FINN
I was awake, lying next to Spencer, watching her sleep. The fact that she survived the curse was a miracle, making this the happiest day of my entire life.
She looked happy too when she fell asleep, but during the night she jolted several times, which I knew was from the nightmares.
My lips slightly touched her shoulder, then, trying to be quiet, I got up and went downstairs to make breakfast so it would be ready when she gets up.
Liam was already awake, and I heard him go for his morning run. Alister was sitting on the patio, waiting for the coffee to brew.
“Morning.” Yawning, James came out from the study where he slept on the couch.
Spencer was alive. And most of it was thanks to Alister. He showed up at the last moment when I was completely drained of energy by Clare’s spell, and Spencer was barely breathing.
Alister, who was a hundred-and-thirty-year-old werewolf, was much stronger than me. Without a moment of hesitation, he took my place so Clare could channel his powers to save Spencer.
Why?
Why would he suddenly show up when he refused to help when I asked him? He even agreed to stay for a night when I offered him a room.
James has met Alister only a couple of times, but Liam and I have known him for years, and we knew how selfish and arrogant he was. So what made him change his mind?
“Maybe he wanted to be a part of this historical moment for our kind in case Spencer survived,” suggested James when I shared my thoughts with him. He sat on the stool at the kitchen island watching me fry some chicken as an addition to our normal breakfast menu.
“Oh, I’m sure there’s more than that,” Liam came in through the back door, returning from his run wearing only shorts and holding his t-shirt in his hand. “And he’ll let us know what he wants soon enough.” His eyes closed and his eyebrows moved up as he sniffed the air. “Mmm, chicken.”
“Yes. Spencer would be hungry for more than eggs and bacon after that shift.”
“Right. But don’t forget to count me in since I lost some blood after she bit me,” he made a comically pitiful face.
“And I got bitten too.” James blinked at Liam, grinning.
“Calm down, clowns,” I rolled my eyes. “There’ll be enough for everyone.”
Liam threw the t-shirt over his shoulder and headed to the living room.
“I’ll go take a shower.”
“Use the one on the first floor next to Alister’s room.”
“Why? We always showered in the second-floor bathroom. It’s bigger.” He turned around. “Are you afraid I’m gonna run into a naked Spencer?” He smirked. “Are you jealous?”
“She’s using mine, you moron. It’s for Clare.”
“Oooh. She’s using yours.” He and James exchanged a humorous glance. “You lucky son of a bitch.”
“I know, right?” James spread his hands, trying to look shocked, but couldn’t stop grinning.
“The heir of the Great Alpha herself. What the hell does she see in you?” Liam kept poking fun at me.
Lately, I’ve rarely seen Liam in a good mood, and I was glad to see him having fun, so I just laughed with them at a few more of their stupid jokes.
* * *
SPENCER
I was in bed, and I could hear the boys laughing downstairs. That was so strange. Everything felt so strange.
“I’m a wolf.”
Yeah. It sounded crazy. And it felt just the same. Crazy hearing. Crazy scent. Crazy sight. And sex with Finn, which I thought was already so perfect, now was just . . . crazy.
My whole body moaned from memories of last night with him in the woods. I was glad we didn’t do it in the house, which was full of wolves, and everybody would’ve heard us from every floor and corner no matter how big the house was.
Good morning, love, I spoke to Finn in my mind, hoping I was doing it right and he’d hear me.
You’re awake. Hi. I could feel him smile as he replied from downstairs. Breakfast is almost ready.
I was having a conversation with my boyfriend from the second floor to the kitchen without speaking the words out loud.
Like I said. Crazy.
Finn laughed. You’ll get used to that.
You heard that too?
Yep. And you’ll learn to disconnect. So I’m your boyfriend?
I love you. The rest is up to you. You can call it whatever you want.
I love you too.
I’ll see you in a bit . . . Over.
He laughed again.
* * *
Before going downstairs, I went to Mom’s room to make sure she was awake. She wasn’t there. She wasn’t in the kitchen either.
“Good morning,” I said to James and Liam, already sitting at the table.
“Same to you,” Liam smiled.
“Hi, Spencer,” James beamed at me. “How are you feeling?”
