Chapter 1
Naja
I strode into the room, without knocking, the two guards posted at the door, bent their head in submission as I swept past them, I was considered to be the crazed Alpha, no one wanted to piss off, considering I ripped the throats out the last three men who played a part in the murder of my parents, which pissed me off—one being my uncle, Micah.
My pack the Crescent Moon, has been in the Colorado mountains for the last five hundred years. Spanning generations of alphas with unique abilities passed down from father to son.
Micah, my father’s brother, his beta, his right hand. He had my parents killed because he thought he deserved to be the Alpha, even though he wasn’t the eldest with the blessing of the moon goddess gift, the Alpha with the special abilities meant to lead the pack
Nor did he face my father in a fair fight. He paid goons loyal to him to gun them down like animals. He kept me, and my two brothers alive I was ten, Kyle was barely eight and Samuel was six. We all believed it when Micah said my parent's car crashed over the mountains, their bodies mangled beyond recognition.
He rightfully assumed he could mold us to be just like him, a bloodthirsty killer with no honor or remorse. I must admit I was on the road to becoming Micah Grey’s little patsy until he made the mistake of trying to kill my little brother Samuel, who refused to do his bidding.
After Micah’s death, I drove his sycophants farther into the mountains. Declaring them as rogues, never to return unless they long for death. The pack was splintered, so many longed for the days when my parents ruled with love, compassion, and fairness, and then there were the ones who agreed that the pack needed a firmer hand to guide them.
At eighteen I took over as Alpha. It surprised no one. I was not my fair father or compassionate mother. Some may say I was like Micah, with harder edges. I never hesitated to eliminate a threat to the pack nor did I grant mercy to evildoers. I was a judge, jury, and executioner. I was justice and a ferocious killer.
At twenty-eight, I had given up the idea of having a fated mate. Hell, the idea was almost insane when I thought about it. Who would tolerate my insufferable psychotic tendencies? I left the ideals of love and mates to my brothers who were still untouched by Micah’s influence and the trauma of my parent's death.
They still easily laughed and smile, while I stood in a corner like a watchful, brooding dog too feral to fraternize where happiness was so apparent.
The room was large, blue walls, filled with machines and supplies like any modern-day hospital. Ten cots lined the walls facing each other with floor-to-ceiling drapes for privacy. State-of-the-art ventilators and every convenience to treat the wounded. Designating a room big enough at the Compound to be a hospital was the first order of business on my list as Alpha. It took close to a year for the room to be properly equipped.
The abrasive smell of antiseptic and the metallic tang of blood filled my nose, and I cringed my wolf paced back and forth hating the overpowering sickly sweet stench that clung to the room. I pushed my wolf back and steadied myself as my training had thought me.
I ran my hands over the cold metal rails as I gazed at the sleeping form. Unconsciously, my fingers caressed a tender cheek as I felt a tingling spark of electricity shot through my fingers to pierce my already tightened chest. Just being this close made my cock throb. I wanted her something fierce. I was desperate to feel her tight heat surrounding me, engulfing me. I wanted it all, a lifetime of happiness----the one I denied myself for so long, thinking I would never find her. As much as I wanted her by my side, having my pups, she needed time to grieve for losing her parents and a childhood that would be forever corrupted by tragedy.
I found my fingers twirl in her strawberry blonde curls. A smile plays on my face as I picture her like this the next time we meet. Her hair spilled all over my pillow to one caramel bronzed shoulder, soft as silk, as I thrust into her body over and over. I bent over and laid a gentle kiss on her forehead, inhaling her natural vanilla strawberry sent for a moment, branding it to memory as I feel my wolf growls in my head, Mate, she is ours. Keep her safe-protect her.
I know brother, but she is not like us. She is human. We must let her go. I bit her. I do not know if she will survive. We must prepare ourselves.
My wolf growls his disapproval. I was at a loss, When it came to this girl, In five hundred years no one has ever heard of a human mate, wolves were born not made. When I bit her I was desperate, my healing ability was slow, and she was bleeding out in front of my eyes, so I did the unthinkable. I bit her. As far as Ambrose and the other doctors knew, she was healing at an alarming rate, but there were no other side effects. Her cells and DNA were unchanged. If the elders of the pack knew what I did, there would be hell to pay. So I had to send her away. Cause if it came to choosing the pack or my mate, she would win every single time. I would slaughter anyone who dared touch her with violence.
“We have to let her go,” I whispered. She has to be protected at all costs. No one can know what I have done.
I closed my eyes, clench my teeth until my jaw aches, and shove him back — taking control of my emotions. My hands balled into a tight fist at my sides as I force myself to step back. A moment later, a throat-clearing alerts me that Doc Ambrose entered the room.
