through these rough hours when our government puts its sticky fingers deep in your pocket and robs you blind! LOL

 Chapter 12 - Pup

    Lukas

    ¡°I¡¯m what?¡± I was sure I misheard what he just said.

    ¡°You¡¯re having a pup,¡± Balthazar repeated.

    Mateo looked from me to his daughter standing beside me. He looked just as confused as I felt. ¡°With who?¡± He asked. ¡°Lukas couldn¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°Ayo! I must have water in my ears,¡± ym shook his head. ¡°Is someone knocked up?¡±

    Aunt Demeter pushed her chair back and stood up. ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Come have a closer sniff,¡± Balthazar waved her over. ¡°Werewolves won¡¯t pick up the scent for another week, but a lycan will.¡±

    Selena looked at me, and the uncertainty was written on her face. I dipped my head to take a sniff, but I couldn¡¯t really smell anything different. I wasn¡¯t even sure what lycan pregnancy should smell like. She definitely smelled like me because of our mating, but if Balthazar was scenting it, then there was something different in her scent.

    My father stepped closer, and my beast surged. A low rumble rippled in my chest, and my father stopped in his tracks. I wrapped my arm around my mate and tucked her closer into me.

    He held his hands up in surrender. ¡°I just wanted to see if I could smell it,¡± he said.

    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Aunt Demeter dered. ¡°I can scent it.¡±

    ¡°Hole in one!¡± Grandma Dori whooped.

    ¡°If she¡¯s pregnant, then who¡¯s the father?¡± My dad questioned, and it earned an open growl from me.

    ¡°Will you calm down,¡± Balthazar turned to me. ¡°He¡¯s not going to hurt your mate or his grandpup.¡±

    ¡°A pup? Are¡­ are you sure?¡± Selena asked, her sweet voice shaking.

    ¡°He has over two thousand years of experience,¡± Grandma smiled. ¡°I think Balthazar knows what he¡¯s sniffing.¡±

    Aunt Demeterughed and nodded her head. ¡°He¡¯s scented every pregnancy in the pack before anyone else.¡±

    ¡°That was quick!¡± Rex replied.

    ¡°The question we should be asking is how this is possible,¡± Mateo spoke in disbelief. ¡°Balthazar, are you sure lycans can only reproduce with their destined mates?¡±

    ¡°Hello?¡± Grandma replied. ¡°Two thousand years of experience, of course, he¡¯s sure. What do you think caused lycans to go extinct,¡± she reminded us.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Balthazar lived when lycans ruled and had even been pack Alpha. If anyone knew for sure, it was him. My lycan was beside himself with joy, pride, and a fierce need to protect her from everyone.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Balthazar nodded. ¡°They¡¯re the proud parents and destined mates. But I¡¯m wondering why they can¡¯t feel the typical mate bond sensations?¡±

    ¡°Could it be some kind of magic or curse?¡± My mother asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Balthazar replied.

    ¡°My wolf has always wanted Sol,¡± Ranger dered.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you start, too!¡± Mateo snapped.

    ¡°I know Cynder is my other half,¡± Zane insisted. ¡°I don¡¯t need the zings. Something is wrong with the bonds.¡±

    ¡°I can hear Selena¡¯s thoughts,¡± I told them. ¡°After I marked her. Just as a true mate should.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± Ranger admitted.

    Mateo suppressed a growl, and his fists clenched. ¡°You marked my little girl?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s my mate!¡± Ranger replied. ¡°I swear to you, I would never do anything to hurt Sol.¡±

    ¡°I told you,¡± Storm said. ¡°Something is wrong here.¡±

    ¡°It still doesn¡¯t exin why three females all went into heat at the same time if they had been given heat suppressants,¡± my mother said.

    ¡°They had already met their mates,¡± Storm told her. ¡°The reason they needed heat suppressants in the first ce was because they had met their mates, but they just didn¡¯t know it.¡±

    I turned to look at Selena. ¡°You¡¯ve been my destined soulmate this entire time. I¡¯m so sorry it took me so long to figure it out.¡± My lycan was angry at the lost years. The hurt she must have suffered when she ran away to Paris. I should have never let her leave. I should have demanded her as my chosen mate, and we¡¯d already have had a few pups to prove something was wrong with the bonds. Letting her go was hard on me, but I knew my Selena had a tender heart.

    My Selena.

    My mate.

    My Queen.

    The mother of my pup. I felt the breath leave my lungs as the magnitude of thatst thought hit me. Our baby. A pup that would be one-half me and one-half her. I was going to be a father.

    ¡°So, the mate bonds are defective?¡± Caspian asked.

    ¡°If the mate bonds are defective¡­ I might still have a chance with Vria!¡± ym smiled.

    ¡°Don¡¯t hold your breath,¡± Rex chuckled.

    ¡°How do we fix the problem with the bond?¡± Caspian asked. ¡°It could be anything or anyone.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we should just ask the Moon Goddess?¡± Grandma replied.

    ¡°Looks like we might have to throw ym off the Eiffel Tower after all,¡± Caspianughed.

    ¡°Selena,¡± Pa reached for her daughter. ¡°My sweet girl, I¡¯m so sorry we didn¡¯t realize sooner.¡± She hugged my mate, who was crying.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to be a grandmother!¡± My mom rushed over to hug me with tears in her eyes.

    ¡°This means that my sister and Zane¡­¡± ym said with a pause.

    ¡°Mates,¡± Storm replied. ¡°Try to keep up here.¡±

    ¡°Lukas,¡± Selena turned to me. She was still crying, and my beast didn¡¯t like it. I needed to get her alone, to hold her and breathe her in.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to excuse us,¡± I said, scooping her up in my arms. She needs to rest.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t had breakfast yet!¡± Grandma Dori called out behind us as I raced off with my mate.

    ¡°Send an order to my room.¡± I rushed through the door and down the stairs, returning to the suite we had just left moments earlier.

    Her arms wrapped around my neck, and she quickly buried her face in my shoulder. She was on the verge of hysterical sobs, and I kissed the top of her head to try to calm her. I took a seat in the deep armchair and held her in myp.

    ¡°Shhhh,¡± I whispered softly as I stroked her back.

    She looked up at me with those beautiful, wet brown eyes and met my gaze. I didn¡¯t need to read her thoughts to understand what was happening. My sweet girl was mixed with relief and confusion. I kissed her lips softly and tasted her salty tears.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I whispered again and continued to kiss away the tears until I was kissing her closed eyelids.

    ¡°It all just happened¡­ so¡­ so fast,¡± she stammered.

    ¡°I love you, Selena. I have my entire life, and now you¡¯re really mine.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to wake up and find out this has all been a dream,¡± she said hesitantly.

    ¡°Kas can bite your ass again to prove it¡¯s not a dream,¡± I offered, and she let out a soft giggle.

    We sat in silence for a while, trying to get past the shock. She was mine¡ªmy true destined mate. Not only was she finally mine, but she was having my pup. By the time my parents were my age, they already had me and my siblings. My father and his wolf, Apollo, were the best, and I silently prayed I could measure up to him.

    ¡°I wonder why the bond has been mute to us?¡± She asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill whoever is responsible.¡±

    Selena¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°What if it was the Moon Goddess?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it was her.¡± Even as I said it, I couldn¡¯t help but doubt myself. The Moon Goddess hadn¡¯t given elemental gifts to anyone after Rex and Storm. I tried to remember when the mate bonds went mute and why.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it happened so fast,¡± she said, looking down at her still t stomach.

    ¡°Magic dick,¡± I grinned just as a knock came from the door. I could sense who was on the other side. ¡°Storm and Rex,¡± I told her.

    She wiped her eyes and tried to slide off myp, but my beast was having none of it. She was carrying our pup, and she needed to eat.

    ¡°Come in,¡± I called out, knowing Storm already had a key. She had been delivering food to us during the mating haze because my lycan would have killed any male, human or not, that the kitchen staff may have sent up to deliver food.

    ¡°Okay, something strange is definitely happening here,¡± Storm said as she set the tray down.

    ¡°I should have listened to you sooner.¡±

    ¡°Is it okay if Ie closer, or will you attack me?¡± Rex asked with a smile.

    My arm instinctively tightened around my mate, and I had to remind myself that my brother was not here to steal her from me. ¡°Come have a seat.¡±

    ¡°Congrattions,¡± he beamed at both of us. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how happy and relieved I am for both of you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Selena uttered. ¡°I¡­ I think I might be in shock.¡±

    ¡°I think everyone is!¡± Rex grinned as he took a seat. Storm paced back and forth, and I knew she had more to say.

    I reached for the honey-topped yogurt and dumped the small bowl of berries on it. Then, I lifted the spoon to Selena¡¯s mouth and was pleased when she ate it.

    ¡°Who would have ever thought Zane and Cynder,¡± I said with a chuckle. ¡°They always argued over everything when we visited Crescent Moon.¡±

    ¡°I still remember that summer in Greece when she put the sea urchins in Zane¡¯s shoes,¡± Stormughed.

    ¡°What about my sister and Ranger?¡± Selena questioned with genuine shock.

    ¡°Oh,e on! That was no surprise,¡± Storm said. ¡°It¡¯s no secret there was something there, even if Ranger tried hard to deny it. Thest thing he wanted to do was break your father¡¯s trust.¡±

    She was right. We all had a deep level of respect for Mateo. My father may have been the Alpha King, but even he regarded Mateo as a big brother. It was the only thing that kept me from pouncing on Selena when she turned eighteen.

    ¡°Did anyone else find their mate at the ball?¡± Selena asked and ate another spoonful of yogurt from me.

    ¡°No,¡± Storm replied. ¡°From what I hear, all hell broke loose when the three of you went into heat at the same time.¡±

    I recalled hearing screaming and some kind ofmotion in the distance when Selena went into heat. With so many Alphas salivating at a chance with my mate, I made a quick exit with her.

    ¡°Ranger nearly killed one of the Crow Alphas from Australia trying to leave with Sol, and Zane barely made it out alive,¡± Rex told us.

    ¡°What happened to Zane?¡± Selena asked and reached for the chocte croissant on the tter. I smiled, knowing I¡¯d have to stock up on chocte for my pregnant mate.

    ¡°He was attacked by three Alphas trying to take Cynder from him,¡± Storm replied. ¡°Cynder had to fight off Alpha Volkov, who tore her gown. From what I hear, it was a fucking mess!¡±

    ¡°Grandma beat Alpha Pierre Darc with a macaron tree when he tried to take Persephone,¡± Rex said. ¡°ym told me Darc looked like a pok-a-dot circus clown by the time she was done with him.¡±

    ¡°Alpha Darc tried to take Persephone?¡± Selena shrieked. ¡°I¡¯m in so much trouble! Demeter and Balthazar will never let her spend time with me again.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure he was trying to take Persephone?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Rex replied. ¡°Darc¡¯s Beta tried to run off with Persephone when everyone was distracted after you two ran off. Constantine managed to reach them before the helicopter took off. The Beta submitted to him and said he was only following his Alpha¡¯s orders to take Persephone.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Did she go into heat?¡± Selena asked.

    ¡°Persephone is a lycan who has yet to reach maturity,¡± Storm shook her head. ¡°Heat isn¡¯t possible until after twenty-five, even with stimnts.¡±

    ¡°But if she was at the ball, then someone might suspect she had reached maturity.¡±

    ¡°She was wearing a full face mask and had no scent,¡± Selena said. ¡°No one would have recognized her. She may as well have been a human walking around.¡±

    ¡°Unless it was someone who knew Persephone was with you?¡± I questioned my mate. Alpha Darc knew who Selena was, and I wondered if he knew Persephone was with her.

    ¡°You think someone slipped us something on purpose?¡± Selena asked.

    ¡°Dad had a meeting with the other Alphas the next day,¡± Rex hesitated. ¡°They think you three may have taken Estrosine... on purpose.¡±

    ¡°What kind of stupid nonsense is that?¡± I growled. ¡°Do you know how dangerous it would have been for a female to take that and walk into an event with hundreds of unmated male wolves?¡±

    ¡°Unlike lycans, werewolves are capable of conceiving with someone other than their destined mate,¡± Rex replied. ¡°It¡¯s not verymon, but it has happened.¡±

    ¡°They think we took Estrosine to trap an Alpha mate?¡± Selena questioned with open-mouthed horror.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing it did happen,¡± Storm replied. ¡°Thanks to my future niece or nephew, we know something is wrong with the mate bonds.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but Dad was worried the other Alphas would revolt,¡± Rex replied.

    Females started randomly going into heat years ago after reaching maturity. Because Alphas could easily beat out other males to rut a female in heat, a decree was passed by my father to allow females heat suppressants until she found her true mate. But it wasn¡¯t random. It had been happening because they had found their mates and didn¡¯t know it.

    ¡°Why would they revolt?¡± Selena asked, shaking her head. ¡°We didn¡¯t take anything to bring on heat.¡±

    ¡°Not that you know of,¡± Rex added.

    I hesitated to ask, knowing this couldn¡¯t be good. ¡°How¡¯d the meeting go?¡±

    ¡°Storm and I flew in with Xena and Killian to attend the meeting,¡± Rex said.

    ¡°Xena and Killian?¡± My father¡¯s cousins from different sides of the family had also been turned into lycans. They had joined us in Paris to attend a meeting with all the Alphas that had traveled here for the ball.

    My father was a golden wolf and a demigod to boot, with control over all four elements. He was a force no Alpha could beat. If he had attended the meeting with Storm, Rex, Aunt Demeter, Balthazar, Xena, and Killian, it would have been because he wanted to show strength. Six lycans at your back, most of which were also elemental, would have been enough to keep an army of angry Alphas in check.

    ¡°Was he worried about an attack?¡± Selena asked.

    ¡°It was enough to remind them why we¡¯re the royal family and squash any thoughts of doubt,¡± Storm replied with a smirk. ¡°It was like a silent but lethal threat.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s Persephone?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s in Italy with her brothers,¡± Storm told us.

    She had been sent to Nightshade Pack with the triplets. ¡°Dad¡¯s hiding them with Cyrus?¡± I asked, and Rex nodded.

    Balthazar had long ago turned Cyrus and his mate into lycans to save Esme¡¯s life. Cyrus was the Alpha of thergest pack in Europe, and his earth element made him a dangerous enemy to anyone who challenged him. He was fiercely protective of his offspring, Vria and As, and I had no doubt he would give up his life to protect Balthazar¡¯s family.

    ¡°Killian and Xena also sent Kario to stay with Cyrus,¡± Rex said.

    Storm continued pacing. Her eyes kept shifting from human to lycan, and asionally, they turned white. I was just ready to ask Rex if he noticed her eyes turning white when she stopped walking.

    ¡°It¡¯s brewing,¡± she whispered as if she was in a trance.

    I wasn¡¯t sure if she was talking to us. ¡°What is?¡±

    ¡°The storm.¡±

    <b>*****</b>

    <b>I have to say, I''m just so excited reading all of yourments and guesses! Some of you have gotten somewhat close, but I''m grinning from ear to ear because of the plot twist that''sing¡ªthe one that you never suspected. Muahahaha! </b>

    <b>It''s so much fun because I know you can''t skip ahead and cheat. You have to ride on the roller coaster to get to the end, and let me tell you... I can''t wait for your reactions. </b>

    <b>For those who have asked, I will be posting my inspiration board on my wall in a few days. I have a character I haven''t introduced yet, so I need to wait a few more chapters before I share it. </b>

 Chapter 13 - Visions

    <b>**Previousments may have disappeared because this chapter was identally deleted, and I had to repost it. </b>

    ____________

    Selena

    ¡°Storm?¡± Lukas called to his sister.

    ¡°The gates of hell,¡± she mumbled.

    ¡°What gates?¡± Rex asked just as her eyes returned to normal.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Lukas studied her for a moment before he spoke. ¡°Storm, when did your visions begin?¡±

    She looked confused. ¡°What visions?¡±

    ¡°Either you just had a vision, or we need to get an exorcism because you¡¯ve been possessed,¡± Rex replied.

    ¡°Who¡¯s been possessed?¡± Grandma Dori asked as she entered the suite. ¡°I have holy water in my purse... picked it up when I visited the Vatican some years back.¡±

    ¡°No, one¡¯s been possessed, Grandma,¡± Storm dismissed. ¡°I was talking out loud to myself, and these two think I¡¯ve been possessed.¡±

    I remembered ying dolls with Cynder and Storm in the Alpha¡¯s office when I was a little girl. With my father being the Zeta and Wylder being the Beta, we spent a lot of ytime together. I must have been about seven years old when I overheard their conversation about seers and visions. Rex was having nightmares about tentacles or monsters, and Ares thought it could have been a vision of some kind. I remember my father telling Ares that a seer¡¯s eyes turned white when a vision came to them because it was a gift from the Gods.

    Whether or not Storm was aware of it, her eyes definitely turned white. The door pushed open again, and this time, ym entered the room.

    ¡°How¡¯s your dad?¡± I asked. Wylder had looked like he was ready to skin Zane alive.

    ¡°He¡¯s eating, so I guess he¡¯s better now,¡± ym said. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure he¡¯s ready to lose Cynder to Crescent Moon.¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on!¡± Storm rolled her eyes. ¡°Wylder already has his own suite at Crescent Castle because Grammy and Papa love him.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but she¡¯s going to be moving to Canada,¡± he replied, sounding a little forlorn.

    ¡°She¡¯s going to be Luna of one of the greatest packs,¡± Storm told him. ¡°It could be worse. She could be mated to one of those pompous French Alphas and moving halfway around the world.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of those pompous French Alphas,¡± ym turned to Lukas. ¡°Your father is expecting a few of them for a meeting and asked if you and Rex could join him?¡±

    ¡°What about me?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°He figured Selena would probably be resting and wants a lycan guarding his grandpup at all times,¡± ym shrugged.

    Ste yipped with excitement at the idea of our pup being recognized by the Alpha King, but a sh of annoyance hit me as I recalled Ares asking me who the father was.

    ¡°So, he believes it¡¯s his grandpup, after all?¡±

    ¡°To be fair, your father also thought Lukas had impregnated someone else,¡± ym chuckled.

    Sensing my shift in mood, Lukas shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving my mate.¡±

    ¡°Go. It¡¯s fine.¡± I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts for a little while. ¡°I¡¯m going to finish eating and check on my sister.¡±

    Lukas looked reluctant. ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Grandma Dori waved him off. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure she eats enough.¡±

    ¡°Yes, go,¡± I nodded, finishing my croissant.

    ¡°They¡¯re meeting in the big conference room downstairs,¡± ym told Rex. They¡¯ll arrive in ten minutes.¡±

    ¡°Eat and rest. I won¡¯t be long.¡± Lukas ced a tender kiss on my forehead before leaving with his brother. I reached for another chocte croissant and waited for ym, Storm, and Grandma to leave, but no one was budging.

    ¡°I should call Jose.¡± I looked around, hoping to find my cell phone, but it was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°Oh honey, Erick already took care of that,¡± Grandma Dori said. ¡°He told Jose that your family swept you away to Monaco for a little pre-graduation celebration.¡±

    Taking a deep breath, I walked over to therge window and looked out to the rooftops of Paris. I loved the romantic feel of the low-rise buildings in this city. Being locked in this suite for nearly a week made me yearn for some fresh air. I considered returning to the rooftop terrace where breakfast had been set up for the family, but I wasn¡¯t ready to answer more questions.

    My entire world was going to change. Fashion was my passion... my escape. It had taken years to ept that the Moon Goddess had destined someone else for Lukas, to ept what my heart said otherwise. I had always loved Lukas, but if the Moon Goddess had destined him for someone else, then my love would have paled inparison.

    In the span of a week, I had be pregnant, imed, and marked by the lycan Alpha I thought I would never have.

    I was pregnant¡ªa baby. My wolf was beyond thrilled, but I was still in shock.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Storm asked me.

    ¡°How did this happen?¡±

    ¡°You want us to exin how the birds and the bees work?¡± ymughed.

    I turned to Storm. ¡°Did you have any visions of Lukas finding his mate?¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s having visions?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°No one,¡± Storm replied.

    ¡°Her eyes turnedpletely white, and she was mumbling something about the doors of hell.¡±

    ¡°Doors of hell?¡± ym questioned.

    ¡°You know, seers run in two of your family lines,¡± Grandma told Storm. ¡°Your father is a golden wolf, which means the blood of Apollo runs in his veins, and everyone knows Apollo was also the God of Prophecy.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we should get some tarot cards and have Storm give it a go?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°I have some in my purse,¡± Grandma replied.

    ¡°Grandma, why are you walking around with tarot cards in your purse... among other things?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°I bet she has cookies in there,¡± my wolf chimed, and I stuffed my mouth with the second chocte croissant.

    ¡°There was a famous Parisian fortune teller who became a big name with Bonaparte¡¯s first wife, Marie something...¡± Grandma started to say.

    ¡°Marie-Anne Lenormand?¡± I asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s the one!¡± Grandma said. ¡°You know her?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s buried at P¨¨re Lachaise, not far from here. People from around the world bring tarot cards and leave them on her tomb in hopes that she will show them the way or give them a vision.¡±

    ¡°We should head down to that cemetery and see if she gives Storm another vision,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not having visions,¡± Storm insisted.

    ¡°Only one way to be sure,¡± Grandma told her.

    ¡°We¡¯re not supposed to leave the hotel,¡± ym frowned.

    ¡°Well, why not? I didn¡¯te to Paris to be trapped in a hotel,¡± Grandma huffed. ¡°Besides, Storm¡¯s a lycan who can kill someone without even touching them. Someone would have a death wish if they messed with us.¡±

    ¡°Most people at a cemetery are already dead,¡± Storm said with a smirk.

    Feeling the cabin fever set in, I agreed with Grandma. ¡°It could be worth a try. Maybe your vision will be clearer.¡±

    After bribing ym with a promise of the best chocte souffl¨¦ Paris has to offer, he helped sneak us out of the hotel unnoticed. As the Alpha King, Ares always traveled with a few warriors, and they seemed to be all over the hotel. He had always been overprotective of the lycan offspring, worried someone might try to abduct or harm one of them. Now that I was pregnant, I knew it would be the same for my child.

    ¡°No one can scent it yet,¡± Ste reminded me as I stared absent-mindedly out of the taxi window.

    I was seated in the back of the taxi with grandma wedged between me and Storm. The driver¡¯s eyes kept shifting back to Storm through the rearview mirror. Her silvery white hair was something that we had all grown ustomed to as children, but she always drew a lot of attention from others outside the pack. Storm may have looked elegantly beautiful, but she was a fierce Alpha.

    ¡°That church over there looks so white and new,¡± Grandma said, pointing out to Sacr¨¦-Coeur. ¡°Do they pressure wash it, or is it a new construction?¡±

    ¡°No, but I wish someone would pressure wash all those stairs,¡± Iughed. ¡°Sacr¨¦-Coeur was consecrated shortly after World War One. It¡¯s a Catholic church named after the sacred heart of Jesus.¡±

    ¡°A Catholic church, huh?¡± Grandma said thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful. You know, Balthazar has connections with the Vatican.¡±

    ¡°No one is getting married, Grandma,¡± I quickly replied before she got any more wild ideas. She was always going on about how Persephone¡¯s parents were married at the Pantheon in Rome and how beautiful it was. Shifters traditionally had mating ceremonies, which were the equivalent of a human wedding.

    ¡°What? You¡¯re in the City of Love, and it¡¯s a beautiful location,¡± she shrugged.

    ¡°The church is made with travertine limestone,¡± I stirred the conversation back. ¡°When it rains, the stone produces calcite, which whitens the church.¡±

    ¡°Self-cleaning walls! That¡¯s a miracle if you ask me,¡± she hummed in approval.

    The taxi dropped us off near the front entrance of P¨¨re Lachaise, but I wasn¡¯t ready to go through the gates just yet. We quickly made our way to the small flower shop on the corner, where I selected two potted floral arrangements. ym cradled them both in his arms, and we returned to the big double doors at the entrance gate.

    ¡°Are you friends with any of the permanent Parisians that live in the city of immortals?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Be respectful, ym!¡± Grandma whispered. ¡°This is the most visited cemetery in the world. I hear there¡¯s even a vampire heiress who roams the grounds.¡±

    ¡°I need to remember to ask Ambrose about the heiress,¡± ym said. ¡°If there¡¯s a vampire here, then I¡¯m sure the Vampire King knows her.¡±

    ¡°Is that the Russian Baroness with the ss coffin?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°ss coffin?¡± ym questioned, sounding a little nervous.

    ¡°She¡¯s got the biggest mausoleum here,¡± I told ym. ¡°She bequeathed her fortune to anyone who remains inside her mausoleum with her for one year and one day.¡±

    ¡°How much is this fortune worth?¡± ym chuckled.

    ¡°Not enough,¡± Storm scoffed.

    ¡°These sure are some fancy graves!¡± Grandma said. ¡°And look at these cute little walkways. I love paving stones.¡±

    Some might find the idea of spending time at a cemetery morbid, but Grandma seemed just as fascinated as I was the first time I visited. The ornate tombs of Paris¡¯ rich and famous were also home to many Parisian families who helped make Paris what it is today. The sprawling variety of trees nted here is just as diverse as the residents of this cemetery. It didn¡¯t matter if you were a politician, writer, scientist, revolutionary, vampire, or what your religion was. There was no segregation at P¨¨re Lachaise.

    ¡°Grave statues must have been a thing at one point,¡± ym replied, admiring a tomb sculpture with a weeping angel. It¡¯s like an outdoor museum¡ªthe art is so impressive.¡±

    ¡°You should see the sculpture of Victor Noir,¡± Iughed. ¡°The bulge in his pants was so prominent that women started rubbing it for good luck with fertility. The bronze is now worn in that area.¡±

    ¡°Lucky bastard!¡± ym chuckled. ¡°Even in death, he¡¯s still getting a lot of action.¡±

    ¡°Well, we can skip rubbing his impressive stiffy,¡± Storm smiled. ¡°Selena already has a bun in the oven.¡±

    ¡°I should get a picture of myself and the bulge,¡± Grandma said. ¡°You know, so I can show it to the girls at bingo.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Nooker will appreciate seeing it,¡± ym replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s the tomb,¡± I pointed as we approached.

    Her grave had flowers, candles, trinkets, and tarot cards. I¡¯d passed by Mademoiselle Lenormand¡¯s tomb before and had always felt a different energying from it. I wondered if the others could sense it or if they would say something about it.

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± ym asked in a hushed voice. ¡°Are we supposed to burn some sage, sprinkle salt on the ground, or something?¡±

    ¡°Did anyone bring a chicken to sacrifice?¡± Grandma asked, and I suppressed a giggle.

    ¡°Chicken?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m joking,¡± Grandmaughed as she dug around in her purse. ¡°Ah, here we go...¡± She extracted the cards and held them up.

    ¡°Grandma, it looks like you¡¯re missing half the cards,¡± Storm said.

    ¡°This is a Lenormand deck. It¡¯s a special divination deck with only thirty-six cards. It¡¯s named after her,¡± Grandma said as she slung her purse back over her shoulder and started shuffling the cards.

    ¡°Do you feel that?¡± Storm stepped closer to the grave.

    ym looked over his shoulder as if expecting to find something unusual. ¡°Feel what?¡± He replied.

    ¡°I feel the energy,¡± I said and reached for one of the flower arrangements. ¡°Lay this on her tomb.¡±

    Storm took the flowers and ced them on the tomb¡¯s concrete b. Compared to her neighbors, Marie¡¯s grave was in and simple, but it didn¡¯t matter because people from around the world visited her and decorated it.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to draw one card and look at it,¡± Grandma said as she shuffled the cards. ¡°Then you¡¯re going to ce the card, face down on the tomb, and leave your hand on it. You close your eyes and wait for something to happen. When she¡¯s shown you a vision, you remove your hand from the card and leave it there.¡±

    Feeling the tension radiating from Storm, I took a step back to allow her some space. ym must have sensed it, too, because he stepped back with me. We watched as she moved her hand from side to side over the cards Grandma had fanned out. Her hand stopped, and she removed a single card.

    ¡°Look at it and then ce it face down on the grave,¡± Grandma instructed, stepping back to join us.

    Storm knelt beside the grave and ced the card on it. Secondster, her eyes zed over and turnedpletely white. Her body went rigid, and she made no noise. Silently, we stood watching her, and it was over almost as quickly as it started. She pulled her hand back as if she had been burned and stood up.

    ¡°Storm?¡± Grandma was the first to speak.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I saw,¡± she shook her head.

    ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± I tried, hoping to make sense of whatever she may have seen.

    ¡°No,¡± she replied. ¡°There wasn¡¯t anything much. Just some smoke and gates.¡±

    ¡°Did the gates look familiar to you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she shook her head.

    ¡°Maybe you should try again with a different card?¡± ym suggested just as a tour group move closer to us.

    ¡°The vision went dark,¡± Storm said. ¡°There wasn¡¯t much to see.¡±

    ¡°Maybe the gift will develop once you turn twenty-five,¡± Grandma suggested.

    ¡°We should go,¡± I said. ¡°That tour group is probablying to this grave.¡±

    ¡°People actually pay to take a tour through a cemetery?¡± ym asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that famous musician buried here?¡± Grandma asked as we strolled away casually.

    ¡°Chopin? Yes, he¡¯s here, but his heart was sent back to Pnd,¡± I told her.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Chopin was here,¡± she said. ¡°I was talking about that famous singer.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you mean Jim Morrison!¡± I should have known she was talking about him. ¡°Yes, his grave is the most visited in this entire cemetery.¡±

    ¡°Jim, who?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Grandma, Jim Morrison was an American musician and singer from one of the most popr rock bands of his time,¡± ym told her.

    ¡°You mean to tell me... that an American buried in Paris has the most visited grave in this entire cemetery,¡± she replied. ¡°I could understand if it was Elvis, but I don¡¯t even know this Jim guy.¡±

    ¡°It does sound a little strange when you put it like that,¡± Iughed.

    ¡°There are a lot of famous people here,¡± Storm said. ¡°Can you be a little more specific on which singer?¡±

    ¡°She sang La Vie en Rose,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°Edith Piaf!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°She¡¯s on the other side of the cemetery,¡± I told her. ¡°People still visit her grave and y her music.¡±

    ¡°Are the extra flowers for her?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I replied as we continued to stroll through the winding path to a grave I had visited before.

    ¡°Which card did you get?¡± ym asked Storm, and everyone fell silent.

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± she said dismissively. Somehow, I wasn¡¯t surprised she didn¡¯t share.

    ¡°You just had it in your hands a few minutes ago,¡± ym pressed. ¡°How do you not remember what it was?¡±

    ¡°Drop it,¡± she gritted.

    ¡°Honey, she¡¯ll talk about it when she¡¯s ready,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°Fine. But someone promised me chocte souffl¨¦,¡± ym grumbled.

    ¡°This will only take a quick minute,¡± I assured him.

    We reached the grave of Allen Kardec, the father of spiritualism. Jose had dragged me here a few months ago to make his wish of getting the job at Balenciaga, and I had also tested my luck with a wish. When I wished for my mate, I hadn¡¯t expected it toe true. Nor had I expected it would be Lukas. I took a moment to admire the beautiful array of flowers that decorated his grave.

    ¡°Wow! Will you look at that,¡± Grandma whistled. ¡°If Jim Morrison¡¯s grave is the most visited, this must be the most flowered!¡±

    Without hesitation, I exined. ¡°Kardec was a spiritualist. He once said,<i>after my death, if youe to see me, put your hand on the neck of the statue overlooking my grave, then make a wish. If your wish is granted,e back with flowers.¡±</i>

    ¡°ym, help me up,¡± Grandma motioned to him. ¡°I need to make a wish or two!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not some kind of magicmp,¡± Storm scoffed.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± Grandma said as she moved to the statue, stepping around the flowers, and motioned for ym to help her.

    Kneeling, I added my flowers to the array surrounding the tomb. When I stood back up, I scented him behind me just as his arms snaked around my waist.

    ¡°And what was your wish, Princess?¡± Lukas asked.

 Chapter 14 - Visitor

    Lukas

    The moment I stepped out of that hotel room, I regretted leaving my mate. Unsure of the real reason my father wanted me present, I picked up the pace. The sooner I met with him, the sooner I could return to her.

    With his elemental gifts, my father could easily kill a room full of Alphas. That was the real power of an elemental shifter. The ability to open a sinkhole beneath someone and bury them alive or extract the air from their lungs and watch them suffocate was the unseen danger they always underestimated. My father had inherited all four elements from his mother, and I had inherited them from him.

    Most elemental shifters had the gift to control only one element, but they mastered it. Storm controlled air and could easily deprive someone of oxygen or strike them with a bolt of lightning. Rex manipted fire and could send someone straight to hell. I pushed open the door to the conference room, expecting to find it full, only to find my father alone.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you meeting with the other Alphas again?¡± Rex asked.

    ¡°Not for another hour,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Where¡¯s everyone?¡±

    ¡°Ranger and Zane are locked away with their mates. Wylder and Tymber are with your mother. Balthazar and Demeter will be down shortly for the meeting. Zander is running the security team at the hotel right now, and Caspian is doing a little research for me at the moment,¡± my father exined.

    ¡°And the graduation tonight?¡± I didn¡¯t like the idea of telling Selena she¡¯d have to miss the graduation ceremony she had worked so hard for, but if there was a threat to her safety, I¡¯d keep her locked away.

    ¡°Mateo is at the institute now ensuring proper security. We¡¯ll all be in attendance tonight,¡± he said.

    ¡°Xena and Killian are here?¡±

    My father nodded. ¡°Yes, but they¡¯re meeting with the Prime Minister of France this afternoon.¡±

    ¡°And Kairo is with the others in Italy?¡±

    ¡°One can never be too careful,¡± he confirmed.

    My father had always been extra careful with the lycan pups, worried someone might try to take one. Lycan venom in the wrong hands could be a disaster to the bnce of the shifter world... Not that things had been very bnced because the Moon Goddess had left shifters mateless.

    ¡°So you don¡¯t need us for the meeting?¡±

    ¡°I needed to have a word alone with you two,¡± he replied. ¡°Without your sister.¡±

    ¡°Without Storm?¡± Somehow, I felt like I was missing something.

    ¡°She had another vision when we were upstairs,¡± Rex told him.

    ¡°Wait, what do you mean another? How long has she been having visions?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve only seen it once before. It was just before she moved out of the mansion to the secluded cottage,¡± Rex exined. ¡°But it happened on the flight here and twice in thest two days.¡±

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t tell me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been a little preupied thest week,¡± Rex smirked. ¡°It happens when she¡¯s awake, and her eyes turn white.¡±

    ¡°Rex¡¯s visions happen when he¡¯s asleep,¡± my father said. ¡°When I¡¯ve tried to wake him¡ª¡±

    ¡°His eyes are ck,¡± I nodded. ¡°Her gift is from the light side of the moon¡­¡±

    ¡°And mine is from the dark side of the moon,¡± Rex added.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with the dark side of the moon,¡± my father insisted. ¡°Lycans are born from the dark side of the moon. You and your sister were created together, so I think your visions might be two halves of a whole.¡±

    ¡°Yin and Yang,¡± Rex whispered.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to sound impatient, but why is this important right now?¡± My beast was just as anxious as I was to get back to our mate.

    ¡°There are Paris monuments in my dreams,¡± Rex said. ¡°I see the Louvre and Notre-Dame, and I¡¯m sure I saw the mist at the Pce of Versailles.¡±

    ¡°And you think Storm is also seeing something connected to Paris?¡±

    ¡°Something is happening here,¡± my father replied. ¡°I don¡¯t know if the French packs are involved or why the mate bonds have been silent for over a decade, but something is wrong. We need answers before we go home.¡±

    ¡°You think Storm might know something?¡±

    ¡°If she does, she probably doesn¡¯t know, or she¡¯s in denial,¡± Rex said. ¡°Every time I try to talk to her about visions, she shuts down.¡±

    ¡°She just slipped out of the hotel to visit P¨¨re Lachaise Cemetery,¡± my father told us. ¡°Grandma convinced her to visit the grave of a seer who supposedly helps channel visions.¡±

    ¡°How do you know?¡±

    ¡°ym linked me,¡± he grinned. ¡°They just got into a taxi, so you should get going. Follow them, but don¡¯t interrupt them until after they¡¯ve visited the seer¡¯s grave.¡±

    ¡°But my mate¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is with them,¡± he added. ¡°You should get going so you¡¯re not too far behind. See if you can work more out of your sister.¡±

    I rushed past the warrior standing outside the Parisian Grand Hotel who was trying to look like hotel staff. He hailed a taxi before I could say a word.

    ¡°P¨¨re Lachaise,¡± Rex told the driver as he slipped into the taxi with me.

    We arrived twenty minutester and saw them walking into a flower shop on the corner. Rex and I slipped into a caf¨¦ to avoid being seen. I would have ordered a coffee to go, but this was Paris, and caf¨¦s were meant to be social spaces where one lingers. I ced an order for two espressos and some Madeleine cookies. We had just enough time to shoot the espresso at the bar and walk out with cookies in hand.

    ¡°I don¡¯t usually have a sweet tooth, but these scallop-shaped cookies are good,¡± Rex muttered, shoving a second cookie in his mouth.

    We entered the cemetery, followed our nose, and found them fairly easily. The wind was calm and gently blowing in our direction, which meant that I didn¡¯t need to alter the wind to keep Storm from scenting us. Therge mausoleum tombs and trees made it easy for us to remain unnoticed.

    ¡°Is that Chopin?¡± Rex asked, hearing the ssical piano melody ringing in the distance.

    ¡°I think he¡¯s buried here.¡±

    We watched as Grandma fanned out cards and Storm kneeled at the grave of a seer who may have been gone, but not forgotten. Storm joined the others, and ym still held a second flower arrangement as they moved down the little cobbled path. I wondered who the flowers were for and if there was another irvoyant we didn¡¯t know about buried here. We slowly continued behind them until they came to a second stop.

    ¡°I can¡¯t hear them,¡± Rex said through the mind link. ¡°Should we get closer?¡±

    I nodded in agreement, and we silently made our way closer to them. I wasn¡¯t sure who Allen Kardec was, but this guy seemed to have a lot of visitors. Some wanted to rest in peace, but the Parisians buried at this cemetery had be immortal.

    ¡°Wow! Will you look at that!¡± Grandma told them. ¡°If Jim Morrison¡¯s grave is the most visited, this must be the most flowered!¡±

    ¡°Kardec was a spiritualist. He once said,<i> after my death, if youe to see me, put your hand on the neck of the statue overlooking my grave, then make a wish. If your wish is granted,e back with flowers.¡± </i>Selena exined, and she took the remaining flowers from ym.

    ¡°ym, help me up,¡± Grandma called to him. ¡°I need to make a wish or two!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not some kind of magicmp.¡± My sister didn¡¯t sound impressed or convinced despite the mass of flowers.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± Grandma replied. ym walked around the tomb to help her reach the bust of Kardec sitting atop his grave. Knowing Grandma, she was probably wishing for a lottery jackpot or big casino win.

    Selena knelt down and ced her purple and white flowers among the others. When she stood back up, I couldn¡¯t help wrapping my arms around her and feeling her back pressed to me. I should be angry that she slipped out of the hotel without telling me, but all I wanted to do was kiss her everywhere.

    ¡°And what was your wish, Princess?¡±

    She turned around to face me. ¡°You followed me?¡±

    ¡°You snuck out.¡±

    ¡°You snitched,¡± Storm used ym.

    ¡°What? No!¡± ym denied her usation.

    ¡°Our taxi wasn¡¯t followed, so how else would he know?¡± Storm fired back.

    ¡°Now, wait just a minute,¡± Grandma bellowed. ¡°Do not argue in front of Mister Kardec¡¯s grave. I just made my wish, and I don¡¯t want him to feel disrespected. Let¡¯s move it along,¡± she motioned for everyone to start walking. ¡°Now I¡¯ll have to bring back extra flowers when my wish is granted on ount of all your jabbering.¡±

    We looped around and moved in the direction of the main gate.

    ¡°Imagine living over there,¡± Rex said, pointing to the apartment buildings overlooking the cemetery. ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful cemetery. I¡¯m just not sure I¡¯d want to look out my window and see the immortal city every day.¡±

    ¡°At least your neighbors are quiet at night,¡± ym replied with a chuckle. ¡°Hey, Grandma, what did you wish for?¡±

    ¡°Honey, If I tell you, it might note true,¡± she said and stopped mid-step. Her head turned and she seemed to be looking for something. ¡°Do you feel that?¡±

    ¡°Feel what?¡± Selena asked and came to a stop beside Grandma.

    ¡°The shift in energy,¡± she replied just as a crow started cawing.

    ¡°Check that out!¡± ym stretched his hand out. ¡°You¡¯re not the only Crow¡¯s here today!¡± Heughed as another crow swooped down and joined the first.

    ¡°I¡¯m getting a bad feeling,¡± Grandma said, lifting her arm and holding it up. ¡°The hair on my arms is standing on end. It¡¯s a bad sign, and I¡¯ve got the willies. We need to go.¡±

    ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Storm said, looking out into the distance.

    A cloaked figure floating on ck mist stood beside a tree, watching us. The mist snaked out like tentacles along the grass and around the tombs. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was male or female, but I knew it wasn¡¯t friendly. We could all sense the dark energy emitting from it.

    The temperature in the air suddenly dropped and then shot up as the air became charged. Storm was ready to zap the unweed guest. I tucked Selena and Grandma behind me, preparing for an attack. ym flipped his zippo lighter open, and I heard it strike fire. He wasn¡¯t elemental, but he was fireproof, which made him a great moving weapon. Rex drew a fireball from the lighter and hurled it off at the figure just as a crack of lightning struck the hallowed ground.

    The mist remained, but the cloaked figure evaporated before the fireball or bolt made contact. Whatever it was, it was fast. People started moving closer, and the mist disappeared. The temperature shifted again, and the only thing left was a charred patch of grass and a smoldering tree.

    I turned to find Grandma shoving something back into her purse and was thankful it wasn¡¯t the pistol. Or, at least, I hoped it wasn¡¯t the pistol. Thest thing I needed was to be identally shot in the back by Grandma.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s gone,¡± Rex said. ¡°We should go¡­ there are too many people gathering around.¡±

    ¡°How do you know it was a she?¡± Selena asked. ¡°I thought I saw horns.¡±

    ¡°Just because you see horns doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s male,¡± Storm replied. ¡°Her lips were a deep shade of red and she was smiling.¡±

    ¡°Bacon,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I need somerdoons or whatever they call it here. I need something greasy with extra fries and a chilled Chardonnay.¡±

    ¡°Grandma, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need something to calm myself,¡± she said.

    ¡°We¡¯re still going to that chocte souffl¨¦ ce, aren¡¯t we?¡± ym asked hopefully.

    ¡°That thing¡­¡± Storm started to say.

    ¡°Oh, I know. I¡¯ve seen it before,¡± Grandma said as we exited the cemetery¡¯s gates.

    ¡°Are you going to tell us about it?¡± Storm asked.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No,¡± Grandma replied, turning to re at Storm. ¡°You¡¯re not telling us about your visions, so it¡¯s only fair I keep this to myself.¡±

    ¡°Grandma?¡± Rex tried.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk right now,¡± she shook her head and continued walking. ¡°Come on, ym, let¡¯s go find some food.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a ce near my apartment that has the best souffl¨¦s and delicious steak and fries,¡± Selena said. ¡°I need to stop at the apartment after and get a few things.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll need to take two taxis,¡± Rex replied.

    Selena gave my brother the address and name of the restaurant, and ym hailed two taxis. Grandma took the first cab with Selena and me, and ym joined Rex and Storm. I had rarely seen my great-grandmother upset, but something was worrying her.Her hand rested inside her purse, and she sat quietly while the taxi traveled fifteen minutes to the Latin Quarter.

    We arrived at the restaurant and requested a table for six. Since it was a midday meal, a reservation wasn¡¯t required. It was a beautiful day in Paris, which meant most people were seated outside. Selena requested the quiet corner at the back of the restaurant to give us some privacy, and we were seated immediately. I pulled her chair closer to mine and wrapped an arm around her, needing to feel her close. Selena casually ced her hand on my thigh, but I knew there was nothing casual about it. She was letting all the females know that I was hers, and my beast was pleased.

    ¡°It¡¯s interesting how the seats are set up outside,¡± ym said as he took a seat. ¡°Both chairs are side-by-side instead of facing each other.¡±

    ¡°People-watching is a favorite pastime here as you rx at a caf¨¦,¡± Selena exined. ¡°Having the seats side-by-side also leaves a little room on the sidewalk for people to walk past.¡±

    We ced our drink order, and Grandma was first to get her ss of chilled Chardonnay. She didn¡¯t shift anymore, and I wondered if alcohol had any impact on elders. The waitress asked for our order, and everyone selected the steak frites. ym ordered a few ssic Parisian extras, which included olive tapenade, frog legs, beef marrow, asparagus, and chocte souffl¨¦s for dessert.

    ¡°Storm?¡± I gave my sister an expectant look.

    ¡°I started seeing the same ck mist that Rex had been seeing for years and dismissed it. I thought it was a figment of my imagination, or a twin connection¡­ or something,¡± she said and reached for her ss of water. ¡°A few months ago, I started seeing monuments in Paris, just as Rex has. Sometimes I feel like I¡¯ve seen something important, but I can¡¯t remember it.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Rex asked.

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want this,¡± she said. ¡°It leaves me exhausted and weak. Your visions happen when you¡¯re asleep, but mine drain me in the middle of the day, and I have no control over them.¡±

    It suddenly hit me. ¡°This is why you moved to the cottage!¡±

    ¡°You know how dad gets,¡± she replied. ¡°I knew Hazel had cast a powerful spell around the territory, so the cottage was safe. He wasn¡¯t going to say no if I was still in pack territory, and I didn¡¯t want anyone to see me after a vision and think I was weak. I¡¯ve been working on trying to control it.¡±

    ¡°Control it or block it out?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°Both,¡± Storm reluctantly admitted as the food started arriving. The server ced all of the starters ym had ordered in the center of the table.

    ¡°Is that a fried chicken wing?¡± Grandma asked and reached for a frog leg.

    ¡°Which tarot card did you get?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Do they have buffalo sauce for these fancy little wings?¡± Grandma continued as she bit into a leg.

    Storm took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°I got the moon card. I saw the mist, dead bodies, a painting of a naked man, a fancy chandelier, and a full moon¡­ except the full moon was melting like wax,¡± Storm shook her head.

    ¡°And now we have that creature in the cemetery,¡± Selena said.

    ¡°You think it will stay in the cemetery?¡± ym asked. ¡°Could that have been the Russian Heiress?¡±

    ¡°Nothing makes sense,¡± Storm shook her head in frustration.

    ¡°It makes sense to me,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen demons before.¡±

 Skip day

Hi, Sorry it was a long day and I didn''t get a chance to write tonight. Taking a skip day.

    But check out my wall because I''m going to post my inspiration board!N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

 Chapter 15 - Apartment

    Selena

    ¡°What do you mean demons?¡± ym looked at Grandma Dori like she had just sprouted another head.

    ¡°That¡¯s just what I said,¡± she replied and passed the te of frog legs. ¡°Have another chicken wing, it helps with the stress.¡±

    ¡°Aunt Demeter has mentioned demons in Egypt,¡± Lukas said in a hushed voice.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Grandma said. ¡°The existence of demons has been recorded for thousands of years, even before the prominent human religions of today. The ancients viewed demons as sort of like the middleman between this realm and the next. Some are guardians, and they¡¯re harmless; in fact, they can even be benevolent. They¡¯re associated with white mist.¡±

    ¡°And the ones with ck mist?¡± I asked, feeling the tension building at the table.

    ¡°Wanderers,¡± she replied, taking a sip of her Chardonnay. ¡°They enjoy wreaking havoc.¡±

    I gasped as I realized what she was saying. ¡°What we saw at the cemetery¡­¡±

    ¡°Yep,¡± Grandma nodded. ¡°Looked like a wanderer to me.¡±

    ¡°Maybe it lives in the cemetery?¡± ym suggested.

    ¡°Did you get a good look at its feet?¡± I asked him.

