I didn’t say everything I’d practiced with Elizabeth.
Mark came through the door, followed by his brother, and I said, “The baby touched me and made my magic glow, and it was weird because I know it’s supposed to be a wonderful thing, but I think it was my fault because all I was doing was practicing telling you that if you gave me your wolf, I’d take it, but I am a witch, so I could neuter you where you stood, you understand me? And—”
Mark Bennett gathered me in his arms, and there I stayed for the longest time.
THE SECOND thing.
“She wants to see you now,” Thomas said. He looked tired, and his hair stuck out every which way, but his eyes were bright.
He held open the door for me.
Light filtered in from the large wall of windows that opened out to the forest behind the Bennett house. The sky above was gray. Little drops of rain splattered against the glass, trickling down. The scent of blood was thick in the air. Below us, wolves moved throughout the house. Osmond and others from back East, here to help Elizabeth through the birth of her second child.
She sat propped up against pillows in the bed. She was pale, and her hair was pulled back loosely. She wore no makeup, and there were dark circles under her eyes, but I didn’t think she’d ever looked more beautiful.
“Hello,” she said. “Would you like to meet the newest member of our pack?”
He lay cradled in her arms, tucked tightly in a deep blue blanket. He wore a cap over his head. His skin was pink and wrinkled. His eyes were shut, and he squirmed slightly. His mouth opened, then closed, opened, then closed.
Elizabeth said, “His name is Kelly.”
“Kelly,” I whispered in awe.
I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. I told him quietly that I was very happy to meet him. That he was very lucky to have the parents he did. That I would always keep him safe, no matter what.
Thomas watched us from the doorway, ever the proud Alpha.
THE THIRD thing was… I should have seen it. I should have seen it coming.
I should have known.
Because nothing lasts forever.
My mother.
My father.
My pack taken from me by the hands of hunters.
I should have known that everything else would be taken from me too.
But I didn’t expect it to be because of Thomas Bennett.
KELLY WAS four months old when Osmond came to the house again on a blustery afternoon.
He disappeared with Thomas into the office, Mark closing the door behind them. The dark-suited Betas stood outside the house next to nondescript SUVs.
Elizabeth had a frown on her face as she nursed Kelly.
Carter was sleeping in his bedroom, the door propped open.
Elizabeth said, “Gordo, please. A word.”
The air felt charged. Something was happening.
I stood before her, a cloth over Kelly and her breast.
She said, “I need you to listen to me. Can you do that?”