The Alpha Twins

by laura-maeve

Roughly two years have passed since the Witch's War. Maddox and Ash Black have lived in bliss with their siblings and mates. Dox has been learning the intricacies of leading the Children while Ash quietly worries over the fate of his human mate. But drama stirs once again when Ryell, Dox's mate, is threatened. Dox, with Ash's help, will do anything to protect her. Rated M.

21. Chapter 21

Alright, guys. There's something I need to address. First off, I love my fans. I will never not answer messages and/or reviews. However, as much as I enjoy your enthusiasm (and I don't want to hurt feelings here), I have to say that the constant reviews begging me to update (one or two a day from the same person plus all the others) is getting a little much. I realize that you guys love this story, and I do, too. The problem is that I have a job. I am a student. I have adult responsibilities to handle. As much as I wish I could sit down and just write for you so you can have a chapter every day, I can't. I am not a paid published author. So yes, it might take a month for me to update. I don't need anyone to count how long it's been. I'm well aware. But I also take so long bc it's not easy to write. Sometimes, I'm able to crank out a couple chapters at a time. But the story has to come to me. I'm not just going to write random things to make you happy to see an update. I want to give you quality, not just quantity. So please, I'm asking that all of you ease up on the "please update" and "the last update was_days ago" reviews.

Trust me, I am not ignoring you. There's just not much I can do. This chapter? I've been working on it since I last posted. So it took me a month to write it for you. And I'm not completely happy with it, but I needed to get it out to stop the constant emails of "will you update" reviews. If I were going to give up writing the story, you guys would be the first to know. I won't just ghost on you; I promise. And I will probably lose readers for "getting onto you". I wish that wouldn't happen because I love my readers. But I need you to understand that I don't just sit at my computer all day; I can't. So no, you will not get an update every day. That's just not realistic considering how long and detailed my chapters are.

So I'm sorry if that offended anyone. For any who are going to stick with me, I hope you enjoy this chapter. The drama is definitely starting to escalate.

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A couple days later…

JacobPOV

The door in front of me was the most ominous thing I'd seen in a while. The last time I'd knocked on this door, my sister had cried and yelled that she wanted nothing to do with me or the pack or my family. Survivor's guilt burned my gut. It was no surprise she'd been so angry. My entire family had made it out of what we called the Witch's War alive, if a little banged up with memory loss. And by all accounts, Jules should be dead, and even Mara couldn't explain how she'd survived being struck by lightning over and over again. But we'd all made it out while Rachel had lost Paul and Rebecca had lost Henry. One loss for each sister, twins who could feel each other's pain.

Two years had passed, and I still hadn't heard from either of my sisters, not even seen them. Not even at the shop. I'd been told that if they needed maintenance on their cars, they went into Forks to the more expensive places that were owned and employed by humans. They'd been serious about avoiding the pack at all costs.

So, I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I wasn't a child to cower from their anger the way I used to. I was more than sympathetic to them both because I had loved Paul as brother and Henry, my nephew. But Rachel was neglecting her children even though Ava was twenty. It was not my niece's job to raise her siblings. She should have been out to college somewhere, getting on with her life.

Before I could knock, the door opened. Ava looked up at me. "Hey, Uncle Jake," she said quietly, and looked over her shoulder.

When she opened the door all the way, I walked inside. Despite my sister's neglect, the house neat and orderly, clean.

Ava closed the door behind me. "I sent Linley and Dane to a friend's house. This might not be pretty. Mom's been drinking already today."

I studied my niece and found that she looked exhausted. It was finally taking a toll on her, taking care of everything and being unhappy.

"Where is she?" I tried to keep the anger from my voice but I knew it slipped through.

She jerked her chin toward the back of the house. "In her room."

Without hesitation, I started forward but Ava grabbed my arm. I turned to look at her.

"She won't open the door for you," she said, stepping in front to lead the way.

The scent of cleaner was heavy on the air as if Ava had taken advantage of a semi-empty house to clean. She led me back to a closed door and knocked.

"Mom? I need some money to go to the store. Linley said she hasn't been feeling well, and you took your purse into your room."

There were a few heartbeats of silence before I heard a shuffling on the other side. Then the door swung open.

Rachel looked absolutely horrible. Her hair was disheveled as though it hadn't been brushed in days. There were stains on her pajamas and robe. And those clothes were looser on her frame than they should have been. She'd lost a good twenty pounds, showing in her gaunt cheeks and sunken eyes.

But when those eyes saw me standing behind her daughter, they widened and filled with anger.

Instinctively, I moved, throwing out an arm just as she went to slam the door. It thudded against my arm, and she pushed.

"Get out!" she screamed. "Get. Out!"

"Rachel!" I yelled back as Ava moved out of the way.

"How dare you come into my house?!"

Breathing hard, she glared up at me, but at least she'd stopped trying to shut the door.

I barreled my way into the room. "What is going on?"

"Get out," she hissed.

Glaring back, I said, "You know damn well that's not going to happen. Ava came to me; she's worried about you, and now I understand why."

Stomping away, she went to sit in one of the chairs by the window. "No reason to be worried. I'm still alive, aren't I? I haven't offed myself."

"Rachel!" I scolded.

She just looked toward the window.

Heart breaking, I went to kneel in front of her. She ripped her hand out of mine when I tried to take it, but I'd expected it. That didn't stop it from hurting, though. "Rachel, please. Talk to me."

"What do you care? You've been off playing king of the wolves while my and Becca's lives fall apart."

The anger came back full force. No way was she going to blame me for this. "I left you alone because the last time I was here, you screamed that you wanted nothing to do with the pack or my family. Ava came to me. I don't know what made you think that I don't care about you or Becca. You're my sisters and I love you. I would do anything for you. Hearing that you hated me and wanted nothing to do with me broke my heart, but I did as you asked."

Her jaw clenched. "Why are you here? Come to take my daughter away and force her to fight, too?" There were tears in her voice.

Reaching up, I gripped her chin to force her to look at me. She tried to pull away, but I used that inhuman strength to keep her there. "I don't care if you hate me, but the one thing you will not do is blame me for Paul's death." She flinched at his name, but I went on. "Paul went into that fight willingly. He had a choice, Rachel. They all did, including Henry. He chose to fight for his family, his home. And Paul considered the pack his family just as much as you and the kids. He knew that I would never use the alpha ability to order anyone to fight. My own son stayed here on the rez because his mate asked him to. You had the same option, but I think we both know you wouldn't have asked that of your husband because you knew what his answer would be. I would never force anyone to do anything they didn't want to, and that includes risking their lives. Now, your daughter came to me because I am your brother. I am here as your brother, not in any pack role. I am a brother who cares, loves, and is worried about his sister."

After a couple heartbeats of glaring, her anger washed away, replaced by tears that fell onto my hand. I knew better than to try to pull her into my arms. Just because she'd chosen grief over her anger didn't mean she wasn't still angry with me. But I did let go of her chin in favor of trying to take her hand again. She let me, squeezing my fingers tightly.

After a couple minutes, she reached for a tissue and wiped her face.

"Rach," I said softly, "Ava said the therapy was helping. Why'd you stop going?"

She shot me a glare again but couldn't hold it as exhaustion took over. She sighed, more tears slipping. "It was helping, and I'd thought it helped enough. It had to be enough because I couldn't afford it anymore. You know how crappy healthcare is here, and I wasn't willing to take it from the business."

For a moment, I just knelt there on the floor and debated. "If you had the funds, would you go back?"

Immediately, she nodded. But then her eyes narrowed at me and she shook her head, trying to take her hand out of mine. "No, Jake. Absolutely not."

"Just listen-,"

"No," she said forcefully.

I squeezed her hand. "Shut up, Rachel. You'll use my money and go back."

The head shake was violent this time, making her limp hair move. "No. I won't use your family's money," she spat. "I don't want anything to do with them, not even to get better."

"It won't be their money, not Cullen money. It's mine from saving up all these years at the shop. I've been saving it for emergencies and just-in-cases. You can hate me all you want, but you will take this for your kids. What would Paul say if he were here right now, seeing you like this?"

The grief made her expression fall. "He'd be pissed," she whispered.

I nodded.

Then she choked out a strangled laugh. "He'd haul me to therapy himself and sit outside the room to make sure I stayed."