He strolled to the bed, fiddling with the machines, adding new drips. When it came time for the doc to examine the girl’s wounds for infection, a loud growl left my lips. “Don’t touch her,” I sneer, more wolf than man at the edge of my control. I feel my claws extend, the hairs rose on the back of my hands. If just the idea of Doc examining her wounds caused me to partially shift, then I was well and truly fucked.
Immediately, Ambrose froze. Placatingly, he places both hands in the air, cautiously stepping back.
“Ok, Naja you can start by removing the bandages, go slow we don’t want you tearing the stitches,” I grunted my understanding. I wasn’t entirely stupid. It was my ability that brought her and her brothers back from the brink of death.
Slowly I removed the bandage at her shoulders, it was the last wound I healed, not the most extensive, that would be the wound to her abdominal, it had almost killed her if Kyle and I had arrived ten minutes later, she would have died, I would have followed her into the afterlife, where the moon goddess eternal rest laid. Mates weren’t meant to be alone. Mated, or unmated, there was only one chance of happiness for us. Entering that clearing after I smelled her scent while chasing the last of Micah’s sycophants, still hunts me. Seeing her emerald green eyes begging to be saved broke a piece of me. I never knew was there.
Lifting the bandage I saw, her skin was pink, a small scar was on her once unmarked skin I touch it with my fingers as I will the moon goddess's gift to my fingers to remove the scar. A spark tingled to my fingertips, spilling a bright light from my hand as heat entered my mate’s skin. A moment later, I removed my hand smooth unblemished skin greeted my eyes. I did the same with the wound on her abdomen, but I couldn’t remove all the scar tissue. She would have a reminder of that night, no matter what she did. I touch the tiny scar, wishing there was more I could do.
“She will live, my friend and so will her brothers,” Ambrose says as he watches the frustration plays across my face.
“I know, I just wanted there not to be any reminders of what those monsters did to her.”
“Are you sure you want to send her away you can keep her safe until she is of age Naja, this is her home after all? Where she belongs.”
“No, she needs to leave, it’s for her own safety. Micah’s son is still out there. If Andrew found out about her, he will try to kill her. He knows her death means I would follow her into the afterlife. I have to stop him first. I have to make it, so she and the boys are safe. They will never be if he’s still out there waiting to strike. She does not belong in this war. Have Samuel wipe their memories, then return them to Delaware.”
“I still think you’re making a big mistake,” he says.
“Remember your place Doctor, I am still Alpha, so do what I fucking command. Return my mate and her kin to her home. NOW.” I shout in his face. My claw retracts and the tone in my voice lowers to deep, gravelly growls in a display of alpha dominance. I hear the two guards wince then fall to their knees. Ambrose bows his head, showing me his throat.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Chapter 3 Charlie I peeled my eyes opened, gasped as the wash of morning light blinded me to my surroundings. I blinked rapidly, desperate to adjust to the stinging pain developing behind my lids. “BOOM, BEEP, BOOM, BEEP, CRUNCH.” I jolted at the loud crashing noise, echoing in my throbbing head like a surround sound of an amphitheater. What the hell was that? Pain exploded in my head as the sounds got louder as if that was possible. Valiantly I tried to cover my ears with my arms, however, they refused to budge. Sheer panic gripped me as I spied them tied to the bed rails. Along with my feet and head, I was strapped to a bed, unable to move. What the fuck! Why were my hands, feet, and head tied? Did I try to hurt someone? Frustrated tears welled up as the pain in my skull increase. I closed my eyes, mentally calming myself, counting to ten in my head, before I opened them once again. A quick perusal told me I was
Chapter 4 Charlie “Next,” the stocky nurse with the shiny, bald, cone-shaped head shouted. The sweat running down his face reminded me of iridescent glitter sparkling in the sunlight. Think Edward from Twilight, glowing luminescent skin, except for the fact that it was just his head. For two minutes, I was lost in the magic of his alien-like features. His flat nose pointed Elvin ears that were not a prop from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The idiot actually had his ears done—body dysmorphia seemed to be common in this place. I stared, mesmerized, transported to another plane of existence. This wasn’t the first time this weirdo transfixed me. I felt like he was telepathically trying to tell me something. Fuck if I knew what it was. He never spoke, but just stared at me with this odd look in his hazel eyes. Or maybe I was turning into one of these loony bins. Legolas was probably the average weirdo with mommy issues. I must remind him