“Great.” Looking at them a little alarmed, I asked, “You can’t hear my thoughts, can you?”
“Of course we can.” Liam stared at me as if I asked something stupidly obvious. “You were thinking what a good looking and smart man I am.”
Did I?Wait a second.No, I didn’t.
“Seriously?” Shaking his head, Finn gazed at Liam. “No, he can’t. Not until you address him directly.”
I chuckled. “Actually, I was wondering where Mom is.”
“She’s having coffee with Alister on the patio. She’s trying to be nice to him . . . you know, like saying thank you.”
“She already thanked him yesterday. A bunch of times,” said James.
“I’ll call them.”
“I just did.” Finn took my hand and pulled me into his arms.
Through their wolfy mind connection, Finn offered Alister the option to stay over last night, and by the time the two of us returned from the woods, it was late, and everyone was so exhausted that they were already asleep.
Except for Mom. She was in her room, awake, as she said, hoping that I’d come say good night to her so she could see I was okay. And of course, I did. I wanted to see that she was okay, too, hug her, thank her for saving my life, and tell her that she had nothing to worry about anymore.
Well, at least not about that damn curse that nearly killed me.
After that, I went to bed too, and I didn’t see Alister. All I knew about the man who helped save my life was what Finn told me. His name was Alister McDonnell, and he was a hundred and thirty years old, big-headed, smug, pain in the ass.
After such a meager description, I was having a hard time imagining what that mysterious man would look like. And I was pretty surprised by what I saw when he walked in after Mom.
I was looking at a handsome man in his late forties, with short chestnut hair, wearing a black shirt and beige pants. The first thing that caught my attention was his dark eyes radiating a sly smile that barely touched his lips.
Finn let go of me and I took a step toward Alister.
“Hi.” I held out my hand. “I’m Spencer.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Spencer.” With his smile intact, he shook my hand. “I’m Alister.”
“Finn told me what you did, and I can’t thank you enough for—”
“Oh, that was nothing compared to what we all got in return.” His expression slightly changed, and I noticed some kind of admiration in his look. “The rise of a unique wolf I never thought I would witness.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, and I just shrugged with a smile.
“Sorry, I’m still not sure what it all means.”
“Of course you don’t. And I think it’s time we fill you in.”
“How about we have a normal breakfast first? Clare.” Finn pulled out a chair for her at the head of the table and Mom sat down.
Finn and I sat next to each other across from Liam and James, me close to Mom, leaving the other head of the table for Alister.
“Did you sleep okay?” Mom asked quietly while the others were helping themselves to the food.
“Had a couple of weird dreams. Otherwise,” I jerked my shoulder, “I’m fine.”
My mouth watered as Finn put pieces of fried chicken on my plate.
Mom chuckled. “You must be hungry.”
“Starving,” I nodded and picked up the crunchy chicken leg.
****************
SPENCER
“We need to discuss the situation you got yourself into.” Alister sank into the armchair as we gathered in the living room after breakfast.
My eyes darted from one to another. “What situation?”
“You did tell her, didn’t you?” Alister gazed at Finn.
“No. There’s nothing to tell. It’s not what you think.”
“Isn’t it? Or you just hope so?”
“Alister, that wolf met Spencer several days ago,” said Liam. “He just liked a girl, that’s all.”
“Are you all really that stupid?” Alister shook his head, looking at all three of them.
Are they talking about that Eric guy?
“We’re the only ones who can sense each other before we turn, remember? Because we still got a witch gene,” said Finn. “Thanks to her magic, which intercepts her shifter qualities, no wolf could have sensed her.”
“That’s right. No other wolf could. Except one. Her mate. And you know that.”
“My what?” My widening eyes moved from Alister to Finn.
“Oh God,” Mom gasped.
Clenching his teeth, Finn gazed at Alister. “We can’t be a hundred percent sure.”
“Oh, we will be when he comes back with all his pack to claim what’s his.”
“She is NOT his,” Finn growled.
“Great. How about you tell him that when he shows up? Maybe he’ll just turn around and leave.”
“This isn’t the time for sarcasm,” Liam threw an angry look at Alister. “You’re right. If Spencer is his mate, he won't stop until he gets her. But she can reject him any time.” Liam squinted at him. “And why do you care that much? You’ve never been interested in our lives. Why are you really here, Alister?”