"Please, Rachel," I said, desperation making an appearance in my tone. "Please, let me help you. Not just for the kids, but for us. I hate this distance; I hate that you blame me. I miss him, too. And Henry. My brother and my nephew. I miss them more than you can possibly imagine, more than you think. But I comfort myself with the thought that they were pack and knew what they were sacrificing to keep their home and families safe. Also, that they chose to make that sacrifice." For a moment, I debated but then said, "I have nightmares about burning them, that we're burning them alive." Now some tears of my own came. "I loved them, Rachel. And I miss them, too. You're not the only one who cared about Paul. We all did, and we all mourned him as well as Henry. We still do. But we carry his memory in the pack, in the kids. I know the girls have missed seeing Ava, and we loved seeing her at Piper's mating ceremony. She's grown so much, and she's so beautiful. Like you. Strong like Paul. She had to have that strength to pick up where you left off so that you could heal. But you're not healing, Rachel. You're drowning. Let me help you." My voice cracked on that last sentence, and I leaned in to kiss her hand. "Please."

I laid my cheek on her hand and cried. For the first time since Billy died, I openly wept onto my sister's skin. All my fear and heartbreak were there in the great sobs that racked my body. My sisters were all I had left of our parents, and I knew that I'd have to say goodbye to them eventually because they were aging. They were human, and time was starting to creep up on them. In their forties, nearly fifties, I could see their hair starting to gray, wrinkles forming in the corners of their eyes and mouths while I still looked to be in my twenties. I didn't want to spend what little time I had left with them fighting or us ignoring each other.

Sometime later, I felt a hand on the back of my head, in my hair. Then I felt Rachel lean over to kiss where her hand had been. "Okay, Jake," she whispered. "Okay. I'll go back."

RenesmeePOV

The front door opened while I stirred the potato soup in the crockpot.

I had to brace myself with a deep breath before I turned to him.

Jacob looked absolutely horrible. His eyes were puffy from crying, face a darker russet than usual. If he'd had fairer skin, it would have been red from all the crying. His big body moved like every joint and muscle was screaming as he took off the old leather jacket I'd gotten him for Christmas forever ago, the Christmas I'd told him we were pregnant with Will. But it was the look in his eyes that broke my heart and had tears pooling in my eyes. They were haunted and oh, so tired.

Putting the lid back over the soup, I went to stand behind him, but didn't touch him. He hadn't moved from in front of the door even after he'd put his jacket up. His back was to me, broad shoulders slumped.

"What can I do?" I asked quietly, the tears threatening to choke me.

He was silent for another couple heartbeats.

Then, "She gave up," he said, voice strangled. My heart dropped. "She gave up because she thought I didn't care anymore."

There was absolutely nothing I could say as my mouth worked and my hand reached out for his back. But before I could touch him, his fist slammed into the wall beside the front door.

Growling and snarling, he did this a few more times until his knuckles were bloody and the wall cracked, buckling under.

My tears finally fell as I gently pressed my palms to his shoulder blades.

"Even Ava," he said finally said, voice ragged. "Even Ava said she hadn't come to me sooner because she thought I was too busy for them. For my own family."

"I'm so sorry, Jacob," I whispered.

He kept breathing hard. I stroked his back until I felt him start to calm. Blood dripped from his hand, faster than it normally would have with him flexing his fingers over and over.

When he settled enough, I slid my arms around his waist, molding my body to the back of his, my cheek pressed to his spine.

His hands came up to rub my arms, and I didn't care that his blood was smearing my skin. After twenty years together, it wasn't the first time. And it wouldn't be the last.

"She agreed to go back to therapy," he whispered.

I tightened my arms around him and squeezed my eyes closed. "That's great." Pulling back, I kissed his back. "Let me turn off the soup, and we'll go lie down."

He gripped my wrists. "No. No, I'm okay. I just need to wash up. Then I'll clean up and fix the wall."

Moving back, I urged him to turn around so I could see his face. "Jake, you can do it tomorrow. I think you should rest."

Gripping my hands, he put my fingers to his lips. "No," he said harder this time. "Right now, I need to stay occupied because if I don't, I'll start thinking about what they said. And I can't…I just can't deal with that right now."

Pulling my hands out of his, I cupped his face. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I didn't realize…I wouldn't want to stay still, either." Taking his hand, I moved toward the bathroom under the stairs. "Let me at least clean your hand before it heals. Then we can eat, and you can teach me how to fix a wall."

Jacob pulled me to a stop and when I looked back at him, his mouth worked but no words came out.

I squeezed his hand. "I know. I wouldn't know what to do without you, either."

And then I pulled him to the bathroom to clean his hand.

AshPOV

Everybody was gathered in my house. And by everybody I meant my siblings and their mates, my own mate, Jason and Piper, Nechole, Katie, Parker, and Wren. Tate and Colton were also here, supporting Gage, who had insisted he come when Ava had asked for a meeting. He was still on the mend because his wounds had been from another werewolf. Nechole stayed close to him but seemed nervous about it.

Surprisingly, Victoria wasn't here. As soon as she'd heard Ava had asked for a group meet, she'd asked Mark to take her to the store.

We were all seated wherever there was room while Ava paced in front of us.

She took a deep breath. "And that's it. That's what's been happening, and I'm sorry that I took so much time away from all of you, that I've missed so much."

It was Ryell who looked around at the crowd. "Not to sound insensitive, but should all of us really be here? I mean, of course, I care about Rachel and Rebecca and all of you, but this is really fragile information."

Ava paused to look around as well. "Yes, this was necessary. My dad considered both packs his family. And whether by blood or marriage or just pure friendship, you all are my family. I'm tired of hiding. I've done my healing, and I've missed you guys so much. I didn't realize how much until Piper asked me to stand with her at her ceremony."

Leaning against the wall, I shared a look with Jules, who was sitting on the couch. Then with Dox in the corner by the fireplace. Will met my gaze from where he was sitting on a barstool.

"So…what are you wanting out of this meeting?" I asked as gently as I could.

She took yet another deep breath. "I would ask forgiveness."

Jules frowned and sat forward. "Forgiveness? For what? Ava, your dad…he died. Of course, you'd need time to heal. Any of us would need time in different ways. None of us blame you."

Surprisingly, it was Jason who stepped forward. "I lost my dad and brother. To deal, I threw myself into my work after Walker offered me head enforcer." He motioned to Piper. "I'm honestly lucky I didn't lose my living family to that abandonment. But we all need a reminder to check back into our lives at some point, and it looks like maybe Piper was reason enough for both of us. You and I may not know each other that well, but I think I can speak for all of us when I say welcome back."

Around the room, there were various nods and agreements. I nodded, too, as I shared a look with Cole across the room.

Ava swallowed hard, her eyes shiny as she looked at Jason. "Thank you. That…that means a lot."

"And whatever support you need," Will said, "you know you have it. Aunt Rachel is going to go through some tough times. We'll be there for you if you need us. All you have to do is ask. One word and we're there."

Again, there was a lot of nodding heads and affirmatives.

"We all miss those we lost," Dox said. "In some form or other, they all contributed to our lives. Maybe we didn't always get along, but that's what family is. We bitch and bicker, but at the end of the day, it's because we love each other. We will always mourn them. Our comfort is, though, that we have memories to share, memories to laugh and cry over together. Memories that will keep them alive in our hearts. So, we'll all heal at our own paces and know that there are others waiting to help us or join us. Then we'll move on together."

Cole lifted his drink. "Well said, Dox."

After that, everyone started to mingle, hugging Ava, making her smile and laugh. Dox and my other siblings joined me after giving Ava hugs.

I looked at Dox with a smirk. "Got all touchy-feely, huh?"

He scowled at me. "Shut up."

Smiling, Jules wrapped an arm around his waist, hugging him, and smiled. "I think it was very nice. Very mature."

Dox looked over at me and stuck out his tongue.

Jules sighed. "And then he goes and does that." Shaking her head, she pulled away.

Chuckling, I looked over to see Will watching the crowd. He had the contemplative look on his face as he rubbed his neck.

"What's up?" I asked.

Startled, he looked over at me as if he hadn't expected to be watched. Then he sighed. "Our own family, man," he said quietly. "They were going through some shit and we just…forgot. We should have taken notes from Ryell and gotten in touch with our cousins."

Dox shook his head as Jules reached out to rub Will's arm and shoulder. "We can't blame ourselves, Will. They wanted to be left alone. Our only option was to wait for one of them to come to us."

"My concern is Aunt Becca," I said. "Dad only talked to Rachel today."

Jules shrugged. "Most likely Aunt Rachel called her twin when Dad left. Both of them lost someone so they both know how the other is grieving. But I think out of the two, Aunt Becca is dealing better. Not to be cruel, but she has a second son. She has an outlet for the maternal love. Aunt Rachel doesn't have an equivalent of her husband."

