“Make the arrangements.” I told Edon.
The ceremony took place the following evening. There was a procedure to follow from the Handbook. Edon spoke first, retiring from his role and then he crowned me with a crown made of twigs and I said my own speech and commitment to my pack.
“I vow to protect you with my very last breath.
To my family.
WITHERNSEA.”
Everyone raised a glass filled with either water or whiskey. “Alpha Darius. WITHERNSEA.” My mum was crying, the rest of my family whooped and cheered. Then all changed into their animals and we ran through the woods and chased each other. My wolf was joyous, exultant. For the first time in my life I felt completely comfortable in my own skin and fur.
This is who I was born to be.
The Alpha.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lucy
I went to the farm to pick up Ebony.
She came to the door looking very relaxed. “Lucy? What are you doing here? They aren’t here you know? Shelley has been turned.”
“I know. I also know why you aren’t having visions. Can I come in?”
“Course you can, love.” Mary appeared in the doorway.
I walked inside and took a seat.
“So it would appear that a very clever spell was placed inside your vodka. Your visions won’t return for up to two weeks, but then they should be back.”
Ebony looked relieved.
“I thought you’d be devastated that they were coming back.”
She shook her head, her eyes glassy. “I know they cause me a lot of upset, but they are my legacy, my life. Without them I feel I am nothing.”
I placed a hand on her arm. “I understand.” Before we set off, I filled her in on recent events. “Frankie is going to try to investigate who this wizard could be who is supplying Hogsthorpe with these potions. If he can find what was used to block your visions, he’s hopeful that he could maybe work out a diluted potion that can give you some relief, and not wreck your liver.”
“That would be ideal.” Ebony said.
“Anyway, I’ve come to take you home. Now we know your visions will come back in time there’s no reason for you to stay any longer, and I presume Theo and Shelley will want to be alone when she returns. We don’t want her taking a chunk out of you.”
“I suppose…” Ebony sighed. “All good things must come to an end, hey, Mary, my darling?”
“Yes, love. I will miss you, but Lucy’s correct. Right now, I need to focus on getting things shipshape for my son and daughter-in-law’s return.”
“I will go pack my things.” Ebony said and left the room.
The minute she was gone Mary let out a massive sigh of relief. “Thank God. I thought she’d never go. Bloody pampered princess wanting me to cater to her every whim. It’s a B&B, not a five star hotel.”
I laughed. “Mary. I’ll leave you to get some rest. However,” I stared at her. “If you are ever ready to leave and to go to heaven and to your husband just let me know. I’m sure I can arrange it for you. Help you.”
“Oh wow. Gosh, I’d be reunited with Edward, but then I’d miss seeing my grandbaby…” Mary looked agitated.
“Mary, you don’t have to make a decision now, and I don’t know for definite that I could help you. I just have a feeling inside that I would be able to. I agree, for now your place is here, to care for Theo and Shelley and to meet that grandchild when she comes.”
Mary nodded, but then stepped back a little, as if it had just dawned on her I worked for heaven. The place she was eventually destined for.
I dropped Ebony off home and then made my way home to Frankie. It was then I realised that Andrew hadn’t been around… at all.
“Well, I’ll not be too offended that it took you so long to notice my presence was missing.” He appeared behind me with his arms folded.
“Sorry, things have been a bit hectic.” I shrugged.
“Well, the reason I haven’t been around is you no longer need me. My mission is accomplished and I’ve been given my job. I’m back as an earth angel, but I’m off to work in Hull, so you’ll not be seeing me around.”
“Why do I no longer need you? What did I do?”
“Without too many spoilers, Seth will return home to Hull, where I shall keep an eye on him. Also, despite your feelings for Kim with regard to her spending time with your fiance, you have put her needs above your own, and in doing so have done all you have the power to do in regards to keeping Shelley and the baby safe. In addition you just offered to help a ghost move to heaven if she wished. Your current jobs are done and Sophia is giving you a sabbatical for now as there is much change coming to Withernsea.”
“Really? I have time off? I can help Frankie with his project.”
“You can also arrange your wedding.”
I beamed. “I can, can’t I?” I flung my arms around Andrew causing his wings to pop out. “Ooops.” I laughed. “Thank you, Andrew. I’m so glad you finally passed your angel exams.”
“Me too.” He said and then he disappeared leaving only a feather in his wake.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Shelley
Dear God. I would never moan about period pains again. Literally I wouldn’t either because now I was part-vampire I wouldn’t have any more.
The first pains had come from the flu-like symptoms associated with me getting accustomed to my new blood type. Then my body had adjusted itself, becoming stronger. The baby had been kept on foetal monitoring throughout with no concerns at first until my stomach had swollen. Panic filled me and I screamed for my mum and for Theo, only to find on ultrasound that my turning had accelerated my pregnancy. I was now the equivalent of eight months pregnant on human terms.
I think my husband was close to a nervous breakdown.
“But we still should have months to prepare. The B&B isn’t operational. We have no nursery done yet. What about childbirth classes? Names? We are completely unprepared.”