    ¡°Those weren¡¯t paws or hooves,¡± my wolf muttered.

    ym shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not a fashionista. I don¡¯t give a rats ass what kind of shoes it was wearing.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m talking about the mist. Rex and Storm have both been seeing mist.¡±

    ¡°Maybe they¡¯ve just been having visions of fire, like a warning or something,¡± he replied. ¡°I mean, Grandma did almost burn down the Eiffel Tower.¡±

    I would haveughed if I hadn¡¯t just witnessed a demon stalking the cemetery. ¡°Nice reach, but the Eiffel Tower is made of Iron.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get the feeling it wanted to talk,¡± Lukas said, spearing a chunk of steak and bringing it to my mouth. The gesture may have seemed small to someone observing us, but it wasn¡¯t. This Alpha male was taking care of my needs before his. Feeding someone was an intimate act, and doing so in public broadcasted the importance of your mate.

    ¡°Guardian or wanderer, a demon is perfectly capable of taking on their human form at will,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°When you say human form, do you mean they look like us?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Is there another human form I¡¯m not aware of?¡± Grandma replied.

    ¡°It was angry,¡± Storm said. ¡°I could feel rage emanating from it.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re vulnerable in human form,¡± Grandma continued. ¡°It would need to take on its human form to talk. The mist is a protective shield because the demon is not in solid form.¡±

    ¡°So, they¡¯re weak in human form?¡±

    ¡°Vulnerable to a lycan, but not necessarily weak,¡± Grandma exined.

    ¡°If we¡¯ve both been seeing it for a long time,¡± Rex said thoughtfully. ¡°Maybe the demon has been seeking our help?¡±

    Grandma shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the color of the mist. There¡¯s a difference between benevolent and malevolent.¡±

    My wolf let out a low whine, and Lukas leaned in to press a tender kiss on my temple. I had no doubt he could sense Ste¡¯s growing anxiety, and his kiss was a soothing balm to my wolf¡¯s heart. He forked another chunk of steak and asparagus and continued to feed the both of us.

    I took a long drink of water, wondering if this day could possibly get any crazier, and started to regret not running off to hide on that Greek ind when Lukas suggested it. Storm wasn¡¯t just seeing ck mist. She had also seen monuments, dead people, a melting moon, a chandelier, and a naked man. What the hell was that supposed to mean? And why is there a demon in Paris?

    ¡°Phantom of The Opera!¡± ym called out like he had just solved a puzzle. ¡°The chandelier you saw. Maybe it has something to do with the famous chandelier that fell at the Paris Opera House? Maybe it¡¯s not a phantom but a demon that haunts the ce?¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that just a Broadway show?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°It was inspired by real-life tragedy that urred here at Pis Garnier.¡±

    ¡°Does it still have a chandelier?¡± ym continued.

    ¡°This is Paris,¡± I reminded him. ¡°Chandeliers are asmon as toilets.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about that,¡± Grandma said wistfully, ¡°I went for a walk yesterday with Caspian for some of that French hot chocte I keep hearing about, and we saw a man watering flowers without a watering can.¡±

    ¡°You also said something about the doors of hell,¡± Lukas pressed Storm.

    She shook her head regretfully. ¡°I think I saw an entrance of some kind, but I don¡¯t recognize it. The image has be fogged in my mind.¡±

    ¡°Next time you see something, mind link with me,¡± Rex told her. ¡°Let me see it through your mind so I can remember it for you.¡±

    After I moved here, I spent the first year ying tourist during my free time. There was so much to do and see in Paris, and I was thankful for the distraction. The gates of hell sounded familiar to me, but my first thought was the Paris catbs.

    ¡°Catbs?¡± Lukas asked as if reading my thoughts because he was listening to my thoughts.

    ¡°Storm, these dead people¡­ do they look like they still have flesh, or are they bones?¡±

    She hesitated for a moment. ¡°Bones.¡±

    The ground beneath Paris was lined with tunnels that had once been quarried by the Romans for their limestone. The abandoned underground mines eventually served as a marriage of convenience when Paris was struggling to bury its dead due to overcrowded cemeteries. Thebs were consecrated, and the bones of millions of Parisians were emptied from cemeteries and transferred to the undergroundbyrinth.

    ¡°Did you see stacked bones?¡±

    Storm shook her head slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. The vision came and went as quickly as a fading dream.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± ym¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Are we going to visit the catbs? I hear people get lost down there.¡±

    ¡°Well, not if you have a tour guide,¡± Grandma replied. ¡°I know ady that does private tours.¡±

    ¡°You do?¡±

    ¡°Gio''s wife,¡± she said. ¡°He gave me her card when we got the face masks for the ball. I think I left it at your apartment. I bet if we tip her well she¡¯ll take us to the areas the regr tours don¡¯t take you.¡±

    ¡°You mean the card is not in your purse?¡± Rex chuckled.

    An hourter, we trudged up the stairs to my apartment. I rarely hadpany, and suddenly, I had a full house. I didn¡¯t even have enough seats to amodate everyone, and it was strange to see them all here.

    Rex slipped his phone back into his pocket. ¡°Caspian sent two cars to get us. They should be here in ten minutes.¡±

    ¡°Is that one of those washer-dryer, all-in-one machines?¡± ym asked, stepping into my kitchen. ¡°It¡¯s so small! What do you do? Wash two towels at a time?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that small,¡± Iughed, though I did miss the American full-sized washers, which were faster and easier to use.

    Grandma shuffled to the small table and found the tour guide¡¯s business card. ¡°Here it is, Parisian Tours. Her name is Sylvie Venini, and she also does private custom tours.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s your refrigerator so small?¡± ym continued looking around the kitchen.

    ¡°People here don¡¯t usually needrge cold storage for their food because they prefer to shop daily or every other day for fresh foods. They tend to eat what¡¯s in season,¡± I tried to exin to ym, who was used to having industrial-sized refrigerators at the mansion.

    ¡°You don¡¯t even have a pantry!¡± He genuinely sounded shocked, and I couldn¡¯t helpughing.

    ¡°They¡¯re not stocking up at the supermarkets, and you won¡¯t find them freezing pork chops for another day because a butcher shop ismon in every neighborhood around here.¡±

    ym shook his head, trying toprehend the cultural differences. ¡°I suppose when you¡¯re not refrigerating your eggs, butter, or milk, you might not need all that extra space.¡±

    ¡°Nothing wrong with stashing some extra bacon in the freezer forter,¡± Grandma mumbled.

    I moved into my bedroom, and Lukas followed me. My phone was on the bedside table, and I tried to check my missed calls. It was dead. I shoved the charger and phone into the tote bag on the floor and moved across the room. My favorite silk robe was hanging in the corner, and I quickly rolled it up and stuffed it inside the tote.

    ¡°Special silk robe?¡± He smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s my favorite. Nothing beats thefort, elegance, and luxurious feel of silk.¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯ll need to feel my mouth all over your skin again topare,¡± he grinned. ¡°The cherry blossoms on it are nice.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. Jose brought it back from China for me,¡± I told him, and he growled.

    ¡°Rx,¡± Iughed. ¡°Jose would sooner date you before he set his eyes on me.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I knew that.¡±

    I pulled open my jewelry drawer to find my most prized treasure. Persephone had packed my graduation dress and shoes with some of my other things, but she had missed my favorite crystal bracelet. It was the bracelet that Lukas had given me for my thirteenth birthday.

    His eyes locked on the crystals in my hand, and he smiled. ¡°You still have it?¡±

    ¡°Someone special gave it to me a long time ago.¡±

    ¡°Fuck, I love you so much,¡± he said as he closed the space between us.

    Lukas wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against his chest. Dipping his head down, his lips gently grazed mine. Unable to resist, I took a deep breath, and his delicious, fresh scent filled my nose. I couldn¡¯t seem to get enough of him now that he was mine.

    ¡°Mark him,¡± my wolf demanded. She was feeling territorial.

    The warmth of his tongue flicked against my lips, and I parted my lips in response. His kiss was hard yet gentle, as if he were fighting to maintain control. It left me feeling a little dizzy and excited because this was everything I had ever wanted with him.

    ¡°Should wee backter?¡± Storm asked, leaning in the doorway.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Lukas said with a low growl.

    ¡°No,¡± Iughed. ¡°I have what I need¡­ for now.¡±

    Lukas stole another kiss before we stepped back into the living room. ym was still poking around the kitchen in fascination, and Grandma was seated in the chair with the business card in hand. Storm and Rex were both standing at the window, observing the view.

    ¡°Do you think she does night tours of the catbs?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°What difference does it make? It¡¯s going to be dark down there anyway,¡± Rex said.

    ¡°I hope it¡¯s not haunted,¡± ym murmured.

    A chime sounded, and Rex checked his phone. ¡°The cars are here.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Lukas reached the front door and noticed it was still cracked open. He took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°Grandma, did you leave the door open again?¡±

    ¡°Nuh-uh, I wasn¡¯t thest one to enter the apartment,¡± she said as she nodded her head toward ym. He was at the end of the line when we came up the stairs, so he wasst to enter the apartment.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get your underwear in a bunch,¡± ym rumbled. ¡°No one would be silly enough toe up all these stairs just to rob an apartment full of shifters.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but we did just meet a demon this morning,¡± Rex said as he strolled out the open door.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a meet-and-greet,¡± Grandma told Rex, following him out. ¡°She didn¡¯t even introduce herself.¡±

    ¡°Great view of the Tower,¡± Storm told me as she followed Grandma out the door.

    Lukas and I stepped into the long hall, and I turned to ym. ¡°Be sure to turn the lock before you close the door.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± ym replied. ¡°Let me turn off the light in the kitchen first.¡±

    We started our descent down the stairs in the narrow corridor, and ym pulled the door closed. The lock tumbled in ce.

    <b><i>BOOM!</i></b>

    The building shook as the impact from the explosion rattled the walls. It was total silence, and my heart hammered in my chest as I staggered against Lukas. Then I heard the sound of muffled voices, and a burning scrap of wallpaper floated down in front of me as if in slow motion.

    A plume of fire raging from my apartment filled the stairwell with orange light and smoke, and I was sure I was having a nightmare. I looked up to see my front door had been embedded in the opposite wall we had just passed, and I knew ym was still up there. Terror gripped me, and I screamed, but I wasn¡¯t sure a sound hade out. Lukas lifted me off my feet and raced down the stairs behind Rex, who was also carrying Grandma.

    I caught sight of my neighbors rushing out of their apartments. Their mouths were moving, but I couldn¡¯t hear anything except the sound of my breathing. Some were trying to get a better look up the stairwell, while others were running down the stairs to safety. Old man Mueller was taking photos with his phone, and Lukas nearly knocked him over when we rushed past.

    My apartment had justbusted. The moment ym closed that door, the apartment exploded. But why? And how? I loved that apartment.

    Fresh air hit me, and I realized we were outside. Lukas¡¯ mouth was moving, but all I heard was ringing. He was talking to Rex, who set Grandma down and reached for my tote bag. I remained speechless as he removed my silk robe and rushed back into the building.

    Lukas and Rex could both control fire, and I wondered if they had put the fire out or if it was too risky because the humans would notice. Smoke was billowing from the top of the apartment building, but I couldn¡¯t see mes. Lukas said something and it sounded like sweetheart, but it was still muffled.

    My ears felt like they had been stuffed with cotton balls, and one had just fallen out. The first thing I heard clearly was the sound of sirens growing louder as they neared. I tried to wiggle out of Lukas¡¯ arms, but he wasn¡¯t going to set me down anytime soon.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± he said through the mind link.

    ¡°ym?¡± I croaked.

    ¡°Here hees,¡± he motioned his head to the door of my apartment building where people had gathered.

    Rex appeared in the doorway first, followed by ym. His red hair was disheveled, and he was covered in ash and soot. His shoes were missing, and the only thing shielding his naked body from the view of onlookers was my favorite pink silk robe that reached mid-thigh on him. The wind shifted, causing the robe to billow out and disy ym¡¯s family jewels to the gathering crowd.

    ym reached to pinch the silk closed, and Storm howled withughter. ¡°You should wear silk more often, Carrots.¡±

 Chapter 16 - Aftermath

    Lukas

    ¡°Selena?¡± I called her name again, but she was either in shock or the st was ringing in her ears.

    My beast snarled with rage, knowing that someone had intentionally tried to hurt our mate. This wasn¡¯t a leaky pipe or faulty appliance or something. It was a bomb intended to kill Selena. Anger burned through me, and the ground shook.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bring the building down on us,¡± Storm warned me through the mind link as we continued down the stairs.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill the bastard who did this,¡± I replied, holding my mate tighter in my arms.

    We reached the entrance hall and rushed out to the fresh air. I had considered snuffing the fire out, but it would have drawn too much attention. People were pointing to the rooftop of the building, where ck smoke was drifting higher and chattering in French. Rex set Grandma down, but I wasn¡¯t about to let Selena go.

    Storm pulled on her sunsses to hide her lycan eyes and scanned the area for potential dangers. Lycan sight was better than military-grade binocrs with inferred vision.

    ¡°ym needs something to wear,¡± I told Rex.

    ¡°Commando,¡± he replied with a grin.

    ¡°That makes two of us.¡± Neither of us could offer our pants to ym without being naked. I motioned my head down to the bag slung around my mate¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Selena has a robe in her tote.¡±

    Rex reached for the robe and disappeared into the building like he was on a mission to save someone. The fire turned into a low smolder, and I knew Rex was using his element to hold the fire back until the fire trucks started arriving. With any luck, they¡¯d be able to save the rest of the building.

    ¡°Sweetheart?¡± I tried again, and she continued to look around in shock. The sirens were screaming as they turned down the street, and Selena tried to wiggle out of my arms.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± I told her through the mind link.

    ¡°ym?¡± Her voice was filled with worry even though she knew ym was fireproof.

    ¡°Here hees.¡±

    He looked ridiculous in Selena¡¯s cherry blossom-covered silk robe, and I knew what Storm had done the moment the wind shifted. ym looked like he had been sweeping chimneys.

    ¡°You should wear silk more often, Carrots,¡± Stormughed, and Selena giggled. I was relieved to hear her giggle, but my beast didn¡¯t like her looking at another male naked. The gathering crowd had also noticed ym¡¯s shing, and a few wide-eyed females even pointed.

    ¡°Unless you¡¯re offering free rides on your magic carpet, I suggest you keep your hand on that robe.¡±

    ¡°What? It got hot in there,¡± ym chuckled. ¡°I had to let things cool off.¡±

    Nudity was perfectly normal in the shifter world because we had to shift naked or have our clothing torn to shreds. The human world wasn¡¯t epting of what they called <i>public indecency, </i>so we quickly made our way to the two waiting cars. Rex, Storm, and ym took the first car, and Grandma joined Selena and me in the second.

    I couldn¡¯t put her down until I knew she was safe, so I kept her in my arms, seated on myp.

    ¡°Selena¡­¡± I kissed her temple, trying to calm myself. ¡°How do you feel?¡±

    ¡°My left ear is still ringing, but I¡¯m okay,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Nothing my father can¡¯t help with.¡±

    I considered asking one of the local packs to send their pack doctor, but I also didn¡¯t want others to know my mate was expecting a pup. As of right now, they were all suspects. Selena had lived in Paris for over a year without anything happening, and everything seemed to have changed since the ball.

    The heat and problems with the mate bond were one thing, but now we have a demon and the apartment blowing up. Someone had tried to kill my mate and pup. That someone had just signed their death certificate.

    ¡°Grandma, are you okay?¡± Selena asked my grandmother.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, honey,¡± she replied. ¡°But I¡¯m worried about you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­ really,¡± she assured Grandma and rxed into me.

    We reached the Parisian Grand Hotel, where my father and Mateo stood on the sidewalk waiting for us. My father pulled the door open and helped Grandma out. I slipped out next, with Selena still in my arms. Mateo¡¯s anxious-looking face eased a bit when he saw his daughter was safe, and he reached for her. My lycan wasn¡¯t ready to let her go, but he also wanted her father to give her a healing treatment to ensure she was okay.

    ¡°Please,¡± Mateo¡¯s voice pleaded through the mind link. I nodded my head and reluctantly let him scoop her out of my arms.

    ¡°Papa,¡± she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. ¡°Estoy bien,¡± she assured him she was fine, but the moment we stepped onto the elevator, his eyes turned an icy shade of white, indicating that he was giving her healing energy.

    She was right in front of me, and yet I longed to hold her. The elevator came to a stop on the top floor, where everyone was waiting for us. Ranger was holding his mate, who rushed to Selena the moment we stepped off the elevator. She threw her arms around her sister and father, and Pa joined them.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    I considered how lucky Mateo and Pa were. Both of their daughters had found their mates within the same pack and would stay at home. They would be involved in every aspect of helping raise future grandpups. Wylder wasn¡¯t as fortunate, but Cynder would be the Luna of a family pack. I had no doubt Wylder would travel back and forth between the packs, and someday¡­ his grandpup would be head of Crescent Castle.

    ¡°You smell like smoke,¡± Sol said through a tear-filled giggle.

    ¡°Fire smoke or demon smoke?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°What do you mean demon smoke?¡± My mother sounded rmed.

    ¡°We need showers,¡± I announced. ¡°Give us thirty minutes, and I¡¯ll fill you in.¡± I reached for my mate again and carried her to our suite. I was finally alone with her.

    ¡°Lukas, I did a full sweep of every room,¡± Caspian¡¯s voice came through the mind link. ¡°Just keep your curtains closed until we know it¡¯s safe.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± I linked back and moved into the bathroom with my mate.

    I set her down and turned on the shower. She started undressing and kicked her smoke-scented clothing to the side. The nibble and bite marks I had left on her skin earlier were still fresh. I tried to keep my mind off my cock that seemed to have a mind of its own the moment I saw her naked body.

    She dipped her curly brown hair under the spray, and I reached for the shampoo. After thorough shampooing, conditioning, and body washing, I could no longer smell the stench of burning smoke.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe my apartment is gone,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°You were getting ready to leave anyway.¡±

    ¡°I know, but I loved that little apartment.¡±

    I reached for her chin and lifted her head. Those sweet brown eyes did me in every time. This little she-wolf was my entire world, and I was never letting her go. ¡°You belong at home with me.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°I know.¡±

    Half an hourter, everyone was packed into my father¡¯s suite. Zane and Zander LaRue remained while the other LaRues were sent home. Zane stood with his arm around Cynder, and Wylder stood beside her with Tymber and ym. Demeter and Balthazar were seated on one of the sofas in the small living room portion of the suite with my parents.

    Mateo and Pa sat at the table with Sol and Ranger. Caspian was peering out the window through a slip in the curtains, and Grandma rummaged through the mini-fridge with her wet pink hair still haphazardly wrapped in a bath towel.

    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t we just meet on the rooftop terrace?¡± Cynder asked.

    ¡°Because there¡¯s a she-demon out there stalking us,¡± ym replied.

    ¡°Are you sure it was he or she?¡± Ranger questioned. ¡°Do demons even have a gender? I mean, technically, they could shapeshift, right?¡±

    ¡°It was a she,¡± Storm insisted. ¡°I know it was.¡±

    ¡°Did you say she-demon?¡± Caspian turned to ym.

    ¡°Well, he didn¡¯t say Great Dane,¡± Grandma replied.

    ¡°What exactly is going on here?¡± My father nearly thundered, and the room fell silent.

    Storm spoke first. She exined how she thought she may have been having visions and how she went with Grandma, ym, and Selena to the cemetery. Rex continued by exining the mist and the cloaked figure that had appeared in the cemetery. Grandma described the figure and insisted it was the same kind of creature they had encountered in Egypt with Balthazar, Zeus, and Xena over two decades ago.

    ym exined the promise of chocte souffl¨¦s and our lunch outing. He also exined how we returned to the apartment for a few things and what happened when he closed the door.

    ¡°You¡¯ve had a busy morning!¡± Cynder said.

    ¡°The news is reporting the fire urred as a result of the earthquake,¡± Caspian said. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a faulty gas line?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°The fire happened first, and that wasn¡¯t a gas explosion. It was triggered when the door locked to ensure someone would be killed.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a regr earthquake either,¡± Aunt Demeter said. She also controlled the earth element and could decipher the difference between a tremor caused by elemental control and a real earthquake from below.

    ¡°We felt the ground tremble all the way over here,¡± my father gave me an usatory look. ¡°There are tunnels under Paris, and an earthquake could be catastrophic.¡±

    ¡°Someone had just tried to kill my mate and pup!¡± I wasn¡¯t going to defend myself to them. I had every right to be angry. It¡¯s not like the tremble brought down the Parisian Pantheon or something.

    ¡°This demon,¡± Balthazar said as he turned to Grandma. ¡°Dori, are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m positive,¡± she nodded. ¡°You don¡¯t forget that. Storm struck it with lightning, and Rex fired off a ball of fire. She evaporated into mist before either could touch her. It was just like Egypt.¡±

    ¡°Demons can¡¯t freely walk the earth unless some kind of dark magic has summoned them,¡± Demeter said.

    ¡°I know what I saw,¡± Grandma said with confidence.

    ¡°I agree with Grandma,¡± I added. ¡°There was something supernatural about it.¡±

    ¡°And then we got attacked at the apartment,¡± Grandma added.

    ¡°Could it have been a ball of fire?¡± Demeter asked. ¡°Maybe the one Rex threw at the demon?¡±

    ¡°Or a rocketuncher or something?¡± Wylder suggested. ¡°Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t even know if it was a demon,¡± my father said. ¡°P¨¨re Lachaise is the world¡¯s most visited cemetery. It could have been a weirdo in costume.¡±

    ¡°And the bomb?¡± I asked.

    ym nodded his head fervently. ¡°I¡¯m sure the apartment was a bomb.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t sense anything different in the apartment when we picked up the luggage a few days before and packed Selena¡¯s things,¡± Balthazar said.

    ¡°Maybe the explosives were nted after you were there?¡± ym replied.

    ¡°Have you checked in with Cyrus?¡± My father asked.

    ¡°Ten minutes ago,¡± Balthazar replied. ¡°Everything is quiet there.¡±

    ¡°You think someone is after the lycan offspring?¡± I asked my father.

    ¡°Someone tried to take Persephone from the ball when everyone else was distracted.¡±

    ¡°The Darc Alpha and Beta,¡± Balthazar said with a deadly tone. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving France until I¡¯ve had a chance to sink my ws into them.¡±

    ¡°I could just bury them alive or incinerate them to ash, so no one knows what happened to them, but we need to make sure we have the right Alpha,¡± my father said.

    ¡°We need to be strategic about it. He¡¯s going to im it was the heat-filled pheromones in the air,¡± Mateo urged my father. He was my father¡¯s Zeta for a reason.

    ¡°She wasn¡¯t in heat, and it wasn¡¯t a free-for-all!¡± Balthazar snarled. ¡°He just wanted a lycan so he could get his hands on venom when she matured. He¡¯s a dead man!¡±

    ¡°Okay, so we leave the walking corpses alone for right now until you have a chance to figure out who was involved,¡± Grandma said. ¡°In the meantime, we should hunt down the demon.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not hunting down anything,¡± my father told her.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not staying trapped in this hotel anymore!¡± She huffed. ¡°I want to see Sainte-Chapelle before you ship me back to New York and get some holy water from Notre-Dame.¡±

    ¡°Everyone just needs to calm down,¡± Wylder interrupted. ¡°Now, there¡¯s a couple of things going on here. If the girls were given Estrosine, then someone is behind it. It was probably given to all of you, except it had no effect on Persephone because she¡¯s still underage as a lycan, and Grandma is too old.¡±

    ¡°Watch it!¡± Grandma warned.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Wylder smiled sheepishly. ¡°The visions obviously have something to do with Paris, and maybe it¡¯s a warning because another Alpha plotted against our unmated she-wolves. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening with the mates and bonds, but something tells me it¡¯s all rted.¡±

    ¡°None of the girls were hurt, and they found their mates. Our new grandpup confirms there¡¯s something wrong with the mate bond, and I think we should go home and try to figure that out,¡± my mother suggested.

    I was tempted to run off with my mate and return to theforts of home, but something told me that the problem wouldn¡¯t go away if we did. Something was happening right here in Paris.

    ¡°The Paris authorities will be all over the apartment today,¡± my father said. ¡°I¡¯ll have Killian use his connections to find out what caused the explosion.¡±

    ¡°And the demon?¡± Rex asked.

    ¡°Demons are creatures of the dark realm. They¡¯re not out walking around in broad daylight,¡± my father told us.

    I wasn¡¯t entirely convinced they couldn¡¯t walk around in broad daylight. If they could shapeshift, then they could shift into human form.

    ¡°Storm, what are the visions you¡¯re seeing beside the ck mist?¡± Caspian asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s seeing a melting moon, dead people, the doors to hell¡­ and what else?¡± I turned to Storm.

    ¡°Something about a phantom or the opera house,¡± ym said.

    ¡°It was a chandelier,¡± Grandma corrected him, ¡°And a painting of a naked man. Don¡¯t forget the naked man.¡±

    ¡°Storm?¡± Rex reached for her.

    Her body stood ridged, and her eyes turnedpletely white. She lifted a shaking hand to cover her eyes, but she didn¡¯t make a sound. The whitening of her eyes reminded me of Selena¡¯s father. Mateo had been given a gift from a Goddess that caused his eyes to turn white, and I had no doubt that Storm was also given the gift of sight.

    Rex¡¯s eyes zed over, and I knew he was trying to tap into her vision. Twins were often born with the ability to read each other¡¯s thoughts, just as mates could. This connection went beyond a simple pack link or family mind link. It was formed in the womb. My twin Uncles and triplet cousins could also read each other¡¯s thoughts.

    Storm¡¯s eyes returned to their normal blue color, and she looked pale. Her breathing wasbored, and she squeezed her eyes closed. My mother wrapped her arms around my sister, who was still silent. I could feel the depletion of her energy, and my beast grew tense.

    ¡°Sweetheart?¡± My father called to her.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± she shook her head and I hoped that Rex had managed to remember it for her.

 Chapter 17 - Graduation

    <b>**Special thanks to all those who have helped to point out typos or anything that sounded off. I work all day and write in the evening, and my eyes are tired by the time I finish a chapter. I will go back during my final edit and reread all thements to make the changes. </b>

    <b>Also, Congrattions to Beta Readers Ang and Tasha, who made it into my book this chapter! Nothing gives me greater joy than using the names of people who have been engaged in the process of my work. </b>

    <b>***********</b>

    Selena

    Rex stood gazing at Storm with curiosity before he spoke. ¡°Storm, I thought I saw¡ª¡±

    ¡°It was nothing,¡± she cut him off. ¡°Just the Paris monuments again.¡±

    ¡°Was that the naked man?¡± Rex asked, and I wondered if he had been able to tap into her visions.

    She ced a hand over her forehead as if she was trying to hang onto a fleeting memory. ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ve never seen the painting before.¡±

    ¡°A painting? Could you see his sausage and meatballs?¡± Grandma asked, and I tried to hide my smile.

    ¡°Grandma!¡± Cynder blushed, and Zane stifled hisughter with a cough.

    ¡°What?¡± Grandma shrugged. ¡°When I was at the Vatican, a lot of the sculptures and paintings had their trouser snakes removed or painted over because of a prudish Pope of the past. I mean, it¡¯s not like God created man with clothing, so I don¡¯t know what the big deal was.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I need to lie down,¡± Storm announced and quickly left with Rex at her heels.

    I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was more to the visions. Our parents didn¡¯t seem convinced we had encountered a demon in the middle of the day, but they also hadn¡¯t witnessed what we had.

    ¡°What¡¯s the n?¡± Lukas asked.

    ¡°We need to finish gathering the facts before we act,¡± Ares said. ¡°If the apartment was bombed, we¡¯ll have LaRue Enterprises¡¯ security division run the forensics. I¡¯m touring Darc¡¯s territory tomorrow, and if Balthazar has to sink his ws into Pierre Darc to read his mind and get the truth, then he will.¡±

    ¡°And the issue with mates?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to figure that out when we get home,¡± my father replied. ¡°We leave in two days.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°The graduation ceremony is in five hours, and my mate needs to rest. Please excuse us.¡± Lukas took my hand and led me back to our room.

    I was exhausted, but I normally didn¡¯t nap in the middle of the day. I quickly learned that my whole body happily rxed and settled into a nap when my mate was holding me.

    When I opened my eyes, my mother was fluttering around the room, holding a steam iron in her hand. Two dresses were hanging from the back of the door to the restroom, and she had a third in her hand.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake,¡± she smiled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure which dress you were nning on wearing for the graduation tonight. I also steamed your graduation cap and gown¡­ or is it a toge. I guess it¡¯s called a toge here.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mom. Where¡¯s Lukas?¡±

    ¡°He went downstairs to the hotel kitchen in search of a snack tter for you,¡± she said. ¡°Growing a lycan pup is exhausting, even for a she-wolf.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only been a week. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m waddling around.¡±

    ¡°Not yet, but it sneaks up on you quickly!¡±

    I nibbled on the snack tter and finished putting myself together while Lukas waited in the corner armchair. He was dressed in a suit and looked as handsome as ever. My heart swooned with the knowledge that he was mine. Truly mine.

    ¡°As much as I want to rip that dress off you right now, we should probably get going,¡± he moved quickly to kiss me. ¡°The others have already left to find their seats, and our parents are waiting downstairs for us.¡±

    We joined my parents and his in the lobby and waited as Caspian cleared us to the waiting stretched limousine. Caspian held the door open and reminded me of a well-dressed security guard or special agent as he diligently monitored our surroundings. Ares and Eudora slipped into the limo first, followed by my parents and then us.

    ¡°No celebratory champagne this time,¡± Caspian winked as he closed the door.

    ¡°My parents are sorry they can¡¯t be here,¡± Ares told me. ¡°They had nned to fly out for the graduation, but recent events have them on high security alert at the Moon Realm.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I assured him. ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°Mac and Cassi are just so proud of you,¡± Eudora told me. ¡°And they¡¯re overjoyed to hear the recent news of your mating.¡± Mac and Cassi were Ares¡¯ parents and Lukas¡¯ grandparents. Next to Lukas and his father, Cassi was one of the most powerful Alphas alive. She had saved my father¡¯s life when he was young, and my father was loyal to her above all. I had grown up calling her Aunt Cassi, and now she was really going to be family.

    ¡°We¡¯re finally going to have a mating ceremony at the Moon Realm!¡± My mother beamed.

    ¡°Two!¡± My father corrected her. My sister and Ranger would also have a mating ceremony, and we¡¯d need to travel to Crescent Castle for Zane and Cynder¡¯s ceremony.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re expecting a lycan pup, we need to ensure your safety at all times,¡± Ares continued. ¡°There are some who will do anything to get their hands on lycan venom.¡±

    Something at the bar of the limousine drew my attention. ¡°Champagne,¡± I muttered as it suddenly hit me.

    ¡°Alcohol doesn¡¯t affect shifters, but we don¡¯t know the impact on a growing fetus,¡± my father said. ¡°Would you like some water or juice instead?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± I shook my head and pointed to the champagne. The only time Sol and Cynder were together with me was in the limousine when Caspian came to pick us up.

    ¡°Selena?¡±

    ¡°It was the champagne!¡± I said. ¡°The only time we were together with Sol and Cynder was in the limo on the way to the ball.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what are you saying?¡± My mother looked at the bottle of champagne.

    ¡°I knew something didn¡¯t seem right! We shared a bottle of champagne in the limo. It was the only thing we had consumed together. We all had some¡­ Grandma, Persephone, Sol, Cynder, and me¡­ Caspian drank thest bit out of the bottle.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re sure the three of you had nothing together at the ball?¡± My father asked.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± I shook my head. ¡°Grandma and Persephone were incognito. We split up as soon as we got to the pce.¡±

    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have affected Grandma, Persephone, or Caspian,¡± Lukas said.

    ¡°Where did the bottle of champagnee from?¡± Ares asked.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure.¡± So much had happened, and I tried to recall if I already had the champagne or if it was a bottle that Jose had brought over. Jose was human, and I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to involve him in this.

    ¡°Honey, think!¡± My mother urged. ¡°Where did you get the bottle?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    We arrived at the institute with five minutes to spare. Everyone was already inside, and we made our way to the theater in the back where the graduation was taking ce for nearly a hundred students who hadpleted a bachelor¡¯s or master¡¯s degree. Lukas walked me to the front where the graduates were seated, and reluctantly stepped away to sit with family.

    ¡°Hey, girl!¡± Jose waved, and I took my seat next to him.

    ¡°Way to go, Selena!¡± I heard Grandma Dori chime from somewhere behind me.

    ¡°Your family is huge! Everyone is buzzing because of the security traveling with them. They think you¡¯re an heiress or something,¡± heughed. ¡°Lord have mercy. It¡¯s one sexy beast after another!¡±

    ¡°Beast?¡± I questioned.

    ¡°Fox¡­ Stallion¡­ take your pick! Mmm, mmm, mmm!¡± He looked back where I knew my family was sitting. ¡°All the men are stunning, and I don¡¯t know who does her hair, but it looks incredible!¡±

    ¡°Grandma Dori has had the same beautician for decades.¡±

    ¡°Not Granny, though I do love pink. I¡¯m talking about the chic-looking beauty with silvery hair. The dye job looks on point.¡±

    He was talking about Storm, and her hair wasn¡¯t a dye job. ¡°I think she sees the same beautician as Grandma,¡± Iughed. I really didn¡¯t know what to say.

    ¡°How was Monaco?¡± He asked.

    I had almost forgotten that Erick had told Jose I was away on a celebratory vacation.

    ¡°It was fine. I was telling my mother about that wonderful champagne we had¡­ I couldn¡¯t remember the name,¡± I said, suddenly remembering Jose having brought two bottles over the night we got ready for the ball. We had one at the apartment and one in the limo.

    ¡°Erick had sent it over,¡± he said as the ceremony started.

    ¡°Right,¡± I whispered. ¡°Do you remember the name?¡±

    ¡°Loup¡­ Loup something,¡± he said. ¡°Loup-Chaleur! I think he knows the people who own the brand. Being the Sous Chef at La Tour, he gets a lot of people sending him product, hoping he¡¯ll help get it on the menu.¡±

    ¡°Is heing to the graduation?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Jose said, sounding sad. ¡°He, umm¡­ he¡¯s been acting weird. I think we broke-up, again. He¡¯s canceled everything and hasn¡¯t called in nearly a week.¡±

    ¡°What? Really?¡±

    ¡°I think he¡¯s dating someone else,¡± Jose said in a low whisper. ¡°I¡¯ve stalked his apartment, and he hasn¡¯t beening home.¡±

    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s been really busy because of the restaurant fire,¡± I said, trying tofort him. Erick wasn¡¯t a wolf, but he was connected to Alpha Darc. I thought about Alpha Darcst week at the caf¨¦, and started to wonder if he was targeting me. If he had intentionally given the wine to Erick to send over to me.

    The speeches from alumni who had be sessful in the fashion world started, and polite apuse rang out after each speaker. I heard nothing because I was lost in my thoughts. At some point, our row stood up and moved in procession to the stage. The President of the institute continued to call the names of graduates as they walked across the stage.

    ¡°Ang Michelle Estrada.¡± She practically sashayed across the stage when her name was called.

    ¡°I heard she was offered an internship at Prada,¡± Jose whispered.

    ¡°Tasha Lee Oliver.¡± Everyone knew that Tasha was going to work for McQueen in London. She had wless taste.

    ¡°Selena Cassiopeia Raffaello,¡± he called my name, and the apuse exploded. I was named after my father¡¯s mother and Lukas¡¯ grandmother.

    Heads turned in the direction of the cheering as people tried to get a better look at everyone seated with my parents. I smiled when Storm ced two fingers in her mouth and whistled. Lukas beamed at me proudly, and I noticed therge bouquet of flowers he was holding. Jose¡¯s name was called after me, and we returned to our seats and waited for the procession to finish.

    ¡°Did your familye for graduation?¡± I asked Jose.

    ¡°My sister is here, but I have to take her back to the airport tomorrow morning.¡±

    ¡°That was nice of Marisol toe.¡± I had met his sister once before. She was a college professor and lived in Los Angeles with her husband and daughters.

    ¡°She got freaked out when she felt the earthquake today. She thought the California earthquake vibes had followed her,¡± heughed.

    ¡°Earthquake?¡± I pretended to be surprised. ¡°I must have napped right through it.¡±

    Champagne and appetizers were served in the fashion hall as the graduates¡¯ family and friends gathered to admire the final projects. Jose and Erick were supposed to have dinner at Le Vent, but since Jose hadn¡¯t heard from Erick, he was taking his sister tonight.

    ¡°I hate to cut out early, but we need to go,¡± Lukas mind linked me. I knew the hotel was preparing a celebratory feast for us, but I wasn¡¯t sure what the sudden rush was.

    ¡°Everything okay?¡± I linked back.

    ¡°There¡¯s a shifter in the crowd, but I can¡¯t get a good read because of all the people.¡±

    Between our families and the warriors traveling with us, there were nearly two dozen shifters here tonight. But if Lukas was scenting another shifter he didn¡¯t recognize, then it wasn¡¯t someone with us. Shifters tended to stick out in a crowd because of their size or beauty. Rapid healing gave shifters great skin and hair growth, while metabolism and training enhanced the great physiques most shifters had. If we couldn¡¯t find this shifter, it was because they were trying to stay hidden.

    Lukas called for the cars to take us back to the hotel, where the hotel restaurant was preparing a family feast.

    ¡°Well, that was interesting,¡± Grandma said as she slipped in the back of the waiting limo with us. ¡°I bet it was an Omega or something. Makes it hard to pick out a shifter when it¡¯s an Omega or lone wolf working in the city.¡±

    ¡°Have you sensed another shifter at your school?¡± My father asked.

    ¡°No,¡± I shook my head.

    ¡°At least it wasn¡¯t a demon,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°Not this demon thing again,¡± Ares grumbled. ¡°I saw a man in a cloak two days ago; it doesn¡¯t mean it was a demon.¡±

    ¡°Fine, then you should have no problem if we go out sightseeing tomorrow,¡± Grandma replied. ¡°I¡¯ll have yme with me. Neither of us has lycan venom, and ording to you, there¡¯s no demon, so we should be safe.¡±

    ¡°Where exactly do you think you¡¯re going tomorrow?¡± Ares asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been shopping at the Galleries, visited the Pce of Versailles, had dinner at the Eiffel Tower, took the elevator up to the top of Arc de Triomphe, visited P¨¨re Lachaise cemetery, and got kicked out of the Louvre Museum. I¡¯d say you¡¯ve seen just about everything in Paris already.¡±

    ¡°Everything, my big toe!¡± Grandma snarked back, and I waited for her to mention the catbs or Moulin Rouge. ¡°I haven¡¯t even seen the ce where Marie Antote was guillotined. Selena promised to take me to see the stained ss at Sainte-Chapelle, and I still need to get some holy water from Notre-Dame Cathedral.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do with holy water?¡± He asked, and I nearlyughed out loud. When Grandma Dori had her heart set on something, she¡¯d stop at nothing to achieve it.

    She smiled for a long moment before she replied. ¡°I¡¯m going to use it on a demon¡­ if I happen to see one.¡±

    We returned to the hotel and found our big table at the back of the hotel restaurant. It wasn¡¯t just a table; it was four long tables pushed together to amodate all of us. I couldn¡¯t help noticing the wrapped presents and envelopes set up on a special table behind us with arge cake and other desserts.

    Zane and Zander also attended the graduation ceremony and were seated at the end of the table with Killian and Xena. I looked around the table at my parents, Ares and Eudora, Balthazar and Demeter, Wylder and Tymber, and I couldn¡¯t believe I would finally have the chance to be as happy as they were. The bond between two souls was strong, and I had been feeling it my entire life with Lukas.

    I wondered if we would have discovered the problem with the mate bond sooner if I had never started taking the heat suppressants. The only reason I started going into heat was because I had already met my mate, but I didn¡¯t know it. I suppose I should thank whoever caused my heat because I¡¯d still be wallowing without Lukas if it hadn¡¯t happened.

    ¡°May I get you something to drink?¡± An older gentleman with a thick French ent asked Lukas, and I suddenly remembered the name of the champagne Erick had sent over.

    ¡°Do you happen to carry Loup-Chaleur?¡±

    ¡°Excusez-moi?¡± He blinked, looking confused.

    ¡°It¡¯s champagne,¡± I added.

    ¡°Loup-Chaleur?¡± He repeated the name thoughtfully.

    ¡°Did you say Loup-Chaleur?¡± Ares asked. His fist closed tight on the table, and Eudora looked rmed by her mate¡¯s sudden shift in demeanor. Ares was fluent in manynguages, including French, and I wondered if he recognized the champagne. It sounded French.

    ¡°I am not familiar with this brand of champagne,¡± the waiter replied. ¡°Though it could be a small or private familybel.¡±

    ¡°Have you had this champagne before?¡± Ares asked.

    ¡°In the limousine,¡± I nodded. ¡°The night of the g.¡±

    ¡°Interesting name for a champagne,¡± the waiter noted.

    ¡°How so?¡± I pressed.

    ¡°Loup is the French word for wolf, and chaleur could mean heat or passion.¡±

 Chapter 18 - Mine

    Selena

    Exhaustion washed over me by the time I opened myst graduation present and thanked everyone. I had taken a nap this afternoon, but I couldn¡¯t escape the fatigue. Lycan pup or not, I knew it was too early for the baby to make me feel like this.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a busy week,¡± my wolf reminded me, and she was right.

    There had been a great deal of stress with the graduation fashion show, final projects, and the countdown to the mating ball. Then there was the mating haze, a demon, my apartment fire, and graduation. All of this was nothingpared to the emotional rollercoaster I¡¯ve been on over thest few weeks, worrying about the mating ball and losing Lukas forever.

    I yawned. Now that most of the excitement had passed and my life had forever been changed, I was ready for a week-long hibernation in bed.

    ¡°You want to spend another week in bed with me?¡± Lukas asked through the mind link, clearly reading my thoughts.

    ¡°Sleeping,¡± I replied with a smile. ¡°I want to spend a week in bed sleeping in your arms.¡±

    ¡°We used to nap together all the time when we were pups,¡± he grinned. ¡°They couldn¡¯t peel me away from you.¡±

    ¡°It was probably the best sleep I¡¯ve ever had.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse us,¡± Lukas announced, pushing back from the table. ¡°My mate had a long day and needs her rest.¡±

    ¡°You can leave the gifts,¡± my mother said. ¡°We¡¯ll take them up and pack them away for you.¡±

    ¡°Now that the apartment is up in smoke, she won¡¯t have much to pack for her move back home,¡± ym reminded me.

    The apartment was a furnished rental, and I could have packed everything I owned in three or four suitcases. I didn¡¯t have much that couldn¡¯t be reced, but I was still feeling emotional about the fire. A rush of guilt gued me thinking about the people who shared the apartment building with me. They had all been so nice to me, and I had brought this upon them.

    ¡°Selena,¡± Ares called to me. ¡°If you remember where the champagne came from, please let me know.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everything just seems so hazy right now¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s probably the pregnancy hormones,¡± Eudora beamed at us.

    Lukas ced his hand on my lower back and guided me out of the hotel restaurant, through the lobby, and to the elevator. The doors pinged open, and he wasted no time pulling me inside. Not a secondter, his hand reached for the nape of my neck, and his lips were on mine. He kissed me like he¡¯d been starving for me.

    The elevator reached our floor, and a warrior patrolling our floor greeted us. We walked down the quiet hall, and Lukas pushed the door open to our room. I managed to slip my heels off before he wrapped his arms around me.

    ¡°I can hardly believe you¡¯re finally mine, Princess.¡± His breath was on my neck, and he kissed the sensitive skin below my ear.

    The zipper of my dress was pulled down, and it slinked to my feet. I stood in nothing but my underwear and a smile. It was a simr bra and panty set that I had worn at the sex club, and I knew Lukas would appreciate it.

    ¡°Fuck,¡± he cursed.

    I turned to face him. The look in his eyes was nearly feral, and the bulge in the front of his pants made my heart hammer in my chest. The butterflies in my belly took flight, and suddenly, my fatigue was on the back burner. He pressed his lips down my neck and over the top of my breasts, which were exposed in a half-cup.

    I gasped when I felt a w slice away my underwear in one smooth motion. I waspletely naked in front of him, and his blue eyes turned dark and started swirling. The energy radiating from him was strong and primal. If I had been in wolf form, Ste would have dropped onto her belly and held her tail up for him.

    His eyes trailed down my body and stopped at my sex. The rumble in his chest told me that was exactly where he wanted to be. Warmth rushed between my thighs, and he dipped his head down to kiss me. His tongue slipped into my mouth, and the room spun with pleasure.

    ¡°Need you,¡± I heard a low growl, and my wolf yipped with excitement.

    The next moment, I was up in his arms with my legs wrapped around him. He carried me to the bed and lowered me onto it. Lukas shed his clothing in seconds, and my thoughts went silent. He was gorgeous¡ªhandsome, masculine, and pure Alpha. Lukas hovered over me. He¡¯d seen me naked before, but this felt different. His eyes continued to swirl, and I realized Kas was in control.

    ¡°Mine!¡± He said with a throaty rasp. I looked up at him wide-eyed. His beast had spoken.

    ¡°Yours,¡± I said in a low whisper.

    ¡°Pup¡­ Mate¡­ Mine.¡± I felt his voice as if it was stroking my skin, seducing me, and iming me. His nostrils red, and his swirling eyes continued to focus on me. He lowered his head and pushed my legs wide open.

    A strangled cry ripped from me as his warm, wet tonguepped at my sensitive flesh. My toes curled when he sucked on my swollen bud, and I felt his touch everywhere. His tongue was nearly as magical as his dick. <i>Naughty Kas,</i> I thought in disbelief as I remembered he could shift his tongue to make it longer. My eyelids closed, and my head lolled back.

    ¡°Lukas,¡± I cried out in a dizzying rush. His touch, his tongue¡­ the pleasure was beyond madness, and I exploded with uncontroble trembling.

    ¡°Mine,¡± he growled, pressing his cock against the wetness between my thighs, which drew another moan from me.

    I met his eyes and found they were still swirling. His mouth peppered kisses along my jaw and down my neck as he slowly pushed into me. My hips shifted restlessly, unsure if I wanted him to move faster or slower. When he was buried to the hilt, he sucked in a deep breath with a low growl.

    He rocked his hips slowly at first, stretching and exploring the limits of my body as my back arched for more. I could tell he was fighting a primal instinct to fuck me hard the way he wanted to. He didn¡¯t want to hurt me, and as I tapped into his thoughts, I could hear his constant reminder to be gentle because of the pup. His beast needed to own my pussy, to leave me sore, and remind me that it was his. Lukas needed to be one with me, to love me, and remind me that I was his.

    After two hours and several orgasms, he pulled me down on top of him, though he remained knotted deep inside of me. I was left breathless and spent. The heat of my heavy breathing against his neck, mingled with his scent,forted me. I¡¯d never felt this kind of peace as I did at this moment.

    ¡°You never told me why you returned to Kardec¡¯s grave with flowers,¡± he rasped. He wanted to know my wish.

    ¡°When I heard about the mating ball several months ago¡ª¡±

    ¡°You wished for a mate?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I swallowed the lump in my throat. I still couldn¡¯t believe it was happening. ¡°I wished for you to be my mate.¡±

    I heard the sharp inhale of breath, and his arms tightened around me. His beast was as happy as Ste. The emotions that whirled around inside me threatened to overwhelm me. I¡¯ve loved Lukas my entire life, and now he was finally mine with our pup on the way.

    ¡°When you caught Grandma and Persephone at my apartment and spent the night¡­ Did you sleep sitting in the chair?¡±

    ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°My bedding smelled like you,¡± I answered, digging my nose deeper into his neck.

    ¡°You had been gone too long from me,¡± he started to say. ¡°I needed to hold you.¡±

    ¡°It was some of the best sleep I¡¯ve had in a long time.¡±

    ¡°Sleep, Princess,¡± he whispered and brushed his lips against the top of my head.

    ¡°My King,¡± I mumbled as the exhaustion returned. ¡°My Kas.¡±

    It was nearly noon by the time we left our room and went upstairs to the rooftop terrace, where lunch was being served.

    Grandma was seated between Storm and Caspian while ym was forking something with a raw egg on top of it, and I realized he was eating steak tartare. Wolves enjoyed raw meat, but our human side typically preferred cooked meat. I didn¡¯t mind seeing others enjoy tartare, but the sight of the raw egg yolk on top of the raw meat suddenly sent a strange wave of nausea through me. I looked away from ym and focused on the Eiffel Tower. After a few long deep breaths, the queasiness passed.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Lukas asked as his hand gently stroked my back.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I nodded. ¡°I think it was the sight of raw egg.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s wolfed it down already,¡± Storm announced.

    ¡°Would you like some water or something?¡± Lukas asked, and I nodded.