"But her kids-," Dox started.

Will shook his head. "Speaking from experience? I almost lost Hunter and because of that, I missed my own daughter's birth. I wouldn't know what to do without her. When you go into a marriage and a family, you expect your partner to excel where you lack. Without that support, the idea of trudging on just seems impossible. Some people are strong enough to pick themselves up, but others aren't. But I think Jules is right. If something happened to Cordy and I had her sibling left, I'd pull myself through if only to make sure that nothing happened to my other child." He looked over to where Hunter had joined the group around Ava, Cordy on her hip.

Behind us, the door that led to the carport opened and Victoria walked through. She paused with wide eyes.

"Oops," she said. "I can leave again."

Shaking my head, I went toward her. "No need. The serious part is over. And I want you to meet someone seeing as you're part of this family now." I looked her over. "How was your outing?"

Nodding, she looked at the group. "Good. We went to Carlisle for a checkup, and then Mark took me to dinner."

My brows went up at that.

Noticing, she shrugged with a small smile. "After he faced off with my dad for me, I couldn't ignore it. It's been tentative, but I think it could go somewhere."

Threading her arm through mine, I grinned. "That's good to hear, Toria. You deserve to be happy."

Flushing, she looked down. "I've was never happy with Mom and Dad. And now, I've never been happier."

When she rubbed her stomach, my smile faltered. The movement was slow and loving. I'd forgotten to take my own advice and hold off being excited about being a dad. The idea had gone to my heart, and now that she was finding something serious with a male that would take care of her, she might decide to keep her son. Not that I could be angry about it. Cole and I both had known that things could change within the last few months remaining of the pregnancy.

Her arm squeezed mine. "Hey, you okay?"

Shaking myself out of the spiral, I nodded. "Yeah. I'm good."

"Liar," she said softly. "He's still your son. I'm not changing my mind."

I patted her hand where it rested on the top of my arm. "We'll talk about it later."

She sighed, but let it go.

"Hey, Ava," I called as we walked up to the little group. When my cousin turned, I motioned to Victoria. "I wanted you to meet the newest member to my little family. This is my sister-in-law, Victoria."

Ava took in all of her as she smiled. "I've seen you before on the rez when I make deliveries for my mom. You're a receptionist, right?"

Toria nodded.

Ava nodded with her. "Yeah, I dropped off some candles for your employers."

Victoria smiled. "So that's where they came from. I loved them and always wondered. They were lovely for the office, nice and soothing."

Ava beamed.

Kissing Toria's cheek, I excused myself, leaving them to talk and connect.

Cole met me in the kitchen as he took a bottle of water out of the fridge. "I'm sorry about your aunt," he said quietly.

Leaning back against the counter close enough to touch, I shrugged, my shoulder brushing his. "Our hands were tied. We couldn't do anything until they came to us. Ava might be quiet, but she's strong enough to deal. That she went to Dad says that she was close to breaking under the pressure. We'll let Dad deal with our aunts. Our cousins will be our priority."

He nodded but asked, "What did Toria say to you?"

"Just that she went for a checkup and then went to dinner with Mark."

He snorted. "That doesn't really surprise me. He showed his feelings when he went after Daniel. Too many people saw it for him to argue now."

Chuckling, I took a drink from his water. "I guess we should order pizza or something. They don't seem to be leaving."

Cole took the bottle from me while I took out my phone and laughed. "I guess so."

DoxPOV

Rye and I were curled up on the couch, watching the fire crackle. The get-together had lasted a few hours, especially after Ash had ordered pizzas.

Now I was full and tired with my mate wrapped around me.

"The full moon's tomorrow," she said quietly.

I rubbed her bare thigh up to the hem of the short shorts she wore to bed. "Are you going to shift?"

She nodded against my shoulder. "I need to. I didn't last month. The wolf is restless." Cheek pressed against my arm, she rolled her eyes up to look at my face. "Will you run with me?"

Gripping her leg, I met her gaze. "If you want me to."

Nodding, she went back to looking at the fire.

"You're still worried."

Sitting up, she looked at me again. "Aren't you? Nechole phased on the rez and tried to attack Erik in front of people. That doesn't bode well for us, Dox. Not just your dad's pack but ours, too. Especially if they agreed that they should be informed of pack business. If they knew the things we've had to do to protect them, they'd see us as monsters. We're not human and sometimes those monsters inside us come out to play tucking away our human morals."

Thinking through it all, I tried to think of something to say that would calm her. "Rye, nobody from the rez has come to any of us or Dad. Gage made it clear that if they had a problem, they needed to take it up with us. Right now, the rez isn't acting against us so for now, we can't worry about that. Yes, we keep it mind, but it's not a priority. We need to survive this party first. Get our ducks in a row. With that many wolves creeping around here, we'll need to make sure they stay off the rez and out of Forks."

"Good thing Dad changed his mind about parading us around. Because he limited the number allowed, not many have sent affirmatives. But then he hasn't sent out the official invites yet."

"We'll be fine," I told her, pushing her hair back over her shoulder. "We're already on alert from the attack in Seattle. Garrett said he's sending his guys early to get a feel for things and report back. Rye, babe, we've learned from past mistakes. All the plans have been gone over."

She growled. "I just hate the waiting for something to go wrong because something always goes wrong. You and I both know that plans only work if everyone goes by the same script. Bad guys have their own to go by."

I cupped her face. "Stop, Rye."

Now she glared at me, nostrils flaring. "I can't just stop worrying, Dox. This is my pack."

"Our pack. Listen, just like Jason needs to learn to trust his guys, you need to learn to trust him. He is our head enforcer. He's good at his job; let him do it. Our people will take care of protecting our bodies, but this party is political. That's where you and I need to have our heads. We can't do that if our thoughts are running with the packs."

Letting go of her anger on a sigh, her finger traced around my nipple through my shirt as she said, "Are we ever going to try to combine the packs?"

I had to grab her hand so I could think. She pressed her lips together innocently.

I gave her a look but said, "That will happen later down the road, and will be a discussion with my siblings. I don't own my dad's pack, Rye. And no doubt it'll be put to a vote if the packs want to combine. But with the number of couples forming between both, it would make the most sense to do it."

"Who would lead? And how?"

I shook my head and played with her fingers. "I don't know. The Quileute wolves who haven't mated into Walker's pack will likely want to follow whoever isn't leading the Children. You'll still lead the Children. Again, I don't know. We'd have to figure out the particulars. But that's not what we need to concentrate on."

Rye took her hand out of mine and started up her touching again. "I know," she said through a smile as my breath shuddered. "It's just something I started thinking about."

A growl slipped between my teeth as her nails scratched down my stomach to burrow under my shirt and grip the top edge of my jeans.

I quirked a brow. "Feeling frisky tonight?"

She bit her lip. "Maybe." Then she lifted her face. "Make love to me."

The growl grew. "You know that teasing me doesn't lead to anything gentle."

Leaning in, she nipped my jaw. "Who said anything about gentle?" she whispered.

My body shuddered. "Then strip for me."

I felt her pull back. "What?"

I ran my eyes over her body. "Strip for me. Tease away."

She stared up at me. "But I've never-,"

I gave her a look. "Every time you undress is a tease to me."

Slowly, she got to her feet like she was trying to decide how to do this. I heard her swallow before pushing the coffee table away. After a moment she said, "Put some music on."

My eyebrows went up, but I pulled out my phone. I pulled up a playlist that always made her want to dance.

Grinning, she closed her eyes. Letting her neck loose, she started up small movements of her head and hips. It took a second but eventually she got into the groove, biting her lip again. She'd started up that habit when she wanted to be loved on but was too nervous to ask. That type of submission made that primal male side of me growl in approval. She and I had the perfect balance.

As the song continued on and her body got on board with the rhythm, her hands started to roam her own body, giving me glimpses of tan skin and taut flesh as her shirt lifted every now and then. The growl became continuous when she turned around to start sliding those tiny shorts down over her ass just enough to show me that she'd put on a thong when she'd changed. I smirked. That little minx knew she was going to talk me into sex tonight. That's the only time she wore thongs.

