I turned over a new leaf.
I focused on caring for Harper’s newborn twins, a boy and a girl, born in the summer. Which, by the way, were a handful.
Harper named her baby girl Azure for the vivacious sapphire sparkle of her eyes. Azure was also the name of a strong and powerful werewolf, rumored to have been the first female Alpha. She named her baby boy Asher, because his eyes reminded her of the ashes left from a rising phoenix. Asher resembled his mother and Azure her father, even though they were only a few months old.
I focused on helping Julia with the injured in the ever-growing infirmary. He was grateful for my help and gave me extra rations of sleeping herbs.
Keith was still in a coma. I came down to Julia’s den almost every day to talk to him about everything that’s been going on. Sometimes his fingers twitch or his eyes move frantically underneath his eyelids. But he never wakes.
Leslie helps me phase, even though it’s the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. Sometimes my wolf just doesn’t have enough strength, so she gives up halfway. I wasn’t an Omega, but some of the pack treat me like it.
I stayed out of werewolf politics and didn’t even bother to attend the weekly meetings, like I usually begged to watch. But now, I didn’t want any part with other packs.
Albert was leaving soon, something about visiting another pack.
“You remember Monet Theron,” Albert explained, “She’s turning one,”
“Right.” She was a female Alpha-to-be, her mom was Elizabeth. We were pretty close allies with them.
“I’ll be gone for a week,”
“Tell Monet I said hi,” I waved goodbye but didn’t look up from sorting the herbs that Julia had laid out for me.
“Watch Harper for me,” Albert kissed the top of my head and I playfully smacked him away.
“Gross,” I laughed and returned back to what I was doing. He chuckled as he walked out the door.
“Alpha,” I heard Hunk greet in the hallway outside and I picked my head up as he strided inside.
“What is it?” I asked curiously, twirling the sage in my fingers with boredom.
“It’s about Alpha Brandon.” I carefully placed the sage onto the wooden table.
“What about him?” I said calmly, not hearing that name in a long time. He rarely crossed my mind anymore.
“A few of us are angry at your decision to let him live.”
“It wasn’t their decision to make.” I bit my tongue from saying anything else. Hunk had trouble keeping his wolf at bay, I needed to be careful.
“He would’ve died without you but you saved him. You saved a murderer.” He was talking about when I freed him from the mate bond.
“He’s not who you think he is.”
“He’s playing you, tricking you to believe that he’s changed. But the truth? The truth is all along he’s been nothing but the devil.”
I slammed my fist onto the table and abruptly stood up, facing him unflinchingly. His eyes ringed amber.
“How could you say that?”
“You’re so naive, Amy,” Hunk spat, trembling in anger. I could tell he was really trying to control his wolf from exploding.
Maybe I am blinded by his sins, but that was my weakness. I only saw the good in people.
Was that so bad?
“Brandon will never change,” Hunk shook his head. You’re wrong, he already has.
“Could you love a killer?” His eyes pierced mine as he repeated himself. “Tell me, could you?”
“Leave.” I commanded instantly and he uncrossed his arms in a huff. He left without me repeating myself.
I truly didn’t know the answer to that. I wasn’t sure if love was the right word, but I felt different with Brandon. I had forgiven him and I didn’t know why.
Amy, you need to come outside. Now. Albert telepathically demanded and I scurried out of my room to run down the stairs.
I thought you left already, I thought back.
I was, but this stopped me, He sounded. . . surprised. Which was very bad because my brother is never surprised.
When I got outside, I saw Albert frowning at something down the hill.
It was then that I saw a shiny white porsche sitting at the end of the road. 4CLAIRE was imprinted on the license plate.
I widened my eyes and covered my mouth as I let out a ear-splitting squeal.
I nearly hugged the hood of the car, if it weren’t for the golden card tucked on the windshield, catching my eye.
I quickly ripped it open and my eyes smiled.
Happy birthday
– T
Very rarely does my wolf ever appear or say anything to me. She’s very weak, and I know that she’s not doing any better.
But today was an exception.
My wolf howled when she saw Brandon standing next to the gate. His hair was a lighter shade of blond and his skin less tan, but his topaz eyes were the same.
He straightened when he saw me and looked a little nervous.
And ever so slightly, he gave me a genuine smile that lit up his whole face. A beautiful smile that made my knees go weak.
I accidentally let out my own smile, adoration running through my veins.
Albert called me the bridge between packs. I was a Princess but I was also a Queen. Through all the hatred and rage, I was the connection between the opposing sides. There were others too, like how Julia and Taylor worked together to save me and how Angela and Jason found love in the midst of a warzone.
My heritage ranged three bloodlines. Ken, my birthfather and Brandon’s Beta. Pureblood, my mother and brother’s lineage of legendary leaders. And Jackson, my mate’s.
I wasn’t alive all my life, I was only breathing.
Until he found me and became my whole world, my everything. I would go back in time and do it all again.
The violent winds of the past had finally faded to a soft, tranquil breeze, leaving a clear beginning to rise in the morning.
For I was the enemy Queen.