    We moved to the table to join them, and I sat furthest away from ym, worried I might catch a sniff of the raw egg. Lukas reached for my hand and pulled me back to my feet. He sat down in my chair, then wrapped his arm around my waist to lower me onto hisp.

    ¡°Sweet Moon Goddess, not you too,¡± Storm rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Leave them alone,¡± Grandma replied. ¡°It¡¯s perfectly normal for mated couples to eat like that or canoodle in public. Just wait until you find your mate.¡±

    ¡°Unless Storm has him sitting on herp,¡± ymughed until he was choking for air. His eyes went wide when he realized he was paying the price for teasing her.

    ¡°Storm,¡± Lukas warned.

    ¡°Just having a little fun of my own,¡± she smiled. She had removed the air from his lungs.

    ym and Cynder had both inherited their father¡¯s gifts of being fireproof and breathing underwater, but he couldn¡¯t breathe if she was extracting the oxygen out of his lungs.

    Caspian burst intoughter as ym sucked in huge gulps of air before reaching for a ss of water. Everyone knew better than to tease her because Storm didn¡¯t take shit from anyone. She was the first female-born lycan, the daughter of a demigod, and she was just as lethal as the male lycans.

    ¡°Holy hell, Storm, I was just kidding,¡± ym coughed.

    ¡°So was I,¡± she said with a sly grin.

    The others had already finished appetizers, but ym ordered a second or possibly his third appetizer. Lukas had a sd, and I requested the next course, which was pot-au-feu.

    ¡°Pot?¡± Grandma asked. ¡°Is that to calm your nausea?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Iughed. ¡°Pot-au-feu is being served for lunch. It¡¯s braised beef and vegetables, but the broth is served first.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s Rex?¡± Lukas asked.

    ¡°He ran security detailst night, so he¡¯s sleeping,¡± Caspian replied.

    ¡°Are we expecting my sister and Ranger?¡±

    ¡°You know how new mates are,¡± Caspian smirked. ¡°Ranger and Zane are a little preupied.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s running security right now?¡± Lukas asked as the broth arrived with bread, pickles, and other condiments.

    ¡°Zander is. I¡¯m on duty this evening,¡± he told us. ¡°You know how Uncle Ares is.¡±

    ¡°For someone who doesn¡¯t believe in demons, he sure has tightened up security around here,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°Is there any news on my apartment?¡±

    ¡°Nothing yet, but Xena and Killian are working on that,¡± Storm told us.

    The rest of the food arrived, and Lukas held me tight to hisp despite the curious nces from some of the human staff. There was a low purring through the mind link, and I knew his beast was content. My sweet Kas. He was a ferocious sight that struck fear into the hearts of most shifters, but he was always sweet with me. While most shifted when they reached maturity, Lukas shifted before he was even a year old. I had loved both of them for as long as I could remember.

    ¡°Selena, do you think we¡¯ll have time to see Sainte-Chapelle church, like you promised?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°I thought we were going to see the catbs?¡± ym replied.

    ¡°Catbs?¡± Caspian questioned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell Ares you were going to go see the ce Marie Antote was guillotined?¡±

    Grandma waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Tomato, tomahto,¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to take you to go see it and bring you right back,¡± Caspian said. ¡°No detours.¡±

    ¡°Right, but the catbs might help Storm. They call it the Empire of the Dead for a reason,¡± Grandma said. ¡°When I was in Egypt, we had to ess the entrance of the underworld through the tomb of a pharaoh. I bet the doors to hell she¡¯s been seeing are down there.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t demons torture the dead?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s a human myth,¡± Grandma exined. ¡°We already know other realms exist. Different cultures throughout history had their own underworld, Hell, Tartarus,nd of the dead, whatever you want to call it. If I were having visions of the doors to hell, maybe I¡¯d walk through the catbs and see if something calls to me.¡±

    ¡°Why would we want to find the doors or gates of hell?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Because Storm is seeing visions of it for a reason,¡± Grandma said. ¡°Many civilizations have believed in the underworld of some kind. It doesn¡¯t matter which culture, civilization, or religion. The ancient Greeks, the Sumerians, even Jesus mentions the gates of hell.¡±

    ¡°Jesus? You¡¯ve read the bible?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°The Qur¡¯an, too. It mentions seven gates. I¡¯ve had a lot of time on my hands,¡± she shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve already made an appointment with Sylvie for one o¡¯clock.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s Sylvie?¡± Caspian asked.

    ¡°Our private Parisian tour guide,¡± Grandma told him. ¡°She used to be a history professor, so I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be full of knowledge.¡±

    An hourter, we made our way downstairs to the lobby to wait for the hotel car. Because there were six of us, the concierge arranged for the limousine to drive us. Caspian called Zane to let him know we would be out for a few hours, and I silently wondered if I should worry about what Grandma might have in her purse.

    ¡°Selena!¡± I turned to see Jose rushing through the hotel doors with the Givenchy scarf I gave him for his birthday wrapped around his neck. I quickly looped my scarf around my neck to help hide the fresh marks. ¡°Girl, I just saw the front page of the newspaper. Are you okay? Don¡¯t tell me all that fabulous couture is gone.¡±

    He reached out to hug me, and I could feel Lukas tense. Though he knew Jose was just a friend and absolutely not interested in me, the Alpha in him had to fight basic instincts to protect what was his. I had even heard that pregnancy caused the males to take protectiveness to a whole different level.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay, and yes¡­ pretty much everything is gone,¡± I told him, and he gasped.

    ¡°It was nothing that couldn¡¯t be reced,¡± Lukas said and wrapped his arm around me.

    ¡°Hello, Jose,¡± Grandma greeted him.

    ¡°Granny,¡± he leaned in and gave her air kisses. ¡°Are you off to somewhere?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got a date to tour the catbs,¡± she said. ¡°It should be a real good time.¡±

    ¡°Have you got your hush puppies on for the stairs?¡± He asked, looking down at her feet.

    ¡°Of course,¡± she replied. ¡°If you¡¯re not doing anything, you shoulde with us.¡±

    The concierge gave us a wave. ¡°Monsieur Crow, the limousine has arrived.¡±

    ¡°Oooh, limousine?¡± Jose questioned. ¡°Count me in,¡± he held his elbow out for Grandma to take.

    We climbed into the back of the limousine, and Lukas kept his arm possessively around me the entire time. Jose lifted a brow, silently questioning my new rtionship.

    ¡°If only he knew,¡± Ste whispered.

    ¡°I love your hair,¡± Jose said.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± ym smiled. ¡°People tend to have a deep appreciation for redheads.¡±

    ¡°He was talking to me,¡± Storm shook her head. ¡°And thank you. I was born with it.¡±

    ¡°Wow! Is it a gic thing?¡± He asked.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Something like that,¡± she smirked.

    ¡°Jose, how¡¯s Erick doing?¡± Grandma asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t see him at your graduation.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Jose said. ¡°We broke up.¡±

    ¡°I hope it wasn¡¯t because of the fire,¡± she replied.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± he told her.

    ¡°What fire?¡± Caspian asked.

    ¡°The one at the restaurant,¡± Jose said. ¡°There was an incident with a mb¨¦ trolley.¡±

    ¡°Let me guess, it was at La Tour in the Eiffel Tower,¡± Lukas cast me a look that made my cheeks feel flushed.

    ¡°Busted,¡± my wolf snickered.

    ¡°Erick is the Sous Chef at La Tour, he was also working at the g,¡± I told them.

    ¡°I see,¡± Lukas nodded as if connecting the dots. ¡°How long did you two date?¡±

    ¡°What is this, twenty questions?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°It was nothing serious, I suppose,¡± Jose said. ¡°We¡¯ve been seeing each other on and off for just over nine months.¡±

    ¡°Did he ever say anything about magic?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°As in hocus pocus, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo, type of magic?¡± Jose questioned.

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± ym said, the shock evident on his face.

    ¡°Magic,¡± Storm repeated, her interest peaking.

    <b>***********</b>

    <b>**Do not wait to read the book. I say this every time because once the book isplete, it goes through a final edit and is removed from the tform. Every time, I have a few peoplein that they weren¡¯t finished reading it, and they¡¯re upset. It¡¯s normally the people I never get any feedback from, which is the whole reason why I¡¯m still here. </b>

    <b>This book is expected to bepleted around May 10th and will be pulled about 3 dayster. The Amazon release date target is May 15, 2024.</b>

 Chapter 19 - Catacombs

    Lukas

    ¡°Did he ever say anything about magic?¡± Grandma inquired casually.

    ¡°As in hocus pocus, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo, type of magic?¡± Jose asked.

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± ym questioned in disbelief.

    ¡°Magic,¡± Storm breathed, understanding what I was thinking.

    ¡°The fuck?¡± Caspian asked, his blue eyes shing ck.

    ¡°Was Erick the one who sent that wonderful bottle of champagne over?¡±

    ¡°Two bottles,¡± Jose nodded, and it took all I had to suppress a growl. My beast was ready to rip Erick to shreds.

    Erick worked for Darc, and I didn¡¯t think it was coincidental that they started dating a few months prior to the announcement of the mating ball. I remembered the way Darc had flirted with my mate at the caf¨¦... I should have ripped his throat out when I had a chance. He intended to drive her into heat and im her for himself.

    ¡°The magic?¡± Grandma pressed.

    ¡°The only magic I ever heard him speak about was creating magic in the kitchen,¡± Jose said. ¡°You¡¯ve had his cooking. Anyone who can turn those nasty snails into something ptable can work magic in the kitchen, right?¡±

    ¡°He never told you about his tattoo?¡± Grandma continued.

    ¡°Which tattoo?¡± Jose asked. ¡°He¡¯s got a few.¡±

    ¡°The triple moon tattoo on the inside of his wrist,¡± she said.

    ¡°No,¡± he shook his head, looking confused. ¡°Why? Is it a pagan or wan thing... or something?¡±

    I didn¡¯t get the sense that Jose was lying, though I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what other things he may have ignorantly known. If Erick had a triple moon tattoo, there was a good chance that he came from a line of mages. The one thing I knew about magic was that not all mages were created equally. Some were more powerful than others.

    ¡°Grandma Dori works magic in the kitchen, too!¡± ym told Jose.

    Caspian looked at me, and without speaking, I heard his voice through the mind link. ¡°Maybe someone cast a spell on us to keep us from feeling the mate bond?¡±

    Ranger¡¯s mother, Hazel, was one of the most powerful mages alive today. There was no way a spell would be cast on her children without her sensing it. ¡°No one is strong enough to cast it on every shifter worldwide.¡±

    ¡°There have been some mating ceremonies over thest decade. Maybe it¡¯s not every shifter,¡± Caspian suggested.

    My lips curled into a smile. ¡°You should ask Storm what she thinks about that theory.¡±

    A few minutester, we reached a building that appeared to have a long line of tourists waiting. I took the opportunity to remind everyone, and by everyone, I meant Grandma, not to touch the bones, remove anything, or walk away from the group.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Mind your P¡¯s and Q¡¯s,¡± Grandma reminded us, as if we were still small pups out shopping with her. ¡°Show some decorum and respect for the dead... and no dilly-dallying, ym.¡± She smiled and waved to a woman holding a sign that read <i>Parisian Tours</i>.

    ¡°The catbs are going to be crowded with tourists,¡± ym said, looking over the long line.

    A smiling woman, who reminded me of an old librarian, greeted us. ¡°Bonjour, I¡¯m Sylvie, and I¡¯ll be taking you on a private tour of the catbs today.¡±

    ¡°Will there be enough air down there with all these people?¡± ym asked, and I choked down augh. He was asking about air when he had two shifters who could manipte air with him.

    ¡°The catbs only allow two hundred people in at a time,¡± Sylvie told us with a thick ent. ¡°Dori booked all two hundred tickets for two hours, so no one else will be allowed in.¡±

    ¡°You mean these poor suckers...¡± ym started to say.

    ¡°Will have to wait another hour and a half before they can enter. Our time started thirty minutes ago to ensure the previous groups have vacated the catbs. We will also visit the restricted areas.¡±

    ¡°This is going to be great!¡± Jose said. ¡°A private tour.¡±

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s haunted?¡± ym asked no one in particr.

    We entered the street-level building, where Sylvie started telling us the history of the catbs. She told us about the Romans, the limestone quarries, the overcrowded cemeteries, and the transfer of six million people to the tunnels below. Then, we started our descent down a spiraling stone staircase. The temperature dropped as we stepped further beneath Paris to the undergroundbyrinth.

    ¡°Grandma, you want me to carry you down?¡± Caspian asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay, but you can definitely carry me back up,¡± she replied.

    ¡°It smells like dirt down here,¡± ym said. ¡°Reminds me of a tomb.¡±

    ¡°You are in a tomb,¡± Storm told him. ¡°A tomb with six million people.¡±

    ¡°Not all catbs are created evenly or with the same intent,¡± Sylvie said as we entered arge chamber surrounded by carved rock. ¡°As I said, this was a stone quarry that helped create all the beautiful buildings you see above.¡±

    ¡°Has a building or street ever caved in?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°In December of 1774, a street named <i>Rue d¡¯Enfer</i>, which means the <i>road of hell, </i>copsed beneath the weight of Paris. It swallowed up several houses and became known as the <i>Mouth of Hell</i>.¡±

    ¡°And where is or was the Mouth of Hell located?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°The street was renamed, but it¡¯s just outside, in front of the bronze lion statue,¡± Sylvie replied.

    ¡°How far did the road run?¡±

    ¡°They say it went from here to point zero,¡± she said.

    ¡°Point zero?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the center of Paris on L¡¯?le de Cit¨¦.¡±

    I knew L¡¯?le de Cit¨¦ was one of the small inds in the middle of the Seine River that separated Paris into the left and right banks, but I didn¡¯t know which one of the two inds it was.

    Our guide moved to another doorway and pointed above her head to words that had been painted on the stone. ¡°It says, <i>stop, this is the empire of the dead</i>.¡±

    ¡°Empire of the dead,¡± Selena repeated, giving Storm a curious nce.

    ¡°Well, ain¡¯t this quaint,¡± Grandma peeped.

    ¡°You think this is what she¡¯s been seeing?¡± Selena asked through the mind link. ¡°With the bones and the entrance gates?

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± I ced my hand on the small of her back, ensuring I didn¡¯t lose sight of her while we were down here.

    The lighting on the walls was adequate, but the ceilings were low, which made me feel like I was in a cramped bunker. Neatly stacked bones lined the walls, and some of the chambers were stacked in an artful disy. My eyes shifted to the floor, and I used my lycan vision to ensure there were no hazards that could trip my mate or Grandmother. Something about this ce felt a little creepy and sad.

    ¡°It makes you wonder who they were,¡± Grandma said. ¡°What era did they live in, and what history did they witness?¡±

    ¡°I heard that Marie Antote¡¯s favorite dress designer is among the bones,¡± Jose told Selena. ¡°Her fashions were shipped worldwide.¡±

    ¡°How old are the bones?¡± Caspian asked.

    ¡°They¡¯re not separated by time or age,¡± Sylvie replied. ¡°Some date back well over a thousand years.¡±

    We continued on the tour, and Sylvie spouted facts about the catbs. Roughly one percent of the tunnels were used to house bones. ym was intrigued when she mentioned mushrooms had once been farmed in the catbs. She told us about the French resistance fighters using the tunnels, the Nazipounds in the catbs, secret societies, parties, and more.

    ¡°Is that a fountain or well?¡± Grandma looked down at a dark hole.

    ¡°The well system was dug to help with the mining of limestone,¡± Sylvie carried on with more interesting facts.

    ¡°What about hauntings?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s possible, though I¡¯ve never experienced it in all my years,¡± Sylvie said. She led us into restricted chambers, and Grandma snapped a few photos.

    ¡°Wait, I need to take a few more,¡± she looked down at her phone. ¡°The shadows behind the stack of bones are moving. Everyone stop shuffling around so I can get a good shot.¡±

    ¡°Do you want me to take a few with you in them,¡± Jose asked. ¡°For the girls at bingo?¡±

    ¡°That would be peachy. Let me just p some lipstick on.¡± Jose took the phone from Grandma while she dug around for her lipstick.

    ¡°Umm, Sylvie?¡± Jose asked as his head tilted to the side. He moved the phone closer and appeared to be trying to zoom in on something. ¡°Did they also store animals down here?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± sheughed. ¡°Of course not. This section of the catbs was consecrated for human remains.¡±

    ¡°It looks like this photo has two horns of some kind sticking out of the ba¡ª¡±

    <b>¡°LOOK OUT!¡± </b>Caspian lunged forward just as a tall stack of bones and skulls came crashing down.

    He managed to pull Grandma and Jose away before the bones could bury them. The lights flickered, and what I thought was a shadow moved like ck smoke and evaporated down a hole in the ground leading to a well. I considered chasing after it, but I didn¡¯t want to be lured away from my mate. The color drained out of our guide¡¯s face, and she seemed at a loss for words.

    ¡°They¡¯re all over me!¡± Grandma shouted and frantically kicked a skull away from her foot. The skull went sailing across the small chamber and hit Sylvie in the middle of her chest before it crashed down on the ground.

    ¡°Congrattions, Sylvie,¡± ym pped her on the back. ¡°I think you just experienced your first haunting.¡±

    I knew it wasn¡¯t a haunting because I knew ck mist could pass for smoke or hide in the shadows. I thought back to the cemetery and the creature we encountered. Storm had a better view of the cloaked figure and mentioned seeing horns.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ve seen enough of the catbs,¡± Caspian announced.

    Sylvie pursed her lips together and nodded before silently leading us through a few passages to another set of stone steps. Jose remained quiet, and I wondered if he saw anything more since he was standing closer and facing the bones behind Grandma. He was a little more observant than Sylvie, so there was a good chance he had noticed. We reached the top of the exit, which took us to a gift shop, and I couldn¡¯t help sneering. These tourist traps were all the same.

    I reached into my pocket and extracted a hundred euros. ¡°There was that earthquake yesterday... I bet it may have caused the bones to shift around,¡± I suggested as I handed her the money. She nodded, trying to make sense of it. ¡°Thank goodness no one was hurt.¡±

    ¡°Hurt?¡± Jose stammered. ¡°Some of those bones hit me. I¡¯ve got cooties on me.¡±

    ¡°Dead people cooties!¡± Grandma squawked. ¡°I got hit, too.¡±

    ¡°Thanks again,¡± Selena told our still-speechless guide before we weaved our way through the gift shop and out the door.

    ¡°Should we get a souvenir or something?¡± Grandma asked. ¡°Look, they have skull goblets.¡±

    ¡°You were justining about cooties,¡± Caspian groaned. ¡°Now you want to drink out of a skull goblet.¡±

    Stormughed. ¡°I don¡¯t know who shrieked louder, Grandma or Jose.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, there was something behind that stack of bones,¡± Jose insisted. ¡°The horns are in the picture, but I saw a face just before the bones fell.¡±

    Everyone looked at Jose in stunned silence with his confession.

    ¡°Phone,¡± Storm held her hand out, and Jose gave it to her.

    ¡°Look over there,¡± Jose pointed at the small screen in her hand.

    ¡°Is it the same thing we saw at the cemetery?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°What thing? What cemetery?¡± Jose asked.

    Storm¡¯s voice came through the mind link to all of us. ¡°It¡¯s her.¡±

    She passed the phone to me, and I could clearly see horns curled forward and dark eyes. I passed the phone to Selena and heard a sharp inhtion. She also recognized it. ym took the phone and nodded before passing it to Caspian.

    Caspian zoomed in for a closer look. ¡°What are those? Antlers?¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on,¡± ym shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t been hunting before. You know Antlers are branched. These are horns.¡±

    ¡°Okay, so they¡¯re horns,¡± Caspian agreed. ¡°Some tourists could have slipped them in as a joke.¡± Caspian wasn¡¯t at the cemetery when we saw the cloaked creature and seemed as skeptical as my father.

    ¡°Nope,¡± Jose shook his head. ¡°I know what I saw. It moved,¡± he insisted. ¡°That was the face of a beautiful demon.¡±

    Everyone exchanged silent nces. Jose was from California but had moved to Paris five years ago. Selena had met him on the first day of school and considered him a good friend.

    ¡°Jose, you believe in demons?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes,¡± he said with a snap. ¡°I was raised in the Catholic Church, but many religions believe in demons of sorts.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I told them,¡± Grandma said. ¡°What about this point zero? It sounds like the highway to hell leads straight to it.¡±

    ¡°You mean the road of hell,¡± Caspian corrected her.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Potato, potahto,¡± she waved her hand.

    ¡°Point zero is located in the front square of Notre-Dame,¡± Jose told us. ¡°There¡¯s a marker and everything.¡±

    ¡°Lukas, call for the car,¡± Grandma said, and I reached for my phone. ¡°We need to go check it out, and I can stock up on my holy water.¡±

    ¡°Holy water? You¡¯re not even Catholic!¡± Caspian looked from Grandma to me, wondering why I was allowing this. ¡°Uncle Ares will skin me alive. We¡¯re supposed to be at the ce de Concorde, where the Queen lost her head.¡±

    ¡°Honey, you can¡¯t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs,¡± Grandma told Caspian.

    The driver was able to get us close to the Cathedral, but we had to walk across the square. It was mid-afternoon on a weekend, and the tourists were out en masse. I hated being out in suchrge crowds because it made it harder to pick up individual scents. I grabbed a bottle of water from the bar for my mate. I didn¡¯t want her to be parched from all this walking around.

    ¡°You should drink,¡± I handed her the bottle.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she smiled, and I noticed the sweet blush on her face.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go see this point zero so I can take you back to our room,¡± I said with a wink and watched as the blush deepened.

    ¡°It¡¯s just over here, where the coins are,¡± Jose pointed. ¡°Some people make wishes by tossing coins on it.¡±

    In the middle of the square, set in a round concrete b, sat a small brass octagonal te. The words <i>Point Zero Des Routes De France </i>were engraved around the brass te, and an eight-point star was embedded in the center.

    ¡°Is this really the center of Paris¡¯ roads?¡± Caspian asked. ¡°It¡¯s an ind in the middle of the Seine River.¡±

    ¡°It looks like arge manhole cover,¡± ym added.

    ¡°It could be another well system,¡± Selena suggested.

    ¡°Or a sealed demon hole,¡± Jose pointed. ¡°That¡¯s an eight-point star.¡±

    ¡°The eight-point star has been around since before Christ,¡± I told them. ¡°I believe the oldest record of it dates back to the Goddess Ishtar.¡±

    Grandma huffed with a head shake. ¡°Not this bimbo, again.¡±

    Ishtar was the Goddess who cursed Balthazar over two thousand years ago. Just as the Moon Goddess had different names or identities in different religions, so did Ishtar. Some knew her as Inanna, Astarte, Aphrodite, Venus, and so on. I didn¡¯t believe this had anything to do with the Goddess, and I knew the star had other implications in other religions and cultures. Grandma took her phone out and started snapping photos.

    ¡°The eight-point star is symbolic of more than the Ancient Goddess.¡±

    ¡°Could this be a demon hole?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°The morning star was eight-points in the Bible. Wasn¡¯t it?¡± Jose questioned.

    ¡°Lucifer means morning star or light bringer,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°Lucifer was an angel,¡± I repeated something I¡¯d heard my entire life when someone mentioned Lucifer.

    ¡°Oh, I love the Lucifer designer brands,¡± Jose practically swooned. He seemed to know his fashion and luxury brands, but he didn¡¯t know that the Lucifer brand belonged to our family in Italy.

    ¡°It could just be the direction of the road lines across Paris,¡± Caspian suggested. ¡°North, east, south, west, and the points in between.¡±

    ¡°Or it could be a demon hole,¡± ym suggested again.

    ¡°If this is a demon hole, the mark would be associated with Satan and not Lucifer.¡±

    ¡°What about the wan wheel?¡± Selena said as she studied it. ¡°It has eight points.¡±

    Storm crouched down for a better look. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s been sealed for a long time. I don¡¯t think our friend came out of there.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that also the sign of chaos?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Sign of chaos?¡± Storm asked ym. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever heard of that.¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s a circle in the center of the star, and all the points shoot out in different directions. Like the symbol of chaos.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t recognize the star?¡± I asked, wondering if she had seen it in a vision.

    ¡°No, but those doors look familiar,¡± Storm replied as she looked at the cathedral¡¯srge doors.

    ¡°Now those I know all about,¡± Jose announced with certainty. ¡°Those are The Devil¡¯s Doors.¡±

 Chapter 20 - Devils Doors

    Selena

    ¡°The Devil¡¯s Doors?¡± I asked Jose, wondering why I hadn¡¯t heard the story before.

    ¡°The doors were designed by an ironworker named Bisco. He was eager to show off his work and convinced the church he was their man,¡± Jose exined. ¡°He ved away for months in the heat of his workshop and would regrly be found sleeping on the floor. Everyone thought he had bitten off more than he could chew and saw that the task wouldn¡¯t bepleted on time.¡±

    ¡°You mean to tell me one man created this artistic mastery by himself?¡± Grandma moved closer to the doors.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just it. The church was finished in the thirteenth century, so keep in mind this level of artistry was unheard of. It was a masterpiece ahead of its time,¡± Jose continued. ¡°It blew Parisians¡¯ minds, and the only way they could exin it was that Bisco had made a deal with the devil.¡±

    ¡°The Devil¡¯s Doors,¡± Storm nodded with understanding.

    ¡°It¡¯s believed that he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for the masterpiece. When he woke up the next morning, the project had mysteriously been finished. The metal was secured to the doors, but they wouldn¡¯t open until holy water was used on the lock.¡±

    ¡°See! This is exactly why I need to fill my little bottle up,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°Bisco was found dead a few dayster, and people believed the Devil hade to collect his soul,¡± Jose said. ¡°The name Bisco literally means two horns, and some people believe the metal worker was the Devil in disguise. The doors even survived the great fire that ravaged Notre-Dame and took out the spire.¡±

    ¡°Imagine that¡­¡± Grandma whistled. ¡°Being ushered into church by Satan himself!¡±

    Jose stood nodding. ¡°Modern-day metal experts can¡¯t even exin how ironwork so intricate could have been aplished with the limited tools of the Middle Ages.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s interesting,¡± ymughed. ¡°If you look closely at the designs, it looks like triple sixes are hidden in the ironwork.¡±

    Lukas, Storm, Caspian, and ym suppressed their auras before we entered the church. Devil¡¯s doors or not, it was a sign of respect for the holy institution we had entered. I had been living in the human world, so suppressing my aura had be second nature to me. Everyone looked up to admire the Gothic French architecture as we walked in. It wasn¡¯t just the architecture that wowed; it was the stained-ss windows, borate stone carvings, and soaring spires. This building had stood the test of time and witnessed countless historical events, wars, and revolutions.

    ¡°I remember seeing my mother cry when the fire devastated the cathedral,¡± Lukas said.

    Shifters believed in the old Gods because the Moon Goddess created us. Shifters who lived in areas where religion was deeply rooted in culture, like Italy and Mexico, also practiced other religions. Eudora was a human who was raised in Mexico as a Catholic, and Notre-Dame Cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who was also the Patron Saint of Mexico.

    ¡°This was the first ce Dad brought Mom to visit when theynded in Paris,¡± Storm told us.

    ¡°There¡¯s an altar in the side room to the left dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe with the g of Mexico. I¡¯m sure she didn¡¯t miss it.¡±

    ¡°The Virgin Mother holds a special ce in the hearts of Parisian parishioners and visitors alike,¡± a deep voice spoke, and we turned to find a priest standing behind us.

    His gaze almost seemed to see right through me, as if he was trying to x-ray us. His eyes narrowed on Storm, and the tension in the air felt charged. Storm controlled the air element, but I knew she would be as respectful as possible in church because of her mother¡¯s influence.

    ¡°Hello, Father. I was hoping you could help me,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I still have a small bottle of holy water from the Vatican, but I wasn¡¯t sure if holy water has an expiration date. I should probably stock up since I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± he nodded. ¡°Wee. I¡¯m Father Fontenay.¡±

    Grandma started digging around in her purse, and I noticed the top of a red bingo dauber shuffling around in there with several old lottery scratch-off tickets that nearly fell out. ¡°I brought a special bottle for the fresh holy water.¡±

    Father Fontenay smiled, and I couldn¡¯t help but notice how forced it was. ¡°Where are you from?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re visiting from New York,¡± Caspian replied.

    ¡°I¡¯ve spent some time in New York,¡± he said. ¡°Which church do you belong to?¡±

    ¡°Saint Frances, of course,¡± Grandma lied with a sweet smile. ¡°We¡¯re very fond of the Patron Saint of Animals.¡±

    ¡°I see. If there¡¯s anything I can help you with,¡± Father Fontenay offered. ¡°Prayer, Confession, blessing... you only need to ask.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Father Fontenay,¡± I said as I tried to move us along. ¡°We¡¯re just going to get some holy water, light some candles, and make a donation.¡±

    ¡°Does the church prefer the donation in gold, frankincense, or myrrh?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°I bet she has all three in her purse,¡± my wolf snuffled.

    ¡°I think the euro will be just fine, Grandma,¡± Caspian said as he extracted a money roll from his pocket.

    We walked around the church trying to look like normal tourists. Lukas held my hand and refused to let me stand more than a foot apart. We watched as Grandma snapped photos of the high altar, rose windows, the beautiful organ, and other artwork inside the cathedral. Lukas continued to look up and scan the upper levels of the church as if he was looking for something.

    ¡°Does anything look familiar to you in here?¡± Lukas asked Storm.

    ¡°Why would it look familiar to her?¡± Jose inquired. ¡°Isn¡¯t this your first time here?¡±

    ¡°I had a dream about this ce,¡± Storm told him.

    ¡°Why? Are you getting married?¡± He asked, and Lukas chuckled.

    She shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m not getting married. And nothing feels familiar. Perhaps I need to take another nap and see if the dreames back.¡±

    ¡°Well, that statue of theirs looks familiar to me,¡± Grandma pointed.

    ¡°That¡¯s Joan of Arc. She was canonized as a Saint by the Catholic Church nearly five hundred years after her death,¡± Jose told Grandma.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ After she was used of witchcraft and burned at the stake,¡± Grandma scoffed. ¡°Five hundred years to save your soul! Talk about being slower than msses.¡±

    ¡°We should check out the gift shop area,¡± ym suggested.

    ¡°They don¡¯t sell snacks,¡± I told him. I always had mixed feelings about the gift shop located in the cathedral¡¯s main hall. Themercialization seemed a bit unseemly in such a holy ce. On the other hand, over a million visitors flocked to the church every month, and the rosaries they sell are beautiful.

    ¡°I found it!¡± Grandma piped, waving a small ss bottle above her head. ¡°Now I can collect my water.¡±

    ¡°I think there¡¯s a tank on the back wall,¡± Jose said and stepped away with Grandma.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on them,¡± Caspian mumbled and followed behind.

    Father Fontenay continued to eyeball us, almost as if he sensed the threat in his church.

    ¡°The threat of Grandma causing another fire,¡± my wolf yapped.

    ¡°The church is full of people,¡± Storm noted.

    ¡°Over a million people visit this cathedral a month. It¡¯s going to be busy,¡± I told her.

    ¡°All these people, and he¡¯s not speaking to or greeting anyone else,¡± her eyes narrowed.

    This was the house of God, and Father Fontenay was going to do everything he could to protect it. He shuffled off to the back of the church where Grandma, Jose, and Caspian had disappeared. I turned and noticed a figure walking faster than the average sightseer milling around. He wasn¡¯t admiring the architecture, the stained ss, or the art. He had his head down and seemed to be on a mission.

    ¡°Erick¡­¡± I said just above a whisper.

    ¡°Where?¡± Lukas asked, and I motioned with my head.

    We watched Erick weave around people and make his way to the side of the cathedral where the confessional was. He looked around nervously and tapped on the door. He didn¡¯t seem to notice us. Erick pulled the door open where the priest normally sat and stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

    ¡°I¡¯m not Catholic, but I¡¯m fairly certain that¡¯s not the box where the person confessing goes,¡± Storm said.

    When we reached the confessional, Lukas¡¯ eyes started swirling. He was using his lycan hearing and senses to spy on Erick. Storm wrenched the door open, and the confessional was empty. ym looked in the otherpartment and found nothing.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s one of those magician boxes or something,¡± ym suggested. ¡°Like a portal?¡±

    ¡°Did you see him slip out?¡± Lukas asked Storm, and she shook her head.

    ¡°If he¡¯s a mage, he could have opened a portal,¡± ym repeated.

    ¡°On holy ground?¡± Storm questioned.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t always holy,¡± I told her. ¡°This church was built on top of another world, and the remains are still under here.¡±

    ¡°Are we checking out the crypt below?¡± Jose asked as they returned.

    ym shook his head. ¡°I think we¡¯ve seen enough dead people in the catbs.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a burial crypt,¡± I exined. ¡°It¡¯s mostly the remains of an archeological dig from the old city that was here before. It has the remains of buildings, roads, a portion of the old dock under here.¡±T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°So, no bodies or a hunchback?¡±ym questioned.

    Grandma joined us again with Caspian closely on her heels. ¡°What was that about a hunchback?¡±

    ¡°The hunchback was fictional,¡± Storm replied.

    ¡°But the Crown of Thorns is real,¡± Jose told us.

    ¡°Crown of Thorns?¡± Grandma looked wide-eyed.

    ¡°It¡¯s too bad you didn¡¯te yesterday,¡± he said. ¡°They take it out of the vault on the first Friday of the month and allow people to view it.¡±

    ¡°Do they let people try it on?¡±

    ¡°Grandma!¡± Caspian scolded her.

    ¡°Cool your jets. I was just kidding. I stocked up on holy water and snatched a few candles,¡± she said as she patted her purse. ¡°You never know when they mighte in handy or when a spontaneous romantic moment arises.¡±

    Caspian took in the confessional and gave Lukas a questioning look. Judging by the way he frowned and looked around, Lukas had told him about Erick through the mind link.

    ¡°Should we ask Father Fontenay if he knows anything about the eight-point star outside?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Grandma said. ¡°My bet is on demon hole.¡±

    I squeezed Lukas¡¯ hand tighter. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He¡¯s not as warm and weing as the priests I¡¯ve met. I¡¯m not getting a good read on him.¡±

    ¡°That makes two of us,¡± Storm replied.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m getting creeper vibes from him,¡± Jose agreed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s ask Balthazar tonight about the star,¡± Lukas suggested, leading us to the front exit.

    I nced back and met the priest¡¯s eyes. He kept his dark eyes trained on us the entire time, and I had to agree with Jose¡­ he was giving me creeper vibes, too. I took another look at the confessional, and Erick was nowhere to be found. With all the people, there was a good chance he slipped out, and we just missed it.

    ¡°Maybe he knows we¡¯re shifters,¡± Ste suggested.

    The driver couldn¡¯t find parking on the small ind for the stretched limousine and was waiting on the right bank. We walked to the bridge that I had crossed when Lukas walked me home from the sex club, and I couldn¡¯t believe how much my life had changed since that night. Jose had also noticed because he was giving me the side eye when Lukas wrapped his arm around me.

    No one was talking about Erick, and I wondered how Jose would react since Erick had dumped him.

    ¡°We should get something to eat,¡± ym said. ¡°One of those long ham sandwiches.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve checked off the catbs, Point Zero, and Notre-Dame,¡± Caspian groaned. ¡°We really need to get back to the hotel before Ares gets back.¡±

    ¡°Food sounds good,¡± Grandma replied.

    ¡°I know a great spot for jambon beurre,¡± Jose said. ¡°There¡¯s no ce to sit, so we¡¯ll have to take it to go.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± ym lit up with recognition. ¡°A jambon beurre.¡±

    ¡°I could use a sandwich,¡± my wolf hummed, and Lukas chuckled.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± I asked through the mind link.

    ¡°Hearing Ste in your thoughts,¡± he linked back, and she yipped in surprise.

    Lukas had been listening to my thoughts, which felt strange and sweet at the same time. It was also nice to hear more from her than the asional whisper. ¡°She¡¯s finally happy,¡± I told him through the link. We had our mate and a pup on the way.

    ¡°Kas is looking forward to taking a run with Ste soon.¡± He pulled me closer under his arm and kissed the top of my head.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there a bridge covered with locks around here?¡± Grandma asked. ¡°Maybe you two love birds should ce a lock on it.¡±

    ¡°It was just over there,¡± I pointed to the bridge on the left. ¡°The railing with all the locks was removed because the bridge couldn¡¯t support all that weight.¡±

    ¡°I suppose it was caving under the weight of all that love,¡± Storm snickered.

    We reached the white stretched limousine waiting for us. Jose gave the driver the name of the charcuterie shop and joined us in the back of the car. Lukas retrieved his phone and checked it for messages. ym and Jose had a detailed conversation about the French meaning of charcuterie and its originspared to what Americans considered charcuterie.

    ¡°Jose, have you ever seen a demon before?¡± Lukas asked.

    ¡°A demon¡­ no,¡± he replied. ¡°But there¡¯s a good chance I saw a shapeshifting dog once.¡±

    ¡°A shapeshifting dog?¡± Storm asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°And this seemed normal to you?¡±

    ¡°We saw a creature with horns today, and you think a shapeshifting dog is strange?¡± Joseughed.

    ¡°Can you describe the man or dog?¡±

    ¡°Okay, this might sound crazy¡­ but I thought Erick was seeing someone else a few months ago, so my crazy ass followed him,¡± Jose said. ¡°He was meeting his mother and some of Monsieur Darc¡¯s business associates in Chaumont.¡±

    ¡°Chaumont?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s the champagne region¡­ wine country,¡± he rified. ¡°It waste, but one moment, there was a big ck dog that ran past my car, and the next moment, it turned into a naked man.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±

    ¡°Because it would have sounded absolutely crazy,¡± he replied. ¡°What was I supposed to say? <i>Hey Selena, you shoulde with me and hide near the woods to see if we can spot any hot men who can turn into dogs.¡± </i>

    A rumble rippled in my mate¡¯s chest, and both Caspian and ym broke out in a fit of coughing to try and cover it up.

    ¡°We should get some extra sandwiches,¡± Grandma said. ¡°Lukas has a loud stomach growl, and he gets cranky when he hasn¡¯t eaten.¡±

    <b>******</b>

    <b>If you want to see what the Devil''s Doors on Notre-Dame look like, feel free to google search it! Same for Point Zero :)</b>

 Chapter 21 - Friend

    Selena

    A few momentster, the limousine managed a tight turn onto a narrow street and came to a stop. Jose and ym stepped out and crossed the street to the sandwich shop. Grandma wanted to join them, but Lukas told her his father had requested she call him about something urgent. We waited until the door closed before anyone spoke.

    Grandma reached into her purse and removed her phone. ¡°I¡¯m going to call Ares now so I can get in there and see all that hanging meat. I should have some shipped home.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Lukas just made that up to keep you here with us,¡± Storm announced, and she was right. With a demon on the loose in Paris, no one wanted her out of sight.

    ¡°I needed to talk to you without Jose here,¡± Lukas told me. ¡°He seemed to take the demon thing better than expected.¡±

    ¡°He didn¡¯t seem concerned when Grandma mentioned magic either,¡± Caspian noted.

    ¡°I liked the man-shifting dog story,¡± Grandma added.

    ¡°You think he was sent here to spy on us?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°No,¡± I refused to believe where this was going. ¡°Jose has been a good friend to me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve known him for what a year? A year and a half?¡± Caspian pressed.

    ¡°I have a sense about these things¡­ Jose is my friend.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Lukas said. ¡°I think we should take the sandwiches and get back to the hotel. Then we can say goodbye to Jose and let him go home before he witnesses something else he¡¯s not supposed to.¡±

    ¡°But he stared right into the eyes of the demon,¡± I said as fear shot through me. ¡°If she blew up my apartment, then he¡¯s not safe.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not a shifter. He should be fine,¡± Lukas assured me.

    ¡°If he¡¯s been seeing Erick, who sent you spiked champagne, then he needs to stay away until we sort everything out,¡± Caspian insisted. ¡°It¡¯s for your safety and his.¡±

    ¡°If Erick was working with Darc, he¡¯s a dead man,¡± Storm reminded us.

    ¡°What if Erick might try to hurt Jose to get to me?¡±

    ¡°He mentioned Erick had ghosted him,¡± Grandma said. ¡°It¡¯s hard to date someone for months and not develop feelings. Maybe Erick is staying away from Jose to protect him?¡±

    I hadn¡¯t spent much time with Erick, so I wasn¡¯t sure about him. If he was sporting a mark of magic and showing up everywhere, then he had to be connected to all of this.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget his disappearing act,¡± Ste reminded me.

    ¡°Darc has a mage working for him. Someone had to brew the tonic given to the humans working at the mating ball.¡±

    ¡°What tonic?¡± Storm questioned.

    ¡°There was an entire orchestra at the Versailles ball and a full wait staff. They had all been given a tonic that would make the evening a blur in the morning,¡± I exined to her. ¡°Alpha Darc used it as a precaution in case someone noticed anything unusual.¡±

    ¡°And by unusual, you mean a growl or iming,¡± Storm said in understanding. ¡°If he had ess to have all that tonic brewed, what¡¯s a little champagne spiked with heat stimnts?¡±

    ¡°It has to be Erick. Hees from a line of mages,¡± Grandma insisted. ¡°I saw the mark.¡±

    ¡°Erick has to know he¡¯s a walking corpse,¡± Caspian rumbled.

    ¡°We need to figure out what we¡¯re doing with Jose before they get back with the sandwiches,¡± Storm said. She leaned forward for a better look out the window at the shop.

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just hide him in drag?¡± Grandma suggested. ¡°Some big hair and makeup¡ªno one will recognize him!¡±

    ¡°Maybe we should send him home to Los Angeles,¡± Caspian replied.

    ¡°The City of Angels?¡± Storm smirked. ¡°Please¡­ He¡¯d be safer in Las Vegas, the City of Sin.¡±

    ¡°You had a missed call from Rex,¡± I reminded Lukas. ¡°Maybe something happened at the Darc pack.¡±

    Lukas reached for his phone and dialed Rex. The phone went to voicemail, and he disconnected. He tried Zander next, who was running special security at the hotel. He greeted Zander and listened as he did most of the talking.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Storm pressed, and Lukas put Zander on speakerphone.

    ¡°¡­ Rex is on the phone with your father right now. Hang on so you can talk to him,¡± Zander¡¯s voice rang out as he continued to update us. ¡°Balthazar speared the Beta with his ws and read his mind. Pierre Darc had intended to get closer to Selena to learn more about lycans. They were hoping for Storm, but when she didn¡¯t show up¡ª¡±

    Lukas snarled and I felt his rage fill the car. ¡°He went after Persephone instead!¡±

    ¡°Balthazar made minced meat out of him, but Alpha Darc and Alpha Orl¨¦ans are both missing,¡± Zander told us.

    ¡°Lukas?¡± Rex¡¯s voice interrupted.

    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let Storm out of your sight,¡± Rex insisted, and I could feel the tension through the phone. ¡°Where are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly capable of protecting myself,¡± Storm¡¯s eyes swirled with anger. ¡°I just need to decided if I¡¯m going to kill Darc quickly or slow and painfully.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re in the limousine in the third arrondissement. ym just stepped out to get sandwiches.¡±

    ¡°Balthazar killed the Darc Beta,¡± Rex said. ¡°The Gamma and Delta submitted, so he imed the Darc pack. If Pierre wants to remain Alpha he needs to challenge Balthazar for it.¡±

    ¡°Whelp, I suppose that¡¯s one way of ensuring the pack has a lycan Alpha,¡± Grandma chimed.

    ¡°What about the Orl¨¦ans pack?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Killian and Xena are there with Wylder and Tymber,¡± Rex replied. ¡°No one seems to know what happened to Alpha Fran?ois Orl¨¦ans.¡±

    ¡°And my parents?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Mateo and Pa are at the Darc pack with Ares and Balthazar,¡± Zander answered. ¡°They may not be back tonight.¡±

    ¡°All the family packs have moved to high alert,¡± Rex continued. ¡°Ambrose and Chiara went to Italy to ensure Cyrus has no surprises.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the update from Cyrus?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s quiet,¡± Rex replied.

    ¡°Vria¡¯s a lycan,¡± I said. ¡°If they were after Persephone, they could try to snatch Vria.¡±

    ¡°Italy is the safest ce for them right now,¡± Lukas reminded me.

    I knew he was right. Nightshade pack was one of the hardest packs to infiltrate because of its location in the Tuscan mountains. It was also thergest pack in Europe and had one of the strongest warrior armies ever known. Alpha Cyrus was an elemental lycan with a lycan mate. Cyrus had other elemental wolves in the family, including his father, uncle, and grandmother. He also had a coven of vampires that lived with his pack. Ambrose was the Vampire King and would do everything he could to keep them safe.

    ¡°I want Jose safe, too,¡± I pleaded. ¡°He could be in danger, and it¡¯s all because of me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about your friend,¡± Caspian told me. ¡°He looked into the eyes of a demon and recognized what it was.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t rocket science,¡± Grandma Chimed. ¡°The horns probably gave it away.¡±

    Caspian shook his head in disagreement. ¡°He¡¯s been involved with Erick¡ª¡±

    ¡°You heard Rex, Darc was trying to get close to me. Erick could have been using Jose.¡± I hated the idea of Jose faking a friendship with me for so long just to get information. I would have sensed something insincere about him, and I didn¡¯t.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have him stay at the hotel for a few days and watch him carefully,¡± Lukas announced. ¡°I don¡¯t want him on the family floor. Put him on the second floor and monitor him for anything suspicious.¡±

    Caspian let out a loud groan. ¡°Call Zane and have him get a room ready. I¡¯ll go see what¡¯s taking ym so long.¡±

    He pushed the door open and crossed the street to the shop. Grandma grumbled about not being able to see how the sandwiches were made and if the product was fresh.

    ¡°Their bread might be made fresh, but how do you know the meat hasn¡¯t been sitting there for months?¡± Grandma continued just as a white delivery truck squeezed between us and the shop.

    There was no way around us, and the delivery truck didn¡¯t seem to care that we were blocking the flow of traffic. I wasn¡¯t sure if the man was delivering fresh meats or getting a sandwich, but I considered mind linking with ym to tell him to hurry up. Parisians were not the most patient when it came to traffic jams. I caught sight of his red hair as he held tworge bags. The door swung open, and ym looked like the cat who had gotten the cream as he climbed into the back seat. The scent of freshly baked bread filled the car, and I looked out the window, searching for Jose. The delivery truck pulled away as the driver bit into a meat-filled sandwich.

    ¡°Oh man, that was amazing! I have to bring my dad back here,¡± ym boasted. ¡°We need to ship some of those hanging meats back home. This ce is incredible.¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Jose?¡± I asked.

    ¡°He got the bag of drinks while I was with Ren¨¦. I thought he came out to wait with you.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s Ren¨¦?¡± Lukas questioned.

    ¡°His father owns the shop. It¡¯s been in the family for two hundred years!¡± ym told us. ¡°He gave me a quick tour of the ce and showed me the meats.¡±

    ¡°He showed you his meat?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°I like meat,¡± my wolf yipped.

    ¡°Did you see Caspian?¡± Lukas questioned.

    ¡°No,¡± ym replied. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he here with you?¡±

    ¡°You were taking longer than expected, so he went to make sure you weren¡¯t buying the entire inventory,¡± Storm told him.

    ¡°He¡¯s not responding to my mind link,¡± Lukas announced.

    ¡°Oh, for crying out loud,¡± Grandma said. ¡°The shop is just over there. He couldn¡¯t have gone far.¡±

    Lukas stepped out of the car to look for Caspian. I rolled the window down so I could keep a close eye on my mate. ym poked his head out of the sunroof and scanned the street for them. We watched as Lukas stepped inside the shop, looking for Caspian and Jose. A few minutester, he emerged and gave us a headshake to tell us there was no sign of them.

    Storm got out of the car and walked around, trying to scent them. I retrieved my cell phone from my purse and dialed Jose. It went straight to voicemail. I tried Caspian and it was the same. Lukas peered into the windows of the buildings on the street and tried sniffing their scents. The frustrated look on his face told me he couldn¡¯t pick up anything.

    ¡°He had the bag with the drinks and chocte mousse,¡± ym said. ¡°You don¡¯t see the bag sitting around, do you?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°The shop isn¡¯t very big. They couldn¡¯t have disappeared into thin air,¡± ym sighed and lowered his head back into the car. He scooted to the door, and Grandma reached for her purse.

    ¡°Grandma, stay in there with Selena,¡± Lukas ordered.