When I reached out to touch her, her hand knocked mine away, as if waiting even with her eyes closed. I looked up to see her giving me raised eyebrows over shoulder. It was a warning as she shimmied her hips and pulled her shirt over her head. After throwing it, she turned, bring her foot to my chest, pushing me back against the couch. I grabbed her leg, pulling her to straddle me, my hand sliding over smooth skin. She did what I wanted, dancing over my lap. I had just enough time lean forward to suck the meat of her breast over the cup of the push-up bra that matched the slip of underwear. Then she was backing up, dropping down low to get my boots off. Somehow even that was sexy.

When the song changed, she gripped my hands to tug me off the couch. Her lithe body danced around me, brushing here and there. And when she was back in front of me, the shorts were gone. She was in her black bra and thong. The dark color made her skin glow. She ran her hands over her hips, up her stomach to cup her breasts before moving on into her hair. As she moved, I caught her rhythm, my own body syncing with hers.

Then suddenly, faster than I could see, she gripped the tops of my jeans again. She'd used that inhuman speed, reminding me that she wasn't human. I didn't need the reminder, but it was still hot as hell as she looked up at me with amber eyes while dipping low again, unbuttoning and unzipping my jeans as she went. Still moving on the balls of her feet, Rye pulled my jeans down. I smirked at the surprise on her face when she saw that I'd gone commando today, my erection already standing proud.

My mate swallowed hard, her mouth working as if it were watering.

I stepped out of my jeans before her hands wrapped around my calves, skimming up my legs as she shimmied her way back up my body. When her face reached my hips, she leaned in to lick me.

My head went back, mouth opening with a groan. Rye licked and bit her way up my torso, her hands moving ahead to shove my shirt over my chest. And when the time came, I leaned over so she could yank it off. The serious mood was broken when she laughed, a full-throated sound, and tossed the shirt. Giggling, she turned, started dancing again, and twirled her hips. Gripping those hips, I pulled her back against my body, but she didn't stop. We danced with me naked and her nearly there while her ass ground against my cock.

Rye arched her body, her arms coming up, hands running through my hair. I had a spectacular view of her breasts pushing the limits of her bra. I couldn't not touch her, so I ran my hands over her taut stomach and hips. The straps of that thong drove me wild while she danced in my arms. Kissing the spot behind her ear, I skimmed my fingers down over the front of her, over that lace until I reached her opening. My fingers dipped under to find her already wet. Growling, I played in that wetness until she was breathing heavy and dancing for an entirely different reason.

"Dox," she breathed.

"Turnabout's fair play, baby," I said against the skin of neck. "What do you say we get you naked?"

"Oh, God," she said hoarsely. "Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, please."

"Good girl," I growled and went for the clasp of her bra. Though I loved the effect, I needed all of her skin on mine, to touch her without something between us.

As soon as the thing was undone, she flung it off.

But I fingered the thong. "We might keep this. I can do my thing around it."

At that, she turned and shoved her lips against mine, crawling up my body until her legs were wrapped around my hips. "Just fuck me already," she growled. "I'm sorry for teasing you. Just please-,"

I loved that she was begging so much that I gripped her thighs and walked until her back hit the wall just beside our bedroom door. We'd make it in there eventually but not right now. Pressing back into the wall, she gave me her hips, seeking some sort of friction. Everywhere her core touched me was wet with her body's desire. A mewling noise came from her throat as her nails scratched up my shoulders, arms, and neck, trying to pull me where she wanted.

"Hard or soft?" I asked, leaning in to lick and nip at her lips.

Her eyes fluttered open. "Hard. I want to feel your strength."

Good fucking answer. Sliding my hand between us, I moved the slip of fabric between her thighs before gripping myself and shoving in.

She shouted, head banging back against the wall as she gave me her throat.

Rye was tight without foreplay but oh, so wet. So wet that I slid in smoothly.

Cupping her ass, I held her there as I began to fuck her, swinging my hips hard until there was a sound of wet flesh hitting wet flesh. Eyes squeezed closed, her body moved and undulated as if she couldn't get enough. My growl was a constant living thing in my chest, vibrating up my throat while I bit at the skin of her neck and chest. Her breasts were pushed up from being pressed against my own chest and I bit down on the meat of one as it was offered up to me with one of my thrusts.

Ryell screamed, her nails shredding the tops of my shoulder.

Letting go, I licked over the spot, soothing the hurt before pulling her nipple between my teeth.

Now she whined, hands both pushing and pulling. The pleasure was too much as all the while my hips and cock worked us both closer and closer to that edge of oblivion.

"Yes," she gasped. And the word kept falling from her lips like a prayer along with my name and "please".

But I wasn't going to let her come, not yet. I had to pay her back for the teasing. So, I slowed my pace before pulling all the way back and out. Even my sense of pleasure protested the sudden stop. We'd been so close to orgasm that my body burned with the need, but I beat it back.

The whimpering got louder as I set her on shaky legs. When she opened her eyes, I ran my hands over her body possessively, cupping her breasts and thumbing her nipples. She jerked.

Her eyes held a pleading question.

I leaned down to bite her lip until I tasted blood and then put my own lips to her ear. "Go into our room and bend over the bed."

Those sherry-hazel eyes were glassy, her cheeks flushed. Biting and sucking the blood from her lip, she nodded and did as I ordered.

I watched as she held onto the wall and walked into the room. I followed to lean in the doorway and watched as she went on tiptoe to bend over the bed, her palms flat to the mattress beside her head. She turned her head to the side but didn't look over her shoulder at me. Standing there, I appreciated the view of her spread out in front of me. Her core was red but glistening from the pounding I'd already given her. The marks she'd carved into my skin were steadily seeping blood. They were deep and would take days to heal, but I loved it. I loved that I could make her lose herself to pleasure to the point where she didn't worry about hurting me.

At first, she was still, probably having expected me to be on her as soon as she was in position. But the longer I watched, the more she started to fidget, rubbing her thighs together, desperate for the pressure to be released.

"Don't make yourself come," I said low. "If you do, you and I are done for the night."

She whimpered again but stilled. "Please," she begged.

Unable to stand it anymore, I went to kneel before what she was offering me. Gripping her thighs, I popped her feet off the ground so I was supporting her and plunged my face into her core, lapping at the wetness that kept pumping from her.

Rye shouted, mewled, and groaned as I fed at her. But I made sure to stay away from her clit. Once I hit that, I knew she'd explode and be too wrung out for anymore. And honestly, I wanted her to come around my cock, not my tongue. My hands moved up her legs to her ass, where I squeezed the pliant flesh. She was all soft female under my hands, and that was one of the things I loved about her. Though she trained in fighting, she still had those soft, fleshy bits that I could grab onto when we were together.

Pulling myself away from the intoxicating taste of her, I slapped her ass before positioning myself at her entrance. Then, planting one hand on the bed and the other gripping her shoulder, I plunged in. Without a moment to adjust, I started pounding. Rye didn't even have time to take a breath to shout. She gasped, burying her face against her bicep, and took everything I gave her. Every last inch. The bed groaned and jerked with the movement, her body getting forced higher onto the mattress.

Suddenly, her legs wrapped around my legs, ankles hooked over my calves. Reaching up, she grabbed the wrist of the hand I had clamped on her shoulder. Her other arm wrapped around the one I had planted on the bed. My balls were hitting her clit, and I knew she was about to climax hard.

Gone were the whimpers and whines. Now she was growling as I shoved my whole body against her, my hips slapping her ass. She was straining, tossing her head so that her hair slid to one side and she could glare up at me with amber eyes.

Her wolf was at the surface. I knew that dominant females could fight the mating, trying to get the male to prove that he was strong enough to mate with her, to sire her offspring.

So, answering that challenge before she could start thrashing, I growled and bit the back of her neck, right at the top of the spine. She kept growling, body going tense. But as the sex kept raging on, and I kept my hold on her, the body under me went loose.

My own viciousness came out as I kept fucking her until I tasted her blood on my tongue. The metallic sweetness and the rush of strength reminded me that I hadn't hunted in days. I fed from her body, both blood and sex until I felt the inside of her tighten hard and fast around me. Letting out a noise that was both growl and grunt, I thrust one last time before grinding into her, swiveling my hips.

Ryell screamed, nails ripping at my skin, spilling my blood on both of us. Despite my weight pinning her, she writhed as the orgasm ripped through her.

And as her body tightened even more, my orgasm hit me like a truck, plowing over me and spilling into her body. A roar trembled out of my throat, making the walls shake. The sound turned to a howl as I finished.

When we were both spent, I realized that I was laying on top of her. Both of us were breathing hard.

Leaning up, I looked at her face. Her eyes were fluttering while she struggled to breathe, her pulse beating hard in her neck.