Yeah. I’d just become part-vampire, and he was worrying about childbirth. Meanwhile, I’d spent two days resisting the urge to try to drain him of all his blood.
It was Thursday morning, and I was being discharged. Theo had gone home just before dawn to get the house ready. I had checked with him that he meant to ensure I had clean bedding and not to start painting the nursery.
And yes I was leaving in a morning. Being vampire mixed with wyvern and witch had produced a handy side-effect. I could still go out in daylight and we had found that I only needed a few hours sleep a day to reboot. I was super-charged. Food wise I required blood and a human diet in a mix. My cravings had subsided. It was just my strength I needed to get used to now.
Now on that side my husband couldn’t wait, saying we’d be able to go for it all night long.
When the baby came he was going to have a huge shock.
“Okay. Have you got all your things?” Mum asked.
“Yes. Please take me home. I want my own bed and then after I’m rested I need to get caught up on the business and on anything else that’s been happening in Withernsea.”
While I’d been changing, everyone had left us alone. It had been strange, not being in the thick of Withernsea goings on.
“I wonder if Ebony has her visions back yet?”
“Well, let’s get home and find out, shall we?”
Mum helped me pick up my belongings, and we left.
I let myself into the house, mum following behind me and was greeted with utter silence. No Mary, no Ebony. Nothing.
“Theo must have asked them to keep out of the way.” I shrugged.
“Is there anything you need me to do while I’m here?” Mum asked.
“No. I’m just going to go straight to bed and set my alarm to get up with Theo, unless I wake earlier. I know I only need a minimum amount of sleep now, but my bed is warm, cosy, and has my husband in it.”
“It’s not cosy on his side, I’ll bet.”
“No, he�
��s a tad on the cold side. Great in summer though.” I’d remained the same temperature as before.
Mum kissed my cheek. “Right, you know where I am if you need me. I’ll leave you to rest.” She touched the bump. “Grandma’s leaving, bye bump.” My stomach lurched as the baby tried to move.
“It’s getting tight in there now, isn’t it bump?” I spoke to my belly, putting my hand on it.
Mum left and then I went to bed.
I managed to sleep until two in the afternoon. After lounging a little more, I got up, dressed and went down into the kitchen to get a drink of O-neg. Mary appeared through the doorway.
“I wondered where you were.” I said to her.
“Your friend wore me out so I’ve been away resting.”
“I know the feeling.”
Mary’s eyes went wide looking at my heavily pregnant stomach. “What has happened here? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s peachy. The turning brought my pregnancy on faster. I’m the equivalent of 8 months now. Where’s Ebony?” I asked.
“Lucy came and took her home. She said Ebony’s visions were down to a potion in her vodka and that they would come back within two weeks and Frankie would try to find the wizard who made the potion for Hogsthorpe and see if he could make a dilute version for her.”
“Oh that’s good news. I’d better put my phone on and see what else I’ve missed. Or I could just ring Kim that’d probably be quicker. She’ll know everything.” Then I paused. “Hang on, did you say potion for Hogsthorpe?”
“That’s what Lucy said.”
“On second thoughts I think I’ll call Lucy first.”
“I’ll be making you a drink. Welcome home.” Mary said and then she began busying herself with cups and bottles of blood.
“Shelley! How are you? Did everything go okay?”
“It went fine. Thanks for sorting Ebony out. What’s this about some potion for Hogsthorpe?”
“Ah, okay. Are you sitting down, there’s a lot to tell you.”
“I wasn’t but hold on.” I plonked myself on the sofa. “Spill.”
“So, let me say everything and then ask me questions or we’ll be here all day.”
“Lucy…”
“Fine. So Seth has been putting love potions in people’s coffees to get them to return to the coffee shop to see him. Just so he can keep his job there and keep an eye on Kim. He’s been blackmailed by Jett to do so. Jett also arranged for Seth to place a different potion in Ebony’s vodka so that she wouldn’t see his plans.”
“And his plans are…?”
“To marry Kim and to take over the Withernsea pack.”
“Huh, I bet Kim laughed him out of the building.”
“They’re getting married tomorrow evening.”
“Whaaat?”
“He threatened to publicise your pregnancy and place a bounty on you and the baby. She put you first.”
“Oh my God.”
“Anyway, Darius did not accept this plan. So he’s become Alpha of his pack and has a meeting with Jett tonight. It was basically a declaration of war and so this evening it is likely that either Jett or Darius may not survive.”
“So what’s the plan? What do we do?”
“The plan is that Darius and his pack go take down the Hogsthorpe pack.”
I sat with my head in my hands. “And that’s it? Does he not think Jett will no doubt have some spells or potions ready for this if he has a wizard in his pocket.”
There was silence at the other end.
“We’d not thought of that.”
“Well I’m thinking about it. What time is this meeting?”
“Nine pm.”
“Right, I’ll be there and so will Theo.”
“No, Shelley. Kim would never forgive you, or me, if something happened to the baby.”
“And I’d never forgive myself if something happened to Kim or Darius. Anyway when you see me, you’ll realise trying to keep my pregnancy secret is no longer an option. Now, I’m going to call Darius, then my mother. We need to get our battle plans together. How’s my best friend doing?”