    ¡°No way,¡± she replied and followed ym out the door. ¡°I¡¯m not exining to Poseidon that I lost his firstborn and heir.¡±

    An hourter, we were seated on the rooftop terrace of the hotel. ym was stress-eating his way through a second sandwich as we reviewed the day¡¯s events. Zander ordered the shifters from LaRue Enterprises to track Caspian¡¯s phone.

    ¡°Maybe I should go back to Notre-Dame and have a closer look,¡± Ranger suggested. ¡°See if I pick up anything.¡±

    ¡°Fuck, I¡¯ll have to call Dad,¡± Rex announced, running his fingers through his hair. ¡°Alpha Darc and Orl¨¦ans are missing¡­ They could have Caspian.¡±

    ¡°What about the demon and the confessional?¡± I asked. ¡°Something doesn¡¯t sit well with me.¡±

    ¡°Maybe it was the Houdini disappearing act,¡± Grandma grumbled.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go back to the church and have a look,¡± Zane said.

    ¡°You can¡¯t go alone,¡± I replied. ¡°There¡¯s a creepy priest, Father Fontenay, who didn¡¯t seem to like us.¡±

    ¡°I can handle a human priest,¡± Zane assured me.

    ¡°Erick is behind all of this,¡± Storm snarled. ¡°The she-devil at the catbs, then Erick at the church¡­ this isn¡¯t coincidental. We need to check his apartment. Where does Jose live?¡±

    ¡°Jose lives on the other side of Montmartre, behind the Basilica of Sacr¨¦-Coeur.¡±

    ¡°If he¡¯s working with Erick,¡± Storm warned. ¡°I¡¯ll skin Jose alive.¡±

    Zane and Cynder left to look at the church again. I gave Lukas the address for Jose, which was at the opposite end of Paris from Erick¡¯s apartment. To Storm¡¯s disappointment, Lukas and Rex left to search the apartments, and they both insisted she stay with us at the hotel. Lukas gave Ranger strict orders not to let me or Grandma leave.

    Lukas had suggested I get some rest, but I didn¡¯t want to rest. I wanted to be out there looking for Caspian and Jose. Worry red in me, and I was filled with doubt, wondering if Jose had possibly led Caspian into a trap. Stelle let out a low whine, feeling responsible for not sensing something was wrong with Jose sooner. My mind raced back to all the conversations I¡¯ve had with him, the shopping, spa visits, cooking sses, weekend adventures, and nothing seemed to send up a red g.

    Was I so desperate and lonely for friendship that I had been blind when a viper entered my world?

    It was hard to make friends in France because they tended to keep their circles small and valued deep friendships instead of superficial acquaintances. When Jose came along and recognized that I was from the States, we seemed to click. My stomach tightened at the thought that he could have betrayed me.

    ¡°Should I call Uncle Poseidon?¡± Storm asked with uncertainty. ¡°What if they find him, or Caspian saw Jose sneak off and is following him in the shadows?¡±

    ¡°The Moon Realm is on high alert, and I¡¯m not sure we should say anything yet,¡± Grandma said. ¡°We don¡¯t want to want to cause worry prematurely.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t look so well,¡± my sister¡¯s voice spoke softly.

    ¡°I think I need to lie down.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯lle help you get into bed,¡± she offered and followed me back to my room with Ranger beside her.

    Although Ranger and Caspian were cousins, they were raised as close as brothers. They both looked like younger versions of their twin fathers, and I tried to shove down the guilt. Caspian was an Alpha and should be fine.

    ¡°Is there anything I can get you?¡± Ranger asked as we stepped into the front living section of our two-room suite.

    ¡°How about some answers about demons,¡± I replied sarcastically.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about demons, but I know someone who does.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°My mother,¡± he replied. ¡°We should call her.¡±

 Hazel??? Feedback

    Hi everyone,

    I keep going back and forth on this next chapter...

    How do we feel about Hazel''s tongue regenerating? The majority of my Beta readers were on the edge of their seats, begging me to fix her tongue. I originally nted Medusa''s blood in Alpha Balthazar''s book to give me a way to regenerate Hazel''s tongue. By the end of the Lycan series, I''m going to need a powerful mage, and Hazel is a child of Hecate.

    I also received a fewments from people who thought Hazel should remain special or different and keep her disability. They liked that I had a mute who used signnguage.

    I was half tempted to leave it as it is... because she can talk through the mind link. But as I started to write this next chapter, I felt uncertain. N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    What are your thoughts? Should we grow her tongue back? I know a few people will be disappointed, but I know arge majority will be happy.

    Needless to say... I didn''t finish tonight''s chapter, because I couldn''t decide if the "phone call" will be Facetime for signnguage or an actual voice call.

    Talk to me...

 Chapter 22 - The Search

    <b>Thank you, everyone, for your feedback on Hazel¡¯s situation! Now that I know where I¡¯m going with the next chapter and Hazel, I slipped this chapter in first. </b>

    <b>Just a reminder¡ªdon¡¯t go far! This book should be done and removed from this tform around May 12-15th. </b>

    <b>*******</b>

    Lukas

    ¡°I want toe with you,¡± Selena said, and I wrapped my arms around her tighter. I loved the feeling of her in my arms and being able to hold her anytime I wanted to.

    ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you. Darc knows I carried you off from the ball. If he¡¯s out there and looking for a way to hurt me or the family, he has to know you¡¯re my soft spot.¡±

    ¡°I can help you snoop. I¡¯m great at snooping,¡± Grandma Dori said. ¡°I¡¯ll just run get my purse.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m taking Rex,¡± I told them. ¡°I don¡¯t want to risk another apartment exploding with any of you there.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m fireproof,¡± ym argued.

    ¡°I know, but I need you here with Grandma.¡±

    ¡°I shoulde with you,¡± Selena insisted. ¡°I¡¯ve been to both apartments.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not putting you or the pup at risk. Storm will stay here, and if the hotel is breached, nothing will get past her lycan.¡±

    Storm shot me a re that told me she wasn¡¯t happy about being on babysitting duty. I needed her here to ensure Grandma Dori didn¡¯t get any wild ideas. It also calmed my beast to know that Storm was here with my mate because he wanted to lock her away in the hotel vault until we returned.

    ¡°If there¡¯s no sign of Caspian, we¡¯ll have to call dad and let him know,¡± Rex told me as we walked through the hotel lobby.

    ¡°We¡¯ll check Jose¡¯s apartment first. It¡¯s on this side of the river.¡±

    A taxi was waiting for us, and Rex gave the driver Jose¡¯s address first. I caught glimpses of Sacr¨¦-Coeur between the streets as we got closer to the Montmartre area in the eighteenth arrondissement. People often connect the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre pyramid when they think of Paris, but this church always seemed like one of the most iconic monuments in Paris to me. It was built on top of Montmartre hill, which towered over Paris.

    ¡°When she said behind the Sacr¨¦-Coeur, she meant it,¡± Rex said when we stepped out of the taxi on the cobbled street of Rue Paul Albert. ¡°Those stairs lead up to the backside of the church.¡±

    I paid for the taxi and let him leave. This area was a popr tourist spot, and taxis were easy to find, so there was no reason to have the driver wait. Jose lived just above a corner caf¨¦, so we¡¯d have to be extra careful not to attract attention. We moved to the wooden door leading up into the apartment building and Rex reached for the door nob.

    ¡°It¡¯s locked,¡± Rex said through the mind link.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Grandma Dori when you need her now,¡± I chuckled. She taught me to pick locks when I was a pup, but unlike her, I didn¡¯t carry around a lock pick kit.

    Rex applied a little extra lycan strength and popped the door open. The nking noise of the lock breaking was the only sound I heard. We moved through the corridor and up the stairs to look for apartment B. It was located just above the ground-floor caf¨¦, with a street view over the red canopy.

    I knocked on Jose¡¯s door and used my lycan hearing to listen for movement inside. There was a great deal of noise from the Caf¨¦ below, but nothing out of the ordinary. The apartment was vacant, so I reached for the handle and applied enough pressure to break the deadbolt through the door frame.

    ¡°d it didn¡¯t explode,¡± Rex smirked.

    We entered Jose¡¯s apartment and started our search. He was very tidy, and nothing appeared to be out of ce. The corner of his living room held a sewing machine and workstation. Neatly organized bolts of fabric were stacked beside the work desk. A corkboard hung with design sketches, notes, and magazine cutouts. There were no dishes or cups in the sink, but there was a bowl of cat food and water.

    ¡°He has a cat,¡± Rex said.

    ¡°Did the bowls give it away?¡±

    ¡°No, the cat in the window did,¡± Rex motioned to the partially open window where a fluffy white cat stood watching us with big eyes.

    Rex moved to the bedroom, and I continued to check the living room. We opened drawers, looked through cabs, and opened boxes. His refrigerator had a few photos hanging on it with mas. The first photo appeared to be of arge family on vacation in Hawaii. A photo of what looked like his parents celebrating a wedding anniversary. There was a photo of Jose with three other females, one of whom was my Selena.

    I studied the photo for a moment, feeling regretful that I had missed so many special moments with her. They wore party hats and had noise makers in hand. It appeared to have been taken on New Year¡¯s Eve, and my mate looked stunning in that little silver dress. My beast rumbled in my chest, and I wanted to get back to her.

    ¡°Anything yet?¡± Rex called from the bedroom.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± I replied as I took in the next photo.

    It was Erick with his arms wrapped around Jose from behind, and they both had aughing smile on their face. As if the person taking the photo had just said something funny. The color of the trees in the background told me the photo had been taken in the fall, but I couldn¡¯t tell where they were. The next photo was of Jose with two drag queens, and it appeared to have been taken at a bar. Thest photo captured a tiny white kitten nestled in Jose¡¯s arms, which looked like the big fluffy cat spying on us now.

    The fruit basket had recently been stocked, and a bowl of fresh eggs sat on the counter. I looked in the refrigerator, and it was well stocked with food. He wasn¡¯t nning on going anywhere. I continued my search and lifted couch cushions, pillows, and the rug.

    ¡°I found something!¡± Rex called out from the bedroom with augh.

    ¡°What is it? And don¡¯t tell me sex toys.¡±

    ¡°Then I won¡¯t tell you what it is,¡± Rex chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s nothing out of the ordinary here unless you count the feathered boa, makeup, and high heels. He has an autographed photo of Lady

    Gaga hanging on the wall, nothing that screams demons, mages, or shifters,¡± Rex returned to the kitchen. ¡°The apartment is smaller than Selena¡¯s, and there aren¡¯t any traces of Erick here.¡±

    ¡°Except for the photo on the fridge.¡±

    Rex moved to the refrigerator and studied the photos for a moment. ¡°This seems to be everyone that¡¯s important to him. I¡¯m starting to think Jose had no idea what Erick was or that Erick used him.¡±

    I pulled the cupboard open and reached for the bag of cat food I had noticed earlier. The cat jumped down from the windowsill and rushed to the food bowl with a meow in anticipation of being fed. I filled the bowl and gave the cat fresh water as Rex watched.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you do something so domestic before,<i>Alpha</i>,¡± he grinned. ¡°Must be the impending fatherhood softening you.¡±

    I red at Rex to remind him that I was still perfectly capable of kicking his ass and watched the smile disappear from his face. I wasn¡¯t sure if or when Jose would return to the apartment, and I assumed he left the window partially open so the cat coulde and go as it pleased. If he was innocent, I didn¡¯t want my tender-hearted mate to hear that I had left the cat to starve.

    ¡°What if the apartment blows up when we leave?¡± Rex asked, looking at the cat.

    ¡°Take him with us and release him outside. He knows how to climb back up through the window.¡±

    Fuck, I really was going soft now.

    Rex moved slowly to the cat, who was still eating, and scooped it up. I was expecting it to hiss and scratch, but the cat was docile in his arms. We stepped out into the hall, and I attempted to pull the door closed so the break-in wasn¡¯t as noticeable. We moved at lycan speed down the stairs and through the corridor.

    I took a deep breath when we reached the cobblestone outside, and the bustling caf¨¦ greeted us. There was no explosion, fire, or demon. Rex scratched the cat on the head and set it down by a tree. We watched as the cat quickly climbed up the trunk, slunk over branches, and jumped onto the window ledge to return to its meal.

    We walked two blocks before we found an avable taxi. I gave the driver the address to Erick¡¯s apartment, and we slid into the back seat. Rex called Storm to see if anything had transpired in the hour since we had been gone, but the phone went to voicemail.

    Thirty minutester, we arrived at an upscale building that appeared to have five luxury apartments with balconies above a patisserie that seemed to be very busy with people purchasing their pastries and sweets. Therge double doors next to the shop were propped open as a furniture delivery was being made to someone in the building.

    ¡°This should be easy,¡± Rex said.

    I double-checked the address Selena had given me. ¡°Looks like Erick has the top floor.¡±

    We crept up behind the two men struggling to haul a sofa up the narrow stairs and helped them carry it up. The olddy waiting for her sofa was so distracted that she didn¡¯t even notice us move past her front door and continue to the top floor.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Let me do it this time,¡± Rex said, reaching for the door. Erick didn¡¯t have a deadbolt on his door. ¡°A broken lock makes less noise than a broken door frame.¡±

    He knocked on the door, and we listened for movement. It was quiet, but there was a scent I couldn¡¯t ignore. Whatever it was, it made my beast ufortable.

    ¡°Do you smell that?¡± Rex whispered, and I nodded.

    He gripped the door handle, preparing to apply pressure, when it turned with ease in his hand. The door wasn¡¯t locked, so Rex pushed it open. The foul scent grew stronger, and I was now sure I recognized it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch anything,¡± I told Rex and used the sleeve of my shirt to wipe the doorknob.

    The apartment was spacious and bright, with high ceilings that oozed ssical French elegance. We walked through therge open living room, past the dining table, to the fully modern kitchen,plete with arge stainless steel refrigerator¡ªa refrigerator ym would approve of. Arge marble ind stood in the middle, and Rex moved closer to it.

    ¡°We should open a window,¡± Rex coughed. ¡°I think Erick left some rotting fruit or meat in the trash.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s rotting fruit,¡± I told him, realizing what the putrid stench was.

    ¡°Oh, Fuck!¡± Rex halted, his eyes wide as he looked on the ground behind the ind.

    ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°Darc.¡±

    I rushed over to confirm it was Alpha Pierre Darc. It was. He was on his back, looking up at the ceiling with his lifeless green eyes still open. He looked discolored and bloated. There was a small bullet hole in the center of his chest. Even if the gunshot wasn¡¯t fatal, I knew the silver of a bullet was.

    ¡°Silver,¡± Rex said. He was thinking the same thing I was. An Alpha could easily sustain a bullet wound unless it were silver. Silver in the bloodstream could be fatal for shifters.

    ¡°Shame to ruin such a fine suit,¡± I said as I reached for my phone.

    My father answered on the second ring. ¡°Lukas?¡±

    ¡°I found Pierre Darc.¡±

    ¡°No one touches him,¡± my father snarled. ¡°Balthazar is on his way.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid someone already beat Uncle Balthazar to it. And his death was far more pleasant than he deserved.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s dead?¡± My father questioned.

    ¡°I¡¯m standing over his corpse. You want me to send you photos?¡±

    Rex started moving around the apartment, using an oven mitt to open drawers while I exined what had happened and where we were. I told him about the catbs, Notre-Dame, and Caspian disappearing.

    ¡°What are you doing to find Caspian?¡± My father¡¯s voice grew tense.

    ¡°Well, it just happened about two hours ago. Zander is working on tracking both of their phones and has contacted LaRue Enterprises to hack into security cameras in the area. Zane is retracing our footsteps to see if he picks anything up. Rex is with me, and we¡¯ve already searched both apartments.¡±

    ¡°A mage who¡¯s strong enough can open a portal,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll be back tonight to help you find him. Ask Storm to meditate and focus on Caspian. She should be able to see him and hopefully see a clue in his surroundings.¡±

    ¡°What about the demon?¡±

    ¡°Are you sure the demon you believe you¡¯re seeing isn¡¯t Erick?¡± My father suggested. ¡°A mage could easily create an illusion.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I told him. ¡°The demon moved in a way a mage couldn¡¯t.¡±

    Alpha Fran?ois Orl¨¦ans was still missing, and we still had no clue where Caspian and Jose were. Erick had a dead body in his kitchen, and there was still a demon running around Paris.

    ¡°Is Balthazar keeping the pack?¡± Rex asked as he yanked open a closet door, and I repeated the question to my father.

    ¡°Pierre Darc has a younger brother, Jules Darc, who hasn¡¯t turned up yet,¡± my father told us. ¡°The Darc pack is made up of a few smaller packs that came together after the French Revolution. Balthazar has three Alpha sons and can easily divide the territory into three.¡±

    ¡°And the Orl¨¦ans pack?¡±

    ¡°Killian might want it for Kairo, but we need to find out what Alpha Orl¨¦ans involvement was in trying to abduct a lycan.¡±

    ¡°HOLY FUCK!¡± Rex yelped.

    ¡°What is it?¡± My father asked, and I moved over to Rex for the second time and found another dead body.

    ¡°There¡¯s a dead woman in the closet. A she-wolf. She has a mate mark on her neck, and looks older than Darc. Her lips are ck¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see any wounds,¡± Rex added.

    ¡°Sounds like poison,¡± my father said. ¡°Have you seen her before?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    I snapped a photo of her and returned to Darc for the same. I sent him both of the photos, and he confirmed that Alpha Darc and his mother, the previous Luna of Darc Pack, were both dead. We finished searching the apartment and found no other surprises.

    ¡°Did you touch anything?¡± My father asked.

    ¡°No, Rex was wearing an oven mitt,¡± I told him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you soon,¡± he said as he disconnected and I slipped the phone back into my pocket just as it started ringing again.

    ¡°Ranger¡­¡± I answered on speakerphone.

    ¡°Storm took off with Grandma Dori, on a motorcycle¡­¡±

    ¡°She put Grandma on a motorcycle?¡± Rex asked. ¡°Where did she get a motorcycle from?¡±

    ¡°Stole it,¡± he said. ¡°ym snatched a motorcycle from a food delivery guy and is chasing after them.¡±

    ¡°Call me when you know where they¡¯re heading.¡± I shoved the phone back in my pocket and took Rex¡¯s oven mitt so I could close the door.

    ¡°Storm must know something,¡± Rex said.

    ¡°It would be great if our sister shared it with us.¡±

    ¡°Should we call the French police and tip them off about the bodies?¡±

    ¡°No. Then they¡¯ll start looking for Erick and make things harder for us.¡±

    ¡°Good point,¡± he agreed.

    ¡°Does it seem strange that Erick left the door unlocked?¡± I slipped the oven mitt over my hand to pull the door open.

    ¡°He lives on the top floor with two bolted doors to get into the building. Maybe he¡¯s just used to leaving without locking the door?¡± Rex shrugged and stepped into the hall.

    ¡°Or he left in a hurry.¡± I turned the lock tumble so it would lock behind us and pulled the door closed.

    <b><i>BOOM!</i></b>

    <b>*****</b>

    <b>Alright, as some of you might know, a New Years Eve celebration is sometimes called a Sylvester, because of Saint Sylvester Day. </b>

    <b>Thinking about the New Years Eve photo of Selena and Jose, I was wondering if New Years Eve was appropriate for Paris, or do they call it a Sylvester? Anyone know? Thanks for the feedback. </b>

 Chapter 23 - Wolf Tower

    Selena

    ¡°Thest time our kind encountered a demon, my parents were in Egypt with Balthazar and Grandma,¡± Ranger told me. ¡°I wasn¡¯t with you at the cemetery, so I didn¡¯t see it. But if Storm says she saw one, then I know she did.¡±

    ¡°Lukas saw it, too,¡± I reminded him.

    ¡°Storm is hardly ever wrong,¡± he replied and reached for his phone.

    His mother, Hazel, was the first known shifter to possess magic. Hazel wasn¡¯t an ordinary mage. She was a child of Hecate, which made her magic uniquely powerful. Hazel had natural, God-given abilities that mages could only dream of having.

    The phone rang, and a video image of Hazel came through. Her long, curly brown hair was wet, and she sat in a bathrobe. Her hazel-colored eyes filled with warmth when Ranger moved into view of the camera.

    ¡°Hi, Mom,¡± Ranger greeted her.

    Her smile radiated, and she waved happily. Despite having a horrific childhood, Hazel was one of the kindest and most gentle people I had ever known. She had been tortured and lost most of her tongue at the hands of her father. The pups and family members who couldn¡¯t mind link had learned signnguage tomunicate with her. When we were pups, we thought of it as our secretnguage and used it in school with each other to keep others from listening to what we were saying.

    Phoenix bobbed in the background and waved hello. As a werewolf shifter, Phoenix had already reached maturity but chose not to attend the mating ball. I suspected it was because Ranger was here, and the men in the family were always protective of Hazel.

    Her hands started moving eagerly, and I read as she signed. ¡°Selena, I can¡¯t tell you enough how happy everyone is for you and Lukas,¡± she beamed as her hands did the talking¡­ ¡°And we¡¯re so honored to have your sister for a daughter-inw.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said as my hand subconsciously moved to my stomach.

    ¡°How¡¯s everything at home today?¡± Ranger asked.

    ¡°Calm. Your father is running patrol right now,¡± she signed back. ¡°Is everything okay?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not sure if we saw a demon or not,¡± I replied, and she gasped.

    ¡°Uncle Ares thinks it¡¯s not possible because they saw it in daylight,¡± Ranger told her.

    ¡°Where did you see it?¡± She questioned.

    ¡°We saw it first at P¨¨re Lachaise Cemetery, and it evaporated into ck mist,¡± I exined. ¡°Then we saw it in the catbs. It moved in a misty ck fog and took on the shape of a female with horns. She evaporated just as quickly as she had appeared.¡±

    Hazel paused a moment as she considered what I had said. ¡°The cemetery¡­¡± she started to say in her low,nguid voice. ¡°The cemetery and catbs are both hallowed grounds.¡±

    ¡°So, demons can¡¯t step into cemeteries?¡± Ranger questioned.

    ¡°Yes and no,¡± she replied thoughtfully. ¡°Demons can¡¯t set foot on hallowed ground, but those cast out of heaven to live as demons can.¡±

    ¡°Heaven?¡± Ranger asked. ¡°Shifters belong to the Greek Gods.¡±

    She shook her head and switched back to signnguage. This happened when she was excited or wanted tomunicate faster because it was easier for her to sign. ¡°Most civilizations have been rooted deep in religion. Just because you don¡¯t believe in something doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t exist.¡±

    ¡°Is dark magic needed to summon demons into our world?¡± Sol asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid my answer is yes and no, again,¡± Hazel replied verbally and went on to sign the rest. ¡°Portals need to be opened from this side, which requires strong magic. The sorceress who did it in Egypt was a descendant of King Rameses.¡±

    ¡°You mean the Great Pharaoh of Egypt?¡±

    ¡°Yes, King Ramses the Great was a grand wizard,¡± she replied as her hands moved. ¡°I know you¡¯ve heard Balthazar say this, but many of the humans who aplished extraordinary things throughout human history were not actually human.¡±

    ¡°Could it be a mage ying a trick on us?¡± Ranger asked. ¡°Maybe creating an illusion?¡±

    ¡°Possibly, but it would be foolish to y such a game with lycans. Lycan senses are very sharp.¡± She lowered her hands and opened her mouth to speak. ¡°Did Storm see it?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± I told her. ¡°So did Lukas and Rex.¡±

    ¡°Storm is rarely wrong,¡± she replied in her soft voice. ¡°I cane to Paris, but I think Ares is sending all of you home tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°ns may have changed,¡± Ranger said.

    ¡°What do you mean? Is everything okay?¡± Her expression reflected worry, and Ranger hesitated.

    ¡°Everything is fine, Mom,¡± he assured her. ¡°We should be home soon, but I think we¡¯ll be here for an extra day while they sort out the pack situations.¡±

    When the Vampire King collected Medusa¡¯s blood over two decades ago, it took them years to unlock some of the secrets. My father had used a single drop of that blood with his healing gift to help regenerate Hazel¡¯s tongue. My mother had told me that the magic flowing in Hazel¡¯s body was so strong that the regenerative process had nearly drained my father of his life.

    ¡°Is Uncle Balthazar really keeping the French pack?¡± Phoenix asked, standing behind Hazel.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Ranger told him.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Grandma Dori?¡± Hazel asked as her eyes roamed the space behind us.

    ¡°She¡¯s on the rooftop terrace with Storm and ym, waiting for her afternoon coffee,¡± he told her.

    ¡°What do we do if it is a demon?¡±

    ¡°Demons are not immune from the fire of the Gods,¡± she said softly. ¡°Ares is in Paris with you,¡± she replied.

    ¡°What if it¡¯s a dark mage?¡±

    ¡°A mage is essentially a human with magic,¡± she said before switching back to signnguage. ¡°Some magic is stronger than others, but a mage is no match for elemental lycans. Do you need me toe to Paris?¡± She offered again. ¡°I can talk to Zeus¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± my wolf yapped in my mind.

    ¡°No,¡± I replied, shaking my head. It was pointless to drag her all the way over here if Ares could take care of a demon. I was starting to doubt it was a demon since Erick was a mage. ¡°I¡¯m sure Ares will send us back before you get here. You know how protective he is.¡±

    ¡°I know exactly how he can be,¡± she replied with a soft giggle. ¡°You take care of that pup.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll call if anything changes,¡± Ranger told her.

    ¡°I love you, Sweetheart,¡± she said with a warm smile.

    We ended the phone call with Hazel, and Ranger stepped out for a quick word with Zander, who was still running security at the hotel. Caspian was supposed to take the evening shift, and I wondered if Lukas had found him yet. It seemed strange that Caspian would just walk off and not tell anyone through the mind link.

    Frustrated, I reached for my phone and dialed Jose again. It went straight to voicemail.

    ¡°Have you heard anything from Dad yet?¡± I asked Sol.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she nodded. ¡°He told me to be careful and stay close to Ranger. Alpha Darc might get desperate and try something.¡±

    ¡°It looks like we¡¯re all going to be stuck in the hotel until we get shipped back home.¡± There was no way Lukas was going to let me go anywhere without him, and he was keen on keeping me locked away.

    ¡°Do you really believe it was a demon?¡± My sister asked with wide eyes.

    ¡°Yes,¡± my wolf yapped again.

    ¡°I do. There was something ethereal about it¡­ Something you could feel in your core just being in its presence.¡±

    ¡°Storm¡¯s visions have to mean something,¡± my sister said. ¡°We¡¯re not going to figure it out if we¡¯re trapped here.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re starting to sound like Grandma Dori,¡± I chided.

    The door flung open, and Ranger growled as he returned. ¡°Damn it to hell! Next time, I¡¯m going to cuff them with silver!¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Storm had another vision and left with Grandma,¡± he told us. ¡°Zander said they gave ym the slip.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s ym?¡± Sol asked.

    ¡°He stole a motorcycle and is following them.¡±

    ¡°Did he say what her vision was about?¡± I shoved my feet back into my shoes and grabbed my purse.

    ¡°Something about a wolf tower,¡± he paced the room. ¡°Do you have any idea where Grandma still wants to visit? Is there a wolf tower in Paris?¡±

    ¡°There were a few ces still on her list,¡± I told him. ¡°ce de Concorde is where Marie Antote was guillotined. She wanted to see the stained ss at Sainte-Chapelle and the Moulin Rouge.¡±

    ¡°I need to call Lukas,¡± he said as he held the phone to his ear. ¡°Storm took off with Grandma Dori on a motorcycle¡­¡± there was a pause before he spoke again. ¡°Stole it. ym snatched a motorcycle from a food delivery guy and is chasing after them.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure ym didn¡¯t just steal a motorcycle and take off with it because it had a full basket of food mounted to it?¡± Sol whispered to me.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ranger replied and disconnected the phone. ¡°Lukas is on his way.¡±

    ¡°We should see if we can catch up to ym before we get too far behind,¡± I said. ¡°Then we can tell Lukas where to meet us.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. Lukas doesn¡¯t want you leaving the hotel.¡±

    ¡°Grandma is out there alone with Storm, who might be falling into a trap by Darc.¡± I started feeling the anxiety rise as I spoke the words. ¡°They wanted Storm first, and they won¡¯t hesitate to hurt Grandma to get to Storm.¡±

    ¡°Fuck!¡± He snarled, giving in. ¡°Let¡¯s go, but if either of you wander away from me, there will be consequences.¡±

    Ranger¡¯s phone rang just as we reached the hotel lobby. ym had found the motorcycle Storm had taken near Rue de Rivoli. They hadn¡¯t gone very far, but if we wanted to keep up with them, we needed transportation.

    ¡°If she¡¯s looking for a tower, Saint-Jacques is in that area,¡± I told them. ¡°It¡¯s the second most popr tower after the Eiffel Tower. It has carvings on it¡­ there could be a wolf or dog.¡±

    We rushed out of the hotel in time to find a young couple getting into a taxi.

    ¡°Fifty Euros for your taxi,¡± Ranger held out the orange bill.

    ¡°Oui!¡± The man snatched the money and stepped aside to wait for another taxi.

    Fifteen minutester, Ranger handed another orange bill to the driver and told him to keep the change. We quickly made our way to the area where the church once stood. It had been destroyed in the revolution, and only the tower remained. I had seen this tower regrly but never paid close attention to the gargoyles and statues mounted at the top.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see any wolves on it,¡± my sister said. ¡°Maybe it was the Eiffel Tower since the packs own the restaurants?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Ranger said. ¡°This is it.¡±

    ¡°How do you know?¡±

    ¡°Because Storm and Grandma are over there with Lukas and Rex,¡± he pointed to the bustling street full of eateries behind us.

    Grandma was seated on a bench beside Storm, digging through her purse. Lukas stood behind them, looking like he was ready to strangle someone, and Rex looked disheveled. My eyes scanned Lukas with worry. Ste let out a low whine, and uneasiness filled me. My hand settled over my stomach, and I could feel my mate¡¯s frustration. He wasn¡¯t happy to see me out of the safety of the hotel.

    ¡°What happened to you?¡± Ranger asked, taking in Rex and Lukas.

    ¡°There was an explosion,¡± Rex said drily as the smokey scent reached my nose.

    ¡°I know I have some in here,¡± Grandma mumbled, still focused on finding whatever she was looking for in her purse.

    ¡°Another apartment?¡± I asked though I could already smell the answer.

    ¡°Yes, and it was just like yours,¡± Rex told us.

    ¡°Well, not exactly,¡± ym said. ¡°Everyone seems to have their clothes on.¡± I hadn¡¯t noticed him because he was seated on another bench with arge sack beside him, eating something that looked like a sandwich wrap.

    ¡°Ah-ha!¡± Grandma said as she pulled out a little blue spray bottle. ¡°I found it. It should help with the smell.¡±

    ¡°Of course, she has a travel-sized bottle of Febreze in her purse,¡± Stormughed as Grandma handed the bottle to Rex.

    ¡°Which apartment was it?¡±

    ¡°It was Erick¡¯s, and there was no trace of Jose or Caspian,¡± Lukas told us.

    ¡°Well, they couldn¡¯t have just disappeared into thin air,¡± ym said.

    ¡°They could if someone opened a portal,¡± Storm replied.

    ¡°Has anyone heard from Zane and Cynder yet?¡±

    ¡°Nothing yet,¡± Ranger told me.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s think this over carefully,¡± Lukas said. He told us about Alpha Darc being found dead on Erick¡¯s kitchen floor and his mother in the closet. Darc had been shot with a silver bullet, and his mother had been poisoned. The apartment had exploded in the same way mine had, and I wondered if the corpses would be found. Would they be able to identify them or know they were dead long before the explosion?

    ¡°Alpha Orl¨¦ans is still in the wind, along with Jules Darc,¡± Rex said. ¡°Erick mysteriously disappeared inside a church, and we still have no idea where Caspian and Jose are.¡±

    I could sense my mate¡¯s frustration radiating. As an Alpha, he wasn¡¯t used to not having control. ¡°Where are we, and what are we doing here?¡± He asked as he ran his fingers through that gorgeous hair of his.

    ¡°You¡¯re on Nics mel Street, and we followed Storm here,¡± ym answered. ¡°You want a shawarma? There¡¯s plenty more in here.¡± He held up a foil-wrapped roll.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take one,¡± my wolf barked.

    ¡°I saw an older tower, something from another time period. It was next to the river,¡± Storm said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how I knew it, but somehow, I knew it was called Wolf Tower.¡±

    ¡°And you couldn¡¯t just look up a picture of the tower to see if it was the same?¡± Lukas asked.

    ¡°Sometimes the new is built on top of the old,¡± Storm shot back. ¡°I needed toe see it and didn¡¯t want to wait for a hall pass from you or dad.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing under Saint Jacques Tower except Nics mel and his wife.¡±

    ¡°Where have I heard that name before?¡± ym asked as he took a meaty bite of his shawarma.

    ¡°The mel house is the oldest stone house in Paris,¡± I told him.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it,¡± ym looked thoughtful. ¡°I swear I¡¯ve heard the name before¡­ like something magical.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a Michelin Star restaurant on the ground level of the house.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± ym nodded. ¡°I heard about the restaurant. The food there is pure magic in your mouth!¡±

    There were forty-four thousand restaurants in Paris, and this is what he remembers. I¡¯d never eaten there because it drew a huge crowd of tourists, and I had always assumed it was because it was the oldest standing stone house in the city.

    ¡°Dad wants you to try meditation while thinking about Caspian,¡± Lukas told Storm. ¡°He thinks you might be able to see him or his surroundings.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I suggested,¡± Grandma said. ¡°She tried that, and here we are.¡±

    ¡°Did you see Caspian?¡±

    Storm shook her head. Like Lukas, I could feel the frustration radiating from her, too. ¡°No, I saw the tower.¡±

    ¡°This tower you¡¯re seeing. Is there a castle?¡± Rex asked. ¡°With a stone wall around it?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Storm¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen the castle before in a vision,¡± Rex told us.

    ¡°There was a fortress beside the river long ago, built by King Philippe-Auguste. The woods nearby were home to wild wolves, so they built a watchtower¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait just a minute!¡± Grandma interjected. ¡°We saw it in the basement of the Louvre.¡±

    ¡°You saw what?¡± Rex asked.

    ¡°When Caspian took me to the Louvre, there was a medieval fortress underneath it. It¡¯s been dug up nicely, and it has wooden walkways.¡±

    ¡°Turris Lupara!¡± It hit me, and I knew just what she was talking about.

    ¡°Taurus what?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°The Louvre was once called Lupara, which came from Turris Lupara,¡± I exined. ¡°The remains of the tower are under the Louvre.¡±

    ¡°Turris Lupara,¡± Storm¡¯s eyes started swirling. ¡°Wolf Tower!¡±

    <b>******</b>

    <b>A quick birthday shout out to the real Jose! Happy Birthday!!!! You are not a bad gay! LOL</b>N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    <b>(And if Erick doesn¡¯t behave... I¡¯m going to give him a terrible death worse than Nevets!)</b>

 Chapter 24 - Masterpieces

    <b>*** I''m moving the book to plete" status because we only have about 10 more chapters to go, and it will give others a chance to discover it. The book should beplete in about two weeks. </b>

    <b>I will continue to strive to post a chapter each night because I write every night - or try to! </b>

    <b>******</b>

    Lukas

    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t we have taken the motorbikes?¡± Grandma grumbled as we reached the Louvre.

    The motorbike Storm had stolen had an attached sidecar that Grandma was reluctant to give up. It was a relief to know Storm hadn¡¯t recklessly put her on the back of the bike, but we couldn¡¯t take any chances of the French police catching them with the stolen wheels. ym had also abandoned the food delivery motorcycle but kept the sack of food. He was currently eating his third shawarma.

    ¡°Grandma was kicked out of the Louvre when Caspian brought her with Persephone,¡± Selena told me. ¡°She should probably wear something that covers her pink hair.¡±

    Not wanting to take my eyes off my wandering Grandmother, I linked Rex and asked him to run across the street to what looked like a souvenir shop. ym passed around shawarmas, insisting we eat them because he wouldn¡¯t be able to take them into the museum. I handed one to Selena, wanting to make sure she was eating enough.

    ¡°I remember the first time I had one of these in Egypt,¡± Grandma told us as she peeled back the foil.

    ¡°Was this the trip where you first saw a demon?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°It was,¡± she said, taking a bite of her sandwich.

    ¡°Grandma, you don¡¯t have anything in your purse that will get us caught at security screening, do you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± she replied. ¡°I left the good stuff at the hotel.¡±

    I linked with Rex and asked him to pick up a few bottles of water. Selena took a couple of big bites from the meaty sandwich and then held it out to me. The beast inside of me calmed. Even though I wanted to nibble on her, I couldn¡¯t resist eating from the food she offered.

    Storm stood in silence, looking at the courtyard with the big ss pyramid. The line at the main entrance was roped off to allow the final people in before closing. The sandwich in her hand had a few bites taken out of it, but she seemed distracted. We didn¡¯t purchase tickets in advance, and we weren¡¯t part of a private tour group, so we¡¯d have to return tomorrow.

    ¡°Storm?¡±

    ¡°They have scheduled tours over there with skip-the-line passes,¡± she pointed. ¡°We might be able to fast-track ourselves inside with a generous tip.¡±

    ¡°Perfect!¡± I nodded. She was always thinking two steps ahead.

    ¡°That sign looks like Parisian Tours over there,¡± Grandma said. ¡°Maybe Sylvie is working on a private tour, and we can join her.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think Sylvie wants to see us again,¡± ym chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s probably still wondering what the hell happened in the catbs.¡±

    Rex returned with a bag in hand. He extracted several bottles of water and distributed them before he held out a bucket-style hat and a scarf. The scarf was on the transparent side, and we were trying to hide Grandma¡¯s pink-tinted hair. I reached for the hat and gave it to her.

    ¡°What? No raspberry beret?¡± She asked, taking the hat and strolling to the sign that read Parisian Tours.

    ¡°Grandma, the entrance is over there.¡± Sol pointed behind us to therge ss pyramid in the center of the courtyard.

    ¡°Is that her? I think that¡¯s Sylvie over there,¡± Grandma waved. ¡°Yoo-hoo!¡±

    Grandma was right. It was her. Her gray hair had been pulled back into a tight bun, and her lips pursed the moment her eyesnded on Grandma. The olddy had clearly not recovered from the mishap at the catbs earlier today. A young female with strawberry-blonde hair was standing beside Sylvie holding the Parisian Tours sign. They were both wearing shirts with the Parisian Tours logo on it.

    ¡°Bonjour, Dori,¡± she managed a forced smile. ¡°You¡¯re still out sightseeing?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes,¡± Grandma replied. ¡°There¡¯s just so much to see here. We were hoping to zip through that line with your tour.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the fast pass is for those who are taking a private tour.¡±

    ym stepped closer to the young female working with Sylvie and winked at her. Judging by the blush creeping up her face, I knew ym would get us in. ¡°Bonjour, ch¨¦rie,¡± he greeted her with a smile.

    ¡°Bonjour,¡± she replied shyly.

    ¡°How many are you expecting on your tour?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Just these ten,¡± she said as Sylvie cleared her throat.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the tour is full,¡± Sylvie told us.

    ¡°A thousand euros for the eight of us,¡± I offered.

    ¡°This is thest entrance evening tour. It¡¯s a special hour-and-a-half tour of the twenty-five highlighted artworks in our brochure. We¡¯re not allowed to have more than twelve in a group,¡± Sylvie told us.

    ¡°Two thousand euros,¡± Rex amended.

    She exchanged words with the young tour guide working with her, who nced over at ym with disappointment before nodding her head in agreement.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Sylvie nodded. ¡°I will take the eight of you, and Caroline will take the others.¡±

    ¡°Excellent,¡± Rex handed her a wad of cash that she quickly shoved into her tote.

    ¡°See you around,¡± ym smiled at the blushing female as Sylvie led us to one of the entrances into the Louvre.

    We went through a special check-in for tour groups, where she hastily ced a Parisian Tours sticker on our shirts. To my surprise and relief, Grandma made it through the security check without a problem. It was the end of the day, so the crowds had thinned.

    ¡°Sylvie, we were hoping to see the fortress under the Louvre,¡± Grandma told her.

    ¡°It¡¯s your tour,¡± Sylvie nodded and started walking. ¡°The Louvre Museum has three wings open to visitors. The Medieval Fortress is located at the lower level of the Sully Wing.¡±

    I held Selena¡¯s hand as we walked through the corridors, and Ranger did the same with his mate. Rex held his arm out for Grandma to take, and she looped her arm through it. Storm walked on the other side of Grandma, and I knew they were working together to help keep her hidden and out of trouble.

    ¡°The brochure shows that Venus de Milo is in this wing,¡± ym announced.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s just ahead,¡± she told him. ¡°The Sully Wing is the oldest part of the Louvre and houses treasures from Egyptian and Greek antiquities, as well as French works.¡±

    Momentster, we took the stairs to the lower level to another part of the museum, which was the birthce of the Louvre.

    ¡°We are walking through the moat of the first fortress built by King Philippe-Auguste in the twelfth century. It became the French Royal Residence and continued to transform over the years,¡± Sylvie exined. ¡°It wasn¡¯t until King Francis The First that the fortress was demolished and rebuilt as the Louvre pce.¡±

    ¡°All that work, and then King Louis The Fourteenthes along and moves the Royal Residence to Versailles,¡± ym added, shaking his head. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind a moat!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a scale model and history of the previous buildings just ahead,¡± Sylvie told us.

    ¡°I hear Napoleon tried to name the museum after himself,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°Yes. He had plundered a great deal of art during the wars and invasions that he expanded the museum at a rapid rate,¡± Sylvie said. ¡°After the fall of Napoleon, it was renamed the Louvre, whiches from the Latin lupara, meaning wolf, due to the presence of wolves in the area in previous centuries.¡±

    ¡°Turris Lupara,¡± Rex said.

    ¡°That is what they called the Great Tower,¡± Sylvie confirmed.

    We looked at the scale-sized model. Storm nodded, and her voice came through the mind link. ¡°This is what I¡¯ve been seeing.¡±

    ¡°I saw the entire castle in my vision,¡± Rex told us through the mind link.

    ¡°There¡¯s something at the Louvre that we¡¯re missing,¡± I replied in frustration. ¡°There has to be a clue here.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure if the clue was rted to Alpha Darc, Erick, or Caspian, and not knowing it was driving me crazy. I should be searching Paris and tearing it apart, looking for Caspian. Rex and Storm had both seen this tower in a vision, but what did it mean?

    ¡°Sylvie, is there a painting of a naked man in a gold frame?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to be a little more specific,¡± Sylvie said. ¡°There are lots of nudes, and most of the paintings are framed in gold.¡±

    ¡°A naked man sleeping¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, are you sure it¡¯s not Sleeping Hermaphrodite?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s a statue¡­ it looks like a female but has a smi,¡± Grandma told him. ¡°Storm is asking about a painting.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± ym nodded.

    ¡°As I was saying,¡± Storm continued. ¡°It was in a gold frame, hanging on a red wall.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s a red wall, it¡¯s going to be in the Red Rooms, which are in the Denon Wing,¡± Sylvie told us. ¡°Would you like to go there next?¡±

    ¡°Yes, please,¡± Storm replied.

    We went back up the stairs and followed Sylvie through the turns of several halls. Grandma was whispering something to Rex, and I noticed a security guard looking in our direction. He must have felt my gaze on him and immediately turned his eyes away. I thought for a moment that he had recognized Grandma but then realized he was just checking out my sister. Storm didn¡¯t even notice or acknowledge the stares she often got.

    ¡°The Royal Crown Jewels are just this way,¡± Sylvie told us, and I noticed Rex¡¯s arm flexed tighter around Grandma¡¯s. There was no way he was going to let her loose around the jewels. She already had arge collection she had collected during a tomb raid in Egypt.

    ¡°Is that the room for the Mona Lisa?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Yes, but that¡¯s not a red room,¡± Sylvie said. ¡°This room features masterpieces such as The Coronation of Napoleon and The Raft of Medusa.¡±

    Storm moved to a painting hanging on the right side of the room. It looked like something Michngelo could have painted. It was a ssical Roman oil on canvas. Storm stood in silence, looking at the sleeping naked man bathed in sun or moonlight.

    ¡°This is it,¡± Storm said just above a whisper.

    ¡°That piece is called The Sleep of Endymion,¡± Sylvie said, and the air grew tense. Every shifter knew the story of Endymion because he was the mortal the Moon Goddess fell in love with.

    ¡°Yep, he¡¯s got the good old twig and berries hanging out,¡± Grandma chimed.

    ¡°Legend says the Goddess of The Moon, Selene, fell in love with the handsome shepherd,¡± Sylvie exined. ¡°She asked Zeus to make Endymion eternally youthful so she could be with him forever. Zeus granted her wish and put Endymion into eternal sleep, freezing him in time.¡±

    ¡°Could the Moon Goddess be showing Storm the visions?¡± Selena asked me. ¡°First the tower, and now the mortal she loved.¡±

    ¡°I think you might be on to something.¡±

    ¡°Sylvie, can you think of any artwork that may depict the moon melting?¡± Rex asked.

    ¡°There are some portraits here that have the moon, but I¡¯m not sure if they look like they¡¯re melting,¡± she replied.

    We moved from one room to the next as if we were on a scavenger hunt. Sylvie looked a little leery, but we didn¡¯t have time to waste. The museum would be closing soon, and we were trying to find a needle in the haystack.

    ¡°There it is again,¡± Grandma pointed to a painting with a young female dressed in armor. ¡°Jeanne d¡¯Arc¡­ as if everyone is supposed to know that¡¯s Joan of Arc,¡± she scoffed.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that say, Jeanne Darc?¡± ym asked, and my beast rumbled. Darc and d¡¯Arc could have been the same.

    ¡°This is Jeanne <i>De-Arc</i>,¡± Sylvie emphasized the pronunciation of herst name.

    ¡°Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for witchcraft,¡± Grandma added.

    ¡°She was a deeply religious maiden and the Patron Saint of France,¡± Sylvie shot back.

    ¡°If you say so,¡± Grandma replied.

    ¡°Could Erick have been rted to Pierre Darc?¡± I asked Selena.

    ¡°Possibly,¡± she nodded.

    It wasn¡¯t unheard of for a mage to be mated with a shifter, though it was rare. You either inherited the wolf gene or the magic gene, but never both. Ranger¡¯s mother, Hazel, was the first-ever hybrid, and we¡¯re not even sure that¡¯s what she is. She¡¯s a wolf with magic, and her magic seems to be on a different level than the mages that walk the earth today.

    Uncle Balthazar always said some of the most notable people in history were not human. I¡¯d be sure to ask him what he knows of Jeanne d¡¯Arc. Even if she was a maiden, she probably had siblings who also shared the same surname and magic gene.

    ¡°There are two other rooms, and we still have forty minutes until closing,¡± Sylvie reminded us.

    We continued on the search for a melting moon, and I wondered if it could have been a statue. Storm stopped and looked at another painting that featured a winged man with a spear standing on the back of a creature with two horns. Horns that looked familiar.

    ¡°This one is called Saint Michael Overthrowing the Demon,¡± Sylvie told us. ¡°It¡¯s one of my personal favorites painted by Raphael. The demon bringing chaos is cast back into the world of darkness by God¡¯s strongest Archangel.¡±

    ¡°A demon, you say?¡± Grandma moved closer for a better look. ¡°Look at that¡­ he¡¯s got two curved horns.¡±

    ¡°Chaos?¡± Storm questioned pensively.

    ¡°Chaos!¡± ym said. ¡°Have you ever heard of the Star of Chaos?¡±

    ¡°Star of Chaos?¡± Sylvie repeated.

    ¡°It¡¯s an eight-point star,¡± ym told her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something in the Richelieu Wing, where we house the Mesopotamian arts. The eight-point star was the mark of Ishtar, which dates back thousands of years before Christ.¡±

    ¡°Take us there,¡± Ranger told her.

    ¡°We may not have any time to look around,¡± Sylvie said as she checked her watch.

    ¡°We¡¯ll move quickly,¡± Sol urged.

    Reluctantly, Sylvie led us past the Winged Victory statue, down the stairs, across a long hall, and into the Richelieu Wing.

    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t make it to this section when we were herest,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I was hoping to see Napoleon¡¯s secret apartments.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Grandma, we don¡¯t have time,¡± Rex told her.

    ¡°Secret apartments?¡± ym sounded interested.