I kissed her cheek. "Are you okay?" I croaked.

Her mouth worked for a moment, but nothing came out.

I chuckled. "Just blink."

She managed to open her eyes and give one distinct blink before those lids shut again.

Sliding to the side so I wouldn't crush her, I moved her hair so I could look at the bite mark. It wasn't just a mark; it was a wound. One that was still seeping blood. It had soaked the hair at the nape of her neck and was smeared around my chin and mouth. I licked up the blood that was still seeping, but it really needed pressure for it to stop.

Kissing her shoulder, I made to get up.

She groaned as she reached behind her to grab at my torso. "Stay. You're warm."

My heart melted, but I touched the side of her neck. "This needs to be bandaged. It's still bleeding. And I was going to get something to clean us up."

She grumbled. "I'll change the sheets tomorrow. Just stay."

I would have given in to her, but the wound was still bleeding a good amount. So much that I didn't like it.

I kissed her shoulder again and moved to get up.

"Dox," she complained.

"Ryell," I ordered. "I'm going to clean us up. Now, stop. Rest. Let me take care of you the way I'm supposed to."

I could feel the wolf inside of her hunker down as I used my Alpha tone on her. I knew it didn't work the same on a Child, but she was a hybrid. I was betting her wolf knew the tone, even if the she-wolf didn't understand why.

Rye's hand slid away until she was curled up on the bed, tucking her legs up.

I was recovered enough to use the bed to stabilize me so that I could lift her higher onto the bed, putting her head on a pillow. But I grabbed one of my shirts from the hamper to put under the bite wound. While I was watching her, I looked at the one on her chest. It was already clotted, so I didn't have to worry about it. The last thing I did before leaving her side was to slide the underwear down her legs. She hated sleeping in wet clothes.

My legs were just a touch wobbly as I moved into the open space and went for the bathroom. The minute I looked in the mirror, I knew that I was going to catch shit from my siblings and others. The scratches went deep over my arms, shoulders, neck, and chest. Even my back and ribs were clawed up. But I couldn't really care about what other people thought. A wave of masculine pride swept through me. I cleaned those up as best as I could since they weren't bleeding anymore. The small feeding I'd had from her had helped heal them enough to close just a little. Exhaustion was tugging me under as I grabbed everything I needed and went back to her. With her already being half asleep, I didn't force her to move, but crawled up onto the bed.

As I went about cleaning up the wound, she started to wake up.

"Dox?" she said softly

"Yeah?" I answered, dabbing a pain cream on her skin.

"I like it when you boss me around."

My eyes flicked to her face as I chuckled.

She turned her head even more to look up at me. "Honestly. Like you just did in a serious manner. Something about it just speaks to my instincts. I like it when you're alpha like that."

In my head, I went back to that moment when her wolf surfaced. "I think it's because you're an alpha female. You and your wolf like knowing that your mate is strong enough to handle that. Quileute runs in your blood, so some base part of you must realize what I am to that side of your bloodline. We might run your dad's pack together with you being the true leader, but in the Quileute pack, I'm the alpha bloodline."

As I talked, I finished dressing the wound. Then I grabbed the damp washcloth from the bedside table and moved down until I could move her back onto her stomach and spread her legs.

"Dox, you don't have to-,"

Growling, I gripped her thigh. "What did I tell you?"

She went quiet and dropped her eyes.

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm like this when it's sex. Or just randomly. Most of the time I can control it, but other times…I'm sorry."

Silently, she opened her legs wider, cocking one of her knees up toward her chest.

To show her that I knew what she was thinking, I leaned over to kiss her behind while sliding the damp cloth between her legs where my release was already sliding out. Her body spasmed with aftershocks until I was done and throwing the rag in the hamper. On my way back up to the head of the bed, I grabbed the sheets. Neither of us liked the heavy comforter unless we decided to turn off the heat. I was too tired to flip the switch, so I just put the sheets over us and cuddled up against her back.

Rye moved against me, shoving herself as hard as she could as if she wanted us to slip our skins and rub the beasts inside us together. My wolf didn't have the same metaphysical elements that hers did, so we couldn't share that power, but I hugged her as tight as I could.

Her hands rubbed my arms. "You're all I could ever need or want. Don't ever apologize for how you act with me. We're an alpha couple; we're going to fight and disagree about things. Even in front of other people. They need to see us fight to know that we're not just blindly following each other with our heads up each other's asses. I don't care about that. And I really do love it when you go alpha on me. The submissiveness I show is my wolf's. She knows what you are to her, to us. And it's a game to her. She likes to bait you, to make sure that you're strong enough. She…likes…being submissive for you." Then she laughed a little. "She wants to mate every time you give me an order, a serious order." Sighing, she snuggled back against my chest. "She knows that you'd never try to take our position, our power in the pack, so she doesn't mind letting you take care of us. She doesn't mind you being protective and territorial. In fact, she feels safer when you do that, like we can lead while you take care of everything else. Other males moving in can be a real problem in packs, and it's the alpha male's job to prove he's the one that deserves the alpha female. That's why I never understood Jules's fight with Bray when all he was doing was trying to prove himself worthy of her, even if it was over pack business. But that was between them and I'm glad they worked it out."

She'd basically just explained everything I'd thought during sex, during that one moment when I'd realized what her wolf was about to do.

I buried my face in her hair. "Thank you for explaining that, and for not ripping me a new one."

Her hand came up to stroke my face. "Never," she said tiredly.

"I'm glad your wolf likes me that much," I said with a smile.

She huffed a laugh. "She loves you, even though she doesn't necessarily understand the emotion. You're ours, and she's never going to give you up. Not for anything."

"Good," I murmured, lips brushing her neck. "Because I'm not going anywhere. Now, get some rest; you're exhausted."

Humming, the tension started easing from her as she sank against my body and the bed. "Dox?"

I smiled. "Yes, love?"

"Mmm, I forgot to ask," she murmured sleepily.

"Ask what?"

"Will you mate me?"

Trying to keep the laugh to a low chuckle, I kissed the spot behind her ear. I wanted to say something sarcastic but instead what came out was, "I'd be most honored to mate you, Ryell."

"Mmm," she mumbled again, this time with a smile. She patted my hand. "Good man. It would really suck if you'd said no."

I barely resisted the urge to laugh again when I squeezed her. "Sleep," I ordered softly.

"Mmmokay."

She was gone within seconds, and I was soon to follow.

Night of the Full Moon…

ColePOV

"And remember," Mark was telling my sister. "Don't open this door. Not for anything or anyone. Do you understand?"

I could tell Victoria was exasperated but in the face of her boyfriend's concern, she stayed solemn. "Yes, Mark. Cole and Ash have already gone through this with me. None of us are leaving the house. We were just going to go into the basement and watch movies all night. I promise that I won't even come upstairs until morning. If I need something, Ash will get it for me."

Those hazel eyes studied her with worry, weighing her sincerity. Gripping her hands, he brought them up to kiss her fingers. Then he looked to me. "Do you have a weapon?"

"Mark," Toria admonished.

He glared. "No, Victoria. The full moon takes away our humanity, leaving the beasts to roam free. They have no morals. You might be my mate, but I'm not taking chances with you while you're pregnant." Then he looked to me, insistent. "Do you?"

I shook my head. "No, but the basement is reinforced steel with silver running through. She'll be safe."

He studied me for a moment, then looked at Ash. He shook his head, reaching toward his back. That hand came back with a gun and holster. "Silver shot," he said. Coming over to me, he took the clip out and popped the round in the chamber.

"I'm familiar," I said. "Our dad was a hunter and kept guns in the house."

Mark handed me the pieces. "Show me."

Containing the sigh and eye roll, I put the gun back together and clicked the safety into place.

Mark's enforcer eyes watched every move I made, and when he was satisfied, he nodded.

Before he could say anything else, I set the gun on the kitchen table and crossed my arms. "You just called her your mate. Is she?"

He swallowed, glancing back at her. He nodded. "I think so. I've talked to Jason and others who have found their true mates. The feelings they described are how I feel about your sister."

I looked at her. "You don't seem surprised."

She came to stand with Mark, wrapping her hand through his. "We talked, the night of the mating ceremony. While the wolves partied, he stayed with me."

I studied her closely, looking for any discontent. When I found none, I asked Mark, "And the baby?"

Straightening his shoulders, he said, "The deal she made with you still stands. Honestly, I think it would be a good idea. Not that I would hurt the child, but…"

"He's not yours," Ash finished as he came from the back of house in the direction of our room.