Chapter 5Naja“Naja, come quick,” my brother Kyle says telepathically as I rushed from my office. Relief fills me, paperwork spilling along my desk forgotten in my haste to escape. It was the part of being Alpha I detested the most. Give me murderous wolves any day. Anything but paperwork. Maybe the problem was the pack and their insipid need to complain about everything under the moon. Goddess, forgive me, but sometimes I dreamed of ripping each one of their throats out every time they insist that Micah would have granted their stupid request.My father goddess rest his soul was a fucking saint to take their bullshit on a daily basis. I had been Alpha for ten years and already I wanted to claw my eyes out every time Mrs. Hankshaw showed up with her weekly complaints. Mr. Hankshaw was a day away from facing me in a deathmatch.I raced outside in time to see Kyle half carrying, half dragging an injured Samuel. My youngest brother had a penchan
Chapter 6 Samuel I hobbled all the way to the med bay. Kyle was his usual helpful, non-talkative self. The fucker could have swept me up honeymoon style and singled handily make the trek in less time than it took for him to hoist me half on half off his shoulders. I have seen the asshole bench press weights three times my size without breaking a sweat. No, he preferred to assist me with brooding silence, which spoke volumes. This was another long mark in my book of disappointments. No wonder Naja was angry he practically threaten to kill me. I deserved it everything his sadistic mind can think up. If he wanted to snap my neck like a twig or rip my throat out as he so elegantly put it. After all the times, he turned a blind eye to my stupid decisions, thinking rightfully so that it was just a phase. I had been a sullen pain-in-the-ass handful. During his explosion, I desperately wanted to shout have at it put me out of my misery. Strangely, I kept my
Chapter 7 Charlie A loud sigh escapes my lips, frustrated I opened my eyes and maneuvered myself to a sitting position on the plush sofa. A quick glance to my left sat a very pensive doctor Alfonso. His warm chocolate brown eyes piercing me with a disproving frown and pursed lips. I guess he expected this session to produce more insight. I couldn’t blame him. I, too, was woefully disappointed. Four days flew by since the cafeteria incident, four days of me trying but failing to trigger a fresh memory. Bereft and exhausted, I laid awake night after night reliving the gruesome scene of my dad’s lifeless body lying prone on the dirt floor of what appeared to be a campsite, riddled with bullets. My tiny fist pressing against his opened flesh. After witnessing that, getting out of bed seemed like a monumental task, one I couldn’t even do. The nurses and orderlies came into my room three times for the day, left food, and pills. Stoically, I ate what my churning sto
Chapter 8 The first thing I see is smoke. I am surrounded by its thick, ashen puffs. There is no discernible solid surface anywhere, nothing to hold on to. Then in walks a figure, his face shrouded in darkness. How I knew it was a male, no idea, but I figured it could only be male considering the height and broad shoulders. I gasp as his familiar salt and pepper hair, dark brown eyes, and chiseled jaw become clear. My dad. A huge smile appears on my face. I run and throw myself in his arms, crying and laughing as he catches me in mid-jump. “Hey pumpkin,” Dad says, squeezing me even tighter, placing a chaste kiss on my forehead, as he used to when I was younger. “What are you doing here, you’re not supposed to be here Charlie, you have to go?” “I ----I don’t know what happened Dad,” my words falter as he looks at me with worried eyes. “Where’s mom, where are the boys? Do you even know what’s going on? Where I am right now.” I cried, gazing at h
Chapter 8 Charlie My eyes popped open on a gut retching scream, curled into a fetal position I laid on the sofa, completely devastated. Tears streaming down my face, a fist clutched in my mouth to quiet my sobs. I wasn’t sure what I witness; It wasn't a memory that I could say with absolute certainty; I felt like I was in-between realities, a place where my dad was dead, but still able to warn me. How any of it was possible, was the question of the century. Maybe I was just as delusional as the rest of the patients here. Either way, whatever it was, it left a giant hole in my aching chest. Gentle hands patted me on the back as more tears fell from my eyes. So lost in my grief, I did not know the doctor had entered my personal space, until I felt his calloused hands on my shoulder, trying to comfort me. It was useless. Nothing short of my family magically turning up yelling surprise would lift this pain from my heart. “It's okay, Charlie,
Chapter 9RileyI sat in the corner of my room, on the white linoleum floor, my knees to my chest, my head bowed as if in reverence all the while my hands covered my aching head as the voices kept bombarding me with negative thoughts. I was tired of the constant negative things people thought, tired of having a front-row seat to the evil in the world.Usually, the meds help drown out the voices and the pressure of whether I should intervene or ignore what I knew, particularly when I hear someone thinking about hurting themselves or others. Being a clairvoyant, who picked up on the negative thoughts, pretty much sucked ass. Hell, even my own parents were afraid of me and had been for years as my abilities developed.At the first opportunity, they had me committed, telling the police that I was a danger to myself and the others they fostered to earn more money. Joe, my dad, was incapable of working. He was in a car accident when I was four, thus the f