    ¡°The only apartment open for viewingst belonged to Napoleon The Third,¡± Sylvie told us. ¡°The others have been closed off.¡±

    ym arched a brow. ¡°Are we talking like a fancy bachelor pad or something?¡±

    ¡°Monsieur ym, the Louvre was once a Royal Residence,¡± Sylvie corrected him like a history professor. ¡°Of course, there are still some Royal apartments here with the finest furnishings of the time.¡±

    ¡°I may have toe back some other time to check them out,¡± ym told her as we turned a corner into the ancient rooms of Mesopotamia.

    We moved past the five-legged winged bulls of ancient Assyria and seemed to be the only people left in this part of the museum. My beast stirred, and I quickly scanned our surroundings. I could sense my mate was also uneasy, and I noticed Storm scanning the area as if she was expecting to find someone or something.

    Sylvie continued walking, and we followed. She stopped at a ck stone carving that showed ancient writing but also had a crescent moon beside the eight-point star.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Ishtar was the goddess of love, sexuality, and fertility,¡± Sylvie exined. ¡°She was also the goddess of war, so she is often depicted winged and bearing arms. She could cause chaos, so it¡¯s not surprising her eight-point star is a symbol of chaos.¡±

    A voice came over the loudspeaker, telling us to make our way to the exit because the museum was closing.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid our tour ends here,¡± Sylvie said as the ss casing beside Storm suddenly shattered.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t me,¡± Grandma immediately professed as we looked around for the cause.

    Sylvie looked startled as a Louvre employee rushed into the room, speaking in rapid French. Rex hugged Storm to him, checking for wounds, but she seemed to be unscathed. Two uniformed security guards rushed into the room, followed by a woman in a pantsuit.

    ¡°We should go before someone recognizes Grandma,¡± Selena said through the mind link, and I had almost forgotten about her being kicked out.

    The woman in the pantsuit seemed to be in charge and motioned for us to leave. Sylvie was in charge of the tour, so the security guard spoke to her as she tried to exin what had happened. She looked a little shell-shocked for the second time today and exined how no one touched the case.

    One of the security guards stopped us and asked if we knew anything. ¡°We didn¡¯t see anything, but it¡¯s possible the ss had cracked during the earthquake yesterday and finally gave out.¡±

    ¡°Oui,¡± he nodded, trying to make sense of it. ¡°I suppose it is possible.¡±

    ¡°Au revoir,¡± Grandma wiggled her fingers to wave good-bye, and we quickly left the wing.

    We had just reached the exit when I noticed a familiar priest disappear down another corridor.

    ¡°Either my eyesight is going, or I just saw Father Fontenay scamper off,¡± Grandma told us.

    <b>*******</b>

    <b>? Copyrighted. No part of this book may be used or reproduced. I will not hesitate to take legal action against you or the tform you use my stolen work on. You have been warned.</b>

 Chapter 25 - Hideout

    Lukas

    ¡°What the hell is Father Fontenay doing at the Louvre?¡± ym said as we got ushered out of the closing museum.

    The better question was why Father Fontenay wasn¡¯t getting kicked out like the rest of us. I reached for my phone and called Zane to see if they found anything at Notre-Dame. He answered on the third ring.

    ¡°Find anything at the church?¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you got the priest¡¯s name correct?¡± He replied.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    Zane exined they had asked some of the women at the gift shop who had worked there for years, and they had never heard of Father Fontenay. We had described Father Fontenay to Zane before he left. The priest was in histe fifties, with dark hair, eyes, and skin. He was wearing ck clothing and a white cor when we saw him at the church and again at the museum.

    ¡°There was an old priest, with sses and short gray hair, wearing a white robe, working the confessional,¡± Zane told me. ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to take a closer look at the confessional yet, but we will. We left to get something to eat, but we¡¯re walking back right now. The church is open for another hour.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Storm asked.

    I disconnected with Zane and told them what he had reported. Notre-Dame was less than a mile away, and I considered going back to the church, but I wanted to return to the hotel and see if Zander had found anything from the video surveince. There was a lot to consider from our trip to the Louvre, and I needed to wash the stench of smoke from my skin.

    ¡°Father phony has to be working with Darc and Erick,¡± Grandma told us.

    ¡°That ss case didn¡¯t spontaneouslybust,¡± Ranger said.

    ¡°A little ss in the eye could have caused permanent damage even wolf healing couldn¡¯t fix,¡± Grandma added.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing we have Selena and Sol with us,¡± Storm replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m not very good with the gift yet,¡± Sol blushed.

    Ranger¡¯s voice came through the mind link. ¡°You think he might be after one of our mates because of their gift?¡±

    A low growl escaped me, and I instantly wrapped my arm around my mate, pulling her to me. Ranger already had Sol tucked up beside him possessively. My beast was ready to kill anyone who touched my mate.

    ¡°We should go. Everyone is leaving the area,¡± ym suggested.

    We started walking in the direction of the Tuileries garden which was the royal gardens of the Louvre. I could see the ancient Egyptian obelisk that stood at the other end of the gardens from here. It was about half a mile away and marked the spot where Marie Antote and so many others met their end during the French Revolution.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Grandma, you up for a walk?¡± I motioned with my head toward the obelisk in the distance.

    ¡°You bet your tail I am!¡± She adjusted her purse over her shoulder and started walking with determination.

    The revtion about Joan of Arc was still nagging me, so I dialed Uncle Balthazar.

    ¡°Lukas,¡± he greeted me.

    ¡°What do you know about Joan of Arc?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Joan of Arc?¡± He asked curiously. ¡°She lived during The Hundred Years¡¯ War. I was residing in the Italian Alps at the time, but word traveled about her execution,¡± he said. ¡°She was burned alive at the stake.¡±

    ¡°Could she have been a mage?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible, but many believed she received visions from God. Very few mages were actually burned at the stake, the rest were innocent. Why the sudden interest?¡±

    ¡°Jeanne d¡¯Arc is what she¡¯smonly referred to in France,¡± I told him. ¡°The spelling is the same as¡ª¡±

    ¡°Darc!¡± Balthazar said in understanding. ¡°She didn¡¯t have children, but her siblings did¡­¡±

    ¡°I think Erick is rted to the Darcs and might be a descendant.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m with your father, and there are plenty of elders around here who should know the family history,¡± he told me. ¡°Is there anything on Caspian yet?¡±

    ¡°Not yet, but we suspect Erick is behind it with a fake priest we met at Notre-Dame Cathedral.¡± I continued to tell him the details of the priest and what happened at the Louvre.

    ¡°Keep your eyes open for Jules Darc. He¡¯s still out there,¡± Balthazar warned.

    ¡°What about Alpha Orl¨¦ans?¡±

    ¡°His mate and two daughters are still at the pack. Xena has already interrogated them, and they don¡¯t seem to know anything.¡±

    By interrogated, he meant that Xena had already sunk her ws into each one of them and read their mind. Lycan ws are longer and sharper than werewolf ws. If she dug her ws into a thigh or arm, the werewolf would heal thanks to elerated healing. They were still alive, which told me she had spared their lives for now.

    I disconnected the call and ryed the information to the others as we walked along the tree-lined path.

    ¡°If Fran?ois Orl¨¦ans is innocent, why disappear into the wind?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°He could be dead,¡± Sol suggested.

    ¡°No,¡± Grandma said. ¡°His family would have felt the loss through the family bond. Those bonds are still intact.¡±

    ¡°Uncle Poseidon is going to kill us if we don¡¯t find Caspian,¡± Ranger said. ¡°He might just kill us because we didn¡¯t tell him right away.¡±

    ¡°I say we hunt the demon,¡± Grandma suggested.

    ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re going back to the hotel room, and you¡¯re not leaving.¡±

    ¡°What am I supposed to do? Hang out in my undies eating macarons?¡± She protested.

    ¡°I had a missed call from Zander,¡± Rex said, looking at his phone.

    ¡°Oh, look, they sell cr¨ºpes at that stand,¡± ym pointed.

    ¡°You just had shawarma,¡± Storm said.

    ¡°That was over two hours ago,¡± ym replied. ¡°Keep walking, and I¡¯ll catch up in a few minutes.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s almost time for dinner,¡± Grandma said as my phone started ringing. ¡°You¡¯re going to ruin your appetite.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t going to risk ym wandering off and disappearing, so I stopped walking and motioned for him to go get his snack. ¡°Hello,¡± I answered Zander¡¯s call.

    ¡°Don¡¯te back to the hotel right now. The French police are here investigating the theft of a few motorcycles. We¡¯ve scrubbed the security footage, but I¡¯m not sure if they have a description or footage of the culprits.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± I replied. ¡°Any leads on Caspian?¡±

    ¡°No, but we know Selena¡¯s apartment was a bomb. It was a rooftop apartment, which made it easy to wire,¡± he told me before we ended the call.

    Erick¡¯s apartment was also on the top floor, and I wondered if the French authorities would connect the two. It¡¯s not like apartments were exploding every day in Paris, so it was a matter of time before they made the connection.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Selena asked, and I shared what Zander had just told me.

    ¡°That exins why Jose¡¯s apartment didn¡¯t explode,¡± Rex said. ¡°It would have been difficult since it sits just above a busy caf¨¦.¡±

    ¡°Well, we can¡¯t return to the hotel right now,¡± Selena said.

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll see the Obelisk and go have dinner somewhere before we return to the hotel,¡± Grandma shrugged.

    ym returned with his snack, and we continued on our walk past therge fountain to the garden¡¯s exit gates. Storm¡¯s eyes swirled, and she slipped on her sunsses. She was scanning our surroundings, and I wondered if she sensed something or if she was just being vignt.

    ¡°Do you sense that?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°Sense what?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said. ¡°Some kind of shift in energy.¡±

    ¡°A very strong energy,¡± Rex breathed, taking in the massive monument.

    ¡°Lots of people were beheaded in this area,¡± Grandma said. ¡°It could be bad juju or the ancient energy of the obelisk.¡±

    ¡°The obelisk has energy?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°This is an authentic Egyptian Luxor obelisk,¡± Grandma told us as we neared the base of the red granite monument covered in hieroglyphs. ¡°I saw its twin when I was in Egypt. They were created during King Ramses¡¯ rule and nked the entrance of the Luxor temple.¡±

    ¡°Did it have the same energy?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°Ramses was one of the most powerful mages of the millennia,¡± Grandma told us. ¡°The tips of the obelisks were believed to have been covered in gold to reflect the sun, but I think he used them as some sort of talisman.¡±

    ¡°The one in Luxor doesn¡¯t have gold,¡± Sol said.

    ¡°The gold was stripped away long ago, but this one got a makeover a few decades ago. The gold leaf was added to the top here in Paris,¡± Grandma said.

    We stood for a few moments, taking in the obelisk, and Grandma snapped photos. Ramses created and built a number of things in ancient Egypt because he had lived over twice as long as the average person during that time period. It was a testament to his power as a mage.

    Joan of Arc was also a significant person in history, but she was only neen years old when she was killed, so one of her siblings could have passed the magic gene along. If Erick¡¯s magic was strong enough, he might be able to open a portal. The question I couldn¡¯t understand was why he wanted to.

    ¡°Is that the golden triangle you¡¯ve been seeing?¡± Rex asked Storm, looking up to the top of the obelisk.

    She shook her head. ¡°No. I think I¡¯ve been seeing the ss pyramid at the Louvre lit up at night.¡±

    ¡°Hey, look,¡± ym pointed to the ground. ¡°There¡¯s a brass que over here marking the dates of the King and Queen¡¯s beheading.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame they didn¡¯t preserve the guillotine in this spot. That would have been fun to see,¡± Grandma said as she snapped a photo of the que. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve seen enough. Let¡¯s go find some bouibaisse or beef bourguignon.¡±

    ¡°I was hoping to shower,¡± Rex sniffed his clothes.

    ¡°Too bad we couldn¡¯t just walk over to Selena¡¯s apartment,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°We¡¯re not too far from Ouh l¨¤ l¨¤,¡± Sol said with a smile. ¡°They¡¯ve got showers in the locker rooms.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s out of the question,¡± Ranger said through gritted teeth as his eyes shed ck.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea,¡± ym replied. ¡°The club is new and secure, and it belongs to Alpha Orl¨¦ans. If I were Alpha Orl¨¦ans and I needed to hide from an angry Alpha King, that would be a good choice.¡±

    ¡°Oh, does this club serve food?¡± Grandma asked, and Selenaughed.

    Selena¡¯s voice came through the mind link. ¡°I hate to say it, but it¡¯s a good idea.¡±

    ¡°Eager to go back, are you?¡± I replied.

    We crossed the street and walked a block to the Galerie Royale shopping mall. Not wanting to drag everyone into the high-end clothing stores, I asked Ranger and Sol to go inside and select new clothing for me and Rex. Storm took a call from our mother, and Rex texted Zane to let him know where we were going. Notre-Dame was within walking distance of the club, and Zane could join us there when they were done.

    ¡°Are we really going back to the club with Grandma?¡± ym asked ufortably through the mind link.

    ¡°It was your genius idea.¡±

    Ten minutester, Ranger returned with ck bags in hand. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if you wanted cks or jeans, so I got both.¡±

    ¡°You could have just mind linked one of us,¡± Rex replied.

    ¡°That would be too easy,¡± Ranger chuckled.

    We walked seven blocks until we reached the club, and to my surprise, it was closed. I pulled on the door, and it was locked.

    ¡°It¡¯s still a little early,¡± Sol said. ¡°Maybe they don¡¯t open untilter.¡±

    ¡°Later?¡± Grandma questioned. ¡°It¡¯s almost eight. What kind of establishment is this? Maybe I need an outfit change?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the kind you don¡¯t want to know about,¡± Ranger replied.

    ¡°Oh, let me get my lipstick,¡± Grandma reached into her purse.

    ¡°We could try the side door,¡± Sol suggested.

    ¡°I could pop the lock,¡± Rex offered.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got my lock pick kit,¡± Grandma chirped.

    ¡°They let you take that in the Louvre?¡± ym asked Grandma.

    I gave her the go-ahead to pick the lock, and the lock tumbled open in less than sixty seconds. Rex went in first, and we heard the sound of shuffling inside the club. Storm¡¯s ws shifted, and she charged ahead of Rex with a savage snarl. Rex followed behind her, and the sound of tearing fabric told me he had shifted. The crash of furniture rang out, and growls echoed inside. Someone cried out, and I heard a male voice beg for mercy.

    Most of the lights were turned off, but shifters had excellent eyesight. We made our way to the bar beside the dance floor, and I found Storm standing over Alpha Fran?ois Orl¨¦ans with her foot on the back of his neck. Her ws were extended, and her face was partially shifted. She could easily kill him if she wanted to, and I was a little surprised to find she had waited.

    Rex had shifted his full upper body and snarled a warning. The remains of his shirt hung around his waist, and he looked absolutely feral. I took a sniff and could smell the fear radiating from the Gamma and warrior lying on the floor in front of him. This was probably their first time setting eyes on a shifted lycan, and he was only partially shifted.

    ¡°Fran?ois,¡± I greeted him.

    ¡°Alpha! Thank the Goddess, you¡¯re finally here,¡± he muttered as Storm applied more pressure on his neck.

    ¡°You knew I¡¯de?¡±

    ¡°I hoped you woulde,¡± he said. ¡°I tried to send a message to the hotel, but my Delta never returned.¡±

    I gave Storm a nod so she could release him. His hand immediately rubbed the back of his neck as he lifted to his knees. He nced up at Storm and held his hands in surrender.

    ¡°I had nothing to do with Darc,¡± he started to say, and Rex snarled.

    ¡°I found this lovely whip,¡± Grandma stepped forward. ¡°Maybe we should beat it out of him.¡±

    My mate stifled augh, and Sol turned a deep shade of pink. ym shook his head, and I wasn¡¯t sure if he was embarrassed to have Grandma here or if he was humored.

    ¡°What do you say, Fran?ois?¡± I smiled. ¡°Are you ready for a beat down from Grandma Dori?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything I know, please,¡± he replied.

    I walked over to one of the armchairs on the side and dragged it against the wooden floor of the dance floor in front of Alpha Orl¨¦ans. I seated myself and reached for my mate, seating her on myp.

    ¡°Talk,¡± I ordered.

    ¡°Pierre Darc approached us six months ago about hosting the mating ball at Versailles. I thought it was a good idea since I have two daughters who have yet to find a mate,¡± he said, and I recalled how both of his daughters were shoved under my nose at the ball.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to get something to drink,¡± ym said as he moved behind the bar and started pouring drinks. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, keep going.¡±

    ¡°I had no idea what was happening at the ball when it happened, but after themotion died down, Erick told me what he had done¡­ What he was forced to do.¡±

    ¡°So, Erick is the mage?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Fran?ois said. ¡°He told me about the heat stimnt and that Darc had taken his mother hostage. He had no choice in any of this. He had to do it.¡±

    ¡°Pierre Darc wanted my mate?¡± A deadly snarl ripped from me.

    ¡°He was hoping for one of the female lycans,¡± Fran?ois swallowed hard and looked up at Storm. ¡°Erick said Darc wanted the silver-haired Queen, but she wasn¡¯t there.¡±

    ¡°So, he took Persephone instead,¡± Storm growled, and her eyes swirled. I was surprised she hadn¡¯t cut his heart out yet.

    ¡°Did he wish to breed her or use her for lycan venom?¡± I asked.

    We had been so guarded with the details about lycans that other shifters didn¡¯t know the specifics rted to maturity, mates, offspring, and venom. More than likely, they just assumed lycans were the same as werewolves.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ maybe both,¡± he stammered.

    ¡°I don¡¯t recall seeing you when the females went into heat,¡± Ranger said. ¡°Where were you?¡±

    ¡°I thought something was burning out in the gardens by the pavilion. There was ck smoke, but it disappeared by the time I got there. I heard themotion break out and returned just after you had run off with your female.¡±

    ¡°Is Erick rted to the Darcs?¡± Rex asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he nodded.

    ¡°Then why would Erick share this valuable information with you?¡±

    ¡°Because Erick is my nephew.¡±

    ¡°This is bullshit,¡± Storm snarled as her eyes swirled and she speared her w into him.

    <b>******</b>

    <b>I''m getting excited to link all the little tidbits and hidden clues I''ve been dropping in the book! LOL </b>

 Plot hole

    Hi, Everyone - I made a mistake with Alpha Orleans earlier in the book where you first meet him. I had originally imagined him about the same age as Lukas ( where I said his parents are helping to host the mating ball so he could find his mate before his father turns the pack over to him). Then somewhere in my mind, I imagined him older with two daughters...

    I also mentioned that Lukas'' parents were having dinner with the Orleans pack, but then Alpha Orleans is at the sex club.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    I need to go back and do some tweaking.

    I''m going to keep the older Alpha Orleans, so I''m going to take out the part about his parents because he''s in his early 40''s with two daughters and a mate.

    I''m also going to ce Ares and Eudora at a smaller pack called Bordeaux.

    With that said, I''ve had a long day at work don''t think I''ll have time to make the edits and write a full chapter. So I''m taking a skip day... but I''m going to have a name that wolf in the next post!

    (Thank you Kavita for catching that!)

 Name That WOLF

I have absolutely no idea what Lukas and Selena''s baby is going to be yet. I go back and forth, LOL

    Not only do I not have a gender picked out, but I don''t really have a name.

    Fire off your best strong Alpha names for either gender, please!Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 26 - Family Ties

    Selena

    I felt a wave of nausea wash through me when Storm stabbed Alpha Orl¨¦ans in the back with her long ws that resembled steak knives.

    His eyes bulged wide with shock, and he stared up at her. Storm loomed over him, holding him between life and death. Her swirling eyes focused on his, and I knew she was reading his mind. Time seemed to stand still as we watched.

    When Storm was satisfied, she nodded and retracted her ws. ¡°Sol.¡± She wanted my sister to heal him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± I offered.

    ¡°No,¡± her eyes met mine, and her voice came through the mind link. ¡°You need to save your energy for the pup. Sol can do it.¡±

    My sister stepped forward, and Alpha Orl¨¦ans flinched when she touched him. Ranger hovered beside her, ready to attack if the wounded Alpha tried anything. If Storm was allowing him to have a healing, then I knew he was innocent.

    ¡°He¡¯s telling the truth,¡± Storm announced, and Alpha Orl¨¦ans visibly rxed.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Grandma asked. ¡°I can keep the whip out.¡±

    ¡°You may continue,¡± Lukas prompted the Alpha, who was quickly healing.

    ¡°Yes, my King,¡± he said, taking a deep breath. ¡°The Darc familyes from a long line of mages that traces back to Jeanne d¡¯Arc.¡±

    ¡°Joan of Arc,¡± Lukas said with a nod.

    ¡°She was burned at the stake for witchcraft,¡± Rex added.

    ¡°Yes, but she did not possess the magic gene¡­ her brother Pierre did.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°She had a brother named Pierre?¡± I don¡¯t know why it surprised me, considering the passing of family names wasmon in families with long and proud histories.

    ¡°As you know, Joan didn¡¯t have any children, but she had three brothers and a sister. Her youngest brother was named Pierre d¡¯Arc. He fought in the siege of Orl¨¦ans and won the favor of my ancestor, the Duke of Orl¨¦ans. D¡¯Arc eventually married and settled down in Orl¨¦ans with my family pack. He was human¡­ well, a mage, and he was the mate of the Alpha¡¯s daughter. Pierre¡¯s oldest son left the pack and started the Darc pack in western France.

    ¡°So, both packs have ties back to Pierre d¡¯Arc?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Erick was born to my sister, Eloise, and her human mate, who died shortly after Erick¡¯s birth.¡±

    ¡°I thought Erick grew up in the Darc pack?¡± I asked.

    ¡°He did. My sister was wooed by the Darc¡¯s chief warrior as a chosen mate. She may be a shifter, but she passed the magic gene to Erick. I suspected the previous Alpha, Pierre¡¯s father, sensed Erick¡¯s magic and wanted him in the Darc pack.¡±

    ¡°Both packs had mages?¡±

    ¡°Erick was the first mage born to either pack in over two centuries,¡± he confirmed. ¡°I thought the line had weakened and died out.¡±

    ¡°And your sister is, where?¡± Ranger asked.

    ¡°No one knows.¡±

    ¡°Why did you leave your pack?¡± Lukas pressed.

    Alpha Orl¨¦ans looked up at Storm and looked away nervously. He swallowed the lump in his throat before he spoke. ¡°I knew the Alpha King would seize Darc¡¯s pack, and I left so that your father would seize my pack as well. It was the only way to keep everyone safe. He sent lycans to my pack¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you needed the protection, you should have asked,¡± Rex snarled.

    ¡°Darc has my sister. If he suspects I told the Alpha King anything, he¡¯ll kill her. I¡¯m an Alpha; there¡¯s no way Darc would believe I left the pack. It¡¯s best if Darc thinks your father is holding me in a cell because he suspects I plotted against him.¡±

    ¡°Pierre Darc is dead, and so is his mother,¡± Lukas said as he studied the Alpha¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°Pierre is selfish and stupid,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans scowled. ¡°It¡¯s Jules Darc you have to worry about. He¡¯s a bit mad, and some say he¡¯s been possessed by a demon.¡±

    I remembered the night at La Tour with Persephone and Grandma. Pierre Darc was seated with someone who resembled him, and I recalled how they seemed to be engrossed in conversation. They had been plotting against us¨Cplotting to steal a lycan.

    ¡°The Alpha¡¯s sister and Delta are missing, along with Caspian and Jose,¡± Storm said before she turned to the Alpha. ¡°Do you have any idea where Jules is keeping them?¡±

    ¡°I was hoping they were on Darc pack property, but if your father hasn¡¯t found them yet¡­ Did you say Alpha Caspian is missing?¡±

    ¡°He went into a shop for sandwiches earlier today and vanished into thin air with Jose,¡± Lukas told him.

    ¡°Which arrondissement?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked as he moved into a standing position.

    ¡°The third,¡± Storm replied.

    Alpha Orl¨¦ans rotated his arm around. The wound was healed, but his shirt was destroyed. ¡°Thank you,¡± he thanked my sister. ¡°It¡¯s good as new.¡±

    Ranger was quick to tuck my sister beside him as if sheltering his treasure from the world. I nearlyughed because I wasn¡¯t sure which Alpha was more protective or possessive. Lukas¡¯ arm tightened around me, and I had my answer.

    ¡°Do you know if Jules has an apartment in the city?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°He used to have one near the Eiffel Tower, but it caught fire a few months ago.¡±

    ¡°Caught fire or blew up?¡±

    ¡°It was very sad news,¡± the Alpha said. ¡°One of the Omegas from the pack was sent to deliver hisundry, and she died in the fire.¡±

    ¡°Does Jules strike you as the kind of crazy who would kill his mother and brother?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± he nodded. ¡°He wants to be Alpha and has been pressuring his brother for years to split the pack as the Alpha King did with the Moon Realm between your uncles.¡±

    Grandma flicked the whip around as if taking it for a test drive. ¡°Is this joint opening for business tonight?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans replied. ¡°I need it to look like I¡¯ve run off or being held captive by the Alpha King.¡±

    ¡°Is that a big birdcage over there?¡± Grandma trotted off to have a closer look.

    ¡°Grandma on the loose,¡± my wolf murmured.

    ¡°You smell like smoke?¡± The Alpha sniffed towards Rex.

    ¡°Erick¡¯s apartment blew up after we found Pierre Darc and his mother. We were in the neighborhood and stopped by to use your shower.¡±

    ¡°Please, help yourself. We have the entire ce to ourselves. Henri was just getting ready to make a food run,¡± he said. ¡°Have you eaten?¡±

    ¡°I thought you were in hiding?¡± ym asked. ¡°What if someone sees your warrioring and going?¡±

    ¡°This is Paris. There are tunnels of every kind that run beneath the city. There¡¯s a trap door in the kitchen that leads to an office in the second arrondissement.¡±

    ¡°Can we get some beef bourguignon?¡± Grandma requested.

    ¡°Of course,¡± he nodded.

    ¡°And some good fresh bread,¡± she continued.

    ¡°Oui,¡± he smiled.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to find the locker rooms downstairs,¡± Rex said, reaching for the bags of clothing we had just purchased.

    ¡°What¡¯s the n?¡± Storm asked Lukas.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. We¡¯re going to wait for the food and Zane to arrive,¡± he told her. ¡°Don¡¯t let Grandma out of your sight, and don¡¯t leave.¡±

    Lukas held my hand and led me down the stairs leading to the yroom of the kink club. He stopped on the step where he found me in my underwear thest time we were both here and pressed me against the wall. His lips found mine, and he kissed me deeply.

    ¡°I¡¯m still pissed you walked around here naked that night,¡± he grated. ¡°If we had time, I¡¯d strap you over a bench down there and spank your ass red.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± I licked my lips, and my breath stuttered at the idea of him doing that to me.

    ¡°You let other males see you, and my beast didn¡¯t like it,¡± he lowered his mouth to my neck and nipped it. I wiggled under his touch, and he pressed more of his weight on me.

    ¡°I¡­.I¡­¡± I started to say.

    ¡°You said the same thing to me that night, Princess.¡±

    He reached for my elbow, just as he had that night, and walked me down into the empty yroom. Something deep inside of me wanted to have a private y session with Lukas. To see his full Alpha unleashed and experience all the dirty little things I¡¯ve only dreamed of with him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll build you an entire yroom at home,¡± he whispered through the mind link. A promise of erotic and dark pleasure toe, and lust pulses through me.

    ¡°I think Rex took all the clothing in the men¡¯s locker room with him,¡± I said as we approached the locker room doors.

    ¡°He¡¯s taking a shower in the men¡¯s locker room,¡± he said, pushing open the women¡¯s locker room.

    Lukas walked over to the towel desk and collected a few towels. I stood motionless like a voyeur, watching as he moved to the light switch and dimmed the lights to a soft purple. He stepped to the big shower stalls and turned three shower heads to full st. The club was new, and all of the finishes reminded me of an upscale spa instead of a kink club or gym.

    Lukas reached his arm back over his shoulder and pulled his shirt off with one tug. He toed off his shoes, and my heart began to race, knowing what wasing next. His hand moved to his zipper, and he lowered it slowly. The air caught in my throat when his cock sprang free.

    ¡°Commando?¡± I grinned.

    ¡°The stic is a pain if I need to suddenly shift.¡±

    My wolf yipped through the mind link, and I heard his beast purr back to her. Warmth coiled in my chest and between my legs. That damn purring did things to me, and I loved it.

    Without thinking, I kick my sandals off and pull my dress over my head. I needed to touch him, to be close to him. My legs carried me forward, and in the process, I removed my panties and bra.

    I stepped into the shower with him and ran my hands over his taut chest. Every inch of him was so fucking perfect and hot. Leaning forward, I pressed a kiss just over his heart and felt his pulse thudding beneath my palm.

    ¡°Lavender-scented shampoo,¡± he grinned. ¡°Guess it¡¯s better than smoke.¡±

    I pumped the body wash onto the small washcloth and smiled. ¡°The body wash is alsovender.¡±

    Lukasthered his jet-ck hair twice, and I dragged the soapy cloth all over him. Everything in me ached for him. The more I touched him, the more I wanted him. He finished rinsing off and turned to face me.

    His blue eyes met mine, and I knew what wasing. I turned to reach for more soap and felt a stinging p on my ass. Maybe I didn¡¯t know what wasing. He palmed my ass, and my skin tingled from the burn.

    ¡°This ass of yours drives me crazy, Princess,¡± he rasped.

    <i>Crack! </i>

    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± I tried to turn to face him.

    <i>Crack! Crack! </i>Hended another p on each cheek, and to my horror, I moaned.

    He palmed my ass again, and the tension grew from somewhere deep inside. Anticipation pulsed through me, and I desperately needed him to touch me. To touch me there. He ran his fingers through my slit and hissed.

    ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re soaking wet.¡±

    I huffed out a breath of frustration, then gasped when he shoved two fingers into me. I couldn¡¯t stop the untamed and hungry groan that ripped from me. Unable to resist, I squeezed my thighs together around his hand, and he let out a low snarl.

    <i>Crack! </i>

    <i>Crack! </i>

    Looking over my shoulder, I try to squirm away from the ps. My senses felt overwhelmed, and I was unsure if I loved or hated it. I whined and pressed my hips back, needing more. Maybe I loved it.

    ¡°This is what I wanted to do to you when I saw you here the first time,¡± he growled.

    His hand wrapped around my neck possessively and dominantly, showing his Alpha nature. Lukas bent me forward a little before his hardened dick impaled me. The feel of his hips pushing against the stinging of my ass drew a mewl from deep within me. Everything felt so good, and my greedy walls clung to him as he pulled out and plunged back in. I closed my eyes and arched back into him, needing more.

    Lukas reached around and dragged his fingers over my lower lips while holding me in ce with the hand around my neck. He strummed the nub of my clit, and my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. I gasp again, feeling his cock thickening further, stretching and filling me. It was too much, and yet I wanted more.

    ¡°Mark him,¡± Ste urged me, and my canines dropped. I felt an overwhelming urge to bite him.

    Lukas released his hold on my neck and pulled out of me. He spun me around to face him and lifted me up as I wrapped my legs around him. His tongue traced over my lips and down my jawline as he thrust back into me.

    ¡°Come for me,¡± he ordered, and I obeyed. Delicious heat exploded inside of me, setting off spasms around his magic dick.

    Lukas growled and pistoned his hips faster until he couldn¡¯t move anymore. The pressure of his knot was almost too much, but it set me on fire. With a guttural groan, he tipped his head back, and I felt the throbbing of his release inside of me.

    ¡°Mine,¡± I snarl and sink my teeth into the flesh of his neck.

    Nearly an hourter, we walked through the yroom and back up the stairs. Tables had been pushed together in the middle of the club dancefloor, and the smell of food filled the air. Rex had finished his shower and joined the others to eat. His head turned, and his eyes narrowed on Lukas.

    ¡°Nice mark,¡± Rex smiled. ¡°Do either of you feel the tingles yet?¡±

    I turned my head to look at Lukas. I had been so caught up in the heat of the moment that I hadn¡¯t noticed if the elusive tingles we¡¯d heard so much about were real. Lukas lifted his hand to cup my cheek, his blue eyes boring into me. My entire world was reflected back at me through his eyes. I saw everything as clearly as gazing into a crystal ball: our love, our pups, our family, and our long future. The only thing that wasn¡¯t there was the tingles from my mate¡¯s touch¡ªthe evidence of our concealed mate bond.

    ¡°No one has felt the tingles of a newly found mate bond in my pack in nearly two decades,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans said. ¡°Forgive me, but there have been whispers the Moon Goddess is displeased with the Alpha King and is punishing us.¡±

    ¡°Without shifters, Gods be irrelevant in this world,¡± Grandma said as she tore a chunk of bread in half. ¡°Many Gods havee and gone with the civilizations of the past. Our belief and worship fuel her power.¡±

    ¡°Then perhaps she¡¯s taken an extended vacation,¡± the Alpha suggested as he forked a lump of potato.

    ¡°Zane isn¡¯t here?¡± Lukas questioned.

    ¡°I texted him our location, but he hasn¡¯t replied yet,¡± ym said.

    ¡°I spoke with Uncle Ares,¡± Ranger announced. ¡°I told him everything we¡¯ve figured out. They¡¯re doing everything they can to track Jules Darc. He thinks Darc may have them all hidden in the city.¡±

    ¡°We should be searching for Jules,¡± Lukas said with a low growl.

    ¡°He wants us to remain here with Fran?ois. Now that he knows what¡¯s happening, he put the word out that Alpha Fran?ois Orl¨¦ans will be executed in the morning for the murder of Alpha Darc and his mother.¡±

    ¡°He wants to draw out Jules Darc!¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Rex nodded. ¡°If Jules believes that Alpha Orl¨¦ans has taken the fall, then there will be two big packs in France that need an Alpha.¡±

    ¡°No one knows about the mind-reading gift,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans said with a hard swallow. ¡°Jules will im his innocence without knowing that you¡¯ve already gathered the truth.¡±

    ¡°Is Erick strong enough to summon a demon to help Jules?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Possibly, but my nephew never feltfortable with his magic. My sister was born an Omega, like our mother. She¡¯s very kind and sweet and she passed that along to Erick. Cooking and mixing spices is his real passion,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Believe me, I tried to steal him from La Tour several times.¡±

    ¡°Was he bullied in the pack by aggressive males?¡± Storm questioned.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t grow up in my pack, where we respect your father¡¯s edicts, but I imagine life couldn¡¯t have been easy for Erick with Jules Darc around.¡±

    Lukas pulled out a chair from the table. Though there were plenty of other seats at the table, I knew he was going to seat me on hisp. The soft purring of his beast came through the mind link to let me know he was pleased. Grandma Dori passed a bowl of food to my mate and reached for one of the baguettes.

    ¡°Did you see the hanging swings downstairs?¡± Grandma whistled. I bet that¡¯s quality Italian leather¡­ not that cheap Chinese stuff.¡±

    ¡°I must have missed it,¡± I replied, feeling my face heat up.

    Rex sniffed the air and smirked at his brother. ¡°Thevender is a nice touch.¡±

    ¡°Jealous?¡± My mate grinned.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind them while they measure their dicks,¡± Storm told the Alpha.

    ¡°How long have you had the gift of sight?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked Storm.

    ¡°You told him?¡± Lukas questioned.

    ¡°Her eyes turned white while you were in the shower,¡± ym said.

    ¡°What did you see?¡±

    Storm hesitated for a moment. ¡°Just the moon again.¡±

    ¡°The moon?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans questioned.

    ¡°Do you have any idea of a monument or artwork in Paris with a melting full moon?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°A melting moon¡­¡± he repeated thoughtfully. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the sign of our Goddess in distress?¡±

 Chapter 27 - Breadcrumbs

    Selena

    ¡°A Goddess in distress¡­¡± ym repeated.

    ¡°The full moon is in two days. Maybe it¡¯s a warning or countdown,¡± Rex suggested.

    ¡°Or maybe the Goddess needs our help,¡± Grandma said as ym¡¯s phone started ringing.

    Lukas speared some beef with the fork and held it to my mouth. I took the delicious bite and listened as ym spoke with Zander. ym¡¯s hand curled into a fist, and everyone could sense the tension radiating from him.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Lukas asked as ym ended the call.

    ¡°Zander can¡¯t locate Zane or my sister. The tracking on both of their phones has gone dark.¡±

    ¡°Maybe the battery died?¡± Grandma suggested.

    ¡°On two different phones at the same time?¡± ym replied, pushing back the chair and abandoning his meal.

    ¡°Could they still be inside the church?¡± Storm asked. ¡°Maybe they got locked inside waiting to get a closer look at things.¡±

    ¡°The tracking would still work on their phones,¡± Ranger told her.

    ¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out,¡± Lukas said.

    Grandma dropped her fork and wiped her mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll get my purse!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere,¡± Lukas and Rex said in unison.

    ¡°Not without my purse, I¡¯m not¡­¡± She moved to retrieve her bag.

    ¡°I¡¯m not babysitting, so don¡¯t even ask,¡± Storm warned.

    ¡°Ranger will stay here with Sol and Selena. You need to wait here, Grandma. It could be dangerous,¡± Rex tried.

    She started to protest. ¡°Honey, I¡¯ve seen demons before¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just the demon. It could be Jules, too,¡± Rex told her.

    ¡°There are three lycans here, and you want me to worry about a half-witted donkey?¡± She said as she stuffed half of a baguette into her purse. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re losing time!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to win this,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans said, shaking his head. ¡°Give me a moment. I need to get my silver throwing knives in case we have a run-in with the half-witted donkey.¡±

    ¡°I shoulde with you,¡± Sol said. ¡°In case someone needs healing.¡±

    ¡°What if Zane and Cynder show up here?¡± Ranger asked.

    ¡°My Gamma wille with me, and Henri will stay here,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans said as he tucked silver des into a holster that was strapped to his shoulders under his jacket.

    ¡°Does that thing break away when you shift?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as shifting with underwear,¡± he smirked.

    ¡°Spare me,¡± Storm scoffed. ¡°Try shifting with a bra on, thene tell me about the stic band in men¡¯s underwear.¡±

    It was just after ten when we slipped out the side door of the club, and it wasn¡¯tpletely dark yet. The sunset in Paris waster in the evening because of its northern position from the equator. If Jules was looking for us, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to spot ten shifters out for an evening walk.

    ¡°Look at all these people out and about,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I suppose it will help us blend in.¡± I suppressed a smile because there was no way in hell all these Alphas could blend in.Sol smirked, and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was.

    The Cathedral came into view, and I felt the wind kick up. Storm looked to the sky above, and her eyes swirled. People often lingered on the bridges or along the river in the evenings, and the sudden shift in temperature had many rushing off to find dry shelter from theing storm. A rumble of thunder rolled in the clouds above, and I noticed my mate¡¯s eyes swirling. Lukas and Storm were trying to clear the humans from the area.

    Another roll of thunder sounded, and I watched a couple quickly pack up their pic beside the river. Grandma Dori reached into her purse and rummaged for something. I expected her to pull out a travel umbre at any moment and was surprised when she unfolded a blue rain poncho.

    ¡°Do you think Father Phony had something to do with it?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°Father, who?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked, and Lukas quickly exined the priest we encountered.

    ¡°The Church will be locked, but I¡¯m sure we can find a way inside.¡±

    We walked across the bridge, and Lukas wrapped his arm tighter around me, trying to keep me close. A lycans body temperature was a little higher than other shifters, and I soughtfort in his warmth. The front courtyard of Notre-Dame came into view as the first drops of rain started to fall. The water sttered on the ground all around us, but not on us. My mate¡¯s eyes continued to swirl, and I knew he was keeping us dry.

    The tall doors of the church were closed, and ym tugged on the iron doors to see if they were locked.

    ¡°We¡¯ll need to break in through the side door,¡± ym said.

    ¡°What about security?¡± Sol asked.

    ¡°I can call Zander to see if he can bypass the rms.¡± Ranger removed the phone from his pocket as ym jumped the iron fence.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that,¡± ym said and disappeared into the shadows. ¡°Put on a night show.¡±

    When we were young, we often had sleepovers under the observatory¡¯s ss dome. We stuffed ourselves full of sweets while we searched out the constetions of the night sky. After the snacks were consumed and we were tucked into our sleeping bags, Lukas and Storm put on a night show with thunder, lightning, and heavy swirling rain. I sometimes pretended to be afraid of the big ps of thunder, so Lukas would scoot closer to me.

    ¡°Are you ready, Princess?¡± He smirked as his eyes swirled faster.

    The cracks came one after another. Storm lit up the left bank of Paris, and Lukas turned his attention to the right side of the river. The thunder grew stronger, and the wind kicked up debris. I had a feeling Lukas was intentionally causing the booming shes because he enjoyed having me bury my head in his chest.

    ¡°You might want to ease up on the rain,¡± Rex warned. ¡°It¡¯s going to flood the small streets and down into the metros.¡±

    A few momentster, the church wentpletely dark, and I assumed ym had found the electrical breaker box. Grandmained about the wind ruining her hair and how her level four super-hold hairspray wasn¡¯t holding up as advertised.

    ¡°These aren¡¯t even tornado-level winds,¡± she griped. ¡°I need to get a refund.¡±

    The red side door pushed open, and ym motioned for us toe in.Rex scooped Grandma up and sprang over the iron fence. Ranger did the same with Sol, and before I knew it¡­ Lukas had me cradled in his arms and bounded over the fence with ease.

    ¡°My Gamma will wait outside to ensure no one sneaks up on us,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans said.

    ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s dark in here,¡± ym warned.

    ¡°I have candles in my purse,¡± Grandma told him as Rex set her down inside the church.

    I heard the sound of a zippo strike, and the gentle glow of fire lit up the ce. Rex held a fireball in his hand, and Lukas extended his hand out to draw a small ball of mes from Rex. Storm¡¯s eyes continued to swirl, and I knew she was using her lycan senses to ensure we were alone. Her nostrils red, and I breathed a sigh of relief when she nodded her head, indicating we were alone.

    ¡°The good news is, we¡¯re alone,¡± Rex said with a sigh. ¡°And the bad news is, we¡¯re alone.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked. ¡°We should search the ce.¡±

    ¡°Lycan senses are far more sensitive than other shifters,¡± Storm told him.

    ¡°The church sure looks different at night,¡± Grandma said. ¡°All those gargoyles outside looked a little demonic. I swear they better not start moving, or I¡¯ll burn this whole ce down.¡±

    ¡°Keep her away from the candles,¡± my wolf whispered.

    ¡°The gargoyles are there to ward off evil spirits and symbolically remind people about hell.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of demonic, which confessional was it?¡± Ranger asked.

    Storm motioned with her head and led the way. We walked across the checkered flooring to the side chapel where the confessional was. Ranger yanked the door open, and there was nothing but the purple cushioned bench where the priest sat. He poked his head in and looked around at the bare walls. Alpha Orl¨¦ans examined the sections where the parishioner kneeled to confess.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing here,¡± Lukas announced and turned his attention to the high ceilings. His eyes swirled, and he looked into the darkness of the empty church.

    ¡°Let¡¯s check the other side chapels,¡± Rex said, and Storm moved to examine the other sections of the church.

    ¡°There¡¯s an attic,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans announced. ¡°I¡¯ll go have a look¡­ see if you can find a basement.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why I bothered with the rain poncho,¡± Grandma said, pulling off the vinyl cover. ¡°I bet my hair is a hot mess.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll check the storage near the gift shop,¡± ym said.

    ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re not going anywhere right now,¡± Lukas told her sternly before she insisted on finding a restroom in the dark. ¡°Come sit here with Selena and Sol while we look around.¡±

    He motioned for us to sit down on a wooden bench nearby, and we did.

    ¡°Fine, but I¡¯m going to light a few of these candles,¡± Grandma said, reaching into her purse. ¡°This whole night visit isn¡¯t giving me peaceful midnight mass vibes. It¡¯s giving me creepy haunted vibes or something.¡±

    Lukas stayed close, examining the flooring, looking under the alters, and running his hands against the stone. Grandma lit a candle and shuffled to arge painting on the wall. I looked around and couldn¡¯t help feeling like we were missing something. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on Cynder. I called to her through the mind link, and got nothing.

    ¡°If they¡¯re here, Erick could be using strong magic to block us from sensing them,¡± I suggested.

    ¡°Is that supposed to be King Herod?¡± Grandma asked. ¡°They said he was possessed by demons when he ordered the ughter of all the innocent children of Bethlehem.¡±

    ¡°You mean the type of demons that possess people without them knowing they¡¯ve been possessed?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m thinking, but I¡¯ve never been possessed by a demon, so I can¡¯t say,¡± she said.

    ¡°There¡¯s an entire rack full of candles over there,¡± Sol pointed. ¡°Maybe we should drag that here and light them up?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get it in a moment,¡± Lukas said. ¡°Grandma, please sit down so I can concentrate on the search.¡±

    ¡°The bench is hard on my tushy,¡± she grumbled, and I recalled the big plush purple cushion in the confessional.

    ¡°There¡¯s a seat pillow in the confessional,¡± I told her, and made my way to it.

    ¡°Hey, Storm,¡± Ranger¡¯s voice called out from somewhere in the Nave of the church. ¡°Do the chandeliers between the pirs look familiar to you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± her voice rang out from the other side of the cathedral. ¡°The one I saw may have been bigger, more opulent, and had red velvet curtains or walls behind it.¡±

    ¡°Red velvet?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked, his voice sounding from somewhere high up in the church near the organ. ¡°There¡¯s red velvet and a massive chandelier at the Opera House.¡±

    I reached for the pillow and realized it had a clip or button securing it to the seat to keep it from slipping off. The glow of the candle beside me told me Grandma was there. I gave the pillow a tug, and I heard the sound of a clip snapping.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Grandma said as she wedged her head into the confessional with me.

    ¡°What¡¯s what?¡± Sol asked, trying to peer over my shoulder.

    ¡°It looks like some kind of scratch,¡± Grandma said, and I crouched low for a better look.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­¡± I paused a moment. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the star of chaos?¡±

    I ran my finger over the small symbol etched into the wooden bench hidden under the seat cushion. The confessional flooring disappeared, and I shrieked as I dropped down what felt like a yground slide. I was plunged into total darkness, and the sudden drop in temperature sent a cold chill through me. Inded with a soft thud and heard the sound of someone else sliding behind me.

    ¡°Selena?¡± Cynder''s voice rang out nervously from the ckness.

    ¡°What in the hell are you doing down here?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°Grandma!¡± Cynder shrieked.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I see anything? What¡¯s going on here?¡± My sister¡¯s voice sounded from somewhere behind me.

    ¡°We think the tunnel is enchanted,¡± Zane said. ¡°Even my Alpha sight can¡¯t see anything in the darkness.¡±

    ¡°Zane!¡± I breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Have you found Caspian yet?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he replied. ¡°We¡¯ve been down here for a few hours, hoping Lukas woulde to the cathedral when we didn¡¯t turn up.¡±

    ¡°Welp, we¡¯re all here,¡± Sol told him. ¡°Lukas was just standing near us when the confessional swallowed us up.¡±

    Everyone stood quietly for a moment, listening for my mate. I looked up and saw nothing. It was pitch ck in here, and the temperature drop, along with the scent of damp earth, told me I was somewhere deep under the church.

    ¡°I lost my damn candle,¡± Grandma said. ¡°Hang on a moment¡­ I¡¯ve got more in my purse.¡±

    ¡°Lukas,¡± I called through the mind link.

    ¡°Ranger isn¡¯t replying through the link,¡± Sol announced frantically.

    ¡°Lukas?¡± I tried again. ¡°Storm?¡±

    ¡°My phone was fully charged!¡± Sol sounded desperate. ¡°It¡¯s not working.¡±

    ¡°Nothing works down here,¡± Zane told her. ¡°I couldn¡¯t get any light from mine to look around.¡±

    The sound of a cigarette lighter flicked, and a gentle glow of fire pulled us fromplete darkness.

    ¡°Zane, honey, you¡¯d better hold the candle,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to drop it.¡±

    He took our only source of light from her, which seemed to push back the darkness. Zane walked in a slow circle, assessing the pit we had fallen into.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the slide?¡± Sol asked, and I realized it had disappeared.

    ¡°We tried to feel around for it and climb back up, but there was nothing there.¡±

    ¡°Is the confessional a portal?¡± I asked no one in particr as I looked up, desperately hoping to find Lukas peering down at us.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Zane said. ¡°We haven¡¯t been transported anywhere¡ª¡±

    ¡°How do you know?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°I think we¡¯re still under the church,¡± he told her. ¡°There¡¯s a tunnel over there, and I can sense a lot of water¡±

    ¡°Can you draw water into this chamber and float us up?¡±

    ¡°Not without depleting the air supply down here,¡± he shook his head.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Grandma, how many more candles do you have in your purse?¡± I wondered if we should explore the tunnel and risk getting lost in the darkness or wait for Lukas to figure out how to get to us.