Mark nodded. "I would never hurt a child, but werewolves are like lions. The beasts inside tend not to be civil toward the offspring of other males when it comes to our females. I'm no different. That's why I ask that she not stay in the upper level of the house. The wolf will know where his mate is. By the time I shift, her scent will be diminished enough that he will think she's not here."

"And you won't try to break in?" Ash asked.

Opening his mouth, he paused to look at my sister. Then he shook his head. "I can't tell yes or no. I've never had a mate before so I'm not sure what the wolf will do."

Ash and I shared a look.

I shrugged. "Then we'll definitely keep the gun."

Mark nodded. He looked at Victoria, gently cupping her face and kissing her forehead. "I need to go. The moon is calling and others have already shifted. Please stay safe."

Toria gripped his wrists and nodded, his lips still against her skin. "I'll stay down here. I promise."

They hugged tightly before he kissed her again and went for the door without a backward glance. Ash was waiting by the door to turn all the locks while I tucked the gun in its holster. I wasn't going to wear it on me but keep it close. Daniel had made sure that I knew how to handle several different types of guns as well as how to shoot them. I was a decent shot, decent enough to deter anyone from attacking.

As Ash and I were guiding my sister downstairs, closing the heavy reinforced door behind us, a howl went up into the woods close to the house. We hurried down and shut the second door, throwing all the locks into place.

Toria stood back, watching us. She rubbed her belly. "So, it really is as intense as the movies, huh?"

Ash shrugged. "Every cabin is built with a basement like this." He pointed to another door. "That goes to tunnels that lead out of the compound and on the other side of Forks just in case the compound gets attacked. Only Cole and I have access to that door. It runs on a fingerprint scanner that's on the panel beside it. Not even Mark does. So even if his wolf gets into the tunnels to try to get to you, all he'll be doing is staring at that door. But usually we don't have to use the basement because I'm a wolf. Somehow their beasts recognize the Quileute wolves as the same so none have ever tried to hurt Cole or me." He smiled and motioned to the couch. "But don't worry. We're perfectly safe down here. There's even a refrigerator with snacks. We keep it stocked, just in case."

Nodding, she went to sit down, blowing out a breath. "Well," she said looking around. "Who picks first movie?"

The next morning…

AshPOV

I was in the process of flipping over Victoria's omelet when my phone started ringing on the bar behind me. I frowned. It was Grampa Edward's ring.

"It's Edward," Victoria said.

I nodded. "You can answer it."

There was a hesitation, then, "Hello?...Hi, I'm good, thanks…oh, yes. Eating healthy and all that. Would you like to talk to Ash?...Yeah, he's right here. Making breakfast."

Turning, I traded her food for my phone. "Hey, Grampa. What's wrong?"

He chuckled, but it was tense. "I can't be calling just to talk to my grandson?"

Leaning back against the counter to watch Toria eat, I smirked. "You could but call me paranoid. Something's up."

He sighed. "Always too smart for your own good. There was an attack last night. Full force."

My brows cranked down so hard in a frown that I got a headache. "What?"

"All of us Cullens except Carlisle and Esme came to Seattle last night. We figured something would happen with the full moon. Good thing, too."

"What happened?" I asked as I went for the empty extra bedroom that Cole and I were planning for a nursery.

"The wolves corralled a group of kids in a park. We managed to set a trap for the wolves, but they still attacked some of the kids. I was calling because we think they'll talk to a wolf, so I'm asking if you'll come out here."

I stopped in the hall. "Me?"

There was a noise like he was nodding. "You didn't run the full moon, so you're not exhausted, and you're the only who answered your phone. I was about to try Dox and Jules next."

Which meant I'd been one of the first he'd called. "What about Dad?"

"Nope. And to be honest, he's probably busy with something I don't want to know about."

Chuckling, I changed direction and went for my room. "You're probably right. Let me get dressed, and I'll be out there as fast as I can. Are any of them awake? And where are you holding everyone?"

"The wolves are still out, but the kids are starting to wake up. They're dazed and confused. Relatively calm for now. We're in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of the woods."

Going to the dresser, I changed my sweats for jeans, then covered my torso with a t-shirt and plaid button-up. "All right. I'll be there as soon as I can. Text me the address and I'll put it in the gps."

"Will do. Thanks, Ash."

"See ya soon, Gramps."

We hung up just as Cole leaned against the doorway. "Everything okay?"

Shaking my head, I sat on the bed and slipped into my boots. "Another attack in Seattle. Multiple victims, still alive. Grampa and the others have them in a warehouse. None of my siblings answered, so I'm going to check things out."

"Alone?" he asked after a moment.

I smirked, looking up at him from under my brows. "My family is waiting. The drive will be alone." I stood up and went to kiss him. "I'll be careful; I promise. You need to stay here so you can go to work."

He licked his lips, nodding. "Okay, but may I make a request?"

"Of course."

His heavy hands landed on my hips. "Please take an enforcer with you. At least one. It would make me feel better."

I cupped his face, making stern eye contact. "I'll ask Nik. With Mark and your sister hot and heavy, I'm sure he could use a break. That sound okay?"

At that, he nodded before putting his forehead to mine. "Thank you."

I kissed his nose, making him chuckle. "I love you. I'll be back as soon as I can, but I'll probably end up staying the night. I'll call to let you know."

Closing his eyes, he blew out a breath. "Please be careful."

I pulled back to lift his face. "I'm coming home to you. Always."

The kiss was deep and slow before I pulled away. If I didn't, I wouldn't leave. But I knew I needed to. Grampa had called me to help; I needed to be an adult and deal with my responsibilities.

"Ash?" Toria asked as I grabbed keys to the house. I'd grab one of the pack trucks. "Where are you going?"

I plastered a nonchalant smile on my face. "Seattle. There's something I need to take care of."

Her face set into lines of worry. "Oh. Well, be careful, okay?"

The smile turned real. "Like I said to Cole, I promise."

After kissing her cheek, I left the house to find Nik. He was likely in the large cabin that served as a dormitory for the single males.

I was passing the line of new resident cabins when I heard my name again.

Dox was walking out the place he shared with Rye. He was frowning as he looked me over. "Where are you going? What happened?"

This time, I couldn't contain the grin. He was all domineering, demanding alpha male. His black hair had grown out longer than he usually kept it. Above the neck and under the sleeves of his shirt were deep, dark scratches that had scabbed over, no doubt having healed a bit from his phasing last night while Rye had shifted. She typically liked him to run with her on the full moon. And no doubt, she had been the one to put those marks in his skin.

I shook my head but asked, "Did Grampa get ahold of you?"

His frown deepened. "No, why?"

"There was an attack in Seattle last night. He asked me to come out."

The frown turned to a scowl as he lifted a finger. "Hold on."

I watched while he padded back into the cabin. He was gone for maybe five minutes before he came out with his jacket and phone.

"I'm going with."

My brows went up as we started walking for the truck he used. "Are you sure? Didn't you just get in?"

He shook his head. "Rye shifted back early. She is powerful enough to do that, you know."

I smirked. "Yes, yes. We all know your female is a badass. Oh, and we need to pick up Nik. I promised Cole I'd take an enforcer with me."

Dox grinned while he climbed into the driver's seat. "Demanding mate, huh?" At my dry look, he chuckled. "All the females around here are badasses for putting up with us assholes."

I couldn't help but agree. Even though I was very gay, I was still a guy, and I knew that Victoria thought all of us were overbearing. But she still put up with it because she knew better than the argue. She'd lose.

"You know," he said as he fired up the truck and headed for the cabin and road beyond. "It's been a while since it was just the two of us."

"Yeah, it feels like we're always jumping from emergencies to entire family times. Even though this visit mostly likely won't be pleasant, I'm glad it's me and you going together. I've missed us hanging out."

He frowned. "True that. We should start doing something, just the two of us."

Snorting, I gave him a look. "Like what?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Run a patrol or something. I know this leadership thing is going to make me itch. I like to be active, not stuck behind a desk."

I nodded. "I'm game. I could stretch my legs. We can talk to Uncle Seth about that since he's in charge of organizing patrol lines. Besides, we need to keep up with our vampire training, too. We could hunt."

On his side, he shifted in his seat. "Just one thing. When we phase out, don't look at my female."

I gave him a dry look and he grinned.

"Dox, I'm super gay. If anything, I should be telling you to stay out of my head. There's a good chance there's things in here that would scar you for life with you being a flaming hetero and all."

My twin gave me a horrified look before shaking his head. "You're probably right, you freak."