“First of all, this young woman was dying, and I had to help—”
“Cut the crap. What’s in it for you?”
“Are you seriously asking me that? Don’t you understand what this means for us? Not just for me. For all of us. Or, I don’t know,” Alister shrugged arrogantly, “maybe you like being a nobody.”
“So that’s it, and you don’t have anything else on your mind? Because I thought you found your way of living and you didn’t care anymore.”
“My way of living?” Alister frowned at Liam. “You mean my way of being careful for more than a hundred years? I’d been ambushed and attacked dozens of times before I learned how to stay off their radar. I was lucky they underestimated my strength, or I would’ve been killed long ago. Do you want to live your entire life being careful, hiding, afraid to get ambushed, or killed? She can change it all, give you your freedom, don’t you get it?”
Now I was getting really angry.
“Would you stop talking about me like I’m not here?” I snapped.
“Sorry,” said Finn. “I just wanted you to have one normal day after everything you’ve been through before telling you about the mate thing and . . .” he pointed his hand at Alister, “. . .
that.”
“She can’t afford that luxury,” Alister said coldly. “She could’ve had peace of mind for a day or two if you did what you had to do. But you just let him go.”
James’s eyebrows jumped up. “You mean we should’ve killed him?”
“How is that any better?” scoffed Liam. “It wouldn’t take long for the whole pack to track down their wolf. And after they found him dead, they would kill us all.”
“No. They would be busy looking for him, and it would take a while. She could’ve used that time to learn things. We could’ve used it to come up with a plan. However, now, that mate of hers can bring dozens of wolves here at any moment. She doesn’t have much time; don’t you get it? And you know what’s going to happen if she doesn’t finish this. Not just for us, but first of all for her. She needs to fulfill her mission.”
“Okay, that’s it.” I couldn’t understand anything, and I waved my hands, stopping this cryptic conversation. “I have no idea what you’re all arguing about, and I would like Mr. McDonnell—”
“Please, call me Alister.”
“Alister,” I heaved a breath, “explain to me what’s going on. I thought all I had to do was survive the curse and I’m done.”
“Oh, my dear girl.” That sly smile of his touched his eyes again. “Turning into the wolf was only the first step.”
“The first step of what?” I glanced back at Mom who stood behind me like she was hiding. “Did you know this?”
“I never knew all the details. But, yes, I knew this wasn’t over.”
I turned my eyes to Finn.
“Yes,” he nodded. “Remember when you asked me what happened to the girl who survived the curse? I said that I’ll tell you later. And I was going to. But he knows much more about it than I do.”
“I need to know everything,” I addressed Alister. He seemed to be the one who wouldn’t hide the truth from me to spare my feelings. “How about you start from the beginning? Who’s the Great Alpha?”
I dropped onto the couch across from him, and the others sat down too.
“The Great Alpha was the first woman hybrid who became an alpha and the High Priestess.” Alister took a deep breath. “So how did she do it? How did she become the Great One? Her story goes centuries back. Five, to be precise. She was a vicious woman and an aggressive wolf.
“But most importantly, she was a very powerful witch. No witch or warlock could stand against her. They obeyed her out of fear, and she became their High Priestess. But, of course, she also had true followers who admired her powers and her deep knowledge of the dark arts. She used her magic to make herself invincible to any kind of injury. The only way for her to die was from old age. That was the only thing she couldn’t, or maybe didn’t want to, change. Though, the legend says she did slow her aging down, and that’s why she lived longer than possible for a wolf. She died at age two hundred and thirty-seven. And that’s when the era of the tyrant was finally over. And to prevent the rise of another hybrid, as you already know, the wolves and witches came together and created the curse.
“So what made her different from the other wolves and witches? There were two versions of the tale about the source of her power. The werewolves’ version said that after she made herself unkillable, she created an elixir to increase her strength. The wolves thought that was what helped her win every fight against every alpha she challenged and take over pack after pack.
“However, the witches said that she was born in hell itself, and that’s where her name Hella came from. They were sure that no normal she-wolf or witch could sustain that much power to be able to control both wolves and witches at the same time.”