    ¡°I have three left,¡± she replied.

    ¡°I think we should blow out the candle and wait to see if Lukas finds us first,¡± Cynder said, and Zane nodded with approval.

    ¡°It¡¯s cold down here,¡± my sister sniffled, trying to hold back her tears. I wrapped my arms around her and tried to mind link my mate again.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the fire element when you need it?¡± My wolf whispered.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to be fine,¡± Zane assured my sister.

    ¡°I have half a baguette in my purse,¡± Grandma said. ¡°We could see what¡¯s in the tunnels and leave a trail of breadcrumbs for Lukas to find us.¡±

    ¡°That might not be a bad idea,¡± Cynder replied. ¡°If the confessional is protected with magic, they might not be able to sense it.¡±

    ¡°I just touched the small star with my hand, and the bottom pulled us in.¡±

    ¡°The same thing happened to us,¡± Zane told me.

    ¡°Then it shouldn¡¯t take them long to find the star, right?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Sol said hesitantly. ¡°The confessional was the first thing they searched.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re going to me me,¡± Grandma said, sounding defeated. ¡°They¡¯re going to think I walked off and you two followed.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m the one who returned to the confessional for the seat cushion.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Zane told us. ¡°It¡¯s no one¡¯s fault. If Erick willingly came through this tunnel, then it has to lead somewhere.¡±

    ¡°Maybe it leads to the catbs or something,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I hear there¡¯s a maze of tunnels under Paris.¡±

    ¡°Grandma, give me the baguette,¡± I held out my hand.

    ¡°Honey, I know being pregnant is making you hungry, but we need the bread for the trail,¡± she told me.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to eat it. I want you to focus on walking behind Zane and Cynder so you don¡¯t trip on anything. I¡¯ll walk behind you with Sol and drop the breadcrumbs.¡±

    The ground shook violently, and I was nearly knocked off my feet. Sol¡¯s scream turned into coughing when a plume of dust and dirt started falling from the ceiling, making it difficult to breathe. I knew Lukas had realized I was missing and would probably tear down the entire church looking for me. My wolf let out a deep howl, calling for her mate, and I prayed Kas would hear her.

    We stood in silence at the opening of the tunnel, looking up, hoping to see Lukas open up the earth below his feet and rescue us.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope he calms down,¡± Zane said as Cynder buried her nose in his shoulder. ¡°Thest thing we need is to be buried alive.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t be buried alive under here,¡± Grandma said. ¡°My hair is a disaster, and I¡¯m ying in a poker tournament next month.¡±

 Chapter 28 - Confessional

    Lukas

    There had to be something in this church that would give us a clue¡ªsomething that we just weren¡¯t seeing. I looked up at the ceiling and gothic arches, then down to the marble floors. I checked under the altars, around the statues, and felt the stone pirs and walls. There was nothing, but my beast could sense there was something.

    Grandma moved behind me, muttering something about the Bible and demons possessing a King. I thought the darkness would have kept her quietly seated beside my mate, but I should have known better. Sol mentioned the rack of prayer candles and wanted to drag them closer for more light.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get it in a moment,¡± I promised, worried one of them might tip the whole thing over. ¡°Grandma, please sit down so I can concentrate on the search.¡±

    ¡°The bench is hard on my tushy,¡± sheined just as I saw a dark shadow in the corner.

    I took a few steps closer and heard Ranger ask my sister about chandeliers. The shadow moved, and I crept closer, dimming the ball of fire in my hand. My ws extended to full length, and my canines dropped. If it was the she-demon, I was going to send her straight back to hell.

    Storm replied to Ranger, and Alpha Orl¨¦ans¡¯ voice rang out from somewhere high up in the church. They were talking about red velvet curtains or wallpaper, but all I could think about was the dark shadow. I neared the corner and saw a peak of red hair.

    ¡°Are you sneaking up on me?¡± ym asked, and I realized it was his shadow cast by the zippo me in his hand.

    ¡°What are you doing behind there?¡± I released a breath I didn¡¯t know I was holding.

    ¡°The same as everyone else,¡± he replied, noticing my extended ws. ¡°Searching for clues.¡±

    ¡°I saw a shadow moving,¡± I said, shaking my head and retracting my ws. Grandma Dori was right; everything about this ce was putting me on edge.

    ¡°Then light this ce up, so we can tell the difference between shadows and ck mist.¡±

    I turned my attention back to the candles on the iron prayer racks and realized Selena and Sol were not seated were Ist saw them.

    ¡°Selena?¡± I called out.

    Nothing.

    ¡°Grandma?¡± ym tried calling her, and there was no response.

    ¡°She¡¯d better not start ying the organ!¡± Rex¡¯s voice replied.

    ¡°Sol? Did anyone see where my mate went?¡± Ranger asked. ¡°She was here just a second ago.¡±

    ¡°You know Grandma,¡± Storm said from the other side of the church. ¡°She probably needed thedy¡¯s room, and the others didn¡¯t trust her to go alone.¡±

    ¡°The public toilets are located outside,¡± ym told us. ¡°Maybe they slipped away to find a private toilet in a back office or chamber.¡±

    ¡°Selena!¡± I tried through the mind link. ¡°Where are you?¡±

    ¡°Sol,¡± Ranger roared, knocking over chairs as he rushed to the bench where she wasst seated.

    I sniffed the area, and there was nothing unusual. I returned to the confessional and tore the door from the hinges.

    ¡°SELENA!¡± I growled, and the church shook. I wanted to bring this whole damn ce down. I wanted to sink the entire damn ind in the middle of the river.

    ¡°How is it possible?¡± Rex asked looking closely at the bench they had been seated at.

    ¡°What the hell is going on here!¡± I snarled. ¡°SELENA!¡± I kicked the confessional wall and splintered it open.

    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s a portal or door we can¡¯t see,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans suggested and started touching the stones on the pirs.

    ¡°Erick disappeared in this confessional, and Zane and Cynder disappeared while visiting this church,¡± Storm recapped. ¡°Now Grandma, Selena, and Sol have vanished right under our noses in this church.¡±

    ¡°There has to be something in this church,¡± Rex agreed.

    ¡°Grandma always said the devil is in the details,¡± ym said. ¡°Or, in this case¡­ the church.¡±

    ¡°I need to talk to Aunt Hazel,¡± Storm retrieved her cell phone and scrolled for the number.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t told my mother about Caspian yet,¡± Ranger told Storm. ¡°I thought we would have found him by now. Fuck!¡±

    I kept sniffing the area, trying to pick up a different scent. There was nothing. I couldn¡¯t even scent my mate near the confessional or anyone else. I should have been able to scent everyone who touched it when we first arrived. My beast roared inside me, and I was blinded by rage.

    ¡°Lukas,¡± Rex spoke through the mind link. ¡°Calm down. You won¡¯t be able to help her or your pup if you let emotions rule you right now. She needs you to remain calm.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t even know who the hell it is!¡± I snarled, running my fingers through my hair. ¡°Is it Erick? Is it Jose?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out,¡± Rex replied calmly.

    ¡°How about Jules Darc? Did they summon a demon?¡± Everything seemed to make sense, and yet nothing was making sense. ¡°And that creepy fucking priest¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to find them,¡± Rex said as his lycan eyes started swirling. His emotions were rising, and I knew he was upset seeing me in this state.

    ¡°We¡¯re in the house of God. Is he punishing us because our souls belong to the Moon Goddess? Maybe it¡¯s the Moon Goddess punishing us?¡± I threw a bench against the remains of the confessional, and the sharp sound of splintering wood echoed in the church.

    ¡°If there¡¯s a door here, we¡¯re going to find it,¡± Storm told us.

    ¡°How?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Aunt Hazel is less than an hour away from here,¡± she replied, shoving the phone into her pocket. ¡°She was worried when Selena asked about demons earlier this afternoon.¡±

    ¡°Selena called Aunt Hazel?¡±

    ¡°Is my brothering with her?¡± Ranger sighed in frustration.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way your father is going to let here all this way to hunt a demon alone,¡± she told Ranger. ¡°Uncle Zeus is with her.¡±

    ¡°He left the pack during high alert?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans looked stunned.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± ym replied. ¡°There are plenty of other Alphas at the Moon Realm to keep it secure. Nothing will get past Aunt Cassi.¡±

    ¡°My mother¡¯s magic protecting the packnds will hold up even if she¡¯s not there,¡± Ranger said with certainty.

    ¡°What if it¡¯s a trap to lure your mother here?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked. ¡°Alpha Darc went to great lengths to secure Erick from my pack.¡±

    ¡°The greedy bastard tried to secure a lycan, too,¡± Storm reminded us.

    ¡°Alpha Darc is dead now,¡± Rex snarled, and I knew he wanted to be the one to end Darc for plotting to take Storm.

    ¡°Yes, but Jules is still out there,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans reminded us. ¡°When I tell you he¡¯s crazy, I mean it.¡±

    ¡°If he wants a taste of my mother¡¯s magic, he¡¯ll get it,¡± Ranger snarled as his gray eyes turned ck. ¡°She¡¯s not a mage. She¡¯s a child of Hecate!¡±

    Alpha Orl¨¦ans looked stunned by this revtion. Hecate was the Greek Goddess of Magic. She had helped the Olympians overthrow the Titans and was honored by Zeus above all other gods. A child of Hecate was something most considered a myth.

    ¡°They¡¯re still an hour away.¡± An hour was too long. My beast snarled inside me, urging me to destroy this ce brick by brick, and another tremor escaped me.

    ¡°She could be trapped in a hidden room,¡± Rex said. ¡°Bringing down the walls of the cathedral might hurt her.¡±

    ¡°I say you tear this entire ce down,¡± Ranger rumbled. ¡°They have to be here somewhere.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you should go outside and get some fresh air while we wait for them,¡± Storm said. ¡°I¡¯m going to try meditating to see if anythinges to me.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not splitting up!¡± I snapped at her. ¡°Every time someone walks away, they disappear.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ym suggested we go up to the bell towers. ¡°Storm can meditate in a corner, and you can clear your head.¡±

    We climbed the tight stone spiral staircase to the first lookout deck, only to be greeted with a downpour of rain we had started. I didn¡¯t mind the rain so much because it would keep people indoors and away from the cathedral in the heart of Paris. Notre-Dame was normally lit up at night, and if I stopped the rain, it might bring unwanted attention.

    The thunder rolled in the sky, and lightning shed. I used my water element to keep the lookout point between the two towers dry. Rex moved to the far corner, where it was still dry thanks to the overhang of the observation deck at the very top of the bell towers. He pulled off his jacket andid it on the cold stone floor. Storm seated herself first, and Rex took the seat behind her.

    They sat back to back, supporting one another as they did when they were tiny pups. Rex was nearly a foot taller than our sister, and the back of her head reached just below the nape of his neck. She folded her legs and took a deep breath before she closed her eyes.

    Rex¡¯s voice came through the mind link to me. ¡°I¡¯m going to try tapping into her visions or rx enough to see if somethinges to me.¡±

    I looked at my brother and nodded before turning my attention to Paris. To my surprise, people were still milling around on the Latin Quarter side. My annoyance got the best of me, and I stirred the winds, causing choppy swells in the river that sshed up the sides of the retaining walls. I used my earth element to bring down a few trees and caused winds strong enough to tear a few caf¨¦ awnings.

    The fallen trees should have been enough to cause a distraction away from the cathedral, but thinking about my missing mate caused my anger to re. I struck the Eiffel Tower with three sessive lightning bolts and considered dropping a tornado on the city. I thought about draining the Seine River and sending the water flowing into the streets of Paris. The Louvre was just on the other side of the river, and I considered burning it down.

    I returned my gaze over to the Latin Quarter in the direction of Selena¡¯s burned apartment. My chest constricted, and I had to clench my hands in tight fists to keep from screaming out in frustration. She loved her little apartment and Paris so much¡­ I knew she¡¯d be very unhappy with me if I unleashed my wrath on this city¡­ But Goddess, I wanted to burn this whole ce down.

    ¡°Where are you?¡± I whispered into the darkness of the night.

    ¡°We¡¯ll find them,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans assured me. ¡°This very church has survived wars, revolutions, and fire, yet here she stands, a beacon of hope in the city center. When I was a little pup, everyone believed that lycans had gone extinct. It seemed impossible to bring back something that was lost, and yet here you stand.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not worried that the existence of lycans will bring the fall of werewolves?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. Both were created by the Moon Goddess and have lived on this earth in harmony before. Your LaRue ancestors were from France before the pack moved to Western Canada. If your family seizes the Darc pack, then LaRue blood has returned home.¡±

    ¡°And if your sister and Erick are involved?¡±

    ¡°Then I pray you give them a swift death,¡± he replied and bowed his head.

    ¡°I should look inside the bell chambers,¡± Ranger suggested as he paced anxiously.

    ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± ym said. ¡°I hear the bells all have special names.¡±

    ¡°Easy there, Quasimodo!¡± Ranger scoffed just as a loud crashnded behind us.

    The smashed remains of a gargoyle had fallen right where Storm had been seated. She and Rex appeared to have rolled out of the way just in time. They were both on the ground, rolled back against the stone of the building.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Rex spoke first.

    ¡°d I dodged that splitting headache,¡± Storm replied.

    ¡°Did you see it in through the vision?¡± Rex asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. ¡°You?¡±

    ¡°Same,¡± he nodded.

    I looked up at the other gargoyles and realized there was one with curved horns at the very top. It looked like a winged female troll or something. I watched as it took flight, and before I could strike it with a bolt of lightning, it turned into ck mist and evaporated.

    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked.

    ¡°We think it¡¯s a demon that Erick may have summoned.¡±

    ¡°It just tried to kill your sister and took off into the night,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans looked out into the wet darkness in shock.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get back inside and wait for my father to call,¡± Ranger suggested. ¡°You¡¯re going to need to settle the storm so they cannd.¡±

    I didn¡¯t want Uncle Zeus using his energy the moment he arrived in Paris to neutralize my storm, so I turned it down to a gentle rain. We returned to the spiral stone steps and climbed down.

    ¡°Do you think the she-demon has them?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s been stalking us since we arrived in Paris,¡± ym said. ¡°I¡¯m surprised she snatched Grandma!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised she hasn¡¯t returned Grandma yet,¡± Rex replied.

    ¡°I like your grand-m¨¨re,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans told us. ¡°She¡¯s very spirited.¡±

    I spent the next hour sitting in silence, staring up at the gold cross of the altar as if I were in a trance. I had failed to protect my mate and pup, and now I was at the mercy of others to find her. Some Lycan King I was¡­ I had failed my mate.

    ¡°What else did you see through the vision?¡± Ranger asked Storm.

    ¡°I saw the gargoyle crashing,¡± she said.

    ¡°And I saw the entire rooftop of the church,¡± Rex added.

    ¡°Before that, I saw a dark pit,¡± she said.

    ¡°I saw tunnels,¡± Rex told us.

    ¡°I saw the same chandelier,¡± Storm continued.

    ¡°And I saw an opulent room, like a royal suite, with a massive chandelier,¡± Rex replied.

    ¡°And, did you see anyone?¡± I asked eager to hear if my mate was okay.

    ¡°No,¡± Storm said softly. ¡°I saw the melting moon.¡±

    ¡°But I saw the Moon Goddess,¡± Rex stated.

    ¡°What do you mean you saw the Moon Goddess?¡± Uncle Zeus¡¯ voice rang out.

    I turned, relieved to find my Uncle Zeus and Aunt Hazel walking towards us. If anyone could detect a portal or hidden door, it was her. As a child of Hecate, she was the key to other realms, hidden doors, and locks.

    Ranger rushed to embrace his mother and greeted his father.

    ¡°The Gamma in front must belong to you, Fran?ois.¡± Uncle Zeus extended a hand to greet him.

    Aunt Hazel reached to hug me, and I couldn¡¯t resist one of her warm hugs. For just a split second, my beast calmed, knowing Aunt Hazel would do everything she could to help me find my mate.

    ¡°Where did youst see them?¡± Uncle Zeus asked, and I showed them the confessional.

    Aunt Hazel turned to me, and her hands moved quickly to speak the words on her mind. ¡°Did you find the confessional damaged like this?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I shook my head. ¡°I was frustrated,¡± I admitted.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± her soft voice came out just above a whisper.

    ¡°When we were in Egypt, a sorceress used a portal on my sister,¡± Zeus started to say¡­ ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s not a portal?¡± He asked his mate as if responding to something she said.

    She crouched low and extended her hands out in front of her as if sensing some kind of energy. ¡°An enchanted doorway,¡± she spoke.

    ¡°Portal? Enchanted doorway? What¡¯s the difference?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked.

    ¡°A portal can transport you miles away, and an enchanted doorway leads into another connected room, but it¡¯s designed to be unseen,¡± Uncle Zeus exined. ¡°Sometimes ordinary people walk past a door or shop and don¡¯t even see it. If someone gets close to the door, the magic deters them, and their legs just carry them off in a different direction.¡±

    ¡°Can you open the doorway?¡±

    She nodded her head and stepped back. With a wave of her hand, the entire confessional vanished.

 Skip Night - Fights

    Hi, Everyone -

    Sorry, I need to take a skip night because the Canelo fight is on tonight, and my husband has a few friends over. Needless to say, there''s way too much going on in my house tonight, and it''s loud. I can''t concentrate. :(

    I wish I could tell you something more mourous, like I''m spending Greek Easter cuddled in the arms of Alpha Dimitri Theodorus, or Alpha Hades Kappas in Greece, but the Moon Goddess is apparently having issues with mate bonds, so I need to wait with everyone else.

    Oh, well...

    Happy Greek Easter! Christos Anesti!Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 29 - Caged

    Selena

    ¡°I think I just stepped on a dead rat or something,¡± Grandma said as we continued through the ustrophobic tunnel. ¡°I better not get Lyme disease.¡±

    We had been walking for at least half an hour, and I was just about out of breadcrumbs. If this tunnel had rodents living in it, and I was almost certain it did, the breadcrumbs might not be around for very long.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost out of bread,¡± I told Grandma.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got toilet paper, but I want to save that in case we need it,¡± she dug around in her purse. ¡°Here, I¡¯ve got some lottery scratch-off tickets.¡±

    ¡°Are they winners?¡± Zane asked.

    ¡°Just another free y,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s how they hook you into ying over and over again.¡±

    I took the tickets from her and started tearing off small chunks as we continued. We came to another fork in the tunnel, but just like thest four, one had been caved in with dirt. It was almost as if the tunnel was guiding us somewhere.

    ¡°What if it¡¯s a never-ending tunnel?¡± Cynder asked, and she sounded like she was on the brink of tears. ¡°We don¡¯t have any food or water. How long can we survive?¡±

    ¡°I have a box of macarons in my purse and a bottle of water,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I also have some butterscotch candies, fruity tic-tacs, and orange-vored tums.¡±

    We continued walking for a little while longer, and the air felt stale. There was nothing but dirt tunnels and darkness. Cynder was on the verge of panic, and my wolf let out a low whimper.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s enough air down here,¡± she cried. ¡°Maybe we should turn back?¡±

    ¡°Every tunnel dug has served a purpose at one point,¡± Zane said, pulling her to his chest. She pressed her face into him and stifled a sob.

    ¡°I once heard the Kings of the past built tunnels under Paris to travel from their castles to church and other ces of interest,¡± Sol said hopefully. ¡°Maybe this leads to a pce?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± I told her. ¡°There have been numerous pces in Paris over time. Many are still here, and they¡¯re used as hotels, museums, and government business.¡±

    ¡°Like the Louvre,¡± Grandma piped. ¡°It even has the old pce under it.¡±

    Zane shifted the candle, and I saw something I hadn¡¯t seen before. ¡°Is that adder?¡± I pointed at the iron bars.

    ¡°I think this is the end!¡± Zane rushed over to the end of the tunnel and looked up.

    ¡°Well, it sure as hell isn¡¯t the end just yet,¡± Grandma said and shuffled forward. ¡°How high does thatdder go?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell. It¡¯s at least sixty feet high,¡± Zane replied. It was a vertical tunnel that appeared to be the exit point. ¡°Maybe I should go up first and make sure there¡¯s an opening that opens? No sense in having everyone climb up if we can¡¯t get through.¡±

    ¡°This is a dead end, and there is no other tunnel,¡± Grandma said. ¡°This has to be the way out.¡±

    ¡°What if he goes up and gets sucked into the other side, and we¡¯re left here without him?¡± Cynder asked.

    ¡°The recent earthquakes could have copsed the other tunnels, and maybe that¡¯s where the exits are?¡± Sol suggested.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go up,¡± I volunteered. ¡°There¡¯s only one way to know for sure.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t,¡± my sister protested. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant¡ªand what if thedder isn¡¯t secure? Or what if there¡¯s a bomb at the top?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Zane said. ¡°If something happens, I know Lukas will find you soon enough.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not leaving us alone down here,¡± Cynder cried.

    ¡°Okay, Okay,¡± Zane sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll all go together.¡± Zane went up first, followed by Cynder.

    Grandma hoisted herself up onto the bars behind Cynder. ¡°I love a good adventure.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go behind her to make sure she doesn¡¯t fall,¡± Sol whispered.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about me,¡± Grandma started to say. ¡°I¡¯ve been chasing after pups my entire life, and I¡¯m the most active elder in the pack. Hell,st month at the casino, I jumped over two people and a chair to reach the giveaway booth first and im the free poker chips they were giving away.¡±

    ¡°Free poker chips?¡± I asked as I slowly climbed up.

    ¡°Five hundred dors worth of poker chips! Good old Nooker never stood a chance against me,¡± she continued as we scaled up higher. ¡°I was like Spiderman.¡±

    ¡°Well, don¡¯t stop now, Spiderman,¡± Zane¡¯s voice floated down. ¡°There¡¯s still a way to go up.¡±

    ¡°We must have been really deep below the ground,¡± Cynder said.

    My hands and feet moved on autopilot while my mind drifted away to Lukas. Lycans weren¡¯t wired like werewolf shifters. The beast inside them was more feral and territorial, ruled by instinct and strong emotion. I had just disappeared with his pup, and he was probably tearing down the cathedral looking for me.

    ¡°Mate,¡± Ste let out a low whine.

    When I was fifteen, I refused to attend Lukas¡¯ sixteenth birthday party because Whitney told everyone Lukas had a crush on her and promised to y spin the bottle with her. She bragged about the new leather wallet she bought him and its cost.

    <i>¡°The party has started,¡± my mother announced. ¡°I wrapped his gift for you.¡±</i>

    <i>¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± I insisted. </i>

    <i>¡°Amor, you¡¯ve shared every birthday with him, and sixteen is a big deal. Are you sure you won¡¯t change your mind?¡±</i>

    <i>¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± I sighed. ¡°He¡¯ll be too busy with Whitney to notice I¡¯m not there.¡±</i>

    <i>I slipped out of the mansion and went for a walk to my favorite waterfall. The sun was setting, and my parents didn¡¯t like us out in the woods after sunset. They used to tell us it was for our safety, but the older I got, the sooner I realized it was because adult shifters did adult things in the woods. </i>

    <i>I decided to explore a cave near the waterfall, which I had often heard the older kids call The Kissing Cave. There was a big, smooth boulder in the center of the cave, and I sat on it. The walls on the inside of the cave were riddled with carved initials, and I couldn¡¯t help wondering who they belonged to. There was one that I was sure of M.A.C. & C.L.T. I had grown up calling Lukas¡¯ grandparents Uncle Mac and Aunt Cassi. </i>

    <i>¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you, Princess,¡± his voice floated inside the cave, startling me.</i>

    <i>¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be at your party?¡±</i>

    <i>¡°Someone important was missing. I thought I¡¯de find her.¡±</i>

    <i>My cheeks flushed. ¡°You left your party to look for me?¡±</i>

    <i>¡°I¡¯ll always find you,¡± he smirked as he lowered his mouth to mine.</i>

    That was the night he carved our initials in the cave with a single w. The night Whitney left the party disappointed when Lukas returned with me. And the night he promised always to find me.

    <i>Please find me now,</i> I thought to myself.

    ¡°He will,¡± my wolf whispered.

    ¡°I see thest handle,¡± Zane told us.

    ¡°I wonder if we have to touch something to open it?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an eight-point star etched in thest rung,¡± Zane said.

    He must have touched it because the vertical tunnel opened up above us, and the glow of light filled the chamber. I took a deep breath of the fresh air that flowed down to us, and relief filled me.Zane moved cautiously and poked his head out of the tunnel.

    ¡°It¡¯s an elevator,¡± he said as he climbed out.

    ¡°An Elevator?¡± Grandma echoed. ¡°What kind of freaky fun house is this?¡±

    Zane reached down and helped each of us out of the tunnel and into the elevator. We stood against the elevator¡¯s walls to avoid the open tunnel we had just climbed out of. As if by magic, the opening to the tunnel disappeared, and the elevator floor turned solid.

    ¡°There are no buttons,¡± Cynder noted just as the elevator started moving.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    A few momentster, the elevator stopped, and the doors slid open. We entered a hallway that resembled an upscale hotel or office building with marble flooring. The elevator disappeared behind us, and arge painting hung where it had once been. I didn¡¯t need to look closely to know the eight-point star was probably etched somewhere on or behind the painting.

    I couldn¡¯t help feeling like I had seen this deep green velvety wallpaper somewhere, but I couldn¡¯t recall where. Gold wall sconces lit the hall, which was lined with sculptures and other art pieces. I took in the priceless-looking vase, which sat on a marble table with fresh flowers in it. Grandma leaned in for a closer look at the flowers.

    ¡°Have you ever seen something like that?¡± I asked her.

    ¡°I saw something simr in Egypt,¡± Grandma started to say. ¡°But those were flowers from the underworld.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch them,¡± Zane told us. ¡°They could be poisonous.¡±

    I reached for my phone, hoping to call my mate. ¡°My phone is dead.¡±

    ¡°So is mine,¡± Zane replied.

    All the phones were dead, and I suspected the building was being protected by magic. Much like the tunnel, there seemed to be only one way to go. The portion of the hall to our left had been closed off with heavy metal doors, and I wondered what was behind them.

    ¡°You know, these doors remind me of the partitions on that Senior¡¯s cruise I took to ska a few years back,¡± Grandma said. ¡°They can seal off sections of the ship to keep fire or a flood from spreading to other areas of the ship. Ites in real handy when you¡¯re cruising around icebergs.¡±

    ¡°Is that a window down the hall?¡± I raced closer to it, wondering if we could climb out of this nightmare. I hoped that my phone would miraculously work if I stood by a window. Maybe someone outside could call for help.

    ¡°Look at all of these statues,¡± Cynder said. ¡°It feels like we¡¯re in a museum.¡±

    I reached the window and felt the bottom of my stomach fall out when I looked outside.

    ¡°That¡¯s because we are in a museum,¡± I told them.

    ¡°We are?¡± Zane asked and rushed over to see what I was looking at.

    ¡°Holy hell!¡± Cynder gasped. ¡°Is that?¡±

    ¡°It couldn¡¯t be?¡± Sol replied.

    ¡°Well, will you look at that,¡± Grandma whistled. ¡°The Louvre pyramid sure looks nice lit up at night.¡±

    ¡°The Louvre has the most sophisticated security system LaRue Enterprises offers. It¡¯s one of the most secure buildings in the world,¡± Zane shook his head. ¡°This has to be an illusion.¡±

    ¡°Look! There¡¯s a security guard walking in the courtyard below.¡± I looked for a way to open the window but couldn¡¯t. I banged against the ss, but he noticed nothing. Zane shifted a w and tried to punch out the ss, but his hand had been propelled back by an invisible defense.

    ¡°Maybe it is an illusion,¡± Sol agreed with Zane.

    ¡°If this is the Louvre, the rm would have already sounded,¡± Zane insisted.

    We walked to the end of the hall and turned right. It was like stepping back in time. The hall was trimmed with gold ceilings and rich red velvet curtains with gold tassels pulling them back. Beyond the curtains stood double wooden doors that were wide open. The wooden doors had been painted ck with gold trim and gilded finishings. They stood at least twelve feet high and reminded me of the grandeur of Versailles.

    ¡°Look at this posh parlor,¡± Grandma Dori shuffled right past us and reached for the chair. ¡°It¡¯s like never-ending velvet.¡±

    The furniture was beautifully crafted and appeared to be a few hundred years old. Everything was plushy red and richly gold. I looked up at the enormous chandelier in the center of the room, and then took in the painted fresco ceiling.

    ¡°The Louvre was a pce before it became a museum,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I think we¡¯re in the secret apartments section.¡±

    ¡°Secret apartments?¡± Zane asked.

    ¡°Finally¡­ Someone withmon sense,¡± a female¡¯s voice sounded, and we all turned to find a cloaked female standing in the doorway we had just entered.

    Her lips were a deep red, almost ck, and a simr color shadowed her eyelids in a dramatic way. The clothing exposed from the front of her cloak was dark, leathery, almost¡­ otherworldly. Her skin was a milky white, but the hair peaking out around her face was dark.

    ¡°Where the hell is Caspian?¡± Zane asked.

    ¡°Caspian?¡± She smiled wickedly. ¡°Is that his name? Poor little wolfie has been sulking ever since he arrived.¡±

    ¡°You have my grandson?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± she smiled, the gold in her eyes shing. ¡°Forgive me; I¡¯m being a terrible hostess.¡± She reached up for the snap of her cloak and removed it.

    There was a sharp inhale of breath from all of us when she exposed the half-curved horns on the top of her head. This was the demon that had been stalking us, and everyone seemed to realize it.

    A man who didn¡¯t quite look like a man entered the room behind her. It was Father Fontenay, without the priest¡¯s get-up. His skin resembled scaly leather, and his small horns reminded me of a young goat. My eyes took in his grotesque hands, which were big like bear paws, and his yellowed fingernails looked like they had been gnawed. His beady, dark eyes narrowed on us, and he met Grandma¡¯s scowl.

    ¡°Hello again, Father Phony,¡± she greeted him.

    ¡°I¡¯m no more a priest than you are a member of Saint Frances in New York,¡± he rasped with a low chuckle.

    ¡°Why are we here?¡± Zane asked.

    ¡°I thought it was to rescue Caspian? Or are we waiting for the mighty Lycan King to do that?¡± The she-demon replied.

    ¡°Where is he?¡± Grandma demanded.

    ¡°Wait no longer,¡± she pointed. ¡°They¡¯re in the next room with a special guest.¡±

    ¡°Special guest?¡± Grandma questioned as she marched to the door. ¡°We better not have been warped back in time. They didn¡¯t even have toilets back then.¡±

    A force seemed to suck us into the next room, which wasn¡¯t a room at all. It was a cage I didn¡¯t remember walking into.

    ¡°Grandma!¡± I heard Caspian¡¯s voice call out. ¡°Zane¡­ how did you get here?¡±

    Caspian was seated on the floor of the barren cell with a she-wolf and Jose. They looked unharmed, but Caspian was radiating frustration. He stood to hug Grandma.

    ¡°Granny!¡± Jose cheered and greeted her before turning to me. ¡°SELENA! Girl, you are not going to believe what¡¯s going on here.¡±

    ¡°Jose! Are you okay?¡± I whispered.

    ¡°I¡¯m not dead yet,¡± he replied. ¡°But there¡¯s a good chance I¡¯m having a wild dream, or I¡¯m lying in aa somewhere because I met the moon.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s the Omega?¡± Zane asked, scanning the space we had been transported to.

    ¡°This is Eloise,¡± Caspian told us. ¡°Ericks mother.¡±

    ¡°Well, where the hell is Erick?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s not your concern,¡± the phony priest replied.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about what concerns me and what doesn¡¯t,¡± Grandma snapped back.

    ¡°You should getfortable,¡± the she-demon spoke. ¡°You might be here for a while.¡±

    ¡°I wish we had the time, but we¡¯re in a bit of a hurry,¡± Grandma told her. ¡°I think we¡¯ll just be taking the boys and calling it a night, so if you can just unlock this door, that would be great.¡±

    A high-pitchedugh sounded as she tossed her head back. ¡°I really like your grandmother, Caspian.¡± The moment she spoke his name, rage filled his eyes, and his wolf pushed forward.

    ¡°This is the Louvre,¡± Sol said. ¡°I¡¯m sure the silent rms have been triggered.¡±

    ¡°The enchantment around this section of the wing keeps everyone away. Even as the tourists flock to see Napoleon¡¯s secret apartment a few meters away, they can¡¯t see, hear, or ess this section of the pce,¡± she stated with satisfaction.

    ¡°Lukas will find us,¡± I shot back.

    ¡°I hope he does,¡± she smiled. ¡°It might give me more leverage in my quest.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Eloise,¡± Grandma extended her hand to Erick¡¯s mother. ¡°I¡¯m Dori Crow.¡±

    ¡°Jose¡¯s been telling me all about you,¡± Eloise spoke gently.

    ¡°Well, it seems I know everyone in this room now,¡± Grandma turned to face the she-demon. ¡°Except for you?¡±

    Her smile widened as she assessed Grandma Dori. Even with the horns, she had an entric and haunting beauty about her. ¡°Most humans who believe in the almighty know me as Lilith.¡±

 Chapter 30 - Goddess

    Selena

    My sister and I exchanged silent nces. The she-demon had just introduced herself as Lilith, and I only knew of one demon with that name.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the mind link doesn¡¯t work under my enchantments,¡± she smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll just have to share your thoughts with all of us.¡±

    ¡°The day we saw you at the cemetery¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied and casually stroked one of her horns as if she were ying with her hair.

    A long ne strung with bones hung around her neck, and I recognized them as human phnges. She looked human enough, but she radiated power and chaos. I thought about my conversation with Hazel this afternoon, and I wanted everyone to know how dangerous she was.

    ¡°Only those cast out of heaven to live as demons can walk on hallowed grounds.¡±

    ¡°Selene should be so proud of her little pups!¡± Lilith pped. ¡°They¡¯re not ignorant to Gods outside of their customary beliefs.¡±

    ¡°Well, I guess it could be worse,¡± Grandma said casually. ¡°I thought we¡¯d find Ishtar at the end of this road.¡±

    ¡°Ishtar!¡± Lilithughed. ¡°I suppose we wouldn¡¯t be here without her.¡±

    ¡°Always with the riddles, Lilith,¡± a beautifully serene voice floated from the doorway.

    She entered the room, and my mouth fell open. The breath left my lungs as Ste yipped. Although she was in her human form, she still looked as divine as possible. A crescent moon crown sat upon her head like a Queen of Mount Olympus. Her long, silvery hair was the same shade as Storm¡¯s, and it flowed in thick ringlets that were loosely pulled back into a braid that reached her lower thigh.

    Her blue eyes met mine, and I managed a gulp of air. Being in her presence made my knees feel weak, and I reached for my sister beside me. The long white dress she wore was as beautiful as her skin because she was the personification of the moon¡ªthe Moon Goddess.

    ¡°Hello, my dears,¡± she said as she moved a little closer to the cell, and Lilith hissed in warning. Something shifted behind her, and I realized it was Erick. He looked worried and pale.

    ¡°I¡¯d hoped to have a few more decades before meeting you at the big bingo hall in the sky,¡± Grandma said, looking shaken. ¡°Did the tunnel cave in on us? Is this the part where you sort us into our final destinations?¡±

    The corners of her familiar blue eyes lifted as she smiled. ¡°You¡¯re a long way from that big bingo hall.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m honored to be in your presence,¡± Zane bowed his head.

    ¡°Just as handsome as all the LaRues,¡± she mused. ¡°Although the strong features have been favored for centuries because theye from my soul mate, Endymion.¡±

    ¡°We saw the painting,¡± I told her. ¡°I noticed the dark hair, but his eyes¡­¡± I was ready to tell her his eyes were closed, but the eyes were not Endymion¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ve looked into those eyes my entire life,¡± I finished in a whisper.

    I understood the Moon Goddess had created shifters and that some of her daughters had mated with Alpha males. I also knew the Goddess had blessed those who were her direct descendants with elemental gifts. What I never imagined was that the legendary LaRue blue eyes came from her. They exuded power, strength, and serenity.

    ¡°Why have you abandoned us?¡± Sol asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been protecting you,¡± the Goddess replied.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to excuse Selene. She doesn¡¯t get very many visitors in her confinement,¡± Lilith smirked.

    ¡°Confinement?¡± Grandma squawked. ¡°What do you mean confinement?¡±

    ¡°Not to worry, Dori. When you live as long as I have, twenty years is a weekend retreat,¡± Selene said with a serene smile.

    ¡°Every single one of you will remain here until your beloved Goddess fixes what she¡¯s done!¡± Lilith hissed.

    ¡°I¡¯m still considering it, Lilith,¡± Selene replied. ¡°But if you don¡¯t take good care of my children, then I¡¯ll consider it until the bnce of this world is overtaken by chaos and the other Gods discover what you¡¯ve done.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t y matchmaker if you¡¯re stuck here!¡± Lilith snarled, and her beauty became monstrous.

    ¡°If I¡¯m stuck here, I can¡¯t match you either,¡± Selene replied. ¡°Seems we¡¯re both at a checkmate, and you¡¯re running out of time.¡±

    ¡°Now, wait just a minute here,¡± Grandma said. ¡°You were Adam¡¯s first wife before Eve, the one who was cast out of Heaven.¡±

    ¡°Why was she cast out of Heaven?¡± Cynder whispered to Grandma.

    ¡°Oh, I know!¡± Jose chimed. ¡°It was because she wanted to be on top, and Adam wanted her beneath him.¡±

    ¡°We were both created from the same dust,¡± she spat. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have to submit to a man¡¯s will when we were both created equally.¡±

    ¡°Girl, I hear you,¡± Jose replied. ¡°Lots of people break up because of sex.¡±

    ¡°Nevertheless, Lilith has set her heart on a new mate. One with the power to unleash hell on earth,¡± Selene told us.

    ¡°I thought you only matched shifter souls?¡± Grandma asked. ¡°Lilith might be able to shapeshift, but she¡¯s not a shifter.¡±

    ¡°The King is a descendant of Anubis,¡± Lilith fired back, her eyes shing red. ¡°She could match him with anyone from any realm.¡±

    ¡°How many times must I remind you? Demons don¡¯t have souls,¡± Selene countered. ¡°What you¡¯re asking me to do goes against thews of Olympus.¡±

    ¡°You intend him for your daughter so you can control both realms,¡± Lilith hissed. ¡°Your precious lycans should be here soon enough, and I will destroy them one by one as you watch.¡±

    ¡°Infatuation and love are not the same, Lilith,¡± Selene shook her head. ¡°Souls are created for one another.¡±

    ¡°Then why do you allow second chance mates?¡±

    ¡°Even if you find the daughter I have matched him with and kill her. You are a soulless creature, and I cannot bond you.¡±

    ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± Lilith snarled in frustration. ¡°I have a few things I need to check on,¡± she told the phony priest before returning her attention to us. ¡°Getfortable. The enchantment will prevent you from escaping. Fontenay has a nasty silver whip for anyone misbehaving. He¡¯s a bit sadistic, so I wouldn¡¯t test him unless you like that sort of thing.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure what Fontenay was, but I knew he was some kind of shifty creature who had doubled in size since Ist saw him.

    ¡°Dark demon,¡± my wolf whispered, sensing his aura.

    ¡°What should I do with the Goddess?¡± Erick asked.

    ¡°Take her back to herfy little room while her darlings suffer in the cell like dogs,¡± Lilith ordered him.

    ¡°Give me a moment,¡± Selene said. ¡°They¡¯ve only just arrived.¡± Lilith scowled and turned her attention to Fontenay as Selene took a few silent steps closer to the cell.

    I looked at the Goddess, and so many questions rushed through my mind. She seemed to be adjusting her clothing, and then I realized she had started moving her hands in signnguage tomunicate with us. ¡°Be cautious of what you say around him. Her power in this realm is harnessed from Ramses.¡±

    ¡°Times up!¡± Lilith called out. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Grandma Dori said. ¡°I¡¯m old, and my dder isn¡¯t what it once was. What happens if I need to use the loo-l¨¤-l¨¤?¡±

    Lilith let out an amused giggle. ¡°Fontenay will escort you,¡± she said as she swept out of the room.

    Erick led Selene out, and Fontenay took a seat by the door on the other side of the room.

    ¡°And to think I almost missed this,¡± Grandma chirped as she seated herself against the wall beside Caspian.

    Zane took a seat, and Cynder curled up in hisp with her head buried in his neck. My wolf whimpered, and a deep longing filled me. I hoped my sweet Kas was staying calm.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    I turned to Jose, who was sitting beside Eloise. ¡°Jose, what happened?¡±

    ¡°One minute, we were getting sandwiches, and the next, one of her minions was loading Caspian into a delivery truck. When I tried to stop them, my world went dark.¡±

    ¡°Caspian?¡± Zane questioned.

    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± he nodded. ¡°All I saw was a sh of light and woke up in this cell.¡±

    Jose leaned in closer and whispered to me. ¡°Erick seems to be under some kind of spell or something. She threatened to kill me and his mother.¡±

    ¡°Did you know he had magic?¡± I asked, and Eloise finally found her voice.

    ¡°Erick wanted to leave the pack and live a simple life in the city with Jose,¡± she said. ¡°He wanted to protect Jose from our world and never spoke of it.¡±

    ¡°When did you get here?¡±

    ¡°I was working at the mating ball,¡± she said. ¡°I was asked to bring refreshments to the Omega¡¯s setting up the fireworks disy in the gardens and walked right into the ck mist.¡±

    ¡°How long has the Moon Goddess been trapped here?¡±

    ¡°Twenty years,¡± Caspian uttered in a low breath and started to sign with his hands. ¡°Does Lukas know where you¡¯re at?¡±

    I didn¡¯t know what to say. I wasn¡¯t sure if Lukas had discovered the opening under the confessional or found the breadcrumbs we had left. Slowly, I moved my hands to say, ¡°I hope so.¡±

    ¡°If she¡¯s been here for twenty years, that would exin why the mate bonds have been failing,¡± Sol spoke softly.

    I had always heard that souls were matched at birth because they were two halves of the same whole. The pup growing in my belly confirmed Lukas had been destined for me all along. Had she suppressed the mate bonds twenty years ago? Or did she stop matching souls? Selene was a Goddess, and Lilith was cast out of heaven.

    I looked over at the grotesque demon guarding the door, and his eyes were closed. I knew he was listening and took the chance at signing again as I asked Grandma the burning question. ¡°How could the Goddess lose her power and be trapped by a demon?¡±

    Grandma nodded to let me know she understood the question.

    ¡°I was just reminded of that time I met Medusa in Egypt. Everyone believed Medusa was a monster or demon of some kind, but she was a Goddess who¡¯d been cursed,¡± Grandma started as if she was telling us a bedtime story. ¡°Medusa had been sent to guard the entrance into the underworld as a punishment. It seems the council of Gods can confine another God or Goddess here on earth where their power is rendered useless while they serve out their punishment.¡±

    ¡°You mean like house arrest?¡± Cynder asked.

    ¡°Precisely,¡± Grandma winked as her hands moved to say, ¡°Demons have some magic, but she¡¯s found an ancient source on earth to use against the Moon Goddess.¡±

    My hands moved quickly, ¡°The Goddess said her power is harnessed from Rameses.¡±

    ¡°As I was saying¡­ the food in Egypt was wonderful, and the spices are incredible, but it¡¯s the monuments that make Egypt really stand out. They¡¯re so impressive that it¡¯s hard to believe they were crafted by human hands. I got a close look at the pyramids, the Valley of The Kings, and I even saw Luxor,¡± she continued. ¡°The obelisk in Luxor stands at the gates, and I hear the twin that used to stand beside it is somewhere here in Paris. Maybe when we get out of here, someone can take me to go see it.¡±

    We had just visited the obelisk a few hours ago, and Grandma spoke as if we hadn¡¯t. Sol¡¯s eyes met mine, and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was. Storm and Rex had both sensed the strong energying from the monument.

    ¡°Is she really going to keep us here?¡± Cynder asked.

    ¡°Oh honey, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll work it out,¡± Grandma said. ¡°They¡¯re just bickering over some man.¡±

    The beastly version of Fontenay stirred, and he let out a low snarl. ¡°You¡¯ll all be dead soon if my Queen doesn¡¯t get her King.¡±

    ¡°It seems like she¡¯s been trying to get her King for twenty years,¡± Caspian said. ¡°I don¡¯t think the Goddess will yield.¡±

    ¡°My Queen will not allow her to mate the King with another,¡± he replied.

    ¡°If she¡¯s so great, why hasn¡¯t she spent thest twenty years getting him to fall in love with her?¡± Cynder snapped.

    ¡°You know the answer to that, little wolf,¡± he smiled. ¡°A mate bond runs deeper than love or lust.¡±

    Hearing all this talk about Lilith wanting a King filled me with worry. Was she after Lukas? Is that why the mate bonds were suppressed? We were all considered children of the Moon Goddess, and it seemed Lilith was trying to prevent the mating of a King.

    Lukas was the most powerful shifter on Earth, and he was a lycan. If he went feral, he could unleash hell on earth. I searched my memories, trying to remember everything I had heard about Anubis and whether Lukas could have been a descendant.

    Anubis was one of the oldest Egyptian Gods, dating back thousands of years before Christ. He was the most recognizable god in the Egyptian pantheon because of his lycan head. The ancient royal lycans who ruled in the past were from his Theodorus side of the family, and everyone knew they had descended from King Lycaon, who was cursed by the mighty Zeus.

    ¡°Did she really get kicked out of Heaven?¡± Sol asked.

    ¡°She freed herself from Heaven,¡± Fontenay scoffed. ¡°There¡¯s no fun in Heaven.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Father Fontenay? Thou shall not lie, steal, cheat, or kill is that too restrictive for your taste?¡± Grandma scowled in disgust.

 Chapter 31 - Flying Monkeys

    Lukas

    The confessional vanished, and arge opening appeared in its ce. I looked down into the opening and saw arge, smooth stone slide.

    ¡°They must have found the trigger on the confessional,¡± Aunt Hazel told us.

    ¡°We would have heard something,¡± Rex said. ¡°The shifting of wood, a scream of surprise, something. Grandma would not have gone silently.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she shook her head and spoke softly. ¡°The enchantment silences sound and is cloaked to appear and smell the same.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why we didn¡¯t actually see Erick disappear in the confessional,¡± Storm added. ¡°The church was filled with tourists, and no one saw the confessional turn into a hole in the ground.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go first,¡± Ranger said. He stepped to the edge of the slide, and Uncle Zeus shot his arm out to hold him back.

    ¡°It could be a trap, and you¡¯re thinking with your emotions,¡± he told Ranger.

    ¡°I can¡¯t just stand here and do nothing, Dad,¡± Ranger urged.

    ¡°Lukas has all four elements, so he should go down with me,¡± Aunt Hazel stated.

    ¡°Everyone wait here,¡± I ordered. ¡°Once we know it¡¯s safe, you can join us.¡±

    ¡°Where you go, I¡¯ll follow,¡± Uncle Zeus whispered to his mate. It was something I¡¯d heard him say to her so many times before.

    I pulled a ball of fire into my hand to light the way and slid down first. Uncle Zeus and Aunt Hazel followed, and without warning, Ranger also came down the slide behind his parents.

    ¡°Sol?¡± He called out her name. His gray eyes had turned dark, indicating his wolf had taken control.

    Aunt Hazel was also an elemental wolf who controlled fire and could infuse magic into her mes. She extended her hand out and drew a small me from the burning ball in my hand. I knew she hated dark and confined spaces, so I grew my ball of mes bright enough to light every crevice of this pit.

    I noticed a small handkerchief against the wall, which I recognized. ¡°Zane was here,¡± I told them, motioning to the handkerchief with the LaRue family crest on it.

    Ranger picked up the square cloth and examined it. ¡°I can scent Cynder on it as well.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s interesting,¡± Uncle Zeus crouched low. ¡°A trail of breadcrumbs?¡± He picked something up off the ground and inspected it. ¡°It¡¯s fairly fresh.¡±

    My eyes followed the breadcrumbs, and they seemed to disappear into a wall of dirt. I moved my hand over the wall, expecting it to open up or find something that could make it open up. There was no visible exit in this pit, and they didn¡¯t just evaporate.