We grinned at each other at the same time.

DoxPOV

A few hours later, I pulled the truck into the lot of a dilapidated warehouse.

"Great haunted mansion material," Ash muttered as I put the vehicle in park and killed the engine behind a huge dumpster.

We both got out and looked around.

"No kidding," I said. Even the weak afternoon light, I got the creeps.

Nik stayed silent as he slid out of the back seat. His eyes scanned the growing shadows and dark, vacant building.

My senses prickled just before Ash said with amusement, "If you're testing our vampire abilities, we're still training."

Grampa Edward stepped out of the shadows of a doorway, smiling. He went to hug Ash first before coming to me. "Glad to see you boys made it safely and in a timely manner. Not much traffic?" He nodded to Nik.

I shook my head. "Nope. It was smooth."

Ash snorted. "Even if there had been traffic, we still would have gotten here fast with him behind the wheel." He jerked a thumb at me. "He weaves in that truck like Dad on his motorcycle."

I sighed. "I want one so bad."

"Don't even think about it," Ash said, giving me a dirty look. "Mom would murder you before that idea even came out of your mouth."

I nodded. "True. I blame Dad, though. He's the one that taught me how to ride."

"Yeah and I'm sure she wants to kill him for that, too."

Grampa and I both chuckled.

"Boys?" Grama said from the doorway. "They're all waking up."

Ash and I both sighed.

"Shall we?" he said.

Our grandparents led us into the deep shadows that were starting to form inside from the late afternoon. For some reason, it surprised me that he went to a set of stairs and started going down. Of course, it would be easier to keep the wolves contained below ground where they couldn't tell if it was day or night. Keep them unbalanced. Ash and I took in our surroundings as we descended. The place was well and truly abandoned. The walls of the stairwell were wet and slimy with grime. The dripping of water echoed from somewhere as well as the murmur of voices.

"We separated the humans from the wolves," Grama said softly. "But most were already scratched up by the time we arrived. We quietly sent away those that were unharmed after a thorough inspection."

When we finally made it to the bottom, they led us down a hall to the right. The industrial light fixtures were empty of bulbs as we passed under them. The leather of my jacket creaked right along with the old chains holding those light fixtures that were swaying in a phantom breeze. My nose tingled at the scent of the mold and rotting wood that was still exposed from the unfinished construction.

At the second to last door on the right, we all stopped. There were groans and soft voices coming from behind it.

I motioned to it. "Shall we?"

The door opened from the other side. As I walked in, I found Emmett on the other side.

"Welcome to the party," he said grimly.

Inside the dank, dark room, there were seven people sitting against the walls. As my vision adjusted to the darker space, I realized they were all around my age. And they weren't just sitting there; they were chained. They were ruffled and dirty, wearing beaten to hell clothes. Ash stood next me. We shared a look before gazing around.

"Are you just gonna stand there, or say something?" Surprisingly, the voice was female. The fury in that tone had power biting over my skin.

The others in the room kept their eyes downcast, only glancing up every now and then.

But the girl gave us angry green eyes. She was a pretty little redhead with pale, pale skin and light freckles. Physically, she was delicate, but the power pouring off her made her as intimidating as my dad.

"We want to know what happened," Ash said in an authoritative tone.

"Yeah," I said crossing my arms over my chest. "The sooner you tell us, the sooner we can figure out what to do with you."

One of the others scoffed. "'What to do with us'? You're going to let us go, right?"

I locked gazes with the redhead. "Something tells me that at least one of your little pack knows that Seattle is neutral territory." I narrowed my gaze on her.

With attitude, she looked away while the others glanced at her.

I looked at Ash sideways. He quirked a brow. His version of a small shrug.

Walking over, I crouched in front of her. "I know that you're the ringleader of this little party. Tell us what happened."

Those green eyes flickered to amber and back again as she glared up at me from under her brows. "Didn't your little friends tell you, pup?" She popped the last word and tilted her head.

With narrowed eyes, I studied her. Either she was much older than she looked, or she was baiting me. Tapping into my vamp abilities, I closed my eyes and tasted her power, rolled it around my mind and my own power.

I smirked. "Don't call me pup, princess. We're about the same age." I dropped the smile and glanced over my shoulder. "Something tells me your pack is important to you; that's why you're the one stepping up to do all the talking. Talk to us, and we'll see that they're escorted out of Seattle safely. I promise."

Her expression shifted from attitude to contemplation. "What about me?" she asked finally.

Ash came to stand next to me, looking down on both of us. "My brother figures you'll want them out before you talk. After you do, we'll see you join them. A couple of our companions will take them to the nearest edge of woods and wait for you."

"Your word?"

Ash nodded. "My word."

"And mine," I added.

The girl looked behind us to our "companions", studying them. Then she locked gazes with me. "I want a phone call when they get there."

Ash nodded as I stood up. "Done."

It was Jasper and Alice who unchained the group and led them out. Thankfully, they'd picked an abandoned place not far from the woods' edge. The wait was only thirty minutes, and in that time, none of us said anything. Ash and I tossed glances with each other and the rest of the family. Nik stayed at the door, dark eyes taking in every detail. The redhead just watched us, her stare turning from glaring to contemplative. Every now and then, her nostrils would flare, scenting us.

Then my phone rang. It was Alice. "We made it safely," she said.

"Good," I said. "Put one of them on."

I held the phone out to the girl. Gingerly, she took it, putting it to her ear. "Hello?...Tell me something only I would know." Frowning, she nodded and hung up the phone before handing it to me.

"What's your name?" Ash asked while I tucked away my phone.

"Quinn," she said.

"Quinn. I would say it's nice to meet you," I said. "But under the circumstances…I'm Maddox Black. This is my brother, Ash."

When she didn't say anything, we all just stared at each other. Quinn's eyes had gone wide at the mention of our names.

Ash knelt next to me. "Quinn, your people are safe. We kept our end; it's your turn."

She just watched us.

"I could easily get them back on the phone," I warned.

My hand went for my pocket. When she saw it, she sat forward, the chains clinking. She held her hands up as far as they could do. "Okay, okay. Wait. Look. I didn't know that Seattle was off-limits. I wasn't told."

"By whom?" Ash asked.

She flipped her hair out of her face and made an exasperated sound. "The guy who sent me out here."

"Why were you sent?" I asked. "And who was it?"

"I don't know, okay? I'm not a pack leader but that group is mine. We're omegas traveling together; we watch each other's backs. News travels slow to groups like us so we had no idea that Seattle was a neutral zone." She shook her head again. "He approached us. When I spoke for our group saying that we wouldn't help him, he took me aside to threaten them."

"What did he want you to do?"

Quinn looked to Ash. "He said he was recruiting, but he couldn't make it into the city himself because of other business. Look, we may have rebelled against our packs, but we don't hurt people. Or at least we didn't," she added bitterly. "If he had just threatened the older ones like me, I still would have said no. But he went after the youngest, detailing what he would do to him."

The anger leaked out of her expression, her eyes. Replacing it was fear and begging. Begging us to understand.

"Tell us about the male," I said softly.

Dismay joined the fear. "I can't."

"We'll protect you."

This time, her headshake sent her hair over her shoulders. "No, you don't understand. I can't tell you anything about him because I don't remember. He did something to us, smudging our memories. Every time I try to picture him, the vision is blurry."

Frowning, I looked over my shoulder. Grampa was frowning hard but nodded when he met my gaze.

So, Quinn was telling the truth.

Ash sighed. "Is there anything you can remember?"

She shrugged. "He was young." A smirk at me. "Around our age."

I smiled back. "Anything else?"

The smile died. "No. He had enforcers with him, but I couldn't ever see them. They surrounded us."

Straightening up, I stood next to Ash. We looked at each other before turning to the others.

Nik was watching her closely.

"What?" I asked him.

Quinn looked up at him.

"The young one," he said after a moment. "Where is the young one the male threatened?"

For the first time since I saw her, Quinn looked uneasy. She swallowed hard and shifted on the floor, the chains sliding over the concrete.

"Quinn?" Ash said. "Answer him."

She reached up to rub her neck but hissed when the silver touched her skin.

I turned to Emmett with my hand out. "Give me the key."

My uncle gave me a cautious look before handing it over. Kneeling over her, I reached for her hands. Quinn eyed me suspiciously before holding them out. The cuffs were lined for the most part except for a small sliver of silver to touch the skin as a reminder, so when I took them off there were two lines per wrist, forming a band. Once the chains were off, she scooted away from them and me to tuck herself into a corner. Her knees folded up to her chest, arms wrapping around them.