“Not good. She’s in the office and staring at the walls a lot. Apparently Jett has commanded that she move in with him. She spent last night in his room. He told her he wouldn’t touch her until the mating but she still was made to share his bed. He’s told her she will be there tonight at the meeting.”
“In order to show Darius she belongs to Jett. He no doubt intends to parade her like a trophy.”
“It would appear so.”
“Yes, well it’s about time Jett found out who rules things around here and it's not some jumped up mutt from Hogsthorpe.”
“God, it’s good to have you back, Shelley.”
“Well, I’d like to say it's good to be back but once again someone is causing shit around the place. Time to clean up.”
We said our goodbyes with an agreement that we would meet up with Darius later.
Now it was time to talk to the man himself and get our battle plans drawn up.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kim
It was time. We were sitting in the middle of one of the warehouses on the industrial estate. The room was vast. There were seats in a circle in the centre and Jett had a larger seat at the top of the room with a smaller one for me at his side. Like we were King and Queen.
Jett’s mother had been on holiday and had returned this morning. She’d taken me to one side to let me know that although I would be an Alpha wife in name, she was the top woman of the pack and I would need to learn my place. She wasn’t impressed therefore at having been relegated to one of the circle seats for the meeting.
The Hogsthorpe pack walked in, every one of them, around twenty in total. They took seats at the left-hand side of the circle. A tall man joined them. He was dressed in a suit. There was a knock on the door and Jett shouted “Enter.”
In walked Darius and some of the Withernsea pack. I felt my heart might stop with shock.
But he didn’t look at me. Not at all. His eyes were fixed on Jett’s.
“Brother, so good to see you again.” He said to Jett, and then he laughed. “I have brought some interested parties with me.” He turned to look at the suited man. “I note you have the same, so I presume you have no objections?”
“Not at all.” Said Jett.
“Come.” Commanded Darius.
In walked Lucy, Frankie, Theo, and Shelley. My eyes were almost out on stalks at seeing Shelley’s pregnant belly. What the fuck? Had I been in a coma for a few months? Time travel? Had my dreams about flying around the world with David Tennant in the Tardis come true and then I’d been struck by a cruel form of amnesia?
I saw Jett’s calm demeanor shake a little when he saw Shelley.
“Where is your Alpha, brother? We cannot start the meeting without your packs Alpha present.”
“Oh, didn’t you get the memo?” Darius smirked, taking a sheet of paper from his pocket and handing it to Jett. “I’m the Alpha of Withernsea now.”
“You are?” I said loudly, forgetting myself.
“SILENCE.” Jett roared.
Then all hell broke loose.
“DO NOT TELL MY MATE TO BE QUIET.” Darius snarled.
“She is not your mate!”
I nodded at Darius behind Jett’s back and mouthed. “I am.”
One by one the pack turned into their wolves and then the suited man said an incantation and the Hogsthorpe wolves grew to twice their normal height and took on an eerie yellow glow.
Shelley rose. “Jett Conall. I command that you refrain from this course of action.”
Jett looked at her. “Which would be great if we were on Withernsea turf, but we aren’t. We’re in Hogsthorpe, and you don’t rule here.”
Shelley looked shocked. The suited man smirked.
The wolves got up until one wolf flanked every one of the other pack and each of my friends. I had a wolf from both packs appear either side of me and
Jett stalked over to Darius.
We had no chance. I knew Shelley was a powerful witch and I could see her calculating moves, but how could she possibly do anything without the loss of life here? I just didn’t see a way out.
There was a stalemate, and I knew that as they had made the protest it was down to Darius and his pack to make the first move, or withdraw and give in.
I watched as Darius bowed his head.
I wanted to cry. I wanted to yell for him to fight for me, but I knew to do so would be to put his pack and my friends at risk and I couldn’t do that. But there was one thing I could do.
“Whether you win against Darius or not, I will not marry you. You might be the leader of Hogsthorpe but you are not the boss of me.”
“Or me.” A familiar voice came from the ceiling. As she dropped she changed into wolf form and she landed directly on Jett’s body. He had the room surrounded, but he’d not had the ceiling watched, and Alyssa had decided to join the party. I’d never seen a wolf like it. She was lithe, her muscles rippled, and her teeth when she roared were pincer sharp. Jett swung out with a claw knocking her to the floor and Darius roared moving to his sister’s side. I looked over at Shelley who smiled at me as her eyes turned blue. Then she lifted her hands and her blue webs wrapped around the suited man. He’d been so distracted by Alyssa, he’d dropped his guard. The minute Shelley wrapped him in her webs, the spell on the Hogsthorpe pack broke and they returned to their normal size. But where I expected Hogsthorpe to launch into an attack on Withernsea for attacking their Alpha they stood still, and watched as Alyssa leaped back up from the ground and bit down on Jett’s neck, tearing at his jugular. Blood spurted across the room and Jett’s body slumped across the floor, remaining in wolf form. Red blood pooled around his black fur.
His mother let out a howl of anguish and then leapt for Alyssa, but she was no match either and succumbed to the same fate as her son.
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