    Hazel pointed to the footprints on the ground. ¡°Hush Puppies.¡± Grandma¡¯s favorite walking shoes had the words Hush Puppies carved in the soles.

    ¡°They were all here together, but there doesn¡¯t seem to be an exit.¡±

    Hazel walked in a circle around the small pit, trying to sense a hidden door. ¡°There¡¯s no other door and I¡¯m not sensing a portal was used, but I could be wrong.¡±

    ¡°The bread trail just stops at the wall,¡± Ranger said. He moved beside me and started pressing random spots on the wall. ¡°Are you sure there¡¯s nothing here?¡±

    Aunt Hazel extended her arms out, feeling the energy. ¡°It¡¯s a copsed tunnel.¡±

    ¡°Well, what are you waiting for?¡± Ranger urged me. ¡°Use your element to move the dirt out.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Zeus warned and turned to face his mate, who extinguished the me in her hand to sign.

    ¡°It could have copsed after they passed to seal off the passage or¡­¡± she looked reluctant to say. ¡°Or it could have copsed when you destroyed the confessional as a way to cloak the magic used,¡± she continued. ¡°If you remove the dirt, you could cause other parts to copse on them if they¡¯re still underground or the river to flood in.¡±

    ¡°Then how do we find them?¡± I suppressed my snarl as guilt flooded me. ¡°I could have also caused the copse when a tremor escaped me.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Aunt Hazel said, shaking her head before her hands moved again. ¡°This entire pit and tunnel system was designed by magic so it would have held up against an earthquake. Someone is using old, powerful magic¡­ I can sense it.¡±

    ¡°Erick is a mage with a connection to Joan of Arc¡¯s family, and who knows who else?¡± Ranger told her.

    ¡°Has anyone noticed a triple moon mark on him?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Yes, Grandma noticed the tattoo.¡±

    Her hands started moving again as she replied. ¡°The triple moon mark is no different than the crescent moon mark that appears on the nape of an elemental wolf. It¡¯s not a tattoo, it appears when a mage has reached their full magical ability.¡±

    ¡°But¡­you don¡¯t have one,¡± Ranger questioned.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think your mother has reached the cap of her magic yet,¡± Uncle Zeus replied proudly.

    ¡°So if we¡¯re not going through the tunnel to find them, where are we going?¡±

    Hazel pointed up before she spoke. ¡°Up. I can try sensing the trace of magic from above.¡±

    The rock slide had disappeared, so I usedrge boulders to float us back up into the church. Hazel waved her hand again and the confessional returned in the same splintered condition I had left it in. There was no sign of therge open pit beneath it.

    ¡°They were all down there together,¡± Uncle Zeus announced.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Storm asked.

    ¡°My sister, too?¡± ym questioned.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I replied. ¡°Zane¡¯s handkerchief with the family crest was down there, along with footprints marked with Hush Puppy soles.¡±

    ¡°Grandma!¡± ym said. ¡°Where did they go? Was there another door down there?¡±

    ¡°They left through a tunnel that had copsed after,¡± I told him. ¡°We need to see if we can find traces of magic from above.¡±

    ¡°Look at this,¡± Storm said as she examined the splintered pieces of wood from the confessional. ¡°I think this was the seat.¡±

    ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Rex crouched for a better look at something.

    The purple seat cushion was lying beside the b of wood that served as the benched seat. ¡°Fuck,¡± I growled, wondering how we could have missed it.

    ¡°The star of Ishtar,¡± Storm said.

    ¡°It¡¯s the star of chaos,¡± ym corrected her.

    ¡°Ishtar is the one who brings chaos,¡± Storm told him.

    ¡°You¡¯re both right,¡± Hazel said and started to sign again. ¡°The mark of Ishtar dates back thousands of years before Christ. It¡¯s been adopted and used to mean many things. Some believe that Ishtar may have had offspring with the Demon Lord, which is why it has be synonymous with chaos.¡±

    ¡°What is she saying?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans whispered to ym.

    ¡°We¡¯ve seen this symbol before outside the church.¡±

    ¡°This church?¡± Uncle Zeus asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Storm replied. ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡±

    We left the church without attempting to fix anything. I knew my mother would not approve, so I made a note to send arge donation after I found Selena. I felt a tiny bit of relief knowing that Zane was with them, but my beast wouldn¡¯t calm until I held her in my arms.

    Uncle Zeus looked to the dark sky, and the wind shifted. He used his control over the air element to stop the rain and break up the heavy clouds. The nearly full moon washed everything in light, and I looked back at the still dark cathedral as I remembered we forgot to turn the power back on.

    ¡°It¡¯s just over here,¡± Storm said.

    ¡°I know what that is!¡± Hazel said in a shocked, slow tone.

    ¡°A sewer drain?¡± Uncle Zeus questioned.

    ¡°No,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans replied. ¡°That¡¯s the marker for Point Zero. It marks the very center of Paris.¡±

    Aunt Hazel shook her head, and her eyes went wide in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s a portal to the dark realm,¡± she spoke faintly, but I heard her clearly.

    ¡°The dark realm?¡± Storm repeated.

    ¡°You mean a demon hole!¡± ym added. ¡°I was right!¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Aunt Hazel said with a nod. ¡°It¡¯s sealed from the other side by a different kind of magic.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, different kind of magic?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a protection enchantment,¡± she said, then started moving her hands again. This time, ym read it aloud so Alpha Orl¨¦ans could understand. ¡°It¡¯s a one-way portal. Something from the other side can get through, but nothing from this side is allowed to enter.¡±

    ¡°Can you open it?¡± Rex asked.

    She nodded yes and continued signing. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to. Whatever is on the other side could bring chaos with it since it¡¯s marked with the eight point star. I once read in an ancient scroll that demons who were kicked out of the dark realm were sent to this world to live as stone statues.¡±

    ¡°Stone statues?¡± ym asked. ¡°As in¡­ ugly, grotesque, scary-looking demonic statues?¡±

    Her hands moved again, ¡°At some point in the thirteenth century, stone workers started using them as the first-ever rain gutters on buildings. They carved a small canal along the back side of the statue, which allowed the water to run out of their mouths.¡±

    ¡°Wait, are you talking about gargoyles?¡±

    Aunt Hazel nodded. ¡°Thanks to their stone body, a gargoyle has the ability to hold itself so still that it appears to be a statue.¡±

    ¡°There used to be a lot more gargoyles in Paris, and some were rumored to move or disappear,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans said. ¡°I thought gargoyles were designed to look that way to ward off evil, not because they were actual demons who were expelled from the dark realm.¡±

    ¡°Do they alle to life or just the ones on Notre-Dame?¡± ym uttered in disbelief as he pointed to the cathedral.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    A gargoyle resembling an ugly monkey with wings had taken flight. He opened his mouth and unleashed a shriek strong enough to project a wave that could knock a human to their ass. A second gargoyle with red eyes and pointed teeth swooped low and snarled at us before he circled around again. It had bison-looking horns but resembled a rabid tiger with wings. It swooped down again as it tried to take a swipe at ym, and Storm leaped for it without hesitation.

    ¡°Storm!¡± Hazel cried out.

    Storm hooked one arm around the gargoyle¡¯s neck and tore off a horn with her other. The gargoyle released a screech, and she plunged the horn into its open mouth before she let go and dropped thirty feet. The gargoyle fell and shattered into stone.

    Zeus struck a match, and Hazel immediately drew a burning ball of fire from it in each hand. Rex did the same, and I shifted my ws.

    ¡°Move closer to the trees to draw them lower,¡± I told the others, and we moved to the bronze statue of Charlemagne beside the big open courtyard in front of the church.

    The static electricity started building in the air, and Uncle Zeus prepared to strike. Several other gargoyles started slowly moving as if waking from a long hibernation. The monkey-looking gargoyle swooped back around and opened his mouth to shriek again. Uncle Zeus zapped it with a massive bolt of lightning, and it exploded.

    ¡°Whose flying monkeys are these?¡± ym asked.

    A human skeletal gargoyle with bird talons soared overhead, and I used my earth element to swing a branch and knock him back into the church, where he shattered into dust.

    Just when I thought they couldn¡¯t get any more grotesque, an eerie devilish-looking gargoyle wielding a stone sword screeched by and swung his weapon at Storm. Her reflexes were fast, and she jumped out of the way before the blunt weapon could touch her. Storm and I hit it with a bolt of lightning at the same time, and it exploded into something simr to smashed concrete.

    ¡°They look possessed or something,¡± Ranger shouted as he sprang for a lizard with wings and ripped its head off.

    Another sinister gargoyle that looked like an emaciated dragon dove for Storm, and Rex threw a fireball at it. To my surprise, it captured the ball of fire with its mouth and breathed it out at my sister. Storm leaped out of the way just as ym dove in front of the spot she was standing to protect her from the fire. The dragon gargoyle took flight and hovered high.

    ¡°Oh, no, you don¡¯t!¡± Aunt Hazel said with a low growl as the amulet around her neck started to glow.

    Aunt Hazelunched a purple ball of mes and turned two more flying creatures into ash. Several lightning bolts met their targets with a crack, and I alternated between my elements. Alpha Orl¨¦ans made an impressive leap and snatched an owl before smashing it into pieces. Storm stepped away from us and stood with her ws fully extended, and her lycan head shifted.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I linked my sister.

    ¡°Testing a theory,¡± she said.

    ¡°Which is?¡±

    ¡°Either the color of my hair in the moonlight is setting them off, or they¡¯re targeting me.¡±

    The flying dragon made another swoop for her. ¡°It¡¯s after Storm!¡± I yelled as the realization hit me. The strongest of the gargoyles kept trying to attack her while the weaker ones were distracting us.

    ¡°Storm move!¡± I yelled just as she sent up a gust of dusty wind in the dragon¡¯s face to blind it. The creature roared, and Storm sprang for it. Her wed hands went to work, slicing, gouging, and smashing.

    Thest of the gargoyles dropped from the sky, and the courtyard was covered in shattered pieces of stone. Tomorrow morning, Paris would wake up and notice all the gargoyles were missing. The authorities would assume it was vandals after finding the turned-over benches and smashed confessional inside the church.

    ¡°Well, that was exciting,¡± ym said, standing naked in the wind.

    ¡°At least you still have your shoes this time, Carrots,¡± Stormughed.

    ¡°My Gamma is still at the door of the cathedral,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll have him see if he can find something for you to wear.¡±

    Ranger walked around the smashed and shattered pieces of the flying creatures. ¡°Those must be the malevolent demons Grandma was talking about.¡±

    ¡°These are minor demons,¡± Hazel said with a nod.

    Ranger crouched down to take a closer look at what appeared to be a big chunk of a boar¡¯s head. ¡°And they were kicked out of hell?¡±

    ¡°Yes and no,¡± Hazel replied as my uncle wrapped his arms around her. ¡°Hell is believed to be a subsection of the Dark Realm, like Tartarus.

    ¡°So, why not just send them to Tartarus?¡± I asked. ¡°Why send them here?¡±

    ¡°I wish I knew,¡± Hazel said.

    ¡°Maybe theye to life at night?¡± ym suggested.

    ¡°Whatever they are, they¡¯re obviously working with the she-demon. That gargoyle didn¡¯t just fall on Storm earlier by ident.¡±

    A few momentster, the Gamma came jogging out of the shadow, holding a blue choir robe.

    ¡°Alright!¡± ym said. ¡°At least it¡¯s not a woman¡¯s silk robe.¡±

    ¡°Now you can pass for an alter-boy,¡± Storm teased.

    ¡°We should leave this area before someonees to investigate,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans said.

    We started walking across the bridge toward the first district. My beast was howling for our mate, and I was all out of ideas.

    ¡°Selena?¡± I tried calling through the mind link, hoping I¡¯d hear her.

    There was nothing.

    ¡°Princess,¡± I tried again. ¡°Please!¡±

    Silence.

    Aunt Hazel put her hand on my arm. ¡°We¡¯re going to find them,¡± she spoke gently. ¡°I need to know everything you¡¯ve done and seen since you¡¯ve been here.¡±

 Long day! Sorry need to skip

Hi, I''m sorry I had a long day, and I''m out of gas. Can''t finish this chapter tonight. :(Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 Chapter 32 - Ancient Magic

    Lukas

    I started by telling her about our visit to the cemetery and our encounter with the she-demon, how Selena¡¯s apartment exploded, and what happened at the catbs.

    ¡°And my brother didn¡¯t believe you about the demon?¡± Uncle Zeus pressed.

    ¡°You know Dad,¡± Storm said. ¡°It didn¡¯t sound rational to him because she appeared in daylight and on hallowed ground. He thought it was likely a mage or hoax.¡±

    ¡°Ares wasn¡¯t with us in Egypt, and since he didn¡¯t see it¡ª¡±

    ¡°He dismissed it,¡± I finished my uncle¡¯s thought.

    I went on to exin what happened at Notre-Dame and Caspian¡¯s disappearance. Rex and Storm exined their visions and what they were seeing. ym gave her a y-by-y of our visit to Wolf Tower and the Louvre. Then, I exined what urred at Erick¡¯s apartment, Zane and Cynder¡¯s disappearance at the cathedral, and what happened with our mates and Grandma.

    We walked in silence for a few moments before Hazel stopped walking. Her eyes were fogged over, which told me she was mind linking with my uncle.

    ¡°Is Zander still at the hotel securitymand?¡± Uncle Zeus asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Get him on the phone. Tell him to contact LaRue Enterprises Security, we¡¯re breaking into the Louvre. Then tell him to have Xena contact the Prime Minister of France for damage control.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible to break into the Louvre,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans stated in shock.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tear the entire ce apart if my mate is there,¡± I snarled.

    ¡°You think they¡¯re inside the Louvre?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Or under it,¡± Hazel nodded and started moving her hands. ¡°The visions you¡¯ve been seeing connect to the Louvre. The painting of Endymion, the golden pyramid, and Wolf Tower. The Devil¡¯s doors brought you to the cathedral, and the melting moon is a sign of distress. I¡¯m not sure what the skeletons mean yet or the chandelier, but I think we¡¯ll find our answers soon enough.¡±

    ¡°If we don¡¯t find anything at the Louvre, we¡¯ll try the opera house after,¡± Uncle Zeus said. ¡°I hear there¡¯s ake beneath it that would be an ideal hideout.¡±

    ¡°Should we call for backup?¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans asked. ¡°My pack is south of here. I can have an army of warriors here within two hours?¡±

    ¡°Xena is at your pack,¡± I replied. ¡°Send your Gamma back and ask her to bring back warriors.¡±

    ¡°And the pack doctor,¡± Storm added. ¡°Just in case.¡±

    ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t believe me, Sir?¡± The Gamma asked, and I exchanged a brief look with my uncle. The Gamma had a point. Xena might believe he was trying to lure her away and rip his head off.

    ¡°Tell her Zeus said, <i>wall of crows in Paris</i>. She¡¯ll know it came from me.¡±

    "<i>Wall of crows in Paris</i>,¡± he repeated. ¡°Got it.¡±

    I wondered if he wanted all the Crows to form a defense wall or something going into the Louvre. ¡°What does wall of crows mean?¡±

    ¡°When we encountered demons in Egypt, we were standing at the Wall Of Crows that separates the Great Pyramidpound from the cemetery.¡±

    My sister looked thoughtful, and I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she had seen anything more. ¡°Storm, is there anything else you¡¯ve seen that could help?¡±

    She exchanged a silent look with Rex and shook her head.

    ¡°No!¡± I growled, feeling my beast pushing forward. ¡°My mate and pup are missing! Don¡¯t hold anything back from me.¡±

    Waves of rage radiated from me at the thought of them hiding something. Rex moved in front of my sister as if protecting her from me. Why was he always defending her? My father was still the Alpha King, so I couldn¡¯t use the Alphamand on them.

    ¡°Lukas, calm down,¡± Rex spoke.

    ¡°This is no time to keep secrets!¡± I roared.

    ¡°I saw a vision of Selena lying on the ground,¡± Storm said. ¡°You cradled her limp body in your arms.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say something sooner!¡± I rumbled, and Uncle Zeus ced a hand on my shoulder.

    ¡°She could have been sleeping or knocked out or something,¡± Storm replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to worry you.¡±

    ¡°We need you thinking clearly and calmly to help find her,¡± Rex added. ¡°Wolfing out isn¡¯t going to help any of us.¡±

    ¡°Visions can often be misinterpreted,¡± Aunt Hazel said. ¡°Was there anything else?¡±

    ¡°I saw myself vanish into shadows, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s rted,¡± Rex told her. ¡°And I saw a big silver chandelier,¡± he said reluctantly.

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Hazel pressed.

    ¡°A throne,¡± Rex replied.

    ¡°What kind of Throne?¡± I asked, wondering if it was the golden throne crafted for my father when the monarchy of our world was re-established.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen it before, but in my vision, Storm sat in it.¡±

    ¡°There are a few thrones at the Louvre,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans said. ¡°The throne of Ceres, a marble throne belonging to a Priest of Bhus, and even one that belonged to Napoleon The Third.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not too far from the Louvre,¡± I said impatiently, needing to get to my mate. ¡°I¡¯m not waiting anymore.¡±

    I gave my phone to ym to call Zander as we quickly walked along the tree-lined street leading to the museum. The fur rippled on my face, shifting between lycan and human form. My beast was going mad with the urge to shift and smash right through the ss pyramid of the Louvre. It had been over two hours since I saw her, and it felt like an eternity.

    ¡°Zander said LaRue Enterprises in Paris provides the security system for the Louvre,¡± ym told us. ¡°But the camouged armed guards are French military, the indoor guards are Louvre employees, and the outside patrol guards are private contractors.¡±

    ¡°All this security, and no one has noticed anything suspicious?¡±

    ¡°Demons are cunning creatures,¡± Uncle Zeus replied.

    ¡°And magic could cloak the suspicious activity,¡± Ranger added as he moved in step with me.

    We finally reached the front of the Louvre and I knew this was the section the old fortress was under. I considered opening the ground up and covering it up with another earthquake, but that would bring attention to the Louvre before we were done. I looked at the building and considered breaking open a window. If Zander could get the security rms turned off, then we should be able to slip inside undetected.

    ¡°That¡¯s the window,¡± I pointed.

    ¡°What window?¡± Uncle Zeus asked.

    ¡°The one we should break to get in.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re walking in right through that door in the corner,¡± Uncle Zeus pointed out. ¡°Did you forget about Hazel?¡±

    I grinned sheepishly. ¡°My mind is elsewhere.¡±

    The light on my phone lit up, and ym read the text message. ¡°Security system is down. Try not to break anything, and let Zander know when we¡¯re out.¡±

    A loud screech rang out from above, and we turned our heads up in unison to find another owl-looking creature with ws. Something moved from the side of the building, and a demonic cherub took flight. Another half-dragon, half-fish creature with wings swooped down.

    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Storm snarled. She ran towards a parked car and lept onto the roof beforeunching herself into the air to deliver a closed-fist punch in the cherub¡¯s face. It crashed to the ground, shattering into stone.

    ¡°So much for not breaking anything,¡± ym muttered.

    The sound of more pping wings filled the silence of the night, and I snarled. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this again.¡±

    ¡°Everyone inside,¡± Uncle Zeus motioned for the door.

    The owl swooped down at my sister, and I shifted my ws to chop its wed feet off. Aunt Hazel reached the door handle and pulled the door open effortlessly. We rushed inside, and Uncle Zeus pulled it shut just as another creature plummeted for the door. Aunt Hazel touched the door again to lock it.

    ¡°Did every gargoyle and creepy statue in Parise alive tonight or what?¡± Rex asked.

    ¡°The fortress below is beneath this wing,¡± I told Aunt Hazel, hoping she could sense a door we couldn¡¯t see thest time we were here. We walked along the white corridors and down the stairs until we reached the remains of the fortress. The motion detection triggered the lights toe on, and I listened closely for the sound of approaching footsteps. With any luck, they would be sleeping on the job.

    ¡°There¡¯s something here,¡± Aunt Hazel whispered. ¡°I can feel it.¡±

    ¡°Magic?¡± Zeus asked.

    ¡°Ancient magic,¡± she nodded. ¡°Over there!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where the tower was,¡± ym told her.

    ¡°Is there a door?¡±

    We walked along the wooden deck, and Uncle Zeus lifted Hazel over the iron railing. She walked closer to the round remains of the tower and ced her hands on the stone blocks. We watched as she made a circle around it, with Zeus at her side.

    ¡°Lukas,¡± she called for me, and I jumped the iron railing to join her.

    ¡°Is there a door?¡±

    ¡°No, but I think there¡¯s something concealed inside,¡± she replied. ¡°Do you think you can remove a few stones and put them back in precise order after?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± I replied, and Uncle Zeus scooted back, taking Hazel with him. I examined the stones for a moment and focused on a group of eight stones. Using my earth element, I removed them together and set them down on the ground.

    I heard the strike of a zippo from behind me, and Aunt Hazel stepped forward with a fireball in her hand. There was enough room for her to climb inside if she wanted to, but she just stuck her head inside to look.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Ranger asked.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it?¡± She gasped. ¡°It can¡¯t be!¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°What can¡¯t be?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°He¡¯s supposed to be at the GEM,¡± Uncle Zeus said as he peered inside.

    ¡°Gem? Is there a treasure buried inside?¡± ym questioned.

    I moved forward to take a look. It was an old body that appeared to be mummified. The head had a bald top and white hair around the middle. He had a prominent hook in his nose and a long, narrow face. My gaze reached his hands, which appeared to have been crossed over his chest, and that¡¯s when I noticed something missing.

    ¡°The fingers on his right hand are missing.¡± I stepped away and let the others have a look.

    ¡°Who is that?¡± Ranger asked.

    ¡°I believe that¡¯s the mummy of King Ramses The Second,¡± Uncle Zeus replied.

    ¡°Oh, this is bad,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans muttered.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t he be upstairs in the Egyptian exhibit?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Uncle Zeus said. ¡°We saw him at the GEM¡ªthe Great Egyptian Museum in Cairo. If he¡¯s here and they haven¡¯t noticed it, then someone nted a fake when they stole him.¡±

    ¡°Why would someone steal a mummy?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°He was a great mage,¡± Storm replied. ¡°I can still feel the energying from his corpse. He¡¯s the real deal.¡±

    It seemed a bit morbid, but the question was nagging at me. ¡°Why the missing fingers?¡±

    ¡°The right hand of a mage is said to channel their power,¡± Storm said. ¡°Whoever took his bones¡ª.¡±

    ¡°Is harnessing his magic.¡±

    ¡°Where were you when the ss shattered?¡± Aunt Hazel asked.

    ¡°In the Mesopotamian exhibit,¡± Rex told her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said. ¡°Leave the stones so he can be found and returned to his rightful home.¡±

    We moved quietly up the stairs and along the corridors. Thanks to lycan advanced hearing, we were able to avoid the guards on patrol. We even managed to walk past one who was too distracted watching a recap of cycling races on his phone to notice us. The Mesopotamian exhibit was on the ground floor of the Richelieu wing. My beast stirred as we got closer, and I focused my hearing just ahead.

    The winged bulls of King Sargon stood more than twice my height. They had the head of a human, the body of a bull, and the wings of an eagle. Their eyes started to glow white, and even though they were carved with baster, they moved gracefully into a low bow.

    ¡°My Queen,¡± they greeted in unison.

    They kept their legs bent and their heads low. We exchanged questioning nces, uncertain if they would attack.

    ¡°The Luna Queen is not with us,¡± ym said.

    ¡°We are looking for my Queen,¡± I spoke, but they remained still and silent.

    ¡°Are you a different kind of demon?¡± Ranger questioned, and silence was the answer.

    They had addressed my Aunt Hazel as Queen, and I knew they could sense her magic. I looked at her, wondering if they would speak to her, but she turned her focus to Storm. My sister met her eyes, and Hazel motioned with her head, encouraging Storm to try addressing the creatures. Storm blew out a sigh and turned to the bulls.

    ¡°Benevolent guardians of the ancient world,¡± Storm spoke. ¡°We have discovered malevolent and dangerous creatures lurking here and seek to destroy them.¡±

    The bull closest to us spoke. ¡°The demon you seek draws her power from an ancient Pharaoh and his talisman.¡±

    ¡°We have already found King Ramses,¡± Storm replied.

    ¡°Then you must destroy the source of power to release the moon,¡± another bull replied.

    Storm gasped in realization. ¡°The obelisk!¡±

    ¡°I would fly you, my Queen, but the demon has trapped us here with the magic,¡± the first responded as they returned to their standing positions and faded back to stone.

    Aunt Hazel looked up as if she was studying the ceiling. ¡°They¡¯re in this building.¡±

    ¡°How could they be in this building and go unnoticed?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°The secret apartments!¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans said. ¡°Only Napoleon The Third¡¯s apartment has been open to the public. The others have remained off limits for as long as I can remember.¡±

    ¡°Off limits because of magic,¡± Rex replied.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Ranger snarled.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Zeus barked. ¡°You heard what he said. We need to destroy the source of her power.¡±

    ¡°King Ramses¡¯ obelisk is on the other side of the gardens from here,¡± Rex said. ¡°I knew I was sensing something unusual from it.¡±

    ¡°It was his talisman,¡± Hazel said, piecing the puzzle together. ¡°She¡¯s channeling power from it through ancient magic using his bones.¡±

    ¡°You mean the obelisk is a big battery of power that she¡¯s been drawing from to hide out in the Louvre?¡± ym asked. ¡°Hasn¡¯t anyone noticed the mummy missing by now?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s smart enough to create a fake or have a minor demon shapeshift into the ancient King,¡± Zeus replied.

    ¡°What did he say about releasing the moon?¡± Rex said thoughtfully. ¡°There¡¯s no way she¡¯s got the Moon Goddess trapped upstairs, right?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no way a demon would be able to trap a Goddess,¡± ym chuckled.

    ¡°How do we destroy the Obelisk?¡± Storm asked. ¡°That thing has to be at least two hundred tons.¡±

    ¡°The top was capped with a gold leaf and bronze mixture,¡± Rex said. ¡°It conducts electricity.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll strike it until it cracks,¡± Storm said.

    ¡°It could burst open because of the energy it contains,¡± Uncle Zeus warned.

    ¡°We can¡¯t go charging in there until her source of magic is cut off,¡± I said. ¡°But once she feels it cut off, she¡¯ll know she¡¯s been discovered, and we won¡¯t be able to get back here fast enough.¡±

    ¡°You stay here and find their location,¡± Storm said. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the obelisk and cut off her power. Once she¡¯s unplugged, you can take her out.¡±

    ¡°What about the flying pests?¡± ym questioned. ¡°They¡¯re going to swarm you the moment you step outside.¡±

    ¡°Rex and ym wille with you,¡± I told my sister. ¡°His fire should keep them away.¡±

    Uncle Zeus¡¯ eyes swirled like melting silver when he used his element, and I knew he was shifting the air outside to create the static charge Storm would need. We walked her to the exit leading to the street side, and she scaled the iron fence with ease. Rex and ym followed after her.

    ¡°Napoleon¡¯s apartment is above the ground floor, but the west wing of the top level has remained closed off.¡± We followed Alpha Orl¨¦ans up the stairs.

    When we reached the top level, he started walking east instead of west. I tried to take a turn west and found my legs carrying me east as well.

    ¡°I thought we needed to go west?¡±

    ¡°We do,¡± Hazel said as she stood at the top of the stairs watching us. ¡°The enchantment forces people to move away from the west wing and forget about it.¡±

    ¡°Is this it?¡± I pointed to arge wall that reminded me of a firewall.

    ¡°It is,¡± Hazel replied. ¡°I can open it, but then she¡¯ll know we¡¯reing.¡±

    The sound of thunder and lightning sounded, and I focused my energy on helping Storm. I concentrated on the winds and built up a supercharge on top of the static Uncle Zeus had built. The cracks of lightning rumbled, and the lights in the building flickered.

    ¡°She¡¯s going to have hit it several times,¡± Uncle Zeus said.

    I heard several more strikes and felt a booming wave of energy explode as the sound of windows shattered. It resonated like a sonic boom, and I knew Storm had seeded.

    ¡°She did it!¡± Aunt Hazel said, clutching the glowing scarab around her neck. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    With a wave of her hand, the massive door opened, and a long hall full of artwork and green velvet wallpaper appeared. My ws extended, and my beast pushed forward. Ranger followed behind me as we quickly raced down the hall, with his parents and Alpha Orl¨¦ans behind us.

    ¡°Selena!¡± I called through the mind link.

    ¡°Lukas,¡± I heard the faint sound of her voice reply.

    ¡°I¡¯ming!¡±

    I heard the tremble of her voice whisper. ¡°I love you.¡±

 Book Moving 5/15/24

?? Don¡¯t wait to finish this book! It will be finished in a few more chapters and be moved from this tform 5/15/24.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 33 - Chadelier

    **This chapter got deleted, so I had to repost. Previousments missing.

    Selena

    Something was happening because the demon guarding our cell rushed out nearly an hour ago and hadn¡¯t returned.

    ¡°You think they found us?¡± Sol asked hopefully.

    ¡°I¡¯m not waiting around any longer to find out,¡± Grandma Dori said. ¡°We need to bust out of this joint.¡±

    ¡°The bars are silver,¡± Caspian reminded us.

    Grandma Dori reached into her purse and pulled out her lock pick kit and leather gloves. ¡°I¡¯ve got long sleeves on, so I think I can reach my hands around to the lock.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure if the idea gave me hope or scared me. ¡°What if hees back in and catches you?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s holy water in my purse,¡± Grandma whispered. ¡°Have it handy and use it if you need to.¡±

    Grandma slipped her gloves on and went to work on the lock while I rummaged in her bag of tricks. I found a small bottle with a picture of a green olive on it.

    ¡°Is this it?¡±

    She nced back over her shoulder and shook her head. ¡°No, that¡¯s my extra virgin olive oil.¡±

    ¡°Who carries olive oil in their purse?¡± Zane questioned.

    ¡°You never know when you might need it,¡± she shrugged. ¡°Look for the small clear bottles.¡±

    I dug around some more and found two bottles that fit that description. ¡°There¡¯s a round bottle and a square bottle.¡±

    ¡°The round bottle might be fresher, it¡¯s from Notre-Dame,¡± she exined. ¡°The square bottle is from the Vatican.¡±

    I tucked the square bottle in my pocket and handed the round one to Grandma. ¡°Keep it close. If shees near, we dowse her with it.¡±

    ¡°Do you think the holy water will work?¡± Cynder asked.

    ¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out,¡± Grandma replied.

    Jose moved behind Grandma to get a better look. ¡°I wish I knew how to pick locks... The silver doesn¡¯t affect me,¡± he sighed. ¡°Is it really deadly for wolves?¡±

    ¡°It can be,¡± I nodded.

    ¡°So, that¡¯s why you¡¯re allergic to silver,¡± he stated in understanding because I had always refused to wear it or look at it while shopping.

    Grandma reached for a different tool in her kit that looked like a small corkscrew and carefully reached her arms around the bars again. ¡°Boy, this lock is tricky!¡±

    Everything about Lilith bothered me. How could she possibly have captured a Goddess for twenty years? Didn¡¯t anyone in the realm of the moon notice she was missing? I knew time moved differently in other realms, but twenty years was long.

    I wondered if someone else was helping her because the amount of magic needed to trap the Moon Goddess would have been unimaginable. Unless she was tricked somehow? Erick was a mage, but I didn¡¯t sense his magic was strong enough for something like this.

    Mages had descended in the Darc family lines... was it possible that Jules could be a mage? No, he was an Alpha. I sensed his wolf.

    ¡°He could be a hybrid,¡± my wolf suggested.

    ¡°Jose, when was thest time you saw Jules Darc?¡±

    ¡°At La Tour when he was having dinner with his brother,¡± Jose said. ¡°But he came into this room a few hours ago to try and figure out which Alpha Caspian was. He got frustrated when Caspian didn¡¯t share his name and left swearing.¡±

    ¡°Swearing?¡± Grandma probed as she continued to work the lock.

    ¡°Something about all the LaRue mutts looking the same,¡± Jose shrugged. ¡°I tell you, green is not his shade.¡±

    ¡°Apparently, we get the signature LaRue look from the mortal lover of the Moon Goddess,¡± Caspian stated.

    ¡°Is Storm the first to bear a strong resemnce to the Goddess?¡± Sol asked, and the room fell silent.

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember seeing a portrait at Crescent Castle of anyone with the same hair color,¡± Zane said.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just the hair,¡± Cynder pressed.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s something that happens once every hundred years, like a golden wolf,¡± Sol suggested.

    ¡°Then he or she would still be alive,¡± Zane told my sister. ¡°It could be once in a thousand years or something. I bet Ambrose would know.¡±

    ¡°My bet is on Balthazar knowing this Jeopardy question,¡± Grandma said. ¡°I¡¯ll take ancient lycan for two thousand years old.¡±

    Joseughed as if he had just heard the punch line of a joke. ¡°Two thousand years... that¡¯s hrious.¡±

    ¡°Why would Jules Darc be working with the demon?¡±

    Eloise took a deep breath before she spoke. ¡°Erick told me Jules had been promised a lycan mate in exchange for bringing the silver-haired female to her.¡±

    ¡°Storm?¡± Caspian questioned.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s talking about Grandma,¡± Cynder replied.

    ¡°Rex and Storm are going to reach full lycan maturity in a month. Maybe she wanted to use their venom?¡±

    ¡°Venom?¡± Jose asked. ¡°Are we talking about Vampire venom?¡±

    ¡°You know about Vampires?¡±

    Caspian groaned. ¡°We¡¯ve had plenty of time sitting around here to catch Jose up to speed.¡±

    ¡°I would have thought my best friend would have mentioned it sooner,¡± Jose snarked. ¡°But I understand thews of your kind. If we make it out of here alive, I promise not to tell anyone... Well, I¡¯ll probably talk shit about you to Erick, but I won¡¯t say a thing to anyone else.¡±

    ¡°The shade!¡± My wolf snickered.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I really wanted to tell you, but I couldn¡¯t.¡±

    The door opened with a bang, and Fontenay entered the room with a sadistic smile on his face. Grandma stepped back and tucked the small tool at her side. Before I could register what happened, Fontenay turned into a poof of ck mist and reappeared inside the cage with us.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Erick needs a little motivation,¡± he smiled as he grabbed ahold of Jose and poofed right out of the cell with him.

    ¡°Get your bear ws off me!¡± Jose struggled against the monster¡¯s brutal hold on him.

    ¡°Stop! What are you doing with him?¡± I screamed as I watched in horror.

    Jose kicked at the demon, but every time his foot made contact, Fontenay¡¯s legs turned to mist. The arm wrapped around Jose also turned into an octopus-like tentacle, and I noticed he had shapeshifted most of his body into mist to protect his true form.

    ¡°Jose, go for the eyes!¡± Caspian shouted.

    The door closed behind Fontenay as he dragged Jose along. Air caught in my lungs and I felt the tears sting my eyes. Jose wasn¡¯t from our world, and it was all my fault. He shouldn¡¯t even be here, and I may have just gotten him killed for knowing me.

    ¡°We need to get out of here and help him.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m working on it,¡± Grandma said as she resumed lock picking.

    ¡°She¡¯s going to use Jose to force Erick to do something he doesn¡¯t want to,¡± Eloise sobbed.

    ¡°Selena, honey, can you get me the half diamond pick from the kit,¡± Grandma asked.

    I moved to her purse and reached for the lock pick kit. There were so many different picks with different ends. ¡°Which one is it?¡±

    ¡°The one on the right side that looks like a half of a diamond shape.¡±

    I passed her the tool and heard the tumble of the lock.

    ¡°I got it!¡± She used her covered arm to push the door open and rushed out. I immediately followed her and heard a loud nk of bars from behind me.

    ¡°Oh, hell!¡± Grandma mumbled as she took in the new bars that had suddenly appeared in the room.

    ¡°Selena!¡± My sister cried out in shock.

    They were still stuck in the cell with the open door, but a new set of silver bars split the room in half. We were separated on the other side of the room with the door, and I stood rooted in ce. I didn¡¯t want to leave the others, and I wasn¡¯t sure what was waiting for us outside this room.

    I nearly screamed when the door pushed open and Jules Darc sauntered in with a wide smile on his face.

    ¡°I knew you were going to be trouble ever since you knocked over the mb¨¦ trolley,¡± heughed. ¡°Though I¡¯m a fan of your work with the macaron tree at the ball.¡±

    ¡°What a pity I don¡¯t have one now,¡± Grandma huffed, and he chuckled again.

    ¡°I bet she¡¯d shove it up your ass,¡± Caspian bit back.

    ¡°I would have enjoyed seeing her do that to Pierre,¡± he smiled, and the madness behind his piercing green eyes shed red. His wolf had gone mad.

    ¡°You killed your brother,¡± I breathed.

    ¡°And now it¡¯s all mine,¡± he smirked.

    ¡°You do realize the Darc pack and all of its assets have been seized by lycans,¡± Zane told him.

    ¡°The Queen will take care of it,¡± he smiled.

    ¡°You think the demon will help you win back your pack back?¡±

    ¡°I know she will,¡± he said. ¡°Now, since you two are so anxious to leave the cell, which one of you would like to dance with me under the beautiful chandelier?¡±

    ¡°Boy, you¡¯re a few bonbons short, aren¡¯t you?¡± Grandma said with a scowl.

    ¡°It sounds like you volunteered first!¡± Jules reached for Grandma, and she pulled away from him faster than I expected she could.

    ¡°Jules!¡± Caspian snarled.

    ¡°Leave her alone!¡± Cynder screamed.

    ¡°The eyes, Dori,¡± Zane yelled, and Grandma jabbed the small lock-picking tool in his eye.

    Screaming and thrashing, Jules reached for his bloody eye. I knew it wouldn¡¯t be enough to kill an Alpha, but he was injured and vulnerable, so I did the only thing I could think of.

    ¡°The silver bars!¡± I said as I gave Jules a hard push towards the bars. He roared and tried to take an angry swing at me, but he missed.

    ¡°Again!¡± Caspian urged.

    I pushed him again, and Grandma stuck her foot out to help him along. The angry Alpha went crashing face first into the burning silver bars. Jules howled in pain and dropped to his knees. If he touched the silver long enough, it might just be enough to kill him.

    ¡°I hear you killed your own mother!¡± Grandma scolded as she pressed the back of her Hush Puppy between his shoulders and sent him falling into the silver bars again.

    ¡°That fucking bitch!¡± He roared as spit shot from his mouth. Jules pulled back from the bars, panting and breathing hard while blood continued to drip from his face, soaking his shirt.

    Grandma tutted. ¡°That¡¯s no way to speak about the woman who birthed you.¡±

    ¡°She sent my pregnant mate to the apartment when it should have been her!¡±

    It all started to make sense. Jules had set the bomb in his apartment to kill his mother, and the unfortunate Omega who died must have been his chosen mate. He had either killed his mother and brother or forced Erick to do it.

    ¡°Why did you set the bomb at my apartment?¡± I asked, and heughed.

    ¡°To keep us here longer,¡± Zane growled.

    Rage filled me, and hisugh was starting to annoy my wolf. Jules had been promised a lycan, and Alpha Darc thought he could take one or force one into heat and im her. I grabbed a fistful of his hair and pressed his face against the bars again. He lifted his hands to grab ahold of something to push back with, but he only found the burning bars against his palms.

    ¡°Never send a wolf to do demon work,¡± thundered a voice behind us.

    Letting go of Jules, I turned to find Fontenay behind us. ¡°You didn¡¯t lock the cell,¡± he snarled at Jules, whose face was too bloody and swollen to speak.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen his handy work with bombs,¡± Grandma said, shaking her head. ¡°He¡¯s always so sloppy.¡±

    ¡°Are you two going toe along nicely?¡± He asked.

    ¡°What do you consider nice?¡± She asked, and I had a feeling she was stalling.

    ¡°The entire wing is enchanted, and you can¡¯t escape. You may as well make it easier on yourself,¡± he replied.

    In one swift move, Grandma started flinging her arm back and forth in the direction of Fontenay. Water sshed out from the small round bottle in her hand and sprayed him. ¡°BE GONE DEMON!¡± She cried out.

    Slowly, he lifted one of his big bear-wed hands and wiped the water from his face. He looked at Grandma and narrowed his gaze on the bottle in her hand before he chuckled. ¡°Is that the holy water from Notre-Dame?¡±

    ¡°In the name of Jesus,¡± Grandma flicked her hand again, and he roared withughter.

    ¡°I suppose if I was a real priest, I might have blessed that, but I filled the font and tank with toilet water,¡± he grinned.

    ¡°Well, the jokes on you because you¡¯re the one covered in toilet juice,¡± Grandma scowled.

    ¡°It sure beats Jesus juice,¡± heughed. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had such a goodugh. I think I¡¯m going to save you forst.¡±

    ¡°Last for what?¡± Grandma asked.

    Fontenay didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he shoved me out the door, and I heard the lock tumble as if by magic. Panic filled me, thinking about Grandma being separated from the others. The demon turned into mist, and a tentacle arm snaked around me. I couldn¡¯t see him anymore. The ck cloud surrounded me and then pulled away to reveal we had traveled into another room.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Grandma?¡± I demanded, but Fontenay remained half demon, half mist.

    I looked around the massive room and realized that it was the first parlor we had entered when we arrived. Arge chandelier hung in the center of the room and the furniture that was beneath it had been cleared out.

    ¡°Have a seat,¡± Fontenay ordered.

    ¡°No thanks,¡± I snapped. ¡°I¡¯ll stand.¡± My eyes searched the room for the nearest exit, and I wondered if I could outrun him. The only problem was I wasn¡¯t sure how to get out of the museum.

    ¡°I insist,¡± he dered before he shoved me down onto a chair that had suddenly appeared.

    ¡°Run,¡± Ste urged me, and I tried to scramble off the chair, but Fontenay was fast.

    I was pulled back in the chair with enough force to knock the wind out of my lungs. Ropes slithered around me like magic snakes, securing me to the chair. I quickly lifted my right arm away from the chair and reached for the small square bottle of holy water from the Vatican. I wasn¡¯t sure if it would work, but I needed to try.

    I pressed the bottle to my mouth and uncorked it with my teeth. ¡°BE GONE DEMON!¡± I shouted as Grandma did and sprayed the bottle at Fontenay.

    A savage roar of pain shook the room before the bottle was knocked out of my hand. I had just managed to burn his arm and watched in fear as the rest of the small bottle spilled on the rug. Fontenay was still alive, and regret filled me. I should have given Grandma the bottle from the Vatican. When she had sshed him, she had managed to get his entire face wet.

    Fontenay¡¯s left arm disintegrated into ash, and he roared again. ¡°You little bitch!¡± He snarled and delivered a closed-fisted punch to my face.

    My head snapped back, and I felt the entire room spin. The massive light fixture above blurred and spun, but I noticed the silver spikes that had been added to the ornamentation of the chandelier¡¯s underside. Blood ran from my nose and down to my chin. Taking deep breaths, I tried not to panic.

    ¡°Selena!¡± I heard the sweet sound of his voice through the mind link.

    I groaned, feeling my eyes grow heavy. ¡°Lukas?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ming!¡± He promised, but I wasn¡¯t sure if he would make it on time or if I would survive.

    ¡°I love you.¡±

 Chapter 34 - Freed

    <b>I finished this chapter early so I could celebrate my Birthday! Don''t go far because we only have two or three chapters left! The book will leave this tform around May 15th. </b>

    <b>For those of you asking, yes, the next book in Rise of The Lycans will be Rex''s story, followed by Storms! </b>

    <b>**************</b>

    I''m pulling this out because I''ve rewritten this chapter - It is now Chapter 34 - OnughtBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

 Rewrite - Freed

Hi, I''m working on rewriting some things in chapter 34. I wanted a bigger fight scene, and I have a plot hole I need to fix. N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Stay tuned.

    Happy Mothers Day! Yes, I''m writing today! LOL

 Chapter 34 Rewrite - Onslaught

    <b>*** CHAPTER 34 FREED HAS BEEN REWRITTEN. Apparently, I was in a hurry to get to my birthday cake and missed a few things. </b>

    <b>I have expanded the fight scene to include our MC more, and I fixed a few plot holes. </b>

    **********

    Lukas

    My ws scraped along the green wallpaper of the hall when I sensed theming.

    ¡°Shifters!¡± I snarled.

    ¡°Rogues?¡± Ranger asked, and then we saw them.

    ¡°Darc pack warriors,¡± Alpha Orl¨¦ans growled. ¡°Jules must be here.¡±

    There had to be at least two dozen filling the end of the hall, all with death wishes. I shifted my upper body and charged with my ws fully extended. Lycan ws were much longer than shifter ws, and I saw the fear reflect back in the eyes of the first warrior I sliced down.

    A few had already shifted into their wolves because they relied heavily on their wolf side for battle and failed to train properly in human form. A brown wolf leaped for me, and I shed his chest wide open. Another tried to sink his ws into my still human leg and was met with Alpha Orl¨¦ans¡¯ ck Alpha wolf pouncing on him.

    Ranger snapped the arm of another, and I continued cutting them down. A big fat warrior who seemed to rely on his heft, came crashing down and Alpha Orl¨¦ans tore at his face. One of the warriors got past me and Ranger, and I heard the snarl of Uncle Zeus behind us.

    My ws dripped with blood, and the carnage stacked up the hall. Something sharp pierced my arm, and I looked down to see a silver de sticking out of my flesh. My beast roared his outrage, and I speared the warrior through his throat with my ws. His eyes bulged wide, and as I looked into them, his thoughts flowed through me. I had read his mind without trying.

    I shifted my head back to human form, but continued the assault.

    ¡°They¡¯ve all been promised lycan mates,¡± I snarled, sending an elbow crashing into another warrior, who dropped to the floor.

    ¡°There aren¡¯t enough lycans,¡± Ranger replied as he snapped the neck of another.

    ¡°The demon told them about venom.¡± I kicked another in his family jewels and dropped him for Alpha Orl¨¦ans to finish off.

    ¡°So, she wanted Storm for her venom?¡± Ranger asked as he tossed another warrior onto the pile.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± I replied, alleviating thest warrior of his throat.

    I looked down to find my fur and ws covered in blood. I shifted my upper body back, and my eyes fell to the silver de still embedded in my arm. There was no sting or burn, and I wondered if it was really silver after all. The ck wolf that belonged to Alpha Orl¨¦ans looked up at the de and gave a low whine.

    ¡°I can¡¯t feel a thing,¡± I told him.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Uncle Zeus asked.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not real silver?¡± I said as a dying warrior near my foot moved. ¡°I feel fine,¡± I assured them as I stomped on the throat of the warrior who reached for my foot.

    Ranger stretched his hand out and touched the part of the exposed de that wasn¡¯t buried in my flesh. With a hiss, he immediately pulled his finger away.

    ¡°It¡¯s real silver,¡± he announced.

    I removed the de and stared curiously at the wound. It felt like a normal scratch, and I sensed it was healing already.

    ¡°Could I be immune?¡± I asked Aunt Hazel.

    Her hands started moving vigorously as she signed. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Balthazar didn¡¯t believe that lycans were immune, but he was immortal for so long. The Hall of Records was written in hieroglyphs, so there¡¯s a possibility that something was lost in trantion. Your grandmother was a silver wolf, and she was immune¡­ Storm is the same.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t feel a stinging burn at all?¡± Uncle Zeus asked.

    ¡°No,¡± I shook my head. ¡°We can figure it outter, I need to find my mate.¡±

    ¡°Sol!¡± Ranger started stepping over the bodies in search of his mate. ¡°Mateo is going to kill us!¡±

    We rushed into arge parlor that looked frozen in time. ck mist floated in a circle beneath arge chandelier, and I couldn¡¯t see through it. It shook something in me, and I grappled with my beast for control.

    <b>¡°SELENA!¡±</b> I roared, needing to find her.

    ¡°Wee, Lycan King,¡± a female voice echoed back, and I wondered if the demon was standing in the middle of the mist, using her henchmen as shields.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Aunt Hazel¡¯s voice floated through the mind link to all of us. ¡°The demons havebined their magic to keep the enchantment on this room.¡±

    ¡°What kind of enchantment?¡± Uncle Zeus questioned.

    ¡°Most likely to keep you from shifting or using an element.¡±

    ¡°Alpha Orl¨¦ans is still shifted¡­ If I step back out into the hall and shift, I could return in my lycan form.¡±

    ¡°Does it prevent you from using your magic?¡± Ranger questioned.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± she said, shaking her head. I felt her energy change, which triggered whispers from the mist. Her hazel eyes turned dark, and the emerald scarab hanging on her neck started glowing brighter. ¡°Stay behind me,¡± she whispered.