"Quinn," I said. "Please. If you're in trouble, we can help you. But you have got to talk to us."

"He's safe," she said softly. "Here in Seattle."

"Who is he?" I asked quietly as I turned toward her again.

Now she glared. "It doesn't matter. All that does matter is that he's a child and in danger."

I held up my hands. "Okay, okay." She seemed to be more inclined to talk to me, so I tried to keep her attention and calm. "You're right. It doesn't matter who he is. Can you tell us why the male is recruiting?"

Her eyes looked around at everybody before focusing on me. "He never explained, and I never asked. By the time I'd thought to, one of his guys had…Thayer. That's the boy's name. Thayer. They had him, so I told the male I'd do whatever he wanted." She paused. "Will you really help us?"

The question was asked so softly and with a vulnerability that was at odds with the fierceness she'd shown us that I knew in that moment that she was scared.

I looked up at Ash.

He tilted his head.

"Quinn," I said, turning back to her. "I want to help you and yours. It's obvious you care for them and the boy that was threatened. But I have to ask, if you hadn't been threatened, would you have hurt these people?"

Her headshake was immediate. "Absolutely not. Like I said, just because we rebelled against our packs, it doesn't mean that we want to hurt people. In fact, most of us left because we didn't want to hurt anyone." Taking a breath, she toned down the hysterics. "When I was talking to the male, I felt his power. Most of the time, pack leaders try to keep their power neutral so that others won't be suspicious of anything. But this male didn't try to hide the menace pouring from him. Whatever he's recruiting for isn't anything good." For a moment, she had the look like she was debating something before letting go of her knees to sit more openly. "If you promise us protection, I can promise you that we'll stand with your people against the male and his pack."

Ash's boots appeared next to me. "You make it sound like you know his plans, that he's going to attack nearby packs."

Quinn glared up at him. "Listen, I might be a female and an omega, but I'm not stupid. I was the daughter of a pack leader. The only reason to cause this kind of trouble in an area is if a leader plans to go to war in this area. I didn't know Seattle was neutral, but I bet he did. I would also bet he knew that we didn't know."

Ash crouched next to me. "You're saying that he used you and your people as scapegoats."

She nodded, still glaring at him. "Yeah. Obviously."

I sighed but Ash said, "I didn't mean to imply that I think you're stupid. And definitely not because you're a female. Some of the smartest people I know are female. I apologize if you thought otherwise."

Quinn scrutinized him before dipping her chin. "Accepted. But if you're asking if he told me his plans, no, he didn't."

Before anyone could say anything else, a howl sounded. It was too close to be coming from outside.

Everyone froze, an, as one, we all looked up.

"Oh, God," Quinn breathed.

I looked back at her. "The full moon is passed."

Her eyes widened as she stared at the ceiling and shook her head. "They're newly infected. Just as some can change before the full moon, they can also change a night or two after." When barks and yips echoed in the empty halls and rooms, she stood up. "We need to get out of here. The beasts will have taken their humanity. They won't know we don't mean to harm them."

"We can't just run," Ash said.

Emmett stepped forward. "We can't let them out of this building," he said. "There are innocent people in this city."

"What do you propose we do?" Nik demanded. "Other than shooting them, of course."

"The basement," Grampa said, taking his wife's hand. "Basements are one of the first things built in construction. We're not far from it. The door is strong enough to hold them. Luring them will be the hard part."

"We can do it," Grama said.

Ash's head whipped around. "What?"

The growls and snarls were getting closer. Not close enough to be a worry yet, but it was clear the wolves were on their way down from an upper floor.

"She's right," Grampa said. "We're faster. And we won't be worried about the two of you. Get Quinn to her people."

Ash was about to argue, but I stepped in. "Give us a call as soon as it gets done," I said quickly.

Grampa gave us a nod before he and Grama disappeared. Turning, I grabbed Quinn's hand and started pulling her toward the hallway. "Come on, Ash."

"What the hell was that?" he demanded as he followed us out.

In the hallway, we broke out into a run for the stairs. At this point, it was a race to the front door with the wolves. We had to get there before they did so Grama and Grampa could lure them away. Quinn ripped her hand out of mine so she could match my pace, taking two stairs at a time. Ash was hot on our heels as we jumped for the landing that Ash and I come in on. The wolves were on the landing above us. The biggest of them jumped the entire staircase. He was dark brown, almost black. And as he landed, he started snarling and swiping.

Too bad I was close enough to gut as those claws came out to slash across my abdomen. I jumped back, but not fast enough. Cloth ripped as did the skin and flesh underneath.

"Dox!" Ash screamed.

Grampa came out of nowhere, slamming into the beast, barreling him toward the staircase we'd just come up. I staggered back, putting a hand to my torso. Blood was a steady flow from under and around my hand.

Ash came for me, hands hovering. "Dear God," he whispered. Then he fished the keys to the truck from my pocket.

Shock had set in because I wasn't feeling the pain yet, but I knew it would come and it would be a bitch. Ash and Quinn each gabbed an arm, wrapping them around their shoulders, and hauled me through the door before the other wolves could get down the stairs. The two of them shoved me into the back of the truck. Quinn hopped into the floorboard with me and grabbed one of the many blankets Rye and I kept in it. She started ripping it into strips as Ash brought the truck roaring to life and skidded us out of the lot.

"There's no pain," I said, surprised my voice was strained.

Quinn's green eyes met mine. "There will be," she said as she tugged a strip of cloth under my body to bring around and wrap tightly around my chest. "We need to get the bleeding staunched." She glanced up at the front of the cab before frowning. "Where are you going?"

Ash took a sharp turn that sent Quinn flying across the floor, grabbing for whatever she could hold. I was likewise thrown, and as my head slammed into the opposite door, the pain made an appearance. It stole my breath as I felt all the muscles pull and fire sear through my veins.

"He needs a hospital," Ash yelled over the screaming tires.

"Are you crazy?" Quinn yelled back. "He's a werewolf; he can't go to a hospital! He needs a witch or a pack healer."

I was able to catch a breath through the pain enough to say, "Mara. Ash, call Mara."

Cursing, Ash dug for his phone and threw it to Quinn. "Call her. Then check my texts for one from Alice. She sent the exact location where they took your pack. Tell Mara that information."

"What are you going to do?" Quinn demanded as she messed with Ash's phone.

I saw my twin's eyes in the rearview mirror he'd positioned so he could keep an eye on me. "He's losing too much blood to wait for a healer. He needs to feed so I'll see if I can hunt a few deer to jumpstart his vampire healing."

Holding the phone to her ear, Quinn gave me a sharp look. "You're a vampire?"

I gave her a small smile as weakness started to seep into my body. "Only a little."

Shoving the phone between her ear and shoulder, she started to wrap more cloth strips around me. "Hi, is this Mara?...Good, I need you to listen carefully. I'm with Ash and Dox in Seattle. Dox has been hurt, badly." She gave Mara the exact location that Ash had told her to. "Ash said he's going to hunt for Dox to try to jumpstart the vamp healing. Tell me you're close." Quinn nodded, pulling a strip tight enough to make me wince. "I think he's about to pass out. There's blood everywhere, and his torso is ripped to hell and back…It was done by a werewolf…Yes, a Child…Does it really matter who I am? Just get here!"

Then she threw the now-bloody phone over the front seat concentrate on wrapping me up. "You should be dead," she whispered as she applied pressure.

I hissed. "Would you with this kind of damage?"

Pressing her lips tight, she shook her head.

"Why help us, me?" I asked, trying to take my mind off the pain.

For a moment, her throat worked, eyes tearing up. "Because you didn't kill us on sight. You listened and understood that we were in trouble instead of taking us as monsters."

With a shaky hand, I reached up to cover hers. "I know…what it's like…to have loved ones…threatened." I swallowed hard. "I would do…anything…to keep them…safe."

I coughed with the next breath and blood bubbled up my throat.

"Shh," Quinn murmured. "Don't talk. He must have knicked a lung." Her hand ran through my hair, trying to calm the panic I could feel bubbling up with the pain. "Ash," she said, and I realized I'd closed my eyes because her voice was far away. "Drive faster. He's about to pass out."

The truck's engine was screeching now, but that didn't matter. A few minutes later, even that was far away as I slipped off into nothing.

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Dun, dun, duuuunnnn! So what do we think? Do we like Quinn or not? And who is this mysterious pack leader? Any theories? Let me know! love y'all! xoxoxoxo