    The mist was so thick that I knew there had to be more than one demon forming it, but I couldn¡¯t tell where one started and the other ended. My fists clenched tight at my sides, and I felt my beast trying to shift. I didn¡¯t have time for these games and needed to find my mate. I could sense her near, but she was nowhere in sight.

    A thunderous voice I had never heard before resonated in warning.

    ¡°Cease now, or I will make you,¡± Aunt Hazel ordered. My eyes connected with Ranger¡¯s, and I blinked in disbelief. Ranger looked just as stunned hearing the power that emerged from his normally soft-spoken mother.

    An eerie sound of chatter spoken in the demon¡¯snguage filled the parlor, making my beast snarl. I tried to shift my ws but couldn¡¯t. The fog spun faster and faster, and I wondered if it was a trick to have one of us attack the fog only to be trapped inside.

    ¡°Enough,¡± I bellowed out, my eyes desperately seeking my mate.

    The back of my neck prickled, and the corners of the room were swarmed with ck mist.

    ¡°How many demons are there?¡± Ranger whispered, and I knew he was just as anxious to find his mate.

    ¡°Selena?¡± I called through the mate bond and heard only silence.

    The cloaked demon appeared on the other side of the room, dressed in the same cloak she wore at the cemetery. I couldn¡¯t see her horns, but I knew they were under there.

    ¡°You must stop this at once, or I¡¯ll send all of you to the deepest depths of Tartarus,¡± Aunt Hazel warned.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a nice surprise,¡± the she-demon cackled. ¡°Another little mage who thinks she can challenge me.¡±

    Aunt Hazel was good at concealing her magic, but this was the first time I had ever witnessed her release her full aura. She looked straight at the demon, weing the challenge as she stretched out her full power. The invisible energy billowed out from under her and around her. It was a tension of imposing strength that left me speechless as it spread across the room with enough concentration to shake the chandelier.

    ¡°Perhaps I was wrong about you,¡± the demon uttered in surprise as the weight of Hazel¡¯s power hit her.

    ¡°Why are you here?¡± I demanded.

    ¡°The same reason you are,¡± the demon snarled. ¡°I want my mate.¡±

    She held her wed hand out and whispered something under her breath. A red orb came to life in her palm, whirling with a dark force. Hazel moved her arm in a swiping motion, and explosive energy knocked the demon back into the wall. The demon fired off the orb, but Hazel gave azy wave of her hand, and it evaporated into nothing.

    ¡°The obelisk has been destroyed, and your magic is weak in this realm,¡± Aunt Hazel said as her palms started to glow green like the scarab around her neck.

    ¡°And your magic?¡± The she-demon questioned. ¡°Merlin¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°Try again,¡± Aunt Hazel replied as she swished her hand in the air, sending the demon hurtling into the wall on the right side of the room. She crashed into an old hanging portrait of someone I didn¡¯t recognize, and the gilded frame fell to the floor. The demon staggered to her feet with a snarl. Alpha Orl¨¦ans¡¯ wolf wagged his tail and gave a happy bark.

    Her eyes narrowed as she tried to sense the origins of the magic. ¡°Circe?¡±

    ¡°Wrong again,¡± Aunt Hazel clipped, and a green sh shot from her hands that sent the she-demon sailing through the air again. This time, I felt the walls of the room vibrate from the tension of the energying from the little she-wolf standing in front of me.

    ¡°You have no business here, child of Hecate!¡± The demon snarled as the whispers of the mist grew.

    ¡°Selena?¡± I tried calling my mate again. ¡°Are you able to mind link with Sol?¡± I asked Ranger.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied. ¡°She said they¡¯re locked in a cell.¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I hear Selena?¡±

    Just then, the she-demon¡¯s mist swirled, and a form emerged from the ck fog. A tightness gripped my heart as I saw my smiling mate standing in the ce of the demon. She stole my breath for an entirely different reason. Her rounded stomach was heavy with our pup, and I knew the demon knew.

    ¡°It¡¯s not real,¡± Uncle Zeus barked.

    I had heard demons were cunning creatures that could shapeshift, but this was more. This was a threat. If she wanted me to trade myself for the safety of my mate, I would.

    ¡°Sol said the demon is Lilith,¡± Ranger told us through the mind link.

    ¡°Who¡¯s Lilith, and why can¡¯t I hear my mate?¡±

    ¡°Lilith was cast out of Heaven and is believed to be a powerful demon,¡± Ranger replied. ¡°Lilith has the Moon Goddess trapped here, and Sol thinks they¡¯re keeping Selena with the Goddess.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re Lilith?¡± I questioned. ¡°What do you want from shifters?¡±

    ¡°That is a matter your Goddess needs help deciding,¡± the demon version of my mate replied in a voice that wasn¡¯t my mate.

    ¡°The Moon Goddess is here?¡± Uncle Zeus whispered.

    The she-demon evaporated intoplete mist, and a violet-colored ball of fire wasunched at us. Aunt Hazel muttered something I couldn¡¯t understand, and the fire vanished. I could sense Lilith¡¯s anger and frustration rising with each passing minute as she realized the magnitude of the power she was facing. Without Ramses, her power was limited in this realm.

    My uncle¡¯s voice came through the mind link. ¡°A demon fights in mist form because they¡¯re vulnerable in solid form,¡± he exined. ¡°She¡¯s getting ready to attack.¡±

    Alpha Orl¨¦ans snarled, baring his teeth at the demon, ready for a fight. Even if I could shift, my ws wouldn¡¯t be able to slice through the demon if she was in mist form, and my beast wanted to rip her apart limb by limb.

    ¡°I¡¯ll cast a defense shield over you,¡± Aunt Hazel replied through the link.

    That¡¯s when I felt it¡­ the energy pulsed around us like a bubble of protection. It spread over my skin, soft and warm, keeping us safe.

    Another ball of violet mes was tossed in the air, but it wasn¡¯t aimed at us. It was aimed just above the massive chandelier, and it was then that I noticed something unusual about it. The underside had been altered with spikes, and the entire frame had been dipped in silver.

    The me hit the metal chain just above the chandelier, and the spinning dense mist of demons scattered in different directions to reveal what had been concealed.

    <b>¡°SELENA!¡±</b> My mate was tied to a chair beneath the chandelier, which had started to fall.

    <b>¡°NO!¡±</b> I screamed, rushing for her.

    Pain exploded inside of me when it crashed down on her, knocking her and the chair backward. My heart stopped beating, and my beast roared. I reached for the chandelier, not caring that it was silver. Not caring that I had left the safety of Hazel¡¯s shield. Adrenaline pumped through me and I used my lycan strength to flip the chandelier that weighed a few tons off my mate.

    I felt a crunching blow to my side and turned to find a demon version of the priest hovering over me before he shifted into mist again. A second ck misty form rushed for me, and a tentacle-like arm swung inches from my face. A green sh of light hit the mist, and it turned to ash.

    ¡°Selena,¡± I reached for my mate and realized Ranger was beside me.

    I cradled her head as my beast howled in pain. Her face was bruised, her nose bleeding, and her lower lip was split. Her breathing came in short, shallow breaths, and fear surged through every cell of my body. The wooden chair had snapped under the weight of the chandelier, so I knew she would also have broken bones and internal injuries I couldn¡¯t see. Ranger worked to untie her from the broken pieces of the chair. One of the silver spikes had pierced through her thigh and another through her shoulder, but it was the one through her stomach that gutted me.

    I felt the barrier of protection nket us again and sensed Aunt Hazel had moved behind me with Uncle Zeus at her back. ck mist rushed toward us but was repelled back when it met the invisible barrier that was cast around us.

    ¡°Should I try to find Sol?¡± Ranger asked with a hint of panic. ¡°Sol might be able to heal her?¡±

    Alpha Orl¨¦ans gave a yap, he had experienced Sol¡¯s healing power earlier. His wolf darted for a door on the other side and disappeared in search of Sol.

    ¡°Open your eyes, Princess,¡± I called to my mate, but she was unresponsive.

    I wasn¡¯t sure if Ranger would be able to safely find Sol and the others. Alpha Orl¨¦ans had just disappeared and may have walked into a trap. We knew they were in a cell, but we didn¡¯t know where and what kind of enchantment or trap it had in store for us. Aunt Hazel was behind me, casting her magic and picking off the demons one by one. The walls shook, and ss shattered as she fired off her counterattack.

    ¡°Lukas, tell me what to do,¡± Ranger begged. I could hear her pulse growing weaker. She had lost so much blood, and the silver had already infected her bloodstream.

    ¡°Selena, please¡­¡± I knew what I needed to do. It was the only thing I could do.

    ¡°Lukas?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to turn her,¡± I told him.

    ¡°Now?¡± He asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s not going to make it,¡± I told him as I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth to stimte the venom that would turn her into a lycan.

    ¡°Will the venom make her immune to silver?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Balthazar said the venom sets off a burning reaction in the body that purifies before the gic change.¡±

    ¡°A burning reaction in the body? What about the pup?¡± Ranger asked, and my hand shot to the lower region of her stomach.

    I knew the transition would be a painful process for her, but I wasn¡¯t going to risk losing my mate. She had silver in her bloodstream, and I didn¡¯t expect our baby to survive that. I was a selfish bastard, and I refused to be in this world without her. If I needed to die with her, then I would.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, little one.¡± I silently begged my unborn child for forgiveness.

    My canines dropped, and I felt the venom coat my teeth. I lowered my head to her neck just as the floor shook. Cries echoed in the room behind me, but all I could focus on was my mate. Her flesh was hot against my mouth, and I quickly sank my teeth into her tender flesh.

    I wasn¡¯t sure if I needed to do anything else, and I suddenly wished I had asked Uncle Balthazar detailed questions: How long would a transition take? What can I do to ease the pain? Should I give her a second dose of venom if she¡¯s injured? Will she lose our pup? Will she hate me for saving her and not the pup?

    Pulling away, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and met Ranger¡¯s sympathetic eyes. I didn¡¯t know what else to do, so I reached my arms under her and cradled her limp body to my chest. Her heartbeat seemed to grow weaker, and a scream of pain threatened to burst from me. I silently begged the Moon Goddess not to take her from me.

    ¡°Fuck! Storm¡¯s vision,¡± Ranger whispered, shaking his head.

    ¡°Come on, Princess,¡± I begged. ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me.¡±

    ¡°Did you inject her already?¡± Uncle Zeus asked.

    ¡°Stay with me,¡± I kissed her forehead.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ranger answered his father¡¯s question. ¡°Her heartbeat is faint.¡±

    ¡°Lukas, she¡¯s going to be fine,¡± Uncle Zeus assured me. ¡°The transition takes time.¡±

    I looked around the room and noticed the stters of ash where demons once stood. Between the carnage in the hall and the destruction in this room, it was an onught, and my beast wanted more. All of this wasn¡¯t enough for the suffering my mate had to endure, and he roared inside of me.

    A creature that resembled the priest we had seen at the church appeared in front of us, wielding a silver scorpion whip. He seemed to be missing an arm and continued tosh the whip against the invisible barrier in frustration. He had morphed into a half-bear, half-man creature, and I knew he was one of her strongest.

    This fucker was her second-inmand, and he had a hand in what happened to my mate. My pup. A feral rage overtook me, and I sprang for him. My close-fisted punchnded on his face. Someone had struck my mate in the face, and I suspected this filthy creature.

    To wield the silver weapon in his hand, he had to keep some portion of his body in form. I wanted to shift my ws more than anything and slice him to pieces, but I would have to settle on my bare hands. I sent another punch to his throat, unsure if demons even breathed air, and he staggered back.

    Another demon creature resembling a leprechaun rushed for me, and my foot made contact with his head before he could turn to mist. A long tentacleing from the missing area of the demon priest¡¯s arm tried to wrap itself around my leg, and I stomped it down beneath my foot.

    The demon pulled back, trying to free his tentacle, but I kept it pinned beneath my full weight. He swung his arm back, preparing to strike me with the silver whip, and I snatched it as it came down. Blood ran from my hand as it tore into my flesh, but I knew my lycan healing would heal me fast.

    I used the scorpion whip to slice off the tentacle I had secured with my foot, and he roared as it turned to ash. He took a swing at me with his free hand, and I dodged the blow. A yellow sh shot in my direction and it was met with a green sh belonging to Aunt Hazel.

    We had trained with human weapons in our pack, and I pulled the whip back, ready to end the creature. In one smooth sideways flick, the whip cracked forward and wrapped around his neck. The small silver des lining the tail were made for tearing through flesh, but I wasn¡¯t going to tear through his flesh. I was going to cut his head off.

    With one hard yank, the whip pulled tighter, and his fat head rolled off his body. It hit the floor with a <i>thunk</i> and rolled to Lilith¡¯s feet before turning to ash. She screamed in rage as her second-inmand lost his head.

    I pulled the whip back, ready to send her back to hell when I felt the energy shift in the room.

 Chapter 35 - Demon King

    <b>*** Happy Mother¡¯s Day! I re-wrote chapter 34, so be sure to read it if you haven¡¯t. </b>

    <b>Two more posts to go! </b>Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Lukas

    ¡°What is going on here?¡± A female who radiated divinity entered the room, and the world felt like it had stopped spinning. She looked so familiar, and my mind struggled to understand it.

    Jose, Erick, and Grandma followed behind her, and I wondered if Alpha Orl¨¦ans had found Sol and the others.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to get it now!¡± Grandma told Lilith.

    The female wearing a crescent moon on her head looked at Lilith and a power I had never felt before charged the air. A ss white bubble formed around Lilith, entrapping her inside. She shifted from mist to solid form, screaming with rage and desperately seeking a point of escape.

    My beast snarled. He wanted to punish her for hurting my mate. For hurting my pup.

    Uncle Zeus and Aunt Hazel immediately recognized the neer and bowed their heads. Ranger followed his parents and lowered his head, but I kept my eyes fixed on her as I moved back to my mate. Something about her was so strangely familiar¡­ like I had known her my whole life. The Moon Goddess radiated celestial energy, and it calmed my beast.

    ¡°Why does my sister look so much like you?¡± It shot out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

    The Goddess moved closer to me and stopped a few feet away. I looked into her eyes and found my own. The blue eyes that had been so prominent in the LaRue family. I even saw the same amused twinkle in her eyes that I often saw in Papa Diesel¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°A long time ago, your great uncle Ranger sacrificed his life to save you, your mother, the twins she carried, and Hazel,¡± she said. ¡°I rewarded his sacrifice with a blessing.¡±

    ¡°A blessing?¡±

    ¡°The twins have been touched by the moon,¡± she replied.

    ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t Rex have silver hair?¡±

    She smiled, and the twinkle in her eyes seemed to dance. ¡°There is a light side and a dark side of the moon.¡±

    ¡°Is that why they both have visions?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°Yes, and they will discover another gift when the time is right.¡±

    ¡°Another gift?¡± I pressed.

    ¡°Their bond runs deep, and I cannot bear to see them separated,¡± she nodded.

    ¡°What do you mean separated? You can¡¯t separate them!¡± Rex and Storm hade into this world together and did almost everything together. Even their visions seemed to be two halves of a whole.

    She moved closer to me and reached out her hand, cing it on my cheek. ¡°Thank you for freeing me,¡± she smiled. ¡°Thank you all.¡±

    ¡°Will my mate be okay?¡± I bowed my head.

    ¡°Yes, and so will your pup,¡± she said, lowering herself beside my mate and cing her hand on Selena¡¯s stomach. The pup is already a lycan, so the transition will not hurt her.¡±

    ¡°Her?¡± I questioned, and Uncle Zeus chuckled behind me, patting me on the back.

    I was having a little girl. A future Queen for the realm.

    The Goddess beamed at me. ¡°Little Lucy will be the greatest lycan yet.¡±

    ¡°Forgive me for asking,¡± Uncle Zeus said. ¡°How did she trap you here for so long?¡±

    ¡°She found my sleeping mate.¡±

    ¡°I thought the sanctuary of Endymion was protected?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°It is,¡± the Goddess replied. ¡°Especially from humans, but she¡¯s not human. She stole magic from the Demon King and escaped to this realm to use it.¡±

    ¡°Is your mate here?¡± Ranger asked the Goddess.

    ¡°He sure is!¡± Grandma said. ¡°And what a handsome beauty. We found him before we stumbled into her room.¡±

    ¡°I must return my mate to his sanctuary in the mountains and get back to the realm of the moon,¡± she said. ¡°But I will take care of Lilith first.¡±

    ¡°Are demons destroyed when they turn to ash?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°Demons are immortal,¡± the Goddess replied. ¡°When they¡¯re turned to ash, they return to the Dark Realm.¡±

    ¡°So, Lilith cane back?¡± I thundered, realizing the whip was still in my hand. I needed to know she would suffer. I needed to see her punished.

    ¡°I have summoned the Demon King to deal with her. Trapping a Goddess for twenty years has consequences,¡± the Goddess said.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone notice you were trapped sooner?¡± Uncle Zeus asked.

    ¡°Time moves differently between the realms,¡± the Goddess replied.

    ¡°Does this mean the mate bonds have been restored?¡±

    ¡°Touch your mate and tell me,¡± she smiled.

    I knelt beside my mate and felt the punch to my gut when I saw the crusted blood on her face. Regret filled me for not being able to get to her sooner, for not being able to prevent this, and for not being able to torture the demon who did this to her.

    The breath in my throat caught when my hand caressed the soft skin of her arm. A warm wave of tingles flowed from my hand through my body and I knew with every fiber of my being Selena was the other half of my soul. It was the most incredible gift the Goddess had ever given shifters.

    ¡°It¡¯s incredible,¡± I whispered, cupping her face.

    ¡°I need to find my mate!¡± Ranger said, rushing for the exit.

    ¡°Downstairs, second door on the left,¡± Grandma shouted as he disappeared through the same door Alpha Orl¨¦ans had taken.

    The earth shook, and Uncle Zeus turned his gaze to me. I shook my head to let him know it wasn¡¯t me. I wasn¡¯t using my element or losing control of it. The room was suddenly cloaked in darkness, and the energy felt as wild as burning mes.

    ¡°Demon King,¡± the voice of the Goddess floated in the air. Like the moon in a dark sky, her hair and skin radiated a soft light that kept the darkness from washing over us.

    ¡°Moon Goddess,¡± I saw a massive creature in the corner that appeared to be half man and half¡­ something else.

    A long tail twitched around behind him, and he bore two golden horns at the top of his head. His legs were shrouded in ck mist, but his upper body seemed to have golden marks swirled or tattooed into his skin. He wore gold cuffs around his wrists and forearms with the eight-point star engraved in them and looked like an ancient god.

    Lilith screamed with rage, and the Demon King¡¯s eyes zed with fire, like my father¡¯s when he used his gift. There was something ethereal about him, and I wondered if the Demon King was a demon or god.

    ¡°She trapped me here for twenty years,¡± the Goddess spoke.

    ¡°I did not know,¡± he replied, and the walls shook with his anger.

    ¡°A hundred years in the depths of Tartarus of each year stolen,¡± the Goddess replied.

    ¡°Two thousand years?¡± He replied pensively. Lilith shifted into her human form, with the exception of her horns, and wore full lingerie. She pouted her lips and fluttered her eyshes at him.

    ¡°She has interfered in the lives of my children,¡± the Goddess continued. ¡°I can bring this matter before the council of Gods, but I would like to to give you the chance to make amends so I can fulfill my duties to the mate bonds.¡±

    ¡°Please!¡± Lilith cried. ¡°I have been wronged, my King.¡±

    This was the King she wanted. The one she tried to force the Moon Goddess to bond with her. The realization hit me like a freight train. He was a descendant of Anubis, and my lycan sensed a wolf within him.

    The Demon King met my eyes, almost as if he had been able to hear my thoughts. His eyes burned with fire, and mine swirled as my beast pushed forward.

    ¡°Is Tartarus a fiery inferno like Hell?¡± Grandma asked.

    ¡°Worse,¡± he snarled.

    ¡°She had others working with her,¡± the Goddess informed him.

    ¡°Yes, they¡¯ve already been returned to the Dark Realm,¡± his eyes moved to Aunt Hazel, and he raised a questioning eyebrow. ¡°ck wolves have always been loyal to Hecate,¡± he mused.

    ¡°You, of all, should know bloodlines asionally cross,¡± the Goddess told him.

    ¡°And what of our deal?¡± He leveled his gaze at the Goddess.

    ¡°It¡¯s not time yet,¡± she told him.

    ¡°One more month,¡± he replied.

    ¡°You will keep your promise,¡± she pressed.

    He chuckled. ¡°A deal is a deal, Great Aunt,¡± he replied.

    The Goddess gave him a questioning look before she replied. ¡°As for Lilith?¡±

    He grinned and gave a nod. ¡°Two thousand years in Tartarus should keep her from meddling in my affairs.¡±

    A booming sound resonated in the room, and it felt like an implosion urred where he was standing. The light returned, and the Demon King was gone with Lilith. I looked down to find my mate had opened her eyes, and they swirled back at me.

    ¡°Selena,¡± I breathed a sigh of relief and scooped my mate up. Sheid her head against my chest and closed her eyes again.

    ¡°Look at this mess,¡± Grandma said, shaking her head. ¡°I bet that rug is priceless.¡±

    ¡°No amount of vinegar will get those stains out,¡± Jose told her.

    The Goddess turned to them with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll set everything right when I transport you out.¡±

    ¡°Transport us out?¡± Grandma questioned, and the room around us faded away.

    I heard the sound of water flowing before I saw the fountain in the courtyard. The golden ss pyramid stood behind me, and the Louvre seemed quiet in the night. She had not only transported us out of the secret wing but also everyone who was locked in the cell, along with Alpha Orleans.

    ¡°What happened?¡± ym asked. ¡°One moment, we¡¯re stepping over bodies in a long hall, and the next, we¡¯re outside again.¡±

    ¡°Storm¡­Rex¡­¡± Grandma called out, waving to them. ¡°You missed all the action.¡±

    ¡°Caspian!¡± Storm replied with a smile and hugged him.

    ¡°I should send a clean-up crew for the bodies,¡± Alpha Orleans suggested.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± I told him. ¡°The Goddess took care of it.¡±

    ¡°Goddess? What Goddess?¡± ym asked.

    ¡°Herees Dad,¡± Storm pointed, and I turned to find my father, Mateo, and Xena running through the gardens with a team of shifters behind them.

    Selena moved in my arms, and I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. The beast inside of me purred as I held her closer. There was no way I was going to let her father take her from me now. I breathed in her scent and noticed it had changed. There was a more earthy scent that told my beast she was a lycan, but there was also something else¡ªsomething that reminded me of burning incense.

    ¡°Pup,¡± I heard a low bark in my head and knew it was my lycan. He could scent the pup.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the demon who¡¯s been causing all the trouble,¡± my father snarled with fire in his eyes.

    ¡°She¡¯s gone,¡± Grandma said.

    ¡°And so is Jules Drac,¡± Caspian added.

    ¡°Jules? You found Jules?¡± He questioned.

    ¡°Papa!¡± Sol squeaked and hugged her father.

    ¡°Do we need to do damage control?¡± Xena questioned.

    ¡°No,¡± Uncle Zeus replied. ¡°The Moon Goddess took care of that.¡±

    ¡°The Moon Goddess?¡± My father asked.

    ¡°Is Selena hurt?¡± Mateo asked, reaching for her. ¡°How¡¯s my grandpup?¡±

    ¡°No, she¡¯s fine,¡± I held her closer.

    ¡°You injected her with venom?¡± My father questioned.

    ¡°There was a chandelier¡­¡± I said, turning my gaze to Storm, who gave me an apologetic look. I knew she couldn¡¯t control her visions, but I wished she had said something sooner.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give her a healing, it should help the transition,¡± Mateo said and reached for her again.

    ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± I replied, stepping back.

    ¡°Oh, for the love of the Moon Goddess,¡± my father said with a chuckle. ¡°Wait until you have a daughter someday, and her mate tries to keep you from her!¡±

    I thought about my little Lucy. She wasn¡¯t even here yet, and I loved her already. ¡°I¡¯ll kill him,¡± I growled.

    ¡°Then pass Mateo his daughter for a few moments,¡± my father chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine¡­ I promise.¡±

    Reluctantly, I passed my mate to her father. I hated not having her close to me when she was vulnerable.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he whispered and kissed the top of her head before his eyes turned white. He started pouring his healing energy into her, and gratitude filled me. I loved Selena so much, and I knew the only other male in this world who loved her as much as I did was her father.

    ¡°Did you say The Moon Goddess?¡± Xena questioned.

    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go find something to eat, and we¡¯ll exin,¡± Caspian groaned.

    ¡°I¡¯ll call the hotel and have some food prepared,¡± ym announced. ¡°I could use some galettes.¡±

    ¡°Is that a choir robe?¡± Cynderughed. ¡°What happened to your clothes?¡±

 Chapter 36 - Magic

    <b>**One more post to go! </b>

    <b>I can¡¯t believe this book is almost over!!! But fear not... Rex and Storm¡¯s books areing, and some other easter eggs I¡¯ve hidden in this book will eventually make sense! </b>

    Selena

    Pain erupted in my body. Everything from the tips of my toes to the roots of my hair seemed to hurt. The pain was everywhere, pulsing in waves through me. It was like a fire burning in my veins.

    ¡°Come on, Princess,¡± I heard his voice floating through my mind. ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me.¡±

    I felt like I was floating in a space between life and death. Something had happened, and I knew I had been hurt. I wanted to scream and howl in pain, but I couldn¡¯t move. My heart picked up pace, and I was sure it would beat out of my chest.

    ¡°Ste?¡± I called to my wolf and heard a low chuff in response.

    The metallic smell of blood was strong, and I tried to remember how I had been injured. Was my baby okay?

    A low howl called through the mind link, and I knew it was Kas. I could feel him close and anxious. My wolf howled back to her mate, and he released three yaps in session. Kas has alwaysmunicated with me in a special way.

    When I was seven years old, I fell from a tree and skinned both of my knees. I was at a point in life where I enjoyed ying with the wolf side of my best friend more than the boy side. Kas let out a low whine when I threw my arms around him and cried into the fur of his neck. I remember how he licked my face and the swish of his tail as he tried to cheer me up. His wet tongue on my face made me giggle, and the session of three yaps became his way of telling me I was okay.

    At the daring age of eleven, I decided I wanted to participate in the midnight snowboard ride with the big kids. Storm was a year younger than me, but she had mastered snowboarding, and I wanted to be just as good as her. My father finally gave in and let me participate. Shortly after the ride started, I lost control of my board and ended up off the trail. I sat in the bush alone with my broken leg and cried until Kas found me. It wasn¡¯t until I heard the three sessive yaps that I knew I was okay.

    When I was sixteen, I decided to take Lukas¡¯ new car on a joy ride with Cynder. We were just outside of pack territory when a deer jumped out in the middle of the road, and I hit a tree at high speed. Ares had sent out a search party, and Kas was the first to find us. I cried when he sniffed me to check for injuries because he should have been angry with me for destroying his new car. He let out the sessive yaps to let me know everything was okay.

    Even now, hearing his yaps helped me calm down. I knew everything was going to be okay and that he was here. Whatever the situation was, it was over, and Lukas would take care of me. I trusted him with my life, and that gave me the peace I needed to hang on.

    I took deep breaths and focused on the beating of my heart. I heard the voices in the room, but I wasn¡¯t listening. Lukas was talking to someone, and I felt a hand touch my abdomen. A warm wave of peace washed through me, and the pain disappeared.

    The voices sounded around me, but I focused on the peace and hoped the pain wouldn¡¯t return. A warm, tingling wave flowed through my arm, and I knew he had touched me. Through his touch, I felt his love and fear. He was worried about me, and I heard the three sessive yaps again.

    I felt the earth shake and wondered why my mate was upset. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I couldn¡¯t move. The energy in the room changed, and I felt my peace turn to tension.

    ¡°Demon King,¡± the Goddess spoke.

    ¡°Moon Goddess,¡± I heard the deep timbre of his voice.

    My eyes shot open, but I didn¡¯t have the energy to turn my head. The room was very dim, and the chandelier seemed to be missing from the center of the ceiling. I could see every tiny detail in the painted ceiling above, including the burn marks on the chain dangling above me. Though it was dark in the room, my vision seemed to be sharper.

    I heard someone screaming, <i>¡°My King,¡± </i>and Grandma asking if Tartarus was a fiery inferno like Hell. The deep voiceing from the corner of the room spoke about Hecate and her ck wolves. Then he asked about a deal with the Moon Goddess and addressed her familiarly. Something was happening in a month, but I knew it had nothing to do with our world or shifters.

    He left as quickly as he had arrived, and I felt myself rx, knowing that Lilith would be locked away for two thousand years. Lukas turned his gaze to me, and his blue eyes were filled with so much love. He scooped me into his arms, and I rested my head against him.

    I closed my eyes and let his calming scent wash over me.

    I slept¡­ a lot. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was the transition into a lycan or the pup that made me so exhausted. Lukas had returned me to the hotel room and catered to my every need around the clock for thest two days. He held me, bathed me, and fed me.

    ¡°Is everyone leaving today?¡± I asked as he dipped a chunk of fresh bread in the coq au vin sauce and held it to my mouth. I smiled as I remembereding out of heat in this same bed, eating the same meal. I took the delicious bite from him and yfully nipped his finger.

    ¡°Pregnant or not, nothing will stop me from spanking your ass if you keep that up,¡± he grinned, and I plotted my next attempt to nip him again.

    ¡°Is Paris safe again?¡± I asked. ¡°Did Grandma go home?¡±

    ¡°She left this morning after ym took her and Wylder to the cured meat shop to stock up.¡±

    ¡°What about Cynder?¡±

    ¡°She went home with Zane and Zanderst night,¡± he told me, and I wondered how Wylder was holding up. As if reading my mind, he added, ¡°Wylder is handling it better than we expected, and Zane promised to bring her to New York in a week to help with the mating ceremony.¡±

    ¡°Whose ceremony?¡±

    He smiled wide and gently caressed my stomach before leaning forward and kissing my lips. ¡°Ours.¡±

    ¡°What? Why so soon?¡±

    ¡°I love the idea of seeing you round with my pup and can¡¯t wait to have photos of you glowing, but our mothers thought you¡¯d want to have the ceremony before the babyes.¡±

    ¡°I certainly don¡¯t want to look like a balloon!¡±

    ¡°Say that again, and I¡¯ll double your punishment,¡± he said, leaning in for another kiss.

    ¡°I won¡¯t have time to design and sew my dress!¡±

    ¡°Jose will being home with us to help you,¡± he smiled. ¡°Now that mate bonds can be felt, there¡¯s going to be an explosion of mating ceremonies, and we¡¯ll be invited to most of them.¡±

    ¡°Will we be expected to go to all of them?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing my father is still the Alpha King,¡± he grinned. ¡°I told him I wanted to wait a year to let you settle into your new shifter form and motherhood before we¡¯d consider a coronation.¡±

    He used the fork to feed me the tender chicken, and I tried not to moan. This had to be my most favorite French Food. A knock sounded in the next room, and I used my new lycan senses to detect who it was.

    ¡°Persephone!¡±

    ¡°Drink this,¡± he handed me a ss of water and left to answer the door.

    I listened as Lukas greeted her, and she started crying. ¡°I hate this,¡± she sobbed. ¡°Can¡¯t you make him change his mind?¡±

    ¡°Your father secured the pack for your brothers,¡± he soothed her. ¡°It won¡¯t be so bad.¡±

    ¡°Can I stay with Grandma Dori? I promise I¡¯ll help keep her out of trouble,¡± she sniffled.

    ¡°Come see Selena. She¡¯s excited to see you.¡±

    ¡°Selena,¡± she cried out and rushed into the room.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to move to France!¡± She cried as she hugged me.

    ¡°We n to visit often,¡± I told her. ¡°Jose will still be here, and Italy and Greece are a quick flight away, so you¡¯ll always be near family. You can even train with Vria.¡±

    ¡°I wanted to train with Storm,¡± she cried. ¡°You¡¯re going to be the Lycan Queen. Can¡¯t you make this right?¡±

    ¡°I know your parents will travel often for visits,¡± I told her. ¡°I hear the Darc pack will be given a new name?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but my brothers can¡¯t decide if they want to split it into three smaller packs or rule it as one,¡± she huffed.

    ¡°I suppose it all depends if they end up with the same mate or not,¡± Lukas said.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Persephone questioned.

    Lukas shrugged, and I could tell this conversation was going to make him ufortable. All I could do was smile. ¡°Well¡­¡± he started and rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°They¡¯re identical triplets, so they<i>may</i>have to share the same mate.¡±

    ¡°What! No way. Uncle Zeus and Poseidon are twins and don¡¯t have the same mate.¡±

    My mother¡¯s uncles were also identical and had to share a mate, but they were werewolves, not lycans. I wasn¡¯t going to share my thoughts on this matter with Persephone because I didn¡¯t know how to exin a lycan knot to her. That and the idea of taking three knots simultaneously didn¡¯t seem possible to me.

    My eyes met my mate¡¯s blue eyes, and the smirk on his face told me he was listening to my thoughts.

    ¡°How was your visit with Nightshade pack?¡± I asked, reaching for my ss of water.

    ¡°It was great,¡± she said. ¡°I love the medieval vige, and we got to hunt truffles with Uncle Luciano and Massimo.¡±

    ¡°You know the Darc pack is in the same territory that once belonged to the LaRue family pack?¡± Lukas told her.

    ¡°Really?¡± She asked wide-eyed.

    ¡°It¡¯s a great honor for our family to reim the old LaRuends,¡± he said. ¡°Your brothers will do well.¡±

    Lukas continued feeding me, and we sat in silence. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± He asked Persephone.

    ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± she nodded. ¡°How¡¯s Jose doing?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± Lukas told her. ¡°He came to see Grandma off this morning. Erick and Jose are going to stay in the city. Your father asked Erick to run La Tour.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± This was new to me.

    Lukas nodded. ¡°Yeah, he offered Erick a partnership in the restaurant.¡±

    ¡°No one tells me anything,¡± Persephone huffed and plopped beside me on the other side of the bed. ¡°I thought Erick was using Jose?¡±

    Lukas continued to feed me and exined what had transpired. He told her about the cemetery, the catbs, the visions, the church, and the Louvre.

    ¡°We had been so close when Grandma suggested sneaking into the secret apartments!¡± Persephone squeaked. ¡°Caspian wouldn¡¯t let her, and then we got kicked out.¡±

    ¡°It was enchanted anyway,¡± Lukas told her. ¡°I doubt you would have been able to get in.¡±

    ¡°Have you met your grandmother?¡± Iughed and took another drink of water.

    ¡°So, Erick was working with the demon?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Erick¡¯s mother was being held hostage,¡± I told her.

    ¡°Jose had met Selena long before Erick, and then Jose met Erick at La Tour. Jules discovered Selena was linked to our pack and forced Erick to spy.¡±

    ¡°So, he took Erick¡¯s mother!¡± She shook her head in disbelief.

    ¡°Jules was working with Lilith,¡± I told her and took a bite of carrot from my mate.

    ¡°Lilith is the demon, right?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Lukas continued. ¡°We think she orchestrated everything and used Jules to get her hands on Storm. She had promised the shifters lycan mates, but wanted to use Storm to help sway the Goddess.¡±

    ¡°Grandma said Storm looks like the Goddess,¡± Persephone whispered.

    ¡°She does.¡±

    ¡°All this for a man?¡± Persephone shook her head.

    I wasn¡¯t sure the Demon King was a man, and I didn¡¯t get a good look at him. The only thing I knew for sure was that he had descended from an ancient god and had a family connection to the Moon Goddess. He was a dark and dangerous creature, and I was d he was gone.

    Jose would be safe now, and Erick was lucky to survive. I had spent most of my time sleeping because Lukas had allowed very few visitors in to see me. I hadn¡¯t spoken to Jose or Erick yet, and I couldn¡¯t help wondering how Pierre Darc ended up in Erick¡¯s apartment.

    ¡°How did the bodies end up in Erick¡¯s apartment?¡± I asked Lukas as he lifted the potatodened fork to my mouth.

    ¡°They had a tumultuous rtionship, and Jules had a personal vendetta. Erick was forced to lure them to his apartment for a secret meeting, and Jules finished them off. He wanted the pack and resources.¡±

    I thought about what Jules had confessed when Grandma stabbed him in the eye. He hated his mother and brother and took pleasure in their deaths. I chewed on a chunk of bread and tried to process what Lukas said.

    ¡°Is Ste okay with the change?¡± Persephone asked reluctantly.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard a few words, and she still hums when Kas purrs,¡± I told her. ¡°I think she¡¯s okay.¡±

    I heard three yaps in session, and I recognized her bark. Lukas squeezed my hand, and I knew he had heard it too. She was telling us that she was okay, and visible relief swept over my mate¡¯s face.

    ¡°My beautiful Ste is doing great,¡± Lukas said with pride.

    ¡°Have you been to the new pack yet?¡± I asked Persephone.

    ¡°No, we just arrived. Mom wants to go dress shopping for your mating ceremony while we¡¯re here,¡± she huffed. ¡°I guess I should get back to her and let you get some rest.¡±

    ¡°Everyone knows about the mating ceremony except me,¡± I smirked.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be a beautiful event,¡± Persephone said as she hugged me goodbye.

    Lukas walked her to the door and returned with a wolfish grin. ¡°All this talk about a mating ceremony, and no one has mated in two days.¡±

    A smallugh bubbled from my throat. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure plenty of shifters have been mating thesest two days.¡±

    ¡°What are you in the mood for, Princess? Pain or pleasure?¡±

    ¡°I bet that¡¯s something you ask all the women you¡¯ve wooed.¡±

    A low chuckle sounded from him, and his eyes bore into me. ¡°I¡¯ve never wooed any females because my heart has always belonged to you.¡±

    I didn¡¯t know why that made me happy, but it did. Lukas was an Alpha male. He didn¡¯t need to woo anyone because females chased after him. They tried to woo him. Whatever happened with him and other females had meant nothing. When I tried to move on with other males, I never felt right. Something had always been missing, and that something was my heart. It had always belonged to him.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry it took us so long to figure it out,¡± he said as he lowered himself to the floor beside the bed and reached for me.

    The sheet pulled away, and his hands came to my thighs, stroking and caressing them. Warm tingles flowed from his touch like a brand over my skin. He lifted the hem of his t-shirt and helped me out of it before gentlyying me back.

    Quicker than I could blink, his hand reached up and tore away my panties.

    ¡°Lukas!¡± I gasped. I knew we had been intimate in every way during the mating haze, but it was called a haze for a reason. Anticipation churned in my belly, but my body knew what it wanted.

    ¡°You are never allowed to wear clothing in our bed,¡± he rasped. His eyes looked at me like he owned me because he always had.

    His lips dropped to my knee, and that wonderful mouth of his started pressing kisses up my thigh. I sighed with pleasure and then gasped when he bit down on the sensitive flesh of my upper thigh. It wasn¡¯t hard enough to hurt, but I knew he¡¯d left a mark. Heved the bite to soothe it before he continued to my aching core.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    My entire body jolted when his tongue finallyshed out and stoked my sensitive little bead. He groaned with pleasure, and I gasped. He was not only touching me but with every touch came the warm tingles of the mate bond to enhance the pleasure. Something I knew neither of us had experienced before.

    My head tipped back, and all I could feel was mind-shattering pleasure. ¡°This is magic,¡± I panted, feeling flushed and sensitive.

    His dark chuckle floated through the mind link. ¡°Wait until you have my magic dick.¡±

 Chapter 37 - Epilogue

    <b>***If you haven''t done so, please leave your review of this book. Thanks!</b>

    Two Weeks Later

    In the shadows of the forest, I stood waiting for my cue. The final step in sealing our mate bond was moments away. She was mine¡­ she had always been mine.

    I peered out at the three massive arches constructed fromrge tree branches. They were adorned with sprawling white flowers andvender ents. The work was so impressive that I immediately recognized Aunt Demeter¡¯s handy work with her element to create the stunning backdrop for our mating ceremony. Lanterns and flowers lined the center aisle that would lead my mate to me at the altar.

    We decided to keep the mating ceremony private, inviting only pack members and family. Of course, our pack was thergest in the world, and our family was the size of a small army, so it wasn¡¯t a small event.

    I watched as Papa Diesel led Grammy Lucy, the matriarch of the LaRue family, to her seat. Selena wanted the gender of our pup to be a surprise, so no one had shared what the Moon Goddess had revealed to us. It was a hard secret to keep from her and the rest of the family.

    I looked out at the faces of my closest family members from around the world. The patriarch of the Theodorus family was my Pappo¨²s Dimitri. His golden honey eyes met mine, and he gave me a proud smile. I was named after his youngest pup and looked a lot like my great-grandfather, Lukas. My chest tightened as I thought about him, and I wished he and my great-grandmother, Syble, could be here for this day.

    My great-grandmother sacrificed her life to save me when I was a pup, and I will forever be grateful for her love and sacrifice. One of my favorite pictures I had framed in my office was of my great-grandmother. My mother had snapped it on the day Selena was born. Grandma Syble sat smiling beautifully in a chair, holding the tiny bundle that was Selena, and I was in wolf form, standing on my hind legs with my tongue lolling out to get a better look at my future mate.

    Everywhere I looked, there was a familiar face belonging to a LaRue, Theodorus, Kappas, and Crow family member. Selena¡¯s family from Mexico blended right in with mine. My family wasrge, diverse, and perfect. Werewolves, lycans, humans, vampires, and mages had all been enemies long ago. Today, they were part of my family and came together to celebrate our special day.

    ¡°There you are!¡± Jose stepped into the forest with a lint roller in hand. ¡°Selena¡¯s nausea has passed, and we¡¯ll be ready to start in a few moments,¡± he told me.

    ¡°Does she need me?¡±

    ¡°No, Mister Alpha,¡± he said and continued to roll the fabric of my jacket with the tape-covered roller. ¡°Just stand here and don¡¯t get yourself dirty. When Alpha Ares steps up to the altar, you can join him there and wait.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve waited all my life,¡± I told him. ¡°A few more minutes won¡¯t hurt.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± He smiled and started to walk away. ¡°And watch out for the ck jaguar¡­ One of your guests brought their exotic pet.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help the smile on my face. ¡°Pepita is family,¡± I called out behind him.

    I turned my attention back to my gathered family. My lycan hearing perked when I heard Grandma Dori¡¯s voice. ¡°I swear to the Moon Goddess, if you touch the macaron trees, I¡¯m going to beat you with them,¡± Grandma warned ym. ¡°We had to have those shipped overnight so they would be fresh for today.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen her do it,¡± Persephoneughed. ¡°Come on, Grandma, let¡¯s grab a seat before the good ones are taken.¡±

    ¡°Did Lukas say where they were going on a honeymoon?¡± Grandma asked. ¡°I was thinking it would be really nice to go to Scond.¡±

    ¡°I think they¡¯re going to the private ind in Greece.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s terrible!¡± Grandma said as she took a seat near the front.

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Honey, I look like a soup chicken in a bathing suit. I can¡¯t go with them.¡±

    ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s a honeymoon. You¡¯re not supposed to go with them,¡± Persephone told her, and I stifled myugh.

    ¡°Well, someone needs to make sure they¡¯re eating properly. Growing a lycan pup is hard work.¡±

    I heard whispering nearby and turned my attention to the voices. It was Storm and Vria. They were whispering about traveling somewhere, but I didn¡¯t know where. If they were at the edge of the woods whispering, it was because they didn¡¯t want my father to overhear.

    ¡°We should make a list of all the ces and see where it takes us next,¡± Vria said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Storm replied. ¡°What if it¡¯s a curse and not a gift?¡±

    ¡°It has to be a gift,¡± Vria whispered back.

    ¡°I need to talk to Rex. I think he might know.¡±

    I stilled my breathing, hoping to hear the rest of this conversation. It wasn¡¯t like my sister not to share everything with her twin. And what was this gift or curse?

    ¡°What makes you think he knows?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s been acting a little strange and distant since we returned from Paris.¡±

    Guilt rushed through me because I hadn¡¯t noticed. Of course, I¡¯d been preupied with everything, but I was still their big brother. I should have been there.

    The string quartet stopped ying, and everyone settled into a chair. Vria and Storm joined the family, and a shadow moved near the ce they had been standing. Rex suddenly appeared as if he had stepped out of a shadow, and my lycan stirred.

    I should have been able to sense him in the forest easily, but I didn¡¯t, and it confused my beast. He ran his fingers through his hair and adjusted his tie as he rushed to take the empty seat beside my sister.

    My father moved to the altar and examined the small knife and silk ribbon he would use to perform the mating ceremony. I stepped out of the forest and joined my father at the altar to wait for my beautiful mate. My mother was seated with Pa, and tears were already welling up in their eyes.

    The quartet started ying the familiar La Vie En Rose tune, and my heart fluttered when I saw her at the other end of the aisle. My wolf yipped through the mind link to hers, and Ste happily returned his yips. Everyone rose from their chairs, and Mateo slowly walked his daughter down the aisle to me.

    I held her hand as we knelt before my father. Rings were not traditional in mating ceremonies, but I had a custom ring designed for her that I intended to give her on our honeymoon. My father addressed the pack and spoke about the blessing of the mate bond. He thanked the Moon Goddess and lit eight white candles to honor all eight moon phases.

    We took our oaths to one another as my father sliced our palms and bound them with the ribbon. Standing together, we held our conjoined hands up to the moon and gave thanks to the Goddess. When my father unwrapped the silk, our palms were healed.

    My father beamed as he dered us to our family and pack. ¡°I give you Alpha Lukas and Selena Crow. Your future Lycan King and Luna Queen.¡±

    ¡°Kiss her already!¡± Grandma bellowed as apuse rang out.

    ¡°I love you, Princess.¡± I dipped my head to take her lips, and the tingles zinged right through me.

    She was mine¡­ all mine, for the rest of my long life, and I couldn¡¯t get enough of her. In a few moments, we would make our way to the party tents strung with white lights, flowers, and candles to celebrate with our family, but all I could think about was being alone with her and stripping her down. I wanted to worship every inch of her with my mouth and feel her soft skin against mine.

    With a knowing smile, she whispered one word to me. ¡°Soon.¡±

    Movement near the tree line where I had been waiting earlier caught my attention. My breath hitched in my throat as my eyesnded on the Moon Goddess. She stood with two wolves at her side¡ªone ck and one silver. An overwhelming sense of love and pride radiated from them as they looked on. Before I could find the words, they started to fade away in the moonlight with the Goddess.

    The sound of two joyous howls rang out, and everyone turned to find the source.

    <b>***End***</b>

    Beta readers! Thank you to everyone who provided feedback andments. It really helps shape the book as I write it, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m here.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    <b>What¡¯s next? </b>I n for Rise of The Lycans to have 3 books: Lukas, Rex, and Storm. This could change depending on what inspiration hits me.

    I¡¯m gearing up for a book tour and leave for Chicago, Scond, Belgium, Italy, and France soon!!! I¡¯ll be back in July and will start working on the roadmap for the next book. I hope to start writing end of August or early September, so be sure to check back.

    Follow me on Facebook and/or TikTok to keep up with my travel adventures as I find inspiration for the next books! (Author Paulina Vasquez)

    For those who have been asking, I¡¯m toying with the idea of writing a mermaid story someday who happens to be mated with Massimo!!! Or maybe even a dragon shifter story.

    I¡¯ve thought about a bodyguard series featuring bodyguards from LaRue Enterprises. I mighte back someday and write a stand-alone reverse haram with the lycan triplets and their mate named Paulina. <i>LOL, just kidding. Or maybe I¡¯m not¡­ hahahah.</i>

    So much spinning in my mind, but for now¡­ I¡¯m going to pack my bags and take photos at Versailles, the Catbs, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre with this book!

    I¡¯m going to explore Scond because Grandma Dori mentioned it in the book. I¡¯ll be sure to let you know how haggis tastes and if I find the Loch Ness monster. I might even look under a kilt or two for research purposes because Grandma Dori would want to know what¡¯s really under there.

    I just want to say thank you again for supporting my work. I¡¯m honored to have had so many of you since the beginning, and I value your thoughts.

    Thank you joining me on this roller coaster of an adventure!

    Stay healthy and well,

    Paulina

    <b>This book should be moved from this tform in two days. I expect it will be live on Amazon/Kindle/Kindle Unlimited May 17th.</b>

    <b>All my work is exclusively signed with Amazon/Kindle, and is copyrighted. No reproduction or use is allowed ?</b>

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!